7 Random things about myself...

1. I HATE hot dogs, all kinds!

2. I LOVE stamps, SU! that is. It has become an addiction!

3. I really, really DISLIKE talking on the phone. That's why e-mail and texting were invented.

4. I absolutely, positively LOVE to cuddle up in a blanket and read a good book and have a cup of Stephen's hot chocolate.

5. I am OBSESSED with Friends. It is my all time favorite show. I own all 10 seasons and i watch at least two episodes a week.

6. I DETEST the word loser.

7. I LOVE making cards! I love to create.

I tag anyone reading my blog

Christmas Eve & Day...

Monday was a good day. We finally finished painting our house, now all we have left is the garage and the carport. We spent the rest of the day cooking and baking up a storm then had our HUGE Christmas Eve dinner. Then we watched A CHRISTMAS STORY with the kids and we all fell asleep in our bed. After the kids were out enough to move we put them in their beds and then put out the presents, filled the stockings, ate the cookies and went to bed until around 8am when Sage woke up. We opened our presents then got dressed and went to breakfast and then went to go see NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS. Then we hung out and enjoyed the rest of the day as a family.

Our pretty new house. I just love the Craftsman Style. Andrew Lloyd Wright was a genius.














Santa's Favorite's: Fudge, Toffee, and Thin Mints














Before the Chaos














After the storm

All Dressed Up...

We just had to take a picture of the family in our new Christmas Outfits. It's not my favorite picture but, i'm learning to get over having my picture taken.



Our adopted daughter Lydia with Sage & Aurora

Sage's New Favorite Toy...

Is this Stick Horse, that he got from his Aunt Diane for an early Christmas present. Yesterday I asked him what his horse's name was and he said "Her name is Cupcake, she's soooooo pretty!" I laughed so hard that I fell on the floor. Needless to say, he had the entire Family laughing hysterically! He never put it down and wouldn't let anyone else touch it until it was time to go to bed and then had to kiss it goodnight and put it away tucked in the toy box with all his other toys. It was sooo sweet!

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Paisley's are making a comeback...

My Aunt was right! She has always loved paisley's and has always hoped that they would be popular again. As soon as I saw the Petals and Paisley's set in the SU! mini catalog last year, I knew that I had to have it to make things for my Aunt Cula. All year I have been making her cards and scrapbook pages. So, for Christmas I decided to make her trivets for her kitchen. Here's the finished project.

So Tired....

Aurora was eating her lunch yesterday and I left to room to go see what Sage was doing. I was gone maybe 2 minutes and when I came back this is what I found. Her tray was empty and her thumb in was in her mouth. Neeless to say she was very tired! She slept for 4 hours, that's what I call a good nap.

This time of year...

I start thinking of my little Hayden Andrew who never got the chance to see this world. Sometimes I think that I have a right to be angry with Heavenly Father for taking him away from me, but I have to remind myself that he was never mine to begin with and that Heavenly Father must have really needed him for something very important otherwise he'd be here laughing and smiling with us. I also have to remind myself of the fact that he was too perfect to be here. He didn't have anything to learn, all he needed was a body. More often than not I wish that I could have died that night with him. All of the doctors agreed that it was a miracle I survived and that I should be grateful to be alive. There are days when I want to hide away from the world and pretend that I don't exist, but then I look at Sage and Aurora and I know why Heavenly Father didn't take me home that night. There were two children that needed me to be their Mother. I know that Hayden is being taken care of and is looking down on us and waiting for the day when we will be reunited as a family. You may wonder how I know this and this might sound crazy but I have seen him and I know that will see him again and that I will have the chance to raise him.

The nurse's in ICU took this for Robert after I gave birth in the ICU because they didn't think I would make it and they wanted him to have a picture of his son.


Hayden's Headstone in the SLC Cemetery in Utah.

Baby Shower Invitations...

My friends sister is having a baby boy and her mom asked me to make the baby shower invitations. This is what i came up with. I think they're adorable.

Who Needs Toys...

...When you have boxes??? Every time a box comes into our home it is immediately confiscated by Sage & Aurora. They play and play with it until it is no longer a box, but a pathetic image of what it once was.

They are so goofy! They'll fight and wrestle over it, until the box is no more an every once in a blue moon they'll even share the box.



Aurora is trying to squeeze him out of the box.

Sage has decided to fight back and try to claim to box for himself, but he rarely overpowers Aurora.

Picture Journals...

