GOT IT!

Well, apparently cutestblogontheblock has changed its format so when I went to fix my background it just messed everything up. So, after searching, I went to a friend's blog and used a new type of background. Yea! I now have to fix the sites and bible verse part but it is way better than before. ATTN Melissa, Lori D, Mina, Liz, Katrina, Heidi, and MaryKay, I would like to put you on my link so people can access your blog from mine. Please email me and let me know or just comment below if you do not want to be added. That is totally fine!! :)
NEW THING:
I have decided to teach Makena and myself a new bible verse each week which we will memorize. I will try to post it! I am giving her stickers if she learns it in a week. Let's see how long we can go!!

Hmmmm what happened??????????

I have no idea why my blog is soooo messed up!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR I am frusturated and may have to go back to the other background style....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRODY!

Our little baby is one today! He woke up at 6 am ready to bounce out of his crib and start his birthday! :) We are heading to an indoor playarea today after his morning nap with our friends the Whitlows and then we will celebrate with yummy "healthy" cake tonight. Happy Birthday Brody! You are so special! You are so loved!! You are a child of God!

Photographer

Ok, so I can't seem to add this link to my sidebar so you'll have to just go see this on your own. Check out http://minaarnoldphotography.blogspot.com
The tiny baby is Brody! Mina is an amazing photographer who has taken pictures of us and is going to do them again in a few weeks. She has a HUGE talent for capturing the best photos! If you live out here you are going to want to use her!!

Watch out, here I come!

I forgot to post this weeks ago but B took his first steps on April 4th! He is slowly taking steps and really went at this morning!! He is so proud of himself whenever he stands up. A huge smile lights up his whole face and he looks at us just waiting for a cheer! He is just too cute for words! (Yes, I am bias. :) ) He also has started saying more words: night-night, uh-oh, mindy (kind of like mimi or something), mama, dada, nena. Brody is a big fan of pointing things out to show us what he wants or where he wants to go. This is his last Sunday as a baby! He turns one on Tuesday!! Where has the time gone?

Garage Sale

Community garage sale= lots of selling and $$$

That's what I had thought but alas I did not rake in the dough like I thought I would. My driveway was filled with tons of things from our house, my sister's house, and my friend's house. We all made about 50 dollars so it wasn't a total loss but certain things that we all thought would go in an instant were taken to Goodwill instead and the random things sold. Now, I expected people to bargain down things but from 50 cents to a quarter??? Or instead of paying 75 cents for a pair of shorts, how about four pairs for a dollar? HUH??? I had to be firm on some things because these people were cheap-o's!!! I am going to post some things on Craigslist that did not sell but are too good to be given away and I am going to try to find a resale shop for some baby things. Unfortunatly, the closest resale shops have gone out of business which means I'll have to drive farther to sell them. Oh well! I must say that instead of spending money, I earned some which makes it worth it!

A passion of mine

This week has just been so great. I was able to see some of my former teammates in teaching for lunch on Tuesday. I stopped by my friend Lisa's classroom and it was so exciting to see all of the learning that was taking place. They had just done open house so the room still had all of their work displayed all over. I loved it. Then on Wednesday, Angela asked me to come to her class for a special day and be a "reader" to her third graders. I talked about my passion for reading and struggling as a reader when I was little. (now, apparently this is up for debate as my mom said that I never struggled but I seem to remember struggling sooo....) Then I read three Froggy books by Jonathon London. (These are simply wonderful for all children.) While reading, I had the kids join me on certain parts and do little brain breaks in-between books. After the stories were read, I taught them a directed drawing of Froggy. (This I learned years ago from Katherine who taught with me.) The third graders were WONDERFUL! It was so much fun being there and it made me miss it. I love staying home and I love teaching...well the real teaching part not the politics. I guess that politics is found in every job though so anyway. I still haven't resigned and am currently mulling over going back. I am partly kicking myself for not job sharing but who knew I would feel this way as B is about to turn one and dubs is almost four. Anyway, this is just blabbing and things that I have to work out and figure out with God and Ryan. I hope you all had a great week too!!

