Happy Birthday Jared!!!!

I can't believe my baby boy is so grown up!!! I also can't believe that I am the mother of a 12 year old!!?! In homage to the birthday boy, we are going to tell you how wonderful he is!!!

Jared is...
thoughtful
smart
a multi-talented musician
easy going
a wonderful big brother
a superb son
a great friend
caring
handsome
kind
obedient
loving

Of course this is completely biased because we already think the world of him.

We celebrated tonight as a family with a little cake and presents. Tomorrow, he is having a few friends over for video games, cake, and a sleep over ( I dread that part).

I am hosting a speed scrap!!!

I am so excited to be hosting a speed scrap at Scrap Matters this Saturday!! Hope you can make it!!!!






















Mickey B. was awesome enough to make an adorable participation prize for those who'd like to come play.

Guest Blogger- Nicholas

Hey, Nicholas here and I got news to share. I finally got my braces on today. I chose blue brackets and they look so cool. The only thing that stinks is the food that I'm not allowed to have. I even got to miss some school today.

Other cool news, I'm moving on in the science fair. I present my project tomorrow. I'm so EXCITED!!!!!! Wish me luck.

**UPDATE** I got second place out of the whole SCHOOL for the 4th grade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This means I'm going to the county competition!!!! Can you wish me some more good luck, please??? Thanks!

P365 day 26

Still feeling bad for myself that Damian didn't remember our anniversary. So Nick and I drowned my woes in yumminess. We went to Starbucks for a treat after school. No worries LDS peeps, I am keeping the Word of Wisdom. It's a vanilla bean frappucinno. No coffee in it. Of course I didn't get much of it because as soon as I got home, I was stalked and my treat was hijacked by the dynamic duo (Olivia and Jack).

P365 Day 25

Damian forgot our anniversary AGAIN! So I indulged in a little retail therapy to ease my broken heart. Nothing grandiose, just a few hours at my favorite store...Target!!! This purse makes me smile!

P365 days 24

Using this for day 24 because I can. I didn't get around to taking a pic, but I have been scrapping. This is one of my fave layouts!!





















Love you forever paper and flowers by Andilynn Designs, To be a Kida Again alph by Britt-ish Designs, Free Sample template 1 by Denise Beatty Originals, Save the Date by WM [Squared] designs

P365 day 23

I was trying to get Jack to sit for a picture today. Not happening. Olivia had just walked in the door from dance class and she was wearing the perfect color for being backlit. So we went with it. Jack ran away and here's what we got.

P365 day 22

I really don't intend on just photographing my daughter. She is the ONLY willing participant on most days. I had too many faves for this day. So I'll post them all and then decide later which one will be "the one".

Happiness is... (part II)

not having to pay my deductible for my identity theft claim so what that means is I am recovering all money lost(yay),

staying in jammies all day long,

big bowls of hot soup on rainy days,

weekends,

and more scrapping!

Here is a layout using Kaye Winiecki's new Bookworm kit and her Strawberry Swirl alpha (which I recolored to more of a blueberry).









































Be Inspired by Ami Template and let them Eat Cake by WM [Squared].
Art in Me alpha (recolored) by Tracie Stroud.

Did a speed scrap last night a Scrap Matters. I am not sure if I am totally sold on this layout. Love the colors and the photo together. Not sure I am liking all the stuff under the photos. Still stewing over it.






















All things new by Tracie Stroud
Ribbon and glitter from Honeydew by WM [Squared]

Happiness is...

finding my scrap mojo and actually finding the time to create!! Scrapping makes me soooo happy!





















Credits: Imperial Girl By Britt-ish Designs and fabulously Negative template (altered) by WM [Squared]






















Credits: Love Life and explore.learn.grow. kits by Sahlin Studio, Stitch from Toy Sheriff Kit by Britt-ish Designs

Day 20

Look what we came home to:















Unfortunately, there was no pot of gold. If you look closely, there were two rainbows. Does this mean we are in for some good luck?????

