So i am lame, Merry Christmas

So I haven't updated the blog in a good 3 months. But hey, at least the pictures in the slideshow are current. I hope you all had a merry Christmas. I know we all did. If you want to download any photos just click on the slide show.

3 month break

So I haven't been blogging in a good 3 months. I normally remember to put something up on here when some of my other lazy blogger buddies put something up (in a kinda keeping up with the Jone's sorta way) but everyone seems to be in lazy summer mode. Although now it seems to be fall and I feel obligated to do a quick recap of what has been going on in our lives.

We are now in S.V. Tim has started his new job that he seems to love and I have my own little part time position. I sell hot dogs in front of home depot. :) The girls are loving it down here but seem to miss there old friends but they have already started to make new friends at church.

Resa had her 2nd birthday and we had a small little party to celebrate. It was a fun celebration with pizza and cake at the park. She really liked the cake her Aunt Christen made her. It was the shape of a car. Theresa loves cars. That kid will sit and watch NASCAR all day if we let her.

Enjoy the slide show and I'll try to post more often.

cornhole

So the other day Tim, the girls and I went to a church bbq/cornhole tournament.  if you don't know what a cornhole tournament is then you are not alone.  We only learned of it the weekend before.  It is played kinda like horse shoes, but instead of horseshoes there is a bean bag (or filled with dried corn).  and instead of a stick in the ground there is a slanted board with a hole in it.  People take turns throwing bean bags onto the board and hopefully into the hole.  if the bags get into the hole it is 3 points and on the board is 1 point.  every round is net scoring and the first team to 21 wins.  this game is apparently popular in the Midwest (where they grow corn).

Tim and I practiced right before hand.  we NEEDED it.  much fun was had and the kids enjoyed running around with all the other kids there.  then it came time for the tournament to start.  it started kinda late and the kids had had a long day.  when it was our turn the kids decided that they wanted to be attached to us.  Tim was holding Mara and I had Resa so we were throwing bean bags with one hand and had a kid in the other.  apparently as parents our balance has shifted so much while holding children that we need to hold them in order to throw properly.  we so rocked that round.  somehow we kicked butt against two guys that play this game on a weekly basis.  then in the next round (it was bracketed because there were 30 or so teams) the kids were playing happily.  we were not holding them.  we did not do good.  it was very bad.  and kinda funny.  we left in defeat after that.  it was a couple hours after the kids bedtime anyways. :)

culture pass

We got a culture pass this week so we were able to go to the Phoenix Art Museum for free.  It was a fun family trip and I think the kids liked the train ride to get there the best.  

If you happen to live in the Phoenix Metro Area then I highly recomend that you go and check out your local library.  Right now they are offering Culture passes to go to local museums and science centers, the zoo and botanical gardens for free.  They are limited in supply and go extremely fast but are renewed weekly.  We always bring our books inside to return them instead of doing one of the outside drive by drops so I can see if there are any Passes available.  

As a side note.  I'm just going to put the t-shirt designs on the right side of the blog.  Since this is primarily a personal blog I figure no one really wants t-shirt designs taking over the content area.

how we have been spending our time

So instead of spending my free time on the computer blogging away and making sure that the pictures are updated, I picked up a new hobby and then got my luvin' hubby is into it as well.  We have been designing stuff to throw onto t-shirts for competitions like the one over at woot.  This weeks theme is air and so we did a dragon in a hot air balloon.  We have some others in the works but this is the only one submitted right now.  I figured I should up-date the post while I thought of it.  I'll also put some new photos in the slide show so all the grandma's are happy.  :)

if you want you can vote on the shirt here.  thanks.

Back to the PhotoChallenge

I decided that I should go back to the photo challenge because it gives me something to blog about daily.  Today, for the 107th day of the year, the photo challenge was gardens.  Well, I live in

 Arizona.  If you don't know, it's a desert.  Then of course I have an apartment in the city.  I have no lawn for a garden.  But fortunately I had a play date scheduled for the zoo today. 

 They have lots of  fun little gardens.  This little rose garden is nestled right by the warty pigs.  It's a really pretty area.  Mara and Resa had fun with their friends and it was pretty cool because we all had strollers and for the most part the kids didn't really want to ride in them.  We had lunch, played in the new play area and then left.  But not before stopping at the splash park.

it's been a month I need to get on this already

So I keep meaning to post about what has gone on and what is going on but then It's been so hectic, frantic, and then I feel obligated to go into detail about all the stuff going on and that has gone on since my last post.  Well, let's be honest people, that is just not going to happen.  It's been a month.  Let's talk about today.

