As I was sitting here this morning and thinking about how this summer has gone I found myself satisfied. I feel that most of the credit should go to Wyatt's boy scouts. The group has gotten together every other Saturday this summer. We have done a baseball game, planetarium, water park and last Saturday we went horseback riding.
Wyatt, Kelly and Chelsea have made new friends with Dominic and Macie from scouts and Rob and Marty (D+M's dad) are buddies and working a side job together. Treasure, the kids' stepmom, and I have become good friends too so this has been a busy summer shuttling between houses, cookouts and just hanging out.
Actually this picture was taken at Marty's house one evening.
Marty likes to tease me endlessly about taking pictures and scrapbooking.
One of the first times I was at their house Treasure was showing me a new room they had added on. We had been talking about scrapbooking and using the cricut and when we walked in and looked around I asked her if this room was going to be her scrap room. She later laughed at me but she told me no, this was going to be the new master bedroom.
When she told Rob and Marty what I had said they all laughed at me. Hey a girl can dream for her friend right?
Yes this summer has been satisfying but it has also come with some major medical issues and changes for me.
Sigh... In May I hurt my right arm when I was swinging a pick to help Rob dig up our garden, figured I pulled a muscle.
In June I was diagnosed with kidney and gall stones I also ended up getting an emergency root canal.
In July I finally made an appointment with a new PCP who is also the husband of my gyno. I went in with a list of things wrong with me.
The Dr. let me know that I have tennis elbow in my right arm and need to wear a brace for the next 8 weeks and to ice my arm. We'll treat the kidney and gall stones when they flare up. I was diagnosed with high cholesterol and the doctor made it official that I am now a type 2 diabetic. I'm not on insulin yet. I have been put on two medications that I will probably take for the rest of my life. One is for the cholesterol and the other is metaformin for the diabetes.
It's time I take control of my eating.
I overeat and most of the time it's with all the bad stuff that tastes so yummy. I have also come to realize that I'm eating too fast.
I have already started making steps in eating healthier. I'm not going gung ho because like my doctor suggested if I do I'm setting myself up for failure. I AM being more aware of what I eat and how much.
I also need to start walking but this has come to be a bit of a problem because my kids are not old enough to left alone for an hour and with Rob working this extra job he leaves about 20 minutes after getting off of his regular work and gets home at about 8pm. I could try walking at 5:30 am, that's when Rob gets home from his bike ride and is showering and getting ready for work. Right now I think that is going to be my only option.
I could go on and on about exercise and healthy changes but for me this is enough for now. I'm already feeling a bit overwhelmed and my natural defense is to run away and pig out.
Lots of changes I'm going to make. (that sounds a bit Yoda-ish)
May the force be with me. :)


*Carrie*

Happy 7th Birthday Wyatt!

 Oh my goodness, this boy! I swear he can be the easiest to please.

This year Wyatt wanted another Toy Story birthday party, it would be his third in fact but Nina was out shopping and spied some Cars 2 party ware on clearance and she picked them up. I asked Wyatt if this was OK and he said sure.

For the last month he has informed us what he wanted for his birthday and thankfully we were able to comply.

Wyatt wanted a watch but mostly he wanted a Super Mario Bros game.

As I later stated on Facebook we have officially entered the video game years, Lord have some mercy on us.

We had a small party with cupcakes and ice cream, Wyatt tore thru his presents lickety split and then him and all the boys ran into his room to start to put the various Lego sets together. It was a nice, relaxed party and one where even us adults had some time to talk.

It has been a busy summer this year and for one I am very thankful. This past Saturday we went with the boy scouts to a horse ranch to earn their segment and belt loop, even Kelly has earned a girl scout patch.

Anyway, I forgot my camera. I know shoot me! I used Rob's phone to take all the pictures but we haven't had time to take them off his phone and put them on the computer.

I am so proud of my kids. I'll post more on the horseback riding later. Today is all about my little guy.

So here is 7 things for Wyatt's 7th Birthday

1. He is very compassionate

2. He can be very dramatic
3. He has started to try foods that he always refused before
4. He loves cub scouts
5. He is not a fan of his little sister, right now, there is always hope :)
6. He is helpful
7. My boy loves chocolate!

In a couple of weeks he'll be starting second grade. As a parent it really boggles my mind to watch my kids grow and change. It really does go by so fast.
Last week Wyatt floored me when he asked to take a bite of my bowl of cottage cheese. After his first bite I thought that would be it, instead he went ahead and finished my bowl.
Happy Birthday Wy, I pray that this will be a great year for you!
Love you,
mom and dad

*Carrie*

I remember lamenting that the kids might have another boring summer.
Yeah well, I changed my mind.
In the last few weeks they have swam in three different people's pools, gone to a water park and went bowling. We have another pool party to go to this month for Kelly and the girls scouts and maybe horseback riding for Wyatt and the boy scouts.
This past weekend was a family picnic for the boy scouts at Brandi Fenton Park.
My kids had a great time except Chelsea. Chels

wasn't too sure about all the water and kept going in and out of the area. Thankfully there was a playground right beside the water park and she played there on and off.
Afterward we picked up lunch and then we had a bowling date for Kelly and scouts.
Rob, Wyatt and Chelsea bowled beside us.
I know this isn't the most flattering picture but this is what I saw.
Chelsea quickly lost interest in the bowling so Rob finished out her game for her.
Kelly had a nice time hanging with the girls and even got a cute patch for it.
Me, I just hung out. I pulled a muscle a few months ago when I was helping Rob dig up our garden. I still can't pick up heavy items with my right arm and I knew there was no way I could swing a ball.

To recap more of our summer we've been watching netflix and finding all these great TV shows that we don't have time to watch during the season or we don't get the channel with just an antenna. We have caught season 1 of Glee, Drop Dead Diva, Hot in Cleveland and Ghost Adventures. Awesome, funny and terrific shows. Since we no longer have cable this has been great and I love the fact that there are no commercials.

Sometimes during the day, like now, I will have the Pandora radio playing on the computer as I surf the net. I love the ability to pick an artist and get a variety channel with all my similarly favorite songs and artists.

I'm getting ready to have some photos printed and I'm excited to get some scrappin done. I really need to get some PAGES done. I have started a list of must get done pages like almost all the kids' birthdays and holidays. That should keep me busy for a while and would help in the theme paper and embellishment shopping. Heck, I've already been thinking about making Christmas cards. I just need to make the time and buckle down. Since I no longer have a room I make it more complicated because then I have to dig to find some of my stuff because it could be in about four different places in our house.
Last week I finally started on the kids school albums but now I need to order more page protectors. I will have the books ready up to fifth grade and then I plan to switch the paper theme to something more grown up looking.
*Carrie*

 I will be honest and say that this last week has been a rough week.
Last Wednesday I ended up getting a emergency root canal, since then, for some reason, I keep getting migraines.
I haven't had a migraine in years, lots of years. I've had 3 since last week. It has been horrible and almost ruined my 4th of July.
I feel like my head is on a hair trigger and I don't like it.

 We did up having a nice 4th though.
 We headed up to the foothills to hang out with Rob's friend Marty and all his family.
The Amplo family compound is perfect for parties. They have a view of the city from the driveway, an acre of land that butts up against the Catalina Mt's, a pool, BBQ grill and sidewalk chalk.
Yes, chalk. I'll get to it later
The 4th in Tucson was a bit muted this year. Most fireworks were banned and several venues cancelled their firework celebrations. To top it off we got one heck of a storm here on the east side
that knocked down trees and ripped off roofs.
The only fireworks allowed in the city were smoke bombs and sparklers.
It was an old fashioned fourth and the kids loved it.

We showed up shortly before the storm hit and we brought along some macaroni salad and Rob's near famous ribs.
I love Rob's ribs,  I was really hoping to have a couple left over to bring home but there was nothing left, but we had some great grilled corn and for dessert Marty's brother made some awesome chocolate dipped cream puffs.

Anyway, the kids got to go swimming before and after the storm they also took the side walk chalk and drew on the block walls. Since the walls were damp the chalk colors came out super bright. On part of the wall Marty traced each kid that was there, lets just say there were a lot of kids. The kids had a ton of fun and all got along and no one got hurt. Yep, it was good.
We had great conversation and a great time.


*Carrie*

On Monday a little someone turned 3.
Yep, we have entered the next phase of the terrible two's called the terrifying three's. You know, where your child starts to think that they can do just about anything and have no fear?

This is the year where potty training will be completed, she will get better at getting on and off her clothes, she will walk beside me and not take off in stores ( I can hope right?).

We celebrated this momentous occasion on Sunday afternoon with some friends and family.

The birthday princess could hardly wait.

This was the year where she fully understands that this party is for her and that she will be getting cupcakes and presents.

She is the star of the show.

Getting Chelsea to pose at her party table and not eat and of the cupcakes was a challenge and we, meaning Rob and myself had to be on constant vigil to make sure the chocolate stayed on the cupcakes, along with the Hello Kitty candy toppers.

As presents began coming in Chelsea tried her darnedest to start opening, finally I put up a table to put the gifts on that made it slightly harder for her to start digging into.

Having everyone singing Happy Birthday just lit her

up and Chels got such a kick out of it.
Blowing out the candle this year was an easy feat and she did it so fast that I made her do it again because I missed taking the picture!
Chelsea sure didn't mind blowing out the candle again as I clicked away.

At the party we offered funfetti cupcakes with milk chocolate icing and an ice cream sundae bar with plenty of toppings.

