Braids and Curls!

My two little girls are all girl!! They want their toe nails painted and lipstick and makeup and curls!! Taylor usually HATES when I do her hair - she has an extremely sensitive little head and cries about the time the brush touches her hair. But lately, she has been wanting braids, EVERY DAY and has let me do it without a fuss at all! A few nights ago as we were taking out her 2 braids, she asked for LOTS of braids so ALL her hair would be curly. Jessica, of course, wanted them too. So, last night I braided their hair for them. Taylor's hair is extremely fine and so the only way I could get it all braided was to do lots of little ones - a total of 11! Jessica wanted as many braids as Taylor but I managed to only do 8 on her hair. This morning, their hair was more frizzy than curly, but they were happy! Here are the pics!

Before:
After:

Credits for the scrapbook pages: More stuff from the upcoming Blog Train from Scraps of Ellay's creative team!! Its called Streets of Ellay and its fun! Watch for the date.

Playing catch up

I've decided ... I'm just not going to do it on my blog. I keep delaying writing because I need to catch up ... so I'm just going to start writing again and when I get pages from December or January done, I'll post them but I'm moving forward. :)

Alyssa entered the science fair again this year. We were really proud of her for effort ... she started this one ALL on her own. Came down and showed us her water cycle diarama. We had to kind of work backwards with the rest of the project and give her some ideas and direction on a new diarama. I didn't think her "two days" with 5-10 minutes of work, quite counted as her best effort. So, here is the "before" picture diarama and the after!

Not bad considering I was out of town and she just used supplies she could find in her room or the art cupboard in the kitchen. The clouds weren't staying up very well with toothpicks and the mountain was entirely covered with snow because she couldn't find brown paper. It was also caving in because she didn't know what to stick behind it. I like that she added flowers and bushes. She said it looked to plain and needed more color so she used markers to dot the grass. I felt like it needed a little more effort though so I gave her more options for supplies and she did this instead.

Yes, if you look closely, there is real dirt glued to the mountain and glitter paint on the water to make it shine like real water. And the grass and bushes on the green ... parsley, crushed mint and rosemary for the trees on the mountain. It was her idea ... I actually had a bag of rosemary that I had dried in my craft room. When I opened it to see what it was, she got excited and said "trees" ... so that's what we did. They wouldn't stand up on the flat part so we went with the other spices instead. And if you look closely, she also drew in wavy lines for the water evaporating under the sun and then rain drops falling from the clouds onto the mountain .

To learn more about the water cycle (beside building the diarama) we had her melt snow, boil water with a lid on and with a lid off to watch it evaporate and condense. The science end was a little lacking, but she really learned the water cycle so I was proud of her.

She was one of just a few in 4th grade that entered and she got 3rd place in her grade. I'm proud of her desire to learn, to do projects, to create! She really loves science so this is really a good opportunity for her ... plus starting in 5th grade its required by most teachers. She also got a lot of comments about her diarama from peers about how cool it looked, so that's good for her too. Its so fun to see her happy and feeling successful.

... oh, and forgot to mention it also doubled for a required project for class the week after the science fair. She had to do a presentation on how the water cycle works and have a visual aid of some kind (poster, diarama etc). Smart kid ... plan ahead and kill 2 birds with one stone!

I really love this kid ... even if she challenges me!! She is smart and independent and creative.

Another Lyssa "thing" is having a club. She loves to start clubs and has started TONS of different ones (earth club, book club, etc) but I think she's finally got one that's going to stick for a bit. She has 3 members who usually come on Wed for "princess club". She has a craft book that has different princess crafts so they make tiaras and all kinds of things. This week she even let Jessica and her friend Aly (whose big sister Mady is also in the club) join them and they made tiaras for the little girls. Its fun to watch her so happy with friends over.

Glitter Toes

These pics are a little old, but just did the scrapbook page and wanted to share. Karianna took my girls to get glitter toes back in July. They thought it was the coolest thing ever!

