Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...

I guess that makes me Humpty Dumpty. Ouch. Last night in the middle of the night I brought Kaycey some cough medicine (kid's bedrooms are upstairs). On my way back down, I must've overstepped or something (I didn't have any lights on) and my foot slipped. I landed on my tailbone and slid down the remaining stairs. At least I didn't tumble down, I guess. But today I have a sore tail bone (not the first time I've injured it, so I think it's remembering the trauma it suffered in the past--like when I was a cheerleader and I was tossed into the air, and no one caught me....) and my shoulder is sore (I put my arm down to attempt to stop my fall). Well, no broken bones, but OUCH nonetheless. Darn stairs. I had to have the two story house.

quiet day...

until the snow storm comes later!! Right now I am listening to the girls playing (though I can't quite figure out what they are playing. SOmething with animals, I hear some "yeehaws", and then there was something about choosing between being a cleaner and a pick 'n save worker. I wonder where they get their ideas from sometimes) Cal and Mike are at soccer. Mike volunteered to be the coach for Cal's team, as there were no other takers. Some of the Dad's said they would help, but we'll see. Cal has never played soccer before, and Mike hasn't played in probably twenty-some years. Hopefully it goes okay. Cal is on an all boys team, and they travel to different places (not so close places out here in the country!!) I don't know if I'm ready for this growing up stuff.

WHich brings me to another point, the growing up stuff. We went to the school dance last night (at their current school) and I was shocked. We did attend last year as well, but I remember them playing the songs by Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, and High School Musical. For this year's dance, I am not joking when I say I felt like I was at a bar or club. They played rap music (now generally I don't have a problem with any music, but at a dance for K-6th graders, TOTALLY inappropriate, I thought). It wasn't even the fact it was rap music, but some of the songs I couldn't believe I was hearing. Another one that was played "Sexy back". Now, I like Justin Timberlake, but REALLY?? I was appalled. And the way some of the girls were dressed, oh my goodness. Fifth and sixth grade girls. What are their parents thinking. I'm feeling better every day about the decision to switch schools. Even if our kids aren't happy with that decision right now.

So this morning I went on the new school's website and looked around. Here's the list of the activities/sports I found that are offered: band, forensics, drama/talent nights, junior choir, Computer, Math, & Science Club, Pioneers (like girl/cub scouts), Co-ed Soccer grades 3-8, Girls' Volleyball grades 4-8, Co-ed Cross Country grades 3-8, Boys' Basketball grades 3-8, Girls' Basketball grades 3-8, Girls' Cheerleading grades 5-8, Boys' Wrestling grades K-8, Girls Softball grades 5-8, and Boys' Softball grades 5-8. And they are in need of a cheerleading coach...I'd love to do that, but we'll wait and see. Either way, I think this will be a great place to be.

yay me!

look what I won today through an Ali Edwards giveaway (I've been trying to win something forever on all these blogs and sites!!

I don't know exactly what from this I won, but it looks like fun!

my pages have a home

Last night I made a huge accomplishment!! ALL of my finished pages are now in albums. But earlier in the day I was so torn. Do I buy the D-rings because they fit so many more pagesand look nice on a shelf? Or something more like the Colorbok or World Us??? I ended up buying 3 American Craft D-ring albums yesterday, one for each child (pink for Maddie, a periwinkle for Kaycey, red for Cal). I don't really have their albums color coded, though it would probably look nicer if they were, I kind of just have gotten whatever. After putting all the pages I had into the new D-rings, Cal and Kaycey's are already pretty full. Maddie's is the only album not bursting at the seams. None of the pages are in order, but I don't really care about that. Since I don't scrap in order, I figure why put them in order now? I'd have to keep rearranging constantly. They also each have a full postbound album of earlier pages I have done as well. And Cal and Kaycey each have a strictly school related album. I started a birthday album for Cal, too, but have only finished doing 5 of his birthdays. It feels so good to have the pages in an album instead of in a huge pile waiting to fall over. Oh, by the way, there is still a tall pile of pages that are almost-finished-but-not-quite that will join in the other books once the pages are completed. So I lined up the albums on this shelf under the table in the great room. There are two 12x12 D-rings under the table that don't fit on the shelf; one is full of pages that are mine or for me, the other is full of class layouts still awaiting pictures! My dream is to have a big white bookcase thing built that is deep enough to house all my albums and have that on display in the great room. So these are almost all my albums (except one red one currently being used for a class at the store, a 6x6 friend album, and our trip to Disney album. That one is still awaiting many pages to be finished...) yay me!!

Just curious, how do you organize your albums--chronologically, by child, event, holiday, or other? What is everyone else's album of choice??? I felt like that was one of the biggest decisions I ever made!!! : ) Not sure I'll stick with those, but they are relatively inexpensive and they work for now!

big decisions...

