Welcome Home to memory lane ,pa

So this is my view from the counter each day . We have a little stock :)
Wild Asparagus, Daisy D, Crate, Foo Fa La , Making Memories , Kalidoscope, Basicgrey , Chatterbox, KI Memories , 7 gypsies, scenic route , Bazzill, and so much more ...come and see !
These stamps are dying to be inked !
Rebekka Erikson is in the house and sitting pretty
We LOVE our new Ikea bookcases ! They are just what we needed to spruce the store up :)
Queen & Co ...what I call TOOOOO Frigin Cute !!
Then when you get towards the back you just can't help but stare at this 7gypsies bakers rack !
We can't wait in less then 48 hours Donna Downey comes to our store ! Hope you enjoyed the little tour ...not come and touch , feel, play and create!

Kate's new truck!

Happy Wednesday ! This is Kate's new Truck and she is loving it .
After riding in her 1996 truck this year and having 210,000 + miles on it .
No air no heat , one door that wouldn't lock , windows that weren't going up or down ...and no radio!! She is one happy camper now.
It is the little things that make ya happy, or the not so little things. It is always nice to get something new and shiney.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day today , enjoy the sunshine !

Bonus! Quote of the day

"Senator, when you took your oath of office, you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You didn't place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible."

Just a Life Artist !

This is what it is all about , as Ali would say ..you are a life artist !
Now this is what Childhood is all about . This is Josh and his bestest buddy Alex . ( Hi Alex!) Alex and Josh have been buddies since they first met. I think they were 2 years old and at their first meeting at the Y in a tumbling class they just took to one another. Now they are 6 , (well Alex will be this month) and they still are very very close. Alex is one kid in Josh's world that no matter how long it has been since they have seen one another they just have a wonderful time . Josh often wants to share things with Alex about his life, when he gets anything important he wants to show or call Alex. I truly believe that is a relationship that will be here for them for a very long time. Alex came over this weekend on Saturday night and stayed over , then Sunday we went to the phantoms hockey game. This was Josh's birthday present from us .
Well I have to say from the time Alex got to the house till we dropped him off there was nothing but laughter from these two ! Belly laughs for over 24 hours. It just made even Kate and I giggle at the silliness these two were creating and enjoying. That is what it is all about , and I am so glad that I am here to document that for them.
So I hope that we all have those friends that make us belly laugh . I know I do !
Cause you know a good 24 hours of belly laughing does the soul good !

Art Happens !

And I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Glad it does !! Now this makes me happy !!! We challenged each of our crew and design team to make a 12 x 12 frame about themselves. Sarah and I also did ours. Well I must I really am enjoying this and have already designed a few more to do for our home. This is done with the Scrumpdilisious new line of Crate Paper that we found at CHA ! I have been in love with this paper since I got the post card in the mail ! I actually had the designer sign my postcard and keep it in my studio !!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh this is what makes me happy , paper , glue , scissors . It can make the world a better place. Just think if everyone took some of their energy and created a little sumptn sumptn...oh we would have beautiful everywhere !

This is a new sign I picked up this weekend . Josh and I love it and thought it looked great over my scrap area. FUN FUN FUN !!
Well it is only 5 days till ms Donna D gets her self here ! We are so excited about her coming and I have checked each project kit bag about 3 times now .
Time to go and paint the crop room floor and spruce things up more. I have to laugh today it is the first day of spring and as I look out my window all I see are big snowflakes flying around . Gotta love it .
We went to the phantom hockey game last night ...what a blast. I have a little video of Josh dancing to the music ...I will try and link you to it later . Everyone enjoy the first day of spring....Color season is here !!

SUCKS!

Some things SUCK ...somethings DON'T SUCK as much !

Being a Mom doesn't suck !
Getting to look at my beautiful boy every day doesn't suck !
Watching these two little guys become friends doesn't suck !
Owning memory lane, pa with Sarah doesn't suck !
Being in my studio creating doesn't suck !
Having GREAT friends doesn't suck !

People blowing you off SUCKS!
Quizonos being out of Prime Rib Sandwiches SUCKS!
Running out of adhesive SUCKS!


Nothing I can do about the things that suck, they are not within my control ...so in a way that sucks too ! I am about to do my journaling for a project , but I am in a bit of a funk because someone just let me down. I guess I wouldn't be so upset ...except I didn't think this person would let me down so it is cutting me deeper. After a month and a half of planning for something and at the last day before it is to happen , getting blown off ...it just sucks. Yep they felt that the other thing was more important ...maybe it is to them . I just think it sucks.

So I am here writing so I can clear my head and get to the happy spot I need to be to journal on my project . I don't want any negativity going into this wonderful project, so this is like breathing out loud.
I think I will go use some primas and pretty paper ....the world is so much less sucky with pretty things like paper and primas in it.

Life is Good !

