My Charlie

My new baby Charlie! He's a Chiweenieauzer and he's snuggly and TINY and he loves me A LOT!

Digital Scrapbook Kit to benefit AUTISM SPEAKS!

This awesome "Autism Awareness" kit was designed by talented digital artist, Stacey Towers. The kit, which boasts 14 papers, 27 elements, a full alphabet and word art was designed in honor of MY SON Mason who has Autism.Stacey has graciously offered to donate 100% of ALL proceeds from this kit to Autism Speaks in Mason's honor. Autism Speaks is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cause and cure for this horrifying epidemic. Won't you please download this very versatile (and SUPER CUTE) kit today? It is being offered at a special rate of only $3.00 per kit for a very limited time!

You can find this kit at www.scrapthatidea.com

Or click here for a direct link:

http://www.scrapthatidea.com/store/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=313

AWARENESS

1 In every 150 children will be diagnosed with Autism

This number is increasing by 10-17% each year

Autism is more common than childhood cancer, Juvenile Diabetes, and pediatric AIDS... COMBINED.

The cause of Autism is unknown

THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE

For more information about Autism and how you can help - please visit www.autismspeaks.org

or you can visit Mason's donation page here.

Thank You!

The Story of the Purple Snake.

Last month I was in Orlando, FL for the CHA Show. (Craft & Hobby Association). It was my first time being away from my children for more than an hour at a time. It was heart wrenching to leave them at the airport. Apparently, I am having issues with our umbilical cords. I can't seem to sever them! My kids were ok and had a great time hanging out with dad. I, on the other hand found myself constantly checking my phone to make sure it was working. When it rang I raced to the phone to hear their voices! Ashli took this opportunity to manipulate daddy into letting her stay up all hours of the night under the pretense that she wanted to call mommy! HA! I had a terrible time getting to sleep that first night - until I found that Ashli had packed her pajammas into my suitcase. I smiled at the precious gesture and put her jams on my pillow. With her scent so close - I fell fast asleep!

On my last full day in Orlando, Ashli called me first thing in the morning so very excited and thanking me over and over! Once I was able to get her to calm down she explained that she had had a dream the night before that I brought her home a "PURPLE SNAKE" from FL. She was SO convinced that I had found this snake for her that she was thanking me already - very excitedly!!!!!

GREAT! I'm in a strange town, have NO idea where ANYTHING is, I have an incredibly tight schedule and now I have to try to find a "Purple Snake!" Thank GOODNESS I have family that lives in the Orlando area! Dad called to set up dinner plans and I told him about Ashli's dream. Dad made it his mission to find that baby girl a purple snake! They picked me up from the hotel - and off we went. I kid you not - the VERY FIRST STORE WE WENT TO we searched and searched and searched the whole store. Dad (who is apparently blind as a bat) saw this thing from a mile away and bee-lined for it! A 4' long stuffed "PURPLE RATTLESNAKE" (the last one). I cannot even believe he found that thing! We snatched it up and got out of there. I carried that snake around my neck the whole way home; explaining to countless curious strangers the story of the "PURPLE SNAKE". When my angel girl met me at the airport her eyes lit up when she saw that snake around my neck and squealed, "MOMMY!!!!! THAT'S THE EXACT SAME SNAKE THAT WAS IN MY DREAM!!!!" Way to go Grandpa! You scored!

We got Mountain Fever!

Went caming with Mom and Larry last weekend and got the bug... bad! I haven't been able to keep Gregg off of the computer as he's been searching the area for log cabins. After much searching and not finding what we really want - we decided to buy some land and build our own cabin! We spent the whole day today in the Indian Mountain area of Colorado checking out available property. This is the one we found that we just LOVED!!!! We put the offer in as soon as we saw it and hope to have an answer back by the end of the week!

I was trying to get a nice photo of the view, but this dumb dead tree was in the way. I guess Gregg was sympathetic to my plight because he walked over and PUSHED the tree over!!!!!!! Then, he went and knocked over a few MORE dead trees! My man RAWKS!

