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earrings!

talby has been thinking about getting her ears pierced for quite awhile.
but she was very nervous about it.

this week i said "you want to just do it right now so you won't be scared anymore?"
she debated….hyperventilated…..laughed shakily….then said "ok" really quietly.
so we parked the car and went in and did it.

at wal-mart.

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poor thing.
she was pretty scared.
and her brothers were making it so much worse by watching everything and then saying "it's ok talby"
i think they were both honestly compassionate towards her pain.

she did it.
little rhinestone studs.
surprise dad!

and then there was little miss annie.
the opposite of talby….jumping up and down…not nervous…so excited to be like her big sister.
"i want to get MY EARS PIERCED TOO!"
"pleeease. pleeeease!!!"

well…ok.
she picked the same earrings.
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she was giggling she was so excited.
then the count down 1, 2, 3 pop.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW!
tears and tears and tears.
VERY very loud in wal-mart.

(surely that was the first time a child has cried loudly in wal-mart….)

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we did some deep breathing with the jewlery counter girl…she passed out the smarties…
and that was that.

gigantic GIRL milestone crossed…on a whim…just for fun.

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way to go girls!!!
you look so beautiful with your sparkly new bling.    

and it's just in time for family pictures!
they are today.
i am so excited about it.

we chose shirt #1 for lauren.
thank you to all the 600+ voters who helped us chose.
i told craig "it just proves how important fashion is to women…" with the 600 comments.
she matched us best in #1.
but looked great in every single one.
 
wish me luck that i don't blink in every shot.
and that my kids aren't a nightmare for wendy & tyler.
   

🙂 

Elizabeth Gleason - I was such a chicky baby when I was a kid. I got my one ear done. Screamed and said noooo way that’s all for me and I had only one ear done. A month later I went back to seal the deal! My poor mom!

Vera - Cuties! My 5 year old was begging to get her American Girl doll’s ears pierced at the AG store (big eye roll) so to buy myself some time (you know, so I could save up the $50,000 I’ll end up spending there) I told her when she’s 8 she can go get the doll’s ears pierced AND her ears pierced – she thought that was awesome. Can’t wait to see your family pictures!!!

beth - Meg…
Woohoo for Annie & Talby, love their bling! Now I have pics I can show Lexi…she has been wanting to get hers pierced for awhile but I have been sort of weary she would not do so well. Maybe this is more for mom than Lexi. hehehe
Woohoo seconds on the shirt…that is the one I choose. I loved them all but just that one and 4 spoke out.
Have fun with pics and can’t wait to see them!
Have a great week!

angela - i LOVE THE proud LOOKS ON THEIR FACES!!!

Staci Danford - Toally precious.. What a darling memory and such a sweet post.. I loved the tears photo. She was a trooper though. So glad I didn’t miss this post. TOOOOOO cute!!
Staci

Tricia - Yay, girls! Two of my girls got their ears pierced this week too. My younger one cried afterward too, but now all is well, and they think they are SUPER COOL!!

Holly - Yay for the girls! I am glad I am not the only one who waited to get my daughters ears pierced! I can’t wait to see the family pictures!

amy jupin - soooo cute, meg! anna was checking out the pictures too, shyly asking, “does it huRt??!!” and “that girl is crwying!”
needless to say, i don’t think she’ll be getting her’s pierced just yet. 🙂

KK - Very beautiful! The bling is so awesome. 🙂 Love the little diamond studs!
And just wanted to mention that I loved all of Lauren’s shirts. In fact, I just bought the 2nd shirt (from CR) yesterday in a different color. I loved the ruffle sleeves! All of the shirts are pretty & she is a gorgeous girl!

Tasha Griffin - I still remember getting my ears pierced…what a special and fun thing for a girl! The little earrings look adorable!
: )Tasha

Kathryn - Too cute, they looks great with they’re new earrings.

Sophie - Aww! I didn’t think it was possible, but they look ever sweeter with earrings (:
I had mine done when I was about Talby’s age.
Good luck with your photos, Meg!

Jaime A. - Awww. Talby and Annie looks sooo cute with their sparkles in! I have been thinking about taking my daughter to get her ears pierced a second time. Not that she’s ever asked… Is that weird?
=)
GL with Family photos!

Melanie - They look so cute with their new earrings! Annie was adorable in the picture of her crying:)

Pattie - There is not a child out there who cries cuter than Annie. Every time a see a picture of her with tears I always think what an adorable little thing she is.

Jill Jones - I loved this post…well, I pretty much love all your posts, but this was too sweet. Your girls are all so beautiful! I have a son. Just one. That’s enough. I will continue to enjoy fun girl things through you! :o)

jaz - So pretty!

Beth - meant Talby & Annie, although the way I wrote it looked like I meant Ellie. I’m a dork.

Beth - Love the earrings. Ellie got hers pierced two summers ago at Claire’s and everyone walking by at the mall gave me the STINK EYE like I was forcing the poor child to get her ears pierced. LOL. They look beautiful. And I loved shirt #1 (although I didn’t vote).

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Oh we just did this with Little Chick. I think I was hyperventilating! It’s a big deal. Makes them all grown up…all of a sudden:)

Laura - Before our girls got together, I knew they were so much alike! They too got ears pierced on a whim and had the same reaction!
Now I want to buy your girls earrings.
Oh.. And Annie cried so hard
and loud that the little girl waiting for her turn changed her mind!

Chiot's Run - SOOO cute! My nieces are just getting theirs pierced – so fun!
I was born in Colombia (American parents that work there) and they pierce baby girls ears as soon as their born. My dad ran to the nearest jewelry store when they announced, “It’s a girl” and the little thread loops were replaced with gold balls when he returned. Gladly I never had to deal with the pain of getting them pierced

Janie Fox - Cute post! They look so adorable together in the after. I wanted to cry when I saw Annie’s crocodile tears! Too sweet…love it!

DreamGirlLisa - Such a rite of passage for girls…I remember when mine got theirs…my oldest nearly passed out (she kinda did actually)…scared the s**t out of me!lol Your girls look darling w/ them. Can’t wait to see your family photos, I’m sure they’ll be beautiful!

Julie - My girls want their ears pierced too. I look forward to showing these to them. Your girls are all so beautiful ~ I love the picture with the two of them together. Such a sweet sister moment showing off their new earrings!

Posey - I got my ears pierced when I was 12…about 1970, a spanish lady down the street did ours (my 13 yr old sister & I). First we had to numb our ears with an ice cube, then she held a cork behind the ear and pushed a needle through, followed by an earring!!! Sounds like fun doesn’t it!?! Boy, were we proud when it was over, we thought it was worth all the pain.

Gemma - Awww bless!! They look beautiful : )
Just to let all of you know i’m having a giveaway at my blog. The lucky winner will receive a CSN gift voucher. Come and check it out!!!
Gemma X http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/

Julie K. - I can’t wait to see your pictures!!!

Juli - Oh, they are beautiful!

kristine - that’s awesome! i have tears in my eyes!!!! you’re right – gigantic milestone! HOW FUN!!! oh but annie’s tears… oh my!!! and they look darling after!
hope the pictures go/went well! yaay!

laurenjean - I love BLUE LILY !!!! We had our pics done by her last Christmas !!

