My Musings on Life, Love and Scrapbooking

Family Update...

2011-07-08T21:09:00.007-06:00

Well, it's that time again to get new family pictures so I thought I would share those and some updates.

Michael turned 15 in March, and is ready to get his driver's license at the end of July (I'm not so sure that I am ready for that). He finished up his freshman year at Great Falls High, and he is excited to drive himself to school next year. He just finished up his first year as a teen volunteer at Camp Francis (a camp for children dealing with the loss of a loved one and helping them grieve). He had a fantastic time and is looking forward to going back next year.

Devin will be turning 15 in a couple of weeks. He just started drivers training a few days ago, and he is excited to get his license. He participated in track and cross country this past year for Great Falls High. He is rocking his sports and really working on improving his technique and times.

Bryce is 12 and 1/2 and will be starting middle school in the fall. He loves playing football and is participating in football camp this summer. I'm anticipating that he will be participating in as many sports as he can once school starts. He has done VERY well with his academics this past school year, and I'm always amazed at the interesting things that he talks about that he learned at school. He's a good boy and I am grateful for him in my life.

Connor turned 10 in December and he will be starting 5th grade in the fall. This year will be interesting for Connor because he is switching elementary schools and will be making new friends this year. He just started playing the violin this summer and he is really enjoying it. He is just a fun and happy kid, and I love his stuffings!

Parker just turned 5 a month ago. He will be starting kindergarten this fall, and will be attending the same school as Connor. I can't believe that my baby is old enough to go to school! It's sad to see my last one growing up so fast. Parker is such an awesome kid and really completes our family. I can't imagine life without him. :)

Jeff turned forty....oh...nevermind. Anyway, Jeff is currently working at FedEx and is also working for Head Start as a family advocate. He loves his family advocate position and enjoys going to work. He is a wonderful father and husband and I appreciate his love and patience.

As for me, I finished up my Associates degree at MSU-GF in the spring, which was really exciting for me. I got a very large scholarship to the University of Great Falls to finish up my bachelors degree, so I will be starting there in the fall. I decided to take the summer off to reconnect with my family and to complete unfinished projects around the house. I have LOVED the summer so far, and I'm not really looking forward to starting back to school in the fall. However, I'm going to push through and finish what I started.

Finally....

2011-03-24T17:15:00.002-06:00

Well, it’s been a while since I have updated my blog, but I finally had something happen that was blog worthy! I hit my weight loss goal today! That’s right...in the past two years, I have lost 57 pounds (I know, sounds like a strange goal, but it got me to a nice round number)! I have so much more energy than I did when I started, and I feel much, much healthier. I’m not done yet, I would still like to lose probably another 10-15 pounds, but I am ecstatic that I finally hit this goal.

Some other “blog worthy” news is that I will be graduating from MSU in about 6 weeks with high honors! Finishing school is something that has been on my “to do” list for a long, long time, and I am so happy that I have accomplished the first part of my goal. I received two wonderful scholarships to the University of Great Falls, so I will be starting on my bachelors degree over there in the fall. I am anxious and ready to continue my education!

Goals, goals, goals.....it feels so good to get them accomplished!

Update...

2010-09-25T20:57:00.002-06:00

I was thinking about my poor, neglected blog today and decided that I should really post an update. First of all, I made it through summer school in one piece. I hope to never relive that semester ever again! It was very difficult, but I managed to pull a 4.0 (by the skin of my teeth!). I started fall semester about a month ago. I am taking 15 credits this time, which is about the maximum I can handle with 5 kids and a husband that needs attention every once in a while! I have one more semester after this and I will be graduating in the spring (yay!).

The kids are doing very well. Michael and Devin started high school this fall, which is making me feel really old. They both seem to be enjoying the experience. My hope is that they soak it all in and fall in love with this time in their lives. The other kids are enjoying their time in school also.

I haven't had any time to scrapbook or papercraft, which makes me so sad. It's upsetting to see all my fun papers sitting on the shelf, not being used. Hopefully, I can at least make some Christmas cards this year. Heaven forbid I have to send out store-bought ones! LOL

I hope everyone is enjoying their beautiful fall season! The pictures above were taken last month by Jeff's very talented brother, Michael VaughAn. We had a nice two-week visit with him and his family! I hope we get to do that more often.

Where Have I Been??

2010-07-07T22:01:00.003-06:00

My Summer school books. I'll be happy when I can put them away!
Parker's reaction to the fireworks on the 4th of July.
Devin contemplating the best way to blow something up with his firework.

Devin and Michael trying to eat a chipmunk at camp.
Parker and Connor showing off Parker's bed head.

It has been so long since I have posted, so I thought I would do a little update. Going back to school has really been keeping me quite busy. It seems like I am doing homework ALL THE TIME! I am loving every minute of it though (well, maybe not the time in math class). I have been working my tail off to try and maintain a 4.0 GPA so that I can try and get a scholarship to help pay for school. So far so good! The summer classes, so far have been the hardest because I'm still taking a full class load but it's condensed into only 8 weeks instead of 16. I haven't had any time for scrapbooking and I really, really miss it! In fact, all of my CTMH sisters are in Washington DC this week for Convention!! I obviously couldn't go because of school, but I am really missing seeing them this year. My boys have been getting big. Parker just turned 4 a few weeks ago which means that I'm getting old! Everyone is doing well and plugging along. Hopefully, I'll get around to updating this blog more often then every 7 months!

Can you hear me now???

2009-12-03T08:36:00.003-07:00

I had to give him kisses before he went under.
They made him change out of his favorite batman pjs so that he could wear their "cool" hospital garb.

After almost a year solid of ear infections, Parker's pediatrician finally recommended that he get tubes put in his ears. We had a couple weeks worth of appointments with the ENT and the Audiologist before we could be set up for the surgery. The apt with the Audiologist showed that he has hearing loss in his left ear. We are hoping that by putting the tubes in, he will regain all of that hearing. On Monday, November 30, we went in to the surgery center for his procedure. The actual surgery only took (literally) 5-10 minutes and he was awake very shortly after that. We were able to head home around 9:00 in the morning and I just needed to keep an eye on him throughout the day. He was in pretty good spirits and only complained a couple of times that his ears hurt. He was back at school on Tuesday and says that his ears feel great! I'm hoping this takes care of the problem. Anyway, here are some pictures of Parks at the hospital.

Fall Fun...

2009-11-11T18:40:00.003-07:00

Connor and Parker kissing the glass door. Why, you ask? I don't know.

Michael helping Parks dig out the pumpkin guts.

Connor wiping the caramel off of his nose.

Bryce is doing pretty good with his apple.

Well...at least he ate the caramel. Apple dippers may have been a better choice for him.

Fall has been moving fast and furious in our house! I was so sad that we had snow before the leaves turned red and gold. It's normally my favorite time of year because of that, but this year was disappointing since all the leaves fell off the trees and turned a yucky brown color.

I had big plans for the kids but the farthest we got was making caramel apples. This was our first time doing this as a family and the kids had a blast. It was really fun to see them try to sink their teeth into the apples. We also had planned on carving pumpkins together but by the time I got around to buying more pumpkins, EVERYONE was sold out! Luckily, I had already purchased one a couple weeks before Halloween so at least we had one to do.

Fall has been busy with all of the kids and myself going to school. I will be excited when this semester is over, but I am taking a heavier load in the Spring. I'm still doing CTMH and have a great group of friends that come over once a month and do projects. I've spent the last couple of days moving my scrapbook area to a smaller space in the house and I've had to clear out A LOT of my stuff. I plan on having a scrapbook garage sale soon. Since I have now moved and cleaned my area, I will be creating a couple of Christmas projects that I will post soon. Blessings to everyone! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!

