And You Thought Your December Shopping List Was Big....

We have a very busy December at our house. Not only do we have to shop for Christmas, we also have two birthdays to think about. Brianne's was yesterday, and today is Shaun's. Actually is some ways it is nice I usually get all of the shopping done then just decide later which is for Christmas and which is for birthdays. Kaylee's Birthday is in January so I usually get her birthday presents at the same time.

Happy Birthday Brianne.

Brianne was superstar of the week last week in Kindergarten. Her teacher asked me to come and share some special things about Brianne and read her favorite story. I brought pictures to help me show some of the things Brianne likes to do. I also brought a picture of her as a brand new baby, and told about how Brianne was suppose to be born in January, but decided to come 3 1/2 weeks early. We got to bring her home from the hospital on Christmas Eve, just in time for Christmas. She was our extra special Christmas present that year. I teared up when I was telling the kids this, and almost couldn't read the story I brought. Brianne continues to be our special Christmas present every year. We are lucky to have her in our family.

Brianne on her Birthday in the Hospital. This is the picture I shared with her class.

We had Friends Birthday party on Saturday. You might recognize the horse pinata from last year. Only last year it was painted purple and disguised as a unicorn. This year Brianne wanted a Christmas/Birthday party, so the horse got turned into a reindeer.

I thought this was a super cute picture of Brianne. The cake however was a disaster. Half of it didn't come out of the pan and I didn't have time to start over so I attempted to glue it back together with frosting. I was laughing so hard that tears started coming out of my eyes. Brianne wanted to know what was so funny. Luckily she didn't seem to notice that her cake was lopsided. And once the sprinkles and candy canes were on it, it didn't look so bad.

Brianne ready to hit the pinata.

All the kids going for the candy.

Brianne on her birthday. She decided to have donuts instead of a cake. After opening her presents (she got a razor scooter, new snow pants, pajamas with feet, and a jewelry box), we went to Kangaroo zoo.

Happy Birthday Shaun !!!

Shaun probably will wonder why I chose this picture to share. But I thought it was so cute of him and Sydnie. Sydnie really loves her daddy, and it shows in this picture. We are so lucky to have Shaun in our family. He is a great daddy and a hard working husband. We are so grateful for all he does for us. We love you. Happy Birthday Shaun.

Sledding with the Jacksons

It has been so nice to get a little snow and have the weather turn a little warmer. I was getting tired of the single digit temperatures we had last week. Nancy and her family came for the weekend and just in time it snowed several inches overnight and we had a perfect day of sledding on Saturday. We are so lucky to have a sledding hill just up the street from our house. It is big enough to get a good ride, but not so big that the little kids can't make it up by themselves. Even Sydnie dared to go down by herself this year, although one of us would have to run down the hill after her and carry her back up.

Hayden and Kaylee ready to have Nancy push them down the hill.

Brianne and Sydnie getting ready to go down on the tube. Brianne was a die hard. She would sled down walk up the hill and go right back down again. She must have gone down the hill at least 20 times.

After awhile everyone got tired of going up and down the hill and we stopped to make a snow fort.

Nancy snapped a few shots for our Christmas card. I decided to post it here just in case I don't manage to get cards mailed to everyone this year. They turned out good, but I was disappointed in the quality of the prints I got from Sam's club this year. It wasn't the photo. I checked the resolution on my computer. So it must have been something weird with the uploading or printing process. I am going to send them out anyway. Oh well at least I tried.

Later that night we made apples we made around 80 apples it was quite the production line. I think that is the most we have ever made at one time.

Reflections contest 2009. Beauty is...

The schools in Utah participate in the national PTA art competition called reflections. Each year the kids are given a theme to model their artwork around. This years theme was Beauty is....
Both Kaylee and Brianne did very well. They both won first place in three dimensional art for their school and got to go on to the district level for judging. They also won second place in the category of visual arts with their paintings of peacocks. They were in different age categories Brianne competed in age K-2nd and Kaylee was in the 3rd-5th grade group.
Then we were excited for Kaylee when we found out she had also won with her three dimensional art on the district level. She now gets to have her artwork judged on the regional level.
We are so proud of our two little artist. We have been blessed with two great artists in our family, and Sydnie is sure to be a third, she is already watching her sisters and working on her scribbles. But with two artist as parents they can't hardly help it.


