more pretties :)

I would love prints of these to hang on my wall!






1. Red Door Somewhere in Italy, 2. Blue Door, 3. Green door, what's that secret you're keepin' ?, 4. Door, 5. Red Doors, 6. Worn Door - Pittsburgh, 7. Cambridge doors: Yellow !, 8. Multi-coloured door, 9. blue door, 10. A closed door, 11. Cambridge doors: Red !, 12. door 212

Merry Christmas

Just some pretty things to look at until I have time to update ;)








1. Describe a feeling...., 2. Felt Galaxy, 3. Feel, 4. Can you feel my heart?, 5. drought relief - felt art, 6. 'Tis the season, 7. joy!, 8. Untitled, 9. Take Me Home......, 10. Hoot Loot, 11. What's In My Kitchen?, 12. Yellow / Decay de Cai (II), 13. La vieja puerta / Vintage door, 14. Jen Duncan's super cute kitchen!, 15. rua dos remédios, 16. Shadow Dance

rambles

I was reading the newspaper today (ok just the comics but...) an AD caught my eye. Lose 14 pounds in an hour with body wraps. Um ok. That is a lot to lose in one hour, in month month. What in the world are body wraps. Strange things indeed.

Christmas is almost upon us. I love watching my favorite christmas movies, drinking hot chocolate, wrapping gifts (which I still need to do!)

My children are making my crazy this week. It is so cold so they have been stuck inside since Saturday. Can we say wild. I tink maybe we will bundle up and head to the park tomorrow. They need to burn up some energy.

I made soup for dinner. Yummy.

My favorite cookbooks:

don't panic dinner's in the freezer
30 minute meals
dream dinners
super suppers

I wish I had good public speaking skills. I would market myself to HGTV for a cooking show geared towards cooking for a crowd. :)

I love being creative. It really makes my day go so much smoother wen I take the time. I wonder why?

Why am I lacking joy? I want my kids to see how much I enjoy being a wife and mother. Why do I end up spending my day yelling about messes? Why does it matter to me so much? I really want to be a joyful mom. SOmething I am going to work on.

A little canvas I made using the December 3 Scrappy Boys kit:

December already????????!

It seems like it was barely fall and now it is already December. Today my son turned 12 and tomorrow my baby will be 1. This year has gone by so quick. I am hoping for a better year next year. Except for Luke it has not been a good year at all. It will be nice to get it beind us and have a fresh start.

Every year the week after Thanksgiving we get our Christmas tree. For us it has to be a real tree. The smell just can't be duplicated with candles :) We are lucky that none of the kids have allergies. We opted not to put ornaments on this year. With a 1 year old and a kitty, it just didn't seem worth the hassle of saying no all day. It's ok though, I love a tree with just white lights. I really, really, really need to wrap gifts. I have wrapped maybe 3 gifts. I just know I am going to keep putting it off, only to have a mad scramble.

My term was up for the design team postition at 3 scrappy boys this month. But I reapplied and luckily I made the team again. Such fun to be a part of the team.

Here is a layout I did with the November kit. KI Memories is one of my all time favorite paper companies.



and a card



Off to watch Law and Order :)

I love fall

A fire in the fireplace, candles burning and soup for dinner. It is fairly cool today 50's as a high. No rain though. We are in desperate need of rain here in Georgia. So bad that I am stocking up on water bottles :(

Not much happening here. Gearing up for 3 more birthdays. Yep 3 more in the next 3 weeks! All right before Christmas. Speaking of CHristmas, only something like 40 more days until Christmas. :) I am almost done shopping, just a couple more things to get. Money is really tight so we are being really careful but also trying to get things that people will truely enjoy.

