This is My life

Totally Titleless...

It's funny.  All through the day a thought comes to me and I think, "that will be my blog post tomorrow."  Then life goes on and other fun things happen and I think of more titles.  And then I find my way to my blog the next morning and I can't think of anything.  Maybe it is because many mornings, my coffee is not fully ingested.  I really need the stuff.  Really, really do.

Well, since we are talking about coffee, maybe I will just keep with that theme.  I've got things to share about coffee. I could ramble on for a long time (I will try not to, though). Man!  Coffee is such a part of my life that as I sit here a bazillion stories come flooding through my mind.  Keep it short, Janet.  These people have places to go and things to do.

Okay, how it all began....

I started drinking coffee when I was eight or nine.  I don't know for sure.  We were living in East Lansing (MI) at the time and my brother and sister (4 and 5 years older than me) got a paper route.  At some point my brother must have quit because I started delivering papers.  Not a pretty sight!  I had to get up at 5:00 and count the papers to make sure I had enough for my route.  Getting up at 5:00am is NOT fun, or easy, so I started having half a cup of coffee each morning.  My parents have always been morning coffee drinkers so it really wasn't a surprise that I would be too.  I think I stuck to the half a mug a day for quite a while.

Next thing I remember is high school, and my complete obsession with coffee.  At one point I was having the equivalent of 8 regular mug-sized coffees a day.  I had one when I got up.  I got a 20oz coffee on the way to school (I had independent study art for the first two periods so I was allowed to have a drink).  I had another 20oz after school, and then I would have a few regular cups into the evening as I talked on the phone and pretended to do my homework.  Don't worry, I've cut down since then.

High school is when I started loving coffee shops, too.  Remember, coffee shops weren't a big thing back then.  In our big college town there was one, called Express Royal.  It was downtown, so I didn't go very much.  But then they built one on my side of town called the Cappuccino Cafe.  It was the first of probably a hundred in the area now.  As I was telling someone this weekend, so much of my life happened in that place.  Good talks.  Good laughs.  Coffee with people I loved.  Break-ups with people I love.  Blind dates. New friends.  Running into old friends. That place IS high school for me.  Want to see it now?

Yep.  When I went on Saturday to take pictures of places that were a big part of me growing up, Cappuccino Cafe was a must!  We were even planning on meeting my sister and mom and a family friend there.  We pulled in and saw this sad, sad sight.  I can't believe it is gone!  I feel like a piece of me is gone!

So, GO!  Go take pictures of the places that are important to you or important to your kids.  Preserve it now, while it is still there. One of the things I feel strongly about is saving and telling the stories for our kids when they are too young to do it for themselves.  Do you know how much I WISH I had a picture of the place when it was still open?  All I have is a picture of me wearing the t-shirt in St. Kitts (they gave you a free coffee if you wore the shirt and took pictures of it in another country).

Okay, so back to coffee.  How 'bout a bullet point session of random coffee facts (as they pertain to me!)

** I do NOTHING before my coffee in the morning. The kids know to wait until mom has had coffee before they ask me for things.

** I ALWAYS finish my first cup of coffee.  The subsequent cups often get left with coffee covering the bottom of the cup. Don't know why I do this.

** Currently, I am trying to be good with about 3 cups a day.  One when I get up, one at 10:30, and one around two.  Coffee out with friends or the hubby don't count :)

** I take sweetener and creamer in my coffee. I hate sugar in my coffee.

** I don't like leftover coffee.  If it has been sitting for a few hours, I dump it out and make a new pot.

** When I am driving, I like gas station coffee.  It's BAD coffee, I know, but I guess I am conditioned to the taste.  Driving = gas station coffee.

** I collect coffee cups, though I have gotten rid of a lot lately.  I used to buy any cup I liked, anything I thought was pretty.  But no one needs 100 different coffee mugs so now I just buy ones that have significance.  I have cups for every place we have been and significant thing we have done.  Oh wait!  I did a LO last summer on my cups.  Let me see if I can find it...

