Oh, Leslie....

Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!

my cute babies

Hannah & Mommy after church on Sunday

this is hannah on her sunday walk with grandma and poppa.
she actually fell asleep like that!

my cute little girl in the bathtub!

this is Ainsley's favorite way to hang out these days!
she actually had her foot in her mouth at one point!

today...

the wind in my hair... the sun in my face... man! i miss driving a convertible! I had to drop Ainsley's prescription off this afternoon to be filled. So, I got both kiddos to sleep and took off in my mom's little Mini. It's 88 degrees outside and sunny with just a touch of humidity in the air. PERFECT for zipping around Downers Grove with the top down and Dr. Pepper in my hand. Oops! Did I say Dr. Pepper? I meant a bottle of water, fortified with lots of vitamins and healthy stuff. eek! I'm caught. I got a Dr. Pepper today. I have just been under so much stress lately. And with these crazy storms blowing in every afternoon, I have a terrible sinus headache! Dr. Pepper and Sudafed seem to be a great team at knocking out the pain. I am still losing weight pretty steadily. I have lost about 20 lbs since I got to Illinois. I have about 20 to 30 lbs to go. If you see a picture of me from above the waist, I look great, well at least in reference to my weight. But then you see the rest of me and wonder how someone who can wear a small shirt has to wear XL pants! :) It has nothing to do with me sitting in front of my computer scrapbooking and drinking Dr. Pepper, I promise! :)

Well... I am going to go try to actually get some scrapping work done. One of the designers I work with is coming out with a bunch of new stuff over the next few weeks! And I have a Guest CT opportunity coming up in August. I am so excited about that one! :) The scrapbooking actually really helps with the stress and anxiety right now. I am probably going to a crop at church on Friday night. The girls here at my parents' church are so sweet. They don't even know me at all and they really don't know my parents, but they have welcomed us here with open arms. They make sure that I know about Scrapbook night and PlayGroup. We haven't made it to PlayGroup yet but I think we are going to go next week. Okay... really going now!

cleaning up the old blog-a-roo

so you may notice things changing a bit and links moving. a LOT of designers have moved stores. I had non-family on my family list and family on my friends list. and most of it is no longer in alphabetical order! eek! the blog chaos is making me crazy! I am going to try to make a new header, too. you know, since i've had two children for over three months now and there are only pictures of one of them! you'd think i would have gotten to it sooner!

and coming soon to the cardall "household" a work from home business for meredith that i am actually capable and qualified to do! :) scanning photos and preserving them to disks AND most fun of all a SCRAP 4 HIRE business! That's right, scrapbooking for other people! I'm trying to get stuff together for my website. Looking for a website, check out mybenson.com
Kendra is awesome and she will be helping me with my site! Poor girl doesn't know what she has gotten herself into! If you do contact her, be sure to tell her that I sent you!

and now i am going to go to sleep... and for the record, I only had one Mr.Pibb today and it was a fountain drink so it really doesn't count, right? :) i NEED one right now.

WOOHOO!!!!

Okay, did I mention that I got accepted on to Jenna Nelson's Creative Team (LittleBird Designs). She sells at ScrapDish and DragonFlaireStudios. Jenna also has a couple of really cool challenges that she hosts at DragonFlaire. Be sure to check them out!

AND, then just yesterday, I posted a comment on a thread at DigiShopTalk about if I could be on a store CT, what stores would I choose? Well, I listed four or five stores and one of those stores contacted me about being on their CT!!! I'm not going to say which one until I get my first assignment and layout done (this weekend sometime!). Needless to say, I am soooo excited! Now if I could just get ChristinaRenee to pick me up... :) I'd be in digiscrap HEAVEN!

