FIVE?

I just can't fathom this idea! My baby is FIVE! Yesterday was HIS day! And he couldn't have been prouder! This was first thing yesterday! Kindergarten here we come! OK... even in print that just doesn't seem possible!

We headed outside the other day in a lull in the rain (we had 22 days of rain out of 26 days)... But the boy HAD to run! And run straight to a puddle... Can you say that he had a blast! I know my camera and I did... Boy did he FEED my photography thrills!

We booked some of our hotels this morning! In less than TWO weeks we are heading to New Mexico! I can't wait to see Cass and her Crew! Talking about photos! Off to scrap the ones on my table... I spend way too much time here!

Lights Out!
me!

Cass... Now THIS is the beach!

Just wanted you to see what a REAL beach looks like, not our bug-infested, tar-stained, stinky-sand, murky-watered gulf! I will post more in a bit! But wanted you to see that we are HERE! See the water, Cass... It is BLUE! See the sand, Cass... it is WHITE! I even brought some home! Love you!

Here are the updates... Beautiful Beaches!

And my toes actually THERE on the beach!

Beat the Heat...

With E out of town... and constant cartoons on TV... and the HEAT outside... I have to come up with a way to keep T busy and both of us cool! Granted I don't get a ton of stuff done... but he is ONE happy little man! And can I say... one happy little man with NO fear!

Any one else have THIS problem... You say smile and you get either one of these views! He used to run and say, "NO CHEESE! NO CHEESE, MOMMY!"

Lights Out!

me

May/June as told by my camera card...

Wow... I think that this is the absolute BEST way to take care of this update! By going through the photos that I have taken! None of these have been touched up... they are what they are! And just a warning... this post is LOOOOOOOOONG! Give up now if you don't want to see it!

I actually got to SEE E's band concert this year... Isn't she adorable! She just LOVES playing the flute, and she is really good at it! Chuck and I have NO clue where that talent comes from... because we can't play a NOTE to save ourselves! She did an amazing little trio to boot!

Next we headed to the Big D to celebrate the marriage of my dearest cousin... She actually got married back in September in a civil ceremony, so this was the chapel ceremony. How funny to announce that she will be having GREAT-grandchild #15 this November! We wish her little Kiwi (her husband is from New Zealand) a happy entry into this world! While celebrating... I managed to get some amazing photos (some Chuck took too) of our wonderful little family! The two dapper gentlemen are my 96 year-old grandfather and his baby (92) brother!

We wound up May with a trip to my parents' house and FINALLY got to get the ski into the water! This is the first time E was allowed to ride it by herself! Chuck thought it would be "fun" to splash MOM! Nice... T wasn't all that impressed with the ski, so he plucked golf balls into the lake! We need to get that boy a driver! Go Daddy... GO!

They also welcomed the newest member of their family... Bandit! Isn't he adorable?

We spent a very relaxing week at Chuck's sister's fishing camp to celebrate Chuck's 39th birthday! I think I did better catching photos than I did catching fish!

Left E there for a few weeks, so we took T bowling... Check out that FORM!

Worked on the next phase of my scrap studio... I am so loving IKEA about now! Next is my desk... then my library cabinet! This is the studio of my DREAMS! Thanks baby!... and finally Chuck and T found the coolest moth ever. Anyone know what this is? Look at the SIZE of that thing... that is Chuck's hand!

Sorry for the randomness and LENGTH of this post! But you have been asking for an update for a while! Here you go!

Lights Out!

me!

Updates...

Yep, I am alive and kicking... I have updates... fun ones... just need to do them! Give me a bit, and I will update the HECK out of you!

Why do they do that?

Just when you have that PERFECT product... they discontinue it! Yep, that is what CLINIQUE did to me! Are they sorry about it, I don't think so. They want you to try their latest and greatest! Well, it isn't GREAT! It is horrible! IMHO! I am talking about their spray on tanning stuff! It was Da Bomb! (hey, just got off a trip with 69 7th graders). It went on easily, dried quickly, didn't smell like some chemical burn, and I didn't look like someone that just OD on carrots!

I know, we have sun so many days of the year here, why not tan naturally! Hello, I am a stinking GLO WORM! I am just pasty white. I don't tan, I burn, peel, and turn back into Casper's long lost sister-in-law! Now... look back at the days of my childhood when I had NO kids, a great shape, no cares in the world, and a pool in my back yard! I was DARK! Now... just white! So I digress and hit the tanning solutions!

And tanning solutions I have tried! I have 7-8 still under my cabinet... I could throw them away, but then I would accept defeat! I have tried the loofahing, the shaving, the walking around nekkid until it dries... and nothing gives that ever-so-perfect-straight-from-the-beach-tan EXCEPT Clinique! And they go and discontinue it! What is THAT all about!

