02.25.06

Well, I was just thinking about how important pictures are in my life. Then I thought about an image I have of my mother in the kitchen. When she's cooking, she invariably has a kitchen towel over her shoulder while she works. Yesterday, I was doing the same as I scurried about the kitchen preparing dinner. My conclusion with all of this is that even without photographs we can have images in our minds forever. I do know how important my photos are, but my memories are equally as important to me. So, I think I will digitally scrap this "mind image" with some journaling and without a picture.

Another image is that of my father in the yard wearing his headphones and mowing. He loves being outside and getting some good yard work completed and although I don't have an actual photograph of this event, I have seen it so many times my mind can consistently recall it with little effort. So, again, I will put my journaling and digi scrapping to work with these "mind images".

Just wanted the non picture takers to know that scrapping and journaling can happen even without a photo. Here's my ode to mom and the towel:

02.21.06

Interesting observation made by my husband today...

My phone rings while I'm shopping (all alone) in Marshall's.

DH says: "Where are you?"

I say: "Wandering around Marshall's."

DH replies: "You have a great life."

My response: "Yes, I do."

Well, I just loved every minute of that exchange. Sometimes I feel like I have to apologize for my life. I spend a lot of time taking care of my girls, cleaning, cooking, and making life easier for all of us. Yet, many times people perceive my life as just one big free ride. So, today it felt kind of good to admit that, yes, my life is great and still smile about it without feeling guilty.

On a domestic note, I have made two decent meals for dinner this week. Last night was beef enchiladas (previously made by me and frozen), salad, and spanish rice. We topped it all off with a Mixed Berry Pie. Yummmm! Tonight was Chicken with apples and onions prepared in the crock pot and accompanied by brown rice and roasted zucchini. Both dinners were a success and I have plenty of leftovers for the next couple of nights. Fun!

Closing with this photo of me, Shelly, and John from the 50th anniversary festivities.

02.20.06

Ok, this blog entry may end up a bit random today. I have so many things to mention. First, I am feeling like a hundred bucks today and that is huge!!!!! Last week, really set me back and I could live without feeling that way for another 10 years or so. I have completed three loads of laundry, cleaned three really dirty bathrooms, baked a berry pie, got my premade (by me) frozen enchiladas out to prepare for dinner, done grocery shopping, and straightened the house. I feel like superwoman. I did so little last week that the house was a wreck and it was starting to rub off into my life. But, today is a new day. And I am ready to go for the week...a great feeling.

This past weekend, we went to Virginia Beach to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary with both of my sisters and their families. There were a total of 14 of us. After cocktail hour at my sister's house, we surprised my mom and dad with a limo for all of us to travel down memory lane. We visited schools, workplaces, and our former home in VB. It was so fun. But, the best part was knocking on the door of our "old" home and asking to take a picture in front of the house. The woman kindly agreed and then invited us in to look around! It was amazing to see all of the familiar sights and flashback to 28 years ago. My favorite was the pink shag carpet that still lined the floor in my bedroom! Unbelievable. I even bent down and gave it a little brush with my hand. We were all overwhelmed by the hospitality of these people and so thrilled to share this with our "family of origin". After our limo ride, we had dinner on the bay and then back to my sister's for dessert. It was a spectacular evening. We love our parents and hope that they know this each and every day.

02.16.06

Feeling really under the weather these days. Hoping to make a comeback, SOON! We had a lovely Valentine's Day complete with a family dinner to the cafeteria! Decided to start my first list of "Nifty Nine"s. So here goes:

1. This cute cup just makes me smile.

2. Would love to put special recipes in this little tin.

3. Thinking this might be the perfect little jewelry box for Lily's birthday.

4. Saw these teas in a local shop and loved them.

5. This case would be a great keeper for so many of my treasures.

6. Handy case for all of my scrapping paper.

7. Sweet notepad

8. These magnetic strips are so cool!

9. Always can use an oversized clip to hold photos and papers.

So, this is the first entry in my Nifty Nine segment. Hope it inspires you to find your own nifty nine!

02.10.06

Just posting to say "Happy 18th Birthday" to my niece Kaitlin! Hope she enjoys a wonderful day. I remember turning 18 and feeling like everything was possible and right in front of me just waiting for me to choose the right path. I have chosen so many different and unexpected paths since then and can't wait to see what paths lie ahead for my niece. Happy Day!

Here are a couple of layouts I have recently completed:

02.07.06

I go to a variety of blog entries on an almost daily basis. I am not so sure this is a productive thing to be doing, but I find it highly entertaining. Anyway, what really bugs me is when I go to someone's site and get hooked on there thrilling activities and exciting life only to come back daily and find no new entry! Ugh, that really annoys me. So, I decided today that if a blogger hasn't updated in a relatively timely fashion they got the big delete from me! I am sure I will come sneaking around their site again at some point, but for now those non-blogging bloggers are getting my "sharp-pointy-toed" boot!!!!!

02.05.06

I had a revelation tonight at the mall with my family. Shelly was riding in one of those little "car" rides that takes 50 cents and stutters in one place back and forth. Lily then decided she would take a whirl at one of the mechanical vehicles. As I watched my 5.5 year old climb inside and sit while the car ran its course, I realized she is now too big for this type of thing. Both from a physical and mental standpoint. And this made me sad. How many times had we walked by these little cars, motorcycles, boats and been begged to take a spin on them, only to tell her, "no, not now"? So, those little moments fly by you and you can miss them if you blink long enough. Today, I vowed that every time Shelly asks to ride one, the coins will quickly be put in the slot and she will take her little whirl on the buggy. Because life reallly is short and what is life without a few whirls and spins?!

Here are my girls...getting bigger, smarter, and more interesting every day!

02.03.06

Lily has been struggling with school this past week. She says she doesn't want to go in the morning and it is really bumming me out. I hope this is just a passing phase. Once she is there, everything is fine. Shelly and I are spending the day at home. I plan to do some digi scrapping, as well as, real scrapping. Then finish some laundry, snuggle with Shelly, and straighten up the house a bit.

I am so excited to cheer on my Steelers on Sunday! We are heading to the clubhouse for the big game and I hope the others in attnedance can deal with my antics. Love those Steelers!

Here is a layout of John and me on the cruise.