Photo of the day.

Now this is the kind of photo I have been wanting to get! Love the shallow DOF and my new lens is sooo fun to play with although it took about 30 shots just to get a good one. Sure is tricky with active monkeys.

Can you believe the look on this kid's face. You might be able to tell...we had a tough day. He was determined to drive me crazy...you can just see it in those eyes. He wouldn't nap, wouldn't "play nice" with the neighbors and tried to sneak into the neighbor's back yards all day because he knew I couldn't see him there. Arrrrg!! I actually caught him trying to squeeze his skinny bod under a fence to get to the trampoline in the next door neighbor's yard. Stinker! 

hostess with the mostest...

...or something like that...

thank you so much julie for being such a fantastic hostess, for getting the scrap room organized and for bringing us treats and for warm comfy beds and for a cold glass of ice water just when I needed it and for a yummy healthy breakfast...girls i think i found our SB retreat place...julie's house! guess we'll have to convince dh of that one! thanks to him too for hauling our stuff and for putting up with our chatter and a greaaaaaaat cup of coffee! 

Mmmmmmm

Can you guess which plate went with who??? One is pretty obvious!

 

...AND DINING...

 

And Shoppin

 

more scrappin

 

Scrappin...

Scrapped the day away with my Commando sisters Julie, Shannon and Nicole. Doing our own version of CKU-A and recreating Ali's Album Day in the Life. This album is amazing.

We had such a great time chatting and bonding over all of the things we do as moms, wives and women. It was really refreshing! The crop room was really cool overlooking the river...and it was really great having a coffee shop attached!


 

My turn. :)

1. FIRST NAME? -Katharine with an A
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? - Katharine Hepburn
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? - my last mommy tantrum a couple weeks ago
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? - it's okay
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? - dry salami YUM
6. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? - 2!
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? - I hope so
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? - no
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? - depends on who I am with
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? - no, removed in 9th grade
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? - Absolutely NOT!
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? - only if I have to
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? - in some things
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? - lovin' that Edy's slow churned stuff right now.....chocolate.
16. SHOE SIZE? - 9, used to be an 8 B4 kids
17. RED OR PINK? - Heidi pink
18. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? - lack of ambition when it comes to exercise
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? - having my parents and sister nearby
20. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? - Sept 8, Delaware
. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? -jammie shorts blue, no shoes
22. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? - Spider rolls and tempura with rice
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? - the hum of my computer and DH snoring
24 IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? - Sky blue
25. FAVORITE SMELL? - right now, my DS's breath when he wakes up from his nap
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED WITH ON THE PHONE? - Nicole!
27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU MEET? - not really sure!
28. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? - sleeping in :)
29. FAVORITE DRINK? - non-alcoholic - Coke with Lime; alcoholic - just discoverd Mikearitas...yum! But I love a Patron tequila margatini
30. FAVORITE SPORT? - skiing
31. HAIR COLOR? - dirty blonde
32. EYE COLOR? - bluish greyish
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? - only when I have to, hate 'em
34. FAVORITE FOOD? - OMG I could never come up with a favorite...love so many foods
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? - happy endings
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Life Aquatic (not reccomending it)
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? - dark yellow
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? - summer!
39. HUGS OR KISSES? - hugs
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? - anything chocolate with a muscat wine
41. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? - Big Picture
42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? - don't have one
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? - peaceful quiet
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? - Stones
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME - Belize
46. IF YOU COULD PICK ANY TWO PEOPLE TO HAVE DINNER WITH, WHO WOULD THEY BE? -my maternal grandparents, never met them

Ahhhh, those Wisconsin sunsets....WAIT, I'm in Wisconsin?? Can it be true? I didn't know something like this existed here! I am really snobby about my sunsets, I usually only consider West coast sunsets worthy...but hey, this was a beautiful one, I have to admit it! I can't remember having such a nice day at the lake house..it was really peaceful and relaxing...that is...once the tornado warnings expired! :)

I had lots of fun getting silhouette photos of DH and the kids on Father's Day...that extra kid is Gabby and Gavin's cousin Meghan. I must have taken 30 photos just of the sunset trying to get the perfect exposure. Love my camera. 

Happy Dad's Day!

This is what Sean got for Father's Day, don't you just LOVE the hat that Gabby made for him?? He got to go on a super long bike ride this morning..then came home and took a shower and got back into bed because you know it's not really Father's Day without breakfast in bed!

Happy Dad's Day to all the great daddy's out there! 

New Lens

THOSE EYES love 'em! I totally splurged today and got a new lens...nothing super great a 50mm 1.8. I REALLY want a 1.4 USM but ya know...it's only money right! :)

Need to play in some beautiful light tomorrow and see what this baby can do. Someday.....I'll have the 1.8. Until then, this will be a fun toy to play with. 

Picasa ROCKS!

I am having so much fun playing with the editing features on Picasa. And it really does make blogging easier...thanks to Julie for that tip! Working on organizing my digi photos for Stacy's class...it is quite a BIG job.

