Mentionings

I thought I would mention
-I didn't win the photo contest. Wasn't upset, I was up against professionals. I am glad I did it though. Got it out of the way. I do want to say Good Job to my friends Shaila and Melanie. They didn't win either but they got honorably mentioned! I told you they were good!
-I think I am going to start another blog for just my photos. Then my family blog won't turn into my "just thought I would post some random pictures" blog. I think it will be krazyk'sphotogblog but we will see. I might come up with something more catchy.
-Giving a Happy Birthday shout out to Dane, Conley and Diane. Happy Birthday!
-Jayda is now the last one to get the crud. She hasn't eaten anything for a couple days and I hope it doesn't take to big of a toll on her. I can't believe John and Kaylin actually got sick. They never get sick. They just acted like they had a cold for a couple days and Jase was the worst at a 103' temp for 5 days, not to mention the chills, aches, cough, runny/stuffy nose, upset stomach, whining, crying, and pouting for a solid week. I hope Jaydas doesn't last that long. Glad we're almost done!
-And last but not least, we heard some news on the kids today. We will just say it is good news for us and the kids.

Figured I'd join the club.

So even typing this my tummy is rumbling. Not from hunger but from nerves. I decided to enter this photo contest at MCP Actions. It's not the contest that makes me nervous it's the people seeing my picture part. I know I won't win but decided to do it as a challenge to myself but then read the rules and found out Shaila and Melanie could see my photo. AAAAHHHH! Sorry guys but I think you do great and it makes me want to vomit thinking about you critiquing something I'm so new at. I know you wouldn't say anything but positive but still. So believe me when I say I'm putting it out there. I am. Anybody else who wants to put it out there can do it HERE. But you better hurry the deadline is tonight. Oh by the way the contest is "Why do you need a new Shootsac camera bag?"

Putting it to good use.

By a few requests I am posting some of the pics I have taken with the new cam. Remember I'm new at this so don't be to critical. Oh, and it's pretty obvious who I have been focusing on to practice. :)
One of the very first pictures I took. About 2 in the morning the night I got it.Raindrops on the window.Jase with Cooper when she was sick this last week.

I have taken quite a few fish pictures. I love the colors and bubbles. The colors in this one aren't quite as bright but it doesn't have any blurry spots from the light in the background.

Love it. Seans not a big fan of the Cheetos but they give the picture some character. Right?

A little mini photo shoot we did. I don't know why she is facing this way. It's not in my file.This was an attempt at background. With everyone sick at one time or another since I have had my camera we haven't been able to actually go anywhere. This is at home. Seans not a big fan of the offcentered stuff but I love it!!

Now, I haven't done any retouching to these and I know a couple are skiwhompas and a few could be tweaked but overall I think they turned out ok. I will post more when I retouch some and have a little fun with my program.

First week is done and gone.

I have always told Sean he looked good in grease. This week was no different. Sean started working at Pioneer Pitstop Lube and Oil again as of Monday. I have been thinking about what I should write all week and have yet to come to any sort of direction. It's funny when I met Sean he was working at the pitstop (for those who don't know Seans parents own it) and now almost 8 yrs later he is back there again. I found an old love letter today and it was talking about how I have never been embarrassed of him changing oil (he once asked if I minded him being an oil man) and have always been proud of what he has done and who he is. Still am! All the things that have happened in the last 7 months have lead us to this place and I am confident we are doing what we are supposed to be doing! It's a good thing I decided long ago that I was pretty OK with being the wife of a grease monkey because now it's our future!!

Another update

To answer some questions-
No, we have not heard anything new on the kids.
Cooper is a Yorkie, and yes he is a boy.
My new camera is a Nikon D90.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

I can't believe it. I can't believe my youngest is 3. It seems like so long ago and not so long ago at the same time!! Kaylin as I have said before is a go getter, a leader, lets her opinion be known and never gives up. I am always saying "that child is gunna be the death of me." As hard as Kaylin can be she is also a very fun loving, active, smart, well mannered hoot of a child. Most days I just shake my head at her with a smile on my face. Heres a run down of the time we have known Kaylin.

The very first time Sean held Kaylin.

This was typical Kaylin. She would eat anything and I mean ANYTHING. I'm surprised Poison Control didn't know us by name.They were quiet so I went looking and they were in the laundry room sharing cheerios. So cute.Dress up is her favorite!Jayda and Kaylin really are good friends (when they aren't fighting) :)Daddys hats always look good on her.Showing off her geographic tongue. The first time we saw it we thought it had been burned.Christmas pics are always fun!I had to take this picture because she looked so grown-up this day.I like this picture because it is so her. She thinks she might be in trouble but can't figure out why. It's her I'm staying outta trouble smile.

