One more Before & After

Read the post before this, and you'll understand!

We also decided we needed a 'new' picture of the Idaho Falls temple for our home...it changes so much after three years! Well, our equipment and photoshop skills do anyways - our picture taking skills are still something we need to work on! I'm a firm believer that a 'good picture is good from the start' but at the same time, I'm all for whitening my teeth, taking off pounds, and making things glow or stand out! :) (not really, but it's fun to play with our editing software!)

Befores & Afters

A few days ago we decided we'd like to get a 'nice-do-it-yourself' family picture to possibly use in a Christmas card...Do you think we were able to get at least ONE picture of our family? That's decent? Most of our two hour 'session' went like this:

As you can see, this experience was very painful - mostly for me. Ryan just wanted to get back home for homework (bor-ing) and the boys did NOT want to cooperate! I understand letting them play and catching them in 'their element', but Tanner wanted to make this difficult - everytime we tried to sneek a shot, he ducked, turned on his heel, or put his hands in front of his face - wanting more candy...yes, we bribe at our house!

But we did manage to find about four photos out of eight-hundred & eighteen - yes, you read that right, 818, that we thought we could doctor-up (next time we'll put our camera on SPORT to catch our FAST BOYS...EVERY. SINGLE. PICTURE. WAS. BLURRY! arrrrgh! >>huff & puff<<

So for your entertainment, I have the 'original' and the 'fixed'. I'm no professional, and think between Conference sessions we'll (read: I'll) try again, but for now, these will have to do! I'd rather just take a picture that is fine, but that never happnes - besides, playing in photoshop is pretty fun when it's not frustrating.

We took half a dozen props - a rocking chair - wooden trucks - a teddy bear - a stuffed puppy - a stick horse - a tricycle - and found some apples, leaves, and flowers...This is what we got:

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I know it's not centered, but it leaves a great spot for a warm and toasty Christmas Message from the Poulsen family...maybe. (I lost 6 inches of 'sitting-at-work-fat' in this photo..pretty sweet, huh!) This is THE ONLY picture that we're all looking...so I'll MAKE that empty space work for me! Who said a wall can't be interesting!

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I'm still looking through 818 pictures for the fifth time...there's got to be one of his face!

...now you see it.................................................... now you don't! :)

This is probably the most decent picture (below), and I had to crop Tanner out...but it was at least focused!

So, there you have it! ...the one of the boys together we've already printed an 8x10 for my 'office' and looking for prices to get an 11x14 for our 'house'...know anywhere for cheap? Then I don't have to do the legwork!

Just Teasin' Ya!

I am just so stinkin' proud of myself, excuse me, but I'm going to gloat for one intsy paragraph. :)

I thought I was done canning after the plums - I think that's what I did last - maybe peaches - anyhow, I just finished up 7 of my 14 quarts of Apple Pie Filling...and there's apple crisp in the oven as we speak. I just couldn't resist. Yes, I know, it's almost 10 pm, but maybe I'll eat it for breakfast!

Okay, gloating over.

I got these apples, along with my plums and pears from a dear friend. This friend of mine is the sweetest lady. We have become friends in primary - she is the Spotlight Grandma, and I'm the chorister. We get along really well, and Tanner loves to go to her house to play in her yard.

Earlier this spring, I mentioned that if she needed any help with yardwork I'd be happy to help her out - she said she was fine (and she's like that - even if she's not fine, she'll tell you she is...kinda sounds like every female I know, including myself). Well, occasionally Tanner, Taylor and I will load up in the stroller and head to the park - her house is on the way. Quite frequently we stop to visit with our friend, and usually end up giggling like little girls as we clean up the yard here and there, pick up fallen fruit and pull a few weeds. Mostly we just sit and talk while Tanner climbs her ladders and jumps on her trampoline.

Back to my apples - Donna had called me at work, asking if I'd do some apples (I assumed she meant for her, and I could maybe keep some - because I had mentioned that I'd do that if she'd like - she being elderly and done canning her entire life - she was tired of the mess and it was just easier for her to buy a can at the store for she and her husband.) and I told her I would - I asked her how many quarts of pie filling she'd like and she said, "None! I want you to do them for you! Can you come and get them on Friday?"

I was floored! She had mentioned that her sister-in-law comes to pick everything she can't dry in a dehydrator, and told me to come and get them before her SIL was comming - she was so funny, in that she wanted me to have first dibbs! I'm telling you, this woman is a gem.

Turns out she had visiting teaching on Friday, so she got her husband to pick the apples on Thursday and bring them by to me!

So Donna brought me a good bushel and a heap of apples - along with the Victorio Strainer she let me borrow to do applesauce. I had returned it to her and she brought it back - saying I'd get more use out of it, and applesauce doesn't do her any good anymore anyways. LOL!

