A Little Ditty I like to call My Life....

(To be sung to the tune of Chop Sticks)

I woke up and got up and went to the bathroom,
Then gathered my supplies and made a felt puppet.
The kids are all snickering, then they are bickering,
Can't you all just get a-long?

The dishes are growing the dog is enjoying the food that was left out AGAIN last night.
I don't know why I am the only one qualified, but I'm too tired to put up a fight.

Dora is singing, I'm once again winging my way to a full blown anxiety attack.
Classes to get done, and I've only begun, the monkey won't get off my back.
The Video's not working, the telephone is ringing, it's my darling daughter to say there's a meeting,
Of parents and 3rd graders singing and acting...the Thanksgiving program is starting real soon!

So off I go... support my 3rd grader, cause it's important and, pphhhhfff, well who cares?
The dishes and projects and those obligations will keep catching me un-awares....

So I once again, get my video going, the babies are sleeping, the dog is annoying me
With his darn whining and destructive nature, Call Boxer Rescue (or the meat packing plant)
I breathe and chant my de-stressing mantra, I'll tackle this day just a bite at a time....
I have to finish this assignment before I can make it in line (to the movies with my honey).

And then after viewing the lastest creation of worldwide destruction, a hit in the nation,
I'll go home and stare at the wall till I fall asleep.....wake up and start it all over again.

Time To Stand UP and be Heard

It's that time again (well, it was that time a while ago, but you know how it is....)

What's happening in my home......

In my kitchen....I bought myself a new tart pan for my birthday, and have been having fun making new things with it.  This one is an Apple Tart with a Reduced Apple Glaze....this was YUMMY.  I've also done a Pear Tart with Raspberry Glaze.
I've been channeling Julia Child lately.  I want to make yummy beautiful things.
I have "Plan Thanksgiving Dinner" on my lists of things to do, and am so busy, that I've been putting it off.  I've got to get to it soon! That being said, I've cleared almost everything off my ONE workspace in the kitchen...nothing has a permanent home there anymore and I LOVE that. Makes my kitchen feel cleaner than it did before.  Not that it IS clean....still working on that part....

In my marriage......
Lightbulb moments all over the place in the last couple of weeks.  The biggest one is that Loving someone doesn't have ANYTHING to do with whether or how they love you back.  This has been an important concept for me :) And it's something that I have to remind myself of every day. And that things that are difficult for us, often provide us with an opportunity for growth.
Speaking of Mario, he's enjoying his new job...he really feels valued and that's important.

With the Children.....

Sophia tried out and was invited to be on Club Utah's Elite Volleyball Team (they've been to Junior Olympics the last two years, so it's a great, if not expensive, opportunity).  We made lists of things for family home evening this week.  One side was things we might like for Christmas, the other side was a LONGER list of things we were thankful for.  She listed that she was thankful for young women leaders who kept bugging her to do what she KNEW she was supposed to do....I was shocked....and so impressed with her list....she could have listed so MANY things, but she chose that.

Alanna has been sick alot this past month.  Mostly headaches, which seem to stem from separation anxiety.  She feels that "six hours and fifteen minutes" is too long for her to be away from me.
We had tons of fun  making and decorating our traditional Halloween cookies....Alanna likes to get VERY involved in her work, and was covered from head to toe by the time we finished.

 Isabelle said to me the other day, "Mom, when I grow up will  you tell me all the secrets?"  I replied, "sure, Isa.....what secrets are those?" To which she said, "You know, all the secrets about how to be a good mom."  Wow, did that make me feel good...she obviously thinks I know them, LOL.  She helped make Apple Muffins the other day, and asked me yesterday how to sew on a button...which I showed her....since she was little she's talked about being a mom, and I think she'll be a great mom and homemaker.  Unlike her mom who is a SHE (side-tracked home executive), Isa is BO (born organized)..  She'll be awesome.

Ellie....She's gotten 100% on every spelling test she's taken so far this year.  I'm so pleased...and she's reading James and the Giant Peach.  It just thrills me that my kids are such fantastic readers...not that I can take any direct credit for it...it's not like I worked with them since they were little, but we do like to read. She is an interesting kid.  So independent, and at the same time, so attached at the hip.  She is doing AWESOME at her piano practicing. I think she's got a real ear for music.

I'm trying to do better at spending quality time with the little girls while the bigger ones are at school.  I decided to tell them a story about Noah..I thought "I think I can remember all the details."  So I commenced to tell them about how Heavenly Father told Noah to build a boat, and so Noah did, and then he put 2 of every animal on the boat..a boy and a girl...and then Heavenly Father told Noah to get his family on the boat and it started to rain.  And it rained for 40 days and 40 nights and Noah and his family were safe on the boat. And then one day it stopped.  And Noah sent a dove out several times until the bird brought back a tree branch, and Noah knew that they could leave the boat.  The End.  And Gabby turns to me and says, "Mom, you forgot about the Rainbow!" ......duh...