Love that we just see happy happy faces all day long !! Here is my friend Maria ! Shopping away at memory lane, pa . It is so kewl to be in a place that is just so happy , no stress all day . ( Well I stress a little ) but not that much .
It is just great to have this in our lifes, a place to go and just be happy , to touch paper and product that just gets us giddy inside ...that makes our creative juices flow !! I have a hard time leaving somedays . It is my safe haven, it is something I am good at . I am also having a great time because there is balance happening in my life. Each day I feel I get closer to balancing between living my dream of having a store and also having a great family. I am also getting in my crop room at home more . Not as much as I would like ...but I feel it coming . I am just wonderfully happy in my life right now !! Gosh this is just a great feeling . Time for some sleep :)

Is it July yet ????

Ok I am not one to wish my life away ....but I am ready for Rehoboth Beach NOW!!! Every year for the past 8 years Kate and I have gone to Rehoboth Beach
for our summer beach vacation. It started out just the two of us , then we had two friends join us , and of course then Josh . Now we have been having 10 of us for the past 3 years. This year there will be 13 of us !!! We rent this great house we found last year. 2 story house with a porch . It is a little slice of paradise.
My Mom is coming up this year ( Hi MOM!) for the first time , she is really looking forward to it . I can't wait to capture her playing with Josh on the beach ! Josh loves his Grandma.
So this winter keeps going and going . It hasn't gotten to me till today when I saw the forcast and it is going to get colder as the week goes on . Record below normal temps. So I was sitting here sipping my coffee and just thinking how wonderful it will be to be on the beach sipping my coffee. I love to go down when everyone else is sleeping and watch the sunrise at the beach . I also love to watch the dolphins , and that is the best time of day to see them .
Sometimes just that little "calgon take me away moment" is all that you need to get up and get going .

Takes Love to make a Family

March is a special month in our house. Kate adopted Josh legally on March 31st, 2004. It was a very important date that we will always celebrate. It is bitter sweet in alot of ways tho. Kate has been Josh's mom as much as I am in everyway since he was concieved. It is only the State of PA and yes the United States that didn't know that. When Josh was born , Kate was not "legally" his Parent because in order to be a parent in this State and Country you have to be a "hetrosexual " couple . It doesn't matter if you beat your children , neglect them or abuse them , as long as you are hetrosexual you are "legally " a parent.
It didn't matter that Kate was there every step of the way in the 2 1/2 years of inseminations...that she was there for his birth , that she was there for every 1 am , 2 am , 3 am feeding , no she was not allowed to be his parent "legally" because she was a woman , and not a male . So she had to wait till 2004 when it finally was made legal for same sex partners to both be legal parents to thier children. After a lengthly legal battle in the courts.
Kate and I have lived our lifes very open and honest about who we are . You will not find us on the front lines of every protest about gay rights. We feel very comfortable in our skin and who we are , we have never been real political people. I can't say we don't get a bit angry or at least just have to shake our heads sometimes at the stupidy of some of our goverment figure heads, we actually do that alot ! But we have lead a pretty great life and we are very happy people. No chips on our shoulders , and we are very happy with who we love .
But tommorrow AGAIN they will try and tell us we are not a "family" that we are 3rd rate citizens. That our love is less then "hetrosexual" people , because we are of the same sex.
Here is what is happening:
On March 15th, the Pennsylvania House of Representative's State Government Committee will be voting on HB 2381, the anti-LGBT, anti-family constitutional amendment that would prohibit recognition of same-sex marriage and all unmarried relationships in the Commonwealth.Pennsylvania state legislators are attempting to amend the Pennsylvania state constitution to deny gay, lesbian and unmarried families legal recognition.We need you to call your state Representative immediately and ask them to oppose HB 2381, known as the "Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment."The amendment's text states, "Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this Commonwealth, and neither the Commonwealth nor any of its political subdivisions shall create or recognize a legal status identical or substantially equivalent to that of marriage for unmarried individuals."Ask your legislators to protect all of Pennsylvania's families and not harm some by writing discrimination into Pennsylvania's constitution. Pennsylvania law already stops gay and lesbian couples from marrying, and this amendment is not necessary.So-called marriage protection amendments affect all families in our state, not just same-sex families. While supporters in other states have said these amendments are only about gay marriage, this is not true. In Ohio, courts have ruled that unmarried people, including unmarried heterosexual couples, may not seek protection from abuse orders. In Michigan, groups are challenging domestic partner benefits for employees. Virginia's recently enhanced amendment is so broad that it may interfere with the rights of all Virginians to create wills, medical directives, powers of attorney, child custody and property arrangements, and even joint bank accounts!Thank you for your support. Please forward this information to friends, family, and other people in Pennsylvania who believe in civil rights and equality for all Pennsylvanians.
This makes me so sad.
What is my son going to grow up in .....are they going to try and tell my son that he doesn't have a "real" family? Do they want to tell my son that he shouldn't have been born ? Do they want to tell my son that he should not have his 2 Moms ? Do they want to tell my son that our love that we share is wrong?
How can anyone with a heart and a brain not see that Kate , Josh and I are just as much a family as any other family.....??
It makes me sad....but I will get up in the morning with my head held high , hug Kate, kiss Josh and go on with my day . They will never convince me that MY FAMILY is not a GREAT Family !!!! They can do whatever they want , we will ALWAYS be a FAMILY! Kiss and hug your family , teach them love and compassion and tolerance.....maybe we can bring up the next generation without all this hatred and stupidy. Stepping down off my little box now .
Good night !