School and other Random Treats...

2009-10-04T20:26:00.003-06:00

I just realized that it's been almost two months since I've updated my blog! For those of you that don't know, I have started back to school and I've been hard at work for the past month. School is going well so far and it's nice to be working towards finishing my education. Parker started pre-school and is completely loving it! I had a hard time when I dropped him off that first day, but he has so much fun that I can't complain. I thought I'd add a couple of pictures on here. One is of me and Parker on our first day of school. The other one is the project that I helped Bryce with for his Indian project. He chose the Iroquois tribe and we had to make this diorama to show how they lived. I have to say that I'm mighty proud of the little vegetables that I sculpted (basically, I just think they are cute).

New Artwork...

2009-08-08T17:26:00.002-06:00

I've had so many friends having children over the past 6 months that I'm WAY behind in sending out cards! I sat down yesterday to work on a couple of little girl cards and this is what I came up with. I did some clear embossing on the sunflower cardstock and some stitching around the felt shapes. I think they turned out ok. I can't wait to send them out!

All products are CTMH:

Animal Cookies paper
Dutch Blue cardstock
Sunflower cardstock
Clover Meadow cardstock
Whimsy Felt Shapes
Desert Sand Ink
Tulip Ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Versa Mark

Team Closeup (1 photo), by CTMH CTMH

2009-08-07T14:19:00.001-06:00

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

Leadership...

2009-08-07T13:15:00.003-06:00

Me and Jeanette Lynton - Founder and CEO of Close To My Heart.

My beautiful roomies! Melissa Robinson, Sheila Wilkerson, Teri Baxter, Me and Heather Snow

My wonderful upline - Teri Baxter and myself

Me and Kristine Widtfeldt - Close To My Heart VP of Sales and Marketing (she's got a GREAT personality...I always enjoy her!).

Our sandy feet

Well, I'm back from sunny Long Beach, CA and I had such a great time! It was so nice to see my friends and fellow CTMH team mates again. We got to see all of the new and exciting products that CTMH has in store for the Fall AND we got a bunch of free goodies! I'm already looking forward to going to Washington D.C. next summer! Who wants to join me?

What the Fat??!!!.....Update #2

2009-07-08T18:17:00.003-06:00

Sorry this isn't a more exciting post since I haven't posted anything in a while. I just had to share that I've officially hit the 20lb weight goal! I'm totally excited that I hit this milestone! I still have a bit to lose but this was the first major goal of mine. I'm still having fun with Abby (my trainer at the gym)...she puts up with all my whining and makes me do it anyway. :-) I'm feeling really good, healthy and strong. I'm also getting ready to go to Long Beach, CA to go to Close To My Heart's leadership conference and I'm super excited about that! I can't wait to see all my girls there! I've been finding it hard to get any scrapbooking or creating done this summer with all the kids home but hopefully creativity will strike me soon!

Parker Turns 3!

2009-06-11T09:40:00.003-06:00

Ok... so my baby turned 3 and I need a second to mourn the loss of my baby! He's not a baby anymore!! It was really fun to watch him this year because he knew exactly how this birthday thing is supposed to go. I found this cute cake pan in the shape of ice cream cones at Crate and Barrel and decided it would be perfect for Parks. We topped them with scoops of ice cream and candles and he was good to go. The kids all loves them! Parker's favorite present was the accessories to his favorite Wii sports game. I still can't believe he's 3! Time goes fast...enjoy the little moments!

Beautiful Maine...

2009-06-09T10:18:00.003-06:00

My yummy Maine lobster

My feet in the cold Atlantic Ocean

What a wonderful way to spend Memorial Day! My friend Heather and her husband Jake took me up to Maine to see some of the sights. We took a beautiful walk along the ocean, visited some fun little shops and I ate my first whole lobster! It was a great day!

G-ma and G-pa...

2009-05-19T20:28:00.004-06:00

I just wanted to share these sweet pictures of Parker, Grandma and Grandpa. For some reason, when everyone comes over, they just take their shoes off by the door even though I've never asked them to or even mentioned it. Anyway, when G-ma and G-pa got there, Grandpa took of his shoes, as usual, and placed them by the door. Later, Parker came in from playing outside and took off his shoes and lined them up next to Grandpa's shoes. I love seeing these little shoes next to Grandpa's big ones.

Last Sunday I caught this pictures of Grandma and Parker out on the swing. He just LOVES Grandma! She talks to him and he listens to her ears (her hearing aids make a beeping sound when you get really close to her ears). They are such a sweet pair. It's moments like these that I cherish.

More Cookies, Please....

2009-05-14T11:35:00.003-06:00

Ok..so I can't get enough of the Animal Cookies paper pack so I had to sit down and make a couple more cards with it! Some of the ladies that come to club request cards instead of a layout so this is what they will be making tomorrow night. The smaller card has some clear embossing detail that is hard to see on the picture but it adds just a touch of dimension. All products are CTMH!

May Hostess Club Layout

2009-05-12T08:25:00.002-06:00

This is the layout that we'll be making at club this month. I am in LOVE with this paper...it is so stinkin' cute! I used all CTMH products including the new Animal Cookies Creative Basics paper collection, new Memory Protectors Flip Flaps, new Clear Buttons and the new Sweet Baby stamp set. The left (title) page features a pocket to hold tags or other memorabilia! I can't wait to share it with my club buddies!

Charlee and Parker...

2009-05-04T09:45:00.004-06:00

I'm about a month overdue in posting these pictures so I figured I should get around to it. Last month my bff, Shauna, came with her daughter Charlee to visit. Charlee is two weeks younger than Parker almost to the minute. I was so excited for Charlee and Parker to get together and play! Well, as it turns out, they only seem to get along when they are getting into trouble together. It was a long two weeks with these kiddos. Lot's of crying, hitting, whining, and tattling. It was fun to have them here though and I'm so glad that they took the time to come and visit. Shauna and I had fun scrapbooking and visiting and my favorite time was after the kids were in bed! Anyway, here are some pictures from their visit.

What the fat??!!!...Update #1

2009-04-29T18:45:00.002-06:00

Ok, so it's been a little while since my "What the Fat" post so I thought I would update everyone on my progress. I have officially lost 10 pounds! Yea! I still have a ton more work to do but I am fitting back into those pants that I couldn't fit into a couple of months ago AND some of my other pants are now too big! I've been completely enjoying going to the gym! My energy is back, I'm not as tired as I was a couple of months ago, I'm eating better and I feel great! I've also started working out with a trainer, Abby, and she is kicking my butt into shape! She is wonderful and I'm really enjoying our sessions. Ok.. well I think that's it for now. I'll do another update in a couple more weeks!

May Stamp Of The Month Cards

2009-04-29T18:38:00.003-06:00

Here are a couple of cards that I made using the, soon to be released, May stamp of the month, Be Yourself. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out. I really like the little ladies on this set. Happy Tuesday!

All products used are CTMH

True Love? I think so...

2009-04-23T07:48:00.002-06:00

I was completely amazed at how easy it was to break Parker of his binky habit. In fact, he has been off of the binky for well over a year now. Once he got teeth and started to chew through them, I knew it was time to put them away. Anyway, I guess the binky fairy paid a visit to our house because Parker came to me the other day and had found three binkys! Now, either it's been that long since I've done a thorough clean of the house (which is possible) OR he has had a secret stash! Either way, I was shocked when I found him walking around with not one, but TWO binkys in his mouth! When he was allowed to have the binkys, this was his favorite joke...to put two in his mouth. In fact, I have scrapbooked a page of him and his two binkys. After taking some pictures, I promptly put them away in MY secret hiding spot. Here is a picture of Parker and his binkys. Oh yea...and I don't know where he gets this scrunchy face from but it can't possibly come from me!

