Manual

A little update from photography class...I took the camera off of the "automatic" setting this week and practiced a bit on "manual." 

At first, it was not good:

But it got better:

And then I put it back on auto:

Thankfully, there's still three weeks of class left.

A Good Cause

Hey everyone!  My friend Kelli is doing a marathon (yeah, she's totally crazy!) to raise money for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  She is looking for donations, so go here to help her out.  She really appreciates it, and I appreciate not having to be the one to run a marathon ;)

For more information on Kelli and to track her progress, visit her blog, here.

I Love You

Lately, I've been trying to teach Amos to say, "I love you."  So far, all we've gotten is "mumble, mumble, YOU!"

I am pretty sure he means it though.

Monday Update

It's Monday again, and the last Monday of January no less!?!?!  Yikes.  We had a good visit with Aunt Anna this weekend, although there wasn't enough time to take some pictures with her =(  So, I guess its some more random pictures of the kids today:

Apparently, this is how Amos smiles now...

...when he's not doing this, that is...

...Maggie has been back in the drawer...

...and refuses to eat her eggs...

Happy Monday everyone!

Drawer Girl

Maggie's new thing is climbing.  Once she figured out how to get up on the table, the possibilities were endless.  

Everyone should have a baby to sit in their drawers for them!

When the phone rings...

...it may just be Amos...

...for you!

 

Cheese. Seriously, cheese.

Yesterday I was photographing a project I've been working on for The Charmed Home next Monday, and Amos wouldn't stop yelling, "Cheese!" at me.  I thought he was hungy, so I got him a string cheese out of the fridge.  He got really mad and kept yelling "Cheese!" 

Eventually I figured out he wanted me to take his picture.  Its no wonder, really, I mean, look how awesome he looks:

Then, he yelled at me some more until I took a picture of his tongue??? 

I've got a little character on my hands.

What the....what?

That is my sink.  It was business as usual today as I was cleaning it with some softscrub with bleach.  I love the softscrub and have been using it on the sink since we moved into this house.  Well, as I was scrubbing I noticed a funny orange spot appearing.  Weird.  It was small, but very annoying, so I thought to myself: "fill up the sink with hot water and pour straight bleach on it."  So, I did just that.  That's how I ended up with the orangish-brown death stain.  What the heck is that?  How could bleach cause that?

Anyway, I tried everything to get it off (lemon juice, etc.) and it finally came down to some good old fashioned vinegar to do the trick.  Vinegar has long been my favorite cleaning product, but this just sealed the deal.  FOREVER. 

Seriously though, why did this happen in the first place?  What was that?  Please tell me it is not the first sign that my sink is about to spontaneously disintegrate or something.  Oh, and my sink is now sterile enough to operate in.  Thank you very much.

600

This is my 600th post. As in, one more than 599 and one less than 601. Woah.

I feel like I have changed so much in those 599 posts, and I am so grateful I have them to look back on. If you had told me when I was writing that first post that blogging would become my passion, I would have two(!) kids in the next 2.5 years, I would move to Springville, Utah and that I would change our blog name to "The Charmed Hornes" I never would have believed any of it.

I am so proud of my little family and how well we've weathered the last few years, here's to hoping for many, many more.

Let's celebrate with Maggie who finally figured out how to climb up on the kitchen table.

Photography Class

Last night was my very first photography class!  I got myself really worked up about having to go, but I did make it out the door and into the car.  Thankfully, as soon as I got there, I found some other students wandering around trying to find where the class should be (which ended up being on the complete opposite end of the school).

Once we figured out where we were supposed to be, it ended up being a really good night.  The teacher really loves photography and he has a lot of great knowledge to share with us.  We didn't take any pictures last night, it was more of a lesson on the history of photography.  We talked about all kinds of stuff, but my favorite part was this picture:

Depression Era woman and her children by Dorothea Lange

It is truly the amazing the power of a photograph.

Anyway, one night down, and now I know where to park =)

Open Invitation

Hey all!  I just heard about a blogging conference in Park City this summer, and I am really thinking its something I'd like to do. 

Dates: June 24-26, 2010
Cost: $249 until 2/28 (then it goes up to $400)
Keynote speakers: 
Stephanie Nielson 
Stephanie Quilao 
Heather Spohr 

More info here.

I am always way more comfortable when I have a friend with me for these kinds of things, so who's going to come with me?  (We could split the hotel room!)

A Hot Dog at Costco

These pictures just showed up in my inbox, and I couldn't resist sharing. 

