AZ Trip

I took 240 pictures so get ready for a lot of posts!!! The trip was awesome with no major mishaps (Addie got the flu the night before Thanksgiving, but other than that...) The weather was awesome and it was great hanging out with my brother and sister who I haven't seen in 2 years! CRAZY! and pathetic.

Crossed Review

Crossed by Ally Condie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'm crossed (excuse the horrible pun) between a 3 & 4 rating with this one. Their were times when I couldn't put the book down and their were times when I was getting bored but then something would happen that would make me want to read it some more. (Isn't that pretty much like every book?) But to be honest at the end I wasn't racing to amazon to buy the 3rd one (or maybe thats because it isn't out yet!)



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My first attempt at shoot all manual on my camera! YEAH! Its not so scarey anymore! Still learning though...
Anyways. We snuck Austin on Jr. Stallions basketball. (It said Kindergarten and he is technically kindergarten age...) But he loved it! When he saw me with my camera he'd really start showing off. Probably getting sick of all of Aubree's basketball pictures!

Aubree's Award

Aubree submitted one of her photos for the Reflections Program (which I hate btw!) and received an award for principals choice and judges choice. The theme was Diversity Is....  and I hate spending time on these things so one day she was out taking pictures of the yard and showed me the picture that she took and I told her lets use that for Reflections and call it good!

Austin's Swim Lessons

Austin LOVES swim lessons. They just ended last night so I grabbed my camera. As soon as he would get out of the pool he would ask me when his next lesson was. He passed his class and his next level is with a bunch of 8 & 9 year olds!! They practice in the deep part of the pool!!!!...Next to the diving boards!!! So I might bring him some floaties just in case....

Family Binders

This has seriously been 3 months in the making! I first saw this idea on I heart Organizing. I have made one before learning from FLYLADY, but after looking at the one on I Heart Organizing it got me inspired to take it to the next level.
In my binder I also have a folder for our Netflix movies, and gardening articles, a project folder that I mainly just put my paint swatches in, I also make copies of any fliers on book reports due, Reflections programs..things like that.
Both girls have their own and love it. They know what needs to be done each morning and each evening and no more asking them "Did you put your clothes away?" They love checking off their chores and homework. Their is still some tweeking to do, but for now its done. The girls also have a folder for any special papers they want to keep like artwork or a report card. So far its working! I went to Jen Jones Etsy store to have her custom make me the check lists. That was a little stressful trying to come up with a check list on how I wanted it and I still need to change it after using it a couple of times, but Jen jones was very patient with me. I don't know how many times I emailed her with changes (and I still got some things wrong!) I glued a clip on top of the binder so their pens are always handy. (I found one on pinterest that you can buy, but I forgot to repin the site and now I can't find it!)

 Here's a better picture of the print outs. Aubree's is similar except she has Uniform laid out, UTIPS, and a few other things. They each have their own list of Saturday chores, too.

Sock Bun

I saw this idea on Pintrest and had to try it! It works better with Aubree's hair since its so thick, but I can do it in Addie's too. Its so easy! Here's the link

Aubree's 11th Birthday Party

HOLY  COW!!! I never thought I could fit all 18 girls in my house but we managed!! (3 couldn't make it...THANK_YOU!!)  It was 2 1/2 hours of screaming, dancing, and more screaming! I told Aubree this was her last one. Now Addie wants a big party like Aubree's. I just turned and walked away.