Party of Five

The One with the "Momma You Make My Heart Super Happy" Ditty

2012-02-23T17:15:00.001-05:00

Sitting here on my neighbor's front porch supervising a couple of mine and a couple more playing Mommy Daddy Kitty Cat. Pondering why it's easier to take apart and repair a washing machine then it is to deal with two head strong four year olds. Yep, the best part of my day was repairing a neighbor's washer. Those things can't whine and say, "Noooooooooo!". Sigh.

Here are a few more shares...

Biting the Bullet

2012-02-19T11:15:00.000-05:00

Oh the silly things I do to get a little time off from my day job. Started feeling a little crummy on Thursday. Fast forward to Saturday and I find myself in my local er. Nothing like a little bladder and kidney infection to land a girl on the couch. OUCH. Hubby took the brood to Awana/church this morn, Steph took my own Awanas class, and I'm at home resting & drinking mass quantities of cranberry juice patiently waiting for all of my rx to kick in.

With that said, it's been a busy time in the Dziekan household these last couple of weeks. Hubby is home for a few and what does that mean?!? Major Honey Do lists. Living a military family life means we do things a bit differently than most families around here. I spend the majority of my days as a "single momma" raising the brood on my own counting down the days until Daddy returns. When he does, we do glamorous things like get work done on Momma's car (can't have something happen when he is away), work on other Daddy only jobs, like feverishly building Pinewood Derby cars, and plan and execute much postponed birthday parties. Once all of that is done, we say our goodbyes, and then then hold on with both hands until he makes it back one more time. Only to do it all over again in another few weeks. Oh yea, this wife of a Naval Aviator stuff is oh. so. glamorous. not.

Just because my days aren't already filled to the brim, I thought this would be a great time to jump back into teaching with both feet. Or, at least start that proverbial ball rolling. I don't know where or when this trip will take me, but, I have started the process of becoming licensed in Virginia. I have renewed my Illinois licenses and requested my college transcripts. Two important to dos in order to complete my VA application. We shall see.

To keep my sanity, I do this...One of the many reasons I really love CHA time and spending countless hours at my computer screen perusing all of the new crafty wares is rediscovering my love for some of my older, read "hoarded" products. Note the yummy vintage Sass frames...

love the old Sass Felties, CI felt words, and Sass edges... Oh how I miss my Sassafras.

a new SC kit and some fun oldies...

A little instagram Heart Day love...

The Twins' Tea...

Things Really DO come in Threes

2012-02-09T12:45:00.001-05:00

So... Patrick is still up to his ears in workups in preparation for this year's deployment. What does that mean?!? That means Momma here is smack dab in the middle of the crazy chaos that is our life with 5 kiddos and a hubby who spends more time away than at home. So, with this latest "I'm a Single Momma" (said in my best Beyonce voice) escapade, I did my darndest to knock out the 3 bad things as quick as possible. I don't know about you, but when my hubby is away Murphy's Law really kicks into high gear. On day numero uno of this most recent workup, I had my check card compromised. So as to avoid any MORE unauthorized purchases on it, I promptly arranged the card to be turned off and began waiting patiently for a new card (and the ability to get $) to arrive. But wait, on Day # 2 I got a flat tire. In the rain. With all the kids. With no check card!! Well, that was fun. Nearly six hours later, we were all home safe & sound thanks to some great friends and two towing services!!

So, we go about our days filled with school & homework, cheer practice twice a week, bball practice once, 2 games on Saturdays, and scouts for the 3 on 2 days. We plug along counting down the days til Daddy gets back. Incident # 3?!?... Well, let's just say tiny preschool parking lot + way too chatty four year olds + someone else's brand spankin new car= the most teeniest tiniest scratch. And there we have Mr Murphy.

The kids are making sure our days go quickly and the Momma sleeps well at night...

The bball player...

The cheerleader...

The sickie. At least Mr. Murphy waited a good 24 hours after Donk returned for this one... It's the little things.

Scouts, scouts, scouts.

Look out Boy Scouts... here comes Bubba.

I have a ton of scrappiness to share. Here's a peek at my December Daily. I really do love this project. This is the second year I took it on, and I'm so happy I did. I used Studio Calico/Ali Edward's kit as the guts of my mini and added in a lot of my own stash. I enjoyed following along with Ali as she shared her ideas on this fun project. If you haven't made one before, I STRONGLY encourage you to do it. It is, without a doubt, my favorite project of of all time. Ever. If you have questions about the premise of December Dailys, I'd be happy to help.

Enjoy your week, Friends!!

Keep Swimming... Keep Swimming

2012-01-22T17:20:00.001-05:00

It's funny when you think about it. Not funny HaHa funny, but funny like ironic funny. Every time Daddy Donk goes away we seamlessly just transition into our new routines. I take over the groceries and the menus and the cooking. Brinner gets added to the weekly schedule. As does the ever popular Red Box & Pizza Fridays. We even quickly fall into our old roles when it's all six of us at the grocery. One of the Bigs mans the list, another chooses the produce and finds the staples. I go over our weekly schedules and plans and everyone is quick to fall into line like a well oiled machine. We even enjoyed a trip to the movie theater today which is a classic Momma & the Brood moment. We just gel. I'm proud of them. I know they miss their daddy, but they really handle this separation thing well. They are good people, they are my people.

More found pages I never shared in my crazy crafting December fog. I still love my Studio Calico kits. This one was Field Guide (October). Not exactly Jenny colors but so much fun to play with...

I am so absolutely in love with everything Amy Tangerine and AC have done...

Some more from Field Guide. Can you believe that is Sullivan?!?

How can u not love this goodness from Amy Tangerine?!?

Thanks for reading and come back this week for pictures of my December Daily...

His days & ours...

It's The Most Wondeful time of the Year

2012-01-18T20:15:00.001-05:00

Trying to get back to the things I love, spending quality time with the brood (read not losing my freaking mind), playing with paper & glue, and staying sane as we amp up this HUGE workup cycle. In reclaiming my scraproom from what was last month's Crafting Central for the gifting holiday, I found a stack of never before shared layouts. Here's a peek at some of the stuff that makes me happy.

This one is using the October kit from Studio Calico...

it has Sassafras papers, nuff said...

Did this one for a journaling prompt at Creative Soup. All of our addresses over the years...

Another fun prompt at Creative Soup (masking, any which way but loose)...

Using up some older Studio Calico to make room for this winter's Take Note!

Another fun prompt from Creative Soup. This one was about traditions. Used last years Christmas line from Basic Grey. This line is so yummy I actually bought it twice...

Sassafras + Studio Calico + Amy Tan, sigh...

************* I read an AMAZINGLY inspiring post today from over at the Huffington Post. I could not have said it better. Please take the time to read. You. will. not. regret. it.

Don't Carpe Diem.

Mah Na Mah Na Doo do Doo

2011-12-31T12:25:00.005-05:00

Lemme see if I remember how this works... Busy, busy, busy was I. December was consumed with all things crafty (for gifts), shopping, decorating, baking, and entertaining. The only other crafting I've so much as touched was my December Daily. I'm still plugging away on that, but will get you a peek of that next.

But first...
the Twinnies & Dumpa ringin the bells for the Salvation Army...

and the bigs could not be left out...

waiting for the Big Guy in Red...

back at Scouts x 3...

picking carols by the (fake) fire...

lots of school craftiness...

part 2...

one of my favorite pictures of the season: the Twinnies delivering a neighbor gift...

the Clauses at a miltary event...

love...

did I mention shopping...

Hope your days were merry & bright...

Jen

Our Early Fall

2011-10-30T16:00:00.000-04:00

in pictures...

A Bradford Cove shindig. Julia, aka Alex Russo of Wizards of Waverly Place playing a little pumpkin ball...

an unexpected visit from Daddy meant discovering lots of cool stuff at Daddy's office...

trick or trunking for an early Halloween at school, Fall Fashion, and getting Boo-ed...

more school fashion, Mustang football friends, and their view of the flightline from the hangarbay...

a peek into his world...

playime after preschool, crazy "brothers" being crazy, and the poser does pre-K...

Sassy working Daddy's desk chair...

more Trunk or Treat fun, Pumpkin patch fieldtrip with Momma, and Halloween treats from good neighbors...

More Studio Calico goodness...

He Knows Every Single Word. Every. Single. Word.

2011-10-22T21:00:00.001-04:00

Sitting in the family room. alone. watching THEIR shows. Is there something wrong with me?! You know you have lost all control of the "you" in your life when you get excited that My Little Pony has covered a Katy Perry song, yikes!!

Today marks yet another week in the "Daddy is at sea" books. Another red letter day here. Yesterday afternoon I got word that the location for Reagan's football game has been changed. I quickly crunch the numbers and realize I can swing both games in differnt locations and pictures for one, phew. Crisis averted. The alarm goes off at 0540 this morn and we get ready and off we go ... Only we find out that Reagan's gametime has been changed to 1015. That's great, but we are already AT the field when we find this out... it's 0745!! Ugh, so I get to watch the first half before we race off (minus Reagan) for the Sportplex for team pix for the Bubba. Fast forward to weighins... no opponent. Fast forward to gametime... no opponent. Ugh!! not again?!? All that chicken with a head cutoff for NO reason.

Well, I guess a win is a win, but those boys really needed a W.

Earlier this month I was lucky enough, crazy enough to get to volunteer to go on & carpool for the Twinnies' Pumpkin Patch field trip. This is my single most favorite-est thing to do all year long. They did not disappoint... The Poser and The Blur, see if you can figure out who is who..

Meeting THE Chincoteague ponies...

In between my deliriously dizzy days, I do play with my paper & glue. Did this one for Crop Suey using a stunning Studio Calico kit. Gasp, a layout about ME...

I hope your days are as filled and blessed as mine, Friends. I sleep now. Well, after Fred 2 ends. I have to find out how it ends, blush.

I Love My Cool, I Love My Cool, I Love My...

2011-10-10T09:45:00.001-04:00

Hello All! Thought I would pop in with a quick update. Have lots of scrappiness to share. I've been slamming through some older photos recently. Been using up some stash too. Gotta make room for ALL the new AC Amy Tangerine and the new Studio Calico retail lines. Love, love, love these! The above photo is the Twinnies on their first day of school. You'd never know from the picture, but Sullivan had an absolutely dreadful time the first couple of weeks of school. As soon as he figured out he could learn new stuff every time he stepped through the school doors, he was ready to go. A big change in his attitude from those first days of having to be pried off of Momma and being a "bit" rough with his sweet teacher. The twins really enjoy schoo now and love to request photo shoots as we head out the door...

this is ALL them, no prompting from Momma...

Can you believe these babies are them?!?

man, I'm gonna miss Sassafras if they stop making scrappy papers...

and this last one is my very sweet Middle, always Momma's baby...

Enjoy your day, Friends.

4-2-2

2011-09-29T14:57:00.005-04:00

Happy Almost Friday, Friends. Friends. What a great word. I can't tell you how blessed I feel when I think of my family & friends. I love all of them, but today I'm feeling particularly grateful for my military friends. They just get it, ya know?!? They get it & they don't judge you. Like today, one of my dear neighbors found me in my garage in tears and she hugged me and sat right down. I love that. They just know what you're going through and are always there to lend an ear. Or a husband. Shortly after, I answered my door to find more friends one of them with hubby in tow to loosen some bolts on my washer so I could take it apart yet AGAIN. Yet another reason I love living on base, I know there's always a hubby around when mine is not to lend a hand or a backdoor open to get some laundry done when my own washer is on the fritz. There's just something about the military lifestyle that just breeds this inner fire and independence in us. It's not an easy life, but it does have its moments.

