alicia king

easter decor...

i feel like easter came and went too fast! i was going to put out my easter decorations last weekend during conference, but i was too busy cleaning and organizing all the cupboards again...and didn't get too it. too many projects it seems like.

i think i'll keep them out til this weekend then pack them away.

i woke up saturday morning and noticed that my little chicky was broken...probably anthony, i heard him slamming something guess that's what it was.

i love my easter bunnies...i had to glue the chocolate bunnies head back on last year...isabella got that one. i've come to realize that most of my decor is glued together, thank goodness for E6000! i'd fix my lil chick up but i can't find the piece anywhere.

easter...

some shots from instagram...i still need to go through my pictures i took with my camera. i filled the plastic eggs on saturday. we were just about out of money right before easter. i had spent our last $25 dollars on diapers, a few groceries and chocolate for the easter eggs the week before. sometimes i wonder how we even make it, but we always do, we are blessed with all that we have. i told the girls we probably won't have money for new easter dresses, like it matters any way they have a lot of dresses and skirts! we didn't buy anything for them last year either.

so the day that we went to walmart i looked in the little girls section to see if they even had any dresses left, there was 2 that the girls liked. one 5T and one 3T, they were the last ones, but like i said, we had $25 to our name! we got lucky and four days before easter we had our tax returns direct deposited into our account. we weren't expecting them until the week after easter. we went back to walmart to buy more groceries, i checked on the dresses and they were still there. lucky lucky!

we drove to payson that evening to pull out most of it from the bank and then to provo for the mall to see if we could find a new dress shirt for anthony, but i couldn't find anything...and i only had 40 min. to look! much harder to find what you need when you live an hour away from the convenience of shopping! i went home and pulled out his pink striped shirt from last year to see if it would still fit him...it did, minus the sleeves went up to his elbows! so we just rolled them and let him be cool like that :)

here are the girls excited to go to the mall! {we just stopped at the gas station to go to the bathroom...they were in their carseats before.}

no luck at the gap for anthony. i did love this jacket...but i couldn't spend $30 for it. still needed to be clearanced more! i'm very picky on what i spend for clothes!

we always seem to eat at red robin when we make a bank run! gulianna said "take my picture!"

dancing...

you can't tell, but this basket is big! it's the girls' basket for "picking up sticks" in the yard to burn.

 

easter gifts...

my mom is always good about sending packages in the mail...they were excited to see what they got from grandma and grandpa!

i was laughing when i read the presents...mom, you forgot the y on happy! ha ha!

easter coloring books, stickers and socks! they love stickers!

thank you grandma & grandpa!

green...

*saturday night just as i was starting this post, levi came walking in the house with crutches...in pain, we thought he broke his leg, he fell through the top stair at his mom's place, luckily his workbelt caught and he didn't fall all the way down. he's fine now, so glad no broken bones, just very bruised!

our "chocolate treats" didn't last but a couple days...in this house!

we got up at 7 this morning to go and get our bountiful basket! finally! i've been wanting to order these since we lived in rigby. gulianna was so excited, she wanted to go, but when the morning came, she was sound asleep. i woke her up and told her she could stay, but she insisted on going!

we've had such warm weather the past couple weeks! in the upper 50's, saturday it was 61 degrees! our grass is starting to turn green, and it's really green over by the wood pile. can't wait for summer!

valentine's...

gulianna's valentine cookies for her class...we got them at the bakery, she was so excited about her valentine party!

on her way to preschool...with a cough drop in her mouth!

after she got home i gave them their valentine presents from chelsey, thanks! isa...whining...too impatient to give me 5 seconds worth of photos, geeez!

 
poor anthony...still sick, but slowly getting better!

they loved the little valentine cards and the tiny markers...anthony was wondering where his were! and since the girls have been taking over his sickness, and not playing with their stuff, anthony's been playing with their markers coloring on himself and his clothes.

at least we still managed to have fun with valentine's despite being super sick!

2012...

happy new year!

here's to a new year filled with new memories, new projects, new whatever YOU want to make of it!

Santa...

every year i always take my kids to see santa at the mall, last year i didn't get a picture, but we still went to see him! this year we didn't see him at the mall, instead we visited with him at thanksgiving point. he was the FotoFly Santa! last year we got our family pictures taken at Fotofly in Draper, i don't even think i ever posted them here. anyway...the girls have been so excited to see santa, we almost missed our appointment, i knew i should have booked the very last appt. possible, because of timing. we went to see the lights at temple square and then rushed back to make it late to see santa. so thankful they still took us, yes i did call to tell them we were late! anthony did NOT want to see santa, he threw a tantrum, i thought for sure he wouldn't be in the photos or if he was he'd be crying! but the photographer was trained well...and was sooo good with kids, these are the best ever! they give you the option of having your husband or whoever dress up in the santa outfit or you can use the "real santa" too. levi thought he was too cool, so we used the real santa. it's a great idea though! so it's almost a suprise to your kids if they figure it out, and i like how they don't include his face, because later when your kids compare their santa photos, wondering why santa looks different or has a different beard every year :) {you can have his face in the photos if you want...} i love fotofly...we always the best experience there!

Merry Christmas...

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I love when Christmas falls on a Sunday!

lights at Temple Square...

after walking through the Up house, we went to see the lights at Temple Square...we then realized we haven't been there since levi proposed to me eleven years ago...that was my first time! i love all the lights!

poor Anthony! all wrapped up tight in a blanket! he could barely see out, but it was cold! i ordered him a coat online, but a couple days too late for when we actually needed it...it's supposed to be here tomorrow.

as we were leaving, isabella spotted "her santa." she said "mom! their's my santa, i have TWO santas!"

