Rick's Birthday, Mixed Football Emotions, and a Little Basketball

World's Best Son-in-Law: Rick.  Happy Birthday!

Today I am thankful for RICK and FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL!

First, Rick:  Rick is our son-in-law, our daughter, Kori's wonderful hubby.  We love him so much.  Happy Birthday, Rick!  Thanks for being the husband and father you are.  We are so grateful you are part of our family.  Have a wonderful day. I hope Kori make all of your favorite things and spoils you rotten.

Now on to football: I love me some football, especially when Pedersen boys are the ones I'm watching. My father played college football for Brigham Young University and I grew up in a  home filled with football. My hubby, Dan-the-Man played as well.  He played Jr. College ball in from 1982-1984 for Ricks College then went on to finish at Southern Utah University. He was a lineman. We are still trying to figure out where our receiver, DB, QB boys came from. Ha!

Easton playing for SUU vs. Cal (Easton's sophomore season)

Today is the final season game for the Southern Utah University T-Birds (and Easton Pedersen) as they take on the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, who are ranked #11 in the nation FCS right now.  No worries.  We knocked off the #1 team a couple of weeks ago. We've got this! Good luck to Easton. He burst the bursa sack in his knee a couple of weeks ago but has been playing through it. I'm proud of his toughness and determination.  In fact, with a hugely swollen knee and a black and blue leg, he had his best receiving game of the season last week.  No too shabby!

The reason my emotions are a little mixed today is that I am always sad to see football season come to a close.  It ended a couple of weeks ago for Dawson (his final year of high school football) as we lost the final game of the season in overtime by one point.  A win in that game would have put us into the state playoffs. Sad night. Lots of tears were shed by this mommy as she realized she would no more be watching any of her sons play high school football.  That's not to diminish in any way the sadness the boys felt as they missed the playoffs by a point.

Dawson's final high school football game (red, #10)

After today, I will have to satisfy myself by watching the rest of the college football teams still playing and some NFL.  It's better than nothing, but not as much fun as watching my own boys on the field.

Although the ending of a football season is sad, there is also lots of football to look forward to.  Tannon returned from his 2-year mission for our church in Spain this Fall and is busily preparing to start school and his football scholarship at Southern Utah University, where he'll be on the team with his brother Easton. Dawson has high hopes of playing after his mission (which he will leave for following his high school graduation). Fingers are crossed all through the Pedersen home that one of the schools recruiting him offers soon!  Easton is currently a sophomore in eligibility so he has another 2 years to enjoy catching the ball for SUU.  Since Tannon is a QB, who knows, if he works hard he may just be starting at QB while Easton is still there and have the chance to throw to his bro. That would be cool, right?

Tannon in his senior season of football in high school. Can't wait to see him throw the ball in college!

Off I go to make some treats and straighten up as we get ready to watch the Southern Utah T-Birds and Northern Arizona Lumberjacks tee-off at 2:00 pm.  I'm so glad it's on television. We had hoped to drive to Arizona for the game but Dawson has basketball practice this morning so that was out of the question.  Ahhhhhh, that reminds me. When football ends, I still have basketball to look forward to! I feel much better now.  I am also thankful for basketball.  Here's to a great senior season for Dawson and the Springville Red Devils. 

Sprinville (Dawson, red #10) vs. Timpview last Spring. We won in 4OT!

Basketball Layout - "Game On"

I created this layout of Dawson using the new "Make It From Your Heart" publication that was recently released by Close To My Heart. This book has 16 two-page layout patterns, 2 one-page layout patterns,  and 12 card patterns. All of that for only $7.95! 

I had fun with a few different techniques on this layout:

• Painting the edges of the layout and even the photos with some white acrylic paint
• Tone-on-tone stamping: I stamped the basketballs in bamboo ink on bamboo cardstock for the base pages.
• Embossing: I am a  huge embosser.  I thought the embossed stamped borders on a few of the patterned paper strips above and below the photo collage added just the right touch.
• Mixing and matching patterned papers from a few different paper packs.

That "Make It From Your Heart" publication is full of great inspiration and ideas!

Here are a few detail shots.  I'll add a 'products used' list after the photos. 

I used the awesome Dimensional Elements Tags to create this journaling spot.

I loved using the Pacifica Mini-Medley Buttons and our Neutral Twine Assortment to mix in with the Dimensional Elements Stars. Some I just left white and some I covered with B&T paper.

