Life. Crazy, Chaotic, Ours!

Paperman

I saw this on a few different blogs yesterday and absolutely love it.  Enjoy!

via www.kellypurkey.com

In anticipation of the "love" holiday coming up in a mere 14 days, I hope you enjoy this short clip. I truly loved it and it's worth the 6 minutes.

blog your heart {Stephanie's challenge}

Hoping to keep on track with Stephanie's monthly challenge, see my post below.

And, just in case, you aren't a blog junkie like me, or you haven't met Stephanie (yes, I feel like I know here even though we're states away and she hasn't the faintest clue who I am), please take a minute (okay hours) to read through her blog. I promise you it's a journey well worth your while! It's really easy...just click HERE...go ahead. My post isn't going anywhere. Then come back and you can read my response to her challenge. In case you're a bit busy right now, here's Stephanie's prompt:

Per Stephanie, "monthly i will post this challenge to you. it's a pretty simple challenge. blog your heart. HONESTLY. it can be silly, funny, serious, short or long...whatever you want it to be. as long as it is authentic."

So here we go:

1. I have always been a huge list maker. Had lists for my lists. Little books to write them in and post it's on the list when I wanted to add something w/o having my book within reach. About 2 weeks ago, I felt like the lists were overwhelming (just after Scott's 40th surprise bday lunch). I decided to {insert huge gasp} try winging it. As in, not make lists for a bit. At least not my daily 2,000 task lists. And you know what? I'm surviving. And I'm going to bed a little bit better.

2. I am still making my weekly menu and grocery list. They are "must do's" to keep focused. I don't always follow the menu plan, but it's a rough sketch. Without it, we fall apart. We order out too much or get really-bad-for-you carryout.

3. I clip coupons regularly for everything! Some weeks I do well with using my coupons, some weeks I don't remember them at all! Sometimes, when I do really well with my coupons, I feel like it's okay to spend money on things we normally wouldn't...like extra scrappin' materials or home stuff. Yep, totally contradicts the whole purpose of clipping coupons, eh?

4. Scott and I went to his Aunt's wedding this past weekend. Adults only! And it was overnight in a really cool Civil War era mansion a couple of counties over. My friends kept all three urchins for us. We had so much fun. We danced for 2 1/2 hours easily! Stinky parts? (1) The band couldn't play Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and I so wanted to dance like the "13 Going On 30" movie! (2) My legs and rear are still sore (three days later) from busin' moves for so long! (3) The first pair of hose I put on had a run in them before I even pulled them 2 inches onto my foot! The great parts? (1) Awesome desserts were served! (2) The soreness in my lower carriage were exacerbated by the fact that I'm desperately trying to get into an exercise routine. (3) I found out after we left the Mansion that it is rumored to be haunted. (Had I known that before we went, it is quite likely I wouldn't have slept a wink in the cottage---I'd have been camping out in my car.)

5. I found this quote a couple of weeks ago and I love it:

"The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will."

{Chuck Palahniuk}

I loved it so much, I printed it out with the intention to make a page about becoming parents and raising our kids. Today, however, when I came down to the computer desk to blog, the quote was quite indicative of the art scraps mess my kids trailed behind in the room. That seems to be the only thing that is living forever in this room right now!

6. I've been working on a scrapbook page for about 4 days now. The layout is from when Ben broke his arm (not this past Spring, but the Spring of 2010). It's coming together ... slowly ... and each day I come home from work with the hopes of getting downstairs, yet by the time I can, I'm too tired to create.

7. My scrapbook mojo always hits me around 2:00 in the afternoon, which does me no good when I work outside of my home during the week! :(

8. The kids have all started buying lunches somewhat regularly at school so I'm hoping that will free up a bit of time in the evenings to scrap...you know, since I have 3 less lunches to pack for the next day!

9. I tried to use the self timer on my camera this weekend to get some shots of Scott and I (the batteries in my remote were dead). This involved a lot of climbing onto a deck rail because I was too short to prop up the camera correctly from the ground. I was so worried about setting it up right, I didn't think to change the lens to get a better shot. I also managed to get my sweater stuck on the frame of a metal chair while I was trying to run to Scott to get in the shot. I can only thank God that no one else was around but the squirrels to witness that fine display of grace. Though I'm sure Scott's uproarious laughter tipped off a few of the other guests on the property.

10. I have a zillion ideas to blog anda zillion images to edit and scrapbook. Sleep and family time are just more important at the moment, so I am over and out to stick my cold feet under my husband and snuggle as we enjoy American Pickers or something on HGTV or maybe we'll get lucky and catch a rerun of The Big Bang Theory or How I Met Your Mother. 9:00 - 11:00 p.m. is like our date night almost every night. And that makes for sweet dreams! [though I'm clearly late for our date tonight!]

 

Starting Point: A Scrap Late, A Bit Short, but Completed Nonetheless...

 One of the blogs I surf quite regularly for creative inspiration is pretty paper.true stories{and scrapbooking classes with cupcakes.}  Shimelle's got all kind of tips and, well, inspiration.  Some days the only 'scrappin' I get in is via a blog surf or two for inspiration.  I have many that top my list, but last weekend I seemed to linger a bit longer on this one and actually took her 'starting point' tip to create my own page.  This was the specific spot to start on her blog:  http://www.shimelle.com/paper/1213/scrapbooking-starting-point/.

I had gotten this Basic Grey Wisteria Collection Pack on clearance at Michaels last month...(yea, me - I love Basic Grey and I love a bargain even more)!

 

(The tray that the paper pack is lying on was also a bargain, like under $4 and it's 12x12!)

I knew I had to use the paper but I didn't have a specific photo in mind.

I was listening to "This" by Darius Rucker while walking back from the store one day and knew the lyrics would be perfect for a scrap page.

So my base was created:

 

And then I quickly perused through my photo library to find a complimentary photo for the lyrics I wanted to use:

 

There aren't too many photos of just me and the kids floating around out there.  I've gotten better about handing over the camera, but I'm far from great at it.

So Shimelle's starting point + Darius Rucker's lyrics + clearance paper + a photo from Mother's Day = the perfect {and quick} page:

 

 

 

And "THIS" is just another reason why I love scrapbooking and blogging!

 

Little Delights

"Delight in the little things."  {Rudyard Kipling}

 

Do you do this?

I try.  Sometimes it's hard.  Sometimes it's easy.

Easiest when you have kids to help lead the way.  They don't have the weight of the world on their shoulders.  They don't stress over money or jobs or commuting to work or politics or silly, petty arguments. 

 

They realize that the little things make life worth living

 

and that there's always time to 'stop and smell the roses'

 

and there's always great opportunities to dance between the raindrops

 

or wish upon a star

 

or just to explore for the sake of exploring.

 

They know the ride is short yet amazing.

 

They know that silliness and laughter is the best thing for the soul.

and that rainbows are always within reach.

 

and they remember to party like it's 1999 [even if we made it through that moment and onto the new year and they can't remember or weren't around for that year].

 

Life is good.

Life is short.

And we should know it.

And live it and appreciate it to the fullest.

 

Do you?  I'm trying.  And these guys help me do it more every. single. day.  So I'll leave you with this wisdom from the 70's:

Do a little dance...

Make a little love ...

and get down tonight! 

(Who doesn't love a little KC & the Sunshine Band?)

Up for the challenge?

Ready?  Set?  Go!

 

Giggles and Gab!

 

See these two girls laughing in this classic photos from 1986?

They were best friends forever throughout high school.

Remained close enough to be in each other's weddings in 1994.

 

Drifted apart a bit when our kids were born starting in 1997 or so ...

then ran into each other at a class reunion or two ...

and decided to make a much better attempt to keep in touch regularly.

 

And for the past year we've been pretty good about that promise.

Because when you become friends in middle school ... during those awkward years ...

when you become friends because you both had to wear headgear.

when you both become cheerleaders together, as the unlikely-not the most popular girls.

when you both get a job at McDonald's so you could spend even more time together laughing about boys and inside jokes and sharing Ramen noodles and sugar biscuit donuts.

There are just too many memories wrapped up to let go

of a comfortable, easy-going, acceptable friendship.

So we now slow down and make time for a weekend breakfast every couple of months

to catch up on our family life and share in our personal ups and downs

 

to reminisce about old friends, styles and what's new on facebook

 

and, of course, our conversations are never short on time or words and we spend a couple hours enjoying each other's company, friendship and and endless drone of chatter.

