Baby, It's Cold Outside...

Happy Birthday Maren!

Sorry Maren, I think my jumping picture beats you and Hay...{click on the pic for a closer look ;)}...

I know these pictures are pretty far away...but this is probably one of my favorite memories with my sis...Happy Birthday! Miss ya!

i am a artist

"i am a artist..."

Sisters

Beautiful Day

A Peek Inside CHA Summer 2008

Like Father, Like Daughter

I was going through some old journals today and found something I had written in June 2006:

Family circa 1978 {I am the blonde in the middle...}

I am my father's daughter because:

My dad is an intense reader and I love to read anything I can get my hands on

My dad loves the outdoors and I find myself drawn to being outside. I look forward to camping with my children and going on the next hike.

My dad is a very spiritual being and I strive to live by the Spirit everyday. He has always been guided by the Holy Ghost and deep down, I want that in my life daily.
My dad is very creative with wood...my creativity runs through paper.

60 Things...

Today is our Dad's 60th Birthday. Happy Birthday Dad! He didn't want a big party, or fanfare. So instead his six {6} kids got together and each made a list of the things we love about him. So here is that list, it is 60 things we love about him. There are more than 60,but you get the idea...

Love you Dad...for these reasons and more!

Kara

1. He is thoughtful.

2. He loves to play with the grandkids and have them around.

3. Loves to read, always knows a good book when you need one.

4. Always tells you how much he loves you.

5. He payed for me to serve a mission, it was the greatest gift I was ever given from him.

6. I love the things dad has always created out of wood. His architectural design.

7. I know he loves our Heavenly Father and has a close relationship with him.

8. Like a cat he has 9 lives. I don't know what we would do without him here.

9. He is the rock of our family, a very strong foundation.

10. His grandkids say... they love to have sleepoverss with him.

Kim

11. He connects with his grandchildren in quiet, consistent ways.

12. His creativity.

13. His legacy and love for books that has passed on to me.

14. He has a way of knowing when something is wrong or right with you. He always knows; even when I haven't told him.

15. My dad will do something that no one else wants to do. He can figure things out when everyone else has given up.

16. He illuminates comfort. You are always comfortable around him. He makes everyone feel welcome.

17. He tells a great story.

18. He is always up for anything fun!

19. His love for his family is never in doubt or question.

20. His ways are simple. He gives. He works hard. He laughs. He loves.

Piper

21. He gives great advice and counsel.

22. Good listener.

23. Great handy man and alway willing to help fix anything around the house.

24. He makes the best mickey mouse pancakes on Sunday.

25. He makes cool toys for the kids in his wood shop.

26. Always has time for family and grand kids, no matter what.

27. He is a peacemaker.

28. He has a great smile that lights up the whole room.

29. Has taught us hard work.

30. He always provided great family outings like camping, roasting marshmallows in the back yard just to name a few.

31. Loves unconditionally.

Taylor

32. Love for his family

33. Skill and hard work he applies to any project

34. His humility

35. Love for the Savior

36. He will call me just to hear my voice

37. Taught me to respect and love the outdoors

38. Dad sacrifices so much to help in any way he can

39. His love for his country

40. He is always learning. Through NPR or the books he reads

41. He finds humor in almost any situation

Maren

42. His quiet nature.

43. How he listens and tries to understand what you are going through. And always offers helpful advice.

44. His sense of humor, people who don't know him very well don't realize how funny he can be.

45. How much time he takes to sit and play with his grandkids, reads to them, takes them for walks, etc.

46. His willingness to always help, whether its moving, fixing something, or to be there for emotional support.

47. His strong testimony.

48. His example of being such a wonderful member and strong preisthood holder

49. Always a goodbye hug and kiss.

50. He isn't afraid to show his emotions.

51. I've always been very proud of his talent, telling my friends about what a wonderful craftsman he is.

Hayley

52. His smile.

53. His unconditional love for everyone.

54. How much he loves his grandchildren, he'd do anything for them.

55. Such a hardworker.

56. How much he taught us to work hard for what we want in life.

57. The peacemaker, he has always taught us to keep peace in the home and showed us a great example of it too.

58. His great love for the gospel and how greatly he expresses it.

59. The emotional side of him, you know when he expresses his emotions he truly feels it.

60. How service oriented he is. As long as its helping someone he'll make sure to be there and make sure its done.

61. He loves to see us succeed and really supports us in doing so.

62. His great hugs, you know what I'm talking about. Its like a bear hug mixed with a hug you'd get from a best friend.

The 3 R's...

I made this for my son's piano teacher and my really good friend! This was another Ali inspiration...Thanks to my friend who gave up her really perfect frames.

These were the leftover Christmas Advent Calendar characters that I thought could be left out all year....just painted the frame & backed them with some great grid paper from October Afternoon...and it looks great in my daughter's room! Lovin' the owl and the tail on the pink mouse :)

This was the project that I taught at our Twisted Sistas crop last night! {Hi ladies ;)} It is made with a reused board book, Heidi Swapp papers & embellies, and some stamps from Imaginisce, Rusty Pickle, and Pink Paislee.

I also made these for the Twisted Sistas Crop Market....from a vintage book & buttons....they will also be showing up in my next Scrapaganza class...watch out for it!

It has been fun to start doing a little creating again. I have been a little overwhelmed by my scraproom {ie: BIG MESS IN THE BASEMENT!} There. I said it. But I think I will get by with a little help from my friend....
{I might have to post a real, live picture to really get her attention!}

I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind. - Neil Gaiman

photo by Kathie

and another quote from Ali

I Forgot...

It got a little bit crazy at the end of October and through November....and I forgot to share a few highlights from the end of the year {2008}

In November, we went to Utah to see our family and for me to attend the Rusty Pickle Retreat. Can I just say that this weekend was AMAZING! I loved getting to know many more of the Rusty Pickle Chefs {Design Team} and creating with them for Three Whole Days! I did not want this weekend to end...I learned many things that weekend. #1...I am a slow scrapper. I can get ladies to move through a class in 2-3 hours, but I am slow.....I have learned to enjoy the journey {in class and in life} and I was just enjoying being the student, and being creative through my own process...{and I am still sanding ladies ;)} #2...There are some wickedly creative women out there.....from all over the world....I learned so much from each of them. Mostly to let go & have fun...again Enjoy the Journey. These are amazing women {and one talented guy - Mr. Pickle}.
Thank you to Mrs. and Mr. Pickle & the rest of the Rusty Pickle team for putting this creative weekend together!

Here are some of the cousins we were able to see. My parents enjoyed my kids during the week that we were in Utah and we also saw some cousins up North....it was awesome. My kids love their cousins....it was hard to leave after the week they were together.

Oh yeah....we did also celebrate Halloween.....forgot to post about it. We had Igor {from Young Frankenstein}, a pirate, and Snow White!

Just had to add this pic of Snow White at preschool...love it!

We also carved pumpkins with our friends...how could I forget that???? It was a fun night! The kids especially loved the inside mess from the pumpkins....I just like the carving part! Did I forget anything else???

Good 2008 memories....