Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Completely random thoughts....

*i'm hooked on watching the food network lately {very unusual for me, because I don't really enjoy working anywhere near the kitchen}
*Alexis thought it was cool to cook like the chefs on tv...and I thought it was cool too
 *my sleep schedule is all screwed up from black friday...some days it really sucks working retail
*i'm excited to get the Christmas decorations up...hopefully throughout the week it will be completed
 *feeling a little relief that we started our Christmas shopping....we have a very LONG way to go, but it's started!
*current favorite app on phone....Slice It!
*really disappointed that i have not been taking many pictures lately...I didn't even get pictures of the girls in their halloween costumes...that makes me mad {at myself}
 *current book I'm reading...The memory keepers daughter (just started, but it's very good so far)
*I'm really discouraged with my work situation right now...very few hours...usually weekend...and the pay is TERRIBLE...but I do love to talk to the guests...that's my favorite part {besides the discount}
 *loving our new living room furniture...it was so very long overdue
*some days it's hard to believe that my girls are 5 and 8 already....I absolutely love to watch them grow and we laugh together so much
 {did you notice she is squeezing the orange...just like on tv...I love it}
*secretly hoping that one of the girls goes to votech for culinary training...i mother can wish can't she
*i'd love to treat myself and my girls to a peppermint hot chocolate from starbucks tomorrow...yum
 *most days i feel like a detective catching my stepdaughters in "untruths"...i just don't remember this stage when I was a young teen...{i take the lies very personally}
*current weekend plans...birthday party with family and friends for Mikayla's 8th and Samantha's 14th {14 already....hard to believe it's almost 10 years}
 *feeling very blessed that Joe is a very hard worker and a very smart worker
*i'm completely amazed with how many hours my hubby has worked this past weekend and with very LITTLE sleep....don't know how you keep going...thank you for working so hard for us
 *thankful that my girls made some great memories with their Oma this weekend...rode horses, parade, etc.....priceless to me that they are so loved
*will start to pray that my girls do not grow with the feeling I have, that I'm not good enough...there is always someone better...I want them to be strong, confident young women who can see their personal strengths
 *need to get organized and plan to host a bible study next year...i'm really looking forward to doing another Beth Moore study...i miss her emotional teachings...she really puts a spark in my walk with God!
*looking forward to volunteering at the elem. school this week...math tutoring
 *it seems like a little, unimportant thing....but I love to see my girls doing things with their daddy....just hanging out and talking...raking the nuts in the yard...playing soccer in the back yard...I just love to see them bonding
*i really, really dislike the elem. school grading system....1, 2, 3, or 4...why did we have to change the good old way of percentages and A, B, C, D, or F...I know I'm not alone with this feeling
 *i need to make more time to craft just for myself....looking forward to a crop event in January
*yesterday when I drove to Bethel to pick up the girls at Oma's...I cried because I miss my dad, he was such an amazing man and i wish my girls and husband could have met him...it will be 15 years next month
*i'm looking forward to a family vacation next year...i just want to go away and do some site seeing...something new, something to make my girls' eyes light up
*if you happen to read this, Joe...I love you and be safe at work!

Friday, October 28, 2011

I am a DAILY blog visitor on Studio Calico blog...I love to see the ideas the designers share and I love the modern, funky style of their products.
The blog posts a weekly sketch challenge and I usually don't get around to using the sketch much less get it posted in time. But this week is a new change...
Here is the Oct. 23rd Sunday Sketch....
and my layout...

Sunday, October 16, 2011

mom's birthday card...

my mother turned....39....again this year....haha
 here's the card I made for her

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Alexis' last year of preschool...

It has been quite a while since I posted....don't know where the time goes.

Alexis started preschool about two weeks after her sisters started school. It is so hard to believe that this will be our last year of preschool. Alexis was super excited to start school again.
 Alexis is an extremely funny little girl. She cracks us up! She says the funniest things at just the right time.
 Alexis is such a beautiful little girl. It is so awesome to hear all our friends and family comment on her eyes. She really has bright blue eyes that scream for your attention.
 She loves to carry her backpack every day. But they hardly ever get papers to put in their backpack. Most of their artwork is displayed in the school.
 Alexis is a very smart little girl. Not to take any credit away from her, but she has a huge advantage with having older sisters. She learns a lot from hearing conversations with her sisters. She recognizes almost all of her alphabet {misses about 5 to 7 every time} and she is learning math skills already.
 She's not too interested in crafts though....it's like pulling teeth to have her color a picture. She definitely didn't take after me in that area.
 She really enjoys playing with her school friends. She talks about lots of kids in her class and shares some conversations almost every day.
Alexis loves to dance! She really has some *amazing* moves! 
 She has an addiction to shoes {already}...she has used her allowance and gift money to buy about 6 pairs of shoes....crazy but cute!
 She loves to drink my coffee.
 She definitely does not understand the words "hurry up"...there is NO rush in this girls body....it takes her forever to do things...she is so easily distracted.
 she is not a neat kid...she is not good at cleaning up....I think that is another trait of a baby sibling {my younger brother was not good at cleaning up toys either}.
 She had a great first day of preschool. All the excitment tired her out and she took a nap that afternoon.


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Camping Part 2....

Camping fun continued....

splashing in the pool...
 
Mia and Alexis enjoying some cool ice cream... 
 she's really checking it out....and making a little bit of a mess...


 on the hike back to the camp site...don't know what she was doing here....


 according to Alexis, these help her to see better {in the sun}....
 playing at the camp site....again at the tree....
 the chef is at work {this is my favorite part about camping, usually the men do the cooking}...menu tonight...fries and wings
 not sure what this is on her cheek....some kind of allergic reaction?...not sure, but it did go away
 the three stooges....but they are cooking for us
 the kids right before we got on the road to head home
 strike a pose.... 
and we are all ready to go again...

Thursday, September 15, 2011

SunValley Camping Part 1.....

A awesome four day weekend getaway.....
With our hectic family schedule it is so hard to getaway, but this was a nice relaxing weekend.

A phone in a tree?....why not?... The kids played on this tree all weekend....love to see them using their imagination!
I took three of the girls to the kids craft session....they made some make believe bug catchers...cute...

not sure what this look was for....but I sure do love this cutie!

of course we have playing in the stones....

Joe caught a tiny, tiny snake....like the size of a worm...the girls were in awe, but no one was afraid {that's good}

how about a rooster in the camp store?...HaHa....Oh, it's just Ron acting crazy...

kids cooling off at the pool....

lots of pool photos....


the water was too chilly for Sam....

our little floater....{she is in a tube}....









Mia and Alexis just hanging out...

and what goes with relaxing by the pool....ice cream!



these two played nicely in the pool {very unusual}....they competed in some pool games and then played with some of the new kids they met....very cool watching them have fun as sisters