january photo-a-day-challenge complete. {almost.}

on instagram there's an aussie gal who came up with a list of photo prompts for the month of january.

i LOVE the idea of a photo-a-day but, i almost always forget or lose interest.
hence, the deserted 365 blog over yonder. --->

this time was {almost} different.
of 31 days i managed to photograph 26.
good stuff.

here are my photos in a collage...that i plan on printing.
how much fun will it be to have all twelve months of these??



i'm already doing really well with february!

are you on instagram?
it's sooo much better than twitter.
and even though i'm not on facebook and have no idea what it's like, i'm gonna go out on a limb and say it's better than facebook too.
look for me, jonahbonah.

handmade photo cards for valentine's day.

i've seen this idea floating around the internet for the last few years.
every year i say i'm going to do it and every year i don't.

this year i was determined.

and i made them!

here's jett holding his finished valentine...

cute, right?!?!

and, here's how you can make your own.

first, grab your camera and your kiddo.
do whatever it takes to get him to understand that he just needs to hold his hand out like that, no matter how silly it seems.
you'll get something like this. {after a kajillion outtakes}


next, go to picnik and add some words.
i chose happy {heart} day! primarily because "valentine's" was too long and running into his head.


have them printed at your local photo shop.

mine look great here on my computer screen yet, they printed really dark.
oh well, too late to worry with it now.
there's only FIVE days until {heart} day!

now, bring them home and grab your x-acto knife, self healing mat, a bag of lollipops, and your photos you just had printed.

in case you're wondering what an x-acto knife is...


cut a little slit above his hand and one below.


gently poke the lollipop through those holes and...

voila!
it appears as if he's handing his friend a lolli!

so, you CAN do this!
easy-peasy, right?!
and cute, taboot!

ok, GO!
you'll get ooh's and aah's from the teachers...of course, you aren't making handmade for that reason, though. :0)

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did you make handmade valentine's??
i'd love to see them.
will you link them in the comments???

it was a good day.

the other day i got happy mail.
did i tell you a few months ago that my mom bought me an epiphanie bag?
well, she did.
a lola, in turquoise.
and i loved it.
but, it had a flaw.
the good folks at epiphanie were so easy to work with when it came time to make the exchange.
unfortunately, the lola is on backorder until spring.
bummer.
at the time i figured i would settle with a replacement of the lyric in mustard.
boy, do i LOVE it!
dare i say that i love my lyric more than my lola?
i do.
i am seriously in love with this bag.
and, it's a camera bag.
bonus!

{no, i didn't get paid to tell you how wonderful epiphanie is}

moving on...

before naptime i took the kids to the park.
to get some fresh air.
and let their noses run...
au natural.
cause they were sick.

and the park is right in front of the housing office.
and i needed air vent filters.
win-win.
jett and mckinley got lollipops while at there.
bonus!




remember that lollipop i mentioned?
well, mckinley decided when we pulled into the driveway that she didn't want anymore of hers.
i was still sitting in the truck {with the door open holding the lollipop} when i looked down to discover a little friend.

for real.
and he just came closer.

i figured i better let him have it before he jumped in to my truck.
i was seriously thinking of my next move if he pounced on me.
what the heck would i have done????
creepy.

but, look at how cute he is??
he scurried off with his sweet lolli never to be seen again.
well, at least not until i'm sitting with truck door open whilst holding a lollipop.

something new. for you.

what's jonahbonah been doing lately?
sewing these cute little zippered pouches!

you can find them here.

when i found these little zebra print dresses i knew they needed a minnie applique.
needed.

you can find this little number here.

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are you having a good monday???

happy sunday.

trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6

an evening in the country.

these girls cracked me up.
after i took this picture they wouldn't let me get another.
look at their boots.
love.




*on our way to the wood pile
*kids and dirt piles
*koen and mckinley
*bonfire
*bathing babes
*aunt jen, mckinley, and kelsey

and one more.

jett got a splinter and uncle morgan worked to get it out.
in the end, though, aunt jen got it.

thanks, jen and morgan, for having us over.
we ALWAYS enjoy hanging out at your place!

her future is so bright.

these were taken while we were home, in florida, at hubs' grandparent's new house.
they have a barn, y'all.

i want a barn just so i can take pictures like this.
all day long.

i predict cousin group shots in front of this old barn for years to come.







and then there's this guy.
my nephew, noah.
whom i don't see often enough.
and i don't get to shove my camera into his face take his picture often enough.
and he's about to be a big brother!


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a small piece of business.
YOU are the winner of my the biggest loser and progresso soups giveaway.
congrats!

if you didn't win this time don't worry.
i have a new giveaway coming up real soon!