sweetest-daughter-ever!

Addi is such a sweet child!  This was on conversation on the way home from school on Wednesday:

Addi - Mom, can we make some special treats for my teachers? 
Me - Yeah!  Is it for something specific? 
Addi - No, just because I want them to know how much I love them.
Me - Yeah, I have an idea I saw on Pintrest!  We'll do them when we get home.
Logan - Addi, you don't always have to do things for others, like every day.
Addi - But I like to do things for others, it makes me feel good about myself.

This is what we came up with:  smores with green frosting and faces.  She also wrote each teacher a sweet note and thanking them for being her teacher.  She did one to her 1st Grade teacher, 2nd Grade teacher and her teacher this year.

These were her teacher's responses (I had emailed them to let them know that these treats ARE edible!).  I am such a lucky mom!

Mrs. F - Hello, Please thank Addi for me. They were so yummy! I ate them already!  How is she doing? I sure do miss her.

Mrs. G - Please thank her so much. They look wonderful. I will have to look up Pintrest!!!! Thank you so much again!!!

Ms. L - Got them and yes the monsters were tastyJ So love chocolate-thanks!



mim - scottsdale

It's amazing what makes you gitty when you're a mom! I was sooo excited when I got the email from Addison's teacher letting me know that my name was drawn as a chaperon for Addi's first field trip of her 3rd grade year!

This was the perfect field trip for me to go on with her because it was the MIM in Scottsdale! It was super interesting and a cool bonding thing for me and Addi since we're both into music.  It was neat; the tour guide would take us to different countries and would teach us about the instruments that came from that country and most of them had videos so the kids could see how they were used and the different cultures of the world.

The kids' favorite section of the museum was the "EG" {Experience Gallery} where they could PLAY a lot of different instruments they had learned about.

Here are a few pictures ...

Mrs. MacDonald [Addi's music teacher] with some students

probably Addi's fave instrument because it is just like a piano!

the kids rockin' out to the self playing piano

my crew

my group was THE best!

Addi being called on to answer a question at the first stop! lol .. that's my kiddo!

how Ms. Kay would turn the videos on! 

this was MY fave! 

the kids dancing the Flamango!

funeral {dps pilot m. uhl}

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, Officer Uhl was laid to rest.  It was an interesting funeral; definitely different than the typical Fallen Officer's funeral.  Back in August, Matt and his wife were at Officer Child's funeral, in Tucson and when they left he told her that he didn't want his funeral anything like Officer Child's.  The "typical" Fallen Officer's funeral is just amazing!  It's a real tribute to the Officer and their contributions to the community.  To each, their own.

Matt was assigned to Kingman Air Rescue and had done some pretty amazing rescues.  His casket was really neat; all of his closest friends and family members took markers and wrote notes to him, on the casket!  Very cool!  At the Vigil, the night before the funeral, his family gathered to celebrate his life.  They drank beer and wrote notes to him and placed them in the empty beer bottles, then put the bottles in his casket!  Heath said the casket was insanely heavy!

At the grave site, they had his helicopter and a helicopter fly-by; it was very beautiful and spiritual to watch.

AZCentral did an article on Officer Uhl here.

thirty day photo challenge: day two [what you wore today]

Ahhh!!  I am a day behind ... kinda!  This is what I wore yesterday {day two}, but I'm not posting until tonight {day three}.  Today's challenge was taking an image of the clouds.  It was mostly overcast today and I was in my office all day, so I wasn't able to be outside as it went from sunny - cloudy.  Hopefully tomorrow, I can have more cooperation from Mother Nature.

I wore my skinny jeans from Down East Basics (that Logan picked out for me) and my new ballet slippers from Report Shoes.

thirty day photo challenge: day one [self portrait]

I love challenges and I'm so excited to really commit to a 30 day photo challenge.  I found this challenge on White Peach Photography's site.  I found White Peach on Pintrest {my new addiction}.

This task is a lot harder than holding your camera out in front of you and attempting to make sure you didn't cut off any of your face, until you get it right.  I found good, natural light, then set up my tri pod and after adjusting the settings for about an hour, I finally snapped a photograph I was happy to edit and use as my official picture.   Phew.  Day one ... done!

...now onto my Sunday home duties... 

12 miles and a fresh start

This morning I ran 12 miles wtih my friend, Krista! It was actually really fun! I loved getting to know her better and she's an awesome cheerleader. I'm guessing it is the personal trainer in her. :)


This week, I was also blessed with a "fresh start", in a way, to my new "after court" life!  Kelsea {married to Heath's cousin} put extensions in my hair (bangs and sides).  My goal is Victoria Beckham.  I looove them!  I'm still getting used to them and learning how to work 'em, style 'em ... but I think I can get there and have them look like Kelsea did when I walked out of the salon, on Thursday.

at the salon - couldn't stop smiling!

water dog

Have you ever heard of a Water Dog?  If not ... check out this link.  Ugh ... creeeepy!  I'm NOT a lover of fish in the first place, then you combine a fish with a lizard?  No thank you!  Our neighbor has Water Dogs and brought one over this weekend.  Of course everyone was lovin' it ... but me!  In fact, it "jumped" out of Logan's hands and flopped around like a dead fish and I screamed! 

Sarge is licking his lips!

challenges

I looove challenges!  I found this website with a 30 Day Photog Challenge!  I'll post my daily challenges!

...wish me luck!

sky turns 2

This past weekend, Jim & Lindsey had Skylar's second birthday party.  It was a little early because Lindsey is due any day now.  She was sooo darn cute with her "princess face" and stuffing the cupcake in her face, like it was the last on earth! 

After pizza, presents and pinata ... we went swimming and got some much needed relaxing by the pool. 

