my son, the master manipulator.

To set the scene:

It's rainy today (I love this.) This morning, it was pouring with thunder and lightening and it was so dark out at 10 am it felt like 8 at night. So, we are snug and cozy inside listening to the rain beat down out outside (making our basement wet but such is life.)

The boys, as usual, are at each other's throats so I put in a movie for them (Curious George, because it's one of the movies that doesn't make me want to poke sharpened pencils in my ears...Super Mario Brothers - this means you)

Jake wants to watch Cartoon Network - a channel that I pretty much never let them watch anyway. I say no so he turns Zack on me too. Zack doesn't want to watch Cartoon Network, he's pretty satisfied with Curious George. In the span of 60 seconds though, they are *both* whining for Cartoon Network. (Whining doesn't fly around here so any chances of getting to watch it flew out the window at that point.)

Jake: Zackie, do you want to watch Cartoon Network?
Zack: No
J: Zackie, do you want to watch Cartoon Network or Curious George?
Z: Curious George
J (taking a different tact): Zackie, do you want to watch Cartoon Network or Sprout?
Z: Sprout
J: Do you want to watch Cartoon Network or Noggin?
Z: Noggin
J: Do you want to watch Cartoon Network or nothing?
Z: Cartoon Network
J: "MOMMY...ZACK WANTS TO WATCH CARTOON NETWORK!"

Cue chants of "Cartoon Network" from *both* boys.

See what he did there? This kid rivals bugs bunny in his cunningness. And it's only just begun. Hold me.

One other thing I keep meaning to mention. Melissa Inman mentioned the following on her blog a few days ago:

Scrapbooks etc. is kicking off a really exciting venture this year: ScrapPink! We're asking local scrapbook stores throughout North America to join us in hosting weekend crops September 28-30 and donate a portion of the proceeds raised to breast cancer awareness and research as part of our partnership with Susan G. Komen. Check out the ScrapPink Web site to see if a store near you is participating, or bug your local store to get involved.

We also wanted to come up with a way you could all be directly involved in this effort, so we've come up with a few contests. One is to design a ScrapPink t-shirt that event attendees will be able to purchase and wear to the show. The other is to design a card, page, or album kit. The winning kit designs will be featured in the October issue of Scrapbooks etc. and the photos and directions for the projects will be sent to all the stores participating in ScrapPink so their attendees can create their versions of your designs.

It's a great cause, a great event, and a great chance for you to be published and win $250 in product from all our ScrapPink sponsors. So again, check out the ScrapPink Web site to learn more and get involved!

www.scrappink.com

I've been touched by breast cancer in my family as I'm sure many of you have. Check out the scrappink website and see if your LSS is participating. I know mine is. If their not, give them a call and see if they'd consider it.

If you're so inclined, get to work designing a t-shirt, card, page or album kit. It's a great opportunity to contribute some designs and possibly win a cool prize. Everyone wins.

sports night in Detroit...

Red Wings 2 Sharks 0
(wings clinch the series)

Pistons 108 Bulls 87
(Pistons win 6 straight playoff games)

I love this time of year :D



(PS, the neighbors put a chintzy little fence up this weekend...I guess they were tired of us trespassing in their jungle, I mean, yard

people are stupid

So the other day, it POURED. And I loved it...because a good thunderstorm makes me happy. And then, the next day, this happened:

Carlos: Did you take the boys out to play yesterday and leave the cover off the sandbox?
Erica: Um, no, why?
Carlos: Because the cover...it's off the sandbox.

So, me, being of the curious nature I am, go and look out the window. And the freaking cover is off the sandbox. And the toys are scattered all over the lawn. And the boys' little ride on truck is moved and the door is open. And I'm angry and feeling a little violated because some little cretin was playing with my boys' stuff and didn't even bother to put it away and ruined all our sand. Probably the same kid that owns the cat that likes to take a crap in our sandbox when the LID IS LEFT OFF.

