Ayers to the throne!

Wordless Wednesday.....

2009-08-12T08:56:00.000-07:00

(aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh)

Ten years to eternity...

2009-08-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

August 7, 1999
Happy Ten year Anniversary Ben I love you!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-01T17:34:00.001-07:00

Giveaways! Giveaways!!!

2009-03-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

You all need to go check out this website! They are having a great giveaway with tons of stuff!!

And it's all for LDS moms that blog!!

http://mormonmommyblogs.blogspot.com/

Some SNIDE remarks!!

2009-03-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here is a “different” screenplay for the movie Twilight that Stacy sent me awhile ago! Now that

the movie is out on DVD I thought it would be fun for everyone to read!

I found it absolutely HEEE-larious!

Let me know if you liked it?

I hope the link works!

http://www.ericdsnider.com/snide/my-rejected-twilight-screenplay/

An amazing weekend!

2009-03-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Lots of fun was had all (even Ben) all weekend long!

It all started Thursday night after we got home from our visit to the NICU and about 45 minutes after Stacy got into our neighborhood! Stacy (one of my bestest friends for almost 10 years) came from Utah (cedar hills) for a visit. I felt so bad about being late but we were all so glad to see them! My boys have known her boys Aidan 8 and Kelton 6 all their lives and have been counting the days until they would arrive!!

Stacy and her husband were married a few months before we were and we all lived in the same ward. We spent Monday nights together with other couples from the ward and we still talked to a lot of those couples (even though we are all spread out now).

Friday we walked around the mall and let the boys play in the play place there (even though 3 out of 5 of the boys were too tall!). Roger was with us so Stacy and I were able to run off by ourselves a few times!!

That night we just hung out at home and ordered pizza! The boys were having a blast just hanging out playing video games, watching movies, light saber fights, and sleeping in the living room.

Saturday we all went to the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert (a wetlands preserve next to the Library). It was fun to walk around and enjoy the nice weather.

That afternoon after everyone was clean again we BBQed steak hotdogs and chicken for dinner.

After dinner it was time for the girls to get dolled up for a Twilight movie party! We went over to Colleen Mathers house and had some yummy food and we all watched Twilight together. There was about 12 girls there and we all tried to be mature about the movie but there was a lot of drooling and giggling during the movie! Afterwards we talked about what we liked and didn't like and other books we recommended! It was so fun and I am soo glad Stacy was there with me!!

Cherene made these fun cupcakes with bloody bite marks in them!! ARRR!!

I almost tripped when I found my favorite candy and Twilight together!

I absolutely love conversation hearts!! I start buying bags the day after Christmas and not stop until they run out of the discounted bags after Valentines day!! AND now they have twilight ones that say things like "BITE ME" "I heart EC" "DAZZLE" So fun!!

Sunday morning was not soo much fun! The boys were not in very good moods when it was time for everyone to drive back to Utah! I set Benji up with a gmail acct so he could email Aidan whenever wanted.

We had a wonderful visit and soooo much fun with Roger, Stacy, Aidan and Kelton! Now we need to start planning our trip to Utah this summer!

Thank you Stacy for being such an amazing person and a wonderful friend!!

H.E.L.L.P.

2009-03-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

We spent Thursday with Sora. The boys got to play with Corban and I got to play with my Kaylee!! Ben had taken the express bus to work like usual but came home on the light rail. I picked him up so we could go visit a couple we know from when Ben went to ASU. Brandon and Paula Benzing were pregnant with their first child due at the end of May. When she was almost 28 weeks the doctors told her to go straight to the hospital. WHen there they told her that she had a rare illness called HELLP. The only way to save them both is to deliver the baby!

HELLP syndrome is a rare but serious illness in pregnancy. This illness can start quickly, most often in the last 3 months of pregnancy (the third trimester). It can also start soon after you have your baby. HELLP stands for Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzyme levels and a Low Platelet count. These are problems that can occur in women with this syndrome.

Baby Isaac was born by c-section on March 6th weighing 1 lb. 15 oz.

At 2 weeks he now weighs about 2 and a half lbs.

We went to visit them at Banner Desert hospital. We were able to go in a see Isaac in the NICU. He was so small but so very cute! As soon as we got close to him his heartrate went up because he was so excited to see his mommy! And when Paula opened the door to his incubator it went up again because she reached in to take one of his cords out of his hand. It was so sweet and comforting to see that he had his own little personality and that he knew and loved his mommy.

Just two weeks ago Paula found out that she had this illness and that she needed to have the baby NOW! They had thought that they had 3 months to get ready! I can not imagine the emotions that she must have been going through! I was just in awe with how great she looked and just the simple fact that she was showered and dressed was amazing to me!!