Switching gears, the big boys both won their games on Saturday in the wet and muddy rain. So, much fun!! Love these pictures of the Bubba making the game ending tackle on 4th down to stop the Steelers from pulling ahead. Now THAT is what a lineman should look like!!!

Yep, that's him in the pile o mud being helped up...

love...

And here's my sweet baby running that ball...

Here's a sneaky of my project for Crop Suey's October challenge...

Did this one for another amazing challenge on Mojo Monday at Creative Soup. Wanna join the fun? They are doing a DT call!! I highly recommend it.

Enjoy your weekend. And enjoy your family & friends, too!

These are My Days

2011-09-26T14:35:00.002-04:00

Phew. Here I am again trying to catch up here in blogland. The kids started back to school just after Labor Day and I'm just now getting some pictures up. School is great. The bigs are great. And even the twinnies have gotten into the groove. I was soo worried about the new school situation. I've spent so much time second guessing myself. Did we make ther right decision moving?. Would this new elementary school be a good fit for the brood? Phew. I did & it is.

Julia came home from the first day with a phone number of a new friend and P.J. picked up where he left off at Oakland and has already been selected for Safety Patrol. Gotta love a ten year old in a bright chartreuse belt! Reagan is excelling in 1st grade and is loving the challenges he encounters. Julia's entire curriculum is gifted based, not just during pull-in time. Love that she too will be challenged, I don't want them bored. She's such a smarty pants!

Football is chugging along and both boys won Saturday's games. If you want to see the pictures from the Mud Bowl check back soon. They are classic.

Using up some yummy Christmas scrappy stash...

Enjoy your Monday. See you on the football field!

Every Day I'm Shuffling

2011-09-15T21:31:00.001-04:00

Not exactly sure what that means... Everyday I'm Shuffling. But, man, does THAT describe me to a T!! I keep going day after day. Busy, busy, but I keep going. Football practice got rained (stormed) out tonight. I should have been giddy, but R's team really needs that practice. They're young, this is most of the flag teams' first year and are just now getting it, ya know? Week 3 is this weekend and I'm totally looking forward to putting one (or 2) in the win column.

But, before I go there, I'll back up. The boys have been working so hard. Reagan is a happy little sponge just bouncing and sprinting and giggling along. P.J. on the other hand is hitting harder than I ever imagined and fitting right into this new organization and loving every little bit of his practices. Loving life being on 4 teams, starting O, second team O, starting D, and the return team. Sigh, seriously?!?

yellow pants, far left...

the girls at R's first game...

such a fun group of boys, I forgot just how adorable this age was (please don't tell them I said this, they are playing football, afterall)...

The Mustangs quickly fell behind, but kept coming back each time the opposition ran the ball back for a TD, this one ended in a tie. I'd call that a victory. Check out #44!

Shifting gears. Waiting for weigh-ins for Bubba's team...

And out of nowhere.

He did NOT make weight.

We were all blindsided by this. No one more so than he. My poor boy was so heartbroken & yet so strong remaining on the sidelines as his new team was destroyed before his very eyes. sniff sniff. That which doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger.

So did not want to teach him this lesson. He's smart enough already.

stonger. r we.

48 Slices of Bread

2011-09-14T21:39:00.002-04:00

Yoohoo, yoohoo?!? Anyone still out there ?!? I'm thinking our Super De Duper Summer Survival craziness of ours MAY have gotten the better of me. There was a week in there where I actually thought I couldn't do it all. I've bounced back from that and have moved on to actually doing it all, maybe even next year.

I'm thinking I may venture back into the real world. What do ya think? Can I juggle 5 kids, a hubby deployed, and a classroom of eager-faced cherubs for the first time in a dozen years?!? I think so. I'm going to start looking into what I need to do to get all my ducks in a row (whatever the hell that means) and see where that takes me.

In the meantime, the Twinnies finally celebrated the big Four with friends. A good time was had by all. With the exception of the stormy weather it was perfect.

3 girls in tulle...

eeks... who gave that girl a bat?!?

the same dummy who gave this one one...

man did they love these cakes from Miss Beth!!

Somewhere along the way I did find some time to play along with Crop Suey's September prompt: Numbers..

Love how this one turned out...

Lots more to share. Tons of scrappy stuff to catch up with. Football kicked off AND the kids are Back to School. See you tomorrow.

Welcome to the Creative Soup Blog Hop, Crop, & Challenge!!

2011-08-20T10:00:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the Creative Soup "Fun in the Sun" Crop and Blog Hop. We all decided to get together and have a blog hop with a fun twist! Each member will contribute a part of a recipe to make a layout. Go around to each of the blogs in the hop, and you'll have all the instructions for a great challenge! Put at least 6 of the recipe elements on a layout/project, and link it back to the challenge thread here.

My recipe element is lining things up on your layout. Take a look at Kim 's layout above, for a great example of this. This layout is from the 02.28 Mojo Monday.

Here is the list of participants in the hop and links to their blogs; up next is MARA.

And if you happen to get lost, remember you can always go back to the original challenge thread!

Tina: http://adogslife-thirteen.blogspot.com/

Jenifer: http://heldscraptive.blogspot.com/

Kim: http://randomsnippetsofasupermomintraining.blogspot.com/

Marsha: http://www.ordinarymoments-marsha.blogspot.com/

Katie: http://scissorsspatulasandsneakers.blogspot.com/

Dayna : http://daynahoward.typepad.com/blog

Jenny: http://www.scrappinjen-partyoffive.blogspot.com/ YOU ARE HERE.

Mara: http://studiolorange.blogspot.com/

The challenge is due 8/27 at midnight. Don't forget to check out the forum for a complete set of challenges from all fo us for the Crop. These challenges are due at the same time as well. Hope YOU win the prize!!

The Home Stretch

2011-08-19T13:30:00.001-04:00

Just a real quick post to make sure you don't miss out on the fun starting tomorrow at Creative Soup. We're putting on a week-long crop. The challenges go up tomorrow and you have an ENTIRE week to complete them. The challenges look like soo much fun!

Catching up with the brood & I. This one is soo in love, he'll wear a Hello Kitty hat without even batting an eye.

He does this 5 nights a week... Thank goodness the days are starting to cool off. Cool off means temps NOT in the 100's. Woohoo!!

This one roams the fields and grows up before. my. eyes. gulp.

gasp.

Where's Daddy's gun?

Still in love with Studio Calico kits...

Be back tomorrow in between football scrimmages and party preparations to post my part of the Creative Soup Blog Hop!

A Buzz Crush on the Way Off Base

2011-08-18T14:00:00.001-04:00

Loaded up the brood for a doctor's appointment this morn. As we headed towards Gate 3 to make our way back to Suffolk, we came upon the sight you see above. The parking lots surrounding the base chapel were wall to wall with cars, trucks, and motorcycles. There were policemen directing traffic at every intersection. As I rounded the corner the entrance to our church was barely visible , due to the motorcycles, Vietnam Veterans, and police vehicles/personnel lining the sidewalks and driveways.

Then, it hit me. One of those BRAVE strapping young men lost in the tragic Chinook crash of August 6th was being memorialized. Kinda puts my/your day in perspective, huh?

A couple of scrappy memories to share. This one was done for Creative Soup's Mojo Monday 08.15. Get Inspired: Nature...

Love the Studio Calico mists. If you're scared of misting, you must try these...

Did this one for Scrap That Baby's newest prompt... Just Like Mom (or Dad).

The journaling is in the teeny tiny envelope :Not sure where she gets it from... I mean, I love pictures, but mostly taking them. And Daddy is not one to jump in front of a camera. But, this ONE sure loves the spotlight! Summer 2011.

******Enjoy the rest of your week. Check back soon for Creative Soup's Fun in the Sun Crop & Blog Hop & Challenge starting on Saturday and lasting ALL week. Jenny

Wondering Out Loud

2011-08-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a week. If you are anything like me, when you heard about the horrific plane crash in Afganistan last weekend that took the lives of 30 US servicemembers and 8 forces from Afganistan, you probably took a moment to self reflect and say a quick prayer for the men & their families. I did this, but kept at it. The burning at the pit of my stomach just stayed there. Every time there was a reference on TV or a story in the local paper or I overheard a friend saying that "so and so" was preparing meals... I realized THIS one was really hitting me hard. But why? I always stop what I'm doing and tune in when I learn of another one of ours being lost overseas or in a training accident here in the states. Even more so when it involves a military airplane/helicopter.

But, I got to wondering why this incident was just hitting me so much harder. Was it because it's the single largest loss of life since the war started? Could be. Was it because it was so many of our very, very best? Was it because the men lost were mostly from the Navy family? Could be. Was it because they were all so young and handsome with beautiful families and wee ones? It may be hitting too close to home. Could it be because some of my neighbors are SEALS, or because many of those lost are from a base just down the road from my own home here on Little Creek? Definitely could be that. But, I think the reason this one is affecting me so deeply, is because it DOES hit too close to home.

I see the SEAL community a lot like our E-2 Hawkeye family. Close. Small. Everyone, I mean everyone knows each other. My hubby and his crewmates are the very first plane to launch from the carriers and also the very last to come back SOD. Safe on deck. Carrier aviation is exactly what you see on the Discovery Channel or in the movies. Absolutely terrifyingly difficult and nerve wracking. And often in the absolute darkest of dark. SEALS and carrier aviators both are a special breed. What they do brings them close, and we families in turn are close as well. Not many people get just what a challenge it is to do what we do and wait for the call or the text so we know they are safe for at least one. more. day. It's so nice to be in a community that gets it. I'm pretty sure this kinship is what those SEAL families are holding onto right now.

So, please tonight hold those you love just a little bit closer and please say a prayer for these fine men & their families. Prayers always welcome all around.

eta. this was written last week but have been having some major blogger issues. be back quick with lots of scrappy sunshine. hugs. jenny

The One With the SDDSS Week 7 Update

2011-08-09T15:53:00.002-04:00

OK, maybe "Super De Duper Summer Survival" MAY be a really big name for my brood's summertime fun, but this past week has really kicked my backside. We started football practice 5 x's a week on Monday. Gotta love the month of August in the Pop Warner world. We, read ME, with all the kids in tow will be dragging ourselves between P.J. and Reagan's fields every weekday night til the end of the month. Seriously?!? I'm exhausted just watching them in this heat. But, they continue to love it. Maybe not the conditoning so much.

Last week also gave me our library reading program, 2 sick kiddos, 2 doctor appointments for those 2, my final dentist appointment (yipppeeeee!!!!), reading tests for the Bigs for placement into their new school, an All Military Fun Fest (they gave away 7000 toys!), and a Lincoln Housing Out of this World event. Phew. Big, big fun was had. In between not sleeping much due to my poor little sickie, Sassy and her hacking cough and giving her breathing treatments every 4 hours around the clock. Ugh. But this too shall pass, right?!?

