CA Girl

<br /><center><a href="http://www.itsalark.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab115/Emmymom/2011%20Blog%20Pictures/2011buttonblue200.jpg" /></a></center><br /> It's the final wrap for the 2011 Review Extravaganza!  Hosted by yours truly,  EmmyMom , Emilisq , Impulsive Addict , Janette of Johanson Journey , Mimi Living in France , and Runner Mom.   Be sure to snag that button and mention each of us when you link your post. And now.... October.... It was Ryan's birthday , but we also had a TRIPLE BIRTHDAY BASH! I was featured on Shell's Blog for her Things They Can't Say!   It was definitely a SQEEEE kind of moment! Kristin was in The Hobbit at school... She was an Elf Halloween, where my kids totally got into character and scored big time in the candy dept! November... We had some proud academic moments for the kids in November.   Plus, Kristin had

Are you on Pinterest?  Sky blue?  Do bears....?  A while back, I saw this: A spice rack turned polish holder. I saw this a few times before I finally pinned it.  What a cute and clever idea.  I had a spice rack.  And sadly, I just didn't use it anymore. So I got the idea to make the spice rack into a polish rack.  Well I had taken a before picture of my plain spice rack and sadly I can not find it.  So you will have to use your imagination.... I used Folk Art paint and painted two coats.  Then I added the stickers and covered the stickers with two coats of Mod Podge.  After that, I did two coats of High Gloss Finish Decopauge.  This really brought out the brilliance of the paint.  The backing was done with foam board and scrapbook paper.  I simply glued the paper to the board then I glued the board to the rack.  However, on Christmas morning the backing came loose so I nailed the backing to the rack.  As you can see, kitty approves.  I made this for my girls since

I have a simple question today.  How was your Christmas???  I want to hear all about it.  I do! Ours was great.  The whole day was just fun, relaxed, and filled with laughter. Just a sampling of our morning. The kids made out like bandits.  We had gifts from his parents, gifts from "Secret Santas" from church, from each other, and from Santa.  Then we went to my mom and dads and got spoiled some more.   A few things I got:  Jewelry.  I got necklaces.  A necklace you can string beads through.  One bead says "mother" one says "faith" and the other is blue like sapphire.  Kristin got us a mother/daughter set.  Very pretty.  I got The Golden Girls on DVD from my MIL.  Already started watching it.  hehe.  This is a closer look at the tile Ryan made for me.  A big deal since he absolutely hates getting his hands messy. I am only going to bore you with share a couple more pictures as I felt these ones were truly special.  I was getting tri

It's time for part three of the Review Extravaganza 2011!!!  This week covers July, August, and Sept!!! So come on and link up with us:  Me, Emmy , Mimi , Em , Grumpy Grateful Mom , Runner Mom , Janette of Johansen Journey and Impulsive Addict ! <br /><center><a href="http://www.itsalarkblogspot.com/"><img src="http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab115/Emmymom/2011%20Blog%20Pictures/2011buttonblue200.jpg" /></a></center><br /> July was a crazy busy and super fun month for me!  It started off with a most grand adventure with my lifetime bestie!  Love you Lou!  Muah!  She came to So Cal with her daughter for college orientation and I went with them.  We didn't cause too much trouble .  hehe.   I know I also saw my other bestie in there somewhere...I have pictures to prove it! Miss you Emmy!XOXO We also got a special visit from Rich's parents.  They took the kids on special adventures and then

My weekend started off like this.  I started with a sore throat on Thursday.  I was feeling kind of run down.  By Friday night (pictured) I was at death's door practically begging to be let in.  We promised the kids shopping and a visit with Santa!  I refused to break my promise no matter how horrible I felt.  Unfortunately, Rich was coming down with it too.  So we both just sucked it up. Saturday we alternated sleeping and being a parent.  Kristin was the "parent-aide" and Emily was the assistant.  Ryan was most awesome.  I called on my visiting teacher and had her bring dinner to us.  I had to drive to Orange County to pick up my nephew--because I said I would.  Luckily I was feeling much better than that!  But I was still down.  Sunday was church, lunch at my mom's with the fam and the driving all over the place to take one nephew one place and the other home.  What a day.  Rich was in recovery mode.  So this week I am taking time off from blogging...unt

