New look

So I know that I probably change my blog page way to often, but I just get tired of the same old thing every day! Just enjoy it!

Home grown goodness!

Growing up with my parents, here in Pleasant Grove was great. One of the best parts of that childhood was that my father loved to garden. When we were little, half of the back yard was devoted to a garden. He grew everything you could think of and us kids had to help with a lot of the work. Back then I hated it. Every year we were assigned a segment to be in charge of, to weed and keep the plants growing. I always jump in fast to pick the corn. Not because I loved corn then, but because the plants were tall and therefore provided the most shade in the heat of the day and didn't let as many weeds grow. See how smart I was as a child!!! Now I look back at those time with fond memories. Not only did it instill us all with a great work ethic, but it provided countless moments of one on one time with my dad helping him do what he loved. I love this about him and I love that we now live even closer and my girls get to spend some of those moments with their grandfather. This year we just happened to be over for a visit one evening when my dad was planting the corn. Abby was sooo excited to go in and help him sow the seeds in the ground. Throughout the rest of the summer we would stop in and she would watch "row 4" to see all the progress it was making. Well last week the time had finally come, it was ready to pick and Abby was thrilled to take it home to eat. Here are some shots of her first harvest of corn, from row 4, as well as the first time she had ever shucked an ear off corn.



Liv also got into the action!



Abby has now decided that corn on the cob is the greatest thing in the world. I can't blame her, I also look forward to this short four weeks out of the year when the corn is in season!

On that note I will share my latest scrappin' creation. I lifted this page idea from a blog that I frequent called Mellisa G's Pick of the Day. She had this link to a fairy name generator
http://www.emmadavies.net/fairy/default.aspx
Her layout pick of the day was devoted to this name.
I thought it was such a cute idea and I had the perfect photo's to use. It was really fun to do an extraction to create this fun layout.


Everyone have a wonderful day!

Not doing a thing

Today I took the day off. As I write, the beds are unmade(and now the children are in them again), the toys are all over the floor and the laundry pile still sits (folded, but not put away). Yes today I decided to let things slide. Everyone needs a day like that once in a while right? I did; however, go walking with Jerianne, so that gets huge points right?! I was able to get dinner on the table, that's good! And what was I doing during my day of not being bothered with daily tasks you ask. Scrapbooking of course!!!! Here are my results (some are still in the works, to be posted in the future!)

So now I will enjoy a little TV with Paul, to unwind even further than I already have, and tomorrow I will tackle my day with a renewed sense of duty!!

Picture retakes

Man, how that title reminds me of grade school and picking up the class pictures and my mom saying, "um, I think we better have some retakes done." While up at the Davis' on Saturday evening I took advantage of the great weather and had Eva endure another photo shoot. I am very pleased with these! I just can't help myself (I am sure you have all had enough of her!) I must post these! Can her chubby cheeks be any cuter!!!


Isn't this flower headband the cutest thing! Sweet Amber made these for Eva after I voiced my jealousy of the ones she gave Bethany at the shower. So nice of her and soooo cute, I can't get enough of them!

We spent Sunday up at my Brother Kelly's house. They are so fun and I think we over stayed our welcome, but it was really nice to just talk and laugh with them. We just don't see them enough. Love you guys!

Oh, and here is a layout that I have completed, finally! I don't know about this creative slump I have been in but it needs to leave!! I decided to just pop in some of Abby's photo's and use the same layout for her so that I can just move on (Good advice Audrey!!!)


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

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice.....

I was able to attend my sweet, sweet, sister-in-law's baby shower this morning. Bethany is my brother Kelly's wife and she was just beaming with joy, so radiant and excited for the big day. She is due on September 12, but as everyone around me(except for my only true friend Julie :)!!!)she will probably go early! She is having a girl (yeah!) and they have decided to name her Eden, isn't that just the cutest name, fits them perfectly. She received so many wonderfully adorable pink and ruffly items that as a girl, and mom of girls, I just couldn't get enough of. Every gift she opened followed up with a lot of Ohhh's and Ahhh's. Little girl things are just too cute. And if you will all indulge me for a moment I just have to post a picture of the gift that I and several of my family (Shamae, Hillary, Mom, Jill) all went in on for her. I thought Hillary and Jill would like to see what we gave her!! Isn't this paper just too cute!


And I have to admit that I think this card that I made turned out so cute, one of my favorites to date. It was very fun to get out all my old scrappin stuff and do it "old school"! I just love that the inner tag pulls out with the message on it!(Thank you close to my heart catalog for the idea). But the cutest part to me is that I popped up the little dress for some three dimensional action, love it! Paul just told me that I was such a nerd when I showed it to him!!!


