Finally some pictures...

Baby shower messy diaper game... and Whitney's prego belly!!!
Wall Unit in Family Room
The most beautiful Apple Pie ever! Well, my first one anyway...
Maggie, Jon's early Christmas present and yes, she likes me more than him!
Betzy and Bob! The nicest cows in town :)
Here is a picture of the addition to the garage. The third wall went up today and hopefully the roof will be up by this weekend!

100 Things to do Before I Die.

The things I've done are bold... (this list was taken from a friends blog - not all of the things I MUST do... lol)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (flute in like 4th grade)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

I have been diagnosed.

So, I know that self-diagnosis isn't the safest thing to do, but I have done it. Not only that, but I have made up a name for it. Project Dependancy Disorder.

Project Dependancy Disorder can be described as a compulsive yearning to have one or more 'projects' occuring concurrently.

This is my explanation for why I haven't been blogging as much as I should be.

Things with the photography business (St. Johns Photography) has been doing really well! In addition to the middle school football team and individual pictures, we have done, 7th and 8th grade volleyball, 4th-8th grade wrestling, the local daycare, have a family session scheduled for this weekend ,our first wedding & reception for this Tuesday evening and cheerleading pictures scheduled for Feb. Not bad for just starting our 4th month! We have registered our business and have a bank account and everything! I'm also really excited for Caitie to get her camera!!! So when in the valley, we can work on See Jane Photography too!!! If you are interested in having your pictures taken, let me know and I can hook you up!

The new 'extension' business that I've been interested in persuing for a while now, is the vinyl business. This week, I should be receiving my vinyl cutter and heat press. I haven't exactly figured out how to market this "graphics" division, so right now I want to focus on getting the design and cutting right! So far, I've been gathering vector graphics/art and awesome quotes and sayings for wall art and t-shirt design. So, again, if you are interested in having custom vinyl lettering made for your home, or car (those cute little stick families, etc...) or have an idea for a t-shirt, sweatshirt or anything else you can think of, let me know... I'd be more than happy to 'practice' for very little cost!!!

Next, we have a construction project happening on the garage. We are adding on 16 feet to the back of the existing 24'x24' garage. I get a 10'x10' area, the wrestling mat will go on the other side and the two weight racks and perhaps the tri/bicept machine will finish it off. The floor was framed today, but because of the weather, the flooring wasn't able to go down. We all are hoping, if weather permits, to have it finished by Christmas! Woo Hoo! My very own area for my crafts, scrapbooking, business storage, t-shirt making, etc... I'm SO excited :)

Last weekend with help from my wonderful Mommy, I was able to make it through a trip to Ikea with most of what I wanted (I always am ready to go when I've got about 1/2 of the stuff I came to get). David and I were able to put together the entertainment center in about an hour and it looks great! It is decorated with the gold Christmas decorations that Mom wasn't going to be using this year (they went with silver and blue) - it looks very festive! Thanks Mom!!!

Mom and Dad also got an awesome new kitchen table that left their old table orphaned. So being the nurturer that I am, I couldn't just let that happen. So I graciously took it into my loving home and it's now part of the family. It fits perfectly and now we even have matching kitchen chairs!!!

During this week, slowly, I was able to put together my new corner desk/hutch and moved over all of the electronics that go with it. I still need to finish emptying out my old desk, but it already looks a million times better and much less cluttered. That is my goal for this week... to get the upstairs put back together.

I've had this idea in my head for the past few weeks, since I've been on my "consolidate and organize" kick, about my kitchen shelves. They are open and viewable. Yesterday, I was able to find some stackable wire shelves (that match the metal shelves) and a very sturdy wire organizer for storing cookie sheets and pot lids vertically. This morning, when I woke up, I totally re-organized my kitchen shelves and it looks awesome! Almost like it had been planned that way from the beginning :).

So for now, most of my projects are in the 'almost completed' stage. Once my cutter and heat press arrive, I will have an entirely new set of projects to keep my disorder satisfied. I'll post pictures of my completed projects soon!!!

Is this better my dear? :)

YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU!!!