Constant Motion

It isn't spring yet by the calendar ...but we have been having spring like days !
It is so fun to watch Josh out there running around in the yard and kicking the soccer ball around.
I am loving having the zoom lens capturing some of these moments.
Next week starts baseball season ...we have had a few weeks off since wrestling ended and here we go again soon ! It is nice tho watching the games and soaking up the sun .
Had a busy day , too much to do and some of it not so fun to do . Taxes ! Blah !!
I did what I could handle , more tommorrow ....I had to quit and just take a little time to create. I had fun working on my frame tonight . We are doing these wood frames that hold a 12 x 12 layout. It is truely fun !
Dani , hope you are enjoying your Ikea buy !! I want pictures.
I will put up pics this week sometime of my little improvements in my studio room . I love some of my finds this week .
Well off to bed for tonight ....long day tommorrow .

Girlfriends!!

Here is the birthday Girl , Trish ...she is looking so pretty !!
Here are all her goofy friends....yep someone is laying on the floor taking the pic
Then I got up on the counter and they all layed on the floor and this is the result! Yep that is what happens when you are hanging out with your girlfriends on your birthday !! Isn't it great to have girlfriends?!! It is so amazing the relationships we develop as adults, they take longer to get those special people in your life but they are so worth it !
So here we are in all our silliness...who said birthdays are just for kids ???

Happy Birthday Trish !!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY from your Nutty Friend !!!
Nah nah nah .......you are catching up to me :)

Just remember I am older ....and wiser !! LOL Don't I look it !!

Love ya Girlfriend !

Anyone who wants to wish Trish a Happy birthday just post here . She will be reading .

Who's Who!

DONNA DOWNEY is coming to MLPA!!! Can you believe this !!! This little spot on the map ...
Ok so here is the funny part. Had you asked me 3 months ago , who is Donna Downey I would have said not sure who is she ? Or .... I would have asked Sarah ( cause Sarah has this un usually freakish thing about knowing alot about scrapbooking designers....amongest other facts like she could probably name at least 400 of the bazzill colors for you !)
So over the past months I have got quite an education about who is who in the scrapbook world. Now my daily rutine includes reading Donna , Ali and Cathy's blogs. O there are others I read also such as Sarah , Maria and Mary's . I would read Trish's but she would need to write something ....that Jan 24th post I know by heart !! Happy Birthday Girlfriend!!
Today is Cathy Z's Birthday ! I love how she wrote about 40 things ....I am going to use that in a layout ...maybe this year for my Double 4's birthday .
Ok I am just giddy tonight ....getting excited about all the great things that are coming up !
DONNA D is coming !
S A V E is coming at the end of you March! and I get to see my good friend Bridget after almost a year !
ALI Edwards has agreed to come in JAN 2007!

Heck now how am I going to be able to sleep !!!!

How much fun is it to be a child ? You get to be a Cowboy Pirate !!
This is childhood to me ! You get to dress in your PJ's put a belt on to hold your sword and of course finish it with a cowboy hat !
I love seeing what he comes up with somedays. The other night he came out wearing his mickey mouse ears and saying he was a mouse viking !
This is all I hope for for him, that he has this childhood. The one that you remember when you are older, dressing up and doing silly things. I don't remember this part of my life at all. It will help that Josh has a Mom that documents his everyday silliness too! I have a layout of him nekked at about 1 year old with the swifter sweeper across his body just right. I love that layout .
I have another layout of him asleep on the potty , I had left for a second during potty training and come back to find him asleep . He was so tired and I was trying to get him to go potty before bed.
It is great scrapbooking these everyday moments...those things that might escape our memories if we didn't document them. Those trips to the zoo , and the birthday parties are great , but don't remember to scrap those pictures and document those moments that will be the ones that made you smile that one saturday morning and you want them to know about those happy moments too.

That's what friends are for!

Spring is in the air!! Or at least as it is in the 40's we can put a little spring in our hearts! The seasons don't effect me , but I am surrounded by people that it does effect. As winter comes to an end I see my friends around me that are a little depressed , some alot depressed , some having blah days. I just want to wrap them in my warmth and squeeze the bad blahs out of them . Some of them are too far away for me to do that and some are close enough that I can ! My friend Robin was close enough yesterday , that I could make her smile a little more then she had been ! So we went to lunch and talked and then after lunch I took her to memory lane, pa (where else do you go when you need a little pick me up!!) Robin is not a scrapbooker , but I know she has creativity screaming to get out ...there is a big C R E A T E just waiting to be tapped in her heart. So I have challenged her . Mary created this wonderful altered bulletin board (AWESOME!) for a class later this month at memory lane, pa . I helped Robin pick out paper and ribbon , paint and a few gems and challenged her to create her own inspiration bulletin board. I also am making one ! I can't wait to see Robin's work , ( she knows I will be asking alot till I see it )
So if you have a friend that is a little blah , do a little sumpten , sumpten to maybe give them a little pull ! Just redirecting their thinking sometimes is what it takes. Focus on happy ! The yucky , ugly stuff is there , we all know that , just acknowledge it and give your energy to the good stuff . You can do it !! And those days you can't ....hopefully there be a friend there that can give you another direction. Love ya Robin!

Sunday morning Thanks !

My Friend Lisa , loving Urban Couture! This is pure happiness ! The past two weeks have been a blur at memory lane, pa . We have put in so many new items from our shopping at CHA that even our customers are saying "where are you going to put it all "
All the products are just pure eye candy and each day as I walk in the door , I get a smile on my face knowing that this is Sarah and I's place. Just two girls with a dream that has become reality. We have the most wonderful customers, they actually are much more then customers....they have become friends . I look so forward to seeing these ladies as much as possible. I miss them when they are away. They let me know if they are going on vacation , they bring their husbands in to meet us. This is more then a "store" . This is our little piece of heaven, this is our community center.
We now have a design team , and I have to tell you these 8 girls are creating more excitement each time they post on the board or come in the store also. We LOVE having them on our memory lane, pa team !!
The Crew ....I can not say enough about Wendy, Christina , Deena, Jen, Kathy and Tobi. These ladies take care of mlpa just like it is their own. They are always giving our customers the best service , w/smile !
I am just so HAPPY to be living my dream and want to thank all of you for being in my dream with me !!
Enjoy your Sunday !!

for the Love of Crocs !

What a great time I am having with these Crocs !! Josh even wanted a pair ...and I am not sure about why a 6 year old boy would want a pair except his Mom is just down right giddy about her own crocs and created the frenzy in his mind. Cause Mom is still cool when you are six !
So I got Josh a pair of crocs the other day , then put in the dog paws to make them even more " cool" if that is possible!
Josh is so excited to wear his crocs to school ..... here is the convo when I pick him up :
Me: " How was your day "
J: " Great , I showed everyone my crocs"
Me: " What did they think"
J: " They all laughed at them , but they really liked them"
J: " Mom , Can I get a black pair of crocs too"
Me: " You will have to save your allowance for 5 weeks"
J: " OH COOL!" I am saving right now "

As I sit in the front of the car , I feel this little smile coming over my face! I love having my son and I know it is great to have a little girl to share all the shopping thing with , but Josh made my day in that department ! He loves Crocs!!
Last night he asked Kate if he could get his allowance 5 days in a row instead of weeks so he could get his crocs faster . Gotta love the way he thinks!

This morning he asked me if we could go to the store that has them so he could see them. I have never seen him this excited over a toy .....I have created a croc monster !!! LOL

I can't wait to have a picture taken with Donna Downey and Josh in their Crocs ! I tell him this is the Croc Lady . He just giggles.

Too cute for himself !

Ok so he still didn't listen great today , well at least to me !
His Teacher pointed him out today for listening the best in class !!
But he is so frigin cute !
SO he thinks he is all that and a bag of chips ! Well so do I !!


Took these pictures the other night. I wanted him to wear this sweater at least once, he didn't want to cause it wasn't "Cool" , Guess it has to have something on the shirt to be cool. So I told him , I wanted him to wear it so I could take pictures of him in it. Well the day got away from me , and he was about to get ready for bed . He came back out of his room and said " Mom , I thought you wanted pictures of me in my sweater. " Well I dropped what I was doing picked up the camera and photographed him in all his sillyness ! He is just so precious!!!! I love the pics that I got of him , they are HIM!

ok going to bed now ...trying to digest all that happened on LOST tonight. That show is starting to hurt my brain !! Makes me think . If you have any theories please comment . Good Night !

Can you hear me now ??

So what happens when they turn 6 ? Is there some plug in there little bodies that turns off their hearing ? Some how you have to say things 3 times , each time perhaps a little louder for them to hear you ?? Then there are days like yesterday when I just had to say " time for bed , turn off the game boy " and POOF! He did , gave me a kiss and went to bed.
Today I had to speak to him several times and he still would not do what I asked . I was getting somewhat fustrated , and really glad he was going to school !
Then he gets in the car after school ....and he says " Guess what Mom ... I got a sticker today for Listening " !! And I swear I could hear ..." nah nah nah " under his breathe!!

