My Latest Page

This is my latest page I've made. I feel like it needs something else. It's almost to much of one color. I wanted a different frame for the bigger picture, but when your cheap like me and using all the freebie stuff, your kinda limited. So for now it looks like so, and one day when I find the right frame it will be changed.( I would love to find a log frame, but have yet to find one.) Also for this page, I was really bummed that I didn't get a picture of Cole and his Auntie Maria who he adored!!

My next step is to start on Jocelyn's and Cole's baby pictures. I have yet to scrap any of them, I can't wait!!!

Tag and Another Page

Rules: list 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current goals, 3 current obsessions, and 3 random facts about your self.

Then tag at least 5 people at the end.

3 Joys:

1) Family

2)Running

3)Seeing my kids smile

3 Fears:

1)One of my kids or my husband getting hurt

2)Not being able to walk

3)spiders and cockroaches

3 Current goals:

1)Learn how to use my new camera(I eventually want to take a photog class)

2)Keeping my house cleaner

3)Running another marathon

3current obsessions:

1)Digital scrapbooking(can ya tell. lol)

2)Reading(but like Kristie I need a new book)

3)Doing my girls hair(but don't look at it today)

3 random facts about myself:

1)I love ice cream(who doesn't)

2)I have had 3 c-sections

3)I love to bake(I got this from my mom)

I tag: Cris(lets see what my hubby has to say), Kim, Laura, Natalie, and Crystal

Kaden's fishing page I made today.

Dinner Rut

Anyone get in one of these? I'm in one now, I don't think I've cooked anything worth while in the past week. My poor family has suffered through hot dogs, spaghetti, mac and cheese, and many more unspeakable meals. Last night after asking the age old question to Cris, "What do you want for dinner?" and getting the age old answer back," I don't care." I was about ready to throw a temper tantrum that would out do any two year old. So, Cris was then put in charge of dinner. I was thinking great we will have pizza, waffles, pancakes or french toast (I'm not a fan of breakfast for dinner, yuck!!) But to my surprise this is what he proceeded to make.......

This was the best grilled chicken and potatoes I've ever had, plus it helps that I didn't have to cook it. :)

Cris' secret recipe consists of alittle oil, alittle vinegar, and Cesar Italian dressing.

Cut the chicken into strips, and soak in the concoction above then grill. It was delis!!! And it was the perfect meal to start a fast.

While Cris was busy grillin' away, I was off to play!!! I took this picture of the clouds. I love the monsoon season!! The cool air it brings, makes for a perfect Arizona night, and I love to watch the lightning dance across the sky.

Who could resist taking a picture of this cutie Swingin' away!!!

In other news, we've had another lost tooth from Kennedy last week, the older kids started soccer, Cole is talking up a storm, and Jocelyn is loving pre-school!! I've also added a slide show of scrapbook pages to the side of the blog, I hope to add more to it soon!!!

A Couple More

Here are a few more pages that I did in the past few days. It's gotten alot easier to do. I'm having lots of fun finding lots of free kits online. I added a link list to the side of my blog of all the sites I've found so far. Thanks for the Ikea Goddess site Rachel it's awesome!!!

Look What I Did

I figured out how to do a digital srapbook page. :) Thanks to the help of Two Peas in a Bucket online tutorials. I would say that it is really simple, but it took me all day to make this one page. I'm sure it gets earier as it goes. Evertime I tried to move something on the page, it would move something I didn't want moved. So, I'm sure in time it will be fast and easy. I loved the fact that if I didn't like something it was easy to get rid of and I loved using fonts instead of my own hand writing. I can't wait to buy some stuff and create more pages.

Here is my first page. Isn't Jocelyn so cute!!

I got this free kit from Shabby Princess. It's called Promise.

Digital Scrapbooking

So now that I have a nicer camera and photoshop to go with it, I want to try digital scrap booking. I know that some of you do it, or may have tried it. I have downloaded a few of the freebies I liked but just don't know how to add the photos to the paper. Or do I need to buy a special digital scrap booking kit? It's probably really simple I just am not that smart when it comes to the computer stuff. :) So alittle help would be nice. Please leave me a comment or email me. Thanks!!!

Love It!!!!

I love photoshop!!!! This picture was taken with my old camera, and the people who took it took it crooked. I was so bummed!!! But with photoshop I was able to fix it!!
Before photoshop

After photoshop

My next step it to take this picture and another one. Then take Cole's face off the one and put it on this one, so he is looking and not digging for gold. Lol.

