I Suppose It's Time...

...to let everyone in on our little secret. In May 2010 our little family of four will become a family of five! We are very excited, even with the anticipation and worry that a new baby brings. The girls love talking to the baby in my tummy, but they haven't quite decided whether they want a baby sister or baby brother more (their verdict changes almost daily). We should know the gender before Christmas...we're not going to keep it a surprise. Compared to my previous pregnancy, this one has been quite rough. I've been pretty sick...I actually lost weight when I should have been gaining (any other time and I would have been ecstatic with that news) but thanks to the wonder drug known as Zofran, I have finally been able to keep food down and I am now at (or very close to) my pre-pregnancy weight. Technically, I am still employed with Target, but after getting a rather stern lecture from my doctor about my lack of sleep due to working overnight, I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to transfer to evening shifts. Like all things, I guess we'll just have to see how the next few weeks go.

To all those who I wasn't able to tell in person or over the phone, please accept my most sincere apology. We kept it quiet at first since I was so sick, telling just family, and since the sickness has continued my phone/email/computer time has been pretty minimal and I haven't been able to tell very many people. We are super excited for the growing addition to our little family and we hope you'll share in the joy of our little announcement!

Sunset at the Beach...

Even though it was a cold, windy evening...we decided to bundle up and go enjoy a winter sunset together. It was pretty chilly...but definintely worth the family time. Moments like these make me happy.

  

 

 

Happy Birthday Aiden and Reilly...

It's hard to believe that it was just 5 years ago when the two of you entered our lives. Time seems to have gone by so fast, but at the same time, it's difficult to recall a life without you. Rather than get all sappy (as we know I'm prone), I thought it might be fun to post a few of your favorite things...right now...at 5 years old.

Aiden's Favorites at 5

-Mac and Cheese, hot dogs, pancakes
-Milk, Sprite
-Vanilla anything...cupcakes, cookies, ice cream
-Little Ponies, Barbies
-Learning and practicing letters, drawing, gymnastics, playing at the beach
-Sour Patch Kids, Licorice, Smarties
-Purple and Blue and Pink
- Cheetah, Toothy, Purple Monkey

Reilly's Favorties at 5

-Pancakes, peanut butter, cucumbers

-Lemonade, Water

-Chocolate anything...cupcakes, ice cream, browies, candy bars

-Barbies, Little Critters

-Soccer, riding your bike, gymnastics, playing at the beach

-Chocolate, Licorice, Candy Canes

-Pink and Brown and Silver

- Teddy, Colored Kitty, Pink Monkey

Happy Birthday girls!! Your papa and I hope you had an absolutely wonderful time celebrating the big 5!!

Scallywags and Best Mates...

So, I'm a little late in posting our Halloween photos...blame it on the fact that while I managed to take some photos before the camera died, I haven't been able to find the converter-thingee for the camera memory card for well over a week. I know, I know...I'm losing my mind. You can say it. I've accepted it. I did, however, manage to snap a few photos with my dinky little camera phone, so that is what I will be sharing with you tonight.

Anyway, the girls decided to be pirates this year. I didn't really care for any of the pre-made costumes we found, so I opted to take the thrifty (a.k.a. cheap) way out and make their costumes. All it took was a little bit of fabric (flannel that we found for 60% at Joanne's), some festive accessories from the Dollar Store, and a little bit of bling to make the costumes more girly. Trust me...it was pretty easy. I mean seriously - if I was able to make these in one evening, then ANYONE can do this. Luckily for me, the girls LOVED how they turned out and they were uber excited to go about in their pirate costumes.

We missed the trunk-or-treat that our ward hosted (serious bummer, it would have been a lot of fun to go), so Doug and I tried to make it up to the girls by taking them to my parent's trunk-or-treat in Upland and Doug's parents' in Fallbrook. They got back-to-back nights of candy-filled fun, and they loved every minute of it. At the Upland festivities, they most enjoyed the face painting and cupcake walk that happened before the trunk-or-treating began. After making one round of the parking lot, we decided to stop at Grandma L's car and help pass the candy out. When the candy bowl was empty, the girls felt bad and started to share candy from their own bags...it was really, really cute to watch. In Fallbrook, they decided early in the evening they had enough candy and wanted to help Grandpa pass out candy in the horse trailer...maybe they decided to lighten up on the candy because they ate so many of Grandma's delicious mini-cupcakes, or it could be that they just weren't in a sugar-y mood. Either way, they had a blast and LOVED spending time with both sets of grandparents.

  

  

Scallywag Roo...seriously not wanting me to snap any photos

  

And her best mate Aiden...cooperating just slightly more than her sister

Happy Birthday to Me...

