New Layouts!

Just some layouts that I have done lately! I had a huge rush of inspiration...

To All A good night!

This was emailed to me and I had to share it.
God Bless the men and women who fight for our freeedoms everyday! May we never forget them! Thank You!


The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then thesure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's lightThen he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.""It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,The red, white, and blue... an American flag.I can live through the cold and the being alone,Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another,Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..Who stand at the front against any and all,To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.""But isn't there something I can do, at the least,"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,"Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,To stand your own watch, no matter how long.For when we come home, either standing or dead,To know you remember we fought and we bled.Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Keeping busy...

Kristine asked me how to keep herself busy while her husband is gone for nine weeks! He just joined the guard..I know that feeling of what you are going to do when your husband is gone! Since my husband is in the Reserve, I am blessed that he was only gone the once so far! But those five months were enough! What kept me going was lots of playdates with my kids friends, BBQ's with family and friends, and my hobby of scrapbooking! The nights were the hardest, they do get lonly but I came up with a routine that worked for me as far as what I would do once th kids were in bed. I would clean up the kitchen, do some scrapbooking, read or take a bath, call a friend to just chat and email and of couse this blog!
Keeping the kids busy was hard too! I got some great advise of taking the kids to McDonald's for a sundae and then letting them play....my kkids are totally into arts and crafts to we colored, painted and drew a ton! We went to the library more than normal, swam in the pool a bit longer, all the stuff we normally would do just a bit longer or more often. Plus, having those nights that you would just sit and watch a movie together and just relax was great too.
Hope all this helps and I hope others reading this can add to the great things you can do while the husband and dad is gone! Keep in contact Kristine! It will go by fast!

Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving was great! Suprisingly, it wasnt too hectic and we were able to really hang out and enjoy each other! I so love my family and am glad that we got to spend it with them!



My son and his cousin giving funny faces!



My parents....arent they cute!



My and my love before we left for our family reunion.

I am so thankful for my husband, my children, my family, that my husband has a job, for our Armed Forces, scrapbooking, books, my friends in real life and cyber, for Jesus in my heart and life.
I am so thankful that I have the right and freedom to be who I am and to say how I feel!


I have so many new layouts that I have created...I hope to get them up and on the computer soon!

So many new layouts!!

I have been really busy lately scrapping away! Along with helping at my son's school, carting both kids to school, karate, gymnastics and church!

The third weekend of October, I met up with some ladies I had met at Allyscraps and went to the Scrappbook Expo in Sacramento. We had a great time and I got tons of scrapping done!

Enjoy all my new work... And Happy Halloween!!

My husband came home from his first weekend that he had to report to his unit and when he got home he left his boots our to dry and I took the opportunity to take a pic and scrap it!

My dear daughter and her best friend after a tour of a local fire station.

When my husband came home, the kids didnt leave his side.

My son at the Aquarium...he loves that place!

My dad and my daughter riding my dad's horse...

A fun night at home with my husband giving the kids horsey rides...

That is all for now....

I created this layout the other night while a friend was here scapping with me while all the kids played and the men watched baseball...

My son had to take this picture for his dad, when we were taking first day of school pictures..he loves his daddy and looks just like him!

Head over to Allyscraps to join everyone for a month long of challenges, games and prizes! It is already so much fun!

One more for him!

I did another layout and it happens to be another one of me and my husband! You would think that we dont have kids!

Sept. 11th...

On this day, we always go and have a tour of our local fire department. We take the firemen homemade goodies and thank them for their service. So to all of those that have served our country, serve our country, our police, firemen and all of those that keep us safe...thank you!

The day has come!!

For Richard to come home! We pick him up at the airport tonight!! Since he is coming home so late, we are going to have to take a small nap this afternoon so that we are not zombies tonight....look or new pics to come soon...

My last saturday....

Without my hubby! Yes, he is going to be home next Friday night! I dont know what time yet, but he did call me at 4 in the morning the day of his final PT test to tell me that he passed! I am so proud of him! Not that I threatened him if he didnt come home!
Been a pretty lazy day here since football has now started and my NOTRE DAME was playing! I cant go anywhere if there isnt a TV to watch them! I can definatly get pretty crazy when they are playing...just ask my family!

