This was November!

 

I seem to do these once-a-month posts.......which is more than I do in my personal journal. I used to be so good about documenting my life on paper.*SIGH* November was a slim month for creativity. I had issues with the postal service. It seems like they were holding my mail hostage and then decided to one day inundate me with mail. I just got my November Scrapping Spot DT kit which was mailed in OCTOBER. I also got a CRICUT electronic cutter! It's works like a dream and I love how quickly and easily it cuts stuff out for me. Not much really going on in my life. I live a mundane existence.

We're gearing up for our World Youth Day trip to Sydney Australia in July 2008...fundraisers, catechesis, general meetings. You can read about World Youth Day 2008 here.

I did see two movies this month (a record)...Martian Child and Enchanted. Both good movies.

And now for my collage above: 1. Mini tag book I made for Maria's birthday 2, 3, and 4. 3 12x6 pages for an album I'm doing of things that I'm grateful for. 5. Christmas Tree card I made using scraps of Basic Grey paper...this card can be seen online atBasic Grey.com 6. layout of our lone trick or treater using the scrapping spot's small December kit featuring TaDa Signature. 7. a layout of my grandparents using the scrapping spot's big November kit featuring Sassafras Lass Indian Summer; pictures and a letter to the editor from LOOK magazine (not in publication) 8 and 9. layouts using the scrapping spot's small december kit featuring TaDa Signature. You can buy these amazing scrapping kits here.

caardvarks challenge

I made this card with my last scraps of paper from THE SCRAPPING SPOT'S October "Metro Chic" (AKA the big one) Kit. Papers are Luxe Hoodie, doodlebug jewel, and hero arts bling (from my stash). The die cut purse opens up...that's where I'll write something to the lucky recipient! Thanks for looking!

This was October

Yet again I ask myself, "Where did the month go?" I feel like I should write a song with that refrain! Didn't do much scrap-wise. I didn't have the motivation to scrap much in October. Then I was out of commission for a whole week with the flu and spent the week after playing catch-up with work and with life. There went two whole weeks. Not much going on around this neck of the woods. Life is status quo...that's good, right?

This was September!

The last row of this collage repeats the first row. The top two rows are projects I did with my design team October kit from The Scrapping Spot. I still have loads of stuff left to use...good thing it's the OCTOBER KIT. I still have a whole month to play with it! It has a lot of pink...... A LOT! Sometimes I feel like I'm allergic to that color because it just makes me shudder. But, this the papers are so bold, so graphic...funky, edgy, a twist of metro. We named it "Metro Chic".......a few clicks with the dictionary and the thesaurus online and BOOM! METRO CHIC appeared! This month pales in comparison to last month, but my excuse is WORK. Most of the layouts I did in August were done the first two weeks...I was still on vacation. I'm not complaining, though. Creating gives me the much needed outlet for the stress that teaching entails. Students bring SO MUCH baggage to school with them and it's hard for them to leave it at the door so I have to deal with it as well. Now I need to decompress from the weekend, not that anything much happened this weekend.

where did the month go?!

More than half the month is GONE. When did THAT happen? I can't remember half the things that happened. Sign of age or just busy-ness? My design team gig at The Scrapping Spot has officially begun. I got my kit a few days ago. It has A LOT of pink... I am not kidding when I say A LOT. I am not a fan of things pink, but this kit is amazing. I've already done two layouts and made a little notebook with this kit. Check out the picture (courtesy of The Scrapping Spot).

This was August!

Fourteen layouts. One mini album. Eleven cards. Fifty pictures. That is a RECORD for me. It helps that the women on The Scrapping Spot's message board really LOVE to scrap. We have Ari, our whip cracker to goad us into using up stash and scrapping those pictures. Do I really NEED someone to tell me what to do?!?!? NOOOOOOOOOO! However, I love a challenge any day. It's very interesting to see how several scrappers can take one sketch or Beck Fleck page map and create something vastly different. I'm almost done with my Summer 2007 vacation pictures and it's STILL 2007. Guess I better get those 2004 vacation pictures from Mark and get working!

