Fish out of water, that is me!

I am no where proficient with use of that graphic pen. I have to learn to hold and press and push buttons and ... well, you get the drift. :) I also need to learn about Photoshop. Hopefully through Debi, Rima, Neda, and Bobbie, I will do just that.

You can tell, by my cut out, that my hand isn't the steadiest, but what fun. Once I get the hang of it, watch out, ill be cutting everything out and copying and pasting. I also need to get Photoshop for dummies. I am getting lost and keep referring back to steps from your blogs. Thank heaven someone knows what they are doing. :)

This is what I wanted to do with this one, picture it... the mermaid Debi made (beautiful!), but cut her arms, pasting them close to her mouth, adding a flute, having the fish jump out of the water towards the music notes, and the flower (all from Debi's blog) as the sun. Then I would need to figure out shadowing to lead the light of the sun to the mermaid. Oh if I only new how to do all of this!! Practice... Practice!

Thank you Debi, I hope you didn't mind me using your art work...

She gets it tonight... :) SSShhhh, it's a surprise! LOL

Todd stopped at Fry's Electronics on his way to the office to come home and he bought Hannah and my Dad Samsung S630's. I have to say... what a Dad! He was saving up to get his Slip Yoke Elminator (?), jeep part, but did this instead. LOL

So, we are going on a little road trip this weekend, or as I like to call it, Photo Safari Time, and we will get to view the trip through Hannah's eyes. :) How much fun this is going to be. I love 3 day weekends!! In Todd's case 10 day weekend. He will be taking 3 extra days off to turn it into a 10 dayer... Oh my gosh, to think we will get done in that 10 days, school work and more school work. ;)

Thank you all for your advice on the camera thing for Hannah and I hope this one will be a good one for her.

Really, I am not all that dumb!!

Ok, I was just re-reading some of my post... I sware I use spell check, maybe not all the time, but I try. I think I nailed it when I said my brain works faster than my hands... I am typing the wrong words is all. So please excuse my grammmar and hopefully you get the gist of what I am trying to say. :)

Ssshhh, I am going to take a nap here cause no one can see me. LOL

The pole is up.... YAY!!

How fun is this!! I loved plyaing tether-ball in Elementary School, and now I get to play with Hannah.

Digging the hole...

Hannah and David digging the hole for the pole... How exciting, a tether-ball court!

Having fun while building our tether-ball court...

He is a thirsty boy... Charlie was having fun helping.

Her let's try this David. The look on Charlie's face was priceless... He was watching them and to know what he was thinking.

This was such a cute moment!

Dad's Art

I absolutely love this one... Far out dude! ;)

This one... oh you can't see the colors in the ground etc., oh, I will have to try the opening shade.

Some of the art my Dad is working on... The lighting really isn't all that good, but maybe next time I will open the shades and get some natural light coming in. :)

Fridge Art / Papa Art

Well here you have it.... Hannah has been watching my dad work at this ship picture all weekend and this is what she came up with in Art at school yesterday, her version of his picture. :) Dad is not yet done with his picture and Hannah made sure that we save her picture so she can add to it. I have to say, this is what I have always dreamt of, my Dad and Hannah have a close relationship and artistic ability to rub off on her. :) How sweet it is...

The lighting for the pictures isnt the best, you just have to see it in person.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogoch

Anyone know what this is? Well, reading for my Human Geography class brought this to my attention. This is a name of a town in Wales. How would you like to write that on a letter.

The 58-letter name means "the Church of St. Mary's in the grove of the white
hazelnut tree near the rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tisilio near the
red cave."

When the railways were built in the 19th century, the people of the town decided to change the name... It would intrigue people to stop when they saw the signs in the stations. Now, isn't that a hoot. (Before the railways the name was only the first 20 letters.)


For all of my long time friends and for the new ones as well... I am a proclaimed people observer. This world and the people in it amaze me and I love to learn why people and places are what they are. I have been doing a lot of soul searching this past year, as far as where I want to go with school. I have gone back and forth and sideways...


Sociology is where I thought I would go first. Then it was off to nursing (midwife, still a possibility, just a lay midwife). Then there was Elementary Ed., hmmm, not a good choice for me right now. I have fallen in love with Geography again, So, am I any closer to making a decision? You bet, Secondary Ed. Social Sciences with a minor in Geography. There you have it!! I only need 3 more classes to receive my AS in Geography and 2 more years for my seconday Ed. teaching. I am on the top of the Mountain looking at my future... WWWWooooohhhhoooo!!! I have never been more sure of what to do and oh am I excited.


