Weekend pics

I need to catch up on my Project 365 photos.  We spent a nice couple of days at Big Cedar, and really had a great time.  This first photo is of the dining area and kitchen in our condo there.  I thought the giant fish on the back of the bench was a bit much, but the rest of the family liked it.  I took this photo on Thursday, 1/15.
This photo was taken Friday, 1/16, at Big Cedar.  We had arrived late in the evening on Thursday, so we got our first good look at the property on Friday.  It's a really beautiful place, and they've really done a lot to keep things true to nature and to preserve the beauty of the area.  This is a frozen waterfall, which looked pretty cool.
This photo was also taken on Friday - I couldn't choose just 1.  :)  We went to a "bonfire" that they hold every Friday at Big Cedar.  You can roast marshmallows and hear the history of Big Cedar.  It was freezing, but we all had fun roasting marshmallows.
Saturday, 1/17, we had to check out but we still fit in a round mini-golf before we left.  One of the holes had this awesome birdhouse next to it.  I just had to get a pic!  I told Damian and Frank that I thought they could build one of these.  They were doubtful.  
Sunday, 1/18, is one of my sis' birthday.  We went to Dad's for dinner, where my (step) Mom had prepared my sis' fav meal and cake for her birthday.  While we were there, Dad showed us that he was on the cover of the January Springfield Symphony program!  Wow!  That's awesome!  He didn't have an extra copy, so I just had to get a pic.

I don't have any pics yet today (Mon 1/19), but the kids are off of school and I'm also watching my niece and nephew.  I'm sure I'll find something to post up later today.  :)  

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Short vacation

The kids didn't have school Friday, and they're off tomorrow, too, so we took a short vacation to Big Cedar, just south of Branson.  We stayed Thursday and Friday nights, and got home yesterday. It's always nice to stay somewhere away from home, just to get away.  We went swimming, watched movies, played mini-golf and went out to dinner.  Nothing real exciting, but nice to get away.  I've also been working on the 4th challenge for the ADSR, and reading the Twilight series.  I'm almost done w/ book 3.  I literally stayed awake all night reading!  I think I fell asleep just after 7 am.  Good thing church is at 1 - I got to sleep in a little.  Here's my latest scrapbook page for challenge 4: 

I mostly used elements from kimb's I Believe kit.  I love that kit, and am glad I got the chance to use it.  The purple glitterswoop behind the journaling is from the 08/08 Dream kit at GottaPixel.

The next challenge is posted - so I need to get to work!  I'll be back to post my daily pics for Project 365.

So...tired...

I don't know why I'm tired - I guess all the late nights are catching up with me.  I have a hard time falling asleep while reading or watching a movie, yet that's what I'm usually doing at bedtime - so I just stay awake.  It's not even 10 yet, and I'm ready to crash.  So, here's my photo of the day today.  We were playing a "Money Game" with the kids, and Angel has been really giggly tonight, so this is her giggling while playing the game with Damian.  :)

Challenge 3 - DONE!

Tonight I completed my LO (layout) for Challenge 3 of the ADSR!  WooHoo.  Now I get to start challenge 4, which will be more difficult for me. 

Challenge 3 was to re-do your first LO using the exact same photos and journaling.  Here's my "before and after"

My photo for the day (yesterday and today) are ready, too.  Yay, me!  Last night the kids' school had "math night", which is really "game night" - but somehow math related.  We all had lots of fun.  I chose the following photo because of Damian's smile and the action of the kids having fun playing.
Tonight was youth night at church, and one of the classes was learning to knit.  Here are a few of the girls just getting started.

That's all for me tonight.  I'm headed to bed.  Good night, and thanks for checking in.  :)

More photos

I am apparently quite a slacker!  I meant to post daily, and that has obviously not happened.  So, here I am playing catch up yet again.  Starting with Thursday, Jan. 8.  Angel started gymnastics again this month after taking a few months off to do cheerleading.  So I took a few photos of her first class of the year.  I liked this one because she jumped right out of the picture!

Friday, I actually forgot to take a photo.  :(  I know, I'm not doing so good only 8 days in.  Here's my honorary Friday photo.  My newest Lynn Kurland book.  I got it Thursday, and I'm already almost done reading it.  
Saturday's photo is really pretty depressing.  Saturday is "clean room day" for my kids.  I'm actually not real good at enforcing it, and we are usually pretty busy on Saturdays.  But on the Saturdays that we stay home, they have to clean their room.  I know it's hard.  They are sharing a room right now, there's not enough storage, and not much room, so I know it's tough on them.  One more reason I can't wait to get moved into our new house, where they'll each have their own room, own closet, and more storage space.  So, after 2 1/2 hours of cleaning - this is what their room looked like.  Trust me - you didn't want to see it before!

Here's today's photo.  This is our OUTDOOR cat, Rocky.  She adopted us a couple years ago.   The kids and I are pretty allergic to cats, which is why she's an outdoor pet.  This winter, though, she's been sneaking in every time we open the front door.  Apparently she'd rather be an indoor cat now, but it's not going to happen!   She did fine last winter, and we do let her in the garage, so she has shelter.  (I'm not that mean)

Ok, whew, caught up!  I hope I'm able to keep up better this week.  :)  Daily posts, daily posts, daily posts.... I'm just going to keep telling myself that over and over!

