Last Day

Today is the last day of school for us. The kids actually have a pretty easy day too.
Erik is going to Kamp Dells for the day. Natlaea is having a class party. Gabryelle is having a class party. And Monique is going to Alexander Park for the day. All require lunches and soda's. Should be a fun day for all of them!

Although that means that beginning tomorrow, I'll officially have a Jr. Higher. Not sure how I feel about that just yet. I'm not liking the attitude I've been getting lately. And if that's a sign of what's to come, we're gonna have a rough ride!

On another note...I've been awake since 2 a.m. Sad but true. I fell asleep just after 9 p.m. even. Sometimes I think my biological clock is wacked out. Sometimes that does happen.

And...I have been doing dishes at 6 a.m. instead of after supper. It has been going well...and usually only takes me 15 minutes to get them done. Almost time for me to start the water...so they can soak a few minutes first! One good thing about this place...we have HOT water and plenty of it too! I'd throw in some laundry too, but then it will be way to humid in here for me and I refuse to turn the central air on so early in the season. And I can't put my makeup on in the humidity...been there, done that!

So on that note...Have a great day!

{Things}

Well I got the bathroom all cleaned. Except the toilet. That's Tom's job...actually his and Erik's. I figure they have to lift the seat up, they can clean it.

I also got the laundry caught up. Until the kids all come home and clean their rooms. Which is tonight's project. After we get back from Grandma's house. Today is packing day...should only take us 2 hours if that. We will see.

Two of them (kids) came home last night...the other two wanted to stay another night...so thanks mom for that nice break!

Last night I had to pick Tom up from work...and since we had no kids yet...we went to the Pizza Ranch for supper. If you have on near you...check it out! Good food and great prices too! We had the buffet for $8 apiece! They had pizza, chicken, salad bar, dessert bar, cheesy breadsticks, dessert pizza...the works! And our drink and tax was included in that price too! Good stuff, I tell ya! www.pizzaranch.com

Weekends~
The next 3 weekends are going to be busy for us. Next weekend is Morristown's Dam Days. Erik is doing Scout stuff all weekend...selling pop and such to raise funds for the troop. The parade is Friday night...it's a 2 hour deal...starting at about 6:30...it's huge! I dread the crowd every year...I'm not a big crowd person for sure.

The next weekend is Natalea's birthday. She'll be 11. And we can tell. She's already rebellious. And moody. We're waiting for the bomb to drop. UGH! I'm not looking forward to that.

Then Erik starts summer school. 2 weeks in June and 2 weeks in July/August. Dumb schedule and it wasn't how I planned it to be. But then it never is.

Then it's Tom's company picnic. More crowds. Is summer over yet??

I can't wait to relax on my weekends and not have anything planned. I need one day to myself for jammie lounging...or my week is total chaos. That's my time to regroup my brain. To get ready for the next week's jailbirds and clients that call on me to help solve their problems and relay messages. Alot of mental work...but I love every minute of it.

Oh and the Boss will be on vacation quite frequently this summer. So if he has nothing planned for me, then I think I'll put together some scrapping kits and bring them to work. I think I'll try the ones that are in CK. That will probably be easier to get more done that way.

Oh..and before I forget...if you want to see a great flick...check out Into the Blue. Great modern day treasure hunting flick. Lots of ocean involved! I love ocean flicks...awesome stuff!
http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/intotheblue/index.html

I'll leave you with that...Have a great Sunday!

Peace N Quiet

What's that you ask? Well it's the rare treat of your mom taking all 4 of your kids for the night and most of the next day. Only the dogs left to take care of. Heaven...for just a moment or 2!

Yes, my mom took all 4 kids last night. At first it was going to be just Erik 'cause they are going to see Pirates of the Caribbean today and it was just easier that he spend the night. Then she calls...it seems my niece Ashley is also there and wants the girls to come over. Fine, I say. Have at 'em. They were on my last nerve anyway and I really needed a break from them girls. They were driving me nuts. So in to town Tom goes with all the kids. I had a bowl of cereal for supper and some Doritos with sour cream for dessert...in bed...watching the Star Wars marathon on Cinemax. I was in heaven again. Tom came home and said what's for supper? I said what ever you make...I ain't cooking! Wasn't too long after that I fell asleep.

