SERIOUSLY

When Rachel was planting the garden with her Daddy a few weeks ago I was snapping pictures. Rachel loves the wall in the backyard and was playing while I was snapping. I can't believe this face - it HAD to go on a page!!!

Just when I started to relax OR all is NOT right with the world today

All morning long I watched Jackson's blood sugar get higher and higher and I couldn't get it down. Finally, I get this message - NO DELIVERY. So I pretty much freak out, no delivery means NO insulin which means NOT GOOD. Out came the needles and the insulin vial, all to keep this kid out of the hospital today. Screaming insued; nothing could calm him down. He probably hasn't had a shot in 6 months via a needle. I called the pump company and they said the tube was clogged. How it happened I don't know, but 3 hours later, he is finally coming down from the dangerously high blood sugar. I guess this is a reminder to me to keep my injection skills up and not take this disease for granted on ANY level. It's not fair, but it is my cross right now and I will take it up for as long as I have to. Say a prayer for him - it's been a tough day.

All is right in the world today

Grey's Anatomy is back tonight with a BRAND SPANKIN' NEW episode! I can't wait for my 9:00 pm snack and phone call from Amy to watch the show together. Girl - you better take a nap so you can stay up late tonight, LOL! Until then here are a few layouts for you to enjoy from the May Kit at Crop Addict

Being Recognized

Rachel was recognized at school today. Her certificate said she was being recognized for her bubbly personality, that she is full of energy and loves to have fun and play with her friends. She brightens the classroom with her smile and her excitement for life and living. Her teacher also said Rachel was "keenly aware" of what is going on in the classroom.

Of course we are very happy and proud of her. But we just could not help but joke to ourselves that her teacher chose very caring and loving words to say Rachel was a ball of energy who is in the middle of everything all the time.

We're going to California!!!

It is official - we are going to CA in June for the Walk to Cure Diabetes Fresno walk. WOOHOO! It will be so cool to be able to be there and walk with Jack's Pack again - in person! We have been part of Jack's pack since day 1 and this year it was Jackson himself who convinced Jason to make the trip to Fresno for the walk. He asked to call Jason everyday to ask him to come to his walk ... but Jennifer being the mom she is only let him call a few times. If truth be told - it only took 1 time of Jackson asking Jason to come!! I was telling Jennifer when I looked in Jason's wallet the other day - he has pictures of Rachel, a picture of me with her when she was 18 months and a picture of Jackson. The three most important people to him!

So get ready Fresno --- the vallreds /vanderalls will be together again. And Rachel and I are going to be able to stay a while since she is done school by then - WOOHOO!!!

So our friend Deb awarded us the Arte y Pico award. The idea of this award is to pass it on to five other bloggers whom you think are creative and contribute a lot to the blogging community. So we are going to pass it along to ...

Emelyn
Laura
Virginia
Beth J
Morgan

It's FRIDAY!!!

Woohoo - gotta love fridays! Rachel has been itching to see the Bee Movie - so we are going to rent that for her tonight. Jason and I are going to be watching hockey!

I am part of Jason's hockey pool with a bunch of his work buddies and friends. I am ranked 7th out of 15 - but I am still ahead of Jason so that is all that counts!! Ken is ahead of both of us in 5th spot. Mr Kenny is doing well in 10th spot ... I take pleasure in reminding those doing worse than him that he is ONLY 9!!

Cute as can be ...

It seems like only yesterday she started school and already she is graduating?! Well OK so they have Kindergarten graduation here is Texas. It seems weird to me to have a graduation when you are 6 but hey - she looks darn cute. Graduation is not until May 15 - but today the kids got their cap and gowns to bring home. She had her graduation pictures two weeks ago - can't wait to see those - teehee. Anyway here is how she looked today - I think we might have the red part on backwards but hey this is how she put it on!!

A few from me too

I am so bad about getting pages posted to here and other galleries. I have been doing lots of pages lately, just not getting them uploaded very fast. Here are couple for you to see. TFL!

I ordered a "pile of paper" a couple of weeks ago. I just LOVE ephemera and old stuff. I added some to this page of Kaden with his Valentine balloons.

Aunt Natalie's first time at In-N-Out Burger - it had to have a page! LOL!

