a little scrappy goodness...

It's been way too long since i've posted anything i've scrapped.  I do have a few excuses though:

1. I went back to school.  I've had my head in the books a LOT lately.  Although, I finished up my term early and decided not to add any more classes to my term so I'm left with a little bit of free time on my hands right now until the new term starts back up.
2. My scanner hates me.  Actually, I think my laptop does too.  Apparently, i only have enough memory on my computer to work the very bare minimums and unfortunately, my scanner isn't one of them.  It will only scan once before it gets "lost".  My only choice is to uninstall and then re-install again.  So far, I've decided it's not worth the effort but it makes me OH SO MAD!!!
3. The scanner hooked up the desktop is having the same issues, but i really don't know what that problem is, and frankly, i'm too frustrated to figure it out for now.
4. A three year old named Sam.  Do I need say more?

However, before my scanner got "lost" when I re-installed it the last time, I did manage to scan in one whole layout!  Sadly, it's the only layout I've done in months and months... well, besides the December Daily I've been working on (and is ALMOST done!).  I'm quite proud of it though, and I really wanted to share it, so here it is!

Water, Imagination, Warm Fuzzies

1) Water.
As I strive to drink down my 96+ oz of water daily, I think of those in Haiti and their lack of clean drinkable water, among other things. (and my friend, who's words are now constantly ringing in my head, when i think of her visit to Haiti and the terrible living conditions.  Her heart is breaking from the terrible news in Haiti, where she and her family adopted their son from and wonder if those they know are alive or dead) as i wash my family's laundry, clean our dishes, and bathe my children.  I feel privledged to be in a place where our basic needs are, quite often, taken for granted. 

2) Imagination.
While sitting back minding my own business, I overhear a converation Sam is having with himself between two blanket bears (one is white and actually belongs to Rianne.  The other a blue bear rattle blanket.  I intend to stow both away when he grows tired of them).  Turns out, that 1) the three year old has got quite the imagination, and, 2) by the sounds of it, we've got to do a little less of the demanding and a little bit more of the nice talking. 

3) Warm Fuzzies.
Tonight, while warming up some cheesey garlic bread in the oven, the smell brought in lots of warm, fuzzy feel-goods.  If only I could bottle those feel-goods and open them up on my rainy days.

quiet, back to what feels right, and music

It's been a *LONG* time since i've done a 3 Beautiful Things post.  I think it's about time, don't you?

1) The Quiet of the House. 
The family went to church while i stayed home and sluffed took some time for myself.  I know the quiet will be gone here in a few hours but I am enjoying it in the here and now and using it to center my thoughts.

2) Back To What Feels Right. 
I've finished up my school term way ahead of schedule so i have decided to take the rest of what's left of the term and focus on what makes me happy.  I've picked back up my glue, pictures, and scissors, made a big mess of my craft room and started to enjoy what pulled me to scrapbooking in the first place.  I'm letting my creativity flow and it feels good.

3) Music.
Feeling the beat of a good song ring through my bones.  Letting it take over my thoughts and suck me in.  I've forgotten how much i love music and how lost i feel without it.

40 looks pretty darn good

We celebrated DarRell's 40th birthday yesterday.  It was nothing big, just a little family get together.  I had this huge idea of making it some kind a big bash but when it came down to it, dreaming it was a lot easier than actually doing it.

I did make sure that we celebrated though.    We invited family, because it was just a small bash... and when you invite family, small is actually large.  I did the whole "over the hill" stuff complete with 40 black balloons and black cake with the 40 black candles. 

All in all, it was good. I hope he enjoyed it. And personally, I'm SO glad it's over with... talk about pressure!

And, I thought I'd never say this but...

40 looks good.

REALLY good!

Yes, I think it does!

Obviously, I can't make up my mind.