It took 2 tries, but we did get Sullivan to try out the backseat of the police car at the Fun Fest. He loves this stuff!

The JEB housing event was so cool. Down to every last blacklight neon detail. Here some of us are as we headed into the fun...

Love watching the light go on in Reagan's eyes as he picks up new skills...

Two more years Buddy. Two more years...

Trouble:

Come play with us at Crop Suey for a little vintage inspiration...

I think I have a very serious Studio Calico obsession.

Lots more to share. Hope you stop back real soon.

It's Not ALL Fun & Games

2011-07-27T22:35:00.001-04:00

Summer is sailing by. I've got the Bigs enrolled in their new school and the Twinnies are first on the waitlist at one of the local preschools. We've already begun conditioning for our new Pop Warner teams. Can't believe we start 5/week on Monday!! We all know P.J. loves his football, so he's in hog heaven to be knee deep in cleats already. It's Reagan's first year, and he seems to be loving it, as well. Lord knows this is a ginormous investment in time for ALL of us, so I'm thrilled they love it so. But, dang it's going to be crazy to be on the opposite sideline this year. We were Saints for FOUR years!! Gulp. Go Mustangs!!

Our summer hasn't been ALL movie premieres and bowling alleys and reading programs, we've also had some teeth falling out (by all three Bigs). Even a first for the Middle...

LOTS, I mean really LOTS of bike riding. But, seriously, Sullivan would spend 24/7 on his bike if I let him.

I caught this next one right after Sullivan uttered "Oh Little Girl I'm gonna get you," (he has a serious crush for our beautiful little neighbor girl). He's some kind of subtle, no?!? Yep, he's doing tricks at the ripe old age of 4...

Lots of scrappiness to share. Made the Twinnies some fun stuff for their party next month. Don't you just love the idea of a wand for Sassy?!?

More super fun BG Out of Print goodness...

Check back soon. I'm finishing up 4 more layouts featuring Studio Calico's July kit and lots more Instagram Love.

Summertime Freedom

2011-07-21T14:20:00.001-04:00

Enjoyed a little, no, a really BIG party thrown for the residents of our housing area last week. They don't do anything small around here. The event was catered with some spectacular bbq & all the fixins, and there were a ton of fun activities for the kids to participate in while the moms and dads visited with each other. There were carciature artists, 2 water acivities (good thing, it was SO hot), sand pail decorating, and cornhole. So much fun...

Oh did all the Big Boys have fun with this one...

This sort of reverse dunk tank was a riot!!

Loved this week's Monday Mojo at Creative Soup...

HAD to grab up some of BG's mid-release: Out of Print...

Yea, yea yea. I know I still need to journal this, but you know sometimes you just gotta be in that mood, ya know?!?

It's Our Life

2011-07-15T22:38:00.002-04:00

Say what you will about the much loved/maligned reality show Jon and Kate Plus 8, but there's more reality there than you might think. The last few years when they were still all together their tagline, "It Might Be a Crazy Life, But, It's OUR Life" really rings true for this harried Momma.

Last week was wrapped up with a day long celebration of these two...

Daddy had his first day off in 18 days. It was a treat as we had lots packed into the day and I was happy to have an extra pair of hands and eyes. We carbo loaded with these made by Daddy the chef...

After that we packed up the sunscreen and towels and headed to the pool. Oh man, did they love that!!

After a good nap we opened presents inside and then finished up in the garage... Yippee!!! do you have any idea of the agony these two were undergoing as they awaited the big day in hopes that they'd get big bikes?!?

Cake number numero uno. I can't get over their sweet expressions...

We wrapped up the day with dinner (pizza, their favorite) and a movie. We were lucky enough to enjoy another big movie event here on base. Including a red carpet, dressup, photographers, face painting, characters, snacks and sodas. It was a terrfic ending to a great day celebrating my babies. sniff sniff.

This one I had so much fun with. It has some instagram photos (surprise, surprise) and some July pix of the birthday kids. Scrap That Baby's latest prompt is Summer fun. I'd say these photos fit that bill. Swimming, Movie Stars, and Slurpees...

Enjoying one last weekend together before Donk is off. What Summer Fun do YOU have planned for this weekend?

The Busiest Bestest Exhaustiest One Yet

2011-07-11T22:00:00.001-04:00

Seriously?!? I just checked the calendar and we're only on WEEK FOUR?!? Yikes. Super De Duper Summer Spectacular is only 22 days in the can?!? Now don't get me wrong. You know I love living here, I mean everything is within like 5 minutes/5 miles. Every cool free or next to free kid activity is right here with my name on it. But, we only just started week 4? I'm pooped. My dogs are barking like when I was waiting tables 85 hours/week.

But, man it is soo worth it. The kids are literally having the time of their lives. If they're not out running the neighborhood (like we did when we were kids), they're hanging with all of their new friends, or we're off partaking in some fun movie premiere/reading program/bowling game.... you get the picture. Last week was a big one, so I will spare you and split the post. So ya know you gotta check back for the post with the twins Big Day!

Up first, more instagram love... New digs for the girls' bathroom and Miss Julia's bed. Wonder where the girls get their love of pink?

For The Fourth on the third we had a little alley barbeque with three other families. So, much fun...

Not great pictures, because there's no slowing down the Fun Train . Oh well, I see their smiles and that's ALL that matters.

This week's 20 Buck or less fun was Shrek Forever After complete with popcorn and soda for 6. Totally underestimated this one. It was great. The crew is really looking forward to the next installment.

More Studio Calico June goodness with a TON of stash thrown in. Consider this kit killed.

This last one is for this week's Creative Soup's Mojo Monday. You really have to come play along.

Be back with the Twinnies Birthday Fun soon.

The One with the Recap of Week 2

2011-07-02T22:32:00.001-04:00

Between falling into our summer routine AND Donk starting workups (in and out of town for days to weeks at a time for the next year), we've gotta lot of stuff going on. The kids and I are keeping busy with our Super De Duper Summer Survival AND starting our usual Just Me & Them Fun. Friday was Red Box/pizza night. This is one of those things we do just when Daddy's away. We also have brinner (breakfast for dinner), family game night, and baking with Momma (baked goods always make everything better, right?) I've found it's really helpful for the kids to have fun activities to look forward to, to help them forget Daddy is away, if only for a little while.

Super De Duper Summer Survival is in full swing, too. We got together with a couple of friends and hit the bowling alley. Can't beat a buck a game including shoes!! I'm all about a bargain when I plan are fun.

We're very serious bowlers, as you can tell...

Even better then a buck a game is FREE. The Navy Exchange at NOB is celebrating it's grand reopening. There was lots of fun stuff going on this week, including a Meet & Greet with Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens. Bubba was in hog heaven. The rest of the kids really enjoyed the complimentary energy drinks. Bad choice, Momma. Oy.

On the scrappy front, I sneak away to my craftroom as our busy sched allows. More Studio Calico June stuff. I think this makes 10 layouts!

Week three is on tap. Check back for the Twins Turn Four!!

The One With All the Sunbeams

2011-06-30T10:00:00.006-04:00

Just popping in with a quickie post before we're off on another installment of Super De Duper Summer Survival... We're going to the alley. Yep, the brood and I are going bowling. Don't you just shudder at the thought of Sassy & Puppy with big round heavy orbits of destruction?!? Sigh. Wish us luck.

Been playing more and more with Studio Calico's June kit...

Finishing up a couple more tonight. Later.

The One With The Week of Many Firsts

2011-06-26T21:30:00.001-04:00

Just in case the world ends tomorrow, we managed to jam enough into the first week of Summer to last us. The week started off with Fathers' Day which included church, bowling and barbeques. So much fun! Daddy was happy to get to spend some time with the brood outdoors...

The brood and I kept busy while Daddy was flying this week. We signed up for the base library's summer reading program. While there, we checked out a LOT of books. I mean a LOT of books. Like 19 books. They were thrilled with their choices...

The twins had their first movie theater experience this week, too. And at Cinema Cafe, none the less. Happy little people...

But, Friday was the piece de resistance!! We went to the (one of 4) U.S. Premiere of Cars 2. It was at the base theater with popcorn and drinks ALL for free. There was also a costume contest (which got us into the theater wait-free, in front of 1600 people!), 3 of the kids won and got to meet Mickey Mouse. Radio Disney was there to entertain and give away prizes while we waited for the main evbent. Reagan was chosen to participate in the opening of the show. I was so proud of my brave boy on that stage in front of that crowd!! The movie was fantastic. But, more than that the whole circus of the whole event was just so much fun. Just one more perk of living here on base. I told Donk, I'm not leaving here. He can come back and visit us when he's transferred. wink.

Studio Calico goodness...

Be back soon, peeps!

The Last Week of School

2011-06-19T22:15:00.001-04:00

The last week of the 2010-2011 school year. A photo essay, if you will. It was exhausting and busy and emotional all rolled into one. Oh yea, it even involved sirens and an ambulance.

Up first. the week ended with flip flops & smoothies ands Red Box/pizza night. Yep, we did survive.

It started with P.J.'s mini Olympics. A day chock full of school spirit and great kids doing their very best. To be one of 10 students chosen from your school to represent at a district-wide athletic event was so awe inspiring!! That's Bubba, the tug o war anchor in burgundy.

Poor Reagan, the do gooder was checking on a lost dog. Before...

and 10 stitches later...

The Twinnies (& the Momma) spent waaaay to much time in the truckster...

Reagan, pre-dog incident posing for a pix after his awards assembly. Julia and P.J. also had lots to be proud of at their own.

I did this when I wasn't ferrying kids or cheering them on...

This one is for Scrap That Baby's latest prompt: Storytime. You know you wanna come play...

This one was for Creative Soup's Mojo Monday 6.06. Scrap a favorite vacation memory. My Dad and my sister...

Phew. Still with me? Thanks. More fun is planned for this next week. Check back soon.

Bridging, or Otherwise Known as Awkward Grins for Momma

2011-06-14T21:50:00.001-04:00

Are we the last schools in the US of A that are STILL in session?!? I think this one last week may just be my tipping point. You know I drive 800 miles per week schlepping the Bigs to and fro school?!? Monday was Reagan's one and only awards assembly... that I missed. P.J. was one of 10 students at his school chosen to represent Oakland at a district-wide Mini Olympics competition. So, Bad Momma had to go to that and forgo the Kindy fun. Today was Julia's assembly and tomorrow is P.J.'s. I'm (trying) to make up my absence to Reagan with some special Momma time after #1's assembly. A couple of cookies and chocolate milks from the cafeteria should do the trick, no? The rest of the week are "Half Days", otherwise known as Jenny is stuck in Suffolk for the day until the last bell. ugh. I'm so ready for this school year to be over. At least until the middle of next week and the brood is terrorizing my house and each other and I start counting down the days until the 2011-2012 school year. I know, I know, never satisfied am I.

These last few weeks may be draining, but they've been fun & eventful too. P.J. crossed over to Webelos 2 and Julia continued on her Brownie way...

Sneaking in some scrapping with some older pictures and some fun stash mixed with Studio Calico/Sassafras's December exclusive papers!! Look at the Twinnies who will be FOUR next month on their first Christmas...

more to come soon, thanks for stopping.

a little instagram love...