More of my secret! :)

I spilled part of my secret last week about my friend Jill starting her own kit club and message board for scrapbooking. Here's the rest of the story............she asked me to be on her design team!!!!!!!!!!! I've kept this under wraps for the better part of a month. It was hard to be posting on the MB and not saying something. I'm on the design team with Deanna Koontz and Ari Macias! Jill's doing stuff a little differently with the DT. We're on for 4-month terms and she'll also be having guest DT spots. If you haven't already done so, check us out. While the first kit won't be out until October, we already have lots of stuff going on with the board--challenges, things to think about and discuss. Fun stuff!!!

http://www.thescrappingspot.com/phpBB2/index.php

Daily Something

I've tried to keep up with the "daily something" project. But it seems like it's turned into a weekly (or something like that) something. We had open house tonight. Of course the parents that you really want to see don't show up. I had the pleasure of chatting with some parents, but most especially with the parents of one of my reading students from last year. He's now in my second grade homeroom. His mother had said that she was so thankful to know that he was in my homeroom this year. Being his teacher for Reading last year really made a difference academically and behaviorally for their son. Nic is a very bright little boy, but he needed discipline and lots of encouragement and motivation to push just a little further than what he was capable of. His parents felt that he got that from me. Warmed my heart to hear it. It put a ray of sunshine on a very cloudy day.

Here is MY secret! I've known for a few weeks that my friend Jill is starting a new message board and scrapbook kit club. It's been so difficult not to say anything especially to my scrapbooking friends! So now we're spreading the word! Kits will actually start in October, but the message board is up and running. Boy, is it running! Look here for updates on what's going on, what's coming, what's happening! I'm so excited for Jill!!!!

daily something

It would be so like me to start something and forget about it. I meant to post on Thursday about a daily something. I was watching the opening credits of "Love Actually" and came upon this:

"Love actually is all around."

So true!

Anyway, I'll have some exciting news to share soon... NO I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED OR HAVING A BABY.

Finding the "Daily Something"

I subscribe to Ali Edwards' AEzine. It starts off with this quote:

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." (Alexander Woollcott)


That quote got me thinking. But there's more! Ali goes on to say, " every single day of our lives presents us with a story to tell. Wonderful little (and sometimes big) gifts that are available for us to capture if we make it a priority and pay attention.


Now, doesn't that inspire something? My day started off BORING. Uninspiring. Uneventful. First I discovered the "new" (new to us anyway) refrigerator was not cooling again. Oh joy. I kept trying to remember how much a refrigerator cost at Ace Hardware and Town House. Good thing we still had the old one outside. Looks like junk but it sure works well. Then I made stops at the post office (yay for bills), the bank (pay a bill), the $1.50 store, Kmart to return something, and the safety inspection place. Home for lunch. Quick checks on email and message boards. Dominic came to help me move the refrigerators. Then I went to pick up Lucas. Here's where the little gift comes into my day...

Maria started back to work at Hyatt today. She asked me to pick Lucas up from school. No problem. It's quite riot to pick him up...those five-minute conversations are my favorite. He asked where his mommy was and I reminded him that mommy was at work and that daddy would come home first then mommy. He says, "Nini, will you take care of me?" as he hugs me tightly. "Of course I'll take care of you. I always do." I put him in his booster seat and off we go. So, I start off by asking him about his day.

L: I don't talk to Uncle Dominic when he picks me up.
Me: Why not?
L: He makes me a little nervous.
Me: How does he make you nervous?
L: He talks to loud. That makes me nervous.
Me: Really.
L: Can you tell him not to talk so loud?
Me: Sure, I can tell him that. So, what did you do at school today?
L: We didn't learn colors.
Me: So what did you learn about?
(He gets all silly and speechs jibberish)
Me: We have to stop and get gas.
L: Okay, Nini. I will wait for you in the car.
Me: You're going to wait in the car? Does your mommy leave you in the car?
L: Yes.
(I had no intention of letting him out of my sight and I KNOW his mom doesn't leave him in the car. The gas station attendant comes out to gas my car in the self-serve line...gotta love that! So we go into the convenience store.
L: Nini, I need candy.
Me: Were you good at school today?
L: Yeah. I was good.
Me: We'll see if they have the candy you like.
We walk up to the counter. Right below is an array of bags of candy. We like the gummies made with fruit juice. Not the healthiest thing in the world, but it's all good in small doses.
Me: Do you want the music one or the abc one?
L: The abc one. I like that.
Me: Okay, but first we're going to have a good snack when we get home.
L: Okay, Nini. I'll just hold it.

