Boo!

Have a Spooktastic Halloween!  I will have plenty of fun photos to share after the candy-gorging.  Why oh why does Halloween fall on a Monday?  

Friday iPhone Fun

I took a few pictures this week with Mariphone.  We spent a lot of time outside this week.  The weather has been sooo nice.  We had a cold front move in the other day.  We even got a little bit of rain.

The cutest police officer, EVER!!!  Do you know how many times he's said "I'm a police officer.  What's Dad going to be?  A prisoner?"  I can't wait until Halloween.

 Seriously???  You have to warn people that a taser can shock you and incapacitate someone?  Isn't that what they're for?

 Maddie's hideous costume.  I look 10 in this photo.  It must be the graininess?  Or maybe it's the mask? Maybe to look younger and less wrinkled you should have your husband, friend, child, etc. wear one too.

Wolfie doing cool Ninja tricks

JoJo with "JoJo" the body that his daycare lady traced.  I put "JoJo" in timeout too.  The real JoJo got a kick out of that one.

Blog Your Heart

This will be a monthly theme, as prompted by Stephanie Howell.  I did this last month.  And it's time again.

1.  Let's start out lighthearted and fun.  I LOVE Apple products.  Truly, I can't thank Steve Jobs enough.  They really are truly the best inventions ever.  Erik and I can buy music and it automatically downloads through iCloud.  Not only that, but now all iPhone users get free text messages through iMessage if they update.  Apple products are a true product of human genius.  I mean if you really think about...could you ever be so creative as to change the world?

Now to more serious business:

2.   Wolfie has been having a bit of trouble.  I received a call from his catechism teacher.  She said that he couldn't behave and I needed to come and pick him up.  So I did.  It's really embarrassing, especially if you're a teacher.  The catechism teacher doesn't know that I'm a teacher.  She just treats me like a second class citizen...to a child that misbehaves.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true.  Then this week she texted me because he hadn't been picked up.  The only problem was that my husband was there, at the church, and they let my husband out late at the parent meeting.  So he was there.  But I just don't appreciate the attitude.  It makes me feel like an irresponsible parent.  Anyhow, back to the previous Sunday (with the phone call)...I grounded him.  Except for apparently it didn't work because he also got a pink slip from a teacher at school about his behavior.  One more pink slip and it's a write up.  I can't help but think what is wrong with him.  He has such a stubborn streak.  It's been there ever since I can remember.  I also worry that he is too smart.  I know that probably sounds ridiculous.  I'm a teacher and so I know that many people want their kids to be "Gifted."  They want there kids to be tested to show how smart they are.  I'm not saying I want Wolfie to be less smart.  I just don't want to have the problems associated with a highly intelligent child.  I'm not saying he's gifted because he's mine.  It's because he is and it's causing problems.  Everything has to be done in a linear way for him.  If it diverges from his plan, then he has a major problem with it.  This probably makes no sense.  All I'm trying to say is I want my kid to be normal and stop getting in trouble.

3.  Erik's Job:  I find his job highly rewarding.  I know that he does too.  I know that he has helped people and that has given us both a sense of satisfaction.  I like to see him happy.  When he is happy, then I am happy.  I like that he is helping others.  He has spent this week in CID which is an investigation unit...basically detective work.  This week (8 a.m.-4p.m.)  has been a stark contrast to his last 4 weeks.  He had Graveyards for the last four weeks.  It was Hell.  I mean complete and utter Hell.  If he wasn't gone, then he was sleeping.  I was in charge of EVERYTHING.  I feel selfish about that.  However, I also feel that I didn't sign up to be a single mother either.  I didn't sign up to be alone and handle all of the household chores, problems, and happenings.  Then he tells me today that it might be an entire year of graveyards.  How am I supposed to handle that?  Am I supposed to do some happy dance?  Because I'm not happy about that.  I knew going in that the hours would not be easy.  I knew that.  I did.  It's just so HARD.  This is such an adjustment.      

4.  JoJo is completely obsessed with Erik.  Whatever Erik does, he wants to do.  I LOVE this so much.  I want my boys to look up to him and be the man he is.  This Halloween JoJo wants to be a policeman.  His costume is so adorable.  I will share pics later this week.  Erik is going to be his prisoner.