Oh I forgot to add...Tom had a flat tire on his car. Don't change it the night before though...that's too easy. Let's make the wife get up and take you to work. I coulda slept in. If it wasn't for my biological clock waking up at 4:30...ahhh...one day I'll be able to sleep in again. So here I am.

I do want to accomplish much today though. I need to go clean some kids' bedrooms while they are gone so I can throw away what I want to. Otherwise they are right there pickin' it outta the garbage and it's pointless to purge.

And I gotta get dishes done.
And clean my bedroom.
And clean the living room.
The whole house actually.
Ok...maybe half of it today...and the other half on Monday. My mind is more ambitious than my body...trust me on that. Guess I better finish up my coffee and get to work. But it's only 7 a.m.

Okay, okay...I'm going. Have a great day!

Happy Friday!

And TGIF! AND most importantly....Happy Memorial Day weekend! In all the hustle and bustle of your action-packed weekend, please take a moment to remember and THANK those who serve, and who have served our country. After all isn't what this holiday weekend is about?

Weekend plans....
Friday~Going grocery shopping after work tonight.
Saturday~Erik is going to the movies with mom.
Sunday~Mom and I are packing up Grandma.
Monday~Erik has to march in the Memorial Day parade for Boy Scouts.

I guess Saturday is my designated clean house/Jammie Loungin' day! I better make a list....and stick to it!

4 days left of school too....then the kids are off to Camp Grandma's!

{Ooooo....I just heard on the news...it's the Star Wars 30th Anniversary!! There is a convention in Los Angeles...and I'm missing it! But the History Channel is having a special on Monday...8pm central time!! I'll have to set a reminder!}

Have a great weekend...and Hi Mom!
{I finally told her about my blog and that she was all over it...lmao!}

Things

Happy Hump Day...first and foremost.

The kids have 6 days of school left.
Erik will be entering the 7th grade. An official Jr. High'er.
Natalea into the 6th grade. Gabryelle into the 4th grade.
And my baby Monique into the 2nd grade.

Where has the time gone?

American Idol.
I'm calling it now...Jordan will win.
Her voice is amazing...and the fact that she's 17...even MORE amazing.
She's got talent. So does Blake although he needs to work on the vocals a bit more.

Memorial Day Weekend.
It's fast approaching. We have no plans, well not really.
Sunday my mom and I are going to grandma's house to pack the rest of her up.
Monday Erik is marching in the Memorial Day parade.
And it's my sister's 34th birthday Monday. Yep we have Holiday birthdays. Mine falls on Labor day sometimes. Hers on Memorial day. I think my mom planned it that way.

Natalea's birthday is fast approaching. June 13. We hope to make a trip up to Winnipeg that weekend. We will see though. With gas prices the way they are, I just am not for sure at this point. Have to wait and see when it's closer to that time.

You'd think the President would step in and stop the gas prices from going up. Put a cap on it. He doesn't realize that America is going to the poorhouse paying these outrageous prices. What about the people that can barely afford it? It's sad. We should be taking care of our own. I'll get off that soap box now...I don't want to start any debates...lol.

Just some random thoughts for my Wednesday. Have a great day!

Happy Monday!

Well we had another BBQ yesterday at Bruce's house! It was fun. This time though, Bob and Carmine were there as well as Carmie's daughter, Emily! The girls were so happy she was there! They played all afternoon and had a blast! Here's a group picture of us all!

From right to left-Back row: Bob, Carmine, Tom, Tonja, Irene, Bruce. Bottom: Erik, Monique, Emily, Gabryelle, and Natalea.

{sorry for the dark picture-I haven't figured out my editing software or how to delete it from this post!} ETA: I replaced with a better picture!

Once again, we didn't get home until 10:00 pm! But we had a blast and even had a Dart Tournament in the basement this time! Tommy, Natalea, and Carmine won that! Bob, Gabby, and I just couldn't pull it off! We're looking forward to the next BBQ at Bruce's new apartment too!

Oh yes...and most importantly, wedding plans were discussed and Tom was asked to be a Groomsman in Bruce and Irene's upcoming wedding! We can't wait!

