What's your wallpaper?

I love all things cutesie.  Daniel laughs because I have to have cute this and cute that.  I don't have all the things I would like to do to my house, partly because I've run out of paint and need to get some more, but my computer is the next best thing.  I haven't gone so far as to try and make a desktop wallpaper as good as these, but I think that I will be attempting it soon.  Of course, one is never enough!  Mine changes every time I log in!  I can't remember who to credit for the first one, but the second one is from Shabby Princess.  I love the backgrounds.  I did get some blogwear from the shoppe there, but I will do that update some other time.  I really like the backgrounds I'm using now.

What do you have?  Are you cutesie, or does simple make you smile when you log in?

Have a good one!  Love to all!

New look...

I have had so much fun with the backgrounds I found at Allie Brown's layouts.  I have a link to her site in the links section on the right.  She gives you all of the code you need to use it!

We had a ton of fun at the annual Camp Tracy BBQ with Dan's family.  Every year they go up to the Scout camp and do dinner with some shooting on the range for desert!  It was fun, especially the time in the stream with the kids.  I'm putting up some photos on my photo site for those interested.

Here is a layout I did:

I will post more later....Love to all!

Happy Birthday to my "big" little brother.  I hadn't thought about posting birthday wishes here before, but thought I would do it today.  Hope you have a good one!

We are heading to Salt Lake today to Camp Tracy for a BBQ and some shooting.  Dan's dad is manages the shooting range and the Boy Scout camp there, and so every year on a Saturday towards the end of summer, the family gets together for a party and they get to shoot the scout rifles.  

Luckily we are going to spend the day up the canyon.  It has been so hot here, that the house has been intolerable as well as outside.  It was over 80+ degrees inside last night, with the AC cranked all the way up!  It didn't cool down until well into the wee hours.  We were all pretty miserable.  We don't get much shade in the afternoon because the trees aren't quite big enough to provide that much shade to the front of the house.  That doesn't help either!  Oh well, at least the pumpkins and tomatoes are doing well!

Have a great day Pete, and everyone else!!!

A couple pics...

Here are a couple of layouts that I did tonight. I've been so busy and there has been so much running around that I haven't had too much time to work on pictures. I really need to get better at keeping track of what products I'm using. I need to give credit, but never can remember. I generally mix and match so much that I just don't keep track of what I've used.

I think that Abbie is so cute here.  I laugh that she has lost about 7 inches of length in her hair because of the curls.  I also like it that she isn't "cheesing" for the camera.

Still waters run deep...just something that came to mind as I looked at this layout.  I had fun playing around with grungy techniques.

Love to all!!!!

My parents' story....

Almost 37 years ago, my parents got married. I had heard their story from them a number of times, but on Thursday, I had a new perspective, one that made my testimony grow.

A few months ago, I had been having some issues with the Department Chair of the Psychology department on campus. He didn't want to get information back to me as the dean of his college had agreed to. We traded a number of heated e-mails and I carbon copied the dean on a number of them. The chair was quite abusive and I felt that I had been given a terrible blow to my psyche and self-esteem. After the Associate Provost got involved and talked with the dean, it seemed to calm down and I didn't have any more issues with the Psychology department.

Fast forward to last week. I had gone to my parents house to pick up my kids and sat and talked about work a bit. My mom made a comment that I am sure was meant to be off the cuff, with no response needed. She said, "I am sure that Richard Sadler isn't still there...." I was absolutley shocked. This was the dean that I had been working with in regards to the issues I had been having with Psychology. My experience with him had not been positive or negative, just neutral. It turns out that Richard Sadler had been my parents' bishop when they were in the singles ward. They talked for a while about how much they loved and admired him and spent a bit of time going down "amnesia" lane.

