New Scrapbook page

Here is the scrapbook page that I've been working on for the last week or so. It was fun to do a more detailed page than some of the pages I've been doing for myself lately. These pictures were posted on FB a few weeks ago by my SIL of her and her baby. I thought they were too precious to just leave on FB, so I made a page about them. This page has the title "I love you with every beat of my heart." I made a page with that title and monocramatic and black colors a few years ago that she liked, so I reinvented it for her and her 3 pictures. Anyway, I hope she likes it.

* The letters are cut with the Cricut Cartridge Plantin Schoolbook and the tree and butterfly are cut with Happily Ever After.

Halloween Scraplift page

Page made by Mandy Ferg, below is my take on it.

Here is a Halloween page that I scraplifted from a talented scrapbooker on the cricut message board. I am pleased with the result, as this is the first time I've ever successfully welded anything with my cricut design studio software. I created the word Halloween by welding the letters together (Plantin Schoolbook font cartridge) and created the spider from the George cartridge from 2 circles and the letter J flipped and rotated. I am thinking about adding tiny wiggly eyes to the spider and stickles (glittery stuff) to the word Halloween to look like goo on the word. October 31 was cut with my sizzix die cut machine, lollipop font, "st" is made from the sizzlit alphabet, playground. The orange background papers are Little Yellow Bicyle, the Spider web paper is Paper Studio, as is the purple polka dots and the trick or treat papers.

Gypsey: The new Cricut Tool

http://the-gypsyspot.blogspot.com/
Here is a link to a blog that is giving away a gypsy to a lucky follower. Maybe it will be me! This gysey is courtesy of Custom Crops, a scrapbooking web store. The gypsy is a portble, handheld computer devise that allows crafters to design diecuts digitally, plug it into their cricut machine and cut away.

Twas the Night Before Christmas scrapbook page

Here is the scrapbook page I made with the Target $1 spot items. :) Well, only its half the page because I couldnt remember how to merge both scans together.

Target $1 spot

Cricut celebrates 100th Cartridge (week 5)

One last week for the Winter Woodland cartridge! I hope I win it. Here is the link about the cartridge.
http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2

Cricut Celebrates 100th Cartridge (week 4)

I'm excited that cricut has made it to 100 cartridges. In the excitement, cricut is giving out 20 cartridges of the new one, Winter Woodland. Here is the link about the cartridge
http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2
This one is so cute, I hope I win this week :)

Cricut Contest Week 3

I am trying to win a cricut cartrige, Winter Woodland. I have a chance to win by posting on my blog. Here is the link to this neat new cartrige http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2

Cricut Celebrates 100th Cartridge (week 2)

Here is the link to the newest Cartridge: Winter Woodland
http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2

In honor of PC's 100th Cricut Cart, they are having a drawing to give out 20 cartridges a week for 5 weeks. I will have a second chance at winning by posting about it in my blog! So, here's to hoping that I am a winner.

Special Day with Grandpa!

We were so pleased to be able to have Grandpa come down (2.5 hours drive each way) for Grandparents Day with Nathan. It really met a lot to all of us :) Here are some pictures of our fun. Here is us at our new house. Nathan has on his cap from his and David's T-Ball team, the Raptors. I will make another post about this when I can upload pictures... My Jeffery boy is looking so big.

Here is a picture of part of our backyard. Total yard is 1/3 of an acre. There is a privacy fence within a fence, which includes the backyard and covered patio. I plan on living right there. We are going to build another play structure in the yard about where Grandpa was standing and the kids and I are going to have a garden in the big part of the yard.

Front View of the house. This is going to be a great home for us. It is smaller than our Bartlesville home, but the yard, location and schools make up for it. I figure that if I really do do a lot of my living outside, we will have enough space. I forgot to mention that there are 3 storage sheds in the yard, (2 big one, 1 small one). Even though the house is small, HOPEFULLY we can keep most storeage out back and only have in what we need right now.

I love this project that they made. What a wonderful keepsake. I am so glad that Grandpa took pictures.

Nathan getting his hand painted by his teacher, Miss Jeanene.

I love the picture below :)

" I was invited to go to a grandparents day with Nathan (one of Jason's little guys) and I had so much fun I thought I would share some of the pictures with you! We also got to see their new house and took pictures to share.

Thanks, Nathan, for letting me be your guest and for making me a very proud Grandpa of one of the best behaved boys in your class.

Grandpa Johnston"

Cricut- the coolest scrap tool available - celebrates 100 cartriges

Cricut announced today that they have just released their 100th cartrige - winter woodland. In honor of it, they are generously giving out 100 cartridges over the next 5 weeks (20 per week). They will post a thread on the Cricut Message Board and if you reply, you have a chance to win.
I have owned my cricut for about 17 months and love being able to make die cuts in a variety of sizes and options. I have 15 different cartridges and the Cricut Design studio software.
Here is the link to the cricut mb thread: http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=5248058
My real name is Katie Johnston, but my screen name is "oh...scrap", LOL.

Here is the link to the new winter woodland cartrige: http://www.cricut.com/shopping/ProductDetails.aspx?id=361&s=1&sc=2

What are we doing????

I am trying to adjust my parenting skills and techniques as my kids learn and grow and as I learn. I think this will be a lifelong process as we continue to learn and grow. I have read some books recently that have got me thinking (The Essential Guide to Raising a Son and Anti-Cancer, A new way of life). Recent (unsucessful) parenting has really got me thinking. Plus, I think its a wake up call when suddenly you have a kindgartner.

I'm only going to write about one aspect of my parent changing techniques tonight. My kids are growing- thankfully- and I'm realizing that more than any other thing that I need to do to raise quality people is to help them be indepent people. Afterall, isn't this one of our goals of parenting? To take this beautiful, wonderful newborn child to teach him to be an indepentent person? Sounds basic, right? I've realized that its time for me to "let go" a little bit and let my boys be a little more independent before I cripple them. Today, David poured his own cereal and milk. Little things, I am trying to let them do, but meaningful. I have also started a job chart. Today they washed windows, yesterday, they cleaned the bathroom. How can I expect them to be respectful of the home without participating? How can they develop into responsible people without responsiblities? These are all things I've come to learn. Plus, doing jobs promotes team work, keeps them out of trouble and keeps me from being their maid.

I went to a park/playground today and then later to the waterpark. (These were rewards for them doing so well with their job chart, plus they need exercise.) Two incidents happened that made me think "What are we doing?" As I mentioned before, I am trying to let my kids be independent. When they were smaller, I was a parent that wandered around the playground, right there with my kids. I was weary of other people I didn't know and other kids. I was paranoid of my kids getting too far away from me and not being able to round 'em all up. Then one day it occured to me "I'm at the playground, where are they going to go?" (Plus, they started obeying me better, too.) "What are the chances of them really getting hurt if they are out of my reach?" (I learned this a year ago at Johnstone Park when David slipped through my hands and got a bloody nose: sometimes they get hurt when you are right there.) Even thought playing with my kids is fun and they enjoy it, maybe its time for me to back off a little and let them be independent.
Incident 1 today at the playground: A dad brings his 3 year old son to go play. They seem like they are having fun and they boy starts running over to the other play structure and the dady calls out "Don't run." I'm kinda shocked and almost said "Hello, we are at the PARK! Let your kid run!" Seriously, what are we doing to our kids? People, let your kids run! Especially at the park. I dont even think the dad realized it. I think we just get so used to keeping our kids right by us, that we get paronoid in public of them being more than 3 steps away.
Incident 2 today at the splash park: A mom brings her toddler to the splash park. Cute little girl, too. Ever time the child took one foot away from the water, literally, she would call her back over to the water from her bench. I'm like "Let her explore". Even when the child went over the park benches (2 feet away). I think we are in a paroniod society and I have been guilty of it, too, and am trying to change. So, back to the other mom, everytime the child stepped away, she threatened to take the child home. What do we think is going to happen? I've started bring a book with me. This way, my kids have adaquet amount of time to play and I can have my deperatly needed alone time.
I am far, far, far from perfect, but I am learning. I am trying. My desire is to raise these kids into quality, kind, independent and healthy people. Kids that love each other and love Heavenly Father and other people.

Braums

Here is a picture of the Braums that Jason works at.

The Fresh market department is huge and I spent $60 there on grocerys today. I will be purchasing a lot of our food from there and hope to eat healthier at the same time. I bought sugar snap peas today and my kids liked eating them! It reminded me of being little and all of us kids going into Uncle Johnny's garden and eating all of their peas. (I wonder if it bothered John and Toni). Anyway, here is the picture from the Braums website. If want better quality, come and visit, please. :)

For Everyone who is curious :)

Here is the rock house! Candice, now you can see my van. :)

For better or worse, it is a corner lot. You can also see our garbage cart. Very helpful and can fit a weeks worth of trash.

Part of the back yard. As you can see, it is a big yard. We took the camper off Jason's truck for better visability. Having to side exterior doors is more helpful than I thought it would be. The storage shed is helpful but tiny. It will fit the lawnmower...

Kitchen, nice tile, countertops and backsplash. Yes, there are two fridges. The one closest is ours. There is a pantry on the other side of "their" fridge.

