Scrappin A Six Pack

Here It is.. our new house!!!

2006-04-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

Well, it is OFFICIAL.. we have a house, no more apartment, no more lugging groceries and kids and stuff up three flights of stairs. No more trying to keep the kids quiet so they dont bother the people around us. They can have a little fit and I dont have to worry about security coming for noise disturbance. No more knocking on the door from maitenance requesting entry with no warning. Just simple quite neighborhood, with the house I have dreamed of being able to give my family for years now!!! Now for the pics,... I hope you enjoy!!!

Welcome to my home, open the door and come in...

First thing you will see is our living room, this will be a kid free zone when the fruniture goes in. My mom is giving us her old stuff and its really nice and formal looking so we wont be allowing the kids in or around that stuff at all, glass tables, suede fabrics and MY kids dont mix.

Stop in our kitchen and grab yourself a drink, hopefully you dont need a cup yet, well, because there are none and arizona water is some of the worst around.

I would invite you to have a seat at our table or take a load off in our family room, but as you can see... theres nothing there for you to sit on. You could of course cop a squat on the very soft carpet... (p.s. wood blinds are coming this week).

Take a step through and you will soon be able to see me on the computer in my very own den.... look to the right, can you see the bathroom???

Yep, thats the closer look of it right there... Thats for you to pee in, no kids allowed there either. Youll have to hold it for now or drip dry.. theres no toilet paper.

On to the UPSTAIRS!! IM not going to be super specific because you never know what weirdo might stuble across the blog and I dont want him/her to know which rooms kids are in.. stupid I know, but still...

Master Bedroom and bath and walk in closet

Boys Hall, Rooms and Bathroom -

GIRLS HALL, BATHROOM, ROOMS and LOFT

YARD.. front and back:

{TADA}

2006-04-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

OK so I was gonna wait until we had the keys but I cant hold it in any longer and since we are getting keys at 8 am, i figured it was ok to tell you since most of you will read this in the morning anyway. WE GOT THE HOUSE!! Not only did we get the house but I have made sure that at the end of lease we will be able to qualify to buy it. I am SOOOO excited. I finally get to give my kids the home they need and the space we require. Life all of a sudden has been turned around and may i say PRAISE JESUS!!!! He has been, God that is, so INCREDIBLY good to me this week. Really hes been good to me alot of my life, I never usually see the blessings for all the turmoil but I have six good kids, well good one day out of seven and THATS a blessing, a husband that, despite his faults, really loves me and a new house, a fresh start. I cannot wait to let my kids pick out their rooms and to get moved in!!!

Heres the specs: 6 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, den, loft, 3 car garage, HUGE master suite with garden tub ( i FINALLY get to take that bath ive been wanting), there will be wood blinds and best of all, its out of the hustle and bustle of the city, its quiet and dark at night, no loud cars and city noise. We are gonna love it there, i TRULY feel for the first time EVER that I am where I am supposed to be and that I am going to be able to raise my kids the way I have wanted to for so long. PRAISE GOD!!!

Flip side...

2006-03-26T01:29:00.000-07:00

So things in life have settled down and have taken a turn. I am no longer swimming in the deep end of the drama pool and things can return to normal in my life. ISnt it funny how things can be so misunderstood and how two people can belive so wholeheartedly that they are both right and yet both BE right and just be missing the point..... ahhh such is life, right??

So I wanted to drop a note to let you all know that little miss Emma, my pissy piggy, went to the doctor on Wednesday and I have been wrapped up in this crap that I forgot to post to tel you that she GAINED weight. She is 15 lbs 12 ounces so she gained 11 ounces and the doctor while pleased with her gain was NOT pleased that I was introducing big people food. He said alot of what I was giving her to bulk her up was also high allergen foods and could have been a problem, but she did fine with them and loves them so we will continue to give them to her no matter what. He said at this point, its fine. She goes back in a month to have another weight check just to be sure but I think we are over the last little hurdle and I can finally rest assured that my tiny girl will be fine. I cannot belive that in one more month this tiny blessing will be a year old... how the time flies. She is standing on her own now, even letting go and standing unsupported for a few minutes..I dont think shes close to walking yet, but it coming, maybe sooner than I really want.

