Happy New Year!

I'm back! Wow! We're pooped! We have been running around like crazy for so many days. It was nice to be out at Mom and Dad's for the holiday in some ways. I was so glad that I could spend the night at Grandpa and Grandma's. It was so relaxing to just talk and slow down there. It was almost like being a kid again! I also got to stay overnight at my Aunt Barb's. I loved hearing stories about my Great Grandparents and giggling about the waterbed. I even slept in for the first time in forever! It was really fun to watch the girls opening their gifts too. I love that Kylie and my brother have become friends. Kylie loves to play anything rough with him (and to think that their friendship all started with him giving her a wedgie!) Ari said, "I'm not big enough to wrestle, but I can hug." So, he would stop playing rough every so often to give Ari a big hug. :) Just our family and Dad and Mom went to Grandma and Grandpa's for Christmas one night. The girls danced to the Lawrence Welk Christmas Show, and Grandpa and Grandma thought that was so fun to watch. I heard them talking about Kylie dancing after they went to bed that night. Grandpa said that it would take a really great dancer to keep up with Kylie. I also got to hear Grandma and Grandpa tell each other that they loved each other before bed. Mom said that they do that every night. I think after 60 years, that is so sweet that they still always say, "I love you." We went to see Dad's side of the family on Christmas Eve.
After eating and chatting, we decided to go with my cousin and his wife to their Christmas Eve program. I have to say that, that was a huge highlight for me. I loved just singing the carols and praying and focusing on what really matters. They had candles for everyone to hold at the end. Ari was dozing off on my lap. So much of our family came, and it was just a wonderful way to spend the night. Ari believes in Santa. So, we waited to put out all the gifts until they were in bed. It was fun watching her check out all the presents for hers in the morning. She couldn't find one for me; so, she just said I could share hers. It was so nice to say the Christmas story verses with my brother AND my girls. Josh and I said all the parts that they didn't know, and they said the middle. Another thing that I had really been looking forward to! Of course, they had their heads buried in the carpet by Daddy's feet, but it was still very nice to share the tradition with them. :) Later, after pancakes, Mom, Dad, Josh, Laura, Aunt Sis, the girls and I all went to Grandma and pa's. We visited. Then, Aunt Sis and Mom went to Aunt Barb's house to open presents together while we took a nap. After our nap, we found out that Uncle John had passed away. Everything this Christmas has been overshadowed by the sadness of knowing that he was so sick. It seems like an aweful day for that to happen, but I felt better when Aunt Barb told someone that no day is a good day for that to happen. I was glad that I could be there to go to the funeral home and spend the night with Aunt Barbie. I still am sad, but it sure is comforting to know that he became a believer and is now with Jesus- breathing well again. My Aunt Barb is doing so well- better than a lot of us. She said that all the prayers are getting her through it. I was still so sad when we opened presents at our house on Friday. We didn't get very much for each other and the girls just a few presents that they would really love. We didn't worry about wrapping just had them turn around and get one at a time. It was a huge success. But, I was really sad that we were having presents while the funeral was going on back home. Then, Saturday, we went to Jason's parents' house. We had a delicious big breakfast with biscuits and gravy, sausage, and bacon. Jason's grandma came too. Then, we took turns opening presents. I got a cool hat that I love and my Wacom writing tablet for scrapbooking!!! Kylie especially loved her ball that she can sit and bounce on. Ari got some books that she liked as well as Pet Shop stuff- lots of it. So, we have been busy! Kylie came down with a fever and aches last night, and Jas and I didn't feel well this morning. So, we will see how New Year's will go... :) Lots of Love!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

I am so excited to be home for Christmas! HA! Now that song will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day! When I was a kid, my brother and I used to try to say all the Christmas verses from memory on Christmas day. Usually, he would remember the parts that I got stuck on, and we would make it through the whole thing. We actually still do this as adults, and it is one of my favorite memories. This year, I have been teaching Kylie and Ari the verses so that they can say them too and carry on the tradition. They didn't learn all of them, but they have a pretty good start. I hope that they will always remember that Jesus is the reason that we have Christmas, and that His birth (even though it wasn't really on Christmas Day) is so important because He brought a way to be free from our sin and ready for heaven. Kylie asked Jesus in her heart just before she turned 4, and Ari has asked about it a couple times. I so want Jesus to be the most important One in their lives. He is the only One that will give them true peace and joy. Merry Christmas, everyone! Here is a video of the girls saying part of Luke 2. Ok, it's taking to long to upload. I will have to add it another time. Lots of Love!

