Thursday, December 31, 2009

The last post of the year...

I managed to take all but one of my December daily album photos and have even added the first 7 days of photos and journaling to the album. That is a major accomplishment over last year's attempt at a 12 days album. I'm pleased! I'm also excited that I already have the paper for next year's December Daily album...and I may be scraplifting the general idea from Missy...mine definitely won't be as polished as Mis' but it will still be an attempt at something less haphazard and more put together.

So Happy New Year to all of my family, friends, and blog readers...if there are any left after this sad, sad year of few blogs...

Yes, this is the cheesy last post, but I am excited about my first post of 2010! Check back after midnight...

PS...I actually digi-scrapped...check out the new banner!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

December so far!

We've had a busy December so far. Sean has been travelling a lot but our family has been great, we appreciate all of their help.

I have been working hard to keep up with my Photo-A-Day for December 2009. I have even set up my ae December Daily album. This year I will actually get this done! I am very determined. Here's a sneak peak (maybe not) apparently I have exceeded my uploads. That's what I get for trying to back up my photos online. I have too many photos! I guess part of Christmas break will be spent backing up photos to cd, or I will just break down and pay the 5 bucks to get 20gb worth of storage for a year at Picasa!

Brenna has discovered video games...she has figured out how to do her 2 button plug and play Sesame Street game and does pretty well. Not sure how I feel about this!

So I guess that is all since I am annoyed about the whole photo thing. Back soon to update and add more posts!

Monday, November 30, 2009

It's Time for the 12 days of Cookies!

Tomorrow starts my Photo-A-Day for December. I'm going to do my best! But it also starts the Food Network's 12 days of Cookies. While I haven't ever made the cookies, it puts me in the mood to bake and decorate and really get even more into the spirit of the holidays. I'm even looking forward to seeing some snow!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Tis' the Season

And so it begins in the Sullivan house...Christmas, that is. We decided to get the house decorated early this year since we didn't have much of a chance to enjoy it with all of the basement work we did in an effort to be ready for the holidays last year. Brenna woke up this morning and before her little feet hit the floor she asked, "Mommy, where's all my presents?" Oh my, are we in for it this year? I sure think so. I hope to have time to get a countdown paper chain made so that she can see how long it is until Christmas, hopefully that will bring her excitement down at least a little bit. Without further ado...our tree, and a very excited little girl.

The other little girl was quite out of sorts with all of the holiday decorating and rearranging. She was a bit upset that we moved her bed...this is the face I got for all of our hard work. She is so sweet.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Getting into the Spirit

We plan to get the tree up and decorate this weekend which I am very excited about because last year we were so busy we barely got the tree up with a decent amount of time left to enjoy it. I always struggle with how to best display our Christmas cards, they usually end up in a little Christmas basket that we have, or stuck to the wall with blue painter's tape (which I love for hanging B's projects on the wall of her play room, easy to put up and take down). This year though, I got a little crafty. I saw this at one of the scrapbooking blogs I read and thought...cute, maybe I should make my own! So I did...the photos aren't the greatest but you get the picture right? I love being crafty and just don't make time to do it more often. I dressed up the clothes pins with Making Memories FaLaLa Paper and inked the edges. Thank goodness for glue dots! My tape runner just wasn't gonna do the trick. P.S. I used some of last year's Christmas cards which should be in my 12 Days album that I haven't started yet...oops.

The Other Thing

I would love to have more time for lots of stuff...spending time with Sean and Brenna, family, friends, scrapping/crafting, and photography. Here are a couple of my faves from my recent trip to San Diego.
A monument for Veterans at the top of Mount Soledad in SD. Definitely the place to go for a 360 degree view that looks down on the entire area.

Mast of the Star of India.
Not bad for my little point and shoot huh?
Dreaming of the day I can even think about getting a DSLR!

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

He was a good boy

We got the news last night that our niece's dog Chooch was hit by a car. We were so sad to learn that he didn't make it. Rest peacefully Choochie.

