Popsicles, Lace up Home Decor and a Daisy

Celeb enjoyed a piece of his brothers popsicle today. He made himself and orange mess, but I know they both enjoyed it alot. Jacob has always loved otter pops and I think I will have to buy them in bulk again this summer.

I finished the journaling and adding pictures to Jacobs love project. I gave it to him and he read all the tags and he really liked it. He asked what I was doing with it, and I told him I am taking it to the store and then I will bring it home. I am having a hard time giving this one up though. I am so proud of the way it turned out. I think I will keep it on his nightstand or something. Maybe the dresser so he can see it each morning.

I finished this layout today too. I really like the way it turned out too. I love the summery colors. Oranges and Greens. I like the combination.

I was working on another layout with the paper that Vesta asked me to use. One paper was yellow with white daisies on it. I bought these gerbera daisies a few weeks ago and they just happen to be yellow. When I saw the paper I totally thought of these flowers. So I had to go take a pictures just for the layout. The layout is yellow, white and black. So I changed the photo into black and white and only left the flowers in color. I can't wait to print it out and put it on the layout. I almost finished another layout, but the stickles are still drying so I will take a picture of that one tomorrow. I made two cards also, but I was too lazy to get up and get my camera at that moment, so I will do that tomorrow as well.

Well Jacob is off for the next two days in a row and I am so excited. He starts back to day shift on Thursday so I am really glad about that too. I miss him being next to me at night.
I think on Thursday I am going to stop at WinCo and get my free items with my coupon. The flyer has a free carton of eggs, free english muffins and free bacon. Like a free breakfast. Cool.

Love Lace Up Home Decor and Ryan

Worked on this a bit at work today. Added the tags. Used Old Paper distress ink on the tags. It matches just perfect. Then I added the ribbon to each tag. Each pocket has two tags. Then I glimmer misted the chipboard letters LOVE. I really like how they turned out. I am going to add a photo inside the O, and put photos and journaling on each tag. I just want to list things to Jacob as to why I love him.

This is my poor Ryan today. Long story short...yesterday the kids (Ryan and Marcus and Savannah) were riding their bikes and scooter at their school. They walk to and from school everyday,so not far from our house at all. Well they came back and Ryan had all these scratches and a black eye. He said he fell on the stairs and his bike fell on him and he hit a brick. Well today the truth came out. A 16 year old kid punched him. He didn't say anything because he thought he would get into trouble for just being in a fight. Well what happened was this large woman came up to the kids at the school and asked them if they knew where "carrot" was. They thought she was talking about a street and said no, then made a joke and said but you can find some in the ground or in the grocerry store. Well the lady got mad and thought they were making fun of this kid whose nickname is carrot. So she went to get these kids and she brought them back to the school and this 16 year old got out of the car and asked the kids who was talking sh!t about carrot and the kids said nobody and the 16 year old punched Ryan. He did keep the kid from hitting their other friends and Marcus and Savannah. The kids then took his scooter and took off. Well Jacob and his brother in laws went over there to the kids house today to get the scooter back and the kid told Jacob he was going to jump over the fence and kick his a$$. Jacob just laughed because he is so underage and he is threatening Jacob. Well they wouldn't give back the scooter. The neighbor then told Jacob he better be careful because the kids dad is Puerto Rican and he is crazy and he owns guns and he is crazy. Well then Jamie and Jason drove by and the scooter was outside by the street. So they took Ryan up there and he grabbed it and brought it home. Well then a short time after the kid and his dad drove past our house really slow a few times. We called the police because Jacob didn't like them driving past our house and especially since he has to work at night tonight and tomorrow night. So the police came and said we did the right thing and it is good that Jacob decided not to go talk to him again , as that might just add fuel to their fire and make them come by our house more. The policeman said he would drive past our house and through the neighborhood a few times tonight. He said if I have any problems then don't hesitate to call them again. He did tell Ryan next time to give the kid some extra hard hits if it were to happen again. He said that with a juvenile fight there is nothing that they can really do, especially since it already happened. He said had he hit Ryan with something other than his fist than it would have been considered assault with a deadly weapon and then they could have arrested him. So I am going to be taking the kids to school and picking them up for a while now.
I cried the entire way home from work because I felt so awful that I couldn't have done anything to protect him from this.
Ryan and I had a talk in the car and I told him I know he thought that he was going to get into trouble but I told him that though we don't want him to go start a fight if a kid came to him and started a fight with him and punched him then it is in NO way his fault and then he would not get into trouble for that. I told him I don't want him to ever be afraid to tell us something like that. This was serious and important and we will love him no matter what and this was not his fault in any such way. I wish I could have protected him.

