My FUN week, Layout & FREEBIE

Do you remember THIS post {about the AMAZING David Bowman prints}?

Well, I got my signed David Bowman print {"Innocence"} in the mail TODAY!!!! Yippeeee!!

Thank you, David. It's even more BEAUTIFUL in person!!!

Today I had lunch at Subway {grabbed a turkey sub with my Mom}. LOVE that place! I also couldn't resist & stopped by Sprout's for a treat for the kiddos. Once in a while I'll get some yogurt or chocolate covered pretzels or gummy worms for them. Today I got some fresh Jordan Almonds. {candy coated almonds} Mmmmm. Anson says that Ashley will only like the PINK ones! hahaha

Had girls night last night. Usually a big group of us, but turned out to be only Alicia, Julie & me. We saw Bride Wars. It was SO CUTE!!! Fun evening!

Monday, we went hiking. It was the most beautiful day! We went to Usery Pass to hike Scarface. Usually we stop once we hit the Wind Caves, but we decided to continue to the top for the first time. It was rugged & some rock climbing {not too bad though & not very far to the top}. The kids did AWESOME!! Oh my gosh! It was AMAZING on the very top! It was really cool because there was a Mesa Police helicopter that was below us and circled around the mountain back towards us. We took pictures & waved and they came up high & really close & waved back! The kids LOVED it too! It's the closest we've ever been to a helicopter!

If you go to their site, they also have fun KID activities. I want to check those out. There was a hiker that I chatted with and she told me about the program. She's also a volunteer. They sound FUN!!

Here's a view from the Wind Cave {looking out}

Here's a view from the TOP
Isn't it AMAZING?

Have you seen the challenges this month at DSO? Lots of fun stuff this month, plus Bunny gave the site a beautiful facelift. You'll have to re-register, but it's totally worth it.

I'm hosting 2 challenges this month: Font & Quote

If you play along, then you get these posting bonuses {free} from me!

Font Challenge posting bonus

Quote Challenge posting bonus

I'm also having a SALE right now - SAVE 25% on these kits:

I scrapped!!

We were roasting marshmallows in our fireplace a couple weeks ago on a chilly night. It was FUN & Yummy!! Ashley liked roasting hers {barely} and then eating the marshmallows out of a bowl. I scraplifted KimB's Magic of Christmas layout for the DSO Scraplift Challenge.

I made this layout using the mini kit that I created for the DSO Color Challenge.

You can download this FREE kit HERE

By the way, I LOVE reading all the comments. THANKS ♥

Updates & Pics coming soon

It was a busy week & weekend. And Ben went to San Diego for Comic Con {aka place for dorks to gather - haha - just teasing honey} for the weekend! He went with his friend and YES they dressed up as fun characters. They had a blast! He got back Sunday and I still need to upload the photos. So, I will post pics soon.

Oh, he did find one pic online that someone took!! So, go HERE if you want to see it.
(by the way, he was dressed as PUNISHER and later he wore his custom-made SPIDERMAN costume)

I tried to organize a Girls Night at my house since Ben was gone, but seems everyone else was out of town too. So it didn't happen :(
So, Janan, don't worry, you didn't get left out AGAIN! We all missed out on a potentially fun evening, but next month should be better for all of us!!

But I did get to go to BUNKO!!!! It was FANTABULOUS as usual!!! Plus we watched the latest movie preview for "Twilight" on the "Penelope" dvd. It was exciting to see a few minutes with lots of friends {and fans of Twilight}!! And my niece babysat for me and spent the night so I wouldn't have to drive her all the way home so late at night (she lives like 30 min away). That was fun! The kids enjoyed having her here! Thanks, Chantel!!! You ROCK!!

I am getting super duper excited about "Breaking Dawn." The book releases Friday at Midnight!!! WOOHOO!!!!!! Another weekend with my niece. I'm taking her with me to get the book and having her spend the night again! That way we can go straight back to my house and start reading before we fall asleep!

Took Felicia to her *follow up* appointment this morning. The surgeon, Dr. Bailey, said she is doing GREAT!!! YAY!!! She can swim and ride her bike now. She should be all ready for more physical activity by the time school starts! Under her incision (which is healing fabulously) is lumpy, but the doc says that's normal because it's the stitches in her muscles and will take 3-6 months to completely heal and the stitches to dissolve. WOOHOO!!

Oh my goodness....I cannot believe that school is starting in less than 2 weeks!!! Holey Moley!!!

Yikes! I still need to complete the school registration packets & get them sent in! What happens if I don't send them in quickly?? esp since they were due the 25th! uh oh I'm late. Dang it.

Need to buy school supplies!! Haven't even started yet. I think the kids all need new backpacks and lunchboxes too. Plus school clothes! These kiddos are growing like weeds and outgrowing everything!! Pants, shorts, capris, shirts, dresses, socks, tennis shoes!!! You name it...they need it!! UGH! I'm going to be VERY BUSY this next week trying to get everything they need!

Are you ready for your kids to start school yet?

Oh my, it's so late and 2 kids are still up hanging out with me! Summer bedtime {or should I say NO bedtime} is going to be hard to break. Well, we need to start the progressively earlier bedtime each night. I'm so bad at that! I'm such a night owl and so I don't really mind if they're up late with me.

Whoops!! This was going to be short, now it's long. Sorry! Be back with pics later!

