Digital Scrapbooking

I got some free digital scrapbook kits, and after looking online I found several more free digital kits. I decided to play with the digital stuff that I found and created my first digital scrapbook pages. I have made shutterfly albums but I don't think that's really digital scrapbooking. So...here's my attempt.

I have also "tried" to create my own background for my blog...but, as I'm sure you can tell...I'm still trying to figure that one out. Eventually I will have a cute background that I have created, it just may take a while.

What a crazy day!

Yesterday was such a whirlwind day! It started when we left our house at 8:00 a.m. and ended when we got home at 8:15 p.m. So, here's the short version of my day (followed by the longer version): Drag Kaylee out of bed (I literally dragged her out of bed and onto the floor before she got up)(Spanish Fork), Take Paul to work (Provo), stop at Krispy Kreme for doughnuts (Orem), Go to Wendy's house to get ready and pick her up(Taylorsville), Stop at gas station to get drinks(Taylorsville), Stop at Costco to get gas (Murray), Drop off some casual clothes to Spencer (Wendy's Husband) at work (Salt Lake City), Go to my Sis-in-law Jess' house(Rose-Park/SLC), Go to Nicola's house to eat lunch and color pictures (Kaysville), Go over to the Treehouse Museum (Ogden), Go to a family picnic (Uintah), Pick Paul up from work (Provo), Wander around Dollar Tree while we wait for Paul to be done working (Provo), FINALLY home to give the girls a super fast bath and put them to bed (Spanish Fork).

So, there's the run-down of what we did. After all our morning stuff that I mentioned above we went over to Nicola's house where she so kindly fed us lunch before we all headed over to the Treehouse Museum. The museum was really busy and it was a challenge keeping track of all the kids running around but we managed to keep track of them all. Here's a few of the things they did at the museum (When they were standing still long enough to get pictures of them.)

They all started out in the fire engine but they didn't sit very still there. The pictures I got were of kids everywhere. Gabby found a "river" with stepping-stones and jumped on those for a few minutes.

There was a little school-house and all the kids had fun taking turns being the teacher and students. Kaylee found a stone painting station that you could paint designs on the stone with water.

Then, Kaylee and Noelle found the baby center where you could pretned to be doctors. Gabby and Adam found an activity table with all sort of different games.


Kaylee and Gabby took their opportunity to be the president in the oval office for a minute. (At this point maybe they should run for office. I would rather vote for them.)

There was a music room with lots of different percusion instruments. Kaylee loved this one and played it almost the whole time we were in that room.

At the castle Gabby dressed up as a knight and even found the right seat to sit in for a knight. Kaylee wanted to be the queen but couldn't find the dress. They found all sorts of fun things in the castle to play with.

The kids had tons of fun at the Treehouse Museum. They have already asked me when they can go back. We LOVE going out with Nicola and her kids, and Wendy, and Roman. When we were getting close to be done Marla called to tell us we needed to hurry because she was already at the family picnic and wanted us to hurry and come over (because she was bored and she thinks we aren't boring). We tried to hurry but it wasn't fast enough for Marla...she kept texting saying to hurry.

So, we made it over to the Uintah Park for our family party/picnic and the kids immediately found the playground. My aunt and uncle were visiting from California and hosted the wonderful party. We had a catered dinner, there were kids activities (hats to decorate, bubble blower, squirt guns, etc.), and lots of people to visit. We had so much fun visiting family that I haven't seen in way to long. I had planned to leave there by 6:00 to get the kids home and to bed on time. I finally made it out of there at about 6:45 but it was fun and worth it.

Now, I'm ready for a nice calm day...not going anywhere, and hopefully getting stuff done around the house.

Memories

This was on my friend Maria's blog. This looks like so much fun...so here it goes:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses.

Ikea

Yesterday after the girls were done with gymnastics we met my sis-in-law Jess and my mom at Ikea. My kids think the work Ikea means "Amusement Park". I always have my camera in my purse so I pulled it out and caught a few amusing moments. The kids didn't want to leave the children's section. In the children room displays the walls have holes for kids to crawl through. That is one of my kid's favorite things at ikea. Between the holes, the beds, and the kid's toy section I didn't think I would ever get the kids out of that area of the store. We had fun going to Ikea. Thanks for going with me Jess. We need to get together again soon (Kaylee asked when she'll see Anna again.)

