Merry Christmas

It's that time of year again. The cards have been sent, and it's time for the annual recap. We've had a full year. We've laughed a lot, mourned our losses, celebrated new life, and been grateful we've been with each other through it all. Here it goes:

January: I (Sarah) enjoyed learning about my new camera, as you can see here.

February: Our family took a trip to Colossal Caves for Valentines Day. We all had a great time. I also learned that even though my ideas of celebrating Valentines as a family is a great idea, an even better idea is celebrating it as a married couple.

March: this was a full month. We had piano recitals, my parents came to visit, we announced a new child on the way, Liz had soccer games, the pregnancy was complicated, and I went on a much needed and loved girls trip with the ladies in my family. We also said goodbye to a beloved Nana, Nana Betty (Bj's grandma) returned to Heavenly Father.

April: This month I tried my hand at creating my own digital kit found here to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis research.

May: I started my very own, much neglected, quilting blog. We also found out we were having a little boy, our Noah. I also received some fabulous news. I had submitted a proposal to publish my own quilting book with Martingale, and behold, they wanted to do it. I was told I had until the first of August to complete the manuscript. Bj took the girls on the much anticipated and loved Daddy Daughter Campout. Madeline and Mitchell finished 3rd and 1st grades and were so excited to enjoy the summer.

June: We learned our kids love beef tenderloin and love making lots of money with a lemonade stand. I had a great friend take pictures of me for the book. And, we found a rattlesnake, curled up peacefully about 24 inches from our patio. Curse rattlesnakes. I spent my days on the computer and sewing machine working to finish my book (with lots of help from Nana Laura).

July: Madeline spent her time in UT with my side of the family, while the rest of us stayed at home to enjoy the heat. I continued working on the book. After all that hard work, our family decided to take a little vacation to Phoenix...I know it was really far.

August: The book is due. I did it, and sent it off. School started, so early! I started feeling somewhat grumpy about my growing girth. Liz lost her first tooth! Rooms were decorated, cooking shows were introduced, playsets were built, and gallons of jam were made to fill the freezer.

September: Noah Benjamin came to our family on the 5th...and we all fell in love with him!!! Mitchell was baptized on his birthday, and Noah was blessed the very next day. Bj also found out why they have straps on wii-motes.

October: we mourned the loss of a beloved nephew, Emmett Paul Anderson, and found much peace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Halloween came and went bringing with it the flu, and lots of candy.

November: Isn't it still November? I guess not. Noah grew to a whopping 10 lbs., and we all love him to bits and pieces.

December: the best is yet to come!

We hope this year has been a good one for your families as well. We sure love our friends and family! We love visiting friends and families blogs, websites, and other "stuff." Let us know what you're doing!!!

Stubborn.. me?

Bj has been going out of town for work a little more lately. Last time he left on a Monday, returned on Thursday at 11:45 p.m., this week will be more of the same. I hate to admit it (but since it might make you smile, I will), I vowed then, as I do now, to not take out the trash while he is gone. Now, one might wonder...why?

1. I am lazy, and our BIG trash can is all the way outside on the side of the house.

2. I have plenty of jobs, I mean it...plenty. This is Bj's one for sure job, he takes out the trash.

3. It's a little bit fun...you know, a challenge to see if I can actually go 4 days with 5 people (including an infant) and just one bag of garbage.

Well, last time, I did make it the 4 days. And it is looking like I might make it this time too. I still have a good 6 inches before the garbage reaches the "point of no return." And, really, I am just being green right? So, how do I do it? Careful planning. Dinners....leftovers create very little trash. The easier the dinner the better, and no cans....or at least recycle them.

So, wish me luck. Only one more day, and I can't create too much trash or I might have to break down and actually take it out.

Vintage Rose Wraps

My fabulous and ever wonderful friend Katie has started making and selling these super cute headbands, Vintage Rose Wraps. She gave me one for my birthday not long ago, and I thought it was so cute. I, traditionally, am not a headband girl (they itch don't you know). So, I tried this on, and wondered how long I would be able to stand wearing it. I wore it all day, and it never bothered me at all. Plus, I looked super cute. Okay, my hair/head looked super cute.

Go visit my friends blog www.vintagerosewraps.blogspot.com, to see all the fun stuff. She has boutiques and shows, where she sells them in UT and AZ. I am sure she could mail one to you if you live in another location. I think this would be such a fun gift for the holidays.