This is a website (kinda like a blog):

http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/viewHome.do

We are praying for the Benzing family and hopefully Isaac will continue to grow and will be able to go home soon!

Here is the diaper cake I made him for the hospital! sorry it's a bad picture it was taken with my cell in a dark NICU.

MY bad!!!

2009-03-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

Oops!!

I am one of those very strict mothers that do NOT let their children use markers (definitely not Sam) or scissors (unless they use them right infront of me and I put them up) or play with play doh (Blah!), clay, moonsand or anything of that nature. Don't get me wrong I love the fact that they love to draw and create things but most of it is just so dang messy!

Now MEEEEE on the other hand is a totally different story!

I love crafts of any sort. I have 10os of projects that I am working on or waiting to start. I love spending hours upon hours searching the internet for more stuff to make! My master bedroom is more craft room than bedroom. Our laundry room is stuffed to the brim with supplies and projects just waiting to be started or finished, and stuff I got on clearance just waiting for a reason to be in there!!

So DO AS I SAY NOT AS I DO is kinda my motto involving art projects.

I can you can't!

I know it's mean but I am selfish and/or I am just trying to prevent an accident. I don't want to find paint, markers, clay etc. all over the tables, floors, walls, carpet or where ever. I just don't want to have Noah playing in something because someone did not put it away. There are millions of reasons I could come up with to justify my mean momminess!!

And over the past 8+ years we have only had a few "incidences" where Sam took a pencil and drew on the wall (little happy faces with his name "ASM") I told him "Honey if you are going to do something you are not supposed to do DON'T sign your name to it!!"

Now that you think I am a bad mom in my way of thinking, let me tell you what actually DID happen.

Yesterday I was making a diaper cake for the little baby of a friend Ben went to school with. He was born 3 months early and weighed 1 lb 15 oz. We wanted to go and meet him and give our support to his parents tonight so I made him a little diaper cake to have at the hospital.

So yesterday I am workin on that and also workin on a card for him. I was doing dishes (still not done) while blog stalking, and playing with the neighbor girls. To say the least I was not being at my most observant or tidy!

Annnndddd......

While I was otherwise peroccupied Noah pickup up my rolling stamper (inked and ready) and had some fun! He rolled it on the kitchen floor...

If you look really closely you can see a cute little butterfly fluttering around. Luckily it wiped right off with just a wet washcloth.

Below is what it is supposed to look like (when it's stamped on paper like it is supposed to be).

He also rolled on over to my beautiful refridgerator! I tried to get a picture of that but couldn't get a good one. It finally came off with a lot of scrubbing!!

I hope we have all learned a valuble lesson here...

Lani is not allowed to play with crafts without supervision!!!!

SO COME OVER and play, I mean supervise ME!!!!

I (heart) Edward!

2009-03-02T16:51:00.000-08:00

Last Friday after school as we were going through the backpacks like we always do, Sam was pulling each thing out of his bag one at a time and when he got out the last thing he proudly announced:

"E is for Edward!"

MOM: You did that for me???

SAM: uh HUH!

I immediately took a picture of it with my cell phone and sent it to everyone that I have in my address book (those that do not mind me sending pics! and some that have to pay for each picture text! sorry sora!)

Most of them had to ask what it was but my FAVORITE response was from Ben!

Bens text: I guess we should just split up now since the boys seem fine with it!

I thought it was so cute and sweet that Sam thought of my imaginary boyfriend while at school learning about the letter E!

I am not sure Ben appreciates the fact that Sams picture is hanging on the Fridge but

I think he did a pretty good job!!!! (hubba hubba!!!)

Good job Sam!!!

Benji's first Pine Wood Derby!!

2009-02-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

Benji participated in his first Pine Wood Derby!! It was also Ben and my first derby! We had no idea what to expect but it was so much fun!! Ben worked (oops!!) I mean Benji and his father worked very hard on his space shuttle!

Overall the shuttle did not fare very well. We were thrilled when he got 3rd (as long as he was not last!!)

He won a best design award for out of this world! And also a great sportmanship award!!

This year we were young and inexperienced in the derby techniques! They built the car for looks. Next year we will work on looks and research how to go faster!!!

Christmas Candies!!

2008-12-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

Here is a cute Holiday decoration that I finished yesterday! I got the idea off Thrifty Decor Chicks blog! She is my Decor Guru! I have two more boxes in smaller sizes that I want to finish and have as a set!
I will post those pictures when I am done with them. But those are on the bottom of a very long list of other things to do!!
Happy Saturday!!

The Family Pictures you didn't get to see!!!

2008-12-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

Look at how miserable he looks!

This is the "Hurry up and take the Picture before I puke" look.