Tickled Pink!

2009-04-07T08:40:00.003-06:00

National Scrabooking Month is just around the corner and Close To My Heart is celebrating by releasing a wonderful exclusive kit called "Tickled Pink". I just got it the other day and it is so stinking cute! I can't wait to show everyone! It is available April 15-May 31st and features a D-size stamp set, die cuts and (drum roll please...) GLITTER PAPER! I was able to make 4 12x12 pages PLUS I had enough left over to make 4 large cards and I could probably get a couple of smaller ones out of it too. For anyone that orders this kit (or qualifies to get it for free), I will enter your name into a drawing to win all 4 cards pictured! For more details go to https://orders.closetomyheart.com/CTMHConsultants/marketing/pdf/May09CCFlyerUS.pdf . Happy Scrapping!

What the Fat??!!

2009-03-24T14:51:00.005-06:00

Ok...so I got on the bathroom scale the other day to find out exactly where I was at with my weight. I thought that my clothes were fitting a little tighter but I wasn't exactly sure how much weight I've gained. So I got on the scale and couldn't BELIEVE the number it said. I thought that that it must be wrong so I tried it again....and the same number came up!! Well, since I didn't believe that could possibly be right, I threw my scale away thinking it must be broken! Turns out...it's not broken! Dang-it! Now, I have to go to the gym AND buy a new scale! Isn't life great??!

Goodbye Kramer...

2009-03-12T08:39:00.003-06:00

We had a very sad day yesterday. Our great kitty companion, Kramer, had to be put to sleep. He was 14 years old and had some major health issues. He was such a good and loving kitty. I got him from my friend, Joe, when I was 18 and I've had him ever since. He has been there through the births of all of my children. He was so patient with my little guys! I remember when Michael was just a toddler and he would crawl over and lay on top of Kramer. Kramer would just take it...he wouldn't bite or scratch the children. His purr was like a little motor boat and we will truly miss it. Michael and Connor were very brave but certainly upset. Michael went with Jeff to the vet and got to say his last goodbye's there. We love you Kramer and we will miss you dearly!

U R 2 Cool...

2009-02-28T08:43:00.003-07:00

Well here is my latest digi page. I did this one completely on my own (you can probably tell!). I downloaded this very cute and FREE digi kit from http://shabbyprincess.com/. It has TONS of papers and accessories. I'm happy with how it turned out but the great thing about digi scrapping is that I can take and change anything I want at any time! This has been really fun but I'm missing my REAL paper and embellishments so I think I'm going to have to create something with those today. Have a great weekend!

Mr. Bear...

2009-02-26T07:48:00.002-07:00

Mr. Bear has been just as much a part of this family as any of my children. My friend Misty brought Mr. Bear to the hospital when Connor was born and they have been inseparable ever since. Mr. Bear has gone everywhere with us....if Connor is there, then so is Mr. Bear. He has been repaired and sewn up more times than I can count. His eyes are all scratched up and he is losing his stuffing. I didn't know what I was going to do when Connor started school because he wanted to bring Mr. Bear with him. Occasionally, he did hitch hike to school in Connor's backpack. Now that Connor is eight, Mr. Bear is only good at bed time and I have a feeling that pretty soon he will be sitting on Connor's shelf...not really necessary at all except as a fond memory. We love Mr.Bear and we will always have a special place for him in our hearts.

2009-02-23T18:59:00.002-07:00

This is the last layout assignment from my digi class. I learned how to cut my paper, how to adjust my sepia tones, a little more about the text tool and a shading technique. I'm going to send these off to be printed in 12x12 so that I can put them into my scrapbook. I also think I'm going to sign up for another class. It's been tons of fun learning these techniques and really being able to take advantage of my photoshop program! Oh yea, and this is Jeff and I in Hawaii where we were married. :-)

2009-02-22T09:04:00.002-07:00

Here is layout #4 from my digi class. I was so happy to finally get these pictures scrapbooked. Parker went through this phase of leaning in his high chair to make me laugh. He could sit leaned over like this the whole time. I sure am missing my little baby these days. I sure hope that in addition to the cold I just had, I'm not also catching the baby bug again. We'll see.

Oh yea...and to get a closer look and to read the journaling, just click on the layout and it will make it bigger.

My Little Fireman...

2009-02-20T16:56:00.002-07:00

Well, we are STILL in the process of potty training Parker so needless to say, he's been running around here in his birthday suit lately. This was the scene that I came upon yesterday. He put this outfit together all by himself. He was perfectly content to sit naked on the floor and play with his toys. I love my little fireman! Hopefully, we can talk him into wearing underpants really soon!

Parker layout...

2009-02-18T08:07:00.003-07:00

Lesson #3 in my digi class was great because it's beginning to teach about brushes! I like this because it's like digital rubber stamping! Total fun without the ink on my fingers! These are pictures that we took of Parker last spring so it's nice to finally get them scrapbooked.

A Second Digi Layout...

2009-02-17T15:58:00.002-07:00

Here is the #2 layout from my class. I was wondering what kind of a picture I had to go with this kit since the title was "Beautiful" but then I realized that even though I have all boys, I still think they are beautiful. I love this picture of Parker and it makes me miss when he was a little baby. Anyway, I'm looking forward to layout #3!

Terrible Twos...

2009-02-17T08:22:00.003-07:00

I've been wanting to learn how to do this for quite a while now. If you don't know what digi scrapbooking is, it's scrapbooking that's completely digital and done on the computer. I actually completed a couple of digi layouts about a year ago but this time I decided to take a class so that I really know what I'm doing. I've got so many pictures and it takes me so much time to regular scrapbook my pictures that this is a good filler for me. I'll be able to get some of those layouts done that I would have never gotten around to with my scissors and paper and get them done on the computer. This is the first layout taught in the class. You can click on the photo to read the journaling. I can't wait for the next class!

Connor's Baptism Day...

2009-02-10T21:27:00.005-07:00

Getting ready...

The three Grandmas... Nana (Eric's mom), Grandma Diane (Jeff's mom) and Grammy (my mom)

Changing after the baptism...he is all clean now!

The boys supporting Connor on his day...

Nana and Connor

Grammy and Connor

I have been so excited for Connor's baptism and can't believe that it's already over. The day was just beautiful and Connor was nervous but looking forward to the day. He has quite a phobia of getting his face wet and so I was worried that he pop up before he was dunked and we'd have to do it all over again. Fortunately, with the threat of doing it twice, he did very well with getting his whole body under the water. Jeff did a beautiful job with the baptism and confirmation. I'm so grateful for him and the wonderful job he has done stepping into the roll of Connor's dad. I know that Eric is pleased that these boys have such a great father in their lives. It made me sad that Eric wasn't there physically but I know and felt he was there, watching over his sons, in spirit. I'm grateful for everyone that came to support Connor on his special day. It is one that I'll remember forever.

Grammy Comes To Visit....

2009-02-10T16:34:00.003-07:00

Grammy coming off the plane!

Welcome Grammy!

The kids waiting for the luggage to start moving around.

I'm so happy that my mom was able to fly up and attend Connor's baptism! The kids were so excited and decided to make a welcome sign to hold up for Grammy at the airport. It was fun to see her see the sign. :-) The visit was way too short but we had a great time while she was here. We love you Grammy!

Valentine Cards

2009-02-02T22:38:00.002-07:00

Well, I finally had a chance to sit down today and brainstorm my Valentine cards. Do you ever just sit at your desk and stare at your supplies WILLING for creativity to find you? That's how it was for me today. I am happy with how it turned out. The picture isn't the best but I'm still learning how to use all the settings on my new camera. All products used are CTMH except the pin which is Making Memories.