Its also official that we will be moving out of this place by the end of April. Darby went and signed papers about our entent to vacate by April 30th so the house hunt is on HUGE now. We have some prospects so this weekend could be packed with house hunting and beginning the packing. Gotta go get a ton of boxes and one room at a time should get me packed in a few days. I will leave out the things that we need and a few empty boxes and do that last minute. IM gonna put the clothes the kids NEED in a suitcase and box the rest. I told them it was gonna be a game and we were gonna pretend like we were on vacation. If IM gonna box up most of their toys I am gonna need to take them out more or I am gonna go CRAZY...lol. (ok so I already am, but I will get worse).

I really miss amanda, I hope she comes home safe from her trip and that she enjoyed herself. I cant wait to see the pictures she took and hear about all the fun she had. Hurry home amanda... I MISS YOU!

Friends...

2006-03-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

So Ive been sitting her appreciating all the wonderful women in my life .(amanda, deanna, april, stefanie, marisa, rebecca, lauren, melanie and heather) The ones who send me emails to cheer me up, who talk to me on the phone till all hours of the night, no matter WHAT their hubbys say about it. I can wake you up out of sleep and you sit up for a bit to chat with me, you come to my house and never turn up your nose at my mess or disorder, you push my fat ass into the back of your renatl car without laughing at me even though I am cracking up at myself. You are there to warn me about brokeback mountain and to leave me in stitches with your poo humor. I am inspired by you all as mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and most of all friends. The love, caring and friendship you have given to me is imeasureable in words but I can say that God blessed me 1000 times over when he gave me each one of you because you bring so much to my life. I LOVE that we are so comfortable that we can be who we are.. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. Without fail you are always there whenever I need a hand, a shoulder, an ear or a smoke. You open your arms and your phone lines to me on a daily basis, to listen to my whining. Your honesty has changed who I am and who I will become. Not only affecting my life but my families as well. Even when the truth hurt, you have given it to me and I only hope that I have offered back HALF of all youve done in my life. God was good to me in every way known imaginable when he blessed my life. NOt only did he give me 6 beautiful children but he gave me all of you to share it all with. I look forward to so many more memories.. IRL and virtual whether its in a jacuzzi in vegas with a carton of menthols or in a chat room online, you are more real to me than most anyone I see everyday and I do not know what I would do without you all. Each one of you brings something so special and sweet to my life and efects me in ways you all will never ever know. NO matter what people try to say or try to make me think I KNOW you are my friends, my sisters in life, gifts from God.

I want you all to know today and everyday that I am aware of what all you do for me and what you bring into our relationships, I know how you give and I appreciate that more than you know.

So in honor of you, i forward this to you, sent to me today by a friend, in perfect time to make me laugh and lift my spirits, which is what she does best.

1. When you are sad -- I will help you get drunk and plot revenge against the sorry bastard who made you sad. ( this you better mean cuz Im in the mood for a beer!!)

2. When you are blue -- I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.

3. When you smile -- I will know you finally got laid.

4. When you are scared -- I will rag on you about it every chance I get.

5. When you are worried -- I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.

6. When you are confused -- I will use little words.

7. When you are sick -- Stay the hell away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.

8. When you fall -- I will point and laugh at your clumsy ass.

9. This is my oath..... I pledge it to the end. "Why?" you may ask; "because you are my friend".

{Busy Busy}

2006-03-22T02:13:00.000-07:00

It has been such a busy weekend that today and yesterday were veg days trying to recuperate from activity my fat butt isn't used to having.

