7xmas2010

With Love Chartreuse Christmas Card

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Shutterfly love!

Let me just show some love for Shutterfly! I've been creating books for years through Shutterfly, and it's that time of year again...the time that I spend hours going through pictures, uploading pictures, changing backgrounds, moving around photos, and adding captions...but I love it! I have made at least a dozen or so books, my most favorite of all being the 8x8 hard cover albums. The quality just can't be beat!

I'm so in love with their beautiful invitations and cards. The bad thing? They are all SO cute, I don't know what to choose! I did use this Shutterfly first year invite for Sadie's first birthday. How cute is that?? I am torn on what to use for a Christmas card, though. I'm loving these! There are so many options-in size, folding or non-folding card, and number of photos. And have you seen the calendars you can make? What an awesome gift idea!

This year, I'm eager to get started on books for me. That's right. ME. I've been spending hours and years on making these beautiful treasures for everyone else. Now it's my turn! : )

Check out their awesome promotion going on now here!

addicted

oh, so addicted. Like I can't stop. I can't get enough these days:

kits kats (cause they're yummy)

etsy

ali edwards

diy blogs

I am proud to say that I am keeping up on my December daily, so far, this year. If I do one again in the future, I think I will leave the numbers out of it, and add them later. That way I can skip days if I want. It's coming along nicely, though I'm having a heck of time trying to create a text box as a circle in word (so that the words make the circle). I used to know how to do this. I'm stumped. Oh well. I'll make it work somehow.

Let me just say, I have this awesome feeling about this. I'd love to keep up on this type of scrapbooking (I suppose, much like the 365 idea, or Project Life) but I can't see myself sticking to it for a year straight. I sure do like the concept, though.

As for do it yourself blogs, I think I want to be a carpenter, or at least be handy with a couple of tools. Check this out. I must make these!!

where oh where did my baby go??

My baby is ONE.

She was not particularly interested in eating the cupcake.

But, wow! She LOVED the singing of "Happy Birthday". What a ham. We even sang it twice while she laughed and clapped excitedly.

Family picture.

A picture the day after her party with all her wonderful presents. What's this? Clothes that AREN'T hand-me-downs??? And she loves her ride along pooh toy and a bear that plays peek a boo. The purple Leap Frog dog is ADORABLE--you plug it into the computer and choose your child's name and songs. So this puppy says, "I love you, Sadie." And it sings the "Sadie" song..."S-A-D-I-E!!" It's sooooooo cute!

POTD

Okay, so I haven't quite been part of the Picture of the Day every day of the year (all those 365-ers out there!!) But if I was doing one a day, this one is hilarious, at least for me.

Here is a picture of my odometer on Tuesday. The long running joke for a few years was that once I hit 70,000 miles, I would get a new vehicle. I was really mad I didn't have my camera when I hit 70,000 exactly. Apparently back then (okay we are talking like 2007), either Mike thought I would never get to 70,000, or he underestimated how long it would take. Well, as we got closer to the 70,000 he changed the number I had to reach to get a new car. First 100,000 now it's 270,000. Haha. While I have my new car all picked out (in my dreams!),

our lovely beat up minivan will do for now.

Mike says I should work on getting matching dents (the front and rear are in shambles, too! Pathetic, I know, that this car is only 5 years old!!) And I can almost with 100% certainty tell you if my car had been running when I took that odometer photo, I bet the gas gauge was on "E". Typical me.

Beware

Anyone else find it a problem that I can't walk into a room without crunching some cheerios beneath my feet?

Or that there is play-doh stuck to the table and floor? (at least it's easier to vacuum when it hardens)

Or that my laundry to fold and to do pile is as tall as the washing machine?

Or that there are dust balls lurking in almost every corner of the house?

Or that there are moldy pumpkins adorning our porch?

Or that the costumes are looking lovely sprawled all over the kitchen table?

Or the mudroom should be renamed as the dumping grounds?

Or that you can barely walk into the garage? Thank you shout out to: boat, motorcycle, a myriad of bikes, trikes, balls, and scooters.

Sigh. And hosting a birthday party this weekend means cleaning the house all week. Wish I could count on nice weather to have an outside party!!

At least I have a getaway weekend with a few gals soon. How ever will I pack and plan for that with all the cleaning that must be done??

Men!

While this would make the perfect facebook post, I will refrain since I might anger said man. I am *so* happy to have found out this morning, my dear husband has been using our coffee table as an ironing board. All the while, I thought perhaps the kids had been scratching or drawing on it, though it's not quite a scratched look, it's rather discolored, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. Low and behold, it is the burn/steam from an iron. He acted surprised when I pointed it out. I am wishing we would've considered new furniture, instead of the boat he HAD to have!!! Grrrrrrr.

