kids sing 2012

Yesterday was quite interesting.  Nathan had been looking forward to this program called "Kid Sing 2012" for a long time.  I had no idea what the program was all about, but none the less was looking forward to hearing the 3rd graders sing.  He had been asking me for the last month "Mom, do you know this song," and he would start singing familiar songs like Rock Around the Clock, The Grand Old Flag, Zipedee-do-da, etc.  He's got a great little voice, so it was very fun to play this game with him.  

Karlie and I picked Steve up from work and headed to the High School auditorium bright and early yesterday morning.  Well, this wasn't a typical performance.  It was more of a field trip for all the 3rd graders in the Bentonville school district.  They packed the auditorium with kids, and then the music teachers led singing from the stage.  Needless to say, us parents were told we would have "standing room only" if all the kids were present.  On top of that, one of the teachers told us that parents weren't invited! What??  Had to back down my frustration a few steps and accept that there was super poor communication for this event and just enjoy the singing.  Nathan's teacher was apologetic and even admitted that he thought parents were suppose to come.  Oh well... Nathan had a great time, and it was super cool to hear an auditorium of 3rd graders sing the National Athem! :) 

I took my camera and captured some shots to share.  There was a great barbershop group that shared some songs as well as the Middle School Choir that sang 3 songs (and let me tell you - they can SING!).  All in all, it worked out just fine and was pretty fun! 

leadership: veggie style!

Here's my latest article for First Arkansas News... click here to go to the article. 

Thanks again to my husband Steve for his wonderful editorial help! :)

jedi training

So, our kids are big Star Wars fans now.  They love the Cartoon Network's new series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  They have sabers that really light up now thanks to Christmas gifts, so we have nightly Jedi Training in our backyard.  I took my camera out and caught David and Karlie playing together (aka Luke & Leah if they actually did grow up together in the story!)...

 

She's a little sinister looking in this picture don't you think?  The action moves fast outside.  It's good to see they can play and have fun without tattling! :)

reminiscing

When I was fishing through my boxes a few ago to find all my Gramps dollars, I also came across a lot of our old pictures that are waiting to be scrapbooked.  The problem I have is my pictures are not all in one spot (except for the digital files- I know where they are!).   When we moved from Oxford to Hudsonville, I was 6 months pregnant with Karlie and didn't organize anything before the movers packed things up.  They did a great job packing but I would have made sure to keep like things with like things... they didn't do that... they just made sure things wouldn't break in the boxes (also good but not well organized).  So those pictures got unpacked and eventually repacked (without being re-sorted) in new boxes to come here to Arkansas.  Talk about chaos from a picture stand point!!  It was fun to find different pictures and reminisce though.  It's hard to believe that we've been out of high school for 20+ years and we are going to be celebrating our 18th Wedding Anniversary in August!!  Where does the time go??  I'm so glad there's pictures to help me remember because the older I get the more and more I forget!  Not good.  I think that's also why the word "remember" is used so often in the Bible... because it's so easy to forget where we've been and what God has done for us!


Love this picture of us!  It was taken early 1990 in downtown Chicago.  Look how tall my hair was - yikes! :)

superbowl

Superbowl weekend already??  Where does the time go? This year the Superbowl is quite different for me.  It feels the same in one respect because I've already bet on the Patriot's to beat the Giants in the Superbowl.  I thought I had a sure win that year!   Nope, it's different because I don't have my bettin' buddy... (this picture was taken Feb 2002)

Steve's Grandpa (aka Gramps) and I had been waging a dollar bet on the Superbowl for more than a decade.  I wish I had kept a ledger so I could tell you exactly when we started and how much I had lost... but I didn't.  I'm going to blame that one on silly procrastination... oh, I'll remember and write it down later - yah right!  You don't know how bummed I am right now that I didn't record these special events better.  

Gramps left us and went home to heaven with our Savior Jesus almost a year ago.  Honestly, he's in a much better place and I'm grateful that he's not suffering anymore.  He lived to be almost 91 years old.  Gramps use to tease me all year before our bet and rub it in if he won or tell me how he was gonna get his dollar back that year if he had lost.  We would joke all year about our bet.  The best part was how we would pay each other.  One year I paid him in all pennies.  Another time I paid him quarterly by writing $0.25 checks and using foreign currency.  Yes, I even paid him one year with a Canadian dollar and added the exchange rate in! :) 

He had his own unique ways of paying me, too.  The best one was when he sent me the "new dollar bill" with his picture taped to the front!  It was his old Sam's club card picture that he cut out and taped on... how ironic is that now that we live in Walmart's backyard!?!