The kids and I take a monthly trip to Costco where we meet Eric for lunch.  Usually, Amos and Maggie share a hot dog or a piece of pizza.  On this particular day though, as I was tearing off little bite sized pieces for Maggie, she grabbed the entire hot dog and had at it.  She ate the WHOLE hot dog by herself.  Thankfully, we had Eric's iphone with us to document the whole thing.  I swear that hot dog was as big as she was:

She got embarrassed when the table of firefighters next to us noticed her accomplishment and started to watch her:

That's my girl! 

And, yes, I know I look pretty.  No make-up post workout is a very good look for me.  You all just be glad I worked out.

Be Strong

Photo Credit: here.

Tonight we had our Stake kick-off fireside for this year's new mutual theme (Young Men & Young Women).  I am so excited for the theme, not only for the girls, but for myself.  It is going to be a good year.  Here's the theme:

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" 

(Joshua 1:9)

More here.

Paint Sale

I thought everyone knew this, but then it occurred to me that not everyone spent the last 3 years of their lives living at Home Depot. So, I thought I would share.  Behr paint is on sale this weekend (it is almost every three-day weekend).  If you have big paint jobs, or just have one that you have been putting off now is the time to get to it.  You could always wait until the next three-day weekend too, I suppose.

We're painting our bedroom today, woot!

The Children's Place

Here is my very own Children's Place ad:

I bought my kids a couple of those rugby striped sweaters and hats when they were $5 and I had the 15% off coupon (making them awesome cheap!).  I had to get some for the cousins too.  Maggie didn't get the memo to wear hers today, so she couldn't be in the picture:

 
She is wearing her $0.99 Target sweatpants though, so that should count for something.

Thank You

Every night Eric asks me what my favorite part of my day was.  Here is last Monday's:

On Monday, while the kids and I were at the airport, I noticed two soldiers in uniform standing a short way up from us talking to one another.  I knew we'd be walking right past them, and I made up my mind that I was going to thank them for their service.  Its something my mother always does, but I have never been outgoing enough to do it myself.  As we approached the men, they turned to talk to Amos.  They couldn't have possibly made it any easier for me. 

I said to Amos, "Hey, can you tell those guys thank you?"

Without missing a beat Amos yelled, "THANK YOU!"

Amos is really good at "thank you."  My eyes watered up and I had to keep moving.  I realized right then that I really am so grateful for any and everyone who would lay down their life for this country so that my family is safe.  I am grateful for those who give up time with their family so that I can be with mine.  I know that moment meant a lot to me, and it is definitely going to stick with me.  I hope it doesn't stick with those soldiers though.  I hope they hear "thank you" so many times that they all start to run together.  I hope the little boy that yelled it at them in the Salt Lake City airport is just one of many they heard that day.

Development

Since getting home from Grammy and Grampy's Amos has learned how to open doors.  He has finally achieved the perfect combination of height and coordination to free himself.  Yesterday I put him down for his nap and then came downstairs to check my email.  It wasn't long before I heard a quiet movement in the hall.  I panicked for a second, until I realized it was Amos.  He snuck around the corner, and when we met eyes he looked like he thought he should be in trouble.

Fast forward to bedtime, and I found myself camped outside Amos' door waiting for him to try to sneak out.  Sure enough, after about one minute I saw the door crack open and a little head peeked around it.  I think the most incredible part of all of this is the sneaking.  He is a funny little sneaker, and frankly, he's pretty good at it.  He's so quiet, I never even heard the door open.

If I got a fortune cookie today, I am sure it would say this: "toddler proofing is in your immediate future."

Ready to Play

Amos all suited up for some outdoor winter fun.

He wants to be sure you saw his boots:

Pigtails

On December 27, 2009 Margaret Allison Horne achieved a landmark milestone in her young life: pigtails.

Technically, her baby mullet is the only part of her hair long enough for the pigtails and/or a pony tail, but from far away, you can barely tell.  The hair judges have ruled that it counts!

Note: Aunt Anna receives full credit for the discovery.

Common

When at Grammy and Grampy's house it's not uncommon to look out the window and see Grampy, Amos, and Mahanna having an adventure.

Shoe-Shoes

While we were in Boise, Amos got some new shoes that he really loves. I love them too, but they make him seem so grown up =(

Little people with cool shoes:

Front and Back

I'm finally making some headway through all of the pictures I took over Christmas.  It is such a pain to sort, label, and store them (digitally speaking).  Anyway, I found these pictures of Maggie and thought it was pretty classic Maggie...

A nice, sweet girl looking at a Christmas tree from the back:

And then from the front, she's got some toy sticking out of her mouth.  Classy girl:

If we zoomed in, I'm sure we'd see some drool.  Have I ever told you that Eric had a drooling problem as a child?  Legend has it he would get too busy playing and forget to swallow, which led to drooling. 

Note: the pictures were a little dark, so I lightened them up so you could see them better.  Yes, the colors are weird, but you can see them.