My Baby is turning THREE

I can't believe it...she looks so cute in her new clothes and I got some awesome photos of the two who were here (K is out at a friends). She is getting so big....her phrases and everything and has a total understanding of things...it's like it clicked in her head finally and when you explain something she goes ok.

Yesterday we were outside after eating out and the kids were going to ride bikes...she said..I want to ride MY bike....and we said ok..and she goes Ok? and we say yes and she says; Don't worry I'll be careful - waving her hands like we were going to leave her out there. ROFL

Another cute one...The alarm goes off this am and I get to it to turn off and she goes Whew..that was close. :)

Here ya go..one photo from the shoot and the rest you'll have to see on layouts!

Future's So Bright

I've gotta wear my shades...it looks SO many different colors of yellow in different light- it's amazing..It's sure as heck NOT boring ;) And the fireplace wall has been primed a nice dark grey and will be going bold blue shortly. We want to do the entry in a burgundy red but that's a lot of work on real high ceilings.

Here ya go though!

She's too sexy for our boards

no way she's disco dancing ;)
Holy cannoli woman...yeah you are taking it off the boards never to be seen again right? HAHAHAHA

Doncha love technology? I figure it's payback for NOT getting your ticket to Chicago yet. So get on that would ya? My dear friend Anita here teases me that she is coming in to help out with "our" Mom and to visit and then nothing but net. SIGH

And then one day I open my boards to go read and see this image of Anita as her AVATAR and almost fall out of my seat. You totally suck girl you know that right? I mean that adorable face, those kissable lips and that come hither look? Who took this photo? If it was the little one- please bring her with ya ok? I need some pics. :) Dang straight hair of yours..you are too freaking hot for words. Smooches Love! :)

mellow? yellow?

ok it's NOT mellow---think mustard but you know how when you get a wild hair? Well I got one and had to get the kitchen painted. Obscene with all the other stuff going on in my life....for those following- riss came through the surgery with flying colors...she was released on Monday and is now resting at home..those that sent cards- thanks so much she's so thrilled with each new one that arrives :)

No new photos of the kitchen..although it's relatively clean. I hired a cleaning lady last week and she starts tomorrow. I think I am totally in love with her. :) She's been working in this area (and lives near here) for over 10 years....and I got along with her great when she came out for a quote. Praise be...finally someone to help me out. You know how you get so sick of your OWN voice always nagging everyone to clean up while you do it all yourself? I figured it was time to get help!!!!

So that wild hair. I don't know what to start with...but I decided that the fireplace wall should be painted..at *least* that wall..figured it was easy...and that kitchen was daunting to me. So I picked red....and then taupe for the entry and dining room and um I forget the color now for the kitchen....some other color..thought about doing the kitchen red too and Kev freaked..man he wanted white..that was it. No creative vision in this man's head So ok I go and get paint and while I went to get it I saw a picture of wedgewood blue and some other color so I commit to the blue in the kitchen now- following me yet? LOL So I buy a quart of the blue and decide- I hated it. I know it's stupid right? I painted a wide swatch on the kitchen wall and part of the fireplace wall. I could never see it that color..so odd.

So Kev said let's go check out our Menards (I had gotten the stuff from Home Depot)...get to the place and decide on yellow LOL the rest is history. Now what colors look good with a bright mustard yellow? I got a different like caribbean blue for the fireplace wall and might do the whole family room that color to make it be more toned down :)

Anyway that is my whole day yesterday in a nutshell...whee

Tomorrow the house will be sparkling..I'll pack orders probably and scrap please? LOL I have to make all the to-go boxes for Anna's bday party on Sun and then get the treats in them. Plus I have to get the cake made (a flower cake) and hang the streamers, get balloons and hang the chinese lanterns :) oh yeah and make the sauce - we are having pot stickers and homemade pasta sauce, veggie tray and other goodies..might need to make more food..oh yeah a salad :)

Spring Flop and I'm too sexy...

oops I mean festival....Mom will tell you- what a joke...it was um over $50 we'll never see again. LOL

I think I expected this show in a theater..unfortunately it was more like a dance recital of kids in chinese dance in a gym at the college..it was OVERsold and crowded and disorganized.

