Crops a Lot!

Homecoming... the videos

2010-10-02T10:57:00.002-04:00

Never tried adding video before lets see how it goes. The second video you just have to wait a bit and then you hear abbie announced. Clearly Steven Spielberg I am not....

Homecoming!

2010-10-02T10:42:00.005-04:00

It was homecoming week this past week. Mattawan has a parade, a huge parade, right before the football game and dance. Both Abbie and Ethan marched (rode) this year. Ethan walked with the scouts. And although this is not a very good picture, Abbie rode on the vette. She was the freshman homecoming queen! I have video that shows this better.

Ethan loved throwing candy to the crowd. Max believes the candy throwing is the best part of the parade!! Jeff walked along with Ethan and was the candy replenisher. This homecoming court was a BIG deal. The principal of the high school introduced each pair (or in Abbie's case there were two boys as they were tied) over the loudspeaker. I have video of that too. Here are Abbie and the boys.

Adorable!

Alec, Abbie, and Chris. Abbie and Chris were the riders in the 'vette.

Abbie and Chris. They matched and everything!

Abbie and Alec.

Hi there Abbie.Our girl. :)

Abbie and fellow soccer players McKenzie and Haleigh.

The New Hip Look in Home Decor - Lego!

2010-01-08T16:27:00.004-05:00

Did you all hear?
There is a new interior designer that is all the rage.
He uses Legos to infuse your home with that greatly desired "boys under 10 live here" look. Featured today is the holiday line. While the need for Santa decor may have passed, I trust you can use your imaginations to figure out how the house would look in other seasons as well.

First, the anchor piece. Look closely, Santa is holding up the villain "Squidman". Squidman also looks good in the Christmas cactus where I found him on numerous occasions. Here is the Lego advent calendar that the kids LOVED putting together, although some bickering did ensue if I am being honest about it all. Note how the angel and pencil box filled with Lego accessories compliment the Christmas card album. What genius!

Does your couch have a boring pillow accent? Well my dear friend that is very YESTERDAY. Couches here in the land of boys feature very detailed battle scenes. Please note the civilian did not fair well (appears to have suffered lower body decapitation) in this transformer vs. semi vs. car vs. robot. Very abstract artish isn't it. I know you want a scene in your couch, just admit it! Oh, and as a note for one that knows, LOOK before you sit!
I love decorating with a silver theme. I was so happy with my angel and flowers in an original pottery vase made by Uncle Jared. Note how the designers also felt the space needed something else - a Lego pop of color as it were. Inspiring!Does your fruit also serve as a landing area? If not your fruit is boring indeed.

This is part of the advent set. Would anyone like some cocoa or need their skates sharpened?
Now for those of you out there who don't have lego masters on call (such as perhaps Heather and Tamara) never fear! These designers of mine are able to come in to any home and, given the proper tools, can "redecorate" your whole house in mere minutes!!! Sign up quickly, they are in high demand. And, lucky for you - they work for Legos.

So, I hope you are enjoying 2010. Didn't hear too many of your words yet - LOVED yours brother Matt and i think it is a great one. Have a great weekend, stay safe, and like our happy young fellow below look both ways! ;

Happy New Year!

2010-01-05T20:03:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year one and all!
I had a wonderful time ringing in the new year with great friends. Really enjoyed dancing, I get to do that so rarely. I have such wonderful friends and family (including the three different families who each took one of my children so that we could have this night). Don't know how I got so lucky... love you all!

I have a lot to share with you, but tonight I have very little time. Something I wanted to write about in a timely fashion.. the "One Little Word" for 2010. If you look at January 09 you will see my posts about it then. This is actually year three for me.

So here is what Ali Edwards wrote on her blog (she is the scrapbooker who started this particular project): http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/

Basically you want to choose a word that is meaningful to you. Sort of a resolution type of word, or maybe a mantra would be a better definition. Two years ago I chose the word, "move". I made a canvas (as did many of you) to show the word. Here is a link to what I did (note you have to scroll to the bottom to see it). Last year I chose the word "believe". Last years word did not feel as successful to me as move did.

So - I am still waiting for my word to come to me. I find if I just relax about it then the perfect thing eventually occurs. I am sad lately (missing people) so too many negative things are occurring to me - and that won't do! So I'll wait and see.

Do any of you have your words yet? I know Laura does! Maybe if you share your words, and your reasoning if you are comfortable doing so, then it will inspire me.

More soon - have a great week!

Weekend Sports Update

2009-12-20T20:54:00.003-05:00

We had a sporty type of weekend this last weekend before Christmas. Don't get me wrong, we did some other things too (i think?!) but sports was definitely a big part of it all. On snowy Saturday (which was icy/snowy Saturday by the time we left) we had Max's all relay swim meet. It was really fun for the kids! Max loved it. He swam in three relays. The first was a medley where he got to be the anchor member and swim the 50 freestyle. He swam it sooo well, he brought his team up from sixth place to third!!! Here he is ready to take offHis second relay was the backstroke relay where each child again swam 50 meters (the length of the pool and back). He was the anchor position again and was the only child able to use the board to dive off and then flip to his back. The other team members started off in the water (it was fine to do so and was an option for his age group). Here he is mid starting off. Swimming pictures are HARD. You just can't get close enough.His third relay (and by then it was nearing 8pm - swim meets take quite a while) was the breastroke relay. This was his least favorite, but he did a personal best time and was in the anchor position again. Not bad Max, not bad at all! The picture is of his backstroke.
Then on sunny (shocker!) Sunday we had Abbie's last indoor soccer game of this session. Her team was undefeated - today was no exception. They won by a considerable margin.

The great thing for Abbie was that within about the first ten minutes of the game she scored a goal! She was sooooo stoked about it. She is a defender and was playing from the back, ran it all the way up the field and shot it in for the GOAL! Whoo hooo Abbie!!! And it just so happens that this was the first indoor game of this session where the whole family was there to see it. Good stuff Abbie, good stuff!
Soccer pictures are also hard to get because she is never facing the way I want her to be and instead of looking at the camera she is watching the game/ball. Go figure! Abbie had some great moves in this game. The second half I gave up watching from above, you can't see in the pics but the spectators have a very nice watching area up above the fields, and came down to the coach's box to take some pictures.
So, there you have it. How was your weekend?

December Daily

2009-12-19T09:16:00.004-05:00

Good morning!
Well, I woke up to snow, which is a pretty regular occurrence here after all. Not sure what accumulations are supposed to be - but it is supposed to snow most of today and tomorrow too. The ESm from H is watching happily. He is hoping we build him some minions to help spread his snowy terror. He is like one solid block of ice - I figure he's here to stay until April or so. So I got a little behind with my posts to you. We've been very busy. Friday was the kids last day of school of 2009 - and those of you with kiddies I'm sure can back me up that the few days leading up to vacation are CRAZY. And to top it off we had a sport practice every night this week. That doesn't happen all winter - but whew! This week was a doozy. To top of the craziness of it all Jeff was out of the country and my parents were away too. So... I was TOTALLY alone running all over the place. Add a band concert to the mix as well. So, you perhaps see why my blogging time was minimal. Jeff's back for the rest of the month now, so in theory things should be smoother. Also we have two more sports days (today and tomorrow) with a swim meet today (that could get cancelled thanks to this lovely weather) and a soccer game tomorrow - and then we're done with sports for this year too. Whoo hoooo!!!

So, I am working on a December Daily book that I put a link to in an earlier post. I am not totally current with it - but I have some pages done. The point of this album is to take a picture or two a day to document your December. I had the album "made" in November. The pages were done with the numbers ready. No embellishments were added, you put them on as you add the pictures. Here are some of the pages done - I'll go backwards and get the rest. The number you see on the page corresponds (or close) to the day we did the activity.

First snow in the picture above.
This is one of my favorite pages (above) I like the shape of the page. The point of the album is to have unusual and differently shaped pages in there. Sort of an eclectic look. I tried. My color themes for the album were pinks and the colors that compliment that. If you are a scrapbooker you know how many Christmas products out there lately have pink somewhere in their base, that's why I chose it.You've seen this picture before, decorating the tree. This is actually a two page layout with the picture below on the other side. To do the picture below I took a close up shot of the tree and had it blown up to 8x10. Then I cut it down to the size of my book (loosely 8x8) and backed a picture of the done tree on black. Then I popped up the small tree pic using popdots. This is my favorite page so far. It looks better "live" then in the pic.

The picture below is of the day we sent out most of our Christmas cards. Did them in batches this year for time related purposes! Anyone else do that?
Then on the twelfth was Ethan's gymnastics meet.
And the next day Abbie had an indoor soccer game. The picture is of she and her coach.

And there you have it! That's pretty much what I have done so far. I need to catch up a bit. Maybe on this snowy day. Now that school is done I feel like we can relax and enjoy the days leading up to Christmas. What are your plans? If you live on the east coast I hear you are about to get quite a bit of snow... be careful and safe and enjoy!!! :)

Got Snow?

2009-12-16T07:01:00.006-05:00

How's the weather where you are?
Here we have had lots of snow. I mentioned in an earlier post that we had two snow days last week. That is really rare for this part of Michigan - I really think that we had only one all last winter. You see, it snows sooooo often here. Lake effect snow. There have been flakes flying here all week so far - but they don't accumulate to too much. Last week's big storm brought accumulation though!

Here is Frosty, created by Ethan and Jeff. I took this back view out my front door. Attempting to show you the proximity to the front door and the tilt of the snowman. While I do not think it was on purpose this evil snow dude (as I call him to myself, don't let Ethan hear that though!) has startled the bejeepers out of me more times then I care to recount here. Like SCREAM scared - and I have so few bejeepers left that I really need to conserve what I have! When it is dark outside and he sort of catches the corner of your eye it looks like there is a big guy out there on the porch. Lovely huh.That said evil snow dude garners a lot of bus stop attention and is often admired. He looks like a sentry at our front door doesn't he. I included barefoot (!) Ethan in the pic to give you an idea of scale and again proximity to the front door.

He is a happy friendly snowman and I should consider him watching over us all. Still, late at night, alone in the house with just the kids and me...... yep - there go my bejeepers all over again!

edited to add: after some reflection when done with this post I decided to come clean on the following addition to the story... last night, home alone with kiddies, late, can't sleep (you get the picture), go downstairs - around midnight - to get a drink......... I glanced to my right looking to see if the front door was locked (habit) and darn it if the Evil Snowman from Hell didn't get me AGAIN. I nearly started crying and grabbed my frying pan (it was handy on the dish drainer) and went out there barefoot and swinging that pan. Lordy if a neighbor saw me the authorities would have been called. Here's the irony - I did VERY little damage to the darn thing!!! It's been a bit warm and then cold and the ESm from H is like coated with ice. I am sure I could have destroyed it given time and a better weapon - but I really didn't want Ethan upset about it. So he remains to stalk me another day............ (send the men in white coats people, I think I need a vacation)

December 9th

2009-12-14T16:04:00.004-05:00

My December daily picture for December 9th, decorating the tree.

We had a fun time with it. I think it's about 9 feet tall in the stand. Needless to say standing on chairs was involved. I like the silver and white base for the tree. White non-blinking lights. What do you like?

The big three did a great job of putting up all their ornaments. The ornament part went by in a breeze. They were all very involved too. I had Christmas tunes in the background thanks to sirius radio. It was snowing outside. Very cool.Skulls and crossbones somehow needed for tree decorating. But hey, at least she wore the hat for me. In fact, they all wore the hats pretty happily.The finished tree. Wish you were here to see it.

Flipping for Joy

2009-12-13T08:23:00.004-05:00

We interrupt this mostly Christmas post related month to bring you Ethan's gymnastics meet.
This is his second meet, but last June he was in the younger children program (this year he's in the "big gym") and so it was different. This was run like a real meet. The children all did such a great job and the organization was amazing. We had a great time!! It's going into my December Daily for the 12th.
Ethan's first event was the vault. Here he was running for to jump. He got right up there both times!! Next was my personal favorite, the parallel bars. I was impressed by how much Ethan's strength has improved. It also made me smile remembering Max on those bars when he was in gymnastics in CT. Anyone else remember that one?

Beam was his best event score wise. They were scored on each event and were given a corresponding colored ribbon reflecting that score. It was kept totally positive and age appropriate. The kids weren't competing against each other - there wasn't really a "winner" but were competing with themselves to do their personal best. Love it. I was really proud of Ethan that this was his top event. Balance and strength continue to be something he has to work on and for him to do so well on this event.... wow.
Floor routines were adorable! Here is the beginning of Ethan's bridge.

Awards ceremony! You can see Ethan's four ribbons and he got a trophy engraved with his name. He was one happy gymnast!!!!!

One thing I just have to add so I remember... Everyone (spectators around us) kept commenting about Ethan. He was just brimming with joy for the whole meet. When it was his turn he would be smiling and waving and just jumping with happiness until they said - prepare (which is what they said to signal their turn) and then he would get into the ready position and look very seriously at the judge. Then all smiles - whether he did great or bobbled or whatever. Just positive happiness. After each event he would say to his teacher (you can see her in the bars and beam pictures) something along the lines of "wow did you see my..." or "that was fun" or "whoooooo". He high fived, he waved, he smiled the biggest smiles that he made those around him smile (and chuckle) too. I think that is what I am most proud of (and I am proud of a lot) in this meet. His positive, happy, can-do attitude. He really was flipping for joy!!!

Tree Hunt!

2009-12-12T17:36:00.002-05:00

This year has been a bit off as far as our timing. Circumstances have just dictated a different pace. Usually I am on the ball to go and get the tree the weekend of Thanksgiving. This year on Sunday after Thanksgiving it was pouring rain. And I do mean pouring. We went after a tree anyway, but tried a new place (still haven't found an "Angevines" in Michigan. Irreplaceable I tell you, irreplaceable). When we got there, in the sog and fog, we found that cut trees were about $85 - $100. YIKE! That was more then we wanted to spend on a tree. So, we decided that we would go artificial.

Those of you who know Jeff well are no doubt amazed that he even acquiesced to consider a non-real tree. Well, sure enough, when all of us went to look at them we all just felt sad. That is nothing against those of you who have artificial trees - because believe me I see the "pros". It's just so much a part of our personal family traditions to go on the "hunt" and get our own and saw it down together. We're just not ready to let go of that yet. I love the smell, the feel, the look of a real tree. Not so fond of the needles, the watering, the cleanup - but for now still think all of that is worth it.

Then Jeff went out of the country for a week including weekend. So more delay. Then very sadly we lost Uncle Harold (my Godfather, best friend of my parents) and that changed our priorities.

So, mid December we got our tree.
And we went back to the place we went last year.
And we didn't overpay.
And we loved it - every minute.

Here's the tree in it's natural habitat.
Strike a pose Abbie! This is one of a few like this of her. She is really good about having fun in front of the camera. Hope she stays that way, she's a really good teenager. Good to her dear old camera obsessed mom.
The best part... it was snowing and there was snow on the ground. We went on a Monday night when Jeff got back from Europe and had the place virtually to ourselves (go figure). Wasn't long before a snowball fight ensued.
Watch out Max!

Much merriment was had by all. Even Ethan got in the snowball throwing. Abbie and I (who were not wearing snow pants because - well hey! fashion first!) shrieked every time we got hit. I was shown mercy due to ongoing illness (see! every cloud has a silver lining - my sickness saved me some snow bashing!).
I'm glad we're keeping our tradition.

Just wait til you see how it looks decorated!

Coming soon!!

THE Catch Up Post

2009-12-10T18:58:00.007-05:00

WOW!

Nothing since June... that's pretty bad! I had to update my avatar, my profile, and lots of other stuff. Serves me right! Ever since I found out that Meme (hi Meme!) checks regularly and would prefer not to see Fred (go back and read if you don't know...) I have been meaning to update. So here's a brief synopsis month by month... (i know, by the way, that I overuse those three dots... not sure why... a grammatical flaw I suppose...). So, the very quick and just one highlight per month....

In July we attended a wedding. It was lovely.
In August we had some first time visitors to Michigan and we took them everywhere!In early September we visited Uncle Don and Aunt Drina and got to see the New Jersey shoreline for the first time in almost four years. We miss the ocean a lot living here. In October we had a crime fighters Halloween. The littlest SWAT police officer, the power of good ninja and of course Batgirl all made sure the neighborhood was free of all wrongdoers (and candy - we had TONS)!We had a lovely Thanksgiving with wonderful family. Missed those who weren't with us, but rejoiced in our many blessings.
So, there you have it. We've done many many many other things through the months of course and ideally I will go back and get to those things. I really need to show you football playing Max for example. That said, this month I am working on a scrapbook called December Daily which you can read about here if you are interested. I want to start posting about our december. So, now that I feel caught up with everything else - stay tuned for the tree getting and tree decorating. Today was a snow day here and finally we are full of home decor. The snow has been amazing and non-ending today. Literally. Since Jeff worked from home, and I didn't have to worry about his driving in this I actually had a really great snow day. We all did. Sick or not (and most of us are). So I will leave you with this one VERY current picture (hours ago) and the promise of more. Stop back in when you can. Leave a comment if you're up to it. I hope you all stay healthy and safe in the wacky winter weather. Take care!!!

(The view is off my front porch showing you the hood. Can you tell how bleeping much snow we have?! Nearly a foot by now I am sure!)

Why not?

2009-06-23T22:42:00.002-04:00

Well... tonight on my blog reader I saw that quite a few scrapbookery types did this fun quiz on their blogs. So I figured... why not?
(coming soon though - I need to write about Ethan's birthday.......)

TODAY
June 23st, 2009

Outside my window... it is finally dark out. it is like 10:40pm! Honestly the sun is still in the dusk phase here at 10. Makes it challenging to get small ones to bed so I can somewhat unwind and have hope to hit the hay by midnight.

I am thinking.... i can't wait for Jeff to get back in the country!

I am thankful for... too many things to list.

From the kitchen... really sweet grapes and some H2O since i have a killer sore throat.

I am wearing... pj bottoms and my red shirt from the day

I am creating... a blog entry and lots of soccer data

I am going... to try to go to bed at a reasonable time. Tomorrow I am going to see a movie for $1 each, get goodie bags for Ethan's party, run to the gym, walk with a friend, and try to get healthy.

I am reading... And Then You Die by ... hmmm, can't remember. But it's a good book so I'll edit the author in later if anyone wants it.

I am hoping... to lose the final pounds to get to my goal by my next birthday. It will be a close call to pull it off... we'll see.

I am hearing... Jeff opening the garage door! Home from Canada!!! Whoo hooo!!!

Around the house... it is quiet for the first time today.

One of my favorite things... step aerobics, and how good a shower feels after a workout (really now, lately I feel like unless I am going into the shower dripping with sweat and with wet hair I really don't "deserve" that shower - crazy I know!)

A few plans for the rest of the week... birthday party, hair cut, if i'm lucky a pedicure, dinner making, soccer playing, physical therapy (abbie - foot ... is getting better), laundry, feed the masses, play a bit, organize, etc. etc. etc.

More soon - I'm off to bed!
Goodnight. :)

New Wheels!

2009-06-21T17:28:00.003-04:00

Can you believe that tomorrow my little guy turns five???!!! I still can't believe that next school year I will have all three kids riding the bus. Seems crazy fast. Here is Ethan modeling his birthday present that we got over the weekend. He is soooo stoked for his big bike (it should last for a couple years, there is a nice amount of room to grow)! He does a great job on it too.While in the bike store getting Ethan's bike Jeff led (dragged) me over and showed me this new lavendar Trek. I am the only "trek free" member of the family so..... yep - I got it! I must admit I loooovvveee it! We took a neighborhood spin and it was the most comfortable I've been on a bike. I had been riding Jeff's or Abbie's when needed (and that was rarely) so it makes sense that having one fit for me helps. My goal is to get stronger on it and then hopefully use it in a triathalon... or a duathalon (the swimming...must work on the swimming). Then I have hopes of a family bike trip to Vermont. Someday. :)
Here I am posing ... sorry I had no lavendar or purple to wear to match the bike. It's not a big color in my wardrobe, although I like it.

In other non bike related news... these little froggies are back! We love to see them. They are not as plentiful as near my parent's house but we still get a few. Does anyone out there know anything about them? They are veeeery tiny. Adorable. {no frogs were harmed in the making of this photo shoot... photos by Max by the way}
Off to make dinner (sloppy joes made with ground turkey on whole wheat buns, cantelope, carrots, and cucumber) and break up a water fight that is getting out of control in the yard. Ethan (shown here making cookies) says "hey YOU, leave a comment!" ;)

Blast From the Past!!

2009-06-15T14:04:00.005-04:00

Facebook.
Yep. I resisted it.
Not really sure why, mostly having to do with time or lack thereof I guess.
But now I LOVE it! It is so fun finding and catching up with people!!! So, recently I found Mario on there. Remember this Mar? We met in college and through the years have met up from time to time. This was a college wide (I think it went beyond just our dorm) Halloween party.Then... who should appear on my little blog but ERIC! Hi Eric!!! Of course I remember you! I didn't need all those clues either. Had it after the first name!!!! I hope you have been well, your facebook picture shows a lovely family! Can you guess what movie came out that year?Since we were doing the Halloween in college theme, and since after all it is my blog, here I am at that same college function. What lovely dorms huh? That was a fun Halloween. I still had that costume for so long that Abbie used to wear it for dress up and the Max played with the cape (it had superhero powers for awhile) until it disintigrated.

