a fun project!

I am excited today because I finally got to *DO* something...I feel like since we got home from Texas I haven't really accomplished much of anything. Gray was working nights so that made it hard to do anything in the evenings, but he's done that, so hopefully I can start getting ready for Christmas! So Gray and I took some pictures of the girls yesterday and I made this wreath and our Christmas cards for this year. So much fun. I also was able to get out today and do a little bit of shopping...I got the girls their Christmas dresses and pj's and a few gifts. I'm in the mood to SHOP now! Hehe! My house is coming along...the only thing we need to get done now is baseboards...we'll see if that actually happens before Christmas! I want to start setting up my Christmas decorations though, so, baseboards or not, my tree is going up next week. I'm startin' to feel *Christmasy*!



Sooo.....if you want to make a fun and easy holiday wreath, here's what ya do:

1. Get a cute berry wreath at Michael's, WalMart or wherever

2. Take some cute pictures of you, your kids or family

3. Cut pictures into circles and attach to chipboard circles of the same size (makes pictures sturdier)

4. Sand edges of pictures

5. Attach pictures to wreath with ribbon and you're done!


You can see more images of my wreath here. Have fun!

so good to be home...

We're back from Texas! We had a fun trip visitng Gray's parents, it was a very busy week. Graham was helping his dad paint their condo while my mom-in-law and I shopped till we dropped. And ate. And ate. And ate. Definately diet time. Hehe! It was nice to get away and always fun to do some shopping in the states. Graham made fun of me for how many times we had to go back to Target. But I just didn't want to miss out on anything, there's too much fun stuff there! I picked up some fun stuff and a few Christmas gifts...it was weird to Christmas shop in hot, humid weather, though...I'm a canadian girl, I'm not used to being in warm weather in November! Payton had so much fun with papa...she got to play in the water and go on the boat, so she was very happy. And it's crazy how in the one week that we were away, she suddenly started talking. Like, saying tons of words. So very cool. She is just such a little GIRL now, in every way...she is sassy, she has a mind of her own, she is funny and smart. Again...so cool to see her growing up and changing before our eyes. And Gabby was an angel, but that is no surprise. She is such a good baby. She is smiling sooooo much now, and loves to babble away. I love it! And Payton adores her little sister (or "Dabby" as she calls her). The plane rides weren't the funnest, but what do ya do...we probably won't be stepping on a plane with a 2 year old again anytime soon...aahhh! Payton screamed to say the least...i am trying to forget about it. Hehe!

So now I am home and trying to get back into the swing of things. My house still has to be put in order...my walls are empty, but Graham's done all the painting, so it's just time to get my butt in gear and get going on a few things. I am so excited for Christmas...my goal is to get (most) of my Christmas shopping done in November so I can just enjoy December. I hate all the last minute shopping with busy malls and grumpy shoppers all over the place. I want to avoid that if I can! Getting excited to get all my Christmas decorations out and work on a few projects...if I can find the time.

Anyways, you can see more pictures of my Texas trip here. I want to share a few more pictures of when my sister was visiting a couple weeks ago, but I'll get to that soon.

Bye for now!

we're off...

...to Texas!

Gabby's doing a whole lot better, so we've decided to pack up and go...so Grandma and Grandpa, here we come! Now I'm just busy doing laundry, packing and cleaning the house before we go...all those last minute things.

I'll be gone till the 13th, so I'll post pics soon after that of our first trip as a family of four! Have a good week!!

Tal:)

my little pumpkin

So, as promised, here are some more halloween pictures of Gabby. She was so so cute in her little pumpkin costume...but what baby isn't cute all dressed up, right? Halloween was fun, but a little bit crazy...I took the girls to their great grandma's for a little visit, and they were quite the hit and the complex that my grandma lives in, let me tell ya. Payton was loving it...waving to all the old people like she was some kind of celebrity (but to them, I guess she kinda was!). Then we headed to my sisters where Payton went trick or treating to a few houses. She was so so cute and probably thought it was pretty cool to be getting free candy for no reason!!