On the way home we talk about some good snacks he can have...grapes, crackers, juice, chocolate milk with sprinkles (okay not so good with the chocolate and the sprinkles but it's the one trick I discovered that works for everyone to get him to drink the stuff). IN the home stretch...we see his Mama's house then his house. In to change...oh so quietly because Jakey is sleeping. Go to Mama's house for visit, hoping that he'll want to stay. Told Uncle Dominic not to talk so loud. I say I'm going home to cook dinner. Nope, he's going to follow me. I make a quick stop in his house to get his homework (homework at 2?!?!?) and we make the short drive up to my house. His mom calls. We talk. He talks. He does his homework...big fat scribbles all over the page. Works for me! Give him some milk, which he spills all over another piece of paper.
L: I spilled my milk.
Me: It's okay.
L: I'm so sad.
Me: Luke, it's okay. We'll clean it up. Do you want some more?
L: Yes, with more sprinkles.
Me: Okay.
Drinks some milk. We go outside so I can get the clothes off the line. He spills some milk all over his shirt. I take it off. He helps me take the laundry in and drops half the stack I gave him. I see a worried look on his face so I reassure him that he can go back and pick it up. And then the phone rings. He's wanted home to go shopping with his Nana. All this happened within an hour and a half. Well worth every minute. It gave me my "daily something".

Sad News

Two days after we celebrated Auntie Ninang's birthday, she passed away. I dread calls after 9pm because I immediately think that someone has died or is sick or needs to be taken to the hospital. When I heard Auntie Patty leaving a message on the machine...she never leaves a message...I knew I had to get to the phone. We decided to go to the hospital and see her. Less than an hour later, we get there only to find out that she passed away. She would always ask, "Why doesn't God take me?" I would always tell her, "He's not ready for you. He doesn't have space there for you." So she got her birthday wish. And we're all left feeling a little bereft. I like to think that now she can see and walk without pain, even dance along a path! That she's talking to Mama every moment. I miss those days when the phone would ring and I'd answer and it would be Auntie Ninang for Mama. That hasn't happened for 7 years but I can remember telling Mama, "It's Sophie for you." How we got the name Sophie, I can't remember anymore. For a while there, Auntie Ninang used to call us at 5:30 on Sunday evening every week without fail. Then 2 weeks had gone by at one point and she called so I teased her about not calling the week before. She told me that she forgot. The calls never lasted more than 10 minutes, sometimes even shorter, but she just wanted to check in with us. Who's going to check on us now?

celebrating

Today is Auntie Ninang's 89th birthday. I couldn't help but think that if Mama were alive today, she would also be 89. 89...so many years alive. So many yet to live. We celebrated with a PARTY. Lots of food, a lot of heat, but lots of fun was had. It's been such a long time since we've gathered for something happy. Of course, we all reminisced about the Easter Egg Hunts we used to have at Auntie Ninang's house. Every year. Without fail. We spent Easter "down in the valley". I don't even remember when they stopped. Toria and Allie took most of these pictures. Neither of them had the guts to go in the house and take a picture of Auntie Ninang. If there weren't so many people in there with her, I would have done it. Just not a crowd person in a small space. Predictably, their pictures centered on our family. Interesting to see things from their perspective.

highlights

Some highlights of my vacation...left to right :) Me being me, with the bartender before Mamma Mia!, my friend Patsi and me outside of New York New York, a night view of the strip, the slot machines at the airport. Next row: BETTY, our GPS, Me, Kathy and Christine at THE STINKING ROSE, A picture inside the stinking rose, had to get that picasso in the background, Universal Studios entrance. Third row: the walkway to the studio tour, at Toon Town, in front of the screaming roller coaster, inside the sorcerer's workshop at CA Adventure, trying on Merlin's hat. Fourth Row: Trying on hats at one of the Disney Stores, Me outside of CA Adventure, Me and Kathy, Me and Christine. Fifth row: eating a crepe for breakfast, Tristan and me, Me and Olivia, Phan and Me, fireworks at Disneyland. I took over 200 pictures. These are just highlights. I did not gamble one cent in Las Vegas. The only gambling I did was buying clothes without trying them on! I did not sightsee in Hawaii...I went there to visit my friend Addie and her family. Been there, done Waikiki...don't need to do it again.