Now Eric also referenced high school so I dug up this old pic. Sorry for the grainy nature of it all. Here is me with my two favorite Erics (although the other one spelled his name differently). I remember when we took this picture! That is weird for me since memory is not my strong suit these days. Pregnancy kills brain cells - I'm convinced of it! (and NO (becky!) I am not pregnant now, I meant in the PAST (becky!)). So, lest you wonder just what type of funky high school we all attended, we were in a play together. If I remember correctly Eric (the one on the right) and I were in the show and Erik (left) was either in the band or on the crew??? Eric maybe you remember? Or maybe Kris will pop on and remind us.
Since Eric found me via Mario (I think???) I figured I'd share this one too. Here is Kristy, Mario and I (if you don't know which one is me... I think I'll claim to be the blonde...). I am still in touch with Kristy and expect she remembers this apartment of hers. For one semester I didn't live with Gina Wina and stayed with Kristy in her place. This pic was taken after our Christmas party if I remember correctly (remember afformentioned poor memory skills...).

Sorry for the grainy nature of the photos, they're old!

Hope that all of you are enjoying your summers - write in and if you're on facebook too give me a shout out there as well!!

edited to add: Hi! Kris reminded me the title of the play we were in. It was called, "Once Upon A Mattress." Of all the plays I was in that was one of my favorites (perhaps because I was a kitchen wench???) and I can't believe I forgot its' title! I was correct that Erik was in the crew, the other Eric, Kris and I were all in the cast (Kris was, as always, one of the leads of course!). Happy Friday!

School's Out!!!

2009-06-05T17:25:00.003-04:00

Well, I guesst the kiddos are pretty happy that school is out for the summer! (ya think?) No, they did NOT pose... it was joy - really. Additionally after this post call me about a bridge I am selling....Hard to believe Max is going to be in fourth grade! He wound up having a great year, a little rocky start - but overall wonderful.
And his "whoo hoo" shot is so very him.
Here's the Princessa's "whoo hoo" shot. Please note even when she is jumping in the air she is able to strike the smile and pose. She's a natural I tell ya... scary.
And Miss Ab was very proud to have continued to make her goal of all A's all during middle school. Yep - so far in sixth and seventh there hasn't even been an A-. Great, great job Abbie! We are very proud of how all three kids did in school this year. I feel VERY lucky and blessed to be able to say that!

Now... Tamara mentioned on her blog that we should all do a summer fun ideas posting. And perhaps I will do that (along with starting so many of my sentences with prepositional phrases). Still, I think there could be other - more instructional - summer related posts. These include, but are not limited to, "Hiding from your offspring 101", "Pulling the Plug on Bickering BEFORE your Insane", "How to sleep in so nobody Notices", "Taking a Shower without Interruption...the Fifth most Impossible Summer Task", and the ever so important, "Mojitos, Margueritas, and Mimosas Or as it's better known... How To Survive Summer Break!"

(relax... all just kidding... maybe...) ;)

Yah... So What's New With You?

2009-06-03T17:21:00.004-04:00

Hello!

Do I even need to say how bad I feel that this poor blog has gone by the wayside? Even my "reminding" friends have given up trying to get me kickstarted. What happens, you see, is I feel very behind on it - and then don't know where to begin. In this case I wondered... Christmas? Valentine's parties? Abbie turns 13? Spring sports? Weight loss? Scrapbooking? etc. etc. etc.

So - I am finally diving in. And what, you may wonder, is the ever so exciting topic I start with??? My plants!!! (admit it, you wouldn't have guessed that one). In fact, as I "speak" I am attempting to upload multiple pictures to share with you.

I have been very excited to see how my front yard perennial garden is coming back this year. Really. Unusually excited. I have taken a page out of Spincerely's book and have had fun with nature photos. She's onto something I must say - plants pose much more cooperatively then children do!

Along with my perennials we have attempted some veggies. We are starting out small to see how it goes (one day I'll have to post pictures of my REALLY big garden I had on Rock Road). We got these wiskey barrels (although Meredith - yes around here I am known as "Oh Your Meredith's Neighbor!" ... says they could be wine barrels too - I think she is saying that longingly - but that's just my take on it ;) ) from the tractor supply store (more fun stuff then I realized is in there) and they seem to be working so far. Here are my baby tomatoes (big and cherry type) three types of peppers, cukes, onions, and marigolds (being used as natures bug deterrent).

Here is my tomato bucket:

Here is my new arch enemy!!! Can someone PLEASE tell me a good way to keep these munchers off my plants???? Every day it's like I go 'pillar hunting to attempt to save at least some of my plants. They are especially fond of a yellow bush I have in the front and have almost killed it. Grrumph!!!
Here is the trio of veggies in booze pots.
Warning TAMARA: DO NOT LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS PIC. Okay, I warned her. Now to the rest of ya... here is our new pet Fred. Fred has startled me once or twice (I screamed, I admit it, but not in fear - just in shock when a three foot long black thing comes out of nowhere it can be, um, disconcerting).And so, there ends the tale of Two Gardens. Well, these are just the pictures of one - I am working with photobucket to get a slide show of the other one which I will edit to add later as at the moment I must run to soccer practice.

More soon!!! (really - now why would you doubt me???) ;)

A Week in the Life - Page Headers

2008-11-07T16:26:00.004-05:00

Hello!

Well, since I last wrote I have gotten soooooooooooooo sick. Again. Or still. Depends on your point of view. After writing yesterday I wound up with a fever, stomach issues, chest pain, sore sinuses - yick. Today I am keeping myself well dosed with some meds and while I don't feel "better" at least it's more manageable.

Now, I'm sure you're thrilled that I shared aren't you?!

As mentioned in the last post, here are some pictures from our week. What I am doing here is putting the pictures I am using enlarged on the same side as I do the writing. In some cases I'm between two choices ~ I'd love your opinion on those. Oh and if you do this project one thing to keep in mind is to make some kind of reminder to yourself so that you don't go a whole day with only a picture of the washer and dryer and the back yard. Yep. One day two pictures. I ran around like a lunatic that day so I should have lots to write about (luckily) and I may sneak in some pics that are just of around the house. Crimey.

Here's Sunday - our family tradition of blueberry pancakes.

Monday - kids off school and pictures in the park.Tuesday - gorgeous warm weather, overview pic of neighborhood, Max and Pasha playing.OR I may do the vote picture since that was an important thing that happened on Tuesday. Which do you think?Wednesday - errands day and lots of laundry. Picture of the twins.Need your opinion for Thursday's picture. I was trying to show Abbie getting on the bus before the sun is up. There was some strange glare from the flash on this first picture, but the second picture is very dark. Which do you think better shows the early morning bus call???This is a tentative Friday opener - my "Christmas Cactus" always seems to open for Thanksgiving. It is a confused plant. This may change though because I am hoping to carve pumpkins tonight and so one of those pictures will most likely trump the cactus. We'll see if Jeff is up for carving as he just got home from Texas about 30 minutes ago.So, what do you think?

I know Becky is interested but time crunched... any other takers?

More later ~ have a great weekend and STAY WELL!!! ;)

A Week in the Life

2008-11-06T05:48:00.003-05:00

Good Morning! (really, it's only just after 5am at the moment..)
Can you believe the week is almost over?
It has flown by for me pretty much. I have a sleep deprivation thing going on at the moment, but at least the earlier part flew.

So, I am behind in writing about this to all of you but this week I had decided to do Ali Edward's a Week in the Life project. I'll write a little about it (remember when we did her "One Word" project, I love her blog!!!) but also if you want to play along you should DEFINITELY go to her blog to read her instructions and see all the samples. When I am done with this week I am going to do her "December Daily" project as well. I haven't scrapbooked since August and i think these projects are a good way to get me going. Very do-able.

So, for my Week in the Life I started this Sunday. It just so happens this Monday the kids were off school, we had conferences, and it was a fun day. There are some cool things that have been going on this week that I am grateful will be documented. The election is a big one. Then the wacky weather we've been having (70's here). Also Jeff joined an adult soccer league and I hang at the gym a lot. I think I'd love to do this project every year starting the day after Halloween. (that sentence is a reminder to myself by the way)

Basically all I have done so far is take pictures, some days tons (Monday) some days less (yesterday). Whenever I don't have something exciting to take I try to take something around the house. Also I am collecting stuff (but RATS accidentally threw out my grocery receipt). I have movie stubs, a "I voted" sticker, stuff like that. Then each day I write some notes about the day.

Now what I want to do today is find the album I want to use for this. I am trying to find an 8.5x11 since I think it will fit how I want to do the daily opener. I have actually been looking for this album for awhile (I have been trying to find time to do this, she wrote about it awhile ago) without success. Today i am just going to force myself to pick one. Hobby Lobby field trip for Ethan and I!

So, that's it in a nutshell. Anyone interested in playing along? It really doesn't matter if you start the same day I do/did. I'd love to post what you do, just like we did with the "one word" and just like Ali does on her blog if you follow the "week in the life" links. There are a few of you who I think might play. It would be interesting for a certain someone to document one week of the end of being a family of three (soon to be four!!!) don't you think???? Another someone could document her exercise goals and dedication. There are a couple of you (three December babies) who could document one of your last weeks in your thirties!!! Someone could document her successes with reducing her family's carbon footprint. How about the person who moved recently... she could document a week in the new state she is in. There are other readers who don't comment too much who could use this as a springboard to join in!!! What do you think? Any takers? Please note though, this will be your interpretation of how to do the project - I won't be trying to take everyone along like with One Word.

Since I am behind already (posting wise) tomorrow I will just show some pictures for each day so far - or maybe later today... but I am on that album hunt....

Have a good one!!!

Halloween Part 2 - the Costumes

2008-11-03T09:00:00.004-05:00

Hi There!
Happy Monday!
Did all of you have a nice Halloween? The weather here (and I'm pretty sure everywhere on the east coast too???...) was beautiful! PERFECT Halloween weather and the PERFECT day to have it on. A really nice one. The kids got record amounts of candy and for the first time ever we gave out ALL of our candy. Ethan and I separated from Jeff and Max after about 25 or so houses because that was enough for Ethan. Then we had a blast handing out candy. Abbie went with her friends and stayed out the latest and got a HUGE stash. Can someone please tell me now what to do with all this candy?! There is no way my kids are eating all they got. Also the pilgrim in me hates to throw it out and the dieter in me doesn't want it around calling me from the cabinet ("jenny... we are so yummy.... yooo hooo...."). Thoughts? Anyone? Help!!!

So, here is the neighbor pizza gathering. We had pizza and salad and it was fun for the adults to hang out together. Also starting the night with one adult beverage was nice and relaxing (not that I had one, but I am told it was a good idea). The rest of the pictures are pretty self explanatory. Abbie the flapper.

The three.

Our little puppy. Ethan was to be spiderman, wore spiderman costume to school on Friday and got very hot and annoyed by the muscles. Refused to put it on Friday night. Luckily we have a well stocked dress up box and he was perfectly happy to be a puppy. Whew, crisis averted.Max had been working on a robot costume, but try as we did we just didn't finish it all up on time to his satisfaction. It was great working on it though. So he wore his backup costume seen here. He needed it for school anyway since the robot costume was so big and bulky we knew it couldn't go to school with him. I got to see his school costume parade which was fun!

That's it for me - off to Abbie's conference and then to entertain the troops. Have a great week!

Halloween - the Classroom

2008-10-31T16:07:00.004-04:00

The project.
Remember I mentioned all the spider activities we were going to do in Max's classroom? Well, here was the best one. Yummy. It was two cookies with licorice legs held in the middle with frosting and skittles eyes. It was a big and universal hit with all amature arachnologists. Here was me having just waaaaaay too much fun doing the activities. The headband I am wearing had spiders on the top (of course!).

My guy modeling his spider headband and spider cookie. The spider graph and song sheet are also on his desk. His class this year is really sweet and we had a fun time.
A few neighbors are getting together in Meredith's driveway for pizza, salad, and adult beverages (and kiddie ones too) before trick or treating. Should be fun. Then we will go around in a clump. It is gorgeous weather here - over 60 degrees. Blue sunny sky and light out almost until 7. I think it will be a good night. I will likely not get other pictures up until tomorrow though because somehow I also have to squeeze in a workout after tricking and treating around the neighborhood. Abbie is going with a group of friends this year and not us! Man, she is getting big so fast (sniff, sniff). Still will all this fun stuff I miss our traditions from CT (and the people involved) very much.

I hope you have a Happy Halloween - tell us what your kids were okay? Or what you were! Or how you managed to resist the candy... or if you didn't.

Off to make the salad ~

Random Musings

2008-10-30T19:29:00.003-04:00

Hello.

Very grumpy day today.

I suppose that happens. Still, I somehow feel apologetic about it every time. Like I have to be sweet Mary roses and sunshine all day every day with flowers bloomin out my butt or something. Today was not a bloomy day. No reason in particular, just everything seemed like a struggle. Did you ever have one of "those" days? Man I am exhausted.

So.

Rather then struggle and grump through an entry - I thought I'd do this little fun quiz just to shake things up a bit - here goes:

outside my window....

It is finally dark. I am looking forward to daylight savings as crazy as that is. Around here sunup isn't fully done until almost 8am! Dark mornings are strange, seems hard to get the day moving.

i am thankful for....

Many things. Today I am thankful that I managed to avoid falling asleep at the wheel.

from the kitchen...

is the smell of fresh baked sugar cookies that I am not allowing myself to indulge in. Torture to bake them. Need them for a spider project I am doing with Max's class tomorrow. I get to "take over" his class for a whole hour of spooky spider fun. Right now Kristin is likely chuckling.

i am wearing....

the smallest size I have worn since before Max was conceived.

i am creating....

{with humble apologies in advance to Heather for whom all this spider talk will give the heebedy jeebedies... sorry} spider headbands (stop laughing K) spider handouts, spider graphs, and spider facts

i am going....

to fall asleep soon

i am running....

every day - although not always just jogging, I count some of my more vigorous aerobics classes as running too. Same basic idea, less hard on the knees.

i am hoping....

1. to live through spider day

2. to be able to enjoy Halloween

3. to have lost enough weight

4. to get some decent rest (notice that theme do ya?)

5. to see some long lost relatives soon (hint, hint)

and lots of other stuff too

i am hearing....

Max playing with his sister's hairdryer - hang on, I'd better check on that one

Okay, all's good.

around the house.......

are more messes then i feel like dealing with in the near future. Hope to have them cleaned up by Thanksgiving.

one of my favorite things.......

trying on clothes that no longer fit, or old ones that now do

i just saw.....

High School Musical 3 - really last Friday - opening day of course. It was good, I enjoyed it. Not Oscar material, but there are some TALENTED kids in that movie. Really I think they are done now though, how much of this plot line can we take???

a few plans for the weekend.....

trick or treat!

soccer!

Is there anything else in life besides soccer????

Oh, and MAYBE sushi, that would be nice.

Happy Halloween Everyone!!!

My Favorite Season

2008-10-27T14:19:00.002-04:00

Hi again!
Are all of you ready for Halloween?
While my house is decorated, to some extent, I cannot say we are really ready. Still finishing up costume stuff. Max and Ethan decided to make their costumes this year. They are looking very cute. Miss Abdab is still fluctuating on her choice. Yes, this is not like me to be this late and yes, it is stressing me out a bit - but we'll make it.
So, here are some deco pics - this is my favorite "new" decoration this year. The mantle. Still need a frame for a picture of Ethan - it's on my "to-do" list.

The sun is down for now and the autumn sign takes it's place.
My flowers turned seasonal.And finally - this is really an update picture. Remember I've been saying we're going to turn the dining room into more of a desk/reading area? Well here is the furniture we got for the space. I love it! HUGE improvement over the dining room table. AND it's all decked out for the season of course. Still not totally done, I don't think I'm using the space behind the glass well... but all in time. It is nice to have the laptop down here so when the kids are on the internet they are right in the main area where I can see them. Handy.Sorry to be brief, but I have to run get Ethan from school. Then I have to head to the gym for step class, zumba and yoga to end it off. You should see me doing yoga - comical. But hey, at least I try my best right?!

Miss you all - happy Autumn!!!

I Can Hear the Bells....

2008-10-23T10:55:00.004-04:00

Hello!
I've missed you!
Hey, if you recognized the title of this from something out of "Hairspray" the movie, give yourself a pat on the back for me!!
As you well know it's been awhile. Life has been incredibly busy. So I will update ya'll in parts, starting from this... which has been keeping us busy for the past few weeks.
My little brother and his wife Heather. Aren't they beautiful?! Heather looked amazing and hers was the most beautiful dress ever. Their wedding went off without a hitch! Gorgeous weather, wonderful guests, the perfect day. Ahhh.... A few days before the wedding my other brother Jeff and his wife Leonora and my nephew Anthony arrived. It has been 7 years since I last saw Jeff (I've seen LeeLee and Anthony about 3 years ago) and it was FANTASTIC to spend the week with he and his family.

Here's Ethan looking like such a big boy in his wedding duds. Abbie and I were in the wedding and Jeff was a reader. The boys were very happy to be fond observers.Almost all of my parents grandchildren. You see my three of course, and then there is Anthony there too. We're just missing Parker (who was power snoozing at the time of this) and the new one on the way "cooking in the oven". (FYI - YOU KNOW I AM REFERRING TO MY SISTER IN LAW! No, I am not pregnant.) (Becky I'm talking to you!! - lol!)
Handsome brothers....My dress still didn't fit quite right... you could have hosted a slumber party in the bust. Yep. Roomy. I wish it was more tightly fitted to me... but am thrilled that my weight loss (versus gains which incidently have bit me in my largish as* while in other weddings) was the cause of the ill fit. So it was all good. We didn't have any wardrobe malfunctions at all. ;)

BIG wedding party (not even all in the picture). Lots of wonderful people.

I loved seeing everyone. Family. Friends. Former lovers. (just kidding!!!... seeing whose still reading at this point - have I lost you yet???)

That's been my life lately.

I hope to keep up better now that the UBER crazy soccer season is almost over (for outdoor anyway...). Two kids with two teams each... what was I thinking?!

Oh, and if you check out the other blog I updated that one too.

So, how've YOU been?

A Healthy Birthday!

2008-09-14T21:01:00.004-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Welp, the big 4- 0 has hit!

To be honest, it was a pretty great day.

I am not bothered at all, and actually look forward to my 40's.

I think part of the reason is that I am healthier now then I have been in YEARS. I mean, as in almost a decade. That's pretty great. Looking better, feeling good, dropping sizes.... those are all going in the right direction. Additionally I find myself way less stressed (except being perhaps more stressed then usual about eating) in general, less tense, less grumpy or bothered by things. More patient, more calm, more energized. All those lesses and mores due to working out. I love it! I missed it! My "one word" has become my everyday - MOVE.

Sorry, getting sappy up there.

So - apart from being a little lonely (because my friends and family in CT spoil me rotten on a regular basis on my birthday and I really miss you all a lot) I had a wonderful day. My morning started with a step class at the gym, then Ethan and I got ready for preschool, then while he was in school I went to the mall to get my fingernails done. First time for me having a manicure in years and years. I also tried on clothes just for fun. And, it was fun too! Hard to walk away without buying a thing or two... but I managed. I thought I should have a souvenir of my big day, so I took the below picture at a mall kiosk. I wanted one of those with four in a row so I could make silly faces, but I couldn't find a machine that did that.The thing is earlier that same day Ethan needed pictures of everyone in his family and guess who I could barely find a picture of??? You got it. Good ole Mommy. So, once I get a camera again (hopefully soon) my goal is to get pictures with me in them too. Even if I do as Kristin usually does and have one of the children be taking it.

So... after my mall fun I picked up Ethan and we headed home and these had been delivered. Beautiful! (see I am still getting spoiled by my wonderful friends)

And I had a card in the mail from someone far away... and it was very ffffunny (she'll get that).A little later the same day I got a delivery of these - and they also came with a subscription to Health magazine! What a very healthy gift!!! Sorry by the way for the state of the bouquet. I took a picture with my cell phone when it was whole and uneaten, but couldn't get it off there. So... Jeff used his work camera for me and got these pictures (all three) but meanwhile the fruit was just so tempting...... {pineapple is my favorite}Then I went to soccer, in the rain - had to stay because of the rain.... Jeff got stuck behind an accident on the highway and so was very late - and from there my whole night got VERY crazed. I had to get my parents to take the boys (with me at the soccer fields) fly through McD with them (for them only, don't worry) and drop them at Nana's. Then rush home, change and make it to the gym by 7:30 for my 1.5 hour workout with the team and trainer. When I got home to change this was in my garage........

Pretty funny huh?!

And there was a book with it too.

So, that was my day of surprises. No cake, no fancy dinner - but two bootie killing workouts (pull ups - uh!) and lots of spoiling. I felt very healthy, not deprived at all, and loved.

Thank you to everyone. Thank you for the calls, the emails, even the happy thoughts.

I hope you have a fantastic week! :)

OUCH!

2008-09-06T16:18:00.002-04:00

Okay, I hurt at the moment.
Rather a lot.
Especially my knee.
That Jessica - little but mighty!
So, I've been working on my new blog.
The one to follow the contest.
Here's the link.

Try to remember it's a work in progress... and also it's a kind of emotional as well as physical journey. Oh and by all means COMMENT people!

Oh and to the commenter who noticed my ability to smile at the camera while hurling down a log flume... thank you! I am pretty skilled that way aren't I?! [lol!]