It is truly amazing , this whole adventure that we are going on .

On Another note , it is nice to be done with wrestling now . Josh took 4th place this sunday in the last tourney . I just am so amazed how great the coaches were with all these kids this year. win or lose they treated each of them with such compassion and champions! I am looking forward to the few weeks till baseball starts. Looking forward to having some family nights , cooking dinner and also having some scrapping time .

this was our Olympics today !

Today Josh took 1st Place in the wrestling tourney . It was a small tourney and there were only himself and this little guy in their weight class. They wrestled twice and Josh won twice , giving him 1st place. I have never seen Josh so proud of himself as he was today. After last weeks disappointing moments , this was so wonderful for him . ( Yep and me too !)
As I lay here watching the Olympics and seeing Ono the speed skater go over and hug his mom in the stands , I today felt that same feeling they must be feeling . I don't care what age or what level of sports your child is in . At that moment when they get to win and be called the best even if it is for just one minute ....you just love seeing your child so very proud of himself. Feeling all the hard work has paid off. The best line of the day was when Josh looked at me and said " Mom , I am the Champion today !"
I let him know , he is always my Champion !
The Trophy is on my night stand right now , I think he wanted to bring it to bed with him tonight .
on Another note.....We went to see Eight Below tonight ...WOW .... I came home and hugged my puppies a little bit more tonight . That was an amazing story , I have a new found love for our furry friends.....they truly are the ULTIMATE portrayal of unconditional love.

A bouquet of friends

How beautiful is this ! But as I was editing these pictures , I was amazed to how many layers a rose has. Then I got thinking about humans....yep here we go . The ole line from Shrek.....I am like an onion...lots of layers.

I am not sure where all this is going , and those who have read my blog ....well welcome to my head....sometimes it can be painful !

I find each day that I learn more and more about people. How many layers there are in one person sometimes amazes me. We come in contact with so many people each and everyday so we only get to see the outer layer. Then as we get to know people ...develop relationships we get to see more layers.

Some people never open up , they keep their layers very close together and you never get to see the true beauty .

Some open up very fast , you get to perhaps get to know more about them then you ever really wanted to know . But they wilt away so fast.

Others open at a steady pace , you get to know each layer and you get to watch them grow and blossom , you enjoy each moment with them and they are the ones you remember .

There is nothing like a beautiful rose , but even more beautiful is a friendship and love that grows over time . I am so truely blessed by great friendships that are developing in my life. I have so many great womyn in my life and they are all so different , I just love watching each one bloom in its own time .

Thank you for being my friends..... because you as my friends make the rest of it all seem so small !

JIBBITZ!!!!

That is all I am going to say !
http://www.jibbitz.com/

lachrymose... a new word I learned today thanks to Cathy Z .
had never heard it before but boy does it sum it up .
I had such a great day with Josh yesterday , we had a Josh and Mom day ...something I hadn't done in over 6 months. Since becoming part owner in memory lane, pa . So yesterday we went to lunch and we went to the movies. It was so great to just be hanging out with my little guy. I just look at him and can start tearing up . Seeing him grow is so wonderful and so painful. Sometimes feeling like sometimes I am just not doing enough , and sometimes getting so fustrated because no matter how much I do for him , he wants more. He is so impatient , loving , impatient. OH the poor guy is so much like me. His passions will take over ...
he will forever be striving to do more.
He will never stop dreaming.
I look in his eyes and see my reflection....that is so wonderful and so scarey.
He came up to me today and just gave me a kiss , then ran away saying Love you mom!
I have never known how much you can love another ...it just keeps growing everyday..... I am going to go and purchase Rockin the Suburbs by Ben Folds. Reading these blogs have cost me 4 pairs of Crocs and 1 cd this week !!