Dinner & a Movie

Last night was our Girls Night Out!! I've been a part of this group for a long time and for the first time, I planned the evening! ha ha. How was I ever sneaky enough to get out of it all this time? I dunno.

Anyway it went great! Since this is the first week of summer break, lots of people are gone or busy, so our group was a little small in numbers but it was still a bunch of FUN!!

We went to Chili's for dinner. Sharlesa and I split the Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad (w/o the bacon & bleu cheese - yuck), so that we could each get a dessert.

I hardly ever get dessert when we're out because I'm too full from my meal. I ordered the Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie (warm, chewy bar layered with chocolate chips, walnuts and coconut - topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with hot fudge and caramel). It was DELICIOUS!!! Well, just look at it. Mmmm makes me hungry just lookin' at it.

Then we went to Marshall's for about 15 minutes at closing time, just to take a quick peek. Chatted outside the store for a little while, then we raced over to the theater just in time to watch Made of Honor.

We laughed so hard, it was hilarious & flippin' awesome!!! We LOVE this movie!! Again, we chatted outside for a while, and got home really late (or is it considered early when it's into the next day??).

THANKS LADIES - I had a FABULOUS night!!

Week Recap

Gosh I can't believe I haven't posted since Tuesday. Ok well, here's a recap of what I've been up to this week:

Monday - went to gym with Ben & worked legs
(still a little sore even today, geesh!)
Ben cut down our eucalyptus tree in our backyard.

Tuesday - went to follow-up appt with Doctor to figure out why I still have stupid cough 5 months later! Did chest x-ray 3 weeks ago...normal - no pneumonia or damage. Breathing test...normal - no asthma. Taking extra allergy medication...totally didn't help. Still coughing & having major seasonal allergies! Dr decided to give me a steroid/allergy shot in the buttocks (which apparently can last up to 3 months). Feeling ok, probably need to fill the prescription he gave me for new allergy pills. UGH!!

Ben dug out the eucalyptus tree stump (dang thing had major roots!) *PICTURES later*
I also had to run a few errands and get our pool vac checked out. Then the guy forgot a tiny piece, so had to go right back and get that put back on.

Wednesday - went to Volunteer Luncheon at kids' school. Baked potato bar & treats...Mmmm! It was yummy & fun to visit with other moms & the kids' teachers. Also, went to park with Alicia to let our little ones play. They're so cute together & the weather was pretty nice (especially since we got a little breeze).

Thursday - did 6 loads of laundry, including girls sheets & all the towels. got everything folded & put away, plus made both girls beds. Had to pick up Ashley from school around 1pm because she vomited at school (luckily she made it to the bathroom during lunch recess). Apprently it was one of those 'throw-up & feel totally better 30 minutes later' but school policy says she had to go home. Felt bad for her but she seemed fine right after we got home. She was bouncing around asking for food. LOL So, it postponed my dress shopping for the afternoon.

Had Girls Night Out!! We kept it low key and had dinner at Denny's (did the breakfast for dinner thing...had french toast - yummy). Then we went back to Amy's house and hung out & chatted for a very long time (got home super late as usual, or is it early? ha ha). Allison made guacamole - delicious! So, we had some chips & salsa & guacamole. I also brought some Dove chocolates. It was a relaxing & enjoyable evening out!!

Friday - kids pretended to do a few chores (Nathaniel was the only one who actually got a couple things done... he says he accomplished THREE chores. ok good for him). Went dress shopping w/ my Mom at Kohl's (and all 4 kids since there's no school today). Need a new dress for Ben's work party tomorrow night. haven't bought a new dress in a very long time. Let's just say that I alternate wearing the same 3-4 skirts to church for the past 3-4 years!

Yep found a really cute black & white dress! So exciting!! They're having a huge sale right now! I also splurged and got 2 new pairs of shoes - one black pair to go with my dress and another totally cute pair of denim sandals (these were too cute to pass up). I haven't bought new shoes in quite a while either. I even got a necklace, earrings & bracelet to match! SO CUTE!! It was really fun getting something for myself!

Felt a little bad for the kids for having to drag them around, so got the girls 2 matching shirts.
Anson found some Diego swim shorts. He was hilarious in the dressing room. He took all his clothes off & tried on the shorts. Then he was dancing around & watching himself in the mirrors! I couldn't stop laughing! Tried to find Nathaniel some new swim shorts, but didn't see anything I liked or that was his style. So, found a cute t-shirt for him that says "Awesome Ends with ME" He was thrilled to get something new too!

Ended out the day by taking the kids to McDonald's for ice cream cones and let them play for 2 hours! Picked up Little Caesar's pizza for dinner on the way home. I even got the crazy bread with sauce & a 2 liter of Root Beer - which I hardly ever do! They LOVED me tonight!! We were going to watch a movie but I was too tired (from being out super late at Girls Night Out) & started 'resting my eyes' for a few minutes which turned into a couple hrs. Oh well, maybe we'll watch the movie Sunday evening.

Hope your week was GREAT!!! Enjoy your weekend :)

Fun Stuff

Last week for Girls Night Out, we went to Create It to paint our own pottery.

I think they turned out SO CUTE!!

Here's what we made (and the white paint is puffy):

{Mine is on the left, Heather's is on the right}

My Mom also surprised me with an early Mother's Day gift today:

It's an awesome Steamer (for your clothes)! I'm so excited! I love gifts that I can use!

Thanks MOM!! You're the BEST!!