This is My life

Friday Already???

Wow...one of those weeks that I swear just before I blinked it was Monday!  Time is FLYING over here.  I think that is a good thing, I usually look forward to whatever is next, but WOW....almost April.  The trees are budding, Easter is next weekend, and little Levi turns ONE in a few weeks.  Maybe just this once time could slow down a bit for me...just a little.

Not much to share today...life is the same around here. Alaina is still being pretty needy...don't really know what to do there.  Caleb is starting to be more talkative, putting two and three words together.  My goal today is to convince him to get out of his Diego pajamas...he LOVES those things like you would never believe.  He puts them on and runs around the house finding anyone and everyone and saying, "Look, Mama! Diego!" Well, actually is sounds more like, "ook Ma, A-GO!" but I know what he is saying.  He shows ALL of us...even Levi.  "ook E-Gi, A-GO!" Yea buddy, I'm sure Levi really cares about the Diego PJ's he sees on all day every day. :)

I scrapped a bit last night.  When I finished up packaging up some new templates I decided to scrap with one.  One of the advantages of my old packaging was that I always had to scrap with a page before I packaged it all up.  That was really stressful at times so I did away with the sample LO when I moved stores. However, I do like to try them out.  Template scrapping is really different than starting from scratch. It amazes me how fast pages come together!  I did this one in about 15 minutes!

And here are four new templates packs I put up in my shop this morning:

Thanks for stopping by today!  And although I don't usually blog on the weekends, stop in on Sunday for a fun little April Fool's Day thingamajig... :)

I need to go to bed...

It is after midnight and I KNOW I should go to bed and yet I enjoy the quiet solitude so much. Everyone else is alsleep and the house is quiet and I am alone.  I don't fear that people will start to wake.  I know it is just me and my thoughts and my dreams and my art. Just me in this house and I want to soak it all in.  But I know I will regret it tomorrow.  See you then :)

"It's like trick-or-treating!"

This is what Alaina said to us as we walked around the food show for Jason's work yesterday.  Funny, since she has never been trick-or-treating, but okay, whatever.  She was right...it was, only better, because you got to eat as you went instead of having to wait until you got home to try all your yummy stuff!

We were at this hockey arena and all these different food companies were set up in booths trying to lure all sorts of people in to order from them. The people who were walking around were from schools, hospitals, gas stations, restaurants, really anywhere that sells/provides food.  Jason was purchasing for our school and we got to tag along. All diets were off for the day as we walked around sampling everything and putting all the free goodies like candy bars into our bags.  It was really quite impressive...everything from Oregon Chai (YUMMY!) to fried chicken to prime rib.  All there for our sampling pleasure.  There were pizzas, and doughnuts, and cereals, and ice cream, and coffee, and candy, and soup, and wings, etc. etc. etc. Craziness!  It was all really yummy but my stomach didn't really appreciate the assault.  Not only do I not usually eat ANY of that stuff on a regular basis I certainly do NOT eat it all on the same day and all together!  But we all had a lot of fun as a family and Jason found some great new stuff to serve at the school so it was a success.

The night before, however, was not nearly as successful! We got into town around 5:00 and went to check into our hotel room.  There was no reservation.  After a few phone calls the found a room for us (the company was supposed to have booked it).  The kids thought it was great because it opened out into the pool area that was HUGE. After we settled we were anxious to get to the dinner that was being hosted by the food show.  Jason had been told it was at another hotel so we got everyone in the car and drove over there.  However, it WASN'T at that hotel.  So, we drove back to our hotel to ask if anyone knew where the dinner was.  Turns out it was at OUR hotel, right in that pool area the kids were so excited to be close to.  So everyone gets out of the car and goes back to the room and then we go to the pool area that is quickly filling up with people  (and smoke, yuck!)  So, we get in there and start standing in line.  Then, in true Janet fashion, I decide to go look at what is being served.  I am a pretty picky eater and I like to know what all my options are.  All I can say is GROSS.  I hate being so picky but WOW.  One thing we have seen over and over here in Nebraska is a fondness for chopped and barbecued meat...beef, pork, whatever.  Looks like slop to me.  Add the potato salad to the mix and I knew none of us would be happy.  So back to the car we go to go out to eat.  Then Jason and I disagree about the plan of finding somewhere to go and no one can decided.  Alaina chooses McDonald's (which we had passed long before) so we turn around and drive back.  On the way, we see a sign for Little Ceasar's pizza  for $5.00 large pizzas.  Perfect....we wanted pizza anyway and then we could bring it back to the room since all the drinks were being provided at the hotel.  Only problem is that we can't find the place.  We drive up and down and no Little Ceasar's in sight.  So, back to the McDonald's plan, which turned out great because Ronald McDonald was there for some teachers night.  Alaina ran up to me while I was in line and screamed, "Mommy, Donald is ALIVE."  Yes, she calls him Donald. 