So we are 99% sure that all the kids will go to the private school come fall. Yes, I did turn in that registration for Maddie. On the day it was due. And I hand delivered it at church. We attended the open house for the school, and we really REALLY like it. Maddie's 4K is just three mornings a week for 3 hours. It's just that she is SO ready to be surrounded by kids her own age, learning to share and make friends. I can't be her best friend forever : ) though I wouldn't mind. She is just really ready for that experience; we've been working on words and letters alot. She can spell Mom, Dad, Moo, and Maddie on the computer all by herself. While the other two kids are a bit sad at the prospect of a new school again, it will be for the best. Cal was impressed with the sports and activities they have at the new school (a whole ton of sports for grades 3-8. Only basketball is offered at the current school in grades 5 & 6, if there are coaches). One big reason for the switch (there are several) is the school goes through 8th grade. No middle school. Big plus, in our opinion. Two--Kaycey STILL has issues here and there with kids making comments about her hair, that she's weird, etc. Three--Cal has befriended the class bully (which bully would be the complete opposite of what Cal is) and there have been nothing but problems--with phone calls & notes from the teacher. I am not blind and I am aware these things can happen at any school. But I, having gone to private school for 10 years, know that morals and values are so much more important, as is the way issues are dealt with, since everything is Christ-centered. I am not badmouthing public education. I believe, though, that since I had the opportunity to go to private school, our kids should have the same opportunity if we are able to give it to them (which we are.) We are just disappointed it didn't work out to send them to the private school right off the bat, because that's what we should've done (they only offer 1/2 day kindergarten which would've meant 3 trips a day out this way while we were building the house). So, that's one decision made.

I've been talking and considering going back to school, but going for pharmacy after looking into the program just is not possible. We are talking 18 credit semesters. For a few years. I get stressed out easily; yikes, I can only imagine what that would do to me. While I would like to complete my degree in something (anything at this point) I may just take a few online classes toward my Bachelor's this summer.

Off to work @ the store...

pages to share

This past weekend, lucky me got to go away for a scrapbook weekend with friends! I wanted to share what I got done. Some of the pages were pages I had made as an instructor, and NOW I finally titled and embellished them! I can't wait to go away again, hopefully in September. It's a long post...enjoy : )

"Sister time" Maddie and Kaycey

"the perfect pair" Maddie and Papa

"little sister, big personality" Maddie

"so sweet" all 3 kids

"poser" Maddie

"Maddie as Ariel" Maddie

"celebrate" Maddie

"favorite guy" Mike and Cal

"hard at work" Cal

"Make a Splash" Cal

"His little buddy" Cal

"go climb a tree" Cal

"smile" Kaycey

"rock on" Kaycey

"birthday girl" Kaycey

"you are my sunshine" Kaycey

"sweetness" Kaycey

"home sweet home"

MTV

Maddie TV, that is. This is so funny.

and I quote...

I emailed Walgreens' customer service/help address listed on the photo website. I was pleased to see a message in my inbox within hours. At first I thought maybe it was one of thsoe automatic email messages saying "thank you for your inquiry, we will get back to you soon..." or whatever. Instead it was a real emal. And I quote:

"Thank you for contacting Walgreens.com Customer service.This is in response to your email regarding the technical difficulties you experienced while using Walgreens Photo Center.We apologize that your shopping cart emptied while you were attempting to place an online photo order. If your photo cart empties again, please enter the following URL into your browser’s address bar immediately:http://photo.walgreens.com/accesscache. Please include the first five lines of the results from the“Cache Elements & Status” page with your reply to this email."

Not the response I was looking for, I guess.

nothing like good music and good friends

to make one feel better! We had two birthday parties to attend yesterday following the photo incident, and following those I went to the scrap store. On the way, I was listening to 102, and they had such good music on. I turned it super loud and sang along. It made me feel much better. I also decided to make a best song list...I'll go with songs you turn up loud and sing along every time. I won't say of all time--necessarily, but most of them would fit that category on my list, too. Songs that, if I had an ipod or mp3, I'd play them over and over and over. In no particular order.
In the Meantime--Spacehog
It's the end of the world as we know it--REM (I love REM)
Cannonball--the Breeders
Freefalling-Tom Petty (okay, just about any Tom Petty)
Beds are Burning--Midnite Oil
Flagpole Sitta--Harvey Danger
Going the distance--Cake
Santa Monica--Everclear (love alot of Everclear, too)
Cumbersome--7 Mary 3
Mr. Brightside--the Killers
Lazy Eye--Silversun Pickups
Get it together--Beastie Boys
Candyman--Christina Aguilera
Good--Better than Ezra
I'm the only one--Melissa Ethridge
Redneck Woman--Gretchen Wilson
Laid--James
I'd Run Away--the Jayhawks
Stay--Lisa Loeb
Low--Cracker (uh, I dig them, too)
Take the skinheads bowling--Camper van Beethoven
Geez, I didn't even list DMB or Counting Crows. Well I have everyone of those CD's. I could go on forever. I think I need to get an mp3 player. I don't know what I'd do with it. But it would be full of good music.

no way

I can't even believe it, but it happened again. I had 99 photos in the cart, was adding one more and ready to check out. Then it told me I had one photo in my cart. This sucks.

ready to barf

All week I have been spending alot of time uploading pictures to walgreens site. I had 100 pictures in my cart, ready to go. All the quantities and sizes were ready to go, and it was buy 50 pictures for $5, a good deal. As I go to check out, I click on "update total" to see the price. Instead it clears my cart. I hit the back button, but no luck. My week's worth of work, gone : ( I don't even have the patience or energy to go through all those pictures and try to remember which ones I had chosen (we are talking a span of 7 years). Ugh on technology.