Oh and to Kimmy our trainer on staff for the Croppy blog - Kim my knee is killing me! Any ideas? It seems I finally get it better only to have it go back downhill again. Today started with my calfs being really tight and sore and then my knee had to get into the action. I'm living on a lot of motrin which I'd like to back off of.... That said - there have been a couple of times now while working out I get to that turning point of the "runners high". I then go totally mental and waaaaaaaay overdo what I should do probably. It's hard to know when to push through and when to listen to pain. Advice??? {actually anyone please feel free to weigh in on this topic, you don't have to be Kim to do so... any advice is welcome!!!}

One Last Hurrah

2008-09-01T16:58:00.002-04:00

Well, summer is (FIN-A-Lee!) over. This weekend we decided to go to Michigan Adventure, something we've been meaning to do for awhile.

We had a FANTASTIC time. I am sooooo glad we went. What a great way to end twelve weeks of summer fun. It was a smallish theme park, think Lake Compounce if you live in CT. Just big enough to comfortably do in one day. Rides for everyone. Max was tall enough to get on anything, and even Ethan crossed the 42" marker and could ride a lot. The park was clean, relatively uncrowded, and user friendly. What more could ya ask for?!

Sadly my camera is still caputz. This is the ONE picture we have from our adventure. But we made memories and that's important too. Along with the ride rides there was also a water park with a lazy river (my personal favorite and ethan's too), a huge wave pool, and numerous slides of different heights. Also there was a family style "rapids" ride where you sit in a round tube like boat (with shoes on... think BIG) and Ethan and I got SOAKED. But it was all good, we had our bathing suits and flip flops on by then.

Favorites were.... me - the flume, ethan - roller coaster, max - HUGE roller coaster, abbie - tubes that lead to the lazy river, jeff - the giant splash down boats (ethan couldn't get onto that one).

A happy ending to a great summer.

Good luck to all on their first day of school!!!!! :)

Sort of Boring around Here...

2008-08-26T16:06:00.005-04:00

Hi All,

How's it going? I hope all of you are enjoying these last bits of summer. I know a couple of you have children going back to school today or tomorrow. I will not be so immature as to stick my tongue out at you.... but I am not feeling happy feelings about that!

I am VERY ready for the yellow twinkies (buses) to come and wisk my children away to educational persuits. We are ALL ready. This week is just a finish up week - very loose and sort of almost boring. There is just stuff we have to get done y'know? Geesh even this post is feeling sort of boring - sorry about that.

Below is a page out of my honeymoon mini book (6x6) and reflects what I really need right now. Just a two piece worthy body, some lovely nails, a swim up pool bar, and a tropical location (minus the hurricane would be good this time) (oh and this was taken in St. Lucia). It just seems catching a bit of quiet is hard around here. I love my children dearly, and they are smart, creative, inventive, spunky, and fun - but they are all, yes all or at least 2 of 3, LOUD. Since it stays light out here forever it has been so hard to get them to bed at a decent time. Lately it has been almost 10pm before the last "lights out or I do it for you" finally gets them to sleep. And yes, I do wake them early - but I guess not early enough. Starting Wednesday I think it's going to be 7 for Max and Ethan and 6 for Abbie (which is actually later then she can sleep during the school year). I need some down time somehow... i really do.
Tonight I hope (once again) to attempt to change over the blog to the new blogger and have more options for customizing the look. If it's down for a day or two you'll know why I guess.

Well, off to soccer practice.
Wishing you all a lovely week and the opportunity to visit a swim up pool bar near you real soon!
Love,
J

No WAY!!!!

2008-08-23T11:22:00.006-04:00

GUESS WHAT??
GUESS WHAT??
GUESS WAAAAAAAAATTTT???

I'M IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'M ONE OF THIRTY PLAYERS FOR SWAT gym's BIGGEST LOSER (please note that videos are from last season at least for now... soon you'll see me up there!) !!! YOU ALL KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW I AM BOUNCING OFF THE BLOOMIN WALLS WITH EXCITEMENT AND HYPERNESS. WHOOOOOOHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

The plan is that i am starting another blog to follow that journey - i think anyway. You'll be the first to know when i do. Definitely more later but we have running around to do this morning but i just HAD to let you know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The games begin this Wednesday. My trainer has a group of 3 and we will work out together two mornings from 5:30am - 7 and one weekend day from 11am - 1. Luckily I am very much a morning person as my recent company can attest to! ;)

Off to get my birthday present early... a new ipod!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WITH a workout band!

Miss you all so much and looking forward to losing my arm wings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, me

Nervous WRECK!

2008-08-22T17:22:00.002-04:00

Hi All!

Well... at 4:30 today I had my interview to see if I was a big enough loser. While I somehow kept myself from yelling "pick me, pick me" I just can't objectively decide how I did.

I am trying to tell myself that it's okay to be on the white team. One person from that team (which is much bigger then those "chosen") gets to re-join after all. Of the six people I was in the room with I was the smallest.... not sure if that's bad. I got a laugh from the group. I was just my spazzy overexcited self. While I tried to tell myself what to say and how to act on the way there, what happened when the cameras (yes CAMERAS for goodness sake!) were rolling is that all I could do is be me.

Here's hoping "me" is good enough for the program. The good news is that I find out, one way or the other, tomorrow morning before noon. Thankfully they don't make us suffer too much.

If I don't make it (and maybe even if I do) - Kimmy I am signing my bootie up for a triathalon - so pick one for us in CT because then I am getting a few others (ahem Kristy, ahem Deb) to join our sorry butts in getting ready for that thing!

Wish me luck!

Your Opinion Humbly Requested

2008-08-13T10:35:00.002-04:00

Hi All,

First of all... how did I forget Scrapapalooza Monday?
Good grief!
I mean, it wasn't even on my radar - and I had a challenge this week and everything.
Oh well, next week will be a goodie.

So, on to another topic.
I need some advice.
For my interview (loser one) what do I wear???
I had an idea to wear a black skort and shirt that makes me look pretty decent. BUT i am slightly afraid to look to... well not chubby. You see, as I mentioned I am teetering very near the cutoff for BMI in order to participate.

I know from looking at last years "before" pictures that the majority (although not all) of the people chosen were VERY overweight. That way the club's numbers look good when they advertise what the group lost. For example, last years biggest loser lost 87 lbs in 16 weeks. I can tell you right now that number would be both impossible for me and too much for me to lose now that I've already got this started (-27lbs and counting...).

So, back to my original question. Do I dress to impress? Do I dress to look chubbier? Maybe I just go with the frumpish look? Oy, I am making myself very nervous about that issue. Thing is, they will pick me or they won't - either way I am taking the weight off for good. If I don't get "picked" then I'll just go back to what I was doing and up the exercise on my own.

Now - if your instinct is just to tell me to not worry and to be myself... thank you. I do know that. I will be myself and I will try not to worry. That said, I'd REALLY appreciate your opinion on the what to wear issue. Dress to look my best or dress to look my chubbiest. That's my dilemma.

thoughts?

After this entry I will resume my normal blogging type stuff and won't harp on the contest, at least until I find out one way or another (which won't be until after labor day). You may not hear from me for a bit over the next week because on Friday Spincerely and her family arrive for the week. I am very excited to see them. I am hoping that maybe with Spinny's help I can do the blog upgrade I've been looking to do. She's my "in house" techie for all things blog related. We have plans to go on dune rides, see Lake Michigan, hit the $1 movies, go to the Nature Center and even get big group pedicures (her three daughters plus abbie plus she and I... the pedicure place won't know what hit em!). So, I'm sure I'll have some great photos soon (even though my camera is broken and I have to take photos by pushing a paperclip into the button area... i think a new camera is in our future soon.........)

Have a great week! :)

You LOSER!

2008-08-08T14:03:00.002-04:00

So, on to my exciting news...

I got an interview for the "Biggest Loser" (not affiliated with the TV one) contest happening at a local gym around here! I am STOKED. I have never wanted to be a "loser" so bad in my LIFE. Ironically I need to be careful not to lose too much more weight right now because I am close to being at the cut off point of not high enough BMI. Wow! That's a shocker!!! I'm almost too thin for it! Hah! Not too often I hear those words uttered when referring to me I tell ya.

So, not sure if I'll make it into the contest or not - but I am sure as he** going to make my 40th year my most healthy one ever. I've got little Kim bugging the beejeepers out of me to do a triathalon with her (due to my expressing an interest... she is helping me and I her - we're good push each other alongers) and by gum I'd sure like to do it! At the very LEAST I plan on this being the year of the 5K.

So, please cross your fingers for me that I can participate - I have a feeling it would change my life, forever.

Here are some before pictures of me... for those of you who can't remember me without my bodysuit of current (but soon to be leaving!) blubber.

First here is me and my little sis at her graduation. I must say we both look pretty darn good there (and pretty darn alike may I add). I am very proud of Laura and her hubby too because together they have lost well OVER 100 pounds and they look MAHVELOUS! Here is me teaching aerobics in college (didya know I did that?). In this picture it is at an all day aerobics demo with all the teachers taking turns up on a big stage in front. We were miked and everything. It was so FUN. Here I'm taking the class. In case you can't tell I am the closest one in the picture. What? Where's my jiggly bootie? Where are my arm flaps??? Hmmm... I guess once upon a time I looked pretty okay. Oh, and can you see how long my hair is? Impressive.
So, that's it in a nutshell. I am kinda nervous putting this out there in cyberspace (hard to refer to yourself as a chubba bubba with everyone reading you know...) but I think it will help me to DO IT, to MOVE (remember how I chose that word???), and hopefully will inspire me in my quest to once again visit the skinny clothes in my closet. (really and egad! do all of you have sizes that could stock a store or is it just me???)

Here's hoping I turn into a really big (SMALL!) LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mean Rotten Killer of Summer Fun

2008-08-06T14:41:00.002-04:00

Hey there - like my catchy title?
That is my new name... heck with Mommy - call me the MRK of Summer Fun!
Well, in the interest of keeping my children's misadventures somewhat private for them let me just say that - indeed - summer fun for the day has been called off. There will be no fun today. Fun free. Nope- nada - squat on the fun front. Just too much bickering, complaining and unfun behaving going on. Enough said on that topic.

So, last night after staying up WAAAAY too late I finished three more two page layouts. These are not them - but are some I just completed this week too. As always journaling seems to hold me up. I like to tell the story, usually. On this first layout there wasn't too much to tell. It goes in Max's school book and shows his Halloween and Christmas parties here at school. Do you know around here they can still "do" Christmas in the schools?! It's pretty fun! Also we had a real Halloween parade and even the teachers dressed up. A definite benefit of an early elementary (ie:primary) school I think.
Oh, this is one of the layouts i finished last night. I wrote journaling in the white blank spaces. This is what we did while in the hotel the day of our move. We were SO tired, but Jeff managed to pull out a bit of remaining energy and have fun with the kids. I managed to pull out some extra energy and take pics.
Ethan's school book is almost caught up.
Also I have some other exciting news coming soon (NO BECKY I AM NOT WITH CHILD!) [lol!].
IF i can manage to stay up tonight I hope to do a bloggy upgrade.
How's your Wednesday going?
Hope it's a great one!

Frustration

2008-08-04T20:59:00.002-04:00

Today - uh, a frustrating day.
And it continues.
I tried, multiple times, to upload the layouts I took pictures of for you.
Wanted to illustrate Scrapapalooza Monday (although I haven't heard of any join inners yet).
No dice.
"internal error" whatever that is.

Today was one of those
I had a headache all day
Cramps (need i say more on that topic)
NO patience
very tired
everything just seemed to not quite work out

i suppose
we all must have days like this one
so the good ones
stand out

i'll be here scrapping for awhile
then it's off to bed
miss you all
and very much wish
we were scrapping together

cheers~
j

Layouts

2008-08-03T20:47:00.002-04:00

Here are some layouts I got done on the weekend with Heather.
This first one is for the first page of our 2008 album. Kind of the album opener.
I don't do dedication pages although I hear they are all the rage. Do you?
I was pretty proud of this since doing one page layouts is a real challenge for me. We had a couple of new babies last year... and a couple more are on the way!
I have TWO sisters in law who are expecting!!!
Wonder if I'll get nieces or nephews - maybe one of each.

Here is the album opener for 2007.
Now, you will note the similar layout to the first one about meeting Parker. I have decided that if I like a layout (and I do love this one) then I am going to use it at least twice. Now in this case the layouts wont be near eachother since one is in 07 and one is in 08. This is a layout that only happened in July - of THIS year! Do you believe it, a current layout!!!
Oh, on this page i still have to journal in the white circle. I'm going to ask the kids their favorite parts and put it there. Also it should be noted that many of these pictures (the good ones) were taken by Kristin. Need to credit the photographer ya' know.
The best thing about all these layouts??? For the most part they were all using things already in my stash. I think I had to buy some cardstock for one of them - otherwise they were all made from parts already purchased. I love it when that happens! The other great thing about these layouts are they are all inspired from layouts in Scrapbooks Etc. May issue. I loved that issue and turned down many pages. I'm happy when I "scraplift" ideas (even if I then make it my own and "tweak it") because then I feel the magazine is earning it's subscription price! Silly I know, but fun.

That's it for me at the moment. I'm excruciatingly tired (and dramatic as always) with a sore knee requiring another dose of ibuprofin and something in my eye that has been there for hours and is making me NUTS. (thank you for listening to the above whine... we now return to our regurlarly scheduled program)

I am DEFINITELY in for Monday scrappin. Additionally I should be able to start at a more normal time - as soon as the kiddos are mostly in bed.
Who's with me this week?

Have a fantastic week everyone!

Monday Night Scrappapalooza

2008-07-28T20:56:00.002-04:00

Hi Ladies!

Here it is another Monday night that I am not getting started until 9! Today was a soccer party for Abbie's team... sort of a get aquainted party. It went really well.... we just got home.

Today my goal is to finish a couple of things from the weekend. Heather and I went to the GASC and had a fantastic time. The convention itself was a bit disappointing - not as many vendors and much smaller numbers... but the companionship was lovely (last year I went alone and felt lonely much of the time - it was early days from the move) and the classes we took were really wonderful.

I must admit, however, that I had hoped to learn more then I did about acrylic albums. The only thing I learned "new" was how to use alcohol inks on acrylic. They are something I hadn't played with yet. Otherwise it was lots of rub ons and ribbons. Oh, and I really liked the class that combined acrylic and chipboard into one album. THAT was fun and something that made a lot of sense.

You may wonder about pictures.... well while we were gone the camera broke. I need to take it in to have its button fixed. As soon as possible I will take, and post, pictures.

I have to run get a few kiddies in bed. I don't intend to do too much tonight - but hope you get a lot done. Thinking that Tamara, Becky, Kristin and Deb may check in. Maybe even someone new. We all still have to work on Kristy. ;)

More later - oh and PS - I intend to scrap tomorrow night too since tonight will be a short one. Can anyone join me?

Happy Birthday Max!

2008-07-22T19:57:00.003-04:00

As is my custom this year... a birthday in review.
For Max I decided to be different and not do the cake shots.
These are all taken in his birthday month of July - but not necessarily on the day.
In Michigan - 2001.Michigan playground 2002. This is the same playground, although the kiddie side, where in later years he would break his first bone.Here he is in 2003 at Action Wildlife in Goshen. He's driving in the "Safari" section. 2004 was a year of puzzles. Max loved doing puzzles and we did some EVERY day for awhile there.2005 at the Science Center with Dylan. This was the year of the Ms. Frizzle exhibits. At Spectacle Lake in 2006 and able to canoe the perimeter of the lake (our side). 2007 - King of the Dunes!
2008 waterskiing like his dad. Clearly he gets that from HIS side of the family (just not in my DNA I guess).

Happy Birthday!

Off to eat cupcakes and play a game of Uno or Life.

How was your day?

Scrapapalooza Monday!

2008-07-21T21:35:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday!

I see Deb and Tamara have checked in on the last post. Sorry for my later then 8 appearance, my soccer meeting ran late! (oh how some things never change...)

Tonight I am organizing and ordering photos. All part of the scrappy process. Then I hope to do a couple of finish up layouts.

I'll check back in later.

How'd you do???

Red Light Foods

2008-07-20T21:50:00.002-04:00

Hello Everyone,

I hope that you all had a nice weekend!
Before I go into today's exciting entry (ha, ha, ha) I want to say GAME ON for tomorrow. Monday will be our first SCRAPTOGETHER day. Maybe by then I'll think of another name for it. So, those participants who agreed to play, and any who want to join in, just stop by the blog tomorrow at 8pm and say - "i'm here!" I'll have a message up. Then whenever you're done stop by again and let us know what you got finished. As we go on we can get creative with IM or skype or whatever, but for now lets just keep it simple. Sound good? I know I'm expecting Deb, Becky, Heather, and Tamara. Wondering if Kristin will join in? Perhaps Kristy will go for it? Could there be another mystery person who may go for the challenge? Tune in tomorrow to find out! :)

So, on to the topic of the day. Today was "one of those days" when it just seemed like dieting was such a drag. Really. I wanted brownies all blinkin day long. Even unmade in their box they were humming their siren song. Luckily (don't know how I managed) today I resisted. I remember that one of the (many)times I went to weight watchers they used to discuss “red light foods”, those foods that if they are in your house – you will eat them. No amount of willpower will save you. Weight Watchers recommended (at that time) that you keep those foods OUT of your house. I must say that after years of trial and error I’d have to agree.

I need to confess that I cannot co-exist with brownies. They call me. Really, they do. I can be innocently changing laundry when I’ll hear: “jeeeennnnny, we are so tasty…” I’ll ignore it or put them in the microwave (out of sight, out of mind… but unfortunately not out of earshot!) and still their tempting song can be heard – even on a different level of the house “jeeennnyyyy just a little nibble wont huuuurrttt you….”. When they’re in the microwave the sound is just a little muffled.

I must sadly confess that in the battle of Jenny vs the Brownie, the brownie most often wins.

Do you have a “red light food”? An arch nemesis in the war of weight loss? A food whose tempting nature makes “battle” of the bulge really mean something to you?

What’s your temptation?

PS – I don’t do too well with cookies either….

PPS - SEE YA TOMORROW!!!

What Kind of Scrapbooker Are You?

2008-07-15T16:52:00.002-04:00

Sorry for my quiet jag... but I'm back and am apparently in a philosophical mood. Also I am missing everyone and wishing we could scrapbook, or just hang out and do whatever, together. In a rare flash of insight I had an idea. Hmmm... I'll build to it. Here's my thoughts -

For those of you readers who scrapbook (or who’d like to if there were enough hours in the day) I was just wondering what kind of scrapbooker you are?

Are you a “caught up” person who waits for new pictures to be developed because everything else is done?

Are you a “half done”? This unfortunately fits me to a "t". I have many, many projects and layouts just waiting for "one more thing". Very often that one thing is the journaling since I am unable to journal at crops and that seems to be the only place I scrap lately.

Are you a “want to” - you have the stuff, you have the desire, you lack the execution.

Are you a different type all together? What type are you?

My goal is to be a “consistent” scrapbooker. I really want to pick one night a week (one night, I should be able to do one night right? Come on now… just one night is doable) to work on this hobby which I truly enjoy and helps to recharge my batteries. Why is it so hard to find that elusive “discretionary time” for my beloved hobby? I think too often we feel guilty about spending time for ourselves. About doing something that is not child or home centered (although, by its very nature scrapbooking is that).

So, while driving in the car – on a very long journey might I add – and typing this entry up I have devised a plan. How about we pick a night… yes, we – and scrap together? I know we may not be physically together… but we can sign on the blog – just to say “I’m in!” and then while we work we can think happy thoughts about eachother and then log in again to say what we did (or didn’t) get done. That’s what I think it will take for a lot of us… making an appointment to ourselves, and others, to be there and JUST DO IT.

Whatdoyathink? If I commit to be there (and maybe put up an idea or challenge from time to time) will you commit to join me? Who’s interested? What night should we pick? I am thinking of Monday or Thursday night? Or maybe Sunday night?

Let’s start this week!
No excuses.
Just Do It (love that phrase).

Looking forward to scrapping with you…
J

FOUR!

2008-06-22T11:53:00.004-04:00

Wow, it seems like just yesterday that I was prego with this little (okay, big) guy!
Believe it or not Ethan turned four today!
It was pretty fun to do a picture review for Abbie, and is way easier to do for Ethan, so here we go. The day of his birth with new big brother Max. He was only hours old here (and was apparently very sleepy!).First birthday hanging out at Chuck E'Cheeses. This year he is having his friend birthday party here too (combined with Max). They're having them on Thursday. Same ChuckE by the way, this one in the picture is in Michigan.Ethan turns two! And loves eating that cupcake!Three years old! This one is at Nana and Pop-pops house here in MI. We had travelled during his birthday and celebrated it a day or two late. These were our first days arriving in the state. Luckily I am not in the picture, I was not as happy as he is.And now my big boy is four! He got a John Deere Buck for his birthday. He has been on it ever since we picked it up yesterday. Thankfully the batteries needed recharging before dinner, we thought we'd have to serve him his birthday dinner while he sat upon his "quad".Side view. By the way, the big kids enjoyed the JD dealership too, it was quiet in there and they got to climb all over the big tractors. Ethan drove this all over the showroom.
One of the features he loves about his Buck is the dump bed. It really comes up and the back door really opens. Right now he is outside helping Jeff carry mulch in his "bed" of his tractor. He thinks he is one hot potato, that's for sure!

