Healthy Distractions

So if you know of any healthy distraction please send them my way! I just said goodbye to my hubbie for a good long time. I hope we can get some trips in to see him because I already miss him! Of course it was only minutes ago that he left and I know that the first few days are the hardest. But here I asking for your help! And distractions!

So, distract me!

Help keep me occupied.

Help keep me sane.

And support the band and go to a show near you!
www.myspace,com/aftermidnightproject

Food??

Hey does anyone ever check out my Food blog??

Speaking of food and baking and such.....I got a new stove/oven and I'm getting one of those microwave hood thingy too! Yay!

And I'd like some ideas of "different" things to make. Maybe something fancy, difficult, no recipe, colorful, foreign!

Soccer

Both the girls take a soccer class through the Parks and Rec here in town. We're trying to figure out what makes them tick. So Blake has tried a gymnastics, dance, now soccer. Reese has had an art class and now soccer. Dan and I are not the sporty kind of people. Neither of us played sports in school, and I couldn't even tell you what sport is to which season. But on Saturdays we wake up early to get Reese to her 8:30am soccer class, play at the park for an hour until Blake has her 10:00am class. Today we decided to grab a donut during our wait time, not what we usually do but still a fun treat. Here's some pics of the girls! One day we'll get video of them.

Blake is in a peachy/pinky short sleeved shirt.

Reese made friends with a little boy, he has Star Wars toys!

Blake at School

Blake's school had a VIP day just this last Friday. There's an assembly of sorts for the parents to talk about PTA, yearbook pictures and stuff. And there's always an assortment of dried out pastries and muffins, and a selection of beverages.

Anyways, Blake was thrilled to see us in her classroom. We watched her and the other kids dance around the room and sing some of their morning songs.

Blake loves school. She has her one best friend, Grace, they even have some of the same outfits. When one wears it one day the other wears it the next. Blake even has a NEED for wearing a bow in her hair because Grace always has a cute bow to match her outfit. He mother is amazing, and one of my dear friends!

So here's my predicament: Should I pull her out of school to home-school? I go back and forth so much. But if dad is going to be away so much I think that it's more important to be close to dad and see him as much as possible. So, home-school??

Fun with the video camera!

Here is Blake talking about the most pivotal moment in Sleeping Beauty!

After Midnight Project

Upcoming Shows!!! Or check out them out: myspace.com/aftermidnightproject

OR...shows in your town!!!!

Feb 19 2009 7:30P
Chain Reaction (with "Call The Cops") Anaheim, California

Feb 20 2009 7:00P
Key Club w/Jack left town,Wicker,The Jakes West Hollywood, California

Feb 21 2009 6:30P
Soma San Diego, California

Feb 22 2009 7:00P
Modified Arts Phoenix, Arizona

Feb 24 2009 7:00P
Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, California

Feb 27 2009 7:00P
The Glasshouse Pomona, California

Feb 28 2009 7:00P
Jerry’s Pizza Bakersfield, California

Mar 3 2009 8:00P
SHO w/ Watchout! There’s Ghosts and Karate High School Salt Lake City, Utah

There's a bunch throughout the states....

Mar 16 2009 7:00P
The Masquerade w/ Watchout! Theres Ghosts/ Karate highschool Atlanta, Georgia

Yes there are way more shows! These are only a few so check out the above link for more dates!!!

A Story and Link!

Okay a story first!

When I was first engaged and getting to know my new family I spent many phone conversations with my mother-in-law. I didn't meet her until 2 days before the wedding, but it didn't matter because we had gotten to know each other quite well over the phone. One of my most vivid conversations was about crafts. She asked me if I enjoyed doing anything, had an hobbies, or if I enjoyed making things. The very outdoorsy me at the time didn't take time to cook or craft, however I had a knack for making anything out of duct tape! And I once made 2 surfboards. That's it. I think she was a little surprised at first that I didn't have many home-making skills. You all know now how much I enjoy cooking, baking, crafting, sewing, and photography. So I think I've found my home-making abilities. This story IS going somewhere!

My mother-in-law, Stephanie, she has a knack! And it often finds it's way in to our home and I am continually amazed. She dips sweets in chocolate and drizzles them with seasonal colors, makes the cutest stickers and labels, and has such great ideas for party favors and center pieces. You all HAVE to check out this site, if there's a way to comment on it then do! If you have the need for her service then use it! Or if you know of someone that could use it then send them her way!

Check her out!!!!
www.giftsbysteff.com

Happy Birthday!

Well today was a fun filled day for my Reese. Happy Birthday little, I mean BIg girl.

After tidying up the house we braved the rain and ate lunch at Red Robin. After getting her new antibiotics, ear infection and UTI, headed home to play "hot and cold" with the presents. We don't wrap presents, we hide them in the room and play hot and cold as they get closer or further away from the present. I played this as a child, too. The girls played and watched movies while I made Chicken Noodle Soup with home-made noodles, bread, and her cake....didn't turn out. My brother Chase and his wife came for dinner, as did my sister Kohl and her Tyler. She opened up presents from them and our friends the Wiggins, Brad, Anita, and Sam, came for dessert. It was a fun nice day!

Reese is always making strange faces and makes us laugh. She speaks well and sometimes it still surprises us! This morning we overheard her calling her big sister "sweatheart" and is often found explaining herself in sticky situations.

So I have a 3 year old. She's a tough one, but we love her!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

We hosted a playgroup at our home on Friday. We frosted sugar cookies and cupcakes and decorated them with a whole slew of candies and sprinkles. We all had a blast! And I have to say it was a great batch of cookies and frosting. Thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law for the recipe!

Others' Blogs

Okay Raise your hand if you "blog- hop" like me!?

Now raise your hand if you actually comment on strangers' blogs, like me!?

Well, check this one out! It's a different blog theme than others I have seen. She posts on: "beautiful tables, great food, the stories and the holidays or anything else that inspired any of my design."

AND she gets deals on her LOOT.
You all know how much I love a deal!

So check her out! She's also having a contest for $30 Target gift card. The odds seem pretty good! Today (Thursday) is the last day. So she's just trying to get her name out in the blogging world and hopes for the best! So take a peek drop a comment and get entered to win a gift card!

Smile

Today I love this girl!

She's HERE!!!

So we finally got to meet her? My sister-in-law, Jillian, FINALLY had her baby girl! She is so precious, with a lot of dark hair and the sweetest pink little lips! A healthy 9 pounder! Baby Phi, pronounced FEE. It's a Greek letter and the golden ratio. Congrats! We love you!

My Daughter the Scholar!

Blake got her first school award on Friday! It sure was cute to watch. Along with the award she was also given a medal and a certificate for a free meal at Mimi's Cafe. The litle girl next to her is her absolute best friend! They may as well be joined at the hip! I'm really proud of my Blake. She reads at about a 2nd grade level and has sat and read to me for as much as an hour in one sitting. We play a game together where i will write a sentence and she will identify the nouns and verbs. We're working next on adjectives! I love my Blake!