what can I do for you?

I am posting this on both of my blogs today because I have gotten so many emails with questions, I am thinking there may be others out there. I really want to get everyone involved, and be of help to you if I can. so today I ask you “what can I do for you?” Is there something you would like to see as a part of the blog? A feature? A discussion? Questions I may be able to answer for you? Tell me what is on your mind :)

There is one question that I have gotten so often, “how do I begin to customize my blog space like you have done?” To be honest I really have no idea, I am blessed to have a husband who is a software developer and does these types of things for me! I am happy to say that he has agreed to write up some basic instructions and we will leave a link here on the side of the blog soon.

I really do love to hear from you all, I am so grateful for the friends I have met from all over the world through this beautiful art we do. We tell each other our best stories and get to know the magical moments of each others lives through our pages. And through that we get to know so much about each other. I feel like I know so many of you from the parts of your lives you have shared. I always wanted a pen pal as a little girl, I could have never dreamed I would get so many!!! Thank-you.

a whole hand!!!

Happy Birthday baby girl!!!!

Our little Tiara is five! I can hardly believe it, time sure flies with these little ones. It seems she was just turning 2 yesterday and here we are getting ready for kindergarten next year. WOW! She is so proud to be "a whole hand!" we had a really nice day together. I let her stay in her jammies until the afternoon and we just stayed home together and cuddled lots and played. So many days she struggles with all of her sensory issues just to get dressed. so for her, staying home in jammies is the best treat :) We picked up daddy from work and all went out for a nice birthday supper. It was so cute the way her sisters both tried to make her feel special too. Little Kaiella was singing happy birthday all day long.

Experience life!

We went out tobogganing with Kristy and her boys yesterday, it was so so much fun! nice weather, fresh air and lots and lots of playing

Just Look at this Emilea-girl of mine! totally unsure of the outcome, it is very possible that she will flip, fall off, or wipe out completely, but she hops on that sled, lays back and shuts her eyes to fully experience the sensation of speeding down the hill. And when we went skating with our good friends on New Years Day; I watched in total awe while she skated as fast as her little learning legs could carry her and wiped out hard, just to get right up and do it all over, again and again. I am so much more cautious than that LOL, I often wish I had the gutts to take on life the way she does! To just totally enjoy the experience of living without the fear of falling. There is a quote I love that says "don't worry about tomorrow God is already there" How true. I'm not a huge worrier, just cautious, and my mind is always working overtime. I want to feel the joy of totally letting go the way Emilea does to fully experience life! and when I fall, well, I want to hop up and do it again!!! Thanks Emy for all of the ways I learn from you :)

I wish you the joy of speeding down the hill, experience life my friends! what a beautiful thing :)

a bunch of happy

click on image to view larger

This is the original version of one of my all time favorite pages ( a simpler variation seen in CKs digital insert- Jan 07) I really wanted to share the layout just as I made it, because I love it. but also I have been thinking about When I had my CK online crop and made one of the challenges to "let your product lead you" I was surprised to hear how many people had never thought this way. Some of my favorite pages have been inspired simply by one cool product that I just HAD to use and built around that. For example this page began with Amy Martin's cool bookplates. I love the memory I have of little Tiara happily discovering that she could wash the windows with snow, but I had been unsure for some time as to how I would scrap these 6 photos. These bookplates reminded me of windows and that was all of the inspiration I needed to build from there! Phonebook tabs with corresponding numbers tell the story in point form.

I want to encourage you once again if you are someone who most often looks for product to fit in to your layout, to switch things up once and awhile and let the product be your starting place. It's all kinds of fun! and speaking of fun, head over HERE to check out some new work ( with new fonts on it ;) and the first of my weekly CK blog challenges; this week it is called "just for fun"... I love this attitude, it makes me happy!

Honestly though, that is not hard to do these days. I am happy. Happy to have these beautiful kids, happy that my husband is amazing, that we are a family who laughs a lot. Happy that my work is my passion ( how lucky am I?!). and you know I am seriously just happy to breathe in the fresh air when we step outside. There are plenty of things I could grumble about for sure ( and believe me I do), but it's not going to help anything really, is it? so I would much rather look and find the things in my world that make me happy. choose to be happy. I hope that this will help the girls to grow to see the world through these eyes as well, that they can grow to be people who look for the good that surrounds them and be thankful for it.

thanks for stopping by today to see what's up in my little corner of the world, have a good one :)

what is.......

