Weekend Re-Cap

Not a bad weekend. I've had better, I've certainly had worse.

Helping my grandparents went well. I don't think we got much done but they sure did. Note to self...do things NOW...you get tired quick at 80+ years old!

Jess had her semi-formal Friday night. She looked so pretty and grown up with her new dress and hair done. I didn't do such a great job with the photos but you should get the idea from this one.

She had a blast...danced the night away! These kinds of experiences are just one of the many reasons I switched her from private to public school this year. I'm so glad she's making the best of it.

Drove Jess up to Dover to spend the weekend with her Dad on Saturday. Claire and I hit Target. I've been holding out hope forever that they would start carrying Heidi Swapp products but still no luck. Claire got a super cute Hello Kitty outfit though. She wore it today and was just so hip.

Jonathan finally got home from Florida Saturday night. This trip seemed so long. We watched Wedding Crashers. Fun movie. I actually laughed out loud a couple times.

Today was grocery shopping and laundry then back to my grandfather's to help hang some pictures and such. Returned the tv we bought just two weeks ago to Best Buy. We sure do have electronic troubles around this house. What makes a tv die so quickly? Bad batch I suppose.

Gosh when you write it all out it looks pretty pathetic doesn't it?? I guess that's just real life up there. Maybe next year at this time I'll have an exciting "I'm off to CHA" post here instead! If you're going, have a blast for me too.

That's all for now.

Frantic Friday

Busy day today!

My 85 year old grandfather (and his wife Gerry) moved this week and I'm going to go up to Middletown to help him unpack. I'm so happy they finally are getting this land sale figured out and got in this house in a retirement community. They do not need to be taking care of a big yard anymore. In this community, they're on their own but don't have to worry about maintenance. So Claire and I are trudging up the highway (an hour and a half) to see how helpful we can be. They've been in a few days already but I'm sure there's still lots to do. I'd be able to get more done if she were in school but of course they had a half day today and it's the one time Julie had plans this afternoon. Ah well, she can miss a half day of Kindergarten and I'm sure my grandparents would love to see her. I just hope I can keep her entertained there while I'm working. Going to load up on DVDs (and Jessica's portable player), work books and Sweet Streets.

Jessica's semi-formal/dressy/fancy (school can't seem to figure out what to call it) dance is tonight so we're racing home after to help her get ready and put her hair up. Oh and take pictures. LOTS of pictures. Gosh they grow up fast.

Finished and submitted my BH sketch yesterday. Then I saw on TwoPeas that some folks were getting confirmations from CK. This put me in a panic because of course I didn't get one. Not that I think I'm really going to get a call but I'd at least like to know they got it. I did some searching at Gmail and they try to resend for a WEEK and if it doesn't go through it bounces back to spam. So I resent through my cable's email. They either got it twice or not at all. Either way, I hope the calls go out soon so I can post the darn thing. My gallery is getting stale.

I've got a fabulous layout floating around in my head. Hope to have some time (and a great photo) to put it together tonight. Also really hoping it turns out as fab as I'm picturing it. Course, that's what I'm always hoping!

I'm off. Have a good one!

Ahhh Belinda!

It's cleaning lady day. I just love these days. She comes every other Wednesday and it really does bring me much joy. I always leave (her preference) when she's here and when I walk in that door after she's gone I can feel my whole body relax. She shines the place up so much you can almost see the sparkles. Sometimes I think I should just have her come every week but then guilt takes over...I don't actually have a job after all...and I push that thought right out of my head. Besides, I think the magic would wear off a bit.

I'm going to take myself to the movies while she's here today. I've never done that. I usually run my errands and spend the rest of the time trying to figure out what to do until she's done. It's silly really. Driving around. Browsing in stores where I don't really want anything. Drinking too much coffee. So today I'm going to get my errands done and take myself out. Think I'll see Brokeback Mountain. Not sure though, have to check times.

The week is getting busy all of a sudden. Jess dances tonight, Claire has gymnastics tomorrow. Hannah will drop Jess off at the barn tomorrow then take herself to dance (thank goodness she can drive!). My grandfather moved yesterday and I'm going to drive up to Middletown on Friday while the kids are at school and help him unpack. Then I have to race back home to help Jess get ready for her semi-formal dance at school. She looks SO grown up in the dress we bought...I can't wait to see her when we get her hair done and she's ready to go. Sixth grade sure seems older now than when I was 11. Then it's up to Dover Saturday morning to take Jess to her Dad. I guess it's all the usual happenings but with Jonathan gone it just seems busier.

Well, I'm off. I've bored myself (much less my poor readers) and I've got cleaning to do before the cleaning lady arrives. That always makes Jonathan chuckle....but I've got to find the floor for her to be able to clean it, right!

