When it rains, it pours

You've heard it said before...When it rains, it pours. It seems like the last week has been filled with one thing after another for the people that I care about. About a week ago Grace's best friend's dad was in a severe snowboarding accident completely shattering his ankle and currently has rods and screws holding it together while still needing several more surgeries to repair it. Not a day later, my aunt was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and will also go in for surgery. Then, a couple days ago, another good friend's SIL was in a horrific accident at work and had to be airlifted to Seattle ending up with loss of blood, a broken pelvis and femur and amputation of her leg below the knee. And tonight, my mom slipped and broke her ankle that will require surgery on Friday. With the epitome of all days to be grateful upon us, and with these highly unfortunate events occurring, it is difficult to find the silver lining in such a sorrowful and strenuous time. But I am grateful that they are all here with us still, and I am grateful for the power of prayer. I give thanks that we are able to lift one another up and support each other in love and grace. I am grateful for loving family, and for good friends, and most of all for my Savior, Jesus Christ, who has suffered all pains and afflictions to be able to be our support. So though it is raining, (literally & figuratively,) I pray that blessings be poured out upon all those I love in their time of need. And on this day, I am, indeed...grateful.

Great deals on Christmas cards and labels...

If you haven't done your Christmas cards yet, HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! Visit this site before you do anything because you can get a great deal, and by {great}--I mean FREE!

You can order 50 free 4x8 photo cards using the coupon code freebies4mom-1109 (type in that code) at SeeHere by Fujifilm. All you pay is shipping! You can get your 50 photo cards for $3.19 shipped. Or you can order 10 additional cards to qualify for free shipping to get 60 photo cards for $4.90 shipped. This coupon code expires on November 30. If you are new to SeeHere you can also get 100 FREE PRINTS fromSeeHere.com by FujiFilm when you sign-up for a new account using the coupon code prints (but you need to order those 100 free prints separately from the 50 free photo cards). You can design ANY single-sided photo card, but what perfect timing if you plan on sending out at least 50 Christmas cards. The photo cards include envelopes and are single-sided 4x8 printed on photo paper in either horizontal or vertical orientations. I absolutely loved the versatility of being able to place my photos, accents and text to fit my preferences instead of the stiff cookie-cutter versions at the usual photo labs.

And if your Christmas list includes more than 50 recipients, enter the promo code NEWBABY and it will get you 50 more photo cards for FREE! {on a separate order, of course}

And if you'd like some super cute return address labels to use on those FREE cards you just made, here's yet ANOTHER site offering FREE address labels and photo postcards:

If you're planning to send out Christmas cards this year, or just enjoy have festive address labels, you can get a great deal on them through VistaPrint right now.

::Just click here and go to the left hand side of page.

::Under "Home & Family" choose "Holiday".

::Design your labels and checkout.

::You should get 140 labels for free and only pay around $3 total for shipping.

If you prefer to send postcards rather than full-size cards you can also get 100 of those for free and pay only approximately $6 shipped. Here's how:

::Just click here and click on the 100 free postcards offer in bottom right-hand corner of the page.

You could also design these postcards as gift tags for homemade gifts, goodies, or gift baskets. Or for all your gifts, for that matter!

Between these 2 sites I just ordered my cards AND address labels for a whopping total of $6.69!!

My Giveaway Entry

Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme
TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year?

a dyson

scrapbook kit subscription

some new kitchen gadgets

new bedding

adobe photoshop
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

a scarf
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle?
homemade goodies

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?
my very own pink radio/cassette player

5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year?
american girl doll

bakugan stuff

ben 10 alien creator

6. What is your favorite holiday food?
almond roca

7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays?
cards

8. What is your favorite holiday movie?
the polar express

9. Favorite holiday song?
the christmas song (chestnuts roasting)

10. Favorite holiday pastime?

wrapping presents while listening to christmas music

Your turn! I Tag:

Claire S.

Amy K.

Diana G.

Michelle C.

Heather C.

Anna S.

if you want to enter, go here: TodaysMama

if not, just complete the tag!!

Leaves, Pumpkins, and Candy--Oh my!

I have to say, fall is probably my favorite season, {i know, i know, it's so cliche...but it's true!} Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you my favorite colors are muted browns, oranges, and greens. Take a look at my house and you'll clearly see said colors. {more about that in a future post...get ready for a makeover!} What can i say--i'm drawn to fall colors! So right now my sweet-cinnamon-pumpkin candle is burning, i have a smile on face and my heart is happy!

The last couple weeks we've had so much fun enjoying all the fun stuff that comes with fall and halloween! The kids had a primary activity at the church which is across the street from their school, so afterwards we went over and the kids had a great time playing in the leaves and enjoying the crisp, fall air....mmm, i can smell it now!

Another reason i LOVE the pacific northwest...we get the bee-you-tee-ful trees in their ever changing leaves and colors. i wouldn't trade it for anything!

