Yummy Pudding back in Nov 2008

Okay so I've been really busy putting "templates or sketches" together. You know the kind you can just throw your digital papers onto and just fit the spot you want so you don't have to "create" it everytime. Well, if you've never digitally scrapbooked.... well you might not have a clue what I'm talking about....the important thing to remember... I've put together over 40 of these two page layouts that can be used over and over. My inspiration has come from the books that Close to my heart sells. Because only heaven knows I'm not THAT creative with the whole layout. But I decided to take a "break" from building the templates (sketches) and actually throw a page together. This was so fun.




Credits:
Papers -- I got from this blog --- LetMeScrapbook.blogspot.com Elements -- (The mini note and staples) I got from Coreen Silke And the fun brads -- From an element kit by JBaechtold

Happy 11th Anniversary....

Today is our 11th Anniversary.

And I created this video for my husband!! It his gift from me this year.

Happy 11th Anniversary honey.



It was really sweet, he surprised me with a dozen red roses last night, so that I could enjoy them all day today!! How sweet!! And then he had to work all day and while he was at work I worked on my movie (above). He snuck in a card and wrapped CD which happened to be Taylor Swift -- because I like a lot of her songs, and of course the girls like her too.

He rounded up a last minute babysitter, our neighbor, and we went out for dinner. We grabbed food from Cafe Rio, and headed to the parking lot at DI and then we ate at a picnic table in the shade overlooking the Provo River. It was really relaxing,fun, and QUIET!! It's amazing how relaxed I can be when kids aren't around screaming and making lots of noise while you eat.

So after, sitting there for a little while, we headed off to Home Depot (Yeah, I know, real romantic ) but hey, we try to take care of vital errands while the kids aren't around. We had to pick out a new toilet seat because our 'old' one was broken and has needed to be replaced for a few months, but we just made do with what we had. At any rate we ended it by swinging by the grocery store and picking up some ice cream to share with the kids before bed. It wasn't a long, lavish date - but a date nonetheless. And well, now the kids are all in bed

.... so I'll be seeing you later **wink **wink.

Raging Emotional Hormones...

It's amazing to me how my life changes from year to year. Not so much me, but the things that influence me. My children get older and learn more things, and ask questions which require more than "yes/no" answers, and simple little stories aren't good enough anymore because their imaginations are roaring alive with questions of "why's and how's and where's and who's and don't forget the WHAT IF's". I've been challenged to broaden my thinking and my level of learning as well. Things that I was taught about and have forgotten over the years are now being relearned with my children. I don't want to feel less smart than them, if I can help it.

Last year, we were able to celebrate our 10th Anniversary with an overniter away from the children and LOVED every minute of it. This year, not so much the case. I think we'll end up celebrating another day and time because I never lined up a sitter, and I don't know what the heck we'd do anyway. I already have so much other stuff to "worry about" that I can't deal with that right now either. Plus it doesn't help that he tried to get the time off from work, and he wasn't approved for it. Kind of stinks.. but as always Life does go on.

I was also saddened today to find out that my visiting sister in law decided to go home a little earlier than we thought. I know it was best for her, and all, but I almost don't know why I was so affected by finding out from a different sister in law, and that I didn't get to tell her good bye, and tell her how much I enjoyed her being up here. Not to say that she didn't try to call and tell me herself.

Since she lives in Arizona, we don't get to visit and hang out a lot, but lately the last few years, I've become quite close to her (at least I like to think so -- hope she does too!!) So when I heard, it was almost like hearing that someone "died" because they left "unexpectedly". It's one thing knowing ahead of time that they are going home, but just up and hearing it later, with it being too late to say bye, kind of struck me today. And I'm not sure why? This is something that wouldn't normally bother me, but this time I was a little too emotional over it, and it didn't make sense. But knowing other factors, I can understand why she decided to go home earlier than planned, but

** You still should have come up and said good bye!!** So I could say goodbye to those cute boys of yours even if they are rascally!! Tell them we LOVE them and will miss them.

But I'm okay, really! It was just one of those days when some very raw emotions seemed to be really close to the skin, and I couldn't pretend to stay strong anymore. I think it's me missing my grandpa, who's been gone for almost two months, and the fact that my Dad and my younger Brother have both been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and the darn bosses that won't let me spend my SPECIAL DAY with my SPECIAL MAN!!!

Oh great, here I go again... I'm tearing up just typing this. It's pretty sad when you can see a situation going on and can only stand on the outside looking in, and can't quite do anything about it. You feel the pain, you see the anguish, and still can't completely make it all better.

It's just been a day where simple things would normally not affect me, but for some reason today was different. Ugh, being female sometimes is a chore... okay I mean all the time it is a chore. Think about it...

A little too sheltered.... maybe.

I've come to the conclusion that I need to get out more! Why? Because there are so many "FUN, ADVENTUROUS" places to see in Utah, and I'm just sticking around my house. BORING!! Right?? Well, thanks to my sister in law who is up from Arizona, she invited US (the kids and I) to hang out with her at this place near Santaquin, Utah. I might be the absolute only person who has never been here except maybe my husband, unless you don't live in Utah County (especially) so maybe you've already heard of it, it's called SPRING LAKE!! What a cute little relaxing place. There were ducks to feed and beautiful mountains overlooking this little lake. I'm going back here again, and this time I'll be prepared with "LUNCH". I'll probably even do some walking around the place too!! So how about you ... do you ever get out and about and discover what nature has to offer you .. where you live?? What are some of your favorite places.


These are just some of the pictures... page two still to come.