Have a Happy Monday!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Well, we did it. We pulled off the surprise 60th birthday party for my mom. She was totally shocked. And she's very hard to fool...but we did it!!

My day started at 5:30 am...you know the usual routine....playing poker, checking scrap boards and blogs, and checking emails. Then at 7:00 am, Tommy took Erik to Morristown cause he was bike riding to Elysian today with his Boy Scout troop. I hopped in the shower. The girls came home from their friend's house (they spent the night last night). And we headed to town.

First stop, the bank. Then over yonder to Wal-Mart. We had to get cards (sad but true I don't like to make them!), dog food, TP, conditioner and balloons and streamers. So on my way to the dog food, I find the seed display. You know the one, the big cardboard box of a display with all the little packets of flower seeds. Yeah, that one. So I started looking. I remember that my mom wanted some Phlox so I was looking diligently for them. I finally found them. I got 2 packets. I also found some Moss Roses, Morning Glory's, and Impatiens. I picked up 2 packets of each. Hey, for 97 cents apiece, I couldn't go wrong! Exit Wal-Mart. On to the next destination.

Nelson's Country Market. To pick up the cake. Not just any cake though, a Pirates of the Caribbean cake. You see, I didn't like any of the Over the Hill cakes and since my mom is in total love with Johnny Depp, well POTC seemed very fitting for her. So exit Nelson's, cake in hand.

Next stop, Tess's house, Party Central.

Tess's house. Tess being my younger sister. The one I wanted my mom to put back. She was a PITA in our younger years, but she's alright now. We arrive at 9:30 am. She says, "I thought you weren't coming until 10?" I say, "Well our running didn't take us as long as I thought." Okay then. We bring in the cake and the decorations. I show her the cake. She approves. Me and the girls start decorating. Now mind you, the decorations are black balloons and black streamers along with some Happy Birthday signage. Tess has no scotch tape. Only BLACK duct tape. How fitting. She starts the thawing of the burger, the boiling of noodles and says she has to go get her girls and some things from Nelson's. Ok. Fine. I cook and finish decorating while she does that.

Tom arrives with Grandma in tow. Tess comes back with her girls and food. All have arrived except the Birthday Girl. Finally, at 11:55 am...she arrives. She gets outta her car, sees the decorations. Doesn't think anything of it actually. Until she comes in the house. And we yell, "Surprise!" I tell her then that we aren't taking her out for lunch as planned....she's shocked! I ask her if she wants to see her cake....she's even more shocked that she gets her own cake! She loves it! She says we are S.O.L. as she's taking it home as is....no cutting into her POTC cake! Yeah, right, whatever!!

She opens her cards up. Loves them all. Then we eat. Nothing spectacular. Just sloppy joes, chips, dip, beans, and tuna salad. The regular family get-together meal. A good eat still. We sit and eat and talk and enjoy each other's company without incident. A nice Saturday afternoon we go to the patio to smoke. Mom still can't believe we pulled it off. She had a blast...and was even more surprised that we thought to go and get Grandma.

Happy 60th Birthday Mom! We love you!

Happy Wednesday!

I'm so glad it's Wednesday. Only 2 more days until the weekend! I so look forward to the weekends. Usually that means I get to relax and not do anything except maybe clean the house...not this weekend though! We have such a busy weekend ahead of us. That means no power lounging for me.

Saturday we have my mom's 60th birthday party. She ordered her lawn glider so maybe it will be here by then! I still have so much to do! I have to get the decorations and the cake and make sure that Grandma has a ride up here...I guess I will be busy today at work!!

Sunday we are going up to New Hope for another BBQ at Bruce's house. The kids are excited and actually looking forward to it! It should be fun...and the kids don't know it yet, but if we get back too late, they get to go to school late on Monday! And they think I'm a mean mom...hahaha...I'll show them!!

Have a great Wednesday!

Happy Mother's Day

I just love Mother's Day. I always have. Except that one year that Erik got into a bike accident. Ever since then I make him stay home on Mother's Day so I know he's safe and I don't have to spend my day the the hospital again. Anywho.....