See? No more dead trees!

Ya ain't IN Kansas anymore!

Yeah welcome to SE Aurora, Colorado folks!

5 tornados touched the ground today in Colorado, this one just a mile or so up the road from us! It was a wierd day. Bugs were swarming and trying to get into the house by the millions! (I've never seen anything like it). Then sure enough, the clouds rolled in VERY quickly, the sky started to groan and THIS Popped out of the sky.

Not my photo - stole it from Stacey's blog - she stole it from the News =o)

Thankfully, this tornado which was on the ground for 30 minutes stopped just short of our house. We got away with a little bit of hail damage from GINORMOUS hail stones. They put some dents into my little baby HUMMER. Momma is NOT happy!!! Daddy - is gonna lose a spot in his garage!

This is Stacey, holding some of the hail stones that came down in her yard.

This is a very small area of damage that was in the tornado's path. This was in the mall just up the road from our house. The Pizza restaurant in here lost two of it's four walls and my poor poor JAMBA JUICE took a big hit too. I'm in mourning right now *sniffle*

The entire mall got hit pretty good. Stores had glass blown out, roofs lost A/C units, cars flipped over in the parking lots or were moved to the other side of lots. Homes had windows blown out and roofs blown off. Garages blown in and trees snapped in half. One condo I saw even had a landscape trailer dropped on the lawn - At least it was still in tact though. We saw a construction trailer that literally exploded. Lots of damage and thankfully at this time no one has reported any serious injuries.

We heard no warning sirens.

Catching Up!

Lots to post, it's been a LONG TIME!!!

We've had so much going on that I haven't had two seconds to update the blog! So heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Trike-a-Thon, 2009

For the past two years Ashli has participated in the St. Jude Trike-a-Thon at school. This year (as always) she did so amazingly well! I can't believe how big she's getting!

Even Mason had the urge to jump in and do his part to help out the kids at St. Jude!

He's a motorcyle STUD!

Getting Settled in the new Pad

If you remember the photos I posted when we moved into our home in August you'll remember that we had NO landscaping and NO fence! We put the fence up the first week we were here and we've spent the past 2 months putting in our landscaping. (these photos aren't TOTALLY current, I have to take more photos soon). Gregg is SUCH a trooper! He built the concrete edge that surrouds the grass, he brought in 27 tons of river rock BY HIMSELF one wheelbarrow at a time! We put in a few mulch beds to use as planters and even have quite a few of the plants in already. We did have the patio poured professionally and decided to go ahead and have it colored and stamped to look like slate.

I brought in the compost (most of it) one wheelbarrow at a time, and tilled it in before we layed in the grass. We've had SO much fun hitting the nurseries and picking out all of our new plants!
I even got my weeping willow! (my all-time favorite tree) followed closely by my new aquisition - A weeping pussy willow, and my gorgeous Japanese Maple!

We put in a flower garden along the length of the south side of the house (about 35 feet). Now THAT'S A FLOWER GARDEN! We are slowly but surely picking out fun, beautiful and unusual flowers to put into it! I'll have to post some more recent photos soon!

Preschool Graduation

It seems like yesterday I was posting about Ashli's first day at school! Now, a year and a half later- she's finished with preschool. She is prepared (I am not) for Kindergarten. =o(

This is Ashli and Cody at the graduation ceremony. They will dearly miss each other! But hopefully we can make a few playdates and keep these two girls together~

WALK NOW FOR AUTISM

We took to the Nike's today to show our support for our baby man! Along with THOUSANDS of our friends and supporters the Denver area raised nearly $200,000 today on a 5k walk to raise awareness for Autism! This was our first (definitely not last) walk!

Bubba was STOKED by all the bounce houses and inflatable sensory gyms for the kids! We have GOT to find a way to get one of these things into our O/T Gym!!

