So far this morning....

...I've taken care of a sick puppy.

...I've taken said puppy out to potty/poopy 3 times.

...I've changed 2 diapers. (one of each kind :P )

...I've checked backpacks, signed notebooks, checked for lunches, got 2 kids dressed
and ready for school and to the bus stop on time. (with teeth brushed, too!)

...I've taken a shower, gotten dressed and ready.

I've checked email, replied to email and enjoyed the pretty snow falling.
(yes...it's snowing....AGAIN!)

...I've called and made appt. w/ pediatrician for this morning.

...I've gotten a 3 yr. old girl dressed and ready to go.....even though she reminds me
every 2 minutes that she's big and she can "do it by myself!!"

...I've talked to my boss on the phone, making me run late for pediatrician.

...I've called and moved pediatrician appt. back by 15 minutes, so I don't leave w/ wet hair.

...I've taken J to the pediatrician and found out his finger rash is excema that is
extremely irritated and now infected.

...I've taken J & M to the drive-thru at McD's to feed them breakfast before running J
to school.

...I've taken J to school, talked to the principal and his teacher, all while dropping him off.

...I've dropped off 2 prescriptions at the pharmacy for J's finger.

...I've come home and played with M and watched Dora with her.

...I sorted M's laundry and started washing all of it.

...I've cleaned off my scrapbook table and started to organize my piles.

...I've scanned thru a DVR'd American Idol from 2 weeks ago to see who got booted. (yes, I am
2 weeks behind...so I've sheltered myself so I don't know from others what's happened.)

...I've made M and my lunch.

...I typed this mundane list.


It's no wonder I can't get anything done!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been tagged by Lain Ehmann!!!

So, my new friend, Lain tagged me on her blog right here.

So here it goes....


7 Random things about ME......


1. I worked as a waitress in a college town dance club that was opened by one of Ike's frat brothers. I thought it would be fun, until some guy grabbed my booty! I slapped that dude across the face and never went back w/out big daddy!!!

2. I suffer from major anxiety. I am on medication for it, which helps, but I still have to work very hard to keep it at bay. It's not fun.

3. I have tried to learn to knit about 3 or 4 times in my life, but I just can't seem to get the hang of it. But, I still really want to learn. Then, my step-mom Janet, taught me how to crochet, which I can do. Although I started a blanket, I never finished it. And know it's been long enough that I don't know if I know how to do more than the starting chain stitch.
Anyone want me to crochet you a super long string for Christmas?!?! LOL!!! :D

4. I have a terrible bad habit. Biting my cuticles. It's bad. I can't seem to stop.

5. I love the look of well-maintained sculptured nails. And I used to have them. Before kids. Well, I had them until I had 2 kids, but it just got to be to much trouble for the maintenance. I loved the look, but I HATE the actual process. The filing and the filling and the filing and the brushing! ACK!!!! It makes me want to jump out of the chair and run away! I don't know why I hate that process so much, but I really do. And the result always made me so happy, I would just suffer through all that other. And when I am getting my nails done, it's the only time I don't bite my cuticles. Go figure.....

6. I am a super scaredy-cat. If I hear something weird around my house or if I see someone weird outside, I call 911. No questions asked. The last person I called the police on was a guy taking a picture of my house. Turned out he worked for the city and it had something to do with them refiguring our home's value.

I don't care. My daughter was sitting in the window looking out, so he got a picture of her and I was FREAKED OUT!!!!! I told the cop that next time that guy comes by...he better get his butt out of his car and ring my bell before he takes a picture or I'll call 911 again!!!!!

7. Hell just froze over. I've been actually enjoying my mother-in-law these last few months. Will it last? I don't know. But I have a feeling that when I stood up to her last June...it really made a difference. I just don't understand her, but I think she actually respects me more now for saying all the things I said. And I had to say them. I could no longer keep that stuff in. So, for now, I am enjoying it.
But, I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Now....I have to tag 7 people:

1. Tammy
2. Amber W.
3. Hunzer
4. Beth
5. Catherine
6. Michele
7. Stacy A.

JET LAG SUCKS!!! & OTHER EXCUSES FOR NOT BLOGGING!!!

Where Do I Even Begin to Describe my time in Portland?!


The entire trip was surreal!