Ashley Stinson - Oh, the piercing of the ears. A major girl milestone is right! Your girls are adorable! 🙂

tara pollard pakosta - cannot wait to see your family pix!!!!
please share them!!! we plan to get ours done
in october!
savannah got her ears pierced at age 6, but ava wants NOTHING to do with it! funny how different they can be!
tara

betsy - In our family, we were allowed to get our ears pierced at age 13. Well, at 12 & 1/2 I BEGGED my parents to let me get mine. I think my Mom was so tired of hearing me whine about it that she made my Dad take me.
Tell the girls that at age 12, I held my Dad’s hand, was terrified & I’m pretty sure I cried. I think it’s the noise AND the quick pain that scares the bejeezus out of everyone!

april - what a great memory….LOVE it!!!

Melissa - So precious!!

Deedra P. - Ha-congrats girls!! We did that at Christmas time with our only daughter (and our entire extended family that was visiting) 18 of us inside the little Claire’s boutique. Grace didn’t cry…but she WANTED to :)) Good luck with pics…always an adventure with a big family!!!

linda lou - made sure the girls clean them regularly just ask MS amy d……? blessings,
lindalou

Lynda - WELL DONE GIRLS!!! It’s a big thing……having your ears pierced!!!!!!! Here they “do”both ears in one time…….saves a lot of breathing ;)!!!
But you look FANTASTIC!!!!!

shelly @familyblt - hooray for earrings! they both look too cute! looking forward to seeing the fam pics

chasity - great going gilies. you both look so pretty.
when my little girlie got hers done~ she was 4 and had been asking for a year!~ they did them one at a time.
we almost went home with only one ear pierced!
as we passed back by the earring pagoda in the middle of the mall after an ice cream treat she scowled and said~
i’m mad at that lady.
🙂

Staci - Awwwww 🙂 Such cutie pies 😉 And I love that you picked No. 1 for Lauren!!!! 600 comments!!! HOLY SCHMOLY!!!!!! THAT is funny! Good luck with the pics!

Marla - This is not the first time I’ve noticed how Talby and Clara have paralleled each other. Clara is getting her ears pierced for her birthday next month.

Carrie - Are you a blinker too?! My husband blinks in 90% of our pictures. I swear I am not exaggerating. I gets so frustrating. We finally resorted to outside pictures in our sunglasses.
Good luck! Have fun with the pictures!

Liz - Poor Talby looks soooo tense in that first photograph. Both girls did better than me. I was in my 30’s before I had my ears pierced. Even so, my dad still thought it was such a bad thing to have done and said he wouldn’t have babysat my daughter if he’d known where I was going!

karen - so cute!
good luckkkk!

elma - Oh the girls are sooooo cute with the new bling!!!
So glad number 1 shirt one!! It was my favorite”) Hope all goes well with the family pictures!!Can’t wait to see them.

tami - Awh they are too cute. Great job

Karen Lehmann - oooppps got that wrong – that would have been the pic of Annie (sorry) 🙂
they look beautiful

Karen Lehmann - the pic of talby crying made me cry.

Nikki - Their earrings look great!
We had a special outing when my daughter got her ears pierced…. both nana’s, two aunties and best friends all came to watch. Yana had so amny people watching she was too scared to cry!
Can’t wait to see your family photo’s 🙂

Susan - They did great! I had mine pierced in 1972 and fainted! Way to go girlies!

Krista - Good job girls! They both look great in their new earrings!

Lorelei - adorable. stinkin’d adorable. I remember the day my Aunt took me to get mine pierced. My parents finally let me at age 12!! I was a nervous wreck too. But was surprised that it didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it would. Congrats girls on such a fun milestone. and they LOOK beautiful!!!!

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block party

my kids have been waiting all summer for this day.
they couldn't wait to put up the barricades and block off our street.
all the kids on our block rode their bikes in the street all day.
they love that freedom.

we partied on friday instead of the 4th and thank goodness we did.
it's been raining all day long here.
 

i have a ton of pictures…
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russ and jennifer bring out the bonzai falls.
it's the kid's favorite part of the day.
they were on it for about four straight hours.
 
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we call this the firecracker walk.
the kids go around the circle and when the music stops we draw a number
and if it's the number they are on
 they get to pick a prize from miss amy's bucket of kids firecrackers.

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finally her number was called.  
so funny.
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water balloon toss.

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the men of the block working the grills.
the one is red is quite handsome i must say….especially his hat.
 

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we had PLENTY to eat.
i ate way too much.
it was all really good….rhonda's salsa was SO good…i need her to make me a huge bowl.

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um……..gross.

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the other miss amy made sidewalk chalk paint.
the street was so pretty.
i am going to make some more of that here too.

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there was a weird app on russ's phone that makes you look fat…..whatever.

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it was a great party.
annie wanted to go to bed before the big fireworks.
i went in and laid down with her…when i woke up she was asleep and the big fireworks were done.
     

i missed them too.

after we cleaned everything up in the dark at midnight we had our annual adult water balloon fight.
it's a tradition.
this year was very tame.
i think because russ and cory went in early.
next party….we are gunnin' for both of you…the cooler is getting dumped on them and not amy.

way to go neighbors.
our block party was super-great…..like we used to say in cheer.

(miss amy #1 ….blogged it here)
(miss amy #2 ….blogged it here)

Denise - Your oldest son has the best smile! Looks like y’all had a great time.
Denise

Carol - Your block party looks absolutely amazing! Where I live, no one ever comes out of their homes. It must be nice to have an entire block participate in something. I’d like to know how to make the sidewalk chalk paint, too!!

Aaron Greenwood - I totally love your neighborhood.
can I join??
It looks AMAZING!!!
you lucky girl……

Amber - oh i used to have block parties but now that i am in a new home i don’t know the neighbors yet. 😉 p.s. lauren is so pretty! i love her style.

hattie - Looks like sooooo much fun! I want to live on y’all block!

Martina - WOW! Really great party! 🙂

Jessica @ One Shiny Star - I love your neighborhood! Neighborhoods like that don’t exist where I’m from… just really packed suburbia, or really empty rural areas. lol. Looks like fun!

Musings Of A Gem - Hey Meg!
I love your block parties…love the community you live in..seems so welcoming : )
Hope you all had a great 4th of July : )
Gemma X

Courtney - That looks like so much fun. Your kids will have memories they can tell their kids.

Rachel @ Pencil Shavings - Ooh, I must know what sidewalk chalk paint is!

Melanie - Looks like you had a great time. I love Annie’s face in that photo where her number was called. She always looks so happy!

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - The pic of Annie’s expression when she won is just priceless!
And, that Lauren- she just gets more and more beautiful!
I’m ready to move to your neighborhood now!
But, I don’t think I can convince my Superman to move 🙁

Jill - How fun! We’re very blessed to have great neighbors too, sure makes summer fun!

