Oh boy is this month flying by. We've been fairly busy around here. I've been taking shots of miss C, Wyatt and Rob got to go on a train ride, I took a scrappin class, Kelly is back with Daisy scouts. I went with Kel on a class field trip. We (whole family)went and cheered my friend Julie on as she ran 10 miles for the Get Moving Tucson run/walk. Had a great dinner with other friends from church. Celebrated my friend Karens b-day by making bracelets at beads of courage, that was inspiring. It just seems that time is flying. But we are having fun.
Went with the kids and picked out Halloween costumes, they are going to be so adorable. Braxton had to be emergency rushed to the vet. somehow the dog dislocated his back leg knee caps. He is doing great now and we are not even sure how it happened.




Please excuse the bad shot. I had forgotten to take it off night mode, from Wyatt's train ride when I took this shot of Julie.




Way to go Jules! I'm proud of you.

I am still working on my Artist's Way classes and I have been staying off the computer so that I can focus on my creativity. Of course now that we are also getting rid of cable I should be even more productive. At least I hope so.
So that is life in a nut shell this second. I will try to compose something better when I'm not bouncing a baby on my knee. :)
C

My all about me album. I wanted to use bright colors so I primarily stuck with the KI Memories Pop Culture and Bloom lines. The little tabs are by a company called Urban Lily and the line is called Happy. I couldn't find any paper that matched so I found one that I liked . Now the pages are in order but I completed all the tab/token questions that they asked. If you like you should be able to click on each picture and see it bigger







Now on Saturday I went on my first Artist date. This is where I get to be by myself and do whatever I want for about 2 hours.
I chose to go to a local nursery called Mesquite Valley Growers. The people there were so nice and welcomed me to take pictures. Of course I also bought a beautiful mum and pot that called to me. I was very happy with the way some of the shots turned out and I plan on framing some for our living room.



I noticed that some of my favorites were in the purple range. I told Rob they would look good in a bathroom. He said as long as it wasn't ours, as opposed to the guest bathroom, he was fine with it.
The photo with the bouganvilla (sp?) is now our new screen saver, that Rob picked out. I'm really wanting to go back and do this again.
On the way there all these negative thoughts started to run through my head and once I got going it was so freeing and I was very happy.
Heck, after I got home and uploaded I wanted to drive back and take more shots.





So last night was Kelly's first night with her new Daisy troop. It was rough getting started but by the end she liked everything and this morning keeps asking me her troop leaders name so she can tell her teacher and classmates. I really hope this is something she can grow from and enjoy.
Rob said that Wyatt was asking about Boy scouts and how he was going to join them.
One thing that surprised me was that parents didn't have to stay. Well this being Kelly's first time she was trying to cling to me and I was trying to shove her forward.
When we first got there they did the opening ceremony. This is the color guard bringing out the flag to doing the pledge of allegience and then the girls scout promise. By the end of the ceremony Kelly was rubbing away tears. I think she was very overwhelmed because she didn't know anyone and she is surrounded by twenty plus girls (both juniors and daisy's were together). By the closing ceremony, retiring of the color guard and flag, saying the promise again and then a freindship song, Kelly was doing much better. So we will see next time. I already told the leaders I would hang in the back until Kelly was completely comfortable and then I would just start dropping her off and let her grow on her own.
So I'm off. I'm pumped to go be creative and want to get things done.
Love C

So our Saturday was fairly busy. The munchkin turned 3 months and we took the required bear picture and the bigger rug rat had her sixth birthday. I still remember the day she was born, which is a good thing because I seem to be forgetting everything else.

Picture #2 the party table. Just before the party started I went out to the dollar store to see what Pooh stuff I could find. I picked up glow wands, pooh color pencils, mini m&ms, and tigger and pooh pez dispensers. I then went to the other dollar store and scored by finding My friends tigger and pooh super sleuths coloring books. So I threw these all into goody bags for all for kids. I was so happy to find the coloring books because they matched the theme of the party. See because there isn't much out there yet I went to the Playhouse Disney website and downloaded placemats and such to help out.

As we were waiting for the cousins to arrive I dragged the kids kicking and screaming (not even close) to the backyard for some pictures.

Picture #3- Wyatt being Wyatt.