Brianne and Kaylee posing with their trophies for the three dimensional art, they also won medals for their pictures.


Kaylee posing for the newspaper, with her plaque she won for her three dimensional art on the district level.


The girls with their winning artwork, and awards. Click on the picture to get a better view. They both won second place for their peacock paintings, on the school level. Brianne won first place for her hummingbird sculpture on the school level, and Kaylee won first place for her swan sculpture on both the school level and district level. Good luck to Kaylee! Keep your fingers crossed that she will win on the regional level.

Writing things down before I forget

Sometimes your kids say or do something that you just have to write down before you forget them. So, here are three funny things that each of my kids have said recently:

Brianne:
I just got some new pajamas on a black Friday sale. I wore them on Sunday, even though technically they are suppose to be Christmas presents. Brianne looked at my new pajamas and said, "Suzanne(my friend and neighbor) always looks cute in her pajamas." So I said, "do you not like my pajamas?" Then Brianne replied very honestly, "Mom I really like these pajamas, but the ones you usually wear are really ugly." She was talking about my garments, I guess I need to start wearing my cute pajamas more.

Kaylee:
I was talking on the phone to my friend Audrey, while I was doing Kaylee's hair for school. I was commenting to Audrey that it sounded like Sydnie was saying the sh__ word. (although since then I figured out what she was saying, and luckily it's not that.) Anyway, I was telling my friend that I didn't think she learned it from me, since I don't use that particular swear word very often. Sadly, I do occasionally use other words. Then Kaylee piped in saying, "I think she learned it from Dad, he says it all the time when he is down in the basement." We just got done finishing part of our basement, and I'm sure that word, among others, were used quite frequently.

Sydnie:
Sydnie is learning so much lately. She is learning new words daily, and is starting to recognize shapes, numbers, and colors. Today she said something that made me smile. I got some oranges from the grocery store today, and she was trying to ask for one, so she pointed to an orange and said "I want yellow". Well at least she is starting to get the concept that things have colors, that is a pretty big step.

Christmas Craft Show

My favorite show of the year is here again I can't believe it! There is something about Christmas decorations that make it a little funner to get ready for. I don't know if it is the colors or the glitter, but I always find myself singing Christmas tunes while I work on my crafts. I focused mostly on my Holiday stuff this show and came up with a few new ideas, as well as repeated a couple big sellers from last year, my Christmas countdown calendars and blocks. I didn't post a picture of them I figured you could look at last years pictures if you really want to know what they look like. Like every show I am excited to have everything set up and my work is done. Now I just have keep my fingers crossed that things will sell.

Digital Scrapbooking here I come!!!!

I have been thinking of converting to digital scrapbooking for about a year now. I didn't know a whole lot about it other than it sounded cool, and there are places to go that you can subscribe to a service and pay for layouts and embellishments. But I'm a do it yourself kind of person, and while I don't mind getting ideas from other people, I don't like to be stuck to a certain template. So, when our ward had an enrichment activity on digital scrapbooking, I was really excited. My excitement turned to pure elation when I got there and the girl showed us how to digital scrapbook for free!!! And just when I thought things couldn't get any better it was super easy! All you need is Photoshop elements software version 5 or newer to get started. I had to order a new version of Photoshop before I could get started, my software came Friday and I have spent most of the day today playing around with it. Here is my first attempt at digital scrapbooking.

Pretty cute for a first attempt right? Click on the picture for a close up view. You can read my explanation there, or for those of you to lazy to do that, I will explain and give my sources again here. Most of the cute embellishments and paper I found on these two websites: shabbyprincess.com and freedigitalscrapbooking,com. I also taught myself today how to scan my own ribbon and embellishments into Photoshop. The brown ribbon on the tree was my own scanned in creation. I also learned how to back my photos using colors extracted from my picture, you will notice how the blue backing is exactly the same color as Brianne's sweater! I also learned of a great site for handwriting fonts, kevinandamanda.com. You can download their cute fonts or send in a sample of you own handwriting to make you own personal handwriting font!