So - My apples are done - I've got a friend for life - and a new-old strainer that has a lot of years left to see...

AHHHH....I think my job is making me domesticated...I like to consider myself crafty and pretty well-rounded, but with all this additional yummy food in my cupbords, I believe that well-rounded is going to take on a whole new meaning! Especially if I'm eating apple crisp after 10 pm!

Side Note: After I get my jars wiped down and ready to put away, I'll hopefully get a picture up...hopefully!

Finished!

There's nothin' better than foamy jam fresh from the night before, slathered on a hot piece of toast which was promptly frosted with real butter! YUMMY!

I'm finished with my peaches!!! Finally! I'm done making jam for the season...I hope! Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed doing it (mostly), but I'm ready to reclaim my kitchen. My shelves are full, and our tummys will be, too, come the cold weather!

Some of you commented that I should have called the cops - I should have. Ryan said I should have, too. (he was busy trying to sleep - who wants to get out of bed if you're half asleep?) :) I guess I just wimp out when it's past midnight, they're drunk, and probably wouldn't hear me over their music anyways. I picture myself actually calling authorities that could take care of the problem and the 'officials' thinking, "Why doesn't she just get off her lazy butt and tell them to turn down the music!" Anyways, Thanks for listening for me complain, even though I really didn't have any room to. On a side note, it was kinda fun to sit on my couch in the dark and peek out between my curtins in the living room and watch them stagger around a blazing camp-fire...that was pretty funny!

{mmmm...}

I woke up to the sound of soft pitter-patters on the sidewalk this morning...not my preschooler running around, but light rain.

{mmmm...}

I love, love, love rain!

It's so refreshing, cool, calming, and peaceful. (with the exception of torrents of rain - which I still love to watch and hear and smell, it just brings on a more exciting feeling)

For the first time in months; no, years; I woke up with dishes done, laundry folded and put in their spots, organized drawers, and a relatively clean house! It was absolutely wonderful!!! Before I went to bed last night, I made myself do the dishes, fold AND put away the laundry, and pick up toys. It was so invigorating!

Ryan had mentioned that he 'couldn't find Tanner's clothes' to dress him properly (and sensibly) so when I was putting clothes away, I flipped on the light at midnight (our boys sleep through almost anything!) and emptied out drawers, refolded and nicely stacked and reorganized clothes in BOTH BOYS' dressers! I felt so productive!

I wouldn't have been so productive had it not been for our wonderful neighbors across the street blasting Brazilian hip-hop till two o'clock, though. So, Thank You, courteous humans!

wow...how did this get from a refreshing post about rain to my annoying neighbors? Huh. Random.

Caution: Clueless Driver

Many, if not all of you, may want to stay OFF the ROADS in Idaho Falls...Should you be afraid? YES! Why? Keep on reading, my friends, because you're soon to find out!

Tuesday I bought some peaches to bottle and that was the first mistake...I paid way too much! Ryan's mom was kind and gave me some pint jars - Idaho Falls is completely sold out of everything but half and quarter pints...pretty pointless, unless you're doing cute little jelly's and whatnot...Anyways, I needed lids for these jars, so I embarked on a journey to find some...My last stop, Albertsons. As I parked the Neon (our trusty stick-shift), and enthusiastically exited the car (being sarcastic here - it was 9:00 at night and I still had 1/2 a bushel of peaches to do), a girl walking towards me yelled into her cell phone (looking at me), "Hey! Your car is rolling!". I look at her dumb-founded, looked over my shoulder dumb-founded, and sure enough, Ryan's little Neon is backing itself up to a helpless driver trying to pull into the empty spot next to me. Poor lady was confused as paper in a round file. She couldn't tell who or what was driving my car! ... Luckily two helpful girls (about my age - so are they women, girls, ladies?) helped me stand in the way of destruction and STOPPED the car! I totally forgot to put the parking break on! What a dork! I was completely humiliated!

When I got in the store, I thanked each person that helped me, and appologized to the confused lady - there was no crunch of cars, thank goodness, but the whole situation was quite stressful for all involved for about 4.37 seconds. Seriously.

On a side note, I got my peaches done...sort of. Lets just say it was one o'clock when I took the second-to-last batch out and had to clean a broken jar of peaches before going to bed...needless to say, peaches are sticky when they've had their guts boiled to death, and I didn't get the last batch in...It'll have to be made into jam. Friday. If. They. Stay. That. Long. GRRRR!

I spent Wednesday (today) at a local Junior High, teaching about table ettiquette...110 junior high studens and EIGHT hours later, I was able to take my shoes off. ahhhh That's why I've not kept up on my teaching certificate!