I Can't Dance....LOL!

Here is Kylie at her little school Christmas concert. Kylie loves to dance at home, and everyone is always impressed with her rhythm! She is a born cheerleader. At her little concert, Jas and I were discussing why she wasn't dancing with the rest of the kids. I thought that she was nervous or concentrating. Well, when we asked, she said that her teacher had told the class not to dance around during the performance. (I'm guessing that this was meant for the kids that are always bouncing around and not for Kylie! :) Anyway, Kylie, who wouldn't dream of breaking a rule, picked out the motions that she thought wouldn't be dancing moves and did those!!!! LOL!

This is Christina- Kylie's best friend. They are both so tiny; so, I guess they got to stand beside each other! :)

Awesome Story About the Power of Prayer!!!

I was just looking at Rachel Young's blog to see what was in her Big Christmas Deal which BTW is so cute! Look at these little nativity figures that are in it! (I am not on her team. I just like them! :)
Anyway, I started reading her blog entry. WOW! Little kids have such amazing faith, and we grown ups are always trying to teach them about how to live the way God wants us to. I bet we'd do better to learn from our kids a lot of times. If you have time, you should read her story. It's a good one!!!! :) Here's the link: http://rachelyoung.typepad.com/my_weblog/ Just scroll down a little to the long entry.

My Scrapbook Buddy...

I am on several CT teams with annscraps. Here is a link to her gallery: http://www.digishoptalk.com/gallery/showgallery.php?ppuser=10217&cat=500 We have similar styles and like the same kind of scrapbooking supplies. I love her sense of humor. She cracks me up! Well, we kinda just started talking and emailing and became good friends. It's really fun to tell each other where all the deals and free stuff is! She suggested that we have a Christmas chat and do a lift of each other's pages for a present. We talked for 1 1/2 hours last night and could have kept talking except that we both needed to get back to our hubbies! :) Here are our lifts. This first one is my lift of her LO called "Madisen". I used mostly stuff from catscrap. Here's the link to catscrap: http://catscrap.com/shop/index.php?main_page=products_new&zenid=1917d8a8b0b21e1ca81a5bfe855d6dd3

Here's the page of hers that I lifted. She used stuff from Gina Huff at Weeds and Wildflowers.

Here's the page that she made for me using stuff from the collab kit at the Digi Chick. I love the shaped text and the sequins!

Here is the page that she lifted of mine. I used stuff from Jomi's collab on this page.

Sad...

I have so much to be thankful for, and I don't want to complain. I have got to say though that I have seen better months. My grandpa has been in the hospital and is home now. But, he is still not walking well and really confused. My uncle is still having trouble because of his cancer. The whole family is helping out as much as possible, but I am pretty much useless to do anything. I am too far away. This LO is about a really happy night this month. It was a really peaceful, bright spot in the middle of all the sadness. It uses a lot of stuff but the main part is from Spreading Cheer a collab from Gina Marie, Rachel Young, and Traci Murphy at Funky Playground Designs.

The girls decorated the tree yesterday. It was so much fun to take our time and watch them. Ari put tons of ornaments all in the same spot in the front and the poor little tree just tipped right over once when it was bumped. They did all the ornaments themselves this year, and it was so cute! Ari hung two stuffed animals on the tree even. I think it's fun to just let them do what they think of. I don't care what it looks like! So, a reindeer is hanging by it's tag on the tree. HA! Last night, Jas got out the train, and we just sat together and laughed while we watched them play. They kept saying "Hi!" at the same time when the train would come around. I put lights in their rooms. They (especially Kylie) were excited to see them when they went in their rooms to go to bed. Here's a video of them playing with the train last night. :)

GOO....

