Breaking Dawn

Stephenie Meyer was on Good Morning America this morning...love her. She only gave one detail about the book away and it's that she got to write a wedding in this one. It's probably not even Bella and Edward's...oh well. I guess the book'll be coming out at midnight tomorrow night, but since I preordered from Amazon, I won't see mine for a couple of days. That's okay though, I love the suspense. I know it's really not THE END because Twilight will be written from Edward's perspective, something to look forward to in the coming years. I'm sure we'll have lively discussions (JennyBenny) about this "final" chapter in our favorite love story.

Ooooh and the movie comes out in December...at first I really DID NOT want to see it, but after seeing a clip of it on MTV.com I am definitely up for the adrenaline rush.

Take care and have a great day!

New pages and recycling fun!

These pictures were taken a whle ago...August 2006 and whoo hoo I finally got them scrapped! Can you believe it? We took a little trip to Tingley Beach which is a man made fishing hole area off of the Rio Grande. We didn't catch anything and it was pretty warm but we enjoyed eachother's company and the kids had a lot of fun on the waterfront.

Stamps are Inkadinkado. Papers are Heidi Grace and Scenic Route. I used a water pen and some inks to fill in the letters and give the flowers some color. Super simple.

On another note we went on a field trip to the Albuquerque Recylcling Center today and learned some super tips on recycling and how it's all done. We were told that recently the center was able to get $16,000 from some place in Colorado for a semi truck load of bailed milk jugs. WOW! Our tour guide said they get the most money from milk jugs. I knew from watching This Old House that they use plastic drinking bottles to make carpet but I didn't know that one of the carpet factories is located here in ABQ. Also, big shocker to me....PLASTIC BAGS are NOT recyclable...apparently they jam up the super expensive machinery that sorts the recyclables by clogging the gears and it costs an exorbitant amount to fix. One of the coolest things was the recycled glass that they use for landscaping. It looks so pretty and sparkly and because of the way they process it it won't cut you...ever...but you might itch if you play in it for extended periods of time?!?!?! When I asked if the cans and bottles we recylce needed to be TOTALLY cleaned Dereck said, "No, there's a 10% amount of contamination allowed but that people leave all kinds of food in their recyclables...like half gallons of milk and what not." Gross people...come on...how hard is it to dump the milk out or rinse out a tin can? Finally, it was also neat to learn that minimum wage jobs are offered to men/women from a local homeless shelter, the center provides the transportation to and from. Thanks to Derek, our tour guide, for giving us the inside scoop on recycling. We actually had a good time.

For baby's book

Yes, I'm growing...more and more each day. I used Challenge #7 over at Kim Watson's blog as a starting point on this lo. Papers are from Making Memories, Stampin up and DCWV. Prima flowers. Letter stamps by Technique Tuesday. Memo journaling stamp is from SU's Office Accoutrement set. I used a punch piece of metal and some yellow paint to get the polka dots. Dymo labeler for subjournaling. That's about it!

Funny/Not So Funny story...

Lacey, you'll love this.

So Travis brought home a toad that he rescued from a parking lot about two weeks ago. I didn't think it was such a great pet for my little guys because it slept, burrowed in the dirt all day and only came out at night to eat crickets after they were already snoozing...but the kids still caught glimpses of him and they were happy so I relented. Let's just say that it's been about four nights since anyone had seen the toad (three days ago we had noticed evidence that it had been pretty rowdy with it's cricket the night before...ie streaks of dirt on the sides of the tank...but no one thought twice) Well, last night after purchasing twenty more crickets Travis wanted to make sure it would eat and proceeded to try and coax it out of the dirt by spritzing water in the tank...nothing appeared. He then splashed water around on the dirt. That usually does the trick because they think it's raining and come right on up for air...no toad. Next step take all of the rocks and grasses and bark out of the tank and wash it down with the hose outside...NO TOAD!!! Ladies and gentleman there is at the present time a tiny, two inch toad, located somewhere within my abode and I know he can't be doing well. I think when we move in five years or so I might come across a petrified toad...ugh! Lesson: never let your husband bring a wild animal into your home and expect it to stay in the comfortable, climate controlled habitat you have created for it.

Going to a reception tonight...

So here's a simple little card I put together for the bride and groom. I believe the stamp set is Kind Thoughts. I used my cuttlebug to do the embossed background and my fiskars lace punch for the fancy edge. This is nothing to brag about, but it's done and it's sweet. I had major issues with my blender pen. I think that they're drying up on me. If I'm correct I think my friend Erica said you could use your versamark reinker for them...is that true Erica? I'm excited that my friend Michaela found her soul mate. I don't think she's older than 28 but she now has five step children...three of which are teenagers. Holy Moly!!!! We wish her well in her new marriage.
Have a great day.

I'm a sucker for...

Beautiful sunsets. I probably need to do a whole album with the pictures I've taken of New Mexico sunsets and sunrises. I took these pictures Wednesday evening. It's amazing the pictures our Heavenly Father paints for us. Jakob is the one who ran in to tell me about it because he was so excited and then Tessa and Aaron sat out on the back porch and watched the colors change...and the cat playing in our yard.

Let's Eat

So here's just a little sampling of something I like to call... a night out at an All American Eatery. Just kidding. We had burgers at a Fudrucker's and I thought it would be fun to document what it was like to eat out in the year 2008. It happens all too infrequently around here...I'm so darn tired of cooking, especially with the 20 extra pounds and the muggy summer weather.

I had a major problem with my journaling. I printed it on a transparency (thanks for the idea Michelle) but it just would not dry. I left it overnight and it was still wet in the morning. I added some clear embossing powder over the top and embossed. It's permanent now, but what did I do wrong in the first place? Paper is scenic route and making memories.

