Sunday Sunday...

I am starting to hate Sundays. The first thing that pops into my head when I wake on Sunday mornings is "I have to work tomorrow." It feels like Sunday means the weekend is over, like its already time to prep for the rest of the week. *sigh*

It was a very quiet weekend here. Friday night we went to Sylvie & Jeff's... Saturday we sold popcorn with the Cub Scouts in the morning, the boys had Fall Ball and we were in bed by 830pm. Today we went to church, picked up Megan and have just been chillin' all day long.

Nicole had her senior pics taken last week with fellow scrapper Martha Crowther. This is the picture Nicole chose for her yearbook...you will be seeing some other the others in layouts to come soon!

Isn't she beautiful? It's still so hard to believe she is a senior! Seems like just yesterday we all piled over to Joy's house to see her off on the first day of school!

Finally got a new template collection up at The Digi Shoppe! Yeah me! LOL

You can find it in the store right here:
http://www.thedigishoppe.com/shop/product.php?productid=18442&cat=0&page=1

Guess thats all for now! Have a great weekend (what's left of it anyway)!

A Hump Day Check In

It is Wednesday, right? I am so confused these days... every day blends into the next!

So, it's official... Nicole ships out for Marine boot camp 07.07.08. *sigh* I'm gonna have to NOT think about that for a while because it worries me. I know she is strong, but still....

I attended one of the Community Input sessions last night to view the plans for a new middle school in Auburn. You can definitely tell those people have been trained as to what to say to make things happen because they avoid a real answer to whatever doesn't make them look good and then change the subject. It's interesting that all previous SOOS handouts mentioned enrollment numbers but now that the school is down 45 kids in one year, they have left that information out! Way to bamboozle the town residents!

While there I took on another "hat"... I will be the public relations person for the Cub Scouts here in town. I think that sort of thing is right up my alley... writing a newsletter (which is really just compiling information), sending press releases etc. I am definitely better suited for this job than as a leader. :)

Scott is still totally loving his new job. I am a bit nervous... not because I think the job is anything but perfect, but just waiting for the other shoe to drop! When things seem too good to be true, they usually are! He is really excited to be taking a "field trip" next week to the Expo Center in Boston with the class.

Well, its shower time for me... have an awesome day! :)

Back to work...

It's Monday morning, just after 6 am and I am sipping on my 2nd cup of coffee thinking back to my weekend and patting myself on the back for a job well done, LOL.

First of all, Friday I came home from work to find Scott waiting for me on the front steps with a wonderul mix of Ketel One and tonic water with a lemon and lime wheel. I couldn't help but smile and think about how lucky I am to have such a supportive and understanding husband. I mean, seriously, I never pampered him when HE got hom from a long day at work (mental note to self to do something wonderful).

Saturday morning I woke up at 5:15am (which I knew my body must be trained for), laughed and went back to sleep till almost 7am. When I got up I realized I couldn't live one more minute with my desk being such a disaster so I began sorting, filing, piling, tossing and cleaning! If you saw it now, you would still think I was in need of serious help, but really it is 1000% better than it was and I feel so much more organized!

Scott worked 12-9 so I took the boys to Fall Ball and picked up Megan from her friends house. We dropped Dylan for a sleepover then went for a walk with my Dad to the corner store to get an ice cream. That night we ended up over Sylvie's house for a few beers at night which is always super relaxing!

Yesterday, Scott took the boys and headed up north to help his parents close down their camp. Meg & I went to church and came back to do a bit more cleaning! Finally around 7, Nicole showed up with the Marines. That went smoothly and I went to bed at 830pm! No wonder I feel so rested!

Not only did I do all above, I also scrapped like a mad woman! Check it out (full credits can be found in my gallery):










Here's hoping this is the beginning of a wonderful week! :)

TGIF, Baby!

Finally, its Friday! Woohoo! I am looking forward to 3 o'clock... punching out and chillin for the entire weekend! :)


Nicole called her Dad and asked if she could come by at some point this week... to sign the paperwork for her to enlist in the Marines! Of course I support her, but I am nervous for her safety and concerned about this major time of change for her. So if you see the Marines at our house in the next couple days, son't go thinking Scott and I started a new war, it will just be Nicole with her new "friends", LOL

I also got a voicemail yesterday that my brother Jamie is officially leaving for Iraq TODAY! He assures me that his job will be on base which is relatively safe but I am still very nervous for him and for the family he is leaving behind for a year.

Scott's really liking his new job! We went shopping at Kohl's last night for a few new things to wear... can you imagine him in a shirt and tie everyday? LOL I told his I want him to give me a fashion show tonight so I can take pictures while everything still looks nice and new, LOL :)

Gotta get showered for work! Have a great day! XO

I can't believe I forgot to tell you about Mac 'N Cheese!

No, no, no..... not THAT Macaroni and cheese...
THIS Macaroni & Cheese...

Our two sweet new kittens! Aren't they the cutest things? The little grey one is a boy we named Macaroni and the tiger cat is a girl we named Cheese! Victoria called Saturday from her uncle's house and asked if we wanted a kitten that has "some orange". The next thing I knew, Scott was asking if they had 2 available. She ended up bringing them down that night! Duchess is, of course, in awe and doesn't know quite what to make of them yet, LOL

In other super-de-super exciting news, Scott accepted a new job today! He starts tomorrow! He will be working 9-5 Monday-Friday! Can you say NORMAL LIFE!? I don't think that has ever been our reality and we are both extremely excited about! :)

That's it for tonight! Hope you're having a great week! :)

Yeah- top template designer!

I was excited to be named one of the top template designers! <-- This blog is definitely a fun one with a positive spirit! Kudos to those running it!

It was a pretty productive day yesterday! I worked an 8 hour shift, went to WalMart, did a load of laundry, scrapped 3 layouts and put up a new $1 special at The Digi Shoppe! Check it out:

Link to shop: http://www.thedigishoppe.com/shop/product.php?productid=18378

Have a great day! XO

Weekend recap

Gotta give a shout out to my kiddos who survived Saturday's weather to march in the Auburn parade! Don't these girls look like drowned rats? (Sorry, girls, LOL)


Later Saturday afternoon we headed to the ONeil's house for the end of the year softball party! The girls received their new jackets and awesome posters including several professional shots taken during the games.

Saturday night we attended the infamous Auburn bonfire. Dane and I had been a few years ago and told everyone how large the bonfire was but I guess they didn't really comprehend because they were in awe when we got there and saw the pallets stacked 2 stories high.

Yesterday Megan was the alter server at the 11am Mass. We came home and had a relaxing day around the house. In some ways I hate napping because it's such a waste of time, but in other ways, well, I just love sleep!LOL What can I say?

It's back to work for me today and another busy week of homework, school activities, laundry and paperwork! Hope your week is great! XO

Me? The Bread Winner?

Oh yeah, that's what I'm talkin about! Bread winner, right here, baby! Those are words I thought would never cross my lips (or fingertips as the case may be)! Here I am, though, a full time employee for the first time in probably 10 or 11 years! WOW! I sort of gave a test run this week going in 2 hours early each day. It was a challenge but I think I am pretty well adjusted to being up before the sun. I will still be home by the time the bus comes in the afternoon so this couldnt be more perfect.

In other news, Scott accepted a job as a line cook and starts on Wednesday! Knock on wood that this is the right choice for him and that his employment will be long and merry!

It's 10pm so I am going to head up to bed! Have an awesome night! XO

Good Thursday morning!

For the fourth day, I am up well before the sun even thinks of peaking it's head over the eastern seaboard! Kind of a nice feeling to see here in the chilly dark and checking my email in silence, well nothing but the loud tapping of the keyboard, anyway, LOL :)

This week at work has been extremely productive! I feel like I am able to get so much more accomplished working these extra hours. They really are getting the best of me because my brain is mush when I leave (and maybe even a little before that, LOL)!

We attended the Open House at school last night and the boys had a chance to share what they have been doing. Both seem really happy which makes ME happy!

Jen is coming over to cook dinner here tonight and we are having a faux dinner party... should I break out the prom dress? Sadly, it probably wouldn't fit anyway!
:(

Hope your day is great! XO

New things abound...

Scott & I looked at his job situation and our family's needs and decided that if we both worked full time, that would allow him to work at a lower paying (and thus lower pressure) job. Kim & I are working out the details for me to come on full time right now, but in the meantime I am working 730am to 300pm. What a huge reality check to work all day and still have real life waiting for me at night! I have always taken my hat off to full time working Moms and now more so than ever! So, if you see me around a little less (especially days), you will know why!

The kids seems to really like school so far and they are all settling in nicely! Victoria joined FFA, Megan is busy running cross country, Dane starts trumpet lessons today and Dylan? Well, Dylan is just busy trying to keep up with everyone else until his "stuff" gets started!

To all of my "real life friends", get your butts over to your blogs and update me, would ya? Melissa... Jen... Lesley... Sherri.... come on! You guys come here to see what I'm doing, let me know how YOU are! :)

Have a great day! XO

Not a good fit...

The Common Man decided that Scott was "not a good fit" and let him go yesterday. I can't believe I am even writing those words. We weren't even caught up from his unemployment earlier this summer and now we are dealing with it all over again. *sigh* I don't know how we will make it through, but as long as we have eachother and the kids, I know all things are possible.

I am really excited to go see Jen today and do some chillin'! Her husband is off now and Scott is coming with us, so it will be just like July (which was a blast)!

Have a great weekend!XO

Thursday check in

Another week flying by... can't believe tomorrow is Friday already! Yeah! :)

I am going with Lesley to visit my friend Jen this weekend and am really looking forward to some Margaritas and pedicures with the girls! :) Jen's been dealing with some extremely stressful medical issues with her daughter and Lesley is just starting what is sure to be a tough school year so between the 3 of us, we really deserve a break!

I scrapped Nicole and her boyfriend Mike for the first time today! I knew the moment that I took this picture that it was going to be great for scrapping! I used a black & white photo action by Michelle Pearson after cropping this photo and am so pleased with the results! This freebie frame from Michelle Coleman was PERFECT!

Ahhhhh! Young love! Isn't it beautiful?

Marriage Statistics....

I tried to find some hard cold statistics on the success rate of marriages in the US, but there are quite a few conflicting accounts. I have always heard 50% of marriages end in divorce but when I looked around my little circle, that didn't seem to be true. Maybe it's because I choose to surround myself with like minded people- people who are committed to marriage and won't give up at the first sign of trouble. Maybe it's because I was simply too young. The people I know have not been married long enough to become disenchanted. The tides are turning. It seems everywhere I look right now, people are in marrital turmoil. It saddens me. I am happy for those who find strength through divorce, those who finally find their voice and stand up for themselves and I am just as happy for those who accept that marriage is hard work and they go through the painful process of repairing old marriage wounds. No choice is ever easy!

In other news, we spent Labor Day weekend with Scott's parents. The kids had a great time and I took hundred's of pictures! This week is filled with work, cross country, basketball, band and open houses! Aaaaaaah, just the way I like Fall to be! A new school year means a new start for everyone!

The sale at The Digi Chick was to end yesterday but my stuff is still showing up in the store, so grab it while you can at 60% off (no coupon needed- discount will apply at checkout)! It could disappear at any moment! Link to shop:
http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=6

Have a great Wednesday! XO