Scrap Happy Jenn

LOL!

2012-02-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

So I guess my new blogging technique didn't work to well. Story of my life.

I've been keeping busy with my friend Lisa working on de-cluttering this house we call a home to make room for the newest addition. A Boy... What am I going to do with a little boy? We still haven't found a name for him and he will be here in approximately 6 weeks. 6 weeks!! I am panic nesting. My dryer broke down and I want (need) to start washing tiny itty-bitty baby boy clothes. I don't want to hang them on the line outside because my nesting mode says: 1. they will get dirty out there, and 2. they won't be soft and cuddly, they will be hard and crusty. And I just don't want to wash them at the laundromat because who knows whats in those washer and dryers. I do realize how dumb this sounds but my protective mommy mode won't let me get past it.

Emily is growing huge and speaks so well that I'm afraid she is going to start correcting my horribly bad english. We borrow the series "My baby can Read" from the library and she is learning millions of words. Well, maybe not millions, but lots and lots. And of course, some I can't understand which frustrates us both.

Harley and Chloe got a modeling contract. We haven't signed it yet. We are still praying about it considering I am about to have another baby and most auditions are in L.A. We have to buy a reliable car that can fit us all. They are very excited. Besides that, they are in a drama class that will be putting on a play on the Thursday before Easter. They are excited about it and so are we. We are falling behind in our schoolwork, mostly because I just don't have the energy to argue the why's everyday. And Emily is a handful who wants constant attention. I've been trying to play with her so the girls have quiet time but then they sit and argue with each other over stuff that makes no sense to me. Must be their age.

Shawn is so excited for another baby. He's plum crazy. He just took the big girls on a field trip to Rueben H. Fleet Science Center and had so much fun that he is really looking forward to his "vacation" time when the baby comes. He wants to take them on more field trips and some fishing trips. Sounds good to me :) I told him not to forget Emily :)

So that's everything up to now. Thanks for listening!

New blogging technique

2011-09-02T21:48:00.000-07:00

I found this site and I am so excited about it. It will totally help me stay on topic for my blog. We will see how long it will last...

In my life this week…hubby was really sick and stayed home one day from work. He never misses work. He made homemade chicken soup and we ate leftovers for 2 days. It was so delicious and no one else has gotten sick. We always call it Daddy's miracle soup. The girls and I also went to the Zoo before Nightime Zoo was over. We met Lisa and Kate there and had so much fun!

In our homeschool this week…We just started Monday and we got a lot done. The kids were motivated by the schedule I set for them to do themselves but fizzled out by Wed. We did a lot of reading together for History but they were bored. On the plus side they had so much fun learning about their brains! Who knew?

My favorite thing this week was…the excitement the girls had for anatomy. They weren't into it at first but we started by tracing their bodies on a big sheet of paper and cutting out our brains :)

Things I’m working on…a schedule. We really need something that works around the baby but still involves her.

I’m reading…a series by G.A. McKevett. i can't stop!

I’m cooking…potato salad tomorrow. i am totally craving it!

I’m grateful for…my friend Kay who told me today that even though I don't think I have it altogether, I pretty much do and have some faith in God and myself.

I’m praying for…a friend's friend named Aubree. She has cancer and isn't doing well. I am also praying for my brother and his girlfriend.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Girl Scout Cookies and Emily's 1st Birthday

2011-03-03T16:08:00.000-08:00

Girl Scout Cookies out the wazoo! I am so done with selling girl scout cookies and I guess the final day is March 9th! Thank goodness! I'm not even sure how many cookies we've sold but hopefully Harley and Chloe get a big prize.

We've been spending a lot of time at the new library. It's beautiful but busy all the time! I've paid more fines since they've opened the new library than in my entire life. I guess someone has to pay for all the new solar panels...

Emily's first birthday is coming up on March 31st. We are going to have a bday party on April 3rd and I can't decide how much money I want to spend. Do I want to go all out for a party she won't even remember with cute 1st birthday decorations or do I just want to cut out some big ones on my cricut and paste them to the wall??? Decisions, decisions. Probably the latter, but we've already invited tons of family so we will probably be spending all the money on food anyway.

Until next time I blah all over the computer...

Wow! It's been a year!

2011-02-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

I know I've said this before but I am back! LOL. I had a baby. Her name is Emily. She is uber-adorable and now I am ready to start scrapping again. I think.

We had a good and bad year. I had a baby. My best friend died. That's the year in a nutshell.

So onto the scrapbooking. I finished Emily's album. It is so gorgeous and I am so proud. Lately I've been working on baby albums for Sandy's sons. Two of them are pregnant. Well, their girlfriends are at least. One with a boy and one with a girl. I gave the boy album away last Sunday at the baby shower. I didn't take any pics, bummer. BJ totally helped me get it finished in 2 days. Thanks so much! But I still have to finish the girl one and I will post pics of it. In the meantime, here's a pic of my beautiful girls. I'll be back soon.....

New pages

2010-02-02T18:55:00.000-08:00

I joined a 14 days of Valentine sketches challenge where you do one sketch a day. It started yesterday and goes through Feb. 14th. I decided to use the sketches to get started on the new baby's album. I am absolutely loving the new Topstitch collection from Close to my Heart. I am going to try to do all 14 pages out of that paper. So here are my first two:

Here's another page I did with that same paper. I got this sketch from Little shop of Sketches.
Tonight I was going to join a women's group at a local church that are reading through the bible and scrapping about the verses. I thought that was such a great idea! Plus the support of the women is such a help to hold me accountable! LOL. Anyway, hubby still isn't home from work, so I couldn't go...I called and he is on his way. I was worried!

Harley's catching a cold and we are selling girl scout cookies. I started work again today until the end of this month...busy busy busy. I couldn't be happier :) Happy February!

Baby Busy-ness

2010-01-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year's. I've been slowly but steadily cleaning my house and preparing it for the baby's arrival. I am getting so darned excited! I seriously did not think I wanted another baby, but we made the decision to have one and now I couldn't be happier. I think most of the problem was that my first "baby" was twins and it was hard! The girls came and then my stepson came to live with us 6 months later and he was disabled and that was hard! I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that one little baby might be fun and happy and a joy. The girls are so excited and so is Shawn. So here we are, happy and blessed and barely getting any scrapping done..lol! I did a page yesterday with this beautiful new paper I bought from Close to my Heart. It was for a scraplift the person before you type challenge. So here is the page I scraplifted, it's from MelissaW:
http://www.scrapbook.com/galleries/101158/view/2552645/-1.html
and here is my take:
This new paper from Close to my Heart is called Topstitch. They have a coordinating stamp set that I just might have to purchase!

My friend Holly and I also made the invitations to my baby shower which is coming up on Feb. 20th. I am excited for that too. Hopefully lots of my friends that I haven't seen for a long time will come. We live "up the hill" and have no car right now so it seems we don't see anyone anymore.
Here are some layouts I did for my sister in law of her baby girl and baby boy. They aren't exactly babies anymore but I gave these to her for Christmas. This was using the new Close to my Heart Felicity Collection. It came with the paper and stamp set. It is only available until Jan. 31st!

The girls had a birthday and they turned 9 years old! I feel like they are growing up so fast! I keep finding myself scrapping pictures of them when they were young. I loved how cute and innocent they were. They are starting to get too pre-teenish for me. Hubby has to step in a lot and take over the arguments. I feel they argue a lot with me instead of obeying. I'm not looking forward to the time when they don't like me at all. How do I keep that from happening? How do I keep being their best friend and mom at the same time? Leave some advice...I need help!

Almost Christmas!

2009-12-17T09:47:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to get some Christmas cards done and sent out but things are moving slowly around here. Hubby had his bday, so here's a page I did about him. Wasn't he so cute? He's still cute :) Here's a Christmas page I did that I'll add just because it's Christmas. It's our first Christmas as a family (with kids!) The girls are excited about Christmas. They still believe in Santa and I think that's awesome. I need to buy some wrapping paper and start wrapping presents. There aren't that many, but I gotta get it done before they start snooping around in my closet.

Were you a closet snooper? A looker of under beds trying to find what your parents got you for Christmas? I was! I even unwrapped presents that were already under the tree and then re-wrapped them. And to tell you the truth...I still hunt for my gifts. The year before last my hubby hid my gift in the shed out back. I never found it...he's getting too smart for me.

Anyway, I am trying to keep the true spirit of Christmas which is of course, Jesus. He is the reason for the season. Here's a verse for some perspective:
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Where I've been!

2009-11-21T12:46:00.000-08:00

So...i haven't been here, but I have been around. I am 5 months pregnant so lots of stuff got put on hold. But I got some mojo back and here is 2 pages I've done that took the past two weeks! TFL!

stolen from Jaime

2009-06-18T14:06:00.000-07:00

ABC's of me
A - Age: 32
B - Bed size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: dishes
D - Dog's name: Princess
E - Essential start your day item: coffee pot
F - Favorite color: greens
G - Gold or Silver: silver
H - Height: 5'6"
I - Instruments you play(ed): i play A song on the piano and A song on the guitar :)
J - Job title: um...phone caller and home school teacher and mom
K - Kid(s): Harley and Chloe and Cody
M - Mom's name: Lori
N - Nicknames: J, Jenn, Jenny
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: None
P - Pet Peeve: Kids sitting on the laps of parents in cars! Are those parents stupid!!!???
Q - Quote from a movie: No one saw!!! Outrageous Fortune
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: a brother and two sisters.
T - Time you wake up: depends on the day
U- Underwear: hole-y :)
V - Vegetable you dislike: I have to agree with beets.
W - Ways you drink your coffee: with sugar free sugar and milk usually...but you can entice me with flavored creamer.
X-rays you've had: teeth
Y - Yummy food you make: my kids like potato bake
Z - Zoo favorite : monkeys...they are so funny to watch!

Card Swaps & Promotions

2009-06-04T07:47:00.000-07:00

I am becoming addicted to card swaps. It started with the stamp camp. I had to make 10...fine. 10 is a nice rounded number. This week I made 20 cards for a card swap at Pink Pineapple. 20 is wayyyy too many. But I'd do it again..lol. I am going to participate in the 1st card swap at the lss here in town too. We only have to have 5 cards. I am trying to get my kids to participate but we'll see. I don't think they can make 5 of the same card yet. Anyway, here's a pic of the 20 I made.
Pretty simple, right?