My cousin and her family (husband and 7 children) are coming for Thanksgiving. That will be so much fun! I would love to do a mini album for all of us to write down what we are thankful for. That would be a great keepsake. Hopefully it will be nice out 1. so we can take some family pictures of each other 2. so the children can play outside for part of the time :) 16 children is a lot to have in 1 house :)

Have you ever met someone and just felt an instant friendship, like you have always known one another? I have, her name is Jennifer. We met at an Above Rubies retreat. We had the same amount of children, the same ages (pretty close) and just had so much in commen. After meeting that 1 time we have stayed in touch for 4 years. She is one of the first ones I call when I need prayer or to share frustrations. Thank you Jennifer for being a great friend!

Scrapbooking: I have been so tired I haven't been scrapping a whole lot. Here is a layout I did with the October 3 scrappyboys kit :)

It's November!!!

This year has just gone by so fast! My oldest turns 15 this week. My baby. Golly, I guess this year isn't the only fast one :) I rememmber bringing him home from the hospital and just looking at him thinking, now what am I supposed to do with him. Just figuring out how to take a shower while he was awake seemed so hard. I remember bringing him into the bathroom in his infant chair. Just so I could keep an eye on him. Now he is taller than I am and growing more mature everyday.

I love fall. My favorite season. The crisp evenings, the sunny but cool days. I love the smells. The beauty of the changing seasons. Gearing up for the holidays. Burning candles everyday. Bringing out the sweaters and coats.

This weekend I plan on doing some Christmas shopping. I plan on buying for half of the children and will do the other half next month. Got to split the expense up :)

Trying to not focus on the negative, the worry. This has really not been a good year but I am trusting in the Lord. His plans are not my plans. His ways are not my ways.

Mat 10:29 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.
Mat 10:30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows

Top ten on Tuesday

What it isn't Tuesday you say. Well I am a bit late :)

So my top 10 cd's

1. Lifehouse
2. Watermark
3. Phillips, Craig and Dean
4. Big Daddy Weave
5. Garth Brooks
6. Big and Rich
7. Harry Connick Jr.
8. Trish Yearwood
9.Little Big Town
10. Martina McBride

everything

This moved me to tears. Wow.

Thank goodness it's Friday

I love weekends. Just being able to hang out at home as a family is such a treat.


This weekend we are headed out with friends that are moving to California. We are going to an Octoberfest. I have never been and I have never been to the town we are going. Apparently is is this adorable town with cute shops with a river and falls that is an easy hike. I am taking my camera for sure!


Here is a layout I did with the September 3 Scrappy Boys kit.










A fun way to use the index cards that come with your photos.



I made it to the next round for the Last Scrapper Standing Challenge. Very exciting. There were so many great layouts that I have no idea how they narrowed it down at all! Here is mine from the first challenge. I will be working on the 2nd challenge this weekend.

*Ten on tuesday*

Top 10 favorite movies

1. White Christmas
2. Sound of Music
3. Grease
4. Father of the Bride 2
5. Sahara
6. Pirates of the Caribbean
7. Bulletproof Monk
8. Batman begins
9. 7 brides for 7 brothers
10. Cheaper by the dozen (the original)

Things have been so busy lately. My inlaws came for a quick visit. Things did not go as planned but hopefully they will be able to come again soon. My Mom is coming later this week. I love having my Mom come. We just like the same things :)

The 2 youngest are sick :( The baby was up most of the night. Burning up, just uncomfortable. So I just sat up and rocked him. Although I am tired from lack of sleep. I do love to cuddle my children.

I just received the new 3 scrappy boys kit. I can't wait to dig in and play. Hopefully tomorrow.

I know my friends at SHS and largefamiliesHS read this. I want to thank you for your prayers. Things are not perfect but they are good for right now :)

We found a church last Sunday. My FIL asked a friend to ask a friend to recommend a church that fit what we were looking for. He recommended his church. Great worship music, great pastor, life application teaching, family stays together service. It was BIG though. Hubby does not like crowds but the family service was a lot smaller so he will be brave :)

Have you seen our lost kitty?