Has it really been 2 months?

Two months ago, this little guy entered our lives. After visiting the Dr., we know that he is a strapping 10 lbs. 2 oz. and is sailing along in the 25% of height, weight, and head circumference. Wow, I sure grow 'em big.

Last year at this time, I was unsure if we were going to be able to have another Bisel baby.

I gave away all our baby stuff. Clothes, swings, bouncy chairs, all went to a consignment shop or to good will. I felt I had to purge myself of everything baby related in order to not obsess about the fact that we weren't able to conceive.

Enough happened last year to leave me wondering...What am I supposed to learn from all of this? For months, I didn't understand, I couldn't see the good coming forth.

Until now. This sweet baby is enjoyed more than I ever could have thought. The sleepless nights aren't as frustrating as they could be, and the laundry piling up doesn't cause me emotional breakdowns. Motherhood, this time around, seems calmer and certainly more appreciated. And, that, is a blessing indeed.

Halloween '09

I'm a little late. Did you know how hard it is to carry the camera all the way upstairs to the computer. It must be really really hard, because I had to enlist my sweetheart to do it. Halloween was a little interesting this year, the flu hit our family...and let's just say we didn't go all out this year. But, luckily, everyone did get to go trick or treating (either before the flu hit, or after it did it's damage). The weather was lovely and the candy was plentiful.

Liz wouldn't smile....because she is a witch. Witch's are mean, don't you know.

Adios Halloween

Welcome Home Mom

I left little Noah home with his Dad while I went to all the Halloween parties at school. When I walked in the house, I was greeted with this pretty picture. Who says babysitting is no fun!

Obituary

"Emmett Paul Anderson was struck suddenly last week by a very rare post-infective neurological disease, Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM), and his spirit returned to his Father in Heaven. Emmett passed away peacefully in the arms of his parents and with his family by his side Friday, October 9th, 2009.

Emmett was born the fifth child, and second son, to Loren and Dani Anderson on January 25th, 2009. During Emmett's short time here on earth he easily gained the love of all around him, even people he didn't know. He smiled from the time he woke up, to the time he fell asleep. He was known as the "Smiling-est Baby". He also looked like a tank, weighing in at 25 pounds and measuring 33 inches tall at just 8 months! Anyone who held Emmett thought he must have been eating steak and potatoes, but his mom would proudly reply, "No, he only eats breastmilk." Emmett was a perfectly healthy young boy who had just started crawling and pulling himself up on furniture. He spent much of the summer on the river and swimming and never complained about having to wear a life jacket! He was loved greatly by his four siblings: Calista (age 10), Spencer (age 8), Kaia (age 5), Bryn (almost 3). They loved taking turns playing with him and affectionately called him "little buddy". Emmett knew he was a perfect son and brother. Unfortunately for all of us, God chose to receive him back into his arms. Little Emmett is sorely missed!

Emmett is survived by his parents, Loren and Dani Anderson of Kennewick,WA; his 3 sisters and 1 brother; his grandparents, Craig and Laura Bisel, of Tucson, AZ, and Fred and Kathleen Anderson, of Sunnyside, WA, along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.Viewing will be Thursday evening from 5-8pm at Mueller Funeral Home- 1401 S. Union. The Funeral will be Friday at the LDS Stake Center in Kennewick. 515 S. Union- 11am Family viewing from 10-10:45

In Loving Memory of Emmett Anderson

Emmett Anderson
January 25, 2009 - October 9, 2009

We are all heartbroken. Our nephew, Emmett, returned to his Heavenly Father on Friday. He went to the hospital on Tuesday with a virus, by Friday his little body couldn't take it anymore. We are praying for the comfort of his parents and siblings. At this time, I am so grateful for the knowledge of eternal families.

We ask for your prayers to help our dear family.

Crackin' Up

This letter reads:

Dear Mom,

I love you soooo much, I don't want you to die, but you have to.

Love,

Lizzy

P.S. I love soooooooooo much. I'll draw you a picture.

(the picture is of the kids, notice Noah down at the bottom)

I received this letter yesterday afternoon. Hmmm, I guess she is right, I will have to die sometime. Let's just hope it is much later! Bj was slightly disturbed, I, on the other hand, laughed heartily.

