Live from Tormville!

Showers and Weddings and Out of Town Company - oh my

I'm skipping church this morning.  Several reasons....

1. I'm sporting such a huge blister I'm not sure I'll be able to wear shoes for the next 4 days.

2. The gang is all gathering here after church to have lunch - and, well - that means someone (me) better get some plates scrubbed for eating on.  Boy - I'm really really going to enjoy a dishwasher again when we ever get around to getting one.

3. I'm whooped. Pooped. Tuckered out.

Friday evening we got company after the storms passed over. These are the girls in Pa's family.  Four of them live out of town but came home for Teresa's wedding shower.  Teresa is the one in the solid blue on the bottom.

Sherry is the oldest daughter.  She's WAY old.  Two days older than me in fact  (a long standing joke) and twice a grandma already.  I first met Sherry when I was less than a month old - isn't that cool?  She's staying with us this week along with two of her six kids.  The other kids are so big and busy that they didn't come with her this time. The boys have been having great fun - always a riot to get cousins together.  Sherry is the one on the top and she lives in Upper Michigan very close to my mom - in fact, Allan may go up north with Sherry if we can find him a ride back down before the 26th of June.  Anyone?  :)

Karen, Mari and Renee are the next three.  Karen lives in Illinois and has 4 children.  Her girls are the ones who coined Wendy with the name, laughing girl.  Wendy was really bummed that the girls didn't come this trip.  Mari and Renee both live in Minnesota - Mari has 4 children and Renee is expecting her 3rd.  It was Renee's 30th birthday yesterday.

I was bummed that the shower ended up being on such a busy weekend for me, that I couldn't spend more time with Pa's sisters - but I'm glad they'll have time to stop over again before they leave this afternoon.

Oh...and the last one in line - that's Pa's mother.  :) She and grandpa live walking distance from us which the kids (and us) dearly appreciate.

And these are the bridesmaids, flower girl and the bride.  There is another flower girl, but - well....she had to go potty and didn't make it into the photo.  :)   I was so glad that I ended up letting Wendy choose our gift (pillows) because she was positively giddy with it.   She had it in her mind that she wanted to buy auntie Teresa pillows for her couch. 

We went to Target and I while we looked over their registery and I shared with Wendy what Teresa had picked out I also told her that she could pick out what.ever.she.wanted   She declared that Teresa has smashingly great taste and chose those.   When Teresa picked up her gift to open, Wendy was positively jumping up and down on the couch (while her mother was shouting - DON'T BREAK YOUR FEMUR) bursting with excitement.  It was, quite frankly, adorable. 

Anyway.

After the shower I had a two hour window within which to gather my thoughts, regroup, make sure I didnt' forget anything, change, eat and then get out the door to the wedding I was shooting.

I arrived in plenty of time to scout the place out and to find out that the location had lost power.  And it never came back on in the whole 6 hours I was there.

It made things, well, interesting. and hot. Drippy, sweaty, glistening, perspiring - hot.

It also made dinner over an hour late because it had to be sent out and cooked off sight.  As for music and microphones?  Wasn't happening.

But we weathered it.  I've loaded all the photos onto my computer, backed them up and I'll look at them tomorrow.

Today is for putting my feet up and enjoying the family. 

Happy Sunday!

I jump at dusk

I bought a jumprope, and I use it.
(I think I just saw the eyebrows raise on 70% of my readers)
true story.

See - I'm really serious about this lifestyle change this time.

Why a jumprope?  Several reasons.

1. It's inexpensive (got me a nice rope for $2.99)
2. It's small, easy to store - unlike the excercise ball I bought a few months ago (and used once - it ended up being a joke with 2 little boys rolling around with me)
3. It's one of the fastest calorie burners out there
4. It's easy to get to - unlike Curves or water aerobics which I also enjoy, but don't fit into my schedule right now
5. It's nostalgic - I think of my childhood while I jump. (more on that tomorrow)
6. The kids are afraid to come near me when I jump - so it's an effective way to create some personal space

I can't ask for anything more than that, right?

So if you happen to be walking by my house after 10pm and hear a whisk. whisk. whisk.  *huff pant huff pant huff*  - that's me. Just keep on walking.  :) Trust me on that one......

Random May

 Take 2.  (Typepad ate my first attempt)

It's June.  I'm not sure how that can be when my to do list is still in active January.  But my calendar says it is so. The weather has begun to agree.