I spent a long time giving Bailey the attention she deserves but doesn't get as often as I know she would like. We would be devastated if we lost her - we are firm believers that we have Brenna because Bailey put the thoughts and stress of trying to get pregnant away. She is our first child, our furry baby, who is a true member of our family. We are trying to determine how to explain this life changing event to Brenna. She's old enough now to notice that Chooch is gone, and that people are sad that he isn't with us anymore. While I want to protect and shield her, death is a part of life that she is going face, hopefully not often. It's such an abstract concept for a child, so we will do our best and know that this sad event for our niece and family will lead us down one of the more difficult roads of parenthood.
We are a dog family, and all of our dogs are so much a part of our lives. Sammy, Bailey, Chooch, Bella, and Pepper make all of our lives better.

Rest peacefully good boy. Your family loves and misses you.

The pics of Chooch are from when he was a puppy...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Technical difficulties!

Let me just start by saying that I love my iPod, my hot pink, 2nd generation shuffle. I'm a little frustrated though. While perusing iTunes, I discovered a couple of audiobook selections, and thinking that might be an interesting way to pass the daily drive time, I downloaded them, assuming they would load into the pod with no problem. Hmpf! I got all excited because I know that my library has downloadable audiobooks, so I went over and downloaded a couple of books from their site as well. I definitely got ahead of myself...first, the library books wouldn't transfer to my itunes, which the website assured me they would. Then, the books that I got right from itunes wouldn't load! There must be a way, but sometimes, I am just technically challenged! So, I guess I'll stick with my music for now until either a) I figure it all out or b) I upgrade to a "big girl" ipod. Stupid technology.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Family

As I woke Brenna up to go to school, Sean stood in the doorway watching. I pulled back the blankets, she sat up and stretched, saw her daddy and ran to him, sleepy faced and crazy haired. As they shared that good morning, sleepy hug, I had to take a mental picture of that warm and cozy daddy-Brenna love. It brings tears of joy to this momma's eyes. I love our family so much and have a deep need to hold tight to every one of these moments. Some moments aren't photo worthy because a photo simply wouldn't capture the true feeling and love. Plus, that would mean I would need the camera to be permanently attached and while I love taking photos, I'm not taking the camera every single place this body goes! Happy Friday!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Officially spoiled (AKA the really old post!)

From the mouthes of babes....

The text I received from Sean today(9/26/09):

So she's officially spoiled "daddy I need new shoes" no you don't "yes I do daddy," why do you need new shoes? "because these have rain on them" do you mean you need a different pair? "no I need new shoes daddy, you by them for me?"
Shoes get wet and she needs a new pair, nice huh?

Have we created a monster? I hope not!

In other news, B has started the new school year at her "big girl center" which is the next building up at her day care since she is a big girl now. This is the second day at her new school - I was sick the first day and forgot to take her picture...she's saying "big girl center!"

She seems to like it and I already notice a difference in the things she is saying since she is around both more and older kiddos. For example: She has finally learned how to say yellow correctly. It has always been lello. She was eating a cookie a week or so ago and I asked her what colors the cookie had and she said yellow. I didn't even realize she had said it correctly but she looked at me with a very surprised and happy face and said "I say it perfectly mommy yell-ow (very drawn out)" She's so silly!

She is experiencing show and tell and learning about different letters and sounds so we have taken her Pinkalicious book, Minnie Mouse, a leaf and her pink football for show and tell. M and F have been her letters so far. She's starting to make the connection between letters and the sounds they make. They have since added N, T, and B.

We had a lazy hang out in our pajamas all day Sunday...nice to be able to do that now and then!

She had a very exciting day Thursday - it was "Wear your favorite football jersey" day at school and she made it all day in the same clothes (no potty accidents) and even pooped on the potty at school...I normally wouldn't share anything this, shall we say, disgusting, but it was a HUGE deal for her. She's still having her fair share of accidents but it's definitely getting better! In recent news, her accidents have been limited to when she is with us (go figure) and she's taking care of said poop on the potty all of the time. They also had crazy hair day...she was all about it!

We went today and picked out B's pumpkin...just mommy and Brenna.

That's all for now...hopefully I will be able to keep up better with the blog...life is just plain busy.