Life Lesson

Yesterday was a very interesting day . Josh had a tourney for wrestling. It was a day I was hoping would turn out wonderful with Josh winning at least one match . The first of the season we went to a tourney and he lost both of his matches and it was such a hard thing to see him go through. But it was also a great lesson for him that he needed to practice to become better . Well now it was the end of the season and he has improved , but so has a lot of the other kids he will be wrestling. So all I am hoping for is for him to feel that he accomplished something and to win one match . He DID!!! He won his first match and I felt my eyes well up as I am shooting pictures of the ref holding up my son's arm in victory. Now that is all I asked for ....Then we go on to the second match , Josh is not focused he is just not wrestling with the same determination as the first match . I could tell ...Just like when he is kissing me telling me he loves me one minute and running around being so obnoxious the next . A different kid. Well then all of a sudden he becomes that wrestler he can be and come back from 0-6 to tie it 6-6 and goes into overtime. Which was quite a battle but his opponent gets the take down and wins.... I was just as proud of him , but he was so upset to lose. Well he still gets one more match . So we go into the 3rd match ...it was a little fustrating because I had to go find a coach ...they are there to help the kids , but his regular coach has his son wrestling at the same time and can't help Josh. Well we get another coach ... this coach doesn't know Josh and his strengths and weaknesses . We go into the match and Josh breaks out to a 3-0 lead. I am so excited ...he may just win this one. THEN all my hopes are dashed for Josh as this coach decides to put Josh down on the mat and let the other wrestler be on top. THIS IS THE WORST thing you can do !!!! YOU NEVER put the wrestler down if you don't have to . I am yelling NEUTRAL ! NEUTRAL ( if you are not into wrestling this whole thing is not going to make sense) but you will understand I was so fustrated. Well in about 10 seconds the kid flips Josh over and pins him ! DONE FINISHED OVER! I was so upset for Josh , he came over in tears ....That coach comes to me and says .. " if I had it to do over again , I would put them neutral " At this point I had all I could do not to Yell back at this man . BUT I didn't ! I was very upset because he basically dashed all Josh's hopes of winning by making that mistake. Josh's regular coach came out to find Josh and was so sorry that it happened . He knew that was such a bad mistake and he was so sorry he hadn't been there for Josh. I assured him I didn't blame him . I was just so fustrated .

So Life Lesson learned. .... I am not always going to be able to make sure that Josh gets everything he needs to be a success . I am not going to be able to stop all people in his life from making bad decisions that will effect Josh. Each year I am going to lose more and more control of who is in his life making those decisions for him. As this is the last year before he starts going to school full time. These are all things I am NOT READY for !!!

I am scared ! I am crying about these things ! I hold on to him so tight when I hug him sometimes , I don't want to let go ! Do all Moms go thru this ??? Am I just too over protective??

Then , I know I will have to learn to deal with these things , because I am not going to stop him from being in sports, or school or whatever else he wants to do . Heck he starts baseball in a couple weeks , he looks so forward to these times , he loves sports, school and playing with his friends.

Wow , this parent thing has alot of roads to go on . I want to do it so well ! I want Josh to remember his childhood and love it ! I want him to do everything he wants to do and get everything out of it he can. BE A KID as long as he can !

So I guess as I get to the end of my thoughts this morning .... I have yet learned another life lesson. I am not in control of everything that is going to happen to my child , the most precious gift I have ever received. BUT , I am always going to be there for him to make it as GREAT for him as I can no matter what !!!

Just in case you are wondering ...Josh had a great time , takes the losses just as well as the wins. He is on to today , and looking forward to Me taking him to see Curious George with 2 of his buddies. That makes me happy ....today is a new day !

A proud moment !

My Son .....He wants to Scrapbook !!! Yes he is just 6 , and I was almost in tears when I found these pics that he had taken in Las Vegas. They had taken my CoolPix 3.1 with them while I was at CHA . I just took the card out of that camera and downloaded the pics. I have to say I was just smiling when I saw these pics come across the screen. Josh has explained that he wanted to scrapbook about the tiger and the shark he won out of the Crank Game. I must have been beaming from ear to ear as I hugged him . It was truely one of the cutest things he has said in a long time. Being 6 now he is such a "Boy" Trying to be cool and a little sassy ....I don't get the "cute" side as often as when they are 18 months. So these moments I hold near and dear ! I can't wait to see what he does with these pics...( know I will be scrapping them also !) Hey he doesn't take a bad pic either ...I just got to teach him to fill the frame :)

Here it is , my first published pages. I am so excited about being published. This layout is one of my favorite layouts ! It holds great memories of one of our Rehoboth Beach Vacations. Josh and I alone on the beach in the sunrise. One of my favorite times of the day at the beach , it is so peaceful and beautiful. I awoke and got ready to go down to the beach as I do everymorning of vacation. When I looked over , Josh was laying there with his eyes open . I whispered to him " would you like to go to the beach with me ? " He nodded. We got up and headed for the ocean. Armed with my camera I got some of my most incredible shots. This was my first layout using a picture bigger then a 4 x 6 photo. I had seen so many pages using bigger pictures and wanted to try it. I love it and do it much more now! So if you would like to see this in publication...it will be in The Kodak Book on Scrapbooking Your Favorite Photos. This should be avaliable in May around Mother's Day . I really need to start working on Josh's pages once again. I have let other things consume me lately . I really do miss my creative outlet. So hopefully I will have some new favorites soon !

Closer to fine !

What an AWESOME time last night ! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Indigo Girls !!! Sunday afternoon I recieved a phone call from my friend Deena , I knew her husband had got tickets to this concert for Deena for Christmas. Well because of the snow storm the concert got cancelled for Sunday night. John had to go to Virginia on Monday , when they rescheduled the concert. John asked Deena....do you know anyone that would like to go with you . She said " I know 1 " ( That would be me !!!!) So Deena called me ....I sat here in shock ...mumbled to Kate , as she looked at me like " you aren't asking , you are just going " Then added " I am jealous" ( about 40 times over the next day) .
It was so awesome...Amy and Em just put on such a great concert! Deena you ROCK !!! Thank you so much my friend....I will cherish this !

Let it Snow ....let it snow....

What a great snow day ...just 11 years ago I didn't get to say those words. I lived in Florida for 15 years and of course we never had snow days...just huricane days ( those are NO Fun !!) So I got to stay home today with my family , and we would have been going , going , going if there was no snow. Wrestling tourney , me going to memory lane, pa . Running around as fast as we could to get everything into our day . But today we didn't ! I actually got about 4 good hours in and out of my scraproom today cleaning it up , putting things in a place that I could find them when I want to use them . Getting some projects together . Now I am sitting down scrapping a bit , getting a delicous Love Tin together ( thanks Dani!). Also putting together a few other projects that have been sitting here not quite done. Just wanted to take a minute to express the happiness of the day. So here is a short list !
- Taking this photo of the snow with my new Zoom lens !
- Peppermint Mocha's at home !
- A Clean Studio ....space to scrap in finally !
- Josh doing a scrapbook page about the hoover dam for school.
- Sparkle Mod Podge !!!
- Knowing I am going to the Indigo Girls concert tommorrow night !
-Prima Flowers sprinkled on my work space
-reading Cathy Z.'s Blog today

This is a picture of Josh's Dog Cricket . How frigin cute is he with the snow face.

Sipping away in my studio ...

Peppermint Syrup , mocha powder and coffee ! Now that is living !!

This is a little present I got from my Secret Sister this week . If you have never done a Secret Sister swap ....you are missing out !! This is such a great idea , for a determined amount of time you get little presents from your SS and you also spoil someone else . Then at the end you get to meet who has spoiled you and you also reveal yourself to your SS. I have met so many wonderful ladies doing this and always enjoy spoiling more then getting spoiled. EXCEPT this time ... I have to admit this is one great present !! Being a Co-owner of a scrapbook store , I know my SS's always kringe when they get my name . They sit there and wonder what the heck to get me that I don't already have or would just get for myself. Well this would be it ...thinking outside the box, getting me things that I would not go and buy. Also I love things created for me. I am often creating ...but giving it away ! So BIG BIG thanks to my SS ....I am loving my presents...sipping away ! Coffee is SOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooo Great!

I am such a Moon Child !

Cancer, the fourth Sign of the Zodiac, is all about home. Those born under this Sign are 'roots' kinds of people and take great pleasure in the comforts of home and family. Cancers are maternal, domestic and love to nurture others. More than likely, their family will be large, too -- the more, the merrier! Cancers will certainly be merry if their home life is serene and harmonious. Traditions are upheld with great zest in a Cancer's household, since these folks prize family history and love communal activities.
I was googling this morning as I layed awake. I often like to read things about my sign. So many sites out there !! I liked this one , altho everyone of them talks about the sign of cancer as a "home" person. I guess that is why we have that tough outer shell , we always have a home that way .
Last night Josh wasn't feeling well , then about 2 am in the morning he woke crying and coughing . Then he rubbed his eye and got something in it and that was burning . It was not pretty ...he was not consolable. He started shivering and I was very worried , I couldn't get it to stop. Finally after a cough drop , a wet washcloth and holding him very tight , he fell back asleep in my arms. But guess what ....I couldn't!! I have never been one to get back to sleep easy , so since 2 am I have been awake. He woke again about 6 am . Tylenol and water and he is back to sleep. As I layed awake holding him...all I could think was how much I love him , and would want to be no where else but holding him at that very moment. He is home .

Focus !

Hail to the coaches ! Josh is wrestling for the first time this year , and I have to say the coaches have been so wonderful with all the little guys. Wrestling is the first non team sport that Josh has done. Every other thing he has done he has teamates and they are always around. In wrestling it is just you and your opp and your coach trying to help you as you wrestle. This pic is after his last match on Sunday . His attention is so focused on what the coach is teaching him . He starts a series of 3 tourneys now for the next 3 sundays! This will end the season for him . I am not sure if Josh will wrestle again , because he is wanting to try basketball now. These two seasons are at the same time. I am so glad that he wanted to wrestle tho , he has learned so much about pushing himself and learning that as long as he does his best , you might still lose...but you are not a loser ! Josh ended his season at 3 - 7 . I am so very proud of him and hoping he does well in the tourneys !

He is not feeling well tonight , I am going to go cuddle with him .

Things that make me Happy !

