Christmas Has Come...And...Gone :(

It seems like you spend weeks planning for the "Big" day, and in a matter of hours it comes, and then quickly goes. It is bitter sweet for me. I love all the preparation. From the baking to decorating, church parties, family get togethers, shopping, wrapping, doing advent calendars, keeping secrets, finding the perfect gift. I love the spirit of the holiday season. It seems people are nicer to each other, more kind, more patient, more charitable. Why is that during Christmas people seem to go out of their way to be more "Christ" like? Would it really be hard to act that way all year long?

Our Christmas holidays were filled with many fun times. Here is what we were up to:

December 22nd:

Went to the live Nativity pageant put on by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My sister Tiffany and her husband Trevor were playing the part of Mary and Joseph. It was a GREAT way to start off the holidays. It really helped me remember the "Reason for the Season." They did a beautiful job and I could really feel the spirit of it all. Tyson loved to watch the animals. The music was beautiful, and the night was perfect!

December 23rd:

We drove down to Cardston a day early. It was so nice to be there before Christmas Eve. Tyler and I were both very relaxed on the drive down and just enjoyed each others company. It was so nice not to be in a rush on Christmas Eve day trying to get down to his parents. Tyson was already down there having a sleep over with Grandma and Grandpa Jensen. Grandpa made him a deal that if he could go in the potty for 7 days in a row then he could come down for a sleep over. I am happy to say that HE DID IT! He is now potty trained. He has only had 2 accidents in over a week. I am very very happy that he is a big boy now!

December 24th:

Spent the morning helping my mom get supper ready for Christmas. Did some last minute shopping in the local stores in Cardston. Then in the afternoon we went out to Tyler's parents for their party. It was a great evening. The kids had fun playing the gift exchange game, and the adults had fun participating as well. When we got back to my parents and after the kids were in bed for the night we stayed up visiting and watched a movie by the fire.

December 25th:

Christmas morning had finally arrived! We woke up early and looked what "Santa" had put in our stockings, and then we had to hurry and get ready for church which was at 9 a.m. We enjoyed a lovely service full of Christmas music, and a wonderful Christmas message. It was a great way to celebrate Christmas morning, after all Christ's birth is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Then it was home to open our gifts. The kids were very excited, especially Tyson. He was very grateful for everything that he opened and was eager to tell everyone thank you. He had fun watching and helping the rest of us open our presents. Later that evening we enjoyed a wonderful meal fit for a king. My grandparents also joined us. It was great to visit with them.

December 26 & 27th:

We enjoyed these two days just hanging out with family. We played a lot of Monopoly and cards. Spent the afternoon over at Tyler's parents. It was great to visit with them, we don't do it nearly enough. Tyson was able to ride Shadow. Every time he rides that pony he gets better. It is fun to see him progress. Maybe by August he will be ready to ride in the Cardston Parade. That will be something to look forward to.

December 28th:

We had a huge get together with my mom's side of the family, the Heninger's. It was nice to see my cousins whom I only see once or twice a year. We celebrated my grandma's 71st birthday, and Carson's 1st birthday. His birthday isn't actually until the 29th, but we decided to kill two birds with one stone so we celebrated it as well. I can't believe that he is 1! WOW time goes by SO fast.

It was a great holiday and now I am happy to be home, unpacked, and somewhat back to our routine. Now we just have to get through New Year's, where we will be going to Cardston again to celebrate it with a couple of our friends. It should be a good time. I am truly blessed to have family and friends so close.

Our 1st Gingerbread House...

I bought a gingerbread house kit a few days ago and Tyson has been itching to do it ever since. We were trying to choose a night when Tyler would be home before Tyson was to be in bed...but it just hasn't been working out, so tonight we decided to do it. We had a BLAST! Tyson wanted to do everything himself. From mixing the icing, to adding all the candy where HE wanted it to be. This house really was made by him, except for me putting the icing where he wanted it. It was great to see him having SO much fun. I think we will add this activity to our list of family "Christmas Traditions."

:( there must be something wrong with Blogger, because I haven't been able to add pictures ALL day. I will keep trying, because I got a really cute picture of Tyson and his completed "house."


EDIT: I was finally able to add a picture. I forgot that they needed to be a jpeg. LOL! Hope you enjoy it. :)

Favorite Christmas Songs...

In a recent blog I read about favorite Christmas songs. I LOVE Christmas music, and have been playing it for almost 6 weeks now. You can't help but get into the Christmas spirit of things when you have lively, uplifting music playing in the background. It can turn a stressful, unhappy day into a happy, joyous day. Tyson is even getting into the spirit of the holidays by learning some of the words to Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed reindeer. Some of my very favorite Christmas songs are:

• What Child Is This by Martina McBride
• O Holy Night by Clay Aiken
• Oh Little Town of Bethlehem by Chris Botti

There are SO many, many more. I might as well say that there aren't many Christmas songs I don't like.

Last night we had a very special visitor come to our house. It was Santa Clause! Our good friend Ryan Wolfe dressed up and went to visit ALL of the primary children in our ward. What an undertaking that was. But he had a great time, and it was very memorable for all of the kids. Tyson wasn't afraid or shy of "Santa" at all. He gladly welcomed him in our home and upstairs to sit on the rocking chair while he told him of all the things he wanted:

• Power Rangers ( I don't know where he got this idea from because he has never watched the cartoon, that I know of )
• A rocket. He has been obsessed with rockets lately.
• Ninja Turtles

I will add a picture later. I can't believe that Christmas is almost here! I am getting giddy like a little girl again. I LOVE IT! I only wish that this feeling could last all year. That that hum drum of everyday life could be forgotten and we could all be happy and jolly 24/7 365 days a year. That would be like a little bit of heaven all year. :)

Only 5 more SLEEPS!

Christmas Quiz

I can not take credit for this Christmas Quiz. I found it on another blog that I read, but liked it so much I wanted to do it myself. If you like it too, copy and paste it into your blog.

Holiday: Christmas or New Years? Christmas by far!
Cookies: Sugar or Gingerbread? Sugar
Decorations: Santa or Snowmen? Santa, never really been fond of Snowmen.

Decorations: Reindeer or Elves? Hmmm...don't really have either, but I think I have one Reindeer, so I will say Reindeer :)
Colors: Red or Green? Red!
Colors: Gold or Silver? Gold for sure!

