This is the Story Of My Life

Happy Birthday Breck!!

Our traditonal door decorations!  We threw in the word "hot" because it's his new favorite word lately.  He doesn't us it randomly.  He uses it to describe the girls he likes.  Yikes!!  Don't worry...his Dad has talked to him about it!!

Traditional balloon decorations!!  This year... hanging from the ceiling.  Awesome.  Although he did say he had a hard time sleeping because of the helium smell.

Breck is finally 10!!  This means he can play 10+ games!!  Joy!!  He is super excited!  Breck is very enthusiastic about things that really interest him.  He loves video games, nerf guns, music, dancing, flag football, cartoon network, legos, youtube videos about legos, skateboarding, and eating cereal!  Breck has passion...just not in school...yet!  He is very smart and his grades don't reflect it....yet!  He is sweet to his Mom (always) and loves to hang with his Dad.  His sister... he tolerates.  He often asks her to give him hugs...which she always denys him...for now!! 

Happy Birthday Breck!  We love you!!

 

Breaking Dawn: Part 1

 

Source: barnesandnoble.com via Megan on Pinterest

 

 

We are Twilight fans.  Yes, I said we!  Vallen was a sweetheart and read them too so we can share it together.  Summer is old enough to read them and she has jumped on board as a fan too.  I wasn't sure if I wanted her to read Breaking Dawn.  It's a little intense and even the author said she thought you should be 15 before you read it.  I went over and over what to do and finally decided to let her read the book.  Some of the reasons I decided to let her read it and then go to the movie:  1) She had heard most of the story from her friends and I prefer she get it from the original source 2) I didn't want her to sneak it  3) It's such a phenomenon right now... why not share it together???  And so we did!!

Summer read the book the week before the movie came out.  We purchased tickets online before the release date, yet, the night of the movie we still went an hour before it started to stand in line...

The movie was the best so far!!  I did have her cover her eyes on some parts...she was all too happy to oblige.  My favorite thing was sharing in all the excitement with Summer.  She loved the long line we waited in, she loved going to see it on the date it was released, she loved how the audience screamed when they saw Jacob, she loved the music, came home and played the soundtrack over & over (we had previously downloaded it earlier in the month), and she & I had fun...TOGETHER!!  It was a great memory for both of us!!

When we were heading to the movie, she recieved a text from her friend asking her to go to the movie.  I asked her if she wanted to invite her.  She said no.  She wanted to go with me.  Of course, then she said she didn't tell her friend that she was going with her Mom...that was too embarrassing...even though she really wanted to go with me and not her friends!!  Her words.  Made me laugh!!

The next night I went with Vallen.  He really liked it too.  We all plan to see it again over the Christmas Break:)

Incentives

I try not to bore you too much with my PTO life.  I feel my brother, Alexander, may think I am bragging about what I do since he doesn't believe in titles and roles and all that jazz...he's entitled to his opinion and I'm entitled to give him a hard time on my blog!!  Love you little brother.

I have realized that I have documented very little of this part of my life.  It's been a year & a half now and I love what I do.  That's what this blog is for...to document the things I do and the things I love!!

SO!

We have a membership drive every year.  We try to earn as much income as possible to cover our expenses for the year.  Unfortunately, schools don't receive all they need from the state.  Our wonderful parents make up the difference so that our children may still experience the arts, physical education, go on field trips, etc.  We try and make the incentives fun, so it gets the students excited.  This year our wonderful teachers, staff, and principal agreed to help!!

One incentive was lunch with the principal!!  The kids loved this...they think she is a celebrity, like a rock star!!  Myself and my co- in all things PTO, Lorraine, hosted a luncheon.  I will say...throwing parties for the kids is my favorite thing.  They love everything and are so easy to please!

 

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Lorraine made these awesome cookies!!  Our theme this year is I love ME (Myford Elementary).

Our GRAND PRIZE incentive was if we made 100% of our financial goal and at least 75% of our students participated in our drive our principal agreed to be slimed!!  We made both!!  

I found the "slime" recipe online.  It's made of powdered jello, flour, water, food coloring, and baby soap.  My kitchen was covered in slime!!  It was everywhere and so hard to get up when it dries.  The nice thing about the slime is that is sticks!!  Ms. Fedderly was in for a treat!!  She was such a good sport.  Seriously...who does this?  We raffled off 5 spots to the students and they each took a turn to dump their slime on the principal!!  The students thought it was great!!

A million thanks to Amy Fedderly.  She has been such a great support to me in my role in the PTO.  She is awesome in every way and the community is so lucky to have her!

(I HATE this picture of me!!  Yep...I've gained some weight back & part of it is the shirt..right?  12 lbs to be exact.  It's frustrating and part of the process.  It stinks.  I have to work super hard to get back on track.  The nice thing is, I know I can do it.  I just have to make it a priority.)

Some of my new FAV's

Friday Night Lights

Breck played Flag Football this year!  It was so awesome.  He loves the game as much as his Dad!!  Vallen loves the game.  He can tell you each and every detail about each and every play in each and every game in ever played in.  The guy LOVES football.  I have always been impressed that Vallen doesn't push Breck to love football too.  Breck has played soccer, baseball, and football.  We have let him find his "love."  He really enjoys Flag Football.  I have to admit, I do too!!  It's  a no contact sport, which is fine by me!

