Tim and Faith totally ROCK!

Last night Steve and I went to the Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Soul 2 Soul Concert...our seats were pretty damn good and man can those two put on a show! They sang for over 3 hours! You totally get your money's worth! When the two of them sing together you almost feel like you are a peeping tom staring in their bedroom window! LOL! It was awesome though!

I can't help but wonder if they are as happy as they appear to be and as in love as it seems. What I wouldn't give to have a marriage like that! Tim doesn't take his eyes of her whenever they are singing together...very sweet really. What woman wouldn't want a man who obviously adores her and cherishes her...and isn't afraid to show it?! Oh to be so lucky! ;)

All of the Grey's Anatomy fans would have been thrilled with the start of the concert...the two of them sang the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol...awesome!

Busch Gardens with the siblings!

Yesterday was a great day! I was able to go to Busch Gardens and spend some time with my brother and sisters. That's my brother, Christopher, on the right (Obviously, then my youngest sister, Anna - a.k.a Tinkerbell, next to me and then Rachelle on the other side of me. Our youngest sister is heading off to college in NC soon so times when all 4 of us can be together will be few and far between. We had a great time just playing and acting like goofballs together!

My brother isn't as big of a dork as he looks...




okay, maybe he is! LOL! Just kidding...he puts on a great show though! I wonder how many people around actually thought he was "special" ? ;)



I think my brother and sisters are just the coolest. I got this pic of them riding Montu...I was kind of mad at myself for not riding, but I was a little chicken - maybe next time though. That is Rachelle's boyfriend Dan next to my brother and then my sisters behind them...Anna's girlfriend is next to Rachelle but I missed her in the shot (sorry!)





ROCK ON!

Busy, busy, busy!

Man, we have been busy pretty much since the kids got out of school at the end of May! Steve and I headed up to VA with the kids to visit his dad and one of his younger brothers for a couple of days, do a little hiking and visiting. Then we were off to VA Beach with stops at Natural Bridge and Monticello.

Once in VA Beach we spent a couple days at Busch Gardens, Williamburg as well as the beach and even a day at a cute little water park. Very fun!

Shortly after that the kids and I headed up to NC to visit friends...I was so proud of myself because I drove the 8-9 hour trip alone with the kids. They were great and everything was smooth as silk...and of course we had a great time with the Diehls! We have known them since we lived in Seattle and Stevie and their son were just over a year old I guess. Jacob had no idea we were coming so needless to say he was SO surprised to see Stevie! His reaction totally made the drive worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeart. We surprised Jacob at his swim meet and he was hugging Stevie and then telling his swim mates that he and Stevie had known each other since they were babies so "technically they are brothers!" Gotta love that! We had fun playing at the pool, spent some time on the lake and even went to see The Silver Surfer. Alyson and little Megyn had a great time together together too.

Once the kids and I got back from NC we turned around and headed down to the key with Steve's dad and younger brother who made a visit down to see us! Had a nice time there too and on the way back we stopped in Miami for an airboat ride which was very cool and then I got picked to wrestle and alligator - it was volunteer day! It was basically all a great way to scare the crap out of me....and my poor kids who both started crying when they saw what I was supposed to do....like wave my hand through the gator's mouth, jump on his back and pose with his head under my chin...good lord! The guy asked to see my hands and when I held them out for him to see they were shaking like a leaf! Even if it hadn't been a joke...at least I know my kids love me! I did hold a 4 foot gator though!

The rest of the summer the kids have been in and out of karate camp, we spent some time with our neighbors, the kids swimming and the adults playing with jet skis on the lake, going out to the beach....busy! I am wiped out! How much longer until school starts? ;)

The Producers!

On Saturday I got to enjoy one of the perks of Steve's job and we took 3 other couples out to dinner and then to see the new Mel Brooks musical The Producers...talk about FAB-U-Lous! Of course it wasn't Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick but boy were they ever close! Such a great show - my face hurt from the constant smile I wore on my face!

The dinner we all had before the show was fantastic as well...we went a place that one of the reps had suggested and I can guarantee you that Steve and I will be going back! They had this soft shell crab appetizer that was too die for along with their calamari - like no other I have had before! I think I could have been happy to just make a meal out of that! Of course my beef tenderloin was pretty tasty too! ;)

I haven't been able to stop singing..."I wanna be a producer...!!"

Basic Grey likes me!

I was told I should submit my STOP LO to Basic Grey for their website...so I did. And actually I submitted two others as well. They picked up my STOP LO and also The ABCs of ME. I know it is not quite like being published in a magazine but I am so excited just the same!

The last few days have not been the greatest for me so this was such a wonderful surprise. I really needed that "boost"!

STOP

There was a challenge to do a LO based on the word "STOP"... I do so few LOs about myself, but this seemed a perfect opportunity to get one done for my BOM.

Journaling reads:

STOP...

taking things so seriously… don’t be afraid to laugh a little, especially at yourself.

worrying about the “What if’s - ”… learn to take a risk now and then.

making excuses… make the time.

being so hard on yourself… accept the person you are just the way you are.

saying “I’ll finally be truly happy when - -” … start seeing the everyday joys right in front of you.

second guessing yourself… trust your instincts.

being so cynical… allow yourself to enjoy life’s little blessings.

thinking you aren’t good enough… KNOW that you are…

dwelling on the past… nothing you do can change it.

being so angry… you only end up hurting yourself.

blaming yourself… you can’t control everyone and everything.

looking to others for acceptance and approval… find it inside yourself.

holding back… give yourself permission to let go.

Lord Of The Dance

I was lucky enough to be able to go to see Lord of the Dance with my parents and one of my sisters on May 1st...it was FABULOUS! I have seen it on TV before but that is nothing like seeing it in person! JUST AWESOME! I can't believe it but I actually bought the DVD and a t-shirt! LOL!

