This is My life

Good news and Bad news...

…Too bad I can’t tell you what the good news is!  The bad news is that I have to push back some of my plans for my anniversary celebration. But some stuff came up and I thought it would be best to make sure that everything was ready.  I’ll keep you posted.  But do not fear…tomorrow there WILL be new products…there WILL be a sale…there WILL be a freebie…and there WILL be a fun new activity of sorts.  I would say it is a contest but it really isn’t…it’s just plain ‘ol fun.  Well, at least I think so!  LOL!

I scrapped yesterday! YIPPEE!!  I was supposed to be cleaning and a bunch of other not-nearly-as-fun stuff and while I did get some done, I didn’t finish it all since I was too busy scrapping my little heart away!  Our dorm girls had a change of plans and decided not to come so that meant I didn’t have to make dinner or redo all the beds, etc.  It felt so good to just scrap…I feel like it has been forever!  So here goes…

Pink papers by Mindy Teresawa from her MY VALENTINE kit, Beautiful hanging flower by Natalie Braxton at the Lily Pad, stamped alpha by Michelle Coleman, template by me (including the little flowers and stitching)

Okay, lots of stuff here...paper by Dani Mogstad (Old School kit) and Shabby Princess (from her Silly Boy Play all Day kit...don't think it is available digitally anymore though).  Brown stitching by SP, "strung out" white stitching by Meredith Fenwick, alpha and template by me :)

Okay, I was just having some fun here.  I made this template and wanted to use it right away!  So different for me but it was fun.  I found these great old pictures of Alaina that didn't really have a story to them -- they were just cute and showed off that crazy patch of hair that refused to be tamed!  MAGICAL papers and elements by Meredith Fenwick (including that AWESOME glitter paint!)  Template by me :)

When Jason saw this LO he said, "Where is this?"  I said, "our house in Malaysia."  He said, confused, "Levi was trying to crawl in Malaysia?"  I said, "NO!  That's Caleb!"  Scrapbooking is good...Jason can't even tell the difference between our kids now much less in 20 years!

CUDDLE BUG kit by Shabby Princess.  Note paper by Gian Cabrera. Template by me.

And then my very favorite!  I made this template a few weeks ago and LOVED it right away! I really wanted to scrap with it but I didn’t know what I wanted to do…I knew I wanted bright and fun colors!  Most of my kits are more subdued so when I saw this fun contest on Holly McCaig’s blog, I knew my template and that kit would be the PERFECT match!  I just had so much fun creating it!

And I sit here rather amazed that I would consider myself incredibly happy.  I have struggled with depression most of my life and while the last eight years or so have been MUCH better and I haven’t been on medication, I do struggle with my moods.  When I was in high school my boyfriend at the time told me, “Janet, you are bound and determined to be unhappy.”  I guess it seemed that way.  I didn’t WANT to be unhappy…I just couldn’t really find the joy in much.  My mom (who has already apologized profusely for this!) had her solution…when I was sixteen or seventeen she put a book on my bed called, HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE.  I thought that was the biggest bunch of bull ever. 

But here I am, my 30th birthday creeping up on me, and I can honestly say I am incredibly happy!  Is everything perfect?  Far from it!  Do I still get down at times?  You bet!  But overall I know I am so very blessed and I can’t help but just LOVE my life.  I have the best kids ever, the most amazing husband (who was so sweet today and stopped by the house with a cup of my vanilla chai!) and I have finally found an outlet for the creative part of me that was always screaming to get out.  So yes, I am happy.  And it feels GREAT!

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Alaina’s preschool class got to visit the dentist yesterday.  To say she was excited when she came home was an understatement!  She got a new toothbrush and a teetch brushing chart.  So all day I would hear her in the bathroom brushing her teeth so she could put another sticker on her chart!  LOL!  Then, I heard her talking…”Say EEEE…say AHHHH…”  I walked in there and she was brushing Caleb’s teeth!  It was hysterical.  There was blue toothpaste everywhere…on her forehead, on her sleeve, all over the sink.  Oh my! She was quite inspired by her little visit.  I must admit I was a tad disappointed though…today was the day the calendar was marked to learn “ALL ABOUT CHINA.”  But the field trip cut into that.  Alaina said they still did it and when I asked her excitedly what she learned she just said, “Oh nothing.”  And then she started talking about her new toothbrush again.  As much as I am for dental hygiene, I would rather my four year old be excited about other countries.  Oh well, I can’t win them all.  And I suppose most four year olds don’t have a bunch of stamps in their passport and can walk around (like she does) telling people that her little fish purse is from Cambodia and that she was born in India.  I think that living in Nebraska just scares me…I don’t want her to think this is all there is to the world! Luckily her DORA, WORLD ADVENTURE from Netflix came today and once she watched that she was back to her old self…telling me she wants to go to Tanzania and saying Ni Hao (hello in Chinese) and Vanakkam (hello in Tamil -- a South Indian language). 

That’s it for today…be sure to check in tomorrow for some fun stuff you won’t want to miss!  Have a GREAT day!

Decapitated Elly...

