Happy New Year!

Cheers to a healthy, happy, creative and productive 2012.

The power of the Girl Scout cookie

Buying Girl Scout cookies may not help your ultimate weight loss goal, but it does helps young girls reach their goals.

Nearly three years ago my troop made a goal to raise enough money through the sales of girl scout cookies to pay for the entire troop plus, two adults, to attend a weekend long horse back riding camp.

They each had a personal goal of selling 300 boxes in two years to cover the cost of the camp. Most of the girls reached their goal in the first year and the rest reached it the second year.

Well, we "finally" went to that camp this past weekend and I have to say that it was the best $2035.00 our troop has ever spent.

Being a horse back riding camp they did a lot of......horseback riding.

They also got to learn how to do vaulting on the back of a rather ginormous horse.

We all tried our hand at archery.

And took care of a lot of different farm animals. Which is a rare treat for these city girls.

So the next time you think of ignoring that cute little girl asking you to buy an over priced box of substandard cookies, remember.....not only will your $4.00 go towards supporting a great organization, but it will also help support the GOALS that the girls are striving to reach.

Happy Wordful Wednesday!



PS: The girls also raise money to do things for others. Like the Valentines treats we create each year for the Senior Citizen home or cooking dinner for the families at the Ronald McDonald house.

Merry Sitsmas

I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas on this Merry Sitsmas kind of a day!

And of course a Happy 2010!

Happy Halloween!

Here are my Halloween chickies!

Kate tried on 8 costumes before settling on the Polar Princess.

Reid tried on the Indian costume and was done!

Have a safe and Happy Halloween everyone!

Halloween of years past!

This week I am combining my Photostory Friday post with Alicia's Flash Back Friday over at More Than Words.

I'm not being very original this week, but I wanted to share snaps from Halloweens past!

Reid was a Dalmatian for her first Halloween.
The next year she was a Razorback Cheerleader.

My mom bought Reid this cat costume and she HATED it! She cried when I forced her to put the hood on and then refused to let me take her picture.

A bunny and a 50's girl (tiger is our neighbor).

Those things on Kates head were my sad attempt at making bunny ears. Pipe cleaners don't hold up well when an 11 month old is involved.

Blue and Cinderella!

Lunette from the Big Comfy Couch and a Genie!

Kitty Cat and Snow White!

Kate wore that snow white costume at least once a week for several years.

Flower Fairy and a Pirate!

Spiderella and a Hippie Chick!
Pirate and Goth Girl!

Vampira and Greek Goddess!
Pink Fairy and a Doll!

Goth Girl (Reid's costume from '05) and a Crazy Doll!

This year for Halloween the girls are going to be............

Hosted by Cecily and Carissa

WW -- Photoshop

I have Photoshop CS3.

I have been known to be a little impatient when it comes to learning how to use new software.

I don't want to read how to use anything, I just want to use it.

You can't do that with Photoshop (well you can if you are into frustration).

So last night I opened up my hubbies laptop, sat it next to my iMac (which was a little grossed out because his laptop is a Gateway) and started watching tutorials on how to use Photoshop CS3.

Wanna see what I did?

This is the original shot of Kate jumping down some steps.

I decided Kate needed to be seen jumping elsewhere so I cut her out of the above picture and pasted her into a few other shots.

Here she is jumping in front of Mt. Rushmore!

Here she is jumping for joy in La Quinta.

Learning how to use Photoshop is going to be fun!

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Have a happy Wordful Wednesday over at
Seven Clown Circus!

{WW} - Surfing!

When learning to surf.........

it is most helpful.............

to have a Daddy that is willing to be your surf board Valet.

Happy Wordful Wednesday!Head over to Angie's to read more WW's.

Wordful Wednesday - Piggies

My daughter Kate is cute from head to toe, but there is something about her little feet that I find irresistibly cute.

You see, Kate has what I like to refer to as "cave baby" feet.

They are kind of boxy and flat.

