Christmas Questions

I've been tagged by Angelina. Thanks Ange :)~

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wrapped.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? House none. Large tree-colored, but this year is a small tree, I want it white.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put up your decorations? When ever we get around to it.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Cheese ball

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I remember always drinking 10 cups of water on Christmas eve because then I was guaranteed to have to get up and to go to the bathroom and be able to see if Santa had been there yet.

8. When and how did you learn that Santa isn't real? Hmmmmmmmm I'm a firm believer that there is a Santa, in someway shape or form.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes. Just one.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Lights first, then ornaments in random places. It is a lot of different ornaments, then the little heart ornaments get to fill up all the tiny spots.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it while it's falling and there is that peaceful "snowy silence" but could live without it.

12. Can you ice skate? Nope.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I remember the Barbie town house, a Care Bear most of all.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Seeing the excitement in my kids eyes.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I love a lot of the cookies my mom makes, Anise drops, homemade carmel, buckeyes, Lebkukhian(sp) a German cookie, Pizzelles.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? When our kids were little we started a contest with my parents. It is called the decorated car contest. We start at Thanksgiving and go until Christmas. We count decorated cars, those that have bows, wreaths, Christmas lights etc. The winner gets a little trophy for the year.

When we were young, we used to draw names and you would have to keep it a secret who you got. Your job was to do nice things for that person without them finding out. As you did nice things, you would put a piece of straw into the manger. The goal was to fill the manger with straw before the birth of Jesus.

17. What tops your tree? A old fashioned looking santa

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving gifts? Not sure, depends upon the year and to whom

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Sleigh ride and Chestnuts roasting by an open fire. They must be the Johnny Mathis versions. Although Rob Thomas and BB Wyans have a really great duo too.

20. Candy Canes on the tree? No

That's it for me! I'm tagging Ursula, Christine Smith, Mary Canavan

SNOW DAY!!

It rained, it sleeted, it thundered and there was lightening, and it snowed. It is that very heavy snow and I had to shovel as much as I could because the guys left for the airport at 6:30 this morning. Well if you've heard the news, they said bad! It was bad. It is bad! So I didn't get all of the drive way shoveled.

My family is just landing in Philadelphia. The first flight was 9:35 am and they are finally arriving at 9:46 pm central time.

Anyway, here is a page I worked on tonight. Al elements are from Krafty Girl from Christine Smith available from the Digichick.

A new layout

I've got some layouts I've got to get done in the next few days and with all my guys leaving Friday morning for Philadelphia for the Army-Navy game I think I'll have a bit of time alone to work on some.

Here is one I've created with some new things coming out by Christine Smith.



Credits: Paper and elements from Christine Smith's Basically Krafty, Krafty Boy, Krafty Elements, Rick Rack, Painters Dozen all available at The Digichick Template, Blog gift from Christine Smith. J Sprague corner rounder brush, blog gift, and font is Pea Tracy

Great opportunity to get stuff!

Cindy Simon is having a terrific sale over at Natural Design in Scrapbooking

If you need to shop, check out this sale and earn chances to win a $10 gift certificate.



Here is my newest page using Cindy's Frameworks Classic which is available at NDISB.


Credits: Gold Frame from Framworks Classic by Cindy Simon available at NDISB
Paper from A Beautiful Mess by Lisa Whitney available at ScrapArtist

Big Ole Toots!!!

I found out last night that I was chosen onto two new Digital Creative teams!

First I applied to the call for Christine Smith's creative team and I made it! I'm so excited. I have so much of her stuff and it works terrifically with so many of my photos. I've been a fan for so long! Christine's products at The Digichick

Also, I was invited to join Tracy Rivera's creative team. What an honor to be invited without even applying! Tracy Rivera's products at SBB

I would have to say that changing from paper, scissor, and glue scrapbooking to digital scrapbooking has provided me with a cleaner workspace, it has taught me loads about Photoshop Elements, and has provided me with more creative opportunities than I had before.

Here are a couple of new layouts using Christine Smith's products.


All products from Christine Smith's Kit Completely Krafty and A Bit Boho element extra kits available at The Digichick.


All products from Christine Smith's Freedom of Expression kit available at The Digichick.

Adios and Peace out!

a few more pictures

Moldy Oldie Vegas pics

So long overdue, yes I know! I know but beter late than never right?
This was my first time ever in Vegas. We took the boys with us. Doug said I can't wait to come back here when I'm 21. I think it was a bit boring for the boys, but they were great sports!

So here is a sampling of the hundreds of pictures I took.

I'm a horrible blogger

I'm never in the mood to update my blog. I'm even convinced that no one comes to visit so this post will tell me if the blog stays or goes. No comments then it goes, I'll know that no one visits.