Team Mason hits the pavement

With thousands of our closest friends

Thank You.

We would like to sincerely thank our team members who showed up to support Mason today. Your love for Mason shines and we are PROUD to have you on our team!

Daddy, Cousin Randy, Brandi (Mason's therapist), and cousin Connie. (Mom was hiding behind the camera). And of course, the stars of our team - Mason and Ashli

We'll do it all again next year!

Sorry for the lengthy update - will try to do better =o)

Swirlydoos Sketch Challenge - Prima Prizes!

A Sketchy contest, with PRIMA deliciousness!

Swirlydoos is holding our very first OPEN SKETCH CHALLENGE! This challenge is 100% open to anyone who wants to play along! We're revving up our scrappy engines for National Scrapbook Day! To view the sketch, the rules, and most importantly the PRIZES. Contest ends on Sunday, May 3rd so HURRRRRRRRY UP!

CLICK HERE To go to our contest page!

Just for fun... kinda.

Edward looks pretty damn good on me eh? 

And FYI - I 'm all about "Team Jacob". Let Bella have him! That frees Edward up for ME! LMAO!

Just teasin... not really.

=o)

LOOK!!!! TREE-CICLES!

We managed to go all winter without being absolutely miserable with cold weather. Not much snow, not too cold.  My kinda winter right? Yeah, well as soon as I think I'm in the clear and Mother Nature can just 'BRING ON THE SPRING' of course it's gonna hit! We've had like 2' of snow in the past week with an expected foot and a half two days ago. But... lucky for us the wind was blowing at a sustained 40 mph (60 mph gusts) and that kept the snow from actually LANDING on the ground. Instead; the snow stuck to whatever it slapped up against and froze. Today, we have TREE-CICLES! I'm talking 1-2" thick ice stuck to the side or EVERYTHING! We also have bush-cicles, grass-cicles, mailbox-cicles, Hummer-cicles.. well, you get the idea. =o)    Oh, and the Hummer-cicles? No more! Took my baby to the car wash and let those boys give my baby a little pampering. =o)  Anyhoo - here are some pics of the "nature-cicles". Man, it sure was nice getting the camera out again!

Ohhhhhhhhhh ma GOSH!!!!!

Nuff' Said

Win an Acrylic Album!!!

Head on over to the SWIRLYDOOS BLOG and leave a comment to be entered to win a Mason's Puzzle Acrylic Album!!

www.swirlydoos.blogspot.com

Please help support TEAM MASON!

We are gearing up for the Denver Walk Now For Autism marathon! Our team comprised of friends, family and even a therapist or two are hitting the pavement to help support Mason, and Autism Speaks! I myself am hoping to connect and network with other families affected by autism, and also other providers and doctors to learn about new treatments that may not have hit the mainstream yet! We are very excited to take part in our first Autism Walk, and hope that you will help us to support Mason and the millions of other children living with Autism! Please visit our TEAM PAGE to join our team (if you are able to walk with us) or make a donation in Mason's Honor to help us win the war against Autism! From my family to yours, THANK-YOU for your support!

With Love,

Krissy

Scrap That Idea - DIGI SHOP!

Stacey, Vicki, Sara and Mel (awesome digital artists) have opened their own digital store and you digi girls will LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!  They have awesome specials going right now for their grand opening!

Check out Stacey's Blog for the full premiere  announcement, and head on over to www.scrapthatidea.com to check out their designs!

Swirlydoos Next Kit - Whimsy!

Here's the sneak peek of the next Swirlydoos kit, Whimsy! Whimsy will unveil officially on Feb. 28th, along with three fantastic add-on kits. Check it out in more detail at www.swirlydoos.com!

We ARE taking pre-orders for this kit from non-subscribers!

www.swirlydoos.com

Guide Me Daddy...

Guide Me Daddy

Journaling Reads:

Walk alongside me, daddy
and hold my little hand.
I have so many things to learn
that I don't yet understand.

Teach me things to keep me safe
from dangers every day.
Show me how to do my best
at home, at school, at play.

Every child needs a gentle hand
to guide them as they grow.
So walk alongside me, daddy -
We have a long way to go.

This layout was created using the Swirlydoos Premiere kit - "DECADENCE" 

Check it out at www.swirlydoos.com to get yours!

A New Venture...

I have opened a new (and hopefully AWESOME, SUCCESSFUL, POPULAR) Scrapbooking kit club! You will enjoy our thoughtfully prepared coordinating scrapbook kits. We take great care in choosing high quality, current, beautiful supplies to help you preserve your most treasured memories. Check it out at www.swirlydoos.com and TELL YOUR FRIENDS!!

Our premiere kit - **DECADENCE**

$36.00

Detailed Product List

Pattern Paper Note—All papers are double sided

Kaisercraft—Eleanor (1)

Kaisercraft—Victoria (1)

Kaisercraft—Catherine (1)

Kaisercraft—Elizabeth (1)

Making Memories—Falala music note (1)

Heidi Swapp—World Traveler (1)

Heidi Swapp—Old Coat (1)

Autumn Leaves—Bella Picola (die cut, single sided) (1)



Embellishments

Making Memories-Tiny alphas (1)

Maya Road-Chipboard bracket album (1)

Maya Road– black sequins (1 yd)

Kaiser—wood flourishes (2)

Paper frills—12” die cut borders (2 asst)

Maya Road- Chipboard Flourishes (3)

Maya Road- Chipboard Keychain (people) (1)

Kaisercraft- 12” flourish border rubz

Kaisercraft- Clear Rhinestones (1 pkg)

Kaisercraft– Pearls (1 pkg)

Daisy Bucket– Flourish corner stamps (1 pkg)

Kaisercraft– Cream flowers (5)

Basic Grey– Wassail buttons (8 asst)

Prima– Belle Fleur flowers and brads (3)

Prima– Lg maroon bloom (1)

Prima– Cream blooms (2)

Prima- Rose buds (4)

Prima– Journaling notes (2)

Stretchwrite– Cream Lace (24”)

DMD-Raffia kraft ribbon (1yd)

Misc-Pearl stick pins (2)

The Decadence Add-On Kit 

 $42.00

Pattern Paper (double sided)
Webster’s Pages—Bloomin’ Beauty (2)
Webster’s Pages—Brown Pokee Dot (2)Heidi Swapp—Old Map (2)

Album

My Acrylic Album—6” 6-page Acrylic Album w/ rings

Embellishments
Prima—NEW CHA RELEASE Say it in Crystals
Wrights—Black Floral Lace (1yd)
Clearsnap—Fluid Chalk ink pad (Chestnut Roan)
Prima—Build-a-Swirl stamp set (8.5 x 11”)

Prima—Felt Border (12”)

The Decadence Flower Add-On Kit

$10.00

A generous offering of a minimum of “90” delicious blooms carefully chosen to coordinate beautifully with the “Decadence” main kit and add-on kit.

Check out the website (still kinda in progress- the flippin computer whiz "I" am) - www.swirlydoos.com

And our blog is www.swirlydoos.blogspot.com

~We just kicked it off and will be holding contests and challenges VERY soon~

My little woodland friends..

Ironic.  This morning Ashli, Mason and I watched a movie I haven't seen in a REALLY long time.  Disney's  The Fox And The Hound. It had been YEARS since I've seen this flick!

Later today, I let the Wonder Spaz out for a potty break and he (as is usually the case) went ape-shit barking and freaking out. It's times like this when I hate having a see-through fence! Anyway, he was very adament in his bark. So much so that my other dog started barking too! I got up and went outside to shoosh Matani and see that he isn't just barking at nothing this time!  No, the deer hadn't come back. He pretty well scared the hell out of her last time she was in our yard! But this NEW little friend was NOT afraid of Matani. In fact, it almost seemed as though he was TEASING Matani through the fence as if to say, "HA! You big dummy! You can't get me!"  While this is cute, I know it's also dangerous to have a wild animal hanging around the house who is NOT afraid of the Wonder Spaz.. or me for that matter. Even so, we enjoyed his company, kept the dogs as quiet as we could and let our new friend relax for the many hours that he was here!