 

And that's how you keep a true friend.  One who knows you inside out and will always be there.  Despite the distance of time, the silly squabbles that truly aren't important.  It's how we cultivate a life [and friendship] worth living [and keeping] and how we {Tanya Marie and me} want to stay forever...

those silly, happy 'best friends forever' from high school without a care in the world, as we both hope and believe that our children will find that same kind of comfortable, always-there-for-you friendship that withstand the test of time!

Here we go!

 

It's a new school year!  Crazy how fast Summer went by!

Our back-to-school haircuts [and pretzels]:

 
(Yes, Caroline got bangs!  Side bangs and she was quite particular about the cut with the very patient hairdresser!)

So the week before school began, we had a little earthquake...first time anyone in my family ever experienced one since we live in MARYLAND.  Yep, that's right, not exactly on a well-known fault line area!  ha ha

And the Saturday immediately preceeding the first day of school, Hurricane Irene made an appearance, knocking out power to virtually everyone in Maryland [except us {yea!}].  So, as we found out via the school website, the first day was delayed for two days and the kids started back on Wednesday!

 

Too odd, huh?

 

And we now have an 8th grader [who is lots taller than his Mama]!

 
A 4th grader [who is closing in on his Mama and struck that pose all by himself]!

 
And a 1st grader [who hasn't had any separation anxiety issues so far {3 days into the new school year} and is going to school on Monday missing both of her front teeth - she was just minus one in this photo on Wednesday; Andrew 'helped' the second one out on Friday.]!

Oh, and I'd totally be remiss if I forgot to post a picture of the first night homework:

 

forms, forms, more forms, and, oh what's that?  a fundraiser already!  Yippee!  Need a Yankee candle or something representing your favorite sports team?  Yep, got all bases covered ... gifts for the women and gifts for the men. :)  The kids thought it was hysterical that Mommy had more homework than they did on the first day!  It's okay; I'll have less than they do in the long run! lol

So maybe now we'll get back to some regularly scheduled posting?  Okay, don't hold your breath.  But I have created two scrapbook pages this week and check out this:

 

Know what it is?  Think mid-June til last week in August...

 

Yea, that's a stack of 302 photos I had developed at Walgreens this week with a coupon.  They include:  Ben's birthday celebration, my niece's wedding and our 'staycation' week photos with a smackling of other events tossed in!  I've got lots of scrappin' and ideas running through my head.  I can't tell you how many 'nature' photos I have taken this Summer due to the gorgeous butterflies visiting our flower beds and veggie garden.  We also made a trip to Ladew Gardens that yielded lots of photos courtesy of the kids' input!

The good news?  Our 'daily life' is being well documented in the Project Life album!  Though I'm a bit behind on the journaling, the photos are there waiting for the stories to get written down and I'm catching up a little here and there.  So I suppose I will have as much homework as my kiddos this year!

Sir Winston...aka Ben

"To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

 (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882, Philosopher, Poet, Author, Essayist)



This quote and philosophy easily apply to Ben.

My little old man in child's clothing.

Dry sense of humor.  Friendly.  Happy.  Outgoing. 

Sensitive.  Wise in the truest sense of the word.

(Seriously, his wisdom and wit are scary at times.)

Works his hardest for everything he has learned and every task he completes.

Always making the best of every situation.

And always having the highest of morals

and expecting the same of everyone around him.

He cracks us up.  He has an enormouse vocabulary.

He tests us.  He protects his siblings fiercely.

And he loves his family and friends with serious energy and defends them at any cost.

Dubbed Sir Winston Churchhill at birth (by me) for his little round face and serious expressions,

he has truly lived up to Churchhill's character.

At only 9 3/4 years old, I already believe that he has succeeded in life

in a fashion and manner that all of us should strive for.

(Even if he refuses to sing during Sunday School.

 Or tells anyone around him in the car to stop singing.

That's okay because I hear him singing when he thinks no one's listening.)

 

Oh, and don't let him fool you...

he still loves animals...especially wild ones...

though he claims he's too old for that stuff!

(Crocodile head in photo above courtesy of Pop Pop because he knew Ben would love it. 

And yes, it's the real thing.  Alive at one time. 

Now proudly displayed with the other mounts in Ben's room.)

"Overcome the notion that you must be regular.  It robs you of the chance to be extraordinary."

Uta Hagen (1919-2004); Actress

I can think of no better quote to share that represents Caroline's wardrobe.  It is quite extraordinary  to say the least.

