This is My life

Feeling a little droopy...

My dorm boys called me outside this morning to show me a spider's web.  They love to call me and ask me to take pictures of all kinds of things.  Usually it is nothing special, but this morning was fun.  They were getting ready to hang the laundry out to dry and they noticed this spider's web, wet and droopy from the morning dew.  Pretty picture, huh?

It also was a good picture to represent how I am feeling...just a little droopy.  I have a pretty bad cold and that, coupled with Alaina's "chicken spots" just makes me want to call it a jammie day, crawl back in bed, and cuddle up with a good book. No can do, though.  No big deal.  I am not REALLY sick (thankfully!) and I think some of my "droopy" mood may have a lot to due with the list of things on my to-do list.  Jason and I have been plugging away for days and we have definitely made progress.  A few things feel like they have been forever put on the back burner so if I can get those taken care of today (and find something I can take for this cold!) I think I will feel better all around.  At least my spirits are up and I am thoroughly enjoying this time of year with my family and with our dorm boys.

** A quick comment about my boys -- I don't talk about our work much or about my boys.  I just wanted to clarify that this isn't because it isn't a HUGE part of my day and life.  It is just that I am pretty careful, internet-wise, with what I share.  Since they are minors I don't feel at liberty to talk about them or post pictures of them.  But it doesn't mean that there aren't pictures of them ;) We love what we do and feel privileged to extend our parenting skills and philosophy beyond our own family and onto kids that need it.  So just because I don't talk about it doesn't mean it isn't there. **

Anyway...Jason is hanging out with the kids today so I can get a bunch of stuff done.  I love the feeling of having a few hours to take care of things, to really focus, and to have quiet.  I love the chaos of my life but a few hours of quiet now and then is pretty nice too :)

Hoping your Wednesday isn't too droopy! Remember, it is always just one foot in front of the other.

Hooray for the husband....

I did this page a long time ago...maybe even a year ago.  But I don't know if I ever posted it.  Anyway, even if I did, I think it is a good one for today.

I just want to spend a few minutes saying a big hooray for my husband.  He is so good to me.  He's not perfect and I definitely spend some time being frustrated, but all in all, he is wonderful.  He is just so helpful, even when I don't think I need it.  Just lots of little things that add up to a whole lot of big things.  I am very, very fortunate.

He is just as involved with the kids as I am.  That alone earns him some kind of prize.  Every family works differently and I know some couples are happier with letting mom do most of the kid stuff.  But that isn't me.  I love the fact that he LOVES the kids and LOVES being with them.  He is always taking them out -- to Disney, on bike rides (he takes all three at once -- two in the trailer and one in a bike seat!)  He gets kids dressed, changes diapers, fixes eggs, dispenses medicine, wrestles, kisses, takes pictures, gives baths, and a whole lot more.  And he does all this without being pressured. He does it because he loves us and wants to be a part of everything.

And then there are the things he does for me...the little things that make me smile.  Just yesterday, sensing that the holiday rush is starting to stress me out, got out all the gifts we have purchased so far and wrapped them!  But, he left the the part I really like -- the bows and ribbons, for me to do.  He also bought me a new coffee pot. Ours was leaking and we needed something different.  He had gone out and really looked into what was best for us.  And I love it. I love that he takes pictures of the kids when I can't be around to see something.  He brings me coffee in the morning.  He watches the Gilmore Girls with me.  He goes to the grocery store late at night and buys be chocolate (this baby has a severe chocolate craving!) He even reads my blog :)

I am thankful.  We have our issues just like any other couple, but I know I am blessed.  I know that he is perfect for me.  I even told him a while back that if something ever happened to him I don't think I would marry again.  I told him that there was no way anyone else would ever put up with me the way he does. 

Our anniversary is in six days...eight years of marriage goes fast. It has been one heck of an adventure. Can't wait for the rest....