I have found an acceptable replacement for the time being! Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa Bronze Bombshell Strike Gold or something like that! I still notice somewhat of an odor after the second application, but not like the days of old... and it is the most natural looking color so far (besides Clinique), and it is a lotion not a spray! But like I said, it will work!

I do plan on spending a few days in the sun in a few weeks at my SIL's fishing camp. Can you say, pull out the old bathing suits and get the sun! I swear I would like to have SOME natural sun! It will happen! But for now, I will either lather up or GLOW!

Lights Out!
me!

Where to start?

What a whirlwind month! I have so much to say, but don't know how to put it in words...

We (69 7th graders, 7 teachers, and me) left for a four-day-three-night trip around Texas! It was a great trip... new places to visit... new experiences... I spent 3.5 hours in the ER with one of my angels, but she was great! No drama... just there and back! Her roommates from school were more stressed than she was.

I was really missed on the home front. E handled it in style, T not so much, and Chuck was definitely glad I was home! I must have slept the entire weekend!

Reality hit again on Monday. We are in reviews all week, finals next week, then SUMMER! WHAT THE HECK? When did THAT happen? My babies will be in middle school and kindergarten! Slap and wake me up! We leave for Chuck's sister's house the following weekend! I can't wait for just some quiet time, fishing, and being in the sun! I am on a QUEST this summer for a tan! I haven't had a real tan since before E was born!

OK, weird post... but it is updated!

Lights Out!

tagged...

You know... I know I haven't written in my blog for some days now... and now I have to! I was tagged... Thanks, Gretchen for the push!

The rules: Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I teach middle school! Most people just balk, but I LOVE it! It gives me hope!
2. I moved ELEVEN times in my first EIGHTEEN years! Two middle schools and two high schools.
3. My *baby* brother is a helicopter pilot for the US Marines!
4. I read more young adult novels than "grown up" novels.
5. My all time favorite movie is "GREASE" I know EVERY line!
6. I met my hubby waiting tables in college!
7. Thanks to Cass for helping me with my last one, (I really am not all that exciting) I can trip UP the stairs without spilling a single drop of my LARGE SONIC DR. PEPPER!

I tag – Cassie, Lyn, Denise Jan, Bev, Lisa, and "anyone else that reads this with a blog"... So there! Okay ladies, I can’t wait to see yours too!

Lights Out!
me

whoa!

OK... Growing up I always thought my initials were super cool! ABC! Pretty cool, right? Am I the only one that really thinks about initials... apparently NOT! Well, getting married, I am now ABM... and on my wedding day, my precious baby brother informed me that I was now A Bowel Movement! Isn't he adorable? So for the past fifteen years, I cringed at my initials... until NOW! Whack me over the head, but I always put LOST in a Blond Moment for my location on all my boards (yes there is a rambling point here)! Hello! A Blond Moment has the initials of ABM! Once again... my initials are COOL! Fitting aren't they?

Race day is right around the corner! May 1st starts the very first day of The Amazing Scrap Race at Scrappy Arts and boy are we stoked! Lots of cool sponsors, and the Team list is just getting longer every day! It is not too late to sign up! Like I said... PRIZES + Scrapping + Friendships = GREAT TIMES!

I had an epiphany one day last month, and it has really relieved some major scrap related stress. When I shop for paper, I usually end up grabbing multiple papers from each line that I fall in love with (yes there are paper lines that I skip). And then stare at a layout for DAYS because I just don't know what to do with all the different patterns, embellishments, photos, etc. I do not like cluttered layouts... remember all those vintage layouts... they KILLED me! any way... back to my epiphany! Simple Scrapbooks! I found that by just using one or two patterns as an accent, a little grouping of some embellishments, my photo really stands out! And I can do a layout in half of the time! I know... you knew this already! But for me, it was a break through! And I have also decided... who cares if the paper is older than a month? Use it! Will we really KNOW in ten years that when we finally used those papers they weren't the LATEST? NO! Now I am a scrapping fool! And I love it again!

OK, not sure anyone should/could have to face this many Blond Moments coming from one poor soul, so I am done for now! I leave you with the results of my epiphany, and a quickie little clipboard that I made for a door prize!

This was for a challenge at SA. I am not happy with it, as I screwed up the sewing and had to move that 07 up to the top, it was planned for the bottome! Supplies:1. Bazzill CS 2 MME floral (solid pink from back) 3. MME striped 4. Chipbard tag 5. sewing

T has this strong desire to be a garbage man. He gets us out of bed every garbage day to watch and wave at the trucks, has EVERY toy garbage truck we have found... and I just LOVE this photo of him playing with one!Journaling... a fireman? a lawyer? an astronaut? a doctor? NO... a garbage man is your career choice ~ age 4 ~ april 2007Supplies:Bazzill Crate Paper CS QK Tangerine and Vixen White sharpie Pressed Petals chipboard letters

This is a little 6X6 clipboard from Pine Cone press... Supplies: ALL SCRAPS! Scenic Route PP Bazzill CS Heidi Swapp chipboard Bazzill florals MM brads random ribbon (American Crafts and Michaels) White sharpie

Lights Out...

me!