It was great to see a lot of my family, and tell stories, eat good food and just have a relaxing Saturday, because Paul was at home with all three of my girls, giving me a much needed break.

That is all for now, we are headed up to the Davis' for Will's birthday celebration BBQ, it should be a good time.
Love ya all!

Nine months and Sickness

No, this is not an announcement that I am pregnant!! So everyone can stop freaking out! Eva did turn nine months old on Tuesday, so as history would dictate, we had a photo session this morning. I didn't seem to get the lighting just right this time, so I may try again tomorrow but here are a couple of cute ones. It was hard to get a cute look between all the tongue clicking! She is just so adorable and I really do see a lot of Liv in some of them.



By the end of our three minute session she'd had enough, especially with that bow, as you can tell from the look on her face in this one "See mom, I can get it off by myself! You're not mad are you?"

As for the sickness, poor Little Livvy has spiked a fever of 103 degrees (I swear she does this once a month!) So as sad as it is to have her not feel well, I have to admit that I love how snuggly she get! Normally none of my girls are big snugglers, but when Liv doesn't feel well all she wants to do is curl up in your lap, I love it!
Have a good one, we are trying to do so here!

Tagged!

I am sure you all know that I have been wanting to do this for a long time, thanks Hillary! I have added a few more, so feel free to answer some more Hill!

Jobs I have had:
Lawn mowing
McDonald's
Secretary
Shopko
Dental Assistant
Mom

Movies I never get sick of:
Chicago
Billy Madison
Can't hardly wait
While you were sleeping


Places I've called home:
Pleasant Grove
Logan
Ogden
Provo
Lehi
Pleasant Grove
(Looking at that, I haven't gone far have I!)

Favorite TV shows:
Lost
The Office
Grey's Anatomy
How I met your mother
30 Minute Meals
Semi-Homemade
The Soup
ER(yes I still watch, have since it started in high school)

Favorite vacation spots:
Caribbean Cruise
Disney Land
Audrey's house(southern Cal.)

Favorite Web sites:
Ikea Goddess(she rocks!)
The Digi Chicks
Designer Digital
Christian Renee Designs
Weeds and Wildflowers
EBay
Foodnetwork.com

Places I'd rather be:
On the beach sipping lemonade!
Shopping!

Would you bungee jump?
never - too chicken, even though I rock climb and repel, go figure!

What's your favorite cereal?
Raisin Bran (I know, how old lady is that!)

What color pants, shirt and shoes are you wearing?
Baby blue cord Capri's, Brown T, no shoes

What's the last thing you ate?
A lean pocket (can everyone tell I am still trying to loose the baby weight!)

What are you listening to right now?
The wonder pets (Abby has a friend over and they are crafting to the show in the background!)

Who is the last person you talked to on the phone?
Paul, he called to remind me he forgot to take out the garbage :)

Eye color?
Brown (Everyone loves a brown eyed girl!)

Scary or happy endings?
Happy endings!! Everyone knows how much I hate scary shows, nightmares!!

Summer or winter?
SUMMER, I hate, hate, hate the snow!! Someday I will not have to live with it for 6 months out of the year!

What's the farthest you've been from home?
We went to New York City on my honeymoon, then to Belize on a cruise for our 5th anniversary. I haven't been far!!

Do you like the person who tagged you?
My dear sister Hillary who lives too far away and I haven't seen in a year! love you to death Kid!

I tag:
Jerianne Conroy
Robyn Lamoreaux
Audrey Wilson
Paulene Davis
Jessica Burns

Go for it girls, can't wait to see your answers!!!

First Day

So Abby is officailly all grown up! Today marked her first day of preschool and she was beyond excited! Of course I took some photo's as she left this morning, hopefully I can make a great page out of them! After we picked her up she wouldn't stop talking about all the things she had done and it made me smile to see her so happy.


I have to say it was nice to come home from dropping her off, put Eva down for a nap, set Liv up with a video and run, uninterupted for an hour! Maybe this really will work out for the best!

Meeting the teacher

Abby had her meet and greet for preschool today. I can't believe that it is already that time of year! Her new teacher(also a Mrs. Davis) is going to be great and she is going to make so many new friends in the area. On the way home Abby told me how easy it was going to be to remember her new teachers name because it was the same as hers, pretty cute. Preschool starts on Wed. and goes from 9:30 until 12:00 Mon., Wed., and Friday, I have no idea what Liv and Eva are going to do while she is away!! She is just so eager to learn and try new things that it makes me very excited for her. Of course I will be taking lots of pictures of her first day and post them so look forward to that.
Here is a layout I would like to share. I like the colors and of course the cute raindrops. This was a much needed relief from the summer heat and Liv loves to go out in the rain and splash in the puddles.