I would love to help anyone out who is interested in learning more about digitalscrapbooking. I don't know a lot yet, but I know enough to at least get someone started. I am still learning about printing options. I know that Costco does a 12x12 photo quality print for $3.00 but I am looking for other options. So far I have found a site with pricing between $3-and less than a dollar per page depending on the paper quality. I welcome any suggestions!

Happy Halloween!!!

We had a great Halloween this year, but I was pretty horrible about taking pictures. I kept forgetting my camera or running out of time. Halloween started on Friday for us. The kids have a Halloween parade for all the parents at school, then I helped out at Kaylee's Halloween party at school. Later that night we had trunk or treat at the church. Shaun surprised us by painting his face like the Joker from the latest Batman movie. I am just sick that I didn't get any pictures, he looked just like him. Then on Saturday we carved pumpkins and went trick or treating. Sydnie loved trick or treating. We had really mild weather and she was able to go with the older girls and Shaun for almost an hour. There was no prying her candy bucket from her hands, and she has been walking around with it all day today. She must be excited to have a whole bucket of candy that is her own(although mom and dad keep stealing pieces of candy from it).

Brianne the witch, she insisted on the green face, Kaylee the baby and Sydnie the dog. She wasn't fond of her costume especially when the hood was on, so this picture was as good as it gets.

Sydnie loved being one of the girls when it came to pumpkin carving, she even dared to stick her hand in and get a few seeds out herself.

Brianne and Kaylee cleaning out their pumpkins. Shaun is in the background making carameled apples for the adult Halloween party that we went to later that night. We went as a prom couple from the eighties/early nineties. I was able to fit into an old prom dress of mine and did my hair with mile high bangs and wings, Shaun wore a mullet wig and pegged his pants. We looked Awesome!!!! Once again we were so late to the party I forgot pictures again.

The Results
I have to say I had a ton of fun decorating this room. I had to try and control myself from going overboard, and decided it was time to be done when Kaylee said "Mom! When are you going to be done making things for our room?!?!" I did make most of the things in their room. I always have been one of those people who think, "why buy it when you can make it?" The list of thing I made included: pillows, the fabric covered headboards, curtains, a chalk board, several frames, magnet boards, and some really cute trees on the wall that matched their bedding. I have a friend who one of her most embarrassing moments was her husband walking in on her when she was pretending to host a cooking show. That probably would never happen to me since cooking is something I do to get the job done, not for fun. But I have to say, when I am standing at my power tools for hours working on craft shows, I often day dream about what it would be like to host my own decorating show. Sadly, this is about as close as it will get, but a girl can dream, right?



As much of the room as I could get in one shot. I actually completed the room a couple weeks ago, but had a hard time finding a time that I could take pictures when their room was actually clean. P.S. the Halloween decorations are not part of the permanent room decor, although they do sort of match.

White Wall Challenge

So, those of you who watch HGTV's Design Star will know what a white wall challenge is. For those of you who don't, it is a show where Designers compete in several challenges to win a show on HGTV. One of the most famous challenges is the white wall challenge, where they take a white boring room and transform it. I am excited to say the girls room is finally done!!! I'd like to consider myself an armature interior decorator, so I thought it would be fun to show you the before and after of the girls room. The pictures below are of their room with just the white primer on. In a few weeks I will have their room completely decorated and show you the afters. I have already started and am excited about how it is coming along so far! P.S. Shaun did a great job with all the finish work, everything looks great.

Go Strikers!

Kaylee had her last game for fall this last Saturday. She has been playing on a competitive soccer team, and has had fun. It has been fun going to all of their games and cheering their team on. Competitive soccer is much more exciting to watch than rec league they actually play positions and know somewhat what they are doing, and its not just a big jumbled mess like rec league. Kaylee has improved a ton since she first started playing. She is going to play indoor soccer to keep her skills up over the winter, and then her team starts regular games again in the spring.