Jackson loves playing t-ball this year. His favorite thing is sliding into every base!

Jackson's Easter party at Preschool - using up some stash!

This is a recipe book I put together for Kenny's class silent auction basket. I almost didn't give it away...

OK, so more than a couple... hee hee!

Check it out - I have been Scrapping!

Really I have been! Here is a page I did for my challenge at Mojo this week.

I have completed a few others this week too. I have decided that I prefer scrapping with Jennifer in the same room - not on the phone. We tried the webcams to scrap - but it is really a little too weird for that. So for now the phone will have to do. This is my fav for the week I think - I just love that Paper and that birdie stamp!!!

Dun da da da da Dun da da da da .....

OK so unless you are in Canada those da das don't mean much ... but if you are a red-blooded hockey fan you are probably humming the Hocky Night in Canada theme. Funny how we get more hockey on TV living in Texas than we did living in Colorado. This is dream TV time for Jason - he gets to see at least 2 games per night - EVERY night. And while he is working at his computer he is listening to the live feed from online radio sites. Last night he listened to the Calgary/San Jose game being broadcast on a Calgary radio station. He is happier about the TV coverage here too - this year there are some CBC feeds on the US stations. I have to admit - I do prefer the CBC announcers calling the games. I also love to watch hockey but this time of the year there is a bit of an overload.

While checking out the NHL site to see the score from last night - I came across this ... David Boreanaz is a big hockey fan. And he is so fun to stare at!!

He is blogging for the NHL and these playoffs - http://fans.nhl.com/members/david_boreanaz/blogs/10899 it was kind of fun to read!

We are still in the early stages of the road to the cup - so it is still any team's game! I am hoping to be able to say this the whole way through - GO FLAMES GO!!

Incredible Read

If you know me well, you know that I go through books faster than I can purchase them and even being the daughter of a librarian, I just like to actually "own" my books. I just buy them and then pass them on when I am finished.

But I digress... this book is my newest book study with a couple of women at my church. Run out and get it! I am not passing this one on - I need to read it and re-read it for the rest of my life.

It is really challenging me right now- what would Jesus do in my world, my circle of friends, my community? It is also interesting to me that this book was written so many years ago, but the basic principles set forth in it are timeless. I am devouring this book with a thirst for wisdom in my own personal life.

Get it! It's good.

-Jen

Disappointing News

Carman has decided to shut down her site, Creative Scrap Shack. I am sad as I was just getting going over there, but glad to have made some new friends that I should be able to keep track of. (I hope!) Carman, my thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this difficult time and I will be here on the other side. Big Hugs my new friend!

-Jen

Our Baby is 6!

6 years ago our little peanut made an early (11 week early) arrival into our world! It is hard to believe that 6 years have passed since that scary time - but they have!!

Growing up we called this birthday a Champagne Birthday - turning your birthdate (6 on the 6th). Rachel sure had one busy champagne day! We started with a Horton Hears A Who breakfast at IHOP this morning before Church. Then a movie party with her school friends - Jason brought home a projector from work and we played Enchanted on the wall in our living room. Then we took her little friend out to dinner with us. It was a great day - Rachel said it was "the best birthday ever" - and I think I tend to agree!

Here is the annual picture of Rachel and bunny! Still amazes me that this stuffed bunny was 3 times her size!! What a precious miracle our girl is!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL - WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Happy Birthday Rachel!

Happy 6th Birthday Rachel! We hope your day is filled with wonderful surprises!! We love you!!

-Ken, Jennifer, Kenny, Jackson, Kaden, and Reggie

*I'm sure Amy will post later with pictures and thoughts ;)

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today is Rachel's grandpa's birthday! We had a party for his birthday and Rachel's while we were home - but we still wish we were there to give him hugs today!!!

CSS kits rock!

I whipped out(and I truly mean that in the fact I made all these projects in less than 24 hours, including dry time) these layouts from the April Creative Scrap Shack kit! That is what is so great about them - you have everything you need to quickly create. It is really great for me since I can simply pull out the kit and some photos and get to work without much hunting and gathering of supplies. Cheri puts together amazing products and the results are incredible. Head over there to see what the rest of the Island Girls did too.