Have a great Tuesday and if you are married, take a few minutes to think about why you married him, what you appreciate about him, and then let him know.  I am sure he will appreciate it :)

{chicken spots}

So, most of the weekend was spent dealing with what Alaina calls her "chicken spots."  It's too cute to correct her, so we just let it go :)  Thankfully, her case isn't TOO bad, but still, it isn't fun.  She absolutely HATES being cooped up inside and not being allowed to flit and be free as she pleases. Since we live on a huge campus, she is generally free to go where she pleases (as long as she lets us know).  There are lots of other kids around and she usually spends the weekend playing at the playground, playing football, hanging out with the dorm kids, etc.  Instead, this weekend was spent trying to keep her entertained and getting her outside at times we knew no one else would be out. She about summed it up last night when I was slathering yet another dose of calamine lotion on.  She just looked at her legs, then at me, and said, "poor me!"

One of the things we did this weekend was to let her do her first digital scrapbook page.  There was no way I could talk her through how to use photoshop so she sat on my lap and told me what she wanted done.  She picked her picture, her papers, where she wanted everything, and gave me the journaling to use.  She was especially enthralled with the fact that she could change the colors of things and with almost everything she asked, "can we make this a little different color?"

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I did a little scrapping of my own, too.  I have been waking up really early in the morning (not by choice!) and trying to use the time to scrap.  With everything else going on in life it is so easy to lose scrapping time.  But this is so important to me -- both for the creative outlet and for the preservation of memories.  So although my scrapping has slowed down, I don't want it to stop completely.  Here are two pages from the weekend -

Credits: Michelle Coleman's new MERRY KISSMAS kit at Little Dreamer Designs. Glitter lips (an old blog freebie, I think??) and hand-stamped brushes also by Michelle.  "One" tile by Heather Ann.  Fonts are MCO Distressed Alpha and Mom's Typewriter.

Credits: WINTER JOY kit by Nancy Kubo at Little Dreamer Designs.  Alpha by Gina Cabrera. Mini tag by Michelle Coleman. Stitching by Lisa Whitney.  Fonts are Mom's Typewriter, Century Gothic, and some font I can't remember the name of :)

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Hoping to get lots done this week.  Our boys leave next Tuesday and then Jason's family arrives next Wednesday.  We are celebrating Christmas on Thursday (the 20th) so I have to have everything done by then. Not to mention just normal life stuff and some SUPER fun stuff I can't share about right now :)

I hope your Monday is fantastic.  It's going to be 80 degrees here all week so I hoping to be outside and enjoy all the fresh air!

It's been one of {those} days...

Can't you tell?  It is 7:30 at NIGHT instead of morning when I am finally getting a chance to post to the 'ol blog.  That should tell you something, shouldn't it?  LOL!

I woke up at 5:30 today, which, if was any other day wouldn't be that bad.  I might even appreciate the half hour of quiet before life starts.  But since it was our morning off, the 5:30 am wake up wasn't all that welcome. Oh well.  I spent some time getting some things done. When the family got up we all went out to breakfast.  We found a great breakfast buffet -- only $4.00 for adults and kids 5 and under (which all mine are) are free!  So with a cup of coffee our entire bill was only $10!  That was good, though we did tip the guy extra considering the plethora of plates left by my wide-eyed small stomach kids! LOL!

After that we did some Christmas shopping.  That wasn't going too well so we headed home.  By then it was already 1:00! We had some stuff to take care of here and then we just had some thing to talk/work through.  At around 2:30 Jason and Alaina went to do more shopping while the boys slept.  I used the time to try and deal with some of our medical insurance stuff (which I am convinced God is using to test every ounce of patience I have!)  I paid bills, waited on hold on the phone, talked through some crazy issues.  It isn't all resolved, but my mind is more at ease.

Jason gets home, our dorm boys get home, and we all get ready for dinner. At dinner I notice that Alaina has red bumps on her neck.  Now, for a week she has had them on her legs.  We all just assumed she had been eaten up by mosquitoes.  But over the last few days I have noticed them in other places like her tummy and back.  But then tonight, when I saw them on her neck of all places, I promptly got up and asked one of the other ladies I work with (who is a nurse) about them.  She says she will look it up and get back to me.

CHICKEN POX! I mean...really?  I hadn't even considered it because 1)up until a day or two ago they were just on her lower legs and she plays outside ALL THE TIME and it is very likely that the bugs feasted on her, 2) She hasn't had a fever (though last night at Disney I did tell her she felt really warm) and 3) she has had the vaccine.