The girls had a promotion ceremony at school! They got promoted to 3rd grade! I am so proud!
This is their teacher at school. There was absolutely no way I could have homeschooled these two this year without her help. She was sent from heaven! Thank you Mrs. Millen!

Charles Card Challenge #2

2009-06-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

It had only been two days and they wanted another card challenge. Fine with me! I love cards. On Wednesdays we go to a free make n take at the lss. They usually make cards. So we decided to use whatever card we make there as our base and then add the rest of the challenge which was:
1. Use Brads
2. Use pop-ups
3. Use Bling
4. HAVE FUN!

Here is Harley's take:
Here is Chloe's take:Here is my take (I couldn't find my card from the store :( :
TfL!

Charles Card Challenge #1

2009-06-04T07:38:00.000-07:00

So the girls and I started doing some card challenges at home with each other. No one wins or loses, just for fun. So our first challenge was:
1. Use blue pattern paper
2. Use ribbon
3. Use bling
4. Have FUN!

Here is Harley's take:
Here is Chloe's take:
Here is my take:

TFL!

USE it Challenge!

2009-06-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

USE IT Challenge #12

Here is Patti's challenge:
1) Use some old chipboard
2) Use buttons- one of my very favorite embellishments
3) Tear some paper.
4) Optional: Stitch.

And here's my take:

Use IT Challenge #11

2009-05-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Here is Ingrid's challenge:

1. Size: square card base

.....
2. Theme: Summer

.....
3. Embellishments:

use a flower(s), ribbon, pin(s) and twine
.....
4. Tools: Punches

Here's my take! Hope it's still in on time!!

A coupla pages!

2009-05-28T14:30:00.001-07:00

I need to do my use it challenge card...i think it's due today! But I wanted to post these pages I did.

I love these papers! I got them from Holly. I think they are a new stampin' up set!

This lo is for the Hearts and Crafts Design Team. We had to do something for Father's Day with all this stuff. We also got some other stuff. *Edit...since I took this pic...my hubby wanted something on this page...so I let him, he messed up and didn't like it. So now the yellow strip is a black strip with a quote...A Bird in a cage...is worth two in a bush.

This was for a BOM challenge. It was really hard. The blue rectangle with the arrows is an accordian style hidden journal. It's kinda personal. I hid it...
And, I finally scrapped the puppy pics of Princess! She is huge now...but got this page done...
TFL! Off to make the card!

Weekend

2009-05-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

What a busy weekend. It wasn't really...it just went so fast it feels like it. The girls went camping at Fiesta Island with the girl scouts. I can't wait to get their cameras developed. I always send them with disposables. They said they didn't take very many pics. I think Chloe will use the rest of her film taking pics of the cats. I find so many on my digital camera! For example:

But anyway! I wanted to post some lo's I did at the lss night crop on Friday. Since I had no children, I stayed reeeaallyy late and I was exhausted on Sat. morn at 8 a.m. when I got up. ...For no reason cuz the kids were still gone. So Sat. morn I watched the finale for Ugly Betty. And guess what? I missed the end cuz I recorded it and it went past the cut off time for the recorder. So if anyone knows, can you tell me if Daniel's wife died or not??? Thanks.
So here's a lo that I did last week for the Scraptathlon chall. I love the distressed look of this. I also like the topic and inspiration. I got some points from votes. I have to load it anonymously.

SO Sat. around 12:30 or so, Holly picked me up because she had a bbq at her house at 2 p.m. and I had no car. Then I hung out until 10:30 p.m. and went home. Shawn came for a little while. It was nice. I held a baby that is 4 weeks old and I want one. sshhh..don't tell. I will change my mind soon.

Another lo. This one is for a Scrap the Beach chall. (75% blue and brown) and for the Mother's day chall.

Today the girls came home at about 11a.m. I missed them soooooo much! I held them like babies ;) Then I scrapped and they watched t.v. because, you know, they had to camp with no t.v. God forbid! ANYWAY, I have dispersed the lo's throughout the whole post so you wouldn't get bored! This was long..sorry.

A lo for the Scrap the Beach chall. journaling.

A lo I did of my friend's sons. For the Scrap the Beach Chall. stamping.
Just a random lo. I wanted to do a page before I forgot about soccer.

Scrapbook Challenges DT Blog Hop!

2009-05-24T16:27:00.000-07:00

I was checking out a blog hop and it is so much fun! It started at Pamela's blog and then hopped to 9 others. Here's my take on the sketch they had to win a RAK.
The sketch:
And my take:
TfL!

Use IT Challenge #10

2009-05-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here are the rules of the challenge:
1. monochromatic scraps- All of it is scraps but all the green is monochromatic scraps.

2. rub-ons or clear stickers- the part that says is You & Me are rub-ons

3. chipboard- Both stars are chipboard covered in paper. The LOVE is chipboard also.

4. (optional) non-traditional ribbon- I don't know if my rope ribbon counts as non-traditional. But it isn't traditional to me!

And here's my take on it!

I got this sketch from the CTMH catalog. Thanks for looking.

Church in Jamul

2009-05-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

I had my final conference with the teacher today and she is so great! I love how re-assuring she is. She said the girls are doing wonderful. We have enough work turned in, but finish up the reading in the books we have and maybe do a couple hands on activities out of the book because we have to turn them in and then this summer work on multiplication up to 5's and work on the computer on compass learning. She said take the summer off! No work...lol. The compass learning is cool because it is games that introduce them to things they will learn next year. I am so darned happy!

I still haven't done my 10 cards for Stamp Camp tonight! I gotta do those right after this post :)

So today the girls were talking about how a kid in their class has an uncle who is a pastor. I said, we have a cousin who is a pastor. They were shocked! So I looked his church up on the www and found him. He's a youth pastor though. No biggie...but then I clicked on his blog and he talked about how he speaks in the main services about once a year and this weekend is the weekend he is doing them! Talk about a God thing! I haven't been in church in a few ~~weeks~~ months and now we are going to watch my cousin speak. I called my aunt and she said she goes to the 9:30 service. Looks like we will be up and gone really early Sunday. Their church is in Jamul.

Just wanted to share cuz I thought it was great. By the way, that pie was nasty! LOL...but the girls liked it!

End of school year stress!

2009-05-14T22:09:00.001-07:00

I am totally tripping on having everything done and turned in by the end of the school year. In case you don't know, this is my first year homeschooling my girls and we homeschool through a montessori program. So they get to go to school a couple days a week and there are only 4 more "school days" left. Two more Tuesdays and two more Wednesdays. I emailed the teacher today to find out just how much work I need to pack into the next two weeks to pass 2nd grade. Ugh, I'm stressed!

On a happy note, Holly and I are attending Stamp Camp at the Stampin' Up ladies house tomorrow night! I am so excited! I love going and learning new stuff. The best thing is the card swap. Last month I didn't participate, but Holly did and she got some amazing cards. I am excited. So I guess I better go get started making my 10 cards to swap. :/

On Memorial Day weekend, the girls are going camping with the girl scouts from Friday - Sunday. Isn't that awesome!! And guess what else?? :D Hubby might be going to the river with a couple of his buds too! Could you imagine...an entire weekend at home by myself! Holy mackeral! I gotta find me a crop or two or three! The only bad thing is we only have one car and hubby is talking about taking it. Guess I'll be staying home :)

Here's a pic of this wonderful looking Lemon Meringue Pie I made tonight. I say wonderful looking because I haven't actually tried the pie itself yet and this was my first time making one. Doesn't it look yummy? :) Has it been 3-6 hours chilling yet?

Use It Challenge #9

2009-05-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

Here's my entry for the USE IT Challenge #9:
These were the must-haves:
1. Color challenge: PINK, BLACK, WHITE
2. Accents: SCALLOPS, RIBBON, AND BLING,
OH MY!
3. Pattern: POLKA DOTS, BABY!
4. D.I.Y.: aka 'do it yourself'
Create something to add to your card....
I made a flower by sewing some ribbon into a circle and then pulling tight and adding a button to the middle.
The button doesn't look very pink, but I promise it is. On this pic it looks more red to me.

Anyway!!! I have to get some scrapping done because I joined way too many challenges. But wanted to get this card in today while I was in a missing mood. I miss my friend.

Use It Challenge #8

2009-05-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

I am following a new blog called Use It! that has challenges to use my supplies in the way of card making. Here's this weeks challenge. I had to use flowers, metal (brad), fiber and as an extra, a tool I haven't used in a long time...didn't do that part. TFL.

Stuff from Scrapbook Expo

2009-05-04T17:26:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of the things we made at the scrapbook expo:

This was the make n take at the Tattered Angels booth. It was so fun. We used tons of glimmer mist and the mask/stamp set they have there. These are the new Framed fonts that they have. Super cute!!
Just a free make n take we made at a booth. It was cute.
a sand shaker box we made at Heartstring Designs. They made these using a bag. I thought that was neat considering I learned from Holly using pop up tape and a little piece of plastic as the window. They also have a unique product called Matboard. It's this board above here, double matted. It's thick. I like it.
An Acrylic album that we made using a Bind It All Zutter. I love it! I want one so bad. Do you know how many books you can make as gifts with this thing! It was so cool. I also now love acrylic!
I made more things there but they are half finished so they will be posted later...

Some cards I made for one of the NSBD challenges at scrap-diner.com. I had to make 6 cards using titles of songs as the sentiment. Here's 3 + the 1 below. Still have two more to make.

This card is for the Card Challenge at Scrapbook.com. The theme is a thank you card. Plus it has a song title so it counts for the challenge above! TFL!

National Scrapbooking Day

2009-05-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

Well...it was today but I was too busy to participate in anything on the site I live on SOOOOO...I joined another site because they have 10 challenges going on all month! That's right! I don't have to download anything until May 31st! Of course, I'm gonna. Hopefully I won't have to wait all stinkin month to scrapbook.
Here's a page I did this morning before we left for the grandma's house while hubby and the girls went fishing. This is done for a few challenges on Scrapbook.com but mostly for the design team at Hearts and Crafts:

I had so much fun with Holly at the scrapbook expo yesterday! We went to every single booth. Did many many make n takes and took a class that we weren't too thrilled about. It kinda sucked actually because we thought we were going to learn a whole buncha techniques that we didn't know...but we didn't learn anything new at all. However...we did learn lots of new fun stuff at the make n takes at the booths and Holly bought lots of fun stuff that we are going to play with very soon. I will post pics later of the cool stuff we did there. After I finish unpacking it...