May was full and busy.  It was also the first time this year that I missed a day in my photo everyday for a year quest.  I, of course, documented that.

I needed a filler for my flickr album.  And then I moved on.  But now I can't help but be curious if Wayne and Brenda missed the same day as I did.  Would that be uncanny, or what?

And hey - while I'm trying to type with a 16 month old on my lap I'm thinking about it, I'd love to know any tricks for getting a young'n to switch their schedule.  Mark's been waking up like clockwork at 5:45 am for the past 3 weeks.  I rather miss my solitary mornings.

And he makes typing tough, and that's an  understatement.

Other May -
Greenfield Village
lots of dentist
another x-ray for Brian
lots of holloring (by me) that often ended with - "cuz I don't want anymore broken femurs!!"
A new camera!
A new lifestyle

Wait.  A new lifestyle?

I didn't mention that before, did I?  Well - you see, I didn't because I don't always stick to my new lifestyles...so I wanted to try it on for a bit before I said anything.

I quit chocolate.  If that's not a lifestyle change, I don't know what is.  What I find ironic is that it came just two days after my night out at the chocolate focus group discussion.  I wonder what the researchers would make of that?

But I quit.   The first 10 days are so were tough but then it got easier.  Last night was actually most difficult because I was baking chocolate chip cookies for today - and it was horribly hard not to snitch cookie dough or a fresh out of the oven cookie.

But I didn't.  I also began counting calories about 2.5 weeks ago, which I pretty much hate - but I'm sticking to that too.  I like using Sparkpeople, it fits my schedule, it fits my budget (free), and it suits my personality.  I just leave a screen open all day as I'm doing my work from home work here on the computer. 

I also learned that while 6 lbs lost is exciting on the bathroom scale, it's depressing in the dressing rooms.  Wendy and I went out shopping last night and by the end of the evening, I was ready to hit the chocolate hard.

But I didn't.

Also in May - I was a scrapping machine.  I got a lot of layouts done - all fun.  I most enjoyed working with Ali on the newsletter.  She kissed me once, have I ever told you that?  True story, don't let her try to tell you otherwise.  Ali's a gem, I enjoy her to bits - enjoy her style, enjoy her focus, enjoy her as a person. 

My assignment had been to focus on a story that's so full, it can't all fit on one layout.  I feel that so often in scrapbooking, we're in a rush to get a page shared, a page done, a new product worked with - that the story is often overlooked, and left to a 2 x 3 space on the canvas.  If that.

But the stories of our life deserve so much more than that.  I'm rather passionate about the stories which is a whole other post in my head.

What I wanted to do, especially since it was so fresh and such a tailspin in our lives, were some pages on Brian's spica cast.  I had originally intended to do a mini album, but once I got my photos printed, I realized I had too many for a mini - so I went full 12 x 12.  I'll keep this separate for a bit, for family to look at and share, and I have a few more pages to add, hopefully this week - but it will eventually insert into his regular album. 

The journaling can be read by clicking on yesterday's link to the newsletter.

So May was full. A good full. I didn't get my spring cleaning done, but that'll wait, right?  I began it anyway.

I started working more hours, so I'm adjusting to that
Adjusting, working on a new lifestyle, trying to keep everything in balance....

Here's to a June that goes just as well

be good! ;)

 

 

tomboy toes and a busyfull weekend

I just decided, like - three minutes ago, that busyfull should be a word.  You know, like beautiful, except - busyfull. Who do I call? 

It was a busyfull weekend. Lots going on.

I went to a baby shower Saturday morning, after I finished my work.  I enjoy showers, when I get there (does that make sense?) Sometimes it seems like a lot of effort to actually get out the door to attend one (of course, wrapping gifts and making cards in panic mode, never helps) I always enjoy the visiting, the feeling of the fresh new baby things, that sort of thing...

Saturday afternoon the family took turns checking out the local history days event - a fairly new festival in our town and one that we've never made it to before due to busyfull schedules this weekend.

It was a tad on the small side. Pa and the big kids went first and enjoyed the Depot Museum - a place that is very rarely open, in fact...this is the first time they were inside, so they enjoyed that.   Pa's woodcarving teacher also had a display set up, so they visited with him, saw the old time tractors and then went to Dairy Queen.

