WHIRLWIND OF A WEEK

This week has been "turn off TV week" at Lady G's school. We have had so much to do but usually Friday night is when my dh and the kids hang out and watch a movie together. Mostly they are movies I saw as a kid but dh did not... poor childhood.. had to wait till he was an adult to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Bambi.. who knew!

I have been playing around more with my camera and with my photoshop to get a little better than just getting by. I don't want to get by.. I want to really know what I am doing!

This week had so many things going on...
1. got a swap back from Sarah from Sarah and the Stampstars (see side bar) and the cards rocked!!!
2. We had the city call us twice in one day- we don't have sirens for tornadoes- they have an automated system that calls us... the one at night was especially bad.. we JUST got the kids down and then I got a call from the city saying to "take shelter immediately!" This was different than what they said in the afternoon... really scary! So I grabbed a sleeping bag and threw it on the pantry floor (I knew it was going to be a rough day so it was really straightened around so we could all get in with ease.. )I also got 2 big pillows for the kids... I got Lady G from her bed- she NEVER woke!!! The king got Queen V and then quickly handed her to me to get his truck under the tree - there was quarter size hail in the storm and we had just been hailed on a week prior!!! I had Mr. T in the sling and Queen V in the other arm... got Prince Charming into our powder bath and saw our town's name in the path of circulation... great... put Queen V in the pantry and she climbed on top of Lady G.. not knowing she was under a pillow.. I told her to get under the pillow with Lady G and she did... the storm passed but I let them sleep in there for about an hour until I was sure it was really gone and nothing else was coming from the west...
The kids NEVER knew they were out of their beds..
They have all slept walked since that night.. whew!!
3. volunteered at Lady G's school- I so love to do that! those kids are so sweet :) I miss teaching but as in previous blog entries I know this is where I need to be :)
4. Tonight we had a picnic with several friends in the Nature Center and the kids had a great time!! Mr. T loves the slide.. it gave me and dh a heart attack!!! That equipment was NOT built for a baby for sure!!!

**this photo is of Queen V from The Secret Garden we found.. it was so fun to go exploring with her!"

giveaways and favorites

Have you ever been to 5 Minutes for Mom? They have great tips, ideas and places for Mommies to go check out! I love how they are a mom based blog with links to other mommies... some are trying to start businesses and others are voicing opinions and tips. At any rate they are having a giveaway... for a 9" digital frame! How cool is that??? I love to take a picture.. you can tell by my blog!! I do try and scrapbook- so that I have some me time and so that my family can remember things we have done together... memories to share.. "one of those times" as my brother and I call them.

Sarah and the Stampstars You will be starstruck after going there... check out her link to the Craft Critique It's her little baby that doesn't need to be nursed in the middle of the night!lol! It is a thriving blog and critiquing center full of ideas, creativity and one of the nicest gals in the blog world!!

Sentiments by Denise : I think of this lady and her blog often. She shares her creativity and her sense of calmness. One entry in her blog that I remember is to do your share (insert my name here) for your family with a smile on your face... I am a SAHM and I can either gripe while I pick up Polly Pocket, Pet Shop, Fairytopia, Barbie, Legos, cars, colored pencils, socks, shoes, sandals, stuffed animals... you get the picture or I can do it and say a quick prayer for the loved one I am caring for. Mind you- I don't like to do these things but from her kind words I remember that in my life it is for service. With almost a Masters Degree.. just have to finish my thesis... I do this for the ones I love. It will not last forever.. some day I just might miss the chaos that goes with little ones going from idea to idea.. scattering the things that encourage their mind to grow! lol!

Stampalicious Her style is "stylicious!" lol! FRAKs- you gotta go just see.... every Friday a cool card giveawy! Her humor is just too much... you gotta se it to believe it!

A Bit East : clean
refreshing
creative
unique
stamps
scraps
photography
mommy
it's all in here
go check her out!

Twisted Chick Her style is so carefree and full of life and energy! I love the bold patterns and colors!!! If you are looking for energetic- SHE is your gal!

gotta add more photography blogs.. will add some links :)
Ready Aim Click He explains how to get the shot! love this!
Jessica Sprague : oh so nice- shares her talents for phptograhy, stamping, and photoshop! If you don't understand something you cand send her a message and she will get back to you - PERSONALLY! How's tht for a helping hand!!! What a sweetie to share her time and talents!!