I was thinking today , I have been really happy lately. Almost down right giddy !
I have been loving life , and it is not that everything is perfect...even tho I have had a bit of perfection lately. It is just that I have chosen to be happy . I was thinking today there are certain things that really have made me happy lately. Alot of it stems from the CHA show in Las Vegas. crate paper I am so excited we get to be one of the first stores to carry this wonderful line ! Lisa the owner ,designer emailed me the other day to say thank you !
Ali Edwards....I am so glad I got to meet her , and I hope to get to know her even more in this lifetime . Her energy is just amazing !
Donna Downey .....She is coming to memory lane , pa !!! WAhhhooooooooo!
Sarah , with whom I am so glad to be a partner in business with , but more to me that we are growing as friends !! And we are one rockin team !!
our customers ....I truely mean this ....they are simply the most amazing customers any store could have ! They support us in anyway they can , and they actually just love coming to the store , each time one walks in I get to know them a little bit more! We have so many amazing womyn walking thru our doors everyday , I feel so blessed !!
There are many other people and things that are making me happy right now , but those are the tops of today. Of course you all know that Josh is on a list all by himself !!!
So what is making you happy? Are you happy? Do you find yourself with a silly little grin in the middle of the day ? I hope so ....cause it is a wonderful feeling !

Thanks to all of you !

I just wanted to post a BIG thanks to all of you that told me you have been reading my blog ! Alot of you told me it has brought tears and smiles to you when you have read it. I am just overwhelmed how wonderful people are. I just love that I am in a profession that allows me to meet such wonderful people on a daily basis! This blogging has been a wonderful experience for me in such a short time . ( Thanks again Sarah !!) I am very excited to use some of my blogs in my scrapbooking . OK it is off to memory lane, pa to play amongest the pretty papers ! Have a great day and keep on smilin! Is he not the CUTEST !!

PERFECTION !

Some days are just perfect ! Today there were little glimpes of perfection. Look at these pics! I had a vision for Josh's 6 year old photo shoot. He had recieved this wonderful pair of jeans from "GAP" and the jean jacket to match . I could just see it was him ! He has that jean look , all I could see is a mini james dean!!
My little daredevil , he has that gleam in his eye that I love and it also scares me at the same time. He does keep me on my toes! But today I didn't even have to ask for anything . He was just himself

He just shined thru each photo. So this is what has made me happy today, I was just beaming and couldn't wait to get home to download these pics! I am in a HAPPY way today , maybe I am starting to recover from a lack of sleep . Maybe it is because I got things done today for my family and me . I feel a bit better that there isn't piles and piles of unorganization going on in my house. Now to attack my scrap room this week. I can go in there now knowing the rest of the things are undercontrol for the time being . So how would you describe the last time you had some perfection in your day ?

It is all about balance

And I hate to feel so unbalanced. Friday Josh turned 6 , and I felt so bad because I could not just spend the whole day with him , and this was a first for us. Each birthday up till this one ( yes I know only 5 of them) I have been able to devote the whole day to him . Birthdays are special to me and I love making a great big deal of his birthday . It is one day that means alot to me . I got to be Josh's mom on that day and I will forever cherish the day he was born !! So it is his birthday and I haven't even ordered his cake , I needed to get cupcakes for his school friends and it was about 15 minutes before needing to open memory lane, pa for the day . What is a girl to do but call one of her bestest friends and cry "HELP!!" Connie to the rescue ! She did things for me and the day was a save ! I just can't express how much I can not do without my friends . I have been a SAHM for 5 years and the past 7 months being an owner in a LSS has been an adjustment I am still trying to figure out.
Josh's bday party was yesterday , but also we had our mini CHA at the store. I couldn't wait to have both of these things. Being at the store and feeling the excitement about all the new lines , getting to be with all the great customers and friends I have now thru mlpa , and of course getting to do all this with my wonderful friend and business partner Sarah ....what more can a girl ask for ! Then running home to switch gears and be with my family and make this birthday the best for Josh , entertaining 15 of his friends and their parents. Making sure the pizza is ordered and everyone has a great time . Getting the call from Sarah about how much more excitement the store had that day . LOVING IT ALL !!! Feeling guilty LOVING it ALL!! Ok so the point ....hmmm maybe there is a balance and the scales are all just tilted my way right now !

Josh is 6 Today !

How can this be ?????? 6 years with him has gone so fast. I remember when we first found out that Josh was going to be part of our lifes. The fears and joys. How everyday I woke making sure I could feel him moving inside , how I would talk to him and sing to him. Then when he was born and I couldn't wait to hold him . How I didn't ever want to put him down , and I cherish each and every moment of his very fresh life. How as we drove away from the hospital with him in the backseat , I said to Kate " are they really going to let us take him home " The joy that Josh has brought into my life is just amazing . No matter how bad a day I am having , or how many people are mean to me . I have to only look into my son's eyes and melt like butta !
He came up to me today in the middle of playing with some children at the store and ran behind the counter looked up at me and said " I love you Mom!" , then ran back to play in the playroom . That just makes your day !!!
Wow Josh is 6 today , where does it all go ? I can't wait to go on this adventure with him . Each day is truely a new day in his eyes , and I get to share that with him. How much fun can that be.