When it comes to other people's birthdays, I love to celebrate the special day...but when it's my own, I tend to keep the festivities pretty low-key. That being said, today is my 29th birthday and I figured I'd make a small post and wish myself a Happy Birthday. Here's to another year of learning, growing, struggling, and progressing...another year of taking things one day at a time and trying to be a better mother/wife/daughter/sister/friend than the day before.

USC Football Game...

Lucky Doug got invited to a USC football game last night...he had a blast and even managed to snap some photos with his phone. Thank you Adam for the invite and thank you Brother Reynoso for the tickets!

  

  

Oh, and I can't forget to mention Roscoes House of Chicken and Waffles...weird food combination, but Doug swears it was delicious!

DSD Blog Train - ScrapMatters

So after weeks of almost NOTHING from me, all of a sudden you get three posts in two days. Don't you feel lucky? Well....perhaps you should because in honor of Digital Scrapbooking Day 2010, this post actually includes a fun little freebie using the beautiful "Many Thanks" collab created by the ScrapMatters Design Team...which is FREE at ScrapMatters with a $20 purchase.

  

If you happen to still be following the ScrapMatters Blog Train, this is stop number 45...WOW!
- You should have arrived from Sarah's (sporte91) blog at: http://www.growingupsharp.blogspot.com/
- After you grab my freebie you will be headed to Annisa's (lionsimba) blog at: http://www.themeyersfamilystory.blogspot.com/

If, by chance, you got de-railed from the blog train at any point, you can find the master list in the ScrapMatters forum.

**Sorry, this freebie is no longer available. Stop by the ScrapMatters store where you can find it with all the other blog train goodies!!**

So, that's all from me for now! Thanks for stopping by...I hope you enjoy your freebie. Have a scrappy day and a wonderful weekend!!

Birthday Three O

Dear Doug:

Even though you have not been looking forward to today for a while....in fact, you've made it seem like today would be the last day of your life...I just want you to know that I love you, I appreciate you, and I hope you have an absolutely wonderful birthday.

I am grateful I married you, I am thankful for the relationship we have, and for the person you have helped me become. You are an amazing father and we have been blessed with such a beautiful family. You are patient, hard-working, dedicated, funny, and so easy to love. Even though you are officially one year older today, I feel lucky for every additional year we get to spend together.

Try to have fun and enjoy your special day....I happen to think that 30 looks pretty good on you! I love you.

Love always,

Me - the young spring chicken

Scrap Haps...

Well, in case you haven't noticed, my scrapping habit has slowed down quite a bit in the past few months...I looked back through the blog and realized I hadn't posted any pages since August 21!! Life just seems to be busy doing it's own thing and I haven't had extra time to sit at the computer and scrap. That being said, here are the few pages I have completed lately as well as some fun news for a BIG weekend in the digital scrapbooking world. 

Sisters for Life collab by Britt-ish Designs and Sya's Blueprints
Scraps by Number: Just Call Me Keyr (template) by Stolen Moments

Feisty Girl collab by Bella Gypsy Designs and simply.scraps by Laura Banasiak
1,2,3,4...Go! Template Pack by Sya's Blueprints
Jami's Birthday Alpha by Britt-ish Designs (retired)
Doodlie-Do: Page Borders by Britt-ish Designs (retired)
In Stitches: Basics by Britt-ish Designs
Doodle-y Loops by Sahlin Studio

Vintage Carnival collab by Sahlin Studio and Jennifer Barrette
Vintage Vogue by Sahlin Studio
Doodle-y Loops by Sahlin Studio

Incredi-boy collab by GG Digital Designs and Britt-ish Designs
Paint Strokes by GG Digital Designs
Yellow Doodle Alpha from Designs by Tater

Teen Grunge by WM[squared] Designs

Funky Club - Vol. 1 - Week 8 by Sir Scrapalot Designs
Artsy Edges 002 by Michelle Batton Designs
How I Feel by Michelle Batton Designs
Neutral Stash by Shanmomto4 Designs
Template (altered) from the FPD template challenge ending July 7, 2010

Serenity by Happy Scrap Girl Designs at ScrapMatters

Love My Doll by Haynay Designs
School Girl by the Design Girl (scissors)

 And, for the big scrapbooking news...this weekend, digital scrapbook sites across the web will be celebrating DSD 2010 - Digital Scrapbooking Day! This means there will be all sorts of fun games, events, prizes, blog train FREE-bies, and sales. Check out what's going on at ScrapMatters...

 And Funky Playground Designs has even MORE reasons to celebrate since the site turns 4 this month...YIPPEE!! I love celebrating birthdays in November...and FPD has a bunch of fun activities and games planned for this special occasion.

I hope you are able to stop by and join in some of the fun! And as always, thank you for stopping by and checking out my latest scrapbook creations...I hope to have more in the weeks to come!!