My brother loves to get this and other forms of goo for my kids for birthdays and holidays! Here is just a sampling of the creative things that my children have decided to do with it. "Goo" as it is called around our house has been spotted in towels and on floors & clothes. (And, by the way, the one kind that was found in all these things, doesn't come out! That's why Ari doesn't have a shirt on.) Many Little Pet Shop animals have also been smothered in it. So....buy stock in all forms of goo because I will be buying it in huge quantities when my brother has kids! LOL! I don't know how to flip the one; so, sorry about watching it sideways!

Here is a new LO of our snow day fun! I used Cinzia Loosemore's paper (from her Holiday Magic collection) and frames. http://digitalfreebies.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1952&zenid=c4ff4ea7b6ae4c32d7a1f1322e2ec78a

Fun at the Park...

Last night, our city had a little thing at the park. Santa was supposed to arrive (although there was a huge line to see him, and I figured we could just find another Santa who was less busy sometime! ;) They also had lights, caroling, cookies, and a horse-drawn carriage! It was freezing, but I thought it would be a fun, last minute activity since Jas was working late. So, we bundled up and froze while waiting for our ride! The girls liked the cookies, and Ari loved the horse ride. Kylie had, had it and really wanted to go home during the ride because of her cold toe. :) Ari and I pet the horse after our ride, and Kylie cried. (Once she decides that something isn't fun anymore, there is no convincing her otherwise! :) Later, Ari said that the horse did something while she pet it. :) I think the horse thought she was going to give him something yummy to eat! :) Anyway, it was a pretty fun experience!

Here is my newest LO. It uses mostly stuff from Jomi's awesome new Grateful Kit at The Digi Chick! Here is a link to her kit. It's 20% off right now! http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/product.php?productid=17421&cat=0&page=3

Jas loved these pictures of Ari. He was talking to her in the bathroom and thought she was sitting like such a grown up little girl!

Snow!!!

The girls were so excited to see snow on the ground today! Kylie had a snow day, and we had so much fun! We went out to play in it, had hot cocoa with extra marshmellows, and made snow icecream with tons of sugar, sprinkles, and M&Ms. Ari tried making a snow angel, but was not really loving it after lying down on the ground. She wanted to go in after about 10 min. Kylie was covered from head to toe and LOVED it. She went out again with Jas later to build a snowman and throw more snow. Happy day! Here's some new pages! Oh, and my mom's side of the family has a sweet new baby boy!!! Can't wait to get home for Christmas so I can get my hands on the little cutie!!! :) Give him a kiss for me!

Here's my newest one using Gina Huff's Cherishing Every Moment Add-On kit:

Here is one I made for Monica Larsen using her new kit from Scrapbook-Elements. I am now a member of her creative team!!! She also sells at scrapscandistyle.com .

Here is one using Kelly Thompson's Animal Crackers Kit from scrapbookbytes.com and Madame Mim's Circus Kit at scrapscandistyle.com .

Watch this...

Ok, I would never have done this when I was a kid! It's the Daddy in her! :)

Here is a funny picture of the girls "sitting on their nest"!

Well, three out of four in our family are sick again. Anyone suprised?! Me either. We are keeping Walmart alive with our Tylenol, Motrin, and antibiotic purchases. If anyone was planning on Christmas gifts this year- well, sorry! We could give you what's left of the many bottles of medicine! LOL! Lots of love!

Circus!

Yesterday, Jas and I took the girls to a circus! It was not packed, and so it was relaxing to find a parking spot and to leave. Kylie especially loved it! She kept talking about the "beautiful girls." She loved their costumes. We got them cotton candy, and they both loved that. Just about everytime we asked Ari what her favorite part was, she came up with something different. She was really disappointed once when she didn't get one of the huge balls that they were bouncing out to the crowd. She didn't understand that they were just to pop back up in the air and not to keep. She got pretty tired after the intermission, but she would wake right up if something caught her attention. She really liked the elephant. Kylie really liked the girl on the long ribbons hanging from the ceiling and the girl that hung from a "hook". Jas liked the upside down guy (he walked on a ceiling!). I really liked the elephant and the dogs that caught frisbees. The girls were so good and never asked for any souveniers or snacks. We had a really great night! We were all hungry; so, we stopped to pick up some pizza on the way home. It was so late when we got them to bed! Terrible parents keeping their kids up way past bedtime!! :)

Here is a page that I made using the awesome new Weeds and Wildflower's Christmas Kit!

