Playing in the water at Granny's house

Swinging and Sliding

I know that the light is in the wrong spot for these pictures, but sometimes you don't get a choice about those things. These were taken with 50 mm lens, ISO 100, f/stop 4.0 and exposure 1/400 sec.















These last two are my favorites:




Here's how they look after some editing in PSP (Paint Shop Pro):





And in black and white:




Some things I learned from last time I took picture of the kids playing outside:
1. I needed a faster exposure speed to catch the action.
2. I needed to use a smaller f/stop (which actually lets in more light, if I understand that correctly) so that I could get the depth of field more to my liking. Or at least that's what I think happened. LOL! I'm still learning!
3. I needed to get down closer to the action, so eye level with the kids.

I am not sure the exposure is necessarily better in all of these b/c of the position of the sun, but I do think the composition is better. Opinions?

Flowers

My wonderfully sweet hubby brought home flowers yesterday b/c he loves me. :) The feeling is definitely mutual, in case you were wondering. :P Here are some pictures. The first ones are with side lighting and the last two are with the light directly behind me. I am still experimenting and learning how to do all of this photography stuff. I was messing with the ISO, too, so I think the first three are all at different ISO's: 400, 100, and 200, I am pretty sure.

Errand Day!

The kids are in Sonshine School today so I'm getting some errands run. I have been to Wal-Mart, Target and United, so far and I still need to go to CVS, Kohl's and the bank. If you are still needing groceries for this week, just a head's up that pork chops are BOGO free at United and milk is $2.69/gal at CVS.

I went to Target to stock up on Littlest Pet Shop toys b/c some of them were supposed to be 50% off, but I guess they were all sold out of the good ones and the other ones that were on sale where not what I was looking for. I hate when that happens! But I did get some storage bins on sale and that was great b/c I need them for the ribbon that keeps multiplying in my basement. It would probably stop multiplying if I would stop buying, but that's not going to happen anytime soon! LOL!

On a random note, I started on Prozac this week. I have been having wicked PMS the last few months and my GYN thinks this might help. So far so good! I only take it for two weeks at a time, but I'm hoping this helps keep me from losing control of my emotions during PMS.

If you could, please take a moment and pray for my great-uncle. He is having a rough time right now and we could all use your prayers on his behalf. Thank you!!

How do you cope?

I'm having a rough mommy day today. Truth be told, most days are hard mommy days for me right now, but that's a whole other post. My coping mechanism is food, which is why I am 40 lbs overweight. I get upset, I go to the pantry. I get really angry, I go to the pantry. I get my feelings hurt, I go to the pantry. Well, you get the idea. Today my vice were these:


About half way through my 3rd or 4th chip, I realized I didn't want those and was going to feel sick if I kept eating. Normally I would have just kept eating b/c I would rather feel sick from eating too much than deal with what was upsetting me. My very wise and wonderful cousin Kristina told me I need to journal or blog to get me through the rough spots of life. She's right, I do. So all 3 of you that read my blog will be seeing a lot more of me, I think. Tomorrow I might even blog about what's bothering me instead of just sweeping it under the rug. Today, though, I still have my broom for sweeping. I think will go do my walking DVD. Maybe I'll feel better after that. At least I will have accomplished more than just sitting on my hind end feeling sorry for myself!

Working on my photography skills

I'm not a great photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I do love capturing moments in time. I am learning more about my camera and how to use it and yesterday I think I did a pretty good job. :) I took these pictures at about 10 a.m. under a lot of cloud cover, otherwise it would have been to bright to get good shots, I think. Anyway, I haven't edited these in any way except to change the orientation of some of them. And the bonus is, I got some great pictures of Kami (and a couple of Taylor), enjoying the freedom of swinging.