Just learning

I took some pictures of Brody and Makena the other morning. I then used PSP to edit in these fun ways! Enjoy!!

Calling all friends!! It's a pool party day!

Grab your booty suits* (bathing suit) and zucchinis* (bikini)...It's goona be hot one today! High of 98!! WHEW! Yesterday the kids and I headed to my sister's pool with my parents. Playing the water and "swimming" was so much fun for Makena. She is a little fish. I think that we really need to start her in swim lessons. Our neighbor got Brody a cool bathing suit thing that looks like a wet suit and blocks the sun. He was so adorable in it! I will have to take a picture and post it of my two bathing beauties. (Can you call a boy that?) B wasn't too fond of the water at first but he sure liked floating in his raft with his head resting on Mimi's arms after a few minutes. It feels like summertime and I can't help but sing the Will Smith song.."Summer, summer, summertime...ooohhh summertime..." Well I am off to turn on the sprinklers so my flowers and grass survive the heat! Then it is off to our church!!! Have a great Sunday!
**(Makena used to call her bathing suit a booty suit and now calls her bikini a zucchini.)

Brody's First Birthday Party

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

We held Brody's Birthday party last Saturday. We decided to do it early because both sets of grandparents were in town. The party was a duckie theme and very cute! My friend made the invitations which were awesome! Thank you Katherine! Many of our friends and family were unable to join us on that special day; they were missed but the ones who came made the party wonderful! On the front door was a sign that said "Welcome to our pond. Waddle on it!" There were duckies and duck feet on the sign. We had balloon, clipart ducks, 1st birthday hangers, and a banner in the backyard. There was a bubble machine going which the kids all loved. It made so many bubbles!! During the party, we decorated gift bags, played games, colored with chalk Duck Eggs, and ate yummy cupcakes and ice cream. Everyone had a good time! The favors were bubbles, chalk duck eggs, and a soap with a duckie in it. The only bummer was that Brody had not been feeling well so he wasn't his usual cheerful self. He wasn't crabby just not super smiley. Overall it was a perfect party and a great way to celebrate our little baby Brody! Thank you to all who came!

Inspiration

Recently, I read about a lady whose girls are very computer savy and she had mentioned a little about her knowledge of the internet. I started thinking about my knowledge of the web and all that it holds; I have just a little bit! So I have been spending time, trying to get more familiar with what is out there so that I can keep up with M one day. Anyway, in reading about different things and viewing other people's blogs, I was inspired to change the template of mine. I used a cool program and thanks to my good friend Katherine I was able to figure it out. (This whole website was from a friend's sister's blog and the link is on my page.) So I hope you enjoy my "new" blog and a big THANKS to Lori and Liz for the inspiration! Oh, and yes, the pictures of B's b-day are coming...

It's almost here!!

I am still working on the pictures of B's party but here is one to see until I post the rest!

Party At Our Pond

Today is the party for B's first b-day! I will post all about it tonight! (ONe issue: he has a cold...ugh and isn't sleeping well b/c of it! Let's pray he naps well this morning!!

Yuck!

I got so sick last night! Ryan was away overnight at a work thing so my sister Lori made me call me mom and ask her to bring me some sick things. I wasn't going to, but I did b/c I knew the Lori would call me to make sure. So I called and she and Ang brought me crackers and Vernons. My mom stayed the night which was awesome because I was sooooo sick! UGH! I HATE being sick. This morning, Ryan came home way early b/c he was worried. I ended up feeling better as the day went on so I am pretty sure I should be ok tomorrow! This is good as B's b-day party is Saturday and I have things to do to get ready. Apparently, this weekend is a super busy weekend b/c about half of the people invited are attending. That is ok because we will have fun celebrating with the ones who are there! :) So my craigslist has had two inquires! Yea! I am really hoping to sell it before the 24th. I think that I may have some more items to sell later. We'll see how this goes!