Photo Editing

I actually enjoy sitting down and editing photos.  My dad also just gave me a newer Photoshop elements and I can take group pictures, and combined them into one...

 In this picture Dave has his eyes closed.

 

In this one my mom is looking away.

 

 So I combined them to make the picture above.  Fun!

 

 I didn't really like Dave's face in this picture.

 

 And I didn't really like Tanner's in this one, although I liked me, but because our faces are too close, I couldn't change just him.

 

 So I combined the 2 pictures.  I took Dave and JJ from the second picture and put them in the first.

In order for this to work, the background has to be the same and the camera has to be held in relatively the same position and the people need to be in about the same spot.  If Dave and I switched holding kids, it wouldn't work.

 

 Here is the original picture of Carolynn and Katelynn.  Notice the braces?

 

 I took the braces off and cleaned up her face a little.  What do you think?

 

 Here is the original (above)

 

Here I cleaned up his face.  (I often do it to mine, or the boys.)

 

 Here is the original, see the pictures on the mantel?  After the fact I decided they shouldn't be there.

 

So I took them off and took the numbers off of Trevor's shirt.  What do you think?

Another I Spy Quilt

We did a gift exchange this year with the little kids (cousins) on my side of the family.  We had Jordan and Brianna.  My sister in-law had asked for an "I Spy" quilt for Brianna.

I have all the squares cut, because I have done at least 5 already, most likely more, but I've lost count.  So when I was cutting squares for like the 3rd one I decided to just cut up a whole bunch of squares.  I only buy about 1/4 yard because all I need to cut is a 4" square.  When I first started I had bought fabric that had to be "fussy" cut, I don't do that too much anymore, because that takes too much time.  I also bought some flannel  fabric because a lot of the baby prints are flannel.  Well, after washing Jayden's I Spy quilt several times, I decided to not buy flannel anymore.  I don't like how "pilly" it gets.  But I will use up what I have, there are 144 different squares, if I didn't have the flannel there would be a lot less squares.  Also the very first one, or maybe it was the second one, that I made was for a friend and I put family pictures in it.  I think for that particular one I just used the iron on stuff, but I now have the printable fabric.  However, washing that and it being folded up and what not... the pictures don't really last, so I don't do that anymore.  It's all a learning process, you learn as you go.  So I just thought I'd share what I know with you.

So I threw one together for my niece Brianna.

 Don't look too close because there are a lot of mistakes, I was really hurrying to get it done.

 

 I like to use this really soft stuff on the backs of my quilts.

Jayden's Christmas Craft

Every year I like to do a craft with Jayden, for him to give to all the adults that we'll see on Christmas.  For now I just buy kits.  This year I found some cute snowmen and snow-women.  Jayden was so good at helping this year!  Last year he lost interest real fast, but this year he stayed the whole time and did them.  He did 8 with me and then 8 with Dave.

 

Here he is with the 8 that he did with me. Didn't he do great!!!?

Cookies

Here are the cookie plates we took to our neighbors this year...

 There are chocolate chip cookies with Christmas M&M's in them, oatmeal raisin, snicker doodles, chocolate crinkles, forgotten cookies and candy cane cookies.

 

This is the tray Dave took into work.  

More Christmas Crafts

 I took the hand print Santa card (found on familyfun.com) and turned it into an ornament for Jayden, Tanner, Carolynn and Ben

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shirts for the Marathon

So I believe it was on Wed. that I decided to make T-Shirts to cheer the guys on during the marathon.  I wanted to keep it a surprise.  So that night I took JJ with me and we bought a shirt for Tanner and myself (I already had one for JJ).  We then stopped at Liz's to pick up a shirt for her, it's not unusual that we were out that way and JJ wanted to see Damean, so Dave wouldn't think anything was up.  When Dave went to his meeting that night I washed mine and Tanner's shirt and painted the front of Liz's and Jayden's shirt. And I hid them in Tanner's room to dry so Dave wouldn't see them.

They don't get their numbers until they picked up their packets, which Ralph and Andrew were doing Friday morning.  So I left the spot for the number blank until I knew what it was.