I sent Dean Sadler an e-mail, sending my parents greetings and love, never expecting it to go any further than that. I went out of town for a meeting, and when I got back, I had a voicemail on my phone from him, asking to get together. I returned e-mails, voice mails, and did quite a bit of work before I was able to call him back. When I did, he was on the other line, but I left a message with his secretary that I was returning his call. About ten minutes later I hear someone ask for me in the front office. Low and behold, in walks Dean Sadler. He gave me the biggest hug and said that we had a very interesting relationship. This is the story that he told me:

Bishop Sadler and his counselors had felt for some time that there were some men in the ward that needed to attend the temple. Some had not had the opportunity to go on a mission for one reason or another, and so were older than the "normal" age of going through the temple. There were some in particular they decided to work with, my dad being one of them. There were others in the ward that they wanted to go back to the temple and so my mom was in that group. Bishop Sadler remembered them, and the exact events that took place. He told me that as an observer, the day they went to the temple was not for anyone but my parents. He couldn't remember who entered the Celestial Room first, but he said that when they did, it was as if no one else was there...they were the only two people in the world. Just a mere six weeks later, they were married.

Of course, this small synopsis doesn't do the story justice, no does it convey the feeling of gratitude I felt that a young bishop was in tune with the Spirit and acted on the promptings. I am grateful that my parents were prepared in that moment for the pure spiritual connection, so that I am able to be here. I had never heard this perspective of how my parents ended up together. It really is strange that knowing each other for almost 5 years beforehand, that nothing happened. Of course the Lord works in mysterious ways.

I am really grateful that I had the chance to meet with Dean/Bishop Sadler and get to know him and know my a little bit more about my parents and their amazing story.

A way cool site!

I came across this site today as I was doing my digi scrapbooking search. I absolutely love it! I will be playing around with a kit or two in the next couple of days and may update this blog. I did my photo blog. If you feel like searching for some great blogwear, check out: Allie Brown's Layouts

I had a great day today, and will share the amazing experience I had with the Dean of the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. I a bit too tired tonight.

Love to all!!!

Curly Girlies

So we had Quiera at our house last night. She and Abbie have the same birthday, just two years apart. I know that it's a lot more than a birthday that makes them such good friends. They begged for curlers in their hair. Quiera had never done curlers, and Abbie's curlers are from when she was younger, and had less hair. Well, we did it anyway, and here they are, in all their glory:

I think we need bigger curlers!  Perhaps for next time!!!!

I'm home!!!

It is so nice to be home.  Begin gone for only one night was more than enough.  I think that I'm a home body at heart.  I will post a longer post another night.

Here is the grocery thing that I've been working on.  They say it is fine to share, so here it goes:

If you can't read it, the most important thing is the passport code on the top.  Go to GrocerySmarts and enter that passport code.  This if for Utah only.  I'm not sure if any other states do it.

It's going to be crazy!!!

It is going to be a crazy week!  Tomorrow, I'm off to Cedar City for a meeting.  This will be my first travel trip for Weber State.  I'm excited for the time to meet and network, but I am going to miss my family!!!  Dan has class on Monday nights, so he couldn't come with me.  Luckily my mom is going to drive with me so I don't have to drive by myself.  It would have been okay either way, but I'm glad to have her come along.  We haven't had too much time together since she came back.

The kids are going to spend the night at Grandma Clawson's on Monday.  Their cousin Quiera is here, so that makes it even more fun!  I will pick them up on my way back home on Tuesday.  I don't know that I've spent that many nights away from my kids.  Occasionally, Dan and I have had a night or two together, sans kids, but to be honest, we usually do everything together as a whole family.  This will be an adjustment.

Here are a few layouts that I've done.  The first three are from the 4th of July.  The second and third are a two page spread.  I love the patriotic colors!!!  The last two are pictures of Abbie and Nigel.  Once I get everything printed, I'm going to have a huge collection!

I am pretty proud of this last layout.  I downloaded the trial version of Photoshop Elements 6 for the Mac.  I have been playing with some actions, and I made the chipboard "girl".  You can find a ton of actions at a website called atomic cupcake.  I can't remember the URL, but if you Google it, there are some great actions and templates for Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.  I am still using the GIMP and really prefer it to most things, but Elements is great for fixing photos and doing some of these advanced action things.

