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Pink Christmas 2009

jail bird.

June 2007-vintage pink
Thursday night Annie kate got sent to her room to take some serious alone time! After 15 minutes I walk in there and find that she has made a escape route tying her clothes together to escape.
Of course I thought it was creative and wondered if she thought this would be cute on mom's blog, but I was so mad and scared for her safety at the same time. But I could not miss this photo moment. Here is one of her looking out the window.

what DiD you Do toDay?

March 2006-Vintage Pink

this is the question i always hear from my husband Jeff. I know he means so well and wants to be interested in my day, but sometimes in comparison to what he does it seems so lame.
"hey Jeff what did you do today?" I ask.
"Well, I removed a mans nose, drilled small magnets in his face, reconstructed a new nose from the fatty tissue of his leg and then placed magnets in that so that he can put that over the hole where i removed his nose. then i ran 8 miles before going to my second job to work another 12 hours" he humbly replies. and then he asks me what I did.
So I took a picture to show all what I did. I changed 11 of these. That's it! no magnets, no running, no saving lives.

I thought I would find some posts from my pink archives while I am gone. enjoy

March 26, 2006 vintage pink

romance!

The above photo is a napkin i just found in a box this weekend that was given to Jeff and I right after we got married.
The night of the reception that we had at my parents house one of my moms friends had taken a sampling of food from that night and put it on a tray with flowers and had it sitting on our bed with this napkin beside it. I have never forgotten this and actually gave someone a bedside tray table for a wedding gift with this inscribed on the table. I loved it. Jeff and I were so hungry and i remember sitting there eating everything on the plate and laughing and kissing.

This week Jeff worked over 100 hours. he came home from work this morning with two consecutive sleepless nights, unshaven, exhausted and the first thing he did when he walked in was kiss me. He then put all three girls in the bike trailer and rode them around the neighborhood so i could have 15 minutes to myself.
12 years ago when i married him i thought i knew what being in love with him was and that giving me flowers was romantic. It has taken me a long time to realize that Jeff's way of showing me he loves me is by the silent acts of service ... and the flowers and chocolate are just the icing on the cake.

Napkin:

Jeff & Kristi,

Keep passion and romance alive in your marriage for many years - forever by eating raspberries and chocolate mint brownies in bed without napkins and under the covers. You enjoy life and live spontaneously. - A bed without crumbs is a marriage without romance.

If you didn't think we were totally crazy before, than you are not going to believe this.

We raced 3 hours north to hop a flight to Germany and then drive into Italy. When we got to New Jersey they had cancelled the Germany flight 20 minutes early because the plane was going to be carrying explosives.

We stood there with our luggage on the sidewalk and hear them announce another flight going to Europe.

And we got on. Our Entire trip has changed and we are in Spain!!!

Ciao!

We had called last night thinking no flights was going out until Sunday but then this morning there was a new flight. So we are racing 3 hours away to get on it.

The plane (oh I hope we get on) just has seats on the sides. We packed up the sleeping bags and hopefully the girls will sleep in the middle.
And as last year if we don't get on, we are headed to the beach!
Ciao!

Shopping... yuck!

This past week I feel like I have been trying to get not only a few things ready for our trip but also get a few things for school so I don't want to do any of that last minute school shopping (ha-i crack myself up - last minute it is 10:30 pm we still don't know when we are leaving and the suitcases are not fully packed)
I have decided I don't really enjoy shopping (for new items that is, I could spend all day in a junk store) I have to almost force myself to go to a mall.
This past week I went to get a iphone from the Mac store. My 1980's phone needs an update.
When I went to the mall this was the scene out front. Lawn chairs everywhere.
Then even further down more and more people. I walked into the store and asked the lady what was going on. She explained that if I got in line I would get a phone that day but it would be a 9 hour wait. She looked at my kids and the stroller and said,"just order one from the at&t store" No kidding! When I asked the 3 guys in the front of the line how long they had been there they explained they had been waiting since 7:00 am - it was noon.
I want a new phone but not that bad. I will wait till the rush slows down.
We went to Target to do the fun school supply shopping. Annie Kate has been looking everywhere for Foohy erasers. It is all the rage at her school and we have been looking everywhere for them. Has anyone heard of such a thing? I think I will just have to order them online.We happened upon the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale - all of my kids were wearing shoes almost two sizes too small. So, we tried on over a dozen pair of shoes to find shoes for school and our trip. HUGE sale and I am glad I found it.

They all got a pair of Keens and guess who got yellow?

Yep you guess it!

