New Digi Goodies!

So, I have been working hard at getting some pages done for the albums I am making for Christmas presents. I placed my first order for a printed page at Sam's today and will pick that up later. Figured I may would like to test print 1 page first before I placed an order for, oh say 30 pages x 3...so, looking forward to getting that later on today to see how it turned out.

Now onto the New Digi Goodies. I am not one to follow trends or hype...BUT, I saw a post about a new digi designer and of course I had to see what all the fuss was about...oh, my, goodness!!! I am in LOVE with her stuff. So, of course I had to pick up most everything she has available, especially since The Digi Chick (where she is selling) has it discounted 40% right now! Here is a link to her store.... Jofia Designs. And here is my first page I did using her Christmas Warm kit! The only other thing I added to this layout is the frame by Jessica Bolton. And this page is a blatant scraplift of Debbie's (debsterchen at DST) page Joy.

Wednesday....hm

So, no specific reason for a post, which is basically the reason for blogging, right? You don't need a reason, just thoughts...well I have a million random thoughts....it's keeping them altogether that's the problem. Chuck says that I am scatter brained. I asked him why and he said because I always have 100 different things going through my brain at one time. I told him I wasn't scattered brained, that was when you lost all those thoughts and don't remember them. I remember - I just don't have time to get to it all!!! I have to prioritize them!!! So, what is your definition of scatter brained?

Today appears to be a normal Wednesday for us and for that I am thankful! I like normal days because that means I can plan what I need to do during the day and not worry about anyone but our family - that can be nice. I do have a meeting with Rebecca, the mother of our December bride, but that will be a nice chat and we shall get our ducks lining up in a row concerning the wedding. That will be a nice break in the day!

I did do a re-do on a layout the other day. I really like how this one turned out compared to the first one. The pink one is the original...blue one is the re-do. They are both in my gallery at ASF.



Also, there is a great deal going on with Jen Wilson Designs...I need to go get my free Christmas kits :) Here is the information in case you are interested in getting one for yourself. The coupon is good until the end of this month. (Shutterfly Blog)

I'll let you know what I get tomorrow - there are 12 different ones to chose from and I already have 2 of them! First I need to figure out which two I have!

I scrapped today!!!

I just had to scrap today. Well actually I started this layout yesterday, but I finished it up today. It was lots of fun to play with some of my new goodies that I acquired this weekend from DSD (Digital Scrapbook Day) Sales. It was just the thing to get my creative side going again! You can click the image for the credits...but don't you just LOVE those big sloppy bows by Natalie Braxton??? I fell in LOVE with them!

Oh, and the wedding went very well. We even got offered a few jobs from it, but we promptly turned them down. I really don't think it is something I would want to do very often. We have another wedding coming up the end of December. Actually it is on Caleb's birthday, poor fellow. He is used to his birthday being moved around since it falls so close to Christmas anyways, so this won't be any different I suppose. I vote we celebrate after the wedding!

Tuesday and counting down!

Well here it is just days before this wedding...5 working days to be exact!

I have been busy, busy, busy...and it will only increase from here on out. Today I have lots to keep me busy during the morning...then this afternoon a few errands, get my hair done (a priority!!) and then a meeting at the church where the wedding will be.

This morning I would like to accomplish the rest of the ironing (tulle - have about 2 bolts worth!) and the candle centerpieces that I have decorated and the stuff cut and ready to go for the ones that Sheila has. Then I also need to make the fruit ring for the punch bowl and get that in the freezer. I would really like to make that one of my things to deliver when I go to the cabin where the reception is Wednesday.

Well there goes my cell phone....the day has begun!

Thursday is here!!!

So glad this week is almost over...I actually AM looking forward to next week, although it will be fast and hectic!

I have been checking the weather at weather.com for their 10 day forecast and so far it is NOT looking good that day for an outside reception. I am praying it changes! Right now we are at a 40% chance of rain!

Today I have the rehearsal for the small wedding I am helping with. I am looking forward to this one too since it won't take too much and should be fairly simple to do. That is tonight, but this afternoon I have to grocery shop...I hate grocery shopping! I don't have the menu planned nor do I have any ideas for the menu...so I guess that is something I will be working on between "classes" with my children this morning.

Speaking of the children, they are already up, well except for Christin. And they sure are noisy this morning. I am about to send them out the garage to play if they don't quiet down soon, or I may find a chore or two for them to do.

Back at it!