And that is about all I have for today...

another layout

this is the afghan that my granny's friend, renee, made for ainsley. this is an old layout that i did forever ago and never posted. i'm trying to get caught up and clean out my computer.

credits:
Digital Tag Team Summer Groove Kit
pscs2
fonts: ck handprint, dj fancy

another layout

okay, so i may have done it again. i took 42 pictures of hannah with her sparklers on the 4th of july! i had to scrap all of them, too! love these pictures and this scrapbook kit is adorable! love the handkerchief paper!

credits:
Maria LaFrance's BBQ kit at DigiScrapDivas & Digital Freebies
PSCS2
fonts: McGarey

layout

this is from our trip to Tennessee. Hannah enjoyed hitting SpongeBob, maybe a bit too much!
i know the layout looks really busy, but what else am i supposed to do with 22 pictures of kids hitting a pinata??? and they were all too cute not to scrap and I really don't need 12 pages of it. It's a 2 pager...
credits:
SaraAmarie's Have A Blast Kit as SweetShoppeDesigns
paper tear by christine smith
PSCS2
fonts: Larger Mime

Ainsley LAUGHED!

Oh my goodness! It was soooo cute! I was just standing over her making faces trying to get her to stop crying and she looked at me and laughed! I had to wait to tell Thomas before I could post here. I wish I had captured it on video or something. It was so darn cute! anyway...

moment of silence, please...

I am drinking the very last Dr. Pepper in the house. I love it! I used to be a Coke only drinker. Then when I was pregnant, Coke made me sick. So I tried Pepsi and started drinking it. Then when I got to Chicago, I decided to branch out because I was tired of Pepsi. I am addicted to Dr. Pepper! LOVE IT! But, since soda is expensive and really not good for me, it will not be replaced! :::sigh:::

layout with SCRAPQUICKART

these are a couple of pages that i created using ScrapQuickArt quickpages.
LOVE these pages! I actually did these a couple of months ago but keep forgetting to post!

these pictures are from february.

these are photos from january of this year...

mango-a-go-go layout

this layout is dedicated to hannah & grandma & mango-a-go-go jamba juices!

credits:
SaraAmarie's Desirable Disasters- Glitter N Doodles at SweetShoppeDesigns
SaraAmarie's Waves of Felt
flower, wood frame and wood brad from SaraAmarie's Natalie kit at SweetShoppeDesigns
music notes by Designs by Leora, Web Challenge Freebie at DesignerDigitals
pscs2
fonts: teen light

another new layout

the pictures are from friday night... hannah loves to ballet dance!
credits:
Jenna Nelson's Pixie Dust Overlays at ScrapDish and DragonFlaire Studios
Jenna Nelson's Baby Bee Good - Paper Pack at ScrapDish and DragonFlaire Studios
Jenna Nelson's Baby Bee Good - The Elements at ScrapDish and DragonFlaire Studios
PSCS2
fonts: LainieDaySH

one more

this is zoey (on the left) and ainsley! love these babies!
credits:
SaraAmarie's Office Pretties: Solids at SweetShoppeDesigns
SaraAmarie's Office Pretties: Graph at SweetShoppeDesigns
SaraAmarie's Pop Pop Bubble Wrap Nekkid at SweetShoppeDesigns
gingham flower & red ribbon from SaraAmarie's Summer Picnic Kit at SweetShoppeDesigns
dotted border from SaraAmarie's I'm Impressed at SweetShoppeDesigns
SaraAmarie's Twill Dates at SweetShoppeDesigns
pscs2
fonts: segoe script

layout

this is from the beginning of the month.
credits:
Amy Wolff's Teen Extreme Girl #2
pscs2
fonts: segoe script

layout

i did this one a while ago...
credits:
Betsy Tuma's Savannah Kit
photo action by Holly McCaig
pscs2
fonts:segoe script

layout

these pictures are from our trip to tennessee
credits:
Laura Burger's Layers with a Lift Set 5, #3 at digiscrapshak
Laura Burger's Expressions Kit at digiscrapshak
Laura Burger's Shabby Chic Clips, recolored at digiscrapshak
PSCS2
fonts: CK Handprint, CK Cursive

layout

this picture is from earlier this month. i think hannah looks like jordyn used to when she was three or four. there is just something about her mouth in this picture.
credits:
Laura Burger's Typical Day GrabBag Kit (backgrounds altered)
PSCS2
fonts: duchess, ck handprint

hate it when this happens

Okay, it is 1:30am. My kids have been asleep for about two hours and I can't sleep! Too much dang stress these days! I got really anxious and stressed earlier with all the junk going on around here and got into a creative groove. I got a couple of pages done for another 4x6 album I am working on. Now, the creative juices are all used up, I'm tired but can't sleep, and Ainsley is likely to wake up at any moment, which is exactly the time when I will begin to feel sleepy! :)