Have a great day!

a Sketch, a Tag and other Stuff

Well, I didn't quite make it with the whole do something 7 times in a row thing but I'm certainly improving. My problem is that most days I just don't have anything all that interesting to talk about. I mean really, who wants to hear my daily to do list or never ending desire to be a person that actually exercises or schedule of kid's activities?

I've got a few hours today and I'm determined to make something of the June sketch. I've had the photos and some paper on my desk for days but nothing is coming to me. I'm just not feeling it. It's a shame too because I need to scrap these photos and they work perfectly for this sketch. I think I've just been scrapping 1-3 photos per page for so long I forgot how to do more...never mind an actual two page layout. So I'm going to look at my past CK issues to get a better feel for the kinds of things they publish and make some serious headway (if not finish) on this layout today.

I got tagged again! This time by http://revlie.blogspot.com . These tags sure can be fun. I didn't really get the first list of 5 names so I didn't do it. And I'm not tagging anyone else because I think I must be the last one to do this one, lol.

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?

I was seperated from my (first) husband and running a home day care. Jessica was almost 2.

2. What were you doing one year ago?

Typical stay at home Mom stuff. Driving kids to school and activites, cooking, cleaning and so on. Looking forward to Jonathan and I's upcoming weekend in NYC to see Wicked.

3. Five snacks you enjoy.

I enjoy all snacks. That's my problem. I racked my brain though and didn't come up with any favorites.

4. Five songs, to which you KNOW all the lyrics.

Having grown up with serious Dead Heads and having seen them in concert 32 times, I pretty much know all the words to ALL the Grateful Dead songs. I know a bunch of Little Feat songs by heart, quite a few Rolling Stones tunes and so on and so on. I'm a lyrics person. I know the words to hundreds of songs. At least.

(I've heard that people either hear the music or the words to a song. I definately fall into the words category.)

5. Five things you would do, if you were a millionaire.

Just one million? And is that after taxes?

We're in pretty good financial shape these days so I'd probably spend most of it. Here's my list:

a. pay off credit cards, cars & plane
b. book a HUGE house somewhere tropical for a month (maybe two) and buy plane tickets for all my family
c. buy a house at the lake
d. visit my brother in Indonesia
e. put the rest in the kids' college funds

6. Five bad habits.

a. I don't take care of my own health (overweight, don't exercise, forget cholestorol medicine....)
b. I spend too much time on the computer.
c. I'm a BIG procrastinator.
d.
e.

(isn't that enough?)

7. Five things you like doing

a. taking pictures & scrapbooking
b. reading
c. watching my kids do their thing (ride horses, dance, play....)
d. traveling
e. watching reality tv

8. Five things you would never wear, buy, or get new again.

I don't know about this one....NEVER say NEVER. I can't really think of anything I might never do/wear/buy/get again.

9. Five favorite toys.

a. Digital Rebel XT
b. computer
c. cell phone
d. our camper
e. our plane
f. my scrap stuff

I know that was 6!

Now on to the other stuff!

Jonathan left today for the annual manager's meeting in sunny Florida. He'll be back Saturday night so until then it's just me and the girls. I always know I'm going to miss him but until he actually leaves I don't realize how lonely I'm going to feel.

Belinda comes tomorrow so I have to get the house organized. It's not too bad; I'm getting better about keeping it together on her off weeks.

Whew, this was long. If you're still here hat's off to you! Have a great one!

Tag....You're It!

I feel famous....someone (http://mamabrain.blogspot.com/) tagged me. Never been tagged before (course I'm new at this blog stuff) so I thought I'd get right on it!

Four jobs you've had in your life:

1. Information operator in Washington D.C. (you know, "411")
2. Government contract biller for an environmental company
3. ER Registration
4. Stay at home Mom (my favorite so far)

Four movies you would watch over and over again:

1. The Big Chill (classic!)
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
3. Steel Magnolias
4. Mary Poppins

Four places you have lived:

1. Newark, Delaware
2. all over Southwest Virginia
3. Alexandria, Virginia
4. Lewes, Delaware

Four tv shows you love to watch:

1. Survivor
2. The Amazing Race
3. The Bachelor
4. pretty much anything MTV (I know, I'm regressing)

Four places I've been to on vacation:

1. St. John, USVI
2. Outer Banks (Avon), North Carolina
3. Greece (Olympics)
4. Cozumel, Mexico

Four websites you visit daily:

1. TwoPeas (my second home)
2. A Million Little Things (just to see what's new)
3. various blogs
4. (nothing else EVERY day)

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Breakfast
2. Lunch
3. Dinner
4. Dessert

(hmmm...wonder if this is why I have weight issues)

OK, seriously....