Some of the special ones...

Okay, and since we have talked about coffee for way to long (and I hadn't planned on any of that), I will end this monologue with one coffee funny.

The other day, I was struggling with stress and impatience.  Being aware of "whining" (see THIS post) I told Alaina I was sorry if I wasn't in a good mood, mom was just having a hard day.  You know what she said to me? 

"Well have you had your coffee yet??"

LOL!  Sorry, dear.  As much as I LOVE my coffee and it DOES help me to function, it is not the magic cure-all for bad days (but oh how I wish it was!)

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So, I promised you some pictures from our day at the zoo!  It was so much fun!  Here are few fun ones...

Sweet Alaina

My two little love birds :)

My nephew Ashton...

Doesn't this look like a BABY BJORN ad??  This is my sweet little nephew Cole

Me and my mom

Me and little Levi

The whole gang

My mom with Alaina and Caleb

My sister with sleeping Cole

These two were totally cracking us up.  They (two TOTAL first borns, were hamming it up and insisting we take more pictures.  I can see why the experts don't recommend two first borns getting married!

And then these just make me laugh. I had my 50mm lens on so Jason had to stand farther back (who needs to see my double chin and chubby arms up close??)  The kids just kept jumping in and out of the pictures.  It was hilarious!  In any case, that is me with my mom and sister (one of them...I have another one who is a dark-haired beauty!)

And here is a page I scrapped of the day!

background paper by SP, DAY AT THE ZOO monograms also by SP

And one more page for you!

Credits can be seen HERE

Have a great day!  I WILL be back tomorrow but Thursday and Friday I am officially on vacation!

The plans keep changing...

No big deal, really, I just have no idea what we are doing today.  We had a big long plan all figured out with Jason's parents.  But Jason's mom hurt her foot last night so that plan is off.  No idea what the new plan is or who it involves.  It changes.  About every ten minutes.  So until it is all figured out, I will just sit here, happy on my computer, waiting for someone to tell me I need to be somewhere :)

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Good weekend.  Busy, but good.  We spent Saturday in Lansing taking pictures of places where I lived and grew up.  Then we had lunch and then met my sister and her family and my mom at the zoo.  It was quite the experience!  LOL!  Seven kids, age 7 and under, five adults...craziness I tell you!  But it was fun and I think everyone had a good time.  Hopefully I can post some more pictures tomorrow, but here is a sweet one of my nephew.

Sunday was church, then I got some work done in the afternoon.  Finished up some templates sets (see below) and then we picked up one of those $5 pizzas at Little Ceasars and took the kids to the park.  It was good to get out, enjoy the beautiful weather.

Jason also picked up a new 500gb hard drive for me. My 250 is almost full (don't laugh!) and my laptop's 120 is full too.  The plan is to purge, organize, then move everything from the 250 over to my 500.  Then, I am going to leave the 250 here at Jason's parents house so I can have an off-site backup of everything.  I have been bad and have been pulling some stuff off my laptop and onto my 250.  But then, it is ONLY on the 250 so if something happens to it, I would lose everything.  Can't stand that feeling.  So I need to do all that -- today!

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Okay, new templates sets.  I was going to release new stuff on Friday but then I realized that we are going to be out of town and as hard as it is for me, I am REALLY going to try to be on vacation -- no blogging (sorry!), no work stuff.  My family just really needs me to focus.  *I* need me to focus.  We leave on Wednesday and will be back Sunday. Going to see some good friends of ours AND I get to meet miss sweetheart MandaKay!

I had fun with these template sets and can't wait to scrap more with them!

And here are two pages I did with them (both using the new Shabby Princess kit, RUMMAGE CHIC

(I also used Tracy Ann's peek-a-boo grunge paper as the background on this one)

You can grab the sets HERE and just for my blog readers, here is a coupon for 25% these sets (and anything else in the shop), good for today only!

juneeleven

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Well, as much as I could sit here and gab all day, lots to do (once I figure out what the plan is!)  I have a list a mile long of things I *should* be working on.  Wish my luck!  LOL!  Have a great Monday!

