Last day....

today is the last day of the blog series at Get It Scrapped.. a little bitter sweet.. on one hand it has been so fun and it's coming to an end.. but on the other that means the classes are going to start back up! Ooh and I'm talking some major fun classes!!!

But let's celebrate the last day with this great list Michelle has us doing.. a finish the sentence if you will..

Today I am looking out at my financial future. House hunting.. not fun.
Today I might cook a yummy meatloaf or BBQ ribs .. still undecided.
Today I am reading Dead until Dark and Deathly Hallows (one book is upstairs the other down)
Today my biggest priority is keeping calm. My patience is wearing thin :(
Today I hope to see a funny show, I need a laugh.
Today I hope to talk to the family at dinner.
Today I have already seen/talked to my dad.
Today I am watching Gossip Girl.. it's so unrealistic it's sad LOL
Today I am dreaming that we get a good house quick, I hate the looking.
Today I am wearing PJs still.. gotta love that!
Today my mood is crabby but I'm trying to not be.
Today I am going to clean so I can Art Journal.

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Make a list monday....

Here's my list for this week.. part of the GIS blog challenge.. :)

Things I Did
Played in the jumpy house
Watched TV
Cleaned up from Zach's party
Got kids off for first day of school


Things I Need To Do
Shower
Shave (hey michelle asked)
Scrap This Kit paperwork & ordering
Get to the PO
Catch up on blog challenges
Make a menu & grocery list

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Scrap sunday

Tania asked us to share our scrap space.. well mine is so embarassingly messy I just can't bring myself to share it.

I will share my storage of scraps..

I have all my paper sorted by color with the exception of kits. I have cropper hopper page kit folders dividing the colors, they have pockets. In each of these I have my scraps of that color. I like my system because it makes me think "oh I have scraps" before I grab full sheets.

Since I've started organizing by color I have never regretted it. I love how easy it is to find my stuff.. I need a spot of red and voila I grab my red stuff :) done.

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Conversations with Zach

Zach: Austin, Amanda & Kyle can't go to college
Me: Why's that?
Zach: I want to go first

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10 {rAnDOm] things about me...

So the blog challenge series is moving along well and today Jane brought us a great fun topic: List 10 things about yourself.

Here I go.

1. I love planning and hostessing parties. I love the whole process, creating a menu, theme, shopping for items, sending invitations. I realized a while ago it is pointless for much of DH's family as a few members have limited things they eat and perhaps they don't appreciate the handmade decorations like fellow crafters would.. but about a year ago I realized I don't care so I am slowly getting back to my over the top theme ideas and elaborate menus. I just make less of the stuff I know only a few are adventurous enough to eat :)

2. I am no where near the mom I wish I was.

3. I still have the hots for, am in love with and routinely get annoyed by my husband, even aAfter 8.5 yrs .

4. I annoy my husband more than he'll admit. (smart man)

5. I love doritos dipped in mashed up avocados with a pepsi to wash it down.

6. I wish I could sing and dance well.

7. I have a tattoo on my thigh and have been wanting to get another for sometime but don't know what or where.

8. I miss working but no longer enough to want to go back.

9. I get set off fastest when my kids mouth back anything when I tell them to do something. Just shut up and do what I said.

10. I would rather be playing a game of monopoly with the whole family on family game night than most any other thing in the world.

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Wacky Torm.. er I mean Wednesday :)

Another bloggin' day.. here's my post of sharing for Wednesday

1. First three stops when you turn the computer on in the morning
Get It Scrapped, Willow Traders then Facebook (friend me!)

2. Your child's favorite site/s
Facebook, a kids site I can't think of the name of (great mom) and youtube

3. favorite site/s for news
abcnews, hamsterwatch (pure big brother site) and futoncritic :) (tv junkie)

4. favorite online gallery/ies
Get It Scrapped, Bad Girls Kits,

5. favorite blog/s
too many I have links to the right.. I jsut visit the most recent updates (I don't comment everytime but I read)

6. favorite place/s for inspiration
bad girls kits, magazines and some manufacturers sites

7. favorite teaching site (heee)
gee.. GIS?