Can you tell I love Dimensional Elements?  I used our Dimensional Element Notable Alphabet in it's natural white state for the "Game On" title.

Close To My Heart products used:  Game On Stamp Set, Bamboo Cardstock, Ruby Cardstock, Dakota Paper Pack, Florentine Paper Pack, Bamboo Stamp Pad, Dimensional Elements Tags, Dimensional Elements Stars, Dimensional Elements Notable Alphabet, Pacifica Mini-Medley (retired), Neutral Twine Assortment, Versamark Pad, White Daisy Embossing Powder.

Studio J "Best Day" Layout and a Studio J Tutorial

Studio J Layout: "Best Day" made with the awesome "Lucky" digital kit

Happy Monday!  We are currently at our son, Easton and his wife, Daysha's home for the week. It's so much fun to spend time with them. While we are here Dawson is participating in a football camp and a basketball tournament so we are staying busy! Dan and I are just chillin', watching, and enjoying some downtime and relaxation. Life is good!

In honor of being here, I thought I'd share a layout I made recently with Studio J of Dawson from just over a year ago when he came to spend a week with Easton and Daysha for his 17th birthday.  E and D took good care of him, took him to do lots of fun activities, and made sure his birthday was honored, complete with gluten free cupcakes and a day of shooting up Cedar Canyon. Isn't all of the red rock just gorgeous? Feel free to click on the layout to see it larger and in more detail.

As you know, I am a BIG fan of Studio J (Close To My Heart's fast and easy, but beautiful answer to digital scrapbooking).  I'd love to answer any questions you might have.  You can also read about Studio J here and try it out.

Lastly (but certainly not lastly!) I wanted to share a "Love Your Layout" Studio J tutorial video. Close To My Heart releases one of these each month that you can follow and make your very own layout while learning fun new Studio J techniques. They are quick, easy and so much fun!



Have a wonderful day. I'm off to watch some football!

Karen

Water, water and MORE water!

Dan and I are currently in St. George, UT watching Dawson play in a basketball tournament with the Lone Peak Knights (GO KNIGHTS!). We cannot even believe what we are witnessing...not with basketball...but the WEATHER! The heavy rains from California have hit Southern Utah and we have gotten about 14" of rain the past few days. There is a lot of flooding going on all over St. George and the surrounding areas. Our prayers go out to all those whose homes and businesses are being affected.

Jackpot June Deal for June 26 and Dawson's Football and Basketball

I am not the best announcement girl the past couple of days. I am on my way out the door again for a day of Dawson basketball at Brigham Young University. Today's Jackpot June deal won't be announced until after I leave this morning again. So, be sure to check my website after 9 a.m. MDT today (http://leavealegacy.myctmh.com), then click on Shop Online and then Jackpot June to see today's deal. I'm sure it's as great as the rest have been!

Yesterday was a GREAT day of basketball. Dawson's team (Lone Peak's JV) went undefeated in their 4 games of pool play and begin today's final tournament round as the #1 seed from their pool. We could have anywhere from 3 - 5 more games today if we keep winning. My house is a wreck (who needs a clean house and clean laundry?), but we are having a blast.

Since all of the artwork I have been working on lately is top secret until after the CTMH National Convention in July, I thought I'd include a few photos from Dawson's 7 on 7 football tournament last Saturday (feel free to click on any photo to see it larger). Summer is a crazy time filled with both football and basketball at our house, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

All-Star

Tan-Man was chosen as an all-state player this year for Utah 5A high school basketball. Tonight he plays in the Utah County North vs. South All-Star Game and on Friday night he plays in the statewide 5A vs. 4A all-star game. FUN! I thought I was done watching him play high school basketball...sniff, sniff. I'm so glad I'm not!

We love you, Mr. All-Star! Kick some all-star tushie!

All Good Things Must Come To An End

Lone Peak (and my Tan-Man) lost in the 5A Utah State High School Basketball Tournament on Tuesday night. Sadness at the Pedersen home. We lost to Bingham High School (the #1 team in the state, they were 19-1 when we played). We played a good game, fought a good fight, and did our best. What more can you ask? We just came out on the wrong end of the score. We finished the season 17-6. Not too shabby.

Tannon had a good game with 17 points. He finished the regular season as the number one 3-point shooter in the state and one of the the top overall scorers in the state (5A, averaged over 16 points per game). Not bad, little boy! We are proud of you. It was a sad day to watch the loss because that meant it was the last time I would get to watch him play high school basketball....ever (Note to blog readers: that explains why you have not seen anything creative from me for a day or two. As you know, I HATE to lose {something I desperately need to work on}! I spent the day yesterday in my sweats watching my dvr'd American Idol from the night before and anything else that allowed me to stay on the couch with my blankie!).