Poor little Elly!  This is Caleb's beloved Elly.  Actually, Elly was given as a gift to Alaina at her baby shower but she never paid much attention to it.  Caleb, on the other hand, has loved it since he was a little over a year.  Elly is classical conditioning at its best.  Caleb ONLY sucks his thumb when he is touching Elly.  And the minute he feels Elly, his thumb goes in his mouth!  So anyway, Elly has had better days!  LOL!  The other day his head came off!  Then, I realize just how much my kids watch what I do....first Caleb exclaims "OH NO!" which sounds much more like "ahhhhhh naaaaa!"  Then what does he do?  Does he cry?  No.  Does he bring Elly to me to try to fix?  No.  He runs to his room, gets his toy camera, and starts taking pictures of it!  LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!  I just wish I had been faster to get my camera so I could take pictures of HIM taking pictures.  But, I missed it but once I was ready to go Caleb was happy enough to pose with his poor little decapitated Elly.  Jason sewed his head back on so all is good...for now.  I decided that I would see what I could do about replacing it.  I was scared, though, since we got it four years ago and it isn't like the toddlers of the world are busting down toy stores for ugly green elephants!  But I got online to see what I could find at the company website.  I actually found the toy but it said that it wasn't available in the US.  Strange, since that is where we got it...oh well.  So, I wrote the company and asked them if they had any suggestions of where I could purchase it.  To my surprise, they wrote back right away and told me that it was discontinued a few years ago but that they do still have one in stock.  They told me to call them directly and I could purchase it!  YEA!  So that is on my agenda today.  A new Elly...let's hope Caleb doesn't mind the newness.  Otherwise we will have one brand spankin' new ugly green elephant that will be very unloved.

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So, my hubby is the best!  Yesterday the plan was for him to take the kids out for a few hours so that I could get some work done.  Well, he went above and beyond the call of duty -- they were gone ALL DAY -- like from 9:30 to almost 6:00!   He took them first to the bakery to pick up some bread for me and he got them some powdered doughnuts to snack on.  Then they went to the library...the kids love it there.  They have a great doll house and train set and you can check out the stuff that goes with it.  They love to just play.  Then they stock up on new books and videos.  After the library, they drove to a town we have never been to and went to the Kool-Aid museum.  They actually have a lot of exhibits and the kids just got to play and explore.  What a good dad!  It helps that our kids are very good when we go out....for the most part they do what we ask and when it is time to go they get ready to go, etc.  I am so thankful, though, that Jason is so involved and just loves hanging out with the kiddos.  He even takes pictures!  Now, they aren't the greatest and they all have the date plastered on them because he took our little Nikon that I won from the Scrappy Awards and we cannot figure out how to take it off.  I also realize that these awesome photo frame clusters really cannot be rotated so I know the shadowing is all off...but hey, does it really matter?

So...my day was wonderful!  I got a nice quiet house all to myself.  I enjoyed and extra long devotional time.  Then I had a nice long hot bath and read more of my Hudson Taylor biography.  Then, it was off to work...well, just as far as my computer!  I made some definite progress on some stuff and am excited for Thursday to come -- Thursday is my six month anniversary of selling my templates and I have some super fun stuff planned and lots of new products.  All of this should have been done like a week ago but hey, better late than never, right?  I still have a ways to go but I feel like progress has been made.

Since Jason and the kiddos got home so late we decided against our Indian dinner and will do it tonight instead.  Two of our dorm girls are coming to stay the night so we will let them enjoy a yummy meal with us.  Should be fun!

Alaina had really wanted to go to the fitness center so after she agreed that it was okay to not go swimming, I told her I was willing to go.  I really needed to run but after sitting at my desk all day I really didn't FEEL like it.  She kept telling me I needed to go exercise so I could have "strong muscles".  I gave in knowing that once I start running I love how it feels.  Now all you non-runners out there...don't roll your eyes.  You are listening to the ramblings of the non-runner of all non-runners!  I was the kind of gal that would play sick on the day in school where you had to run the mile.  As in...I NEVER did it.  Not once.  I HATED to run.  I even skipped it in college and went as far as making up a story about being REALLY sick...like mono coming on (no, I am not proud)...so that my professor wouldn't make me do it ...EVER.  Once, when Jason and I were engaged, we decided to go run together.  There was this big loop around my college campus and I thought that maybe I could do one loop.  I ran for not more than 15 SECONDS and I thought I would die.  We never did it again. 

Then, when we were in Malaysia and I went on Weight Watchers the first time, I was determined to get some exercise.  I found a great program online called Couch to 5 K.  That sounded like me...well, at least the couch part!  LOL!  It is a really great program though...takes you literally from the couch to running 5K in nine weeks.  It starts off really slow...more of a walking/jogging program and then builds up slowly.  I found it difficult at times, but it worked!  I DID it! 

Fast forward almost two years and 15 pounds of baby fat and American food later.  I have restarted the program.  I found that doing WW alone feels so much different.  I really need (and want) the exercise.  I am on week three and am finding it MUCH easier this time.

So anyway, Alaina pushed me to go last night and I am glad I did...felt so good!  She happily played upstairs in the fitness center with me.  They have a little picnic table for kids with books and puzzles and she alternated between that and doing her own exercising.  She was so adorable...pink shirt, pink shoes, pink skirt, pink baseball cap on backwards (can you tell she picked out her outfit? LOL!) with these fluorescent green two pound weights!  She kept saying, "See mom...I am getting soooo strong!"  So sweet!

Well, since after my work day yesterday my house is in a state of disaster, I must say farewell.  I need to get things picked up and then start marinating my chicken for tonight.  Then hopefully this afternoon I will have some time to get working on some of my scrap stuff before the girls come over. 

Have a great day!

Can you believe...