8. favorite place for online entertainment/ie: hulu, favorite youtube channel, etc
network stations I like catching up on tv shows or netflix is cool too

9. favorite online shops
amazon.com

10. if you have a hobby (hello - we're here, right?) share your favorite sites for that - ie: photography, stamping, scrapbooking, quilting, gardening, etc....
they were covered above.. tv & scrapbooking

what about you?

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monday .. a list of "isms"

Michelle's monday list prompt this week is a list of "isms" from our family.. so here are some things we say around our house that make us.. well us.

1. re-donk-ulous: from Disney's Bolt. It just caught on.. we are infamous for movie lines.. so prepare yourself they will be most of this list.

2. I want some meats: from Lord of the Rings II .. said when you're hungry LOL

3. Taters precious: LOTR again.. smeigel says it.. we say it just about any time some says potatoes

4. that's got flavor!: ironically this means it's bad.. Zach started it when he ate something he didn't like and said "that's got flavor" with his nose turned up like someone fed him asphalt

I wont list the other millions of movie lines from LOTR, Wedding Crashers or Napoleon Dynamite that are a regular part of our vocabulary. Just realize if you are in a conversation with us to know your movies ;)

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Can you hear me now?

good grief.. it's been a whirlwind couple weeks. Between CKU and Amanda moving back in.. now Zach's birthday party is this weekend, a new kit was released saturday and it's back to school next monday.. wowza. I often find this is the worst time for me to forget ME so to speak. I forget all the tweezing, dying and personal grooming.. and I forget my crafting. It's not a good thing because when I don't do these things it feeds into my mood like a viscious circle.

But I'm trying to do some things I enjoy. Amanda and I watched the entire first and up to the last shown episode of True Blood. It was a few LATE nights but it was so fun.

So this week I will be cleaning, doing laundry so everyone has clean clothes for school, order a bouncy house for an excited four yr old and take a few trips to dentists and doctors.. but among all of this I will be scrapping and getting my hair done. Maybe something wild, like pink!

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Kits are up!

http://scrapthiskit.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=12_15


Now off to eat and then catch up on the GIS blog challenges :)

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fun friday!

Jane asked us to use a famous movie line.. kind of funny that I couldn't find one right away given the tv/movie nut I am :)

This line is from Wedding Crashers

I'm not perfect, but who are we kidding neither are you.

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I don't think I could...

Not Intended for Children Overly Analytical

I often joke of wanting to stay in bed for a week. However, after the drive home sunday, half of which was without radio (Audio Express will be getting a visit from me), I realize it would be impossible for me to do this for longer than an hour without distraction. I'd need a television or book. Even with those distractions, I would bet my life savings and all of my children I couldn't make it past half a day. I think too much. I know why I do it, it's a coping mechanism for me. I over think to prepare myself for every situation. So I think about a chore system I want to put into place and will look at it from every angle, from every child's view point. I think of talking to someone about something that's bothering me so I imagine how the conversation will go roughly a million times. I think of how I will respond to things I think that person will say.

Most often, I do this when it's a situation of conflict. It's quite the definition of insanity if you ask me. But in my head it makes sense. I am trying to prepare myself for the situation. Though I also tell myself that people who can honestly answer "Nothing" when asked what they are thinking are certifiably insane.

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Make a list monday....

hmm... Michelle has us pondering wishes.. now do I go with the sentiment and wish for happy children who know and accept that I love them more than I love myself, that Tony knows how much he means to me.. or that I could have one more day with my mother? Do I got with a bucket list on things I wish to do before I leave this world? No.. here's my list of wishes..