Then, we had a nice long talk with Ashli about staying far away from wild animals. Anyway, here are the pics I shot of my new friend Copper! Gregg says if I feed him, he'll shoot him. So, no feeding this little guy for me!

All worn out from teasing Matani.

Watching Codi go pee.

Not askeered of me at ALL!

VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My beautiful friend Tara blogged about her "Word-for-the-Year" a few weeks back. This word is to be sort of your "Focus" for the year. I told Tara that my word for the year was going to be "FIGHT".  It seems to be all I do anymore with regard to Mason's Autism.

Fight - noun; a battle or combat.

We have been trying to get Mason some MUCH needed speech therapy for nearly a year now. Our insurance company (Cigna) has continually denied benefits. We have taken it to State level arguing that a Colorado state mandate rules that Autistic children under the age of five are legally entitled to speech therapy (up to 60 visits per year). Come to find out, OUR policy isn't subject to state mandates because of the way they are contracted with Gregg's employer. Well, back in Sept. I went to Gregg's employer (Big Ol' Hospital) and told them that their policy is not in state compliance and that my son is suffering for it. They agreed to change their policy beginning in 2009 so that Mason could get the speech therapy  he needs. We thought that was fair and went ahead and footed the extraordinary bill for therapy from Sept - Dec.  The first of January we put through the referrals for Mason to get speech therapy using this "new plan". We were DENIED stating the same reasons as before. Our plan had in fact NOT changed! I was unbelievably PISSED OFF at having been lied to by my husband's employers. I called said Big Hospital Employer and left a "Mommy Freak-Out" message on the head honcho's voice mail. At that point, I didn't care if Gregg got in trouble or faced reprocussions  for my tyrade. They LIED to me and my son was going to suffer even LONGER for it!

Well, today I got a phone call from a big-wig at Cigna stating that our insurance policy has been changed and that Mason will be covered not ONLY for UNLIMITED visits of speech therapy but for ANY AND ALL AUTISM RELATED TREATMENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This is unheard of in the state of Colorado. No insurance company in Colorado (to my knowledge) covers any autism related treatment because it's EXPENSIVE and you need a LOT of it. Some states require coverage for autism treatments, Colorado is not one of them.

The woman (big wig at the insurance company) told me that if ANYONE gave me any grief at all over billing, or benefits for ANY autism related treatments that I should call her directly and SHE would take care of it personally."Mason WILL be taken care of," she told me.  She was so sweet, and so understanding and she was my saviour today. THANK YOU DORRIS!

This is the biggest, hugest most mind blowing "WIN" I could have imagined! I was fighting to get him speech therapy and we got him total autism coverage! We got him what THOUSANDS of children in this area and hundreds of thousands throughout the country are being denied. We can now get mason the help he needs, and the insurance is going to pay for it! (Well, most of it anyway!)

I have been floating on cloud nine all day, you could not possibly wipe this smile off of my face. A weight has been lifted and now I know that I AM doing all I possibly can for Mason and it feels DAMN GOOD!

Thanks for letting a proud mom gloat!

Uhmmm ... OoooooooooKay?!

