Apple Heaven!

Ok, so last night Scott and I made the Apple Upside Down Cake and in two words....Apple Heaven. It was so good and it didn't fall apart when I fliped it out of the pan...perfection. The girls are being good sports...willing to try it, but "Apple Stuff" is the preferred apple dessert. Although Kellie again, raved. Love her. And Nat had two slices...love her! Scott and I were like, "Score!"...it's a keeper! I am so glad I am trying these recipes. I don't think I would have made any of them...I would have said, "Mmmm, that looks good!", but that would be the end of it. Actually trying out the recipes have been fun. I think Skillet Lemon Souffle is next!!

The best he's ever had.....

Ok! So, my plan didn't quite go the way I wanted! My family is so busy that on most nights 1/2 of us are gone.....so I waited til yesterday to do the potato salad, but it was just for me and Scott. The big girls were gone and the little girls wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole, but Scott said, and I quote, "THIS IS THE BEST POTATO SALAD I HAVE EVER HAD!!!" Wow. I asked him if he was just saying that and he said no and proceeded to tell me why it was so good. Cook's Illustrated recipes really are awesome. Next up, the Apple Upside-Down Cake! Yum!

Me and Cook's Illustrated

Last weekend, Scott and I saw "Julie and Julia" and I just loved it! The idea of cooking your way through a cookbook sounded so cool to me! So, I started looking for a book to do just that. I picked Cook's Illustrated Best 30 minute Recipe book, but it's huge....great, but huge, so I settled on something a lot smaller, but just as good, Cook's Illustrated Magazine. I figured if I could work my way through their magazine every other month I would learn a lot and Scott would get some great, out of the ordinary dishes! So, last night I made the first recipe, "Steak Tips with Mushroom Gravy" and it was a hit! Kellie even discovered she LOVES mushrooms! Who knew? Anyway, tonight the plan is to make the Austrian Potato Salad and Mexican Grilled Corn with my awesome BBQ chicken! Sounds good, huh? Well, come on over!

Happy 43rd Scott!

Happy Birthday, Babe! Last week on Thursday, we had a nice little party starting with dinner at Taste of Asia which was fantastic! And then, after we opened gifts, we played a round of Imaginiff and in the middle of it, Grandma and Grandpa arrived! We had cake and ice cream and over all, you said it was a great day! Your folks stayed until the following Tuesday and had a nice visit.

Lindsay demonstated one of the many fashionable things you can do with party hats!

Man that's a LOT of candles!!!

We love you!

Hi Dr. Cullen!

On Saturday, Natalie, Emily and I went to our very own Charleston Town Center Mall and anxiously awaited the arrival of Dr. Cullen! It was SO exciting! Here's a pic or two!

July Photo Shoot!

Yesterday we did another photo shoot. Here are a couple of my faves!

Aren't they beautiful?

I LOVE APPS!!!

Ok, so I'm going a little crazy with the apps, but they are SO fun! My favorite is the gratitude journal. I also love the to do list, the scriptures, the games that keep my girls competing, and I haven't even mentioned the photo editing apps....AWESOME. Here are just a couple of photos I edited ON.MY.ITOUCH!

Good Morning!

Okay, so this is a little weird. I am still getting up a couple of hours before everyone else for no other reason than I feel rested and don't want to sleep anymore. Huh? I have always slept til I absoutely have to get up and now I'm up with real time to myself? I have to admit I really love this time of the day. The house is quiet, but not empty. The telemarketers haven't started calling yet and I have my laptop all to myself. I can journal, paint, read, whatever and get this: NO INTERRUPTIONS. Whoa. Although I am getting a little freaked out. I was up before 5 this a.m. (I took a major sunday nap yesterday) and I (gasp) mopped the kitchen floor. Eww, that's just wrong. Well, I'm gonna ride this wave as far as it goes because this must just be a glitch in the space and time continuum.....have a nice day!

Old Family photos ROCK!

The first 7 years of my life were complicated. Another story for another day. However, one of my biological half sisters passed away in May and the floodgates of memories...good memories....were opened. Old family photos have resurfaced and have helped me so much. When I saw this photo of Laurie and I, I about exploded with happiness. I'm 5 and I'm a happy, normal, proud big sister! I am wearing my WHITE GO-GO BOOTS! I LOVED those boots! It was a relief to remember something besides the sadness of those days.