Oh, before the mulch (today) he had his first "load" in the bed. Baby Parker and Matt and Heather came down from Chicago to celebrate both boys' birthdays. Parker enjoyed the ride!Gotta run, I think we're going to Kung Fu Panda today. Also the skies have darkened and thunder and lightning has started - so I am thinking to get off the computer.

Hope you have had a happy weekend - playscape update coming one of these days.....

The Adventures of Mohawk Man

2008-06-09T20:03:00.003-04:00

So, I let Jeff take the boys to get their haircuts whilst Abbie and I go shopping.
I come home to find...
THIS -Now, it is true that when he asked for a mohawk during the schoolyear I said, "let's wait for summer." Now what I MEANT was "lets wait indefinitely". Okay, so when begged I said that it was okay for now. I guess I envisioned a smaller "hawk" with more "mow". Here's the back view. So, do you think he looks like a little rocker? It's pretty funny to see him with it, but let me ASSURE you that it will not last for long.

Hmmm.... okay, now for a humerous story to accompany those rather unique pictures.
So, Mohawk Man (MM) and I were making cookies today for dessert.
They were "healthy" cookies - had peanut butter, grape nuts, oats and other less good stuff.
So... when we're done he asks to lick the bowl.
I rarely okay this due to the whole raw egg thing.
But this has very little egg in it so I say okay.
I hear some funny noises, look behind me, see Max's whole face in the bowl.
I say "what ARE you doing there MM?"
And he says.....
"Mom, my head won't fit in here so I can't lick the bottom!"
EGAD.

The ONE That I Made

2008-06-05T18:58:00.005-04:00

This is a post with a lot of ONE things in it - strange.

There is ONE more day left of school for my children.

There is ONE day left to finish up my thank you notes to Abbie's teachers (Max's are done and delivered - check ONE thing off the list).

This is a story about the ONE teacher gift I managed to churn out this year.

Not sure what my problem was - I especially had intended to make something for the preschool teacher... I think by the end of the year my view of her program had changed and I lost the motivation to make that one. So, this gift went to Ethan's therapist who is a sweetheart and really went the extra mile for Ethan.

The particulars - I started with two boards that go as a set. They are heavy chipboard.. sort of like a clipboard would be made of. I went over each one with a thin coat of white acrylic paint. Then I sprayed them with walnut ink spray (like I used on the "Love" project in February). I adhered some school themed paper. Then using the flourish template in the picture (because I am on a flourishes kick these days) I made corner flourishes with a dark brown paint. Then everything got covered with mod podge. Now, for the bottom board I podged over the pictures but on the top layer I didn't. I love the top picture so much and didn't want anything to change it at all.
Finally I added rhinestone accents - one over the top left of the picture and then single ones within the flourishes. Added the quote and apple accent (which is a sticker on a brown painted chipboard circle). There is also a hanging charm from the jump rings that you can't really see in the picture that says "thanks". Oh I painted on the "thank you" stamp with the same dark brown ink as in the flourishes.
I was pretty happy with it... it was hard to see it go. I usually like to look at my stuff for a couple of days before I give it away. That lets me "tweak" it and say goodbye to it too! Here is a closeup of each side - just for prosperity (my prosperity that is! ;) I did add some words to the top section that didn't get pictured (did it on the way to give it to her!). Otherwise it was how you see it.

Welp, that's it from me... maybe tomorrow you'll get to see the finished playscape! ;)

PS - Items I purchased for this project... ZERO! All items from my stash, even the chipboards!! I was psyched!!!

Still Talkin' Vampire...

2008-06-04T22:38:00.003-04:00

Sorry for those of you who haven't read it yet.
HOWEVER
If you are like me and are just waiting for book 4...
Go here for the first chapter preview.
It's a goodie!

STOP THE PRESSES

2008-06-03T16:05:00.003-04:00

Okay, you're all going to have to bide your time for the playground conclusion since this came out last night and I HAD to share!

What do ya think?
I think that James (the evil one in the below scene) is way better looking then my imagination made him AND I think that Pattinson cast as Edward may just work for me afterall.... {{if you didn't read TWILIGHT yet, do it... just do it... trust me on this one}}

The New Playscape (part 1)

2008-06-02T14:38:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone!

Did you have a nice weekend?
I hope that you did. Our weather here was gorgeous - especially on Sunday when it was 75 with a light breeze and not a cloud in the sky. Ahhhhh... spring. I think, personally, that 75 degrees is my favorite outdoor temperature. What's yours?

Over the Memorial Day weekend when Grandpa and Grandma were here we began working on our new playscape. Jeff designed the whole thing - no kits were used at all. As a matter of fact, Cheryl and I had to tone down his original design when we saw it included a rope bridge with only a plank serving as the "bridge" part. He is a very creative daddy! So, anyway, with Grandpa's help the construction began.

So, here is our tale of day one of construction. It began, as all good projects do, with our ceremonial run to Home Depot. You should have seen my van!!! Once the men were back from their favorite haunt Max and Ethan joined them to help. They were out helping all day. Also we even had some neighborhood children hauling 2x4s. Nice huh?!Now, if you are wondering where the females of the family are... we took Grandma shopping for clothes for Abbie. Now, if you've ever been in Hollister you will know what I mean when I say that it was an "experience" [and then some!] for Grandma! The three of us had a lot of fun and got some good deals too. So, when we got home from our excursion this is what we saw.

Now I included this picture too so that you can see how the tree is incorporated within the play structure. The planks for the second story work around that tree. Thus we have a "tree house" and playscape all in one. In my next post I will show you how far they got in day two. Suffice it to say that while it is not yet done the kids are able to play on it a lot. I'll get that post going tomorrow or Wednesday hopefully.

I still am working on teacher gifts. Why I feel compelled to make things I do not know? Who else is with me on that crazy notion? I KNOW (whether she signs on to admit it or not) that Kristin at least is. I now have myself down to just making something for Ethan's therapist because I love her dearly and she did a LOT for Ethan. Everyone else is getting homemade cards, but no clipboards for me this year. Maybe next year I'll be more inspired??? [wish i wasn't feeling guilty about it though...]

The only other thing new for me, other then the typical last week of school craziness, is that {oh surprise surprise} once again I have some strange sickness [or maybe injury?] that is causing me to feel like hell. I have a doctors appointment in an hour or so, perhaps I'll be lucky and it will be easy to figure out. Rarely am I that lucky {being the reigning queen of strange illnesses} but there's always a first time!

Well, hoping to hear from some of you that haven't commented in awhile - I miss you! I do read every comment even if I am sometimes long in responding. The interactive part of the blog is a huge part of the fun. Okay, off to see the doc. Wish me luck!

The Dunes

2008-05-29T18:58:00.003-04:00

We had lots of fun with our Memorial Day Weekend (plus some more) visitors! Yes, Grandma and Grandpa came all the way from Canton to see our new digs and have a nice visit. And how do we repay that kindness you ask??? We drag them up the dunes! In the picture above you see her royal highness at the top of the dune. We were at Lake Michigan which you see in the background. It was a lovely day to do this... gorgeous sunshine and a little on the cooler side, perfect. Up on the dune it is pretty breezy (or it was that day). In order to try to show you the scale of the dune... here below is Max (he is in the red shirt). He literally had to crawl to go up the dune any further - it was so steep (and of course sandy) that otherwise he was just sliding down.
I tried very hard to get a picture with the blog in mind. Here is one taken by Jeff which shows Grandpa and Grandma and myself resting on a driftwood log. We were at the top - but there was another steeper section off to the left that we chose to avoid. It was so beautiful up there. People watching was a blast too. The teenagers had boards (like snowboards with straps for the feet - not sure what they were meant for, unless "sand surfing" is their real purpose) and would "surf" down the back side of the dune (which was sooooo steep that crawling up was the only choice even for adults). I really like this picture, may I add that Grandma and Grandpa got up that dune with no problem at all. Pretty impressive if you ask me!
After hangin on the dune for quite awhile we went down to the Lake for a look see. What a gorgeous day. It looked much different then the "sand/iceburgs" that were there the last time I visited! Whew! Look out for those Michigan waves kids!!! (waves my foot! clearly the people who say the Great Lakes have waves have never lived near the Jersey shore!!!)

We then drove to another section of Lake Michigan near the artist village of Saugatuck (which I have written about before) and also went to South Haven to watch the boats. We travelled over a lot of territory all in all! When we were done here's what the van looked like.

PS - yes I know that Max has a smirk and is clearly faking - just seemed very Max to me - he wanted to be included!!! :)

Happy (almost) Friday!
What did you do over the long weekend???

So Many Changes...

2008-05-21T17:07:00.002-04:00

Good grief it has been a whirlwind of a month.
Whew! Feels like I can't even take the time to catch my breath... and reminds me of when I was teaching and the year end rush to "git 'er done". So, I'll be brief.
We've had a graduation from preschool. We got to visit with Baby Parker who is now almost six months old and is one cutie patootie for sure! He is my brother Matt and his wife Heather's little guy.
We visited our brand new neighbor who is now home safe and sound.
We got braces off. THAT is really big! No more braces! One thing though, Abbie suddenly looks about 14. If you can't tell in these pics - take my word for it. She looks so "teenager" now. Oy. In this first pic she did her hair for her first day of school with un-blinged teeth.
See - she's looking older I tell you. LUCKILY i never age or someone might be able to figure out that I am no longer 28!
Have a happy Memorial Day weekend. I don't know if I'll be posting until next week because of our visitors. So, have a fun week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I've Been Tagged!

2008-05-19T21:26:00.004-04:00

Well, Spincerely tagged me a couple of days ago on her blog to fill out this little quiz. Since today seems to be a catch-up day of sorts for me it seemed like a good post idea.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? Ten years ago I was teaching full time second grade with Kristin. Abbie was my only child and she was two. I was living on Rock Road. I enjoyed those years immensely.

2. What are five things on my to-do list today? Well, I wanted to blog (check), I had to babysit another three year old (check), took the boys to the library ( check), supposed to call my builder about the problem with the lawn (oh dog doo, forgot to do this one!), and I am working on cleaning up my scrap/guest room so that grandpa and grandma have a place to sleep! (in progress)

3. Snacks I enjoy? I'd love to say that I just adore every veggie and fruit is number one for me, but to be honest a good cookie works for me every time! I rarely indulge in them lately... so I will think of some things that lately I have been loving. Believe it or not cottage cheese and fruit is a favorite as is a yellow delicious apple.

4. Places I've Lived? Rahway, NJ; Mattawan, NJ; New Fairfield, CT; Canton, CT; Burlington, CT; Avon, CT and the latest - MI.

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire? Oh my. Well, that is difficult to answer in full. I am sure I'd give some away. I would like to fund some important things. Support causes that are meaningful to me and that I would have liked to support more in the past. I'd take care of all my family and friends. I would drive a Mercedes and get Abbie her Coach purse. Then likely I would pull the kiddos out of school for a year to travel around. I'd home school them - and/or hire a tutor/nanny/cook to come with us on our travelling adventures. Eventually when all my fun wore thin I think I would like to open a school. That's just an off the cuff response - sorry if it seems shallow, but I am tired.

There now Miss Spincerely - done!

On to other topics - here are some layouts that I finished up over the past few weeks.

For the most part the left side of the two page layout is shown first.

So, this one is fairly recent... this year anyway. The swirls on the left and right are chipboard.

Yes, this is Max's last day of last year. First grade. One half of the layout is that, the other is from his author's tea also last year.Ah hem, well, this one is a bit old. You wouldn't believe how "almost done" this was for sooooo long. Well, now it finally is in the Halloween album where it belongs. Whew! [ps - that is Max in the Bob outfit, not Ethan - just FYI]Ah, another recent one. This was from a recent field trip of Ethan's. I think I like this layout best of the ones here this time. What's your favorite?

I hope that you all have a wonderful week!

I have to get back to cleaning out the guest room now.... [insert groan here] tootles! :)

Update on the Tag Sale...

2008-05-17T16:02:00.002-04:00

Welp, I am finally done and cleaned up too.
Today I made somewhere around $45.oo.
With yesterday's total it's about $150 overall.

Not too bad.

I majorly decluttered... that's a good thing.
I majorly purged my scrap stash... great.
I am MAJORLY exhaused right now... oh well.
Oddly not many clothing items sold.
My big sellers were toys, scrapbook stuff, and VHS tapes (go figure).

Off to see my neighbors new baby now. He is a healthy 9lb. 2oz baby and is 21" long! Wow! Pretty darn big for a first baby AND his mom is only about 5' tall!
Have a happy weekend!!!! :)

Two Words

2008-05-17T04:31:00.004-04:00

Yep, I've been a little blog neglectful.

Two words as to why...

TAG - SALE

Good grief - the work involved in these things! I am doing the sale with my neighbor down the road ... so along with getting it all together I did a ton of schlepping. Schlep, schlep, schlep. The sale was yesterday (friday) all day [ALL day - 7:30am - 8:30pm] and today it's just from 8 - 2. Yesterday I "made" just over $100. Not too shabby. My friend sold her wave runner for over $1000.00 and a mobile bar for $150.00 so she's doing great.

So, that's where i've been. And as soon as this is over we start cleaning/preparing for guests who will arrive on Thursday. Right now my scrap/guest room is a disaster to say the least. I did go through my stash though and was able to finally sell some old CM stuff hanging around and some old patterned paper at 10 for $1. Cool. Out with the old... in with the new...

Back to guests, since they will be here for about a week - I really cannot imagine I will be doing too much blogging - but I will try. Jeff is supposed to get the computer and desk out of the guest room so I have a shot maybe.

Who is visiting you ask? We will be having Grandpa and Grandma Maggie here for some Michigan fun. I hope our weather is nice... if it is we may subject them to a dune ride!!!!!

Now, I had a guest two weeks ago too. Guess who? No guessing if you know - we had a blast when she (hint) was here. Would you believe though that I have NOT ONE PICTURE?! I have failed as a scrapbooker. NOT.ONE.PICTURE. Good grief. I am embarrased for myself. We just moved around a lot I guess and it was pouring rain every day she was here until the day she left. This person holds the distinction of being my first non-family visitor. Any guesses???? I am hoping that the numbers of visitors will rise significantly over the summer [HINT<>

So, otherwise here's what we've been doing........

Ethan is finishing up therapy (OT) and having fun with his therapist "Miss Marguerita". Here it was a zoo theme day. He got to read a book about the zoo, and all his jobs {for lack of a better word} were zoo related. Here he is the "Zoo Keeper" and he is rolling the animals back to their cages (that white basket). The animal is on his back under his shirt. Yes, he is wearing hand and ankle weights and has to keep his head and feet up. Not as easy as it may look! He has a blast going and has progressed so far that as of June he will "graduate" out of needing it!! Whoo hooEthan has also been on a major lego kick. And speaking of kicking... here's our weekend. I think you can tell, but in case not Abbie is the one in blue. So funny that I got this shot because right after it she got spoken to for checking a girl with a bit too much, um, oomph. Cracked me up! So not Abbie!!! Her coaches from CT would chuckle at that, believe me they would. Max LOVES soccer as well. A lot. He especially likes offense. He and three other boys on his team really lead the team. They were pretty undefeated (though at his league they don't track things like that).His season actually ended [seems early to me!] and he got a medal. School is almost over here. Ethan is done next week and the big kiddos get out on the 6th of June. Time, which has been dragging, is suddenly flying by. I need to make teacher gifts and FAST. Good grief. Any ideas???

I hope you have a nice weekend. Wish me luck at day 2 of the garage sale okay? Oh and for a good laugh look at the time stamp from this blog post and you'll see just how little I have been sleeping lately. Happy Saturday!!! :)

The Meatloaf Police??!!

2008-05-10T23:12:00.003-04:00

Oh my!
The meatloaf police are on the way to my house!!!
Good grief and oh my macaroni!!!
Yep, it appears that leaving my picture of my HEALTHY meatloaf up there is causing extreme duress, nausea, and all sorts of awful things.
Sooooooooo......
On to a post that i've been meaning to do since March 19th!
My princess is such the "tween" now, more then ever.
In recent posts many of you mentioned that she is looking so grown up.
You're not kidding.
Here is a photo review.
First Birthday. So cute. I know you covet my glasses, try to control yourselves.First birthday with the grandma's. Yes, she still enjoys gifts. AND I'll have you know she loved wearing those headbands! Really. I think I still have that one as a matter of fact! Here she is at a brownie dance at age 7. I have the least pictures of Abbie on digital. Now there is this machine that changes negatives into digital images. I think I am going to be calling my IT guy to see if we can get that upgrade!!! ;) Oh, and here is the IT guy himself.
Age 8 at a gymnastics birthday party. Age 10 with the gruesome twosome. (hee hee hee)Egad - here she is at 11. You will be amazed just how much she has changed even between 11 and 12 (I think so anyway).Skull and crossbones bathing suit optional to attend party. {It was a mini-sleepover and the girlies went into the hot tub before cake. Not a bad plan actually...}Here's my lovely 12 year old.
She is doing so well here, straight A's, soccer, band, swimming, babysitting, you name it. I love the young lady she is becoming. {OH! Perhaps except that she now would like Coach purses and Tiffany jewelry for her birthday instead of the MUCH easier barbies. Oy vey} [she didn't get either... but a girl can dream right??!!]

Even her room is looking more "teenager" to me. [sniff, sniff] The poster collection shown here has doubled since this picture was taken by the way.Well, now you don't have to look at the meatloaf.

Peace out dudes!!! ;)

De-licious and Nu-tricious

2008-04-20T15:18:00.003-04:00

Hello there on this glorious Sunday!
Here it is sunny and warm, about 75 degrees. Lovely.
We have the fans going in the house and a delicious breeze is cooling me as we speak.
Ahhhhhh.
So, since I was thinking delicious breeze, I thought I'd share a recipe with you that I made last night. Here is the first picture of it... i think I can kiss my "food stylist" career goodbye... Okay, so the recipe is for "Garden-Style Turkey Meatloaf". I got the recipe years ago off the lid of a quaker oats canister. Here it is, I am putting it as written and in parenthesis I am letting you know what I do instead.

1.5lbs lean ground turkey or lean ground beef (I use a mixture of both - 1lb turkey, 1/2 lb beef)
One 10oz package frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained (best part!)
1 cup quaker oats - uncooked
1/2 cup finely chopped onions
1/2 cup finely shredded carrots (I am generous with these measurements)
2 egg whites or 1 egg, slightly beaten (i used egg beaters)
1/3 cup skim milk
1.5 teaspoons italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt (I omit this)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Heat oven to 350. 2. Combine all ingredients in large bowl, mix lightly but thoroughly. 3. On cookie sheet shape meatloaf into a 9x5 loaf (or whatever, does anyone really measure that??) in center of pan. 4. Bake 45 - 55 minutes until medium doneness (160 degrees) and juices run clear. 5. Let stand about 5 minutes (or a bit more) before slicing.

Yield: 8 servings
calories: 150
total fat: 6g
cholesterol: 65mg
fiber: 3g
protein: 16g

WWpoints: ??? not sure, can't find my points thingy, can someone who has it available check for me and then I'll edit this to include that info? Thanks.

Ratings (on a 1- 10 scale, 10 being amazing):

Jenny - 10+
Jeff - 10
Abbie - 8+
Ethan - 10
Max - hates it (but one in five aint so bad!)

And a final shot to leave you with. It shows its texture well. This is fantastic cold the next day too on sandwiches. If you make it, let us know what you think okay?
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!!! :)

So Many Pictures, So Little Time

2008-04-17T09:53:00.002-04:00

Hello out there, and how are you doing today?
In an attempt to be "caught up" with my blogging I have lots of pics for you today. Since the last few posts have been all writing I figured you wouldn't mind.
So, here is the new color of most of the downstairs of my house. It is called "vellum". I kid you not. Once I found out the name of the color I knew it was for me!! The main room is this color as is the kitchen and the downstairs bath. Here is a closeup of my new curtains. I love them sooooo much. I never really had any in my old house so this is a BIG DEAL for me. I think they came out wonderfully. What I also know is that I have tried and tried to get a good picture of the wall color (which is a happy yellowish) and the curtains and weather it's sunny, partly cloudy, or night I can't seem to really do the colors justice. Guess you'll just have to come and visit so you can see them in person!!! :)

There are two places downstairs with an accent color of a sort of green. Don't remember the name of this one.... bet DH does though. Anyway here is the kitchen with the exit toward the garage. On the left is the door to the bathroom and the right is the door to the (yet unpainted- i want stripes...) laundry room.

The man who did ALL the painting (remember I have a two story room... yep he leaned up a really tall ladder and was able to do all the trim and rolling with NO splotches on the ceiling or windows at all! he's a great man that DH is!). Here he is hanging my drapes.
The other wall(s) with an accent color are the ones in the slider alcove. Tried to get a decent picture of it, I think you can get the idea. Do you like my little sun wall hanging?
Also during DHs most recent trip (Texas this time) I finished a couple of layouts from the weekend with Heather in February. Here is Halloween 2008. Yes, I have one with Abbie too, but there were so many of her in that devil outfit that I have a whole two pager mostly of just her. Not done yet though...
Left side...

Right side...
This is from January of 2008. Ethan is not in it because he had those cookies already with his class and was taking a snooze when Abbie and Max made theirs.

Well, I have to go do some organizing and bill paying. Hope you have a lovely day!!!

You're Invited...

2008-04-14T13:41:00.003-04:00

...to my pity party!
Good grief, will I soon catch a break???!!!
(overreacting for dramatic effect here, just stay with me)

So, here is my day.
5:20 - awaken to the sounds of water blowing through the pipes. They had a "flushing" of the water here (first time I've had public water in years and years) and so there was air and rust in the pipes to be gotten through. A rude awakening. Scared Abbie too as it was she who turned on the shower! Since I couldn't fall asleep until after 1am I was less then thrilled to be up at this early hour.

6:00 - roll out of bed, decide to make the most of the head start of the day. Make a nice to-do list. Email Max's teachers about his splint, ear infection, and allergy issues. Continue laundry. Shower. Get boys up and dressed. Change Ethan's sheets (more laundry). Feed boys, pack backpacks, finish up some homework that we somehow missed (yes, during the bloomin 10 days we were "off"). Max runs behind - we miss the morning bus.

8:30 - Drive Max to school. 30 minutes round trip.

9:00 - One phone call, breakfast and then off to a few errands.

10:30 - home from errands. ethan and i are excited to spend the rest of the day together and i am excited to do my "to-do" list. hmmmm....

10:40 - call from elementary school - come pick up Max he has a headache. off i go. 30 minutes round trip.

Then til now... Ethan and Max bicker over a video. I can't take the walk I wanted to and leave Max alone. Fed boys and myself lunch. Did breakfast and lunch dishes. Reflected that it seems like we are still on "vacation" here. Debated having Max take a nap, but decided an early bedtime would be better for his body clock. Changed laundry. (One of these days you will have to suffer through an entire post on laundry... it seems to take up such a big portion of my life!) Soon I will need to go and pick Abbie up because I told her she would be early dismissal due to needing to pick up Max early for a dentist appointment. Thirty minute round trip with both boys, then drop Abbie and Ethan home, then take Max to get tooth filling. Then home, figure out dinner, make it, eat it, clean from it, early bedtime routine for all and then.... I am going to bed! I am bushed!!!!!!

In case ya'll were wondering why I don't have time to blog........

PS - wanted to put up some random pics from march and found I have very few and most were pathetic. vowing to take more this month. it's like i slept through feb and march. strange.

The Shedd

2008-04-13T17:01:00.003-04:00

After the last two rather dramatic postings I thought I should share a little something lighter with you. As a closing to the spring break we took a family road trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Definitely check out their site... one of the best I've seen in terms of information and great nature shots. Anyway - I must confess that the trip wasn't without issues, but life's not perfect right?!

Here are some little wormy looking fish that I found amusing. Can you see their little eyes? I loved how they went up and down in the sand and were so wiggly. Very cute. Wouldn't want to step on one, but they were fun to watch. The "lovely" children enjoying the wave exhibit. You can't see it in this pic, but every so often a wave of water would come along. Interesting. Forgive my quotations around the "lovely" but my children's behavior was, at times, questionable. It got WAAAAAAAAY too crowded in there and it frustrated everyone. We will definitely need to go again but NEVER again on a weekend.
I kept waiting for them to dance. (click that linky, just do it...)
The dolphins were beautiful. Wonder why they swim upside down so much. Does anyone know???
The hit of the day was the 4D Planet Earth movie. Oh my was that fun. If you have been to Disney lately and saw the Bugs Life video, this is the same thing. We got sprayed, poked, wind blown, rocked and spritzed with smell. Very funny! Ethan liked it once it was over, but was not so fond of being randomly sprayed. The 3D part was cool too. Very informational and hosted by someone who either was, or sounded just like, John Cleese.

Did you do anything special this weekend?

So, Here's What Happened Next....

2008-04-11T16:17:00.003-04:00

Okay, you know the first part of the story.

So... i hung up the phone and...

First was paralyzed. Just stood there like an idiot. If there was trouble coming I lost valuable seconds to fear. Not so smart. I always yell at people in movies that do that - just stand there i mean - and there I did it! Egad.

So, then I spun on my heels and got the heck out of the kitchen to the garage. Yes, it did occur to me that my cell was being used but I wanted my car and some part of my brain must have felt this was all silly and just go. So I did. Oh, as to caller ID, I did eventually look... guess what it was. Out of area. Nice.

So I left that house with lights ablazing (gloomy day remember) and high tailed it out of there. I checked my car before getting into it. Got in, locked the doors, and left. Even shut the garage door behind me.

Then what???

I believe i called someone in PA and someone in CT - not sure how I thought they could help. There was just a part of me that didn't want to call 911 in the middle of the morning and make a scene. Hmmm... So I went shopping for my 2 hours and attempted to calm down. Attempted to convince myself it was a prank call. Picked up Ethan and was faced with a new dilemma... should I go home?????

So, I drove by my house. All looked well. No signs of open doors or anything odd. Finally I did something sort of smart and called my dad who does live nearby and can help (makes more sense then the CT call... but old habits die hard). We decided to go through the house with cell phone in hand (yes, i do believe i saw my dad roll his eyes as i insisted he check under the beds - but hey! i was scared!). There was nobody in the house. No evidence there ever was.

So, I can only conclude it was either a very unfortunate wrong number, or a very mean random prank call.

What sort of stinks is that I keep having to deal with Jeff being gone. I have always been skittish being alone (kudos to single mom's out there everywhere) in the house overnight - now it is so much worse. I am barely sleeping four hours a night if Jeff is away on business (a regular occurance). I wish I could just shake this off. It seems I spend too many nights terrified to turn off the lights........

OKAY!

My that's gloomy.

I need to end on a positive note here. Hmmm... well I made my "baby steps" goal of blogging three times this week! Whoo hoo!!! Next week I'd like to try for four and then keep it at 3 - 4x per week. We'll see how it goes.

Spring break went sort of well for the kiddies... except for Max who had an x-ray (not broken) an ear infection (woke screaming) and a dermatologist apt (excema again). Abbie had a great week and Ethan did too. Max had some fun as after his apt he got to go to Toys R Us and use a remaining gift card to buy a new lego set. He has been loving that!!!

I hope that all of you have a great weekend. I have a half hour to myself at the moment and so I am going to try to finish up a couple of layouts. I haven't scrapped since January really (a page in Feb too I think) and I think my not doing that is indicitive of my mindset at the moment. So I am trying to break the mold and get some positive vibes back.

I miss you all very much.
Be safe and have a fun weekend!!!!

Overactive Imagination? You Decide...

2008-04-10T19:01:00.003-04:00

So, here's a "what would you do if..." for you.
This happened to me, for real, a couple of weeks ago.

I walk back into the ever gloomy house after dropping off child #3 to school. It is one of my RARE mornings where I have two hours to myself. Jeff is travelling with work and is out of the country which means I am running full steam ahead 24/7. Trust me when I tell you I NEED those 2 hours.

As usual I leave my keys in the car, in the locked garage. Cell phone is in there too, I usually leave it in my car and only bring it in at night.

So, I am settling in. Poured myself a cup of tea, plowing through a precariously piled pound of paperwork (p, p, ppp). In general trying to relax. My big plan is to work for one hour cleaning and then reward myself by "playing" with my scrapbook stuff (which misses me... i can hear it calling in the night... "jenny, jenny where are you jenny" ... it calls - pitifully) for the later hour. I begin to clean. I start with the kitchen. The kitchen is closest to the garage and the exit to said garage. Yes, this is a relevant factoid.

The phone rings.

Brrrriinggg.
Brrrrinnggg.
Brrrinngydingding.

I have sudsy hands.
SOOOO
I don't look at the caller ID, figured it was Jeff.

The conversation then went something like this....

caller: "hello"
me: "hello?" I had no clue who this was.
caller: "how are you today?" Whoever it was had a deep male voice.
me: "I'm sorry, and who is this???"
caller: "I'm here."
me: "hmmm?" (brilliant I know)
caller: "No, I'm HERE."
me: "I think you have the wrong number" (moving to hang up)
caller: "No - I'm - IN - the - house. here."

CLICK! I hang up HARD as I can.
I am, by now COMPLETELY FREAKED OUT. I mean, come on - horror movies start like that!!!!!!!

What would you do???
Leave a comment letting me know.
Wonder what I did? (well, clearly I survived - but I did do something)

Stay tuned... when I have a few responses about what you would do, I'll post the ending.............................

Baby Steps

2008-04-04T09:52:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone.

Yep, it's been awhile - again.

All I can say is that once too much time goes by it gets harder and harder to get back into the blogging groove.

So I decided to just take "baby steps" and do it. I am not going to try to fill you all in and catch you all up in one gigantic post. Just little by little. That way even if I only have 15 minutes i have a shot of getting something blogged. Jeff has been gone all week for work and so 15 minutes is about it for me.

I thought the most important thing to start with - what I have been in the clutches of!

Well, it's this book!

So far it's a trilogy - I think the fourth book is coming out this summer.

It's wonderful. Read it. I know the description makes it sound like it may be hokey.

BUT. IT'S. NOT!

I read the first book twice AND listened to it in my car. Read the second book once and am listening to it in the car and the third book just once so far. I am waiting to read book three again for May when it comes out with an advance chapter of book four at the end. I own the other two books already. The movie from this book is due out in December - but GO AND READ THE BOOK! There is no way the movie can be AS good as the book (heck, i'm hoping it's good... but it can't be AS good). You will like it. Read it. Then post your thoughts here okay???

By the way, Heather did guess the answer that it was a book. She emailed on the side and so a gifty is on the way. Congrats Heather!

Oh - another thing while I am on a recommendation kick.

I just saw August Rush.

It was such a wonderful movie. The whole family watched it, but just to warn you I forwarded past the unwed mom stuff for the kids. It's not graphic or anything - but look at it before you let the kids watch the whole thing. The ending is amazing. Truth be told in the beginning I was worried, it had a bit of a slow start - but the middle and ending were worth the wait.

Well, yipe.

That took me more then 15 minutes - most of which was spent trying to get a picture of the Twilight book off the internet and posted here. No luck. I'll have to consult my very reasonably priced Web Master for instructions.

Have an enjoyable weekend!

Since I Last Wrote...

2008-03-16T19:46:00.003-04:00

I got in the "clutches" of the ICK!
Yep.
Stomach bug got me.
Majorly yuckish.
Then my dad went down, then my mother.
Good grief.
And yet, somehow, through this all,
Ethan remains well.

Oh me, oh my am I waiting for the other shoe to fall........

(more on the real answer to what still has me in it's clutches as soon as I can)
J

Where HAVE you Been?

2008-03-12T13:59:00.003-04:00

Shhhh... not that I want to jinx it, but the weather here has been... better. Here is today's pic and actually I have seen the sun more this week then any other week since November. Really. I record stuff like that. So as to my long absence.
Well, I decided a whole post of excuses would be lame and boring to read.
So, I lapsed.
That's it.
However I am back now. I have a post below (be sure to read it... called "Visitors") this one to explain some of my absence. An unusual amount of sickness here lately too. I hope that the sickness is all over soon. Not sure it will be though.

So... the only other reason that I am going to admit to is that I have been in the clutches of something.
Do any of you have a guess what that is?
Just some hints of what it's not...

1. I am NOT pregnant and if any of you even THOUGHT that I want you to poke your eye with your pointer finger right now. DON'T even go there!

2. It does not involve any TV show (although Idol is fantastic this season).

3. No other "person" is involved.

Good luck with your guesses... who knows what the lucky winner might get in the mail....

PS - Happy Birthday Beckala!
Happy Birthday Tamaramaroooooo!
Happy Birthday Emma Bemma Bo Jemma!
Happy Birthday Meme!
Happy Birthday Ona!
Happy Birthday to Tyler who just turned 2!
Happy Almost Any Day Now Birthday to John's sister!
and very soon.... another birthday is coming!
(man, I know a lot of people born in early March and/or leap day!)

Visitors

2008-03-12T13:08:00.005-04:00

This past weekend we were so lucky to have Auntie Laura (my sister in law) and Ruthe (only niece, so far anyway...) visit us here. We had a wonderful time. Now, the time wasn't without some, um... issues, but overall it was fabulous. I love having my family around. Always. Love guests. Want more (hint! hint!).

So one of the things we did when Laura and Ruthe (pronounced ruth*ee) were here was go to see Lake Michigan. At least that's what I thought we'd be doing. On the way down we spoke to Ethan and Ruthe about touching the water, seeing how cold it was, seeing if there was ice floating on it.

Okay, so we were certainly correct about the ice. If you look carefully at the picture you will see the ice floating around - it was hard to see with the naked eye, at first we thought the ice chunks were waves. It was a VERY windy and VERY cold day.

What we didn't expect was the sand/icebergs. Where you see those hills... that is usually the water. The water was so far away because of those dune ice things that we couldn't even walk to it to touch it. This is the view from the car... an overview of sorts.I think I mentioned it was FREEZING. It was actually too much for Ruthe even after we bundled the kids up like this. Ethan is just older enough (Ruthe is only 22mos) that the thrill of the sand, the rocks, the shells was enough to keep him out there. Here are Laura, Ruthe and Ethan at the edge where the ice starts. It was so cool, beautiful and strange to see this. I was awed.This last shot isn't of anyone I know... just wanted to show you the scale of the dunes of ice vs. people. You see if we didn't have the little ones I know that Laura and I would have walked out there too... but the sign saying don't cross the ice and the fact that it was cold with a whipping wind plus the fact that we would NEVER put our little ones in any kind of compromising condition stopped us. But I wanted to go... man did I ever.Realizing this is anticlimactic after the ice shots above, I still wanted to include it. This was one of Ruthe's favorite places (I believe anyway) and she enjoyed getting down with the Cheese man. The big kids had Friday off while Auntie was here and so we were able to spend the day doing fun things with them too. Turns out it was lucky we did because...

By late Friday night both Abbie and Max had the stomach bug full force. Ew. That is why only Laura and I and the two little ones were all got got to go and see the lake. Poor DH had to stay in the house of vomit. Luckily the virus was a quick one. Unluckily Ruthe was vomiting too by Saturday night and poor Laura had to fly with her on Sunday.

She wound up doing fine on both flights and now they are home safe and sound. We miss them dearly. Thought the sickness was over here too... but Max's sore throat that we thought was from the vomiting (TMI???) was actually a sign that he had something else. He has been home sick since Tuesday and most likely should not have gone to school Monday either.

So you see why there was some complications to the visit, but we made the best of it and had a wonderful time.

Okay out there - who's going to be my next visitor!!!??? Get workin on those plane flight people!!! ;)

February, February, Where for Art Thou February?

2008-02-20T10:38:00.002-05:00

He-lo...
How have you all been?
I am very sorry for my lengthy absence. I think February is not turning out to be a banner month for me (except that it started out REALLY great!). It has been one thing after another. I guess life just goes that way sometimes.

I am sorry to report that our acrylic album project (at least my end of it) is going to have to wait until March. Looking ahead I just don't have the time needed to git'er done. Please tell me you understand. :(

My tooth has been a source of just too much drama! First the pain, then the root canal, then the root canal gets infected, then I need to change dentists, now I need a crown! MY FREAKING WORD! Enough with the teeth already! Sadly when I am in pain I am not creative. At all. Does that happen to you?

Also while this was happening Jeff had the finger surgery that he has been putting off forever. He is doing very, very well now with it. He is still bandaged up, it will be awhile before he has full use of it (right hand of course) but he is getting better daily. Whoo hoo! Very nice hospital, very competent doctor, all's good there.

Kids are well.
Parents are great and planning a trip to AZ for the end of the month.
Got to see my CUTIE PATOOTIE 3m old nephew over the weekend. That was way fun!
So I guess really February isn't THAT bad.
It's just really busy and not too much time left over for creative pursuits is all.
hmmm....

Truth be told, I'm having a bit of trouble MOVing too. New meds. Blah. Can't change them for awhile yet either. I just feel like a slug. Slugs don't feel too great ya know.

OK!
No more pity party.
I will try to be better posting.
With the pressure of the project off (moved to March) I can just post more without feeling guilty about not updating the project.

AND i have (believe it or not) another suggestion for all of us.
It will come soon.

Miss you all and hope that you have a lovely week free from any tooth pain! :)

Two Posts - One Day!

2008-02-13T10:48:00.003-05:00

Hello!
If you're wondering where I've been since last week... please see the post under this one. I've done two posts today!! :)

Just wanted to show you some of the awesomeness (is too a word!) that some wonderful people have done for the January challenge.

Here's Kristy's WORD, makes me want to grin just looking at it! I think red is such a vibrant and dynamic color - a good analogy for the changes she is going through right now. It also, to me, signifies her strength. That flourish she used just accents the fun of the WORD doesn't it? A very happy canvas for a very happy word!! :) Here is Tamara's WORD. I love the paper mod podged onto it! Love the ribbon accent too. I find the flowers and the birds very appropriate also for the word since she also Cherishes nature. I love the blue for the same reason. What a perfect blue - how did you distress it T? What a great look! Simply Lovely!
Ahhhh... our Beckala has the WORD that we all can use sometimes. I love the soothing colors of her canvas... love the pink, burgandy, and green. I love the use of ribbon as an accent too! Did you mod podge the ribbon on B'la? I feel a zen like calm when looking at this one. Beautiful Becky!
Here is Kendra's WORD created by Tamara also. With input and assistance from K. I love the quote at the bottom right of the canvas which says, "follow your dreams". What a perfect WORD and canvas for a teenager. I also love the butterflies - spreading the wings - what a powerful image. Gorgeous!
Thank you all for participating and sending me your pictures as well. There are still a couple coming (cough - you.know.who.you.are!) and I will post them when we get them.

For this month's challenge please be sure (as many of you expressed interest in doing it in real time with me) that you have your ten pictures of things you Love. Also please get them printed. Another thing that will help you is to gather your supplies. All paper with hearts, valentiny, love related, etc. You may want to gather a matching ink or paint color. I am going with a very traditional red/pink/white (+ green as a color accent) color scheme because I am keeping this EASY and FUN. My ten things? Here are a couple - I'll reveal the rest in pictures later on... (maybe tomorrow)

In no particular order (and remembering that no people are allowed - just THINGS)

- American Idol (used the icon and printed that)
- my computer
- my paint
- the sun

That's it - more later. Thank you all my guest artists for sharing your work!!!!! :)

OW - freaking - CH!

2008-02-13T09:14:00.003-05:00

Good morning!
First, some good news. Here is the view out my back door today. It's Mr. Golden you know who! Notice the sky... it is blue! OMG!!! This is the FIRST time that we have had blue skies and sun since I got back from my weekend with Heather!!!! It's a welcome sight. It gave me the energy that I need so badly to catch up today.So, for the less good news. As in, WHY I need to catch up.... Well, on Sunday shortly after I woke up I got the worst tooth pain I have had, I believe, in my life thusfar. It was horrific. Sunday was my day too.... no plans... no worries... snowing (as usual)... I had a HUGE list of things to get done. Did none of that list. The day seemed to last forever in my pain challenged mind. Finally on Monday I got to the endodontist - got the pain somewhat under control with stronger pain meds. I had a cracked tooth. Painful apparently. I hope it never happens to you.
Tuesday I had a root canal. Today I am still in residual pain (well, a lot at the moment since it's almost time for more motrin) but I am hopeful I will feel better soon. I could go on and on, but I'll spare you. At least now you know where I've been.

Unfortunately I did not get my acrylic album started this weekend.
I did not finish/do the teacher's mailboxes.
No new pages were created.
No pages were finished.
I have not been on the computer - I owe many of you return emails.
No laundry, ironing, cleaning in general was done by me.
SO - I am behind.

I hope that the sunshine will help me catch up today.
At least a little bit.

Eeep! Ethan's show is over so I am out of time here. If you have a little one you should try to catch the show on PBS called "Super Why". Ethan loves it. Great pre-reading/early reading show. I think Miss Emma would really love it too!

Hope to MOVE it today so I can show you some productive stuff tomorrow.
Have a great day!

PS - Hi Gina Wina!!!!! :)

Recommendations

2008-02-09T17:37:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday!
Hope you are all having an enjoyable weekend.

Just as a little fluffy stuff I thought I'd tell you about a GREAT book I just read (in a matter of one night and one morning - whole book). Yes, a real page turner. I'd put it in the mystery/suspense genre although when I went to get it at the book store it was in the romance (! egad!) section. Anyway the book was called Blood Dreams and is by Kay Hooper. If you do decide to read it I warn you that it ends somewhat unresolved, she tends to write stories as trilogies. Still, it was a great fast read. I really enjoy all the Bishop SCU books by her. She was a romance writer before turning to suspense and it shows.

Do you have any authors you can recommend? I love books with ongoing characters weaved through them. Suspense is my favorite genre - but I am open to suggestions!

Movies now... Saw in the theater Hannah Montana 3D concert. It was cute for what it was. I loved the 3Dness of it. We saw trailors of lots of movies to come out this summer with the digital 3D and they all looked great. I personally cannot wait for the next Narnia movie to come out. Is there anything you have seen lately in the theater to recommend? I am curious about the Veggie Tales Pirates Who Don't Do Anything that is out right now. Has anyone seen it?? Also, I rarely get to see a movie not kiddy related and would love your insights. I love seeing movies in the theater... you?

Finally, out in video. I just saw Sydney White and thought it was very cute. A modern Snow White. Must admit that I am a fan of Amanda Bynes ever since... (drumroll) ... HAIRSPRAY of course! Do you have any new releases on DVD you could recommend? I am in the mood for a good movie tonight.

