Family Photo

Jeff doesn't have any current family photos in his office so I made this layout for him to put up. Give me some paper, glue, stickers and embellishments and I am soooo in my element. I just love spending time in my office and with a few more days of Christmas Vacation, I hope to do even more scrapping!

All the Excitement of Christmas!!

My parents joined us Christmas Eve for dinner and then spent the night to watch the kids open presents the next morning.

What a great Christmas! Very low key but lots of fun family memories. We all got spoiled by Santa. He seems to know just what everyone wants!

Family Tradtitions

Each year we make a family gingerbread house. We put it off till the last minute this year because the past few years, Conner has started eating it as soon as it is finished. To my surprise, he didn't eat any of it this year. What I beautiful family I have! Life is GOOD!

Preschool Christmas Party

Looking a little mischevious! Conner wouldn't perform the program in front of the parents but he would definitely sit on Santa's lap!

Wow, making his very own gingerbread house was so much fun!!

Christmas Lights

No this isn't my house, (I actually like my house better) but I am just wishing mine were lit up this beautifully! I have been trying to get Jeff to hang lights for years and he thinks lighting up the inside is enough, besides he starts his busiest time of year in October, just the right time to hang lights. I have to say, I love having many trees and lights inside too but I think it is just so beautiful to drive up to a beautifully lit house. Who knows maybe next year, I can keep hoping!! Maybe I'll have to ask Santa!

Ohhhh I love it!!!!

I subscribe to the most amazing scrapbook kit club EVER!!! It is called Scarlet Lime and is amazing every month. I don't know how Christy does it but she comes up with the funnest products I've never seen before. She has all the connections! In addition to the monthly kit club, she does a monthly project kit also. The December kit was these darling Christmas Ornaments! The pictures don't do them justice but they are so stinkin cute I can hardly stand it!!! There is beads, ribbon, glitter, felt (yes, I cut and sewed the cute bird) and rhinestones. If you've ever thought about becoming a member of a kit club before, (I know, I'm obsessed) Scarlet Lime is THE BEST!!!! Check out their website of past artist galleries @ www.scarletlime.com

OOOH ARTHUR!!

So, I took Conner to the library the other day and he picked out some Arthur books. Well, he loved them so much we had to go back a few days later and get some new ones and we visited the video department and found a bunch of Arthur DVD's as well. Kenzie and Kaden loved Arthur when they were little too so when I put in the DVD's it was just like old times for all the kids to be enjoying Arthur. It sure beats Spongebob!!!!!!

Poulsen Cousins

Thanksgiving was at our house this year and guess what..... we went to Chuck A Rama for dinner! I just couldn't deal with the stress of the whole dinner thing this year. We loved having the family here but we were missing a couple. Jeff's brother Kevin didn't make it and stayed in Arizona and his Nephew Josh is serving a mission in Brazil. Other than that we had the whole family here and my parents as well. It is so great to spend time with family and especially around the holidays.

Prayers Needed

Isn't it interesting how just when we get really down on ourselves and our problems, the Lord has a way of putting things in perspective? My dear friend Lana just found out her 8 year old daughter has leukemia. It sure makes me grateful for the health of my children but my heart breaks for her family. Why do some people seem to be given more than they need to handle? The Lord must know how strong she is and her family also. Please remember them and their sweet Emma in your prayers. It is going to be a long road ahead for them, I pray for added strength and comfort for their family.

More Las Vegas

These are just some more views of the Halloween display that didn't fit on my last post!

Las Vegas Getaway

Jeff and I just got back from a conference in Las Vegas. It was a great little break from real life. The Blue Man Group had a great show, a little slow at times but overall very entertaining!

It is hard to believe that with a city this beautiful, it is so scummy at the same time. Just cover your eyes, plug your ears and nose and you'll be just fine!

Some of the sights weren't all bad, I have nothing bad to say about this chocolate fountain inside the Bellagio. The Halloween display below was also INSIDE the Bellagio. It is amazing what these resorts do to bring in the tourists! And thanks Julie! We couldn't have done this without you!!!

Steph's belated birthday!

So about a week after Steph's real birthday, all "the girls" (minus Sarah and Marianne), took Steph to lunch. It is always a good time and a good laugh with these women. And Emily, I know you have 6 children but get off the phone and join the party! ha ha

The pumpkin patch!!

What a beautiful Fall we have had! I won't even complain about the snow we got last weekend because it was beautiful and didn't stay long. So we made our annual trek to the pumpkin patch and let the kids pick their pumkpins to carve. As usual...Kaden was the last to pick his...he is terrible with making decisions. There was a small corn maze there also and the kids had fun chasing each other through it. We didn't stay long but it is always worth a photo op!

My baby is getting soooo big!

Kaden showing off his muscles!

Lagoon Frightmares

So did you think I fell off the face of the earth? Well, kindof. Just trying to get a grip on life. So we had a long weekend and decided to get out of town and play. We went to Frightmares at Lagoon and had a GREAT time! We went to Utah Friday afternoon and went to Lagoon Friday night. Saturday morning we let the kids swim at the hotel, then we got ready and headed home. Quick trip but we had a lot of fun!

Is there any way to slow down time? Conner is 4 1/2 and in his last year of preschool! As you can tell he was quite excited to go back to Miss Becky's this year. She is so sweet with the kids and Conner just loves her. It always amazes me the things he learns. Miss Becky must have a way of teaching that makes the kids just love learning. Well we are officially deep into another year of school with all the kids. What will I do next year when all the kids are gone everyday? Well, I guess there's always more scrapbooking that "needs" to be done!!!

I can't believe it, we have a "real" teenager in the house! Boy did she make that transition without any problems....give a girl a cell phone and she morphs into something else!!! Makenzie turned 13 on August 25 and we celebrated with her closest friends at Craigo's. She had been anticipating the party and fun friend time for weeks. Luckily the actual event didn't disappoint! Her friends spoiled her as well as mom and dad. She got a new cell phone with "unlimited text" and MP3 player and a camera. Now we have some bargaining power when it comes to grades! She carries it with her everywhere and texts her friends non-stop! Overall, we made the move into teen world quite smoothly!

Back to School!

Even though Conner didn't get to go to school on the "first" day, he wanted to be in the pictures too. Kenzi and Kaden had GREAT first days of school. They are both so excited about their teachers. It may be hard to pull them away any time soon if we sell our house, they seem ready to hunker down for another year of school here. Only time will tell but I am sure proud of them and their enthusiasm about school.