My girls are so precious! We got to talk to Thomas today on our webcam. Hannah loved it! She got off the "computer" with daddy and had to run and tell Grandma that she saw her daddy. It's so hard not being there with Thomas, but hopefully we will be able to be there soon. Anyway, the whole point of this is that I was looking at pictures of the girls and realized how big they have gotten recently. They grow up too quickly. Pretty soon they'll have boys knocking on the door and calling them. I'm not ready for that just yet! Hannah is doing much better on her potty training thanks to our potty treasure box, Grandma's magic potty rocks and Starburst! Every time she goes to the potty she can either pick a treasure, eat a chocolate rock candy or get a Starburst. The chocolate and Starburst usually win out! Pretty predictable kid!

Well, I am going to go try to sleep now. I have a lot to get done tomorrow! Okay, not really too much, but I do need to get some scrapbooking done! I am feeling creatively stifled these days. I need to let it out!

new layout

credits:
Rachel Dickson's Basically Solid Paper Pack at ScrapDish
Jill D-Zines Glitter Garden Flowers at ScrapDish
PSCS2
fonts: Teen Light

We're Back!

Finally. I never want to get in a car again. Ten hours to Tennessee. Ten hours back to Illinois. ugh. We went to Tennessee for my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary this past weekend. We had a good time. We were able to visit with lots of family and it was fun to reconnect with cousins and aunts and uncles that I haven't seen in years. I wish that Thomas could have been with me. I actually didn't take many pictures this year. I'm kind of sad about that. But I spent the entire time chasing Hannah or feeding Ainsley or trying to do both at the same time... that wasn't fun or pretty! :) Amber and my dad took lots of pictures, though. Hannah had a grand time climbing the mountain outside the conference center where the party was. She painted a "stained glass" picture frame with lovely butterflies on it. My aunt Mary was sitting with her while she colored and Mary asked her if she liked the blue paint she was using and Hannah bursts out with, "Yes. It makes me want to siiiinnnnggg!" What a funny kid! :) She was a little terror, though, too! She kept trying to take all the toys from the other kids and she was pushing all the boys around. Not just the ones her age, either. Nope, my daughter goes for the bigger kids, takes their toys, and then pushes them over. She's got some anger issues! But then on Sunday she actually started playing well with her little cousins. Technically, they are my cousins, but since they are her age... The good thing is that she really enjoyed playing with Eli and Canon, who both live in Utah. So there are two more people she already knows there. Anyway.... it's getting late. I am gonna post a picture or two for you guys and then get some sleep!

Hannah getting ready to beat SpongeBob!

"Finally, Mom gave me a stick and told me it is okay to hit something with it!"


Hannah hiding the toys from Eli.

Ainsley & Uncle Jacob

Ainsley & Grandma Ruthie


me and the girlies in the hotel this morning
this is the picture we took for daddy!
Hannah is doing her "chores" helping Grandma water the flowers.

this is ainsley from earlier tonight. she found her toes!!!! so cute!

And in case you haven't noticed, I can't stop with just one or two pictures... Goodnight!

Calgon take me away!

