Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
I begin by saying that this has been a great Christmas for us. I was able to get a big jump start on my shopping before Black Friday which lowered my stress level immensely. I'm thankful that Rob was able to work some overtime and that this year I have also been working part time. My whole attitude this holiday season has been so much brighter than last year.
One big bump in my road, this season was my inability to get Christmas cards done. I really should take Rob's advice and set aside a day a month and do nothing but cards so that when December rolls around I won't feel that added stress. Now to just find one day a month where I can do nothing but cards, hmmmm.... lol
Since I wasn't able to get cards done and ran out of time to even do a photo card (the easy way out) I ran over to my mother in laws to have a quick, fun shoot with the kids. I told them my "vision" and asked if they would be interested. Poor Chelsea was fighting a cold but was a trooper. First we did what I would call the perfect kid pose. Then we had the

fun part. Kelly giving Wyatt a noogie, Wyatt pulling Chelsea's hair and Chelsea going to punch Wyatt. They just had too much fun without actually hurting each other. I think this whole shoot took less than 10 minutes. I posted them to Facebook with a Christmas message to all our family and friends.

Christmas Day was really good, after opening gifts at our house we went to my moms and had breakfast and opened gifts, then off to my mother in laws for gifts and a late lunch, then we dropped everything off at home and went to my brothers house for another round of family fun. The 26th we spent just hanging around the house and the kids were able to open and play with all their gifts.
This year has centered around anything Frozen for Chelsea, anything Pokemon for Kelly and anything Lego or Star Wars for Wyatt. I must say I have loved shopping for them. Oh heck, I just love giving gifts. I was even able to surprise Rob this year when I got him JBL charge 2 speaker. The only clue he had was a color choice, blue or red.

 For me, I got some books that I asked for and a few other goodies. I am still recovering from getting a Cricut Explore with my birthday money and the 23 new embossing folders from an awesome Black Friday sale from Cartridges and More. Then my after Christmas gift of a few new cartridges that I bought cheap off ebay.
This leads me to something that I've reflected on once before, having so many Cricut cartridges and needing to use them. So one of the ideas, resolutions, whatever you want to call it, is to deliver on my notion to use every cartridge at least once.

As of right now I have 217 cartridges. So many options and choices. It is time to grow my creativity. I'm intrigued to see how much my creativity will grow and my own voice.
My goal for 2015 is to get back on track with documenting my family and using whatever talents I have to inspire and encourage people, especially my family.
2015 is going to start off with a bang, I have girl scout cookie sales starting and our cub scout blue & gold ceremony where Wyatt will be crossing over to Boy Scouts!

This is also the year where my awesome mom will be turning 60 and then I will be turning 40! Big party planning in the works.
So much happens and 2014 I pretty much showed me that I have to document.
Our story matters even if its just for us.
So here is to a fantastic 2015! May yours be awesome.

*Carrie*

This morning I woke up itching to write and say "hello".

I am coming off a sabbatical of some sort. No, not a sabbatical more like a hissy fit, only I didn't realize at the time it was a fit.
A couple of months ago I was at a retreat and I'm sort of the odd duck in the group. I talk about blogs, Pinterest, retreats center dreams and how I want to make a difference in people's lives. After being asked several questions, what boiled down for me is how many people is enough? Will it ever be enough for me? I basically stopped blogging because A) I was creatively depressed, I'm a jack of all trades master of none, why? B) I didn't feel I was growing my blog perfectly or how I thought it should go and so I gave up. Until I was ready to try again, I was having a blogging hissy fit.
What amazes me is what comes out of your mouth when you try to explain or give examples. The example I gave is what gave me, my aha moment. When I was a kid I rode my bike up to the store and locked it up, but I put the lock on upside down. When I went to unlock it I struggled. Frustrated and figuring I was going to be in a heap of trouble I starting crying. After about a minute or so I reapplied myself to get that lock off. It did eventually and I rode home. What I realized was that I have done this same strategy all my life. When I get frustrated I quit, walk away, calm down and then I go back and plug away until its how I want it. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it opened my eyes and for that I am grateful.
Most of this year has been me thinking about my blog. I've been reading articles from Pinterest, magazines about blogging, looking at how to use a blogging calendars, whatever I could find. I have also realized how much of the year I've missed blogging our story.
No matter what our story matters. To me, my kids and our family, for future generations. Its not perfect but its ours.
Nope, we are no where near having the "dream" lifestyle and I have to accept that and make the most out of what I do have right here and now, because I know it was given to me to take care of. I let my gratitude over my life be overcome by thoughts of why can't I be like her and have what she has. That green eyed monster, that thief of joy.
I have to accept what is in front of me and to take advantage of every opportunity that will grow me. No, my blog may never be huge but it makes a difference and maybe that it's just for me to learn and grow or one day my kids might understand me more.
*Carrie*

This summer is flying by and for that I am sad. I must be crazy because I'm dreading the start of school in a couple of weeks, I'm not ready emotionally.
While I dream of taking the kids on a grand adventure, the fact is we've been working through 100 things to do for the summer.

My focus this year is creating fun family memories. The kids go swimming a few days during the week, we've been playing games like Skipbo, Uno, Life almost nightly and we plan on trying Phase 10 with them sometime this week.



For the first time in years we've gone to see the fireworks at "A" mountain, Rob has smoked racks of ribs for BBQ's and just hanging out with friends.