Well I have determined that even if I don't have anything particular to share I am going to write in my blog a few times a week...not daily right now, but at least a couple times a week just to keep up with it.

Let's see, what HAS been going on? It's been this blasted wedding...and it's in 10 days now! I will be so glad when it's over...not that I hate doing this one in particular, just that there have been so many difficulties, one being communication.

The latest digital layout that I have done is this one...image is clickable for credits. I love how it turned out! I really would like a bit of time to scrap, but don't see that happening anytime in the near future.

On a good note...school is still going well with my children...we have finished the first 9 weeks and are into the 2nd...time is flying by!

I am hoping that today won't be a full blown busy day as the next few surely shall be. It will be the usual stuff and then church tonight. I may have to squeeze in grocery shopping too. Thursday is also not so bad (do have the rehearsal for Bridget's wedding that night though)...but then Friday I have to find flowers for a small wedding I am doing Saturday and make the bouquets/boutonnières (for Bridget) and then I have Club 52 (and I still have 1 layout that needs to be done for that!!!) then back home and up Saturday morning to decorate the church (that shouldn't take but a few hours) then back home and do normal Saturday stuff and then back to the church for the wedding...Sunday at this point looks very nice. THEN Monday starts the big major countdown for the wedding on the 27th. Needless to say we are taking that week off from school...but it was planned into our schedule anyways, so that is nice!

I did my hair for this????

So, it's Wednesday, just a normal Wednesday I think....WRONG!

It started off fine, draggin' out of bed, making muffins for my honey, fixin' myself a cup of coffee and head to the shower while they bake. Put my contacts in so I can see while I am in the shower and as open the very last package of contacts that I have, one of them is mangled!!! So, have to wear the older one (man am I glad I didn't chunk the old ones first!) Get my shower done, wake up Hannah so she can give the dog a bath and check the muffins. They need about another 2 minutes so I head back to the bathroom and put the leave-in conditioner in my hair and then had a "news flash moment" --Chuck's work pants are in the WASHER, not the dryer!!! So run quickly to the laundry room and throw a pair in the dryer and head back to the bathroom. In between that I miss the timer beeping...burn the muffins. Pants don't dry in time and look badly wrinkled so he has to wear a navy pair (he doesn't like to wear navy in the summer). Finally he is out the door and I am praying that my day doesn't continue in the way it started!

I grab my cup of coffee and head upstairs to the computer....everything is fine in cyberland (thankfully!) Read the two forums I frequent in the mornings, do a couple things for the ASF Newsletter and then head downstairs because by this time the other children are up and they do not sound very cheerful.

After getting everyone calmed down we start school...and devotion time did go pretty good if I do say so myself....the devotional was good, the children really are remembering a lot of people in their prayers and I really enjoy spending this special time with them.

However, school does have to start and Caleb has a math test first thing. He actually has a great attitude about it all and he only missed two questions. You would think that would make him happy - no, he is upset that he missed those two and flings his paper across the room. Of course that can't be tolerated and the first disciplinary action needs to be taken. Then he has a language test - and he has been doing very good with language exercises, however it would appear that that knowledge has seeped out of his brain while he slept and he missed quite a few that I know he knows...but to make a VERY long story short the language test is taken and he is off to do some individual work.

Micaela does very well with her school work today - a bright spot in my day for sure! Although we face several interruptions we still complete her school work almost on time. Then I meet back with Caleb to wrap up a few things he does on his own....I wait, and I wait..and while I am waiting I do my hair since I am going to go shopping and tonight it church.....finally he is ready. Then the last biggie...the spelling test...of which he has assured me he has studied for...I really don't think he did too badly, but he about lost it when he couldn't remember a few vocabulary word definitions.

So, by now I am running late. I grab my keys and run out the door, only to crank my truck and it won't!!! AGGGHHH! So I call Sheila and tell her that I won't be meeting her today. Call Chuck and tell him what has happened.

He wants me to take the battery out, take it down to Advanced Auto and have them test it. Sure, vertically challenged me do this. Have I mentioned I am not a mechanic? That I drive a Suburban? These are not short little vehicles?? The first problem is my truck is parked in front of his truck...so Hannah has to push the Suburban while I steer it out of the way. It was easy going backwards...not so easy going forwards...I have to help, jump in in time to steer it out of the way of my dead flowers! By this time I have pulled my hair up into a pony tail as it is hot and sticky...and figure I straighten my hair to wear it in a pony tail!