And I've been meaning to share these photos for a while...here are my girls in their matching dresses and cute baby bracelets made by Rebecca Cooper. Aren't they so cute? (the bracelets, I mean) Payton loves being dressed the same as Gabby...I'm sure there will be many, many photos of them in matching outfits in the years to come!!


























This has just been another busy busy week. On top of halloween, Graham is (finally!) getting a bunch of painting done inside our house and my sister just arrived with her husband and daughter, Molly today. We spent the day with them and it was so fun...Molly is so cute and Payton adores her. So we'll be doing lots with them over the next few days. And, we're supposed to be leaving for Texas on Monday to visit Graham's parents...they have a condo there...but of course, Gabby has decided to get sick. This ALWAYS happens right before we're supposed to be leaving on a trip...someone gets sick. So we'll see if Gabby and I end up going or not...we still may, but only if she's well enough to fly...these little babies are just too fragile to take chances. So I am bummed and sad...but I gotta do what's best for baby.

And last but not least, there is a new gallery up at Mosh Posh. The November kit is so cute, it was fun to play with. I'll try to be back sooner rather later with more pictures...bye for now! -T

boo!

Last night was our ward Halloween party, so I got the girls all dressed up...it was so much fun!! How cute is Payton in her witch costume? She totally loved dressing up, it was so cute. And Gabby, my little pumpkin...more pictures of her to come. The party was fun, Payton ran around with her big cousin Winter, and Gabby was passed around...a little baby in a pumpkin costume is pretty hard to resist!! Payton even got to parade across the stage in her costume...it was so funny, she walked all the way across the stage by herself, then turned around and walked across again! She was loving the spotlight, daddy had to bring her off the stage. So funny!

Been busy working on my November Mosh Posh stuff and getting a card class together that I'm teaching on Saturday for a church activity. The days just go by way too quickly...I wish there was enough time for it all.

Just wanted to share these pics, hope everyone is getting in the mood for Halloween!!


***UPDATED*** A few people have been asking me where I got Payton's costume...my mom made it! She has been sewing costumes for years, so this is nothing new! She sewed the tutu and we got the witch hat at the dollar store (who would've thought?). The cape is just a half-circle with a ribbon sewed at the top. The tights were actually adult sized...we chopped them off and then used the remainder for her sleeves. And the broom is from Walmart. her cousin Winter wore the same thing but in different colors...and I'll have to post pictures of that, too!
Oh, and my neclace is from the store Forever 21!

pumpkins, bdays and cute kids

I'm back, with more photos to share! This week has been good...it was Gray's 30th birthday on Tuesday, so we dropped the girls off at my parents and went out to eat ON OUR OWN...imagine that! It was so nice to sit and talk and be a couple. We love our girls but they do take up alot of our "alone" time. So it was fun. After dinner we went back home and had cake...not a huge celebration, but it was just what Gray wanted. So that was good.

Just thought I'd share some more pics...Payton picking out a pumpkin, Gray's bday, cutie Gabby...

































I've done some scrapping here and there, you can check out some of my latest stuff here!
I'll be back...

let's share some pictures!

As usual, life has been busy so I haven't had time to blog! So here I am with lots of pictures to share...this past week was a busy one. My good friend Janell was staying with me with her cutie baby, Chloe and it was so much fun. We had lots of time to catch up and hang out...we did some shopping and even got a little scrapbooking in, so it was great! It worked out perfectly 'cause Gray was out of town working, so it was nice to have Janell here to keep me company.

So, let's begin with the photo sharing!! Here are some random shots of my girlies...Payton is just getting so BIG...and becoming quite the handful. She makes me laugh, but holy cow, she keeps us so busy. I got her this hillairious snowsuit at Old Navy...it totally reminds me of something I would have worn in the eighties. I can't wait for it to snow so she can wear it! And Gabby is just my growin' little girl. She had her first set of shots on Friday and she was so good...she's doing awesome and weighs 9 lbs, 5 oz now. She's still tiny, but healthy and happy. I cannot believe that she is almost 3 months old. It's going by too quickly!! She is so smiley and happy now, but she is definately a mama's girl. Gray and I went for dinner last night and left the girls with my sister and her family...and I guess the only person that calm Gabby down was uncle Jeremy! So funny!!



