Day 19

Presenting My dinner!!!!















Try it! You'll like it!
8-10 potatoes peeled imperfectly and cubed
1/2 C butter
1/2 C flour
8 C milk
1/2 C chopped onion
one 8 oz. container of sour cream
1/2 to 1 brick of cheddar cheese (we like a lot)
season to taste with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper,season salt

Other yummy things you could add- corn, bacon, chives, ham

1. Microwave potatoes in a glass bowl until soft (at least 10 minutes but more depending). Mix as heating.

2. While potatoes are cooking, melt butter in a dutch oven or large pot on med-high heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to boil and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 5-10 minutes or until slightly thickened.

3. Stir in potatoes and onions and allow it to cook for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream and cheese until melted and blended. Season to your liking.

The potatoes tasted a little potato-y at first. After it sat, the potatoes really took on the flavors and were super yummy!! Perfect meal for a rainy and cold day!!

Could cause indigestion or a heart attack, but totally worth it!

P365- Day 17 & 18

Yay me! On track!!!
Jack crashed out after church. We have the late schedule this year. His scar is looking much better. No photoshopping it today.















Playing in the rain today. Daddy bought Liv a pair of rain boots. I won't be surprised if they become part of her daily wardrobe.

P365 days 5-16

Okay, I am so sucking at this! I am determined to keep going! So for the sake of keeping me on track and not giving up, I am going to have to cheat a bit!!! Some days I am either editing with no time to take my own pics or I have gotten home and there is not enough daylight. So...days 5-12 are a major cheat. I was frantically finishing up my last wedding earlier this month so I figured, why not post my edits. Although I did not take the pics that day, I was working my butt off on them.

Look for It!!! (P365 day 4)

Can you see it????? Look hard. If not, awesome! That is the point.
Day 4:
















I have the best insurance in the world! Covers orthodontia. If you look at my top teeth stage left/house right, you can see the shifting. It was really bugging me to the point that I would Photoshop my teeth. So I got Invisalign. In six months, I'll have beautiful and straight teeth once again.

2010, Twenty Ten, Two Thousand and Ten, One Zero

I think I like the sound of twenty ten! It has a nice ring to it. Whatever you call it, I hope that good things are in store for you this year! I am hopeful that for us, this year will be better than last. Scary to type that last sentence as I remember thinking that exact sentiment this time last year. Remember, this is my attempt to be "the cup is half full" kind of girl.

I received an email New Year's Eve from Canon. Not going to cover my camera woes under warranty (sigh). It's going to cost me $300.00 to fix the camera and the lens. They are probably going to say it was dropped when I call to ask Monday what the problem was. Although I, myself, personally have never ever dropped it. They are probably right and some small person in my house is to blame. It was discovered earlier this year that Jack did in fact DESTROY, INTO PIECES my 50 mm lens. Being the "cup is half full" kind of girl, I had to laugh and tell Damian that at least we got the email in 2009 and not let the news muddy the waters for 2010. I must say that 2010, so far so good except for the minor bout of a tummy bug in the house. I can deal with that!

So, I am truly going to try P365 this year (aka project 365- a picture a day for an entire year). Status report: missed days one and two already (Hahaha!). So today is catch up. I am using pictures to document something for those days although the pictures were taken on different days. I so love having a back-up camera for this (my rebel).

What better way to ring in the New Year than with a pedi (my xmas request)! Don't get them as much as I used to when Da was employed. Gotta make cuts ya know. Love that I can see my reflection in my toes! Day 1:















I couldn't take any pictures day 2, but I was working on some. Honestlty, perfect way to document this day. OMG! Those lashes! Day 2:





















Didn't make it to church today (2nd Sunday in a row...yikes!). Da, Nick & I fighting a tummy bug. Gotta get better so I can get back to work manana. A little spiritual enlightenment in lieu of not making it to church. Great idea Daddy! Read and had a wonderful discussion with the boys about the Prophet Elisha. Day 3:















Happy New Year!!!