5.  I love my family.  I do.  That doesn't mean my immediate family of three boys and my husband (though I love them more than the world).  I mean my brothers and my dad.  My dad is the smartest man I know.  He has fought his ass off to ensure the success of our family.  I think that he is one of the most loyal people on the Earth.  I think that he is the one responsible for so many of my characteristics.  The good things I see in myself are the things that my dad has always been so adamant about.  There are so many things I say to my children that my dad said to us our entire lives. I think every parent has regrets about things that could have been done better, but I think my dad did a wonderful job.

6.  And as always, I am thankful to this blog.  It is my outlet to share things.  It is my place to remember.  To have a space in my life that I keep.  So that some day I can go back and scrapbook all of this.

Wow, I guess that was pretty heartfelt for one day.  I wish you a Good Night!  

JoliPrint-Pretty Useful :)

I think I've mentioned it here before, but joliprint.com is a really cool site.  Say you want to print a webpage or blog article.  Well this site prints it in a PDF format.  It looks really nice and you can save it to your computer as well as print it.  I wanted to print something from Paint the Moon.net...about aspect ratios and cropping photos.  I knew I would want to reference it later so I just copied and pasted the post at JoliPrint.com and this is what it came out as. (these are my screen shots so if they're a bit fuzzy that's why)

I just showed the first two pages, but you can see it comes out pretty nice.  This can come in handy with pretty much everything.  If you want to see what the blogpost looked like before then just go here.    

You will be able to see how it transfers it into a document.  Happy Printing!

Post #300

JoJo pigging out on a lollipop given to him by the people in the next picture.

Some old people down by the river...j/k...Erik's grandparents, who by the way are still young at heart.

 Maddie went on a fieldtrip this week.  He's somewhere in there with the 150 other kids.

 Playing in the yard.

Please note that the photos above really have nothing to do with this post.  I just didn't want to do a pictureless post.  Also, the photos are from Mariphone.  You've already met her.  This is my 300th post!  Isn't that exciting?  It's just a random one.  I just wanted to let you know that I want to start crafting again.  I really, really do.  I haven't made anything in months.  I just HATE my office right now.  The kids come in here and trash it.  Plus, we have extra furniture in here now.  And the corner is full of random stuff that shouldn't be in here.  So, I'm going to clean this place out.  I'm going to do it and get rid of stuff I DON'T want in here.  I also have a lot of paper that I don't use anymore, and I get more monthly with the kits I subscribe to.  What I'm saying is I need to make room in here.  So, please stay tuned for some giveaways on here.  I'm going to give away the paper and supplies I don't need or use anymore.  It won't be junkie, I promise.  I also wanted to leave you with just a few of JoJo's cute quotes.  My boys say the most crazy things sometimes and I share them on Facebook.  I just wanted to share a few here.  So here you go:

*On Fall Break JoJo came running out of the bathroom screaming that there was a cockroach in the bathroom.  (It was actually a beetle)  I asked him if it was dead or alive.  He said it was still working.  Which I guess to him, means still alive.

*JoJo got some handcuffs in a goody bag from his  Great Grand Parents.  He calls them his "arresters" or also his "handcuffers"  He likes to arrest people, at home and daycare.

*A few months ago, Maddie pinched Wolfie.  I asked him, "Why did you do that?"  He said, "Because you said after I cleaned my room I could do whatever I wanted."

*Things I never thought I would have to say: "Wolfie, don't throw cats at people!  They have claws!"  Next one:  "Wolfie, stop chasing your brother with a rake in the house!"  And, "JoJo, why are you playing with the tweezers in the sandbox?" 

Have a good night :)

Let it Snow-Sneak Peak

Please let me know if you are interested in ordering.  Don't forget to check out my website for tons of new  and awesome products!

Have a Happy Sunday!

Meet My Mistress

I would have told sooner, but our internet was down for a few days.  That's right people...I have a mistress and here she is...