Tree Topper: Star or Angel? Star

Stocking Stuffer: Fruit or Candy? I usually don't put any candy, or fruit in our stockings. Maybe a lifesaver book. Our stockings are filled will fun stuff!
Tree: Real or Artificial? Artificial...We used to have a real one, but last year I bought a fake one and LOVE IT! I can put it up as early as I like, don't have to worry about watering it, and I love that there is NO mess :)

Cartoons: Charlie Brown or Rudolph? Rudolph! LOVE THE MOVIE! Ever since I was little I remember looking forward to watching the original movie. And now this year Tyson watched it, and he loved it too!
Movie: It's a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol? Hmmm, never seen It's A Wonderful Life. But I do like, the Grinch Who Stole Christmas with Jim Carey, and also Prancer.
Stocking Stuffer: Jewelry or Gift Card? Either is fine with me!
Christmas List: Naughty or Nice? I have tried to be extra nice :)
Drink: Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog ALL THE WAY! I look forward to it every year.
Holiday Song: Jingle Bells or Silver Bells? I like both, but I would have to say Jingle Bells for this year because Tyson has learned to sing it, and it is SO CUTE!
Holiday Song: Silent Night or O' Holy Night? This is a really hard one...I am going to have to say it is a tie between them.

More Fun: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? WOW, this is a toss up for sure. I would have to say...Christmas Day. Not that I don't like Christmas Eve, because I do, it is just that there is something so magical about Christmas Day.

Lights: Clear or Multi-Colored? Growing up and still to this day my mom has always had clear lights. So when I got married I thought I would do the same. But I LOVE color, so I went with colored lights and I LOVE it!

Ornaments: Balls or Bows? Balls all the way. I'm not a froo froo bow girl, at least not for a Christmas tree.

Tree Decor: Ribbon, Popcorn, or Garland? Gold Star garland for our main large tree, on my 3 little trees I have red beaded garland.
Gifts: Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags? A little of both I guess.

Better To: Give or Receive? LOVE LOVE LOVE TO GIVE! I am especially excited for this year because Tyson finally "gets" Christmas. In fact he has already opened a few gifts. We don't have them under the tree anymore because we don't want him opening all of them! LOL!

Tis The Season To Do Baking....

Yesterday I baked up a storm! I made 2 different kinds of cookies, and 2 different kinds of squares. The day before I made carmel popcorn, the good gooey kind! YUMMY! Now I have to try and keep my hands off of the yummy stuff, so that there will be some to give to my neighbors. Every year I make goodies and give it to them. I have the BEST neighbors. The kind where "you scratch my back and I will scratch yours." They are just great. We have a very good relationship and I am very happy for that. I have heard some very bad stories about terrible neighbors.

I was able to go to Lethbridge the other afternoon without kids! WOW I forgot how easy it is to get around when you aren't packing 2 kids around. I really enjoyed myself. I was able to accomplish a bit more Christmas shopping, and I am happy that my list is getting shorter and shorter. Only a few things left and then I will be DONE!

I am so looking forward to the holiday! Time to get together with friends and family. Great food, and great fun. Tyson is getting so excited as well. Everyday he asks if it is Christmas. We have been doing a little advent wreath on the fridge, and he looks forward to adding an ornament every morning. Tyler and I were discussing how fun Christmas is now that we have children. I remember it being fun before and looking forward to the holidays, but there is just something about the excitment of kids that makes the holidays more exciting. We are beginning to start our own family traditions and that is GREAT!

p.s. not the best picture of Carson. But he has so much fun with the lights while we were decorating the tree. :)

How Time is Flying...

Oh my oh my! I haven't blogged in such a LONG time, and I was even debating whether or not to even keep it up, but here I am. I have so much to catch up on, I think I will just start with the present and keep going on from here.

I have been busy getting ready for Christmas. Wrapped all of our boughten gifts the other night, only to have Tyson open some of them the next day! I wasn't happy :( So we won't be putting any of them under the tree until Christmas eve. Little stinker is just as impatient as I am. LOL! I have very excited with the gifts that we bought the boys. I hope they like them. We have decided to cut WAY WAY back on Christmas gifts this year. We just really don't need all of them. Plus we were starting to forget the true meaning of the season. Time to just get back to the good old basics of the holiday. I am so happy about that. We put up our tree a few weeks ago and I LOVE it. Tyson helped me decorate it. Needless to say most of the balls are on the lower 1/4 of the tree. LOL! I haven't started my baking yet, but I plan on doing that next week. I have to get caramel popcorn made for my neighbors, and a few goodie plates made for our friends. I had Jenna make up my Christmas cards this year, and they are ADORABLE! It was so nice not to have to worry about them, and have do all the work. HEE HEE! I need to get those mailed next week too. I can't believe that Christmas will be here in 2 weeks! WOW time just seems to be going by faster and faster these days!

Today I got rear ended by some guy in Lethbridge. So that has really put a damper on my day! The damage wasn't that bad, but I am sure we will have to get our bumper replaced. I am thankful that no one was hurt and that the kids and I are safe. But MAN! Why did this have to happen now??

Well I guess that is all for now...until next time ( and I promise I will update sooner not later. LOL!)

Been Awhile...playing catch up...

It has been awhile since I have blogged. I'm not exactly sure why I do blog, no one reads it :( I wish I had a people who were interested in my life and wanted to know what I was up to on a daily basis. How fun would that be?? To find your blog full of posts from people all over the place. I wish I was inspiring to someone out there. Sorry I know this is a bit blah...just having those types of feelings these days. But I guess if no one else but me reads this blog, maybe I will benefit from it in some small way. At least I am keeping a journal in a sense, something I used to do, but fell out of the habit of.

On the brighter side...I am totally getting excited for Christmas. It is just around the corner and it is my favorite time of year. I love the sights, smells, sounds, and the feeling you get this time of year. Everyone is hustling around trying to find that perfect present. People and enjoying being together as a family. Children and rehearsing for their Christmas plays. Churches are having their annual dinner. Staff parties are being planned. Presents are being wrapped. And Children are getting excited! I love it, all of it! This year we are toning WAY down on Christmas. It isn't going to be the big whoop la of presents that take hours to open. In a way I am glad we decided to do that, in a way I am sad. I am happy though because our kids will appreciate what they do get, and they already have so much they really don't need more. I am happy that I won't have to spend hours shopping, or hours wrapping. I am sad though because I LOVE to buy toys and things for my kids. I guess you can say I would totally spoil them if I could! If I wouldn't get ridicule from my family and husband I know I would go way overboard on what I bought them. But they really don't need it all. I have a few thing boughten and made already, and a few more things in mind to make my sisters. I love it when an idea comes and you know that someone will LOVE it!