They had some games for the kids but we literally sat from 12noon until it started at 3pm and I didn't even last the whole time...and we were squished in like sardines.

Longest day of my life. And I am still not feeling 100% so I was wiped out after.

So I am back..and NO I didn't go password only but thought for a while that maybe I had locked myself out. :)

I tried this am to get a decent shot of the kids...give me a break...25 shots later...omg they were beasts....all in their nice clothes and acting like morons LOL

So what's been going on since I've been locked out? I did subscription and it took me about 3days with all the stopping from being exhausted ;)

I had quite the day last week and I was all set to write about it..but it seems so stupid now anyway -I did book my ticket to Nashville...a group of us who met when we were all adopting are getting together for a GIRLS ONLY weekend. It's amazing but I am flying alone and spending time away from the barnacle baby.

I realized after this past week that we are probably done having kids..lots of little things and a nice compliment from my brother Tom convinced me.....now if he'd just get himself married and him and Nic can have all the babies..I'm ready to spoil some nieces and nephews :) And with Dave getting married this summer- sigh...soon right? Someone will make me an aunt again.

Anna has her flower girl dress ordered..it's cute....with this tulle with flower petals in it..and when I asked if she was going to be in Uncle dave and aunt vicky's wedding she said- where's my princess dress...alas she hated it on and told me it scratched her....I can't wait to see what hysterical thing she does on the wedding day. She threw a 15 min tantrum when she realized that on Sat it wasn't uncle dave's wedding. :)

And yes I got my dress for Dave's wedding..it was getting more and more obvious that I had NOTHING fancy enough....it's a pretty formal wedding I think...at this nice hotel in downtown Chicago and well my um wardrobe runs to stains and sweats - so we went to Von Maur- that store ROCKS (think free alterations) and found a black silk beaded number. Fancy schmancy. :)

So I wrote that friday I went to the doctor? Or maybe I didn't..but i was so sick on friday that I sucked it up and went. Yep..3 weeks sick and finally went to my new doctor who is a doll...I love that man...of course he gave me antibiotics...so maybe that is where my love stems from? I have bronchitis and a nasty sinus infection- yeah yeah yeah the same crap Bonni had about a week or so ago..I was jealous what can I say? It's funny cause I gave her *such* crap when she was sick and didn't go in and then I wait 3 weeks..and have the same dang thing. LOL

I took Gram to the store this weekend and then to lunch..she's such a dollface..I wish you all could meet her..too funny and sweet...I showed her the layout with her in the big book from Joanns and she kept saying...would you look at that...doesn't that beat all...LOL I'm so glad they chose a layout with Gram....she's my doll :)

Ok So what do you get when you have three hams and no smiles? Dad...who sings behind me I'm too sexy for my body..which gets them giggling and we end up with this:

where did my blog go?

ok so I ignore it for a few days and now it's telling me I am not authorized to view it...pretty sad state of affairs....

Oh well maybe it will return with this post? If not I am going to scream...well maybe not since my throat is sore still and I feel like crud.

Children are overrated

Yep I said it....maybe it's cause it is winter still and cold and the kids are all cooped up but they are making me batty....

A thinks throwing a fit guarantees her whatever she wants.....M tells her no and they are like oil and water and K is mouthy. I need a vacation :) Doesn't help that I've been pulling 10 hour days for the business..what the heck. A hobby indeed ;)

We took them to the park today to get the heck outside for a while. Anna slept soundly when we returned. :) I'm ignoring the computer after today and heading to mom's to scrap and watch the OSCARS..it's tradition with us..we dish on all the dresses, etc :)

NO KIDS - repeat after me- NO Kids :) Even though she's mouthy at times she's a doll right? She's a huge help with Miss Nastypants too :) Poor kid...does a lot around here.....no excuse though LOL. Any not feeling very sage so I will just sign off for now. Filling preorders for Basic Grey and Chatterbox and American Crafts can do that to ya. If you haven't ordered that stuff do it soon as it's flying out the door here. Peace and OUT

Held Hostage?

