KH Photography

Kyle asked if he could take some pictures with our camera, I said yes, and here are the shots he took!

Miss Leah, 2.5yrs old

Kyle wasn't impressed with this. He said I needed to say "cheese!"
hehe, you always need a self-portrait

Lunch on the stove top.

Pinpin The Spot ****** (last name protected)

Yes, his blanket has a full name. ;)

Don't ask why he's (yes, we talk like it's a person, lol) is in the pantry.

The kids' unhealthy snacks. Out of sight, out of mind!!

I can't believe I'm posting this picture. My nasty microwave!!

So, what'cha think? Can't beat that talent, right?! =)

curtains

I finally made some curtains for our living room.

Well, we have two big windows.. and I only did one, so I guess I'm half-way there.

I almost don't want to do the other side.

I'm scared it'll start to look small and cramped in there.

But, it looks weird since only one window has curtains! Decisions! LOL

Here's how I made them!

This..

plus.. this..

and some of this..

Equals my curtains!!!

The only thing that drives me a little crazy is that the wrinkles will not come out! I was able to smooth it out.. but I'm sure you could see some of the wrinkles in these pictures. I ironed for hours and finally just had to give up. I have a wonderful sewing machine, but I'm so scared to use it! So I didn't sew one thing on these curtains. Easy peasy AND cheap! ((the drop cloths were $9.70ea or something like that .. the fabric was $4.12 and the hemming tape was just a couple of dollars)). My kind of decorating!

**I think I'll be changing the lampshades out... that's the only white thing in this room. **

** I didn't take a picture of the actual drop cloth and iron-on tape packaging that I bought.. I just googled some images. I think my size drop cloth was different. **

** if you google (use swagbucks.com!! sign up at the bottom! ;)) drop cloth.. you will actually find a lot of projects like mine! they are quite popular! **

**ignore the length on the left side.. that one turned out to be a little bit longer! lol.. I'm done with the notes now! **

free decorating!

I love our house, I really do. I love having a bigger house.. an extra bedroom.. lots of cabinet space, but I don't like all the extra walls I have to decorate now! It wouldn't be a problem if I was, ya know, a millionaire and could afford to go out and buy all the cool, stylish things. We're a one-income family.. not a whole lot of money going towards beautiful landscape pictures. We also happen to be military folks. Which means, we move a lot. Our next house could be itty-bitty, so I really don't want to buy so much for this house when our next might not even be able to hold it all.

Anywho, all of that to say, I made something and I want to show you guys! ;)

I had to be creative and use what I had around the house.

Before.. another blank wall in the hallway.

A piece of cardboard that came with a package.

(I'm having some real issues moving my pictures around!!) My little sign. I just put some scrapbook paper on the cardboard. Some ribbon on the edges. Glued a little sign onto some more scrapbook paper and that was it!

My not so boring wall! :)

The hallway is kinda tiny (and dark!) so I couldn't get a picture of it all together. Had to do angle shots.

I am sooooooooo happy with it. I love that I used stuff that I had around the house and didn't have to pay a dime for it!! =)

Yummy Banana Pancakes

My kids will eat bananas, yes, even my picky eater, Miss Leah. But every once in awhile they'll get tired of them real fast. I still want them to eat healthy, so I decided to find ways to sneak in fruits and veggies into things they normally eat. I made these pancakes the other day and my kids seriously kept asking for more! Love it when that happens! :)

• 1c. flour (I used white, but next time I wil do half whole wheat)
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 c. milk
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 bananas, mashed

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together the egg, milk, oil and bananas. Use 1/4c. of the batter for each pancake.

Now time for some notes! ;)

If you have a bigger family you might want to double the recipe. I made this for me and the kids and we had it for breakfast 2 days in a row, with not a whole lot left. My kids asked for more though.

Instead of mixing this by hand, I blended it all in my blender. If not the batter will be lumpy because of the bananas. I wanted it all smooth...so much better!

Be careful not to cook the pancakes on too high of a heat, they can get dark really easily with the centers not be "done" all the way.

a parade!

