timber down

I am so excited. We are finally getting our backyard put together. Someplace for the kids to be able to go outside and play. Someplace that has a fence and grass. Up until now it's been nothing but a fire hazard and a bug incubator. We are finally clearing all that out. In the process we ended up taking out 6 trees. That was really sad, but we put in 10 more along the back. So in a few years, it won't be quite so vacant back there. The kids can't wait until they can actually walk on the new sod (pictures will come, don't you worry!), they actually call it "super grass". It's cute. Two weeks and they can have at it!!

You got me, again.

Okay, so I was tagged a LONG time ago, and have been trying to avoid eye contact ever since. So I'll just get this off my chest....

6 random things about me...
1~ Cannot stand feet. Ugh.
2~ Cannot share cereal. If Matt takes a bite of it, I'm done with the bowl. Silly really
3~ I REALLY want to learn to break dance. Badly.
4~ Cannot force myself to go to bed before 11 pm. I just can't.
5~ I don't like chocolate, or vanilla. I'm not trying to be difficult or anything!
6~ My nickname growing up was Jonsey. I actually thought it was my middle name through most of grade school.

There you go. So you read, you've got it on you now!

Two eyes, two ears, two hands and two feet

And now two years!

I can't believe my "baby" is already two. I know we all say this with every birthday for each of our kids. But for some reason the speed of time never ceases to amaze. Ase is such her own little person. She has got to get into something requiring a lot of bouncing around everywhere like a spaz, because she has enough of that plus some. It'll be fun to see what she ends up doing. Danceing, Cheer (if we stay in the south probably since that is HUGE here), Gymnastics, the Circus... who knows! And she is all girl. She loves dancing, stuffed dolls, making stuffed dolls dance, and anything pretty. She was trying so hard to be "pretty" in this picture she didn't even want to move. It cracked me up. So we have a very serious, but underneath that a very happy two year old.

I will say she is the quickest kid we've had yet. She pickes up on things SO fast. She already pumps herself on a swing for goodness sake. I am still trying to help the older two to get that down! And her favorite thing to do right now is tell knock-knock jokes. No kidding. And you think they're not funny when a 5 year old tells them. Try a two year old's. We've all got that courtesty laugh down around here!

So there's my Ase. She is the most fun, outgoing little kid I've known. But of course there's always the other side to that, but we won't go there! We didn't get a lot of good photos from the birthday "party" because there were too many kids trying to help(aka, brother and sister) and Ase not pausing for a second to breath.

O-well. A cake picture is good enough.

ZZ top

So here is the cake I made Ase for her birthday. She LOVES zebra's, so it was the natural choice. The hair was the part that was the most fun. Good thing we all love black licorice here!

But of course I had to add some "tradition" we'll call it to the cake. I didn't want to do anything too disturbing to the outside on this one....


so I didn't it on the inside. The kids thought it was pretty cool that when you cut it open it looked like blood. Nice. And we incourage this in our kids?!

disgruntled

I had the privilege of taking photos yesterday for family, and I'd dare say they turned out pretty good, despite the constant complaints! This boy did not want photos taken, no matter what. But even after it was done he said it wasn't that bad. Only 5 minutes and 27 frames. That's a lot quicker than trying to work with my kids!
The last is more the expression I saw in 97% of the other photos! Lets just say it shows.... personality!





It feels good to get some of those creative juices flowing again. Whew!

Late, but here

So I finally am posting again. I don't know what happened to me here, but I just didn't make it onto the computer. Yikes! I know these pictures are old, but I just loved them all the same. Ase loved the sparklers, but when the fireworks showed up, the last picture is how she spent the entire hour. Poor thing! As wild as she is, I didn't think they'd even bother her... but they did!

Until next year

twisted birthdays

So I decided to pull up a few of our bizarre cakes we've done over the last couple of years. We don't have too many yet, since we don't want to do too weird at their friend birthday parties. We have more than this, but thought this was a good sampling....


