Archives for May 2011

Whoo… New Camera Love!!!

May 28, 2011 By JulieK

We’re going on a trip… A LONG trip… To places where I need to take great pictures… Grand Canyon, Arches National Park, Sequoia National Park, Yosemite… You get the idea… BUT although I have a dslr that is great and takes wonderful photos (Nikon D70s) I don’t want to lug it around (it’s not small or light) and I also don’t want to have to worry about it… At Christmas time, I got a new point and shoot camera… Super cute, indestructable, waterproof, freeze proof… Seemingly the “perfect” camera for what I wanted… and did I mention it was super cute?? Ummm… yeah, I can’t get a decent picture with that thing to save my life… I’m sure it’s user error, but I even read the manual, and I simply can’t get a decent picture with it…

So, with the big trip looming… I did some research, and decided that I “needed” the Nikon P500… It’s not small, it’s not pocketable, it’s just plain black, and not super cute… But I picked it up yesterday, and I LOVE it already!!! It looks like a mini-dslr… It’s much lighter than the D70s, but has a very similar grip, and I love the Nikon grip… Here’s the first few shots off the camera, no editing at all… It’ also takes video (which I didn’t test yet, we have a Flip, I’m not sure we’ll use this much for video) I did test the panorama, and it came out great, but you don’t really need to see my messy living room in panorama :) You know, the room I *should* be cleaning right now, but am playing with my new camera instead…

We have a TON of Iris coming… Just 3 blooms opened today, but there are seriously hundreds about to pop!!

This is the canopy of our big tree in the back… I zoomed WAY out to get it, and still got a clear shot…

Of course, when you get a new camera, someone needs to pose on the back deck for a pic!

And I even got a decent pic of the pupster… who stays still even less than the kiddos!!

So far… I’m in LOVE with the camera!! I’ll need to get a battery charger ’cause the one it comes with only charges the battery in the camera, and I’ll also need an extra battery for long days in the National Parks.. but, So far, so good!!!

Made for… Thankful Thursday!

May 26, 2011 By JulieK

What a GLORIOUS day!!! So much to be Thankful for!!!

First… I missed Made for Monday!! I actually made something too :) Look at this little card I made for Mia’s birthday party… She’s 1 and just the sweetest!!! I triple cut the butterflies and layered them for dimension… I thought it came out cute…

And now… Thankful for… a stretch (ok, 2 days… but that’s more than we’ve had!!) of beautiful days!!! It is so nice outside!!

We had a wonderful time at little Mia’s birthday party last weekend!!! It’s so wonderful to be able to get together with family and celebrate!! We’re not going to be able to call her “little” for long though, holy cow, She’s getting big!! Kathryn thought she was just wonderful, and had a blast playing with her!!

I picked up my glasses this week!! I don’t think they’ve ever seen anyone so excited to pick up glasses!! I can SEE clearly!! It’s taking some getting used to because they are progressive, and it’s a little tricky to find the “clear” spot, depending on what you’re looking at, but I’ve been psyched to not have to squint so much :) fewer fine lines and wrinkles :) I think they’re cute, and have worn them all day at school the last couple of days… I haven’t been driving with them on yet though, I’m still getting lots of “wishy washy” stuff at the bottom of my vision…

Just got home from Kohl’s and getting the kids some summery clothes, Sean didn’t have a single pair of shorts that fit him… Of course, I had a coupon, and saved more than I spent (does anyone ever go to Kohl’s without a coupon?? I know I never do…)

I’m also thankful that Mike is going to need to go to CA for work, ’cause we’re going with him!!! I’ve never been, and am so excited to see everything out there!!!

The kiddos are going to have a sleepover party this weekend with Meema and Auntie!!! Just one night, but it’s a night off :) They’ll have a blast, they always do :)

You may be wondering… What’s that crazy girl doing about her Theology Degree decision?? Well… For the moment, I’ve decided to take some continuing education type courses and try to ease into it a bit… I’m already signed up for a class that starts in June… It’s through the University of Notre Dame’s STEP program (Satellite Theological Education Program)… I figure it can’t hurt to know something before I jump into things, it’s not hugely expensive, and I’m *just kinda* OCD, so this may satisfy my OCness :) and if I win the lottery and discover I can actually afford the $500 a credit for the program I want to get into, then at least I’ll actually know something going in…

I hope the weather stays nice… And that everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!

Thankful Thursday!

May 19, 2011 By JulieK

***I’m interrupting this Thankful Thursday post with a happy reminder that I’m teaching at a breast cancer fundraiser next week… Wednesday, May 25th at Wilmington Middle School… Cards for the Cure is a wonderful workshop where we’ll be making a beautiful box and matching card set… ALL proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen 3-day walk that my friend Ryan is doing… See all the DETAILS HERE and the pictures of the project can be found HERE… let me know if you’re interested!! OK… back to your regularly scheduled post :) ***

Happy, Happy Thursday!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful week… I have to say, this weather is simply depressing… Rain, Rain, MORE Rain… Blech!! I am ready for some sunshine (which we *might* get on Sunday…) But, this isn’t “Complain about the weather Thursday” So, here’s what I’m thankful for this week… AND… being on the 3rd floor of a rather large building without A/C and with 23 or so school days left… I SHOULD be thankful that it’s not sweltering yet :)

I’m so looking forward to Saturday, and spending the afternoon with little Mia celebrating her first birthday!!! First, she’s just about the cutest child EVER (aside from my own of course :)… And, second, we get to see her wonderful Mom and Dad (Mike’s cousins) and his other cousins too, who I just love dearly and wish they lived closer!!! That is going to be a fun family-filled day!