15 Minutes of Fame

This is Caitlin. Or Caitie. Or CJ. Or whatever happens to come to your mind first! lol. This picture is her 'look'. It encompasses all of the sas that I love so much! While I had an AWESOME time visiting with Mom, Dad & Hannah during Thanksgiving, Caitie wasn't there. So I'm glad we got to spend a bit of time gabbing this weekend. Thanks for letting me sleep in your bed :)!

Have a great day!

I am thankful for...

I am thankful for my wonderful parents!


I am thankful for my family.

And for SO much more...

Needed to move the pictures down

I couldn't stand looking at that clown each time I clicked on my blog! I had to post something to move the last post down... anyway, I am SO excited about part of my family coming out for Thanksgiving!

I'm going to take some pictures at the local daycare tomorrow and I'm really excited and nervous. I know I'll be able to get some good shots of each kid, but I just hope that the parents are happy with the end results. Oh well, I guess we'll see! Wish us luck.

I also am scheduling 30 minute mini-shoots for this Saturday. I'm trying to build my portfolio and need 'models'! Let me know if your interested!

Thanks!

Some Random Photo's

Unlimited Knowledge!

1. Never in my life: have I smoked a cigarette
2. When I was five: I moved from Massachusetts to California
3. High School was: so long ago!
4. I will never forget: when Jon first kissed me!
5. I once met: Leonardo DiCaprio. He was stoned out of his mind at Magic Mountain.
6. There’s this girl: who LOVES and has been thinking about her dad lately.
7. Once, at a bar: when someone bought everyone drinks... my Diet Coke didn't count.
8. By noon, I’m usually: ready for the day to be over
9. Last night: was kind of upsetting.
10. If I only had: unlimited knowledge!!!
11. Next time I go to church: will be Stake Conference.
12. What worries me most: is not being in control of my own life.
13. When I turn my head left, I see: my printer and FULL trash can. I guess I should take that out soon.
14. When I turn my head right, I see: a paper shredder. exciting!
15. You know I’m lying when: I don't usually lie. Just get really quiet when I don't want to say anything.
16. What I miss most about the eighties: being a kid and not having to work.
18. A better name for me would be: Hey-You. People always say my name wrong anyway...
19. I have a hard time understanding: how some people expect take advantage of other people they way they do.
20. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: make sure I bring some more pictures to edit. Last week was BORING.
21. You know I like you if: hmm. I don't not like many people.
22. If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be: the people who gave me the award?!?!?
23. Take my advice, never: take anyones advice if you don't agree with it.
24. My ideal breakfast is: one I dream about while I'm sleeping soundly in my bed.
25. A song I love, but do not have is: can anyone really 'have' a song???
26. If you visit my hometown, I suggest: you stop by Giavanni's Pizza - delish!
27. Why won’t people: knock on my door and give me a free back massage???
28. If you spend the night at my house: don't mind the whining puppy. He'll eventually get comfy and go back to sleep.
29. I’d stop my wedding for: too late - it's done!
30. The world could do without: my husbands ex's.
31. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: have to eat it.
32. My favorite blonde is: Izzy from Grey's Anatomy.
33. Paper clips are more useful than: a melon baller
34. If I do anything well, it’s: usually not appreciated.
35. And by the way: tomorrow night is the last day of the Haunted House... so you should come if you live here!!!

3 Funerals and a Haunted House.

So we've had an interesting week. At the post office, when people pass away, the families post notices/invitations to the funeral/memorial services. There ended up being three flyers up this week. One was an older man who seemed to have lived a long and happy life. One was a 29 year old woman, who had lived most of her life in bed hooked up to a feeding tube. Although not many people in town knew her, she will be missed. The third was a 33 year old man. He was the brother-in-law of one of the ladies I visit-teach. It was a little too close to home.

On a totally different note, the Scream Shack was incredible last night!!! There were at least 3 kids who convinced his parents to take them back out... there were adults who screamed their heads off and ran into walls. We had to re-staple 3 different doors up (pieces of black fabric) because they were torn down from people trying to get out. IT WAS AWESOME!!! Halloween should be even busier! I'm totally volunteering again next year :).

We've got one more day of "home school" for Josh. He will be back at school on Tuesday. Friday he did everything that was asked of him and more. His journal writing in the morning ended up as a cute story with illustrations, he did his page of subtraction problems, he read me a full page (single spaced) Halloween kid story about the "King of the Cats". We made a scarecrow out of some fabric scraps and straw. He did really well staying on task and even though he went back and erased his story twice before he was done with his final story... he wasn't unhappy at all, it was just that he kept thinking of different things for him to do in the story. He actually had a good day too.

