Heritage Day... Rising Stars!

Noah and his friends singing a humorous tune for heritage day... I am so very proud of him and he loved every minute of it! Way to go Noah!

Good Friends... New Beginnings...

Two beautiful friends make my days at work amazingly fun and easy to enjoy... thanks to Dana and Pattie, Steph and Andrea and the other wonderful girlies that I work with everyday. Yet, to be the unsuspecting victim of picture taking on the playground during recess... yes... technology at its finest... we love to "get each other" when we are not looking... Dana got me this time and sent me a "gotcha" moment when I was laughing at something Pattie had said when we had just reached the playground... good times and memories like this... more reasons for me to love them. What is even funnier is when it shows up on your Blackberry... love my girls... and the 9 school days we have left! Plus the weather that allows me to wear sleeveless sweaters and open toed heels to work. My favorite season...

The Backroom Band Plays the Dixie...

Since the beginning of 2011, my friends and I have started a new tradition. The first Saturday night of each month is reserved for all of us to take a drive to TN to listen to the Backroom Band do what they do best at the Dixie cafe. They have such a wonderful chemistry and fun mix of humor and beauty in creating music. I can listen all night and usually do. Not only do they make an awesome sound but in between sets, they make the crowd laugh with their wit and banter... it is great to witness the ease at which they play together... the food is pretty good as well ;)

Boys of Summer...




You know it is summer when it is baseball season. I know it is summer when I start to spend my evenings at the park watching the boys practice or play. This summer, I have a cool new toy called the Q3... an awesome video camera that I actually really am not very adept at using yet... I will get better, but right now I am posting a few of the "first" videos that I have captured using it. They are also some of Josh's "firsts", which is pretty cool... in and of itself... his first slide into home and his first hit. This weekend I am going to try my hand at recording one of my favorite hometown bands... we will see if I can do a little better with the recording, a tripod might help :) Awesome to be able to have so much to enjoy in one's life.

My Momma Told Me There Would Be Days Like This...

Today we woke up at 7 and made breakfast together... bacon and waffles. Then we went to the park where I ran and the boys caught caterpillars... in a box... and left in the house to escape...We then had to find said caterpillars before they could wreak havoc on our home. After all of that fun, we decided it was time to prepare ourselves to venture to the Vet's park to see the classic cars on display. Those were super cool. I took several pictures for the boys on the Blackberry and then we were off to Bowling Green to meet friends to eat and play at Chuck E. Cheese and enjoy a night watching the Hot Rods play ball. We love to watch the Hot Rods play... well, I like to watch them play... the boys like the popcorn, the cotton candy, the cola, the ice cream, the foam fingers, the balls, the miniature bats... etc. Once it started to rain in the 6th inning, I made an executive decision that it was time that this day of fun and adventure was finally over... The boys were out of commission before I ever hit the parkway... I have to say... momma said there'd be days like this and I am glad.

Rosco... one of two of the Hot Rod's mascots...

If I Should Die Tonight - Marvin Gaye

Learning Never Ends...
It seems like, no matter what I am doing and no matter how old I get, I am consumed with learning all I can about things that intrigue me. I have recently been introduced to the "behind the scenes" world of music, and reminded of the music of my past. Somehow, it has impressed upon me the importance of passion, love and hope that music instills in us... the freedom of words to express what we cannot of our own volition and actions say to another... with one or two songs, we can tell the entire story of our life to someone or tell them how we feel when words fail us. Joy, peace, anger, frustration, experience, bliss... all encompassed in the notes and rhythms and harmonies coming together. Music is truly an amazing entity that permeates every facet of my life...

As Long As It Matters...

I am a few years older, much wiser and a LOT happier than the last time I posted on this blog... a great deal of changes have taken place in our lives since we visited with each other last... most of them good, some of them difficult, but all of them for the better. As I look back on the past two years, I see a year and a half of being a single mom in a doctorate program, learning how to live on my own in a comfortable and wonderfully content way... I am amazed at how truly easy life can be when I realized that it isn't about trying to make everything perfect or right or good, but to be myself, live to laugh, to enjoy every minute I can and to make myself and others smile. I am so thankful for this new way of living. One more step in the right direction...

