It's time...

to choose your new word of the year.
Go here for Ali's explanation of her word challenge.
Last year I chose 'nurture' and didn't do so well at it. I'll be honest, there are a lot of ways I could have been better at nurturing not only myself but my family and relationships. I haven't chosen my word for 2010 yet...I have a few ideas, but I want it to really mean something.
Is anyone else going to do this challenge?
Are you interested in doing a word challenge?
And yes, I will soon do a real life blog update and maybe share a bit of my crazy month...

Because

I have a ton to say and never any time to say it.
Because my friend was a bit uypset by no blog updates to keep her busy at work.
Because I like the bazillion abs guy.
Because I really always like a good laugh.
And because I really like this series...

I really should update :)

So I have been taking pictures lately. Have I ever mentioned how much I love taking pictures? I do.
A lot!
So when I was doing this family of 5 little girlies (okay, 3 cause the older two probably don't want to be considered little) there was some very patient parents involved. The younger girls wanted nothing to do with me. However, with a bit of compromise (Tinkerbell and Mommy) we got some great pictures :)
I loved that mom and dad (who have the most gorgeous family. Every one of them is photogenic and it kind of makes me sick...in a good way) suggested that we do a shot of them in front of the train :) Miss A is not quite sure what to think but is pretty sure that is NOT where she wants to be at all :)


This is train shot take two. Obviously a different family. I love that big brother T is like 'right on' and not the least bit worried about that train. And this Miss A loves it :)

I know these shots are in totally random order. They weren't supposed to be, but I can't win an argument with blogger.

Or Jeff, but don't tell him I said that.

I loved the sky.

I do have a thing for solar flare :)

Seriously, there were no bad photos.

Makes my job easier. :)

Loved the energy of this family. Too fun!

Boys are sooooo different than girls!

Besides physically, I mean.

I do have more to show from sittings, but I thought I would show my catch.
11 years my friends.
I guess this was our clebration.
He did tell me he would take me somewhere 'one of these years.'
This is no way resembles the Disneyland I remember.
He needs to try again, no?

So he took me to Salmon last week.

He let me catch two fish.

They were little.

He caught one fish.

It was big.

Not sure what that means. He said it wasn't on purpose.

I said, next time, Disneyland.

And the deer we hit coming home...he was fine. Jeff's hubcap however, is toast.

Another update with other sittings and maybe some random whining (my house is still not organized...seriouly, where did we get all of this crap?) and I haven't posted my awesome sewing abilities (i.d. costumes) yet.

And if you were wondering...I enlarged the top one to 11x14 and the middles one to 16x20 from the last post.

My boys

are gorgeous...now I just need to decide which picture for the Christmas cards...

I want to blow one up for my house.

Huge. like 20x30ish.

One for Christmas cards and the other is already printed, just smallish...

What do you think?

In case you didn't know

I am 'teaching' (I use this term ever so loosely as I really am learning) a photography class. Now, I consider myself a good photographer.
I do.
I am.
I get it.
Composition, personality...the whole deal.
I just have never been comfortable with taking my camera off auto :)
I am slowly but surely getting to that point.
I have had my current camera for over six months.
I did not know that I have options for taking pictures...as in, I can shoot black and white instead of color.
How cool is that?
The things you find out when someone asks what all your camera 'does.'
This here is one of those shots...
This is what it looks like in my house when Q has the flu.
He and I lying in bed.
All day.
Watching PBS.
All day.
Sometimes he falls asleep and I play with camera settings and then sneak out.

and this one...

Which is what happens when he is mad at me for not letting him make funny faces.

I kind of actually like it.
And it's of me.
Weird.
And, I didn't ahve to do anything to it to make it black and white.
Sooc...except for the cropping.
Cool, eh?
And yes, I will do sittings.
I am working all that stuff up in my tiny little brain.
Why not do something I love, make a lasting memory for someone and make some money at it?
I will have a few oh so funny shots of my boys tomorrow...
yes, you may laugh.
And one of them, literally took my breath away.
I think it's the 'card' shot :)
And you KNOW how hard those are to get!

