A Productive Sunday, Sort of...

Today was actually a great day. At least for the most part. We all went to church. After a break, Kate was hesitant at first, but she had a great time. John & I went to Discovery which is our church's way of joining the church. Some people end up joining, while others do not. It will definitely be a learning experience for each of us, and I hope it leads us to where we are meant to be. Either at our current church, or where ever God intends us to be.

After church, John requested a breakfast casserole I made for Christmas. It took quite a bit longer since my only 9x13 (which might mean I need another!) was tied up with a Chicken Spaghetti I made earlier in the week (what you ask?!? - yes, I have actually been cooking as of late! - who would have thought!). So, using a smaller pan, it took about twice the time for the eggs to actually be something other than a runny mess. Alas, it was proclaimed to be great! Whew!

After catching up on more of my favorite show (24 - Season 1 - I haven't watched this since 2006), my favorite girl, aka my daughter, joined me on the sofa for a little cuddle time. Later in the afternoon, we ventured out to the grocery store since tomorrow is diet day #1 for the New Year - ugh!! When we got home, we both were so tired we laid down and slept. Turns out baby girl (can I say she's a baby when she's FIVE?!?!, probably not, but don't tell her!), had a fever. She has since spent the rest of the evening laying in our bed watching movies (and calling for us at every whim, I might add). Finally, she's starting to feel a little better, let's hope this continues, and we all get a good nights rest.

Despite what seems like quite the busy day when I write it out, I did get some digital scrapbooking done - and I have plans for more soon. I hope you enjoy my latest additions. The first is actually a professionally taken photo (Thanks Melissa Brawner Photography!) from Christmas time last year, 2010. The second, is a picture from my family's trip to California over Thanksgiving (2011). Whatever speaks to me at the moment, right? ;)

Please comment and let me know what you think!

Until next time.....

5 Things I Love Layout

Another digital layout complete. This one was much more complex using brush tools for stamping and learning how to use quick pages to make digital scrapbooking much faster (you know, when I actually catch on).

Hope you enjoy!

Digital Scrapbooking Beginnings

I hope everyone has had a wonderful and very Merry Christmas! I can't believe it's already over!! We were so blessed to have such great family and friends. As well as the Birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ for whom we celebrate this wonderful day every year!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've started digital scrapbooking. Part of my online class is to share my first project. So here it is!

I also found a Christmas kit that I LOVE, so I've got one of my "Buddy Returns" pages done. More to do, but baby steps for sure!

More to come soon!

Joining the Blog World again!

Back in the saddle again! It's been a long time since I've posted here, and I think it's about time I did! Kate has turned FIVE years old almost a week ago, and let me just say, THIS five-year-old is a HANDFUL! Full on sassy like I've never seen before! Gearing up for Christmas is on the list. I waited way too long to do any shopping, and now I'm trying to see what I have left to do, as well as what I need to get ready for our FIRST Christmas morning / day at our very own house. I'm very excited, but nervous - luckily, my sweet mother-in-law and brother-in-law are pretty laid back! I'm so excited about Kate getting to wake up in her house and being able to enjoy all of her wonderful Santa gifts this year instead of rushing off to do this and that.

For Thanksgiving, we went to California with my family, and coming home was VERY hard. Hard to get straight into the Christmas spirit with decorations and plans for sure! So hard that our Elf On the Shelf, Buddy didn't make his appearance until December 1st. Boy was that a sight. I've started digital scrapbooking, and I'm so glad - because I'm going to make a few pages of his antics. He sure is much more adventurous this year - look for the pictures to come soon!

Next up was Kate's birthday - luckily the only place she wanted to go for her birthday was Jumpzone! They do such a great job, and I'm so glad to let someone else cut the cake and write down the gift list! Ha! It's the little things! Not to mention not having to get a ton of decorations and plates! Those things definitely add up quickly too!

Mother's Day Weekend

After a bumpy start to the weekend, Kate & I had a wonderful time shopping on Saturday. We saw the new train that goes all around the Promenade (without tracks!) and she loved it - I promised we would bring daddy back and ride together soon. She was quite the little angel and as we walked around, I realized just how much she has grown up. It was also, probably the first time I had actually taken her out of the house with a pony tail and it stayed. It was awesome. Then again, as soon as we got back to the car, she decided she wanted to shop a little more, and, well, let's just say the pony tail was no more. :) But it was so adorable while it lasted. That little girl has my heart in her hands.

Kate was so proud to be able to get a new book with some money that her great-grandma Ruby had given her a few weeks earlier. Instead of one, being my child and all, she decided on a 6 pack of Dora books. I never imagined a 2 and a half year old would love Dora. Not nearly as much as her older cousin did ("Dora's my BEST friend!), but she does love her. She is now quoting Dora saying "Swiper NO swiping!" at all the appropriate times (as well as a few extra times here and there for good measure). I don't say it enough, but the past 6 months have been a time of enormous growth for her and it's absolutely incredible. Her vocabulary, her likes and dislikes, her understanding a conversation, repeating all kinds of things (some not intended for repeating!), etc. I'm sure all you parents out there understand exactly what I mean, but it's still beautiful to see it happen to your own child as well.

