a beautiful wedding...

It was Aunt Ann's wedding yesterday afternoon at Rose Sach's Garden. Oaken had a very important job; the ring bearer. I explained to him how cool this was and how important his job was - he explained to me that he didn't want to do it. "I don't want to do anything" he said. So, enter the bribes - two cars from the Cars movie - he likes those! It was agreed, he would do it to get the cars. He was brilliant. He was awsome - he stood there still through the whole thing and presented the rings when the time was right. There was a small sneezing incident, but nothing go directly on the rings. Thanks to one of the best men, he was cleaned up in a jiffy! Now enter the time after the ceremony - the let your hair down and have a good time, time. Rose Sach's Garden is up the canyon and is a gorgeous, hidden away little place...with lot's of streams, rocks, mountain sides, and climbing opportunities. Here is where Oaken ended up! Yes, that is mud and dirt on his suit and he is sliding down the mountain side. Boys.

I couldn't post without a picture of my girls who were the flower girls at the wedding. They fell in love with these "grown-up" dresses and had to have them. They look so grown up, and they did a great job too.

a little disney magic...

I had the opportunity to create some sample boards for the retail store this past weekend. One board was EK Success Disney products - which I have never used before and they were so much fun! I have plenty of Disney pictures and now I have some ideas for some pages!

One of my newest favorite sizes is 8x8. This is especially great to use when you have one picture of something - you don't have to fill up so much space like a 12x12 page - and let's face it; smaller things are just cute!

a little help?...

Today at Target - we picked up a few balls. I love the facination with bouncy balls that my kids have...what is it that they love so much? The color? The shape? So, Jilly and Oaken are with me and we leave the store. I am carrying Jilly and they are both carrying their ball and I knew that Jill would drop hers. Sure enough, a few steps outside and down goes the ball. Picture me trying to carry her - crying (she is the one crying), plus my purse and bags, and run after a ball that is being pushed along by the wind. I didn't catch it - I was torn between putting Jill down at the busy store entrance and running after a $2.50 ball. Here is where it gets interesting. As I start running, still holding Jill, a young woman comes out of the store - she has one small bag. The ball goes right in front of her and all she does is smirk with this "whatever" look on her face with a little bit of a half laugh, and watches the ball go by. It was right there. I looked at her, kind of unbelieving that she didn't even try. To me, it is reflex to try and catch a rouge ball but instead she stopped and watched the whole thing happen, then went on her merry way. You would almost have to try NOT to catch it. Needless to say, I drove to the other end of Target and picked up the ball - happiness again.

It's the little things that matter most. It was obvious to me she wasn't in a big hurry. As I drove down to the other end, I saw her leaving - this is after I had strapped my kids in, plus myself. It wouldn't even had mattered if she had tried and failed - just the effort and being a nice person is what makes the difference. It reminds me of that commercial - not even sure what it's for - where someone is observing another human being nice to someone else, in small ways - and in turn they are influenced to help someone else out along their way. Nothing big, but helpful. Anyway - hear's to being nice and have a nice...no - have a wonderful day!

cut 'n color...

Went and got the new summer time hair-do today. Cut 'n color...check out the vogue pose. A little blonder, and a whole lot more sassy! Just being dorky.
That reminds me of a blonde joke I need to share:

A beautiful red-head went to the doctor saying that her body hurt wherever she touched it.

"Impossible" the doctor said, "show me". So she took her finger and pushed on her elbow and screamed, then she pushed on her knee and screamed even more. She pushed on her shoulder and screamed; likewise, she pushed on her ankle and screamed. Everywhere she touched made her scream.

The doctor said, "You're not a real red-head are you?"

"Well no," she said, "I'm actually a blonde."

"I thought so," said the doctor. "Your finger is broken."

For preparation for Father's Day and a totally entertaining look and how hard it is to be a dad, check out this link. We have this problem at our house too. It isn't pretty.

a challenge...

I have always been interested in trying the 3 product challenge that Amy Howe and Robyn Werlick post on 2Peas and this week I actually did one. Such a fun way to scrapbook! You are given 3 products that must be incorporated in your layout somehow. This weeks were: bookplate(s), stitiching, & a frame. Having some of the items decided for me already makes it easier in some ways to scrapbook and use some older stuff in my stash. I have had this huge stack of frames from a kit I bought from QVC and was able to use one. I might even do last weeks - just for the fun of it!

the pictures...