One down, one in the works.

I finished one of the projects. I started the second one though. I am more than half done on the second one too. This is the set of accordian mini frames, but I was having a hard time getting them to stand up so I went this way. I would totally hang this on my door. (Which is protected by the screen). I used my Spotlight alphabet also, but I left all the tiny holes in them. I like it alot. I like the alphabet, but don't always want to holes in them, so this was the perfect solution and it looks like a whole new alphabet.

This is the second project. I was going to put PLAY in chipboard letters on it, but now I am thinking I want to put LOVE on it and put pull out tags in all the pockets. Still working on that one. If I have a chance at work tomorrow then I might work on it.

Made this for lunch today. Last weekend when we went to my moms she made us lunch. It was from Schwanns and it was so good. I instantly thought I could make it myself. Hers was a frozen package of all the ingredients.

2 cups of uncooked rice. Cook according to directions.

2 heads of brocoli. Fresh

2 cans of cream of chedar soup. With 2 cans of milk.

About 4 pieces of boneless skinless chicken breasts. Cut into strips and grill.

When the chicken is almost done in the pan, add the brocoli.

When the chicken is finished, add a few spoonfuls of cooked rice. Add one can of soup and milk. Add most of the rice and then the other can of soup and milk. Then add the rest of the rice and finish mixing it all together.
It turned out so good. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out with the cheese soup, but it was just creamy enough. Really good.

WOW.

Bakerella

Found this blog today from another blog (don't remember where). All I can say is wow. She does some great stuff with cupcakes and stuff. Totally inspired for sure. Check it out. Love the look of those tiny cupcakes on sticks. She was even on Martha Stewart.

Projects and stuff

This is going to be and accordian frame set. Can't wait to work on this.

This is another home decor thing. It is lace up panels. Will say PLAY.

Vesta wants a samply Layout of this stuff. We will be getting the paper in soon. Thinking hard on this one since this is a little out of my element with the feminine colors. My wheels are spinning though.

Just took a couple new pictures at Jacobs work tonight when I took him some yummy dinner. I am so excited that starting next week he will be back on day shift again instead of graveyard. WOOHOO.

This is the kiln that is the most important part of the entire plant. It is the heart of it all. This is what Jacob controls. His office has a bunch of computers that control everything about this from the speed to the temperature.

Someone has discovered his brothers XBox games. Actually just one game. A dirt bike game and Jacob LOVES bikes so he LOVES this game. He just drives his little person all around. He is so cute just sitting in the chair kicked back playing. Don't mind the missing sheets on the bed and the mess under the bed. Washing the sheets and there is now a bunch of stuff under the bed becasue we just added a desk to the kids room and so we just stored some stuff under there for now. Their room looks so good. We went ahead and kept the old computer desk and put the bigger tv to it as like an entertainment center. Then we added the computer desk and it looks great. We took out the air hockey table and there is now so much room in there. I love it. Now if they will only keep it clean for longer than one day.

My cute chunk butt smiley man.

This is Jacob and Hailee. They have such a love hate relationship. He used to be scared to death of her and now they really do get along. When they came for dinner the other night they were even holding hands. So sweet.

