The things he does for us

Most would say that they have the most wonderful husband in the world, or at least they should say that.  Well I know I do!  There are many reasons why I love my husband so much, most of which I am sure would bore everyone to death, or make them gag.  But my husband is amazing, oh sorry he is AWESOME (his favorite word).  Not only has he continually fought for me, even when I didn't feel like fighting for myself, but he thinks of his family in everything he does.  

One of my favorite things I hear (from other wifes), is "Why can't my husband do that?"  and most of those comments revolve around all the projects Jason does to our house.  Like building 3 sets of loft beds for the boys, or installing French doors in the back, and most recently installing new energy-efficient windows.  I thought I would take a minute to share the wonderful work that he does.

Jason taking out our kitchen window (pay close attention to the grids in the window, and the lack of grids in the new one!)

Kyle and Kole enjoying the gaping hole in our wall!

Jason putting in some window, leveling thing (or something I am sure was important)

 And this is our beautiful new kitchen window.  We are still able to send dinner plates out the window when we eat outside in the summer.


I know I don't say it enough, but thanks honey - for all that you do!

What we learn from our kids

No wonder we stop going to school in our twenties (well most of us).  It's so we can have a momentary break from learning to have kids, and then we get to do it all over again via our kids.  I am always amazed at the things the boys are learning.

For instance, did you know:

Rhode Island was our 13th state?
Rhode Island's state moto is hope?
The Rhode Island state bird is the Rhode Island Red?

All of these (and A LOT) more are interesting facts Kole told me about while he was making his "State Float".  Obviously the state he chose was Rhode Island.  Each kid has to cover a shoe box with industries important to the state, tourist attractions, state seal and flag, and more information I have already forgotten about.  Then they can decorate the inside with even more information.

So here is Kole's Rhode Island State Float - on display at Errol Hassell Elementary this Friday :)

It's hard to tell but the over-sized outline of Rhode Island is on a straw, popping up off the box.

My supermodel posing in an unnatural pose!!  (had to put it on here just for the pose)

A close up of the inside.  There are trees (red maple is the state tree), sod (an important product of RI), granite (a natural resource), and you can't see it but past the sand is the ocean and a bunch of quahogs (clams).

Good Job Kole!

30 Minutes of Free Time

I know, I know, who has 30 minutes of FREE time.  Actually this was a test.  I wanted to see how long it would take me to make 3 Mother's Day cards, and blog about it!  Viola!  30 minutes - provided I keep typing fast!  So, to all those anti-scrapbookers, here is a way to make super cute cards that will make your mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother smile!!

I had blank white card stock and simply cut out three of the same tags from my Cricut machine (if you don't have one and you live by me, come use mine!  They are a lot of fun!) I tied some ribbon through the tag hole, glued down 3 buttons, and wrote down 2 words!

Then on the inside I printed out the invite on my regular printer, cut it, and glued it to pink card stock (Mother's Day is one of the only times I can use up my pink paper!) and again glued down 2 buttons.  Now when the boys get home they can sign them, and we can get them mailed today!

Ahhh 28:32 - less than thirty minutes!!!

PS Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there!

California Gurls!

A song that makes you smile with envy, at least those of us that live in Oregon.  We'd gladly give up the sun kissed skin just to have an adequate amount of Vitamin D in our bodies; and yet all too often we are left months on end dragging ourselves through the grey Oregon weather - rain, fog, sprinkles, hail - rainy with a chance of rain.

BUT NOT FOR ME!  (Insert evil, wicked laugh)  The short, yet sunny weekend was just what I needed! I relaxed, I wrote, I ate AMAZING food, I sat out in the SUN, I even went to a movie!  It was such a great time, especially seeing my sister genuinely happy and meeting her amazing boyfriend; they reminded me how truly lucky I am to have such a great husband and three of the best boys!

So here's to the California Girls (even if one of them was only temporary)

This is Kari and I at a fancy Italian place for her Birthday, her sweet boyfriend took this picture with his iphone (I may have to get one just for the camera!) which is why we look like we are laughing - because that thing has one heck of a flash, we were blinded for about an hour after he made us take two different shots!!