I remember as a little girl making my mom presents. And now my kids are making presents for me. So cool. Gabby gave me a card on Friday when I got home from work. Then surprised me with another one on Saturday. She is saving the BIG present for today. I can hardly wait to see what it is! Erik and Natalea informed me that they don't make presents for their mom's in school anymore...What is wrong with that picture?? They should be making things for their mom's until high school for crying outloud!

Oh and speaking of presents...I am getting my mom a WalMart gift card. She picked out a Lawn Glider that is only available online. So she will get that for her Birthday and Mother's Day present combined. I was teasing her the other day when I asked Remmie for some money to go in with me on it....she just giggled!

Oh..and we got Grandma almost all packed up. We have the kitchen and the pantry to go yet. I got to pack up her dolls. Such a treat as they are her most prized possession. And the scrapbooks...I packed them...although I told my mom...I'll just take these now...lol...she giggled! When we get Grandma moved in...I have to take my camera over there and take pictures of all the cool things that Grams has. Like Grandpa's dresser. I love it...always have since I was a teeny tiny toddler. And the Cuckoo Clock..awesome stuff there!! I'll save that for another post though...

Have a great Mother's Day!!

Sunshine

I love the sunshine. I love it's warmth. I love the way it makes the world more sparkly. It's magical. It always seems to put everyone in a better mood. I think after the long winter, people look forward to the sunshine and warmth. It's like a new day everyday the sun shines. Refreshing.

So take some time on this Friday to stop and bask in the sun for a bit and enjoy the sunshine.

Part Deux

Now where was I? Oh yes, grandma's scrapbooks. I didn't know I could learn so much just by looking through her scrapbooks. Heck, I didn't even know she had them...until Grandpa died.

The day after Grandpa died, we were looking for pictures to make memory boards with. Grandma said, "Go in my closet and get the scrapbooks." I had no idea what doors I'd be opening. And since I had never seen them before I had to take my time looking through them. Who knew that my grandparents and their kids were in a full page ad in the newspaper for Christmas one year? I didn't. Nobody ever mentioned it. Until then. It was then that I learned the history of our family. That my grandma was a civilian Army secretary during World War II. That she was very active in the church. That my Gramps was PTO Chair. That Ration Tickets actually did exist...and are very cool looking too!

I can't wait to sit down with Grandma again...and write down the stories that go with the pictures. I'll be doing that shortly after she moves up here with us. I can't wait! Then I'll have the full family history...and one day hopefully, I can scrap that.

Have a great Thursday!

{Happy Wednesday!}

Ahhh....it's Wednesday. The middle of my work week. Only 2 more days until the weekend. Which brings me to the weekend plan thing. It's Mother's Day weekend....we're not doing anything spectacular and if it was up to me, I'd spend the day scrapbooking without interuption or laying in bed watching Trading Spaces reruns...and it's Fishing Opener....we don't fish (well Erik does but that doesn't count) and Saturday the kids and I have to go pack up my Grandma to get ready to move her up to Faribault with us.

That brings me to...What do you get for a picky mom that has everything already?? Ugh...my sister and I hate shopping for her. Every year we do the same thing...the week before Mother's Day we concoct what we think is a abby fabby idea (absolutely fabulous) and then we get to watch her react in her usual way...."Oh COOL!" It doesn't help that her birthday is the weekend after either. So this year, we are really going to shock her. She doesn't read this..so I can tell you!

We are planning a small, family only, surprise 60th Birthday party for her. She has no idea. And THANK GOODNESS Remmie can't verbalize yet! So our secret is safe with him, for now anyway!

Which brings me back to the subject...What do we get for Mother? We talked about getting her a digital camera...since she doesn't even have a single camera in the house. Then we talked about getting her a new grill...but since funds are tight this month...I think we decided that was nixed! I did mention to my sister that since she has her own house now, maybe we should get her some yard ornaments. Since she's into flowers and all, I think that's what we are going to do. At any rate, time is a tickin' so we better hurry up and decide!

But first we (the kids and I, mom and Remmie) have to go pack grams up...or at least start. We are moving her up to an assisted living facility so that she is closer to us and so my 2 aunts will quit bothering her. Everytime they go visit her, they bring her to tears. So enough is enough. She's coming up here with us. And all of us are excited. We'll be able to have lunch with her and visit her everyday. She's my only living grandparent...and the only grandma I've ever known so it's awesome that she'll be closer to us now. ALl my life I've had to travel an hour or more just to see her...so yeah...very awesome. And she's got the coolest scrapbooks. So chock FULL of history...and on a blank canvas if you know what I mean. My mom let her know..that when she dies, I'd sure love to have them books. Just because I'm the scrapbooker in the family. And I APPRECIATE the history of them.

I think I'll leave you with that...and continue it tomorrow! So...To Be Continued.....

Mission Accomplished!

Well, I survived the National Scrapbooking Day Frenzy! I won a few prizes on one website, and did a bunch of challenges on another...and I finished Natalea's album! Now all her pictures are up to date...at least for now. I'm sure there are pictures that I have left out, that I'll have to add in sometime...but that's for another day.

Now, if only I can get Tommy to find my Power Layout Kit...I could probably do a page a day then!

And I think I have come to the conclusion that I need to get all my pics together...I mean ALL THE WAY TOGETHER! Now that I have some empty space in my Power Sort Box...which was full...and is supposed to hold 2,000 pictures...get my drift, ey? Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' 'bout baby! Scrapbooking Security...at it's finest...for sure!

I'll have to set deadlines and goals now...dang it. I hate when that happens, but I sure get alot accomplished. The next big scrappin' event is the Semi-Annual CM Retreat in September. Guess I have to get some things done before then. I'll work on the lists at work today...not much else to do on a Monday!

Oh, and did I mention that I was up at 2:30 this morning? Bad enough I get up at the "butt crack of dawn" (thanks Tania for that term) anyway...yeah it's gonna be a long day!

Oh, and Tormado...Happy Monday to you!!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!

Ahhhh.....Good morning my shiny happy people!! It's 4:42 and I've been up for an hour already. The birds just started chirping...they keep saying..."Wake up, wake up!!"

In case you haven't guessed already...I am in a GREAT mood. And why not...it's National Scrapbooking Day! It's the one day a year that is dedicated to the hobby I love. And it's the one day a year that Tom ABSOLUTELY has to do EVERYTHING for the day. ALL I do is scrap. That's it.

So...Happy National Scrapbooking Day!! Now get croppin' already...the day is wasting away!!

Ok...

I could NOT, for the life of me, get the last post to space right...sorry for the smushed paragraphs...lol!

TGIF

Thank Goodness It's Friday!

Friday's are my favorite day of the week. Why? Here's a list of my favorite reasons!

{Last work day of the week}

{Payday}

{It's an EASY workday}

{It's the start of the weekend}

{And this Friday especially...Starts off National Scrapbooking Day weekend!!}

Now mind you, Tom is off today. They shut the plant down except for 2 lines, to clean the machines or something like that. So he'll have a list of chores to do...to help me get ready for scrapping all weekend. Since I have to work and all...lol!

He'll have to do laundry first...which I should jump in the shower and start it for him afterwards.

Then....he'll have to take the boxes that we STILL have in the living room (papers and crap) and stack them in the kitchen where the laundry usually sits.

THEN....he'll have to clean the living room pretty much spotless, except my desk and scrap stuff!

Now imagine this, our house is quite small. You walk through the front door into the living room..no entry way, nothing. Then you walk into the narrow kitchen...too narrow for a dining room table...barely enough room for a card table. The bathroom is in the SE corner of the kitchen. Are ya with me here? Ok...on the north end of the kitchen is a little 6'x5' laundry area that has the back door.

So space is very limited for all my scrap stuff....which I house in the 4'x8' shelf in the NW corner of the living room. (Remind me to take pictures to post on here...lol) And in the NE corner of the living room is my corner desk complete with 2 monitors on the east end...and scrappy stuff on the west end of it. So yes..space is limited. And since my desk is a mess and there's really not even 12 inches of space for me to work on...I will be scrapping on that card table in the living room...all weekend.

Oh and in case you need to find me? I'll be at either of the 2 favorite scrappy sites listed to your left. Festivities start at 8 am....I'll be starting around 6 am (since I wake up at 4 am every day). The early bird gets the worm, they say!!

