Happy Birthday to Us!

Has it really been over a month since I've posted anything? Oh my...I'm such a slacker!! I have things to say and pictures to post, just haven't posted for all to see!

Today's post is to celebrate the birthday of my sweet daughter and I.
-- 34 years ago today, at 11:45am, I was born.
-- 8 years ago today, at 12:08pm, Amanda was born.

It's a special day that I am blessed to celebrate every year. A day that I can reminisce about the pregnancy that led up to this day. The worry, wonder, and excitement. Awaiting for her arrival, was peaceful yet intense -- I'll never forget the feelings I had after she was born. She was ok with perfect 10 Apgar scores, I was crying tears of joy!

It's also a time to reminise about the last 8 years...

Last week it was her turn to be a celebrity at school. It was all about her. One assignment during the week was for us to write a letter to her which would be read to the class.

I sat there with a blank screen wondering what the heck to say! I decided to focus on our special day as it just seemed fitting with it right around the corner.

Due to the wonderful weather we had last week (not), Celebrity week was postponed to this week since school was closed for 4 days.

Her teacher read the letter and they all laughed and said that was the best one yet as nobody else had pictures included! I imagine she was grinning from ear to ear!

Since today is the day, I thought I'd share what I wrote to her and riminense (again) about the 8 wonderful years I've had with her so far!

Enjoy!

The 1st Tooth is Out!!

The story went something like this…

We had just arrived at the Macaroni Grill for dinner and Amanda started wiggling one of her 2 loose teeth.
“Mommy look, it’s really loose!”
“Wow”, I said. “You know what would be really cool? If you would pull that tooth out on Mother’s day, I would always remember when you lost your first tooth!”
(reached in, gave a yank, and out it came)
With eyes real wide, she looks amazed at her talents!
“MOMMY, IT’S OUT!!!” “I DID IT!!!”

She couldn’t stop talking about it, she was so excited she lost it on Mother’s Day!

When we arrived home, we carefully placed it in a container, and headed upstairs to bed. She placed on a plastic part of her headboard, so the pillow wouldn’t move it around too much! Once there, she sat on her knees and started clapping, smiling with so much happiness!

Fast forward to this morning…”MOMMY, the TOOTH FAIRY CAME!! She CAME MOMMY!! And guess what?!?!? She took my tooth and left me $5 dollars!!!!” (when did teeth become so expensive?!)

As she stands by my bed, she seems to be sad all of a sudden, so I ask “What’s wrong?”
“I want my tooth back”, she said
I started laughing, and said “that tooth is gone forever! Time for the next one!!”

The tooth fairies were giddy as they replaced her tooth with money, I told Kevin I was so happy we were both in town for this momentous occasion – so fun!

So there ya have it – enjoy the pics! The one of her eyes real wide is about the same look she had when she realized the tooth was between her fingers and the one where she is smiling wide reminds me of her reaction as she placed the tooth under her pillow.

2008 Christmas Card and Letter

Here's hoping you and yours had a wonderful Christmas!

Kindergarten Update: Part 1

I think the verdict is, she loves school! She can't wait to go to bed every night just so she can wake up early for school. We drove the first day since we had all the school supplies to take with us. Yesterday we rode our bikes, and today we drove because she wanted to wear a pretty dress. It was so nice to be able to drive up to the curb and watch her exit the vehicle all by herself! Little Miss Independence!!

She came home on the first day with a cute poem that I thought was worthy of sharing.

And on the back, she had written her ABCs!

Lake Arbuckle with the Garcia's - 2008

Soccer 2008

1st Day of Kindergarten

Yes, I know, I am very behind in updating this blog. I can't believe its been since March! Crazy how fast time flies.

Amanda was very excited to start school today. I think I was more anxious & nervous then she was! When we arrived at Ms Gunter's classroom, she immediately went to her teacher to give her a picture she had colored for her. After about 10 minutes of getting her all settled, she looked up at Kevin & I and said bye mommy and daddy!

I wasn't ready for that! I can't wait to pick her up this afternoon to hear all about her first day of Kindergarten!

I am dependable when...

This morning was one of those days...you know the one...where the children don't want to listen to a word you say so they throw a complete fit?