Super Weekend!

We had a great last week in September. Our oldest boy was baptized and our youngest boy was blessed the next day. Slightly busy, yes, and wonderful to be all together celebrating two very special days.

We were blessed to have my parents come into town, and we loved having our local Bisel relatives join in the fun. Bj was in charge of the after baptism lunch....and we had some nice sandwiches and slushies (courtesy of Eegee's). My mom went slightly overboard (in a good way) and prepared a feast of treats for us all. Yummmm! After all that fun, I was ready for some serious relaxing. Instead, we celebrated Mitchell's birthday, and prepared for Noah's blessing the next day.

At the baptism (yes, Noah's there too...sleeping)

All the handsome men in our family!

Grandma G and Papa Jimbo with Noah

The blessing was wonderful, and it was fun to share it with my ward family as well as our family. What a blessing to have such a great hubby who is worthy to baptize, confirm, and bless our boys.

Love

I am in LOVE!

Yes, love has found me once again. This little boy has stolen my heart. Each time I pick him up to snuggle, feed, or comfort him...my heart fills to overflowing. I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to experience new motherhood again. With each new child, it has been a little easier to adjust to sleepless nights, and to appreciate the joys in each day. I absolutely love when kids get older, they are so fun, they have so many accomplishments, and are so fun to be around. However, there is nothing like the wonder of a newborn! I find myself staring at this handsome fellow and hoping he will always stay little. Maybe it is knowing that this is likely the last time we will experience this stage, or maybe I am slightly wiser in my old age, I don't really care what it is, but I love that I get to cherish the small moments with him.

Big Month

I have known for awhile that this would be a big month. Mitchell is turning 8....he is getting baptized. WOW! I want to make this day so special for him, it is such an important day, and hopefully one he will always remember. Alas, I have a new baby, and making anyone feel special right now is a little tricky. This is when I am so grateful for a fabulous husband. He has taken over, and is throwing Mitchell's Birthday party this Friday, as well as taking care of the after baptism luncheon. I am blessed!!!! This is going to be the best baptism and birthday party ever!!!!

Here is my little Noah. He is a doll. He is a fabulous baby. He really doesn't love to cry, so he only does it when he absolutely has to, and then when I pick him up, he immediately ceases! He loves his brother and sisters, and pretty much anyone who will hold him. He sleeps like a champ! My mother is here taking great care of me, and so far I am only waking up at 2 a.m. to feed (then again at 5-6 a.m....but then I just wake up for the day). I am loving this time with him, and I feel so blessed. New babies are amazing!!!!

Welcome to the Family

This is Bj, Sarah's husband. As Sarah is not readily available to blog, she asked me post on her behalf.

Noah Benjamin Bisel arrived on Saturday September 5th at 11:08 P.M. He weighed in at 6 pounds 11 ounces and 19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great. After two sleepless nights at the hospital we are glad to have them both home. Isn't my wife incredibly beautiful?

Welcome to the family Noah, you are loved more than you know or currently appreciate.

More pictures posted here.

Giveaway

Hey all, I am giving away this diaper clutch on my quilting blog. Go visit and try to win.

Milk and Honey Designs

Positive Pessimism

We had a talk in church yesterday about positive pessimism. Basically, the idea to is to laugh at the less than lovely things in life. Well, and to be honest, this is kinda how I am. I am not especially good at ignoring the unpleasantness of life, but I sure do love to make fun of it, and this is how I find joy. So....here's today's postive pessimism effort.

I may still be pregnant, but at least it is 105 degrees today!

My Favorite Picture

This is my favorite picture right now. It might be because this little girl melts my heart every single day, and she has such a fun personality. When her awesome dad pulled this tooth out, she was so excited! She bounced about the house, showing everyone her "hole" and she made the funniest faces. I love it!!!! I mean it, look at that face, doesn't it just make you laugh and melt at the same time? The innocence, the pure joy, the spark of fun, ahhhh, she's a riot. Every day she comes home from school I absolutely love watching her come to the car. She walks with her siblings until she can see the car, then she starts with a skip, and then runs full on until she reaches me. I love watching her run wildly with her backpack swinging back and forth, as she smiles with anticipation to see me. Kindergartners are awesome.