2011-06-05T21:00:00.000-04:00

About a year ago a couple little cuties, who shall remain nameless...

dropped my cute little red slider cellphone into a diet Coke. Hmm, what to do, what to do? I did what any good Momma would do, I bought a cra**y replacement ( a fancy schmancy, not! gophone from Wally World) phone to last me until I can upgrade. Well, fast forward 2 more phones and my magical upgrade day arrives.

Enter my iphone. Bells chime, bird chirps, angels sing. Sigh. I love this techie wonder. It's allowed me to capture some great moments in just a matter of days. Like this one from the Bigs' SOL celebration...

And this one of Daddy and the littlest lady at Bubba's Cub Scout Bridging...

This is an older photo that I was able to spruce up with the amazing instagram iphone app.

The little fairy flittering to & fro...

Daddy captured this one on his iphone and I added a little instgram love. P.J. getting his first military id....

This was my first and still a fav...

Besides going all techie, I've been playing with Studio Calico's May kit. Totally lifted the bingo card idea from the amazing Stephanie Howell for jbs...

***************do YOU have any favorite apps? Enable a girl, please...

2011-05-27T09:34:00.003-04:00

A random trip to Taco Bell last week got me thinking. The brood and I needed to waste time between pick up time at the Bigs' school and the start of Girl Scouts. Seeing as I'm already making 2 round trips (VA Beach /Suffolk) every school day til summer vacation, I'm staying in Suffolk in the afternoons when we have scouts in the evenings. I mean c'mon... as it is I'm driving 160 miles per day or 800 miles a week. Well, last Monday, we cleaned up at our old house, did some homework, and then headed to Taco Bell for a quick bite to eat before dropping Julia at Brownies. With Donk in town, I really don't bring all 5 very many places these days.

So, I was reminded of what those days are like by a random comment from a bunch of older ladies passing our table as they left Taco Bell. Now mind you, the kids were behaving very well enjoying their tacos and helping the little ones with their taco sauce and taking them to the restroom. While one of the ladies was cooing at the kids' cuteness, she made a remark that stuck with me... "Is someone having A PARTY?" I'm soo familiar with these types of comments that I quickly retorted, "You should see our house, it's always a party". This sweet woman thought I was entertainig a group of my child's friends. I couldn't POSSIBLY be the lucky Momma to all of them, now could I?!? When Patrick was on his IA in 2009 and on his deployment to Afganistan in 2010, I got comments EVERY SINGLE place I went. Most people were well meaning, even when they make the most callous comments... are they ALL yours?!?... were they planned? well someone has her hands full! are they all YOURS (meaning are some Dad's, some mine, and some "ours?" and some of my personal favorites... are you done?!?... are you crazy?... better you than me... Well, you get the picture.

I know most of the people who made these comments and the like really only intended nothing malicious. They're just curious, and that is totally natural. But, I will never forget the woman in the checkout line at aisle #7 at Wally World who stared at the brood as we waited nicely behind she and her husband while they checked out. When I couldn't take the staring and nervous edging further and further away from us, I exclaimed something like, " Aren't I just the luckiest Momma ever!?" That sure shut her up. With hubby starting workups this month that will continue until he deploys a year from now, I'm sure looking forward to doing my shopping/eating/playing here on base. Those comments, at least the clueless ones will be few and far between because I'll be with my own people. People who get it. People who understand what I'm dealing with and will be happy to support me when I go a little crazysauce from all these darn kids I have!

A little scrapping, not my favorite, but at least I'm getting back to it...

Bye!!

Welcome to Hidden Valley

2011-05-22T08:30:00.000-04:00

The new house isn't quite ready for it's closeup. (We still need to fill the walls with all of the pretties, and find a home for the last couple of boxes of cr**, I mean toys). But, since I didn't want to leave you hanging for too long, I thought I'd show you a sneak peek. Yep, we just moved into the Hidden Valley commercials.

I'll give you a second to let that set in.

No, really, I'm serious. This place is THAT wonderful. I love letting the Bigs have free reign of the couple blocks surrounding our house including a park! As long as I know about it, they can play unmonitored whenever they wish. The twinnies can even ride their lowriders in the alley behind our house. The neighborhood is amazing. There are kids and dogs on every corner. You see families taking walks or riding bikes every way you turn. Little boys show up at your doorstep in matching sweater vests bearing homemade cookies with THE MOST PROPER introduction I've ever heard. Moms show up with dinner for 7 including veggies grown in their gardens!! Thump. No, really. It's totally like Mayberry 2011.

So, so easy living, I tell ya. I love that I took 4 of them for a walk to the NEX and we came home with a curling iron (for Julia's big night), a bottle of wine for Momma, and 4 packs of gum for the kiddos. A win, win situation I tell ya. My life is already easier and Donk hasn't even deployed yet!! Can I get a Woot Woot?!?

Hid out in my scraproom on Do over Mothers Day and made a few...

Be back soon with pictures from the Daddy Daughter Dance and some more fun stuff made with paper & glue.

I REALLY Shouldn't Be Doing This

2011-05-06T20:00:00.000-04:00

No, I really shouldn't be doing this. The twins are asleep. Julia is off for the weekend at a campout with Brownies. Reagan and Bubba are headed to bed shortly. Hubby is steam cleaning the last of the carpets. After that, I'm on mopping duty. Tomorrow morning Donk's crew will be here to pack the truck. The kids will be dispersed amongst friends. By tomorrow evening we'll all be in the new house. Sigh.

While I packed and Donk made trips to the new house. The kids did this...

And I dreamed of doing this in my new scrapbook room. Please go check out my first layout for Crop Suey. You really should join in. Lots of inspo and you know there will be goodies involved HERE.

Will be offline until Sunday morning. sniff sniff. I pity the fool from Cox Internet who shows up even a minute late. Til then...

171 Cardboard Boxes on the Garage Wall

2011-05-01T21:09:00.007-04:00

Taking a quick break from the boxes and packing tape to give you a peek at the brood plus one on Easter morn and to share some scrappiness.

Lots of scrappy stuff to share... Every quarter Creative Soup puts on a free AMAZING crafty class. K did some wonderful stuff with this one. Come check it out and play along at Creative Soup. Here's a little tease.

Creative Soup Free Spring Class: Get Messy!

Class Overview: We are gonna get messy!! This 10 lesson class will try to help you to incorporate multiple fine art (and fun art) supplies into your everyday scrapping projects!

We will be working with some really fun and messy art supplies--some which have already worked their way into mainstream scrapping, and some which might seem a little further out there!

We'll have step-by-step lessons, photographs illustrating each technique, and unlimited Q&A sessions!

Please join us starting Monday, May 2nd for our first lesson!

There is never a fee for any of our Creative Classes! So come join in on all the fun!!

In other scrappy news, I put together a simple tutorial for Scrap That Baby. You can find it here. I changed up these cheapy little notebooks into these fabulous creations. These would make great gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week.

Be back soon with my first reveal from Crop Suey...

Nine Days

2011-04-28T08:24:00.001-04:00

Nine days. That's how many days til I hear the beep beep beep of the 26 foot moving truck backing up to my Suffolk house. Yep, D Day is almost here. As of yesterday, I have packed 148 boxes. I'm down to clothes, the kitchen, the good stuff in my scraproom, and miscellaneous stuff here and there. I'd say that's pretty good for doing it all myself in like 4 weeks. Nine days and what am I doing?!? Blogging. That's ok, I'll be back to it soon enough. The cardboard aint goin nowhere unless I say so.

Easter was good to us. Sunday was filled with a visit from the NJ Easter Bunny(Aunt Deb & Uncle George via the big brown truck), and brunch at my favorite brunch place in Smithfield on the water, and a wonderful Easter service at church. Sigh, will I miss THAT place. To think we've been a part of that church family since my oldest, now 10, was FOUR!!!!

So we won't be TOO photo heavy I'll leave you with a peek at these crazy baskets my brood got from NJ. I'll share more of Easter weekend next time.

Please join us for this. I really can not stress to you how much you NEED to join this site. You will never be without inspo and a friend ever again.

Please join Creative Soup for its Grand Re-Opening Gala!

May 1st through May 8th

Festivities to Include:
Start of our May Class
4-Day Crop
Live Chats
Prizes
Games
and lots more!

***Black Tie Optional***

This one I created for Creative Soup's 4.25 Craft Inspo Mojo Monday prompt.

Aren't hexagons such a fun shape...

New Cosmo Cricket Upcycle goodies. Look it how sweet Puppy was on his first Christmas...

The reopening Gala at Creative Soup is the First. My first project for Crop Suey goes up that day, as well. I'll be back soon to share all of those projects with YOU. Thanks for stopping, and I adore your comments. They do this tired Momma good! <3 Jenny

If The Shoe Fits

2011-04-19T23:00:00.003-04:00

Choo choo, the crazy train continues. I keep packing and the brood keeps on unpacking. Oh, where did that toy come from? Oh, I want to read THAT book. Oh, I can still fit in that pirate shirt. Oh... squirrel! The Bigs are home on Spring Break and we're stuck inside due to a rather pleasant stomach bug and these darn pesky boxes. I do reward my endeavors with frequent breaks to enjoy my surroundings. Once such break was volunteering in Reagan's class. I was lucky enough to get to read to the class and help out with a couple of craft/math activities. It was so much fun to be back in the classroom. Now THAT is like riding a bike. But, the highlight of my visit was helping out with the Easter Egg Hunt in the school's courtyard. The very same hunt I volunteered for when P.J. and Julia, too were kindergarteners. I will miss this place next year.

The oh so proud boy. He has this crazy grin on in every picture when Momma is in his class.

A new lady friend...

The Twinnies with their completed craft and a new friend , as well.

Had to show you this closeup from my last post. I just love how all the little details of this layout for Scrap That Baby came together.

This next one I did for Creative Soup's Mojo Monday. The PROMPT 4.18 was to find inspiration in a shoe. This one was an easy one for me as I have always been inspired by the cute little shoes my kiddos wear from Stride Rite. Here's my take on the prompt and the shoes that inspired me. Please come play along... the forum is hopping with chatter and creativity.

Ninety-Six Boxes

2011-04-14T16:07:00.006-04:00

96 Boxes. That's how many boxes I've packed since this latest installment in the Dziekan Family Adventure began. I've sorted, purged, and packed for about 3 weeks and I still have a few more weeks (and boxes) to go. To try to keep my sanity in between the cardboard and homework and usual household fun, I've been scrapping as much as possible. This time around I played with Studio Calico's On the Easel. I think I've done enough damage to that kit, it may be time to retire it. Sigh, once again the colors and the goodies were a home run. I can't share 2 of the pages as they're for Creative Soup in the coming weeks. Hint hint.

Speaking of Creative Soup, in honor of the BRAND SPANKIN NEW site, we're hosting a week o fun starting on the First. Please come join the forum and get ready to be inspired. You won't be sorry. Do it HERE.

I CAN share this layout I did for Scrap That Baby's newest prompt. SBT challenges you to pull out those ultrasound pictures and get scrapping. This one is priceless to me. The twinnies in all their in utero finest. Totally had to stitch in honor of my newest scrappy crush... Kin.