Yes, I know I’ve done this before. I worked for Kim’s company,
twice before. My first time was in Tulsa back in August of last year. And I can assure you that Kim had no idea before I showed up to work in her booth that I would soon become a permanent fixture!! But, I am so happy that it has all worked out like how it has!!


Kim and I really mesh well together. She’s a completely different personality than me, but somehow we seem to relate pretty well to each other. The things I like about her are her high business ethics, her generosity and her willingness to accept me, for both my strengths and my weaknesses. Believe me, she is seeing all sides of me. When we go to these conventions, we all see the best and worst of each other. Why? Part of it is the incredible amount of time we spend together. We are up at the crack of dawn, so we are ready to work at no later than 8am, usually and we work until 10pm. This is very hard and tedious work. There are so many things that have to mesh perfectly to execute putting together and dismantling this booth, and also the sales days in the middle. In a word, it’s exhausting. But, I loved every darn minute of it. (well, except for when a very full and very heavy box fell on my head!!)

But, aside from that, IT WAS FABULOUS!!!!

Here are some of the highlights for me:


~ Got to see my girlie, Kara! And the sweet thing brought me that cutie-cute scarf.
Although, she did sell it off me. TWICE. And I came home with no scarf.
I think I'm going to be forced to charge her commission for being a walking advertisement!
Ha ha! J/K, Kara.

~ “Officially started my employment with the awesome Scrapbooks ‘n Stickers team!” There’s no “I” in “Team!” Right, Kim?!!? (This woman is unstoppable! She runs her online store, homeschools her 3 kids & is a very busy “baseball mom.” She organizes her design team and store blog, manages her business for her online store and also, travels an incredible amount of days a year to run her booth and teach her classes. She even has an injury right now that should prevent her from lifting heavy stuff, but she insists in doing it, saying “she won’t ask me to do anything that she won’t do herself.” Including lifting the boxes she is not supposed to be lifting!! (she’s real stubborn!) But, for the record, I prevented her from lifting boxes every single time I could!!

Now all of this must seem inconsequential, but when you consider how often people suffer in jobs that they hate. Jobs that make them miserable. Finding this job like this makes me so happy!!!! I love it and plan to do this for a good long time! I am really a lucky girl!!


~I met Lain Ehmann, Contributing Editor for Simple Scrapbooks magazine, as I already mentioned in my last blog post. But she’s such a sweetie, decided to mention her again! (I even ran into her this morning at the airport…) And I'll be doing a *TAG* that Lain gave me very soon!! Hi Lain! Glad I met you Lain! You are so sweet and so cool! I hope I get to know you better and better!!

~While working in the booth, I was doing some “make ‘n takes” and I looked up and there was Ali Edwards! Yep, THIS Ali Edwards. (see book below) As Griffin would say, “Oh. My. Hotdog!!” (oh my, that sure made me miss him!) Anyway, Ali Edwards was watching me work and doggone it, I was so busy I didn’t even get to meet her and get a picture with her this time. (but, there’s plenty of opportunity to do that later!)

Hee Hee Hee......Hey, Ali Edwards, can I show you the Bind-It-All? How about the Glue Glider Max? LOL!! Yeah, right? As if she doesn't probably have every single cool scrapbooking tool known to creation already?!?! I mean, c'mon, it's Ali Edwards, for goodness sake!!!!!!

And, then last night, we were eating dinner at the hotel and she came in. She was staying at our Marriott! (And Lain was, too!) Welcome to Scrap-Celeb central!!!!!


~Speaking of Bind-It-All’s….holy moly, I love this thing!!
I have thought of about a thousand things I could bind up with the nifty tool!

Bind-It -ALL!!!!

I got one of those and a Glue Glider Max to bring home with me! I brought so much stuff home with me! In fact, I had to bring another suitcase home and my original suitcase's weight was so over limit, I had to empty some of it out when I tried to check it!

Which leads me to my sad, sad story from my trip.

So, when I showed up at the airport, I had taken things out of my big suitcase to make sure it's below the weight. I knew it was close, but thought maybe it was under. Nope. Over by 3.6lbs. Bummer!
So, the lady asked if there was anything I could take out to make it below the 50lb. limit.
I was a bit stressed, as I didn't want to pay a dime to send the suitcase home. And the huge line of around 75 people were impatiently waiting behind me to check in, as well. So, I hastily grabbed out my super-cool, hot pink WorldWin Design Team bag and slung it over my shoulder, I wanted people to see it anyway because it is so, so cool. I was planning to shove my purse in it to only have 2 carry on items in security. So, she weighed my bag again and it was now 49. 8lbs. Boy, I barely made it........

