Projects galore!

Sorry, no pics today, iPhoto is giving me a headache and not being friendly with Photoshop. We're keeping busy with tons of projects that need to be finished and sent to family. I'm still not done with all my orders from the craft fair, but I'm close. I had a photo shoot yesterday and it went good - the first time I've done pictures in the family's home.

Brodyn is sick, so we had to stay home from church while Ry and the girls went. I've got Wubbzy on so that I can get something done. He's such a sad little guy when he's sick, much different from his "norm". I think I'm going to get some cinnamon rolls made before everybody gets home - to surprise them.

We finally got a few presents wrapped and put under the tree so it doesn't look quite so sad. Aubrei had hair issues today, so we had a little drama, but I was able to salvage it with a BIG bow. I have no idea why teenagers think that more product is going to make bad hair better, UGH! But she has to learn, I guess.

Ainsli has had a ball making presents for Ryan - I love that she's been spending more time thinking about that, instead of adding to her own list. She had her Christmas program at school Friday - she did a good job and it was fun to see her with her classmates.

Well, off to start the dough for cinnamon rolls, then I get to play with some chalks - unless my little buddy needs me - we'll see. Having a good day!!!

I love digital!

While I still love traditional scrapbooking and require an occasional paper fix, I must admit that digital makes accomplishing more so much easier. All four of these layouts were done this week while waiting in my car at the dance studio. Can I just say, I love my laptop. Normally I would be stitching or knitting in the car, but I am definitely burned out on crafts for a little while thanks to our recent Super Saturday. Most of these pictures are older, but their story still needed telling . . .

Happy Halloween here!!

We had a fun Halloween with parties two nights in a row. The kids looked so adorable this year and really got into their characters. I'm still having headaches and pain in my jaw, plus Brodyn has been up a lot tonight with his sickness. I'm so glad Ry has tomorrow off, cuz I'm sleeping in!

Fall Fun!

I love that I finally had the chance to take some pics of Brei. We had fun and shared a few giggles too. I love being this young lady's mother - she is such a treasure to me!

my scrap therapy :)

Here is a recent layout I did - I love it when scrapbooking helps us straighten out our thoughts and emotions. Life seems determined to make us forget our blessings in the craziness of life. I am very blessed and thankful for the hand of the Lord in my life.

Pumpkin Patch

We finally made it to the pumpkin patch this weekend. The weather was beautiful and we had fun searching for the "perfect" pumpkins to add to our pile. The kids always love the hayride out to the pumpkin fields and visiting all the animals. They all wanted to bring a chicken home - In no uncertain terms the answer was NO to that! I love this time of year, all the beautiful colors of fall. The weather is being unusually mild for Wyoming and I'm LOVING that!

Awesome Serves and a Black Eye!!

Aubrei had a great game tonight against the Eagles. She got to start finally and she played two full matches. She has improved so much, that's my girl, working until she gets something down. Tonight her work on her serves paid off. In the 3rd match the Broncs were down 17 to 24 when Brei got up to serve. She got 2 aces and 7 match points, meanwhile the other coach called two timeouts trying to break her serve and it didn't work!!! Unfortunately they ended up losing the match 24 to 26, but I was so excited anyway! Brei had the hugest smile - its awesome seeing your babies working hard, having fun, and seeing some rewards.

She is growing up so fast! Where has the time gone?

At the match tonight I got Brodyn to show off his shiner. Its pretty much faded away, but you can see it was a good-un. He hasn't been spinning on my office chair this week though, so maybe this hurt had a purpose :)

Happy Birthday Ains!!

Its hard to believe our hurricane is 7 years old! This morning she got dressed in her favorite cowl-neck sweater dress and I curled her hair - she then squealed "I'm gonna be the prettiest girl at school!" Oh boy - She definitely keeps us entertained and on our toes.

She requested chocolate cupcakes for her party tonight, but I'm also making peach dream with the yummy peaches we got in Oregon on Monday. Yum!

Ainsli will always be my miracle baby who helped my testimony of prayer grow in leaps and bounds. She is now on dance team, doing ballet and gymnastics - but she'll always be my little girl no matter how old she gets! She still lets me cuddle her once in awhile, probably just humoring her old mom, but I'll take it!! Happy Birthday Angel!!

Our young woman

Aubrei is 12 years old!! Where has the time gone? Seems only yesterday that this tiny bundle changed our lives forever and now she is a young woman. She can fit into my high heels and soon she will be taller than me. She's playing volleyball and on dance teams, and she is the best big sister I have ever seen!!