Love to all, until next time!

Fun quiz

I was over at Jerianne's sister's blog (Janae) and she had taken this quiz. I thought it was kind of fun and dead on about me!! Try it and let me know what you were in my comments!

You Are An ESFJ

The Caregiver You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first. A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change. You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project. You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people. In love, you value harmony and mutual understanding. You will apologize or give someone the benefit of the doubt, if it means getting over a fight sooner. At work, you are good at building relationships and connecting with people. You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher. How you see yourself: Organized, dependable, co-operative When other people don't get you, they see you as: Opinionated, critical, and know-it-all

What's Your Personality Type?

Excitement all through the house!

While I was running on the treadmill this morning, I had Eva sitting playing with some toys on the floor. Well, after a minute she fell over and began rolling all over the floor!!! Both ways, front to back, back to front, left to right and vice verse!!! While taking these pictures she rolled all the way across the room to me! This little girl has been holding out on me! I think that secretly at night she has been practicing, but making sure she is on her back when I walk into the room, sneaky girl!


We are all so proud of Eva and her accomplishment, even if it did take her eight and a half months!!

Per Audrey's advice I put the other layout away for a while and worked on a new one last night. I am very happy with these results. I just love these photo's of Abby running around the yard with her butterfly friend she had named flutter!!!


hope you all have a wonderful day!

Creative block

I am in a creativity slump. I have been messing around with this layout for two days now and I just am not happy with it. It could be the colors, or the flowers, I don't know. I like the idea of Polaroid's, and I like the text curving around the circle, but it just doesn't seem to give the playful feeling I would like. Anyone have a suggestion to get me thinking in a different way, I tend to do the same things over and over. Help!

Somewhere over the Rainbow.......

Tonight I just have to do a quick post and share with all of you the most beautiful thing I have seen in a while.



Isn't this double rainbow just amazing! The photo doesn't even really show what we experienced in person. I think it was the brightest and biggest one I have seen in my entire life. As I was leaving to go walking over at Jerianne's house it was starting to sprinkle, but as I rounded the hill up to her house I was completely taken aback by this remarkable thing. It was a complete arch right over her house! It really made me stop and think about what a beautiful place we live in here in Utah. I was so glad she had her camera handy to snap a pic and send it to me. Absolutely amazing, and I hope it makes your day a little sweeter!!!
Love to all.

Weekend Warriors

Wow, it feels like I haven't blogged in a long time!! I know you all have missed me dearly!! So I will catch you up on what we have been doing here at the house. On Saturday we decided that we couldn't go another minute with those old broken, dirty, and rusty sinks and faucets in our bathrooms. As always we thought it wouldn't take much effort, it's just a face lift right? However, after picking out our new stuff at home depot and starting the installation, Paul decided that since he was going to have to move the cabinet in the master anyway, he might as well take it outside, sand it down and put on a new coat of polly(the finish was in a pretty sorry state!). After that had dried, he went to install the faucet we had purchased only to realize that the new counter top was cut for a three piece one instead of the single one we decided on! So back to the store and another faucet later we were on to the next bathroom, only to discover that the new sink was about a half an inch bigger than the old one! So Paul being the handy man that he is, traced the new sink pattern on the top and proceeded to cut the soap stone with is jig saw! This made me very nervous but it worked beautifully and now we have a new sink and faucet in that room as well. I couldn't be more pleased to have checked off one of our many items on the to do list in this house!!! Here are some shots of the finished projects (well, I still have to paint around the new back splash in the master, but you get the idea!!)

I also have a layout for you. This is Liv's pool layout, I used some fun hibiscus flower's as well as some glitter splashes. I like the finished look. This was a template by Jaana Saker that I altered a bit.


Hope you all have a great day!

Take me out to the ball game!

We all had a wonderful time last night out supporting Paul in his first ever organized baseball game. Leave it to Paul to get up for his first time at bat and almost hit it out of the park!! He not only got on base but brought in two runners.



This of course didn't surprise me one bit, he has always been very good at anything he tries, especially when it comes to sports! The event was great fun and pretty close the whole game but in the end they just ran out of time and ended with a 12-10 for the other team. I think that is pretty good considering it was the first time these guys had ever played together or even met for that matter! The girls can't wait until next Thursday when they can go and cheer their daddy on again (they had absolutely no idea what he was doing out there, but Abby sure loved that he had the number 15 on his back!!)


