as true to my word. the other day anna went to a sleepover/party with her friends and got all dressed up. she even let carson do her hair. which NEVER happens. she was so cute i took her outside to get some pictures. anna is truly beautiful inside and out...L

i haven't scrapped for a while. i haven't taken very many pictures either. i want that to change this year. scrapbooking is the longest lasting hobby i have had. i still sew now and again, and i still read, but scrapbooking just changed a lot of things in my life. it gave me several friendships that i could never imagine not having, it sparked my interest in taking pictures and it gave me a creative outlet. so these are two layouts i did yesterday. of two sweet girls in my life...L

i made a goal with myself once a month to sort of sum up the month in the life of me and the girls and take a photo as well. so at the end of the year me (and whoever else wants to) can see how everything evolved. see where we started at the beginning of 2011 and see where we end up when it closes. as you can see i waited to late to get a photo of everyone so this month will be just me.

JANUARY

the year started with a bang! literally. this was the first year that i can ever remember fireworks being sold in AZ. and sold LEGALLY. dallas was here and we all stayed up and tore up the backyard with our pyrotechnics. it was oodles of fun.

also this month, on the 19th, i turned 48. it coincided with graduate school starting so there was not much of a celebration. however, i took the whole week to do some mini celebrations with lunch at places i enjoyed, i ordered season three of dexter, and the book 'water for elephants,' and i treated myself to a midday movie--black swan. i joined the gym a few months ago and have lost ten pounds.

i started graduate school. i got my intern placement at Mesa Prep Academy and work there one day a week. Last week was my first day and all day all i could think of was--this will be me someday. i will have my own class. i love teaching, i love school. i was incredibly happy with the choice i made to get my masters in education. only a year and a half to go.

the girls are growing up on me. i cannot stop time. my baby turned eight and got baptized last month. anna will be starting young women's in october. taylor does nothing but think about where she will go to college. chicago or japan? who knows next week. carson is toying with the idea of going to law school. all my girls are so beautiful and lovely and smart. i'm very lucky.

this month taylor got her driver's permit. it has been lots of fun to see her learn to drive. she is doing really well. panic attacks are down to a minimum. she even makes left turns now without hyperventilating. carson gave a beautiful talk in church and i got called to be haley's primary teacher.

now on to february...L

my grandson just turned a year old yesterday. happy birthday logan...L

followed by the layout...l

happy new year. 2011. so much has happened in one month. i went to italy with my sister for two weeks, haley turned eight and got baptized, christmas, new years, dallas was home for the holidays. lots of fun stuff. i'll post more pics later. however i'm excited to start grad school in a few weeks and hopefully start substitute teaching as well. i'm happy for great kids and all the many blessings in my life...L

it was a very happy thanksgiving. i missed my son who couldn't make it home, but enjoyed everyone else. especially a certain grandbaby. who has the cutest grandchild ever? MOI. oh, you need evidence?





he's even cute when he goes down for a nap and unbeknownst to everyone he finds grandma's scrapping inks.



now on to christmas...L

My new favorite show. I don't know what I like most about it. The writing, the characters, the storyline. It's all good. Especially Michael C. Hall. Who plays Dexter. I think the C. should stand for 'come to momma.' seriously...L

i see a future news anchor...L

i did me some digi scrappin' this weekend...L

See that girl. The grown woman. I gave birth to her 27 years ago. I love her to pieces. She definitely was a perfect child. That's the reason I gave birth five more times. Happy birthday Brianne. I love being your mom...L

well, this girl turns 14 in one week. FOURTEEN. i can't believe it. amazing how time flies. carson resembles me most in body, not personality. she is outgoing and crazy and fun and loves to be on the go ALL.THE.TIME. no really, ALL.THE.TIME. me, i'm happy hanging out at home reading a book. however, we do share a love of shoppping and shoes. we do not share a love of team jacob or justin bieber. she makes me laugh, smile, and helps me and her sisters out when we need it. i love her to pieces...L

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): A few single friends of mine use the dating
site OkCupid to meet potential lovers. One woman got the following
notice: "We are pleased to report that you are in the top half of
OkCupid's most attractive users. How can we say this with confidence?
Because we've tracked click-thrus on your photo and analyzed other
people's reactions to you . . . Your new elite status comes with one
important privilege: You will now see more attractive people in your
match results. Also! You'll be shown to more attractive people in their
match results. And, no, we didn't send this email to everyone on OkCupid.
Go ask an ugly friend." According to my analysis of the astrological
omens, Capricorn, you will soon receive a metaphorically comparable
message, not from OkCupid, but from the universe itself.

a few layouts and a horoscope...L

enjoying a lazy sunday morning...L

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): So it turns out that the "blemish" is
actually essential to the beauty. The "deviation" is at the core of the
strength. The "wrong turn" was crucial to you getting you back on the
path with heart. I have rarely seen a better example of happy accidents,
Capricorn. You may not realize it quite yet -- although I hope this
horoscope is bringing it all into focus -- but you have been the beneficiary
of a tricky form of divine intervention. One good way of expressing your
gratitude is to share with friends the tale of how you came to see that
the imperfections were perfect.

a few layouts i did. started watching Lost. i always seem to get hooked on something AFTER the fact. so i'm watching it from the beginning. so far, so good. surviving the summer, haley has learned to swim, we are playing lots of the game Trouble, watching movies, eating ice cream and popsicles. the usual in-fighting amongst the girls. the hot weather has finally hit and stuck. got through mid-terms. started the 30-day shred workout, which is awesome. just some of the summer...L

a couple of layouts i did this week in between homework that is kicking me in the butt...L

kerry--do you feel the love?

chalkboard--$7.99
chalk--.99 cents
endless amounts of fun--priceless

mississippi. Loved it. Beautiful, green, trees and fireflies. But most of all Shanna!! We had fun. We went to breakfast, we went to this cool little town that was reminiscent of Prescott. Shanna showed me all her little 'spots' around Madison. We saw a movie, had dinner, we even ate Mexican food and when i asked for 'hotter' salsa they eventually brought some out. good stuff for a southern state. Shanna even took some 'senior' pictures of me to put on my profile. Thanks for having me shanna--you know i love you...L