Hope some of these can help you... I love how personality shows in everyone's blog.. simple to sophisticated.. honest to humble.. love it all!

burgers and brew

what's for dinner??
burgers and brew..
my sister introduced this brew to me.. lovely brew!
wish I could say it made me creative in my scrappy room.. I did think I got a nice shot of it! lol! so I guess it made my photography creative with still life :)

needed something creative after rude people today..
my old college buddy has a sister that used to say, "there should be a separate lane [on the highway] for stupid people"... or was it a separate mall?? anyway.. I think rude people should have the same.. a separate lane, a separate mall and a separate town. My town is becoming increasingly rude.. wish it went back to horses and cows. At least then I would know what not to step on and when to get a bigger shovel!

ok... enough gritching... gotta get some shuteye...

spring storms

Jeanine's Cardinal

I love a good storm- always have.. the electrify me!
We have had our fill around here though..
With my kids they have emotions that run like the weather...
if it's crying outside there are tears inside- meaning if it's raining outside my kids are clingy, weepy and needy! lol!
if it's sunny and bright so are my lovelies..

my photos of my kids lately sure do show it. I hope to show more of my handiwork with my photos... still working with Manual.. and now picking up some photoshop tricks for when I still just don't get it on my camera.. hopefully I will beging to get it right out of camera each time!!! This is my goal right now! I am having things click in my head that I was told last summer...
guess that's what happens when you have 3 kids- it takes a while to sink in!

this photo is for my friend, Jeanine... she is on a mission to photograph a cardinal- I saw a young male while at the gardens the other day.. (blogger won't take the photo... will try again later.)

Snow for Easter??

I couldn't believe it! Snow on Holy Saturday.. they are calling for more tomorrow.
The kids had a great time at the grandparents' home..
Once again my Queen V was tempted.. by her grandmother.. all this coming on the heels of a stranger...


the other day while we were putting out eggs for an Educational Egg Hunt a gal tried to give my dd some chocoloate. She had already said thank you politely and told the lady she would save it for Easter Sunday because she gave it up for Lent.
The gal had some more chocolate and tried to give it to some mommies.. we all said no thanks with some adding that they had given it up for Lent. She came to me and said, "well, how 'bout you? Take it."
"no, thanks, I gave it up as well"
Another lady chimed in, "so close to Easter, I'm not blowing it now!"
So then this gal turns to my dd and says, "well, I just give it to her. She'll eat it."
I replied, "no, please don't tempt her. She gave up chocolates for Lent."
"Oh really," she said, "I gave her some earlier and I am sure she ate it!"
I smiled and said, "no, actually, she gave it to me to hold for her."
"OH! I would have thought she ate it... " She sounded rather disappointed. The lady tried anyway and dd who had been playing just said no and skipped off with another little 4 year old..

Can you believe the nerve of this gal?? I told Queen V I was so happy and proud of her for sticking with what she had said. We got in a big conversation about her faith, the lady tempting her.. Queen V's conclusion was that the lady was rude- not to her but to Jesus- imagine that!!! Out of the mouths of babes!

3 little ones and their blessings

My girl.. what a girl.. I see her here what she will become in the future.. a sweet gentle spirit..
she is so silly at times
so full of life
so fun to be around
and then it hits me
what a wonderful soul for God to have given to me to mother...
what a gift!













See the sun on her face?
A warm afternoon turned into a dreamy evening.
Right before bed the other night we went for a quick swing.
Look at the intensity in these eyes!!!
Are these the eyes of a future nun or mother?
Is this the child that will be a leader or a follower?
Nonetheless, we had a wonderful quick swing.
As a young girl I remember going for a run through the front yard in my nightgown after a bath. I had a favorite- thin, yellow, with a painting of an Indian Princess.. it made my dreams come closer I would think. I don't think my mom got it off of me if it weren't for going to school!