THIS?? heehee it is a super fun part of my job!...my new CK blog, opening today! There will be updates at least 3 times a week and Here is where I will be sharing my newest work and challenges. I am really looking forward to being able to connect with the readers, share, and highlight artsts in the community. For those of you who are scrappy folks please come and visit often, I can't wait to get this rolling and see how it unfolds

I have been working really hard on 25 new fonts coming soon!!! keep an eye out at the new CK blog over the next few days for a sneak peek ;)

Happy Thursday, make it a fun one!

a glorious mess!

This describes my house right now, everywhere I look is covered in wonderful messes, I mean covered! I am not complaining at all, far from it...I LOVE it! I am looking around and just grinning, it makes me so happy LOL! I see evidence of a blessed life in every direction, proof of fun and creativity. New books being discovered, puzzles and games that have been played over and over, markers glue and sequins from crafting with the kids. There are mittens and hats strewn about, drying from a romp in the snow. I have been making things with the girls today and we are having such fun, Tiara has been sitting at my island with me and she has made me at least 8 pictures and projects, the other 2 coming and going as they like. She wrote me a letter on the last picture, so so so cute! It says: "I love crafting with you mama, you are the best crafter in the whole world, have a special day, I love you sweet mama" This stuff right here is just the highlight of my life. I need to pull out the vacum and suck up the popcorn and sequins and little bits, but first I wanted to stop and smile at it all. One Big happy hurricane :)

The picture is a silly one of Tia from last week, we went out to the children's museum with our friends who were visiting from Seattle. Lots of fun!

hoping you can enjoy some happy hurricanes while the kids are home from school ;) Happy Wednesday

Check out this New Years treat!

Amazing and inspiring digi scrappers and designers Amy Martin- AKA alb52, and Natalie Braxton- AKA Tali, have a new store opening today with a cool new years discount. Check out The Lily Pad HERE. And they will be adding more new stuff every Friday! Yipeee :) I seriously can't get enough of these girls' elements. They are so totally "real" and super duper creative. I have been inspired time and again to create a layout after grabbing some of their new products. They both make just what I need to get out of a rut or add that fresh something I am looking for...Just can't say enough.

a few of my favs right here...Awesomely RAD and inspiring hey?!
good Luck ladies! I know you will have a huge huge success

Happy New year!!!

From our Winter Wonderland to you!

It was a perfect New Years Eve day after a lovely storm last night brought us more than plenty of fun fluffy flakes to play in today. And warm wishes to everyone, hoping you all had a very Merry Christmas also, I will have to post a few favorite pics from our festivities, I have just been really enjoying our family time this year and haven't been "computing" at all over the holidays. We have had some good family game nights complete with popcorn from my new popper ( thanks Baba!) and time with some good friends and family that we don't get to see every day. We really managed to have a great relaxed holiday this year, not too much rushing and hustle bustle, just happy togetherness :)

Here is the view down our street, awesome hey?! I LOVE the way the snow piles up on the evergreen trees, and the air is so crisp and fresh to breathe in, just like after a spring rain shower only chillier...Delightful! I Love living here, I love every minute of this, When I wake up and rush to the window to discover a world covered under a beautiful shimmery blanket I feel like a little girl all over again, and watching the girls discover it all and fully delight in the moment makes it 100 times better.

the kids had so much fun, sliding down the driveway, tunneling through the deep snow, creating beautiful snow angels and helping to shovel . The best part is that it is not our usual -35c at all, more like -5c ( which for those of you who don't speak Celsius is quite pleasant) So we get the best of it all ! all of the great snowy adventures that we love and nice enough temps. Not to be human popsicles.

Today I thank God for fresh flakey snow days. Tell me, what is wonderful in your world right now?

Merry Christmas wishes!!!

...From the 5 of us :) We hope that you will all have a wonderful Christmas, and many Blessings in 2007! Our card this year just captures some of our familys moments from throughout this past year.

