Thanks MDW!!!

This full page add is in the current issue of Legacy magazine!!! I hear its one the first page too!!! :P

Thanks a million Sheri!!!

This counts as a pub right?!!! LOL!!!

And congrats to Lisa, Shannon, Karen, Meredith, and Marta!!! They are super duper talented!!! (as you can see)

Back from San Diego

We are back!!! What an emotional weekend... we left early Saturday (6am) and drove for NINE AND A HALF hours!!!!!!!!!!! YEAH- talk about loooooong trip!!! Jacob was amazing though, he did not once whine or get restless!!! I just think that's amazing for a 2 year old- esp since I was beyond restless! LOL!

So we got there and visited Matt's uncle's wife and children, it was hard... they all had this glazed look and most of the women's eyes were swollen. But they were all so friendly and acted like it was more of a family reunion.

Then that night- Jacob and my niece Kayla were jumping on the hotel bed- well I specifically told everyone I did NOT want Jacob jumping on the bed and got him off... well a few minutes later when I turned my back they had LET him jump on the bed! And Kayla's tooth came down on Jacob's nostril and sliced it!!!!! There was so much blood... and everyone was in panic mode... I just went in and comforted Jacob and stopped the bleeding... we then had to take him to the ER- and thankfully he was able to get it bonded (kinda like superglue) instead of stitches- poor little guy though!!! :( He is such a strong boy though, he must have cried for less than half a minute when it happened and not until we had to pin him down for the ER doc to bond it... I can only imagine the pain and discomfort he had to deal with!

This pic I took today- FOUR days after it happened- it is healing so well thank God!! I did not want to post a pic of it when it just happened, it was so awful...

Sad news...

Last Saturday while in Utah, I called Matt to check in and he had told me his Uncle Clark passed away that same day. I was just in shock- he was in his mid fifties and full of life. He had an unexpected heart attack.

It didn't hit me till I came across his pictures in our wedding album:


Its so strange to see these pictures knowing that we will never see that smile or hear that laughter again.

Clark was a wonderful father, grandfather, uncle, brother, son, and CHRISTIAN. So I am confident that he in heaven.

We are leaving tomorrow morning to attend his funeral in San Diego, and I'm a little nervous. If I'm emotional now not sure I'll be able to keep my cool at his funeral...and to see all his sons and daughters- esp his grandchildren- I'm already getting choked up thinking about it.

So keep us all in your prayers esp for his immediate family that they may find comfort in this time of sadness and extreme loss.

Now for the pics!

It was snowing on Sat night!

all my goodies!!!! WOWZA!!! (and please ignore my big tire roll sticking out...too much food...)

Me, Linda, and Shannon at KMA for the make and takes

Where they assemble the tools-I was ready to swipe a pink one! :P

The crew- aren't we lookin hot in our goggles?!!

Quickutz Retreat details!!!!

OMG- the whole weekend was just a blast!!! I haven't had so much fun in awhile!!!

I arrived in Salt Lake City around 4pm and immediately spotted Andrea (QK DT coordinator) with a group of girls- we all collected our bags and headed to some vans. I was in the "magnesium" colored van driven by Heather (QK product development)- still not sure what color magnesium is though!!! LOL!!! Heather is an absolute doll!!! She was so friendly and would give us loads of info on the city!

We arrived in the hotel, had a chance to unpack before heading out to dinner. Not all the DT crew had met, so I was totally looking forward to it. We had dinner at the Brick Oven restaurant that was SUPER yummy and got to meet the rest of the DT. It was so much fun!

We headed back to our hotel and called it a night, well about then the last DT girl was dropped off- my roomie LESLIE!!!! Poor thing had an awful time getting to SLC because of storms in her area! But she settled right in and we talked till wee hours of the night- she is just SOOOO MUCH fun and too cute!!!!!

OK- now it FRIDAY-
Ate breakfast at the hotel and headed to get our tour of the Quickutz plant. HOLY MOLEY it takes a butt load of work to make dies!!!!!!!!!! I was just shocked!!!! I had always thought of Quickutz product as pricey- but NOT anymore!!! It takes about 4 weeks to get dies made and to shipping!!!!!!!!!!!! So I look at it all in a new light!!! ;)

We then got back in the conference room and started our classes- Basically all the DT members prepared a double 6x6 page defining their style and about them. So in other words we were to complete a circle album in a few hours! ;) We all premade our pages so that it wouldn't take 15 minutes per person. It was fun! I am just IN LOVE with my little album. Everyone had such gorgeous pages and unique style, I now see why we were all chosen for this team!