With that said... let me share some recent and some, not so recent, photos and events...

Let's start with recent, shall we? Surprised my bestie with Sugarland tickets for her birthday...

After 13 years of friendship, she deserves so much much more from me! We have started and nearly completed half of our doctoral work together over the last year and a half... I am so blessed by her frienship, it is a true gift, one that most people do not get the chance to experience and for that I am thankful.


Now, if you will humor me and travel back in time a little... spring break with Aunt Riki... Disney World... 2010... A trip to remember! Some of our favorite things? Soarin', Toy Story ride, Star Wars show, Mickey Mouse (of course)... so many things... so little time!

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Baby, it's cold outside!

But no matter how cold, or wet or rainy or wild it is, Grandpa always comes through with some amazing and fun game to make memories with my boys... On this particular visit, it was cold, and boy do I dislike the cold... we are not friends. I did manage to brave the elements long enough to capture the main event on camera and it was worth it! So, I present to you our newest game with Grandpa... marshmallow wars! Can you say sticky, spit covered marshmallows? Josh tried hard to keep up with the big boys, but eventually we had to minimize his shooter to allow for size and age... he did a great job and the smiles were plentiful!

Noah was ready to take on the world and Grandpa with his new marshmallow shooter... He got a lot of practice shooting at the G-pa!

I love this shot of Seth, over the shoulder... can you see his marshmallow headed straight for the man in yellow? Good shot Seth!

Boy is Grandpa an ace shooter... he pegged each boy with zingers! He showed them that even 'old guys' can hold their own (his own words). He is still amazing! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for coming to visit, for bringing the dogs and for spending a wonderful week making memories with me and my boys... we love you!

Here is the pre-war construction... that is one thing I love about Grandpa... he has so much to teach them... I want them to learn as much as they can from him... he has some good lessons to teach that they all need! This is my favorite part of having kids... watching my mom and dad pass down life lessons to my kids in fun ways... they will learn to value learning like I do... another good lesson here was to take your time and do things correctly, not hurried but thoughtfully... we could all use a refresher on that lesson... thanks Grandpa!
Grandma teaches them about being creative... but she isn't a fan of me posting her picture, so I will give her kudos for the "Ghost Graveyard" -very cool- you can see it online at ohio.com-kid's crafts... But here, she lends her creative hand and poses the boys for the post-war shot... gotta love boys...especially the big ones! I hope everyone enjoys every day and remembers that life is about making memories... and my parents have always been the best about making that memorable!

Growing...

One reason I scrapbook is because as beautiful as the color and the thoughtfullness of these roses are... they perish and the memory fades... when I scrapbook this photo, I journal about the purpose for these particular roses... the reason for the beautiful color and I remember the emotion behind the actions... that is one reason I scrapbook... Here are 3 more...

One... as fast as he grows... the freckles, the highlighted hair, the kooky smile... his amazing personality...

His first puppy... Copper... because one day he will be a dad and he will be thinking about getting a puppy for his kids... and he will see this photo and remember the feelings and memories that surrounded this moment and he will say yes...to a puppy for his own little ones...

And here is two... for his precocious personality and his love of life... for that blond hair and that amazing smile... for the sweet boy that he can be...with his new puppy Todd... who his still wants to squish when he holds him...

Three... for the love that they have for each other... even though sometimes they won't even admit they like each other... for this... I have proof... For these moments, I scrapbook, so that they will remember all of the wonderful moments that were their childhood...

For this... knowing he will soon be a teen and capturing these smiles might be few and far between... for now... for these moments... for the boys I love... for our friends... for our family... for each other... beautiful memories...

For this little guy, who won't stay little for long... for the smiles and laughter he will bring...

So many happenings...