Kathryn Goertzen - What great fun! One question though . . . they let you close off First Street???

the inadvertent farmer - It is on the 4th of July that I miss living in a close knit neighborhood as opposed to a farm in the boonies!
Great post…Americana at its best! Kim

Dana@Bungalow'56 - We had a great Canada Day too. I couldn’t stop myself and posted way too many pictures. That water slide looks like the BEST! You live in such a wonderful community. Makes me a little jealous. But in a good way.
Dana

Juli - Oh man, that looks SO fun! I called my hubby into the room prefacing it with, “you know that family I’m always telling you about in Kansas?”
His response: “Yeah, I am pretty sure I know which you’re referring to since you talk about them near daily. I think I know all their kids names too!”
I showed him the photos and he said that this is what he’s been trying to tell me all along, that life is better in the Midwest. He grew up in a little town- Caledonia, IL.

amy j. - Great pictures! I love the one of Lawson and Annie on the Bonzai! Remind me to stay away from Russ and his phone. Or maybe I can pretend that you used that app on the pictures of me here? 🙂 That’s it. I’m not that fat in real life, am I?

Lisa - I enjoyed all the pictures from your block party…that looks so fun. I would love to live in your neighborhood, I think I’d fit right in…Although I love CA and my house here, I sometimes dream of moving to a Mid-Western or East Coast small town and living in a neighborhood filled w/ old homes.
p.s. Lauren is such a beautiful girl!

Margo - I am so jealous of your block parties! Some of my friends used to live on your block and they told me all about them – more neighborhoods need to have those parties!

Holly - That looks like a lot of fun!

Stefanie - Are there any houses for sale on your block?!?

Juli - Wonderful post! Found myself wishing there were more photos of your neighbors’ houses. They look so homey and inviting, and many of them seem to have a wonderful front porch. Would you take some photos of them, pretty please?

Lisa K - I can pretty much delete the rest of the blogs from the list in my sidebar. I just need my daily dose of your sweetness, your great pictures, your happy colorful life. I’m putting my house on the market and moving to Kansas now 🙂

Bec - The neighborhood I grew up in was shaped like a horseshoe and had a huge field behind it so our block parties were massive. Now there aren’t any kids left and the block parties have stopped. Hopefully someday my husband and I can find a neighborhood that’s willing to party 🙂

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - F U N!!! can I come live in your ‘hood? 🙂

Jessica - i want to live on your block!

Michelle Whitlow - How fun!!! I love block parties. They seemed to be much more common when I lived in MI but I haven’t really seen anything like that here in GA. Maybe I need to start a new tradition down here!

Krista - Looks like it was a blast! Love the photo of airborne Annie coming down the water slide! Also, saw your patriotic plaid dress on Amy’s blog– love, love love it!

Sana - yes, i’m coming over, too. i’ll bring my famous tuna salad.

shelly @familyblt - Looks like sososo much fun! Your neighbors look like lots of fun!

tami - You guys looked like you had a ball! Summertime fun!

Monica - Please send directions to your neighborhood. I’m moving there immediately!!
How much fun! 🙂

mindi jo - Love your blog! This is my first time commenting, but I just had to when I saw on miss amy #1’s blog that we wore the same dress to celebrate the 4th! Great taste 🙂 Looks like a great time. I’ll have to get some of that sidewalk paint for my girls!

Jill Loy - That rocks! Thank you for sharing. We are going to have to make that chalk paint very soon!

Kimberlee J. - What fun! Both of my girls were asleep by 8:15!

Mansi - Food looked gr8..what did you cook?

Peggyrice@gmail.com - Looks like so much fun! Love the firecracker walk.

april - Did I see peanut butter pie?? lols…I won a raffle at our citys 4th of July carnival…won a fly pen and leap frog….your pics were great!! Block parties are the best!!!But where were you in all the pics??? lols

Heather Lea - looks like one fun neighborhood, makes me almost wish we knew our neighbors…..almost.

leslie - oh man that food looked so good…especially some strawberry layered stuff wrapped in plastic…

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Dude! That is awesome.
That’s it. I’m coming over. Then moving to Kansas.
Wait.. I mean, moving to Kansas, then coming over.
I’ll bring cake. Promise.
K? K. 🙂

amy d - how is it that the person who fills all the water balloons always gets the cooler dumped on them????
that picture of lawson and annie is HILARIOUS!!!!!!! craig and i laughed for ever about it!
miley and talby…umm, wow that was a super smooch!
I heart our awesome block!

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my happy place

while my sister was visiting me we headed out to my happy place.
is it weird that my happy place is someone else's house?
hopefully not.

carolyn's house is just happy.
even waffle is happy there.

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we caught a toad.
everyone wanted a turn with it.
    
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waffle had the best day he has ever had in his whole life.
he got to swim.
he got to play with max.
he was SO HAPPY.

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she likes sunscreen.
ha.

a fish bit me.
and i was done.
enough water for me.

i love it out there.
love love love.

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pillow winner announced tonight.

or in the morning.

we'll see.

🙂
 

 

Miho - She is beautiful! I’ve been chiekcng every day to see if you’ve posted anything and this is so worth the wait. Jacob and Callie’s wedding is next weekend and we will be missing your special touch. Little Ms. June should have some beautiful pics during her life.

ymcmb hats - I really wish I hadn’t seen this as I really want one now!

Courtney Walsh - I laughed when you said the fish bit you and you were done in the water because the same thing happened to me when I was visiting my sister in Georgia! lol
I am not much of a fish person!

Carrie - So apparently your blog now falls under what my work considers a “social networking site” and it’s blocked… Just how do they expect me to get through my day?! 🙂

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - I thought your happy place was Pizza Hut:) Looks like so much fun.

Melanie - Looks like fun!

amy d - what??? waffle likes something better than ME??? lol! hopefully he wasn’t writing down directions or he may just take his own road trip to carolyn’s!

Jen - It’s so cool how your sister’s daughter looks exactly like her and Talby looks just like you!

Gemma - Fun in the sun…perfect!!
Gemma X

linda@LimeintheCoconut - Happy time indeed! Perfect summer stuff. Well except for the toad. I wouldn’t want to hold the toad. Nope.

mel - What a fun day! It is totally okay to have your happy place be someone else’s house! (Target is my happy place…ha!)

shelly @familyblt - When I was a kid, we had frogs in our pool. I like those little guys–kinda like toads! Looks like fun!

Erin Leigh - I wanna turn with the toad. so fun.

Traci - As long as you have a happy place Meg…that’s all that matters. Looks like a fun day…your sis hasn’t aged a year since the last time I can remember seeing her (at least 15 years ago)…maybe I should try more sunscreen:)

AshleyAnn - The frog pictures ruined it for me. Not a happy place at all…I hate frogs…just the sight of those pictures make me cringe.
Reminded me of when you used to have that frog picture on your blog banner. I had a difficult time reading your blog those days. Thanks for taking that down 🙂

Flower Patch Farmgirl - What a fun honor to have your home be someone else’s happy place. I’ll bet she loves it!

Lisa - Your daughter looks like your sister! I can see why that is your happy place. waffle is looking as fetching as usual.
What a fish bit you??? Weird.

sarah - If it’s weird, then I’m weird, cause my happy place if I were closer would be your house and Carolyn’s house 😉
LOVE the toad pictures.

Donna - I LOVE the frog pictures, esp the first one! And Waffle is the cutest!

betsy - Tons of fun!
Was Waffle in a doggy coma when you got home? Whenever my Minnie plays that hard, she’s so exhausted, she can hardly walk up the stairs to get to bed.