When we get back to the hotel is is really bedtime for the kids but they hadn't gotten to swim yet so we let them stay up and swim for a bit.  I stayed in the room and checked in to my work stuff and then went out with them.  Then it was bath and bed. The only problem was that little did we know when we got the room that the huge after-party was also in the pool area.  Imagine if you will, hundreds of people, a LIVE band, and three bars with free beer all outside your hotel room.  Not a fun concept.  I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep so I went to the fitness center and after a few minutes on their piece-of-junk tread mill I switched to the bike and watched America's Dream or something equally as corny sounding.  I'm not really into all these shows so I don't know if others are good, but this one was pathetic.  BORING.  Anyway, after my workout I go back to the room and of course the kids are not sleeping (except for Levi).  Jason is in bed with the other two trying to keep them quiet when all they want to do is giggle.  So, we decided on the divide and conquer routine and I took Caleb in bed with me (he kicks less than Alaina :) and Jason took Alaina.  After about 15 minutes they finally fell asleep and so did we. The party raged on outside our door but other than a few moments of loud cheering and deafening bass, we slept through the chaos.  Phew.  Not quite the night we were expecting but good to get away nonetheless.

Okay, hadn't planned on writing a short novel this morning.  I will quickly show you a few things I picked up when I went to Target.  I hate having my nearest Target over an hour away.  It definitely saves me money but really, what a pain!  It was BLISS yesterday, though, to go out and shop ALONE.  I didn't get anything (since when did shopping for myself become so depressing.  I can't find ANYTHING that fits and isn't showing parts of my body that I don't want to be showing off.  Ugh. Anyway, at least Alaina is easy to shop for.  I picked up her Easter dress and a few pairs of summer shoes. I wanted to let her wear a summer dress last Sunday to church but she had no summer shoes to wear.

Well, that's all for today.  I just got off the phone with a lady who will be leading an evaluation for Caleb.  Since he is approaching three and his language is STILL not really developing I think it is time to be evaluated and treated if necessary. I need to set up a hearing screening and then figure out when to do a home visit, etc.  I also have some new templates I need to finish up and then do something about the tornado that swept through my house when we got home yesterday! 

I do have one layout for you.  I did this for the Fashion Show going on at Scrapbook Graphics.  Michelle and Berna are two new studio Interns and Maya, in a stroke of genius, asked a bunch of scrappers to work with the interns products. What a great start to a designing career...can you imagine having people like CD Muckosky, Jodi Perry, Gina Miller, and a WHOLE bunch more work with your first kits?  Every designers dream.  And while I am no celebrity scrapper I was happy to add to the gallery .  I used Berna's Milliofiori kit.

The credits can be seen HERE.

Have a great day!

And the winners are....

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I was really overwhelmed with all the support for my first week at Scrapbook Graphics.  I am so thankful for this art and hobby and all the people it has allowed me to meet.  Everytime I see a layout using one of my templates I am overjoyed that *I* did something to help *you* preserver your memories.  All my life I have been fascinated with the past and I have always had the desire to remember and enjoy life.  And so the ability to help others do that is more thrilling than I can really explain!  So thank you to everyone for loving me, encouraging me, for supporting me.  I love getting emails from all of you sharing your art, your stories, your struggles.  It really humbles me that you are willing to enter into relationship with me and share your hearts.  And I am glad that you let me share my heart with you all.  I could skip over the hard days and the tough times when I post here, and I do to some extent, but I know that personally when I read about people's lives, whether it be in a biography or on a blog, I love reading about the good AND the bad...otherwise I see someone who appears to have a perfect life and then I get discouraged.  So I try to bring you the real stuff. Toned down a bit, since details are not always important, but real nonetheless.