 

the UP house...

we met my parents in salt lake, they were on their way down to california. we had lunch at rubio's, and then went to see the up house in herriman! it was so cute, reminded me of something at disneyland. gulianna was so excited but she kept saying over and over "where are the balloons, they forgot the balloons!" so other than the balloons it was just about the same as the real thing!

i loved the kitchen appliances...i knew someone had to make retro appliances new. i really really really want them!

 

and i loved the green cabinets in the small laundry room. perfect size to me.

these turned out blurry but i still love them...anthony and my dad.

the girls loved the princess room!

i loved this idea too, "her royal highness."

freezing outside for one more picture!

 

caroling llamas...

our neighbors have 2 llamas, they gathered friends and went caroling! i think our house was first on the list...i forgot what day they were coming, so i was suprised when i opened up my door to llamas and christmas carols! my girls in their pajamas step outside...after they were done caroling, they asked if they wanted to go inside and get their jackets on and get a picture with the llamas. so they rush back in get some pants on with their hats and coat, gulianna insisted on just a sweater.

gulianna excited, but super shy, she always has a blank face in these type of situations!

she's scared, doesn't know what to think, yet she wants to sit on the llama!

and isa as excited as she can be!

gulianna still showing no excitement!

pictures after church...

captured some photos of my little rascals after church...i could just post the best ones, but all of them are definitely funny to look at!

this skirt finally fits gulianna perfectly! i bought it in 2008, size 12-18 months, she's worn it for three years now. and isa's skirt {that used to be gulianna's} fits her too, i bought it at the di last year? maybe the year before.  

isabella grabbing bro...

anthony playing with my lens cap...

gulianna running in front of the camera...

gulianna freaking out because isa is walking in front of her...

anthony eating my lens cap...

girls checking out their skirts...ha ha!

gulianna starting her posing session...

my favorite one...

swimming at the hotel...

after we had our thanksgiving dinner, we went back to the hotel where cherry was staying to let the kids swim! this was their highlight of the day, they've been waiting to "go swimming at the hotel!" or as isa would say "wimming." {she doesn't pronounce her "s" if they are in front of a word.

getting ready!

anthony did not want to be in the water!

levi telling anthony that it's okay...

isa being a little schmuck...

fighting dad...doesn't want a picture.

isa had more fun playing with the towels, she loved the way ronda would wrap her up in a towel...she kept going back!

isa NEVER lets me take photos, or stands still for a second to even snap a few of her, so when she actually did today...i kept shooting away! i love all of these and her cute little face!

 

starting to decorate...

for Christmas! a little late for me...but been busy with other projects and stuff. that and i had to go get our stuff out of storage.

gulianna helped with the tree for outside by the front door...and then she decorated the tiny tree too :)

next up, our big one...except that it won't all fit inside, it's nine feet and the ceiling is only seven....grrrreat.

Gulianna's 4th birthday...

 All year long Gulianna's been saying that she wants to have "an aqua birthday party." At first she wanted a princess party, or a Tangled party, but then she kept insisting on an aqua birthday party. That is her favorite color!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

She was sad because one of the balloons got loose and flew away!

She's also been waiting to open her presents...last month we were at the mall at stopped in at the Disney store {like last year!} and I saw that they had towels and swimsuit coverups on clearance again. She's already outgrown her one from last year, so I had Levi sneak and buy her one, she was already looking at them, I showed her the tinkerbell one, it was purple just like the one that she got last year, but a different style, and she immediately turned to the aqua one, and it had Ariel on it! She said "oh I wish I could get this aqua one!" So I took her to Tai Pan and looked around, while Levi bought her the Ariel swim towel and the cover up. I told him to hide it, but as soon as he came in looking for me, she spotted the bag. Then she got all excited, and I told her it was something else..."no dad bought me the aqua swim thing for my birthday! he did!" "No he didn't!" ahhh! so much for a surprise! 
 
She was excited for her candles and her birthday cake, but she got shy when we sang happy birthday to her!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
"ahhhh! baby wipes for my birthday!"

 
 
"the Ariel towel!"

 
Isa tried to take away her second present, she thought it was for her...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Colton and Claudia stopped by later, with a present from Grandma Cherrie. Gulianna got a cute little purse with some money in it from Grandma Cherrie, and a heart necklace that she likes to wear every day.

Somewhere in between playing around...Isa ended up in her swim suit, too funny!

 

 
Claudia got her some cute hello kitty pajamas and a little hello kitty back pack!

 
 
 
We had a good day with Gulianna, we were happy that Levi came home for her birthday! I can't believe that she is four now. She's always been very smart, very aware of everything. She's a good helper to me, she watches out for Isa and Anthony. She always says her prayers and reminds us to read our scriptures. She looks forward to going to her class on Sunday every week! She loves to dance and can't wait to go to school. She's been that way since she was tiny! As soon as we move, we will fit her in to a preschool and find a dance class for her...she asks me every day!

Pioneer Day Celebrations...{camping day six}

{Monday 7.25.2011}

The sirens went off too early this morning to start the Fireman's breakfast...I think I had barely fallen asleep a couple hours before. Levi got up and got ready with Anthony and then went to the breakfast at the park with Kevin. I was way too tired to go. I couldn't fall back asleep though, so I probably should have gone. We got ready and then walked to Main St {one block away} for the Pioneer Day parade. Small town parades are so nice, small to the point, lots of candy, no crowds! Gulianna reminded me that we didn't bring their little buckets for candy...oops, I can't remember everything!

 
 
 
 
 

Isabella loves horses!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Anthony was content watching the parade and playing with a candy wrapper.
 
