It's a wonderful life - journal for '08

This was so fun to make! A few tags, a coaster from Disney, blank cards, and old envelopes later.....

Quote of the Week

"I got my eyes checked at school and I could see all the letters, even the smallest row! The lady said, Wow! you see so good that I bet you could even see around corners"

Zachary, 7

November 29, 2007

Dear Mike

I wint to my grama's house for Thankgiving. I ate mash ptado with grave, an corn, and terike. After I ate dinner I had a Fat boy. It is like a ice crem sowich. Thin I played a game with my gramy.

Your Frend

Zak

P. S. Mom, don't read the stuff in my backpack! ;)

Journal Book - a work in progress

I'm having fun working on this journal book for '08. My front cover still needs a title and some bling. I tore out the guts of a comp. book and used that as my cover piece.

The inside pages are stamped and embellished with some of my favorite papers and tags.

It will be great to start the new year with a new book for journaling.

:) reen

I remember ....tiny boots at my door

How quickly he's grown from tiny boy to young school boy. We used to go "puddle hunting" together. We used to spin and jump in the rain. It was messy, but I let him and brother scream and squeek and laugh outside in the mud..in the rain. I cherish the memories of our days at home together....those days when they were little and left "tiny boots at my door".

:)

15 Years of Service

My Richie was honored last night at the Company Party for his 15 years of service. He was given a beautiful Waterford Crystal eagle that has a mohogany stand and is engraved with his name and 15 years of service.

Every year they go over the top with his Co. Party and this year was no exception. It was a Hawaiian theme. The night began when we were greeted with beautiful orchid leis that were shipped in from Hawaii. We were entertained by Hawaiian dancers with traditional cultural song and dance from Hawaii. It was a really beautiful evening. The party committe really captured the look and feel of Hawaii with all of the decorations, music, dancing.

The owners got VERY nervous when the dancers came out with fire torches!!! They were quickly escorted off stage, as we were all sitting under the "fire sprinklers"! Whew! Thank goodness those didn't get set off! All the other dances were really quite beautiful and we went on to have a very nice dinner and enjoy the awards, without incident. It was a beautiful evening.

So guess where I want to go for a vacation? Hawaii! I think it must be a beautiful place and a lovely culture. I hope we get to go one day, I know I would love it. Until then, I'm sure thankful for last night, such a nice evening out and a little taste of the islands.

Aloha!

Check out my Slide Show!

Simple Scraplift

In a typical day :

I will go to my job and work a few hours, pick up kids, do homework, fix dinner, clean dishes, fold laundry, scrub counters, read to kids, check the mail, hug a boy, talk to hubby.........you know the routine. When and how do I make time for my hobby? by keeping it simple...by borrowing a design :) Yes! I can still enjoy some "me" time and scrap. This simple LO lifted from a Designing with calendar.

art journal fun

I blew the dust off of my art journal that I started back in February. I know it's been a totally busy year with my getting back into the work force, but seeing all those blank pages in my art journal made me realize that my focus has not been on creating. Well, this weekend I changed all that and packed a tote and supply bucket and headed to the cabin.

This is a tiny bit of what I did during my own personal little cabin crop.

The bird card is actually a $10 off coupon from Target....after I used it I thought ..."oh shoot, am I going to wish I had that when I get to the checkout line"? nah! I just loved the little bird and it was prefect for my own personal quote:

"the best wings in life are those that are rediscovered"

The page with the little house?? well the house was made out of a Starbucks sleeve, turned inside out. The little grass is made out of cut felt flowers. The quote I made up says,

"home is where we hang our heart".....hence the giant heart.

kinda quirky?? Maybe! but pretty fun to just create for the sake of playing in this old art journal again.

Quote of the Week....

"God has blessed me with so many wonderful things in my life and I will spend my entire life trying to figure out why...."

Carrie Underwood - CMA Awards 2007 Female Vocalist of the Year

Game Day Central

There's just something fun and special about going back to my old stoppin' grounds at Fresno State. Hearing the school song, watching the band play, and even 2 B-1 Bombers flying over head. Exciting times!! Just being on the college campus instantly takes me back to my college days and the feelings of fun, excitement, and spirit come flooding back. We got free pom poms at the entrance and had such a good time cheering on the Bulldogs!

We always take the opportunity when we are on campus to stress to our boys the importance of going to college. The importance of going back as an Alumni and supporting our school. I think they get the idea that we expect them to go to college.

I'd love for them to become Bulldoggies and go to Fresno State someday, but Rich has bigger dreams for them to go to Stanford, USC, or an Ivy league school. I don't even want to think about them leaving for college yet! I'm glad that Rich dreams big for them, they need a Dad that can give them the confidence that they can succeed.

I want to enjoy them just a few more short years before they make that big step. I know it will happen all too soon for me, but for today we enjoy our Alma Mater...Fresno State!

Go Dogs!!

Red Vine anyone?

A Halloween Day in our Life!

Our Halloween Day went something like this......


6-7:30 Breakfast, pack chips, candy, punch...backpacks and get ready for school/work

7:30 - 7:45 Commute to School and talk about our plan to Trick or Treat later

7:45-8:01 Commute to Work

8:01-noon Work, work, work

Noon-12:20 Commute/park at school for parties

12:20-1:00 Enjoy Zak and helping at his Party

1:00-1:30 Enjoy Matthew and his friends at their Halloween Party

1:30-1:45 Commute Home

1:45-2:00 Relax/unwind and kick off the shoes

2:00-3:00 Homework hr.

3:00-3:15 Press the costumes and find the Halloween buckets





3:15-4:00 Laundry/Chores

4:00-4:30 Carve Pumpkins and take pictures

4:30-5:00 Prepare a simple Dinner

5:00-5:30 Dad Comes home / Eat Dinner/ Get costumes on run around our neighborhood

5:30-5:45 Commute to Gramas

5:45-6:00 Visit Grama and Trick or Treat at a couple of her neighbors

6:00-6:15 Commute to Jen's

6:15-6:40 Take pictures and help kids get costumes on

6:40-7:30 Trick or Treat with Friends

7:30-8:00 Commute Home

8:00-8:30 Get the little Aliens in bed and finally relax :)

I don't think I would change a thing about Halloween....it was the perfect, busy, fun day!

Creative Energy and a cute Baby!!

Two things that make me happy: 1. Scrapbooking 2. Holding a new baby

About once a week, I have been allowing myself time to play and enjoy what I love.......scrapbooking! I look forward to the total escape that I feel when I get a chance to create. Feels good to just release the stress and anxiety from my work life, Mommy life, marriage and chores......etc.....think of nothing else and just have fun! It makes me happy!!

Talk about happy!!!!!....One of the highlights of my week is seeing Chase every Wednesday at Zak's football game. I love watching Zak play, but I also look forward to holding this cute baby boy and just taking him all in. I wisk him away as soon as I see him and just love on him and enjoy every second I get to hold him. He's a blessing to me!

New BMX Bike Track...

We spent yesterday afternoon at a new BMX Bike Track. It was a ton of fun for the boys, great hills and bumps to ride. They LOVED it!!

New camo helmets came in handy with Zak....he wiped out once and really knocked his head. He brushed off the dirt and jumped right back on his bike.

Such a great hangout for kids!

A day at the Fair!

It's a fun family tradition for us. We look forward to going to the fair every year. We love playing games, eating the yummy food, and enjoying all the attractions. It's always a good time!