Yep, very sad. We have a cat named Jack. He has been missing for a week. Since he is very attached to our youngest daughter Emma (like if he can't find her, he calls and calls walking all through the house until he finds her) So we are thinking that he was dinner for the coyotes. We are not telling Emma that of course. I have to say. I am totally sad about this Jack was the best cat. Totally relaxed, loved the kids. But The day after he went missing Molly told me Emma cried herself to sleep :( So what does mom do? She gets on craigslist and finds a kitten. I figure if Jack comes back we will have 2 cats. If he doesn't he will help Emma get past losing Jack. and He has so far. Meet Mater







He is happiest in someones lap purring and being loved on. He is the very sweet addition to our family.

5 things I would tell my teenage self

1. Don't worry so much about being "popular" After graduation no one cares who was popular.

2. DOn't let your Grandma cut your hair, ever!

3. Be a really good friend.

4.Pay more attention in photography class :)

5. Having a boyfriend isn't everything, hang out, have fun. You don't have to be paired up.

top 10

things I love right now





1.












2. reading


3. milky way midnights (a little too much)


4. American Crafts albums

5. My Nikon d70
6. www,scrapbookpicture.com
7. reading blogs
8.hoarding scrapbooking supplies
9. The promise of a new homeschool year starting after labor day
10. The See's candy hubby brought me for my birthday :)

10 days can seem like a lifetime

When you husband is out of town, that is! Don't get me wrong. I love my children. I love having a large family. But boy, not having even one minute alone to myself for 10 days has been hard. I am sure part of that is the fact that I am not getting a lot of sleep. The baby is STILL waking up 2-3x a night. He is eating people food (versus baby food ;)) and still it doesn't help. None of my children have slept through the night while I was nursing. But none of them have been up this often. I am not ready to stop nursing but if I don't get some sleep I may change my mind. 10 days is a long to time go without scrapbooking too. I did a card for a friend that made MMM. (making memory masters) and that is it. Just feeling kind of tired and blah. Hopefully my hair cut this Saturday will perk me up some. and the fact that hubby comes home tonight!

high school musical 2

I am wondering if your house has children running around singing "what time is it?" Yes, the High School Musical 2 movie came out a week ago. Here are my thoughts on it. yes, it had more boyfriend/girlfriend stuff in it. I could have done without so much of that. But what I did like is
1. The contrast between the girl's clothing. Good girl Gabriella wears pretty dresses versus the snotty Sharpay's more trashy clothing.
2. The theme that ran through the movie was, be true to yourself, be a good friend.
3. the music, very catchy songs :) LOL


scrapbooking. There is so much competition now. I had tried out for a DT position at labeltulip. Cute kits! I didn't make it. Probably didn't even come close. They had over 300 scrapbookers apply. Wow!

I keep feeling so let down when I don't make a team I have applied for. Now I don't apply for every team out there. I only apply when I feel that the kits and I are a good match. No sense getting on a team for a kit you don't like :) but it really is like being turned down for a job. I either need to be content with scrapbooking for myself or figure out what I am lacking. Hummmmmmmmm stuff to ponder.

Hot hot hot!

It is so hot! 101... Our air is on all day. and even then it stays around 80. Just can't keep up with the heat.

Memory Maker Masters were announced today. While I am SO bummed to not get a call, I am very happy my friend Staci did get a call. Go Staci!!!!

So what have we been up to? Not a whole lot. Hubby took a day off last week and we tried to go berry picking. But apparently that our cold spring ruined the crops so no berries. Hubby took the kids swimming instead.

My computer died and I am on a spare. A spare that does not have printers, or photoshop loaded on it! So I am hoping to get a call from best buy to pick my baby up :)

I know I had other stuff I was going to talk about, but now I don't remember what it was.

So bye for now.

random :)

No one can anticipate a birthday like a 6 year old. His birthday isn't until March. But everyday he shows me a picture of the cake he wants (pirate treasure chest) and looks on the fridge to make sure his list is still there. Now myself on the other hand, am NOT looking forward to my next birthday, which is MUCH closer than next March. Maybe if I had time to have my hair done and if I lost the weight I gained over the past 7 years. Maybe then it wouldn't be hitting me so hard to be turning 37.