Stress not needed!!

Have you ever gone through a situation where you right in the middle of something you dont want to be in?! Oh my goodness! I am right there!! I hate when you have to deal with someone or something that is not ethical, not nice, and just plain out wrong!
I want to step away but at the same time belive that what is going on is wrong and need to help take care of it. Cant wait till my hubby is home to help out more!

My dad did find another horse!! YEAH! He is still so sad about losing Martha but seems to be happy about finding a new horse...I cannot wait to meet Mona!

On the flip side, D-man is doing awesome in his new school, really getting good at his karate and is getting more animated everyday.

Baby girl won a metal at gymnastics last week for her acomplishments. She told me it is because she has the best "Ta-Da"! Whatever the case I am proud of her and she really is accelerating.
Hello Summer Olympics of 2020!

I am still trying to get used to D-man being in school until 3 in the afternoon! And now, our Baby Girl will be going to her second year of Preschool..what is this posible? Only one more year until both are in school full time..guess its time for me to go get that second degree I want!

Ok, dont ask what I want it in, but I am thinking about a BA in Criminal Justice. I would love to work as a profiler and learn all what makes someone do what they do. More of a sociology mixed in with criminal justice.

So I have to give huge props to people in my life...my sister who is almost done with her Doctorate and my friend Tisha that is going into the Grad program for Psychology. Both are moms, and persuing their dreams at the same time! Both are truly inspiring....and their husbands are great supporters...cant forget about them!

First day of school!

This is in the car on the way to his new school! He was so excited but at the same time a bit scared so Bananas had to accompany him! It was so cute to see him step out of the car with his Nemo backpack and lunch pail holding a monkey dressed up as a surfer...I cherish these times as they are going to go by so fast!

Book of Me page

I was asked over at Allyscraps to come up with a prompt for the Book of Me. Here is the prompt I came up with:

Since the Olympics have been going on, I have been thinking about how many proud people are out there that are going to watch someone they care about compete..so it got me thinking and I want to know when you have been the most proud of yourself. Did you accomplish a dream, a goal, stop or start something, whatever it is tell us about it!

My proudest moment was when I knew I had to marry my husband! So my journaling reads:

SO Proud of ME!

So proud of myself for listening to my heart and becoming your wife!

Sounds a little different for the proudest moment of my life, since I do have two wonderful kids, a degree, and am a Stay at home MOM but I couldnt imagine doing all of that without my husband by myside. For those that know me, you know how hard Richard and I made things for each other in the beginning (wonder we ever got married ) but we pulled togther, had some big heart to hearts, made some serious changes and now we have been married almost five years!

Some love for Cousin Tom!

Yep, its true...these two love their cousin Tom! Silly faces and all!

A Salute for Daddy!

What is cuter that this? Dominic had to salute his daddy in a picture!

50 Things I love!

This layout was to be about my favorite things but it ended up being the 50 things I love...and they are in no particular order!

Just a few things are: kisses from my husband, my kids, my parents, my siblings, Target, scrapbooking, photography, reading, coffee, my nices an nephews, my Jetta, bedtime, getting cards in the mail, flowers, suprises, getting my hair done, Christmas lights, baking, my kids laughter, decorating my house, horses, football...well, you get the picture!

Another great prompt from ALLYSCRAPS!

Today marks only one month till my husband comes home!!!! Yep, only 30 days until my hubby is back in my arms!! And no I cannot not wait, like a kid in a candy store!

Another one!

Just a quick layout of my husband...yep, I have been doing those alot lately. I guess that is what happens when he is gone for so long.

I told him that it looks like someone just ran over his puppy and my brother corrected me saying "No, that is him telling you that he is going to run over YOUR puppy!"

Love you baby!

Sad day for our family!