...that other than checking email, I stayed off the computer ALL weekend!  I checked in a few times "around town" in the digi world but I did no scrapping, no chatting, no nothing.  It was actually really refreshing.  I've been really absorbed in a new book.  I really love biographies (which you would know if my post hadn't been deleted on Friday!)  This one is especially wonderful.  Jason picked it up for me from our school's library...it is so old and worn.  I LOVE that feeling.  When we were in India the library had lots of old treasures.  I got to read books that would be impossible to find other places.  Good, OLD books...written by people who were more concerned with telling the truth than with how many copies it would sell.  Plus, I love the old worn pages and the covers that just scream "I HAVE A HISTORY!"  I don't know, maybe I am crazy, but an old worn book...the way it looks, the way it smells, just brings comfort to my heart.  Plus, the book I am reading is just plain good.  Missionary biographies are my favorite -- and while I have read and re-read many, I thought it was time to try a new one.  Part of my mind has been lost by so much time on the computer and not enough time reading.  So, the weekend was good.  Plus, we just had lots of wonderful family time.  LOTS of time talking and playing.  I also went running a few times...felt sooo good!  I'll go again this afternoon.  Feels good to be active.

So, I am afraid I do not have any pictures or any layouts to share.  It's kind of weird for me to have had time to scrap, and chose not to.  But my heart and mind were refreshed in other ways so that is good.

Today will be a busy (but good) day.  Since my mini computer vacation I have A LOT of catching up to do.  I have all these projects in the works and I need to make some progress with them.  Jason is being a sweetheart and taking the kids out for a few hours so I can get some work done in peace.  I hate the feeling of things hanging over my head so checking some things off my list will lighten the emotional load.

For dinner I am hoping to make some yummy Indian food.  It has been quite a while since I have attempted to cook Indian food but seeing as the nearest Indian restaurant is over an hour away, I think I will just give it a go.  Basmati rice, homemade naan, maybe a chicken tikka masala.  And of course...Chai.  Yummy.

Hope your Monday is wonderful!

ugh

Well, I DID post this morning.  But while it was uploading we left for the fitness center.  I didn't realize my laptop wasn't plugged in and it must have turned off in the middle of loading.  So sorry...no time to redo it.  I will give you the sweet little pictures of Levi playing peek-a-boo though. Too cute to skip...

If I were to die...

...this family would be in BIG trouble!  I heard Alaina get up this morning. Our little routine has been that Jason gets up with Alaina and hangs out with her until everyone else gets up.  It has been really nice for me to sleep in a bit...7:30 or 8:00 is quite heavenly when I am used to 6:00 and 6:30 for the past few years!  So, I hear them get up this morning.  At about 7:45 I contemplated getting up so I could help get Alaina ready for school.  But then I decided to TRY to go back to sleep because in the past Jason has been really good about getting her all ready and just getting me up right at the end when she needs her hair done.  He has even attempted to do her hair himself but after  my not-as-nice-as-they-could-be comments about the hair, I am usually called out of bed for that one.  In any case, I hear Alaina run into the room shouting something about Dora being on.  Now, Nick Jr doesn't start until 8:00.  And she leaves for school at 8:15...but I see her run in still in jammies and far from ready for school.  So I realize that I did in fact fall back asleep and sat up. 

I said to Jason, "Isn't Alaina getting ready for school?" 

"No," he says, "It's Wednesday."

"Um, no, Jason...it's Thursday!  What time is it?"

"Time to leave," he says.

"Well," I said, "I guess she isn't going today.  Can you please call the school?"

Just then, Alaina who had been completely engrossed with Dora pipes in, "I can't call the school!  I don't know how!"

"No, sweetie, DAD will call the school" as I shoot him a look of complete worry wondering what would happen to this family if I weren't around.

Now, let me say that my husband, Jason, IS very helpful.  He does as much with the kids as I do (well, at least proportionately to the amount of time he is here).  If I were to go away for the weekend I wouldn't have to do anything other than kiss them all goodbye.  I wouldn't have to leave notes or instructions or prepare meal ahead of time.  He knows what they need, when they need it, and I feel totally confident in his parenting abilities.  So the above is said in jest.  I am sure that they would all be fine if I were to die.  They may never know what day it is, but there are worse things in life, right?  LOL!

*******

So, some tidbits from our days.  Since I started scrapping, I think I have really learned to appreciate the little moments of our lives. The everyday stuff...the little things they kids say and do.  These are the stories that I think they will want to hear most.  Not that they won't care about what they looked like when they turned three, because I am sure they will, but they will want to know about all the little things that were uniquely them..the little things that made us love them even more.

So now I notice these things more.  And I try to capture them.  I want to remember.  So many people want to rush through the preschool years.  I can't tell you the number of times people have said to me, "Oh, don't worry, the preschool years will be over soon enough and things get better."  Or, "Oh I would NEVER go back to the preschool years!"  I heard that so many times my first year as a mom...when Alaina was a baby and I was pregnant with Caleb.  I heard it so many times that one day when someone at our church started to talk about preschool years and I was ready to just walk away.  And then she said, "I LOVED them!  Sure they were hard at times, but the time goes so fast and those years are so precious...when you have your kids at home all to yourselves.  What a magical time!"  I was floored.  It felt soooo good to hear someone else say that they ENJOYED having little kids.  I mean, I was starting to think I wasn't supposed to enjoy having really little ones.  Since that time, I have felt much better and now just feel bad for those who don't enjoy it.  I know it can be hard, and I know I have a good deal going -- an incredibly helpful husband, good kids, and we have never done the up-all-night thing.  But still, I think some of the enjoyment of it is just not taking life so seriously and just embracing those little personalities and loving on them.  Life at this age is so amazing...so full of wonder and awe.  Every day I am completely amazed at the things my kids do and say...the good AND the bad.  I can look at them for what they are and laugh. 

I know am I totally off on a tangent right now, but bear with me, this is important (well, at least to me and since this is my blog and I can say what I want :) I will just keep talking.) 

