So, Does Anyone Read my Blog? Memories! Update...Finally!

I know I have more than two readers! So my dear friends, acquaintances, and lurkers. Say "hi!" every now and then. It motivates me to keep on blogging! Anyways, So someone out there started a challenge on a blog where someone leaves a memory of their friendship in the comment section and then posts the challenge on their blog. I left some memories on Kiahna's and Karen's blog from the single's ward era of our lives. Since I left memories on their blog, I now must post the same challenge. What memories do you have of our friendship? Please don't leave anything too embarrasing, okay! If we are new friends, just say hi! On a side note- Willow, I am so proud of you! I saw you created a blogger profile! Does that mean you'll have a blog soon?

So now for an update. This Summer has been quite eventful despite the fact I have tried to lay low. Our computer issues are now all taken care of and we are the proud new owners of a "Phat" system!!! YAY!!! I don't know how we were able to scrounge up the cash to take care of our computer woes, but we did. It was really a miracle since I don't get paid over the summer!! Olivia is now fully potty trained (insert choir of angels singing-"Hallelujah!"). I thought this day would never come! My beloved shih-tzu Zoey passed unexpectedly Tuesday morning. I can't go into much detail as it is too painful for me to talk about and the tears are welling up in my eyes as I type this sentence. Changing the subject...I haven't mentioned this before, but Damian's recovery with his eye surgery had a minor complication (too much scar tissue/over healing). This morning he is having the procedure again. It's a good thing he didn't make a higher ranking on the firefighter list. He needs the extra time to heal properly so he can pass the vision requirement. Jack is now trying to walk. Every day he is taking more and more steps. He'll be running in no time. It amazes me how quickly he has grown and what a blessing he has been to our little family. The end of next month will be his first birthday so I have to get busy planning a little shin-dig. Jared and Nick are turning out to be awesome babysitters! They are great with Jack and have been giving me some much needed quite moments. When they are not playing with the little ones, they are in video game heaven which is fine by me! Once school starts that time will be drastically cut. Kiahna and I are going on an adventure the weekend before I report back to teach!!! I can't wait to share all about it with you, but you'll just have to wait until we're back. For now, it's a secret. I am also going to San Jose for CK's Creative Photography Retreat at the end of August. I am so jazzed!!! I get to meet Jessica Sprague, Candice Stringham, and Ali Edwards. It looks like I'll be missing Lisa Bearnson on Thursday night. I have to drive up late to the event as I have Back to School Night the evening it begins. I am just happy to attend. It's a weekend of learning photography skills to apply to scrapbooking. More good news to share...it looks like we get to have the van fixed next month as well. That's exciting as I won't have to drive Damian to work anymore or coordinate rides for him to choir practice. If I could choose one word to describe this summer, it would have to be rollercoaster. Lots of highs,lows, and screaming. I have one more week of nothingness before I have to start getting my classroom ready for the new school year. Keeping my fingers crossed I get a better class!!! Last year's group was rough!!! I'll leave you with a new layout I made last night. Catch ya later and have a happy Friday!


Credits: JWilson Girls Laundry ppr & Sparklebet, KPertiet floral edger no.1-3, LGrieveson worn strips Recolored, WW vintage comfort ribbon recolored, Shabby Princess Stitches, Something Blue Studios frame, Fonts-CK ali's Handwriting, VT Portable Remington

Photography Class

I am having so much fun this summer! I have been taking a photography class with Candice Stringham and let me tell you, I have had many AHA! moments with regards to the technical side of photography. I thought I'd share with you one of my creative assignments. We were to explore our neighborhood/town and look for a location that you may not have noticed before and shoot there. She even suggested taking our kiddies with us as an adventure. Well I would never take all four of them by myself anywhere, but Nick kindly volunteered to help me with my homework. So Nick and I hopped in the car and went exploring. We found this really cool abandoned shack. What a treasure it is! What was so cool that behind it was some old farm equipment and junk that added to the character. I challenged myself to shoot and edit in RAW format as well. I am very happy with the result. Thought I'd share my work.

OMG! That's "Oh my goodness!"

I know I promised pictures of Olivia's potty successes, but I just can't do that (she likes to strip "neked" to go). A week and a half ago, we had promised her if she continued to use the potty that we'd go to Club Libby Lu in the mall to get "Hannah Tanna" hair. Well, as you can see in the layout, she has a rockin' new look. The drama in the pictures stem from me taking away her "Hannah Tanna" make-up. I never allow the little ones to have scissors, pens, glue, crayons, etc.. without supervison. I cringe at the thought of these things appearing on my walls and furniture or my children cutting their hair. Make-up falls into the category of "under adult supervision". Potty training is still going well. Going #2 is our next challenge. I've bribed her with another trip to Club Libby Lu and dance lessons. She talks about them both a lot, so I think I have some valuable currency with her.