Tyler and I are going out tonight with friends to see the new Work and the Glory : American Zion. I know it will be good. The babysitter is coming and we are going to enjoy a night out together with friends.

That is all for now...until next time!

A Family United...

Yesterday we had the wonderful privilege of seeing my Aunt Carolyn re-married. Her husband passed away suddenly 2.5 years ago in a tragic farm accident. She was left a widow with 4 children to raise on her own. We have seen her heart ache, her struggles, and her loss. She always told us that she didn't think that she could or would ever remarry. Little did she know that 2.5 years later through other very tragic circumstances a man would ask her to marry him. Larry, had lost his wife 3 months ago, and was left to raise 5 children on his own. What a better combination than for the 2 of them to fall in love and get married. I was an awesome sight to see these 2 broken hearted adults join together and now have tears of joy run down their face. Now they are a family with 9 children! It just amazed me how well they were getting along, how happy they were for the parent. Now this family will become united and join together as one union. It was just a wonderful occasion. To know that my aunt won't have to live the rest of her life alone, to know that my cousins won't have to grow up without a father figure in their life. To know that Larry's children will have a mother figure, and to know that Larry can be happy and in love again. I wish them all the best as the unite together and build a life that will be intertwined as one family unit!

Update...

It has been awhile since I have blogged...so what better time than now? Life has been busy for me as usual. I finally finished all my projects for Paper Crafts. I had to make some minor adjustments, but they are ready to be shipped now. I need to find a box and some bubble wrap to pack them with. I can't wait to get them on their way and then I won't have to worry about it anymore. WHEW! I finished making 2 cards for PC courtesy of Beary Patch. They turned out cute and I was happy to do them. They will be in the Stamp It! Magazine. I haven't been in there yet, and I am excited to be published in it.

I finished making the Christmas gifts for my mom. They turned out SO cute, if I do say so. I found these great particle board frames at Michaels. They are 12x12 and have a spot for a 5x7 photo. I also bought a wood monogram letter for each of the boys and put them on the frame. If I have time I will take a photo of them and post it. Now I want to make some for myself. LOL!

Tiffany and I had a party at my house on Saturday night and we played Bunco. We invited 8 couples (us included) and we had a BLAST! I love entertaining people. I have 2 other parties booked to do this month. 1 is a Christmas Card class, and the other is a Usbourne Book party. (they sell children's books.) I know some people think it is a bother to have a home party, but I love it! I will do anything to get a discount or even free product of things that I like.

My Aunt is getting married tomorrow. It is a great story that I want to share, but don't have time to right now. I'll update later with it. So I am going to go into town to shop for an outfit to wear, and hopefully get some ideas for Christmas.

That is all for now...until next time!

Trick or Treat...

Halloween has come and gone and Tyson had a BLAST! He has been asking when Halloween was going to be for the past month, and finally I was able to tell him the TONIGHT was the NIGHT! He was so excited to dress up in his dragon costume and get some candy. And boy oh boy...he got SO much candy. I think next year we will have enough left over to give out to kids who come to our place. LOL! Carson looked SO cute in his chicken costume and he was such a good sport. I got some really adorable photos of the 2 of them.

It is hard to get 2 kids to co-operate for a photo, it amazes me how photographers do it. But these ones aren't too bad. Tyson has already told us what he wants to be next year...a Teen Aged Mutant Ninja Turtle. I guess we will have to wait and see if he is till in that phase...or if he has moved on to something else.

Tonight we are having some friends over to watch Star Wars. It should be fun. I haven't seen the 3rd one yet, so I am excited to watch it. It will be good to just chill out while the kids are in bed and snuggle up to a good movie with Tyler in front of a roaring fire. Yes...we have a fire going in our wood stove. It was cold this morning and raining all day...so what could be better than a fire??

Finally Some Time To...

I have thoroughly enjoyed my day today. I was planning on carpet cleaning my basement, but the cleaner wasn't working, so I decided to scrapbook instead. I haven't done any scrapbooking for myself in a very long time. It took me a while before the creative juices started flowing, but I managed to do 3 LO's. It felt GREAT! Hopefully I can get a few more done before the day is done. Here is what I was able to accomplish.

While scrapbooking I watched 2 movies on my computer. I watched Bewitched, and The interpreter. Both had Nicole Kidman in them, and I liked both of them. I can't believe how fast the afternoon went by. Tyson was a very good boy, and I let him watch his t.v. shows most of the day. Come Monday though, we are going to get into a better routine. And I MUST limit his t.v. time. I find that if I would let him watch it all day...he would! Somedays it is just easier to put him in front of it so that I can accomplish some things around the house, but I know that he can't do that everyday!

West Edmonton Mall Vacation...

We are back from our mini vacation to Edmonton. We had a BLAST! It was great to get away and spend time as a family. The kids traveled SO well. Thank goodness for out portable DVD player. That occupied Tyson the whole way up and back. The drive didn't seem very long as we made a few pit stops along the way. In Red Deer Ryan and Lizzie switched with Carson and I so that the men could take the older kids to the amusement park, while Heather stopped to feed the baby. Tyson and Lizzie had a great time on the rides, although Tyson was a bit too short to ride many of them. But the rides they could go on they enjoyed. Tyson said that his favorite one was the train ride that went through the 2 dark green tunnels. That evening we went to a Thai restaurant. The food was quite good, but for me I prefer what we make at home. And the bill was $$$ 70$ PER couple! Yes, we had a very hefty bill when we left that place! But it was nice to splurge on the meal and try something different. The next day we went to the waterpark. Tyson has been talking about going there for days now, and he was SO excited. We couldn't manage to get him to go by himself though. He is still a bit apprehensive about it. Maybe next year he will be confident enough to go by himself. The kids loved the wave pool too. By then end of 3.5 hours both Tyson and Lizzie were tuckered out! We had to carry Tyson back to the hotel because he was so tired. He had a GREAT time. We also managed to do a bit of shopping which was nice. I got a few new things for winter. I LOVE to shop, and Tyler is so patient with me. He took Tyson all over the mall while I browsed through all the stores. It was a great holiday for all of us!