Little kids are wonderful.  They are a blessing.  They can open doors and hearts that otherwise remain closed. This is why I believe that dorm parenting with little kids can be a blessing.  Sure, it can be hard at times, but having little ones in the home can be so beneficial.  We had one boy our first year in Malaysia that just never clicked with us.  He missed his old dorm parents and really, he just never gave us a chance.  He walked around with a scowl on his face most of the time and never let us reach out to him.  I will never forget one night, though....we were sitting in the lounge watching television.  Caleb was probably around 10 or 11 months.  I was sitting next to this boy and he was obviously frustrated that my kids were around.  Caleb was crawling on me and desperately wanted this boys attention.  The boy just looked annoyed.  But Caleb kept trying to be with him...to crawl on him, to sit in his lap, to be with him.  And then, slowly but surely, a small smile appeared on the boys face.  He blushed as the smile grew broader.  He was clearly embarrassed that he was ENJOYING Caleb but eventually he gave in and played with Caleb...gave him "5" and let him sit on his lap. See, Caleb, a little kid, broke through when we couldn't.  That boy needed to let down some of the walls of his heart and as much as Jason and I tried, we couldn't do it.  But Caleb did.  Little kids are powerful.  They are amazing.  And they must be something really special if Christ commands us to have a "childlike faith."  I've been mulling over that term for a while now, but I will save that for another day.

So, all that said, I am trying to enjoy the preschool years to their fullest.  I want to enjoy my kids...like now...I just turned around and this is what I saw...Caleb is in a diaper putting on Alaina's pink chapstick.  It is all over his mouth and nose.  Sooo cute!  Alaina is in her jammies (after missing school she declared it a jammie day!) happily watching the Backyardagains (or however you spell it), Levi is "helping" Jason fold laundry and chanting "ma-ma...ma-ma..."  Why would I want to RUSH through these years?  Too precious to miss.

A few pictures to share...just little snippets of yesterday...embracing life as it is...

Caleb and some of his "things." He was happily sitting on the couch with his Elly when Diego came on.  He started shouting something and although none of the words registered, I knew what he wanted.  I went to his room to get his Diego doll and when I brought it to him I was greeted with his wonderful loud, "THANK YOU MAMA!"  Happy as a clam (as my mother would say).

As I mentioned yesterday, the weather report was that it was supposed to be 57.  I think it actually reached 58 here and we enjoyed it!  Jason and the kids took the opportunity to wash the car and enjoy the warm weather.

And then there is little Levi.  Yesterday afternoon I fed him some yogurt. He still was eating some Cheerios and raisins so I left him in his chair while I caught up on some emails (about four feet from him).  Jason and the other kids were in the living room, with a full on view of him.  About ten minutes later I turned around to ask Jason something only to see Levi COVERED in yogurt.  He had finished what was in his bowl so I was a but confused.  It appears as, with all of us just a few feet away from him, he managed to get the yogurt container off of the table, dig his little hands in there, and smear it everywhere.  He also put some of his Cheerios in there!  And don't let the picture fool you...that was NOT one of those little yogurt containers.  This was a full 32 oz "grande" container!  Perfect example of when I could get frustrated and instead, take to heart the mantra: "Don't get mad...take pictures."  So I did.  Sweet little guy!

***

Well, that's all for today!  Jason has to leave for work soon and I have a bunch of stuff planned for the day!  Hope everyone has a wonderful day.  And if you are a mother of a preschooler...take heart.  They are wonderful.  They are a blessing.  They see the world in a whole new way.  They love you, they need you, they want to learn from you.  Love them, embrace them, share the wonder.  The time goes fast...don't miss it.

I got distracted...

This post will be rather short.  I was signing into Typepad to start my post and I got distracted by Typepad's featured blog today -- KIM CHI MAMAS .  It is a group of Korean women posting about life as a Korean, things about their own childhood, about the childhood they want their kids to have, etc.  It is totally fascinating.  We have been working with Korean kids for the past seven years...some years more than others.  At the end of our last year in India the Principal's wife gave me a great book about Korean culture and I remember thinking I wish I had read it BEFORE I had three Korean girls in my dorm.  Since that time I have really enjoyed learning more about Korean culture -- it totally fascinates me and helps me so much in knowing the kids I am working with.  As true with anyone, if you want to be effective in working with them, in meeting their needs, then you need to have an understanding of where they come from and how they think.  Anyway, it was fascinating reading and I plan to read more.

But it just means that I don't have as much time to post here.  That's okay...didn't really have a lot to say anyway.  The last couple of days have been really good for me -- lots of thinking, praying, seeking.  My little manta as of late has been "Be ready for the wrench."  Meaning...things are going really well right now.  Family, life, work, etc.  Things are going really well, and that is great, but there is an unsettledness in my heart (restless is the term I have been using) and I just feel like I need to ready myself.  God has a way of throwing  wrench in our plans, our desires, our lives.  Sometimes these things can be good and sometimes hard, but I feel like I need to be ready.  What that means exactly, I don't know.  But I am trying to have my life -- and heart -- in order so that when God is ready to throw the wrench, I am ready to accept it.  To embrace it.  To run with it.    I just know God wants to do something in me...

So with that "getting ready" mentality I haven't spent much time on the computer.  I have done a few templates here and there and have some bigger projects in the works, but the motivation really hasn't been there.  Even last night -- I had the house to myself after the kids when to bed and Jason had to go run errands.  So I had a nice quiet house to scrap in but I just didn't feel like it.  Not used to that!

I did, however, do one page early this morning when Alaina got up.  Jason went to work early this morning so he could be home in the afternoon with us so that meant no sleeping in for me! 

Sleep Little Princess -- The other night I came into Alaina's room because I couldn't figure out why her light was still on.  This is what I found.  So precious!  I used SMJ's Mia's Room kit (and my fav Lisa Whitney stitches and paints strokes by Michelle Coleman.)

