Just an "office" memory

I was out and about yesterday and came across a familiar stomping ground. When I worked in the Purchasing Department at TNI, we ate at Saigon Cafe, a lot. It was one of those places where their kids serve you and sanitation is questionable. But the food, the food was delicious. Yum yum General Tso chicken . . . There were a lot of fun times and good memories. (until you know who came along!)

Perfectly Vintage!

Design Mom spotlighted this web page about a week ago.

The Toymaker is an amazing site of free patterns of paper toys. So far Caden has made the bi-plane, race car, bus & chocolate truck. I also made the fairy wand. It is absolutely amazing that someone, the talented Marilyn Scott-Waters, created these. She also has a section Firelight Stories. So cute. I wish I were this talented. Go check it out, your little ones will enjoy it. Print them on card stock!!!! And be patient with the more detailed ones.

Who knew? Hum, a secret life? I knew it!!!!

While I was flipping through this "mini Flyers" book on how to make paper airplanes, a familiar name caught my attention. I grew up this this kid, even shared a room at times, but I swear I never saw him exhibit any kind of graphic design talent. I just wish he would open up and let us know about this new talent. Dustin, there is no need to hide your gifts! So you need to come clean, is this really you? People are asking!!

The death of my mailbox. =(

+

Chelsea
(aka lead foot)

=

Broken mail box! It was clear out in the middle of the cul-de-sac. It was hilarious. I wasn't upset as Chelsea was. Her new Chrylser Aspen literally just rolled off the showroom floor. =( Good news though, both can easily be repaired!

Sorry Chelsea, but I had to post this. It was so funny. It actually still makes me laugh! Hope you laugh when you read this!!

Who has time to be sick? Caden has things to do!

So, while Scott is away, what a perfect time for the three of us to get sick. Colds are not much fun. But it doesn't seem to slow Caden down at all. He decided that he wanted to get a head start on making his Indian "hats" to sell for this summer. Right when I think it's time for us to all lay down, he decides he wants to write some books. "I can read" 7 pages and "I'm going swimming" 9 pages. He is a busy authur/illustrator. They are each for sell if anyone is interested. But I'm almost positive that I'm not going to sell them. I told them that they were worth millions to me. So he told me that I needed to save my money. He did a really great job on them. I'm so amazed at the things that he creates.

Chinese New Year

Caden learned about Chinese New Year at school. They ate rice and fish with chopsticks. So he has decided that he now likes rice and wanted some for dinner. I made chicken & rice and the boys used their chopsticks to eat. It was quite comical to watch.

This is Caden's fortune from school. It couldn't be more true. We are getting ready for you big guy. The world is at your feet!

100 School Days!

To celebrate 100 days of schools Caden had to make a poster with 100 things on it. He is reading the Ready Freddy book series. The logo is a shark, so Caden wanted to make a shark. Scott helped him out on this one. They used gumballs, tootsie rolls, peppermint sticks, a button and a straw. They went a little overboard and used 102 items. Oh well! I think it turned out great and Caden was so excited to take it to school to show everyone. His teacher loved it too!

While I was in the other room . . .

Chaos insued! A "fort" was created by the boys and Reiss found a new purpose for the DVD cases.

Busy time of the year

I know that January is usually a slow month, but for me it is not. I'm busy getting spring products ready for our upcoming show, which is this week. Anyway, I promise? to post again in February. Um, maybe not, because then I will be fulfilling orders. But I will try to get some updates soon, how about that?



BTW: I went to dinner last night with some great friends to celebrate BRENDA'S birthday. (yes, she is still 29) I haven't been out with friends in so long. Brenda and I shared a cubicle a LONG time ago at TNI. (welcome to the world of an office) She and a few others from there I consider my best friends on this earth, I'm sure that they will continue afterwards as well. Even if time spands between visits it is not awakard to bump into them and we can just pick up where we left off. These are friendships that I truly treasure.

I have a fun halloween picture from the TNI days, I will post it when I find it. Don't miss working there, but I am grateful for the friendships I made there.

HELP!!!

Calling on all true friends, family & strangers!!!

My bff posted a contest on her photography blog and put Reiss' photo in the contest. So I NEED everyone who looks at my blog to jump on over to http://www.photosbypicme.com/blog/ and VOTE for #10!!!

Just scroll right past #1 (traci & jack, no hard feelings sis) through #9 and look at that adorable red head on #10! There is a $200 stretched canvas at stake here. I mean business, so please help me out! ;) Contest ends January 14th. Let your friends know (i'm serious) to so they can vote as well for #10!!!!!

If you ever send out an SOS, I'll be there for you!

We wish you a Merry Christmas

My wish list

{A}

{B}

{C}

Okay, so I was thinking since I'm the one who usually has to shovel that I should be able to get the best tools to get the job done. I just would like to be effecicient when I'm doing this.