Afterwards we played with and tried on some of our gifts. Seen here Chelsea is sporting a new princess pajama set complete with Ariel gloves and matching purse. The pink boa tiara sparkles atop Chelsea's freshly washed hair and adorning her cute feet are a pair of shimmer flower Dora sandals, that she tried to go to bed wearing, and no outfit is complete with out jewelry. Chelsea has chosen to wear a Hello Kitty necklace along with a strand of pink pearls to complete her ensemble, her princess wand was noticeably absent for this picture but rest assured it was close by.

Actually, Chelsea spent most of the day waving around one of two wands and instead of saying abracadabra she would say, magic, magic, magic!

Earlier yesterday I was somewhat kicking myself think how I have short changed my kids yet again this summer.
When the TV is on there is a constant barrage of ads for Disney which always gets all the kids going, but there are also ads for San Diego and Sea World. All places I would love to take my kids and I'm sure one day we will but, this got me to thinking about the things we have done so far this summer.  
Our not so bummer summer.

We've had Kelly's year end ceremony from girl scouts,

Baseball games with Wyatt

 soccer games with Kelly,

watching Baby Bryson a couple of days a week,

going with the boy scouts to see the Tucson Padres play, also where I got hit in the forearm trying to catch a pop fly foul ball one handed while my camera was in the right hand.

Let's see we have gone fishing with Dad and Mr. Marty,

 we went to the cheap movies and saw RIO, really cute movie, playing so hard that Chelsea fell asleep at dinner.

 We have done some crafts, gone to Grandmas to play in the kiddy pool.

This is just the first few weeks! I haven't posted about Fathers Day or the things we have planned for the rest of the summer.

I really don't need to be hard on myself, I think my kids are having a great summer so far, would I like to take a road trip, heck yeah. I'm going to by the Arizona Highways book on the back roads and I think we are going to explore this wonderful state we live in.

*Carrie*

I had nothing but good intentions for yesterday, indeed I did, but my body betrayed me and I ended up being in the hospital most of yesterday morning.
The story goes like this:
I woke up at 4:30 with a pain in my right lower back. I used the bathroom and tried to lay back down. No matter how I lay nothing was comfortable so I got up and walked laps around my house as the pain continued to increase. I came back to the bedroom and Rob is asking me where it hurts and do I want him to skip his morning bike ride.
I feel terrible but I said yes. After another ten minutes the pain is still getting stronger. I finally cave because I've never had this much pain before and I was scared. I asked Rob to call his mom and for him to take me to the hospital. By now it's just past 5am. I'm sitting on the couch waiting for Rob to finish getting dressed and for his mom to come over and I'm not sure if I'm gonna pass out or throw up from the pain.
Just that feeling was freaking me out. I've never been in the much pain to feel like fainting or passing out.
Just as his mom pulled into the driveway I went running to throw up. Nothing in my stomach, but up it came anyway.
We drove to the emergency where I was immediately ushered into triage and asked the normal barrage of questions. The pain is intense and I'm hunched over and crying. I'm taken by wheel chair to a bed where I continue to writhe and cry. 15 minutes later a doctor comes in and asks some questions and pokes me and announces that he is pretty sure it is kidney stones.
That's it?
Seriously, that much pain for kidney stones?
A nurse comes in to start an IV and administer some medication before I'm taken in for a CT scan.
I'm hard to poke anyway but my left arm has a couple of bruises from her digging around trying to find a vein. Third time was the charm when she hit a vein in my right arm.
I was asked again about any allergies or issues with medications. I stated that I don't like morphine and wouldn't you know that is what the doctor ordered. Thankfully she administered it very slowly so I didn't have most of the effects that I've had before.
We later tried to count how many times I was asked if I was pregnant. This is very important knowledge if your about to be scanned. Considering that my tubes are tied and aunt Flo was visiting I would say my pregnancy chances were nil.
Later I was taken in for a CT scan and then wheeled back to Rob who was being so patient and sat beside me playing Angry birds while I tried to doze.
A different doctor came in to read me the results of the CT scan.
Not only do I have a kidney stone, which thankfully was about to enter my bladder but that I have several more to come, and not only in my right side but my left side too.
Do you want to hear what else?
I also have gall stones! They are not inflamed yet and not bothering me but they are there and ready to go.
Just great.
I ended up finally leaving the hospital after 10:30am, we stopped by the drug store to drop off my prescriptions and I came home to rest.
I felt like such a sissy when I found out it was just kidney stones, but I have never, I mean NEVER experienced that kind of pain before.
My sympathies to everyone out there who has ever experienced that pain before. I totally get it now.
I must say I don't do well when I have taken pain medicine. After the morphine faded I had the worst headache yesterday afternoon and evening and when the pain started last night I took a percoset and this morning I still feel out of it and tired. I will only use these when I absolutely need to.
So today we start again, I have things to do and little people to take care of. Thankfully I'm in no pain and hope not to be in any pain for a while.