Who would have thunk taking one class could do it for, but this class has. Truth be told, I should always go with my gut instinct and go with my first choice, which was Secondary Ed. Social Sciences (that is what I declared my major to be when I started to school.). Looking at it though, I am glad I have done my exploring now and have made my decision.


A P.S. to this... Culture Diversity Class, well after this semester, let's just say, I wont be the same. :) I know that is what college is suppose to do for you, change you, make you more aware, and boy had it done that! (Like you all needed to know that...) :)

Hannah making eggs...

OOoopppsss!!! I forgot these were on the camera. Todd loves showing Hannah how to cook, he is so patient with her and loves showing her all the ropes. So this last weekend she made herself scrambled eggs. How exciting!! :)

Holy Moly Guacamole

Woohooo!!!! I am going to like this thing. The UPS man brought my package today and I have never been so thankful to have a class get cancelled. :) Above is something I did in paint and it is going to take some time to learn the pen, but watch out!!!

All of you would love this. I can take notes if I had Vista, which may have to be my next purchase. I am going to let Hannah play with it for a while and then post a few more photos. Oh, this was not good... I should have gotten this during the summer. I will be good though and this will be my reward, as well as Hannah's. Homework done we can play with the Graphic Tablet. Holy Mole Guacamole, this is the most awesome computer gadget yet. Now if we can get Grandpa to use one, the possibilities are endless.

Posting... I only have few minutes. :)

Hello Blog'n friends!! Well it has been the usual first week at school... double billed for my books (ouch), one class may be cancelled, trying to figure out what to take in its place, trying to stay on top of it all, including Hannah's spelling... and so on.

I at least wanted to post about my eating out for dinner yesterday, still haven't made it to the grocery store and a friend invited us. I think, no, I know I am going to conquer this this time. We went to our favorite Mexican food restaurant for dinner. Oh no you may say, but it was easier than I thought to make a good choice. I had their small chicken salad... shredded chicken, lettuce, lots of lettuce, tomato, guacamole and vinegar and oil dressing. It was in a shell, but that is easy not to eat. It was yummy and filling. I usually would have had the big one with shredded beef, but since we are staying away from beef I refrained. Anyways, I felt triumphant and very excited to go shopping in December... ;)

So again, thank you for all of your encouraging words this last few days and to Antigone... you can do it sista!! :) We are here to support and love ya!

Exercise is coming... Now that I am settling into classes and a schedule I will add exercise this weekend. Can you feel the excitement?!

Have a most fabulous day and here is to eating healthy!!

The first day... So far so good!!

First, Thank you to all of you supporters!!! Your words of encouragement are pulling me through. :)

Boy, did I improvise today... First day of school and about an hour behind. I had a banana and an apple with a little peanut butter. It actually held me until lunch. For lunch, well, I did make good choices. Subway is right down the road from the college and I had lunch there. A 6 in. chicken and cheese on honey wheat with bell peppers, tomato, spinach, with vinegar and oil. It was tasty and satisfying. I brought almonds for a snack today and that should work. :)

I am realizing that Mondays need to be my day of rest from exercise or I need to find, nope, Mondays are just going to be a school day.

*Here's a tip... count how many times you chew a bite, it slowed me way down and I felt fuller when I was done.

Ok, done with my lunch time get away and now I back to solving those pesky math problems.
Thank you again for all of your support!!

Adopting a new eating life style!

Here is the first day menu... Now with school I might have to re figure Monday and Wednesday a little, but it can be done!! Debi had a great idea... posting every Monday what your goals are for that week and your last weeks progress. Fabulous!! This is going to be fun!! I am thinking, for all of you who are going to participate, why don't we start off by posting what our goals are and why. This way we can have a little insight for encouragement purposes. :) Thank goodness I haven't done my 6 months shopping yet. :)

Are any of you a Dr. Weil fan? I need to read his book again, always helps to get me on track.

Breakfast

1/3 cantaloupe
1 slice whole-grain toast
2 tsp peanut butter
1 apple

Lunch
2 cups fresh spinach salad
2 ounces grilled chicken breast
1 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. vinaigrette
1 small whole-wheat pita
1 apple

Dinner
5 ounces fish (cod, halibut, etc.)
1 small sweet potato
2-3 cups broccoli, carrots, peppers, onions sauteed in garlic and olive oil
1 cup fresh fruit

Snacks (mid morning or mid afternoon) - 1 small handful of nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts, etc.)