Better Thank You Think You Are...

I am reading the powerful and uplifting book called, "Better Than You Think You Are," by Ardeth G. Kapp. I am only half way in to it, but I can feel the power in her words, and I am so filled with the spirit of the book. It is just awesome. Sometimes, and quite often we as women don't think we do enough. That we could always do more, be more than what we are. This book so eloquently tells each of us that we ARE better than what we think we are. We are so good, and do so much good for others. We are way to hard on ourselves, and need to take the time to recognize all the good that we DO, and not worry so much about what we DON'T do. In reading the book today I came across this quote and I just love it.

"This earth life is not intended to be an easy climb, and the shoreline is not always visible. But when we believe the top of the highest peak is real and the shoreline (whatever the distance) is somehow within our reach, the effort will never be too great."

Life sure isn't easy all the time, but I know that in the end, all of my trial and struggles will be worth my reward in the end. Your attitude and outlook on life can sure determine how you will overcome the obstacles that will evidently affect your life. I am so thankful for so many things in my life. I am truly blessed. I have a wonderful husband who loves me with all his heart. Everything he does, he does for me, and for our beautiful boys. I have to beautiful children who truly are a gift from God. I remember so many times wondering if I was ever going to be a mother, and I thank God daily for making my dreams come true when he blessed me with these choice spirits. I am blessed with a loving family who supports me in all I do. I have 2 wonderful parents who raised me in a home that was full of love, where nothing was more important than our family. I am thankful for good friends, who love me inspite of my short comings. Who accept me for who I am, and know the intentions of my heart. I am so thankful for many opportunities to use my God given talents. I truly have been blessed, and each and everyday I see God's hand in many small and simple things that have and will continue to affect my life for the good.

When Nothing Seems To Work...

My little 10 month (almost) old baby is 99% of the time very happy. He is so content all the time, and just a happy go lucky kind of baby. He is happy to bounce in his jolly jumper, or crawl all over the house exploring. He hardly EVER cries, and when he does you know that he either is hungry or tired. So today Tiffany and I decided to head into the city and take the kids to the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" ( I DON'T recommend it!) We stopped at McDonald's playland first for a bite to eat. Carson began to be a bit fussy and nothing I did would sooth him. I just thought he was tired and once we go into the car he would fall asleep. BOY WAS I WRONG! He cried non stop for over 2 hours! Yes 2 hours!!! I tried to go to the movie but he was so unhappy that I spent the entire time walking the halls, outside, or in the car. Finally I gave up and went and washed my car...only to have it rain the instant I got out of the car wash. I figure Carson is teething. He is getting 3 teeth ALL AT ONCE! Poor little guy. Nothing I did would calm him down. I felt completely helpless, and my nerves where shot. So I came to the conclusion that nothing I did was going to help the little guy and that eventually he would cry himself to sleep from pure exhaustion. I even gave him an extra big dose of Tylenol, and that didn't even seem to help. Finally on the car ride home...4 hours from the time we left, he fell asleep and he is still sleeping peacefully. My only concern now is that when he wakes up he is going to be miserable again. I wouldn't mind it so much if I wasn't having a house full of women come over for a party tonight. And to top it off Tyler has meetings so he won't be around to help me. Tyson is also sleeping, which means he won't want to go to be at his regular time. So basically...I am not looking forward to when my two angels wake up. I hate teething! It isn't' fun at all...and it really tests a mother's patience and nerves. And it makes a parent feel so helpless! I hope my little guy is feeling better once he has had a good sleep!

Can You Believe....

That I am in the mood to scrapbook! Crazy I know. After ALL of the many many house I have put in the last few weeks, I am really fighting the urge to scrapbook. Actually I would give in and do a few pages if I had my basic supplies to do it with. I took a bag of basics with me to MT, and I packed it in Luann's suitcase and forgot to get it. So I am stuck with out all of the basics, and without the basics...you can't really do much. So I will have to get my basics back ASAP so I can get my creative juices flowing again. I feel SO guilty that Tyson has so many pictures taken of him, and SO many SB pages done, and my little Carson doesn't have nearly the same amount. SO I am going to focus on doing pages for Carson. I found the most adorable metal tins at Scrapbook Central in Medicine Hat. I want to do a mini album of Carson using the fall photos I took of him. So that is my next goal. Pick up the pictures at Walmart...and pick up my basic supplies at Luann's. Then I will be ready to create!

I have been thinking lately that I would like to start a Gratitude Journal. I am finding it more and more easy to not take the time to really think about what I am thankful for. And I am finding too that I don't handwrite ANYTHING! So another goal I have is to make a gratitude journal and start writing in it. Michaels...here I come!

Thankful for Fall...

I love fall! Although it isn't my favorite season, it is 2nd in line, after Summer. I love Thanksgiving and the fact that we get to be together with all of our family. Although I missed being with everyone this year because I was in Las Vegas, I had time to reflect on what I am thankful for. I have been so greatly blessed this past year! With the turning of the summer season brings the glorious season of fall. I love watching the first leaves turn from a vibrant green, to a golden yellow hue. It is almost over night that the trees change into beautiful fall colors. I love the crisp cool air on early fall mornings. I love seeing all the fall decorations in stores, and the Halloween costumes being displayed. Children seem to get more giddy when they notice the first signs of Halloween candy or costumes appearing in various stores. Tyson is SO excited this year for Halloween. He has been asking about it for a few weeks now. I bought him an adorable red dragon costume with gold wings and a pointy tail. He looks so cute in it. Carson is going to be a little yellow chicken, and it suits his little personality to a tee! Although he is too young to even know what Halloween is all about, I couldn't resist buying him the costume, even if he only wears it while I take a few pictures. I took Carson over to Tiffany's to take some pictures of him in a huge pile of leaves. He loved it! He couldn't resist putting them in his mouth. He loved the noise they made as he rustled them. This was a new discovery for him, and he enjoyed every minute of it. I feel it is important to capture these discoveries with pictures. Everyday my children are discovering new things, and it just amazes me how much they are learning. The pressure to be a good mom has really been weighing on my mind lately. Am I teaching them all the I should be or could be? I know that I need to improve so much, but hopefully each day I will be able to do a little better as being their mother and teacher.