Then, I was to go from there and deliver my bags onto a separate screening area to get them checked in to head to the airplane. This was taking so long, I was starting to stress, as I only had 40 minutes to get thru security and get to the gate.

So, I ran to security and stood in the huge lines over there. I was s.t.r.e.s.s.i.n.g.

So, it finally is my turning, I'm ripping off my shoes. Taking off my sweater. Taking the laptop out of the laptop bag. Laying my hot pink bag up there. I walk thru the metal detector and it goes fine. So, I go to the end of the belt and begin redressing. Well, I look over and see my pink bag being put back thru the x-ray machine a 2nd time, then, a 3rd time.

And all of the sudden I realize what the problem is.

When I flew out, I checked this bag because it had Fiskars soft-touch scissors in it.
And a CutterBee Retractible Craft Knife.
And a Making Memories Paper Piercer Deluxe.
And in my haste to hurry and get through there not to miss my flight,
I completely forgot they were in that hot pink bag.



Well, apparently in the eyes of the TSA, these are the tools of someone up to no good.

And the TSA doesn't like them one bit.

So, they confiscated them.
She did apologize to me.
But, it hurt no less.

I felt like an idiot.
I was upset.
I just told her to do what she had to do.
But, I didn't watch. I couldn't.
But, I had no time to do anything different.

It sucked.

And by the time the "security fiasco" was over....
I ran to the gate where they were already loading my flight.


I flew into Tulsa to pick up my 2 youngest children.
I was so tired.
I passed out.

Then, I was to drive home on Monday morning.
And I woke up to sleet and snow.

So the drive home was slower than I had anticipated. But, I made it home at 4:06pm, just 2 minutes before my oldest child gets off the school bus and only 20 minutes before I pick #2 child up from tutoring after school. It was busy......but I was glad to see all of them.

Monday night, hubs and I went to bed early. We were both exhausted.
I missed him terribly. Him holding me was well-received by me.

Tuesday was my slug day. I unpacked part of my stuff. I laid around a bunch.

And today, I had a meeting at the school for child #2 and unpacked some more.
I gotta get my booty in gear and get my scrap work done.
I really want to do it, but I feel guilty doing that before my "house" work is done.
So...tomorrow, I hope to do that while doing laundry!! :)


Missed all of you!!

And I leave again in a week.....

A Quick Hi! and updatey from ME!!

Hi everyone!!!

We'll try this and see if it works. My internet connection seems to suck in this hotel.
Apparently hates pictures, because it won't let me upload anything to anywhere.
(well, it will do it, but it took me F.O.R.E.V.E.R.!!!! to upload my Design Team photographs tonight to the point of me wanting to strangle myself with my LAN cord!! J/K, of course! :)


So...I am exhausted and will have myself in the bed within 2 minutes of posting this!


Awesome day....started out with compliments in the elevator about the scarf that
super-sweet Kara made and brought to me as a gift for me! It's so cute and I love it! In fact, the woman loved it so much, she wanted one, too. And since Kara sells them in her Etsy shop, she happened to have another with her she had brought for herself! So....she sold it right then! So, I have a "twin" in Portland and when we all introduced ourselves, it was none other than Laine Ehman of Simple Scrapbooks!! How cool is that?!?! And...come to find out, Laine has an Etsy shop, too. I guess I should consider getting one!! :) (note to Laine: I apologize if I spelled any part of your name incorrectly!!! If you google it, it comes up w/ many different possible spellings!!)

So, I know you wanna see my scarf.....so I have to get a picture and post it. (I know, I know....last time it was my haircut I promised pics of, but now I have a new, rockin' haircut fixed by my hair stylist in Tulsa before I left! (another $38 spent on haircuts/tips for the week, for those who are counting.) Anyways, I'll try to get a pic tomorrow of the scarf and my hair. So, how's that for making it up to you guys?!

Oh, never mind...here's a cute pic of Laine rocking the new scarf right here on her blog. And look what she said about me..... "this cute girl in the elevator" is ME!!! :D


So, we got to the convention center and went right to work!