It's true Carolyn posted a comment that she's holding my blog hostage and if I post no ONE will get hurt! So here ya go ;) I listen when ordered around. I know I haven't updated in a big..I've been in a MOOD...man oh man. I have a moody - overemotional 10 yr old...who is obnoxious to be around and now the almost 3 yr old has been a beast..chicken pox for her and then the 7 yr old has been ok actually.

Don't read if you don't have time..fair warning it's gonna be long LOL So this past weekend I went to Mikey's Blue and Gold dinner...I wish I had brought more reading material..seriously - it's that long. But the food was good and Mikey was *so* proud to make both his bobcat and his wolf at the same meeting. He did NOT want to go up there though. I had to push him up there to get it. Then the rest of my weekend was subscription. Ah my least fave thing to do next to packing kits

But it's all done. YAY...then my week was spent at doctor's. People wonder why we help Riss with her healthcare...she's nuts...she fell over a toolbox at my mom's a week or so ago and never told anyone. She's limping around like an invalid and mom finally asked what was wrong. Her leg was freaking 3x the normal size and all shades of black and blue, etc..so off to the doc and hospital then on Monday from 2:30-9pm. Yep 9pm...

While there I can say without a doubt I had a Grey's Anatomy moment and while I'd love to be able to say it was an Alex- closet-sex moment it was more of the -code Yellow moment and what the hell is yellow? Is that like Black? The staff wasn't amused but I sure had a chuckle over it.

Hospitals are so much LESS glamorous than that show..seriously!

So on Tues I had to go to Riss's doc appt for her mass. It is a mass and is presenting like cancer :( The doc wants her in for surgery- she'll be in the hospital for 5 days and then we'll see when he's in there if he takes the kidney or just the mass. It's on the outside of the kidney so that's good. Not sure til the surgery on the 23rd of March if it's cancerous or not. Please keep her in your prayers.

Then on to the doctor for mom- this was a funny one- she'd probably kill me but do you know the amt of material at a behind doc? I mean seriously! I could NOT stop giggling. Did you know you can just drop trou and kneel on a table that moves up and down and angles for his viewing pleasure? OH MAN I am so eating her high fiber diet with her...no visits for me. He told her that in bolivia they are considered married now.

He came in saying mom looked familiar and I felt like saying...do you say that to all the butts you see? All holes look alike? See what I mean? I couldn't stop giggling. So at one pt I tell him that the poop is knee deep in here w/his compliments ;)

Poor mom...but if I had to suffer in there like that. Oh and a funny about the waiting room- it's jam packed...but they have 3 normal chairs and then this space age type thing.it's like a seat sling ok? And they are all attached together onto metal. I really should grab a photo of them. I took one look and grabbed one of the two chairs that were normal but this guy comes in and takes mom's chair. Being the good daughter that I am i go sit in the damn thing and would you know I almost fell...not very comfy and the guy behind me kept bouncing like mad. One new guy comes in not realizing the new age nature of this beast and falls into his chair and almost snaps my neck. Mom was laughing so hard.

So anyone like chicken? If I get enough requests I will go type by beloved Chicken/Broccoli casserole here..it's SO dang good...I mean you shred munster and then use a cream sauce and omg it's good :)

What else? I will tell you that 10 yr olds and mouths are overrated! What is it with them? It's all the end of the world and it's all a drama. I am so sick of arguing with her. Projects due at the last minute she forgot about because you know MO-OM I can remember and rarely write it in my assignment book...she forgot the papers today too. Am I bringing them to her? I doubt it. We'll see if she remembers she forgot it. :(

At any rate she better settle down soon or I am raffling her off..no returns on that one ok?

And finally my final thought- If you are bold enough to ask me how much my adoption costs and to say you are going to "get one of those" do not even presume to think I am going to want your jerkoff of a dh to COLD call me to sell crap for you. Um hello???

