March 19th, 2010
The day after I got the camera I went to a nearby park to test it out. I am starting to think that this camera is exercise equipment as I find myself walking every where trying to get pictures.
At the park they had a exercise course which included some metal rings. How many different ways could you take of rings to make them look picture taking worthy?
If you focus on the rings further away you get this look:
If you use the macro setting ( used to take pictures of objects really close) you get this look:
Who would of thought taking pictures of metal rings would be so interesting.
Once again using the macro setting I took a shot of some red berries in a tree:
We had a lot of rain over the winter so this area was under water creating a bayou scene:
As I was walking around I noticed a momma duck with her ducklings. They were so cute, too bad they turn into ugly big ducks.
After seeing the ducks I knew I had to take the kids back to this park. I knew I had some old bread at home that the kids would enjoy feeding to the ducks.
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March 19th, 2010
For Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Anniversary, Birthday, Easter, Fourth of July, Peanut Butter Day I got this from Rob as a gift. Turns out he wanted to buy it for me and didn’t know I was saving my tips for it. I really wanted a nicer more challenging camera to take pictures of the kids, trees ( I have a thing for trees) nature or whatever I come across. I really didn’t think my point and shoot camera was going to last much longer so I started to save for a newer camera. See what I mean? Here we see my point and shoot camera held together with tape. Even the pretty Christmas gold design on the tape didn’t help, it wasn’t strong enough to hold the battery door closed. When taking a picture I had to hold the door closed so the door wouldn’t open and not allow me to take a picture.
Doesn’t this one look so much better??
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March 18th, 2010
At Andrew’s school they had a day called Diversity Day. A day to teach all the students of all the different kinds of cultures, heritages, traditions that belong to those who attend and work at their school.
Donations of different kinds of foods were made and brought in to share with classmates and teachers. I thought there would be a lot of tacos, spaghetti and white rice there. I was surprised to see all the different kinds of food brought in from all over the world. The kids really got a chance to try out many new things. The foods were served in sample cups and passed out in their classes.
In the computer room they turned that into a museum. Inside were displays with items from all over the world. My house is decorated with things from around the world. So I packed up part of my house and brought it to be displayed. I took up about five tables while other displays only took up one part of the table. Needless to say the teacher was so excited by what I had brought in just because many items came from all over the world. Gave the students more things to learn from as I had also attached info cards with the items explaining what the items were.
This display was from India, I think it was a student’s parents wedding attire with some pictures.
In another room they had a live wax museum. Students were wearing clothing from different countries and they had a sticker on their hand. You push the sticker and the wax person comes to life to tell you about their country. This one was Nigeria:
They also had parents, people from the community come into the classrooms to tell more about their country. This lady here is from the Pfluger family. She was telling about the immigration of the Plfugers to our city of Plfugerville. It was very interesting and I will need to go visit the Heritage Home to listen to her again as I had to go and take other pictures.
This guy here came to volunteer his time to play his bagpipes. He walked throughout the halls and played for the classes as he walked by their rooms.
Here is a picture of all the kids who participated in the live wax museum.
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March 17th, 2010
A friend at church and referred someone she knew to me so I could make a cake for her daughter’s 18th birthday. Her daughter was going to go skydiving for her birthday so they decided on a skydiving theme for the cake. I quickly went online to see what ideas I could get from other cake decorators as I never made a cake with a skydiving theme. The mom was also searching online and she found one that had a modeled person that was skydiving. To top it off the modeled person was hung from the top layer to look like it is really skydiving. Sure it would be a challenge as I never really modeled people out of fondant before, could I do it??
I sat down at the table with my fondant and after a few hours I came up with this:
Then it came time to do the cake, after a few more hours here is how the cake turned out.
The birthday girl loved the cake!
Well now I know I could do some cartoonish looking model people. Wonder what the next challenge will be?
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February 24th, 2010
To anyone of authority it seemed like the scenario in the last post really was going to happen. Here is how it really happened:
It all starts back to December when we were first teased about the possibility of getting any snow. The storm would hit and we would get rain, or small tiny flick that were snow but you were left wondering if it really was. Then the news would have others around the surrounding cities bragging about their snow. It had always missed us, until now.