Three years old!!Happy Birthday to you Kaylin!

Cooper

Valentines day has come and went but we are still reaping the benefits from it! Usually valentines is pretty low key but Sean had our tax return burning a hole in his pocket!!! I got him a watch, sunglasses, some cookie dough and a case of Pepsi. I maybe spent $40. Then he got me golf clubs (at least they had been used 1 time), golf shoes, and a photo program for the computer. Here's me sportin my new clubs and shoes!This was the first thing I did with my new photo program. I e-mailed it to Michaela and she said she loved it so my first project was a success! The Dane part says Darn cute, Attitude, Never a dull moment and Everything a mom could ask for.So then Sean asks us to hide in the bathroom so he could bring our last present in. We do, he goes out to the car comes back in and tells us to come out. We come creeping out and this is what we see.

Cooper-

Not what I expected thats for sure!!! But pretty darn cute!

He sooooo needed a bath, you can see how dirty the water is here.We wore him out! He he. By the way, I don't want any comments about us not needing any more dogs! I know OK! I'm the one that cleans the house! Trust me a bazillion fish, 4 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a husband remind me everyday!So it is Kaylins B-day today. Happy 3rd Birthday Kaylin! I will do her birthday post tommorow but had to give a little whoop-whoop to her. :)

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!

Thanks for the idea Lacey.

Makes a mom proud!

I was organizing the girls dresser tonight while they were looking at their bedtime books when Jase started sounding out the words. She has been sounding out words for quite awhile but needs help because she only knows one sound for most of her letters. But tonight she made a big leap-she started figuring out the word even if the vowel sound was wrong. Wahoo-she is really reading!!

Here she is so proud of herself. She read the whole book with a little help on the words laugh and they. She read it again for Sean and remembered them the second time though!! Good Job Jase, We love you, our little smartie!

Thats what all the fuss is about

So its done! I spent the most money we have ever spent (excluding houses and cars). On what you ask. A camera. Sean let me use some tax return. Not that I had to have his permission but I felt pretty guilty spending this much money on me. I won't give you an amount but we bought a brand new sectional couch last year and this camera was twice as much. I know!!!! I told Sean as he was going to bed "if you see flashes in your sleep tonight it is not your life flashing before your eyes, its your wife flashing before your eyes." Here is my most prized lifeless possession.......
Plenty of little do hickys and thing a ma jigs included that I have to figure out. Wish me luck!

25 things.....

I got a tag from my cousin Bryan on Facebook and thought I would put it on my blog also. You are supposed to write out 25 random things about yourself and tag 25 other people but I am just going to list my 25 things, if you want to be tagged-tag yourself! Here goes...........

1. I am a little OCD. I wash my hands constantly, straighten rugs multiple times a day, and am completely crazy when working with raw meat.
2. I looove Chinese food. Worked at a Chinese rest. for 7 yrs and ate it everyday.
3. Didn't want to start having kids until I was 30. Jase was unplanned so why bother with the 30 anymore. Now it's 4 kids when you're 30.
4. I am going to buy my new fancy camera this next week.
5. I am a night owl. Rarely in bed before midnight usually go to bed around 2. Need my alone time!
6. I have a weak immune system and have passed it on to my kids. Doc offered to find out with DNA testing what exactly is up but with no insurance thats a no go.
7. Hoodies are the only things I wear in winter.
8. My mom is one of my favorite people.
9. Want to be a chef, a cold case detective, a photographer and a vet tech. We'll see which wins out.
10. We got our taxes done and got our return!! Wahoo! It's the only day I celebrate being poor!
11. I RARELY get hungry. Just don't, I could go all day without eating and still not feel a thing. I don't think Jayda does either.
12. I'm allergic to shellfish. Love it! How do I know, I didn't develop the allergy until Junior High.
13. I have to try very hard to be social.
14. I enjoy watching Korean soap operas that are not subtitled. Makes it more interesting.
15. I HATE chocolate cake, ice cream, pies and the likes but will occasionally eat a choc. candy bar.
16. I say fricken and as terrible as it is, laugh when my kids do.
17. Me and a buddy in highschool both went from F's to B in one day by copying off each other. Thanks Ben.
18. When me and Sean started dating I refused to tell my friends how old he was. LOL. I was 21 he was 29.
19. We have 4 kids (Jase, John, Jayda & Kaylin), 2 dogs (Sadie & Tubs), 2 cats (Emily & Sophina) and at last count 76 fish.
20. I met and hugged Tommy Lee. Eat your heart out Pamela Anderson!!
21. I only drink whole milk. 1% and skim are insults to milk.
22. I used to run 7 miles a day and I'm trying to get back to that place.
23. I wish I could spend any amount of money on food so I could try new meals everyday.
24. Not a big fan of the dark! Constantly planning how to handle dangerous situations.
25. I've been pulled over for speeding over 40 times and have only gotten 2 tickets.