1. A BFF who I could call at 2AM just because I'm bored. One that lives close and our DH's wouldn't think twice if we had sleepovers in our mid-30s to give each other pedi-cures and watch chick flicks all night.
2. A personal assistant for a week. One that would let me give them tasks from filing personal paperwork to sweeping the garage. So I could finish all these half finished projects I have.
3. A great body. Yes I said it.. if I had a wish I'd ask for my perky boobs back, and the bubble cute butt of my youth. The thighs that are buried under layers of "baby weight" and midnight doritos. Yes, I love myself as I am and I'm ok with getting to the healthy weight the "right" way with diet and exercise. But it's slow going and if I could wish it away you bet my post-baby bump I'd do it.

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This little piggy ran all the way home... weeeeeeee!!!

With a TON of stuff.. CKU was such a blast and I met the coolest people. I will keep this short just a quick note to say I'm home and am enjoying sorting. I have so much stuff i got from raffles and prizes and kits and classes that I know I wont use soon. So I'll be giving it away. My new philosophy if I don't see myself using it soon, I don't keep it. Let me tell you when you see the pile of stuff I'm giving away.. remember there's another bigger pile of stuff I'm keeping! Crazy!

So much to do today I'll try to catch up with everyone later this afternoon. Have to get house & home ready my kids all return to the nest tomorrow yahoo!!!


Erin this is for you :)

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Savory Sundays

I love the idea of sunday dinners. Going to your parents or such for dinner is such a great bonding. We used to get together often back in Michigan just to have dinner together, watch a football game or NASCAR race. Now we don't as much. We do for other things, but those events lack the lazy feel of a sunday gathering.

Now our sundays tend to be wind down times. I try to make sunday dinners and avoid take-out. If we do end up with take-out it will tend to be a restaurant as opposed to fast food. It also usually tends to be a family style meal rather than everyone having an individual meal.

I love the topics and conversation. Often it will lead into what we'll watch later. Movies and popcorn are the dessert course for sunday dinners.

My favorite sunday dinner meal is when I pull out the big guns. I'm talking a spiral cut honey ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and some warm dinner rolls. That's my favorite menu.

And even in the 100 degree heat, just talking about it means it will be on the menu this week.

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Invalids in pajamas

Today's prompt is to share a photo from a year ago. This is a photo of my kiddos (minus Zach who didn't want to sit) It's the day after the accidents. Amanda came out for a visit towards the middle of August and everyone went 4-wheeling for the weekend. First Austin wiped out on one of the four wheelers, then moments later Amanda did on another one. Tony drove them to the ER to find out Amanda broke her collar bone and Austin broke his pelvis.

So these were the only group family shots I got, invalids in pajamas.

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Finding Fun..

Today's prompt is to tell a funny story.. I have always been told I'm funny and can tell a great story.. (I even have a lovely roommate who used to number my stories.. if I said "oh that reminds me of..." she'd quip back "ooh story number 23451" .. she's so funny) However when told to tell a funny store.. the mind goes blank and none seem funny enough to qualify.

So I hope this puts a smile on your face..



I've always loved potatoes. I was craving one on a cold winter day after school. I had just walked home, there was about 3" of snow on the ground. My mother was seated in the living room folding laundry, watching some soap operas. I asked her if I could have one and she approved. I asked how do I make it in the microwave. She said 8 minutes each side. I was 14. I did exactly as she said.

I grabbed the potato, cleaned it and stabbed it with a fork a few times. Put it in the microwave for 8 minutes. Eight minutes later, I grabbed a pot holder, flipped it and put it in again for 8 minutes. I then went to my room to work on homework until it was done. Moments later I hear my dad come in from work, followed by words I wont post here. The short translation: he was asking what was in the microwave. I jumped up and ran to the kitchen to watch my dad pull this smoking piece of charcoal from the microwave. He threw it out the front door where it quickly melted the snow. It sizzled and cracked for a minute.

