a few more fun weekend pics


Notice how Lori's working and I'm goofing off. That's pretty typical of us. :) Man, we had fun. Loved working in the store, so going to have to do that again soon. Not great on the pocketbook, but details. Besides, it was kind of a belated birthday thing. Also, love this picture of Rob and I. So blessed are we.

what a DAY!!!

Oh my word, I thought this day would never end. But alas, God is good and I'm still laughing about it now. Can't really think about what today cost us, one of those major grand total days that will go down in the Thoreson books as a doozie. But thankfully, it's over and the cha-ching of the cash register should quiet at least for the evening.

Tonight was the mother daughter banquet at church. I went to pick up our babysitter and we stopped for gas. When we got back in the car the key wouldn't turn in the ignition, the tumbler was locked. A massive flurry of phone calls and I had Rob on the way and a tow truck to pick up the car. Brittany was with me all the while, chatting away while I sweated like a stuck pig in the 90 degree weather, trying not to panic about the rapidly approaching banquet. Meanwhile, my happy thoughts of leaving for Springfield tomorrow are crashing quickly.

Long story short, we got the car to the repair shop, but he basically laughed when I said I had planned on going out of town tomorrow. (gee, thanks) Being Memorial Day weekend really puts a wrench in the works, we probably won't have a car until mid-week next week. fun.

Talked to Lori and Kim right away, trying to give them maximum notice. Guilt kicked in to high-gear, like I had some control over the car breaking. I just feel bad for putting everyone out. I think Lori and her family will be coming for the weekend, but it sounds like Kim won't, which bums me out because I was way looking forward to down time with just the girls, not all weekend with four kids. I really wish I could rent a car and just go anyway but it's really not possible for us to do that. And I don't know anyone here well enough to have the guts to ask to borrow their car for the weekend. I do think we will spend all day Saturday in Archiver's and scrap our little hearts out, which sounds awesome to me. I'm thinking other than that, we'll just hang with the fam and enjoy the weekend. Really just praying about it all.

The bonus is that Lori and Jay will get to hear Rob preach on Sunday night, and I'm super psyched about his sermon "Servant Evangelism" and the ideas that he's presenting to the church. Plus it's always good to hang with our friends, but really wish Kim was coming. Oh well, that's enough for now.

PS - the banquet was a huge success. major kudos to Kyndal, she rocks!!

ready for vacation

I'm so bad. Discovered a new site tonight. Had to order. So excited to get my order, these products are very cutting edge. Can't wait to play with them. Do I dare hold my breath and hope they are here by Friday??? Likely not, but a girl can hope. REALLY hoping my stinking winkflash order comes by Friday, so I have new inspiration to work with.

Anyoo, check out the overlays in the above mentioned link. I was most interested in the wallpaper and vintage circles. So yummy. Definitely some great inspiration here.

Long day, big to do list with the mother daughter banquet on Thursday. I have 3 giant cans of corn sitting on my kitchen floor, to be made for the banquet on Thursday night. Surely, I can't screw up corn, even if it is for 60 people, right? And surely, if I do, they will all smile and nod and know that the youth pastor's wife made it. ha ha!

Really looking forward to friday afternoon, even the drive to Springfield itself will be relaxing and enjoyable. Ready to hang with my peeps and let my hair down.

Speaking of hair, I'm really considering hacking it off. It's going to be a long, hot summer. Any opinions???

Album Cover

Finally went back and did this album cover. Albums are always scary because they cost a lot more than paper! But I'm happy with it. Way into HKS giant florals lately, I've almost finished my second pack!! eek!

I'm totally guilt-driven.

Maybe that seems obvious to everyone else, but I came to that realization this morning (with help) and it rocked my world. What's worse is that I have no idea how to change, because I've been this way for so long. By this way, I mean damaged. Making decisions out of undeserved guilt is not a healthy way to exist in this world. I need to learn to decide out of what is best for me (my family, the Kingdom) and not by who I'm trying to tip-toe around. Seriously, a big BIG realization for me. Really going to be praying this one through for some time.

Still Fighting It

Listening to Ben Folds Five lately. Rob makes fun of me, but some of their lyrics just get me. Music has always been a powerful thing for me, and even though I'm now a pastor's wife, I still occasionally listen to secular music - sometimes it just connects the dots for me and helps me process things and see how I fit in with the rest of the world. Does that make sense?? I like to look at society as a whole sometimes, to see tendencies and patterns. Anyhoo, these particular lyrics have been moving me lately.

"Everybody knows it hurts to grow up....

Pain, sunny days and rain...