I printed it out and then traced it onto the shirt.  The boys shirts I could see through but the others it was a little hard.  So I made my own light board... I used a glass cutting board and taped the paper to it.  I took Jaydens lamp and took the shade off of it and put it on the floor.  I spread my legs with the cutting board on them and the light underneath, and traced.  If it was day light and warm out side I would have opened the window, pulled it out like I do when cleaning them and used that as a light board.

The front of Jayden's and Tanner's both said "That's my daddy #3361"

The front of mine said "That's my man #3361"

The front of Liz's said "That's my dad #3362" (we were afraid if it said "daddy" people may think it's the daddy of the baby in her belly, so we decided on "dad").

On Thursday morning before preschool I painted (yes, I used fabric paint and painted it with a brush) the back of mine and Tanner's and the back of Jayden's and Liz's and did Jayden's hand print.  The hand print is supposed to be like a hi five. I decided then that I would go to AC Moore and buy 4 more shirts that anyone could wear, I knew Becky might change her mind and want to wear one and her sister, niece and parents might wear one too.  And if they didn't we could hold it up like a banner.  I washed those while JJ was still in preschool.  You can read those four on the right of the picture below...

  This is the back of Jayden's shirt...

This is the back of Tanner's shirt...

  

 Then I think it was Thursday afternoon that I did the back of mine and Tanner's shirt and the front of the other 4 shirts.  And I hid them in drawers in our bedroom to lay flat to dry.  I used drawers that we don't normally use this time of year.  And two of the drawers where in Tanner's dresser that I know Dave never goes in.  I also put some in the top of some storage bins where I have the clothes the boys had out grown.

Around 1 p.m. on Friday Andrew texted me with their numbers.  So I quickly painted it on the front of my shirt, the boy's and Liz's shirt.  Dave was getting off of work at 2:30 and the paint says to lay flat to dry for 4 hours.  I had to have these dry and folded up in the bottom of my bag before Dave got home.  So I held a hair dryer on them for 20 minutes.  They seemed pretty dry after that so I just put them in the living room under the ceiling fan until I had to pack them.  I was watching Ben and Carolynn and Ben had walked into the room where the shirts were and JJ immediately said "Don't go in their, those are my Daddy's racing shirts!  You can't ruin his racing shirts!"  It was so cute!

 

 I knew I wouldn't have time to paint the numbers on the back of Liz's shirt, the back says "and my brothers, #3360, #3361."  So when Dave thought he was going to sleep with his parents so our boys didn't wake him up, I quickly used a fabric marker to write them on.  Then I moved her shirt to the closet shelf to dry and a couple minutes later Dave came up and decided to sleep with me and take the chance of the boys waking him up.  I was glad I moved it so he couldn't see it.

I had told Dave the boys and I were going to wear red to match him.  I had their red shirts laid out and and had my on when he left to get Andrew and Ralph so I could get a picture before they left.  Then I decided he would be looking for a group in red and decided to put my shirt on and show him.  So he knew what to look for.  He liked it but only got to read the front.  He didn't see the back until after the race.

While I was waiting for him around mile 13 one of the runners yelled "I'm your man!"  It was pretty funny.  I got a lot of compliments on the shirts and one lady asked where I got them.  I'm grateful for the compliments, it made me feel good.  But I'm really glad the guys like them! 

Jayden was the most excited about wearing the shirt!  After I get it washed I think he's going to wear it to preschool.

Another Handout Online

Yea!!! I made another handout that is now on Sugar Doodle! I couldn't believe that no one had already outlined this and had a hand out. So I made one. I wanted my girls to have it. And the best part was that when I handed it out the were all like "wow, this is pretty." So I was excited because I put it together.

Becky's Table Runner

I finished the table runner I made for Becky's birthday. There are lots of mistakes in it and I am very sorry. I really wanted to get it finished so I didn't take the time to rip seams out and re-do it. And I was hurrying.

I was originally planning on using the green that is in the middle for the binding. I measured it and thought I might not have enough or I might be very close. Usually I have tons left over so I thought I'd just go for it. I had half of sewn on when I realized that I didn't have enough. I bought the fabric so long ago that I couldn't buy anymore. So I had to rip it all off and start again.

The tulip is from a pattern that I did before, for Carolynn's quilt. I added the leaves and arranged it different from the pattern I did for Carolynn. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to put it all together and so I actually have another set of the tulips minus the leaves. This is the first one I did that I didn't draw it out. I had an idea in my head.

