Rain, rain go away!

Got to bed late last night / this morning. Ha! Woke up to the sound of binkies being smacked on the headboard in Drew's room through the monitor by my bed on the nightstand. He hasn't learned yet to just call out, "Mom, I'm awake.... or HEY YOU COME GET ME" That'd be better than that annoying little click of the binkies bashing together as he taps out signals in Morse Code for me to decypher and run to his rescue. :) Maybe it's a code only those in Pampers can understand... Instead of the Davinci Code, he's speaking the Pampers Code.

We were supposed to have a birthday party to attend at Bedford Splash. I know Drew and Josh were both looking forward to it. But... it's raining. Blah!

Drew's all about the birthdays now. He doesn't really understand but he knows it means parties and I think he thinks they're all for him. So, it's a great thing to NOT open presents at parties for little kids. I like that NOT opening presents at a party is the new trend because it just saves chaos and tears. :) I like not having chaos and tears.

So what have I done today? I went to The Dinner Station www.thedinnerstation.com in Southlake and picked up 12 dinners all prepared for me... for $195! What a deal! I can't wait to try it.

I counseled Corey on a new cologne -- told him to get Armani Code -- OMG I love that stuff... I wear it... it smells SO darn good! :) I think if crack were a fragrance, that would be the one. :) MOO ha ha ha ha ha!

As it stands right now, we're watching Tom and Jerry. I just baked a batch of M&M sugar cookies for the boys. The dogs are passed out -- Thor in the floor -- Lola behind me in the chair -- Sadie curled in a ball on the couch next to Drew (well, she comes and goes - he's a wiggle worm and won't leave her alone so sometimes she runs to the other chair)... in the next little bit we've got to run to Wal-Mart HELL and pick up some necessities. Crazy how I can pick up 12 dinners and not have anything set out for dinner tonight! Ha! I freakin froze it all... DUH!

OH.. and Coke stopped making my FAVORITE DRINK! Diet Black Cherry with Vanilla Coke - -it was THE best...and they STOPPED MAKING IT! :( And Cheer quit making my high-effiency washer detergent! I love the smell of Cheer -- I had to buy Tide b/c that's all the had but I wasn't happy about it! Funny how we can get so brand/scent/taste loyal... and who do these big ole companies think they are stopping making my favorite stuff? Bastages!

Oh well, off to more mommy duty. :)

You Wanna Scrap with Me?

Ha ha... if I only had the Italian accent to really make that sounds MEAN! Ha!

We were going to start out our day at the swimming pool but darnit if I didn't wake up to rain. And the first thing I thought of was that Gary Alan song, "Songs About Rain." Man he's so darn sexy... got that smokey voice... mrow! :) sigh... I think he's going to be my Zune choice for the night. :)

I had to get on to Josh today for telling a lie. Got that good ole Catholic guilt trip going... should have shouted "Pack your bags, we're going on a guilt trip".... but at least they work ... for now.

The conversation started something like... him asking if he could let the dogs in…and I said YES -- AS LONG AS you check their feet and wash them off if they’re dirty. Simple enough. Right? I walk back into the room to see Josh putting a puzzle together at the coffee table and there’s freakin mud slides everywhere (from Thor the wonder Rot). So, of course, I pointed it out...

I said, "So, what’s that?"
Josh said, "I was about to clean it" (as he's now moving to see what I'm talking about)
I was like, "Did you check his feet?"
"Yes."
"Did you wash them off?"
"Yes."
"With what?"
"A napkin" (boy he can think fast on his feet can't he?)
"WHERE is this napkin?"
"In the trash."

So we proceeded to walk to the trash can. He tried to tell me that the napkin he used to clean all the mud off of Thor's feet is the one that is located beneath a cantaloupe that I'd used to pick it up earlier (did you know they get soft and gooey if you don't eat them in a week? HA ha ha).

So I bluntly said, "That’s a lie… that’s a ridiculous lie… and now I’m freakin irritated… you just LIED to me… go sit in time out.. I’m too disappointed in you to talk…. Just go sit."

And that’s when I was quiet for about 5 minutes…then said to him…

"Do you know why I’m so upset right now?"
“...because I lied”…
“No, actually it’s not just that. My job -- my very job on this planet -- is to make sure that you and Drew are responsible, caring, independent individuals who know the difference between what is right and what is wrong and that you DO what is right and that you conduct yourselves in a Godly way… and by you having lied to me… means that I have failed miserably.”