Happy Birthday, Sky!  We love you!

a school project and some lunch box notes

So, I pick up the munchkins from school last week and Addi says, "Mom, I have a project due tomorrow for my HEAT Reading class and since you're a photograpgher, I waited to come to your house so you can do it and I can have the best project in the class!"  {HEAT Reading is the advanced reading class she attends each day}

We started on the project AS SOON AS WE GOT HOME since the sun was going down quickly and it was an overcast day.

[the project]
To depict (with some sort of images; drawing, photographs) that represent a character in the book, 'Steward Little'.  The kids have a box, with a slit in the top and the images are to be glued around the box.  Each student will go around and write down which character they think the images represents.

[the character and his characteristics]
half eaten cracker - doesn't finish things he starts
raking yard - helps his parents
snuggling with sarge - loving
logan drowning - gets distracted easily
holding weight - strong
running shoes - keeps busy
ring - helps his mom get her ring from the drain

For the life of me, I can't remember which character this is.  Addi was told to "think outside of the box" and I think she succeded!  I love this lil girl.  She's so creative and smart! I'm so flattered she asked me to do this project with her.

[disclaimer]
excuse the horrible outfit ... her step mom isn't the most fashionable person!

I found an awesome website with templates for lunch box notes.  I tweaked 'em a little so they match the kids' personalities.  They loved getting a surprise note in their lunch/daily binder.  I had fun doing them, too!

digi scrapping

Not sure what my latest ... not sure what to call it ... obsession maybe ... what it is all about.  I am all over trying to find FREE digi scrapbooking paper, embelleshments, etc.  I have spent some money on some kits, but definitely all about the freebies!  I've found some super cute sites here, here, here ... seriously, my list could go on and on! 

If you have some cool sites you shop for digi scrapping kits, pass 'em my way!

8.76 miles ... getting there ... just a few more to go

I'm training for my second half marathon.  This morning I went running with Davery {married to one of Heath's cousins} and a friend of hers ... and now mine! :)  Had an awesome run through Gilbert and Mesa!  We only intended to go 8 miles, but ended at 8.76!  I love my new shoes [looove nike] and can't wait for our next long run. 

feeling so loved

an amazing legacy!

Logan is FINALLY into airplanes!  I'm sooo happy about this because my family has been into airplanes since I was .... well, before I was even thought about!!  I was even named after an airplane ... The Jenny.

I sent a FB message out to my family, asking them to send me ANY pictures of planes that are still in the family, pictures of our family airport ... anything that has to do with our family and our heritage.  I am going to take the pictures that I've been sent and blow them up on canvas', on metallic paper, LARGE ... oh I'm sooo excited!

Check out some of the pictures I have been sent so far!  I don't know the story behind each image, but I am soo thankful for such an amazing and supportive family who stepped up, took time out of their busy lives and sent me some of my heritage.

TO MY FAMILY - you are all so very amazing!   I can't tell you how much this means to me and I have really enjoyed seeing these awesome pictures. My memories of airshows and fly in's, all over California, growing up have such a huge place in my heart and are such a part of who I am.  I couldn't be more proud of my family and who we are.

just amazing!!! This is one of my favorite views EVER! 

Auntie Bert - 1934

1942 - our families airport
Built by my Great Grandfather, Grandfather, Great Uncle and more ... 

This one is AMAZING! 
My mom loves to tell the story about growing up with a dirt runway in their "back yard" and taking the planes up with her siblings and getting "tattled" on by the neighbors.  None of them were old enough to drive ... but they all knew how to fly!  The top picture is of the home my grew up in with their hanger, plane and runway.  It later became Highway 101 in San Jose.  The picture below is of the men who built the airport.  In this image, I recognize my Grandpa and Great Grandpa.

The 21 and 34 in front of Aunt Ameilia's flight school



Doug (cousin) 14 yrs old

This is the TravelAir.  I LOOOVE this plane and have some pretty amazing memories of flying stunts in it with my cousin Doug.  Flying upside down, in an open cockpit ... there's nothing like it!

custom cars

Heath and the kiddos found an awesome store at the Superstitions Springs Mall.  This guy does air brush painting on tees, hats, matchbox cars, hot wheels cars ... and the kids have been begging to get a custom car.  For $9.99 you can pick out a car and have it painted how you'd like ... whatever you'd like!!  Logan and Addi got money for their birthdays so they decided to buy cars and have them customized!  They turned out AWESOME!!!! 

I can't wait to take Kaiden here on his next visit.

remodel 2011 - shrubs and flower garden

We are sooo excited to start making OUR house more US!  It really hit us on Saturday that we can do whatever we want (with the HOA approval, of course)!  As I was swimming with the kiddos, Heath started digging and laying bricks and before I knew it, he had built a flower garden!!!!  Addi wants to plant an apple tree....

Heath's next project is the shrubs in the front yard.  He's HATED them since Day One!!!  He said it's the first thing to go and he was right!  They definitely didn't come out as easy as he thought they would!  Here's our journal of the ordeal!

Day One - me and the kiddos came home and saw a half removed shrub, a broken tow strap (second broken tow strap, mind you) and lots of dirt and rocks.  Heath said he was going to win and not let the shrubs dominate the yard

Heath couldn't wait until the next day, so as soon as he got off work, it was back to shrub removal.  He bought a new, stronger tow strap, too!  The kids thought it was so fun to watch.  The shrub was soooo in the ground that it pulled the truck back!

FINAL DAY!  Got a text from Heath that he removed the remaining shrubs!  The final casualty of the project is the shovel!  The house looks so different! I can't wait to start landscaping!!

BEFORE

AFTER