Yep so I get a call yesterday on my biz line....it's some guy and did I remember his wife from "happy nails" in dec..we talked about adoption. Takes me a minute or two but I did finally place the obnoxious woman. And it wasn't at happy nails idiot...it was a different name..but anyway I digress....this gal did say to me she wanted to get one of those..and meant my daughter. Unfortunately my mom came in after and when I was explaining to this gal I didn't have a card (yeah right) mom whips one out. It's all her fault ok?

So this guy goes on to snip at me - do you remember. I'm like yeah but we have lots of ppl who ask us about adopting- duh. So ok he asks if I am interesting in options and do I have 8-10 hours a week to devote to his streamline marketing..where they cut out the middle man by adding me the middle man to sell things to consumers from like best buy. I was dumbfounded and he heard silence so now he's like- HELLO are you there. I'm like YES i am listening. He says so let's get together for coffee and interview each other..I'm like HELL No. So I say I don't have an hour for myself let alone 8 a week and I am sorry. He's like incredulous and says we are talking 6 figures here. I'm like no thank you and do you know that SOB hung up on me without even a goodbye.

I'm like...oh no you don't and go look at my caller id and no freaking number registered so therefore I couldn't call his behind back and ream him out. How freaking dare you?

It's an imposition enough to call me and ask me about china adoption- but to think that gives you license to then cold call me and get nasty when I am not interested is just plain absurd. Hope I see that broad again in happy nails...I'll use my happy nails on her face. And if they allow her to adopt I'll vomit.

MAN
that's it...how do you like that???

LOL
so ladies are you sorry now that Carolyn hijacked me? See why I was ignoring my blog? I'll end with ONE layout I like and that's it...since the other two are poop!

Mea culpa

Ok so I ignored you all a bit...I have been working like a dog seriously And for the last two days have walked on the treadmill....walking 3x a week is not working for me but now I've set it up that I walk everyday..no more excuses..just get down there.

Read Amy is on a soup diet but it's hard enough ignoring the brownies and other goodies...can't fathom eating only soup right now...don't think I am not saving that diet though for the future if I don't drop the weight before my brother's wedding ;)

Of course A is as thin as a rail and I am not so I better start the soup diet now

Ok so my week so far...pedicure on Monday- love Mario Tricoci...best pedicures around. So now my feet are not offensive to myself....but it's subscription time and I am tired. Plus I am working on my weight and then worrying about a possible 4th child and my brain will NOT relax.

So we were in the Chinese buffet place today....odd waitress...fawned over Anna - deliberately misunderstood Anna's province (I know I am saying it right for cry pete) and then told me...oh she a banana....white on the inside and yellow on the outside...ok first..if I am going to compare my kids to food - why not a twinkie...and 2nd....wtf? I was seriously annoyed......and then she asks the million dollar question- oh she no speak chinese no more--- um yeah just as well as you speak english. I politely point out- she was brought to the US at 8 mos of age...not too much Chinese was being spoken yet as far as I knew but she just didn't get it.

Then again here's the rest of the day there...the bill comes and I about pass out...it was $41 for me and three kids to eat the buffet and I am not even stuffed because hello I am eating 1/2 of my normal intake....omg I was floored...turns out that 4pm there must be dinner and there were no signs posted..and well frankly the food was crap..what a disappointment...esp with this new budget we are on.

So when I left I thought to myself...so we are comparing ourselves to fruits are we? I am a prune- sucked dry from my overpriced, horrible dinner LOL

How's that for fruity?

That's it's I am in such a funky mood I am not fit for polite company (then again some of my readers..)

OH yeah..forgot the main reason for my foul mood...I get an envie the mail with a gift subscription from my outlaws..I'm thinking - cool maybe Soap Opera Digest...or whatever right? It's the freaking Portals of Prayer- their Lutheran um I guess daily devotions book. Now I am steamed.

Why you ask? These ignorant people have an incredible knack of badgering Kevin on issues and usually right after I convince him we need to find a Church..sure 'nuff...anyway I emailed the publisher and pointed out that I've been catholic my whole life much to my outlaws dismay and that since I was just going to chuck their information into the trash they might as well remove me from the mailing list even if my dh's parents are too stupid to figure it out. And they removed me.