This second picture helps me see myself in my own daughters...it helps me feel a part of something bigger. I am finally beginning to put my experiences into perspective and seeing the hand of the Lord in my life even clearer. It is really true, a picture does say 1000 words.

It's 5 a.m....do you know where your children are?!?

The answer to the above question is, IN BED OF COURSE! I guess the real question is, why aren't I? Ever since I started taking Abilify, I sleep for about 6 hours and then, BAM! I am awake and raring to go! I'm not actually complaining, because, I feel rested and refreshed which is a new feeling for me! It is quite amazing, really. It's been about 5 weeks now on this wonder drug and I feel better than I have in months. I'm so glad it has worked for me. I wish I knew HOW it worked. In the past I had good days off and on, but most days were BLAH. It was terrible and I was starting to think that was just normal for me, although I hoped I was wrong. My doctor has been working with me for months, upping meds, changing meds, committing me to eat right, exercise, etc., which all worked initially, but not for 5 weeks in a row! Whoo Hoo! So, here I am with 3 or 4 hours to myself, to read scriptures, journal, finish painting flower girl , and since I'm in such a good mood, I'm makin' coffeecake! Yes!

HAVE A NICE DAY-AY-AY!!!!!

Inspired 2009 was so, well, INSPIRING!!!

For the second year in a row, I have been lucky enough to attend Donna Downey's Inspired Art Workshop. It was so amazing. I though I would put up a couple pictures of works in progress...

Jennifer Stewart's Kicked up Canvas Collage .....



Paulette Insall's portrait class....

I have 4 other projects, but haven't got the pictures taken yet, all of them are in various stages of completion. They were all fun classes and I really learned a lot. I love working with new media and doing different things with traditional supplies. I have plenty to keep me busy til next year! Gina went with me and we had a blast!

Spring has Sprung!

Well, it is definetly spring around here! I love how every year our poor dead yard literally comes alive with flowers, green grass, bird's nests. Here are afew pictures from the last couple of springs, and it is just the same this year! I can always count on the beautiful purple lilacs...aren't they gorgeous? And, the mama bird that lays her eggs in the nest on the rainpipe on the front porch....

Our back yard.....amazing.

The front of our house...check out those hostias...they are even bigger this year!

I am so grateful for this beautiful world that Heavenly Father has given to us and will be eternally grateful for what spring symbolizes, that our Savior died for us so that we too can live again.

And the beat goes on....

Wow, time sure flies by. I don't get over here enough. But, I just read my sister;s blog and it reminded me that I really should add an entry. I mean, for myself at least! An update from Disney at a minimum! Here are some family pictures at Cocoa Beach---Laurie insisted! I have some more I want to put up, but of course I have to LEAVE RIGHT NOW to pick up some kids from track practice!

My Inspiration

These two little canvases of Annie and Kellie are from a photograph of the two of them taken a couple of years ago. They were outside playing and I went to check on them. What did I find but two sisters dressed as polar opposites....it was so funny I had to take a picture. I found the photo about a week ago and it screamed at me to do something with it. At first I wanted to put them on the same collage, but each one of them had something to say separately. I love these two little girls. They keep me laughing and help me remember what is important.

I Heart My Digital Camera!

During Thanksgiving Break, we did our 2ND annual family photo shoot. The girls and I went out to the backyard and I just started taking pictures. It only took about 20 minutes, but I ended up with great pictures and they will wind up all over the place: My art journal, our Christmas card, various Christmas gifts, smilebox, and all sorts of art projects.
These are two of my favorites. The "High School Musical" shot only took 2 tries! The one from the back tugs at my heartstrings a bit, because sometimes I really do feel like they are walking out into the great unknown and I'm left behind, watching them go..... Anyway, I love these pictures! These, along with others will soon succumb to photoshop filters, Tim Holz distressing inks, and acrylic paint! My latest project is to make
"puppet people" with them, based on an e-book by Lani Gerity that I found on Artella. They will be AWESOME! I also got an ezine by Lani, and she just sent me an email telling me about some free give-aways on her blog--a couple of free spots in her e-workshops that I would LOVE to take!!! To be considered I had to announce this offer on my blog and include a link, which I have never done before, so I am going to give it a try...her blog can be found at http://www.lanipuppetmaker.blogspot.com/. She is very inspiring. I am already a big fan.
(I tried it out...the link worked! Woot!)

