Sunshine!!

Check out the rays of sun, coming down on Meghan... as she plays with her new chalk (and old chalk too). The sidewalks have finally dried enough, to brush away the winter yuck.

Also, you see the cupcakes that Jordan helped make for his teammates. His last regular season game is tonight. Wish them luck!! :)

Hair-do's n dont's

So, I was chatting with co-workers about hair highlighting... which got the bug in me, to finally do something with my hair. I dyed it months ago now, all over... and it went more brown than red, and really too dark for me. So I bought a home kit, for highlighting. UGH!!! Never again. LMAO
After a spotted design was found as I dryed my freshly highlighted hair tonight... I than reapplyed dye, all over. Now, I have a blondish reddish color... I can't quite decide if it is all the same color, just so light from my recent darker color, or just too shocking to decide. LOL
So, tomorrow should be an interesting day. Hopefully the kids will comment favorably before they head off to school. Hopefully dh will not wake me as he gets ready for work at 3am.
Oh my!!! Why do I try these things. Ok, I am only living once right, it is only hair.

hair issues!

So, I was chatting with co-workers about hair highlighting... which got the bug in me, to finally do something with my hair. I dyed it months ago now, all over... and it went more brown than red, and really too dark for me. So I bought a home kit, for highlighting. UGH!!! Never again. LMAO

After a spotted design was found as I dryed my freshly highlighted hair tonight... I than reapplyed dye, all over. Now, I have a blondish reddish color... I can't quite decide if it is all the same color, just so light from my recent darker color, or just too shocking to decide. LOL

So, tomorrow should be an interesting day. Hopefully the kids will comment favorably before they head off to school. Hopefully dh will not wake me as he gets ready for work at 3am.

Oh my!!! Why do I try these things. Ok, I am only living once right, it is only hair.

I can't believe I added the photo... no makeup!! Ack! LOL

Down a size!

You know when you start eating better... and you just feel better. Well... we have been cooking chicken in the oven, not fried in oil; and that sort of thing. Not really a ton of attention to it, but I am also snacking an bananas and granola bars, instead of doughnuts and chips too. Well... It is starting to pay off. I went to buy jeans last night, with dh bugging me to spend something on myself. I got size 8's. I have been a 10 to 12 for almost 7 years. Now, if I could just excercise and tone up. I miss running after a toddler and the excercise program that daily life gave me. It is also helping, to be working freight at work lately. Up and down ladders, standing and squatting, etc. Lifting heavy boxes of freight.
Anyhoo...
Oh, Jordan's basketball team won their game tonight against Sherwood :)

Great Day!!

.... have a GREAT Day!!! Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably . And never regret anything that made you smile!

I just got this from one of those junk mails that land in my email, all so often. Sometimes I really like something they say! :)

Today, I am heading to work for a few hours. Woohoo! LOL Last night I worked in the evening again, sharing one vehicle this week... with my car in the shop. Dh is such a butthead about me borrowing HIS truck. @@ I hate that he doesn't trust ANYONE, not even me. He was sick, and was supposed going to rent a movie for him and the kids. I knew that I would have come home and found him sleeping. @@ Anyways...
MY Car is OUT OF THE REPAIR SHOP tonight, after 4pm. (this is the one he won't drive because cars scare him, too small after his accidents.) So, now I won't have to bother him, bug him, etc. and I will get compensated $$ for not using a rental during repair. :)
On a high note, I worked with a manager last night, that was on her first shift as the only closing manager. We ended up with a shoplifter and after a long-long story and evening, 3 hours of her and a guy in the store... guy left, another hour goes by... we freaked her out enough that she returned every little thing she had bought, ditched the bags she filled with unbought, and took off out the emergency back exits. WOOHOO! I hope she is too nervous to ever come back, and then she enjoys what little she did make out with. :)

Enjoy your day... we have sun in the sky and going to 55 today. WOOHOO! (rain in the forecast though, it is Portland!)