These pictures crack me up. Look at the similarity between me and Caleb though. It is amazing how much he really does look like me.
Here is me at my first birthday.

Here is Jacob at one.

Here is Caleb at 91/2 months.

BEAN SALAD RECIPE

Okay I never learned this recipe from exact measurement but it is alot of just to taste anyways.

1 Large can of Pork and Beans.

about 6 hard boiled eggs

I usually start with about 2 large spoonfuls (just the largest spoon in my silverware set) of mayo. I start there and then add more since you can't take away. You don't want it too runny, but not to dry or thick either.
I usually sprinkle the top with pepper and just stir it in.

I start with about 2 spoonfuls of sweet relish (the same size spoon from the mayo).

I just stir it all together and then taste it. I usually add more relish and sometimes more mayo. Just depends. Once you make it a few times you really know how you like it best.
Put in fridge and chill. Best served cold.
It is so yummy.
Goes great with BBQ food.
I made this alot. I LOVE it.

Well I am off tomorrow and ran to the grocerry store tonight to get some stuff to make a big breakfast in the morning for all of us. I am going to make bisquits and gravy and eggs and sausage and hashbrowns. Yum. I can't wait.

I am REALLY hoping to get to some of those projects at least started tomorrow. Jacob will sleep for work and the kids will just be chillin and playing outside, so I hope to sit and work. I will share what I get done.

I'm teaching a class....

Yes I am finally going to be teaching a class. OH MY!! It will be in July. I am excited and so nervous at the same time. I don't know why, but I am. I am posting a few sneak peek photos of what the class is going to be.
Marcus' party was good on Saturday. Was a nice day. Most of Jacobs family came and then my mom and stepdad got to come. It was nice and we had a good time. Marcus got a watch from us, and broke it the same day when he fell on his hand falling off the pogo stick. I am just going to take it back as soon as I get a chance to. Food was great. Jacob did a great job as usual bbqing. We had hamburgers and hot dogs, kielbasa, hot links and better cheddar sausages. We had a fruit tray, I made salsa and we had some dips. I made pasta salad and bean salad. I made corn on the cob too, but it really didn't get eaten. Then I made a strawberry cheesecake for him too. It was a nice day. Then Ryan and Marcus spent the night at Jamies. On Sunday I got up and since Jacob had to go to work that night he was relaxing and trying to get in some extra sleep. I went to my moms for a bit and we ate some lunch and then went to Target. I then had to pick up Ryan and Marcus from Jamies. We took Jacob some pizza from a new pizza place right around the corner. It was pretty good pizza too.
Then Monday was back to normal. I had to go grocerry shopping and spent way too much really. Well I did ok, but I am not used to shopping for 2 weeks now and it just seems like I am spending so much all at once. I first went to the brand new WinCo we just got. It was pretty nice. Great prices too. Caleb screamed just about the entire time we were there. I thought maybe he was hungry again and tried giving him some food and wanted nothing. He finally calmed down and would be ok as long as I was holding him. Man it is hard to shop and push a cart and hold his chunk butt at the same time. He was just acting uncomfortable the entire time. He finally let me put him down and he was just fidgetty in his carseat and finally fell asleep on his tummy in it. (I hadn't buckled him in). So he burbed and I think that helped alot. We came home and he ate a little more and then was ok. He burbed about 3 more times and then really seemed ok. I then had to run to Starter Brothers for a few things I wasn't able to get at WinCo. I spent another 100.00. That was a total of 240.00. Yikes. But our cabinets are full the freezer and fridge too and I love that.
So today I did not have to go anywhere and that was nice. I got tons of laundry done and swept the kitchen too. I was going to vacuum but our vacuum is acting strange. So I think Jacob is going to have to look at it. I am always breaking that darn thing. oops sorry babe!
I am hoping to get some scrapbooking done tomorrow if I can.