So gotta go...off to scrapbook..lol.

Today and tomorrow and the next day...

2009-04-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow my friend Holly and I are going to the Scrapbook Expo in Del Mar. I am very excited. We are going to take a class or two and go to all the booths and do all the make and takes. I can't wait to come back and post everything I do!

I had the busiest Thursday today. I took hubby's grandma (Grams) to the doctor. She could barely walk because of her back. Please pray for her. Then I picked the girls up from some friends' house (they had picked them up from school for me) and then they went straight to girl scouts while I went to the bank and the lss to beg Debbie to alcohol ink a piece of metal ribbon holder that I stole from her. Then picked the girls up from gs..came home, threw them in the shower. Checked my email...helped the girls pack, fed them dinner, then headed to the school for Children's Night. It was so cute. They sang songs and showed me a mural they did on the wall in the kitchen, went to the book fair and bought 2 $5 books! (Post pics later!) Then we came home, hugged daddy good-bye, they changed AGAIN! and then the girls went over to my dad's house to spend the night because we are leaving around 8 a.m. and I didn't want to make my dad and stepmom get up early to babysit. I know they are over there getting spoiled to death! Hubby is going to pick them up after work tomorrow. They will probably fall asleep in the car on the way home from sugar crashes and exhaustion from staying up too late. Grandparents are wonderful :)

We are going to Grams' house on Saturday for dinner so hubby can put up a screen door. I got her a cell phone and she is too funny. I had to try to teach her how to use it today. She is 83 years old. That's all I'm saying.

Saturday is National Scrapbooking Day and I really really want to sit at home and scrap online with all the challenges and contests that will be going on virtually! I guess I can try to catch up on Sunday...and I'll have all morning on Saturday...besides...I will probably be so sick of scrapbooking after Friday's expo...right..right?

Yeah, right! And yes...if you were wondering...I am obsessed lately. Here's a page to share that I finally finished. Have a good weekend.

P.s. On the way to grandma and grandpa's Harley asked me what 5 x 4 is...I told her and she said, "At least I got one right." On Monday I am having a phone conference with the teacher. I can't wait to find out that they passed those tests with flying colors!

almost bedtime

2009-04-29T21:38:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to put up the soccer pics before I head off to bed. This is just the team photo with the coach. We had so much fun this season.

One of my best friends' mom had a heart attack today and was in the hospital. Please pray for her and for their family. They are really on my heart tonight. Thanks. Nighty night!

Another day...

2009-04-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

I am feeling kinda somber today. I dropped the girls off at school and I cried. Now...I know it's probably PMS but Harley is stressing about her state testing! They are 8 years old and she is worried about passing a test. I told her to not worry about it...she said and I quote, "Mom, I can't help it. I am stressed out!" I didn't even know she knew what that meant! So, anyway, speaking of stressed...

I have so many handmade items to make it's ridiculous! Why do I sign up for these swaps? And I have to get the page done for the DT team. I have the pics picked out and I have the papers and embellies they gave us...it's just getting them onto a page and designed. All I want to do is crawl back into bed....

It's already been one of those days and it's only 9:30...

Cable Probs...

2009-04-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

Our cable box won't let me watch my recorded shows. The cable guy is coming out today to fix it because they couldn't do it over the phone. They better not charge me and they better fix it...(I'm so demanding.) Anyway, yesterday the girls had their last soccer game and won against a team that was undefeated! I really like cheering them on. I can't wait until the next sport starts! Happy Monday!

Crops crops crops!

2009-04-25T22:08:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun at the Friday night crop at the lss. We got our new stuff to make a page with for the design team and it has to be mother's day-ish. Something to do with being a mom, having a mom, etc. Bright bright colors which I do NOT deal with well...but we'll see how it turns out.

I got 8 pages done at the two crops I went to this weekend. Hopefully tomorrow I can sleep, go to the girls' last soccer game and then ~~sleep~~ go grocery shopping...maybe make dinner...then hopefully go to bed! I am exhausted but drank too much coffee. Here's a few pages I uploaded from this weekend..

Thanks for looking!!!!! Oh and by the way, my sister didn't come to the crop today with me...I called her this morning before I left to pick her up...she still hasn't called me back...

Hope she's okay...
Have a good week!

what happened?

2009-04-24T06:32:00.000-07:00

Where did all the time go??? Maybe starting next Monday???

All I've been doing is working...not even scrapping really. Oh yeah and homeschooling. The girls have state testing next week so we've been doing tons and tons of packets with little bubbles for practicing. The girls aren't happy about it...but they got 100% so far on all the packets. So I am very happy!

Anyway, last weekend we got to go camping at Dos Picos park which was awesome because it's right here in town! The girls stayed with their brownie troop on Friday night and Shawn didn't want to go because he got home late, so I went to a Stamp Camp with my friend Holly at a Stampin Up Consultant ladies house. It was so fun. I learned how to make 3 new cards and a little 3 drawer dresser out of paper. It's so cute. Anyway, about camping...lol...I stayed Friday night in the tent by myself and froze my butt off! The next day Shawn came and the girls came over to our tent because the rest of the gs went home (they only stayed one night) and we had so much fun! I love camping.

So today I have a dr. appt...just a regular yearly woman one...but gotta go ya know?

Then today the girls have a girl scout jr. bridging meeting telling them all about bridging to juniors. I personally don't think they are old enough yet. I think they should be in brownies one more year, but they've already earned all the brownie patches. The troop we are in has already been Brownies for 3 years, we joined the group late and missed a year. That first year we were with a group that were Daisys.

ANYWAY, who cares...on to more important matters. (I'm in a hurry here!) Tonight I am going to a crop at the scrapbook store. I don't think I said before but I got accepted onto the design team at our scrapbook store here in Ramona. It's exciting. They give me stuff...I make it into stuff and turn it back in...it's kinda cool :) Then tomorrow I am going to an all day crop in Vista with the Scrapbooking Mom's group. That should be fun too. I invited my sister Tamara. We just recently became friends again. I did a page about it.

And here's a page all about me...LOL.

Okay, enough of an update. Gotta go back to work...I was really on here just to get a sketch from Shanna....LOL!!!!

Shout out to Angela! I got your bday gift in the mail and I left you a message like a week later saying thanks. Hope you got the message! I love you tons and tons...the pizza was delish! HUGS!

hi again

2009-04-11T11:49:00.001-07:00

So I've been busy...who hasn't? Today is no different. I want to be scrapping right now...but I'm not...I'm surfing the net. I hadn't been on this site in a while. The only time I go on here is to check out Ang's blog and to get a sketch from Shanna. But no longer! I will blog away and put all my frustrations out here to share with my 2 viewers. Starting Monday....

Contentment

2009-02-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

I am taking a financial class through my church and so far the main focus is that God owns everything. Nothing is mine, it's all His. So I am trying to be content with what He lets me "borrow" of His. I am in need of nothing. God takes care of us and He has given me everything I need to live happy, healthy, Godly lives.

Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? Luke 16:11

Everything in the heavens and earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and honor come from you alone, and you are the Ruler of all mankind; your hand controls power and might, and it is at your discretion that men are made great and given strength. 1 Chronicles 29:11-12

Please pray for my contentment. Most of the world is selfish and greedy and I don't want to be those things anymore. :D

A couple pages

2009-02-02T20:55:00.001-08:00

For the Faithbooking Secondary Challenge and the Jan. Use Your Supplies - Week One, Clear

I love my friend Angela!

The journaling says:
But you are a shield around me, O Lord;
You bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
Psalm 3:5
My best friends Angela, Peter, Ethan and Hayden.
Angela has such confidence in God and His faithfulness
in answering our prayers. She is such an inspiration
to me, always turning to the Lord, not only in times
of trouble but also in times of happiness. Showing me
all the ways the Lord is good to us. I thank her for that.
Christmas 2008

Some cards the girls and I did together. They are called spinner cards and they are so cool!!!

This is for the Faithbooking Friends Jan Challenge and the Jan Got to Love Flowers Challenge.

I chose verse 3 John 4 for my scripture:
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
I also added another page with a hinge for some extra journaling. It reads:
I never want to let you go out into this scary world all alone. But with my faith in God, I can trust you will be safe with Him by your side. God gave me you two angels to train up so that one day you will fly on your own and spread God's love yourselves. I love you.

It is a lot more glittery gold irl. All the letters are sprayed with Gold. I didn't use that many flowers but I hope that chipboard counts!

Thanks for looking.

2009-01-21T05:33:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day Giveaway!

Wouldn't you LOVE to win this!?

For a chance to win this wonderful RAK, visit SoCalScrap.

First post of the year!

2009-01-01T15:47:00.000-08:00

I know I don't write much on here but I truly believe no one is really reading! LOl. So anyway, I got to do some scrapping today and here is the page I made. First one of 2009! Thanks for looking!

Win Win Win!

2008-12-05T14:11:00.000-08:00

Win some blog candy at Blueprint Sketches!!! Thanks for the link Shanna!

Another Challenge

2008-12-05T12:11:00.000-08:00

I got this sketch from Shanna, thanks Shanna!

This is for the Dec. Use It Challenge, the Multi-Photo Challenge and 1/5 for the Dec. No Shopping Challenge.

Dec. Use It Challenge - Punches
I punched each picture with a 2x2 square punch and also punched the scallops around the white metallic paper. Extra thank you to Holly for the ideas and help!

This is a lo I am giving my friend for Christmas. She just got married in Nov. Thanks for Looking!

Getting Ready

2008-11-29T22:40:00.000-08:00

My friend Annie got married this last week and I did this page for a challenge on sb.com.

For the JKL Challenge:

Just one picture 5x7
Kaliediscope of color (at least 4 different)...I've got metallic gold, metallic copper, metallic silver, and metallic purple and metallic blue...you can't really see the metallic :(
Lacing

The journaling says:

Annie getting ready to
marry George Cummaro.
November 25, 2008

TFL.