So yes, he bought a boat (it's used, but it's a boat, which is what he wanted). He was insistent on it, and I guess what can I say. He pays the bills, so go buy a boat as a reward, right (or not)?? How about a coffee table??? I am anxioulsy looking forward to my next scrapbooking weekend getaway.

And as a P.S. since I haven't been blogging regularly, Kaycey is doing well. She had an EKG, echocardiogram, and stress test, and everything looked awesome. The docs can't quite put their finger on what was going on those couple incidences that she had. They are going with perhaps it was a lingering cough/cold, or perhaps she was just trying too hard. Nonetheless, we are elated that all is well. Though I feel awful for making her sit out for nothing in the end!! But better safe than sorry. On to basketball season for Cal & Kaycey!!

Look at me!

found and lost

So, while we all know what an amazing athlete Kaycey has become, she has really FOUND her "thing"--running. She likes almost all sports, but LOVES running. Kaycey even decided to RUN the Walk for Wishes 5K!! Running has really become something she enjoys, and she even joined the school cross country team (YES, our school has a cross country team for grades 3rd-8th--all Wisconsin Lutheran grade schools offer tons of sports and activities!) She was amazing, taking 35th place one meet. Mind you, 35th place was against all girls 3rd-6th grade girls. One meet her time was 12:19 (for a mile and a half). Yes, our eight year old runs faster than I ever did or will!!

Unfortunately, twice in the past week, she had some frightening moments as her heart raced, she had trouble breathing, chest pains, and pain in her back. Her pediatrician advised us to take her to the E.R. We chose to take her to Children's Urgent Care since she was in no distress by the time we were going. When she got to Urgent Care, there was NOTHING abnormal to be found--normal heart rate, they did xrays, normal pulse. She suffered episodes of what the doctors are calling "supraventricular tachycardia". While I'm not completely understanding it all, all I do know is this sports fanatic is on the bench until further notice, and she is none too pleased. So, now she has LOST her favorite things...NO activities--no gym, no recess, no sports (she had cross country meets and soccer games for this week), until she is seen by a cardiologist. The soonest she could get in is Oct. 8 (at first it was Oct. 23rd, but our pediatrician called and fought for an earlier appointment). Could it just be a lingering cold that has settled and won't go away? Could it be she's trying too hard? Could it be late effects from chemo, or something worse?

Boat or Disney World??

This is the question Mike asked the kids this past Friday night. We had discussed going to Disney (between Mike & I) but apparently Mike was so excited about it, he brought it up to the kids (I wasn't really thinking we'd go this year, but...) He told me the kids replied with, "Boat!" (only because he really wants to buy a boat and a pop-up). The big kids told me they said, "Both!" Maddie replied with, "Boat!" because she didn't know what Disney was. Once we told her it's where the princesses live, she quickly changed her mind!! And since Mike even brought up the notion of going there, it was time to start planning. How can you bring it up and then not even go??

Okay, so it's official! WE are going to Disney World. I have spent at least 10 hours in the past week looking at the sites, the deals, the flights, the options, the reservations...enough to make your head spin!! But it's done, and we are going!! Of course, everyone is super excited!! (well, Sadie, she's getting her very own vacation staying home with Grandmas, Grandpas, and an Auntie)

to be young again!

My cousin ended up with an extra ticket to Dave Matthews...so when she asked me if I wanted to go, DUH!!! I had SO much fun Friday night at Wrigley Field w/ Laura. We counted at least 4 times we've seen him together, so I think that makes 9 or 10 times total that I've seen them in concert since 1995. It brought back so many memories from high school and shortly after. Sigh. I wish I could go back just for a day!

But let me just say how glad I am that I don't live in that crazy city!! I felt like it was New Year's Eve in New York...not that I've ever been to New York for New Year's, but seriously, it was INSANE!!

A picture of my cousin & I after the show, waiting to get up the steps to the "L". We had major problems trying to figure the whole subway/ticket thing out :)

Dave! He always puts on a great show, but even better--he sang one of my all time favorites (Dancing Nancies)! Even more awesome, he sang "Burning Down the House", which he BETTER sing in two weeks at Farm Aid (I'm going!).

AWESOME tavern sign outside Wrigley (lyrics to "Tripping Billies")

me outside Wrigley!

pages & prayers

While it isn't often I get a chance to scrapbook anymore, I did get about 5 hours in the other night by going away with my scrappin' buddy. I did 3 single pages. What's hilarious is that when I did the one, she said, "Didn't you scrap that picture before?" I told her no, that I have just had it along to do at every crop we go to. So... the next day I look through Maddie's book and low and behold, I HAD scrapped that picture before. Too funny!