Again, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.  I am truly overwhelmed.

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Well, I need to keep this short today.  Jason has to go out of town for work today so we are all going to tag along.  Lots to do before we go, though.  Laundry, packing, some project stuff, shower, eat, etc, etc.....

Have a great couple of days...I'll be back on Thursday!  I don't know what our internet access will be like at the hotel so if you comment or email I may not be able to get back to you right away.  Sorry!

A Good Weekend...

Honestly, I think anything would seem good after last week.  I don’t know…it was just one of those weeks…one of those times I question everything I do and everything I am.  I get this way sometimes. It’s hard, but it is growth stimulating.  There was even one night that I decided I was going to quit scrapping.  That lasted all of about twelve hours.

I also had some much more horrible ideas...more drastic ideas.  I hate when I feel that way…that I am just not good enough and never will be so why try?  I feel much better now, don’t worry, I just wish I knew what sets me off so I can just stay far from it!  I know some of it, things I can’t explain here (you never quite know who reads this thing!)  But suffice it to say that at one point on Wednesday I think it was I was contemplating calling Jason to take me into the ER…my throat was constricting and I was scared of passing out with three little kiddos left to fend for themselves.  Luckily, there was no need.  I went and sat down in the bathroom (on the top of a pile of laundry that was no doubt adding to my stress!) and just calmed myself down enough to just keep going. 

Anyway, I don’t know why I am saying all of this.  I am really fine now, and need to learn to just stay away from things that make me feel so bad about myself.  I am soooo far from perfect and I KNOW I have a lot of growing to do but really, I need to take it in small steps.  If I let others tell me everything that is wrong with myself and feel that I need to change instantly (regardless of whether or not I agree with them) I get overwhelmed and very self-critical. Not healthy at all.  I want to change, I want to grow, but I need to do it in a loving and supportive environment.

So, a long weekend with the family was just what I needed! Jason has a four day weekend so we have been together for the past few days.  It was been wonderful…just seems like there has been time to do everything!  Time to be together as a family, time to go out, time to stay in, time to scrap, time to work, time to clean, and time to sleep.  LOVE it! We’ve just done super fun things…a trip to Lincoln and the Children’s Museum, yummy Indian food, lots of scrapping, bike rides, walks to church, going to the fitness center, loving our kids for who they are.  Total bliss. 

You would think I was crazy if I told you the number of photos I took this weekend!  Let’s just say I am so glad I do not use film anymore…I would be in some serious trouble!  I just love to see what the camera captures…just a moment in time, just one moment saved forever.  I love seeing all the fun expressions the kids have and the funny things they do.  Photography is an AMAZING art form...the ability to preserve a moment, a glance, a smile, a tear.  Love it.

And then naturally out of that flows scrapbooking.  There are endless discussions about why people scrap…some do it to preserve memories, many people do it because they feel like they “should” do it, some people do it for the art, some for the fellowship.  I could list a bunch of reasons I do it but really, I scrap because I can’t NOT scrap.  Remember?  I tried to quit :)  I just NEED to do it...for me.  I used to be an avid journaler…I have years worth of memories recorded.  And although I wish I still did more of that (this blog is helping a bit) I am now journaling through my art, through my photos. I am recording the sights and feelings of the moments of our lives.  So wonderful. It is an amazing hobby and outlet for me and I have met some of the most wonderful people through it.   