So how to deal with it? Talking to them won't net me anything....so I have decided to fight fire with fire..first catholic charities magazine...and then some other religions too. Those (**%^%^%$%$$%$% idiots.

pretty cool!

saw this on another blog..thought the words were very TRUE :) Go to this site to add it to your blog :)

http://www.snapshirts.com/custom.php

What's new....? Nothing much...today I am scrapping if it kills me..but I have a pile of work sitting next to me....a huge pile..that really should be entered into qb before taxes are done.

The house is a mess...what else is new? I am hoping we get it cleaned soon...and this weekend we have lots going on....packing kits on sun (love ya mom) and tomorrow a CNY celebration...Anna's first playgroup. YAY we are bringing these awesome easy to make pot stickers (Ling Ling) from costco..they and the plum sauce that comes in there are delish.

Contemplating signing up for thegrocerygame.com Elaine mentioned it on our boards and it sounds good...esp if I can save 65% on groceries. :) Hey if any of you sign up use Elaine's name if you know her or mine please...we can earn free weeks...

I am hoping it saves me SOME money somehow.

That's it...ok off to scrap :)

Maybe I'll post a layout later.

If you haven't visited the store lately- Basic Grey preorder is up as well at Cbx...MM going up later this weekend and we are hoping to have the product soon.....we are almost sold out of BG and we also are offering the new American Crafts rubons for sale....not too many of those left either...they have a TON of letters! And are packaged so smartly!

Also lots of other new stuff in the store now. :)

More from me later and hopefully more pics soon!

Santa Baby

I've been singing this crazy song all season. And I saw a layout in some magazine that had that title and I said..bingo :)

So here's my sneak peek..totally UNlike an xmas layout. :) using an upcoming kit name is hush hush LOL

Using Bonni's awesome sketch which I think might meet a Catherine challenge too!
Enjoy!

Paved with good intentions

I thought today...Wed..Anna would to go visit Rissi..I'd get my few orders cleared off the desk..do the Post office and head home and SCRAP...well the best laid plans right? Monday Kev was sick with the stomach flu...I was determined to NOT get it. Yesterday Anna wakes up w/a fever...turns out she was probably our first sick one...Katie comes home sick after school...Mikey follows..I'm fine...hahaha...until about dinnertime when I get super nauseous and then get sick. Fun! NOT...three kids home..kev is well enough to go back to work and Anna is healthy enough to be a PITA...and I am sitting here miserable. I am going to try and scrap later...working on laundry now and just sitting and staring ;)

Never a dull moment...of course we have play tickets friday..we got the subscription series for Broadway in Chicago - but alas haven't been to one play yet. They have changed every date and it's been a disaster. What was supposed to be Me, Mom, Riss and Pat has turned into 4 other tickets for Pat's friends and no one is ever available at the same time. We had to forgo the tickets the first play cause Mikey was at the ER for his foot. Now I'm sick. I better feel better...I want an ADULT dinner :)

The past week in review: Katie's concert was fast but nice...she really has stage presence...um with me and her Nana as her relatives is it any wonder? (for those that don't know..placed 2nd in state solo competition in hs/have had professional singing lessons/mom and i have been in tons of plays..and musicals- it's in the blood ;) Even Mikey who has to attend with Katie each week was singing along to all the songs...I know his future too!

Other than that and cleaning the basement..nothing much.

Sorry I've ignored the blog for a few days...maybe I'll upload a sneaky again later :)

Sneaky Peeky

What is this? A sneak? This is one of our upcoming Feb kits...I'm going to be sneaking some here and there - you never know where you will catch one ;) This is from one of my talented DT- Carrie..and her adorable little one! I finally did a layout w/this kit but you'll have to wait for that one :)

Gung Hay Fat Chow

No matter how you spell it or pronounce it..it's the YEAR OF THE DOG...We suspect now that Anna had the stomach flu when we celebrated - which would explain her odd behaviour and not eating, etc. But we had fun nonetheless :) No parade for us this year which was sad because of rain. I had the cutest book for Anna about her first CNY and she kept asking us to read it and wanted to go see the dragon and lion...when we read the books she kisses them both. :) The local restaurant was pleased that we celebrated the day and accepted our "Gung Hay Fat Chow"s and told us it wasn't Happy New Year but the phrase means to have a prosperous and rich new year. So I told them I wished that for them. Of course Miss Anna had them enchanted. And she was her usual shy self except when she was yelling Happy MY New Year ;)

Here's the little one in her Chinese silks. Katie had an asian top on and Mikey had no silks this year..we'll get some for next year. And we found a chinese playgroup- it's a miracle....we belong to the FCC - Families with Children From China and there was a link for playgroups..hope it turns out to be a great group of people...we meet them for a CNY part in a week!