Jumping on the CVS, Walgreens, and coupon bandwagon

If you check out Amanda's blog you will find some links and tips on saving some major money using coupons and shopping at the drug stores. I was reading her blog and got totally excited about how much money she saved on diapers so I decided to jump in. Yesterday I went to CVS and bought 2 jars of Planters peanuts, a square box of Puffs facial tissues and a tube of Crest Total toothpaste for under $8 and I got $2 Extra Care Bucks to use on my next trip. Then I went to Walgreens and bought 3 boxes of Barilla pasta for $3 (so $1 each!) and 2 boxes of Hefty galleon freezer bags for $3.29 (or something like that. I don't have my receipt in front of me).

So I was on a pretty big high heading into Target where I was all set to buy the 3 packages of Huggies to get my $5 Target gift card. But when I got to the diapers I decided to get out my calculator and figure out if I was really getting a good deal or not. Turns out, I can get diapers cheaper at Wal-Mart because Tim is a part-time employee there. So even with the $5 taken off the price of the 3 pkgs of diapers, they were still like $.27 each. At Wal-Mart we buy the big box and spend about $.25 each. Doesn't sound like much except that Taylor goes through an average of 6 diapers a day so that's $547.50 per year, if my math is correct. If I paid $.27 each, that's $591.30 so I am saving over $40 a year by buying diapers at Wal-Mart! I could probably save even more if I bought store brand diapers, but I am picky about those kinds of things and really love the Huggies Supremes, well that's not the name of them anymore b/c they just changed it, but the kid that has the stretch all the way around the back and legs. It keeps everything in the diaper! ;)

I didn't buy the paper this week so I printed off some coupons (if you go to iheartcvs.com you can print coupons there) for diapers, yougurt and chips. Random, but it will save a few cents and all those cents add up to free money! I have tried couponing in the past, unsucessfully b/c digging through all the coupons in my accordian file was a pain. However, Amanda had pics of all her coupons and gift cards in a baseball card notebook. Genious! That makes it so much easier to see what is in each category and when they are going to expire.

If you have any other money saving tips, send them my way!

Wanna see something so funny?

Denae posted a story of something that happened while she was taking our latest set of pictures. Here is the link to her blog where you have to read the story b/c it will make you laugh really hard or at least make your jaw drop. :D http://pageisturned.blogspot.com/

And then go check out our pictures if you haven't already seen them. She is an amazing photographer and you should hire her. :) http://denaehutsonphotography.blogspot.com/2009/04/2-10.html

And just for one more link, I am running a sale on hairbows, so go to cottonkamibows.blogspot.com to find out the details!

My boy genius

Just so ya know, this is a total Mama brag post. If you don't like those kind of posts, you should probably stop reading. ;)

Last night Taylor says, "Mama, listen this." And then he sang the ABC's by himself, even the "next time won't you sing with me" part. He turns 2 on April 30 and he can sing the ABC's by himself. Then he sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, Jesus Loves Me, and the B-I-B-L-E. When people who don't know him start having a real conversation with him, they do one of two things: laugh hysterically b/c it's really funny to see a 2-yr old talk like a 20-yr old or just stand there with their mouth open. Today he told one of the teachers at Sonshine School, "My had a blue cookie today. Mama made lunch in my dog lunch box. My didn't eat it 'cuz my ate the blue cookie. My likes blue cookies."

Dear God, thank you for my smart boy. You have truely blessed me.

Wild Olive Tees

So this company called Wild Olive Tees is having a contest and if you do a blog post about it you get more entries so I thought I would give a try. I love these t-shirts! I'm going to order one of the Such Things kind. I think these are brilliant and classy!! You can find out more info by clicking on the logo on the side bar of this blog. And you can enter their contest, too! I would love to see this company grow so order a tee, ok? :D

Propped up on the Bible

I've been sad this week b/c my aunt passed away on Monday. She was my great-aunt, but was very much like a grandma to me. I loved her very much and I think I could have handled her death better if it had been a heart attack or car accident, but my family had to watch her fade away from a very rare brain disease. I know that she is in heaven. Have absolutely no doubt about it and that is a comfort of some sort b/c she isn't here to suffer this life any more. But the world was a better place with her in it. I did get to say good-bye to her, though she wasn't aware of it. She was already pretty much in a coma.