Everybody knows it sucks to grow up. Everybody does. It's so weird to be back here. The years go on And we're still fighting it. You'll try and try and one day you'll fly away from here."

Yeah, that just fits right now. I think they hit the nail on the head. There are so many things about getting older that just stink and the more grown-up you get the more you just have to suck it up and stick it out.

Personally I think it's oddly ironic that I was in such a hurry to get out of high school and get out on my own, life was so much less complicated then. Wish I had enjoyed the easy expectations just a little more, had no idea what life would really be like.

It's just the older you the wiser you are, mostly to realize you know so little, in comparison to the big picture. You see things, people dying, babies born, the cycle of life - the ebb and flow. You are scarred and rebuilt, and through it all (at least I) try to make sense of it all.

Just some thoughts to chew on.

Not depressed or anything, just thinking hard. I really enjoy contemplating these types of things, just trying to figure out where I fit in this world. :)

It is finished.

48 layouts later and I am finished with my Paris album. I think it took me six weeks total. I love it. I know I will look at it often, remembering all the amazing places we saw. I'm posting this picture and there is one last page that I haven't take a photo of yet, but I'll try to get to it tomorrow.

This page is pretty simple, a lift of something I saw somewhere, can't even tell you where anymore. But it worked with my pictures and I've really enjoyed these colors. The Seine was beautiful and mysterious. I spent a lot of time thinking about Les Miserables. Anyhoo, hope you enjoy it!

She

Last page of the afternoon for you. Love this one, saved the best for last. The journaling at the top is an actual excerpt from my travel journal. I literally probably have 40 photos of the Venus de Milo, she impacted me so. Just another naked statue in a country full of naked statues, you might think. I thought so till I saw her. Definitely intrigued me, way more than even the Mona Lisa (another intriguing chick in the Louvre). But this statue is actually hewn from two pieces of marble and they are brought together in perfect union. Actually made me think a lot about marriage, and God's ideal for our marriages, two souls, separately hewn but only acheiving their full purpose (and beauty) with each other - what that flow should look and feel like. It was truely breathtaking.

Plus, this chick totally has a tummy and I loved that. I was tempted to have Mom take a picture of me next to her showing my tummy!!! Hee hee!!

I know the page is simple, but I just couldn't rob her of the spotlight she deserves. Here's to great art!!

National Deportation Museum

Not the most exciting page in the world, but I was going for simple because of the gravity of the picture, of the moment. I think it may be too simple, any comments - what I could do or shouldn't do - would be very appreciated. Loving the avent garde stamps.

the Eiffel

A cool nighttime shot of the eiffel. Used the yummy SEI paper (love bits and pieces of this line) and some random Scrapworks paper I found in Arkansas of all places. Along with the lime green Lil Davis labels and the new Fontwerks stamps that you will be seeing a lot of in the near future, I'm afraid. Orange is just inspiring. found a fun orange pen in Springfield, IL, it's made by American Crafts and those people just know what they are doing. Once again, why couldn't have my gal Heidi gone with a company like them??? details. Great pen, just for the record. Love the bright orange. Everyone needs a bright orange pen.

LOOK WHAT I DID!!!

such a braggert, sorry. I altered the cover to my Paris album. It just wasn't working for me. I bought all these postcards in France and then didn't know what to do with them once I got them home. Then today (while I was chatting with Lori-lady on the phone) it just hit me like a ton of bricks. I know it's crazy, they are all modge-podged on there half-hazardly but I love it!!! I feel like it hints at all the art inside this book. And next weekend I get to share it with Lori and Kim cause we are doing a crazy college girls weekend at Kimmie's with no kids and all scrapbooking plus 'Steel Magnolias' because Lori has (crazily enough) never seen it!!! So excited!!!

Finished my two undone layouts from the week plus a third one, so I'll be posting them soon, too!

TWENTY-SEVEN and my big realization.

Unfortunately, you get older. The older you get the more you realize that your birthday is just a day and it's not a big deal. Just because your mom told you it was a big deal for the first twenty some years of your life doesn't give you an excuse to continue on with that nonsense well into your thirties and forties and whatnot. I think this year (with startling clarity) I realized that it's just another day and everyone knows it but me. :) I need to stop expecting to be "princess for the day" and know that there is only room for one princess in my house. I need to be thankful that my husband loves me everyday, the best he knows how and that should be more than enough for me. I just really need to grow up.