That's it for me today...hope your day is bright and sunny (on the inside AND out!) It is supposed to be 57 here today!  Yippee!

Spontaneous outing...

...yep...that was our day yesterday.  We had planned on just having a day at home -- food, crafts, games, etc.  I was busy reading my book and the kids were watching Nick Jr.  We had plans to go to the fitness center too. Jason was supposed to call about a broken futon and when the company said to just return it, we randomly decided that we would go to Omaha and get a different one that we had seen but didn't buy. 

We had stopped at a furniture store on the way back from Michigan on New Years Day.  We had really liked one particular futon but after traveling for two days and our kids running wild in the store (you can't blame them...as 12 hour car ride is not really all that much fun for kids) we decided to not try to deal with getting it home.  We bought a different one here in town and was reminded again that you get what you pay for.  Six weeks of use and it is broken.  So, we decided that we would go to Omaha and get the one we wanted in the first place.

Since we had promised Alaina that she could go swimming Jason took her to the pool while I got the boys ready and packed some light lunches for us.  It is a two hour drive to Omaha and we wanted to get going.  Our plan was first to take the kids to the AMAZING PIZZA MACHINE and have fun there, and then head to the furniture store.  The kids were angels on the way which allowed me to finish my book (finally!) and to talk with Jason.  I love just having uninterrupted time to talk :)

We had a blast at the pizza place.  There is a huge 100 item buffet where you can choose one of four "restaurants" to eat in.  Then you go to a different part of the place where there are games and rides.  We really liked the set up because as opposed to Chucky Cheese and other places like it, the games aren't right by the food, making the kids not want to eat just so they can play.  So, we got to have a nice lunch/dinner and THEN we got to go play games.  The kids LOVED it!  You get these little swipe cards that holds your account balance.  By far, the kids favorite was the FROG HOPPER.  It was their first "amusement park" type ride and I think they were even more thrilled that they got to do it all by themselves.

We just played lots of games and just really enjoyed one another.  We do much better when we get out of the house -- it helps to have no phone, no computer, no books, no TV etc and just BE together.  Alaina kept calling it her "super fun family day."  I am so glad we went.

Today, though, it means that I have lots of work around the house to do, emails to catch up on (sorry for those who emailed or commented yesterday!), and other day-to-day life to catch up on.  Maybe I will even sneak in a scrap page or two :)

Hope everyone has a fantastic day today. It is supposed to be 50 degrees here again and I am hoping to take the kiddos to the playground to get some fresh air. Bye!

A relaxing weekend...

Nothing huge to report from this weekend.  It has been really nice ~ just hanging out around the house, being a family.  We've done lots of talking, lots of eating, lots of cuddling and kissing.  As much as we love being in residential ministry, where we live with those we work with, we ARE enjoying this little bit of time away -- time to just be US, to not worry about "being available".  I love that we can come and go as we please, too.   Plus, the privacy brings out a whole other part of me -- the part of me that is silly and fun and makes Alaina tell me I must have taken my crazy pills :)  It isn't that I am forlorn and lethargic with dorm kids...it's just that I don't tend to dance in the living room, sing in the shower, and stay in my jammies all day. So, it has been really nice.

Caleb still isn't feeling the best.  I am getting a tad bit worried about him.  He has moments of being himself, but most of the time he just lays around with his Elly (his ugly green elephant) and says no to everything (very politely, though).  I am going to keep my eye on him today though.  Last night he gave us reason to believe that he has been VERY VERY constipated so now that that seems to have worked itself out :) I am hoping I see some of the energy back.  His parotid gland is still very enlarged but the doctor said it could take weeks to go down.  We'll see.  If he isn't feeling better by the end of the week I think I will take him in again.  Poor guy!

Fortunately, our weekend is not over yet.  Jason doesn't work on Mondays so we are looking forward to another family day.  We are hoping to get to the fitness center this morning before the crowds arrive.  We live in a small town and usually the place is empty when we go but we were there on Friday afternoon, not knowing that there was no school for the public school kids, and the place was packed.  I had been looking forward to a nice leisurely dip in the jacuzzi only to find it jam-packed with elementary kids.  Not the relaxing afternoon I had imagined :)  So, we're going to head out in a few minutes and hope we get the place to ourselves.

I got to scrap this weekend!  On Saturday morning Jason took the kids out so I could have some time alone.  I have found that if I don't scrap or do anything creative, I notice.  I just feel like something is missing.  I can't NOT do it.  And when I finally get some time, it feels so good!  They don't have to be masterpieces...I just have to do it. So wonderful and therapeutic.

This one was a lot of fun!  Meredith Fenwick came out with these really cool techno stamps and I wanted to try something different with them. I love pages with lots of photos from various times.  Here are the credits (kind of long): Techno Grungy Graphic frame by Meredith Fenwick. Kraft paper by MandaBean. Striped paper and swirl by Shabby Princess. Pin date by Holly McCaig. Stitching by Lisa Whitney and circle stitches by Lisa Carter. Alphas by Michelle Coleman, Kristy Ann,and Nancie Row Janitz.  Stitched flower by Michelle Coleman. Stitched tag by Kim Christensen

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Make sure you read the journaling on this one.  I am NOT pregnant, just in case anyone was worried!  LOL!  Alaina just REALLY wants a baby sister!

I used Birgit's new FRESH kit at Catscrap.  Sooo pretty!

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This was my first "heritage" page.  When I was at my grandmother's this past November I took some photos of some of her photos.  It was fun to do something with a few of them! Everything from Catscrap ~ frames by Catrine, and RUBBED FLOURISHES paper and elements packs.