This is my Mother-In Laws present. I don't think she ever comes on here so it should be safe to post this. It's a SU! 5x5 On Board Journal transformed into a picture journal by yours truly. I filled each page with pictures of the kids from this last year. It's even small enough to fit in her purse. I also added ribbon to the insides so it will tie into a bow to keep it closed

Christmas Time Is Here...

I LOVE Christmas! It's my favorite time of year, without the snow of course. I'm not into snow. My family enjoys a nice picnic at the beach on Christmas Day. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate snow, it's just not for me. It's nice to visit and play in for a little bit, but living in it drives me crazy.

Anyway, enough of that. I thought I'd give you a sneak peak at the picture that's being sent out with our Christmas Cards. Hope you enjoy my two super goofy kids.

So much for painting...

I woke up this morning and had the intention of finishing the painting on my house, and this is what i awoke to. Normally i love the rain; it's hot chocolate and a good book weather. However, today is different. I was looking forward to finishing the trim and the foundation so that my house would be done for the holidays. Oh well... i guess i try again tomorrow.

Family Tile...

Okay, so it's safe to put this on here cause my mom is computer illiterate and never goes online.
This is her Christmas present. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

Cousins....

My brother and sister-in-law and my niece are visiting and it has been SO fun! Sage just loves his cousin Adelle to pieces. He's so concerned that she is going to get trampled by Aurora. This morning we got some pictures of cuddle time with Grandma, which has become a morning ritual.

Grandma, Adelle, Sage and Aurora


Adelle Sidney Vallieres, her shirt says: Naturally Sweet no added sugar

Christmas Cards Part 2...

Okay, so my Sister-in-law saw my Christmas Cards and she wanted me to make some for her. She loves blue and green for Christmas so this is what i came up with. They are very simple but I think they turned out pretty cute.

TAG!!!

10 years ago:

1997, I was a Junior in High School. I was in Show Choir and HATED school. The only reason I even bothered with it was because of choir. I was boy CRAZY and most likely daydreaming about some missionary that was serving in our ward or Korean love sparks {inside joke}.

5 years ago:

2002, I had only been married 9 months and was pregnant for the second time. Aside from my wedding; that year was terrible. I lost two babies who i still miss everyday.

1 year ago:

2006, I was pregnant with my fourth child and my only girl, Aurora Janell Isabelle. I was busy anticipating her arrival and preparing for the big day when my little princess would finally be here.

5 places i would rather be:

1. On a vacation with my family.
2. Stamping with friends.
3. A girls weekend with my Mommy.
4. In my room reading a good book.
5. On a date with Robert.

What would i do with 1 million dollars:

1. Buy a house
2. Get out of debt
3. Go on a Disney Cruise with the kids
4. Buy everything in the stampin' up! catalog
5. Put my kids through college

5 favorite shows:

1. Friends
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Private Practice
4. Big Bang Theory
5. Ghost Whisperer

5 favorite snacks:

1. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
2. Avalanche Candy Bar {it's a PayDay covered in chocolate}
3. See's Candy Peanut Brittle
4. Planter's Cheese Balls
5. String Cheese

TAG your it, anyone else who reads this and has a blog of their own.

Christmas Cards...

I love Christmas! This is the first year that i've made my own cards to send out to family and friends. I'm so pleased with the way they turned out.

Olive Fingers...

Sage LOVES olives! Every time without fail they always go onto his fingers. He makes us laugh every night. We call him our evening entertainment.

Brother & Sister....

Okay so this morning i walk into the kids room to get them up and Sage is in bed with Aurora saying..."It's okay Rora, i here, it's okay, i wub you." He is such a great Big Brother! When she cries he is always so concerned, that's of course when he not wrestling with her and torturing her. She's quickly learning to fight back and has mastered the fake cry and knows how to make everything look like it's Sage's fault. She is definitely Mommy's Girl!!!

Animals need naps too....

Earlier this week i walked into Sage and Aurora's bedroom and this is what i found in Sage's bed. Apparently his puppy and cow needed a nap. It was so sweet, i just had to capture it on film. He never ceases to amaze me!

Name Frames...

I've been working on Christmas presents this last month and this is one of the things that i made. It for my Best Friend Marci's daughter, Callie. I was really proud of myself! I hope that she'll like it.

In the little frame at the bottom it has her birth-date

Trick-or-Treat...