Picture #4- the birthday girl herself- Gave me some great shots and had some fun with the camera. Was uber excited and drove us crazy with the, are they here yets??



Picture #5- Chels- smiling and cooing so much lately. A fairly happy baby until bed time and then lots of fighting sleepy time. She is almost sleeping through the night. Holds her head up very well. Love making her smile.

Finished my mini album that I made about myself. I might post pictures later.
Now I saw a cute idea about a pumpkin album that I might give a try.
I'm still working on the Artist's Way tasks and morning pages. Doing pretty good about letting my creativity out and not spending so much wasteful time on the computer.
Also Kelly has been invited to a new Daisy scouts troop. I am soooo excited because I know the leader and she is fantastic. We are going to learn so much and have a blast. Our next meeting is Monday the 6th.
So I'm off, Wyatt the terror has made a mess while I've been typing. How he does it so quietly with me right beside him is a mystery.

So this is what Kelly and Wyatt did this afternoon. Both were soaked to the skin but loved every minute of it. I think it rained for a good half hour.

Would you like to see my creativeness this week. Now to you they may look like I just laminated pooh characters. Oh contrare, First you cut out a black base, so you know where to put everything. Then you have to cut out each individual color that makes up each character and then gluing it all down. Very time consuming but I did my best to make them look as correct in color as possible.






I told Rob there was a reason why I bought so many packs of papers. I also made the Pooh cake this afternoon but I'll take photos of that tomorrow.


So my baby girl is 6 so I thought I would have her answer 6 questions about herself

Now picture Kelly standing in front of you twisting back and forth with a cheesy smile on her face:
1. What is your favorite color?
purple (usually it is blue)
2. Favorite movie/t.v. show
Piglets Big Movie
3. Favorite Disney Character
Ariel
4. Favorite food
Apples
5. Favorite Animal
Horse
6. What is 4+2
6 :)
Happy Birthday Kell bell

So I've been kind of busy. We went to a lobster picnic a couple of weeks ago and I'm trying to get more shots of all my rugrats together.

I haven't taken any photos yet but I can show you what I've been up to. I used my cricut and cut out 10 pooh characters for Kelly's birthday party Saturday. I have made a basic happy birthday banner that after I'm done posting I will go string up. Rob and I made confetti rice krispy treats for Kelly's class plus a batch for at home. I'm working on my Artists way tasks and morning pages. As of yesterday I am fostering a couple of dogs for about 2 months. All pictures will come later.

I'm sorry I've been a bad blogger. Of course the midget doesn't always make things easy, right now I'm typing one handed and bouncing her up and down. So this will probably be a short post.

Tomorrow is Kelly's 6th birthday and on saturday Chelsea will be 3 months. Tomorrow I will bake the Pooh birthday cake and get it decorated for the pizza party. I promise I will have pictures.

I'll be a better blogger.

*Warning*- Heavy Subject

A couple of years ago I took a course called Potters Wheel. Potters Wheel is a five day intense therapy session for individuals or couples. It is life changing and very hard but so freeing too.

You know we think we have a handle on what is going on in our lives but through this course you find out about things that happened in your childhood that have shaped you into the person you are today and how to move past that childhood pain to become the person God meant for you to be. By the end of the five day course, You think, you laugh, and most especially you cry. On the last day amidst many tears the facilitator Patti asked me a question, "what is the one thing you fear about yourself?" My answer was my passion.

I feel as if I have all this passion built up inside that just wants to burst or spew out and I would lose all control to tame it down (make any sense?)

Most of my life I have let the devil on my shoulder tell me I'm not good enough or I can't do it. This has also led to some laziness on my part. It's easier to say I can't then it is to just do it. Even if the rewards far exceed the small effort it took physically.

So for the last two years I have prayed, I have tried to work through that devil that tells me I'm not good enough. Right now or I'll say the last few months I have wanted to break the cycle. I want to wipe my slate clean and redo most aspects of my life. I want to redecorate my house, I want to improve the amount of fun I have with my kids, I want to free my passions and instead of sitting around I want to scrapbook and to sew, yes sew. I want to see a change in the pictures I take and the scrapbook pages I create. I want, no need to get our family story down on paper for future generations. I want to get moving.

