And the Oscar Goes To..........

Ok....maybe it's not an Oscar.....but it's close enough for me! I got this award from Jennifer and I am so thrilled! My very first blog award. I've waited a lot of months for this.....ya know....I keep seeing all these blogs where people are getting awards and I'm all...."Hello...people....I so need one of those and we all know I am worthy!" Well.....now I've got one! And I get to give it to people. I am giving to...........My Blogger Besties! (you are supposed to give it to 10 people...but I'm a rebel)..........

1. Angie....because she totally gets my humor and dishes out her own on her blog

2. Jenna......because she trusted me with her blog password (and don't ask me for it 'cause I will NEVER tell)

3. Rachel.....because she is completely HILLARIOUS!

4. Lesli.....because she has the most fabulous, well-stocked liquor cabinet you have EVER SEEN (and I am not even kidding!)

Now for the fine print.....

The rules of this award are: 1. Put the logo on your blog or post. 2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude! 3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post. 4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog. 5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

This is my first post in a week.........I had to take some time off to recover from the freezing cold ski trip (where I was left for dead on a freezing mountain...but I'm over that).

So, I am back at it!

love to tha peeps!

hrk

There's No Place Like Home....

Ahhh.....Home Sweet Home! We got home last night at about 6:15pm. Took us exactly 10 hours to get home! I read a whole book again, The Secret Between Us. Good book! Poor hubs drove the whole way....I am not good about that...ya know...driving. I like to relax and read and sleep and watch movies and never drive. Thanks, babe, for driving the entire 20 hours.

Soooo....I have to post a video of Evan skiing a black (that is the hardest of all ski runs). She is such a great little skier! I was seriously so impressed with her. You would never think this was only her second ski trip. And she was sooo sweet and good and patient with Ella and me when we went way too slow for her and could only go on the easy stuff (not that I would call it easy---because it was NOT!) but Ev thought it was, and she cheered us on and was a doll!

This video is short, obviously hubs took it because my butt never even looked at a black, let alone attempted one. (i am not even gonna get into the story about hubs leaving me for dead on the mountain when i fell and my ski came off and he just kept on going while i ALMOST DIED up there in the freezing cold, stuck, and i ended up basically sliding down half the mountain on my butt....nope...not gonna get into that because i am over it...can't you tell).

So here is the video (it doesn't showcase her talent, believe me, the girl is a pro!)...(i'm not proud, huh?)

view from the patio of our house.....it was really pretty

Talk about a proud Daddy!

Sweet sisters.....warming up at lunchtime in the Lodge.

So...now I'm off to plan our next vacay to somewhere warm and toasty where I will have no fear of being left for dead on a snowy mountain...but, like I said, I'm over that!

hrk

Ski Trip Update.....

Hmmm...did I say that skiing was fun?

I changed my mind!

hrk

We Came. We Skied. We Are So TIRED!

OMG! I did it. I skied and I have to admit, it's fun. I was pressured into going on way more advanced runs than I ever should have tried, and I fell a lot....and it is exhausting to fall..get up..fall..get up..fall some more! I have never been more tired!

Ella finished ski school....not before begging me to let her quit before lunch...saying her head hurt, she hates skiing, she keeps falling.....she tried everything. But for the first time ever I did not cave in to her whining...I just walked away from her class and left her crying. Then I fretted and worried over it for hours....and when we picked her up, her teacher said she did the best in the afternoon and that she was ready for the bunny slope! She went up several times...came down like a champ...and loved it!

Evan (this is her second time to ski) took off and was unstoppable! Seriously...I was soo proud of her. Not only did she tolerate Ella's mood this morning and keep a positive attitude...she skied like a pro. She is sooo Brave! TOO Brave!

Anyway, all is well and we are ready to do it again tomorrow!

Evan...the champ!

My first of VERY MANY falls!

At the top of a BEAUTIFUL mountain after I dove off of the ski lift and made a complete fool of myself.....It wasn't pretty!

Ella's first time down the mountain!