A place to sit with my boy.. love this.. he can sit and watch the cattle graze from his roost here..
wish I had a chair just like it..
Today he got ticked with himself so many times..
he was happy to see he could do a project at the library and nobody told him no, giggled that Mom and I were asking him where his parts of his face were... and then to take a fruit smoothie and dump it all over his tray only to smack his hands in it and make a huge mess- it was across the room on the wallpaper.. shhhhhhhhhh, don't tell my dh..... I got it all cleaned up.. he was giggling.. it was funny but I didn't want to encourage him.. even my girls were giggling at his giggling.. it's contagious!
on the way to Mass tonight I could hear his gears turning.. I turned around to see this smirk on his face.. his hands were moving like they were earlier when he was rather pleased with himself.. and then he started cracking up.. so funny!

First Day of Spring and Report Cards were blooming!

yipeee! The kids went to storytime today- all about spring!!! They made posters... Mr. T tried to eat some glue and Queen V was making sure it was all in a pattern- she worked very hard!

Report cards came home today.

I hated report cards as a kid.

Would my parents like what I did?

Would the scores be high enough?

Is that another mediocre grade??

being a former teacher I *know* what it takes to get into the universities.

It is NOT easy! I had a kid once who was class president from 8th grade through 12th, was involved in her church ministry/youth group, was on volleyball/basketball/track.. you get the picture- the ALL around kid- even graduated top of her class and took honors all the way!!! It took forever for the university to agree to take her!!! Kids have to walk in with a resume attatched before being accepted to college. This doesn't take into account how much it will be... that is for another blog entry...

I want to remember what it was like introducing my parents to my grades.... my thoughts... my work.. my daydreaming...

It was not until I was a senior in college that I took some tests to find out why I was not performing.. I was always told by Mom and Dad and the teachers, "if you just apply yourself you will get great grades and do anything!" Ugh! Being the 3rd of 4.. and being in between a dyslexic and an encyclopedia I kind of got overlooked. I talk to Mom about this frequently- not to make her feel badly but to let her know why I do what I do with my kids.. and probably even for reassurance that what I am doing with my kids isn't screwing them up! I think this is why I taught the way I taught... I liked teaching. I want teachers to be successful... and to know when they are not. I hope to someday help mentor more teachers.... for now I will correct mistakes others make, guide my little ones in their dreams, and pat them on the back for a job well done!

**ok, I know this LO has nothing to do with spring but I am on a roll!!! I love to share with you what I do to unwind at night! now it's time for some shut eye..... I think I am headed to the gardens tomorrow to scope out some great places for a shoot!

Cards for Troops

either way you do it the soldiers are waiting..
I know from reading so many historical pieces from men in war that they long to hear from "home"...

if you can, make and send a card to a soldier.
Iraq doesn't have a Hallmark

there is also this one:


Angel Stampers

just a simple note letting them know we are here, thanking them for taking on the duty of the missin abroad

love in bloom

I do have another kid- really, I do... :)
I love these pics of her- swimsuit, hair the way SHE wants, porcelain skin- sheer perfection! I love how she makes me a better person. The bottom right photo makes me almost drunk looking at it- so dreamy!

oh, she asked Mom what she wished for....
... mom said to be heatlhy, wealthy and wise. Queen V's response was, "noooooooooooooooooooo, you can't do that, Gran. You should wish to be a princess."
so much for being a potato or peanutbutter....

Since I don't have a Cuttlebug (an embossing machine) I do have some papers already embossed! I have had them forever and since embossing is "vogue" I thought I would take the chance to pull out papers I have and put them to use! and now Queen V has another page for her books!

what do you wish for??

my Queen V asked me this tonight..
Mama, what do you wish for?
I wish for your happiness and health.
No, Mama, what do you wish for?? you know not like that.. something!! Like you wish to be a ladybug or a fairy.
I wish for flowers to be all around the house that we don't have to weed.
Yea, that's a good one, Mama..
or you could wish for potatoes or peanutbutter.
I want to wish I am a potato or be peanutbutter.
Yea... hahahahahaha

Now, why didn't I think of that?? potatoes or peanutbutter. She is so silly!

whirlwind of an educational trip!

Alamo

Texas State Aquarium

Bird Island: no pics for this yet.. they are stuck on my cell phone. I can't figure out how to send them to the computer yet... The water was littered with windsurfers- how intoxicating for me!!! Oh, how I wish my sweetie was there so I could just borrow a board for a moment and let him watch the kids... another time perhaps!!!