And.....about 20 minutes later, guess who walked right by our booth....close enough to TOUCH HER?!?!?! ALI EDWARDS!!!!
Yep, THE ALI EDWARDS!!!!

Holy Cow! I was so excited!
But, alas, I was working, so I didn't get to talk to her. Boo Hoo!
Maybe tomorrow......


Worked super hard!
Sold a bunch of reallllly COOL, Zutter Bind-It-All's! (like 40 or so, I think...)

Oh. My. Heck....this machine is *spectacular*!!!!
And my super-fabulous boss is giving me one!!!
Isn't she the best!?!?!?! (Thanks, KIM!)



Our other super cool thing we have in our booth is the
GLUE GLIDER MAX!!

Check this baby out at Scrapbooks 'n Stickers!!

It's awesome, it was given awards by CHA 2007, for Most Innovative New Product

and also a

Creating Keepsakes Magazine Reader's Choice recognition!

Believe me, it's so cool!

And talk about empowering....it's a scrapper's version of the WILD, WILD WEST!!!

"I can adhere 12x12 sheet of cardstock in 73 seconds with my new Glue Glider Max!!!"
LOL!!!

Ok....I must go to bed now. It's late. I'm 2 hours over in time zones and my body is rebelling!

Miss everyone....talk to you soon!

I'm OFF......

....to Portland!!

I'll be in touch!! :D
Leave me a note...............

xoxo

Roxann

A Hair-Raising Haircut!!

You might remember that recently Big Daddy and I went to that auction for our town's Symphony. Well, in addition to the fantastic necklace I got....I won a silent auction for a $100 gift certificate at a salon here in town. And since I am going out of town on Tuesday to head for my first Creating Keepsakes Convention for the year, I decided it was time to get a haircut
and start chipping away at that $100 I have to spend.


So, I called the salon and was given an appointment with Judy, who I was told was available to do the haircut. Well, I wasn't too worried, even though Judy does sound like she could be an older lady. But, really, doesn't that just mean she's "more experienced?!"


Well, everything was just fine, until I walked in the door of the salon.

Everywhere I looked, I could not find anyone that was anything less than 20 years older than me. Including Judy, who right off showed me the picture of her latest grandchild, who is a month old. I was a bit alarmed, but I figured, how bad can it be?!
(well, the 65+ year old in the next chair was getting her hair set for her weekly "hairdo" before going to sit under the dryer....should have been the thing that assured me I was COMPLETELY OUT OF MY ELEMENT HERE!!!!)

So, as I sit in the chair, Judy asks me if I want a wash, haircut and a set.

A set?!?!

Um....oh my gosh, no!!

So, Judy opts to spray my hair with water, rather than wash and set, and then cut it.

So, she asked me what kind of haircut I'd like.

So, I explained to her that I'd like it just like it was....long layers, layered around the face. Shorter in the back and longer at the bottom of the face on each side.
(and I did fix my hair before going, so she can see what it looks like......)

Well, she asked me questions about how to cut it.

Um....I don't know. Isn't it YOUR job to KNOW THAT?!?!!?!

(I could have told her it's similar to Victoria Beckham's, but she probably only knows
what Betty White's hair looks like!!!)

At this point, I started to panic.

The entire haircut, I sat there about to have a complete heart attack. I couldn't just jump up and run, although, I actually thought about it!!! You see, these people knew who Big Daddy is, so I have to "behave" when I'm in situations like that. So, I knew I had to be calm and be brave.

So, at the end of the torture, I mean haircut.

She asked me if I wanted it to be "styled."

Oh my Gosh, NO!
(I can't even imagine what my hair would look like if Judy styled it!!)

Good thing, too. Because when she asked my how I "fix" my hair. I responded a straightening iron (which they didn't have) or a FAT barrel curling iron, depending on my mood. (well, after looking for about 10 minutes, they found a curling iron that was a bit bigger than a normal small curling iron! Good Grief!) After that, I just said, well you can just blow dry it.....
after all, it's 30 degrees outside and I am still a bit sick, so I didn't want to leave with wet hair.

So, she proceeds to get out the hairdryer and the mousse.

Mousse?!? Do they still manufacture that stuff?!

Yep, they do. And she coated my hair in it. Yummy!

So, at the end of all this fun....I was just ready to GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE!

At this point she offers me some hairspray, so I say sure.

I think to myself, "at this point, if I have hairspray...I can finger place the hair where I want it until I get home later and can wash all this crap out of my hair."

