Children of the corn

Nothing like a night on the farm.

Had so much fun last night with friends! There is nothing like GREAT Friends. We went to the farm last night and it was nothing but laughing smores and running through the corn maze. We even got to do the one maze after dark with flashlights, I can't remember the last time I did that.

We also had a great hay ride. It was so relaxing and also fun singing Old McDonald had a Farm song. Josh never stopped smiling the whole night playing with his buddy Shawn.
Of course there is nothing like a good fire, marshmallows with chocolate and graham crackers!
Spending the night with family and friends is something I plan to do more of. I have such great friends out there that I haven't had a lot of time with lately, and I need to change that.

Treadmill Madness

Ok so this made me laugh, and I had to share. Some of you might of wish I hadn't!!
So just a little Friday humor, enjoy .
This weekend is full of volunteering for a great cause. Pennridge Greenjackets have their annual fund raiser this weekend, complete with a Cow Flop. If you have never been this would be the year to go. We are excited on Sunday Josh's game will be at 3pm and they are bringing in the game ball via sky diver. I hope to get some great pictures of this. Have a wonderful weekend!
Laugh alot...it will do you good!

LOVE Creating

Just a little something I whipped up last night. I love creating, it is my happy place!

A little wine anyone?

I don't drink it, don't like the taste....but I love looking at the bottles in the store and reading the names of them. The bottles attract me with their great shapes and designs, and the labels, I can spend hours reading them. I have alot of friends that drink wine, and love to buy them a bottle just on label or name alone. Lucky for me usually they also like what is in the bottle. I never profess to be knowing what I am doing while picking it out.

This is one I picked out in January, it was a hit! I Just love the title and the little story that goes with it. So next time you are bringing someone a bottle of wine, have fun picking it out. It is fun to give!

Found this little quote in my quote book this morning. I like it!

"Never explain - your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway"

Elbert Hubbard

Monday quarterback

Mondays are my day to recharge, get things done that I can't get done any other day. Volunteer at Josh's school and generally clean things up.

I also take Monday's to reflect on the past week, make list of the week ahead and catch up a bit with people I haven't been able to during the week.


Today I also thought I would start something I have wanted to do for a while. I want to send a thank you card to someone every monday. I have really got some WONDERFUL people in my life. I think so often we focus on the negative in life, and it is so easy to forget all the wonderful things that are in our life everyday. I want to focus more on the those things, and those people in my life, more then the people that make me sad, angry, and those that make you lose your faith in people.

Sometimes what seems as the worst thing that could happen, turns out to give you inner peace, and you also find that you are going to be just fine. Friends, true friends are also there when you least expect it. There is nothing like a friend that is there for you. So today as I look over the past week, month, year, and even the last 5 years. .....It is all good, and I am thankful I am here to experience every moment of it.

So take a minute, grab a card or a piece of paper and write someone you know a little note of thanks!

Football Sunday

Josh's Highlights

Football Sunday

Football Saturday!

I have to say, whatever happens all week , no matter how tiring , how stressful, it all fades away for 2 hours on Saturday! I know many probably think I need a life , but truthfully I have one that I love watching my son do something he loves. I love that kids get to do that. I can't say as a kid I always got to do that, but I love watching this little guy get to do it, and if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't change a thing if it meant that this too would be different.

Josh is just doing so wonderful, he has found a passion and is going with it. The joy I see on his face can only be matched by what I feel inside when he gets to play. He is all about what is going on, whether he is playing on offense blocking or running, or on defense zoning in on a tackle. He is all about the game. He is all about doing it to the best of his ability. As you can see in the last photo, (one of my favorites of the year) he is parallel to the ground as he was stretched out reaching for the runner. He did get him just enough to trip up the kid and he fell down.
He had another tackle during the game where he came across the field and talked the kid by his ankles to save him from getting a touchdown about 5 yards out. It was amazing to watch how fast he was.
Josh also ran for 2 key 1st downs in the game with 4th and long to go. He didn't get to run in for any touchdowns today, but he had a wonderful game and he understands it isn't all about TD's. It is hard for him sometimes, he wants to score. But it is also a great lesson to know you helped your team, and without the other things you do in the game, we wouldn't get those TD's.

Next week we play on Sunday, and it is our 40th Anniversary celebration of the GreenJackets. It is going to be an exciting weekend for the organization. The Stillings family have volunteered most of our weekend to help out at the snack stand. So if you want a great cheeseburger and fries, stop by and see us! I love volunteering, it is good for the soul. I also love teaching Josh to give back , and pay it forward. Important lessons.

