How is that I JUST discovered Ro?  (Ro Philippsen)
I found her blog today and I have been in love!!!!

http://www.scrapbyrophilippsen.blogspot.com/

Here's a sampling of her delicious work!!!
So happy, so cheerful, great colors, awesome placement....I love it all!! 

And a layout....who knew!?!?

Last year the bridesmaids & the two maid of honors in my sisters wedding made a layout each and put them in an album to give to her on the day of her AMAZZZZING wedding.......... I finally got to take a picture of the layouts Kira and I did......only a year later! HAHA!! The first one is the layout I did of my sister and I and the second one is the one Kira did of her and my sister.

Kira's Graduation 2012!

It's amazing how fast these last four years of high school just flew by. I have missed getting school drawings, or school projects to save for many years now, and I also miss when I would pick her up from school and she would tell me, "Did you know......" where I would learn something new about a state of something about an animal or something in history. Kira has always been a fast learner, excelling in math and challenging herself in things like history or science. She hit road blocks and worked through them, she learned from her mistakes, she grew into her own personality and became a beautiful, smart and kind young woman by the time she finished her high school years. I am blessed that Kira has a strong faith in God and is in love with Jesus, she has been a blessing to her family and continues to amaze me! She makes me laugh daily and even though she out grew that small child giggle, her laugh still makes my heart flitter every time I hear her laugh and smile. I pray God continues to bless her, that she continues to follow His path and always look to Him for her answers. 

Olivia's Preschool Graduation!!

I still find it hard to believe that Tod and I have an ALMOST five year old. It still blows me away when I look into her eyes and when I hear her sweet small voice that God had plans for us that we had nooooooooooo idea were coming. Yet, her she is ALMOST five years old and my precious little baby girl. We were blessed that the preschool in Seaside was just perfect for her, it may have been a longer drive for us, but the pay off was wonderful. She had a team of four great teachers, they were kind, nurturing, they were helpful, funny and patient. I loved each one of them!!!!

     Today when she graduated I was so emotional- It's a thing I have, God knows all about my tears of joy! I cried when she was lined up to walk down the isle and she saw us and waved so hard and proud with a big big smile! Then she leaned over to her one teacher and told her, "My momma and Kira are here!" (She couldn't see her daddy yet because he didn't stand up yet) As she walked down the isle and she saw her dad, she beamed and got so happy and smiled and waved so big at him!

    Thank you Jesus, thank you for your PERFECT plan, even when WE think we have it all under control and things figured out, you bring us this beautiful, healthy, happy, funny, spunky gift and I am able to call her mine.
I am blessed everyday by the love and joy she brings us daily. Thank you Jesus for giving me the responsibility and joy of being her momma. Amen.

Happy Easter!

This is my favorite holiday. It's my favorite time of year! Spring! :O)
First, this season is to celebrate Jesus and His unconditional love for us, how He has risen from the grave and is at God's right side. Because if Him, we are free, no matter what our circumstance, n matter where we came from, no matter how dark of places we were in, Jesus loves us and will ALWAYS love us, He has never turned His back, we just call on Him and He will help.... I in fact call in Him about 8k times a day! To keep me strong, to keep me focused, and to draw me closer to Him.

On to other things... Yesterday was salmon season here on the West Coast, so Tod and the girls went out at 3am and were back by 9:30 am. The waters were rough, but both Kira and Aiko landed really nice salmon!!! Tod was super proud, and even though he didn't catch one on that trip, it was awesome to have them pull in their own salmon for the first time! God told me the night before that There would be 6 salmon. They came home with 2 and I told Tod, "I wonder why He told me 6....?" Tod said, "Well maybe if we had stayed out longer we would have gotten the other 4 like He said"....AMAZING....Well, for my Tod to say that, to show faith...AMAZING- Thank you Jesus! :O) So we took the 2 salmon praised God and were blessed He provided those for us!

This morning Tod and his two buddies are fishing and will be home soon for Easter lunch. God told me last night Tod would catch two salmon(limit out) but I couldn't get info on the friends and if they would catch any... Tod called just about an hour ago to tell me he had a fish and as we were talking he said, "OH! I GOT ANOTHER FISH ON- GOTTA GO!!!" Hahahah! I laughed at God and how He worked it out, His timing, His sense of humor and His graciousness!! God is good! ALWAYS!!!!

Easter Blessings to all,

Jen

It's official- She's on the cover!!!

How awesome is that!??! She was thrilled beyond belief! She got a call from her uncle saying that he went into a 7-11 in the Bay Area and saw Kira's picture on a fishing magazine....no big deal! hahah!

We then searched high and low in our area and nothing....sad, we live 10 minutes from the Pacific ocean yet there isn't a fishing magazine for 80 miles along the coast...what's up with that?? Our friend Tom found a few at a bait and tackle shop in Moss Landing, so we have a couple now...and then, Tod checked the mail today and our subscription to the Fish Sniffer started today- so he walks in with a nice copy of Kira on the front! (God's awesome!!!) His perfect timing!

Isn't she a cutie pie!?!? I am so proud of her!!!

Perch Derby 2012

This year we all signed up for the Annual Perch Derby in Santa Cruz. Normally it's Tod, Tom and Tony and last year paul, Tony's son joined them. This was the day after the Tsunami and fishing was kinda odd. The guys reported that the fish were there but they were small.... which in turn ment all the winning fish were on the smaller side.... Tod told Kira and I that a woman had one with a small perch, ounces...not pounds. Kira and I vowed that night we would join them for the 2012 Derby and we did! Along with Pauls girlfriend Trish and Tom's wife Carolyn. We headed to our spot at 3am and set up. The first catch was Tod, a small leopard shark. Later Tom and Carolyn arrived and set up their gear. It was cold, dark and windy. Carolyn was smart and relaxed in their warm car till about 8am, after the sun had come up and the wind and cold had finally died down. Soon after Paul, Trish and Matt arrived....no Tony this time, his wife had been super ill and he was at home with her.

I didn't mention anything to anyone, but the night before the Derby God had told me Kira and Matt were going to win. I kept it to myself....until Tom and Carolyn were on fire, their poles were getting hit by perch left and right! Tom landed a BIG perch, 2.8 pounds. Shortly after I told Kira what God had told me...she was surprised....like I was. Kira and Matt had no fish as of yet.....

As I was watching our four poles in the water, I glanced at the one to the right, which was Kira's, it had done a funny little quick shake, and Tod started to reel it in...."Did he notice it was shaking as if a fish was on the line?" That was my thought, and then he said, "Kira, come get your fish, you got a bit" Kira jumped up and ran for her pole. She was nervous afraid her fish would come off as she reeled him in...."Some one take the pole, I'm gonna throw up,I'm too scared he's gonna come off!" ha! No one took it from her, and she did it all by herself!!!! He was a beautiful perch and weighed 2.6 pounds!!! Thank you Jesus! I winked up at the beautiful Blue California skies and said "Thank you".

Later I was talking to God saying...."Matt, really? he hasn't even had a fish over .4 ounces"....and just as I finished that statement to God, "Matt!!! Grab your pole before it goes in the water!!" Matt jumped up and reeled in his winning fish. I knew then that there was no need for either of them to keep fishing, those were the winning fish God had provided.

Back at weigh in, Kira weighed her fish and then got her picture taken over and over for several magazines....then we made our way to eat our dinner there and relax while we waited for everyone to make their way to the weigh in. Tony showed up after his wife was feeling better and was able to eat dinner with us and sit with us as we waited for results of who won.......

Tom won 3rd place men's division, Matt won 1st place jr's division boys, Carolyn won 3rd place woman's division, Trish took 2nd place woman's division, and Kira won 1st place woman's division. It was amazing, it was a blast and to know God told me Matt and Kira would win humbled me....why not info about Tom, Carolyn, and Trish...? I think maybe it was Him telling me the 1st place winners would be Matt and Kira...I just know it was amazing to watch it all unfold and it was a blessing He told me.

Sharon's giveaway!

So I have been following Sharon for years now and I adore her work, I love her style and her videos!!!

Take a look at this more than generous GIVEAWAY she has!! Swoonnnn!!!!

She makes me wanna get off of blogger and get a layout made!!!

P.S. Thank you for the wonderful inspiration Sharon!!! Muah!

xoxoxo

Jen

It's been a looooong time.....a 2 page layout....