...and as much as I loved the previous template, I couldn't figure out how to write a new post.  So, I'm changing it up again.  And, I REALLY love this new template. It's a bit dark, which i guess isnt' too bad, but I'm REALLY missing the three columns.  But, I can post again, so it's all good!

I've been getting back to scrapbooking.  I've missed it and i've got a renewed love for it again lately.  I hope to be able to post some picutres of my December Daily before too long, I've just got to finish it.  Just know that i haven't given up completely on the scrapbooking thing, i've just got a lot on my plate right now with my school (which come friday, i'll be done with this term!) and the kids school.  I'm trying to learn to take time doing things i enjoy, and this happens to be one of them.

Window shopping

While I try to make it through our spending freeze, I've decide that I found my favorite place to window shop is here.  These little paperclip birds are to die for!!!  And all the other million other things that they have, what's not to love about this place? 

So, if I can't shop in real life, then i'm going to be here filling my shopping cart..  Even though it means that I won't actually be buying it, it almost fills that need to spend money.

That's what i get

for messing around with my blog template. I LOST all my blog links. So, for those of you who read my blog, thanks! And i want to do the same so PLEASE leave a link to your blog so that i can back up my blog links

REALLY needing a change

With the new year comes a new urge for change. Right now I'm really craving change on my blog. I'm sick of the old template that i have had on my blog for, well... forever. As you can see, i've changed it and really still hating it but i don't have a clue how to even go about changing it beyond the already preset templates. So I'm reaching out to whom ever reads my blog for some help.

2009 in Pictures

2009 was a year of firsts... a lot of firsts
(click on the month and it'll take you to that months archive)

January

We started a new family night activity. Every Friday is Movie night. We pull out the hide away bed, throw in a movie and spend the night vegging in front of the tv.

I vowed to lose weight and joined Weight Watchers.

We started potty training Sam

Daylon tried basketball, and loved it, even though he was there more for the social aspect then the sport aspect.





February

Sam became 100% potty trained!!!

I continued the weight loss journey, and found out what worked for me and what didn't

I scrapbooked, and i was proud of it












March

Rianne out-fished her dad, and it rocked! (and we did it in short sleeve shirts at the river in March!)

Decided that eating healthy is expensive!!! WHOA!

Maria became my fitness idol

We enjoyed the Sportsman Expo this year. That's something we've never done before!







April

Easter up Poverty. It was a great day for flying kites... and it was cold

Daylon participated in his last PineWood derby

I decided that i was going to run in the July 24th Milk Run... and then never did





May

Sam turned three! He was really into trains... and firetrucks of course

My bestie, Kathleen, graduated from The University of Pheonix with a double Bachalors Degree! She became my inspiration

The kids started summer break.

Daylon and Rianne danced in their year end recital... and rocked it

Celebrated Memorial Day weekend with 90% of DarRell's family

I hit the 15lb loss mark in May... and a MAJOR platau


June

We decided to get out more and do more things this year. One of our favorite places to go was Capitol Reef. Hickman Bridge was our first hike, and so far, our favorite.

Daylon spent a few days at Science Camp in Cedar City. Another first for him... and us


July

Daylon turned 11

We moved out friday night movie night outside. I loved that

The 4th of July was spent doing our usual 4th of July stuff

We spent time in the pool and night sleeping out on the trampoline

The McDonald family reunion (if you can call it that) ended up being over the 24th of July. And ended up being a CRAZY time for us with our usual 24th of July fireman duties

Kaye and two of her kids spent some time with us. One of my favorite things this year!

I turned 35 without much notice, which was a bit of a bummer

We lost our Pudge. Our first dog which also happened to be our first baby. 14 1/2 years (which translated into something like 101 years old in dog years) he'd been with us. We still miss him

We spent more time outside visiting Capitol Reef

Grandpa Mac did Daylon's Arrow of Light Ceremony. It was completely awesome!