::Saturday - Zoo Trip::

Let me preface by saying that my mom came into town on Friday night so I knew that she would want to get together sometime on Saturday, however, we were planning on going to the zoo and I was determined to take them. So when my mom called that morning and wanted to hang out I had to say no.. the zoo was waiting and Jake was excited. We got ready and headed out which, may I add, was a lot less stressful than getting the normal 6 kids ready and was quite peaceful. We arrived at the zoo and immediately started cruising around looking at animals. Jake seemed to really enjoy himself even though he had trouble picking the animals out. He really loved the meercat, mountain lion and the baby javelina. We took a break in the middle to sit and share a HUGE hotdog and an iced lemonade. We also got some kettle corn and jake was really excited to eat in the grass and take a break. Emma was soooo good, she just rode around in her stroller and never made a peep. She was wonderful. When we got home we loaded up in daddy's car and went to my godmothers for dinner with my mom and brother. We went to TGIFridays... not good food, crappy service but we had a great time together.
We went home knowing we would meet up again tomorrow.

::Sunday - Rained out barbeque::

Got up, went to brunch. This was so nice, its been ages since we did this together. We went to my godmothers again but no bbq because it was POURING!!! Instead we fried chicken and sat around and visited. It was really nice. I miss my brother so much. He has been so busy with baseball that we havent seen much of him at all. We did get some really neat spring training gear like hats and shirts, in Mariners blue of course. (my brother was drafted by the seattle mariners last year, this will be his second season with their organization, I could NOT be prouder.) Got some pics of the kids but they are just snapshots, the light was AWFUL due to the rain, so youll just have to deal with these...lol.

Jake - in his Mariners hat

::Monday - some pics::

Got some cute shots of Emma today, not great but as her mommy, Im proud. You can see her little teefers in them and I think they may be the last you'll see for awhile due to the fact I cant get her to sit still or cooperate.

It hit me...

2006-03-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

all of a sudden the last few days that things are not, nor have they been the way I perceived them for some time. Not in any one aspect of my life but in quite a few. I dont mean to sound vain, but I consider myself a pretty giving individual. OF my time, heart, and things. I just find rarely that I am fulfilled by it and more often then not I am irritated by people. I just dont think I have it in me anymore. In fact I know I dont.

Does it ever surprise you to find out people arent who you think they are. That they think things you never really believed they could and that they really are self absorbed and unilaterally concentrated. IT just shocks me anymore how people treat people. Oh well, such is life and I will, yet again, learn to deal with the hurt. I do know that I will be more careful and gaurded from here on out. NO more gifts, not even little ones for anyone.

I really need to re-evaluate things in my life. The time I spend doing things I dont enjoy anymore. Pushing aside the things I do enjoy for someone elses satisfaction. Its amazing how much you realize when the noise that surrounds your thoughts on a daily basis dies down and you can hear yourself think. I wonder if I have been feeling this way for awhile and the frustration of life just prevented me from really knowing it. Clinging to things that really were not good.

I will say this, and then IM off to enjoy the peace that is my houe for the next few days.... You really find out who your friends are when you least expect it and by the slightest of circumstances....

{pistachio pudding}

2006-03-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

Well I have been working on other kit, and let me tell you, i have NO idea where these huge pieces of inspiration come from that these other designers get to create a kit. I was reaching... so maybe I am in fact, not cut out for this. How they make these huge kits with all these wonderful things in them, their creative paper ideas.. its just all beyond me. I do know, that I dont believe, not for one second, that its tomething that "happens" after time. I think you either have it or you dont.

Well here's the sneal peak at the one Im finishing up... I am trying to add some more to it.. It has a full alpha set, 12 papers but nearly no elements, so IM off to work on some more of those.

ETS: This is goin up as is, and then I wont be doing any for quite awhile. KUDOS to those of you who are good enough and in the loop of things.

FREEBIE.... hope you like!!

