Photo A Day Apr 30th/13 - Glasses

I love my glasses!  I love the shape and the colour.  I can see really well with them, and the frames are in great shape.  The trouble is the colour is starting to come off, notice the middle over the bridge of my nose - I guess that is where I push them up.  As well as one other spot on the bottom of one of the lenses.

So do I need to replace them or do you think I can find paint to match?

Photo A Day Apr 29th/13 - What I Wore Today

This is what I wore today!  Pretty typical for a day at home and an evening of  teaching.  Comfortable has become the number one priority.  What did you wear today?

Photo A Day Apr 28th/13 - My Sunday

Sundays are a busy day for our family.  Every other Sunday I have early morning meetings before church, but today the boys and I didn't need to be at church until 1:00 p.m.  It was nice to be able to sleep in this morning.  I accompanied a friend who was singing in sacrament meeting.  Primary went well and we didn't have choir today so once Jason was done with all his duties (he was the only bishopric member at church for the last two weeks) we headed home.

Once home we got dinner ready as the missionaries were coming over.  We fed the 3 elders hawaiian haystacks with rootbeer floats and brownies for dessert.  I think they enjoyed their dinner.  The boys enjoy having the elders over and they had a good object lesson for the boys.

So this was my Sunday after the elders left about 7:30 p.m.

Later, I thought I'd have a brownie as I hadn't had one at dinner.  I looked on the table, in the kitchen - funny where I finally found them ...

Photo A Day Apr 26th/13 - Childhood

I know I've used this photo before - but it is one of my favorites!

I had a blessed childhood.  I was raised in a happy home, with loving and goodly parents who loved me and each other.  They taught me many things throughout my childhood.

I learned to care about others and to try and help those in need.

Oh Jared - this picture gives me such joy!!

I learned that behind every beautiful thing is some sort of pain!

I was taught to be a lady.

Just look at my little blouse up to my neck, and my legs crossed at the ankles!

But seriously my childhood molded me into the woman I've become and I'm grateful for that upbringing.  I'm also grateful for all the wonderful memories I have and will always treasure them!

Photo A Day Apr 24th/25th

I have a confession - I didn't take any pictures for my photo a day challenge the last two days.  The 24th I was to take a picture of a person I saw.  I don't know why I didn't, I actually saw alot of people that day.  I ran a friend to Costco so she could use my card to purchase something she needed.  I taught 5 students and  I attended a cub car rally with lots of people (stay tuned for a blog about the rally).

Yesterday the word was Life is ...   Life is alot of things right now - wonderful, happy, busy, stressful, loving, chaotic, challenging.  Jason had a long day at work.  I taught 6 students.  Ashton studied for his spelling test today and worked on his homework.  Bowen played on the computer and with his lego.  I just didn't think to pick up my camera and take a picture of it.

Only a few days left of the April Photo Challenge.  I'll admit I have found the subjects of the pictures to be a challenge this time, but I'll attempt to finish strong - so stay tuned!

Photo A Day Apr 23rd/13 - Time

Today's word is TIME!  The first thing that I thought of was a couple of my clocks that are frozen in time.

One is in my music room ...

A most inconvenient clock to not have working.  I always need to make sure that I either wear my watch, or have the phone on the piano so I know when to stop music lessons.  It sort of cracks me up when I notice students glancing up at it to see if their lesson is almost over and they have a puzzled look on their face.

The other clock is in my family room on the mantle ...

This is the only clock in this room, so I'm always having to either look over at the microwave in the kitchen (and with my quickly aging eyes is getting more difficult to see), or hit info on the TV.

I'm not sure what is wrong with these clocks but when we replace the batteries they only work for a few days and then they start running slow again and eventually stop.  The trouble is I love both of them and do not want to replace them.  The one in the music room was from my mom, and my sister bought me the one on the mantle.  I'm thinking I'd like to try and replace the clock mechanisms before I get rid of them.  That job has been added to my husband's ever increasing hunny-do-list!  So for now they are just frozen in time!!

Photo A Day Apr 22nd/13 - Blurry

Bowen started soccer tonight!  I couldn't believe that we had nice enough weather after the snow we received last week.  Bowen plays on Monday and Wednesday evenings.  Jason will be the team parent on Mondays and I will be going on Wednesdays.  I hope we have a great season!