 

She's got a style all her own.  And MUST pick it out herself if it is truly to be part of her wardrobe.

Think Punky Brewster.

Think Retro.

Think Hippie.

Think leggings under everything.  Yes, I mean everything.  (She got hot in the photo above and ditched the leggings.)

And the leggings?

 

The wilder, the better!  We've got a zillion leggings with wild designs on them!  Shirt with one pattern-leggings with another?

 

We've got that covered too.  It's all good.  It all matches as long as there's one color that is the same in each!

Oh, and shirts?

 
 

Yeah, they must be a certain length to be worn.  In fact, we do a stretch and twist test in front of Mommy's full length mirror each and every morning to ensure that there will be no skin exposure!  What, you ask?  Don't worry, we ask too and have no clue how that one came about!

Occasionally, these fashion dilemmas lead to a bigger issue:

 
The dresser explosion...

 

and the bed explosion...

 

And then the tears fall

because Mommy says it's time to clean up the clothing explosion.

and when we don't clean up right away,

Mommy threatens to take photos.

And then Mommy snaps the shutter.

And we scream.

Louder.

But finally, we clean up everything.

And all is better once again...
 

after a few 'flippies' and 'upside downs' with Daddy!

Until tomorrow.

or the next day.

or whenever our leggings fashionista gets a clothing crisis going.

Oh well, we made it past the 'front wedgie' issue with her...this one is totally a piece of cake!

 

Real Simple. Living. Fully Braced!

This guy got braces on his lower teeth today:

 

Love the blue and black bands!  We didn't have those options when I wore braces.

Afternoon appointment {b/c it hurts immediately and he could never make it back to school - tried it once after a tightening-won't go down that dreadful road again!}.  Advil afterwards.  Home about 30 minutes earlier than normal.

I was prepared for a long appointment and indulged myself a bit.

With these:

 

$11 of total indulgence.  I love these magazines.  And the Oprah magazine. 

But I rarely buy them.  I can never justify paying the retail price for them or a subscription. 

When I open them I'm instantly irritated by the advertisements, but then, like today, I found inspiration. 

Lots of dog-eared pages with captions or colors and lots of ideas floating around in my head. 

-like a Hallmark advertisement reading "Bedtime is NOT for saying "Goodnight."  Now that's a scrap page taken from our nightly life...it's about reading to your child for bed but could also work well with the bed bugs that creep in!

-or a McDonald's ad that starts out:  "mommyisms:  insights from mom to mom"

-oh, and the hula hoop workout guide...wait, that's not an ad - that's a health benefit article!

-But the Rihanna ad for Unicef that reads... "not your typical girl-next-door..."  Yep, that will work for something.  And the bonus with this Rihanna sighting unlike her currenet radio hit?  I don't need to explain to my kids "how sex is in the air" and why "sticks and stones break bones but whips and chains excite" her!

-And the Mrs. T Pierogies coupon for $1.00 off one box - super bonus!

And I only got through one magazine--Real Simple.

Put "Living" aside for another random day when I find a moment to indulge in a doctor's office or on the deck before dinner or in bed after tucking in the crumbsnatchers!

Oh, and the tic tacs?  Yeah, someone saw them when she came in from swinging after school.  They're no longer mine. Thank goodness for the 8-10 I enjoyed in the orthodontist's office!  Orange tic tacs have zero shelf life in this house.  You can't just eat one - you MUST empty the entire container in one sitting!

 

Happy Spring Day! Hope you can find inspiration in the unexpected! 

Ah, just pure goodness...

 

Good Things to Love -- in our home: 

(1) two boys {patiently} teaching their little sister how to play badminton;

(2) their excitement over watering/mulching a new tree/shrub in the backyard;

(3) little animated voices reading their books out loud to me tonight; and

(4) the fact that they bless each other and me before bed before I get a chance to bless them after our nightly devotional reading. 

Life {and my little ~and not so little~ people} are awesome!

 

Good Things to Love -- outside of our home:

1.  Spring that is waking up around us;

2.  Miracles - large and small - that have inspired and blessed my friends and their families;

3.  Laughter with friends that helps remind us to act like we're 6 years old ... every now and then;

4.  And too many others that I can't list at the present moment because my laundry is beckoning me! :)

Wait, I thought of another ...

 

SNOWBALLS...because it's only May 2 and we've had like 6 each of the best snowballs in Harford County {from Waldo's, of course}!