More updates

More good news. I had another ultrasound yesterday, Mr. Noah is now projected to weigh about 6 1/2 lbs. That seems big enough to me....what do you think? Anyway, his growth looked great, and the worries about him diminished even further. Hooray!

So, if I were a fantastic blogger/mother I might add a cute picture of his little nose, or his precious face. However, I am entirely too lazy to scan those prints. I am spending all my scarce energy on cleaning, quilting, staying sane (this might be a losing battle), mothering, and trying not to nap every time I sit down. I wish I had any desire to write wittily, tell great stories about my kids, or my vastly interesting life. Hmm, instead of that, enjoy an update.

Good News

Yesterday, I go to see the Dr., and I am greeted with some less than wonderful news. My ultrasound to test Noah's growth last week, came back with some abnormal results for his cord blood flow. They are thinking that Noah could possibly be losing weight in utero, which is not great. They promptly scheduled another ultrasound for later that day, performed a stress test, and set me up with Dr.'s appointments twice a week for the remainder of the pregnancy. I am no longer allowed to run (okay, yes, I am still running, but it goes more like this....walk, run, walk, run, walk, run,..etc.). If worse comes to worse, they will have to induce and take him early.

Yippee, the ultrasound came back clean yesterday. The blood flow looked great. The nonstress test went well too, and we noticed that I was having contractions about every 5 minutes....lovely. Anyway, it was an interesting day, to say the least. This pregnancy has blessed me with a number of these kinds of days. The first is when they told me I had a tumor in my bladder, that was a roller coaster ride. Then, later....when I had some more complications, and they said I had a 50/50 chance of miscarrying....., had to wait a week, and then when I got to the office, they let me sit in the room for an hour, and when they did come in it took 5 minutes to find the heartbeat (STRESS!!!).

I guess I am saying, this pregnancy thing is kinda crazy. I am so glad to be having Noah, but there have been moments along this path that I could have done without. I have been so blessed to have all these interesting days cleared up, and have no ill effects from it. I know there are others who have had experiences that trump mine, 3 million times over. However, I have not really enjoyed the worrying this time around, I think my heart rate has tripled.

I am still weeks away from delivering him, but I am so excited to see him, face to face, and know how he is doing. I can hardly wait to snuggle him in my arms, to watch my kids overwhelm him, and see his dad hold him on his chest. These little moments will more than make up for all the "interesting" days we've had in the last nine months.

Check this out!

Madeline is making her web debut on Bj's blog. Go here to see.

Getting Ready

Yesterday I had an ultrasound of little Noah to check his growth. Little Mitch, the stitch, had a shoulder dystocia when he was born, and now we need to check that the little tyke isn't getting too big. Anyway, we all went to the appointment as a family, and I must say it was pretty great (besides, of course, my other children climbing all over the office scaring all the moms to be). As soon as she put the cool gel on my belly, I saw his little face. It look PERFECT! He looked chubby, happy, and just like a real baby (not the little aliens you get to see early on). He is in the right position for his entrance to this world, and he is sufficiently cramped in there. So, what about his size? This is the confusing thing, his head is measuring big, but his other measurements are small. Hmmmmm. They say he is already about 5 lbs. That seems plenty big to me (by 34 weeks). I am a little anxious to get him here, but I know I am not ready yet.

Getting ready for him has been an interesting venture. He is sharing a room with Madeline (the oldest), which meant we had to paint the room. No boy of Bj's would sleep in a pink room! Here's that transformation.

Before

After

There is a long story about the painting that no one needs to hear, let alone go through. Just know, it was a process full of twists, turns, and long hours. Argh. But it is done, and Madeline is a happy camper.

Now, I am spending my days washing clothing my sisters-in-law were kind enough to share, and I am thinking of all the things that need to be done. Pack hospital bags, diaper bags, put the sheets in the crib (but not too early, that little Liz keeps climbing in the crib), get nursing bras, finish those quilts, make a diaper carrier thingy (that is the technical term, I promise), start another quilt (it's terribly cold here in AZ, he needs many quilts), am I forgetting anything?

To say or not to say, that is the Question?

(not a self portrait)

After weeks of hearing some great and some not so great comments on my body, I thought I would write a nice little post to inform the world on appropriate and not appropriate things to say to a pregnant woman.

