Thursday

My sister and my oldest "baby" were here!  It was so exciting to see them and spend a couple of days lovin on my girls (my baby sister and my daughter) and my sisters adorable kids.  We went shopping, bar-b-q'd, hung out, and visited the National Zoo.  I have said it before and I will say it again, DC has the most amazing FREE attractions! 

The little guy was so thrilled with the snake his brothy found.  It is crazy how excited we all were for him to see it.  We just all love him to pieces.  Aaron is already talking about how he is going to fly him to wherever he is to visit during the summer.  Sigh.  Yet one more person for me to lose him to during his ever shortening summer break.

Now my Mom in law, nephew and two nieces are visiting till the weekend and needless to say, I am busy every second.  No craft time at all.  These little girls have me worn out by the time bath time is over and their bed time is here.  Good golly, little ones are exhausting (and extremely chatty!).  Just wanted to stop by for a few minutes and say hello.  Off to take advantage of the metro and some more of the free attractions available!

Wednesday

Can get out of bed.  Finally.  I have been updating my post since last week.  That's why it seems as if I am in a time warp.  Monday perky, Tuesday sick as all get out, Wednesday all better.  So not the real timeline! 

Look at what my oldest caught today. 

This is definitely catch and release.  No matter how much the big doe eyed little guy pleads/begs/cries,
it is NOT staying!!!

Trying to get all the arrangements taken care of for A's leaving home.  Travel plans, packing his things, opening accounts, trying to tell him as much as I can about how things work.  I am so excited for him to get started on his new life.  He is so clueless about what is waiting for him that I think I am going to make him a lifebook with advice from all of us and examples on how to do things like write a check, keep a check register, keep up with his monthly bills, stuff like that.  He has never, ever done it.  How did I learn?  I don't remember.  I guess you just get it cause you have too. 

I am back at school.  Mixed feelings about this as my kids will be out of school soon and I won't. 

My nieces are here for a 2 week visit.  Prayers are much appreciated as it has been a very long time since there were little ones in my full time care!

My most favoritist scrappy project of the moment!  Sparked a million and one ideas!

An Explosion Box!

Thanks so much Ginger for the great comments/suggestions.  Your the best.  And yes, I know that I am late as all get out posting the thank you but I hope you know that it has been ringing in my head since I checked out that website.  Check out the photos I've been taking if you don't believe me lol.  If I say so myself, they are much improved.  I totally surprised myself!

A couple of family photos that I love. 

Thanks for stopping by and hope you are having a great week!  IE Yeah it's hump day!!!!!

Tuesday

Oh my.  Sick.  Really Sick.  Behind and sick.  House Dirty but still sick.  No laundry done because I am sick.  Leftovers again?  Yep, your mom/wife is sick. 

Nuff said. 

Should be feeling better in a couple of days.  If not, someone's (ie hubby that brought the crud home) going to get it.

Monday

Crazy busy.  Maybe just plain crazy, who knows sometimes, but I have seriously not had 2 extra seconds to rub together (except for Mother's Day) in over a month.  Because I have not had any time to myself I feel like one of those vicious little dogs.  You know the ones, you walk by and see it and it just looks so sweet and inviting but as soon as you get close enough, it takes a taste of you.  Yeah that's me right now.  I feel like biting!  lol.

Not only do I spend my time doing endless domestic stuff, my husband and I have been gardening (okay, my husband has been gardening.  I just take photos & credit lol).  Here are some photos from our garden. 

One of the three cross-stitch projects that I am working on. 

Have not been super, super crafty lately.  In fact, I don't think that I have set foot in my studio for more than a few minutes here or there in a few weeks.  But I did manage to get these layouts done. 

This one I did of my niece.  The fam had gone to Clarks Hill for the day and had a great time.  At the end of it, I guess she decided she didn't want to leave.  So Cute she is. 

A scraplift from Scrapbook Trends.     

The girl again.  I have been going through all my old photos and scrappin them.  When my husband saw this layout, he said "haven't you used that picture on like 4 layouts?".  Yeah I think I need to find a new favorite. 

The sketch I used

Q at Kings Dominion.  He won't let anyone else read the map when we go to any kind of large park.  He takes it over and guides us to all the stuff he wants to see.  Which is cool b/c he always wants to do everything!