The same day we went to the mall in Virginia, we also went to the border of Pennsylvania to pick up boxes of blueberries. Someone at my church had recommended this place that have yummy and inexpensive blueberries. And they sure were. The kids were troopers in the car (lots of driving that day)

It was down a small farm town road an hour away. In the families garage were boxes of these amazing blueberries. 20lbs for $36. You had to reserve them and if your name was not on the list you did not get a box. The family also had two tables of baked goods. Lemon bars, snickerdoodles, Shoo fly pie and mini whoopee pies.
Oh my I knew I needed to buy one of everything. Everything was like $1.25 for half a dozen. The family were Mennonites and I know anything they make is amazing. We opted for the Whoopee pies and sat under a tree to indulge. I also bought a Shoo fly pie, because how can you not buy a Shoo fly pie. I have never had one, I have never seen one for sale and it was just to fun to add to our list that we got blueberries and a shoo fly pie. (4 days later the pie still sits on my counter and I have not tried it)

I had finally found my small camera after weeks of it hiding in the drawer I left it in. So it is easier to carry around and take a Self Portrait to remember the crazy day of shopping. Poor Sally Jane was not up for a photo!

Do you buy the prepackaged school supplies or
do you enjoy filling your cart from the school list?

How long would you wait in line for a cell phone?

Have you heard of Foohy Erasers?
(i guess the monkey ones are the ones the kids love)

What would you do with 20 lbs of blueberries?

Have you ever eaten a Shoo fly pie?
Do you want mine sitting on my counter?

Last year in Brixen, Italy

The Road to Italy is paved with good intentions.

I had intended on being packed by at least today, I am not. (not even close)
I had intended to confirm a place that we could sleep our first night in Germany, I have not.
I had intended to write down all the address of people I want to send postcards to, I have not.
I had intended to read about some of the places that we are going, I have not.

I will probably end up spending the day tomorrow at the pool avoiding my responsibility of getting ready for this trip. I have high hopes to spend the morning doing any last minute or in my case first minute items for the trip.
Tomorrow night we get to find out what flights are leaving from what base and which one on Saturday or Sunday we are going to try to hop on. How exciting to not know what state we will fly out of (Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey) and what country we will fly into (Germany, Italy - last week they went to the Azors - that might be fun)

In the past two days we have changed some of our travel plans and cut out parts of southern Italy, I can't believe I will stress so much about the color of bow in my daughters hair on a Sunday but am so relaxed about packing and traveling to Europe.

Swim Season has ended

I guess all good things have to come to an end. Last Saturday we said farewell to our swim season.
On the superstars night of swimming Annie Kate swam 3 strokes and ended the year on a good note by beating or matching her last best time. She was going for the color of ribbons and wanted to win one of the big fluffy ribbons in a yellow for Sally Jane (4th place) Pink for Caroline (6th place) and a blue (1st place) her favorite color. I tried to explain to her to do her best and not shoot for 6th place. The night ended with a yellow, pink and blue in her hand - i am not sure how that happened but it did. Breast stroke is her stroke and she wanted that blue ribbon so bad. It was the first time in her sporting events that I have ever seen that fire in her eyes to push it. I stood at the end of the lane and just looked her in the eyes each time her head popped up. It was the first stroke all season I didn't photograph her doing but just was the supportive mom. She said she could see me the whole time. I don't think she cared that she was first but just knew what she had to do to get that blue color. I thought that was kind of funny.
This year she learned to do the flip turn and I just could not believe that she caught on. This was her last flip turn of the season and I loved how this photo turned out with her little toe and the water splashing.

Sally Jane even got into the spirit and let me color all over her back with
permanent sharpies. It only took 4 days to come off.

Annie Kate and her cute distant cousin who is also on the team

While I love this photo of Jeff and Caroline at her last meet, I was sad I never got one of me and the girls. I must remember the power of self portraits

We brought markers in the kingfish colors for anyone else who wanted a little 3 day tattoo.

Caroline at her last practice with one of her favorite coaches. She loves this guy

He is so cute with them and after practice does the team cheer.

"What time is it?"
then they all scream "Go Time" and then they grunt.