I'm Home From Memory Trends...

Oh it feels SO good to be home! I am always so excited to get away, and then at then end of the journey I am SO happy to come home. The girls (Tara, Cheryl, and Luann) and I had a great time and we all bonded together. Funny how when you get a group of girls together you can connect and get so close to one another.

Memory Trends was very exciting and it was great to be there and feel the buzz all around you of anxious retailers waiting to get their hands on the latest products. The Beary Patch booth was SO cute! Everything just seemed to go together so well for us this show. We had SO many cute demos thanks to our awesome design team. (Cheryl, Melanie, Michelle, Luann, and myself). So many people commented on how cute our stuff was and of course we felt that way too. Our Chipboard shapes and frames were a huge hit, as was the Add A Page Punch Tool Kit, and the Bare Essential Buttons. Many "famous" designers, editors, and magazine representatives stopped by and were very excited about our products. It was a great feeling to know that others are just as excited about our products as we are.

I was able to meet Teri Fode, and that was great! She is such a sweet person and her blog always lifts my spirits. Here sister Heidi was there as well, and she is a doll! I saw Lisa Bernson walk by our booth but didn't have the opportunity to talk with her. That would have been COOL! All the GREAT girls from Paper Crafts stopped by. They are just awesome and were pumped about our new stuff.

I had a chance to browse around the show and see some new GREAT products. The highlights for me were:

*Basic Grey, they always have GREAT stuff. Love there new ornament kits, but I know I could make them on my own. LOL! Love their new "Blitzen" paper line.

*Prima Flowers, LOVED THEM ALL! We were able to purchase some after the show for CHEAP! They are so darn cute I can't wait to start using them!

*Bazzill Paper, 15 great new colors. I also bought their swatch box, which will really come in handy.

Vegas, the city that never sleeps was such a fun place to be in! We stayed up late shopping and eating at great restaurants. We had great conversations and laughed LOTS! I am glad that this trip was a great combination of work and play. I can't wait for the next show!

Some Highlights:

*Teasing each other about going to "Thunder Down Under"

*Going to the Cheesecake Factory in Ceasars Palace. We loved it SO much we ate there twice! TO DIE FOR CHEESECAKE!

*Taking the Monorail

*Shopping at the Outlet Mall

Off To Pack...

WOW I have had a very LONG day...and it still isn't over. My friend Keri came over to give me a pedicure and do my nails. 5 hours later I was finished! Yes 5 hours! I wasn't planning on that. I am so happy with my pedicure, my feet were terrible. Now I can wear sandals and not feel self conscious about it. She also put acrylic on them with a French manicure, and they look GREAT! My nails on the other hand...well they aren't the best set she has put on. But oh well, they are better than what I had.

Then tonight my good friends Ryan and Heather came over and brought me pizza. I just LOVE them. They always take care of me when Tyler is away. It is nice to have such great friends who really care about you!

I finished my final project for BP tonight. I LOVE how it turned out. It is going to be a 6x6 calendar. But I don't have the calendar right now, so I will have to add the pages to it when I get it. Luann gave me some great natural materials to use, and I based the project around them.

Now I need to go pack. That may take awhile. I went and got a new outfit and I am excited to wear it. I also have a mound of laundry to fold...AGHHHH!! And I need to make a list for Tyler and my sister so they know what to do with these kiddos of mine.

Did you notice my new Blog header?? Isn't it CUTE! I have to thank Jenna for her hard work on it, and suprising me with it. Those are some of the adorable photos she took of my boys. She is amazing!

Less then 48 Hours to GO...

The clock is ticking and there is less than 48 hours to go until we are off to Memory Trends. We are gradually ticking things off the list of things to do. Last night the "girls" came over and we were able to complete a few other projects. They look awesome! Beary Patch has turned a corner and we are going to ROCK at MT. I am so happy with how everything has turned out thus far, and it wouldn't have been possible without the help of all our wonderful designers and people on our team. I am thrilled with my frames, and the feedback I have been getting from people. I hope and pray that the general scrapbook public will be as thrilled with them as I am! Here is a sneak peak at an 8x8 frame I did up for the backer of all the frame packaging.

I have a few more things on my list to do today:

*Get my nails and feet done.

*Make a 6x6 Quote calendar

*4 Clipboards

*Pick up my car (hopefully it will be fixed!)

*Finish laundry

*Make a list for DH & Tiffany for when they watch the kids

*Start packing

Tyler is supposed to be coming home Friday night. I am anxious for him to arrive, and am sad that we won't have much time to spend together. He is in such NEED of a haircut, and I promised him I would do it before I left. He has the thickest hair I have ever seen! Right now it is more like an afro. I am so thankful for the wonderful man that he is. He is so willing to watch the kids for me and knows that I need the little break. Hopefully the kids won't be to much to handle and he will enjoy the time spent with them. He is going to be busy though while I am gone. Sunday my Grandma Jensen is having Thanksgiving Dinner (I am sad that I will have to miss it!), and then on Monday my in laws are having a get together. So Tyler will have to pack the kids all over, but atleast when he arrives at his destination there will be plenty of hands to help him.

Time is ticking...so I better get movin!

Just Another Manic....WEEK!

AHHHH!!! Where has the time gone? Here it is Tuesday and I leave on Saturday for Memory Trends. I have SO much to do, and so much MORE I could do! Here is what I have to get done before Saturday:

*More demos for BP for MT. There will always be MORE that I could do for this.

*1 CJ entry (almost complete :)

*1 More project for Paper Crafts AGHHH!!

On top of all this I need to:

*Do laundry so my DH and kiddos have clean clothes to wear while I am gone.

*Clean the house because I know if I don't before I go, I will have an even BIGGER mess to come home too!

*Try and make some meals and freeze them.

*Take Carson to the Dr. tomorrow

*Take my car into get fixed, the heater isn't working at all!

*Get some groceries

*Get some pictures developed for my BP projects

*Take Tyson to Parent Preschool on Friday

So many, many things to do...and my time is RUNNING OUT!!

