TWO posts in one day! I'm on FIRE baaybee!

Why is it that spring break never goes as smoothly as winter break? My kids haven't been bored at all. Oh yeah, it must be the hundreds of dollars worth of Christmas presents that is helping us all to keep our sanity! Amazingly everybody plays together and are sharing!

Which also leads me too... them letting me get another scrapbook page done. Thanks guys!

Here is one that I did tonight. It is funny how it isn't anything that I had in mind. I think I like it, but it is kind of funny how sometimes your ideas don't make it to paper.

Here is the journaling:

I know that I had my camera with me, as I always do, and it helps that you are always such a willing model. I'm sure I found a pretty spot and thought that the weather and the overcast day made for perfect outdoor lighting . I would take your picture really quick.

Looking at these though remind me of the day that we spent together. An appointment to get your haircut, a stop at Target, and to Justice to spend your gift card. No big events really, but while these are all good memories they are not the most important of the day. What made the day special was the time that we spent together. Just being mother and daughter. I love you! December 27, 2006.

I just realized that the first paragraph on the page says "I'm know..." instead of "I know..." so now there is a big fat letter 'I' sticker covering up my typing mistake! D'oh!

Happy new year, and happy one year anniversary!

I was the LAST person that I ever expected to start a blog. I used to look at Maddy's and think she was SO cool and so computer savvy. Far from this computer illiterate girl who pretty much only knew how to surf 2Peas. Believe it or not, I actually was the one who found out how to start one myself. Usually Mike is the first person I ask when I need help with something computer related, but I remember he came home from being out and I showed him what I was able to do. I was so darn proud of myself! I still ask him for a lot of technical help, but hey...I'll get there.

The coolest thing is being able to go back an entire year and see such random things. A lot of them I never would have scrapped, and since I don't keep a regular journal to write in everyday, so many of these little reandom things I know I would have forgotten if I didn't blog about them. (It was also fun to watch my ticker count down to Halloween!)

Sometimes I just type out something that I think is funny that my kids say, sometimtes I write about something that is heavy on my mind. I love that I am able to keep it all in one place.

I also like that I can share with my friends, and it has been an incredible way to keep up with what is going on in their lives too. It has been a cool way to keep in touch.

It also reminds me that I CAN put together a complete sentence without pausing or grasping, "What is that word again???" You know, that mysterious thing that happens after childbirth that turns you into a ... oh whats the word.... the one who can't remember words.....

I hope that someday my kids can see what our everyday life was like, and hopefully be able to see growth in the way that I think.

Happy anniversary blog! And HAPPY NEW YEAR to everybody!!

Big truck and small boy.

The planets must be aligned or something, because I found some time to scrap tonight.

No more breaks for me, because I forgot how much I really love doing this!

Just a silly one of my little boy who loves construction trucks - or anything with wheels really. ;) The journaling is probably hard to read, so here it is:

Matthew has always loved construction trucks. Usually they are working on the other side of a fence from where we are, which hasn't stopped us from occasionally finding a place to park to watch them as they move dirt around or dig holes. On this day, we went to drop off his sister at the church building and imagine how surprised and happy he was when THIS was in the parking lot!! Unfenced!

drumroll please......... my first attempt!

Pssst. Beth. Look what I can do! ;)

I actually got most of the way there by myself too, until I hit a wall and needed to ask mike for some help on the computer. (Little pat on the back thank you very much.)

Get ready for a lot of photo collages, because they are fun. Like these pictures... these are from Matthew's birthday, and I dreaded scrapping them. Now after putting them all on one single 8x12 sheet, I can order the collage from Costco, stick it on some cardstock, add some embellishments and BE DONE! I am pretty dang excited about this!!!

I'm always a few steps behind in the computer area. I'm terrified of the day that my children know more about using it than me (and let's face it, that day is near!), so I have quite a bit of learning to still do.

There was a comedian years ago that said something funny that I always think of when I realize how far behind I am. It was something like:

"On the information superhighway, I am on the dirt washboard access road."

Charlotte's Web

Mike ended up having today off from flying, so instead we all went out to see Charlotte's Web together. It has been FOREVER since he has had a day off, so it was really nice to be able to go out and do something as a family. - It was such a great movie. Dakota Fanning is absolutely adorable in it too.

Even though I knew what was giong to happen in the end, I still ended up getting teary. I think I really loved Charlotte even more since her voice is done by Julia Roberts. She has such a great voice for such a sweet character. Another one that I LOVED was Templeton, done by Steve Buscemi. I think I have loved him in just about every movie he has ever been in, plus he was in the Sapranos, that I love too. He just makes Templeton COOL.

The funniest thing happened on the way out. - There are several scenes where they show the smokehouse where of course, Wilbur is destined to end up until Charlotte comes along. So we are all leaving with that 'feel good' feeling of just seeing a movie, knowing that Wilbur is ok, blah blah blah....

To get to our car we had to go through a sidewalk area that runs behind some of the restaurants. Behind a wall, you see the top of a smoker from El Paso Barbeque... with smoke coming out of it and that yummy smell of smoked pork!!! Mike and I looked at it at the same time and just died laughing!! Talk about irony.

another confession....

I have a confession. This is either one of my worst or best things about after Christmas. The garbage. It probably isn't much of a secret that I have some Monk like characteristics. But I have to admit that today I am very proud of myself.

I patiently waited for the recycle truck to come pick up the can from last week. Waiting in the garage was a huge stack of boxes, cans and plastic. As soon as the truck came and dumped out last week's stuff, I broke down all of the boxes and put it all in the big blue can. Some things had to be put in the voids left from the boxes, like cans and plastic blister packaging. It is like a tetris puzzle to me. A challenge.

Now our entire Christmas (food and stinky stuff excluded...which has already been picked up) is all tucked in the recycle can for next week's pick up. :)

Life is good.

well that was quick

I HAVE RECLAIMED MY FAMILY ROOM!!

The tree is down, and the cat is ticked off. She thought she found a new favorite spot underneath it to sleep all day. She was seriously giving me the evil eye from a few feet away. I had to constantly remind her of where she came.... pound kitty. You can't be so pampered that you forgot that six months ago you were laying on a concrete slab. Reality check kitty. ;) Always remember from whence you came.

I did ask the kids if they would mind if the tree came down. Honestly, I would have taken it down on Christmas night, but I remember how much I loved the Christmas tree when I was a kid. I used to go sit and stare at it for hours. It could be that I was just watching to make sure that it didn't catch on fire. Who knows. We used to have those big lights that got really hot. Maybe that is where my OCD of checking and rechecking hot things comes from. Like candles that I KNOW I blew out, but I still have to go back and make sure the flame didn't spontaneous combust again. It is deep seeded in my mind from the old Christmas tree! See, now who needs therapy when I just figured that out all on my own!

Still, I am glad to have a big open spot in my house again. The kids kind of like it too since it has already been filled with another train track. - And was it MY idea to get the boys nerf machine guns??? I have been dodging flying nerf bullets all day. You have to love it though. They are having so much fun with all of the new toys.

One of the weirdest things was tucking the green and red totes back into the storage under the stairs. I really don't get into other holidays like I do for Halloween and Christmas, so I realized that I won't be pulling any of those color coordinated plastic totes out for many more months. Those boxes kind of give me hope during the summer when I see them and know that cooler weather really does exist here. :)

breathe in... breathe out....

Today has been a great day! It helped that I slept in until 10:00, which I really needed after yesterday.

Mike and Trevor went out of town overnight. Trevor has been asking Mike if he would take him flying, and he promised him that as soon as he was on winter break he would. Tonight they are going to see a movie and out to dinner. I heard from Trevor and he sounds like he is having a really good time spending some one on one time with his daddy.

Megan, Matthew and I went out and did a little shopping. I wasn't planning on being out today, but they both had gift cards that were burning a hole in their pockets. Matthew had a Target card and knew what train he wanted. There has also been a baseball hat that he has been eyeing every time we go. Funny enough it is a Michigan hat. We have never been in Michigan, let alone near it. But to him it is blue (his favorite color) and has a big yellow 'M' on it for Matthew! Several times today people would ask us if we were visiting from Michigan. LOL!

Then we went to use up Megan's giftcard. It was for her favorite store... Justice. She had been wanting a net canopy thing that goes over her entire bed. She knew that is what she was going to spend her card on . Happily, it was 30% off! Yay! Plus, she found a shirt that she fell in love with that was on clearance. I figured I would go ahead and get it for her anyway. We go up to pay for everything and a woman who had been in earlier had spent so much that she earned several Fun Cards. These are cards that you get when you spend over $50. They can then be used on your next purchase over $20, and they are worth $10 off. We were a lucky recipient of a nice random act of kindness. Megan got both her canopy and her shirt for the value of her giftcard. She was so happy that she was able to buy both of the things that she wanted all by herself.

Then we went out for dinner at Chili's, and are planning on a girl night tonight complete with doing nails and watching Cheaper By The Dozen together. Matthew has been playing with all of his new toys, so it has been pretty quiet and relaxing. It just feels so good. I think this is the best part of the Christmas season. It feels like things are kind of back to normal, and we are able to spend time together since the kids have a couple of weeks off.

