thank you fall break

It's been an awesome fall break:)

 I've enjoyed every second of it! Paige's yard sale wasn't a huge success. She didn't sell very many of the scrapbook supplies. Her brothers were helping out, that was cute to watch. She was discouraged, I felt sad for her. After the yard sale, she took her candy bars and went door to door. She made $25 in 30 minutes! We were all happy for her :)

It has been a really nice break, I've enjoyed the down time with the kids.

My thumbs are so sore but I got that quilt tied :)

The Rescuers

About a month ago,"The Rescuers" came out on DVD. Aaron and I have childhood memories of that movie, especially of Medusa. She was one scary Disney character.

Watching the movie again reminded me of The Rescuers game that my cousins and I used to play at my grandparent's house. I found this on Ebay and had to get it.

I'm wondering if any of my cousins remember this game too...

being nice to yourself

 I like to think of myself as a fairly optimistic person. It's the way I was raised and staying positive is something I try to practice everyday. Some days I fail and some days I do okay. In the not so distant past, I could be happy and joyful for others but I couldn't muster any nice and loving thoughts about myself. It's sad but true. It was becoming a real problem in my life. I've struggled with anxiety for years and then it got progressively worse. In the name of motivation, I would mentally beat myself up. Ummm...yeah, that does not work. At all. I took a new approach and decided that I needed to not only be supporting and loving for others, I needed to be positive and loving to myself. As simple as that is, it was hard to change my thinking. I still struggle, but it's better.

So there you go...nothing like spilling your guts on the internet :)
 

I am so ready...

It's official! Fall Break is here!

9 glorious days of enjoying my family, working on some projects and being lazy!

I've got a quilt to tie, blinds and windows to clean and lots of TV I want to watch! (Don't you just love DVR?) Speaking of TV, Duck Dynasty is one of my new favorites. My co-worker got me hooked on this show...it's nice to know there's someone else at the school that has a little redneck in them :) I'm also loving "Once Upon a Time" and "Downton Abbey". I'm also so excited for new "Arrested Development" episodes. From Project Runway to Duck Dynasty...I'm all over the map :)

 We are kicking off our Fall Break with a yard sale Paige is putting together. She needs to earn $25 more dollars for the tablet she's been saving up for. I donated some old scrapbook stuff for her to sell and she's also selling candy bars and lemonade. I hope it's successful for her. We don't have a lot of kids on our street so the neighbors are always generous to support our kids.

I'm the most excited to spend time with the kids. Seems like we are always on the go these days and just getting some time to focus on them is just what I need :)

 

baby Dex

This is my new nephew Dexter :) He was born yesterday evening.

I was telling Ricci how I'm using every ounce of willpower not to hop in my van and drive home...

I NEED to snuggle and kiss on this baby!

at the golf course

a scrapbook page of our golf adventures. P&H love to golf. Braden likes it but he's not as passionate about it as he is soccer.

It's Friday and oh how I love Friday. We are all so ready for Fall Break and cooler weather. We have plans to play at the park, sleep in and just enjoy it. We still have one more week but I'm so happy it's the weekend!! :)

Sunday conversations

Kids say the funniest things :) I bought this template a few years ago and thought it would be fun to interview the kids again. Some things have changed and some things have stayed the same :)

best friends

These sweet little girls...they have so much fun together :)

overjoyed applause

I subscribe to Zen Habits and this was the post for today. Just what I needed :)

The Only Way to Respond to Life

Post written by Leo Babauta.

I went for a run along the beach at sunset yesterday, foam kissing my bare feet, smooth sand caressing my soles, and the sky exploding with color.
I paused for breath, mostly because the sky, and the Pacific, had borrowed my breath from me.
I stopped and applauded.
This is the only response that life deserves: overjoyed applause.
This morning, wherever you are, whatever life has given you, take a moment to really appreciate this gift, and applaud. I mean, actually applaud.
Then give back to life, something, anything, to show your gratitude for this miracle you’ve been given. Do anything: be kind to someone, create something, be gentle with your children, do something where your body feels full of life.
We often not only take life for granted, but complain about it. Life isn’t perfect, work is boring, people are too rude, drivers are idiots, no one gets me, I have too many things to do. But goodness, look around you! What a wonder life is! If only we would take the time to see it, to really appreciate it, and to applaud.
This moment is a ridiculously generous miracle. Give it up, folks, for life.

birthday pages

 Birthday pages from my sweet boy's birthdays :)

deeper roots

This quote is the theme of this week...

flowers for teacher

I forgot about this picture! Heston gave Mrs. M these flowers for her birthday last year :)

my boys playing soccer

Braden was showing Heston some soccer tricks yesterday :)

I need to take more videos of the kids, they're growing up too fast

Canyonlands page

{Supplies}

Template- Janet Phillips, Paper- Cosmo Cricket, Brush- Ali Edwards

I haven't scrapped in a while and I've missed it! I think the days of not using a template are over for me and that's okay :)

Tuesday=epic fail

I had a day that slapped me around and made me want to crawl into the fetal position and cry...

Do you ever have days like that?!

Just trying to figure things out...

I have 1 choice...

re-group and try again tomorrow :)

2012 Summer Vacation 2012 part 7 of 7 :)

 My sweet father-in-law picked me up from the airport and I just couldn't wait to see the kids! We had such an awesome and fun time but I was so homesick to see the kids. I woke up early the next day and drove to Vernal and spent a couple of days there. The kids always want to break out the Slip-n-Slide :)

 We also had a little family BBQ with my aunt, uncle and cousins

 While we were gone, the family went boating at Flaming Gorge. (I thought I would sneak this picture in)

Wes and Ricci took us out on their boat the day before we left. It's been years since I've been to Red Fleet and we had a blast. Boats are so, so much fun!

 going for a swim!

 It was a beautiful day...

 Brandt liked sitting in the cooler :)

 I've been water skiing once but I've never knee boarded. I had a hard time getting up on the board...I think I was making it harder than it is. Wes is a pro :)

 After leaving Vernal, we picked Aaron up from the airport and went to see Grandma Martha. She just had knee surgery and we wanted to see her before we left. And then it was time to hop in the van for the loonnggg drive home. We got a late start (it's a 13 hour drive) so we stayed the night in Hurricane.

The kids looked thrilled, don't they?!

And that, my friends, is our summer vacation! :)

Believe in yourself

2012 Summer vacation part 6 Philly!

We took the train from NYC to the City of Brotherly Love to visit my uncle, aunt and cousins. Our visit to see them was long overdue :)

Our first stop was to see the Liberty Bell

and Independence Hall

This is where the Declaration of Independence was signed

Philadelphia City Hall. This is the world's tallest masonry building and one of Philly's most famous landmarks. I know I keep saying this but I just loved these old buildings and the craftsmanship.

Love Park

This is Kelly and Apryl. They are 2 of my most favorite people ever. In a perfect world, we would live next door to them. I just adore them :)

Does this guy look familiar? 

I bet money that you won't be able to get the "Rocky" theme song out of your head :) I couldn't the whole time we were walking around :)

K&A took us to Pat's where they sell the best Cheesesteaks around. They were delicious! (Not going to lie, we took a bus to get to Pat's and I was frightened. I felt more safe in NYC than I did on that bus in Philly)

The next day, we took a trip to the Eastern State Penitentiary. What a fascinating place! It looked like a castle from the outside.

looks like a castle, doesn't it?

I loved visiting all the fun sites of Philly and getting to spend time with my family. Aaron took a flight back to Phoenix and I took a flight back to Salt Lake to spend a few days with my family and to pick up the kids.

to be continued...