Anyway today I've been doing a few scrapbook pages instead of homework.
The paper and elements are from a kit called Blessing available at ScrapArtist.
Don's page was created with a template from Christine Smith.
Doug's page was a scraplift of a digi scrapper, Susan Toon

What do you think?

Week in Review

This was a crazy week. Monday I was scurrying around making sure all the information I needed for my presentatin on Tuesday's class was done.

Tuesday work and class and my presentation went fine, thankfully.

Wednesday I woke up with a splitting headache and sore throat. It was a full blown sinus infection. It was only a half day for the students so I called in sick. I was wondering if the stress of my presentation played a part in me getting sick the night it was finished.

Thursday I went back to work feeling only half as cruddy as the day before, but the kids were fairly sympathetic and were behaved.

Friday, such an exciting night Don and I did nothing and then Brian came home and got in a heap of trouble. Needless to say, he's grounded and who knows for how long.

Saturday means homework. I actually submitted it about 5 minutes late. I should have done it on Wednesday when I was home, or Friday night when we didn't have any plans, but I just didn't. I did laundry all day.

Sunday..today.. we have my nephew's birthday party. My excitement level is a bit lacking these days. I need to do more laundry, and have already done some, but gosh it never stops piling up.

I have tried to use a bit of my creativity this week. I worked on two scrapbook pages. Here they are.





Off to get ready for the party. I still have to wrap the gift and shower.

A little redecorating

I added a new header. Not sure if I like it...there is a lot of blue and white going on. I think I'll leave it for a bit then create a fallish looking one.

Any suggestions?

Fun weekend, finally pictures

Over the weekend, we had family in from out of town.
Don's mom and step dad were here from Mississippi.
Also my aunt and two cousins were here from Ohio.

Thank goodness that no one was staying with us
because our house is so teeny, tiny.

On Saturday I drove my cousins to the Scarecrow
Festival in St. Charles, Illinois. We walked
a lot and stopped into a few of the antique
stores that are there too.

I took a few pictures of some of the better
scarecrows.

After we left, we were almost hit by some idiot
who turned on a red light. Then we are coming
up to the next red light with the idiot driving
beside us and BAM! He ran another red light and
hit a car that was in the intersection. He
didn't even slow down. Thankfully no one was
seriously injured, but what an idiot!

Ok, here are my pictures.

Down to the final 4

We've narrowed the senior picture choice down to 4. The final 4! It was not easy. We've looked, sorted, laid them all out and started narrowing them down and picking them off and although the formal one is in the yearbook, it is not necessarily my favorite. Don thinks we need a "formal" one.

I'm asking for all of your opinions one final time. Note, that the one that is black and white can easily be converted into color, which is what we'll probably do if we go with that pose.

Please leave me a comment with your most favorite and then your second choice.

Top left is #1, top right is #2
bottom left is #3, and bottom right is #4.

Thanks so much! I'll let you know what we finally decide upon when we go and purchase on Thursday night.

Was it the storm or is it a full moon???

Last night we had some awful, horrible storms.
We had storms for at least 6 hours last night.
Luckily we didn't have much damage, but what
we didn't know is that our crawl space holds water.
It is going down, but Don needs to call someone
to take care of that. Nothing of ours was lost
because of the water, thankfully.

My mom had about 3-4 inches of water in her basement.
She lost power around 10:30 last night and they are
saying that it won't be back on until probably
Thursday night. What is that about?? She has her
sump pump hooked up to the neighbor's generator because
we are due for some more major intense storms again
tonight. You know when you watch the radar and the intensity
is marked by colors? Starts at green goes up to yellow, orange,
red, pink then purple. Well the radar clearly showed Purple
over my area.

Now if you think that's weird enough, let me tell you the
rest of my crazy day story. Next crazy thing is that
my inlaws are coming tomorrow. They have stayed with us in
the past, but our house is too small now and they'll have to
stay elsewhere. We don't even have the slightest clue where yet.
They haven't told us.

My aunt and cousin arrive at my mom's house on Thursday. Let's
hope that there is electricity by then.

Finally, I talk to Don after school between work and going to
class and he said did you hear the news? I wasn't going to call
you unless it was serious. Ears perked???? Mine sure were.
He tells me they found a pipe bomb at the highschool where the boys
go and that the school was on lockdown. The police had to detinate
it twice because the first one didn't help it to explode.
This bomb was within 250 yards of my mom's yard. Probably 300-400
yards from the school building and about 2 blocks from my house.
Bomb sniffing dogs were in the building. The driveways were
all blocked by police cars. There were a lot of police cars and
paramedics in the area. Now this is serious. Not a joke and
the only thing you get from the school is that a "suspicious package"
was found and it turned out to be nothing.

