A "Treat" for you!

With Christmas approaching, everyone is on the look out for the perfect Christmas Card.   Shutterfly has a brand new greeting card brand that can help you find the perfect match for that card.  Treat brings to you one of a kind personalized greeting cards.  They are perfect for birthdays, thank yous, congrats and you guessed it...even Christmas cards.

Treat is now offering one free treat card on today, 11/19 and tomorrow 11/20.  Just head on over to www.treat.com and pick out your greeting card.  enter TREATBLOGR to redeem your one free greeting card today or tomorrow. 

Happy Holidays. 

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Isn't that how the song goes?  Christmas is soon approaching and I am on the search for the thing we all send out yearly.  The trend has led to sending out fabulous Photo Christmas Cards and my family has been joining in on the fun since our daughter was born (you have to admit, that before kids there was nothing great to be sending for everyone to see right?) 

Shutterfly is always an amazing place to look for those fabulous trendy Photo Christmas Cards .  I recently went out to the website looking for some inspiration and came away with so many different cards that I like.  Now I have the task of picking just one.

Here are some of my favorites.

 

monogram of snowflakes

 



 



 

happy always monogram

 

 

wishing you falala

 

 

warm winter wishes

 

 

These are just a few of the many options.  Plus they have New Years Cards, Holiday Cards, Cards with photos, without photos, various sizes.....I love the look of the sqare cards but hate the mailing costs so I am steering clear of those this year, even though one of them made my favorites list.  I just can't decide.

 

Head on over to Shutterfly and check out their card selection for yourself.  While your there, also check out their special offers page to see if there are any great offers that will fit your needs.

 

 

 

Disclosure:  I am participating in the Shutterfly Holiday Card Blog Campaign and will recieve compensation for my participation in this campaign.  The opinions on this post and blog are my own.

Book Review God gave us love

Once again, we received a book to review.

We received the board book god gave us love to review. My 3 year old loves the God Gave us series. she especially loves that this one is a board book so she can tote it around and flip the pages as she pleases. I loved the over all concept that this book teaches. Even if we are bothered or irritated by someone or something, we still need to love them. All of the children I read the book to loved the illustrations and story line. The only down fall was that for a board book, it was a little wordy.Over all another great addition to our home library

I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for Review. This review is my opinion.

Week 2

 

So we are changing things up a little.  I decided that I really like the idea of placing all of these pictures into a photo book.  So hopefully, week by week, I will make time to place the pictures into a layout and journal about the week.  At least I decided to start this during week 2 and not week 22.

Here are the layouts for Week 2 – 7 pictures is all as some days I really struggle and phone pics were the best I got.   I did remember though.  Thankfully.

The EVERYDAY weekly dump–Week 1

I know it’s just the first week of this challenge, however, I feel like it’s going great.  I have been remembering to pick up my camera and take some shots even if we aren’t doing anything fantastic or even if we are just sitting around on a very typical day. 

Day 1 (great start to “the everyday” as the only photo I took was this one on my phone!)

We started the new year out with a great big remodeling project. My dad came to help my husband and the two of them ripped out the three holes in the wall, added trim and sheet-rocked and placed bead board on the inside of them. we still need to pain all the trim white and add cupboard doors but the project is coming along.

Day 2

Cystic Fibrosis is a tough disease.  Winter is especially hard with this disease.  During the summer, there are fewer germs around and we are able to keep Rylee way more active through swimming, climbing and running at the park, nightly walks, bike rides and basically any thing that is outdoors. Keeping Rylee active helps move out and break up some of the mucous that causes her to become sick.  The winter brings in so many more colds and germs and it’s tough to keep her active with it being so cold outdoors.  We do try to do many activities that can get her moving.  She is in Cheerleading and Tumbling and we do take her to open gyms at the gym, Cheer and Gymnastics where she is able to run and jump on the trampolines.  Two years ago for Rylees birthday she was gifted this Trampoline from her friends.  It has been amazing and even after 2 years the kiddos still love it and Rylee is getting quite the work out.  Her jumps are becoming higher and higher.  I fear one of these days she is going to jump head-first over the handle bars.  YIKES!

Day 3

Dress up is also becoming a favorite in the house. Rylee is very much into Cinderella and the dress up clothes come out daily now.

Sesame Street Live came to town with it’s show Elmo Makes Music.  Santa Clause brought Rylee and her cousin Logan tickets to the show. Rylee loved the first half of it.  She stared at it intently and danced to the music.  It was a great show and very entertaining. 