August

The kids headed back to school. Daylon started the 6th grade in Middle School, Rianne in 2nd grade, and we started sycking up Sam for pre-school

We enjoyed a State park close to home... REALLY close to home. The Fremont Indian State Park











September

Sam started pre-school. It's been REALLY hard for him having us dropping him off every week

More of the Fremont Indian State Park

The kids, minus Sam, spent Labor Day Weekend with Maria and Justin. They say it's our gift to them, but we really think it's their gift to us. We all got to go see Thanksgiving Point. I think i loved it more than anyone else

I started school at Western Governors University to get my Bachelors Degree in Business Management

Rianne's soccer season wrapped up

I hit my lowest weight of the year with 27lbs lost, which is just over half of what i wanted to lose overall

October

I fell off the weight loss wagon

More time spent at Capitol Reef

HALLOWEEN

I fell off the blogger wagon and never got back on the weight loss wagon

We bought a used piano so that Daylon could practice better



November


We stuck around home for Thanksgiving with most of DarRell's family down

We went and cut down our Christmas tree the weekend of Thanksgiving... always a nice tradition
I completely fell off the blogging wagon and it took off without me


December

We attended the Monroe City light ceremony and saw Santa Clause. First time ever with the kids (now thats pretty sad).

We had a lot of snow this year so the kids spent a ton of time outside in it

We celebrated Rianne's 8th birthday in Tooele with family. We decided to go bowling and had a great time

The ward Christmas party where the kids saw santa AGAIN!

Daylon played in the school band and danced for his Middle School Christmas program

CHRISTMAS! of course

The kids got to hang out with their best friends, The Erickson's, for a day while they were down visiting from Montana

My dad's and DarRell's mom both had their birthdays

DarRell and I celebrated 15 years of marriage on New Years Eve and then spent the night eating crab and steak with the firemen

Spent the last 3 months gaining back 7lbs

Resolutions

Yes, i know resolutions are for the strong, which for the most part, i am not. But once again i am going to make them. Not a whole lot of them, just ongoing things that i really need to focus on to make my life, and my outlook on life, better.

So, here it goes:

1. Lose another 10 lbs. (I'm really trying to being realistic here. First number i put down was 20lbs. I want to be optimistic and think that i can REALLY lose all of those 20lbs, but a girl has got to be realistic... and frankly, this girl likes to eat). I lost 26 lbs in 2009, gained 7 of those pounds back. This year, i want to be able to lose those 7lbs and then some. I know it all starts with eating right, so that's where I'm starting.
2. Be almost done with my Bachelors degree. I stepped out of my comfort zone last year and really did some soul searching and decided that i needed to do something more with my life. As much as i love staying home with my kids and being a "housewife", i realize that the kids will move out and start their own lives. I want to do something with my life after being just "a mom". So, i decided that school was a must. An associated degree won't get anyone very far so i started the journey to getting my Bachelors Degree in Business Management. I started school at Western Governors University in September of 2009. So far, i have officially completed 13 credit hours with 12 more credit hours in the process of being finished up for the first term. At this rate, i hope to be finished with my degree in about another year, if not less.
3. Be well on our way to be completely debt free. I believe this was one of last years resolutions? But we got a good start on it, and now we are riding the wave back to the debt free shore. We still have a little bit to go but it feels great knowing we have a plan and that plan is very much in action.
4. Integrate my "One Little Word" into my everyday life. I've done this for the last two years (first year was Manage, and last year was ReThink). I haven't been 100% successful in keeping with it (although, looking back on 2009... i did a TON of ReThinking. It was a good year for my one little word!), but it's done plenty in getting my thoughts and actions in the right direction. This year I've decided on FOCUS. I will be focusing more on obtaining my goals/resolutions for this year instead of merely just thinking of them.

This year will be a good year.
I have all the power inside of me to make it so... and i will!

and so...

My Wish for You in 2010
May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips.
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy.
May the problems you had forget your home address.
May you have a stong, healthy, and productive new year!
Happy New Year!!!