*Carrie*

My Cricut Addiction

 I think I'm seriously addicted to owning Cricut cartridges.
Please don't tell my mom, okay? I don't want her to try and stop me.
Granted she can be as bad as I am but still if it wasn't for me she would probably only have about 20 carts.
Factor in me having a gypsy and my addiction goes through the roof. The carts are uploaded to gypsy and then stored at mom's house, a win-win situation.
This month Cricut, aka Provo Craft, has so many new carts to announce that they are having 3 Hello Thursday's this month.
Last Thursday they announced four new lite carts and a cart exclusive to HSN.
Out of the 4 lite carts I really like 3 and out of those 3, mom and I purchased 2.
Now what does this have to do with my supposed addiction?
Let me explain, yesterday I had to make a new list of all our cricut carts because the last list got left behind when we switched computers.
So I started up my gypsy and went into the all carts list, knowing that I may have forgotten to upload a cart or two and I started typing, and typing.
To be smart I put everything in numerical order and alphabetized and in colums. The end result had me questioning, however briefly, my sanity and need for cricut carts.
Now the total is no where near what other peoples are, but still it's enough to make some people look twice at me.
My other guilty thought is that I have more than a few carts that I have never even used, the intentions and ideas are there but I haven't cut a single thing out with them yet.
After contemplating this for a few minutes and remembering that other cricut lovers have this same issue, I have decided, like others before me, to challenge myself to use every cartridge at least once.
This is going to take a while.
This might also help me with my overall scrapbooking anyway because I bought some of these carts with certain images in mind and have yet to neither print out the pictures and thus not completing the page.

Now why did I post these pictures of these two cricut carts.
Well the first cart, 9 months, was released last Thursday and one that I ordered today.
Now I can get my pregnancy photos scrapped.
This image is from my absolute favorite cartridge Create a Critter.
I have thoughts of cards, layouts and mini albums dancing through my head whenever I look at all my carts but I haven't cut much lately.
I read a quote today from Walt Disney that really smacked me upside the head, and words we should all live by.
Walt said, "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing."
I guess I better get busy.
I have 144 carts as of today to go through.
*Carrie*

 This week we had our final girl scout meeting and gave the girls their awards.
Kelly was one of the outgoing brownies that got to do the flag ceremony.
Kelly was a bit nervous about doing this in front of all the parents because the girls hadn't practiced in a couple of weeks but they all did well.

I was running around a bit ragged on Monday getting things ready and thankfully I did.
I talked to the leader about picking up some more patches and once she said yes I headed to the girl scout store.
Sadly the girls have only earned 3 try it patches and their 4 journey key patches, but I found 3 more fun patches they could add to their vests. One is for the flag ceremony, one is either for re dedication or investiture and the final is for our zoo visit.
Hopefully this will make some of the parents and girls happier.
This has been a rough year for our Brownie troop. The leader was very disorganized and she told me about a month ago that since I didn't complain enough she thought everything was okay. Seriously, really?
She also said that she had failed the girls, she didn't mentor me like she wanted, and it was all coming to bite her in the butt. Yep, it was. Sadly, I really don't think it will make a difference for the girls next year.
Also...this is classic, a young woman and her mother stopped by our troop the last couple of meetings and were there for our ceremony/party this past Monday. I find out during the ceremony toward the end that the young woman is coming into brownies and the mom is going to be the new junior leader.
Why is this classic? I had talked repeated with our leader that I didn't want to be the junior leader but would love to continue on with being the co leader.
Our leader never told me or introduced me to the new junior leader!
Communication works wonders lady!
So after the announcement I went up to her and introduced myself and talked to her about being her co leader and mentioned the other moms, whom I had already been in talks with, about helping out with the troop.
I was so flipping frustrated, especially since this new junior leader heard me talking with the other moms about starting our own junior troop and how we wanted to run things with the girls.
But it's over now and hopefully we can move forward and have a great junior troop.
I have quite a bit to scrapbook before we start juniors.
*Carrie*

Summer vacation has started around here and while some moments have been tough our daily time table has been going nicely.
Daily timetable, what's that?
just before school let out I made a list of things to do daily and weekly with the kids to help stave off some of the boredom that we experienced last year.
The kids have cartoon time during the morning just for a hour or less, then they have to play outside or we go to a park. This can also include running errands. then we try to do something crafty or school like.
next up is lunch and I even have that planned out for the week and it is open to new things or substitutions. We then can have some quiet reading time for at least an hour. This is the time that I try, with no success so far, to get Chelsea to take a nap. After the hour is up the kids can have a 1/2 hour each of time on the computer. They are also allowed one movie a day.
Except with the attitude I've been getting from the kids about cleaning up after themselves it has been working out rather well. Of course this is the first full week off school so of course it should be going well.

