Manic Monday

Do you enjoy brain teasers or do you find them frustrating?

Neither. If I have the time which is rare they can be fun but I don't seek them out. Now word games are a whole other story!

Do you have any unusual collections?

No - none.

What do people notice about you within the first hour of meeting you (other than appearance)?
Hmmm...since I have never met me for the first time I can't really say without asking someone but I can guess it would be that I am pretty easy going.

Puppy Love

Just thought I would share a layout with you I made last night about our sweet puppy Zoe :) More layouts to come soon - we are just finishing up our Sketch class on Feeling Scrappy and I did 20 pages! Woo-hoo!

Photo Tag

I've been tagged by my friend Lee.

The tag how-to...
Go to the photos folder on your computer.
Go to the seventh folder of photos.
Go to the seventh photo.
Put the seventh photo on your blog along with a description.
Invite seven friends to join.

Here is my youngest, Abbie in June of 2007 (age 8). Almost 2 years ago. I love how natural she looks here - I think she is beautiful. Thanks for the walk down memory lane! Now I want to scrap this picture! :)


I tag
Shirley
Robin
Marci
Becky
Stacey C
Stacey L
Tracy

Have fun :)

Internet Friendships

You know what is great about the Internet? Its personal side! Sure I love that I can get a cool photo of tulips or find the history of Jamestown or any number of details about a certain refrigerator in a second but what I love most is that I can connect with people that pirior to the Internet would have been completly lost to me. Most, I sadly would have never had contact with at all.

Moving across the country is an exciting thing but it can get lonely until you settle in and start to "know" people in the area, when you might actually run into someone you know at the store. That is when it starts to feel like home and that can take a couple of years before it really starts to happen.

Although, I sometimes get lonely and wish I had someone to catch a sale with, grab a bite of lunch or a maybe a movie - I have brought many friends with me from Omaha to Richmond. You live all over the world but I talk to you most everyday. You make me laugh, inspire me, challenge me and share in my everyday life.

Just like "real life" friendships have various levels so do these - some are mere acquaintances while others have become just as close as any in person friendship. Some of you are good time - fun to have "party" friends, some are friends that need my help, some help me be the person I want to be, while others are the ones I want to sit down and have deep conversations with. You all add interest and perspective to my life everyday. Thank you for moving with me - you make the loneliness of a new town easy to bare and you bring joy to my life!

{{hug!}}

Feeling Scrappy Design Team

Don't miss out! The deadline to applying for the Feeling Scrappy Design Team is this Friday!! Hurry!! You can find all the details here.

Starhitched Wagon

These beautiful ear rings arrived in my mailbox today from Stacey Curry. I won them as part of a give away she was holding on her blog. Aren't they lovely? Stacey creates really beautiful hand crafted jewelry and she is passionate about her art. I encourage you to check out her store Starhitched Wagon - it is filled to the brim with treasures!

Manic Monday

Some pretty little spring flowers I saw in the park yesterday.

Do you screen your phone calls?

Yes. I don't get a lot of phone calls and most of what I get is sales calls even though I am on the do not call list. So, yes I screen.

When was the last time you lost your temper?

Hmmm...really lost it? I would have to say it was with my middle son, Sam, about two weeks ago. He was being a adolescent brat and he just kept pushing - the last straw? "I don't care what you say." Well - you better start caring buster! Lets just say he spent a bit of time in solitary confinement in his room that night.

When you're lost, do you ask for directions?

Absolutely! I always stop and ask.

A day in the park...

Just a few pictures from our trip to the park today. It was a perfect day to walk the trails - 65 degrees and sunny...ahhhh....spring in Virginia is beautiful! A few things are blooming but there are little buds on all the trees and the grass is greening up nicely. I am a little sad the day is over and it is back to the routine tomorrow but it promises to be another lovely day. Hope you all had a great Sunday!

A puppy party!

Yesterday was Zoe's 5th birthday! We sang happy birthday, gave her presents of raw-hides, a box of treats, a stuffed toy and a new outfit and celebrated with a treat filled plate. She was in heaven! We love our pup!!

