Things we forget...

My new favorite blog. Insightful and inspiring...LOVE it!

The Heidi Hookup

a digital layout from the awesome Cake Boss hookup from Heidi. Paige is still over the moon about this :) Thanks Heidi!

Springtime kit- Echo Park digitals

Template- Janet Phillips

fonts- Ballpark Weiner and Traveling Typewriter (dafont)

Jimmered

Who knew my crush had hops? Isn't this a sweet picture?!

We need a win tonight...

I {heart} fonts!

I have an obsession for fonts! Fonts are those fabulous things you just can't have enough of! These are some of my current faves. Most of these can be found at dafont, except for Pacifico and Lobster. I used Lobster on these scrapbook pages for B&P. It's my new favorite :)

Digital Scrapbooking...where do I start?

I've had several people ask me about digital scrapbooking. I love paper scrapbooking. I still make cards and use my stuff for various projects. I did it for years and I never thought I would go digital. Karin brought me to the digi side and I'm glad she did :) It's been a fun hobby.

Here's why I digital scrapbook:
-You can use things over and over again. I love alphabets! I love that I can buy a set and never run out of letters :)
-No mess! Bringing the supplies and everything out and then cleaning up the mess afterwards.
-Awesome deals. There are lots of freebies out there and designers usually have sales every weeek or quarterly.
-Making things in multiples. I love that I can create a layout and print as many copies as I need.
-The undo button...life saver!

So you want to get started but don't know where to go? There are all kinds of tutorials and videos. Ali Edwards is a great place to start. You can go here for tutorials and all kinds of videos. I love her stuff, can't get enough of it.

Jessica Sprague is another great resource.
Designer Digitals is another

If you have any other questions, just contact me :)

learning to fly

may the force be with you

my sweet little boys that I love beyond words...

scrapbook pages and my crush

How about the BYU basketball team?! I never thought Danny Ainge's record would be broken but Jimmer has done it! Yes, I have a crush on Jimmer. Me and every other BYU fan out there!I don't know what's gotten into me lately...I've been in the scrapbooking mood. That's always a good thing!

This template is by Cathy Zielske. I think this might be something that would be great to do each year as the kids get older. And I love the clean and simple design. Templates...they are the greatest things EVER!

strong, silent type

I can't think of a more perfect shirt for Heston...if you know him, he really is our strong, silent type :)

This is a template by Paislee Press (it was free when I downloaded it) She's got some super cute digi stuff that I just love.

I {heart} this sunshine

Sunshine does wonders for the soul...

Ostrich Festival 5k 2011

On Saturday, our family ran in the Ostrich Festival 5k here in Chandler.

Paige and I ran together. She took 2nd place in the girls 9 and under. Good job Paige! We had so much fun!

She was excited when they called her name...


Braden the running rockstar. He had been sick 2 days before but he still wanted to go out and run



us

the kids before the race

Aaron ran with Hes. He was one of the youngest kids there that actually ran. He told Aaron, "I'm running! I'm running!"
This picture kills me...his little legs and that huge t-shirt :)
My baby is growing up...




the kids with the cute little ostrich. Can you tell that they are standing here because Mom made them? :)
I'd like to take a moment and commend the people behind these costumes. It's hard and sweaty work. Some people hit you in the back of the head to see if you'll fall or flip you off when you try to wave at them...I can empathize...

i like this quote

reading lessons

I remember years ago being so impressed by my nephew Alec and niece Lexie and their ability to read at a young age. I asked my sis-in-law Alisha how she did it and she shared with me
this awesome book...

Braden was in Kindergarten when we finished this book and he was reading at a 2nd grade level. Paige made it through about 70 of the lessons (I slacked off...will you forgive me Paige?). I started Heston on his lessons in January and it's going great. After he gets home from preschool, we have lunch and then do the lesson. It's our little routine.

I made a chart like this for each of the kids. When they reach 50, they get to pick out a toy. And if they reach 100, they can choose another prize.

Stickers are the magic motivators. I went to Walmart and Hallmark and picked out stickers that represented everything Hes loves: motorcycles, Star Wars, Iron Man and dinosaurs. After he completes a lesson, he gets a sticker on this sheet.

There are many different methods and books on learning to read. Everyone is entitled to their opinion about it. I just wanted to share this with you because it's been such a positive thing for my kids and I'm sure Alisha would say the same thing. It's takes work and patience but when it starts to click, it's exciting!

Thanks Alisha!

to infinity and beyond!!

Our very own Buzz Lightyear!!

Time goes by so fast...this seems like yesterday!

a new digital page

This is a new digital page from last week. Thanks Melanie for taking pictures while I took video :)

After School craft class

Today was our last craft class. It was a lot of fun and these kids are just too cute. They told me that they wanted me to do craft class everyday. (It has nothing to do with the fact that I was with them for only an hour one day a week, we were making fun things and I let them push the buttons on the Cricut machine :)

They were really well-behaved kids...I just may do it again next year :)

Our day trip to Utah!!