This is probably my favorite. Nutmeg really wanted a snowman birthday cake. She loved snowmen (and of course it's right when we moved to Georgia.. sorry about that girl!) so here is what Matt pulled together. Remember that Calvin and Hobbs with the snowmen? And just a note, poor Nutmeg was only TWO!!



Bug wanted a dinosaur cake. We had a really good one we were doing for the friend party, so didn't want to do too much for the family one. Again, Matt got to work. You can't really tell here, but the dinosaurs have shredded some of the bears to pieces while the others are running down the alley....





We decided to do a transformers cake for Matt's birthday. Gross was the only way to go for this one!



And just so you know that we can do a cake if we really try... here is the real dinosaur cake for Bug's party. It looks like a lizard really, but it was still impressive. Now if only the head would have stayed up by itself. Maybe I really should have followed the directions!

That time of year

Here we start again on the summer birthdays. 4 of us are withing just over a month of each other, and that's not including extended family. It's crazy, and we all get sick of birthday cake... but it's fun! Poor Nutmeg feels a little excluded though, hers isn't until November.

We started it off with Matt's birhthday. Yea!!! He doesn't think so, but the rest of us did! His family has the weirdest tradition. Birthday cakes aren't normal at their house. They are demented, or twisted in some way. It's almost disturbing! I remember the first birthday I saw at their house, when Matt and I were still dating. Their dad had taken a barbie, decapitating it and placing the head in the mouth of a shark. The arms coming out the sides of the shark, and the feet coming out the bottom end. I now know what would result if a barbie and a shark ever met up....

So here was Matt's cake this year. The "chlorophyll" was a little greener than expected, but it worked just fine. I may not look so good, and you really have a hard time eating a brown unexpected lump from the depths of it.... but it tasted good!!

Happy Birthday babe. We love you!

And that makes 8

This weekend was awesome. It was one of my best friends birthdays, so me and another best friend watched her kids overnight and all the next day. What more could a mom want that some quiet time? As part of her birthday present we took a picutre of all the kids together. Yes, we are insane for the two of us (my frined being pregnant) to drag 8 kids to Kiddie Kandids. It worked though, and they turned out really cute! The weekend was exhausting even though the kids were great, the house was a zoo, and everything was loud....

but I loved it all!

Friday night we were all just hanging out. My friend and her husband came back to claim their kids, and m other friends husband happened to have a layover here, so he joined us too. The kids were running around the house like mad, the adults were in the famiy room talking and playing Guitar Hero (Which was also loud so we could hear over the kids!) and I was just finishing up some dishes from dinner. Right then it struck me how perfect the night was. I love having people over. Especially these people. And here we all were, just hanging out. I even loved all the noise. That's how a house should be. Filled with noise. The kind of noise that shows you are having a good time. And that's what it was. I didn't want it to end!

Sad, but I think this will be the last time for a long time we'll all be in the same house together. :(

From A to Z

A: Attached or Single: Very Attached
B: Best Friends: Becki, Brooklyn, Nicole, Alyssa, Molly and Jo
C: Cake or Pie: Pie all the way! Lemon meringue, key lime, apple....
D: Day: Thursday. The anticipation of the weekend to come, without the disappointment of the weekend being over.
I "should" be doing something a little more productive than this!
E: Essential Item: toothbrush and chapstick
F: Favorite Color: orange, then pink, then red
G: Gummie bears or worms: Worms, brings back childhood memories!
H: Hometown: Is way too small but filled with memories, good and bad.
I: Indulgences: Reading. Sitting on the computer. Getting dressed up to go out
J: January or July: July!! I love the sun, and it's my birthday month!
K: Kids: 3. I boy and two girls. Poor guy.
L: Life is incomplete without: Matt, the church, my family and friends. And a camera.
M: Marriage Date: August 16th
N: Number of Siblings: 4, all younger. I sister and 3 brothers.
O: Oranges or Apples: Apples. Oranges taste better, but I HATE peeling them!
P: Phobias or fears: Cockroaches. I hate even typing out the name!
Q: Quote: "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. " -Picasso
R: Reason to Smile: Give me a good reason not too.
S: Season: Fall. I just love the smell, the colors, and the excitment of the upcoming season.
T: Tag: Jo, since she hasn't done it yet!
U: Unknown Fact about me: I once begged my parents to give me a middle name so I could be like the other kids. It didn't work!
V: Very Favorite Store: Any home decor store.
W: Worse Habit: eating out of habbit. That and staying up until 1 am.
X: X-rays or Unltrasounds: Ultrasounds. They've been for good things (like babies, or good news) where there's usually a bad reason that gets you an x-ray
Y: Your Favorite Food: Steak, Artichokes, fruit, homemade warm buttered bread
Z: Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Pitter-patter