I look at her soon to be adult size feet and wish that I would have taken more pictures of those cave baby feet.

Come on........you've got to admit that they are kind of cute!

Join Angie for more wordful wednesday entries!

WW - One Crafty Kid!

When you have a crafty mama you have an endless supply of craft supplies which to have fun with.

The girls were in their rooms hard at work on some crazy creation and I couldn't wait to see what was occupying their time.

Who knew it would be an anorexic voodoo doll!

Don't you just love creativity?

This has been another addition of

Wordful Wednesday hosted by Angie at Seven Clown Circus!

Click the link and join the fun.

Wordful Wednesday - Ballerina

This is my Ballerina.

This is my Ballerina's bun.

I used to fear the Ballerina bun.  But not anymore.

I have learned the secret to getting really thick 

hair into a pretty bun.

My secret?  

Wet hair, two braids twisted in opposite directions, 

enough hair spray to cause global warming and no less than 15 bobby pins.

WW -Easter.....Southern California Style

We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather on Easter Sunday.  Knowing the day would be nice (because it is always beautiful when my Dad has us over for lunch), Dad heated the pool and fired up the Jacuzzi so that everyone (the girls) could go swimming after we ate lunch.

The girls had an egg hunt before jumping in the pool (with all of the plastic eggs).  I was taking pictures of the girls jumping from the upper ledge of the pool when someone (my mom) suggested we throw eggs at the girls for them to try to catch.

(click on any picture to see larger)

Ahh, Hello......Grandma got a little aggressive with this "toss".  Don't call CPS, she was having fun. Who doesn't like to have a bucket full of plastic eggs fly at your face?

I must have asked Reid to flip her a billion times in order to get one good shot.  Her hair really isn't that red or two toned.  Just highly edited on the color.  

Ahhhhh, finally.......the delicious lunch that my dad made. When I picked up my camera and started taking pictures of my food I heard someone (my mom) say, "Michelle, stop blogging and eat."  I lowered my camera and said, "Sheesh people, I'm not blogging I'm just want to preserve this beautiful food with a photograph!"  I wouldn't put that picture on my blog!

Want to see more Wordful Wednesdays?  Just click the lovely logo!

Photo Story Friday - Kaleidoscope

Have you ever seen a Giant Kaleidoscope?

Me either.........that is until this afternoon.  

(click on any image to view it larger)

Interactive public art is the best.  

Well played Port District, well played.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Wordful Wednesday -My Heart

If you were too look at my heart, this is what it would look like.

They are my sunshine!

They crack me up on a daily basis.

Reid makes me laugh by making up new lyrics to her favorite songs.  One of her current creations is to the Kan Ye West song "Heartless".  The new twist is all about two parents that wouldn't get their 13 year old texting.  "How could we be so heartless."

Kate has an incredible quick wit.  The other day I walked by her room and saw her laying on her bed, phone in hand, making a call.

I asked, "Who are you calling?"  

Kate's response, "Child Protective Services."

For more Wordless Wednesday post click on the icon!

Wordful Wednesday - Cowgirls

Want to know what my city girls sometimes do when they are bored?

Why they rope each other.

Yes, I said rope....like the thing that real cowboys do with real cattle!

More often than not, it is Reid (big sister) roping Kate (little sister).

Kate may be smaller than Reid but she is one sassy little cowgirl.

Just look at the sassy determination on her face!

That look is why I love this picture so much.

Yee haw!

Now go check out the other Wordful Wednesday additions over at 7 Clown Circus!

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My giveaway is still going on if you haven't yet had a chance to enter.

PSF- Balance

Finding your balance and having a plan while visiting the tide pools is very important.

You must map out your every move.

You must test every rock for it's stability and slipperiness.

And you must make sure not to step on anything that you can hurt or can hurt you!

What does all of this mean for a picture taking mom?

It means loads of pictures of you in unnatural poses!  

But that's okay, because it is pictures like this that tell a story.  

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek