check this out...

http://www.scrapbook.com/color/

color match your layout to your photo!!!

What a pain...

I have bounced my checking account just twice in my life. I am 34, you would think I could handle my checkbook. LOL
Well... I was in the process of swapping back accounts, weeding down the account with Chase. Waiting for things to clear, so I can close it all together. WHY do the checks I write for school fees have to take so DARN long to clear.
So... on the 18th, I sent my mortgage payment. Well... I guess I was up too late that night, cause I sent it from the chase account, not the new bank. UGH!! Didn't figure it out until all the mini debits that dh and I do started to clear over the next three days.

So now the fees are about $374. Oh yeah... there goes the $300 we had saved for our new TV savings. Chase was kind enough to return two fees (one event they called it, every 12 months). Well... they also coincedently break up the fees by the day and their policy is to reverse the first day. (Of course the next two days were the higher $$ fees).

I am going into the branch today to see if they will split the difference and charge me part of the fees. Wish me luck. Long ago, WaMu would have been more than willing to understand. Chase, ok... i hope its even with the trip. But... we shall see.

Bottom line, I am tired of feeling like I work so much that I can't keep home things straight. I used to be so controlled, everything was done. Now, I feel like I am in a daze half of the time and asleep the rest. UGH!

And I got Meghan's Cold, along with Jarod this morning too. Woohoo! Great day!

Family birthday season is upon our household...

October 5th starts the season of family birthdays in our household. Meghan turns 9 in october. My birthday is in November. Sean's is in December. Jarod turns 12 on Jan. 19. Jordan turns 15 on Feb 2nd. Throw in the holidays, and it is a very busy few months for us. Oh, and don't forget to toss in the multiple family members that share our birthday months too. LOL
So... Meghan and I went to Michaels today for the "Free Family Event". She made three crafts from the American Girl themed event. It got her and I thinking about what we would be doing for her birthday. Luckily we also browsed the store for a bit for inspiration. I was making my way through the Wilton cake isle, as I remembered to take her by the clearance "Princess" items. 70% off!!! Not a bad way to gather the plates, napkins, goodie bags, and what not for her party. $10.63 was all I spent for an entire bag of items!!! WOOHOO!

We already decided that last years slumber-party was not to be relived this year. I love celebrating with the kids, and I do tend to go all out for birthdays. But, with-in reason and with cost in mind. This year I hope to allow the boys to celebrate a little more than they got to last year. They always end up a bit jipped, since they celebrate right after Christmas.

So... what did we decide?
Our ideas so far include...
*a pinata made from a decorative paper ball in the princess line of things.
*a goodie bag with bubble gum coins, paper tablets, blow horns, etc.
*a plan to figure out some sort of game that includes mini fall scarecrows (bought on clearance last year), fall colored beach buckets (clearance last year again).
*maybe a foam pumpkin turned bowling ball. LOL

We are thinking princess cupcakes; and maybe the girls decorating those during the party.
Humm... what else?
Fun times!!! (I can't believe she is going to be NINE!)

Have you thanked someone today?

Have you thanked someone today? Has someone helped you in some way? Thank them for it. Wouldn't it make your day, just to get a compliment or thank you? I know it makes mine, when someone thinks of me.
It also makes my day to thank someone. I often think about saying something, and then don't.

I think about making cards at Christmas. I think about making cards just for fun, but then I think I don't really have reason to send one. Well... yes I do! Simply to say thank you, hi, how are you, I am thinking of you...

Have you thought about this? LOL

Raccoon eyes...

Jarod is #24... (I got a pic to load). Too lazy to retype my post... so it might get confusing. Enjoy the pics and my babbling!!

Jarod and me... Labor day weekend... oregon coast. Get this... it was HOT, NOT WINDY, and the kids went in the water too. This is SO not the normal weather for LD weekend at the coast. Especially if we are camping with my parents. It ALWAYS rains. Oh, yeah... it did rain the next day. LOL

First day of school, Monday... Meghan (8-3rd grade), Jordan (14-Freshman), Jarod (11-6th grade)

Meghan cheering today.

This is the hay bale display I made for Fall Tour (VP visit) at Michaels. There are little "Lemax" children, riding on the hay ride.