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One of the great things I did this weekend was to organize my scrapping supplies.  My stuff was just total chaos reigning on my hard drives (yes, that is plural!)  I mean I had some order to it…most stuff was put away in folders my designers.  But really, it was just getting to the point that because there was so much of it and I didn’t know what was in there that I just used the same stuff over and over again and/or I just stuck to one kit.  I don’t mind scrapping with one kit, sometimes it is just the perfect and easy way to do a layout.  But it really doesn’t give me the chance to “play.”  I really am forced to use the designers form of expression.  They interpret colors or a theme and when I use just that kit I feel boxed in.  Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a lot of my pages that are 100% from a kit, but sometimes it just feels a little too easy and not enough fun.  So, I knew that I had to organize my stuff so I could put it to good use!  I tried doing this one about 10 months ago but it was useless.  I didn’t really get anywhere because I was trying to organize EVERYTHING I had.  But, there is no way I can organized over 50 gigs worth of stuff (and yes, that 50 gigs is AFTER my EHD crash last summer!) So, what I did was go through EVERY folder and pull out (well, copy) the elements that I could really see myself using again.  I then made a big elements folder and separated everything out (paint, alphas, stitching, etc).  So now, when I know I want a tag for a place on a LO but I don’t want to use the one or two I ALWAYS use because I know where they are, I just open my tag folder and WOW…so many options, things I would never have thought of . That one disadvantage of digi over paper scrapping…I can’t SEE everything I have (though, as true in almost all of life, the biggest advantages are often the biggest disadvantages…most of the time I love the fact that I can’t see the mess of stuff I have! LOL!) 

I still need to go through my papers…that won’t be too hard.  I won’t pull out patterned papers…just solids that I will use over and over.  So, after I did all this I decided I needed to scrap (remember those bazillion photos I took this weekend?)  It was so fun to start with a blank canvas, no kit I “had” to use, and to just start seeing a page come alive.  I felt so free and happy.  The creativity was all mine…not conformed to fit into what one designer was thinking when she created a kit.  I guess sometimes “kit pages” feel like cheating to me…so easy.  I love what I can do with them since there are soooo many talented designers out there but I guess after this past week I just needed to do something that was all me.

And this was the result…

Peek a boo papers by Tracy Ann Robinson, stitching by Ronna Penner, paint by Michelle Coleman, pop alpha by Holly McCaig, alpha beads by Kimberly Giarrusso, flowers by Meredith Fenwick, file tab by Amber Clegg, circle stitching by Lisa Carter, fonts are Century GOthic and Mom's typewriter.

I can't believe how OLD Levi is...where did my baby go??

Kraft and denim paper by Gina Cabrera, cardboard by Tracy Ann, circle stithcing by Dani Mogstad, stitched tab by Ann Dejong, "11" alpha by Hether Ann, tagboard photo frames by Birgit, staples by Meredith Fenwick, tab alpha by Jan Crowley, font is mom's typewriter.

Peek-a-boo paper by Tracy Ann (altered with the blue paper by Shabby Princess), stitched border by Michelle Coleman, paint by Michelle Coleman, priceless tag and stitched heart by Dani Mogstad, chipboard alphas by Gina Cabrera, alpha beads by Kimberly Giarrusso, note paper by Christy Lyle, font is SP Wonderful Wendy.

Papers by Gina Cabrera, paint by Michelle Coleman, stitched cirlce by Lisa Carter, paper tears by Steph Crush, alpha by Ronna Farrer, doodled frame (altered) and ribbons by Michelle Coleman, staple by Meredith Fenwick, journal paper (arrow) by Catrine, tagboard alpha by Birgit, note paper by Christy Lyle, font is misproject.

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Looks like I was in a kraft paper/cardboard kind-of mood this weekend.  That wasn't planned!  I did a few other pages, too, but they are for other projects so I can't show them yet :) 

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Well, I am off.  Alaina has gym and swim class while I lift weights and the boys go with Jason to an appointment. Then, who knows?  Maybe a picnic, maybe a bike ride, maybe time to scrap.  We’ll see.  I hope you have a fabulous day!

I would like to cry...

I was almost done typing this long (and if I can say so myself, humorous) post and I went to grab a the perfect picture to go with it and *POOF* my entry is gone.  Ugh.  Sometimes I love computers and technology and sometimes I just want to take a hammer to them.  So frustrating. 

Oh well, perhaps another day you will get to hear my humorous musings.  Instead, you will just get to read the fact that Jason has a four day weekend so I think we will head to Lincoln today and visit the Children's Museum, get some yummy Indian food, and make a stop at Target and Old Navy (yes, sadly we are over an hour from our nearest Target and Old Navy).

I am planning on bringing my laptop with me so I can continue working on cleaning out my scrapping folders...they are in desperate need of some clean up.  I had a moment yesterday when I thought my external hard drive was crashing on me (thankfully it wasn't) but it scared me into realizing that it was been way too long since I have done a back up and I need to remedy that!  But before I back up I want to clean up.  So, I will try to make good use of my time in the car.