While I do not scrap chronologically, nor do I scrap everything, I do try to stay on top of school stuff. I always do a first day & picture with the teacher page. I also (plan to, if I haven't already) to do big field trips and other big things at school. Obviously the older they get, the fewer pages there are to do. I actually filled an entire book with Cal's kindergarten stuff! That's just pages of stuff going on in the classroom. His teacher was awesome, and a scrapbooker herself. She gave all the parents an envelope at the end of the year with all sorts of pictures. So that's the only reason I had so much for Cal for one year! I am almost all up to date with Cal's school stuff, which is amazing!

A few pages...I still have to journal on them. Not the greatest photos of the pages, but here goes...the pictures in the pages are 1-2 years OLD, other than the one of Sadie!

And now the prayers:

going out to Trent's family...Mike's friend from work died of a heart attack this morning. He was 45 years old.

going out to Jacob's family. Jacob's mother is the one I spoke with a while back after he was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. After 6 rounds of chemo, his scans are still showing cancer and the doctors are at a loss as to what to do next. They have the same BMT doctor Kaycey had, and he told Jacob's parents that in the 20 plus years he has been a working as a pediatric oncologist/BMT doctor he was embarrassed to say that there has been very little progress made in regards to Neuroblastoma. He went on to say that he HATES neuroblastoma and that it is a very wicked cancer.

It's times like this I realize just how very fortunate we are.

woohoo for resale shops!!

So, unintentionally I began Christmas shopping.

I bought a Monopoly baseball boardgame (in excellent condition) for $8.99. At Toys R Us last Christmas, it was $40.

I bought some Geronimo Stilton (kids) books, like new, for $1.50 each.

I bought a Baby Gund plush first purse set for $2.99; at the Learning Shop it's $15!!

I bought a Lands End sweater, tags still on, for $9. And kid's Gap jeans new with tags for $7.50.

The resale shop also had school desks, which I so wanted to buy. $10-$18 each! But I didn't think they'd fit in my car.

I need to do some more shopping!! I love resale! Off to a Rummage Sale listing tons of great stuff--they have American Girl clothes!!

Our baby tornado

I think it's funny my dear friend just did similar posts, because I've had this one saved and have been meaning to post for some time! : )

I get into everything. I mean EVERYTHING.

I particularly love going under the kitchen table, which makes Mom frustrated, knowing I'm going to cry when I'm all the way under because I hit my head when I stand up. Or I try to eat what's under the table. Mom asks me why I eat everything but food. I guess I don't really know why...that bright play doh looks so fun and like it will taste so good!

I climbed up the stairs the other week. No big deal. Mom said she almost had a heart attack. So now Mom & Dad put up a gate so I can't do it anymore. Boo on them.

I love crumpling and ripping papers. Doesn't matter if they are important!!

I wave at everyone.

The scrunch face is a big hit.

I can say Mama, Dada, uh-oh. I say this "boom boom" word, too. Guess I'm just making stuff up.

I love playing the piano. I can just reach the keys by myself!

I just started eating cheerios by myself. I'm not really into this "people" food thing, and I don't really care for veggies, either.

I don't like to sleep. I enjoy waking Mom & Dad up at night. You know, I might miss something!! My crib just got set up. I slept downstairs for a couple days, then I just got moved upstairs...my very own crib in a bedroom with Maddie. I still don't like to sleep, though.

I can stand for a pretty long time, all by myself. But then I fall on my bum and crawl to what I want. Walking seems like a lot of work!

school days

back to school! The kids started last week already. And they are LOVING it. Anyone else find it odd that my kids are coming home and doing homework without being asked? Oh, and some of it isn't due for a week?!?!? I'm so glad they are loving it!

Kaycey joined the cross country team. She is already running over 2 miles, no problem! Cal starts soccer practice tomorrow. I'm so glad this school has so much to offer. We also found out yesterday that Cal made one of the select club baseball teams that he tried out for. It's exciting, but it means lots more time playing baseball and being on the road for tournaments next year! They start practice in January already! We're not so sure what to do with Maddie...dance or gymnastics. She is definitely going to do swimming, seeing as she spent so much of her summer in a pool, often doing front flips into the pool, any pool. Off ladders, diving boards, etc...yeah, I think she needs to officially know how to swim, that little daredevil!

First day.

what's the buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz?

Well this, for one...

That has a home in our tree in front of our house. How we didn't notice it before it got as big as a beach ball is beyond me!!

And this little baby...who is so NOT little anymore!! In fact she is 19 lbs, 10 oz. That's a chunky monkey :) She is a monster...crawling, into everything, standing, crawling some more...