Good Luck and God's Speed!!

Shedding those pounds...

Ladies... Ok, I have set a goal to loose 30lbs, yes count them, 30lbs. Who wants to join in the challenge? :) Tips, stories, advice, it is all welcomed!! I will be journaling every day and would love the support of all of our Blog'n friends. :)

Todd and I are going to slowly adopt a Mediterranean style of eating and up our exercise as much as possible. Todd thinks he is getting old and really wants to make sure he is healthy and stays healthy and wants to teach Hannah more on this subject.

So day 1 is tomorrow (I need to go grocery shopping) but I will add a day of walking today. So whose in? :) Anyone, anyone.... hehehehe

Also, goal is, going to Mississippi for Christmas and I would like to get some new clothes!

You have to be kidding me, right?

Here is the scenario... I walk into some "Big" stores, and I find out that really even though they work there, they don't know what in the bleepty bleepty they are doing.

W, "I was wondering if you carried the Wacom Graphic Tablet?"

C, "Sure we have graphic tablets, they are on the last isle over by the paper there."

W, "You do know that I am not talking about paper, right?"

C, "No. I thought you wanted a Graphic Tablet and that is paper right?"

W, "Um, no, they are a tablet and pen that you use with your computer to take notes, edit pictures, draw.

C, "That sounds cool! Are you sure they make something like that?"

W, "Are you kidding me? May I speak to your manager, please?"

C, "Sure, hey Bill (on his headset thingy) there is a lady looking for a graphic tablet and it's not paper, it something for the computer, do we have that?"

B, (he doesn't come up to me. he speaks to C over the head set thing), I just checked our internet site I guess they do have them, but only online."

C, Sorry Ma'am (hey, I am not a ma'am) :).

W, "Thanks for your help and (oh, did I want to say this, thanks for the lesson in ignorance, but Audrey appeared in my thoughts and I was not sarcastic.) have a fabulous day!" :)

This continued on to two other stores, they all sent me to the paper isle. The last store I tried, did have them and weren't as dumb founded when I asked for it, but, yet again, I could only order it online. :)

Todd's input was this... They know now! :)

So, the best price I found for the Wacom 6x8 was at Amazon.com and I will receive it Wednesday. I am having an instant gratification moment and I want it now! hehehe :) I was going to say, at least I don't have school on Wed., but I do! Dang it all!!! Well, there is next weekend to play with it. Hannah is just as excited and I can't wait to see here pictures. Oh this is going to be fun!!

Thanks for listening!

Search

Anyone...

Can you search for a blog? I am totally having a step away from the computer moment!!! Help!

Wifeness...

How did I get here…

Well, 3 years of Todd being on the road has taken a toll on my wifeness. (like that one?!) I already had a huge problem with being a “submissive” wife, but add 3 years of trying to be a submissive wife 3 days a week, single mom 4 days a week and so on, watch out wifeness. We talk everyday on the phone and he has had to give me a lot of the decision making power while he is on the road, but it is much easier to keep myself in the role of being a submissive wife when he is home. I am an all or nothing kinda gal and that is something I pray to God about all the time. I am his wife ALL the time, not just 3 days a week and those old habits of being head strong and single minded creep in.

This morning Christina lead me to a blog about just this subject and WOW, it is there in black and white what a submissive wife is, should do. (Not like it isn't in black and white in the Bible, duh!!) I could count too many of them for myself that I falter at.

One of the on going disagreements we have had throughout our marriage is that I give of myself to much so too other people and not enough to us. I always disagree and believe that to be one of my strong suits; great friend, willingness to do for others, help always, etc. But… by the time I get home, I have nothing left for the moment for us. It has just been in the last year that it has hit me that I need to change this and that, oh my gosh, he is right… moderation, I can still help, but in moderation. J If it is something that we have disagreed on for 8 years, I guess you could say, Hello, Windy, are you listening to me, it is God, Knock, Knock… Learn to change it. (Ok, a little head strong, but I can change that too!)

I love my husband and 100% appreciate the Great Husband and Father that he is… and I pray to God that he will strengthen my desire to be the mate, partner, wife, team member, that he needs me to be.