Finally, it feels like I can exhale! Now if I can just reclaim my family room by taking the tree down!

silent night.......

Finally. All is calm, all are tired.

It never ceases to amaze me how several months of preparation, shopping, hiding, wrapping, all can come to an end so quickly. Like every other family with small children, ours went through the first wave of Christmas presents in a flash. The first wave being the ones from santa and mommy and daddy. The second and third waves being from nanas and papas and aunts and uncles that came over later in the day. Each pile of gifts were torn open. I told my mom that it doesn't seem right... that the unwrapping should at least take a few more minutes than the time it took you to stand in the checkout when buying said presents.

I hope next year to switch things and everybody take turns opening a present while the others watch for a few minutes. We figured that wouldn't seem like something Matthew would be able to handle quite yet. No matter what, it was still a very nice day. I am amazed at how much my children got, and the neat things that we got too.

The boys both fell asleep pretty easily last night, but Megan wasn't able to. I finally got into her bed to play with her hair and hope to get her to sleep around 11:00. She kept talking, and finally I had to pretend I was asleep so she would stop. Poor thing. I could hear her whispering while she counted down from 100 several times. Finally she nodded off. Then it was go time! Get those presents out, take a bite of the cookies left for santa and go to bed.

5:45 in the freakin' a.m. and Megan comes in to wake me up. Did I even go to bed last night???? The boys were still sleeping so hard that I got up with megan and said that she could open her stocking stuff and play with that for awhile. That kept her busy while she watched the clock. At exactly 7:00 she woke everybody else up. Then the sound of thundering feet running down the stairs.

Matthew had specifically asked for this big Curious George that he saw a few months ago. I thought for sure he would have forgotten about it, but sure enough when he saw santa THAT is what he asked for. It was sitting on top of the tree, and Matthew just laughed so hard when he saw it. Megan and Trevor got what they asked for and then some. Megan wanted a Razor scooter, and Trevor wanted a Pokemon game for his nintendo.

Now hopefully a couple of hours before other people were going to show up. I also had gotten mike a big lego airplane that came with all the fun stuff inside too... like a beverage cart complete with little glasses...and rows of seats. Every boy needs a toy on Christmas morning right? He put that together before even taking a shower. I think he liked it!

Soon Mike's parents showed up with Cheryl, then my mom and sister and her family. My dad unfortunately was sick and couldn't come. It was weird without him here. He ususally loves Christmas. :( - But it was the second and third wave of presents. More stuff. More paper, more sorting and cleaning up. It was awesome.

The adults somewhat got a break because of my nephews. One is 14 and the other almost 16. They had a lot of energy to play with my kids... who also had a lot of energy! I owe those two!

Somehow though, the time went by fast today. Everybody left, and we were exhausted. Trevor wanted to watch his new Pokemon movie, and I fell asleep next to him on the couch. I kind of felt bad because when I woke up it was dark outside. It hit me that Christmas was coming to an end.

So here it is, the end of another Christmas. I hope that my kids are able to remember today and hope that they have good memories from it. I remember how magical Christmas was when I was their age.

Now.........

I am going to crash.

I think they are ready!!!

The kids cracked me up today. They are SO excited about tomorrow morning. We have the same conversation pretty much every year.

In our other house that didn't have a fireplace, they would ask how Santa got in to leave presents.

"He has a key."
"Well, then how does he not set off the alarm?"
"He has the alarm code."

The past two years we have had a fireplace. Much to their relief because it has to be easier for Santa. Although, one problem... our fireplace is in an outdoor atrium in the middle of the house. So poor Santa still has to have an alarm code to get in. Things must have been much easier in the days when people left their doors unlocked. I don't think our kids can fathom that, and worry so much about santa being able to make it into everybody's houses on Christmas Eve.

I caught them today making sure that everything is clear for tonight. LOL!

Ah, finally... Christmas spirit.

Just a couple of more days! Would you believe that I am finally in the Christmas spirit too? Just in time! I think it helped a lot last night that Mike and I went out to finish up our shopping. My mother in law had all three kids overnight, so that left the entire night for mike and I to do everything without worrying about a schedule.

It also helped that yesterday was COLD. It was in the low 40's in the Phoenix area during the day, and I heard that the snow level was at 3000 feet. I'm pretty sure we saw it trying to dust the top of South Mountain when we were coming back from downtown Phoenix. Plus it drizzled and rained all day. It finally looked like a winter day. It was a bit uncomfortable at times, getting in and out of the car and going into stores or the mall, but it felt like Christmas. At least what appears to be Christmas type weather for us desert dwellers.

We went out for dinner, went shopping, came home and wrapped presents for hours in front of the TV.

I'm getting excited about Christmas day! My family, Mike's family, and their friend Cheryl (who Trevor instantly fell in love with when we went out for dinner awhile ago) are coming over. It should be nice.

Mike cracks me up. I think I am either the coolest (in my eyes of course) or the geekiest, that I now have a cell phone that instead of ringing has the sound that Kim Possible's commmunicator makes. I hope people start calling me! ;) It makes me laugh whenever I hear it. As you know, I think Kim ROCKS. :)

I think today I just have to make one more attempt out to Target. (darn!) My wrapping paper is running low. The last time I was there I couldn't find a cart to save my life, and I felt like a salmon trying to go upstream to the back of the store to find a box of kitty litter. I imagine today is going to be even more scary. Wish me luck. After that, I plan on shutting the doors, and locking myself in my house for the rest of the weekend. Snuggling with my kids who are home from school for two weeks. Yay!

Merry Christmas!!

random...random...random....

Trevor stayed home today. He was up coughing all night, and he looked like crap when he woke up. So I told him that he was staying home. Of course a few hours later he is fine and running around the house. So I decided to take both boys with me to do some errands. With a baby shower at my house tomorrow night, and Christmas this weekend, I couldn't waste a day. Whether I am feeling well or not. The way I have been taking it, you would think that airborne is candy. Plus Mike was nice enough to let me sleep in today to get some rest, so I'm sure that helped.

One errand was the Hallmark store. Holy cow, with two boys all I kept saying was, "DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING!" I thankfully made it out of there after a small panic attack and I'm sure a few extra gray hairs.

Then to Target. I know I forgot some things that I needed. I even had a list. But they each ask questions every 30 dang seconds and my train of thought is GONE. I criss crossed the store about a dozen times remembering things that I needed. Ugh. I'm not so sure it was worth trying to take them because I'm pretty sure that I have to go back tonight.

*sigh* Little boys. We were walking back out to the car and I was watching them walk together in front of me pushing the cart. They were pretty cute watching them jump over every crack in the pavement. Remind me that someday I will miss having them go to target with me.

Speaking of missing, I miss scrapping. I don't think I have done anything in a month now! At least it feels like it. I want to so bad, I even wanted to try doing one of those Christmas journals....how in the hell do normal people have time to do that everyday plus the stuff that you have to do to prepare for Christmas anyway?? Psychos. They have to be. (sorry Jen, but you are amazing me right now with yours!) Maybe I'll do an after Christmas journal. With wads of wrapping paper.

That is pretty much the only update from here lately. I'm still pretty happy after Survivor last night. Next season looks pretty dang good too! I just love this show. It could also be that Jeff Probst reminds me of Bono sometimes when he is wearing the sunglasses. That gives me the warm fuzzies. Who knows. It is a cool show. I have to say that I would have been happy either way of who won. I was wanting Yul, but I think Ozzy was awesome in the game too. I think this is the first season in a long time that I wouldn't have been disappointed either way. (I still think Terry the pilot was ROBBED last season.) I'm still a bit bitter about that. Heck, I can't even remember who won at this point! That is how bitter I still am.

Happy last week before Christmas!

Yay for Yul!

A really quick update, since I am not feeling well...

but.....

I got one of the things that I wanted for Christmas!

Survivor -

YUL WINS!!!!!!!!!

Yes!!!!!!!

And my faith in reality TV continues.... ;)

Smart kid. Matthew told me this today:

"Dads go to work so that mommies can stay home and scrapbook."

I'm glad to see that he notices ALL the other work I do around the house. ;) But no matter what, it is still a pretty good gig.

I really don't like Maddy right now. I keep thinking of her perky self while I got railroaded into decorating for Christmas tonight. In a weak moment yesterday, I told the kids that we could put up the tree tonight after Mike got home. THE TREE.

Lets start by saying that I had to pull out about 5 totes of decorations before I could even see the box that the tree is packed in. It is all under a closet that is under our stairs, so I have to crawl towards the back, bending over trying not to hit my head. Of course with every box I went to retrieve, all three kids would follow me into the freaky dark little room that is under the stairs. It is L shaped, and of course all of the Christmas decorations are past the curvy part of the L. Each box the kids would jump up and down, "Is that the tree? Is that the tree???" Me: "If I don't have room to put these plastic totes, then the tree is never coming out!!! Now excuuuuuse me!"