Things to say: When a woman is pregnant her self esteem is not at it's highest point. A pregnant lady is impatient to get her beautiful, but not fully "cooked" baby out of her body so she can breathe, eat, and generally feel like a person again. This is a time to only say kind and uplifting things.

1. You look great!

2. Wow, you are so tiny!

3. I wish I looked like you when I was pregnant!

4. You are almost done.

5. Wow, I would have never thought you were that far along!

Things not to say: this is a great guide in whether or not to voice your precious opinion.... Imagine said pregnant lady is simply overweight and not pregnant...would you still make your very perceptive comment? If not, DON'T SAY IT! She already knows what you are likely going to comment on. If you must make a comment...say it in your head and move on. If you just can't help yourself, change the comment. If she is bigger than a planet, you could simply say..."You look fantastic!"

1. You are starting to waddle!

2. How far along are you? Oh, you still have a LONG time to go.

3. You keep getting bigger and bigger, each time I see you.

4. Lookin' BIG!

5. Have you been eating a lot of donuts?

6. How much weight have you gained?

7. You have got to be having twins!

Maybe, just maybe, we could leave all comments about the pregnant woman in our heads. Simply treat this woman like the person she is, and forget her personal appearance for now, and give her something else to talk about. You could ask her about a book she's read, if you could do her laundry, how she gets her bathrooms so sparkling, etc.....

That time of year.

Yes, it is that time of year. Alas, we ran out of the beloved homemade jam, and the "stitch" (Mitchell), had been asking about 10x a day when we could make jam. I told him we could buy some jam, and he pulled a nasty face and pronounced the truest statement of all...."but, homemade jam tastes so much better." Yes, he has found the light, he has figured out that most things taste better when they come from the kitchen instead of the shelf. Smarty pants!

You might think I shopped all the great deals, and spent the day washing, and cutting berries. Alas, I found a simpler way. I simply bought the bags of frozen berries from my beloved Costco, and make jam that way. Luckily, I had tons of sugar and pectin in my pantry, so I didn't have to go shopping (I hate shopping, is that okay to say?). I spent the night making over 20 batches of jam, while Bj cleaned out the pantry (I know ladies, you are jealous). After making all this jam, I have to profess that I have a preference in pectin.It is....

Why? This little pouch of perfection uses SOOOOOO much less sugar. And less sugar makes momma one happy lady. Of course, the fruit doesn't go as far, but I feel so much better when I use 1 1/2 cups of sugar per 4 cups of fruit, as opposed to the other... 4 cups of sugar to 2 cups of fruit.

Now, we are fully stocked (well at least for a little while, Lizzy likes to make Jam sandwiches) in berry and strawberry jam. The freezer is bursting with containers of jam, and when Bj makes his 15 PB&J sandwiches on Sunday nights, we have plenty of homemade jam to keep the little mouths happy.

ALREADY!

My kids have been so excited for school to start. Okay, Liz and Mitch have been excited. Mitch woke up at 5 a.m. this morning, and went on a bike ride with his dad (everyone needs to work out before school starts!) Liz came in my room at 6 a.m., and told me to get up. She promptly got dressed, went downstairs, packed her school lunch, and prepared herself for her first day of school. She happily let me curl her hair, and cleaned her room, and did let me take pictures of her. Madeline (although not happy to go to school) still had a happy heart and enjoyed watching her little sister get so excited for her first day of school.

We drove them to school, and took pictures of all the "firsts." Elizabeth gave us a hug and kiss, and happily sent us on our way. Mitchell took his "helping other people" job seriously, and went about telling the new kids where and how to check in and start the day. Madeline surprised me...she got to class and I could tell she was feeling the stress of the moment. Her eyes watered, and she asked me not to leave. This is her first year (she's going into 4th grade) where she hasn't had a best friend in her class room, and I think the unknown of the upcoming year was slightly overwhelming in that moment.

So, here I am at home. Just finished my workout without one interruption. The sheets are being washed, beds are getting made, more laundry is waiting, and still there is QUIET. I think I might be insane to be ending this solitude in about a month. Ahhh, but the joy of a new baby (right?). So, now I am off to finish Mr. Noah's quilt.

Already loved!