And don't mind how filthy the girls are, they just spent the entire game sliding on their tummys up and down the bleachers.

I took what I thought would be some great shots of Paul but I didn't realize the camera was focusing on the chain link fence :(, oh well next week maybe I can tweak it a bit and capture the look of focus and determination on his face!!


As for today, the girls and I went shoe shopping for Abby, she has started growing again and now doesn't fit into any of her shoes! I have found that it is the absolute worst time of the year to try and by dress shoes! Every store is completely full of casual wear for back to school. Three stores later we had to settle on the only pair available in her size, they are cute, just not what I had in mind. I will look at the bright side, as Abby goes, she will grow out of those in a couple of weeks anyway! It is no wonder that Liv never gets to pick out new shoes, Abby always has completely brand new ones to pass down!! So today, Liv was so sad not to be getting her own pair that I caved and let her pick out a new pair of crocks. She was just thrilled and almost wouldn't take them off for her nap!
So now I am off to put together a new dinner. I was watching one of my favorite programs, 30 minute meals, and decided to try the "Deep dish Carbanara pizza". Sound right up Paul's alley doesn't it! Wish me luck on the dinner experiment!!

Another Day

So we start another day! Man, I have been groggy all morning and slept in until 9:30, thank you Paul for getting the girls breakfast! We were up until 1:30am watching a really disappointing movie that we had tivo'd (because that is what we have started doing because there isn't a thing to watch on TV!) and then I tossed and turned until around 3:00am, not what you would call the most restful sleep! So anyway I am up and at'em and ready to get moving on the chores of the day. You all know how much I hate chore day, but alas, it must be done. Later this evening Paul's work team has a softball game, so the girls and I will head over to cheer our daddy on! That should be fun and I think the girls will have a good time. Then hopefully Jerianne, Michelle, and I will be able to walk this evening, it feels like we haven't been able to do that for a while, OK, a couple of days! I just need some good girl talk and gossip, Paul is no fun when it comes to that! Speaking of Jerianne, she now has a blog, so click on her link to the right and check out all the Conroy fun, she made a very cute topper!!

I just love this latest page for Eva's Eight months. I absolutely love this shabby, distressed, put it together yourself, book by Cafedigi (Life's Journey kit)! Isn't it just the cutest thing, and I have to say I designed this layout all by myself, no template on this one, which I haven't done for a while. The ribbons are by Fernlili and the flowers are Tracy Simms(recolored). Leather tags are by Scrappony Designs.


Now this layout is very simple and took me just a couple of minutes to put together thanks to the template by Jennifer Caputo. But don't you just LOVE the water droplets!! They are by Doreen Stolz (Playa del Sol kit) and I just love how it makes the layout appear to have been splashed by the girls jumping into the pool! The cute glitter words and flourishes, as well as the water paper, are by JillDZines (splish sampler kit). Doesn't this layout just make you happy!!



Well it is cleaning time, wish me luck!!!

Baking Soda, Benadryl and the Bee's

Yesterday afternoon Liv was stung by a bee for the third time in three weeks(and the last two days in a row!). She has been getting stung every time she tries to come in the house from the backyard. At least we know she isn't allergic like me! The stair way is lined with bushes and we have had some suspicions that there was a nest in them. Well seeing her cute little sad puppy dog eyes for the third time did me in (here she is showing me the place on her hand where she was stung). After a dose of medicine and covering the wound with a baking soda paste I decided something had to be done about this. So last night at sundown Paul was brave enough to take out the shrubs. Sure enough he found the biggest bee hive we had ever seen, only it wasn't in the bushes but attached to the railing on the back side!! Now it made perfect sense why she was always getting stung, she holds on to the rail when she climbs the stairs and put her sweet little fingers right next to the hive every time!!!! Poor thing. Thanks to Paul for taking care of it last night so that the girls can go out and play in safety, as well as myself! I also have to admit that it was slightly entertaining to watch Paul spray the hive and then squeal and run for cover as the bee's dive bombed him, hee, hee, hee! I should have taken a picture of that!

Speaking of Liv, isn't she just a doll getting her hair cut for the first time at the salon! After this one is printed I plan to attach a little swatch of her hair in an envelope in the upper right hand corner.


Have a great "Bee Attack" free Day!