It's fall... the weather is cool, time for jackets, pants and socks and shoes... can I say I don't like the cold without you getting upset with me? I really do not like the cold at all... the pants, the shoes, the layers...ugh! BUT, I do love some of the things this time of year brings... the beautiful colors, time outside with the kids... the new puppies in our backyard... the pumpkin patch and all of it's bright colors across the street... I love those things...Fall break in 4 short days... Mom, Dad and the siblings coming for a visit... time with them is so precious and short... football...soccer...

costumes... pictures to scrap... laughter... anticipation... The Fall Scrap Retreat with April, Pattie and Stephanie- I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to that... our new prayer group... my friends in Kristy and Adam... the blessings of this life... even though times are hard... love... joy... peace...my beautiful children... my friends, thank you for your friendship...

Making Memories that will last a lifetime...

My mom and dad have always been the best at making memories for us as kids...from stockings at Christmas, to camping in the summer, there were always things that we could count on and that I still remember many, many years later. So, the tradition of memory making continues. Grandpa drives 8 hours for Grandparents' Day each time one of our children is in Kindergarten. It is kind of a big deal around here, he drives all day, to spend one hour eating breakfast, listening to songs and looking at pictures, all to make my children feel special. To him and to me, it is worth all of the time and effort for that one hour. I am so proud of my dad and my kids for the memories that we make, that they will carry with them for the rest of their life. It would not be possible if it wasn't for Grandma, staying home to take care of Gabby and Bosco.Then comes the one thing that the boys look forward to each time they see Grandpa... it starts the minute that he arrives... "Grandpa, can we have a gummy worm war?" Grandpa replies, "Do you have any gummy worms?" and it is on... The last night of each trip, Grandpa, armed with two packages of gummy worms, wages war on unsuspecting grandsons... who delight in the onslaught and rally to try to get Grandpa down. But what mom knows is that it has always been 3 to 1, and Grandpa always seems to win even though he is severely outnumbered! Thanks Grandpa for making memories for my kids that will last a lifetime, and for giving me something else fun to scrap at the retreat in November. Another thing that we try to do is to get the boys involved in anything and everything that will increase their self-esteem, community awareness or overall ability. Here are two of my beautiful boys after singing to the local board of education. Noah didn't sing, but impressed everyone with his well-dressed self. He loves to dress up and look nice, and I love that about him, and I love this picture of them showing all the love they have for each other! Make memories with your spouse, children, significant others and friends that you and your family will remember for years to come!

A few layouts in honor of Scrapbook Village Retreat sign-up...

Sign up for the Fall Scrapbook Village Retreat starts at 9:00 am tomorrow morning! Only 70 or 75 spots are available... I will be calling for 3 of those spaces girlies!! If you would like to come and enjoy the fun... visit www.scrapbookvillage.net or call 270-651-7171 tomorrow morning at 9 to reserve your spots! We will have a GREAT pajama contest on Saturday night and I always come home with tons of free stuff and a lot of great ideas from other wonderful scrappers... Michelle, Michelle, Debbie and all my other FB/SBV Retreat friends... can't wait to see you there!

School... OMG!

Ok, even a teacher has moments when they say..."Who decided to start the school year at the beginning of August when it is still 95 degrees and sunny out?" I also wonder what to do with 14 little boys in my tiny classroom and then what to do with my own 3 sons after school to get all of the wiggles out... But, I am blessed to be a teacher and love my job... even if the planning and political part of it drives me nuts sometimes... I love the smiles and understanding that lights their little faces... Here are my own on the very first day of school... and, tell me honestly what you think of my "new" do...lol

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Where do you start?