We had lunch and got our head shots taken by the FAB Kelli Noto, hope she can photoshop mine a little...LOL...I had the worst pimple on my forehead!!! :P

OMG- I almost forgot to mention the GIVEAWAYS!!!!!!!!!!! Every 10 minutes Andrea would give us ALL- yes ALL whole product lines!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And above that draw our names for even MORE FREE STUFF!!!!!!!!!!! I am just still in shock!!! I'll post a pic below of all our stuff...it felt like I was at the Oprah show- LOL!!!

We went to dinner at this YUMMY YUMMY restaurant- can't recall the name though...had the chicken marsala and it was just to die for!!! Got a little crazy at dinner and I had thought I scared Mark and Natasha the QK founders, but they were just the sweetest and great sports! ;) Yeah me and Syb are now the crazy {bloody} California girls!!!!!!!!!!! MWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

After we got the the hotel, we went to the conference room that QK had reserved for us- how cool is that?! We all brought our books to exchange and write in...felt like a high school yearbook! LOL!!! I did more talking than writing...imagine that?!!! LOL!!!

SATURDAY----
Went back to the QK headquarters for our focus groups which gave us some sneak peaks of the stuff coming out- and OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!! I am just itching like a mad dog to get it all!!!!!!!! WOW is all I can say- some of those alphas esp have me so anxious.... ;)

We then split up in three groups and designated LSS to do make and takes- I ended up with Shannon and Linda with Michelle leading us. We went to the KMA store!!! I was so excited!!! I did HAVE to buy some KMA paper- how could I not?!!!! The make and take was so much fun, unfortunately I had had too much coffee and I think I was too energetic!!! I might have talked some poor unsuspecting victims' ears off!!! :P

We headed for lunch at this YUMMY Mexican restaurant- I think its called Cafe Rio...??? Then headed to two more LSS for shopping- Pebbles and Forget me not.

Before dinner we went to see some waterfalls by Sundance- I am awful at names and can't remember what it was called...:P

OMG dinner was just amazing!!! Guess what it was??? SUSHI!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE sushi!!!! :D Oh wow- I was so stuffed!!!

Again we all went to the conference room at the hotel for our last night together... :( BUT OMG- I laughed soooo hard I cried!!! Shanna lived up to her promise...and Kelli managed to explain to Yoriko what "sharted" was!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah...good times...

SUNDAY-
Woke up too early esp since me and Leslie talked the night away (I warned you I was a chatterbox- Leslie!) and headed to the Tabernacle choir- I was awestruck---wow!!! That has to be the biggest organ pipes in the world! We walked around Temple square, and the temple is just BEEEEAUTIFUL!!! Again I was awestruck!

We were taken to this beautiful plaza hotel for a breakfast brunch...and it was just yummilicious- and yes that is a word- I just made it up, so there!

It was so sad having to hug all the girls goodbye, we all started dwindling down, and were dropped off at the airport soon after. Spent some time with the last of the crew and had such a fun/crazy time...I still am convinced the bystanders must have thought I was a nutcase- I was standing on a chair to take pics of Linda and Syb being crazy...at this point we were delierious!!! LOL!!!

I'm alive!

Well I'm back from Utah and before I talk about how much fun I had on my trip, I gotta let out a sigh...I'M HAPPY TO BE ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!

Well...it all started with the storm on Sunday...it was snowing and my flight got a little delayed...well about 15 minutes in the air- something happened! They hit some HORRIBLE HORRIBLE turbulence- it was more than turbulence- I don't know how to describe it!

Suddenly the plane started dipping and shaking uncontrollably- some of the overhead bins popped open and people walking in the aisles where thrown around. Kids started crying, and a teenager yelled "we're going to die!" in a sarcastic tone, but there was nothing funny about it. All the passengers where in panic mode...the captain spoke on the intercom and let us know everything was undercontrol, while I detected a nervous tone in his voice!

All the flight attendants sat in their seat with their seat belts on and I could see the worry in their face.

And here I am, I've always been so carefree about flying, never a worry in my head. And all I could think of is my two boys and Matt...would I ever see them again??? Is this all a dream? I have never prayed so hard- I repeated the same prayer over and over again---Please God help us...Please God help us...

I still look back at the experience and it seems like a movie- me in the back of the plane in my window seat just closing my eyes trying to tune out all the crying of kids and air of panic...

This "turbulence" went on for about 15 minutes- it seemed more like hours though. When it was over, we all still were not sure---we wanted to be relieved but were almost expecting it return...

