See what you're missing?

This is what you miss when you don't have children who wake you up before 5am in the morning. We are going for our 2nd morning of early rising and I am afraid I am going to hit a wall about 3pm today...we'll be turning on a movie. We even tried taking Sunday naps/book time in your room yesterday..it didn't work! And at 6:30pm they were still going strong, we finally reverted to the strap them in the car so they can't move and they go to sleep method! Too bad I still had to go to a Presidency meeting at 8pm. Luckily the SUNRISE out my kitchen window made it worth it.

Happy Halloween...almost a week later!

So somehow the past month has just passed us by. May be it's been more like the last 2 or 3. I really can't believe that it is November. The girls all planned on being witches but with all the parties we went to...4 in total! They decided to change costumes for each new occasion. Lyndie even wore the clown costume I wore as a little girl to the soccer game on Halloween day. Halloween night she insisted on wearing a pull-up which she really doesn't need, and hasn't worn since last february, and I told her only babies wear them and so she went and put on her pajamas and said she was going as "pajama girl" she wore her cowboy boots with her pajamas, unfortunately I didn't get a photo of that one but by the time we went trick-or-treating she changed back into the piglet costume.

Our last few months have been filled with school....Lainey now stays for lunch, they just started this week, and constantly wants to have a friend over to play! Malia goes to school two days a week, she loves it but always shed a few fake tears and a don't leave me...it's just a control thing! Her class just hatched eggs and they now have 11 baby chicks in their classroom. Lyndie and I go to a mommy and me class twice a week although with her very runny nose and cough she has battled the last few weeks we've missed several days. She was very excited to go to her school today.

The 2 big girls are playing soccer. This week is their last game. Lainey is really into it and we think could turn out to be a really good player. She loves to get the ball and unfortunately often takes out her own teammates to take the ball down the field. Malia is a bit more timid on the field but keeps on running and smiling. The last few weeks she has really improved and almost made a goal this last week! Malia did learn to ride her bike last week. It's still a work in progress but she is coming along.

Lyndie keeps us laughing with the things she says. The other day while we were driving she says to me, "I don't like boys, cause they pee outside." Then the next day she says, "Boys have licorice bums. They pee outside. Hannah doesn't have a licorice bum" And then she proceeds to go through all the little girls she knows and says that they don't have licorice bums. I have no idea where she came up with "licorice bum" concept.

Our house is finally under real construction! The outside shell went up in less than a week. It was amazing to see it happen! I keep thinking if we didn't have to give part of it up for a garage I could have one of those big houses like in UTAH. But I am really grateful for the space that will be ours and especially my new bathtub...Justin knows how I love to read and soak and got me this sweet tub!

We've taken a few trips to Disneyland in the last few months...got to use those passes while we have them. Luckily none of them have been repeats of the trip in August when Lainey had a febrile seizure as we were leaving and she and I had to leave in an ambulance....that was one expensive trip...we're still paying for it, the joys of being self-employed.

It's finally starting to feel a bit like fall, although we did go to the outdoor pool just last week. The nights and mornings are chilly now and the girls frequently ask for hot chocolate.

I have stayed up way too late...we're still all adjusting to the time change. The waking hour is now before 6am at our house. Aahhhhh! And NO, no one takes naps!

Headache...

I was just complaining to my sister that I had a headache that won't go away and she says,

"I have been having them too."

And then she continued with, "You would too if you had my life!"

I told her I just had to blog that one.

With which she responded, "I don't even have time to blog anymore...I am all for making my kids smart but the whole homework thing is just way too much. May be I can blog on Fridays...there is no homework on Fridays."


Okay may be you didn't think it was funny...but I sure did.

General Conference

So I am really excited for conference this weekend...the girls are getting bigger and able to understand so much more. I really want to make it meaningful for them so I have been scouring the internet for ideas...just thought I would share some that I have found.


A conference wall...I am definitely going to do this one, I plan on having the girls help me cut some pictures out of our old Ensigns tomorrow to make our pages.

This is the apostle song, we watched it for FHE the other night.

I just found this one tonight ...so many ideas! I love the idea about sleeping in a tent...right now our backyard is all dirt and totally torn apart in preparation for the addition but we are definitely going to do this one in April!

Somewhere I also read the idea of taking the center spread out of the last conference issue of the Ensign..in this case the May 09 one and posting it on the wall, then when a new person comes up to speak you find them on the poster and put a sticker on their photo. I think that we will do this one as well.

I'm off to bed....opps almost forgot one of my other favorite sites that lists all sorts of conference ideas.

Wishing you the best!

The things they say...

today Lyndie decided to announce to one of my RS counselors that one of the rooms in our house was for our baby. Amy got this huge smile on her face and I quickly had to assure her that I was NOT pregnant. Lyndie so wants to be a big sister she is constantly asking when I am going to have her baby.