Back to the real reason for this post - Mother's Day. Sunday morning turned out greater than I expected. We decided to not go to church since there were a million things I "needed" to do around the house - including packing up all of Kate's winter clothes (maybe a tad early, thanks WEATHER!), and of course, all the clothes she has indeed outgrown again!! John completely surprised me with a new TINY camcorder to capture all the cute things that Kate has been doing recently. (I'll try to post video soon!). I know I had mentioned it about a million times in passing, but I never thought he would do something like that out of the blue. It's tiny, and touchscreen (so no 200 buttons to figure out!) and you don't need a tape or even a memory stick (although the memory stick might come in handy some too!) - which is awesome.. As you can tell, I'm very excited about.. :)

After we got ready, we went to John's parents house for a wonderful lunch for Mother's Day - as well as to celebrate his dad's birthday (it was Friday). Kate fell asleep on the way home & mommy got to finish her book. Yea! :) All in all, it was a great weekend. One I'd like to repeat as often as possible (okay, maybe without the gifts..).

On another note, Kate has been somewhat sick recently - she had a bad rash a few weeks back and now her hands are peeling, and after 3 different doctor appointments and LOTS of tests (including bloodwork), they have ruled out Strep (or any other related conditions). Now we are just slathering on the cream they prescribed in hopes that it will all clear up soon. So please, keep her in your prayers. She's acting completely normal - no temp, not feeling too bad, etc, but I just pray that whatever it was, is gone and hope we will not have to revisit it on down the road.

I'll post new pictures/videos soon!

It's about time

It's about time I wrote another blog, huh? I've been so busy at work, and catching up on quite a few other blogs that I read on a regular basis. Along with Facebook. When did technology become such a busy place! ;) Don't get me wrong. I like it. I like being busy, particularly at work. But with a toddler, you run out of "me" time especially when you are busy at work where you stay late, work extra hours at night and on the weekend. Although, do I dare say it is somewhat rewarding. To design and see something come to life that you have created yourself. And since I never have time to scrapbook anymore, it has come to being creative in my work. Or something like that.

So, how desperate am I for some fun and "me" time. Well, typically on Fridays, I get off early in order to pick my beautiful little girl up from "school". But, since she started showing a beautiful head to toe rash, that isn't fully diagnosed yet on Monday, it's been quite a week for her. We waited until Wednesday to take her to the doctor - that's when it was so bad her face, feet and hands were all swollen and red. So after a visit to the allergist, since it looks simliar to her peanut reaction from January (but no whelps, but I was still concerned). Not to mention, apparently we go to a very popular children's clinic where you can't get an appointment for the same day after 8:30 (they open at 8am). Anyhow, the allergist said she was very doubtful that this had anything to do with an allergy. So, luckily we talked to the pediatrician's nurse and got in that afternoon to see the doctor. After a strep test (despite the fact that she only a small fever (99) and no other sickness symptoms (except the rash) which turned out to be negative, we left with only the direction of giving more Benedryl (her highest dose) 4 times a day and see if that helps (he thought it would be better for her than giving her steriods again - she had them with her peanut reaction in December).

So, we are supposed to hear today about the results of the strep culture - where they send off the test (even though the office results were negative). So it still could be a strep rash - and I'm not 100% sure what that means. I mentioned I've been busy right.

So back to what I was saying originally, I was so desperate after approximately 100+ hours in the office this past week, for a little fun & "me" time. After I got off work, picked up Kaet from her Bebe's house, we went for a little fun at Walmart (yes, we live in Walmart country, so that is where we shop). That was actually fun - I'm so used to her not wanting to be patient, but she was. We even picked out one of those starter kits flowers - that come in a little box where you grow them from the seeds up. She wasn't quite as into it after she watered them. So I got the pleasure of getting my hands dirty. But I think she will really like them when they start to bloom.

On the way to the store, we passed a roadside nursery with lots of beautiful flowers. So despite having just been to the grocery store, we stopped. and here we are at home. With three beautiful new plants - she picked her own, OF COURSE!, and ended up with something I'm not sure I've ever heard of - yellow Sundaze. They are really cute though. I, myself got, bright orange and hot pink gerber daisies. Although, now that we are home, we probably should have picked up a few new pots while we are at the store. There is always tomorrow, right?

So what are we doing now, we as it turns out, my daughter loves the outdoors, and she begged and pleaded, so I gave it. I'm sitting outside in my shorts (it is SOOOO hot!) on my laptop - trying to read the screen past the sunglare as well (so forgive any misspellings!). While mini-me is enjoying herself by putting all three of our new plants in her baby swing and pushing them. How cute is that. She's even talking to them "wanna swing higha, just a itle bit?". She's growing up so fast. I love it some days, and other days I Just want to put a brick on her head.

For the two, okay, maybe just one, that actually reads our blog, I hope to post more son - I have some great new pictures, but they aren't uploaded to my computer yet (or I would post now!). and I hope you continue to keep on reading as well!!

Happy 50th Anniversary Barbie

About time this happened to her!