Halloween!

We had a blast tonight!


There were 5 other families that came over to our house for pizza before we all went trick or treating (yep, that is 11 kids in all).


Kids had so much fun, moms and dads had so much fun. Here, see for yourself:

6 already???

I think Riley's bday party was jinxed this year.

While we were in Italy Riley decided he wanted his party at Navajo Flats in Pozo and wanted it to be an X Games party. Easy enough. We got everything organized and planned and were ready to go when on the Wednesday before the party I read in the paper that the entire Los Padres National Forrest was closed due to potential wildfire danger. I called them to make sure Navajo Flats was included in the closure and sure enough, it was. Okay, Plan B.

I quickly called our good friends Richie and Desarie and asked them if we could have the party at their house because they have a dirtbike track and the plan was for all the boys to get to ride. They said yes! So I frantically made phone calls to let everyone know about the change of location.

The day of the party arrived and I went out to their house early to set up while Ryan waited for everyone at the meeting spot so they could all drive out to the house together and not get lost. Unfortunately, I packed all of the stuff I needed to set up in Ryan's car.

After everyone got there, the kids started riding their bicycles and Richie went to his parents house across the road to get some hay for the back of his truck. He wanted to take the kids on a hayride. While he and Desarie were over there, their son Zack rode his bike down their steep driveway. The chain on his bike came off and the pedal swung around and whacked him in the leg. He started screaming while still going down the driveway.

We took him into the house and got him some ice. He was definitely in pain. Richie and Desarie finally showed up and she told us that while they were across the street, Richie accidentally ran over his mom's dog and it died!

UGH!

So this poor family now has an injured son, just lost a dog and has a party going on at their house.

The rest of the party was great. The kids all had a blast and even the parents were having a great time. Desarie and Richie took Zack to the ER on Sunday at it turns out he broke his leg in 2 places! Poor kid!!

Here are some pics from the big day:

My attempt at an X Games cake. At least it tasted good!

The little kids eating a snack (Bella, Christopher and Johnny)The dads hanging outRiley riding.Me and BellaRiley blowing out his candle
Presents!!!!

Lest we forget

Here are the 4 layouts I did today of our villa in Italy. The villa was named Casa Faltignano. It was breathtaking, more beautiful and picturesque than I could have imagined.

Perfect Pumpkin

Yesterday was Riley's 6th birthday party. We all had a great time and I will blog more about that and post some pics from the day a bit later on tonight.

In the meantime, I have recently become a CT member for Sal and Lula Designs. Here is my first layout using Autumn Glory Kit:
http://buzybeescrapper.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=186

Latest additions and a gallery note

I am posting a link to the gallery where I have all my pages uploaded so you can see them larger if you like. The link will replace the photobucket link on the right under places to go, people to see.

Here are the last 3 layouts I have done. I have applied to be a Creative Team member for a few more designers and so far have heard back from one that she wants me! YAY!! It is so much fun to be on a CT with women from across the country and you also get access to fantastic kits! Keep your fingers crossed that I will hear good things back from the rest too!

Pumpkins Pumpkins everywhere

We went to the pumpkin patch at Avila Valley Barn on Saturday after Riley's soccer game. I love that place and look forward to going there every year! But, it was a zoo, as to be expected on a Saturday before Halloween.

We took the kids on a hayride down to the actual patch o' pumpkins. Ryan found a great pumpkin and Riley and Bella found apples from the nearby apple orchard. Yum yum. The kids went through the haybale maze, saw the animals and we all wandered around the gift shop with Nona looking for goodies. We came home with a delicious looking apple crisp and some pomegranite jelly.

The poor kids were subjected to me taking a million photos of them with pumpkins. How original, I know. But the thing is, we have gone every year since Riley was born. In fact, he was only a week old the first time we took him. It is a tradition that I am bound and determined to uphold. Good thing is, doesn't seem that anyone minds!

Here is my layout (you had to have known that was coming) from the day:

Just a quickie

I did this layout this morning before Riley's soccer game. It is the 2nd layout for Riley's MX race at the fair.

Success!

Okay so it may be a small success in the grand scheme of things, but I am very excited about it!

I spent hours last night reading different tutorials on how to use a template in digital scrapbooking. The first one I read was so confusing and convaluted that it gave me a headache. Then, I found Misty Cato's wonderful tutorial. It was easy to read, concise and clear and finally made using templates make sense!! Now I know why everyone likes them so much.