Here's the one I made for Carolynn...

Zucchini Muffins

I made some yummy Zucchini muffins with zucchini from Ralph and Becky's garden and I wanted to share the recipe with you. Here it is straight from the website...

Zucchini Muffins Recipe

For those of you who prefer to use oil over butter, be my guest (use 1 cup vegetable oil instead of the butter) but I have to tell you, I've made these both ways, and the butter version just tastes better.

Ingredients

• 3 cups grated fresh zucchini
• 2/3 cup melted unsalted butter
• 1 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• Pinch salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup walnuts (optional)
• 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)

Method

You don't need a mixer for this recipe.

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in the grated zucchini and then the melted butter. Sprinkle baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add these dry ingredients to the zucchini mixture. Fold in the walnuts and dried raisins or cranberries if using.

2 Coat each muffin cup in your muffin pan with a little butter or vegetable oil spray. Use a spoon to distribute the muffin dough equally among the cups, filling the cups up completely. Bake on the middle rack until muffins are golden brown, and the top of the muffins bounce back when you press on them, about 25 to 30 minutes. Test with a long toothpick or a thin bamboo skewer to make sure the center of the muffins are done. Set on wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from the tin let cool another 20 minutes.

Note, if you are including walnuts and dried fruit, you will likely have more batter than is needed for 12 muffins. I got about 14 muffins from this batch, and that included filling the muffin cups up as far as they could possibly go (above the surface of the muffin tin).

I didn't put nuts or raisins in it, instead I put chocolate chips. I doubled the recipe and put it in cupcake wrappers. I used a whole bag of chocolate chips since I doubled it. I got 45 cupcakes out of it. I thought they were very yummy. Below is Tanner enjoying a muffin...

Last week I attempted Zucchini bread and after it baked as long as it said I took it out and when I went to dump it on the cooling rack the top came out and pool of goo was in the middle. I quickly put the top back on and put it back in the oven. I had planned on giving it to the Disney's (a couple in our church who moved a couple miles away from us) but then I decided not to since it wasn't so pretty. I actually ate it and it tasted good to me, but I decided not to use that recipe again.

So we took them a plate of the muffins last night, they were much prettier and tasted yummy!

Published Again!

YAY! Another one of my little things for my lesson is on Sugar Doodle! It's so fun to have your name published on a website that is well used by millions of Young Women Teachers!!!!
Too bad it's all I can come up with. I would love to come up with my own cute little demonstration or something. For instance, this past Sunday I took a can of oranges in to class that I took a green bean label and glued to the outside so the girls thought it was green beans. I asked them if they would like to eat some with me and of course they did not. But once Teressa opened the can and poured out the sweet contents they all wanted some. The point was that sometimes people and things are missed labeled and there really could be something sweet inside that is worth getting to know and enjoy. It wasn't my idea I found it on the internet, but I wish I could come up with ideas like that. So maybe one day.
Here is the book mark I made for my girls...

http://www.sugardoodle.net/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4852

The best part of my lesson was when I asked "what would you say to a less active girl that you invited to class with you and she replied that she didn't like class?" and sweet little Julia Bruchez said "I'd tell her that we have the best teacher ever!" with a huge smile on her face.

Fun with Sparklers

This is Dave's cousin, Lori Zaspel and her boyfriend, Kevin...

Below is Rhett Robinson...

This is Dave's cousin Anna Staus...

Yay, JJ is holding the sparkler... (he fell asleep before we started doing these so Dave woke him up)

Below is Kevin (Dave's cousins boyfriend), Dave's Aunt Alverna and her son Paul Zaspel.

Austin Robinson...

Mike and Carolynn Robinson...

Dave's Uncle Kurt Staus was the official "Sparkler lighter"

Trevor Robinson...

After the sparklers the Robinson boys lit some fireworks in the driveway. Tanner is scared of the big fireworks and the little ones. It was so cute! He just wrapped his little arms around my neck as tight as he could. Every now and then he would turn and look and then quickly turn back around and hug me. I loved it! I loved the big Tanner hug!!! Then I passed him off to Becky so she could enjoy the big Tanner hug and because I was getting uncomfortable and wanted to stand.