Jaime A. - Is it weird to admit that I think I have a dog-crush on Waffle?! He is just sooo darn cute. I just want to squeeze him!
Looks like it was a fun day!

Juli - Oh, now this is interesting. I’d say your house is my dream home. We live in a 1932 ‘charmer’ but it is a plain jane colonial. When I play with my house, I pretend it’s yours.
Soooo, if your happy place is someone else’s house, is it because you prefer her home over yours in some way location, etc…) or is it because of your friend, herself?

Micah - Are you kidding?!?! That peanut butter baby came back and won??? NO WAY!!! I can’t believe it! She did something serious to come back from that far behind. Bummer. Your picture was so awesome too. I’m bummed for you. Enjoy your happy place.

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craft thursday #4

on a sunday.

posted on a monday.
 
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we painted bird houses.
not a super creative project…but still a project.
they saw them at hobby lobby and begged to get them.
they were 50% off.

so i agreed.

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the froot loops…are to eat.
nothing crafty there.
just a snack.
 


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THEN there was some excitement.
i saw a skink.

so we had a skink break.
they tried to work together to catch it….but never could.
 
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the girls wanted to glue beads and things to their bird houses.
to attract more birds.
we used hot glue.

and sean couldn't concentrate after the skink.
he wanted to catch it so bad.

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fun.

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i guess if you were going to hang these outside you would want to put polyurethane over the paint.
who knows where these will go.
they want to hang them outside.
so i will add that to my 253 things to do…..
      

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did you vote for my picture HERE?
today is the last day.
i would hate to see the peanut butter baby sneak in at the end….
it's super easy to vote.

Scott1
  

if you haven't voted PLEASE do.
🙂

this is an iPad we're talking about!

leave a comment HERE on the first post if you voted…if you haven't already.
i will draw the pillow winner when the contest closes.

thanks!   
 
 
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i have so much to talk about with ya'll.
i wish we could just sit down over coffee….that would be awesome.
maybe tomorrow.

i am cleaning today.

UGH. 
 

Jordan Shoes - sanning this website then you will get good things.

Jordan Shoes - sanning this website and you won’t regret it.

jordan shoes - This article the reality of the matter. pleased, It is nice to see views that are informative beneficial anyway.

kristine - is talby’s birdhouse for sale?! 🙂 LOVE.

heather - i can’t vote. it won’t let me sorry

Jaime A. - Hmm. I tried to go in to see who was in the lead or who won, but now when I try to go to the page via your link or the URL I have – it says it’s forbidden. Uh-oh! Can anyone else get to the site?

katy - I love crafts, my kids love crafts……we should craft today and make cookies!!!!!! 🙂 the birdhouses turned out lovely, and yes I voted for your photo..yay and hope you win!

jeanne - your kids are so good at taking their time on crafts…mine zip right through them.

Lora - You are a super awesome mom! I’m so getting my kids birdhouses!

Melanie - Talby did a great job on her birdhouse. She is very orderly and precise! I love it.

Seleta - Such dedication to craft with your kids every Thursday. You really inspire me to be a better mom. : )

teresa - i couldn’t find your photo…and it wouldn’t let me go to the second page of photos. does anyone know if i’m doing something wrong?

kim - Just discovered your blog. What a fun blog you have! I love your photos. They’re so colorful and full of love for your family. I’ll be back often.
Hope you win your iPad!

A pocket full of posies... - love the birdie houses!! but most of all…love the “Thursday” craft- done on Sunday- posted on Monday! 🙂 sounds alot like our house!!
Happy cleaning!
Blessings!
Jill

Shelley Laming - I’ve read your blog for months and comment inside my head 🙂 … but felt compelled to post today to say I voted for you. Love your blog! That is a great pic that certainly made me smile. Best of luck — I hope you win!
I cannot some people (CathW) can be so catty. Seriously?! wow.

Selina - LOL at the days you post your Craft Thursday! I love the color your children chose.

Lynette - Meg~
You have an AWESOME blog, and you take AWESOME pictures. That is why YOU should win the contest! Just my opinion…
I did the birdhouse craft project years ago when my boys were younger. I did poly the outside of the houses and put them outside (We live in Nebraska – similar climate to you). I used little L-brackets and screwed them to the wood fence. We had 3 birdhouses (like yours). Birds moved in to 2 of the houses. Wasps in the other one. The houses lasted for 3 years before they fell apart. Maybe I was supposed to poly them every year? It was neat to see something we made being used by nature.
Good luck in the contest!

amy - love the bird houses…that’s something i have not done yet with the kids…love the blue one..and a skink? really? my boy loves the blue-tongued skink at the zoo!

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - oh i love the birdhouses. the blue one especially. what artists you have!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

angela carter - I voted! I voted for you because I love your blog, would love to know you for real, and you inspire me! THANK YOU!

Lindsey - I tried to vote again, but it wouldnt let me

Sandy - Talby looks just like you in the picture where she’s holding her pretty blue fingernail up. Have a fun day!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - I would LOVE to sit and chat with you over coffee! Wouldn’t that be fun? I need to clean too. Thanks for the reminder;) Have a great day Meg.

Jaime A. - If someone entered that contest, it probably means they have both a camera and a computer (and who cares what size house they have?)… If I win, please dontate my pillow to the PB lady. Better yet, maybe to Cath W (the first commenter on this post)! I’m just sayin’… =)
Wait – I am just kidding. If I win, I would like to keep my pillow, thankyouverymuch!!
Meg – It def. won’t let me vote again – I tried!
Re: Craft Thursday #4 turned out great! We tried your Craft Thursday #2 with OK results! lol… maybe 4 is more up our alley! Although, everytime we use a glue gun, we spend forever peeling glue off of our hands! lol…

Dana@Bungalow'56 - Love all the bright colours. They would look great in a back yard. There is poly spray that would be really nice and quick. Just checked out your picture and it says your are number one. Looks like an ipad is in your future.

Staci - FUN!!! Maybe I need to just suck it up and go to Hobby Lobby…been trying to stay away 🙂 I spend waaay too much money every time I go 🙂

candace - Ha! Peanut Butter baby is cute too – if it is close, I completely understand. I voted the max # of times. Where are you displaying all of the other crafts? In the craft room? I love that bright turquoise of Talby’s!

Cara - The birdhouses turned out great!! We painted some birdhouses recently too. I found ours in the dollar bins at Michael’s, in case anyone is looking…they were a little bit smaller than Meg’s. I LOVE the beads glued on! Why didn’t I think of that?!

sara's art house - LOVE the beads glued to the bird houses- cute!

Michelle - Thank you for yet another wonderful post Meg. It’s the middle of winter here in Australia. We have the heating on despite it being a sub-tropical climate. And your posts bring a sunny, warm and colourful blast to my screen. I love them!

Gemma - I really love the bird houses! Love the colour Talby used…summery blue : )
Looking forward to hearing your news or whatever!
Gemma X

Cath W - Maybe Peanut Butter Baby’s Mum doesn’t have a nice big house with a computer and laptop, and money for birdhouses on ‘Craft Thursday’. Maybe she doesn’t have time to make pillows to bribe people to vote for her with. Just sayin’ that it doesn’t seem fair somehow. Just an opinion.