Update on Carson:

Carson is doing MUCH better! He hasn't thrown up at all in 3 days! I am so thankful that we finally have this under control. I have to take him to the Dr. tomorrow, so I will find out if he is continuing to gain weight. The poor little guy is teething so he hasn't been feeling well at all. He is so crabby, which isn't like him at all. On top of ALL that he has a cold. He is all stuffed up and can't breath, or drink his bottle without taking a breath with every suck. He has been up about 6 times in the night, and it is really starting to ware on me. But I hope and pray that he will start to feel like him self very soon!

Tyson:

What can I say about my little 3 year old who thinks he has super powers, and is going to fly away in his rocket! This kid cracks me up all day long. He is beginning to be so imaginative. He is obsessed with any type of super hero. He loves Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles (I don't let him watch the show yet, but he has 2 action figures and loves them.) He finds anything in the house he can use as a sword. He is a very loving child, and plays well with his brother. He is really enjoying Parent Pre-School and his favorite teacher is Joe. Tyson always remembers to say his prayers at night even if I forget. He loves reading the animated Book of Mormon stories that we have. He is even starting to remember many of the stories that we have read to him about the ancient prophets. He is so incredible to see how is little mind is just soaking up all the information we can feed him.

Update on Me:

Life continues to be busy for me, but I love the challenge. I have been able to accomplish quite a bit so far today, and the day is only 1/2 over.

Tyler continues to be away for work. The days seem very long when I know he isn't coming home at night. I am getting SO SICK OF IT! But yesterday (Monday) I went to Medicine Hat where he was and we were able to spend the day and evening together. We took Tyson on the waterslides and swam in the pool. He loved it. Then we went to supper and back to the hotel. It was nice to be together as a family again, but the time spent together was way to short! Oh I forgot to mention that when I got to the Hat Tyler told me that I had an appointment at 2:30. He suprised me with a massage, which I SO needed! I had a hot stone massage and it was wonderful! We also went to the most adorable scrapbook store I have ever been to. It is called Scrapbook Central. It was small and quint, and adorable! I could have spent hours in there and lots more $$. I will definatley be going back there! I got some really cute ideas of projects I want to make...when my life has finally slowed down. LOL!

It seems like it is feast or famine in the oil patch. I try hard not to complain though because I know that because of Tyler's good job, I get to stay home and raise our boys, and I am very grateful for that. I am down another 1/2 lb, so that makes me happy. Only 5.5 lbs to go till my goal weight!

Well I better get back to work.....

Come Home...

My husband has been gone for the whole week and I just want him to COME HOME! I miss he a lot. A few days away I can handle, but when it gets to be more than 3 nights away I start to go CRAZY! I miss the adult conversation, I miss his hugs, and back rubs. I miss having someone next to me at night, ( a 3 year old just isn't the same!) I miss having someone to help me with the kids, someone to feed the dog. And I just plain miss everything about my hubby! His work has been crazy busy, and it doesn't look there is an end in sight. :( I am leaving in a week and I sure hope that I will be able to spend some time with my husband before I leave...for a week!

I have been busy making more demos for MT. It is only 1 week until we leave! WOW time has flown by, and we still have so much left to get ready. I wonder if other SB companies are in the very same position we are right now? Scrambling to finish up demos, finalizing pricing, planning the booth, ordering last minute product. It really is a crazy time, but so exciting at the same time. I hope and pray that my frames do well. It will be the first time that a product the envisioned will be produced. I love them! There are endless possibilities of projects you could make with them. I am also loving our new chipboard shapes. They are just SO fun! I have been putting them on everything.

This week was a GREAT t.v. week! I was so excited that the Amazing Race started again. I love that show. I am thrilled that it is a family edition. I have already have a favorite family. I can't remember their names, but they have 2 little kids, a boy and a girl. They are so adorable, and they work as a team. They don't argue with one an other and they are so positive and encouraging. I just LOVE that. It will be a fun one to watch.

Well I have finished 2 more BP projects, so I am going to reward myself by watching a chick flick...ALONE :(

Late Night Scrap-A-than!

Last night I had Melanie, Michelle, and Luann over for some serious scrapbooking. We HAD to get some demos done for the upcoming Memory Trends show....that is in 12 DAYS! We had a BLAST. Lots of laughs. I laughed so hard I was crying. It felt SO good. I haven't laughed like that in ages. I am very happy with what we accomplished...but I must say there is still more we need to do. Thank goodness I only have 1 more project of PC left, and after that ALL of my attention will be focused on more demos for BP. I am starting to get excited for MT. I hope and pray that we do well so that we will have the funds to move forward and get some more product. So I have my fingers crossed. I can't wait to see peoples reaction to my frames. It is been a long time coming to get this little guys manufactured, but they are finally here and I LOVE THEM! there are so many things you could use them for, the possibilities are endless. What I really love about them is that the price point is very inexpensive for the quantity that you get. Every scrapbooker loves to get a great deal! So I guess only time will tell...to see if the public is sold on my vision of these Bare Essential Frames.

Update on Carson:

Carson is doing SO well. My mother in law suggested I put him on goats milk...and I have to admit...she was right! He is keeping it down, and loves the stuff. I have also been avoiding dairy products with him. So bring on the soya! YUCK!! He is also getting a tooth which is SO cute. He is getting more busy crawling around all over the place. He is also staring to pull himself up in his crib. It is so weird to see my little 14 lb. baby crawling and standing up because he is SO small. But it is adorable. I am kinda glad in a way that he has stayed small...I have been able to enjoy the "baby" stage longer than most parents get to. He still loves to cuddle when he is sleepy and I love that.

Update on Tyson:

Tyson is my little dramatic man! He is constantly playing make believe. He really honestly thinks he has super powers and he has a rocket. He is full of energy and into mischief. But he brings so much sunshine into my days. The kid just cracks me up all day long. He is really starting the have a sense of humor. We have been going to Stay & Play on Mondays and Parent Pre-School on Fridays and he loves them both. It is a great place for him to play with others and learn social skills. He is relatively a good kid, and shares his toys with others. He is a bright boy and picks up on new things easily. Lately he has been listening to music tapes while he falls asleep at night, and he already knows the words to many of the songs. He loves going to nursery on Sunday, and it is so cute how he will tells us about the days events. He is learning many valuable lessons in there, and I am very grateful for the dedicated leaders who teach him.