Yesterday was kind of a rotten day. The kids were onery after three days in a hotel, the conference was long, I was tired and cranky. I missed my house, my bed and mostly my studio. Today has been a wonderful homecoming, returning to sanity and some tiny bit of normalcy. I did three loads of laundry and cleaned the entire bottom floor of the house, it felt good and all was right with the world. Could it be that I am just addicted to housekeeping? likely not. The next few days will be pretty insanely busy, but I'm making an appointment with myself and my studio for Monday afternoon, really looking forward to it. Plus, Monday marks the start of Eli's summer, so that's a challenge rising on the horizon. I want to make sure he's being challenged and happy to be home with us. I realize how limited those days truely are.

Heard the wonderful Dr. George O. Wood this morning, one of my favorite speakers, he's extremely intelligent but very approachable. Three years ago he responded to a letter I had written him, about our miscarriages and last night I had the opportunity to tell him about our dear Sarah. What an honor. I love those God moments when He shows you where you've been and what He's done with your life now. I very clearly (painfully) remember wondering if we'd ever have any more babies after Eli. I am so thankful for the gift of Sarah. I was reading Hebrews 11 the other day and happened upon the verse that talks about Sarah and her faith in God to have another child. My notes were scribbled in the margin, dated early in my pregnancy with Sarah (after two back to back miscarriages and nine months trying to get pregnant again) to have faith in seeing and holding 'Cupcakes' - our nickname for the Speed the Light baby I was carrying. I remember reading that verse and praying about it. I never realized the irony that our youth group voted in 'Sarah' as her name, the exact spelling as the very Sarah whose verses upheld me during that time. Gave me tingles right up and down my spine.

That's the kind of stuff I need to spend my time fretting about. That's where I need to place my time and energy and effort. Less of me. More of God and what He's doing in me. Well into my first full day of being twenty-seven and I can see that this year is going to be different.

less than 12 hours till 27

I'm here, hanging out in a darkened hotel room with my two jabronies - feigning naps. Eli is curled up with his gameboy, Sarah's conked in her hotel crib, Rob's in session and I am treasuring the quiet, after 30 solid hours with my sweet children. I'm thinking about breaking out some scrapbooking (yes, I brought it because tomorrow's my birthday and I shouldn't have to spend every last moment of it in boring meetings that I can't vote in anyway!)

Interesting thoughts today.

Most obviously, I turn 27 tomorrow. It makes me think. I'm not panicking or regretting or counting wrinkles and grey hair (not that they aren't there). Just really taking bearing of my life. Not what I expected at twenty seven, honestly. I've accomplished a lot in some sense, and barely scraped the surface in other ways. Such as.... I have such a longing to travel, missionary work, to see the world and try and make some sort of difference, but instead I just keep feeling smaller and less able to change anything. Kind of ironic. Also ironic, getting to go to Paris only whet my appetite further for travel. I keep thinking about all the places I long to go and wondering how and when God will enable those trips. I know that sounds selfish, but (with me) that's how God works. He places a desire in my heart and eventually He goes ahead and fulfills it.

secondly, feeling very out of place here. Displaced. I've done my share of conferences. In fact, back in the day, I served as a delegate in Iowa Annual Conference (methodist) and loved it. Here I'm bored (the not voting thing is irrelevant - everything has passed uncontested - I want to stand up and ask if anyone has put any thought into any of these resolutions) and just generally (spiritually) insignificant around all these heavy hitters. Maybe it's being the newbies, but really feeling out of place. Plus, the AG denomination is just so different politically (and seemingly demographically) than the methodist church. The focus is very different.

The kids are being pretty good, but the child care is spotty and all of us sharing a room at night is hard. I am really looking forward to my time off in the morning tomorrow, hope it's restful and fun. So wish I was spending my birthday with my friends instead, but that's one of the stinky things about growing up, less and less do you get what you want - even if it is your birthday. :)

Today I became Mrs. Thoreson

strange, but true. My mother-in-law remarried this morning, a really lovely guy, in fact. They seem really happy. And for the first time in eight years, I am Mrs. Thoreson. Whenever people have called me "Mrs. Thoreson" in the past I have responded, "No, that's my mother-in-law" but now it's me and it fits. On the eve of my sixth Mother's Day, I think I have finally earned the title. :)

Really, much to my surprise, it was a great day, a great trip and a great weekend. I am relieved that it is over and that everything went well. We really like the guy she married, and to boot he has a great son too.

Starting at the beginning, we almost didn't go yesterday. We got in the car promptly at eight and Sarah threw up about 20 minutes into the 7 hour trek. I wanted to turn around and go home right then and there, but my heart wasn't in it from the start. We talked about it and decided to drive to the western edge of the city and turn around if need be. Sarah turned out to be fine and was pleasant the rest of the trip.

We met Kim at Panera in Springfield, MO for lunch. So good to catch up with her. I am constantly reminded how blessed I am to have friends like I do. We piled back in the car and I started reading the Da Vinci Code the rest of the way, pausing to read excerpts out loud to Rob and discuss. Very interesting.

We hung out with Rob's mom and her fiance (Charlie) and his son (Zach) last night, laughing and getting to know each other, letting the kids stretch their legs in the back yard and marveling at the novel idea of a fenced in yard!! Ordered pizza and Dr. Pepper for supper. yum. Called it night and had the kids in bed by 9:30.

Today we attended their wedding, a very casual backyard affair. We took pictures. It was small but beautiful, seeing two people find each other well into their lives. I pray that they will be truely happy for years to come and that Rob's dad can find that same happiness.

We ate lunch at the Dixie Cafe, a true southern lunch, it was good and filling. We headed out of town stopping at an amazing scrapbook store in Bentonville. (my husband consented since tomorrow is Mommy's day!) My mouth fell open - literally - when I saw these had-to-have stamps. Can't wait to break em open and play! I also found some chipboard circles with scalloped edges from Technique Tuesday. It was a fun half an hour for me!! We drove home, I chatted with Kim on the phone for a while and we laughed with the kids a bunch. It was a great day. I'm totally wiped out, but way looking forward to tomorrow. Seems like my husband is actually going to recognize the day, which is very exciting to me!

Paris 2006

Two pages I totally pulled out of my butt this afternoon. I was hmmming and hawing over my pictures this afternoon and these were all pictures I still wanted to include, but didn't necessarily have a spot for them. So here they wound up. Did the first page (Paris) and loved it so much I decided to make it a two page spread. And yes, all the writing on the pictures is mine, with a uniball pen, not rub-ons. And YES Mom, I realize that I mispelled Obelisk, but it was too late to fix it when I was three letters in. I still like it!

Otherwise it's been a productive day. I took pictures of Eli in front of his school this morning, it was his last day. He'll officially go back as a kindergartner. (how I got THAT old, I'm still not sure). He's of course, thrilled about the prospect of school all day, but I'm going to miss him.

I got us all packed for tomorrow, with the exception of toiletries. Still need to make a wedding card. Did laundry, but the dishes are beckoning me (again). I got my hair hacked (I mean trimmed) this afternoon, I'll be interested to do it in the morning and see what it really looks like, if you know what I mean. We are gearing up for ER tonight, looking forward to some snuggle time with Rob.

Looking forward to tomorrow, any day with Kim in it is a good day. Toodles.

tourist

Sadly, I am quickly wrapping up my Paris album. I have officially run out of pages (boohoo) in my album and cannot seem to find more. But I'm still finishing up some layouts, I'll just set them in the back of the book if I have to. This album has been such an experience for me, I have enjoyed every moment of it.

this page is just me being a silly tourist. We really bought postcards ON OUR WAY TO THE EIFFEL TOWER, which was our very first sight in Paris, besides the famous non-sight - the Bastille. The actual shape of this page and the stitched letters were inspired by the Peas, but the fun star paper and orange "tourist' and heidi tape are all my inspiration. Love the tape, super yummy. Great colors too.

Shopping on Richard Lenoir

These photos were taken in an outdoor market, such a cool experience, except for the whole part where mom got mugged. (details) Despite the pretty pictures it was super cold and VERY crowded. I'm surprised I didn't get mugged!!

Lori, I so know you are laughing at all the things going on here, but it's me and I was in a mood yesterday. Had fun stitching down my ribbon frames. Also had a blast stamping out all those transparency flowers, although they don't really pop on my floral background, but that's ok. More JB letter stickers, still loving that font. I especially like the stitched/photo corner arrow too. And Stickles everywhere, I love stickles right now. At $1.99 a bottle it's a lot of bang for your buck!!

Notre Dame

This page is a lift from something I saw in the gallery (?) on 2peas. Love the squished title, although my husband teased me about it. The orange square in the corner has a rubon on it, in case you were wondering.

Notre Dame was pretty cool on the outside, a little over the top, but you come to expect that in Paris and anything less is boring. :) The inside, however was dark and dank and very depressing. They had places to pray, but it just didn't do anything for me. The beauty of the exterior was much more likely to inspire me to pray and think about God's glory. anyhoo, that's just my opinion. Glad I saw it. Still in awe of all the famous things we took in.

Manifesto

A picture from some of the protestors we saw in Paris. It was pretty uncomfortable, I am still glad to be home safe and sound. My sister, Char, actually took this picture. There is another one of police walking around with HUGE guns too, but this is a more focused/cropped picture.

Use the organized essentials KI line, which is really fun in real life. Also the HKS circle chipboard alpha and ancient HKS rubons. Also some Scrapworks alpha rubons. Loving the chipboard arrow.

just chillin'

Long day. Cleaned house. Did four loads of laundry. folded only two, slacker. Scrapped 3 pages, so excited about them. I'll try to share tomorrow. My kids were awesome today, so loving them right now.
Feel like my missionettes class is starting to take off. The hope of retaining them all in youth four years from now keeps me going each week. They are crazy girls, but they all have potential, if I can just reign them in.
One week till my big day, kind of funny to think about it. Hoping to sneak away from our conference for a bit of quality Anna time. Should be fun.
Tomorrow's agenda? Packing for the wedding, page planning and maybe a tiny bit of scrapping? I can't help it, I'm totally addicted!

8 years BABY!!!

Celebrating the beginning of us today. It was a wierd morning, the funeral and all, very emotional and all. It's always tough this time of year because Rob's younger brother, Matt, died the day after mothers day five years ago and our extended family has never really fully recovered. So attending a funeral and graveside today (of all days) was super hard for both of us. Rob did a great job though, I'm super proud of him.
I was thrilled to squeeze in a nap this afternoon, Sarah has been getting up about six am lately, so I get pretty wiped out long before the day is done.
Kyndal and Nettie watched the kids for us tonight and we went to Florissant for Red Lobster (our famous appetizer and salads for under $20 inluding tip!) and then we hung out at Barnes & Nobles for an hour and some. We stopped at Cold Stone Creamery on the way home for icecream. yummy. A great date. So thankful for my husband, I truely know I'm blessed.
Came home and the kids were awesome. I really do love them more after they've been with someone else for a while, sad but true. Ready to crash, I still need to plan my lesson for tomorrow night.
Posting two pictures here, the first is me and my hubby in our 8 year groove (happy to have made it past seven and the supposed itch) and the second is a picture of the cd cover that I made for Rob's mixed tape gift. I just put a bunch of 'our' songs from the past almost ten years (total) all together on one cd. He was surprised.

everyday life

Love how every street is a postcard in Paris. Just a tiny bit different than here, but that's why it's Paris! I could totally envision myself living there, but not with two kids. I'd have to single or just another half, it's just too fast paced for dragging kids with you. Beautiful city, in case you hadn't gotten that impression thus far.

appreciate age

This building was 1600 years old!! Char and I couldn't get over it. We laughed how in the states they would dry wall over these cracks in the wall. In france it's considered beautiful. One of the locals told me that in WW2 when they were invaded they surrendered the city, rather than allow the germans to destroy their precious history. That is love!!!

good start

We ate in our hotel every morning. MMMmmm. Baugettes and chocolate croissants. so yummy. I usually had hot chocolate. I tried being all brave and grown up and having cafe au lauit one morning and wound up giving it to Mom.. Too adult for me I guess, I like my sugar water still! :)
The room was painted in a countryside motif and the conversation in the little cafe was so interesting - visiting students from all over the world. I've never heard so many languages in one room. Very cool.

travel

super simple page, but I wanted to include these pictures in the book, even though they are just random. This tape by Heidi Swapp just inspires me, it's so girly and classic.

capture it

I journaled every day, several times a day actually. Mom took this picture of me scribbling in my journal. I will keep the journal forever, treasuring this trip.

le choclatier

This was a crazy happy chocolate guy that we met in Paris. He literally had a handlebar mustache and a mo-hawk, it was so fun. I have never seen anyone so stinking happy, he was singing and downright chirpy. The chocolate was yummy! Loving these rub-ons from Basic Grey.

Smart Cars

Saw these cars everywhere in France, they were so interesting!! Would never work with two kids and two car seats. :) I thought they looked like Cabbage Patch Kid shoes. tehee. The picture lifts to reveal my journaling.

Blogging In France

This is a page about my crazy need to blog on the other side of the world. It was so funny because the keyboard was in french! HA! I actually took the @ picture first, solely becuase it the @ sign and I love it. THen I realized that it meant internet connection and I raced in to pay my 2 euros for 15 minutes!!

Loving Stickles lately. Can't get enough of them!

Look MOM!

crazy sporadic page about the arc de truimph. Using the Fontwerks stamps, very fun.

Woohoo!!! Pages for you!!

Here is the title page to my Paris book. I may someday post it all on 2peas just so it's archived in one neat little format, rather than spread throughout my blog. But at least this way everyone gets to see it. I'm getting really close to being done with this album (cyring insues) but it's been such a blast/challenge, I've really enjoyed it. Probably enjoyed scrapping it as much as the trip itself, maybe even a tiny bit more because I sat and thought about all the amazing things we did and took it all in. Very cool.

Love this new CRILLION collection from Lil Davis. Wishing I had bought more!

Five Fickle things about Mefound this post on Kelli Crowe's blog, found it interesting so I'm going to share mine here.

5 Things in my fridge:

* a near endless supply of dr pepper. (I'm addicted and I can't stop!)

* lemon cake for tomorrow's funeral luncheon.

* paint and a brush - waiting to finish the trimwork around the house.

* english muffins

* fourty-two bottles of salad dressing - and we hardly ever eat salad

In my closet

* lots of clothes but nothing to wear!

* many bags and purses, I like to accessorize.

* one belt. I wear it all the time! (seriously, I'm in my pj's now, or it wouldn't be in my closet!)

* things hung in order from work clothes, daily clothes, dressy casual and church. pretty organized for me.

* lots of creepy dust, it's an old house and I haven't thoroughly cleaned it just yet. Officially making my to-do list, now that I've shared that with all you.

In my purse

* kleenex mini pack - allergy season is in full swing.

* checkbook

* keys on my eiffel tower keychain.

* a diaper and wipes and a bib. (always a mom)

* my to-do/sermon note journal, half full and it's a month old!

SADLY, no cell phone, but I'm working on Rob to fix that, I really need one for emergencies.

In my car:

* hoards of cds, legitimate cds of Rob's and crazy mixes of mine. I like to jam in the car. And our share of the Wiggles and Barney too.

* an endless supply of stale cheerios in between the seat cushions and under the floor mats.

* a millenium edition of the Atlas, battered and torn. No wonder we keep getting lost. You know it's bad when you've memorized the highways the DOT has completed or closed since your map was printed!!

* Rob's TARGET pass, hanging from our rear-view mirror. It just looks cool.

* whatever trash my kids hauled out with them to school this morning and failed to bring back in this afternoon!

On my Tivo: (I don't TVo but if I did here's my list)

* Grey's Anatomy. We do not miss an episode. I SO CAN'T BELIEVE MCDREAMY SAID THAT TO HER LAST NIGHT!!!

* ER. We seriously have watched this show all twelve (or whatever) years!!

* the Office. We like it but rarely see it.

and sadly, that's about it. We watch entirely too much PBS at our house.

To add my own fun five....

on my iRiver

* Your Beautiful by James Blunt. despite the cuss word, a very pretty song.

* Garden For Two by Code of Ethics. Our 8th anniversary is tomorrow, this is our song and I'm feeling sappy.

* Lisa Loeb is way my gal lately.

* Superchick. Something about strong women with tough lyrics I guess.

Off to finish up Rob's super cool anniversary present. I'll post a picture tomorrow maybe. It's not like he ever reads my blog anyway. In his defense he says "I lived it!!!" tehee. Totally love that guy. Looking forward to our date tomorrow night!

I guess I was frustrated.

So, today is National Scrapbook Day. Seriously, an awesome day to celebrate my all-time favorite hobby. Plus, it's in May, so that makes it even more fun!
Not this year. :) My kids must have KNOWN it was NSD - they were so onery and cranky and NOT SLEEPY WHATSOEVER!!! Now, originally I had planned to go to an all-day crop up in Alton. But then we were asked to help a friend move - which is totally cool. So I was thinking I could pop into the crop later on in the day. Then my husband had minor surgery and thus RUINED OUR LIVES. Seriously, this is getting really old. I have a new respect for single parents, blah blah blah but enough is enough, I'm ready to have my husband (IE: disciplinarian/lawlayerdowner) back. I think the kids are on to him being disabled and all and trying to destroy me while the getting is good.
I digress. So no Saturday crop for me. Anyhoo, Rob's dad is here staying with us. cool. He suggests getting a sitter and going out - just adults. Sounds wonderful, but I am massively struggling with a sinus infection and thus not really having the energy to traipse through the Science Center (not sure where the disabled guy got his energy today, but whatever) and plus we went just last week. I'm thinking Sarah's tired and a little sick so she'll nap awesome and maybe I'll squeeze in a few hours of honest-to-goodness scrapbooking. PSYCHE!!! The little cretan didn't fall asleep until 4pm. I cleaned up the house and made supper just in time for Rob and his dad to saunter in and Sarah to wake up again. Grrrrr....
So tonight, the kids went down by about 8:30. I finished switching my laundry loads and bee-lined to my studio. I turned up the iRiver and cranked out my pages. Six in all. I think # of layouts is directly effected by the amount of frustration I had. Thankfully I got in my NSD scrapbooking and I am once again a sane mother and a happy crafter. All is right with the world.