This is my dd on a typical summer day, star stamps on her face, half eaten candy necklace sent by her Gran, and the remenants of whatever she ate that day speckling her face. My sweet wild child. 

Cute Boy of Mine

So is this not the cutest face you have ever seen? Well of course all the mamas out there will have seen cuter, their own little monkeys.

I was trying to get him to smile and got quite a few shots with a blank stare and then out of the blue...he smiled. And this is not his normal smile...it is totally different than any he has ever made. So it is really special to me, like it was just for me.

And those eyes can just melt my heart. 

BPS Clipboard

I am so excited to be in Stacy Julian's BPS class. Library of Memories. I love that organizing stuff, in fact I think I organize my stuff more that I actually scrap! It was super exciting the other day to get a happy package in the mail. They sent us a clipboard to decorate, a couple of new black journaling pens and a SCRAPSTRONG wrist band. Can't wait for class to start...and so far. I'M READY!

Makin' Rainbows

OK, I just love this picture. Gabby was watering our new grass when I saw the rainbow she was creating with the mist. Grabbed my camera and got quite a few great pics but these are my favorites. She was so excited to be doing this and I just love how she is encased in the colors.

"I'm Free"

Man it's been a busy week. My little stinkbug finally turned three....so now the tantrums will stop and he will always be well behaved...no more terrible two stuff right??? Ugh, so far, not so!

Obsessed

This kid of mine is totally obsessed with bubble gum right now. I have to admit, I love using it as a bribe for good behavior, using the potty, you know what I mean! This picture is him showing off his 10 cent piece of Bazooka he got for good behavior at the pharmacy. He is finally learning not to play with it or put it anywhere but his mouth so he doesn't loose it (when I throw it in the trash). He got one piece stuck to his pants and was devestated when he couldn't get it off, and even more so when he accidentally swallowed his precious gum. Today he seems to have really figured out the intricate art of gum chewing. He chewed the same piece all day, we even put it in a special place for naptime and he ran to get it immediately after he woke up!

The funny thing is that chewing away all day seems to keep him occupied and a little bit less into trouble! It's kind of cute too. Have I discovered the magic pacifer for my wild child? Maybe....doubtful. But I am gonna milk it all I can, especially if I can get him to chew sugarless gum!

Inspired!

I am so happy the sun is finally out today and the rain has stopped...at least for today! I am all about gardening today....well in between taxi driver and lunch maker and toddler chaser! :)

I am so excited to have signed up for Stacy's new class at Big Picture...Julie and Shannon inspired me to organize and scrapbook a different way when they described Stacy's Library system so I can't wait to get started. Julie is in it too...I totally expected she would sign up! :)

I am also reading Cathy Z's new book.. Clean & Simple the Sequel...and it is wonderful. I am letting go of the suffocating chronological scrapbooking and trying to focus on the process! It is so liberating to let go of that and I think it will make it a much more nurturing hobby! And look, I actually got a couple pages done! I'm so proud of myself!

I also started recording my week for the Week In The Life SB we are planning to start in June. It is really fun but it is a lot of work! It is amazing how little I think about the little stuff. And I am really enjoying finding something to be grateful for each day. What a great process...I get it now! Ali E is AMAZING!

Happy Mom's Day!!

It's cold and grey and gloomy outside but it is a beautiful day! The kids and Sean brought me breakfast in bed at 10am, ahhhhhhh...and beautiful handmade (by Gabby) cards and there were 2 new geraniums waiting for me downstairs. It's good to be Mom. :)

We are celebrating Mom's day today with Sean's ma and lots of birthdays...Sean, Lucy and Gavin. Gavin is going to be so thrilled to FINALLY get to open some presents today. He's been talking about his "birfday this momfh" for quite a while and he has the 3 finger thing down!

Happy Mom's day to all you Moms! You are amazing and wonderful and beautful...keep up the good work! :)

Funny for Moms

If you want a good laugh, especially if you are the Mother of more than one boy...check this out!

Careful not to pee your pants! LOL

Do you like my colors?

We are using the blue of the swing and the bronze on the floor with white to do the trim of the house. Right now the plan is to do the big inside panels of the posts the blue color with white trim like the railing....and then we are thinking of painting the top of the posts a kakhi color like the trim around the windows. Otherwise it will be white and use the kakhi color for the little trim pieces at the top and bottom of the tapered posts.

I had a blast at Pier 1 finding the chairs and the little candles. I'm planning on painting the old table my parents got in Mexico...maybe blue or white. :)

Nose Picker

How many 2 1/2 year olds do you know who can pick their nose (and eat it) while learning to pump on a swing? Wheeelllll, my talented toddler has figured it out! Isn't he amazing?? :) I am very pround of him for doing such a good job leaning back and forward and putting his legs out and bending...great large motor skills. Now we'll have to work on the the "other stuff." :)