Thank You Cards

For Tate's teachers in MI and for the best garbage man ever!!

Getting back to normal

This is when Paul flew in to MI to help bring us home...

How to entertain your toddler while you unpack the house. Of course, Paul wanted to send this picture out to his friends showing them what he got Tate for Christmas. The funny thing about that is that he will probably play with his "rocket/house creation" more than anything he actually gets from Santa.

A few decorations amidst the unpacking mess to make it feel like home.

HOME at last!!

OK, I knew it would feel good to return to our house in St. Louis after having spent the last 6 months in a temporary home in MI while Paul was deployed, but it feels AWESOME!!!

We are still unpacking and just got internet today, so I will post more blog entries and pictures once we have settled in a bit more.....

Hope you all are snuggled in on this cold night :)

Paul's home...almost!!

After 6 days of travelling, Paul returned to the United States. He just happened to have a layover in Detroit on his way to St. Louis, so we drove the 1 hr 45 min to see him. Why didn't he just come home with us, you ask?? He is required to return to the base for briefings, turn in equipment, etc. He'll fly into Lansing, Mi on Tuesday and be officially "home".

When Paul got off the plane (we had a special military pass to meet him at he gate), Tate didn't even hesitate...he ran right to him. It was like he had just left yesterday! Tate is a cautious kid who doesn't just go to anyone, and he was 100% comfortable with Paul and called him" Dada" almost immediately. It was awesome.

As we were waiting, Paul let Tate dig through his bags. Here he is dumping everything out on the floor.

And us on the way home after a stop at Trader Joe's, wayyyyyyyyyy past nap. Yea--that's a box of cereal I let him have on his lap. The hands on the ears? Him just being a ham for the camera.

Out of commission

Did I spell that right?? Anyway, not much blogging going on as I have been sick the past few days. I guess I have a breast infection and have had a fever, vomiting, all the ickies.

After being further frustrated with military health insurance, I went to the ER and got some antibiotics. I am thankful that I am getting this out of the way before Thanksgiving. See? My way of looking on the bright side :)

More after I recover.

Last Layouts B4 Thanksgiving

I sometimes get burned out from scrapping, so I am waiting until Thanksgiving weekend, which is an annual crop at my Aunt MaryAnn's house. I want to save my creative energy until then!

This LO was inspired by a Scrap in Style TV tutorial that showed going through all your stickers and just slapping things on in a cluster and taking only a few minutes to complete a page. It was so fun!!!
This LO was inspired by Ali Edwards "Daily Inspiration" using junk mail and I loved the idea and translated it on to a page. Not as cute as AE's envelope, but I will be using more junk mail in the future.

Is Halloween over?

I sit here with a tootsie roll in each cheek. Stupid Halloween Candy! So much for the 10 lbs I planned to lose before Paul came home. He'll be here in about 2 weeks, and unless I do nothing but work out until he arrives, it's not happening!

Catie, Tate and I decided to pull out Tate's sing along CDs. And then we pulled out anything that could be considered a costume and we danced and dressed up and laughed hysterically. A good way to burn an hour, especially when you are so tired you could pass out and need to wake up.

Saturday am

It is dark. Tate woke up at the buttcrack of dawn saying "eat", which I thought he was saying "itch" (eczema on his legs) until "WAFFLE" was said very clearly at 5:10a!! Oh yea, he went back to bed...only for an hour.


I was making Halloween shaped pancakes (we're out of waffles) before my eyes were even open. I know, Halloween is over, BUT THEY ARE SO COOL!

The pic is blurry, but this is how he wakes up every morning. He melts down in the evening, don't be mistaken, but he is alllll smiles at the break of day.

Trick or Treat!

Yes, it was cold and it was rainy and we still HAD A REALLY REALLY FUN TIME!!!

Me crammed into a 3T sized "Blue" costume. Yea... I had to cut the side out.

This jailed pumpkin even hade the "Tattooed" teardrop. So funny.


And PacMan for you older bloggers who remember who he is....

Dad and his favorite "kid"

He's not as grumpy as he looks... And that mouse lookin' thing in his vest, is his darling daughter, JOSIE, the favored child of the family. She is pretty cute, though. She is one of those rare friendly chihuahuas, except if you try to bug her while she is sleeping on my dad's lap.

Presents!!

Today after a less-than-desireable Storytime at the Library (Tate had crack for breakfast), we went over to my parents' house and helped my mom clean a variety of rooms. I am helping her to organize her scrap stuff, and she has A TON of it. The best part, I left with PRESENTS!!

The paper is from "DCWV" (Die Cuts With a View) Fall Stack and there is some good stuff in there. She gave me one of each, as there are 3 sheets of each pattern. They have really upgraded the quality of those stacks. A few years ago, my mom had purchased the Spring/Summer pack and it was ok...ya know the stuff you MIGHT use in the wayyyyy background. This new one has papers that I would pick out at the scrapbook store and pay the 60 cents a sheet for each one. She got the stack at JoAnns, and before coupon, it was $19.99. Awesome deal and worth a look.

She also gave me this awesome leather photojournal with places for the photos on one page and blank 7gypsies-like manila blank space on the other page. Too cool and I can't wait to fill it.

Smokey fantasizing about going outside to play in the fall leaves.

And Sabrina wishing she could scrapbook.

ONE MORE DAY UNTIL HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Post

Click Here

I don't know how to change the date, so this posting is in the wrong order...

TAG--if you read this you're "it" :)

I was tagged by reading a fun blog that I discovered on one of the many scrap blogs I visit. Hi Natalie!