Here's the play by play this morning

8:00am - Pitter patter feet enter my bedroom, sniffles begin when she reaches my bedside...
8:02am - I finally roll over, asking whats the matter? why are you crying?
8:04am - after asking repeatedly, "I don't want to go to school"...yes you have to..."noooooo"
8:30am - please go get dressed so we can go to school, "I don't want to GO TO SCHOOL"...Yes you are going to school!
9:00am - I decide to shower while she is crying and screaming, which she continues right outside the bathroom door.
9:10am - In my towel, I promptly get her attention and yell "go to your room", apparently she thinks the living room is now her room, so I follow behind "go to your room" and point her in the correct direction. She now determines the bottom of the stairs is where she sleeps every night. I quickly get dressed so I am not running after her in a towel...
9:12am - Return to the stairs, "I said GO TO YOUR ROOM!", pick her up, place her on her bed and close the door. She continues to scream, attempting to get my attention.
9:20am - I don't hear anything, so I open the door to check on her...she is fast asleep.
10:15am - Pitter patter feet coming into my office, "do you feel better, I ask?", she nods yes. Come here, so I give her some hugs, some lovins etc.
10:20am - OK, lets go get dressed...sniffles begin "I don't want to go to school", here we go again?? I start asking her questions as to why she doesn't want to go, when she replies with nothing valid, we proceed to get her dressed. She's crying the entire time.
10:25am - Once we are in the truck and on our way, she is silent.
10:35am - Arrive at school just as her class is going outside to play. I stop the teacher, is there anything I should be concerned with? Is she doing ok while at school, causing any problems? The teacher assures me she is doing great and is only upset for a few minutes after I drop her off.
10:37am - I get back in my truck to go home...

I've been thinking about this behavior all day. She's 5 years old now, why does she throw tantrums like this? Is she trying to pull one over on me thinking I'll just let her stay home? Kids!

6:30pm - Kevin and Amanda arrive home, she's happy and had a great day at school. She sheepishly smiles when she sees me...then shows me the coloring she did at school...

so...does this mean I need to start feeding her ice cream for breakfast so the day can begin on a better foot???

Oh yeah...and wouldn't ya know she actually asked me if she could have ice cream for breakfast this morning...

Graduation? For Preschoolers?

Life is so different here. In Alaska, there isn't a graduation ceremony for preschoolers, but here, there is. Cap, gown, flowers, ceremony and all the other details that go into a graduation. First I must say, I can't believe my baby is 5 YEARS OLD and 'graduating' to Kindergarten!

Where has the time gone? I was always warned to savor the moments as it would vanish before your very eyes, but my goodness, nobody said at the speed of light!

Amanda was sick the week the pictures were taken, however, she was feeling pretty good picture day, so I took her in just for the pictures. As she was dressed in her royal blue cap & gown, the lady said "what do you think, mom"? As Amanda turned around, I felt the tears welling up. WOW! She looks SO grown up! Right then & there, I saw infant to 5 year old in a matter of 1.2 seconds!

I received the proof last week and although her eyes could have been a little more open, I'm still blown away at this whole process of preschool graduation!

And...just in case you need a little reminder...

February 10, 2003

2007 Christmas Cards

Here are the Christmas cards we sent out last year. Loved creating this one!

Update & Cutie Pie Denim Kit Released!

Gosh...I can't believe how much time has passed since I last posted. Since it has been so long since I last updated, I've got quite a bit to talk about!

We spent the holidays with my parents in Oregon and had such a great time. It was so relaxing! We didn't have anywhere to be and many of the days I was there I never even left my pjs! Which, I know doesn't come as a surprise to some of you seems how I work from home & you can find me in my pjs more often then not! I also read through TWO books while we were there. I haven't read so much since high school!

Amanda was totally excited to be there with her Nonie & Papa, especially since it snowed a bunch! She finally got to make a BIG snowman & was tickled pink about it.

The new year has brought Kevin & I some very busy days with our jobs, including, more travel planned. Kevin will be leaving for a week in February to Paris France, without us, for work. I just couldn't see spending so much for airline tickets for us to go when he would be working. I told him since I had been there before, it was ok for him to go once without me...but he better not go up the Eiffel tower since I hadn't done that yet! Have to save something we can do together when we do have the chance to go as a family!

I'll also be traveling to Livermore CA in April for a week to spend some time 'in the office'.

Amanda celebrates her 5th birthday next weekend (which means I'm another year older too). I can't believe she is 5 years old already. We are planning a joint party with her best friend from preschool, Dakotah, who has a birthday on the 12th. Rather then have 2 parties for the school kids to attend, we decided a combined party would be more fun. I'm sure they will exhaust a lot of energy as we are having the party at the YMCA swimming pool! Amanda is so excited she gets to wear her new swimming suit we just got for her from the Gap this last weekend (thank you Grandma!!)

In other news, faithsisters.com continues to grow by leaps & bounds (just reached over 500 members today!) The friendships that are being built over there are amazing and its such a blessing to be a part of a community that designs for Him!

Speaking of designing, I just released my first ever paper/element digital kit in the faithsisters.com shop today!

