February 6--Scavenger Hunt Sunday (A Glass House, Some Hangurbers & a Few Army Ants)

1.  Water

My kids love to soak in the tub and those little toes breaking the surface of the water were so cute I just had to snap a photo.

2.  Quote

Dropped my little boy off at his friends house and saw this cute flag—went back home for the camera and got this shot.

3.  Window

I couldn’t get any good shots of our windows at home so I took my camera and went on a window hunt. After driving around somewhat aimlessly I saw a sign for a glass house. Really, there was a sign that said “Glass House” with arrows pointing which way to go! I just about did a happy dance—lots of windows in a glass house right? It turned out the glass house was an information center for the community I had been driving around.  The nice lady at the desk told me to take as many photos as I wanted and to be sure to check out the south side of the building where there was this beautiful copper siding on the building.   There were lots and lots of windows, but my favorite shot ended up being of the copper wall (thank you desk lady).  I love the color of the worn copper and the lines in both the window and the building.

4.  Activity

Saturday at our house means $1.00 burgers, or hangurbers as Miles says, from Ab’s.

5.  Magazine

Page 25 of our latest Kids National Geographic.

February 2—While Daddy’s Home the Boys will Play

Every year at this time Dave realizes he has a whole bunch of vacation time that needs to be used up.  Now we would love to cruise the Caribbean or backpack through Tibet, but our budget limits most of his vacation time to being my personal errand runner and carpool driver.  I don’t know if it was the vacation he imagined, but I have spent a glorious week not running to the store, letting Dave take Ian to school, taking uninterrupted showers, going to the gym, and today I went out to just take some pictures for an hour. 

The kids have enjoyed sitting by daddy at lunch, playing Angry Birds on his iPhone, reading books with him, going to the store with him, watching “Mighty Machines” with him and enjoying all the goodies he brings home from the store that don’t ever make it into the cart when mommy does the shopping.

Here is Wes enjoying the BBQ potato chips that daddy brought home.  Good stuff.

More January 29—“The Dinewood Derby” or “You can help with the fun stuff”

Last Saturday was the annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.  This derby was for everyone, not just the scouts.  Dave and Ian decided to bang out a car and see how they would do.  Dave spent the week drilling holes for weight, sanding axels, rubbing graphite on the wheels, and spray painting.  Ian offered up advice and helped with the “fun stuff.”

On the day of the race our USU “Big Blue” race car took 1st in the children under 8 category and made a fair showing in the all-around category. 

Miles was fascinated with the whole thing and began making plans for next year.  He has decided he will win the “Dinewood Derby” with his tractor race car next year. 

January 29—Some Old Tractors, a Couple of Chickens and Lots of Photos

So, this past Saturday, before the subzero temperatures set in, I decided to take the kids over to Wheeler Farm to chase the animals and climb on the tractors.  Here are the many photos from our day at the farm.

These old tractors had so much personality.  This one looks like it has its own face with those funny headlights for eyes.

It was so muddy and Wes wanted nothing to do with the stroller so needless to say we all had two inches of mud on our shoes by the time we left.

Look at these cute boys.  I think they might even like hanging out with each other a little bit.

Oh, and look at who lost his two front teeth!  After some rough housing at the church and the help of daddy’s pliers Ian is now sporting a new smile.

Miles thought he could catch a chicken.  He probably scared them so bad that they won’t lay any eggs for weeks.

Even the blue eyes baby thought the tractors were cool!

January 30--Scavenger Hunt Sunday (A Tractor, Some Smog & Got Milk?)

Had to pull some old photos for this—not feeling too creative this week.

1. Texture

Took the kids to Wheeler Farm yesterday to chase some chickens and play on the old tractors.  I love all the different textures in this photo—the wood of the barn, the smooth yellow paint, the rust showing through, the flat tires, the dirt, and even Miles silly yellow yarn hat. 

As a side note Miles could have sat on this tractor all day I think he may have been a farmer in his former life.  When visiting my mom last week he talked to the neighbor about the new yellow combine they were getting for their farm—they have already scheduled a ride along.

2.  Fog/Smog

Okay, I don’t know how much fog we had this week, but we did have some smoggy haze every morning.  The sun had burned off most of the stuff by the time I got this photo so I used Pioneer Woman’s “Old West” action to make things look a bit foggier—I’m not sure it did that, but I like the look.

3.  Button

Pulled this photo from last year.  The photography workshop I went to last year was held in this thrift shop that had just about every kind of trinket, gadget, or kick knack you could imagine…so yes they had a button tree.

4.  Drink

Got milk?  This kid loves to drink the stuff.  He would probably go through a gallon a day if I let him.  I think I will get him a cow for his birthday. (Oh and yes third child still drinking out of a bottle at 1 1/2 years old. Lazy mommy needs to break out the sippy cups)

5.  Seventies

This challenge reminded me of the photo I used last week for “memories” and of all the old toys at my mom’s house.  I took this photo of Wes back in March when we were visiting and he is playing with the xylophone I use to play with when I was his age.  I finished the photo off with Pioneer Woman’s “Seventies” action.  (Miss the cub on those cute cheeks of his.)

 

January 24: “Look mommy I have a really tall faux hawk!”

Was fixing dinner today when Miles came into the kitchen.  I bent over to give him a hug and he said, “Look mommy I have a really tall faux hawk!”  I looked and the pictures below are what I saw.  We spent the next 15 minutes laughing ourselves silly.

Group shot with Ian.

January 23—Scavenger Hunt Sunday (An Old Box, a Little Girl & Some Chocolate Chips

1.  Memories

This is my Grandma’s old jewelry box.  She use to keep it full of costume jewelry and sitting on the counter in the “Red Bathroom.”  When we would visit we would sit in the red bathroom and deck ourselves out in necklaces, brooches, and earrings.  I wish I had a picture of the red bathroom.  It had two big chandelier lights, two bright red sinks, red and gold velvet wall paper and red crystals hanging in the window—it really was something else.

Had to include this photo for memories.  It was in my last post, but it does holds a memory.  My mom held onto this toy from when I was a baby and now my kids play with it when we go to visit.  I love how it is not electronic and the kids actually make the noise by turning the knobs or sliding the little toys.

2.  Doorway(s)

Okay a bit abstract, but here are three of the doorways in our hall at home.   I tried to cover up the graininess of the 1600 ISO with some actions—turned out kind of interesting.  I think it is time to get a new lens my house is just too dark for the one I have.

3.  Silhouette

Here is my cute little niece looking out her window.

4.  Reflection

Made cookies this week and noticed how reflective the kitchen aide bowl was—chocolate chip mmmmmmm………..

5.  Silver

Here is a close up of the necklace in the first photo.  My Grandma use to wear it all the time and it reminds me of how she dressed and all the energy she had.