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This was a two pager....I totally remember this day.  It was in the middle of the morning and we couldn't find Alaina.  I went out on our porch and saw that she had her backpack on and was heading down the stairs.  I asked her what she was doing and she said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world, "to school."  She had just turned TWO! And yet, she walked down the stairs from our house and up the stairs to the middle school block.  She said she wanted to be like the dorm kids.  So cute! 

Kit is Wonderful (yes, again...I think I just get a kick out of seeing how many times I can use it :)  Stitching by Lisa Whitney, hanging tag by Gina Cabrera.

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Well, that's it for this morning.  My coffee is gone and I have some kiddos that need some loving (and really want to go swimming!)

Have a GREAT day!

Totally inspired...

My new CK magazine came yesterday.  I love the days when a new scrap magazine comes. When we got back to the States one of the first things I did is subscribe to a few different magazines (CK, Scrapbooks, Etc. , and Simple Scrapbooks).  The subscription price is soooo much cheaper than the newsstand price...and having it delivered to your door sure beats looking around shops and bookstores each month. 

When a new one comes, I get so excited.  I just know I am going to open it up and be mesmerized.  I get a little different feeling with each of the different magazines and I tend to approach each one a little differently.  With Simple Scrapbooks, I know that the actual LO's will knock the wind out of me.  Don't get me wrong, they are GORGEOUS, but they are more simple in nature, with a lot of LO's only using a piece of paper or two, and one or two elements.  Nothing wrong with that. Some LO's call for that.  But what I ADORE about Simple, and why I will continue to receive it, is the Simple Philosophy ~ the subject of the LO's.  Simple seems to embrace scrapping the everyday things...the little quirks and bits of information that make use truly unique.  As much as I love birthday and Christmas LO's, I much prefer seeing LO that record things like little indulgent purchases made, a record of a really bad day, or the funny things that come our your child's mouth (words or other assorted things!)  Simple had a special edition called SLICE OF LIFE -- I LOVED it.  It was exactly as the title suggests...a slice of life.  When you cut a piece of cake you get past the beautiful exterior and into the even more delicious interior.  The books helps people see how to record the every day things -- the places you live, the things you do, the people you love. The other thing I LOVE about the SIMPLE philosophy is Stacey Julian's (founding editor) approach to scrapbooking. She really helps people get past the "I SHOULD scrapbook"..."I am sooo behind!"..."I have to organize everything first!" mentalities.  She takes all the guilt out of what is supposed to be a fun and creative activity.  There are so many woman who want to scrapbook, or even claim to scrapbook (meaning they own lots and lots of stuff but feel so overwhelmed about where to start that they don't), but just cannot get past how "far behind" and "unorganized" they are.  Stacey Julian, in her THE BIG PICTURE , she helps people move past the guilt and the shoulds and onto actually recording their family's history and memories.  It was so liberating!  You don't have to scrap "in order."  You don't have to scrap every picture you have.  Instead, you scrap what you want when you want.  I adore the way she organizes her pages too...she doesn't scrap chronologically.  Instead, she has albums like, "People We Love" and "Places We Go."  LOVE the philosophy, and definitely see it as my own.

Now Scrapbooks Etc. is probably my favorite magazine...for no other reason than I think it is just the most "me" as far as style goes.  I love almost all the pages and I think the style and techniques are most similar to what I do with my pages.  I also love some of their features like "see the sketch".  Sometimes it is hard to get past the photos and papers and see the actual design.  Great magazine.  And, I am proud to say, I will have a LO in it in April or May (can't remember!)

Then there is Creating Keepsakes.  All I can say is WOW.  The pages are so incredible...the techniques and the artistry are just amazing.  I could never do half the stuff in there, but it doesn't stop me from being totally in awe.  I got the March issues yesterday and was actually breathless at times looking through it.  I was especially excited to see this issue because I knew they were doing a feature on this year's SCRAPBOOKER OF THE YEAR, C.D. Muckosky.  I have adored her work from the very beginning when she started hanging out around 2Peas last year.  Her work is 100% totally awe-inspiring.  She has this amazing ability to convey emotion on her page like no other artist I have seen.  Her pages are full and busy, but not without reason.  All of the "extras" she has -- colors, embellishments, etc. all serve a purpose.  There is a trend right now, especially in digital scrapping, to put anything and everything on a page.  While it can be fun and liberating to do, I think for a lot of people the extra "stuff" actually takes away from the integrity of the page.  I get so lost in the extras that I don't see the picture or the point.  But C.D. always has purpose to her pages.  I love looking closely at her pages and find all the little treasures she has in there. I find myself soooo inspired and could only dream of scrapping like her.  Add to the talent is her amazing personality...sweet, genuine, a woman of faith, happy, and purposeful.  I look at her pages and I just want to go hug my kids a little tighter, love my man a little bit better, and appreciate each day a little more intensely.  THAT is an artist...one who can, though her art, inspire others to be better people.  To love more, the cherish more, to dream more.

You can see her gallery HERE.

So, I took a nice long hot bath and read the magazine cover to cover.  Loved it.  Love the art.  Love the inspiration.

Now if I could just find some time to scrap...Maybe this weekend.

Have a GREAT weekend, everyone.  I am looking forward to the extra family time.  Jason went into work early this morning so that he could take a few hours off this afternoon and hang out with the family.  I think that we will go to the fitness center and get some exercise and some swimming in.  Should be fun.

Once Upon a Time....