Products used:

February Word Puzzle Stamp Set

Priceless Love Stamp Set

Baby Pink Cardstock

Cranberry Cardstock

White Daisy Cardstock

White Daisy Flower

Big Pinks Paper Flower

White Daisy Ribbon

Cranberry Ink

Baby Pink Ink

Glitter Stack

Cranberry Marker

Connor's Baptism...

2009-01-30T15:40:00.006-07:00

Ok, so it's been forever since I've posted any artwork and not that these are the best things in the world BUT since it's the only thing I've made in a while, I thought I'd post them. I made these little baptism announcements/invites for Connor's baptism that's coming up next Saturday. I had originally decorated these fun clips to attach on them but then I realized (duh) I wouldn't be able to mail them that way. I ended up with "plan B" which is a stamped and cut-out star where the clip was going to go. All products are Close To My Heart and can be found on my website at http://scrappingmania.myctmh.com/ . Also, I was so proud of myself... Connor actually had a big black eye that I edited out of the picture with my photoshop! You can't even tell! haha See below for products used.

All products used are CTMH:

Moonstruck cardstock
Stardust Level 2 paper pack
White Daisy Ink
Wishing Start Stamp Set
Chocolate Ribbon Rounds
White Daisy Brads
CTMH Fonts CD - Tall Pen
White Daisy Cardstock
Honey Ink

Parks at the Parks...

2009-01-24T10:10:00.003-07:00

We had a rare break in the cold winter weather this week so Jeff and I took Parker for an outing at Gibson park. I don't really know why but there are still tons of ducks and geese there...I think they forgot to fly south. Anyway, Parker was really fascinated with them but didn't really want to get too close. He played on the equipment and the swings and had a great time. It was nice to be outside with him. Then we went to the soda fountain and had lunch. It was a nice day together.

Scouts...

2009-01-24T10:01:00.002-07:00

One of the things that Connor was looking forward to after he turned 8 was being able to attend cub scouts. It didn't even hit me until the night he was supposed to go that he could now go! Well, this week I was prepared with his brand new uniform! He looks so cute and he's so stinkin excited to go. They made a marble maze out of a pizza box the other night and the pinewood derby is coming up next week. Fun stuff! Here are some pictures of Connor in his uniform.

Random Events...

2009-01-24T09:30:00.003-07:00

I've been meaning to post these pictures this week but I'm just now getting around to it. Monday, we took the kids to Helena (it's about an hour drive) to bum around. The place we were originally going to go was closed, so we decided to take them out to lunch and then to the carousel and children's museum. This was the first time Parker had ever been on any type of ride. He was just in awe looking at all of the lights and hearing the music. As I was helping him ride and watching his face full of wonder, I started to get tears in my eyes...and then I felt like a dummy. My other kids are asking me why I'm crying and I'm trying not to break out in a full sob. Anyway, it was tons of fun. I think we rode three or four times before we moved on to the museum.

The museum was interesting. They had all sorts of weather displays and hands on experiments that the kids could do. There was also a little play area that was meant for small children but apparently all of the kids enjoyed it. So here are pictures from the weekend.

Political Nonsense...

2009-01-20T08:21:00.000-07:00

I've never written before about my deep respect for America. I am so thankful that I've been blessed to be born in such a great country! I'm grateful for the freedoms that me and my family enjoy daily because of the sacrifices of many that came before me. Every soldier, politician and citizen has had a hand in making this country great. I'm thankful for my right to vote and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens with our country over the next four years. I did not vote for Obama because our beliefs don't mesh. This is not to say that I will not support him as our new President. I do however believe that as a country we need not get caught up in the theatrics of it all. So far, he has done what every other president before him has done which is to make us promises of change (it may not have been their slogan but it was always promised). I hope that this is what will happen because I think it's what we need at this point in time. This day is historical, however, it's historical every time a new president gets sworn in. So, as a responsible citizen of this country, I will keep my head on straight and be a logical thinker during this time of "Beatle mania". I WANT him to prove me wrong and I WANT him to show me why he should have gotten my vote. He will be my president too so I just want to say... Good Luck President Obama.

Glue...

2009-01-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

I love being able to get on here and write about whatever I want. Today I wanted to talk a little bit about Parker. You've all seen what a mess-maker he is and that's usually what I talk about but today I want to "talk" about how important he is in this family.

He has been my little buddy for the past few weeks and we've had a blast playing games and learning fun things. This little boy is truly a miracle to me. He has a big job in this family and he doesn't even know it! He is literally the glue that has brought my little family (consisting of myself, Michael and Connor) AND Jeff's little family (of himself, Devin and Bryce) TOGETHER. There is a little piece of each one of us in Parker. He is something that we all have in common even when the boys are fighting and Jeff and I are angry at each other. We can all look at Parker as something that we all share. Parker was not planned, at least not by Jeff and myself, to come along so quickly but I can see that our Heavenly Father had other plans. He could see how important Parker would be in helping our family stick together like glue! I am so grateful for this little boy and I love him so much! I remember being disappointed when we had the ultra sound and found out we were adding ANOTHER boy to the family but since that time I can't tell you how thankful I am that Parker is Parker. I don't want to imagine my life without him in it. I am blessed!

Let's talk about the weather...

2009-01-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I was supposed to go out to Fairfield tonight to do the scrapbook club BUT the stupid weather is going to turn nasty and icy tonight. I guess if I have to choose between sacrificing my life for scrapbooking or being alive for my kids, my kids win, but by just a slight margin (ok..that's a little dramatic but I think any scrapper would understand ;-). My wonderful and talented friend Jen Brown is helping me out by teaching the class for me tonight and my other friend Hilary graciously volunteered to pick up all of the kits since she was in town today. I totally appreciate their willingness to help me out! So, now I guess I have all day to create! Maybe I'll get something of mine done for a change. Hope everyone has a great day!

Connor turns 8!

2009-01-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Both Paker and Connor's eyes are hilarious in this picture. It makes me laugh!

Parker "helping" make the brownies. As usual, he has to be involved in everything.

Well, actually he turned 8 on December 27th but I'm just now getting the pictures up. I can't believe that he is already 8 years old! Time is going by so fast...I wish it would slow down a little! Connor always seems to get a little jipped because his birthday is so close to Christmas and this year was especially bad because I was sicker than a dog on his birthday. For his birthday, we gave him the new Guitar Hero (world tour, on tour...something like that) which he was really happy about. We almost didn't have cake because I had a hard time even getting out of bed but we did end up making a brownie cake which he decorated himself. I let him pick out the sprinkles and he picked out the Valentine ones (don't ask) but I wasn't going to argue that point with him if it made him happy. I'm so grateful for Connor...he is such a fun little boy. He has the funniest sense of humor and always is ready with a crazy comment. I love him so much and I am thankful that he is my son. Happy birthday sweet boy!

This is how I feel today...

2009-01-03T15:17:00.000-07:00

Anyone who is a fan of the show "Friends" will get this quote. This is completely how I feel today...it's just one of those days!

New Artwork...

2008-12-31T16:17:00.000-07:00

It's been forever since I've posted new artwork. I've been so busy with all the family activities that my hobby has been put a bit on the back burner. Anyway, I wanted to post these canvas projects that I made for Devin and Bryce's mom (my husband's ex-wife). I had these fabulous soccer pictures of the boys that were taken this summer by my brother-in-law Michael VaughAn. He is a wonderful photographer and if you want to check out his artwork, his website is http://www.mgvaughan.com/ . I painted the canvas black and used some soccer paper and cranberry cardstock. Fun and easy but really cool. I was kind of hoping that she wouldn't like them so that I could keep them for my house. Oh well, I am glad she liked them but I guess I'll have to do a set for this house too!