Welp, that's my two cents.
Would love to hear yours!!! :)

Have a great weekend - J

February Challenge

2008-02-06T20:52:00.000-05:00

Hi there!
I can't believe it's Wednesday.
Wednesday night for goodness sake!
I am not sure I remember Monday or Tuesday.... where does the time go????

Okay, enough of that.
So - our challenge.
This month I challenge us to complete AND/OR create 14 pages. I thought 14 was a good number with Valentine's day and all. Also it is a short month and a week of it is almost gone. So 14 it is. I won't count the layouts that I did on last weekend as new... but as I finish them I think they will "count". I want that journaling done before I forget what I wanted to write about KWIM???!!! So, who's with me?

Okay, now that challenge isn't TOO big, so let's throw in a project as well.
Kristin and I were talking lately about acrylic albums.
I really, really want to play with one.
So - here we go!
I have purchased a 4x4 acrylic album with 4 clear pages and a front and back cover that are thicker (slightly) then the insides. I got it at my LSS but here are some links. Look here. And here. And here to see what i mean. Okay, now after surfing for the last 45 minutes I am thinking that my LSS cut them herself from acrylic because I can't find the 4 x 4 size out there. I am sure any size will work for you - just adapt directions accordingly.

Now, step one. We are going to make an album about "10 Things I Love Right Now". Please note I said THINGS. Everyone knows you love your spouse {hopefully!} and children... this time make the album about quirky things you're into at the moment. Also since this is the first time I am using an acrylic format I wanted easy and hearts and bling are about as easy as it gets.

Please take your pictures and have them printed. KEEP IN MIND THE SIZE OF YOUR ALBUM. Take pictures that can be cropped small... or have them printed wallet size. Also this week go ahead and root through your stash for love type items. Heart punches, stickers, flowers, pretty paper, ribbon scraps in red and pink... etc. etc. Get it all together. We won't match exactly but it doesn't matter. Also you will need some staz-on ink if you plan on stamping on your album (i do). Knowing myself as I do you can bet i will also paint on it if the paint will stick. I'll test and let you know.

So, I hope you'd like to adventure into acrylic with me. I have a feeling it will be addictive! Let me know if you are doing the project "live" with me - if nobody wants to in real time then I will just post the results and send directions to those who want it. I don't want to overly bore my non-scrapbook readers.

Okay, I'm off to bed.
Here are some of the finished pages from the weekend...
This is from a class I took at NESB. I have had the pages without the pictures for quite awhile now. Glad to have used it. Not as quick as i thought it would be - but very fun.

This was another kit (don't worry, these are the only kits I did over the weekend I think). It was from the GASC and I got it from the Kellers Creations booth. Neat stuff.

That's it for me. Please let me know if you're into the acrylic project or our challenge okay?

G'night. :)

34 Pages?!

2008-02-05T09:39:00.001-05:00

Hello Everyone!
Did you miss me?? :)

I had a lovely time at the crop with Heather. We stayed at her house each night instead of the hotel and it was just so lovely. First time I've gotten to sleep in a Tinkerbell bed in awhile!! I love your house Heather!!!!

I was also lucky enough to get to see some of a swim meet with 2/3 of the girls in it. They are amazing swimmers and the high school and it's pool were amazing. That is Ona down there jumping in.While we were at the crop we wound up sitting for dinner with a pair of moms and their daughters. Would you believe - one of the daughters just recently moved to Michigan! RIGHT near where I am too. Next town over. AND she belongs to the church that I just had gotten a phamplet on and was considering joining. Now, to top all that off... the other daughter works as a customer service rep at Verizon and wound up helping Heather with a sticky phone problem she was having. AND then before we left the ladies that live near Heather invited her to monthly crops with them. SMALL WORLD isn't it???!!! Well, hello to Kelly if you get to stop by the ole blog. Glad to have met you all! :)

As to the 34 pages mentioned in the title... no, that wasn't me. Heather got 34 pages done though! Can you believe it??!! A overnight crop world record I think. She managed to finish an entire album about a recent trip they took. Pretty amazing. Oh and I think I got her addicted to inking and painting too. What was my total you wonder..... well..... I got 20 pages done. Not too bad. Thing is most of them need journaling to finish them off. Then I am going to post them to show you.

Oh, and I also did this altered mailbox and Heather did one too.
Cute isn't it?
The winner of my contest is going to get it, filled with some goodies, and the book too. Oh and I am sending the winner another mailbox (un-altered) of her own to alter as she sees fit. Just for fun. I am using mine like this... each day when the kiddies come downstairs in the morning between now and Valentine's Day I am going to have a "love note" in there for them to read. Yes, for DH too. Some days I may include a treat. Most days it will just be a hi, a proud moment, a quote, maybe a riddle, you get the idea. I thought it would be nice to do for them. Not sure how I feel about giving kids Valentine gifts - but this is a gift that I am totally okay with. I got the mailboxes at Target. There are lots of ideas for altering them in the magazines this month. Also I found a tutorial about them here. That site lists dimentions and everything. Wish I saw it before I did it all myself! Great site!!! At any rate, they were WAY fun to do. The small scale makes it very do-able. I think I am making one for each of Max's and Ethan's teachers too... I'll post them if I get to them. :) Oh... one other thing, when I got them at Target there were only backs on them... not front and back doors - so I thought that's how they go. You may want to check that because the other websites I have seen with them show both the front and the back cover. I may do a Target run to see if I can find any more... but not sure if I can.Oh, so maybe you are wondering who WON the contest?
Hmmm?
Perhaps?
Well... I did my usual highly scientific method.
Put your names on paper. Then folded the paper and put it all in my camera bag.

Shook the bag like a crazy lady.

Picked one name.

The winner is...

Of course Princess Buttercup has an alias that she goes by in real life. Any ideas who she is? I do know. Her package will be on it's merry way first thing tomorrow.

Congratulations!!! :)

PS - since this is such a long post I am going to put our challenge and our project up tomorrow. Have a happy Monday!!!

In No Particular Order

2008-01-31T06:17:00.000-05:00

Well since I have a contest going, and this contest requires comments to enter, and the more you comment the more your name gets put in the hat to win, I thought I needed another post. I may try to post from Heather's too... we'll see how it goes.

First of all though, man when your friends know you well.... read Kristin's comment on the last post. I nearly split my seams laughing and it's only 6am! Thank you for the early morning chortle Kristin, how right you are!!!! (ps - in 27 dresses his inner badboyness comes through a bit)

So all this talk about movies had me thinking last night (as opposed to sleeping which I was hoping to do...) about all time favorite movies. So in no particular order here are my top 5 "oldies" movies:

1. Grease
2. Footloose
3. Dirty Dancing
4. The Sound of Music
5. The Wizard of Oz

And my top 10 more current flicks:

1. Hairspray (have you seen it yet????!!!)
2. Enchanted
3. Any Harry Potter
4. Speed (love Keanu too)
5. The Cutting Edge ("toe pick")
6. 27 Dresses
7. The Matrix (Keanu again)
8. The Incredibles
9. All X-men movies
10. Fantastic Four (both)

Favorite all time Live show:

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Well, there are my lists.
Didn't think too long and hard about them - but those are what come to mind.
More "chick flicks" in those lists then I would have thought.
hmmmm... interesting.

What are your top favorites?
Tell us your top 3, top 10, whatever you choose.
Oh and what's the best "live" show you've ever seen?

***PS*** if you haven't please read the post under this one too. :)
Have a great weekend!!!!!

February Contest

2008-01-30T21:31:00.000-05:00

Hello all you Blog Readers!

Hope you are all doing well. I am busily preparing for my travels, but thought I'd take a minute to say *hi*.

For some Valentine fun this month I thought I'd have a contest.
The contest is also to celebrate my 100th blog entry! Whoo hoo, that's a lot of blogging!!
So, anyone who comments between now and Sunday February 3rd by 7pm will be "entered" to win. You may comment as many times as you want and feel free to include children.

Since love is in the air the prizes will be a Valentine related altered item (surprise) filled with a goody or two and a lovely romantic book. I just read it, it was a real page turner and I am anxious to pass it on to somebody. NOT a kiddy book though. Not even for Agent K. So if a young person wins I will change the book (or send it along for the mom and another for the child). Only one winner this time, so good luck! :)

Still on the love theme... I just saw 27 Dresses and must day I LOVED it. yep. a chick flick. and i liked it. go figure. strange I know.

ANYWAY - I think I am absolutely loving my favorite actor of the moment, James Marsden. He was in Hairspray (Corney Collins) he was in X-men (Cyclops) and he was in Enchanted (Prince Charming). All three of those movies are in my top ten favorites. AND he's a hottie with a smile that changes his whole face (love that). So, in 27 Dresses he got to play the romatic lead which suited him just fine. Go. See. The. Movie. really.

I need to rush off now, must keep MOVing and I want to go to bed at a reasonable hour.
Wish me luck on my 6 hour journey.
Becky I will try to meet your 19 page challenge... but not too sure I can make it, that would be a record for me.

Goodnight - I'll leave you with some eye candy... (make sure to scroll down)
Don't forget to comment for the contest - and watch for our February challenge.
Tootleoooooooo....

Goal!

2008-01-28T17:30:00.001-05:00

Here are pages 30 and 31... I made it!
How'd you do on your pages? Did you come close to 31? Of course there are still some days left if you had joined our challenge.
Sorry for the glare on the pics by the way. I had to use the flash because... you guessed it, no sun. Today was gray AND rainy with gloppy snow on the side. Charming.

Oy, off my weather rant. No more front door gloom pictures.
MOVing on... I have been working on this layout for YEARS. Many could attest to seeing me take it out, look at it, move things around, and put it away {please someone chime in and tell me i'm not the only one who does that...}. All the pics are my kids around toddlerhood. Since the print is too small for you to see it, Max is 16 months, Ethan is just over 2, and Abbie is 2y4m. Love layouts like this that show them at the same ages. I don't have too many. Need to try to find more. I think Abbie and Ethan look the most similar, do you agree?I do plan another challenge for "us" in February.
Also a contest AND a project.
Yep, still kickin the blog up a notch.
This week, however, may be slow.
I have unfortunately picked up some sort of cooties from all my trips to the pedi with Ethan last week. Feeling VERY under the weather. Also I have to kit up layouts to take to my girls weekend with Heather which is at the end of the week! I am positively WILLING myself to be well by then and am doing everything possible to encourage that wellness. I am, at the moment, nowhere near my goal of 20 layouts ready to create. I need to match the pictures with the paper and cardstock and scan, reduce size, and print lots of memorabilia. I am hoping to have the kids school albums totally caught up by the end of the weekend. In the past I have been pretty good about keeping the up to date and don't want to lose it now.

So I may be a bit quiet - I'll see what I can do.
I hope you are all staying well.
How are those layout resolutions coming????

A Welcome Visitor

2008-01-24T20:35:00.000-05:00

Can you see what stopped by the state for a brief visit?
Yes! It's Mr. Golden Sun (go on, click on that link... you know you want to, and then WAIT a minute and listen) ... and a blue sky too.
I was so excited that I took both out the front door AND out the back door shots.Tonight I am so tired. Got everyone to bed early, mostly because I wanted to go!
I was in preschool again today - the teacher let me have fun and lead the activities. I made this poster, used a gingerbread puppet, made each child their own Gingy puppet to use when we read the poster and did the activity with it (you can see it to the side of the poster) read the Gingerbread Baby, played a gingerbread color game and counting game, baked + brought in goodies to decorate our own gingerbread people, and had a gingerbread man on cardstock for each child to fingerpaint. Whooo eee am I TIRED. Those three-year-olds will bush ya out. Here's my poster. Yes, I had fun making it. Took me right back to my classroom days. I adapted the poem from one about gumballs.Here's Ethan "working" the poster. The "gingys" are attached by magnets and when you pull a number out of the hat we attach that many gingys to the poster. Then we recount to make sure we are right. Fun. All the kids seemed to like it a lot. Did I mention I was tired?Luckily I had two gingerbread man/woman cookies left over. Soooooo we had a special snack today when the big kids got home and decorated them. Here's Max's. Then during that 3 - 6 time when everyone is usually, ahem, "difficult" I decided we would all paint since I have been having such fun painting on my canvases. Kept em quiet. You may want to try this Spinny. Not sure if I want to plan crafts for EVERY day, but it does help with the peace and tranquility.Speaking of our WORD canvases... here is Deb's. Didn't it turn out beautiful?! Deb I love it and think it is perfect in every way for your word. Would anyone else care to share?Oh my goodness I am so tired... (wait, have I mentioned that yet?)
I want to write more, but better head off to finish some chores before I turn in.
Happy almost Friday!
Do you have anything exciting planned for this weekend????

Gray Skies are Gonna Clear Up... Put on a Happy Face...

2008-01-23T13:02:00.000-05:00

Well now... good afternoon to ya!
You will note by the title that I have resorted to singing old tunes (out of tune no less) to try and convince myself that soon all they grayness will be "cleared up". Here are our shots. A little different this time. Here is a back yard shot - lovely grayness. This picture was from Tuesday. Here is today's typical out the front door shot. See that bird? I wonder what it is? Tamara? I thought it was interesting and a nice backdrop for a picture of the gray. Got another 2 page layout done. Another one right off the blog. Handy. On to our canvas. I have had so much fun playing with mine, I hope you do too. I see why Donna Downey keeps making them (and selling them on ebay) it's FUN! So for your Word after you paint the canvas the choice is yours. I challenged myself to only use what I have ON HAND. No store trips to add to the canvas. For Ethan's (the smaller one) after painting I put star stickers (creative memories leftovers) and then did a light blue over the top in a streaky very light handed way. For mine I used lime green paint and a swirly stencil to do this next layer. The stars were important for Ethan's since when he SHARES he's a superstar! To me the swirls indicated MOVEment - it worked. Oh, and I love swirls and flourishes. Yep I do. Then when the paint was dry I peeled off the star stickers and here's how Ethan's (and mine) looked.For Ethan's I just added some star rhinestones that I had around (because they are so bumpy and pointy that when I use them on layouts they destroy the page protectors) and metal stars left over from a pack. Then assorted letter stickers. Done! Oh, and I mod podged over the whole thing because the stickers will peel off if you don't.
For mine I added the black Hambly rub-on in the corner. Then I used chipboard letters (that were already black) from Li'l Davis Designs. Both left over from other things. Then some quotes off of some 7 Gypsies sticker sets and finally my trusty labeler to make the other sayings. I used glue dots to keep the letters on and pop-dotted the "O" for fun. I am loving it.

I even have it right near me on my desk... see? Now, I'd really love to see your canvas or project. If you send it to my email (and with your permission) I would really like to post it here. At any rate I hope you have as much fun playing as I did!Here's another project to add to my done list. Remember how I want to decorate for Valentine's day? Well I got this kit because I was a volunteer at the GASC last summer. Still hadn't done it. It was a kit by Rusty Pickle (love their stuff). So, here are the chipboard letters in their plain chipboard glory.Painted them cream color and then sprayed them with walnut ink which was WAY fun!
Here's what it looked like then.Then I backed it with pretty paper, cut out flowers, made holes, assembled, and VIOLA!
On the mantle and looking nice and Valentiny. AND you bet I count it as a finished project so I am up to a total of 29 now. Whew! What's scary is I can do another month's challenge easily since I still have so much around here.

Well I have to run to the orthodontist. We have SO much snow here and we are expecting another foot tonight. Lovely. Perhaps we'll get our first snow day????

Finally, to update you on Ethan... he is feeling better finally! We are now two days with a normal temperature. Whoo hooo!!! Thanks for all your well wishes, he appreciated it! :)

The First Thing to Go

2008-01-21T20:20:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone!

Wow, this has been a challenging weekend. We spent a lot of time at the doctors office it seemed. Ethan has still been struggling with this stupid virus - but today it looks like he may be turning the corner. I hope so - last night he woke up with a 104.5 again! Only to be beat by Saturday nights 105! Gadzooks!!!

Which leads me to the title of this post... the first thing to go for me when I am exhausted is my patience. This is often rapidly followed by my sense of humor. Additionally I cannot concentrate, follow directions, or do complicated math. (that's a long list huh?) Today I am just WIPED out. I haven't slept well in days and you can really tell. Today would not be a good day to call me and put me on hold and then try to tell me a funny story. Nope. Save it for tomorrow (small chuckle, but only a small one).

So I am briefly saying *hi* and updating you on my weather shots.
Here is noon on Saturday - somehow I missed Sunday's shot. Here is today. If you look to the left of the left tree you can actually make out a real cloud. You may also notice that the gray was less gray then Saturday and was, in fact, a lightish gray. This little cloud, and the lighter colored sky, eventually ushered in some sunshine around 4pm. It was welcomed. More later tonight or in the morning.

What's the first thing to go when you lose too much sleep?

Little Guy

2008-01-18T14:19:00.000-05:00

Hi there, my little guy is still sick! We were at the doctor again today and they are not sure what he has... most likely just a nasty virus. It has not been a productive week for me as I am sure you can understand. Here he is taking a snooze - which is why I am quickly blogging to you! Yesterday's noon time window shot. Lovely isn't it?
Up to 25 pages done now. Here is one that was just waiting for the "just right" color of ink. Well, I have given up the hunt, used what I had, and now it's done and in Ethan's baby book.I have been using these "jotters" for a lot of my undone projects. They make perfect little journaling boxes. They are by Luxe designs. (great I went to their website to do the link for you and now I DO want them all!...)This one has one of the jotters on it. Sorry for the pen on the journaling. There were some last names on this one. I try to keep that off of the web if possible. There is just so much personal information you should put out there - ya know what I mean? So this is from 2006 in case you were wondering. IThis is my favorite one from this batch. It was another of those cutting kits. (remember when we were so into paper piecing Becky???) This is a current layout. You may remember the blog entry about the little frogs. Well, thanks to a comment from Kristin the other day I remembered it and just mostly printed the journaling right from my blog. Thank you Kristin!!! (often she functions as the other half of my brain - very handy!)Here is how the little kits come. This was before I cut out the flowers. The layouts with the frogs and butterfly one did have quite a bit still to do on them. In case you are interested the website for the paper kits I used (this one and the bear one) is this.
Getting ready for our project. Below is a 5 x 7 canvas and a 6 x 8 one.Paint one coat... Today's noon time picture - much better. Wow! Two sunny days in one week. I think this may be a Michigan record!
Well, I am not sure how much I will get to blog on the weekend. I do hope to post the daily "out my front door" picture though. When I am done doing this I am going to do a layout with all my sky pictures called "January Gray".

Please be patient for our canvas. I hope to have it done this weekend. Along with planning a fun project for February too. Little sickie guy has altered my project priorities of the week, understandably so.

Miss you all and happy Friday!!! :)

So Tired

2008-01-17T20:12:00.001-05:00

Hmmmm... whilst trying to upload my many pictures to show you I see that Blogger (the host of this site) is having trouble uploading at the moment. So I can't show you. Egad! I guess you'll get to see a ton tomorrow. I am up to page count 25!!! Also I have to show you today's noon picture. You'll NEVER guess what good ole Michigan was back to weather wise. Tune in tomorrow to see!! ;)

I am so tired tonight. Ethan and I were at the doctor for quite awhile today. Still not sure what he has and they want to see him again in the morning. Still dealing with a high fever today too.

How is your family?
I hope they are staying well!

Visual Aids

2008-01-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

Hello there my dear friends!
For this post I am going to be long on pics and shorter on commentary (well, that's my intent anyway, we'll see how that pans out). I decided to take a picture out my front door every day for a week to show you all what I mean about the gray gloom. Then you will know that I am NOT exaggerating when I tell you it is like a gray blanket is over the sky. The clouds are so low it's like you can touch them. And they are continuous. Not gray and fluffy. Not gray and dark and ominous, just GRAY. Ew.
So... here is yesterday at noon.
Here is today at noon. Whoo hooo! A sunny day almost all day long. UNfortunately Ethan is sick (again) with a 104+ temp... so we haven't been outside much. But still I have enjoyed the loveliness of the sun coming in my windows. Ahhhhhh.
I have done two more pages. Total is now... 19. So I am in line with the date so far. I do want to note that some of these are soooooo old. That is why I can't list supplies used or anything. Who knows what they were?! Also please note that I very well may have used Becky Higgins's sketches book to do these.... don't remember. I just don't want to steal credit for something if I got help with the idea from someplace else. Anyway. Now for these for some reason I have the right page first, then left.
This layout was at Brodie park one weekend last April when it was nice and warm.
Here's Ethan's first Halloween. This time the pics are in the right order. This was a kit that I got at the Great American Scrapbook Convention. Not really my "style" if I have one... but I thought it was cute and knew I had the pics for it. So viola! I need to find a better way to take pictures of layouts. Scanning them doesn't work well for me since I have a small scanner and all the seaming them together is too time consuming. But I don't really think this is a great way either. It is hard to get them square in the picture, don't know why. Any ideas? Also - do you think it is better when I post the layouts one page at a time or side by side (for 2 page layouts)? I'd love your opinion.

Those of you who do holiday thank you notes... how are yours coming? Seems like I will be doing mine for the next year. Maybe this weekend I can find the time to sit the family down and just get them done. Do you write all the notes for your family or does your significant other help? Do your kids do them on their own yet? Abbie will, but Max still needs direction and encouragement and of course I do Ethan's.

Those of you doing your "one little word" canvas - please paint ONE COAT of your choice on to your canvas. The color, ideally, should reflect your word. For example, I chose yellow to paint mine since I think it is an energetic color that works with MOVE. Also it is my favorite color and makes me happy. I know I will smile looking at my word. Next post will have a picture of where we are so far.