Sally Jane while content at the other end of the pool in her shallow beach slope now is calling herself a Kingfish for next year and wants a trophy. She is going to have to do some serious private winter lessons to get ready to be on pre-team.
The last practice they had a fun pancake breakfast for the kids and the week before one of the moms donated t-shirts for all the kids and they got to tie dye them all. This is some serious parental support on this team. I think it helps because everyone on the team lives in the same neighborhood together and since our houses are all on top of each other, we all know each other pretty well.
Caroline pretty much had blue lips half of the summer thanks to the icee's they sold each meet.Annie Kate was constantly making gifts for the coaches all season. (hmm wonder where that comes from? what a sick curse)
these were wood chips left over from camp that she hand stamped "Kingfish 2008" on each one and then colored over and sanded with the team colors.
I wish I had taken a photo of all the friendship bracelets she made over the summer for each of the coaches.
The funny story of her Pre-team follies (a meet only for preteam). the other team didn't show so is was more of an exhibition meet if you will. She was going to swim just the kick board race and the freestyle. I had asked her before if she would swim backstroke, but she was scared and said she didn't know how. (since she never gets to nervous I knew to take her serious)
then at the meet-exhibition they were missing one kid in one of the lanes. One of her favorite boy coaches (photo above) said, "Caroline, come over here you are swimming backstroke" He motioned her to the end of the pool and sat her down in the lane. I, the over protective mother, told him she doesn't know how- i had never seen her do backstroke without sinking after 10 seconds. He said, "who cares she can flip over and swim free, what is she going to do get disqualified"
then that little fireball grabbed the wall ready to push off and zoomed down her land not missing a beat and even had great form. I could not believe it. Our swim team closing social was one of my favorite things we did last year. It brought back great memories of such an unexpected activity for our girls. Last year the next day we left for Europe and had not packed one thing. We were laughing at how relaxed we were about hanging out until 10:00 pm and then hopping a flight the next day.
It was fun to soak in the beauty of this neighborhood where anyone could walk (of course we drove the 3 blocks) to the park to enjoy the evening. Many people had their wicker picnic baskets and bottles of wine eating dinner before the award ceremony. We of course tried to feed the kids before and they didn't eat anything and then were hungry when we got there.
I snapped this photo of Annie Kate before we moved to the basketball courts for the slide show (the word slide show does not even do justice to the academy award movie that one of the parents made to recap the season)
I don't think I like it because it was one of those aha moments as a parent when you say, "my kid is growing up"
This is the photo of the girls and the most amazing swim coach ever. He is tough with the kids. He expects their best in the pool but I think cares more about how they are out of the pool and how they treat each other and their parents. He is gentle with the kids and any time he saw Sally Jane he would say , "can't wait to have you on the team next year!"
My girls love this guy. After I took the photo Caroline turned around and hugged his guts out with a choke hold around his neck. His face looked shocked. I was enjoying the moment too much to take another photo, although now the look on his face would be priceless.
This was the scene as we were all setting our lawn chairs on the basketball court. The Dad who did concessions all year came and threw out the rest of the candy for all the kids. It was the highlight of their summer i am sure.
Caroline had been talking about this night all year. "oh I hope I get a trophy." I don't think she realized everyone got one. When she stood up there with 20 kids it was like she was the only one up there getting her trophy.

After she got it she ran over and showed it to Jeff who then says, "look it is a bum trophy" And the rest of the night she held it up saying, "hey look at my bum!"

So, another swim season comes to a close. It is bitter sweet and that was all, I mean all we have done for 8 weeks. we have been at the pool twice a day (many days we never left) and meets twice a week. We have very tan legs, Sally Jane's hair is a little green and we can't wait for next year.

the peak

Since I am pretty darn sure when I get back from our trip my flowers will have missed my three drinks of water a day that I give them. So I thought I better take a photo of the back yard at probably it's peak. My window boxes are my favorite ever.my first year ever that my sweet potato vine grew gigantic

and I feel like I saved the life of these plants that the man told me were all dead!

How is your garden going?

don't miss this sale.
Olive Juice (click here)

Just have to pass on the best deal of the year. These little dresses I have for my girls. They wear them all the time! They wash well, you don't have to iron them and they are cute to boot!

Olive Juice is some of the best made clothing out there for kids. Right now the dresses are only $15.00 each and there is free shipping.

Just had to pass it along. They will go fast!

They have many $5, $10 items

Just another reason to buy a Mac.
Even your 9 year old can make movies with your photos.

While I was burning dinner on the stove tonight, I ran outside for 5 minutes and took as many photos as I could of the girls running through the sprinklers. Annie Kate came in and made a movie.

New Kids on the Block - welcome back I have missed you!
song titled Summertime, New Kids on the Block

Birthday wishes

My good friend Jill had a birthday on the 9th of July. I knew all year it was going to be on that day and there was no chance it was going to change. I always have good intentions and knowing that Girls Camp and our family vacation would end just a day before I knew I had to think ahead to get her gift wrapped and sent. The fact it made there on time was a postal miracle. My blog post about her is on the tardy side because it is just making it's appearance today. I feel bad about this because Jill is one who really appreciates being remembered.
Thanks Jill for putting up with my crazy birthday song until I could get this done.

