I really wanted to have a chance to blog today and show pics of several things that I have going on but I have been on the computer already way too long today. I have been creating math drill sheets, spelling sheets, and printing off projects for us (really LaTrele) to do. Plus I have to find the time to relax my hair, wash some clothes, prepare burger patties (because I will be at my son's history day program for hours) for Vele to grill after work, and comb LeiLani's hair! And all this needs to be done before 2:45pm when the history day program starts. I am hoping that my poor camera batteries will have charged by then because my car battery charger isn't working at all! But anyways here is some of the things that I have been working on.

Airplane embellishments for the mini albums, these are hand cut and stitched. They took me about 2hrs to make a few different ones. I don't know if I love them, but they are really cute!

And this is the canvas pocket that I made from a piece of canvas that I have been holding onto for something special forever. My thought was since the album needed a pocket for the cards, that I needed it to be durable and sturdy. And since there aren't any sheet protectors this worked out great. Well I gotta get to work! Have a great day everyone!

I just realized that I never finished the post that I saved to my blog last week. I have been posting on my blog and saving them until I had photos to add to the post. I guess I could have posted without the pictures but that just seems so weird to be posting about something that I have made or done and not to include any pictures of anything that I have done. Maybe next time I will post and then just add pictures later.

Well I have been busy organizing my space the last couple of weeks only to make a complete mess in there for the current project that I am working on. But now my stickers are organized and all together in one spot. Hopefully this will make using them easier. I noticed that I have tons of letter/word stickers. Especially 7 Gypsies ones and that I have only used a few on the revolving ATC's that I worked. I am so excited to be able to have them out and so now when I reach for a sticker folder it has all family, school, baby, holiday, birthdays/celebrations, calendar/documentation themed stickers in one place along with all my letter stickers sorted by color. I used the cropper hopper sticker folders to sort them, which isn't a lot different from the other filing system that I had (PSB and desktop file folder) but now because of the open storage bin thingie all of those folders are in one place. I love it because now instead of reaching for that huge and heavvvyyy PSB/Cropper Hopper 3 ring binder, now I pull out one folder. And then put it right back. I love it!

But like I said, my space is a complete mess because I am working on a memory album for a returning customer. It is such a compliment to be asked to do a memory album for a loved one that has passed away. And so I have been working hard gathering supplies and pulling out some of the best things that I hadn't used because I was waiting on the perfect reason to use it. And now I have one...I don't plan on showing all the pages of the album because it is something that is special and should be cherished by the family (but I will show bits and pieces here and there of pages without the photos. So here is the cover that I have started. I think that I am going to add something else to it, I am not sure what but then I am going to be moving on to the pages. I have some really great sketches that I haven't tried and so I can wait to use those either.

I have tried to take 2 different pics of the album cover but no matter what I am not getting the best results with picture taking today.

Well I am off to run some erronds with includes returning kiwi acrylic paint back to Walmart for the 4th time...I think this color is bad across the board. I will have to get a substitute because I need that kiwi color green for this mini album. Also the ribbon holder ring is really red. It just wouldn't photo great at all and the letter stickers used match the border and the ribbon ring 100% but it just doesn't look that way in the photo.

I am sitting down to take a mini break just to tell you all about my day. It has been a really busy one, well that isn't anything unusual. But I am just tired because Nya had been tossing and crying out all night last night. Which I knew would happen because she has a little tip of her tooth showing! Yes we are now teething, well she is and I am sleeping less. She has been a lot better than all the other kids (so far with teething) but she is mellow baby, she doesn't really cry even when her big sister takes something from her (which by the way has started to happen).

So enough about that...I called my Grandma today. Today was her first day home after being in the hospital for a week. And I am so ready to move to be with her, but she is so against it. I understand why but at the same time I know that she would love for us to be with her.

Let's see what else can I share...I really don't have anything except that I have been running all over the place taking care of business and also getting school planning done for LaTrele. He is going to write a book report and make a presentation of his topic. He selected monkeys/gorillas as his mammal to work on. It was so nice to see him in the library actually looking up his own books and using the web/search and catalog to find them. I am so glad that I showed him how to do it...so now I can find books for everyone else and work on family learning. I had fun teaching LeiLani how to use a mouse today. She has used the computer tons but never really got the clicking down so it was nice to see her using it. She was so excited about that.

Oh and since I haven't shared what's for dinner in a while, I took photos of what I am working on right now...Beef and Veggie Teriyaki. I had the meat marinating since lunch. But the noodles came into plan when I decided to stop by Aldi and grab a bag of carrots and maybe some other veggie to put in it...and that is when I found a whole selection of Asia specialities. So now we are having noodles and baby corn too!

Even Angels...

