Yippee! Time for Alicia to Play

I was so excited last week when the Pioneer Woman FINALLY posted her actions for Photoshop Elements. I have been so bummed that she had only released actions for normal Photoshop and were not available to Elements users. (okay, they were available to some degree, but it was hard to get them to work the right way….well, hard for Alicia.) I have been playing around with other ones I found online, (which happened to be created by the people who helped PW get these ready for us Elements users) but they seemed to be a little more work than I thought they should be.

Now it is literally a 1-click fix for my pictures, and so far I love how they turn out every time.

Before:

After:

I love these since I totally had no idea what to do when it came to hue/saturation/etc. This, I just pick the general look and feel I want, and it takes care of everything for me. Oh and I can mix and match as well, so double bonus! I have finished editing all my pictures year-to-date, and it was a total blast!

Caterpillar Update

Not so much an update since the caterpillar is still dead.  However, the conversations we have been having with Haden are enlightening.

Morning:

Haden:  Can I see my caterpillar?

Dad:  Your caterpillar died. 

Haden:  Huh?  What?  It died?  What?

Mom:  It got sick and died.

Haden (running out of the room):  Connor, the caterpillar died. (always keeping his brother in the loop)

We thought that was the end.  Then later that day:

Haden:  Can I see my caterpillar?

Mom:  It died.  There is nothing to see.  Go get your shoes on.

Haden:  Is it still sick?

Mom:  Nope.  It is dead.  Please put your shoes on.

Haden:  Well, when will it get better?

Mom:  It won’t.  It’s dead.  Will you go get your shoes on?

Haden:  When will it come back alive?

Mom:  When Jesus comes.

Haden (running out of the room):  Connor, the caterpillar will come back when Jesus comes.

Good.  we are finally done with this discussion.  Dinnertime:

Haden:  When will Jesus come again?

Mom:  Dan, take over.

At least it is about a caterpillar and nothing more traumatic.

Bugs

Last night Haden made me laugh with this:

Haden:  Mom do you know the X O skeleton?

Mom:  Huh?

Haden:  The X O skeleton.  (really emphasizing the X O)

Mom:  What skeleton?  Wait, were you talking about bugs at preschool today?

Haden: Yep, and now we are going to learn about fish!

He was pretty proud that he knew what an “XO skeleton” was.  I was impressed that he actually wanted to talk about something he did at school.

On a somewhat related side note:  Haden’s caterpillar died Sunday night, and we haven’t broken the news.  Not sure how to go about it.  Too bad, we were excited to see it turn into a butterfly.

 

Let’s just say I’m not too surprised though.  I’m amazed it survived this long.  I have a house full of boys.  Things tend to get a little rambunctious.

Spring Jump Start

I love the first part of spring.  Okay, understatement.  I love spring period!!  I keep on getting glimpses of the end of winter and am trying to take advantage of every warm moment.  On Saturday we went crazy in the yard.

 

Dan worked his behind off planting trees and roses.  Dan put in 2 peach trees on the side yard and 7 new rose bushes in front to finally complete the hedge along our fence.  I’m excited to finally get something on my side yard.  Knowing my luck, the peach trees will never produce, but oh well, there is at least something there.

Connor and Haden were great helpers and actually made the work easier.

Garrick had a blast trucking around in his walker.  He actually took off into the street a couple of times.  Luckily the walker kept on getting stuck.

Ahh, welcome Spring!

Patriotic Program

Connor has been working hard this past month learning Yankee Doodle for the school Patriotic program. A great way to start the next 20 years or so with school programs.

He is such a spaz! Let's just say he did not get his mother's talent for doing more than one thing at a time. Oh well, it was still cute. I can say that since I'm Mom!

First one down....how many to go?

FHE Funnies

Connor:  “Sometimes the prophet opens his eyes during the prayer – huh?

Dad:  “No, I don’t think so.”

Connor:  “But he has to look to see if Jesus is there.”

Well, if anyone has an excuse, I guess the prophet does.

St. Patty’s Day

So life has been really stressful the last couple of weeks.  Not necessarily busy, just stressful.  Thus the lack of posts.  So here are a few pictures of St. Patrick’s Day.

It was a common start day at school, which meant that Connor had to be to school by 8am.  I was a little worried about that, but luckily he was so excited about the holiday and wearing green that it didn’t take much to get him going.  Haden was ecstatic that he got to wear his “Saturday pants” to preschool.  (He has a pair of camouflage sweats that he only gets to wear on Saturdays).  We did our customary breakfast for dinner, and the kids were excited to see the green.

Haden got a special treat from preschool, so it was great fun for the boys being able to eat their green dessert (in green bowls, no less)

Garrick sitting, waiting patiently for his portion of dessert.  What fun to have something to look forward to in March!

What’s Next?

I’m working here on the computer and hear some thumping.  I turn around and see this:

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!  Honestly I shouldn’t be surprised at this point.  He was actually climbing up the street signs on the way home from school today.

You have to admit he looks pretty proud of himself.  (I’m just sitting here shaking my head.)

Haden's Talk

Last Sunday Haden gave his first talk in primary.  It was a difficult week trying to get it ready.  He was willing to work on it, but it didn't go as smoothly as I thought it could.  The only reasoning I can come up with is that due to when his birthday is Haden is about a year younger than Connor was when Connor gave his first talk.  One of the downsides of being the youngest in your class versus the oldest. 

Oh well, he did a great job and I was really proud of him.  Such a goofball! I took a video of him giving his talk after church. Yep, he totally has to pee.


(Just as a side note...I totally had this ready early last week, but couldn't figure out what happened to the insert video command. Let's just say I am not impressed with Blogger's new editor. Good thing I have an awesome husband.)

Book Review: The Hunger Games & Catching Fire

LOVED THEM!  Finished both books in 2 days then ordered both from Amazon and pre-ordered the 3rd book.  (Thanks Rita for the Amazon Prime – They were on my doorstep the next day.) 

Oh, and Dan has read and finished both of them as well.  I think it took him 5 days.  Can’t wait until August.  (Book club is going to be fun this month! – not that it isn’t always fun ladies!)

They are just getting lazy

Driving today Connor came out with this after listening to a preview of the BYU/Utah game:

“Mom those BYU guys are getting lazy.  That’s why they didn’t do good”

I didn’t realize he was so disappointed that the basketball team lost on Saturday.  We left the game and Haden said:

“I don’t need to go to another one of those”

I think it might have been the sensory overload. 

10 Months Gone

Yep.  Can’t believe it.  Garrick reached 10 months yesterday.  I forgot until about 10pm, so I whipped out the camera to take pictures.  Which is amazing, since I have totally not been in a picture taking mood lately.

Garrick is the first one to get curly hair.  I have been waiting for a curly-haired kid since I met Daniel.  (Yes, Dan used to have WAY curly hair for those of you that are sitting in stunned silence).  A totally foreign concept for me growing up.  Ahh, those good old days of sitting 6 hours to get a perm that would last at most 1 month.

 

Here’s the update on his progress:

* 2 bottom teeth (we think *hope* he is breaking through his 2 top teeth)

* Cruises around furniture non-stop

* Climbs up – not down – stairs

* Has discovered there are fun items to play with on top of  tables/counters/etc…

* LOVES paper.  Really loves paper.  Nothing is safe

* Hates baby food.  With a passion.  He screams whenever he sees the  spoon.

What a fun kid.  It will be even better when we get through with teething.