(uh don't mind the dust on my kitchen floor...it's been hard to do much of anything since Sadie is mobile!!) Poor baby isn't feeling so good this week...she has whatever nasty cold I've been trying to get rid of, and she is getting her top four front teeth at once!

OFFICIAL STINKER! Who, me???

Party planning is underway to celebrate Kaycey being cancer free for nearly five years! It's gonna be big! I don't know how I'm going to get everything done...so little time and SO, so, so much to do!

At the end of July we went to Hollandfest, in Mike's hometown. The kids dress up in costume and scrub the streets. Even Sadie got in on it.

Cal & Kaycey didn't want to dress up, but everyone still had fun. Lots of treats and rides! After the fest, we went back to Grandma & Grandpa's for pizza, snacks, and four wheeling.

Cal & Kaycey on the four wheeler

Cal's off to camp for a whole week this year!! Kaycey is officially in charge of his pets, Franklin and Carlos (a tiny turtle and a beta fish...and by the way Kaycey has a little gecko lizard named Skeeter.) SO here they are, right before Cal and I left to go to camp (144 miles away!!!)

We've been on the go, swimming tons, hanging with friends, and having way too much fun. Can't believe school starts in just over two weeks!!

Brainstorming....

I am looking for fun, crafty, creative ideas...thinking possibly carnival themed. Tons of kids involved. Curious yet?? I'm picturing tents, cotton candy, a bouncy house, a lemonade stand, popcorn, peanuts, candy table...I see bright colors, fun banners, and tulle. This is going to be HUGE : ) But have to do this on a budget. Ideas WELCOME!!!! Especially on how to do all this fun stuff on a BUDGET.

(taken from Dear Lizzy blog...but this is just the start of what I'm thinking...)

Holy concrete Batman!

Top half of driveway, finished. Amounting to 1500+ sq ft of concrete. Yikes, that's alot of concrete!

The kids put their handprints along the driveway near the garage. Sadie tried to grab it as soon as I placed her hand in it, hence the reason her handprint looks more like a raccoon's!!

And just because...

More teeth are poking through, but she might just look like a lil vampire because it's not the top front teeth! She can get into crawling position on her own, and sit back up by herself. She's mobile...watch out!!!

Lots of work to do coming up...I've convinced Mike we must finish the porch, as well as steps out the back door, & we have to add on to our swingset before the summer is over. On the way to Menards before he changes his mind!!!! Have a good weekend! ; )

make a wish!

JOIN US!!!

The annual Make A Wish Run/Walk event along Milwaukee's lakefront is August 28th this year. It will be our 6th year as a team. This year we celebrate Kaycey being nearly five years cancer free!! Kaycey was discharged from a three week transplant inpatient stay just days before our first year walking. She didn't go on the walk with us, but she and Mike met us afterwards. Here she is hooked up to her meds & nutrition, playing four square. One tough little cookie!!

Anyone interested in joining our team, please contact me or search for team "Kaycey Jane" HERE

projects part 2

I'm pretty sure the concrete being poured for our driveway this week should be made of diamonds and pearls for what it is costing...yikes. But it will be so nice!! We were only going to do half of the drive, but it's amounting to almost 2/3 I'd say. We aren't sure if we'll finish it in concrete or asphalt next year. The kids will be able to play basketball, use chalk, ride scooters & bikes...things they haven't done in forever. And little rocks and pebbles won't be all over the house from the formerly gravel driveway! I can't believe how huge the driveway looks! It's crazy. Looks like a basketball court. 1/3 done yesterday, 2/3 of the way to go...

Also Mike has been working on the porch (the past couple months really). It is all white now! Just need to finish the stairs/railings and some trim, and we need to put the white criss-cross trellis stuff below the porch. He even built some little planters at the top of the stairs!

The to do list goes on and on for outside stuff...but it's looking like that might be it for summer completed projects : (

We have a relatively new marble reward system in the house...it has been working great. We are still working out some kinks, like what each one will be worth, what they can trade them in for, or what they can save them up for. The kids and I cleaned all day Monday--and everyone was eager to help! We made a chart of jobs and rooms to be cleaned. Too bad we haven't even tackled 1/3 of them. And too bad poor Maddie puked all over the freshly cleaned dining room floor late last night! Thankfully she is feeling much better today.

In other news, I got an email from our principal at school...registration packets are being mailed out soon!! I love seeing the school supplies in stores. Love it. How I love school supplies. Not becauce I am eager to start another school year, I really do love school supplies!! Ask my sister & cousins about how I made them play school ALL the time, and only I could be the teacher : )