When we lived in Utah, going to see the Cougarettes perform was something that me, my sis-in-law Alisha and my mom-in-law looked forward to each year. After we moved, Alisha would call me and say, 'One of these days, I'm going to fly you up so you can go see the Cougarettes with us.'

She called Thursday night and on Saturday morning, Paige and I were on a plane to Utah!

One thing about the Cougarettes, they never disappoint! They are all so talented and it was awesome!

We started out the morning by having brunch with my other sis-in-law Rebecca at Kneaders. I forgot how good the food is there...

Us on the plane.


I got to stop by and see Amanda and her family. It was so much fun seeing them and visiting for a little bit. This is Paige with Cole and Jaden

me and Amanda...we've been friends for 22 years. I couldn't have survived junior high without her :)

The mountains in Provo...I miss the mountains. However, I don't miss the cold weather.

Paige, me Alisha and Grandma

I was feeling nostalgic as we were driving through Provo. These are the Glenwood apartments on University Ave. This is where I lived and where Aaron and I met. They didn't look this nice when we lived there...

The NuSkin building where I used to work. It was great place to work and I met so many awesome people there. Good times!

Paige

Thanks again to Alisha for a really fun Saturday in Utah!

And to my former roommate Em a.k.a. "The Coug"...I wish I could have brought you with me! :)

puzzles

Isn't it fun to see your kids find a passion for something? With Braden, it was Legos. Collecting them, building things and making movies with them. Paige loves her crafts and baking (especially cake decorating). With Heston, it's all about puzzles. He loves them! I'm always on the lookout for new ones so that he's challenged. Can't go wrong with Star Wars!

Grapefruit

It's that time again...time to break out the juicer!

Amanda told me that she can't keep grapefruit in her house because her kids and hubby love them...the Gunderson's need to come for a visit!

If anyone stops by, please remind me to send you home with grapefruit :)

3rd grade field trip

Last month, I was one of the chaperones for the 3rd grade field trip. We went downtown to the Mines and Minerals museum and then to Bolin Memorial park for lunch. Paige got to be with her 3 best buddies, they were good little girls and drama-free! Hooray :)

Paige and Elaine being silly on the bus ride back to school...cuticles...Hee!hee!

after school craft class

This month, I'm teaching a craft class at the school. This week, we made little Valentine card people. Pipe cleaners, some playing cards and googly eyes...


The kids had fun making them. The 2 boys in our class were sick this week :(

got bacon? Vote Braden!

Since 4th grade, Braden set a goal to run for Student Council President in 6th grade. The slogan he came up with was:

got bacon? Vote Braden!

So with the help of the Cricut, (I'm telling you, that thing has come in handy many times) some felt and the glue gun, he made this poster. (with a little help from Mom and Gaga.)

The posters were hung in the multipurpose room and each candidate gave a speech.

The speeches were on Friday afternoon and Braden is the new President!

Congratulations!

I cannot for the life of me find the software to download the video from my camcorder to my computer. I'm working on it and I will post it when I figure it out...it's driving me crazy! ;)

the B street posse

We live in an older neighborhood and haven't met very many families with young kids. In the last year or so, kids are starting to show up. I don't know why, but they all congregate in front of our house. It's been fun for our kids to have some friends they can play with that are close.

Don't you just love watching your kids interact with other kids? It's hilarious :)

Valentine wreath

I saw this wreath on a blog called The Idea Room and fell in love with it! (What is it with me and wreaths?) It's a pretty easy and inexpensive project and one that Paige and I could do together.

You need: straight pins, 1 1/2 yards felt, 3 inch circle template (i used a mug) and a styrofoam heart. (I had a hard time finding this, eventually found one at Hobby Lobby for $3)

trace your circles on the felt and cut them out. I didn't count but you need quite a few circles, you want it nice and full (I cut them out while catching up on my recorded shows)

Next, you fold the circle in half and then fold it again. Place a pin at the point and then into the heart.
Just continue the process on the top, inside and outside of the heart...
Next, pin a loop of ribbon on the back and you're done! (I'm going to change the ribbon, I'm not feeling the pink one I have on there. )
If you decide to make one, I'd love to see pictures!
A pink one would be cute too :)

Paige's new haircut

I just love Paige's new haircut! Thanks Ricci!

Words of wisdom to live by

My friend Tara sent me this email and I just have to post it for you. (Thanks Tara!) This was written by Regina Brett of Cleveland, Ohio.

So true and inspiring, enjoy!

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught
me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

one more day...

The kids have 1 more day of Christmas vacation. I've put them to work helping me with chores and putting Christmas stuff away. (of course as I'm yelling and having to repeat myself over and over and over...)
I love my children...I love my children dearly...but I am so ready for school to start again :)