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!

Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats | Thanksgiving Video Channel | Family Fun

Check out these CUTE and SUPER EASY treats to make with your kids for Thanksgiving... Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats Thanksgiving Video Channel Family Fun

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!