2006-03-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

Well girls, here is the freebie I have been working on. I really hope you like it. ITs simple and basic for now, I am planning on adding an elements add on, which you will find here, as well as maybe an alpha set. You can get it here or at Elemental Scraps... so to have fun with it and please show me any LO's you make with it. Happy Scrapping!!! **click here for download**

2006-03-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

:: Winter Wonderland??::

I know those of you who know where I live are thinking to yourself.. "Jo, you always say how hot it is." and "You never have "winter"". But some freak sort of thing happened a few days ago and we got the worst set of storms we have had all year. One big storm or several none stop back to back ones, who knows.. All I do know. ...Now its cold and there is snow 15 minutes from my house. UNHEARD OF!!! So this week end we head up north, the kids go this week and Darb, Jake, Emma and I are going on Saturday night in the BEAST. We will make snow angels and snow men and I will get to find out how to take snow pictures. ( ohhh deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaannnnaaa)

I am so excited because this isn't something my kids usually get to do. Most of the time by the time the kids go up north the snow has melted and we only get white dirt. They, if they are lucky, get 1 time year they get to play in white powder and fall in it and just be kids... I CANT WAIT.. Have I mentioned that yet!!

Darby got in the car and drove to the base of the mountain over there... You know, right there..And took some pictures. They really show how not snow like our landscape is usually. I bet you've never seen snow and a cactus...lmao.

I hope you enjoy seeing our late winter as much as we are enjoying having it. Did I say I CANT WAIT until this weekend. Not only snow and pictures but much needed quality family time. We don't do things like that often so I am really really excited to be able to do this. Granted we are going to the grandparents so it wont be just us, but we can all use the break.

p.s. life took a turn for the less stressful and things are looking brighter today.. thanks for all who prayed.

"Jones"

2006-03-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

This adorable kit was created by Lauren Grier. It JUST came out in the store at ES TODAY and I had to grab it right up. I had also just taken these pictures today too so you KNOW i had to scrap them. This kit has so many cute elements, everything coordinates so well. The patterns can all be used together because they work together and they dinos and feet tracks are awesome. IF you have a little boy in your life ANYWHERE, get this kit because you WONT be sorry.

This one is going into my file of print worthies. The layout was scraplifted from Shabby Miss Jenn ( LOVE her stuff) and her day at the park LO. When I saw her LO and this kit, I knew it work so well together. Thanks Lauren and SMJ!!!

Jake's Wink

2006-03-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

So I turned around, and my 2 year old had on his older brothers baseball cap and I HAD to have the picture. So I run and grab my camera and all he wanted me to get pictures of was him winking. "Mama, show me winkin" over and over again, was all I heard. So here he is, in all his glory.. I wanted the boy in the baseball cap, he wanted to wink, soooo we get this.

::Arizona Winter finally hit::

It been a really cold day here and we got snow.. well not we but about 20 minutes from my house they got snow. Dh went to go take some pics so I can show you all later tonight. The older four kids are going to great grandma and grandpa's this week and they have 4 and 1/2 feet of snow. They got barely anything all winter and now, OVER 4 FEET in ONE DAY!! That crazy. It is supposed to be rainy, it is spring after all, but not winter conditions this late in the year. We got so much water that roads have been closed and we have flood warning everywhere. Now I am NOT complaining because we NEED the water and the moisture but what ever happened to winter? I think mother nature has her days mixed up.

{TEASE TEASE}

2006-03-12T04:24:00.000-07:00

So I got to play with Amandas newest kits before they ever even hit the store. I adore 'FRESH'. It just works so well together. It is so bright and cheerful and it really is fresh. I wanted to do this LO so you all can see whats coming and get a taste.
For this scrap I used a picture of Emma that I got by accident. She just reached up right before the shutter closed and now I get this precious memory. She really is such a sweet baby, full of life and happiness. BUT, she got her daddies temper and serious side.
scraplifted from Shabby MissJenn

This is also another of Amanda's kits that will be available in the store. This kit is so versatile that even though it is clearly 'BLUE' you could easily use it for a boy or a girl. She has made sure that elements and papers coordinate flawlessly and even includes a blank rectangle element so you can add your own saying as I did with the boy button.

This LO is of Jake, as a ringbearer in his daddies cousins wedding. He was sooooo adorable. He had a few typical 2 year old moments but overall he was wonderful. I wanted to scrap this picture so badly and just couldnt find the right kit, that is until amanda made blue. Its classy, clean and perfect, everything I wanted for this picture and more. Thanks Amanda!!!