Here are the kids singing "Happy Birthday!" to our birthday girl (who can't take her eyes off the prize!):
After her party and playing with all her new things - she was so tired - I found her up on our bed resting:

On another note. So happy it is Friday! Here is my Friday fill-ins :)

1. Why do we have to get up so early? (I am so not a morning person!)

2. Eating a quick breakfast then reading blogs after the kids leave for school are now habits.

3. I have lots of housework to do today but I am in a surprisingly good mood - the sun is shinning :)

4. I had never heard the phrase "cool beans" until I was on a field trip with the kids a couple years ago and it is a bit odd - glad my kids never picked it up!

5. I am cooking pork in the crock pot for tacos the way I always do.

6. How was I to know I would be living in Virginia? Life certainly has lots of turns!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to seeing Don and enjoying movie, tomorrow my plans include baseball practice with Sam and dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (yum!) and Sunday, I want to spend the day outside with my family!

10 happy things

My friend, Amy, posted a few things that made her happy today and asked what made me happy today so I thought I would share it here :)

1.) A beautiful sunny 68 degree day here in Virginia.

2.) The flowering trees are blooming!

3.) My pup, Zoe, rolling around on her back - makes me laugh out loud.

4.) Telling my daughter she gets to go back to the summer camp she loves in Omaha.

5.) Watching Sam play baseball today.

6.) Having friends to share my weight loss journey with.

7.) Bazzill Swiss Dot Paper

8.) The fingerless mittens my friend Becky made me

9.) Paint chips

10.) Blogging about happy things! :)

Manic Monday

Are you a saver or spender?
Hmmm - hard for me to answer. I guess I am a spender who wants to be a saver. I am a spender when it comes to my kids but I rarely spend money on myself. I feel most comfortable spending money I know we have - I am not comfortable at all being in debt.

Do you prefer to walk around barefoot in your home? Socks? Shoes?
Socks, please. I do not like to walk around barefoot but I hate wearing shoes so socks it is. (although I have started wearing slippers since moving to Virginia - hard wood floors are COLD!)

Do you talk to yourself?
On occasion - usually when I am mad - I will replay a conversation I had putting in lots of extra digs that I couldn't think of at the time :blush:

Self Portrait

My friend, Lee, tagged me to do this horror of all horrors. Luckily, I read her challenge after I had showered for the day. Frankly, I envy those brave enough to let it all hang out and as much as I want to have the strength to do that - I don't think I could (I am working on it - maybe one day...) Heck, I am having a hard time even posting this! I limited myself to taking 10 photos - lucky thing to since 8 of them were completely out of focus! How the heck do you all hold your camera so steady? Anyhow here it is...

Here are the details:
Take a picture of your self right now, no primping or preparing.
Just snap a picture.
Load onto your blog.
Tag 3 people to play...remember if you are tagged on another blog we will all be heading to yours to see if you played along.

I tag: Stacey L., Stacey C. and Stacy K (thought I would stick with a theme here!)

Friday Fill-ins

My nook - in the unfinished stage...

1. When I look to the left, I see a cool angle on a plain white wall (which I hope to change the color of very soon!) - out the window to the left is trees!
2. The kitchen is the room that has the best view in my home.
3. Let it work, please! (I always think this when my computer has a blip!
4. Dirty deeds done dirt cheap! (Great. Now that song is in my head.)
5. Paying taxes is a responsibility that all qualified citizens must share. Speaking of which I need to get busy on it!
6. If you have any positive thoughts feel free to share them! You can never have enough of that floating around.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a hot bowl of chili and seeing Don when he gets home, tomorrow my plans include Sam's baseball practice if the rain lets up and fridge shopping and Sunday, I want to scrap and go and check out the local library!

Manic Monday

Image from Google Images

Several of my bloggy friends do this so I thought I would play along. You can find the questions each week here.

What would you do with an extra hour each day?
I think my answer to this would be different if you asked me each day! My first thought today was that I would read. Most likely though I would fill it up just like I do the 24 hours I currently have. KWIM?

