Day 18 - The Next American Idol?

The most adorable cuteness totally trumps the terrible dark and grainy recording of Olivia's rendition of the ABC song. You'll notice she doesn't quite know how to end the song. The part where you are supposed to sing, "now I know my ABC's etc..." she just starts it over again and throws in a big cheer to end it.

Am I gushing? Nah, didn't think so....

In case you don't understand her speech, she gets distracted at first by the light on my recorder, and points it out, but then finds it within herself to perform.

Note, the pajamas, Easter hat and Tutu she is accessorizing with, is a common occurance in our home. She loves to dress up, and dance around.

Next American Idol? Possibly... or perhaps a contestant on Project Runway?

Here she is, 22 months old.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Home Sweet Indianapolis

It's not often that I have anyone to plug my midwest home to, and brag about the array of things there are to do here - except of course, those friends and relatives that still have not come to visit me from the East Coast. I know sometimes we get thrown into the stereotypical midwest/corn/soybeans/basketball/boring category - but really, that's not what the Crossroads of America is all about.... like the title of my blog says, there is really more than just corn in Indiana...

Recently, a couple of guys that work for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association won a national "Telly" award for a music video they created about the city of Indianapolis. It features the music of Indiana native and music star Jon McLaughlin, singing his hit For You From Me.

It's a pretty cool video highlighting some of the great things to see and do right here in the city - check it out below - remember to turn up your sound!

Random Thoughts

Time flies - it's hard to believe that my last entry here was nearly 2 weeks ago! I have several random thoughts that I will post about today. The fist being a big "YAY!" because spring has indeed arrived. We have had some days in the 80's, which I didn't particularly like because that's too warm too fast. I don't enjoy when the weather goes from winter to summer with only a mere nod at a spring day here and there. But we have had quite a few nice days. "Nice" is a relative term depending on whom you talk to. "Nice" to me is above 50ish, but below 72. I would like months and months of this sort of weather!

Anyway, it's been warm enough for the trees to bloom and yard work to start. Mother Nature is giving us a treat this year with all these beautiful days! Pretty soon, she'll be stirring her pot and the spring storms with tornados will start to arrive. But for now, a big YAY! We have been thinking about ripping out some bushes out front and replacing them with something different. I pulled out a few already and am eager to get some splashes of color planted with some annuals. I have received some awesome plant suggestions from my Aunt Mary, because she rocks and would probably win at Plant Jeopardy if there was such a game. I do not have a green thumb, but I like to give myself an A+ for effort. In my mind I am a Master Gardener (my mother-in-law actually holds this earned title!) that can choose the right plants and kill nothing. In reality, I usually overspend on plants and flowers because I like how they look in the nursery, but they don't like the areas I put them in (um, shade plants really don't like the sun. Really.) I think I'm getting a little better though, so I wouldn't necessarily give myself a D or an F grade anymore. I read the little plastic labels and actually take into consideration that something needs full sun, or shade. Our house faces north, so sun in front is limited, yet my backyard gets no reprieve from the sweltering star. So, my mind has big plans and ideas. I just need to take one step at a time and do it right.

We did mulch around the house and plant 7 Arborvitae shrubs/trees around our deck last weekend. We will keep them trimmed to not grow above the deck rails unless we change our minds and want more privacy. But since the kids are still little, we want to be able to keep watchful eyes on them without having to look through the trees to see them play. We have a really pretty tree in the front of the house that blooms this time of year. Then it drops annoying little cherry-type berries. I wish it would stay this beautiful all year though...whatever it is! ("fruitless" crabapple tree from what I could find) And lastly, I couldn't post without including a couple shots of the kids. Olivia has learned how to make a fish face which makes me laugh so hard when she does it because it's unbelievably cute! Here are a couple pictures and a short video clip.




(click the arrow to PLAY)


Then, my handsome guy doing something I don't normally catch on film - sitting still! He looked so content looking at his year book, curled up in the chair the other day that I had to snap one shot before he took off running somewhere.

One Year!

Happy 1st Birthday Olivia!

Here's a letter I wrote for Olivia's baby book to remember her first birthday. You can click on the image to read it.... I've also made a video montage to music celebrating her first year ...




Here's the video set to music!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Winter fun! Pictures & Video Clip

Since there's not too much going on other than getting Christmas shopping done and fretting about Luminary Night that was supposed to happen in my neighborhood tonight (postponed because of rain), I thought I'd post some pictures of Carter enjoying our freshly fallen snow and a cute video of Olivia's new tricks!