I took the kids to school and then quickly went back to bed, it was cold outside and my bed was warm and inviting. Soon after getting into a deep sleep Rob woke me up to say it was snowing. Not being fooled I was going to roll over and go back to sleep but he insisted it really was snowing this time. I dragged myself out of bed and headed to the nearest window and what do I see? SNOWWW!!!
Hi Luna, she joined me outside to check out this thing others call snow.
Snow was sticking to bushes, to the grass to everything besides the sidewalks and streets.
Then the news announced that the middle and high school were going to be let out early. So off I went to pick up Nichole and her friend Christine. It was so neat seeing the teenagers having fun in the snow while I waited for the girls. For many this was the first real time to play in snow. I think this may have been my 3-4th time to really see this much snow fall, despite how little it really was. I brought along my camera to take some pictures of them at the park but they insisted on going home first to get some gloves and other cold weather items. We ended up picking up Andrew and Christine’s brother Alex up from the middle school first. The girls quickly showed how much they loved their brothers once they seen them. Snow balls to the face describes the love you could get from your older sisters.
We all went home and got all the cold weather gear and went to pick up Emily. I had to sign her out since I was taking her out of school. The funny thing was I was told I had to wait in line to sign her out. So many parents were taking their kids out of school to enjoy the snow.
Off to the park we went to have some fun in the snow.
Andrew wanted to show how much he loved everyone as well. He collected snow balls to throw at everyone in his pocket.
Alex started to pat snow onto a snow ball to get a snowman going. I told him the snow may be sticky enough so try rolling it, it may collect more snow easier.
Ta da, it worked. Rolling the balls in the snow made the snow balls grow large enough to build a good size snow man.
Hi Em!
I told the kids to stick out their tongues to try to catch a snow flake or two. I think Alex had big issues catching any, what do you think?
At this point everyone was cold, wet, numb and all wanted to get warmed up. So we headed on to Starbucks for some hot chocolates and apple cider. Nice way to get warmed up before heading home.
Now that I got my snow, I am ready for some warmer weather. NOT HOT weather just warmer.
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February 23rd, 2010
Today we had a huge snow storm, I mean huge. They closed the schools early and then they are planning on having a late start tomorrow.
It was so crazy the fire department were unable to get any where. Their trucks were stuck in the all the snow:
There was chaos on the high ways, all the cars were scattered all under the snow. Many needed help but again the firemen were unable to get to them.
Even the 4X4 trucks were unable to go any where, they tried. They went back and forth, and back and forth some more and all then ended up with was being stuck in a hole surrounded by the snow.
What amazed everyone more than the snow? How the mail was still delivered, what is the USPS motto?
See it? The post office truck was still able to drive almost like magic on top of all that snow.
Truth be told, those were all toy cars stuck under the snow on a patio table outside.
More pictures of snow tomorrow, have to make it last.
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February 14th, 2010
Today started off with a breakfast that Rob made for the family, his yummy French Toast. Mmmm!!! I guess I could also add that he cleaned up after himself, and he cleaned up after me. Flowers or him cleaning the kitchen, I will take the cleaning any day!
The last couple of days have been filled with baking and chocolate, lots of chocolate.
Started off with some heart shaped cake bites, I made about 7 dozen or more? I lost count. Some of Nichole’s classmates and Rob’s co workers bought them from me.
Then we have 12 Chocolate Strawberry Tortes that I made for church. They were having a Valentines dinner and these were to be for dessert as well as the centerpiece for all the tables.
Last but not least chocolate for me and the kids. Growing up my dad always gave something to my sister and I for Valentines Day. The tradition continues to this day, now the kids get to enjoy it as well.
On the note attached with these goodies my dad asked if Andrew was too old for a boy to be getting something from grandpa. Dad, the answer was No.
Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!