*Takes a swig of beer*

So, wanna hear about my night? Well, i'm gonna tell you because I'm pumped full of adrenoline and have nothing better to do. I was sitting on my couch watching a Bruce Willis flick at about 10 pm. Kids are sleeping, Gregg is working. Just me and the dogs....  When the doorbell rings. Nobody EVER rings my doorbell this time of night. I walk slowly out of the living room and look in the direction of the door. Next to my door is a full length window with a sheer curtain over it. My porch light is on, but I can't see anything through the sheer curtains. I decide it's in my best interest (since I am alone) to NOT answer the door regardless of how frantically my dogs are barking.  The bell rings again. I was thinking, WHO IS AT MY DOOR? Could it be Stacey? Or maybe my sister-in-law Karin? Well, it COULD be but they are both the type of people who call before coming over...  The bell rings AGAIN. At this point I figure I better go see who it is before my kids wake up and REALLY Piss me off! I grab my phone and head for the door. I pull back my sheer curtain just enough to peek out onto the patio. What is staring back at me??  GAHEAD.. GUESS!

  A bloody man!

Yep. You read that right. There is a young man standing on my patio COVERED In blood. wearing black thermal underwear and wearing a t-shirt wrapped around his hand! I'm like.. uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh whaaaaaaaaaat????????? At this point, the sheer curtain fell right out of the window and landed on the floor exposing the young man to Codi, my rottweiler who promptly went ape-shit upon seeing this bloody person. I asked him through the window if I could help him, to which he replied, "Please call my mom." I had the phone in my hand and asked him for the number and dialed. There was no answer. I asked him if he wanted me to call the police and he said NO. I told him I would be right back (with the phone still to my ear) and to not move. I went up to my room and called the police. I told them that there was a bloody man on my patio, what had transpired up to this point and to get somebody here.. FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

    I went back downstairs where I could get the boy back into my line of sight, and I found him slumped over on the patio. It looked as if he had collapsed. I let Matani the wonder spaz out of his kennel, dawned a little self-protection and went out onto the patio to see what was going on. He was still conscious and told me that he had been approached by a group of people who asked him for a smoke then beat him up. At that point I called his mom again and this time she answered. I confirmed with the woman on the phone that she had a son by the name he gave me. She said she was his mom and I gave him the phone. He started whimpering telling his mom that he had been beat up. I gave his mom the address to my house and informed her that the police were on their way. I asked if I could give her son some advil and she said okay.  I went into the house, grabbed him some advil, a pepsi and a bag of ice (after telling him not to open my door or Matani would eat him). When I came back out and gave him the items the police showed up. Two cars at first, followed by about 6 more cars, a fire truck and an ambulance!!!!!  

 Can you say "WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD!"

I told the primary officer (we'll call him "Officer Hot-pants" for now ) what the boy had told me, then I went into the house while the police questioned him. I am still not sure what the extent of his injuries were. I do believe he had the hell beat out of him, and more than likely had been cut with a knife as he had some very deep gashes in his hand. His neck and pants had been cut, and there was blood all over his face. He seemed very scared, very weak and very lethargic. He was also freezing. The paramedics put him into the van and began trying to warm him up. 

Officer Hot-Pants beckoned me back outside to tell me what he had discovered. Apparently this young man was 16 years old. He told the police that he had gotten into a vehicle with some people he did not know to smoke some pot and they hurt him. The police had received a call before I had called about a young man standing in the middle of an intersection near my home trying to wave cars down. The kid had told me that this incident happened about 10 minutes away, and he had walked to my neighborhood. Officer yumminess... errr Hot-Pants said that the kid WAS very hurt, but was also very stoned, and judging by the way he was dressed he was probably up to no good. I asked the officer if there had been any burglaries in my neighborhood and he said no. He proudly reported that this is 'HIS' neighborhood and he wouldn't tolerate that kind of stuff in 'HIS' neighborhood. Had there been any wrong-doing in this neighborhood, he would have let me know. Then he told me his exact schedule, what days he works and that he's always very near by in case anything were to happen again. (Because bloody people show up on my doorstep a lot??...) The caring officer did thank me for what I had done for the child, but reinforced that when bloody people show up on my doorstep I should only speak to them through the window and not open the door. That's what HE'S for.  He could see my killer attack dogs, but I didn't think it proper to tell him about my personal protection. I understand what he was saying. In retrospect, I should not have opened the door as I didn't know what was beyond the porch. I'm sure the cutie pie was just extremely concerned about my personal safety *laugh*