Fondue...

2008-12-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

For Christmas dinner, it has always been a tradition that we have a fondue dinner. The tradition was started by my mom and dad when they were dating. All of the children have carried on this tradition and it wouldn't feel like Christmas to us if we didn't have fondue. We all LOVE it and look forward to it every year. We do a meat fondue along with baked potatoes, salad and bread for dinner and have a yummy chocolate fondue for desert! Mmmm. My kids ask me why we don't get one of those chocolate fountains but I like using the traditional fondue pot and forks (plus the chocolate tastes better). Here are some pictures of our fondue dinner.

Christmas Day!

2008-12-29T20:34:00.000-07:00

Ok...I knew that I wasn't going to be able to keep up with my Christmas countdown but I DO think I got the most important things in there.

I thought I'd post some pictures of our Christmas morning. We had a great time! The kids were so excited and they all "camped out" in Michael and Connor's room. They made sure to block Devin in so that he couldn't get out and peek (he's been known to do this). Jeff and I were up until 2am getting things put together and the kids were up bright and early at 4:58am! We always have a tradition of having the kids get a picture together in mom and dads bed and then we line up (youngest to oldest) and file out to see what Santa left. Santa has started wrapping the presents that he leaves because Devin is such a peeker. This year Santa left all the kids (except Parker) air soft guns. They have already been having tons of fun with those. Michael, Devin and Bryce got new PSPs, Connor got a new scooter, and Parker got a Wow Wow Wubzy toy! Then we had the kids go downstairs to see if Santa put a new ornament on the tree and they found that there was a new tv for the family down there! It was a totally fun day and the kids had a great time! I had a great time too as I received the new camera that I've had my eye on for a while! I LOVE seeing the excitement of Christmas through my children's eyes. It's truly delightful!

Christmas Countdown Day 8...My Children

2008-12-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

Parker

Connor (aka Condor)

Devin, Michael and Bryce at the Weird Al concert.

I always knew that when I grew up, I wanted to be a mother. I had my heart set on nothing else other than that of raising a family and although I've been thrown a few curve balls in my life, that aspiration has never changed. So many people have to leave their children with others while they work and I count my blessings everyday that I am able to stay home with my kids. I'm the one that gets to pick them up from school, I'm the one that gets to participate in school functions, I'm the one that gets to teach them their colors, shapes and letters. I LOVE MY JOB!! We have had to sacrifice some things in order for me to be able to stay at home. It hasn't been easy and I know that there will always be some sacrifice involved. I only get one chance to do this and I know that when my children grow up, they will always remember that I was available to be there for them and that means everything to me.

God has not only blessed me with three children of my own, but also saw fit that I should take a hand in helping raise two more of His children. This roll has taught me more patience than I've ever known. I love all of these boys! They are truly special spirits and wonderful kids and I love each of them to pieces!

Day 9...My Husband

2008-12-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

I'm truly so thankful for my husband! He is a wonderful man and I love him more and more everyday! He knew that when we married he would have to fill the roll of my children's father. He has done that with flying colors! He loves them just like they are his own children and that means more to me than anything. He also puts up with me, so that really says a lot for him! He is a man of great faith and isn't afraid to share that with other's. He has a wonderful sense of humor and makes me laugh constantly! We always have a good time together and he truly is my very best friend! I am so lucky! :)

Countdown to Christmas...Day 10

2008-12-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the first day that I was actually in the Christmas spirit. This month is just flying by and I've not felt at all like it's Christmas time. On Saturday, it snowed (finally) and it was super cold and I was able to spend the day scrapbooking and listening to Christmas music. It was a very pleasant day. Anyway, I wanted to do a little countdown to Christmas of things that I'm grateful for on my blog. I was originally going to start this on Saturday but I was too busy scrapbooking. I'm going to try to keep up with it but I guess we'll see what happens. So here goes...

Day 10 - I'm grateful for my Savior

I am not one to wear my faith on my sleeve so my comments might be unusual for people to read but that's ok. I am so grateful for my Savior! I am in awe of His unending love! I am truly so thankful for the sacrifice that HE made for me that there are no words that I could say that would thank Him enough. I am so imperfect and rely on His sacrifice everyday. I had a long conversation with Connor on Saturday about the birth of the Savior and explained the symbols of the Christmas star and the gifts that the wise men brought. This was a bit eye opening for him (although it's been told to him before, I think this is the first time it's actually sunk in) and I could see the lights going on in his brain. His birthday is December 27th and he is proud that it's so close to the birth of Jesus. When I first saw this nativity set, I had to have it for 1 reason only. That reason is that I LOVE that Mary is actually holding Jesus! As a mother, that's exactly what I would be doing with my precious baby. Have a blessed day everyone!

Have they been good?? It's all relative...

2008-12-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

So, I was trying to get some pictures of the kids to send out with our Christmas cards this year. This is a HUGE chore! First off, we only have Devin and Bryce on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday nights and those nights happen to be the same nights that my brain goes on vacation. So Saturday night I got them all together, got the pictures taken, put the kids in bed and then went to play with the pictures on Photoshop. Well, I didn't realize that my camera settings were off when I took the pictures so we had to retake them again Sunday night. For some reason, whenever a camera comes near Bryce, he has to make some sort of weird face! The child doesn't have a normal smile in him! I ended up taking about 20 different pictures total and (if you can even believe it) these were the best ones. Now you can see why I take so many of Parker...he hasn't learned to be camera shy yet!

The pictures pose a good question...how good have the kids been this year. I guess that depends on the day. If you ask them, they have all been perfect angels but I guess it's all relative.

Busy Bees...

2008-12-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

I just realized today that it's been over a month since I last posted (if you read my last post, you know that I spend a majority of my day keeping both eyeballs on Parker). Anyway, I just wanted to post and let everyone know that I'm still here but we've just been very busy bees lately. The kids were all out for Thanksgiving break and we had a wonderful time together. I was actually sad to have the kids go back to school. We put up our Christmas decorations on Saturday and have already had two ornaments broken! It's going to be another learning year for Parker. Michael asked me why I don't put the glass ornaments closer to the top of the tree and the truth is that MOST of the ornaments on the tree are glass and that would make it top heavy. I guess we'll just have to learn the hard way. I sat down with Parker yesterday and was watching an old Disney cartoon called Small One. If you haven't seen it, it is a beautiful story about the donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem. I always cry when I watch that cartoon and Parker was looking at me as if I was crazy (which maybe I am a little). Anyway, I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas season!! Oh, and here is a picture of Parker in front of our "blazing" Christmas tree.

FOR SALE: 1 TODDLER...CHEAP!

2008-11-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

If I had remembered what a toddler acted like, I may have decided not to have another one. I think that God makes them so cute so that you don't kill them! Here is what Parker was up to tonight while I was tucking the other boys into bed. He made a little "ink pad track" and walked up and down it, not only mixing the colors together on the ink pads but also leaving little foot prints all over my carpet, couch, the Wii Fit board, pillows and a blanket. My friend Teri has already offered me $1000 for him (however, I think she may change her mind when she sees this) so maybe we should start the bidding going down. Do I hear $950? Anyone? Here are the pictures of Parker and his feet of many colors.

Latest Projects...

2008-11-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

Set of 5 tags using So Sweet Seasons stamp set.

This has two pockets, one for a tag and one for a gift card.

Fall card using Treasure Life stamp set and chalk popping technique.

Using Bethlehem stamp set

Uses Playful Flourishes, Shining Star, and Bethlehem stamp sets.

Uses All Decked Out and Feathery Flakes stamp set. Opinions please!! Do you think I should give the snowman a mouth? The stamp set has a smile mouth and a circle mouth. What do you think?