Fast forward two days to today. I'm having a nice visit with my sister and my nephew and someone yells through the front screen:

Hello?

And so, I go to the door. Because that is the natural response to a visitor. And then this:

Erica: Hello?
Skanky woman: Hi, I just moved in next door and this is my son. He's really bored, can he play in your backyard?
Erica: Well, a couple of days ago someone played in our yard and left the toys all over and didn't put the lid back on the sandbox and now, our sand is totally gross. I don't know if it was your son or not but the sand is ruined now.
Nasty wench: Oh, it wasn't my son. You weren't playing in their yard, were you? (wink, wink)
Son (who I have no beef with): Yes, I was.
Rude ho: So, he can't play back there?
Erica: I'd really rather not have kids playing in our yard. No. Thanks.

OK. A few things:
1. Your kid admitted it was him. Tell him to apologize. Apologize yourself. Ask if you can replace the sand. Show me something, anything, that proves you're not a complete waste.
2. You have a bored kid. You live ONE BLOCK from a school (and it is well after school is over for the day. It's gorgeous out...walk him down to the school and let him play on the playground!
3. If you don't know that your 5/6 year old has been playing in someone elses yard long enough to destroy it, I doubt you're going to be the type of person that takes responsibility when your unsupervised child gets hurt in *my* yard.

OK, vent over. And I'm not as upset as this post may lead you to believe...trying to make light of the situation because her behavior just kinda irritated me. (ps, skanky woman, nasty wench and rude ho were all portrayed by the same woman :p)

Tomorrow is National Scrapbooking Day :) If you're in the MI area, come see me do make and takes at The Scrapbook Zone. If you're not - don't forget to make some time to spend at 2Peas - tons of activities and chats and giveaways planned (I'll be hosting chat from 9-10 EST so stop by!)

Have a great weekend!

the first one of the year is the best...

the first corn-on-the-cob - YUM. the boys are slightly obsessed with it (as I think their daddy is too...ok, perhaps I fall into the same category)

a fun dinner tonight - steak, baked potatoes and *OF COURSE* corn-on-the-cob races. Not me, but daddy, jake and zackie. The winner is the one that finishes a row of corn 'typewriter style' and smiles a big, kernely smile first (yeah, we teach our kids great manners :p)


ps. zack makes the bestest faces :D

More to say but I'll spread it out since I'm trying to be a bit more regular in my posting :p

cheesy.

you think? hehe Zack looks almost embarrassed to be next to Jake. Poor kid can't help that he got my squint-in-the-sun gene. That 'cheese' smile though, that's all four-year-old boy!

Anyway, this was taken Saturday at the park where we got to spend a lovely afternoon with Ashley, Griffin and Ava. Griffin, super polite and a nature and animal genius. And Ava, the beautiful little daredevil. And Ashley, she's just a smartass but that is one of the chief reasons we get along so well :) She makes a mean cheese ravioli though and that makes most anyone good in my book! The boys had a fantastic time making friends with the Gailey kids...until Jake had a meltdown of epic proportions when it was time to leave. Asleep in the car 3 minutes after we left and out for the night. Yeah, he maybe a tidge tired from all of the excitement!

In knitting news, I've made a little progress on the baby sweater that's been languishing for months. A couple more miters done. Other than that, nada. I'm pretty sure sleeves will be my downfall on every sweater I knit. Maybe only tanks from now on?

Scrappy stuff - a new garden at 2peas yesterday :) Loved so much of it but as if we needed further proof that Lisa McGarvey is a freaking scrapbooking goddess, check out her ideas for organizing layouts, photos and papers of different sizes. I'd love to see her at work in real life. That would be such a treat! And here I was *just* the other day telling someone how I've been thinking about maybe giving 12 x 12 a shot here and there but didn't want to think about the album aspect of it all and along comes Lisa with the solution to my dilemma. I also loved this, this, this and this. So much talent - I'm feeling very fortunate that I get to be a part of it!