Well, good idea, but the minute she offers me the hairspray, she brings out a can of "Aqua Net" look-alike and proceeds to spray the crap out of my hair.

I about freaked.

So, at this point, I wanted to just go.


So, I get my purse to take care of the charges.
How much can this be?

Well, $18 for the haircut and $8 to blow dry my hair. Not fix it, just blow dry.

$26.00


So, I give her a $6.00 tip, because isn't it 20%?!

$32.00 gone from my $100.

And, I'm only going back to get a bunch of Matrix shampoo and a pedicure......
how can they screw that up?

Thank goodness, I have the name of another hairstylist to go to next time!


*I realize this post is useless without pictures! I promise to post one later!

Here's something really cool!!!!

So...I have really enjoyed the work of Teresa Collins for a while. (she loves crowns and pink/black....so, of course, I love her!) She used to teach classes for Rusty Pickle (at CKC's and Scrapbook Expo - just like what I am doing.) She used to design for Junkitz. She designed their "Extreme Boy" line that I loved so much! (I mean...it's perfect for all 3
of my boys!) So, that's really how I discovered her work, and
I've followed her work since then.

But, as you've probably heard, Junkitz is no more. :(
(I think I may have even said it on this blog...)

But, shortly before this, Teresa decided it was time to follow her heart/dreams and she went out on her own. And just last week, she debuted her new lines at CHA. AND THEY ARE AWESOME!!!!

And, apparently, she created quite a buzz at the show!

Well, one of the super cool things she has designed
(besides all her beautiful new papers) are these
really cool acrylic rings that you can "scrap." Well, she had a RAK on her blog....and guess who won one?!

YEPPERS, IT WAS ME!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!!!

So, that is totally awesome!

When you get a minute, go check out her blog...
...IT ROCKS!!!!

Teresa Collins Blog

BIG NEWS

We joyfully announce the

adoption of the cutest puppy ever,


BARCLAY! Adopted into our lives on
Saturday, February 9th, 2008.

Barclay is a AKC registered Maltese puppy.

He was born on October 5, 2007.
He is 4 months old.
And he weighs almost 5 pounds.

He's super loving and playful. If you hold him and pet him, he will kiss you all over! He loves the kids and will play with them for hours! He loves his chew bones and is doing really well on his potty training! He's sleeping thru the night a bit better....although we had a rough few nights! He isn't a bit afraid of the cat and I honestly think he thinks he's bigger than the cat. (the cat is 22lbs!) He'll take on that cat and wrestle with him! It's hilarious!!! He's not a bit afraid. He loves riding in the car. Surprisingly, he doesn't bark often. Only when he wants out of his crate! (and then he barks and whines, A LOT!!)

On our way to pick him up....we were trying to come up with a name for him. Everybody was throwing out ideas.

Of course, Big Daddy wanted to be ironic with his name....
...something like Killer.

Seriously, could you call
THIS FACE.......KILLER?!?!?!

Me, neither!
So...I rejected that one real fast.

Logan and Jensen suggested lots of things, but nothing that sounded "right."

Griffin wanted to keep his name, Charger, but I didn't like it.

To me, this dog is fancy. He needs a "fancy" name.
Something that sounds regal....something that is not ordinary.

From the carseat, we hear Marinne say, "I want him to be named Cereal!"

CEREAL!?!?!?!
(why don't we just name him Captain Crunch?!?!?)

Although, I do think it's hilarious she came up with Cereal all by herself,
I told her I think we'll try to think of another name.

But, as I sat there thinking.....I did find a massive amount of humor in the fact that would could incorporate 2 suggestions and name him...

(wait for it.....)



CEREAL KILLER!!!!

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!! ROFLMBO!!!!

And I actually considered it for about 2.4 minutes, before I thought better of it!


Back to the "serious" names....

Sebastian (nope, that the fish in Little Mermaid)

Christian (isn't that a boy?)

Riley (can't use that....Ike's bosses dog)

Chase (kinda too funny)

Then, I suggested BARCLAY.
(pronounced: Bar - Clay)

But, the kids said it like..... Bark - Lay.
Which they thought was hilarious....because Bark is in his name.
So, it was decided.

And Marinne pronounces it like...
Bark-A-Lee. (sorta like Broccoli)
It's so funny!

So....