We are looking forward to making some wonderful memories and sharing some really special time with our family and friends over the next few days. On the schedule; an evening at a hotel with all of my cousins and family for a buffet, gift-giving and swimming. Christmas eve dinner at our house...On the menu: Breakfast! mmmmmm our favorite; a ham and crepes with warm pudding fresh biscuits and lots of fruit, eggs done however you like, awesome!!! And Christmas day shared with Cam's family. I love all of the traditions we share, and watching the kids enjoying the good times all together.

have lots of hugs and take lots of pictures!

Kids cards

Emy's above and Tiara's below

Merry wishes from my girls! These pretty red gift cards by Anna Aspnes were PERFECT for making little cards that the girls are giving out with candy canes to all of their friends for Christmas. a wee bit of dressing up and a cute little face in there and voila! I love things like this that make my life easier. I get the results I want in half of the time. Thanks Anna for a great starting place :) check out the whole pack HERE

and if you look closely you may notice that the supplies used on these look are the same as some of the ones on Lauren's page below....I still had the file open when I started these so I saved even more time by dragging the pieces over shadows and all! It's not a crime to find ways to save some time...Especially when there is play-doh to be squashed and backs to rub!

I'll try and post some pics of all of our holiday fun sometime tomorrow. Lots of good happy family time this past week. We all really needed that.

Merry-4-days-till-Christmas!

Holiday scrapping!

This is a hybrid layout I did for our friends Brett and Lisa. I did a one year shoot of their little girl Lauren and she is such a character I couldn't resist scrapping this photo! They gave out a 4x4 version as a Christmas card this year. Isn't that the greatest little face? Tiara and I had a great time making the wings with glitter and puff paint, she has so much fun sitting at my island with me and making things, a good little creative buddy :)

lots of fun goodies on this page from new stuff out at scrap artist! I am just a mess when I get over there lately , my cheeks get red and my heart is all a flutter... I just don't know what to look at first!!! totally loving all of the new designers they have found from the apprentice contest! good good stuff in their shop. browse around HERE

I hope all of you are enjoying this lovely season of joy. In the middle of all of the hectic rush that seems to be all around please take the time to stop and think about what really matters in your world. Smiles and wishes for happy days from me and my scrapping pal Tiara

Tag!

I like games, love em in fact. And two scrapping friends of mine, Beth and Susan Opel ( two fun and funky sweet sisters!) tagged me last week. a few fun questions to know me a little more. So I figured why not?! here are the goods...

A - Available or single: not even a tad, totally taken!
B - Best friend: Cam ( my hubby)
C - Cake or pie: mmmmm! cake all the way ! with reeeally good icing and ice cream on the side..or just yummy ice cream cake
D - Drink of choice: Hot Chocolate with whip cream!
E - Essential item you use everyday: lip gloss/chap stick
F - Favorite color: Pink&brown... orrrr blue&brown...or just brown...pink!...heck or just blue! you get it :)
G - Gummy bears or worms: hmmm, well, bears are cuter but worms are more fun to leave hanging halfway out of your mouth!
H - Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I - Indulgence: CHOCOLATE !!!
J - January or February: January, I love the freshness of a new year filled with the promise of new adventures!
K - Kids & names: 3 girls; Emilea (7), Tiara (4), and Kaiella (2)
L - Life is incomplete without? God's grace, my family, lots of laughter and a breath of fresh air every day
M - Marriage date: July 1 ( Canada day, they set off fireworks for us every year!)
N - Number of siblings: grew up with none and now have 4
O - Oranges or apples: really cold golden delicious apples
P - Phobias or fears: losing the ones I love
Q - Fave quote: hmmmmmm...I can't pick just one right now :( maybe I will come back and add
R - Reason to smile: a new day full of round little happy faces with exciting stories to tell me :)
S - Season: the fresh crisp air and warm glow of fall, the crunch of the snow and magic of winter, the birds chirping, warm blossoming breeze and rain storms in spring, and the warm toasty sunshine, tanned kids, and days outside in the summer...how could I pick just one!!!
T - Tag 3 or 4 people: my girl Amy, funny Torm, nitty gritty Jody, olive juice and lovely Leah
U - Unknown fact about me: I love to organize closets by color! ( silly I know but I love it!)
V- Vegetable you don't like: almost all are yummy raw, but I can't stand them cooked...except for corn
W - Worst habit: over-thinking
X - Xrays: too many!
Y - Your fave food: cheese! in any form ( except green and fuzzy or the stinky stuff)
Z - Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

that's it! just a bit of me :)

welcome to the week, I hope yours is Blessed!!!