So I get the cables off the battery - no problem...but the thing is also attached with a bolt down at the bottom of the battery...it takes me about 30 minutes to get this dumb bolt off...while I am perched on the bumper (did I mention I am vertically challenged?) Did I mention that it's hot outside? I am covered with sweat, I have grease up to my elbows and now on my shirt and jeans (yes, I should have changed my jeans...just didn't cross my mind I would be perching on a bumper and getting them dirty!) I'm not worried about the shirt...it's too big and really old. So anyways...take the battery to Advanced Auto and ask them to check it out.

It turns out it was the battery....so I buy a new one, come home and put it in my truck and it works!

So...I think...this must be blogged....what a day, what a day! I finally have taken another shower, guzzled a couple glasses of water and sat quietly without being interrupted by a phone or child!

Now I guess I will have to head back downstairs to face what the rest of my day holds...I only pray it improves from here!

So just as I am proof reading this my wonderful dh calls...he of course doesn't think I have had a bad day at all...to him a bad day is being kidnapped and your head being cut off...well in light of that, no I haven't had a bad day....sheesh...why I even mentioned it to him is beyond me.

Good News!

Well the good news is that we can get the part for the machine and it's just a tad over $100 - much better than replacing the machine because I want to replace the washer and dryer at the same time. So that should get us along for a while and we can start searching for a new washer and dryer more at our leisure instead of NOW!

So today is another ordinary day...except we have piano lessons and grocery shopping thrown in there for good measure. Just means that this afternoon will be busy and since piano lessons fall at supper time we have to have something easy for supper...since we did pizza last night I need a different idea tonight. Since I am going to the grocery store that shouldn't be a difficult thing to accomplish...but it is.

I am also going shopping alone AND looking forward to it. Many times one or more of my children like to go with me, which I don't really mind. They are well behaved for the most part. But today I need to go alone because Christin's birthday is right around the corner! I need to find some gifts for this child SOON! We don't do a big birthday party, it's mainly a family meal thing with some party favors thrown in there to make it special. So at least that won't be difficult, but I do need to be prepared. I am just so not ready for my baby to be 4!

Coming up for air!

Wow! We have been BUSY with a capital B!

I guess it started that last Saturday afternoon right after I made that last post - our AC went out, the motor burned out on the blower. So we called the AC company that we deal with and yes, the motor burnt out on the fan he says...um, yes, we did tell you that it wasn't working. Anyway to make a VERY long story as short as possible...turns out that maybe in fact the motor was ok (but we replaced it anyway) but more than likely it was some relay or something like that. Finally Chuck takes off work TUESDAY to fix our AC because the AC company NEVER called us back. Chuck did talk with them after the fact and did get things straighten out.

So in the middle of all this we are starting school. We actually had a WONDERFUL week. The children did absolutely wonderful with their school work and stayed on schedule. I am really enjoying this year with them so far. It is amazing how great attitudes make all the difference in the world! We have now completed a week and a half...a few more under our belt and I am sure we will really be in the swing of things! Here are a few pictures from our first day.

So, then let's see...last weekend...very busy again. First was Friday night and my Club 52 meeting/crop. I always enjoy that and we have done some planning ahead. I am really looking forward to working with September's papers. Then on Saturday we had a big party for the young folks at our church. Hannah, my oldest, and two of her friend's did the planning. We had a blast! Then Sunday was church like normal and a baby shower that afternoon...so busy again.

So this week has started off really slow and I am not complaining at all. In fact I haven't left the house since I got home Sunday! The only problem this week is that my washing machine broke. So...first it was the hot water heater, then the AC, now the washing machine. Looking on the bright side I did get all the laundry washed Monday...had to baby it along, but I got it washed. Chuck is trying to see if we can replace a part it needs...don't even want to think about it otherwise...I am not wanting to shop for a new washer!

Our Last Day of Summer :(

Well I had every intention of blogging yesterday...but the day got away from me and I ended up not having time.

I do have two layouts to share today....one I just did in digi...the other is the same photo that I did a while back in paper. Thought it would be neat to see them side by side.



The credits are in the galleries where they are posted...you can click on them and go there.

So...what is going on in our little world. Yesterday Hannah finished up painting the shed and Caleb and Micaela's school books arrived. Micaela was thrilled and to say that Caleb was a bit disappointed would be putting it mildly! So I have been busy sorting books and planning the year schedule. That is done, now I need to figure out what will work as a daily schedule...I am sure that will take some tweaking as we go. Also added to the mix this year will be Christin. I will be starting her with some preschool stuff as she is wanting to do "school" and I need her to be occupied with something besides "Dora," "Larry and Bob," and "Donut Man."