Well now somehow the tree getting pulled out tonight has turned into decorating the rest of the house with Christmas stuff. Matthew keeps pulling ornaments out and placing them on tables and chairs throughout the downstairs. I can't wait to find all of those later tonight. I could say no, but he is having so much fun decorating. I am starting to see why my mom did most of the decorating while I was at school, and left just enough for me to do to keep happy. Smart mom! ;)
Just think though, she not only had to deal with putting each branch into the 'trunk' of the tree, she had to string lights and then deal with my dad and I throwing icicles in clumps all over the place. I'm sure there was a lot of late night rearranging by her.

Have I mentioned how much crap I bought last year at Target? I have to admit that I had some pretty sorry decorations for years. We had that "just got married, need cheap decorations" look, for umm... 14 years. I had a lot of nicer things in there, but I am so happy to finally be able to replace my ugly plastic bead garland that I bought at Sprouse in Wickenburg. So, I have to admit that I am kind of excited about how many things I had forgotten that I bought, that still have tags on them. Of course the best part is knowing that most of it I got for 75% or 90% off, so I just giggle at my $10 iron reindeer that cost me next to nothing! I have a little herd of them now.

Mike was laughing at me that some of the ornaments that I bought last year resemble pumpkins. They are pretty glass, and yes, now I see it. They look like pumpkins. Silver and orange pumpkins. Who says Halloween can't be a little part of Christmas?

So wish me luck. I'm going back out into the battlefield of tissue paper and ornaments. I'll post some pictures tomorrow. I reeeeally just wish that Maddy would bring her cute self over here and either help me or sing some Abba Christmas music while I'm decorating.

early resolutions

Oh there is no hiding it. You know what that picture says. Especially if you are an addict like me. ;)

I haven't had a soda today. One morning down doesn't seem like much, but when that is the first thing I need in the morning, you KNOW what a big deal it is!

With Christmas shopping I have also rediscovered the mall. And clothing stores. Somewhere along the way, after baby number 2, I stopped having any sense of style. I used to be a Gap girl, Eddie Bauer, etc. kind of girl. I wasn't totally trendy, but I had a little somethin' somethin' going on. Then I got lazy and into the habit of buying a new tshirt whenever I would need to go to Target to pick up diapers.

Not that there is anything wrong with that, but you know what I mean. My comfort zone is ONLY that by now. I realized the other day when I needed something a little more dressy, that I really don't have anything! Except formal stuff left over from cruises. Plus according to one pea, I am a frumpy mom. Apparently I need to run out and buy myself a pair of kitten heels. ;)

Yesterday I found a ton of stuff on clearance at Dillard's. (See, the best part of living in Phoenix is all of the summer stuff is on clearance, but we wear that stuff year round because of the weather! It's all about the LAYERS. Why can't I say that without thinking of Donkey and parfaits? Everybody loves parfaits!)

I was so happy that I actually found several things that came home with me. But it was staring at myself in the mirror that hit me. I NEED to do something. The thing is, and I have known this for awhile, that I don't really take care of myself. I don't eat well. I eat ... pretty much crap. A coke and a pop tart makes a great breakfast right? Somehow I don't think I am setting the best example for my kids either. Bad mommy.

So I'm going to give this a try again. Baby steps. To eat better. I am starting it now instead of January, because if I do that I know I am setting myself up for failure. I'm one of those that comes up with New Years resolutions and never follows through. Unless that resolution is to drink more coke or eat more chocolate!

totally random stuff.

Fa la la la la

.... crappy scan.

This layout almost deserves a layout about how it was made. The "chillproof" tag is what started it all. We had several days where it was unseasonably cold here. It is fine when we can get used to it, but it was seriously in the low 80s one day, the next day a cold front came in and the high for the day was in the 60's! Desert dwellers don't do well when that happens. We all seem to freeze.

Anyway, the tag came off the hat, gloves and scarf that we had to run out and buy for school the next day. It is a shimmery, pearl color. Cool inspiration can pretty much come from anything.

I took the photo that first morning before school, but didn't have it printed yet. I ended up at Shanna's house the next day for a little get together crop before she gets married. Michelle needed something from the store she works at, and being the VIP that she is, she was able to get us in after hours. ;) I found all of the paper that I wanted to use on this layout. Then, as we are standing by the back register waiting to check out, Beth notices some scraps in the trashcan back by the die cutting area. She picked it up and asked Michelle if it was the new bazzil bling paper. (It is just frosty cardstock.) It was a cool pearl color. Beth plops it back in the trashcan and notices some big pieces of chipboard in the trashcan. We start to pick out the chipboard scraps. (The were pretty sizeable scraps, usually we aren't so desperate!) Anyway... in the trash is enough of the bazzil bling left over to quickutz the word "cold", and somebody had also thrown away that awesome snowflake that had been die cut from the bling as well! (I added the diamond dust and it worked perfect!) I grabbed them. So now we are laughing that we are officially dumpster diving for scrap supplies. Never underestimate a scrapbooker.

***********************

Regrouping. It has been a week of regrouping for me. You know how sometimes things just feel like they are out of control? You take one step forward and two steps back? This month has seemed like that. In many aspects of my life. Family, friends, church, keeping up with the house, Christmas... pretty much everything. I think I was in a funk actually.

Somedays I just feel like I am treading water and just trying to make sure that I have accomplished enough at the end of the day so I don't start out behind on the next one. That is when I need to realize that some regrouping is in order. I think I started to realize it when I was at Shanna's house. We are all so busy right now, and each month gets away from us. I find that I really miss when I can't connect with these girls. Even though, sadly, some of them were missing this month due to personal things not allowing them to get away. But I always feel when I have been with these people that it feels so good afterwards to have caught up again. To realize how lucky I am with the people in my life. My family and my friends. I love you all. Even the ones that I don't get to see often. I think of you all the time.

Church. Sometimes it feels like such a pain in the rear to get up on a day when you feel lazy and know that you have to go for a three hour block. Then there is trying to get the kids to sit through an hour long of sacrament meeting, and due to the time of our block, I'm always starving during sunday school and relief society. - Once I go I always feel much better. I am so grateful for the church that I belong to. I honestly don't think it matters what faith you belong to, but just that feeling of coming out and knowing that you have reconnected with the Savior is an incredible feeling.

Heck, even my house. I was in a bit of a protest the past couple of weeks. I would do some things that needed to be done, but I never got to the entire house and always felt like I couldn't relax due to knowing that things still really needed to be done. I know the things could wait, but there is that gnawing feeling in the back of my mind when you have some whacked out perfectionist OCD about cleaning. Not to mention finally tripping over enough laundry scattered on the floor. I finally got it all done this weekend, and I feel like a weight has been lifted.

Christmas... Ok, still working on that one. I plan on getting the tree out tonight and I'm going to just let the kids do all the decorating of it this year. (I'm sure I'll go back and rearrange a little)

So, regrouping is a good thing. Just every now and then I need to remember... take a deep breath.... attack it all, or just reprioritize.

all I want for Christmas.....

I just love Thursday night TV! I'm getting really frustrated with it right now. This is what I figure:

All I want for Christmas is:

for Yul to win Survivor. I don't think anybody I have ever rooted for has ever actually WON Survivor. Come on, Yul totally deserves it.

The Office. I am so mad at Jim. I almost boycott this show last week when he and Pam said that they were just friends. Come on Jim. That new girl sucks. Pam is so sweet. I want those two together for Christmas.

CSI. I just want Grissom to stay. Enough said. The show will suck without him.

I haven't watched Real World/Road Rules challenge yet, but I want more drama!!! Tina never should have left.

I know, I get pretty wrapped up in Thursday night programming. I admit it. ;) But is my list too much to ask???

I have to write these things down so I don't forget.

This was a conversation at dinner tonight. It makes me feel like I'm doing a good job. ;)


With a serious look on his face....

Trevor: mommy and daddy, I have something to tell you.

Us: (thinking it is something horrible) What?

Trevor: "Do you know that SANTA used to smoke?!?!?

He used to smoke a pipe, but now he knows that it could kill him so he quit!

Attention Lisa!

Oh I am SO excited!! A friend of mine told me about this movie coming out. I know that Lisa will understand my excitement because we have this common thing, which includes quoting from this series of movies. It is from the same people who did Spinal Tap, Best In Show and A Mighty Wind. The new one is called For Your Consideration. Here is a link for the trailer.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/warner_independent_pictures/foryourconsideration/medium.html

if you have never seen any of these movies... run to rent one. They are hysterical!

See, the best thing is this movie came out before Thanksgiving! That is how out of touch I am with the new movies right now. Usually when I get excited about a movie it is something that you have to wait a few months for. Now I'm busy plotting a babysitter so I can go soon.

********

In hopes of lifting my Christmas spirit today, the kids and I made a gingerbread house. Which I probably wouldn't have done if it wasn't for the message left on my machine today. Maddy singing "It's the most wonderful time of the year." How she keeps this childlike wonder of all things Christmas is beyond me. ;)

But whatever she did... it must have worked. The gingerbread house was fun for all of us to work on. Nobody fought over who had more sprees for the walkway, or more gumdrops or anything. My perfectionist self didn't even interfere and I am embracing the fact that the roof has wiggly lines of frosting, and mismatched candies. Heck, it's even ok that the snowman is missing his head after taking a fall from the countertop.