Do you wear a watch? If so, tell us about it. If not, how do you keep track of time?
No - I don't wear a watch and never have. I keep track of time by clocks around the house and in the car. Never been a problem for me.

If it was possible, would you want to know how many days you had left to live?
Nope. I think it would change me and change the people who love me and we would all act different. I would rather just live. When it is over, it is over.

Finally gone!

As of today, we can officially say that we sold our house in Omaha. The closing is finished, the utilities are changed over and the sign is out of the yard. Just like most people in this housing market, we took as Don says "a bath" on the house. It is sad that we had to sell it for so much less then we could have a few years ago but honestly I am just relieved. I feel like I can fully invest myself in our new home and our new state now that all of our ties to Omaha are behind us.

It was a nice house and we spent 5 years of our lives there - many happy memories but after 10 months on the market the only thing left for me is relief. So it is a happy day indeed!

What are you waiting for?

Photo taken on a drive we took right here in Virginia :)

"Don't put off your happy life!"

A few weeks ago I saw the quote above on this blog which I love and it immediately touched me. This is the quote for me! I have sincerely been trying my hardest to live with this thought in mind for the past year or so. And let me tell you it works - it is all about really looking at and enjoying everything you have. Stop waiting and just live the life you have been given.

When I saw this quote I wrote it down and stuck it to the side of my computer screen. My plan is to make some sort of alter art using it to hang in my happy scrappy place. I'll be sure to share when it is finished.

Here is hoping you are enjoying a fabulous Sunday!

Happy Friday!

I am heading off for a day of scrapbooking, the sun is shining, my cold is here but much better, it is Friday so no dealing with homework...life is good!

Friday Fill-ins...

1. Running ahead to get the door for a man with a bunch of packages in his hand yesterday was my last random act of kindness.

2. Another place I'd like to be is the beach!

3. I am careful in matters of the heart.

4. Coffee, tea or me? Weird but that is the first thing that comes to mind - guess some advertiser needs some kudos. (I actually don't like coffee or tea - shocking I know!)

5. By taking separate paths I have drifted away from some people in my past - looking at it now one makes me sad and another makes me glad.

6. Our nature walks reminds me that there is beauty everywhere.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to scrapbooking, tomorrow my plans include going to Sam's baseball practice then enjoying some outside time with the family and Sunday, I want to go take the dog for a long walk, read and fix the family a good Sunday dinner!

6th picture from 6th folder...

My friend Lee tagged me to go to my 6th album and post my 6th picture. This album was filled with all the proofs from when I took the kids to get pictures taken last summer. This is one I did not order - I don't like how she had them pose and the fact that Abbie's head is not centered between Jacob and Sam's - I am picky that way!

Since I know this has been going around for awhile now I will tag anyone who wants to play that hasn't had a chance yet. :)

Here are the instructions for this blog tag:Go to your Picture Folder on your computer or wherever you store your pictures.

1. Pick the 6th Folder, then select the 6th picture in that folder.

2. Post that picture on your blog and the story that goes along with the picture.

3. Tag 6 other people that you know or don’t know, to do the same thing and leave a comment on their blog or an e-mail letting them know you chose them.

NyQuil

After a long day of coughing, running eyes and a runny nose it felt so good to slip into bed last night after drinking a capful of this stuff. Slept so good...ahhhhh...

Snow Day!

Our first official snow fall since we have lived in Virginia happened last night. They announced that the schools would all be closed around 7pm so the kids were beyond thrilled to have a 3 day weekend! We ended up getting quite a bit and we have been enjoying our little reprieve from the week. The great thing about this snow is that it will be gone by the weekend (it is suppose to be back up to 65 degrees by then!)

Our backyard trees:
The patio:

Jacob headed out back to clean off the bird feeders - he wanted to be sure the birds could get to their food (so sweet!):

Sam and Abbie ready to go off sledding:

Zoe says no thank you! She will stand and watch but has no interest in going out in this weather. LOL We have to force her out the door when she has to go to the bathroom. I will admit she is a wimp but we love her :)

Hope you are enjoying your Monday!