Carol of the Bells

My christmas started Saturday! A fantastic brunch with my best girlies...beautiful decor, yummy food, a bit of bubbly and laughing till I cried! Cannot even put into words how much that meant to me...I'm verklempt just thinking about it!

On sunday was the choir cantata at church! They nailed it...so so beautiful! The kind of music that makes your heart swell and your eyes leak. Amazing! They sang carol of the bells and i got goosebumps. LOVED it! Sunday night was our sunday school kids program and play! One of my best friends Amy did all the hard work on directing and directing and it turned out FANTASTIC! The kids were so great...they said their lines loud and on time and sang great! So fun! Even the tiny kids belted out their song and rang their bells enthusiastically!

On Tuesday...I got to watch a little 4 year old sugar plum fairy! I cannot describe how amusing that was. Little kids have SUCH big personalities and they are fearless entertainers! So much fun to watch them shout their lines and twirl around the stage! And it was short...bonus!! Props to the teachers cause as Cari commented "its a bit like herding cattle"

Cari thinks I should talk about her on my blog more...we'll see! LOL

So...the countdowns almost done! If you dont buy it today before 3pm and get ONE DAY SHIPPING you arent gettin it for christmas and theres NOTHING i can do no matter what names you call me! Go Santa!!

My obituary...according to the quiz

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

is it a little weird that this came up tonight...just after i was reading about a tribute concert for Princess Diana? hmmm...

My mom was infatuated with her and so some of it rubbed off on me. I remember where i was when she died and the hoopla that surrounded it and how i stayed up all night to watch the funeral. So sad...it seems so long ago...i think its good to remember sometimes...

What I say AFTER you're off the phone...

You know how hard it is to get in the Christmas spirit when your in retail? Yeah...its ten times worse when all you deal with all day is people who are the OPPOSITE of what Christmas is all about!

I had 89 calls today...like four of them made me laugh...

Apparently I have ruined christmas for a four year old somewhere in america...

So...

what does one post after a very long absence and many life changes?

Lets vote! (ha, as if anyone is still reading this...)

Should we play catch up on the last 6 months or start in the here and now?

Or i could do the fashionable thing and scrap it all and start over.

Choices...cause I'm oh so good at making them.

**much squealing**

http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/2006/06/daisy_bucket_ot.html

That first pic of Ali and Simon...that would be MY camera........woot woot

Does this mean Im a "famous scrapper" haaahaaa....

Indescribable

indescribable (adj) 1: that cannot be described, 2:being too great or intense for description

This weekend

This woman

This life artist thing...
So so cool!! Oh and Simon....I wanted to take him home with me ;)

Absolutely the BEST weekend of my life...

More details later!!

meeting Ali E

So so so excited about this weekend!!

It starts NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bye!

High Neuroticism

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have low extroversion. You are quiet and reserved in most social situations.A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you.You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people. Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness.You're generally good at balancing work and play.When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done.But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness.You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly.Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone.You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have high neuroticism.It's easy for you to feel shaken, worried, or depressed.You often worry, and your worries prevent you from living life fully.You tend to be emotionally reactive and moody. Your either flying very high or feeling very low. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is low.You're a pretty conservative person, and you favor what's socially acceptable.You think that change for novelty's sake is a very bad idea.While some may see this as boring, many see you as dependable and wise.

The Five Factor Personality Test

So Im a neurotic worry wart but people like me cause I give them second chances and always compromise...

hmmm....anybody have thoughts on that??

Balls...metaphorically

Don't you just hate it when all the balls that you juggle in life come crashing down around you and explode ALL OVER ?

thats me...yesterday and today...it sucks

its a shame cause friday and saturday were great...5 more LO's done.

but today...no cheeriness...im wallowing

just for the record...i will NOT be celebrating a holiday on sunday. although i appreciate those that have volunteered to be my "mom" I dont want someone elses mom i just want mine

Babies babies....

Seriously missing this little guy today! As soon as school is out they are moving back within my range. Im so excited!!

This little guy is baby number 9! Born April 27 he had a tough trip into the world but now hes doing good! He has the cutest chubby cheeks! I forget how they weigh nothing for a couple weeks. Holding him is like holding blankets...that cry and blink at you :)
Oh and heres baby number 8! She was born on April 7th. Ive been a bad auntie and havent seen her since!

So....Im all out of pregnant women...for now ;) Lots of babies to love on though...HAPPY AUNTIE!

Freestylin'

Freestyle Blog

This is ART. This makes me happy.

What should I do with my life?

Lets ask the blog quizzer!!

Your Scholastic Strength Is Developing Ideas

You can take a spark of inspiration and turn it into a full fledged concept.You are talented at brainstorming, visualizing, organizing, and independent thinking. You should major in: Natural sciences Computer science Creative writing Math Architecture Journalism

What Should You Major In?

My friend Jenny sent this to me...after she discovered that her chosen History teacher profession might not be an option. Sorry Chica!!

Easter...

Easter is all about the new clothes right?? haha...
Heres Alec in the cutest baby clothes ever...I swear its even CUTER IRL. Look at how big hes getting...2 months yesterday! I know its a cliche but DANG...they grow up FAST! The newborn stage is GONE...

The rest of my easter was full of good food and a couple margaritas. Lots of laughing and a bruise or two (umm...dont ask)

I miss my moms ham and potato salad but overall it was a pretty good day!

Happy List

Look Lisa....I'm actually DOING your challenge!!

Five things that make me SUPER happy!

It's FRIDAY!! How can you not be in love with that!!! And it's my early friday so I am out of here in a mere 5 hours!!

It's SPRING!! I swear I have that seasonal disorder thing cause as soon as it gets sunny again I become a different person!! I sing while I drive, I clean sometimes, I open my windows, I sit outside....I **HEART** spring

I'm SCRAPPING tomorrow!! And I have a bunch of pages preplanned so I might even be productive! I'm taking a handwriting class too! I like my handwriting but I am looking forward to learning some different lettering styles that are so popular right now!

My ART!! I'm in one of those creative times where the ideas flow and flow and I CANNOT stop them....And I'm actually getting some fantastic layouts done! And my photos are sucking less...Very cool!!

GIRLS WEEKEND is at the end of the month! Scrapping away the weekend in a mountain cabin....So....Much...Fun.....

Hope everyone has a super fantastic gloriously SUNNY weekend!!

Friends

Had a really great time with some of my best friends this weekend. Mike and Gina are my peace corp friends. They have been in Belize for nine months now and I have missed them soooooo much. They came home for a week to do some family stuff and Im trying to spend every minute I can with them. Our time was filled with LOTS of laughs and food and card games and pictures and memories. Really really nice! We didnt want it to end... Stayed up till 5am on Friday night and 4am Sunday night...LOL I am too old to be doing that much!! They leave on Tuesday and I will be soooo sad again!

Got laundry done and about 4 pages scrapped...thats all the productive stuff I did though!

Happy Birthday Mom

I miss you desperately!

Nothing changes it all stays the same

Why dont I update more often? Cause my life is an endless circle never moving forward and pretty damn boring to boot!! Happy time while creating, happy time with friends, angry at work, stressed about money, still alone...same story different day!

Baby Smell

Had some cuddle time with Alec Wednesday night. I adore newborns...mostly for what they give me cause im certainly helpless to give them anything. Hes so soft and fragile. he has beautiful eyes and long skinny wrinkly old man fingers. he has absurdly long toes and a huge mouth. he has a muffled breathy cry and loves to suck on his hands. when he lays on you his butt sticks up and he fits perfectly under my chin in the crook of my shoulder. he sighs in his sleep and twitches sometimes. he fills me with joy and hope and unspeakable longing. he is the most amazing miracle and I am in love

This is what I spent my weekend doing

My newest "nephew" born Sunday night at 10pm. Hes so impossibly tiny and precious and yes of course I teared up and of course I took a bazillion pictures. Here he is with his mom and dad! My best friend Amy and her hubby

For Wendy

Cause Im such a people pleaser
Cause she makes me laugh DAILY...sometimes even snort
Cause she practically dared me to
Cause she always says such sweet things about me
Cause she GORGEOUS


This is me laughing at her telling me to retake my self portrait cause apparently she likes my smile!

Crying, skating, the announcement...

Im eating ice cream for breakfast. Its the perfect way to start the day!

Watched the pairs figure skating last night. So beautiful it made me cry. I cant really tell you why, maybe the combination of the music and the people and the amazing artistry. Art is so many things but most important is that it touches someone. The art of those blades on ice, the bodies in constant motion, the twirling and spinning, the elaborate colorful sparkly costumes touched me last night and the tears fell. Than I watched those gutsy women kick some patootie on their boards and that was fun and exhilirating. So cool to see their passion!

Olympic commentators are the BANE of my existence....I detest them IMMENSELY....STOP RUINING THE BEAUTY! Talk later...I dont want the back story DURING the performance...let me enjoy it without WARNING me of the triple sow cow (yeah...no idea on that spelling) thats coming....argh.....i wanted to KILL them last night.

BIG IMPORTANT NEWS!!



















THEY GOT ENGAGED!!! My sister Cathi is getting MARRIED!!!
Heres the story in her own words:
Today is the two-year anniversary of my first meeting with Davy Costa. He sent me the sweetest text message: (translated) it says "Two years ago a beautiful blue-eyed princess arrived in Portugal. On this day she conquered forever the heart of a carpenter. I love you very much!" Tonight he came and surprised me at my house. (I thought he was at the men's meeting at church.) He brought me a "Happy Anniversary" card. He asked if I could go outside in the cold with him for a bit. (It is a school night, and a bit chilly here.) I said sure. We went to "our" park and he gave me a long-stemmed red rose. Then he asked if I remembered when we talked about how guys propose in the states. I said yes. (I had told him they get down on one knee and he thought it was funny.) Then, (we're still sitting side by side on the bench) he gave me a small (ring-sized) box. Since he just sat there and let me open it I didn't think anything of it. However, when I saw the diamond ring he pulled me to my feet and got down on one knee. He said, "Casas-te comigo?" which means, will you marry me? I said Yes! Just wanted to let you all know:
I'M ENGAGED!
Love, Cathi J.
PS. We're planning to marry next Christmas in Brazil. I hope to have a reception in the States, but of course you're all invited to the wedding

Of course Im totally thrilled for them and of course Im going to brazil for the wedding! Anybody want to guess how much plane tickets are? LOL

More important news: I applied for a new job, had my assessment test yesterday and have an interview TODAY! Ack!! Im nervous but I really think this is the right job for me so Im trying to calm down about it! If you think of me today say a prayer!

Olympics fever

Yippeee....it starts tommorow!!!!!!!!!!

I totally get goosebumps whenever the commercials come on! I'm a dork I know! I don't even know why it does this too me...Im not really a sports freak or anything and Im definitely not into competition. I think that for me its all about the back story! Finding out a little snippet of their lives and how hard they work for such a single minded goal. Its a little bit inspiring and alot goosebumpy. Oh and I cry LOTS...

Than there is the patriotism angle. Its neat to watch my country excel at so many things and watch our medal count climb. I know we always get lots of bad press for being dominating and superior but im going to be UN-pc and say....darn skippy yes we are!!!!!!

Why do you watch?

Tagged..yes....me.....by Amy

Can you believe its the TWENTIETH??? I cant....sheesh

Amy tagged me plus maybe a few other scrapgals so here it is!!

Four jobs you've had in your life:

Bookseller at B. Dalton
Office manager at a computer training center
Office manager and advisor at a small college
Receptionist for a Bail Bonds Agency

Four movies you would watch over and over:

Steel Magnolias
Napoleon Dynamite
Con Air
Titanic

Four places you have lived:

Tacoma WA
Kennewick WA
Spokane WA
Thats it....I have lived in like 6 different places in Kennewick but thats it.

Four TV shows you love to watch:

FRIENDS (yes...i know...but I watch the DVDs all the time)
LOST
Desperate housewives
Grays Anatomy

Four places you have been on vacation:

Seattle, WA
Victoria, BC
Portland, OR
Redding, CA

Four websites you visit daily:

ScrapGal
like 40 blogs
my bank

Four of your favorite foods:

Mexican
Italian
Chinese
American

Four places you would rather be right now:

Visiting my nephew in California
Visiting my sister in Portugal
On my honeymoon cruise to Europe
At home scrapping in my personal studio

Thanks for making me blog!!!

Smells...

So I have this thing about smells. Im sensitive to them...especially BAD ones!

*rotting food smell
*musty damp smell
*cat pee

But this rant has a point...I have stinky coworkers! Especially irritating today...
One is a smoker and an old man and its DISGUSTING...for real...I cant breathe sometimes.
And the other girl...I like her but she has this lotion that smells so sickeningly sweet that I wanna hurl when she puts it on! How do you tell someone that...ugh!

More baby...

Dont ya just want to EAT him up...I do!!!
Ummm...I really dont know the story behind the laundry soap bucket...my brother is weird.


Here he is with his mama...you dont even know how much I wish it was me holding him like that....course my jeans wouldnt be all holey like that but shes a hippie mama...hahaa

Update? You wanna update...

*Resolutions going well

*Still havent met my nephew

*My OTHER brother is pregnant...while the girlfriend, not him...hehee

*Got a box of scrappy love last night...FREE...details to follow

*Still need to do a christmas recap, a list of resolutions, and some LO pics

So there Amy, youre mostly caught up! Oh and Kelly Purkey is an awesome girl!