Now I'm standing in the doorway looking at this hole in the snow that is expelling black smoke. I turn to look at my parents and as I do, I see the kitchen is now covered in this black film. No one said anything for a moment then my dad started asking me what it was, how long did I put it in for and as soon as I said 8 minutes both sides he started the "what were you thinking" speech. I love my mom, but I threw her under the bus faster than any reality show contestant could imagine. "mom told me to!"

She looked at me shocked and said "I can't believe you ratted me out!" then laughed. She said she wasn't thinking when I asked and was involved in her show. And in her defense said she usually does 4-6 potatoes and with that many it IS 8 minutes each side. We laughed so hard for so long, all the while my dad muttering "8 minutes each side" That potato in the yard smoked for THREE hours, it took three days to get every dish, wall and knick knack cleaned.

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Your thoughts?

Doris prompted us to look at photos from different perspectives.. this photo quickly came to mind.


Kyle's perspective: I was told to water the grass but now how.

Mom's perspective: That's pretty ingenious.

Zach's perspective: I want to go play in that.

Keagan's perspective: What's he doing to my slide?

Neighbor's perspective: My neighbors are hillbillies.

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A Letter to Zach..

Zach,

You are an amazing child who brightens every day. You are funny and smart and loving. You are strong and brave and sensitive. You are an explorer and an adventurer and a defender of the backyard. You are inquisitive and determined and kind. You are a gift.

I forget how fleeting this time in your life is going to be and how in just a short amount of time you will no longer be mommy's boy. I fail to appreciate that the average life span is 26,645 days and you are only 3 years old for 365 of them. In 17 days you will be four years old. You will be one year from starting school. You will be 14 years from going to college. You will be too old, too fast.

I love that you get so engrossed in an episode of Little Bear and wonder how long before the dominate channel is ESPN or mTV. I wonder how long before you want to trade your LeapFrog in for a PSP. I wonder how long before you stop wearing Lightening McQueen underwear.

I cannot believe how big you are and how much you've grown. While I wish I could stop time and spend an eternity discovering ever facet of your mind at this age, I know I cannot. Instead I will take this moment and put it in my pocket for safe keeping.

Mom

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Oh scrappy day!

It seems so long since I've scrapbooked! But I'm getting very excited because in two days I'll be leaving for Provo, UT and attending CKU!! I am not ready by a long shot.. but I am excited. I must say I am not sure if I even care if I scrap there I am going to enjoy getting away and being surrounded by adult girls.. (that doesn't sound quite right but you know what I mean)

---

To-do's to get ready..

Pack my clothes
Choose photos for Tim's class
Make posters for the dorm lyrics
Pack my scrap tool kit for the classes
Pack some snacks

Not too bad.. though I'm sure I'm forgetting a few hundred things....

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Make a List Monday

Today we are to share our grocery lists.. and other insider info on our habits of food collecting..

My grocery trips range from uber organized when I make a menu and prepare a list.. I've even been the coupon girl making sure I have coupons and check sales ad to get the most for the least. Other times it's flying through the store as if I'm in the last round of super market sweep.

Today I'm making a list for.. today. This week is going to be crazy that I may just be grabbing things daily as I'm not sure what will be needed. So in a moment I'll be heading off to return some movies and pick up some meat for dinner..

Here's the list:
arugula
Swiss cheese
green onions
Steak
Tomatoes
Vidalia Onion

I'm making a potato gratin an steak & arugula sandwich.. or attempting to make it at any rate!

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Surreal Sunday..

Today we are to share a story that is bizarre or dreamlike. Fitting my nature, I automatically head for bizarre ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQcVllWpwGs

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Get It Blogged...Snapshot Saturday!

Here's a link to the challenge: http://www.debbiehodge.com/gisforum/index.php?showtopic=3439

and here's my take..


They are so yummy...


This is a book Keagan asks me to read that has abot 7 other languages that I pretend I can speak (ha)


It's a miracle that it's been clean for 24 hours ...

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