Well back to football Sunday, Tampa bay is winning and Josh is cheering loudly!

Reflection and Rememberance

May God bless the many souls who lost their lives, on September 11, 2001, at
the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and on airline flights 11, 175, 77, & 93.

ahhhhhhh Football Season!!!

Oh you can smell it in the air...it is time for some FOOTBALL!!!


Loved coming home yesterday , and plopping down on the couch for some family time, which from Sept 9th till January is Watching the NFL! Well that and watching the Pennridge greenjackets. So yesterday started out with a 3pm game for Josh, he played the whole first half and he ran his little heart out. He gained about 20 yards on his first run, and he had a couple more 10 yard gains. Then almost the end of the 2nd quarter he was running down the sidelines and got all the way to the 1 yard line....BOOM! Got tackled the boy caught him grabbed at his ankles and landed his helmet into Josh's calves! OUCH!! Josh was a little hurting from that and he went off the field limping a bit, with a BIG ROUND of applause from the fans all yelling WTG JOSH!! Our QB took it in on a sneak the very next play!! That was such a wonderful thing, as it was Max's first TD of the season. Josh was just as happy for him.

Josh once again played a great defensive game , recovering a fumble and making some great tackles. It was a wonderful day and we won 18-12 to go 2-0 for the season!! WTG Green!!!

In the NFL it wasn't such a great day....My team Da Raiders had a GREAT 3rd Quarter but in the end the Lions beat them out. Josh's team Tampa Bay...well not good there. Lastly Kate's team Jacksonville lost a heartbreaker to Tenn. But it was great to sit and watch , cheer and cry again...looking forward to many weeks!

I leave you with a few pictures from Sunday's game.

Beauty

ahhhhhhhhh Summer! Crab feast and a fruity drink.

That is coming to and end, and altho I love those things about summer, I must admit I am more of a fall girl. I LOVE the colors of fall, I love not sweating the minute you get out your door. I love sweaters and just the whole settling in thing. Routine comes with fall.

So just a simple entry today, and wanted to ask you.....What is your favorite season and why?

Thank God for little boys....

I have been reading lately on a few friends blogs about how wonderful it is to have a little girl, the special bond that comes with that and all the pink and frilly things.

I really never gave it a second thought, was happy, so happy that I had a boy, I always considered myself a "boys mom".

But I have to admit my closest girlfriends that have brought little girls into my life, well a couple of them have truly captured my heart, and they have shown me I do have a gentle side and a little girly side I never knew about.

So lately, as my mind wonders.....especially when you lay in bed at night sometimes, unable to sleep....no matter what you do, and a combination of just alot of things lately....I often think what life would have been like if I had decided to have another baby, and had been able to give Kate that little girl I know she wanted. Now don't get all in an uproar, she loves Josh so very very much, and would never for one minute want him to be anything or anyone else....nor would I.
But we had originally wanted to have 2, but after 2 1/2 years of trying for Josh, it was hard to think about doing that a second time.

So just thoughts that creep in, you know when those kinda thoughts creep in...the what would haves, and the I wonders. So the point to this...... tonight it only took the hug from a little boy...out of no where, and for no prompted reason to let me know that things are just the way they should be, and that I am ok.

Thanks Declan, you will probably never know how much that hug meant to me tonight. You are one very special little boy. I am very blessed.

That BIG Yellow Monster is back!!!

Ok so this year I didn't cry.....yet!



So this year it was a bit easier, having the same bus driver helped a bit.



BUT I still have little butterflys in my stomach. I still can't wait to see him at 4pm.



I hate not knowing how is day is going.



I hope he doesn't get hurt at recess.



I hope it is still ok to put a little note in the lunch box.



But with all that said.....here is my 1000 words in pictures.

Give me a "D"

D-E-F-E-N-S-E

That was the word of the day! We won 18-6 and the boys were playing their hearts out again!

I just love watching these guys, there is so much team in them. There are none of them that are

full of themselves, they congratulate one another all the time, they love it no matter who makes

the play. They work together, and I have never seen so many gang tackles. They are there for

one another all the time. The parents are on the side line cheering , hollering each kids name.
They are a great group of people. The coaches are some of the best guys I have ever met, and

they are great positive male role models for each one of these boys. It is so great to be a part of

something this wonderful. The rest of the world disappears for that couple hours each weekend.

Highlights for Josh, he got to try his halfback option...it didn't work but it will sometime. Got a

great picture of him getting ready to throw! Also I love hearing parents ask "Does he have built

in radar" commenting on how Josh is always in the action, wherever the ball is. Josh also got to

be one of the team captains this week.