Now that I posted the cute family picture, I wanted to share the sad story of the day we took pictures! While I was getting all dolled up for our family pictures with Leah Davis I had Ben go and pick up the boys from school. As soon as I saw Benjis face I knew something was wrong (he either got in trouble or had a bad day at school or he was sick). He told me that he felt like throwing up. So we got out the big throw up bowl and a wet wash cloth and continued to get ready. Ben thought we should cancel but we had already rescheduled with Leah 2 previous times. I felt like we HAD to at least try to do it today.

He looked so weak and you could barely hear what he was saying. (I know I am a horrible mother for making him do this!!)
So when we were all ready we loaded up the car (Throw up bowl and wet wash cloth included!) and headed to The Lost Dutchman (kind of a mining/ghost town very awesome!).

As we were walking around,(throw up bowl and wet wash cloth in tow) looking for a good photo OP, Benji was dragging his feet and moaning. Any time we stopped (so Leah could position us) he would lean on a rusty car or lay on a wood bench. We all tried to give him courage but he was so miserable! Leah was pullin out all her tricks to make him smile. We got a few 1/2 smiles in the beginning but he faded fast!

By the time we decided to take pity on Benji (I carried him to the car) and that there was no point to continue, we got in the car and started our way home. When we just got on the road home Benji announced that he was about to vomit and so, he did! I think he threw up twice, rinsed his mouth out with water and handed me his big bowl o' vomit and asked in his normal happy voice "So are we going to Nana and Papa's house now?" He was perfectly fine and ready to play! I could not believe it!! I wanted to flag Leah down and get her to snap a couple of pictures of Benji on the side of the road!!!

Overall we got some amazing new family pictures and Leah was just awesome!!!

Thank you so much Leah!

This look is the "Why are you doing this to me" look.

This is the "I am GQ but I smell something rotten" look.

And to top it all off, the "I'm not going to make it" look!

Family pictures!!!

2008-11-25T21:19:00.000-08:00

Tag!!

2008-11-25T20:51:00.000-08:00

Where is your mobile phone? couch
Where is your significant other? recliner
Your hair color?brown
Your mother? fun
Your father? quiet
Your favorite thing? crafts
Your dream last night? Can't remember
Your dream goal?
Room Your In? bedroom
Your hobby? crafts
Your fear? unloved
Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
Where were you last night? home
What you're not? betty crocker
One of your wish-list items? no debt!
Where you grew up? California
The last thing you did? downloaded
What are you wearing? garmies
Your TV? old
Your pets? fatdogthatlookslikelion
Your computer? slow
Your mood? tired
Missing someone? Stacy
Your car? messy
Something you're not wearing? a thong
Favorite shop? scrapbook etc.
Your summer? sweaty
Love someone? everyone
Your favorite color? pink
When is the last time you laughed? tonight (watching Noah walk around like a drunk!)

I tag Renee，Sora, Tawnya and Sarah

Is there a mummy in the house?

2008-10-19T14:26:00.000-07:00

Here is the card that I made for my mummies! It was tons of fun to make! I used cream colored paper and a tan chalk. I used scissors to rough up the edges of the stripes of paper! And I used the biggest googly eyes I could find!! I printed out the text before cutting the paper! Now I just wish Benji's mummy costume would be as easy!!! Any suggestions on how to make an easy mummy costume? I have white and grey white material but not sure where to go from there!! HELP!!!!

BOO-tiful!!

2008-10-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

I am a total copy cat! I saw this idea on Tawnya's blog and thought it was oh so cute!! This is the first time I used mod podge! I panicked a little when the paper started to bubble up but Debbie Moody saved the day!! Thanks Debbie and Tawnya!!

You are Beautiful Enrichment

2008-10-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Relief Society Presidency asked me to make these cute little bags for enrichment night on October 16Th. I was a little overwhelmed but in the good way! I just love playing with paper and making things! I love it even more when I get reinburst for what I spend!! I tried to be as cheap as I could and I spent about .50 cents per bag (finished bag!). That does not include the abuse that I put Melissa and Debbie's Cricuts thru!!! Sorry ladies but now Parkwood Ward and I are indebted to you both!! thank you!! And Thank you so much to Lisa for asking me to do this and for all your help! And thank you Angie and Leah for coming over for an Activity meeting and sitting down and tying ribbons!!! And I don't know what I would ever do with out my Sora to help me fill the bags! BTW she is having a GIRL!!!

You all saved the day!!! Thanks!!

Have your cake and (don't) eat it too!!!!

2008-09-28T20:48:00.001-07:00

Q. What does every new parent need??

A. DIAPERS!!!!

But giving someone a package of diapers is not much fun! SOOOO when Jessica Young (friend from our ward) had her little baby boy Easton I decided to try making a diaper cake! I had never done it before and had so much fun making it! I used 107 diapers (I later found 5 more rolled up under the couch!) and some cute blue and brown paper. I now am just waiting for another baby shower so I can do it again!!