Today is also our last official day of summer vacation and everyone, including Mom is in mourning! Although we really didn't go anywhere or do a lot of extras this summer we have enjoyed being home and spending time with each other. And although I personally am not looking forward to getting everyone into a routine again I AM looking forward to when that routine is working and brings more order to our days and things get done without me "nagging" about it.

I am looking forward to the weekend. No big plans as of yet except Chuck plans to pressure wash the house. I am hoping that I will get some time to scrap....need to get a few paper pages done for Club 52!

Another designer from Treasures to Scrap that I am getting to work with this month is Kim Johnson. These layouts are from the Beach Days Kit. Well those of you that really know me, know how much I loove the beach and sand and heat...not so much, huh? So, not a lot of beach pictures for scrapping, but this kit is wonderful, lots of great colors and elements even if you are not scrapping beach pictures. The first layout has pictures taken of my wonderful girls at the Cypress Swamp (not much better than a beach in my opinion, but I got out voted in the matter and I did get some great photos!)




This next layout is with some of the pictures I took of the children swimming in the pool the other day....lots of wonderful colors in these pictures and they work so well with this kit.



So on to thinking about today....this morning we are supposed to have a new hot water heater installed. Our old one has sprung a leak, so before it really leaks and makes a mess of our ceiling we are getting it replaced. Sears is installing it for us. Tried to get information from Home Depot and the girl on the phone was impatient and rude...which is fine....I just took my business elsewhere. So I am patiently waiting to hear when they will be here today. With a high of 97 I am thinking they will want to do that as early as possible.

Then this afternoon I am getting my hair done so I don't look like my children's grandmother instead of their mother. I also need to squeeze some time in there to do some paper scrapping and I am hoping that Caleb and Micaela's school books will ship soon so I can get to work on their school work.

Monday.....UGH

And my To Do list keeps getting longer and longer. So I thought before it totally got out of control today I would update my blog and get that out of the way!

Today is the Grand Opening of Treasures To Scrap Digital Store! I am so proud to be a part of it!

Here is a layout that I did using Rina Kroes Mi Familia Kit! You can click the layout for the credits!



So...like I said, my To Do list is growing a life of its own and before it gets out of control I am off "to do the next thing!"

Poof.....it's almost gone!

I started a post Friday and although I had time Saturday to actually come and add to it and publish it, well, I didn't. I guess it didn't really cross my mind.

I did two digital layouts yesterday - will share them with you soon!

Thursday I took the youngest two swimming....here are a couple photos to share.

So then today, not much happening here besides the usual. This morning was church, then we picked up pizza on the way home. Now a lazy Sunday afternoon - the family is watching a movie and I am on the computer. Then I got asked out on a date this evening by my honey! So we are going out tonight!

Now I think I am going to actually publish this post...play with some digi stuff and veg! Monday will be here before we know it and this week is already starting to look a bit busy!

It's Official!!!

I am so excited! I have been chosen to be on a Digital Creative Team! I love doing digi pages and am always looking to improve my skills so this is a dream come true! So, the digital team that I am joining is Treasures to Scrap AND they are opening a brand new digi store! How cool is that???

And here is my official digi CT Blinkie - my very own to proudly wear!

Here is another quote to ponder.

"It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imiaginatio to be an painter, because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary." ~David Bailey

I love good photographs and wish I took better ones. I need to remember to grab the camera even more than I do. I love the shots where you feel like you are peering into another world and it's not a posed picture.

So, now onto thoughts about today. I think I may have mentioned that I am coordinating two weddings this year. One is at the end of October, the other the end of December. Today I have to make sure some things are on schedule for the October one. I also need to grocery shop. I HATE grocery shopping and it happens once a week now. I used to be able to shop every two weeks and I liked that better. However, now with a family of 6 I fill one cart each time I go. If I went for two weeks I would need 2 carts I would think...not happening. This vertically challenged person has a hard enough time pushing 1 full cart around, so once a week shopping it is. I also do not think I would have enough freezer space for a two week shopping trip-but that is another topic for another time...sigh...I miss my deep freeze!

Tuesday, and it's newsletter day....