PS - last post had some great comments! I commented to your comments in that comment section (gee... maybe my WORD should have been "comment"!). :)

Switch!

2008-01-15T06:59:00.001-05:00

Whew! It has been on my mind a LOT that I last had a rather gloomy post up here and I needed to switch it!! Thank you to all of you for your kind words and support. There are times when I can let annoying people just roll off - but then if my mood is just right they can really bug me. So, thank you. I feel mucho better. We are going on a field trip today and I am sure I will see the lovely gal - and I will just say hi. No animosity left. :)

So, since my last post life has been moving very fast. Very little time to blog, scrap, or keep up with email even. We had Jeff's work Christmas party over the weekend - that was pretty fun. I did come to the conclusion that when seated with a bunch of people with no children I will eventually run out of small talk. Really now I can usually count on kid stuff and/or education topics to send me through. Hmmm...not with that group. Also no scrapbookers. Egad. Of all the luck to sit at a table of 11 with no other couple with kids. Still, they were very nice people and we had a fun time.

My page tally... over the last four days I have done4 pages and a front and back cover of a book. I need to take pictures for you - may be another post later today. So.... my total is 17! Congrats to Deb who had a VERY productive weekend. I know Heather has been cookin too. Also wondering how much Becky got done on her away weekend... I bet she did a lot! Let us know Becky okay?

Are you wondering about your canvas?
Stay tuned... sorry for the delay with that - but I THINK life is calmer this week.

Have a happy and productive day!!! :)

I should NOT be blogging today

2008-01-10T12:24:00.000-05:00

Yes, it's true.
I should just stay away.
I'll tell you why... I have been trying to stay positive.
Focus on the good.
Om......
Inhale, exhale
wax on - wax off -
You catch my drift I trust.

Well be it hormone fluctuations or whatever I have found my mood sinking lower and lower since about midday yesterday. Stuff that might not bug me normally, is. I have determined that I am just BAD at accepting criticism. I think that I am okay with constructive criticism but not the other kind. The "I can do it better then you" kind or the "I told you so" kind. Those kinds I don't do so well with. You?

So to top off my marvelous mood I got a call late last night to sub in Ethan's classroom. So I said yes (though internally bummed since it is my only two free hours of the week...) and went about creating two projects, finding books, making lesson plan. I brought all our own stuff... our stamps, our paint, I printed stuff on cardstock. I sang, I had my puppet going. Kids were laughing and happy. Did I follow her EXACT step by step routine... probably not - she didn't leave plans or anything. So, did I get paid... no. Did it just so they wouldn't have to close school for the day (Ethan's school has one teacher and then a rotating parent volunteer schedule). Why the vent you wonder? Sounds pretty good you think? Well - not one parent thanked me, but that's not it either. One of the parent volunteers was such a .... b... unnice person. If she said one more time that the kids were "off because their teacher wasn't there" I think I would not have been able to stop from telling her off. OOOOOH! She made me so mad! The kids were fine - perhaps SHE was off! UH! Really now. She said a few more things too. Even made the other mom who brought snack upset because of her criticism of the SNACK!

So, now we are having a playdate that I scheduled before I knew I would be the sub. I don't want to cancel... but I don't want to vent on the mom because I don't know her well enough yet. The big question....... can I hold it in??? Can I find my happy place before they get here????

I'll report back later.

I read Becky's word (last post... see comment section) and think I need to apply it right now. It gave me some peace just reading it. Good word choice Becky - and thank you so much for sharing it (did ya know how much you'd help me today... must be our sisterhood!). Kristy I think your word is perfect for you. So postive and free sounding. Thank you for being game to do this project with me too!

Speaking of the project, when I went to buy my 5 x 7 canvas I saw a 6 x 8 one that looked a bit easier to work with if you have a longer word. Really buy whatever size you want to work with. Also you will need to get some paint (any kind works on canvas) and a brush for it.

Thank you to everyone who writes in on the comments, it means a lot to me - sometimes I wonder if anyone reads ya know?

OH! There goes my mood again.
Better run.
Hope your day goes very well.

One Little Word

2008-01-09T06:43:00.001-05:00

Good Morning!
Not sure how it is by you but the wind ushered in a cold front here and we are back down to the 30s today. A far cry from yesterday's 60s! Now if only the sun would peek out, just a little. If it does I am taking a pic and you will get a second blog post of the day!

So - I have been reflecting on my One Little Word although really I knew what it should be pretty quickly. It just lept out at me when I read her challenge. Then I thought of some others that would also work - but I am deciding to go with the leaper outer. Did you have one that came right to your mind? If so I think you should go with it.

Anyway - my word of 2008 is:
*MOVE*
I picked this for a variety of reasons - but not the one that may have lept to your mind first. MOVE just signifies what I want to do this year. There are so many definitions of the word that describe what I mean. Here are some:

To exhibit great activity or energy.
To initiate an action; act.
To be active in a particular environment: moves in diplomatic circles.
To stir the emotions: words that have the power to move.
To progress in sequence; go forward
To follow a specified course: Earth moves around the sun.
To progress toward a particular state or condition: moved into the lead.

idioms:
"get a move on"
To get started; get going.move in on
"on the move"
Busily moving about; active
Making progress; advancing

You see I want to MOVE toward my goals. I want to MOVE everyday - a lot (exercise type stuff). I need to Keep MOVING forward ( a favorite quote from this movie). When I get too drowsy from the stupid medication I take and just want to fold it all in - I need to MOVE. One step at a time, one goal at at time, one action at a time.

Yep. MOVE works for me.
What did you pick?
Hurry and choose your word - now we are going to do a project with it. Yes, I said WE!
So MOVING along... here are more pages/projects done...

Here is Ethan when he was only one. All I needed to do with this is add the ribbon and frame it (which I have been meaning to do like, um, forever and I HAD the frame already! See what I mean by MOVE?!)Here it is in the frame. Hard to get a good shot of it without a glare. It is a white frame purchased at ACMoore and advertised at being used to frame old record jackets. Its 12x12 only cost me a few bucks and works perfectly.Here is Halloween 2006. For this one I just needed to add the title and the journaling. Now, once I added the paper strips my intent was to write the comments to the journaling just like I did. Once it was done.... well I just wish I made a nice typed journaling box instead. Was going to "fix" it - decided to MOVE FORWARD and be done with it. For goodness sake it's been almost done for over a year! So it's going into the album - imperfect or not.Didn't have to do too much to this one either. You can't see it that well but stamped in the upper left corner it says, "One warm day in..." This is actually not THAT old and is from April 2007.

So, I need tallys from Deb and from Heather - oh and you need to post them to the blog please. Don't worry about if you are "caught up" to day nine. Just MOVE toward the 31 page/project goal. My current count is... 11. Remember a 2 page layout counts as 2 pages done!

Now if you want to participate with me for our One Word project go to your local hobby store (Michaels, ACM, etc.) and get a 5 x 7 canvas. Like this one. They're not expensive - just think simple (on that site they were 4.85 for a three pack!). Also get your Mod Podge ready. Go ahead, I know you're busy... JUST DO IT (another three word - one simple word that I considered).

Okay, this post took me awhile and I need to get the boys MOVING. I'd love to hear what you think about my word, and hear yours!!! :)

Motivation

2008-01-08T10:41:00.000-05:00

Hello there!
How are your resolutions going?

I must say that mine are going pretty well. Not there yet, but it's a process. When you make changes that you expect to impact your life I guess it's okay to let them evolve over time right? We are doing great so far with no TV or plugging in (no computer, no wii) and also with healthy snacks posted on the board. There was no arguing and the children were pleased with cheese and crackers (three choices of cheese, can't go wrong!).

Yesterday I was like a whirlwind. Blogging, cleaning, laundry, cooking, making lists that would make Flylady proud of tasks in 15 minute intervals, and of course driving around (swim team) and entertaining the little TV deprived munchkins. Today... not so whirly or windy (WAIT, am I blogging about my wind or lack thereof??? geesh, the things i do...) I think because it is day bajillion (three) {and NO I do NOT know where Abbie gets her dramatic streak from!} of rain and wind and gloom and yuckiness. Today feels like a sit by the fire and read sort of day. Be cozy, sip tea. Doesn't that sound more fun then sprucing bathrooms?! It is just so DAMP. Ew.

Okay, not meaning to go into a whine about the weather - back to resolutions. So, I am glad to see that Deb is up for the 31 pages/projects challenge. Was worried that I was the only one who had those things laying around! Deb I think that projects count as pages too. Definitely. Today we should be up to 8 pages done. I am close. Pretty sure I will "catch up" to 8 by tonight. Here's what I finished.

This one is of the kiddies in '04. (TOLD you i had stuff laying around!). It was delayed because I wanted to print the poem on a transparency and couldn't find the right poem, or the transparency, or a way to adhere it. Got it all set now. :)

The story of our swingset at our old house. Just needed the journaling on the right which is about what each child likes to do best on it. I already had the journalling half done for goodness sake! Now it's ready to go in the album.
Love this one. My favorite. I couldn't decide what to write in the text box on the left side. Got it, used the same transparency as used above (thought it was frugal of me) and whala! Since it's my favorite you will see each page independently below. I started this page while on a retreat with Sue and Kim in 2006!!!
Um... remember the 06 calendar I mentioned a post or two ago. Well there are parts of it still not done! All the layouts are mostly done - but some of the writing pages are not. I saved my original calendar to fill this in with... but wish I did it when it was current. Lesson learned. I also did August but don't want to show the page because it has a lot of readable personal information on it with other people's last names etc. Just want to respect everyone's privacy. But it does count as another page finished!The close up of the layout of Ethan playing. He is such a wonderful boy. He plays by himself with such imagination and so peacefully. He can also play with adults and his siblings. Just an easy going kid. He did sooooooo great on our trip too. I must admit that preschool age is more fun for me then toddlerhood.
Although this is from when he was a toddler!
So in case you need me to count I have six done.
How are you doing Deb? You need to post totals for all of us to follow you too!
And Tamara... you mentioned you may try to follow along - any luck?
Anyone else up for the challenge???

Oh and back on the resolutions theme - I'm doing pretty good with blogging so far huh?! :)

Keep talking about your resolutions and posting them here too. I think the support and (in a way) accountability will really help us all!

Hope your day is sunny and productive! :)

Un-decorating

2008-01-07T06:42:00.001-05:00

Well, I have undecorated.
Can't say as I was looking forward to it.

I am definitely a decoration person. Must reflect back on my teaching days with bulletin boards and the like. I really miss that stuff. Even as a preteen I had this big bulletin board in my room that I would seasonally decorate. So it's a genetic component of me I guess.

So when the decorations are gone - it just makes the house seem so... plain.
What doesn't help this year is that the house has a looooong way to go to be "decorated" in it's plain state. We're working on it, but of course these things take time.

Since I didn't get any tree shots in here last month this is how I'm sneaking it in. Here is the "before" picture of our tree and stockings hung by the chimney with care. Taken while waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Here is the shot of the undecorated same space. Yuck. Well, a sense of accomplishment because of everything put away.... but so bland. Also the fact that when you look out the window all you see is fog and gloom does not help the situation. Can you believe the fog out there?!
Have you all undecorated?
Do you have a traditional time to take down the tree?

Oh, and how much Valentine decorating do you think I can do???
You'll have to tune in to see.
(oh, and next to my white board my DH is getting me a bulletin board... that should help!) ;)

Happy Monday!

OOPS! Forgot this...

2008-01-06T22:07:00.001-05:00

Hi again!
Wow! Blogging twice in one night when it is waaaay past when I am usually up. Might be a new record for me.

Anyway - when I was talking about scrapbooking in the post below this one I forgot to mention the other scrapbook like thing that has been on my mind all day.

I am a follower of Ali Edward's blog. She is a published scrapbooker with a column in the magazine I get. On her blog she challenges readers to come up with one word to sum up
your goals for the new year. The direction you want your life to be taking. Here is how she describes it:

"Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2008?
It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word.

One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities."

Here is the word she picked for this year and her reasoning:

"For me, in 2008, I am looking forward to getting to the heart of the matter - whatever that is. Clearing away excesses. Focusing on the most important things and not worrying about the rest. Taking a deep breath and beginning one foot in front of the other.
My word for 2008: vitality.
Vitality is the state of being strong and active; energy. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Creatively.
Here's to moving forward. To fullness of life. To you and yours."

You can read more about the concept of one little word right here and here you can see what others picked and if you read the comments their reasoning as well.

So, what would your word be?
I am really leaning towards one thing - but want to keep in under wraps for the moment until I am sure it's what I want to pick.
The hard thing for me is that I tend to want to have two or three words. I am sure that is fine too, but this year I just want one. I forget what I picked last year - though I know I did choose one. This year I am going to bore you with it - as well as why I picked it - so I can look back and remember.

What would your word be?

Weekend of Rest

2008-01-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

My what a dreary weekend we had here. Rain and fog - what fun! This is the view out our front window. Welp - not much to do but hunker down and relax. Well, sort of. Really we got a lot done. Wanted to get more done, but will give myself credit for about 20 loads of laundry, all bed linens washed and remade, curtains hung in every child's room, grocery shopping done and menu planned for the week, made two meals tonight and froze half of both (black bean and shrimp soup for us and homemade breaded chicken tenders for the kids), all (ALL) my scrap stuff rescued from my mom's house and brought here, oh - and I "un" decorated too. Not too bad I guess. Lots of other little stuff between there too. What we didn't do was a ton of running around, that was nice.

Really all of us got to do what we wanted. Here is Ethan playing with his favorite Christmas gift which was his wooden toolbench. He has played with it a LOT. I won't say non-stop, he has many gifts he likes - but this is up there.

Unfortunately Ethan also got sick this weekend. High fever and really lethargic due to it. Today he was doing better fever wise, but has such a sore throat that he hardly ate - I guess I'm off to the pediatrician tomorrow.

The other pictures are of Abbie playing the Wii which as you can imagine is a BIG hit here. Max is wrestling (note my poor leg in the shot) and Jeff is playing with his laptop (not really, trying to catch up on work email is more like it).

Uh, I am having trouble with the layout of these pictures and trying to write. I think next entry I am going back to the picture being in the middle. It's just easier for me that way.

So, as far as resolutions go I am challenging myself to a new one. Last post I didn't go into scrapbooking too much but I've been thinking about it a lot today. There are many things I want to do with my meager scrappin time.

1. I want to do a year long calendar this year. I love the one I did of 2006 and found it really easy to do. I just keep up with writing what we did on blank calendar grid paper like this. Then each month I do a one page layout on whatever exciting happened. Easy.

2. In the month of January (yeah, I know, it's the sixth already) I want to do a page a day finish work. It is crazy how many "almost done" pages or projects I have laying around. If I can pull off finishing 31 of those things I will be thrilled. Anyone else do that? Anyone else up for the challenge?????

3. I need to be packing up things to do for an overnight crop with Heather at the end of the month. If I don't start that soon I won't have enough to do. So I have to get on that.

Well I am all over the place tonight. I guess that's what happens when I am better about writing. Really I need to try to write during the morning when I am more awake!

I hope you have a great week - let me know if you want to join in on the 31 page challenge. Oh, and how are your resolutions going?

Take care! :)

Happy New Year!

2008-01-04T21:08:00.000-05:00

Happy 2008!

Did all of you have a great time??

I have soooo much to catch up on, so many pictures. To be honest I didn't know where to begin or how to do the update. Pictures of the tree and decorations seem, well, just done now. So I will suffice it to say we had a wonderful Christmas. This weekend I will be putting away the decorations and I will miss them! Our house is not so decorated yet and seeing our family decorations out was just so cheerful and homey. Well - if I don't get that tree down soon it will just be a twig - so down it goes.

So now it would seem the thing to do is to list the resolutions for all to see. Perhaps we have the compulsion to share resolutions as a way of hoping for some cosmic accountablity. Hmmm? Along with the normal weight/exercise related things this year I am hoping to:

1. Get more organized - back to flylady for me. Also we have some family strategies that we will be trying including clipboards with daily chores listed to check off, snack menu posted on a whiteboard, star charts for all. You'll have to tune in for the pics and the details.

2. Get our "financial house" in order. Jeff and I have been reading these books by Dave Ramsey and his philosophy just makes sense to us. You'll hear more about it in a later post.

3. Blog and scrapbook more regurarly. As far as the blog goes I have an outline for the rest of January! This explains why, though I am exhausted from travelling and being up too late, I am blogging anyway!

4. Once again we will be going TV free after school through evening during the week. All - of - us. WHY we do this every year around Idol time is beyond me! Haruumph! While it is true that show is a phenomenal time waster... I enjoy it. We'll have to see if I can "earn" some TV time. At any rate we now have soccer kicking up a notch along with the swimming season so its not like we have all this evening free time anyway!

So those are my personal/family resolutions. Did you make any? Want to share? Feel free to comment away (I have a thing for comments).

Happy Birthday!

2007-12-23T16:09:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday Jeff!
He is the "BIG 4 - 0" today!
Sheesh... where does the time go....

Seems like just yesterday I was telling you that you had the same name as my brother.

Happy Birthday! Love you honey!!!

PS - I know this has been a bad month for keeping up with blogging - but i have been trying like crazy to keep up with everything else during this crazy month. Hope you understand. Miss you all and hope you are having a wonderful holiday season. I'm going to try for one more post before the big day - let's see if I make it.

Merry Merry!

New Baby....

2007-12-09T21:31:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone!
How's your holiday shopping going? I'm getting there, sortof, kindof, I guess.
Still looking for those hard to shop for Grandpas... and we have three. Always tricky the grandpas are!

So...... here is baby Parker! He is so cute and so perfect. Oh, and sorry for the delay in posting them, I've been having some computer difficulties and couldn't upload them off of my camera. Now I'm a bit behind again... but what else is new?!

Here's the shots. I love this one with Abbie and Parker.

The proud new dad!
Mid way through our trip we left Heather alone for a bit to feed the baby and we walked around Michigan Ave in Chicago. Snowy, cold - but still fun! Boy - I wish I was there solo though. There were so many stores I was aching to go into. But I couldn't make the kids just stand around. Also it was very crowded everywhere. Still... a Bloomies! So hard to pass up... reminds me of NY and NJ (Bloomindales does). So here we are with Uncle Matt posing in front of a decorated window.
Max was thrilled he got to hold the baby. We couldn't get Ethan up in the hospital due to their rules... but we'll be seeing them all at Christmas and we'll get some Ethan and Parker photos then.
The beautiful new mommy ("Auntie Heather"). Can you believe this girl just gave birth?! She looks fantastic! So proud and wonderfully happy to finally hold her baby boy.

That's it for me tonight. I am sooooooo tired.

I hope to catch up more later - but to be honest this month is BUSY. I'm sure you know what I mean. Take care everyone!!! :)

JOY!

2007-12-04T09:30:00.001-05:00

Guess what?!
I have a new nephew!
My brother Matt and sister in law Heather had their first baby this morning at 6:20 am!!!

His name is Parker and he is 8lbs10oz. He is 21 and 1/2 inches long!!! Both Mom and Baby are doing great!

Hope to have pictures to share soon. You know we are going to make the trip up (over?) there to see them all ASAP.

WHOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOo!!!!!!!!!!!

Neighbors!

2007-11-28T16:38:00.001-05:00

Well..... you will all be very proud of me.

I FINALLY got brave enough to go next door and meet the new neighbors (they moved in the day before thanksgiving - and in my defense I did have company for awhile there).

They are a lovely family that moved here from Florida - like us they have some family here too (i mean really like us... one set of parents and one brother! - eerie!). Like us they were living in the 'rents basement while the house finished. Like us they have never been "midwesterners" before. They are a family of three (a four year old boy that will be able to play with ethan!) and another one on the way. Whoo hoo! A baby!!

I had to try to contain my enthusiasm to meet them. Didn't want to seem too stalkerish. I am just so tired of not having a social life here. Didn't quite have the time to ask her if she was a scrapbooker (didn't see any scrap related "droppings" though), but she is a stay at homer too. Cross your fingers for me - I haven't always had neighbor luck in the past. Don't get me wrong, I've had nice neighbors - just didn't click with them on a social level. Cheryl was my most recent "neighbor" friend, and she was a goodie!!! Oh and you may notice that I am not referring to the neighbors by name.... well if Kristin was on the blog live she could answer why... can you? Answer at the bottom of the post.

So, you will note that I am posting daily. I will try to keep it up.

Prior to meeting the neighbors my day was fairly glum and gloomy. The gray weather here bothers me more then I expected it to. I think I am going to look into some tanning believe it or not. Maybe just once a week for about 15 minutes, just for some good ole sun. What do ya think? Ever heard of that helping? I just have to make sure that nobody has to see me in my bathing suit (oh the horrors!) in order to do the tanning thing.

Hey, if you have a moment can you send me your favorite thing to do on a gray and gloomy day? Just PLEASE don't say to bake! I am all too good at that one and unless I want to look EXACTLY like Edna Turnblad I need to stop baking NOW. So, non food related tips please.