We were supposed to have received a phone call from the Special Services Directory - and haven't yet. HOPEFULLY there was some thought over this two day "break" for the school too.

I made a cake (cupcakes) and icing - both from scratch - and they both turned out awesome! I don't know why I had always been so scared to try it. I had to open my last can of white sugar and it kind of surprised me.

I found out today that my apple order will be delayed for a week or so. I also made another cannery order today - to order more suger and some other things.

Kermit the Dog.

I've been slacking on my random picture taking... sorry.

1. So I finally broke down and said "Yes" to Jon. Now we've got two jersey cows. A bull calf and a heifer? heffer? Their names are Bob and Betzy. I'm actually starting to get excited! I've got an easy reciepe for butter and for mozzarella cheese. I want to get an ice cream maker once we start milking. I LOVE ice cream.

2. Last time we were at Walmart, I found a Popcorn popper. The kids had a good time tonight making 'homemade' popcorn. Yeah for cheap thrills!!!

3. Our puppy is SO cute. His name is Kermit the dog. Funny right? lol. He is a cutie pie!

Caitlin via Photoshop

Before:
After:
Can you tell what I did???? Dang I'm good!

Un-jumbled thoughts.

I've been adding to my list of things to blog about for about a week now... time to un-jumble my thoughts.

1. I love Bro. Tano. Ed Tano, who currently is the HS Football coach for GreyHills Boarding School (who played St.Johns HS on Friday) just happens to be Jon's old coach - Jr.High Wrestling Coach and HS Football Coach. He also happens to be the 'angel' who planted a seed of the Gospel in Jon at a very young age. In 2001, Ed was the first person Jon wanted to call when he committed to baptism. Ed and his family drove down from Tuba City to Gilbert for Jon's baptism. In 2007, when Jon and I were preparing to go through the temple, Ed was the one he wanted to be his escort. Ed and his son drove down to Mesa from for the afternoon to escort Jon and be with us (and my mom, dad, sis & bro-in-law) when we were sealed together for time and all eternity. We were able to see him and Jon was able to spend some time talking with him at the football game on Friday night. He came home with a re-newed glow about him. He is Jon's family and I love him and am thankful for his awesome example for my husband!

2. I saw a flyer up at CircleK today about a Haunted House that needed volunteers. I totally gave the lady my name and number! I love haunted houses... so we'll see where I can help!

3. I love my cousin Becca. I read her blog (linked on the right) and I feel more normal! She is spunky and kind and real. I'm just a 'wannabe' lazy, orgainzed person - lol - while she is so full of energy and hutz-va!!! I love hearing about your days Becca!!!

4. What I learned at Church:
-3 year olds can sit stiller (more still?) if they are sitting backwards in their chairs.
-Sis. Hansen (our Primary Pres.)is VERY patient. With me especially. Even when I forget to give out talk assignments.
-Sundays SHOULD BE a day of rest. I took the most needed nap after church. I was rare, but it was heavenly!
-I tend to get carried away with ideas. They start off normal... then they just take off from there...they get to a point where I end up not wanting to even start because of the HUGE deal I've made of it... I'll learn someday.

5. Visiting teaching is awesome! I love the ladies we visit... I'm bummed we could only 'hit' 2 of the 3, but it was still good. The message? Well... basically, we need to remember to live up to our potential... and that by living the Gospel... we are on our way! Oi-Vay... that was the positive spin my companion left us with after I brought it down to the lowest level possible - lol. My first reaction after reading the message was that it made me feel like crap. After having many, many conversations with David about giving his all at football practice... then reading that it is our duty to help us and our 'postarity' in reaching their potential... argh... He has his agency... right? lol. Being a parent is hard. Fun at times - but hard.

Blessing Pictures and more...

Ok, so I don't know why some of the pictures uploaded sideways... but they did. Enjoy! (and Liz, if none of Cooper turned out the way you like, we can try again :) Just let me know!)

Just look at these adorable munchkins!

This one is for Dad. He mentioned he needed pictures of the boys!

This is my favorite of Cooper. The green grass and his cute outfit...

