{more joy} Happy Thanksgiving!

I know I'm a day late, but you didn't expect me to post on Thanksgiving did you? We had a great Thanksgiving with Rob's family yesterday and we're going for #2 tomorrow with my family!
I opted to shop online at midnight and sleep in this morning. Then I took the kids to two stores this afternoon and that was plenty for me--and for Squiggle. Since it is Black Friday, all digital scrapbooking stores are having sales and the designers I CT for had grab bags for only $3. So, I've been busy the last week scrapping LO's I couldn't post until today.
This is Lulu & Buddy portraying the nativity last APRIL--don't you just love kids?
Last year Lulu & Buddy loved sledding:
These are some pics of Squiggle on her first birthday in May. When she was a younger she always made the funniest faces. I caught a few of them on camera this day. I also did this LO for a monochromatic challenge.
Here are my cute kiddos. I love this picture because Lulu & Buddy wanted me to take the picture. They were cuddling with Squiggle and wanted me to take this picture. Can you feel the love?
This is yet another LO from our trip to Arizona. Our last day there we had a few hours to spare before Brenda's wedding reception, so we stopped at the Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix and they had a Chinese Garden. Although it was about 110 degrees we still had a good time and the kids loved taking pics with the statues--I think because they were their size. This kit is from Simply Sweet Designs--one of my new CT's.
Here is Squiggle on Santa's lap last year at the Family Christmas Party. She wasn't too interested in him, but appreciated the doll he brought her.
Lastly, I made a LO of "Twilight" for a challenge to scrap the last movie you saw. Since there is so much fervor over this movie, I thought it would be fun to scrap my memory of seeing "Twilight" at midnight.
That's all from me! If you made it through this whole post I'm thankful for your patience and friendship!

{more love} I heart Tucson

One of the highlights of our vacation in August was visiting Tucson.  I served my mission there 10 years ago and although I didn't have a chance to visit anyone or drive around too much, I really enjoyed being in this great city that I learned to love so deeply.  Driving down random streets brought back so many memories and emotions; I tried to savor each minute.  I had returned once before when Rob and I were newlyweds, and this time it was really neat to show my children where I served my mission.  The heat, the cacti, the U of A campus and the awesome lightening show were all the same. Even though my life had changed, this city I love hadn't--and I really needed that. My testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ was solidified as I walked (and walked and walked and walked) the street of Tucson.  That is something in my life that will never change--and for that I am grateful. I am grateful the Lord knows what I need and gives me experiences to prepare me for the joys and challenges ahead. 

In honor of this beautiful city I scrapped this LO for our vacation album:

And this one I did for Speed Scrap last night, it is of The Reno.  This train is located at Old Tucson Studios and has appeared in over 100 movies. Read more here

{more digi} My Random Life

So, if you don't care to see creations from my random life, move along to the next blog.  For those that are interested (that's you, Mom) here are so LO's I've done lately to promote some new products & remember I am a good mom--sometimes...

First a few from our trip to AZ (with a quick stop in St. George):

Buddy & Lulu playing in a kids underground play area at the Desert Museum--now they know exactly what a snake/skunk/prairie dog feels like living underground.  Well, not really, but at least it was slightly cooler in the middle of all those fake rocks.
Next up, cousins (minus one). We wanted a picture of all the cousins together, but how do you keep so many kids in one place for a picture? My great idea was to put them all on the slide.  Sorry kids, I didn't realize it would be so squishy, but it was fun...right?
Next--as these are in no particular order--we have Buddy going to preschool; such a cutie pie! As a side note, many people who commented at the SM Gallery liked the apples as o's in the title.  The first thing Buddy said when he saw the LO was, "Mom, I don't like those apples".  Too funny, here I thought I was so clever, but he was not buying it.  I explained they were to replace the o's in school & it was kind of fun.  He agreed to let them be, but didn't seem too convinced.
This is a picture from Jan. '05. It is so cute, and I've never done it justice, so here's my attempt:

I really am a good mom sometimes #1: Here is a LO Lulu & I created together.  There was a Speed Scrap at ScrapMatters during the time Buddy was at preschool & Squiggle was napping.  I thought it would be a fun activity for Lulu & I.  We did have a lot of fun, and although we had to compromise on a few things, I think it turned out really cute.
I really am a good mom sometimes #2: I have the pictures to prove it...I really did allow my children to pull out every pot, pizza pan, new placemats and wooden spoons to use in their band.  Only two wooden spoons were broken (then we switched to plastic), and everyone seemed to have a great time.  Maybe we should never purchase furniture for our Living Room--it is a really fun play area!

Last up are a few LO's I created using some new products by Andilynn Designs. Enjoy! Thanks for looking, all credits can be found at my SM Gallery.

{more digi} Me again

I realize I have a few LO's I haven't posted on my blog.  I completed another Speed Scrap tonight and wanted to post this LO of my mom with her grandkids (just one missing).  We love having my parents home and never tire of spending time with them.  Here we are at Thanksgiving Point Gardens two weeks ago:

Here are cousins again, as we watched the Steel Days parade together:
And more pics of our vacation to AZ.  This LO was made with Andilynn Designs new kit Hot August Night.  After spending the hottest part of the day walking around the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum we really felt like we had 'survived the desert'!
This next LO was one I completed for Speed Scrap last week.  Lulu loves posing & I wanted to make this LO have a magazine/glamor feel:
This summer Lulu has become enamored with horses.  While on vacation we told the kids they could choose a souvenir hat & Lulu chose this pink cowgirl hat w/turquoise beads--she wore it everywhere and is quite proud of it.  She is even taking it tomorrow for Show-and-Tell.

That's all for tonight.  Buddy started preschool yesterday, but Rob has my camera tonight, so I'll have to post a cute pic of him later.  He wasn't even nervous and really seems to enjoy his class!

{more joy} Back in UT!

We are back!  Last week we went on a family vacation to (very) sunny ARIZONA where it was only 108 degrees :)  Now we are back and getting ready for Lulu to start Kindergarten next week & then for Buddy to start preschool the week after that.  We have had and will continue to have a fun-filled August.

For those who are interested, here is a recap of our vacation:

Saturday we drove four hours to St. George to play and visit with Brandon, Shaylah & Breah.  Lulu & Buddy had fun at the splash park with Breah while Squiggle stayed and had a nap in Breah's crib--what a nice, sharing, cousin.

Sunday night (about 10PM) we started our LONG drive to AZ where we met Grandma and Grandpa--aren't they adorable?  We were very thankful to G&G for letting go on this vacation with them and stay in a fabulous condo with great swimming pools.

We also got reacquainted with our cousins and had fun playing with them.

On Wednesday we drove down to Tucson and visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum & Old Tucson Studios.  Very fun, but very hot.

Thursday we headed back to Phoenix and had fun swimming and relaxing some more.  Saturday we visited the Chinese Cultural Center, then headed Brenda & Trevor's reception.  We attended in our nice dress clothes, but changed into PJ's for the long ride home back to UT.

So, we had a great time overall.  We got to see family members we don't see too much, play with Grandma & Grandpa A LOT, swim, and the best part--be together!