Happy Friday and Love and Kisses to ya'll!!

A Grocery Store Experiment

Yesterday was payday for Tommy. I knew I had to get some groceries. So here's what I did. I browsed the ad (from Sunday's Shopper) of our local grocery store....Hy-Vee...usually the cheapest store in town. Then I got online to see if I could get everything on my list and a price for it. Well I could and did. After about an hour and a half, I finally printed out my list. Hy-Vee has a order and pick up option online, for those who are too busy to actually shop the store. I just printed out my list.

Anywho....I took that list to the Waseca Wal-Mart Supercenter...Waseca is where Tom works and it's 9.7 miles from my house. I have to insert here that I had all 4 kids with me and we left our house at 5:15 p.m. arriving at WM around 5:30 p.m. So I get my cart...tell the kids ok..we have to be done by the time dad meets us here! So I dig out my Hy-Vee list and start shopping. I go down almost every single aisle, plus the meat, dairy and produce sections. Now keep in mind that my Hy-Vee list totaled $197 + some change. Fast forward 35 minutes...6:05 p.m., I'm done with the grocery section of WM.

I see Tommy just walking into the store...tell him here take this cart, I'll grab another one and finish up by the time you cash your check. So I go and grab the dog food, cat food, gauze, soap, etc. from the other side of the WM...I'm done in about 10 minutes...which brings us to about 6:15 p.m. I meet Tom and the girls at the checkout. We check out. My total is $178.89. My exact Hy-Vee total was $197.42....the difference is $18.53.

Thank you for shopping at Wal-Mart.
And that's my Grand Casino story.

I almost forgot....

To post a picture of the kids in their Phoenix shirts! So here's Erik, Natalea, Gabryelle, and Monique...showing their Phoenix Pride!!

May Day

I totally forgot that it was May Day yesterday! So...Happy Belated May Day!

May is such a good month around here. We have many birthdays in our family in May. My parent's Anniversary is/was on the 5th. They would have been married for 28 years this year on that date. I think I should explain that they were married to each other twice...so we don't count the first time...but I'll be 37 in September, so they would have been together for 38+ years this October I believe. Even though my dad is now in Heaven, we still remember and count the special days.

And birthdays...oh my goodness....

3rd-My cousin Jason
19th-My mom Glenda
25th-My puppy Midnight...a.k.a. Bubba
28th-My sister Teressa


Ok...that's only 3...but it seems like alot! And add in Memorial Day and the anniversary, it gets kinda busy...PLUS...it is the last month for the kids to be in school...their last day is May 31st this year!

And don't forget to add in...the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the trees are budding and the kids want to just RUN outside and play all day long!

Definitely a time for rejuvinating and new life. So I'll leave you with that...rejuvination and new life...have a great day!

Happy Tuesday!

Yep, it's Tuesday. Tom called into work to see if there was overtime this morning...none to be had today. Guess I have to come up with a list for him at home now. Him staying home, saves us some gas money. Works for me. And there's a lot to be done around here.



Our landlord informed me yesterday via email that he was thinking of selling this place. Which means a spotless, decluttered house for us...and a pain in the arse as well. We will be subjected to "showings" and have to leave when they are here, going through my things, criticizing my cleaning capabilities....UGH!



Everyone knows...I HATE TO CLEAN!!! I just feel there are more important things than a spotless, showcase house. Especially with 4 kids...very impossible to do unless you're a stay at home mom...which I'm not. And the minute that I pick up a room...them childrens are right behind me messing it up. I will have to crack the whip now...something I don't do often...for their sake.



At least the laundry is kinda caught up...it should be done by the end of today though.



On to a different subject. We have an Engagement in the house. Bruce and Irene got engaged last Wednesday night. So cute together they are. She is from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada....and he is from New Hope, MN. An April 25, 2009 date has been set. In Canada. Homeland Security, here I come! I'll have to get us all Passports, 'cause after the first of the year, we'll need them to get into Canada. Oh the Bureaucracy of an International Marriage. At any rate, we are happy for these two...and the kids are ecstatic!

So I'll leave you with those good thoughts for the day. Have a wonderful Tuesday!