 

Afterwards we headed to the park for music and blow up slides for the girls...they rode on the four wheeler while Kevin and I walked.
 
 
 
 
 
 

In line for a bracelet for the slides... 
 

Anthony played for a while in the grass, and then was ready for a long nap! At this point in the day the girls were driving me crazy, so Levi took them to play, the slide that was closest to us, turned into a water slide, we didn't want them to get soaked since this was our last set of clothes.
 

Camping...{day four}

{Saturday 7.23.2011} 

Today Levi took Gulianna and Anthony and drove with Kevin to Fairview to look around, Isa stayed with me...she was extra stubborn all morning. Isa and I drove around Spring City for a bit...I was trying to get her to fall asleep, that didn't work. Then I drove to Mount Pleasant, just the next town over to go walk through all the shops, only most of them were closed for Pioneer Day! Dang it...bad planning...I also thought that all the festivities were today, seeing how that's what the website said, but I guess it was wrong, I later found a different one, and everything was scheduled for Monday.

I really wanted to walk through the drug store, but they were closed too! One of the thrift stores was open, actually only open on Saturday's so I lucked out on that one. I talked to the owners while Isa was tempted to break things in the store. Luckily she didn't :)

Afterward we had lunch at the mexican restaurant with Jeremy, Levi and Kevin met up right after I got there. We headed back to Cherrie's place and the girls played with their cousins and had fun with four wheeler rides. The boys went to unload Jeremy's food storage. We had a bbq later that evening and then had some fireworks and sparklers before Jeremy and Amy went home. Should have stayed and camped with us!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Finally some sparklers! Gulianna has been begging us every day and night...since after the fourth...but we haven't done them, except for when Cherry was here, because we literally get eaten alive by mosquitos if we are out in the evening. If it's not raining it's the mosquitos...but finally we got to do some more, and we still have a couple boxes left!

The 4th with my Bronco...

I planned to take the Bronco to Provo but there was lots of rain clouds, and we didn't want to get rained on...so we left it home. And of course it sprinkled a couple drops the whole time!

Then we drove it to the park at Thanksgiving Point for the fireworks, and sure enough we pull into the parking lot and it started raining! So I took a few photos while Levi hurried to put the soft top on.

 
My fourth of July bows for my Bronco...love them! Again...I've been wanting to do this for years...

 

Yes...Isa was pouting once again...can't you tell!?

 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
I really wanted at least one picture of all 3 of my kids looking at the camera, but this one will do...Isa was just pouting non stop!

Fun times with our little family in my Bronco!

 

4th of July parade and car show...

We went to the parade, but missed most of it, because of our sleepy kids...since we go to bed late, they sleep in! Trying to find parking is crazy with all of the people, so that wasted our time too. Maybe I should have had Levi drop us off, but then I didn't have my phone, so I guess it was a good idea we didn't do that. We were also going to go camping Saturday night some where in Spring City...but that didn't work out either. We did drive down there with Kevin and looked at more property.

This is Anthony's first Fourth of July!

 
 
After the parade we went to have lunch, we couldn't decide...and so Levi picked the Golden Corral. Maybe we should have gone to McDonalds or something...Levi got real sick, that sucked. And 4 days later, he is starting to feel better.

After that we went to the car show at the mall, Gulianna was in love with the aqua car, that's her favorite color!

 
 
 

 

 
 
Isa pouting...she was a stinker and needed a nap, BAD! Isa look at me! "No I don't WANT TO!" 
 

Me and my little rascals...

 

Mini Carnival...

I took my kids to the little mini carnival that they had for Freedom Days in Provo...I got lucky with a parking spot right across the street!

 

The only rides that the girls were able to go on were the inflatables...the bouncy house and the slide, that was a bit too steep! I sent Gulianna and Isa on the slide and then Isa couldn't quite climb up it. Kids were starting to back pile because she was in the way, so I quickly jumped in and helped them both up and then I sent Isa down the slide first, then Gulianna, she flipped at the end, and then I went...scraped some skin off my arm and put my back out a little! Then they wanted to go again...we were done!

Gulianna was dying for some cotton candy! We got 2 huge ones for $5.00...compared to the other booths that had one for $5 or $6 :)
 
 
Anthony kept grabbing the cotton candy, he found it interesting! I gave him some, and he kept getting excited for more! I wish I could have taken a picture, but it was hard to keep my kids close and then snap a photo with sticky fingers...

 
 

Happy Fourth...

Getting ready for the Fourth of July...

I love to decorate for the holidays! But more importantly, I love this country that we live in, the freedoms that we do have. {Yes I was born here...} I've always had issues with people thinking that I was born else where, {Mexico, India, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Iraq...just to name a few}and they ask when did I move here, and how did I learn English...uh hello! I was born in Rexburg, Idaho! So don't even give me your crap... I've heard it all, and then some. :)

 
there was more...too hard not to walk by and grab some chocolate!

 
This year, I finally made bows for my Bronco...I've been wanting to do this for years...with the red star fabric!

And I did a close up of the music paper...I didn't even plan it, seriously! Got lucky as I ripped out a random sheet that had "fireworks" right on it! 
 
Anthony's first Fourth of July! 10 months old...

 
 
The girls are excited to go to the carnival tonight!! Have a happy fourth and a safe weekend!

 

Father's Day mini album...

made a quick, simple mini album for Levi for Father's Day...this Sunday. Turned out cute! And it's g r e e n !!! {and it matches my giant pear!}

If you haven't figured out what to give your father/husband for Father's Day, make him a mini album! You still have time! It is small, simple and quick, he will appreciate it much more than just another tie to add to his collection!