It'll be nice to be active with other families that resemble us :)

So that was our CNY- out to dinner with family and friends and next year we may bring food in and do it here....reading books and sweeping out the old year for a prosperous new one.

It is truly amazing that we were chosen to be Anna's parents and that we have the joy of knowing her culture...they are truly an amazing culture and people. I can't wait to show my baby China...(Stace- plan on that trip in a few years :) Kev and I talked and we think we'll go back to China in about 3 years with the whole family. And no I don't think to adopt again but stranger things have happened I guess ;)

Soggy cereal and other ramblings

I told you I was inane :) I was able to sweet talk the new papers from American Crafts...well I traded it for a pizza...you all KNOW you would too if you had the chance ;) I am really bummed that I can't go to Vegas..almost contemplated getting a ticket at this late stage. Next year I'll probably do two shows..but for now this works.

So Lance met with me and we placed our order and it will be shipping while all the other folk are just getting to the show. Make SURE to check out the rubons..they rock. I loved them....the serif type font..everything. And they are in matchbooks and each strip is sliced so it's easy to use!

Here's a layout I did with their stuff!!! Love it..from the Bookshelf line ...look for this in an upcoming kit for sure! Of course it helps to have the cutest kid possible right? People ask if she takes a bad picture and the funny thing is that YES she does but people love those too! LOL I always take pics of her crying and pouting or throwing a fit.

Life has been busy so I've been neglectful of my blog. It's a no-win situation..we were ahead at ScrapAddict for all of one week maybe. :) Subscription is out for Feb though..thank goodness and I have to mail international pkgs tomorrow. So I've come to realize that when that is all going on - nothing much is going on here. :) And YES it's true..my dang tree is still up....I actually have two trees...I think about taking it down and then I forget. It's making Mom nuts. I think it will come down eventually. Maybe.

I've threatened Bonni that she can help me in July when her family comes to visit for a week. YAY we are going to have so much fun. It will be so nice to just kick back here. And finally my goal is to head to China again with the whole FAMILY in a few years- no not to adopt but we will probably buy out the place. And also next year if we are lucky- Cabo Wabo baby. I saw pics of the place and now am thinking..why have I been saying NO so much. LOL Yes honey, yes...I'll go..it's BEE YOU TI FUL :)

More sneak peeks later from me if I get any scrapping time in around laundry!

Oh and an image for you all! Of mom with the stroller....

Tag...

Ok so I was in a roundabout way tagged...I hate when they sneak that in..anyone who hasn't done it (ahem Carolyn F) consider yourself tagged..because then I feel guilty if I don't do it... LOL So here goes:

4 Jobs You Have Had in Your Life:

banquet waitress, long john silvers, bank- office, proof dept and customer service, scrapaddict.com ;) being a mom too!

4 Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:
Actually I don't tend to watch movies over and over..but I love Galaxy Quest, Adam Sandler ones, Austin Powers.

4 Places You Have Lived:
Chicago, Bridgeview, Port Hueneme, Ca, Park Ridge, Lisle, Buffalo Grove, Lake Zurich and Pleasanton, Ca(loved it there)

4 TV Shows You Love to Watch:
hmm what's pvr'd? Lots of home improvement shows...Starting Over (thanks Carrie), Project Runway, Rock Star INXS (over now), Apprentice, Grey's Anatomy, Lost once in a while.