Hannah has been doing really well with her potty training yesterday and today. My mom left a while ago to take Shelby to church. I put her on the potty twice. She didn't have to go. I asked her again if she needed to go, she said no. I turned around and opened the fridge to get something to eat and she said, "I'm peeing!" Little stinker! So, she had her first accident of the day with me. She kept yelling at me earlier that she wanted Grandma to take her potty not Mommy. She even stayed dry while Grandma and Hannah were out running errands. Makes me feel great as a mom... How come no one ever tells you how much work kids are? And how come you never believe it when people do tell you? I took several Child Development and Parenting classes in college, why do I still feel so unprepared and inadequate as a mother? Does anyone ever truly feel like they are doing a good job parenting? I know that I am doing my best. I love my children. They have all their basic needs met. I do my best to make sure that I play with them and spend time with them each day. I'm a good mom, I know that. I guess I just don't feel like there is enough of me to go around each day. There is so much more that I could be doing, probably even should be doing. I guess that is true in every aspect of life. I keep reminding myself that I just have to do the best I can and keep learning and keep growing. That's why we are all here, to learn and grow and do the best we can.

Another layout with Jenna's new kit

the pictures of from Christmas 2005
credits:
Jenna Nelson's Baby Bee Good - The Elements and Paper Pack at ScrapDish &
The Elements and Paper Pack at DragonFlaireStudios
pscs2
fonts: Lima Bean, Segoe Script

Layout with Jenna's new kit!

credits:
Jenna Nelson's Baby Bee Good- The Elements and Paper Pack at ScrapDish & DragonFlaireStudios
pscs2
fonts: segoe script

I got tagged!!!

Okay, my friend Jill tagged me!
I am supposed to list 7 facts about myself and then tag seven other people! I don't know if I know seven people who read this old blog of mine! :) I wish that Thomas were here to ask what he would say about me! Well, maybe that wouldn't be a good thing... :)
1. I used to think that I am not a people person, but since leaving Florida I have learned that I miss having real life friends! I have thankfully met some really cute girls in my mom's ward, so I'm getting by for now! :)
2. I am addicted to blogging & email, too!
3. I am a digital scrapbooker! Shoulda put that one in capital letters! I love scrapbooking and putting my thoughts and memories down for my family.
4. That brings me to I LOVE my family! I love my husband and my babies, even when they drive me nuts! I am grateful for them, too. They are such blessings. I learn new things all the time from them.
5. I am an avid project starter! I love to start projects, but I hate to finish them! Like the yellow baby blanket I started the other day. It's stuck at 40 rows... but the pink one I started on Saturday night is about the same size now! :) I found pretty pink yarn & Angie's nursery is pink!
6. My kids are the most interesting thing about me! :) They are so funny! And I love to talk about them & blog about them. Betcha never coulda figured that one out!
7. I am allergic to everything! From pollen to grass to most foods to metals to some medicines! I develop more allergies every season. I am seriously questioning what I will be able to eat in a year!

Now for the tagging... Chrissy, Aleisha, Ashley, Angie, Leslie, Emily (i know jill already tagged you!), and SHARON (that means you have to post!). Anyone else who reads this can feel free to be tagged, too! Thanks, Jill! Ryan, you can post your responses in the comments section!

just a few thoughts

The human spirit amazes me. There are times in life when I feel like I have just had all that I can handle. I have reached the end of my rope and I just can't do it anymore. No matter how many times I get to that point, I always manage to come through. I might feel like giving up, but I just keep doing the best that I can and Heavenly Father helps me get through the rest.

Yesterday was one of those days when I questioned why I ever had kids. Hannah was an absolute terror! She was hitting and biting and licking. She grabbed hold of my throat and squeezed. I have no idea where her anger is coming from. Well, I do actually, but there isn't anything I can do about it. Ainsley was cranky and wanted to eat all day long. I am trying to potty-train Hannah. She is such a stubborn child. She only went on the potty three times yesterday. The rest of the time she had "accidents" on purpose. I'd put her on the potty and make her sit there for a few minutes (she was usually kicking me and screaming). She would eventually calm down and tell me that she didn't have to go. So, I would get her down, put on her panties and she would run out into the kitchen and pee. She would turn around and laugh and tell me that she peed her panties. "Clean it up, Mom!" There was a lot of counting to ten yesterday. By the time I put her to bed last night, I was at the end of my rope. I was just absolutely exhausted. She reached up from her bed and gave me a big hug and a kiss and told me that she loved me. Isn't it amazing how the little stinkers can make us crazy all day long and then just melt our hearts in one little instant?