            We chatted for a bit about the neighborhood and the kid and then I went back in the house because.. well... it was very cold outside.  Not too many minutes later (maybe 15) there was another knock at the door. I opened it and there stood the boys mom, wanting to know where her son was. I walked out onto the patio and saw that the barrage of emergency vehicles that had blocked off my street about 5 minutes before had all packed it in and left. I told this poor woman what I knew about her son, how he looked and acted while he was here, the story he told me and that he had told the police something else, though I did not tell her what her son had told Officer Hot Pants, let them break her heart.. I didn't want to do it, it wasn't my place.  I told her they were planning on taking him to the near-by hospital. I wished her luck, and that I hoped her boy was okay. She thanked me and left.

These things just happen to me. Weird shit just ALWAYS happens to me!  I do hope the kid is okay, and that maybe he learned a valuable lesson tonight. I am glad that I was able to help him to get the help he needed tonight so he didn't continue to run around lost, bleeding and cold. I hope the punks who did this to him get caught...

Ahhhh Monday night excitement!

There is something WRONG with me...

Today, not only did I lock my keys (and that damn phone) in the car, but I also locked my two-year-old son in the car too.  How? I have NO flippin' idea. At this point, I am convinced that my car is doing this on purpose.  Again, I called Onstar (after borrowing an SUV - yes, SUV that had onstar) and then a cell phone because the SUV's Onstar service wasn't working. And started ranting into the phone something about a car, a baby and UNLOCK IT NOW!

He did.. I drove away wondering if perhaps I was just born without the gene that keeps me from doing this.... repeatedly.

GOOD LORD!

Sooooooooo Monday was Ashlis  bestest friend Calista's birthday.

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY CALISTI SWEETIE!!!!!!!!!!!

What do three gorgeous littles do for a birthday? Skating? No, too much work. Party? No, too old fashioned. Sleepover? No, not yet. Zoo? No, too much poop. No, these little divas packed it up and headed off to the SPA. Yeah, you don't need to go back and read that again, I said "SPA".  Stacey found a great little place near our houses that is a spa, for kiddos. MAN this place rocks! Calista, Tori and Ashli all went in and had the works! There were peppermint pedicures, facials, glittery lotion rubs,  manicures, glittery make-up, princess (and punk rock) hair doos,with sparkly hairspray,  lolly-pops, jewelry, webkins, cameras, flashes, mama and paprazzis going ape nuts and two very tired (yet thoroughly amused) beauticians! We ended our 2.5 hour spa day with many walks and runs down the modeling cat-walk in the spa with the girls (Ashli) singing "Jingle Bells"  (of course) LOL!

To say the girls had a good time would be a devastating understatement. 

To say that the moms were a teeny bit jealous? Well... it took every bit of self control we had to keep our feet out of those "Toe Baths" as Ashli so eloquently described them!

Thanks for inviting us Stacey, we had a BLAST!

The girls kicking back with their feet in the peppermint "toe baths" while watching Kung-fu Panda. (Notice the facials?) Gah! I've NEVAH had a facial! I'm dripping with envy!

Calista's facial.. CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!  I think it was a white chocolate facial? Not sure.

This is Ashli after she had her hair and makeup done. She had a BEAUTIFUL princess hairdo, it pained me to take it out that night!!

Three little ladies lined up for their manicures... LOL!  Too precious eh?

Everything PURPLE! Fingers, Toes towels, rings, toe ring.. you name it~

Ashli's hair and makeup again  (sigh, i wish I could make it look like that!)

This is Ashli cracking everyone up while she was getting her hair done. She had everyone in stitches the WHOLE time!

Lovin it, and she's totally a natural. That's scary.

Sorry for the crappy photos. I was shooting raw indoors with no external flash and almost ALL of my photos came out blurry! I have got to get this fine-tuned!