Last weekend was a bummer but I am all better now. Jacob (11) had a low blood sugar seizure. That is always so scary. He is well recovered now.

My oldest went on an insulin pump this week. Finally!!! SO far he is enjoying the freedom to eat a snack when he wants. Yesterday a neighbor offered him a piece of cake and he was able to just give himself more insulin to cover the carbs. Nice.

Scrapping. Not happening this week so far. Kind of in a slump. Hopefully tomorrow I will have more energy at nap so I can scrap a bit.

We are planning on trying a new church this weekend. I met a lady in Walmart with 9 children also, all the same ages as mine. So I promptly asked where they attend. So we will try their church.

Ok I am off to read :)

yuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

Just not a very good day at all :(

August 2nd 2007

Quite the catchy title ey :) I think I will not waste time trying to find titles and just get to the meat.

Let's see, what have I been up to? My mom was here for a week. I love having her visit. We never run out of stuff to talk about, have the same taste in clothes and both love to shop:)

We had 2 birthdays and Mr. T is 3 today! He has not openned gifts yet because Daddy is not home but I did give him the bubbles I bought him. A big hit I must say. The girls loved their gifts as well. And Katie's sand and water table is played with for most of the day. She, Tucker, and Ethan will play for hours. We had sand AND water in it the first day. That was so not fun. Sand and water mixed together is VERY sticky. So now it is filled with water on both sides. Much cleaner :) Plus it is so hot here it is nice for them to get good and wet.

Here is a layout I did for myself this week. I am really pleased with how it turned out. We are going through some stuff and this is my reminder to myself to keep my faith in God.

Speaking of faith. My cousin Kate happens to be one of my very best friends. She and her husband Jeff have 7 children. The youngest is Noah. He will be a year old this month. Noah is one very sick baby. They could use prayers for Noah and the whole family. You can read their story here on their blog.

Ok, I am off. I am really hoping to scrapbook today. Luke is still waking up 2x a night at 7 1/2 months and I am so tired. I keep taking a nap instead of scrapbooking :)

Sunday

Sometimes life seems to be a bit of a comedy of errors! I sat down to nurse the baby. When I sat back, something bit my neck. So while I was trying to put ice of the bite 1. the phone rang 2. one child ran down to the basement (off limits to little ones) 3. another child went out the front door 4. Another child, one that can get into the most stuff in the least amount of time, disapeared. Wild days I tell you.

My kit from 3 scrappy boys came on Friday. I did 3 layouts and 2 cards, and a card holder. The cards and card holder are for part of my MIL's Christmas gift. Yes, I know it's early, but we would not be able to afford gifts if I left it til later. So if I purchase or make 4 gifts a month until December, I will be done with Christmas and all the birthdays for the rest of the year :)

Had fun visiting with all our neighbors last night. Until 12:30! It is so much fun to set up tables, share food and drinks, play cards and watch all the kids play together. Unfortunately after staying up kind of late, the baby woke every 2 hours last night. I am hoping that his tooth pops through soon! Ok I am off to make chicken soup for dinner. It is actually fairly cool here today and I am taking advantage of it.

Friday!!!!

Friday favorite list

things I like about Georgia
1. The weather. Weird I know but the humidity is so much easier for me to deal with than the 102 temps in California!

2. Nice neighbors! We sure lucked out.

3. neighborhood card games :) We have been getting togther in the street to play cards with whoever drops by. So fun.

4. Archivers :)

5. Living sort of near my parents. and near my cousin and her family.

Oops. the baby is crying! Teething! got to run...

July 14 07

Do you keep a journal? I have always wanted to. I have started so many in the past, only to forget about them. So now I have a blog :) I really do want to remember these days. Even though certain phases seem to d r a g on and on, I know they are all too fleeting. I also keep a word document on my computer where I keep records of the baby's first year. First tooth, weight ect....