Oh and because I'm sure you are wondering what this picture has to do with this post, it doesn't, I took this picture on Saturday when I was taking the pictures for the 90th birthday party.

the party was held at the Tea Room at Tohono Chul park in the northwest side of town. What a beautiful place. Architecturally it has some quirks that makes it special with tiled alcoves, theses tiled stairs, the ivy covered arches that lead into the front patio area. Then you enter into a quaint little restaurant with picture windows and a fireplace. Out back is more patio seating with a nature trail filled with bright flowers and shrubs. Expect to see quail, hummingbirds and butterflies galore. The tea room is a jewel set inside of a park. the only such type of place that I know of here in Tucson.
*Carrie*

Apple Annie News

A couple of years ago we took the kids out to Wilcox to visit Apple Annie's pumpkin and apple orchard.
It's an hour drive to get there and if you go on the right day it is wonderful to photograph.
Me being me I snapped photos from both farms to later scrapbook. This was one of my favorites from the trip.
The pumpkin season was over and Apple Annie's was asking all their Facebook fans to submit photos of their time there and someone was going to win a prize.
So of course I'm gonna enter.
This is the photo that I sent.
Two years later and a couple of nights ago I received an email from Anne of Apple Annie's asking to use this photo in their upcoming publicity.
I said yes.
I can't wait to see how or where they use this photo and I've asked for links to newsletters or advertisements so that I can show my family and friends.
I am very happy and honored that they chose this shot.
*Carrie*

Another school year has come to a close and part of me is very happy but another part of me already  ready to string them up. The fighting and yelling and wanting to do absolutely nothing has commenced.
We will be tackling that problem later today.

Congrats to both Kelly and Wyatt for getting High Honor Roll in their classes.
We already know for next year that Kelly will have Ms. Lux but we are wondering who Wyatt will have for his second grade teacher.

 

 Now it has become tradition for me to do a couple of things. One is to take a first and last day of school photo and second is to take a photo of each kid with their teacher.
Well this year I really blew it.
I'll preface it by saying I'm still learning how to use my camera.
Yeah that's true at least.
The setting for the kids' ceremonies were in the shade and the kids' backdrop was in full sun.
A tricky lighting situation that I have not mastered yet.
Wait, yes I kind of have, I just panicked and forgot

what to do.
So the first few shots of Kelly she are dark, then I remembered to use the flash and I changed other settings, but then I  forgot to change the setting back. I completely blew out the picture of Kelly and her teacher.
Then I decided to take Wyatt's picture with his teacher on the last day thinking it would be easier.
I should have listened to my gut.
Wyatt threw up during the night Wednesday and didn't tell us until Kelly went into his room and saw the chunkage.
Yes, I'm sorry but I said chunkage.
It was mentioned at the assembly that several students whom have had perfect attendance were

out sick with a stomach bug.
One of those students are Wyatt's friend and the other is his brother. Go figure.
We kept Wyatt home on the last day of school and I didn't get his picture with his teacher.
BUT, I got a story to tell and a photo of my sick boy on the couch.
That will go into his school album.
Also, Wyatt was just fine once we got home from dropping Kelly off. He complained that his stomach hurt and I think that is from his hurling his guts out.

Now as I'm writing this the kids are getting ready for me to take their end of the school year head shot.
It amazes me how much they change during the year.

*Carrie*

On Tuesday night we went to Wyatt's Boy scout graduation.
Wyatt is currently a Bobcat working towards being a Wolf.
Off comes the orange  kerchief and hat and now we start wearing the yellow everyone is most familiar with.
Wyatt was so excited that he started taking off his kerchief before he was suppose to and was being an all around goofball.

Each boy crossing over stopped to have their picture taken by us proud parents before heading over this awesome, handmade bridge to their pack leader to get their new kerchiefs and hats.
Also each boy received a plastic ball filled with candy and patches, belt loops and beads.

 Wyatt is enjoying his time being a scout and I really hope he goes far in the organization.

I think one of the highlights of the evening was when Kelly told me and then later told Wyatt how proud she was of him.

That warmed the cockles of my heart.

 Another highlight of the graduation was a slight changing of the guard.
Dennis, the current Cubmaster,and the one seen in most of these photos, is stepping down in his position to move up with his son and help his wife run the Webelos pack.
They having been recruiting Rob for a few months now and are very excited to see him take the reins.

Last week we went to the Boy Scout store to pick out his new uniform and patches. Rob was both excited and nervous about the upcoming changes.
I know I'm gonna get roped into helping him with stuff and I wonder how this will effect me with Girl Scouts.
But that's for another time.

 Here is Dennis handing Rob the keys to the building where we meet.
I can't remember what Dennis said that had Rob roaring in laughter but we all chuckled.
After Dennis stepped aside Rob gave a short speech thanking everybody and made sure that people knew that Dennis wasn't leaving, leaving he would be around every week that they meet so that if the boys would be more comfortable

in the transition.

