i’m baaaaaack! Photo Day 6 & 7

after a relaxing weekend away with my hubby and a wonderful day at church (LOVE baptism sunday)…i am ready to get back in the swing of things.  with the promise of steady work for the next six weeks…my spirits are lifted and i want to be more purposed about updating the blog…our family journal:)

i have decided not to necessarily go in order on the 30 day photo challenge…that is my prerogative, right?!

so, for day 6: someone you love…

{my wonderful hubby and my children}

 

day 7: an addiction (i know MANY of you will relate to this!)

PINTEREST!!!!!!!!

~amber

Photo Challenge day 5: from a high angle

i have always wanted to do a pose like this (i was standing on a coffee table in the playroom and they were laying on the floor looking up at me) …i tried when the kiddos were a bit younger…and two of them were crying.  i debated on whether to do it black and white or in color..obviously color won!  i am just thrilled  they were so happy!

amber

Photo Challenge…day 2, 3, and 4

Day 2: what you wore today

*disclaimer…i took these ~day 2 and 3~ on my phone and for some reason they wouldn’t open when i emailed them to myself. so i got out my “real” camera and took a photo of my phone…won’t be doing that again!!!

since we don’t have full length mirrors at home, i couldn’t take a picture of the clothes on me…so here you go!

Day 3: clouds

This fell on a day when the snow was falling…at a stop sign (with no one behind me) i took this photo of my street. i thought somehow josie had messed with my photo setting my phone because it looked sepia. There really weren’t any clouds in sight but i thought it looked neat.

sorry this is crooked…but you get the idea. Note to self…use my “real” camera whenever possible!

Day 4: something green

at first i was going to use this picture of gavin holding his new, green pencil

because he had just written this…

his “spelling test”

to translate…and he did this all on his own!

Gavin

on go

off Josie (had trouble with s)

no me

be

at the beginning of the year i told his teacher i just wanted him to want to write his name. Now he is finally writing his name AND sounding out words!!!! One proud mama (and papa) here!

but…as i went through the day, i looked down and found something else green…

my donate life bracelet. i was given this at my dad’s funeral. he made the decision to be a donor well before he suddenly passed away, and i couldn’t be more proud of his decision! that selfless decision has brought me so much peace. i already was an organ donor (on my license) but i know his decision to donate life has helped others in my family realize the importance of giving life. thank you dad! i think of you every day…

amber

Photo Challenge Day 1: self portrait

well…i am certainly not my most favorite photo subject.  thanks to instagram on my ipad…i can edit the photo enough to be bearable:) 

amber

well…it has been 6 months…

so i have been MIA in the blog-osphere.  tonight while most people are watching the super bowl, i am feeling rejuvinated to blog again.  my sister and i recently went to a teacher/blogger meet and greet.  i felt excited about blogging again.  although they were all teacher bloggers and i am a substitute right now, i felt like i should start documenting and sharing our family goings-on again. 

i do like a challenge!  i am not always great with follow through(see 40 bags in 365  40 days), but i thought this would be a fun challenge and might encourage me to blog more consistently.

check it out here

http://whitepeachblog.com/2011/05/25/photography_challenge/

 

who would like to do this with me?!

be back soon with my self portrait (ugh)…day 1

Amber

i will get it done, i will get it done…update

1~top of fridge

2~buffet in dining room

3~closet at bottom of steps

4~refrigerator

5~under sink in upstairs bathroom

6~upstairs bathroom closet

7~junk drawer {2} in kitchen

8~my dresser

9~my closet

10~annabelle’s closet

11~ gavin’s closet

12~josie’s closet

13~annabelle’s dresser

14~gavin’s dresser

15~josie’s dresser

16~van

17~trunk of van…ugh

18~bookshelf in playroom

19~toy boxes in playroom

20~laundry room

21~under sink in downstairs bathroom

22~ hall closet by downstairs bathroom

23~pantry

24~under kitchen sink

25~kitchen freezer

26~photo storage

27~all other drawers in kitchen (not junk drawers)

28~bottom cabinets in kitchen

29~upper cabinets in kitchen

30~entryway

31~pantry (opposite side of the food storage)

32~porch…clean, not collect trash:)

33~under our bed

34~craft/under couch storage

35~my purse

36~stuffed animals…throughout the whole house:)

37~lazy susan in kitchen

38~more toy purging

39~it will more thank likely be time to work on my van again

40~kitchen counters

i attempted the….duh, duh, duuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the buffet!

the buffet in our dining room is our CATCH ALL.  every house has one, and this is ours!  see the photos

the before (left)…there are two side doors and two drawers and after (right)

 

before, top drawer after, top drawer

before, bottom drawer

after, bottom drawer

the items that didn’t make it…

 

now, onto the two junk drawers in the kitchen…we all have these, right?!?!

before:

during:

after:

i knew those little silver buckets would come in handy when i bought them 3+ years ago at the target dollar spot…ha!  now i have a place to put box tops, batteries, and small miscellaneous items!

last stop for this update…the toy bins!  i didn’t get any before pictures because i just plopped myself down and got started.  and for me, when i get going, it is best not to stop me:)  so…here the the “organized” toy bins.  we are using a few of the cubes for use other than toys and i hope to get all adult stuff out of there soon!

it may not look like a lot, but we got two garbage bags and a brown bag FULL of little misplaced pieces and older “baby” toys that my kiddos are growing out of.  anyone else doing the challenge?  i LOVE a challenge!  i may not get it done in exactly 40 days, but i WILL complete this.  i am at 9/40…WOW, i thought i was further along than that.  time to MOVE IT!

amber

this boy…

*is my only son

*tries my patience like no other

*decides to climb ON TOP of my van while i am talking to a friend

*cut his own hair this week…

*smiles EVERY time you say his name

*has been spending a lot of time here…

*loves to give me hugs and kisses

*canNOT stand still for the life of him

*loves to make silly noises and faces

*loves church

this boy…will be four tomorrow!  i love you gavin with all my heart.  you are so special to our family. 

happy birthday gavin lee, i love you!

mama {and daddy}