Finally

I finally made a scrapbook page of one of my own children! And it felt wonderful and I can't wait to do more.

Just saying...

- Where is the summer going!? I can't believe it is July already. I feel like we really wasted our June. We didn't do anything really summery and fun. However, today I suggested going to the Aquatic Center in Shelbyville and got shot down by Parker. What kind of kid doesn't want to go to the pool?????
- I started working on Parker's birthday party today and I am sooo excited about it. I love planning parties for my kids. ESPECIALLY how to get the most bang for my buck!
- I have a sparkly new shirt and both the boys call me Hannah Montana when I wear it. Poor Miley Cyrus. She would be crushed to know that there are 2 little boys out there that think that their 38 year old mom looks like her. And yes, I'm more than a little concerned that I have a shirt that a 15 year old tv star would wear.
- My friends and I were planning a 40th birthday celebration "girl getaway" but we decided that 38 is a pretty good reason to celebrate too so we will be getting away this fall. I love you guys and I can't wait to see you in ONE month at our reunion.
-REUNION IN ONE MONTH!!! I do not believe that it is possible to meet my weight goal, but I am pretty close which is good. It's a heckuva lot better than where I was 14 weeks ago!
-I have a fabulous dress and an appointment to get my hair highlighted but I still need some shoes. Gotta sell some more crafties though before I can buy them.
-I wish I had some before and after photos of my weight loss journey, but I avoided the camera like crazy before so I haven't been able to find any. Darn.
-I know I talk about weight a lot these days but that's because it has become a big deal for me. I didn't know how bad I felt until I started feeling so good. I mean physically and mentally.
- Now that I have taken some control over my weight, my house is next on my list. I'm sick of the clutter and disorganization. I'm sure Travis is too.
- I got on the scale this morning and then I did the happy dance. I have unofficially lost 30 pounds. I hope to make that official next week at WW. Between 5 and 11 to go!!! I think I can, I think I can........
-I should mention that Parker's golf lesson was canceled this morning so we went to Cracker Barrel instead. I didn't do too bad, but I'm sure I'm going to have to work out extra later!
-HAVE A HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

A find!

Well, I wasn't disappointed at WW. I lost another 2.2 which brings me to 9.6 total. You would think that would be really noticeable, wouldn't you? It's not. Maybe on someone who was much lighter than me to begin with. On me, it's like emptying the ocean with a teaspoon. Don't get me wrong, though. I am THRILLED. This weekend will be a challenge because we are going to an overnight baseball tournament. It's hard to stay on track in situations like that. I am bringing lots of healthy alternatives for me though so I'm hoping I won't do too bad.

Parker and my dad had the thrill of a lifetime (well, if your life is only 6 1/2 years long anyway) last night. They went on a hike in the woods behind our house and found a deer skeleton! Minus the skull which my dad thinks was probably washed away by he massive amounts of rain we've received. They gathered up what they could and brought it home. Parker was so excited. It doesn't get much better than that for a little boy. They are back out hiking as I write in hopes of finding more treasure.

I was at TJ Maxx today and I picked up a cute purse. I was carrying it and then I saw that a woman who looked to about about 75 had picked it up too. I put the purse back. She might have been buying it for her grandaughter, but I couldn't take any chances. What does that say about my taste!? Maybe that lady just had really good taste. Although, the plastic rain cap she was wearing said otherwise. I'm just kidding.

Parker is allergic to his baseball cap. I guess it's better than being allergic to peanut butter or milk. We will make it work for him though. His forehead and nose broke out in a million little bumps when he wore it to practice the other day. Both of my kids are allergic to band-aids. The adhesive usually leaves a worse mark than whatever the band-aid was placed over in the first place.

I miss the cafeteria at ISU. All you had to do was walk in and have your choice of a wide variety of yummy food. And ice-cold milk to drink. Life was so much easier then. I've always thought that nothing really prepares you for the everyday, mundane, necessities and responsibilities of life. Paying a mortgage and car payments, insurance, medical bills, children, home maintenance costs, etc. don't seem like a big deal until you are in the middle of it. Add a couple of kids into the mix and it can be quite challenging. College is easy by comparison.

The explorers are back so I'm going to go see what they found today. Hopefully not another dead animal carcass.

Nothing much here.....

I made a scrapbook page using some paper that I've been hanging on to for a few years. Perfect for these photos!
We are planning our 20th reunion and my friend Sherri ran into one of our classmates. This gal was holding an infant carrier and Sherri says, "Oh, did you have another baby?" Her reply, "Hell no. This is my grandbaby." YIPES! We are old enough to have grandchildren!? I guess I was aware of that, but to hear it is not comforting. Especially since my oldest child is 6. In no way, shape or form do I feel like I could be the parent of a 20 year old and have a grandchild. That's crazy. And yes, I got a late start. And I'm glad. Most of the time.

a few pages

I scrapped these pages while our computer was down. I need to print some new pictures so i can start up again. I'm in creative overdrive right now. It must be the spring air.

New Pages

I actually did scrap a few quick pages over Christmas break. Since Jack will be 4 next month, I figured it was high time I did a page of his 3rd birthday. I have a hard time scrapbooking birthday pictures because I have so many and I usually want to do a whole book but I want it to be really special which takes time which I never seem to have enough of so then I just don't do anything with the pictures.
This one makes me long for warm weather.
And this is a piece called "Glitter Butterfly" by one of my favorite artists.

A Christmas Past

I am trying to "catch up" with my scrapbooking and do all those old pictures that I have had sitting around just waiting to be scrapped. So far, so good. It's actually fun to do pages from when Parker was little and Jack was a baby. They've changed so much. They are upstairs trying to kill each other right now. From the moment they get up they just antagonize each other. I know most siblings do this, but it is driving me CRAZY!!!!!! My mission this week is to clean my house--I mean really, really clean it. However, I must first de-clutter so I can see the surfaces that need to be clean. It must be in tip-top shape by Thanksgiving. That is my goal! Wish me luck because I am a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad housekeeper!

Swimming Lessons

The lessons are over. According to his teacher, Parker needs to gain confidence. No surprise for a kid who just doesn't get to the pool very often. I feel strongly that he will be more confident as he get's older. He's just like me--he overthinks things and then talks himself out of trying new things. We both need to work on that!

Little Miss Firecracker

Tracy e-mailed a few pictures of Stella from the 4th of July and this title immediately popped into my mind. I love it when that happens. Anyway, I couldn't wait to scrapbook it. Not my best work, but not terrible either. I should have been packing and preparing for our St. Louis trip but sometimes creativity wins over everything else!

page after page after page....

It is really my intention to use this blog as a "showcase" of some of my scrapbook pages so that anyone who might be interested in ordering a scrapbook from me can see my "style" and get an idea of what I do. The bonus is that I get to show off my cute boys and my sweet nieces. These pages include Macie's 2 year old picture. Look at those curls. She is so precious! It is very easy to scrapbook when I have such cuties to inspire me.

Scrapbooking Stella

Would you believe these are the first pages that I have made of Stella!? She is just so stinking cute. Obviously her mommy is having a lot of fun dressing her and taking pictures. Do you see why I NEED a little girl! Of course, I'm not complaining though. Look at the sweet, loving faces on my boys. I love this picture of them because they are actually this close and not hurting each other!
Today was such a beautiful day that we were able to play outside for a while. That is such a treat this time of year. Unfortunately, it got me looking in our garage at all our toys and I was reminded of the daily summer ritual of dragging everything out and then fighting with all the kids to take them back in at the end of the evening. I love being able to give our kids so many things, but there are obviously many disadvantages in doing that. Do you think they would notice if I got rid of everything except one kickball?!