<br /><center><a href="http://www.emmymom2.com/"><img src="http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab115/Emmymom/2011%20Blog%20Pictures/2011buttonblue200.jpg" /></a></center><br /> It is week two of The Review Extravaganza 2011!!  To be reminded of the rules just go here.   And remember you get an extra point for following anyone of the lovely hosts:  MOI!  Emmy , Grumpy Grateful Mom , Mimi, Runner Mom , Em of Emilisq , Impulsive Addict , and Janette of the Johanson Journey .  Remember to link your post and not your blog.  This week it is April, May and June!!! My favorite question in April was about Easter Eggs...or Easter Spheres! Emmy and I got to meet fellow blogger, Glamazon in real life!! It was most awesome! In May I got my iPhone!  I was in Geek Heaven!  My favorite question was tied directly into a gripe! My niece had her baby shower. In June we had not one, not two BUT THREE graduations! 

<br /><center><a href="http://www.itsalarkblogspot.com/"><img src="http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab115/Emmymom/2011%20Blog%20Pictures/2011buttonblue200.jpg" /></a></center><br /> Today my blog is so random that it happened on a Thursday!  Before I get into anything totally random, I want to remind you all tomorrow is week 2 of the Review 2011 Extravaganza!  A quick refresher of the rules:  snag that button there.  Link back to all of your beautiful hosts!  ME, Mimi , Emmy , Grumpy Grateful Mom , Runner Mom , Impulsive Addict , Em of Emilisq, and Janette of Johanson Journey .  Then simply link your post--not your blog and viola!  It is that easy.  Plus it is lots of fun and there are prizes in the end!!!  You know you want to play along! Yesterday Ryan landed on RED at school.  This meant he got sent to the principals office.  He and some other boys were playing a game of, "Attack the Booty."  Awe

Kristin has a friend.  She met him through The Hobbit.  One day during rehearsal they were all practicing with PVC pipes as swords, and this young man was goofing around and sort of dancing.  Kristin was puzzled, and asked, "What are you doing?"  He responded with, "I'm dancing." and then added, with the pipe  held above his head with both hands, "I feel like a cactus." and proceeded to dance like like a cactus.  And the cactus buddies were born.  For a long time I didn't know his real name.  She has names for all her friends.  It's almost like Seinfeld.  His real name: Teddy. This past Saturday, he invited her to go Christmas shopping with him.  I didn't think of whole lot of it. His mom drove them.  He bought stuff for family and he bought stuff for her.  Yes, he likes her.  And she likes him.  It's very a little scary for me.  I am thankful she has good moral standards.* They went and saw Santa Claus.  So I see happy smile

Kristin Sept 25, 1997 When Kristin was born, I was surrounded by help.  And I do mean surrounded.  My mom came and stayed for almost two months.  Some might say overstay...we said please don't go!  At the time Rich was working two jobs.  I needed all the support and aid I could get.  While she was there.  Rich took his regular paternity leave plus he had leave saved up.  So he actually had a lot of time off.  His parents came in for a week.  My sister was there for a weekend and so was Rich's sister.  So when I say I was surrounded with help, I really meant it.  I could sleep if I wanted to.  I could shower if I wanted to.  It was so easy to be a Mommy.  But then, everyone left.  And Rich had to go back to work.    I was left alone.  All alone with a baby who was colicky.  She cried constantly.  And I was her soul provider, nurturer, everything.  Poor Rich felt mostly helpless and helped every chance he had.  It was rough.  Her first 6 months of life are basically a blur

<br /><center><a href="http://www.itsalark.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab115/Emmymom/2011%20Blog%20Pictures/2011buttonblue200.jpg" /></a></center><br /> It is time to review your year!!!  And to earn points towards some great prizes from some great hosts.   *wink wink*  Who is hosting?  To refresh your memory.... Emmy Mom California Girl Em of Emilisq Grumpy Grateful Mom Impulsive Addict Janette of Johanson Journey MiMi Living in France Runner Mom And to remind you what to do... each Friday of this month we will be reviewing 3 months of the year.  Today it is Jan, Feb, and March.  This can be done with a single post, pictures, links or all of the above.  Then link your post (not your blog) to me or any one of these lovely ladies.  You will have until Tuesday--Dec 13th to post the first review!  So don't feel you can't participate if y