Family Rules

well, here they are. the rules of our family, also known as family rules.

I have been admiring the subway art that seems to be very popular right now, but not so much the subway art price tags. This little project has been floating around in my mind for quite some time, and I thought it would be a chance to attempt some 'on the cheap' subway art and incorporate some family rules.

And this past weekend I finally got resident designer on board. I love it when he gets on board! I like to think of us as a team. You know, the two's of us coming up with an idea, figuring out the best way to execute said idea, and then, voila! a masterpiece is born.

I can't be certain but I think his version is, I have a wild hair, I tell/nag him about it, and then he does all of the work. Either way, it's a beautiful thing.



And for the record, I am pretty certain every single rule was broken before the mod podge had time to dry.

goin' back to Cali

In July the TN Alexanders boarded a plane to go spend a couple of weeks with the west coast Alexanders. We have not been back to CA since we moved five years ago, so we were long overdue for a visit! We flew into San Francisco where Scotty, Dawn, Sadie, and Braden picked us up at the airport. We wasted no time finding us an IN-N-OUT. (Don't tell Ryan, but I have now crossed over to the 5 Guys side. It's a better burger and better fries. There, I've said it. And I am sure I will pay a steep price for that little confession.) After our burger, we headed down to Pier 39 to show the kids around.







That's M gettin' his first taste of cotton candy, aka sugar that has been dyed with food coloring. A highly nutritional snack! He wasn't sure what to make of it, and the look on his face was a crack-up!

After our time in SF, we spent the night and then headed up the coast to Ryan's parents. We were only there for a few days, so we had to cram a lot into not a lot of time.





We had fantastic weather while we were there! When you are on the coast, you just never know. Could be rainy and foggy, but if it isn't, then usually the weather is just about perfect. And we got lucky! We managed to accomplish the ocean, the river, surfing, hiking, eating, a photo op or 6000 for resident photog, and lots of laughing and hanging out.

One of the reasons for our trip was for Ryan to help his brother run a week of camp at Lassen Pines. So, after the coast we loaded up yet again and headed for Redding. We went from beautiful, breezy 65 degrees to blazing hot 115. Yikes! We lived in Redding, but man, I forgot what 115 feels like. It is warm for sure! We stayed in Redding for a couple of days with our good friends the Corns (more on that later) and then headed up the mountain for a week of camp at Lassen Pines. It was a bit cooler up there, which I was grateful for!
Ryan created the logo for the camp theme and then was responsible for set design and setting up/running the lights and all things technological. Here are the guys that they worked with and some of their handiwork.


And while the student camp was happening, there was a junior camp going on as well, so little P got to be an official camper with her cousin Sadie. Two little girls were lovin' life! However, one small anxiety attack for me when I asked P about her shower schedule for the week and her response was, "Yes, I took a shower. On Wednesday." Heaven. Help. Us.


All in all we had a great time! Two weeks is a long time, and I was ready to be in my own bed. But I love the memories that were made and am grateful we had the opportunity to go! Love you west coast Alexanders!

A for Effort

What do you get when the man you love makes an effort to 'help out' around the house by not just loading but also starting the dishwasher?





What do you get when through your uncontrollable laughter you ask, "what soap did you use?"




Bonus Features or Gag Reel, whichever...

1. "The soap under the sink said to fill both cups, but it ran out after only filling half of one of the cups. So I filled the rest with this."

2. "It says 'dishWASHING' liquid."

3. More laughter.

4. Said 'dishwashing liquid' did not even belong to us. It was put in my bag accidentally at the store and was sitting out to be returned.

5. Trying to get control of laughter while asking where the camera is.

6. Answer to question about where camera is, "I don't know."

7. More laughter. Knowing full well one of our children would be misplaced before said camera would be.

8. Locating camera and trying to take pictures without shaking while laughing.

9. Very clean and shiny dishes.

10. Very clean and shiny tile.


R-love you and am grateful for all of your 'help!' You are a good sport and always give us something to laugh about.

3rd Grader.

Well, here we are. The end of summer. Goodbye summer; hello alarm clock. Boo! We are on the tail end of our first week back to school, and so far, so good.

We did the annual school supply date last Wednesday night and got all of the necessary supplies sure to make 3rd grade a big, fat success. The list was a bit shorter this year than the last two. Which is nice because that means less searching, less fighting crowds, less money spent, but is also a bit sad, because it also means our girl is getting older. We did have a small discrepancy in the folder choosing. Man do 8 year old girls love them some puppies and kitties. But we survived. Choosing the just perfect notebooks and folders makes me a bit nostalgic for my Trapper Keeper days. Man, did I love my purple and pink trapper keeper.

P loves her school and was excited to go back and see all of her friends. She again got the teacher that she was hoping for this year. God has been so good to us in the teacher department. Every year He has given us the perfect fit for P. I pray for it all summer long and try to rest in His plan for our girl, and that His ways are better than our ways.

Here she is on her first day this year...





(Side note: please notice P's friend Janvier in the background of the pic with her and her teacher. Those two have played on the same soccer team and this is their 2nd year to be in class together. She is a hoot!)

Here's to a great year 3rd grade! And P, you can stop growing up now. Thanks.

you know your dad is a photographer when...

today P and I were doing some 'back to school' shopping. I, being the cheap-o mom that I am, kept steering her towards the clearance sections. I would hold up potential articles of clothing and get her opinion. At one point I hold up a cute little lavender top, and she, being her daddy's child and apparently a super model in the making, says, "I like it okay. I could probably wear it for photo shoots."

oh. my. word.