And back at our house, the kids got some relaxing hot tub time! hrk

We made it!

We are here in Santa Fe and all is well. We went to rent ski equipment after we got here, and I caved in to the pressure from hubs and the couple we came with and rented skis. We shall see how that goes! I am refusing to go to ski school, so I'm sure I will never figure out how to do it...but at least I can say I tried. It all looks a little scary to me. And cold, which I hate!

Anyway, no pictures to post yet. We are all so sleepy and have to get up early to get the kids to ski school....so I'm off to sleepy town.

Keep me in your prayers. It could get ugly tomorrow....with me trying to ski and all!

hrk

Half Way There....

So, we headed out yesterday afternoon for the snowy mountains of Santa Fe. We got to Amarillo, TX at about 10pm and stopped at a hotel. Actually, we stopped at 4 hotels before we found one that had a room available. It is such an easy drive from our town to Santa Fe. You literally get on the interstate and never turn or change until you reach Santa Fe. I read an entire book on the drive here. The Reader. The book was sooo good and now I can't wait to go see the movie! The girls are such good travelers. This trip is 10 hours total, so it is cake compared to our last ski trip to Colorado that took 13 hours, or the trip to Destin that t00k a little over 12. DVD players and Nintendo DS's have changed the world of traveling by car for kids. My brother and I used to fight like crazy when we were stuck in the car together on long trips. We would draw an imaginary line down the middle of the seat that the other couldn't cross, then we would cross to make each other mad. Ha! Those were the days.

Anyway, we will head out of here soon for Santa Fe. I can't wait to see it. I am not skiing (not for me) but I have heard that Santa Fe is a beautiful place to visit, so I'm looking forward to that.

No pictures to post now, but I will post tonight...hopefully!

love to tha peeps

hrk

Want to see something AMAZING.......

You have maybe read by now about the party at Lesli's house on Saturday night. You bring a photo that you want to have painted, and this gal sends it off somewhere, someone paints it, and you get a fabulous oil painting of a treasured photo at a GREAT PRICE.

The problem is....they paint the photo exactly as it is, there is no modifying it.

Hubs and I decided we wanted a portrait of our beloved Boston Terrier, Brother. But, you see, Brother is very weird (VERY weird), and everytime I would put him somewhere and try to pose him...he would hunker down and lay his ears back (can you say FA-REAK!). Not so cute for a portrait. On the other hand, if I brought him into the kitchen with a bunch of ugly stuff in the background, he would sit up....ears perched...like the beauty that he is (just sayin').

UGH! What is a desparate girl to do?

Why....call upon a fabulous photographer to work some magic with Photoshop, that's what!

Here is the picture I took: (note the lovely pink basketball between his ears....wouldn't that look fab in an oil painting?)

And after MikaBeth works her magic:

Could you not just die!!!???!!! That chair is in HER house. Brother has never even seen it...let alone sat up in it like a handsome stud!

I love it soooo much. This is going to be the prize possession that my girls will fight over after hubs and I die. When hubs saw what MikaBeth did with this picture....he was seriously beaming. Now anyone who knows him knows how he loves this dog (and everyone else's dog for that matter) so this is such a great treat for us. (non dog lovers...bear with us).

I will be sure to post a picture of the painting when it arrives. And Angie and I are going to have a party in April, so start picking out your pictures that you want to have painted.

She had a ton of examples at Lesli's party and they were amazing....and I'm telling you...the price is right! hrk

Ella's Perfect Day.....(part 2).....

Ahhhhhhh......home.

The party was a success. All Ella's friends came.......so much fun.

Here is the delicious and soooo cute cake!

And below, the shirt I had made for her at Snug as a Gypsy (or whatever they are now). Told you I went over the top with the Spongebob.

Love this picture! And this one. This is all of her BFF's from school. They are such a precious bunch of kids.

She had the best time and got the most fun gifts. Lots of Spongebob stuff and lots of puppy dog stuff. Her peeps know her well!

