The Paustenbaughs

52 Fridays: Warmth

It's Friday which means another week of photos from the group of ladies at The Bloom Forum!  This week's theme/word is Warmth.  Let me tell you that I was truly stumped when I first saw this one!  I mean, it's the middle of winter and although we have had a very mild winter, I wouldn't exactly call it "warm".

I took a different twist on the word and walked into a scene in my dining room that brought me warmth on the inside:

I give the girls grief about bickering so much, but in the grand scheme of things they get along so well and really do love each other.  I'm not particularly close with my sisters and when I see them laughing, playing and being together it makes me very happy for them.  We try to foster this as much as possible and go so far as telling them that when they get older and their old parents are driving them crazy that they'll need each other for moral support!!

I nearly didn't use this photo because technically there are many things wrong with it, but the emotional versus the technical side took over and I smile every time I look at it!  I think the grain adds a bit of character to it (at least that's what I'm telling myself!)

Now head on over to Amy Ames, Holly Springs, NC Photographer to see her take on this week's theme!

Happy Friday!!

Too Easy

Pardon the lack of crafty projects this week!  I've been diligently working on a summer mini album that is taking about as long as I expected-a really stinkin' long time!!

But in the meantime, you can head on over to Write.Click.Scrapbook today for a chance to win some yummy Ormolu goodies in today's giveaway!!!

 

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So today we take the plunge.  Our house is officially for sale and I'll be biting my nails until an offer comes through and we are signing paperwork to hand it over to someone else!  I really love this house and will remember it with such great memories for our family, but it's time to let someone else make great memories and make it their own.  Bittersweet for sure.

And the title of the post is too easy because that's how things are happening for this around the world move for us so far-WAY too easy.  It's the kind of too easy that has me looking over my shoulder to see if someone is behind me ready to drop a road block.

As with any major changes in families, not just military, you always prepare for hurdles and road blocks along the way.  And since we move what seems to be almost every Tuesday, then more hurdles and road blocks are presented.  We've had none so far.  Paperwork is going through.  Appointments are kept.  Movers are scheduled.  People are answering emails and phone calls.

Weird I tell you.

Oh those hurdles will come. They always do and we'll be ready!

For now we ride the wave and enjoy the time we have left here with our friends and in this area.  We wait for the hard part to get here!

And because I hate a post without a photo:

Is there a doctor in the house for the crazy person?

7 Years of Laughs

7 years ago today this bundle of laughs came into our lives with a fury!  She is so excited and has been counting down the days since Christmas until it's her birthday!  She has brought us laughs since she was old enough to laugh herself.  She is her own comedian and definitely the family comedian.

Right now:

*She loves Victorious and all things Victoria Justice.  I mean LOVES!!

*Her favorite color is blue.

*She eats waffles every morning for breakfast. Every.Single. Morning.  Except on weekends when she will cross over and eat daddy's eggs!

*She also loves enchiladas, baked beans and all things Subway.

*She still has trouble entertaining herself, yet loves to pick fights with her sister-go figure.

Love this kid and hopefully she never loses that free spirited, laughable personality!

52 Fridays: Words

It's Friday which means that it's another photography theme/challenge from the ladies at The Bloom Forum.

This week's theme is Words.  I love all things typography and was hoping that in my weekly travels to work and school and activities that something along the way would have jumped out at me.  No such luck. However, all I had to do was look around my house and I saw exactly what I wanted to include for this week.

I just bought this last month at The Christmas Attic and fell in love with it immediately. 

This is me through and through.  I am rarely serious and think there are few things in life that need to be taken so incredibly seriously.  Perhaps it's the life we've led as military family with so many unknowns and challenges, but not too many things get me going and fired up!

For this photo I was very close to straightening it more and cropping out the reflection of the sign, but then thought better of it.  I thought with the sentiment of the sign the off kilter and reflection just add to it.

Now head on over to Christine Blaylock, Illinois Photographer to see her take on this week's theme.

52 Fridays: Words

It's Friday which means that it's another photography theme/challenge from the ladies at The Bloom Forum.

This week's theme is Words.  I love all things typography and was hoping that in my weekly travels to work and school and activities that something along the way would have jumped out at me.  No such luck. However, all I had to do was look around my house and I saw exactly what I wanted to include for this week.

I just bought this last month at The Christmas Attic and fell in love with it immediately. 

This is me through and through.  I am rarely serious and think there are few things in life that need to be taken so incredibly seriously.  Perhaps it's the life we've led as military family with so many unknowns and challenges, but not too many things get me going and fired up!

For this photo I was very close to straightening it more and cropping out the reflection of the sign, but then thought better of it.  I thought with the sentiment of the sign the off kilter and reflection just add to it.

Now head on over to Christine Blaylock, Illinois Photographer to see her take on this week's theme.

December Journal - Officially Done!

What a feeling of relief.

A feeling of victory.

Yes, folks, I actually officially finished my December Journal!!!!!!

This is not a huge thing for most people, but it's HUGE for me.  I am notorious for not finishing projects like this and I actually did it!!  And because I'm so proud I'm going to make you all sit through the photos!

A recap of the front:

Thanks for letting me share my excitement!!