Aunt Janet you need this!! It's so easy, granted I do have lots to learn with it but it tells you step by step directions, and will even enhance the color, and etc. by a push of a button. So even dumb people like me can figure it out!!!!!

Now I just need to play around with my new camera along with this software. My poor family is going to be neglected. :)

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

So it was my birthday this past weekend. I'm am now at the ripe old age of 28. Wow!! Cris got called to work out of town, which was a bummer. But being the awesome hubby he is, he took me to go shopping for a new camera today. I was so excited!!! My camera has been acting funny for the past 4-5 months. So, it was time. I have been looking on line and decided to go with the Nikon D40, and so far I love it!! I also got adobe photoshop elements 6. I can't wait to start figuring this new contraption, and software out!! So stay tuned for lots of pics!!!

A quick pic of Cole I snapped in the car.

We Are The Champions!!! (insert Queen song here)

This summer Cris and I were lucky to play on a awesome co-ed softball team, with lots of good friends!! This is our second year playing together, we enjoyed some good laughs at each others expense, some losses, and some wins. At one game Steph's dad told us that we needed a tent over our circus for how horribly we were playing. We kicked butt in the tournament though, and didn't lose a single game. And thank goodness we won the last one cause we didn't want to have to play again at 9:30 p.m., which is way to late for those of us who have kids and have to get babysitters on school nights.(this summer I have probably spent over $200 on babysitters!! $15 dollars a game two nights a week for two and a half months, you do the math!!!) We had a blast and can't wait to play again next year!!! (hint, hint everyone.)
Here is our team from left to right. top row: Andrew, Steve, Tim, Cris, Casey, Mike, Sara, Eric, Christie. Bottom row: Jackie, Me, Steph, Lani. We were only missing one player Larissa who already left to go back to college.

We got this awesome plaque, which we want to try and sneak into each others houses for fun. (yes breaking and entering may be involved. :)) And we also got so cool hooded sweatshirts.

Thanks for such a fun summer!! (thanks for the pictures Jackie!!)

Redneck Dentistry

Cris performed some redneck dentistry today on Kaden, complete with pliers. One of his front teeth has been loose for months, and been hanging from one side and was starting to turn a grayish color. So while at Crystal and Lance's tonight we talked him into letting us pull it. (now, my uncle and cousin who are both dentists are probably shaking their heads at us.) So Cris tried to pull it with just a rag but couldn't get a very good grip, so Lance hopped (see their blog for explanation) up the stairs and got Cris some pliers. It took on good yank and it came out. So now we have a boy without one of his front teeth. I think he looks rather cute, don't you? And he can't wait for the tooth fairy.

School's In

School started today! Yipee!!!!! The kids were so excited. We decided to put Jocelyn in preschool two days a week. She could hardly stand waiting to drop of Kennedy and Kaden first. I can't believe that my babies are growing up. Kennedy is in the 3rd grade this year, and Kaden is in 2nd. Crazy!!!

The kids in front of school. I take a picture like this every year. This year I finally got grief from them, not really wanting it taken. They really are growing up.

Jocelyn in front of her school. Doesn't she look cute.

With all the kids in school, I can really deep clean my house now. It's been so hard keeping it clean all summer. And poor Cole will be a little lonely on the days Jocelyn is gone. For example he is following Cris around like a little puppy dog this morning. Silly boy.

You Want Me To Sing?

I got released form my calling of the 2nd councilor in Primary about a month ago. I've enjoyed being calling less, no lessons to prepare!! (except this week when I was asked to sub for a lady teaching in Relief Society. Man, that was hard, but thanks to prayer, I pulled it off. I think. I really enjoyed doing it actually, and wish I could stay there.)
Well on to my title, "You Want ME To Sing". These were the words that almost came out of my mouth last week when I was called into the Bishop's office to be given a new calling. They asked me, drum roll please.......... To be the music leader in primary. This is where the you want me to sing comes in. I'm a horrible singer, and I mean horrible. All you people at the Clark Reunion should know this. I can't keep a tune for the life of me!!!!! This is what I told Tom as he continued to call me to my calling. I think I will be fired in the near future after the primary program in a few months, when the children sound horrible.
As for being in primary still, I think it's a life long calling. But I will take this in stride, and attempt to help the kids love to sing. (ha,ha they won't love it when they hear me.) So wish me luck, and please pray that I don't break any ear drums in the process.

Inside Out Bacon Cheese Burgers

My sister-in-law Kristie wanted this recipe. After many failed attempts at emailing it to her I thought I'd post it here. I must give my friend Rachel a shout out for this yummy recipe. I added my own variations to it. Enjoy!!!