Sammie has been potty training...and when she does well, she turns to me and says, "Mom, you happy?" and I say "Yes, I'm happy!"  This started because at one point she wasn't even trying, and I said, "Sammie, when you don't go on the potty it makes me so SAD."  For the next week, she had almost NO accidents...and each time she went, she made sure that I was happy with her progress :)
As I'm posting this, she's saying..."Look, that's ME, in my beautiful costume," and flapping her "wings."

Around the homestead....
Still mucking out one things at a time.  It's slow going, (especially this week!...but more on that later), but I'm trying.  I'm making plans for a wonderful "Day after Thanksgiving"....we'll have a special breakfast, shop for our ornaments...our tradition is to let the kids pick out a new one each year....and decorate the tree.  This will all need to happen before the Family Photos scheduled for that afternoon, and the festivities planned afterwards with the extended fam.

My business.......
I am developing classes for Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine, and the first one begins on Monday....it's been a good opportunity to stretch and grow, and find new abilities. It's also been stressful.  I could have used more time to get it done, but my editor wanted it done yesterday, so I've been moving a LOT faster than I'm comfortable with, in addition to working alot more than I like to lately. But I'm excited about it.  If you want to see my intro, you can check it out HERE.



My Inner Man.....
I had the opportunity to attend "Time Out for Women" with my mom and some of my sisters.  What an enlightening and spiritual experience.  There were many tears as I listened to the presenters, and moments when we were rolling on the floor.  It was truly therapeutic and I learned so much about myself as a woman and Daughter of God.  Answers to things I'd struggled with for YEARS, with regards to my roll as a woman and Mom....I hope to get the chance to go again...it was life-changing, and hopefully I can maintain my momentum.

It's calling to me....

I get this newsletter that has this in it, and since it reminded me, I'm going to post again...feeling very productive this week!

What’s happening in my home?…………….
In my kitchen…trying to organize, create a launch pad, and figure out dinner....left-overs are screaming to be used, but the fam will be screaming about left-overs..what a dilemma.
With our marriage…realized that although I've been worrying about the kind of woman I could be if my spouse loved me the way I need to be loved, I SHOULD be thinking about the kind of man HE could be if I loved HIM better.....
With the children.. Needing to schedule some one on one time with each of them....having some issues with a few of them....one's got "divatude," one's having trouble with telling the truth, and one potty training....the other three are about normal...
Around the homestead… very, very slowly reclaiming my home from the clutter and chaos.  Got a shelf, cupboard, and counter cleaned in the kitchen this morning, and all the books put in a locked cabinet, because the dog devours them...literally, and got my room vacuumed and the shelf cleaned off...yeah!  Baby steps, but still steps!
In my “Inner Man”…..Realized that LOVING doesn't have a thing to do with whether or not we are loved in return....a-ha!

Feelin' good.

Found this fun little run down...thought I'd try it.

Two posts in 3 days...I KNOW. But I found this little ditty and decided to give it a try....




What’s happening in my home……?

In my kitchen…Yesterday was cornbread, cream-filled spiderweb frosted cupcakes (courtesy of Sophie), pumpkin shaped sugar cookies, decorated with candy corn and chocolate chips...Oooh, I'll have to post photos! Today's fast sunday, so nothing going at the moment....


With our marriage…mmmm, we spent some time working together yesterday....


With the children… ... dressed up "halloween" for school Friday morning, for the neighborhood trunk-or-treat Friday evening, and again Saturday after noon for the traditional Trick or Treating..(ugh :) Wish we could all get it done and over with in one night....

Around the homestead… mouse infestation in the garage...began cleaning out and setting traps...checked the 72 hour kits, and although walked on (yuck) there was no evidence of them getting inside, thank goodness. THEN somebody got a bee in his bonnet because the buddy neighbor was laying some cement on the sides of his driveway so he didn't have to park on the grass anymore, and since we've been talking about putting cement in on the north side because it's always a swamp in the summer, all of a sudden it had to happen NOW....spent the rest of the day until TOT time, prepping that mess!

In my “Inner Man” ....Read my scriptures most days this week, and to Gabby and Samm, too.....that's progress.


Thanks for indulging me...

I know, I know.....

I feel so guilty! I struggle to keep up, and this blog gets forgotten....

Updates?  Mario found a job in September...he likes it and they like him.  It works out good.
Sophia (or Sophie as she calls herself this year) is wrapping up the volleyball season....first year of a BRAND NEW HIGH SCHOOL!  and they're going to state championships in volleyball next weekend!!  I'm so proud of her...she's grown by leaps and bounds.

