Facebook

Ok, I did it - I joined Facebook. It's kooky and fun and you "run" into all kinds of people that you haven't talked to in a while. I joined the group for scrapbookgraphics and it's neat to see all the folks from the digi-scrap world on the social networking site. Check it out if you haven't already...

Facebook

Laugh

My oldest son is three (and a half!) years old and my little guy is just four months old and my husband is much older than that! Three males and me. I'm on the precipice of being overwhelmed by testosterone, football, fart humor and action movies. I grew up in a more balanced household (weighted slightly toward the feminine side) with two sisters and two brothers. I guess that it's karma that I would have two sons and no daughters, since when I grew up, I was often the tie-breaker, as the youngest, and although female, I usually did side with the boys.
So I am enjoying this cuddly, snuggly, lovey-dovey phase of having two little boys. This layout really reflects that. :)

(Credits - Flight of Fancy collab from Scrapartist and alpha by Weeds & Wildflowers

Scrapartist collab!

I LOVE the collabs at scrapartist! Each time I buy one, I am delighted! The papers are fantastic, the elements are whimsical and each piece fits so perfectly with the entire collection! Back2School is no different. Just bought it and I adore it! I am also a big fan of the quickpage album that came with it - it was made by the talented Laurie Ann (known to most of us as the ever-gracious nEEd2creAte - she also started designing recently at we are storytellers!) I copied one of her keyplate quickpage designs and made it into a full-page layout. (mostly because I print all my layouts at 8x8 and haven't gotten into doing other sizes when printing). So here it is. A couple of pics of my little guy on his first day at preschool! Thanks again goddesses at scrapartist and thanks Laurie Ann!

So many new shops...

There are so many new digital scrapbooking shops that I feel a little overwhelmed! I have a little scrapbooking budget and like to browse before I buy, but honestly I haven't bought a thing lately because it takes me so long to visit all the cool sites and by the time I am almost ready, the baby cries or my older son needs me or my husband can't find something and the next time I sit down at the computer, I have to start shopping all over again!!! So, I have links to all the shops that I try to visit but maybe there are new ones that I don't even know about! *Sigh* This money is burning a hole in my paypal, so I better get shopping!!!

Family stuff

Just wanted to put some thoughts down in writing today. I'm very blessed to have the family and life that I have. Sometimes I need to remind myself of that. I tend to caught up in the little irritations of daily life sometimes and forget to give thanks for the miracle of each and every "regular" day that I get to share with my two boys and my husband. I also have the blessing of having both my parents alive (as does my dh). We are very lucky.

We went to a big "cousin" party this weekend. My mother's sister, Colleen, had four daughters - my cousins. Colleen passed away when she was in her forties and never got the joy of seeing her children's children and the lives they have built with their husbands. My cousins are all married with beautiful children. We adore them. Sadly, their father is now ill and may have cancer (again). Everyone is very melancholy and worried about his health and grateful for every moment with him.

Which brings me back to me. I've been feeling resentful toward my own father lately BECAUSE he is in poor health! Now, hold off on the judgement for a minute - he has MRSA and he came to my house and infected ME! Yup, I just got over a MRSA infection under my arm. It was painful and terrifying. I was soo worried that I would give it to my little one (2months and breastfeeding) or my bigger one (three years and prone to scratches and cuts, like any three year old boy). The antibiotics worked on me and my boo boo healed in two weeks. My dad hasn't been so lucky and he was in the hospital twice with this infection and now is at home and on a "pick-line" at home, giving him very strong antibiotics intravenously. So that's a lot of information, but the bottom line is that I have been soo mad at him for giving it to me (not that he would EVER have done such a thing on purpose, but of course, I blamed him for not being careful enough and for visiting me with an open wound to begin with!) Now, I can see that I need to be grateful for his health (such that it is) and to pray for his recovery. I continue to be vigilant about hygiene in my own home and will do all I can to protect my sons (and dh). But I am grateful for my family and I finally can let go of this resentment towards my dad.

Tagged!

Ok, so this is REALLY late, but Donna Miller tagged me back in May and I just now am updating my blog!!! Of course, I have a pretty good excuse - just had a baby on June 1st! (see pic!) But, here is the drill - I was tagged and now I need to tell the rules -
1. List your tagger and the rules (check!)
2. List seven facts about yourself (some weird and random)
3. Tag seven people and list their blogs (hope I know seven people!)

Seven Facts:
1. I am the youngest child (of five) in my family
2. My favorite snack is "figs and almonds" (can't have one without the other!)
3. I have two basset hounds
4. I live in Michigan
5. My favorite color is orange
6. I am horrible at sports (except running)
7. I love love love to watch hockey! (Go Red Wings!)

Seven blogs
1. Mariquita
2. Beth (20birds)
3. Kelsey
4. kewljive (I didn't tag Beth, she's got a lot going on right now! Send her some loving thoughts!)
5. Cate
6. Helen
7. Stephanie

And here's my darling baby boy - Brendan! Born June 1, 2008. (a whopping 10 lbs and 12 oz!!!)