Someday...

I think I may get my life in order, come down with a good routine, have all my wash done, dishes put away, counters clean, RS stuff taken care of, but I don't think it's going to happen any time soon...especially with a house "readdition" (as Malia puts it) happening anyday now and just may be someday I'll update you on all that is happening in our lives in a more timely manner but don't count on it!

So until then enjoy a few photos of our Sunday evening walk!
BTW...did you know we are now a family of EIGHT...just kidding!

Pool Days...

I am up way past my bedtime....so I'll just have to let the pictures do the talking tonight, even though school has started we haven't let it stop us from spending our afternoons at the pool. I am so glad Lainey only goes half day to school so we can play in the afternoons!

Soccer Days...

We spent our first of what I am sure will be MANY days on the soccer field today! It was so fun watching the girls play!

We're back...

from our vacation...we survived the many hours in the car...today we only rode in the car for about 10 minutes and that was just to get Lyndie to take a nap! So I never should have started blogging because then I got this itch to start scrapbooking and well I really meant to be asleep by 10pm and now it's approaching midnight!

Happy 4th....

The past few weeks have just flown by. Here is a recap in words: visit from Grandma Aleen, blueberry picking, Malia's 4th Birthday, trips to the Butterfly exhibit at the museum, swimming, beach days, playing with new friends, vacation bible school, JUNE GLOOM - grey mornings followed by a bit of sunshine, popsicles, sick kids who like to sleep in mom and dad's bed, kids who are better and still want to sleep in mom and dad's bed, Little House on the Prairie marathons with dad, father's day, slip and slides and little pools, 4th of July kids parade....the list could go on, but now at least you see why we are non existint in the blogging world!

My HEROS

These are my HEROS for today! Baby Graham entered the world this morning at 4:50am in his own home, delivered by his Dad, while Papa Ron relayed the info that the 911 dispatcher was giving him. Some people plan to have their babies at home but my sister Keely was not one of them! He just came way too fast and the paramedics arrived about 5 minutes after he did. Luckily big sister Hannah slept through the whole ordeal and woke up when the paramedics arrived. Keely said this afternoon, "It all just feels like a movie!"

Graham Davis, weighing in at 8 pounds 13 ounces, 20 and a half inches long

This week in photos!

Awesome scrapbooking kits...for FREE

I can't wait to start scrapping again, btw I got my winkflash book the other day...it is so much fun to look through and relive the memories of last year. I've got to get started on the second half of the year so I will be ready for the next sale.

But I found these really cute kits...it's part of a contest that the Digiscrappaddicts are having.
Here is the site http://digiscrapaddicts.com/
you need to create a log in and then scroll down to the bottom of the PRODUCTS category, that is where you will find the free kits, they are listed under the title SYTYCD, which stands for So You Think You Can Design, you will find 5 different weeks with all sorts of kits in them.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

All scrapped out...

you would think with the amount of time I spent on scrapbooking the last two weeks I would hate it! But I am in love with it again! I worked really hard the last two weeks to get a scrapbook finished for a special deal and I now I just want to keep going. I can't wait for my new book to come. We went swimming today here is a page I just did. Aren't they cture?

A rite of passage....

as much as I try to keep my kids from growing up it's happening. Yesterday Lainey woke up and was complaining about a tooth hurting, I couldn't see anything when I looked at it but when I touched it I realized it was loose! She was so excited and wanted to call everyone at 7am to tell them. All day long she wiggled it, and about every 15 minutes I had to check it to see how much looser it was. This morning she was brushing her teeth extra good when I heard a blood curtling scream....and when I got in the bathroom, lo and behold there was the TOOTH! She was a bit traumtized by the blood but once we got it stopped she was thrilled, and everyone she has seen today has heard that she lost her tooth. Even Lyndie has taken to telling people that, "Lainey's mouth fall out." For some reason her losing her tooth has made me realize how BIG and GROWN-UP she is getting!

such a sweet deal!

This is from a friend's website....A sweet deal if you have a restaurant you want to go to. Remember, there are terms & conditions. On the restaurant.com website, you'll be asked to enter your zip code and it will pull up participating restaurants in your area. Then you will see a list of restaurants and gift card prices. A $25 gift card is regularly priced at $10 (so 80% off means you'll pay only $2). The only catch is there is a minimum purchase amount, clearly listed under the gift card prices. Usually the customer must have a total initial bill of $35. Then you pay with your $25 gift card and your total could be as low as $10 plus gratuity for a $35 meal. Once you pay for your gift card you may print it immediately from your computer! They don't expire for a whole year.

We found two of our favorite restaurants on here.

Look at her swim...