Matthew decided he would rather eat the candy than waste it by putting it on a decoration. Smart kid.

See? Baby steps. I might not have my tree up, or my yard decorated yet... but I do have one way cool gingerbread house.

nothing like a little holiday whining............

My sweet friend Maddy loves Christmas. Seriously, this girl starts preparing for Christmas in June. She is like a giddy child when December finally comes around. I am beginning to question this girl's sanity.

I can't get into the holidays yet. I don't really want to be a scrooge, but I think that is the way that this year is shaping up.

I actually thought that I was getting out of the gate pretty well last week when I ordered some things for gifts. I have quite a few people taken care of already, but as far as the usual hard to buy for people in my family... I am not having any luck. I think every store has the same thing as the next. For somebody that loves shopping as much as I do, I'm really getting bummed. It is probably because shopping these days takes much more planning. With the kids, you have to plan out where you are going, take food breaks, get home in time to go pick up other kids, etc. It isn't like you can go out for an entire day and hang out at the mall.

I'm not even ready to get decorations out yet. Our house is the only one on the street right now that doesn't have lights up and decorations out in the yard. Even the Jewish lady next door has a winter wonderland in her yard complete with Santa. Her husband isn't Jewish, and I swear he is like Chevy Chase when it comes to decorating. I swear our lights dim when they turn their lights on at night.

Mike and I were talking the other day that he didn't want to put lights up on the eaves of the house this year. I don't blame him, because this house has a ton of angles and eaves. So he thought we might just put lights on the bushes and the tree out front. At first I thought that wasn't enough, that we needed to rush out and buy one of those animated lighted deer or something. There are deer herds all over our neighborhood, so we need some too right? But honestly, I don't want to have to store the deer after the holidays are over. Hm, what to do?

I'm sure my mood will change, because I really do love to see the excitement about Christmas with my kids.

In other news, I am sore today. I wasn't able to sleep last night, so around 2:00 I went to go downstairs. Thank goodness our staircase is split, because I hit the landing in the middle and fell all the way down to the bottom. On my butt and my back, hitting my head on each step as I slid all the way to the bottom. I'm sure it was graceful. Damn it hurt. It hurt bad. Today it hurts even more. Nobody else was awake, and I was so mad that I just sat at the bottom and cried like a baby. I am seriously considering having a shot of Matthew's leftover liquid vicoden with a soda chaser. ;)

Who needs sleep?

I hate it when the creative mind decides to start working in the middle of the night. I feel like I have been in a slump for the past couple of weeks. It is probably because I was stressed out about Matthew's surgery coming up, Thanksgiving, a photography session, and a million other little things that stress me out that shouldn't.

I haven't scrapped, or done anything since then.

Then last night, after a late night out doing some birthday yard decorating (love you Maddy!) all I could do was lay in bed, in the dark thinking of a million things that I want to do. (Or could it have been the large soda that I had around 10:30??) It doesn't help that Michelle bought stuff to make one kick butt family room. I think I decorated my entire house in my mind last night. Of course all with unlimited budget! That is the fun part about decorating in your head!

In my mind I was planning baby showers, layout ideas, decorating my house, Christmas shopping.... you name it. I couldn't turn my mind off. It didn't help that every couple of hours Matthew was still up complaining about his throat hurting and having weird nightmares. He is still having such a hard time recovering.)

So today I have a million little projects that I want to get started on. As crazy as I can make myself when I get like this, it feels good to be back to what is 'normal' for me. (Driving myself crazy, and stressing about silly things.) This could also be because I have spent the entire last week on the couch watching Thomas and Friends, Curious George and Cars over and over. I think today is the day.... to get some things done! Woohoo! Watch out Lowe's! (and Target!)

what day is it anyway?

Kind of a random post today, but I am still homebound with Matthew. He still isn't feeling well, even a few days later. The only thing he can do is drink a little bit of pedialite. He just doesn't have any interest in food at all. The upside of this whole thing is that he has been SO snuggly, and I am enjoying just sitting with him.

We did go outside and drive to the bank today. I wanted to see if getting out might help him cheer up. He actually loves the bank because of the tubes in the drive through. He laughs when they get sucked up.

As I was pulling into my driveway I noticed that our neighbors are putting Christmas lights up today. I still can't imagine Christmas right now since it is still kind of warm out for this time of year. They (the weatherpeople) promised us a very wet winter because of el nina, and cooler temperatures. I'm still waiting....

I hope that everybody has a very happy thanksgiving tomorrow. It feels so weird not to be out in the huge last minute rush right now. I'm looking forward to my kids, and Mike to be home for a few days. No plans, and hopefully just enjoying each other.

A little update on Matthew. (In laws are out of town, and I know she is checking in.)

He seemed like he was healing pretty well yesterday, but he hit a wall last night and started not feeling good at all. He woke up at one point screaming so hard I think he hurt himself. He is on vicoden for pain relief, and I know that stuff gives you really weird and vivid dreams. He woke up and was shaking and had huge tears for about 20 minutes. No matter how close I held him and played with his hair or anything. He kept screaming that he was scared. I could tell when he finally exhausted himself back to sleep because he just slumped over and started drooling. This happened a few times throughout the night.

He's not having a good day today. Poor thing. He isn't bouncing back like Trevor did. I'm still kind of worried about him.

He is pretty pale, swollen and has purple under his eyes. He was trying to ask me earlier how he got sick when he felt fine yesterday morning. :(

I'm sure he'll be better by tonight, but we plan on doing some serious couch time today.

Tonsil and adnoid free!

Tonsil and adnoid free!

Thank you for the nice comments, emails and phone calls. Matthew is doing really well.

Today was an entirely different experience from when Trevor was at the same hospital a couple of years ago. We must have had the nazi nurse then, because today was smooth and awesome.

We were in the waiting room for awhile, then we were moved into a 'staging area.' It was another little room with more toys, so the nurse could come in and take all of his vitals, measure him, and all that fun stuff. The doctor was ready before the anesthesiologist and kept coming out and checking on Matthew. He talked to him and got high fives from him each time which I thought was really nice. I hate when doctors talk over children and pretty much pretend they aren't there and only communicate with the parents. That made me feel really good about this guy.

Soon the anesthesiologist girl came out and talked to us, while the doctor put Matthew in this red riding push car thing. He was walking up and down this small room with all of the pre-op patients in it, making car noises and doing wheelies. Matthew was laughing and having a blast! Finally we watched him push the car behind the big doors. Matthew got to take George with him too. A much different experience than the screaming child holding his hand out calling for me, the last time we were there.

They said that Matthew was really good about hopping up on the table and was hesitant, but not too freaked out by the mask. That made me happy. :)

Then it was time to just sit for two hours while they kept checking on him. I got to hold him in a recliner, and he started wanting a drink right away, and asked for a blue popsicle. (He is obsessed with the color blue) he ate most of that, then fell asleep for the rest of the time that we had to wait. He even slept through them taking out the IV.

So we are home, and I have been sitting on the couch with him ever since. He seems to be healing really well, and has eaten some cheese, a popsicle and some yogurt. I'm so glad this is all over with. I know it is a routine surgery, but when it is somebody you love even routine is scary.

He is a good little patient. :)

surgery day

Tomorrow is hospital day for us. Matthew is going in to have his tonsils and adnoids taken out. I have already been talking to him about what to expect, since my last time with Trevor and the whole screaming ordeal.

I know he doesn't really understand most of what I am telling him, but I keep reinforcing that mommy and daddy will be there with him when he wakes up, and that he is going to be with people who will take care of him.

I have told him that I will help him put on his hospital gown, and then they will take him back, plus he will get to take George with him. (He is inseparable with this $1 spot George that he picked out MONTHS ago.) Then I told him about the mask that the nurse will use to help him fall asleep. (This was the BIG problem with Trevor.)

I'm sure it will all go well. The poor kid hasn't been sleeping well since he developed sleep aphnea because of the size of his tonsils, and the part that makes me feel better is that this should help prevent a worse reaction (heaven forbid) that he ever goes into anaphylactic shock over the peanut allergy again. The doctor said that if his throat started to close up, that with these gone that gives his airway that much more room for him to breathe. After the couple of times he has ended up in the ER because of peanuts, I'll take that added insurance.

I'll update tomorrow after we get home. :)

santa ROCKS!

When will I learn? You 2Peas girls will understand this one. I haven't posted on the site for a long time, but I do go lurk about once a week just to see what some people are up to. I like to check up on some of my casual internet friends, and see if the crazies are still crazy. (yep, they are!)

I should have known better, being that it is near Christmastime. The official, "You parents that have children that believe in santa are telling them a LIE!!!!"