I’m getting glasses! I know that most people are not thankful for that, but honestly, being able to see clearly is going to be *awesome* (sung in a sing-songy voice, as all “awesomes” should be :) AND I was talking about it to our school resource officer this morning… and he said “You usually don’t have to worry about that til you’re 40” OMG, I laughed right out loud and told him he made my day :) He says he seriously is surprised that I’m 42… and I’m choosing to believe him ’cause it made my day (and he has NO qualms about saying whatever he actually thinks! :)

Seeing your projects on manufacturer websites just never gets old :) I have a project uploaded to the Creative Memories Project Center… Those Farm Stickers are so cute, and I just love everything about the “Rugged” line of papers…

I think the last thing for the week… And, although my dear husband hasn’t been convinced yet… I’m looking into a Master’s in Theology… or maybe a certificate program of some sort… I’ve found some great online programs, but haven’t really narrowed it down too much yet, because many of them have some sort of on campus requirement… or are simply too expensive… the question from my somewhat more practical (not for himself) husband is “What good is that?” meaning that I certainly won’t get paid more in my public school job for that :) BUT I find it interesting, and fascinating… and want to know more about it… and Knowledge is Power :) right?? Anyway, we’ll see…

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

Let’s Go Fly A Kite…

May 13, 2011 By JulieK

Up to the highest height…

Here’s photos from our Kite outing on Mother’s Day… We were at Hampton State Park, the beach area just before you get to the main beach… It was gusty, but those kites really did fly!!! We saw the “Kite Guy” there, flying his kites (MUCH bigger than our little kites :) which was funny!!!

Getting ready to let them fly…

I know this one’s blurry… but it makes me smile anyway…

Kathryn and her kite…

Sean and his kite… no, you’re not seeing double… same exact kites, but the kids’ know which is which :)

Miss Happy Go Lucky! ‘eh, my kite’s up there somewhere…

Mr. Serious… If I take my eyes off it, it will fall…

I think this is my favorite photo of the day… I never get Mike with an actual smile!

Kiddos at Fort McClary

Happy Friday!! Looking forward to the weekend!!!

Thankful Thursday

May 12, 2011 By JulieK

It’s still Thursday, right? :) So much to be Thankful for this week!! Just got home from teaching at Ink About It in Westford… My core group of ladies in class tonight, a quick project, but they seemed to like it!! And, had plans to make more like it!! Yeah!! Plus, we picked the papers for the next book (Echo Park!! Can’t wait to get started on that one!!). Linda is so sweet, and lets me make whatever I want!! I’m excited to work with some really fun bright papers for this next book! They are so professional there, and I always have everything I need for class! Plus, they have a TON of new stuff in, I got some fun new things and lots of ideas of things I want to make… If only there were more hours for crafting!

This past weekend was Mother’s Day, and man, my hubby and kiddos really out-did themselves!! Mike took the kids out (I had crop on Saturday, that must be when he did it)… He had them each make me a Mother’s Day Mug, they are so cute!! And hand colored by the kids… and each also got me a gift card (in the mugs) one for Michaels and one for ITunes… And, the kids made me a card too… So, when I got up Sunday morning, they gave me the beautiful mugs… then we went to Charlie’s Diner (in Lawrence) for breakfast (yummy)… Headed to Hampton State Park for the kids to fly their new kites (actually saw the “kite guy” that we bought the kites from at the beach flying kites!! Pretty funny!!)… Drove up through Hampton and on to Portsmouth where we walked around all the little shops and then had lunch at the Brewery… Headed north to Kittery to go to Yummies Candy Store… THEN drove down through Kittery Point and along the water with a stop at Fort Mc-Something (I have to look and update, I can’t remember the name)… UPDATE: Fort McClary That’s where we stopped on the way home :)

By the time we got home it was pretty late, but we had a WONDERFUL relaxing family day… We haven’t had time for a wandering day like that in a long time, there’s always something that we need to go to, or be at, or get from… So, it was a really great day of just meandering!! Best Mother’s Day Ever :) The only down-side was that we didn’t plan ahead and got home late, so we didn’t see either of our own Mothers on Mother’s Day, but I have a little something that I made for each of them… Just can’t post pictures of what I made ’til I get it to them :)

Oh, and a little Kathryn story for this week… Keep in mind, this was a CRAZY busy week… Card Club Tuesday night, Cub Scout Banquet Wednesday night, my Zutter class tonight… Something almost every night… In between, we still managed to go to the grocery store… Here’s how the conversation went on the way home from the grocery store beginning of the week…

Kathryn: “Mom, when I grow up, I’m going to live in New York and work at Happy Burger. But, I hate that place, I’m going to pack my lunch.”

(a little back story… 2 Christmas vacations ago, we went to NYC for a mini-vacation… and one evening, walked a couple of blocks to eat dinner at “Good Burger”… Apparently, she hates that place :) And, I didn’t have the heart to tell her, if she works at “Happy Burger” she won’t be able to afford to live in the city :) She’ll figure that one out on her own :)

Have a wonderful week!!!