And here are some more pictures of the girls...it was so cute, I caught them on the couch the other morning...I had put Gabby down after feeding her, and a few minutes later I found Payton there reading her a story. It was so funny, I have no idea what language Payton was speaking in, but Gabby seemed to understand and was quite content to listen. I got a cute video clip of it, too...maybe some time I'll figure out how to upload my videos??





















...and another picture of Payton giving Gabby some love...



















And last but not least, here are some pictures of Janell and Chloe...this first one is of the girls in their princess tiaras...(if you look at my shelf in the background, you can see the nice black scribbles that Payton did last week....aarrrrggghh!!)


















...and then I did a little photo shoot of Janell and Chloe one morning. I'm definately no photographer, but it was fun. How cute are they?? And isn't the sling Janell is wearing so cute? I have one for Gabby and she totally loves it. It's a Hotsling...I have a link on the right, you should check them out if you have a baby, or are expecting one, or want to give one as a gift!! A cute way to carry your baby around.


























Well, I guess that's all for now...time to put Pay to bed and maybe get some scrapping in. Another week begins tomorrow...as I always say, time just goes by way too fast! I'm still thinking about Christmas shopping and I still haven't started it yet!!

something fun...

...for me to share. I am a new design team member for a fun scrapbooking website called Mosh Posh! I am really excited about this so check it out!! This is a really fun website for all you scrapbookers...you can order monthly kits of all the latest and greatest products out there, and there's a message board and gallery as well for you to share your work with others. Every month I'll have layouts and cards posted on the website using stuff from that months kit...so fun. There are lots of talented women on the team, so I am honored to be a part. Yay!!

I can't believe how quickly time is going by lately...before we know it, it'll be Christmas...aaahhh! I'm already thinking about Christmas shopping, it would be nice to get it done early this year! I've been napping every day this week...it just seems like as soon as the house is quiet in the afternoon and both the girls are sleeping, there is nothing I can do to keep myself awake. Gabby isn't sleeping thru the night yet, so I'm telling myself I'm allowed to be lazy!!

I am loving the fall weather...I love getting bundled up and cozy. And Payton looks pretty cute in her puffy vest when we go out. She has cuter clothes than me! Okay, this is a random post...I just wanted to share my news about being on the Mosh Posh design team, I hope you all check the site out! It's always nice to find a new place for inspiration...

feels like fall

Anyone else feelin' it? After watching our church's conference on TV this morning, our little family went for a walk and took some pictures. It was such a nice day...i love the chilly, fresh air. I wish fall lasted longer, it always seems like we only have a few weeks of it and then, bam, it's winter. So anyways, here are some fun shots from this morning. I love Sundays like this...Gray made the best breakfast...homemade waffles with whipped cream, strawberries and blueberries...yum!! And then we just all hung out in our pj's all morning. Graham is so busy with work during the week that I treasure the times when it's the 4 of us together.

Been so busy with these 2 little ones of mine. Payton is just a jabber-mouth. She's starting to repeat words and her fave thing to say lately is "dada"...needless to say, that makes her daddy very happy. And Gabby's been sick with a cold and an ear infection...even so, she is such a good baby. She's starting to sleep a little longer at night between feeds, so I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...maybe I'll be getting more sleep in the near future?? I'm sure as long as I'm a mama, I'll just always be tired. Isn't that the way it is?

I went out on Friday night with my 2 best friends, Kim and A and it was just so awesome. It is always so great to get together with the girls...to eat, laugh, TALK, and catch up. I feel so lucky that I have these 2 friends that I KNOW I will ALWAYS be friends with. We have so many years as friends under our belts already that there's no way we could drift apart. My favorite part of our nights together is our "car talk" at the end of the night...we usually go out to eat and then to Starbucks for hot chocolate and we can never seem to just say "bye!" and go home. No matter what, we always sit in the car for like 45 minutes afterwards just chatting away about who knows what. We have done this ever since high school...I love car talk...that's when we have our most hillairious conversations. Love you girls.

Well, I'm going cross-eyed at the computer right now, must be my cue to get to bed. Check out some of my latest stuff here if you feel like lookin'. Catch ya'll later!!