i am so thankful for...

• my family and the fun we have when we are together
  
  
• the fact that my girls have awesome grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles in their life.
• my girls and the way they help me remember the simple pleasures of life (like playing in a pile of fall leaves, or sitting in the doorway just watching the rain come down, dancing to any and all music they hear, laughter, giggles, and snuggles just to name a few).
• our newest addition on the way- girl or boy (we will find out next thursday and I am very excited).
  
• the fact that I am about 1/2 way through this pregnancy and I am finally starting to have relief from the constant "all-day" sickness.
• modern medicine that has helped me have these beautiful children I longed so desperately for.
• my sweet husband and all the hard work he puts forth for our family and the wonderful daddy that he is to our girls.
• the blessing and gift (as well as hard work) it is to stay home with my children.
  
• the opportunity I have had lately to be so very busy doing something I absolutely LOVE.
  
• the freedoms we enjoy in this country.
  
• the great love of my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ
  
• good friends
  
• visits with extended family.
• satsuma mandarin orange season (and the fact that my girls will trade in their lollipops for oranges without a second thought- they really are that good).
• technology- I don't know what I would do without it all- computers, internet, cell phones, or web sites/blogs that can show you how to do or make absolutely anything and everything- LOVE that!
• creature comforts
• cozy sweaters and blankets- and that it has finally been cold enough to need them!
• the blessing of health
• yummy thanksgiving food- especially pumpkin pie!
• and so very much more....
• for this time of year that gives us a moment to pause and reflect on our many blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

(and the beginning of the most wonderful time of the year)

family tree tutorial

A few people have expressed interest in a tutorial on the family tree kit that I made for our Relief Society craft day. So, here it is:

Materials Needed:

1- 16x20 white/off white mat board (with no opening cut in it)... I got mine at the Michael's framing counter. They cut a standard mat board sheet into 4-16x20 pieces. I had to pay $13.99 for the whole sheet, even if I was only wanting one 16x20 piece. So, go in on it with a friend or make 4 yourself to give away as gifts. (Just a side note: the 40% off one regular priced coupon that is often found in their ad works on this, which brings the price down to $8.40 for 4- 16x20 pieces.)

1- 12x12 sheet of dark brown cardstock for the tree

1- 8 1/2 x 11* sheet of cardstock in dark green

1- 8 1/2 x 11* sheet of cardstock in medium green

1- 8 1/2 x 11* sheet of cardstock in light green

1- 8 1/2 x 11* sheet of cardstock in white/off white

*(you may have to cut down 12x12 pieces if you can't find any 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock in the color(s) you want- I had a really hard time finding what I wanted in 8 1/2 x 11 size, but we don't have much of a selection around here)

1- 16x20 frame of your choice (for craft day, I found a really simple dark walnut frame at Walmart of all places for $13.97- it is what I have pictured).

1- tree template- save the photo I have below, then enlarge it to fill the space of a 12x12 sheet of paper and print it out to use as a template. Or, draw a tree free hand with enough branches for your family.

1- large leaf template/ 1- small leaf template- save the photo I have below, enlarge it to fill the space of a sheet of paper, print and use as a template.

glue sticks, glue dots, or your choice of adhesive


*I calculated the total cost for all the materials to make 1 framed family tree to be about $26.00.


Step 1: Make your title plate and print on white/off-white cardstock and then cut it out in a rectangle shape (I created mine in Microsoft Publisher with a large Monogram letter in brown Engravers MT font (160 pt.) and then the family name written over the top in a lighter tan Times New Roman font (36 pt.). You can also add the year the family was established- year of marriage of the intended recipient.
-

Step 2: Trace tree template onto the brown 12x12 sheet of cardstock and cut out.

Step 3: Use left over brown paper to make a rectangle to go behind your title plate

Step 4: Assemble your title plate by gluing the 2 pieces together.

Step 5: Layout and then glue down the tree and the title plate on the 16x20 mat board- making allowances for the frame. (The frame I was working with today would not allow me to do this, but a good tip is to take the glass out of the frame, place the 16x20 mat board in the frame and arrange your pieces with it in the frame, so you know you won't cut anything off and everything will be centered correctly).