I have tons of pictures to download, and so much to write about, but honestly....I don't want to do any of that stuff now. However, I do want to comment on this little guy growing so safe and warm within me. He is already so loved. Each day the kids kiss, cuddle, try to burp, and generally love this kid to pieces. Heavenly Father's plan is so amazing to me. I love that we are all sent to families that are already excited, happy, and ready to love and cherish us. Today, Elizabeth sat and "burped" Noah during sacrament meeting, she kissed him, talked to him, and sang to him. Mitchell gave me the biggest hug tonight before bed, then gave Noah a big kiss and told him how much he loved him. Man....kids really know how to melt hearts!

Isn't it Grand!

We spent last weekend at the Arizona Grand Resort. It was blistering hot, (seriously it was somewhere between 110-117 degrees while we were there), but at least we got to swim the whole time. Even though the temps were crazy high, I felt so blessed to be there. I had no idea that I needed a vacation as badly as I did, until I could take a few days to take a breath. I absolutely loved our vacation. I loved watching Mitchell tackle the insanely scary (for a 7 year old) super drop water slide. I loved watching Elizabeth prance in the wave pool. The looks from everyone at the park at my ever growing belly were also a plus. One nice lady even said to me..."you go girl, you look great." She must have known how I was feeling, what a nice gal. Bj was the ever wonderful father, and spent the majority of the time throwing, catching, tackling, and playing with the kids in the pool. I spent my time floating with Liz, and enjoying the weightless feeling water provides. Mitchell found much joy in hiding in the tubes so we couldn't see him.

Besides swimming, we did some other fun stuff, like eating. We went out to dinner each night (we brought food for breakfast and lunch), and had a quest to find the perfect chocolate cake. Well from the 3 places we went (Joe's Crab Shack, Ikea, and Claimjumper), the super Claimjumper cake WON. Of course, Liz spent the night throwing up the Claimjumper cake....but what can I say, it was pretty rich.

We also were able to do a 2 for 1 deal, and go to the temple while we were in town (saving us another trip this month). It was Denise's birthday on Saturday, so we celebrated together on Friday by some fun temple time, Ikea shopping, and dinner. Our kids loved having the chance to spend some time with their cousins, and I always love spending time with Denise and Seth.

All in all, our vacation rocked. I loved it. I loved the freedom it afforded me. I loved it wasn't too far away. I loved spending time with my little family (minus the much missed Madeline). I loved that the kids got along the whole trip (seriously amazing). I loved that Bj and I stayed up all night talking. Oh, and we can't forget the chocolate cake. Another plus....I know you wanted to know this little tidbit, I didn't even gain weight. ROCK ON!

Wrong!

You are all wrong! We are going to far away, and very exotic....Phoenix!

I know, it sounds kinda lame. It's not 2 hours away, but at least it is away. We had discussed going to Sedona (turned out to be too much $$$$$), then...hmmm, maybe we should go to San Diego. San Diego is 6 hours away, and I am seriously pregnant (riding in the car, yuck), and we only have three days. Scratch that. Maybe a nice mountain retreat, we could escape the heat, enjoy some solitude??? After not finding anything close (within 3 hours), we knew we had to give up, and just give in to the sweet kiddos, and party all day at the Arizona Grand Resort.

I actually am pretty excited. I get to escape my home, go somewhere hotter, bake in the sun, read my book, go to the Temple, enjoy down time with my kids and hubby, and escape my responsibilities. Party ON!

Our Vacation?

We have decided to go on vacation. Can you believe it? I finally have finished the majority of the "book," and can now dedicate more time to having fun. That is important stuff. Bj can't take any days off (because of sweet Noah coming later this year), so we will be gone Thursday night through Sunday (yes, we love our every other Friday off). So, where do you think we finally decided to go?

Vote in the comments, the answer will come shortly:

Sedona

Phoenix




Mountain Retreat





San Diego

Photoshop Tip

I have loved learning to do work in Photoshop by finding tutorials and hints and tricks online. However, there are sooooo many things I still have to learn. Even as I am working in PS, I know there must be an easier way to do something, but I just don't know the keystroke, etc.

Well, yesterday, in a tutorial, I found a tip/trick I have been waiting for. And, because I am so generous, I thought I would share it with you here. It's pretty simple, but saves "clicky time."

When you are resizing a picture by dragging on the corner squares, simply hold down the Shift key at the same time, and the ratios of width to height will stay true. Up until this time I have been clicking on the lock button, which takes at least 5 more seconds. I know, I know, I am saving you so much time.