Gabby was tired and wanted to try out the beds. (see the flower lights on the wall? I bought some and the girls love them by their beds.)

Kaylee found a desk and had picked up a shopping list paper. So, she sat down to write her list.

Puppy update

Thank you everyone for all the name ideas for our new puppy. I also appreciate the advice (any other doggy advice is welcome). We decided to name our puppy Bella. This name (or some form of it) was suggested a few times and I think it's cute and fits her...but, the deciding factor was my conversation with Kaylee. Our conversation went something like this:

Me: We are NOT naming the puppy princess. There are too many princesses around here already.

Kaylee: Well how about...(deep in thought)...Ballerina?

Me: How about Bella? That's kinda like ballerina.

Kaylee: YEAH!!! I love that name!!!

So, Bella for the name was a huge hit. She has been a very good puppy. While she has been on my watch she hasn't had any accidents in the house. Even when I left her all day to take the girls to gymnastics, and then Ikea, and my grandma's. I got home and her crate was still dry and she went outside. Paul, for some reason, has not been so lucky. Every time he is watching her and I'm not in the room she has had an accident. I'm still learning as I go along but she is such a sweet puppy that it has made it easier to learn things. Any more puppy advice is welcome (and needed).

A puppy?!?!

Yes, I know...I must of had a moment of insanity. I have NEVER owned a dog; but I told Paul that after Gabby was completely potty trained then if he could find a small dog that wasn't too expensive then we could get one. Paul called me today and said "Take the girls to the Animal Ark in American Fork and look at this puppy. It is SOOO cute." She's a mixed breed: Dachshund, Shih Tzu, and Pomeranian (or a Dachshihpom). She is really cute and we did end up bringing her home.


She doesn't have a name yet. The girls have been petitioning for her name to be Princess...but, we'll see. They think EVERYTHING should be named princess. Does anyone else have a cute puppy name? (Other than princess?)

Independence Day and a Birthday Party

First, here is the amazingly shocking news. Paul got a 4 day weekend!!! He occasionally gets days off here and there, but lately he has gotten NONE (except the time he requested off to go to Yellowstone)...Until now, and then he got 4 days in a row off! So, we had a fun 4th of July weekend. Although, he did complain that he didn't get to go fishing or camping, he said it's okay that he didn't get to because he had fun with the stuff that we did.

Slip n' Slide Water Party

My little sister Marla wanted to have a slip n' slide party for the 4th of July...So, she bought a really cool slip n' slide, swimming (kiddie) pool, and sprinkler. The slip n' slide had 3 lanes so people could race and there were some pretty good races. Then, they set up the pool at the bottom of the play set slide and put the sprinkler at the top and we slid down the slide into the pool. There were also tons of water balloons for a water fight. It was tons of fun, at least while we were doing it...my body says otherwise now. My abs and back are killing me but it was worth it. We had a blast!

Fireworks Show

We stayed at my parent's house to do fireworks. My parent's neighbor always buys thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks and they put on quite the show. Paul spent $100 on fireworks, and Marla spent $50. So, between my neighbors fireworks and our fireworks it was a lot better than going to the park for a crowded fireworks show. The kids loved watching all the pyrotechnics...and then there were the pyros who loved playing with the fireworks. Everyone had tons of fun watching and lighting fireworks. We spent the night at my parent's house so we could go to Roman's birthday party on Saturday.

Roman's Birthday Party

In my Yellowstone post I mentioned that Roman turned 1 while we were in Yellowstone. This weekend Wendy and Spencer had his birthday party. They did a little pool party at a park with little kiddie pools. That morning Wendy, Spencer, and Roman flew home from visiting Spencer's family in California so they were all pretty much exhausted. It was fun. The kids played in the pools with some little ducks and squirt guns that Wendy had for them, they played on the playground, then we sang to Roman and ate cake. After such an action packed weekend we were all exhausted and Gabby fell asleep in the car on the way home and did NOT want to wake up.