Eli

First off thanks for all the input!!! I am going to go with #3 since it was EASILY the winner!!!!!


As for this little man....

Last Tuesday he decided it was time to talk.
Up until now it has been a word here and there but he mostly was just doing sign language. But Tuesday morning when I got him up the first thing he said was "breakfast". He'd never said that before.

Then after breakfast he said "I peed." And pulled on his diaper. I said do you want a new one. He said "yes".

So I gave him a new one. And then he just would say things all day here and there. We went to Utah and then since we've been back he's been talking more and more. His new one is "I poop." So I'll put him on the toilet.
And yes a couple of times he's done it right then. (actually the first time he did it, he looked in the toilet and said "GREAT JOB!" to himself. :)

So I guess next up is potty training.
Which I do not know how to do since my other kids were OLD when I did it.
They never showed signs like this at his age.
In fact Alden never really showed any signs ever.
He just finally consented to do it!


And just in case you were wondering, I didn't do a single thing to Eli's eyes in any of these pictures. They were just super blue that day. Cute hey? :)

It's about time I get back to crafting hey? I have a great project idea that I've already started one that I hopefully get time to finish tomorrow and share with you!

Spiritual Sunday

" 22. I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects—all united to persecute me.
23 It caused me serious reflection then, and often has since, how very strange it was that an obscure boy, of a little over fourteen years of age, and one, too, who was doomed to the necessity of obtaining a scanty maintenance by his daily blabor, should be thought a character of sufficient importance to attract the attention of the great ones of the most popular sects of the day, and in a manner to create in them a spirit of the most bitter persecution and reviling. But strange or not, so it was, and it was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.
24 However, it was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision. I have thought since, that I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.
25 So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me falsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation." - JOSEPH SMITH—HISTORY 1: 22-25

A Little Help from Ya'll

First off, thanks for all the offers. :) I am looking to go in a new direction with my photography. And it will be coming soon. And I'll need some help to get there. So I'll let ya'll know when and where (not physically of course) I'm going :) It's more of a lifestyle photography route. Something that I WANT to shoot. Right Brooke ;)

Secondly, I'm making a new logo. So here's some options and tell me which you think it best. In design you should always go in uneven numbers. But I just LIKE the 2 hearts. So that being said, which one do you think suits me best or just looks to nicest.



Thirdly, I've decided ya'll would be pretty swell to start using regularly. Thoughts on it?

Fourthly (is that a word?), my friend Christina and her sister have started a great cooking blog. And they've had some GREAT posts on there. So check it out here at Frankly Entertaining.

Fifthly (definitely NOT a word) a picture I love to share from Matt and Jasmine's wedding that I am madly editing and almost done (wahoo!)

When we got home

we were so happy to see these guys.



And I think they were quite happy to see us!

I am taking an online photo class right now that is 12 weeks long and pretty intense but oh so good so far. Lucy is my constant model. Alden's often at school and Eli's always running away from me as soon as the camera gets out. So it's Lucy loo.


Isn't her new dress I got in her SLC so CUTE???

And I think I can totally sew one like it now that I've looked at it closely!!

My favorite one of the bunch of her....


I am itching to shoot more stuff lately!! I need some more kiddos to let me practice on and some sunshine to shoot in!

AND I am going to participate in this dress sewing project called A Frock By Friday. Such a cute pattern. and it's all free and there is help to learn to sew it. Win-Win-Win! ;)

What are you up to??

Our Utah Trip

was fun. We got a late start as there was some crazy snow storm here the night before we were supposed to leave. Lots of pictures to share with you and not many funny words.... so I'll just get to the pictures ;)

Some random hill in Idaho that looked cool with the light

We stopped in Idaho Falls Wednesday night and stayed there so we had to go see the temple quickly. Trying to make a frame with the branches....


i was a loving these trees on Temple Square!!

Gotta love the huge statue in the visitors center!

Lots of flowers were blooming on temple square and it was beautiful!

I set the camera and told Reg exactly what I wanted and then he took this of me in our hotel bathroom. It just had such nice light :)

Got to see Regan's old mission president Rex Allen and his lovely wife!