Just testing.. and teasing =o)

Can anyone build a kick - butt blinkie? Man, I suck! LOL~

Hallelujah and Merry Christmas!

I am bowing down before the RAW gods. I've had this silly little camera of mine for a year and a half now and have not had the nerve to start shooting in RAW format. I braved going to all manual settings and that seemed a large enough jump into photography for me! OH  MY GOSH!!!!!!! Heather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WHY didn't you smack me and MAKE me shoot RAW?! My wonderful photographer friend!  It wasn't until I saw what my good friend Wendy was doing with her macro shots in RAW that I decided to take the plunge.... today. HOLY CRAP! What an amazing difference in both quality and editing capabilities! NOW, I get it.  (shaking head)  I get it. BRING ON THE PHOTO SHOOTS! LMAOOOOOO!

Here are some random shots that i've been meaning to put onto my blog but haven't. And a couple that I shot RAW today (YAY ME!)

I hope you all have a wonderful, beautiful Christmas, and a prosperous and Happy New Year!

Here's one I took of Ashli today while we made cookies. Isn't licking the mixer thingy the best part about  making cookies? I think so! So does Ash!  (Shot in RAW)

While I was experimenting with my new found RAWness, Mason was my willing? subject. All of the photos I shot today would have been deleted had I not had the extended editing capabilites that come along with RAW shooting. ESPECIALLY the photo above!

Another one of my "would have been deleted shots".  Now? One of my favorites of Bubby this Christmas!  Yes, yes, I know. Bad call putting him in an orange sweater LOL!

Bubbs helping to re-decorate the tree. He's enjoyed trying to figure out how to re-hang the ornaments he rips off!  (RAW)

Me continuing to stalk my son. And him running at me (ready to throw my camera I'm sure).  RAW

Bubbs doing that "ornament thing" again. But hey, it made for some good pics!

Here's Ash by the tree. Not shot in RAW, but I thought it was cute anyway!

Dad and bubbs in November when we went on a veeeeeeeeery long hike. Mason and Ashli did SO well. They hiked a few miles with us through some pretty tough terrain (well, it would be tough if you were three feet tall) and came through like champs! Way to go kids!

I would show you photos of the kids with Santa, but in my "Spring Computer Cleaning" I seem to have DELETED my scanner! Add that to the list of stuff to fix! HA!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Memories of Fall 2008

Here is a digi (I know, faint - right?) from me using Stacey's Cinnamon Spice kit. This kit really is FANTASTIC and you can dl it free on her blog HERE.

I {heart} my Secret Santa!

Well, well, well... today I discovered the identity of my "Secret Santa". I'd been wondering for a while who she was and today I found out! Thank you Rebecca for the wonderful package! Some of my very favorite things were in there. Each gift I opened was most DEFINITELY something I would have picked for myself! You rock! 

Not only did she include some awesome scrappy goodness, but chocolates (a woman after my own heart I tell you!), and a BEAUTIFUL handmade card, along with one of the most beautiful mini albums I've ever seen. Rebecca is a master at distressing everything. You should definitely check out her blog HERE.

Here are some photos of the goodies I received, thanks again honey! LOVE IT!

Lovely pearl stickers which I just ran out of (thank you!), Beautiful Primas that are SO my style and a great asst. of gems. PERFECTION!

LOVE that spice candle, it smells SO yummy! A bottle of MORE yummy primas and uhm HELLO?! CHOCOLATE! I'm eating one right now, they are TOTALLY YUMMY!

Isn't this card gorgeous? I just LOVE handmade cards. Now for a SECOND time, I find myself asking Rebecca ," Where did you find those poinsettias?" LOL!

The Lot, I'm a lucky girl eh? Thanks "Santa"

Is this not just BEAUTIFUL?! Oh my I nearly choked when I opened up this beauty! It's a LOVELY HAND MADE mini album that Rebecca created for my family. Unbelievable how talented this lady is. I really REALLY love this!