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February 9th, 2010
Last week I was planting some tulips in our front yard flower beds. Since we have and still will have unusually colder than normal weather I thought the tulips would grow just fine this year.
Em was home from school at this time and she decided she was going to help me out. It was going to be fun planting 90 tulips in our flower bed and get to watch them grow.
Em had asked about the bulbs, and asked how they grow into tulips and ect, I was telling her that she had to plant them with the pointy part on top.
I was telling her how big the holes have to be, where the roots were. Then I stopped hearing her questions, then the planting of bulbs were put to a stop. Emmy?? Emm???? Where are you????
Then I heard Emily ask her daddy what was on the ground, Rob said it was an air filter. Then he goes explaining that it brings in air to the carburetor and so forth. Then she joins him inside the old Chevy, she never returned to the tulips. The Traitor!!!
Even though the windows were dirty you could see her in there with her dad. It is a good thing that I am interested in cars as well or I would be deeply disappointed. 🙂
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February 7th, 2010
Beep, beep beep!!! Beep, Beep.. I really hate that alarm. I really hate the alarm that goes off on a day I could be sleeping in. I really hate the alarm when I hear the wind blowing like crazy outside. I really hate the alarm when I know I will have to go and stand outside in the freezing cold.
Rob was ready to go, been training for a long time now. I remember when he ran his first 5k race when he said he will never run farther than a 5k. Then I remember after the first Turkey Trot, where he said he will never run farther than five miles. Now we were getting ready for the 3M Half Marathon.
He still has his military ways, notice how everything is all laid out ready to go.
The race was going to start at 6:45am, BEFORE the sun was even up.
After I told him good luck I drove to my store to get me something warm to drink. It was near the five mile marker where I was going to cheer him on and take a picture. It was so nice and warm and cozy in the store, I didn’t want to go outside. I waited till it was almost pushing it, I didn’t want to miss him. So I walk a couple of blocks down the road and found a spot and I waited, and waited.
More people were joining me to cheer and encourage the runners, we all waited together. Finally a cop said the race hasn’t even started yet. Uh, What??? It was so windy the cones, the road barriers were flying all over the place. Since it was dark when the race was suppose to start the officials decided to move the start time to a later time for the runners safety. At this point I needed to go pee, bad. Could I make it to the store and back in time? Then the cop said they started the race, I waited and then finally he ran by. He was going strong at this point.
Yes, there he is. Now he is out of sight and I was out of there, made it to my store in time. 🙂 Then it was time to go to the finish line, I was right there waiting for him to finish. I had a great spot where I could take pictures.
Here he comes, here he comes.. see him???? I never got Rob crossing the actual line cause some guy walked right in front of me when he crossed.
He ran the half marathon in 2 hours 13 minutes and 10 seconds. Not bad, not bad at all. Now I am asking when is he going to run a marathon. He said he will not run a marathon, I just laughed.
We will see….
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February 5th, 2010
Just as the title says, here are some bugs that I took pictures of and a mushroom. Pretty exciting huh??
In the garden we had found a few caterpillars and we put them in a Starbucks cup, yes a clear Starbucks cup to watch them grow. Hoping they would spin into their cocoons and turn into pretty butterflies. Then one day one cocoon showed up and then there were a few more. Once the butterfly emerged and they dried off their wings we let them fly away. This one tried to stay behind and didnt want to fly off my hand.
After looking at the picture I don’t know what I like better. The detail of the butterfly or all the details of my own hand. Pretty neat that my camera was able to catch all the little details.
Outside my bathroom window I noticed this guy, a praying mantis. I thought oh cool I will run out there and get his picture taken. I moved to different angles and this guy turned his head like a human being. Usually bugs don’t gross me out or scare me but that was kind of creepy being watched by him.
Last but not least the mushroom. I was rushing the kids out the door and noticed the mushroom in our front flower bed. As soon as the kids were dropped off at school I found my camera to take the picture. The mushroom only lasted a day, it had shriveled up by nighttime.
It was very pretty next to the black bark in the flower bed, I have never seen a mushroom like that one before.
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