Tomorrow I think I will have a working day...I have some new templates in the works and some other things I am trying to pull together for next week.

So, nothing too exciting.  However, I will show you what my little man is up to....for the past few weeks he has been pulling up a lot and learning to let go and stand up alone. The first time he did it I don't think he knew he was doing it.  But now he knows it and loves it. The other day we brought out the walking toy and the kid took off.  So last night we decided it was time for him to give his legs a chance to try the walking thing on their own. 

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Well, I am off!  Lots of fun stuff to do today and maybe a few emails to return.  I hope you day (and weekend) are wonderful.  I love CD Muckosky's little tag line...CHERISH THIS MOMENT, GIVE THANKS FOR THIS DAY.  Love it....

I made it...

What did I make it through you ask?  I made it through winter.  Spring is finally here and I couldn't be happier.  One of the big things that made me NOT want to move back to the States was enduring winter again.  Growing up I lived in Michigan and I really, really hated winter.  I hate the cold and the grey and snow and ice and slush and total yuck.  Mostly I just hate the cold.  I hated it, but I had never experienced anything different.

Then we spent three years in India and winter quickly became a thing of the past.  We lived way up in the mountains so we weren't suffering from the terrible Indian heat but we weren't freezing either.  I suppose I missed snow on Christmas morning (our first Christmas in India was spent on the beach) but that was about it.  I didn't miss winter AT ALL.  Then we moved to Colorado where I was pleasantly surprised at how mild winter was.  All my thoughts of Colorado previously involved lots of snow so I was thrilled to find the snow making room for sun and mild temperatures.  Our Colorado winter was great.  It would get cold and snow for a few days and then it would warm up, the snow would melt, and we could loose the heavy coats for a few days.  Not ideal, but better than Michigan where the snow comes and takes up permanent residence.  The other WONDERFUL thing about our Colorado winter was SUN.  Oh glorious sun.  For all you Michigan people reading this you understand how AWFUL Michigan winters are.  You can go WEEKS without seeing the sun.  When we went to visit that year we were in Colorado we were there for ten days and saw the sun ONCE.  Ugh.  Winter and cold is bad enough but to never see the sun goes great lengths to explain my depression growing up.

So, one year in Colorado and then we were off to tropical Malaysia for two years.  Talk about hot.  Hot, hot, hot. And sweaty. And sunny.  Definitely no winter.  I probably would prefer it not quite that hot but I will take hot over cold any day.

And now we are here in Nebraska (oh my, did I admit that?  Sorry to you Nebraskans who read this blog, you all are great but all in all I can't say I'm a big fan of the state and actually find myself embarrassed to say I live here! When we told people we were moving here they couldn't repeat it without a smirk or a chuckle).  Anyway, we moved to Nebraska and I was forced to endure another winter.  Now on a spectrum Nebraska winters (or at least this one) falls somewhere between Michigan and Colorado.  Much closer to Colorado though.  So, it has been cold but the sun comes out most days and we really only had one big storm (and we missed most of it) so I have endured.  We had one week of terribly cold temperatures (below zero -- that's Fahrenheit, people!) and I just holed up inside for a few days until I saw the sun again and the thermometer found its way back to around 30 -- my cut off point for venturing beyond my front door.

Well, I endured it.  I made it.  Spring is officially here and although I know it will still be cold but the calendar says it's spring so I say it is spring.  And I LOVE spring.  I love the surprising warm days. I love the flowers.  I love to watch the trees bud.  I love to hear the birds return.  And I love all that spring brings to celebrate.  Our family has 4 birthdays in a one month period (mine, Jason's, Levi's, and Caleb's.) Easter is coming.  And all things new.  I love new.

So, to celebrate the first day of spring the kids and I enjoyed a few hours outside in our front yard yesterday.  Nothing planned, just riding bikes, and reading, and hopscotch, and taking pictures, and playing in the sun, and talking, and cuddling, and tickling.  Just enjoying each other and the weather.  So fun.