Added a bunch of new stuff to my site...logos and card templates. There is so much I *want* to do and just not enough time. I'm sure none of you understand that feeling, right?

Oh, and this...tagged by the delightful Jen (this was a long post, huh? should buy me at least a week or 10 days until I'm due to post again!)

Here are the rules: each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to blog about their seven things and post the rules as well . At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I'm weird about meat. I hate, hate, HATE touching raw meat - when Carlos is feeling generous, he'll do it for me :p. Also, I can't eat meat off of a bone. Totally grosses me out.
   
2. I have this weird psychological balance thing...it's hard to explain but if I'm doing something and feel like I'm using one hand or leg or foot more predominantly than the other, I have to switch to the other side. There's no counting or timing involved, just a *feeling* that I'm not balanced very well. I know. I should seek professional help.
   
3. All of my nightmares are either about something bad happening to my children *OR* about being chased. I've been chased by witches (when I was a kid), people, robots (all started with the Transformers)...in my dreams, I'm chased forever...I never get caught and I never safely escape. What do you think it means?
4. I'm a crazy list-maker...I make lists of lists. I put things on my lists that I've already done just for the pleasure of crossing them back off. Need a list? Give me a call.
5. The mere thought of touching or using chalk makes my skin crawl and my teeth hurt. My stomach is in knots right now even typing about it...
6. When I was in 5th grade, I totally beat my teacher in our math marathon. I took advanced calculus in high school and college. Since I had kids, I practically need a calculator to count. (where do all of those brain cells go anyway?)
7. Thinking of seven weird things about myself should not be this hard. But I'm quitting here :p

And, since I'm an avid blog reader but totally lazy about commenting, I'm not tagging anyone...because that just wouldn't be fair.

Happy Wednesday!

So a few weeks ago, on a little shopping/lunch excursion with Stacey, I picked up Mason-Dixon Knitting because I saw the mitered squares blanket and had to have one of my own. I sat on it for awhile, trying to figure out what yarn I wanted to use. Then I started seeing a favorite knitting blogger, january one, start posting pictures of her miter progress...and that was just the kick in the ass I needed to get going on it! (seriously, read her blog - awesome pictures and fabulous writing) I was debating between the Tahki that the book uses and something really cheap. In the end I decided to go with the KnitPicks Shine Worsted. So glad I went with the Knitpicks - nowhere near as many color choices but clearly, I'm pretty indecisive so that's probably a good thing. It's knitting up really nicely - even stitches and really soft. I haven't put the first block of four miters together yet but you get the idea. One down, 1,583,974 to go. Apparently, january one blogger can do a miter in an hour. It takes me more like two but I suspect each will go just a bit faster than the last. I've just finished two sqares (so eight miters) so far but I never intended on this being a fast project. Also, maybe soon (finally!) a pic of a finished sweater (yay!)

Honestly, I've thought of tons of things I keep meaning to blog about but then I just never get around to it. I don't feel a ton of pressure to update this thing regularly (and I don't think I have legions of readers balanced precariously on the edge of their seats waiting for a new entry) but I do enjoy having a regular, safe place to record the mundane details. So, I promise to keep at it but won't make any promises as to frequency. But really, my intentions are good...so we'll see what happens :)

Happy Wednesday, folks :)

little bit nostalgic...

I simply adore this photo of my grandma...makes me feel really close to her, lol. Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I can sleep anytime, anywhere, for extensive periods of time. She passed the trait down to my dad, who in turn, passed it on to me. My mom isn't so bad it either, hehe.

Another reason I love this photo? My grandpa's handwritten note on the back...it says:

Having a bigger sleep.

I'm not sure *exactly* what it means but I love the sound of it. Makes me warm and happy (and, longing for a nap - a bigger one at that.) I had to scan it and include it on the layout.

In other news...I've been busy. Check <---this out. That hasn't happened since I set up my gmail! If you're waiting on an email from me, better send me a reminder :p

We're all set for Easter...dyed eggs yesterday and stickered them up this morning. The Easter Bunny has baskets ready...a good mix of cavity inducing candy and boy spoiling goodies. I have fond memories of Easter from when I was a kid - I hope my boys will when they're adults as well! I distinctly remember "seeing" the Easter Bunny in our house when I was probably 6 or 7. My bedroom door was cracked just an inch. I had one of those doll heads with the long braided yarn hair that was used to hold all of my different colored barrettes. In my mind, I was convinced that those flashes of color, just barely visible through the cracked door, were actually stripes on the shorts the Easter Bunny was surely sporting. He was peeking in on me...in his striped shorts...just making sure I was asleep. I held my eyes squinted tight forever, just allowing enough of a slit to keep my blurry vision trained on him. After what seemed like HOURS, I finally gave in and closed my eyes, figuring he wasn't leaving until he knew I was back to sleep. Amazing what our imaginations can convince us of!

I also remember seeing the Tooth Fairy - that's a story for another day though. Maybe when Jake loses his first tooth (which is will surely surprise me in it's occurrence.)

Share your good Easter memories...because I'm in the mood to be nostalgic :)

Work related stuff - I'm cranking out logos, and may even have time to do a kit or two to release mid month at Two Peas (fingers crossed - it's been awhile!) I have tons of ideas but lack the time and the skill to execute them very well...any digital scrappers out there - requests for what you'd like to see? I can't promise anything but I'm always up for a challenge :)

OK, that was a long one from me! It's been a long time coming though...next time, maybe some more knitting photos (I know, you're all on the edge of your seats!)

knitting & purging

First, the knitting...I'm working on a cute little bag and an afghan (yes, I am crazy) but the sweaters...that's where I've made the most progress and that's what will (hopefully) be finished soon! First, the bonita:


The back is done and the front is *almost* done. Then I can do the cap sleeves and do the finishing (the part I'm DREADING.) I went like gangbusters on this for awhile but haven't touched it in a couple of weeks. Hoping to possibly finish it up this weekend - fingers crossed!

I also started this one awhile ago...a sleevelss cowl neck design. Here is the front, almost complete. Have to say I really refer knitting in the round. Hopefully soon I'll be proficient enough to convert patterns so I don't have to do as much piecing after the fact! The bottom will look much nicer after blocking and it will be finished off with a thin ribbon. Hopefully I'll have it done in the next few weeks as well!


Yesterday I cleaned, organized and purged. Seems I do it once a month and somehow, the piles grow and multiply in the blink of an eye. I'll probably be posting stuff here and there that I'm looking to unload but am to lazy to list on eBay :p My laziness means freebies for my readers - all 15 of you :D Can any one use an HP 96 black ink cartridge let me know and I'll send it off to you!

because I like it random.

Look what Carlos got in the mail today...a special invitation and tickets to Donald J. Trump's conference next month. A special VIP invitation straight from the Don himself. Guess they need some seat fillers pretty badly, lol. I mean, I know we've been doing a great job of socking away some house dough and all but I seriously doubt we're next in line to become "America's next Billionaire Real Estate Guru" (that oughtta generate some google hits :p) Anybody want 'em...I think we're busy that day (although George...wouldn't mind meeting him!)

This boy has a major Mario complex lately. Carlos got the boys the Super Mario boxed set a few months ago and Jake has been obsessed ever since. He knows all of the words, he wants a Mario bedroom, and now, he wants to wear a mustache and a hat like Mario. He dances, sings, lives, breathes Mario. Do you guys remember the show? Mario is Captain Lou Albano people...of the famed WWF Albano's...Cindy Lauper's buddy Lou. It's star-studded. On the first disk alone there are cameos by Cindy herself, Nicole-someone-or other (from CHARLES IN CHARGE!), Winnie from the Wonder Years. These are major stars (heh.) So anyway, Jacob in full Mario mode right here. He's a star for sure.
This boy...need a haircut ('nuf said)
(but he also totally digs Mario)

both frames are from Katie Pertiet

Oh, and this is a cool deal too so check it out and think about applying! You could be a star ;-)

And this, because DUDE, what a cool little tool for scrapbookers!