It took me a bit longer to make, between my kids fighting and me being distracted from all the messes they make! But you have my photos to scraplift or go off of! I say you can make it in an hour! Go for it!

 
 
 Okay let's get started...

Gather your supplies...this is what I used from the June 2011 Moments Scrapbook Kit from Express the Moment. Cardstock, Dad stickers, ribbon, fabric strip, 7gypsies tags...I picked the ones that would work for Father's Day. {transparencies, and a few scraps of paper are from my personal stash.}

 
 
Gather your photos, I printed wallet sized photos at home. {Here's my quick tutorial HERE.} You could use a mixture of wallets and 4x6 photos, or just 4x6 whatever your preference! Then assemble your book!

 
 
 
 
Cut word stickers up, stack them, add a cute mini staple, and that's it! See- s i m p l e!
 
 
Instead of taking off each number sticker, I just cut the whole strip and adhered it to my page, added a couple staples...this way, I got to include the green behind the stickers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Mother's Day...

We went to dinner at Johnny Carino's...and we always have our "usual" Spicy Shrimp and Chicken, mmmm!

 
 
 

 
 

Mother's Day banner...

We got to my parent's house late last night right before midnight...only Anthony and RJ were still awake, playing PS3 of course. Actually my dad was awake too, working in the shop as always. I started making this banner {thanks Rhonna!}so that it was hanging up for my mom when she woke up in the morning!

 

 

 

 

Lucky me...

I love St. Patrick's Day...because I love seeing every body wear green! Green just happens to be my favorite color!

I made a last minute card for Levi...{I always plan in my head, ahead of time...but you know me, everything ends up being last minute!}

 
 
Ha ha...funny card :) We dropped it off to him at work...along with some chocolates...had I known he didn't wear his green shirt today, I would have dropped it off! "I thought it was the 28th!?" Yeahhhh....He's horrible with dates and didn't even know it was St. Patrick's Day, shame on him!

 
have you had these??...sooo good!

 
Then we went to Hobby Lobby...which I think has been open since Tuesday but I didn't believe Levi when he told me, they said they were opening up on the 18th, but I drove by and they were open!

 

So when we got there, I parked next to a shopping cart which is always nice...and as soon as I put Isa in it, I noticed that someone left a green wallet in the cart. I opened it up and there was a ton of money, credit cards...etc, I was trying to find checks or something with a phone number on it...but I couldn't find anything. I checked the address on the girl's license and she lived right up the road, so I figured I'd just drop it off to her {you never know if you return something to someone else if they will be as honest as you were, which has definitely happened before}...and then as soon as I got Gulianna and Anthony out she came back...lucky her! We went into Hobby Lobby...Gulianna had to walk, since they have the teeniest shopping carts!? I don't understand that...people buy more stuff if they have more room to put stuff in! They should fix that...plus it's an inconvenience if you have 3 little kids! {Ross & Kohl's please advise too!}

Anyway so we were looking around and then Gulianna tells me something that I don't like to hear when I'm in a store, "mom I have to go to the bathroom!" Nooooooo! That means that I have to hurry and find the bathroom, take my 3 kids in there...hope that it is somewhat clean and that I get the 'big stall'...{remember I hate dirty bathrooms} because I have to set the carseat on the floor, you never know if they mop often, or if someone puked all over or if the toilet flooded...etc... and I have to make sure Isa will stand in one spot and not touch anything! I'm telling ya it's really hard for me...I get so grossed out! Luckily the bathrooms were new and fairly clean.

So back to Gulianna telling me she has to go pee, I ask her if she can hold it for a minute, and she says yes. {I've trained her well :)} I found the fabric that Claudia needed and then took a picture of it and ohhh yeah Claudia I remember! That's why you didn't get the text, that was when Gulianna pushed the back door open and set off the fire alarm! Oh my gosh...who does that! Way to go, break everyone's ear drums in the store! I hope she doesn't touch one again!

We waited for someone to turn it off, and then she said sorry. Then she said she had to poop. Hmmm really, did it scare the shit out of ya!? Well she didn't have to by the time we got to the bathroom.

After that we had to leave because Anthony was hungry...so I nursed him in the Durango, and then we took some pictures...

 
And then left for the bank...

Well I got to the bank and realized, uhhh I don't have my wallet. Grreat...I left it in the shopping cart. Just like the girl did, that used the cart before me.

My wallet is green too...

Good thing today was St. Patrick's Day...and I'm lucky!

I went back and checked the cart but it wasn't there. So I parked in the front {in the fire lane, lol} since my kids were sleeping, ran in to ask, and they said yes we have it, it's locked in the safe. So nice! And did I mention lucky? Levi would have killed me, because he just gave me a hundred bucks to go deposit in the bank. But I had to stop at Hobby Lobby first! Everything was in there including the money, they said everything was not in order, when they opened it to find my driver's license everything fell out! Note to self: clean out my wallet again. I swear I just did that last week!

 

Happy Holidays...

 

I'm working on it...

Every year I make Christmas cards. And every year they either don't get finished or don't get sent out. It's not like it's that hard to do, but for whatever reason, I can't seem to finish the project?

This was as far as I got with last years...

 
Then I was going through a bunch of pictures yesterday and found an envelope with a bunch of ones from 2008, so most likely those didn't all go out either...If you didn't get one, this is what it looked like:

 
So for this year, I'm just going to add pictures onto last years design, print and send! Call me in an hour to see if I actually did it, I most likely will get distracted with something else...

We woke up to a lot of snow yesterday morning, it's been raining off and on for days. I was enjoying not having snow!

Don't ask me how my December Daily album has been going...