Really

I do have things to say and pictures to post...
however, we are currently trying to dig out of our basement and get rid of a bunch of 'stuff'' without neglecting the kids or the upstairs.
We aren't sure how it's working but hopefully soon I will get this done and you will find out!
For now I will add a couple of pictures of projects that I have done in the past couple of weeks.
Enjoy!

I'm better then great! I'm good.

So day two of sick kids...

Actually day two of one kid being sick.

Another one has been sick forever.

I may go crazy. Sick little boys are just as bad as sick men.

Seriously.

So I was up in the middle of the night with one of the sick kids and had these totally random thoughts that I wish I had written down.

Cause I was funny.

Sleep deprivation will do that.

You see, my kids like me. Not sure what I did wrong there, but they seem to enjoy my company. Jeff says I should yell more.

I hate yelling. But I am loud :)

I think it is lack of consistent beatings.

We haven't had a good beating here in years. Going on like 20 or so.

Not a good record if you are the beating type.

Which, you may have noticed, we are not.

We just don't have the energy for a good wholloping.

So the kids like me.

This is why we have a king sized bed.

The husband gets one half, whatever kid has a cold/headache/nightmare/cough and I get the other half.

I have big kids...I don't get much of a half.

Especially if it is Q. He takes up a lot of space and still manages to drape himself over much of my body all night.

At least I'm not getting kicked.

I just get no sleep.

But I did find one of my favorite pictures while I was trying to find a picture of my kids sleeping on my bed.

Apparently since I am the picture taker, if there are any, I am not in them.

And they aren't on this computer.

Well, it appears that one or more of my children found my husband's cologne...this is not good.

Must go find and stop any mischief going on in my house.

Ugh.

Randamonium

So I always have little thoughts flitting through my brain.
Sometimes they are worthwhile.
Sometimes I don't know what I am thinking.
Sometimes they are creative ideas...
Sometimes, not so much.
Random item #1
My kids are the best ever. Even when they are driving me insane and miss the bus. My kids are probably betterthen yours, but I won't tell you that to your face, much the same way you won't tell me your kids are better than mine to my face.
Random item #2
What is up with men? Mine recently decided to get rid of stuff. Stuff has been an issue with us since we got married as I had more stuff than he did at that time...please remember I also had another PERSON that had stuff at the time we married...therefore, OF COURSE I had more stuff. Babies do have a lot of stuff by nature and they have no idea what all they have and they are ever so bad about sorting and getting rid of stuff. Much like me. It's genetic. I get the 'don't get rid of stuff' gene from my dad. He probably got it from his mom. I have heard that gene is passed down to the opposite sex every generation. Which is good, cause I have boys so the gene can go on...but I think Carson has it, which is not good. And for the record, it's not that I have a problem getting rid of stuff per se, so much as I don't have the ability based on a family who would literally tear my house apart thereby creating more work if I were to ignore them for an afternoon or day just to get rid of stuff. Trust me. And also, I would love to gut my WHOLE house and get rid of everything and start over...alas, that has financial implications.
Random item #3
Let's discuss the swine flu. Yes, it is a problem. Much like the common cold. However, I feel as a whole we are so over immunized that we have no immune system built up. I do get my kids their shots becuase there are some really bad things out there, but am still out on the whole flu shot thing. The two times I had it I got deathly ill and was literally in bed for two weeks each time. Not cool. Especially not cool now cause I have kids. If I had a baby or were still in the healthcare field I may be more inclined to get the shots, however, I don't think we will. Perhaps we will regret it, perhaps not. Perhaps this is a great reason to stay home from church this winter...Okay, Okay, I know, but it's HARD to get up early on my sleep in day...
Random item #4
Quin told me today that he is going to be bigger than a small giant man. He will need a new bed when this happens, he said. HE is planning on being bigger than the small giant named Cody. Yes, he said that. It caracks me up. Cody is our nephew who is around 6'5" and 230...Cody just graduated and is planning a mission next June so the summer he gets back he will still be able to play baseball for the summer.
Random item #5
I am moderately neurotic. I wish it would translate into my housework and at the same time I know if I ever started on that aspect I would become a freak and not ever teach my kids and they could never be the sweaty, stinky, smelly boys I love. I am also highly paranoid...and truly hope I hide it by seeming like a laid back person even though I am pretty sure the las tperson they think of when 'laid back' comes up is me.