So Malia has been taking swimming lessons for the last few weeks, when she went to the first class the teacher kind of questioned me about whether she should be in the class but I used my motherly instinct which told me she could do it and now she is just off and swimming. Today in class her teacher actually had her demonstrate for the rest of the class and then she told me that she is going to be a really strong swimmer! We are so proud of her. Her swimming has also kicked Lainey into gear she doesn't want to be outdone by her little sister and now will actually let go of us in the pool and attempt to put her face in.

A bit behind...

with everthing that happened last month, i haven't had much time for blogging or scrapping, but since my kids are all asleep already....yes it is only 5:24pm, but they were up at 5:30am, i have a few minutes on my hands.

so what have we been up to? weddings, my relay race, daddy daughter campout, mom's weekend to vegas with her sisters and parents for another wedding, trips to the pool...yes we are already swimming here, swimming lessons - Malia has just taken off in the pool and when Lainey realized her sister could swim under the water...i think it made her a little mad and jealous and she is finally trying to swim on her own, ballet lessons, trips to a little local aquarium, school performances, easter and egg hunts, hosted a bridal shower...you have to do something like this at least every few months so your house gets a good cleaning, and the biggest news of all Lyndie is now pacifier free! Thank you Daddy for your willingness to just take it away while I was away at my race! She is still getting use to the going to sleep without it but she hasn't had one for two weeks. When I came home from my race she said that Daddy put it in the garbage and she wanted me to get it out for her so I told her that the garbage man already took the garbage away so if you see my daughter scowling at the garbage truck, you'll know why! But hey we get to go to Disneyland next week...that was the deal! More to come later, I want to scrap while my kids are asleep.

Another freebie...

Justin told me about this one tonight, I can't wait, no dinner cooking for me tomorrow.
El Pollo Loco is giving every customer two free pieces of chicken and tortillas!
Check this out
http://www.elpolloloco.com/whatsnew/promotions.html

Freebies...

My friend's sister has put together this awesome site of freebies and next to free items...check it out! I already ordered the free princess video.
http://dreysdeals.blogspot.com/
She lists quite a few freebies available today for tax day!

Also CK Fonts has some new free fonts, if you sign up for their email they will email you when they have new freebies available!
http://www.scrapnfonts.com/searchprod.php?showingonly=Free

HAPPY EASTER

So my pictures are not anywhere as cute as my sister's Easter photos of their kids but we'll get ours taken this week. I had this crazy idea that I needed to make skirts for the girls, and I do have to say they turned out pretty CUTE! The girls are in this crazy mode where they like to POSE for their pictures! It gets pretty interesting sometimes.

Up WAY too late...

Justin has undertaken another project in the bathroom. He found a good deal on a granite countertop and he was off and running before I knew what was happening! I am so lucky to have such a handy guy around the house. He's under a deadline though as I am having a bridal shower this Tuesday night at our house. So I decided to stay up late and keep him company...actually I am just updating stuff on the computer and helping him lift the countertop when he needs help. Enjoy our last few weeks...I have a few more pages to finish but I think I have had enough for tonight!

Week 9

Week 10

Weeks 11 and 12

works in progress...

Week 13

Week 14

Freebies

Just wanted to share some really cute scrapbooking kits I came across tonight with the help of the ikeagoddess.blogspot.com website. I am not sure how long they will be good for because in the past they are usually only good for a few days or so. It is from some type of contest they are having at the funky playground designs website, here is the link
http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=536
enjoy...they keep adding new ones so check back frequently.

Overheard...

Lainey just wrapped up one of Lyndie's pacifiers in paper and tape and then when Lyndie started asking for her paci, said to her, "These are the only paci's on craigslist." How did she come up with that one? Anyone who says kids don't observe and listen to what is said around them is crazy!

I am not sure why...

I thought I could keep up with this whole photo a day thing but I am not going to give up yet. This "part/full time" church calling I have just doesn't leave me any free minutes these days. But right now my girls are all playing "happily" together, my dishes are all done, I have dinner cooked...I am not sure it tastes all that great, I tried a new recipe, and the fact that I have this nasty taste in my mouth from my sore throat prohibits me from knowing whether or not it's a keeper recipe, but at least I don't have to figure out what to make! Now if I could just get on top of the laundry!

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Free Pancakes anyone?

Tuesday February 24th is free pancake day at IHOP, the girls and I went last year and plan to go again this year. For more info visit http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/

Week 1

So I have taken the challenge to take a photo a day in 2009...here's the first month. I stayed up way too late last night working on it since Justin was out of town and now I am paying for it...aah! I feel a cold coming on.

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Too much...

to even try and catch up, and I just now noticed we still have a Christmas photo at the top, oh well, we can just be early right? Or may be we'll just pretend it's Christmas all year long this year. I sometimes feel like my days are just slipping by, this week has seemed like an eternity and I can't wait for Sunday afternoon when I don't have any obligations or meetings to go to!

