Meet "Captain Picky"

On the first day of school Miss Byers told the class that they would get to take turns bringing home the class pet, a guinea pig named Captain Picky. Today was the day that Amberly has been dreaming about...her turn finally came. Captain Picky is hers for the WHOLE weekend. She came home loaded with food, litter, vitamin C drops, cleansing wipes, and instructions to care for this little guy.

I've been warned by other parents whose children have had their turn that he kicks poo all over the place and that he bites. Oh LOVELY!! Well...it's only for the weekend and my children are in HEAVEN!! Even Emmalin is enjoying him. She keeps pointing to it and saying "woof woof".

Our Little Trooper

Yesterday, Emmalin was diagnosed with RSV/Bronchiolitis. Her first couple of breathing treatments were torture for her. Today she smiles and claps when she sees the nebulizer. I think she must sense that it's helping her. Through it all she has continued to be happy and cheerful. She's our little trooper. We are thankful for wonderful doctors and medicine available to help when needed. What a blessing!

My Insanity!!!!

I call it my insanity but actually, I think crafting is what keeps me sane. Once the kids are in bed for the night or during naptime, out come my supplies. The last month has been so fun! Here are some of the things I have made. I realized as I went around the house taking pictures of my projects that I really have done a TON! Crazy... must be why I am so happy! (in fact, Kimball commented that he hadn't even noticed me PMSing this month--that's HUGE for me! Sorry, too much info)

I blame this insanity on blogland. There are soooo many great ideas out there. Everytime I get on the computer I find a new project (or three or four) to add to my list. Most of my projects are inspired or completely copied from something I see in blogland. My favorite sites are... tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com, shanty2chic.blogspot.com, vanessachristianson.com, theidearoom.blogspot.com, thrifydecorchick, shabbynest.blogspot, and U-creat.blogspot.com

This is my Family Home Evening board. I ordered my vinyl, painted my board, and made cute little photo hangers. Our Family RulesI have been wrapping jute around EVERYTHING!!I made this wreath using the pages of an old hymnbook. Originally I made it for Christmas but liked it so much I left it hanging. I made that apothocary jar too. I found a pack of coordinating scrapbook paper on sale. I used spray adhesive to glue them to MDF boards.

I don't know what to call this thing-a-ma-jig. But it was fun to make and I like anything monogrammed.

Years ago, my parents gave us this calendar for Christmas. I love it! We write all of our family birthdays on it. It had a black frame that just didn't look quite right in my kitchen. I decided to paint it an antique white and then distress it. I also made glass marble magnets for the numbers.

I realized that I didn't have any Valentines decor. So.... I made these frames...

This garland...

and this topiary.

The picture is sideways but I think you can tell what these are. Pillows! I LOVE Toile!

I have been seeing these dessert stands everywhere. So I looked through my cupboards and found these items and glued them all together. It's just kind of silly, but I like it!

This mirror was done the same as the calender. It was brown and just didn't quite go. So I painted and distressed it.

My kids enjoy playing checkers. Originally I thought I would paint the checkerboard right onto the coffee table. I chickened out and painted it on a square piece of wood. They have been having the best time with it and sharpening their skills.

This one is a still unfinished. I needs something in the middle. I'm just not quite sure what yet. Maybe plexiglass with pictures behind it. Maybe just a pretty sheer ribbon wrapped around and tied in a bow. Any ideas? For now it just holds some cute little glittery Valentine's hearts.

I have had fun making a dent in my crafting to-do list! I'm ready to tackle some more!

Our week with the Utah Clarks

Boy have I gotten behind in my blogging. I have been having WAY too much fun crafting! I'll do a post soon about all the fun things I have been making.

Kimball's brother, Thayne and his family came from Utah to visit the Arizona Clark family. They arrived just before Christmas and left after New Years. What a fun time we had! We LOVE when they come! They have 4 sweet boys who couldn't be more fun.

Here we are on one of the many hikes that we went on. Clarks love tromping through the deserts! Afterwards we played and lunched in Festival Park. For FHE we went to Amazing Jakes. We rock climbed, rode roller coasters, bowled, rode the carosel, train, frog hopper, cars, tea cups, bumper cars and played video games.

On one of the days men went out to lunch and to a movie while the women stayed with the kids. Then we switched. The women went shopping and out to dinner while the men cared for the kids. It was so fun to hang out and relax. Here are the women at the Cheesecake Factory.

More hiking and rock climbing. Gage is in heaven on these hikes!