Today I'm enjoying some time out with the kids.  Currently.  I'm at the most awesome Chick-fil-A ever.  It has free wi-fi.  It has a play area.  It has free refills on my cherry coke.   I sitting down blogging while my kids are having fun playing on a slide and climbing through inner tubes.  As a bonus, I have figured out how to automate the slide show so I don't even have to do anything and pictures will go up directly from my camera.  If some are a bit sideways, sorry.  Also if any pictures show up that you want down (because your in them) just let me know.  I know some of you are paranoid.  I'm doing it this way new pictures can just show up and you don't have to wait for me to update all the time.

Tim comes home tonight.  That means I need to clean today.  I let things slide a bit without him.  Mom comes up Saturday.  We get to all look at houses together, except of course for the kiddos.  They get to play at church with some of the most awesome children's ministry people of Praxis church.  I LOVE parent's day out.  :)  

That's what's up with me.  If you could leave me a comment when you read this so I know I'm not doing this all in vain.  

Mara's birthday

We celebrated Mara's birthday this Saturday with friends, family, cake, and some other random encounters.  It was a fun day at the park and Mara decapitated the pinata.  Pictures soon to follow.

My little helpers

So the kids are cleaning my bathroom right now.

Keepin' Up with the Ratliffs

So, it has been awhile since my last post but with my sister-in-laws recent post I feel like I must try to keep up.  

The family has been having tons of fun outside lately.  The weather has been in the Mid 80's this week and who can help but go to the park or zoo to play.  We even took the kids 'hiking' up to hole in the rock.  

Mara is having her 4th birthday this month.  Our little leprechaun was born on St. Patricks Day but we will be celebrating a bit early.  The event will be just a simple park, pizza, and cake affair and all are welcome to come.  Just e-mail me for the info.

We will be moving at the end of the month to our new place in Mesa.  We are really excited.  It is a four bedroom two bath HOUSE.  It has a backyard and fruit trees.  We are really excited.  More on the move soon and if you feel like helping out there should be doughnuts provided.

a cool contest

Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!

valentines

Happy Valentine's Day.

I got to sleep in, eat breakfast in bed, and have roses in my bedroom and tulips in the kitchen.  So far my day is going good.  Later today the most awesome folks at Praxis church will be taking our kids for a few hours while Tim and I have a little date.  The plan right now is to picnic in the park.  :)  

I also wish to say Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad.  They celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary yesterday.  From what I understand, they had a really good time at Texas Roadhouse.  

good bye uncle ed

My uncle Ed passed away on Monday.  He was loved and I will miss him very much.  If I close my eyes I can still see him playing the harmonica.

What's been happening

So, it has been awhile since I have posted anything.  Not much has happened since I last posted, except a wedding, birthday party, a broken car, a long bus ride, a train ride, and an unfortunate incident with scissors.  More info on past events to come soon.  :)

So, another Saturday

Another Saturday is here and it has been quite fun thus far.  I am currently not at home and do not have children with me.  :)  This is a strange concept because, although it is a Saturday, it is not the weekend.  Those come on Mondays and Tuesdays.  But it is the monthly parent's night out hosted by the wonderful people of Praxis church.  The children's ministry staff there ROCKS!!!  Because right now I am at a Starbucks drinking a frappicino and enjoying the music from my sister-in-law's blog.  

So this week has been fun.  Lot's of trips to the park in the most awesome weather.  Theresa is starting to get real brave with the slide and Mara has started to like to play with more playground equipment than just the swing.  

The photo challenge was stymied due to an iffy wi-fi conection.  While at home the stolen wi-fi has been on the fritz and I can't do anything about that.  Then while out with the kids, I'm too busy doing stuff to care about uploading some photos.  But I have mostly been keeping up with it.  Today is Electronics so I just took a picture of my laptop. :)

As a side note.  While I am writing this there is a guy sitting on the street asking for change.  He left his laptop, cell phone, and ipod in Starbucks.  

