new background

I'm testing out this background for a little while. I thought I liked the last one but the green sequins bugged me big time. I have another one in mind and I'm giving this one a test run and then I'll give the next one a chance as well. I would love some very honest input from everyone and anyone.

That's all for now. A new post to come soon. I haven't been taking as many pictures lately but I hope to change that soon.

Random day of fun

Yesterday, Rob called to let me know that my new glasses were in and I could come up and get them fitted. Quickly a plan was made to eat lunch with Brandi, pick up my glasses and then wander around Toys R Us for a while. I had a few errands to run so before I picked up Kaelin from school Sean, Savanna and I ran over to get stuff done. Picked up lunch, picked up Kaelin and we were on our way.





First stop, Brandi's work to enjoy some BK, yum!


Then the kids got to go out and do their favorite thing...play in the dirt and rocks. I think they really miss the dirt spot in the yard of our old apartment complex.
It was a bit cold, but Kaelin still found plenty of pretty cool specimens.



After we stopped at Rob's office we went onto Toys R Us. We stopped there a couple days ago for a present and the kids were pretty bummed that they couldn't look at all the toys. We seriously went up and down every aisle. By the end of it I finally allowed myself to look at my watch and we had been there pretty close to two hours!
Sean made at least three different beds on the floor. No worries, it was all cleaned up before we moved on to the next area



Savanna loved all her "bibeez" (babies), and dogs. When we had to put them back she was a pretty sad sight.



Then, the whole reason for this random day of fun. My new glasses. My last pair snapped in half by the very gentle hands of myself. I promise, I was very carefully trying to adjust them. Barely even started and they broke before I could even do anything to them. NOT MY FAULT!



Anyway, I have been wearing contacts for a while trying to put of the purchase of new frames. Really enjoying the contacts, actually. All was well, until my eye got scratched, by Miss Van. Two days without contacts and with no back-up glasses, I was out of luck. I definitely need glasses. I enjoyed the contacts so much that those will probably be my main form of corrective lenses. But, its great to have glasses to wear first thing in the morning and late at night. Last, but not least, here is a picture of my new spectacles. I really love, love, love them. And yes they are purple!

If anyone cares, they are Menrads in the purple and silver

Photoshop

It was Rob's and mine anniversary a little while ago and Rob bought me Photoshop Elements. I'm super excited and super overwhelmed! I'm starting correctly, by watching all the instructional videos, but so far they are SOOO basic. How to retrieve files from your computer, how to delete a picture, seriously, these videos are for EVERYONE! But, I am sticking to it and watching each one. I'm getting closer to the editing videos and hope that they explain a little more of what I want to do. We took some family pictures over Christmas and I want to play with them! First, I need to finish the videos and then I need the pictures from my dad (hint, hint) and then I can fiddle and play. Does anyone else have Photoshop Elements? If so, how easy was it for you to get a hang of it? And last but not least, what is the coolest editing tool you enjoy using?




Some pictures just for fun

and a video for fun too

Masks!!

For Christmas Kaelin got A L O T of art supplies from our neighbor, Grandma Bev. She has been wanting to made a mask for a while. We finally got new glue sticks and they designed and I glued. Here's what we got, some great (creepy) masks. They love them! They both have decided that they are dragons. I just can't keep visions of The Joker and "V" for Vendetta and scary clowns out of my head. Hopefully, they lose interest soon, before I have nightmares.

Fun and favorites

I have a lot of random pictures but no "real" stories to go with them. So they all get jumbled together in what I like to call "Fun and favorites" Here ya go!

While here in Utah we were able to go to a Real Salt Lake soccer game. Sorry to everyone in the picture, it's the only one I had of the game. The couple in the front are some friends of Rob and I, then it's Rob's brother and his wife, then Rob's sister and her husband, then way down the line in Rob's youngest brother and his wife. It was a lot of fun! We also, were able to go to a hockey game with some friends from Rob's internship, but I don't have any pictures from that night. Both teams won their game so, I think we might be good luck.





I think these have to fall into the fun category and the favorites category, because I love Zumba! I'm so glad that Micaela got me into it, because otherwise I don't think I would have tried it especially since out here it seems like such a fad. Its an amazing work out and so much fun! I hooked Brandi to it now. This is our instructor Lynsey. (Micaela you should totally find her on FB and become friends, you would love her and she you!) By the way, these are post-work out pictures, that's why we are all so sweaty and red.






These socks are a new favorite of mine. I've been trying to find socks that I could wear with different kinds of flats, but all the ones I've found still show. I finally hit the jackpot with these babies. Their called Keds Skimmers, and I LOVE them! They don't show on ANY of my flats and I can even wear them with my heels without them showing, sorry the picture is so dark.






Savanna's new favorite thing to do it lounge, on the bed, on the couch, and on this table. I have no idea who she could possibly be impersonating?







Savanna loves Brandi's vacuum because it's so light weight. The handle can even be shortened, which all the kids have used. It's nice to have that extra help. My only qualm is that it doesn't have a hose, BUT the new edition of this vacuum DOES! It just might be the kind of vacuum we buy for our new home. It's a powerful little sucker. hehe!




We were cleaning while listening to some Zumba-type music and the kids were entertaining themselves. Don't ask what Sean said, because I really have no idea!

Boredom

Even though these teeny, tiny dinos, will be lost very soon, at least I'm not too bored anymore.

The Grotto

Alright so I have wanted to do this post for quite a while, but have never gotten around to putting the pictures onto our computer. Back when we first got here, we took a hike up to The Grotto. It has to be one of my favorites. It's an easy hike, with lots of trees and cute log bridges and ends in a open ceilinged (made-up word) cave, with a delicate waterfall pouring into the center. Depending on last years' snow fall and this years' rain determines how much of a stream actually falls. Picture aren't really in any order, but there are a few of them.









Kaelin just being photogenic



Daddy helping Savanna find some rocks to throw in.






Kaelin was pretty excited to find a worm in the cave.




This is the waterfall end the end of the hike. There's an offshoot trail that will lead you to the top, definitely not for kids,though
top view





Sean did surprisingly well, he loved being an outdoorsy hiker. We will definitely do more hikes.



Taking a little break, to listen to birds and look at the colors.






This is The Grotto '09 vs. The Grotto '02. Rob and I hiked up to The Grotto, a little before we were engaged.