Oh brother. Seriously, I grew up believing in santa, and I'm glad that my parents let me believe. It was fun while it lasted. I remember my sister getting a bowl of goldfish one year, and being amazed that santa could carry that in his sleigh all the way from the north pole and not spill a drop. I watched those amazing little fish all day. - It didn't kill me years later when I found out that he wasn't real.

I'm puzzled by this supposed lying. Am I lying when I tell my daughter that she is the prettiest girl in the world? She believes she is because I tell her that everyday. She doesn't argue with all the other little girls whose mothers tell them the same thing. - And I think that is fine.

Then it is so ironic that on the same front page of 2Peas somebody posted that their 6th grade daughter was asking what 'bases' meant. Like somebody making it to first base and so on. Apparently the bases have changed. Wow, it sounds scary. But the funny thing is, people are posting on there, literally gasping, about how kids are growing up way too fast these days!

So is believing in santa really all that harmful?

I just think it has to be hard being a kid during these days. I'm sure my parents thought the same thing compared to their childhoods, but I can't imagine being a kid growing up right now. There is so much pressure, and the world is so crazy. At Megan's age I was riding my bike a couple miles to my swim team practice... by myself. Heck, I even rode through a greenbelt to Circle K to go buy ice cream. My parents weren't irresponsible, it's just what kids did back then. Now I don't even let Megan go around the block without me there. It is just insane.

So, I should just not go back to 2Peas for awhile. I forgot about the non believers, the people who are offended at somebody saying Merry Christmas to them, people who are offended because somebody doesn't say Merry Christmas to them, people who hate the bell ringers, and especially people who want people fired for forgetting their holiday turkey. (that was a classic thread, and one that I look forward to just as much as watching Rudolph every year!)

I'm looking forward to this holiday season, santa and all, because I know that in a few short years santa probably won't be an issue in our house anymore, and I'll be missing the magical days of seeing amazed little kids when they come downstairs and see presents under the tree.

super saturday update!

First, thanks for all the comments about the new bloggy stuff. I'm still trying to figure out some things that I like and don't like. Poor Mike, I asked him to remove the music thing since it kept making trouble for me whenever I opened my blog up. I wasn't sure if it was doing it to anybody else too.

So one quick question led to another, and before I knew it he was in here for several hours figuring that stuff out for me. I at least got my scrap room clean while we were both in here though!

******

Yesterday was awesome!! Super Saturday! We got to the church a little early and set up. The first family that we did went so well. Mom, dad and four kids ages 1 year to 13. If this one went well, the others during the day should. Mike is sooooo good at getting babies to laugh. Little kids love him. They always have. So there were a lot of smiles.

After the first family, I think Mike could tell that I was a little bummed that I couldn't go inside and work on the projects that I signed up for. So he offered to take pictures for me. I went inside the building and came out with some cool bracelets, and some other things that I am keeping a secret because I am hoping to give some as Christmas gifts next month! Shhh!

Pretty much Mike was left taking pictures of everybody else on the list. He did a great job from what I can tell from the quick look I took on the computer yesterday. Thanks Mike!

I am still relieved that is over. I think a lot of people are going to be so happy with their photos. I felt so bad because I kept hearing the same type of comments from people.

"I haven't had a family photo in over 8 years!"

"I want a picture of just me (mom) and each one of my kids because I am never in the picture."

I think my scrapbooking hobby makes me even more aware of getting pictures often. Yeah, they are just fun to scrap and that is why I take so many, but honestly I appreciate that my kids will have a ton of photos to look at someday. My dad liked photography when I was little. Geeze, back in the film days so you know how expensive that could get. But I am so glad that I have so many photos of me as a baby and growing up. I still LOVE to look at them. So I feel that pictures are a very important thing. Not only in documenting things, but just for being able to relive memories.

So that was all over.

Mike had to go to school for awhile yesterday after that. THEN last night he called me from the place that he rents planes from. He asked if we wanted to go to Tucson for dinner and fly at night. I haven't been out with him at night yet. We were all pretty excited about being able to go flying.

I thought flying in general was cool. But flying at night just ROCKS. There isn't another word to describe it. Being able to see out of the front of the plane, plus flying lower than commercial planes and being able to see details on the ground is really cool. It is really neat. You could see for miles! Pretty much after taking off from chandler, you could see the lights of Tucson right away.

Landing at Tucson was awesome. Runways at night are so cool. It all makes much more sense to me with the different colored lights and taxiways. Tucson has a big airport too, and I love being the small plane out in the middle of all of the big ones. Yeah, I think I am officially addicted. I get the whole flying thing now. I really love it.

The dress

I'm not a real photographer, but I play one at church.

Aw man. Tomorrow is a day that I have been afraid of for over a month now.

Several months ago, a woman from my church was over visiting and she was commenting on the photos that I have on a photo shelf in my living room. She asked where I got them taken, and I said that I took them in my garage. Natural lighting with a black cloth draped over the back of my car. Then we just got into photography in general. I told her that sometime if they wanted to, for enrichment evening or something I could bring some of my stuff, and do the little 20 minute talk about how to get some cute pictures of your kids with stuff you have at home, natural lighting and all that stuff. Not that I am a professional by any means, but for enrichment evenings they are always trying to pull from your ward the talents or hobbies from the members. It is really a fun night.

Anyway.... long story short.... last month a woman from relief society asked me if I would mind taking pictures during super saturday. (A big craft day at church, where you can sign up for several different crafts or just come for brunch and work on baby blankets.) I said, "sure." At the time it seemed like a lifetime away, so I wasn't all that worried.

What in the heck was I thinking??? I have about 12 families signed up to have their picture taken for Christmas cards tomorrow! Holy cow. The woman in charge of this made the sign up sheet to where each group was 20 minutes apart, so I don't need to stress about that. She has also been SO good about calling me and making sure if I need anything, like a helper, or somebody to get me something to eat, etc. She has been so sweet to work with. I just love her.

Mike was really nice, and always supportive, and this week surprised me with a new flash for my camera, and a stand and black backdrop that he ordered. So I don't have to duct tape my old black cloth on the wall. I'll at least look like I know what I am doing! LOL! (I have been wanting this stuff for awhile, so it will come in handy at the house too.)

I'm just really nervous. I know I shouldn't be, and my friends and family that have heard this story keep reminding me that I'm not getting paid for this and that most people are just going to be happy to have a photo with ALL of them in it. You know how the moms or the designated photographer of the family is usually absent from photos. Ugh. I just don't know why I always have to be so hard on myself. I just want everything to be perfect. I want everybody to be THRILLED with the pictures that they get back. You know that feeling when you look at one of your pictures that just makes your heart skip a beat because it is so perfect??? That is what I want!

All I can say is thank goodness for digital. I'll be taking a thousand pictures tomorrow. Unless I am lucky enough to break my arm or something today that makes it impossible for me to do this tomorrow. ;)

Wish me luck. - and if I make it through it ok, I'll update tomorrow! Ha ha!

Crappy scan again.

One of my favorite things in the scrapping world right now are these Hambly transparencies. I absolutely LOVE them, but can't seem to find them at any store out here. I have to keep ordering them online! What is up with that?!?

Anyway... here is one I started working on the other day. I saw a design similar to this in the creating garden by Miley Johnson.

Those cute little flower chipboard thingies I even bought this morning at the Lil' Davis warehouse sale. Somehow I feel like I have justified the purchase when I use something the same day! Yay me! ;)

Here is the journaling: (and yes, I know the title isn't exactly grammatically correct, but I liked the sound of it better.)

"It's ok, I like who I am."

You came home from school one day and told me that. We were talking about clothes and how you overheard somebody at school saying that you are WHO you are because of the clothes that you wear. This must not have felt right to you. We were talking about how that isn't necessarily true and that you should never judge a person by who they are on the outside.

We also talked about how it really was a sad thing that this girl from school believes what she said. That life is all about appearance. Sadly, I suppose it is to a small degree, but you should never miss out on experiences in life because of it.

Sweetie, sometimes it takes people a lifetime to figure that out and learn to like themselves. The fact that you have figured this out so early in life makes me so proud of you. You are already ahead of the game. I am so proud of you."

Deer in Target store

Ha ha! This just made me laugh. What a smart little deer! One after my own heart.




Deer runs through Target store

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A large buck ran into a Super Target store in West Des Moines, Iowa, causing quite a stir before racing out a door 20 minutes later.
The deer ran through an automatic door near the store's one-hour photo lab and dashed into the clothing section, employee Tiffany Miller told the Des Moines Register.
"I'll be honest -- I panicked," she said. "But the customers were laughing. I didn't see anyone who was completely freaked out."
More than 20 employees tried unsuccessfully to corral the deer through an emergency exit.
It eventually found an open door and fled shortly before local animal control arrived.
"He was tired and scared. His tongue was hanging out," assistant store manager Abby Frasher told the newspaper.
The buck caused no damage and left no droppings.

Ka-chow!!!

I don't know who was more excited about it.... me or Matthew. Today we went to go get our copy of CARS! I love this movie!!

Watching it the second time I saw more stuff I missed the first time around in the theaters, and still laughed.