It takes more energy to be extraverted than introverted but I need to be the person I was a long, long time ago, she pops up occasionally and I find myself happier when she comes out, but she also tires me out because I'm not used to expending that much energy.

About a month ago one of the many blogs I read was starting a online book group based on the book "the Artists Way" by Julia Cameron. Well the book arrived yesterday and I started to read it. This book has been used for more than 20 years and has helped heal or open up artists from all walks of life, a creative workshop. What surprised me was that it is a faith based book. There are ten basic principals, one of my favorites is number five, Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift to God.

So beginning this weekend I will begin to discover and rediscover my creative self.

Along with this book I have also picked up Randy Pauschs' book the Last Lecture. For more info about either the author or the book just google it.

I watched the interview and heard all the reviews on how this college professor, in the last act of his life has changed or touched so many others. I cried when I heard of his death and the three small children he left behind. I look to the legacy he has left for all of us. So this is another book that I hear will really speak to me. Fall is a season of change( and my favorite time of year) and this fall I want to change. Life is too short to be filled with woulda, coulda, shouldas. I want myself and my kids to see or say WE DID.

So a little somebody turned 2 months old yeserday and I took her monthly shot with her teddy bear.
It was nice to have Chelsea awake and she actually did really well. I might try and take the bear picture again and try to keep all the back grounds white, so that when I go to scrapbook they have a more uniform look.
Yesterday I tried some different techniques trying to get more interaction shots. So this is me (of course) holding the camera extended in one arm and trying to get a shot of us. My arm got tired after a while and Chelsea seemed to be done also.


Rob and I had a rough night Monday night. Chelsea wasn't sleeping well and didn't seem to be eating well either. Well I finally figured it out Tuesday afternoon when I realized we were still on the same bottle as early that morning and Chelsea had been sucking on it. What I found out was that the nipple had gotten clogged and no formula was coming out. My poor baby was starving. Once I got the nipple cleaned little girl went to town on that bottle and then slept for 3 hours, the longest she had slept all night.

Now we move to last night where the older kids were in the shower and Chelsea was crying in the living room. I get up to get a drink and I hear the slip and thud of one of the kids falling in the shower. Next I hear Wyatt crying. I rush in to check on him and I find out that Kelly got mad at Wyatt, pushed him and Wyatt fell and chipped one of his front teeth. Poor boy cried for 45 minutes and didn't sleep well last night and this morning his gums are bruised around that tooth. We sat Kelly down and had a long talk about her actions lately and how violent she has been getting. Kelly is constantly yelling and hitting Wyatt whenever he gets in her way. So for every time she is mean she loses a priviledge. Dessert, movies, spending the night at grandmoms, toys taken away. Hopefully we will begin to see an attitude change.
The other night Kelly gave me a dirty look and stuck out her tongue at me because I said she couldn't watch a movie she had to do her homework. Well Rob saw it and proceeded to put a drop of hot sauce on her tongue. The next morning I caught her doing it again. So I couldn't get her to open her mouth so I rubbed hot sauce on her lips. So far we have had 24 hrs with no tongue in sight.
I guess this has been kind of a rough week. I hope this weekend is better.
Tomorrows my birthday, I really hope this week gets better.
Hello 33!

random Monday ramblings

so this morning Kelly was being a bit snotty when I told her that if she didn't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all.
Kelly's response, What- ever, with the emphasis but not in a rude tone.
when wasked where she learned that she had know idea. yeah right

Wyatt is beginning to sing the jingles from certain commercials either on the radio or on the tv when he hears them.

Chelsea is starting to know her name (I think so) and we are so enjoying her screaming/crying fits that last most evenings. She is also smiling more, that is what I love to see.

A Quote made for me
Get out of the way. Let it work through you. Accumulate pages, not judgments.- Julia Cameron

There is a book called The Artists Way by Julia Cameron that can teach you creativity- exactly what I need. It was the quote that I mentioned above that smacked me in the face and something that I knowingly struggle with every day.
I feel that if i can get out of the way the real me full of passion can take flight.

I said yesterday in a conversation with Rob and Mom that I want to lose weight but when i start to see the lower numbers that I sabotage myself and that I am actually afraid to lose the weight
Rob said something about that that got me, in a good way. That I hide behind my weight so that I don't expect more of myself or that if i lose the weight that people will expect more of me.
Given me lots to think about.
Love C

This photo made the news last night at 10pm on KGUN9!!