 Here's one of the letter's he sent me back in 2004 as he returned an 'overpayment'... 

For the record, I lost the bet last year, too.  He picked the Packers last year before being hospitalized.  He passed just about a month after the Superbowl.  I hadn't paid him before he died but I made sure to leave his dollar in his casket.  He won last year and earned a much better prize - the great high calling of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

I really miss Gramps!  He loved his family so unconditionally and individually that we all felt like we were special to him.  Not many people have that kind of gift.  I'm so grateful to have witnessed and experienced such amazing love.   So, this year I'm gonna pretend that my dollar is back on the Patriot's and remember Gramps.  He left us a wonderful legacy and I look forward to seeing him again someday in heaven!  I love you Gramps! :)

the flu

NO fun when it hits home!  Fortunately, there's a new flu medication, tamiflu, which is great at combatting the flu!  David came down with symptons last Wednesday and was out of school until yesterday!  The only symptom that hung on was the fever so I'm thankful it wasn't too bad.   Needless to say, we spent a lot of time on the couch watching TV.  We watched a couple of really good movies (rented from Redbox) so thought I would give you a little plug here.  Side note about Redbox... LOVE IT!!  What a slick operation from start to finish.  I know it can be easier to watch movies off of DirecTV on Demand but this comes out sooner and much cheaper!  I don't mind $1.00 for a movie ($1.30 for blue ray!).  So, check these movies out... good for the whole family to watch!

 

and

bumper sticker

So, here's my idea for our family bumper sticker! :)

We live about 20 minutes from a fantastic family center that has an ice rink. We can skate for free because we have all our own skates!  Karlie is even making great progress.  Skating is a fun family favorite of this Pawlaczyk clan! :)

build-a-bear

Karlie and I had our first experience at Build-a-Bear last Friday!  She was given a Build-a-Bear gift certificate for Christmas from Aunt Mary and cousin Millie :).   We picked a great time and had the store to ourselves.  I think she was a little overwhelmed with all the choices for her new friend.  In the end, she picked a white polar bear with a red tutu style dress (matching shoes & bows of course!) and named her "Katie Bear".  I guess I failed to capture her and Katie Bear together at the end, so I have another to-do for my to-do list.  Thought I would post the fun for Aunt Mary & Millie to see!  Thanks guys... tons of fun!! :)

Karlie doing the "heart" ceremony :)

Katie bear getting stuffed and sewn together!

Karlie loved giving Katie Bear a "bath"!

Katie Bear is getting dressed...

Little Miss Thang, Katie Bear in the box, and her new phone.  She found a BABW  (aka Build-a-Bear Workshop) toy phone by the check-out register... I think she likes the phone better than Katie Bear...

legacy

Our old church, Chapel Pointe, was hit hard with a tragedy on Wednesday.  A family was forever changed and struck at the fibers of their faith.  A wife, a mother, a friend, a mentor, a lady in her early 50s was taken from this earth to be with her Savior.  She wasn't someone on stage, she wasn't someone outspoken in the crowd, but many knew her.  Her and her husband were looked to, and both rose to the challenge, as mentors to others in marriage, parenting, and discipleship.  She went home to be with her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, after suffering a heart attack late Tuesday night.  Now, her husband and their four beautiful daughters are left there with a giant hole.  Like anyone else, we ask the question... "Why?"

I don't think God minds when we tell Him we don't understand events in our lives.  I think this can be healthy if it leads us to a better understanding of who He is and what His purpose is for us here on earth.  We're reminded quickly when tragedies hit that we humans are not invincible on this planet - at any age.  We are given limited controls in life... we can choose the food we eat, the things we drink, the clothes we wear, the people we associate with, etc.  Basically, we are in control of our choices.  We are not in control of any other parameters, experiences, or outcomes that will take place in our life.  Some of our experiences others can see coming our way based on the choices we have made.  Not all choices lead to tragedy, but some do.

The greatest choice anyone can make is the choice to accept God's gift of salvation.  We are all sinners in need of a Savior.  The gift of salvation is free... it's a choice... its free to accept... but God paid a HIGH price to make it free for us.  We are told in the Bible that we are all sinners and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin.  Jesus Christ willingly shed His blood on a cross to pay our penalty for sin.  When presented with this information, we come to a point in our lives where we make a choice... to believe it or not.  The debate has raged on for centuries, but the truth, this truth spelled out in the Bible, has stood strong and has been proclaimed throughout the ages in the midst of all the attacks against it.