Also, another shift extravaganza of fun. When rotating an object using the corner square, press the shift key again, and it will help you rotate on specific angles (45,90,60,etc). I know, you love trying to line up a picture so it is hopefully completely straight, but if you are ever in a hurry, now you can do it without question.

I hope you enjoyed this super small tip/trick about Photoshop, but if you are like me, you may love every small thing that may save time, clicking, sanity, etc. Happy Tuesday!

It's that time of Year

Summer is here. We have had summer upon us for quite some time now, and our days are becoming lazier. The kiddos are loving the sprinklers, but as the days get warmer, the use of sprinklers slows since they don't want to burn their feet outdoors. I am a fully horrible mother and allow my children to watch too many movies and tv shows. We love our swim lessons where they learn all about butterfly stroke, and I become drenched in my own sweat. Our nights are filled with catching lizards, chasing birds, and watching out for snakes. We still try to take our nightly walks, but at 100+ degrees, those walks are getting shorter and shorter. All in all, life is pretty great. I am constantly amazed and grateful that I live in this amazing time. I have air conditioning, seriously....that is fabulous.

Serious Wimp!

I have vowed, for about a year now, that I would kill a rattlesnake, no questions asked. I have heard from animal lovers that it is cruel punishment to kill rattlesnakes. After witnessing what I did in the hospital with my little Liz, and how hard her recovery was, I still feel like every rattlesnake could die a slow painful death, and I would be just fine with it.

Today, as I was hanging wet laundry on the line, I viewed (not 3 feet away) a pretty small rattlesnake. It didn't move, it was just laying on the grass, enjoying the warm day. At first, I didn't really believe my eyes. Then, my senses came to me, and I ran inside the house, quickly called 911 for the Firemen to come to our house and pick up the little punk. After getting off the phone with them, I lamented! I should go outside and chop this guys head off. But alas, good sense overcame me. I mean really, would it be healthy for a pregnant lady to be accidentally bit by a rattlesnake? I guess not, but I felt ashamed I didn't go take care of him like a good mother should!

Liz told me to run and get the shovel so we could kill him. Oh Liz....what a sweetheart! She saw the snake through the window, and then ran over to the couch and hugged the cushions and whimpered. Sweet Liz! After 5 minutes, and the firemen still not there, she asked when they would come....when? when? when? Then the doorbell rang, two handsome (and I am not kidding about that), young firemen came to our rescue, and picked up the offending snake, and carried him off to the depths of a faraway (at least 2 miles) desert. Now, I get to sit and ponder about this blasted snake. Are there snakes hiding in my backyard? Can my kids play safely back there? Should I keep a shovel within reach, so I can finally get my revenge?

Luckily, Bj is on his way home, and I am sure he will quickly apply "snake away" to ward away any other snakes who think it wise to cross our path!

Pictures

Here's my little Noah, safe and warm (really warm). I have to say, I have felt so blessed being pregnant this time around. I am still pretty uncomfortable, but I keep reminding myself of the miracle that is causing the discomfort. I have definitely been bitten my the "emotion" bug, and I cry at the drop of a "sad story" hat. This is not common for me! I am so anxious to meet him, and know him, and hold him, and love him, and know that he is healthy and strong. Luckily though, I still have some time. I need to prepare for him, get clothes, diapers, car seats, etc... All of it...oh, and I need to make him a couple quilts (I'll get to it, just right after I finish writing this book...I promise).

Summer, my great friend from across the street, took some pics of me, and had some fun doctoring them up a bit. I had to show off her work. She is great!

Summer and I spent a good part of Saturday taking photos for the "about the author" part of my book. Honestly, I have been less excited about having a picture published of me when I am 6 1/2 months pregnant. Oh well, I had to get over that, and just take the picture. We had a great time spending time together, getting people to look at us, and having sweat pour down my face (gotta love Tucson in the summer and having a extra body adding a little heat of his own). I truly feel blessed to have such a great friend, who would sacrifice her Saturday! Now, I need to choose a photo for the back cover of the book. So, maybe you all can help in the process, I was hoping you could add your opinion (even if I don't know you). Which picture should I use on the back cover? Okay, number 4 might be a joke. So, give your opinion, and I might even listen (or use one of the other 90+ pictures she took).