And then it was my turn.  I was using this event to also have a try with my brothers 70-200.  I learned a few things.  One - people really look at you different when you carry around a 70-200.  Holy cow, I wasn't expecting that.   I think they were waiting for me to take out my notepad and jot down a name.  I only got a few shots before the sky suddenly opened up so I still feel like I haven't given it a real good workout - but it was fun to play.  Next weekend I hope to take it to The Henry Ford and catch some shots during their Memorial Day reenactments (did I spell that right?)

But I caught these spinners - I always think this looks so relaxing - I would love to try it.  I mentioned to her that it felt to me like it would be just one more hobby in this already hobby-filled life of mine.  She responded, ahh...just come in for a feel sometime.  LOL  I love that - the textile person in me totally gets it and she knew that. I might - she's only a few blocks away (the one on Mason Road)

And that was Saturday - I ended up opting out of the evening wedding option since the weather was getting crummy and we were sailing along pretty good getting things done at home.

Yesterday - I had invited company for dinner before realizing/remembering that we had a church meeting in the afternoon.  I decided to go ahead and keep that dinner and just send Pa to the meeting since I can't hear anyway type of thing.  I put a ham cooking, made some yummy cheese potatoes, forgot to put the applesauce out and a salad.  mmmm. 

The dinner guests were my dad, who we see far too seldom and my youngest brother and his girlfriend who has graduated college and now lives locally again.  yay!   

A little while later my other brother (I have 3 brothers, all who live close-by, but the 3rd one is often travelling for work and is currently in Mexico) and his family came over too.

So it was good laughs, lots of coffee, good visiting.

A busyfull weekend.

And now I get to sink my teeth into Monday. Yay!

eta: as for the first picture - Pa threw a big old rope into the tree a few days ago and the kids have been having a ball with it - especially our Wendy.  Tomboy toes and all.  :)

It's my fault. I'm sorry.

It was such a lovely sunny windy day - I thought I'd get a load on the line.
15 minutes later, it got really really dark
And now it's raining

My clothes are now in the dryer.

15 minutes later - the rain seems to have stopped.

sigh.

An often asked question

is, 'how do you have time to blog?' 

Probably, I don't.  But I think that all of us tend to make time for those things that we enjoy, or at least - we should, don't you think?

I love to write. I always have. I have a box full of journals, notebooks and diaries that began when I was a single digit kid.  For the past three years - this has been my journal. I no longer document on paper, with the exception of little notes in my daily planner.

This is it.

The one thing that I've noticed lately, is I feel like my stories and rattlings are stunted. I'm often in a rush to get them out before the little boys wake up, or I'm trying to concentrate while they are yanking on my sleeve.

I don't like to wish time away, but I think it's okay to say that I look forward to a more in depth process when I don't have disturbances.  Does that make sense?

I enjoy it.

It gives my day a bit of routine, it's - in a way, therapuetic, and doing it this way connects me to the outside world - and I need that, enjoy that.

Therefore, I make the time for it.

Now if I could just get sit-ups and/or crunches into that same enjoyable/needy category.........

huh?

Actually - I very rarely use that line. 

My stock "I didn't hear a word you just said" lines are,
I'm sorry?
What was that?
Beg your pardon?
Could you please speak up?
I'm sorry, I missed what you said.

But not, huh.  I reserve that for when I'm trying to annoy the man I live with.  What - I do that?  Okay...occasionally, yes, I do.  It keeps life interesting, okay?

So.  Apparently I'm going to have to come up with some new lines.  I imagine they will be along the lines of,

sshhhh...not so loud
quiet down
I'm right here, you don't have to hollor!
I'm not deaf, you know!

I pretty much failed the hearing test. The gal who was giving it to me happened to have laryngitis which was cause for a few good jokes.  I mean, seriously, working for the hearing impaired and you can only talk in a whisper?  We had a few good laughs.  Turns out then that she knew me from my morning walks around town - I walk by her daily as she's dropping of her child at the Catholic school in town.

And because she had laryngitis, she couldn't give me the 'repeat this word after me' part of the test.  I always thought that was a recorded thing - I had asked her, 'wait - I don't have to take the repeat after me part of the test?"  (I was secretly relieved...I hate that part, I always bomb it) And she replied that no - for two reasons, one...she gives that portion and well...she couldn't talk and two - I failed the hearing test pretty badly, no need to make me fail again.

So there it is.