Today is a new day. We'll see how it goes. Hannah is already cranky and Ainsley is still sleeping. Of course. Ainsley keeps me up half the night and then Hannah wakes me up at the crack of dawn. My aunt is supposed to come down today and we are going shopping. Our plan is to hit Hobby Lobby(for yarn & hairbows), Michaels (to return some knitting needles that were the wrong size), JoAnns (to get some more yarn & stuff for hairbows), Kohls (they are supposed to have a big sale this weekend and Helen wants some new capris) and Target (I need some Tylenol Sinus... I have had a TERRIBLE sinus headache for the last week on top of everything else). She was planning to be here by 9am and I haven't heard from her yet. So, we'll see how far we get before the kids freak out. Should be fun! I love spending time with my aunt and I really need a break today, so I hope the kids cooperate.

my new project

I am knitting a baby blanket for my sister. It is such a pretty pattern! You can see it here. Sometimes it will let you view it, but you may have to register. Anyway, Angie's blanket is going to be a soft butter yellow. My friend, Christy, from Jacksonville made one for me (well, technically for Ainsley!) in a beautiful tan color. I love it! In fact, here is a picture of it...Isn't it GORGEOUS??? And it turns out that the pattern is actually pretty easy. It's gonna take me forever, but it is simple enough for a new-ish knitter to do! I can't wait to get it finished. It turns out that it is much more difficult to knit with two kids than with one. Every time I pick it up, Ainsley starts screaming. I only have 32 rows done out of 232! And since it is a diagonal knit, I actually have less done than it sounds like! :) The blanket gets bigger with each row! Chrissy, I'm thinking you might get one like this, too. We'll see...

i am so tired

I was up until after midnight with Ainsley last night, then up again 1:30, 3:00 & 4:30 for feedings. Then Hannah woke me up at 7am. I got about 5 1/2 hours of sleep last night. Plus I am taking a new allergy medicine at night that makes me SUPER drowsy. My plan today was to nap when the kids nap... they were both down for all of 15 minutes! Ainsley has been super clingy today and hasn't slept for more than 30 minutes at a time. She is eating constantly again so I think she may be going through another growth spurt.

We are trying to potty train Hannah. She went all day yesterday without any accidents. She has already had 3 accidents today... and is super cranky as well. She has these plastic training pants that she has been wearing around the house for the last two days. They are so goofy looking! I took some pictures today and will try to post a picture or two tonight or tomorrow. I was going through my scrapbook pages and found several that I forgot to upload, so there are some new old pages as well as the two pages I got done today! YEA! Two pages in one day! That used to be an everyday occurrence, not anymore! :)

I still don't know when I am coming to Utah. My mom was busy all day with the electrician or getting ready for her trip that she leaves on tomorrow. Yep, I am staying with my parents and they are leaving me for the weekend! :) I am actually watching Shelby and my aunt may come out for a day or two this weekend. My big plan for the weekend is that I am going to attempt to make a hairbow like my niece, Liv's. So darn cute! I may also work on my sister's baby blanket, since she is 36 weeks pregnant and on bedrest because she went into premature labor a couple of weeks ago. Might want to get that one finished. I am actually pulling out what I have already done and starting over. I think I want to knit instead of crochet... Oh well!

Gonna go put Hannah on the potty!

another new old layout

credits:
Island Breeze Kit at DigiScrapDivas - July 2007 Mega Kit
Maria LaFrance's Juicy Kit, old weekly challenge prize at DF
laura burger's grungy stamped alpha at eclecticdigitaldesigns
pscs2
fonts: ck handprint

new old layout

this is a layout i did a long time ago but forgot to post...
credits:
saraamarie's summer picnic at sweetshoppedesigns
christine smith's paper tear & bent photo
pscs2
fonts: century gothic; bluecake