Today I went birthday shopping. We have 3 birthdays in a few weeks. The 28th, 29th and the 2nd. FOr our soon to be 3 years old I bought. Looks like something all three little boys will have fun with :)

For our special needs daughter that will be a teenager (yikes) . She really loves water and sand. Of course I was already home before I remembered I forgot to buy sand! So I will have to do that this week.


I won't post what I bought my other birthday girl. Because she may read my blog :)



Since I was over there, I ran into Archiver's :) I picked up the new Memory Makers. These get better and better every month. So if you looked at The December issue and thought YUCK! They have really listened to their readers. This issue was really good. More how to articles than CK or BHG, kinda like scrapbook answers that went out of business.



Instead of a layout I will leave you with a picture of the boys playing in the neighbors driveway after a downpour :)

June 26th

I really am trying to keep this thing up to date. But well, life keeps getting in my way :) The humidity has finally hit . My goodness, its hot and sticky. We have been trying to hit the pool as often as possible. I need to get the baby a pair of swim pants so he can get in too. It's just too hot to not have him go in.

Received my 3 scrappy boys June Kits. Yummy!!! That Elsie paper is so much fun. And having 6 boys. That Junkitz paper is perfect :) Here is a layout I did

another 8 1/2 x 11. I think my friend Angie has me hooked. Her pages always look so incredible.

I need another book to read. What do you recommend?

I can't think of a funny thing from the kids today. Since I am using this blog as my memory :) But a sweet thing happened this morning. Luke woke up early so after he nursed, Lance and I played with him in our bed. He curled up in the crook of my arm holding his blanket, with Daddy holding his foot and we all crashed. It was a lovely thing to wake up to. Man I love having kids :)

Behold, Children are a heritage from the Lord.

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.

Happyt is the man who has his quiver full of them.

Psalm 127 3-5

total surprise

Ok while I am anxiously awaiting my June 3scrappyboys kit(s) HAHA. I was reading the new issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine. I was almost to the end and got to the readers gallery section. They showcase layouts from people who submit their work. They also mention other people that caught their eye. Guess who was listed :0 I was very surprised. I have never been published in CK. That would be one of my goals. So I was happy to have been noticed at least :) Here is a recent layout.

First 8 1/2 x 11 layout I have done in years. It was a lot of fun to play with this size but hard to cut up my cardstock :)

June 4th

Wow. I can't believe how quickly time is passing. It's already June. My anniversary is in just a couple of weeks. 17 years! Talk about time passing quickly. It seems like just yesterday that we were dating. But in that case I am glad time passed fast. I wouldn't go back to high school even if I was paid. But I have to say Lance was the best part of that time :)

I found a new mystery author. This was a great book. Nice cozy mystery.

My secret from a month or so ago can now be told. I was asked to be a guest designer at www.scrap-room.com That was very exciting for me. I have been receiving Tammy kits since she started. Here is one of the layouts I did using the June kit. This was one of my favorite kits from TSR. I had no trouble using the whole thing up :)

I need to get some thoughts out and I guess this is the place for me to do so. I have been thinking a lot the last couple of days about what a important job I have as a wife and Mother. An influencial job. I can change my house, my family for the better or worse. I have been letting the stress Lance is under at work affect me greatly. So our house had been filled with stress and short temperedness. I need to change that. I need to change. I need to fill my house with love, joy and peace. Get in the word daily. Start my day in prayer. No exuses. I am the queen of excuse :) I need to just do it. My children, husband and I all deserve to have a peaceful home. I can't do this myself understand. I need God to do it for me. I NEED Him. Period. I have been letting my faith slide, let doubt creep in, not about God but I guess in the purpose of the trials we are in. Not firming myself up. Letting there be a crack that lets doubt/ satan in. Only one cure for that. God. His word, his hand flowing through my life. So I need to allow God to use me to influence my family for good.

Here is a picture I took of Luke and I in the bathroom mirror :) Hey If no one else will take one I will!

Here is a layout I did using the May kit from 3 scrappy boys. Fab kit as usual!