Step 6: Print your names onto the green paper using the following instructions:
1. Cut your paper down to 8 ½” x 11” in order to feed it through your printer
2. Open a blank Microsoft Word Document (or other word processing program)
3. Go to File/Page Set-up/Margins and set right and left margins to 0.5” (to maximize paper use)- leave top and bottom margins at 1”
4. Go to Format/Columns and set up 3 columns
5. Begin typing names in the font of your choice (I used Bradley Hand ITC in 9 pt. font)
6. Type name (First Middle Last) and then hit Enter to go to the next line and then type their birth date (00/00/0000)
7. Then hit Enter 5 times before typing the next name and birth date
8. Continue this until you have typed all the entries you want printed on the same color paper
9. Highlight all type and go to Format/Paragraph/Indent and Spacing and choose center alignment to center all your names and birth dates within the column
10. Print

Step 7: Take your leaf templates (large and small) and trace the leaf shapes around your printed names/birth dates trying to center the type within the leaf
Step 8: Cut out leaf shapes and apply to family tree with adhesive in desired layout


Step 9. Repeat Step 6 with the other colors of paper as you choose.
* I did the grandparents (the initial couple) and the grandchildren in the lightest green color, the children of the intial couple in the darkest green, and the spouses of the children in the medium green. That is just how I chose to use the different colors. Also, I cut out most of the names with the large leaf template and chose to only cut out the grandchildren with the smaller.

Step 10. Once you are finished putting all your leaves on, put the glass back in the frame, then the completed tree and close it up. It is done!

This really does make a wonderful Christmas gift for your parents, in-laws, grandparents, etc...

I am also going to be making one for my own family with blank leaves, but has our last name and year of marriage on the title plate. I just love the look of it- the simplicity; but, if I just put my husband, me, and my 2 girls (1 one to be added soon of course) our tree would be quite bare. So, that is my solution. I can always add the names later. Doing it this way would take the same idea and make it into a wonderful wedding gift or Christmas gift for others who do not have large established families.

experience wanted

I recently posted photos that I took for my dear friend Melissa Benson, as seen HERE, as she was getting her dessert catering business up and running. I had so much fun taking the pictures and have received some amazing feedback. So, just as I encouraged Melissa to move ahead and pursue her talent and gift of cooking and baking, she is in turn encouraging me to pursue mine.

I do not consider myself a professional photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but photography is something that I love. I have a good camera (which helps) and I think I have an eye for capturing the joy and beauty in everyday moments. I have had a LOT of practice taking photos of my own girls (I may be a little biased, but I think they make pretty adorable subjects). I have also had a few opportunities lately to get some good practice on friends and their families- SEE HERE. I am looking to get even more practice, if you will, in an effort to further develop this passion of mine. So, I am offering my services at a very reasonable rate... just in time for the holidays!



Here is how it works: for $50 you get an hour long photo session at a location of your choice (I can give you some suggestions), post-editing of images, and 2 CDs (one color and one b&w) of full resolution images to use as you please- print them as much as you want, in whatever sizes you want, from wherever you want (I can suggest a few of my favorite services), post them on your blog, use them for holiday cards, make a photo book as a wonderful gift for family.... the images are YOURS.

Call (805) 459-6719 or email me at melissawhitephotography@gmail.com to schedule your session!

love this

A thanksgiving tree (I found this one at Room Service). A place to write down and display the things you, your family, friends, or whomever walks through your door are grateful for. Collect them and read them on Thanksgiving (READ: my MOST favorite holiday- family, friends, movies, yummy food, crazy games of spoons, just relaxing= heaven) or it would also make a wonderful Family Home Evening lesson.

I have so much to be grateful for, but I am not always perfectly focused on the positive things in life. I LOVE this time of year- from Halloween through the New Year- that helps us to stop and reflect on our abundant blessings. I can't wait to put together my own thanksgiving tree to help me in a visual, quantifiable way to "count my many blessings, and name them one by one."

embarrassed of mom- ALREADY?!

So, I am STILL in my gym clothes right now. I went to the gym THIS MORNING (after a LONG absence- like 3+ months, pretty much since I found out I was pregnant and could not eat or keep anything down. I still am not quite sure what I was thinking. I am feeling a little better, but I have not regained my energy or strength. But, that is all a completely different story).

The fact that I am still in my gym clothes is apparently an embarrassment to my 3 year old daughter. To defend myself, it was just one of those days where I just went from one thing to the next without even a minute to breathe. It all started with a gym class and ended with me dragging along the rest of the day. I had no time for details like getting dressed in REAL clothes or putting on make-up. As we were walking out the door for Avery's dance class this afternoon. The following conversation ensued...

AVERY: Mom, aren't you going to get ready?

ME: I AM ready.

AVERY: But, you have been wearing those clothes ALL DAY. You need to get ready or you can't go to dance class.

ME: This is what I am wearing or else we are going to be late. Let's go... in the car... NOW.