I know that most people have "fur babies" and couldnt imagine their life without them...well, for my family we have horses as our "fur babies". And this morning one of our babies had to be put to sleep. My dad's friend that lives at his ranch found his horse, Martha, out in the field with a leg broken in two places, we called the Vets son, who was someone that had been around Martha and could handle him and he called us to say that there was nothing that could be done and he would take care of it for my dad. We all know what "take care of" means when you are talking about animals.
Martha, a boy with a girls name as the grandkids say, was a very special horse to my dad and our family. He was given to my dad from a great friend, Martha, before she passed away from cancer. So while Martha was a bit of a stink to the rest of us, he was a great horse to my dad. And my dad was very proud of him; they were amazing together. My dad was even asked to by a photographer to ride Martha so he could photograph them.
So yes, today is a sad day for our family...I truly thank my dads friends Lane and Drew for taking care of things for my dad, as this is not easy for anyone to handle...
Now off to comfort the kids as they loved all of Boppa's horses!

My last travel adventure!

This layout was for a Prompt for My Book of Me at Allyscraps. For me, my last travel was to see my husband graduate from Boot Camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I was more than happy to do this page and was so amazed at how short of a time it took me! I love my husband and had to share this wonderful travel for me!

My journaling reads:

July 9,2008, Fort Jackson has been my latest travel. I flew from Sacramento to San Francisco to D.C. to Columbia just to see him! I would never regret this trip, he made me so proud!

As he graduated boot camp on the 11th of July he made us an Army family.

South Carolina was so beautiful, the people were so nice and the humidity was totally new to me. BUT, I loved it there for the short time I was there!

Next time I want to visit Myrtle Beach and maybe Charleston.

I am telling ya, The Palmetto State made a good impression on me!

Crazy, hectic...

Crazy and hectic is a good way to describe our mini family reunion we had this lat weekend. There were six grandchildren, six parents, two grandparents and one cousin! Yep, that is alot of Chiefs and not enough Indians as they say...

All of the cousins had a great time playing together and the "older" cousins, meaning my kids of course, were trying to "take care" of the littlest ones! I am not sure that Bella and Logan minded since being 17 and 15 months old they were able to ignore them a bit..

Early Friday morning we made our very small treck our to the ranch so that we could ride the horses. I am not sure that Terry and Buck, the best horses ever, were totally thrilled with the agenda but they were on their best behavior! At this point in this picture, it looked like Buck was asleep with the girls on his back! Hence, the suprised look on Natalia's face and the smile on Cayleanna's!

KIYAH!

Yes, you are seeing this right, my son is breaking a piece of wood! Last Friday, he took a Karate Kid class when he learned how to do this. He was so happy afterwards that the second we got into the car he asked to call his Daddy! Of course, he brought the pieces of wood home with him so that he can show him when he gets home! I am so proud of this little man!








But then again, who can refuse a face like this?!

Some new scrappy goodness!

I deceided to do a challenge over at Allyscraps and make something that is not just a scrapbook page. So I made these two little wall hangings...go over there and check them out! Best scrapbooking place on the web!

Of course, one I made was of me and my hubby! The bottom of it says You hold MY heart...and its true, it is all his! I know all that mushy stuff...eeeww
I hated all that mushy stuff until I met the love of my life. And normally I am not that mushy but I miss him so much and just feel the need to let everyone know!
These are my best friends since we all started college together 11 years ago! Was it really that long ago? Selah and Michelle make me so happy everytime I look at pictures of them. They truly are the people that you want in your life forever! I could not have made it through many things in my life without them...this will be hung up at over my scrapbook table so that I can see it everytime I sit down to scrap!

US ARMY Boot Camp Graduation!

I just got back from my Husband's Boot Camp Graduation from the US ARMY in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. I had a wonderful time and was so happy to see my husband after 10 weeks! He looks so wonderful and has really gotten into shape! Us after his graduation and right before we had to say goodbye for the last time.
Right before he had to go back to his barricks, the night before he graduated...
The proud MOM and her US ARMY Boot Camp Graduate! It was wonderful to see Julie and for her to share this wonderful time with us!
Me in the hat my mother in law bought for me! I think the hat says it all!
Richard is still and always be the most handsome man to me. I am so proud of him an the sacrifices he has made for our family. I miss him greatly and cannot wait until he is back home with us!

4th of July!