Thank you, Thank you

I must begin this post by giving my many thanks and gratitude to my wonderful little brother Trace and his sweet girlfriend Amber.
(sorry Amber this is the only picture I have of the two of you!!!!!!! I give you full permission to post a picture of equal value of me on your blog! And I know that Trace can supply plenty of them!!! :)

They volunteered their Saturday evening to come and play with my children so that Paul and I could have a much needed night out with friends. How lucky I am to have such wonderful family(I know it wasn't Trace's ideal Saturday plans!! Thanks for the push Amber!! sorry I didn't have any baking yeast for the dough!) who continually give me so much love and support, right when I need it the most. It also helps with the evening when the girls are so very excited to have "Ammer" come and play. Thanks again guys!!!

We had a great time out with our dear friends Dave and Michelle (we missed you Jerianne and Kelly!) who introduced us to a new Italian restaurant in Salt Lake called Sette Bello. As you all know Paul and Dave served their missions together in Rome Italy(I know, small world that we moved in next door to each other!) and it was like stepping back in time for them. Let me step back a little and explain that for the entire duration of our six and a half year marriage at least three times a month Paul has craved a Margarita Pizza. Now this could not just be any pizza claiming to be a Margarita Pizza, but an authentic one that you can only get in Rome or outlying areas. So to walk in and see the fire oven from his past and two chef's that came from Italy making a pizza in true Italian fashion with all imported ingredients, well it was like a little piece of heaven to him!! Not only did he order his Margarita Pizza, but he had a second made up to take home, but he couldn't help himself and ate both! I am sure we will be frequenting this restaurant in the future! Thanks again Dave and Michelle for the in. We then saw the new Bourne Ultimatum movie. I really liked it, but I wish for the life of me I could remember the second one!!! I will be watching that one tomorrow night to catch myself up!! But a good show, I always love a good action suspense film, I would recommend it to any of you.

So today was a usual lazy Sunday which included my favorite pass time of Scrapbooking, here are the results from today -


I have to say that since starting this blog and setting a goal to complete a layout a day, I sure have made great progress, I am only one month behind now in all three books! High five to digital scrapping and making the creative process sooo quick and easy!!!

Hope you all had a great weekend - We say a sad goodbye to Jess and Brandon as well as Audrey and family, we had a great time while you were in town! Hopefully it won't be a long before we get together again.

My girls are silly

So as you all know, the street in front of my house has been torn up for three days now, keeping me and the children captive as well as entertained. I know that I shared a picture last time of Abby and Liv watching the workers out the front window, oh how things have started to evolve! I just had to laugh to myself when I got up this morning and came down to get the girls breakfast(it is no secret that Paul and I like to sleep late in the morning, so the girls get up and watch a show or two until I can get myself out of bed!)and this is what I saw!! I don't think the work crew had any idea the diverse audience they had assembled inside my house. The entire cast of the Wizard of Oz, all the Disney Princesses, the full Loving Family(including the doll house potty?!) had decided to watch the action that was going on outside!


Note how some of them are sitting in chairs! Sometimes these silly girls just crack me up!

Oh, lest I forget, here is Liv's Carnival page. See Jerianne, aren't these ribbon frames just the cutest things! I just love how they are stapled in the corners. I know, simple things please simple people!!!


Have a great day!

At the end of the day, all is well

My day is finally coming to a close. All the children are tucked safely into their beds and I can now relax!! You know when you just have days like that, on the run and without a moment to yourself, that was today. Don't get me wrong, a fun day, a good run in the morning, lunch spent with family, and then Hayley and sweet Emily came by to visit leading into the evening sprint of dinner, clean-up and bed time routine. As stated before, now I can slow down, yeah!
I have been a single parent for the last 48 hours as Paul worked all day yesterday, came home worked through the evening and then went back to work from 10:00pm until 6:00am, only to return to work at 10:00am and come home and sleep from 5:00pm until 8:00pm. Hopefully he has everything under control again and he can now relax as well!!!
The only thing exciting that I can share with everyone is how excited my girls were to see the street in front of us get torn up yesterday and today in preparation for the Gray water coming into the city. They sat at the front window for a long time this morning completely fascinated.


This newest layout was fun, because it brought to memory our trip down to the Strawberry Day's carnival with the Conroy's back in June. We had a wonderful time, but the picture that I love the most is of all four girls in the jeep(click the layout and look closely at it!) It was like fast forwarding 10 years and seeing Taryn driving Shea, Abby, and Liv around town cruising for guys in a jeep taking a turn up on two wheels!! Everyone laughs but we all know it is exactly what we will be seeing in the not so distant future!!!


Tomorrow is my stay at home and clean day. I don't usually look forward to this day but as Audrey and I said this afternoon, sometimes it is good to just stay at home and get everyone back on the routine again!
love to all!