Happy Halloween!!

Teddy at Jengo Fett

Me as Blaine Princess

The kiddos finally ready to go

Went trick-or-treating with the kids tonight!

December Daily.....

Ok so the base for my December daily album is done!  I am going to add some embelishments soon but the cover and pages are all set up.  Here is a peek.....................................

The final week in The Glee Club on Dixie Pieces.

I am sad to say that last week was the final week in the Glee Club on Dixie Pieces!  Here was my final submission.....

Look at that darling little face!  It is hard to believe that he is going to eight years old in May!  It is my sweet little social butterfly, Teddy! 

Challenge @ Buttons & Bows.....

I really like doing challenges, it forces me to get some scrapbooking and or card making done!!  For this challenge I used a Tiddly Inks digital stamp, Trick or Treat Echo Park paper, black card stock and a few other things I had laying around. 

 Boy, oh, boy ... did I make that mess?  Hey, I was having fun, so I am not too concerned with the destruction left in my wake! 

 Here is my adorable card!!  Now if I only knew who to send it too!  I guess I might have to put it away to send out next year! 

 Another angle.....

Finished products always make me happy!  Now what next?.....

Knitting....

I have wanted to know how to knit forever.  I have tried once or twice but could never quite get it.  I can crochet but knitting is a whole different story.  The church I go to is having what is called, Celebrate U.  They have all sorts of different classes.  One happened to be knitting.  I had to try again!  I have been practicing and practicing. 

I am so proud of myself!!  :)

It has been too long....

I have been very busy.....here is a photo of a visitor we had at our house today!

I have been trying to feed the squirrels but they really don't seem interested!

Tiddly Inks: Blog Candy!

I have been very intrigued by digital scrapbooking and digi stamps.  It wasn't until recently that I decided to try out digi stamps.  My first purchase was at Tiddly Inks!  I love the designs and was very happy with the purchase.  I am sure my digi stamp collection will be growing more than my actual stamp collection!  Once I start digital scrapbooking, I swear, the flood gates will open and I will lean towards everything digital.  I would love not having to have all my supplies taking up my desk and walkin closet!! LOL It would be nice just to have it all stored in files on my computer!  

On to the candy....I saw that Tiddly Inks is having this huge give away, and not to be stingy or anything but I WANT, I WANT, I WANT......so now I am sharing it with you.  :)  Just remember to leave the winning to me! LOL

Here is the link to Tiddly Inks Blog Candy

That is the blog candy and here is a list of what is included:

3 sets of acrylic stamps

stacks of paper

cardboard

bits and pieces of goodies

mirrors and magnets

some cardstock and envelopes

a few finished cards 

CD of Tiddly Inks images worth $50....you pick the ones you want up to $50

Go check it out!

16 & Pregnant

Have you ever seen the show 16 & Pregnant?  I have watched a few episodes and while I was doped up after a dentist appointment today and home alone, I watched one.  In it the girl was having issues with her boyfriend, the babies father.  He was feeling like he was being held back and like he was sacrificing everything for her.  This kind of brought back memories of when I was in high school and pregnant with my oldest son, Tristan.  When I told his dad that I was pregnant, the first thing he did was suggest an abortion.  I couldn’t do that as I have very strong feelings about that.  I told him that I would give the baby up for adoption if he really wanted me to.  He said no.  I wonder now if he felt like I held him back.  That night, when I told him about the pregnancy for the first time, I also gave him the opportunity to walk away.  I told him that I wouldn’t hold it against him and that I could raise the baby on my own if he didn’t want to be a part of it’s life.  When he said he wanted to be there, I never considered that maybe he had just said that.  Having a baby in high school is hard.  I had a lot of support from my in-laws but it was still hard.

I had Tristan in May of my senior year.  I was lucky enough to be doing running start (going to college and getting credit for high school and college at the same time).  Also, my mother in law worked at the high school that I attended so she helped me with Tristan when I had my high school classes.  I even had one teacher that would let me bring Tristan with me to class.  I graduated with my class, had the whole ceremony and everything.   I am proud of myself for completing high school but I was so focused on taking care of Tristan and graduating, I never thought of how his dad was effected by it all. 

It doesn’t really matter now, it is all done and over.  We got married in March of my senior year and divorced after almost 12 years.  I realize I wouldn’t change most of it cause if I did I wouldn’t have my kids.  I also realize now that if I had been smart I would have done things differently.  