The power goes out if I am using the oven and turn on the microwave, even if I unplug our fridge. It went out 3 times last night! All I cooked were hamburgers on the griddle, sweet potatoe fries in the oven and microwaved a can of corn...The range is gas and I like it.

I am soo grateful that the laundry is indoor - not in the garage or worse, like a laudry mat. It is a very narrow squeeze with my bike there, but I'm not putting it outside. With the dryer, you cant open the door all the way to exit, so I have to get out very carefully. That being said, I am falling in love with cycling all over again. I love my bike, too, but am starting to dream of one of those new carbon thread ones with the aero dynamic tire rims and all of the cools stuff. I am getting close to switching to clipless peddels...That's going to improve my rides and training considerably. I haven't told anyone yet, but I think my long term cycling goals are going to change from triathalons to a century - a 1oo mile bike ride. Holy cow, that would be amazing.

The garage was converted to be a 3rd bedroom. It would actually make a nice sized bedroom with a nice closet. This is how we are using it: crafts, baseball stuff, halloween, christmas, clothes...You name it. If we can live without it right now, its in here.

Here is one view of the living space. I like how the windows let in a lot of light.

View from the front door of the living room. Yes, there are 3 couches in here. (see picture above). It is crowded, but we will survive. The tv is on our dresser, right by my elbow as I am taking the picture and David and Nathans clothes are in it. It makes putting away clothes a ton easier.

I got that cute rug at target last week for $1.25. Totally cute. Those are dinosaurs on the toilet. David wanted them in the picture.

I really like the vanity set that the owner's picked out.

Master bedroom. As you can see, it is a small room, but ok. My dresser is behind the door and there is no way that our bedroom set would have fit, but that's ok. This will be fine.

I like the double doors to the closet. You cant see in the pictures, but the closet inside goes from wall to wall.

The kids room The recliner is in the corner with the glider smashed up against it. It stinks, but its as good as it gets. Jeff's mattress can be moved to accomidate play.

I really am proud of this closet. I really felt like I did a great job using up all of the space I could. The train set is in the bottom drawer of the dresser, Jeffery's clothes are in his rubbermaid drawer set on top, lots of toys...About the toys....The sad thing is that I felt like I got rid of several toys. I have a few boxes of toys...like 3 or 4....I am sad to say that even though the next place will be bigger, not all of the toys are going to make it to the next place. I hate getting rid of toys. I feel guilty (Have you seen toy story?). But, I guess it is part of parenting, teaching your kids to manage their stuff. I'm just going to save that project for another day.

The location of our house is just about 2 miles north of the Tinker Air Force Base. I hear Jets and other air machines fly over head all day long. Some are really loud. I know this isn't for everyone, but I gotta say, I love it. My boys love it and it is exciting to see some really neat pieces of equipment flying low over where I live.

The grade school is just two blocks away and there is a park just down the street. Hobby Lobby, Michaels and Hannock Fabrics are less than 2 miles away. Also, with in a few mile radius is the libary, the YMCA and a free splash park.

First Day of Church in the new ward

I have to first mention what a gift, blessing and relief to move and have the same church to go to. It was such a testimony builder for me to be able to have a discussion with my boys as we pulled into the church parking lot about how it is the same church, but just with people we haven't met yet. Jason had to work today, being a holiday weekend and understaffed, but was going to try to come for Sacrament meeting, but was unable to get away. I think he is looking forward to coming next week. I am looking forward to it too.
We actually got to church 10 minutes early. Lets see if I can do that twice in a row. LOL. I think I am going to love 10 a.m. church. Normally, I dont let the kids have toys until after the sacrament, but being early and a new ward, I let them. I think it was a mistake because they had a spell of being board and restless. David and Nathan eventually got back on track, but Jeffery about drove me crazy. I would hand him abook and he would through it in the aisle. (It only happpend twice.) Normally, I dont allow the kids on the floor either, but today I let them kneel on the floor to color. This was also a mistake, too, I'm afraid. Jeffery quietly laid dirctly underneith me under the bench for a few minutes, then quick as lightening escaped and sat in the empty row in front of me, turned around and smiled mischeviously, then proceded to climb OVER the bench. Again, this happend 2 0r 3 times. I also had to grab him a few times during the testimony meeting to keep him from running (or rolling or doing "toady-woadys") away. All the while, I felt my nylons sliding. Finally, the last time he tried to jump over the bench in front of us, and I am telling him to settle down, this is not a playground "You can sit still", I feel my tights slide down past my bum and be mid thigh. Yes, this is when we finally left the sacrament meeting. I was horrified as I tried to descretely waddle out, hoping like crazy (or was that hopping) that they wouldn't fall down in front of the whole congergation. Did I mention that I an wearing a knee lenght skirt? I made it across the hall to the nursery and had them around my ankles when I realized that there was a young boy with a toddler brother on the other side of the open partition. Luckily, there was nothing to see really because my nylons fell down all on their own.