Here is my happy guy on Saturday. (that is why I knew he was just not feeling well at the store because this is how is usually is)

Marcus blowing out his 12 candles.

This is bean salad.

Ingredients...

Pork and Beans

Mayonaise

Sweet Relish

Hard Boiled Eggs

Pepper

Serve Chilled. SO YUMMY!!

Here are a few shots from the class I will be teaching. It is a dinosaur book.

I am off to finish watching American Idol now. I am not liking the songs they are singing tonight. Then going to watch Hell's Kitchen.

It works now...

Finished my layout for the store about myself. This was actually a hard one. I didn't know what to write without sounding so boring. :) This is up in the store with all the others from everyone.

Here are my Target finds for the day. This is the paper pack. I mostly wanted it for the scalloped lined paper. I have been thinking about it for an entire week. There are only 2 sheets of it, so I dont' want to use it all up. I know Iknow... I was thinking I can even use it as a template too. I am thinking about using the packaging (the black part that you see) as a template too.

This is the newest dinosaur we added to the collection today.
These are the shorts that were 2.89 (or something like that, under 3.00 I know ).

I forgot that I got this as well. (sorry for the blurry picture, wow I didn't notice that when I took it). I was thinking the other day that I wanted a new calendar for my purse. Well I found this on accident today. They are tabbed refill pages. I totally thought "Hey I can make a cover and bind it somehow". So it was only .84 cents. It came with a piece of chipboard that I am going to use for the cover, and then I just need to cut one for the back. I just don't know exactly how I want to bind it together yet since it has precut holes. I will post that one when I am done with it.

Ok I found these photos today. That store that is up in Sacramento (where I am going in June for my brothers wedding). OMG look at the size of this store. I am so scared now to go in. I think I might spend our gas money home. :) I can't wait to actually go in and see it all in person. I will for sure take pictures of the store when I am there.

Well I just thought I would try to post the pictures one more time before I went to bed and sure enough it worked this time. Off to bed, I got alot to do tomorrow. I still have to make my final list so I don't forget anything.

Blogger issues.

I was trying to upload some pictures and blogger is apparently having an internal issue. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow night I will get a chance to do it.
Went to Target today and got a few good things. I got a Making Memories page kit set. I got some shorts for Jacob on clearance for 2.89 and I got another dinosaur for Jacob to add to his quickly growing collection. Which is good because I am working on a Dino book that is turning out so cute. I am using the new Basic Grey line. It is so cute. Just lately Jacob has a growing love for dinosaurs, so I knew it would be perfect for it. I have to bind it tomorrow at work and then I will share pictures of it.
This weekend is going to be a busy one.
Friday I have to go to the bank, and then go to Walmart, meet the property manager at the bank, pay a few bills and be to work by 2:15. I get off at 7pm and then the kids and I have to take Jacob dinner (he is still on graveyard working from 7pm to 7am). Then we will have to go to the grocerry store and get all the food for Marcus' birthday party on Saturday. We won't have time to do it on Saturday morning.
Then Saturday morning we will have to get up and clean clean clean. The kitchen needs mopping real bad again (even though I did it the day before yesterday).
We told everyone about 4pm to come over. We are going to BBQ hamburgers and hot dogs ( I am thinking Kielbasa and Hot links too maybe) on Jacobs new smoker/bbq grill. He is excited to use it again. I am going to make bean salad. (I will share that recipe as soon as I take a picture of it), corn on the cob, potatoe salad, a fruit tray and chips and dip with homemade salsa.
He wants cheesecake too, so I will make that for him as well.
Then Sunday we will clean up from the party, and I believe Jacob has to work so he will want to relax and sleep some. It will be a fun day. I like having people over for dinner. There will be about 25 people here. He invited a few friends from school as well.

I will be sure to share photos after.
Have a good weekend. I will try to post tomorrow night if I get a chance to.

Happy 12th Birthday Marcus.