B-day/challange card!

2008-09-24T20:23:00.000-07:00

This card is for a challenge that my friends Amy and Debbie are doing. The challenge is to make a card using scraps. The top of the cupcake is from a scallop punch I never used. I folded it in half and used demension dots to give it a 3D effect! I also dry embossed the little dots on the pink. It did not look as good as I hoped so I tried to versamark it so I could see the dots better. the bottom of the cupcake is a little scrap that I crimped. Then for the bottom of the card I just punched out a bunch of small circles of the same pink, sanded them a little and glued them on! It's simple but it was fun and I did not have to cut up a new sheet of paper to make it!
P.S. the card is also for a friend of chelseas!

Blog Candy!!!!

2008-09-15T19:39:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in trying to win this cute bag click on the picture of the purse on the right side of my blog. You will be taken to the gals website that is giving the candy away! So then you have to leave a comment on her blog to be entered to win the cute bag! The contest will end on Sunday the 21st!! Good luck!!!

24 hour thank yous!!

2008-09-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

This was my phone call on Wednesday evening.

Lani: Hello?
Chelsea: Uh, I need a thank you card.
Lani: Ok.
Chelsea: Uh, actually I need 9 thank you cards!
Lani: Uh, ok.
Chelsea: And (pause) I need them tomorrow!
Lani:CLICK!!!

jk I am sure there was more to the conversation but I seem to only remember this part!!

Well they turned out pretty simple because I sent too much time reading Midnight Sun (264 pages of Edward!!!!) when I should have been finishing the cards!!

Lets get Pampered!!!!

2008-09-10T12:54:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's time to get together! My sister in law Chelsea has signed up to be our official Pampered Chef consultant!! And I am going to host her first show!! It will be this Thursday @ 7PM and I hope everyone can come and cheer her on! (at least come for the yummy food!!!) If you can't make it but would like to look at a catalog just let me know and I can get one over to you!! or you can go to the website.

http://www.pamperedchef.com/index.jsp?localeString=en_us

Happiness = card making!

2008-08-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

When Chelsea needs a card for something she does not go to card isle at Target for one. No, she calls Lani and places an order! It started a few years ago when she needed oh about 50 thank you cards here and then 50 Christmas cards there! It might sound like this is a terrible burden for me to bear, but to be quite honest it is sooo far from terrible!! It brings me such joy to sit down on my bedroom floor ( there is not much floor space due to the piles of paper, scissors, glue, ribbon, other misc. crafting supplies scattered across the floor!) and make cards.

So I was still in the cards makin mood when chelsea picked up the sympathy card and she informed me that now she needed a birthday card for Thursday! I was so all over it!!!! I just love to make cards! I always make two so I can keep one, so I started making a pink one and a green one but things got out of hand and I ended up making 12 cards in 5 different colors! I wanted Chelsea to have choices!!!

Our new puppy for a day!!!!

2008-08-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

So last Thursday Sora called and asked if I would go check out a puppy that she found online! It was down the street from me so I drove right over. The puppy is a cockapoo and only 12 weeks old and oh soo cute! I told Sora that the dog was MINE! We agreed that she would get him on Saturday so we could play with a dog that actually acted like a dog! (Sorry Hoku!) The boys went crazy and loved to play with the dog. He still slept a lot (under the couch!) but towards the end of the day he got super active and was jumping all over Benji! He even took a playful snap at Benjis nose! He also was having a hard time with the house rules and poo'ed and piddled where ever he wanted! I did not get much sleep (zero minutes) the night before so my love for the cute little puppy started to diminish. I was too nervous to leave the puppy alone for more than a minute to even take a shower! By 7p.m. I called Sora and told her that puppy wanted to come home!

I am now enjoying Soras new puppy (named Kogi which means MEAT in Korean!) from afar and I am also enjoying listening to Sora yell at the puppy and continue to find little treats left by said puppy! (I know, I'm evil!)

Sympathy card

2008-08-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

Chelsea asked me to make her a sympathy card for a friend that lost his partner. She worked with him at the Chilis in Ahwatukee. Here is what I made!

Free Personal signatures - cool!

2008-08-24T12:17:00.001-07:00

TEXTAREA_ID

Ready... Set..... BLOG!!!!

2008-08-20T14:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have FINALLY started a blog of my very own!!! I have been wanting to do one but have been too chicken to start! I have been stalking blogs for a while and didn't have the guts to start my own! So be patient with me! I think it will be a great way to document our family fun and keep in touch with friends and family!!