57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 15 - August 31

DAY 15: A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE

Another topic I've never really given a whole lot of thought to, but as I was thinking about it for this challenge, I decided on something.

I'd like to visit every temple in North America before I die. How's that? I think it's a good thing to try to do before I die.

By the way, the temple pictured is the Winter Quarters Temple in Nebraska - which YAY, I've been to! Check that one off the list...

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 14 - August 30

DAY 14: A PICTURE OF SOMEONE YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE YOUR LIFE WITHOUT

This is an interesting topic. There's a few people I could've chosen, but instead I chose to go with these two:

The reason for this is because I felt the same way when I was pregnant with both of them. At first I was very anxious and wasn't sure that I wanted another kid at the time. It took awhile for me to be happy that I was expecting these two and I DID come around. That's not to say I never wanted them - I just wasn't sure I wanted them at the time THEY chose to come. But now it's worked out the way it should.

Lex is the light and comedic relief I need in my life. The fact that almost ANYTHING and EVERYTHING can bring a smile to this boys face is amazing. He loves life, he loves to be around people and he is so creative and inventive. I really couldn't imagine him not being here.

Ailey is everyone's favorite. She loves her Daddy and I love to see their interactions. She definitely has Daddy wrapped around her finger. She still wants me too. She loves to snuggle when she's tired and she likes to laugh. She is following in her older sisters footsteps and is quite intelligent for her age. She never ceases to amaze me.

AND JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR children that read this years from now - THEY ARE NOT MY FAVORITES - I DON'T HAVE FAVORITES!

What Happens Next...

Metal Works

About a year or so ago when we all went to the dentist as a family - we were told that Tanis would need braces. We kept putting it off and putting it off, but we finally decided we'd better do it sooner rather than later. At this point (if everything goes as it should) he'll have his braces off a couple years before he starts dating. When you realize that's only 4 years away - it's kind of a scary thought.

Anyway, so we went a few weeks ago to get all the pre work done. Measuring the mouth, getting things ready to go, whatever they do. Today was the day for the actual hardware. Tanis had mixed emotions I think. He couldn't stop talking about getting them, but he was also super nervous.

He did a great job. Very little wincing while the girl was putting the braces on and when it came time to choose colors he chose red and blue for the Chicago Cubs. Daddy was proud and I think Grandpa H. will be super proud!

Now that they're on I feel super bad for my kid though. Eric never had braces, I never had braces (though I probably should've) - so neither one of us really knows what to tell the poor kid. We're just hoping he'll adjust quickly and in time kind of forget that they're even there.

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 13 - August 29

DAY 13: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR ARTIST

This question is always hard for me because I don't really have a favorite. Like the band that you absolutely have to have every album they've ever made and what not.

So, I'm just going to go for who I'm really liking right at this moment:

Glee...I'm addicted. Don't quite know why...

Adele's songs are so full of emotion and I feel like they are songs that I could've written.

I admire Reba so much. She's got a great voice and is a great comedienne. It's hard to stay in the music business year after year, but she's managed to do so...

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 12 - August 28

DAY 12: A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU LOVE

This answer is two-fold. Of course, I love my family. But I also love having family pictures taken - much to Eric's dismay. And I'm so happy that I have a friend that can do it for us at a very reasonable cost....Speaking of which - it's about time for another session!

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 11 - August 27

DAY 11: A PICTURE OF SOMETHING YOU HATE

I think this picture speaks for itself!

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 10 - August 26

DAY 10: A PICTURE OF THE PERSON YOU DO THE MOST *MESSED* UP THINGS WITH

So truth be told, I'm not really a crazy, whacky person. I don't really do anything that messed up. The only people I really would've had an answer for this question I've already mentioned - my little sister and Eric. So, then I took a step back and thought about when I was younger. Who did I do the most messed up things with then?

The answer: my older brother, Corby. We are 18 months apart and my mom has some awesome stories to tell about us growing up so closely together. Corby was my best friend for many years and when I was like in 5th grade and he was in 6th someone thought we were boyfriend/girlfriend. HAHAHA!

So here's our years of growing up together:

The caption my mom put with this picture: "Shilo would sit on his back and pound."
Thanks for taking so many lickings from me, bro!

We're both on bikes, in the house...I can only imagine the fun my mom had with us then...If it's anything like my 2 and 4 year old get - yup, I'm getting my payback.

Stealing the limelight on his birthday...

He learned how to take as well - see how he made me his cab driver?

Yeah, we don't look crazy at all...

But through it all we stayed friends. Awww!

