I Don't Want to Jinx it...

but Ella is going on the potty! I was just making lunch and she called to me from upstairs: "MOM, I need to go!" I think she was always ready, it was mom that kept buying the pull-ups. The key for our dive into potty training: run out of pull-ups and be stuck at home in a blizzard. She is going for it! What a big girl...

We are saving our pennies...

OK this is what I was trying to tell you all was so important about Sept. 7th. We are going on a cruise with ALL of our friends, for Annette's 20th (x2) birthday! I know some of you were thinking that I might be pregnant, but no, we are finally taking a vacation! Yeah! Western Caribbean here we come!

Stand A Little Taller

Last night, we learned that our beloved Prophet and President of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinkley, had died. He was 97 years old, and has lived an amazing life. Pres. Hinkley has been the prophet since I was married twelve years ago. I know that there are many experiences in my life, where I have turned to his counsel and strength, to become a better person.

He will truly be missed. As I explained all of this to my kids this morning, I truly knew that he was in a better place, with his wife and loved ones. What a beautiful reunion!

This is one of my favorite quotes by him:

"In all living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."

I am going to try to enjoy life even more and look all around me at the little blessings in my life.

(photo from the NY Times)

Frozen Lipgloss...

just because you always need a picture when you post...Maren and Kirsten...
I went out to my van yesterday, to go visit a few friends, and my lips were so dry from the heat turning on every other minute at home that I needed some relief, and my lipgloss was frozen....SOLID! It is cold here, a frozen tundra is the scientific term, I think. I know I have said it before, basically to anyone that calls to talk, but it is cold, cold, cold!

I got my camera back from Sony and I don't have a picture of the 32 pages of the school yearbook that I am suppose to have finished, or the layout that I want to be working on, or the paint project that needs to get started. But I do have a lovely quote from Ella:
"I have lots of friends, huh. Avery, Hallie, Jordan, and Dana."

(Three of the four mentioned are under the age of four...the other friend, is......29?) Have a great day!
I almost forgot: Happy Birthday to my Middle Sis, Maren!

*I had to edit this post because it sounded like a bit of rambling! Hope this is better!

Two For Tuesday...

I am grateful for two things today, probably more, but I can think of 2 specifically. I received my camera back from SONY yesterday. I have not taken a picture for over 22 days, I was starting to feel withdrawls.

The second thing, is my son Christian. We had a nice afternoon together, after he had an emergency dentist appointment to have a tooth pulled. We went to lunch and leisurely walked through Barnes and Noble together looking for books. It was fun....I love him, he drives me to want to be a better mom, because I want the best for him. Love ya, buddy.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Since I am late on sending a card, this is where I am going to wish my Dad a Happy Birthday! My Dad is great, he is the reason that I LOVE books. He is an example to our entire family. We love him and he is a fantastic Grandpa. His quiet personality has always been a strength to me. I love him....Happy Birthday Dad!

**Edit: O.K...so the last picture was the most current picture I have....but I guess this is a better one?

Get to know your friend...

What time did you get up this morning? 8:00 am...I slept in! The kids are out of school
Diamonds or pearls? neither...Sterling Silver
Last movie you saw in the theater? Juno
What is your favorite TV show? Oprah & Medium
What do you usually have for breakfast? Yogurt or pancakes
What is your middle name? I don't have one
What food do you dislike? Bananas
What is your favorite CD at the moment? In the car we are listening to Ella's CD titled: Shopping...the kids love it because everyone sings and speaks with an english accent
What kind of car do you drive? Dodge Caravan
Favorite sandwich? Jimmy John's
What characteristics do you despise? manipulative, dishonest
Favorite item of clothing? Downeast Outfitters T-Shirts, Maurices' jeans
If you could go anywhere in the world for a vacation, where would you go? Somewhere with a temperature above 85 degrees and a bright, blue sky
What color is your bathroom? cream
Favorite brand of clothing? I don't really know brands but shop Target, Old Navy, and Maurices
Where would you retire? Retire??? I am just trying to make it month to month
Most memorable birthday? My Golden Birthday, when I turned 27 on July 27th.
Favorite sport to watch? Football
Favorite saying? It's All Good
When is your birthday? July 27th
Are you a morning person or a night person? Night owl
What is your shoe size? 9
Pets? None
What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher just like my 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Ostler
What are you today? a Mom, a Wife, a teacher and scrapbook designer
What is your favorite candy? black licorice, hot tamales, anything sugary
Your favorite flower? bird of paradise and gerbera daisies
What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? Sept. 7th
What are you listening to right now? kids playing Wii
What was the last thing you ate? McDonald's
Do you wish on stars? sometimes
If you were a crayon, what color would you be? brown & red
What is your pet peeve?
Last person you spoke to on the phone? Linzi
Favorite soft drink? Peach Sprite
Favorite restaurant? Anywhere I am not the cook
Hair Color? Brown with highlights
Favorite day of the year? Thanksgiving
What was your favorite toy as a child? books
Summer or winter? SUMMER
Hugs or kisses? Hugs
Chocolate or vanilla? vanilla
When was the last time you cried? Last week, I received a unexpected note in the mail.
What is under your bed? dust and a few books
Who is the friend you've had the longest? Sandee
What did you do last night? watched Underdog with the kids...
Favorite smell? pumpkin, clean, I love the smell of Aveda products
What are you afraid of? Someone coming into my house at night
How many keys on your key ring? I have no idea......
How many years at your current job? 9 years
Favorite day of the week? Saturday
How many states have you lived in? Two
Do you make friends easily?I think so...

