Soccer In The Mist

She had her last game on Saturday.

She scored 5 goals to celebrate.

BoOts

Saw these on a girl at Jimmy John's yesterday, they looked so warm and cozy, but she was super stylin' too!
Someone got these for their birthday...

If I have to go through another Iowa winter, then it has been decided that I will be going through it in style! So I have been looking online for some stylish boots. Tell me what you think, and if you have some others that you have had your eye on, please share!

CKC St. Paul

Everything About Me Class at The Scrapbook Shop


Way Cool Pop Star Class for The Scrapbook Shop

Love, Love, Love Mini-Album
All Boy Layout
Always Dream Layout
Jumbo Card Class

Hello Everyone! I am off on my last trip for the year for Rusty Pickle. This time I am headed to St. Paul, Minnesota. If you are in the neighborhood, please come by and say "Hi!" I will be teaching four Rusty Pickle classes at the CKC Convention: Love, Love, Love Mini Album; All Boy Layout; the infamous Jumbo Card Class; and the Always Dream Layout.
I will also be teaching on Saturday and Sunday at The Scrapbook Shop. Please check out their blog for more details. See you in St. Paul!

Crop Circles

MDA Crop
This is the woman behind this amazing fundraiser & crop. I am not sure how much money they raised, but I know it was a lot! She is the biggest cheerleader for the MDA and the best crop organizer that I know!
Picklelicious Make & Takes
In the past few weeks I have attended several scrapbooking crops that have been so much fun. Over the years, cropping has become one of my favorite pastimes. As I became a more serious scrapper, or one that did it as a job, I went to less and less crops, and just found myself working alone in my basement. This is sometimes a good way to get things done, but not the best way to enjoy scrapbooking. Crops are not to get projects done, they are to enjoy the process of creativity. They are to learn from each of your friends, or croppers. They are to laugh at yourself and each other. And of course to eat really yummy food. It doesn't really matter if there are three-hundred scrappers or five, a crop is always a really good time...
Check back soon for some pictures from the 1st annual Twisted Sistas crop!

Never Say Never!

On Tuesday, we were driving to pickup our babysitter, and we saw the smallest car! It was tiny! I said to my kids,

"Look at that car!"

And he said, "You should take a picture of it and put it on your blog."

Then I said, "I only put pictures of you on there."

"You never put pictures of me on your blog!"

Never say never, buddy.

To My BFF

Happy Birthday

I'm Not In Kansas or Missouri Anymore...

Last weekend I was on the Rusty Pickle train down to Kansas City. I had a different job at this convention and I got to stay in the booth and share the Rusty Pickle goodness with everyone!

I got to see some old friends....
And make some new ones!
Thank you to the clean up crew! You know who you are...We couldn't have set the Rusty Pickle record without you! We also went out to eat with some of these gals and had fried pickles. Have you ever had a fried pickle? They are pretty good!
I don't have a picture of my friend that I also got to see on Friday night, so I will just use this darling angel in place of a picture. She drove all the way from Kansas to pick me up! We went back to her house and I got to see her adorable family. We had dinner, and a yummy dessert. It was so good to see her. We just talked and talked and talked

and talked...

I don't really think she knows how important she is in my life. When I was younger I looked up to her as a big sister...I always have, and still do! I want to be like her...Thanks Sher!

With all this traveling for Rusty Pickle, I have another Rusty Pickle RAK {Random Act of Kindness} to give away....so leave me a comment and I will draw a winner on Friday at 10 am CST!

I Love New England In The Fall

I knew this was going to be a good show when we pulled up to unload the class kits and there was a cart waiting.....usually I have to hunt a cart down!
This gal ROCKS the Rusty Pickle classes! There were so many students that just amaze me every time...

I had a great time at CKC in Connecticut. I taught nine classes...it was jam packed full of fun. I worked with Alaina and Tiffani from Rusty Pickle. We had some good laughs.....I know I am always saying that my favorite part about teaching is meeting so many amazing women. Hello all you amazing women! {Waving my hands uncontrollably!}

P.S. Tiffani - I still need the evidence from Chili's....

Seven

On Sunday, Oct. 7th, 2001; Christian and I had spent the day at Grandma Pattee's for General Conference. Dad was at work, and came to pick us up to take us home. As soon as we got home, and got Christian in bed; I sat down to watch the news and my water broke! You were on your way! We dropped big brother off at Grandma Garner's and went straight to Jordan Valley Hospital. We got there at about midnight and they started me on pitocin to get the contractions going. At about 7:00 am, I was progressing fine. Dr. Sundwall came in to check on me and said that you would be born about noon. We called everyone to give them the update. Soon after, the nurse came in to 'check' my contractions and I was fully dialated. It was now about 8 am and Dad was getting breakfast and Dr. Sundwall was in surgery. You would have to wait a little bit longer. After Dad returned, Dr. Sundwall was called in and I was ready for you to be born. It was so wonderful for your Dad to be there, and for him to see you be born. Dr. Sundwall did a great job. He is a fantastic doctor. You were so beautiful. We were so happy you made it here safe and sound. {Written in your baby book 2001}

I went to Sydnee's baby book this morning to be reminded of the story of her birth. With Ella's birthday last week, I had told someone this exact story of how Ella was born. I guess I got them a little mixed up. Sydnee was such a happy, content baby. She never cried.

Now my little baby is SEVEN! I don't really know how to put into words the way I feel about her. She is energetic, passionate, and just a little crazy. She is everyone's friend. Sydnee can be mad one moment and loving the next. Craig says she is like a puppy dog; she never thinks, she just does! We love you Syd! Happy Birthday!

Create

Last Saturday, I attended our church's General Relief Society Meeting. I always love to listen to the speakers and focus my mind on the woman that I am. I am always grateful for the excitement this meeting gives me to do a little better in my life. I especially LOVED Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk: Happiness, Your Heritage. He talked about God's happiness & how we can achieve this happiness through two things: creation and compassion. It spoke to me, and not only because I love being creative. It helped me to find other aspects of my life that I live creatively. I can help create a happy home, a place where my family is happy & heard. Create patience, create beauty, create love, create happiness, create laughter, etc. If you would like to read the entire article, go here.

You may think you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before -- colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter...
What you create doesn't have to be perfect. Don't let fear of failure discourage you. Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you -- whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside...
As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.
I believe that as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others -- God will encircle you in the arms of His love. Discouragement, inadequacy, and weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace, and fulfillment. -Dieter F. Uchtdorf