I have a love/hate relationship....

with Target. Oh, how I love that store. Oh, how I hate how much I spend there.

The 2 older kids had strep two weeks ago. And now I have strep throat, so I've been feeling blah since Sunday (I found out it was strep today), probably the reason I haven't been blogging or on the computer much at all. Just not feeling up to it. I am hoping this terrible sore throat goes away soon (the penicillin should help...) Hmmm, who's next?? Maddie or Mike, I am guessing.

sure signs spring isn't here just yet...

The weather was much worse up toward the Dells area. It started with rain, which turned to ice/sleet/hail, then to snow. Just as we were leaving, of course. I guess I should start watching the news or something!!! Salters/plows hadn't hit the roads early enough. Up that way they were expecting 5-8" of the white stuff. Here's the ice/snow storm we were stuck in while driving home from the Dells...



Traffic backed up for miles and miles...




Cars in ditches and pileups all over the place...


Glad we made it home in one piece. It was an exhausting little trip. I think Mother Nature might be bi-polar.

sure signs of spring....

playing ball

climbing trees & short sleeves


lots of mud & puddles!

the muddy "stream" running in the ditch in front of our house

and we're off!

to the Dells, that is. We are leaving first thing in the morning. The kids, myself, my sister, Dad, and Stepmom went last February. Mike was working on the house full force back then, so he stayed home. It's nice the 5 of us are going--last year was Maddie's first trip there, so I'm sure he'll be amused at how much fun she has. We are going with 18 other people. Yep, you read that right. I know it sounds downright insane, really. But we (along with a handful of Mike's friends from college and their kids) rented 2 three bedroom condos at the Wilderness. We've never stayed there before, but I've heard it's great. It should be fun, but rather interesting with so many adults and young kids (our kids are the "old" kids in the bunch). And those who know me well I think know that I do not tolerate groups of young children particularly well (I'm talking several kids under the age of 5 or so). I know that sounds awful, but more so it's that I just get incredibly stressed and crazy worried, more than I normally already am. Anyhow, at first we were going to go the whole weekend, but 1-we are trying to save $$$, and 2-thought it would be best to do the one in case the sleeping/room arrangements are just too crazy with so many people. It is just for one night, which I'm sure will be plenty. It's not like we can use the outdoor waterpark area now!!

It's been a beautiful past two days here. Lots of time outside. A little glad that the weather is supposed to get colder and rainy, I won't feel so guilty about being indoors the rest of the weekend!!

Here are a couple cards I made yesterday. The first one is a wedding card (we have a wedding in April and one in May). The second one is a congrats on your pregnancy card (our friends from Chicago are expecting)

Sunday surprise

Woke up this morning and was told to take a look in the bonus room above the garage (about 1/3 of that room or so is going to be my scrap space eventually). Here is what I found:

Yay for flooring!! Mike kind of surprised me and said he wanted to buy flooring for it yesterday. I didn't really think he'd do the floor right away. The bonus room is about 700 sq ft. My space is about 14x16 or so. So the rest of the room will be carpeted playroom--future "game" room with fussball, air hockey, our big screen TV, and couches/chairs, etc. We are considering getting carpet tiles in different colors, but need some examples for ideas first. I can actually use the room now. Except that it's currently 44 degrees in there. But I can turn the furnace on for that room if I want. It obviously still needs baseboard & trim around the windows, and I'll paint it eventually. But how exciting!! I am eager to host a big crop up there!!!! But we might need an elevator to get all our crap upstairs : )

I went to our store's crop yesterday, and it was so much fun!! Everything looked awesome & everyone seemed to have a great time (except for the lack of heat now and then, but that wasn't our fault!!) Good job on the wonderful work you did, gals!! I had alot of fun and it was nice to hang out with everyone again. Anyhow, I did get some stuff done, too. I worked on my class pages--which I am really super excited about! And these few...you can click on them to see them bigger.

"our family according to Maddie--age 2"

and way back when, about a year and a half ago, I did this page (without photos) for a "Power pages" class. I FINALLY stuck pictures & title on it. It's simple, but I like it. I have about 60 more pages awaiting photos....

Cal and Kaycey, 2002..not completely done yet, but you get the idea.