I had to order some new photo paper, because I was sick of my glossy stuff that I have, and I figured if I was going to scrapbook daily, I better just print at home. Well I got the paper in 2 days {this was the first week in December} then I printed a couple pictures and was out of yellow ink! So then I ordered some ink from here, but of course I was too cheap to pay for shipping, so I shipped it for free, and it came the following week. And now Christmas is in 3 days!!!

By the way, if you aren't in a hurry for ink, or just don't want to pay for shipping like me, order from LD Products, I just got 6 ink cartridges for $20.99. Much cheaper, usually I would by them from Walmart or Office Max for $10 each! They always give you 10% off, right now it's 20%, just use the code ENDYEAR. I just order the remanufactured ink cartridges.

I'm almost done cleaning up my scrapbooking room, and then I'm printing pictures. Oh wait. I was going to work on Christmas cards! See what I mean!

December Daily Album...

Here are my inside pages 1-16. I can't believe it is already December and time to use this album, I started it back in August, just 5 days before I had Anthony, time sure goes by. And to think that all these pages except the last 3 were already completed in just a couple days.

I have pages 21, 24 & 25 done, so I have 6 more pages to do...I will get those finished and then share 17-25 if I am not to busy!

More info on December Daily visit here on Ali's blog!

Album Cover

 
 
Page ONE...

 
Page TWO...

 
Page THREE...
Page FOUR...

 
Page 5 & 6...

 
Page 5...

 
Page SIX...

 
Page SEVEN...

 
Page EIGHT...

 

 
Page NINE...

 
 
Page TEN...

 
Page ELEVEN...

 
Page TWELVE...

I may redo this page, I haven't liked it from the beginning!

 
Page THIRTEEN...

 
Page FOURTEEN...

 
Page FIFTEEN...

 
Page SIXTEEN...

We are getting our family pictures taken on the 16th {finally!}, so I planned for a 5x7 family picture on this page!

 

I love the mix of page sizes, and papers that I am finally using! Almost can't wait to bind it!

 

Done...

 
This was the last of my Christmas decorations for the very top of the tree...

and they are up now!

Being the short person I am, and not wanting to get the ladder out, I simply waited for Levi to finish the top of the tree. He did it this morning.

The lights on the very top of the tree aren't working! I guess that's what happens to pre lit trees.

Anyway, just strung some more lights and we're good to go.

Except for the star. It's not wanting to stay up there...

I wanted to add some big white stars, but Tai Pan didn't have anymore...they had some last month. But of course I waited a year too long. I actually bought some last year, the day after Christmas, but then I returned them...and bought some thing else. Because they were just going to go in storage, until NOW...

Happy Thanksgiving...

 
For us will be another year of Thanksgiving with no family...Levi's working again. Just us at home. We had planned to go to my parents for Thanksgiving this year, but with all the snow that Idaho just got, and bad roads, and us not having snow tires yet...we are staying home. Levi will be working all day, so for us is just another day at home. I remember last year, he brought our last trailer load of stuff from Idaho on Thanksgiving morning, then went out to Walmart to go buy groceries to make Thanksgiving dinner for us, of course they were out of turkeys, so we had a rotisserie chicken instead :)

I am so thankful for everything that I do have. Especially my family!

 

And...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Annareigh! My little sister was born on Thanksgiving night, seventeen years ago!

before "the storm"...

We all knew "the storm" was coming...so I figured it was my last day to hurry and snap some pictures while it was still Fall! We had just got back from Tai Pan... while we had the Durango for an hour, we had to get out of the house! Levi hasn't been doing computer work for over a month now, so he's out doing jobs, which leaves us home. I do have my Bronco, but now that winter is almost here, it's too cold to drive it with the soft top on, my hard top is still in Firth, parked in the shop.

 

 

My quick wreath I put together at the last minute...
 

Gulianna in her sunglasses...and Isa, yeah, don't know what she's doing!
 
 

My .25¢ scarecrows I bought, like 6 years ago...and the first time ever using them! Gulianna loved them, and she always has to count them in spanish :)
 

And then a couple hours later..."the storm" hit! Of course it wasn't what we are used to in Idaho, but apparently down here, people freak out... 

I know, hardly any snow, compared to what Idaho just got!
 
 
 
 

 

Semper Fi...

My brother Anthony, and little Anthony Levi sitting on the sofa this morning! My brother is on his way home just for a couple days, my mom will be so suprised, she doesn't know :)

 
 
We are excited to have Anthony home...he will be out of the Marine's in 3 weeks! He served both in Iraq and Afghanistan, the past couple years, and has been through a LOT, so thankful for him to be home. Also thankful for his service as well as my uncle who was also in the Marine's and my Grandpa who served in the Navy, and to EVERYONE that has served our country, past present and future! Happy Veteran's Day!

I forgot I had these from last year...this was in September, right before he left for Afghanistan, Gulianna just turned two the month before! She looks so small, Isa is now wearing those shoes today for the first time!

 
 
and this was Gulianna when she was just 4 months old, and seeing Anthony for the first time!

 

 

Girls by my Halloween tree...

It's seems like it gets harder and harder to take a picture. I know I need to learn more about my camera and settings...I've been taking photos without the flash for months now...and I would rather have a half blurry shot now than it wiped out by the flash! It doesn't help that we have absolute no lightening in our living room.