San Diego is beautiful isn't it?  (Okay, I cheated!  I stole this from my sister, we were out having fun during all the sunsets so I didn't get a chance to get a shot like this!)

And yes, I have said my temporary farewells to the beautiful weather - at least until next year when I sneak down there again!!

PS - Kole read this and insisted that I change the spelling of the title to match the Katy Perry song!  Too funny!

Pretty Toes, In ANY weather!!

Being that I am not a fan of pictures of myself I thought I would take a couple of pictures of my toes while I was visiting my sister in San Diego.  As funny as I thought I was being, it was nothing to the BRILLIANT idea I had when I came home to sun, rain, and hail (all within an hour of landing at PDX)

I promise to blog about my trip later, but for now...enjoy my toes!

My newly pedicured toes in the warm Coronado Beach sand...BTW it was 80 degrees when this picture was taken...not bragging or anything - just wishing I was there right now!

Later that day, my toes were enjoying the sun -  poolside!!

AND finally, my toes came home to this.....

WAIT FOR IT!!.......

Yes, that was my BRILLIANT idea - to stand outside while we endured a twenty minute hail storm!!!  

Sometimes I wonder about myself!!!  

Seriously, No really, Honestly I LOVE Oregon...But really this is too much rain!

I have lived here all my life and perhaps it is middle-age creeping up on me, but all this rain is about to send me to a loony farm!  Some have said that Oregon is the depression capital of the U.S. because of our weather; well I would have to say that mine is more of a "cloud cover irritation" than depression but it can still put a good spell on me!

With all that in mind, maybe it is karma coming back to smile upon me (for what I am not sure) or just good timing, but I can not say how excited I am to be leaving the rain, and the clouds, and the grey, and the showers  - leaving it all behind for almost 4 days of beautiful blue skies, gentle breezes, and the glorious thing called THE SUN!  It may not be long but I know I will cherish those 4 days in San Diego visiting my sister!

So goodbye dreary weather, I will not miss you!!  I will acknowledging cheat on you with the sun and indulge in every second of it!   I will hang out with my sister and laugh like we did when we were little, and we will ignore the fact that for the next 64 days Kari will be 2 years older than me!!! He he hehe!!!

Happy Birthday Sissy poo!

SCRAP-tastic!

Warning: This blog is about Scrapbooking (Impending glossy eyes for all men, pets, and women who call themselves "non-artistic" - which I don't buy! 

By Webster's definition scrapbooking is - the hobby of creating compilations in scrapbook albums, such as keepsakes, pictures, periodical articles, etc. 

By my definition scrapbooking is - the desire to utilize the creative side of my brain, while at the same time using up at least half of the 10,000 photographs I have take of my kids. 

With that said, I hope everyone understands why I am blogging about a scrapbook convention; because it is the absolute best girls day ever!  From 7am until 11pm there are no kids, no husbands (love them but we all need a girls day from time to time), there are no dishes to be done, no laundry to fold!

It is a day just for us; a day to learn,  

It is a day to shop, 

It is a day to craft, 

It is a day to hang out and goggle about everything and nothing at all. 

  

So thank you Jen Kristy, and Melissa for a fun-filled scrap-tastic day!  Now if I can just get myself to put pictures into the layouts I did at the crop I wouldn't feel so bad; it was almost 3 weeks ago!

"Oh, you JUST have to have one!"

These are the words of a good a friend telling me all about blogs. (For the sake of our friendship, this person - Jen McCalley, will remain anonymous)  I was instantly taken back to Jr. high, way back in the late 80's (oh yah, that long ago) when friends kept friends up to date on what "all the rage" was.  You remember things like Keds, Espirit, jean jackets, and banana clips.  For that, keeping me current, I thank you Jen - BUT, and there's a big but (not butt -  certainly that will be another blog) I assure you that just as all things neon and NKOTB have fallen to mere memories, my love for blogging will one day fade. (Or perhaps I will soon realize I don't really have enough to talk about!)  
So, consider this my warning, or my cop-out, that I am in no way promising to keep this up!!  I will try, but no promises.

Oh, and if someone knows how to get my blog title to be centered and more of a banner so you can actually read it, I would love to know!  I have spent too much time trying to figure it out and was about to give up on the whole blog thing because of it!