Me Lately

2008-11-26T18:56:00.000-08:00

For the GHI Challenge on scrapbook.com.

G- Gold
H- Hexagon
I - Imagine in Title.

Journaling reads:
HARD TO IMAGINE...
...I tried to raise you without God's help. I pray you always turn to God in times of joy and times of pain. Never forget Proverbs 3:5-
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
I love you, Mom 11/2008

The story behind this page is very difficult. This week has been really rough. I am having a really hard time accepting what has happened and trusting God. I don't ever want my girls to doubt the Lord and His plans.

TFL.

Today

2008-10-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

I went to the most beautiful-ist Michael's Craft Store today. It was huge like a warehouse. It was like a Costco of a Michaels. I will have to go everytime I am in that town now.

Besides that I took the grandma to a dr. appt. today and she is doing a ton better.

We also got 2 new kittens and I am in love with them!

Here are some cards I've been working on. TFL!

GO CHARGERS!!

2008-09-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

We are pretty big Charger fans and I was so happy they won against the Raiders today. We went over to my best friend's house to watch the game on their gigantic t.v. and they are Raider fans. Neener Neener!

This weekend went by very fast and it's almost Monday again. I need some kind of ritual to get the girls ready for homeschool. Some kind of morning ritual. Any ideas?

Friday

2008-09-26T22:14:00.000-07:00

So today hubby had a job interview at a new company. Same kind of work, just new company that offers more benefits and has five offices in WASHINGTON!!! Only downer is he might have to use his own truck.

Anyway, the girls and I went to pick him up from the car shop where he gets his work truck serviced once a month and since he was running late, we had to go to his interview with him instead of being dropped off at my friends house. We sat outside in the bazillion degree heat but saw this cute butterfly. The girls insisted I take a pic.
Can you see it ? It is yello w and black?

Anyway, hubby said the interview went wonderfully. So we were driving to go visit Tori, Adam and Elijah whom I haven't seen in about 6 months! and hubby's friend calls and says he pretty much got the job and he gets a work truck which we were hoping for because the job is kinda out of the way (still closer than his current job, but he has a work truck there). Hubby was super jazzed. He even played with the baby! Isn't she grown?

Anyway, then when we finally got home I got this gigantic box in the mail from Simple Scrapbooks. Hubby said, "That looks expensive." and walks right by it into the house. I was overly delighted. Squealing like a child because I had forgotten a couple weeks ago I got an email saying I won a gift. Here's what was in it:
1. acrylic frame from Pageframe Designs

2. a 12 x 12 leather album from we R Memory Keepers

3. a tiny Party in a Box from Martha Stewart Crafts

4. a paper and accents pack from Heidi Grace Designs

Am I lucky or what! And to top it off, the girls' friends called and invited them for a sleepover so I dropped them off! What a wonderful day. So now I am scrapbooking and had to let you all know.

LSS Contest

2008-09-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

LO I did for the body part contest at the LSS. Wish me luck! I scraplifted this layout from Shanna.

Scrap Page

2008-09-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

I just finished this lo and had to post it to share. I really love the way it turned out. I need a contest to put it in...LOL. Thanks for looking!

I also found some pics of the girls feet in shoes while we were shoe shopping. I am going to try to get it done tonight also and turn it in to the lss and see if I can win anything! Keep your fingers crossed!

New Job?

2008-09-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

Hubby's been looking at a job change and I have been encouraging him to move to a job that also has offices in Washington. So we can re-locate...

I can't wait. If you haven't noticed, I am trying my hardest to get outta here. Washington is my new obsession.

Scrappin' Blah

2008-09-24T22:04:00.001-07:00

So I posted two new layouts on Scrap Your Crap blog but I haven't really been working on pages lately. This layout is the pic of hubby's electrocution scare though. I joined this swap thing on Scrapbook.com and I have been making cards. I made 5 cards and I should get 5 back that other people made. Isn't that kinda cool? Then hopefully I can get new ideas and go on from there. I really want to use this heat embossing tool thing but haven't bought one yet so I have stopped scrapbooking...like a strike or something...LOL. I haven't even made a page for the lss contest. It's different anyway...I have to use body parts in my pictures. Like toes or noses or fingers or something. I don't really take pics of body parts...do I? I can't think of any on hand and I don't feel like digging through boxes of photos. Actually, now that I am thinking of it...in my older days I took pics of hubby's tooshie, but I am pretty sure once I had the kids I threw those out so no one would come across them and ask, "Mom, why do you have a pic of daddy's tooshie?" I can just imagine how that conversation would go!

1st Field Trip

2008-09-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sticking it out with the homeschooling. It hasn't gotten easier but I did realize if I talk quieter to the girls (not screaming and yelling!), they respond better. Go figure! LOL.

Today we have our first field trip through the school. We are going to the Escondido Children's Museum. I already know where it is because unfortunately, I thought it was last Friday and we showed up and no one was there. That shows you just how good I'm really doing...

After the museum, I am taking Grams to the doctor. She went back to the hospital for a few days because of the nausea and they ended up saying she had pancreaitis. She's doing a lot better now.

Last weekend (during the horrific Charger game) was my friend Carrie's baby shower. I am so excited for her! I can't wait until she has that bundle of joy. Babies are cute and exciting....but if you have two the first time, everything changes!

Tomorrow night is a fundraiser for Breast Cancer. We are playing Bunco and I can't wait! I used to play a monthly bunco thingy, I think I'll try to get it started again. It was so much fun!

Oh yeah and my new place I want to move is Washington State. Maybe Summer, 2009. Wish me luck!

Homeschooling....

2008-09-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

I expected homeschooling to be hard. I expected frustration and fighting. I expected to be overwhelmed and for the kids to "not get it" until I pull my hair out. I expected hunger strikes and if she doesn't, I don't have to type arguments. So this is our second week of homeschooling and it is a lot harder than I expected. Don't get me wrong....it is still everything I expected but x 2. I have my first breakdown, I mean teacher conference today and I am just praying and praying she will build me up and tell me...I can do this and that she will be here to help. I also pray she doesn't give me an easy way out. We are still on the waiting list for the Montessori program (full schedule school) and I don't want her to tell me that there is an opening because I am afraid I will take it and give up just like that. Please pray for my patience and pray for the girls to have patience with me because although this is their first year homeschooling and it is way different than regular school...this is also my first year being a teacher. People say that being a mom is being a teacher and I agree...but in a completely different way. I used to teach them what I wanted them to know and now I teach them what they have to know and they are not so willing to learn the have-to's. Thanks for listening.

Broke Compooter!

2008-08-21T15:06:00.000-07:00

My computer was down for 2 days! 2 DAYS! Can you imagine? I got a lot of scrappin' done though but not much work! SSssshhh...don't tell the boss. We haven't been doing much around here. I have been watching a cat and checking mail for a friend down the street and I think they are coming back today... Tomorrow night, the girls and I are housesitting for a week for another friend that has a dog and a cat. We are very trustworthy peeps! People are always asking us to feed their animals and water their plants and check their mail. We always say yes. We have a lot of favors saved up! LOL. I could leave for months and months and people would owe me housesitting and dogwatching and catfeeding and plantwatering. Too bad we never go anywhere :( Anyway, the grandma is doing great on her own and I am getting nervous because homeschooling starts next Monday.

Oh yeah, I fed some horses with my friend from church. It was so cool but scary. Those horses are so intimidating with their size. I was a little scared. She has six of them! Next time we go, we are going to ride them. Yay!

That's it for now. Just wanted to update...hadn't been on in a while!

Summer's almost over!

2008-08-07T22:51:00.000-07:00

I feel like summer is almost over and I spent the majority of it in the hospital or rehabilitation home with grams. But luckily, Grams is back at home (which is great and she is doing wonderful!) Tomorrow I am taking her to the dr. to get checked out. This will be her first visit after getting released.

My husband is doing wonderfully. He got his stitches out last Sat. and you can barely even see a scar. He's still gorgeous thank goodness or I'd of had to leave him ;D

Last weekend Harley went to Legoland with my friend Annie and her boyfriend and her son Xavier. They had a blast. While she was there, Shawn and I spoiled Chloe rotten. We went to the country fair in town and Chloe got a pass to ride the rides all day. She met up with a few friends and tried to show off and went on some really scary rides. Needless to say, we left before I thought we would...
After my nap (yes I napped after that 103 degree day at the fair with no shade!) my friend Sandy and her husband and Chloe and I went on a hike to see bats. It was very boring. The hike guy took us 10 steps and we stood there and looked for bats. Then we went back to the fair and us girls got hair extensions. I got a burgundy one and Chloe got a hot pink one. She is so cute! Harley is really looking forward to Chloe leaving because she knows something great is going to happen on her alone time with her parents....I better get to planning something good!

So that's all that's been going on around here. I finally got some scrappin' done. I'm still not working which is fine by me. I got second place at the LSS again out of the 2 layouts that were entered. I entered another one this month. The contest is using something not square or rectangle. I also posted it on Scrap your Crap for a using beads layout. I just don't have time to do multiple layouts! LOL. I did an inspirational layout for Noel's Challenges and it meant so much to me. I finally finished it and posted it tonight which is good cuz the deadline is tomorrow!

Here are the pages I've entered and another I worked on this week:

Thanks for Looking!

Too Stale? Pray it's God that spices it up!

2008-07-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

I guess God thought things were too stale around here, not doing devotions, lounging in my p.j.s too much. So Sunday after church, I came home and my husband was not home. I called his cell but he didn't answer. I made lunch for the girls and then the 12 yo neighbor girl came over and said that my husband was in her backyard and that he was hurt. I said "What? My husband?" She said yes and said the ambulance is coming, her dad called 911... Needless to say I freaked out! I mean, my husband doesn't get hurt and if he does get hurt, he rarely even wears a band-aid. She stayed with the girls and I literally sprinted over to her house which is 2 houses down. I get into the backyard and my husband is laying on the ground with 4 paramedics over him. I see him and he's bleeding all over his face! I was so freaked out but barely showing it except for the rocking back and forth with my hands over my mouth! The neighbor sat me in the grass and said chill out.

The ambulance took my husband away and the neighbor drove me down to the hospital. We stayed for about 4 hours in the E.R. and he has MRI's and X-rays, heart monitors and blood and urine tests and all he ended up getting was 2 stitches in his cheek where he fell and hit his face on a rock.