BARCLAY, it is.


After bringing him home for a few days, we've thought of some
other names that might have been fitting.

VC....for vacuum cleaner (since he eats anything off the floor!)

High Maintenance (self explanitory)

Lover (he's such a little lover)

Pain in the a$$ (um....let him keep you up
whining for hours and you'll understand!!)

Baby ('cause he's such a little baby!)

Piddle (umm....how many oops have I cleaned?)

Money Bags (what he's gonna cost me....after $109 vet bill yesterday)


GOOD THING WE ALL REALLY LOVE THIS DOG!!!!!


Welcome to the family, Barclay.
(or whatever your name is!)

De'ja' Vu

It's seems like I've made this post before.......

LOL!!!!!

I am better. Thanks for all the "get-well" wishes!

This one was bad, real bad!

But, the good news is I am on the mend and doing much better!!

Just making up for lost time.....

...like I said,

De'ja' Vu

So, guess where I went today?!?!

...that's right, I went to the doctor again.

Why, You ask?

I AM SICK AGAIN! (or is it still?!)

I started feeling bad again 2 days ago. Then, 2 nights ago, I came down with a wicked cough. It feels like someone is sitting on my chest and kicking me in the chest when I cough. It's stinks so bad!!

So, after 2 nights of little to no sleep, I decided to go back in to the doctor's office to see what's wrong with me now. And the verdict is...I have Bronchitis and some sinus infection.

SO, I was sent home with an inhaler, my second antibiotic in a month and some major decongestant/cough medicine stuff. ACK!!!!!!
I am so, so tired of all of this! It really does suck!!!!!

So, it's Friday and I'll be spending my weekend trying to get better.

And if I can feel a bit better, I hope to get some scrappin' done. I had some cool valentines stuff started, but I only got it partly done because of being sick. (my time to work is late at night after the kids are in bed, but when I am sick, I can't stay up to do anything. I just have NO energy!!

So, now I have to start my Design Team projects over for the month! Doggone it! So, I hope to get a bunch done this week!!

What are YOU doing this weekend?!?!

That's NEWS to ME!!

So, Marinne informed me today that she was going to school to see her teacher, Miss Mary.

Ummm....that's news to me!!

I.M.A.G.I.N.A.T.I.O.N.!

A CHA sneak!!!

Well, well, well.....look at this!!!

This is the WorldWin Papers Booth at CHA!! These are a few of the papers from our
super cool Caribbean Colors line. See it here. But, below the 4 sheets of paper, is MY CARD I made for my CHA assignment. I was assigned to use the Caribbean Colors line and my assignment included making at larger size card with a matching envelope.

(thanks to my co-design team member, Linda Beeson...for taking the pic and sending it to me!)


So...since it's kinda hard to see above. I can FINALLY show you the card I made.....

(**for those who don't know....CHA is the Craft and Hobby Association, which is the largest unveiling of the newest scrapbooking products to the industry. It happens twice a year: Winter and Summer. It's going on right now in Anaheim, California.**)

Scrappy Schtuff!!!

Here's a little custom mini-album I did for a friend for her 10th anniversary....I was really pleased at how it came out. Jodi chose the wording for the title, but I designed the rest.... One of my favorite parts is the "K." It's chipboard, which I inked w/ 2 different black inks (Stampin' UP! Classic - black and ColorBox chalk ink - Charcoal) Then, I covered the entire surface w/ Crystal Effects to dress it up! It really looks cool IRL, but it's hard to photograph the effect.

This pulls out from behind the cover page. It's for a photo of them at their
anniversary dinner..... These are for them to document their gifts to each other (which I happen to know Jodi got a blue diamond ring....lucky girl!!) Just wanted to give you a look at the heart embellishment I made. I took black glittered acrylic paint and mixed it with clear glue. Then, I shaped it into a heart and let it dry. And ta da....cool crinkly handmade heart...... outlined w/ Stickles! (my favorite!)


Some pages for Looking Back.....a wedding photo.

and Today.....family photo. And with the years of marriage, came the blessing of their children
(included in the next 3 pages of the album.....) (don't laugh at my stick person!!!) And lastly, Looking to the Future........Best of wishes to you, Jodi and Joe. Congratulations!!

Not a good picture.......(camera phone by 11 year old kid....)