Evan got her a tetherball set. How much fun! We are going to try to get that all set up tomorrow. How much would you have loved a tetherball in your backyard when you were a kid? I would have.

The perfect day.

hrk

Ella's Perfect Day....(part 1).......

Ella's day started with waking up to a house full of birthday decorations (ok..just a banner and balloons) and this gift! WOOT WOO! A Nintendo DS of her very own....and blue I might add, her favorite color.

Then lunch with mom and dad and her BFF...Hungry...(he's one of daddy's coworkers, nickname is hungry).....at Art's Barbecue (her fave).

Then back to school....and mom got busy making goody bags for the PAR-TAY!

Check out these yummy goodies:

OH-YEAH!! That is a Spongebob iced sugar cookie from Paul's Bakery. There is nothing better!

On the otherside, I put stickers that I made with....Spongebob...of course.

Let me warn ya...I am THAT mom. The one who let's her kid pick a theme and the goes over the top. The mom I SWORE that I would NEVER BE! Wait till you see the cake and the shirt I had made for her. You'll just puke!

Be back after the party!

hrk

Awwwww.....Had to add the pictures.............

Ella in the belly.... Ella out of the belly....

Ella at 12 weeks.....

Ella at 1!

Ella's one year pictures!

I know, I know, how many posts can there be about Ella's birthday?

Well.....we haven't even got to her party yet....so probably at least one more!

hrk

Happy Birthday, Sweet Ella Bella.........

Ella Katherine... she is my kindred spirit. she wants to live with me forever. she can make me smile at a glance. she never stops talking. she loves animals more than anything else. she would spend every waking moment outside. she is tender. she is loyal. she has the BIGGEST heart. she is my soul mate. Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Girl!

the day before 6.......

Tomorrow, this sweet baby girl will be 6 years old. Hard to believe!

Drum Roll Please.......

Let me start off by saying that I am pleased with the turn out for this giveaway. 17 comments. That's better than the 9 I got last time! That said, I entered a contest today on some blog and I was comment number 241. But, whatever, I'm feeling good about my 17 entries. So good, in fact, that I decided to have 3 winners. HERE THEY ARE: Grand Prize Winner: (according to random.org which picked #8) the Sharums. Yay for you. If you will email me your address at heatherkohler@cox.net, I will put this in the mail to you.

The next winner of this canvas: (accoring to random thingy which picked #2)

is ANGIE!!!! @ Miss Dylan!! HOORAY! I could not be more excited about Angie winning because she was as excited about my giveaway as I was. She texted me this morning to tell me she was on pins and needles till 8pm. Love me some bloggy enthusiasm!

And the 3rd winner of a little chalk board on a ribbon thing is:

(according to random doodad which picked #11)

is Lesli at the Alder Boys!

(Sorry, Les, it's kindof a wimpy prize but better that nothing, right?)

That was so fun!

hrk

It's Giveaway Time!!!!!

Go Shorty...it's my birthday!

I know, I know, you've been waiting all day for my giveaway post. (kidding, only 9 people entered my last giveaway....I know I'm not that popular!).

Anyhow....this giveaway stuff is FU-UN!

A Home Sweet Home sign, Some Vera Bradley stationary, and one of my home-made chalk boards on a ribbon. Check out the goods:

All you have to do is leave a comment. That's it.......no jumping through hoops and turning circles....just a comment!

The contest will end on Wednesday night at 8pm and I will post the winner then!

And......you don't have to have a blog to play. Just be sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.

By the way....look what my sweet girlys got me for my birthday.

Nanny took them shopping at Wal Mart and this is what they picked. I love these gifts more than words can say.

And I have tortured those girls all day long........every single time they start to gripe at each other or argue about something........I scream "I WILL NOT LISTEN TO THIS ON MY BIRTHDAY!" or "THIS IS NOT MAKING MY DAY FEEL SPECIAL"

and what can they do?.........they stop fighting. For only one day...but it's great.

love to tha peeps

hrk

ps....thank you for all the sweet birthday wishes! they made my day before 33!