As I open up my browser, I think about what I want to post here, to share with all of you. I want to share my thoughts and memories on these pages. Tonight, as I sit here, I see how the process for sharing on this page is the exact same as the way I start a scrapbook page. Everyone has their own style, their own process for everything they do, and I always worried that I was doing it wrong. One thing that I have learned, while writing this blog, and scrapbooking pages, is that there is no wrong way... only my way. My way is the right way... for me... and your way is the right way... for you. And the great thing about that is that I can share my ways, ideas and styles with you and you with me. Then I can take the ideas that you inspire me with and meld them into my style and vice versa. So, as I blog tonight, I realize that I like to start telling my story with the picture. First, I scroll through my photos and decide what I want to share (this is the same process I go through for scrapbooking). What I have noticed about my photos over the years is that I never use my camera without a layout scheme in mind, for the blog, a page or both. Here, I was thinking about how the boys had no idea how to skate on skateboards. We only purchased them the night before our outing to the new skate park. They were so excited that they failed to realize you needed to know how to skate before you actually could ride the "bowl" . So, we spent much of our time watching the "pros" who had mastered the art of skateboarding. I really think they enjoyed that as much as actually skating. That is the story I wanted to tell when I took each of these photos. The scrapbook layout, for me, comes when I take the pictures... the story tells itself. Then I add the color and the embellies... I think because I can say it is my process... I can say I love it and will always love the ease in which creativity comes my way. I hope that you give your creativity a chance to flow in it's own way, enjoy what you do, your way, today and let the story you want to tell come out naturally. The boys will one day love to remember how they couldn't skate and watched others. What a good day! xox

Seth & Noah will one day be able to skate the bowl, but right now they are content to watch. So am I...

Josh is just so serious... here... only here... everywhere else he is my little monkey, wild and loud!

A Cool Scrapbook Link and A New Favorite Layout...

Scrapbooked with April yesterday and I, as usually, get irritated when a title doesn't pop into my mind... so, I googled scrap titles and found the most AWESOME link... check it out...http://www.scrapbook.com/titles.php Pick the category that you are scrapping and then a huge list of titles pops up... that's where I found the title for the above layout. I also used "Glimmer Mist" by Tim Holt (Tattered Angels) for the title. I used old, mismatched stickers to create the title, then sprayed glimmer mist over the whole thing, let it dry, then peeled off the stickers. I used embossed patterned paper for a cool look... I love the way it turned out! I also pulled out that always in style threading water punch from Fiskars'. Let's scrapbook again today! Leave me a comment and tell me what you think about the layout and tell me which Weird Al song you like better... White & Nerdy or Ebay... enjoy your day!

Took this pic last night... yes... they both fell asleep like this... it had been a long day... isn't it amazingly sweet? I posted a new slide show to the right... check it out... tell me what you think. I also started reading a new series... the arcane society... started with The Perfect Poison... which happened to be the sixth book in the series. But I really am enjoying them, not my usual read.

You know you are loved when..

Your best friend creates a layout featuring the two of you compared to two elderly rhino ladies who run off any male, young or old, just because they know they can~ who ~ are affectionately referred to by the zoo staff as the two old b******. So sweet! Love you April... very creative layout, using the CTMH Magic Moments Level 2 pack. Such a cute and fun idea... love it!

Gotta Love the Zoo...

The way it makes us think about ourselves, the way the kids are amazed at the size and power of the animals, and the way we enjoy seeing animals that we don't normally see every day. My boys are especially amazed at the gorillas because of how silly they act even though they are huge and powerful.

Noah compares his hands to a gorilla's. We thought Noah was a big kid for 7 years old.

Josh, the baby, still looks small compared to his brothers (and is dwarfed by a gorilla) at 5 years old.

Seth ponders the size of his hands compared to the gorilla and I would love to know what else is swirling around that creative brain of his when I took this shot.



These pictures were taken this summer (boys were 9, 7, 5). We took photos in the same place last summer and I scrapbooked those pictures... I can't wait to scrap these and compare the two. This is a great way to show the ways the boys have grown and to show how somethings will always be awe inspiring to them. Have a great weekend! Visit the zoo and scrap some of your own memories.

The boys last year at 8, 6, and 4 years old... look how much they have grown!