Worthington Family Photoblog

Recital Vids

2009-06-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Bathroom!

2009-06-26T22:38:00.001-07:00

*Huge thanks to my In-Laws, who made this bathroom fix-up possible!*

We finally got the floor done and replaced the toilet, which handily fixed all the leak issues we had in there. It was a complete mess - a previous owner of the house had assed it up so badly when he'd done whatever it was - there was no wax ring under the toilet, he'd filled in the concrete around the sewer hole with road-grade concrete, and hadn't leveled it off... there were two layers of linoleum. It's no wonder the damn toilet leaked from the day we bought the house. The commode was glued to the floor with caulk. Literally.

Anyway, here's the before and after:

Please note that I finally got to install my fish toilet seat that I bought 5 years ago when we bought the house.

Swim Lessons

2009-06-21T08:06:00.001-07:00

I enrolled the kids in swimming lessons at the YMCA. They are really enjoying the lessons.

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Korben's doing great with the swimming, but has gotten in trouble several times for not listening to the lifeguards (i.e. getting in the pool when he's not supposed to) and Sophie is struggling with getting her head wet. She apparently is just like I was and doesn't want to get her face or ears wet. We're working on it.

Sophie's Water Day at School

2009-06-20T23:13:00.000-07:00

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Korben's Field Trip to the Houston Zoo with Ms. Baggett's Kindergarten Class

2009-05-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

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Videos for your pleasure...

2009-05-28T20:55:00.001-07:00

From last Friday - Sophie's last day of school for the year.

Video of the GPO at the zoo today.

2009-05-23T00:46:00.001-07:00

http://helpbouvier.blogspot.com/

Sick kitties need love, too.

Korben won all-state!

2009-05-17T22:06:00.001-07:00

Korben won the "All-State Musician Award" for singing last weekend! He did a great job, and we are so proud. :)

hilights from the trip....

2009-05-14T22:10:00.000-07:00

My baby sister got married!

Me and my sisters!

Me and my husband!

Me and my cousin Lori!

Sophie in her flower girl dress

My cousin, Steve - and Meme, mom's black lab.

Steve's wife, Leah, with Alta's dog, Birdie.

Me and Suzana!!!

The kids had a run in with the Las Vegas police....

More on facebook:
Tabby's albums:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024402&id=1249842505&l=2de8753f06
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2024401&id=1249842505&l=6a09e027e7

Sophie's: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=61283&id=1384751923&l=1e74e0b764

Korben's: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=23051&id=1379108346&l=5988cbb93e

Sophie's Art

2009-04-23T18:21:00.000-07:00

"I drew you and me, Mom. I'm the little one and you're the big one. We're in the grass and with the sun."

Me: "Who are those people at the bottom?"

"Those are the underground people."

2009-04-23T18:18:00.001-07:00

We were at Walmart today to get an extension cord that will work with my new laptop power cable (my old one broke so I haven't been able to surf from the couch for months) and we checked out through the garden center. The kids found these little child's bucket-barrow things, and Korben asked Sophie to give him a ride. LOL.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T23:33:00.000-07:00

This year, we had a hunt in the backyard instead of in the house. I hope it stays as green and lovely back there now that the trees are filling in. Sophie had to get "dressed up special" for the hunt, while Korben opted to stay in his pajamas.

April Photos

2009-04-12T23:31:00.000-07:00

Taken at Frankie Carter Randolph park and the Pearland Egg Drop.

Bluebonnet Photos

2009-03-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

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It seems like it's going to be an every-other-year thing for us, but I took the kids out yesterday and did the texas traditional bluebonnet photos. Enjoy!

Also, here is a gallery of my gardening this year so far:

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Gir Smiles

2009-03-05T20:15:00.001-08:00

2009-03-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

Arm's length self portrait with flash

Ryan's octopus collection is threatening to take over the house.

Korben sleeps - regular no-flash auto setting, then Macro no-flash auto setting.

2009-03-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

Sophie cuddles Roxy. I like how this came out, even with the blur.

Hate the flash.

More snuggles.

Much like Girlpirate's Oliver, Morbo's freckles get more pronounced each year.

2009-03-05T19:28:00.000-08:00

Korben's school has been celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday this week. Today was crazy hair day, so daddy gave him a "faux" hawk.

You can see that I'm having trouble getting the focus right without the flash, still. It's hard to self-stabilize the shots when I'm shooting something so mobile as the dogs are, and when the camera is so small and lightweight.

Sophie lounges in my bed.

New Camera

2009-03-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

None of the batteries for my Canon Elph will charge, nor will the chargers work, so since my phone has more megapixels than that camera does, I decided it was time for an upgrade. Today I picked up a used Fujifilm Finepix j10, which is 8.2 MP, and came with a charger and 2 gb sd card. It is smaller than my cell phone, and it records video with a decent 3x optical zoom and very few features - mostly just a point and shoot. The picture taking time is incredibly short, and the quality of the shots is pretty good, although there will be a learning curve for me to figure out how to get clear subjects without the flash. Hopefully you'll be able to look forward to more photoposts from me from now on.
Crossposted to http://worthingtonphoto.blogspot.com

Sophie Models handily, but gets bored quickly and it shows in her face.

Ripley is subjected to corporal cuddling.

Ripley is not amused.

CPSIA law has dire consequences for us all...

2009-01-29T08:22:00.000-08:00

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Note - Congress has acted on extending the deadline for digital TV conversion from 2/17 till 6/17 (Senate yes, House no). They should act on this which has even more far reaching affects on our economy and goes into affect sooner (2/10)!!!

Merry CHristmas

2009-01-02T07:09:00.001-08:00

Santa came!

Ripley is not impressed.

You know it's really Christmas when...

Through the years:

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

I illustrated a novel!

2009-01-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, an old friend from college contacted me to see if I wanted to illustrate each chapter of a book he and another friend were working on. I said YES, and now the book is set to be released next month. However, you can order a presale copy through the website: What Do You Say to the DJ?

Check it out!

Korben's Class Party

2008-12-18T21:24:00.000-08:00

This about sums up today:

Learning to make a reindeer sandwich

Feeding reindeer parts to sister (raisins)

Haha, what?

Time to humiliate mom! :P We'll turn her into a reindeer with pantyhose, balloons and red paint!

Korben manned the camera while I was reindeered-up and took pictures of his friends.

Apparently six-year-old sass has no regard for gender

Haven't we all taken this shot?

Playing games with the PTA mom

Korben took up my abandoned reindeer hat

Reindeer racing

Korben and his friend writing their own music in his Kindermusik class.

Holiday Caroling TIme!!!

2008-12-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

Holiday Caroling with Ms. Tabby
(You’re invited! The more the merrier!)
Host: Ms. Tabby
Where: Ms. Tabby’s House
(RSVP for the address!)
When: Sunday, December 21
5:00 pm
Phone: 713-306-4023
RSVP to: tabbyfoo@gmail.com

We had a conflict come up (don't we always!?) and so I've changed it from the 20th to the 21st. Hope you can come! Join us for some holiday cheer! We'll wander the neighborhood and sing to the neighbors, then come home to visit with friends and share in some hot cider (wassail) and cocoa. Caroling books will be provided, but please bring your own flashlight!

Thanksgiving feasts part 3

2008-11-22T21:44:00.000-08:00

Korben shared his feast with Sophie.

She also dug into her "harvest blessings mix" from her class feast.

Demonstrating how to eat a carrot.

Sophie was excited to get to go to recess with her brother, too.