Sorry, cuddling trumps blogging :)

And so does sleeping.  And apparently camera bag shopping.

I slept in until almost 9:00 this morning, which would be heavenly, and WAS better than getting up at 6:30 with Alaina, but since I didn't go to SLEEP until 2:00, seven hours is good but not great.  It will do, though.

Then, up to get some coffee.  Gave Caleb a kiss good morning and he let me (see below for Caleb and his anti-love campaign.)  So I got some coffee, came in, and snuggled and read to Caleb for quite a while.  Then I came upstairs and found out that Jessica Claire has finally launched her Shootsac website. So I spent almost an hour going back and forth, back and forth about a bag.  LOVE the bags...they didn't have the cover I wanted...NEED a bag of SOME sort...really expensive...could use it for other things...isn't actually meant to hold the CAMERA itself...I rarely buy things for myself...don't really need a lens bag...blah blah blah.  Then I went and drooled over the Donna Downey bags I REALLY want (but aren't being made until fall, and then won't be ready until the holidays.)  Back to Shootsac.  My poor camera needs a home and my LowPro fannybag type camera bag, while nice, is NOT what I want.  Ugh. Ugh.  Off to Etsy to look at the custom bags there. Don't look like they are good quality (the custom SLR ones).  Drooling over Shootsac some more.  ENOUGH.

Logged into DST to load a LO, took too long, no patience this morning, popped in chatter and what do I see, a  thread about Shootsacs. Darn it! I tried to let it go!  See a word I remember, Crumpler, off to look.  Not exactly cute, but really functional.  Will keep my camera and lenses safe and hold the extras.  Price isn't too bad.  Can't wait until Christmas for a camera bag.  Hmmm, not getting ANYTHING done this morning.  Make a decision, Janet.  You don't NEED a Shootsac.  It is a bag for LENSES.  It isn't meant for regular storage of camera gear (will get creased, the website says).  Throwing your camera in your purse (which I need a new one of, too, but that's another long and boring monologue) is not the answer. Ugh.  Okay, a Crumpler it is. A Five Million Dollar Crumpler.  Good for me, good for Jason, will fill in the gap until a Donna Downey bag is in my hot little hands. One project done this morning.  And it is only 11:00.  Where are all the fun smilies when you need them. Is there one for a very frazzled and haggard looking face?  (just look in the mirror, Janet.)

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Okay, back to Caleb.  He is a pretty affectionate boy. Not like Alaina, who is WILLING and doesn't MIND cuddling, kissing, etc.  Caleb actually NEEDS affection.  He definitely has the love language of physical touch.  Problem is, he is doesn't like to let on that he needs and wants touch.  Usually when he needs it he will just run and tackle me and then just lay there getting the hugs and cuddles he needs.  But lately, every time I try to kiss him or hug him or tickle him he just says, "No ma! No ma kiss!  No ma hug!  No ma tickle!"  I ask for kisses and he pushes me away.  Now, this is not in a mean spirited way.  I don't put up with that.  But he lets me know that he isn't giving kisses out.  The thing is, he wants them, but he has some weird thing going on.  Anyway, this morning when I came downstairs I gave him a kiss on the cheek and said good morning.  Then, as I was about to continue on my way to the coffee pot, he stands up and is ready to jump.  He leaps into my arms and wraps his chubby little arms around me and gives me the biggest squeeze.  NOTHING like it in the world.  Who can resist the love-filled squeezes of the little man in your life (have to admit, even better than the love-filled squeezes of the big man in my life ;) So I get my coffee and come sit next to him and ask if he wants a book.  He runs to the stash and he cuddles up real close and we read and snuggle and love on each other.  See, one of my love languages is physical touch, too, so we are good for each other. So sorry, snuggling definitely trumps blogging.

