Fun times and Family blogs!

We had a great time last night visiting and eating dessert with Audrey and Jess! We had them over to see the house before they both head back home. It was so wonderful sharing funny stories, reminiscing about old times and just having a good time together. (I had no idea Grandma Gauger was such a funny lady, wish I had met her!) Jessica made a fabulous chocolate cake(it was to die for) and I made Shamae's famous blackberry parfait's with mom's beautiful blackberries. Needless to say we ate way to much dessert and stayed up way to late, but those two girls are only in town a couple times a year so it is all worth it. However Audrey, I think your girls have rubbed off on mine in the fact that they were up at 7:00am!!!!

My next order of business is to let my family know how excited I am that one by one they are all joining in on the blogging. If you haven't noticed Jen's new link as well as Amber's go and check them out. As for the rest of you(HILLARY!)we all want to see how you are doing!!!!! Set one up!!!!! This is the only picture I have of you!!
We miss your smiling faces. Oh ya, Rand, this is my ultimate favorite shot of you!!!!!!!


And without further delay, here is my latest page(I know you have all been dying to see it!) Abby loves her Rolly Polly's and we happen to have a million of them around the house in the rock borders. So one afternoon I decided to take some pictures of this new found joy.


We are off this afternoon to playgroup, the girls love it and I get to meet some new people in the neighborhood!
Love to all!
(Sorry for all the exclamation points, I realize I have greatly over used them this post!!!!)

Saturday's, Cars and Pages

As I write, Paul and Will are out in the garage for the third time (and hopefully last,cross my fingers) putting in the third transmission(please let this one work!). Things seem to be going well so I will be optimistic about this phase of our lives being over! It seems that we have had nothing but trouble since the move. I received a speeding ticket(5 over in a 30, ridiculous!), then Paul had his accident and subsequent car trouble, followed closely by the toaster braking, can opener's work stoppage, and to cap it all off the vacuum decided to die last week! Don't you all agree that we have had our fare share of bad luck for one summer!!! Paul and I decided that with me paying off my ticket($120!!!),completing my traffic school on Wednesday and him finally putting an end to the transmission work today we are getting closure on all this and can begin having some good things come our way!!!!!



Don't the guys look like they are having soooo much fun in the garage with it being 90+ degree's outside?!!! Will's help has been beyond measure through all of this, without him I would have a very unhappy and frustrated husband, and we all know what isn't good about that!!! Not only does he help put in the transmission but they just have some guy time as brothers, talking and laughing as only brother's can! Love ya Will and your willingness to help in a time of need!

As usual in these situations it gives me freedom of the computer to scrap and blog to my hearts desire. Thus here is my newest creation. This one was fun because I recolored almost all the embellishments to match this beautiful paper I have been dying to use by Dahlia Co. Designs (BitterSweet). I absolutely love these flower buttons(MZCora-Just Like Home), aren't they just too cute! When I asked Abby if she liked the layout she told me the buttons were her favorite part too.



Have a good one and keep a lookout for Paul cruisin' the streets and rockin' that Tercel!!!!!!!

So Exciting!

I was just thrilled this morning when I checked out Misty's blog and the Readers Showcase! She had picked one of my pages! This is the first one of these blog entries that I have ever done(thanks Jerianne for the push!) and I am more than flattered to have been picked out of so many layouts and to be included with such talented women!!!! If you haven't already, join in my celebration and check it out at mistycatodesigns.blogspot.com. Paul is now insisting that I enter one that has a cash reward!!!!
Here is my latest layout. I loved doing this tribute to our move from one house to another. It made me all nostalgic of my cute condo over in Lehi. We had so many memories there and truth be told I was very sad to leave. On the other hand, I have such great expectations for things to come in our new place. So many people to meet and friendships to be made and good times to be had. If you haven't made a layout with this topic in mind, fellow scrappers, do it! It was a fun one to put together!

Hope everyone has a fantastic friday!!!! Mine is already!

Fireworks, Family and Fun

We spent yesterday up at the Davis' for the holiday. It is always fun to get together, but even more so with Audrey and her girls(and guy) along with Jess and Brandon in town. The kids played all afternoon in the pool and with the bubble machine despite the occasional drizzle. Later we had a spectacular evening filled with sparkler's followed by a great fountain show, put on by Paul, complete with a beautiful finally!!! I was just thrilled that the girls had gotten over their fear of fireworks and had a blast this time around!!! Here are some pic's of all the fun.



Have a good one!!!

It's a Monday

Well I have decided to start exercising again(I haven't since the move). So Jerianne and I went walking on Saturday, man have I let myself go! I was sooo sore the next day!!! Then this morning I ran on the tread mill, how I have missed my old friend!!! It really does help me have a better outlook on the day after a good run, you just can't beat a runners high for stress relief!
After lunch the girls and I had a photo shoot of Eva because she was 8 months old on Saturday.