slip-ups & slip-slops

that's what she calls them. My sweet little Kaiella and her very loved pink slippers have a great time and go on many adventures lol! I get such a kick out of her funny little words as she is learning to talk more and really working to express herself as much as she can like "I neeeeeeed my slip-slops!!!!!!" and her chubby little hands work so hard to get them on, oh so cute on the wrong feet. or "mama I love slip-ups", "you do?", "oh yesss, slip-ups is my fawerite!" she just cracks me up. oooooh OKAY! , now you have to pretend not to be bored when you see the page I do, because as I am writing this I am realizing that I SO have to scrap it! she'll laugh too in a few years

here is my funny little girl. messy face? yesseree! like I said, her and her slip-ups have some pretty great adventures. a few days ago it was this; the blue tint is paint, she was breaking out the little circles of watercolor from the girls' paints and EATING them! yummmmm. and then , no more than 15 min after I put a very friendly end to that she was M.I.A. and quiet again. So I went on the hunt for her and she had gone up to my bathroom and opened my make-up bag to apply some nice cover stick-lipstick! she did a great job trying to keep it on her lips and then didn't smash it or eat it but put the lid back on, back in the bag, and even zipped it back up! so no harm done there at all, and pretty good for a 2 yr. old! Oh I love to see the world through 2 year old eyes it is so fun and happy and filled with cool discoveries :)

Today is the day

I was born!

7 weeks early, only 4 lbs 14oz. and by the looks of this old picture I got right down to praying! LOL Can you believe we all started so tiny? or even more that our kids really will grow up to have opinions and skills, and a life just like we all do.

fun to look back, and to look forward too.

here are a couple more "little C.D.s"

this one is 6 months ( quite the little chubber!)

and my happy little 4 year old self

I keep getting asked what I want for my birthday, so I have been thinking about it and what I want most of all is to stay at home cozy and warm ( -34c today! brrrr) with no extra driving kids all over the place, and take a nice long nap, and then in the evening I want to eat a really good frozen treat and cuddle up with a movie and a blanket right here with Cam. There you have it, my biggest wish!

happy December 7th everyone!!!

ETA: I just want to say a huge thank-you for all of the wonderful Birthday wishes, totally making my day! :)

a shout out to my washing machine!

challenge: Scrap an emotion
Choose an emotion to scrap, and convey that emotion in all of the details of your layout (embellishments, journaling and of course the photo itself). For my layout I have chosen to scrap the emotion of Joy. I have used my embellishments and journaling as the joy that radiates right from my little girl's heart! Even the striped paper I chose looks joyful to me. Be imaginative and have fun with it.


challenge: Let your background set the scene
Use your imagination and have some extra fun with your supplies. Create a cool background scene by using your product in unexpected ways.
On this layout I used chilly snow colored paint, hand drawn windy swirls, and cut my papers into hills, sun and sky. This is a great way to explore your creativity!


challenge: Let your product lead you
Choose one cool product that you have been wanting to use and let your page be inspired by it. Product can be such a great starting place for inspiration!
For example, on my layout I really wanted to use these super cute wings from Fancy Pants so I used them as my starting place. From there, I looked for a photo showing her little back and then paper that would resemble the sky, everything else took shape around that. Don't think too hard, just dig in and go for it!


Challenge: Get your supplies out of your scrapbook
Raid your stash and pick a few supplies to explore in a non-layout project. It is so refreshing to take a break from regular scrapping and think differently!
I chose to make these little place cards for my girl's tea party, from slide mounts. I added a bit of paint and doodling, dressed them up with some little paper flowers, and even used my digital supplies and software to make the name inserts, (so you digi gals can't sit this one out, there is plenty you can do!) If you need some extra ideas, look through your favorite idea books or online galleries for inspiration.