And the Winner Is ...

The Winner of my 400th Blog Post Contest is...

Stephanie!!

Congratulations Stephanie!  I hope you will enjoy your chocolates.  I'll get them to you about the same time you get back from your practicum. Thanks everyone for entering - I enjoyed reading your comments.  Better luck next time!

Photo A Day Apr 21st/13 - Fire

Enjoying a hot chocolate, sitting in front of the fire, spending time with my family.  What a great way to spend a cool spring evening in April.  Hoping it warms up this week however.  Bowen starts soccer tomorrow.  Burrr!

Photo A Day Apr 20th/13 - On Your Mind

This play was on my mind all day yesterday.  I finally took my mom out for her Christmas present.  I had bought us tickets to Stage West to the play Chicago!  I've never been to Stage West before.  The food was great and the play was excellent.  Mom and  I had a fantastic time together.  I love going to the theatre - and all that Jazz!

Photo A Day Apr 19th/13 - Button

The word for today's photo is Button.  I wasn't sure all day what to take a picture of and then I noticed Ashton interacting with Jonas.  It seemed Jonas knew exactly which buttons to push to get his way with his big cousin.

Today was our last day with Liam and Jonas before their mom and dad picked them up.  This morning  Ashton made us all pancakes which were delicious!

The boys had lots of fun.  During Jonas' nap the boys went outside to play, and even had a little picnic!

I hope we wore them out so they will sleep for their parents tonight.

Thanks for coming to stay boys - we loved having you!!

Don't forget to comment on my 400th Blog Post to get your name in the draw - you have until Sunday midnight!!

400th Blog Post

Yesterday was my 400th Blog Post!  

So you know what that means - it's time for another contest!!!

The winner this time will receive a small box of homemade chocolates (approx. 10 - 12).  The only catch is you won't receive them until mid June.  (I will be making them for my year-end music recital.)  But trust me they are worth the wait!

It's easy to enter just leave a message on this blog post, or comment on the link on my facebook page.  You must comment by midnight Sunday, Apr. 21st.  I will draw the winner on Monday morning.

Good Luck Everyone!!

Photo A Day Apr 18th/13 - Hello!

Every time I pull out my camera, Jonas stops, smiles at me and gives me an enthusiastic HI!  So cute!  We're loving having Jonas and Liam at our house.  Tomorrow the boys are off school and all four boys will be home with me all day - I'm having mixed emotions about it.  I'm excited that I'll have a little bit of help, I'm also concerned about the noise level.  We'll see how it goes!

Photo A Day Apr 16th/17th - Favorite Colour/Busy

I'm finding it a little harder to find time to blog this week.  Yesterday's word was favorite colour.  My favorite colour is red.  I blogged all about it during last year's photo challenge.  You can find it on blog entry April 2nd, 2012.

As for today's word - busy!  I'm usually pretty busy.  This week even a bit more than usual.  The main reason ...

Such sweet boys!!

Photo A Day Apr 14th/15th - Water/Alone

Enjoying a tall, cold drink of water and some time alone before my busy week begins.

We are watching my sister's boys this week.  Liam and Jonas arrived this afternoon and will be staying until Friday night.  All the boys were so excited when Ashton and Bowen got home from school.  Liam and Bowen have been playing lego and Ashton has been having fun entertaining Jonas.  They were such a big help to me.  After I got Jonas and Liam to bed Ashton was sitting on the couch and remarked "I'm tired, I hope I get a good sleep".  It will be a fun but busy week for all of us!  Stay tuned for all the antics!

Photo A Day Apr 13th/13 - View From My Bed

This is the view from my side of the bed.   I love this picture!  It is by one of my favorite artists - Gustav Klimt.  It find it very dreamy and romantic.  It helps lull me off to sleep.

Photo A Day Apr 12th/13 - In The Middle

I know I'm a day late posting my picture.  I racked my brain all day and could not think of a picture to take.  So I'm recycling a picture from last year of me in the middle.

Photo A Day Apr 11th/13 - Detail

There sure are some amazing details in flowers.  These are some I bought today.  I had a meeting tonight with my primary presidency and wanted something pretty on the table.  Life is so busy, it is nice to slow down and notice some of the details.