Are you wondering what happened yet? He got electrocuted. Yep, that's right. And because he was unconscious for 30 seconds, they took him to the E.R. That was so scary. And it wasn't even the same hospital as the grandma :( He was cutting a wire for a sprinkler clock and got electrocuted.

Needless to say, today was very productive. I was dressed by 9 a.m. and out the door by 9:45 a.m. for the girls' swim lesson. We went to the post office (been meaning to do for days) and also the library (the books were overdue...) Then we went to get grandma's car fixed which I was supposed to do while she was in the hospital the first time. Then we visited grandma until 5:30 p.m. Very productive day overall.

Tomorrow I am planning to babysit for two different moms just to keep busy. I need to keep on my toes. Hubby keeps saying how lucky he was. I asked him if he though it was luck or God...he said "probably both". I invited Shawn to church on Thursday and will invite him again on Sunday. Pray that he goes. He was a Christian mission goer once....

Phil 1:6
...being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Amen.

Ugh.

2008-07-24T12:07:00.000-07:00

Thursday already.... Where has the week gone? I wanted to take the girls to the beach or something fun like that but I am too lazy. I babysat last night for a friend and got home really late. So I woke up late and here I am still in my p.j.'s, blogging. We are going to go to the grocery store and pick up a few items so I will run by the scrapbook store and enter this page for the contest:

I spoke to the grandma about staying with us for awhile after she gets out of the hospital and she is not agreeing at all. She says she doesn't want to be a burden on our family and my work. I told her very honestly that it is more of a burden on my family and work for me to leave my home and go to her house and run errands and miss work. If she was here and I was working, I could help her with something and then just go back to work. (I work from home on the computer and making phone calls.) That is not something I could do from her house. So she said her neighbor could help take care of her and I could come visit on Sundays :/ Whatever. I told my husband I will just do whatever she wants. In the meantime, I will search for a house to rent. That way, if we get a room for her, she won't feel such a burden, right? They said she can't drive anymore for a while. She was really bummed out about it. She wasn't supposed to be driving anyway and she told me that she drove last week and I just went quiet and then she backtracked and said, oh, no she didn't. I don't want to say she's fibbing, but I will never know. They want to let her go home Sunday and she still can't make it to the bathroom on her own. And her neighbor is not even in town. I am checking her mail for her while she's gone. So, wouldn't you agree that the best thing for her to do would be to stay here for a little while??? I'm really worried.

Thanks for listening.

Hospitals and Renting

2008-07-22T09:06:00.000-07:00

Grams went back into the hospital on Sunday. She fractured her back in two places. I am really praying and praying that we find a house to rent. No matter what now, we are going to have to find a house she can live in. She is still not ready to leave her apartment and live with us, but I figure we can have a room set up for her so that if she can't stay on her own, she can come stay with us until she can be on her own and then go back to her place. We really can't afford two places though (hers and ours). I have no idea what to do...I am trying to just leave it up to God but it is so hard sometimes. Please pray for us.

On another note, the girls are driving me bananas! All they do is fight and I am going crazy. I set up this new disciplinary system where they get checkmarks if they break certain rules we have listed and then they have to give me back a quarter for every checkmark on Sunday from their allowance. It was working. But it is hot and I am stressed out and they are reacting to my stress. I just know that's what it must be...right? Because they are really good children overall....right?

I have no work today, so I am going to take them somewhere fun and hopefully free. I am mentally exhausted however and just want to take advantage of the day off and lay in bed. Yesterday they started swim lessons and love it. The lessons are on Mondays and Wednesdays. Maybe Thursday, if I'm not working, I will call Ang and see if we can come over and see her new house! There are some less expensive houses to rent in Temecula but I don't think the grandma will move there because she loves her Dr. and he is located in Poway. I found some houses for rent in Mira Mesa but there is no way we can rent it by ourselves. Grams will have to help us which means living with us permanantly. Is she ready for that? Are we?

Thanks for listening...

Sweating is gross...

2008-07-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Today is hot. No matter how still I am, I still drip sweat. I hate hot days. I prefer winter over summer all the time. No matter how cold I am, I prefer it over sweating. I always say, there's only so much you can take off...you can't take off your skin. But you can always put on more blankets or people. Humans generate a lot of heat.

Anyway, that wasn't what I came to tell you. I just got distracted because my office is like sitting in a sauna. I work in here all day with a fan blowing on me, in a little tiny tanktop and the shortest shorts ever that even my children are embarrassed to see me in and I still sweat.

But there I go again. What I really wanted to tell you was that my kids just left to go to the YMCA (insert song and dance moves here.) The YMCA in Santee is so awesome. For $4 (if you live outside of Santee, $3 if you live in Santee) you can spend 4 hours frolicking on playground equipment inside of a pool. They also have the coolest slide ever for 48' and above sized children. Which thankfully my children are tall enough. We went to the YMCA on July 5th for a birthday party for Chase and Connor and it was the coolest place around. I mean, for $4 you can do this:

So that was fun. My brother and his girlfriend came to pick the girls up and take them there because tomorrow my niece is leaving to go live in Utah with her mother. The court said she could go and I am a little peeved about it. I don't understand why a judge would let a child live out of state when the other parent is completely involved in the child's life. I just can't understand when there are so many parents that don't want to be involved and the ones that do aren't getting the chance.

So there's my rant...heat and judges. I am going to the scrapbook store now that my kids are gone to collect on my 2nd place award ($10). The next contest has to do with using a masking technique. I need to go get some stamps with my reward money. And then learn how to mask...

Wasting away in Computerland....

2008-07-16T12:02:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of time on Realtor.com looking for mansions I want to buy. I love the listings that have virtual tours. They are my favorite. That's what I do in my pasttime...or even when I have no pasttime and I am supposed to be working. I just shop for houses. Anyway, today, before I even starting looking for a house I went to a job website and found a job for my husband and THEN went looking in that same town for houses and guess what I found!!!!! I found this 5 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom house, with a pool in Texas of all places! I am really looking to get out of San Diego or California even for that matter. Not that the grandma is going to leave here or anything...but it's a dream. The only bad thing when I find a gorgeous house is convincing my husband to move away. He always talks about not having a job anywhere else. So I made sure I found a job first and then a house that is at a price we would NEVER get here in San Diego. So now all I have to do is convince hubby to get an interview there. Wish me luck! :D

Senior Complexes...Don't move there!

2008-07-15T15:23:00.000-07:00

We finally got to the library yesterday. I am so impressed with my girls and how they are reading their chapter books. I was really worried for awhile that they wouldn't become bookworms like their mom. Daddy was a bookworm too but now has no time for that kind of stuff. I guess I just had to wait until they learned to read. Go figure. The library also carries movies you can check out. The only bad thing is they all skip horribly. The girls get really mad, but I just say, what do you expect for free?

When we go visit the grandma and do chores the girls always get to go swimming. Today when we went, we found out they had new pool rules for the senior complex. The rules are ridiculous! For example:
1. Kids are only allowed in the pool from 1 p.m - 5 p.m. (Now this one I can understand because the old people want to go swimming in their own pool without getting splashed and stuff, but it's still inconvenient for my work schedule.)
2. Each resident can only have 2 guests in the pool at a time. (Now this is the one I am so peeved about!) 2 guests...well, me and both my daughters are already 3 guests! What's up with that! And come to find out that my dear old grandmother is the one that requested that rule!!! Because a lady she doesn't like has 6 grandkids! Can you believe that! She just kept repeating, well, some bad kids ruin it for everyone. Humph! Now she figures WE can go because the 2 guest rule only implies children and the parent can come for free so to speak. I said, what happens when I have another kid. She said we will worry about that when the time comes and she might not even be living here. (Which also means she'd be living with us!)

You should hear the gossip around that 55 and over community. If it's not about the residents parking in the guest parking spaces, it's about the new paint job in the clubhouse. If it's not about that, it's the kids living with their parents, if not that, it's the dang gardeners ruining all the plants with their bug spray. UGH! It's enough to drive someone crazy. I guess if you are a senior, you don't really have anything else to talk about.

So enough of that rant. Sadly, I have nothing else to talk about. All I do is hang out with the grandma and work.

Happy Birthday

2008-07-07T08:53:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to my friends Amy and Tori!!!

It is also Shawn's dad's birthday today. So Happy Happy Birthday!

Family and Friends

2008-07-07T08:20:00.000-07:00

Wow! What an exciting summer this is turning out to be. First updates and then I will get on to more exciting topics, like fireworks!

Grams came home from the hospital on July 1st. She is doing really good. She is staying at her own apartment, confident that she will not need her walker very long. I worry about her constantly. We live 35 minutes away, which is far if someone needs you to come over for just a minute to help with something. She has a boyfriend that has been helping her a lot. I am so grateful. In fact, I think I will make him a Thank you card today. The girls and I are going to see her tomorrow. She has a hair appt today and her neighbor is taking her.

The girls kicked butt in the CYT camp! The theme was High School Musical and for a week all we did was sing those songs. Now, everywhere I turn I hear parts of the songs in everyday conversations. It's weird. So here are some pics of the showcase. Harley got a line also, so she's at the microphone. My bro and his gf came to the showcase, which was nice because I got to see my niece again. So a pic of the cousins and then Torianne. Isn't she growing so fast?? She is already 12 weeks old!

We went to the Del Mar Fair for Harley and Chloe's flag raising ceremony with the Girl Scouts. Because they did this, we got in free. That's the only thing we got for free! My bro and his gf came with us. We have actually been seeing them a lot lately. I am happy about it. His gf is really nice and although I don't try to become friends with in laws...lol...we are really becoming friends. So anyway, we went to the del mar fair and you won't believe it. I forgot my camera!!!! So some other gs moms took pics of the flag raising ceremony and I took pics with my phone, but I don't know how to get them off besides emailing each and everyone of them to myself. So I have no pics of that.

4th of July was tons of fun. Did I mention my bro and his gf were there too? So was my best friend Sandy. I made some food and they brought some too and we played with the baby. All the kids jumped on the trampoline. The boys went fishing and then we ate my jello flag. I make this awesome jello flag with red white and blue layers. Shawn took the camera to work and I haven't downloaded the pics yet. But I will put that pic up here sometime. Torianne loved the fireworks and didn't fuss one time while I was holding her. It was her first 4th of July obviously. I felt so special to get to hold her while she watched the fireworks.