In other news....Happy Labor day! I loved having this extra day today before starting the

routine of school and fall coming. I can feel it in the air. As much as I love summer, getting back

slower pace is what the doctor ordered right now. To go to just 2 nights a week of football

practice, to start cooking homemade meals again a couple days a week, to just slow down to

a regular pace is going to be nice. I am a fall kinda girl. I love the colors of the season and also

that it is ok not to be outside as much as you have a chance to be. I like the cooler weather and

enjoying a bit more time scrapbooking. Today we also had a nice BBQ with our friends the

Rush's. The twins came over and played with Josh all afternoon and we talked with D and C all

afternoon. It was relaxing and a nice way to end the summer.

So tomorrow that great big yellow monster comes to get him again. He seems ready for it, I on

the other hand have a few anxiety filled moments left in me. Wondering if he and his teacher

will click. Will he make new friends,(knowing his two best buddies aren't in his class). Will he like

learning all the new things, will it be hard for him? Will he need more help with his speech? Will

he have fun? OY!!! STOP!!!!

I know he will just amaze me again and again. I know he will figure this all out without my help.

Maybe that is what is scary too, that he doesn't need me as much as I need him. He is my

champion, my blessing.

new toy is home...

Well it is home, the new Cricut Expression! I can't wait to play :)

This is the GREATEST bug ever! I love being able to have it.

It is still in it's box right now, but I already have several projects in mind using this bug.

But today is FOOTBALL day!! We have a game at Marsh Creek at 4 pm. I was at the field last night doing my volunteer part and running the snack stand, and one of Josh's coaches stopped by. He told me Josh would probably be playing almost every play at the game since we were going to be short on little guys. We have a couple on vacation, a couple that might not make the weight requirement, and poor David is injured from practice on Thursday. He jammed his thumb back and sprained it, OUCH!! So we are bringing the video camera today for the game. ALtho Kate has not been the best video taker in the past, she is going to try again today and if there is some good footage I will share it here :)

It was fun last night doing the grilling at the snack stand. It is a volunteer organization, so when Kim asked if I could cover her when she needed to be at her son's games I stepped up. Big thanks goes out to Kate last night who was my right hand, doing the hotdogs and the fryed food. We were a well oiled machine and it was great to work together having fun! I slept like a rock last night after working at the store 10-6 and then the snack stand till 10 pm , but it was all good and a great productive day!

So not much exciting here this week, Life is going , lots of football and it is just beautiful weather!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful day today, get outside and enjoy something. Pretty soon we will be looking at bare trees and the white stuff!

How is it Wednesday already?

Ok and in about 45 mins I could ask how is it Thursday!

I know I know time does not stand still. But do you ever feel like you are?

After a Month of working almost everyday, it was nice to spend a weekend with the family. Just the 3 of us.



It was CKC, then S.A.V.E. , then mlpa's Anniversary Weekend, there was two people I was missing alot. So Sunday we headed out to one of our great family spots. The PA Ren Faire! It has brought us great memories for many years. We missed not going last year, due to life being a bit too busy. So this year we were going to grab a day and go before it was another year pass and we were wishing we could have gone. It was Pirate weekend, and we had so much fun!! I just love the ERA you step into once in the gate. The volunteers and actors make you feel like you are right back there. I love how they talk to the kids and how they are just all there having a GREAT FUN TIME!



Josh got into the spirit of things and he was in full pirate mode. I was so happy the Daly's joined us again this year, it is always fun to spend the day with them.





I loved how Josh played the part here, altho he cracked up in the next second after the picture.






I have been finding a time to scrapbook, or is that making time to scrapbook. We have been getting alot of great papers into the store and it is just too hard not to have some fun with it. I did a few layouts about the Game on Saturday while it was so fresh in my mind.

So it is almost Thursday, busy week. only a few more days till Josh is in school again. I just can't believe he is going into 2nd grade, he will be 8 years old in a short 5 months, and I know how fast that can go!

We are having opening weekend in Football, (last week was preseason) So we will be heading out on Sunday to the game. I hope all goes well for the team, and they play hard and have fun. I will be sure to blog about it.

Well time to get this tired body to bed. I leave a clean scrap table, which was not that way after last nights scrappin. Hopefully do some scrapping tomorrow night, the rest of the weekend will be too busy.

What a game!

Ok so it took me a day to compose myself enough to write about Saturday's game. I know there will be some out there that just think I am a bit over the top about this whole football thing, but hey I am who I am.