Matt's Fathers Day gift (framed for him of course!)



Happy Fathers Day babe. I love you!

Jonah "IN" the Whale

For our church the kids all got to draw a picture for the program they pass out every Sunday. This Sunday, well which ever day is on the program, they had Bugs on there. It created quite a stir. They actually stood up on the podium and spoke about it.

About how the tale was in the shape of a heart. And what that really signified. It was pretty funny to me, because I just assumed that's how he drew the tale. No heart intended.

Either way, intended or not I thought it was pretty dang cute. They didn't ask the kids to draw anything in particular, other than their favorite scripture story. So this was all thought up in his own head. Besides, he was just glad everyone liked his picture, albeit a little embarrassed by all the attention!

Just thought I'd share the cuteness!!

The Mouth of Babes

Okay, so I don't usually do these, but I just couldn't resist when I saw this one on my friends blog. There is just something about kids and what they say. Here is how ours went.

What is something mom always asks you?
Bug: To take care of Ainsley
Nutmeg: Choose the right

2. What makes mom happy?
Bug: That I do what you telled me to do
Nutmeg: Helping

3. What makes mom sad?
Bug: When I don't do what you telled me to do
Nutmeg: Not choosing the right

4. How does mom make you laugh?
Bug: Ummm, tickle
Nutmeg: Being silly

5. What was mom like as a kid?
Bug: Me, when I do things.
Nutmeg: She was a baby

6. How old is your mom?
Bug: 25 (yea!!!)
Nutmeg: 30

7. How tall is your mom?
Bug: 16 tall
Nutmeg: Big, super big

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Bug: Play with us. (I'm glad it was that!)
Nutmeg: Play with us (I must be doing something right, that's 2 for 2)

9. What does your mom do when your not around?
Bug: I don't know, cause I just don't
Nutmeg: Scare us

10. If your mom becomes famous what will it be for?
Bug: because your a genious (that is why I love this kid!)
Nutmeg: I don't know

11. What is your mom really good at?
Bug: exercising
Nutmeg: doing the dishes and Guitar Hero

12. What is your mom not so good at?
Bug: I can't think of nothing for that one. These are some pretty hard questions.
Nutmeg: Nothing

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Bug: Take care of us
Nutmeg: To take care of us

14. What is your moms favorite food?
Bug: fruit
Nutmeg: Lasange

15.What makes you proud of your mom?
Bug: That you're a good mom
Nutmeg: choosing the right

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Bug: A dragon
Nutmeg: Clifford

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Bug: Go to the pool
Nutmeg: Help and play

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Bug: Ummm, I don't know why, I can't think of nothing
Nutmeg: I don't know, there's nothing the same of us

19. How are you and your mom different?
Bug: I don't know whats different
Nutmeg: cause your big and I'm small

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Bug: That I love you
Nutmeg: You tell me

All in a decade

So, you have to first promise me you won't laugh.

Promise?

I mean it! I found some pictures from our senior trip. I didn't really think we'd all changed that much, but, um, I think we have! Remember, NO LAUGHING!!




Okay, who am I kidding, laugh away!!
Once your done laughing.....fast forward 10 years and here you go. Who would have thought we'd turn out so good looking! lol! I know you've seen this picture before, but I had to end on a good one.

