New Google+ Photo Settings

I have been on Google+ for a long time and have never really used it a whole lot.  OK I use it about as much as I use any social media which isn't a whole lot.  But I started using Picasa Web a long time ago for backing up my pictures. Recently they moved Picasa Web to Google+ Photos which wasn't that big of a deal as it works pretty much the same.

However, today I uploaded some images from our cameras and found a new feature.  Apparently Google+ analyzes the images and tries to find images that are similar and then it uses those to create collages of images or even animated GIFs.  I originally shared this on Google+ but I don't have that many friends there.  So then I tried to share it on Facebook which it turns out doesn't support animated GIFs.  So I thought I would try to post it here.  So here it goes.

Chloe trying out her new Sit and Spin

Another picture of the Sit and Spin

We have been having a lot of fun jumping off the couch.

Not only can it do animated GIFs but it also tries to create nice collages.  We had one really nice one that popped up.

Yes she likes to pose

Strike a Pose

There was another one that would be nice but it selected some out of focus pictures.

So the only complains I have so far are 

1. It is a royal pain to share pictures from Google+ photos to anything else (Facebook, twitter, etc...)
2. The desktop version of Picasa doesn't support animated GIFs which means it doesn't even try to download them

We also took some pictures of our Neighborhood Memorial Day Parade that Google animated for us.

Our cub scout/boy scout color guard

Some of the local kids in the parade

A Bunny From Target

OK So I have not done so well at getting the family blog going again but that is just life.  This morning we had a new Chloe Quip of the Day.

All of our children love technology.  Whether it is a tablet, a computer, a phone or something else.  It is interesting to see how that has changed in the last 7 years or so.  I remember when our oldest first started playing on the computer.  This was before tablets and before we had smart phones.  She would sit there and play and love it.  Our oldest has now graduated to tablets and loves using tablets and phones.

Interestingly enough our 3rd child, since she is no longer the youngest started with tablets and phones and has now decided she wants to play on the computer.  Unfortunately the computers that we use for the kids are old laptops.  The first thing I noticed is having the screen right there did create some confusion.  Chloe kept touching the screen like it was a tablet and got very frustrated that it didn't work.  So I showed her how to use the trackpad but it just didn't click.  So this morning I told her I would have to go to target to get her a mouse.  Once I convinced her that I would do that she calmed done and decided that she could wait.

Then as I was preparing to walk out the door to work she runs in the room and announces "Are you going to Target to get me a bunny?"  It took both of us a minute to realize what she was talking about.  Then we had to explain that we were not getting her a mouse that is an animal but rather something you can connect to a computer and use.

So the Chloe Quip of the Day is

"Are you going to Target to get me a bunny [for my computer]?"

And what we learn from this is that although you can find a mouse to connect to your computer at Target I think it will be very difficult to find a bunny.  If you do happen to find a bunny I don't recommend trying to plug it into your computer.  Not only will the furry cotton tail not be good for your computer but I don't think the bunny will appreciate it much either.

Trying to blog again

OK it has been a very long time since we made a post on the blog.  The kids have grown a ton so I am going to try to get this going again.

For those of you that don't know my family, our youngest is 2 years old and her name is Chloe.  She says and does the funniest things.  I see people post little comments about the funny things kids do and say so I thought I would start the Chloe Quip of the Day.  It may not make it every day but we will try.

This morning as I was walking her down the stairs she says to me "Porcupines are yum."  Now as many of you know 2 year olds aren't always completely intelligible so I repeated back to her the statement and she confirmed that apparently "Porcupines are yum".

So there you have it.  The Chloe Quip of the Day is

Porcupines are yum

FHE: The Round Table Troubadours

Tonight for Family Home Evening (FHE) we went to the Orem Public Library (http://lib.orem.org/) to see Resonance Story Theater's "Kind Arthur and the Troubadours". It was a fun filled evening that kept both of us and our 6 year old and our 4 year old entertained.  The kids were sad when it ended and they really had a great time.  I would recommend this to anyone in the area.  They are doing the show again at the Orem library on October 11, 2010.  It is free and a fun opportunity. 

One funny moment from the evening was about half way through both Jo and Bella needed to go to the restroom as we left the theater area Jo said to me "Dad we can't pause this can we."  Apparently she has become accustomed to the DVR and being able to pause things when you have to get up.

Jocelyn's First Short Hair Cut

So to make a long story short we got tired of asking Jocelyn to brush her hair every day.  My solution (this is Marc by the way) was to shave her head but she didn't like that idea.  So I agreed that short hair would do and Jocelyn was excited to have short hair.  So here it is:

So far it has worked great.  She really likes it and told is several times yesterday that as soon as it grows out even a little bit we have to take her to get her hair cut.  She even called me at work to tell me that so I think it is a hit.

Kohl's Cares

Kohl's is sponsoring a contest where schools have a chance to win some money.  Part of the process is having ideas for your school but another part is getting votes.  Each individual is given 20 votes and they can give 5 to each school.  So please go to http://bit.ly/dopQUD and give the girls school a few of your votes.  I am working on some ideas for the contest.

Mud + Kids= Heaven

We have a little area of dirt under one of the tree swings and it is almost magic...you add a lot of water and well....

Landon was a little more "clean" about the whole experience.

So, I suppose playing in the mud is enjoyable for the kids but I think the hosing down part is certainly more enjoyable for the moms!

Happy Spring!

We love Spring!!! The weather has been teasing us with beautiful sunny days and then snow or rain, but we sure enjoy the sun when we get it!

Jocelyn loves playing on top of the play house (especially with her friend Landon) usually pretending she is some type of superhero or characters from Bolt (Penny and Bolt).