And this 'cause it just looks fun :)

OK, anyway...so back to work! Later gators!

Toronto Re-cap...kind of

So, I wanted to share pictures and maybe a layout or two from our Toronto trip but I haven't edited anything yet.

It's two weeks past though, so, I'll just say it was awesome - exactly what we needed. We went to the Hockey Hall of Fame where I'm fairly certain, Carlos had an out-of-body experience. We saw Phantom of the Opera...I've seen it before (twice) but it's still well worth it. We walked the city in freezing cold temperatures and 50 mile per hour winds but we also ate well and slept well in a gorgeous room with an awesome view. (Priceline ROCKS btw...hotel, right on the water with a view of the CN Tower. SUPER cheap, thankyouverymuch)

We got out of town just in time Monday morning - less than 30 minutes after we left, they closed the expressway next to our hotel because huge sheets of ice were falling off of the CN Tower (kind of dangerous, eh?) Drove home in a nasty snowstorm (6 hours home vs 4 hours there) but made it home fine. To two sick kids. Who seem to have *finally* recovered.

I wanted to share some Toronto layouts but instead, I'll share this one. Did it last night while scrapping with my step-mom :) Have a great weekend!

(7Gypsies and Crate Paper, Fontwerks stamp, Maya Road chipboard "A", AC chipboard heart)

geez...been awhile!

Sorry about that! Time just got away from me. And just when I was patting myself on the back for posting semi-regularly :p I want to be better about keeping this up - especially since I found this site on my friend Maureen's blog a few weeks ago. I have my 2005 blog stuff organized and ready to print. Next up is 2006. I'd love to have a volume for each year! So, I need to update more so each volume is more than 10 pages !

So, since I last posted, I turned 31, left my boys with my parents for a WHOLE WEEKEND while Carlos and I went to Toronto for the weekend and spent the past week trying to nurse these boys back to health...oy, it's been a rough week! I also knit a hat, *almost* finished up Bonita and started on another sweater!

I've been so busy with work stuff but itching to scrap so I did a quickie digital page of one of our Toronto photos...tomorrow, I'll give a Toronto re-cap and try to take some knitting photos to share on Tuesday! Hope you all had a great weekend!



Tracy Robinson papers, Katie Pertiet photo frame and label, Miss Mint cardboard and string closure, Tia Bennett stitches, Kate Teague lace.

Wood.

That's the traditional gift for a fifth wedding anniversary. The modern suggestion is silverware. Equally thrilling, right?

Today is my fifth anniversary. I did this layout for the mid-month Garden at 2peas - a lift of the guest garden girl flyingmichelle

We've definitely had a crazy 5 years. Lots of hard times for sure but we've always been *together* And at this point in our lives, we're more positive than ever. In a better position to better our lives that we've ever been before. We get each other. We compliment each other. We balance each other.

I'm a lucky girl.

mi vida...

my life, correct? It's good, thanks for asking!

this was the extent of our Valentine's Day celebration...sugaring up the kids at 9 am thanks to grandma and grandpa :) I figured I might as well let them have it early so they could burn it up long before bedtime. And burn it they did - they were madmen today! The good news is that Zack is long asleep (at 7:20 pm) and Jake will be there shortly! Good news for me as I have a buttload of work to do!

And I know you're all on the edge of your seats waiting for my Bonita update. Bonita is doing well :) I've got the simple lace pattern down and I've done a couple of waist shaping decreases...check it out:

I've done about 3 rows since starting on the second skein...I had 5 skeins to start and I don't think I'll need much of the last one so I'm about 20-25% done (although, I'm guessing the neckline and sleeves will be a challenge) I just love the way the pattern builds and grows with each trip around the needles. It's so relaxing...so gratifying. And if this thing actually fits when I'm done, I will wear it with supreme satisfaction. I've had a hard time getting an accurate representation of the color of the yarn. This is the yarn I'm using though. It's the perfect weight for a summer top and I love the way it's starting to drape!