All right, that's enough for now I guess. Hopefully I can post more now that I am home more. Oh yeah and work started again...

Busy

2008-06-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy! I have so much to say but no time and I haven't downloaded pics and I really want to show off the fish I caught on father's day...

Hubby's grandma has been in the hospital for over a week now because she couldn't breathe because of emphysema. She is better now but has to stay in the hospital until she gets stronger again. She lives on her own but we will probably be moving into a new place with her very soon. Please pray for us that we find a home that we all can live in and not drive each other nutty, but that we can afford! I have been trying to visit her everyday in the morning and Shawn visits everyday after work. We are out of money and gas is SO expensive. She wants to give me gas money so I can still visit her. I feel horrible! Like she has to pay me to visit. That feeling sucks! Anyway, I am going to spend the night there with her tonight. She is excited. I am going to bring some games.

Thanks for listening....

Next LSS Contest and Graduation

2008-06-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

This contest was a little harder for me because you had to use 3 or more of a different brand of product on your page. Well, for some of us scrappers, we get a new product and put it away and don't keep the packaging. That's me, I have no idea what brand half my stuff is! Like my paper???? I just take it out of the wrapper and put it in my paper keeper. It has no label on the back. So anyway, here is the finished project. It took me 3 layouts, and I finally picked this one to be "good" enough for everyone to see. I'm wondering if it even matters because I might win by default again anyway! TFL!

On another note, the boys finally graduated last night. We went to their graduation and it is so exhilarating to watch a new group of high schoolers going off into the world. They are all so full of life. I give them a year if they aren't living at home! LOL...there goes my pessimistic side again!

Congratulations Josh and Chris!!!! Now go get a job!
Proud Parents!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-11T10:00:00.001-07:00

I know there are only about 3 people out there that read my blog and all 3 of them are women, but I wanted to say Happy Father's Day anyway!

A wonderful conversation between my daughter and husband yesterday:

H: Hey dad?
Dad: Yes darling?
H: Jonny asked me today if I have guitar hero and I said yes, my dad.
Dad: (speechless) then, awww!

He just picked her up and said I love you!
I made this page a couple months ago!

My hubby has played the guitar before I knew him. He plays by ear though, so last father's day I got him guitar lessons and he still hadn't used them yet. So I scheduled him an appt. for yesterday and Thursday of this week and he went yesterday all excited and the guy wasn't even there. So he is looking forward to Thursday. The guy better be there... :/
Another guitar page with daddy! TFL!

New Fish!

2008-06-05T13:11:00.000-07:00

Pics of our fish finally!

No work! Lots of scrap time!

2008-06-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

I am so good at scrap-lifting! Here's what I've been working on.

Altered sketch from Shanna! Thanks!

I learned this hidden message technique on Nicole's blog! Thanks! I made these cards for the girls' teachers. I make a gift basket for them to say good-bye. This was perfect.

TFL!

Scrap, Hair and Prayers!

2008-06-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

I did this page yesterday for the Scrap Your Crap challenge. I think it turned out pretty good.

I got my hair done and I got some red low-lights and it looks fantabulous! That's not very humble...but I couldn't believe what she did to me! Yvette is great!

I bought The One Year Devotion for Kids book and we have been doing them every morning. The girls like it and it has stories that the girls can relate to. I tried to buy this specific devotion book for the girls that was for ages 6-9. But they were out. I like doing this every morning because I never make time to do my own. So we all do it together. Last night I was praying for Harley before bedtime and she said I do my prayers so good! It made me feel good because I really don't pray in front of people. Only the kids. I told her practice makes perfect. Plus, as I grow in my relationship with God, I'm not too nervous to talk to him as a friend anymore ;-).

God bless!

I love Jesus!

2008-06-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

I am so on fire for the Lord! I love going to women retreat's and this year was by far the best one I've been on. The Lord is so good to me. I love Jesus! I will post pics and tell more later...

God Bless You!

Here Fishy fishy fishy...

2008-05-28T13:57:00.001-07:00

We are fish people. We have fish, we kill fish, we buy more fish. It's a vicious circle.

So there are these fish called Discus. They are gorgeous wonderful fish. We had a couple...they died. I haven't wanted to buy any since because these are not inexpensive fish, but since we have been so careless with our money lately, we thought we should buy some. For the little baby fish (2 inches, adults are 5 inches) it is 5.95 and we bought six. They are random and you don't get to pick the colors or type of discus. But not too expensive right? The shipping was $56!!! Oh well. My husband is happy.

These fish are so high maintenance!!! We have to set up a whole new tank for 2 weeks for them to de-stress (are they all female or something for crying out loud!). Then do water changes (where you take out 30% of the water and put in clean un-tap water) every other day!! I need to get a job to get out of here!

The fish came today. The tank was not set up yet. I set up a new tank, I went to the store and bought a filter, an air pump, and some live plants to keep the ph low in the tank. Pretty plants though! The fish are still not in the water. The tank has to be at 82 degrees or something. The heater isn't working and hubby said take out the heater from the big tank and he will buy a new one for it... The water is warming up as I type . I just want to see my baby fish. (They bag them in blue bags so they can't see out to minimize stress. I am stressed!! I don't even know if they died on the way here!) You can't open the bags until they are ready to go into the water. I will post a pic when they get in the tank...but before they die :(

Not pessimistic....just realistic (says the pessimist!).

Here's a pic of our established tank that they will end up in if they live and a tank mate:

Scrap page Contest!

2008-05-27T16:02:00.000-07:00

I went into the Scrapbook store today to purchase some...thing..lol...and Kathy told me I won the scrap page contest!! Isn't that great!!! However...no one else even entered. So it's kinda bittersweet. I get a $25 gift card to the store. I am so delighted...

Our town is so little and the scrapbooking store has been here a year. I don't even think a lot of people know about it. I also asked Kathy if she wanted to be involved in my circle journal and she does! Oh joy.

I also signed the girls up at the Community School here in town. They offer two programs. One program is home-based and you can go to school 1 1/2 days a week. The other program is a montessori academy where you would go full time but learn at your own pace. They are both pretty full and they will call me and let me know where we are on the waiting list. I am praying and praying if it's God's will for me to homeschool. If so, then I better pray for patience with these children!

(1 Corinthians 10:13)
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

In other words: God will not give me more than I can handle.

Circle Journal

2008-05-26T22:51:00.001-07:00

I just found out what a circle journal is and I am very excited to start one! I am going to try to pass one around here in my town without making people mail it. I really don't even know enough people that scrapbook! How crazy is that!

Tonight Sandy came over and we made the centerpieces for the tables for the graduation party. I think they turned out pretty cute. I forgot to take pics! Oh well...

Only 2 1/2 weeks left of school! I can't believe it's almost summer.

There goes time flying again...

Update: Photo of the centerpieces:

Tired!

2008-05-25T21:07:00.000-07:00

Church on Thursday with Sherri as the guest worship was so AWESOME! I had such a great time and I even went up and got some extra prayer with the prayer team. I never know I need extra prayer until I can't stop crying :D Who likes being condemned anyway? I sure don't! But I do love the after affects. I feel clear and re-filled with God's love. Same thing happened today. I think God is molding me ;)

I'm still working on putting some music on here. I will have to ask Ang how she did it. I did a scrap page to hang in my office to remind myself to pray pray pray about everything, and then WAIT for God's answer. I always try to take things into my own hands. We've been talking about trusting God with everything... Inside the brown square with the blue bird is a list of things to remember to pray about...

I have barely been home at all this weekend. On Friday night I went to my friend Sandy's house until 1:30 a.m. and then again all day yesterday and last night until 12:30 a.m. This is what we got done! I am so happy! I think we did a great job. Both her sons are graduating and all we have been working on is invitations and then lei's and then these collages. We still have a couple more projects to do but then I'm done! Sandy still has to go to her sister's house and help her with HER kids' collages and decorations. I think it would be cool to have a sister with the same age kids. Anyway, what do you think of the collages?

Today after church I hung out with a bunch of friends from church. They get together almost every Sunday to eat dinner and hang out. I had so much fun. I am really trying to change things around. That's something God is working on too. Who I hang with and my language around them...

Other than that, Hubby has tomorrow off, which I am happy about. I have no idea what we are doing yet. Hubby was talking about taking his boat out on the lake. Maybe he can take the girls and I can do some more scrappin'! That would be awesome.

Until Tuesday...I hope!

It's been awhile!

2008-05-22T12:55:00.001-07:00

Wow...I won't say it again about time flying...

I've been scrappin' and helping a friend get ready for her sons' graduation party and scheduling my summer. It's already busy.

We did get our plumbing fixed. Our friend brought this cool electric snake that ate up whatever was blocking the pipe. Everything works fantastic now.

We might go to Legoland this weekend...ssshhh....the kids don't know yet. Hubby is still deciding. He is a last minute decider which is hard because I am a month ahead type of planner. So I will just keep Sunday open in case he says yes.

My sister is going to go to church on Sunday with me. We are going to go to early service (8:30 a.m.) in case we get to go to Legoland. She has been telling me she wanted to go this week. I am very excited. I think she really needs to know God is on her side. She is having a really rough time right now.

Speaking about church...a really really great singer is coming to do guest worship tonight. Her name is Sherri Youngward. I don't usually go to Thursday night service because the kids can't handle Friday mornings if we go, so I have tried to prepare my husband on the fact that I am going to church tonight and leaving them home... I have invited my mom and my sister to come. I don't think either one will make it because we live so far away and it is a Thursday night. They both have to work tomorrow. I am also excited because next weekend (May 30th) is the Women's Church Retreat. My mom went last year with me and is going again this year and I am so happy. (If I can figure out how to do it, I will add Sherri's music to my blog!)

I am very very happy for my friend Ang and her family. They are buying a home! I am very jealous but also very happy for them. When I see my friends my age doing things like that, it gives me hope! Congrats Angela! I love you so much!

I put my scrap page in the contest in town and I am the only one entered so far. So what does that mean!? I'm winning!!! Yeah for me...lol.