HaVE a GREAT dAY!

I've been tagged...

I was tagged by Liz over at Getting Crafty! Thanks and here are my one word answers to the tag. Feel free to join in!
1. Where is your cell phone?Purse
2. Your significant other? Working
3. Your hair? Shaggy
4. Your mother? Inspiration
5. Your father? MIA
6. Your favorite thing? Chocolate
7. Your dream last night? Bizarre
8. Your favorite drink? Water
9. Your dream/goal? Heaven
10. The room you’re in? Back
11. Your hobby? Scrapbooking
12. Your fear? Cockroaches
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? School
14. What you’re not? Uninformed
15. Muffins? Nah
16. One of your wish list items? Shelves
17. Where you grew up? IL
18. The last thing you did? Laundry
19. What are you wearing? PJ's
20. Favorite gadget? Computer
21. Your pets? Silly
22. Your computer? Oldening
23. Your mood? Lazy
24. Missing someone? Grandpa
25. Your car? Enough
26. Something you’re not wearing? Shoes
27. Favorite store? Grocery
28. Like someone? Sure
29. Your favorite color? Orange
30. When is the last time you laughed? Morning
31. Last time you cried? Sunday

Just Monkeying Around

I know just who will be the recipient for this little monkey treat of a card. For a hint visit my friend Jenny's blog. She recieved such a wonderful little blessing this past week. We are so thrilled for her and her family.

Monkey stamp is from CTMH. I used my zig markers to fill in different colors because it's a solid stamp. There's some River Rock double stitched ribbon with some added bliss. Copper mini brads and some fun paper.

We had a wonderful time at the park and library today. I also managed to get gas in my car...for a little bit cheaper than it was last time I filled up...almost 10 whole cents! Who would have ever thought we'd be happy about $3.79 for gas?!?!?

Have a great day!

So Imperfect

First off, I just want to say that the mere act of walking shouldn't HURT so much. Ugh...this little guy is a pain in the well, not so much the butt but well, it's kinda personal. I've been so busy going through baby clothes and ALL of Tessa's clothes that I haven't had time to create. Our fourth will be our final so I'm unloading all of the girl clothes I've saved up over the years! It's a big job. One very IMPORTANT thing I've learned is that oxi clean really DOES work when you soak the article of clothing for a couple of days...just a little tidbit.

I'm not perfect...not a perfect mom, or wife, or scrapper, or even blogger...so bear with me.

Have a great day.

The challenge...

Today I had a few friends over to scrapbook AND all their crazy kiddos including my insane trio... it was a fun filled day. I actually finished a double lo and started on another. Whilst everyone was packing up at about 5:30pm (what's for dinner you say...leftovers) I casually mentioned I'd be finishing the second lo and my friend Michelle challenged me...she actually threw down the guantlet and said, "Oh yeah, well that lo better be posted by midnight or else." So here I am...it's 11:32pm and guess what...I'm posting it! So, Michelle, I laugh in the face of your challenge and say, "HA!" Without further ado... Mon Petite Artist. The color is totally off and I will retake pictures tomorrow, but you know I just had to prove myself.

My funny boy

I really wanted to get some scrappin' done and Kim over at To the Starres and Back blog has some great challenges. Today is the deadline to do a lo with b/w pics, stamped title, arrows, frame, and journaling block. Did I get it all? I just adore this picture of Aaron. He truly can be the life of the party. He has great comedic timing and manages to make us smile or laugh at almost every meal. Can you say future class clown? This is, of course, my husband who never misses the opportunity to tease his children. Picture taken February 2008. He's grown so much already.
Today the children had a lesson on the 10 lepers at church and being thankful. Synopsis: Jesus healed 10 lepers and only one returned to thank him.
So when we got home I asked the kiddos what they remembered about the lesson. I asked Tessa what a leper was and she proceeded to explain to me that it's a guy who has a stick and he watches sheep and they stay close to him. Apparently lepers are synonomous with sheperds (a lesson she had two weeks ago on the scripture that talks about the sheperd leaving the 99 and going to look for the one must have made a big impression on her). Jakob set her straight in no time and told her in no uncertain terms that a leper is someone whose skin is falling off their body. Ahhh...boys.
Arrows are my own design, colored in with Zigs and washed out with a blender pen. Art Warehouse Stamp for "A" and Technique Tuesday stamp for "funny". Chipboard circles are from Stampin' Up chip pack. Paper is Scenic Route. Letters: Heidi Swapp. Tag was distressed with inks and lines were drawn on it for journaling. PS I'm waiting to erase my pencil lines to make sure the ink is dry.

Updated Bump 30 Weeks

10 more weeks to go! See how big I've gotten! I can still bend over and shave my legs at this point, but who knows how much longer that will last.

Hope to make some cards tonight.

Have a great day.

I'm alive and exhausted...

I'll just start off by saying that this summer has been a non stop RIDE! My mom and stepdad came out for the fourth of July and we hung out with friends...that was great. They brought us a really special treat of a car seat stroller combination. Now we can actually bring the baby home from the hospital when he comes.








And well, since the fourth the kids and I have been doing activities such as nature hikes and making plant collages and going to a coal mining museum in Madrid, NM and going to the library for their summer programs and reading and building rock walls and tending the garden and and cross stitching and making homemade pita bread and hummus (YUMMY!) just EVERYTHING! So sorry, I haven't been around but here's just a little update with pictures.
Have a great day!

Gettting Bigger

Just an update on the bump...he's growing like crazy. This picture was taking on June 20, 2008. I need a newer one, this one is blurry and wearing black makes it hard to tell how big I am. I think this would have been about 27 weeks.