Duped!

The pics today are from two days ago. Unfortunately I was indisposed with a GI virus the last 36 hours and spent nearly all of it in bed. Thankfully, Martin stayed home to care for the girls. Today, I am back on the prowl and feeling much better.

Monday mornings our neighborhood has morning coffee and goodies at the clubhouse for anyone who would like to visit and spend time getting to know their neighbors. Unfortunately, we found out that coffee time was canceled until after the holidays, so we shall have to wait a few weeks to try again. Since the weather was so gorgeous, and Martin decided to go to the office and work, the girls and I went for a long walk.

Fascinated with the tractor

Quinn, going her own pace.


While we were at the clubhouse I spied Martin showing Quinn something on the side of a house. When I later inquired he said it was an owl. WOW! I had to get a picture. As I ran over I heard Martin saying..."You don't have to hurry it will still be there." I thought "How can he be so sure it won't fly away?!" As I took a closer look I noticed something strange...do you see it? Needless to say, I felt pretty stupid running across the neighborhood in stealth mode trying to get a good picture (-:







In the evening our neighbor with her two daughters came over with some goodies for the girls. My girls are completely taken with the big girls!



Bubbles!



Whoever said having an entry way that extends the entire length of your house is a waste of space is sorely wrong. I don't know what we would do without our runway. If things keep going the way they have been we are going to have to re-varnish soon!

Adoption Day

Tomorrow is National Adoption Day here in the U.S. This video brings tears to my eyes when I think that my precious little girls could have been lost in this world. Thankfully, the Lord knew we needed them as much as they needed us.



It also makes me wonder how many more I can convince Martin to adopt. Yes, My Love, I am speaking about you! I know you check my blog (-:

On the Mend

Our whole family has been sick with colds this week. YUCK! While I was not thrilled at the beginning of the week that we all got it together, I am super glad this didn't have to drag out for weeks. Thankfully, we all seem to be over the hump and seeing the light.

Yesterday, we received a box filled with Persimmons from Grandma and Grandpa. We LOVE LOVE LOVE Persimmons so this is an extra special treat. Thank you MUCH!






Since I had to go to the hospital to pick-up a book I need for a class tomorrow morning we decided to make it a little outing. We have been cooped up since Monday, so it was nice getting out. The girls ran to the car when they hit the fresh air! We stopped at Jamba Juice for some yummy fruit smoothies and then I took the girls to stay with Martin at the church office since they are not currently allowed into the hospital.





Another day done. Project Runway Finale tonight...YAY!

Bonus picture--Playpen Wrestlemania (-:

Four Eyes

Anyone with multiple toddlers knows it is a near miraculous feat to get a picture with both looking at the camera, let alone smiling and eyes open. On my way out to the ladies Bible study this morning I snapped a couple shots of the girls waiting for me to load them into the car.

This is my all-time favorite...maybe ever.



I love how close they are in this one and both looking at the camera!



After the study, a friend and I picked up lunch and headed to OSU for the free musical performance they have every Thursday. Today was the male and female chorale. It was beautiful and the girls were really well behaved, even after missing their nap. Yay girls! After the concert the girls got to play in the puddles as we socialized and ate up time that was left in our parking meter. They didn't mind in the least.



Love the toes!



Playing Peek-a-boo

"Where's Ella?"



"There's Ella!!!"



Quinn was trying to participate in the game but she hand one hand full of food.



For some reason this kid loves to sit in things...



So, it looks like I will keep the second camera, at least for now(-; I am hoping to eventually get a nice lens, that should resolve the softness of the photos, but all in good time. Martin has an indoor soccer game tonight and I am off to do something brainless. Night All (-:

First day-take two

...with my second new camera. Yes, I exchanged the first one and after taking about 100 photos today I can say I am not impressed, even a bit disappointed with the outcome. Granted I am not photographer but I wasn't with the first camera either. Out of 100 shots at least 1/2 were blurry and soft. With the previous camera I only took about 30-40 pics and only 1 or 2 came out blurry. The first camera had some major delays with rapid continuous single shots, which drove me crazy and it only records 5 mins of video, but the shots were clear. The second camera takes consecutive shots with no problem and shoots 18 minutes of video time but the pictures tend to be soft and unpredictable (also a complaint I read about online). I really don't know what to do. Uggggh...I am so confused! Anyways, here are some of the better shots from today.


How can one not enjoy this face from across the breakfast table!

Imitating me while I was on the phone with Grandma

Ella loves to dip!





Quinn was a little under the weather this morning since she had shots yesterday.

A little blurry but they are both looking at the camera...SUCCESS!!





Just Heavenly!


Warm milk and graham crackers after a long walk

First day

...with my new camera! More details about this to come in a later post.
All the photos posted here are SOOC (straight out of camera)--no editing, no croping, etc...love it!

Seems Ella was my primary guinea pig for the day. Watch out tommorow Quinn.

My little Ella doll




Yes. She is Puuuuuushing (-: I tell ya, I'm gonna capture EVERY moment in this house! Watch out family (-;

Not happy Momma is intruding in her private moment...

A little trauma in the life of a young child (FYI: Not related to the above pics)



And one of Miss Quinn, so she is not completely left out

Even the cat got practiced on! This is my very first picture with the new camera.

Stepping Stones

Of our two girls, Ella is definitely the more determined. She tries so hard to be independent and do things herself. Today, while eating bean soup, she picked up the spoon and insisted on feeding herself. Martin occasionally helped her get the food on the spoon, but she managed to get the food in her mouth every time without spilling. GO ELLA!! Maybe now we can teach them not to make such a mess at every meal!

Oh Yeah...and in the background you can hear Quinn saying her new favorite word "nnnnnnnnnNO" as taught her by Martin. He was actually quite pleased she picked this up from him....somehow I am not surprised (-:



This afternoon I got my Christmas shopping done for Germany. Maybe for once my package will make it by Christmas Eve. Afterwards, Martin met us and we took the girls to Jamba Juice. Overall, it was a pretty uneventful day but at least we got some things checked off our "to do list."