Layout was an idea from CTMH -- Cherish Book. (Great Ideas by the way)
and the papers were from Rainy Daze' Kit by Shelly Chua

And Element flowers from Kay M. Northrup's A soft rainfall kit

Photoshop fun!!

Okay so I'm having some more fun figuring out photoshop.

WOW!!!

Here are two different pictures of ME, that I took myself. (Yeah, I know I'm a dork, like that) I've always hated the way that my skin complexion always looks -- yes, even with Makeup. (Because I was wearing some in these pictures to begin with) What an amazing effect. I can't tell you exactly where I learned to do this, but I read a few different tutorials, and just remembered what they had said, and this is what I came up with to make me look way SMOKIN HOT!! If I say so myself, oh wait, I am saying it. GREAT!!!

I was playing around with changing my eye color in the first one, might be a bit much... but I think it looks great still.

Okay so this is my FAVORITE !!!!

So are you able to tell which was the RAW picture??? They were the two on the Right (as you are looking at it) and the after results are the ones on the left.

So shall I continue to manipulate my pictures so I look good ALL THE TIME!!!

I should say so!!!

My Beautiful Daughter Kaylee

This page was created using the same layout I did with Heidi and her "Freedom Bear". I experimented with the photo a little and love the effect I got, but I probably wouldn't be able to do it again... perhaps I can do another one that way just to see if I can "re-create" it.

I can't believe how much fun I keep having. I'm finding reasons to break out my camera and try to get some fun shots.... Someday, I'll achieve my dream. But for now, I can just practice on becoming an Amateur.



This bottom page is ALL Mine!! I had a lot of fun, with the layout because she was so animated while I was trying to capture her picture, that I couldn't just pick a few that I wanted to "SHOW OFF". I love the gift of learning that I have, and hope that I can continue to develop more in these areas.

My Beautiful Daughter.....

The other day I decided to have some experimenting fun and take some shots of Katherine. I'm not a photographer by any means, but have a goal to someday get to that point. But I am all about preserving memories through photographs, and I really like the ones I took. So I decided to make a few pages using just some of the pictures that we took.



Okay so I had A LOT of fun doing this one. It took me a few tries to get it just how I like it, but WOW!! What a fun effect. I'll have to try this with some of my other pictures too!! I followed a tutorial that I found here. I can't think of a better way for me to remember my kids.



And I had a lot of fun putting this layout together. I used papers and elements from www.shabbyprincess.com/SweetSprinkles.asp,

Katherine is such a great kid, (most of the time) she's helpful and happy, and really likes to have fun. She's goofy and silly, and loves to make Chris and I laugh.

Ethan's 2nd Birthday.

Okay so here's a preview of my little boy's 2nd birthday. Which was actually 2 months ago!! It's gone quickly too. More to come.

The great thing about this little kid.... he's so lovable!! Those little blue eyes get me every time. Even though he has proved to be a challenge .... I can wake up and know that I still love him, and always will. Hope you had a Happy Birthday little boy!!

What I've been busy doing....

Okay so this week I've been having fun messing around with my CTMH scrapbooking stuff. I am going away from using the "traditional" things to scrapbook with and am switching to digital!!

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!

Why??

Easy let me tell you....

• You can reuse the same "files" a.k.a. *papers* elements* customize it completely.
• If you mess up where you want it placed, you can "undo" it without ruining the paper you just spent precious $$ on.
• You can customize your layout however you want.
• And instead of spending all the money in getting all the supplies that you'll have to keep replacing and doing every time you scrapbook, you can save up the money and buy stuff online if you find something you like and can't live without, and/or when you've accumulated those thingst that you want to "print" and finally have hard tangible, evidence that you really do " scrapbook" you can print it into a book!!
• Blurb.com now has a 12x12 hardbound book, that you can put all your digi scrap pages into when they are finished!!
• Another side note... I'm totally into learning how to do all the tweaks, and learning tutorial after tutorial on how to achieve just the look and flavor I want.

So now that I know that, I'm going all out with 12x12 size layouts now, and I think I'll redo the ones that I've done earlier this year into the bigger size... who knows we'll see about that. I love CTMH stuff, but I'll just hold onto it for card making and stuff like that. Who knows maybe I'll even get to the point of just selling off what I do own.... nah! The stuff is cute!! And I did spend some money on it. Now I just need to invest in a better camera, and a new computer and I'll be well on my way to learning more about the things that tend to interest me most anymore. Here is a sample of the two pages I did yesterday in about less than 15 minutes altogether. (*that's only because I took the time to make the sketch's first and then I just had to pull in the few pictures I wanted to work with and the paper and elements and voila....


The Brothers layout was done using Christina Bartholomew's background papers from Christina's Grubbies --Brother's Paper Pack and elements (butterflies that I 'recolored') The layout I made but used the "ideas" from Reflections program that Close To My Heart sells. I bought the idea book years ago, and didn't really get a lot of use --- Until Now!!

Now Heidi's page I used the layout from Lisa Carter over at DSP and the papers and elements were from Rachel Dickson over at ComputerScrapbook.com

This is seriously so much fun for me, and I'm sure my family will be thankful as they grow taller, and get smarter and totally forget about these simple little things in life that make the best memories for me,being their mother.

Video Vendsday

So I couldn't resist, I wanted to share the interview we did with our oldest daughter in the hospital when she broke her arm. This girl cracks me up!!!






This video was also taken the same day only a lot earlier. It was the end of the year "Culminating Dance Program" that my kids school did, and this was the act they ended on. How much cooler can you get. These teachers sure know how to have fun.