And now I am no longer the last on Erin's Good Blogs List! Thanks for the motivation, friend!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Three Year photos & update

My baby is three and I have posted these pics to my facebook page but they are just too good not to post here also.



Dear Sweet Potato:

You are three! Daddy and I are so proud of you and all that you are able to do! You have certainly beaten all of the odds and taken on all of lifes challenges that you have had to experience.

You love to sing songs and play with your babies. You love your puzzles and reading books - your favorite right now is "The Three Little Rigs" (yes Rigs, not Pigs - with the mean wrecking ball who will crash and bash and smash!) You love picking books out at the library and will sit on the couch and look at them over and over.

You love going to gymnastics and dance class and you crack us up with all of your little antics. Who knew that a three year old would say "...but I thought I was gonna do insert whatever you think you wanted to do here" or "I want to go somefin else I want to go." You love to dress up and always remind us how beautiful you are and that you are the princess.

While I don't love when you're sick, I love that you will snuggle with me and hang out when you don't feel well. You love, love, love your daddy and can't wait for him to get home every day, being sure to ask him "How was your day, daddy?"

You still nap (although sometimes you just rest for a while) and you're a pretty good little sleeper - once you actually go to sleep which sometimes is an hour or longer after we put you to bed. Mommy can't seem to put the baby monitor away yet but at least I can hear what you are doing when you really should be sleeping! Thankfully you still stay in your bed until we come into your room to get you up from nap or when you wake up in the morning and you usually say "I have a good nap - even after sleeping at night, or "I sleep well mommy."

You don't have time for the potty most of the time. You can go on it just fine, you just don't want to be bothered so we are working on that one. We have decided that this is it for the pull-ups, when we run out, we're done, no more pull-ups during the day. I think we'll be sticking with them at night for a while but maybe you'll get the hang of that faster once your dry during the day.

You don't like water in your face which has made for some interesting bath and pool times. You love to play tea party with your tea set and water - pouring from one thing to another is one of your favorite games. The world tends to revolve around you - I sometimes wonder what this will do to you later - but you are very well behaved and almost always Please and Thank You and May I. You love to wear dresses and get dirty. You do a pretty good job of taking care of your Bailey dog and your beta fish Dude (with lots of help).

Eggs are still so yucky and you're a pretty picky little eater - peanut butter and jelly, macaroni & cheese, hot dogs, chicken fingers, the usual kid foods are your favorites but you love your fruit and oatmeal too, and you love to drink your milk. Thankfully you are growing just fine (at 27 and 1/2 pounds - 20th percentile for weight, and 34 7/8 inches - 5th percentile for height), according to the number of pounds and inches you should grow from one year to the next.

You understand that my name is Stephanie (even though you know you are suppose to call me mommy). You know your colors and you can count to 15 without forgetting any numbers. You can sing the days of the week and you know your shapes and many of your letters. You love to "write" things when we tell you what letters to write (usually a line or a squiggle for whatever we tell you). You love me to paint your toes but don't always like me to do your hair. You know that your birthday is July 14th and you know your street, your city and your state. You recognize lots of places when we are driving and sometimes say "my home, my home" when we get near our house.

The best thing about you, my little Brenna, is how much you love your mommy and daddy and the rest of our family. You can't wait to see everyone and tell them everything.

You are very curious about everything and I hope you stay that way. Happy Birthday little girl...mommy and daddy love you very much!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Sick Monkey

We ended up in the peds ER last night with a sick and very uncomfortable little girl. Thankfully it is just a stomache virus and not anything serious. We spent the day lazing on the couch and napping. This is a very boring post! Yuck is my word for today.

Friday, July 24, 2009

update


Brenna has turned three and she just had her first visit to the dentist! She did great and even let the dr. check her teeth (didn't let him clean but did let him count and put the mirror in her mouth). I'll update more later.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Last of the Cali Pics

Yes there are a lot of photos, I can't help it. It helped when daddy had to stay home and work. So, for family and friends who want to see every single vacation photo...their all officially here on my blog. If you don't want to see all of them, that's really ok!