I have already seen it once today, and I am sure by the time the other kids get home from school I'll be watching it again.

It is funny, before the movie came out I was thinking about how nice it is that I haven't yet learned the characters of another animated movie that would more than likely be taking over my house someday, in the form of toys or toddler underwear. I liked the fact that I didn't know any names or anything. Then... I became that mother. After seeing the movie, I became that mother that went to every McDonald's to find each car character that came in the happy meals, for me... err.... I mean for my kids. ;)

I absolutely adore Owen Wilson after watching this movie. In fact it was hard to watch the Wedding Crashers again because I kept picturing Lightning McQueen with that voice. Lightning McQueen shouldn't be saying some of the words that Owen did in the Wedding Crashers!

So this is our day, watching Cars. Go get it. Watch it again. It is hysterical!!

scrapping

I went to Costco today to pick up a bunch of pictures that I am SO excited to work on. I love that feeling. I almost feel like there are too many ideas in my head. Which, for once is a good thing. Because I feel like I am getting them down, on paper.

Then to top it all off, I finally got my package today from CK. My All About Me album, from the Kit For A Cause. There is so much cute stuff in it, and I can't wait to get started on it.

germs germs germs

Guess what happens after a week of kids being sick?

PARENTS being sick.

I think it is a conspiracy. They are plotting to take over the house.

Whew! The day after.

Well, we still have some sick kids here. Matthew was doing fine until this morning. Now he is sitting on the couch, snuggling with his blanket. Yep... #3. Three labeled drinks with straws, 3 beds made up on the couch, and 3 puke buckets. It looks like a hospital ward out there. ;)

Last night was still fun. I ended up taking matthew around the block. It was perfect for him because by the time we had come back around the corner to our street, he was starting to ask me to hold his candy and he wanted to sit and take a break. He was really into Halloween this year. Infact, I always thought it was funny how he would get stuck behind a group of kids a bit bigger than him, but he would somehow manage to crawl through legs to get up front. He was still very worried about his peanut allergy, and his entire thing would go like this:

"Trick or treat. I'm allergic to peanuts."

candy placed in bucket.

"Thank you! Have a happy halloween!"

He said this at each house. Even though I kept telling him not to worry about the peanut issue. It was funny, because after reading 2Peas for so long where so many people there act like it is such a huge strike against their American freedom.... (you all know what I mean with those heated threads!) I guess I thought that most people would be offended by him saying this.

I'm convinced that a lot of freaks post at 2Peas, because in the real world, all of the adults told him how mature he was for watching out for his health, and everybody was happy to oblige. (Usually with an extra piece of candy.)

I ended up taking Megan and Trevor up and down our street, so they at least got to do a few houses. Enough to get a little something to keep them happy. They came back inside and watched a movie while Mike and I sat out in the front and handed out candy.

Our neighborhood is like a movie on Halloween. There are kids, babies, parents and grandparents everywhere. The sidewalks are so full that people have to walk down the streets. You always run into somebody you know, and each street is like its own carnival. Most people sat out in front of their houses since the weather was so beautiful. A lot of people had those portable fire pits going, with chairs around, garages turned into haunted houses, bouncy houses set up in front yards, music coming from everywhere. It was just plain old COOL.

There were so many great costumes this year! My favorites are always the little tiny kids. The girls always have a princess dress on that looks so huge. The boys are just as adorable. It cracks me up how quickly they figure out the routine. Those little guys give the big ones a run for their money. They probably even haul in more since they have that cuteness factor.

OK, now admit it though.... how many of you smelled your kid's candy buckets last night?? ha ha!

Happy November! :)

awww maaaaan.

I can't believe it. I wait all month (or all year) for this night. I have two kids home sick today, both with fevers, and both feeling like they are teetering on throwing up. I hope it remains on teetering, because puking is never fun.

Megan and Trevor have pretty much resolved to the fact that they are both going to be missing trick or treating this year. You know that they aren't faking when they don't mind missing that. I told them that they could probably go to a couple of houses next door, but we won't be going out like we usually do. Mike will still be taking Matthew out for awhile, but he gets tired so quick that I'm sure they won't be out for long.

I feel bad for them. I remember being sick one year for Halloween. It sucked everytime I heard the doorbell ring. My friend stopped by afterwards and brought me a bag full of candy that she had collected for me. It's funny how I have never forgotten that.

At least all three of my kids were able to go to trunk or treat the other night, so it isn't like they are missing out entirely.

Kind of on topic, last night I went to McDonald's to get happy meals for the kids. (Or really, a soda for me!) and we had the windows down. I smelled it. Halloween. You know how powerful our sense of smell is and the memories that certain smells bring back to you? It hit me like a ton of bricks. Or pumpkins rather.... ;)

There was a street that had several houses with pumpkins lit. Oh there is not another smell in the world like that. Just smelling that makes me shiver because that is the epitomy of fall. Crisp cold night, dried leaves bouncing down the street from a breeze, trick or treaters, and jack o lanterns.

OK, and go ahead and think I am strange, but I dare you all tonight. Smell your kid's candy buckets before you spill the candy out. There is another Halloween smell that can't be duplicated. Something about the mix of all that candy in there. It smells so good. It smells like childhood in a bucket.

Happy Halloween!

I love babies!

I'm just convinced that scanners are weird. Pages never look the same when they are scanned. :p

This has been such a busy, crazy week. I know I have said that a lot lately, but it really has been. So last night I decided no matter what else needed to be done, it could wait. As long as everybody had made it to where they needed to be yesterday, by the time bedtime rolled around I was going to sit.

Mike and I watched a movie, and I scrapped in front of the TV. I needed some scrap therapy. It always feels good when you complete a page. Plus I got to reminisce a little by seeing these pictures of my now 6 year old boy. It is funny how even in these baby pictures of him I still see so much of who he is now. That smile he gets, and his personality. It was there and looking me right in the face even six years ago when he was three months old. Wow. It will be interesting when he is a man someday, shaving, grown up... and I'll be thinking the same thing about his 6 year old self.

I'm kind of in a baby album mindset right now. I go back and forth. Which is good that I don't like to scrap in order.

I plan on making these pages for Megan and Matthew as well. I wrote stuff down about them as babies too. It is funny how different each one was when they were little. They really do come with their own genetic stuff that make them different from each other, but somehow the same in so many things that other families don't have. I swear, genetics is a funky, amazing thing.

Now off to get ready for church. :)

Early happy halloween

A pre halloween picture of my kids before Trunk or Treat tonight.

Trevor: The unknown phantom (he's really in there somewhere)

Matthew: cute pirate

Megan: witch

Ugh, I feel sick from all of the candy that I ate. You know, it is the duty of a mom with a peanut allergy kid to eat all of the peanut butter cups and snickers. Gotta keep the house safe you know. ;)

Matthew was so cute though. I told him before we went to make sure that he didn't eat any candy without mommy or daddy checking it first. I told him that people will be giving away candy with peanuts in it, without knowing that he can't have it.He must have had the pants scared off of him because each car that he went up to he would say, "Trick or treat, I'm allergic to peanuts. They make me die."I felt so bad. Poor kid. At least he gets it.

I think he actually got a lot of extra candy because people felt sorry for him or thought it was cute that he said that.

I found out the other day that Matthew is going to have to have his tonsils out. Poor little guy. Mike took him to the ear/nose/throat doctor the other day because he was starting to have the same symptoms that Trevor did before he had to have his removed.

I guess somewhere in our genetic material Mike and I grow kids with incredibly, unusually huge tonsils, which end up making it hard for them when they sleep at night. If it is left untreated, it could turn into sleep aphnea, or even worse....not being here anymore. Trevor had even gotten so bad that he lost about 10 pounds before his surgery. He is such a skinny little thing in the first place, it was hard to see him loosing the weight.

It freaked me out when I first found that out about Trevor, so I have been super sensitive watching Matthew.

The doctor also asked if he had any food allergies. Mike told him about the peanut allergy, and the doctor said that if the tonsils came out, heaven forbid he have another attack that sent him into anaphylactic shock, having the tonsils out gives him that much more space in his throat for air to go through. It isn't an answer to the peanut allergy, but every bit counts when you have seen it.

I think I am writing this tonight because it has been heavy on my mind since I found out. I was just sitting on the floor with Matthew, watching him cut a piece of paper with some scissors. He was talking to me about the park, and he was just being really sweet. I hate to think that I'm going to have to take him to the hospital and he is going to wake up sore and not feeling well for the rest of that day. Man, I wish I could do it for him. At least I know that he is excited about having pudding and ice cream!

I have to share!

This is so cute, if I do say so myself! I got the idea from the Creating Garden this month at 2Peas.

I switched mine around a little, since I loved the tree that came in the Making Memories velvet Halloween stickers set. Then instead of ribbon on the top, I used scrap cardstock and a MM metal sign that says Trick or Treat. I also used those in the circles at the bottom, along with more velvet stars. I also just used a black frame instead of a shadow box. I didn't put any ribbon in mine, so I didn't have to worry about the bulk from the knot. The frame is cool though, it is about an inch deep, which you can't tell from the photo.