PS - look forward to tomorrow, I've got about ten pages total to share. Woohoo!

Little Miss Cindy Lou

Ever seen the Grinch? Well, my daughter looked just like the little girl in that movie when I picked her up tonight after service. Kyndal and Nettie had too much fun playing with her, they put her hair up like this and she loved it and kept it!! So cute.

Service was good. Still very much in that intellectual place with God, which I love. Enjoying my daily bible study a whole bunch right now. We really had a good time with our youth, it was hard to go home early - but I am totally wiped and the kids were so happy to find their beds. Rob's still out bowling (or watching the youth bowl) but he'll be home soon.

Meant to say earlier that Springfield was good, mostly. We had a great time visiting our friends, saw almost everyone, amazingly enough. Got a great cup of coffee at Mudhouse. (mmmmmm) Spent tons of time with Kimmie - always good. Enjoyed a great service at Central - endured a tornado warning in the basement (not so good). We also really enjoyed a two hour conversation with Travis and LeAnn. And lunch was amazingly tasty at Steak and Ale. And I popped in on my friends at Forever Memories in Ozark and checked out the new MASSIVE store that CU moved into. I exercised superior restraint and mostly stuck to Stickles and a bit of the arrowed KI Memories paper/chipboard. Pretty excited to scrap, but I think I'm too tired right now.

Very sadly, one of the patriarchs of our church suddenly passed away this morning. Rob will be assisting Pastor Ed with his first funeral on Tuesday.

Speaking of Rob, we saw the dr today and he confirmed that Rob's complications were very rare, but very painful and that it would take "several weeks" before he would heal completely. I have to agree, since it's already been one and he's still in such massive pain. Please continue to pray for him, as the next couple of weeks are insane.

As for me, I just really took it easy today. All of our traveling has really taken it out of me. And I am struggling with my fifth sinus infection since January. Picked up some more claritin today and hoping to fight it off on my own again. Wish I could find something more capable of preventing them. I think the key ingredient is sleep, and we all know how difficult that can be to find with a 20 month old!

Well, off to surf for a bit and then hit the sack when hubby comes home. toodles.

Congradulations Rob!!!!

So proud of my husband. He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Youth Ministry from Central Bible College yesterday. He has been in bible college for 11 semesters (not consecutive) and worked his tail off. Finishing school is a major accomplishment. He's so proud of his diploma! (as well he should be).
I actually cried when he came out of the auditorium, I have never been so proud of anyone. We both worked so hard for that moment.
And today, life returns to normal or some semblance of. Rob's still having a hard time (limping and all), we are going to the dr this morning to get him looked at. We have a youth rally tonight and we are helping friends move tomorrow. A lot going on, as usual.

Sorry, I've been distracted lately.

My life has been, well, all-consuming lately. Rob had minor surgery on Saturday and he had some complications that made it not-so-minor. I spent most of Saturday wondering if I needed to take him to the ER. The $500 deductible on our insurance really made me hesitant. He's doing better now, but the recovery has taken WAY longer than we expected. So much so that we almost canceled going to graduation tomorrow - he's concerned about the car ride. But his dad is making the effort to come, so we are going. Please be praying for us - I will be doing all the driving and all the kid corralling. I'm excited to see all my friends, but entering this trip all ready worn out. The next few weeks will be insane here. (he goes back to the dr on friday and i think the doc will be shocked at how bad it looks. yikes.)
My kids are making me crazy. Namely just one. I think I gave Sarah vinegar 8 times today. She doesn't feel well and her pinchers are at an all-time high. She has allergies/cold, but she's just being a pill. So looking forward to 4 hours in the car with her butt tomorrow!
Well, I'm way tired, just got on to take care of some details. We leave at 6am tomorrow. fun. Hopefully I will have some great graduation pictures to share when I get home. ttfn.

Be still my heart, is that a book vending machine?

Seriously, this was one of my favorite things I saw in Paris. Unfortunately, all the books were in French, so it was kind of 'bad dream-ish' in that aspect. But the idea of being able to buy literature in a vending machine was just awesome! This particular machine was in the Metro.
More fun with primas. (te-hee-hee)

the Fuzz

We did a lot of crazy things in Paris, like taking pictures with police officers. I wanted to capture all that in my book. I'm hoping this book will be like taking a trip in itself, experiencing and seeing all the cool things we did. I'm afraid I have pages and pages to go. But it's so fun!
The background paper here is an actual map the hotel concierge gave us when we got moved to another hotel the night before we left for home. I found it humorous. My fun yellow and green bubble letters were a free hotspot item from Archiver's. Still loving the cheap-o walmart star stickers.

