My new UGLY chair!!!

Isn't she a beauty. I love love my Ugly chair, lol. I got it for 15 dollars and she is going to get a total make over very soon. Just havent found the perfect fabric yet. Something bold and bring, or bold and sophisticated. It will all depend what strikes my fance, he he!!
I am so tired, I will share more tomorrow. Just wanted to share real quick since I was so shocked to get one and at such a good price.

Kids doing Chores...could it really be?

Hello Everyone!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Mine was a bit slow and boring but by the end it ended on a good note..(even though my kids were almost an hour late to bed!!)

The weather was nice this weekend and the kids did alot of playing outside. I also made my 2 week menu for the next two weeks. I am hoping that helps me to cook more regularly. I dont mind cooking per say, I hate the what am I going to make TODAY, that drives me crazy. Nick being on nights doesnt help much either.

So, this last week I gave the kids chores they are responsible for. Its been an intersting week, but for the most part they are doing well. I did learn that money doesn't motivate my kids much. I think food or priviledges may work better, haven't decided on that yet, lol. So, I thought it would be a good idea to DOCUMENT my kids doing their chores. You never know when you might need that kind of thing for evidence, LOL.



As you can see on the left, Cameron has vacuming and he practically BEGGED for this chore. Which is fine with me, cause this house needs to be vacumed ATLEAST once a day. He loves it and asks 500 times when can he vacume. Not sure what Sydney is so puzzled about, lol.


Cameron is also in charge of trash, dishes and the every popular job, dog poop (once a week). (Its ok I had that job when I was his age and I turn out, well close to normal, lol)


Sydney has dusting as one of her chores and she has also been looking forward to it. I forgot to get the little dusters that go on the sticks but she was content with a swifter sheet, for now. She was a bit upset that she couldn't reach the TV. But she found plenty other things to dust.

She also has making sure the dogs have water, and helping Ben collect dirty clothes and shares the duty of Bathroom Detail (just making sure its picked up) with Natalie.


Natalie is the table cleaner. She is quite good at it but she likes to over do it with the spray, lol. So, she gets to use the cleaning wipes or mom sprays the table and she wipes it down.


Mind you this is the child that REFUSES to clean up toys or her room. She hides or all of a sudden falls ill with a belly ache or other ailment of the like. I am loving the hand holding her hair off her face while wiping with the other. I mean, I would be happy to put her hair up and off her face but that is something else she refuses to let me do unless its school cause she knows there is no way out of that. She also is responsible for making sure the dogs of food. Also as i mention before she has bathroom detail. She has one less since Sydney's dusting is not an everyday thing but the table and dog food is.

And you may ask where is Ben when all this cleaning is going on. Well he is assigned one chore, he has to make sure all dirty clothes are in the laundry room. Though everyone is suppose to make sure its taken there, there are times of running late or being forgotten that he is suppose to pick up. Sydney is his mentor on this task since he is still young and learning this whole chore thing.

Well, here is .......

Asking for apple sauce, no no, BEGGING for apple sause though he just had a Corn Dog with ketchup. You can see the evidence on his face.

So, yeah, Ben is still work in progress,lol.

I hope everyone has a good start this week. I have a bit of excitings news on the photography front but that will have to wait till tomorrow, I am falling asleep at I type this.

Hasta Manana!

Catching up....seems like I am always doing that

Well, its been a long week. But I didnt forget. I am off my internship this week and my photography class with Karen Russell is OVER. =( Its been weird. I mean I have assignments to catch up, but being off interning and the havoc in my household has motivated me much, lol. But did do 2 loads of laundry and folded 2 that have been staring at me. Plus, I swept and vacume so I feel like I have been somewhat productive.

Now the kids are doing chores and Ben is taking a very needed nap. So, I am taking this time to blog and get people up to date. Let's see, ahhh yes.

News-

Well, Nick has the shingles and is hating it. He is in a lot of pain, and he finally got on something stronger then motrin. He can only take it at night.

Sydney had dance pictures taken,today. And she was nice enough to be my model for some pictures I wanted to take and see if they came out how my friend Allie and I envisioned. They turned out even better, whohoo.

Natalie and I were suppose to go to school together to take pictures of her classmates for a mother's day project. But we had to rescedule for next week cause Nick was needed on days last minute.

Ben is up to the usual, running around the house and eating me out of the house. Though he loves to have pictures taken by me and then he has to see them right away, lol.