4 Places You Have Been on Vacation:I've been to a lot of places actually with the timeshare...myrtle beach, canada, hawaii, florida (all the time), indiana, missouri, cincinnati, california, china

4 Websites You Visit Daily:
ScrapAddict - the gallery, the forum and the admin area :) And the blogs of my friends.

4 of Your Favorite Foods:
Chinese
Mexican
Italian
dessert


4 Places You Would Rather Be Right Now:
Sleeping
Mexico or anywhere warm
CHA WINTER (wah wah wah)
scrapping!

4 Bloggers You are Tagging:
-TheNANA- Mom simply highlight and copy mine into your blog by ctrl c-ing it and then pasting it like word into the blog post once you get in there and delete out my answers and post yours ;)
-ANITA
-BONNI
-LAURA

I know

It's been a long time right? :) I have some sneak peeks and other goodies but for now will upload two recent pics of the little one :)

Life w/her is NEVER dull!

Just a Quickie from me

Before I head to bed :) We have had a BEAUTIFUL weekend so far. Got my kits mainly packed on Fri...we are packing March now. :) Got the orders packed and mostly ready to ship. My wonderful, adorable dh made omlettes...yum a specialty of his..wowee was it good. One bad thing..he has this insane habit of asking me for things every two seconds so I spend most of my time saying it's here or there or did you want me to do it instead. LOL

After we ate Kev said he wanted to do something fun so we decided the ZOO :) We have a membership there and going twice with a family of 5 pays for it. It was one of the first sunny days we've had. So it was brisk (30- still a major high in our midwestern state) and some of us were NOT dressed warm enough (think 10 yr old :) But it was FUN! We saw monkeys and alligators and walked through a few buildings. Then we decided we were hungry and hit Omega..YUM YUM YUM.

The kids behaved like angels..we had saganaki- love that flaming cheese and had fun hanging with Mom and Riss..just a picture perfect day. Kev drove me to GapKids in downtown Naperville without BEEPING the horn every two seconds and voila..perfection and bliss :)

I was trying to figure my camera out..I wanted to try setting the f-stop thingy differently..forget it. I did manage to find raw mode but it made the photo blurry. And I did figure out ISO sort of in a roundabout accidental way. SIGH I have GOT to learn better photography with this camera. I just know I am missing the boat so to speak. So I took tons of shots and will upload some this weekend.

We have a bday party for a close friend tomorrow and will meet their new daughter for the first time. They just got back from China in December! And then on Monday I *think* that we'll do the Children's museum unless I can convince mom to just scrap here. WHEE

just a nice fun weekend....ah bliss!

The faces behind ScrapAddict

so I can't pay employees but I adore the two who work for me...Monica and Carrie...I mean seriously...they aren't around as much because they are ALWAYS behind the scenes doing about 10 million things to make sure our store runs smoothly...so share the love girls with our two technogirlwonders please I adore them and they make my life so, so much easier!

Just me

Yep it's all about me baby...or at least it seems that way as I get older. I've done and done for others so much in my life that as I get older I seem to be more stingy with my time and not bashful about taking ME time. It's something we've all gotta do folks!

Case in point...a neighbor came over last week and asked me to watch her son. Keep in mind that this same neighbor when they moved in had me watch him one day and then asked me to watch him after school one day..when I said sure it turned into a M-Thurs gig. I said I didn't know and then w/the holidays it never came up. I thought it was an imposition to do it from 4pm - 6pm ok...so this past week I was told how she has this huge dilemma...her SIL is moving out of state and she needs someone for her son asap. Turns out this would be til 10pm at night..from 4-10 EVERY night. Um no. So I said straight up there isn't an amt you could pay me (which btw she said her dh said to ask if I'd charge..um HELLO)...and I was SO proud of myself because in the past I'd be cursing and moaning that I got roped in.

Anyway it's ME time - I only get one life and intend to live it the way that *I* want. And I am so over having to be friendly to all the neighbors....just put me on a float in my POOL with a drink and my kids splashing and that's a pretty damn good day. Add Kevin in early from work fanning me with a banana leaf and feeding me bon bons and it'd be perfect ;)

Have a good one and take time for YOU...don't feel bad....we all need a little time for ourselves!!!!!