Isa was being such a stinker for these photos...Gulianna just wanted to go play outside already...today they wore their black shirts with the Halloween bows that I made for them last year, that matched their tutus. {and I'm just realizing that I never shared those either!}

 

 
 
 
 

december daily album...

yesterday, i started my cover for this...

 
 i know a bit early, but i want to have it all put together, so that i can enjoy each day in december! and have a finished album at the end of the month! i have had all this stuff picked out from my scrapbook stash and sitting in a bag for 2 years now! i was going to start this in december of 2008, but it never happened...then i said the next year for sure, and then we moved... so now here is another year, and i'm gettin' r done :)

the december daily album is a concept that Ali Edwards started several years ago...i've been excited about it ever since! you can view her albums from each year on her blog, i love them all!

these are all the papers i picked out to use in this album, a mix of old and new, vintage and my favorite celery/olive green color.

 
 this is my cover...i'm using Teresa Collins bracket cover, it already comes red! the inside pages will be a mix of different sizes, no bigger than 8x8. i still can't decide if i am going to bind it now, or at the end?  i'm working on each page now, so that when december comes i can just add my pictures and journaling for each day. i plan on using Ali's december frames as well as a few other digital things of hers...

it's already making me excited for the Christmas season!

she's three...

Gulianna turned 3 on Sunday! I can't believe it...of course everyone says that but it's true...one minute they are just born...and the next they are doing everything on their own!

We went to church and then afterwards Levi made some homemade pizza. He asked Gulianna if she wanted some orange soda, she said yes...then she asked but I need my water :)

Then Levi attempted to blindfold her but she freaked out...and ripped it off, so we just walked her out to the backyard to give her and Isabella the biggest birthday present ever!

This is where Isa said 'happy birthday nanna' in her own way!

They were super excited! It's not a jeep it's an FJ Cruiser! A princess one too! And it has a real fm radio...they were already fighting over the stations!

Getting driving lessons from dad...

And this is what they both looked like...poor Isa getting whip lash!

 
  
Then Gulianna helped me finish baking her birthday cupcakes! I put 3 candles on her cupcake...and she said "but mom, it's not a wish make?" what? she was meaning they weren't lit, so she could make her wish! too funny!

 
 Gulianna was shy when we sang Happy Birthday to her!

Enjoying cupcakes!

notice how they have to eat their cupcake :)

my girls love cupcakes! mmmm! Gulianna loved her special day...and her new dress, she's been putting it on every day! We are having Gulianna's special birthday party in a couple weeks, hopefully everyone can make it!

 

isabella's first birthday...

{only 6 months later :)...}

we had a cupcake birthday party for her! it was inspired by the cute cupcake dresses my mom bought for our girls for Gulianna's birthday last year!

 
and now to look back on her pictures when i thought she had a lot of hair back then...it has grown so much more! i was just remembering when her hair would always form a point, she looked like a little dracula! now it just hangs in front of her eyes, but i don't want to cut it, because then half her head would be bangs lol!

here we are the night before, getting ready for her birthday party! Gulianna feeling a bit jealous that it's not her party! we went to get all the food and pick up mini cupcakes from the Cocoa Bean, i was happy that Gloria just opened up another shop down here in Provo :)

the morning of her birthday i attempted to make cake pops...um yeah, i think i will not try that again! it was not easy for me! i think i gave up after making ten or so cake pops, and just made 'cake balls' instead!

 
candy treat bags for all the cousins...

 
 
 
we had 'beans and cabbage' for lunch, Levi's family grew up on this recipe! i have to admit, i thought it was really wierd at first, but it's really good!

my sister Annareigh made her cupcake birthday cake!

 

here is the little cake that i made...it was a back up, because i didn't know if Annareigh was going to have time to make it when they got here {they drove down here that morning} but she came prepared! and sadly enough...Isabella didn't even get a chance to dig into either one of them! We just got too busy trying to do everything!
 
    
  
mmmm! i guess we did let her stick her fingers in it!

trying to get a picture of both girls is nearly impossible! 

   
  

Isabella opening up her presents...or more like everyone else opening up her presents for her!

 
 
   

  
and just like that all the presents were opened! and isa was left alone!

she loves her little purple baby!

 
and then it was time for the pinata!

 
 
isa was more excited that dad was upstairs than wanting to hit her pinata!

 
 
 
we are so happy that we have isabella in our family! she has grown so much, she is a feisty little girl, and now the last month she has turned into a pouty girl, she knows that she won't be our little baby for much longer! she tries to soak up all the attention she can get! at nights when we try and get her ready for bed, she will lay there and pout, and then look up to see if we are still paying attention to her...and then hide her head, and make her pouty face! then if we even try to pick her up she throws a tantrum and won't let us hold her! what to do with her! she used to just go to bed and fall asleep just like that...not anymore!?

she has been getting a little bit better! we still love her dearly :)  and once again...i can't believe she is now 18 months old already!

has it already been another year?

i can't believe that in just 2 short weeks Gulianna will now be three?! she is still the same little girl, just a bit older and taller! she loves to be with me in my scrapbooking room and help me with whatever i'm working on, she likes to look at every little embellishment i have. she's a good 'helper girl'...she helps with the laundry, loading and unloading the washer/dryer, putting clothes away, helps with dishes, picking up her toys & organizing them, she does just about everything!  she always says 'mom what are we going to do today?' and i say 'i don't know, what do you want to do?' and she shrugs her shoulders and says 'i just want to have fun' ! that's my Gulianna! she loves to go shopping, we always go to the toy sections in every store to 'look' at the toys. i remember earlier this year, instead of wanting to go look at the baby dolls, she told me 'mom, i don't want to look at the babies, i want to look at barbie dolls, isa wants to look at the babies! Where did that come from! Her favorite shows are still Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Max & Ruby, Hannah Montana, Wizards, and Zach & Cody.

this was her 2nd birthday party last year...

i can't believe how small she looks, yet back then she was still such a big girl!

