Busy March!

Real quick recap: this month has just flown by I'm telling you. I've been busy with filling in open shifts at work (evenings and nights) on top of my own job which has made my mind so scatter brained! On top of that, Miss Reese turned one. Ryleigh had soccer camp and her words on day one were, "it's boring". On the last day, she decided it WAS fun and we got some video and pictures of her playing that I will have to figure out how to post on here. (It's like t-ball, she didn't like the practice, but once she played in a game, it got fun----she even asked in t-ball if she could skip practices and just play the games.....) I guess maybe she's just not into sports like her mom was. Of course, Landree wanted to play. Well, we got through the 3 weekend soccer camp and at least for this year, know that Ryleigh isn't interested in it. Glad we found out before we spent money on it. Maybe, just maybe, she's into something different. She loves music. So, I found a GREAT deal on a piano and bought it this week. Now, I am trying to find someone to give the kid lessons. I think she will be a quick learner on it as I've already taught her a VERY EASY SONG!! Haha! What else, we had parent teacher conferences and got wonderful reviews on our Kindergartner (somewhat opposite of how she is at home) so we were impressed. I can't believe she will be graduating from Kindgarten here soon and will move on to the 1st grade. She is riding her bike awesome without training wheels!! We have been outside nearly every day this month enjoying the beautiful unseasonably warm weather. Reese has been trying to walk here on her own, letting go of furniture and taking steps. She fell the other evening and has a big purple bruise right below her right eye. Jason and I are cleaning out the house, trying to get ready for a garage sale we are going to try to have. So, my house looks like it has thrown up a girls botique as there are clothes all over the place. I wish I knew someone who was having a baby girl now or needed some baby stuff as ours (although having gone through 3 kids) is in really good shape. Also, this weekend, we are hosting the neighborhood gathering. I think we are ready besides giving the house a good cleaning. The girls are going to spend the night at my parents! Then here comes April with the million and one birthdays and anniversaries along with Easter.......crazy that I haven't even gotten my Easter decorations out yet.....someday I will be more on the ball. Give me one more year!! :) Have a great rest of the week, weekend and I probably won't be back until April!!

March birthdays!

Well, another crazy busy month has flown by and here we are in the last few days of March! And, what a beautiful March it's been! One of the nicest I've been through here in Minnesota! I didn't miss any birthdays, I just didn't get them on here! So, happy late birthdays to these special peeps: Haley on the 3rd, Aunt Kelli on the 21st (great to see you via Skype), Brea on the 22nd! I don't think I missed anyone! So happy birthday to you ladies that we love so dearly!! Oh goodness, I did forget some stuff, happy birthday to little Carter, and happy anniversary to his mommy and daddy, Matt and Andi! I didn't forget Reese either, see below!!

Happy 1st Birthday to Reese!

I can't believe it. I can't believe Miss Reese is 1 years old today. It just doesn't seem possible. It was a fun, low key day! We had a small get together with our family, Grandpa Danny, Grandpa Kev and Grandma Pam! It was a gorgeous day, 82 degrees and we spent a lot of it outside! I wonder if Reese will ever see it this warm on her birthday again....maybe! It sure was cold last year when she was born....with some snow on the ground! I made her cake this year, and I tried matching it to her shirt. I don't have the dots matching perfectly the colors like I was going to try, but I think it turned out looking good anyway. It was fun, easy and I didn't spend to much time on it, but it sure tasted good! Here are some pictures from her 1st birthday!

With her sisters

With mommy and daddy

With Grandpa Kev and Grandma Pam

The cake

She got her hand in it here before I got to take the picture, but it sure is a cute picture anyways!

The gifts and cake!

With Grandpa Danny

Opening of presents:

What is that.......

The after cake look

Here are some pictures taken of Miss Reese for her one year photos! I have more I'd love to share, maybe another evening this week!!

Practicing!

I have been practicing taking photos, but as you can tell, I am far from professional. I took some pictures for some friends of ours and I know I edited them, but cannot find those, so here are my favorites that I worked with. They have the nice ones, but these were the first ones and after talking to my friend, Ana, I think I had the settings messed up a little bit. But, I keep taking photos, hoping one day to capture the perfect one! These were taken in mid November!

Then, Jason's family was all here for Thanksgiving and it had been quite a few years since the last time we were all together and had a picture taken, so I took some them, as well. We used a black back drop in the garage and a spotlight for my lighting. It was HARD. There were a lot of us and I hope everyone liked them. But again, not a professional!

Quint Family Nov 2011 - make slideshow

Then when we went home for Christmas with my mom's family, I took some photos of my Aunt Lisa, Uncle Al, and their kiddos, Brittany, Haley, Brea and Blake! I thought these turned out the best so far. I LOVE the background of the outside ones, it's on the porch of a rectory believe it or not. Beautiful for a picture. In fact, I think I might take my girls there to get some picture maybe this summer if we head back to Nebraska for anything! I wasn't pleased with the inside ones, but you live and you learn, right. I wish I would've put them with the window at their backs as the windows reflected off of their glasses. But, again, ...........learning,.......... not professional!! :) I have been learning a lot though, and it's nice to practice on something other than my girls who run when they see me get that camera out!! haha

Shrage's 2012 - make slideshow