We loved spending time with Thayne and Lanae, and their boys Jonas, Ian, Jacob, and Ethan. We miss them already!

Pinewood Derby!

Tonight was Gage's first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. Boy, was he excited! He and Kimball worked hard to get his car ready for the race. It was fun to see them together.

Here are the some of the boys anxiously waiting for the race to start. Gage's Wolf Den sang a fun little song before the race began. Gage's car in action! He didn't win, but had so much fun! Gage received an award for "Fastest Looking" car.

Clark Family Christmas Party 2009

On Christmas Day, the Clark's gathered at Mommer and Papa's for the Family Party. The kids played with their new toys in the school yard behind the house. We ate a delicious meal and enjoyed visiting with one another. Then, Papa divided us into 3 teams and handed us a grocery bag filled with red tissue paper, white tissue paper, cotton balls, and black streamers. We were told to dress someone on our team up as Santa using the items in the bag. What fun!!!

Anna, Jonas, and Gage made pretty cute Santa's. I love Gage's eyebrows!!!

Christmas Morning 2009

The kids were up at 2:30am. We were able to get them back to bed. Then Gage was up again at 5am. We told him to quietly watch TV in the loft. He had strict instuctions to NOT go downstairs. He could wake everyone up at 6am. I'm sure that was the longest hour of his life!

After diving into the stockings to see what goodies were there......we headed into the Living Room to see what Santa brought.

The first gift Emmalin opened up was a new baby doll. She hugged her little "bee-bee" and refused to open another gift.

We got Wii Resort!! Oh, the fun we have been having with this new game! My arms are sore!!

Carrigan gave Amberly a "littlest pet shop" toy. Can you tell Amberly was happy about it!!!

The girls got a new doll house!!! Aaaaaah!!!!

Gage asked Santa to bring him the same Bioncle that Gage had given to his friend Garrett for his birthday. Santa came through for Gage! Gage also got the BIGGEST nerf gun you have EVER seen. This thing is a monster.

Amberly made a calendar in school for Mom. It is so cute. Her handprints are all throughout the Calender. She used her handprints to make things like a turkey in November, a fish in July, a tulip in May, a Santa in December, etc.

It was fun for me to watch Kimball playing dolls with the girls after he put the dollhouse together.

Thanks to Santa and everyone he gave to us this year!!!! We are very grateful!!!

Christmas Eve Traditions

Over the years we have accumulated several Christmas Eve traditions. It's funny how kids can turn the simplest thing done one year into something that has to be continued from year to year. Most of our traditions haven't come to be because Kimball and I sat down and thought long and hard about what would be meaningful to our family. No...the kids have established what is and what isn't going to happen from year to year. We usually eat dinner by candlelight while listening to Christmas songs. We then take turns making wishes for the new year as we blow out each candle. One of our most favorite traditions is waiting to see how the elves are going to deliver our new pajamas. Some years the knock and run. Once they called and told us where the pajamas were hidden in the house sending us on a little treasure hunt. This year we came home from Christmas Eve visiting to find them lined up on our staircase. The kids were so excited by this!!!

A new tradition started this year was the Nerf Gun war. Amberly thought it was pretty funny when the dart she shot at her Dad knocked him to the ground and even funnier that the dart STUCK to his forehead.Every year you will find us decorating sugar cookies for Santa.

Emmalin waving to the camera in her new pajamas. She is just starting to learn about all of the Christmas magic.

Other traditions include, reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" while laying under the Christmas tree on our Christmas pillows that Grandma made for us, Sprinkling reindeer food on the driveway, acting out the Nativity, and watching for Rudolph's nose in the sky. It's always a fun and memorable night. I love Christmas Eve and the magical feeling in the air.

Wilkins Family Christmas Party 2009

The Wilkins Family Party was tonight. Oh, the fun we had! Mom/Grandma made Cafe Rio Pork Salads for dinner, Dad/Grandpa gave a Christmas lesson, and we sang tons of Christmas songs. Every year the cousins draw names and this is the night they exchange gifts. I know that my kids carefully pick out the gifts for their cousins and can't wait to watch them open them.
Hailey had Emmalin this year. She came is with an ENOURMOUS wrapped gift. Emmalin carefully tore at the paper and we helped her open the box. She could hardly contain her excitement when she saw what was inside... A giant ball just for her! She giggled and clapped and said, "Yay!" It was too cute.

Here are more pictures of the rest of the kids opening their gifts. Everyone was thrilled with what they gave and received. It was a fun party! Thanks to everyone!!