I know that I haven't posted any projects lately but that's because I've been busy working on them! I have a craft fair coming up and needed to make some cards for that. Most of these cards were inspired by other people. The gift card holder pattern came from Nona Davenport (thanks again Nona!). Hope you enjoy!

*All products used are Close To My Heart

The Economy Must Be Bad...

2008-11-01T09:17:00.000-06:00

Last night was sooo much fun! We were able to take Connor and Parker trick-or-treating without having to wear coats or snow boots! We had a great dinner over at Carole's and then took the kids around the block. We didn't even make it all the way around the block before Parker's bag was so full of candy that he was dragging it on the ground! I'll have to post pics of the kids later because I forgot my camera last night and had to borrow Carole's.

Anyway, on to the story of the day... someone toilet papered our house last night. It was a very amateur job, however. First off, they only used ONE (yes I said one) roll of tp!! No shaving cream, oreo cookies, lunch meat...nothing like that. Just one, lone roll of tp. I guess the economy really is getting bad if we can only afford one roll. If whoever graced our yard with their presence last night would like a lesson in the art of TPing, please let me know and I'd be glad to go with you.

Fall Fun...

2008-10-20T10:44:00.000-06:00

All of the kids wanted to be buried in the corn box!
Devin
Connor aka Condor
Devin trying to suffocate himself.

The big slide! Parker climbed up and went down by himself.

Flying corn kernels!
We found our way through the corn maze. Not as hard since we're toward the end of the season! I told the kids if they cheated that they wouldn't get a treat after we were done. They took that very seriously. LOL

Bryce and Parker on the hay jump.

Devin on top of the hay maze.

Connor making his way through the hay maze.

With the kids out of school, I had the opportunity to get them all together and take them to the corn maze and pumpkin patch. It was tons of fun! The kids had a blast and it was so nice for me to connect with all of them together. It made me, once again, count my blessings times 5! Every one of these boys contributes something different to this family and I love every single one of them regardless of whether I gave birth to them or not. They're all good boys and wonderful young men.

Out of the Mouth of Connor Part 2...

2008-10-17T15:09:00.000-06:00

I have a mountain of laundry that needs to be folded (big surprise!). So I asked Connor to fold the clothes since he was standing around doing nothing. This is the response that I got, "Sorry Mom, but the only special skills that I have are playing video games". How can you argue with that??

In Serious Need Of A Vacation...

2008-10-17T10:16:00.000-06:00

Pay no attention to the hair! He looks like one of the Beatles but with blonde hair! He's going in Tuesday for a haircut. I don't cut my kids hair because when I do, it always looks worse than before I cut it.

I found him with his shirt like this after his nap. He was apparently trying to get it off but just managed to get it over his head.

Ok...so I know that you all think I'm totally lying about having 5 children because the only one you ever read about is Parker. The only reason for this is because he is the only one not in school yet so I spend the most time with him. Anyway, this week the kids had two days off of school. We had all 5 boys here yesterday PLUS myself and Jeff. You'd think that one of us would have noticed Parker get out the lemonade and make a "Country Time Race Track" all over the kitchen floor. Not only did he do that yesterday, but he also got into the fridge, took out an egg, cracked the egg into a dish and whipped it up! I have to say that I was very impressed that there were no egg shells in the mix. Anyway, here are some pictures from yesterday....oh and please pay no attention to my messy kitchen...like I said, I had 5 boys here yesterday!

Affection Stops At Seven...

2008-10-14T09:23:00.000-06:00

Parker wanted some juice this morning and so I poured it into a cup and before I gave it to him, I said "Can you give mommy a kiss?" and he gave me a kiss. Then I said, "Can you give mommy two kisses?" and he gave me another kiss. Then I said, "Can you give mommy three kisses?" and he gave me another kiss. Well, you get the idea. We went all the way through six kisses but when the seventh one came along, I said, "Can you give mommy SEVEN kisses" and he looked at me and said (in a matter-of-fact tone) "No". I guess that affection stops at seven kisses. Oh well. I would have taken a million if he would have given them to me!

Sweet Happenings at the Vaughan Home...

2008-10-10T11:29:00.001-06:00

When Parker was 6 months old, he was given a cd by his Aunt Geri and Uncle Michael that was lullaby versions of hymns. He has listened to that cd every night at bed time since that time. This morning, I woke up and went about my usual routine and then went downstairs to check my email since I hadn't heard Parker stirring yet. As I was on my computer, I heard his cd start to play.He can now reach through the slats of his crib and push the play button, this is how I know he is awake most of the time. I guess it's better that screaming! Anyway, he not only pushed play on the cd player but he started to sing along with it. It was so sweet to sit and listen to my baby sing "I Feel My Savior's Love" to himself. I'm grateful for the beautiful spirit that seems to envelope our home. It's going to be a good day.

Another Pocket Album...

2008-10-07T20:35:00.000-06:00

Here is what I worked on today. I decided that I would make a pocket album for Halloween to put all of the kids pictures in. I like how it turned out and I LOVE this paper packet!

All products used are CTMH:

Enchanted Paper Packet

Enchanted Stickease

Black Grosgrain Ribbon

Sparkles

Garden Green Cardstock

Autumn Terracotta Cardstock and Ink

Pansey Purple Cardstock and Ink

Sunflower Cardstock

Olive Ink

Pocket Album Mania...

2008-10-06T16:12:00.000-06:00

First off, I need to give credit where credit is due. This pattern came from one of my stamping idols, Tresa Black (aka: The Stamp Goddess!). She is just wonderful and one of my favorite people to steal creativity from! Anyway, this is my version of her pocket album. It has 10 inside pages as well as 4 pull out tags! Very fun! This is one the rare occasions that I did not use Close To My Heart paper but I found this paper packet and really thought it was cute. All products are listed below. Hope you enjoy!

Products used are:

My Minds Eye Paper - Snowed In Paper Pack

CTMH Colonial White Cardstock

24" Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon (CTMH)

Cranberry Cardstock (CTMH)

Sweat Leaf Cardstock (CTMH)

Sparkles (CTMH)

Prisma Glitter (CTMH)
Love Letter Rub-ons (CTMH)
White Paint

Coluzzle Circle Cutter

The Butcher, The Baker...we'll stop there

2008-10-05T09:30:00.000-06:00

Parker loves to "help" in the kitchen when I'm cooking, cleaning or doing anything really. When I was baking bread the other day, he just had to be in the middle of everything and had a cow when I wouldn't let him put the flour in the mixer. Finally, I just gave in and let him have fun. The bread came out fine so I guess it was worth it! Here are some pictures of my little Baker!!

Halloween Cards

2008-10-02T17:23:00.000-06:00

Ok..I think that Halloween is probably my favorite holiday to make cards for. Last year I made these really cute waterfall cards with the SU Booglie eyes set (I think that's what it's called) and they really turned out cute. This year, CTMH came out with a stamp set called Creepy Cobwebs and I LOVE IT!! In fact, we are using that stamp set for this month's club layout! I can't wait to show it off to all of my customer's ! Anyway, here is a card that I made with the CC set and this is the one that I will probably send out. I guess we'll see...

All products used are Close To My Heart

Black Cardstock
Autumn Terracotta Cardstock
Garden Green Cardstock
Enchanted Paper Packet
Creepy Cobwebs stamp set
Black Grosgrain Ribbon
Black Embossing Powder
Versa Mark
Autumn Terracotta Ink
Garden Green Ink
Purple Pansey Ink
Black Sewing Thread

I'm Sad...

2008-10-01T16:57:00.000-06:00

Bad news for me...

Today, I got a big rip in my work uniform (aka...my favorite pajamas). Enough said.

