"I Swear..."

Matt picked the kids up from school yesterday and Paul's teacher pulled him aside to tell him a funny story. The kids in his class are starting to learn double digit addition. She had them all stand up, raise their hands and say, "I swear that I will always add the ones colomn first." Later, during private reading, she noticed that Paul was hunkered in his seat and crying a bit. When she asked him what was wrong, he said, "My mom says it's bad to swear. I don't like doing it." The teacher explained to him the difference and said she'd change the wording to promise.

Project 52 Week 4

Matt's brother and wife had a baby girl Tuesday. They asked me to take pictures at the hospital yesterday. This one was my favorite: she looks like she smiling and winking at me. Oh, I miss cute little girl things. And she was so tiny! Welcome to the fam little Rachel!

Ball Room Dance

For Christmas I told Matt all I wanted was five planned dates with babysitters lined up. So he enrolled us in a community ball room dance class held at the elementary next door and he even did line up babysitters for every class (which I hate doing more than anything. I'd rather stay home than find a babysitter). We asked the leader beforehand if we were going to have to dance with other people and she assured us that we'd just dance with our partner. Last night at our first class we learned the basics of the waltz. I'm terrible at letting Matt take the lead--I need lots of practice. Halfway through the instructor yells, "ladies move one partner to your left." I let out this audible gasp that attracted the notice of the entire room. Ick. I had to dance with other men, which I haven't done since getting married. Some had way bad breathe, others were afraid to touch my hands, and Matt by far, was the most forceful leader. I couldn't even tell which direction any of the other men were going. I sure hope we don't have to do that again next week. But all in all, a fun evening out.

Project 52 week 2 and 3

Here's picture #2: We met some cousins at Kalahari Water Park for two days of swimming and water slides. This is always my favorite trip of the year. I love running around in a swimsuit when it's twenty degrees outside--it's like escaping Michigan winter for two lovely days. A break from school, a break from housework, and a break from nagging my kids. We just get to have fun for no special reason other than now it's a tradition. Here's Paul and his cousin Kathleen (who's only three weeks younger than him) having a sleepover. They are sometimes mistaken for twins when we're out in public together for some reason. And sometimes they act like twins. They were nearly inseparable on this trip. Picture #3: Luke at Breakfast. In the winter the kids come downstairs, wrap themselves in blankets for morning prayer, and inevitably those blankets get taken in to breakfast and get milk spilled on them. Luke couldn't quite wake up this morning.

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Project 52

I have lots of pics I want to post of Christmas and our trip to Utah, but am feeling lazy and don't want to take the time to shrink them all to post. Anyone want to clue me in on how to shrink batches of photos for their blog? I shrink them one at a time in photoshop. Help! One of my New Year's goals is to take a photo once a week(aka project 52) to help me practice with my new camera and the stuff I learned in class while also recording more candid shots of the kids. One of my friends is doing project 365. Anyone else care to join in? You could also do project 12--which is just once a month. The first week of January involved flying home, restarting school, and getting life back into scheduled order after the break, so I didn't get a shot. I'm cheating and using a photo I took the last week of December. Jarom had smeared pancake and syrup all over his chest, under his chin, and in his hair. He went straight from the high chair to my mom's kitchen sink. I love the warm colors in this picture and his cute chunky rolls. He is my chunkiest babe by far. I feel like I carry around an 18 month old compared to the other kidlins at that age. Project 52 #1:

Elyse's Nine Year Old Pictures

Elyse's fake smile, but I loved the pumpkins.

Half her face is blown out in this pic because I messed up with the lighting, but it had such a fun background and she has a real smile.

This one is my favorite and the one I'll put on the wall.