...but, I still think I need some glasses to be cool! What do you think?
(besides that I am a big dork......) I have wanted glasses since I was a little girl! But, I have perfect eyesight.

Now at age 38, I know better than to complain about that, so I won't. But, when my eyes finally decide to fail me....I'll be getting me some wicked cool glasses, sorta like these.....

Symphony Ball

As part of Ike's job, we often need to attend community events. So, we were lucky enough to attend a ball for the symphony in our town. Here we are just when we were preparing to leave. (photography by Logan)
You know, it can be fun to get all dressed up and be something other than a mommy from time to time. And, fun, it was.

They had a silent auction and a live auction to raise money for their events. And it's nice because you know it's going to support the arts, which we all know are so important. It just kills me that the arts have become less and less of a priority in school. I can remember the days of music and art being a regular part of my curriculum. (and I can remember in elementary school when our Music teacher Mrs. McKenzie used to always have her room like and ice box....to keep us awake, she used to always say....but I can remember it just like it was yesterday. Her room was always like 10 degrees colder than the rest of the school! Back then, I didn't know about it, but now I personally think it may have been that way because she was in menopause!!) Anyway, the Arts in school used to be a priority. But, now everyone just wants to "save money," so they cut our funding to our children for these important programs. And its sad, just very, very sad. (man...who gave me a soapbox....?!)

Well, we don't usually take part in these auctions, because really, we need to spend our money on our own children. But, I saw there was a $100 gift certificate for a salon in town, and the bid was at $60. And since I haven't had a haircut since July....I could see that being a good deal. I should be able to cut 2 or 3 haircuts for that. (or I may even splurge on a pedicure!) But, that was a good deal...so I'm glad I won that auction!

I also placed a bid on Family Zoo Passes (which came with a stuffed giraffe and zebra--because it was something we will really use when Spring and Summer come.) We had the high bid on that and it was under the value. And at the last minute someone came in and sniped the bid. (big meanie!)

But, I have to admit there was something that really caught my eye....a 7-diamond "Journey" necklace, valued at $1400. It was breathtaking.
The hostess was wearing the necklace as she worked the room before the auction started. And since the hostess' boss is Big Daddy, I got plenty of opportunity to see this necklace up close.

Now, you see, the last jewelry Ike had purchased for me was over 5 years ago. The gift was diamond earrings. (which I absolutely loved!) I wore them non-stop and barely removed them, except to clean them from time to time. Well, long story short, when we went to the hospital to have Marinne in Savannah, I was wearing my earrings. Well, since they are screwbacks, I didn't really worry about losing one. (after all, screw backs are supposed to keep that from happening!) Well, after I gave birth to Marinne I had been moved to the new room and that night when I was going to sleep, I realized that one of the earrings was missing. So, ask me where I was the night Marinne was born...... Yep, while Marinne was getting checked in the nursery I was down in my birthing suite 10 hours after she was born, on my hands and knees looking for a missing diamond earring. I was just sick about it. Just sick...
Well, I never did find it. So, now I only have one earring, so it isn't worn.
(I decided to take the remaining earring and when Marinne turns 16, we'll have it set into a necklace for her. Won't that be cool?!?!)

So, as Ike was talking to his boss at the side of our table, they started the auction for the "Journey" necklace. The started the bid at $500. And, NOBODY was bidding. NOBODY. So, they dropped it to $400. Still nothing. (remember, this is a $1,400 necklace....) Finally, he dropped it to $300 to start and by then, I was about to have a conniption. When else would you be able to get a deal like that and be able to write it off as a business expense/charity donation?!?!?! So, I got Ike's attention and pointed out what was happening. He was like, do you really like that? I thought you were kidding about liking it.... UH, WHAT?!? It's diamonds and gold....what's not to like?!?! HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!! (although, I will admit I prefer white gold to yellow gold.....the only fault of this necklace.....a fault I was willing to overlook due to the situation!) :D

So, by this time, someone had bid $300 and with $50 increments, it was at $400. So, Ike jumped in on the bidding. I'll have to admit it was sooooo exciting. We just figured it would go higher than we wanted to pay. Well, when the bid hit $600, we were wondering if we should do it. So, the other people bid $650. Well, Ike hesitated.....while the whole room of 200+ people waited to see what he'd do. And at that point, he said to me, "Do you really want it?"

So, how do I respond?!?!