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 9 - August 25

DAY 9: A PICTURE OF THE PERSON WHO HAS GOTTEN YOU THROUGH THE MOST

I doubt this answer will come as a shock to anyone...the person who has gotten me through the most is none other than:

That's right, it's Eric. He had to deal with A LOT when we first started dating. My parents unintentionally put me through the ringer as well as putting our relationship to the true test. Most guys wouldn't have stuck around through everything my parents did to the relationship.

Eric has seen me through the unexpected deaths of 2 relatives, countless disappointments, many periods of depression and quite recently he's been the strength that's kept me from falling apart at the seams. Yup, he's gotten me through the most.

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 8 - August 24

DAY 8: A PICTURE THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH

Alright so these are the 3 pictures that came to mind right away....We'll start with the oldest picture first...

--- So Eric likes to be funny when his mom tries to take pictures. He likes to make her crazy. So for this picture he decided he'd stick his tongue out for this kiss. I was going to crop Tanis out of the picture, but then I noticed his face and it totally adds to the laughs! ---

--- We all waited wondering how Ailey would react to getting herself soaking wet. We all braced ourselves for massive tears....we were instead greeted by laughs and a wonderful show of Ailey continuing to drench herself. ---

--- So this isn't so funny by itself, but look what happened first: ---

--- Nate & Ailey were playing Dr. and Mommy was the patient. Nate literally tried to grab my tongue out of my mouth - and I let him....and it hurt (shown above)!!! ---

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 7 - August 23

DAY 7: A PICTURE OF YOUR MOST TREASURED ITEM

I'm afraid this is going to make me look super lame, but whatever. It is what it is...

Here are my 3 most treasured items:

--- It's just a bunch of binders...but not really, they are our scrapbooks. Some are more 'complete' than others, but they are all treasured because they have pictures that can't really be replaced. ---

--- Yup, it's my laptop...It's where I do most of my scrapbooking these days...as well as spend way too much time blogging and FB stalking!!! ---

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 6 - August 22

DAY 6: A PICTURE OF A PERSON YOU'D LOVE TO TRADE PLACES WITH FOR A DAY

I hate this topic when it comes up in any form. I've been thinking about an answer all morning, though. The short answer to this is 'no one'. The grass isn't greener on the other side and no one has it easier than the next guy. The first lines to Selena Gomez's song, Who Says comes to mind and they are: "I wouldn't wanna be anybody else."

But to play nicely with this game, I did think of someone. Her name is Colette Butler, but she's better known as Mommytard in the YouTube world.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily like to TRADE places with her, but I would love to be around her for a day. Her husband decided a few years ago to film his life every day for a year. That has now turned into something very profitable for the family and it's been fun to watch. I don't watch it daily, or even weekly - but probably a few times a month.

So back to Colette....she is the mother of 4 and is married to a wacky guy named Shay. Colette supported Shay with his crazy idea to 'vlog' their family daily and has since started a few channels of her own. She has just always amazed me. She seems very down to earth and super sweet. She is a patient mother and a very loving and supportive wife.

I would love to see how she juggles her time. She goes into a studio to record a few of her channels weekly, yet she still has a household to run and children to get to school and to extracurricular activities. She is a strong member of the church and I love that they aren't afraid to talk about being members and that it shows in the way they live.

So yeah, not that I'd like to trade places with anyone, but I think it'd be an experience to watch from the sidelines and see how things work so well.

If you want to watch the Shaytard vlogs you can do so here. They are all about 30 minutes long, so do so only when you have nothing better to do and hey their kids are pretty cute - if nothing else it's the kids that make their vlog! ;)

What Happens Next...

57 Day Photo Challenge: Day 5 - August 21

DAY 5: A PICTURE OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY

I really like to go overboard on these things. Sorry. It's just who I am....

MEMORY #1

--- Visiting the Mall Santa. This wasn't something we did every year. In fact I don't remember if my Mom ever took us. This picture was when my Grandparents took my older sister and I. We slept over the night before, Grandma did her best to do my hair and we went to the mall. This is actually something I remember without having the picture and it brings such good memories to mind of my maternal grandparents. ---

MEMORY #2

--- Eric and I took a trip the summer after graduation to Seattle, Washington to visit his brother. Eric had planned and his family knew that he was going to propose on top of the Space Needle. I was clueless. He mislead me the night before by saying he didn't even have money to buy a ring.

There was a dance held at the Space Needle that night and so they were doing pictures. We had a 'mock' photo taken, which was a good thing because my actual pictures of the event are really dark... ---

MEMORY #3

--- Wedding Day!!!! ---

MEMORY #4, 5, 6, 7 & 8

--- Becoming a Mommy for the very first time! ---

--- I actually had a GIRL! ---

--- A quick and easy delivery!!! ---

--- The answer to a prayer. ---

--- A most wonderful and happy surprise!!! ---

What Happens Next...