And the pumpkin display, attached to it. I used pumpkins for wheels, to get the full "fall" effect.

And again... Meghan cheering. (My pics uploaded oddly, and Jarod's photos won't load) UGH!!

So...

yet again... raccoon eyes are upon my face. I was wearing sunglasses during the kids cheerleading, baseball, and football today. I didn't think about the sun, its rays, and their effects on my skin. LOL

I know, I know, I will be at great risk for skin cancer... Yep... I've heard the lectures. They just don't stick in my head, especially when I am running around at 7am, getting kids ready to leave the house for the day.

I did enjoy my day off (thanks to a 14 hour work day on Thursday / Friday am)... meaning I had no hours left to work today, without being in over-time. This meant I got to watch Meghan cheer, Jordan practice baseball, and Jarod play his first football game (others have been skrimishes sp?)

I came home and helped Jordan with his first highschool project. He teased me over and over, asking if I was going to photograph and scrapbook it. LOL Funny kid!!

I am yet again ready to SPIT at Chase bank... they SUCK!! And the financial burden of three kids in sports again is upon us. Fun-times!! Yet, somehow I just keep hoping that I can trust it will all be ok. :)

Jordan and I were googling for a saying for his project... when we found this longer version of one I have always liked.

"Live each day as if it is your last... learn each day as if you will live forever!"

School started for the kids...

Well... the kids are in school. It's 8:38am and the house is silent. It's that weird silence, somewhat really awesome and a whole lot eery creepy. LOL
The kids got the teacher I had hoped for. I didn't even ask for them, I had forgotten. I love it when your kids teacher enjoys your oldest so much that they ask to get the siblings. :)
Jarod's teacher has been "retiring" for about three years now, and he just keeps showing up. YEAH! for Jarod. His best friend is also in his class.
Meghan's friends have either moved school or are mostly in other classes. We will see tonight what her thoughts on that are. New friends can be good too, right! :)

Anyhoo... off to work I go. Enjoy your day, and hey... if you have a moment, get some LAUNDRY done while you enjoy your silence today.
Hugs to ya'll!

We are home and packing for school now!

Hi ya'll... We are back a day early from our beach camping trip. A little rain (OK alot overnight for tent campers), has other in our group headed home. We decided to come home and enjoy a full day off at home, instead of packing into the trailer and waiting for the trip home.
We enjoyed the time spent there. We went to the Newport, Or Bay-front. We took the dogs and kids to see the sea-lions there. They got to watch people crab fishing, some others preparing for the fishing boat trips, and what not. We also took them to the Hatfield Marine Science Center. (BTW, only a requested donation enterance there, vs. paying $10 a person for the full Aquarium)

We went to Devil's Punchbowl at the perfect low tide timing, and took the kids into the bowl there. If you don't know, this place fills with ocean waves and water within a short time of low-tide. It's sandy, windy, and AMAZING to stand in there. We even found a two star-fish on the rocks as we came out of there.

I will up-load lots of pics in the next day or two. I have laundry to wash and school supplies to get in order. :)

Hugs to all!

oh yeah, are you shopping for back-to-school lunch goodies? Here's a great site for coupon printing. Winco is now accepting printable couponable coupons (Only catch is that they have to scan, no typing or issues) I simple print coupons on the things I will buy at the price they are, and then get the bonus of the coupons too. Most work without issue from this site. I think I have only had one not work on their scanners. :)
Coupons
Good luck, and savings to you!

Camping trip tomorrow...

We are headed out camping on the Oregon Coast tomorrow. My sister is staying at our house. She's going to really enjoy 24/7 time to herself. LOL
We are planning on a trip through both the Oregon coast aquarium and Ripley's wax museum. The weather report has some wet issues (rain), but we in a trailer... so we really don't mind the wetness. I hope it is dry enough to get a few beach walks into the un-scheduled schedule. I hope to make it to Depot bay for some beach coming, agate collecting, etc.
My kids are growing so fast, and now that I am working, I am looking forward to some good 'ol dog walks / kid & parent walks around the campground too.
Hugs to all... and hope you get out to celebrate the ending of the summer days this weekend. :)