Family Photos

So I got our family photos back on Sunday and there are some pretty cute photos.  We drove down to Steilacoom and met our photographer, Kayla, at Pioneer Park.  We were all pretty worried that it was going to rain and we did drive through patches of rain on the way.  When we got there it was cloudy but  not raining.  We started at the gazebo area and ended up walking down to an old train station and then back up to the park.  For the most part the kids were good and all got along.  We had a few moments of tension but as you can see in the pictures, it all worked out in the end. 

Another week in The Glee Club on Dixie Pieces.

The challenge this week was based on the music of Rafi.  I chose to use the song title "This little light of mine"  I used a picture of Tristan that I took on the first day of snow.  He got all his snow gear on and was begging to go outside. Tristan has a lot of medical issues but skiing has been a huge delight in his life so snow makes him light up.

Here is a little back ground on Tristan.  He had low muscle tone when he was really little.  I always knew there was something different about him and I never stopped trying to figure it out.  I mean what two year old knows all the names of all the construction vehicles and all the cars on the road.  He could say 100 words at a year old and could speak in sentences... We were finally able to get a diagnosis when he was nine.  Aspergers or high functioning autism....honestly, I wasn't shocked.  He was also diagnosed with OCD and turrets syndrome.  It was hard to swallow all at one time but I never thought for one second that there was anything wrong with him.  He is perfect the way he is! :)  The doctor offered medications but I decided that I didn't want to medicate my sweet boy. 

I also was able to complete a birthday card for a mini challenge.  I don't really like the way it turned out, wasn't what I pictured in my head....but it will do :) 

Our outside visitors....

Just in time for Halloween, our yard has been taken over by these giant spiders.  I am ok with spiders but none of the kids are too happy....They all run.  You can't tell from this photo but this spider is huge!  This was one of the many webs we found around the yard! 

Ahhhhh........

It has been almost a week since I posted and I am sorry.... I want this to become a habit so I do it daily but sometimes life can be a little hectic with five kids, two dogs and a loving boyfriend at home! LOL  I have had very little solo time this week and Audrey kinda hijacked my computer for a lot of time this week.  


I am hijacking in back tonight and I promise to post later tonight.  

In an effort to be on the DT of Samantha Walker.....

Here are some awesome things I have created in the past year.....

 This is my son, Teddy.  I love this photo of him and created this layout for a Dixie Pieces Challenge over the summer.

 I got this cabinet to the right at goodwill.  I removed the front and painted the front.  I created a magnetic bulletin board! 

 This is the front of the Valentine card that I created 

 This isn't a great pic of this layout....This is my kids on the beach.

 Every year, my daughter and I take part in the March of Dimes Tea, hosted by her Grandmother.  This was a great memory.  We don't get to enjoy this together anymore! :(  Audrey can still go but I am not welcome to join her, even though it used to be one of our traditions.

 Here is Tristan all covered in swamp....He was about 6 or 7 here and was frog hunting in a marshy area near our home.

 I created this skirt for myself to wear at Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend.  My David and I attended the Rockabilly Weekend in April of this year.  It was a whole lotta fun!  Rockabilly music, Awesome vendors and a Hot Rot Show!!  I wish we could go every year! 

 Here is a Valentine dress that I made for Madison.  It was a lot of fun to make, I really enjoy the old fashion feel and wanted to make an apron to go with it!  Just haven't had a chance yet!

 Here is a dress that I created again for the Rockabilly weekend.  I got so many complements on this dress....It has a lace inlay in the back that is done in a v shape......The skirt is big and puffy too!  I would wear this dress everyday if I could get away with it.

 Same dress......

I also made this purse for the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend.  I couldn't find the style I was looking for for the Rockabilly Weekend so I just made it all.....I made 2 dresses, the purse, a bandanna and some other stuff too!  I wish I had a picture of my cherry halter dress...


Here is a link to Samantha's website...
Samantha Walker's Imanginary World

In this moment...

Sitting here on the couch, with my feet stretched out over the arm, watching a cheesy movie and hanging out with My David!  I am thankful for what I have! :) 

Saturday...

Got some chores done today and then this afternoon I was working on some scrapbook pages. I might post some tomorrow. Here are the some layouts I did for the Glee Club Challenge.

Sorry I couldn't rotate it....This was created for Glee Club Week one.  The challenge was to base your page on a Beatles song.  There was a list of them that you had to pick from......

Audrey

This one was for for Glee Club Week two.  The Challenge was to create a Grunge Layout based on a Train song.  I really tried to step out of the box.....I used to only do 12X12 pages but I have really been liking 8.5X11. 