Have a great day!  Love to all!!!

Family...a blessing

I just have to say that I love my family.  Not only the one I have now, with Daniel, but the one I grew up with.  I adore my two "little" brothers.  Just like my mom always told me, one day they would be bigger than me, and yes they are.  What a goofy group we are!

Pictures.....

I have put family pictures on my photo site, so you (Mom) can look and see if you want to order anything.  I love Inkley's and the code they provide to link to pictures!  I am sure Pete and Laura can do it too!

Here are the latest scrapbook layouts.  Am I pathetic or what?  I love this hobby!  Of course, I still itch to get glue on  my hands and make a card to two.  I love this page of Abbie and Uncle Dave.  It was so nice to see him, even for the short time we got to spend with him. 

Like I said, click on the photo site link on the right to see all the family pics from Inkley's.

Love to all!!!

Late night, early morning

We were up pretty late last night.  I think that most people do stay out late on the Fourth of July...fireworks, barbeques, etc.  We spent part of the day at Dan's parent's house.  Every year his dad shoots off his little cannon for the neighborhood.  It starts with a bunch of people marching down the block to The Star Spangled Banner and carrying flags.  The kids love it.  I was beat by the time it started, so it really was a late night.  We drove home, watching some of the city fireworks going off.  Here are some of the pictures I took:

It took both Abbie and Nigel a while to warm up to doing sparklers.  The love the little Pop-It things that you throw down and they make a popping sound.  We had bought a mega pack of them, and sparklers at Sam's Club.  We still have a ton to do.  Thank goodness for the 24th of July!  The food was good and we were out late...that must constitute a good time for the kids!  Naps today!  At least for me! <:-)>

I did spend some time scrapbooking, so here are a couple of layouts that I did.  I did say I would do a couple of Nigel and then when I finished, I went ahead and did another of Abbie.

It's the weekend!

Okay, so maybe I'm a day early, but hey, tomorrow's a holiday!

We are still playing phone tag with the doctor.  I am getting really frustrated that we can't get any answers!!!!  Abbie seems to be doing okay on her foot, but I can tell it is bothering her.  I just hope we can get it resolved before too long!  This is getting ridiculous!  Bless her heart for being a trooper through all of this!  

On a fun note, my mom is teaching Abbie how to knit washcloths.  She was so cute!  I can't believe how she loves it!  I don't have any pictures yet, but I'll catch her doing it soon.  She came home the day that she learned and tried to do it.  Unfortunately, she couldn't remember what to do....and so the waterworks started.  She called Grandma and talked to her for a minute.  Nothing seemed to console her.  So, we went shopping! :-)  Of course the only thing to do to make yourself feel better is to shop!  We went and got her a pink tote bag from Michael's so she could carry her knitting in it  and she cruised the dollar bins for some treats.  Hmmm, must take after me in her need for retail therapy!

On my job front, things are getting changed up a bit.  I ended up going full time, but with the most flexible schedule!  Then to put a wrench in things, my supervisor is moving to the

 Registrar's office!  I think I might apply for his job....I've had some encouragement from a few people....but I just don't know.  I guess I'm feeling a bit nervous about meeting with all the different department chairs and college deans on a regular basis.  I know that I can hold my own, but there is always that little doubt.  If I do go for it and get it, I'll be able to keep my schedule pretty much how it is.  7-3.  It is great because I'm home when the kids get home from school, and they only miss me for an hour in the morning.  If I have to work at least my kids won't suffer!  Oh the quandary of it all.  There are days where I wish I didn't have to work, and others where I am glad that I do.  It is the never ending internal battle we have as mothers. 

In all my spare time I did a couple of pictures of Abbie last night that I'll share.  It basically means that I neglected the dishes and laundry.  It's clean, just not folded yet!  I need to get some of Nigel done tonight.  Perhaps everything can wait another day!

Lots of love to all! XOXOXO