I just updated a family website I have, and figured I'd post the update here, too.  This is what's going on in our life right now.  :)

Hello,

Since I've noticed a few visits to the site, I thought I'd give a little update.  :)  It's been a little while, so there's plenty to mention.  I'll start with Frank's racing, since that was the last subject.  Frank and Joe finished 4th overall for the year.  They were hoping for better, but they still did pretty well.  The racing program for this year is still up in the air.  Cycle Connection was the main sponsor, but, like most companies, doesn't have a lot of extra $$$ in the budget, so may not be able to sponsor this year.  Damian does plan to race again this year.  He's excited about the BMX season, which will start in April.  Frank is on the Board of Directors for the track, but positions on the board have not been voted yet, so we don't know what he'll be doing, exactly.  Angel plans to sing for the track again this year.  She sings the National Anthem before each race, every Tues. and Thurs.  At the end of the year awards banquet, she was presented with a plaque for "Best Female Vocalist".  Damian was given a Daredevil Award.  :)  In other sports news, Angel is still in dance at A&B Dance Center, Angie's studio.  She's taking ballet and tap, and may do a duet for the recital also.  She's also very excited about taking gymnastics again - which starts today.  

Damian's also in scouts now.  The Pinewood Derby is coming up in less than 3 weeks, and he's eager to start working on his car.  I think Frank's eager, too.  They may be a little competitive!  ;)

Our daily family life is getting a little closer to normal again, now that Sean and his kids are living next door.  We were a little cramped for a while, all living in a small 2 bedroom duplex.  I still take care of his kids during the day.  Sean has a new job, and is starting school next week.  He's going into nursing.  Julie came to visit this week.  I would have liked for her to stay even longer, but it was nice to see her for a couple days, anyway.  She seems to be doing pretty well.  She brought a friend and joni's son, Braden, with her.  The kids always enjoy playing w/ their cousins.  :)  julie has been approved to go back to school by her doctors, which is great news!

We recently got to visit with my Aunt Amy and most of her family, too.  That was a lot of fun.  It's been YEARS since we'd seen them.  They were staying for a couple days in Branson, and we met them there.  Mom, Alyssa, Ian and Ruby all came from Warrensburg, and we all spent some time at The Landing in Branson and had dinner together.  It was a great mini-reunion.  :)  Mom told me a couple days ago that Amy's family rolled their truck on the way home.  They slid off the road on ice in AZ.  It was very scary, but thankfully, everyone is ok.    

Well, that pretty much catches you up to the middle of January for my family.  :)  I'd love to hear how your family is doing, also.  :)   Take care, and thanks for checking in.   

Jan. 7

I'm grumpy today, so I'll spare everyone a post, and just put up my pic. for today.  

We went for a walk at the Nature Center, and saw these 2 wild turkeys in the trees.

15 again

Yesterday I did my hair in braids.  2 french braids all the way down my back.  I don't know why - it just came to me to do that when I was getting ready for my pilates class.  It seemed like a good way to have my hair done so it would be out of my way, and I wouldn't be laying on a clip or ponytail for the floor work.  Anyway, when my kids got home, I got a strong reaction.  Angel loved it, gave me a hug, and had me do her hair the same way this morning.  Damian said "Mom, do you think you're 15 again?"  Of course I NEVER wore my hair that way when I was 15!  Noooo, I spent an hour in front of the mirror curling the ends and hair spraying my bangs just right. 

Later, while driving him to scouts, I was singing along to the radio, and an early 90's song came on, and sang my heart out.  Damian's response was "Mom, I think you really do think you're

 15."  By his tone of voice, he didn't think that was a good thing.  So, I asked, "why do you think that?"  

"Well, your hair, and I've never heard you sing like that, and...I think you're even a little skinnier."  WooHoo!!!!  He didn't realize that he just made my day!  I felt cute and young for the rest of the evening.  Too bad my son didn't seem too impressed by my burst of youth.  Not to worry - it didn't last long.  I'm feeling way too normal today.  

Here's my photo from yesterday, Jan 7.  It was during an activity at church with the youth.  This is a great action shot of a pretty fun game.  I'm not going to take the time to explain it - you had to be there.  :)

Catching up with Project 365

Here are my photos for Jan 1-5.

Jan 1 - It was hard to pick a photo.  I had a lot from our celebration party, and a lot from meeting my aunt's family for a visit later in the day.  I settled on this one because I love their eyes!  This is my bro and sis - just being weird for the camera at dinner.  :)

Jan 2 - This is my son playing with a dog that we were caring for for a few days.  We don't have a dog, so my kids love playing with friend's and other family member's dogs.

Jan 3 - This is the dog we were caring for.

Jan 4 - This is what my daughter made with her new play foam she got for Christmas.  

Jan 5 - This is my Sweet Angel just before going back to school the first day after Christmas break.  She wore her new tiara to school.  :)

New Year, new endeavors

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope you had a fun celebration with people you love, and that you are ready to get started on a new year with new hopes, goals, and experiences that will enhance your life.  I am starting the year off with 2 new endeavors.  One is the ADSR - Amazing Digiscrapping Race.   My partner is Miss Chris.  Our team name is Cheesecake Scraps, and here is our blog.  The race starts TODAY!  Miss Chris and I will each have to complete 2 scrapbooking layouts a week (following rules and challenges) until the end of the race.  Along the way we pick up prizes, and at the end we're entered in a drawing for an awesome Grand Prize.  

My next endeavor is Project 365 - to take a photo a day for a year.  So far, I've done well.  I just haven't loaded them on the computer yet to post them up.  :(  I'll try to get to that soon.  I'll be posting my photos daily on this blog - so you can all follow along.  I'm sure most of them will be of my family.  I prefer life photos over artistic photos of objects.   

Well, I'm sharing Frank's laptop - cuz our main computer's in the shop - and he's hovering, waiting for me to be finished, so I'll have to check in later.  Hopefully w/ photos.  :)  Wish me luck!