Up close and personal with the stitch pattern. The pattern calls for some embroidered flowers but I'm forgoing those because 1. I'm lazy, 2. it's a bit too "frilly" for me and 3. I really like the pattern and don't think it needs any additional embellishment. I wish I had more time to put into this but I'm busy right now with a lot of other "stuff" so, I give myself a little time each day just so I don't forget what I'm doing and then get back to work!

I love that my little knitting obsession has hooked me up with other crafty scrapbooking/knitters! Sue, who I met because she works at the greatest scrapbook store in Michigan, possibly the world :) She's even got me convinced that I need to try my hand at socks when I SWORE I would never.knit.socks. Tonya who can even write her patterns (jealous!) Elizabeth who had a kick-ass set-up on Grammy night :p Seriously - check out all of them because even if you aren't a knitter, their scrapbooking rocks as well!

Oh, and the response to the parking site was so overwhelming (hehe) that I've decided that the FIRST person to provide a picture of a notice in action will get a SWEET RAK from moi ;) Get to it!

Happy love day all :)

look ma...a HEM!

OK, I realize this doesn't look like much...but this is the most intense knitting I've done so far. And I'm proud that I got this far without having to pull the whole damn thing out.

So, to get to this point (warning: technical "yarn talk" to follow...) I had to do a crocheted chain stitch with waste yarn (new skill: crochet) pick up stitches from the chain stitch (new skill: picking up stitches from a chain stitch :p also called a provisional cast-on) knit and knit and knit for about 11 rows (not a new skill) knit a row to a larger set of needles (nope, not new) pull out the waste yarn leaving LIVE STITCHES - yikes (so a new skill...scared me to death :p) thread the live stitches on another set of circular needles, fold the piece in half so that the *two* pairs of needles were parallel and then knit through two sets of stitches to create a folded hem. Then I knit one more round. And this is what I have. Should be easier from this point on (although the sweater does have a few new stitches for me...and the cap sleeves that I'll have to join to the body in the end - that's almost like sewing!)

Good thing it's a light summer-weight type of sweater because I don't see myself finishing it for awhile...maybe not the best choice for my first sweater project (and do you see how TINY those stitches are??) But, I'm pleased with how it's turning out so far :)

A couple of cool sites not to be missed:

• I know the majority of my handful of readers are scrapbookers so I'm sure this will come in handy to someone out there ;-) Seriously, how funny is the name? Even though the product itself is more than questionable.
• And this made me laugh out loud and almost, *almost* actually print out a few notices to keep in my glovebox :p
  

And a quote from Little Miss Sunshine:

"sarcasm is the refuge of losers"

You think that's true? If so, I'm a raging loser.

It's Friday, yo!

for you, Ashley ;)

She beat me again...we crop together way too rarely but whenever we do, both Ashley and I invariably end up with one, two, ten unfinished layouts. She finished her unfinished layouts before me *yet* again. But here's mine. The last one.

How cute is that picture? I took it from really far away but you can still see what's going on. My boy Z and my nephew T giving a little hug on Christmas day. They were playing out in the backyard and I was watching from inside the house so they did this all on their own. Sweet, sweet, sweet. Tyler will call me up from time to time and ask for "za-TA-wee" (wish you could hear him say it!)

Just a quick and dirty layout that I had initially planned on using in the garden but it didn't quite meet my standards ;) But, I like how it turned out in the end! Lots of MM goodies, my handwriting (gasp!) and sticker letters for the title (double gasp!) Oh, and I ususally post a disclaimer about it not being so crooked in real life...this one really *is* that crooked :p

I posted a layout on the Look Book blog this morning as well - be sure to check the blog out for a chance to win some shtuff!

OK, back to work...have a good rest of the week!

cool stuff

• the new Look Book blog (still wondering what *I'm* doing over there!)

• the fact that my taxes are done and filed (and we don't owe - yay!)

• CHA Chicago roommates and hotel are all squared away (and plans have begun for the great Mel birthday bash of 2007 while we're there ;-)

• conversations like this that happened last night while we were getting ready to leave my dad's...jake was giving the puppy, Romeo (who is "so tiny and cute, mom!") goodbye hugs. He's 3 lbs so hugs have to be *really* gentle...Jake = not-so-gentle so Romeo nipped at him (no damage done other than a scared Jake)

Jake: Romeo's a BAD dog.
Me: He's not bad, sweetie...he's just little so you have to be gentle. You scared him.
Jake: I scared him?
Me: Yup
Jake: 'cause I'm a ghost?

OK, so maybe you had to be there. It was freaking hilarious at the time though :D (and
jake's all set to go visit Romeo again...not scared anymore :-)

• the weather...not just cool but crazy COLD. Like crunchy-snow-frozen-nostril-achy-joint-no-school-kinda-cold. We went sledding on Friday when it was in the 20's but now, we are cozied up in the house for the forseeable future!

• this contest at 2Peas - so many beautiful and thoughtful entries! I'm completely inspired by these pages :) Did you enter?

• something new I'm trying out for EHD...marketing template sets. my first set: fresh & clean

what's cool in your world this week?

zack's army

I had a CRAPPY night. Really, don't even want to think about it. But, since bedtime, I've downloaded and watched an entire Christmas iTunes gift certificate worth of The Office while I did some major catch up on email, logos and assignments.

And the past hour has been spent scanning drawings and making this nifty little brush set I like to call Zack's Army. He's drawing faces with legs now and he's so proud of himself :) They're actually rather cute and saving them into something I can use again seriously improved my mood.

The green balloons are courtesy of Jake but I thought they added to the mood nicely. Hope your night was better than mine!

do you ever feel like?

you're in a music video (not one of those booty videos :p) and you're the lead singer that's walking in slow motion through the middle of a tornado or a hurricane or some similar natural disaster? You're not getting injured or anything but the tornado goes on like you're not even there. Furniture and cows are flying all over the place and you can yell stop! or go to your room! or no TV for a week! but the tornado doesn't even acknowledge your existence?

now double the tornado. seriously man, they are 2 and 4...pretty sure I'll be blogging from the loony bin in short order.

and just because I can, a funny picture of the younger tornado. (apparently the eye protection was a safety precaution while orbiting around with the 4 year old tornado)

yesterday

(all my troubles seemed so far away....)

Sorry, I had no intentions of doing that until I typed the post title and the rest came flowing out. Have you seen there is a new Beatles album? I need it, I want it, I gotta have it. No Beatles tunage on iTunes though so I actually have to leave my house to get it. Bummer.

So anyway, yesterday we built a fort and hung out in it a good part of the day. We played legos and listened to a lot of Jack Johnson and Laurie Berkner. I knit and was able to finish up Carlos' scarf and hat combo. Now to start on my own in a lovely shade of cornflower blue. (I have scarves, oh yes I do, but in shades of lime green and a creamy tweed...and no hats yet - I'll need one soon!)

Then, we played Twister. OK, mostly I spun and the boys played...because I'm too old ;-)

Then I stayed up way too late working. I'll do the same tonight.

Today, it's snowing. And if I were a good mom, I'd take the boys out to play. But they don't have any boots. And I hate the snow. So, I'll grocery shop instead.

Have a great Wednesday! (Wednesday, right?)

I scrapbooked :D

Goofy, huh? I needed somewhere to put these pictures from the first 200 Jake shot with his Christmas camera :) My buddy Annie challenged me to use an owl on a layout...because, who uses owls on their layouts? This one was cute though...and gave my exacto a workout ;) The lightbulb moment to combine the owl and the pictures provided me an inordinate amount of satisfaction. I'm sure you're all jealous that I lead such an exciting life :p