I be back later to catch up...

helllllllllooooooooooo

Just been keeping busy. Laundry, cooking, diapers, schooling... just the usual.

Lance bought the kids a swing set. We left the one we had behind in California when we moved. Not worth taking apart, moving and putting back together a $130.00 swing set. It has taken him 4 days to put together. Well not 4 full days, just the time he has after work. The kids all helped. Now it is done and they are enjoying it. This time we went with a wooden model well above the $130.00 cost of the last one. He figured that this will be something that will have years of use so we should buy a good model.

Kids funny:
E " mommy will you make me a funny cake?"
me looking at him very perplexed, until it dawns on me that he wants a funfetti cake!

Scrapbooking:
Lots of amazing things happening right now! I was contacted by a magazine to be a contributer to an upcoming book. I was asked to be a guest designer for a monthly kit in the next month or so and I was asked to keep another thing a secret :) So good stuff.
and wouldn't you know it, I am feeling so uninspired! I guess that is the way it works. Hopefully it will pass quickly.

been awhile!

If there was a downside to having a large family it would be this: 9 kids= flu x 9! Hubby was out of town, kids flu and poison ivy. Enough said!I still have mountains of laundry. I think that may be a given until kids start moving out. and since we keep adding kidsand that includes their laundry. So I guess I need to give up on the idea that I will be caught up. That is one of my biggest faults. Perfectionism.

Been a scrapping fool. Love that! I am thinking of entering memory masters. I don't know. Still pondering it. I finished a layout that I love the other day and I am saving it just in case.

Other scrappy news. I had a layout requested for Scrapbook Trends Magazine. Been awhile, of course I hadn't submitted in a long time either. I have been trying to remember. I only submit if I have something that fits the call.

Kids funny

Molly: Ethan you want to jump on the trampoline with me?
Ethan: Oh yeah Baby!

Where on earth did he get that?

Ok, off to play cards with the neighbors. Have a great weekend!

Mountains of laundry

are calling to me. If you do not here from me in 2 days, please send help ;)

American Idol is ticking me off! This is our first season watching. Gina and Chris S. while not in my absolute top 4, did not deserve to leave before Sanjaya or Haley. did.not.deserve. Hopefully they will have opportunties regardless. Ok I said it, now time for me to move on. Yep, on to my laundry...

crabby

It does not reflect on the day to come when you wake up crabby! Blechhh. I was able to squeeze in 30 minutes at naptime to scrapbook :)

I did this for the pub AD challenge at twopeas. This is the first one I have done in years. Ok, I am off to veg in front of the TV. Hubby is gone so it's a good time to catch up on what not to wear.

getting older is NOT fun

Thank you Old Navy for making me feel old and fat. What is with the tight long tee's? Tight isn't looking so good around my middle. and long? That.is.so.not.a.good.look! That is just the tops. All I could find was low rise and extra low rise. Um yeah, I have had 9 children. and while I am not fat, I am not thin either. Kinda in the middle. low rise, yeah right! My roll hangs over. Another not so good look for me. Where am I supposed to shop? A 35 year old still needs clothes. cute but not too young. Where oh where are these clothes? I did find a shop that has jeans that I love. Forth and Towne, they are a Gap owned company, they are for the 30 and over set :) But right after I found that they have great jeans for a curvy body , I receive an email that they are closing in June. People why are you doing this to me....

Testing

Seeing if I can figure out how to load images in. This is for challenge #26 at http://hmitm.blogspot.com/ I like it. Pretty simple.

March 19th 2007

Ok, I decided to start a blog. Hopefully I will keep up so I can use this to remember all the cute(insane) things that happen in a family with 9 children. So far so good today. Just some crying because someone did something to someone else. Who knows it might sctually be true. Or it could be another example of the "not me" syndrome. You know, when you ask the children who did this? and the answer is "not me". I am not sure who not me is but boy they need to move on from my house, they are certainly causing lots of mischief! Right now I need to go because T is running through the house screaming like a fire is after him. More than likely someone told him no. Man he hates that ;)