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!