Last but not least Cameron is still raising money for the Young Marines and so far he is doing really well. He is excitd to graduate and "become" a Young Marine in the later part of April.

Well, I have children that are fighting over who is done with chores and who isnt. LOL. Those are my kiddos. Hope you enjoy the pictures....And I will post about the cool find I got at Ross a couple of weeks ago.

Have a good Evening....

Morning Colors

Well, yesterday I got to shoot morning colors. And I got some good shots, and I also got an idea on what I need to work on. Its starting to feel like its clicking and I can see the improvement in my photographs.This is one of my favorite shots.

Sorry this is short, but I am very tired and need to get to bed. Hope everyone is having a great week.

The Character Project

I dont remember where I got this link. But I think its so cool. This is what they had on aperture.org

Character Project is an ongoing artistic initiative
committed to celebrating America's characters—the interesting, dazzling, and
distinctive people, from all walks of life, who make this country extraordinary.
Inspired by USA Network's iconic "Characters Welcome" brand, and with the
support of Aperture Foundation, USA assembled a team of eleven world-class
photographers to capture the character of America. Each artist's vision was as
unique as the people and places they photographed. From Alaska to New York, the
subjects they encountered are a stunning example of our country's diversity. The
musicians and mothers, fishermen and farmers, athletes and artists, at home, at
work, and at play, are a true representation of what it means to live in America
today. Reminding us, once again, that we are all characters. And we're all
welcome.

You can find the video clip and more info and the video here.

Time....what is time...I never have any!!!

I have been a bit of "Crazy Busy", lol. Startin the internship with the Naval Hospital, Bio-Med Dept. has been such an awesome expierience so far. At the same time, it has be busy and I think I am finally adjusting. I have learned so much in just two weeks. I got to shoot my first function it was for some navy guys getting ready to pcs (permenent change of station). It was the first duty station for both. We scoped out places for a group picture and even got pictures of the dogwoods that are in full bloom.

Then Friday, was gorgeous outside. It was partly cloudy but the sky was blue and the clouds look like marshmellow, lol. I got to learn more about adjusting my settings and how to deal with the different places the sun is during the day. The Photographer, walk me thru a retirement, shwing me where everyone stood and the flow of things. Also shared with me where he usually stood and stuff like that. He is so awesome at explaining stuff, but he is deploying and his last day is Friday. Then I have a week off and his counterpart come back from taking a class, I have heard he is a hoot, I feel like I already know him cause I have heard so much about him. I am confident I will learn alot from him too, I have seen some of his photography and its so good.

Anyway, Friday right before we went back in I got some pictures of the flags infront of the hospital. I love how the first one turn out. The angle and perspective was exactly what I was hoping to capture and love that you can see movement in the picture without and bluring. I was pretty proud. Nothing that is award winning, but I feel like I am learning and getting where i want to be a step at a time.

On the family front, Cameron is loving the Yound Marines. This weekend was his first overnight function and he seem to really enjoy it. He is studying his material non-stop, and practicing his drill movements. I Love the pride he feels, and the excitement of it all. He is doing awesome.

The girls had a field trip to the park to fly kites friday but it got reschedule for this friday. Its going to be lots of fun for them.

Ben is just being him. He is enjoying having Dad home during the day and has been a good sport.

Nick is adjusting to Night crew, which is always hard on him but he is being a good sport about it and being very supportive.

I think that about covers it pretty much, I promis to try to update a little more often then every 10 days or something.

Do you know what 2 things in common this pics have in common?

The show two of my most favorite things. Photography and scrapbooking!!! This was a couple of days ago when I was going with The Big Picture approach. Sorting and putting my pictures into my picture files. I ended up going from the pioneer spiral albums to 2 inch binders with 3-4x6 picture page protectors. That way i have the options of adding more pictures without have to rearrange it all. I had to do that more then once with the on in the picture. NOT FUN!! And in PhotoFreedom, Stacy's main message is that its not suppose be hard, it suppose to be stressfree once you have your system set up. Then you can concentrate to scrapbooking your most favorite and meaningful memories and enjoy the creative process. And once I am at it, let me tell you, LOVE that book. The system makes TOTAL sense to me and its packed with AWESOME Ideas. Its one of those books that keeps inspiring you. lol!! (these statement is made volutarily and free will with no recompensation of any kind. )