Kaylee "number 6" going for the ball.

Sydnie Turns Two!!!

Sydnie turned two yesterday, we had a fun little party for her. We invited a couple of our neighbors over for root beer floats and cake. Sydnie had a great time being the center of attention. And playing with all the kids.

I thought I would highlight a few of Sydnie's accomplishments by the age of two. Sydnie is turning into a great talker, I was a little worried about her at the age of one because she really wasn't saying much. But now she has a big list of words and phrases that she used regularly. Here are her favorites:

Don't touch it

oh! there's daddy, or its my daddy

Micheal, or Oh! there is my Micheal.(a little almost two year old little boy across the street.)

Here kitty kitty kitty(Meow)

Oh! there is the doggy(Woof, woof)

Where is my blankie,(then when we find it) oh there it is( with a huge sigh of relief and a big grin)

No! not night night.

Backback, & Dora (both interchangeable for the same show)

Sydnie is a animal lover, she can't get enough of cats and especially dogs. Every time she sees one she just can't let them alone. We were at a soccer game the other day and there was a dog she kept trying to pet, it would get excited and jump up on her, she would start crying and run to me only to want down 2 seconds later and go right back to the dog. She did this about ten times until both me and the girl who owned the dog got tired of it and started avoiding each other.

Sydnie loves her older sisters and loves to play with them, she loves it when they read her books and take her on walks in the stroller. Sydnie loves to go outside and recently has taken to escaping out our front door that never shuts tight(I finally started dead bolting it). I found her three different times, once down the street playing with the neighbors dog, another time across the street jumping on the neighbors dug in trampoline, and once was brought in crying by the neighbor because she wanted to play in the middle of the street. Boy do I feel like a bad mother.

We love our sweet Sydnie, even when she throws her tantrums and poops in the tub. She is such and affectionate little girl and is free with her hugs and kisses. She is also a friendly little girl, she loves to talk even when she doesn't have a clue what she is saying and always makes sure to wave hi to all the Walmart door greeters.

I made a cake for Sydnie shaped like a dog, her favorite animal.

Sydnie had fun opening her presents

But not so much fun blowing out her candles.

Sydnie and the neighborhood kids having fun with punch balloons.

Three Polka Dot Dresses and a Purple Jumper

I recently took pictures of my three girls. I had an idea of what I wanted to do. I wanted black and white polka dot dresses in a wheat field. Well, I couldn't find any dresses at the store, so I ended up making them. By the time I got them all made, all the wheat fields had been harvested. Who knew they harvested in mid August? I thought I had till September for sure. Anyway, no wheat fields, but the pictures turned out cute anyway.

Kaylee and Sydnie I love the view of their bows from the back

All Three of the girls. This is the ONLY one that turned out that day of all three of them Sydnie was NOT cooperating

Slide show of Sydnie age 2

Slide show of Brianne age 5

Slide show of Kaylee age 8

And a Purple Jumper.....

As I was sewing the three polka dot dresses I was thinking an assortment of thoughts from "I HATE zippers" to "I wonder if my mom made most of our clothes?" Then I thought of a story my mom told me recently about myself. I have been meaning to write down somewhere before I forget it again. Evidently it was such a traumatic experience, that I completely wiped it from my memory the first time. In kindergarten I had a favorite jumper. I think it was a hand me down and I probably liked it because it was comfortable, I was big into comfort in those days. I must have worn it a lot, because one day my mom got a call from my kindergarten teacher. My beloved jumper had practically disintegrated, and was barely hanging on me. I was in tears, and my mom needed to bring a change of clothes. I think the jumper was so old, and had been worn so much, that the seams and cloth just couldn't hold together anymore. But instead of just one seem ripping, the whole thing decided to come apart at once.This is a picture of me in a purple jumper. I don't know if this is the one that disintegrated but it does seem like around the right age.

I am pictured next to my sister Nancy. In the far back is my Mom and Dad off to the right side is our good friends the Dinsdales. I think there are some of their kids mixed in there but I only recognize the one directly behind Nancy, Lisa.