ME!!

2006-03-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

So Ive been thinking....

You know absolutely NOTHING about me, well unless your one of about 50 people I gave my blog linke to. BUT if you just happen across my blog, you dont know me from the next over zealous, picture taking, scrapbooking fanatical mommy keeping a blog.. so maybe I should introduce myself.

I am Joedee, my friends call me JO, I am SAHM mother to 6 (thats right I said 6, no im not crazy and yes we are done.) wonderful yet trying children. **Preface, they go boy/girl/boy/girl/boy/girl*** Alex is 12, Abby 7, Bradyn and Brooklyn: my twins, are 5, Jacob is almost 3 and Emma Jo is 10 months. I am married to Darby, the cable guy, and will celebrate out 6 year anniversary this April... So now your doing math. Thats right my oldest two are from another relationship but he has taken them as his and raises them like they were his own. They call him daddy and hes the only one they know.

We all live in sunny, well up until today sunny, Arizona. It had been the hottest driest winter of ALL time until today and now its raining and FREEZING, well, freezing for us.

I am an addict by nature.. addicted to anything digital. Cameras, Computers, Scrapbooking.. you name it and if its on the computer or can be.. im ALLL over it. I own a Nikon D50 Dslr and I have just started trying to take photos of my kids.. long ways to go still to learn what I and the camera can do togehter but Im getting some great pics of my kids in the meantime so who can complain, right? I co-own a women message board called Women 2 Women with two of my best girl friends irl or off, Amanda Rockwell and Deanna Hall. We have been building our "home" away from home for two years and I think, even if im biased, its something we can be really proud of. My new baby, Elemental Scraps, is a collaborative effort between friends again, Amanda Rockwell (recognizing a theme here) and actually to many to name with all the Designers, co-admin, and ct members (deanna, again) that I would consider friends. Both are hard, but mostly rewarding endeavors and I am glad to be apart of both of them.

I love my kids.... I am passionate about politics and debating ANYTHING. I hate hypocracy, back stabbers and stupid people. Oh yeah, and two year old temper tantrums.. those are the worst. I love to sing, country music and songs for worship are my favorite, i think i do it well, but then so do all those people I laugh at on AI..lmao. I watch CSI, Law & Order (any episodes), ER, Greys Anatomy but im addicted to American Idol and General Hospital. I love my friends.. especially my phone buddies.. what I would do without unlimited long distance, id hate to find out... i think I would die.

enough for now.. maybe more later.

Precious Smile

2006-03-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

I did this layout late last night, its for the freebie challenge at ES and I picked Lauren Griers Free Spirit kit from the store. I wasnt sure which picture I wanted, I just new I wanted to try out that kit.

I LOVE the swirly stitched flower in this kit. ITs fun to use and the circle brad with color dots was fun too. The ribbons are excellent... I dont what else I can say. I was fun to work with and I like the end result... Hope you like looking at it as much as I loved making it.

No Layouts

2006-03-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

No layouts today... I was busy. Busy fixings problems, both my own and others. Sometimes I wonder why crappy things have to happen to people, namely me. But then I sit and think back on some of the ways I have treated people and the things I have said and I would have to say you truly do reap what you sow. Today was better than yesterday so my blog wish came true as far as that was concerned. Elemental Scraps seems to finally be on the verge of being ready to link to. We got a new designer today. Her name is Jennifer, shes really nice and I am glad she is going to be part of our team. I think shes going to make a wonderful addition.

Have you ever wondered why you deserved to be a mom? Why he, in his infinte wisdom, picked YOU of all people to entrust the sweet little lives to? When you are making mistakes and not really doing as good by them as you could be... Why do we deserve this amazing responsibility when he knows we are so imperfect. We, so often, think we will always have time to make right the things we are doing wrong, the ways we are short changing them, but we really never know. The days pass into years and before you know it your babies are grown. Bigger versions of the tiny little faces we have grown to know so well stare back at us, and all of a sudden, it is over. Our chance to shape them, and mold them into the kind of people we desire them to be is gone, replaced by self will and stubborn desire on their part to branch out from us and to make their own way. They no longer look to us for every answer and no longer think we can never be wrong. Public displays of interaction between mother and child becomes "Moooooooom, youre embarrasing me" and "could you just drop me off over here?" Where go the days when we could kiss them and cuddle them with every watching eye and never fear their denying us?

