Made into cards

I made these ATC's rom a swap into a few cards.... pretty cute huh?

Amen!

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I won, I won

It has not been the easiest week of my life here. But, I am so excited to WIN some great blog candy from Jenn. I won't go into life right now, but wow, this made my day. Of course now I have to work on thinking of how to pass it on on my blog..... coming soon!

Fun image

Happy Saturday to you. Janelle and I had an awesome time at the mall today. I found a few good things, and some stuff I didn't need at all! Hehehehehehe..... Let's see, makeup, shorts, shirt, great dress, handbag, handsoap, oh and some sees candy...

Rain finally went away here!

I am not sure I really like this card. But I got the image in a swap and wanted to use it. My good friend Janelle told me not to post last night.... I was a bit (understatement) whiney. So, I figured a rainy day stamp followed that up ok! LOL Happy Friday, here is to a great day!

Men cards

I forgot until the very end of the year that Alec has some men teachers! I wanted to make cards for them too. So I begged for a few professafella's. Sparkle was kind enough to send me a few, and some more great bella images too. So I made a couple of men teacher cards. I know that lots of people quit with cards and gifties at middle school. But Alec is so much work, and truth be told I can be too, that I felt I had to do something. SO a card and an inexpensive box of mints did it! Oh, and the inside is a CTMH set that says "You are my hero" because truthfully, teachers are my heros!

Where to go for blog candy

DO you know about SheetLoads of Cards where they give you the "formula" to create really cute cards in multiples of 10? I think it is a really great site and the information is soooo useful and NOW they have a sister site http://sheetloadshortcuts.blogspot.com/ where they are going to offer products that will make paper crafting easier for us! Get over there quick and win some blog candy!

Teriffic Tuesday!

Our house guests went home today! So we have one less English Lab and one less Weimaraner. Seems weird to be down to three dogs now! LOL So a few people wondered on how I got around so much! LOL I was born in New York. My mother was from Virginia. So every year we drove to see her family. During school trips we went to see the Liberty Bell and such. Then, when I was 12 we moved to Arizona. My parents wanted to return to Arizona where they had been stationed in 1950 after my dad retired. So, we went there. They kept their summer home on Shelter Island New York for a few years after that. So we drove back and forth each summer. I even spent 3 weeks at Georgetown University when I was 15 at debate camp. Actually, now I can't believe they let me do that!

I went to high school in Arizona. Then I went to California to college, University of Redlands. During my sophomore year my father got pretty sick. I moved home for my 3rd year, and he died that year. During that time I was able to visit lots of interesting places in states in the southwest. A couple of years later mom died. I remember spending a week with my girlfriend Libby outside of Yellowstone in Montana. I think I was just fortunate to be able to see the states.

In 1988, after mom had died, Mike and I drove back east to see all of her sisters. I have a dear friend outside of Atlanta, and I have been there a couple of times to see her. Then we came around north so that I could meet his mom in Boise.... yes a month on the road! Let's see, when Alec was just 11 months I drove with him from Arizona to Virginia to see my aunts. I thought it might be the last time I would see my Aunt Hannah, and sadly it was. But I also some some friends/relatives in other states along the way.....

After Mike and I married, in 1989, we constantly talked about living near a coast, or near water. We drove the west coast, with the boys 1 & 3 in 1997. In fact, Casey broke his arm jumping out of the van (Mike was right next to him) in Yakima, WA. Oh, and I forgot that Mike grew up in Boise so we went to Idaho several times. In 1998 we drove to the east coast and up that. Again, wanted to check in and see if we might be interested in relocating there. We actually decided that as much as we loved the east, we are western! We love the laid back feel of the west. It just fits us! During that trip we also decided to see Mike's only living great gramma in Omaha, Nebraska. SO, we spent a few days there.