Update on Me:

My lumps are going away! I can breathe a sigh of relief now. It is something that I am going to have to keep an eye on though. Breast Cancer runs in my family. My grandma had it. She had a partial masectomy and the cancer has never come back. I am thankful for that!

I had a bad week on WW, but still managed to loose 2 lbs. WOO HOO! 7 lbs to go to my goal weight. I know that I need to start exercising...but man is it ever hard to get the motivation to do it! I am happy that Tiffany is doing WW with me. At least now I have someone to be accountable to. She is going GREAT on it. She looks really good. I am proud of her.

New Baby...

Our friends Ryan & Heather welcomed a new baby girl into this world early this morning. They named her Ava Nicole! We are so thrilled and excited for the both of them. Now Lizzie, there 22 month old daughter is a big sister. Unfortunately I wasn't able to go and see the new baby because Tyler was at work and I didn't want to take my 2 boys over to the hospital. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to stop by and see the new bundle of joy!

I was able to go to Jenna's today and see all the adorable proof's of my boys! Let me say they were all SO cute! It was incredibly hard for me to choose which ones to have printed. I can't wait to scrapbook them, and display them in my home. She is so talented. I bought the cutest chicken costume for Carson and I am going to have her take photos of him in it. I know they will be ADORABLE!

Tonight is hockey draft night..Tyler is SO excited. He has been planning this for weeks. I can't begin to count the many hours he has spent calculating stats trying to decide which players he is going to pick. So needless to say I won't be able to scrapbook at my desk or use the computer the rest of the night...so I am bummed about that! I only have 3 more PC projects left and I really want to get them done! I guess I will try and work on them tomorrow after church when the kids are in bed.

Monday night the BP girls are going to come over and we are going to stay up as long as it takes to complete the demos for MT. I can't believe that we are leaving in 2 weeks! YES 2 WEEKS! Luann just about had a heart attack when I told her that. I know we will be able to pull it together and we will ROCK! We have such talented ladies on the DT.

The Good and Bad of Today...

First the GOOD:

1. First of all I got my new Beary Patch products that will be released at Memory Trends! YIPEEEE! It has been a LONG time coming, but there are finally here and in my hands. I can't wait to start using them TONIGHT!

2. Went to see Dr. Harilal about Carson. Everything is FINE! All of his test results came back normal. He also gained a considerable amount of weigh in the past 2 weeks. My little boy is now OVER 14 lbs. YIPEEE!! The Dr. said that I should keep him on the soya formula and incorporate soya milk. He probably has a milk allergy. I am SO relieved, and SO happy that it wasn't anything major, and that he doesn't have to have surgery. She also gave me some medication for his little cold. Poor little guy can't breath at night! But in a week or so he will be good as new!!

3. Went to the LSS and bought a few fun things. The new Rob & Bob Studio clips and tool. I hope I can figure the thing out. I have heard a few other people were having problems with it.

4. Went to Michaels and found the last things I need to complete my PC projects. WOO HOO only 4 more to go! Found some very cute wooden letters and a little stand to make something for PC with...hopefully they like it and want to publish it. Crossing my fingers!

Now for a bit of BAD news....

I felt a lump in my left breast last night! I was so freaked out and I kept feeling it just to really make sure it was there and that I was imagining things. I woke up in a panic and a million things were running through my head. Could this be cancer? No I'm too young. But there have been cases of women my age getting it. What would happen to my husband and kids if I were to have cancer. You get the picture...EVERYTHING possible was going through my mind. I called my mom and she reassured me that it was probably nothing but I should get into the Dr. right away. I was so thankful that the Dr. had an opening TODAY! The Dr. examined me and found 2 pea sized lumps in my left breasts. She stated that they were probably cysts and that they would eventually go away. But to monitor them very closely for 7-10 days and if they weren't gone to come right in. She said she could place a needle in them and try to draw out some fluid, and if some was extracted them we would know that it was indeed a cyst, but if no fluid came out then we needed to look into other possibilities. She was almost certain that they would go away in a week, and if not then I would have the needle procedure done, and then an ultrasound. I felt comfortable with what information she gave me, and was a peace. I really believe that it is just a cyst and it will go away. I even have noticed it being smaller today than yesterday. I guess this really gave me a reality check. You just never know what tomorrow will bring. You have to live each day as if it were your last. Tell you family and friends that you love and appreciate them everyday. Kiss and hug your kids just one more time before they go to bed at night, because you just never ever know what the next day will bring.

Started Out Good...

My day started out GREAT! I got up early and was able to do some reading and get caught up on that. Then I went on a 2 hour walk with my sister and friend. Yes 2 whole hours! It was GREAT! It was such a beautiful morning. The kids like to get out in the fresh air, and I felt revived and ready for my day. When I got home though I had a very depressing phone call from a Mr. Reynolds. A year or so ago my sister and I opened a little business...and in the beginning it was GREAT, but now there have been several repercussion. We made enough money that we had to start charging GST, and then had the hassle of paying to the government. Then when tax time came along we were penalized very highly! $1800 EACH! OUCH! So I thought after that we would be finished with having to "pay" for this little business venture, not the case! I got a letter in the mail a month or so ago stating I was under investigation from Employment Insurance because I was making money at the same time I was on maternity leave. BAD IDEA! So after gathering all the information for Mr. Reynolds, he came to the conclusion that I have to pay back E.I. a whopping $3000! I am so bummed I can't even think straight! Just when Tyler and I were finally out of debt and starting to work on staying that way we are hit with this! I guess this is a trial that God wants us to go through, and when we finally make it through we will be stronger and better because of it. But it is SO hard to see it like that now. So back to the drawing board. How are we going to be able to work this little $3000 expense into our budget? It is beyond me...but I know we will be able to do it...but it sure won't be easy!

Just another Sunday...