Well, apparently the vaccine only prevents chicken pox in 70-80% of kids.  However, in those kids that do still get them they get a much more mild case (which is probably why I didn't even suspect chicken pox).  Of course I looked everything up and yep, that is exactly what it looks like.

So, I had to break the news to the social butterfly of our campus that she can't be with other people for a while.  Now I know that she has probably exposed everyone on our campus already, but I really can't continue to let her be around people until the spots are all dried up.  She started crying immediately so I had to go into super mom mode -- pulling out all those mom tricks that you need for times like this.  I promised her lots of snuggle time, and crafts, and a "no-manners" breakfast (we did it once this summer and she has been asking to do it again!), lots of videos and milkshakes and all sorts of only-when-you-are-sick spoiling.  That made her a tad happier, but she'll be going stir crazy by 9:00 am tomorrow morning, I promise you.  She is used to living with 50 other kids and having the run of the place.  Now she is stuck in our tiny house with nothing but mom and some itchy spots.  Poor girl!

Needless to say I am looking forward to bed tonight -- one of those days that at least I can laugh at but I am will be glad to have it end!

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Two LO's for you before I go.  The first one is for this weeks Digi Dare, hosted by none other than the fabulous Jen Caputo!  We had to scrap what we wanted for Christmas.  I was in a funky mood when I did it so it kind of reflects that :)

And here is a quick LO using the new collab kit at LITTLE DREAMER DESIGNS (and a few other things).  So much yummy goodness in this kit!

Have a great weekend!

Taking the day off...

Just wanted to let you know!  I am going to be spending the day with my sweet 'lil family...shopping, probably visiting Disney, eating yummy food, and loving on each other.  Hope your Thursday will be just as sweet!

Today is the day!

For the Shabby Shoppe new releases!  Before I was on the team, I would wait with anxious anticipation for each time Shabby Princess released new goodies.  She is just one of those designers whose work I knew I could always count on. I never had to worry about quality, customer service, or falling in love with each and everything she made :) 

I don't see the new stuff up quite yet (and my guess she has been working all night to make things PERFECT) but I KNOW that you don't want to miss it.  New stuff AND a sale.  What could be better?

I'll post a few peeks at the new kits.  My new banner is made with one of them.  And here are two LO's!

This is made with the new 'TWAS THE NIGHT kit at the Shabby Shoppe and a template from the HOLIDAY SET in my shop.  It's funny...if I start a page from scratch I have trouble getting more than one or two photos on a page, but if I start with a template I can do so much more! Love how I was able to get sooo many photos on one page.  I don't need 40 LO's of each Christmas!  LOL!

And another one...

This one was made with a new kit called WINTER WONDERLAND.  My winter pictures are sadly lacking so I decided to use it in a non-wintery way.  Sorry the picture isn't great...it is a scanned one.

There will be a BUNCH more stuff at the SHABBY SHOPPE today, so don't miss it!

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I can't believe that our Christmas break is in TWO WEEKS!  We have family arriving the day after the boys leave so it is go, go, go time!  I have soooo much to do between now and then (mostly fun stuff, but stuff nonetheless!)  I just really need to work on breaking it up so it isn't all left for the last minute.  One of my major projects would be Christmas cards.  Yikes!  I haven't even started them nor have I even taken pictures for them.  Tick tock, tick tock. How does Christmas sneak up on me every year??

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Well...here's me wishing you a happy Wednesday. I hope it is great!

Do you think computers hate me?

I just lost the last 15 minutes when my computer...my NEW computer...wouldn't do ANYTHING and I had to turn it off.  So of course my post is gone. Maybe it is sort of like me and plants...if I go near them, they die.  Maybe I should just take up knitting :)

So, my grab bags are in the store.  I will spare you the sob store of my internet being out last night as I was trying to load.  The ending is much better than the beginning and the middle since it ends with me getting to go to sleep and my products loaded in the shop :)

While I was waiting for an internet connection I did get to scrap a page.  That was a nice reward for my labors :)

Credits: GENUINE SPIRIT by Michelle Coleman at Little Dreamer Designs.  Template my me :) Font is Mom's Typewriter.