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Happy Father's Day


Daddy - I love you and can't wait to see you when I get home! You are the best daddy because you play with me and love me and take care of me. Happy Father's Day Daddy. I love you!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Pics from today

Yes...these are just from today...I just can't control myself!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Finally

So I finally figured out how to load simultaneous album slideshows that won't disappear when you upload a new album. Yea for Picasa! Like it so far. I have even tried doing a little photo editing and managed to do this to a shot of Brenna that I love.
There may be a secret photographer hiding in me somewhere?!

Just hanging out today, had lunch with Freddy and are going over to bbq at his place and play at the park. Tomorrow will probably be sightseeing and playing with our trip to Sea World Scheduled on Friday.

Oh and I finally got to go here earlier in the trip...I've been waiting for six months to visit this shop and was NOT disappointed...it is a cute litte papercrafts shop that I found online when we setup our trip out here. I found some great summer paper (Cosmo Cricket - Snorkel) and of course some new Thickers and some fun sparkly brads, for the album that I am making from the first trip that we made out here two years ago. I even managed to complete one layout...I'll be saving that for later when the camera isn't in with a napping B!

More photos as we go!

well that didn't do what I wanted it too...

hmmm....let me try this

testing out picasa

please forgive the mess during a bit of reconstructions...I am trying to figure out how to post multiple albums without having them go away like the shutterfly ones have done! I'll get it all figured out soon!

Zoo Day

Went to the San Diego Zoo today. Brenna's first words when she woke up this morning is I want to see the hippos and I don't want to see the birds. OK. She had a great time and even decided that petting a goat would be ok! After a late and short nap, it was time to play with her zoo animals and jump on the trampoline while we got dinner going. She enjoyed some ice cream and crashed around 8:30. Hopefully she will sleep in tomorrow. We're enjoying our time but miss daddy. Lots planned for the next week and then home. Looking forward to Legoland, Sea World, the beach, visiting with family, and relaxing. I love seeing B with Freddy and knowing that they are building a really special bond. His words the other night were that there really is a downside to living so far away...missing his family, but we all know that he is really happy here and doing well so that is the best thing for him! We love the times we get to spend together and I think the times we do spend together are more meaningful because they are so far between. Just glad Brenna gets to know and love her uncle so much...they are practically inseparable when they are near each other and I love it! The latest pics are posted...I love the trampoline jump shots. Apparently Shutterfly can't post links to multiple albums in the same blog at the same time. I may try Picasa soon to see if that works better. I know it has a blogger link....that's all for now...it is bedtime for me!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Meeting the Newest Cousin

I have to say the look on little girl's face when she was holding her little cousin Darrin was priceless.

On a side note...the sleep adjustment is going well. B tried to get up at 4 this morning (7 home time) but after about an hour she went back to sleep until 7:30 so we did get some good sleep and a nap in also! So I'm hoping that in another day or 2 we'll be sleeping on more normal schedule.

A couple of pics from yesterday...Blowing bubbles at Pepper with Uncle Freddy Mid-jump on the trampoline!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

We've Arrived!

So after an early morning - before 4 am to be exact, and two flights with a two and a half year old, we are in San Diego. I think I might even see the sun..shocking during June Gloom. Brenna was a true champ on the flights...no problems, no heading to the ridiculously small bathroom to change diapers mid-air, no arguing and complaining. She did great, especially considering it was just the two of us and we had a layover in Atlanta of all places. The trip far exceeded my expectations! I am planning to post every day on this trip to keep the fam updated on our adventures. Here are today's pics: Me & B on the plane, and a sleepy girl...only a 30 minute nap during our whole trip (10 hours total).

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Ten on Tuesday - Sick Day

1. So I am sitting at the kitchen table catching up on blogs while B sleeps...posting (I know! Can you believe it?) and putting a new spin on the look of my blog...so fun to have found a fun background site (thanks Sara!)

2. still since 8pm last night. This is rare, very rare that at almost 12 hours later there is no sign of her waking up any time soon.

3. Because she had a horrendous cough that kept her up most of the night Sunday night and ended with me getting a phone call at school yesterday to come pick her up.