High Flying Fun

Loving the green and brown together, with a bit of orange thrown in. Pictures from the flight to England.

"too many stairs"

This is somewhat of a lift off of something I saw in two peas. The picture is my sister, falling up the stairs (on flight four of 5 and a half - literally). I wanted to capture the insanity of the stairs in Paris. If you go, be prepared to pump your heart hard, it's crazy.

Love the patterned paper - more of my fun Scenic Route. The letter stickers are American Crafts and of course, tons of Primas. I'm finally busting into my five bottles with a vengeance, determined they won't sit and fade on a shelf. Had fun 'sprucing' them up with rhinestones and stickles and MOD epoxy with a little bit of ribbon thrown in for good measure. Fun, huh?

Some fun for you.

I just discovered a great new blog. This gal is amazing. Be sure to check her out!

enjoying the laughter of my family

But I know it's all fun and games until someone gets hurt. :) They are wrestling on the floor and Sarah keeps saying "BOBERT!!BOBERT!" because I always say "Robert" in a menacing tone when he's doing something annoying. So funny.
Just a random day. spent some time cleaning, some time scrapping. enjoying my studio. again. So thankful for my life, even with all it's ups and downs.

I'm working on a secret. I'll post it here when it's done. enjoy!

More Pictures
The english garden reminded me - on a much smaller scale - of Versailles. Ha. I've been there! Loved the bright color against the water, this was just really cool. His stuff will be on display until October, so I fully intend to go back!

Happy Birthday to ME!
I know it's still almost three weeks away, but Rob and I realized yesterday that it would be his last free day off until the last week in May, and we didn't want to wait celebrate until then. We have graduation next week, Rob's mom's wedding the week after that, then the week of my birthday is district council and camp counselor training.
So what did I want to do for my birthday? One of my favorite living artists is Dale Chihuly - a glass scultor (and visionary). Several years ago Rob and I watched this (literally) 3 hour PBS special on how he worked, how he put things together, his schemes for juxtiposing his work w/ architecture and nature. It was awesome. We had seen one Chihuly in real life at the OKC art museum, but the museum was closed that day and we couldn't get close. Yesterday we got close. The actual exhibit was not open yet - but they had the works around the garden. The kids loved it! We spent about 3 hours wandering around enjoying the gardens and the sculpture.
Then we went to O'fallon for cheap Walmart groceries (I gawked at prices and we bought 5 boxes of cereal!) and a quick stop at Archiver's. We came home and played in the yard for 45 minutes, bathed the kids and put them to bed, then snuggled in to watch "the Office" and ER. It was a stellar day.

Exploring Paris

Photos from our first full day in Paris. I've already scrapped the Eiffel Tower (two pages thus far) but I wanted to include these pages in my book. Really loving the giant flowers and the stitched centers. And the Heidi tape just makes me giddy. Great color. The rubon frame is Heidi too. She's my girl.

getting catcalls

This picture was taken in Saint Michel, our last day in Paris. Mom visited the Cluny Museum (medieval times - aka tapestries galore) while Char and I enjoyed one last shopping outing in Paris. So glad we did, it was on that trip I found my awesome beaded necklace and the cute blue poet/schoolgirl shirt. Anyhoo, as soon as we left Mom at the (George) Cluny, literally not 50 feet from the entrance, these construction guys started hooting and hollering at us. This certainly wasn't the first time we had been 'appreciated' but I happened to have my camera out and they made it memorable!

If I hadn't busted my box open before, this page definitely does it. YES, that's lipstick up the side. It just seemed appropriate. Paris is so sexy, I thought my page needed a little bit of over-the-top-ness too! Love the giant flowers stapled to the side, you can say it - I'm off my rocker and I'm loving it!!! I am really enjoying that random floral paper underneath too, just throwing all kinds of things in the mix today.

traveling buddies

so having fun with this Paris album. Rob said to me this morning "you sure are doing a lot of Paris pages in our album." Apparently he didn't realize I was doing a whole Paris album. Ha!! It's really coming together. This thing is going to be huge, probably going to have to find some refills for it. fun.

I used some scenic route letters, that fun DCWV scallop paper (yummy!), old MOD paper and rhinestones from Walmart w/ a 7 gypsies rubon. The orange is scenic route too.

Dream

A simple page, but fun none-the-less. Love this picture of the Louvre. Wish I had changed more of my Paris pictures to black and white, but I can always print them again that way. I purposefully took most everything in color, since you can always change a digital file to black and white, but not the reverse.