Mission......

My mission is to refinish this dresser to put in my room. When we moved to our new house, it no longer had a large walk-in closet. So I had to find something to fit all our "stuff". I had recently refinished a dresser for my son and loved how it turned out, so I wanted to tackle another one. I got this off KSL for 50 bucks, yay! It is very sturdy and needs very little repair. My idea was to refinish it as it looks. With the natural top and knobs and the rest a cream. That way it would withstand any color or decor changes in my bedroom over the years. But I wonder if I am taking the easy way out and instead should really do something different. I am posting this to get ideas from all two of you who frequent my blog. So bring on the suggestions. Don't feel bad if I decide to keep it as is. I want something to go well with a lot so I don't have to repaint it again. My bedding colors are reds and oranges right now, but am feeling like a change when I can afford it. My headboard and footboard are light pine. My walls are a very pale cream, but am anxious to throw up a strong color maybe this winter, not sure yet what color. So there is some info to consider while coming up with some amazing ideas for me. I will be anxiously waiting.

Bouquet of deliciousness

So this is what my sweetie surprised me with for our anniversary. A vase full of reeses (my fave). He said he thought about getting me flowers, but thought I would enjoy these more. Well, I can't say that I was dissapointed. They certainly will last longer than flowers (on my hips) and they smell just as pretty, and they are edible. What more could a girl want. Thanks babe.



Mmmmmm, can't you just smell em. I had to play a little with my macro lens. hehe

10

Well, 10 years has gone by since I married the man of my dreams. Yes, it was love at first sight, although I didn't realize it would actually come about. We have had 10 wonderful years growing together, laughing together, crying together, and yelling together. I have never heard of anyone saying marriage was easy and I would have to agree, but I would never ask for anyone else to learn with. Justin has been a supportive, comforting, uplifting, and obviously a handsome companion. I thank him for pushing me to think and express those thoughts and encouraging me to pursue my interests. He has helped me to become a better photographer and has increased my desire to continue learning. I love him for loving me and making me feel beautiful. He is a wonderful provider and went to work full time, school full time, and cared for his family to provide for me and our three beautiful children. He just finished his MBA at Westminster and I am so proud of him. It was such a long and hard road, but we did it. I am looking forward to the future together and falling even more in love. Thank you sweetie, for everything. Life is sweeter with you by my side. You are my tootsie in my tootsie pop.



Sorry for the quality, but it is a scanned picture. Boy, we sure have come a long way in photos in the past ten years. Digital just started to enter the field. I have been doing photography for 12 years and what I do now is so vastly different then 12 years ago. I am having so much fun.

Business Time

Birthday Girl #2

On to birthday girl #2. Sophie will be turning 3 on Saturday. The kids have requested camping to try out our new fancy tent so we will be camping on her birthday. My little Soaps is so much fun. She is the climber of the family and loves to get right in with her big brother and sister with whatever they are doing. She still loves to be my little girl and likes to snuggle and endures my many kisses and hugs. Her favorite things are dogs and riding in the bike trailer. She loves to get out and do things. I am so glad she is my baby and she is still small enough to curl up in my arms. I love my baby and hope she has a happy day!

Birthday Girl

May 20th is Leena's B-Day and it makes me reflect on my little girl. I can't believe she will be 5 and starting school in the fall. It is hard to feel that I have gotten the most out of each stage of her short growth. I don't know that anyone can. She is the sunshine in our day (although storm clouds occasionally arise). She is so full of life and a ball of fun. She loves to learn and is very competitive. Anything her big brother does, she knows she can do too. She isn't afraid of anything, except for the moment, shirts that come dangerously close to the bottom of her shorts. She is a great big sister and a lovable little sister. She keeps me company and I love her many fantastic stories. Her latest funny is when we came back from Central Europe Bradyn was so interested in our stories, he said he wanted to go to Poland for his mission. Leena soon piped up and said she wanted to go to Disneyland for her mission. She's never even been there yet, but she knows there are castles and princesses and that's all she needs. I am so glad she is my girl and I have the privilege to be her mom. I love you Leen. Happy Birthday!

Easter Finally

So I am finally posting about Easter. Things have been busy lately and haven't had much of a chance. It isn't a huge priority because not many visit my blog. (Violin playing my sad song in the background)I had to practically beg two of the three that commented on my last post(thank you, you three that commented). So to all few of you who visit my blog enjoy a few quick snapshots of their Easter.

Here they are looking spiffy. I had to hurry because we were going to be late for church and I wanted to take them before we went so they looked fresh. :)Bradyn wasn't in the mood for many pics so this is all I got.

Sophie was so adorable and I think she knew it because she loved for me to take her pictures, which is unusual. I couldn't get enough of how cute she was.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Maybe this will seem a little more exciting for those few who take a brief moment out of their busy day to to grace my blog.I missed out when my cousin did this and was very dissappointed.So I was excited to see my friend do this.It is a pay it forward thing. This is how it works..... The first 3 super lucky people to leave a comment on this post will receive a super stupendous hand made gift from me during this year. When and what will be a wonderful surprise. BUT, to be the official WWCD (notice post title), you have to leave a comment here so I know who really cares about me and then you have to Pay it Forward on your blog and continue this wonderful givingness. (That means that sometime during this year you will receive a gift from me and you will send a gift to 3 people as well.) Get it? So, the first 3 (or in my case my only 3)people to comment on this post will be the lucky ones! Good Luck!

New Blog

I started a new blog! It is a peek of my latest stuff. It will take me a bit to catch up on some pix, but leave a comment. I would love feedback. Enjoy.
Check to the right for the link

What Happens When You Tie Sticks To Your Feet?

We had a chance to go skiing with my dad and sister Becky when they were in town. We thought it was a good time to introduce it to Bradyn and Leena. Here are some pix and their hops down the bunny hill. We all had a great time. The kids loved it and it was fun to experience it with them. Thanks for giving us the excuse to go Dad.

Becky and the new ski demons.
Slope Ripper

Ray Ban Man- name given to him by the lift operator.

Handsome Boy

Here is Bradyn's 2nd grade school picture. Isn't he handsome

Word Girl or Princess Leia

EXHIBIT A
(notice the erased me with arrow above Han)

EXHIBIT B

For those of you who were unaware, which would be most, Bradyn had a thing for Word Girl. She is a cartoon character and so I was not terribly concerned. I recently saw some artwork of his which tells a different story. Refer to exhibit A. This is a picture of him as Han Solo wearing a tux, holding Princess Leia's hand. I was enjoying his exciting story when I asked him what the stuff on Han's face was. He said it was kisses from Leia. I was sort of amused, but surprised. I asked if Word Girl was out the door and he said, yes. He has an old school Star Wars pillow that he got from his Grandma May, thanks to her keen thrift shopping abilities. He then told me that he likes to kiss her on his pillow at night. Exhibit B. I much preferred Word Girl. She is a cartoon and loves words and there definitions thus being a helpful learning tool as well, as apposed to an anatomically correct woman who disregards wearing supporting undergarments i.e. white dress, she wears them far too openly as Slave Leia. So I am at a new curve. It was strange when I realized I would miss a cartoon character. With her cute little red outfit and cape and her catch phrase "Word up". Why pick the slutty one, when you can feel educated (intellectually)with the other. So this is the curve in the road of life I am at. Allowing your little boy to choose who he has a crush on.

Happy Halloween

Here we all are at trunk or treat. It was gorgeous weather. No jackets needed. It has been snowy the past few years and I hate it when it is cold. True Fall.

Can't figure out why this is coming up sideways. I made this cupcake cake for the Halloween party at G&G Bath's house. I thought it turned out quite cute if I do say so myself.

Here are the girls at Franklin Covey ready for the hand outs.

I know I really get into the part. I attempted a gypsie, but a few times was thought to be a pirate. What would your vote be? Hey mom do you remember this skirt? I bought some accesories to finish it off and voila.