When the flight landed, there was clapping, cheering and everyone started hugging anyone near them, I've never seen anything like it! I rushed out to baggage claim and the second I saw my 3 boys, I started to cry- I had remained so calm and collected during this whole ordeal, but I lost it right there and then. I look in my husbands eyes and just felt so blessed, I was SO HAPPY to be in his arms! He was very confused but just held me as I sobbed in his arms...it was a few minutes when I turned and saw the boys- and I just held each of them and thanked God for that second chance to be here with them.

I've never had a near death experience, and I'm not sure if this classifies, but what happened that Sunday afternoon on flight 352 has changed me. And I look at my boys and know that everyday with them is a gift not to be taken for granted.

UTAH here I come!!!!!!!!!

Almost time...

Thursday morning I head to Utah!!!! QUICKUTZ RETREAT baybeeee!!!!

I am so excited!!!! I get to meet all the cool, talented, super-sweet girls of the design team!!! The whole weekend is filled with activities and from what I hear, they are going to PAMPER US!!! :O I am in desperate need for some pampering!!! LOL!!!

It will be so nice to get away for four days...no laundry to do, no diapers to change, no cooking...AHHHHHH....my family will be missed- MUCH, but absence makes the heart go stronger!!! ;) LOL!!!

I'll be okay...

Caleb's one...oh my!!!

I'll be okay, at least I hope so...

Everyday I hope he can just stay my little baby for just a little bit longer- just about one or two more years, that's all! Is that just a little selfish? Probably, but I don't care!

Its true, there is something so precious and loveable about a baby. Their belly laughs, two-teeth grins, endless cuddles, babbles, and those chunky legs and arms- OMG- I definitely am not ready for this to pass me by in a few months!!!! (sniff...sniff...) I WANT MY BABY TO STAY A BABY!!!!! There I said it...now call me crazy, call me weird, call me selfish, but saying it still won't make it happen!!! And no, I'm not going to "baby" him till he's in college!!! LOL!!! Even I'm not that crazy!!! ;)

It happened...my baby is ONE!!!

Yep Caleb is one today... and I'm trying so hard to hold it together! I mean what kinda mom is depressed on her son's first birthday?? They are going to send me to the funny farm after this one!

I just look at the picture above and can just close my eyes and smell that newborn baby, I can hear his soft little breaths, and see him rooting around looking for food. This is my last baby. And just the thought of this has me in tears. Why did this year fly by so fast?!!! I tried and tried to savor every minute of it, but somehow I was hoping this day wouldn't come yet.

I'm trying to hold it together, I just don't want him to grow up, at least not yet. He is still my little baby, at least till he turns two right?

Still can't believe he is one today... I picked him up out of his crib, he was standing up babblin, and I looked at that sweet little face, with drool on his chin, big baby cheeks, and his huge smile- and just hugged him and cried. I'm telling you- I'm crazy!!! I just held him for awhile hoping when I turned back and looked at him, he wouldn't be a grown man!!! Seriously, is that how it happens?! They turn one, then they turn twenty-one?!!!

Well, for now, I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful baby, full of joy and love.... and I'm going to savor every second of life with him....

Amy's Blog Challenge...

What's your guilty pleasure?

One word- chocolate! Personally I don't know of any woman that doesn't like chocolate... Come on, its instant gratification. And personally I don't believe its fattening... ok that is blatent denial- but I'll take it! ;)

Lazy days...

Well I haven't updated my blog in awhile... Why? Hmmm....too much stuff on my mind...

Lately I've set my priorities straight.

After CHA, I knew that my goal was NOT to be a professional scrapper, I just don't think its for me. And that said- scrapping should be one of my LAST priorities. Sure I have TONS of deadlines to meet- but they will get met and I will not stress over them.

I just got burnt out three weeks ago, I was stressed trying to meet my QK deadlines. So I did something I RARELY do- I started scrapping during the day. That meant putting on a movie for the boys so I can scrap. I am just utterly ashamed! Here I am, a stay at home mommie ignoring my boys- why? So I can scrap ABOUT THEM? The irony hit me, I can't scrap about how much I love them, when I'm scrapping rather than spending time with them.

So it had to stop- I would rather spend time with my family any day than scrap, or go out to lunch or have a girl's night with my friends. Scrapping is not life to me. And I haven't been this happy and relaxed in a long time.

That and I took up drinking coffee again! ;) LOL!!! Wow- talk about jump starting my motivation!!! I have the energy to play with the kids and clean and cook and spend quality time with Matt. And also scrap at night! ;) Coffee is my new love! ;)

Enough rambling--its the coffee I tell you!!!