Michael's Prom

So, before Michael's prom I got to take pictures of the cute couples. We went to a little pond behind the restaurant, and it worked out really well. There were actually a few other groups of prom couples at the same location! Here is Michael and Mercy.

They were so cute doing the corsage and boutonniere. We got them laughing and having fun.

And here are all the cute couples:

I felt privileged that I was the only mom there taking pictures. I promised to make them each a CD of the photos so their parents could have them.

Easter Sunday

This year I was not really ready for Easter. I got some little items the day before and the girls died eggs while I was at work Saturday night. The older the kids get, the less exciting it is for me to go all out for holidays. I feel bad for the little girls sometimes, but what can I say? I think my lack of motivation may have had something to do with the fact that I was getting sick. I mean REALLY SICK. I woke up Easter morning feeling horrible. Well, Alexa to the rescue. She hid our few items in the front yard, and I was able to remain vertical long enough to take a few pictures:

Celeste finding an egg.

Sophie searching and

Finding an egg

And then this happened:

What's This?

Could it be?

A WEBKIN!

The girls really love Webkins, and they each got one. All in all it turned out pretty well:

I had lofty ambitions to make flower hair clips for my girls and the Hatch girls (our neighbors) for Easter. We did not get to it that day, but made them later. They turned out pretty darn cute:




I hope everyone had a FABULOUS Easter!

The Beginings of a Home Based Business

As many of you already know, Tony left his job at KSM about a month ago. It was a big decision, but he has wanted to start his own business for along time. The timing was right for him to make the move! I always said I would support that when all our kids were in school and I was able to help, and that time is now.

With a little rearranging we were able to set up a pretty workable home office. We inherited my office desk after our split with KSM, and set it up in my craft room:

We then took the table from there, and put it in our dining area for the laptops. This is so helpful because it gets the laptops off of our dining table. We got a wireless router for internet on the laptops. I love having internet out here, so I do not have to be shut out in the craft room:

We have been busy writing our safety training plan, injury and illness prevention plan, and getting copies of all the forms necessary to work in his industry. And the last big step is, TONY HAS TO TAKE A CLASS!!! I think it is funny, because he dropped out of school so young and got his GED. School was never his thing, but he is enrolled in classes to get his contractors licence. Go Tony!

He will have to pass a business test as well as a trade test for welding, then he can apply for the licence. It is all overwhelming to think about, but exciting and fun at the same time. It is such a great feeling that all the hard work he does will now benefit US! He has never been the type to go to work just for a paycheck, he has always put his heart and soul into his work. Now that will be going towards building a business he can be proud of, providing good jobs for his employees, AND supporting his family. What could be better than that?

Sadie {AKA Poofus}

Hi, I'm Sadie.

I wanted to tell you all a little bit about myself.

I am the cutest puppy evah (I know this because everyone always tells me so!)

I love to cuddle and be carried around like a baby.

I am quiet, and hardly ever make a sound.

My cubby is one of my favorite places, and I go there to rest and I even stay in there all night without crying.

I have gotten so big {if you call 5 pounds big!}

I love all people, even strangers.

When I am happy I wag my tail. When I am really happy, I spin it around in a circle!

When I run I look like a bunny because I hop with my feet together.

I love my new family and they love me!

Now meet my alter-ego, Poofus:

Hi, I'm Poofus.

I was named Poofus due to my poofy fur and my doofus-y personality.

I love to chew on everything. I find amazing stuff in the garbage and think humans throw the best stuff away!

When I find something I want to chew on, I pick it up and run to the hallway (where it is carpeted) to commence the chewing and sliming of said object:

I really love feet. When my family is walking by, I grab on and chew! I will even hold on while they walk and drag me across the floor.

I once found a treasure in the box the cats play in. However, that caused the littlest girl to post this sign:

And if you don't read Kindergarten writing it says "no poop eaters". Discrimination, I say!

In spite of all this, my family loves me, too!

My Scrap Space (don't be hatin'...)

The girls and I spent a lot of our spring break cleaning and organizing our craft room. We purged quite a bit and got all of our stuff organized and easy to use. I now have everything out of my crop bags, store bags, etc. All my patterned paper is organized in the paper towers by vendor. My cardstock is in rainbow color order. The slatwall houses items on pegs that were in packages in categories like alphabets, flowers, bling, ribbon, chipboard, adhesives, and artsy stuff (like alcohol ink, glitter, embossing, etc). The shelves have unused albums, frames, and other projects, as well as a row of cardmaking supplies. We have baskets of paints, punches, buttons and brads. Drawers are holding embellishments by category (ie "girl", "holidays", etc.) I love it! Here are the results:

And one of my favorite parts, my bowls of ribbon! Beautiful!

Something's Missing....

Something has been missing from my blog.

What could it be?
?
?

?
?
?

?
?
?
?
?

Pictures of me and Tony? Check!
Pictures of the girls? Check!
Pictures of the new puppy? Check!
Hmmmmmm?
?

?
?

?

?
?
?
?
?

Of course! My under-photographed oldest child, Michael!

Michael HATES having his picture taken. Like REALLY hates it. So it took a lot for me to get him to agree to the photo shoots. I needed pictures for his high school graduation announcements, so he had little choice in the matter. Day one we went to his school with his friend, Jacob. Here are some of my favorites:

Day two we went to downtown Tempe:

We founds some really cool places to take the pictures. These are all unedited and not cropped. I think I have some good ones to work with in here!