Pics and Ramblings...

Here are some pics from a [scorching hot] afternoon at the Mesa Temple with the girls (this was about 3 weeks ago). AK and Roo absolutely love walking around the temple grounds, looking at all the beautiful flowers and such. We happened to see a young couple taking some wedding photos; the girls loved seeing the "princess in her beautiful dress" with her "prince"...and they couldn't stop talking about finding their prince someday. Oh my goodness...I am soooo not ready for them to be talking about boys.

And, after a surprisingly short search for the memory-card-converter-stick-thingee, I was able to download the remaining pics from our recent trip to California. I didn't take that many pictures this time, on account of having a LOT of homework to complete, and I'm sad that I missed out on some of the things from the trip. For instance, Roo [LOVED] riding the quad - AK won't go near it. But AK had no problems getting on Miles and riding on him with Whopper - Roo just wasn't interested in riding him this trip. And I would have loved to get some family pics while we were down there...but I suppose that will have to wait for another trip (of which, there will be many more this summer).

Regrets aside, here are a few of the remaining pics I took of an afternoon at the beach. We stepped outside our comfort zone of Oceanside and went to a new beach this time....Crystal Cove down in Pacific Beach. It was very different from what we are used to (lots of seaweed, stairs, and the bathrooms weren't very close to our spot), but it had the key ingredients to a wonderful afternoon (sun, sand, surf...and great company) and we ended up having a blast. AK could not wait to get into the water...even though it was pretty cold, she was not deterred in the least. Roo, on the other hand, was quite content just playing in the sand. Both girls loved that we got to have a "pic-mic" on the beach....they thought that was the greatest things since sippy cups!!

Lastly, here are some random pics from the past few weeks...little snapshots into our goofy, silly, and mischievous side of life.

Roo strutting her stuff...................and.................. AK getting a close up

Giggling girls in mama's bed..............and.....................Squirrel hunting

Back in the Hotlands...

Okay, okay...so we have been back since late Monday night and I have yet to post photos from our little weekend getaway to California. I'm a slacker, I know. Blame it on the massive loads of algebra homework I've been tackling for the past 3 1/2 weeks (only another 1 1/2 weeks of algebra to go). For what it's worth, I feel really bad that I haven't posted anything yet. Please accept my most sincere apologies...seriously.

Anyway, here are some pics that my sister-in-law Bethany took on her camera. The girls absolutely [LOVE] this geranium bed...they were out picking flowers any chance they got. As you can see from the photos, they didn't pick just a few stems at time...we are talking handfuls upon handfuls of the pretty pink flowers. To be quite honest, I am surprised there are any flowers left once AK and Roo were finished. Luckily, the flowers will grow back...and even if they didn't, I think it was totally worth it to see how absolutely happy they were in their little flower patch. (FYI - Roo is in the top-left photo, and AK is in the bottom-right photo)

Bethany took a lot of great photos (thank you Millie!!), but this next one is my absolute favorite.
Seriously...how can you not love looking at these two adorable faces?! For all the tantrums and trouble and mischief these two gals get into, seeing such happiness and joy on their precious mugs makes everything else totally worth while. I've said it before, and I'll say it a million times more...I absolutely [LOVE] these two girls. I love them. I love them. I love them. And I am so thankful they chose me to be their mama.

**Additional pictures will be posted later....I seem to have misplaced our memory-card-converter-stick-thingee and haven't been able to transfer them from the camera to the computer. I'll work on it later today**

Hasta Luego!!

Sorry Arizona...but if you think your one day of [slightly] enjoyable weather is going to keep us from going to California this weekend, you are sadly mistaken. Bring on the beach, baby!!



We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!!

Mean Princess...

Earlier today I asked AK to pick up some of her toys and take them back to her bedroom where they belong (the front room was a disaster and I've really been trying to get the girls to help out rather than doing all the cleaning myself). Here's the gist of the conversation:


ME: AK, please take these two toys back to your bedroom and put them away.
AK: No mama.
Me: Excuse me? You are not playing with them right now and this is not where they belong. Please put them away.
AK: Hmmph. [also rolls her eyes while grabbing the toys of out my hand. She then proceeds to saunter off down the hallway, swinging hips and all, hitting the toys against the wall while she goes. I hear the clunk as the toys are thrown into the room against the wall, AK then comes running back out].
ME: AK, Did you put your toys away nicely?
AK: No...I throw them.
ME: Is that how we treat our toys?
AK: Mama...I a mean princess today. I don't put away toys because I don't caa-aare [she proceeds to roll her eyes and folds her arms across her chest for emphasis].


Seriously - how did I end up with such a sassy little girl? One who looks so sweet and innocent, but who can have such a spunky, diva-ish side to her. I'm just glad she doesn't act like this all the time....I much prefer my sweet little girl to the "mean princess."

Here's my mean princess...simply adorable, even with so much attitude.

If AK is a mean princess today, then I supposed Roo could be called the nice princess - she has (luckily for me) been quite cheerful and pleasant today...especially with her chocolate chip cookie in hand.

Mother's Day

In honor of Mother's Day, I just wanted to say thank you to all of the wonderful women (sisters, mothers, friends, cousins, aunts, co-workers, peers, etc.) who have influenced my life. I am very much an imperfect mother, but all of the good that I do I can attribute to the amazing examples of strength, honesty, virtue, patience, kindness, creativeness, and love set by the fabulous women I am blessed to know.

Thank you....for all that you have taught me and for all that you are. I hope you each have a wonderful mother's day.

Recent Scrap Pages...

Even though the past few weeks were busy with traveling and visiting family and such, I have still managed to get some scrapbooking done. I started a math class yesterday, which will take up a LOT of my time for the next 5 weeks, so I wanted to get some pages done before I became entirely consumed with school.