Here are 37 things about the girl who encouraged me to start a blog even though I said, "I have nothing to say" 1200 posts later, so much for nothing to say.

1. Jill puts 100% into her volunteer callings in her church. This is her with her Activity Day girls. I don't know if I have ever heard of anyone who felt so devoted to this calling
2. she lives close to the Temple and appreciates it's view
3. Jill is very humble and does not brag about the many things she could brag about. One being her brilliant son. He is the same age as my daughter and has probably read more books than I ever will in a life time. I remember one time when I was sharing with her my concerns for my daughter academically she was very sensitive and filtered her answers to my questions as to not make me worried in anyway.
4. She does her visiting teaching! I love that in a woman. She is the reason I do a conference basket for the girls I visit teach
5. She is a great photographer and the only person I know who uses film She can capture reality on film like no one I know. this photo tells so many stories.
6. She graduated from college but has never made me feel bad that I didn't, and she likes me just as much as if I had. (that's me - always a graduates friend never a graduate)
7. She is the Queen of Good Mail, but has always appreciated mail even before there was such a place and way to document it all
8. She is very consistent
9. She has made the apples on Michelle's table famous as this is where she has creative Friday's. I admire that she makes this a priority in her life to spend one day a week doing what she loves and doesn't let anything get in the way.
10. She made it possible for me to have a much needed retreat this year.
    
11. I really admire how much she plays games with her family
12. She is a master at Scrapbook Factory
13. She came up with the best idea to organize ribbon. A shoe organizer. Brilliant!
14. She Forgave me
15. I enjoy her take on Valentines Day.
16. She loves to read and I admire how she will give any kind of book a chance. I also appreciate she is the first person in my life that has called me a reader- it has made a big difference in me.
17. She is the only person I know who cleans behind her fridge even when she is not moving.
18. I believe she has had a big affect on the blogging world in encouraging families to document the sentimental and little things in life that we would not normally photograph. Like a Grandpa teaching his grandson to tie a tie.
19. She enjoys going to a movie theater to watch a movie and often takes photos of her ticket to document it.
20. I am very impressed how open she is to bloggers coming by her house to visit. She has had many surprise visits, even my parents
21. She can often be found volunteering in her kids classrooms at school
22. This was her first look at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. I checked her blog everyday while she was gone hoping for updates from her trip and loved exploring Paris through her eyes.
23. She is an assistant Flag Football coach
24. She is appreciative of any kind gesture that is sent her way
25. But what is more impressive is that she does an incredible job of letting you know how appreciative she is.
26. She has great titles to her blog posts, this was her second one and by far my favorite. I remember when I saw this and I thought I want to have a blog too. Here are some of her favorite.
    
    
27. Documenting her children's life is very important to her
28. She writes poems. They really get a lot of attention on her blog, I mean a lot - a lot!
29. She made the most awesome family calendar with great photos for her family this year.
30. This story sums up Jill. She is one of the most generous people I know and would seriously give the shirt off of her back. This is a story off of her blog when her husband was out of work.
    But moments later as I was walking down the street to join the girls for dinner I foolishly made eye contact with a man walking past me who then stopped me and told me how and he and his wife need a belt for their car and only need $17 more dollars and that it's not for alcohol or anything (he did NOT look homeless). I'm such a chump. I never know what to do when accosted like this and always feel like I can't have a wallet full of money and then say no to someone. So I dug around in my big bag for my wallet thinking I would give him the 3 $1 bills I had, but a $5 came out with it so I ended up giving him $8!! Good grief! I hadn't even made it to the restaurant yet and I'd already spent $11.
31. My daughter Sally Jane would love her vacuum, My husband Jeff would love it I used one as much as her
32. Her Sunday posts are blogfamous
    
33. My two favorite wedding gifts were kitchen scissors and the Barnes and Noble gift certificate that Jill gave me.
34. She lets me talk immediately when we get on the phone and will go minutes without interrupting me while I talk or cry it out.
35. She is friends with every walk of life
36. She loves flowers and does a great job of photographing them.
37. She knows me very well and is still my friend

You will probably read this tomorrow when your rise
and I hope it is a surprise
Jill, sorry this is late
Happy Birthday 2008

What are the chances you will show up on Jill's doorstep this year?
Is it not amazing she gave that guy money?
I can't not wait until she is 60 because stopping the list as 37 made me sad,
I had so much more I could have said.