 
 

hitting her pinata that grandma & grandpa brought! 
 
 

 and look how small Isa looks! she was only 6.5 months!

 
 
Gulianna checking on her little sister!

 
opening birthday presents...

 
then we had to move her to the trampoline, because everyone was crowding around and couldn't see...

{uncle Anthony helping with her presents...we were happy he got to come home for a little while, in between his tours in Iraq & Afghanistan}

and those shoes that Grandma gave her no longer fit her growing feet!

 
but that didn't last long...everyone still joined in :)

 she got 'princess dishes' from uncle RJ! she plays with them everyday!

 
and we finally got to put this Hello Kitty toaster to use! i bought it for myself for Christmas 4 or 5 years ago? and then decided to wait until we had a little girl to use it! Levi despises it...because 'his toast is getting jipped on not being toasted where the Hello Kitty face imprints on his toast!' lol! 

 
And here is us attempting a family picture with our birthday girl, who just wanted to play! why is it so hard! i just want one good picture!

 We are now getting ready to plan her third birthday party! I hope that this baby won't come yet and spoil Gulianna's special day!
  

Fourth Decorations...

My decorations for this year! I made a fourth of july banner with the kit from House of 3.

 
All finished and hanging up...

 
 
 
 
 

Memorial Day weekend...

 
We enjoyed our quiet weekend together at home. Levi got the garage cleaned out and his stuff organized, I cleaned the house {and now it's messy again} the girls played outside and even took a couple naps! Levi made my favorite pasta salad for lunch, and I made the dessert :) We hung our flag outside, and Anthony stopped by for a quick visit before he headed back to the Marine base in California. I am thankful for his service as well as my Grandpa who served in the Navy, and my uncle Mark who was in the Marines too, and of course all the others out there! So grateful that Anthony made it home safe from fighting in Afghanistan, he almost didn't.

I remember as a child...Memorial Day weekend was always spent with family and we usually went to the park for a picnic! We never visited any grave sites, I think because no one was dead, well that and if we knew of any relatives and where they were buried? I don't know. The same with Levi...when he was younger. Of course now we have a couple grandparents who have passed, and if we lived closer we would definitely pay a visit :) I think the first time I have even visited a grave site on Memorial Day was my grandma's, which was in 2006, and I miss her so much. I think about her every day and wish she was still here. 

Since Levi and I have been together Memorial Day weekend usually marked the first camping & boating trip of the year...usually at Palisades, and we would get rained on every year! It's seems that you can always predict crappy Idaho weather for that weekend every single time. A couple of those years we stayed home and I scrapbooked with Claudia and my sisters. Now that we have our little girls, I think we will carry on the picnic tradition :)

This was a book that I made 3 years ago for a good friend. And I just remembered that I started a Marine book for my brother that same year...I better finish that!

  
more photos of my Memorial Day book that I made here:)

finally...

I got to drive my Bronco yesterday! It has been parked in the garage since December...and that was the last time I drove it. It has been too long! Levi finally went out and bought a new fuel pump and put it in, and I drove it to the house we are moving to this weekend. The girls loved it, and missed it too :)

 
and it barely fit into the new garage, by like 3 inches!  Too bad gas prices are going up again...as soon as I start driving it...I'm lucky if I get 10 mpg.

okay back to moving...going to pick up a u.haul soon!

{and Cherry I finally picked up some crepe paper to finish my Valentine mini books, but now I will have to wait to post after we move}

Easter...

Gulianna was the first one to wake up...she came down the stairs and noticed the first 2 Easter eggs, she was super excited and giggly. She opened one up and got even more happier when she found some chocolate inside :)

 
then we had to go wake up Isa! Gulianna was already looking down for more eggs...and Isa was just excited to go down the stairs as always :)

 
As soon as Isa started going down the stairs, she got about half way and then noticed all the eggs, so then she had to go back up and grab them and started throwing them down the stairs! It was so funny, oh I how wish I had my camcorder!

 
this is when Gulianna found out there where eggs everywhere!

 

Levi showing Isabella their Easter baskets!
 
"Mom! It's Princess & the Frog! Princess & the Frog!"

 
 
 
I love this picture of both of them :)

 
 
New jama.ramas :) 

Happy Easter!

 

I am waiting for my girls to wake up so that they can find Easter eggs in the house! We were planning on having an egg hunt at the park, but we woke up to snow this morning! I also had to get up before them to get their Easter baskets ready, and fill the plastic eggs with candy...since I didn't do it last night. Actually I have had all this stuff since February, and the candy I bought before St. Patrick's day, but you know, I have to wait until the very last minute :)

 

just after I was done filling the plastic eggs, Levi woke up and said...'ugh, you filled them already? you take the fun out of it!" uh, hello, you should have woke up earlier!

 
Notice the purple handle is broken... Gulianna had to get into the baskets a week or so ago and broke her handle off. So last night as we were setting the Easter baskets out for the Easter bunny, I told her "Idon't know if the Easter bunny is going to come and put treats in your basket, because you BROKE it!" and she was upset and asking both me & dad if we could fix it :) "you have to fix my basket or the Easter bunny won't come!" I did fix it, by stapling the handle back on.

 
The Easter bunny brought them matching pajamas, a cute little Peter Cottontail book, Princess & the Frog, & Horton Hears a Who dvds, princess containers for 'treats' and chocolate of course!

Levi 'hid' the eggs ;)

 
can't wait for the munckins to wake up! Happy Easter!

Easter treats...

We put these together really quick for our family & friends...

 

some quick simple Easter treats!

using some fun papers & brushes from House of 3:) and lollipops from Target!

 
 
my little helpers!