This was SO fun to make! I used all scraps of paper. Even the 'october' flash card I made using my computer. Honestly, it took me about 15 minutes. AND it is so cute sitting in my living room!

I am definitely going to make one for Christmas too. Maddy??? You totally need a Christmas one!

Anyway.... that is what I have done today since picking up the kids from school. :) It felt good to accomplish something scrap related today that I didn't really have to do any thinking with it.

Arrrrrrrrrrgh!

LOL, well I was doing a search for snowbirds hoping to find an image for my post today, and apparently snowbirds are also Canada's equivalent of our Blue Angels or Thunderbirds.

But I thought the planes looked cool, so I'm still going to go with this image.

Funny though, my point of this post is about how freaking slow the snowbirds out here are. I can only WISH that they drove half as fast as THESE snowbirds!!

Ugh. I was so frustrated today. I guess in my happiness of fall, Halloween and all that good weather stuff, I forgot that in Arizona it also brings: SNOWBIRDS.

Snowbird: People (usually of the blue hair variety) who come from cold areas of the country for the winter months in Arizona. They clog up traffic, as they really don't need to be out during rush hour, yet still feel the need to be out driving. Driving at least 10 miles under the speed limit. More accurate, 20 miles under the speed limit. Of course, ususally in the left lane, which is supposed to be the faster lane. (and they will not move over.) I could also go on and on about the 'eventual left' which is when they are driving down the road with the turn signal on. You just keep hoping that they are turning, when in fact....they never will turn out of your way.

Also, these people like to make snide comments to the people who reside in Phoenix year round, about how stupid we look in our sweaters and saying that we are cold. "Cold??? You don't know cold. Where I come from....." Yeah, shaddup. YOU come live through the summer like the rest of us and see how quickly your butt starts complaining about the HEAT. "Heat? Oh yeah....you don't know heat until you have driven your car with a pair of hotpads."

I know, I sound bitter and I don't mean any offense, but I really had a bad day out with these people today. I was beginning to think that there was a target painted on the hood of my car since I almost got hit, pulled out in front of, and stuck behind....at least a dozen times today. All I'm asking is for the speed limit people. The speed limit. Is it that hard? Instead of punch buggies, I was thinking I should start a new game of how many escapee stickers I can count in one day.

So I finally made it home, safe and sound. But I bet you Arizona and warm weather state girls know exactly what I am talking about. ;)

Now I need to settle down with a huge coke.

Four year old fly boy!

Look who is four years old! This has been a whirlwind weekend for him. Friday he got lunch and presents from Mike’s mom and dad, then Saturday was his actual birthday, with more presents from us, then today my parents are coming over for some cake and yes, more presents. He keeps asking me why he has so many birthdays. I think that in the future we are just going to have to pick a weekend in October where all three of us birthday people just celebrate. It might be easier! LOL!

Yesterday Mike was going to go flying and had promised Megan and Trevor that they could go with him during fall break. Of course they hadn’t mentioned anything about it all week, and it isn’t like they haven’t been busy doing other things this week. So we didn’t really think they were that interested in going anymore. Then Megan ends up asking Mike about it in front of Matthew. Matthew got all excited and said that he wanted to go in an airplane for his birthday. (Of course, he uses that for everything on this day…”I want a fruit snack for my birthday, I want to go outside and play for my birthday…”

I kind of got excited too, “I want to go in an airplane for Matthew’s birthday!” After all, shouldn’t the person who gave birth to said birthday child be able to have some say? Mike called the airport and was able to get a plane.

It was such a beautiful day out, and you could see for miles. We left from Falcon Field and flew over Canyon and Saguaro Lake, and above the Superstitions. I am so lucky to be able to see these awesome things that I have lived around for years from the air. Arizona really is beautiful.

We then flew over to Williams/Gateway and did a few touch and gos there. That is FUN! Trevor was a bit freaked out about not actually stopping after landing. As soon as we landed, we were going up and taking off again. I think he actually liked it. Matthew had a blast.

Happy 4th birthday sweetheart!

Lookie! Lookie!

In honor of Matthew's birthday today, I did a layout with one of my current favorite photos of him. It is funny how sometimes photos that really aren't set up, the best of lighting or whatever really become one of your favorites.

I took this one morning while I was sitting on the couch next to him. He likes to snuggle up on his daddy's leather chair. The camera was sitting on a table next to me. I absolutely adore how this turned out. Typical Matthew in the morning. Before all hell breaks loose! Ha ha! When he is still quiet and calm.

Journaling says: This is one of my favorite times of the day. Just when Megan and Trevor are off to school. Matthew sits in the leather chair, snuggling with his stuffed animals watching Curious George at the beginning of a new day, while the house is still quiet."

(and no, those aren't dirty feet...just a funky shadow.) Scenic Route and Doodlebug paper. Can't get much easier than that. And Lisa....hey, did you notice that the photo is tilted? Trust me, this is a big thing. Lisa knows how I am about that. It felt so wrong. Everything in me wants to make it straight. I'm just weird that way. I line my brad thingies up in the back of layouts so they are all going horizontal. Yep, even though nobody will ever see them, I KNOW when they aren't lined up. Ha ha!

More later. Matthew had a nice birthday today. I'm still having a hard time believing that he is four today. In one way it seems like he has been with us forever....much longer than four years. In another, it has gone by so fast.

Now where did that go?

Is October almost over? I know. I spend so much of the year looking forward to this month. But honestly, where did it go?

I am exhausted. It starts with my birthday, then a trip out of town, Megan's birthday, her baptism, Matthew's birthday tomorrow, and finally Halloween.

It seems like it just got here and it is going to be over before I know it. I am seriously considering leaving my Halloween decorations up through November this year so I can enjoy them a little longer.

Even more shocking to me is that Matthew is turning FOUR tomorrow. It dawned on me today that he is my last chance at little kid things that I have gotten so used to over the years. Like having Fisher Price Little People scattered throughout the house. Those little things have been a part of our house for 8 years now. The cute little barn, the garage, the school bus. I actually like to play with them as much as the kids always did.

I always had to laugh when I would tip the couch on its side to vacuum and there was a horsie, or a chicken sitting in one of my plants.

FOUR? He just doesn't look four to me. Although, this does give me some hope that those terrible 3's are going to be over soon. *Please?* ;)

Here ya go Maddy!

I talked to Maddy on the phone today. She reminded me that I hadn't posted any pictures of Megan in her dress. So this one is for her. ;)



This is one of my favorite ones:

Oh, no he didn't just say that! Did he?

I don't know why I think this is so funny. I wanted to write this down somewhere before I forgot about it.

Last week we are sitting in church. We are in the third row on the side, taking up a whole row. In front of us is the bishop's wife and two of her kids, then the row right in front had her other 3 kids. This of course, is really close to where the bishop sits up front.

So some lady is up saying the closing prayer. It was one of those long, drawn out ones. Man, I hate those. Did these people forget what it was like to have children at church with them? To make matters worse, the lady was standing too far away from the microphone, so only people up front could even barely hear her. The rest of the church was so quiet. I don't even remember hearing the usual crying babies or anything.

Matthew had done really well through the entire hour, then all of a sudden during this prayer he just says, loudly, "Pull my finger!" Oh geeze, he did not just say.....

then since I didn't react fast enough, he yells, "PULL. MY. FINGER!" You know, just incase I didn't hear him the first time.

I start feeling hot. I peek from my nodded head and notice that the bishop's entire family is laughing. Or trying really hard not to. I couldn't help it, I just started laughing too.

I had hoped that his outbreak had escaped the ears of anybody else since I was too afraid to turn around to see how many other people were snickering.

Last night I got a call from somebody, and after talking about Activity Days, she said that her entire family was laughing because of Matthew during the closing prayer. Wonderful.

This boy keeps me on my toes. :)

A day at the zoo

Whew. We are on Fall break right now. This has already been a whirlwind week. Mike's mom had called last night to ask about taking the kids to the zoo this week. I told her that I was actually planning on going today, so she went with us. It was really nice, and we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather! Man, I just love this time of year. - Have I mentioned that?!? ;)

I realized that I hadn't been to the zoo in over a year. Which is a long time for me since I used to have an annual pass and spent many many days there pushing strollers around and wearing out kids. Sometimes I would go up to 3 times a week. Having the pass is nice, because you don't feel like you have to see everything. If the kids want to just go and see an elephant and then play on the treehouse for two hours, everybody is happy and we can always go back.

It was weird today getting pictures of the kids, sometimes in places where I had taken their pictures years before. Like this one of Megan. I have a picture of her in that same clamshell when she was only 6 months old. Now look how big she looks in there! And may I add looking oh so cool.



















I got a ton of great pictures today, that I am excited to scrap. Way too many to post.