Marty, our committee chairperson, presented Dennis with a lovely plaque and also thanked him.

Marty also had a nice gift for Rob.
One that had all us adults rolling.
A gift that Rob might tend to agree about before next graduation...

Yep, Rob received a big ol' sucker for taking the job!

We'll see, I know Rob will do great as a Cubmaster!
Love you honey.


*Carrie*

Not Yet

So we've been doing a lot of this since I stopped working and I will say we are doing a fairly good job with it.
The one thing that I want to document from this training time is Chelsea's habit of saying,"not yet".
We go in and get her situated and sometimes she'll pat the side of the tub and and tell me to sit down.
This directive can be said one of two ways; one is to say, sit down mommy or two is to say, have a seat there.
After hearing her do her business I'll ask her if she is done and almost always her answer is,"not yet".
Now this can go on for about five minutes before I'm done waiting and want to leave the bathroom.
Sometimes when she says, not yet, it can be in a sweet sing song voice and sometimes if I have asked one to many times she will growl it at me.
Lately she has taken a cue from her big sister and wants to bring a book in with her. I have found that this is not always effective because she won't go until she is done "reading"it.
I have begun to leave her alone in the bathroom, dangerous I know, and I'll pass by frequently to check on her and ask the question, "are you done?"
I just love to hear her say, not yet.
*Carrie*

Now dang it, I was not going to start ignoring my blog again but this past week I've been getting to know my new company better.
On April 27th, I signed up to be a Park Lane jewelry Fashion Director.
jewels by park lane

To say I'm jazzed is an understatement.

Back in 2008 my mom purchased a necklace for me called Sunburst and thus began my love for Park Lane.
Now, I've come to discover that the pictures, no matter how well taken do not always do the jewelry justice and I decided to book my own party.
Ahhh, I fell in love and put on my wish list many pieces. For every order I received I got $20 in free jewelry.
At my first party I got 10 orders, and 3 bookings, this translated to me that I earned $200 in jewelry, a single choice of a selection of necklaces for $10, and instyle bracelet for free, a free ring out of the 3 ring booking section and other hostess specials and deals.
Now fast forward to the last couple of months. I wear my Park Lane jewelry ALL the time and I'm constantly get compliments on it. While I was working for Murray's Business Service I talked about the jewelry whenever I received compliments, so much so that Art, my boss, kept suggesting that I work for the company and earn money.
Also during this time I was doing some heavy praying about working, daycare and finances. I was enjoying the work that I was currently doing, and I really enjoyed the paychecks, the only drawbacks were the hours I had to work and missing my family while I did it.
I know I'm thick headed, but I continued to pray for guidance on me finding something that would allow me being able to work from home, be flexible and still bring in some money to help contribute to the family.
As work was winding down the idea for working for Park Lane grew. I continued to ask my friend Suzie questions about how things worked. I loved that there are no quotas and that for the most part I am my own boss. I finally came to the realization that I'm a seller, or as us crafters like to call it an enabler. It's what I've always done.
This is just like when I demonstrated for Provo Craft. I loved the product, I used the product and I encouraged my friends to do the same.
Park Lane is another one of my passions. Since I started wearing it I feel better about myself, more feminine, I feel complete in my wardrobe and whether I'm wearing funky, fun pieces or classic pieces I know that I look good.
So far I've held two shows as a fashion director. I'm so used to going to shows that I know a lot about the jewelry but have never concentrated on getting sales and bookings, with the buying program the company has it's hard not to get sales but I'm working on how to convey to women that if you like the jewelry it really is worth your wile to host your own party. I will say that is a party, like a bunch of girls going through moms jewelry box discovering fun, new pieces.
Since I've covered the fun I had when I had a party here is the company buying program
1. If you spend $30, you get another item from the catalog up to $30 for only $12
2. If you spend $60, you get 2 other items from the catalog up to $60 for only $12 a piece
3. If you spend $90, you get 3 other items from the catalog up to $90 for only $12 a piece.
Example, say you find a necklace for $95 that you like, but you also like the bracelet and a couple of other earrings. Take all those smaller priced items and have them add up to $95. Then you get your necklace for $12, and two more necklaces for $12 a piece. That's $285 in bonus jewelry and you are going to pay $36 plus tax. HELLO!!
Not only that but your getting more pieces that were on your list and saving money.

Another example. Kelly's teacher wanted this necklace, bracelet and earrings. The retail total was $103. I told her with this months special that she needed to pick out a few more pieces that she was interested in. The teacher picked out another set of earrings and another necklace and earrings. Here is how it worked out.
Now remember she was planning on spending $103 BEFORE tax and shipping.
Earrings $23
Earrings $17
Earrings $22
total $62
bonus items
bracelet reg $26 for $12
necklace reg $42 for $12
necklace reg $ 59 for free (the free is just the customer special this month )
(that's $127 of jewelry for $24)
her total with tax and shipping was 99.33!!
I love *giving away* jewelry!