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And now since it is almost 11:30 and I have accomplished very little in my day (and somehow my coffee cup keeps emptying itself!) I will say good-bye for the day (and weekend).  Busy couple of days ahead.  Work today (sooo much to do!), the zoo with my sister and her family and my mom (who flew in from Montana) tomorrow. We are meeting up in the Lansing area, where I grew up, and I plan to take pictures of all my childhood places (homes, schools, special places, etc). Should be good.  Sunday is church and family time, Monday we are heading to see Jason's grandmother who is quite sick, then on to IKEA (Jason's mom wants to go), to an Indian restaurant for lunch, and then back home.  Busy, but good. 

One LO for you today...did this one at about midnight last night :)

SP OCCASIONS kit pink jewels also by SP, frames by Nancy Comelab, alpha beads by Kimberly Giarusso, Teacher's Pet alpha by Lauren Reid, some drop shadows by Traci Murphy.

Have a great weekend!

It can all happen so fast...

One of things that the kids have loved most about being and grandma and grandpa's is that they can play outside all the time (apparently the cold temperatures and sunless skies do not affect them).  There is a fenced in backyard and there is a nice driveway for them to play on.  We have the van parked half way down so that the little munchkins can see their boundaries. They are really good about playing and while we are usually out there, we feel comfortable leaving them to play for a bit (the two older ones).

One of the other things that the kids love about being here is Buster, the dog.  Buster is a fluffy, fun dog and the kids love him.  This trip, Caleb has especially bonded with him.  For a while the other day Caleb and Buster were just sitting in the driveway, Caleb in his chair, Buster beside him.  It looked like a lonely old man and his dog :)  Caleb is a very loving and protective kid, so the bond with a dog seems only natural.

Well yesterday, we were inside.  Jason's dad was sleeping (he works nights), his mom and Alaina were out to the store, Levi was in his high chair, and Caleb was playing. Jason and I spent a few minutes on the couch talking (it is so rare to find time to do that!) After a few minutes I told Jason that I needed to go check on the boys.  I went into the kitchen to find Levi happily eating his cucumbers (he LOVES them!) but I didn't see Caleb anywhere.  I peeked outside, then looked through the house.  No Caleb.  I actually went outside to see if he had let himself out but still no Caleb. No Buster either.  I was starting to get a little worried.  I was pretty sure Caleb was inside still so I did a thorough search of the house.  No Caleb.  If he was hiding, he would have giggled when I called his name.  Silence.  I ran downstairs to tell Jason he was NOT in the house.  Back outside to call him.  Nothing.  Jason jumped on his bike to ride down the street. I did one more fast search through the house and then I grabbed Levi and started heading down the street.  I was really scared but was trying to trust my deep maternal instincts that he was OKAY. I walked a few doors down, calling his name.  Then I hear a woman say, "Is that the mom."  I run to the voice and see my little Caleb, tears in his eyes, holding the hand of a kind stranger. They were at another white house, three doors down, knocking on the door.  The lady told me that she found him and he told her that was the house.  Well, he probably pointed since he doesn't talk that much.  He seemed relieved to see me but was still crying. "Buster, Buster.."  Apparently, Buster had wandered away and Caleb was trying to bring him home.  Buster is stubborn, though, and wouldn't come when Caleb called him. I picked up Caleb, thanked the woman profusely, and then called Buster.  We all walked home, greeting by one very happy dad.  Later we learned that although Buster rarely leaves home, every once in a while he tries to be rebellious and walks through the backyards of the nearby houses.  That's why we didn't see Caleb when we first looked down the street.

It can all happen so fast.  We were very, very fortunate.  My instincts told me that he was okay, but there was the chance that I was wrong.  My little boy could have been gone.  I don't worry as much about him going into the street, he is good about that.  I worry about the sickos of the world who think it is okay to take a kid off the street.

The problem is, we didn't even KNOW he went outside.  And we had no idea he would try to take care of Buster.  A mother's nightmare.  The other bad part is his speech problems.  When he was getting tested last month and they asked me what my goals for his speech was, I told them, "I want Caleb to be able to communicate clearly to me and to others what his needs are."  The lady that found him told me that she asked what the dogs name was so that she could call him, but she didn't understand what Caleb was saying.  He can't even tell people his name. Now THAT is scary.  His language is improving EVERY day and I know in a few months we will be in a much better place, but for now, it is a cause for worry. 

