Boys Will Be Boys....

Here is a simple layout I did with recent pictures of Aaron. Hope you like it!

Ring-a-ding Spring...

A few WEEKS ago, Kate's school held their first ever SPRING CARNIVAL. I have to tell you, I was impressed. There were so many FUN things to do...the school/PTA/whoever was in charge of this thing did an AWESOME job!

Back in the day, we only had a Halloween carnival (I'm sure they called it that too...not Fall Festival or anything). I looked forward to that thing for three reasons: playing games for candy, the cakewalk, and the highly anticipated HAUNTED HOUSE. It took me several years just to get up the nerve to go INSIDE. And looking back on it, I laugh at how NOT SCARY it was...just a dark art room decorated with spooky bats, black cats, ghosts and spider webs. Ahem...I digress (shocker).

My point is that school carnivals have COME ALONG WAY BABY (is that a cigarette slogan? yuck!). This carnival had the typical class-sponsored games (a.k.a. pick up ducks, go fish, putt-putt) and the traditional cakewalk, BUT it had so much more. They had face painting on steroids...I mean, this lady was AMAZING. Each face was a new canvas for her beautiful art. Okay, maybe that is exaggerating, but I couldn't get over what she could do in SO little time.

There was a DJ playing all kinds of kid-friendly music, a dunking booth (where kids could have fun getting their teachers wet), several inflatables, a HUGE rock climbing wall, raffles for some of the biggest themed 'baskets' (if you consider a wheelbarrow, an art easel or a tool chest a basket) I have seen, a mini- hair salon sponsored by Snip-Its, a trackless train, and an exotic animal exhibit. Wow!

We took a break from the carnival action to eat and just play on the school's playground. Again, those have come a long way (although I miss having swings). I had never seen some of the unique playground structures before...and Bryan & I had fun spinning right along with the kids.

Kelsey (our 'other' daughter) tagged along that day--and I think we all had a really good time. Just a fun day to spend together...and I always enjoying seeing the excitement on my kids' faces. They loved the carnival and Aaron continues to ask for it (every time we drive by the school). I am so thankful that my family can enjoy days like this.

Here are my finished layouts (click the pics to enlarge):

Sweet Child(ren) Of Mine...

Howdy folks! This is gotta be quick because it's already after midnight, and I just finished making my Mother's Day digi layouts. Woohoo! It's still a work in progress actually, but I'm mostly pleased (for now)...except I need to add 2009 somewhere on the page!

Anyways, I had a lovely Mother's Day, thank you very much! My entire family greeted me with cards this morning...even my hubby. His was so cute, the envelope read: To the mother of my children...that is so Bryan! AND he gave me a gift certificate for my favorite nail salon (where I get my pedicures). Thanks honey! Oh, and I had to scan in his card...it was definitely my kind of humor:

on the inside, it reads: or PIZZA and CANDY, depending on who you talk to.
(And when you open it, you hear Michael Scott say: I don't get why parents are always complaining about how tough it is to raise kids. You joke around with them, you give them pizza, you give them candy, you let them live their lives, they are adults for *goodness* sake!)

I wanted to document the cards/gifts from the kids, so I thought I would scan them in and use them in a scrapbook page...here's a look at my almost finished pages (you can click on them to enlarge):


I love my kids so much. God truly blessed me with Kate and Aaron. I am grateful that He picked me to be their mom! While it a big responsibility and a lot of hard work, the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices. Just getting their sweet kisses every morning and every night...what can top that?

Back to Mother's Day--we really didn't go anywhere or do anything special. But that was exactly what I wanted...time spent together as a family. We played outside...we watched TV...we ate dinner with our neighbors...a nice, lazy day for me! And I had a surprise visit from my 'other' daughter...Kelsey. Kelsey is our favorite 14-year old neighbor that holds a very special place in my heart. She was sweet enough to bring me a letter/card that she made just for me. Here's the front:


She wrote a heartfelt note, wishing me a Happy Mother's Day. I really am blessed to have so many caring people in my life. Thank you, Lord!

And lastly, it wouldn't be right to end this post without giving a shout-out to MY mother. I love her dearly. She has been a constant support in my life, never failing me once. She is the kind of mother that I HOPE and PRAY to be for my kids...always encouraging, always loving, and always protecting. Even when her decisions were not the ones I wanted to hear...I knew she was trying to do what was best for us. So on this Mother's Day, I say 'thank-you' Mom for being the best you could be, for me (and my sisters). I love you!

And even though she hates having her picture posted (too bad!), I wanted to share this picture of her and my dad with all the grandkids, taken at their house on Easter Sunday. Did I mention she's the coolest Nanay around town?

Happy Mother's Day to all my readers.

100th Post...Come Monday

Wow, I can't believe it. I made it to 100. When I first started this blog, I didn't know if I would be able to keep it up. I failed at scrapbooking...miserably, miserably failed. As much as I wanted to capture my kids' childhood, I found little time to scrapbook (never mind the time it took to get everything out and pack everything away). I really love bloggin, because I can edit/add pics quickly...which leaves me time for more important things, like telling the story behind the photos.

So....I would like to thank all my tens of readers, and say "thanks for keeping with me and reading all my stuff". I hope my kids will one day look back on my posts and think "it's really cool that Mom wrote all this down". Or, maybe they won't. I'll still be happy that I did it. These memories are just as much for me as they are for them. Right?




In celebration of my 100th post, I wanted to participate in McKMama's "Not Me" Monday. I love this idea and I think I have PLENTY of things that I could share! For this week...here goes:

I most certainly DID NOT let my kids go out in the backyard to play (unsupervised) while I finished cleaning up the dinner dishes.

I DID NOT sigh and roll my eyes when I heard the crying commence...

I can assure you that I DID NOT not act concerned when my son came up the stairs to our back porch, bawling his eyes out (with big sister right behind him).

I DID NOT start panicking when I realized that he was really crying and that he didn't stop, even when I picked him up.

I am pretty sure that I DID NOT feel majorly guilty when I saw the lump near his collarbone...ummm.....yeah.

I am not the kind of parent that overreacts, so I am positive that I DID NOT barge in on my neighbors having dinner to get her opinion on the matter.

I can share with you that I WAS NOT a bit anxious when my husband had to drive our son to the local pediatric ER, or when I found out that the x-ray showed a fractured clavicle (collarbone).

And I guarantee that I DID NOT take a picture to document this non-injury.

And don't worry, I promise that I DID NOT cover him with kisses and give him ANYTHING that he wanted. My husband and I DID NOT giggle when we dosed him with meds, and he started babbling nonsense. And I know that he definitely IS NOT the cutest patient I've seen since...well, since his sister, who WAS NOT hospitalized in March for dehydration.

My little boy with his broken collarbone and new blue sling.