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ANYWAY...today is hopefully a low-key today.  We have a nice long list of things to do, but nothing major or life-threatening.  Hopefully I'll squeeze a nap in there sometime! I am also realizing how fast Christmas is approaching so I better get a move on shopping.  I promised myself I wouldn't let it be last minute this time!

And just because this makes me laugh every time and in case you haven't seen it yet, enjoy this little video. Not the nicest of songs (and you may not want to play it with kids around), but still worth the chuckle:)

Have a great day!

Magic Kisses, DVT, and other random stuff...

So, a bit of randomness today.  Just little things I think to mention and never do.

1. Magical kisses -- you know, the ones you give your kids when they are hurt that they think make the "owie" all better.  Well, Levi has it a little mixed up.  He knows somehow that when he gets hurt that a kiss is supposed to follow.  However, instead of coming to me and giving me the part of his body that is hurt, he instead climbs up on my lap and smacks a big open-mouthed kiss on my lips.  He somehow got the impression that if HE gives ME a kiss, his hurt will go away.  Can't say I mind it...soooo sweet!

2. There are some fun new digi products out there that you should know about!  First, Songbird Avenue has their new kit up.  It is a collab by Meredith Fenwick, Jan Crowley, and Michelle Coleman (plus a template by me, as usual).  All of the proceeds this month go to MAKE A WISH foundation of Utah.  Isn't it pretty?  I haven't gotten a chance to scrap with it but hope to this week!

The STUDIO GIRLS have put together another fabulous collab kit.  This one is called IMPRESSIONS OF THE HOLIDAYS and features designs by Bren Boone, Dana Frantz, Berna Datema, Trish Jones, Janet Phillips, Michelle Godin, Kathy Moore, Baers Garten Designs and Studio Intern, Liz Thompson. If you check out the blog you can even find a coupon code for it!

And did you see this?  It doesn't happen often so get your paypal ready!

Of course, I have insider info so take my word for it when I tell you that the new releases are AMAZING.

3. My December Grab Bags (and maybe a few other things) will be available starting tomorrow! Don't miss it!

4. There were other things that I wanted to mention but of course I can't remember any of them now.  LOL! 

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So, my weekend...interesting to say the least.  Saturday was fairly uneventful...working, hanging out with our boys.  Just a laid back day.  Jason has had a hurt back so he took it easy this weekend (as best as he knows how).

Yesterday was the opposite of laid back and uneventful.  In the morning a bunch of kids from our program were participating in the service at a local church. For various reasons, I went with the two of our boys while Jason stayed home with our kids and one of our dorm boys.

On Friday, I had woken up with a Charley horse (fairly common for me in pregnancy).  When I got up for good that day, it still hurt which was odd, but I wasn't too worried.  Since  Jason had a hurt back and my leg was sore we stopped and bought some sports cream.  I used that a few times and was fine. No problems the rest of the day or on Saturday.

Back to the church service yesterday...as I was sitting there my leg kept getting more and more sore.  The pain was moving from my calf down to my toes and up through my thigh.  I didn't have anything with me to take, so I just tried to cope with it.  It kept getting worse.  By the end of the service I could barely put weight on it.  By the time I got home, I was nearly in tears, couldn't flex my toes, and some very unsightly veins in my thigh were bulging.  Not good news.  A staff member we work with is a nurse and when she came to check on me we both had the same fear --  deep vein thrombosis.  Pretty scary.  She called a walk in med clinic and they said they were really busy and to go straight to the ER. The problem with DVTs is that if they break off, the damage is fast and can be fatal.  So, we high tailed it to the ER.  After a few hours there and a full ultrasound of the leg, I was given an all-clear.  By that time, the pain had subsided somewhat.  However, I have strict instructions to follow up with my OB asap and possibly have a second scan, especially if the intense pain comes back.  So far, my leg is just really sore, but not nearly what it was. So thankful to God for His care and concern for me.  I'll keep a close eye in it but hopefully it was just residual pain from the Charley horse and nothing more.  What a day!

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Well, that's it from me for today.  I hope your weekend was good and that you are enjoying the anticipation of the holidays. Our boys leave in just two weeks...can't believe how fast time is flying!