SNOW DAY!!!!

Today was our first official snow day! Woot! Of course as soon as everyone was up it was a mad hunt for hats, gloves, boots, scarves, etc....which were spread all over the house in little nooks and crannies. They spent a good hour outside with my camera got some great shots. The hearts in the driveway were especially cool, since they were made by a car turning around in our driveway! The girls added the "S" and "J".
It really is a beautiful day here in West Virginia. I am grateful for this extra day with everyone home. Watching movies, eating popcorn, not having to get up at 5:15 a.m......I mean does it get any better? No, I don't think so!

I Love Smilebox!

Make a Smilebox photobook

Happy Anniversary, Scott!

Yeah, I am actually doing another post today, because today is also Scott's and my 18th wedding anniversary. Every year it takes the back burner to Nat and Em's birthday, which is okay, I mean, really, how could I be bitter? :)

I just wanted a little note in here documenting it as a separate event, just as special to me. I love you, Scott. I'm not sure where 18 years have gone, but I'm sure we could find parts of them amid diapers, moves, new houses, laundry, food bills, christmas memories and in lots of pictures I have stuffed in a box upstairs! It has been a great journey so far. I guess you could liken it to a rollercoaster! It has had it's ups and downs, slow climbs and fast descents, upsidedown times and times when we screamed so loud we couldn't talk the next day! However bumpy it has been it has still been the best years of my life, and I hope to spend many, many, many more with you. Soon our girls will be grown and living their own lives and I am so glad that when all is said and done. you will still be my rollercoaster buddy! I love you, Babe!

Happy Birthday, Natalie and Emily!

It's crazy to think these two are 14 now! It really is unbelievable! I can remember like it was yesterday when Scott and I were in the ultrasound room, just praying that all would be well. Our previous pregnancy had ended at 16 weeks and we had found that out in the ultrasound room...and here we were, at 16 weeks again and scared beyond comprehension. I couldn't really look at the screen. All I could say was, "Is the heart beating?" and the tech said, "Oh, honey, sure it is. See, here is one heart beating, and here is another one......!" Scott and I looked at each other, mouths hanging open, tears welling up in our eyes, TWINS! I was stunned. It was such a happy day! And, even though they were born 5 weeks early, on our 4th anniversary, they have been nothing but angels sent from heaven. They are two of the best-behaved girls in the world. They have never ceased to amaze me with their intelligence, (reading the scriptures when they were barely 4 was a moment I will NEVER forget!), beauty, (I mean look at them, they are gorgeous!) and love for their family (they still give me a hug and a kiss before they go to bed...every night!) They are good to their friends and they have always been willing to help me, especially when Kellie and Annie were little. They have always been amazing daughters, and they are truly exceptional people. I am so grateful Heavenly Father sent us these two bundles of joy! Here they are at lunch with their best buds at Famous Dave's for lunch before they all went ice skating for their birthday (the date stamp on the pictures is wrong!!) Happy Birthday you two, I love you so much.

Life is Good!

Wow! It is really amazing to me what a difference a couple of weeks can make. About a month ago I was really on a downer. I don't think I dwelled on it too much in here, but I knew I had to do something, so I just hung on til my scheduled appointment with my doctor on the 14th. After talking with her, she agreed that things weren't quite right and increased my medication. I also talked to her about my hip trouble which seemed to be getting worse since I had started to exercise and so she had me set up some visits with a physical therapist. Well, is has been two weeks and I feel like a new person! I feel more motivated than I have in a long time. I'm not crying all the time and even if it is cloudy outside, I don't have a cloud over my head. Things just seem better, easier, less overwhelming. I am even feeling like my being "just a mom" is okay and important. My hip is feeling 100 % better and that is truly amazing, since it has been hurting since Annie was born. I have to use a foam roller of all things on my hip and using my body weight, I can stretch the ligament that runs all the way down the outside of my leg. It is so nice to not have that constant pain! Life is good, baby!