So I have been working on that most of the day and you can read it here. As usual the ASF DT did a wonderful job putting it together! I actually have 2 layouts in this newsletter and they are my final assignments for the rest of the year. Glad and Sad at the same time, KWIM? Here they are.



I love quotes, do you? Sometimes they say just the right thing without me having to think it up on my own. Here is one that I just love!

"Keeping house is like stringing beads with no knot in the end of the thread." ~unknown

Isn't that so true? There is always something to be done around the house. The laundry is never ending, dishes are always being used, dust collects quickly and the floor gets dirty faster than I can blink.

I have so much to do on my list today. I need to remember "to just do the next thing!"

Well with that thought in mind I shall waste no more time on this today....Off to do the next thing! (which very well is probably laundry!)

It's OVER!

The weekend that is, officially I have 1 hour and 45 minutes left as I type this sentence. It has been a good one though for me personally. Nice family time, scrapping time thrown in there too and the house was cleaned and stayed that way and the laundry is caught up (or it was.)

Friday I ordered Caleb's and Micaela's books for school, so they should be here soon. Hannah's already are and we have gone through them and sorted for the first two 9 weeks (all her tests and quizzes). So she is ready to start any time, although I think mentally she still wants a break.

I did do a layout today...struggled with it for quite a while, still not 100% pleased, but it is finished and I am going to move onto something else tomorrow. Clicking it will take you to the credits.



So now that my weekend is officially over I guess I should start planning my week. I do have two weddings to be thinking about coming up here soon. The first one is in October, the ceremony is at a church, but the reception is outside. So I need to start calling around and finding out rentals on outside equipment. We will at least be able to use the kitchen at the church, but that is 10 minutes away, so it will still be a bit to organize. At least I will have wonderful help - Sheila and Gloria. The other wedding is not until December, but that one is in full force with the planning also and it is coming together. Anyways...I am sure I will be doing things with that this week.

Hannah's piano lessons got changed to Thursday nights and that will work better for us as a family. So I am looking forward to not having to go anywhere tomorrow.

I took a nap this afternoon, so even though I am not tired I guess I had better make myself go to bed...or I WILL be tired in the morning...guaranteed!

Saturday - half the weekend GONE!

Why is it that the weekend goes by much faster than the week?

To be fair though I have gotten quite a bit accomplished today. I have done 2 paper layouts for the ASF Newsletter. A bit happy and sad there. I am stepping down from the DT as far as doing assignments for the newsletter. I will still be there as a coordinator and behind the scenes gal. So these will be my last official assignments to do for the rest of this year. Kendria will be taking my place and she does AWESOME work!

I did manage to snap a few everyday photos so far this weekend too! Caleb and Micaela BOTH lost a tooth yesterday, how funny is that?? Here are the pictures!

Of course Christin couldn't be left out and had to have her picture taken. She was too funny last night too when Micaela's tooth came out. Her mouth was bleeding too and hurt and her tooth was gone...Mommy see!!! She is a character, that one!

Well not much more exciting has happened here today. Chuck did get a chance to come home for lunch today since he was working our area today! That was a nice treat! And he is not working too late either, he just called to say he would be home in a few minutes.

So I guess I am off to finish up some more laundry and look for more photo opportunities, much to my children's dismay - but one day when they have so many memories to look back on and cherish they will thank me - of that I am sure!

Well back again...I actually did a quick digi layout and wanted to share it with y'all! Clicking it will take you to the credits.

TGIF!!!! I am looking forward to the weekend!

So yesterday was a crazy, busy day and today was much better! I got to spend several hours with one of my bestest friends and on her birthday. We had lunch at McAllister's...nothing fancy, but it beat Wendy's, McD's and Taco *ell, which were our other options.

We also got a chance to get to the LSS - that is always a treat, even if I have work to do. This time it was just to finish picking DT assignment stuff for one of the DT members.

I found a new to me digi place - Treasures to Scrap and it looks really neat. I liked their template challenge and actually downloaded it last night and completed it this morning before I left.

Here is the layout I did! Clicking it will take you to the credits.


Well my wonderful honey should be home any minute...sure did miss him today! I actually did see him at lunch. He ate at the restaurant right across the street from the LSS and I saw him when he was leaving.

So, one of my goals this weekend is to take some random pictures of my children just being themselves. I don't do that enough.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Finally I have joined the Blog craze!

So....here it is...my very own blog. Now what to do with it?

Well I guess I could share my latest digital LO....I love how it turned out!



Clicking on the layout will take you to the credits.