Thursday 13....

Since I have only a week left of work...and 1/2 days at that...I thought I would do a Thursday 13 list of what I am looking forward to during my month of March off

1. Unlimited time to scrapbook
2. Staying in jammies/comfy clothes all day
3. Going to the gym when it's not crowded (the afternoons get sooo crowded......)
4. Not feeling so rushed in the afternoon (especially on Monday/Tuesday/Friday when the boys have after school activities.....)
5. Sleeping in a little...I say just a little because I will still need to get up and get Evan off to school...but won't have to shower and all that before sending him off!
6. Getting to go to Knitting at church.....a nice quiet time to knit and enjoy the company of others.
7. Hanging out with Alex.....wonder what kind of trouble the two of us can get into!
8. Easter.....we'll head to Aunt Nancy's the day before Easter and hang out with family (even the cousins from down south and Virginia will be there).
9. Having Evan off for a week during the month...with the boys on 2 different school schedules we don't get much time off
10. Hopefully getting to have lunch or go shopping with my mother-in-law
11. Actually getting some of the house in order......parts are really a mess!
12. Staying up later watching movies and my favorite shows!
13. Not having to go anywhere or do anything!

Oh man....

What a few days this has been......I am VERY ready to track off at the end of next week and have the month off!

I joined a gym last week....and have been going at least every other day. Some times daily....the boys love it because if I am working out on the weights they can use the rock climbing wall and soon the indoor pool will be done being repaired!!! whooo hoo! Along with the gym came a couple appointments with a personal trainer.....so now I am also trying to eat better and in the 6 littler meals a day like she said...and keeping a food journal (so she can disect it our next meeting!). I haven't even had a diet coke in 2 days! Haven't really missed it...but I am sure I will need one in the near future!!!!!

Tonight was Alex's Blue and Gold Dinner for scouts....and can I just say it was one of the most frustratingly unorganized thing I have ever done!!!!! NO ONE knew until MONDAY if it was even going to happen and if it was going to be a pot luck or not. So the dens didn't have a chance to decorate their tables. Our scout stuff is held in a church hall...and I am shocked at the parents who allow their children to just run out of control. ACK!!! I am so glad that is over for the year! I am ALMOST ready to volunteer to do it next year so it is done in an organized fashion!

Good thing is that with the exception of Friday..the rest of the days of school are all minimum days!!!! whoo hooo there!!!!!

Deck of Me Week 2

Week 2 of Cheryl's DECK of ME challenge over at The Shaker Box! The prompt was "What is powerful to me?" It's an altered playing card. What a fun size to scrap..not too big so you can't add too much. Here I used scraps from my table, Papertrey Stamps, Versamark ink, flowers from my flower box....

A few recent photos...

A few fun photos from recent weeks........

Alex listening to instructions at the Challenge Space Center!
In the "Space Station"...he was weighing and measuring the mass of "space rocks"
Dave after receiving Rookie Leader of the Year for the El Capitan Boy Scout District! Everyone knew about the award BUT him!!!! He was pleasantly shocked!
Evan, my personal waiter! Here he is delivering my diet coke and a cup of jelly bellies! Check out the towel over the arm!!!!!

Carrie tagged me....

A: The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B: Each player answers the questions about themselves.

C: At the end of the post, the player then tag 3 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

10 years ago: I was a new mom.....

Things on my to-do list today: excerise, scrap, chat at the Shaker Box, wash sheets/make bed, relax.......

What I would do if I were suddenly made a billionaire: pay off the bills, put money away for college funds, travel, buy a new car

3 of my bad habits: biting my lip, spending too much time on the computer, leaving laundry in the dryer

3 places I have lived: hmm, 3 places in California....Arnold, Rohnert Park and Turlock

5 jobs that I have had: teacher, lifeguard, camp counselor, waitress/cashier at small burger place, babysitter

5 Things people don't know about me: I lived in the same house my entire childhood, I can't stand the color yellow, I collect Precious Moments figurines (have over 200), I have only moved 3 times (all as an adult), I love roller coasters

I TAG: Tisha, Mel, Linda

Latest creations....

