Going Digital

Last year I used my birthday money to buy Photoshop Elements 7.0, but up to now I've only used it mainly in 'guided' mode for some basic photo editing. Over the last week, I've been trying to learn a bit more about how to use all the features.


Ali Edwards at aliedwards.com has some excellent step-by-step tutorials. I tried out one of her 'brushes' (the 'capturing' image) in the photo above, which she made available for free on her web site. I also watched her tutorial on 'layered templates' and I think I may soon enter into the digitial scrabooking space. Turns out there are some great freebie templates out there that make creating layouts a breeze. Check back tomorrow for my first digital scrabook page :)

Lunch du Jour

Weekend lunch usually consists of a grilled cheese for Lauren (her recent fave), and jelly sandwich, chicken nuggets, or pasta for Cole (he's a little trickier b/c of his egg/dairy allergy). Add some fruit, and a wee bit of veggie (always a tough sell), and we're good to go. These kids don't really eat a whole lot....

Meatballs

Tried a new recipe for meatballs from Everyday Food. The recipe is not on the website, but I found it here. It is from a feature on sriracha chili sauce, but since we're not big fans of spicy, I just omitted it. I also omitted the egg whites (due to Cole's allergy), and added some extra bread crumbs instead. I thought the dish was really tasty - liked the combo of ground turkey and pork, and the addition of spinach. Kids weren't all that jazzed, but they're a tough crowd.... And besides forming the meatballs, it was a pretty quick dish - you just broil meatballs in the oven (rotating the pan once), then finish them off in the sauce on the stove.

Swings & Slides

We checked out the playground out our local elementary school. Lauren had fun on the swings.


Cole loved the slides - the bigger the better.


The trip was cut short however, as Lauren announced she had to go the bathroom (despite having just gone about 30 min prior). No one was happy about leaving... But it will provide a good 'remember that time....' example, when anyone (aka Lauren) refuses to use the bathroom before going out :)

Scary

This is Lauren's signature drawing - a monster with numerous arms, legs, and antennae/antennas(?)

Language Explosion

Cole's been working hard on his vocabulary: Mon! (for come on - when he wants us to follow him), moo-sic (for music, to turn on the CD), Lo-Lo (for Lauren), Sis? (for 'What's this?'), See-see! (to show us something), o-gurt (for yogurt). But by far his favorite is 'sure'. Cole, would you like some milk? Sure. Can you get me my shoes? Sure. Shall I change your diaper? Sure. Well, you can imagine our surprise when Lauren asked, 'Cole, can I zip up your footsie PJs?' and he answered 'No way.' Ever since, instead of saying 'no' he says 'no way'....

Sew What?

A few weeks ago, Lauren learned the 'sewing work' at school. She has brought a few of these home so far, and I think soon I'll need her to take over my Christmas Advent calendar project which I fear I will never complete...

Sick

Poor little guy - not feeling well today, ever since nap time. Let's hope it's not this.....

Left Behind

Lauren, this morning at breakfast... 'Mommy, I'm not a crust-eater, but on sandwiches I eat my crusts." Apparently cinnamon toast doesn't make the cut.

Deja Vu

So just like last year, one kid was curious and the other fickle. Hence I got to join in once again. Cole was intrigued by the white felt 'snow' on the floor as well, and rolled around on it for a while prior to the picture.


Too bad I'm the only one smiling :) Again, there's always next year....