November Layout Workshop

2008-09-30T21:59:00.001-06:00

Well, after much frustration today, here are the layouts for the November workshop! I was up until midnight last night working on the first one and Parker decided this morning that he was going to try the "direct to paper" inking technique with New England Ivy on my layout! As nice as it looked, I decided to change it to try to salvage my layout. He also did the "unrolling of Herma adhesive" technique which I DO NOT recommend because it gets very expensive. Anyway, after calming down and deciding not to take him to the orphanage, I was able to finish all of the projects. If you're interested in doing this workshop, prices range from $21 to $60 and all prices include shipping. You can see my CTMH website at http://www.scrappingmania.myctmh.com/ for more details!

What A Day...

2008-09-29T19:31:00.000-06:00

I had a great day today doing my Notebook workshop with Terrie and Hilary. It was nice to sit with someone else and craft! I haven't posted in a while so I thought I'd post this pop up tag that I made the other day. I'm currently working on all of my workshops for the rest of the year and should have those posted soon!

All products used are Close To My Heart:

Evensong Creative Basics Pack
Cranberry cardstock
Colonial White cardstock
Be True stamp set
Spot on Backgrounds stamp set
Christmas Scripts stamp set
Cranberry sparkles
New England Ivy Bigger Brad
Cranberry Safety Pin
Olive Ribbon

Milk Man

2008-09-24T08:46:00.000-06:00

It's really never a good idea to let Parker out of my sight but I was really fed up with him last night. I was working at my desk and knew that he had gone upstairs. I could hear him moving around in the kitchen doing something. So finally after about 3 minutes, I decided to go and check on him (he's been known to put things besides bread in the toaster and cook them) and this is what I found! He had taken every milk carton out of the fridge and lined them up (ever so neatly) on the bench. I guess he was thirsty...

Donations are now being accepted...

2008-09-22T15:07:00.000-06:00

Well, it finally happened yesterday. My computer bit the big one (can I have a small rendition of Taps please?). Not only did it bite the big one, but just before it did, I told my husband that I really needed to backup my files and pictures because I hadn't done it in a while. Word to the wise, if you say or think something like that, always act on it immediately. Anyway, I'm taking it in to see if there is anything that can be done but I may just have to bite the bullet and get a new one which was not, up until now, on my priority list. For now, I will have to share a computer with my husband so I may be a bit quiet for a while. Donations for my new computer can be made out to Katie Vaughan. Thank you for your support.

Pinwheels!

2008-09-18T09:00:00.000-06:00

I hope anyone that's close to my age will appreciate this post. Yesterday I was making this pinwheel spinner card and the whole time I was making it, I had that pinwheel song stuck in my head. Do you remember that show on Nickelodeon called Pinwheel? Anyway, I went onto YouTube and found this video of the opening of the show! I really don't remember it being so scary and I'm really glad this isn't what my kids have to watch today!

The card is made with the following products:

Close To My Heart

Perfect Day Paper Packet

Colonial White Cardstock

Cocoa Cardstock

Cocoa Ribbon

White Daisey Rubons -Love Letter

Chocolate Rubons - Love Letter

Sparkles

Juniper Brad

Stampin-Up Window Punch

Snowflake View Master Card

2008-09-17T09:03:00.000-06:00

These view master cards are super fun to make. My friend and I actually made some for my baby shower a couple of years ago and they turned out really cute. Anyway, all products are CTMH including the new Aspen paper packet and the Feathery Flakes stamp set. The tag is made from the same stamp set and a circle charm with a hole punched through it. You just turn the dial on the side of the card and the snowflakes "fall". Fun stuff! Sorry about the blurry pictures but my camera has been giving me fits lately. I'm going to have to get a new one soon...the problem will be convincing my husband! Have a great day!

Pocket Notes Purse

2008-09-16T16:55:00.000-06:00

Well, this Pocket Notes Purse is my latest project! It was so fun and easy to make. All products are CTMH including my new favorite paper packet, Notebook! I also used the new rubons on the Dimensional Elements Fresh Shapes. Fun, fun....who will I give this to? Hmm....

October Layout Workshop...

2008-09-13T17:44:00.000-06:00

Hard to see but the title actually says "Count your many blessings".
I LOVE this Shining Star stamp set! I think it's my new favorite!
This layout uses the new Color Ready Alphabet and Embroidery Floss.

Here is the layout workshop that I will be hosting next month on October 10th at my open crop at Missouri River Manor. All products are CTMH including the Notebook paper packet from the new Fall/Winter idea book. The pictures are of my friend Shauna's beautiful little girl Charlee. This layout can easily be adapted to fit a boy by just flipping the pink paper over to the blue side. Fun, fun, fun!

Out of the Mouth of Connor...

2008-09-09T17:16:00.000-06:00

Connor (age 7) said something that I found completely amusing today...he said that when he grows up that his wife isn't going to tell him what to do. I told him that I would remind him of this conversation after he was married. I also learned about his career aspirations. He says that he wants to be a Carney (sp?). Then he asked me what that was and I told him that it was someone who traveled and worked with the carnival. He thinks that will be cool. I REALLY hope that he changes his mind before he accepts that job! I guess we won't have to worry too much about the wife thing if he ends up in the carnival!

School Introduction Project

2008-09-07T20:16:00.001-06:00

I decided that with 400 new 7th graders starting at Michael's school, he might get lost in the crowd. So, I thought I'd make these little introduction cards to give to his teachers at the open house that the school is having on Tuesday. They were tons of fun to make and I finally got my sewing machine out and used it! I even threaded it all by myself (if you don't know me, that's a HUGE deal). Anyway, all products are Close To My Heart including the Free Spirit paper packet.

Thought of the Day...

2008-09-04T20:42:00.001-06:00

Today I was just in the mood to do a "deep clean" of the kitchen. We're talking...really clean! I got the toothbrush out and soaped and scrubbed the tops of the cabinets and mopped the floor by hand. I washed the baseboards and the chair railing. Anyway, it only took me 4 hours (haha) but now it's sparking clean. While I was cleaning, Michael asked me "is there a special occasion" and Connor asked who was coming over. Hmm...do you think this means that I need to "deep clean" more often?!

New Layout

2008-09-01T18:40:00.000-06:00

Well, since it is Labor Day, I decided to sit down and do a layout for myself! This layout is based on my last blog entry "What A Guy". I used the CTMH new workshop-on-the-go, Perfect Day layout guide. The paper under the "M" is a faux suede that I leard from Nona Davenport's blog (THANKS NONA!). It's done with liquid applique and re-inker. Enjoy!

*all products used are Close To My Heart.

What A Guy!

2008-08-29T08:29:00.000-06:00

While I was driving home from Fairfield last night, a song came up on my ipod that always makes me think of Michael. I just wanted to say a little bit about him today since I think he gets a little lost in the shuffle of my crazy home. Michael is an awesome young man. You may not know it from the outside but he is one of the strongest people I know. We will always have a special bond, even beyond the normal mother/son relationship, because of the hard times we went though four years ago. When Eric (my husband, Michael's dad) passed away, we were suddenly thrust into different rolls within our small family. Michael, fortunately and unfortunately, grew up very quickly that day. He was my rock and I was his. The night that his father died, I was laying in bed trying to sleep, but not having much success, and little Michael (8 at the time) came into my bed and told me that he thought I'd be lonely because Daddy wasn't there. He is such a special kid. He is the one that will do chores and homework without complaining. He has compassion for everyone and all animals. He has not once complained to me that he doesn't get the things he wants. He is grateful for what he has and I am grateful that he appreciates what he has. He is quick as a whip and gets jokes that would even fly over the heads of adults. I am so excited to see where his life leads him. I know that there are great blessings in store for him.