To DO or not to DO!

That was the question! The big day was this past weekend! The wedding went off without a hitch... except for ONE! ONE minute before T was supposed to walk up the aisle to meet the best man, he planted his feet, put his hands behind his back, and said, "Nope!" He didn't do it! Thankfully, the important photos (for me) were taken BEFORE the wedding!

The photographer was a friend of the family, so he let me trail behind him... Here are a few that we got! If you want to see more... I have about 200! :) Just ask! I took these!

Here are my GQ men! Aren't they adorable?

The bride and groom

T before the wedding watching the groom tie on the rings! And posing for the photographer... On scrappy front... We are starting The Amazing Scrap Race at Scrappy Arts Sign ups are happening right now, and the race begins May 1st! Come sign up!

Lights Out!

Lookie Lookie

Look what Chuck did! He built the frame around my French doors this weekend! There is a little shelf with a rim on the top so that I can showcase stuff! Isn't he amazing? For now, I have my M's up there! Once I get the shelf for my antique cameras, I plan on moving them to that wall! But for now, I just couldn't wait to get stuff up there! It is AWESOME!

We had our spring carnival yesterday. Being the "cool" teacher that I am... HA and the fact that I can never say NO, I spent an hour of my Sunday in a dunking booth! It was SIXTY TWO degrees! It was a lot of fun, and I made more money than any of the other teachers... is that a complement? I don't know... but it was COLD! My legs are killing me from climbing in and out of the tank! Some moms took photos, so I will be sure to share my misery with you all!

This will be a busy week! Our nephew is getting married! He was OUR ring bearer, and he asked T to do that for them! It is just such a feel good moment! Chuck is one of the groomsmen as well! Speaking of HIM... he has had a little secret up his sleeve for a few weeks, and he finally told me about it yesterday! My ALL time fave novel is To Kill A Mockingbird. and unbeknownst to me... the play version is in town! I am going to the theatre! Isn't he awesome? We have our April date downtown watching this play! I feel SO grown up! tee hee He really does know me!

OK... one day I may actually write in this like a true writer! I do write... really well actually, but from my past blog posts... that doesn't seem possible!

Lights Out!

Update...

Wow... has it been that long since you heard from me? Are you STILL coming by? Have you gotten SO bored with me that you just left? Well, if you are still here... Thanks! But if you don't like photos of stuff concerning me, turn back now!


OK... Easter was great! T had his little easter party at school and I got this GREAT shot of him! I have been loving these photos where they are set up in the third of the photo! Have a ton of horrible tries, and THIS accident! LOVED how it turned out!

Went to my parents house for the Easter weekend with the idea that we were going to maintenance and RIDE the jet ski, clean and use the kayaks, ride bikes... basically all kinds of fun spring weather activities... This is what happened instead! Needless to say we spent a bunch of time INDOORS!

And FINALLY... My doors are INSTALLED! Aren't they amazing! One step closer to having the studio of my dreams! Whoda thunkit? ME with a studio! Furniture is NEXT! Come by and play with me in my new Sudio!

Lights Out!

OMG... a dream come true...

OK... so we woke up like any other Saturday morning this past weekend! E goes shopping with my MIL to get a dress for my nephew's wedding, so Chuck, T and I hit the errands! While at Home Depot, Chuck says, "So... wanna get the paint for your scraproom!" I pretty much RUN to the paint section to order my BEHR Green Tea paint!

Decide I better get the room cleaned up in case he gets the bug to USE the paint! Sunday we wake up and he gets ready to leave... when I ask him where he is going, he says... "off to Home Depot to get your French Doors!" I almost FELL out of bed! Here is what it looks like so far! Actually at this time, the doors are back down and are primered in the garage! We have to do the other side, and then paint them! I got CUTE door knobs for them as well! Now to get all my scrap crap back inside! It was GREAT that he is doing this with me, but BAD because now he sees all my stuff!

Here it is BEFORE the transformation, but after I threw TWO garbage bags of junk and about 70 pounds of old scrap magazines away!





Here is the paint! BEHR Green Tea! Doesn't it just scream creative calmness?

And the French doors... We put them up just to make sure that they fit! They will be white like the baseboards!


I should take a picture of our study where everything is just PILED up! We plan on getting some shelving units and a new desk to go in there!

Lights Out!