...there was a girl named Cinderella (though many called her Alaina).  One night, she got all dressed up for a fancy party.  She had a beautiful white dress, long flowing hair, and two glass slippers.  She was ready for the night of her life.  All was going according to plan until one court jester (known to some as Levi) removed one of the glass slippers and threw it into a great lake (known as the bathtub), never to be found again (well, at least not for a few hours).  Cinderella was so sad. She wept and wept for her long lost glass slipper.  "My day is ruined!" she exclaimed! "How can I give the prince (Dad) his gift without my other glass slipper?"

The prince, who arrived on the scene later, opened his gift, presented by the one-slippered Cinderella.  And while he loved it, the girl was still sad.  So the prince was determined to find the slipper and make the girl happy once again. The Queen (that would be me :) said it was useless.  They had looked for hours and was convinced that the slipper was magically whisked off to some other princess.  It was not to be found in the palace.  And yet, the prince was determined to bring a smile to the princess's face.  He searched high and low.  Then, upon not finding anything, he inquired of the princess about the exact moment the slipper disappeared.  He learned that the princess was having her hair done by the palace hair dresser (that would be me again) and slipped the shoes off so she could stand on her magical pedestal (okay, a green stool from IKEA) and look into the shiny mirror. She also told the prince how one of the two court jesters had been looking fondly at her slippers and was in the vicinity at the time of the disappearance.  "Ah ha!  I've got it!" he exclaimed!  I've put the many clues together and I bet I know where the glass slipper will be found!   You say you were having your hair done...and that the jester was around...and you were near the lake...and the jester puts anything and everything into the lake...it must be there!"  So off the prince went to search for the slipper.  He was determined to drain the entire lake if need be.  But alas, when he arrived, the lake was drained, and there sitting at the bottom, with a sparkle on its toe, was the missing glass slipper.

Now my friends, I wish I could report that the return of the glass slipper put a smile back on the young princess's face.  But it was not to be so.  Through tears, in bed, piled high with her nine things (um, that would be her old blanket, her new blanket, her pillow, her little pink pillow, her big yellow pillow, her pink teddy bear, her Angelina Ballerina, her baby, and her baby bed) cried and cried.  "But I didn't get to give the prince his gift with BOTH glass slippers on!" 

At her wits end, the Queen came into the princess's chambers and spoke quietly to her.  "I have a plan," she said.  "Tomorrow, we will once again dress you in your beautiful gown, curl your long flowing blond hair, wrap up a NEW gift for the prince, put on BOTH glass slippers, and when the prince returns in the evening you can present your gift."  The young princess wiped her tears and said, "Okay."

THE END

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Nice story, huh?  Fun to read, NOT fun to live!  Oh my goodness...what a day!  Actually, most of the day was just fine.  Wonderful in fact.  And then Alaina had her princess shoe swiped by Levi who threw it (like everything else) into the bathtub and I listened to whining and crying for HOURS.  It was an evening like no other.  Oh well, in the end, the shoe was found, and we will wrap up another gift for dad and princess Alaina can give it to him.

So let me start over. We actually had quite a wonderful Valentine's Day.  Jason let me sleep in yesterday.  Caleb has been sick so for the first time since he was a few weeks old, he was in bed with us.  He didn't start out that way, but in the middle of the night woke up and was really hot, and we pulled him into bed with us. So, I was sleeping soundly with my little man while Jason and Alaina were enacting their plans.  When I finally woke up, they had prepared a wonderful little surprise for me.  I went into the bathroom and there was a beautiful peach rose (that smelled heavenly), candles everywhere, and a new Yankee tart burning (Rose).  There was a fresh towel on the side of the tub, a plate of peanut butter and chocolate hearts, my Bible and DAILY LIGHT, and Fernando Ortega's HYMNS OF WORSHIP playing in the MP3 docking station.  They had even tried to sneak out to the coffee shop to pick up my favorite vanilla chai but the line was super long and in the -3 degree weather Jason didn't think it would be a good idea to wait.  But it is definitely the thought that counted!  So, Jason kept the kids away and let me soak in a wonderful peaceful tub.  I really couldn't ask for anything better!

At 10:30 Jason had to go into work so I decided to take the kids out for a bit.  We (as in me and the three kids)  RARELY go out.  First, it really isn't all that much fun getting three kids in and out of car seats. Second, the only place to go is half an hour away (we live in a town of less than 3000 people!). Third, none of us are that fond of the cold.  But, since I have found myself going a little stir crazy I decided that we should get out of the house.  I let Alaina choose where to go to lunch and surprisingly, she chose McDonald's.  She always chooses Fazoli's (not that I mind).  Actually, though, it was kind of nice to go somewhere else for a change.  We used to go to McDonald's all the time in Malaysia. It is REALLY cheap there so it was a fast and easy lunch.  I often got a sandwich from the NANDO'S next door.  Anyway, we went to McDonald's.  Their chicken selects are actually really good!  It was FREEZING in the restaurant though!  We all ate with our coats on listening to the crazy manager YELL to his team about how great they were doing and how they were keeping their times down.  All of the people in the seating area kept looking around at each other with a look of, "This guy is totally crazy...doesn't he realize people are trying to talk and eat in peace here??"  The kids got Happy Meals (which they didn't finish) and I even let Levi snack on his first french fry.

After McDonald's we headed to the Mall.  We enjoyed the warmth there and walked around a lot, enjoying the toy stores and the cookie stall :)  I found it amusing to look at the men sheepishly looking in windows and probably thinking, "Oh crap! It is Valentine's day and I haven't gotten the wife/girlfriend anything yet and I am going to be in sooo much trouble."  Then, without fail, they wandered out of the Hallmark store and/or Victoria's Secret with satisfied and proud grin on their face.