I grab his face and lay a great big kiss on him while the whole room watched. (and yes, they had us on camera on the big projection screen, so everyone could see...!!)

When I released his face, he held up his bid card and yelled, $675!!!

And the entire room errupted in clapping and loud cheers!!!!

$675 going once....

$675 going twice....

Sold to #129 for $675!!!!!!

IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!! And I was so happy!!!!
(and yet, I couldn't believe what we had done........)

So we got this necklace for less than half of it's value. But, the story gets better......

After I got it home, I found that the chain was really too short. It felt like it was choking me. (I still love it, but it was choking me.) So, I called the jeweler to see if I could exchange the chain and pay the cost difference. He was super nice!! He said, "Oh, I think they make those standard to fit a 90lb. woman. Come on in and I'll give you a new chain." Well, THANK YOU SO MUCH!! So, I went in the following day and the owner was busy. So, I was talking to another worker and told her we had won it at the auction, it was too short, and confessed to her that I wished it was white gold, instead of yellow gold. Well, this lady told me, that they could very easily accomplish this by having it dipped to make it white gold. I had never heard of that....but I wasn't wanting to spend more money than we already had.

Well, as we started the chain exchange process, she measured my neck and we determined that a chain 2" longer looked just right. Well, she want to the case and if you can believe it.....they were completely out of yellow gold chains, the length I needed! So, she suggested to the owner that they give me a white gold chain and dip the pendant for FREE and he said YES!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!! I was sooooooo happy!!!!
It worked out perfectly and I got everything that I wanted!!!


So, as soon as I have a chance, I'll photograph the necklace, so you can see how much more beautiful it is in person!

I'm the luckiest girl in the world!!

Thanks a lot, Big Daddy.....even if this is my Valentines, Mother's Day, Anniversary, Birthday, Christmas Present!!!!!!!!!!

BEAUTY SHOP?????

...or little shop of horrors!?!?! OUCH!

I think we can safely say....I was a good sport!! :)

Coming out of the fog.........

....I'm baaaaack!!!!

Finally, feeling better again. But, another 6 days of being sick really stinks and really makes one run behind!!!

So, how are all of you?!?!?!

Been busy this week....

....wishing both my dad and my best friend, Michele Happy Birthday this week (ya know I love ya both!!!)

....enrolling Logan for MIDDLE SCHOOL! (eek!)

....running errands (must be done!)

....doing laundry (never ending!!)

....single momming while Ike works insane-o hours (Bluck!)

....trying to catch up on DT scrap projects (far behind...)

....working on a Mini-Album (custom job for a friend...)

....making dentist appointments for all (they can't get us in until AUGUST....can you believe that?!?!?!)

....got 10 inches of snow on Tuesday night, into Wednesday morning (that's alot of snow...the 15th for this year!)

....shoveling the walk and playing with kids in the snow (not fun when you are sick, sick, sick!!)

....kids have snow day (and drive mommy crazy being wild!!!)

....dealing with issues at school with both older boys (one appears to have forgotten that he's not to talk when the teacher is teaching and the other is being tormented by rotten girls --
anyone have advice on how to keep M from being one
of "those kind" of girls?!?!

Well, that's pretty much it!
But isn't that enough?!?!?!

Too Cute!

So, we are sitting at the table and Marinne says,

"Mommy, when I get big I want to be a bean-a-reena!"

Me: "You want to be a ballerina?"

Marinne: "Yes. A pink ballerina."


Oh...to know she has dreams......what a gift. (and so cute!)

(remember she just turned three at the end of December...)

COME OUT OF LURKDOM AND SAY HI!!!!!!!!

So....here's the thing....

I am sick again (or should I say still, never fully recovered, although I had been feeling better!) I cannot believe it. I hardly ever get sick like this and this is 2 times in less than a month!

ARGH!!!!

Anyway, I have been laying around being completely unproductive yesterday and today. And all I have is my tv and my laptop. And no one leaves me a comment ALL DAY LONG!

(and my site meter tells me as of right now, 46 people have read my blog today, but no one leaves a comment!!! WAH!!!)

So, I have stuff to tell and pics to post, but I am not gonna do it unless at least 10 of you, quit lurking and leave a comment!!

Ha! Ha! Ha!

So....comment away!!!!!!! :)
(and thanks to my faithful commenters...
you guys know who you are!!!)

He belongs to an exclusive club!!!!

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