Caleb seemed remarkable unaffected by the incident.  Once Buster agreed to follow us home he was happy.  I don't think he ever though of himself as lost.  He just wanted the dumb dog to follow him.

What a day.

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Since lots of you have been asking, both in comments and in emails.  My sister's EBAY name is blessing4sure and a link to her auctions is HERE. She can do ANYTHING.  Really, she is truly an amazing artist and anything you can dream up she can do.  Do note that the prices are PER LETTER, not per name :)  And although she sells letters specifically, she can paint just about anything.  Actually, she used to do mainly murals in peoples homes. But the letters are much nicer for her so she can do it from home with her four little ones.

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Just one picture for you today...

When I was younger and imagined myself with a daughter, I had a picture in my head of this blond little girl with two braids and a hoodie sweatshirt (I live in my hoodies).  The other day, Alaina came into my room, no hoodie but a sweatshirt, two braids, and the image of the little girl I have had in my head for so long was standing right in front of me.  I didn't get a picture right then, but I did get one a bit later (and probably two or three outfits later). Too bad the picture wasn't better (it was really dark in the room).  Here she is, a figment of my imagination :)

Happy Thursday!  My day is going to be GOOD...fun exciting stuff happening for "work" and then tonight is date night!  Yea!  Jason and I have been out ONCE in the last five months, and that is when Jason's parents were visiting.  In Malaysia, we went out once a WEEK so we are seriously due for some couple time!  We will eat dinner here with the kids (hey, it's pizza night!) and then we might see a movie (it has been over a year since we have been to a movie).  Then coffee, or a bit of shopping.  Just being together.  Can't wait!

There is sun in my eyes...

...and that is a GOOD thing.  It may be COLD outside, but at least the sun decided to show its face.  I feel so much happier and light hearted when the sun is out -- makes everything just seem so much better. Makes me happy. Yea.

So, a few people have asked what exactly it is that I am trying to accomplish this summer. Am I doing personal stuff?  Am I working on templates?  Etc. The answer is yes.  I am doing a LOT of different things. 

For "work" stuff (template stuff) I will be working on creating a bunch of new templates sets AND finishing/working on a bunch of template ideas that I have had for a long time but just have not had the time to finish.  The possibilities with templates are endless but I just need the dedicated time to try some things out. I will also be "stockpiling" template packs for later in the summer when we move to Florida and start working.  I don't imagine myself as having a lot of time the first month or so of work, but I want to continue to put out new products. 

Other "work" stuff -- I have been making quick pages for a few designers and I will continue doing that.  It actually takes quite a while -- part of it is that I try to make the style of the page fit the style of the kit, and it is sometimes hard to work with a different style than what comes naturally for me (whatever that is!  LOL!)  I finished a bunch yesterday and I have some more to do today.

I also have some BIG ideas rolling around up in my head.  New ideas, new ventures, all equally exciting.  The problem is, I don't have time for it all and I really don't know what my time will look like in Florida.  I obviously don't want to start something that I can't finish, so I keep debating what it is that I want to do.  I am a DREAMER...I can dream up so many things, so many creative things, but I have to pick and choose.  Maybe I should flip a coin!  LOL!

As for personal (scrapping) stuff -- I really want to work on my scrapping this summer.  I have some pages that I really want to do, pages I need to do.  I want to stretch myself and learn to be true to the style of scrapper I am.  I am still trying to figure out who I am as a scrapper and how that translates onto a page.  I have been feeling a little dissatisfied with my scrapping lately and I want to figure out why and break out of it.  So I want to try some new things...maybe break out the hybrid supplies, be more free.  We'll see.  It is all a delicate balance of time.

