44/365: A Little Love

The kids and I made these Valentines for all their teachers.  It was fun!  We did not, however, make homemade Valentines for all the kids in their class.  I am kicking myself now, because it is something we always do.  Next year I will make the effort.

43/365: Funny Girl

Olivia and I were taking photos with my phone when I was supposed to be watching Cam play basketball.  Alas, though, I spend most of my time entertaining her because...well... she is 4 and has the attention span of a gnat!  On this particular day we played a lot of "baby bear".  She was the baby and I was the Mama.  I really had to stretch my imagination for that role.  I kept telling her that it was time for baby bear's nap, but she wasn't buying it.  We played about 100 rounds of Tic-Tac-Toe and then I had to resort to an electronic device.  No games, just photos.  She started off all cute and sweet and then I asked for one more.  I had the camera set so we could see the photo as we took it.  She had this cute smile, and then just as I snapped the photo, her face went crazy!  I almost peed from laughing so hard.  I love this kid!!

42/365: I Am Not Proud

I am not a very observant person.  This is not a trait that I am proud of.  A new restaurant could go up in my back yard and I would not notice for months.  I have walked by this rock dozens of times since moving to the park, and never once noticed that there was a plaque on it.  Never mind actually reading it and knowing that Abraham Lincoln's son stood there and read the "Declaration of Independence" on July 4, 1860.  Now, I think that is pretty cool.  I should learn to open my eyes a little more.

41/365: Mommy's Little Helper

How can a Mama say no when she asks me if she can "help" do the dishes.  Granted, I spend about 20 minutes extra cleaning up her cleaning mess, but I really have nothing to complain about.  She is a happy, happy girl.

40/365: I Am a Glutton

My table next to my bed.  I am so gross...

39/365: My Hearts

The Me & Ollie's Cafe in Newington has desserts that no other Me & Ollie's has, like these cupcakes.  These are extra special because they are the first ones I decorated all by myself.  I was very proud of myself.

38/365: I Hate This Picture

But it is the only picture I took on 2/t/2012.  The tomato is organic, so that is a plus...

37/365 : Gone In 60 Seconds

Last week I went out for a couple of beers with a couple of co-workers.  It was the first time hanging out with friends from my new job outside of work and it was a ton of fun!  My first beer went down very easily and I only had a chance to take a photo of the empty glass :)

I took this photo with my Droid and used a photo editing app that I downloaded.  I know I really should be using my DSLR, but I am finding that this is easier for now.  The next 10 posts or so are all taken with my Droid.  Once I am caught up, I will try (I stress "try") to use the DSLR more.

36/365: A Super Bowl

Of delicious taco salad.  Yum.

35/365: Ugh... Here we go!

Every 365 Project needs one of these!  I just didn't think mine would come so early in the year... alas, I cannot worry about it.  Maybe I need to buy a really cool clock for when this happens again!

34/365: Coffee Talk

Today I met with an old friend to talk about a business opportunity for which I am very excited.  I will not share too much right now, but let's just say that I feel empowered today!

33/365: Got My Name Back

Yesterday I spent the day reclaiming my old identity.  Social Security and the DMV have both been officially notified that I am once again "Amanda Jane Phelps".  Third time is a charm, I say!!

I absolutely LOVE my license photo.  Too bad my license expires at the end of this year...

32/365: Dance Baby

Ugh.  Should not have cut her hands off in this photo.  But, it is the only one I took this day.

Olivia still loves dance class.  I am so happy that she is sticking with it.  We are really looking forward to this year's recital.  We practice at home, and it won't be long before Cameron knows the routine as well as we do!

31/365: Last Day of January

First time skiing this winter.  Actually, to be fair, it is my first time skiing in about 12 years!  But, it is like riding a bike.  It all came back to me.  I went to Gunstock with my dear friend Lee Anne and we had a fabulous time!  I so enjoy her company.

I took this photo with my Droid.  After receiving a tip from my friend Michele, I found that this camera isn't actually that bad.  And so much more convenient to carry on a ski lift than my DSLR!

30/365: I Needed a Hat

On Monday I realized I could not find my hat and I was going skiing the next day.  So, having some free time on my hands without the kids, I sat down and I knit a hat.  I really, really like it!

29/365: January Heat Wave

This winter has been ridiculously warm.  We are not sledding at Stratham Hill Park, we are playing on the playground.  Outrageous!

27-28/365: Music Together.

My friend Lee.  She is beautiful, kind, giving, funny and fantastic!  I am so lucky to have her in my life.  Last weekend she and her two boys spent the weekend at our house.  The kids had an absolute blast having a sleepover.  The next morning she treated us to a "Music Together" class that she is trying out.  She is a music educator and quite talented.  The class was so much fun for the parents and the kids.

Cameron is my shy guy, but the class was so much fun that he participated in the whole entire thing.  Olivia was having so much fun that I couldn't take a photo of her, but she was there.

Lee's littlest one, Charlie, wearing big brother Casey's boots.  He was so proud.

26/365: Yogurt Drink in Solid Form

Yum!

25/365: Our New Routine

When we lived in the Lakes Region, Olivia and I had a dance class day tradition of getting a blueberry muffin at a local coffee shop.  You can read about one of those adventures here.  Since moving to Stratham we have found a new place for our Wednesday morning dance class routine.  There is this local place called Country View Restaurant.  The kids call it "The Moose Place" because it has a picture of a moose on the sign.  I had been here a few times with my parents over the course of my lifetime, but now it is "our place".  The waitresses all know us by name and take very good care of us whenever we are there.  Olivia orders a chocolate chip pancake and gets chocolate all over her face.  Donna, one of our waitresses, has a little girl and we will soon be getting together for a play date.  Maybe even some skiing.  We like the restaurant, even though Olivia's face in this photo tells a different story...

On a side note, the camera on my Droid is garbage.  I should have taken the plunge and got an iPhone (although it was far from FREE and I couldn't pass up FREE since I can't pay my heating bill...)

24/365: Yogurt Smoothies

Ingredients:

1 or 2 ripe bananas (can be frozen)

1 cup frozen berries (we use strawberries and blueberries from the summer)

1 1/2 cups yogurt (Stonyfield Farms Organic Blueberry)

1/2 cup citrus juice such as OJ or grapefruit (pineapple would work too)

2-3 tbsp Wheat Germ

Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend together.  Use the leftovers to make yogurt popsicles.  These are a hit at my house and they are so yummy and so good for their growing bodies.  I love that they love to eat healthy!  They love to eat junk too, but I just pretend they don't.