Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Just another Tuesday night...

I feel as though you should know that...
  1. My house is not as messy as this makes it look. This is in the playroom, so it is the one room where toys stay out.
  2. Abby cracked herself up when she watched herself. Just couldn't stand that I was recording Lily and not her. (It is pretty funny)
  3. Lily looks cute here, but has been very needy and may be put on the porch for the wolves tonight.
  4. Notice how Lily laughs at Abby. Pretty cute.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Preschool Field Trip


Today was Abby's first field trip of the year. We decided that we really wanted it to be just Abby and a parent, so she'd be the center of our attention rather than Lily. Matt stayed home with Lily and I went on this one. Matt gets the next one to the Apple Orchard. We went to the park and had a great time. We were under a wind advisory today though and it was brisk out. It wasn't nearly as bad if we were in the sun, but the shade was brutal. I had some fun playing with effects on Picnik with the pictures. I really like the "softening" effects and being able to add text.

Beekeeper Abby
(the preschool director's father is a beekeeper)


Sunday, September 27, 2009

Cake

I just saw some pictures of a cake on a blog that referenced this blog (which I don't read) that looked awesome. How bad do I want to try to make this cake now? Can you imagine cutting into this and not knowing what it was going to look like. What an amazing cake.


So, then I started thinking logistically... where do I get food coloring like that?! That is not your average blue/green/yellow/red box of food coloring. -and then, holy cow, that is like 6 layers!
That is a lot of cake!


(But I'd be lying if I didn't say I wanted to try to make it.)

Saturday, September 26, 2009

An experiment in Chalkboard Paint

So, here goes, a do-it-yourself job that I want to try. I read about it on a blog. It looked cool and, bonus, used chalkboard paint. I have been wanting to try something with chalkboard paint for a while, but didn't know what. I did this whole project for about $21.00, which isn't bad.

First, I bought a mirror with a nice, gawdy frame at Old Time Pottery for $12.99. Most of the frames were $19.99, but I found a good one in a size I liked for cheaper (Score!). Then, I gathered the rest of the supplies at the local teacher store. I was going to hit Home Depot, but United Arts and Education was closer to Five Guys Burgers (where we were going to have dinner while we were out), AND they carried chalkboard paint. We really didn't know they would, we were just going to grab chalk there but lucked out. ...and of course, we needed painter's tape, which we already had at home.


Next step, was to tape off the mirror to get it ready for painting. We ended up using paper towels to cover the rest of the frame, but you could use old rags, or whatever.




Then, we spray painted in the garage according to the directions on the can. Abby was in charge of setting out the newspaper on the floor. We let is set overnight in the garage, and then...


...peeled off the tape. (Looks cool so far!)



Then, we had to wait again (easily, the hardest part of the project). It had to sit for 24 hours before you could write on it. We then rolled the side of a piece of chalk all over it to prime it. It changed the finish a little- not as black, but I'm hoping this is normal.


And, voila! Here it is hanging in the kitchen. I'm sure I'll change what I have on it all the time, but that is what is cool about it. It could have a holiday phrase, a cool quote, a picture by Abby (or Lily eventually), a meaningful scripture, the list goes on and on. Very cool.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Here is a short video of Abby in dance class. This was her first class of the year and I never got around to sharing it. Enjoy!

(she's in the blue leotard, second from the left)





Thursday, September 24, 2009

Checkers

Abby is learning how to play checkers (and Lily sits patiently nearby). I taught her how to say "King me, King me!" like Rudy in the Cosby Show. Matt is not a fan. However, I am just teaching Abby how to single jump, and Daddy has no problem double jumping Abby. We have also found, so far, that competitiveness is hereditary. :)


What in the world?!


I walked out to check the mail the other day and this is what I saw. Hmmmm.

Also, why are these things invading my yard? They are creepy.

What if this is a sign of the apocalypse?