I think if it'd have been Drew, he'd have shrugged his shoulders and said "man it sucks to be you, huh?" Boy are they night and day. Takes all kinds to make the world go round huh? BUT I love 'em both... to pieces!

Somewhere in the aftermath of it all, I did remind him that if you lie about little things like this that really don’t matter at all… when you really want people to believe in you, they won’t. To just think about that… And that he'd have to earn my trust back now.

So on to other things....

Drew is having a chocolate chip cookie after devouring about 6 dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets. He thought he needed more "kep-pup" (ketchup) but I showed him how he only had one chicken nugget left so he really didn't need more. "okay mom, thanks".... he's SO polite... I think that's the balancing act for his two-year old tantrums. :) Boy are THOSE fun!

Oh well, off to Colleyville. Hopefully there's a margarita in the very near future. ;) moo ha ha ha ha ha I don't think I've ordered pictures for this WHOLE year.. .man I need to get busy!

I'm so glad my good friend Amanda is going tonight. I haven't seen her in what feels like forever...but she's just THE digital BOMB! If anyone wants to check out a digital diva... that'd be her! :) Amanda Dykan. Let me find her site and I'll put it up here for you to go check her out!

WOW can I spend money?!

It's crazy how fast little things add up... $160 for a birthday party here, $80 to reactivate your gym membership there, $400 in supplies here, $40 for business cards there... and it's been regurgitated to me a lot lately "you have to spend money to make money" and I'm well aware of that but darnit if I'm not just cheap. I mean, I adore quality and craftsmanship... but man... I guess I'm a Wal-Mart girl when it comes to a lot and since I really haven't "done" a lot for myself... hell, I JUST got a haircut for the first time in almost two years just recently... so for me to have the splurge of the year this past weekend... man did I ever... classes, shopping, and scrapping -- Oh MY! :) I feel beyond pampered and utterly spoiled... but hey... I deserve it right? Sure I do! I rock! Ha! lol...

I think I've made a very hard decision lately... but next year, I do not think that I will be going back to teach AWANA at Irving Bible Church. Logistically, it's just a nightmare to get there in time... ups and downs with Drew / care for the boys... etc. So I think I'm just going to pray about it but as it stands now, I really do feel like it's the best choice all around. I love LOVE my church though so the thought of NOT being involved in the AWANA program -- or anything -- is really just like a divorce almost for me.. it's painful... and it's unwanted...but it's just hard to make it happen. I think entertaining the idea of a church home closer "to" home.. is more logistically sound and that way the boys can foster some relationships with children that actually LIVE around here. We'll see, but right now I'm just giving it to God.

I've already started my volunteering campaign for this year. :) Landy, the MOPS Coordinator for Anchor Church called me today and asked me to be a table leader! I'm so excited. I LOVED my MOPS group there... loved the ladies, loved the program... loved it SO much that I didn't even enroll Drew in preschool 3 days a week for the upcoming year -- I only enrolled him in two JUST so we COULD go to MOPS! :) And when she called and asked me to lead a table... I couldn't have been happier!

I'm also going to be more active in the Pack administration for Josh's Cub Scout Troop. :) I really enjoy being a Den Leader... love my boys... each one of them is so special and unique...watching them learn and grow. It's been so rewarding for me... and I want to give back to them too! :)

OH... the other big news... I got the two dates on my CTMH calendar for workshops! :) Woo hoo... just gotta get the ball rolling and ka-chow... pretty soon, I'll be decorating my retreat! :)

OK.. it's nearly midnight, i've had WAY to much caffiene today, not enough food, my legs are tired from the pool and I think the Ambien is telling me that I'm about to start writing things that are both illegible and unintelligible :) is that a word?

So, for now, toodles and g/n!

It's a Gift

and a curse...

I'm one of those professional organizers... everything NEEDS to have a place AND be in it. When there is an imbalance in my perfect world, I get a little frazzled. I'm trying to get better at it but it really only seems to get worse the older I get. Call it a blessing that I CAN get things organized but when you have two children... they're not always on the same organizational agenda that you are.

I finalized my August workshop order sample last night and am quite excited about it to say the least. I'll be doing one stamp-a-stack card making session for the GCS Mom's League and one also for my friends each month as well as one seasonal altered craft item a month. I think that's the best way to get it all together.

