Good...

to the last drop!

Shop Therapy

When you're feeling down, sometimes all you need is a little shop therapy! We've NEVER had a bed set before. So I saw this and liked it and bought it. It definitely makes making the bed way more fun!

I also stole this idea from my neighbor. I bought these magnetic corkboards from Costco (who knew they made such a thing) and covered them with fabric that coordinates with my bedding. FUN! What a pick-me-up! :) (Imagine them on a lovely blue-ish gray-ish wall, I think they look better that way) So then I put my New Years Resolutions on them, so I can be reminded every day of what I am supposed to be doing.

I actually think that the corkboards look cluttered now, so I might take the pictures down. I don't know. . .we'll see.

The Biggest Snowman Ever!

OK, it's probably not the BIGGEST, but you'll have to admit it is pretty big. ;)

Aaron and I had fun building a snowperson (hard to say if it's a man or woman) today. It warmed up a bit, so finally the snow wasn't so powdery and it would actually stick together! :) The snow in our front yard was so deep it actually went up to Aaron's little thighs.

Now that I have built a snowperson, I can officially be done with the snow and say

"COME ON SPRING!"

Somehow, I don't think that's going to happen. . . maybe because they are forecasting more snow on Friday. :(

New Years Resolutions

I saw this idea in Creating Keepsakes mag. I put my New Year's Resolutions in pics like this, just imagine them on a cute painted magnet board. I made them on envelopes so I could open them up and write my specific goals inside. (I still need to do that)
I thought I would be clever and start all of them with "S".

They say: Scrap, Simplify, Spirit, Successes

Self, Study, Serve, Smile

The Successes one is where I will make a weekly list of goals to accomplish that week, so I can eventually accomplish my year-long goals. Kind of fun.

Project 365

I took the "Project 365" challenge (and bought the kit) to take a picture a day for the year 2009. Let's hope I can keep up! The kit is cool, and will make it very easy to put them into layouts.
You can find out more about it at www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/ . I'm curious if anyone else is taking the challenge, kit or not. . .

A Quick December Wrap-up!

December 20th, was Aaron's 3rd Birthday. But, to be honest, the day was already too full, so we just didn't mention it to him until the next day. Are we terrible?!
It was the day my parents were SUPPOSED to fly in just in time to make it to the Gygi family Christmas party. After they waited at the Portland airport all day, their flight was cancelled.
But snow wouldn't stop the Gygi Christmas party! :) We had a fun time seeing all the family and missed those who weren't there.

You can see the kids had a blast ripping into their gifts!

The next day was the Sunday before Christmas, so we had our traditional Christmas Best Pictures. Aaron was not into it, can you tell?
After church we celebrated Aaron's birthday as if it were the real day and he never knew any better.

He loved his trucks and cars and his bike. He zipped all around the house on his new bike. He was pretty excited!

Monday was supposed to be a big day at the airport. My parents rescheduled their flight from Portland to come in on Monday and my brother was flying in from Seattle. SADLY, my parent's flight got cancelled AGAIN! :( The next flight available wasn't until AFTER Christmas, so my parents weren't able to come for Christmas!! We were ALL very, very sad about that! BUT, my bro (pictured above) was able to fly in. We had a great week with him. He is a master chef, and cooked us up some good grub.

Christmas Eve brought new jammies and a fabulous reenactment of the nativity. Yes, Aaron is a sheep with bunny ears and Lucy is a wise man wearing a tu-tu. It was hilarious! They chose their own parts.

And finally Christmas morning! We got a Wii! How fun! I think I'm having just as much fun as the kids. I like dance-dance revolution and Wii fit. I've got to give myself a time limit or I could probably play all day. :) j/k

We were totally lame AGAIN this year and didn't send out Christmas cards. I'm thinking 2009 will be my year for Christmas cards. . .we'll just have to wait and see.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

With the snow and the Christmas decor up, it is really feeling like Christmas. We've really tried to have the real spirit of Christmas in our home this year. It has been a fun and peaceful time.


Anna had her Christmas recital last week. They did such a good job. With her slender figure she looks very graceful on the dance floor.

I have been shopping and feel like I got almost everything done.

We went and saw Santa on Saturday. Anna and Abby had written notes to Santa with things they wanted. Abby wanted a play laptop, really bad. Then while chatting with Santa she REALLY wanted a play kitchen. Santa was so generous saying, "That sounds like something we can do." Hmmmm. . . When I asked her about the laptop, she said, "I want the kitchen more!"

Saturday night, Mike and I went out and finished up a little more Christmas shopping. Except for a few things I need to make, I think we are done! :) Time to start wrapping. . .

I tried

to get tickets to Wicked today. I tried with 2 computers and 1 phone all going at the same time . . .nothing. They are sold out. :(
If anyone has connections, let me know. ;)

Happy Birthday Mikey!

On the 3rd Mike turned the big 3-5! We celebrated on the 2nd because he was actually out of town on the big day. It was fun to have family over with some cake and ice cream.
Mike is very caring about others. He tries to be thoughtful of others needs and feelings.
He is a good teacher, to others, as well as our children. That is one of the things I love about him.
He is funny.
I love to hang out with him, I just like to be with him.
I am so happy that I get to spend my days with him and enjoy our lives journey together. He has been there for me in many ways and tries to make me happy, I hope I do the same for him.
Happy Birthday! I love you!



By the way, I was feeling so youthful because I am almost 4 years younger than he is. ;)That was all ruined today when Abby asked me if cars were made when I was born. Hellooooo! How old does she think I am?!
I guess when you're a kid, all you know is your parents are OLD. . .

Catching Up

Finally Posting Thanksgiving! We met Mike's cousin Andy's family and Jill's family for a wonderful feast!





Before we ate Anna read to us her Thankful Scroll that she made in school, burnt edges and all. We were all very impressed. It set the mood for being thankful for all of our blessings, then it was time to dig in!


Earlier that morning I had to watch "The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" of course. Mike teases me saying, "Can't you just call it The Parade?" But no, I can't. It's just one of those things you have to say all of it and watch all of it. I peeled potatoes during commercials.
Its been a tradition since I was a kid and now because I get so excited about it and talk about it like it is the best thing on earth, my kids love it, too! :)

We talked, laughed, played games, and kept an eye on 9 kids. The little community where we stayed had an indoor pool, so there was a lot of swimming going on! It was fun.

Aaron and Shadow were BFFs. Shadow even slept on Aaron's bed, which for some reason I think is gross, but Aaron totally loved it! When he's happy going to bed, I'm happy. ;)


I snapped a few shots of Andy's family for their Christmas cards. (no pressure!) I reminded them several times I am SO not a professional and I don't even know how to work my camera yet. Hope they found one they liked!

It was nice to spend some time with Jill's family, too. We really miss them.

To add to the excitement we got rearended on I-15 on the way home. 4 cars involved, not our fault, no injuries and only minor damage to our bumber (although the poor car that started the chain reaction was totalled, thats too bad). But everyone was OK, another thing to be grateful for!