If A or B is sold out I guess I'll settle for C, Bora Bora.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!

You know you had a lot of snow when your neighbor has to come over with his CAT to dig you out! So grateful that he did. He put some of the snow at the end of the cul-de-sac so the kids could play on it. And they did for about 2 hours.

It was so heavy to shovel. All I could do was shovel the walkway up to the house. Caden was loving every bit of snow that was falling. It was up to my knees. We received at least 12 inches if not more today.

What we've been up, I mean down too!

{Not us}
{Not us}

This is where we did our first Open Water Dive. We have to do 2 more dives here then we will be certified. We were supposed to have our first dives yesterday, Friday the 19th, but you needed chains to get up the canyon yesterday so we canceled it. I know, what a fun time to take scuba!


This is the entrance to the crater at the Homestead. It's 16 degrees out and they are going to do what? Burrhhh!

Before the dive, all nice & warm!

After the dive, not so warm anymore! As soon as I got my gear off and laid my tank down I ran and got my towel & hat. The water is naturally warm, it was about 95 today. Getting out was a shocking experience.

It was really cool to be on the surface of the water and look up and see the snow coming in through the opening. (they have a grate over the opening)

So why are we doing this? Scotts company is called OceanGrown International (ogilife.com) that's why. It's a part of the culture. They wanted all the employees to have the opportunity to take this class and become more familiar with the ocean and its beautiful surroundings. We have been taking this class for 2 weeks. Thanks to Traci for watching the boys so we could this!


I understand why people don't scuba. It can be scary. When I was descending for the first time today I wanted to ascend and get out. (Its much easier in a swimming pool) But I reminded myself to relax and to stay focused on the instructor. Everything went well. I'm glad that we are doing this. It's a great activity to do, something that Scott and I can enjoy together. There are no fighting kids down there! I doubt that we'll ever be die hard divers, but definitely occasional recreational ones. Seriously, I don't want to descend more than I did today and that was about 40 feet.

The weather outside is frightful!

Seriously, don't laugh. When it is blowing and snowing I'm grateful for my garage! I don't have to load the kids up in that nasty weather. I can bring the groceries in without eating snow and falling on my butt! Anyway, sorry for those who don't have one, I mean it.

Not to mention scraping ice and snow off, I did enough of that in Kansas! Oh the dreadful midwest winters of inches of ice on the car. Although I do miss aspects of Kansas, the winter weather is not one of them. The Utah winters are easy compared to those of home.

If you look close, the wind already blew off two of my swags that I had on the lights.

Santa Clause is coming . . . . to our house!

Whoo Hoo!!!! Reiss didn't cry!! I had to convince him at first but then he was fine. We are so lucky to have a "Santa" that loves our kids so much and he brings a little gift for each child. He flew in all the way from Colorado!

When he was leaving Reiss said, "I love you Santa, I love Rudolph too!" It was sweet.

Did I mention how much I love my Dad?!!! He truly is the best!

Lights

It was a warm 26 degrees or so. Scott didn't think he needed a coat? Okay. Seriously, it was beautiful. The navitity on the water was pretty cool. I wasn't able to get a good picture for 2 reasons, 1) my camera isn't the greatest 2) there were so many people we couldn't even get close to it.

BTW, it was freezing!!! We had to go to the Joseph Smith Building to thaw out before we headed back to the car.

39 isn't sooooo BAD

(Yummy lips Reiss!) You too Scott!

This is Scott after finding out that Traci told the waiter that it was his birthday. : {

This is Scott after being humliated in front of the entire Texas Roadhouse Resturant and having to sit on a saddle with 3 little very excited boys! See, it wasn't so bad! That's what keeps you young honey, laughter! Remember that next year when the big 4-0 is here.

What were we thinking?

When we bought this sink we thought it would be something unique & fun for the boys. But did not think that sitting in the sink was one of those. I should have known! The first week we moved in Caden thought ALL of his hotwheels needed a bath. That sink held them all too! And Reiss once climbed in wearing his diaper and turned the water on. Let me tell you now Huggies do not hold that well!

Apparently it is a pretty cool place to just chill out in too.

{please disregard the mess, my life has been crazy busy lately}

Thanksgiving Program ~ Caden Style

Aw, isn't he such a handsome pilgrim? So happy and glad to be a part of the Thanksgiving program.



Wait! What is this? Why is he upset? Crying? What in the world? His teacher asked me to go talk to him. I thought are you kidding, he has stage fright right? NO! He is mad because he wants to be an Indian, not a pilgrim. So he took his hat off and turned the collar around. Whatever, who knew? He wouldn't sing at all, it was a real memory maker!

December News

Well, there are some posts coming. I just don't know when I'm going to get to them. So check back soon and hopefully I will have posted some for your enjoyment!

I'm thinking tomorrow night (Saturday) I should have time! :)