In the middle of that blessed day, I was able to have a 55 minute break. Me, being the genius that I am, strolled out to the car to go home, grab lunch, and maybe sneek in a 15 minute power nap. As I try over, and over, and over, and over again to start the car, it occurs to my tired-mommy-had-it brain that the battery is dead. Yippidy-ki-yay!

I had the sense to punch "2" into my phone - Calling Ryan - and suggested he come help me get his/my/our/the car started. He, being the Fearless Knight that he is, zipped on over to rescue me! (he just so happened to be driving the kids to sleep for naps when I called...see - there is wisdom in ALWAYS being in the car!)

I can't imagine me turning the lights on to drive to 'work' because it was light, and came to the conclusion that I must have turned them on absent-mindedly in my "turn off the car, put it in first, pull up on break, make sure windows are rolled and doors are locked, shimmy the key out, take the keys with" routine when I got tothe the school. Okay, so absent-mindedly is a complete understatement!

But at least I put my parking break on!

Tanner - in a Post

I would have titled this "Tanner - in a Nutshell" but I somehow think nothing can contain THIS CHILD! He is his own person, and has his own mind. We, as parents, try to impress on his learning mind good and proper things, but somewhere down the road he has made his own decisions - and we hear it only gets better - really!

My Name: Tanner McKay

My Age: Two, going on 'free' (holding up four fingers)

My Favorite Color: 'bwoo' (which also is pink...not sure how that works)

My Favorite Song: Book of Mormon Stories, "La-La-La" and opera

My Favorite Movie: I have a Donald Duck obsession, that I picked up from my daddy :)

My Favorite Toys: Daddy's marble-works, anything outside, and worms

Things I'm Scared of: water on my head (I think that 'mom-and-tot swim' class was a little much) and Bees

My Favorite Food: Baby bagels (mini bagels), strawberries and tootsie rolls (I'm pretty sure they're the brown on the Food Pyramid, but don't let my boss know - she'd have my head!)

My Pet Peeves: Mom turning on music in the car and having the TV turned of in the middle of a really 'engaging' movie, like Aladdin, when it's time for bed...that was fun tonight!

Favorite Things to Do: Tag along with daddy, encourage Taylor to a bout of raspberries and spitting, and helping mommy whenever she has the patience

Bad Habits: Hitting little brother on the head...for no reason, picking my nose, and as of tonight, peeing on my bedroom floor instead of going to sleep like I was asked (lets not keep that one up!)

Good Habits: Giving Loves, especially kisses on each cheek, the forehead, nose and lips (our son has very soft lips...They're so cute to kiss!) and in that order

My Favorite Thing to Say: "Tay-wor's wooking at me!" (I have NO IDEA where he got that, but I'd like to tickle the person who started it till she cried!!! I always reply with a "Tanner's looking at me!" and he quickly looks away...what 2 year old does that?!)

What I Do That Makes My Mommy Laugh the Hardest: Saying "da Magic, WoMance, Magical faiwy-tarl" in a very hysky two-year-old voice after the narrator on one of my Donald movies...(it is HILARIOUS! He knows it by heart - maybe that's saying something about our poor parenting...please don't turn us in to Child Services, Please! :) )

Tanner Tags:

Anyone between the age of zero up to well, whatever...lets say six. I think that includes everyone's kids, their dogs, their cobwebs, and their leftovers. Hopefully you're not eating those leftovers if they're six years old...

Have at it!

My Sweetheart, the Chef

{Friday Morning} As I'm walking out the door to work

Ryan: "Will you eat Shrimp?"
Deanna: "You can fix it up, but I'm not guaranteeing anything."




{Friday Evening} After work



Ryan: "Don't come in the kitchen....We have a surprise for you!"
Deanna: "OOH - I'll just sit here on the couch, then...I wonder what it is!"

Ryan, bless his sweet heart, fixed this wonderful meal - the presentation was great, and he even left the sauce off to the side for me. I had every intention on trying to eat the shrimp - I even dipped it in the sauce, fixed a separate bowl of melted butter, and all...but when it came right down to it, I just started bawling, because I couldn't stomach it! Ryan even tried to bribe me with $100 per shrimp...but it didn't make a difference. I did slice a little bit and ate it on my fork with some of the stir-fry, but it took everything in me to keep it down. I guess I just thought about it too hard.

This is the first meal in a LONG time that our kitchen table has been clear of EVERYTHING but our food - usually there's a stack of mail or something....I was expecting to have walls of apple boxes, but you can see Ryan put them on the floor. What a good hubby! (He even fixed Tanner his very own gourmet meal - a corndog...what a lucky little boy!)

Thanks, Dear, for being so thoughtful and kind! You are wonderful!