Isn't she just a sweet rolly polly bundle of joy!

Which leads me to my newest layout. I loved doing this page today, I was remembering how I almost missed her first tooth! It was totally by chance that I even looked to see if she had any, and I didn't even get them on film for another month!


Credits: Template by Angela Niehaus. Papers by Kim Crothers (CitrusSea). Cross stitches by Melony Violette. Grunge Edge Alpha by Seebee's Freebies. Real Stamp Alpha by Lisa Whitney. Staples by thedigishoppe.com. Vintage Polaroid frame by Designing on the Edge. Tab by Gina Cabrera. Scalloped edge by ksharonkdesigns. Polka dot ribbon by ShabbyPrincess. Stitch grid by Natali. Font: DJB JenB2 by Darcy Baldwin.

We will see most of you tomorrow, and if not, Happy Pioneer day to all!

Misty Cato

Here are my layout entries for the Reader's Showcase featuring "Title Inspiration". Hopefully I get picked, but check it out over at Misty's blog mistycatodesigns.blogspot.com. The layouts should be featured sometime next week!



Credits: Template by Sandra Stranton (Altered into a two page spread). Papers, ribbons, and gellies by Tracy Sims (CherryVanilla Kit). Love phrase by Merideth Fenwick(Rouge Flirt kit). Dot Alpha and Metal Alpha by ShabbyPrincess.com. Stitches by Nisha Morton. Metal Heart by Mary(Generations of Love). Label by vf(champagne dreams). Flower gellies by Bren Boone. Rhinestone brad by Amy Kropp Designs. Acrylic buttons by Lindy Brown. Beaded Swirls by Rhonna Farrer. Arrow by KQ. Glitter heart by JKretschmar. Heart Sticker by Agnes Lahur Designs. Paint by DM. Fonts: ck stroke, courier new.



Credits: Template by Ruby Tuesday. Ribbons, flower, papers by Fernlili (fudge sundae Kit). Sweet Label by SVdesigns. Cardboard frame by Jennysscrapplace.com. Doodle Alpha by Weeds and Wildflowers. Button by Ronna Penner. Button stitch by Jessica Gorny. Stitches by Natali. Paint smudge by Andrea Burns(Wild Rumpus Kit). Staples by Merideth Fenwick. Font, ck handprint.




Credits: Template by Fryske. Stitches, button, corner, papers by Jan Crowley (Jolly Brolly Kit). Cream tab by Melony Violette. Sloppy Paint Alpha by Lemonaidlucy(recolored). Font, ck signature.

Fun in the Sun

So, as I was sitting in the warm sun, watching the girls play and reading in a digital scrapbook mag. yesterday, I came across a layout that so perfectly captured my afternoon. It was a tribute to the little blue pool. It is amazing how something so small can bring so much joy and happiness to an otherwise humdrum afternoon! Doesn't it just take you back to your childhood and playing all afternoon in your bathing suit, without a care in the world. I loved my little blue pool as a child and I love the joy that it brings my little girls now! (Quite honestly, we really should be getting a bigger one, but what fun would that be!!!)

Hope you all have a wonderfully happy sun filled day!(and maybe get a chance to cool your feet in a little blue pool while flooding your mind with memories of a simpler time!)

Howdy!

I know that you have all been distraught that I missed posting the last couple of days!!!! Life gets in the way sometimes! So now that the girls have settled down for a minute, Liv is napping, Eva is napping, and Abby is set for quiet time, I can have a breather and post! We did just get back from Abby's dear friend Emily's birthday party in the old neighborhood. The girls were so excited to go and see her, it has been quite a while. Her mother did an excellent job putting on the Ariel themed party and everyone had a great time. We definitely do miss having sweet Emily around to play with everyday.
Here are my new layouts. This picture of Liv is my favorite thing right now, that look on her face just melts my heart. And the happy colors of Eva's seven months page really brightens my day. Got to love templates though, they sure do make easy work of a layout!!!

Back in the Groove

Does anyone else, besides myself, find that the only bad thing about going on vacation is getting back into the swing of things upon your return!! That is what I have decided today. Unpacking is the worst and redoing all the laundry that was done in preparation to the trip is the worst!!! And why is it that I always leave the house completely empty of all food so that we don't have a thing to eat and I have to go shopping! That said it was fun to go through all the treasures of the trip with Abby this afternoon. She rediscovered the shells found at the beach including the priceless perfect Sand-dollar!
We also uncovered her postcard that she won during the nightly campfire with the rangers for answering a question correctly(you all know how much that made her day!)and then of course there was all the drawings and creations made in the back seat of the van by two sisters while watching movies! Ahh, that is why all this unpacking and cleaning is worth it!!!
That said here is my latest layout, just love love love this photo action over at Little Dreamer Designs!
Oh, Trace came over last night to download his camara for me and he had the group picture taken just as we pulled out to head for home. What a goodlookin' bunch of campers!!!
Until next time, have a wonderful day!