That's pretty much it. I've changed our extra bedroom into an office and it's great. Me and my cat spend all day in here. So needless to say, the house is a disaster...but my office is beautiful. I have even started decorating! The girls got some new summer clothes that look absolutely darling on them. Why are they so cute?

Oh yeah, regarding the solicitating actor people. It turned out we were gonna have to pay a lot of money and we almost did it, but we decided to put the girls in CYT instead. For those of you who don't know what that is, it's Christian Youth Theater. We thought it was expensive before, but now we have something to compare it too and it is cheap! The girls don't even get to be in a play until they are 8 years old. So we will let them take some classes, see if they enjoy it and then they can decide if they want to sing or not. They still need background people I guess, right? Either way, they are excited. That's all I care about. Harley was a little bummed about not getting to be on t.v. but she got over it quick when I said for less money she can have swim classes, hip hop dance classes and the CYT classes this summer is based on High School Musical. She is now very happy.

I will try to post sooner so I don't have so much to say...but I truly like to talk! Enjoy your long Memorial Day Weekend!

A callback....and still plumbing!

2008-05-08T14:51:00.000-07:00

The girls were very excited because they got a callback! Friday we go meet with THE people and see how much this is gonna cost. You know how sometimes people say (like when you buy year passes to the zoo) just go twice and it's paid for itself; well this better be one of those times!
I talked to my sister and found out she took her daughter to the same place the Sunday before. She got "found" (approached and solicited is more like it!) at Grossmont Center. They never got a callback...

Do we look richer?

Anyway, regarding the plumbing...my friend's husband couldn't help us yet because his company truck, that has the big tools we need, had to go to the shop. Of course! Hopefully he gets it back tonight and we can fix this mess. I went to their house last night and babysat for a few hours. I brought the girls and gave them a shower. I also did 3 loads of laundry!

I still smell....just don't get too close...

Haircuts, Auditions, and Plumbing....OH MY!

2008-05-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I took the girls to get a haircut and they thought (and they were right!) that they were so darned adorable, they decided to dress as twins. Harley picked the haircut and Chloe got the exact same one. Shawn took the girls to a movie. He really really wanted to see IronMan, but I guess they were sold out at the time they wanted to go and the girls convinced him to see Horton Hears a Who. I think that is hilarious! The girls had a blast on their date with their daddy. So I'm assuming next weekend we are going to see IronMan and I will probably have to come along this time. I got to stay home and do some scrapbooking. I am entering a contest at my local scrapbooking store. Wish me luck!
Anyways...while I was at home scrapping merrily..my husband was being solicited by a company that wants our kids to be on t.v. while the girls were riding the carousel at Parkway Plaza. They all came home and told me and were very excited. On Sunday morning I got the girls to take showers and look gorgeous so they can go to their "audition" at the solicitation place...(I am very negative about this whole thing.) Anyways, after their showers, our plumbing went literally down the drain... and now we have a huge plumbing problem going on at our house. In our lease it says the renters have to take care of it...and we still haven't yet. Our toilet, bathtub and washing machine keep flooding up. It stinks like a sewer in my house. SO...I didn't get to take a shower and we didn't go to church yesterday because I was trying to help Shawn out with the plumbing problem...

We did however go to the audition (without a shower) and the girls had to read a line while being recorded. Not surprisingly, they acted very shy. We've done a few auditions before for commercials and even the show Dr. Vegas and they were always shy. Then we went in to talk privately with a solicitor. She said that if we get a call back, they are looking for kids to be in some shows that will be screening here in San Diego...which is a big deal because usually you have to go to L.A. to make a show. One of the shows will be like Barney and the other show will be a spoof on shows like Hannah Montana and all the shows my girls love. The lady said it will be a funny show with dark sarcastic humor...just what we need around here! Of course, we will have to take classes that cost $200 - $300 a month per child...on Saturdays...that will teach my kids to overcome their shyness and to make a good impression on interviewers in the first 5 minutes of meeting them. Apparently showbiz is all about first impressions!

So my husband is jazzed! For those of you who don't know, my husband went to a high school that was for performance arts. He is very animated. We have thought about putting the girls in Christian Youth Theater...but all the plays are singing and they are intimidated by that. They have been in one play and totally loved it! It was called The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. They each had two lines. That was almost 2 years ago! Wow, time flies. I haven't put them in another play since because the practices were until 8 p.m. and it just got to be too much during the school year.

* Please don't think we are the type of parents that have twins and want them in showbiz because they are "twins". When they were younger, we tried, but they were very shy and so I didn't think it was worth driving to L.A. for nothing. Now they are the ones that want to do it. Actually, it is Harley but Chloe goes along with almost everything her sister does. Harley wants to meet Hannah Montana and be on her show. She also wants to be rich, go figure. She thinks this is the way to go. It never hurts to try...right? RIGHT?????

As of right now, I still haven't showered...I have 4 loads of laundry to do and my house still stinks. I called my best friend because her husband is a plumber and he can come and help us for free (always a bonus) TOMORROW after work! Until then, I think I will try to go to my other friend's house for a shower and get a couple loads of laundry done so Shawn can go to work!

It's amazing what I take for granted. I never realized how much I like showering and using a toilet until I can't!

Higher Expectations

2008-04-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last night was Open House at the school. We got to go and look at all the progress the girls have made over the year. Harley wrote this in her All About Me book. I cried of course! I might have to be nicer to her for a couple days :P

Chloe wrote about her dad and he was so touched. But then he felt really bad because she wrote she wishes he would play with her more and that he works sooo much. He told her he will make more of an effort.

It's weird how close Harley has become to me lately. We butt heads so much. We are constantly fighting and I think it's because she is so much like me. Chloe is just like her dad. Goofy and always trying to make people laugh. She has her head in the clouds. It is so weird to see two girls that are so alike act so different...

Short but Sweet

2008-04-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Things have been so busy around here (surprise surprise!). But really, I haven't even had time to blog! Things have got to slow down.

I am soooo in love with my new niece. I am going to try to see her again tonight. I haven't seen her in a week! She's probably all grown up into a teen by now. (you know how fast they grow.) I miss her a ton and I am sure she misses me.

On Friday we (as in all 4 of us) had our first field trip. It was so fun! We went to the Wild Animal Park and I had a group of 4 girls from Harley's class and Shawn had a group of 3 girls from Chloe's class. Our class went off on their own so we barely saw Shawn and Chloe the whole day. Which is sad because I had the camera and Shawn didn't take any pics of Chloe on her field trip. We either have to get another camera or stay together!

We were the red team and I would say Hot Red Team and they would all come and do this:

My friend Miss Mary (helped me keep my sanity):

Here was Chloe's group:

Baby Lions: Feeding the Lorikeets:

Class Pic:

That's it for now! I know, so disappointedly short. But I gotta go grocery shopping and pick up the girls and go to this music study tonight where I will get paid $75 for 2 hours of my opinion on which kind of music I want on the radio. I love these studies!

Real Quick

2008-04-12T20:20:00.001-07:00

On my way out the door to celebrate my friends 31st bday but I just wanted to put up the pictures of Torianne Rylie. Isn't she adorable! I am the proudest aunt ever.

Bless-ed Day

2008-04-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

How could I possibly forget to mention that today April 11, 2008, my brother and his girlfriend are having a baby! They had a c-section scheduled for about a month and up until Wednesday, I forgot. It's on my calendar...but who's looking ahead ;) I called yesterday to see how everything is going and of course...it's not going as planned. But does anything ever go as planned? You have to go with the flow...I've learned that much.
At approximately 8ish this morning I am an aunt to another little baby girl. Well, she's supposed to be a baby girl but unfortunately I forgot what they are naming her. How bad is that!? I know Ann is the middle name or the second part of the first name...
Anyway, pictures of Baby Something-Ann coming soon!

My daughters are little fashion queens. They think everything you have on has to be matching to the tee. Sidenote: I am a total tomboy...I could care less and I have no idea where they got this from. Anyway, Harley's got it down. Even her jacket and hair ties match her outfit.
Chloe on the other hand thinks that as long as it's all the same shade, it goes together. Multiple shades of pink for example were her choice for today. I just had to give you a little background because this morning, Harley was upset because the shoes she wanted to wear to match her outfit were a little torn up. These girls are SO hard on shoes. I remember being the same way and I remember my dad coloring in the toes on the shoes with permanent marker....so I did it. Harley was so impressed. I love impressing my girls.
BeforeAfter

You can't even tell! LOL. It saves a meltdown because I can't go buy a new pair of shoes everytime they need one. If the shoe still fits....make it wearable! Especially with twins!

I wish I could have gotten a pic of the girls skipping to school today holding hands. It was the perfect scrapping sisters pic...but I didn't even have my camera phone on me :(

One of our favorite dinners is called Potato Bake. All it is, is sliced potatos layered with sliced sausage and cheese with cheese soup poured on top. It is delicious and filling. I took this pick because I wanted to remember how the girls suck all the sauce off the sausage and save it for last. Kinda like saving all the marshmallows in Lucky Charms...hey, as long as they eat it all...I don't care how it goes down!

So there you have it...another day in the life of us....are you impressed yet...because I like impressing people ;)

UPDATE: My brother just called at 9:21 a.m. and said the baby was born! She looks like my other niece when she was born but has curly hair! Yeah, she is 7 lbs 13oz and 20 inches. I forgot to ask the name :/ LOL!

Out of the mouth of babes...

2008-04-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

We were at CVS picking up yet another prescription and the girls were playing around with these hand massagers. Chloe has hers on her head and she turns to me and says:

I can feel my teeth hibernating.

Such big words for such a little girl...even out of text!

Oh yeah, and then it's that time of the month and I am SO bloated and I say,

Me: My tummy is SO big!

Harley: No it's not Mom, your not fat.

Me: Um, I didn't say I was fat... But what would you call this? (I raise up my shirt and show her my not fat stomach).

Harley: Well, if I told you I would hurt your feelings and you would be sad.

...

I rest my case.

Why moms revolt...

2008-04-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

Doodle by Lee. The code for this doodle and other doodles you can use on your blog can be found at Doodles.

A week (or two) in Review

2008-04-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

My weeks are so busy they all blend in together and I find myself wondering where the time went. Did I already have my birthday and is it almost the middle of April, ALREADY?