Another layout for fun using the awesome On The Easel. Stay tuned for two more to go live at Creative Soup on 4/25 and 5/23!

Be back soon with all the gouge on Creative Soup's Spring Class: Get Messy!

Jen

Creative Soup Spring Forward Blog Hop

2011-04-08T20:00:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the Creative Soup’s Spring Forward Blog Hop!

To kick off our new enhanced site we thought it would be fun to have all of our creative team members complete one of the fun Mojo Monday challenges from the first quarter.

To participate in the blog hop leave a comment for me and follow the link to go see Katie, the next Creative Team member’s blog to see what they came up with! Go through and leave comments on all 9 blogs and be entered into a drawing for an amazing prize pack. The blog hop runs from tonight Friday April 8th at 8pm Est through Monday April 11th at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be drawn on Tuesday! If you get lost along the way, please go to our blog at The Creative Soup for the complete listing.

Creative Soup Blog Hop
Main Site: blog
Jessica Bree: http://www.jessicabree.typepad.com/
Mara: http://studiolorange.blogspot.com/
K: http://www.rukristin.blogspot.com/
Jenny: http://scrappinjen-partyoffive.blogspot.com
Katie: http://scissorsspatulasandsneakers.blogspot.com
Dana: http://datatar.blogspot.com
Jenn: http://heldscraptive.blogspot.com
Stevie: http://www.srkerr.blogspot.com

Don’t forget to register at http://www.thecreativesoup.com/ to join in all the fun!
Here is my take on the layout as well as a showcase of a Creative Team member’s original project!

Quarter 1's original challenge: 1.17 Mojo Monday: Catalog Inspiration

We talk about using ads for inspiration all the time. But this time, I'd like us to take a look at a catalog. You may have some left over from the holidays, or you might be starting to see some of the new after-holiday sale catalogs coming out. Retailers sent out catalogs through the mail, leave them out in the stores, and post them online.

The process of creating a catalog, or even just a catalog page, is very similar to that of creating a layout. First you have the photoshoot, then the editing, then getting everything down on the page in order to convey a message to the reader.

For this challenge, I'd like you to go through some of your catalogs. If you don't have any left in person, there are some great ones online that you can flip through. Anthropology.com has their three latest catalogs online.

Some Ideas to get you started:

--Lift a catalog spread (take inspiration from the colors, photo placement, the models, the tone, etc)
--Use parts of the ads directly on your projects (this is especially great with catalogs where they make a magazine-catalog with extra art added in)
--Have a "catalog inspired" photoshoot and scrap those photos (this one is great is great to scrap those holiday clothes, or fun dress up time!)

I just love what Kim did with K's fun challenge. Kim used this ad from Anthropogie...

to inspire this precious layout. Gotta love the oversized frame and the floating butterflies.

For my take, I took K's challenge a bit further and didn't get my inspiration from a print ad, per se, but from my toddlers' television show ads. If you're like me and have little ones at home, you've found yourself instantly inspired by the incredibly delightful illustrations between the shows on tv's Noggin/Nick Jr channel. I took a couple of screen shots to trigger your memory. Note the whimsical flowers and the button faces.

All of that inspo, led me to FINALLY create this...

*************** Good luck and happy hopping. I'm sure you'll be inspired by this crew! Jen

Prizes AND a Creative Soup Blog Hop Tomorrow

2011-04-07T21:05:00.001-04:00

Come Join Us as we relaunch Creative Soup at It’s new home!
Starting 8pm EST Friday April 8 we will be hosting a Blog Hop to celebrate the relaunch of The Creative Soup’s new forum!!! http://www.thecreativesoup.com/
Who We Are:

The Creative Soup is a new scrapbook challenge forum that started in January 2011. The idea of The Creative Soup is to create a site where scrapbookers can come to be challenged and inspired all in one place. We have a fun vibrant and growing community of really supportive people who are there to encourage one another in our craft!
Creative Soup has several challenges and events to help people get their mojo going!
1. Mojo Mondays: Weekly challenges that rotate between four different kinds of challenges (AAM, Sketch, Inspiration, and Random). We find that challenges are a great way to jump start a layout and to encourage people to scrap more! There are monthly badges and a drawing for prizes for people who complete three out of four challenges.
2. Quarterly Classes: Every quarter our amazing Design Team will present an in-depth month long FREE class to really get your creative juices going. Each class comes with fantastic tutorials, clear and concise directions, and multiple completed samples to help inspire you.
3. Fun inspirational threads that post each week including: Talk Tuesday (journaling prompts), Web Wednesday (cool DIY projects), Thrifty Thursdays (Getting the most out of your scrap supplies), Font Friday (featured online free font), and Snapshot Sunday (photography challenges/ideas)

So come and register at http://www.thecreativesoup.com/ to join in all the fun!

And be sure to stop back Friday April 8th to participate in the blog hop and earn a chance to win a cool prize pack!

Seriously... Where DOES the Time Go?!?

2011-04-04T14:00:00.003-04:00

So, what's shakin Hot Stuff? Busy, busy here. Over the last few weeks we've been busy with family visiting from out of town, making plans to move (locally), birthday celebrations and plans, plans plans. Gotta love a life constantly in a state of fluidity. At least it keeps one on one's toes!!

Had a wonderful visit with Geega & Dumpa and Aunt Debbie and Uncle George. They spoiled us with their time and fun stuff too. We celebrated a belated birthday for Julia and a very belated Christmas while they were here. Fun, fun, fun. One of the highlights (at least for Sullivan) has to be Sullivan FINALLY graduating to Big Boy status and receiving a much-loved Hess truck from Deb & George. Oh Happy Boy.

Someone else celebrated a birthday, as well. This one was a true milestone. Hubby celebrated the Big 4-0. Way too much was to be had on that day(s) for sure. This picture will have to suffice.

More news to share HERE. I guess I GOTTA make time to scrap with all of these new teams to play with, huh?!? The moving moxes and sorting and purging will have to wait. On that note, we were lucky enough to get through a typically year-and-a half-wait list to get into base housing in TWO MONTHS. so, as of the end of May, I'll be a Virginia Beach resident. Can't wait for all the fun stuff that will bring for the brood. Let alone not having to listen to Donk complain about the commute from he double toothpicks any longer. Can I get a, "Woot Woot?"

My last few projects for Scrapbook Express. I had a blast designing with their fantastic products including this Twig line from Little Yellow Bicycle.

Later. Is it Spring in YOUR neck of the woods? It sure is here... well, today anyways.

Change is Never Easy For This One

2011-03-18T14:00:00.001-04:00

Well, I told you I had some news. I've joined the Creative Team over at Creative Soup. Creative Soup is a relatively new challenge blog/forum. I am absolutely floored by this new and fun concept. This is not your momma's challenge blog. It has an actual FORUM and GALLERY where members can chat, be inspired, ask questions, and share their stuff. Genius!! There is a ton going on at this place to inspire you, get your mojo flowing, so that you can create, create, create.

Mojo Mondays are a great way to kick off the scrappy week. Mondays bring you new challenges each week rotating between various topics including Get Meaningful, Get Sketchy, Get Inspired, and Get Crafty. Complete some challenges and earn ca-yute badges and be entered into a drawing for some scrappy goodness!

Creative Soup offers amazing free classes every quarter. The forum provides very detailed instructions and journaling prompts. I have never seen such a lenghty involved class offered in a free forum. I can't wait to get started on May's event!

The week doesn't end on Monday. Tuesdays offer Talk Tuesday to give you the opportunity to get to know your fellow Soup-ers better. Web Wednesdays bring you great projects and links from the web. CS does the web surfing for you! Thursdays are Thrifty Thursdays. They give you ideas to stretch your scrappy dollar. And Fridays are all about fonts. CS offers wonderful font finds and the links, to boot. Don't forget about your cameras, either. Sundays are Snapshot Sundays. The girls provide a fun photography challenge each week.

Creative Soup has monthly crops with challenges, games, and prizes. In fact, one just started yesterday. March Madness Crop goes through the 21st. Go HERE and join the forum and get started. See you there.

Before you go... Some fun new stuff for Scrapbook Express.

And, of course a little something for Scrap That Baby's newest prompt. Go make something and you may just win a wonderful prize from this month's sponsor, Ally Scraps.

That First Step is a Doozy

2011-03-15T21:00:00.001-04:00

I know, I know, I keep saying, "I'll be right back", and I end up being a no-show to my own party. Not even sure what's eating up my blogging time. Well, anyways I'm here. I'm enjoying the off season around here. This is the only time of year where we have zero kids in team sports. We're "off" until Spring soccer fires back up. Now, that should be fun. All FIVE will be playing for the first time. Excuse me while I go take a nice, long nap just at the very thought. In the meantime we're keeping busy with Scouts times 2 and just the day to day life with the Fab Five.

Gotta give props to my last baby getting potty trained. Yep, after 10 years, 3 months, and 3 days STRAIGHT of having a kid or kiddos in diapers... wait for it... Sullivan is potty trained. Whatever to do with all that free time?!? Here he is enjoying his reward. Heck, I would have bought him a full-size dump truck had he done it at 2!!

Tons of scrappiness to share. Have I told you lately that I love banners?

Did this for a DT call. Hmm, I may just have something to share. Wink.

Can you say stash? Yep, used up some super old, I mean yummy Fancy Pants acrylic shapes and Amy Butler butterflies.

More Studio calico Back 40 love...

Thanks for checking in on me. Love reading your comments. Appreciate that you take the time to do it. I've got STB and Scrapbook Express stuff to share. Later.

She May Be Daddy's Girl, But She's ALL Me

2011-03-05T15:42:00.009-05:00

So... the girl turned 8. Yep, not sure how but she survived the drama that is her, and turned EIGHT. Don't quite know what it is, but there's something about that age for a girl. No longer little girl and oh so darn close to that dang 'tween age. Ugh. No, double ugh.

Donk started planning the big day around the same time he was planning Bubba's #10 celebration. This year's game plan... Spa Day for Julia and 3 of her besties. They had a ball getting their hair, faces, and nails done. All the while enjoying Cokes, candy, cookies, and cupcakes (from the new cupcakery around the corner, any excuse for Momma to finally check them out). You seriously have not seen 4 little girls this dang giddy. They were all giggles and skipping and lollipops and sugar. So happy was I to be there to take it all in. It was THAT special.

Life continues to be character building. So, I play with paper & glue as much as I can. Here are 5 layouts using Studio Calico's Back 40 kit (and the pp add-on). I have 4 more in the making and still lots more to dig into. The first is a double layout for Project 12 for January. Not in the journaling mood, so that will come...

******P.S.: Yep, I made that birthday badge for my girl (scroll back to the very first image I shared today). I started with some Sass classic scraps, some hoarded ribbon, mostly AC, and the Tim Holtz rosette diecut for my Epic 6. I tore apart an old birthday badge and just started punching, gluing, flocking, and layering. This is my new favorite thing to make. You better look out, if YOU have a birthday coming up, you just may be the recipient of one of these little ditties!!

*************P.P.S. Double yep, more stash usage today. Gotta love your stash. Are you with me?

Today, I am... February Edition, Part Dos

2011-02-24T22:15:00.005-05:00

Today I am thankful for Diet Coke ON TAP from McDonalds. Pure bliss. Forget the recipe for the special sauce, just tell me how they make this Coke!