This kit was so much fun to put together and I can't wait to get started on my next one.

Since I have so much to get caught up on, I'll be posting every day for the next week or so with recent layouts I've done, pictures of whats been going on recently and much more! Its time to get back on this 'blog train'!!

Happy Halloween

I completed the Halloween album today!

Pre-K Pictures

One of the hardest things for a parent to do is pick which pictures you wish to buy. They have it down...multiple poses with multiple backgrounds for you to choose from...hoping that at least one of them will be 'good' enough for the parent to choose.

I arrive at school today to pick up Amanda with a big note on the door "Picture Pickup Today!" So before I enter the building, I go back to the truck for the credit card. Just inside the front door is the table setup, anxious parents ready to feast their eyes on their precious little ones picture perfect faces.

Last name?, she asks. Aldridge, I reply...few seconds later she is laying out 3 different poses where there is usually just two. Puzzled, I look down at the poses. Ohhh.....right...that day Amanda happened to have a cute matching jacket with the outfit she wore, hence the reason for one extra shot!

As I browse the images, trying to hard to figure out which ones I should get for the friends & family who I know are eager to see a recent picture of the smiling beauty, I am once again perplexed. How do I choose?

I like the way her skirt is laying in this one, oh but I like the way her head is tilting a bit for this one, the eyes aren't open as big as in these other two...etc etc.

This goes on for a good 5 minutes, meanwhile other parents are paying quickly & heading out the door, suddenly I look up & realize I'm the only one left...uggg now there's pressure!

$75.00 for all 3 poses? I ask. Oh no, she replies, $75.00 for 6 sheets, 4 magnets & 2 4x5 (which is just 2 poses)....$15 more for each sheet. GASP...decisions decisions.

So I look back down at the pictures of my sweet 4.75 year old & then back up at the women who's making a killing off of all us, then back down again.

OK, how much for all of it...give me a deal! I said to her. She thinks for about 2 seconds, $115.00 and thats with an extra $10 off, she replies. Gee, doesn't seem like much of a discount, I think to myself.

Ponder, pause, look them over again. OK, I'll take them all. The pressure! Its SOOO hard!

3 poses, 3 8x10, 6 5x7s, 3 4x5, 24 wallets, & 6 wallet magnets later...

Oh & did I forget to mention that 2 4x5 & 4 wallet magnets were black & white? When I asked, she informed me it was done by mistake & rather than reprint them they decided to see what the parents reaction was. Gee, thanks for adding more decisions to the ones I already have to make!

So, all my friends & family out there...the pictures are up for grabs...which ones do you want because I've made enough decisions already!

Pose #1

Pose #2

Pose #3

Let Yourself Shine

A Mothers Prayer

A Mothers Prayer
Little Ones Bible Prayers ~ By Erin Colton

Light my candle Holy Spirit
Place thy Holy flame in me
Light my candle Holy Spirit
Shine for all the world to see

Let is shine upon my baby
Let it shine in his heart tonight
Guide each step oh Lord with
thy flame inside
And keep the candle burning bright

Light my candle Holy Spirit
Place thy Holy flame in me
Light my candle Holy Spirit
Shine for all the world to see

Let it shine up on this way Lord
Let it shine no matter what the cost
As the years pass away this one
prayer I pray
May it lead to thy precious cross

Light my candle Holy Spirit
Place thy Holy flame in me
Light my candle Holy Spirit
Shine for all the world to see

Let it shine upon my baby
Let it shine in his heart tonight
Guide each step oh Lord with
thy flame inside
And keep the candle burning bright

And keep the candle burning bright
And keep the candle burning bright

Remember - You are a Sister

For those that know me & my children...this layout was very hard yet therapeutic for me. I was completely submersed in it, klove playing quietly in the background (via internet since Dallas area isn't fortunate enough to have it yet!)...suddenly I found myself listening to the radio...taken quickly out of my deep thoughts and heard Jake's song "We Live, We Love" by Superchic. As if I wasn't bawling enough already...that really set me off...as if He was with my kiddo's at that very moment sending their encouragement my way.

Thanks for the great challenge and for pushing me to do layouts that I knew I've wanted to do, yet couldn't find the words or thoughts to do them.

1st Dance Recital

First Song: We're the Doodlebops - Tumbling - Blooper: Mat is too slick & she can't quite get the bridge to work! Second Song: Dora - Get On your Feet - Tap Dance - Blooper: Oops...I have lipstick on! Third Song: Never Alone - Ballet - Blooper: Couldn't keep from yawning!

Amanda's 6 Months Old!

1 Month Old

1st Doctors Appointment