Anyway, then there is my 1st passion of photography. I have am taking Karen Russell's The Photographer's Workshop. Not only can this woman and mom of 4 take some awesome, kick butt, fabulous pictures, but she can teach. I have been trying to get the principles of photography for a while. I have read books, taken a class here and there. But this is the first time I got !! Nothing went over my head. She explains things in different ways to make sure you understand the concept. And her voice has a calming effect on me, I have thought about putting it on for my kids and see if it stops them from acting like zoo animals. Or maybe I will just keep it so when the kids are driving me nuts, I dont fall off the deep end, lol. She is positive and ecouraging. I have learned so much, and my class is awesome too, we learn alot from each other. I am a bit behind because my parents came the second week I was in class. But I should be caught up by the end of this weekend, cause that is my first priority. Well, besides the usual, children, husband and all that stuff, lol.

Anyway, back to the pictures. As you see how dark they started they got lighter. I raised my ISO and kept adjusting my aperture. Its far from perfect, but I got the concept and I wasn't shooting in auto either, big deal for me.

Well, this has turn into a novel, I hope everyone has a great weekend. I hope to be blogging with pictures of my scraproom and my scrapbook page of my newly wed meal I preparred for my husband. There is a funny story that goes with that. Ok, really I am done now.

Catching up....getting back to a routine that works

Well, I never came back and blogged. Its just been so busy. And honestly, I never got back to my routine once Nick came home. Life has just been hectic and irratic. But, I told my self starting today I was going to work really hard to get back to the routine I had loved so much. I got so much done and felt productive. I have a feeling that I couldnt get back there because I was beyond exhuasted.

That is because, Friday I got very yucky sick. It felt like the Flu or something. By the time it was almost lunch time, I had thrown up, kept feeling nauseous and every bone, even the ones I wasn't aware I had, had me laying on the couch with agonizing pain. So much so, I had to call Nick to atleast pick up the girls for me. I NEVER EVER really call Nick, when I am sick. Its the U.S. Marine Corp, unless I am giving birth or on my death bed, they are not keen on letting their marines come home and nurse their family. And well, let's be honest, I pride myself in independence and having to call for help and depend on someone, no matter who, is not something I enjoy. Well Nick came home got the girls and stayed so I could get some rest. I wasn't allowed out of bed the rest of the day and was on a very "restful" weekend.

Thanks to that, I got up today ready to get back to my routine. I got up, got the kids up, jump in the shower, got dressed and even blew dried my hair. Even Ben was fully dressed to take the older kids to the bus stop. Came home, had breakfast, threw in a load of laundry, uploaded an assignment for my photography class(The Photographer's Workshop which is taught by the AWESOME Karen Russell...will tell you about it more later.) and am already on my second load of laundry. Oh, and I took pictures of the dogs and Ben too. WHOHOOO!!!

Though Ben keeps trying to break into the Fridge, somethings don't change. Well, I am off to see if I can create some now that my scrap room is finally organized. I totally overhauled it. I started New Years Day and a couple of weeks later, it was workable but I wasn't happy so I kept at it and now I am really excited. I know I will keep changing little things to fine tune it butI think I got the major of it to be productive. I will share my scraproom in the next few days. And all my craziness, hope everyone is well and dont be shy drop me a comment or a email.

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

But all is better now.

Busy, Busy, Busy.........and the countdown is starting =(

What do you get when siblings get together and mom says, time for no TV. They put their heads together, and turn a play kitchen into a play BOAT!! LOL!!! They loved playing pretend boat, they played this game for days to come. Sydney sitting the middle what the "driver", I have no idea what the rest of the kiddos were, LOL.

Well, we have been busy bees here. Cameron is doing soccer and he is getting to play goalie and getting quite good. Sydney is still dancing and LOVING every min. of it. We had observation day last week and she is doing so well. She had no hesitation performing in from of all the parents. She has come a long way from dance camp last summer. I am so VERY VERY proud.

Natalie being goofy as always, and Sydney is trying her very best to potty train her and Natalie is not having it, LOL. Natalie is a tad of hard headed to say the least. She is quite the entertainer along with Ben. There never is a dull moment here.

Ben is Mr. Talker. He is talking so much. Loves to repeat and mimic. He is already helping out in the house responsibility. He LOVES to let the dogs in and out. He also can go get a diaper when asked and throws away his dirty diaper. Yes, ladies and Gentlemen, my almost 2 year old is chipping in. He just wants to be a big kid just like his siblings. He still gets in trouble, digging in mom's scrapping space. Along with terrorizing the dogs, but they still worry and keep an eye on him.