These were created for my Pixie Perfect Designs CT...

Using [Love You More]

Using [Toddler Time: Boy]

P.S. Shauna - I hope it's okay I used pictures with "K" in them...it was hard using a boy kit when I don't have any boys to scrap. I tried to use ones that didn't show his full face, but if you would prefer I don't post this one, just let me know and I will pull it. Sorry - I meant to email you about this.

Using [Jungle Baby] and [Lil' Bit Layered Templates]

The following were created for my Julie Marie Designs CT...

Using [Spring is in the Air]

Using [Easter Bunnies and Carrots]

Using [Tranquility]

Using [Girls Night Out] and [Photo Masks]

Using [Cottage Rose] and [Love Hearts]

Using [Love Hearts]

Using [Spring is Coming]

Using [A Mother's Love]

P.S. This kit was created by Julie for the "So You Think You Can Design" contest at DigiscrapAddicts.com. It's a beautiful kit, and even better, the kit is free since it's a contest submission. Just click on the kit title (above) to download this amazing kit....you will have to register and be logged in, but it's totally worth it!! While you're there, leave her some love!!

And these were created for various challenges, contests, or just because...

Using [Just Bee]

Using [Photogenic]

Using [March Grab Grab] from ScrapMatters (although this particular grab bag is no longer available, there are some new ones that are just as amazing...just click on the title link and you'll be directed to the SM shoppe)

Using [Familiar Times] , [A Little Tattered], and [Cloud 9]

Using [A Little Tattered] and wordart from [Unscripted]

Using [Special Love] and [Shapes:Brackets]

Using [With a Cherry on Top]

Using [In Retrospect] and [Unscripted]

Using [Far East Elegance]

Thanks for looking at my pages!! All of the kit titles above are linked to the specific designer shoppe from which they are available. Some of them are freebies [Yippeee!!], you'll just have to register on that website before you can download the item.

Thanks for the Free Meal Oprah...

Doug sent this to me in an email earlier. Apparently, Oprah has decided to buy the nation free lunch/dinner!! Just go to the link below to print out your coupon for a free meal. The coupon has to be printed today by 11:59pm CDT, but you have until May 19, 2009 to redeem it.

For a FREE meal, click here: http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090430-tows-kfc-coupon-download

Thanks Oprah!! That's one less meal I'll have to think about cooking this week.

....AND, while we are on the subject of lunch, I am curious what some easy/creative/healthy meals are that you moms create for your little ones? Lunch seems to be the most difficult meal for our little family...the girls don't like sandwiches and I can only have so many days of chicken nuggets or mac n' cheese before I start to feel guilty about not providing healthier food. So - this is where I'm hoping to get some lunch recipes or food ideas for my two little gals....who are currently enjoying pink frosted sugar cookies (you gotta love Lofthouse) after eating a lunch of...Frosted Mini-Wheats, grapefruit, and raisins....yup, I'm sensing a sugar high coming on. Fabulous.

Roo AK

Playing Catch Up...as Usual

It's been a few weeks since I last posted anything, but that's because we went on an extended trip to California and Utah. I have lots of pictures from our little excursion, so I've put them into slideshows from the different parts of our trip. First, we have pictures from Easter Sunday....we had church in the morning but then spent the afternoon with family out in Buckeye. The girls had a blast with all their cousins, and since Doug's parents came out it was a great opportunity to have most of the family on the Hoopes side together.

The following Thursday, Doug drove out to California with the girls and I. That Saturday, he competed in a grappling tournament in San Bernardino with his brother Dan. Doug went up a weight class so that he and Dan wouldn't have to compete against each other, and even though he was smaller than the other guys he ended up placing 2nd!! Woo-hoo - great job, Papa!! Unfortunately, Doug injured his knee during the first match - his knee popped out of place then managed to pinch the miniscus inside when it popped back together. So, now we are just waiting to hear back from the doctor regarding when he's going to have surgery. He hasn't been able to train since the injury (obviously) and is hating the fact that he has to just sit around in limbo. The good news is, he should be able to start training again about 6-8 weeks after the surgery....Doug's already counting down the days.

Doug flew back to Arizona the Monday following the tournament, but not before we had a chance to ride Miles, visit Oceanside, eat at our favorite Fish n'Chips place in the Harbor, and spend the day in La Jolla watching the seals and playing in the tidepools.

The girls and I remained in California, and the following Thursday we drove up to Utah with my parents and sister Shauna. My younger sister Valerie was going through the temple for the first time, so it was a very special reason for all of us siblings to get together. AK and Roo absolutely [loved] seeing all the cousins on the Leach side (with such a large clan, complete gatherings don't happen as often as we would like), and we all enjoyed the cool weather Utah had to offer...even if meant dealing with a little bit of rain and snow. As it stands right now, we are planning to be in Utah at the end of this summer...no doubt that visit will be just as much (if not more) fun as our most recent visit.

As much fun as the trip was, it was good to get back home to Doug and our tiny, cramped apartment...even though coming back to AZ meant finding out that our apartment management wasn't willing to work with us on a 3-4 month lease, and they wouldn't even guarantee our same rent if we signed anything less than a 12 month lease, so we have given our 30-day notice to vacate and are now stressing with packing and having to find a new place to live. Needless to say, I cannot WAIT for the day we are finally settled and won't have to worry about where we are going to move to next.

So, that about sums up the past few weeks of our lives. I start my math class tomorrow, and Doug starts another class the following Tuesday, so I'm not sure how often I will be able to post for the next month or so. However, I hope today's posting finds you all happy, healthy, and well...thanks for stopping by!!