Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
As of late.
Lately my attitude has been really blunt and sarcastic. I don't know what's gotten into me. Hopefully I can get through this post without adding too much attitude to it... A few different things have been going on around here. Nothing to exciting (well... except one thing...) but things I thought I could share.
Mornings. I am NOT a morning person. I honestly believe that there is no need (for a stay at home mom at least) to be up before 8:00a.m.... okay maybe 7:00 a.m. And this is a new rule around here. I don't get up before 7:00 a.m. If my kids are awake before 7 then they can come to bed with me or they can play in their room. Makiah is having a hard time learning this. She pulls on my arm and pulls down my covers and I just ignore it. (I am so so ridiculous, but I think she might catch on soon). Let me just say that the past two early mornings (5:30) have made me very irritable. (Maybe the reason for my new attitude?)
Evan has been a sweet little guy as of late. For awhile there I was wondering what happened to my sweet boy that I would brag about. He was ornery all the time. If he didn't have things just as he wanted them then, watch out! He cried and threw plenty of temper tantrums just waiting for me to give in... and I would. A typical morning at our house consisted of this: Me carrying both of my kids down the stairs, Evan had to get the cereal and bowls HIMSELF, he had to have the right kind of cereal and the right carton of milk, He had to get his food first and if I poured it wrong then I had to do it again. If any of this went wrong then it was a crying fest. And this was just the first 20 minutes of our day. I don't know what I was thinking!! One night as we ate dinner, Evan wanted to sit on my lap. I hate when he does this. I decided right then and there that I was through. No more. I told him no, he could sit on his own chair. He threw himself to the floor and cried every time I told him no. It was a awful meal time but it hasn't happened since. Evan has learned that when I say no, I mean it.
Evan has also learned the word obey. When I use this word he knows I mean business (this has helped so much with potty training. We went a whole week of him refusing to use the potty.... that doesn't happen anymore). When Evan doesn't want to comply with me (ex: not wanting to clean up) I simply say: Evan you need to obey your mom. And he hops right to it :) I was waiting for this to back fire... and it did. One morning I asked Evan to obey his mom and he said: NO! You obey Evan!! I ignored it and it hasn't happened again :) He has been a happier kid all around! He wants to help me, and Kiah all the time. He always tells Dallas, Kiah and myself how much he loves us. He is back to normal :) And I love it!! It is so important to teach kids order in the home. I think it helps them to build trust and love for those who take care of them.
I found my new favorite website :) The Pioneer Woman is such a fun site! I have been spending a little too much time searching through her site. She is so funny and I love her sense of humor. She does photography which is why I first looked into her site. I read her Love Story of how she met her husband... it is great! She should get it published :) Lets just say that I've spent a little to much time on the internet these past few days :) Check it out... but watch out, you might get sucked in! Don't say I didn't warn you.
Last but not least... something a little exciting :) Okay, for us maybe it is very exciting. Dallas has his first (phone) interview tomorrow! We couldn't be more happy (okay... maybe we could... but this is a start right??) It is for a chemical and engineering company in Ohio and it is a job that Dallas would really enjoy. It would be a good start for us. But who knows... nothing may even come of it. Out of all the applications he has been filling out we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. That is very reassuring. Wish him luck!! I think he will do great!
Posted by Jessica at 10:39 PM 5 comments
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Anyone up for a photo shoot??
One of my goals for this year is to do a photo shoot once a month (for someone outside of my family). Now is not the time to be shy :) January is almost over and I need someone to take pictures of!! This offer is for anyone... and of course it is free. I can do families, kids, babies, couples (V-day is coming up!), or even pics of just you! I am up for anything.... even if it is out in the cold :) Give me a call, leave a comment or shoot me an email if you would like some photos done! It doesn't have to be formal or anything... just lots of fun and practice for myself :)
Posted by Jessica at 6:33 PM 1 comments
Find this in: Photography
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Endless entertainment
Yesterday was a holiday and Dallas was home from school.... but we still stayed home. Evan has so many things to do and he didn't want to leave! I did go to Aerobics in the morning and managed to get Evan to come along. And it took some persuasion to get him to come to the store with us. But if it were up to him he would have stayed and played with his train. I'm so grateful for birthdays :)
Oh yeah, here are some pics from his party :) We had our friends the Newtons over for Evan's Birthday. It completed his day! He and Carly get along so well. We ate pizza, cake and opened gifts and the kids had a blast.
Posted by Jessica at 1:40 PM 1 comments
Find this in: Little Guy
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Past years and the cake...
Today is Evan's Birthday and so I have been thinking back... as most moms do... to the years before.
This was the hardest and most rewarding day of my life...
