WOW!!

So this morning after calling the bank, we got quite a shock to find out how big Larry's pay cut was going to be. Can you say OUCH! This of course put me in a right bad mood. I have never been one to worry about things especially money. It's always been either we have it or we don't. We share when God has blessed us. And we have always thought "it's only money, we can make more". Now those are easy thoughts to have when your income steadily rises (as ours has) But what happens when the state comes in and says "sorry, you get a pay cut, cause we can't manage our finances" We got frustrated . . . BIG TIME. But after throwing a little temper tantrum and being in a less than great mood, I sat down to do school work with Cameron (probably not a good time to start that either) and while he's working on his work, I thought I would give my Bible study a go . . . cause we meet in three day's and I have a crazy weekend (yes, I can be some what of a procrastinator). Anyway, we are going through First Peter and this week we are finishing the book. So I got my little "God is bigger than the boggy man kick-in-the-butt" First Peter 5:6 says "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all of your anxiety on Him, because he cares for you." Wow!!! Thanks God!!

My Baby is 5!

On February 22nd Cameron turned 5! I can't even believe that 5 years have passed since he was born. What a difference 5 years make! At birth Cameron weighed 8.5 lbs and was 20 inches long. At 5 years old he is 56.6 lbs and 46 inches tall! He can write, read some words, spell some words, count to 100, add simple number (up to a total of 10) and subtract. He officially started Kindergarten this week! We are home schooling him using Julian Charter school as his facilitator. We met with his facilitator Erin and I think that this is going to be a wonderful adventure!

Cameron at birth



Cameron at 1


Cameron at 2


Cameron at 3


Cameron at 4


Cameron Now!!

Oh, Disneyland how we missed you so!

On a very rainy Friday in February, three Zay's headed off to a very rainy Disneyland. . .

On Friday Feb. 6 we decided to kick off our "year of Disney". It was very wet day indeed. We prayed about safe travel and off we went. When we got to the park, it was drizzling on and off. I was actually surprised how many people were there on such a rainy day. But being that this is the year that Disneyland is giving you free admission on your birthday and the year they started a monthly payment option on their passes, it really wasn't all that surprising. Cameron was VERY excited about going to Disneyland. It had almost been a year since our last trip. The first three years of his life, we had passes so we went several times a month. So this was very exciting indeed. And even though he had been there hundreds of times, this was kind of like the first time. He is getting to the age, where he actually remembers things. And even though he had some memories of the trip we made to Disneyland last year, a lot of the park was new to him.




When we got to the park, we stopped at the ticket booth to get our passes. We decided to go into Disney's CA Adventure first. Because we have a Disney Visa, there are lots of things that are special just to Disney Visa card holders. One of which is a personal meet and great with Disney characters. You have to be a DV holder and you also get a FREE 5x7 picture! On that day, the characters were Chip and Dale. They spent several minutes with him looking at his autograph book and playing with his hair!


Because it was raining there wasn't many characters walking around. So we decided to go where they spend the most time, in the Animation building.


Cameron was very interested in the "Hollywood Back lot" mural, he liked how it looked like the road just kept going.


While walking from one place to the next, we did stumble across Goofy


We then went and rode, Tower of Terror, Cameron was not impressed! But when we were leaving that ride, we came across Mr. Incredible and him and Cameron compared muscles . . .


While they were comparing, Goofy found us! He wanted to be included in the comparison


I think I have a new favorite ride at Disneyland. It's Toy Story Mania, you get to wear these really fashionable glasses while you ride and play


After several wet hours at DCA we headed over to Disneyland and got our passport pictures (wonderful after 5 hours in the rain). We met up with the Heatherly women and went into Toon Town where we met up with Goofy at his house. He must have gotten wet and went home to change clothes


Jessie, Cameron, Goofy and Jordan


We went through Mickey's house and the kids took a break on his couch.
Jessie, Cameron and Jenna


After weaving our way through Mickey's house, we found him, dressed to the nines if you ask me!


We then went over to Minnie's house to see how she was doing. The kids all got together in one picture


Then it was Jen and I's turn


After our trip through Toon Town, we said good by to the Heatherly's for a while. They went to meet up with Justin and we headed off to do whatever it is you do at Disneyland. I think it started to rain again, because I don't have that many pictures in the evening. We left around 7, even though we had originally planned to close the park. But Larry had to work the next day and he had a long shift in front of him. But that was okay, because we know we will have lots of time to spend at Disneyland in the next year!