4. Trip to the Dr. - no pneumonia, but certainly a yucky virus.

5. Almost no coughing last night which is huge, she also had a 20 minute nap (if you can even call it that) yesterday, so to say that she is tired is probably a severe understatement.

6. Thankfully I am able to stay home with her today while she is on the mend.

7. Saturday she received her first medal at gymnastics. Ta-da! She absolutely loves gymnastics and seems to have very little fear of anything her coach (Coach the Chrissy - as B calls her) would like her to try. It is hard for me to not hold on to her for every hanging on bars, walking on balance beams, etc, but she just doesn't need me to. Silly girl.


8. My friend's little girl has been chosen as a finalist for a Scrapbooks Etc. magazine cover, so please, go vote!!! You can vote once a day...she is the one in the jean jacket, photo titled First Day and FYI she is currently in the lead!!!

9. Summer vacation is getting closer. We are on the countdown at school and with so many activities going on for the rest of the year I think I might have about 10 days of teaching time out of 18 days that are left. Between field trips, 6th grade orientation, 5th grade graduation, field day, and that is not a complete list, I'm trying to find ways to keep my students motivated. They have been great and this has been a really amazing year! It just confirms that I am doing what I am meant to in my chosen profession. I can't wait to see what next year brings!

10. Speaking of summer vacation, we are so excited to visit Uncle Freddy when school is out. I can't wait to just relax and have fun without having to worry about lesson plans and testing and getting us where we need to be when we need to be there. A few more weeks and I get to be at home with B for the summer, going to the library, zoo, play dates, pool, and any other fun things we can think of. I'd like to scrap again sometime in the next 6 months...

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Testing Guidelines

A teacher at school gave me this today and it is just too funny not to post....

Guidelines for Testing in the Event of Severe Weather
~Please do not look out the window for approaching tornadoes. You must monitor the students at all times. To do otherwise would be a testing irregularity and must be reported.
~Should students notice an approaching tornado and begin to cry, please make every effort to protect their testing materials from the flow of tears and sinus drainage.
~Should a flying object come through your window during testing, please make every effort to ensure that it does not land on a testing booklet or answer sheet. Please make sure to soften the landing of the flying object so that it will not disturb the students while testing.
~Should shards of glass from a broken window come flying into the room, have the students use their bodies to shield their testing materials so that they will not be damaged. Have plenty of gauze on hand to ensure that no one accidentally bleeds on the answer documents. Bloody answer sheets will not scan properly.
~Should gale force winds ensue, please have everyone stuff their test booklets and answer sheets into their shirts being very careful not to bend them because bent answer documents will not scan properly.
~If any student gets sucked into the vortex of the funnel cloud, please make sure they mark at least one answer before departing and of course make sure they leave their answer sheets and test booklets behind. You will have to account for those.
~Should a funnel cloud pick you, the test administrator, up and take you flying over the rainbow, you will still be required to account for all of your testing materials when you land, so please take extra precautions. Remember, once you have checked them out, they should never leave your hands.
~When rescue workers arrive to dig you out of the rubble, please make sure they do not, at any time, look at or handle the testing materials. Once you have been treated for your injuries, you will still be responsible for checking your materials back in. Search dogs will not be allowed to sift through the rubble for lost tests. Unless of course they have been through standardized test training.
~Please do not pray should a severe weather situation arise. Your priority is to actively monitor the test, and a student might mark in the wrong section if you are praying instead of monitoring. I'm sure God will put war, world hunger, crime and politics on hold until testing is over. He knows how important this test is!

For all of you teachers out there...enjoy...it brought some much needed laughter to my day!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Friday Five (ok, six)

1. It has been more than a month since I last posted...I really need to work on that!

2. Brenna cracks me up every day...our conversation about oatmeal this morning after she finished one entire bowl.
B: I want some more Mommy
M: Would you like some fruit?
B: No, more oatmeal please
M: How bout some applesauce (I know full well that a second bowl of oatmeal will not be eaten!)
B: I really just want some more {oatmeal}.