1. anything Mexican
2. crabs
3. my chili
4. fried squash

Four places I'd rather be right now:

1. at the Post Office shipping off a layout or two for publication
2. St. John
3. Mexico
4. Indonesia visiting my brother!

I'm not tagging anyone...too new to the blog game to start making enemies! ;D

That was fun...thanks for the tag!

Weekend Plans

Not too much on our plates this weekend. At least, it doesn't seem that way.

Hannah is in New Jersey at The Pulse dance convention. She'll be home late tonight.

Jess is at her Dad's but coming home early tomorrow for a Pony Club mounted meeting and study session. After riding that wild pony Taffy on Thursday, I'm hoping she's back on Penny and has a smooth lesson.

Dad and Claire and I are just going to do our thing otherwise. I'm hoping to scrap today. I've got my photos all ready for the June BH sketch. Claire is in a scrap mood herself as I bought her one of those kits with the album, paper, stickers and such from Michael's. Hopefully, I can get her started and we can work at the same time. Dinner will be out tonight. At least, that's MY plan. Throw in some grocery shopping, laundry and a bunch of football tomorrow and you've got one well rounded, low-key weekend.

(Check it out....two posts in row for me...I'm on a roll. And I promise, once I get the regular posting thing down, I'll work on making it interesting!)

Catching Up

I had a feeling I wasn't going to be very good and keeping this thing up to date. They say if you do something 7 times in a row it becomes habit. I'm going to test that theory starting NOW!

Life is busy. I don't know how some people do all the things they do. I think they must just not sleep very much. Or maybe they just go full steam all day long until they collapse into bed at night. Neither of those options appeal to me though so I'm just going to keep trucking along the best I can. But I am going to try to limit spending time on things that aren't on the top of my list of priorities to make more time for the things that are. It's tough sometimes; the not so important things are usually easier to do (like PEAing) than oh say....exercising.

I've been scrapping more lately. And I'm happier with the results. I'm not sure if I'm getting better at it, getting more comfortable with my style or some combination of the two but it's working for me. I'm enjoying it. And I've started submitting again. I'd love to have a page or two (or twelve) published this year. I've got my fingers crossed.

I could go on (and on) about the kids and how I'm loving my new camera and figuring out the whole digital process and about a million other things but laundry calls (Hannah FINALLY threw ALL her dirty clothes down the chute last night...why is that so tough) and I must get on with my day.

Happy Friday!

Photo of the Day 1.4

(Had my first experience with losing an ENTIRE post just before publishing this morning. Isn't that loads of fun.)

Today's picture is of my daughter Hannah. Well, she's really my step-daughter but that's not such a fun term and a daughter is a daughter no matter how you got them so I just skip the step.

Anyway...

Today's photo is significant as it's the first taken with her new nose ring. That's right, yesterday we traipsed off to a place called Mystic Realm and got her nose pierced.

Honestly, I didn't think it was such a good idea when several months ago she asked if she could get it done. I was thinking....when she's tired of it in 5 or 10 years she's going to have this big HOLE in her nose. But she wore me down (it wasn't hard really) so we agreed and gave it to her as a Christmas present.

I wont go into the gory details, but it was a super simple procedure and hurt only enough to make her eyes water a bit. She's had her belly button pierced too and said that was much worse.

And in the end, it looks pretty cute on her!

In other news....

Today I'm going to start exercising again. Not only do I need to lose some weight...well, let me be honest...a bunch of weight, but I'm in horrible shape. It's been so long since I've worked out and I'm starting to notice it. We have a treadmill but walking on it bores me to tears so I dug out my old Tae Bo tapes and I'm going to give it a whirl. If nothing else, I'm sure it will entertain the dogs.

Photo of the Day 1.3

Today's photo is of the barn Claire got for Christmas from my Dad. He made it. A few years ago he made one for Jessica as a surprise for Christmas. A month or so before Christmas this year Claire told me she wanted Granddad to make her a barn for Christmas like Jessi's. We called and Claire asked him herself. It was so sweet. How could he refuse? He even matched the paint color to her dollhouse.

So today I chose to take a good picture of the barn. The only others I have are from Christmas morning and we all know how good those pictures usually are. This barn makes me proud. Proud of my Dad who can do anything, including designing and building a barn for my daughter and making her Christmas wish come true.

Jumping on the Blogwagon

Everyone else does it right? So why not!

Actually, I mostly want a place to post my photos of the day from the TwoPeas pub challenge without clogging up my gallery with non-layout items but I hope that this turns into more. A place to share photos with family, a jumping point for layout journaling, a way to solidify my personal goals and desires and remind me to work towards them. You get the picture. We'll see how it goes.

Right now I just need to figure out how the heck this thing works. Wish me luck!