Area of Sand Sloping Down to the Water:Beach

As I've gone through the photos from my girls trip, I realized we all seemed to get a lot of certain photos, other than just the beach of course. So I thought I'd share with you the reoccurring themes.

1.

I don't know what it was with feet, but we ALL had a bunch!




2.

Pictures of us taking pictures. It's bound to happen with 5 cameras snapping at everything.




3.

Me on the phone. I had so many complaints that I didn't ever answer my phone... but I have plenty of proof to say otherwise! I was always answering that thing!!!




4.

I don't think anyone really understands how many pictures of feet we collectively had. I mean, really. When showing Matt the pictures from the trip he told me if he saw one more picture of a foot......




5.

Group photos. But isn't this what it's all about? Here we are 10 years almost to the day from our senior trip. Becki, Brooklyn, Diana, Nicole and Alyssa. Now I'll have to dig up one from our trip 10 years ago. Or, maybe not!

Stopping for a spiritual fuel fill-up

Yesterday I had to stop for gas. Normally this wouldn't mean anything.

Yesterday it did.

I was next to the airport and the "empty" light had been showing for a good bit of time. I didn't dare push it so I stopped at the closest place I could. The ghetto. On top of that, the gas was $4.09. Ahhhhh! I didn't seem to have too much choice so I pulled in to the first gas station off the freeway, ready to fill up and run. I didn't care the price at this point. Before even stepping foot out of my car I felt very uneasy, as if someone was starring at me. Looking at the car next to me I find 4 older gentlemen, all of whom look like they just got in from off the streets and non of which looked like they could or should drive. The "driver" was starting to get into the car but had stopped mid sit to stare. At me. I started back, feeling like a deer in headlights. I couldn't break the stare. For some reason I wanted to see him break it first. That was not going to happen. He hadn't even finished sitting down into his seat. He was still half sitting in the air. I got out with much delima. Do I leave the wallet in the car where I can't see it or do I take it with me where I can see it, but so can everyone else? I left it in the car. I took my credit card and keys... that was it. I don't know why the keys because anyone who is insane enough to steal a car with three young kids in it probably gets what would be coming to them! I had only but stepped out of the car to find a homeless man approaching another guys for something. Nervousness hit me with the fear he might approach me. The other guy mentioned something about not having anything, and walked off. The Homeless guy glanced my way but continued on his way. Then for some reason I felt guilty. He hesitated in his steps taking him further from me and walked back in my direction. Here he comes, I thought... not knowing how I felt about this. "Ma-am, would you be willing to let me pump your gas for you for some change? I just need a little more so I can buy a sandwich down the street." -as he shows me the meager change he pulled out of his pocket. His voice was sweet and gentle. I paused, and was ashamed of myself. My husband and I have been talking a lot lately about helping those in need. Here it was in front of me and I should have been jumping on this small chance. "Please, don't worry about my gas or doing anything else, but I would be happy to help you". I went back to the car, although a little scared to turn my back on him. I went for the small change I had, then the guilt hit again. I reached in my wallet and pulled out a dollar bill. I never carry cash and new I needed to use it now, so I reached in and pulled out another dollar. I turned around and handed this man 2 dollars. That's it. Such a small amount for me (couldn't feed my whole family on that very easily) but two meals for him at McDonalds. He then wanted to shake my hand and thank me over and over for this kindness. I didn't want him to touch my hand at all, but knew that was all he had to give. So I let him. No, actuall I shook his hand back. He had both hands on mine telling me thank you. He was starring at me so intensly I was at first uncomfortable. Was he memorizing my face so he could do something to me later? Was he distracting me while some else was getting into my car or my wallet? Or, could it simply be that I needed to relax. Looking back in his eyes you could see a soul. A very grateful and lonely soul. No friends, no family, no human contact other than disgust. "My name is Joel". "My name is Diana, it's a pleasure to meet you", and I meant it.