Credits: I used Streets of Ellay kit - created by Ellay's Creative Team for a Blog Train! This is only a TINY bit of the stuff you'll get on the train. I'll let you know more details soon.

Long time ...

Its been awhile, but I'm not abandoning my blog permanently, just been crazy busy lately. What have we been up to:

The first part of the month was spent frantically getting ready for my trip. I was gone for 2 weeks - Las Vegas and then San Diego. First, Steve and I drove to Vegas to setup and work a booth at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) for audioShare - HUGE! Then we headed to San Diego for a Vendor booth for my biz at Mary Kay's annual Leadership Convention. We set up on one afternoon and then I worked 7 more days after that. Steve came home for Mon-Fri of that week to play "Mr Dad". Then he flew back down to help me take down and then drive home.

Rachel Perry flew down to help me Mon-Fri. Was so nice to have the extra help and someone to hang out with at night while Steve was gone. I think we watched a record number of Lost episodes though. Almost all of Season 2 in 4 evenings. I don't REALLY look old enough to be her mom, do I? Don't answer that until you know she is actually 20!! So many people asked if she was my daughter ... but she's gorgeous and smart so I'd claim her. :)

We didn't get to go outside much during the day, but on Thurs of our show, we had a 2 hour lunch break and it was BEAUTIFUL! We walked to the SeaPort Village for lunch and then just sat on the deck of the convention center and enjoyed the sun. It is such a beautiful view (especially compared to the inversion that we had when I left home).

The view from the deck of the convention center where we had our booth. This was about 100 steps from where we spent 8 hours a day (unfortunately, we were inside and didn't see it much).

This is me with one of my clients ... long time client and friend Tammy Crayk. She is from Utah and I've known her about 13 years now. Isn't my booth backdrop cool - THANKS TOSHA!

The show was a long week for me (lots of standing and talking to lots of people), but very beneficial. I've added 18 clients officially and have 3 or 4 more that I'm playing phone tag with. I have about 85 clients now which is so exciting for me. We really could use the extra income right now. Really hoping to get to 90 before the month ends!! Then we spent one day playing and then drove all the way home the next. Sure missed the girls!! They were super glad to find us home when they woke up (we had told them we weren't coming home until that afternoon).

This is me at the radio controls of the USS Midway. We spent our day off touring it - we spent about 4 hours on it. Its AMAZINGLY HUGE and really a cool piece of history.

Steve called it "geeking out" but it was fun for both of us. History is fun when it comes to life through artifacts and stories about people and seeing part of it first hand.

Update on the job front - I3 (the company Steve worked for) has officially closed. They lost their funding back in September and that's when he technically "lost his job" and paycheck. But we hoped they'd find new funding/get bought out and all get back pay as they continued to work for most of the last 3 months while they searched for other jobs. i3 was really close to a buyout that we felt was really going to happen ... but that deal has officially fallen through. He packed up most of his office today. He is now REALLY on the job market. He is searching for executive level jobs (CTO, VP, director) in technology, engineering, research and devlopment etc areas.

I'll get back into digi-scrapbooking and posting pics and things on my blog soon. I really miss it. I need that time for me, but for tonight, I just wanted to let you all know where things stand, where we've been and say thanks for all the prayers, thoughts and support. I am so grateful for my friends and family!

MIA ... Goals and Wishes

Sorry I've been a little MIA (missing in action) this month ... at least on posting about events in our lives. I haven't even finished posting about DisneyWorld. Just haven't had time to scrapbook and blog. Just wanted to let you all know that we had a very Merry Christmas and I am so very grateful for the "angels" who made our Christmas so much brighter this year. We were not expecting to do much (if any) Christmas shopping and some "angels" changed that for us. It was one of the best Christmas shopping experiences I've ever had. Steve and I went during our date night the Saturday before Christmas. We got everything for the kids that we were looking for ... all in one night. And it was really fun knowing how surprised the girls would be.