Wow I was on youtube looking for the daily scrapbooking uploads and I have to say that I was a little distracted by the fact that I had wanted to watch Oprah yesterday and I wasn't able to (had to pick up my son) but then I said why don't I see if they have it on there. The show was Oprah interviewing Fantasia. Now I have never been into American Idol, well I never voted or watched the show consistently. But I did watch reruns of it when I had nothing else to watch. And occasionally I would watch the try-outs...oh those were so funny! But I remember seeing her (Fantasia) cry/win and I was happy for her. Especially considering her background. And I don't usually follow celebs or famous people so I had no idea that there was anything going on negative about her and if I had the money to spend I had plans to go to my first Broadway show to see her perform my favorite movie, The Color Purple. But it wasn't something that I could do.

But I watched the whole show (all the pieces that I could find) and was amazed to hear her story. It was a little weird because we had a somewhat similar story, I mean I didn't get pregnant as a teen but I understand what she means about taking care of her siblings. And although you love them and would do anything for them, sometimes you just gotta let them take care of themselves. But that's another story, the point I'm making is that I'm surely going to get her latest single...Even Angels. I was moved to tears. Honestly. I have heard some of her other songs and thought they were ok (my best friend used to love listening to her), but this song is amazing! You go Fantasia! So because I live under a rock lol lol I have to figure out when the song is going to be out or if it is already and get it. I haven't bought a cd in years, usually I buy music on the internet, but I am so going to actually buy the cd.

I just had to come share that. Oh also I have a Dr's appt tomorrow and I am really worried! I haven't had any health issues (well since being pregnant) but I am really concerned about some tests that were done. And so I am hoping all will be ok, and if you are a praying person please pray for my strength both physically and mentally. Good evening you all!

My blog has been neglected too long!

I just don't know what to say about my blog neglect? I have been busy but I think I haven't posted mostly because of the pain of typing. Although my finger is healed?? It still hurts even now that the splint/cast thing is off. But I am going to try to make myself type so that I can get over the pain.

There has been so much going on and there are so many things that I want to share. And since I haven't chatted in a while there is just too much to share but I will try to get most of it down.

We are learning sign language as a family so that we can talk to my step MIL. I can't wait until she can communicate with the kids and hubby and myself in person instead of by text message and also the fact that we took the time to learn to speak to her in her language makes me excited too. We still haven't told her that we are learning it...but we found some awesome resources at the public library. One of the things I found was Signing Time videos. And let me tell you, we have completely eliminated kid regular cartoons because the kids love watching these videos. I have had to recheck out several so that they can continue to practice but it still lots of fun. Even my 3yr old is signing and singing the songs also. It's just a fun way to teach them something.

Well my daughter turned 3 this last week and we celebrated her birthday with her. It was so nice to do something simple at home together. Mostly because it was cold and also because things are going to be a little tight these next couple of months. Plus she was just so happy to get her present. I also realized that we have gotta branch out and get involved in more play groups instead of the 2 neighbors that we play with every once and a while. Because we don't have any kids her age in the family that live close to us...and until we move to AZ we won't have any girls around us besides the play group/neighbors. So we are going to branch out. But here's a pic of her on her special day.

I haven't edited/fixed any of the photos I'm uploading today. Mostly because I have so many things that I want to share.

Also we have been having tons of fun homeschooling this last month. The one thing that is hard about homeschooling is motivating a child to do something. And we don't believe in rewards for doing something that you are supposed to do but how can you not make learning fun and rewarding for a little one? I mean sitting in front of books all day and reading or doing math does get boring after a while. So we (hubby and I ) have been trying to find more creative things for our 2nd grader. And Vele thought of the Science Museum. And lets just say that was an amazing idea. We had never been to just the regular science museum (just the Children's Museum) but we had tons of fun with the kids. We practiced signing the names of dinosaurs and did several experiments there too. And for those that don't know you can get a discounted rate at the science museum if you are on WIC, or several other things. We qualified for a discount because of Vele's job, but there are lots of discounts available so there isn't really any reason you can't go. We ended up paying something like $48 for a year membership. And the membership can be used at all Science Museums...so of course that includes Arizona's. But that is all that I will share for today. I am planning on posting to my blog later this week as well.

Hi everyone. I am so exhausted and hungry. I do have dinner prepared but we are waiting for my hubby to get home to eat together tonight. And that isn't usually a hard thing to do but in the winter the drive that usually takes 15mins is a lot longer. Especially during rush hour.

I have some really great news. We once again have 2 vehicles. My hubby came home with a van KIA Sedona to be exact and it was so nice and shiny and all mine! And he will be driving the old van. So I have been really excited about having a van again. And being able to go when I need to and run the kids all over the place and back again.

Also I got to scrapbook on Dec. 30th and did several pages for Nya's album. I had no plans of working on anything else but her book because there was no way that I was going to start 2010 without having at least her title page and birth pages done...but I actually got her first month done as well. I can't show all the pgs because they include a baby in her birthday suit but here is one. And unfortunately the sun set (at 4:30pm) and so I wasn't able to get a great indoor picture no matter what I tried to do. But here is the photo. And have a great day.

Hey everyone

I hope that everyone is having a great day...I just got my birthday present, ballons, and cards from the family and I can't wait to do whatever it is that is planned for the day. So scrapers have fun today...