Leena wanted to be Mulan and I had this outfit that my mom bought in China Town, SF when Bradyn was a baby. I painted her face and made it work. She would ask me every few minutes

if she still had paint on and if I needed to reapply. She gets into her part as well.I know it isn't what Mulan really wore, but Leena was satisfied and it was very little work on my part. Justin thought she looked a little like a mime. I can see it too, but a darn cute Mulan mime.

Sophie was a recycled Cinderella. I made this for Leena when she was two. She was just excited to be wearing makeup too.

Bradyn is an Indy fan. He told me today that he was thinking of having his wife work so he could stay home and have fun with the kids, but thought about it longer and changed his mind. He said he didn't want to be home with all the poop and throw-up. (Come on Bradyn that is the best part.) So he said that he could work, but that didn't sound fun. So he said he though about it some more and thought that he could go exploring and teach like Indy and was pleased with that decision. Oh to be a kid again.

Out trick-or-treating. We only hit a few houses since they had way more than enough candy from Franklin's and trunk or treat. The reason you don't see Sophie is because I am helping her hold her bag. Sophie din't quite get the jist of it at first. She kept wanting to give candy to the people at the door.

I know I have posted these out of sequence. This is all very new to me. Just know they all happened in the month of August. Updates will come sometime in the future.
This year was a little difficult. Can you see what I mean. I never thought about being on the other side looking into childhood. As a child, I know how it felt to be told I was now too big for the ride. "Jeez I just got big enough for the kiddie rides, now I'm too big, this is bogus". Those would have been my thoughts. So how as a parent do you tell your too big son that he just can't fit, or the car won't go with you in it, or sorry your not a kid anymore. See my deep rooted dilemma. I was hoping the attendant would tell him, but she didn't. I did tell him......but see where it got me. Just another kid enjoying and hanging on to childhood for dear life. For those who are curious, it was difficult to get him out. But he wasn't fazed. Keep hangin' on son.
Sophie once again, not impressed by the ever slow moving motion of a boat. Leena is always up for anything.

We got to go to Lagoon thanks to Franklin Covey. They have taken us the past few years and we all love it. This is mem, Daredevil Leena, and Auntie Jilly, just chillin on the boat that swings back and forth (dang I can't think of the name of the thing).
I took this one as we were swinging and I love the look on Leena's face, it makes my tummy tickle just looking at her.
Sophie is the one in the middle with her hands in the air. She absolutely loved the water. She is in control so thus no crying.
I was pretty shocked she loved this so much. It is moving and she isn't crying.
Here is the log flume. Sophie wasn't too impressed.

I flew out to San Diego to my brother Jake's wedding to his sweetheart Maria. It was nice to get away and see family and enjoy beautiful San Diego. We stopped at a pizza joint and Jake enjoyed his pizza.
See how this is a much more complimentary picture Nett? You are welcome to swap it with the one on your blog. Thanks
Ahhh the beautiful beaches of San Diego. It felt good again to smell the salty air and get caught in the ferocious rip currents and see my life flash before my eyes as I am trying to figure which way is up as I am tossed like a rag doll along the foamy waves. Yes, a thing of beauty. For seriously it was a blast, I love the beach. Now dad you might want to follow the footsteps of your son and start utilizing a razor......... well maybe not, the hair gives you some skin color. Oh, dang there goes the sarcasm again. I really am trying to work on that. Really though, thanks for everything Dad, I had a blast.

Here we are at the wedding Grandma Jean, me, sis Nannette, and cousin Vanessa. It was fun to see family that I don't get a chance to see often. I had a blast with my sister and cousin. Wish we all lived closer so we could have more exciting adventures.

Here are just a few random pictures I took at the wedding and the day before. What a cute couple.

Is anyone else a part of the Mario world? Well, we are very much a part of it. Bradyn just felt like being Mario for the day and who am I to sqwelch his creative/artistic ambitions? With no help from me he constructed this outfit and was very proud of it. I love seeing my kids use their brains and seeing what they come up with.

We did the whole Indiana Jones theme and I made it into a treasure hunt (including boobie-traps) for his presents. Daddy who is much more computer savy (I was actually taking up way too much time trying to figure out how to do it) made up the codes and decoder. I thought it all turned out pretty cute. At least Bradyn got a kick out of it.