W.T.

Malia has always been a picky dresser. 

The things she picks are often PJs.

This day, she wore a shirt from when she was like 1 or 2 years old.

And she said her legs were hot, so this was her outfit.

I was laughing every time I asked thie cutie to put on her real clothes that her mom packed for her. 

But since I couldn't fight it or convince her,

why not embrace the look:)

Are you laughing still at the out take?:)

My Business Idea, feedback please

I need to make some more $. I don't really want to go work full time, although if I could find another job to work the other days AND could find daycare for the kids the other days, then I'd do it under the stipulation that it would only be for "X" many months.
It's a pain to find another job. And I don't really want to put my kids in someone else's hands especially since I hate not knowing exactly what Dylan does the two days he's at preschool as it is. He's wired and moody when he comes home. Sometimes he's happy, but on Monday, he hadn't taken a nap, and everything bothered him and made him cry or yell or both.

SO, Steven thinks that I should stop working on the computer for other people for free. I don't want to do that b/c for one thing, I want to do what I'm doing, and I don't know anybody who has $ right now, well like a small handful. Anyway, to compromise, he thinks I should start a photography business. There's a lot of competition, and I would need to take classes, would need a back up camera, lenses, lighting, back drops, and who knows what else. I'm not a pro, is the bottom line. So the brain storm idea of the week is to be an underwater photographer! I've seen some out there, but not in our area at least. I've seen some really cool shots of babies, and even some romantic kiss ones where the couple both has their regular clothes on.
I don't need to buy back drops or lighting b/c I have a pool and the sunshine! I would want a cute short kid's lifeguard stand to put on my pool deck. Kids stay still easier if they have something to sit on (like Prickly Pete). That way, I can even take some photos on the pool deck. Steven has plans on making our back yard more like Andre's (tropical paradise), so maybe next summer I'll be in business!

So, don't steal my idea.

I think I'll use the little camera that I have at first so I won't have any overhead in the beginning. I won't charge session fees b/c I'm just starting out. I will be honest about everything (w/o selling myself short.) I want to talk to some swimming lesson instructors like the ISR (infants) instructors who work in one location all day long. I'll have designated picture days where I'll capture some of the lesson, then will quickly take some creative underwater portraits. I'll either go back with proofs, or will have an online gallery and they can purchase from there. If they want retakes, we can schedule it in the city pool there, or my pool, or possibly Andre's back yard oasis. I would charge a session fee for that.

I took these a couple of weeks ago of Malia, not trying to be good or anything, and Steven hadn't even thought about the underwater business.

Of my friends: would you pay me to take amazing underwater photos? I do have the facts that I was a lifeguard, WSI certified, first responder certified, EMT certified, Red Cross Babysitter certified:), and am still CPR certified going for me. I don't know any other photographers who know what I know about babies, kids, and pools like how long kids can be under water. I'm rambling now. Anyway, feedback please!

Or do you have another idea for how I can get rich quick:)

For Abbey

Malia and you would be BFFs, come visit, there are pleanty of lizzards to go around!

Steven cleaned the garage on Sat, so the piles of empty diaper boxes are gone and things are organized. We could actually put a car in there if we felt like it I think.

Beginning of April Pool Party (me & 5 kids)

April 2, 2009
I had all 4 kids +1, Noah and Malia's cousin. We had fun while Dylan and Malia napped. Isaac was really into my oven mits. He used them as punching gloves, then would lay down on them like a pillow (with his hands still in them.)

Jaylon got in the pool first. We took full advantage of that waterproof camera. I had him dive down and get the rocks that Isaac had thrown in the pool. The water temp was 86 or something that day.Malia woke up and joined in on the fun.Then Dylan woke up.Isaac still likes to almost fall in.I caught Noah before his head touched the water. Good thing I didn't have to worry about the camara. I was actually talking to Steven on the phone and I yelled and chucked the phone. I wouldn't attempt 4 kids in the pool by myself. Jaylon was my helper.

Impromptu Picnic

Thank you for Babysitting so I could volunteer in the morning, Corrie.

Christmas Craft Day

It got cold last night, so I made sure that we played outside before the cold really hits. It was so nice and sunny today. We put the babies down for their morning nap and painted ornaments.
Isaac woke up of course.

I bought these on sale a long time ago, I think I had planned on doing a craft with babysitting kids, the church youth, or a Sunday School class. For once I'm not teaching the youth at church. I miss them though.

Dylan picked me lots of flowers.

They ate lunch outside.

After lunch, we went in to make cookies. They each made a batch. We had one of sugar cookies and one of gingerbread cookies. They really helped. Dylan cracked the egg into the bowl before I gave him the okay. Most of it went in the bowl and only one piece of shell landed inside. He's good at paying attention.

Then it was time for the older two to take a nap. They both went right to sleep while visions of sugar cookies danced in their heads. The cookies magically cooked and cooled before they woke up. I heard Malia singing "Jingle Bells" on the baby monitor and we went up to get her and Dylan. The babies were excited that I took the gate down from the stairs.

Unfortunately Dylan was wet when he woke up. He needed a bath. Before I knew it, Malia was in there too. So we had a pool party in the tub.

Noah is a little bully. There was no escaping him in that confined space. Dylan was complaining that he was pulling his hair. He pins Isaac all the time. He had ahold of Isaac's cheek earlier. There may be nail marks in Isaac's cheek still. He had Isaac even though I had put Noah up in the stationary jumpy chair because he kept stealing each toy that Isaac was holding. I thought I had crazy kids before, he's so full of fun and craziness.

We should have had bath time after this mess, but oh well. Only Malia's cheeks got messy I think. They did a great job decorating cookies for their daddys.

Malia was double double dipping - two spreaders at a time.

I asked him to bend down and put his face by the cookies. He did:) We were able to give a plate of cookies to our carolers. Good thing we made them!
Dylan was a helper all day. He really wanted to help with the laundry, so he loaded it all by himself.