1. What's your favorite time of the day, and why?

When my baby girl takes a nap! Unfortunately, Kyle doesn't do the whole sleep thing anymore. But, I can put on a movie or show for him (and he stay quiet) and get a whole bunch of stuff done. That girl of mine is needy!

2. If health wasn't an issue, what food could you live off of?

Ribeye steaks! Yumm!

drooooool!!!

3. If you could have one wish granted (besides wishing for more wishes), what would it be?
For me and my family to live until Christ's return. I really don't want to die and leave my family. Or have any of my family die and leave me. Too sad to think about. I'd rather we all go to heaven together at the same time. =)

4. What's one thing that you get teased about a lot?
People say I'm a hypochondriac......

5. If you could choose one movie, book, or TV show to spend your life in, which would you pick? What type of character would you be?

Uh, can I skip this question? No idea!!

6. If you could have one talent that you don't already have, what would it be?
An elegant, sophisticated sounding speaker/talker.

7.If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?
Australia!




8. If you were an awesome singer, which genre would you sing?
Country. I've always wanted a southern accent.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, what would it be?
A super Target... Oh, how I miss Target.


10. If you could live in any point in time, when would it be?
1950's


11. If every outfit in your wardrobe had to be one color, what would it be?
Black.. I'm sure a lot of people would say that!

12. If you were one of the seven dwarves, which one would you be?
(Doc, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Happy, or Dopey)

Sneezy (I have on and off again allergy problems! Really bad here in NM!)
and
Happy (I'm pretty much always happy!)

14. What's something we'd be surprised to know about you?
I really don't like it when a stranger or someone I really don't know that well says my name. It's a weird thing, but it kinda irritates me, lol.

Pretty fun, eh? Go join the parade!

spring wreath

The other day I was just itchin' to make a wreath. I wanted something bright and fun!

After a trip to the dollar store, some cutting and lots and lots of hot glueing, here's the end result.

One question! Should I add a bow to the top center or not? I think I kinda like it as it. But, feel free to tell me your opinion! The best part is that it cost me about $4 to make.

Circle cardboard cut out - Free
3 bags of plastic eggs - $3.00 (still have a few leftover)
1 bag of shredded green paper - $1

I originally wanted some of the easter grass. But my dollar tree didn't have it, so I used the shredded paper, which is all they had.

I looooove it! Now the only thing that bothers me, is that if centered it hides my peep hole. I use that hole every.single.time someone comes to the door, so it has to be off-centered. Oh, well! My family's safety is more important than a wreath being centered, right?! =)

two

My baby girl is two now! I can't believe my last baby is growing up so fast.

We didn't do anything "huge" for her birthday. We didn't do a party since we just moved in and to me it would feel like we were just asking for gifts from our new friends.

I took the kids to see the new Veggie Tales movie, came home and made Leah's cake and then we went bowling with our church. It was a good day, but I know when Kyle and Leah get older she won't be too impressed with us. Kyle's 2nd birthday was the biggest party ever. In my defence, we lived in Florida and had family was all around.

Before I show you a few pictures. I need to say that I got lazy with her cake, lol. And I ran out of icing. Laziness + no icing = disastrous cake! I warned you.. just ignore the cake. Boy, Leah's really gonna hate me now, huh? LOL

"Smile, Leah!"

"Cake!!!!!!"

Oh my goodness, that face expression is priceless!! Ignore the cake!! :(

k, turned it around now.. still looks bad, lol

Blowing out the candles! In the end, Daddy helped. ;)

mom guilt

It didn't take me long to see that Kyle was missing out on something.
It didn't take me long to see that I was the different Mom.
It didn't take me long to see that I was the only Mom who didn't have their kid in preschool.

Is it even called preschool if they are only 3yrs old??

We have been here for right about a month now. And it seems like every one who has a kid who is 3yrs old is already going to school. I keep getting asked if Kyle goes to school. I actually have started to feel a little, tiny, tiny bit guilty saying "no, he doesn't, he stays home with me".

I've started worrying that he's going to feel left out when he does start school. Or that he'll be behind because he was home with his Mama instead of being with an more educated person.