Bind it all!!

We decided for Cameron's 5th birthday we would take him to Disneyland. Because Disney decided to go monthly on their annual passports, this allowed us to get passes! Because we knew we would be spending lots of free time there this year, I decided I wanted Cameron to have an extra special autograph book. I also am cheap . . . or frugal, so after inspecting his previous autograph books, I decided, "I can do that!" Our friends the Heatherly's would also be getting passes. Because they have three girls, I decided to make them autograph books too. Jessie, the youngest, her birthday is 6 day's before Cameron's. I thought, it's best to give them all their autograph books at the same time. For the second year in a row, Jen and I planned a Disneyland trip on the same day without talking about it to the other. We would all be heading off to "the Happiest Place on Earth" on the 6th, so I had to work fast! I made 4 autograph books on Feb 5th. But they sure did come out cute! For Cameron, I let him pick which character he wanted on the front. He chose Buzz, which is no surprise right now, he is on a Toy Story kick. I Modge Podged his book, because the Buzz I bought was all paper. I had Jen ask the girls what their favorite characters and colors were and then personalized their books. Because they had all chose princesses, the dresses were made of fabric, so I created the albums and then gave them the princess separately, so they could add them when the books were full. Looking back I bed I could have Modge Podged them . . . but didn't want to risk it at the time and have it blow up in my face. Next time!

For the girls books, I cut chip board and all of the papers individually to give me the size and look I wanted. Because they would be carrying around three books I made their books smaller. I let the girls choose their own colors, so they would reflect their preferences.



I used my Cricut to cut the words for the covers of the books. I did each girls book in a different font with their names. Jessie and Jordan both had chosen Bell and royal blue so I made sure that their fonts were different. Because I didn't attach the princess, this is what it would look like, as soon as they were complete.



I used my Bind It All to bind the books. This is the bind it all cutting the holes for the pages.



Once all of the pages and covers had been punched, I was ready to do the actual binding. For Jessie's book, I chose white wire.



For Cameron's book I opted to use Bind It All covers and Pages


I made the cover two toned and Modge Podged each layer. His book took a LONG time.


My Cricut hard at work. For Cameron's book I used the Mickey font for the letters


I used the Bind It All to bind Cameron's book, but used silver wire to complete the look of his book



Because I had made his book an 8x8 I chose to add photo mats to the inside so that the characters would know where to sign. So the picture would be above or next to the signature. I did however leave the inside front cover as a two page spread to give Mickey Mouse full room to write and a larger picture. I also left the inside back cover a two page spread for Buzz.

The 80's live on in our hearts!

A year ago I started a bunco group. Every month we move from house to house playing bunco. It's the hostess choice what the theme or lack there of should be. Jen hosted bunco in January and it was no surprise that she chose the 80's for her theme. I have to say, I am proud of my friends! They really out did themselves! It's amazing how many of us were able to channel the 80's even though it's been nearly 20 years since the 80's ended. Also I was rather proud at how many of us could still sing all the songs that played on an 80's XM radio station, with little or no mistakes. I guess, no matter how old we were during the 80's, it will still live on in our hearts. And even though my friends have repeatedly shot me down, I think I could really get the leggings and denim skirt look to work now.

Charlene, she's a maniac, maniac ;)


Jen and Darcee


Jay and Chastity


Allison and Robyn


Jess and the guest of honor, Rick Springfield!


Me & Jen, I can make this look work, right?


The Dice Diva's

Legoland in my house!!!

One of the things I have come to realize with a boy is that they just don't play . . . they spread out. If he wants to play Lego's he doesn't get out a few to play with, no he gets ALL of them out! Due to Larry's love for Lego's, we are in no short supply of Lego's. In fact Cameron has TWO under the bed storage containers full. I am not a huge fan of playing Lego's like this. I would like to have the kit, follow the directions and create the masterpiece. Larry and Cameron like to use their imagination and their 5 million Lego's and just . . . create. So as it is, when Lego's are the toy de jour, my house looks like Legoland threw up. But I can say, they are really good about picking up when they are done.

I surprised them


This picture doesn't do justice to how thick the pile of Lego's is!


Showing off for the camera