Got a bit lost going to visit our friends in a little town called Oakley and found this cool pile of junk :)

One of my favorite things we did was go for a walk after dark one night


Reg finishing his marathon (way to go REG!)

Me and my friend Brooke right after we finished a mentoring session that was so much fun and I learned lots!!

And my favorite shot of the trip....

It was great! Thanks to Lindsay and Bea and my friend Teale for watching my kiddos.

Cousin Fun

So this last week I had my SIL'sLindsay's kids stay with us while they went to Mexico. (we are doing the ol' switcherooni so we can go to Utah this week). And I thought I'd share some of the fun we had around the house :)

Lucy and Alli are 6 days apart in age and good friends.


LOTS of jumping off the couch :)


Before the couch jumping started James was wearing other clothes... but then he said WAIT and ran downstairs and changed into his "game shirt" and shorts. Then he was back into jumping :)





Playing games


And just general goofing around...

James saying "RHONDA take my picture!!! Hi Rhonda!"

And lots of arts and crafts!

It was a good week full of volleyball camp (which I'll have to upload the pictures from that so you can see that soon too!) and lots of cousin time (and not much of Regan being around.)

Digital Scrapbooking

So I've taken a few moments here and there the last two nights to do a little digital scrapbooking. And here's the result.




I did another one too, but I made it to submit to a magazine call, so I won't share that one. A fun mix up from the regular scrapbooking I do. And since I am quickly running out of supplies (since I don't get kits from Scraptivity every month anymore) so I needed to play with some "new" stuff. So I made some digi stuff instead. Some of these elements are my own and some are from free kits online.

I've been in a bit of a scrapbooking lull. Haven't been at it the same as I was in the past. Seems other crafts have crept their way into my time. And my lack of sleep due to Eli's lack of sleep lately has interfered in my creativity in the scrapping department. Between that and the no new stuff it's a lull. But I am okay with that. I know I will get back into it soon. It's just the ebb and flow of creativity. So I'll ride it and sew or create other things until I am itching to get back to the paper and glue. And perhaps I'll make a few digi pages in between!

Spiritual Sundays

One of my favorite Primary songs with such a good message we all should be thinking about!

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I often kneel to pray?
Would I listen to the Spirit's voice, and hasten to obey?
Would I count my many blessings? Would I praise Him gratefully
If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me?

If the Savior stood beside me, would I comfort those in need?
Would I try to show the Savior's love in every word and deed?
Would I give to those who hunger? Would I serve more willingly
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?

He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

FOOOOOOOOOD!!!!!

Yesterday's treat


Crystal asked if I had ever thought of opening a bakery.
Not really.

My Grandma Stasiuk (mom's mom) operated a bakery out of her home for years and did catering and weddings cakes and all kind of FOOD things for years and years and years. I am pretty sure she even would do about 5 dozen buns a week and a store would sell them (i'd be up for something like that... but how does one even START doing that?? who knows!)

My mom had a restaurant for a while and I used to help out after school which was fun but lots of work.

I have always wanted to try catering something, but there are so many other things that occupy my time. If I was going to be at a wedding I'd rather be taking pictures at it that cooking all the food. So it couldn't be a wedding. I have done a few church dinners in past wards, which I LOVED and would love to do more in the future :) And there is always Ukrainian Christmas. And that's why I like to invite people over to eat lots. I haven't done a homemade Chinese Food night in a while.... hmmm maybe soon.

Regan would like it if I got rid of a lot more of the baking I do I am sure (he says I am making him fat lately.... he's not fat at ALL). I think I'm more of a donate baking kind of girl. Which speaking of that, I volunteered to make donuts for the Scout fundraiser they are having in our ward. So I got up early two Saturdays back and made 5 dozen donuts and 3 dozen long johns (and I had made a wedding cake a few days before) and called to ask someone if they could put the whipped cream on the top of the long johns and she told me it was the WRONG SATURDAY. And I had a wedding to shoot that afternoon. All that on the wrong day. So silly. So I took all the donuts to the wedding and they served them at the reception. I am so silly. hahahahahaha :)

Sunshine Award

Well my new friend Kristin gave me an award, called the sunshine award :)
Kristin blogs at Pea Pod Creations, so go check out her cute blog!