This picture was taken on Sunday, her last day of Primary and the day she had an interview with the Bishop. I don't know how we got here so fast, but I couldn't hope for a better daughter. I am so proud of the young lady that she is choosing to become. She may be super silly and slightly crazy, but I love to hear her laugh and to be around her. She has blessed our lives in so many ways and we are so thankful that she is with us, working toward the blessings of having an eternal family. Love you Suzy!!

summer rewind

It took me getting sick to make time to work on pictures and scrapbook pages. Summer has been wonderfully full. Brodyn has loved snacking from the garden, catching and observing bugs and spraying his sisters with the hose! Ainsli accomplished riding without training wheels and is now zooming up to the school and back daily. The girls traded rooms and got the TV taken away and it has been Awesome since! Brei is excited for 7th grade and volleyball to start.

We've been fishing several times - this page shows the only day that no one caught anything. It was the most beautiful of all the trips though, so can't complain! The kids love fishing with their dad and I love watching them all together and taking pictures.
Ry and I are doing good. The gardens are thriving - we've canned lots of green beans and one batch of dill pickles. Ryan recently won a $750 Home Depot card - so we'll be doing the girls bathroom and Brodyn's bedroom - I'm so excited!

Despite getting sick, I'm feeling so great. As of two weeks ago I had lost 20 lbs. in 3 weeks. I love my new doctors and how much they are helping me. All of my pain is gone and I have so much more energy! We are so blessed and now to prepare for the upcoming school year and all that it entails!

making the most of summer

We had fun with a group of friends at the equestrian center on the 4th. Brodyn kept us entertained while waiting for fireworks to start, he's such a ham! It took forever to get out, but it was worth the fun we had!

When we got home from our trip this was waiting for Brodyn from Grandma & Grandpa Priest - He had a ball trying it out. He definitely thinks he's big now!

Sweet Baby Bragen!

We had so much fun with Beep's new little bundle. He is so tiny and content. I had forgotten how little newborns are, has it really been 3 years? I got my share of loves and cuddles, but miss them already! He is such a miracle and a blessing to our family! This picture reminds me so much of Dad's baby pictures - love it!

There are more pics on my photography blog . . .

What a week!

My baby boy turned 3!!!

And he's turned into a little man overnight - I'm not ready!

We got to spend some time at Beep's in Oregon, meet new little Bragen, and love on him lots! He's so tiny and adorable - and kissable! We miss them all already!

We spent time at Grandma & Grandpa's house - the kids had a ball swimming, doing chores, and playing. Its good to be loved!!

Can't forget the water fights!

so ready for summer vaca!!

The afternoons that Ains doesn't take a nap are near unbearable. She has been so tired lately. We are all ready for summer vacation and a more relaxed schedule. Brodyn has patio rash on his nose and top lip. He's biffed it twice in the past three days. Pictures to come. OK, now he's hurt his knee . . .

i love this crazy life!

We made it through recital week, but it will be a while before I post about the recital - I had a photo shoot yesterday and have been working on those (I took 271 photos in 1.5 hours, have to narrow it down a bit :). And tomorrow we have big plans to do our garden and I am definitely ready to plant some flowers!

But I had to share some pics of Ainsli in her jazz costume. I got her to do the "OK" pose, because she was too fast during recital for me to catch it. I love her attitude and the enjoyment she gets out of life. She makes me smile and we all need that.

I think Brei is really ready for summer - homework is becoming almost painful for us all. Having her nights so busy with dance this past week has made it hard to keep up, but she did her best and I am so proud of her. She did so good in the recitals. Her smile lights up the stage and its just fun to watch her. I'm proud of all the work she did this past year.

Brodyn was a trooper, being farmed out all week or stuck in a theatre. I love having a little boy who needs his mom and likes to snuggle. (sorry Ry - he doesn't snore:) I am so very blessed and loving this time in our crazy life!

Happy Mother's Day!

Here's hoping that all Moms get to have a happy day today. It makes me smile that I have a little boy who adores flowers - he's so happy - I love it.

My semi-sweeties :) (I do have a preteen after all) surprised me with a patio chair, a corsage and some Wonderful artwork by my 3 favorite artists!