Before my sisters wedding one of the bridesmaids wanted to put a scrapbook together for my sister, with each of us girls in the wedding making a layout. So Kira busted her's out and then later that night I completed mine. They turned out great but I was too tired and lazy to pull out my camera! sad, but true! The album looks great so when I head to her house soon I will snap some shots of all the layouts.

Annnnnnnnyyyyyywayyyy, After that layout I wanted to scrap so Kira and I spent the day craftin around! She made an adorable card for her bestie and of course I didn't get a picture of it before she took it to her! sigh! But the next night I completed this layout below. I was up till 1:30 am and I JUST NOW snapped some photos! ha!

These pictures of Olivia crack me up! We found the Jessie costume at Walmart as soon as they put their Halloween stuff out, so we snagged it and had it from August till October and almost everyday without fail Olivia would tell me she was sooooo excited to be Jessie! On Halloween Kira took her into her room to start the transformation! Her hair, her outfit,her makeup, her painted on freckles! A D O R A B L E!!! And our lil Ollie was dressed up as in a monkey costume!!

I have to say it's been a looooooong long time since I did a layout and it felt great to do two in a month!!! ha!

Drew's HUGE giveaway!

I just adore Drew's talent! He is beyond talented and funny!

He just reach over 1,200 followers on his blog and it pretty much makes sense, he is the shiznit! Check out his Thank you giveaway!!!!! Extremely over the top!!!

Check his GIVEAWAY HERE!!!

It's beyond sweet!

Our great escape

Tod and I took a trip up to the Klamath and fished one day with our guide Ken and his wife Kathy. I didn't take my camera only reason why was I thought the boat wouldn't be as stable as it acutaly was. So I'm super bummed, but we did have Tod's and it worked out nicely.

We rented a car and Tods treat to me was mapping out several thrift stores to hit on our way up. We stopped at one which was in Eukea and it was sooooooooooo fun! They have three little houses to buy antiques, clothes, and another barn that had clothes and shoes. What they also had were sections for furniture and yard sale finds. They would through items into bins on loooooong tables and you could walk and rummage in the bins for treasures. Once you found items you find this guy who wears a red shirt and kahke pants who prices your items. I found an old vintage suite case and some furniture, like two vintage metal bed frames one for a queen and one for a twin, which would have been perfect for Kira and Olivia's beds but we only had a rental so there was no way they would fit. So with my suitecase in hand he charged me two bucks. STEAL PEOPLE!! IT WAS A STEAL!!!! Beautiful Samsonite leather skin, PERFECT condition inside. sigh.. Yeay for me! hahah!

Anyway, the guy was local to Watsonville and a total blast to talk to. Super fun staff and great great finds. We are going back, but with our truck next time!!!

Oh, yea, back to the fishing, so we made it to Klamath and Tod and I stayed in this super cute hotel and the following morning we met Ken and Kathy and headed to the river....at the butt crack of dawn...did I mention that? sigh.

The river is beautiful. There was a bear cub roaming the river bank eating grass, he had been out there for about 2 months and he seemed to look healthy. Tod assured me berries would be coming on so he would have more to eat. He was A D O R A B L E!

I got 3 hits, and all three came off, there were 2 drive by's (hits on the line only) and then the 4th time I told Tod the next hit was his, he insisted it would be mine. When the line hit Tod tried to hand me the pole but I told him, "nope, it's all you!". So he ended up pulling in this monster! ha! nice! Tod said he almost cried when that salmon was finally on the boat! After we got off the water, which was at 3:30, we would have come in earlier but Ken and Kathy wanted to wait to see if I could get another bit and get a salmon. These peeps are awesome! What a great couple! We had such a great time on the boat, we talked and ate and talked and ate! ha!

After we got off the river we headed into town for a nice cold beer, BEST CORONA OF MY LIFE! Then headed to the Cunningham's (Ken and Kathy) to clean and bag the salmon. We met up later at the local bar right across the street from our hotel and had a great dinner yummy Ortega burger and killer fries with this "Burger Sauce" the cook made and then sat down next to Tod and told me how to make it....while he smoked is cigarette of course! haha!, We played pool and made more friends!

It was the best vacation we have had since we have been together. It was so laid back and so great to get away just the two of us. An air conditioned car always helps....I'm just sayin...