Happy NSD and Cinco De Mayo!

National Scrapbooking Day and I didn't even get to sit at my scrap desk let alone actually scrap anything :( Oh well, at least I had a strawberry daquiri for Cinco De Mayo! ;) We actually took the kids to their first Tampa Bay Devil Ray game. They had a great time...eating cotton candy, having their hats stolen from Raymond the Ray...but the highlight for both of them was receiving a baseball from the manager of the Oakland A's. Our seats are a few rows up from the dugout and so Stevie and Aly went down with their gloves to try and catch a ball. The manager threw one to Stevie and he was just thrilled! So the next time he went down with Alyson and when the manager saw him he told him he had already thrown him one but Stevie pointed to Alyson and said it was for her so he tossed a ball over to Aly....who knew something so simple could be so exciting! The game went into extra innings...12 to be exact....but the Devil Rays won!

Another new addition

Meet Dutchess...our newest addition...and definitely the last! LOL! I had to take Tiger Lily to the vet and there were 2 little kittens who had been rescued and needed a new home. Since we had already talked about getting one more cat to keep Tiger Lily company I asked about adopting one. I totally fell in love with this little pink nosed cutie! She is 9 weeks old and just too cute. Alyson is absolutely in love with her and carries her around almost all the time - to the point that we have to keep telling her to put her down! LOL! At one point I had to rescue Dutchess from Aly and her friend as they were dressing her up in doll clothes!

Please keep Virginia Tech in your prayers.

I am in shock and so heartbroken over the massacre that happened yesterday at Virginia Tech. My husband is from VA and so we have family there who in turn have friends and family who work, attend and are VT alumni...not to mention close friends of ours who are also alumni and Hokies to the core with friends and family who work and attend there as well. I can not even fathom what makes someone do something so evil. I can't help but wonder to myself...What is wrong with this world?! I wonder what I have brought my children in to?! I almost feel guilty for bringing them into so much evil and tragedy...every day all over there is so much hatred and senseless violence...and for what?!

My youngest sister is heading off to college this fall and I can't help but worry. I had a hard time letting my kids out of the car this morning for school. As a parent I can only imagine the heartache the parents of the victims must feel...I can only think it is such a helpless feeling.

Please keep Virginia Tech in your prayers...and maybe say a prayer for safety and peace in this world.

Meet Tiger Lily

Say hello to Tiger Lily...our new baby girl! We just adopted her last night. She is 9 months old and just the sweetest thing. She cuddled up to us all and then we were hooked! She has yet to even make a sound...unless you count sneezing. (She is getting over a bit of cold.) I'm starting to think she doesn't know how to "meow"! LOL! Alyson is especially excited because Tiger Lily is still small enough so that she can carry her around. We found her almost by accident really. We were all set to adopt another kitty and then Steve came across a few that were separated from the others since they were getting over colds and knowing my soft spot for calicos he called my attention to her....and I just fell in love. One way or another I knew she was coming home with me! The kids seem to be pretty smitten with her as well and of course Steve would probably bring them all home if he could! LOL! She already had the name Tiger and so we decided to make her Tiger Lily since it sounds a bit more feminine and sweet.
She is slowing getting to know her way around but seems to be adjusting well...and I think we are all excited to have a new fur baby...Lenox is so missed.

Happy Easter

Yeah, I am a couple days late but we had a busy few days. Hope you all had a Happy Easter and enjoyed time with your family. We actually spent time at my parents' house with my brother and sisters, my brother's girlfriend and also Annika my parent's exchange student from Germany (she would be the one in the black hair that we are holding up in one of the pics!)

The kids had great time hunting eggs and we even had Annika out hunting eggs with them so that she could experience a traditional american easter...she was a great sport about it. She is such a fun person!

Of course we couldn't resist a chance to take lots of pics while we were all together as well but I only posted a few here...my parents with the kids, a little family photo of the four of us (it is the only decent one and of course my little ham of a son is giving the camera a funny face!) and then one of me with my brother and sisters and Annika!

My family also celebrated my birthday with me which was on the 7th. I turned 34...hard to believe since I still feel like an insecure teenager at times. I look at Stevie and Alyson some times and can hardly believe they are really mine! LOL! My youngest sister actually decorated my birthday cake for me which I loved...of course my brother and other sister had to give her a hard time about it and said it looked like Mickey "Bear" rather than Mickey Mouse...but I loved it and was so touched!

I can't believe I caved!

So anyone who really knows me knows how much I {heart} anything Disney and am hesitant to say anything negative about Disney...but I have never been a fan of the whole autograph thing and DH and I have been able to steer our kids clear of it...until now. Alyson has been hounding us for weeks about getting the character's autographs next time we go to Disney. Yesterday we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom with some friends who were in town from PA. I managed to hold the kids off until the end of the day before we actually bought the autograph book - with the crowds there was no way they were getting anywhere near the characters. Then as we were heading out over to the right was Mr & Mrs Easter Bunny with almost no line at all -- needless to say the kids were ripping the plastic wrapping off the autograph books at they were running to get in line. Who knew that simple "signature" could be such a thrill! Stevie and Alyson just stared and marveled over those two signatures almost the whole ferry ride back to the parking lot! Even though I still dislike the whole autograph thing I guess I am going to have to just suck it up and deal with it since they are both already planning out the autographs they want next...oh well, at least that means I will get more pictures to scrap!

The Paper Place Scrapbooking Community

April 1st brings our first sketch challenge over at The Paper Place Scrapbooking Community now that the new Design Team has taken over! We are planning lots of new and fun things and we would love to see some new faces come and play with us! We love making new friends!

April 2007 Sketch Challenge:
http://www.paperplacescrapbooking.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2514

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

www.paperplacescrapbooking.net