Today is Josh's last day of VBS and I think Drew and I are going to hit the pool. I need some freakin sun. Having the Casper glow in June in TEXAS just ain't cool. I shoulda bought a tan! Ugh!

It's ON!

I've found one of my true callings in life thanks to a lady who used to be one of my dear friends and introduced me to scrapbooking. I enjoy it not only as a creative outlet but also as a way to connect with friends and make new ones. I've tried to figure out how to make my mark in the industry and I believe I've finally found something worthy of my time.... creation, design, oversight and running a scrapbook retreat. I'm so excited at the opportunity and idea of preparing for this. Not only because I love to have a "project" to keep me busy but also because it's SUCH a winning idea! :)

Wish me luck!

My resolution has failed!

Ugh... I so wanted to keep up with this thing on an every-other-day status but man, I suck at remembering to do this. Why do I feel it more important to go through e-mails of groups I'm no for no apparent reason rather than log my life (so that I can remember). You know the movie The Notebook? Well, that's going to be me... other than the fact that I don't have Alzheimers (Old Timer's)... I just have no freakin memory!

Last night Josh had his buddy from his class, Jackson, over after school. They ran and played out back, out front, upstairs, downstairs... it was a lot of fun. He stayed for dinner -- neither ate much. I think they were just so wound up from a day spent running that couldn't even sit still long enough to eat more than macaroni and cheese but it was great to see him bubbling like that.

Drew's still a little under the weather... poor kid wants his binkie but can't breathe so he gets mad that he can't suck and breathe at the same time... sounds like it's time to kick that binkage to the curb and be a man... ha... well, as much of a man as a 2 year old can be.

OH... when I went to pick him up from school yesterday (Drew, not Josh) the director told me he had bitten someone. I do NOT want the kid that is the biter.... there are SO many polar opposites between this kiddo and Josh it'll just make your head spin! So, do you whack him upside the head and say "don't bite"... or bite him back? I remember when Josh was in daycare, he got bit several times in one or two weeks by this little kid with a big head named Connor and I got SO sick of the daycare for not doing anything about it... I showed Josh how to make a fist and told him to hit the boy square in the jaw if he bit him again. (This is, of course, after failed attempts at getting the school to protect him). I then went to his teacher, the helper, the director and assistant director and told them exactly what I'd told Josh to do and threatened them if Josh were disciplined for defending himself. Well, Josh did smack the kid in the jaw...and he never bit him again! Turns out his parents were going through an UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUgly divorce and he was just acting out... but I'm sorry, someone still needs to look out for my kiddo! The other parents wound up having to pull their kid out of the daycare.

This morning I enjoyed my "everythign" bagel... YUM-O but now it's 10:22 and I have garlic breath. Is that legal?

I tried to institute a new "policy" that every month on the 28th we'd do something special for Josh -- he could pick a meal or do something fun (if it was within reason) to kind of celebrate his birthday every month all year -- same thing for Drew.... so what is his choice for today? He wanted to go to Canton with me?! How fun will that be. I told him that there's lots of walking and that he can't whine. LOL... I'm adventurous so I'll let him try it out. Mom's going to have a "Drew" day on Saturday then. She'll need TWO naps on Sunday!

I watched American Idol last night.... I think it's funny that they make such a big deal about the surge of reality tv shows...does anyone remember Solid Gold... how about Dance Fever? .... I mean, come on, reality tv has been on for years.... all the game shows that used to be around -- that's reality tv.... I just think it's weird that the game shows now are all prime time shows instead of during the day. Can't SOMEONE kill everyone off of the daytime soaps so that something else can take their place. Victor Kurakis (sp?).... no one looks the same 20 years later... and still chasing women... it's just... GROSS! You need to age some or you just look like an android or something. Soap Operas... I watched Days when I was in school.... then turned it on one day years back -- freakin Marlena was possessed... how GAY! ... and they try to mimic every news story on the planet... tsunami.... earthquake... like someone like THEM would ever go somewhere without their cell phones and then get lost for years in a cave... what the hell ever!