It was my second time attempting to get lightning and some of my previous attempts came out blurry. It actually is lots of fun trying to do this because you can only keep your shutter open for a few seconds. I missed a couple of awesome shots cause I was fiddling with the camera.

One of these Rob likes so much he wants me to have it framed. I'm now kinda hoping that we get another storm tonight. Granted we barely got any rain but the light show was spectacular!!

Maybe if I have enough warning I can head for a field and get some that look like they hit the ground.

All of these were taken from my driveway looking north toward town and the mountains.

Not bad with the kit lens and no post processing.

Anyway tomorrow we are finally going to take the kids to see Kung Fu Panda. Mike has been quoting parts of the movie and driving Rob crazy so when he gets off work tomorrow we're all going to see it.

Love Carrie

First grade~First Day

Kelly had a great first day of 1st grade. Mrs. Watt her former kindergarten teacher decided to move up with her class, so Kelly was very comfortable in her classroom, and 12 of her kinder classmates are in this new class also, so she has plenty of people she knows. Kell received her homework folder which we personalized with her name in the Cricut mickey font and some Disney princess stickers. Now we need some homework to put in the folder.
We had the best morning photo shoot with no drama and some fantastic shots. It was a beautiful morning yesterday so perfect, or maybe my skills are getting better ;)
We got Kelly's outfit at Target and yesterday morning we saw at least four other girls wearing either the blue or pink version of it. All the girls looked so cute.
After school we did the first day of school tradition and we as a family went to Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone.
I'm very interested in seeing how this year is going to go and all the changes that happen as she learns and strengthens her skills.

Kelly lost her first tooth this morning!!

We were checking out the wiggle factor last night and noticed that it was very close to coming out.

So the "plan" this morning was to go outside and take a picture of her "full" smile. Well you know what they say about best laid plans..... I was getting dressed when Kelly came into my bedroom all excited to show me her tooth and her new smile.

Wiggly tooth #2 should be falling out very soon.

My baby is growing up, first her tooth and next week, 1st grade.

** Tooth #2 just fell out!! In the same day!! Here is Kelly's NEW smile

a comment note to Mom

Mom made a comment on my last post that i had to respond to.

You(ma) asked if I could outdo Wyatt in the animated department on opening birthday presents. To be honest, probably not.

Unless, I got some items on my want list(hint, hint, hint)especially if I got more than one item. Then you would most likely see me as a happy bubbly mess, ya know crying, red eyes, snot running, drooling, hugging people.

If you don't remember my want list, please refer back to the May 23rd post.

Otherwise I'm sure I will have a nice, relaxing day

Chelsea at 1 month

This might be getting framed

LOve, Carrie

So this is what Mr. Cricut did for Wyatt's birthday. I made the sign and all the character heads. I also noticed that this is one of those photos that you look back at when your older and see how you really lived. You know, clothes hanging outside, messy end table, dad's patchwork blanket made by grandmom Ross.
Now on to the party.
If I would have known how animated Wyatt was going to get I would have had the video camera going also. Case in point: he opens up the card from Uncle Chuck and Aunt JoAnn, he spys the $20 and starts yelling "Oh my goodness, Money, yeah!!" Waving his arm around madly. He tore into his gifts with gusto and was so excited about everything but the clothes(typical). He danced and jumped up and down. Wyatt had us all laughing at his antics.

He was very happy with his gifts and I think all the kids had a good time .
Still trying to get his 4yr pictures done but the opportunity hasn't presented itself yet.
Also with turning 4 we had to have our yearly check up from the doctor.
Now I was dreading this because even up till recently getting Wyatt to do some things was like trying to herd a mule. Thankfully the nurse was fantastic and turned it into a game. Wyatt did everything he was asked to do; he peed in a cup, did the hearing test, got weighed and measured, and did the eye exam and got his blood pressure taken.
What Wyatt wasn't aware of is the fact that he was about to get 5 shots. I had it previously arranged for Rob to be there because I knew that I alone would not be able to hold Wyatt still to get his shots. Even with the two of us it was very hard. Afterward he kept saying in the sweetest tear filled voice, "That hurt" When we were walking out he followed his nurse that gave the shots and kept telling her, "that hurt, that really hurt". For his pain he received two suckers, and a hug from the nurse, when he came home he got to watch a movie of his choice and we are going to have pepperoni pizza for lunch. On the way home he informed me that he doesn't like going to the doctor.
Now Chelsea also had an appointment this morning and was checked over but she won't be getting shots until next month. Chelsea is doing very well but is still very gassy and like to fluff her diaper on a constant basis. She is still very much a noise maker and is content to sleep on my chest. Burping her seems to take forever and by this photo you can tell she is tired of waiting for it to happen also.