This is Teddy with Koadi!  I doodled to fill the negative space.  I also slopped some paint on.  I don't know how many points I have over at Dixie Pieces but I have been having a good time chatting with the ladies and participating in the challenges.

I will try to post pictures of the newest layout tomorrow....I haven't even posted it at Dixie Pieces yet.  :) 

Digital Stamps....

I am really starting to like em....I only have a couple but they are completely cute!  Check out some really cute ones at http://www.someoddgirl.com and enter their contest below.

All of us together.....

This is us at the end of our second trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington.  It was so fun to play in the water while it rained outside!

Teddy......

Teddy is my youngest son.  He is loving and inquisitive.  He makes strangers fall in love with him.  Teddy is so outgoing it scares me.  

Audrey.......

Audrey is my wild and crazy red head.  She is my rebel.  She loves reading, writing and Girl scouts!  She is an amazing cookie seller!  Audrey is hard headed and loving.

Tristan.....

Tristan is my oldest....It is sad and exciting to see him grow into a young man.  He was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when he was 9.  Tristan is like a walking encyclopedia and has a mental bank of amazingly strange information!  He loves reading and Boyscouts!

Introductions....starting with me......

Here is some basic random info about me....

I am afraid of heights but love roller coasters and zip lines!!

I grew up in one school district never moving (out of district) until I was in high school and then I went to Blaine High in 9th grade, Bothell High in 10th grade, Blaine and Bothell in 11th grade and finally Bothell in 12th grade where I graduated with my class (amazingly, after so much moving)!

I was kicked out of my mom's house at the age of 16 (for something that I didn't even do) and lived briefly in a 12 foot travel trailer with no electricity or running water, all by myself!

Technically I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers, although I was raised as an only child!! My mom gave birth to my big sister, whom she gave up for adoption, when she was just 13. I was raised by my dad till I was 15 and while I was with him my mom gave birth to Alexander (24), Victoria (20), and Cassandra (18). When I was 15 I moved out of my dad's house, he then adopted Tyler (22)!

I am glad that I had my kids when I was too young to be having them!! Although, I wouldn't encourage others to do the same!!

I always forget the important things and remember the stupid unimportant crap!

I used to work as a Cheese Specialist, that means I know all sorts of useless information about cheese! My favorite cheese changes all the time, right now it's Extra Aged Gouda

I am the proud owner of a crazy tattoo that I got one wild and crazy night!!

I so want to travel the world!!!

I got married and had my first child while I was still in high school.

As a kid I once told my grandma that I wanted to be an attorney so that I could represent her in any thing she needed, for free. I now work as a paralegal and am considering Law School sometime in the distant future!

I am an avid scrapbooker but am about 7 years behind in my venture of historical preservation!! LOL

I love taking pictures and used to dream that one day I could make a living doing just that

I have volunteered as a scout leader for a total of eight years! This includes Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts and now Boy Scouts!! I only have eleven more years of Scouting till my kids will be all done!

I can't ever leave a beach without a pocketful of shells and rocks!!

My youngest sister and I are the only ones in our family who graduated from high school with our classes!

I once took a road trip that landed me in 13 states in just 12 days!! It was awesome!!

I like to tell people that I was born at the end of a dock with my feet in the water! This is because I spent so much time at marina's when I was growing up! I swore as a child that I would never work at a marina and now as an adult, I work at a fisherman's terminal!! Never say never!! LOL

I have been going to college off and on for the last 13 years!

When I was young I dreamed of going to college....in Idaho, of all places! LOL

My parents divorced when I was really young, they were divorced for 23 years when they remarried each other and are currently going through a separation!

My youngest son says "Mom, your my dude!"

I am an avid reader and it really doesn't matter what it is!! I read anything and everything!!

I am a people pleaser. I am always looking for ways to make others happy!

Quality relationships with my kids are the most important thing in life. 

Dixie Pieces...

I am a big time scrapbooker and wish I had more time to dedicate to it.  Recently, I have been taking part in the Dixie Pieces - Glee Club Challenge!  Check it out! :)


Dixie Pieces - Glee Club


I tried to post a button but I am new to this so bare with me....


Hold on, I think I have it.....






Woohoo.....I figured it out!!  

Fall has arrived

So I can't believe that it is October 1st. 
Here are some things that I love about fall.


The cool crisp air.
The color of the leaves.

The smell of Hot Apple Cider.

Caramel Corn!



The kids excitement about Halloween!  
Fall craft projects......