I have been taking a photo everyday this year and will post my pages that I have made so far. It's been fun to account for something in each day!

The girls and I had a hard day today, I think every one was just really tired, I have RS meetings almost all of the day tomorrow, Sister Beck, the RS General President is speaking in our area, but plan on trying to make up for today in the afternoon when I get home! I am so lucky to have my 3 girls and love them so much!

I should go offer Justin some help....he is taking apart the bathroom for the dry wall guy that is coming tomorrow. Justin installed this amazing shower head, as my friend who stayed with us and used it said, "That is so nice, it's almost sinful!" It is one of those huge rain shower heads and I love it almost as much as I love Justin and the girls!!!! I am so dang lucky to have such a handy man around the house!

butter anyone?

Just to make you JEALOUS...

yes my kids really are outside today playing in the sprinkler, and it really is warm enough for it. Have a great day!

Calling....

ALL RUNNERS! So I am looking for a few more runners for a race I want to run at the end of April, it's a relay race with 12 people where you run from Santa Barbara to Dana Point. Anyone interested? If you're from out of state I would be happy to put you up at my house or my mom's before or after the race. I am trying to get the team together asap as it's cheaper to register now. Come on, you could make it part of your New Year's Resolution to get in shape! If you want to check it out go to www.ragnarla.com

It's back...

Winkflash is having it's book sale again...good through the 23rd of January. You can get up to 100 pages, prices are as follows:
8x8 $13.95
10x8 $19.95
12x12 $29.95
you can't get any better price than this for 100 pages! I am going to attempt to finish scrapping 08', hopefully I can get it done! You would think I would learn that they do this every Jan and sometime in the summer and be ready but I never am!
The code is BOOKS4LESS

A Year in Review...

so the Christmas pictures will have to wait...but here is our year's review, some of you may have already read this in letter format...

ONE trip to Idaho in May for a Family Reunion, it was the first time in many years that all of Justin’s siblings had been together. Justin’s two youngest brothers returned home with us and lived with us for a few months during the summer, the girls loved playing with their uncles, and we loved the built in babysitters! We were even lucky enough to have many of Justin's famil join us in our home for Thanksgiving!

TWO days a week Lainey goes to preschool with her cousin Emma, she loves school and has filled our home with many paintings, drawings, writings, and new songs! Malia wishes she could go too but has resigned to the duty of being the big sister to Lyndie and doing projects with mommy, she has currently been asking to make goop!

THREE little girls fill our home with lots of energy, Laineys will soon be 5 Malia is 3 and a half, and Lyndie is almost two! Three is also the number of times we had to visit our friend Kris this year to repair the haircuts the girls has given to themselves or one another.

FOUR black cats for Halloween. The girls decided that they wanted to be the Three Little Kittens who lost their mittens, and Mommy got to be the mother cat, they wanted Daddy to be the Cow who Jumped over the Moon, but he was a mouse instead.

FIVE babies or more that Malia carries around with her. The girls love to play babies, dress up and dance. They told us they were going to ask Santa for a baby brother for Christmas, I told them they better not because they wouldn’t get one!

SIX times a day or more that we get to take Lyndie off the table, chair or counter, she loves to climb! She is so independent and wants to do whatever her big sisters do. She talks and talks and has recently taken up singing. She is currently working on potty training herself ! Where did our baby go?

SEVEN days we spent at Bass Lake where the girl’s favorite part was catching frogs in the mud! We visited Yosemite while we there and took a few “short” walks through the park. Justin and I had to constantly remind ourselves that we weren’t really on a vacation, that is what adults do without children, but that we were on an adventure!

EIGHT the number of books the girls try to convince Daddy to read them at nighttime, did we mention what a Super Daddy he is? We even celebrated his birthday with a “Super Hero’s” theme party complete with capes. He is so super at what he does that he has been called to serve in the Elder’s Quroum Presidency at church again! He gave countless hours working on the state election this past fall. He continues to dream and build beautiful things for others as well as for his family. His newest project: a ballet barre for our little dancers.

NINE o’clock the time mommy would like to go to bed, but between kids, serving as Relief Society President, making lesson plans for Spanish class, teaching mommy and me ballet classes, trying to stay on top of the house (she is so lucky she has Super Daddy to help her with the house), and attempting to stay on top of her scrapbooks, it rarely happens!

TEN months out of the year that we visited the pool, ocean or just played outside in the water,okay so really it was 12...but we won’t try to make you too jealous of our little paradise!Malia is a real little fish is the pool, Lainey loves to jump in the waves at the beach, and Lyndie still hasn’t figured out that sand really doesn’t taste all that great!