The kids did even better than expected with the transition. Jeffery had zero problem going into nursury. I looked in on the big boys during sharing time and there was Nathan doing head shoulders knees and toes in front of the group. David really liked (really) his teacher. She is also the ward chorister. (You could really hear her beautiful voice leading the group). Apperently, she is also a nurse and gave David a book of Mormon at the end of class. I think he's in love. We came home and read the scriptures. He was particully excited about the Jaredites and their tower to heaven. We read the account of Mormon at the beginning of the Book of Mormon and Ether chapter 1. I need to start reading sciptures with my kids...

The ward was pretty friendly with some young families. I am still planning on starting up a playgroup and talked to the relief society counselor about it already. There isn't one currently and there was also a new family today with little kids so I guess now is the time and I am volunteering to coordinate it. It will be fun to get involved.

Well, friends, it is sad to move away. Thank you for everything you have done to help me.

Kiddie Park Tonight

The bi-plane ride was the kids' favorite by far. The did it twice. I thought pa would especially get a kick out of these pictures.

David told me that he flew the highest of everyone and I think he was right.

Whoo Hoo Pilot Davey!

"Hi, Mom!" (David decided he was too big for this ride. I had told him he didn't have to go on it, but he did and decided to let the world know that he was bored.) Jeffery sure had a good time, though and was excited about the horses.

I loved Jeffery's pleased face.

Nathan has an infectious smile and laugh. Holy cow, my kids are adorable. We had a great time. First, we went and got ice cream at McDonalds, then went to the Kiddie Park. Those boys are so loved.

Vroom Vroom. Watch out for David.

There is Farmer Nathan!
As I watched the boys clammer into the boat, I laughed to myself at the seating arrangement, thinking this is probably going to be pretty accurate in about 11 years, David driving, Nathan in Shotgun and Jeffery has to ride in the back, but glad to be included. We had a nice evening at the Kiddie Park and I hope we get to go out there 1 more time before we take off. :)

Life Update

Here is just a quick update on my life:

Jason was offered a job yesterday that we are totally excited about. He will be the store manager for a Braum's store in Choctaw, OK. He will be great at it and we are totally excited. Choctaw is a blink-and-miss-it town just east of OKC, right by Midwest City. So, tiny town will all the ammenities of a town the size of Bartlesville and right next to a big city with a Temple. Not to forget that Jason will be employed again. Horay! It has been 3 months and we are ready and truly grateful.
Sadly, though, we will be moving. I finally feel settled in. I love my friends, job, house, callings, ward, my kid's friends. I am truly sad to leave everyone. I know I am only going to be a few hours away and that we will be coming up to visit Grandparents, but I wont be here and life will go on and I am going to have to get settled in somewhere else. I am getting teary just thinking about it. Even though I haven't reached out to my friends individually yet, all of you mean the world to me, in Bartlesville and in other towns. I have learned so much from all of you and you have been a blessing in my life and I will miss you.
A little bit more about today: I quit my job, turned playgroup back over to the relief society and just put my two weeks in for my primary teacher calling. Not to mention I am packing, planning, bought a truck and decided to sell my beloved VW bug today. (Anyone want to buy it?).
I am sad, but this is all "good stress", right? I am not facing some of the horrible things that some of you - you know who you are- have gone through.

If I haven't talked to you personally yet and have contacted you through the internet to tell you my news, I am sorry.

Oh, we did find a place to rent until this house sells. It is is Midwest City, but we will definantly be settling/purchasing in Choctaw. It is a small 3 bed/1 bath house. I haven't seen the inside yet, but the guy says its nice, it is in a decent neighborhood, fenced, will take dogs when I come down, decent price, and best of all, month to month till we buy a house.

More updates to come.

Favorite Zoo Pics - Tigers

We love the two tiger brothers at the zoo. These pictures were taken in January by Jason.

Favorite Zoo Pics - Polar Bear

Our Beloved Polar Bear Died recently due to Kidney Failure. These pictures were taken in March, but we were there just 2 days before he died. He was always so friendly. Often he would make "rounds" in his pool, swimming from one window to the next, as shown above. He would come right up to the window where Jeffery is, smile and go to the far window, swim underwater to the window shown below, go to the upper window where Jeffery was, pause, smile and swim back. The last time we were there, it was a Monday and we were the only ones at the exhibt and we watched him for quite a while. I layed on my stomach and watched him swim underwater. He will truly be missed and he was the kids - Jeffery especially - favorite.