Alanna is working away at spanish, and piano.  All the kids have been sick with colds this week (thank heaven not swine flu) and have been home from school, so we have some catching up to do.

Isabelle is so funny! She "designed" a cat costume for Halloween and it was really well thought out. She is taking piano also and loves it.

Elizabeth...the perpetual princess.  She is fun....growing so much and becoming such a good reader....she's a sweet little thing.

Gabby....loves to help me cook and read.  She asked me to sing the angel song from Christmas this afternoon as we were preparing for naps...I finally figured out she meant "Angels We Have Heard On High".   I've only sung it 7 times since then....and pulled out a Christmas CD so she could listen to it there. She asked me what "forgive" meant the other day...she's just three, and I was surprised.

Sammie...she's is a little spitfire.  But a good-natured one. The other day I was cooking and started tapping my forehead, saying "thinking, thinking" and she said, "I know, Mom!" and I said 'You do?' and she said "yep, Van Gogh".....then she laughed and said "I'm so funny." You gotta love that.

I've had some new opportunities come my way recently...I'm still designing and selling my products online, and recently began contributing to an online magazine.  You can see my latest article HERE. It's a fun area that I'm enjoying exploring.

I wish I could say that I'll get better at updating, but really, I'm sure it won't be long before I'm lost again, trying to keep my head above water. But I can say I'll try :)

Fasten your seatbelt...it's gonna be a long ride....

Ok, first of all, I have to offer a disclaimer.....this is going to be long, and it's not going to be chronological....the photos are not going to be retouched (cause if I take time to retouch, or put them in order, I'll never get this posted and I need it to get it off my back.) So basically, you take my post, like you have to take me right now...AS-IS, with no warranty, implied or otherwise.

This first pic is of my kiddos. We were in St. George (more on that later) and my friend and fellow designer, Alisha of One Memory At A Time, took some AWESOME pictures of our family...they turned out fantastic! THANK YOU, Alisha!!! It was not easy to find a field of wildflowers on the only weekend in spring break history that St. George saw snow (I don't really know if it's the ONLY one), but she did.

This is the same kiddos running through the field....they had a really great time!


This is a layout of the devil dog (Van Gogh)...he was a major deterrent to the success of our garden this year. Happily, he's in obedience classes now, and we're seeing SOME progress.


Sammie, helping herself (a regular thing). She's going to be two in September. She loves, LOVES to sing...her favorites are I am a Child of God, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Jesus Loves Me...she can sing them beginning to end, and it's fun to hear her little lisp.


Here's Isa...on Easter. She's lost both of her front teeth since then, so she looks a little different. Haven't gotten a pic of that yet...but I should. Maybe tomorrow..it's a BIG picture taking day for me, so hopefully I'll get that one in. She's fun and STILL my best worker. She's funny and most of the time a real JOY to be around.


We celebrated Samuel Owen's Birthday this year with a Birthday Party. The kids and I made cupcakes and talked about him...wondering what he'd look like, how old he'd be, etc. It was a nice way to remember him.


This is from our visit to St. George. Our very first FAMILY VACATION. WOW. It was fun...stressful, but fun. Of course, you know me...all about the scenery, but I thought this one was particularly amazing.


Gabby on Memorial Day. Loved the angle on this one...too bad she always has a runny nose...poor kid. She's graduated into DEFINITE 3 year old antics, but she's still so much fun and one of my best buds.


Visiting the Cemetary....


Ellie and Dad preparing the garden. We actually increased our garden size this year...we're 4x as big as we were last year...unfortunately the dog ate our first 2 attempts, so we got stuff in late and we'll see how it goes...next year we'll do better (we've finally put up fencing around it, LOL.


Alanna was in a big Spanish Immersion Dance Festival the end of May...Isn't she pretty? She did a GREAT job dancing and it was fun to watch her....unfortunately I didn't get a good pic of her dancing...Mario got stuck at work, and so I had two little ones on my lap while I was trying to take pictures.


A reminder each evening of the presence of a higher being. I am SO grateful for the beginnings and the endings. Sometimes they really keep me going.


Gabby and Ellie celebrated their 3rd and 6th birthdays. They went to dinner with mom and dad and had cupcakes with the cousins the following Sunday.


Sometimes I can be grateful that they don't look like me.


Mario and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary in April. He took me to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point, where we walked around and took pictures...lots of fun!


Part of our stay in St. George was spent in Zion's National Park...the first time there for all of us. We hiked the Pa'rus Trail...the only one that allows strollers and dogs. The kids had a wonderful time, and I was just grateful that I wasn't the one ready to turn back first.


Van Gogh made a friend on the Pa'rus Trail...Dakota. Van Gogh is the one sporting a bandana.


Again at Zions....Aren't they cute?