Last night was Sage's first real trick-or-treat experience. At first he didn't know what to do and all the scary decorations scared him, but after about 10 houses he got the hang of it and had a great time. He was so excited about all of the candy.
When we got home we sorted through his bag and took out things he can't have (hard candy, taffy, etc... ). He was left with M&M's, Skittles, Pretzels, Chocolate and Smarties, about 50 pieces total. We decided to let him go candy crazy and just get it out of the house as soon as possible. Needless to say he has not had one healthy thing all day and the candy is ALL GONE!

Fatty Batty...

Introducing....... Fatty Batty! It's Sage's first jack-o-lantern. I think we did a pretty good job, Sage even helped carve it. He is really looking forward to tonight. I hope he doesn't get too scared by the other kids.

Pumpkin Patch Fun...

Last night for Family Home Evening we took the kids to a local Pumpkin Patch. It was so much fun and Sage really enjoyed himself. He had so much fun, he's still talking about it! For anyone who has not taken thier children to a pumpkin patch i highly recomend it. It cost's $7 and you get to go through a corn field maze, visit the petting zoo, pick out your own pumpkin, go on a hayride and you also recieve a coloring book and a bottle of water. It's great fun!!! We'll be carving his pumpkin tonight, i'll post pictures later.


Sage, deciding which pumpkin to choose.


Aurora, climbing all over the pumpkin.


Sage and Aurora in the barn.


Robert, Sage and Aurora in the corn field maze.


Sage and his pumpkin, he was so proud!


Sage in the astro-jump, the tractor was broken.


Aurora, watching her goofy brother.


Sage, petting the goat.

More Halloween Fun...

Saturday night we went to our friends ward "trunk or treat" in Point Loma. It was tons of fun! I just love this time of year; there are so many fun activities to participate in. It's just one more thing we love about San Diego!

Little Miss Princess Aurora


Mr. Buzz Lightyear

National Worship Cula Day...

So... yesterday was National Worship Cula Day, and it was a great day! We took a family drive up to Oceanside for Papa Murphy's pizza, since it's the closest one to us, and it's what i wanted for my birthday dinner.
So, today after church we came home and cooked the pizza's and my Grandpa came down. The kids call him Grandpa Sugar and they love him so much! I'm glad that my kids have a good relationship with him. Anyway, Aurora took one look at him and crawled over to him at lightening speed and cuddled up with him on the couch and would not leave him, it was very sweet.


The teddybear in the background belonged to my grandma. In the months before her death, when we would visit, Sage would go to the couch and take it down and bring it to my Grandma (Grandma Sugar) in her bed and would cuddle up next to her and give her a hug and kiss and say: "Gama, get betta. I wub you." It always made us cry. After she died my Grandpa gave the teddybear to Sage. Now when we go up there he still looks for her and calls out: "Grandma, where's Grandma Sugar?"

Playing outside, kind of... Part 2

Today we went back to the church for some more fun. We added Lydia, Lindsey, & Lillian and had even more fun than yesterday. This time we remembered the camera.

They put the pop-up bus and firetruck on one
of those carts that hold the chairs and they ran
around the cultural hall with it.


Then they got dizzy and fell off.


Lillian, Lydia, Sage & Lindsey being silly on the stage.


The Girls and Sage playing with the
medicine ball.

Playing outside, kind of...

This morning Sage wanted to play outside really bad, but i couldn't let him because of all the smoke. So, i packed up the kids and some games and the medicine ball and off we went to the church, so Sage and Aurora could get their wiggles out. They had a blast! Sage and I played kickball with the medicine ball, basketball and played matching games while Aurora explored the cultural hall and played with her toys. It was definitely a fun day!

Sage and his Momo...

Sage's favorite person in the whole entire world is his beloved babysitter; Lydia (Momo). We're not sure where the Momo came from but that's what Sage calls her. She's more than just a babysitter she's a part of our family. She's at our house more than her own. If we could adopt her we would in a second!

Sage & Lydia reading Speedy Little Race Cars


Sage & Lydia playing, Go, Diego, Go 123 Game

Sleeping Beauty

So, today we were watching Charlotte's Web and Aurora was laughing so hard at the animals, then all of a sudden she fell asleep in her excersaucer and it was sooo cute that i had to take a picture.



Also, for those of you who are wondering about the fires; almost all of San Diego is on fire, but luckily we are far from the flames. However, we can see and smell the smoke and some of the flames. Some of our family have been evacuated and hopefully they will not lose thier homes.