My 2 Butterflies

When I was looking back at some photos I took at the family cabin from this past summer this sentiment came to mind each and every time - these are my butterflies. 

They can be fragile, but need to fly and spread their wings at their own pace.  As their mom, well, I want to put a tight cocoon around them and protect them from so many things. Maya is entering that age, you know, the eye roll, the huff under her breath, the stomping of the feet.  Oh wait, the stomping has been going on for some time.  But slowly she is getting there and I have to refrain from tightening my grip on her and actually try to loosen it. 

I made this layout for yesterday's How To on the Pebbles Blog so head on over if you want to see how I created the butterfly! 

And if you haven't gone over to the blog yet, you NEED to go check out the new Country Picnic line from Pebbles!  As a mama of 2 girls it is right up my alley!  The kraft alone will keep me happy for days!

Have a great Wednesday!

 

January Take 12

Last Thursday was the first day of the Ella Publishing's Take Twelve Photography Challenge.  I was so excited to get going on this and I'll admit, have written down reminders in my calendar for each month.  Because, well, I'm a little bit known for possibly forgetting things like this until about 5 pm when it's nearly too late!

I worked on Thursday, and it's one of our busier after school days, so I went with the trusty iPhone for photos.  I plan to go back and forth between the DSLR and phone, depending on convenience.  That's the glory of this challenge: no rules!

1. I'm one of those crazy people that doesn't mind getting dressed up for work. Mind you, I only go to work 3 days a week!

2. We live in metropolitan DC and it's quite crowded. I love living near the city, but also love finding these little pockets of open and rural. This is the view from my school/work parking lot and I love seeing it each week.  Keep in mind that behind me in the school are nearly 3000 12-18 years olds!!

3. Target is only 3 miles from my house and my home away from home.  Oh how I love thee!

4.  Thursday was an awesome weather day here in NoVirginia! I am not a winter fan and these rare warm January days are right up my alley.

5. Thursdays bring an hour of just me and Maya time while Ella is off to dance.  Love hanging out with her!

6.  I seem to forget to photograph my layouts in the winter until it's too late, you know, as in 4:00 in the afternoon!  Got this one done just in time!

7. When Terry isn't here for dinner it means one thing: breakfast for dinner!  It's the female favorite in the house!

8.  Someone has issues with hair brushing.  That same someone thought she was being sneaky and hiding in the bathroom.  Busted!

9.  30 Rock oh how I have missed you and your humor!  Been waiting for weeks for this!

10.  Day off on Friday means a refill please!

11.  Cute boots on clearance?  Yes please!

12.  What, you don't think wine and clementines go together?!!  Love this time of year and the big box of clementines at the commissary!

So that was my 12 on the 12th for January!  Just a reminder that it's not too late to join in over at Ella Publishing for this challenge.  You can start in February, or even do your own 12 while January is still here!

For those US friends with a day off-enjoy!

52 Fridays: Landscape

This week my group from the Bloom Forum has another photography challenge up and the theme was Landscape.  I have to admit that I was not sure AT ALL what I was going to do.  I mean, it's the beginning of January here and there is not a green to be seen anywhere.  It's really quite ugly around here in the NOVA area!

But alas, Mother Nature saved me on Monday, but also cursed me.

I chose this photo for many reasons.  The first is the open area that it represented.  I live in the DC suburbs and open areas are fairly nonexistent around here.  Although I love living near the city, I still love finding those small pockets of "rural-ness". 

The main reason I chose this is for the snow.  It's no secret to those that know me that I loathe winter, and have similar feelings towards snow.  I know, it's winter and it's supposed to snow and most people look forward to it, but there's one person that doesn't - ME!  One would think that growing up in Indiana that I would enjoy it and be used to it, but it's not the case.  If I could live somewhere with no snow from here on out I would sign up in a heartbeat!

I find it beautiful to look at in photos, but have no desire to experience it myself!  

Now, head on over to Emily Bjornson, ND Photographer and check out her take on this week's theme!

Double Up

Today is January 12th, which starts the first month in the new Inspiration Kit  at Ella Publishing, Take Twelve.  My camera and phone are all set and ready to go to document my 12 photos today!  Can't wait to get started on this!

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Last spring Terry's sister and our niece came to the US to visit us all the way from Germany.  They've come to visit us twice before, but this was the first time that the girls could truly enjoy each other and play together.  And play together they did!

With Maya at the age of 8 and my niece at age 9 I knew they were entering that stage that it could take a while before any actual playing took place and they didn't feel awkward around each other.  It was so awesome that within minutes they were off and playing with absolutely no regard for the parents in the house!  We were so relieved and it was an instant relationship between all three of them.

At the same time that it was awesome, it also made me a little sad for them too.  It's years between visits and there will never be a time that they live close enough to run off and play together.  They still email and write back and forth and hopefully that will continue through  many, many years for them.

I chose to document this memory for the girls this week during Pebbles' 2 Pager Week.  I love that photo of all 3 of them during our day in DC and printed it out as a 5 x 7 to showcase it.  I really want to frame it for them too.

And because I am in love with those masking tape stickers I decided to use lots of them down the side of the page.  Lots of the sentiments resonated with this layout and I couldn't resist!