We picked up Jason's gift at Sears (a new screwdriver set -- hey, not romantic in the eyes of ladies, but I have learned that to really love my husband means giving him things he really wants rather than sentimental things that *I* like) and then looked around at a few stores for a new outfit for me to wear to dinner.  I knew that Jason was making dinner for me after the kiddos went to bed (sooo thankful for 7:30 bedtimes in this house!) and I wanted something new.  I never shop for myself anymore.  It was funny to see the things the kids picked out.  If Alaina had her way I would have been wearing a big poofy green prom dress!  This is when she decided that she was going to get dressed up and have a fancy dinner of her own.  She didn't quite understand the concept of us having a special dinner worthy of new clothes without her.  She had big plans...she was going to get dressed up in her "fancy dress" (her flower girl dress from my sister's wedding) and wear her glass slippers and I was supposed to make her and Caleb a special dinner.

I finally settled on a new shirt with a gorgeous Asian print in a cut I have never worn. We then picked up a matching necklace and headed home. When we got back I  started to work on Alaina's Valentine's for her class.  I was making brownie balls and putting them in those little snack sized ziplock bags. I grabbed SP's Treat bag toppers since I had NO time to do anything myself.  However, I can never let well enough alone and had to add a few things to them which is not easy since they are flattened files.  Anyway, I got those all done and ready to print.  I then picked up the house some and started to get ready.  I got dressed and did my hair and then worked on Alaina's hair.  Then, the glass slipper incident.  When Alaina finished with her hair she started looking all over for her other shoe.  I spent probably 45 minutes looking for it all the while listening to her cry.  Once it got to the point where I HAD to stop looking and make dinner for the kids I came up with plan.  "Alaina, you know what?  You are JUST like Cinderella!  She lost one of her glass slippers too! She had two and then one came off and it was lost!  So see, you are the same.  Isn't that AMAZING?"  Yea, that was a no-go. She didn't buy it. Through tears she explained to me how the prince came and tried the slipper on Cinderella's stepsisters and it didn't fit them but it did fit her.

At that point I just had to let her cry and get food for the boys.  We were half an hour away from Jason getting home and the house was a mess and the kids hadn't eaten. I had bought a little steak (yes, we are one big O BLOOD TYPE family) but by this point Caleb was beyond hungry and was bringing me hotdogs from the fridge.  So,  hot dog for Caleb (once he gets an idea about something there is no use trying to change it) and a steak for Alaina. 

Jason got home, the kids finished eating, I was totally frazzled, and Alaina wanted to give Jason his gift even without her other slipper.  Some gifts opened, some playing with dad, and then the hunt for the slipper began again since she just couldn't get control of her emotions.  She is RARELY like this but last night, it was really bad.  Thankfully, sleuth Jason figured the mystery out and Alaina had both slippers.  You would THINK that the episode would be over.  It was not to be.  She was in bed, still crying, as we are trying to get OUR dinner made and the table set.  Finally, I went in there and came up with the plan to get all dressed up again tonight and wrap up a new gifts (luckily we made craft stick picture frames the other day during craft time that we haven't showed dad) and then she can give the gift to dad with both her glass slippers on.  Finally, she seemed pleased.  I then told her she really needed to go to sleep because she had school tomorrow and they were having a Valentine's party and all her friends would be bringing her Valentine's.  "Really?" she asked with a huge smile on her face.  "Even Joe?" (real name removed to protect the innocent) because he is not my friend. "Yes, dear, even Joe, and maybe you should give him a chance."  Then she inquired multiple times about Darien who is her little preschool crush ("I like him a lot even though he is the crying boy"  LOL!)

Finally around 8:30 Jason and I sat down to a nice steak dinner.  He talked and just enjoyed each other.  Then he made me another bath and we just sat and talked for hours.  It was so wonderful.  I even saw him grin at me in way I haven't seen since we were dating.  It was sooo sweet.  We talked about anything and everything.  And we talked a lot about how happy we are.  We don't have much.  We live in a small apartment and we live on next to nothing and yet we are exceedingly happy.  We have our days and our moments, sure, but all in all we are so in love and our little family fulfills our dreams.  I wouldn't trade what we have as a family for all the money in the world.  It is totally priceless.

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So, that about wraps up my Valentine's Day.  It was perfection (other than the shoe incident). If Valentine's Day is  a day to celebrate love then we accomplished that.  We love each other.  We love our kiddos. And I love my life.

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Here are few pictures from the last few days:

Finally able to let all three kiddos take a bath together :) They love it!

And the two cutest bath buddies EVER:

My poor sweet sick Caleb who fell asleep in my arms sitting on the couch the other day.

The SWEETEST thing ever...Alaina made this Valentine to give to Levi from her and Caleb.  Totally her idea!

The one-shoed princess getting preparing dad's gift

Valentine's for her classmates:

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That's it for today (was it long enough for you! LOL!)  Thank you all so much for your sweet comments about the template set yesterday!  I am so glad you like them!  If you haven't grabbed them, do it soon, because later today I will pull the links and then the pack will go into my shoppe.

Today I am hoping to have a fairly laid-back day.  Caleb is still sick with a fever, a low-gauge case of the measles spotted (no pun intended) this morning (he just had the vaccine last week and my light skinned blond headed kids react REALLY bad to the vaccine and break out in spots...freaked me out with Alaina!).  I plan to lots of snuggling and cuddling with him, and just laying low.  Maybe I will even get to scrap later.  Then tonight is a GREY'S night.  I think with the temperature at a ridiculous -2 with a windchill of -17 we will all be staying in today.  Jason is even being sweet and not making me pick up Alaina from school -- he will bring her home and then go back.  Love that man!

Have a FANTASTIC day and I'll "see" you tomorrow!