Apple Photo Book

I have been trying to get my blog put into books. I used iPhoto to do this. I ordered a book to see what the quality is like. They are priced at $29.99 for a 20 page book. I am doing one book per year, although I think in the future I might have to do 2 books per year- depending on the number of post I have. I also want a book for each of the faces slideshows I did of my girls on the blog.
It isn't quite how they describe it on the website. This is the description: New 11 x 8.5-inch hardcover books feature photo-wrapped covers and matching dust jackets. Every hardcover book uses a traditional bookbinding style — complete with a striped headband — just like books from the bookstore.
There is no striped headband. The book is not photo wrapped, but does have a dust jacket. I don't know why it is different than it says. I am not sure how I feel about it yet. I think I am going to call Apple and ask them why it is different.
I am looking for a good quality photo book service that allows a good amount of text. Shutterfly just doesn't cut it with their text boxes.

Primed

I primed the vanity today while the kids were at a playdate. It's coming along. Hopefully I will be able to finish painting it tomorrow.

bathroom remodel - demolition

We really demo'ed our bathroom over the weekend. And by we, I mean Jeff. He took out the vanity and the tub. We brought the new vanity home from his Dad's shop. We put it in the bathroom temporarily. I still have to paint it. We will move it out when we bring in the new tub and then put it back again.
After Jeff finally got the drain off, he pulled the tub away from the wall and swept it out.

This is the old nasty tub. It was only slightly cleaner looking inside before all this. It was pretty gross.

This is our new vanity. The washcloths are so we don't get oily fingers on the wood before its painted when we have to move it.

Josh came over and helped Jeff remove the tub from the building. This is what it looks like now. The dark stuff on the walls is just the bottom layer of laminate that stuck to the glue when we took down the shower surround. Not mold or anything nasty like that.

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Ashley turned 8 this year! She is growing up so quickly. It is kind of sad to think that she is not going to be a little girl for much longer. I am so proud of her decision to be baptized, though. She is a very intelligent young lady with a good desire to do what is right. We are so glad she is a part of our family!

She had a birthday party with friends this year. We had it at our house. She was sick for a whole week, and then I was out of town, so the invitations didn't get out till the week of the party. Not many of the kids she invited from school could attend, so we invited some church friends and their cousins. It ended up being quite a nice turnout! They sure had fun. We even ended the party with a little Eye of the Tiger on Rock Band 2. The kids did really well. They played the song 3 times - rotating players- and only failed out the last time 93% of the way through. That isn't bad.

Ashley and some others dancing.

The cupcakes.

Ashley trying not to breath on the candle and accidently blow it out early.

This is Natalie attacking a cupcake. She really only eats the frosting.



Ashley and Alona with a friend at the party.


The next day we had a family birthday party. She got a brush for her American Girl Doll. She also got a scrapbooking set.

A Hannah Montana doll.

And the highlight of her birthday- Bionicles! Thanks to her cousins! She really wanted one.

Uncle Garren helped her put it together. With 2 boys who love bionicles, he is quite the expert.

Natalie loves playing the dance game Celina's kids gave Ashley at the first party!

Floriday, Baby!

On the 15th I headed for Pensacola, Florida to visit a friend from High School. I hadn't seen Jen in 12 years. It was so nice to get away to a warmer SUNNY place and catch up with her.
We went to the beach and got lots of pictures.

Here we were walking up the path to the beach.



Me as we got to the beach.


Jen and I got pedicures on Saturday before heading to the beach.


I snuck a picture of Jen.


I rolled up my jeans and went in. It wasn't really cold. So unlike the coast here in Oregon. Even in the summer the water is cold here.


Picking seashells for Ashley. She loves them.




The sun was setting when we were at the boardwalk. It was a nice photo op.






Jen in front of the colored sky.


We went to Joe Patti's to get shrimp and salmon. They have all sorts of fresh seafood there. We went around back and took some pictures of fishing boats.


This was a cool looking fishing boat that belongs to Joe Patti's.


I had to have a picture in the shell at the boardwalk. I figured the girls would love that.


Jen cut and colored my hair on Monday. She did an excellent job and I just love it.

Jen and me at a Mexican restaurant just before heading to the airport to come home.


It was such a fun trip. I really enjoyed the sunshine and visiting with Jen!

The BIG News

Jeff texted me on Friday while I was in Florida to let me know that he got an offer letter from Garage Games. It was quite unexpected as he was supposed to be a contractor for 6 months and it has only been 4. Of course, they wanted him to start on the 19th. This was on the 16th. I guess when they make a decision they don't want to wait around. So Monday was his official day as a Garage Games employee! We now have medical benefits! Yay! We made it without out any really bad accidents! Only one sprained ankle that we took care of in house.
Congratulations Jeff!

SAD

So, out here in the Pacific Northwest we get a lot of rain. And it goes on and on and on. For about 9 months of the year. It starts in October (November if we are really lucky) and ends sometime in June. The days stay cloudy and gloomy. It is like living in grey! Yuck! Yeah, sure. Its green alright! The grass stays green. All the evergreens stay green. Who cares. I would rather have dry dead grass if it came with sunshine! Of course, I get SAD (seasonal affective disorder) which pretty much equates to depression. It is pretty bad. If the sun is out I am in a great mood. But the second the sky is grey, I am like a different person. I don't want to get out of bed. I have no energy. I can't even bring myself to get out to do grocery shopping. The other day, I got the kids in the car and drove to the store. As we pulled in the parking lot, it started raining (the sun was peeking through the clouds at my house when we left). I kept right on driving out of the parking lot and came home. I was very discouraged and never wanted to leave the house again. Of course, I have left the house since then. I just don't want to most of the time.
Anyway, I will continue to endure the horrible State of Oregon for as long as Jeff has good employment here. I will try to make the best of it. But it does get difficult at times. At least today was decent. The sun shone this afternoon and it was in the 50s. It was a nice change. I look forward to Florida on Thursday!

Bathroom Remodel Gone Bad

Someone had this awesome idea back in the 80s to cover our bathroom walls with faux tile paneling. Not pretty. And to top that off, they glued it on. With a lot of glue. Over plaster walls. Thanks. I don't like you very much, people who did that!

This panel stuff is a fiber board, so it breaks easily. See:

And it tears off the plaster because of the glue. See:

Here is Jeff trying to get it off.

And here is the lovely wall once it is removed. Thanks so much for ruining the walls! Did I mention that I don't like you for that one people. A little glue would've gone a long way. Or better yet, nails. Have you heard of them! They aren't that expensive!


Sorry about that. Can you tell how frustrated I am. Now I have to put up bead board all the way to the ceiling on the back walls. That is not really the look I was going for. Oh, well. Such is life.

Handmade Dolls

I made a doll as a birthday present for a friends little girl. It turned out so well. I used the Wee Wonderfuls pattern for the Kit, Chloe, and Louise dolls. They are just so cute. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to take a picture before we wrapped it. But you should check out the pattern. It is not too difficult and they are so cute!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone! I hope you all start out on a good note. I did. I went running today. My plan is to eat like crazy today and then start on healthy eating tomorrow. Great plan, huh? Actually, I am trying to get back to eating for my blood type. Lots of fish, fruits, veggies, spelt breads, and moderate amounts of red meat. Everyone in the family loves salmon, except Alona, so that is pretty much a staple as far as proteins go. I am also continuing my half marathon training. That is my biggest goal of the year. To finish a half marathon. I would eventually like to work up to a full marathon, but I have to start somewhere, right?
Well, good luck to all who make new goals this year!