On a somewhat sad note, there is a picture I have of Trevor when he was just under two years old. He is pointing at Harley the Belgian horse and has this incredibly HUGE smile on his face. It has always been one of my favorite pictures of him. Trevor remembers Harley, and when we were over in the barn area we were hoping he was still there. (He was looking pretty old even 4 years ago.) Sad to say that Harley wasn't there, and his nameplate on the barn was gone. Now there is another horse...Jack. Jack the black Shire. Who is awfully cute, but doesn't have the history that Harley had. I swear that Harley was there when I was a kid and went to the zoo. Anybody who has lived in Phoenix for years knows about Harley. One super cool horse.

So that was our day, and I have since taken a shower and gotten the zoo smell off of me. Now off to get kids in bed, who are totally wiped out after running up and down hills all day long!

eight.

I know I say it all the time. But time really does go by so fast. Today my little girl is turning 8 years old. How can that be? I still remember EVERY detail of this day 8 years ago!! I mean I can't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday. Granted, the birth of a child is a bit more important, but how can I remember SO much like it was just yesterday????

Eight is such a big birthday too. According to clothes size, she has jumped up to a new 8-10 size, (even though she hasn't worn that at all and skipped right to sizes 10-12.) More things are opening up for her age. Classes through parks and rec have a whole new section for kids 8 and up, and 8 is the year that kids can be baptised in our church. I don't know, there just seems to be this 'magic number' thing surrounding eight years old.

Shoot, I even remember my own 8th birthday party.

So here she is. My baby girl. A very grown up, eight years old today.

Happy birthday sweetheart!

A little reflecting, feeling mellow and taking it all in.

I just love this time of year!

It has already been such a busy month. My birthday, out of town, tomorrow is Megan's birthday, then her baptism, then Matthew's birthday. Wow.

The best thing is, even though it seems so busy, it seems to slow down a little. Or maybe we are slowing down a little. We are finally able to go outside and enjoy the weather. We have been taking walks around the block after dinner. Mike and I usually walk while the kids either ride bikes or skate. Plus it is so nice to be able to drive around with the windows down, or open up the windows to the house and not hear that constant whirring of the air conditioner. Finally! I think I have slowed down and started to enjoy things right now. I'm not constantly waiting for the summer to be over. - Major changes are going to start happening in our family. Things we have been waiting for, for years. Then changes of Mike's job and getting used to that. Scary and exciting all at the same time.

Tomorrow is Megan's 8th birthday. This time 8 years ago I was so anxious and sick to my stomach. I had no idea what to expect the next day when I went to the hospital. Turning 8 is such a big deal. It just seems like one of those magical birthdays. Old enough to start doing more things, and life just seems like it is in fast forward for her right now. It is pretty exciting. I'm having so much fun watching it all. I absolutely adore my little girl. She has brought me so much happiness, taught me so much, and is my best friend in a mother/daughter kind of way. :)

What in the WORLD are those anyway?????

OK, can I just say that I have the best friends EVER?!?!?!?

A few years ago we started doing obnoxious things to each other on our birthdays. Like last year because of my love of McDonald's cokes - my doorbell rang, and my front yard was a sea of McDonald's cups.

I 'thought' we had gotten to the point where we wouldn't do yards anymore because it is harder to top each person's birthday! So, I wasn't expecting a thing.

10:00 tonight the phone rings. Somebody (Dustin??) says "Ding dong" and hangs up.

Oh noooooo........that could only mean one thing!!!

My front yard was COVERED with Target gift cards on wood skewers!!! Oh my gosh, they looked so cute!!! I was laughing my butt off especially because of the recent "Are they stolen or not? scandal on 2Peas." I mean, how does somebody get this many Target cards?!?!?!?

The funniest thing is, each card has a saying on it like: loosah, nope, nada, sucks to be you.....
except for the ones that say $1 winner!!!! Yes, those girls hid 30, YES 30 one dollar gift cards within all of the blank ones!!! Hysterical!!!

So here I am looking through some of the cards:
















I wish you could see how many there were! Those girls worked HARD! The picture just doesn't show how many there really were!

So I'll break it down.... 140 blank gift cards, and 30 $1 gift cards!!! Holy cow! The fact that they were able to get so many blank ones just amazes me. Apparently Michelle has the hook up! The lady that Maddy talked to wasn't as kind. The funny thing is, I can totally picture these guys (I know Beth was in on this!) planning what they were going to do, and plotting exactly how they were going to do it!

And no, absolutely NO target cards were harmed or stolen. (Just incase this ever gets back to 2Peas you know. Ha ha!) Each one was asked for or paid for.

You guys seriously rock!!!!!!!! Thank you for making this such a special day!

Happy birthday to me!

Well usually I am not one to toot my own horn about it, but I had to share one of the goodies that I got today!

I was at Devine Memories yesterday, and my friend Kim was there. We were talking about cute signs and such and she mentioned the Quilted Bear. It is on Southern and Gilbert. It is kind of like Coomers, with different booths with different types of craft stuff.

Man, first I have to say how incredible the place smells when you walk through the door right now with all of the fall candles, dried flowers with cinnimon sticks, cinnimon cookie presses, etc. Yummy.

So I decided I would go kill some time there while Matthew was in school. Sorry, Michelle. (This is a place where I know she'll always go with me.) Let me tell you that it really isn't a good place to go to by yourself because other people tend to look at me like I'm crazy when I squeal over something really cute and realize I don't have a friend with me to ooh and ahh with.

But....I found this ADORABLE wooden Halloween sign. I had to have it. It was calling me, and I took it home. It is happy now.

:)

*eta* I just noticed that if you click on the picture to see it larger, if you look to the right side of my black table you can see a bit of Matthew's artwork on the wall. Grr. How did I make it through two other children who NEVER did anything like this!! But, maybe he is just using his inner life artist. ;)

Cool article

I know, I haven't been around at all this week. I don't really know why, but it has flown by. I have just kept busy with preschool, helping out in Megan's classroom, errands and life in general. So it seems like there hasn't been anything worth blogging about.

I did find an article that I have been looking for, for a long time. It was one that I read online back in 2002. I printed it off and tucked it somewhere safe. You know that safe place where you can never remember where it is?

So it doesn't get lost again, I figured I would put the best part of it on my blog. My scrapbooking friends might enjoy reading it as well. It is just an uplifting article about this crazy thing that seems to consume our lives. Scrapbooking.

**************************************

By Holly Christian Craft writer/designer and expert

I don't know about you, but for me it doesn't take much for scrapbooking to lift my spirits. After five minutes of looking through old pictures of my daughters I've got a goofy grin spread across my face that lasts for hours. The therapeutic value of scrapbooking is immediately evident but a closer look reveals long-lasting and life-enhancing benefits. Scrapbooking can help foster creativity, allow us time for contemplative work, provide a social outlet, and most of all, help us tell the stories of our relationships with loved ones.


The Healing Power of Story

Gathering photographs, organizing and assembling them in a scrapbook, and doing a bit of journaling about them is a fun way to spend an afternoon. But the benefits may be even greater than imagined. Studies show that when cancer patients are able to tell their deepest stories, their psychological and physiological well being often improves greatly. Scrapbooking, part of the family of story-telling modalities which includes journaling, art therapy and creative movement, has been shown to actually help strengthen the immune system.


Creativity

The process of scrapbooking -- choosing paper, thinking about placement of objects on the page, playing with color, line and form -- expands our minds in other ways as well. The creative act, whether it's making a fabulous meal, painting a picture or telling a story in a scrapbook, often bubbles over into other areas of life, allowing us to experience and respond to life in new ways.


Solitude

Solitude, though not highly valued in our culture, helps us get back in touch with ourselves. Contemplative time spent alone, journaling and scrapbooking, helps us access and strengthen our essential nature so that we can see more clearly when we venture back out into the larger world.


Social Time

For many scrappers, getting together with others for scrapbooking is a wonderful way to lift spirits. Regular get-togethers are especially welcome during those long winters that never seem to end, particularly for moms with little ones at home.


So doesn't all of that sound pretty true? I'm glad to have read that. Not that I need validation, but sometimes when you tell a non-scrapper what you do, they look at you like you are crazy. They just don't get it. So I feel validated. And like others have said before me....the cost of scrapping supplies might be expensive, but much cheaper than therapy!

Sunday

How to ease motion discomfort:

- Regulate air vent for additional air

- Concentrate on objects at a distance



-Or- don’t get into a small plane shortly after having a taco and two sodas.

Those two wonderful lines of advice are printed on the back of the Sic-Sac. The third, I figured out on my own.


Mike and I, and a friend of his from school, went flying today. We had planned on going to monument valley, but a few things kept us from getting there today. So we ended up going to Page, AZ and had lunch and came back home.

It was still a nice flight, and I don’t know why I had a hard time with this one. I’m blaming the taco. I felt fine on the way up and during lunch. Then for some reason after taking off I started to feel nauseous. I’ll spare you the details, but did you know that it is legal to throw puke bags out of small aircraft windows?

I feel sorry for anybody that might have been hiking around the Grand Canyon today. Hopefully nobody got hit with a puke bomb.

Here are some pictures from today:











Me.




Downtown Phoenix with Bob open.











The Grand Canyon













Lake Powell















Sedona











I took over 100 pictures, so I might post some more in a bit!