She had to have 24-hr care for the last month and someone was thoughtful enough to use a wipes warmer for the wipees they used to clean her. It made me smile to see the wipes warmer propped up on a Bible b/c I think that was a symbol for her life...everything was propped up on the Bible. I really wish I taken a picture of it but regardless that image will be burned into my brain for a very long time. I really hope that when my time comes to leave this world that the legacy I leave behind will be at least a little like my Aunt Marlene's.

Since I decided not to host a Bible study in my home for various reasons, I haven't done a lot of studying. I'm not bragging about that, so please don't take it that way. I just need to admit it, I guess, so I can face the fact and get back to my roots and my foundation. Right now I'm trying to prop my life up on the ideas and beliefs of the world and man when I should be propping my life up on the Bible. I think I will start a study of II Cor. as the last book I did an intensive study of was I Cor. That makes sense, right? Anyway, I don't think it matters so much what book of the Bible I choose to study b/c there is so much to learn from all of God's Word. If you have a favorite book of the Bible to study I would love to hear about it and why you love it!

CKB blog update

I just updated my bow blog, so please go take a look! Thanks!!

The great state of Avocado!

Kami was putting together a states puzzle last night and picked up a piece and said, "Look! I found Avocado!" I knew as soon as she said it what she meant, and sure enough, she had found Colorado. Bwahahahaha!

In other Kami news, she is having her Valentine's Day party today and was all dressed up and looking very festive so I got a few pictures this morning before we left for school.

Hello, my friends out in blogland! It's been awhile so I have some random things to tell you about. :)

First, a very odd thing about Taylor. He was never a pacifier baby. I tried and tried to make him one, but he just didn't want that fake thing. He wanted his mama! So fast forward to 3 days ago. He has been sick (I'll get to that in a minute) and he is cutting molars so I'm guessing that's why he asked for a paci at nap time. It was just sooooo random!! I only kept one paci b/c a special friend bought it for him and it is Texas Tech. :D So being the crazy mom I am, I gave him the paci. That was a mistake, obviously, but I was so tired of the crying and fussing that if a paci made him stop, I was ready to give it to him. And ya know what? It worked! He stopped crying and he went to sleep. He asked for it the next day at nap time, too, and I gave it to him b/c he was still sick, but I cut him off yesterday. He seemed ok with it b/c he was feeling better, so hopefully we are over that. I wonder if after he goes to preschool that he'll ask for it again. I guess I'll know after Tuesday! ;)

And, yes, we have been sick again! ARGH! I'm ready for summer already! I'm tired of being cooped up indoors and when the weather is nice, we are sick and can't go out. It's starting to drive me batty, I tell ya! But I am hoping Tim and I are on the last couple of days of our colds b/c Taylor seems to be completely well. He had the tummy bug for a few days and then got RSV and an ear infection. He passed the RSV around so that has been tons of fun. Kami got a very, very light cold, but otherwise she has been good through the whole ordeal.

I am making a real effort to get back on the health kick. I lost like 25 lbs, but I gained some back over the last few months. I'm not willing to be this unhealthy, so I'm making some changes. Moving more, eating less, drinking more water. There's no quick fix, but hopefully over the next few months I'll be back in my skinny jeans and be able to buy some new skinny jeans. :)

I posted some new pics on Facebook so pop over and take a look when you get a chance. I am particularly fond of the faucet pics and the spaghetti sauce face. :)

Have a wonderful week!

4th Picture

Denae and Amanda both tagged me, so here ya go.

Here's how it works:
1. Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on the computer.
2. Select the 4th picture in the folder.
3. Explain the picture.
4. Tag 4 people to do the same
5. No cheating. (cropping, editing, etc.)


I pushed backspace and this thing posted....so I am coming back to post a pic and tag someone else, so beware! LOL!

OK, trying one more time. :D This is a picture from Nov 2003 at the AFCPE convention in Savannah, GA of me (yes, I was that heavy and got much heavier, blech!) and the beautiful Katie (Sumners) Philips.