Photo A Day Apr 10th/13 - A Place

A place that we've been talking about in our house lately is India.  Ashton has been studying India in school the past few weeks.  He had been given an assignment to make a structure from India and he picked the Taj Mahal.  India is probably not on the top of my list of places to go to, but I would like to see the Taj Mahal someday.

At first he thought he might like to build it out of lego, but was concerned he wouldn't have enough white pieces - so I suggested sugar cubes.  We headed to Costco and bought a case of sugar cubes, Ashton made a base out of cardboard and got to work.

He made quick work of it - I think this was the progress at the end of day two.  His model consisted of sugar cubes, white paper and a few styrofoam balls.

Last items to be added were micro mini lego men.

Ashton and I safely delivered it to the school today.  I think he did an awesome job!  The boys were talking about what they should make with the remaining sugar cubes - the consensus seems to be to build the Calgary Temple!  Should make for a few fun family home evening activities.  Where is a place you'd like to visit?

Photo A Day Apr 9th/13 - Tiny

Jason is always teasing me that I have teeny tiny toenails.  My big toenail I think is average, but I guess I must admit that the rest are pretty tiny.  They take absolutely no time at all to paint.  I don't mind Jason's teasing as long as he's giving me a foot rub at the same time!

Photo A Day Apr 8th/13 - On Your Plate

I had a lot on my plate tonight.  I taught 7 music students, was getting mine and Jason's tax information together to send home with mom to take to our accountant, and phoning Bowen's soccer team to confirm email addresses so I can send out information about our upcoming games.

I should have been organized and gotten something into the crock pot - but I didn't.  So this is what ended up on my plate tonight:

Photo A Day Apr 7th/13 - Dreamy

I had a dreamy weekend with my husband.  Jason needed to attend an AGM in Edmonton for work and I decided to tag along.  Mom agreed to come up and watch the boys so we headed out on Saturday morning.  Jason dropped me off at the West Edmonton Mall and he headed over to his meeting.  I spent a few hours hanging out at the mall then Jason met up with me when he was finished at 4:00 p.m.

We checked into our room at the Fantasyland Hotel.  We had a lovely room with a king size bed and jacuzzi hot tub.  We then went and did some shopping - spending much more money than we should have.  As I was browsing through the store Bombay a picture caught my eye, I couldn't stop looking at it.  I asked Jason if he like it, he said he did.  He said to me "you know what I like most about it", I answered "what?"  He replied "the look in your eyes when you look at it".  What a sweet husband I have.  So needless to say, when we noticed it was on sale - we bought the picture.

We've hung it on the dining room wall.  We took down the shelf and moved my lemon picture.  It looks gorgeous!  It's about 3 feet square - quite large and I can't stop looking at it.

Then we had a yummy supper at Earls, went back to our room for a much needed soak in the tub and finished up watching a movie.

Jason purchased a new sword. I made one other fun little purchase for me - a new cookie jar!

So cute!  You can put treats in the red ceramic part or in the glass bowl.  I'm thinking I need to make some more cookies soon.

It was a dreamy weekend - but far too short.  Back to the grind in the morning.  I always appreciate spending time alone with my hubby.  I'm a lucky girl!

Photo A Day Apr 6th/13 - Air

Chilly, foggy drive to Edmonton.

Photo A Day Apr 5th/13 - Something Good

SOMETHING GOOD? - VISITS FROM GRANDMA!!

We are happy to have Grandma visit today.  Jason and I are headed to Edmonton tomorrow.  Jason has an AGM for work that he needs to attend and I thought I'd join him so we could have a little belated anniversary get away.  Grandma was willing to come up and watch the boys while we are away.  It's always a good day when Grandma visits!

Photo A Day Apr 4th/13 - This Happened Today...

This is what happened today at my house - laundry, laundry and more laundry.  I actually don't mind doing laundry.  I find folding laundry quite relaxing.  What I don't like is putting it away.  As you can tell!!   I think I'd better start putting it away however before there is no where left to sit on the couch.

Photo A Day Apr 3rd/13 - Something Beginning With A

Here is a picture of me making cookies for cubs tonight.  Jason has offered to help the cubs design and cut their cub cars and they are coming over to our house tonight.  So I decided to whip up some cookies for them.  Grabbed my APRON and got to work.  I love my apron.  I love the colour, it washes up really well and it keeps my clothes clean as I work.  Hope the boys enjoy their treat!