Valentine's Day Album Class

Make this cute Cuckoo 4 You mini book, a perfect Valentine surprise! Join Me Saturday, February 12th at 4:00 pm. If you are interested in taking the class call the store at (623) 376-8257 to sign up.

Yeah I am messing around....again

I got the bug to play with my blog again. Well, its not going the way I want to so.....We'll see what happens. I want to change the look and other things. For now the fact that I am even thinking about my blog is a good start. So look for more changes again soon.

Life Happens!

Yes my blog reading friends life happens. I have been very busy since my last post, so much has happened but yet there isnt much to say. I have been hanging out with my children, teaching scrapbook classes and just living life in general. We did not take our summer vacation we had planned to. David became very ill with a sinus infection (back in March) and long story short he ended up having surgery on his sinuses (in August because the infection never went away.) We are hoping this will prevent future issues for him. The girls started school on August 9th and they are happy to be back. My computer died two days ago so now I am trying to get used to a laptop. You never know how much you need your computer until you can't use it. I don't have access to my photos right now but when I do I will post back to school pictures. Some of you have given up on reading my blog and I am sorry to hear that but I understand. There is only so much I can do each day and when I think of blogging in the future I will. So read, stay with me or don't, just know I appreciate that you care for me.

The Black plague, the tooth fairy, & Tee-ball

My dear friends I have been long absent from my blog and I feel dreadful about it. Much has gone on since my last post but really it's just my life that has kept me so very busy. Most recently, Lela had a play at school where she portrayed a victim of the Black plague(See picture below.)I was very ummmmm enlightening to learn about the Black Plague and even more entertaining to see a play about it. Let's just say it was in the spirit of Monty Python's Flying Circus.



Cora was finally able to not only have a loose tooth but lose the her first tooth. (See her smiling face below, it's one of her bottom teeth in the front in case you cannot pick it out) She was very excited to get her first visit from the Tooth Fairy.



Anaya has been playing Tee-ball for the last two months. This is new and exciting for her since she has not played any sports before. The photo below is of her in her jersey before a game. She is throwing well, batting well, and hustling after the ball with all the energy she has. We are very proud of her progress as a player.



And that darlings is the news for now. I shall return soon as summer is upon us and my daughters will be out of school soon and the escapades we will be embarking on will definitely be showing up here on my blog. I miss you all and hope you are all well.

AHHHHH! Where did the time go?

So much for my goal to update my blog more often. The holidays came around and I just got BUSY! Then the New Year arrived and my children got sick. There were doctors appointments, paperwork to do, and lots of cleaning and laundry. Still digging myself out. I don't have any craft projects or classes lined up. I am actually kind of sad about that. This is the first time in 5 years that I have not taught a class for Valentine's Day (which is my 3rd favorite holiday after Halloween and Christmas.) Anyway, I am alive and kicking. I hope all of you are doing well.

Because I must.... that's why

I have decided that I must start updating my blog more often. See that's the easy part, to decide to do something. Its the getting the blog updated part that I struggle with. Well, here is what I have been up to since my last blog post.

Halloween- The girls went as Ariel the Little Mermaid, Cleopatra, and a vampire. I went as Vampire Snow White and David went as Vampire Victim Prince Charming.


My favorite Halloween Decoration


In November I taught my Together album class, here is the front cover:


I also was able to visit with my new niece Kendell Michelle Carter, such a cutie face! This a few photos of her and her mother(my sister-in-law Karali) and my nephew Tyler.







And Finally, on December 8th I am teaching my Gingerbread Dreams Album class here is the covers:


I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I will be back before Christmas.

Updates & more

Crafting update:
This beautiful fabric is what I am planning to use for the purse I am going to sew in October. (Thanks again Aunt Debbie for the fabric!)














I am working on 4 scrapbook classes right now that will be taught over the next 4 months. My favorite classes right now are a family album made with Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper and a Christmas Album made with American Crafts Merrymint paper (See below.) Don't you just love the reindeer and the gingerbread people. (You can't see it in the photo but they have lovely metallic elements on the paper.) I finished up 6 scrapbook layouts that have been sitting on my desk forever, it was nice to make room for other projects.




















Mandy update:
I started allergy shots this month and so far its not bad; hopefully after doing this for a year I will start to see some relief. I have been working with an Advocate the last two months, she is helping us with our problems with the school district regarding the classroom supports we feel our youngest daughter needs to be truly successful in school. I have run the gamut of emotions regarding this; I have been angry, sad, depressed, hopeful, and content. I believe that all of the work I have been doing with our daughter's teacher and the advocate will pan out for us in the future. I have gained the strength I have needed to get through this from my family, friends, and the Lord. I have appreciated everyone's support and advice.


Here is what my children have been up to:
My oldest daughter, Lela, is continuing with her horseback riding and has enjoyed going on several trail rides that last two months. We are excited to report that my parents ( Lela's grandparents) horse is still pregnant and we are hoping for a successful birth next year so that Lela will finally be able to see "her" horse. Lela joined the CARE Club at school; its a club for 5th and 6th graders; they do fund raisers and participate in school/community activities. Lela was also selected as one of 60 kids who will compete and interview for 3o spots for a special Mission at the Challenger Space Center near our home. We are very excited for her and we hope she gets selected. We will let everyone know if she makes it.

Our middle daughter, Cora, returned to her singing troupe, Shine Your Light Singers, this month and is enjoying making friends with the new girls in the troupe. According to Cora's teacher at school, she is one of the most popular children in her class. Usually I don't put much stock in "popularity" but in this case I was happy to hear it because the teacher said she was popular with the other children because of her kind and compassionate behavior toward them.

Our youngest daughter, Anaya, is enjoying Kindergarten very much. Anaya has been telling me all about the things she does at school and the friends she is making. I have to keep asking her who everyone is because she has so many friends. We feel very blessed that Anaya is doing so well in a regular Kindergarten class. When you have an Autistic child you worry if they will connect well with other children their own age that don't know about or understand her condition. Anaya is working hard to overcome the challenges she is facing each week as her school work becomes more difficult for her. We are hoping that in the next few months the classroom supports we have been asking for will become a reality.

David:
David is busy as always with work, he took over some projects that another person on his team was doing previously. When he has free time, David plays chess and helps his grandmother work on his family's genealogy.

That's what we have been up to since my last post, hopefully I didn't miss anything. I love you all and miss those of you I don't get to see regularly. Happy Fall to all of you who get to enjoy the changing of the leaves this time of year, just know I am a little jealous of the beauty you are surrounded with.