Art Class

The little girls and I did a little painting the other day. I think this is their favorite thing to do with me.

They can barely wait for me to get all the supplies out and set up. Carmella is by 

far the most enthusiastic artist I have. I sometimes think that she absorbed more from

the art classes I took when I was pregnant than I did! She loves to 

draw and paint, and sculpt with clay. Just look at how intense

she is while painting. 

She is seriously no nonsense!

Addie is a bit more light hearted and free with her painting. 

A little heavy handed as well. She likes to mix a lot of colors, and rainbows

have been her subject of choice as of late.

As student of the fine arts, I love taking time with my girls to 

encourage their creative sides. 

Carmella's Post Modern painting, Very Jackson Pollock like if you ask me.

Addie's Impressionist rainbow.

Pursuit of Excellence

This year our Relief Society Presidency has challenged the sisters in our 

ward to take on and complete the Pursuit of Excellence of Program

that our church put together. 

It has several different categories with challenges to be completed in each

of the categories. It is a way for sisters to 

set goals toward self improvement. 

I decided to take on the challenge.

Our Relief Society passed out the little booklets along with a small notebook, to record our 

efforts. I have decided that each month I would focus on a new

challenge for each category. In my notebook I am recording the challenges that I am choosing to do for 

each month, but I thought I would report my progress here.

So here it goes ...

 January's challenges 

Spiritual- Increase the frequency and meaning of my daily prayers.

This has been wonderful for me. I have found myself turning off the radio in my car and 

instead talking to my Heavenly Father on my rides to school. I have felt His presence

and guidance with me even more than normal throughout my day.

My prayers have become less repetitive, and more an outpouring of feelings,

thoughts, and concern for others.

Intellectual- Learn more about astronomy and share my knowledge with Ivy.

Ivy has a great love for space and the planets. We even got her a telescope for Christmas. We have already spent many a night looking at the moon and talking about it's phases. As I wrote in my last

 post, we took the kids to the Planetarium for Ivy's birthday. There we learned more

about the constellations, and the planets. I plan to continue on with this

challenge. I am really enjoying the extra time I get to spend with Ivy.

Physical- Improve eating and sleeping habits.

Jason and I have been making an effort to go to bed earlier, and we have been feeling so much

 more alert in the mornings. What a difference in my mood during the day.

I also joined a healthy living challenge that my friends Matt and Lindsey Cobb started. My body has much more energy, and I am finally working off the last few pounds of baby weight I haven't been able to shake. 

Service- Give individual service to Emilie.

I chose her because she is the oldest, and I tend to rely on her more than the others. I expect more from her, and do less to serve her on daily basis than I do my younger three. I have

volunteered to drive her and her friends to activities, and other things she has wanted to do. I picked her up from school on rainy days (she usually walks home). I also typed her Social Studies project for her while she dictated to me. It cut down on her homework time immensely. I also helped pick up some of the slack from her chores so she could have some down time after school. It takes her so long to complete her homework that she gets little time to herself.

Character- I decided to work on forgiving some people in my life that I have been struggling with. 

I think I have made some pretty good strides in this area. Last year was rather rough on me, and 

I had one friendship end entirely, while another became quite strained. I have begun praying for these individuals, and trying to find ways let go of the anger and hurt I have been holding on to. I still have a long road ahead, but I think I am finally heading where I want to end up.

Well, there you have it. My January goals and progress. I have already begun working on February's goals, and I look forward to reporting my progress next month.

The Big One O

Ivy, my little darling turned 10 years old last Saturday February 2. She has been such a fun kid to have around. I love spending time with her. She makes me laugh, and she says and does the sweetest things.
When I asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday she immediately answered "Roller Skating!"
   We went on my birthday, and she enjoyed it so much that she couldn't wait to go back for her birthday. So, Saturday afternoon we packed up the fam and drove to Arlington to skate. We rented Ivy and Addy these little skater's helpers. They are basically just big PVC pipe joined at an angle with wheel casters on the bottom. The girls could hold on to them and skate on their own. GENIUS!
Emilie was so sweet out on the rink. She would see someone fall and rush over to help them up; not just family, but total strangers as well. I loved watching her compassionate nature at work.
Jason was a trooper hanging out with Carmella, and Addy when Addy wasn't skating. He let me take over the skating with the kids. I loved it! Once again, I took my own white and pink skates that I've had since 7th grade, and tore up the place. (not really, but it's fun to imagine I did.)

After skating we took the kids to the Planetarium at University of Texas at Arlington. Ivy loves space, and has decided to be an astronaut when she grows up. They were showing a new movie we hadn't seen yet about astronauts and how space effects their bodies. Ivy loved it, Addy hated it, and Carmella was mesmerized. I'm pretty sure Emilie liked it too. She wants to go back to see Space Park 360, something we'll have to see without Addy and Ella.

Unfortunately, due to a flat tire we got home later than expected, so we had to put off the cake and ice cream till the next day. I had baked the cake that morning but it was not yet frosted and ready to go.
Ivy didn't care though, as long as she had her birthday presents which consisted of Angry Birds, Legos, and La La Loopsie toys, she was a happy girl.

Happy Birthday to my sweet little Ivy, you are growing faster than I would like, but I'm enjoying every minute of it!

The Tootsie Roll Cake ( per Ivy's request)

A Crappy Camera Christmas

My mom bought me this rather cool little camera for Christmas. It's called a Mini Diana. Basically it's mini version of the Diana, which is an all plastic camera. Yes my friends, that means it

takes actual film. So, rather than take photos with my phone using instagram, I can do the real thing. 

I absolutely LOVE it!

It can take square format as well as two rectangles per 35mm frame. It takes a little getting used to, since there is no focus, and there is only a bright and dark setting. These are the only really good shots I  got off of two rolls of film, but really from a photographer standpoint 

this is a good amount. I'd rather have a few good ones, than entire roll of junk.

I am going to have so much fun taking crappy camera pictures this year!

Emilie's new bike

Carmella's boots, Addie's doll, and sticker pad

Jason doing a little Christmas reading

Addie, and Emilie playing with Ivy's mustaches

Ivy and me playing with her mustaches