I was so excited about Josh's first tackle game, nervous for him and just wanting it to be here and see what happened. So you know that fantasy world you live in for your kids, come on you know the dreams you have for them....the ones where it is the perfect moment and it all plays out in slow motion. That one where he is winning the Pulitzer prize, or getting his doctrine...or scoring the winning touchdown. Just insert your own little fantasy dream here.

Well most of my thoughts about his first game were, I just hope he has fun and plays well, remembers his plays, (he has 6 to remember). Hoping he wouldn't fumble, or get hurt. Then the other side of the brain had this dream of him getting the ball and sweeping out to the right and running for a touchdown. Ahhhhh to dream it is good!

For those dreams to happen right in front of you is FRIGIN AWESOME!!!

Opening play the hand off is to Josh, he sweeps right....makes the turn....runs down the sideline......HE





MAY



GO



ALL



THE



WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



TOUCHDOWN!!!!!!



Yep I got a picture of him as he broke thru and got to about the 40 yard line(He started at the 50 yard line) and then it was hands up in the air and camera up in the air as I cheered for my son and yelled RUN JOSH RUN!!!!

As that little tear came down my cheek, all I could do was stand there and watch as his teammates all came down piling on him and high 5s were everywhere. All I could see was his smile shining thru his helmet as they all ran to the sideline together. I get choked up just writing about it still. As I sit here all alone and just see him running down that sideline, I know that he is only 7 years old and I love him every day of his little life, and I know he is a superstar.....but he was a superstar today for everyone else to see. And nothing else could put a bigger smile on my face then to see him being the shining star even if it is for one moment.

Josh had such a great day, he played alot, it was SOOOOOOOO Hot! He went on to score another TD in the 2nd Quarter and he also had 2 sacks. He was in on almost every tackle for the 1st half also. 2nd half they didn't run to his side so much!

The WHOLE team was just amazing, watching these little guys practice for 3 weeks/4 nights a week we really didn't know they were going to kick it up a notch and play like they did. They were holding back a bit! I loved how they all were a TEAM, and they all worked together. They ended up scoring 4 TDs and Qtown didn't get any. We don't keep score on the scoreboard at this level, but believe me these kids knew the score.

Josh called Grandma & Grandpa, Grandma , and Uncle Steve. It was so fun to listen to him telling each of them about his game.

Below is some of my favorite shots from the game of Josh. I took 190 Photos (after editing) of the game and the parents were so happy with the shots I got of their kids.

It is here................

Football season!! Wahooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! I just love it, time to get the telephoto lens out and take 100 pictures in the span of 2 hours! I got a little giddy today knowing on Saturday at noon I will get to watch my son take the field and finally get to play his first game of the season. He has been practicing for 3 weeks, 4 nights a week to get to this day. I have been so impressed with Josh on the field. He has blown me away this year. Believe me that wasn't an easy thing to do.....when it comes to football I have very high expectations, I really want him to have fun, and just give his coaches the respect they deserve. All I ask him is to give it 100% at all times, ( the same I expect from him with everything he takes on).

Josh and I have had lots of conversations this summer, he is a very smart boy. He knows how to charm you, he listens to EVERYTHING, and he analyzes alot. Sometimes he will hear something and in a few hours he will come to you with questions that will blow your mind.

Of course then other times, he is a 7 year old "man in training" This is where you just throw your hands up in the air and realize somethings come pre wired for boys and there is just nothing you can do about it. Moms of boys know exactly what I am talking about!!

Tomorrow night we are going to opening night for the Greenjackets and watching the 135lb team play under the lights at the field. It should be lots of fun and Josh is so excited to go and see some tackle football in person. He will probably be analyzing the plays and watching the running backs and what they do. He will be the Running back on Saturday and also the Safety or corner on the defense. He looks so handsome in his uniform.

Now for the fear part....as always there is that little thing in the back of my heart and mind that also will be squinting and worrying when someone goes to tackle Josh. That is going to be the hard part for me this year. He enjoys tackling so much, and I have never let him know how I worry just a bit every night, but I know more on game day. This isn't going to be his teammates hitting him, these are kids that don't know him, except that he is the "other team" the "enemy" .

So here is to FOOTBALL SEASON! Bring it on!

Rock on......

That is what ya gotta do! I just look at this picture and it makes me smile.
It makes me think of what a great childhood Josh is having.
It makes me smile to know this.
It makes me happy to have friends like Julie.
It makes me giddy to know they love music , as much as I do.
Pictures are great for the eyes, heart and soul.
Scrapbooking rocks, it has changed my life.
It only takes a simple picture like this to remind me of this.
So Rock On!! Keep Scrapping and keep taking pictures!

fun to celebrate

Proud owners of memory lane, pa

It is fun to celebrate something that you work so hard at day in and day out.