I had a lot more random things but I am being told by my four year old that it is time to play the hard level of sorry...

Caution: photo heavy

The top one is one of my all time favorites. Love it!

These kids are so cute! We had a blast doing these and I could honestly take a million of her!

I love little babies...the fact that this is a boy baby makes me baby hungry...mmmmm :)

This was another BIG family :) All of the siblings and their kids got together and it was a so fun!

I have been doing a few sittings here and there.

I absolutely LOVE it.

Like, this could totally be a dream job for me.

I am struggling with little things like fees and turn around times.

It honestly can take me hours to edit a sitting and make it the best it can be.

My time is worth something, I'm am just trying to figure out what it's worth compared to what people can afford. I know, I know there are a whole lot of variables with that sentence...

So here are a few of my recent favorites :)

Enjoy!

In August

of 2001 my 4.5 month old hunk of baby and I went to Vegas to witness the most beautiful wedding.
It was held at the Four Seasons and completely catered by them. Only their closets friends and family members were present. It was truly a beautiful ceremony full of love and support for these two fantastic folk. (Who are currently waiting the arrival of baby boy #2.)
My sweet husband drove me to SLC to drop me off for my flight, then took the other two boys home, worked for the next couple of days and drove back down to pick me up after work and back home in one day.
Whew...he must have liked me.
Or else he was really just not sure what to do with two boys at home.
Hunter was in kindergarten.
Carson had just turned two and was a pretty sick little boy.
My friend Tasha nad I took turns playing nickel slots, one of us would sit by the baby and the other would play and then we would switch.
They take under age participants VERY seriously in Vegas.
I had $5 to start with and ended up with $35ish in nickels.
Sadly, I didn't have time to change my nickels into dollars so I carried a bucket o'nickels on the plane.
I wish I had pictures to upload because it was one of the best trips I have ever taken...alas it was before digital came into my world.
And I don't know where all of the wires are to connect my scanner to the computer.
5 weeks later the Twin Towers were hit.
A plane crashed into the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
I'm pretty sure there is more to the story than what was released as general knowledge (I have my sources) but nothing confirmed.
I was lying in bed nursing my hunkahunka baby and the phone wouldn't stop ringing.
Wouldn't.
Stop.
Ringing.
I was worried it would wake my two sleeping boys.
I finally got up to no less than 5 messages from my frantic father.
Apparently, there was some sort of airline crash and no one had heard from my brother in law.
He was working in the White House communications center at the time.
We found out later that my sister had heard from him to let her know he was okay...she had been out jogging and had no clue what had happened.
I couldn't decide whether or not it was okay for me to send Hunter to school.
The thought of any of my family not being RIGHT THERE with me scared me to death.
Jeff couldn't leave work.
I tried everything I could to get him to.
I wore my bathrobe and cried all day.
Luckily the family room was in the basement so no one saw me in my disheveled state.
I kept crying.
I went outside and took Jeff's flag (from his military service) and hung it on our flag pole.
I was feeling rebellious and patriotic.
I was beside myself.
Jeff talked about going back into the Army.
I was more beside myself.
Thankfully, he decided that since his time had been officially up two years previously and he had a wife, three kids, a dog, a cat and a house he didn't need to.
That day changed things in so many ways.
There is no way I could bring home a bucket o'nickels now.
You can't even have lip gloss in your purse without it being in a bag.
And forget bringing your own water.
There are so many men and women who died that day and since.
Some at the Twin Towers close to home and others thousands of miles away where things are not even similar to home.
This is a day I want my children to know of.
It is a day that deserves a memory or two of those who died.
A moment of silence even.
It was a day that changed our country in so many ways.
For awhile it seemed as though we were all on the same side.
Take a moment today and remember. Give thanks that we live in a country that allows us freedom of speech to express our memories, to keep blogs about our day to day lives, boring or not, to honor the men and women who CHOOSE to defend our country. That we live in a country where children aren't drafted into the military at 18 and that our children are spared carrying guns just to survive. Put aside politics and opinions and be thankful for all we have. That we can worship whatever God we believe in, or don't believe in. That we aren't persecuted for wearing jeans and not covering our heads, that we can choose our spouses and the schools we send our children to. That food is plentiful and we have clean water. That we can choose who our government is, whether we believe in everything our officials do or not. That our children can go to college and be who and what they want to be.
Today, be thankful for EVERYTHING our country has to offer. The good, the bad and the ugly.
Then give thanks for what our country doesn't have.
And hug your kids.
Kiss your spouse.
And hold them all tight.
You never know when it can change.