I believe with all my heart in this truth, and I choose to follow the Lord Jesus Christ to salvation.  I desire to walk in a manner worthy of God's calling for my life.  My late friend showed this same desire and cast that shadow of example behind her.   Right now, all we can look at are those shadows - the legacy - that she left here on earth.  I think this is the hope in tragedy... the hope that everyone left behind will stop and look at the choice placed right smack dab in front of them. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31 NASB) because this is the choice that matters most in life.  All other choices pale in comparison.

You will be greatly missed, Deb Harper.  May we all remember your example and strive to leave such a wonderful legacy pointing others to the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  May God grant His peace that surpasses all understanding to her husband Steve and their girls Rachel, Whitney, Ashley and Caitlyn.   May God bring healing in the midst of this tradegy, quickly to the Harper's, so they can continue bringing others to Him. 


In Jesus' name, amen.

baby jordan

Got to take pictures of this sweet little bundle yesterday... more pictures later over at Capture Me Photography by Nicole :)  


Off to the dentist... what was I thinking when I booked appointments for me and my kids all at the same time?  Praying that it goes well! :)

wps!

Bet you're wondering what WPS stands for, eh?  Well it's a common phrase down here in Arkansas, especially during Razorback football season... Wooo Pig Sooie!! :)  It's the call of the Hogs and it's LOUD today! The Arkansas Razorbacks take on the Kansas State (aka K-State) Wildcats tonight in the Cotton Bowl. We haven't been here long enough to be "die hard" fans yet but the hype is pretty fun!  We still wave the Maize and Blue flag strong around our house and are still stunned & excited that Michigan was able to pull out a win in the BCS Sugar Bowl Tuesday night!  As for tonight... Go Hogs!!  WPS!! :)

It doesn't quite feel like the end of football season with the unseasonably high temps around here.  I'm  not complaining... its very exciting to still be able to wear short sleeve shirts without a coat in January!  We stayed out front after the boys got home from school this afternoon and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  I tried to "pan" some shots while the kids were riding their scooters.  That's when you are able to focus the moving subject but the background is blurred and appears to have motion.  It's one thing to pan when you have a still subject in the foreground and movement in the background (person looking at a train and the train blur behind).  It's a whole different challenge when the subject is moving too!  One of the techniques I'm going to keep working on this year.  

closes to "panning" I got today... 

Ready... set... go! :)

MCP Project 52 Recap | NW Arkansas Natural Light Photography

I took this picture last spring for a photo challenge I had started through MCP Actions Project 52.  To read more about my experience click here and visit my photography site.

Also wanted to warn you that this site will be under construction soon!  I need to update the header and the sidebar  - phew! things are getting old & dusty around this site :)

happy new year!!

 Wow!  2012 already??  I know I'm not the first one you've heard say "where did 2011 go?" but I really mean it!  Where did it go?  I guess when you're chasing around 3 kids, time just flies by quickly!  I've been looking for the brake pedal to stop time all year but can't seem find it.  At last, we are looking at a new year and a chance to make some adjustments.   I feel bad that this blog has taken a back seat to life, but it had to.  One of my New Year's resolution is to post more often to my blogs (this one and my Capture Me Photography blog click here ).   I don't think this year will be any slower for us here in the Pawlaczyk house.   I will just have to "schedule" some blog time on the calendar to make it happen.  Where else will I find the info I need when I actually do get back to scrapbooking?  Exactly... hopefully nice and neatly kept here on upsidownosis.

We spent our New Year's Weekend in Dallas, TX... actually Addison, TX.  It was a gorgeous 75 degrees there on New Year's Eve so we were able to find a fun park for the kids to play at in the afternoon... after we hit up Perani's hockey store and 3 Costco's!  Felt good to be back in some familiar surroundings! :)

If you've been following me on facebook, you know that I got a new little point-n-shoot camera for Christmas from Steve.  It's small enough to stay in my purse full time and give me better pics than my blackberry could ever dream of capturing!  It's not a replacement at all for my dSLR, but at least I can take some decent pictures with this new camera and not have to take the big camera everywhere.

I will sign-off with some straight-out-of-the-camera or SOOC pictures from my new little Canon Elph taken on New Years Eve.  It's decent in low light and fun to use in fish-eye mode... certainly not the clarity of my 7D but all in all not bad.  I plan on doing some before and after pics soon on my photography blog as well as other tips, tricks, and inspiration... so stop back again soon!  :)



with my fisheye mode -

with program mode no flash...

Yes - Steve was able to blow his shot in for a hole in one!

With the help of the street lights... still no flash!

Totally fun race track... Nathan was tall enough to drive!  :)

Indoor shots... loved all the neon lights everywhere!

using the fisheye mode again

All 3 of my boys racing...