Photography

I was just going to post these pictures and call them "Jonah's 3 year old pictures," since he will be 3 this week. But I'm going to be honest. A thought came to me this week... I want to start my own photography business. Before you start thinking things like: "she isn't a good enough photographer!," "How can that dirt poor woman afford a nice camera, let alone start her own business?!" etc... I didn't mean right away! It was just a thought and then throughout this past week I've been seeing things (like other young woman like me starting up their own photography business) and the thoughts keep growing. I know I am NO pro! I know I need a way better camera! I know I have a LOT to learn about a business and photography, but I am going to do all those things. I love taking pictures, I love editing them too. So why not make some money?! Maybe by the time I can afford my nice camera and all that other stuff I won't even want to do it anymore...so don't hold me accountable. It really is just a thought and it's for the future! So please don't start judging all of my pictures:)! Remember, I still have to learn all of this. ANYWAY, since it's been on my mind; Jonah turns 3 this week; my kids are cute; and my aunt sent the kids these adorable matching sweaters for Christmas,...I thought I would test out my skills and do a photo shoot today! The boys were good sports! Thank you kids! p.s. the slide show makes the quality of the pictures not so good.

We had a good weekend!

Friday night Rich came home with a dozen roses, a card, and ice cream! It was really sweet! Love him!!!

On Saturday (Valentine's day) Rich worked until 7pm. My sister-in-law, Serenity, came over with her adorable girls. They live in Boise and were down visiting family, so she hung out with me for a few hours. I made cookies and frosting and planned to have the kids help decorate the cookies. I totally thought they would love it, but after decorating and eating one cookie each, they were distracted by each other and ran off to play. So Ren and I sat there and decorated all the cookies ourselves. The kids had lots of fun together. They met when they were babies (back in the good old days when we all lived in St. George), and they have never forgotten each other. We really don't get to see them very often, but Julien and Brecken have a special bond. It's very sweet! This is Serenity (she's a beauty)! And that is baby Taylor (so adorable)!

Yum! I want some more! We already devoured them!
The little buds (Julien and Brecken)!

After she left I made dinner and then Rich came home and we all ate together. After we put the kids to bed we watched "Facing the Giants." It was another good movie!

Sunday, we went to church and Russ, Ren and their girls came to church with us...again, it felt like old times. We were sad when they had to leave early because Brecken wasn't feeling well. But later that night they came back over and hung out with us until midnight. (Thanks guys, that was a lot of driving)! We just talked, watched a little stand up comedy, watched Julien do his Rocky act, and Russ showed off his new Mac! It was awesome and we had fun playing with it! So yep, it was a fun weekend! Thanks for coming Russ and Ren!

Russ was showing us his new Mac. I love Rich's face in this picture...can you tell he is amazed and wants one! One day, babe!

If I had a Mac, this feature right here (above) would be one that would keep us entertained for hours on end.

Review- A MUST SEE!

I'm not a big movie person. I have to really want to see a movie to actually spend money on it or even spend time watching it. This past week, two of my friends, Kelley and Casey, both wrote in their blogs about the movie "Fireproof." I looked up the movie online and it sounded really good and I knew I wanted to see it. I told Rich and he got it for us. We just finished the movie about an hour ago (we've been talking since), and although it's late, I have to write about it. I'm not going to say a whole lot but I do agree with Kelley that it is cheesy acting but it gets better. In fact the story, message, and power of the movie is so strong that it out weighs some of the acting by far. It was a movie for anyone who is married, has been, or wants to be married someday. They did a beautiful and realistic job with this movie. I absolutely LOVED it, and for me, that's a big deal! Rich IS a big movie person so he was willing to see it, but before we watched it thought it was going to be a chick flick....but let me tell you, he loved it too! I could go on and on...I encourage everyone to see it!Recently I read two other books (well one was a book on C.D.) but anyway, they had the same message as this movie did. The first one I read was called, "Leadership and Self Deception." It had the same message but without the gospel perspective, but I would still recommend it, because it is a great book for all relationships, not just marriage.
Just a few weeks later I picked up a book on c.d. that we've had for a long time, but I never listened to it, it's called, "The Peacegiver." As I listened to this one, I kept thinking, this is so much like "Leadership and Self Deception," but in the gospel perspective. This one is more like the Fireproof movie because it is about Christ. It goes deep into the atonement and how -through the atonement, we can change ourselves and in turn improve our marriage (but of course these principles can be applied to any kind of relationship). So if you have seen Fireproof and loved that, you will really love this book too! Thanks for the recommend, Kelley and Casey, We LOVED the movie!

Brothers!

Ok, last post for the day...

I am so thankful I had two boys so that they have a brother! They love each other so much. Don't get me wrong, they wrestle, tease, and fight, but I'd say most of the time, they are the best of friends. I love watching and listening to them play together. So after we did our painting today (see post below), they of course had a bath! Then I got them dressed, and then Julien decided he had a little activity planned. Since Jonah LOVES his big brother so much, he went along with it. Julien drags Jonah in the bathroom and starts combing Jonah's hair! He was saying, "Now, Jonah, hold still, we have to do your hair for Sacrament meeting." Jonah was so cute, just doing whatever his big brother told him to do. "Almost done, Jonah. Now we have to hurry, we don't want to be late for Sacrament."

After he was done with his hair, he took Jonah into the living room, read some scriptures and gave a little talk! Then he took Jonah by the hand and said, "now lets go to your nursery class, Jonah." He then put Jonah in his room and shut the door! lol. I'm so grateful for my little boys. They are so precious and bring me so much joy! One of the sweetest things on earth to me is watching play nicely together.

Painting!

My boys and I love to paint. We usually use watercolors because they are so much easier in every way, but every so often I pull out the acrylic paint and let them go to town, like today. I put them in old t-shirts and plan on giving them a bath afterward..it's always messy! But we do have fun! For Julien, it is so fun to mix colors, but it is more of a serious matter! Jonah is starting to get a little more serious with arts and crafts, but for the most part, he is just a goof the whole time. You can see these two personalities in these pictures!...

No, he is not blinking there (below), this is just a typical Jonah being goofy face! Oh! Mommy caught you being serious! I love that red paint on Jonah's nose! When our boys are concentrating on something, they usually make that face where they stick out their lips!

We had a good messy time and even made daddy some Valentines!

My little "Donut"

My last 2 posts have been about Julien, so now it is Jonah's turn. For the longest time if you asked Jonah what his name was he would say, "Nah-nah." Super cute! Everyday, he is starting to say more and lately he is trying hard to talk. Talking didn't come easy for him. His personality is laid back, so he just takes his time with things. Anyway, recently if you ask Jonah what his name is he will try his hardest to say Jonah, but it sounds to me like "donut." I just love it! Every once in a while it will be a clear "Jonah." So that's my little donut. And here are some cute pictures of him from the past week! Is he getting big or what?!
If you are wondering what he is doing in these pictures, he is playing PBSkids.org..he is deep in thought! There is just something about those squishy soft cheeks that I love, and that cute blank stare.He was getting annoyed at me taking all these pictures ( I took a lot more), so this is his way of saying, "beat it, Mom, I'm busy!" See, is it just crazy how young they can learn to use a computer?!