I got to do that this weekend as the store I co-own had its second anniversary of opening on Aug 19, 2005.

2 years seemed to go by very fast. I sometimes can't believe it has been 2 years, when you are in the day in and day out it doesn't seem to move that fast. When you are there 5 or 6 days a week it just seems like each day comes and goes. Then it has been 730 days later and you are celebrating 24 months of your life.

It has been an interesting 2 years. Scrapbooking is a wonderful sport and I love it so much. That is the one factor that keeps you going each day, the love of it.

As I reflect back over the past 2 years, there are great times. Every time someone walks in the store and is so happy to be there. Every time someone tells me how important the store is to them. Every time someone says it is the best scrapbook store they have ever been to. (never get tired of that one).

It is a labor of love also. This weekend I missed my family, I don't like to be away from them on the weekends. The weekends are our time to be together. With Kate's schedule during the week and leaving at about 5 am and coming home around 8 pm, doesn't leave us much family time. Everyone has their own stories about how hard it is, whatever they may be doing. I know intellectually that I am doing what I want to do right now. But the heart doesn't always follow the mind in that department. My heart just missed my two loves this weekend.

So tomorrow will be one of my last two Mondays of summer with Josh. We are going to hang out, play some Yahtzee and have some fun. I can't believe school starts in 2 weeks. He is going into 2nd grade, it just doesn't seem possible.

A big thank you goes out to all the ladies that came and spent some or all of the weekend with us at the store. It was great to be in the crop room just listening to the the laughter and all the great girlfriend time going on.

Mr. Football

It is amazing how much Josh is growing thru his sports. He is becoming such a leader and developing great listening skills. The coaches are all so impressed with him and they can't say enough great things to Kate and I about him. I can also see what it is doing for him. He is just beaming with pride and also just wants to do better every day. I like the respect I see in him and the manners, it is like everything we have been trying to teach him in the last 7 years has finally caught up to him and he gets it. I know there are also days where I just throw up my hands in the air and wonder where did that boy go I was just talking about. But for now I will ride this train!

In not so good news Kate is at the ER right now, she is having such a hard time breathing. She has been on medication for everything this year and is just not getting any better. I am so worried. I hate to see her coughing all the time and she is just worn out. She has no energy. So with a little push she is at the ER trying to get in for a breathing treatment. It is crazy but that is the only way to get one. When she called the doctor today they told her to go. I am hoping this will help and she will start healing. It is so stressful, I am a worrier anyway, so when I really have something to worry about it is just worse. So if you can send good thoughts her way , Thanks!

Peace....do you acheive it?

Tackling!

That is what it is all about right now. Learning how to tackle. Josh is in the #40 shirt. He is getting the hang of this quite well. I think all the wrestling has helped him. Some of these kids are having a harder time, but they will all eventually get it.

I really love how the coaches are with all the kids on our team. They have a great approach, very positive with the kids, rewarding all the right things. Teaching them how to do what they need to do. It is so important to have those type of coaches in your sons life.

So that is about all there is in the Stillings house going on. Football 4 nights a week, not much room for anything else right now. By the time Friday night rolls around we are ready for a night of sitting and watching a movie. I asked Josh last night if he would like a pj day on Sunday and there was a shriek for joy.

Some crazy summer days this year, I can't believe it is August 9th and in just over 3 weeks the school year will be here. That is just crazy!

S.A.V.E. .....the name says it all!

WOW!!!
I could have named my company that this weekend!

I did name it S.A.V.E. , and love it.
Scrappin Away Vacation Events, every time I look back at how that all started I get a little teary eyed.


Every time I think...why do I do this?


It is alot of work....is it worth it?


Do I keep doing it?


All I have to do is spend a weekend with 90-220 woman and know that I am doing the right thing.


Just hearing how important these weekends are to these ladies, how they look forward to these all year. How much they thank me for putting it all together so they just have to pack up and come and crop. These are the reasons I do this.



Altho exhausting I want to give a big shout out to all the girls that helped me this weekend, Trish, Deena, Connie, Patti, Shirley, and Stuffie!! I couldn't have done it without you this weekend thanks for all your hard work!



Here are a few visuals from the weekend. Thanks for all the friends pictures. I know there are more out there but these are the ones I had on my camera.





Julie and me
Deb and me
Denise and me
Kate and Josh dancing! So glad they came up for Saturday and Sunday!
Nancy, myself and Bridget ( Nancy you are looking great, it is your year!)
The Gang, (well those who came out for the photo gang) So fun!!