Sparklers were the highlight of the night! The kids could not get enough of them and couldnt stop throwing the poppers! They truly had a great night hanging out with the other kids and eating all of the great things they dipped in the chocolate fountain! Oh yes, a chocolate fountain. My aunts neighbor had bananas, strawberries, marshmellows, pretzels, waffers, brownies, madelines, and so much more to dunk in the sweet chocolate! MMMM....

What big kids there really are becoming. I only had to tell them once to stay back from the big fireworks. Cayleanna fell asleep on the couch "taking care"of JOJO the dog and in the end I think it was JOJO that was protecting her!

18 days left...

Till I get to see my husband! I get to fly to South Carolina to see my his graduate from boot camp... I am so excited about it! Totally bummed that the kids cannot go with me but they get to go to the zoo for their cousins birthday party! I dont even think they are going to miss me at all.
It is still hard to believe that it has been over two months since my husband left for the Army. It feels like that long and at the same time, time has flown by....good think I have been keeping myself busy!
I am so thankful for all of my friends who have let me talk to them for hours, cry on their shoulder and just vent when I cant get the kids to listen! It has meant the world to me!

Kindergarten Graduate!

Dominic graduated from Kindergarten last week! He was so sad to go! He loved his teacher and friends. I am so proud of him to do as well as he did this year. He has learned so much and is so happy to learn more.

I could not of asked for a better year and teacher for him! And what they say is true, once they start school it goes so fast!

My sisters by choice!

This last weekend I was able to go see my two best friends from college. Even though it has been two and a half years since I have seen them, nothing has changed. We still get loud and crazy, talk about old times, present times, and everything inbetween. I love these girls like they were my sisters!

Selah and Michelle have been frineds since grade school and I entered into the mix in College. They were the best things that happened to me in college..well them and my husband!
Michelle graduated from law school! I am so happy and proud of her, it brings tears to my eyes. The first day I met her she told me that she was going to be a lawyer and now her dream has come true. Congrats my dear friend!

It harder than I thought!

It has been 22 days since Richard left and I did not think it would be this hard. The kids are really missing their daddy and we pray for him every night. It is really cute to listen to them "talk" to their daddy about what they have done during the day, how they want God to keep him safe, and what they are going to do with daddy as soon as he gets home.

So for everyone out there...please keep Richard, the kids and I in your prayers.

He is almost 6!!

Tomorrow my baby boy turns six but tonight we celebrated with a few family members. He got four different Transformers and it took all of us to get them together!

A new do for me!

Here is the new me!!!!!

I had to do something with my hair, it was getting so bad! I wasnt sure what to do with it, so I put myself in my friend Sarah's hands and she went to town! I love what she did to it, dont you?!

I am so excited for Richard to see it when he is done with Boot Camp. I think he is going to like it too!

I have been so busy this last week, we went home to suprise my mom for Mother's Day. Getting ready for my little mans 6th birthday! Is he really six?! How did that happen? Cupcakes for his class, cake for tonight, and cake for his party on Saturday! I cannot wait until the week is over and I can relax!

On a side note, Richard is doing well. I have not been able to talk to him much at all...just a few seconds here and there. He will only get two more phone calls in the next nine weeks! I am going to miss his voice.

He sends good wishes to all and remember to keep him in your prayers. He is a very selfless person and for those of you that know him, you know this already!

Shipped Out!

Today Richard shipped out to boot camp! It was a tearful good bye as the kids just then realized that daddy was not coming home with us. Our son is definatly taking it the hardest but I think that is to be expected. Before he left he gave the kids each their own Dog tag with the Cubs logo on it. They were excited to have them and have said they are going to wear them everyday!

Keep Richard in your thoughts and Prayers! He is doing a wonderful thing for us, his family. He has told me that once he gets home, I get to go back to school to get my Masters or another degree. For that, I am very excited!

So today, I officially became an Army wife...that is incredibly odd to say!

All I want for my birthday...

Is my front tooth!

As you can see D-man lost one of his front tooth has come out...it was really ready as you can see the other tooth is already coming in! I still cannot believe that my little man is old enough to loose his teeth, three in all as of now..

You are still handsome my Little Man!