It's Final, Finally.  Aaron graduated!!!!!!  WooHoo.  He had us scared, literally, up to the last minute but he walked across the stage and picked up his high school diploma.  He is talking college for the first time ever but I don't know.  He and school.  Icebergs and Beaches.  Seriously.  One day he will be ready but that day ain't tomorrow.  So proud of him for how hard he worked.

I will end this chatty, picture happy post with my favorite photo of my boys.  We took this in Atlantic City. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you had a fantastic Monday!

Another Sketch

This would have been the first time that I had ever actually completed all of the sketches but I got lazy and crazy busy so I only finished about 1/2.  Oh Well, better luck this month.  I have also been scraplifting lately.  I buy so many magazines but I can't continue to justify the expense of them if I don't use them.  So if I buy it I have to make something from it.  That's my new motto.  I am going to be a busy girl. 

Here is the page to go with the sketch

Here is a scraplift from a Bo-Bunny Mamarazzi ad

And a couple of layouts that I had done and was waiting to put pics on

Did this for a challenge but never submitted it.  Like the lo and will probably put pics of the girl on it.

I have been dreaming a lot lately.  Usually I go to sleep and wake up with only a vague shadow of my dreams remaining to haunt me.  Sort of like an impression or a hint.  But lately, my dreams have been vivid and remembered.  They stay with me throughout the day but not in a bad-scary way, more in an i'm thinking this over type way.  Very odd for me.

I truly, truly miss teaching.  For the longest while I have been going back and forth about giving it up.  Even as I made plans for classes and shows to visit, I was not sure if I was really going to do it.  I am still not sure.  I don't know why I am on the fence.  I have been praying for direction and for guidance.  If this is really not what I am to do, I don't want to do it but if it is, I want to get on with it already.  I am not a patient, wait till the moment is right type person.  When I make my mind up to do something, I do it.  So this on the fence thing is new for me and I have to tell you, I don't like it one bit lol. 

On a more positive note (what am I, a philospher lately or what?).  You have to go to the Hero Arts Blog.  Seriously, Hello.  Everything that they post lately seems to be a must do folks.  How cute is the toaster card.  I'm making that this weekend.  What are they doing to me giving me so many doable projects in one day.   AAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHH.   My kids won't see me for a week!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that your Tuesday is fabtastic!

Might I add that today is a beautiful, beautiful day and it really should not be rolling up on Wednesday again so soon (I have a full day of classes, 8am - 920pm with too short breaks between my classes).  I wonder if there is someone that I can talk to about that hmmmm?

Can U Say Bar Fight?

Finally got to see my sister and we had date night with her and her husband, my bil and his girlfriend.  We had a great time!!!!! First we had dinner at Fogo de Chao.  Best restaraunt I have ever eaten at.  Well worth the big bucks we dropped that night.  The service was incredible, the food was incredible, the drinks were incredible, in a word, Incredible.

(yes the waiters dressed like that)

Than we went to

(you have to ask me about the beer joke, it was too, too funny)

to see

(Yeah folks, he looked just like that, except drunker lol.  To his credit, he was funny as hell!)

and this is where it got interesting.  Mike was drunk/high off his a$$ and about 1/2 way thru his show, he started repeating jokes for like the 6th time.  The crowd was pissed!!!!!!!  Than Mike got pissed.  Than the B word started flying.  And than I was ready for the bar fight.  Haven't seen one of those in about 20 years.  Not a good one at least.  You know what i'm talkin bout.  A real down & dirty, chairs flyin, shoes & earrings coming off, hold my purse girl bar fight.  But it turned out to be a classy joint and Mike sobered up enough to end his routine before it got past the name calling and we came home. 

Seriously, A great night

Score, Got These And Went To

Seriously folks, I love my husbands job!  We were able to score a ticket for the little guy to go to the

And we saw her sing Write You a Love Song

Slushy girl from Glee

The Glee cast was phenom and I have a lot of pics of them.  Even though Q was rushing me to go do "fun" stuff.  Seriously?  I thought Glee was fun!

No this was not a backdrop.  The White House is heartbreakingly beautiful!

The WH vege garden