#1 of Mom and Cooper...

#2 of Mom and Cooper...

For Dad...

That's my boy!

So my 7th grader, David, is number 26. He played like a star in yesterdays game. He made two of the four touchdowns for St. Johns (even though one of them was called back). St. Johns beat Mogollon 30 to 0. Go Redskins!

Also, if anyone is interested, I {try to} keep up a blog for the football team with pictures from practice and games and such... check it out for more pictures. www.sjmsfootball.blogspot.com.

Until Next Year...

The Apache County Fair 2008 is over. It certainly was more interesting than last year. I did something new this year. The rest of my family LOVES the fair. They can walk around and look at things all day - no really - ALL DAY! Me, on the other hand, I like looking around for about an hour, maybe sitting down and listening to the high school kid with the guitar for a while, then I'm good to go. But this year, I decided to volunteer to help. My thinking? Well, I thought if I was more involved, it would be more fun for me. It worked!

On Wednesday, I took the day off of work to help with "Registration Day" in the "Art Department". I was at the BUB (Big Ugly Building) from 11am until about 9pm - with a break at 3:00pm to pick up Josh from school, and a break at 5:15pm to pick up David from practice. Along with Myrna (the Dept. Chairperson & friend), and a few other volunteers, we registered close to 300 people and easily over 500 pieces of art during that time. For any of those who know me, I'm an organization FREAK (although not at my house - hmm.) which I believe helped in this situation! The next day, when I dropped by the fair to pick up the kids (Jon had dropped them off earlier in the day), Myrna asked if I would take over the Art Dept. for her. Her husband was the Fair Manager this year (1st year) and she ended up helping him out A LOT too... so for next year, she joked that she would either have to give up the Art Dept. or her husband - lol. She lovingly gave up the Art Dept. I'm pretty excited... I will have to plan for the time off of work next year so I can use paid time off, but it should be a good time!

As you can see from the last post, I also entered some photographs in the fair. Next year I plan on entering WAY more... I'll be more prepared, knowing kind of what the judges will be looking for.

My kind gesture of 'volunteering' also brought me the blessing of heading up the "Mutt Show". I was quite nervous until it actually happened... but when it did, it turned out to be pretty fun. It was a laid back kids dog show with categories like, "Worst Groomed", "Prettiest", "Longest Ears", "Smallest Dog", etc... and the 'handlers' had to be 15 years or younger. I think I did things the 'easy' way... but no one seemed to notice. I even got some moms coming up to me talking about how this was their kids first year here and how they were already talking about what they want to have their dog do for next year... and thanking me. It really made me feel good :). It was a few hours on Saturday - I will be happy to do it again next year!

I was also very pleased to have the support of Jon. He supported 100% and was ok with me being out late (of course I had the boys with me - lol) and didn't say an angry word about me saying "Oh, I've got to go do this now..." or "I can't leave just yet... I've got to go help with this...". He was happy to let me and he was happy to wander the fairgrounds stopping to talk to friends along his way. I'm blessed to have an awesome husband (and kids)who loves and supports me!

Until next year... (when I'm hoping to have more enteries... cupcakes, zucchini bread, butter, etc.)

Award Winning Photographer

So these are the 4 photographs that I entered in this years Fair (my 1st year entering anything).

My mailbox picture won 2nd place in the "things" category!!! Woo Hoo for me :) I'm now officially an award winning photographer ;)!

Oh, I was also asked to take over the Art Dept. (drawings, paintings, etc.) at the fair next year. I'm a little scared to say yes... but I know I can do it! I've still got the 'Mutt Show' to head up tomorrow and we'll see how that goes. It certainly has made the fair more interesting for me, which was my goal!

1st Cavalry & 4th Infintry Division Museums

The museums at Ft. Hood were awesome! I was bummed that we couldn't go on the grass (to get close up pictures of the tanks, jeeps and choppers) but you get the picture... (ha ha - no pun intended). There are a bunch more pictures to post, but these are the only ones ready... enjoy!

Topsey Ranch, Topsey, TX

When we were deciding on something to do Saturday afternoon, Sam mentioned Topsey Ranch. So we found a phone book in the hotel room and gave them a call... and off we went. It was AMAZING!!! It was an awesome opportunity to take some unusual pictures. I want to go back!