The backyard has been so wonderful for the kids and for mommy! Along with the yard came a couple fun swings that the girls love! Jocelyn was making funny faces while this picture was being taken...another favorite past time.

Bella just loves this swing! It is "her" swing! She could sit in here for hours and just sing her little songs. One day she laid her head back and said something about wanting to sleep in it! A swinging bed sounded perfect to her. Fond memories came back as I remembered that as a baby the only way I could get her to sleep was in the swing.

Dinner outside! Seefood anyone?

Walks to the park and "fishing" in the stream.

The girls love to ride there bikes! Jocelyn is very agile and fast with her bike! The other day she was even doing tricks (she would lift her feet up and put it on the middle and swerved left to right). She actually taught herself how to ride her two wheel bike when she was four (almost five). She wanted to ride a two wheeler so badly and I would try to help her but it just wasn't working. So, I told her to keep trying and she would figure it out. She practiced in the backyard on the grass and obviously she got it figured out and now she is unstoppable.

Bella on her little bike! So Cute! She trys to keep up with Jocelyn and ends up dragging the bike behind her sometimes because she gets a little frustrated. I think she needs a bigger bike!

And we can't leave out hanging out with our dear and a little crazy friends Cori, Landon, and Trent (not in pic).

Just me and B. hanging out while the boys (Marc and Trent) kicked the soccer ball around and the the kids and Cori played on the swings.

Need I say more? Life is GREAT!

Come on baby let it snow!

Pre-Christmas we got a lot of snow, and more snow, and more snow, snow that is still covering our backyard snow. Jocelyn at first was all about playing in the snow and now in January that interest has gone dormant. Anyway, looking back...

Look her eyes are crazy with excitement!

Oh, now she is gitty!

Jocelyn made long distance friends with the kids across the street! She said they were making The Tick (one of her favorite cartoon hero's inherited from her dad) and they inspired her to make her own.

Pretty impressive don't you think!

Jocelyn and Bella working on their snow masterpiece. The snow was perfect for making a snowman and snowballs!

Our very own Frosty the Snow Man! By the time we got him done it was snowing like crazy and freezing, but it sure was fun! Marc was sad that he had missed out on the fun. That darn work!

While Jo played outside in the snow Bella liked to go inside and get warm, maybe eat an orange, and of course put the peel in her pocket! Isn't that where you put your orange peels?A few days later Jocelyn decided that Frosty needed to go to snowy heaven, and she had a great time tearing him apart!

Happy Birthday Jocelyn!

My baby turned 5...in December! I learned a lot about what not to do and therefore what to do to make a happy birthday girl and mommy! Because if the birthday girl ain't happy ain't nobody happy! We had decided to celebrate Jo's birthday after daddy got home and that's when she would open all of her gifts from us and her grandparents. Well, let me just say it was a miserable day! Poor Jocelyn was so anxious to open her presents, so all day we had lots of crying and asking if daddy was home yet. So from now on presents will be done Santa style...as soon as she wakes up! Of course I am sure there will be issues going that route too but we will have to live with those! I just felt so bad because of course she was excited and I was so frustrated with her little cute self. The important thing is that the day ended on a happier note!

The sweet little birthday girl anxiously watching out the window for her daddy to get home. I don't know how long she sat there but if she would have waited the whole time she would have been there for at least a couple hours. I tried to tell her that it was going to be a long time but watching for daddy made her feel better...temporarily at least.

After a lot of drama and crying I had had enough and it was time for her to go somewhere else before I lost my mind. I talked her into laying down and resting which luckily she did.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

Jocelyn loves Batman so naturally she requested a Batman party. I have to say it was fun to plan a party that had nothing to do with princesses or fairies! Because super heros are just no good with out a costume everyone got a cape (just fabric cut and tied) and masks.

Marc helped the girls turn the paper they decorated into a paper airplane for one of the games.

This was the target that everyone was aiming for. Great bat sign Marc!

There were other games and activities but I didn't get any good pictures of those. But we did get some of the "eating of the cake and ice cream".

Here we have all of Jocelyn's friends. Terra, Landon, Savana Jo, Corrine, and Maggie. The sad thing is that most of these kids will move before her next birthday. Jocelyn keeps talking about her next birthday and who she is going to invite so I told her she will have to make some more friends in Kindegarten.

Thanksgiving 2008

I am still playing catch up but I guess it doesn't matter when it gets done, it only matters that it does! We haven't been home for 4 years or so for Thanksgiving so I was so happy to have my sister and her family come and join us at our house for Thanksgiving! They came out in 2005 and my sweet sister pretty much made the whole dinner as I laid on the couch and intermittently ran to the bathroom to throw up...I was pregnant with Bella at the time. Needless to say it was a wonderful Thanksgiving without any throwing up and lots of family time! My sister and I made the dinner together and it was yummy! I can't believe after all of that work that we didn't think to take a picture. The only thing I did take pictures of apparently are the kids.


As we were preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner Marc tried to help keep the girls entertained. So, the girls made turkey's using their hand prints which all turned out very cute! Here Bailey, Jocelyn, and Paige are crafting!

Bella's finished turkey...gobble, gobble!

Bailey with her Turkey...Gobble!

Paige showing her version of the handprint Turkey.

After we ate our dinner we took the kids to see a movie. We planned on seeing Madagascar 2 but they were sold out. We saw Bolt instead which I thought was cute but Marc didn't like it as much. The critics that matter loved it however!

After Thanksgiving was over we took everyone to Kangaroo Zoo to let the girls get some energy out. We love this place or anyplace like it!

Unfortunately, this is the only clear picture that I had of Paige. She was upset but not for long!

All in all we had a fantastic Thanksgiving and thank you Jackie and Clint for making the drive out here to spend it with us! We sure love you guys!