For your viewing pleasure here are the frames I made for my niece and nephews for Halloween. Are you planning any Christmas projects? I haven't decided yet. I haven't even given much thought to teacher gifts yet - so KRISTIN (mentioned twice in one entry, perhaps she will write back???? - broad and obvious hint) if you have any ideas... that goes for you too Michelle (who reads but doesn't comment much... let's go chickie!)! Deb, any thoughts for me? What are you doing this year Spinny? Krafty Kristy? I know you don't have to do teacher gifts yet girl, but it's never too soon to start compiling those ideas! Kim? Kimmy? Sue? Becky? Aunt barb? Somebody give me an idea okay????? Back to the Halloween projects - the one that shows what the back looked like is Ruthie's, I didn't forget her. I used wood frames, halloween paper, initials and doodads from Michael's, paint, sandpaper, and my all time favorite MOD PODGE!

Happy Hump Day!
me

PS - the reason I am not featuring my neighbors names is that they went in one ear and out the other! In my nerves/excitment to meet them I don't even think I heard their names. I just remember their little boy's name. Yep, that's it. Egad. Oh well.... I'll figure it out somehow!

In My Humble Opinion...

2007-11-27T06:44:00.000-05:00

Hello Again!
Two days in a ROW!
Aren't you impressed????
If you haven't read in awhile make sure to catch the one under this one, it has updates and pictures in it.

Okay, so believe it or not based on my lame-o posting I have seen a few movies lately (well within the past two months anyway). Part of the reason is that we don't have "normal" TV yet (ie: no cable) but when Meme and Papa were here we got some rabbit ears (antenna inside thingys) and were able to receive a few channels. We got the parade, we got football, at least that was covered.

Anyway.... I thought if you hadn't seen some of these you may enjoy:

"Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer" (out on video) - very good, fine for whole family. I love super hero movies anyway (not a chick flick fan) but even if you hadn't seen the first one you could follow this one. Good vs Evil always fun to watch.

"Mr. Magoriums Magical Emporium" (in theaters) - Very cool special effects. Very appropriate for adults too, especially if you are a fan of Dustin Hoffman. Not what I was expecting the movie to be. Ethan was bored. I liked it, but was bummed by it also. Sooooo... a good one, but you could wait for the video. Everyone else liked it more then me. That includes Meme and Papa too.

"Hairspray" (video) - OH MY OH MY i LOVE this movie! Love Zac Efron in it (Link) love love love John Travola in it and Christopher Walkin is hilarious. I have watched this multiple times (well, parts of it) and I only bought it the Wednesday before thanksgiving! The big kids love it! Get it! Watch it! Of course, I love all musicals and also get this excited over HSM and HSM2....
but this was fantastic.

"Transformers" (video) - Okay, this one was a surprise for Jeff and I. I got it because I like the main actor (Shia LeBouf) from his disney days and think he is very talented. Well, we loved it! Didn't have the big kids watch it (pg13) but I know Abbie could have. A very surprisingly good movie. Two thumbs up!

Well, that's not as many as I thought.
Have you seen any good ones lately?
Give us some tips!

I personally cannot wait to see this and ESPECIALLY can't wait to see this.
Have you seen the first one yet? I heard it is fantastic.
Leave us your reviews!
Happy Tuesday!

Ummmm..... hello???

2007-11-26T16:02:00.000-05:00

Hello there and happy belated Thanksgiving!
I know, it's been a bloomin month since my last post!
I just got soooo behind I didn't know what to update you on first!
So... in no great order here's what we've been up to...

*We went to a "Festival of Trees"
*We had our first CT guests! Meme and Papa broke in the guest room. :)*We hosted Thanksgiving for nine! At nine it was my smallest in years, we really missed our other family. Instead of being too sad we tried to concentrate on our blessings. Still missed you all though.
*Okay, this one's for Heather... and it's a biggie. Over the four day weekend Jeff made a home depot run and got the lumber to make these shelves. They go all the way around my "back" basement. Should go a long way to helping us organize down there (oy vey, it's terrible believe me). Should also help me to be able to FIND my Christmas stuff which is why there are no pictures of our new tree here. Inevitable delay I'm afraid.
* We got new furniture during the month. Finally replaced the slip covered set. It is chocolate brown leather. This is the chair, there is a sofa and love seat too. Looks kinda sorta grown up even doesn't it????!

*This tree was the last tree in our yard to lose leaves. It hung on in this brilliant red color for the longest time. Here is one of my attempts to get an "artsy" picture of it. Not so great. Really Spincerely rocks the best at artsy nature pictures!
*During November I did an activity with Max's boy scout troop that involved painting with mashed berries. Kristin and I often did it in our classrooms when we taught next door to each other (um, i miss those days). The boys LOVED squishing the blueberries and raspberries through the sieves using rocks. Just like "Little Gopher" would do.
This is the book the activity is based on. Little Gopher is the Native American on the front cover. If you have kiddies I highly recommend this book. If you want the "paint" recipe let me know. Oh, and after doing the scout troop I did it for his whole class too. Can you say "insane"?
*At the Festival of Trees mentioned above Rudy came and posed with the kids. Ethan was missing because he, like all of us, had "peri-flu". Never mind that he had flu shots, they all did. Just a strain of flu going around here. On this day his temp was 104 and he wound up needing an x-ray at the hospital to make sure he didn't have pneumonia. Fun. All of us were sick, starting with Abbie, then Max, then Me, then Ethan. Please note Jeff missed it. Lucky duck!
*Pumpkin picking and the corn maze. HUGE corn maze. Lost a kid in there. Really. Almost had to get the people that run the farm to come and help me search. Luckily the child popped out just as i was about to sound the alarm. It was not the littlest child. I'll just leave it at that.

*Halloween. Love this pose of Abbie as I truly believe you see the real her in it! Sassy little devil isn't she!!! ;)
*Favorite pic of "Count Maxula". Flying down the drive on his too small scooter! Perhaps Santa will remedy that.......
*Firefighter Ethan off to the rescue by way of John Deere!
*Rudy's butt! We went to the holiday parade and it was fantastic! Lasted over an hour and even had these huge balloons. Hard to photo though, hence the booty shot. It was such a gorgeous day for a parade! Santa and his Mrs. ended the parade and the kids were thrilled. Oh, and also they got more candy that day (hurled at them from the floats) then you would believe! Three full bags of it. Yippeee... more candy! (said dripping with sarcasm) (and a chuckle)
That's it for the pictures in this picture heavy post.

You're kindof sortof caught up with me now.

What's new with you?

I have an idea for Christmas... it has to do with a blog challenge where each day you would get an "assignment" for a different holiday picture to take and I would post mine. I would try to find a way to post yours too. Would anyone be interested? Then those of us who scrap would have a minibook all done at then end. If you are interested let me know - otherwise I won't bore you all with it!

Have a great week! I'll try to stay caught up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,

Matty Rocks

2007-10-27T09:34:00.001-04:00

See what happens when my brother turns 30?? Yes, that is he, the orange shirted lead singer. On his birthday we went to Chicago and saw his band play at a bar there. It was the coolest thing I have done in like... um... a decade or so! Great job Matty in the Hatty!!!!

Movin' In

2007-10-26T20:36:00.000-04:00

Hi there!

Well, this post is going to be full of pictures... yet I still don't have the most recent ones. I really need to catch up, but in my defense October has been the busiest month yet for us.

So, first picture is a little old, but shown in the way of a "before" picture. This is the living room/all purpose room that was one of the last rooms finished.

This next one shows the reason we have been so busy! Yes, our house finished and closed a month early!! The moving trucks arrived on the 23rd after we closed on the 19th. We had hoped to get a ton of painting done over the weekend... but really only got Ethan's room (light blue) and the kids bathroom (bright yellow, like in the old house to go with the frog shower curtain). All in time I guess. :)

Here are SOME {really just a few} of the boxes in the kitchen with DH the tired posing near them for me. I wound up chosing stainless LG appliances. I really like them so far. Of course I haven't really USED them too much yet - they still have plastic on many of them! Also this pic shows the cabinets/floor/counter sorta kinda.

Next is the family room. In this room you can tell our moving in theory. "Just put it in the family room" was uttered too much by us I think! It can be overwhelming with the movers there. There were four of them and they unpacked that HUGE truck in just one day, about 8 hours or a bit less even.

To illustrate the next thing... we had "un-packers" come too. We were very blessed with this move and the help we received. So, what they did (in some of the rooms) was that they unpack the box and lay everything on flat surfaces after first laying down paper. Made the kitchen sort of VERY overwhelming to see everything I own out on counters, the floor, and three tables that we had set up. Yipe. So, this is Abbie's room before....

And this is after....

We are moving along - but I imagine this will all take some time. We have our first visitors a few days before Thanksgiving for the week when Meme and Papa come. That will give me some sort of deadline to make things move faster. One thing that will be happening as quickly as possible is putting COLOR on the walls. Too much builders beige makes me start to feel beige after awhile... know what I mean?

Well, really I am supposed to be packing up here at my parents house right now, so I better get to it! Our goal is to be in the new house overnight tomorrow {Saturday the 27th - our first official move in night!}. I promise that when I can I will get some more current house pics room by room and update you on the other excitement in October (including my brother's Chicago rock concert, some crafting projects, and my sister in law's baby shower to name a few... I told you October has been crazy busy.) For those of you whose personal blogs I am behind on, I am truly sorry and hope to catch up with my commenting soon. Let me know how you're all doing okay? Happy Halloween too! {oy, that's more october to update}

scrapbookers habitat

2007-10-17T09:23:00.001-04:00

Thank you Kristin for showing me this! I laughed SO hard!!! I think MY "DH" could relate! Couldn't yours? This is also a good tip for my new studio space. What do you think DH?

The Metric System

2007-10-08T21:00:00.001-04:00

This is one of the reasons Abbie LOVES school! Her science teacher is the one with the "rad" curly black wig, Mr. Ablao. Makes me miss teaching! Couldn't you just see us doing this Kristin???!!!

Three Good Things

2007-09-26T16:14:00.001-04:00

Welp, I am so lucky that I think I actually have another lucky charm. You may remember from a post lonnnnnng ago that I have this one friend with whom I only need to discuss something and then "poof" the problem is soon solved. She knows who she is. I even call her "lucky charm" when I am in the mood to. So anyway, yesterday I am talking to a great friend, a different one from L.C. It seems by flat out b**ching to her for about an hour about the choice to move here - a reverse jinx occurred. Yes. Do you believe this? Another lucky charm! I have such awesome friends (all of you, every single one). Yep I do.

So, okay, I am making this short story long here. So, yesterday I am all feeling sorry for myself. I go to pick up La Princessa from school (about 2 hours after my call) and she says, "Mom! A great thing happened today! I got picked!" Well, she had in her hand a certificate that said:

Make a Kid's Day

Abigail ... what fantastic thing did she do?

Abbie is an awesome student. She asks great questions and is a hard worker. She is a joy to have on our team!

Thanks!

Team 6 - 3 Teachers

Then she got her picture taken and posted on the sixth grade Dean's wall, AND got a free cookie (really large, fresh baked!) from the school caf! She was so proud to be picked, and so early in the year! Darn near made me cry (I teared up - a lot!) I was so happy for her to feel so good in school. And I must say I was majorly impressed with her teachers for nominating her and making her feel special. Did I also tell you that her guidance counselor called me, twice, just to say "hi" ask me how I felt she was doing, and give me his take on her adjustment. Then he had her team leader call me too just to check in. They all said she was doing great! Not just good, great! Her team leader said that you'd never even know she was a "new" student because she fits in that well.

You see - the reverse jinx had started.... was making me have difficulty maintaining my formerly sour on the state mood.

Then, today comes (as does happen) and I wake up and NO HUMIDITY! Holey tamoley I think this is the first day that there has been, gasp, a lovely breeze! And it was under 80!!! Whoo hoo.

So..... I go to Ethan's gymnastics and a mom there is talking about how she just moved here in May from Boston! Oh it was nice to talk to another East Coaster. Felt nice. AND I met a mom in the neighborhood (thanks to kids now riding bus in the morning) and she seems very nice. Going to school for nursing and with kids just slightly younger then my two boys. Her name's Jen too - so I at least have a shot at remembering it.

Finally Abbie fairly leaps into the car today at pickup time. She says "Mom, mom three good things today!" Wow! She said, "first my pictures came back(the pic at the beginning of this post) and they even look okay except for my hair looks fuzzy (humidity again I tell ya!)... then I got a 100 on my math test! ... then I have so many more friends now and I met a really nice girl who lives by us and takes our bus!" Oh my! I think I was smiling so big too! So nice to see my sweet girl's eyes filled with joy instead of anxiety. So nice.

So Miss Heather - I guess you get to be called "Lucky Charm" too!

Can Someone Please Help My Fuzzy Hair!!!!

2007-09-24T09:46:00.001-04:00

Hello out there! Hope everyone is having a nice week. Oh, and I've had some questions about the last post.... yes, it did strike me as funny. Not when it was happening, but afterwards. That's why I wrote about it. :) Oh, and he has been an angel ever since too! Sometimes we all have to test our limits. Personally I would just rather that be done at home vs. the doctor's office - but I guess I don't get to choose that.

So - CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME A REMEDY FOR MY TERMINALLY FUZZY HAIR??? Oh vey, and egad it is terrible. You see in the pic below (which also highlights my lovely swollen face - this is just after my tooth surgery - I mean my face is pudgy, but not that bad!) that my hair is now cut short (for me) and I am attempting to avoid the ponytail. WELL, I should have thought about the fact that I am living in humidityland and my hair is a fuzzy mess! I have tried numerous gels and even mouse to no effect. Any suggestions? (I sure hope one of you has one or you will soon see me with REALLY short hair)

Okay, on to some picture updates and then I have to go to Lowes (again) about some lights for the house. First here is the bad hair picture.
Abbie is having a lot of fun with soccer this season. She very much misses her CT team, but also fits in well with this one. As always we enjoy watching her games, and Max's too! We are just a soccer family.
Here is the house. This isn't even the most recent pic I have. The driveway is now poured mostly. I'll have to get another one on here soon. It looks like we may close early, as in mid-october! Keep your fingers crossed for us okay?
Finally here is the Ethan first day of school pic that I am late putting up. This is at the end of his day. As you can see he is loving it! His teacher is a real sweetie which helps!
Well, off to start the day. Please send me your hair remedies... hope you have a great week!

What Was I Thinking?!

2007-09-21T19:10:00.000-04:00

Hi All!
Okay, I have recovered from my tooth surgery, it was not fun - but it's done.
Thank you for your well wishes! :)
Celebrated the big thirty something.
NO I AM NOT FORTY!
Not funny.
No.
No.
No.
(i can hear you chuckling, just stop)

That said, I am going to ask you a favor.
Could you please send me, either via blog or private email, your birthday and the birthdays of your family members? The reason I am asking is as all of you know I am without most of my "stuff" since I am not in the new house yet. Well, among that stuff is my birthday book. I really miss it! I would love it if you could send the information to me. Don't assume I remember someones, assume I have no brain and forgot. Yep. Sad but true.

Oh, you are wondering about my title are you?
Well, if you are drinking prune juice right now I suggest you swallow it before you read on, I don't want to be blamed for prune snorting.
All set?
Okay, it's like this.
The other day a dear friend mentioned in some other context that all of her children make fuss when they need shots at the doctor and it embarrassed her. Okay, I gave sympathy. That's not the problem. The problem was that I thought, and just for a fleeting second, "oh, I am lucky the kids are all pretty good at the doctor". Then I IMMEDIATELY knocked on wood, threw salt over my shoulder, kissed a four leaf clover and rubbed a live rabbits foot {"slight" exaggeration for effect, but you get my point}. I just KNEW even thinking it I would jinx myself.
Sure enough.
A few weeks go by.
I forget my little potential jinxing.
Ethan gets sick (me too by the way).
I drag his butt to the doctor.
New doctor.
As in, never met the woman.
Unfortunately the only time they had was 4:10.
Now, you moms out there know that right after school and before dinner is the "witching hour". I was pushing my luck anyway. I knew it, but no choice.
So, me and the gruesome threesome enter the office.
Remember, never met this doc.
Want to make a good impression......
First, Ethan gets on scale to get weighed, Max keeps putting his foot on it.
Nurse looking a bit "pained" but attempting to grin.
Get into a room.
Two chairs.
Four people.
uh oh.
Run for the chairs.
I win (just kidding, but I did get a chair since I had forms to fill out)
Max is without chair, so hops onto the WINDOW LEDGE.
nurse walks in at that moment.
Informs me that sitting on the ledge is "not safe" and perhaps he could get down.
Ya think?
Like I put him there?
I get him down, turn towards Ethan on the table, he hops back up!
Nurse looks at me like I need SuperNanny and fast.
Get him down AGAIN whilst gritting my teeth and making my most meanest mommy/teacher eyes "your gonna get it" combo {are you visualizing this?}.
This does not impress him.
Nurse leaves unimpressed with my parenting. Doctor comes in. Max goes UNDER the FREAKING examining table! WHAT?! Has this ever been okay???? Have I been unsuccessful in imprinting my behavioral expectations on his boy brain? Clearly we know the answer to that one.
So, he is noisy and rolling around under there and the doctor is attempting to talk over him (which I hate) and says she doesn't mind that he "plays" under there. Lovely.
Hmmmm... yes - so he now thinks all is hunkey dorey and we aren't paying attention to his antics so he GRABS ETHAN'S FEET! Can you believe it?! Where does he get these things? I have to grab Ethan to keep him on the table. I lean over, whisper {teeth gritting again} "you are going to bed the minute you get home if you choose to keep this up". Little did he know either way that was his ultimate location. He improved a bit. Doctor left, more chaos ensued. He is punished and wrote apology letters to all he impacted (including me).
Can you believe it?
All true!
See what happens when you think, even for a moment, you are all set in one area. I'd rather have those who fuss with shots! Egad, what a day!

You May Not Hear From Me for Awhile...

2007-09-07T06:30:00.000-04:00

because today I am having some endodontic (oral surgery) work done. OUCH! I will need stitches and everything. I am told this is going to be a lost weekend with lots of swelling and then after three days the swelling will go down???? Oh lucky me I can hardly wait.

Many of you have requested back to school pics. I'll show you the best of them, but this was the most depressing back to school ever. When I see my kids pics to me they look nervous and scared instead of the happy anticipation we usually have. Did they have good first days? Well, Ethan did pretty well. First day of preschool! The other two... hmmm... it is very scary going into huge schools and knowing nobody. TONS of mother guilt going on here. TONS. Each day is getting a little better, and hopefully it will continue to do so. Still, not a day goes by that i don't wish I was someplace else still. Do you think that will ever change? Or not until we move back?

Okay, pics are here. First is Abbie getting ready... second is Max at the door of his classroom.

When I went to add the pictures of Ethan I see that they are not on the computer yet, so they will be in the next post. I am off to do the drives to school. There is a woman that lives in CT that drives all her children (3) to school at differing times every day. For years. Egad! This is getting old to me already and it is day 4! In the morning I leave at 7:20 with Abbie, get back at 8:00, leave at 8:20 with Max and get home at 9. Feels like I am driving all morning even if there is a break in there! I am SO tired. {okay, also that is from not sleeping due to terror over tooth surgery}.

Hope your first days went well.

Wish me luck!

AND THE WINNERS ARE....

2007-09-04T10:03:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone!

Yipe, sorry so late with this contest result!!! However, if you look at the post prior to this you will see that I "really" put September 4th as the drawing date. (ah, the power of the internet) {just kidding!!!} :)

So, instead of sitting home and finishing my blog contest here is what we were doing....

We took an unexpected, but very needed, mini-vacation to Lake Leelenau. We recreated. We stayed all the way until yesterday! Getting the kids up this morning wasn't that easy... although we were careful to keep them on a schedule (relative) when we were away. More about that later... on to the goods!

First I wrote everyones names on slips of paper. If you commented twice BY the ending date (Monday the 27th) then your name would appear twice. I also included Abbie's name to humor her. ;)

Then I had this cutie patootie helper pick names for me after I folded them in case he learned to read when I wasn't looking (no cheating for me!). I had him pick THREE names since I was late with the results. I thought that made up for my tardiness I must say.

And the winners are..... (sorry for the blurred pic, but you see the names)...

Your gifts are on the way!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you to all who participated!!! Since this was way fun I will have another contest real soon. Take care! Oh, and those of you with school age kiddies, how'd the first day go??

HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!

2007-08-24T13:36:00.000-04:00

Well, I've been attempting to keep this blog for a whole year now! I hope that once or twice I have given you a good laugh. Now that we're in Michigan it has taken on a whole new purpose of keeping in touch... who knew last August that one year later this is where I'd be!
Anyway - CONTEST TIME!

Yep, you heard right. First annual! All you need to do is write a comment. I'd love to hear about a post you liked, thought was funny, etc - but feel free to just say *hi* too. Then on Monday night - August 27th we will put all the comments in a hat and pick out a winner. I'll photo the process. Nods to Spincerely who, of course, did her blogiversary contest first {no, i did not win despite like a million entries.... sigh} [he hee heeeeee!] edited: uh, i mean a week from august 27th??? like maybe i really mean i will pick names on september 4th???? yeah, that's what i mean! (hee hee hee)

Furthermore I just heard about my youngest consistent reader who has been with me for a year. Hey DYLAN!!! Glad you're here!!!!! Tell your mom to post a comment so maybe you can win a prize! Also nods to Agent K who is my youngest commentator to date. Hello all you junior Agents!!!

Now - go ahead, write a comment, say hi, just leave your name - any is fine.
Prize will have a little something yummy, a little piece of local interest, and something scrapbookery (is to a verb!).

Good luck!
See ya after Chicago - where i might get to see this {*said with hope and great optimism......*}