this could take all day

December 5

 

Dani does her best to help cheer up Darin. Poor guy had an awful reaction to his pain meds and had to cut them out. Hopefully he'll be back to normal soon!

  

Could she be any cuter?

 
 

 

We helped our little buddy MJ celebrate her first birthday. Daisy was very into helping MJ open her presents, so it bodes well for Christmas morning!

 

Daisy and Darin put the rest of the ornaments on the tree. Back there she's playing with an ornament I got way back when I was a baby. Made me smile on the inside.

 

 Before dinner Daisy was flipping through her Bible book, so I took the opportunity to read her a few pages of the Christmas story. I LOVE these times together.

some recent scrappy stuff

I haven't scrapped in a while. Wanna hear some excuses? My pregnant back isn't up to the task of sitting at the desk chair for extended periods of time. I recently reorganized my stuff and I can't bring myself to start messing with all the niceness of everything in its place. Most of the shows I watch on the computer while I scrap are on summer break. And I've really enjoyed relaxing on the couch or bed in the evening with my hubby and my cross-stiching lately.

But about a month ago I did make it to a friends house for a little crop. And while I usually save my journaling (and often the title) for when I get home, I managed to begin these three pages that night.

Christmas Eve

 

"December 24, 2008 Bright & colorful tree. Stockings full. Santa present delivered, the rest all wrapped. Quiet. Ready for the magic of Christmas morning."

Book Lover

 

"and mess maker. You love to pull all the books off your shelf. I think I put them back every day."

Rally in the Valley

 

"My first time competing in Darin's family's annual 'Rally in the Valley' tournament was in 2002. A hot September day in Quincy and a second place finish. We were so sore the next dya, but sure had a lot of fun."

Daisy at 22 months

 

Remember this post from a few months ago? Well, I decided it needed to be made into a mini-album.

 

I dug out one of my favorite special publications (Album Shortcuts) from one of my favorite scrapbook magazines (Simple Scrapbooks, sob, now out of print) and found a "recipe" to use. This book is full of mini album ideas with great instructions on using them as "recipes" to create your own albums.

 

I grabbed some papers and a package of embellishments from my favorite new collection by American crafts (backyard) because the bright colors and fun prints just suit our little Daisy so well. I used Photoshop to print the photos 2x3 and publisher to make journaling blocks. I had to be careful to match the right amount of horizontal blocks with horizontal photos, but it wasn't too hard.

A little corner rounder action and glue stick and this album came together in a flash.

 

Once the pages were underway I went to my local scrapbooking store to find a 6x6 album. I ended up buying the only one they had, which I really like. Unfortunately the interior pages aren't too sturdy and since Daisy loves to look through this album I have to supervise closely. I'll try to remember that in the future!

 

 

And since my little buddy was supervising as I took pictures of pages and albums, I decided to turn the camera on her and practice a little exposure compensation. Man...how the learning process goes so much easier when you have a willing (and immoble) subject!

 

 

 

best buds

This week Daisy finally got around to asking to hold MJ, and the two of them couldn't be happier about it.

Someday I hope to have happy pictures like this of Daisy and Spud, but for now we love that these two are such good friends. I hope it continues as they grow up "camp kids" together.

 

(I switched my white balance setting here. Not sure which I like better.)

 

Seattle Children's Museum

Darin had Tuesday off last week too. And as we went to bed on Monday night we were trying to come up with ideas for something fun to do the next day, but with rain in the forecast weren't coming up with much.

Sometime in the early morning hours I had the thought about the Children's Museum in Seattle. So when I got up I checked out the hours and pricing online and pitched the idea to Darin. He was in right away.

I forget how much stuff you gotta pack for a toddler and a baby, even for a day trip so we decided to make it easier on ourselves and not pack a lunch. After all: it was a holiday (St. Patty's) and we could splurge on lunch out too!

Seattle is just under an hour from our house so the trip was totally do-able. And so totally worth it. We all had a blast! Daisy, of course, since the museum was for her. MJ always enjoys time hanging in the Bjorn. And us grown-ups were pretty impressed by the quality and variety of displays. We arrived around 11:00, broke for lunch at 12:30 (Yummy, but expensive burgers at the Center house) where we were also treated to seeing some cool Irish dancers, and were back in the museum until about 2:30. That was when it was abundantly clear that putting off nap-time was no longer a good idea! Even with all that time there were at least 4 exhibits we didn't get to.

As we were leaving we decided to put our admission fee towards a family membership, and pay the extra $10 for the opportunity to bring up to 4 people with us (for free!!!) each time. We're already planning more trips to Seattle and I can't wait to bring Jen & Amy and their herds when they visit in September.

But next time we'll pack a lunch!

Warning: lots of pictures ahead. A bunch of my favorites from the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

lunch and squashing paintballs

I don't so much love it when Darin has to work weekends. But I do love it when he gets to spend two days home with us mid-week to make up for it. And now that I've got a little buddy hanging around too, having Darin home is even better.

Wednesday was our big ultrasound appointment and then out to lunch to celebrate. Luckily, our new favorite pizza spot is just across the street from the doctor's!

While waiting for lunch, Darin entertained Daisy with a great rendition of "5 little monkeys". She had a blast playing along doing the motions. And I figured since he was making a fool of himself in public, I'd make a fool of myself too, busting out the big camera and documenting the occcasion.

 

 

After naptime we decided to head outside for a walk and ended up on the paintball field. There we found lots of dropped paintballs that had expanded a bit in the recent wet weather. Let me tell you how much fun we had stomping on those balls and watching them squirt everywhere. Daisy was on the hunt. having a blast with every one!

 

 

I wish we had our video camera with us so you could hear the little evil laugh she did as she went from ball to ball. It was totally cracking us up.

 

We kept warning her not to pick them up, to just use her feet. But Darin wasn't quick enough this time and I think the squirt in her face was enough to teach that lesson for us!

 

And our little buddy? She was content hanging out with Darin.

Thursday randomness

Anyone need a subscription to "Parents" magazine? I've got a free gift subscription coming with my renewal and I'd hate to see it go to waste or to someone who already gets the magazine.

This article made me smile yesterday.

A favorite pic of my little buddy from last week.

I love where I live, but just behind my house is the storage area for the horse manure they scoop every day. When the pile gets too big the tractors and the trailer truck go to work hauling it out to pasture. Today is that day and while the guys are hard at work I can't help but noticing the steam rising from the pile and being totally grossed out by it. That manure is OLD people, and it still steams? Who can explain this to me?

I'm getting ready to host 20 folks here this weekend for our 4-H State Ambassador meeting. Luckily, we've got access to beds around here. I'm just worried about cooking for everyone in my small kitchen!

That's all I got for today. Tomorrow...more fun pictures!

our new friend

We've got a new buddy around the Gemmer household.

Isn't she cute?

 

This little sweetheart is spending her days with us for the next few months while her Mama goes back to work as a teacher. Her name is Maezie, but we call her MJ. A little easier than a name that rhymes with Daisy, don't you think?

Speaking of Daisy, I think she's in love. Full of kisses.

 

And cuddles.

 

And showing her just how the toy works.

 

We'll be getting lots of big sister practice in!