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tuesday

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it was a good day.

thank you for the donations yesterday to Word Made Flesh.
thank you.

Ashley Stinson - What a GREAT post!!! These types of pictures will be so great for your kids to look through someday. They remind of me of little mental pics/memories I have of growing up. 🙂 Love your blog.

Courtney - I love your posts like this!

jennibell - What a neat way to document your day. Will have to try that sometime 🙂

Alison Williams - I love this post. A day in pictures. Thanks, I may *need* to copy this one!

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - oooh-la-la!
🙂
LOVE the chandelier and your pretty necklace!

Lora - A typical mommy day….

Tonya - I am inspired every time I visit your blog – which is nearly every day! Your family has an energy, zest for life and love of creativity that I just adore. I wish we could move in with you.

Christy - Love the random shots.. Dying to here more about the chandy! Is that for the dining room ?

tara pollard pakosta - I just adore your everyday pix!
so much fun! these are the type of photos
that I love to take! tara

Tara Carmichael - love your Tuesday..
love that pic of Annie on the steps…
and Talby in the pool…
love them ALL.
thanks for your sweet comment…made my DAY!
~Tara

Kimberlee J. - I making it my 4th of July mission to figure out how to make those Sangria Swirls. I’ll let you know when I’ve got the recipe perfected.
Great pictures from your day in the life—as ALWAYS!

Elise - Hobby Lobby is my favorite place in the world. It’s my de-stress place. I just go to walk up and down the aisles and feel inspired.
What a fun day. 🙂

Gemma - Lovely day!!
Gemma X

Meredith - Gorgeous day, Meg. Happy, happy children….especially lovely photo of Scott (?) unpacking dishwasher – surely such an act of obedience and generosity is worthy of framing? These photos just cry out to me that the little things are life really are the most precious. Meredy xo.

Abby - OMG we have that huge strbucks mug!! So gorgeous. I loved this post!

Vera - Fun day! My day was awesome today, because I made a rainbow cake using your tutorial for one of my good friends – it’s her birthday, but she’s going through a divorce and doesn’t have one of her daughters with her, and she’s really depressed. I kidnapped her other daughter for the day and we made the cake for her – I iced it white and the kids and I didn’t tell her it was a rainbow cake. When she cut into it, she was SO happy – she said it was the best cake she’s ever gotten, even better than the Helly Kitty cake she got in 2nd grade. So THANK YOU for helping me make someone’s day! 🙂

Tez - Looks like the perfect day ~ though you were quite busy 🙂

Melanie Y. - The photography is BEAUTIFUL. you are able to capture the magic in every moment.

julia - so basically, you didn’t do anything???
hahahahah.

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - It WAS a good day. Amazing how yours resemble mine!

Melanie - You did all of that in one day? I’m tired:)

Angela - First of all, I’m so jealous that you have a Hobby Lobby close by.
Secondly – I have the same question as one of the previous posters – the one about getting used to taking your camera everywhere. How did you get into that habit – or have you just always been that way? I really love the everyday photos – but find myself always without the camera when out and about.

Michelle - LOVE your necklace Meg!

Sarah @ Dream in Domestic - How do you get used to taking photos everywhere (the gas station, Hobby Lobby, etc.). I am so shy about it with my big camera! If you could write about it, I’d really like that!

Lanny Stanard - once again you’ve made my smile… love your pic’s ! love me some waffle ;)…

Lisa - Wow what a full day! Loving these photos. Esp the coloured fingernails. So Meg do you have a ‘swagger wagon’? ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4 )LOL

Talysa - I’m so jealous of your clay store! I did this in school and want my Maggie to experience it but no place in the whole Nashville area! Can you believe that!?! Only places to paint “already made” pieces.
Love your pics…especially love your kitchen!

rhonda - Looks like a wonderful day! Love this post.

sandy toe - it looks like a full day but fun-
sandy toe

Laura - I love how you highlite what some may view as the ordinary. You demonstrate how each moment is a gift. Love that.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Woah – that was a Day.

laura - i love that picture of annie on the desk….inspired to capture the simple, candid moments….

candace - i spy….star wars sheets, patriotic fingernails, a chore I need to get done, and a margarita sangria swirl. and a smart dog laying on the cold tile to beat the heat. 🙂 it certianly does look like a good day!

dianereeves - I love “day in the life” photo series, I feel a little bit more motivated to go start my laundry.
Have a good weekend.

DreamGirlLisa - Wow, looks like a good and busy day! I have that same chandelier, and I painted mine white too…now it’s been “crystalized” and hanging in my bathroom.

Dina - That is one busy day! Is Clayworks in Newton? What an awesome place!

april - FYI….My son LOVED the peanut butter pie recipe I made last week….I am now making it again!! Hes a picky eater..so its practically a miracle that he thinks im awesome now for making it..lols…love the pics..my son has the same star wars bed set…gotta love pottery barn….even though I may go broke…lols!!!

Jocelyn Stott - Looks like an AMAZING day! Beautiful photos. Beautiful cause.

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my goofy kids

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sean:  i wish my last name was AWESOME.

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sean:  i bet there is no one in the world with the last name Chickenspray. 
 
i bet he's right.

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annie: MOM! sean is eating his breakfast in his underwear!
         (she is also standing there in the kitchen telling me this….in her underwear!)

 sean: annie…these aren't underwear.  they are boxers.  
        Hunter eats his breakfast in his boxers all the time.
 
        (Hunter is my teenage nephew that we have not seen in 6 months)

annie: well sean…HUNTERS are mean and do bad things like kill animals!  
         (so confused)
 
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me: would you both stop fighting! just try to get to along!!!

annie: hey sean…do you want to try that? should we just not fight and be nice?

sean:  annie…when someone is bothering me i just try to not listen and ignore them.
          except when it's scott.
          he just annoys me so bad and i then i get so mad……
 
 
 
 
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annie calls raviolli "graveeoli"

she calls sharpies "pern-a-get mawkawrs"

she always says "in-specially" for especially. 
  

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she said
"chocolate rocks.  vanilla does not rock…but chocolate does rock!" 

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annie: "mom, can we have more babies in our house?"

me:     "well…i would like that but it's up to God.  
            if God wants us to have more babies…we will."


annie: "ssshhhhhh…be quiet…… i hear jesus.  he's says…..you get to have more babies!"

me: "HA HA HA…you'll have to tell daddy about that"
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annie said 
"today i'm going to bring my fake In-merican girl to school…AND MY WORMS!!"

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sean: "MOM…would you have the crown of knowledge from harry potter…
          or a pan of baked potatoes?"

        
before i could answer he said "i know i know…crown of knowledge.  me too"
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ME:  "i like ET because it was the first movie i saw in the theater.
        we didn't go to movies very often like you guys do.
        there weren't as many movies for kids and it was too much money"

talby: "so you were POOR?!"

ME:  "yeah…we kind of were…sort of"


talby: "did everybody wear knee high socks?"

sean: "and those hair things….scruncies?!"
 

what in the world? 

Funny Love Quotes - Very cute kid pictures. Nice work.

eds - I’m convinced you have the funniest kids on the face of the earth! I hope I get to have kids someday (wait — is that the voice of Jesus I hear, telling me that I will?! 🙂 and that they are half as funny! What a hoot!