I just thought I would post these challenges here. ( supply lists are here) Please join in the fun, even if you didn't get to join in over at CK. It feels so good to have work that I can share again, it has been awhile :)
some good news is that very soon I will have a blog space on the CK site where I will be able to share work and regular challenges, should be fun! I will keep you all posted on that.

tonight I am thankful for my washing machine :) I am serious, it is really nice. Cam surprised me by buying it when I was away last year and I love it. Front loading, uses only a bit of soap, does an amazing job, and it holds a ton! I have been so so busy this last little while, and then dealing with all of these migranes, that I am afraid our laundry situation was getting to a critical level! LOL! but with this machine I will be caught up in no time. I am a funny girl. I actually really enjoy doing laundry, and tonight as I was washing the first few loads in a long while I was just thankful to be doing it! mmmmm! Soon it will be out of the dryer all yummy smelling and warm....Love it!

last night's crop

we came, we cropped, people sang, inspiration was in the air, fun was had, and very cool projects were made! I have to thank everyone who popped in over at CK last night for making my very first online crop so much fun! That is really what I love about all of this; connecting with people, sharing ideas, and leaving eachother inspired. I really hope I was able to inspire some of the ladies as much as so many of them inspired me! please go and check out the challenges HERE and post them in the image gallery leaving a link in the challenge threads, or here on my blog in the comments. I would really love to see your work if any of these happen to inspire you!

Tiara is really super sick so she was up off and on all through the night. I ended up just staying up all night long going between helping her and writing/ scrapping like crazy! I'm sooo tired today but she feels loved, and I got a lot of stuff off my plate. ahhhhhhh, that has got to be the recipe for a good nights sleep tonight....I hope :)

Come and crop!!!

with meee!!!!! there is a CK online crop with me tonight ( wed Nov.29th) from 8-midnight EST. come and hang out, ask questions, play... it should be fun! I have made up 4 challenges one for every hour. and I have to say I am excited to be able to share my work again, and check out everyone else's! it is so much fun to share together, so so good :) I hope to "see" you there!

this is my life

to be a 4 year old ballerina! I love it, Tiara is so incredibly focused and passionate about dancing. We got to go in for her lesson to watch the class and see where they are at. I just couldn't believe what a difference a year has made. look at her little pointed toesies...the focus in her eyes! heehee and that bit of toddler belly that is still hanging on :)

and my baby, who is so not looking like a baby at all these days, across the room at the safety of her daddy's leg, she has changed a whole lot lately. all of a sudden talking so much and such stories to tell us. I love 2 years old, it is just a magical time of discovery and wonder.

on that note, Hellooo blogland peoples! I have been so out of touch these past couple of weeks. I was in a couple of car accidents years ago and I struggle off and on with those injuries. More off than on thanks to good therapy, but I strained my neck pretty badly on my trip out to Salt Lake ( thinking I'm tough and strong and carrying WAY too heavy bags) and I have been fighting through awful migranes. Pretty intense.

There HAS been lots of good stuff going on though. Tiara got into a program for her sensory issues at the children's hospital here, and this is a really good and important step in our journey with her and all that she deals with. 5 kids with 2 teachers everyday for 2 hours. It is a lot for her to take in , quite draining on her but a good thing and will be done after this week.

Emilea ( 7) has been an angel as always, just so kind and helpful. She made me smile tonight as she sat cutting out small wallet photos I had printed and doodled on for her... then you can see the wheels turning as she thinks of what she will do with them. She decided on a notebook album ( all on her own!) wanting to cover the front and back with patterned paper and make a ribbon handle. I love it!!! She is so creative and always watching what I am up to. Kids really take in and soak up so much.

and In my scrapping hullabaloo- I have just wrapped up getting everything in for my insert coming out with the March issue of Creating Keepsakes!!! how exciting is that?! Even a cover with me on it! I had never imagined I would be scrapping a cover for anything , nevermind scrapping one with my own pictures! WOW!!! Anyways, I have jam packed it with challenges and extra ideas, so be on the look out for what I hope will be a fun and inspiring read :)

be safe , be happy, give out a hug! T.T.F.N.!