Why is it that I wake some morning wondering why I ever became a mother, but can wake the very next day and not remember what I did without them? HOw did I become this woman? I used to never be able to listen to the sounds of illness ,yet know I hold back its hair and wipe its face. How did I turn from an impatient demanding teenager into a person I hardly recognize? When did I change? Dont get me wrong, I would take NOTHING back, would not mess with one single second of the life Ive lived. I will take the bad and the ugly to have what I have now. BUt how, just how did this all come about? When did I stop writing and thinking like woman, not just a mother.?When did my hair start living in this perpetual bun and when did the make up start to decay in the drawer? I really do wonder at times how long its been since Ive turned on a blow dryer and if I could even handle holding my hands above my head that long anymore..lol. All of a sudden, I cant remember what day it is, short of doctors appointments and payperiods and vacation days, they all seem to melt into each other.

I watch myself sometimes, like Im standing beside myself, literally, and I see a woman I never intended to become.. more like my own mother than I care to admit. Alot like the father I swore to never emulate. Yet with more of an understanding for who they are and who they were then I EVER did when I proclaimed those things to them as a teenager.

Amandas Emma Kit...

2006-03-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

So I was up late last night and I decided I would do another LO with Amanda Rockwell's Emma kit. I may be drawn to it because its named after my daughter or maybe because its just gorgeous. I also adore this picture, which is obvious..lol, I use it so often. Maybe because its the last one I took before she got her stitches, who knows why. Anyway I highly recommend this kit, its so easy to work with and there are SO many options for how to lay this kit out and what elements, papers and ribbons to use.

She is rapidly becoming one of my favorite kit designers and her attention to detail never ceases to amaze me.

Any whoooo, I sat and watched American Idol on the DVR last night. And may I say that I am stunned that Bucky is still in the running. I really enjoy listening to Chris sing so I am glad hes around (not to mention hes not bad to look at either..lol) I was glad to see the girls so that went, they were definitely the bottom.. I predict the first two girls to go will be Kelly and OHHHH now I cant remember her name for the life of me and that should tell you why she wont stick around. She's forgetable. I still am on the fence about who the stand out is among the girls. Mandisa is good but I just dont believe shes marketable. This may very well be a boy season because in my head one of them stands alone, above and in front of the rest of the pack. I cant wait to see how things are when they go to the bigger stage and audience, maybe they will really turn it up.

I missed Grey's Anantomy this week, BUMMER!!!.. and ER. I really need to get my DVR set to record the stuff I want to watch. All the cartoons are getting old.

Im off... to browse the net and then make lunch.. TTYS!!

Whining Jake...

2006-03-10T00:09:00.000-07:00

So Jake gets up, its like midnight
here and wants to know where
HIS picture is? Well he is two and
a half so of course everything is
about him, ALWAYS. Soooo I told
him I would come on and put up
a pic of him for you to see..not like
you wont see enough of him in the
future.

Finally ...

2006-03-09T23:10:00.000-07:00

This thing is FINALLY the way I like it. Clean but very me. I was going for boyish girly but i think I landed more on the girly side..lol. Oh well, my boys will just have to suffer having their pictures on this girly place....

I want to share these pictures with you, well because they happen to be some of my favorites. They wont be the last you ever see so be prepared...lol .. These are my two youngest daughters: Brooklyn;5 (shes a fraternal twin to Bradyn) and our baby Emma Jo; 10 months.

First Blog Post

2006-03-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

This is the very first post on my blog. Today has been a stressful day to say the VERY least. I guess the old addage that when it rains it pours is more true than we can ever imagine. I am looking forward to closing my eyes tonight and waking up to a new day with the hope that tomorrow will be better.