Gotta love coupons, rainchecks and sales...

I just went to Albertsons. After the raincheck, sale, and coupons... I got 20 boxes of cereal and a bottle of coffee creamer for a grand total of $2.39!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOHOO!

Migraines and Rose Festival

Migraine's are NOT fun. I am tired of them. I am tired of trying to figure out my migraine triggers. I am tired of being tired of them. UGH! Ok...

I really want to go to the fireworks display tonight, and enjoy time with my kids. But I have a damn migraine. :(

Hopefully my meds will kick in soon and I will be able to take the kids. If not, atleast we will be going to the Starlight parade tomorrow evening. Yet another tradition that I am so glad to be celebrating again. :)

Anyone else going to events during the Portland Rose Festival???

Pretty Flowers

I couldn't do it anymore... I couldn't leave my flowers in my yard. I wanted them inside to enjoy them. The roses are starting to brown already! UGH! I need to get something to add to the water... to help them stay a few more days. Any ideas???
They sure are pretty to enjoy while the last, and the weather here lately is bringing everything outside into bud stages again. Yeah!!
I have today off, I have nothing to say... It is amazing how quiet my house is today! I can even hear the birds singing their sweet songs. :)

So I am back from the Oregon Coast. I went for the night (Saturday) with my MIL and SIL. My FIL sent my MIL to get a back for the night. We went shopping at the outlet mall (twice actually, Fri. and Sat.) On our 2nd trip we were trying to talk my MIL into buying the "Coach" purse that she loved so much, but just wouldn't purchase. My SIL buys a ton of purse. I have had the same purse for almost 4 years... a coach purse I won in a PTO Raffle. So... my SIL found her new purse... I then found a purse I really LOVED the color of. I decided to not care about the budget (which so is NOT me)... and I picked out the purse you see in the picture above. My MIL then decided that if I could let it all go, she could too. I was so glad she did. :)
It is not often that my MIL does anything for herself. She now has adopted three of her grandkids. She has 8 kids on top of that, the youngest is still just 16. Talk about a stress filled life. We were to go to a Craft fair and the Indian Casino, but my MIL realized we forgot (20 minutes after leaving the coast). She then said "Well... Rebecca we are just going to have to come down again at the end of the summer!" WOOHOO!! I am all for that!

The coast was very overcast. Atleast it was dry and we didn't get the thunder and lightening that Portland experienced. :)
My SIL had the idea to make this weekend meaningful for my MIL (and us too). We went to dinner at Kylio's (sp), which we sat and watch the waves crash out the window. Too cool. There was a crazy group of VERY LOUD gals in their late's 20's, early 30's. A little rude, but the Clam Chowder was so good!!! Anyways... back to the meaningful weekend idea.

We each had a pad of paper. We wrote down all the stresses of our current life. Any 'ol thing to the big things. We then dug a hole and burned the worries. It was a little odd of a moment, but iteresting to think about too. We didn't discuss it much, just did it. I am curious to hear thoughts of this, later in life. LOL

We enjoyed Starbucks, fine food, Taco Time, shopping, a mini school craft bazaar, walks to the beach, and a REALLY nice Motel 6 too. I was shocked at it. I remember them redoing the Motel 6's awhile back. Not bad!! :)

Anyhoo... Hope you are enjoying a relaxing long weekend! :()

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE!

Freedom Is Not Free
- Kelly Strong

I watched the flag pass by one day.

It fluttered in the breeze.

A young Marine saluted it,and then he stood at ease.

I looked at him in uniform

So young, so tall, so proud,He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like himHad fallen through the years.

How many died on foreign soil?

How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?

How many died at sea?

How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?

No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of TAPS one night,

When everything was stillI listened to the bugler play

And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times

That TAPS had meant "Amen,"When a flag had draped a coffin

Of a brother or a friend.I thought of all the children,

Of the mothers and the wives,

Of fathers, sons and husbands

With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard

At the bottom of the sea

Of unmarked graves in Arlington.
No, freedom isn't free.

To the beach for the night...

Well... I am packing for the beach. Just me, my SIL, and MIL. Ack! That could be quite some fun, or absolutely a disaster!!! LOL We plan to go shop in Lincoln City at the outlets, then off to the casino to browse the Indian Craft faire, and hopefully down to the glass blowing shop too. Oh and of course a quick walk on the sand!! The weather isn't great, cold... windy... wet. Ok, it's Oregon I don't expect much. :)

I am excited to get away for the night. No kids, no hubby, and a little spending $$. Woohoo! LOL

Hope everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Please take a moment to say a prayer and think good thoughts for our current and past military personnel. :)

I painted...