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When I was posting about stitching the other day I totally forgot one of my favorite stitching packs!  Sometimes when you need a dirtied up page or just want something a little different I love to go to my loose stitching pack by Syrin at Catscrap.  LOVE this set.  So realistic!

I also was able to get the preview for the Lisa Carter stitches I love

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I scrapped the other day.  I don't like either of these pages but oh well.  Sometimes you like what you do and other days nothing works.  You just have to push through.   I will probably redo them both at some point.

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Well, I hope you enjoy your day.  Enjoy spring (if it has made it to you yet).  For all of you Aussies and Kiwis, let me just say I am sorry.  I am sorry that your summer is over and winter is looming.  So very, very sorry.  :)

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ETA:  Don't forget!  ABC changed their schedule and Grey's Anatomy IS new tonight even though it was supposed to be a repeat!  YEA for Thursday!

Since I know I won't have time to post in the monring...

I am doing a late night post.  It is 10:00 and while I should be thinking about going to bed I am sitting here at my computer instead, waiting for my breadmaker to finish its thing so I can get on to making some yummy cinnamon rolls.  I LOVE making homemade cinnamon rolls but don't do it very often now that I am not cooking for a dorm of 14 + our crew.  Well, let me rephrase that.  I can't say I LOVE making them. I don't mind and I am always so proud when they are done because they look soooo good, but in all honestly what I really love is to eat them :)  Unfortunately, these aren't for me though.  I am getting together with some gals from our church (well, I am the lowly tagalong) and I thought I would come bearing gifts.  I am still on weight watchers and I really don't feel like giving all my points for the day to a bug yummy gooey hot-from-the-oven cinnamon roll.  I may change my mind in the morning but tonight I am standing strong :)

I make the dough the night before and roll 'em up and then let them rise overnight.  Then I just pop them in the oven and make the icing and then voila!  Homemade Cinnabon Cinnamon rolls.  Mmmmm...

So anyway, I have to be out of the house by 9:30 tomorrow morning and I need to have all three kiddos dressed and me showered, etc and I just don't see the time to blog fitting into that schedule.  So, you get me tonight :)

In all honesty, I don't have much to say.  I could talk about the mom at the fitness center tonight who I can see has totally lost control of her family...four or five times she told her 3/4 year old to get out of the pool and four or five times her daughter said no.  The mom then threatened to leave her there (why oh WHY would you threaten your kids with something you would NEVER do?)  Anyway, I could talk about that and all my feelings and how my heart just goes out to that mom and how I just want to buy her a cup of coffee and tell her it doesn't have to be that way. But, most people don't want unsolicited advice so I refrain.  Then and  now.

So, since I didn't have anything all that interesting to share I thought I would share some of my go-to dig products -- the ones I love and use over and over and over.  I really need to actually make myself a folder of these so I am not constantly digging them out of other stuff but I just never seem to get around to it.  So consider this a little peek into my favorites...and just so you know, I am SURE I will forget something.  It is after 10!

Okay, first up, stitching.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE stitching.  I rarely do a LO without it.  It just adds that perfect little extra something to a LO.  Love it!  So, my fav's...I have used Shabby Princess's stitching since she first came out with it over a year ago. It is simple, but I like it when I am looking for a very thin thread-like look.

Recently, I have been using a TON of Lisa Whitney's fabulous stitching.  Love the realistic look to it!

I also really like Meredith Fenwick's Stitchorama.  I would link you up but it doesn't look like she has moved it over to SBG yet.  I am sure it will be there soon.  Love it!

I also use (okay, OVERuse) Michelle Coleman's stitching from her LIGHTER SHADES OF PALE kit.  I love it.  It is a wavy double stitched border.  I use it all the time...

And finally, I love Shabby Princess's stitched border from her SPLENDID kit.  I've used it a ton! You can't see it really well here, but I'll post it anyway.

So, those are my favorite stitching sets.  I use others from time to time but those are my go to sets. 

Oh wait!  I must give you one more...it is my fav circle stitching.  It is by Lisa Carter at Digital Scrapbooking Place.  I really like these, though I will say that she designs in 200 dpi which I know turns some people off.  But, her stitches are fabulous in any case :) Okay, well, I was going to post a preview and a link but it is taking FOREVER so just trust me, her "Keep 'em in stitches" collection is fabulous!