A couple days later the kids carved their pumpkins {and when i say "the kids" i mean angel and i...someday, somehow, they'll make carving more "kid" friendly, right?} We had a book with a bunch of templates in it {note to self: accidentally lose said book by next halloween} and each one was rated for it's difficulty level, so of course the kids were drawn to the ones with 5-star

difficulty... {alec really wanted the alien coming out of the spaceship} It took some prodding and persuading for them to believe that we are not michaelangelo and cannot create the masterpieces that the experts made look so easy in the book and could they please pick one with maybe one or two stars?!? We compromised nicely and ended up with a spider, a cat, and grace's own creation {check out grace trying to wink like her pumpkin}

...and we always have great intentions to save the seeds and roast them, but when it comes down to it, we don't have the recipe or instructions so they end up in the garbage. {if you do it and love it, please, do tell!}

And of course....Halloween! We had a great idea for a family theme that would have been super cool and fun, but this slacker of a mom didn't get her act together in time {no "mother of the year" for me this year!} so the kids had to settle. The boys were content to wear their star wars costumes from last year but Grace took the most convincing. In the end i won her over with the mention of hair glitter and make-up, so she was the "belle" of the ball {pun intended} with her dress she got from christmas and her hair all done up. We usually go to the trunk-or-treat at the church, but this year we went trick-or-treating with my sister and the kids' cousin adam in poulsbo.

They really enjoyed ringing the doorbells and seeing everyone's yard decorations. some people really get into it! There was a world series game that night and one family had a display on their porch that had showed the score, very creative! A funny side note...we kept having to call alec to keep up with us because he would stay and chat with the moms/dads handing out candy! i'm not exactly sure what he was saying to them {probably telling his life story} but no matter if he was the 1st one up to the door, he was always the last to leave!

After trick-or-treating we went back to my sister's where we had spaghetti for dinner, alec hid behind the coffee table and ate a full-size hershey bar someone had given him, and the kids decorated halloween cookies. {tsk, tsk, no pictures...bad mom again} And who knew knocking on doors for candy could wear you out? These guys were so tuckered out, they completely zonked on the way home before they could even ask to eat anymore candy....did i mention i love this season?

Happy Halloween from our "spooky" family to yours :)

Tri and Tri, Tri, Tri again

Last Saturday was the last area triathlon of the season in Elma and Angel had been wanting to compete for a while now, but with his crazy schedule at work, he wasn't able to train consistently and most of the races were on the weekend when he was working. But this triathlon was a sprint {300meter swim, 13mi bike, 3mi run} so he decided to give it a "try" {no pun intended}.

The weather was not exactly ideal, but when it comes to sports you take it as it comes. He was nervous about the swim {it isn't his strongest suit} but fortunately it wasn't a long one.

Getting all suited up High five from the water :)

Then came the transition to biking, and off he went...

back from biking and trading in the biking shoes for running shoes....

here he comes to the finish line... GO ANGEL!

He did it :) Good job Angel!!

A few minutes after Angel finished, the kids triathlon started. The race coordinator made an executive decision to forego the swim at the beginning since there were a couple of little kids competing and the weather was turning even colder. So they started on their bikes.

On your mark, get set, GO!!!!! And they're off!

Here comes Grace, getting ready to cross the finish line in 1st place!

Keep going Dallas! Woo-hoo! You did it!

Wrong way Alec.... This Way to the finish!!

Taking pictures of the top 4 finishers....pay close attention to Alec's expression as he's standing next to Sawyer {the little girl who took 2nd}

"papa, she's touching me" "No, I won't smile, she's STILL touching me"

"Okay, this is much better, now I'll smile cause she's way over there"

A picture with Nana & Papa who came to cheer them on...

The four new triathletes of the family with their medals.

Angel won Top Finisher in his division

Grace won the trophy for Overall Win in the Kids Tri

...and now they've been bit by the Tri bug! They can't wait to do it again!

Meet Morris

This is Morris.....

He is soft...

He is cuddly...

He is sweet...

He lives with us now and we love him!

Awesome Michael Jackson Tribute Medley....

Even if you don't like Michael Jackson, you HAVE to watch this!

Anyone can appreciate the acapella harmonies...It's too cool!

{then scroll down for the new family post}

Buy me some peanuts and crackerjacks {or kettle corn and licorice in our case :}

We took the kids to their first ever major league baseball game. It was a beautiful day, and ever since they got their jerseys they have been talking about going to a game, so when the Mariners took on the Anaheim Angels we decided it was as good a time as any to go. We opted for the the family pack {tickets, hot dogs and drinks} on the upper level knowing we probably wouldn't make it through the whole game. But we were thoroughly impressed with the kids attention level, given the fact that NEITHER team had scored a single run, even as we sang "take me out to the ball game" during the 7th inning stretch.

After Angel pointed out the camera man a few rows in front of us, Alec was intent on "being on the big TV" so he held up his sign that Grace made the WHOLE game hoping the man would film him. But alas, he did not...

We decided to call it a day, and I firmly believe in Murphy's law. As we were leaving and stopped on the 1st level for some pictures {see below}, we heard the whole stadium cheer as one of the Mariners hit a triple. We stopped on the concourse where we were and watched as the next up at bat hit a homerun bringing in 2 runs! So at least the kids got to cheer on the team and celebrate, unfortunately it didn't happen sooner :(

And for some odd reason unbeknownst to me, Michaelangelo the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle was on the 1st level concourse and the boys got to take a picture with him. {one of their favorite parts of the day}

As we were leaving the stadium we took some fun snapshots :)

We can't wait to go back!