Toward A Simpler Life

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Be sure to turn off the music player in the right hand column before starting video. I apologize for the poor quality video, but it was a spur of the moment with my camera, not the camcorder.

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Need Some?

Yes, I have been sorting, delivering, and helping Mari Cate sell Girl Scout cookies all weekend. We picked up our cookies on Friday and started delivering them Friday night. On Saturday, we worked a booth sale at the mall where she picked up some extra sales. And we have bought more Girl Scout cookies than I have ever bought in my life I think. Each one of us wants a different kind.

Do you need any? I can still get anything you would like. I am even happy to ship them for the small postage price. Just let me know...

Thursday, February 26, 2009

And finally...

I am getting around to posting the pictures of Hayden's Birthday Party. Because we had church on his actual birthday, we waited until Saturday night to have his party. First we went out to eat at Chili's. I tried to think of somewhere that had something that Hayden really liked, but he hasn't developed any preferences in restaurants yet (haha), so I chose one of my favorites (that's what you get to do when you are the momma!!) But Hayden did love the mac-n-cheese (boxed 50 cent Kraft mac-n-cheese---sold for $3.49 no less!!--Oh well, it was his birthday) and he also loved that broccoli (that is what he is eating in the little bowl. He scarfs it in by the fistful!

Then we went back to the house to open presents and have cake and ice cream. He got lots of great toys like a Fisher Price mower/walker, a Fisher Price Little People garage, a swing for outside (come on spring time!), some clothes, some books, and that interactive pony--can't remember the name (it interacts with the tv for learning time)---that was from mommy and daddy. Not too much to be too overwhelmed (which I learned can happen at this age--and even as they get older!), but enough to entertain a boy on the go!

Then we moved to the kitchen for cake and ice cream. He didn't dive right into it like he did the cake that we took to church. He was a little more dignified about it actually, but he still enjoyed it, but probably liked the ice cream better! I served it to the kids in little mickey mouse shaped plates that we brought home from Disney. At Disney they served the kid's meals in these adorable shaped plates and I didn't think about keeping them for the party until like the last day or two! Duh!

I also made little favors for the kids that were shaped like micky mouse faces. Down in Disney they made rice krispy treats shaped like mickey with chocolate ears. So I bought me a cookie cutter while we were there and figured I could make my own. They were quite as pretty as the ones that they did down there, but I thought they looked pretty good and they tasted delicious!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Pierced Ears

Mari Cate has wanted her ears pierced for about a year now (before that it was NO WAY!). I have always said I would let her do it when SHE wanted to, I would not force her to get it done. So last Saturday, on Valentines Day, she got her courage up and she got them pierced. They look so pretty on her and she was so proud of herself and so were we. She didn't even cry! You can see a bit of fear in her face when they are piercing them though. I didn't get a great picture of the finished product, but I will try to get another one.

Parties, and Parties, and Parties

OH MY!!

I am pooped!!

For some reason, Frank and I started something with Conner and it has carried all the way down to Hayden. We have Birthday Weeks, not a Birth "Day". We celebrate ALL week long. So I apologize for not getting any of our Disney pictures up, but we had a One Year Old Birthday Celebration going on last week!!

Hayden's birthday was actually Wednesday. Frank always takes off on the kids birthday, so we went to breakfast that morning with his mother and sister to Cracker Barrell (where else?). Hayden HAD to have his birthday biscuit!!

Hayden and his biscuit

Debbie and Hayden

Then we went over to the Hospital he was born at and visited the new babies that were born on his birthday.

Then we went to Target and did a little more birthday shopping. Who would have ever guessed!

That afternoon we met my parents at a new Restaurant here in Cleveland, Beef O'Brady's for a Birthday Supper.

Then...............we went to church. We took "the first" Mickey Mouse birthday cake with us to church to share with our friends there. They have been a big part of Hayden's life too. They prayed for us to get pregnant (although at the time I wasn't even sure I wanted to get pregnant, but 6 weeks later got a positive pregnancy test---God's works miracles, huh?), then prayed for us the entire time I was pregnant and a whole slew of them were there when he was born. They are a special bunch of people so we had to share his birthday with them too! See how he enjoyed his cake???

Hope you enjoyed the pictures....I will have more to post of his actual "party" that we had on Saturday a little later! Got to get ready to go celebrate a friends birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY HAYDEN!!

It's my sweet baby's 1st birthday! I can't believe he is already turning one!! Last week we went to Disney World, so he kind of got to celebrate with Mickey for his birthday, and obviously we will be having a Mickey Mouse party!! I have lots of pictures to share from our trip, but the birthday is more important right now. Hayden was definitely a surprise to us, but he has been such a joy and a blessing we never could have imagined.

Hope you enjoy the video I put together for his birthday. I am making a longer video for a keepsake, but this one gives you an idea of how he has changed over the year. Not all of the pictures are in order. Be sure to turn the music off on the player in the right column. Hope you enjoy!!