Hope all of you had a Merry Christmas. I am enjoying Christmas break from school and looking forward to 2010 being a better year!


Someone asked me today if I had set New Year Resolutions ... not really, but I do have some goals in my head that I plan to work on during 2010.


My goals:

• Spend more time with my kids - reading, doing crafts, playing games, going places ...
• Read the Book of Mormon.
• Read my Church lessons every week.
• Finish my 2009 scrapbooking and stay current for 2010 (still need to do 07 and 08 and prior to 2000 too - but that's another goal for another day).
• Get back into a good work-out habit and lose weight (with the stress of Steve's job situation, I just haven't had the energy or desire to go to the gym and I stress eat too).
• Balance my time in my business better so I can be more efficient and find new services that will draw new clients.

My wishes for 2010 for all of us:

• Financial stability ... (consistent and adequate incomes and ability to live within our means... update: At Steve's day job -i3- they are in final stages of negotiations with a company to by them and that is supposed to close by Jan 15th. We are cautiously optimistic that it will happen and hope that they will also get a signing bonus equivalent to back pay shortly after that date ... with audioshare -Steve's business-, they are still seeking additional funding and we are optimistic that early 2010 will bring that as well)
• Good health ... (especially prayers for my sister-in-law right now as she deals with the next phase of her thyroid cancer beginning Jan 1st)
• Peace ... (thanks to our armed forces who serve our country ... may they be kept safe and may somehow there be more peace in the world ... but if nothing else, more peace in our own hearts)
• Faith and obedience ... (may we all have a greater faith in our Savior and Father in Heaven and may we obey His guidance that we may become more like Him)

Although I hope to post more before then, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Special Olympics Kit

Hi digi-scrapping friends ... I don't normally post about specific kits that my designer is releasing, but this on is SUPER CUTE and its a CHARITY kit. All proceeds for the first month will be donated to the Special Olympics. I'm excited about it. What a fun kit to use for kid activities - even if you don't have any olympic pictures. :) Hope you all love it! Its called NGU and its available starting TODAY at http://www.stufftoscrap.com/.

I used this kit to scrapbook Alyssa's swim team party from earlier this year ... I'm working on December and a few things from August and then July! :)

The Christmas Story

I was going to post this on Christmas day ... been thinking about it for several days, but decided to post it now because this is what I want to think about all season.

Luke, Chapter 2, Bible - St James Version

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."

What-Shall-We-Give?

Most of you know I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a Mormon). Many of you that read my blog are too. But regardless of your religious beliefs, I hope you'll keep this message in mind this Christmas season. This is a video from our church reminding us of the true meaning of the Sprit of Christmas.

Click on this link to view the video. What-Shall-We-Give?

I am struggling with Christmas this year. Its so hard to tell a 4 year old there really won't be presents from Santa other than the tickets he gave us for our Disney Trip. Its so hard to tell our 6 year old that even though the Santa at the church party asked her what she wants, she probably won't get it ... that was one of his helpers and he just didn't know that Santa had already given us our Disney Trip for Christmas. But I am also struggling because I can't give to so many others. I can't help with the clothing and food drives or the Toys for Tots at the store. I can't help with the giving tree at my kids' school. I can't help family and friends that are in need. This Christmas more than ever, I am grateful for the times when I have been able to give, for the true Spirit of Christmas that it has brought for me. And this Christmas I have been searching for ways to give because I can't give store-bought gifts, gift cards, money or even food because those are so limited for us this year. I want my family to feel that Spirit of Christmas. Two friends that visited me this morning gave me some great ideas. Thanks! I hope I can find ways to give this season and always ... not for Christmas, but for Christ.

Merry Christmas!

PS If you are looking for ways to keep Christ more at the front of your Christmas, this website from our church has some little things for kids ... even as little as coloring pages and games.