National Seashore


Texas Capital

Peace Demonstration" this was outside the capitol when we came out of the building. Nothing like a demonstration of free speech. It is democracy in action. As a former social studies teacher it was exciting to see and to explain to my kiddos. We walked the halls where I explained the "rules" are made up, checked to see if they are fair (constitutional- and yes, I made my kids say this word) and written into lawbooks (which we saw the law library as well!)

As I dropped my dd off for school today I heard the DJ state that we only have a few more days left in this session and the representatives have only voted on one issue that has passed.. yep, one. You know, if we did that for our normal job we'd be sweating it out praying we could keep our job and not get laid off. As a former teacher if I didn't get a set of papers graded it was not pushed to the side but a pot of coffee was made and I read through those essays until it was done. Years ago Texans surrounded the capitol building itself and wouldn't let the representatives out until a decision had been reached... wonder what they would think if that happened now a days???? Maybe we could get the bills passed or put to death quicker without having things attatched to them to assure a death or passing. KWIM???? oh well... educatin on all parts... I pray that they make good decisions for our state and get it all accomplished...

cupcakes, pizza, polly pockets

What more does a 3 year old want for her birthday??
She made the plans and I made the invitations (which she told me she didn't like at all.. she picked out the stamps, ribbons and papers.. ugh! if it's like this now what is it going to be like in 10 years??)

We have pink cupcakes - which she told me weren't quite pink enough.. until we got to this point-
"stop, Mommy! it's PINK!"
"ok.. you lick this beater and let me get it all together..."
"I love you, Mommy, you're a genius!"

ahhhhhh, if life were so simple to be a genius getting the right amount of colored gel into the frosting.. by the way, I used Sarah and the Stampstar's recipe (thanks, Sarah!!!) Queen V loved it!


I had to use the birthday cake plate my dad had since he was a boy. Mom gave it to me when I got married- love it! My uncle saw it when Lady G turned one and was happy it was being used again. My grandmother bought it in a store in New Orleans while visiting a her sister, Vi. Anyway, I made a funfetti cake (love how moist those cakes are) and decorated it with one of Queen V's Polly Pockets and a squirrel.. and her new favorite color- pink!!

We had tons of pizza leftover so I sent some home with friends.. yep, adult goodie bags.. one less meal to fix this week or whenever :) Hey, pizza freezes you know!
The goodie bags the kids received had bubbles that had scents in them like mango, pineapple, grape, strawberries- all in the shape of icecream cones! hilarious! Charm lollipops, glow in the dark bracelets, and some tootsie rolls- all of these being some favorites of Queen V!

Favorite Thing about being 3

Mommy: Hey, Queen V, what was your favorite part about being 3?
Queen V: my favorite?
Mommy: Yea, your favorite thing...
Queen V: My favorite thing about being 3 is my cousin Lisa. She makes me happy. I love her.

all this without skipping a beat!! I so love the little girl she is becoming!
She melts my heart
She makes me crazy
She makes me laugh
She makes me think
She makes me a better mommy.

I love you Queen V!
I am so glad God gave you to me to guide through this world, what a gift I get each day being your mama.
Even if we butt heads we are "still friends"- we will always be Mommy and Queen V...
sweet angel...

I wonder what you are dreaming your last day of being 3....
you ran in my room this morning telling me all about your dream you had last night- so joyful and fun! I love that!!

can't download my daughter's play pics

I am so upset I can't stand it...

I can't download...
I took the greatest shots of her... saw them on the camera but when we got home I tried to put them on the computer and the file says they are not there...
the computer reads that there is information there.. .
I went to put the card back into the camera and it reads that there are no images....

have you ever had problems downloading or having the computer download from the chip???
I'm just heartsick!
help me if you can!

***UPDATE***
I got my pics!! not all of them but most of them.. Canon told me I was out of luck. Sans Disk said I was out of luck.. Wolf Camera told me I was out of luck.. I just refused to believe the... I got the pics and they are wonderful!!!
I did a memory image recovery thanks to some gals on ILP (they are so sweet!! thanks!!)

Passions and Definitions

such a wonderful thing to be in love!
to be passionate!
what are you passionate about?
what defines you?
are these 2 one in the same?
is there a difference???