Thankful

Just a picture I came across from the summer, that I like. My wonderful Cam, he is always a good guy but especially now, I have been needing to work much more than I ever have before, and he has really risen to the ocasion, taking on the things that I can't do, and helping in so many extra ways around here. Knowing that him and I are a team is something I am so thankful for I can't even begin to explain it.

We had our visit to the dentist this week. Girls did great, no cavities and each a photo on the smile wall ! I was thinking how blessed we are to have really good benefits through Cam's work, that we can get really good dental care. I don't take that for granted for one second, I know there are many people who aren't so fortunate. I am thankful. What are you thankful for today?

Silly me!

So, this past week when I was stuck in the Vegas airport for the night I pulled out the laptop I had brought and was chatting with Cam, he asked me if I was safe at least where I was for the night? and I said " I don't know" I had found a corner to settle into and couldn't really see what was going on elsewhere, but I had been hearing this security person around the corner go to this gentleman and ask him repeatedly "sir can you please place your metal objects in the bag" the man would grumble and make some angry grumpy sounds at her ( getting more and more agitated each time, or at least, that is how it sounded to me) she would leave him be and then go back and ask him again in awhile "sir can you please place your metal objects in the bag", so I told Cam in response to his question; "there is this guy who won't give up his metals, but I think they are taking care of it, so I should be safe" We chatted for awhile longer and this was still going on around the corner, so I told Cam " geee this dude still won't hand over his metals, he sounds totally grumpy" Cam told me he would pray for me, and we said goodnight. I settled into my corner floor spot for some good scrapping, praying myself for my own safety. But this continued every 15-20 minutes throughout the night, the security woman would ask the guy to hand over his metals and he would be angry about it.....Then after what must have been a hundred times I realized it was an airline security video playing over and over! , I laughed so hard at myself for being such a silly! Funny how your mind plays tricks on you in the middle of the night when you haven't slept in a couple of days !!! LOL ah well, keeps things interesting anyways!

My adventure to CK!

Here I am at CK! yep, for real!!! filming the DVD segments that I have been working so hard on. Totally cool and fun experience! This was my first time on the set of anything, so it took a bit of getting used to being in front of the camera, but once I did I had a blast! Everyone I met out there was wonderful, and I got such a kick out of walking around the offices and seeing where it all goes down. Once again, Leslie Miller was over the top good to me, and after our super busy day was done I totally enjoyed grabbing some eats with her and her husband Matt, and meeting their wonderful kiddos. I wish I had gotten a picture of Alexander (5) he had such great stories for me, we're definitely buds now!
Check out my new glasses, I traded in my blue ones, just did. I am happy with the choice :) Woke up on Saturday to a bit of a chilly morning ( nothing like here though!), but enjoyed a meeting over scrumptious breakfast, and I even fit in a quick trip to bath and body works and target before heading back to the airport. We don't have those stores here, so that makes a cool little field trip for me :)

The mountains everywhere were just breathtaking. A friend and I were talking the other day about how the good thing about living in totally flat prairies is that you never "get used to" the amazing splendor of the mountains. And I think it is true, I love being so in awe of such a cool creation, and I guess if I saw them everyday all of my life it may not be quite the same.

OK, so I have to rewind for a second and tell you why this trip was so much more of an adventure than I am making it sound! LOL! So the true goods are; I had come down with strep throat and an ear infection just a few days before my photo shoot, and made it in to the doc for some antibiotics. No biggie, nothing some tylenol and a big smile can't handle right? Well half way through photo day I knew something was wrong, but of course pretty much ignored it in favor of the tylenol and a smile route. I was supposed to catch a plane the next day ( yes, I said supposed to), so once the guys left I began packing and gathering all of my projects etc. Problem is I was having such severe stomach pain that I couldn't stand up straight, I tried to push through for several hours until I was literally on the floor, and sweet Cam was trying to finish gathering and organizing my stuff. Well I , by this time, was just trying to mumble at him where things had to go. Finally we knew there was no way I could travel like this, wrote to Leslie, and put in a call to the doctor. Anyways...Saw the doc, and turns out I was having a pretty bad allergic reaction to the antibiotics! So we stopped that in a hurry, and CK rescheduled the flight.