In early 1999 we both quit our jobs and started looking in Oregon. In education it is pretty NOT OK to have a contract and break it. So we figured at the worst I could get a job teaching math, and even though Mike had been administrating he could get a job teaching 6th grade. Well, turned out he got an offer from Seaside. When he came to Oregon to interview that was the 3rd of 3 on his list. But, by the end of the interview he wanted to work there. And, he hadn't been home 10 minutes when they called and offered him the job. We talked briefly and said what the hell! LOL So, we moved to Oregon.

Anyway I suppose the bottom line is that I have had the great pleasure of taking many many road trips across the country several times in my life. I have been to Alaska (dh's dad and step mom live there) and Hawaii (mom took me in 1986). I love this country, and I can't wait until someday when I have seen it all. Some of you have heard me say that my perfect retirement is when I get in an RV with all my scrapbooking/stamping supplies and travel to see friends and family EVERYWHERE. I would just love that.

I have a few good stories of trips, like when Trina and I went east when we were 19. We met some cute college boys on the road and ended up at the University of Oklahoma at a frat party. I still think the best one was when Alec was 11 months and Aunt Hannah and I spent 4 days almost never leaving her apartment. I learned so much about my family and myself, it was amazing!

Yellow Finch

One of my favorite birds in my backyard!

I get around....

Here are the states I have been to so far! The northeast is a BIG I wanna go for me. How interesting that I have a beloved friend that is from South Dakota and I have never been there! LOL

Not too much to report this morning. We still have our friends dogs. It is a riot having four big dogs and my little pekingese princess around here. They are all good dogs, which helps a ton. So, I don't mind them. But, it is lots of stepping over and around big dogs! =-)


http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/map.php

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! My crazy hubby is off at the gym already. I suppose this explains how he has kept his weight off. I am very proud of him. He is a great dad not only to our children, but to all of the children in his school who need a father figure. I often tease him that he missed his calling as a vet, as animals everywhere love him too. But the truth is animals and children aren't all that different. They need people who love and respect them to look up to for direction and love.

I miss my own father every year. Yet, about five years into our marrige I realized that my DH was a lot like my own father. Really, in both the good and tough ways (for me!). My dad has been gone since 1985, but I thank him for the 20 years I did have with him.

Happy Father's Day to all of the men out there who are father's!

Bye bye birdie....

Well the Umbrella Cockatoo was the most beautiful bird I had ever seen. But, it was not meant to be. She got very aggressive toward both the boys and me over the week. This morning I was ready to do more research and keep her...even buy a time out cage. But moments after those words were out of my mouth I opened her cage. She climbed to the top of the open door and screamed and lunged at my face. I threw up my hands and she bit me but good. She punctured both sides of my right hand pointer finger. Blood was spewing everywhere and I was crying.

A bird like that deserves a lot of time out of her cage and a lot of attention. But, Mike isn't home enough. And, she did that with him in the room. She had been doing it all week, just lunging and biting for no reason. But I am very optimistic with pets and I hoped it was nerves on being in a new house. But if she had done that to the boys, I never could have lived with myself. It really really hurts.

So, sadly, the bird is gone. And more sadly the pet store woman didn't give us our money back. =-( Now, we did get half. And, I think she should have offered at LEAST store credit for the other half. But, she didn't. And the truth is that we bought the bird and didn't talk returns. We were told that the bird was on consignment because the child was allergic. But, I HIGHLY DOUBT that now. I think the bird was too unpredictable to have around a 1 year old. So, that is my sad Saturday news.

first day of summer vacation

Today I took Casey across town for accupuncture. What an interesting experience. I wanna go now! They really ask lots of questions, like do you run hot or cold? Do you wake up sweaty? Do you have allergies? Stuff that you wouldn't think mattered. After that we took a little nap on the couch.... ok, I took a nap on the couch.

We have our friends 2 dogs right now, so yes that is FIVE dogs in the house. But, they are soooo good, it really is not a problem to have them. The hardest one for us right now is Roxy. In her defense, she is a two year old! Boy does she act like a toddler!