I am also still trying to get her one month photo. I worked on it yesterday but didn't like the results so I might try this afternoon and use the northern light from Wyatt and Chelsea bedroom. This room give good catchlights and is nice and bright.
Since I've talked about my youngest two can't forget my oldest.
Kelly is still living. (that was a joke) Still as grouchy and bratty as she has been. We are still working on attitude and getting ready for back to school. Hopefully we will be seeing a more positive change in her soon. I would love to see a happier and nicer Kelly again. She just needs to learn that she can't always have her way and that she is not always in charge.


What, that's the end??
Say it ain't so?

Yep for today. Pizza just got here.
LOve,
Carrie

Happy Birthday Wyatt

My Little man turned 4 today. Since his party is on Saturday we had cupcakes today with just us. We sang Happy birthday and he blew out his candle. I had a hard time finding a Mickey cake topper but Fry's already had these guys all done up. Perfect for our Mikey Clubhouse theme party. I made the Happy Birthday banner and the Disney character silhouettes. Which you will see on Saturday when I take pictures of them, hehehe.

Hopefully weather and mommy premitting we will head to the park and try to get his 4 yr picture done. I think this is much better than struggling with Sears. We shall see how it goes.

On the parenting front. I have started reading Dr. Kevin Lemans book, Making children mind without losing yours. I have already started implementing some of the discipline and teaching techniques.

Dear God,
Please don't let Rob get mad about the 5 different orders for scrapping supplies that are coming in this week. I would love to see my children grow up and get married.
Thanks carrie


Someone has a birthday tomorrow and a party on Saturday. I think it's my lucky day because he asked me to take pictures of him this morning.

Included in my scrappy goodness is Scenic Routes- Appleton, Autumn Leaves- Cuteworld boy and girl, Oriental trading- polka dot and glitter buttons, Wausau Paper- paper for mike and amanda wedding album, Maya Road- sheer ribbons, and I got in last night the clear snap memories essentials clear stamp roller(seen in magazines) gotta try that later.
This is why I have a prayer in to God, I gotta lotta scrap crap coming in this week.

Oh, and for all of you in Tucson- Yes I am loving todays rainy, cloudy day. wish it could last for a few more days but I know it won't.

kelly's bossiness

This morning I told the kids that I wouldn't make them lunch until they clean up their mess from playing this morning.
While they were cleaning Chelsea started fussing to be fed. I had just finished burping her when Kelly walked up to me pointed at Chelsea and then pointed to the baby chair, then pointed at me and then pointed to the kitchen.
Giving her the mean mommy look I said '"excuse me?"
Kelly says;" put Chelsea in the chair and go fix me dinosaur chicken nuggets for lunch."
Where do kids get this crap. She sounded straight out of some tv show where the man barks at his wife to fix him dinner.
I was trying hard not to laugh and said I was going to call Rob and tell him what Kelly had just said.
Kelly responds,"what's his number and I'll call and tell him.
Seriously, who is this kid and where can I exchange her?? ;)

Chelsea @ 2 weeks

Taken today

tomorrow we go to build a bear to pick out a buddy for each of the kids.

saying goodbye to a faithful friend

My beloved Chester past away today at the age of 11.

Chester was one of the puppies from our dog Lady Grey and at first I was suppose to give him a good home, but when the person who expressed interest in him fell through and I had to keep him for a couple of days I fell in love. This was the winter of 1996, Rob and I were engaged and living together at Columbus Village apartments. I begged Rob could I keep him and Rob kept telling me no. I came home from work one night and Chester had on a red collar with mathcing leash and a red plaid dog bed. Rob told me Merry Christmas. One of the sweetest christmas gifts ever given.
My fuzzy buddy or fuzzy butt and the best dog I have ever owned. He was the cutest furball as a pup and so good and smart. We would take him around our neices so that he could get used to kids and to see how Chester handled little hands groping him. We have a neice Jessica who has special needs and whenever she headed in a direction she wasn't suppose to go Chester would steer her in another direction and let Jessie lay all over him.
Once our own children came along Chessie had no problems letting them hang around and had never once nipped or growled at any kids.
This last few years we kept remarking how we didn't feel that Chester would make it through the winter with his arthritis getting bad in his back legs, but each year with glucosamine and chondroitin he managed. Lately getting him to go back into the dog area prompted us to use food as a bribe. We would have let him roam the whole yard but then his buddy Braxton would have gone crazy whining and barking.
I believe Braxton kept Chester young these last couple of years. They would at times wrestle or run around the yard and Chester would feel the pain later. Chester never whimpered in pain and the only way you knew he might be hurting is he would get up very slowly. Now Chester is no longer in pain. He is free and though I will miss him very much I know he is in a much better place.

Having a baby changes everything

It's amazing how in twelve hours your whole life changes. This is me Friday June 27th at about 8:30am. i had just gotten home from having a non stress test. I had a feeling that I needed to get this photo of what I looked like pregnant. I was 35 weeks and 3 days. On bedrest (supposedly), I was taking it very easy. Rob had taken the day off work to just chill out and do whatever little errands that had been bugging me because I could not do them.
Fast forward to early evening around 4ish, I had just gotten into my comfy clothes and me and the kids were hanging in the living room watching Cars. Rob was starting to get dinner ready. All of a sudden it felt like someone had unpopped a cork and my water broke.
After rushing into the bathroom I had a huge smile on my face because my pregnancy was finally over, and all the misery it entailed, and I was finally going to see my baby and find out what it was.

Rob's mom came over to get the kids as we grabbed all the last minute things we needed to throw into the hospital bag.

Get to TMC and my water is still leaking, gross I know, and there is a line for Labor and Delivery. I ask politely if everyone is just visiting and one lady said no but looked at me funny. By this time I'm starting to leak on the floor and I'm embarassed because all these people are looking at me. So I say sheepishly that my water broke. The one lady who had said that she was not visiting, whom was actually in labor herself, looked at the security guard who was the only one working and said to get this woman a wheelchair and get her back there. So I was wheeled to the back.
Once they got me back there, they had no rooms so I was put in a little cubbie until they could get me a room. So about 15 minutes or so I was wheeled back up near the front in their traige area. This is where I chilled out until surgery. I must say we had the best nurses that night. We were cracking jokes and just going with the flow. Once I was wheeled into the surgery room I was given a spinal, took him what seemed like forever, and then as I became numb I started to giggle because everything tingled and my lower extremities were now useless. I could feel them rubbing the betadine over my stomach and I just kept giggling because it tickled. Let's just say they liked my in that room because I was so cool about the whole thing.
So I feel a bit of tuggging and then I hear a cry. The doctor brought the baby around so that we could see and they informed us that we had a baby girl. Of course I am now abandoned by Rob so that he must do his duty of getting plenty of pictures.
Welcome to our family, Chelsea Yvonne Ross- 8 pounds, 1 ounce and 18 inches
They asked Rob if he wanted to see my tubal ligation but he opted to go back to the room with our new baby girl. What was interesting to us is that Rob was allowed to carry the baby from the surgery room all the way back to our triage room where my mom was waiting. She wasn't put in a bassinet and pushed like we had at St. Joes.
So after they finished with me I was also wheeled back to our triage room for my recovery. This was the first time Rob got to see me "come down" from the surgery. As I lay there shaking like a chihuahua everyone else was checking out my new bundle of joy. I refused to hold the baby until most of the shaking subsided cause I was nervous about her slipping out of my arms or freaking her out. After about two hours of recovery we were taken to our new room where we would stay until we left Sunday night around 6:30pm. We had plenty of visitors on Saturday and poor me had only gotten about an hour of sleep because the nurses had to keep checking on me, so I was running on pure exhaustion.
So now I'm pretty much recovered and can now sit at the computer more comfortably so I will continue to fill you all in on how things are going. More tomorrow................... pictures coming, blogger is having problems