*Carrie*

With all that has been going on not only in my little world but the big world, I didn't announce to everyone that the one thing that I have been dreaming about and trying to save for has finally arrived.

I am now the proud new owner of the Canon 7D!!

Now do you want to know all the drama it has taken me to get this camera? Mind you the drama is still going on.

Get something to drink, maybe some popcorn and get comfy, this might get long. This will be your only warning.
Let's begin...
When I was working for the accountant I talked to some of the clients that were also interested in photography and at least two of them mentioned that I should look at eBay for buying my camera. So that night I searched and found a seller that had a return policy and would only take pay pal, for my protection and his, and would send a tracking number as soon as the item was sent. Thinking this sounded legit I placed a bid on a camera.
On 2/27 I won the bidding at $1375, almost 3 paychecks worth. 10 minutes after the time was up I sent my payment via pay pal. I checked daily to see if the camera had shipped. By the end of the week I emailed the seller asking when he was shipping. He stated that he had a death in the family and his assistant would mail it out, if I didn't have the camera by Friday let him know. So again I checked daily for a tracking number. That next Monday I lost it. I sent him an email stating that I wanted a tracking number or I was going to take this to eBay.
The seller apologized profusely and gave this sad story and said that he would refund me $20 and ship the camera. I agreed and by Friday I hadn't heard anything from the seller including a tracking number. I filed a report with eBay and they stepped in. The seller agreed to give me a refund so eBay closed my case. 3 weeks go by as I wait for the sellers refund to process through pay pal. After the second time it failed pay pal will no longer try to collect, this left me with going back to eBay and opening another case. eBay's buyer protection states that if, as in this case, a seller fails to give a refund, then eBay will refund the selling price and thus going after the wayward seller.
Now, here is where I'm at I was told that it would take 7-10 business days to put the money back into my pay pal account. At the 10 day mark I called eBay and was told to give it until Friday. Last Monday I called and spoke to another person, and yes I'm keeping track, this person sent in a payment something or other and said I should see the money in 48-72 hours. On the last day, which was this past Friday I received an email stating that eBay needed more time to investigate.
Seriously!! WTF!!
I have given them full access to my messages so that they can see that I have never stepped out of line or committed any crime.
I just want my freaking money back.
Thank you if you have read all of this. I'll be calling eBay again today to light a fire.
When this seller flaked and I was told I would be getting my money back I borrowed money from savings with the intention of putting in back when this fiasco was settled so that I could get my camera now because the price was going up.
Now I'm waiting on $1300 to put back in the savings account.
**As of May 8th the money has been returned to my paypal account, Yippeee!
*Carrie*

Osama Bin Laden dead

I remember turning on the TV one morning before getting ready to work and the screen was showing one of the twin towers burning.
I remember being confused at first and listening to Diane Sawyer from Good Morning America on the roof of the building relaying all the information that they knew.
Sadly, I remember seeing people jumping from windows into the Hudson river, knowing they wouldn't survive.
I sat there on my bed and watched the two towers now both burning and wondered how the fire fighters were going to put them out.
I sat there in stunned silence when I saw the first tower fall. I cried as I saw people running down a street that was covered in ash and smoke.
For days, weeks, we the people were glued to our TVs wanting answers and demanding that the person or people who did this would be caught and punished.
One man and his organization came forward to accept the responsibility for this horrible atrocity.
This man has been our #1 most wanted person. Dead or alive.
After 10yrs, two wars and thousands of our soldiers dead this heinous man has been found and killed.
And yet it feels like such a hollow victory.
I've heard that after the shoot out our military group secured his body where they did DNA testing to make sure it was him. I've read that his body has already been buried at sea.
I still feel hollow.
I'm happy knowing he is gone and yet I know another will rise up to take his place. This is a Jihad, a holy war for some extreme Islamic groups, namely Al-qaida. My terror hasn't lessened.
This will never be over, and I'm saddened.
I guess I want the satisfaction of seeing Bin Laden alive and watch him being punished. I realize this is like how we caught Saddam Hussein and watched his hanging. That justification, the want to see this man feel an ounce of the pain he has put our people through, that is the closure I seek. Alas I won't have that but...
I do take satisfaction in knowing that he will be judged for all eternity.
That brings a smile to my face.
 May God have mercy, just a teeny, weeny, itsy bitsy bit of mercy, on his soul.