I was having problems last night trying to upload these pictures. The pink one is the baptism program cover - love that Rhonna! It was so fun to play with...I think I am going to make my Sister In Law's shower invitations digitally too. We are throwing her a bridal shower and I just might have to buy a few digital kits!

This next picture is a layout I did of Isabel's dress. I wanted to remember this aspect of her baptism story so I quickly put this together last night. The pattern papers are My Minds Eye - I'm really lovin' their Kaleidoscope papers. Such fun, happy colors with just the right amount of distressing.

she did it...

Well, she did it! Isabel was baptised Saturday and it turned out to be a great day! I wasn't so sure starting out. I took my first DIGITAL step in designing her program with a free digital kit I downloaded from 2Peas In A Bucket. The kit was designed by Rhonna Farrer - such an incredibly talented person - I just love her style. The finished product wasn't too bad...if I do say so myself!

Thursday night, little Jilly got sick - throwing up and stuff. At first I thought it was just food poisoning since it came on so fast, but she did it some more at 2:00 in the morning. She was great when she woke up; back to her old self.

Friday night, we went to a movie (The Da Vinci Code) and Chloe babysat. With about 30 minutes left in the movie, she calls and informs me that Oaken just threw up all over the couch. Well, I left Scott and our friends (we drove!) and came home to help with the mess. Chloe did a great job of starting to clean it up...got Oaken in the bath. I ran back to the theater and picked everyone back up so - I still need to see the end of the movie! Later that night, Isabel gets sick! So, this is the second night I am up with sick kids and the day before the baptism.

Saturday morning - Chloe has to go downtown to a rehearsal for her Drama class at the Children's Theater. We are going to be right on time and low and behold, there is a marathon going. I cannot get to the street I need to. I drive around being blocked at every turn for a 1/2 hour! Getting very frustrated, need to get home to clean and plan, and I finally go way up and around and drop her off. Scott is home doing the back lawn for the BBQ later on and is feeling pretty bad - he is starting to get what the kids had. The baptism is going to be at 4:30 and we aren't doing very well.

Now it's an hour before the baptism and we are showering and dressing. I bought Isabel a darling dress 2 months before that has been hanging in the laundry room waiting for this glorious day. I take it down and off the hanger and give it to her. Scott comes to me and asks if she is supposed to wear this dress - Yes, that is what I bought it for! It still has the safety tag on it. Yes. The tamper proof or ink will get all over you and the garment tag is still on the dress. She has been waiting to wear this dress for 2 months. I have HAD it. I quickly get dressed and made-up and rush (not easily done in my new high heeled shoes that go with my dress) to Sears to get them to take off the tag that they should have removed originally. I make it back in just enough time for her to put on the dress and leave for the Stake Center.

Was it a test? Even if it wasn't, I was tested. It makes me wonder what she will do in her life. What role will she play in the future if she lives righteoussly and stays close to her Father in Heaven. What could it be to have Satan working so hard against us and trying to get us down. Self doubt and frustrating circumstances seem to be a fast downer for me. But, I was so proud. She was in the zone - she does that in times where concentration is key. She knew exactly what she was doing and why and it made everything else just go away!

plannin'...

Wow - I thought as the Spring progressed I would get less busy. Not so. This Saturday is a very important day. Isabel, my eight year old, is getting baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She has been ready for some time and anxious to do it. Her birthday was actually in April, but we had to put it off since we were in Florida last month - so she has been waiting. I am so proud that she wants to become a member and hope she whole-heartedly uses the guidelines and principles the Gospel provides. I know it has made a huge difference in my life and can't believe how truly blessed I am some days.



Just finished these 6x6 layouts for the retail store...they are of my brother and his cute little boy. He is such a good new daddy! I recently created a bunch of 8x8 samples using this same line - Toadstool, and love how user friendly it is. The colors are great for any time of year and for masculine or feminine projects. I would love to show them to you, but we have to wait...they are for an upcoming suprise which I hope happens. Cross your fingers!