Friday, September 18, 2009

Debt Myths

Matt and I are currently taking the Dave Ramsey class, Financial Peace University at church. We go once a week for 2 hours (13 weeks). The first part of the class is a video of Dave Ramsey "lecturing", but it is pretty entertaining, and the rest of the class is breakout groups with discussion. This week's lesson was called "Dumping Debt". The thing you have to know about Ramsey's philosophy is that any debt is bad. If you don't have cash to pay for it (except maybe a mortgage), then you can't afford it. So, this week the whole lesson was taking a myth about debt and "popping" it (he popped balloons for each one). So many of the myths are how American's live and many of us fall for them. I thought I'd share some of them...

Myth: Car payments are a way of life, and you'll always have one.
Truth: Staying away from car payments by driving reliable used cars is what the typical millionaire does. That his how they became millionaires.

Myth: By cosigning a loan, I am helping out a friend of relative.
Truth: The bank requires a cosigner because the person isn't likely to repay. So, be ready to pay the loan and have your credit damaged because you are on the loan.

Myth: Playing the lottery and other forms of gambling will make me rich.
Truth: The lottery is a tax on the poor and on people who can't do math.

Myth: Leasing your car is what sophisticated financial people do. You should always lease things that go down in value. There are tax advantages.
Truth: Consumer Reports, Smart Money magazine, and a good calculator will tell you that the car lease is the most expensive way to finance and operate a car.

Myth: You can get a good deal on a new car.
Truth: A new car loses 70% of its value in the first four years. This is the largest purchase most consumers make that goes down in value.

Myth: I'll take out a 30-year mortgage and pay extra, I promise!
Truth: Life happens! Something else will always seem more important, so almost no one pays extra every month. Never take more than a 15-year fixed-rate loan.

Myth: It is wise to take out an adjustable rate mortgage (or a balloon) if "I know I'll be moving."
Truth: You will be moving when they forclose.

Myth: "I pay mine off every month with no annual fee. I get brownie points, air miles, and a free hat."
Truth: A recent Dun and Bradstreet study found that when you use plastic instead of cash, you spend 12-18% more because spending cash hurts. So what if you get 1% back and a free hat?

Myth: The home equity loan is good for consolidation and is a substitute for an emergency fund.
Truth: You don't go into debt for emergencies.

Myth: Debt consolidation saves interest, and you get just one smaller payment.
Truth: Debt consolidation is a con.
Truth: Debt consolidation typically saves little or no interest because you will throw your low interest loans into the deal.
Truth: Smaller payments equal more time in debt.

Myth: You need a credit card to rent a car or to make purchases online.
Truth: A debit card will do all of that, except for a few major companies. Check in advance.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Community Fall Festival

Our church had its annual Community Fall Festival yesterday, and I took tons of pictures. Too many to share here. However, I took a couple of the girls and played around with some effects and thought I'd share them with you. Watching Abby holding that bunny was the sweetest thing of the day. She tried so hard to be gentle. It makes my heart swell. Poor Lily spent most of the day in her stroller, so there weren't as many pictures of her- they all look the same.




Go Colts


So many things to absorb in this picture...

Lily watching her big sister to see what to do (or maybe because she is crazy and fun to watch), the girls holding hands...

Life is good.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Comparing


I know that we all talk about how different Lily and Abby look as babies, but here is some proof. Wow, is all I can say.


Lily



Abby, a few years ago

First Day of PreK



Thursday, September 3, 2009

Turning it on for the camera

Lately, there have been a few times where Abby and I will play hair dresser/beauty shop. I got creative last time, so we had to take a picture. Abby actually didn't like it and wanted me to take it out practically instantly, but as soon as I offered to take a picture of her, supermodel girl appeared. I swear, that girl loves to have her picture taken.



Tell me that her little sister isn't taking after her... check out her grin as soon as I point a camera at her. Too funny. How can a 7 month old understand that?


And, lastly, for those of you who haven't seen her in person recently, here is a short video of Lily sitting up and playing a little. She just started sitting up on her own in the last 2 weeks (probably more like week and a half) and she looks so grown up! We are really enjoying her being able to sit up. My favorite part of the video is when she kicks her legs because she gets excited, at the end. It is "very Lily".


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails