26 Things!

Over at http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/, we had a photo challenge in February and March. We were given a list of 26 words and were to take a photo for each word. Here is what I did....



#1: a different angle - a photo I took of DD in a way I never had before #2: antique-a Dr. Pepper bottle from DH's collection

#3: cold - a fresh snow in March

#4: coming and going - a polar bear playing at the zoo

#5: familiar - the view from "my" chair

#6: fast - DD & her friends running at a b-day party

#7: fold - origami ball made by DS

#8: high point - DD & friends again, climbing up to jump in a foam pit

#9: home sweet home

#10: indulgence

#11: it's in the details - DD coloring

#12: mechanical

#13: memory

#14: new - DD with one of her b-day presents

#15: necessity - a look in part of our pantry

#16: original - a new crochet stitch

#17: perfect - our poinsetta that lasted until the end of March

#18: refreshing

#19: serene - a path near our house
#20: sharp - a snow covered bush

#21: texture - brown bear

#22: time - antique watch

#23: unforgettable: NIU memorial poster

#24: used - my laundry room

#25: vista - ok, I cheated - I took this one in November in Hawaii #26: weather

Thanks for taking a look. I enjoyed the challenge!

(I promise the "baseball" music will only be up for a few more days!)

What a wonderful day!

Thank you all who sent birthday well wishes. It was nice to receive e-mails and in a couple of cases, a phone call. : ) It meant a lot to me - thank you very much! In addition to the concert my DH took me to on Saturday, today he gave me tickets to the Kenny Chesney concert when he comes to town this summer. I seriously almost fell over!

Unfortunately, my Cubbies did not fair so well today. In addition to the weather being very rainy...they lost in extra innings to Milwaukee! :( It's only the first day so I'm sure things will turn around!

I hope you all had a nice Monday!

Tomorrow is April...already - wow!

"If it's too loud - you're too old"

Words spoken by my DH BEFORE the concert started last night!!!!! WE'RE TOO OLD!!!!!!!!!!

We went to see Joan Jett and Cheap Trick last night. Our seats were really good - next to the stage - we could see everything! As we sat and waited for the show to start, we looked up and saw 2 banks of about 10 speakers each, in our face. "Ok, no big deal." WRONG!!!!!!! By the time Joan Jett was half done with her set, our ears were ringing - and they still are this morning. However, I would like to say, for the MOST part - we were on the younger end of that concert crowd. It was hilarious to see, for the most part, the age group of 35 - 60, acting like teenagers. Granted, we had a couple of those moments ourselves.... It really was a good time, we were just reminded that we are getting older, as our the groups we went to see.... ; ) Of course, my camera died as the concert started but I managed to squeeze a couple of pictures out of it - sorry they aren't better.

On another note (in case you missed the new tunes) the Cubs home opener is tomorrow!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!! I'm hoping for a great season! (and for decent weather tomorrow...) You will be hearing much about the season this spring and summer - brace yourselves.

Hey, guess what - I made a scarf. Yes, I know winter is almost over but I made a scarf. I like it and can't wait to wear it...oh, wait! I mean, I can't wait to show it off. I will be MORE than happy to not wear it due to the cold/snow.

Monica - here's my new 'do. Not the best picture... This is the unstraightened version. I really like it - new place, new stylist.

I hope you've had a good week/weekend. May this week be good to you too!

HUGS!

Not that I'm counting!

But baseball "officially" starts in 4 days!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!!!

GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!

2 in a day!

DH bought DD "Enchanted" yesterday! She's watched it about 5 times already and actually sits and watches it! :) Guess she likes it...

After our nice "Thanksgiving" this Easter day, DH was loading his van and came in to tell me the bad news... Apparently my van got hit by something. It happened sometime after Thursday afternoon. I guess I need to start walking around my van every day... The front passenger side of the bumper has 2 big scratches and hole. Just lovely.... DAMN! I replaced the back bumper on the stupid thing last summer. Now I'm going to have to replace the front one. I swear that thing is cursed! Great - my insurance company just loves me...

Anyway, I hope you're all having a nice, peaceful Easter!

HUGS!

A day at the zoo

We took the kids to the zoo about a month ago. These were some of my favorite pictures from that.

OH...MY...GOD!!!!!!

In retrospect, I realize that a 4 year old can make you furious and scream with laughter in a matter of a couple of hours.... So I will regale you with the tales of our DD from last night.

I am sitting in the living room last night and DD is at the dining room table coloring. She walks in covering her eyes and giggling. So I'm thinking she wants to play "peek a boo" (yes, she has babyhood flashbacks, I think). So I say "Has anyone seen DD?" She uncovers her eyes and starts laughing. I almost had a heart attack!!!!!!!!! She had taken her markers to the lens of her glasses!!!!!!!!!! I know my chin was on the floor then the fury just raged. I yelled at her like I haven't yelled at her in a LONG time! So I take her glasses and clean them (thank god the marker came off!) and she looks at me - dead serious (remember I'm still yelling at her) and says "It wasn't THAT naughty!" I told her she had to go to her room. B-R-A-T!!!!!!!!

So I finally settled down and we had dinner. She started to throw a fit, so we put her pajamas on and sent her to her room. DH went up to check on her when she got quiet. I hear him say "Are you done crying?" Her reply? "I'm not crying, I'm just wiping the drips out of my eyes." I was rolling! From the mouths of babes....

So, there you have it, just another Friday night at our house....


Monica - I will try to take some decent pictures of my haircut. I know I've been promising.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Thursday!

Happy 1st day of spring! (I thought I would mix in some Easter funnies today to get you in the mood....)

The irony, we're under a winter storm watch through tomorrow. We've had enough snow, we've had enough winter! Let's move on already! PLUS - my daffodils are coming up - please don't kill them AGAIN this year!!!! Come on Mother Nature - look at the calendar, be kind!

My sister is AWESOME!!! As a thank you for the help for her wedding, she sent me a GC for our local yarn store. WOO HOO!!!! The push I need to pick up my crochet hooks again and maybe learn to knit. Thank you!!!!!

How was your St. Patty's Day? VERY uneventful here - worked all day... Just wore my green. :D

I think DD has finally started to catch up with the time change. (And WHY do we have to do that????) It was almost 2 weeks of pure hell at bedtime. She's mad because it's still light out so she won't go to sleep, then she's playing around until 9:30 or 10 and then is UNBEARABLE in the morning! The last couple of nights (knock on wood) have been MUCH better!

{steps up on her soap box and taps the microphone} AHEM! Attention dog owners!!!!! I am glad you love your pets and take them out for exercise. HOWEVER, I do not appreciate you letting your dog poo in my yard and leaving it. If I wanted to clean up dog poo, I would have one of my own. CLEAN UP YOUR CRAP!!!!!!!!! Thank you... {stepping down} Sorry....

American Idol note: David Cook ROCKS!!!! I hope he wins it all!!!!!

I hope you have a great rest of the week. I will try to check in over the weekend with some pictures or something "equally" exciting!

And of course, my FAVORITE Easter cartoon:

Happy St. Patricks' Day!

May the luck o' the Irish be with you today and every day!

Happy St. Patty's Day from our house to yours!

It's Sunday!!!!

Greetings!


I can't believe it's Sunday already - why do the weekends go so fast????


Friday night I took DD to B & N so that DH, DS and BIL could get the electrical taken care of without her "help". We had a lot of fun reading books and looking around.


Yesterday, I was to hold a young adult book discussion - no one showed - AGAIN!!!! This was the 3rd time I had tried it and no one has ever come. So, I am surrendering. I worked until 5, then we went to Applebee's for dinner and to get some groceries.

Today, DH & DS are off to work. Us girls plan on hanging in our PJs this morning then off to a b-day party this afternoon. (Susanne - I originally DID have to work today and then switched Sundays with someone then the b-day party came up - I wasn't lying when I said I couldn't come today because of work! I hope you all have fun!!!!!)


I might (ok, HOPE) to get out and take some pictures today. I really want to start playing with our camera and learning what it can do! We've had it for about 9 months and I'm pretty much just doing basic stuff with it and it has a million buttons (more than 2 buttons is a million!) and features. Time to play! : )

Here's a couple of quick digi layouts I did for our DISNEY ABC album.



Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Happy Saturday!

The electrical is in the basement! YES....
DD is trying to decide what fabric she wants me to make her some new shorts from.
I am off to host my book discussion this morning - hopefully someone will actually show up this month...

I hope you have a great day - I'll try to post more tomorrow!

TAG and update!

Hello, hello!!!!! I unearthed the computer and thought I would check in real quick. I am SO ready for the basement to be done already! UGH!!!!! It's been 2 weeks and I'm losing my mind.... I'm sorry I haven't been blog visiting much...

What's new? Ok... The Cubs are STINKING up spring training this year! (5 - 10 record right now...) Man! I hope that means they'll have a GREAT regular season!

Spring is finally coming! I saw robins TWICE last weekend. YEA!!!!!!! It is supposed to be sunny and 50 today. I might just have to go out for some air at lunch today. Oh, and the daffodils are starting to peek out!

I have scrapped or done ANYTHING crafty in a couple of weeks and am starting to get the shakes. :D I might have to dig out a scrapbook project or start a sewing project this weekend. I can't take it anymore....

In the spirit of F-U-N! I sat down and colored with DD the other day. It was a lot more fun than I remembered.

What else????

OH! One of my photos was selected to be "published" on a Chicago travel website. I am very excited about that!

Other than that, it's been battling the remodeling dust and work for us. I hope you are all doing well!

TAG!

Kazan (Hi, sweetie!), http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/, tagged me with 7 random facts about you. So, here we go!

1. I am the oldest of 5 children.
2. I grew up on a farm.
3. I was a single mom for 4 years.
4. I was engaged once before I met my husband.
5. I wanted to be a sportscaster when I finished high school.
6. I HATED the color pink until I had my daughter.
7. I hope to actually finish the book I started writing someday. :)

I tag:

1. Suzanne
2. Marie
3. Andie
4. Yvie
5. Holly
6. Amanda
7. Jana

Have a great rest of the week and weekend! (I hope to post over the weekend, BUT we'll see how things go!)
HUGS!!!!!!!

PS: DD helped pick out a couple of the new "tunes" that play (hence, Lilo & Stitch)

ARRRGH Mateys!

Yes, that's right - I FINALLY watched the 1st Pirates movie last week. Ok, ok - I know I'm WAY behind in my movie watching.... I thoroughly enjoyed the movie!!!!! Great action with the right amount of comic relief. I've never been a Johnny Depp fan (GASP!) but I truly enjoyed him as Jack Sparrow - excuse me, CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow. And can I just say....Orlando Bloom can come rescue me ANYTIME!!!! WHOO!!!!!

Quick from work...

I am still around and kicking, but DH decided he wanted to start finishing our basement, so our computer is buried...
I miss you all - I'll try to get to the 'puter this weekend and visit MBs and blogs.

Hope you're having a good week!

I dare you!

I dare you not to smile watching this!
One of my brothers made a video of the sledding event a few hours before my sister's wedding. Remember that the 3 little boys (my nephews) live in Florida, so the snow was A LOT of fun!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OsWC1wloUQ

See if you don't smile, just a little! :D

Wahoo!

Baseball is back! :D

The Cubs had their first spring training game yesterday and beat the Giants, 12 - 6. YES!!!!!

After the sad ending to last year, I have been waiting all winter for baseball to start, so I am SUPER excited! We are going to a few regular season games this year.

I hope you all have a GREAT weekend!!!!

GO CUBBIES!!!!!!

Maybe a giggle?

I've always liked Fox Trot, but I could see my DD being like Paige in this one, someday!

F-U-N!!!

Something I forget to do a lot! I need to have more FUN in my life! I spend a lot of hours a week working and am tired all the time. I just need to remember to laugh more.

I've been trying to do this more the past month and I do feel better, in general. Just a laugh, at something silly, something out of the ordinary. It's amazing what even a little giggle can do! :D

I've been trying to spend a little more time doing the fun things that I like - scrapbooking, reading, chatting with friends. I have been trying to go out to lunch once a month, to catch up with my hubby or a friend.

So, what do YOU do for fun? :) We all need a little in our lives...



By the way....the Cubs 1st spring training game is tomorrow!!!!!

My sister's wedding

We had a fantastic time! Very neat place!

Congrats to you guys!

Happy Sunday!

Yes, another week is gone... this was was a blur!

My sister got married on Friday. It was wonderful! (I'll have pictures in a day or 2)

Today is DD's "big" b-day party - lord help me! The preschoolers invade this afternoon.

We are heading to the memorial service at NIU tonight so I'm sure I'll be more than ready to crash by bedtime tonight.

Have a great day!

Just a quick one...

She turned the big 4 yesterday! She was so excited when she got up yesterday and that she got to take treats to daycare!

Hawaii, November 2007

I decided after my "downer" post yesterday that I needed a little "pick me up" so I make a slide show of some of my favorite pictures from our trip to Hawaii.

WHY?

NIU officials have confirmed the names of the following students killed in the shooting:
Daniel Parmenter, age 20, last of Westchester, Ill.
Catalina Garcia, age 20, last of Cicero, Ill.
Ryanne Mace, age 19, last of Carpentersville, Ill.
Julianna Gehant (pronounced Ghee-hant), age 32, last of Mendota, Ill.
Gayle Dubowski, age 20, last of Carol Stream, Ill.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!

Our "sleepy" college town has had our world turned upside down this week. The biggest question for everyone - WHY???

Why did this happen?

Why did innocents have to die?

Why a senseless act of violence?

The tears (mine) have finally come....I finally saw video this morning of the EMTS wheeling the students out on stretchers and it became very real to me. Still pictures have been scary enough but to see it happen was just...

It has been a very surreal couple of days for most of us who live here/go to school here. My heart breaks for the students who were eye witnesses to this horrific act. My heart breaks for the students who were lost and their families and friends. My heart breaks for the shooter's family. I pray for their strength and hope they know they will always be members of our community.

It still seems like a dream to me. I want to wake up and realize it was, but sadly, that will never happen. Sadly, there is much attention on our community for something that is so tragic that I truly can not put into words the pain that is felt here.

This has also been a very difficult time to be a parent. As with any disaster, it is difficult to try to explain these things to our children. It is difficult to struggle to answer "Why?" when we do not know or understand ourselves. It is difficult to send them to school, to let them out of your sight, for fear of the unknown. It is difficult to push your fear aside so that they will not see it in your eyes when you tell them they can not be afraid to go out in the world and carry on with their day.

I commend the emergency personnel from ours and every neighboring community. Their response and help was amazing! Many of them were volunteer firefighters/EMTs from other communities. Thank you! Thank you all!

Our community has come together and banded together to support each other, NIU, the students and their families. There is red and black everywhere you look - flags, ribbons, balloons, signs of support and love. We dropped our DS off at school yesterday - though he was jittery about going - assured him he needed to go on with his day and talk to whomever he needed to and gave him an extra hug. As he got out of the van, I looked out at the kids who were getting off the buses and walking across the parking lot and the sea of red NIU shirts that I saw just overwhelmed me! Those kids stood together as a community to show their support and it touched me deeply.

So, I give you this reminder (as we have been reminded here this week), live each day to the fullest, don't let an opportunity to tell your loved ones that you love them, and give an extra hug -just because.

Thank you all for the prayers and good thoughts.

Give them some love!

Please pray for the families of and the victims of yesterday's shooting at NIU! It is such a tragedy!

My wish

May you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day! I hope you feel the love from friends, family and other loved ones, today and everyday!!!!

HUGS!

My Hubby is the BEST!!!!

We were in the middle of it snowing like crazy last night (we got another 2") and I was on my way to work when I noticed my windshield wiper looked funny. Yep! TORN! DAMN!!! So I called him and bless his heart, he went out in the snow and got a new set AND put them on out in the snow.

Not much else is new - it was a Monday yesterday. I have this evening off - YEA!!! I am hoping to finish the layout that's on my scrap table, unfinished. And get on the treadmill again. Oh, and American Idol is on tonight - it's Hollywood week. I finally watched Survivor from last Thursday - this season should be interesting! SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am SO glad that Jonny Fairplay is gone - I couldn't watch him!

Have a great Tuesday!!!!!

Monday blah, blah, blah

Grammy Night, last night. I don't get much out of the actual show. I usually just watch to see who's wearing what and who's with who.

I LOVED Fergie's dress when she performed, very classy! These two (Tim & Faith) looked great, as usual...

Alecia Keys - I LOVED the green! The design was very nice too.

Taylor Swift - loved lovely! Very appropriate for an 18 year old.

And Tina! WOW!!!! If I could have her energy at her age - whew! And yes, I know there is plastic surgery involved, but if I could look 1/2 as good as her, I'd be thrilled!

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A quick digital layout I did yesterday....

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I worked out yesterday! A miracle! I got on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and ran about 1/2 mile. Believe me, that is a miracle!

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And yes, spring training opens on Wednesday!

Have a good Monday!

Sunday stuff

Happy Sunday! I hope your weekend is going well. So far (other than the extreme cold today) - it's been a good one here.

Spring training opens in 3 days for pitchers & catchers - not that I'm counting or anything... :o) I love this time of year, there are baseball movies on galore! Last night I watched Bull Durham and this morning A League of Their Own was on. Fabulous! It's just getting me more in the mood. Oh, and individaul game tickets go on sale next week.

I got pretty scrappy this weekend. I had a crop on Friday night and got tons done. Here are a few of the pages I completed.

I hope the rest of your weekend is good. Thanks for stopping by!

My Celebrity Look Alikes

I know this made the rounds a while ago but I never did it. So here's what I got.

Here's the second photo I used:

Thank you!

Thank you for your good thoughts! My grandpa is doing much better - not quite as bad as originally thought. He should be home tomorrow.



The good thoughts and hugs are greatly appreciated!

TGIF!

Not sure how today will go!

We got some bad family news last night but I don't have many details yet...

I'm cropping tonight, so hopefully sometime this weekend, I'll get some layouts posted.

Happy Friday!

#250

Yes - that's right, this is post #250! :) YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know some of you have been stopping by for a while now (& I hope you keep stopping by) and that some of you are newer to my blog (& I hope you keep stopping by). So, I thought I would do "little facts" about me that you may or may not know.

* I am one of five children. I'm the oldest - that's right the "good one".
* I was on the pom pom/dance team in high school. Once upon a time, I used to be able to kick over my head. Let me tell you, those days are LONG gone!!!!
* My graduating class was 22. I went to high school with a total enrollment of about 130 - we all knew everyone.
* I was a "band geek". I played the clarinet from 5th grade thru my senior year. I also played piano.
* I HATE snakes! The thought of them gives me the heeby jeebies! {full body shiver}
* My first concert was New Kids on the Block. At 15 years old - they were the COOLEST!!!
* I was a single mom. For the first 4 years of DS's life. I NEVER could have done it without my parents!
* I dream of being a writer. I have a book started and someday I hope it will be finished (first of all) and published.
* My favorite colors are royal blue and pink.
* I LOVE baseball! I bleed the Cubbie blue but I truly enjoy the game! By the way, spring training opens in 7 DAYS!!!!!!
* I have 1 year of college credits. All gen eds (someday I will go back) - I had intended to get into broadcasting (hoping for sports casting)
* My favorite candy bar is Snickers. MMMMM!!!!!!!!!
* I grew up on a farm. I can tell you stories... I don't think the "country girl" will ever be out of me!
* I am obessesed with purses! I have many (I don't want to incriminate myself by saying EXACTLY how many) in my closet.
* I can admit I'm a dork!
* I love being a tourist. I used to be shy about taking pictures - not anymore!
* I "heart" Kevin Costner. 1990s Kevin Costner, not present day Kevin Costner. Think Field of Dreams, Dances with Wolves....
* I cry at movies. Can't help it...

Now you know a little more about me.
I hope to see lots of visitors here.
Thanks for stopping!

What the...?????!!!!!

So as I'm surfing around the web today - Y! comes up with prom dresses as a big search for today. My curiousity (and my love of things fancy and shiny) got the best of me. I was SHOCKED! These are HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS you are peddling these....

yes, THESE! dresses to. As a mother of a high school aged boy, this concerns me - GREATLY!!!!!!!!!!!! What the hell is going on? Am I old and prudish? No one dressed like this at our prom (yes, I know it was MANY years ago, but...).

I am just, just, shocked, I guess! What happened to the pretty, covering a lot of you but still elegant dresses?????

Oh my god - I AM old!

Sunday!

Because I'm tired of the cold - I am posting a couple of pictures from our Hawaii trip last fall - I can ALMOST feel the tropical breeze....

Not much going on this weekend - everybody's working at our house (except DD). She's hanging out with grandma...lucky girl!

Super Bowl tonight - I just watch for the commercials. BBQ is in the crockpot to go with the chips and dips and brownies for dessert tonight.

YEA! I got my playlist to work! I was worried about my not so saavy computer skills, but it's working.... (Andie - your song made it.)

Not much scrapping done but I have been reading! Thank you to those who made reading suggestions.

January Books

I read 7 books in January and listened to 2 - I have never read that much in a month before - I'm really excited!


Here are some of my favorites from the month:



CHERISH - a scrapbookers dream! I loved this (I'm still looking at it). The layout maps and ideas are phenominal.









HAMMERHEAD RANCH MOTEL by Tim Dorsey - If you like Carl Hiaasen - you have to pick this up. It is GREAT! A humorous look at the Florida "underground world" of crime. It's a quick read too.











AL CAPONE DOES MY SHIRTS by Gennifer Cholderko - I read this for the young adult book club at our library. (Guess who leads that group?) It was a nice story about a boy and his family who move to Alcatrez so his father can work there.


DON'T BET AGAINST ME by Deanna Favre - This woman amazes me! She is incredibly strong and has been through so much in her life. I really admire her and her strength.

What are you reading? I'm always looking for suggestions.

Thanks for stopping by!

HUGS!

February 1

Happy February! I'm not sure how January blew right by me but here we are and this month promises to fly by too....

Well, as of 5:30 this morning - we had 7.2" of snow and it's still coming down. DS has snow day, I'm thinking I might have one too. (Stay tuned!) I hope my friend, Susanne, is happy. :)

If I may brag about my DS for a moment - ok, maybe not BRAG but he made my ego a little bigger - he is teamed with a special ed student in gym for the unit they're working on and he said yesterday that the other "team" was taunting this kid and getting him all worked up so they could win. (Freshmen boys!) So he finally told them that they better knock it off and that his teammate was just as capable of winning as they were. I was VERY proud of him for standing up for this other boy. However, I wish he had something to the gym teacher - not that it probably would have done any good....

I am still looking for music suggestions - any thoughts? What are you listening to?
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Update at 9:10 a.m.: I am home for now. I will probably go to work around lunchtime, since there is a loan closing this afternoon. Everything is ready except the checks. The plows just came through now so I would like to give them a little more time to clean up a little more. The snow is starting to blow around now, though... Such is winter!

Happy Friday all and I hope you have a good weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!