My sister sent this to me in an email, and I have received it several times and never responded...so here is my response...

Fiskateer #2700

Just last Friday, I was telling my friend that I needed a new pair of scissors. My scrapbook scissors had recently been taken out of my scrapbook bag and put into the junk drawer so they are used to cut everyday items. We use them to open boxes, cut wire, open packages, everything! I was trying to cut something for a scrapbook project and I could tell they were pretty worn out.
So today, Sydnee brings in the mail with a box from Fiskars. Happy mail! A few months ago, I registered as a Fiskateer on their website. I was #2700. I didn't know when I registered, I would receive the cutest, orange and green Fiskar scissors ENGRAVED with my FISKATEER #! Just snipping with them sounds heavenly...
Go here to register: http://www.fiskateers.com/
Thanks Fiskars!

Saved The Best for Last...

This one just came together effortlessly...this doesn't happen very often...but I think the subject of the layout also made it very easy. This is my SIL. Since we are both married to Garner boys, and share many of the same 'life experiences', we talk almost every day.
We got some Jenni Bowlin in the store! This is one of my favorite companies for scrapbooking supplies. I like that she keeps her paper and embellishments very simple - just my style! This idea also came from my AL 2008 Calendar with a challenge to scrap some not-so-perfect photos. These two photos really tell a story...a story about some keys....locked in a Jeep ...while it was still running...

The journaling says: Sometimes the least like photos end up being your favorites...because of these pictures, we had time to enjoy a late breakfast together and catch a few more minutes...actually a few more hours together :).)

More Layouts!

This is my 2007 Christmas cards! Also, this was my first try at the trees...loved making them!
Since my daughter is obsessed with Tinkerbell...I have had this layout in my mind since the trip in November. I love remembering this moment...

Love at first Sight

I have been taking a break from NYOBC since last summer, and I had a chance to work on a few layouts for this month's book Be Mine. NYOBC is a great way to get a jump start on your creativity. After I made these three pages, I couldn't stop! I have several more scrapbook pages to show...and I am also trying to catch up to Candi and how she is sticking with the Layout A Day Challenge. Great job Candi...go over to her blog and check out all of her layouts, they are amazing.

Just a few notes: the chipboard heart on the "Love At First Sight" layout is covered with strips of ribbon. I just put some adhesive all over the heart, laid the ribbon on it, then flipped it over and trimmed off the excess. (This was an idea that I saw on my Autumn Leaves 2008 Calendar.) On the "Love Is Here" layout, I used the negative space on my letter stickers because I ran out of E's! I am always running out of letters when I try to do titles and/or journaling, so I am going to start saving the letter sticker sheet and use the negative space! (Also an idea from the Autumn Leaves 2008 Calendar) Happy Scrappping!

I've Got to Go My Own Way...

A few days ago, I was trying to get Ella out the door for a few errands. I must have said something about leaving, and she turned to me and said: "Mom, I've got to go my own way. I need to leave." If any of you are familiar with High School Musical 2, I guess Ella has been watching a little to closely the movie that Sydnee received in her Christmas stocking...