Wanted to share this…:)

- Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator: Eliminate Odors From Laundry

- Febreze Laundry Odor Eliminator: Eliminate Odors From Laundry

Charity Grace... this is my favorite laundry product. Todd's clothes get stinky quick. They sit for a few days in a bag at work and the aroma!!! YUCK!! This works though and I have been using it for everything... it smells so good!!

Let me know what you think if you try it, and this link she get you to a $2 off coupon under special offers.

Puppies and Books, oh my!

I found a book to send to Charity Grace (Hubby's Cousin)...:) I saw it and knew it had a home.

Book 255... I am thinking this was the 255th book printed. Copyright I think is 1912, original copyright 1903. It is great to find these books a new home and know that they will be appreciated!! Watch you mail CG. :)

More Puppy photos...

Here is are elusive (?) Dixie... sound asleep on the sofa after playing with Charlie. He tuckers everyone out. :)

Max snubbing me... we brought that puppy in to our home and Max is no longer the baby. He is not sure if he likes that idea.

Charlie and Hannah are inseparable. This is from this first night, she fell asleep with Charlie on the living room floor. Every time she moved, he moved right next to her, it was the cutest dang thing. :)

Gosh, I better finish spell check before I post (for all who read this after I posted it. ) :)

Coffee with the Girls...

Good Morning Ladies and...

After cleaning the house this morning I sat down and was done (for right now at least...). All my chores were done, and my mind started to run a little. It made me think of the days when we had a coffee group of moms that would get together on Mondays for Coffee, Boy, how I miss that. All of our lives have gotten busy with going back to work or school, some of us went to homeschooling, or we just had other things to do! :( We use to discuss the most obscure things to the topic of the moment (politics, schooling, etc.), it was fabulous.

I think my mind is starting to kick into school mode and substance is what is calling for. I need to get back to reading more, having grown up talk :), and more. HEEHEHEHE... oh no, I am having a moment. lol So, anyone, anyone start a subject. I can't even think of one... lol

Ok... here is something:

Something that champs my hide is that they don't make "Talls" for children. Hannah has such long legs that the size around the waist doesn't match the length she needs. I try slims, the pants with the adjustable waist, everything and they just don't work. She is a 6 to 7 waist and a 10 length, you could fit two of her in those pants that fit her length wise!! So now she has a great collection of belts, but not always does she like to wear them ( I cant say that I blame her!), plus they are so baggy in the legs. So I am calling on all children's clothes manufactured to consider, strike that, to make talls!! I think I have this frustration every time I go clothes shopping, so please, excuse me and my frustration!! :)

What books are you all reading? Maybe I need a new book to read.

Have a great morning ladies!!

Graphic Pen, no I mean Tablet

A Graphic Tablet is what I am looking for or is it? :)

I think this is where Todd would tell me to step away from the computer if you don't even know what it is called. lol Well, through much research I found that professional graphic artists lean towards the "Wacom", this is the model I am looking at CTE640B Graphire4 Blue 6x8 USB Tablet with Pen, it is the most reasonable for a starter. I am going to shop around and see where I find it for the least amount, but with a service plan available. You never know when you'll need it. I will keep you posted and hopefully this weekend be able to show you the fun stuff we can create with it.

P.S. Everything I read today said that editing photos, once you get the hang of the pen, is OUTSTANDING!! I hope so!

One more post...

3 in one day... I am starting to think I have a problem!! ;) I know what it is, school starts for me in a week and I am getting it all in now. lol I actually got a lot accomplished today; cleaned and reorganized the bathroom (noone better use is!), rehung my shower curtain and all, cleaned the entire house, got all my laundry done, set up a school area for Hannah and me, worked on Hannah's word recognition, reorganized my list for Costco next weekend, did the dishes, cleaned off the porch, played with the new puppy, watched a movie with Hannah and Todd, cleaned and dusted our bedroom, went through insurance papers to pick for our renewal tomorrow and I only had one pot of Coffee. LOL

But... that is not the reason for the post.

Hannah and I were looking up stuff to do over our Christmas vacation and she asked me, "what is that Debi lady doing for Christmas, what is Dad's cousins doing for Christmas, huh, what do you think?". So here we are with a question... What are your plans for Christmas and let us in on a family tradition too. :) We are going to Mississippi for Christmas. It is hard to believe Christmas is just around the corner.