Minimalism

So today was a fun day.  I got to hang out at Ikea with my friends Rachel and Katie today while at Ikea.  This was special because 1) we had been trying to get together for a couple of weeks now 2) Rachel will soon be moving to a strange far away place, hardly ever to be seen again (the west valley).  Mara was sooo excited.  She is tall enough and potty trained so she gets to play in Smalland downstairs while the mommys roam the store wild.  I got to see many an amazing bed and table in that furniture store while catching up on all the fun events and activities of my friends.  After my 90 min of freedom were up, we went and had a fun lunch with the kiddos upstairs.  Mara enjoyed her macaroni and cheese very much while watching a movie in her special eating area.  Then it was goodbyes and so longs and maybe I'll see Rachel again sometime for a kids birthday or too.

Where was Theresa you may ask during this very fun escapade.  She was at home with my most awesome husband.  Monday is the new Saturday, don't you know.  

After some fun family time and a few chores I have the luxury of going off on my own to check e-mail and whatnot outside in downtown Tempe.  I know it is not all that exciting but it is free wi-fi out here.  Plus it is

 day 12 of the photo challenge.  Today's subject: minimalism.  Ok, going for most of the day without knowing the subject matter to shoot is difficult but when you know at the last minute it can still work out ok.  Maybe I'll try and escape earlier tomorrow to see what it is.  

Oh, for most of you that don't know, I started a photo challenge project.  They list a new project for me to take a picture of and post that day.  It presents a challenge when I can't get online till dusk to find out what I'm suppose to shoot that day, but it does get me to blog daily so you get very recent updates.  I don't know if my life is all that interesting to be blogging about daily but at least I won't hear griping about how I need to update more often.  :)

Sunday

We had a fun Sunday.  We started the day by going to church this morning.  It was our turn to set up the nursery and my turn to run media shout.  On days that we volunteer we always seem to have a better time then when we just go.  Plus Mara really likes to help vacuum up.  After church it was lunch and family nap time.  Then before Tim went off to work I took the girls on a long stroller ride with my laptop.  It is really fun being able to check my e-mail while watching the girls play in the grass.  Plus the wi-fi conection I steal  from my neighbor isn't all that reliable and I haven't been able to get on-line in a couple days.  I found out that today's photochallenge subject is landscape.  Luckily I shot this earlier just because it was pretty.  :)

I hope all of you are enjoying your daily updates.  I'm going to try and keep them coming all year long.  

Saturday

So it was a fun Saturday.  We started the day by going to my friend Allison's house and eating some yummy bannana bread.  I think I should visit her house more often.  She is so fun with kids and always has stuff for them to do.  

Then I got to hang out at Target and try on some nifty clothes.  Target is always a fun adventure and I left with some really cute tutus for the girls.  

After Target I just hung out at home till Tim had to go to work and then I took off to find my photochallenge subject.  It was hard trying to find a moving target but then my kids are always moving.  I played with some of the features of my new camera at a waterfountain I found.   Then on the way home there was a nifty fire engine as well that I just managed to capture.

I left the door open to the bedroom and she just crawled in and fell asleep next to Tim.  :)

signage

So today is Day nine of the photo challenge and today's topic was signage.  As a fun adventure I took Mara out to go take pictures of signs. 

She really liked the idea because she got to ride her trike the whole time. We went exploring all around our neighborhood and even to theCircle K down the street. She was pointing out different signs and she even got to get some bug juice.  

Theses photo challenges are fun to do with the kids and it gives me an excuse to update this blog a little more often than I have previously.  Plus I got to look at alot of fun and interesting signs today.

  

photo challenge

So while I was exploring random blogs I came across many that were dedicated to taking a new photo everyday.  The idea slightly intrigued me and then I found www.photochallenge.org.  It presents a new photo concept to take a picture of everyday.  Seeing some of the previous picture ideas (chair, bread...ect.) I decided to give it a go today and see what I could do over a year.  Today's topic was entropy.  As is defined by them as:

• A measure of the disorder or randomness in a closed system.
• The tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity.
• Inevitable and steady deterioration of a system or society.
• Devolution

So on the way to take Tim's bike into the shop (the spokes popped) I snapped this real quick. :)

Happy New Year

so there have been a lack of post lately.   I'm blaming it on the hectic holiday season and now I just want to wish everyone a happy new year.  Also with the new year comes a new camera.  I hope you all enjoy the pictures.  :)