Picture Total...

So I have been wanting to do this for a while but of course I wanted it to get closer to the end of the year. This is a pie chart of every month and the amount of pictures I have taken each month. This figures do NOT include any phoot shoots that I have done with clients or with JJ. I usually put those into a separate folder by themselves. Pretty crazy and even though Project 365 tailed off in about August, I have been steadily taking pictures the rest of the time.

Some Stats:
Total pictures so far: 2,316
Largest month: July, Why? I am not totally sure.. Kristen was home so I did take some pictures of the kids... and Jaemen and I played a lot in the water this month but other then that it was like every other month just took A LOT of pictures.
Lowest month: August... And I guess I just took so much in July I thought it was time for a break.
Average: 210.54 pictures a month

I am sure that November and December are going to top all of those because of the holidays. November already has a great start but I also have not went through those pictures and deleted the bad ones.

Until next time,
Karidan

Scrapbooking update...

Of course with Sherrow gone, I have been getting a little scrapping done. I am hoping to get a little more done tonight or tomorrow night since I cleaned and organized my room a little again today...

Wow... Let me say that again.. WOW!!! I havent showed you guys a page in quite some time. My last post with a page was September!! So I guess I have a few to show you!! Well I guess I will go most present to oldest.

This layout has to be one of my favorites so far.. I really like this one!!! Hope you do too!!!

Next, I just finished a layout from last xmas. Of the twins and Jaemen all wearing their Santa hats. I am hoping to get a picture again this Christmas and the next few christmas'. I think that would be pretty neat!!

Then yes of course my little boy is turning two here soon and this picture was when he was about 20 months... and Almost Two... Then last but not least. I created these when I did get some decent pictures of the twins... I swear I thought I posted these but I can't find the post. So if I have posted these I am sorry for the repeat but I wanted everyone to see these. Hopefully I can get more pictures of them from their first year and now to document more of there lives, like I am doing for Jaemen.























Having Jaemen's first album done is sooo satisfying to me! I love it. It is the first album I have ever completed and I really don't think it ever going to be completely complete. As you can see I am still adding to it!! But I have what I set out to do done. I am now working on more of his second album and already have 5 layouts done in that one. I know that others might not understand the whole scrapbooking world and think that I am a little obsessive about it sometimes. But I love that there is more then just pictures to look at and a story behind it. From this point on I really want to focus on more then just Jaemen in my albums and create a separate family album. So if on the holidays I ask you to pose for a picture!! Warning you might end up on my blog on a layout!!

Well until next time...
Karidan

So when do you think it is going to happen??

When will be the first snow fall??? I know everyone has reprogrammed their stereos in their cars to 100.3. Unfortunetly our new car does not get the reception all that well with that channel so I will have to put together some cds for the down time. Well the weather is calling for 60s again so I propose for you wonderful men that put up the xmas lights every year in the freezing cold.. to get out there this weekend and start getting them up. At least this year you wont lose your fingers. Also if there is anyone out there that would love to help me and put mine up this year, contact me!! haha... No Sherrow knows what is on his list when he comes back from Dickson, Tenn.

Next on the list to update you with are pictures of the TWINS!! Not!! They are not in the picture taking mode at this point of there lives and didnt give me much to work with.. I had some great ideas like I always do. And they wanted no part of it. I think at one point Afton is like how to regular people get pictures. I told her they have REGULAR children. Haha.

And the only one I really liked... I have wanted to get this shot of myself, Sherrow, and JJ but at least I could capture this for my sister and brother....

I, of course, did get a few pictures of Jaemen. He is turning Two, YES TWO, in two short weeks. Wow, I think that this is going to be harder for me then one. He is growing sooo fast! He is learning new words everyday and of course hitting those terrible twos fast also.

Well, until next time....

Karidan

Halloween Activities...

Well, our Internet has been down for about a week now. So I have fell even more behind then I normally already are. With Sherrow only home for two weeks we have been trying to spend as much time with him and get all of our activities done.

So first off we have the pumpkin patch. We had to go on a Tuesday so unfortunately the hay ride wasn't running to pick pumpkins. But they did have a few nasty ones up at the front. Jaemen thought he was strong enough to pick them up. And I am a sucker for cute jeans on little boys.

Note: Why are we looking for a new pumpkin to carve, Dad?? That is becuase we had a little critter I believe one night that was a little hungry and took a rather large chuck out of his pumpkin and left blood from there gums all over it.. Very upset!!

He has sooo much fun at the ceder mill. They have a corn box instead of a sand box.. which for adults is disgusting and you can't even go in with your child because of all the dust in the air but the kids love it. They have a wood train for them to climb in and play in. And last but not least they have these huge drain pipes I think they are for slides and JJ loves coming down those.

Then there is trick or treating... We werent out very long because it was nippy and I am guessing the rest of the people in Michigan thought the same thing cause we didn't have half the amount of people that we did last year. Everyone again loved the costume and it was a hit!! AND I didnt see anyone else have it so I am very happy. Of course Jaemen wasn't really up for pictures he was way to interested in candy.. but here are the pictures I did get. p>

Well until next time,

Karidan

Jaemen's X-mas list...

Well first I just want everyone to know that Sherrow comes home MONDAY!! I am soo excited but he does leave again in 2.5 weeks for another 17 days. But that is pretty short compared to the last 48 days.

