Will this summer EVER end???

Please pardon the title... but I am going BONKERS with this neverending summer! My children had twelve glorious weeks of it, fine, with the final countdown now going on (6 more days... 6 more days... 6... 6...) I am starting to look forward to next bleepin Tuesday already!

Yes, yes, we had a great summer.
Yes, yes, I loved having them home, sleeping in, and having less committments to worry about.
We got to see relatives we haven't seen in years - that was fabulous.
We got to see Nana and Pop-pop which is always great!
We had a lot of firsts and happily joined a lake with a beach for summer fun.
Mostly we were healthy and ........

OKAY! You have read the disclaimer! I know, I know I am blessed. Yes.
The following statements were uttered by my three blessings just over the past 2 days...

"Why can't I jump on the couch?"
"If I had a cape and jumped off the porch railing....."
"How did they have a baby if they aren't married? (!)"
"Yummy, no yucky" (after eating a pretzel found in the SANDBOX for goodness sake!)
"What if the cape was magic?"
"I'm telling....."
"Sticky, ewwww" (right before said sticky hand was wiped on MY shirt of course)
(why do I even bother getting dressed??)
"I can't find my shoes"
"I can't find my sandles"
"I can't find my flippies"
"Can I go barefoot???" (to the grocery store)
"What if the cape was really, really long?"
"Can Nana make me a long cape?"

and...

the best one of all....

"mom, why can't we go to daycare like the "other" kids? they have more fun then we do!"
(at which point i was ready to call my mother and ask her for the number of the Indians she was always threatening to sell my brothers and I to!)(They'd be called Native Americans now Mom, but hey, you got that number? I may need it....)

Ah yes, summer.

Pictures of the "angels" included for your viewing enjoyment.

Happy Wacky Wednesday!

Adhesive Thoughts - Goodbye Hermie...

I am sad to report that I have come to the conclusion that I must retire my hermafix dispenser (the gray dispenser in the pic). Believe it or not as I am looking back at old albums I am noticing that the pictures, embellishments, etc. that are attached with hermafix squares are falling off! I always knew that hermies are easy to move around (albiet carefully) as needed, but somehow I believed that eventually they would stay put (scrapbooking magic??).

So, I am out there for a replacement. I like the Creative Memories taperunner but they can stick at least in my experience. And it isn't too easy to get refills. However this may be my choice since it does stick once it's down there. And I have heard rumors that they are improving the way the tape flows out. Anyone know about that??

I have also purchased the xyron cheetah but haven't tried it out yet. It seems to me that it puts out an awful lot of adhesive and refills can be expensive.

Tabs that you have to peel are just not for me. Too slow.

Really the hermafix option was the one I was happiest with. I have used it for many years now and find it fast and easy. The refills, while not cheap, seem reasonably priced compared to other same type of product.

Any comments or advice on this topic would be welcome. What has worked for you? Should I "stick" with my Hermie and just use tons more of it????

So many adhesives for so many different uses. For the benefit of those people who may not know what I am referring to... see the pic. Thanks for your help!

Family Visit

How lucky are we! I just got to meet my nephew, Anthony, who lives on the other side of the country. They were here for a wedding and were able to spend a day with us. Here are some pics:



The kids on the trees recently taken down in our yard.











Anthony and Ethan enjoying the jeep. Well mostly enjoying it, there seemed to be some controversy about whom should drive....











The beach by the lake was a huge hit. Cold tootsies in the water, can't get much better than that!







Anthony looks a lot like my brother. It was so much fun to spend time with him, my sister in law and her mom. A lovely ending to the summer (though here school doesn't start until next week).

NOW the big question... mini-book or multiple 12x12 layouts? I think Kristin would say to minibook it. I am definitely in a mini-book phase at the moment anyway. And the pictures do lend themselves to it... we have the my house section, the outside, the lake, and the playground. And if I go to 6x6 or 8x8 it should go together quickly.

Then... maybe for Christmas I can make Anthony a book too. Yes, I think that's where I'll go with it. One present down! (ps - don't tell Anthony!)

I think I will model the mini-book after a childrens book like when I did Anthony's Brown Bear book. There is a Tomie dePaola book I have in mind, but if any of you have suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Happy Scrappin!

Math Facts

What?? I cannot believe there are only 8 more days until my children return to school! AAAARRRGGGHHH! Yipe, where did the time go? Way back when, in June, I know I said to myself (and maybe to a friend or two...K!) that they would learn their math facts, practice instruments daily, and log all their reading.

Um, yeah. I believed that in June. Really. That must be another deficit I have... ADDD (Adult Delusional Deficit Disorder).