Car in the shop

I dropped my car at the repair shop, last night. I HATE not having a car. I don't NEED to go anywhere... could get a rental... but don't NEED one really. I do however end up working nights this week, instead of days & won't be getting any errands done at all. I could be doing laundry or make a great dinner for dh and the kids. LOL What am I thinking?? LOL Playing fetch with the dog, chatting on the phone, and fidling on the computer.
The mail was delivery was an interesting event today. I heard my door slam, and sounded like someone had kicked it in. ACK!! It ended up being the mail man putting two bundles of mail between my screen and door. He and I don't get along all that well, but he has come around to acting better again. He gets irritated if he has to go out of his way at all. Anyways...
I am into free sampling, couponing, etc. Well... I got 6 free samples and two coupons for free pet food today, in the mail. No wonder the poor mail man got upset. He couldn't fit it all in my lock box slot. LOL
Ok... I am having a boring day... but nice and relaxing... how about you??

Here is my progress... as I once again have found peace and quiet at my scrapbook table!

Our beach trip, last December (still more pics and layouts from this trip to be done Hee-hee), Easter pics and some lettering cut on my Wishblade (PCeasteregg font), our kitty's birthday party using a kit I bought last year at CKC, and my dd learing to tie a bow on a layout I made with no photos in mind... quite a long time ago. :)

I recently talked about feeling like a change was coming in my life. Wow... was I ever seeing the future. LOL
My car was rear-ended on Wednesday. I am fine now, just minor aches and pain for a few days. Much better today! My husband decided to start cleaning out the garage. My scrapbooking supplies were alot of what had been packed in there. So, I now have my scrapbook space back; and it is better then ever was before. A good amount of thought and organization, and two evenings of use already!
My son has had alot of basketball this week, and even a tournament this weekend. He is #23 in the picture posted here. :)
My biggest change this week, is work related. I am an event coordinator at Michaels, many of you know that already. Well... I have also been teaching classes there for 3 years (march 1st); but that will change come April. Michaels is no longer going to have much of a class program, other then to teach Wilton, have product demos, and various Family events. I now am deciding if I will become the 2nd wilton cake dec. teacher, to keep some extra teaching time. The one course we will be keeping.
On a good note, I am extremely excited about the positive changes that Michaels is making, through-out the store. I do wish that Michaels (and most companies) would stop out-sourcing to China... UGH! But, I can't stop that myself... and it happens in every store nowadays. That doesn't make it right though. :(
Anyhoo...
I guess the positive changes are hopefully going to out-weigh the negatives... so I have decided to stay and ride the wave of change for a bit. I will have hard choices to make, as I take on a new position in addition to my E.C. duties (though those hours will be cut). I will remain working the same amount of hours as I did before, with the two job titles. For now, it works for my family life, so it is a good thing. :)

Change

Ever have feelings, that you just can't shake? Well... Lately, my overwhleming feeling is "change". That is the best word I can use to describe my feelings. Of course I also have a stressful feeling, a loving feeling, a motherly feeling, etc. But, when I lay and try to relax... I can not shake the feeling like my life is changing in a major way.
I know my job is changing at work. My duties will be different, I will quite possibily be loosing the ability to teach classes. So, is that changing feeling, more of a fear of the unknown process my life is taking? Is it the odd early knowledge that I will be looking for a new career path. After three years at Michaels, I just can't believe some of the ways that the company itself is disappointing me. Not that I think they will care if I leave, but will it shut down a part of me, if I stay.
UGH!!
OK... I gotta figure out the actual information and changes coming to my job, which should happen by Monday. Then, with all the needed information, I will be making a change. Either in the store, or leaving the store.
But for sure CHANGE!

A great Sunday morning. Meghan and I slept in, the boys (somewhat quietly) played basketball on the PS2. Meghan crept into my bed with her blanket and we watched "Food Network" for awhile. I then got up and made pancake, wheat and blueberry with chocolate chips too. YUMMY!! I even remembered to make plenty of extra to freeze for school breakfasts this week. :)

Now I just need to clean the kitchen and get some laundry done. LOL

Oh, and I plan to scrapbook inbetween loads of laundry too. Happy Sunday to all!