 

can't wait to celebrate Easter tomorrow with my girls!

Christmas morning...

I *think* it was more like Christmas afternoon...because we went to bed so late, we opened up presents around 1pm!

 
 

Levi & I didn't 'label' any of the presents...usually I remember which presents are who's, but not this time! We were curious as to who's this one actually was...ended up being for Isa! oops!

  
 
Gulianna was super excited to get a Ni Hao Kai Lan doll! She ♥'s her!

 
 
"oooh...what's this one"...great...a motorcylcle dust cover! lol...don't you love using fun boxes :) 

"Oh, Isa you got a baby!" {let me take it away from you!}

 
 
"My baby!"

 
"Fine...whatever!"

 
...and then she took it away AGAIN! Isa threw a fit!

 
 
 

 

"mom! it's Ni Hao Kai Lan!"

 
 
 
 
 
I tried to get a picture of their big brown eyes...but...Isabella's picture didn't quite turn out, she kept making funny faces!

 

 
 

Isa was feeling better, but still sick...she opened some presents up, and then others she would just sit and watch, poor Isa! Towards the end she got excited again!
 
 

Snowing...

and since it's snowing...I figured maybe I should share some of our Christmas pictures that I never got around too...

Christmas Eve, I had two sick girls...Isa feeling like crap, and Gulianna was feverish with chills, here she is eating a popsicle :)

Isabella was discharged out of the hospital that afternoon from having croup, and I had a very messy house. I think my girls finally went to bed around 1 or 2 in the morning, and I stayed up till almost 4am cleaning the house and wrapping presents so that we could have a Christmas!

And at last...the Christmas glow...early Christmas morning!

 
and yes...I go all out and decorate for Christmas...because it is fun, and we enjoy it!

 
  
 
 
 
 
 

My 3 charlie brown trees in the corner didn't get 'fluffed' until later...I was getting tired of fixing branches after all those trees...and then my lights finally burned out on the tiny one!

Christmas morning coming next :)

I better hurry...

well I started this 2 weeks ago...

and what do you know, I haven't finished it :)

I can't find my mod podge! And I have too much, I don't need to buy any more!

I printed these cute polka.dot shamrocks out onto white cardstock, from 2 Peas, then cut them out, inked them,  and glued them onto chipboard. I just need to mod podge them and punch a hole and string some jute through them...they are going on my St. Patrick's tree!

And I'm mad that I forgot to stop at Porter's while I was in Rexburg to buy a polka.dot dish towel for my tree skirt! Dang it!

Happy Valentine's Day...

my sweetheart girls! i ♥ them so much!

 

 

 

they are best friends! they are talking about how the hearts are so sparkly :)

 

"what do you want us to do with this mom?"

 
"oh, hold the letters up, like this?"

"oh, hold them up, and smile!"

yeah, this were the best ones that i got! isabella was more interested in playing with their ribbons in their hair...and trying to grab Gulianna's...while she yelled "isa, don't touch ME!"

 

happy heart day! 

February 13th pink + red...

i love decorating for the holidays! it makes it fun!

i made this banner from the Valentine's backgrounds kit on Hof3!

they have another kit that is already precut, but i already had purchased that when it first came out!

i ♥ pink & grey together!

i backed the paper onto chipboard, and i was going to use my tiny attacher...but i couldn't find it, so I sewed them onto twine, and then tied tulle and strips of fabric, since Gulianna took my valentine fabric garland apart! i added some turquoise, pink, & white tulle...

i need some matching decorations now ;)

switched out my Christmas stuff on my shelf...still no family picture in that frame! why is that so hard to do :)

my L♥Ve letters, i've had these for.ever!

 

i wish i had bought more of those hydrangea balls...i didn't know that they would be gone in a week! they would have been perfect on my Raggedy Ann tree!

 
 i lOvE my Raggedy Ann doll with the little kitty...Levi gave it to me on our first Christmas together...11 years ago!
  

pink + red...

 

I loVE February...mostly because there are only 28 days, even though it's still only 2-3 days shorter than a full month, technically it's a 2 week month, which goes by so fast. And one month closer to summer :)

This month always seems to fly by, I guess as most days and months do anymore. I wanted to do something fun, since last year I missed out on all the fun holidays...I was super sick all winter long. {I bet I had the worst case of the swine flu, but I'll never know, because I didn't go to the doctor, okay I did go in one time, but that was after the worst of it}

I love Valentine's...mostly because of all the chocolate, Valentines, and fun stuff, people being happy and spreading the love for one day, really it should be like that everyday. I would say roses & flowers and such but I'm not big on flowers, they die anyway because I forget to water them. But I do love Gerber Daisies! I remember when I was little, and I got to pick out which Valentine's I wanted to give out, and I would carefully read each one to make sure I signed it and gave it to the appropriate person...I didn't want to send out any wrong messages, lol!

And I love pink & red! So I will be sharing something for every day of the month of February, all things pink + red! I don't even really know what I'll be sharing, just going with each day!

So come back and check daily for some fun inspiration! And I am still catching up on some posts, so they will be here and there...

Also...I think it's time for another 'blurker' roll call...because I know you are lookin'...so what's stopping you from saying hi ♥... so let me know that you are here and leave a comment :)

I will send something fun that's pink + red to the 14th person!

Making Christmas cookies...

{pictures taken 12/15/09}

I got brave enough to make cookies once again...I tried a new recipe, and didn't care for the taste so much. They tasted too flour-y.

Isabella waiting patiently in her high chair.

my little helper, Gulianna!

sneaking cookie dough, look at that happy face! pure happiness!

first pan ready to go!

 

taking a plate to dad! so proud!

mmmmm!