So, that's it on stitching.  Maybe another day I will give you more favorites.  I will admit, I really don't shop that much for digi supplies.  I get quite a bit from creative teams so I stay stocked that way. It's not that I don't WANT to get more, but since I am trying to help support my family with my scrapping I have a hard time justifying spending what I make :)  But every once in a while I splurge and get some new stuff.  I was really hoping to pick up some new stuff at the Scrapartist sale this past weekend. I even filled my cart. And then I FORGOT to check out!  UGH!  Oh well, maybe next time!

Well, my bread machine just beeped which means it is time for me to say goodnight (and goodbye) until Thursday,  I hope you all have a fabulous day tomorrow.  I am looking forward to some adult conversation and the chance for the kiddos to get out and play with other kids. 

I should have saved some of those layouts...

...because today I have nothing to show you!  I had hoped to do a little scrapping yesterday and DID work on a few scrapping related projects but I didn't really do any pages.  I should have...I had the whole house to myself for a few hours while Jason took the kids to the doctor.  I am not sure what I did during that time...nothing overly productive :)  I did get the house picked up and finally totally disabled my store at the Digi Shoppe, so I guess I did do something. Just no scrapping.  I'll have to rectify that today :)

So, Jason took the kids to the doctor yesterday because I just needed some time along.  I am a true introvert. I know the whole concept of introverts is pretty misunderstood by the general population.  Introverts aren't necessarily shy or loners.  Introverts just really need time to recharge ALONE.  While they love to be with people (especially in smaller, more intimate groups) it is emotionally and physically draining and the only way to recharge is to have time alone.

I am not a moderate introvert.  I am a tried and true 100% introvert.  If I do not get alone time I get irritable, frustrated, and really emotional.  So some days I just get to the point where I think I am going to explode if I do not get away (or be left) by myself.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I dearly love my family and I LOVE to spend time with them but sometimes I just realize that I will be a better mom if I get some alone time. If I get some QUIET.  I am starting to realize I sort of have some sensory issues -- the constant noise of kids and TV and radio and talking etc sometimes just sends me over the edge.  So when everyone leaves the first thing I do is turn off all the noise and enjoy a perfectly quiet house.  So that is what I did yesterday...enjoyed the peaceful quiet and recharged all my my lonesome self.

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Levi needed shots and Caleb needed to have the inflamed part of his cheek near his ear looked at again.  They haven't been able to tell us what it was.  At first she thought it might be mumps.  Then she said it was just a virus.  But after a month of it not going down they decided to do an ultrasound (if I had know they were going to do that I would have gone.)  The doctor called later in the afternoon and told me that the radiologist thinks it is something (that I can't tell you because I don't have the slightest idea how to spell it) that is just a collection of enlarged blood vessels.  Apparently they go through growth periods and then will go down.  Unfortunately, the radiologist ins only 95% sure that is what it is so we have to go back in three months (or sooner if it gets worse) and do another ultrasound and possible a CAT scan to make sure it isn't a tumor.  Luckily I am not a freaking out kind of mom, so I am handling all this pretty well, but I am not sure I like the idea of waiting three months. I may get a second opinion.

Anyway, after the family go home we had a pizza picnic on the living room floor (we love those!) and then played a little outside.  Then Alaina really wanted to play Monopoly (quite an experience with a four year old!) and then it was time for the bedtime routine.

So, all in all, nothing too exciting but a nice day nonetheless.  Today it is back to work for Jason and back to work for me...have a bunch of things on my to-do list to check off.  And tomorrow I will share some fun news with you (totally not scrapbook related).

Hope you have a great day!

It's Monday again!

Another weekend done….they go fast, don’t they?  I spend all week looking forward to them and then get so lost in the m that Sunday night appears out of nowhere and I am always shocked.  I must admit I love the fact that Jason is usually off on Monday’s so we  still have another day to spend together but  still, when Monday rolls around I start winding up for a new week.