I cannot even believe that Marcus is 12 years old already. Where did the time go?
My sweet Marcus, I know I get frustrated with you sometimes just as you do with I. But I love you just as my own. You are growing up so fast. Don't rush it and keep your innocences. I know you are in a hurry to grow up, but trust me just enjoy where you are in life as much as you can. When you get as old as your dad and I you will look back on these days and remember them as the good old days. You are a good brother, and just remember that the little ones only follow you around and want to be with you because they look up to you. Remember to set a good example for them as you continue to grow up.
Happy Birthday Mr. preTeen.


He is a sweet boy and a good kid really. He does really well in school and is a good kid all around. He has that preteen attitude alot, but you know he is a kid. He is good with the babies and a good big brother. We are proud of him. (I wish he would cut his hair though)
Happy Birthday Marcus. We love you.

Layouts in progress

Been working on these layouts in the last week or so.

Play. This is Jacob and Caleb playing with the animal trian in teh hallway. I used a sketch from Donna Downeys book for this one.

This is the layout I am working on for the store. We all have to do a layout about ourselves (that includes you Gabrielle). So I have to figure out exactly what I am going to write. I have no pictures of myself, but this was the most current. I hate being infront of the camera. Oh well. I am so into turquoise lately, so this paper was a must.

Wanted to copy Cheryls new layout in the store, but I couldn't find the right shade of blue flowers so I think I might just print it in black and white and use the actual paper that Cheryl used. This is my brother and his fiancee. They are getting married in Sacramento in June. (Make note of this for what I will share in a minute)

Don't know what I am going to add to this one yet. This is the monthly layout I do for Caleb. This is his 10 month layout.

Did this layout for my neices 2nd birthday. Saw something recently and I totally thought of it when I saw this picture of Hailees sweater. Totally inspired by that heart. Still need to add more white dots to the left hand side of the page.

Got to use my new spotlight. Look close and in some of the circles I made them look like softballs. I need journaling on this one still. Vesta told me that I should submit this one to quickutz because of the idea of putting in softballs. Maybe.



This made me laugh yesterday. Caleb was so fussy and just wouldn't go to sleep. So he was playing in his room and I could hear him and then all of the sudden he was quiet, I look down the hall and this is how he was laying. Totally tuckered out. My sweet baby.

I watched American Idol last night and I CANNOT believe that they kicked off Michael Johns. TOTAL shocker. He was the best guy on there. Well Chirs Daughtry was kicked off early too and look at him now. So good luck to him too.

Our schedules have been so wacko with Jacob on graveyard lately. So I have to work all day tomorrow and I hope to get some stuff done (scrapbooking) maybe while I am at work. We will see. If we are busy I don't get much done. Busy is a good thing though.

Took this photo to go in the DINOmyte or DINOsaurs or DINOriffic book with the Basic Grey paper. I want to make a mini album since Jacob loves dinosaurs. I want to include pictures of all of his dinosaurs and him playing with them. Love this shot though. (Got the dinosaur at Target for $1.00) Gotta love the dollar spot.

Now back to my brothers wedding. He is getting married the first Saturday in June of this year. I am in the wedding too. Well I was just curious if there were any scrapbook store up there. (We haven't been up there in a few years they are always coming down here). So I just typed it in and I found this store. The Green Tangerine . I can't wait to go in and see the store in person. Funny thing is that I was asking my mom if she knew where it was and telling her what street it was on and she said it is right next to her nail place (like right next door) and we are going Friday morning the day before the wedding to get our nails done. So guess where I will be stopping in as well. I can't wait. I haven't been to any other scrapbook stores since I started working at Scrapbook Boulevard. I think it will be exciting and fun to see what another store is like. I guess I better take a little extra money with me when I go up there. :) I am sure that I will take pictures of it too.

Off to blog on the store blog since it has been a while since I have done it.

p.s. Thanks Gabrielle for explaining how to link things directly on here. :) Thanks girl you are great.