Birthday

Yesterday was my birthday. The kids had a blast because it was a "Family Day" off school so we all got to play instead of do work. I tried to get some more of my scrapbooking done, but didn't get too much done. I had to go to the hospital so that I could have my RhoGam shot. It took a lot longer than I thought for the paper work and just to get blood drawn and then I had to go back again to get the actual shot. Not exactly what I wanted for my birthday. I did treat myself to some scrapbook supplies though to make up for it, which always makes me happy.

Dennis got off work early and came home and he took me out to dinner. After that we looked around the book section of the DI. It was good to just be together, which doesn't happen much. I could have spent a lot longer browsing, but we had to get home and play some Mario Cart (gift from the kids) and eat strawberry shortcake. It was fun playing together I don't usually get too involved in video games so it was a specially occasion indeed. Dennis and I stayed up and watched 2012 which isn't my first choice of movie since I'm not a big fan of end of the world movies, but it was pretty good I will admit.

So I had one play day and today I've been organizing and cleaning up in the school room which has been "The Cave" for some time now. It feels good. Boy it sure doen't take much to make a birthday special anymore. Thank goodness I'm easy to please!

Space Derby

This year in Scouts the boys made rockets for the Space Derby. It's good looking back, mostly because I know that we'll never have to do that one every again! Here they rotate so every scout gets to do a rocket, boat and car within their cub scout career. It took a long time to wind up their rubber bands, (Jacob has multiple cuts on his knuckles from the propeller getting away from him.) not to mention all the mechanical difficulties we had with two rockets and six rubber bands, Dennis and I were both working on one of them all the time it seamed. The rockets are a bit more work than the other derby projects and we won't have to do with again. Yea!!

Jacob and Isaac just had fun anyway, their rockets actually moved. They got awards and ribbons and we all had a pretty fun night.

Isaac named his rocket "Zeus", it was pained red and blue with a lightening bolt on it and Jacob's was called "Stars to Mars" with blue body accented with a comet tail and stars across it. They were kind of silly by the end of the night, but I was grateful they at least let me take a few pictures of them both.

Our pack leaders were awesome and did a lot of work preparing for this meeting. Our pack leader has even been nominated for Pack Leader of the Year. We're lucky to have her. She's great!! Dennis has even been put in as Weblos Leader by default which Jacob is excited about. It's good time spent.

Light & Shadow

Ok I posted earlier that I was going to post some of the pictures that I'm taking for the Photo club I'm in. Here is one that I thought was a lot of fun. This might be pushing the theme of shadow and light since there really aren't shadows, but all I kept thinking about was black (shadows) and white (light) and the piano keys on our piano. I also wanted to take the pictures in BW mode since I've never done that before, I've always just changed it in PSE.

As I was taking these pictures I began to noticed how dirty our piano was. I think there is probably someone who's said it better, how you start seeing things differently through the lens of your camera. Well I did. Had to stop and clean the piano before I could finish.

I haven't finished the scrapbook page for this one yet. But I'll post that as soon as I do.

Valentines Weekend

Khora and I were sick so my big plans for a fun date night with just me and Dennis kind of fell through. So instead. . . .

Friday the kids exchanged Valentines with some friends and that night they went to Kids Night Out an activity at the city building from 6-9pm. Dennis brought me home some yummy potato bacon soup and garlic bread (and he let me sneak a couple bites of his cheese cake.) I think we were watching Ghost Busters on Hulu too. (how romantic!!)

Saturday Dennis took the other kids to see the new Percy Jackson movie and he had roses delivered to me.

Sunday our family had to, (oh yea) "got to" speak in church and a friend of mine brought us over dinner. Thanks so much Crystal that was so sweet of you!!

Monday Dennis had work off so we had a fun day playing together. Dennis and Jacob made a catapolt and then the boys went on a bike ride with Dennis running. We all piled in the van and went shopping for a new DVD/VCR player and came home and watched a movie.

I think I like Valentines day on Sunday, it makes it last all weekend long!!!

This year I made the kids and Dennis a little goodie sack with Sugar Cookies on a stick. I thought they turned out pretty cute!!!