In any case, even if Monday does come fast, I really enjoy the weekends.  This weekend was no exception.  On Friday I was just so relieved to be done with my move to Scrapbook Graphics!  I am really glad I did it (I am already LOVING it over there!) but the move just took a lot of time and energy. I still have some loosed ends to tie up but all in all I am moved in and getting settled.  The ladies (both designers and the Studio Crew) are just so amazing.  Like I told them, that song from the movie Annie has been running through my head all weekend …“I think I’m gonna like it here…”

And in case you didn’t see it in this weeks Skinny Mini from SBG, check out this fun promotion I have going on this week!

Yep, for every $10 spent in my store at SBG you will be entered for a chance to win an all-access pass to my shop!  Plus, two people will win a $15 gift card!  So stop on by and see my new home!  I will post the winner here on my blog and in the SBG forums!

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Okay, quick weekend recap!  Friday morning was spent doing a little of this and a little of that for the shop.  Then I KNEW I just had to get away and be with the kiddos.  So, I first took them to gymnastics and I did my shopping and then we all went out to lunch.  So good to just hang out with them…love those little people!  Friday night was Alaina’s preschool performance in the elementary school musical. They had to recite Mark 9:35.  So cute…she looked so adorable up there on stage!  We stayed for half the musical but the boys were not doing well so we left at intermission.  While we were there Levi enjoyed cruising up and down the bleachers…so proud of himself for how fast he can do it!

Jason worked most of Saturday so I was at home getting caught up with some stuff, running, and spending some extra time with Caleb. Saturday night, when all the kiddos were in bed and the house was quiet, it was finally time for me to scrap.  It had just been SO LONG!  I just knew I needed to sit down and create something, to enjoy the process and the feeling that comes with it.  I was a little afraid that nothing would come to me but I was pleasantly surprised when the pages just started flowing out.  Felt so good…like releasing something inside of me.

Credits can be seen HERE

Credits can be seen HERE

Credits can be seen HERE

credits can be seen HERE

Haven't posted this one yet.  I used Michelle Coleman's GENUINE SPIRIT kit which is a DigiShopTalk Gold Member exclusive kit.  I also used Michelle's stitches from her Boho CHic kit at Scrapartist.

I used anothe quick page by Juliet at Catscra for this one.  So fun!

I'm not sure what think of this next one yet.  I may not be done.  I was playing around...

All sorts of stuff here...papers by Shabby MIss Jenn from her MIA'S ROOM kit.  Flowers by Ang Dejong at Funky Playgorund, Birgit at Catscrap, Natalie Braxton at the Lily Pad, and Shabby Princess at the Shabby Shoppe.  Stitches by Lisa Whtiney at Scrapartist. Paint and fabric swatch by Michelle Coleman.

And one more

Papers and stitching by Shabby Princess, tag by Michelle Coleman

I can’t tell you how good it felt to scrap!  Yea!  Now I just can’t let it go so long again!

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Sunday was church and then home for lunch.  We had planned to go to the fitness center in the afternoon but I was just going stir crazy.  Although I thrive on routine and predictability I ALSO like to change things up every once in a while.  I go nuts with the same food, same activities, same everything for weeks on end.  So I was just really needing a change. So instead of working out and swimming we decided to drive to go look at the Sandhill Cranes that flock to the area.  We went to a nature center and then just drove around looking in the fields.  95% of their diet comes from eating the broken corn in the fields.  It was fun to just experience this little bit of Nebraska.

After the bird watching we decided to try a new restaurant and went to Texas T-Bone, one of those steak places where you can throw your peanut shells on the floor.  We had a place like that in Malaysia so it was quite nostalgic for the kids and once Caleb got the hang of which part of the peanut to eat and which to throw, we all had a great time.  Alaina inhaled her steak (as usual) and Caleb seemed to think that there was nothing more fun than spreading his own butter on his bread. Good times.

Today it is Gym and Swim for Alaina (while I lift), doctor’s appointments for the boys (they both need shots) and  then just some yummy family time.  There are loads of laundry to be done and I have some things that are in mid-project that need to be finished up.  All in all should be a good day!

Thanks for stopping  by and reading my ramblings!  I really appreciate all of you who stop in and especially those who leave comments.  I love to know who is here reading!  Oh, and Scrappy, I would love to know who you are!  I always try to reply to your comments but the email always bounces back!

Have a fabulous Monday and remember that spring is just a few days away.  Can’t wait.