We're Back!

We are back from a wonderful week filled with relaxation and exploration! After a two day trip to Northern California we reached our campsite in the heart of the Redwoods. We stayed at Prairie Creek National Park and it was great. It was a little un-nerving that they had multiple Black Bear sitings in the campground while we were there, but we were good to keep the food locked up in the "Bear Boxes" and even though my brother Kelly kept insisting that he could hear them in the camp at night, I never saw any!! Abby had the most fabulous time playing with cousins, hiking the trails, playing on the beaches, looking for shells, roasting marshmallows, and sleeping in the tent! Liv loved her new found friend Amber(Trace's girlfriend who came with us) as well as the beach. Eva learned that she doesn't like hiking in a backpack, or getting a sunburn on her nose and cheeks, but she definitely loved all the attention she had. I don't think there was a single moment that someone wasn't playing with her. So here are some pictures of our trip. It really is a one of a kind place. It just blows your mind that something this beautiful and awesome exist. Everyone needs to visit this remarkable place at least once in there life, so if you haven't put it on your to-do list!!!

This last week was so relaxing, I had such a great time with my family, getting to know my new Sister's-in-law, and just being away from everyday life!

Liv is growing up!

Well this is going to be the farewell post for the next week. We are leaving this afternoon to go camping with my family at the Redwoods. We are all very excited and it should be a lot of fun, my mom has planned out some fun activities including a river run, tour of a lighthouse, as well as some time at the beach in Crescent City. This of course supplements the great hikes we will be enjoying through the trees. I will be sure to share tons of pictures upon our return! As for now I wanted to share Liv's new look after taking her in to have her first hair cut yesterday. Such a big step for every little girl and she was so brave and looks absolutely adorable with her new bob haircut! I can't believe she is old enough to need a haircut!


Until next week, hope everyone has a great weekend!

The 4th of July

Well it was a typical blue sky day her in Utah with temps. reaching 100 degrees. I love it, but my poor husband struggles! It turned out to be a wonderful day to get together with my family over at my parents house to play in the water, bar-b-q, and watch the city fireworks. Abby absolutely loved the slip-n-slide and Liv always loves to sit and cool off in the kiddy pool. Of course, my girls decided that fireworks this year were terrifying and wouldn't even hold a sparkler! But the highlight of the day had to be during the city fireworks finally. One exploded on the ground and started four fires in the fields behind my parents house!!(It is what we see almost every year!) The stadium of people erupted into panic and you could hear all the fire engines start up and head over to put out the flames. All very exciting, but a little nerveracking for some of my mom's neighbors. In the end we had a great time, and I love seeing all the flags out lining the streets, as well as the happiness on every ones faces as the fireworks light up the night sky.
Happy fourth everyone!

On the run

So today has been full. I watched my nephews Asher and Bensen this morning, so fun to have active boys in the house to play with! Then my old roommate Laura was able to get in touch with me the other day so we decided to meet for lunch. That was so fun, I haven't seen her in three years! If I had a working scanner right now I would embarrass her with some great collage photo's that I have, but alas she will have to be spared until I can get those scanned in(yes robyn you would be next on my hit list!). Tonight Paul and I actually get to go out on a date, my mother has graciously excepted an invitation to watch all three girls while we go to the movie with Cory, Jill, and Brandon. I know that Paul is so excited to be seeing the Transformer Movie, I think it should be pretty good. Tomorrow we will be with my family to celebrate the 4th, so I will be posting pics of my girls all dress for the occasion! In the meantime here is the latest layout. I just love these pictures of Evangeline at six months. What a great age, she started sitting up, eating solids, sleeping at night, and cutting in her first teeth, good times!!

What a Good day!

We had such a great Sunday today. My brother blessed little Anthony up in Salt Lake today, so it was an early start, but well worth it. The meeting was wonderful and Jen was absolutly radiant with joy! It was great to see all of my family, and it's always good to celebrate an addition to the bunch! Then we went over to the Conroy's who also blessed their sweet boy Brogan. They are such good friends and we always have a great time when we are together.

So here is my latest page of Abby's gymnastics meet back in May. She did such a wonderful job that day. I couldn't believe how brave she was in front of such a large crowd, but she was so determined to show her Dad and Grandparents what she had learned that it didn't phase her one bit! In fact, I think she began to relish all the applause that was given at the completion of each event. I was so proud of her and what she was able to accomplish during this last year.

I used a Template by SAAB, and "Lucky Star" kit by Gina Cabrara, bitty bows and charm by Fernlili, ribbon by Melonie Violete, star stitch by ksharonkdesigns, staples by thedigishoppe.com., glitter numbers by popbytes.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, we sure did!