Collette - I wanted to let you know that although my only child, a daughter, is now out of the house and a sophmore in college, I often find that “mom blogs” aren’t really something I can relate to much anymore, but I keep coming back here, (everyday;) ) because of your wit and the kids and the photos and the just general happy atmosphere, even when things seem out of your control you maintain, and in this day and age, even maintaining is a struggle. I appreciate you so much! Thanks, Col

crystal b - Loved this. You’ll look back on these conversations some day and miss them so much!

Heather - All hysterical, but the scrunchie comment put me over the edge! seriously, where do kids even hear about things like scrunchies? 🙂

Tonya - ET was my first movie theater movie too! Every time we are by that movie theater, I tell my kids about ET. I always point out my childhood house and grade school too. And, I’m a Kansas girl just like you!

Laura Phelps - I can not wait to meet your goofy kids!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sophie - How funny! I can’t believe you managed to remember all those conversations!!!

Kat - This will be great to look back on. Too funny.
Love the bit about having more babies. What did Craig say to that one?!

candace - hilarious! can you do a post like this every week?

kristine - ha ha hilarious! and i want annie’s sundae! that fudge looks GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Pitch perfect. And totally – the pan of baked potatoes! Duh.

Abby - hilarious!! I needed this post thanx!

Angie - I love your blog…thanks for making me smile everyday!
I voted for your picture…Hope you win!
Angie

Sugar Mama - I have read your blog for a while, and never commented (so sorry!) but your picture of Daylight Donuts just made me love your blog even more! I grew up in OK and spent many special morning eating donuts and sausage rolls from there…. and I miss it so much! Now I’m craving them ;o)

Rachel / cREaTe - love it. especially the hunter / underwear conversation. 🙂 hysterical.

Emily B. - Oh my goodness, I spotted a peanut butter donut! When my husband and I were dating we used to drive up to Druber’s just for the PB donuts, and the excuse to stay out later, together.
And the Chickenspray name is He-LAR-ious! I think he’s right, I haven’t seen that one in the phonebook.

Jennifer - Daylight Donuts!! I grew up in Clovis, NM and we had a Daylight Donuts. I thought it was the only one because I had never come across another and miss them terribly. And then it pops up on your blog and here I sit salivating…
I LOVE the kids conversations! What a fun post!

Christine Ishmael - Aren’t those donuts one of the things on your summer list? I hope you don’t mind but I borrowed (ok I copied) your idea for the summer check-off list…my kids loved it! I love how my little kids say things…I get so mad when my older kids correct the younger ones when they say something wrong…they’ll figure it out soon enough! Why do the older kids do that…thanks for sharing your summer days!

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - mmmmmm …. ice cream … i want some now!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

Lisa - Oh, that made my whole afternoon. I’m laughing so hard.

shelly @familyblt - That last one is the best! So are more babies in your future?!

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - that’s hilarious. and i’m pretty for sure God wants you to have more babies.

Katy Stone - I woke up this morning, logged in to read my blogs and this, by far, made my morning! best thing i’ve read all day. can you please do this more often? (and the best thing is- you don’t have to PLAN anything, just remember!) 🙂

sara's art house - Hilarious!

Deedra P. - I had to laugh…most of these “conversations” sound like what is talked about at our house. From Harry Potter, to underwear (we call them “jockeys”), to being “poor”, and finally MORE BABIES LOL! Have a great day:))

Linnea - These are some of my favorite posts – just random quotes from the kids! Love it and it made me luagh out loud today! You are so blessed to have so many wonderful kids!

Julie - Makes me want babies right this second.

Kimberlee J. - Hysterical. Sean is totally cracking me up today.

Jill J. - OK, I have read the Harry Potter series like 4 times (hangs head in shame) and have never heard of the “crown of knowledge.” But, I’m sure I would like one rather than a pan of baked potatoes.
Love,
Mrs. Chickenspray 🙂

Carrie K - oh gees…i am CRYING these made me laugh so hard!!
you have the coolest crazy kids ever 🙂
oh and dont worry…i was poor and wore scruncies too! haahaahaahaahaaa

Heather Richter - According to google…no Mr. or Mrs. Chickenspray. Our girls have fakey In-American dolls, too. You always make me laugh.
~Heather R.

Michelle - This post cracked me up Meg!

Heather - so funny!! love the crown of knowledge or pan of baked potatoes question. awesome!

Jennifer De Los Santos - I love the way Annie pronounces words. Kate is starting to really talk and it cracks us up the way she says things. “Night Night, sweep tight, not wet de bedbums bite” is one of our favorites. She also likes to go “simmin” in the pool.

katy - Hilarious! Thanks for the laugh this morning after I got 3 hours of preggo sleep with my sick two year old. 🙂

Erica - Oh my goodness… That sounds so great! haha =)

kelli - love it! {maybe even more than i love that drubers pb knot up there!}

Andria - Our oldest still calls boxers “boxsters”, he’s going into 6th. I guess we better tell him, we just think its so darn cute we’ve never corrected him. Our 6 year old says it too. I love the things kids say.

patti - too cute!
i have been trying to write down stuff as my kids say funny things. my mom has all these great things from when me and my brothers were little. like, i guess i used to ask my mom if there was electricity and television when she was a little girl (i am guessing i thought she grew up in “little house on the prairie times”.) – she loved me for that one! hahaha!

Kelsey - hahahaha!!! so cute = )

mandy friend - thanks for giving me a laugh so early in the morning…off to hide any scrunchie picturea before my kids can see…

Tracy - These quotes are the best! So funny, I’m truly laughing out loud! How wonderful to preserve all of this : ) My daughter loves reading your posts with me too….she loves Annie ❤

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - LOL ~ Oh, i needed to laugh! ET was my first movie, too 🙂 I want to be DB when I grown up!

Tracy - LOL too funny! The first movie I recall seeing at young ages were Jaws (at the drive-in movie) – I think I was SIX and it scared the beejeebees out of me and then I saw the black hole in the theatre. Kids are so funny but yours always crack me up because they are just too cute! :o)

Molly Pearce - I loved this!!! I don’t have any kids but I am going to do my own craft day of the week for myself. Your crafts look so fun! Can I come and craft with y’all? Have a happy Tuesday!!
~Molly P

tara pollard pakosta - these are awesome!!!
I love this post!
well, I love all your posts!
it’s like the highlight of my day, seriously! LOL!
sad, but true>
tara

Lisa - Should we try this? Should we try and not fight and get along? Priceless…I wish my boys would try it! 🙂

Lisa K - Hahahahahahaha thank you so much for this great post. I loved it. And I am so happy for you and your kids that you recorded all of that in print so it will never be forgotten 🙂 Precious and priceless. Love it!!

Krissa - these are hilarious…bahahahaha…thats awesome…i wanna read more!!!!!

vanessa - These are my favorite type of posts. I could listen to funny things kids say all day long! The Hunters was the best one.

purejoy - ummm i disagree. i think your name must be awesome. or one of your kids or something. they are so adorable and i love to hear how their minds process. thanks for sharing a window into your world!