So back to American Idol... The guys performed last night. There's one guy on there that is so full of cheese that he just makes me cringe -- some arab looking guy... Sin-jay or something like that... he's got too many teeth and is TOO gay... I have my 3-4 favorite guys... I like the navy guy that missed his daughter's birth for the auditions... I like the b-boxer.... can't decide if he's gay or not.... the dedications were pretty neat.... Sundance isn't as good as the one guy with the buzz hairdo that Simon said did the best by far last night.... couple of those hispanic guys are just forgettable still... the black guy that sang Cyndi Lauper...?? yikes... the dedication was nice but I agreed with Randy.... you gotta wow everyone... EVERY week... especially b/c your grandma is dead dude... you ain't gonna impress her if you get cut! ok... that was mean, but SERIOUSLY! :) Nick Pedro... he dedicated his song "Fever" to his girlfriend.... I swear I thought he was going to propose to her at the end (wonder if she did too).... but he didn't... I think it'd have had him score major brownie points if he did!

OK... off to clean.... :) just wanted to ramble some so that I had SOMETHING down on paper for today.

It's admitted -- I'm an organizational freak!

I'm such a flibberdy gibbit. i feel that my universe is misaligned if everything doesn't have a space to be in so that I can have no clutter in my life. If it doesn't have a space, it probably doesn't need to be there and I generally get rid of it. I hold onto some things as sentimental... only to go through later and try to weed out the strays.

Seriously, who has space for EVERY drawing your kid makes for you? I swear I'd make Crayola proud if they saw all the drawings I have retained. I've had things that I've thrown away only to have Josh retrieve it from the trash and inquire how it wound up there. That's when the mommy white lies come out, "Oh my GOODNESS, I have no idea why that's there! We must put that up on the refrigerator immediately." He skips off happily and I count down the minutes until he's out of sight so that I can bury it beneath the trash so that he really WONT find it this time.

Have you ever just gotten on an organizational roll and just kicked butt?! I’m having one today. On a whim after dropping Drew off at preschool today (like I didn't have anything ELSE to do) I decided that the cereal shelf needs to be moved down so that Josh can get his own cereal in the morning if he wants it. So since that got moved down, of course that means that I totally need to reorganize the pantry. I love my kitchen!

Then I realize I have an entire drawer dedicated to all kinds of things Drew doesn't use anymore so I got all that cleaned out, moved the straws where both he and Josh could reach them in a drawer, moved all his silverware into a little drawer divider in a drawer and cleaned up where all their dishes are stored so that only THEIR stuff was stored down there. I decluttered my utensil drawers (got rid of a few utensils I didn't use)-- I'm a total kitchen gadget freak and personally don't even know why I moved them with me... should have left them to be in someone else's kitchen junk drawer! Ha!

Then I realized I was storing all my camera equipment in a drawer in the kitchen because that's just where it wound up-- out it went to my scrapbooking room... Have I mentioned I LOVE MY SCRAPBOOK ROOM!!!

Then I realized.. wow, I need to clean up my mess from making Josh's little Valentine's box last night so started doing that when I realized it was impossible to find anything in my alphabets file... so I went and got my box of page protectors and started going through my alphabet file (I have two of those 12x12 expandable plastic envelope things FULL of alphabits (die cuts, stickers). I filled one binder and have about 1/2 of another one full when i RAN OUT of page protectors.

So I looked at the clock and thought DANG I need to eat breakfast (nevermind that it's 1 in the afternoon) so now I'm munching on some fresh veggies and dip and waiting for the laundry to dry.
I'm just really having a good day... it's just weird! LOL

I just like to feel like I needed accomplish something I guess and boy have I today! Crazy the things that can make us feel like we've "done something".

NOt that I dont' need to work on curtains, order a border, find a table cloth, get the carpet cleaned, get a new bedspread, make Josh's valentines for his class and school administration, make Drew's teachers their valentines, blah blah blah blah. Maybe one of my accomplishments will actually be to make a list of all I need to do? Naah, I'd probably have a panic attack then!

---- on a side note... today is Drew's Valentine's party at school. I handmade his little valentines for his class. Brightly colored cardstock with a vertical fold. Some cute little printed paper with colored hearts on it and I put a heart shaped lollipop in the center with a coordinating ribbon tied around it. The inside has a little hand stamped heart (colored to match the cardstock) with a coordinating brad on a mini tag and his name stamped below. Very simple but I think they came out quite cute.

Tomorrow is Josh's Valentine's party at school. I think that will be fun. We only get an hour so I've got to cram lots of fun into that amount of time. :) I can do it!