Her name is Mariphone (clever play on words, I know).  Please note that is not actually her, but she's not so good at taking self portraits.  I have wanted an iPhone for soooo long, and I finally got one.  Erik got one and I was jealous and had to have one too.  Let me just say, What was I waiting for?  We are all Apple products here.  I love them.  They are the best invention, ever.  I love my phone because it has my books, my music, and a camera.  Did I ever tell you I love Instagram?  Probably not, but I was so thrilled to get it!  I love being able to take pictures on the go.  As you know, I love to take pictures and carrying a full size camera is not always convenient.  I am pleased with this new addition to my life.  I'm going to share a few photos here.  And I would also like to take a moment to remember Steve Jobs.

He was really a true visionary.  He brought about changes and technology that we would never have dreamed of.  He was also a very inspirational person.  May he rest in peace.

Here are just a few of the photos I took this week:

I will see about creating a template to make the photo sharing easier.  Anyhow, enjoy your Friday night.  I'm on the last day of Fall Break...back to work Monday...it went too fast.

October MWExpress Kit Reveal

Can you believe September is over?  I just can't.  It went by so unbelievably fast.  Here is the new October Kit from Memory Works...just in time for all of your Halloween Crafts.

October Ideas Express October 2011 MemoryWorks Express Kit Contains: Patterned Paper {1} 12x12 Haunted - Phantom (Pink Paislee) {1} 12x12 Apparition - Phantom (Pink Paislee) {1} 12x12 Enchanted - Glowing (Authentique) {1} 12x12 Thrill - Glowing (Authentique) {1} 12x12 Afterglow - Glowing (Authentique) {1} 12x12 Damask - Haunted Hallows (Teresa Collins) Solid Cardstock {1} 12x12 Blackberry Swirl (Bazzill) {1} 12x 12 Tangerine (Bazzill) {1} 12x12 Hummingbird (Bazzill) {1} 12x12 Walnut Cream (Bazzill) {1} 12x12 Almond Cream (Bazzill)   Embellishments {1} 8x12 Element Stickers - Haunted Hallows (Teresa Collins) {1} 6x8 Diction Stickers - Glowing (Authentique) {1} 4x6 Black Petite Type Square Letter Stickers (Authentique) {1} 4x6 Cream Petite Type Circle Letter Stickers (Authentique) {1} 4x7 Hallows Eve Rub-on (Bo Bunny) {1} Haunted Title Glitter Cut (Fancy Pants) {1} Scary Swoosh Glitter Cut (Fancy Pants) {1} 3" Black Crystal Flourish  (Zva Creative) {1} 3x4 Halloween Mini Bingo Card (Jenni Bowlin) {2} Black Doily Flowers (Jenni Bowlin) {4} Glazed Brads - Assorted Styles & Sizes (Teresa Collins) {1} ½ Yard Orange & Black Gingham Ribbon (Creative Impressions) {1} ½ Yard Orange with Black Dots Ribbon (Creative Impressions) {1} ½ Yard Black with Black Swirl Organdy (Creative Impressions)   Cards  {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Blackberry Swirl (Bazzill) {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Tangerine (Bazzill) {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Hummingbird (Bazzill) {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Walnut Cream (Bazzill) {1} 5.5 x 8.5 Almond Cream (Bazzill) {5} 5 3/4 X 4 3/8 Natural Envelopes

At Last...Pics from our Colorado Trip

Let's pretend this happened last week...though it didn't.  I've just never posted pictures.  This was our first trip without Erik.  He had just started the Police Academy, and he couldn't go.  My boys had to go, though, to meet their German relatives.  ***Photos are in reverse order***

All of us at Wally's

Sisters

 See the thrill in these kid's faces?  Later one of these glasses of water would land in my Mother-in-Law's lap.  Thank you, Waiter, for not getting the water on my camera.

Telluride is seriously dangerous skiing.  I will never attempt skiing in this location...I would never survive.  I will probably never ski as it is.  I just wanted to state it for the record.

 Waterfall outside of Telluride

 Just outside of Telluride

 Bank Robbery...right across the street from our motel...It's exciting people.  

When you come from the desert, you don't know what snow is and that's why you go barefoot in it, or wear flip-flops.

 No makeup, 9 hour drive...cut me some slack, people.  (Red Mountain Pass.)

Driving over Red Mountain

I'll be back later today with some more posts...I'm really behind.