Lots of Love, Angela

Wierd Dog Pictures and More...

I wonder why he thinks that this is the best place to lay sometimes?

I had to buy this for him because I just thought it would be hysterical to see him playing with it. I was right! I'm the proud mommy of a paper bag Indian!

This is the giant tree that Ari and I found at the mall!
We found Santa too, and Ari hugged him, of course!
And, the biggest news of all..... my daughters are married...... to each other!!!! :)These cracked me up! So, I had to share! Happy Thanksgiving and shopping weekend!!!

Pictures from our Pumpkin Patch Train ride

This was a fun day for our family! You can read the journaling at one of my galleries.

I used stuff from a new site that I found called scrapscandistyle.com

They have some really unique stuff! Best thing is, I was GIVEN this

Grand Opening Kit for free at Digi Shop Talk by one of their owners!

New pages!

Here's one just for fun using Mossa's paper from a new site that I

found this weekend and from Ida's swirl from catscrap! Here's the new site: scrapscandistyle.com I love this picture of Kylie twirling in her Christmas dress!

Here is Kylie's little friend from school. This was the day they could dress in their
costumes. Aren't they so cute together?!!! This is made from a collab kit at scrapartist. I used Two Sister's template and Gina Huff's elements and papers (from W&W).

BRRRRR!

It's been warm the last two days; so, I just assumed that today would be warm too. I dressed Kylie for school in just ankle socks. It was time to go, and I looked outside. It was snowing a lot!!! Well, I didn't have time for a wardrobe change at that point; so, I grabbed a warmer coat and hat. I hope that she doesn't freeze at recess!
Cute Story: Ari was watching the snowflakes stick to her sleeve. She said", Them like me. Them are cute. So teeny tiny like tiny shoes." :)

Grown up parents

We're grown-up parents now! We went to our first parent/ teacher conference tonight. Her teacher said that Kylie did really well and always follows the rules. She said that she sits near a difficult student but does really well and doesn't ever let him bother her. The other day, Kylie forgot that she was at home and saw a color that this boy was wearing that day on the blanket next to her. She said his name and then realized that she wasn't in school. :) We love her teacher! She is the perfect match for Kylie's personality. God definitely put Kylie in the perfect class!


This is a new LO that I made with mostly Kelly Thompson's new Glisten Kit from Scrapbook-Bytes. You can read the writing by clicking on one of my galleries on the side. :)

New page

Here is a new page that I made using mostly a collab kit from Jomi van Bekkum and Eve Rechinella.

Growing up...

Today, Kylie wanted to walk to her classroom by herself. Her teacher said she was proud of her yesterday when she walked in by herself. (I had to use the bathroom and sign in; so, I sent her on down.) Today, Kylie asked if she could always go in by herself. Sniff, sniff....she's growing up. She didn't even turn around to look at Ari and I when she walked in her room. I'm proud of her too.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11



{This is one of the verses that the girls and I have memorized lately. I love this verse.}

Here is a new LO using brand new stuff from Gina @ Weeds and Wildflowers. The paper and hardware will be coming to the store soon.

You can read the journaling if you go to one of my galleries and look in the credits.

Love and Smiles, Angela

Hi!

Saturday was Digital Scrapbooking Day. My DH was soooo sweet. He got up and told the girls that they were cleaning, and mommy was going to scrapbook all day! Then, they cleaned the house really well. I felt guilty that they were working while I just messed around on the computer. I went from site to site looking at all the great deals and talking on the phone with mom. It was fun to help her spend her money! Even though we are trying to be careful with our money right now, Jas said I could spend $20 cause he felt bad that I kept talking about all the great deals! So, after carefully deciding what I REALLY liked, I got some stuff from Vera Lim, Ah Designs, and Catscrap. Nicole and Jeremy came over that night, and she looked at the new stuff I got. She got a whole bunch of stuff for 99 cents. Here are some new pages:

This one is made mostly with stuff from Jomi van Bekkum's Bohemian Autumn Papers and her collab kit with Jackie Eckles at Scrapartist. I love this picture of the girls. Ari and I were going to go for a walk the other day, but we ended up just playing in the neighbor's leaves. Then, we raked them and put them in a big black bag. Later, I thought...why not put them all in our backyard and let the girls play around. They had a great time with their leaf war, and I got some awesome pictures (and joined the fight at the end!) Fun!!! :)

Here's one that uses mostly stuff from Eat, Drink, and Be Scary Kit @ Weeds and Wildflowers. It also uses a lot of little things from Gina Huff.

Kelly Thompson has an adorable kit called Almost a Princess at Scrapbook Bytes. Here's a page using it.

Last weekend, we got to go on a train ride to a pumpkin patch and farm. It was a 45 min. ride each way. Then, we got to spend time petting animals, going in a corn maze, and getting little pumpkins. Then, we were starving and went to the buffet at Pizza Hut. It was a great day! Here's a LO with the girls giggling on the train. I guess that giggling is a planned activity because Kylie once said to Ari, "Let's sit up here and giggle!" They are so cute! This one uses Emma's Smile Kit by Danielle Young at Oscraps.

Lots of Love!!! ~Angela ; o )

Hello!

Just popped in to add a few pictures from Halloween last night! We had a very busy night, but it was really fun for the girls. I loved seeing all the family and getting to visit with everyone!

Here is Ari helping me make ghost cupcakes for Kylie's class.

Ari slowly opening her present at Grandma and Grandpa's and lining the candy up. :)

Here's my little supergirl!!!

Kylie asked me, "When I go fast, does my cape go up?"

One of my favorite parts of Halloween- Joe- our neighbor who always dresses up and plays spooky music with his blinking light. So funny!

Some quick thoughts...

We finally got to go to church tonight! With everyone being sick, we haven't been in a while. It was so good, and I feel all refreshed again. I get so excited after being there. Tonight, we had a lady from Thailand there. She talked a little at the end of the service. She is part of Garden of Hope. This organization rescues little girls and women who have been forced or sold into prostitution in Thailand. They introduce them to Jesus who can give them unconditional love. Garden of Hope pays the girl's debt to free them, and then they train them so that they will have a way to support their families. I just can't imagine how a little girl can ever go through all those horrible things! Here is the website for Garden of Hope if you are interested in praying for these people who are helping them. http://www.justfoodinc.org/ Here is a website that tells a little more about this problem in Burma and Thailand. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/january/16.29.html Also, I got this great quote in an email from my aunt.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

I just love that! How true! Here are a couple new LOs for you. This one uses stuff from Gina Huff at weedsandwildflowers.com

This one is for a challenge at Vera Lim Designs.

These are some from the Fiesta Weekend at scrapartist.com

This was for the avatar challenge that weekend. I had a lot of fun with this one! I am Juan Valdez. This was for the recipe challenge. We like these. I have lots of great Mexican recipies now because they did a recipe swap. Now, I just have to actually motivate myself to make one! :)

I made this one for fun with some new stuff from catscrap.com.

Lots of Love! Angela :)

meet the sweetest guy in the world...

...It's my Jas! It has been another week of sickies-this time Kylie mostly. Poor thing has had a fever since last Friday, and she even threw up last night because she was coughing so hard. Ari has been feeling bad off and on too. Yesterday, Jas came home and told me that he had rented 2 movies for us and asked his mom and dad to keep the girls tonight so that we could go on a date! He said he felt bad for me because I hadn't gotten out much. He also went to Walmart to get Kylie some pop for her stomach and two little Transformers (robots the girls call them) to cheer them up. What an awesome guy!

Here is a layout that I made using a collab kit from Funky Playground. I mostly used Gina Marie Huff's papers and elements.

This is another page that I made using a kit from Danielle Young called Everyday Blessings. I love the name that she chose because it made me think about the little things that I should be more thankful for. Her kit will be released at Oscraps soon.

Have a happy day!!!