Entertaining and fun that is until Auntie Aimee purchased the $10.00 Elmo Balloons for each of them.  Rylee loves to look at balloons.  She always points out the Elmo balloons when she sees them in the stores.  Now holding on to the balloons, well that is a different story.  They recommended that we tie the balloons to the childrens belt loops to keep them from accidentally floating to the ceiling.  Mistake number uno.  I should have tied the dang balloon to my wrist to keep Rylee from fearing that she will float away.  Add this fear to an over tired, non-napped little 3 year old and guess what.  By the time we got to the car we were pretty much in full melt-down mode.  However, the next morning at breakfast, Rylee did hold the balloon again, and it seemed that while indoors with shorter ceilings, the fear is not near as bad. 

Day 4

This next picture makes me so happy yet so sad. My little baby is growing up. Three years old. How can that be. Being handed CF, really changed how exciting every little life change and growth is in our house. I am so happy that Rylee is growing and learning to do things every day and has such an independence about her. However it also makes me realize how much of what she has to do makes her grow up beyond her short 3 years. She sits like this two times a day, more if she’s sick, and never ever complains. She holds her nebulizer to her face through two separate medications while she shakes in her vest. She never ceases to amaze me. The most sadness comes from when I look at this and see these small hands, a 3 year olds body, and an ability to do what I know a lot of adults would not be able to do on a daily basis. I know that I would complain every time I had to do a treatment if it was me. She is strong. I love her.

We have had some amazing weather here.  On January 5, 2012 the temperature reached 61 degrees here.  That is just unheard of.  We are used to –10 degrees during this time of year not 60’s but I will definitely take it.  We spent the afternoon playing at the park.  2 hours of non stop running, climbing, and laughing.  This however did catch up with us as it was also a cheer night and we have found that we do need a good nap on these days or else we tend to cry through the entire practice.  Note to self – even if it’s beautiful out, don’t skip nap on Cheer nights.

Day 5 - again phone pictures.  I really could use a new phone with better camera.  Too bad my contract isn’t up for a very long time.  so sad. 

Gabe is Rylee’s friend that comes over during the week days.  His mom is expecting and I found it funny that he has begun to play with the baby dolls on occasion.  I’m not sure if this is due to the fact that he has been talking about a baby at home or the overwhelming amount of girl toys that occupy our house.  Either way, learning to be gentle with a baby doll is a good quality for both girls and boys right?

Day 6

I walked into Rylee’s room to grab her blanket for rest time and saw this.  Stacking pillow pets anyone?  Who needs blocks?

Since this challenge is being titled the “EVERYDAY” I figured I should start photographing some of the less fun everyday tasks.  SANITIZE occurs 2 times everyday.  More when Rylee is sick.  We are fortunate enough to have learned of the Avent baby bottle sterilizer and germ guardian nursery sanitizer after about 2 years of sterilizing her nebulizer pieces by boiling them.  This is so much easier and has been a great investment.  We just have to wash the pieces with warm soapy water, rinse with clear water, throw into the bottle sterilizer and add water.  When they are done with the cycle in there, I throw them into the germ guardian and it helps to dry the pieces.  Who would have thought that I would buy a baby bottle sterilizer for my almost 3 year old child at the time, who has been off of the bottle since 7 months or so.   

Day 7

Santa brought Rylee a Nintendo DS for Christmas along with the Team UmiZoomi game.  She has loved it and it amazes me how quickly she can pick up on the game.  It is a math game where she needs to use measuring, addition, patterns, shapes and various other math skills to progress in the game.  The two areas she has struggled with are the addition of numbers over 10 and the greater and lesser questions.  She is grasping the ideas though and that amazes me at the age of 3.

Wordless Wednesday–Still Shakin

 

An amazing photography giveaway at Crave photography

just a little shout out about the amazing giveaway going on a Crave Photography. She is giving away your choice of lens - a nikon 85mm or a canon 85 mm. Also lots of other prizes. truely an amazing giveaway.

2012–A new year

With the start of the new year, I am again going to attempt to jump in the wagon and try to capture at least one image each day.  Bethany over at Hissyfits photography is starting a sort of blog hop called “The Everyday”  I will be joining her in an attempt to capture at least one picture from each day for the entire year.  Nothing fancy, some may be unedited, some phone pics and some a edited masterpiece (well, as much of a masterpiece as this non-pro mommy photog can do).  I think I will be attempting to post them weekly to make room for jumping back into posting on a regular basis.  It’s been to long.  Nothing like the new year to start this over!