*sigh*

I know there's no right or wrong in this situation.
It's just a parent's choice.
But, why do I feel a little bit of guilt?
He's only a little boy for such a short time, right?
He has the rest of his life to go to school.


For now, I think he's okay staying home with me, even if the guilt does come and go.

No regrets.

Plus, if he went to school, I would never have these million and one adorable pictures of my handsome little man!

"don't give this to a lion"

Kyle was looking at the back of his Transformers packaging and told me that it meant we couldn't give it to a lion. I could not stop laughing. But, seriously, what does that lion inside the triangle mean!? :

still here!

Well, we made it to New Mexico! (which most of you guys already know, lol)


We miss Florida, but we really do like it here. It's not as bad as people make it seem. No matter where you go, you'll always run into someone who absolutely hates it.


As we crossed the Florida/Alabama line, I said outloud "goodbye Florida, hello Alabama!". Kyle seriously started crying. Not just sobbing. CRYING LOUDLY. Which of course made the tears start flowing down my face. He kept telling me that he did not want to leave Florida and he wanted to go back. It took about 10mins, but he finally calmed down. After that, every time we crossed into another state he got excited about it.


We stopped in Fort Worth, Texas to spend the night at our friend's house. During the night, the Penske truck that we were using to move ALL of our belongings, got broken in to. It was such a shocker, still is. I never thought something like that could happen to us.. but it does. Thankfully, the dumb criminals didn't empty out the truck. They took mostly lawn equipment, but the worst part was that they took Leah's suitcase of clothes and some of Kyle's toys. Kyle's heart was broken. He was upset when he thought it was just Brandon's stuff.. but once he found out that his stuff got taken, he was a mess. Thankfully Kyle is pretty much over it now. Brandon has a handgun now, so I think he feels a lot safer knowing that if someone tries to steal his stuff again, Daddy will shoot them. I know I feel a lot safer!


I always said "no guns".. and now we have two of them! Never say "never", right?! =)


Well, the day after we got to NM it started snowing. We had so much fun in it. The kids had a blast seeing snow for the first time. I guess the winter this year is unusual because we've had about 17 snow days so far. It doesn't bother me one bit! I haven't seen snow in 3yrs, before that I saw snow every winter since I was born.. so I have missed it!!


We found an awesome church and can't wait to start serving in it. Nothing like having a great church home to make this season of our life better!


We're living in a 2story, 4bdrm military owned house that is off the base, and we are only about 4mins away from wally world! No complaints here!


That's about it, folks! I can't wait until we are completely settled in. Pictures soon to come!

starting over

Well, it's a new year! I always think about writing out resolutions, but I never really finish my list. I think it's because I don't want to fail!


One of the things last year that I really wanted to do was to lose weight/get healthy. I sorta, kind of did that (well, the exercising thing) for almost the whole year! Starting in October we got sooo busy or we were sick. We got hit with the h1n1 flu and then some colds. Then came Thanksgiving and Christmas! I think I only worked out three times in December!! It's pretty disappointing.. I was doing so well, too. But enough whining, I'm going back!!


One of the things I've realized is that when I'm working out, I excuse myself to eat more or to eat junkier foods. Wondering how I figured this out? I've got some extra padding in and around my mid-section. Not very nice! And I noticed that as soon as I stopped exercising and really watching what I ate, I got sick a lot more often. Being sick is no fun.

So not only do I have to start exercising again, but I really need to watch what I'm eating. No more excuses! Just because I ran that morning, does not mean I can eat a slice of peanut butter pie AND some peppermint bark, right!? Aye, this is going to be hard.... but it will be worth it.

smooth talker

The other night we were invited to our friend/neighbor's house for dinner and games. About an hour before we had to be there, Kyle started begging us to go just then. I told him that I just had to put some makeup on and then we could leave. He paused for a second and replied with "Mommy, you don't need makeup, you're already pretty!". Oh my goodness, doesn't that just melt your heart!? He has been FULL of compliments recently. After dinner, he'll tell me "Mommy, you make really good food" or "you did a good job, Mommy". I could really get used to this! ;)