This evening Alec went over to the pool to meet some friends. Words can not describe how happy I am that Alec has some friends now. It is just wonderful, yea. =-) Mike, Casey, and I went for a bike ride. It was an awesome evening. Quite perfect if you ask me. High 60's I would guess, and just wonderful.

I am hoping for a really good summer. I anticipate doing a LOT of family bike rides. This might be the one thing we can do together, hopefully, that everyone will enjoy. I am excited to do some reading, seems as if there is never enough time for that. And, of course, I want to do some more creating. I am so into the cards right now. I guess they are fairly short to do and feel easier than tackling scrapbook pages. I am really into the relaxing coloring right now. I want to take some kind of art class. But I didn't see anything local that sounded perfect, so maybe I will do that in the fall when the kids are back to school.

So, here is to a great summer 2008.

What a crazy day!

This afternoon I kept hearing the helicopters overhead. I finally decided to go outside and check out the situation. It turns out one of our neighbors came home to find a man in his garage. This man shot the neighbor in the shoulder. So, the police helicopters and news helicopters were overhead. The area in the neighborhood was taped off and the mobile police unit was there. The police suggested that everyone stay inside. It is 9:15 pm now and I don't know if they caught the bad guy or not. But, it sure made for an interesting afternoon!

On another note we got Casey out of Elementary School tonight. They had a nice little ceremony and slide show. Tomorrow the boys are only at school for a couple of hours and then it is summer vacation! I am ready to get to sleep in other than get up and fight the kids to get them out of here on time.

In other news, Casey's bike has not been found. Stolen from outside of Target by cutting the chain, we were hoping it would be found since it is registered. But, no such luck. So looks like we will be dropping some money on a new bike this weekend. Never a dull moment.

In other news the new bird seems to be fitting in fairly well. We are struggling to teach her to stay on her cage instead of jumping down and walking around on the floor. Not that I don't trust the dogs, but well, I don't trust the dogs. Letting the bird walk on the floor feels like letting your dog watch your hamburger.... just not a good idea.

If you are so inclined please say an extra prayer for my friend Susan and her family. Her dad is having a tough time right now. He has Alzheimer's and is in the hospital with some other issues. They aren't getting too much information, which I am certain is quite frustrating.

Moving on up

Tonight Alec completes 8th grade & tomorrow night Casey moves up from 6th grade. I am so proud of both of these boys. They are both stubborn and wonderful young men. It is hard to believe that the Elementary school days are behind us now. Yet, I know there are great adventures to come. Congratulations boys, we made it this far!

oops, I forgot to add that this pic is in front of a float from the Rose Parade last weekend....yes, it is all out of plants, cool huh?

Sweet girl

Eloise Greengrass, another bella. It is the coloring with the copics that I am addicted to right now. Honestly I have never liked to color before. Yea, a new hobby, coloring!

Hana means flower

In Japanese. She is full of personality. It was interesting last night to get everyone love..... 3 dogs, 3 birds, 3 Matagascar Hissing Cockroaches....... I am telling you, we need another child to have three of them too! LOL NOT.

Alec is at Oaks Park today with the 8th grade. This will be his first full day in school since early fall. He missed so much school this year. I really hope and pray we get it all set up for next year. I can't do another year like this.

Baby Card

I got this cute elephant in an image swap. I thought they were supposed to be inks that didn't run, but this one wasn't. But, after I used some different blues I liked the gray that ran from the black image. So, I kept it and added more. This is a congrats on your impending boy baby card. This is a very different kind of card for me, and I actually like it better in person than the picture. That isn't new for me, but on this card I definitely notice.

Good day today. Mike and I met with one of the Hillsboro High School conselors. I sure think we are fortunate to live in an amazing district! They are doing the best they can for Alec and I pray that it is enough to make his transition to high school in the fall a bit easier. Ahh the last week of school is here! Yahoo!