The good news is, it's all fluid which tubes will take care of.  So I'll get tubes - the newer T-Tube variety since I just happened to mention that I stopped getting them years ago because they always fall out within 6 months.  Apparently this is new since the last time I got tubes and they are made to stay in longer.  I'm cool with that.

I was also a little bit nervous about the prospect of getting them installed (heh) in the office...I distinctly remember having a tube adjusted in the office back in my highschool years and I blacked out when they moved it. 

I really didn't want to do that again - it's a very distinct memory.

As luck would have it, that's out of my hands, apparently my canals are unusually small and he'd like to do it in outpatient anyway.  Phew.  I'll take small canals.

And the tubes.
Sometime next month - but not St. Ignace Friday - the husband made sure to tell me that.  Huh?

Monday - ah, sweet Monday

First off - there should be a new rule
It should never ever ever rain on Mother's Day.  My kids were bouncing off the walls yesterday - all.day.long

I shouldn't have to raise my voice on Mother's Day.  I think that's a good rule, don't you?

So, that being said, it was a lovely weekend.  Saturday was absolutely stunningly beautiful and I got tons TONS done.

I'm down to two posties (and I'm ignoring the fact that more should be going up)

I organized my laundry room (I had gone to Target Friday night and bought some organizing things)
cleaned the cubbyhole closet
balanced the checkbook and divvied the stimulus check
did some ironing
put a weeks worth of laundry away
sewed buttons on trousers
made a layout
made cards
went to the post office - I mailed more than a few packages last week before postage went up today
and I was feeling so caught up and all the ball that Brian and I decided to go to a wedding
so I made a wedding card too (note to self - stock up on wedding cards, doing them 15 minutes before walking out the door is INSANE)

and that was Saturday

Yesterday we all went to Sunday school/church - Markie was an absolute terror and Brian - after 7 weeks of not going due to his cast, well - he was ready for it to be over before the first song was over.  That pretty much sums things up.

In the afternoon we just lazed.  I finished a book - the kids bounced off walls - I was grateful that I can't hear any better than I do right now.

heh.

Today I'll make more lists - I can't believe we're nearing the end of the school year already.  I'm trying to decide what time frame we'll go up north, make our summer plans, try to keep the kids motivated thru their end of the year projects - all that.

Busy times
but fun

Here's to a progress-filled Monday

enjoy!

Four posties off - Eight more on

That's how I feel right now.  While I got a few posties completed - I added more than I took off.

The walls are closing in on me this week - my house, everywhere I turn, needs cleaning, tidying, work.  My boys tho, need constant attention and then theres that to-do list as well.  :) 

Last night I was feeling like I made some decent headway on a few things - took a look at the calendar just before bed to see what awaited me for the day and realized, then, that I completely and totally forgot and missed a baby shower I had every intention of going to last night. 

bummed.

So my goal this weekend is to dig myself out of the flood and try to get back above water. I love being busy, but I need to still maintain a certain routine and order when busy. 

Tonight - I hope to put George on ebay.  This is George   It's been on my todo list for a few weeks now - we thought we'd try ebay for one of Pa's carvings and we think this is the one.  We are also working on opening an etsy shop, so the next few will go on there. 

This weekend - want to take Brian swimming again, he did have a setback after whatever tumble he took on Monday.  Hoping a little water therapy will help.

Yesterday - mailed a bunch of graduation cards - I had a request for a bunch in orange and black.  The cards are made mainly from Reminisce products - while I don't use many themed products in my scrapbooking - I LOVE them for cards.  I also mixed a bit of Scenic Route in as well.  I didn't take a picture of the inside (I was in a rush) but I used the Congratulations stamp from the Big Mouth set on a lot of them.  Funny story - I couldn't find that set yesterday (messes everywhere) so I kept saying, "Where's my Big Mouth??"   (reminded me of the time I lost my Happily Every After) and Brian kept pointing at me, my mouth, and saying "right der"

Thanks kid.

Today - planning to post a giveaway - There's that new book out, yanno.  :)

But - right now - I need to go get some laundry humming, a lunch made, a dolphin diorama wrapped up to take to school.....that sort of thing. 

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!   

Lists

   

Usually I like my lists in the line by line format
but
sometimes I need the post-it and throw it away when done method. 

:)

This is my today/tomorrow list - I was feeling overwhelmed this morning so I purged it onto paper.  I love post-its!