A proud moment...when Vallen & Breck were at practice they were ordering uniforms.  They asked Breck what number he wanted to be, he has always chosen his favorite number of the moment, like 7 when he was 7 or 8 when he was 8.  This year he said, "44."  44!!!  That was his Dad's number.  Is his Dad's number.  He wore it throughout Football and even sometimes shaved it to the hair on the back of his head.  Breck said he wanted to be just like Dad this year.  It was truly touching for Vallen.  He never pushed him to do it...he let Breck decide to do it on his own.  The pride they both had when his uniform showed up and there was a 44 with the name Blackburn on the back was definitely a memory maker!!

It was a fantastic season!!  They lost in the last game before the championship game.  The Colts had a great season, Breck had a great season!  He was motivated and gave his all...most days :)  He did score a couple of touchdowns, which was awesome to watch from the sidelines!!  Way to go Breck!!

 

Responsibilities

I have lots of reponsibilities.  Don't we all.  In my role in the PTO I have lots and lots of meetings.  Some are so fabulous and some are just huh!!  Have I said how much I do love to serve in my volunteer position?  Seriously.  It is my pleasure.  I feel blessed each and every day.  

I LOVE this boy!!

This isn't the greatest photo. It's blurry.  I LOVE IT!!  It's me and my favorite little guy.  He melts my heart this kid!!

Visitors

We love visitors!!  We had Uncle Rick and Aunt Jully come visit us in October.  We love them!!

Photography Class

As if my life isn't crazy enough, I said yes to teaching a class in October.  My reasoning was simple.  I sometimes fill my days with lots of busyness.  It's not always the kind of busyness I enjoy.  It's just things I have committed to do with my different hats in life.  So....when I was asked to teach a Photography Class on October 8th for Super Saturday at church I was intrigued.  I looked at my calendar and it was almost laughable at how I had no time at all to do it.  So guess what I said?  I said "yes."  I was so excited!!  

The week of the class I was so busy!!  SO busy!  The class was at 11:30 on Saturday morning.  I went to sleep on Friday from 10 - Midnight.  Woke up and started my class presentation and finishing touches on my class!!  Summer had spent the evening helping with my handout which was such a relief!  She was awesome!  Such a great help.  Here it is...if you are interested... Download Photography Super Saturday.  I'm realizing it probably doesn't make much sense without my commentary...just squint your eyes, scrunch up your forehead, and really imagine what I may say.  Who knows that may work??

My theme...It really doesn't matter what camera you have (we even took a quiz.  guess what camera took each photo at the beginning of my presentation)...any camera will do...it's about the heart behind each photography!!  We take photos with heart and they will be our greatest masterpiece.  "We take photographs to enjoy the moment twice, in the moment and in retrospection."

Bottom line.  Sleep deprivation and all, it was fun.  I had a great time teaching.  I wouldn't say I am an expert at the topic.  In fact, there were people in my class who take such amazing photos that I was a little intimidated at first.  That feeling quickly slipped away as I started to talk.  The passion I have for the subject made it easy.  I loved it!!!  Such a great, great time!!

Everything I used on my table was from my studio!!  The vintage cameras were a Christmas gift from my sister Kristy that I LOVE!!  

Of course I could never have done this without Vallen.  He helped me set-up, watched my presentation and gave me suggestions, picked up the heart balloons, and told me I was awesome when I was feeling like I could have done better!!  He rocks!!

 

Halloween 2011

We always have fun at Halloween.  In California it's warm and so nice.  We had a great time with our favorite visitor...MOM!!!

Breck's class photo!  

This is the "smore kit" we gave each student.  It's such a fun idea.  Kit includes: Graham Cracker, small Hershey's Bar, and a Ghost Peep!  Microwave the peep for 10 seconds (it doubles in size) and sandwich with the chocolate bar between the graham crackers and enjoy!!  Yum!!

My kids in their costumes.  I was a super mean Mom this year and told them they had to come up with things we already had at home...no store bought costumes!!  They became creative.  Breck was a Jamaican Rocker?!  Summer was super creative...she was Katniss from Hunger Games!!  So awesome.

Breck and his friend Andrei!!  Recognize the guy in the chair??  Yep...it's Country Vallen!!

Don'tcha just love the teeth!!

Pumpkin Carving!

Making Donuts.  Mom doesn't remember but a few times when we were kids we made donuts at Halloween.  Super simple.  Buy a can of Pillsbury Biscuits, cut a hole in the middle (we used a mini pumpkin cookie cutter), cook in 6 cups of oil for 3 minutes, and sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar!!  Yum.

Cooking our signature pretzel cookies.  I didn't take a picture of the finished product.  Oops.  Combine these yummy ingredients for some very yummy cookies!!

Passing out candy is such a luxury.  It's the second year we have had the privilege to do so.  Living in a condo, people never came to our door.  

Happy Belated Halloween!!