That's my little stinker! Talking like she's 10 when she's two

3. We got her "report card" from day care - She's progressing on most things, trying on others. My favorite is the P+ for Stands up for Own Rights. I can only imagine her yelling at someone else that "it's mine!" or "you no do that!" and "no me no!" (no means no). Not surprisingly she also received a P+ in Participates in Music - from the little girl who loves to sing "Bottle of Sunshine" by Milkshake in the car and tells me "I want it louder mommy." She also likes to know "do we have any 'yaks' (I Like Yaks by Roger Day) in here mommy?" Sean doesn't always have the same songs in his car as I do in mine so she has to check to see if we have what she wants to listen too. Thank goodness for the Shuffle - now in both cars thanks to my birthday Target gift cards, so now there will be matching music in both cars. I love that she likes Laurie Berkner and wants to hear Shady Tree, Victor Vito, and many others. It seems that we are moving away from The Wiggles - finally - at least for the time being. I'd much rather have her interested in other kid's music that isn't specifically related to characters...even though she will pick songs from her favorite Noggin shows too.

On another B related note, she loves wearing dresses. It is often a fight to get her to wear something other than a dress. It's really hard to give in when she says "my wear a dwess, mommy, I pick it?" Usually she wins that war. Just not a battle I feel like fighting. Thankfully we have been able to stock up on some cute Carter's dresses at Costco...gotta love the costco.


4. We're on the countdown for vacation...still on the hunt for a relatively inexpensive portable DVD player for the plane ride...more for my sanity, not because B can't go 4 hours without watching tv. She can. While I'm really looking forward to the trip, I will really miss my wonderful husband! I'm definitely looking forward to his vacation time in July.

5. Spring Break has gone by entirely too fast. I have managed to catch up on laundry...finally..now if only I could stay caught up. I always have good intentions but just never seem to manage to keep up with it. I will say I am doing less laundry for B now that she is older.

6. I LOVE THIS MAN....even though he hates when I take his picture. He and little B are my world...


Sunday, February 22, 2009

I know, I know...

it has been entirely too long since I last posted. I have lots of stories and happenings to catch up on but am just plain too tired and busy. I promise to update soon...with pictures.

In the mean time, some highlights.

It rained in our house.

I finally got my hair cut.

Brenna is in a big girl bed *sniff.*

School, lesson plans, grading and more grading. Gearing up for testing.

Laundry, more laundry, more, more laundry.

There was time for scrapping ~ a while ago.

Neurotically planning for vacation in June ~ it makes me stress less to organize and plan now.

and last but not least...."as a matter of fact Jack, I like Yaks!" Moms may agree...

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Snow Day!

I can't believe how much snow we have...thank you to the guy who plows our driveway...I can actually get out of the garage which is quite important if I am going to make it to work tomorrow. The drive should be interesting. Hopefully it won't be too bad. B and I had a wonderful day together. We played with playdough, fingerpainted, played in the snow, colored, snuggled, read stories...had a great mommy and Brenna day.

I interupt this post to say that the weather man said that we are going to get more snow on Friday...MORE SNOW! Seriously, I think we have had enough.

Ok, ok back to the blogging. I even managed to complete another layout today and get some of my work done for renewing my teaching license.

Pictures to come soon...

Sunday, January 18, 2009

The once a week blog

So apparently I am only blogging once a week...better than not at all I guess...it's still cold and snowing, snowing, snowing (again). I'm just glad we seem to be out of the really bitter stuff.

Right now: blogging, Sean playing Tiger 09, Brenna napping

Should be: doing laundry, taking a shower, changing bedsheets, and a very long list of other things.

Getting ready to: nap? (doubtful - although I could really use one), upload photos to costco to be printed...getting ready for hooky scrapping!