new layout

this is one that I did a while ago and for some reason, forgot to post it... yep, i'm a smart one!
credits:
SaraAmarie's Office Pretties: Solids at SweetShoppeDesigns
SaraAmarie's Office Pretties: Graphs at SweetShoppeDesigns
SaraAmarie's Pop Pop Bubble Wrap: All Dressed Up at SweetShoppeDesigns
yellow ricrack, denim tab, stitched ribbon: SaraAmarie's Summer Picnic kit at SweetShoppeDesigns
doodle from laura burger's glitz it up at eclecticdigitaldesigns
pscs2
fonts: kristen itc

another new layout

love this picture!
credits:
Laura Burger's Too Groovy Kit at DigiScrapShak
glitter heart from Laura Burger's Wishful Kit at DigiScrapShak
Laura Burger's Grunge Stamped Alpha at EclecticDigitalDesigns
blacked inked edge by christine smith
pscs2
fonts: CK Handprint

new layout from heritage fest

I love these pictures of Hannah & Shelby riding the kiddie rides together!
credits:
Maria LaFrance's Give A Cat A Mouse Kit at DigitalFreebies & DigiScrapDivas
PSCS2
Fonts: CK Handprint

a new layout

this is for a project for my grandparents' anniversary.
these are all my favorite pictures of my little family. And what a
FUN scrapbook kit. The pink paper used to be red, but I recolored it.
credits:
Beth Hesselberg's Wildflower kit at ScrapDish (parts recolored)
Melinda Staley's Stamped Alpha for RAKScraps
stitches by Robin Cabana from ScrapDish's April 2007 Designer's Kit
pscs2
fonts: Segoe Script

as promised...

Hannah & Ainsley on the 4th

Zoey & Ainsley... Ainsley is 2 weeks younger than Zoey.

Hannah showing us her sparkler

Hannah and my cousin's son, Cade.

Hannah & Grandma Ruthie watching the fireworks! It was so hot and we were all exhausted.

Hannah & Shelby were playing outside with the water hose! I love this picture! It reminds me so much of pictures of Thomas when he was a little boy. I think I have one somewhere of him making this exact face!

Hannah's new pink "crocs". She loves them and wants to wear them EVERYWHERE, even church! :)

what a cutie pie!

ainsley just relaxing on the front porch! i LOVE this picture!

ainsley on the morning of the 4th

I HATE UNITED AIRLINES!

Seriously. I hate them. I know... not very Christlike of me, but I really do not like them! I tried to book a flight to Utah for next Friday. We were within the seven day timeframe. Everything looked great. Perfect time to fly in. I called my husband and we were so excited. We had a family party planned for Saturday afternoon. Soooo, we got a phone call on Saturday from the customer service agent who "booked" the flight on Friday. He said that he needed additional funds. Uh, why? Ruthie, the champion negotiator, finally got some of the fees waived and the guy said that he "booked" the flight and would email the reservation. This morning, there was STILL no email confirmation. Ruthie called back. It was UGLY. They said that they would have my reservation booked by this afternoon. At 7pm... still no reservation! Ruthie called back and it got even UGLIER! Finally, after threatening to have the entire department fired (okay, maybe not the entire department, just the morons she talked to) she decided to cancel the flight and rebook on another airline. My parents are going to be out of town this weekend and I don't want to get stranded at the airport with no way back to their house if I don't really have a flight. So... now we are delayed at least until the middle of next week. Well, next weekend is my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary party. So, why not wait and go to that? It is really just a delay of one more week, but it seems so much longer. It will be good to see my extended family, but I really miss Thomas. At least I get to see my brother and his wife and baby. I'll try to post pics later tonight from the 4th.

old pictures...

this is my favorite picture of my dad & me

this is a picture of my dad as a baby... do you see why we call ainsley "little doug" :)

some pictures

This is Hannah in her cowboy hat! I LOVE it!

Ainsley with her big pink bow! Too cute!

This is Hannah half asleep on her little red car during our walk the other night.

I finally captured one of Ainsley's gorgeous smiles!

Hannah, Ainsley & I this morning before church. I hate humidity when it comes to my hair!

This is Hannah and Ainsley earlier this afternoon.

Hannah was playing on the stairs, which I asked her not to do, and fell and hit her elbow. It bruised instantly! She fell asleep with ice on it and woke up fine.