(I can't get the cute little button thing to work here so just pretend it's here....)

The rules of this award are as follows:

Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
Pass the award to 12 bloggers.
Link the nominees within your post.
Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
Share the love and link to the person from whom you received the award.

Here are some of the blogs I love to look at or read that are not my family... (and really most of them are a big deal and I'm probably not going to comment and tell them cause they get like 1000+ hits a day.....)

Kristin at Pea Pod Creations, (yep I'm putting her on the list cause I love reading her blog :)

Gayle at Mom and Camera

Brooke at Brooke Snow

Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy

Cristy Cross at Cristy Cross

Rebekah at Rebekah Westover

Dana at Dana Made it

Kristi at Visible Voice

Susie at Susie Harris

Jill at Homemade by Jill

Laura at Just Laura

Jennifer at The Little Things

Elizabeth at Dear Lizzy

Little Gavin

One of the things I love about taking pictures is being able to do it for my family. (I hope that they like it and they don't feel like I am making them let me do it.) I love seeing my SIL's with their new little ones and seeing motherhood come to them, for the first time or for the second or third (or more).

This is little baby Gavin. First child born to Regan's littlest sister Brooke and her hubby Brett. I am so happy for them. Happy they have such an easy going baby. And happy that they now know about parental love.




And my favorite.....

(Brooke, here's a few to get started....I have lots more to edit but I've got some weddings to finish first!)

WINNERS!!!! and some other random things.... :)

Winner of the Camera Strap:
"The Lowry's"

Email me your address at steedr at gmail dot com pretty please and I'll get it off to you!
------------------------------------------------------------

I updated my 365 photo blog FINALLY. :) One of my favorites that I put up there....


heehee. Didn't that just make you smile??? :)

------------------------------------------------------------

Thought I'd give an update on my MSBH Challenge:

83. Cornmeal Drop Biscuits
84. Cream Cheese and Chive Biscuits
85. Brown Sugar Pound Cake
86. Oat and Dried Apricot Scones
87. Carmel Nut Bars
88. Palmiers
89. Old Fashioned Berry Layer Cake
90. Apple Spice Layer Cake
91. Caramelized Lady Apples
92. Creamy Goat Cheese Frosting
93. Blackberry Roulade
94. Mocha-Pistachio Wedding Cake (i made it chocolate instead of Mocha
95. Chocolate Buttercream
96. Chocolate Pastry Cream
97. Simple Syrup
98. Torta Della Nonna
99. Past Frolla
100. Pistachio Tartlets with Creme Frache and Berries
101. Pistachio Tart Dough
102. Potato and Onion Tartes Tatin
103. Sausage and Feta Hand pies
104. Easter Pie
105. Easter pie Dough
106. Sour Cherry Lattice Cobbler

(that means I'm over half done!! :) )
------------------------------------------------------------

AND i was thinking that I'd do a little Q&A so.... if you've got a question that you asked and I didn't answer it or one that's been burning in your mind, now's the time to ask it :)


hmmmmmmmm kind of a boring post eh? :)

Spiritual Sundays

Bedroom upDate (well partially)

Our red wall in our bedroom. Already this color when we moved in. It perfectly matched my bedspread :) And can you see the great painting the reflection of the mirror?? My MIL (Bea) gave it to me and my SIL's (Whitney) mom (Carol Robinson) painted it. (got that straight??) And the headboard my SIL Val gave to me. Looks like I am all about people giving me stuff hey??


I am painting the headboard. So that's gone.... still haven't made my bed though.... I actually painted the little bedside tables too. They used to be kids dressers but they are WAY to small to actually hold clothes. For a baby they are fine but Alden can fit like 2 pairs of pants in the drawer. So I repurposed them to be bedside tables. And did my favorite thing - painted them white :)


Then I added a whole bunch of white frames. And made my bed. Busy day. hahahahaha

I'm having troubles with my headboard. The paint was seeping thru so my white looked pink. SO I have to do a primer coat first. I think it will look great once I get the headboard up too. Then all I need is lamps the same color (and shades on both) :) and to print out some pictures for the frames.

What do ya think?
And HOPPY Easter! :)