Here are some photos that were taken of Tannon at the playoff game against those darn Bingham Miners (thanks to the Deseret News for the awesome photos!). Love you, T-man!

I guess the good news is that he can now move on to other things that have been on the back burner. He plans to ask someone to the prom tonight (our prom is March 27 this year...weird!) and he even got busy on a homework assignment last night that is not even due until next week. WOW! Miracles never cease.

Maybe I'll put on some real clothes today (not just sweats) and actually clean my house and create something pretty to share tomorrow. Until then....

Senior Leader

How cool is this? The Salt Lake Tribune had this article about Tannon in the sports section yesterday. VERY nice!

Tonight is Senior Night. It will be the last regular season home basketball game of Tannon's high school career as we face Hillcrest tonight. After already having 2 kids graduate from high school and experiencing the Senior Night thing with Easton for football and Kori for drill team, I know the HUGE emotions that come with it. I have been crying all day! Where does the time go? How did this blonde headed, blue eyed, mischief-filled little boy become an almost graduated Senior?

After tonight Lone Peak plays Jordan High School at Jordan next week and then the state tournament begins. Exciting.

Ups and Downs

What a crazy past 7 or 8 days! As you know, much of the ebb and flow of the Pedersen house comes from sports. With the end of the basketball regular season nearing and the state tournament time just around the corner, games begin to have even more meaning. This past week is a great example of the ups and downs of emotions that come with a house full of athletes.

1. The Mt. Ridge Huskies finished their regular season with a big win over a great team. Dawson led the team in scoring for the game, and even the year, and loved having big brother, Easton there watching this final regular season game. Up!

2. Dawson's team was expected to play for the league championship. They won their division and had only lost 2 games all season. Unfortunately they were upset in the quarterfinals by a team that they had already beaten twice this season. Down. Dawson was sad (that is a very small word to describe how upset our Awesome Dawson was) but thankfully we have now moved on. Whew! He is excited to start some weekend workouts to help him get ready for next football season this Saturday. Up.

3. Tannon's team (Lone Peak High School) is experiencing highs and lows everywhere we turn. Our center, who had been out most of the season due to two severe concussions, came back and played 2 games only to be re-injured in practice the next day and is now out for the season. Down.

4. Tannon has been averaging just under 20 points per game this season, but has really struggled in his shooting this past week against Pleasant Grove and American Fork. Come on, T-Man! We've got to get that percentage back up. Down.

5. Although Tannon only scored 8 points last night against American Fork (Down), they were at opportune moments; like the 3 pointer he hit with no time on the clock to end regulation and put the game into overtime, where we won went on to win it. Definite UP!

6. Tannon hit two three pointers last night which helped him break two records (read the article about last night's game here). One was the single season three point shooting record at Lone Peak. Tannon has hit 57 threes this year. He also broke the career three point shooting record at Lone Peak with those two threes. He now has 83 career threes at Lone Peak. Another BIG Up! He also leads the state of Utah in 3 point shooting this season. HUGE Up! That said, I know that Tannon would prefer a state championship to any other record, any day.

6. Although Lone Peak has not fared as well as hoped in our talented region, we have now secured a birth in the state playoffs. Up!

7. Since Easton returned from his mission, he has been able to attend all of his brothers' games and cheer them on. He is a proud big brother. This means the world to Tannon and Dawson. Up! Easton also found a great job this week that will allow him to put some money away as he prepares to move to Cedar City to go to school and play football for Southern Utah University this coming year. He has hired a wonderful trainer to work him out 4 days per week to get him ready for the physical demands of college football. Up!

I'm happy to say in this week of highs and lows and ups and downs, the ups have outnumbered the downs. That's ALWAYS a good thing!

Take a Deep Breath

Have you ever wanted something really badly, but were a little bit afraid to go for it? I'm not sure the afraid portion was any part of Tannon's psyche last night, but it was mine! I took a deep breath and settled in to watch.

Last night was a biggie win! Lone Peak has only lost 3 basketball games this season (14-3), two of them in overtime, and all three against region foes. NOT GOOD! If it helps to put a little perspective on things, 5 of the 7 teams in our region are in the top 10 in the state. Our region is like the SEC of college football or the ACC of college basketball. Ugh!

