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! :)