1 lb. ground beef
3 Tbsp. KRAFT Ranch Dressing, divided
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Bacon, cooked, crumbled
2 KRAFT Singles, cut into quarters
PREHEAT grill to medium heat.

Mix meat and 2 Tbsp. of the dressing. Shape into 8 thin patties. Mix remaining 1 Tbsp. dressing and the bacon. Spoon about 1 Tbsp. of the bacon mixture onto center of each of 4 of the patties; top with 2 Singles quarters and second patty. Pinch edges of patties together to seal.GRILL patties 7 to 9 min. on each side or until cooked through (160°F).

I don't use the kraft singles, instead I use the sargento cheese that is already sliced. I've used pepper jack and chipotle. My family liked the chipotle best. I also add a egg and alittle milk to the hamburger mixture along with some minced garlic, and Montreal steak seasoning. And instead of cooking bacon and crumbling it I use the REAL bacon bits found by the salad dressing and stuff.
After I make the patties I freeze them for a hour so they harden a bit they are easier to get on the grill that way.

It's Over

Yes, ladies a gentlemen, it's over. I finished Breaking Dawn yesterday. I'm sad it's over. I really enjoyed reading it. (and my family did survive and weren't to neglected.) So what's every ones thoughts on it? Leave me a comment. And for those of you who haven't finished or read it yet, don't' read the comments it may spoil it. I'll be giving my two cents too.

Ugh!

A small fortune was spent today. Yes ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of the year again. School. I'm like any parent who can't wait for the kiddos to go back to school I love my kids to death, but the fighting, tattling, and fighting so more is about to kill me!!! The one thing I don't' like about school starting again is the money, hence the small fortune that was spent. Yes their clothes still fit and so did their shoes, but after the long summer months of playing they are worn out and tattered. So off to Flagstaff we went, (yes the nearest mall is a hour away.) and spent our fortune. Since when did a child's pair of shoes cost $50? This is where our fortune was spent. So our kids will be sporting off their new shinny shoes in less then a week. Oh, the joys of kids, and it's only going to get worse. I wish you all luck!!!

Breaking Dawn

I finally got my book yesterday. Yippee!!!! I was so jealous of all you girls who got to go to midnight parties and start reading the book. I ordered mine online to same myself a few bucks. It was suppose to arrive one Saturday but it didn't. I had to wait till yesterday. I'm half way done with it, and all I have to say so far is wow!! If i keep reading like I am, I'll be done tonight. My house my kids, my husband, and myself are getting neglected. :)

Tragedy Struck

How could such a nice beautiful day that consisted of this.........

Rusty, isn't he the cutest little guy you have ever seen.

Sliding down the slide into the pool, on of my favorite summer past times. Jocelyn, Kaden, Kennedy, and Kaylee(on the swing)

The gang, Cole, Kennedy, Jocelyn, Kaden, Kaylee, and Jessie

One more picture of the cutie pie!!! I just couldn't resist.

End in tragedy.(or at least to a three year old, and our check book) I know what you're all thinking, no one got hurt!!! Thank goodness. The kids had a fun morning playing the back yard with our good friends Rich and Allison's kids, while Allison and I visited. They played for about a hour and half. Then fast forward five hours. Being the forgetful and not so smart person I am, I forgot to roll up the umbrella to our patio set. Can you imagine where this is going? Well, the wind decided to pick up around four. I was sitting in the living room when I her Jocelyn yelling, "No, my umbrella, no, my table." My heart sank and I ran into the back yard to see the table on it's side, chairs scattered around the yard, and the umbrella nowhere to be seen. Panic set in, where did the umbrella go, and after double checking the back yard, I ran out to the front. I looked to my right and then to my left. I spotted it lying in my neighbors front yard. I ran to it grabbed it and attempted to carry it back to my house. This was not a easy task, since the wind was still blowing and I couldn't get the dang thing to roll in. I finally got it rolled in and it's now sitting in the garage waiting for Cris to get home and look at it. Jocelyn is still hysterical at this point crying "my umbrella broke my table broke I can't sit outside any more." I then go outside to clean up the mess. It was quite the mess, glass was everywhere. I didn't get pictures of the mess but this in my garbage can after the clean up.

Here is "Jocelyn's" poor table and chairs, looking really lonely without the umbrella and glass.

It will probably cost $100 to get new glass, and we'll have to see if the umbrella is fixable, if not it will be another $100. Dang wind! You think that I'd remember to roll it up. After all we have had many trampoline incidences till we learned to tie it down.

On a side note, anyone know how to get glass out of the grass without picking it up one piece at a time?