Mother's Day is a truly important holiday - So many women have truly touched my life and made it so much better. My mom has taught me so much and I love her with my whole heart. I remember special women who helped me get through our infertility by letting me "mother" their kids once in a while. Those women who helped me through my crazy teenage years. And women who helped me as I grew into my own role of mommy. Now I have my own little girls who dream of being mommies themselves someday. We are so blessed to have such an important role given us by our Heavenly Father. I am thankful to be a Mom.

Aubrei did so great at her competition yesterday - we didn't get home until midnight though - so I was thankful everyone slept in. I even got breakfast in bed (score one for Daddy)!

Happy Mother's Day!!

Trying to Keep up . . .

Lately that has been a big part of my life. Trying to keep up with my family. But this past weekend I realized I'm also trying to keep up with the changes in our kids. They are all going through growth spurts (I'm so thankful its almost summer - shorts are more forgiving). But there are so many more changes in their little lives. While change and new horizons are exciting, its hard not to wish time would slow down a bit.

I wanted to share a recent scrapbook page. I love how fast digital scrapbooking is. Definitely thankful that I can at least record our special memories so these times aren't forgotten.

Can we please slow down?

Here is a little catch up since life has been crazy the past two weeks.

Ryan got a basketball hoop for his birthday (ironically he has to keep his boot on another 4 weeks because he re-injured his foot jumping into the pool to save our fearless Brodyn). But we've still been able to enjoy playing in the backyard - it had been a long time since I played basketball . . . .

Ainsli got to pick a reward during a recent assembly and of course she came home with a PINK and SPARKLY bear. She was beaming from ear to ear, then promptly fell asleep mid-sentence! (She gets that from her Dad:)

I've been busy editing another shoot from the girls dance photos. They are up on my other blog if you want to see them. I'm also working on a family recipe book - I'm trying to take pictures as I make the recipes that I'm including, but I'm finding its hard to fit in a photo shoot for food when your family is hungry and ready to eat (go figure:)

Brodyn has been sick with a sinus and slight ear infection - so he's been stuck to me like glue. Which makes for some interesting moments. It would be hilarious to have pictures of me trying to work on the computer with him hanging over my shoulder and him jumping on top of me as I'm TRYING to fold laundry. He is SO worth it though - being a mom is the best thing in the WHOLE world!!!!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!

I hope you have a good day today. You deserve it - thanks for all you do for our family. Thanks for being an amazing dad and a wonderful husband. We love you and want you to know we think you're a pretty great guy.

Fifteen years you have been right by my side. We have weathered a lot and no, that doesn't make us "old", it makes us "better". I love you with all my heart dear. Happy Birthday!!!

we made it . . .

. . through our first dance competition. Brei did a great job. I'm so proud of how hard she works at things. We got to spend a little quality time with Grandpa & Grandma. The kids loved it, but it definitely wasn't long enough. Brodyn got quite attached to Grandpa - it was sweet until bedtime :)

We also made it through the first attempt at sibling pictures that we've done in a long time. Unfortunately we didn't get a good one of all of them. Brodyn was quite put out with his sisters and didn't want to sit that close to them. Yes, its funny NOW.

I made it through another pain-filled day and felt good about what I accomplished. I love having the kids at home to snuggle with (which is only happening because it is cold and rainy today). They are all so perfect in their own individual ways.

Loving tax returns and new backdrops!

I absolutely adore this picture of Ainsli - I didn't let her keep the Spring picture packet that the school does, so I promised I would take pictures of her when I got my new backdrop. What a doll . . .

pretty good for after-school hair. I can't believe she left it in for once!

Brodyn had to get in on the action too. I'm so lucky that my kids don't mind being photographed, because then I'd have no one to practice on. Here's to the start of our spring break - yeah!

iTunes and pickles

B and I have had a silly morning - listening to music and doing a little dancing. Its so nice to have a little man to dance with (hint hint Ry):) Then during an opportune moment while I was doing laundry my industrious little man snuck upstairs and emptied the pickle jar and brought them down to show me carried in his shirt. Lovely. Nuf said.

my happiness . . .

I love getting scrapbook stuff and pictures in the mail - so when the package is digital scrapbook pages I've had printed plus pictures I'm a happy girl!

Our bathroom is finally finished and I LOVE IT!! The colors and the vanity are my favorites. A definite change from the bathroom that everyone avoided. Ryan is amazing - 3 jobs and he still manages to finish all of this in record time!! Love ya, babe!

This is why kindergarteners shouldn't have homework!

This pic explains what most of my afternoons are like. She's a smart little cookie, but she is also a stubborn little girl, who thinks home should be play time (by the time the homework is done I tend to agree with her)