Finally had my scrappin' mojo return.....instead of just sitting here staring at my paper and adhesive, I've been scrappin' today!!!! Trying to get caught up/ahead on my DT projects over at the Shaker Box! Here's some of my creations from today:

A couple cards using Cosmo Cricket Paper and Close To My Heart Stamps

I had so much fun playing with the Valentine Card Making Kit from Daisy D's. Easy to do but fun to make. I altered the envelopes a little with CTMH stamps.
Used more Cosmo Cricket paper to alter this playing card. It's a new challenge taking place over at The Shaker Box where we are altering a card a week with journaling about ourselves. This week (our first week....) was "I am proud of..." This challenge will last 52 weeks. Come join us!

Also, another reminder about the challenge at The Shaker Box that is coming up next weekend! It's going to be small but FUN! Several challenges, games and tutorials will be going on as well as a chat or two in the chat room!!!!!

Come join us next weekend as we have a mini crop!!!! It's going to be fun!!!!!!!

I've been TAGGED (TWICE!)

My friend AnneMarie has tagged me...twice! So here goes:

These are the rules:-You must post the rules before you give your answers.You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name. Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name.After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers.At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details.

M--married to the most wonderful man
A--Arnold, Cal.....the town I lived in until I was 18 years old
R-- really love the outdoors
I--I love chocolate!
E--everyone's friend (or try to be)

For this I will tag:
M---Mel
A---AnneMarie...right back at ya!
R---Rachel (although I know you are wayyyyy busy getting ready for that new baby!)
I--
E---Erin


Now for the next tag.....

Five things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Teaching full time
2. Taking care of my baby...Evan
3. Watching Evan learn to walk
4. Living about 10 miles south of here
5. ohh did I mention workign full time?

Five things on my to-do list today:
1. Type up Boy Scout committee notes and email
2. Clean off my scrap table
3. Fix dinner
4. Work on laundry
5. RELAX

Five things I will do when I am a millionaire:
1. Buy a bigger house
2. Pay off bills
3. Put enough money away for the boys college funds
4. Travel (anywhere....as long as I haven't been there)
5. Buy a new car

Five things I will never wear again:
1. banana clips in my hair
2. knickers
3. leg warmers
4. tub tops
5. plaid pants

Five of my favorite toys:
1. the swingset I had as a child
2. my record player
3. my computer
4. my scrapping toys
5. my bike

Five banes of my existence:
1. People who are late.......especially if they have no good reason or don't call!
2. People who do everythign for their children
3. my weight
4. when I can't find somethign I am looking for
5. when dh and the boys argue!

I am tagging:
1. Tisha
2. Mel
3. Wendy

Crop at the Shaker Box

Come visit us at the Shaker Box....I'm getting a crop together with some of the other Design Team/Creative Team members for the weekend of Feb. 15-17th! Stop by and join in the fun!!!!!

Is it REALLY February?

Where did the first month of the year go????? It's hard to believe it's already the first week in February......except that I am VERY excited it is February...that means I track off in a couple weeks and have a 5 day weekend in a week!

Just finished updating my book list for 2008......I've already read 6 books....in the first 5-6 week of the year. Not too bad....keeping with my goal of a book a week. Speaking of reading...Evan came running into my scraproom a while ago and ask "Mom, when you are reading do you ever say 'I'm going to stop reading at 9pm' but then just keep saying to yourself 'One more chapter....just one more?'" Ummmmm, yea....all the time!!!! Why do you think I am so tired in the mornings! So glad he's got a love for reading (IF it's the right book!).

Also on the subject of reading...Alex and I have been cuddling in the evenings and reading the books from the Dragon Slayers Academy series. They are chapter books at about a 3rd-4th grade level.....cute books. I'm enjoying reading them with him and he's finally enjoying reading a chapter book. But, maybe that's because he reads a page and I read a page!

What are you reading right now????? If you have a recommendation, leave a comment...I'm always looks for books to add to my library list!