Materials used in layouut: Jen Wilson girls Laundry solid paper and Sparklebet, K.Pertiet Stamped block 7 and Photo Booth frame, Miss Mint Doodle Arrows and Zebra Print paper, font-ck_ali's handwriting

ShaZAM!

So as most of my loyal readers know, I love Jessica Sprague!!!! I've learned so much from her about Photoshop! She is my hero! So for the Photoshop Friday tutorial, Jessica taught us how to give a dull photo a color pop. She calls the process Photo ShaZAM! I just love that word! It reminds me of Foxy Cleopatra from Austin Powers. If you want to learn to do this with your photos in Photoshop CS3 or Elements here is a link to her easy peasy tutorial http://spraguelab.squarespace.com The top picture of Jack isn't as bright as I would have liked it to have been and with Jessica's process, ShaZAM! It's perfect! That was fun!!!

Credits: J.Sprague grunge frame, font is Al Hair brained

How we spent Independance Day

We had a quiet and laid back 4th of July. Our family tradition is to dress in our Nation's colors. I found really cheap shirts for all the kids at Target on Thursday. I love bargains! We went swimming at my dad's house and had his famous fish tacos for dinner. I don't care for fish, but I have to admit that they were yummy! We decided to come home for fireworks as we didn't want to return to our dogs freaking out. Olivia was very excited about fireworks this year and was even brave enough to hold sparklers. I must say, the sparklers here are terrible! They have more of a flame than a spark. Every time Damian would lite our fireworks, Olivia would sing (more like yell) the song "Twinkle, twinkle, little star...". Jack wasn't to thrilled with his first firework experience. He was quite scared and clingy. We can always count on our neighbors to put on fabulous firework shows with their stash of illegal fireworks. Once we were done with ours, we watched theirs. They really out-did themselves this year! Their stash was the best yet! Hope you had a great 4th of July!!

It's a Miracle!

So, Olivia wakes up from her nap today, takes off her clothes (including her diaper), and pees on the potty! Yep, she really can do it. She shouted from the potty "I get presents Mommy!". So to celebrate, she got to buy a present at Target. I'd share pictures of the momentous occasion, but she was "neked". When the light is better tomorrow, I'll take pictures of her and her potty presents. To me , this is a miracle!!!! Three years and six weeks... a little later than I would have like her to have figured it out. And OH! The money to be saved from not having to buy her diapers makes me giddy! Let's keep our fingers crossed that stubborn streak doesn't return!

We were lazy today. Jack wasn't feeling too well. I think he has a tummy bug. I made a layout while the little ones napped and I thought I'd share it with you all.


Credits: A.Victoria Pina papers, K. Mize web challenge freebie (altered), Font- Mariah

I Love Summer Vacation!

I am so happy to be off of work for the next six weeks!!!! I love teaching, but it has been hard returning to work since Jack's birth. I've missed my kids! I've missed scrapbooking! I've missed a clean house! Friday night I stayed up really late and woke up really early Saturday to get my house cleaned. I was tired, but I feel as though I can relax more if the house is clean. I stress over mess! There is no better way to start my vacation than with a spic and span house! I've been letting the kids play outside during the cooler times of the day. Olivia has a new love affair with the hose. She loves to get herself (and anyone else nearby) wet. It is now also officially stinkin' hot with 100+ degree days. I don't care how much PG&E raised their rates, the house will stay cool! Jared and Nick are in video game heaven since it is summer. I regulate time playing video games during the school year. I have rarely seen them and am unsure if that is a good or bad thing. Now that Jack has discovered he has teeth(we are at five, almost six), he enjoys biting the furniture and crunching on Cheerios. Olivia is STILL unsuccessful with the potty. She is by far the hardest to train yet. I guess I could consider changing one's own pee pee diaper progress. Nick and I caught her doing this today. I can't remember who told me that girls were easier to potty train, but they are a LIAR! Love her to pieces, but she is my karma! I scrapped a cute digi page with my pokey computer and new found free time. Today is a good day! TTFN!!!

Credits: Heather Ann-Daisies & Dots (freebie) green paper, Jen Wilson- Photo turns, Peppermint Creative- painted border, painted ric rac, blue border/blue star from Wild Weekend Freebie (recolored), cardboard circle, and Twinkle Toes circle of white stars (recolored), Lynn Grieveson- worn strips (the one w/ stars is recolored)