Lynda - WHO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE SCRUNCIES!?!?!?!?!?!?!?;)
I like those “tiny”people!!!!
Lynda

Kate - How funny…my V calls ravioli “graveeoli” too…

Kari - My favorite was when Annie was confused about “Hunters” :)! Yay for school being out and you being able to engage in even more conversations with your kids…priceless!

Wendy - I love this post Meg. 🙂 Made me smile. My youngest used to call a bathing suit-“baby soup” and goggles-“gobbles” so it was great when she’d want to go for a swim. “Mom, I need my baby soup and gobbles!”. So sweet!

Lisa - You’re kids are so sweet. I love the stuff they come up with. I came across this blog and thought you would like this post…
http://bedifferentactnormal.blogspot.com/2010/06/rainbow-pudding-pops.html
Take Care,
Lisa

Shannon - I bet there are other bloggies who would want you to take pictures here in Atlanta if you make the trip …hint hint 🙂

Shannon - Well, why don’t you all come to Atlanta so you can see your neice and nephew — AND take Hunter’s Senior pictures!! 🙂 He goes in tomorrow for the tux/yearbook picture! I can’t believe he will be a Senior!

Dana D@BoysMyJoys - This in-specially made my day, Mrs. Awesome!
🙂

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rambling….and craft thursday #4

we went to sugar sisters last week.

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i had the strawberry babycake.
it was the best cupcake i have had there yet.
yum yum yum.


two of my children went to camp yesterday.
i keep thinking i forgot someone…or i need to pick someone up.
this week should be a breeze having only three to keep tabs on.

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at the Y last week i was jogging on the track.
my iPod was on (with my rap music) at the highest volume….just the way i like it.
two ladies were walking and talking together on the track ahead of me.
i thought “i wish i was talking with my friends” as i came up on them.
they turned to me as i was passing them and smiled and said “we love your blog” 
at least that is what i think they said because my headphones were blasting.
ha!

ladies….you made my day.
🙂
the rest of my run was like i floating.
thanks.

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this is the house i grew up in.
it was a lighter yellow back then…not quite so bright.
there used to be a porch swing on the right side of the porch.
craig and i sat out there for hours.
talking.

yeah…that’s it….talking.

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craft thursday…done on a friday…posted on a monday.

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we made tissue paper dragons.
it was difficult to change the mindset to having a perfect dragon to a free form dragon.
i kept saying “just tear and then find a way to make that shape work somewhere.”
and the mantra of “it doesn’t have to be perfect…it’s ART”

sean disagreed.
he would have preferred to use scissors.
but talby and annie could “see” the dragon in the shapes.

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i used watered down glue and our watercolor paint brushes.
our projects are almost always done on mediumweight Sketch Pad paper…found at walmart.

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when we were done i outlined them in sharpie and cut them out to hang up.

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talby

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sean

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annie

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mine

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another successful craft thursday.
yay!

crystal - Those Dragons rock! I love your Blog too!!!!

Robyn - i love this craft! so cute. i may try something similar but maybe with fish or birds.
i hope your friends baby i ok. my godson has been in and out of the nicu for a long time and its SO scary. life changing. and prayers have helped him come a long way. he has a long road still but the prayers have helped him come out of the woods!
so im adding your friends baby girl to my prayer list!

Rachel / cREaTe - soooooooooo CUTE! LOVE that project!!!!! 🙂 and love that sean always crafts with goggles around his neck. ha!

Heather @ Cookie Mondays - Chloe got the swimsuit! And lives in it.
Financial trouble?! How can that be?! Poor Sugar Sisters 🙁

Lisa - I use PhotoShop all the time both at work and home. I always purchase my software from AcademicSuperstore.com Great prices for teachers and students! Hope this helps.

Gina - You can get the student version of photoshop because you have a student. You’ll need her to go with you and have her ID. It’s the same thing but WAY cheaper. We have it on our computer and it works fine. Not that I’d know because I have no clue how to use it…but my husband says it’s great…
If I could drive there Thursday night from Chicago, I’d take that appointment in a heartbeat. I’ll keep dreaming…

Emily B. - That was my friend Jodi and I at the Y! And we DID say that we love your blog! We were both so excited to see you. We realized that you might not have heard us and that it might have just looked like we were smiling and clapping at you as you went by! It made us laugh so hard that I let out a really loud and spastic laugh that echoed in the gym… what a goof. 🙂
I’m so glad it made your day! It made ours to see you!

kristine - sweet art!
will pray for kyler and fam. xo

Rachel - Definitely check out http://www.academicsuperstore.com/. The prices are significantly better and it’s totally legit. I use both LR and PS for editing. The workflow in LR is amazing and it’s really easy to bulk edit a bunch of pictures. Scott Kelby’s Lightroom 2 book really helped me to figure it out how to use it to it’s full potential. You can do way more with PS in terms of editing (ie. layers, masks, more brushes, tools etc). I find myself using PS more when I’m editing for clients or when I want to print something larger for myself. It’s still over my head though so I’m planning to take a PS course for photographers in the fall so I can get the most out of it.

Laura - What a lovely post. God is always in control! Isn’t it great!? I will be praying.

Courtney Walsh - I love those dragons!! How adorable! 🙂
…and I’ve always dreamed of a butter yellow house. Maybe someday…:) I’ll make sure if I have a porch swing talking is the ONLY thing done on it! hahahaha.

se7en - Those dragons are darling!!!

Laura - I bought Adobe Photoshop Elements from Amazon.com for $80-something. Adobe was having a $20 rebate (which happens occasionally). So, I got it for $60-something. I have worked on both and find Elements does exactly what I need – at a fraction of the price. I was thrilled to get such a great deal!
Good luck with your shopping!
Laura

shelly @familyblt - Great post today. I want photoshop too! I couldn’t justlfy it yet though. I want a cupcake now too. yum

tinycandi - I used the free trial of PS…but I wasn’t impressed enough to switch over from Paint Shop Pro. I have PSP Photo XI and absolutely love it. There are so many things I can do with just a click of a mouse. It’s so much more user friendly than PS. I am hoping to upgrade soon now that X3 is out. It’s so much cheaper than PS.

teresa - tell the kids i give their dragons two thumbs up! very nice!

tasha roe - bought mine with my student discount through journeyed.com huge savings!

Michelle - NOOOOO! Sugar Sister’s can’t close. That would make me so sad. I need to get there this week!

Shannon - Lots of memories in that big yellow house! I loved that house

Marie Tere - I just got the PS — $89 with $20 off, $69 wasn’t so bad.
Prayers to baby Kyler.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Praying for baby Kyler… please keep us updated. Thanks!

Georgia - Meg, the house you grew up in is like a dolls house!!!
Thats my dream house!!! lol
UK houses are not so picturesque as the usa. damn its unfair lol
Happy Monday!!!

jennifer - Love the photos of the cupcake shop. It looks adorable! And those dragons looks like a fun project too!
We’ve got an unused copy of PS Elements that I’d gladly barter, or just give you. 🙂 Let me just make sure I can find it! Let me know if you’re interested…

Lisa Currie-Gurney - IF WE LIVED IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, WE’D BE SUCH GOOD FRIENDS. YOU KNOW, THE KIND THAT WALKS IN WITHOUT KNOCKING. GRABS COFFEE FROM THE POT WITHOUT NEEDING TO BE OFFERED. TAKES THE KIDS SWIMMING FOR THE AFTERNOON.
YEAH… THAT WOULD BE US.
HUGS FROM MAINE

KK - Those are adorable dragons! I love each of them. It is amazing how, even though people work on the same project, they all come up with their own interpretation.
I will pray for Kyler and your friend! 🙂
Have a good day!