So the page I made last night was just a quicky for practice, but I still think it is pretty cute. Here it is:

Shuggapie kit by Michelle Underwood, template by Misty Cato Designs

Universal Studios

Last weekend was a very busy but fun weekend.

We drove down to LA on Saturday after Riley's soccer game (in which he scored 4 goals, thank you very much). We went straight to the backlots of Universal Studios so Ryan could set up the Justin Winery table for the American Wine and Food Festival hosted by Wolfgang Puck. After setting up, we rushed to the Universal Sheraton Hotel where we were staying. Ryan checked in while I made a mad dash to the gift shop to by nail polish remover (note to self: don't try to paint toenails in car while husband is driving). Our babysitter showed up while we were checking in and we went upstairs with her so she could get to know the kids while we changed. She was really nice, young (about 26) and the kids took to her immediately!! We ordered them room service and then Ryan and I left.

Everyone had to take the Universal Tram to the event and when we got out, we actually got to walk the red carpet! I was so excited because I knew that was the only time in my life I would get to walk a red carpet. Okay, okay, it was pink, but STILL!!! We were greated with a glass of champagne, a map and were off to taste some yummy food.

Ryan was in Heaven. So many of our country's top chefs were there and we got to try all of their food. Very very cool!! There were a bunch of wineries and other spirits there too. The neatest part for me was the location. The event took place on the European area of the Universal backlots so it felt like we were wondering around streets in a small European village. Talk about ambience! There were about 2000 people there, bands, other performers, etc. I think it is safe to say a good time was had by all! Thanks Debbie and Justin!



We got back to the hotel around 11,paid our babysitter 100 (ouch) and went to bed. We woke up at 1 to Riley yelling because Bella was throwing up. She threw up every hour until 7am. In the morning, we all got up and showered and went to bfast at the hotel, where Bella threw up again. The thing was, she was acting totally normal other than the throwing up. So, being the bad parents that we are, we decided to go to the park anyway. I reasoned that it was just as easy for her to lay in the stroller as it was to lay in the bed in the hotel right?????


The park itself was great! Bella threw up once more while we were in line to get in but otherwise was fine. The kids got so see Shrek, Dora and Sponge Bob. There was a great waterplay area where Riley got soaked, an indoor ball play area that was really fun for the kids, and a few rides. I took Riley on the Jurassic Park ride with me and he almost had a heart attack at the end when it goes down a huge drop. I must admit, it was pretty scary! We watched a show and then had dinner at Bubba Gump's before heading home.



Here is a quick layout I did from the day:
Tequila Sunrise kit by Lisa Majewski Designs http://www.lisamajewski.blogspot.com/

Busy Beaver

I was up late again last night and I have no excuses! Once the urge hits me, I must scrap!

I did 3 layouts last night and finally finished the Rome section of our Italy trip. I really like the first layout of St Peters. I don't use pastels that much and I love the colors of this kit. I am a bit scared that we only spent 2 days there and I have 7 pages. Don't want to know how many pages the rest of the trip is going to take!! Yikes!

Anyway, I love getting feedback so let me know what you think!

Welcome Kit courtesy of the DSP Designers

Breathe kit courtesy of J Baechtold

Yay Yay Yay!!

I did my first CT (Creative Team) layout last night using a kit from Lisa. Yes, I was up way too late and am dead tired today. But, it is worth it to me (and lots of coffee always helps).


Please let me know your thoughts and again, if you want to see the page larger, click here to go to my photobucket account.


Thanks!

Kit courtesy of Lisa Majewski Designs!

Feeling the love

I am assuming most of you who read this blog don't know much about the world of digital scrapbooking. I am still learning myself.
Most of the designers have blogs where they post the kits they design and you can purchase them to use in making your page layouts. Some of the designers have a creative team (CT) that designs layouts using the designer's kits. These layouts are posted in different galleries and on other blogs, etc. Friday I saw a call for CT members from one of the designers I really like. I applied by sending her a link to this blog and also my gallery on digitalsrapdepot.com so she could see my work.
GUESS WHAT!!?? I was chosen to be a member of her creative team! I am thrilled right now because I am so new at doing digital scrapbooking and it is a huge honor for me.
What happens now is that I will have access to all of Lisa's kits and will create at least 2 layouts a month (of my choice) using her kits. You will be seeing those mixed in with the other layouts I create.

Here is a link to Lisa's blog so you can see the awesome kits she designs.
http://lisamajewski.blogspot.com/

Okay, I am done tooting my horn. I am just really excited! (can you tell?)