I don’t even know where to start. November 22, 2008

It’s been way too long since I’ve updated my blog!  October was filled with the craziness of the MOPS convention in Dallas, Carina visiting, getting Oscar neutered, Hanson tour, and a couple of Sixers shows.  Needless to say, I’ve been playing catch-up for a few weeks!  I’ve thought to myself many times, Gosh, I need to update that blog! It seems so overwhelming at this point that I’m not even sure where to start.

Even though tour, I tried my best to keep adding one new ‘green’ resolution to my list each week.  I haven’t posted anything, but I’ve been doing - and that’s really the important part!  I’m hoping to set aside a few moments to get Fifty-Two Green up to speed!

I’ve found a new love/project!  (I know, just what I need is something else to try to accomplish!)  I downloaded a trial version of Adobe’s Photoshop and absolutely fell in love with it.  Many of the first days of November were consumed with Photoshopping all of my photos from the Walk Around The World Tour.  Alas, I’ll never be able to afford the program, but it was amazing to experience it for 30 days!  I actually discovered that I had downloaded the trial for CS3, and CS4 is now out.  I’m in the process of attempting to download the CS4 trial, and hopefully have the program for another 30 days!  It really is an incredible tool and I wish like anything that I had a spare thousand dollars to drop on it.  Alas, my financial priorities are elsewhere….

Speaking of financial priorities, I’m proud to report that Alex & I are officially out of debt!!  We didn’t have much to begin with, but after listening to Dave Ramsey, we decided that we want to operate on a cash-only basis from now on.  We paid off our car, my student loan, and our credit card.  It was a thrilling feeling to close our Capital One account and be able to quote Dave: “What’s in your wallet?  MONEY!”  Of course we have many more ‘baby steps’ to accomplish, but for now, we’re very satisfied with being debt-free!

Fun at the park. September 20, 2008

On Thursday and Friday of this week, I had the opportunity to take Jonathan and Benjamin to one of the parks near my house.  Both days were absolutely gorgeous and afforded many picture-taking opportunities!  On Thursday, the sun was much less glaring than it was on Friday, but unfortunately I had left my memory card in my computer so I didn’t get to snap many pictures!  We had a great time both days, though.

I love times when we can just play and not worry about completing work, being too loud, running too fast, or being too rough.  It’s great to let them have “boy time” and just observe how they interact with each other.  And it’s fun for me to chase them around, push them on the merry-go-round, and snap photos.  Of course I’m usually persuaded to take a video or two… these two are budding cinematographers!

I tried to get a nice, frameable picture, but of course the boys had other plans.  I don’t know how the real photographers handle sessions with children.  Though I can manage to capture a good photo with one boy, it seems to be 10 times the work to get both of them to smile, put their hands down, and not make a ridiculous face at the same time.  I took almost 90 pictures on Friday and out of the lot, one is decent enough to be called a portrait!  I keep promising myself that someday I’ll get a good picture of all three of them.  It has yet to happen!  In the meantime, I keep telling myself that the “bloopers” are precious, as well.  I have quite a few photos that capture each child’s spirit that I probably wouldn’t have if they sat still and cooperated every time I start snapping away.  In fact, some of my favorite pictures (especially of Ben) have been taken when he’s acting completely silly.  So, maybe I shouldn’t keep trying for that “perfect picture.”  Maybe I’ve already got it. ♥

(Click here or either picture for more park pictures!)

This week, in review. September 5, 2008

I love blogging, so I’m not sure why I keep putting it off.  Actually, I take that back – it’s because I hate blogging without including photos, and I’ve been way too lazy to take or upload them this week.  But something about the morning light inspires me, and I finally ventured out today.  (Pictures right, bottom, and in About-face.)

Last weekend, one of Alex’s friends from work stayed with us.  He would’ve been stranded at his house all weekend (his vehicle-operating roommate was on vacation), so Alex offered him our guest room.  I felt bad that we’re sort of homebodys and there wasn’t much exciting to do!  We spent many hours playing Rock Band, though, and I have to say I’m becoming a better fake drummer every day.

On Saturday, our friends Cody & Phil from back home came over for dinner.  Cody goes to school in NoVA, and Phil was out visiting him over the long weekend.  We grilled out and had more food than all of us possibly could’ve eaten – despite the fact that I forgot to serve the chips and potato salad!  It was wonderful to see both of them again and re-connect with what we’re all doing these days.

Monday was a glorious, work-free day.  We went to Old Town to take advantage of some Labor Day sales.  I was particularly excited about Crate & Barrel’s advertised 70% off.  Though nothing I got actually ended up being on sale (a new toilet bowl brush, cutting board, and hamper), I was glad that I finally got to use the gift card given to us at our wedding.  Of course, a trip to Old Town wouldn’t be complete without eating at La Madeline and shopping at Ann Taylor LOFT.  Loft was having quite the sale themselves, and I got a couple of shirts for $17.  A bargain, if you ask me!  (Which you obviously did.)  Monday evening was spent with friends.  Maery Beth & Jason Turner hosted a cook-out for friends & neighbors.  I had a wonderful time relaxing, eating good food, and talking with friends!