Patty - The dragons are wonderful. Again, I impressed with how you organize your days…not easy wrangling kids to do an art project on a hot, summer day. Tell Sean that I thought his dragon was very precise, despite the fact that no scissors were used!

Nicole Q. - Love all your random thoughts . . . I think I’ll have to do the dragon craft with my boys. Looks like a fun one! Have a good with a few less kiddos.

Vera - That dragon craft is AWESOME! We are so going to do that. Will pray for your friend’s baby!

patti - what a great craft! I’m going to look at that site now to get some ideas for my kids too. i know i’ve said it before, but i’m sure it’s nice to hear: thanks so much for sharing these everyday looks into your life. i really appreciate it!
cheers to a great week!

www.Kellyloves.wordpress.com - I love the dragons. Super cute. Will def pray for Kyle!
http://www.kellyloves.wordpress.com

Kirsten - Megan, you continue to inspire and amaze, even with photos of cupcakes! Prayers and hugs for your friends and sweet new little Kyler.
And I’m jealous that your kids get to wear swimsuits – we had a softball tournament get rained out this weekend…

Amber - i don’t see where anyone has mentioned this yet…but have you ever looked at http://www.academicsuperstore.com ? i believe ps is about half price there. i haven’t actually purchased from them…but if i were to make THE splurge…i would probably go w/ them. you are supposed to meet the qualifications…but i’m sure you could order via your children’s student i.d.

susie whyte - love the dragons, love the house, love everything. 🙂
sugar sisters was broken into. my husband had to interview one of the owners after the incident. they got a little over $240. if they’re in financial crisis, it’s cause they charge $2.50 a cupcake!! 🙂 haha. if they have to close, i will be so sad. maybe they’ll have to sell their plates. i want their plates so bad. the ones with the metal rims. and the blue melmac flower plates. haha!!

tara pollard pakosta - gorgeous dragons!
we are going to have to make those!
super CUTE!
praying for the sweet baby kyler–
God will hear us all….
bless your sweet blog, it’s amazing.
tara

Amber Zimmerman - Love the craft thursdays (and fridays) posts. 🙂 I’m glad you mentioned the paper you use too. As for photoshop – I have a student version which is much cheaper. It is the same thing, just cheaper for students. I’m not sure if you could ask a student to purchase for you at a local college (someone you know?) or if that is frowned upon? Worth a check at least! 🙂
Prayers for baby Kyler!

AshleyAnn - Those are gorgeous! I am looking forward to the days my kids can do projects like that…one down 3 to go…

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Great craft. Those kids are GOOD.
I had someone recognize me at the gym the other day too. It was really surreal. I felt famous…so I get it. I think I had a goofy grin on my face the rest of the day:)
That house you grew up in was just adorable. I was just thinking the other night how I missed the days when Honey and I would just “talk” for what seemed like hours. Oh to be a youngin’ again.

Juli - Kyler and his family will be on my prayer list.
I adore those dragons and I love your childhood home. Why in the world would anyone take down a porch swing? My hubby’s HS/College yrs were in 1930’s bungalow with a front porch swing. He & I sat and “talked” plenty there. I would swing my niece, while singing her “Edelweiss” as a tiny infant on that swing, when I came home from college. That tiny “baby” got engaged this weekend!

Julie K. - Hey Megan! I LOVE your dragons. So cute.
I use Lightroom for 95% of my work and then Photoshop Elements for any detail work on occasion. It’s so much easier to navigate. The combo of the two are just perfect. But I really really LOVE Lightroom. Just my two cents.
xo ~julie

Tam - The cupcakes look devine! I would like one for breakfast! I also want to purchase PS, i’m thinking Elements is more my speed though. The dragons are wicked cool.

mom - I use PS Elements too at work. I went to a PS workshop and the elements are easier to understand. But you are the professional! It might be good to enroll in a class after you purchase it – it really did help.

Bec - I use full blown photoshop to edit my pictures and honestly, it took me almost 3 years to really come to terms with it and truly start using it to it’s potential. I still have a whole lot to learn, but I’m getting there. I would highly suggest, if you are only going to use it for photo editing, getting photoshop elements. The same controls as photoshop but not overwhelming. I wish I would have gone that route to start with.

Melanie - The cupcakes look delish. I sure whis I had one:)

Patty - Thank you for the mention of the paper you use for Craft Thursdays. Prayers for baby Kyler. Happy day to you.

Christy - Awesome dragons! The house where you grew up is so cute!

katie - i made those cupcakes too…. HEAVEN!!!

Jill - LOVE those dragons! Great work, kids! (and Meg!)

A pocket full of posies... - Covering baby Kyler with many, many prayers!!! (and new mommy and daddy too!)
Many Blessings!
Jill

Amy Cygan - I have lightroom. Really easy learning curve and can export to photoshop if more editing needs to be done. It does a lot. It’s inbetween elements and photoshop as far as what it can do.
I got mine through acedemic superstore. If have to fax/email student report card/ proof of student, and you’ll get a great price. I’ve ordered several times from there. Think about Adobe lightroom. e-mail me if you got questions really. Amy paris626@earthlink.net
I have a dslr and been using lightroom since it’s first version. I do have CS3 but hardly use it.

kat - said a prayer for your friend 🙂
the dragons are cute !

Michelle - The dragons are awesome! Those cupcakes are on my list to make… I just need an occasion.

the road less traveled - two words for your photoshop question…
e bay.
🙂
love the tissue dragons.
and your childhood home~ lovely.

Kimberlee J. - We hit sugar sisters this weekend too. They made Ella’s birthday cupcakes. 🙂

Jodi - Yes, the best way to purchase PS for a MAC is to buy the student version at the Apple Store. Take in your high school daughter, have her show her student ID, and voila, it’s yours for a fraction of the cost. Whoops…hope I don’t get in trouble for telling you that. Mine is a bootleg from a friend of a friend. I LOVE it.
The dragon tissue project is perfect!

Sally Mangham - In regards to photoshop! Have you considered Photoshop Elements? I have been asking a dear friend of mine who runs a tech/imagining business and he suggested that I look at Photoshop Elments because he said if you haven’t ever learned Photoshop it’s a great start with the same editing advantage. Also, I recently discovered an online wk shop — http://everydayelementsonline.com/ . I purchased mine at Fry’s Electronics.
If you decided that you have enough experience and are ready to purchase Photoshop here is a great link http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/80-best-photoshop-text-effects-tutorials-part-iii/
Good luck! Sally M.

Gemma - Hi Meg,
Those cupcakes look yummy! Might have to give them a try. Loved your craft Thrusday/Friday.
Gemma X
http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.com/

Kevyn - I made those same cupcakes from Julie’s blog- for my husband for part of his father’s day. HE LOVED THEM. He is not a cupcake person but thought these were awesome. Love your blog! 🙂

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