As he walked off the discomfort of where I was returned. I noticed the car of gentlemen, the one still frozen in a stare. At me. I quickly decided I had enough gas to get back home. It was hard to shake that eerie feeling left from that stare, but even harder to shake was that wonderful feeling from the stare of Joel.

I love geting these small moments. And to think of how many of them I pass up makes me sad.

The bestest most fantastic weekend...ever!

And on to the end.... China

Okay, are you really ready for this. You're going to want a face mask and some oxygen before you're done! Just kidding. I tried not to drag you through too many of the smoggy photos. I really don't have that many of China because of just that. There wasn't anything you could see.




This was nicknamed "the 580" because there were 580 knock-off shops in here. Little did we know ALL this stuff was illegal. We came home with some pretty good stuff though!



This is the fabric market, although to you it may look just like the 580, but it wasn't. Here we had all our clothes made... and it was so cheap and lets not forget legal! Some even had jeans made and they were only $15. Ahh! This was probably the only thing I thought would be worth going back for!


And NO, it's not just bad photography on these next few. This is really how everything looked since it was covered in a film of smog. Some days were worse than others, but this was just your average look here. My heart actually started to hurt after walking around outside for a few days. I was SO glad to be home!






This was first thing in the morning when we woke up, before the winds had a chance to clear any of the smong. Remember we are already 80 floors up.... so there should be tons of buildings visible below....

juSt rAndoM In jaPAn

Here are some random photos from Japan!



This is probably one of my favorite photos, since it describes their culture perfectly. It's talked about over there how the youth want to stand out, but never too much because "the nail that pokes out is the one that gets hammered down". Talk about trying to get everyone to conform.






You'd think this was a mail box because it says "post", but doesn't it look eerily like our fire hydrant?





Here is an actual subway train. I know... now you can finally see where it is that your NOT supposed to get caught in the doors! And really, once those doors start closing they DO NOT open if someone is caught. We found out the hard way. Those eyes do hurt worse than the doors!





In Nikko, walking from one temple to the next I ran into this old chair just sitting in the intersection. I don't know where the inhabitant went....





So many people walked around with face masks, we started to feel like maybe we should too. Take a minute though and think how much healthier we'd all be if we wore a mask at the sign of a cold or anything else. One of the only things we are all good at sharing, and probably the only thing we shouldn't. Sickness. ugh.





Here we are inside the underground world. There are 6 different hallways you can actually see in this photo, but probably that many more you can't. It was the most confusing but also the best way to get around. And you can definitely tell when you are swimming up-stream.





Okay, so this line for Krispy Kreme was and hour and a half long. I mean, really? And it was all locals there too. Strange.





We have no idea what this is for. It was at a corner in a main city area, just out of nowhere. This BIG american looking display, in english and in bold red. It was soooo out of place it was really funny. Everyone kept stopping to take pictures next to it. So either they knew something we didn't, they thought it was just as strange, or they were doing what we were doing and taking one "just in case" it was something important since everyone else was! Once home I googled it and here is what I found. Now I wish we'd taken one without me in it. O-well!

And that's it. So next we're on too China. Don't hold your breath..... actually you may want to hold your breath because for the next 5 days you won't be able to breath again.

Last day in Tokyo

Our last day in Tokyo started at 4 am in the fish market. We could not believe how much fish went through this place, and it was so busy with workers you really had to watch out or you'd get run over. They take the fish from being still alive all the way to packed and rolled as sushi, ready to be bought at the store. There were a lot who ate some of the sushi right from there, but after watching all of this, and smelling all of it, I just couldn't stomach it. O-well. One thing I won't have done! We had a bunch more pictures, but thought we'd spare all of you the details!
Later in the day we headed over to Asakusa. This is where much of the shopping is done for the china. It was packed with people, but was fun to experience. We bought some cookies they made at one of the booths, which weren't that bad. The cream center was made of beans... who would have thought...
There's also a view in here from the top of the building next to our hotel. This is the never-ending view of Tokyo we looked at every day. Pretty amazing.