I would love to know what makes you guys tick.. I see there are quite a few that drop by... leave me a comment....


no crafting today- but plenty of picture taking. I seem to be underexposing them.. figured out how to change the exposure tonight and we'll see if it will make a difference. I have a question about f-stops.. feel dumb asking it but I can't make the appeture go any higher than 4.0 Do any of you know why??? hmmmm

how many hobbies can one person have??

I think I have a sickness....
I jump from hobby to hobby...
hoping I will get the hang of it...

design for scapbooking
settings, composition, and color for photography
colors and techniques in stamping

I think I need a good pair of walking shoes... I need to get my fanny up and move it... lol! The closer I get to 40 the closer I don't want to have the "spread!" lol!
I love to work out- it gives me a sense of empowerment!
noone does it for you.. you have to do it yourself!




ahhhhhhhhhh but then calls my camera.... and now a new one I can't stand myself! I have spent some time surfing at 2Peas and then at KT to learn more. I have gone to the Canon forum but something tells me not to stick around... so I lurk and don't comment. I really want to learn how to get that shot.. the one SOOC (straight out of camera) that has someone say- she got it! She has the touch... right now I am lucky when I get that shot- you know??? I want to learn HOW and master it... I have the tool.. but need the time... with 3 little ones around it's tough!
Paintedmoon on 2P suggested reading megapixel myths and then someone else discussed reading this article. Both are really interesting ... at least to me.. a little food for thought about cameras.
Anyway, yesterday as we waited for Lady G to get out of school I got some shots of Queen V- hey, she was strapped in and couldn't go anywhere.... so I snapped away, dogearing my manual and adjusting the settings... I still underexposed and don't really know why so I had to use Levels and fill flash on these to get them ok- what do you think?
when blogger decides not to have hotflashes with uploading I will be back.. gotta get a quick shower... dh is snuggling our wee-one and is SNORING big time!

let's pretend

Lady G became sick this weekend.. poor babe-
I knew she was going to be because of her wierd sleep habits during the week- I could just tell. She came sleep walking into my room on Wednesday or Thursday and then got up on my bed and danced around.. saying, "let's pretend"
ok.. let's pretend, Lady G
"let's pretend I am mad"
"ok... you're mad... now what?"
"I dunno." then she climbs into my arms and sucks her thumb...

I take her back to her bedroom and put her back under the covers.
She appears again only to be talking to dh in the front room- he didn't know she was asleep... lol!
well, needless to say she missed her first sleepover/birthday party and a cousin's First Communion and her first Gymnastics meet. Sad day.. she came ripping into our room and I knew right away without touching her she had a fever and was going to miss her busy weekend... poor girl. She did get to pretend it was 1950 and go to a sock hop on Friday night... she had a great time!

soooooo let's pretend I am not late on getting cards posted...
let's pretend I am a super photographer and these shots I got were on purpose...
let's pretend I got allll the laundry done....
now- isn't that nice??? I get to blog??? lol!

We are going to start a new thing at The Shaker Box. A lot of blogs are posting about "blog candy" and Hemimom (aka Angela) also thought it would be a good idea to create some "Shaker Candy" so that is what we are going to do!!! I am the first to start this and will post some time this week what the first "Shaker Candy" will be!!! I am so excited!!! Are you ready to play?? Come over, join us- you know you want to... all the cool kids are doing it!!! What? you say you aren't a cool kid??? WEll... .we can PRETEND! lol! just kidding!!!



ok- so quickly - some photos of my son- love these shots even if they are dark... let's just pretend they are "warm!" Yeah, that's the ticket!! lol!

This card is created by Amy Rysavy. This gal has more galleries at more places than you can imagine!! She has one at Inky Antics and another at All That Scraps. She is also a designer for Gina K Each one of these sites has talented artists! You really should drop by Amy's blog to see her talents- she has many tutorials and explains her cards in great detail!

Keri Sereika aka Pink Lemonade shows off her talents in her galleries at Inky Antics where she is a moderator on the forum and at SCS You will find oooodles of work on her galleries to inspire your stamping whimsy!! I also love her gallery on her blog for Gina K grouping!