I am thankful for little girls' shoes that sparkle just like they do.

I am thankful for the "hot chair" in my Yukon XL that always goes on accidentally when the temperature is 110 degrees outside. These days it works wonders on my poor, old back.

I am thankful for the promise of Spring. It's getting light outside earlier and earlier. This makes it soo much easier to wake my sleepy brood.

I am thankful that I can still calm a crying toddler awakened by a nightmare involving monsters with just the sound of my voice and a "Momma's here."

I am thankful for three-year-olds who CAN'T listen to Pink loud enough while running errands with the Momma.

I am thankful that my hubby has a job that makes him happy. AND, one that allows him to fly up to Philly to pick me up a couple of these to sample and compare. Sigh...

P.S. All the layouts were done either for or over at Scrapbook Express. If you need lots of fun challenges to get you scrapping, that is the place to be!

Today, I am... February Edition

2011-02-24T08:15:00.003-05:00

Today I am thankful for...
Little boys who can be entertained for what seems like hours by all things with wheels.

I am thankful for Stouffers every once in a while. Stouffers means I only have to empty and run the dishwasher once a day. This is nothing short of a day "off" in my book.

I am thankful for kids who set their sights high. Enjoyed taking the three Bigs to Applebee's to enjoy their free meals they EACH earned for being good kids at school.

I am thankful that I, I mean P.J., finally earned his Webelo's badge. Phew I'm pooped.

I am thankful that P.J. still thinks it's cool to be chosen to be for Safety Patrol at school. Only the best were chosen, and that's what he is.

I am thankful that I've been blessed enough to stay home for my kids. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be the room mom for each of my Bigs' Kindergarten classes over the years. There's nothing quite like bonding with your wee one and their friends over a little paper & glue. These memories will be with them forever.

I am thankful that God blessed me with a mini ME, for better or worse... She IS me.

I'm thankful for my own time to play just a little...

P.s. This last one is for Scrap That Baby's newest prompt. Come play along with us. The girls on this team have mad skillz and you want to be inspired by them!

Every Day is Groundhog Day

2011-02-10T10:43:00.008-05:00

Every day. Every day I drink Diet Coke on ice. Every day I tell someone to stop looking at their sibling. Every day I pick up clothes off the floor and hang-up damp bath towels. Every day. Every day I make breakfast to order for 5 kids. Every day I tell the Middle to stop kicking random toys around the house. Every day. I empty and fill the dishwasher. Every day. Every day I wait for the standard soft kisses from the twinnies at naptime and bedtime (mouth, nose, head, each cheek, each eye...) Every day. Every day I hound my Cub Scout to work on his assignments. Every day I "watch" the news on my Ipod at bedtime. Every day. Every day I pour half apple juice/half water cocktails for Frick & Frack. Every day I rotate laundry. I don't do it. I just rotate it. Every day. Every day I marvel at my children's sheer brilliance. Every day I shuffle to and fro to the bus stop with the wee-est ones either running too fast or trailing behind to see off the Bigs. Every day. Every day I tell my older daughter, the one who is so smart and pretty to slow down, no REALLY slow down. Every day I ask the hubby how his day was. Every day he tells me something along the lines of "fine". Every day. Every day I watch Yo Gabba Gabba. Every day I look at football cards with my Biggest. Every Day I hear the constant drone of, "I Want You." Every Day. Every Day I heavy sigh the pure exhaustion and repetition that is my life. Every day I am thankful for my happy little family.

Every Day.

Some fun scrappiness just for the folks at Scrapbook Express...

These last ones are just for little old me...

All Good Things Must Come to an End, Part Deux

2011-02-04T10:03:00.001-05:00

Had to at least touch on Christmas. Seeing as it's already more than a month past the big day. Just in case you were worried that we completely missed a visit from the Big Guy, I have included the first picture of the day...

and the last (Julia enjoying the Crayola Crayon Maker with Daddy) as proof. Now we move on.

Never really thought of us as the bird-watching types, but we've really enjoyed all of the birds that populate the feeder outside of our family room window this time of year. The bird feeder was for Sullivan and is dutifully filled by Bubba and Reagan. The enormous treeline behind our house also allows us to see even more great aviaries. P.J. has taken to reading his bird book from the school library and filling us in on the different species. Who woulda thunk the big lens for my Canon XS DSLR that I bought for Pop Warner football games, would be used for nature pictures, as well. Please tell me I'm not getting THAT old!??!

I mentioned that my LSS All About Scrapbooks was closing. I made a couple of trips into Chesapeake to say my goodbyes, not only to my friends and the owners, but to the store, as well. While there I begrudgingly dragged a chair around the store and took down tons of my layouts. Here's one I made for a monochromatic challenge I never had the chance to share here...

Fun stuff for Scrapbook Express. All of this is available here.

With CHAW just wrapping up, that means lots of new goodies are going to be heading my way in the coming months. What does that mean? It means it's time to Love Your Stash...

Can't wait to stock up on all the new Sass...

Been scrapping like mad this month already. Be prepared for more Love Your Stash layouts soon...

Twinnies On... Everyday

2011-01-22T21:00:00.002-05:00

Yea, yea, yea. I know, I know. What's with the Christmas themed photos?!? Christmas was weeks ago. I know that because there is only one tree taunting me with it's droopy needles and dangling bead garlands. Yep, just one. We downsized our Christmas this year, as we ONLY put up 6 trees, down from last year's 8. I totally missed Christmas here in blogdom what with all the hecticness that is my life... class parties, folks in from out of town, shlepping kiddos to sports/scouts, wrapping, shipping, and crafting. But, before we move onto the promise and fun that 2011 holds, I need to share 2 things from last month.

Growing up in Chicago, I always looked forward to the official start of the Christmas season... the bellringers. My dad was never one to walk past a Salvation Army red kettle without dropping in a donation. He's semi-retired these days and has been talking about picking up the bell, this year he did it. Right here at MY local WalMart while my folks were in town for the holiday. It was soo cool to see him right outside my own WM in the bitter cold with my brood. The Bigs spent one of the 3 hour timeblocks with him. Dad being Dad, arranged to have 3 bells that day(one for each kiddo). They had a great time ringing away and setting a kettle record, twice. The twinnies also got in on the action and spent some time with Dumpa. These memories are so priceless for me(and them through my photos in their scrapbooks). Check out Puppy charming the ladies and ringing that bell...

The other bit of Christmas ketchup is the crafty gifts I made. Excuse the cra**y photos as I took them in the middle of the night before hubby boxed them up and got them off in the mail. I made a TON of gifts this year for family, teachers, and friends from bragbooks to my old standby clipboards to planners to treatcones to wall calendars. For your visual enjoyment...

And some crafting just for me. A little Sassafras love... I know, shocker, big shocker.

Not quite sure why, but I love these Sass lines with Halloween. Something about the unexpected...

This WOULD have been my last project for All About Scrapbooks, but it morphed into Scrap that Baby's 1/15 prompt, "Holiday Baby". I have such a paper & glue crush on this Dear Lizzy Christmas line. So sad to see my LSS, my scrappy "home" for almost almost my entire scrappy life close at the end of this month. Sigh. Please support your brick & mortar stores. It's just heartbreaking to see another one go by the wayside.

Some fun We R Memory Keeper's for Scrapbook Express...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Friends.

Double Digits or I've Been Carrying a Diaper Bag Every Day for a Decade

2011-01-06T09:17:00.000-05:00

Love this photo. It is the essence of my Bubba's life. Always surrounded by the rest of the brood. EVEN on his big day. My oldest turned the big 1-0. Yikes. How did THAT happen?!?

We spent the morning of his birthday at...wait for it... Bass Pro Shops at Christmastime. Every 10 year old boy's dream come true. There were guns and boats, and remote control trucks involved. Ahh, this is the life. The boy deserves all he desires and then some. This kid has it all. Kindness. Smarts. Brains. Humor. Mad athletic skillz. Empathy. Compassion. And boundless energy. Plus, he has my heart for ever and ever.

Here he is enjoying the fruits of my labor. (No, not that 20 plus hours of labor followed by an emergency c/s). The 5 am door buster labor I stayed up ALL NIGHT for on Thanksgiving.
He loves his new limited edition orange DSI.

On the scrappy side of my world, I have some last projects for Croppin Paradise to share. Croppin Paradise's store is still open with tons of new product coming in daily, but they have disbanded the DT there. So, my 12 months of fun designing with the scrapbook industry's latest and greatest have come to an end. You can still get all this great stuff (Basic Grey's Jovial, Dear Lizzy Christmas, Jillibean Soup's Chestnut Soup, Crate Paper's Restoration) there...

Still playing ketchup here, so check back soon for another fun update. Hope 2011 is treating you well.

The Middle's Not So Little

2011-01-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

sigh. deep breath. here goes nothing. 2010 is behind me. 2011 is ahead. i can see clearly now, and it's going to be a great year. it has to be. there are NO other options. I hope you enjoyed your family this holiday season. The older I get, the more time that passes, the more cemented it becomes to me, just how terribly important family is. I have been blessed with 2 of the most amazingly perfect parents ever. And now Patrick & I have been blessed with 5 of the most amazing, smart, and special children of our own. Only good things are coming, only good things.

So... enough of this horrible drivel. Lots to catch up on here. First up is my middle's 6th birthday. Big fun when you're 6 often involves strangely cute bowling shoes and Mighty Beanz...

Bubba assisting Miss Sassy on the lanes...

I told you, it doesn't get any better than this...

Seriously?!? LOOK at that smile!

ok, ok, I've got TONS of scrappiness to share. Did these for Croppin Paradise. I think I may love this Dear Lizzy line even more than her debut Spring line. It is THAT yummy...

Made this one for CP, too. It was my part of the 12 Days of Christmas we featured. (I told you I was behind)! I never give away stuff I make. I'm very selfish that way. But, this one I made just for Mom. It was worth it, oh so worth it.

This one uses some fun stash and a Studio Calico exclusive pp, too. This one was for Scrapbook Express's December Progressive Layout Challenge. Never done one of those before, let alone help organize one, but it was SO much fun!

October Afternoon hit another homerun with this Seaside line. You can find it in the Scrapbook Express Store HERE.

Hope you're not sick of banners yet...

A little Alphabet Soup love for Scrapbook Express...

And, I can't leave out Scrap That Baby's last prompt for 2010...

Lots more to catch up on. Thanks for listening. I treasure each and every visit you make here and each and every comment you leave. Happy 2011! Jenny

Meeting Miss Scarlet

2010-12-15T20:00:00.000-05:00

Hiya!! Waving furiously & jumping up and down to get your attention. Alot has gone in my not so simple little life. I would never bog you down with the dirty details, just know it's been a character building time in our family's life. And, we done be filled up to our gills in character. Probably enough to last a lifetime. But, that which doesn't kill you only makes you stronger... Man, you should see my pipes!

But, that's not why you're here. You're here for some crafty inspiration and a chuckle or two to help get you through YOUR character building life. So, without further delay... I've been asked, more than once, how I get everything done that I do. I mean, I AM a mom of five and the wife of a man who serves our country. Well, it's simple. I make lists and break the bigger tasks into more manageable steps. Like blogging, for instance. I typically keep a list of things I'd like to chat about and use that as a reference when I sit down to upload photos (both chaos-related, ahem, family-related and crafty) for the post. Then, in the evenings, after the dinner crumbs have been brushed away and in between preparing lunches and pulling five sets of clothes for the following day, I sit down with my lappy and compose a post to go along with the selected photos.