So there you have it, in a VERY small nutshell.  My list is VERY long and I honestly don't have that much time to do it.  I have a week now, and then we go to visit friends for 5 days, then we have another week, then one last weekend with family, then three days to Florida, then three weeks to get settled and for me to work, then CHA in Chicago, and then the next day we start work.  Phew. I need to prioritize and find BALANCE.

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Alaina really "stuck it to me" the other day.  I was out with my sister and her family -- Jason was still gone so I had all three of my kids, one who REALLY needed a nap, and two that were just wound up.  Add in four kids of my sister's, put us in a restaurant, and I was struggling.  The kids wanted to get up, I have strict rules about behavior when we are out, Levi is dropping food on the floor, Caleb is fighting with a kid from the next table over a mirror on the wall, and then Alaina asks me something.  I said something back to her, something like, "Alaina, can you just WAIT a minute, I have to do this and this and this.."  And she looks at me and says, "Mom, you are WHINING.  We don't whine in our family.  Remember?"  And she was right!  LOL!  Mom was whining and while the whining seemed justified, our kids will follow what we do, not what we say. Good lesson :)

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One page for today...

Meridith Fenwick's WRESTLESS paper pack, cardboard overlay by Linda GB, stitches by Syrin

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Hope your Wednesday is happy and sunny!  (And congrats to all our Dalat friends on making it through another year!  You can take a deep breath now!)

WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!

I have wireless again and I am ONE HAPPY LADY! This is a good thing... I was a woman on the verge of tears this morning as I had to keep going back and forth from my computer with my portable EHD to my in-laws totally messed-up computer and then back again, etc. etc. etc.

Man, life before interent.  Life before wireless.  I never want to go back :)

Hope your Tuesday is going good!  I am being productive! Yea!

Does Michigan really hate sun?

Growing up in Michigan, I guess I never realized that the sun doesn't like to come out.  I endured years and years of ugly grey skies, cold, cold winters, and then when the sun DID come out, so did the mosquitos.  I guess I didn't mind it all that much because I didn't realize that not everyone lived like this.

Then, when I moved to Colorado, I realized that in some states, the sun comes out a LOT.  Even when it is winter, the sun still shines?  I swore at that point that I would never return to live in Michigan. I LOVE Michigan, I really do, but live in a place where the sun doesn't shine?  No thank you.  When we were living in Colorado we came to Michigan for ten days.  We saw the sun ONE afternoon the entire time we were here.  And now that I have been back in Michigan for five days, I think the sun has been out one day.  It has either been raining or just the characteristic Michigan grey yucky skies.  Just blah. Nothing.  And now I realized that perhaps the depression I struggled with most of my teen years really did correspond with the years in Michigan and Indiana (for college). I think the sun is good for my health.  So come on, come visit me Mr. Sun.  Make my room where I am working this summer bright and happy and warm.  Please.

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Day one of my working schedule didn't quite go as planned.  Not bad, just didn't get nearly as much done as I had hoped.  But, I always have really high goals and expectations and rarely meet them.  But it is okay...I took a nap, hung out with the family, and got a bunch of scrapbook pages half done (very unlike me to start a page and not finish). I also cleaned out a bunch of junk on my computer, got my "office/studio" set up and all my stuff unpacked.  I also got caught up on some emails (not all) and made a master to-do list for the summer. I have so many things I would like to accomplish. But I have to be okay with not getting everything done.  It is also important that I take time to relax, to be with my family, to read my Bible, to take walks, to just live.  It will be a good couple of weeks.

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So, a few pictures for you...

When I was at my sister's house I took a few pictures of her and her family.  I would have done more but as I mentioned earlier, the weather did not see the need to cooperate.  It was also my nephew Ashton's third birthday so I got to celebrate a bit with them.  Good times.

I also helped my sister with some product photos. I mentioned before that she is selling her custom hand-painted letters on Ebay.  I helped take some pictures and then I made a product preview template for her.  Here are a few I did.

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And here are some pictures of our last morning in Nebraska...

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Hope you all have a WONDERFUL Tuesday. And don't forget!  Shabby Princess has her Birthday bash and sale starting tomorrow.  My paypal is ready!