I had put away my painting supplies last fall. I just didn't want to drag out the supplies and paint, just to think "Now, what do I do with THIS?" LOL
I made things for gifts for Christmas last year, for my sister-in-laws and my MIL. Two of my SIL's didn't take theirs home, they left them at my mil's. I still don't know which ones that is. I don't want to ask. But, yet I want to know. I hate the thought of someone not enjoying the thought in a gift. Then I think, "Oh, let it go, and enjoy the thought that you had when you made them for them." UGH!
Anyways...
So the other day my daughter and I decided to make stakes for the garden. I wanted to paint veggies on the stakes. I then remembered the wooden flower pot shapes I had gotten but didn't have a use for yet. So I drug out all the stuff, my daughter at my side, and sat down to paint. It felt good to enjoy painting again. And the best part, the things I painted will be used!
I am the kind of artist that needs to make usable items. I don't put alot of $$ into things, I buy clearance specials, and want to find enjoyment, relaxation, etc. in the process. The life as I knew it is not the same anymore. Gas is costing more, which is making EVERYTHING cost more. I worry more today than yesterday. I don't like this new way of life. I am angry at government, politics, oil supplies, the future, the past, etc. I need to find a way to stop being angry. But, what is it?
I sit here trying to think about ways to make myself think happy thoughts and not hopelessness. I don't know how to do this. I talk to myself, to God, to friends, I am strong, I am weak... everything I am supposed to do. Life sure is difficult sometimes. The thing I keep thinking though...
I was taught "God will NOT give us more then we can handle." How true is that? Well... yep... everything I can think of that has been hard in my life... has brought pain but sure has come out OK in the future. :)
I just have to hang in here and trust that the future has God's reasoning in it. :)

What pretty roses grew overnight, in my yard. These were roses I got from Craigslist last year. I honestly know very little about pruning, etc. They were overgrown and near dead looking... and VERY leafy when I got them. I transplanted them, furtilized, and pruned... slowly but surely they grew new growth from their roots. A few days ago I noticed a bud. Well... I came out today and found blooms! How pretty. I used to think it was a waste of time and $$ to garden. Now, I just get it. The relaxation, the pride, the excercise, the fresh air... what a great hobby!!! Here is another beautiful bloom which I really think is the greatest color.

Here is my puppy. My "Lucy Lu" as she has come to be called. She kinda looks like she was starting to be naughty... but she actually had just gotten into position to butt-block Dash's attack. LOL Not just two weeks ago, she was almost half the size of Dash. I am not sure either of them realize how much she is growing. They are a hoot!
You can see her collar here, it is checked daily atleast for growth. Sean called me from Target just a bit ago to tell me that he found her a NEW collar. This one is tattered from the dog's puppy wrestlin' matches. I can't wait to see what design the new one is.

Yummy Icey Drinks...

Jordan is enjoying his "facts" class at school. (My generation might call the class "Home Ec")

We decided to make a twist on an Orange Julieus recipe.

The original recipe is as follows...

6oz. orange juice concentrate

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

12 ice cubes

1 egg (optional)

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup water

Our recipe ended up...

6 oz. passion guava orange juice concentrate

1 cup milk

1/2 tsp mexican vanilla (comes from mexico and is much stronger then reg. van. and had a

maple flavor too us)

1/2 cup sugar (though could have been reduced to 1/4)

1 cup water

1 banana

4 cups ice cubes

YUM!!!

Perfect for these heat summer days we are having this weekend. :)

Field trips and Heat Waves...

I was blessed to get to chaperone Jarod's 4th grade field trip to the Oregon State Capitol building yesterday. I learned so much about Oregon. I hope the kids picked up something too. We walked up approx. 180 steps to the top of the capitol building and could see across the willamette valley, etc. The tour guide even tied in the kids recent "map" learning when she pointed out the mountains of the cascade range, etc. So much to learn about... between the house and senate rooms. We didn't get to see the governors office because they were in session. We did however get to see some military honorguard activites going on across the street from the capitol. During lunch we were sitting under a fly over in the "missing man" formation. That was really cool to watch the kids reactions. I then explained why the missing airplane in, and some connection to 9-11, Iraq, etc. Young minds are really sponges!!!
This was part of the spiral staircase that took us up to the capitol top.
And... today!! over 90 degrees. Wish I was at the beach camping, that is for sure. But, no... I am here sick today. Well enough for a energy spurt to fill waterballoons and to take pics of the kids. :)
I cracked up at this picture... Meghan is in her prime! Attitude is flaming here!! Jarod is cracking up as he runs away away he hit her with a balloon. LOL This started a down-hill spiral to include Jordan and Jarod near brawling over where they hit each other. Oh, my... kids sure were easier when they were 2 and love the sprinkler! I really hope I can get the energy up to get the pool cleaned tomorrow. :)