I didn't really think much about it until later, but as I replayed that conversation in my head, I realized a very sad fact. This is only the first time (of MANY I am sure) that my daughter expressed her embarrassment of me- her mom. I get it- I think it is an innate part of the complex mother-daughter relationship, but really.... does it start at 3?!

Evidently, in our house it does! Oh, heaven help me!

WHO is it?!

So, we have been keeping a little secret- well, not really- if I have seen you and talked with you in person, you probably already know, but we have not, until now, made the official "announcement" that we are expecting baby #3 the end of April 2009. When we told Avery that there was a baby in mommy's tummy she looked at me, looked at my belly, then looked back at me and questioned, "WHO is it?" We don't know the answer to that question yet, but we are excited to find out! It is truly a miracle and a blessing after all we went through while dealing fertility issues due to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) to get pregnant with Avery. I am so grateful that through that initial trial and error process (which seemed to take FOREVER) we have found a combo of treatments and medications that help my body to "work" and get pregnant without trouble (both with Finley and with #3). This time around I was on the Glucophage (metformin) for about 6 months before getting pregnant, which seems to be long enough ahead of time that I did not have to suffer a heartbreaking miscarriage before having a viable pregnancy (as I did before both Avery and Finley). At 14 weeks, everything looks good and seems to be right on track.

We had an appointment a week ago and got to see the little one on ultrasound. It looks like a little baby, but no details to report as of yet. We will have the BIG ultrasound the first week of December where the ultimate question will be answered.... BOY or GIRL?! Everyone in Paul's family is of course rooting for a boy are there are 6 granddaughters and 0 grandsons so far. I would of course love to have a boy, but I would also be OK with another little girl.... especially in this financial climate, another girl would most definitely be more cost effective as we have enough girl clothes to clothe a small nation. We shall see! I am excited either way!

I must say that I will be even more excited when the all-day sickness has past. I fear I have scarred my share of children (my own as well as others in public places) as a result. Up until now, things have gone just about the same as they have with the other 2. So, based on that, I still have about 12 more weeks of feeling crummy. I have even tried the "miracle" drug Zofran this time around with no avail. It hasn't really helped with the nausea and as a lovely side effect, I get a massive headache for the 24 hours after taking it. It is a little bit more challenging this time around with 2 little ones under foot and one that no longer naps.... which means, no rest for me either! But, we are all surviving... thanks in part to Noggin- 24 hours of "preschool on TV" at my disposal.

~

Avery is now starting to catch onto things and really "get it" that there is a new baby coming. She believes that it is another sister- I don't know if that is just all she knows, or if she really has a feeling (little ones can be pretty intuitive?!). I was asking her in the car the other day on the way to play with Grandma Lee and Pa (while I went to my OB appointment) what she thought the baby's name should be. To that she replied, "Mom, the baby doesn't have a name yet. I will know her name when I turn 4, but until then, just don't talk to me about it." Well, OK miss sassy pants! Where does she come up with this stuff? She provides constant entertainment- and these days- CONSTANT chatter! Finley on the other hand is completely clueless. She will understand the new harsh reality of it all in about 6 months when the baby is here. She is very much a momma's girl, so it will be interesting.

I love my girls so much. I love being a mom, even though I have moments when want to pull my hair out. I am truly excited to have another one on the way. I do have to say though, the thought of 3 is a little scary. With 2, it works- I have two hands to hold them or tend to them both at the same time when I am by myself, and then when we are all together there are two parents and we usually each take one child for bedtime, eating out, etc... It will be a whole new experience... as was having 2, in the beginning, and even having 1 at first. I think there is an adjustment period with each new addition. Then after a while though, you can't imagine life any other way. We are so excited for this new adventure!

BOO!

Yeah, we don't do scary around here. My girls go running in the opposite direction from anything spooky, gory, or in any way creepy. This morning Finley screamed and ran out the door away from my mom snoring (very loudly) in the front room, ran again when daddy roared the 4-Runner engine to life as he was leaving for work, and hid behind my legs when she saw the dead bride at the bank. So, we keep it tame- princesses and the like.


This year, although my mom had brought both the girls adorable flamenco dancer dresses from Spain (which I thought would have made a fun costume), Avery was INSISTENT that she wanted to be Snow White. We had no choice but to go with it. So, my mom helped me make her a beautiful Snow White ensemble.

Avery also asked that daddy be her prince charming- he couldn't resist her pleadings. I think secretly, he LOVED it!

Finley, by default, ended up as the (most adorable) wicked witch carrying her basket of poison apples around wherever she went (which she was constantly nibbling on).

