An Update From Me!

Well, a lot has been going on the last few months including an new Mac computer which has been a little adjustment.  I have also started working from home doing IT and Marketing work for two different clients. The kids (and me) have a busy schedule...gymnastics and karate after school.

I am also thinking about transferring my blog to Wordpress since that is what I work with every day with my new client.  I want to be able to blog but also promote my new crocheted hats and bags.  I do have a new Etsy store - you can view my items at http://www.etsy.com/shop/npiromsuk.  I haven't really promoted it yet since I am still working out some details on how I want to go about this little business.

Soooo...now you know why I have been MIA lately and I will post some new pics and stories this weekend to catch you up.  See ya soon!

Natalie

Love that Photo!!!

I took this photo at Karate with my new MacPro computer. There is a program called Photo Booth and the kids love this program. It records photos and videos with the web cam and you can choose different effects such as black and white and sepia.

The only problem now is that Paige bugs me constantly to play with this super cool program...Ughh!!

Missing in Action!!

Well, I haven't been around for awhile because I have recently re-entered the work force - working from home. I belong to site called hiremymom.com and they have tons of new jobs every day for moms that need to work from home.

So I have two part time jobs now. One of my jobs is a Marketing position for an online knitting pattern company called Sweaterbabe.com. I am in charge of the contests, giveaways, etc. for her company.

The other position involves creating blogs and websites for another online company called johnnybtruant.com. I love this work - it is challenging, fun, and getting me back to what I used to do.

The best part about these jobs is that they are flexible and allow me to be at home with my two little ones. I do hope to post more in the next few days. I usually can catch up a little on the weekends!!!

Paige’s 4th Birthday Party

Click here to view this photo book larger

Teacher Gifts

I worked very hard the month of December making homemade gifts for the teachers.  I took composition books and made personalized journals for the teachers and Eddie’s co-workers…12 in all!  For the bus drivers I got holiday Glade candles and made Christmas labels to wrap around them.  Everyone got Lindt and Godiva chocolate truffles, too!  Everyone loved their gifts.

Shiah and Orange Belt Grading

Shane participated in a Karate competition (Shiah) last month and competed against three other students that were in his age range.  There was two different categories – Kata (Practice Form) and Kihon (Fundamentals/Basics).  Shane received a silver metal in both categories – second place.  This was great for him.  He was so happy and so proud.  His medals are hanging on his closet door where everyone can see them!  He also had his testing for his orange belt and he did great! 

To view all pics go to http://npiromsuk.smugmug.com/Karate/Shiah/15062131_MyQHA and http://npiromsuk.smugmug.com/Karate/orangebeltgrading/15061815_Hyqbg

Go to www.mokarate.com to learn more about our dojo!

Cookie Time

I couldn’t go through the holidays without making some frosted Christmas cookies so we decided to try the Trader Joe’s Christmas cookie kit.  The dough still required mixing, chilling and rolling out but it was still easier than making it by scratch.  It came with 3 different cookie cutters – snowman, tree, and star.  The frosting came in a packet but there wasn’t quite enough to cover all the cookies.  I frosted the cookies and Paige did the sprinkles.  We used some other decorations from last year to make them a little fancier.  Anyway, here are some pictures:

Playing Catch Up!!

I am super backed up on my posts as usual but I will try and catch up a little today.  They might not all be in order so bare with me!  My New Year’s resolution is to be a better blogger…haha!

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Click the link if you can’t view it here: http://npiromsuk.smugmug.com/School/PaigePerformance/15144055_aNRvu

Outdoor photos

Eddie took some great photos outside last weekend so we could get a few shots for our Christmas card.  Here is one that I really like of Shane.  I am also trying out SmugMug for hosting my photos and videos.  Click here to go to this album.  Take a look and let me know what you think!

P.S.  A SmugMug Power membership for Christmas would be an awfully nice gesture!!!

Aunt Lacy Comes to Visit!!

	My sister, Lacy, and her kids came to visit us last week.  They haven’t been here in over a year so we were very glad to finally have them visit.  We only had four days with them but we did a lot.  There was a lot of play time outside since the weather was mild.  I got some really cute photos of them enjoying the outdoors together.  The link to the rest of the photos is below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/npiromsuk/sets/72157625460057130/

Shane’s School Photo is In!

I was so excited to get Shane’s school photo back so I could put it up next to Paige’s but I discovered that it didn’t turn out quite as nice as hers.  He has a hard time smiling on cue – usually forces it too much.  The pictures on the left is last year (kindergarten) and the one on the right is this year.  He looks older and now has two new front teeth!

Matching Costumes

This is too cute not to post.  Paige went as Tinkerbell for Halloween and Moose (Auntie’s dog) has the same costume from a while back.  I had to take pictures of them together because they both looked so cute.  Moose was not thrilled to have a costume on but he tolerated it for a little while.  We had to keep Rudy away from him because he just wanted to tear it off.

Paige’s New Best Friend

Paige’s new friend is named, Murrin, and we went to her birthday party a few weeks ago.  It was a barbeque dinner outdoors and we all had to bring a macaroni and cheese dish.  I don’t cook much so my dish obviously wasn’t the best!  Anyway, here are some pictures of Paige and her buddy (she just turned 4 years old).  As you can see below, they have the same jeans and shoes on.  Murrin had to put them on so she could match Paige.

It’s amazing to me out close they have become in such a short time.

A Worthwhile Video

The Philadelphia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, teaming up with over 130 NFL Alumni Philadelphia Chapter Cheerleaders and UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania, invite the world to help "Team Ra-Ras Kick Breast Cancer." To encourage viewers to share the video with others and increase breast cancer awareness, UnitedHealthcare will donate ten cents ($.10) per view to The Philadelphia Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure up to a maximum donation of $100,000.

Paige’s School Picture is In!

I had to scan this year’s photo and last year’s photo so that you can see how much this little girl has changed in only one year.  She looks older, taller, wiser, more mature, and, of course, more beautiful.  My little girl has grown up so much in the last year and has truly become her own little person.  I am thankful for our wonderful school district for providing her with such great assistance in speech, etc.  Any who, let me know what you think!!?!

Shane’s Halloween Festival

Shane and Paige dressed up last night for Shane’s school festival.  Shane was a soldier and Paige went as Tinkerbell.  I was able to get some awesome photos outside before we left. 

We had dinner there – hot dogs, chips, and dessert (of course).  We played several games – knocking down cans with bean bags and getting frogs into a bucket.  We decorated foam pumpkins and also did a ring toss.  The kids had a great time!  There were lots of good costumes including a homemade iPhone costume!

Anyone for a game of Sorry?

I took a picture of this because it is just too cute!  Shane drew the the Sorry game board on his Doodle Pro.  He got the pawns from the actual game and found a die and he and Paige played Sorry on his Doodle Pro.  He makes me so proud to be his Momma!!!

Grandpa and Grandma’s Visit

Grandpa Mike and Grammy Cheryl came for a visit at the end of September.  We had a great time together.  The kids got to play Sorry and Angry Birds with them and Grandpa Mike taught them the thumb dance (see below).  Shane got to show them his cool karate moves on Saturday morning.  We were lucky to get a babysitter so that we could do a nice dinner with them.  We finally tried out Andria’s Steakhouse and it is excellent!   

Strange Bird Encounter…

I have been watching the birds around our home for the last several years and these weren’t your typical sweet birds.  Eddie pointed it out to me – there had to be 15 to 20 birds right under the bird feeder.  They kept trying to fight each other off for a place at the bird feeder.  It was the strangest thing.  I took a few pictures from the window but when I tried to open the sliding glass door they all flew the coop!