As always, click photos to enlarge!
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The view into the back yard trees looked so pretty after the snow fell...

Carter preparing to create his work of art...

Here we have the quintessential snow angel art! He couldn't wait to stamp one into the ground....

Tada!

And before the rain began to wash it all away, we had to build our first snowman of 2007!

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And here's my sweet Olivia - this video contains 2 parts - the first is her kissing the pictures in her favorite book. The second part of it is her showing off her new trick of shaking her head "No No" and giggling! Enjoy! Just an FYI, she's not said "Mama" yet (sure, she'll point to me if you ask her where Mama is), but she can already tell me "no"... what's up with that?


Olivia kissing pictures 12/9/07

Day 30 - Toothfairy is fired

Before I get into my blog topic of today, I wanted to take a minute to say THANK YOU to everyone that made my blog a part of their day - or at least for a moment in their busy lives - during the month of November. It was a lot of fun to come here and have a place to vent, cheer or just plain blather about things. Thanks so much for the comments both public and private - I love hearing what you have to say and you make me laugh. It's fun to commiserate the mundane together! I'm not done blogging, I hope to continue regularly, so check back often. It's easy to "subscribe" to the blog and you can get an email alert when there's been an update. Thanks again for sticking with me! Now, on to business!

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The Tooth fairy is fired. She's been slacking on the job, and forgot to fly her way into sweet Carter's room last night and snatch his tooth from under his pillow. Luckily, this is not his very first tooth, it's his '#6' as he calls it. Nonetheless, I woke to a very disgruntled little boy this morning at 6:15, informing me that the Tooth fairy did not come yet. It took mere seconds to come up with an explanation - I was on my toes, and lucked out! Yesterday, he was walking around with his new possession and I kept reminding him that his tooth matched the color of the carpet, and we'd never find it if he dropped it. Well, he dropped it. Thankfully, we found it quickly. But after that, we put it into a ziplock baggie. Well, that is not how the tooth fairy likes it. She likes it in a neat little envelope, addressed to her (she can read, you know) and what number tooth it is. I quickly explained that we will have to put the tooth in an envelope tonight, instead of the baggie. Whew... close one. He bought it hook, line and sinker!

So, tonight the tooth fairy has been put on notice. Let's see if she can remember to drop some cash. I think this one deserves a little more than the usual request. All the other teeth (except #1, that got a toy) were exchanged with one quarter, one nickel, one dime and one penny. That's what Carter said the Tooth fairy needed to leave him. She got off pretty darn easily didn't she! I think a crisp dollar bill is in order for this one and it's tardiness. A little something for his wallet. He is saving up to buy something from a vending machine. Yes, a vending machine. Forget the candy aisle, this kid wants to put his money in a machine, press some numbers and see a nice sugary drink or some Doritos come flying out of the bottom. Do you know when we ask him what his favorite part of a road trip is (to Boston or Florida), he tells us it's when we go to a Rest Area. The ones with the vending machines. Geez, who needs to spend alot on a vacation when you can just take a short trip to the nearest Rest Area! That is my least favorite stop during a trip. I'm not a fan of the public restroom. But hey, if there's a treat to be had there, then it's worth it right?

Anyway, I'm sure it's not the first time the Tooth fairy has been a day late. I will have to have some creative excuses in my back pocket in case this happens again. At least Santa won't forget the kid.... at least I hope!


Carter 11/30/07
Click the video to watch....

Day 29 - Video & 3 hour naps

Yes, I know. I'm a slacker. I seem to have slid down the slippery slope of not blogging very much over the past week. I have excuses - good ones, but I won't bore you with them. You're probably still yawning from my last post about my refrigerator contents....


Before I forget another day, I thought I would give you a snipet of Olivia this afternoon watching me clean up the kitchen. She loves music and was moving and grooving to the Christmas music - that was of course until I got the camera out to record. But we have a little bit - enjoy!



Oh, and here is how I got SO MUCH done today! Gotta love 3 hour naps! Yep, right in the carseat the whole time too...



Below is the short video clip of Olivia.... click to view!

Olivia 11/29/07

Day 15 - Photo Montage Video

Please enjoy this video montage I created. Caution! Amateur montage maker and photographer created this, so please lower your standards before entering!! :-)

Simply click the picture below and you can hit the play arrow. Remember to turn your sound up a little to hear the music!


What a wonderful world....