distractions.

lesson one of math done.  test opens up tonight at 11.  think i'll wait until the am to start it.  i'd like to say that i have completed lesson 1 of english as well, but i haven't.  it's due tomorrow so i technically still have time.  i am kicking myself for failing this class my freshman year.  if only i would have gone to class more.  too bad that had such a huge percentage on our final grade.  sigh.  live and learn i guess.

i treated myself to a distraction after i got my math submitted...designing in publisher.  i downloaded a trial version of microsoft office 2010 and publisher a few days back.  i've been waiting and today i got to play with it.  i. am. in. love. with. it.  used to use publisher to make posters all the time when i worked at girl scouts in salina.  so when shan sent me this link (see below) to see if we could recreate it for her wedding programs, i said heck yeah!  so between dreaming up some subway signs i want to make for my shows coming up and many fb messages and emails, we came up with this so far.  only showing you a tiny bit of it because really, that's all that is set.  they will be perfect for her backyard, mad men themed wedding.  she has been finding lots of treasures thrifting and at garage sales...it is going to be absolutely beautiful.  i *think* i finally found my dress...there is only one left so as long as it is there on friday, it's mine.  otherwise, i will be starting over again.  then i have to find shoes and a cardigan and accessories.  which reminds me that i must start my workout.  i bought a jillian michaels dvd ages ago.   weights, too.  pretty sure they all still have their tags on them.  but i must fix that. 


yesdearstudio

 a sneak of what shan's will be



m is doing AMAZING with school and he memorized his first Bible verse.  "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority."  Hebrews 13:17  He told me I must submit to him driving to school this morning.  Guessing he will get the meaning of it later, but for now i am thrilled that he memorized it.  he did tell me he was nervous to say it to his teacher so we'll see how that goes tomorrow.  lol

 

 

going back to see this sweet little girl very soon...worried about my little monster being himself.  a monster.  pray we make it out alive and that sloane does, too.  :)

how can it be?

he was happy to see that his owl was winking.

this little guy is off to preschool.  he wasn't thrilled, but went with it.  i was in love with getting to buy new school supplies.  that was always my favorite thing about school.  and the smell of them.  yum.  anyway, he goes full days all week which works out great for childcare and all and will be sure to make it easier for me to let him go come time for kindergarten.  i mean, he goes to a real school and learns real things...it's only just begun.  d said in the car while pulling away from school, "here goes the next 13 years of our lives."  more like 14, but well said anyway babes.  after a rough first couple days and a meeting with his teacher, he is doing much, MUCH better.  his teacher even called me at home last night to tell me what an awesome day he had.  thanking God he is where he is. 

 

 

didn't even look back.

was so thirsty since he didn't find his water bottle
in his bag and he refused to use the water fountain.

q started a new daycare, too since i never really liked where he spent a couple days of his week and our favorite girl who came to our house couldn't this semester.  it is a good enviroment for him and he is doing very well.  mr. independent.  still doesn't say much.  loves bananas to pieces.  loves to give pounds and high fives, play basketball, race cars and beating on the washer and dryer to hear the funny noise.  he is not liking going to bed lately, taking a bath or us feeding him.  a few weeks back at his 18 month check up, nurse had to measured him, noted measurements and then had to come back into room to do it again because she thought she messed up.  turns out he really just grew 2+ inches in 2 1/2 months.  tall guy with a big belly.

excited!

 

banging on the door to get in.

as if we didn't have enough going on with m's new school and q's new daycare and d's new schedule for work, my classes started yesterday.  i got a big box of books in the mail tuesday and so it all begins.  two classes first 8 weeks and three the next 8 weeks.  looked at assignments today and they are very fast paced.  and that's putting it mildly.  we are settling into a routine and my schedule will get ironed out soon allowing me two full free days to do school while all the boys are away.  success.

still trying to find the perfect dress for the perfect wedding coming up in oct.  the one i really wanted is sold out and the next one i really wanted is sold out, too.  really people.  so it's back to the drawing board although time is closing in.  excited for it.  need to get crafty on a few little things for it.  no, shan, i am not telling you what it is! ;)

have a couple shows coming up in sept.  really need to get busy on those.  i know, how many more things can i possibly put on my plate.  trust me, it's a large one.  maybe too large?!  i mean, i have procrastinated all day today while i had hoped to get some things made for work, do some school work, laundry, empty the dishwasher, decide on dinner...and now it's time to get the little monsters.  cute little monsters i might add.

i wanna play baseball

little m had his first tball game a few days ago.  the beginning of a long road ahead of organized sports.  it made me happy and sad.  he was so excited and loves that his daddy helps out with the team.  m tells d that they need to "go hit the tee some" almost every night.  love that they have that time together especially since d is so busy.  q even gets to go out and walk around since he got over his fear of the grass.  (secretly i wish he still had that fear.  it was much easier going places and him staying a blanket instead of being all over all the time!)  m got to bring snacks, too.  he picked out smarshmallows (or marshmallows as most people call them), gold & black m&ms (team colors) and an oatmeal creme pie.  i made little baseballs to put on the front of the bag and m wrote his name on them all.  "is that an excellent m, mom?"  "yes, maxx, it is perfect."  "is that an excellent a, mom?"...love that kid.

his first hit running to his daddy on first base.

baby q looking not so baby anymore.