I tag Christi, Lisa, Toni, and Lara!

There are always repercussions

I had to make a decision about a group I was in and thought I was making the right one. I agonized over it and knew there would be some fallout, but it has been much worse than I expected. I pulled away from the group and now I feel like I've lost my best friends. I honestly thought they would be relieved as the group didn't seem to be a priority in their lives anymore. I made the decision to leave because the group wasn't working anymore and I don't have the personal strength to make it work. I have some issues that I won't discuss here b/c they involved other people that would be devestated if I did, but I was made to feel as if I am letting everyone down and that I am no longer a Christian. That's a pretty hard slap in the face. I have cried about this stuff for 3 days now and I can't keep going on like this. I am lonely and hurt and the people I need the most have turned their backs, or at least that's how it seems right now. I feel like no matter what decision I made would have been the wrong one. Maybe I should have just kept up the charade that everything was fine and dandy, I don't know.

If you are reading this, please say a prayer that my heart can be healed and that my friends will open their hearts up to me again.

A small vent

I lost my Gymbucks! ARGH!!!!! I have been using Gymbucks since Kami was a baby and have never ever lost them. And now I can't find the ones I got in December! I have an online cart full of stuff I was planning to get at half off (b/c of the Gymbucks) and now I'll have to either go without b/c it will sell out or wait for them to go on sale for real. GRRRRRRRR!

Ok, vent over. ;)

My kids

I love my kids. Have I mentioned that before? :P One of Kami's most endearing qualities is that she mixes up words on a regular basis. I think I have mentioned Magic Steve (for majesty) before. Today she was singing "Ring Around the Rosie" except something didn't sound quiet right so I listened closer. Instead of saying pocket full of posies, she was something like pocket full of fosies. It just made me giggle. And she used to call Laurie Berkner, Mary Parkins. I'm kinda sad she grew out of that one b/c it made me laugh everytime she said it. :) And oh, my Taylor. He loves Laurie Berkner, too and sings and sings and sings. I will have to get them on video soon. The last time I tried he wasn't feeling very well and just made mad faces at the camera. LOL! He marches around like a dinosaur and he belts out Oh, Susana! with the best of them. Today while I was cooking dinner, they were laying on floor giving each other hugs and kisses until he got to rough and bit Kami's tummy. :) The first thing he always asks after nap is, "Where is Sister?" Not, "Hi, Mama." Not, "I'm hungry." But, "Where is Sister?" Makes me go all warm and goey inside.

Now that isn't to say I don't enjoy my time away from them. :D Tomorrow they will both be in school and I'm so ready! But I do love them. Being a mom is a great job.

New blog!

From now on I'm going to be posting all bow related stuff on my new blog: http://cottonkamibows.blogspot.com/

I hope you'll stop by for a visit and to purchase a bow or two. ;)

My funny boy

Taylor is talking more and more now and he is just funny! I don't think he always tries to be which makes it even cuter (more cute?) I think. Tonight at the dinner table we were eating salad and chicken spaghetti and he was totally diggin' the spaghetti and not so much the salad. So I was trying to pick the salad off of his plate so he could get to the rest of the good stuff. While I'm doing this, he's saying in a very firm voice, "Stop! That's mine! That's my spaghetti!!" It's so darn cute to hear this little baby voice talk in real sentences. :D He's also learned how to tattle, which is a survival skill when you have an older sister. ;) Just this second he said, "Daddy, have a football on your shirt." Amazing that 20 months ago this little being was so tiny and helpless and is now on his way to being a big boy!

Chloe's Princess Fairy Army :)

Chloe is having a princess party and her mama was kind enough to ask me to make some party favors. We took a little of Sleeping Beauty, a little of Tinkerbell and came up with this fairy princess. Thank you, Deidra!! You rock!

More pics

These pictures are just repeats of the slide show, but hopefully this will be easier to scroll through. Please contact me for more info! Thanks for looking!!