as big as a helicopter

So today as I was slaving away on the laundry (okay, fine, I only folded 3 loads of towels...) Q came in and saw 'Mom! You have GOT to come wook out the window!!'

I went to look out the window.

'No, Mom, wook up...it's a hewocopter awmost as big as you'

hmmmmmmm..............

Carson disagreed...and then said 'Oh, mom, I know, he's talking about the SMALL helicopters'

Let's face it...

I have been horrid at blogging this summer.
I apologize.
So, my baby starts preschool tomorrow.
I'm sure I will take pictures and post them.
I still plan on posting some of the pics I have taken the last couple of months.
While this isn't a job, I do love that I can make a few bucks and do something I love and it makes me feel like I am contributing to our family more than just cleaning and loving on my kids.
I totally slacked on harvesting my garden this year.
We had a scare with Q last week. Not sure if there will be any follow up, but so far nothing more has happened...so we are thrilled with that!
We had 19 of Jeff's closest family members here on Sunday afternoon/evening.
Yes, my friends, that does indeed add up to 25 :)
It was fantastic! Good food, lots of cousins (our kids are the youngest...Jeff is only 6 years older than our niece Jill and Q is only 3 years older than our great nephew, Ezra)
It was great to visit with everyone, even though I mostly just watched...couldn't think of a thing to say.
Crazy, huh.?
I think the best question had to come from Cody who, when Tyler was hollering at him (AGAIN!) turned to me and asked 'how do you control that kid?' and I could honestly not answer him :) To be fair to my Tyler, he LOVES his cousins. And since we rarely see Cody (or any of our Washington/North Idaho cousins for that matter) he tends to over do his enthusiasm...plus, we can honestly see Ty being the same size as Cody in a few years. That my friends...is big :) It's kind of nice to see he wears others out as much as he wears us out! Q was so excited to see his cousin Rebecka who has been at Grandma and Grandpa's this summer...I think he has a little crush.
Well, it seems Garfield and Q are calling...I need to go snuggle with my boy :)

Heidi Swapp

I am soooo excited!

If you scrapbook, you may have heard the name Heidi Swapp before.

She has designed products for Making Memories, has had her own line of product and is now working with two other talented ladies doing digital kits and hybrid products. She travels all over the world teaching classes and she is coming to Rigby.

RIGBY!! Home of the TV...where my grandpa, brother and uncle live...where my dad grew up and milked cows...

Crazy...

Anyway, my friend Alicia owns a store up there and is taking signups for this awesome event. You can find more information at this link Heidi in Rigby and sign up there. She does offer a payment plan, just call her. It does cost a bit more than most are used to paying for a class, however I am pretty sure you get everything you will need to complete the projects except for simple things like, adhesive...

I am so excited! Not only is it Conference weekend, it's Heidi weekend!

Did I mention I'm excited?

Personally, I can't wait for the energy journal, cause I need energy!

I have a ton

of things to post about...
pictures,
more pictures,
school,
tons of stuff...
but for now, I am letting people know that on Friday August 28, I am hosting a bead (bracelet/watch) party. There are watch faces that will be for sale ($8) and you can add whatever kind of band you would like to. The first party I went to I made two bands for just under $9...the second party I made three bands and bought a face and it was $19.08...so it is a really good price from this lady.
It is from 4-9, although I would suggest getting here before 8 for two reasons, 1) things could take awhile cause she has bagillion eleventy beads and 2) she will need to leave as close to 9 as possible.
You can also buy your own beads to take home.
I love these parties...I am just a little bit addicted to the bands...
Call if you need directions, or email me... tashepherd@hotmail.com

I hate

using the 'we are so busy' excuse for not ever posting.