"i wanna take our picture, mama."

all of m's faves.

seasons at westminster is approaching quickly!  we put an ad in the women's magazine the newspaper puts out so i hope that we get some exposure that way and that A LOT of people show up.  i am so thankful and happy that my mom joined in on this adventure.  we will get to spend two long, very long days together without kids or husbands.  heaven.  and so thankful to my stepdad (who is more like a dad) who loves my kids as if they were his own flesh and blood and will watch the boys when d can't be there.  he is amazing.

May 11th 9-7 and May 12th 9-3

my mind can't stop thinking about four days from now in which it will mark the 11th anniversary of one of my high school best friend's death.  i still remember the day my dad called to tell me, where i was, who i was with.  i wanted to go see her but he said that they weren't allowing people in to see her because it was getting her worked up.  don't know if he was trying to protect me or if that was really true, but i was going to go down in a day or two and hopefully she would be awake by then.  the next call i got was that she was gone.  april 30, 2001.  my heart broke.  and it still breaks now after all this time.  may 5, 2001 we said goodbye to her.  they played amazing grace.  it couldn't have been more perfect for our friendship.  we used to sing that song together all the time.  we jokingly called ourselves the judds.  how silly it seems now, but i would love to have one second of that time back.  my cousin trent came with me and my boyfriend at the time.  we were seated in the row in front of my ex-boyfriend who had kept me from her and i wanted to strangle him and then myself for allowing it to happen.  i hope you dance was played as we were leaving.  she was wearing a ball cap.  i lost it.  outside i saw a lot of people from the past and i felt like a stranger amongst them all yet we were all there to show our love.  i remember talking to manda and asking her about her child, etc like we had just met up at the grocery store or something.  just like an on/off switch.  i'm afraid if i was totally present 100% of the time i wouldn't have been standing.  i had/have mixed emotions about what happened and the other people involved in the accident that claimed her life.  i wonder what they were feeling, if they were thankful they weren't driving or sitting in the front seat, if there was anything they could have done at the scene to help, if they wish they would have taken the keys away, if they would have not drank that night...and i can't help but wonder if amy would have wished for all those things to and the what ifs.  reality is that two people died.  ryan and amy.  ryan instantly.  amy a few days later.  and everyone hurts.  i'm sorry that their parents have to live through this and that they others involved have to live through it and the effects from it and for everyone else who has an empty spot in their hearts.  like me for her.  she was funny.  she had my sense of humor.  we got each other.  she was the sister i never had.  i miss her.  immensely.  goodness it hurts.



layout from 2007.  it's all i have left of her.

and so it begins.

a new start.  a new blog.  a little bit about me and my guys and my crafty side.  lately it's been a lot of me and my guys and not so much crafty side, but i am hoping that will change soon.   (for those who know me, skip to paragraph b.)  i have to little guys, m and q, my babes (husband), d along with two boys (our doggies), wil and bru.  we live in the midwest and keep a chaotic schedule due to my husband's job.  we are in transition  until he finds his dream job and i pray it's in iowa (my home state)-so ready to call a place home again and love it.  i was heavily involved in a scrappy site until 2009 when things happened at a retreat, the site changed owners and all the ones i loved left.  i am still homeless in the scrappy world although i check in at studio calico everyday.  i've subbed there for a year now (just this month-yay for a discount!), although i hardly "talk" there.  the kits are all pretty good and the ladies are pretty nice from what i read.  i have a store on etsy, and because.  little m used to always say, "annnnnnnd because..." so it just seemed fitting.  haven't really done a whole lot with it other than a craft show last fall, but am hoping to devote some more time to it.  currently am meeting with a couple local ladies and my mama to get an in home craft show going.  next meeting is a week away and i am thinking it is going to be a good thing.

b)  i have been doing some soul searching in january (my fave month) and have decided i want to get some things accomplished like taking a photography class, photoshop class, maybe take a real college class come fall, get serious about budgeting and reduce debt, love my guys even more, make this place mine even though it's not and i don't want it to be, be a little, squeaky bit positive (so hard for me to do), don't neglect this blog, learn how to design it, take care of me.  that's just to name a few.  lord.  i have a lot to do, but no better time than thirty-two.  like i have a choice; can't go back in time.  so, i'll take you there.  good, bad and best.  hopefully it's filled with a lot more good and best than anything bad.  after all, i do love ALL my guys, creating and sharing it.  so how can it not be good and best, right?  and since i know you were wondering why january is my fave month...well, for starters it's my birthday month, along with my grandpa's, my best friend's, and quinn's.  not to mention, most of the women in my married family are all january babies.   



me and sweet baby q.  happy birthday one day and 31 years apart.