But, last night we beat the #1 team in our region and the #2 team in the state; the Brighton High School Bengals. I was sooooooo excited! Tannon led all scorers with 22 points. These awesome photos of the T-Man were take by Mark Johnston of The Daily Herald. You can read the story here, and another one here.

So back to taking a deep breath. I can think of another thing I really wanted once but was a little bit afraid. I signed up with Close To My Heart just over 17 years ago. At the time I was 26 years old, just a babe (and yes, now you know how old I am getting). I REALLY wanted to enter the Mrs. Utah pageant. The entry fee was $600. We were young and our finances were not at a point that I could just take $600 (plus all of the other expenses I would have...gown, shoes, etc.) out of our family budget. I had recently attended a Close To My Heart party and thought to myself, "Self, you could do this!" I took a deep breath and signed up with the intent of earning my money for the Mrs. Utah pageant and then quitting. As you know, here I am 17 years later!

Well, I was a little afraid at those first few gatherings, but I muddled through and lo and behold, I earned $600 in my first month of teaching card making and scrapbooking!

I did go on to win the Mrs. Utah pageant and even placed 6th at Mrs. USA. That was a GREAT feeling. I enjoyed a year of promoting my platform (Community Involvement in Education), doing lots of speaking and appearances, and having the time of my life. The funny thing is that all of that is over and a fun memory in my past. Close To My Heart is the thing that endured from that adventure. I LOVE what I do! I was a little bit afraid, but I took a deep breath and did it. YOU CAN TOO!


Tomorrow (January 31) is the last day to take advantage of Close To My Heart's National Papercrafting Month (Felicity) sign up bonus. If you sign up to be a Close To My Heart Consultant before midnight (Mountain Time) on January 31, you will also get a FREE Felicity Stamp and Paper Pack as a bonus ($34.95 value...see photo).

The basic Consultant Kit is only $99 (before shipping and tax) and is full of over $350 in products. On top of all of that, you get ME! What I mean by that is that I will be your upline, I will train you and help you make a success of this Close To My Heart adventure. In addition to being able to contact me with questions any time, you will have the benefits of my weekly training emails, my quarterly team meetings, and various other activities that I offer my team throughout the year. To sign up, click here. Come on, you KNOW you want to. Just take a deep breath and take the plunge. You will not regret this awesome decision. I NEVER have!

There are two add-on kits that are available in addition to the $99 kit. I have shown all three here. (click on any photo to see it larger).

Consultant Kit ($99 plus shipping and tax..but worth over $350!):

Cardmaking Bonus Kit ($50 plus shipping and tax...but worth over $150):

Scrapbooking Bonus Kit ($60 plus shipping and tax.. but worth over $160!):

Thirteen Threes

3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. 3. And 3. There are thirteen reasons that I love "3" today.

1. Easton gets home from his mission in 3 days. The countdown continues! Here he is. I can't wait to see him in person!
2. Tannon hit one three in his game last night.
3. Tannon hit two threes in his game last night
4. Tannon hit three threes in his game last night.
5. Tannon hit four threes in his game last night.
6. Tannon hit five threes in his game last night.
7. Tannon hit six threes in his game last night.
8. Tannon hit seven threes in his game last night. Yep, no joke! Seven three pointers! He finished with 23 points to aid Lone Peak in their victory against Hillcrest High School. The Knights are now 12-2. Here he is working his magic.
9. Dawson hit one three in his game.
10. Dawson hit two threes in his game.
11. Dawson hit three threes in his game.
12. Dawson hit four threes in his game.
13. Dawson hit five threes in his game. Yep, no joke! Five three pointers! He finished with 22 points to aid Mt. Ridge Jr. High in their victory against Westlake. They are now 13-1 in league play. Woo hoo. Unfortunately I don't have any great pictures of Dawson shooting (Jr. High gyms are notorious for terrible lighting) but here is one of him trying to look as macho as possible.

Three is definitely a good number today. I hope to continue the good 'three' vibe by finishing up deep cleaning the final three rooms of the house (guest room, Dawson's room, basement family room). I'm off to clean!

Oh wait! Before I do, I thought I'd answer a question from yesterday's post. The cubes that house my papers in my office are made by a company called Crop in Style. I bought mine a few years ago at Roberts (a craft store here in Utah) but I they are also carried by the Oriental Trading scrapbooking division online. Just go to orientaltrading.com and do a search for crop in style or scrapbooking storage. You will want the cube and the cube dividers.

