A little update...

So Cole started preschool a couple of weeks ago - I am so proud of him! He goes three times a week for a couple hours. He's doing really well and so far it's mostly review for him. It's great for him to get used to the classroom environment and following directions, etc. He's so excited to do his homework! (Yeah, wait till he has REAL homework; then he probably won't like it so much!)



Katelyn was sick a couple days ago with a phantom illness - not sure what it was, but
she had a super high fever and vomited one time. I felt so bad for her! I stayed up with her on the couch and we both finally fell asleep sometime in the middle of the night. She's doing much better now, thankfully! Now she's back to her sweet little self - giving lots of kisses and hugs (to us and the dog, Bella) and doing girly things!

Yesterday we went to Tucson for Ryan's niece, Ann's, baptism. It was so beautiful and you could really feel the Spirit there. We got to hang out with Norm's family afterwards for awhile and it was so much fun! They have six kids so they have plenty to keep them busy outside in their backyard. Luckily it wasn't too hot (there was a storm rolling in which cooled things off quite a bit) so they could enjoy it. I forgot the camera, but the kids had a lot of fun on the see-saw, jungle gym, and playhouse.

Tomorrow's Labor Day, so that means a day off from watching kids (besides my own). Don't get me wrong, I love all the kids I watch, but sometimes it's nice to have a little break!



Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day! -Lucinda :)

P.S. - I'm doing a little scrapbook challenge on my friend Ruth's blog: Go here to vote! http://www.tinybabybubbles.blogspot.com/ or click on the Ruth and Joel link on the right.

This challenge was to scrapbook a layout in teams of a high-powered woman in your life. I immediately thought of Lainey, my mother-in-law. She's my hero in so many ways! So that's what my layout is of. My layout is #5 - there's only 2 more days to vote!

My New "Rig" - courtesy of Ryan

So I watch a little boy named Mark before and after school and drop him off/pick him up at the bus stop as well. I was mentioning how it was getting really hard to get all the kids to the bus stop one day to Ryan, and a couple hours later, he came home with another double stroller. He used conduit pipe, bolts, screws, washers, etc. to hook two double strollers together. Now I can fit up to 6 kids in the big stroller if I need to! It's so awesome! It's a really good workout, too!

He took the above picture of me pushing it back from the bus stop for the first time (loaded with 6 kids, I might add). Do I look tired? I was sweating buckets, I'm sure!

I've gotten the strangest looks from people as I'm walking to the bus stop. One guy said, "You have to be babysitting - no way can all those kids be yours!" Another said, "You've sure got your hands full!" All the moms at the bus stop want Ryan to make one for them too!

Anyways, those of you who know Ryan will appreciate this "rig" and those of you who don't will probably just laugh because I'm sure it looks quite ridiculous. Either way, Ryan rocks for doing this for me!

Our newest niece!

My brother Joel and his wife Lisa had their 3rd little girl a couple weeks ago - her name is Shae Margaret and she is soooo adorable! I can't wait to see her again - if I can ever get out of the house, that is!

Stampin' Up Convention

Last week I had the opportunity to go to the Stampin' Up Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah (without the family). It was the first time I'd been on a trip without the fam coming along, so it was a little different! Ryan and the kids survived with help from friends and family (thanks so much, by the way!) and I had so much fun!

I went with my upline Kresta and sideline demonstrators Chris and Michelle. We all shared one hotel room, so it was like a slumber party every night!

The convention took place at the Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake, where some Winter Olympics events were held - it was massively huge! The first day of convention, we got to go to Memento Mall (where they have lots of cool Stampin' Up logo merchandise).

This is us waiting in line to get into Memento Mall.

We also checked in and received our bags with lots of FREEBIES! We got 3 brand-new stamp sets and the new catalog! It won't even be released to the public until Aug. 11th. It is so amazing with so many fun new stamps and accessories! Can't wait for my workshops so I can show my customers all the new stuff!

Another highlight was going to the Salt Lake Temple with my demo friend Lisa. I don't have a cell phone and I hadn't been there since I was 12, so trying to meet up with her for a temple session was a little tough. We finally found each other and were able to attend the temple together. That temple is sooooo beautiful! All of the intricate woodwork and painting was breathtaking. I only wish Ryan could've been there with me as well. My camera wouldn't take any good pics of me in front of the temple because it was too dark, but Lisa is supposed to send me a pic from her camera, so when she does, I'll post it here.

We also got to go to Stampin' Up's head office in Riverton. It was an amazing building - when you walked in there was this huge rock formation with a waterfall and everything. We got to go to the Idea Room where all the head honchos come up with their amazing ideas. It was this huge room with comfy couches and bean bags with a great view of the Wasatch mountains and there was ping pong and air hockey tables also. This is a pic of me and my friends chillin' on a couch in the Idea Room.

In the same building is the shipping warehouse where all of our orders are filled. We got to see the "picking" line - it was pretty hi-tech!



We also had lots of fun classes and presentations to attend where we all got some great new ideas. One of my favorite classes was the Make n Takes. They had 6-7 projects for us to do with the new stamp sets that were freebies to us, with some new techniques, too.

Another fun thing to do was swapping. Basically, everyone brings card fronts and sometimes 3-D items to swap with other demonstrators. I made about 100 cards to swap, but some people made up to 500! People were swapping everywhere...in the elevator, in the hall, walking to classes, in the lunch line...basically anywhere you could find someone who was swapping! I got to meet some really neat people. One of them was a gal from Canada named Gerry. She was traveling by herself and was staying at our hotel, so we kind of "adopted" her into our little group. She is so smart with her business and had lots of tips she didn't mind sharing. She was also super nice. Here's a pic of Gerry with our group on the last day of convention.
So basically I came home tired from having a slumber party every night, but bursting with new ideas and excitement for all the new products, etc. I'm glad to be back home in my own bed and I really did miss the kids and Ryan so much!

Sleepyheads!

We have a bunch of sleepyheads at our house! I think the only person who hasn't taken a nap on the couch with the dog is Katelyn, because she will ONLY sleep in her crib (or sometimes the car).

Cole & Bella having a little siesta. It was so cute I just had to take a picture! I went to take Cole upstairs to his bed and when I came down, I saw this:

Bella didn't waste any time taking over the couch and pillow after Cole was gone!

Ryan taking a snooze with Bella.

Becca's Visit to AZ

Okay, get a snack and get ready to look at lots of pictures!
My friend Becca (we go way back - we worked at Nielsen's Frozen Custard together for 4 years and were even roommates for awhile!) and her kids came to visit us last month. She's the one who helped me set up my blog - she's awesome. Anyways, we had a ton of fun and I'm sorry I'm just now getting around to posting about it!



Becca's son Case stealing treats from Bella - quite entertaining! :)

Justin & Cole - buddies forever

Ryan wrestling with Justin, Cole, and Bella

We had planned on going to a splash park but decided to have a water play day in our backyard instead. Becca's sister Katie who lives near me came with her kids as well and we all had a lot of fun in the pool, slip-n-slide, and sprinklers.

How many kids can fit in one pool? A lot more, apparently!

Me, Cole & wiggly Katelyn :)

Katelyn & our neighbor Alma, who is great with the kiddos

Cole with his cool sunglasses

Becca with Justin & Case

Slip N Slide!