Christmas Photos - Pick your favorite

I wasn't about to pay for a photographer this year (I didn't last year either) for Christmas photos. I have a tripod. I have a timer. Why not do it myself? And I did.

Please let me know which is you like best. I actually took a lot more but narrowed it down to these three. I have already made my choice but I was curious to get yours.

A.


B.


C.


Ella and Aidan were so cute in these next two, I just had to capture the moment.







Aidan was pretty beat and acting whiny and silly by this time so I decided to have some fun with Ella. I thought they came out pretty nice.

Yay! After one year . . . Habit broken!

The past year at our house has been a bit stressful, to say the least, for most of us due to Aidan's hard habit of constantly having his nails/fingers in his mouth. We have had a number of infections to deal with, literally blood, sweat and tears, trips to the doctor's office, antiobiotics, etc.


After trying just about everything (gloves, nail polish, "Bite Free," other nail biting remedies, Tabasco sauce - truly, other ointments and sprays including pet deterrents, bandaids, and even giving up for a while there, my visiting "teachee" recommended this product - Mavala Stop.


After 3 days, Aidan is no longer biting his nails or fingers. His nails are finally starting to show above his cuticles. Yay.

Toys, Toys, Toys!

Does anybody else have this problem or a good cure? We recently finished our basement and now have toys in 3 1/2 rooms including the basement and a bedroom in the basement.

I like to think I am organized and have toys in plastic bins, etc but they are leaking out into other rooms and I'm so exhausted from picking them up all the time.

I know some people only allow their children to play in a certain room but I enjoy witnessing what they play so let's say it's somewhat controlled toy chaos?

If anybody has a good system or ideas on what to do besides give them away, let me know.

I also take some and store them - kind of like recycling.

I welcome any comments and/or suggestions.

A Little Funny

Aidan was a little restless tonight for family home evening and I was wondering how we could possibly get him to get anything from Ella's lesson. Well during a discussion on Jesus' resurrection, Aidan (who was sitting on my lap) whispered, "Mommy, I wish Heavenly Father and Jesus could do Halloween with us. I asked, "Why?" Aidan answered, "Because I really like them." I guess he got - something?

(Aside) I have to share this Mrs. Potato Head representation of me because this stage of drawing persons is too short -lived and too darling not to.


Me and Aidan

Weekend Gettaway

It was Matt's birthday on Monday and we have been planning to go "away" together. As the weekend got closer, we started coming up with all kinds of excuses not to go: cost, leaving the kids, projects around the house, cleaning the house, etc. I called Matt at work Friday and said, "Honey, we just need to do this." It was me initially who had all the excues so he was, of course, all for it. It was rejuvenating for each of us individually and as a couple; no meals to prepare, no household chores or resposibilities, and as much as I love my children, no "kid" noises. It was so worth it. We walked hand in had through the shops and art galleries on Main St. in Park City, where we stayed. We sat and talked over dinner without interruptions! And, I broke my 13 week sugar-free regimen by indulging in a Rocky Mountain Chocolate caramel apple. Okay, Matt and I shared it but it was pretty delicious.

Just a beautiful shot right aroundt sunset on Main St.

Me and the "birdman." He trains birds and yes, he trained the hawks for Lady Hawk, those of you who are old enough to remember this movie.

Most of my blogs don't have photos of me because I am usually the one behind the camera and besides, I hate pictures of myself but Matt took control of the camera this weekend. so here I am. I remember my mom never wanting her picture taken as well.

My all timie favorite gallery at Park City is Scanlan Windows to the World. It was here several years ago that I cemented my dream to visit Italy. I fell in love with this place called Civita de Bagnoregio and promised myself I would go there someday. I am planning on being there in 2013!!

Here's a photo of it:

The city is over 2500 years old and only has now 15 residents. I think it's enchanting, classic and obviously historic.

Our last day in Park City was what is called Park Silly. A bunch of vendors, artists, etc, line up the sidewalks with interesting works of art and other interesting "artifacts." I loved watching this pupeteer. He was so good and you really don't see these much anymore. I wished my children could have been there to see this fading art.

We also just enjoyed taking out these cruiser bikes our inn had for the guests

If it's been a while that you and your spouse have been alone together, get away! t is so important and again, so worth it.

It's Official - Aidan's a model

A talented home designer by the name of Annette Tatum in Southern California chose Aidan's photo for her children's bedding line. It's kind of funny but we gave our permission.

No, we are not getting him into modeling. She requested permission to use this photo from our photographer. It's actually one of my favorites.

Here it is. What do you think?

Here's her website: http://www.houseinc.com/ He isn't on there yet but will be as well as her packaging.

My Garden

My backyard is pretty small so I wanted to make it as pretty as possible while still leaving room for the kids to play and a big lab to to do his business.

Since Ella has been in kindergarten, Aidan and I have had some one on one time which has been so good for him. Yesterday we pulled weeds in the garden, dug for worms, slugs, and roly polies and picked from our garden. Okay, Aidan was mostly enthralled with the dirt and worms and I pulled the weeds but he was good company.

I love this little bench in a corner of our back yard. The kids love to sit here and play "house." Here's Aidan with his new find.

Here's a closer look. It's so funny to hear he and Ella talk about worms when they find them, "Aw, isn't he just darling." (Ella) "Look, Mommy, my wormy squirmy is so cute." (Aidan) Funny how I have gotten into worms lately - really funny.

Nicholas made this bird house for me in 7th grade. I will always treasure it.

I got this water fountain for Matt for our anniversay in April. It was so perfect with the little boy and girl (Ella and Aidan)

Here's another view. I just love it.

I have learned a lot about flowers in planning my garden. This is one of my favorites. It took forever to bloom - late summer but well worth it! It's a phlox - David phlox to be exact.

Just about every morning Ella and Aidan run here to pick black berries. It's so funny. Ella will have 5 or 6 and say we can make a pie now. I think I'll make one and buy most of the berries and use a few from our garden. She so wants blackberry pie and so do I!

Our apples are pretty delicious. Unfortunately, a lot of our cherries already got eaten by birds so we only enjoyed them for a short time.


One of my favorite treats, seriously, ever since I was a little girl is fresh tomato from the vine with salt. Mmmmm.

Matt made this delicious salsa with almost everything from our garden! I can have tomatoes like this also.