Well the scary thing is was that the first two of my mom's neighbors
went to the police and they said pipe bomb. The third person got the
"suspicious package" answer. But if it was nothing, then why were
there 2 explosions????? Hmmmmmmmmm???? Why on lock down???? Why
so many police???? AND WHY ARE THEY HIDING IT?????????

I'm not believing their story. What if someone had intentions of bringing
it into the school and they chickened out? What the hell would they have
done??? Don called the school and the deans weren't talking. The
principal called and left a message after Don called, but of course
the boys deleted the message before we heard it.

You know it is one thing to find it, deal with it, and admit it but when
they do not have the odasity to fess up to the truth it really
irks me because there are well over 3000 people in that school and
the power was out in the neighborhood adjecent to it.

My next idea is to file for a freedom of information act
about the incident. I can't wait for things to get
back to normal. Oh wait...this is my life,

THIS IS NORMAL!!!!!!!

Senior Pictures

This is also another long overdue post.

Doug had his senior pictures taken in early
August and it took forever for us to get them.
Yes, their mistake because we told them to
change our address in their system and they
didn't. You may think these are good, and a
few are, but most I didn't even bother to scan.

We had retakes done last Monday and we're still
waiting for those to arrive. We've got to make
a choice for the yearbook and we are certainly hoping
that the retakes are so much better, and arrive before 10/5.

Anyway, leave a comment and let us know which you like the
best.

Long overdue update and I've been tagged

I've just got to say thanks Ange! Yeah right :)~

She tagged me to post 5 weird things about me or
my pets
Ok here goes...

1. I have a glitter phobia! Yes you read it right I
hate glitter, will not touch glitter, and will usually not
buy anything that has glitter on it. It also drives me
absolutely bonkers when girls put glitter in their hair and
cannot get it out after washing their hair. ((((shudder))))

2. I sort my m&m's into piles of color. I eat them in the
order of least to most. Sometimes I put them into color patterns
if I have the same number of different colors and then I must
eat all of the color patterned groups together.

3. My last three dogs have been adopted from the pound.
Coincedentially they all have been black cocker spaniels.
Now what are the chances of that?

4. I have never EVER been on a roller coaster. I will probably
never go on one either.

5. I guess the last weird thing about me is that my husband
owns a hearse and has nothing to do with the funeral business
yet anyway.

My class started 2 weeks ago and it seems to be going ok so far.
Each classmate is tutoring a student for 10 weeks. We'll be
doing reports and such about the progress that each student is
making.

School has been quite difficult to say the least. I've got
a group of students who are not used to being so structured
and two that I've been dealing with behavior issues.
Some nights I feel like I've had the life sucked out of me
and go home and literally vegitate, nothing else.

Now I'm supposed to tag 5 others:
unfortunately most of my blog
readers have already been tagged.

Nancy M.
Shellie J.
Cindy Simon
Douglas
Brian

Is it Winter break yet?

Yikes my class has just been difficult. Kids who are way below grade level, kids who need social work, kids who need speech, kids with behavior issues, kids who don't do their homework, and a smattering of a few good kids thrown in. All of that and we've only finished like the 3rd or 4th week of school. To top it off I'm getting a sinus infection and my Masters class began this week too.

I've been working on getting Brian a 504 instructional plan set up at the highschool. They were to have a meeting on Thursday and haven't heard any outcomes from that. He needs these modifications set up to help him have success. He's already on a downhill slide with grades. I'm supposed to not push about homework because he says I'm on his case all the time. Yep I am but I'm a mom and a teacher so where does it say not to push? It is more than push, it is fight. If the kid doesn't begin to take it seriously, he'll be putting himself on the 5 year plan by the first semester of freshman year. He needs these modifications, they'd better see it too; and fast!

Club team volleyball tryouts are tomorrow night, Doug for sure will try out and probably make it, Brian is undecided but Don said he'd like to see him play so he'll have been playing up until the highschool season starts.

Doug has senior picture retakes on Monday. I hate having to retake them, but seriously the first ones were just not good. The yearbook pictures were rotten. There actually was only 1 or 2 that I would even consider buying.

I've continued to go to water aerobics. I feel better when I go, but I'm getting a sinus infection and I with that and pictures on Monday I hope I don't miss the Monday class. I also have loads of homework. My next masters class started. UGH it's like tutoring a student for 1.5 hours for 10 weeks on Tuesdays. The class is worth 1000 points. I can't believe 1000 points it is quite extensive and I'm just ready to quit. I'm so tired of working and going to school. I know I can't complain it is a free masters degree, but this is my 3rd year in the program and it's just burning me out, me and probably the other 25 students too. It is to the point where it is about jumping through hoops. That is the one thing about college and teaching, how many hoops you've got to jump through. Continually there are hoops, do this, do that, document this, document that, blah, blah, blah; change my name to Teacup the Hoop Jumping Poodle and hold up the hoop! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh right now my life is just to crazy and out of control for me. Does that mean that I'm a control freak?

