One good picture, that's all I need!

My mom's 55th birthday was on Monday and times being what they are we didn't have the extra money to spend. My mom means a lot to me and I really wanted to give her something special and wonderful and 100% free. Not many things fit that catergory. The one thing I could think of was a picture of my kids. She loves them and they her. I am really not a good photographer and I don't have a great camera, but I really did do my best. I turned our coffee table on it's side in front of the sliding glass door and threw a lavender sheet over it and plopped the kids down in front of it. The dog wanted to be in the picture, and the kids wanted him too, so, he was. Peyton on the other hand did not. I had my sister giving her pieces of ice and candy (she loves ice and of course candy too) just to get her to at least stay there, forget the smile, I dont even care. There were a few decent pictures, mostly because I emphasized how important it was to me and if they loved Nana Paula they would just smile and do what I asked of them. It worked well enough, I did some tweaking in photoshop to help it a little and it looked very cute in a silver frame that my mom had. I also cooked dinner for the family at my parents and everyone said it was good, I hope so! I have a great mom and I'm glad she is such a part of my families life.

I LOVE YOU MOM, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Wiis, weaning, and walking

On February 7th we finally got a wii! I am sure that there are plenty of people that don't have one, but for us to not have one with Jacob as our son may be surprising to some of you! My grandma gave our family a chunk of money for Christmas and I wanted to be sure it went to something for our entire family, and Tyler and I earned some Visa cards for participating in Healthy Rewards (a program our health insurance has), so we bought a wii. I was a little scared, the kids had lost interest in the game cube and I didn't have to work so hard to monitor things anymore, with no tv and no interest in video games I was pretty much just regulating the computer. I was pleased though that so far, so good. The kids seem to only want to play together as a family! Yay!

He really hates pictures so I just have to snap them when I can.
Jacob Bowling.


Feb 12. As of today I have Peyton almost weaned. It is pretty sad though. I have nursed her once in the last 2 days and as far as I know that may have been the last time (sniff, sniff) It is just yet another sign that our house will be baby free. She is still not walking, but yesterday Aunt Morgan worked with her using a push toy my friend Kelly lent me (thanks Kelly) and this morning she was pushing that thing all over the place. So, as for the weaning, I know you aren't supposed to give a baby a bottle after 12 months, but she was clueless as how to use one of those sippy cup things and didn't get enough milk with a regular cup and I finally got her to suck on a bottle. So, for now, that's what she is using, but only with meals. She is such a sweet girl and has quite the personality and sense of humor.

Hey Kendra, how about a potluck???

No, but really, we invited many couples to our home for a potluck dinner a few Friday nights ago. It was an adult only potluck and I think that is why it worked so well with so many people. My very sweet friend Kendra arranged the date and made all the phone calls, THANK YOU! So, all I really had to do was allow people to come over and provide a place for everyone (thanks Sandy for loaning a few extra tables and for helping set up). In all there were over 20 people at our house! At least that many more were invited and unable to come, probably a good thing, but I'd love to do it again and have everyone else over. After we had our fill of wonderful food we played some fun games and I think we all got to know everyone a little better!

I love candid shots.

"I don't remember eating corn."

Kendra likes being in photographes.

This is Laawna standing in for me with Tyler.

Night out and my little slaves

We went out for Valentine's Day last night for dinner at the Daily Grill where we shared a fantastic Filet Mignon and Broiled Salmon. It was a wonderful meal! I love fine food. After that Ty humored me and we went and saw Twilight at the $3 theater. It was my 3rd time seeing it and I still loved it. Tyler didn't hate it, which is saying a lot! If you know him at all, you know how he is about movies and tv shows. We got home at 10 and relieved our sitter (thanks Aunt Mo!) and continued to have a wonderful evening at home with kids tucked in bed soundly sleeping. Happy Valentine's Day!
My boys have really been wanting to earn an allowance and we have made it clear to them that they are not to be payed for things that are expected of them. So today I began their first training session, in my bathroom, just the sinks, mirror and counters. They did a fantastic job, I can't wait to teach them more!

I made them take their shirts off so the comet didn't bleach them. Yes that's me in the back in the pink robe, glad I remembered to put that on!

Thanks Mom (Laing) and Jennifer Ward

Sunday we had dinner at Tyler's parents house and my mother in law diagnosed me with Plantar Fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the foot caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia that supports the arches of the foot or by biomechanical faults that cause abnormal pronation.[1] The pain usually is felt on the underside of the heel, and is often most intense with the first steps of the day. It is commonly associated with long periods of weight bearing or sudden changes in weight bearing or activity. Obesity, weight gain, jobs that require a lot of walking on hard surfaces, shoes with little or no arch support, and inactivity are also associated with the condition.
Plantar fasciitis was formerly called "a dog's heel" in the United Kingdom. It is sometimes known as "flip-flop disease" among US podiatrists. The condition often results in a heel spur on the calcaneus, in which case it is the underlying condition, and not the spur itself, which produces the pain.

For the last 2 months or so every morning when I get up my feet feel bruised, like they did when I was pregnant and the swelling would subside. I still swell, so I put my worry aside. The pain got worse and lasted throughout the day and was worse when I got up from sitting or resting. The pain is so bad I can hardly stand it and walk like an old woman when I first get up. I finally went to the doctor and he basically said, oh well. Thanks Doc.
So, my "Mom" and I were talking about exercising and losing weight and stuff and I told her that I was exercising quite a bit but that I was having a foot problem. I started to go into detail and she was finishing all my sentences for me. She has the same thing and it started about the same time, but she was diagnosed and is being treated, yahoo! So, with multiple daily stretches and icings I should be on the 12 month road to recovery. So, sometimes it pays to complain, if it's to the right person!

Now, Jennifer, she gave me a bag of ice for Benjamin because as we were leaving piano lessons at her house, I slammed Ben's hand in the van door, I know, poor baby. He reached out just as I was shutting it, and you have to shut it pretty hard. It bounced right off his hand. Miracle of miracles, he didn't want the ice and it seems to be fine, knock on wood. So, as I sit here at my laptop I am stretching my foot and icing it with Ben's bag of ice so it won't go to waste! Thanks guys, who needs a doctor when I've got you?!

Another hand me down and the park

You liked my sweater on Miss P, here are my sleepers on her, pretty good shape after 30 years huh?
January 24, 2009
January 29, 2009

Park time on a warm, sunny day.

My little Scientist

January 20, 2009

Micah and the boys got several crafty projects for Christmas this (last) year. My older sister got Micah a color lab and he had a lot of fun making a rainbow from colored crystal gels and experimenting with mixing his own colors.

Mommy's hand me downs

January 2, 2009

My mom saved a few things from when I was a baby and although it has been somewhat annoying toting them around the last "few" years I am so glad that she hung on to them and that I continued to hang onto them! Peyton is wearing a sweater here that I wore when I was a baby. She wears a few other things too, but I think this one is my favorite, but the Minnie Mouse sleeper is a close 2nd, she looks too cute in it!