So... that's how you arrive at my blog today with Sassy climbing out of a trailer that LOOKS to be filled with the cold white stuff we know as snow. Well, that would be the case IF I prepared this post today, but alas, this post was started back in October when the walls started coming in around me personally. I just couldn't let this special day I spent with the twins and their classmates go by without me mentioning it here. Frick and Frack on their first fieldtrip... at the farm.

Some scrappiness using MME's Alphabet Soup. Love this bright, happy fun line. Did these for Scrapbook Express.

Random goodness...

A fun Sassafras page for Croppin Paradise. All of these goodies are still available in the stores.

Even though things have been off, I still have TONS of fun scrappy assignments to share, so be back soon, k?

THEY Are Why I Keep Going

2010-11-09T12:37:00.007-05:00

Still kicking. I am. Still kicking. I figure if I keep repeating this, I will believe it and carry on.

Back to your regular programming, already in progress. The Fab Five on my favorite non-red/green holiday...

The Bigs on Storybook Character Day at school. Tell me again why we can't dress up for the Halloween, but we can do THIS which magically falls on the Friday before Halloween?!? She's Fancy Nancy. p.s. I made those silly shirts for the boys.

Football season/cheer season ended with Little Bit's cheer competition. So proud am i.

yep, put that Cricut to good use...

No words... I took 100's of pictures, I totally took it easy on you. Meet Tinkerbell & Peter Pan, Luigi of the Mario Bros, Alex Russo of Wizards of Waverly Place, and Captain Rex of the new Star Wars.

Did these for Croppin Paradise's Fright Night Crop and for the blog...

Hosting the newletter article/challenge over at Scrapbook Express this week. Come play with us...

More Scrapbook Express goodness...Don't ya just love that new Tim Holtz paper rosette die?!

This is my November kit at Scrapbook Express. You can buy everything you need to make this including detailed instructions by yours truly.

And this last one I did expressly for Scrapstreet Magazine and Scrap That Baby. My very first pub. Love how it turned out. You can see it all here. That's me in all my glory on page 44.

Any Given Sunday

2010-10-19T11:09:00.001-04:00

check that... make that any given Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday. During the months of August, September, and October our lives consist of football, football, and more football. No, really I'm serious. Our entire Saturdays are built around football games or for lack of a better term cheerleading games. P.J. plays starting right tackle on our local Junior PeeWee Pop Warner team. Julia cheers for the same team, just at the Mighty Might level. They practice a total of 5 days a week and play 2 games on Saturdays. Thank God for my GPS. There is NO way I could navigate from point A (home) to point B (Julia's game), to point C (Bubba's game). All the while managing at least a couple of other kids, 2 chairs, a camera bag, a diaper bag, and fully stocked cooler. You'd think that with this being our fourth year in the Pop Warner Saints family, I'd remember just how much I really don't enjoy Bubba's games. I mean I really do, but the games are just so darn stressful. But, I am besides myself with pride. P.J. had to move "up" to the Junioer PeeWee level because of his size. So, this year was to be a building year. That is, he would practice and just play the minimunm plays all the while waiting for "next year" to get some actual quality game time. Much to ALL of our surprise, he started game #3 due to some rotating of players due to an injury on the line. Lo and behold, he's started every game since. Proud of my not so little guy. Most of the competition doesn't even have 9 year olds, let alone starting ones.

Suffer through some football snapshots and then I'll share some scrappiness...

He's #48...

Daddy at the Packers/Redskins game. We manned the couch...

Did this one for Scrap That Baby's October 15th prompt. There still time to play...

This is my class this week over at Croppin Paradise...

Some Basic Grey Oliver fun for Croppin Paradise...

Reminisce for Croppin Paradise, too...

We R Memory Keepers and BoBunny for Scrapbook Express...

Life as a grownup is a little too challenging these days. That's the cause for my absence from here. HOPE to be back before too long. Thanks!

Happy WCMD

2010-10-02T11:59:00.003-04:00

Yep, you hears me right, it's World Card Making Day. We've got lots of fun planned for you over at Scrapbook Express. You have until Monday at midnight to complete any or all of the challenges for your chance at 1 of 3 gift cards to the store. Come play. Here are my examples for my challenge...

And some more random scrappiness for you to enjoy on this fine Fall day.

I know... I have NO SHAME mixing new Sass with Halloween products...

Later Gators!

It's All about Accountability

2010-09-27T23:00:00.003-04:00

Can't chat. Too much scrappiness floating around my brain right now. PLUS, hubby is in the next room "enjoying" the Packer/Bear MNF game. Yikes. I have piles of scrappiness to share. First up are these two I did for the Design Team call at Scrapbook Express. Plan on seeing a lot of stuff from me for them over the next six months, or so. Wink.

More just random stuff... this one for a challenge at the Scrapbook Express Blog

I could roll around in new Sassafras... for Scrap That Baby's newest prompt in honor of Grandparent's Day.

For All About Scrapbooks...

I love last year's Making Memories Halloween line... Look at how small the Bigs were.

More new Sass love.

Later. Gotta run and make some lunches and get make to my paper & glue.

9 Hours... It Aint ALL That

2010-09-22T20:00:00.001-04:00

OK, before I even start. Let me just say this. I am NOT complaining. I really do enjoy my 3 hours thrice a week when I am seriously all alone in this house. {Although it is unbelievably bittersweet, but I'll save that for another day.} It's just, well, it's THREE hours. I find myself second guessing every activity/chore/whatever I begin. I end up flitting around from one activity to the next always wondering if this is indeed worth my valuable freetime. And this really is all she wrote. Frick & Frack while thriving at school, will no longer nap for Momma. If Daddy puts them down they're typically asleep in about 5 minutes. Momma? Not so much. So school time really is the only time to undo the damage that this Party of Five creates. I know as the weeks go by I'll get into my groove and the To Do lists will start getting shorter and shorter. But, until then, should I really have picked up the Twins' room only to have them go on a dumping bender upon coming home from K3?!?

I have soo much stuff to catch up on. We're 3 weeks into the Pop Warner season. Our Saturdays are filled with this...

I SWEAR I'll be back soon with a ton of scrappiness. I have like more than a dozen layouts to photograph and post. But, until then here are a few...

This one is straight IRL. Love me some Studio Calico (do I sound like a broken record?)...

I found all three of the newest Sassafras lines at CKC last month. Swoon... Did this layout for my article over at Scrap That Baby. Seriously, I love their new chipboard flowers. I want to decorate an entire room with them. Or myself.

Using some fabulous Making Memories stash. Who would have known I would have loved that printed masking tape?!?

Did this for a design team call. HINT HINT. Didn't use it, but do love these photos...

More Studio Calico goodness. Yes, I know I'm missing an "N". It's somewhere in Farmer Jesse's field by now.

Happy Hump Day!

Gulp.

2010-09-10T10:00:00.001-04:00

Note the time on my Yukon's clock Wedenesday morning. You'll soon see why.

Note the number of piles of school clothes.

Do you see a pattern here? Did you count the number of lunchboxes? For the very first time in my 9 plus years of being a mother, I was alone. All of our children were in school for the first time. Even when I only had 2 or 3 kids, there was always a baby (or 2) at home while the Bigs were enjoying school. Not this year. Not as of Wednesday September the 8th, 2010 at 8:24 am. Three days a week I have my mornings all to myself. Crazy, I tell ya. So many people told me I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Boy were they right. Even though I've had a To Do List as long as my arm for the last several years, I found myself wandering the house from one chore to the next. This will take some getting used to. I'll keep you updated on my progress as I get into my new, new routine. Yet again.

Lots of scrappiness to share. this first one I did for one of my own challenges from my Scrap That Vacation crop at Simply Obsessed. The challenge was to scrap a piece of epherma.

Studio Calico love...

Snuck out two weeks ago and took a couple of classes at CKC Virginia Beach. Love, loved, loved Candice Stringham's DSLR class. Studio Calico's Masking and Misting Class taught by a local girl (Nicole Samuels) was messy and fun. And there was Sass involved. Sigh. Here's what we made...

Lots more to share. Hope to be back to share the rest later this weekend.

The End & The Beginning

2010-09-09T07:44:00.000-04:00

I'm here, I'm here. I don't know why I always think things will slow down when donk getas home. While my to do list is much smaller with hubby taking over menu planning, grocery shopping (WAHOOOO!!) and (for the most part) dinnertime, our world remains crazy crazy busy. Pop Warner season is in full swing with 5 practices and 2 games weekly (between the 2 kids) and the new school year has begun for the Bigs.

I have LOVED having Daddy home this time around. He is truly enjoying his time with the brood and really makes a point to do special stuff for and with them. Like soda in glass bottles with bendy straws on the last night of Summer...

One of the Bigs mentioned having a lemonade stand. Hubby planned it and encouraged them to pick a charity to benefit. Seeing as it was the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon weekend, I suggested donating the proceeds to the MDA. Kinda perfect seeing as I raised money for them as a kid pushing my sister in her stroller door to door in my own neighborhood. They had a blast. But, there is NO way they sold as much as they consumed! We're sending off the $15.52 tomorrow.

The rest needs no explanation. Reagan, my kindergartener. Sigh.

Waitingfor the bus...

Waiting for Mrs. Jefferson to start the day...

Donk needs to get that shotgun asap.

No, really.

Some things NEVER change.

But they do get older right before your eyes. Double sigh.

Just in from the bus ramp.

With our Sassy.

Ahh. They're home. We... I mean they made it.

I found another video of our homecoming in July. So special to us.

*** Please check back soon I have a dozen scrappy things to share. Thanks for listening.

Right Here, Ohh, Right Now

2010-08-26T16:30:00.007-04:00

One month ago today. He came home. Alive. And we quickly slipped into a new routine. I often get asked, "How do you do it?". My usual retort is I'm not quite sure, but we do what we need to do. Some days I do it MUCH worse than others. There are many, many days where I swear that I can't do it for even 5 more minutes, let alone X # of months. But, each new day I put my big girl panties on and carry on. Why? Because Patrick would be a bear to live with if he was flying a desk somewhere. Because, he has a job and so do we. AND, because we have days like this...

Woke up at zero dark thirty and got showered. Woke up the brood and got them going. As we were headed to the already packed car, I checked facebook one last time. I notice a status update from a friend that the highway, my route to hubby's homecoming is CLOSED. Thank goodness my stand-in hubby Chris hadn't left for work yet. I battled my GPS and my nerves and we safely arrived on base. I squirmed around the long line of cars and pulled into a spot on the flight line. We went inside and waited. And waited. I nervously met some of the other wives I had chatted online with , yet never met face to face. The media was there and I was interviewed several times. And we waited. Sometimes we were good...

Sometimes we were just plain silly...

Oh my did we wait. Then we heard over the radio they were nearby. We lined up at the hangar doors. And we waited. and then one of the kids, I think it was P.J. thought he saw the E-2's over the horizon.