Tuesday was spent doing catch-up from the weekend: laundry, cleaning up the first floor, ironing, and doing dishes.  We had the second fencing contractor out to give us an estimate.  Though his initial estimate was almost double the other company’s (!), he decided to match their price.  I had been hoping that one or the other would be lower, and that would make our decision for us, but no such luck!  I suspect that if we do decided to install the fence, we’ll go with the second company.  The man seemed very dedicated to his work and told me about a couple of features that his price included that his competitor’s didn’t.  We haven’t made the final decision on whether to put one in or not – it’s the price of the fence plus the price of a lawnmower.  Yet it would be so nice to have a contained backyard, with Oscar and with new job possibilities… more on that later.

Last night Bible Study was at my house.  I love hosting, but boy – it felt cramped!  Next time I think I’ll have to scoot back the couch to make room for additional dining room chairs in the living room!  Our discussion seemed more weighty and delved deeper than it normally does, at least in my opinion.  I have a burden to be transparent with these wonderful women, and last night that seemed to come to a head.  I know that personally I need more accountability and revalation of my sins.  Hopefully very soon I will have an accountability partner – someone who can really get in my face and love me to the point of hurting my feelings!  I feel somewhat like a caterpillar wanting to emerge from her coccoun, to employ an old cliche.  Nevertheless, I yearn for change in my own heart more than I have for months.  Now there’s cause for a smiley-face sticker for God!

Drizzle, drazzle. August 28, 2008

Today was a rainy one.  I love taking pictures of drips & drops, splitters & splatters. (Click here or the photo to see more pictures from today.)  I left the windows open and it got downright chilly in the house – I had to put on a sweatshirt!

Alex & I would like to put in a fence in the backyard for Oscar.  Today a man came over from one of the two base-approved contractors to measure and give me an estimate.  Holy smokes, it’s way more than I thought it’d be!  I’d really like to have the fence for Oscar, but I don’t know if spending more than a thousand dollars to upgrade someone else’s property is something we should do.  If it was our own, permanent home, I’d do it in a heartbeat.  Someone from the other company will be coming on Tuesday to give us his estimate, and then I guess we’ll make a decision.  A thousand dollars… that’s a lot of tour money!

Bible Study is tonight.  I look forward to Thursday evenings all week.  The women are so kind, and it’s so nice to be plugged in to a group with the same values as I have.  I always leave feeling refreshed, connected, and ready to tackle my flaws for another week.  Of all the things I know I’ll miss when we leave, it’s definitely this group of very special women.  I’m trying to not take them for granted now, but instead appreciate every gathering we’re blessed to share!

Glorious end-of-summer. August 27, 2008

Yesterday was the lovliest day we’ve had in a long time, and today is its twin sister.  The sun is happily shining, but not too intensely.  The wind is blowing a soft breeze, making my wind chimes sing.  The grass is green, the flowers are blooming, and everything looks beautiful!  The only disruption is the constant sound of chainsaws – apparently it’s “cut down tree week” here on Andrews.

The tree removal really bothers me.  They’ve taken down about half of the trees in the small woodsy area behind my house.  Yesterday they took the tree in my front yard (granted I was afraid it was going to fall on my car/garage), one down the street, and one across my sideyard.  Today they’ve moved along and are taking all kinds of beautiful old oaks in our neighborhood.  I am dismayed because trees are so good for the earth, and I do so much to try to save them by recycling, etc., and here they are just chopping down tons of them!  I know they’re not paper trees, but still… I am sad.

Positives from yesterday:

• Baked banana bread.  I had a lot of bananas this time so I made two batches – one big loaf for Alex & I, and four small loaves to give away.
• Met a new neighbor (Nikki) and her dog (Ollie).  She’s very nice!  We chatted for a while and made tentative plans to grill out sometime this weekend.
• Made plans with Cody (friend from Iowa) for him & Phil to come over on Saturday evening to grill out & catch up.  It will be great to see them both again!  I haven’t seen Cody since March, and I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen Phil since June of 2007.  Exciting!!

Today I’m doing laundry – I love the smell of freshly-dried clothes when I’m folding.  I set up the card table in our guest room, and I might even get some scrapbooking done.

Beautiful days inspire me.  Oh, did I mention that the AC is off and the windows are open?  Love.

Brand spankin’ new. August 22, 2008

I admit it: I’ve got blog envy. I’ve seen many beautiful blogs and they always make me think, Wow, that person really has her life together! Look at how organized she is, how many beautiful things she’s made, how easily she can stay in touch, and how wonderful her photos are! I’ve had enough of clunky blogs that are difficult to customize or require someone to be registered in order to view. So, here is my brand spankin’ new blog. Will it change my life? Probably not. But I’m in one of those moods where I feel like I could change the world, so I figure it’s a pretty good time to change my blog.