Yesterday and today have been quite a hassle. My computer got 12 viruses (thanks to dh, long story short). I finally got everything repaired (I think).
So, it was fun to go to work today and get these great racks for FREE. Always a great price (Ok, Sean think that even free, I didn't NEED them to organize my scrap stuff.) LOL
So here they are... the before and after of the one rack and plastic bins too! I totally got my scrap corner cleaned today too. :)
Oh, and when I came home, DHL had dropped off my mystery package. I had gotten an email, notifying me of a delivery coming my way. Well... it is a 2nd free coffee pot for SENSEO. Woohoo! Hopefully they didn't bill my account for another shipping fee. But, of well... even at $15 shipping it will be a great Father's Day gift for my dad. Or maybe a trailer staple. Humm... :)
Anyhoo... here is the pics. Enjoy! (btw... I think I may start scrapbooking classes in my home soon... anyone interested?)

Technically not for another hour... but...

Happy
Mother's
Day!

On this day and everyday, may you remember...

"A mother holds her childs hand for only a short while, but their heart forever!"
& "I love you" is one of the most important gifts you can give and recieve.

Hugs from your friend,
Rebecca

Shopping with my mom & made a card

I spent the morning shopping with my mom. We went to the Paperwishes.com "Moms Warehouse Sale". Pretty good prices on cards and paper from Hot off the press. The sale comes around twice a year. This year however the "mom" is retiring and the sale was to be the last. We shall see what happens in 6 months, I bet someone is taking over somewhere, somehow. LOL

Anyways... I got a ton of embellishments, brads, vellum, paper, etc. for just $18.50. Got home and realized the teenager who rang me up (who was the daughter of the woman running the cash register) had overcharged me by $4. UGH! Oh well... still great prices!! I got these really fun fabric pockets, some even have zippers making them look half open. I plan to slip a photo into the opening of the zippered ones. I got sets of number brads in both silver and gold for $2.50 total. Each # is a package of 10 I think it was. Great deal!

I also found two Paper Pazazz templates for $1. They are the ones that you can trace, cut, and form edges on cards or folded flowers, etc. Meghan has already gotten them out to use.

I made this card for my Niece's birthday today. I used the template to do the folded edge design.

Smitten Gift wrapping...

I realized I didn't have a bag to fit the things I bought for my daughter to give her friend at her birthday party. I then thought... Oh make a box with my "Aleenes Box Maker" (bought it years ago, might be able to find it on Ebay.) I then thought, "Oh, make it with the same paper I made the card envelope thingy (previous blog post today.)

Here it is!!

(with Hannah Montana favors tied on it. )

The box really is just a 1/2" score line around the edge. Clip tabs where the corners make squares... then fold on score lines & glue tabs. Hint... make the top slightly larger by making scores slightly less than 1/2" in. :)

Smitten Gift wrapping...

So I realized I didn't have a bag to fit the things I bought for my daughter to give her friend at her birthday party.

Smitten Paper card

This is something I whipped up for my daughter friend. Meghan is going to her 2nd sleep-over tonight. (Ugh, is she THAT old already?) Anyways, I cut this envelope style card with my cricut. Email me if you would like to file. I added the lettering before cutting the original file. It folds with a 1/2" opening that I plan to slide a notepad & pen or something into. Her friend is into "Hannah Montana" (she is turning either 7 or 8). BTW... if you send out invites to your kids party, it is helpful to add the AGE your kid is turning. A year makes a little difference in some gift giving ideas. LOL
The cardstock I used is from K&Company's "Smitten Specialty Paper Pad". Which BTW... Michaels just updated the K&company grid with new paper pads and embelly's.

An old friend...

It is always fun to run into an old friend. It just brightens your day to think about friends, doesn't it? I was so excited this morning, while cleaning out an old email account, to find a link to my friend Pam's scrapbook shop. She is fairly new to blogging, but I know I will be checking up on her often. Hugs Pam! Check her out... there is a link to her shop from her blog too. :)

http://www.strawberryfieldsscrapbook.typepad.com/

Wilton

The last few days I have worked to re-layout the Wilton Cake and Candy isles at the store. (Michaels) It was alot of moving items, but the layout is so much better now. We now have a section for Candy making, an end for cupcakes, a full isle side for Cake decorating and classes, and then another isle for the basic birthday cake baker.
I am newly excited to find some good baking recipes... there goes my waist line and my food budget. UGH!! But yum! I can't wait to show Jordan my new Angel Food cake pan. :)

dental work

Jordan had his checkup at the Orthodontist today. I was so glad to hear that he wants to pull four teeth, and not spread his jaw. Though, the next appt. is $150 and that just covers the X-ray, molds, and paperwork. Then in July we will go in to hear what the dr's plan is.
We will be praying ALOT that his plan will include things being "phase 2" and not going through alot of Phase 1, which is NOT covered by ins, deductibles, etc. Only phase 2 is covered on our ins. UGH! That is already $2000. I know braces equal $$... but we so don't have it, and our credit debt is not something to play with at this time in our lives. Anyhoo...

