It's time to go home when....

...the weather starts turning crappy. I have this theory that the weather turns crappy ON PURPOSE when I'm at the tail-end of my vacations so that I will want to go home. Crazy, huh? But, it almost always happens to me. It was cold this morning. Cold enough that I was wearing long-sleeved t-shirt, a hooded cardigan and my wool coat and still had to sit in the car with the heater on to warm up. I thought we were going to go do tourist-y things today, but the old people are too damn cold! I had to get out of the hotel room so I headed to Michael's and browsed. Bought more crafty things. We did go outside a little while ago to walk around the PARKING LOT. I ended up taking pictures of my mickey mouse crocs, the bushes outside the hotel, the ashtray full of butts. I guess I'm ready to go home and play with all my new toys...the mac book of course is already getting lots of mileage. I've been playing with my camera with the 50 mm and kit lenses. Still haven't played with my zoom. I also ended up with with bamboo fun tablet.

Dominic and I went back to the apple store to return iwork. His copy installed on my computer so no need for another one, right? I wanted to get Photoshop PSE for mac. They had a whole bunch on Sunday. Last night...not one single copy. Only bundled in the Bamboo fun tablets. For just a few more dollars + tax, I left with a bamboo fun tablet. When it comes to electronics and crafty things, I scored big time on this vacation. Clothing? A bust. Plus, the tax. Sigh...it's what I don't miss about living in Seattle.

Patsi was supposed to drive in from Vegas to visit today. But, her boss is sick in the hospital with no family around so she kinda had to stick around. Bummer for me. I was looking forward to catching up with her.

Our bags are pretty much packed. All is left the clothes on our backs and toiletry bags. Yeah, I'm ready to go home.

The day after Christmas

We've been in Tucson for eight days now. Today is the first day of crappy weather. It's been raining and all around dreary. UGH. But, it is colder so that's good. For me, at least. It justifies lugging all those long-sleeved articles of clothing including the fleece pullover and the wool coat. Great shopping in the electronics department, but clothing-wise, it's been a bust. Two pairs of bermudas and a shirt at Target for all of $15.00 + tax. Got the new macbook...I had more butterflies in my stomach leading up to that purchase than I did when I got my new car last year. I also finally spent that birthday money Auntie Margaret gave me earlier in the year and bought a Canon XSi! Wow. Love that camera!

I turned 35 on Sunday. Do I feel different? No. I don't look 35, that's for sure. I'm lucky to look 22 on a good day. I should be thankful to my good genes! Today is a lazy day so I have no clue what we'll be doing. Maybe hit the mall?!?!? Hmmm....

Almost time

In 1 1/2 hours, the alarm will go off. It will be 4am. I have been awake for 20 hours straight. No naps. I fear missing the alarm or turning it off and going back to bed and so I stay awake.

It's been a long week work-wise and it's only Wednesday. The kids are there physically, but they checked out mentally some time last week. I left a whole bunch of activities for my classes to do for the next two days. I hope it was enough. It's hard to plan stuff for your class to complete when you don't know who's going to be in there with them. Since we don't ahve money for subs, they pull school aides into the classroom. There are three I trust to make sure my kids don't go ballistic; the others need watching themselves. BUT, I'm not going to worry about it. I got all my work done for the week.

I'm excited for our trip. I've never been to Arizona. Of course, the main reason behind this visit is to see Dominic graduate from college. The last of the grandchildren. The baby. All grown up. With a job in his back pocket. I only dread the long plane rides and the layovers. Wish I could afford a freakin' lear........

Sunday scrapping

I have loads of stuff to do between now and Wednesday night. I am TIRED. Spent most of yesterday morning at WORK counting millions of coins for our Mr. and Miss Santa Claus fundraiser. I swear they found these coins buried in the back yard. My hands were so FILTHY. Loved the hand sanitizer, baby wipes and plain old soap and water. I counted money for almost 3 hours and in that time I baby wiped twice, hand sanitizered once and washed my hands twice. A little OCD? Maybe. I touched a few fuzzy, damp coins. GROSS.

Then I went to the friary to attend mass with my World Youth Day friends. Fr. Eric Forbes celebrated mass and right before the final prayer, we all had to share one positive experience. Lots of food and merriment. We got to see the Christmas village in action...without the nighttime ambience.
It's funny how a lot of us wore brown...gotta blend in with the Capuchins!

I went home after that and took a nap. It was much needed. Woke up and did two loads of laundry and paid some bills. I think I wrote 20 checks in that sitting. Paying all the bills and writing other checks for when we are gone.


Did two layouts and a card this morning.
This layout of my friend Nikki and me is for The Scrapping Spot's "Are you smarter than a 6th grader" challenge.


This layout is also for the "are you smarter" challenge...use a made up word. Clownster. Yup. Made up.

This last one is a card made from scraps for the Homegrown Scrapbooks Fall Survival Program...guest designer Caroline challenged us to make a card with scraps from the kit. These are Pink Paislee scraps and rub on, Autumn Leaves Rhonna Farrer swirl stamp, Ranger distress inks in tea dye and black soot, Studio G stamps.

More December Daily and a Scraplifted LO

***If anyone would be so kind to let me know HOW to make the pictures smaller and not cut off in my posts, please share! I feel like an IDIOT.***

We play Scrap Tag at THE SCRAPPING SPOT. I haven't played for a few months...busy busy. I decided to sign up this month and asked that I go before I leave on my trip. I got to go first! The object of the game is to lift a layout of one of the other players. I've always admired Dee's ability to layer and so I picked THIS
layout to lift.



December Daily:12/5



December Daily: 12/6



December Daily: 12/7


December Daily: 12/8

a few layouts to share

I did a few layouts today. Feeling a little under the weather so sketches were the way to go. I hope that I don't lose my voice...that would be a complete occupational hazard!

I mentioned how I found BASB in this post. I've since found out what BASB stands for (wink!) and have been inspired by their challenges. Albeit, they're only on challenge 3, but it gets me scrapping.



Allie took this picture of Lucian and JB looking at each other during our Thanksgiving lunch. Lucian's first Thanksgiving and he spent it sick! JB was also sick. Two sick babies surrounded by food and NOISE. They didn't seem the least bit bothered.



Here's another one that I did today. Used an upcoming December sketch (SHHH...don't tell that I've sneaked this!) from The Scrapping Spot as well as their December 2008 Crate Paper Prudence kit.

Still plugging away with my December Daily album. Here's 12/4. We got a new washer delivered on Thursday. It's so QUIET. Can't hear whether or not the wash is done from Auntie Patty's house anymore.



I hope to work on Friday, Saturday and Sunday tomorrow. If you click on the pictures, you will be able to see them better. I still haven't figured out how to make the whole thing viewable in a post. Oh well!

12/3

We got something new delivered today! No more 747 noises during the spin cycle!

december daily 12/1 and 12/2

Did the first 2 pages of my december daily album:
Took a picture of the spot where we have put our tree in past years. It will stay bare for this Christmas season.


This page is about prepping the body for the eating of the season. This guy helps me get there. I know he's blurry... gotta print out the other picture. That's what I get for trying to do things straight from work.


Had another card featured at Card sketch a day!

Got some happy mail today so 12/3 will be all about happy mail! Stay tuned!