Today is Sunday once again. I LOVE Sundays. For me they are a day of worship, and rest and relaxation! Our church starts at 10 a.m. with I LOVE. Not too early...not to late. I have just the right amount of time to get the kids ready (although Tyler got them BOTH ready this morning, while I was fighting with my hair!) and myself...usually. Our lessons were great today. All the little children did a presentation in Sacrament meeting. They were SO cute! Then we had a lesson on being courageous eventhough we have struggles. It was great and really uplifted me. After church however is ALWAYS an battle. Trying to collect Tyson from the nursery, and getting Tyler to stop talking to people. Today he had Carson and I couldn't find him so Tyson and I proceeded to walk home...which is clear across town, but a kind lady gave us a ride. I thought the back door would have been open...but it was locked. So we had to wait for Tyler for 45 minutes to get home. Let me just say...I WAD MAD! So that kind of damped my spiritual high and happy feeling for the day. When he finally got home I told him that from now on we are ALWAYS taking 2 vehicles. So we can both be happy. He can stay at visit for as long as he likes and I can come home when the services are over. You would think that after 3 hours of church you would be ready to come home. But usually he isn't. Now I am off for some rest and relaxation.

Tomorrow I have a busy day planned. Stay and Play in the morning with the kids, then I MUST work on my PC projects. I only have 6 more to go but they are the most difficult and will take the most time. I have to get them done ASAP because all the new BP product is supposed to be here this week and I have to get more demos made for Memory Trends. Looks like I am going to be a busy girl!

10 Lessons I Want to Teach My Kids

Okay her is a spin off from Jenna's blog. Thanks for the idea Jeanna...YOU ROCK!

10 Lessons I want to Teach My Kids (In no particular order):

1. Be Christ like. Do what Jesus would do. Follow his example, and you can never go wrong.

2. Treat others as you would want to be treated.

3. Stand up for what you know is right...even if you aren't following the crowd.

4. Be honest in EVERYTHING...even if you think you will be in trouble. If you LIE you will be in more trouble when we find out!

5. Don't say anything at all if you can't say anything nice.

6. Be kind to the "under dog." My mom taught me this great lesson, and I LOVE her for it!

7. Surround yourself with good friends, people who will lift you up and make you feel good about yourself.

8. Do your best in all you do!

9. There is no such thing as CAN'T!

10. Work hard for the things you want in life, it will make the reward so much better, and you will appreciate it more, and take care of it.

Yesterday...

Yesterday was a busy day for me. I was up at 7:00 am to get Carson and I ready for MORE testing at the hospital. Thank goodness this will be the last round...at least for now. Apparently though my little man didn't sweat enough and the technician didn't think that there was enough there to even perform the test, but I will have to wait. So my Dr. may want to do that test again. I was glad that I didn't end up spending the whole morning there though. Then I had some errands to run and it was SO nice not to have to pack 2 kids around with me. Tyler was home from work and willingly took Tyson for me :)

I found some GREAT things at Michaels. The clock pieces I need for one of my PC assignments, I can't wait to get started on that. I found some card games for Tyson for only $1.50! What a deal. They also had some yummy candles there for a $1.50. I was happy with my finds there.

Went to the LSS to pick up some needed supplies. They had the new Rob & Bob products in and they are SO cute! I only purchased the very necessary things yesterday and put the rest on hold for me to pick up today...for double stamp Thursday. If I can get a deal of save a buck...I WILL! I also put aside the new MM magnetic Holidays stamp set. This set is really gonna come in handy!

It is raining AGAIN! Man I am SO sick of the rain. Will it ever stop! People basements are flooding like crazy. I am so blessed and thankful that we don't have this problem. I can only imagine the stress and the headache that would be if I was one of those people who had this problem. I think today is a great day to stay inside, crank up the furnace, get into sweat pants and work on my PC projects. I am feeling creative...so hopefully I will be able to be productive.

I am gonna SCREAM!

My creative mojo has grown wings and flown out the window...and landed clear across the country! LOL! I just can't get anything to look right. And I can't get any ideas for my projects either. I MUST go to the LSS tomorrow, and hopefully they will have some stuff that I can use. I am crossing my fingers. I am sitting here looking at my assignment list and I only have 4.5 done...out of 17! I am totally feeling the pressure. I have just decided to leave my scrapdesk (in a complete disaster) and try and work on it tomorrow, when my brain is less crowded and I have some new supplies to work with. For all you scrappers who are going to read this...please send the MOJO vibes my way. THANKS!

AHHHH!!

AGHHHHH! I am very frustrated. Something happened to my blog and I wasn't able to access my dashboard. So I had to change my address and start over. What a PAIN! Oh well, thank goodness I could just copy and paste the template, so I didn't have to re-do all of that.

Yesterday I was at the hospital ALL morning for Carson's upper GI test. I thought about taking a book, but I didn't, and when I got there I sure wished I had. Note to self for next time. LOL. The radiology Doctor wasn't able to find anything abnormal with Carson. Which was good news. The only bad thing though is we still don't know what is making him throw up all the time. So I am headed back to the hospital tomorrow for a few more test. Hopefully the Doctors can figure this little guy out, and we can get him healthy. I am SO sick of cleaning up puke, and smelling like puke. It is disgusting. But I know that he can't help it. Today I had him dressed so cute...and why do I even bother! No sooner than 10 minutes and he and puked all over the kitchen and then proceeded to crawl through it! AGHHH!! I swear the kid goes through 5 outfits a day. Once he finally gets this problem under control, all of my carpets need to be professionally clean. All I can see know is $$$ to do that.

I tried working on my PC stuff today...and I should have reminded myself that it is impossible to scrapbook with a toddler and a baby all over the place! Tyson wouldn't nap, and all he wanted to do was watch t.v. And I feel very guilty about letting him do it. Then he wanted to play outside and I thought "Oh good, at least he is doing something other than watching t.v." But that last about 10 minutes. He was in - out- in - out ! Finally he plunked himself in front of the t.v. again...and that is where he is now. Carson on the other hand is having fun exploring my scrapbook room and getting into EVERYTHING! I rememberd I didn't like the crawling stage...or the walking stage. LOL. But it is fun to see him explore. Anyway back to the PC projects...I am SO frustrated! I need more SB supplies. I have to projects that I have to use black and red with and I don't have any paper like that...so I am very limited. I guess I will be off to the LSS tomorrow.

I went out last night with a few girlfriends. It was great to get away. Tyler is so good at letting me go out. It was fun to visit and eat yummy desert! Tonight BB 6 is on and Canadian Idol. So it looks like I will be folding laundry in front of the tube. Gotta accomplish 2 things at the same time. LOL!