4 Jobs I've Had:
1. USAF Pilot
2. Pharmaceutical Rep
3. High School Teacher
4. (Currently) Mom

4 Movies I Could Watch Over & Over:
1. Almost Famous
2. Fools Rush In
3. Sense and Sensibility
4. Sweet Home Alabama

TV Shows I Watch: (only 4???!!!!)
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. The Hills
3. Real World 500 ( sad to say I am old enough to have watched the FIRST Real World regularly)
4. Sarah Silverman Program

Places I've Lived:
1. Sacramento, CA
2. San Antonio, TX
3. Ann Arbor, MI
4. St Louis, MO ok, really Swansea, IL (the 'Burbs of STL)

Favorite Foods:
1. Really Good Cheese, Bread and Wine
2. Thai Food (Tate was grown on Yellow Chicken Curry)
3. Mexican Food cooked by Dad
4. Caprese Salad

Places I'd Love to be Now:
1. In bed SLEEPING
2. At an overnight scrapbook convention
3. In San Francisco
4. With Paul in our STL Living Room watching good TV

Names I Like, But Would Not Use for My Children:
1. Lake
2. Soliel (LOVE it, but I can see mean teenage boys altering it in the future)
3. Chloe (too many these days)
4. Irina (means Peace, but my brother has already shown me how it can be altered in that #2 way)

Again, if you are reading this, you are tagged. :)

Scrap Tips from Other People

So I am was wandering around online tonight, waiting for Tate to fall asleep (he was yelling "Mama" for the 400th time) and found some GREAT scrap techniques on youtube.

I've used youtube, mostly to watch innapropriate humor my brothers have shown me. Who knew there were also scrap tips on there??

Here are a few cool things:
GLITTER CHIPBOARD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaJPSNRRlk4
GRUNGEBOARD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gODmW_qULL8
CUSTOMIZED PLANNER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXHxWzbzv60
***This last one is long, but it is a cute project. Also, this woman is a champ. She even toted he 4 kids along with her to Staples and she still manages to look cute and have time to scrap. I am officially a wimp.

More OcToBeR Cards!

Here you go. I am usually done and mailing my Halloween cards out by now...

And Tate created yet another nest. If you don't know what I am talking about, refer to old post here.
And since I have almost ruined our camera from throwing it in the diaper bag and letting Tate do his own photo shoots... a new camera case. LOVE IT! (got it at Target.)

Happy Monday!

Glammys

I love reviews of beauty product and have always been a fan of such things as the Glammys. http://www.glamour.com/fashionbeauty/slideshows/2007/08/glammies

So I am inspired to regularly review stuff. Let's start with facial moisturizers since my face is always dry:

Philosophy Hope in a jar-

L'Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Face Cream -

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer-
Nivea Visage Glowing Moisturizer-

Ok the winner is...L'Occitane. It is simply moisturizing, not a lot of fragrance.

Second is Kiehl's, with Philosophy as a close 3rd. Philosophy Hope isn't worth the $30 price, though I love the smell, but it bothers my skin under my eye. It is supposed to be AMAZING, and it just isn't. The Kiehl's isn't worth it either--if you want to splurge, use the L'Occitane.

I don't think they make the Nivea anymore, but it was great for it's under $10 price. I can't use their other products because of the AHA or the fruit acid or whatever they put in it to "Safely exfoiliate". More like "Burn like hell" for me.

I invite you to PLEASE add your own recommendations for this review or any future reviews!

Mini Book for Paul

While Paul is away, I have been sending him mini books with the latest pics of Tate. It makes me make them quickly because I can drag a scrap project F-O-R-E-V-E-R....

Nesting

This week, we have been skipping TV in the morning. Unbelieveable, Tate plays with his toys after he figures out the magical light box is not being turned on.

He has been making nests with his toys and then piles blankets on top and sits on top of it all. I think he is part bird.

This kid cracks my "stuff" up.

Cool Site

Make a e-cupcake and send to a friend, while helping raise $ for CancerCare for kids:

http://www.cupcakesforacause.org/choose.html

Absent Blogger

Hi! I've been helping plan Catie's 13th Bday party (Halloween Themed), which explains my lack of blogging. I will have pics later--my mom had the camera.

Here is a preview...imagine several 7th graders drinking Mt. Dew and cheetos mixed together, gooey plastic eyeballs being thrown, and a few trampoline injuries. Fun was had by all.

New Blog Template

As you can see, I changed the look!
I love the way a black background makes photos "POP", but I was ready for a change. I was bored with myself.

Does anyone know how to make one of those cool personalized headers?? Or how they get a scrapped header for the title of the blog?

Lovin the cool weather today...tea and coffee taste SOO good when there is a chill in the air.

My first video post: Why I am so tired!

The Country Mill

Last Friday, we went to the local Cider Mill to pick apples and pumpkins. It ended being 90 degrees out and while we had fun, we were soaking wet with sweat by the time we got back to the car. We definitely opted for cold cider instead of hot cider on this trip!

A Fav Corner of the Casa

Ok--Random pic of one of the favorite parts of our temporary home. Tate loved the little house and likes to name all the components, such as "tree", "light", "roof", etc.

The framed art is really just scrapbook paper, the house from my mom (she won it at a PartyLite party), The bikes from a garage sale, and the shelf from my sister.

Slow Scrapper

A few more pages... These were from a CKU class I took last year that I hadn't finished because I wanted to change them up a little. I still need a few more pics on the first one and the "u" in "cutie" fell off and I didn't even realize it until I posted the pic.

Off to go pick some apples at the local cider mill/orchard!!

Have a great weekend.

This day has sucked

Yea...it is just one of thse days, but these pictures make me laugh :)

Tate is going to be Steve from Blue's Clues and I guess I am going to be Blue. There is NO way he was going to put on the Blue costume...

Oh and we scored a Thinking Chair off ebay. Yea--I HATE TV character stuff, but I guess I give in.