Well, should be good from here hey? Not completely! Cam brought me to the airport and I was told my flight would be slightly delayed, no biggie. Well it ended up leaving here 2 hours late and missing my connection. Where? In Vegas! So I land there and go through customs, am told to walk to the other terminal to get help and when I do NO ONE I need is anywhere, they have all gone home! The connecting airline people were trying to be nice and help me get ahold of someone but since they did not make my flight late there was nothing they could do. I ended up spending the night in the Vegas airport listening to WOW worship yellow ( totally awesome btw) and scrapping on the floor. It was actually pretty peaceful, I would even do it again.....Not today though. A bad attitude was not going to solve it all for me so I figured I may as well have a good time! LOL. A little excerpt from my journal says: " one month ago I was here in Vegas and my life was completely changed, I never imagined I would be back here so soon and definitely not under these circumstances, but it is a pretty cool way to celebrate and reflect on one rockin' month!"
Other than some issues getting an airline to take responsibility for getting me to Salt Lake in the morning, and a couple of teary moments, it was pretty smooth sailing from there and I must report that the trip home was MUCH smoother!

that's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

CK photo shoot!!!

Hellooo!!!!! sorry for the absence in blogging, it has been a wild and wonderful week of CK goodness. Above is a peek at my work space right here in our family room. As you can see our home is filled with colorful fun! We have been working on an area for me down in the basement for the times when I need to get away and concentrate, but for the most part I really LOVE to be right here with everyone, having the girls sit and work on their crafts with me at my island while I work on mine, or chatting with Cam in the evening while he watches a show or plays a game. It is good.

Brian and Skylar came out last week to do my CK photo shoot. They did photos here at home with Cam and the kids, and we also got out skating and playing in the snow!!! whoo hoo! I seriously had such a blast! ( I even managed to forget about having strep thraot and an ear infection, and totally ignored the reaction that was coming on from my antibiotics!!!) The guys were wonderful, and totally cool to hang out with, working really well together, and making me feel completely at ease. Emilea said right after they left " those guys are just like dads" which from her means that they were kind and fun and comfortable to be around :) she was so right.

Below is Skylar and I shooting in our living room; different space, more stripes more color! I totally can't wait to see the photos, from what I saw of them here Sky is just as talented as he is fun! And Brian is perfect for his job too, kind and good with the perfect eye for making things look awesome! This definitely goes down as one of the coolest days this year, though we have had a few lately hey?!

Thanks so much guys!

a giraffe, a princess and a bumblebee in the snow!

and last but not least in any way, my baby giraffe was totally oh so happy. All day she was asking everyone " what you be?" and then telling us "I be j-raff" when the time finally came she was squealing with delight, and did NOT want to take her costume off at the end of the night. she carried a little lunch bag and said thank-you at every door. Oh and as you can see I was Minnie mouse ( minus the wee red dress and black nose) lol. Cam and I dress up to some degree every year. It just makes it extra fun and the kids get a kick out of it. It was great fun to join our good friends, the Kornelsens over in their neighborhood. Kris and Kristie and their three boys are the perfect match for us and our three girls, when ever we get the bunch of us together you know good things are going to happen...or at least great adventures! Friends like them are the greatest treasure, they make every day better just by being them, and I am totally incredibly thankful.

the prettiest princess to ever wear a touque instead of a crown! Tiara "got it" 100% this year and it was the first time that she just had fun and did her thing without feeling appriehensive about it all. I am SO proud of her. She deals with so many sensory issues and though it is hard for all of us at times, she is always so brave and tries so hard to be her happy little self

my sweet bee :) she wore this bee body for halloween the year she was two, and this year at the last minute decided to forgo her pink fairy costume and go for the bee again! only this time she mixed with with a teletubby head. and wore it over the puffy-est jacket she has. Cam and I laughed so so hard at our big eared oh so round bumblebee...too funny! I love this kid to bits, she makes me laugh every day