Vegas Vacation

I am in Las Vegas for the very first time! The temperature has been in the 100s for the last few days...it doesn't get cooler till really late and even then it's not that cool. I feel like someone turned on the heater to extremely high and left the door open! OR, the oven is on broil and I'm standing in front of the open door. THAT HOT. Seriously. I haven't made it to the strip yet. I've done some shopping...got stuff for all the kids already. I'm the boring auntie...got them CLOTHES. Maybe I'll find something fun in LA. Tomorrow night Patsi, Maureen and I will be seeing Mamma Mia at Mandalay Bay. That's on the strip so I'll see it at NIGHT! FUN STUFF!

It's been a while

Since I last blogged, A LOT has happened! Uncle Jimmy, Auntie Tina, Jessica, Jeremy and his family came for a ten-day visit. WE were BUSY the entire time they were here. I was so exhausted by the time they left. Did the beach thing, the drive to the southern end, and a day at PIC waterpark. Tried to line up a professional photographer to do a family picture, but had to settle for an amateur and so-so pictures.

Life as we know it is finally back to normal. It's amazing how much 8 additional people can change a routine! Got to do my regular Saturday routine errands. Got carded for buying Auntie Margaret cigarettes. A great feeling to know that when the cashiers look at me they're not sure just how old I am!

Got my hair cut today. Impulse thing really. Took my mom to get HER hair cut and just decided while I was sitting there that I needed something new. As long as I don't look 12.

Layouts inspired by June Page Maps by Becky Fleck

a five-minute conversation with Lucas

Five minutes. That's what it takes to get from his school to our neck of the woods. FIVE short minutes. Over the weekend, I got him one of those booster seats for my car. It was on sale at KMart and I was so wanting to get rid of that honkin' big car seat of his...it takes up too much space. He tested it out on Monday afternoon. Anyway, I got to pick him up from school yesterday. After waiting for him to finish his snack, we got to the car.

L: This my special chair, Nini?

Me: Yeah, your special chair for such a special boy.

(got him all settled in and strapped that seatbelt across him. I discovered the cup holder on the side so naturally he discovered it too. I get in the car and turn it on. We were ready to roll.)

Me: You okay back there?

L: Yes. I need my water to put in here.

Me: Can you reach it?

L: No, I cannot reach it. It's too far.

I reach back and hand it to him. He puts it in the cup.

L: Where are we going?

Me: Home. Why? Where do you want to go?

L: I don't know. Can we go to the store, Nini?

Me: The store? Why?

L: I need candy.

ME: Candy? What kind of candy?

L: M & Ms.

Me: M & Ms? Hmmm...I don't think they have any more at the store.

L: They ran out?

Me: Yeah, they ran out.

The conversation gets a little fuzzy in my head at this point...the light turned green.

L: {blah blah blah} otherwise....

My mind stopped on the word otherwise. Because while I don't remember everything he said, he did use the word correctly in the sentence. I know he was not talking about candy so I thought okay, scot free. NOPE.

L: Can we go to the gas station, Nini?

Me: The gas station?!?!? What for? I don't need gas.

L: So I can buy candy.

Me: Do you have money?

L: No, but you do.

Me: I do? How do you know?

L: People have money in their hands.

Me: I show him each of my hands one by one and say, "No money here or here."

L: You have money in your purse.

Me: How do you know?

L: I know you do.

Me: Naw, I don't want to go to the gas station.

L: Can we go to that store? (we passed the grocery store)

Me: What for?

L: I need candy.

Me: What kind?

L: Gummy bears.

Me: I have gummy worms at home.

L: I don't like the sugary ones.

Me: You don't? You had it before and you liked it.

L: I don't like the sugary ones. My mommy said I don't like the sugary ones.

Me: Lucas, you said you don't like the sugary ones, not your mommy.

L: No, Nini, my mommy said I don't like the sugary ones.

Me: Okay, then, if I go to the store this weekend I will get you not sugary ones.

L: Nini, can we go to the small store (that's we he calls the neighborhood MOm and Pop store)?

Me: What for?

L: I need a drink.

Me: YOu have your water.

L: I need juice.

Me: You just had juice at school.

L: But, I need juice.

Me: Lucas, you have lots of juice at home. We don't need to buy juice.

(At the stop sign in front of his grandma's house now)

L: Okay, Nini.

FIVE MINUTES. He's two. TWO!

This is super cool!

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