While it's true, we are busy, it's mostly because I am too lazy to walk down the stairs to post and I really would rather make a post with pictures!

Last week I did a super fun photoshoot with another big family. It was sooo much fun to see all of the dynamics and watch the proud mama and papa and all of the siblings and grands.

I am editing them right now and I tell you, there are some awesome pictures in this group! I will share a few as soon as I get them all done :)

For now, here is one of my favs...

Don't forget!!

the garage sale tomorrow. You can even just stop by and say hello.
And maybe cross your fingers that it is decent weather with little wind.
We have a LOT of kids clothes...mostly boy, ages 0-7 or 8...
Toys, books, tables, scrapbook stuff.
Jeff would love it if it were all gone by tomorrow night.
Maybe we could park in the garage again before winter.
And Hunter wants a new trumpet :)
The sale is Saturday August 15, 8am-2pm.
My house.

This weekend

Saturday specifically, we will be having a garage sale at my house. I know there are a few people interested in knowing these things...
There will be a few families involved. If you want to bring stuff over and help out for a bit, just mark your prices with your initials so we can keep track of sales and bring it over Friday night.
Hours will be 8-2 I think...Billie, if that isn'tright let me know :)
I know there will be baby things, scrapbook stuff...probably a few odds and ends...books, tables, etc...

Garage Sale

SO, many of you have asked to be notified when I get my garage cleaned out.
I can't remember who all of you were, I did let a couple of people know.
My garage is slowly getting cleaned, and my sister is hosting a sale tomorrow. I am taking as much of my crap over there as I can.
Anything left over will be sold either next Saturday here, or the next Saturday at my sis's again.
I am also hoping I get to my storage room, but not thining that will happen this week.
Her address is 2285 Mesa. To get there, you go west on First street, turn right (north) on Eastview, take a shallow left on Renny and her house is the white brick at the intersection of Renny and Mesa. I know she will have a bunch of clothes and stuff, but that's all I know.
It starts at 8.
Hope to see you tomorrow!

photo overload

Many moons ago my friend Mary asked if I would be willing to do family photos.

I said sure...her family is great to take picures of because every one of them is gorgeous.

...oh yeah, she said, the WHOLE Jones family.

36 of them.

So I did.

It went so well!

I have heard reports that everyone was pleased with their shots.

That, my friends, is always a good thing!

The best part, I think they were all surprised at how quickly and painlessly it went.

Another good thing, because as you know, guys aren't so keen on getting their pictures taken.

I think I set a record for the fastest editing of the most pictures...at least for me.

Mary was willing to dish up food for my kids.

I think it freaked Carson out becuase he came down to make sure it was okay to eat what she put on his plate :)

Enjoy these pictures, I know I do...

I finally did it...

When we built this house we picked out all of the bits and parts before we signed on the dotted line...something about the contractor needing to know what was going where...it was nice in many ways, it saved us some stress in the last few weeks while we were stressing on whether or not our house sale would actually go through (it had fallen through once and the purchasing agent was a bit of a lush and in no hurry to do anything for his clients despite them being frustrated and ready to fire him...

anyhoo (that's such a funny word) when it came time to get it all done, the tile we had originally picked out for the master bath and the vinyl flooring we had picked out for the boys' bath was out of stock.

So much for no stress.

Our countertops were already in so I had to find something that would at least coordinate. Yikes.

I have never liked the combination in our master bath.

Ever.

I like it a LOT now.

See, Jeff used to go on fishing/hunting trips a lot more often than he does now. Things would change while he was gone. One day he went to work and a night class and I ripped out the dining room carpet and crappy kitchen vinyl and replaced it. His dad was an accessory to the crime, but I didn't tell him until after.

One weekend he went fishing. He came back to a red house...

There are other stories of a similar nature :) Needless to say it freaks him out just a bit when he leaves and I stay. This time it was the master bath. I did more than just this for those glorious three no man in the house days...but this is what surprised him the most :)

He mostly likes it. Although for him everything remaining white would be fine. Silly guy. He should have married someone else if he wanted that :)

He leaves again sometime late fall...