Sleep over

Tonight we are having a sleep over. My nephews are spending the night so we have had some fun. Here they are playing hide and seek-Jayda can sure fit in tight places!
This is my nephew Finley hiding!!! What a crack up, he sure thought that if he couldn't see them, they couldn't see him. A face in a pillow is the perfect hiding spot right!?!Reading time before bed. 6 kids 5 and under-what a joy!! John, Conley, Jase, Kaylin, Finley, and Jayda.

Another reason I don't like Winter.

STATIC! Oh this house it terrible! I don't know if it is an extra dry winter or it really is this house but the static is amazing!! I got shocked when I touched running water the other day and the girls run around with their hair looking like I haven't brushed it for days. This is what happens to Jayda when she sits on the couch. All the time!Notice the binky. She has been without one for a long time but whenever she finds a baby doll binky she steals it. This one Baby Alive is crying for! And still notice the hair.

Johnny John John

John has been going through a rough time these last few months and we aren't sure why. He started wetting his bed after about 8 months of being dry. Talk about frustrating. I know some kids wet until teens but I knew he was capable, he had already mastered it. He totally stopped even getting out of his bed. Well, we tried everything--and I mean everything to get him to go potty again. Praise, potty candy, talks on being scared, changed night lights, changed PJ's, put a potty in his room, leaving all the lights on, pep rallies, doctors appt, no drinks after 5, and I can't say that I never got angry. Nothing worked. We were out of ideas. We had suspected he was doing it on purpose but everyone else said otherwise. Then Me and Sean decided that we know he likes any attention for anything. So we decided to completely ignore it. I mean completely. We would get him up and not say a word, get him in the shower, have him get dressed, wash his bed then when everything was done talk to him about whatever. It sounds terrible but IT WORKED! 1 day is all it took. What kid would ever potty trained by ignoring it! The first four days he would hold it until I came in and today he got up this morning and went by himself!!! Wahoo!! Now we are back to where we were 3 months ago and I am totally Ok with that! As long as I don't have to wash pee pee stuff anymore I'm on cloud nine! Oh and we are talking to him in the early morning again but we definitely don't mention anything that has to do with him and going potty! Wahoo again!! and a third Wahoo!! As you can tell this isn't just about John going potty. He feels like he has to control this because something else feels out of control. In his life everything is tied to everything else and this is a little insight for us and maybe it will help in the future. Not the ignoring part-the doing things the opposite and outside the box part! WAAAHHOOOOO!!

P.S. We have found a wellness specialist that we think will really help Me and Sean. Like she said "John is tweaked a bit different so we need to be tweaked a bit too."

Don't Judge Me!

This post is for you Grandma Lobe!!!! One of my goals this year was to gain 17 pounds. I settled on that because thats what I weighed before I got pregnant with Jase and no one seemed to give me a hard time back then. We were sick last week and from that I got a sinus infection. Always do, I have some tricks up my sleeve from lack of insurance for 5 years but every once in awhile I get a bad one and have to go in. Well, I went in and they weighed me and I am halfway to my goal. Yes, Grandma Lobe and Grandma Langshaw you can calm down a bit I have gained 8 pounds! Since it is warming up a bit I do need to start running again to help regulate where it lands, I am happy I have been able to gain weight but not so excited about the little pooch on my belly. Oh the side effects of gaining weight! :)

Easy Bake!

Jase has been bugging Sean to do some Easy Bake Oven baking and Sean agreed! Here's the results-

Does this look like confusion or what, I snapped this after about 5 min of huffing and saying "what!?!"Jayda unpacking.Kaylinee enjoying the show.Jayda loved helping aka playing in the flour!!!

The finished product-3 incredibly hard and not so tasty looking pretzels. Notice one is brown, the coating you were supposed to put on them smelled disgusting so only one ended up with it! No one wanted to try them, not even the Kaylinee and she eats ANYTHING! The kids had fun though. I think Sean got a kick out of it too!