Well I'll just keep plugging along trying to keep my head above the water, holding on for winter break.

I feel great!

I really was concerned that I might be a bit sore after
yesterday's water aerobics but nope, not an ache or pain
anywhere. My joints actually feel a little less stiff and
I thought I should do some exercise today and technically
I did. I walked up three flights of stairs, down a flight,
around to the next hall and up or down again. It was
open house/curriculum night at the high school.

Don and I went to some together, some apart and to some
not at all. Found out how to use the online grades and
got the passwords. AAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhh now I'll know
all the grades with no surprises! Unfortunately there are
already a few not so good ones for one of my sons.

OK...stop right there Laura, you've been told this is no
longer an area you are to worry about.

Ok self, I know that but it's hard!

Ok, I realize that sometimes it might just suck to
have a mom who is a teacher, smart and very, VERY
Nagging and sets high expectations.

So I'm trying to work through this, he's getting older
and must do this on his own. Geesh, I could have
used another exercise class instead of the stress
of open house. Oh well, I'll be over it by tomorrow,
I hope.

Anyway as of today, I'm an advocate for water
aerobics. I almost can't wait to go back
for the next class.

Trying to be good

This week I've trying to be good and eat more healthy.
Don and I have been taking walks and I try walk a little
further each day.

Well we've had Y memberships for quite a while.
Maybe a year and a half.
Well we were gong ho for a while; then like most
exercise programs it went kaputz.

Well today we went back to the Y. Don and I took a
deep water aqua aerobics class. I was so proud of
going and of Don for going with me to support me.
Although Don was the only man there, we saw two
people in the class that we knew. One of our friends
even said her husband comes. Maybe that will encourage
Don to keep going. It felt very cool and envigoriating.
I think I'll go back again.

I also found out since the last time I'd been there that
they put in a quick workout like a 40 minute circuit
similiar to curves. Geesh a lot changes when you
don't go for a while.

Any and all encouraging words accepted on this weight loss
journey.

Did I mention...

I'm a mom to two high school boys? I know you're probably
thinking geesh you're so young to have 2 sons in
high school let alone one who is a senior. Well you know
you're absolutely right! I am too young to have two high
school sons. LOL I know your eyes are rolling cause I'm
having a little laugh myself. Although I truly can't believe
that the boys are in high school.

This is so nice to have them together in one school again.
Poor Brian though, he's going to have the Jan Brady syndrome.
You know "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha". It's already started.
Some of Doug's friends, especially the boys from volleyball
walk down the hall and say "hi little Doug!" I tell Brian
that it's not too often that seniors pay any attention to
new freshmen, so that's a good thing. Hey can I help it
that Brian and Doug look alike to a lot of people? Good genes
I guess. He also says Doug taps him on the shoulder. I say
that he's your brother and at least he's acknowledging you're there.

So as we deal with looking at colleges, back to school issues, open
houses, senior pictures (don't even ask about those, that's a whole
nother blog rant) football games, homecoming and such we are just
hanging on for the ride. Don and I will be empty nesters way too
soon. I can't even bare to think about that yet. I am way too young
for that.

So this is another short week of school so after this week, we're full-tilt
and headed into a school year of many changes. I hope and pray some are easier
and less traumatic, and the year goes smoothly for all four of us.

Peace-out

Today I saw something miraculous

Today in church I saw something I would have never expected to see.
We have a bunch of friends who are in our small church group. Some of these friends
are the reason we started going to church again. Some are friends we met specifically because of our small group. These are the people who will stop and pray for you if you need it. I truly believe this group to be a strong reason why I continue to go to church. Well one man who comes to the group comes because it is a social gathering. He comes because he wife is a believer. This man comes to church to support his wife, period. That's all. He's told our group that he's a self proclaimed heathen. A Heathen.

Well today I've seen it all. This man, who calls himself a heathen was baptized. A full immursion baptism. There are so many people who know him that it was a total shock to so many people. Only 4 people knew it was going to happen. I swear it caused many people to cry. Jaws dropped. It was truly a miracle. I wish I had my camera.

If you believe in the power of prayer, this man told Don and I that he needs a lot of prayers right now. If you possibly could say a prayer for Dave that he continue to believe and feel the spirit in his heart. I know he would appreciate that.

I have to say, God works in mysterious ways.