I Love My Honey!

For My Valentine!


1-What is his name: Dennis Lynn Marker 2- Where did you meet? In Erie, PA where we were both serving as missionaries. We met again at our first mission reunion after we both got home. 3- How long did you date before you were married? Dated for 3 months got engaged then married 3 months later. 4- How long have you been married for? Almost 11 years. 5- Who said I love you first? I'm sure that he did. 6- When and where was your fist kiss? In his uncle's driveway. 7- Who kissed who first? He kissed me first, but I definitely kissed him back. 8- Who proposed? He did on one knee at the Fayette spring. 9-What's your favorite thing to do as a couple? Work out in the yard. 10-Do you have kids? How many? 4 and one more coming in May. 11- What does he do that surprises you? He very rarely surprises me but when he does it's because he's being spontaneous. 12- What's your favorite feature about him? His smile! He has a great smile!! 13- What's your favorite quality about him? Umm what to choose. . . probably his ability to see a need and do it. He's always helping me and other people. His work ethic is amazing!! 14- Does he have a nickname for you? not really. 15- What's his favorite color? Blue 16- What's his favorite food? Usually pasta. 17-What is his favorite sport? Basketball. 18- What's a hidden talent that he has? He's an amazing artist, but not too many people get to see it. 19- How old is he? 32 20- What do you admire most about him? How patient he can be. He doesn't judge or criticize people. 21-What's his favorite past time? playing basketball or any sport really. 22- Who eats more? Him I hope. 23- Who is taller? He is a foot and a half taller than me. 24- Who sings better? I love it when Dennis serenades me while he's playing the piano, what a sweety!! 25- Who is smarter? Definitely him, Mr I can read something once and remember it. 27- Who pays the bills? Me, but everything is on auto pay. 28- Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? He does, I'm usually the one who gets up on the wrong side in the morning (he, he) He's a morning person. 29- Who mows the lawn? It's not assigned. He doesn't have a lot of time when he gets home though so I try to get it done during the day. 30- Who cooks dinner? I do, but he will if I ask him to. 31- Who drives? He does. I don't like driving much. 32- Who is more stubborn? Me. Dennis is a peacemaker. 34- Who has more siblings? same 35- Who controls the T.V. remote? We don't really watch TV and when we watch a movie it's together. 36- Whose temper is worse? Mine. I like to vent and he doesn't. 37- Who does the dishes? We both help the kids do them. When they get stacked up he usually dives in and saves us though. 38- Whose parents do you see more often? Mine.

You can copy and paste this if you want. I would love to read them though so let me know you did it.

Photo Focus Club

For Christmas I got a new camera. A Canon PowerShot SX 10IS. It's nothing super fancy but a definite step up from my point and shoot. I have been so excited about it but, confession time, I'm a little intimidated by it also. I've tried going through the manual, but . . .well it's a manual, and not much help. And the big thing, I'm definitely a novice at photography, but love it.

So yesterday while I was browsing through one of my favorite scrapbook sites, (scrapgirls.com) I found a new club they started in January this year. It's called the Photo Focus Club. Each week they issue a challenge associated with a monthly theme, take pictures, share their best picture for the challenge and then, of course, scrap about it. All throughout this there are others there to make comments and give advice. I'm so excited to get started with this club! Already I've been directed to a new website that has lots of helps learning and getting used to my camera. It's called ShortCourses. I'm looking forward to reading through it.

I think it's just what I need to practice and get used to my new camera as well as improve my photography skills. So I've decided that I'm going to post my photos and layouts here so that I can see the progress I'm making. I think it's going to be so much fun!! So . . . here it goes.

Pay Day!

I don't recognize Pay Days too often. I feel overwhelmed, under appreciated and pretty much failing in my attempts more often than not, but boy when those special moments do come . . . they're golden! Things are a little lighter, my attempts, perhaps succeed more than I realize, and even if feel under appreciated, I realize that they really do need me and love me. So I just wanted to say thanks to my kids this weekend for the wonderful pay day. It makes being a mom so worth it!!