Month: March 2013

Good Times at Home

Post author By Joy
Post date March 30, 2013

Charlotte helped fold some towels. She was excited to learn how to fold laundry and to help me out. Sometimes I forget that kids don’t automatically know how to do things like fold laundry. I must teach them while they’re young, so they can be my good little slaves…. I mean, helpers.

Love those bright baby blues!

Caroline was upset at me for washing her blankie, so I had to photograph the sweet reunion they had after the difficult time of separation.

We had 2nd cousins Jessica & Katelin sleep over a couple weeks ago. They are such fun & energetic girls, yet also very obedient and well-behaved. It was fun to have them over even though Chase and Katelin kept each other up till 10pm, just chatting away. My kids were so excited because right before the girls came over to spend the night, we went and picked out some gummy candy at the store to share with our guests.

I love this succession of photos that Pace took of Chase pushing Caroline around (and how she’s oblivious to how much strain this activity is putting on Chase):

Family Fun

Last Snow Day Before Summer???

Post author By Joy
Post date March 29, 2013

Last Saturday, it looked like this outside:

For the last few days (just days after this snowstorm), temps have been in the 60s, therefore my kids have donned their swimsuits and we’ve played in our neighbors’ yard with their fun Slip ‘n’ Slide & sprinklers. Thank goodness for these warmer days and for our neighbors across the street who moved in just a few months ago and instantly became our best friends.

Caroline Charlotte Family Fun

Daddy-Daughter Time

Post author By Joy
Post date March 28, 2013

When I was looking through our recent photos, I realized that I had taken a lot of Pace and the little girls together. I guess it’s because I don’t think there is anything in this world sweeter than a good daddy spending time with his little girl(s).

McVideos

Caroline Singing Sweet Caroline

Post author By McAdmin
Post date March 14, 2013

Ok so it’s just one line over and over again, but I really enjoy it.

Tech

Chrome Browser

Post author By McAdmin
Post date March 9, 2013

I switched to using Chrome 100% of the time last week, and I love it! I was using Firefox for most of my browsing and Chrome as a secondary, mainly b/c I was used to the keyboard shortcuts and plugins. When Firefox started lagging on me real bad, I decided I would switch and I am so glad I did. I quickly learned the new keyboard shortcuts for the things I needed and I found a wealth of extensions that are awesome!

For example: For years I’ve had my google tasks list up as a pinned tab for quick access to my to do list, but now it’s in an awesome extension that works better than a tab! My favorite was in the extensions part of the app store they have a “by Google” section where lots of good stuff was waiting.

Then there are Chrome Apps. I found that most of the “Chrome Apps” were just glorified bookmarks. Which is cool, then your favorite places don’t get lost in a page of recently visited things, and they get pretty icons. Well, since I’m a nerd and I know how much the 13 people who read this love pretty things, I thought Why not make a McBlog Chrome App!? So I did!

This is what it looks like when I open a new tab. Notice the nifty McBlog button on the bottom right?
What’s that you say, you want it too? Ok no problem. Here’s the two easy steps.
If you already use Chrome skip step one and proceed directly to step 2.

Bam isn’t that fun! It’s really just a pretty bookmark, but it was fun to learn the process of how to get an app into the Chrome Store. Plus if Chase/Charlotte ever start coding things it will probably end up in some app store so the experience was fun. If I’m really bored or if anyone asks, I’ll post a how to since it’s really easy after you figure out the documentation. You can also install as many as you want on your own macine without having to publish them to the store.

Family Fun

Funny People

Post author By Joy
Post date March 7, 2013

Pace & Charlotte taking a morning snooze before work

Last Saturday morning, the kids came in and woke us up looking like this. Charlotte had the bows all the way down the back of her head as well. Chase wasn’t really mad; I think he was just trying to defend his toughness/manliness despite having pretty bows in his hair.

Kids’ faces at Joy School: They could turn their frowns upside down. (There are actually 4 kids total in the class, but one has resisted coming lately.)

Caroline is being brainwashed, I mean trained, at a young age to develop hand-eye coordination & to appreciate the fine art of gaming.

Some scary skeletons watching a TV show

Personal

Delizioso

Post author By Joy
Post date March 5, 2013

We’ve been eating a lot less meat and trying to put lots of veggies into our dinners. I like experimenting with new recipes that incorporate vegetables. Some are good, some aren’t. This lasagna isn’t exactly low fat, but it’s my new favorite dinner! Instead of using ground beef, I chopped up & sautéed a bunch of carrots, celery, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, & spinach and mixed it into the sauce. Sooo very tasty.

Charlotte Chase Family Fun

Park Day with SuperDad

Post author By Joy
Post date March 4, 2013

Pace took Chase, Charlotte, & two of their friends to play at a park a couple Saturdays ago. Pace is such a great dad who does fun things with his kids, for which we’re all grateful!

Here’s Chase with his good friend, Jeffrey. They’re pretty cool guys.

This is Charlotte’s good friend Mollie, who looks a lot like Charlotte.

A quaint little tea party atop the playground—how delightful!

Caroline Charlotte Chase Family Fun

Lazy Saturday Morning

Post author By Joy
Post date March 3, 2013

Charlotte

The Queen of Hearts

Post author By Joy
Post date March 3, 2013

Charlotte is really into hearts lately. She draws a heart on the iPad, and then asks me to take a picture of her with it. She is already planning on a “Valentine’s Birthday Party” when she turns five in December!

This was a Valentine that she made for her friend Cohen who is obsessed with green.

An angelic heart (with a halo).