First Day Of School

2008-08-27T09:15:00.000-06:00

Well, it has finally arrived! Time to PARTY! I sent my children off to their first day of school today. Their backpacks were packed with fresh school supplies and they were sporting their new school clothes. I can't believe that Michael is starting middle school today. I'm starting to feel old (don't laugh!). I felt so bad for him last night because he just couldn't get to sleep. We sent the kids to bed at 9:00 and he still wasn't asleep by midnight. He finally came in and slept on the floor in my room but I think he's going to be dragging today. Here are some pictures of Michael and Connor on the first day of school!

Fall Cleaning and Rock Band

2008-08-23T08:54:00.000-06:00

So, you may be asking yourself "what does Fall cleaning and rock band have to do with each other'? Well, since Jeff and I got married three years ago, we have never gone completely through our stuff to clean out what we have duplicates of and what we don't need. My goal is to be able to fit the car in the garage this winter so I decided that we needed a little "Fall cleaning". We got rid of TONS of stuff and had three or four carloads of stuff that went to the Salvation Army. We decided to go through all of our cds and dvds to see what we had doubles of and ones that we didn't want anymore and take them to trade in at Hastings. I felt bad for the poor guy at Hastings because we had so many that it took him literally an hour to go through all of it. We actually ended up with $300 in credit!! The kids have been bugging me to purchase the game Rock Band, but I certainly wasn't going to dish out $170 for a game! So, since we had credit, I decided that it was ok to do that. It is sooooo funny to watch the kids play this game! It actually might even be $170 worth of funny! Even Parker wants to get in on the action. Here are some pictures of the kids (and when I say kids, I'm including my husband in that) playing Rock Band.

Our Dinner Discovery

2008-08-19T19:46:00.000-06:00

Last weekend, we had to move our cat dishes inside from the garage because we are thinking that there is another cat in the neighborhood that has discovered the food. Well, this is the scene that I came across last night before I went to bed. It seems that Parker wanted to share his Apple Jacks with the cats! Needless to say, they didn't care for the apple flavored cereal. I think they would have preferred it chicken flavored!

Gotta Love A Mini Album!

2008-08-14T10:25:00.000-06:00

I got this pattern from my new friend (and Convention roomie) Stacy. Thanks for sharing with me!

*products used for this album are Evensong paper packet, Olive cardstock (cs), Cranberry cs, New England Ivy cs, Sorbet cs, Colonial White cs, CTMH fonts cd volume 1, photo hangers, sparkles and ribbon.

Cookie Book 'Peez'

2008-08-12T09:46:00.001-06:00

I'm a horrible mother. Ok, maybe horrible it too strong a word for this. I'm not one of those mothers that always has fresh baked cookies ready for her kids. In fact, I don't think I've baked cookies since December. For Christmas, my mother-in-law gave me a BIG cookie cookbook (was that a hint or what?) and told me all about how fun these recipes looked. Well, she was right, the recipes DO look fun and the pictures look delicious. My son, Parker, started pointing to the cookbook shelf and saying "peez" (his word for please). I finally figured out that he wanted to LOOK at the cookie cookbook. He loves to look at the pictures in the book and he takes his finger and puts it on the picture and then puts his finger in his mouth and says "mmm". I guess it's the next best thing to homemade cookies, right?

Treasure Life

2008-08-11T16:32:00.000-06:00

Well, the creativity from Convention is still flowing. This is a card I made today using the September Stamp of the Month, Treasure Life. I'm sending these off for a swap with other consultants. The colors are Hollyhock, Crystal Blue, Desert Sand and Bamboo.

Operation Smile

2008-08-09T12:50:00.000-06:00

While I was at the CTMH Convention, we found out that CTMH is now making Operation Smile our exclusive charity. We were privileged to meet and hear from the selfless founders of this wonderful charity. Dr. William Magee, a plastic surgeon and his wife Kathleen, a nurse and social worker, started back in 1982 traveling to the Phillipines on a volunteer basis to help children that were born with cleft lips and palates. They are amazing people who have helped change literally thousands of children's lives for the better. On average, it is only about $250 and a 45 minute operation to repair a deformity of this kind. I was so touched by what I saw and heard that I've made a commitment to help at least 2 children have this operation this year. I will now be offering a make-and-take at all of my gatherings and clubs that my customers can make for a small donation to Operation Smile. I made this little box to collect the donations. I hope you'll climb on board with me and help change a child's life.

Outside the Box

2008-08-07T11:34:00.000-06:00

Ok, this totally wasn't my idea but I just LOVED it so I'm stealing it! haha! Who would have thought that these clear blocks that I've been using for years could also become these beautiful frames??!! I'm going to be offering this as a workshop but I'm still figuring out the details. I made this one for my BFF, Shauna. This is her daughter Charlee on her 1st birthday. I used one of CTMH's new paper packets (Perfect Day), rubons, clear buttons and liquid glass. These are going to make great Christmas presents for my family (ooohh, I hope none of them read this).

Thanks a Melon

2008-08-05T19:58:00.000-06:00

You know what it's like going shopping on the day after Thanksgiving? You know the feeling of the eye daggers in your back when you've picked up the last Tickle Me Elmo and there was another lady reaching for the same thing? Well that's what it was like in my cyber store today. CTMH had a crazy good sale on stamp set, paper packet and embellishments. I had a few of my customer's having a hard time shopping and then not getting what they wanted but I think all in all they ended up happy. For those of you who maybe didn't get what you want....it's ok...just save your money for all the cool NEW stuff that's coming next month! For those of my customer's that were able to make a purchase online, I made these cute little cards to send them. I left them blank inside so that they could use them again but I just wanted to say to these special people...THANKS A MELON for your business!

The Big 2

2008-07-27T08:55:00.001-06:00

Well, I talked to my sister on the phone last night and we were totally missing eachother. She knows that my boys are growing, especially Parker, so I told her that I'd post these pictures of his birthday from last month. We had so much fun with his birthday this year because he actually knew what was going on and dug into his presents! So here he is.....the big 2!

Fair Time in Montana

2008-07-26T17:17:00.001-06:00

Here is the other layout that was up for Best Of Show at the fair. It so happens that the final two were between myself and myself. I love this layout too. Fun stuff!

Fair Time in Montana

2008-07-26T17:06:00.000-06:00

Well, we had a busy week this past week. My husband's (Jeff) brother and sister-in-law and their family came to visit for the week from Utah. We had a wonderful time together and wish that they would move here so that we could spend more time together. Geri (my sister-in-law) and DiAnn (my mother-in-law) and I went antique shopping. I found tons of things that I'd love to have but can't afford (big sigh) but we had a great time anyway.

On Wednesday, Geri and I went over to the fairgrounds to watch the judging on the scrapbooking. I had entered 7 layouts in the fair and I wanted to see how sat with the judges. Well, I ended up getting 5 first places, 1 second place, and 1 3rd place PLUS I won overall BEST OF SHOW! Yea! Here is the layout that won best of show.

2008-07-09T17:10:00.001-06:00

I made this layout as part of a monthly challenge. This was the first layout that I've ever made of myself! It was tons of fun and I think I'll have to make more of my childhood. The title refers to the fact that my parents had tried for years to conceive until finally I came along! I used all Close To My Heart products including the Boom-Di-Ada paper packet and dimentional elements letters. Fun stuff!

2008-07-09T12:46:00.001-06:00

Well, I'm new at this blogging thing so I'm not really sure what I'm doing but I'm going to give it a shot! Today we have all of the boys here at the house. Needless to say....it's been a rowdy day! I just put Parker down for a nap so I have a bit of time to play around on here before I get to my other household duties!