But still some regret lingers, all those "I wish" moments. Dreams to take the kids to LEGOLAND, San Diego, Yosemite, Oregon, Michigan and Maryland, just to start.
I dream of exploring the world with my family. This world is so amazingly beautiful, even some of the man made stuff is pretty freaking awesome. For now I will dream and plan, who knows where we will go next year?

Carrie*

   

Due to a lack of party supplies for the Disney movie Frozen, I had to get a little crafty.

Once again my hoarding crafty tendencies came to the rescue. Have you seen this craft of Pinterest? I went (two years ago, holy cow really?) and bought the snowflakes to make this and they've been sitting in a bag atop a bookcase waiting for me to glue them all up. Instead they became this, our own winter wonderland in 105 degree heat. 

 I had planned on ordering a cake from our local grocery store but when I went to order they were out of the Frozen cake toppers, so I backed up and punted. Chelsea wanted chocolate cupcakes with blue frosting as an extra bonus I piped white chocolate snowflakes to go on top. making those snowflakes was both a pain in the rear and fun.
Chels was over the moon happy. I just love watching her appreciation for each of her gifts and the people who gave them.

 She twirled, sang, giggled the day, within a hour of everyone leaving, she was sacked out.



The patch on her eye is a daily thing for the next couple of months as we try and strengthen her right eye.

Summer is in full swing around here and I am loving it more than I thought I could. I really don't want to go back to school.
Am I suffering from a sickness? What the heck is wrong with me?
We've been playing Skipbo and Uno almost every day, we've gone to see Rio 2 at the cheap theatres, lots of swimming at the Y, and just plain hanging out. Can't forget those 6 hours I was in the hospital for kidney stones last Sunday night. No fun
The one sucky thing about living in southern AZ is that every day in June it has been 100+. At 7:00am it is usually 80+. Right now it's 10:30

and its 91. The monsoon season is getting ready to start so our dew point is starting to rise which makes evap coolers not work as well and you sweat more. The great thing about dew points and monsoon is that it brings afternoon rain and lightning pictures, whoo hoo. Because of my back last year I couldn't go out, but this year is looking pretty dang good and I'm getting excited.

We are ticking off our summer to do list and this weekend we are celebrating Chelsea's 6th birthday. Chelsea has chosen the Frozen theme and yeah, good luck finding decorations, everything is sold out. Thanks to Pinterest and a certain persons procrastinating tendencies, yes, I'm talking about me, I think we will have a really good party.

*Carrie*

last week the kids and I along with a bunch of girl scouts went to see Ringling Bros, Barnum and Bailey Circus Legends.
Now I know this is going to sound cheesy, but when all the different acts came parading around the ring, the music building like a  I had tears in my eyes. The majesty and pageantry just caught my breath.
Does it sound like it was my first time?
Well it was. I know, how can that be?
 All I can say is that I either didn't want to go or we didn't have the money. What was I thinking?? Lol
The circus was so much fun, I wished some of the acts lasted longer, they were so cool and awe inspiring.
After the show Chelsea kept asking if we could go to a farm and get her a horse, love it.

I took a total of 459 photos that morning and yes, I did spend some time without my camera not attached to my head.

I have whittled it down to 388 but I know I need to knock it down more. I just like going through each photo and the memory of what happen next triggers all these happy feelings.

 My one let down was the trapeze act. they were so high up in the convention center that you couldn't see them all that well when they were flipping around, they were definitely in the rafters.

*Carrie*

School year finish line

 Back to our regular programming.
For the last few years I've tried to make the last day of school something to remember by crossing a finish line.
This year I wanted to create a wall of balloons that they could run through in the carport, but there was one problem, we were having 40+ mph winds. After some mass tangles and a couple of popped balloons I moved it all into our entry way.
It was interesting to say the least. The kids' expressions were hilarious. Because this was 

done indoors I had to use my flash which gave the kids multiple times to run through the balloons, I felt so sorry for them...Not!!

You might be wondering where Kelly was for all the fun? Ms. Kelly was gallivanting across the country to Ohio with my mom to go visit relatives. She had her own good time.
For Kelly it was her first time on a plane and she loved flying, it was the second state she has been in this year.

Hopefully I can get some photos from mom so I can have a more detailed photo editorial for a later date.
Because this is another staycation summer, ha ha, I've been looking over the summer to-do lists on Pinterest to keep us all away from the boredoms. So far, so good

    Hello world, I'm baaaack!!!!
Seriously, it's been more than six months since my last post.
I've lost my passion for most of my favorite hobbies the last few months and I don't know why. I haven't scrapbooked, art journaled, photographed anything for fun. I haven't made any cards that I even like. I'm inspired by things I've seen on Pinterest and for a brief time get excited but I lack the want to go and do or make.
This creative funk has really made me question why?? I can't stand the thought of all the money wasted if I just quit my hobbies.

In the meantime, I have enjoyed watching our lilies bloom. Rob and I bought a variety pack and we have found that we have 3 different blooms. This beautiful yellow is my favorite but we also have a solid white and an orange with darker orange that reminds me of tiger lilies.

I can't say all is bad.
Actually, I'm now out of my depression and really trying to find my zest for life.
I've become a school monitor at Wyatt and Chelsea's school. While the pay is minimum wage it is where I've been led and it works with the kids' schedule. I really like what I do and I enjoy the people I work with.

Summer vacation is in full swing around here and I for one am enjoying it. Movies, crafts, swimming, cub scout outings, ice cream nights.
Hopefully, I can get back to regular blogging and ramp up my creativity.
*Carrie*

*Carrie*