Your Vote Counts!

Last Thursday, after flying from SLC back to Iowa, I went to the Iowa Caucus. It was quite an interesting experience. I really didn't know how the process worked, but it is nothing like a regular election where you show up at your polling place sometime throughout the day, vote, and then you are out of there. Caucusing is nothing like that at all. Everyone shows up at your polling place at the same time. I was assigned to the Jr. high school and when I got there 15 minutes before 7 pm, the parking lot and side streets were packed! I had to park in the back of the school where the snow had not been plowed, I almost thought about going back home because it was a little bit frustrating and freezing, but thinking of my Cousin Daniel, who wanted a full report, I had to move forward. Once you get inside, there was a room designated for Republicans or Democrats. We all just sat in our room, but not in different areas for each campaign. I was handed a few pieces of scratch paper for voting purposes. After a representative from each campaign spoke for two minutes about why you should vote for that particular person, then we wrote down our vote and then the votes were counted. We never broke into the different groups and tried to persuade the people to vote for another person. They just took our votes and said they would call them in to the state caucus in Des Moines. Our precinct had 28 votes for Romney, 17 for Thompson, and 10 for Huckabee; the others didn't have the 15% of votes to move on. I am glad that I was able to have this experience. What is interesting about it is that it takes the anonymity out of the voting process. Typically you go in to your little booth, fill in your bubbles and walk away and nobody knows who you voted for. This is quite different because you stand in a room with all of your neighbors and everyone sees who everyone is supporting. Everyone had stickers, or met with a person that was in charge of a certain campaign within our precinct, so everyone knew who your support was for. After we were done, I wasn't stuck in the snow behind the school, and I gave my neighbors a ride home. Some would say that this was a pretty uneventful evening, but I was glad I experienced the Iowa Caucus....the beginning of the campaign for the 2008 Presidential election. Sorry Daniel, no pictures.

Book Club

Have I told you that I love reading? I have always been a reader. It all started when my older sister went to Kindergarten and learned to read. She came home and taught me to read when I was 4...I haven't stopped. Right now I have too many books that are on my list. I saw this picture in a magazine and had to post it, especially since my camera is being fixed and I can't take any cute pictures. This inspired me...I would love to have this many books to decorate my house with. And I could make this display to keep track of my book club. We are having our 10th anniversary this year. There are thirteen woman, thirteen amazing women. Well, I am getting off the subject...what are you reading right now?

Eat, Pray, Love

New Moon, then Eclipse

On the list:

Left To Tell

The Silver Donkey (Christian and I are going to read this together)

A Thousand Splendid Suns

It Passes All My Understanding...

I took the 6 am flight to Atlanta. About an hour into the flight, I was amazed by a sight that looked something like this.

I took out my camera to get a picture and I had left my battery at home. I thought of Grandpa during the entire flight. Since he loved taking pictures of sunrises and sunsets, I thought he would have liked this one also. While I sat in awe of this breathtaking sight, I thought of a song by Cherie Call.

I was sitting on a southbound plane,

I was buried in a magazine

When the man in the next seat over

Wanted to talk to me

He talked about the universe,

He talked about Saturn's rings

He said, "I might be an atheist,

Except for just one thing:

It passes all my understanding

How it all worked out just right

The distance that we live from the sun,

The stars that shine at night

We may prove that it was just an accident

But how did it begin?

It passes all my understanding."

I told him, "You are a scholar;

You know things that I don't know

But I believe a God in heaven

Made everything below

And I know we are his children;

I've known it since I was two

But when it comes to being struck with awe,

I'm just like you

It passes all my understanding,

All the beauty we have here

From the majesty of the canyons

To a tiny baby's ear

And even when I can't believe it,

He still believes in me

It passes all my understanding"

We watched the sun set through the clouds

In a tiny little airplane window

With people sleeping all around

And I thought of how we just expect this world to be

And when the flight attendant passed me by

I threw away my magazine

It passes all my understanding,

That the Lord knows both our names

And that He made this world for everyone

That was sitting on that plane

And in spite of all of man's distractions

He offers us His peace

That passes all my understanding

When Grandpa heard something he loved, he would document it. When dad was cleaning out his house, he found poems, words to songs, talks, etc. that Grandpa wanted to remember...maybe I have inherited his desire to remember. I am always writing things down...