What was I you ask?! I got a pass. I had fun with my first attempt at making the costumes and they all are enjoying wearing them, which was good enough for me. Avery has gotten good use out of her costume already- Trunk-or-Treat at church on Tuesday, school on Thursday, dress-up to go to the bank this morning, and then she will wear it again tonight to go trick-or-treating. It makes it all worth the effort to see her face light up everytime she puts her costume on. I love Halloween! But as I have found with most things, it is even more fun experiencing it through the eyes of a child.

Now, what to do with all the candy?! We are already running on MAJOR sugar highs and we haven't even done the REAL trick-or-treating yet.

Happy Halloween!

pumpkins from the past (and present)

The bank (where Paul works) has always held a pumpkin carving contest on Halloween. All the employees brings their pumpkin handiwork in to display and then the customers vote for their favorite. It is so much fun to see all the creative ideas come to life. We usually submit a pumpkin- although we can never decide on what we are going to do until the night before at 9 p.m. or so. Agreeing on a pumpkin idea is almost as difficult as deciding on baby names?! Last night was no exception. After we finally decided, we were up carving and decorating into the wee hours. This was not our best work, but it was still fun to do- as it always is (otherwise we wouldn't keep killing ourselves year after year).

Here are a few of our pumpkin creations from past years:

fall, where are you?

The weather has been unseasonably warm lately (80's and 90's everyday)- thanks in part to those good ol' Santa Ana winds. So, even though the girls are in summery skirts, dresses, and sandals, I got some pictures of them with pumpkins at the barn, found the one leaf in the area that was turning a color other than brown, and made a new header out of my fall-like images.It's all I have to hold onto until the weather decides to cooperate and allow me to sip hot apple cider (or hot chocolate- depending on my mood), wear cozy sweaters, and cuddle up in blankets by our wood burning fireplace (that remains clean and unused since the remodel).

Happy Fall!

playing catch up

I don't know where the time has gone- things have been busy and kind of crazy around here. So here is a quick run down to catch up....

1. Paul had a week off- we were supposed to go to Oregon for a Sunriver trip and a home Duck game, but decided our time would be better spent at home getting things done around here (cleaning out the garage, landscaping the front yard, and other house related things). Did any of that get done?! Of course not!

We went to my mom's house in the bay area for a long weekend- went to the temple, played with YaYa and PaPa, visited with friends, and just enjoyed an unrushed visit.

Then we came home to gorgeous weather, so we just ended up playing all week. We went swimming, went to The Barn to pick out our pumpkins, got ice cream every day, and just hung out as a family. It was nice. We stayed busy- Paul went into the bank EVERYDAY since we were here. He just couldn't stay away. Plus, we just did our normal stuff- Avery had preschool, I had Young Women in Excellence on Tuesday, Paul had a softball game. So, the week just flew by, but we had fun.

2. We have our annual craft day at church on Saturday and I am in charge of one of the classes. I put together a family tree kit for the event. I am pleased with how it turned out. It has received a great response, which has meant a lot of work preparing all the kits. I am still short 4 frames after cleaning out every Walmart from the Bay Area to Santa Maria! It has been fun, but I will be relieved when it is over!

3. Our deck is finally done. It is kind of like an extra little room (especially with the weather being as warm as it has been lately). The girls love playing out there, running around, eating at their mini size picnic table and just enjoying the noises of the outdoors (their favorite activity is to sit, listen, and try to guess the sounds they hear- usually airplanes, dogs, chickens, or the horses nearby). We have been enjoying it as well. One more thing on the list down. If we could only get our front (and of course back- but that is on indefinite hold at the moment) landscaping done, maybe it would look like a completed house and our neighbors wouldn't consider us an eye sore any longer! That is next on the never-ending list!

4. We have had the pleasure of having Paul's 90+ year old grandma living here in San Luis at a retirement center for the past few years. It has been neat being able to see her on a regular basis and watching the girls develop a relationship with their great-grandma. Just last weekend however, she moved back down to the L.A. area where she is from, into more of an assisted living situation. We had a big family gathering to send her off. We will miss her, but know that she is happy to be moving back "home" and will have lots of family and friends there to take care of her. She even has another great-granddaughter named Avery down there (Paul's cousin has a little girl named Avery who is 2 months younger than our Avery).

5. I had the privilege of taking some photos of the most adorable baby girl last week for some friends of ours. They are the most beautiful little family and I had so much fun! Thank you Garrett and Becky for letting me into your new little world!

There is still so much to catch up on, but it is all going to have to wait for another time. I still have some work to do on the family tree kits! Always busy!