I also got an email asking me how I choose to store my papers. Since I am a Close To My Heart die hard, I store them by the Close To My Heart seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Basic) and then I store my scrapbooking kits alphabetically by kit name (i.e. Silhouette, Topstitch, Veranda, etc.). Close To My Heart has some great storage options of their own (many of which you saw in the photos of my craft room yesterday). To see some of them, click here to go to the Online Idea Book, then go to page 99. If you find something you like, click here to order from my website. Hope this helps!

Where the Creating Happens and FOUR!

This is where all the creating happens for me; my scrap room. It's simple and pretty basic, but it works for me.My customers (Play Groupies) ask me all the time if they can see it. "Well," I say. " I would be more than happy to show you if you could actually walk in there. But, it is like a minefield right now." How embarrassing that it is like that 90% of the time. Today is one of the 10% that it is actually clean, everything is put away, and it is semi-presentable. So I thought I'd take some photos to remind myself how it really can look if I am disciplined and clean up after myself each time I create.

There is something about having a son come home from a 2 year mission that makes a girl want to make sure that the WHOLE STINKIN' HOUSE is perfect for him. Dan-the-Man thinks I have lost it. I have made him clean out every drawer in his desk, his hunting storage closet, the garage, his clothes closet. He is beginning to feel like Cinderella. Tannon is currently asleep on his bed at 3:30 in the afternoon. He didn't have classes this morning so I put him to work hauling out all kinds of things to the trash and to storage. I have exhausted him. Dawson has been lucky enough to not have had a spare second this week to help me, what with school, basketball, and choir. But, he is in for a day of workin' until he drops tomorrow. Lucky boys! I think I have them wishing that Easton was not really coming home in FOUR DAYS ( The countdown continues...)! Kori has been an angel and spent so much time helping me WILLINGLY! Everyone needs one daughter!

Anyhoo, back to the scrap room. It's CLEAN!

Things I Love about my Scrap Room:

• my little cubby hole closet
• my ikea bookshelf full of stamps and dimensional elements
• my wall of paper!
• my iMac
  

Things I Would Change about my Scrap Room:

• It would be bigger (of course!) for more goodies and would have more wall space for current projects and photos of the people I love
  
• I would paint the walls a color that is more inspiring to me than the current golden color on the walls. I LOVE this color for a family room where I want to feel all cozy...but not for a scrap room where I need to feel energetic and inspired. I think I would paint it a color like Close To My Heart's delicious Sweet Leaf.
• I would take out the black furniture and accents and stick with all white
• I would do hardwood floors and a large area rug instead of wall to wall carpeting

Well, I'm off to get ready to go and watch Tannon play a basketball game. GO KNIGHTS! Dawson's team played three games this week and won them all! Dawson scored 22 points yesterday! WOO HOO! Tannon and the Knights played our cross town rival on Wednesday night (American Fork High School) and won (67-47. Tannon had 18.). I'm crossing my fingers for another big win tonight.

Heart Buttons

Today is a happy day and a sad day.

1. Happy because there are only 12 more days until E Diddy Dollars comes home from his mission! The countdown continues.

2. Happy because my daughter and granddaughter are coming over in a little while. Love 'em both so much!

3. Happy because Dawson has a game today. I'm feeling a win coming on. We need one after last night (see #6 below).

4. Happy because I get to teach a scrapbook class to some of the ladies at church tonight. Gonna be fun!

5. Happy because I had fun making this cool 'heart button' card yesterday and get to share it with you today. I turned the sketch from Card Patterns (#46) this week on it's side and this is what I came up with. Close To My Heart products used: White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Basic Textured Cardstock Combo Pack (X5747), Silhouette Level 2 Paper Pack (X7090B), Spring Craft Buttons (Z1281), Amethyst Accesorries (retired), White Daisy Organdy Ribbon (Z100), Colonial White Waxy Flax (Z1081), Corner Rounder (Z578), Sanding Kit (Z1294). Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially when your heart needs a button!

6. Sad because Tannon and the Lone Peak Knights lost a bitter rivalry game last night in overtime. They are now 10-2. Blech. I hate losing! Apparently so does Tannon (see photo below that was in the newspaper after our first loss). Losing stinketh!

7. Sad because I am having one of those "I don't want to do ANYTHING today" days. If you have any motivation and energy today, please send it my way!

Come to think of it, there is way more happy than sad today, so I think I'll focus on that. Blogs can be cathartic! Another reason to be happy.