Next, I know. I know. You are all thinking like WHAT??? ALREADY?? But as you ALL know I am NOT Rich and I dont think Sherrow is either. So I have to plan a little for Christmas espectically with his birthday just a week short weeks before that. Sherrow and I have come to the conclusion we are pretty much going to do the same thing we did last year. One nice gift for his B-day and then probably 3 gifts for Christmas depending on how expensive/inexpensive the presents we decide on. We understand that he is ONLY two and has no idea still what is going on and doesnt need his parents going bankrupt for x-mas. I love Christmas and would love to give him 15-20 presents to open but seriously he got enough last year that we were overhelmed.

So here is what might show up under Jaemen's Christmas tree. Oh have I mentioned, I have NO idea where I am going to put the tree this year??? As you can see HERE that our tree was in the corner where you go into the kitchen.. Problem this year??? We have accquired a love seat that sits there!! Opps.. So it might be a little snug in our house this year we will have to see!!

Anyways....

1. Jaemen has become a coloring fool so with his new room (that I still havent been able to paint) this will match perfectly...

2. The little people Spin n Crash racer set... I think this is pretty cool and I guess I should keep the tradition going since last year he recieved... The little people.. airplane... dump truck... farm... and I am sure more that are not coming to mind. But these toys he plays with on a daily basis..

3. Lastly, He is really into "choo choo's" as he would say... so I am pretty sure this train that picks up it's own track will be nestled under the tree from Santa!!

I have also heard from a few birdies that he might expect something like this, or this... or maybe this to go with the others.

Until later,

Karidan

Braylon is now a JET!!!

Yes I just wanted to give everyone an update of the ONE AND ONLY BRAYLON EDWARDS...

He is no longer a Cleveland Brown. He has been traded to the New York Jets. And this looks like a WONDERFUL move. Last night he started and can I say only 3 WR (wide recievers) in NFL history have started on one team one week and then started on another team the NEXT week. He was only in NY for 2.5 days and was already on the field with a TOUCHDOWN. Should have been TWO but they said he was down on the one yard line.

So.. Of course this means that I am no longer a Brown fan and I am now a JET fan!! haha...

At a later date...

Karidan

Trick and Treats, Birthdays, and Baking Lessons..

This weekend was a busy one for us. Actually just Saturday.. We had Halloween at Metamora State park with the whole Hill Family. It is a great time for all of us to get together. If you remember last year we did this BUT we were at Holly State park. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a whole group picture this year but I did try to get around and get pictures of most of the kids that were just wee babies last year and can't see in the picture last year. Everyone had a great time despite the FREEZING temps.

The Twins (Dave then Dylan)

The twins were Pirates like JJ was last year. But they had a good time before the Trick or Treating. I actually got pretty good pictures of these mover and groovers above looking at the camera. (since my dear sister wont give me any pictures to scrap I will get my own) There was a Bubble Fogger that all the kids just LOVED.. actually a lot of the adults also thought it was awesome also. You can see little Davey playing with the bubbles... Look at that excitement.

Then I have been holding off showing pictures of Jaemen in his costume until this point so the surprise wouldn't be spoiled. Jaemen is the UPS Man!! I LOVE this costume!! It is SOOO adorable!! He wasn't so good about pictures this time but below the collage of pictures this time is a picture I got of him in August when he went Trick or Treating before.
This little girl has the most GORGEOUS blue eyes ever and is just starting to walk. Don't mind her jacket but is was also the Michigan vs Michigan State game and unfortunately her Daddy went to State. I wish I could have gotten a better picture of those eyes though. She was a tiny little pumpkin last year and this year she was a bumble bee for Halloween. Which complimented the little guy below...

Who was celebrating his 1st birthday!! This is Cameron, my cousin missy's baby. He was Winnie the Pooh even though for some reason I didn't get a picture of either of them... weird. Anyways.. Happy Birthday Cameron. Just a year ago you were just this small.


Other then that, I was baking again for the first time in a LONG time and learned a good lesson. Taste test EVERYTHING before putting everything together or you will be doing this on more then one occasion.

YES that is my WHOLE cake in the garbage!!
It is a Peanut Butter fudge cake. Or at least half of it! The cakes were sooo good I almost couldnt wait to eat before putting the icing on. And that is where everything went WRONG. The recipe calls for Dark Chocolate... Whiped in boiling hot whiping cream. Not that hard right?? WRONG when you use 8 oz of UNSWEETENED Chocolate. It didnt look right before I but it on the cake but I just told my self you went exactly to the recipe and it will come out alright. So I frosted it. When I put it into the fridge to set up a little frosting got on my hand so I figured you are all done just lick it off! Glad I did before anyone tasted that cake it was the GROSSEST, NASTIEST cake ever and it took a cup of milk and candy corn to get the taste out of my mouth. So needless to say I will be rebaking this cake!! Two questions...
1. Should I just buy Hershey's Dark Chocolate candy bars for the dark chocolate?
and
2. Is heavy cream the same thing as Heavy WHIPPING cream??


Ps. For the family members... If you want the pictures you can go to the link at the right of the blog it says Jaemen's Pictures.. Click on Karidan's Gallery at the top and it should lead you to all of my web albums and you can print them right from there!! Let me know if there are any problems!! There are a lot more pictures then I show here!!

Love,
Karidan