He was right. They were almost home. We still had to wait through the pretty formations and breaks. And then one by one. Each E-2 landed, taxied, folded it's wings, and taxied to us led by Daddy in 600.

Hugs, tears, kisses, and more interviews.

She would not leave his side. The twins had grown up so much while he was away. But, they didn't hesitate this time. They ran straight for him. And never left him.

All of them actually...

He was home. They were playing and he was grilling.

Until next time.

Proud Mama and Scrappy Heavy...

2010-08-23T20:00:00.003-04:00

If you only look at one photo here, you must scroll down to the fourth one. Thump. Even Donk took a second look. It's THAT perfect. It is SO them. She with that mischievous smile and he with his sweetness showing through. Sigh. We did survive. What a day. To say it was monumental in our household, would not be an overstatement. Just one month past their third birthday, they went to "cool". "My cool and Puppy's too."...

Yep, he is that adorable...

So excited... And, not JUST about the pink glitter light-up Stride Rites.

A little nervous,

but not that nervous. THIS IS IT!!

Running off some nervous energy...

Oh yeah, nervous... No, you go. No YOU go first.

Ok, proud Momma moment over. Now onto some fun scrappy stuff. A little somethin somethin all available in the shop at Croppin Paradise!

Another project I created for Croppin Paradise's Camp Paradise...

And, the stuff I put together for Simply Obsessed and my Scrap That Vacation Crop...

New favorite yellow paper here. Studio Calico. sigh.

The latest Scrap That Baby prompt Step By Step and a Studio Calico kit with more OA love.sigh.

hope to be back soon. thanks for listening. sigh.

Scrap That Baby Blog Hop

2010-08-18T06:51:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the Scrap That Baby Sweet Summertime Blog Hop! Thank you so much for hopping along on our first blog hop EVER!! If you didn't come from Sara's blog or you popped upon this blog another way and would like to join in, please go to Scrap That Baby and start the hop! You will need to comment on all of the blogs for a chance to win one of the grand prizes listed at Scrap That Baby. Plus many of our fantastic designers are giving away RAKs of fun on their blogs, as well. You don't want to miss out. There are MANY MANY chances to win!

Our theme for this blog hop is the Sweet Summertime! Our designers will be sharing fantastic summer projects, stories, tips, or ideas for keeping cool and having fun in the summer with a baby in tow.

For my project I made a cheery layout to document all the little things I did to keep my wee ones busy this summer while we waited for my hubby's return from Afganistan. My favorite part is that trail of 6 planes up top (representing the 6 of us at home) and the one solitary plane below symbolizing my hubby. Man those babies missed their Daddy!

I'd love to give away a little scrappy something to one of you. just leave me a comment AND become a follower, if you already are, just tell me that and I'll enter your name for a RAK from one Baby Momma to another.

************Our Blog Hop runs from today August 18th through the 22nd at midnight EST. Remember, to be eligible for one of the prizes at Scrap That Baby you must comment on all of the DT's blogs. Sarah will be drawing the names of the winners on Wednesday!! Good luck!

Now go see the uber fabulous Maya HERE for the next stop on the STB Sweet Summertime Blog Hop. Thanks for hopping by. Hope to see you back here soon.

Sittin On a Suitcase, Waitin' for a Ride

2010-08-13T11:15:00.001-04:00

All of my Scrap That Vacation Crop challenges are up at Simply Obsessed here. Please come play with me this weekend. I put a ton of work into it and would love some company. AND, you can see what I've been keeping from you all these past weeks. Lots of new eye candy for my challenge samples.

Kept my last Camp Paradise challenge layout pretty simple. Wanted to keep the focus on those JB Playdate papers and the photos of Miss Sassy. Camp is wrapping up this weekend with a Talent Show. Hope you can join us...

Happy 3rd Birthday Simply Obsessed!! C'Mon & Hop Along

2010-08-12T05:00:00.005-04:00

Welcome to my Party of Five blog & Simply Obsessed's Blog Hop to celebrate it's 3rd Birthday. I'm one of the designer's over there. It's a totally fun place to hangout and chat and Heather creates some amazing kits. You should have reached me from Andrea's blog, if you arrived here another way and would like to join in on the fun you can go to the SO blog here to get started.

As soon as I heard we were going to be doing this blog hop with a birthday theme, I knew just what I wanted to make. My youngest kiddos just turned 3 and I knew I HAD to make a shadowbox to commemorate the big day. I picked up a cheapy little box at Mike's and started playing with some favorite goodies of mine: October Afternoon K & Co Handmade, and Girls' Paperie diecuts. The key to creating a cool shadowbox is to add layers at varying depths. Some of my stuff is even added to the outer frame and the glass within. Hope this will inspire you to make a little crafty something yourself.

**** Ok, now that we are done here, head on over to SO member Brianna's blog to continue on the SO 3rd Birthday Blog Hop. Don't forget YOURS TRULY is hosting the Scrap That Vacation crop this weekend. We've already started the fun with signups and a game. Look for a Pre-Crop Challenge later today in the forums. The rest of the scrappy craziness will start bright & early tomorrow. Can't wait to "see you" over there. Hope you enjoyed my project and will come back and visit Party of Five again.

**** Leave me a comment and tell me what you're most looking forward to with Fall quickly approaching and I'll draw a name for a little RAK O Fun.

Still Here... I Swear

2010-08-09T22:10:00.001-04:00

These last 2 weeks seem like a whirlwind to me. I still want to re-cap the Big Day (Donk's homecoming), just not yet. We're back in our rhythm, a new one at that. As much as I look forward to hubby's return, it always takes some getting used to. We have OUR way of doing things, and he certainly has HIS. It like a weird kind of tango as we put it all together. Tonight will surely test the balance as we have 3 events on the schedule... football, cheerleading, and soccer. We shall see.

Switching gears, Croppin Paradise continues it's month-long Camp Paradise. I love this layout I did as a sample for my Camp Spirit challenge during Week 3.

Scrap That Baby's newest prompts are up. The linkie is on my sidebar, as is Croppin Paradise's. STB's was to scrap something nursery-themed. The current prompt is "How I Met Your Father". Such great stuff has been added already and you still have until the 15th to add yours!

Yep, another banner. I need a 12 step banner program. Can you hook a girl up?!?

And one last kit for Simply Obsessed. I've enjoyed my run there and look forward to my next scrappy adventure. Simply Obsessed is lots of fun due to Heather's great kits and all the fun girls on the boards. So, here ya go. Pink Paislee's lovely Queen Bee...

Wonder who this is for...

Check back here Thursday as we kick off Simply Obsessed's Birthday celebration with a Blog Hop. That is if you'd like a peek at my latest shadowbox creation. Teehee, such a tease.

The Party of Five & Us is Complete

2010-07-25T21:44:00.004-04:00

We went from this (the last brinner (breakfast for dinner) of the deployment)...

to this!!!!

Be back soon with all the fun details. Thanks for all the kind comments and support.

Must.Learn.To.Say.NO!!

2010-07-22T14:47:00.006-04:00

My three regular readers know that very rarely do my blog titles have anything remotely to do with my ramblings. The titles usually have something do with what's going on around the zoo, I mean house and it's my way of reminding myself AND it's a cop out on my part, so I don't have to come up with some clever little title for my antics. With that said, I actually wanted to chat about a couple of these said titles before I forget. Take Wednesday's, for instance. "I Kill Em With Kindness". What the hell is that all about?!? Well, I got to thinking on one of my trips to WalMart the other day. Most of the people I/we encounter daily are pretty cool about the size of our family. That is, I usually get some fairly benign comments like "You've got your hands full" or something along those lines. It's typically said with a knowing smile on their face, I agree and head down yet another grocery aisle with the twins on their puppy dog backpack/tethers, a shopping cart, and 3 more kids in tow. But this time I look up at the couple checking out ahead of us in aisle 7 (yes, I shop there so frequently I have the aisle #'s memorized), and the woman locks eyes with me as she has just finished panning over each face of my brood. SHE WAS TERRIFIED. Before she could even compose herself she mutters, "Are they ALL yours?" Without skipping a beat I put on my fakest smile and retort "Yes, and aren't I the luckiest Momma ever?" She about fell down. The nice lady couldn't get out of there faster. Didn't anyone ever tell her if you can't say anything nice...

Switching gears, I really must learn to say no. Our days are just so jam packed with activities only a crazy person would think they could juggle it all, solo. But, I do. I really would like to say no, if only occassionally. Last weekend was filled with a doctor appointment, a trip to the er at midnight, a birthday party, and a Scouts get together at the skating rink. I should have just walked out when I ordered 5 small sodas for the kiddos at the snack bar at the rink when she tells me there are NO LIDS! After the wee-est ones spilled 2 sodas and after Julia ended up on the floor (in the gameroom, NOT skating) screaming bloody murder in pain, I decided to call it a day. And head home. Sigh. We really don't have to participate in every single activity. It's not like he'll lose a Scout badge or something. Plus, I don't ever get a badge for showing up. Rant over.

Donk is home on Tuesday. Stay close. Camp Paradise continues at Croppin Paradise. Here's Week #2's Arts & Crafts challenge. Come play with us...

p.s. peanut butter gets gum out of a hysterical 5 year old's hair. Good thing, wouldn't that look pretty in the photos from Daddy's homecoming?!?

p.p.s. last Brinner before Hubby's return tonight!!

I Kill Em With Kindness

2010-07-21T18:06:00.001-04:00

I hope this Hump Day is treating you well. I'm up to my elbows in Hubby's homecoming (next week, yikes!) preparations, scrappy projects, and kids' activities. Standby for a completely random post to give you a taste of what we've been up to. Hold on.

First up, there's still time to get in on Week #1's Challenges at Camp Paradise. You really don't want to miss out on all the fun and the AMAZING GIVEAWAY!

Frick & Frack are growing up, and it was never more obvious then when they turned the
Big Three back on the 8th. There were lots of photos to document the big day.

It was go, go, go all day. Dropped off the Bigs at camp and then headed to the store. They enjoyed some yummy doughtnuts for breakfast

before we headed to the park in all our birthday finery...

Exhausted and HOT we returned home for a quick lunch and naptime. Then it was back to the Y for the kids before we let them attack the mound of presents.

Sassy was thrilled to death with her Bitty Baby (who even made an appearance on the soccer field later that day).

I love that P.J., Julia, & Reagan are almost as excited as the babies are during the opening...

2010 is definitely all about Toy Story 3 in our house. More to come on that when I recap the Chuck E. Cheese party experience! Gotta love them when they're this age. That love/hate relationship with all things big and large and in costume. Yikes!!

Presents were followed closely by cupcakes, soccer practice, and dinner & ice cream, in that order. Sullivan just didn't know what to make of the candles. He kept trying to put them out with his fingers. By the time the TS3 cake arrived at Chuck E. Cheese he did have it mastered though.

Phew. Where did the time go?!? It really does seem like yesterday when I was bringing them to the pediatrician's office weekly just for weight checks. Never thought they'd hit 6 pounds!! What a blessing they are in our lives.

Don't forget to check out all the great challenges at Croppin Paradise over the next 4 weeks. Here's my sample for my Camp Challenge this week. I'm pretty sure I will never tire of OA's 2 lines from Winter CHA. Sigh...