Don't really have anything else to say today.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Things I did Today

*Played with a funny, funny, little girl.
*Started my 2009 Projects List ~ a ridiculous list of things I would like to accomplish this year, mostly comprised of reorganization in each room of the house, some professional stuff to complete for my license renewal, and some mini-projects in the house. I have already checked-off one thing...backing up photos, thanks to being snowed in yesterday. While this is on-going, all of the old stuff is done.
*Went to calling hours for a friend of our family.
*Spent time with my parents (thanks again for coming to stay with B today).
*Looked through some "new" scrapbook treasures~ Thanks Missy! I already have plans for some of the papers!
*Booked airline reservations for our vacation this summer (thought, discussed, clicked and paid within an matter of 45 minutes).
*Played with B some more.
*Started stressing about seat assignments on an airplane when I can't do anything about it for 60 more days! I'm a little obsessive and sometimes a little nuts, in case you haven't already figured that out.
*Put B to bed.
*Called airline to get seats changed with some success...now I have to wait the 60 days before I can be sure the changes took.
*Updating blog, getting ready to spend some time with the husband, zoning in front of the tv before I fall asleep early on the couch as usual.

Here's my sweet girl...sleeping with Baby Annie - she slept this way most of the night. It was very cute.

Over all a good day...the snow seems to have subsided but I've heard we could get more later in the week...that and some very cold weather. As if temps in the 20's and teens aren't cold!

Here's to a great week!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Snowy Saturday

We're sort of snowed-in today. We might venture out later for food but other than that I think a quiet Saturday at home is in order. I put B down for her nap at 10:45 and she has yet to wake up - almost 3 hours later. Sean's been working and I am currently burning back-up CD's of all of our digital photos. I'm finding that in my attempt to back them up to flash drives I have multiple copies of things but I guess it doesn't hurt to have that either. I know, I know...the only true way to not lose these files is to get them printed but I am not excited about footing the bill for the over 3000 photos I took in 2008, let alone the previous 2 years of B's life. While I know I won't print them all (lots of them are blurry, dark, etc), there is still a quite hefty amount that need to be printed and scrapped or put into photo albums. I think I need to do it methodically so that there is some order to the albums. I did manage to sort them by date taken so each month has a folder. There are the few hazy months before we got the new camera that are date questionable because I dropped the camera in a baby pool while on vacation in Californa 2 summers ago. Luckily I didn't lose any photos and believe it or not the camera still worked - not well - but we were still able to capture the important moments. Thankfully we received a new camera for Christmas last year and the photo organization has been much easier. So far I have everything from when Brenna was born to May of 2008 - I had already backed up some of the photos previously and forgot that I had done that...saved lots of time!

Enough about that...here's a funny photo to brighten your day...Thursday, while getting ready to head to daycare...B decided that this was how she wanted to brush her teeth.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

My first official tagging...and first post of the New Year!

I've been tagged! Thanks, Marie for getting me back into the blogging mode!

Q. Five Names You Go By:

Mrs. Sullivan
Steph
Stephie
Stephanie
Mommy/Mom - whichever she chooses at any give time.

Q. Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now:

Cream Colored Zipper Shirt
Brown Pants
Cozy Socks

Q. Two Things You Want Very Badly At the Moment:

Sean to be home safe with us instead of on his way home from work.
MORE TIME!!! To spend with Sean & Brenna, to get things done, and to scrap!

Q. Two Things You Did Last Night:

Played in our new finished basement with Brenna - we make the most obnoxious band ever!
Slept through the night with out waking up - yea for me (I've been waking up a lot lately!)

Q. Two Things You Ate Today:

Pirate's Booty (Brenna's "popcorn")
Ritz Crackers

Q. Two People You Last Talked To On The Phone:

Sean
My Mom

Q. Two Things You Are Going To Do Tomorrow:

Teach my students how to be persuasive writers...obviously not going to happen in one day.

Play with my little sweet potato!
Q. Two Longest Car Rides:

Coming home from Spring Break in Florida with Freddy with the heat just barely on in 30 degree weather while everyone else in the car was asleep, just so we could get back and go to sleep.
Coming home from our band trip to the Florida Gator Bowl with a crazy bus driver who was driving too fast and weaving, and wouldn't turn the heat on (thanks for sparking that memory Marie!).

Q. Two of Your Favorite Beverages

Pumpkin Spice Latte (Starbuck's Style)
Diet Dr. Pepper

Q. People You Would Like to Tag

Missy M
Helen
Missy B

Check out the rest of the 12 days of Christmas below...it took me long enough to post them, I know...