Friendship and Children

Being a parent is not always an easy job. Tonight I was tested yet again. What to do, when my childs best friend (only boy his age in the neighborhood) becomes someone he shouldn't be around. UGH! Well... come to find out, my sons friends and his younger brother; along with my daughter and her friend(friends younger sister), got into trouble. Last week, when everything was freezing and ice had formed in our pool, the boys (friends) decided to throw sticks and concrete blocks in the pool to break the ice. Well... not the best idea they ever had, though not the most risky either.
Now, my son and daughter have been taught right from wrong. I was so disappointed that my son choose to not come in a tell me this was going on. Of course, he was afraid of getting in trouble, or getting his friend into trouble. BUT... when do we become old enough to know better? When are we able to expect that our kids should choose right over wrong.
Boys will be boys, right! NO!!! Not my boys. I refuse to allow that. I expect that they can get into trouble, but when trouble becomes the destructive behavior; they must know that they need to remove themselves from it. They must get help in stopping others from destroying property of theirs or their families.
Ok... So, we have now told our son that he (and my daughter) can not play with this family. Not until we feel like our kids will remember to listen to the voices of reason and responsibility. When they can come and tell us that something is going on, they can earn our trust back. UGH! What a night. :(

On a better note, we did go out to Sweet Tomatoes for dinner as a family. YUM!!!! :)

When I left for work today...

I got the shock of my life today... I had just gotten in my car, turned on the engine, and put the car into gear... when a car pulled up beside me. I looked as I thought it was going to drive by, and realized it was my Brother-in-law. Oh my gosh!!!
I haven't seen him in almost 5 years... since his wife (my husbands sister) sent him to prison for molesting their daughter. Later, to find out, he had cheated on her, and she got pissed and made up the molesting. UGH!!!
So, without going through the longest story ever... I am just going to say I am THRILLED to have spent time chatting with him today.
We have alot of things to figure out, since he is now a sew offender (due to a plea deal he made, after getting a court appointed atty.) So, he can't see my kids, or anyones kids for that matter. His life has been nearly ruined, but he is working through most things; all things considered.

Other then this... I also spent most of last night and this morning, uploading photos for printing. 575 photos to be exact! I will have so many options at my next crop event!! & I can finally dig out my supplies from the garage and get scrapping again. I will be able to spend some quality time with the kids, making some great memories as we relive previous memories too. It's a true win-win!!!

A darn good day!

Today was a good day. I spent 5 hours at work... and got a ton completed. I sold a birthday party, set up a group class on Friday for another instructor, I got flyers and calendars printed, updated displays, signed up two new students for two seperate classes, found stock and supplies for the Wilton classes...
Ok... this probally makes little sense to most of you, but these are things that generally NEVER happen on the same day... and alone getting any done in a day is a good thing. :)
What a great day.

I tried a new crockpot recipe, and this time it cooked correctly. I made BBQ pulled beef. A little (alot) less vinegar will be used next time, but it was a great start; and it wasn't a fast food dinner. For us, that is a winner. I put it over rice, with corn on the side.

How was everyone else's day? Hopefully you are enjoying a relaxing evening.

It is Superbowl Sunday. I am just so excited... NOT!
Dh and Ds are watching the game. I am fighting falling asleep, from the allergy meds I took last night, after I played with the cat too much. LOL
We have Sean's parents coming over tonight, for cake and ice cream; to celebrate Jordan's birthday with them. We took the kids and one of Jordan's friends, to the nickle arcade last night. He had invited two other boys over for the night, but they were grounded and couldn't come. Whoops!! (I was secretly not upset, but wanted Jordan to still enjoy his birthday. The nickle arcade trip fixed that.)
I am trying to decide which way I will be rearranging the living room, while dh is on vacation this week and can help me move things. He will be so thrilled to help. LOL
Anyhoo... hugs to all.

My oldest boy is turning 13 in just a few hours. Officially he will be a teenager. Oh my!! Luckily I still get hugs goodnight (shhh! don't tell his friends). He got to open a couple presents tonight, because dh can't stand to wait to give them. LOL

He really enjoyed the gumballs and gumball machine from his little sister. He again enjoyed the Boston RedSocks beanie hat from his little brother. Then he REALLY liked the North Carolina sweatshirt, tshirt, and hat.

He did say "Oh, I guess I DIDN'T get the jersey", with just a little disappointment in his voice. (He didn't think about the other few gifts we have for tomorrow!) Hee-hee!

We took him to the Old Spagetti Factory for dinner. Man, did they ever shrink their menu!! But, it was good, he enjoyed, and we all love the ice cream after dinner! I especially love the Spumoni ice cream!!! My favorite, but it has to be from that restaurant or it isn't the same flavor. :)

Tomorrow he is having a couple friends spend the night. A night of Guitar Hero and Halo, I am sure!

Hugs to all... thanks for stopping by my blog! :)