Meghan goes to the dentist to fill one of two cavaties, then goes back next week to do the other and pull a tooth for spacing issues.

Luckily Jarod looks like he took after his parents, and got the wider jaw that fit his teeth in. No teeth to be pulled, no cavaties to fill, and no braces be seen in the near future. :)

Lucy got he next round of puppy shots today and is now a healthy 12 lbs. She grew 5 lbs in 2 weeks. We are waiting to hear on her stool sample test, hoping she won't need more meds. She had germies in her intestines at her first visit with the doctor.

Oh my... I need a drink tonight. LOL

Our Camping Trip...

We spent two nights at Milo McIver campground. Just a quick, fun trip for a get away moment. The kids argued, but for once... Dh and I didn't snap at each other once. I gotta say... having a trailer has made things so much easier on me. Here is Lucy, this morning, at the end of her first campout. She really liked the outdoors, the hikes, and the exploring in general.
And I couldn't miss a picture of "Dashy" too... who is training to not bark as often as he did during previous campouts. He is also catching onto his CONSISTANT training; teaching him that he doesn't need to mark every tree and surface along his outing pathways. I recently took him to the park, and we made it past every pole in the park, without a single marking. Alot of "aaahhh" and "Nooo Dash"... sniff... sniff... and "Dash Come". But, after near two weeks of solid training, he is back on my good side again :)
Here we have Jordan, trying to throw a rock across the Clackamas river. LOL
He is really good at skipping rocks, but the rocks here were not as flat as he preferred. Therefore more chucking them, and not skipping them :)

Friday night, Sean came up and dropped the trailer and us. He has to work Saturday, so he went home Friday late evening. Meghan and I got out the chalk to make a HUGE hopscotch. The boys joined us too.
Meghan is pointing to a rock that she decided looked like it has one eye, a nose, and a smiley face. She found a few rocks with faces. Jarod and I later had a conversation at the campfire, discussing what the logs to shape into. We saw goldfish and seashells... etc. Fun times! Reminds me of laying in the backyard as a kid, and looking at cloud shapes.
I tried to get Jarod to pose for me, but he was too busy chattering away to sit still for long. He talks a mile-a-minute lately. Drives me nuts!! He is always singing or chattering so tune or poem, etc. Normally something to bug his brother and sister. It is definitely something I will want to remember, but not today.
The hills climbing to get down by the river was fun. Jarod was a little nervous and I had to repremand Jordan a few times that we don't JUMP done the cliff. Meghan was the one that had both nerves to try something new, but nerves to hang on with her hands too. Jordan has his hands behind his back here after saying "I can climb this without hands". Ugh!!
This old log was fun for the kids to turn into a balance beam. Meghan got upset just after this photo, because she was tipping in this one and needed to take another photo that made her look better. Oh jeez!! LOL

Rubiks Cube...

Jordan got a Rubiks cube for Christmas last year... he got grounded this morning, and pulled out the 'ol Rubiks Cube when he couldn't use the computer or playstation, gameboy, etc. I went online to find a site that might gives solution hints for the Cube. Sure enough... I found a really good site and thought I would share. I used to spend HOURS playing with the square cube and also had a pyramid too. My dad had a solution book for both of them, but that is long lost at his house. LOL
Anyhoo... happy memory making!!

http://www.chessandpoker.com/rubiks-cube-solution.html

Camping for the weekend...

So the sun is out, and it is supposed to be all weekend. Time to head out camping!! Sean has to work tomorrow, but we can still go to Milo McIver campground and be close enough for him to get to work. I am a little nervous about taking the puppy, but she can stay in the camper for the most part. She loves her kennel now anyways. :)
Now I just gotta get the kids clothes together and load up the trailer.
Hope ya'll get to enjoy a great weekend.

A sunny weekend...

It is supposed to be sunny this weekend, so I think the campground is calling our names!! Sean has to work tomorrow, so we will just go to Milo McIver so he will be close enough to run into work for the day. Ok... off to get a quick load of laundry switched to the dryer. Hope you get to enjoy the weekend everyone!