This is Mel and Ellie....Mel's fam and ours went to the park while they were here in May. I know Mel is really hard on her "suitability" as a mom....but I have to say...How many moms would do this???? Certainly not me..so KUDOS to MEL!


I don't think I really need to explain this....those of you who know her, won't need any explanation.


The girls on easter....where is Sophia? She's pulling a "don't take MY picture".


Some kids play Legos, some kids play sports. My kids play Statue of Liberty, LOL....they all took turns this day dressing up as Lady Liberty. So funny.


Van Gogh is no longer this little puppy. He's 50 lbs at last check and a LUG...but a lovable one.


A beginning, for which I'm continually thankful.


Sophia went to Prom in May, and although the wedding has been cancelled, she got some good pics out of it.



WOW! Thanks for hanging in here this long.

Me? I'm still selling my Digital scrapbooking products and keeping the homefires burning. Well, ok, they burn out every once in a while, but I'm doing better most of the time.
One last note. Anybody know of a good job anywhere? Mario was "let go" on Tuesday rather suddenly. We're lookin' if anybody knows of anything.

LOVE you all!

Time to update again, I know....can't seem to keep up, but I'm hoping that some recent changes will make a difference. This is Alanna....Mario chose flowers for each of the girls for Valentine's day, telling them qualities of the flowers that reminded him of them (thanks to an AWESOME idea from the Achievement Days Leaders in our ward.) Alanna received the Hawaiian Hibiscus...she's exotic, unique flower, whose red petals symbolize courage to the country of Malaysia where it reins as the national flower. Alanna is a little mama to the younger girls....I appreciate all her help when things are crazy!


Isa was given Plumeria, a fragrant and beautiful flower....it escapes me at the moment why Mario chose that particular one for her.....She's doing really well in school, and other than the occasional whiny spell, is a real fun girl to have around.


Mario chose the Orchid for Ellie, because he said the flower reminded him of a princess...and that's what Ellie is. She's growing alot right now. We've had some teaching opportunities lately, and hope the lessons are embedding themselves in her heart and mind. She's a sweet girl.

Gabby...my fearless girl. She received a Day Lily for VTDay, but I thought this photo of her doing the bunny hop was so funny, I decided to include it instead. She's been obsessed with bearing her testimony lately, and the two "in church" attempts have failed miserably. She's been practicing at night with Ellie, while they're supposed to be sleeping, and said to me the other night when I was tucking her in, "Mom, I'm ready to bear my testimony." I said, "ok, let me hear it!" and she did! It was 5 or 6 sentences long, and very impressive for a kid of 2 1/2. It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for her!


Mario gave Sophia an Amaryllis because the bloom easily and boldly. That definitely describes Sophia. She's been working out with the track team, working towards getting her driving permit, and preparing to turn in an application for her first real job! It's CRAZY having a 16 year old. She's a good girl and has been an amazing help during this nutso time.


Then there's Sammie Joy. Sunshine in it's purest form. I can't keep her in the house...she slips out every chance she gets. Her vocabulary is pretty impressive...her most used expressions lately are "no," "it's mine," "pen da dough" (open the door) which she screams whenever she wants anything from the door to a bag opened. She says her prayers now, which is a fun thing...and is doing some of her business on the potty. What a girl!


Van Gogh is big, he's huge, he's chewing on everything! He's done pretty well at learning not to jump on people, at least until they talk to him, and then he considers them free game. We weighed him the other day and he was just shy of 30 lbs. We got him 7 weeks ago at 5 lbs...AMAZING!



This is Mario rocking Van Gogh to sleep. Unfortunately, recently, they've hit a speed bump in their relationship. Van Gogh had been naughty and had been disciplined, and when Mario went to pick him up to take him to his kennel for the night, Van Gogh snapped at his face. Mario was pretty mad. I don't know if they'll recover, but I hope so, cause I'm tired of being the go between for them.

Me? Well, I came to a hard decision this past week, and decided to close 2 of my stores down, and remain exclusively at GoDigitalScrapbooking. It will mean 1/3 of the time spent advertising, and 1/3 of the stress. I'm kinda looking forward to that. Now that I've actually made the decision, I'm wondering why I didn't come to it earlier. The picture of Gabby is made with my most recent release, My Heart Sings, which was used this week for the 4th and Final round in the Supreme Team contest. Mario, Van Gogh and Sophia's pictures are made with Lil' Dreamer, which I think has been my highest grossing kit so far. Anyway, I love designing. I love having things come together, and seeing what people can do with them. And the money doesn't hurt either.

I'm kinda a hermit right now...probably the anxiety stuff, but I sure appreciate all those who keep up with us through this blog, and bless us with their love, friendship and support! You are loved and THANK YOU for being YOU!