Graphic Pen

We have been considering buying a graphic pen for months now and we are finally ready to do it. I saw what artistic work Bobbie did with hers and it sealed the deal for me. :) I would like to get my Dad interested as well... let him dabble a little in the year 2007. :) Anyways, if any of you have one or know about any, would you please leave me a comment. The best way to find out about things is through first hand experience I believe.

Thanks!!

Birth Stories

I had mentioned in one of comments about Hannah being born in the water and we thought it would be neat to share birth stories... So, if you would like to, please, share your birth stories. We attribute a lot of the calmness Hannah has, and has had since day one, to the environment in which she was born.

Hannah was born at the Birth Center near us and it was a very loving and homey environment. We had the place to ourselves (no other mom's having babies that day) and the full attention of our midwife, nurse and doula. It was fabulous!!!

They were to have gotten the birthing tub installed by then and it was delayed. What a bummer I thought. Well, as the day and labor went on, they decided to put me in the reg. tub to relax and refresh... Once in there, there were NOT getting me out!!! It was tremendous, the pain was diminished and I was able to sleep in between contractions (very welcomed rest considering I had 27 hours of unmediated labor...;) ).

Hannah made her entrance into this world surrounded by love... warmth... no loud noises... candle light only and Mom's hands only. The midwife guided her head out, but aloud me to bring her to my chest. It was the most awesome and empowering experience ever!!

That is our birth experience (condensed version) and we would love to share yours.

Boy was Charlie tuckered!

How cute is this... he fell asleep on an ice cube after spilling Todd's soda by stealing the straw.

Hannah says we have to call him Charlie Brown...

Introducing Charlie...

Hannah and Charlie (notice the pinching going on by Hannah... (she started that before she was born, no lie!!)

Max isn't to sure about Charlie yet... :)

Hannah and Charlie playing... what a goof ball.

As I was typing the last post Todd and Hannah called me from Wal-Mart and look at what they brought home... His name is Charlie. He is Golden Retreiver/Lab.

So much for my clean house... LOL

Getting back to it and does it feeeeelll goood!

This weekend we are just getting stuff done. Todd and his friends are going to try and get the engine back in the jeep, thank goodness, Hannah and I have been doing deep cleaning, I am preparing my final list for shopping this week and most of all, getting back to a routine. :) I washed our shower curtain today, deep cleaned the laundry room and freezers.... Then it happened.

Todd and Hannah called me from Wal-Mart... Mom guess what, you know that lady from church, she is giving away Golden Retriever puppies. (I had to give up my GR in Wyoming when I got divorced... the place I moved to would not let me have dogs and I was able to find a really good home for him.) So, now it is a waiting game to see if they bring one home. :) I will keep you posted.

Success!!!

The first and Second days were a success!! She made new friends, found out one of the girls in her class lives 2 houses down, PE teacher lives over one street and she wasn't lonely! YAY!!! She has said so many funny (great) things in this last 2 days...

"If I tell him I'm a girl he wont play with me"...h "he knows your name right?"m " yep." h " I think he knows already." m "No he doesn't mom cause he wouldn't be play with me if he knew."h "he saw that you have earrings?" Yup, but his uncle has his ears pierced." Great just great! LOL

My bus driver is going to be my first friend at school mom... she walked on the bus and said... you are my new friend Mr. Stevens. I just cant even imagine what he was thinking... :)

Today, we were having a conversation about being into TV, video games and sitting for hours in the house... she said in a very firm tone, Mom, I am a learning girl and I don't like to learn inside so much. LOL

OK, I will stop... I should start selling transcripts, LOL!

School was fabulous!!

The first day of school... I miss her!!

Breakfast this morning... Hannah now is up at 5:30 am to catch the bus by 6:50. She was so excited about school she woke up the alarm on her own. She is growing up. :) :(

She picked out her own outfit and was already to go by 5:50 am and asked every few minutes if it was time to go yet. lol

The ride to the bus stop... ok, I took a few pictures, but today was harder than I thought. She was so grown up and really not needing mom, it hit me... She is growing up!

Bye Hannah, have a nice day, we love you!!!

This year we are trying a new school. The school is bigger and a little more diverse. We met with her teacher last week, which we love, and checked out the bus stop. She has been really amazing and excited to try something new. She said she was going to make new friends like... then she would snap her fingers. Her SD friends are not forgotten though, I think she is trying to recruit some of her friends for the new school. :) I can't wait for her to get home.