I am sick (again) and last night my husband was asking why? Why are you always sick? The only answer I could come up with is that I never stop. I never, as my kids would say, Chillax. I can't say no to birthday parties or get-togethers. If a grandparent demands my presence, I never back down...I just fit it into the hour I had between this and this and the day is full. If people saw my calendar they wouldn't believe it. They would ask, How in the world do you do all this and on top of that, how in the world can my KIDS do all that! Because I am never alone. I drag them around and schedule them for parties for kids they don't even know because it is an old friend of mine. They try to keep up....oh yeah, is that the kid who we met when we were 3? They have the pictures...but don't remember the people. It is so sad. Is it wrong of me? The reason we go to those parties is because that is the only time I see those people all year. So I ask again, is it wrong?

Anywho....here are some pics of people we hadn't seen in a couple years. The girls were very happy to see them again. They happened to be at a birthday party of another set of twins that we only see once a year. These four used to be best friends.

We also got to go to a Padre game this past weekend. My husband got free tickets with really good seats and free parking. We really couldn't pass it up...juggled a couple things on the calendar and we went! It was the first time I was in Petco Park and my girls' first baseball game ever. We were late (of course) and as soon as we sat down, a foul ball fell into my husband's lap, bounced off and I caught it. That was so lucky. It really made the trip.

My husband and I don't really like baseball but thought the experience would be fun for the girls. I mean, isn't baseball America's pasttime?? So catching the ball really got us in the mood. And it was so much fun! I remember sitting bored between innings...now they make it so much fun. The game went by so fast and before we knew it, it was time to go.

On Sunday we went to my friends house to see her little baby. I wore a mask because I was sick. The baby is 2 months old. Her name is Elijah. I videotaped her birth and we watched it (even the girls!) and I did a pretty good job! I was really impressed. She wanted me to videotape the emotion of the moment, not really all the gooey-ness but she didn't mind if I got some of that. So I stood at her shoulder and taped the whole thing and got the baby's birth and the daddy crying and her screaming. The girls were flippin out. Harley never wants to have children. They didn't see much more than a bloody baby but they are convinced...no baby is worth that. LOL.

We did get to go to church this week also. I was so glad...and the sermon was preached directly to me and how I've been feeling lately. Don't you just love that? Makes me feel like even though I haven't been on the exactly correct track lately...God still loves me! I am chosen!

So it's only Tuesday and this weekend is rearing it's ugly busy head to me and I feel it already. I am scared...I'll admit it. I am very lucky that the girls don't get all cranky when they don't get enough sleep. They are as bad as me....when I am sitting at home, I feel like I am missing something out there in the big world. That we could be doing something. I started implementing movie night once a week so daddy can spend time with us too. I tell him, schedule yourself into the calendar...I just get a look from him.

Coming up next:
Friday night sleepover
Saturday Girl Scout Food Fair
Saturday Hannah Montana Bday Party
Sunday Museums with my mom and Grandma (alone!) Daddy will have the girls all day Sunday. Maybe they'll get some sleep!

Friends

2008-03-31T13:14:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy spending time with friends...old and new. It is so disappointing when our lives don't fit together perfectly so that we can spend more time together. I had a great time seeing some friends this past weekend that I only get to see at birthday parties. But why is that? Why do we have to have excuses to see each other??? It gets frustrating sometimes.

Tonight I am going to see a couple more friends that I don't see nearly enough! We are going to laugh and have a great time and then while I'm driving home from our dinner, I'll already be missing them...

Birthday Time!

2008-03-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

I am a little excited about my birthday this year but only because I am dropping the girls off at a sleepover for their cousin and coming home to an empty house. Is it odd that I want to spend time alone at home? I am going to get some scrapbooking done. I have really been looking forward to it all week! I need to clear out some items and space so I can start scrappin' the Disneyland pics! I am so excited to get them printed...

On another note...I am not so excited that I am turning 31 years old. I am the oldest of the friends. I don't like being first... Here are a few things that bring me down about my age:

1. gray hair...I have them...all over my head...and they won't dye :(

2. adult acne...I still have it....all over my face....when will I grow out of it :(

3. I heard after 30 (not up to and including 30) it's hard to lose that extra weight and I've put on a lot :(

4. tiredness...I am always tired (probably more due to the overweight prob than age but it all ties together :(

5. sight...it's going...I've really noticed and I will probably have to get glasses soon, which we don't have insurance for :{

So there you have it. I am getting old and I don't like it one bit! But on the other hand...this weekend the girls have the sleepover and I will be all alone with my hubby. We will probably go to the movies (cause I have a gift certificate) and eat out at Cafe Luna (cause I have a gift certificate) and then rent a movie (cause for goodness sakes, it's only $4.00)!!!! I think Disneyland was most of my birthday present.

P.S. Isn't age just a number, cause although I pointed out all the stuff up there, I still feel like this 95% of the time! And that's all that really matters... :D

Back to Normal

2008-03-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

Everything is almost back to normal!

We are back from Disneyland. We had so much fun! I was glad to be back though because I missed my puppy. Don't tell Shawn! I get so frustrated with the whole puppy process sometimes that I give up and tell Shawn to take care of his own dog. But deep down...I love her to pieces!

We are back to living a normal life without our roommate. She moved out and now it is just the 4 of us. It has never been just the 4 of us. My friend started living here at the beginning of the year and then in the middle of January, Cody moved out. Already I am noticing a big difference in how much to cook for only Shawn and I and 2 tiny little stomachs on Harley and Chloe. I don't like leftovers in the fridge because no one eats them. So I really have to cut down on how much food I cook. Which may save us money!

The only thing that isn't back to normal is school. The girls are on Easter break this week and they are bored. I am still working and they want something to do. They have been watching so much t.v. I think it's a waste of a beautiful day....but really have no choice right now.

So that's the update on our normal lives. Although we really are far from normal...

Hard to keep up!

2008-03-18T13:27:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how fast this year is going. I know I say that every single year, but by golly! It's already March and almost Easter! It's almost my birthday....again!

I am very excited and happy and jubiant and jolly because we are taking the girls to Disneyland for the very first time. This will also be our very first family vacation. And my mom is coming! I am so happy. We will be staying in a hotel and going to Disneyland and California Adventure for 2 whole days! The girls are very excited also. They are counting down the days until...until what, they have no idea...but they know it's not called the Happiest Place on Earth for nothing...

Since my last post, Cody has moved out and now lives with his mom in El Cajon. The girls sold their first ever Girl Scout Cookies and finished another season of gymnastics. They've grown at least 2 inches already since school started and all their pants are highwaters. At least the weather is getting warmer and they can start wearing shorts or capri's or skirts! They love their new rollerskates (thanks Ang)!

Princess has grown and grown. She now weighs 45 lbs! She is in a puppy class to teach her some manners or to teach her humans how to handle her better! She's already had a surgery (to get fixed) and her first grooming (to cut her nails). She is such a Princess!

Anyway, again, the moral of this blog is time is flying and I'm trying to hold on before it all passes me by...

Red Ribbon Week

2007-12-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

So this week is Red Ribbon Week, School Spirit Week and Parent/Teacher Conferences which means they only have half day. Because of the evacuation of the fires, all the events were scheduled into one week. Kinda hectic, but fun too.

Monday - "Follow Your Dreams...Don't Do Drugs!" - Wear PJ's to School

Tuesday - "Use Your Head & Be Too Bright to DO Drugs!" - Crazy Hair Day or Wear Bright Colored Clothes

Aren't banana's phones at your house...LOL?!

Wednesday - "Stay in the Game...Be Drug Free!" - Wear Your Favorite Team's Jersey or Colors to School

I didn't get a pic of the girls this day, but they wore my Charger beanies to school!

Thursday - "Drugs and I don't Mix!" - Wear Mismatched Clothes to School

Harley

Chloe

Friday - "Be Drug Free at RE!" - Wear RED to School and Be a Part of the Human "Just Say No" Picture

We always participate. I am trying to get the girls to have some school spirit. I think our class in High School was the least school spirited. I would like my girls to be the President of their class and all that. Valedictorian (Or at least be able to spell it! LOL) I have high hopes. As should we all for our kids!

We live one block from the school...so while we are walking to school Harley and Chloe have so many doubts that maybe, just maybe, they are going to be the only ones participating and get super embarrassed. So far that hasn't happened. Today I didn't help by asking them, "Are you sure today is Crazy Hair day and not just funny hat day?"

Yesterday was Harley's Parent/Teacher Conference. The teacher said she is doing extremely well, which of course made me so proud! She said Harley likes to take initiative and if the teacher makes a mistake, she always corrects her. She does that at home too...I take it as being sarcastic (I don't like my mistakes pointed out!) LOL.

Thanks-giving

2007-11-21T08:58:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful for so many things.

My beautiful daughters that are reading over my shoulder as I write this. They are so funny. They are sounding out the words and cracking me up. I am also thankful that they let me wiggle their loose teeth! Just pull it out already!

I am thankful for my husband and his support with my stepson. We have had a really rough couple of weeks, but I feel loved and appreciated.

I am thankful for my stepson. He makes me a stronger person.

I am thankful for my friends that listen to me whine! Without them I probably couldn't handle all the pressure.

I am thankful for my understanding family. They understand that I am only one person and can't attend every social event they all plan separately.

What are you thankful for this year?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The Infamous Name

2007-11-13T10:48:00.001-08:00

We named the puppy! It only took 4 days to name her and we finally agreed....drum roll please...

PRINCESS!

Doesn't she look like a princess....LOL. She is so spoiled already and seriously, that is the only name she will answer to. Thanks for all the name advice...

The new blog

2007-11-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

I was going through my friend Ang's blogs today, trying to catch up, and wanted everyone to know exactly what I am doing too!

First off, I like to talk. Alot. I had a blog before but just had so much to say I had to quit it. It was taking up too much time from work. So here I am again. I quit that job a year and a half ago and now I realize a stay at home job has its perks.

Anyway, we got a new puppy today and it is stinkin adorable. We don't have a name yet because my husband and I can't agree. Apparently, to him, this is a mute point since the dog belongs to him. In other words, his dog, his choice on names. I don't like that. Eventually, the dog will be named what I want. I want Hershey. Doesn't she look like a little Hershey squirt?