Recently Spincerely commented that she didn't have her DDs practice facts as much as hoped either... so I thought a poem would be appropriate on this topic. Here goes:

It all started one day in June
Our kids were out, and MUCH too soon
My friends and I we did all swear
That our kiddies would not despair

For we would continue their schooling with glee
They'd keep learning you all see
We'd practice math, clarinet and spelling
For an hour a day, and there's no telling

Just how many books we would read
Then as we got closer we'd pick up speed
Math facts, math facts, every day
"They'd know them all by gum!" we'd say

So here I write, August is ending
And all my standards I am bending
There's no way we'll get it all done.
Oh well, at least we had..... fun!

So, yes, before a bajillion of you tell me that summer is for children to be footloose and fancy free - I know. It's just the teacher in me arguing with the mother in me I suppose. Balance is the key. They practiced some facts, they read, they had fun, they were enriched. All in all a good summer.

Good Friends

I am soooo blessed to have awesome female friends! Get this, in the midst of my wedding attire turmoil McBean offered to run over and bring me a selection of shawls (many which she made herself). AND she had five to choose from!! Now that's a shawl selection.

I find as I get older (luckily I don't look a day over 25!) my female friends have taken on such a meaningful and supportive role in my life. Girlfriends rock!

Which brings me to my scrapbooking related topic of... is it just me or does anyone else get the majority of their scrapbooking done while away from home? Why is this? I think for me it is because the evening already has a plan, so I stick to it. Also, there is no phone, computer, or washing machine pulling me away from my agenda. Maybe it is the social butterfly in me that is most creative when surrounded by friends. Still, I HAVE to get better about scrapping more at home. Really, that way I don't have to drag all my stuff and I am using my stash. Not that I want to stop going to crops (a place where friends gather to scrapbook together, can be at a store (dangerous to finances!) a home, or even the Senior Center (right M?) ) I just want to suppliment them with actually doing more at home too.

This picture is of me scrapbooking at a retreat I went on awhile ago. Got a ton done there. I am going on another retreat, this one on the Cape, where I am actually teaching classes. If you are interested check it out at www.crazyforcroppin.com

Many of the people with whom I scrap don't scrap at home because they don't want to take all their goodies out and then have to put them all back. Yes, that can be a real bummer. Also an excuse I don't have though. DH made me an adorable scrapbook "room" out of a walk in closet. It is perfect and I love it.
This is just a picture of the back part of it. When I get my camera working again I will post another picture so you can better see the countertop he installed in there. Wayyyy fun.

So, go ahead and weigh in (really, commenting on blogs is part of the fun, let's me know who is visiting) and tell me where you scrap the most. :)

TRYing to get ready...

Isn't this a great pic. This is related to reason #1... so read on.

Yes, I am TRYing to get ready to go to a wedding. Now, I have known that we were invited to this wedding for quite some time. Still, am I ready? Presents wrapped? Outfit selected?
Did you guess "no" for all three??? Well actually I have wrapped the presents. Can't choose a darn outfit though. Including the one (okay, two) I ran out TODAY... the day of the wedding... to buy! And do NOT even get me started on shoes! Oy!

Is this a female issue? a pocrastination tendency? proof that I am really "losing it?"




Well, in an attempt to answer these questions, along with why the fig newton I am blogging when I should be getting ready - I came up with a top ten list for your (okay, for my) enjoyment. Here goes:

Top Ten Reasons I am Usually Not Ready:

10. Indecisiveness resulting from a desire to please everyone

9. Attention Defecit Laundry Disorder (ADLD) - i seem to always have to stop what I am doing to change, fold, iron, fold, start, etc. laundry. How do these people make so much flipping wash?!

8. When in doubt, procrastinate!

7. My brain takes longer to warm up???

6. Dishitis - and you think they generate laundry? You should see the dishes pile up!

5. Wait! Diaper change time....

4. A blogging I will go, a blogging I will go, hi ho the dairio (what the blink is that word??) a blogging I will gooooooo

3. Did I mention that when I am trying to get ready I must use the phone to consult numerous friends to get their take on my wardrobe??? Really, I do! Matter of fact, hang on while I call K. right now........

2. (i'm back, just spoke to the bride though!) So... #2 reason I am never ready on time? "Good things come to those who wait" and the whole "save the best for last" thing.

AND ...

the #1 reason I am never ready on time.....

1. THREE LOVELY CHILDREN (need I say more???)

So, I guess I better go and get ready because I really don't think that V will wait on the vows just for little ole me.

Happy Weekend everyone!

Well, I took the plunge and finally set up my blog! I have been so ridiculously stumped by the name of the darn thing. Really! I could have been set up last week. And then I go and choose one that I have used before. Hopefully the first part of the blog name will not confuse non-scrappers out there. So, I will have to find a way to define it on the blog. Since I am just learning I may have to consult Spincerely Yours to get her advice on just how to do that.

Okay, I am being boring! Yipe. Since that is not a good way to be.... I will post again momentarily with a more profound (one can hope) tidbit to read. Just learning about pictures too, so might as well give that a shot.