The cake.... really, it took forever! But it was so worth it. It's a good thing that Kiah's b-day isn't for another 6 months. Maybe by then I will have the desire to do another fancy cake :) I found the directions HERE and more cake ideas on the Betty Crocker Website. I always do cupcakes for birthdays and I was determined to do something new! Here are the end results... Evan LOVED it :)
Evan had such a great day! He was so happy and the only time he got grumpy was during sacrament meeting at church... I think he was a little to excited to sit still. He loved talking on the web cam with family and he even talked to Cami on the phone (he usually ignores the phone). He loved all his gifts (thank you everyone :) You know who you are :)) We had such a fun day... I am sure I will post more pics of the craziness soon!!
Posted by Jessica at 9:50 PM 8 comments
Find this in: Holidays, Links, Little Guy
Sunday, January 10, 2010
My kids are growing up, *tear* :) This week Evan will be 3 and Kiah will be 18 months old. Of course I had to take portraits of them... kids are so hard to take photos of but every now and then I get the shot I want :) I LOVE this top one of Evan. I am finding that it is hard to get a real smile from him when I have the camera out. He is always saying "Cheese!" with a funny smile on his face. I am also finding that I have a lot more pictures of Makiah than Evan... but she is getting hard too. Oh yeah and one more thing... I get really frustrated being stuck indoors with my camera! My kids can't handle being out too long and I have tons of pictures of them in their coats. I manage to get some "studio shots" by my back door but of course the kids hate sitting for me. I am already excited for spring!
A little about Evan...
- He has a great imagination! He loves to pretend.
- He can be very polite... when he wants to be. He tells me sorry and thank you all the time.
- He loves trains, blues clues, toy dishes (and tea parties), his scriptures, friends, and his baby sister.
- He is *almost* potty trained.
- He is very stubborn :) but we still love him of course.
A little about Makiah...
- She is not shy! She loves people.
- She loves animals... stuffed or real :) especially dogs.
- She doesn't talk a lot but she knows a lot of words. She loves daddy and calls him "Da!"
- She loves sign language and surprises us with signs that we didn't even know she knew :)
- Shoes, shoes, shoes... need I say more?
- Oh, and she gets to go to nursery now! She went today and did great :)
Posted by Jessica at 4:02 PM 3 comments
Find this in: Little Guy, My-kiah
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Bed head
Kiah's hair is finally getting longer and fuller and I have so much fun playing with it. I even get a cute curl when it's wet. I love having a little girl :) The other day she woke up from her nap with the craziest hair ever- love it.
Posted by Jessica at 11:58 PM 0 comments
Find this in: My-kiah
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010
A big thing that everyone thinks about at the new year are future plans and goals. I feel like I've grown in several areas this past year.... areas that I wasn't even trying to grow in. If that makes sense. I guess things just happen even when you are not planning on them happening. But at the same time there are things I failed to do this past year. This year I have so much I want to do! I am excited to look back at this upcoming year to see what I've been able to accomplish.... hopefully something :) I usually don't do this... I have written goals down so many times, but never on my blog. Maybe it will help me to actually accomplish the things I want to do.
My goals as a mother:
- Don't waste a single day... make each day unique and fun for my kids.
- Patience.
- Be a teacher, not a babysitter.
- Have FHE each week
- Teach my kids to love to pray and read the scriptures.
- Patience. With school, work, the job search, everything.
- Weekly date nights with Dallas:)
- Do something each day to make Dallas happy.
- Try not to complain about doing my job as a mom and a homemaker. ie: dishes, laundry, cooking, etc
- Collect photos for my portfolio.
- Save up for a lens (or two :)), desktop computer, Photoshop, a flash, and maybe a backdrop.... might not all happen but it's worth a try... Okay I know that's a lot... Maybe I'll at least make a dent into this list... Oh man, I keep thinking of more things to add! Okay, Okay, I'll have to make a wish list...
- *If* I do get photoshop.... then I want to take a course to learn how to use it.
- Take photos of my children each week... create a calendar from the photos I take each month.
- At least once a month do a photo shoot for someone not in my family.
- At least once a month take photos of something other then people... landscapes, animals, etc.
- Create a website for my portfolio.
- The place I call home (for the holidays and once more if I'm lucky)
- Nauvoo
- Palmyra
- Turkey Run State Park
- Botanical Gardens
- Mammoth caves
- Our new home... that is where ever a new career might take us.
- Go on a hike (a real hike... in the mountains :))
- Go camping.
- Visit temples that I haven't been to yet.
- Play a *real* game of volleyball and possibly join a community volleyball team.
- Well... I know I'll think up more so I'll just have to add to this list :)
Posted by Jessica at 9:20 PM 1 comments
Find this in: Jess