Do you want to know how I really feel? I love how much this country came together, where it felt as if we were really united. I even enjoyed some of the songs that came from this tragedy, my favorites being from Toby Keith and Alan Jackson.
My heart hurts for the people that were lost and the few who took this opportunity to disappear from their families lives. There is still a hole in the ground where the two towers stood. A memorial is in the works. It will be 10 yr this September 11th and every year on this day I hold my breath, waiting to see if someone will use the anniversary to execute another attack.
It may have taken us 10yrs to get Bin Laden but some of my favorite lines of the Toby Keith song, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue or known as the Angry American says:
Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way

Yep, this sums it up perfectly.

*Carrie*

photo credit goes to

Lewis Whyld / Pa / Pool / EPA

Out of the millions of photos taken this morning I felt this was the simplest one to use for today's blog post.
Now I did not get up/ stay up all night to watch the wedding. I believe some TV stations started festivities at 1:00am and I think the wedding was at 3:00am.
When I awoke at 6:00 it was pretty much all the news stations could talk about. The wedding even overshadowed the horrible tornado's that ripped through the south that have killed and displaced so many people.
As I explained to my kids this evening, this is but a moment in history and if one day I'm asked what do I remember from watching the ceremony I want to be able to answer them.
I would say that I hope and pray that they have a happy marriage. That the media will be careful and respect them, doubtful but I can hope, I hope they have many happy, healthy years together.
Also, I loved her dress.
In fine English style the pomp and circumstance was amazing and everything was absolutely breathtaking.
One of my favorite scenes was when the couple rode out of Buckingham Palace in an Aston Martin convertible headed to Clarence House. How normal, surreal but normal looking it was.
I have wanted to got to London for years, one of my favorite things is English history and that love was inspired from the historical romance novels that I read.
Of course knowing that my family, on my fathers side, is English doesn't effect me one bit, nah not one bit :)
I was six when Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married. I vaguely remember seeing it on the TV and the moments that stood out to me were the ones you see played over and over. The carriage ride and the kiss.
This time around we were privy to so much of the ceremony and I found it fascinating in a way.
But today wasn't just about the royal wedding. Here in our country we have experience devastating storms that have torn apart towns and neighborhoods. The weather service has said it was record breaking tornado's over 150 in less than 24hrs. It's just plain awful, and I pray for all those families going through this tragedy.
Also going on today was that the space shuttle Endeavor was suppose to have it's final launch but sadly it has been scrubbed until Monday due to some mechanical problem.
It is special to us Tucsonans because Mark Kelly the husband of our congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is shuttle commander of this final mission. If you don't remember Gabby was shot on January 8th and has remarkably recovered enough to be able to make it to the launch, she was even seen walking up the stairs. No pictures have shown how the congresswoman looks as she is rehabilitating. We don't know how much facial damge she has endured. It's not really important, what her scars will say we just know how strong, resilient and brave she is.

What a day it has been


*Carrie*

Happy belated Easter!
We had a very low key Easter this year. Very low key.
We didn't even try to take a family photo and Chelsea was in her usual wild child mode.
We were so low key that this year I couldn't find the kids' Easter baskets and we didn't dye the eggs until Monday.
I can't seem to balance all the activities that are going on. I know I just need to prioritize and use my time management wisely but really, how many of us truly do that?
I did manage to get some new head shots of each of the kiddos but even that was a hassle.

This young man still won't look at the camera. Wyatt looks every where BUT toward the camera.
My super sensitive boy, my drama king.
** Mama's note** Wyatt has started to use deodorant. I swear he stinks within hours of taking a shower, kind of like his daddy if he doesn't use deodorant.

We are going to let Wyatt grow his hair back out. I miss his curls and I'm wondering how it will look longer. If Wyatt doesn't like it I'll get it cut short again.

Over the last few weeks all the kids have been sick, last week Wyatt had double pink eye, the week before Chelsea had a double ear infection and we found out yesterday that Kelly has a double ear infection.

Kelly, not always the most willing model, but then what kid really is, but she loves to see the photos that I've taken of her.
I'm thinking this will be the last year we make her wear a fancy dress. She will be dressed up just not made to wear a dress just for Easter.
Kelly is very much the big sister, bossy, helpful, attitude queen.
We are working through some new hormonal issues but lately seem to be on a more even keel.
God help us when we start PMSing.
Rob has threatened to move to moms during that time.

Last but certainly not least is Chelsea. Lord this girl was a handful Easter Sunday. I chased her down, I cajoled, begged and even threatened trying to get her to sit or stand still for a minute just to get a decent picture.
We frequently hear how cute or adorable she is but thankfully most people know how strong willed and obstinate she can be. On the brighter side Chelsea is learning by leaps and bounds, her colors, alphabet and numbers.

We are even doing well in potty training.

One quick note, see this balloon?
In less than 30 seconds, once I had turned around and my back was to Wyatt, this monster balloon popped.
It sounded like a gun shot...
and I jumped a good foot in the air.
Scared me half to death.

Happy Easter!
*Carrie*