So.. let's pretend I had a lot of time to make cards to post here....
and let's pretend I have a lot of time to work my PSE2...
and let's pretend I got allll the laundry sorted, washed, folded and put away.....
and let's pretend I got to ride my girl today...

freebies and giveaways... had to tell you what I found!

PrismaColor Giveaway

Act Of Kindness

CK download

FRAK Friday

SU! blogger lottery tomorrow the information will be revealed :)

Inkastamp Blog Candy

Elsie's sketches

don't forget to link to the Craft Critique (it's in my sites to see -> )

brushes (donations accepted)

so many ideas!

For a little one'sirthday bash Would this not be the cuteset?
Queen V already has plans and you cross her path you'd be invited too! lol!
Polly Pocket
Pizza
Cupcakes
NO boys

I think Sarah has the best ideas! So since she is so groovy I thought I would share her card today! It's reminicent of cards we gave as kids but with her own twist- she made it into a little book! She is so sweet and giving of her talents- and she has many. You can find lots of tutorials for fun ideas for an adfult and a child- just now to find the time! lol! She once told me it was her ambition to have a giant shoebox swap for SCS. How fun would that be??? What is a shoebox swap you ask? Well, it's when a group of gals get together to stamp a set of cards. Prior to coming the individual creates one stamp as the example for her "shoebox." Inside said box are kits for all the other participants to copy that card! She will have collected the inks, stamps and cut out paper, ribbons and whatever else they want on the card... ool idea, huh? I would love to do this some day but since Mr T is stil nursing it's just not my time yet- maybe this fall :)

Yesterday wad a first.
I had my first Starbucks.
I think I have to go to confession it was so sinful!
Peppermint Mocha,
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm good!
Have you ever gone? What did you get???

After that I trotted down the street to a toystore with the wee ones and Mom. She - Mom- was having a blast!! Wait till you see what we got there- so many litte goodies for Easter baskets and Queen V's birthday! Next to that is a new store that sells cheese curds. I so love these and so do the kids! They don't quite squeak like the ones I found in Algoma, Wi. but they are as close as I can get! I got another cheese at this store the other day- apricot stilton- blech! We threw it away! Then into the car and down the highway... to get....

A NEW CAMERA!!!

Can you stand it???!!!? Pinch me!Pinch me! It didn't really hit me until I almost peed in my pants- not really - just an expression! After playing with it last night I have come to the conclusion that I am a blithering idiot!!! lol! It will take some time, practice and rereading the manual several times before mastery- but what a fun time, huh?

obsessions

My friend, Twistedsoda, is asking about obsessions.. what do we obsess about?
being late for my dd's school
learning digi
a new camera... still don't have one and it drives me nuts
selling on ebay.. gotta get the nerve to put myself out there
being heard... not letting others tromp on me (it happened 2 times this past weekend)
having a presentable home
spending enough time with my kids

As I looked on the fridge tonight while gathering things to pull together for dinner I saw pics of my dd when she was 18 mo, 24 mo and right before she started kindergarten... I remember taking that 18 mo pic like it was last night!! I wondered then what would her life be like in a few years... highschool... college.. and now I DON'T obsess about that- I want to savor each moment that I have with the kids I want to read with them, color with them, swing with them, talk and listen to them.... When my kids ask me to push it's all too easy to say no, not now.. when a push is what is really needed... dust bunnies will still be there- you know??? leftovers are fine and we really don't need placemats for every meal :) She can read now and is reading BlueBerries for Sal to impress her daddy for Valentine's. It used to be one of his favorite books when he was a boy and I found it at the library!!! How exciting... I want to savor the NOW ... I obsess about that I guess... savoring the NOW... and not worrying what the future may hold... I know the future makes her sprout her wings and fly away...
the other 2 are catching up fast... in their own way..

I obsess about being there for them.. I think it's a good obsession right now- don't you?

How about another fab Valentine??

This one is created by
Michelle Laycock She is a true ink artist!! details, details, it's in the details- from the different color inks, to embossing, to glitter, hemp, beads and eyelets- this card has it all!! Her blog is amazing and she has been doing it for so long. Like Sarah Moore stated in her blog about Michelle- it would take a good long while to sift through the files Michelle has!! Go check out her files and see what goodie you can pick up and try!