Along with all these happy moments and growing, we have hit the time when we start counting down to Nick departure to land of sun and sand. He is now on leave, and we are trying our best to make the best of our time together. Today we sat and have a tentative plan for his time off. He will be off for about 3 weeks. Then he will deploy shortly after that. Along with that have I have projects to finish for him. Included in them are a pillow case with our pictures on it and a small scrapbook of family pics. I also want to take pics of the him with the kiddos, so the kids have recent pictures with daddy!!! A year is a long time, but we believe in the mission he is going to be part of and we are preparing the best we can. The rest, we have faith that God will watch over us and guide us and help us get through it.

Will try to update soon. Hoping to set up my studio in my spare room, now that Ben is rooming with his older brother and both are quite content with the arrangement. Anyone wanting to be practice models for this dream, determine pro-photographer wanna-be, would be great. Send me a message and I will be sure to get back to you as soon as possible. And just in case, I am in the market for a good deal on a Nikon D40. I am open to D40x or ect. I definitely want a Nikon though. Along with any good site or insight. Love you all and Hasta Pasta for now!!

P.S- Sorry the picture above was not edited because the hubby is taking my laptop and he wiped it clean and restore it, so my editing software isnt loaded. And I am too lazy to go mess with PSE 4 on the MAC. =)

First Day School

Happy Monday!!!

Today was The First Day of School for Cameron. First day of First grade. He was so excited. He feels like such a Big Kid. He also now gets to walk to the bus stop. Last year I drove him, but he really wanted to ride the bus. We walked together and got there just in time. He walked home too. We are also instituted a routine for school days, I made him a clipboard with a check list, so he can look at it to know what he needs to do next. I will post a picture of it in another post. Anyway, it was a successful First Day of School. And well, no activity or post is really complete without a picture, LOL. So here Camerons first day of school. I photoshop one with the black and white picture and leaving Cameron in color. Been wanting to do that for a while and I finally did it. LOVE IT, LOVE IT.

yummy yummy and gearing up for the ABC's

Hello my Peeps,

Dont ask me where I got that from, cause I really dont know. Anyway, I have been really bad about blogging this week. Been a busy and somewhat stressful week. Anyway, we went out to Cici's Pizza for dinner this last week as a family, along with a trip to Target for school supplies. Well, I have never seen a 19 month eat this much. LOL. 1 BIG SLICE PIZZA and 3 cheese bread. He truly enjoy his pizza.

And Cameron wanted a messenger bag pack. He found it at Target and he was so very excited!!!

He is pretty much set for school. Well, I am exhausted....hopefully I will blog tomorrow with more interesting stories to tell, LOL.

Photo, I hope to be able to capture more like this on a regular basis

Picture of Cameron and Sydney. I loved how this picture, I hadn't posted it because I took this before I started this blog. But my fabulous friend Allie saw this and told me I should post it on my blog. So, Here it is. Hope you guys like it as much as Allie and I like it.

What to do on a HOT DAY!!!

It has been VERY VERY hot in our Neck of the woods. My kids have been a bit on the bored and rebuncious side. So, everyday, I try t change things up. I also have consituted NO electical entertainment time, well except listening to the music on my laptop. So, I guess interactive entertainment.

Anyway, I thought yesterday was a good day to make a club house. So, Cameron built it and they had tons of fun.

Today, have a crazy morning, its been a surpisely calm day. I got some more organizing done in my area, foam stamps are stored. Ok, well Ben is yelling for me, so I am off.

I am a Big Boy now!!!

Happy Hump day!!! Trying to stick to my picture a day!!!! Well Ben was more then willing to help his momma out, LOL!!! He felt the need to eat at the table like his brother and sisters. He thinks he is such the big boy.

And I must say he thinks that spagetti is mighty tasty, even if its just noodles and no sauce.

I am going to go see if I can track down some velcro and see if I can get my foam stamps organized.

Hope everyone has a great night!!!!

Hasta Pasta!!!LOL

As you can see I have been trying to take more pictures, just been bad about posting, LOL. Hey just remember I am a work in progress. These were taken last week. LOVE THEM!!! They really show their personalities. Hope you enjoy them, and I would love comments and critiques. =)