Here’s an image of Rylee with the Christmas tree this December. 

Book Review: Restless in carolina

A quick review for this book.  I don't normally like to review novels, but I chose this one because it looked interesting. 

At first I struggled to get into the book.  It wasn't catching my interest.  However, that soon changed.  The books story line captured me and I was finally able to read and stay in the story.  From the tree-huggin girl to the non green developer the book was a great read.

Like I said though, the book was a tough start but ended on a good note.  Definetly one that you have to keep reading to find the joy in it.

photo shoots galore

 

I know, I know…Pretty impressive title for someone who is nothing but an individual who enjoys taking pictures and editing them.  I’m by far not schooled in photography, nor am I in Photoshop, but non the less, I love experimenting and snapping pictures. 

I started out snapping some pictures of my cousin for her senior pictures. 

Soon after I took some pictures of Rylee’s friend Haven.

I must admit that this little girl cracks me up.  She did awesome.

And finally, just last night, I snapped a few pictures of Mya and her sisters.  They are so much more comfortable with me after being around me for a year.  They did wonderful too and are super cute of course.

Last but definitely not least, I snapped a few shots of my Rylee.  Some time this week I am headed back out with her to take some birthday pictures.  Think lots of bright pink, light pink and aqua colored balloons.  I am super excited.

Tie Dye Party–The actual Party

 

The party is past but I have been slowly working on uploading pictures and have since had 3 friends 7 family photo shoots to work on also. To say we are still busy is an understatement.  So these pictures are mostly straight out of the camera – no editing done – meaning most are dark and off centered, but oh well.  Better to get them up then not. 

 

Getting ready to open presents

birthday cupcakes

The weekend was super hot.  That of course didn’t stop the kiddos from wanting to be outside all day long.  It was the perfect family birthday for Rylee.   She loves camping and absolutely adores her cousins.  With all the activity and fun, we totally forgot to make our tie-dye shirts that we had brought along.  Oh well.  Our party was perfect.

Tie Dye Party

 

We are gearing up for Rylee’s 3rd Birthday here.  Of course, her birthday doesn’t fall until the end of next month, but we are doing a combined party with her cousins Brooke & Logan.  Brooke will be 10 and Logan will be 3.  We are having a tie dye party for them.  It should be fun.  We will be having a ‘friends party’ for Rylee around her actual birthday also.  You know, a overtop, girly, pink and aqua, camping party complete with smore’s, campfires, bean bags, and an outdoor movie showing.

These were some pictures from our photoshoot.  You would be so surprised at how difficult it was to get a little certain boy into a tie-dyed shirt and on top of that, attempt to get him to smile and look at the camera.  It took some major rump shaking by my sister.

July update

 

I basically forgot all of July and about jumped straight into the end of July/August.  Whoops!

July was full of fun activities.  But just like June, July sped by.  It’s almost August already.

We began with the 4th of July.  We stuck close to home and had some great sweltering hot fun at the parade and Uncle Sam Jam (USJ).  Rylee loved getting the candy from the parade and jumping in the jumpers at the USJ.  She also enjoyed the craft area where she made an awesome flag necklace.  Fireworks were also a favorite.

We spent one morning picking strawberries at the strawberry patch.

We also took in Phil Baker, Story Times, and Friday Features at the library.  The zoo has also been visited a few times in the past couple of weeks when the temps weren’t too high.  We have really enjoyed spending time with friends that come over while their mom works and frequenting “moms club” events.  Pool time happened quite often as we had a warm spell with temperatures into the 90’s and heat index’s well over 110.  Talk about some hot and humid weather. 

 

Camping was put on the back burner for a while because we decided we could easily sit in the air conditioner at home instead of in the small camper.  We are packing up to go camping soon though, so more camping pictures will come soon.

We took a tour of Dairy Queen here in town this past week.  Rylee loved seeing all the stuff and especially loved walking in the giant fridges and making her own ice-cream cone. 

Sprinkles

waiting for the tour to begin

inside the giant walk in fridge

making her ice-cream cone

eating her self-made ice-cream cone

 

We are in full planning mode for Birthday parties here.  We are having a “cousins tie-dye party” for the summer birthdays and also Rylees “friends” party at the end of august.

I will also be taking some senior pictures of my cousin soon so more of that later too. 

We have Rylee’s CF appointment tomorrow.  Hoping for growth, continued clean cultures, and not too many tears during the blood draw.