There will be no pictures...

My mother-in-law is planning on getting the wireless internet in her house set up today...it will make life MUCH easier for me for work, for scrapping and sharing, and for blogging. So for today, you are stuck with a pictureless post. Sorry about that.

I feel like the storm has calmed...at least for the time being.  We are all moved out of our house, I survived the long drive with three little ones, Jason made it to Florida with all our stuff, he flew up to Michigan yesterday and now we are all safe and sound with family for the next three weeks.  In this time we hope to rest a lot, play a lot, and I plan to work a lot.  Since Jason isn't working right now the financial stuff falls on me a bit over the next two months (we don't actually start our jobs in Florida until the end of July even though we are going down around the 1st.)  I am actually looking forward to the change of pace.  Jason will primarily be with the kids and I finally will have the time to 1)get caught up on lots of stuff I am waaaay behind on in the digi world and 2) work on/start some fun projects I have been dreaming up for a long time.  I also plan to use some of my time scrapping.  I haven't done much lately and what I HAVE done I haven't been thrilled with.  In all honesty, I have been quite discouraged with my scrapping lately and I need to remedy that.  I plan to make myself a little list of challenges and work on them this summer.  Should be great.

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The trip to Michigan with the kiddos went better than I could have imagined.  They were perfect ANGELS!  I was soooo proud of them.  We laughed, we talked, they slept I dreamed (I have the most active imagination if given the time to think!) It was good.  On Friday I was dragging though.  I was really, really tired.  Want to know how tired? 

On Friday morning when I was getting the kids up and ready to go, I picked up Alaina, laid her down on the bed, and had one of Levi's diapers halfway on before I asked myself what the heck I was doing.  Yea, putting a diaper on a girl who has been potty trained for two and a half years.  Now THAT'S tired.

I actually almost stopped driving Friday morning so I could rest my eyes for a few minutes.  But I didn't want to get off the highway and I didn't see a rest stop.  By the time we stopped for lunch (which was a bit freaky -- a totally bullet-proof Subway, why oh WHY did I need gas AND food in Gary, Indiana?) I felt better and finished the drive without the fear of dosing off.

I spent the weekend at my sister's with her four kids.  Seven kids age 6 and under can be quite crazy!  But we managed pretty well and even fit a trip into IKEA and lunch out (yes, with all seven kids in tow!)

Jason flew in yesterday and then we drove to his parents where we will be until the 25th or so.  All of really need some time to feel settled, to unpack our bags and not be on the go all the time.  We will be visiting some people here in Michigan but we are trying to combine a lot of it so that it isn't back and forth all the time.  Living out of a suitcase gets really old, really fast.

Well, the first of the kiddos is up so my time here is over.  If you are waiting on an email from me (which is quite a few of you!) I will try to get caught up over the next two days.  Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you!

I'll be back with pictures tomorrow. I promise :)

Someone stop me...

LOL!  It's 6:30 in the morning and I was checking email before waking the kiddos and getting started on our day. And then I remembered that it is June 1 and that means that the new Songbird Avenue kit is up! Yea!  I had the honor of creating a template to go with the kit so I got to see it in all its lovliness a while ago!  And, I did two LO's with it...so fun!  I love how two pages can be from the same kit and yet look so different!

First, here is the kit by Jan, Meredith, and guest desginer Diannge Rigdon!  All of the money raised will go to support the American Diabetes Association!

Have a great weekend!

Just popping in...

I am  at that stage of tiredness that I can barely move.  My head is a bit foggy and my hands don't work well.  I would go to bed but I am busy uploading the June Grab bag into my shop. What in the world was I thinking?  Have a product release while I am ON THE ROAD in the middle of a move.  Can we say idiot?

Anyway, the trip went well today.  So glad the kiddos were good.  One more day to go.  Ugh.  Not looking forward to it but I AM looking forward to REST. I need to sleep.  I really, really, need to sleep.  Hurry up server.  Load my stuff :)

Be back Monday :)