5 Years Ago Yesterday

Our family chain is broken and nothing is the same but as God calls us one by one our chain will link again.


We lost my oldest sister Judy, one of the toughest, bravest, most wonderful women I have ever known on June 29, 2003. Yesterday I decided to have my day of remembrance and to wait until today to post about it. I laughed and giggled and thumbed through photo albums, remembering all the good times, and boy there were a ton of those!

She struggled with illness most of her life, Crohn's Disease, Colitis, Ileitis, all household words to us.
But through it all she had grace, dignity and more bravery than I could ever hope to have.
Judy's biggest gift to us all was her philosophy of "Never Give Up".
I love and miss you dearly Judy, and think of you every day. No tears here, nope, only smiles and giggles for all the fun times that we shared.

That though the radiance which was once so bright be now forever taken from my sight. Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, glory in the flower. We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.
William Wordsworth

BUGZEE BEGINS (Yahtzee - Lovebug Style) *edited for correct entry date* thanks Rachel LOL

So excited that our next big event at Lovebug is starting today. If you haven't already joined in, you have until this Sunday, June 22th to enter the fun.
We have some great prizes and you are guaranteed to have a blast and get lots of pages done ( I believe there was some mention of Glitz *wink*).
Keep in mind that at Lovebug, we never do judged contests or events, all levels of scrappers are welcome and encouraged to come and play along.
If you join now and mention you heard it on my blog, I have a wonderful rak for you.
So come on out and play some "dice" with me at Lovebug, you won't be sorry!

WARNING! Proud Mom Bragging Below

So my oldest son is an amazing kid, and I'm not just saying that because he is mine.
He had a great week last week.
Thursday was his YBC Bowling Banquet. His team the "Royal Pains" won the League Championship, how awesome is that.(cropped the others from the photo since I didn't get permission from parents to post photos of their kids on the net)
He also won several individual awards: Beat My Coach, Beat My Average, 100 Pins Over Average, Bowler of the Month for September and League Hi Triple with a score fo 564. He should have also received the League High Single with his 252, but our alley owners will only give 1 award like that per bowler, so the boy who got it had a 238. I don't of course agree with this, I firmly believe if a child earns an award they should get it, if they don't earn it, they don't get it..plain and simple...but what can you do, right?
His other major accomplishment is one that he has been aiming for all year.
There is a program available here called the Fine Arts Program, it runs from grades 6 through 8, he will be in 6 next year.
It is an excellerated academic program with a strong focus on the arts as well. They do the same curriculum as all other grade 6 students, but in 2/3 of the time. The entire afternoon of their day is dedicated to art, music, drama and dance.
To be eligible for the program, they must have a minimum B+ average, be recommended by their current teacher and their current principal, and go through an interview process in which they bring a portfolio of their work. Logan had his interview on Friday evening and the principal of the new school was very flattering and impressed with his work and with him. She made several commments on his writing, telling him he has "great voice" in his writing, a great sense of humor etc...(must get that from me **wink**). She told him he was fabulous and would make an excellent addition to the program. He is so happy and proud of himself, as are we.
Paul and I must be doing something right as parents, don't you think? Now...if we could just get them to stop fighting, start listening and lose the attitudes....think that is a losing battle at this point LOL
Have a fantabulous day everyone!

Buggy Lovebugs and Endangered Zebras...Oh My!

Okay, so a few weeks ago a bunch of the Lovebug gals were going on and on and on and on and on and on...(getting the idea here?) about their new addiction....Webkinz...yep, grown women going gaga over these weird little things. Me of course, being me as only me can...felt a need to point out that Webkinz were a mere communist plot to take over the world, that they were evil and dark, tools of the devil...etc..
Anyhooooooo, it ended up being a whole big thing with me teasing them, them teasing me etc etc...then that sneaky Allan ("Mr Lovebug"...not to be confused with "Mr Universe" atleast not in this dimension) decided to alter my avatar photo with a sad, deranged and disturbing chicken...
and then today......this happened..


Now Allan (hereafter to be referred to as "Zebra") has declared that I even messed up the picture as the weird little chicken (who I refer to as Allan the Dumb Cluck) is supposed to be affixed to the hat with the string which is not visible in the photo...oy vey....... LOL

Sweet Johanna!

I just have to brag for a moment and show you all the lovely RAK I got last week in the mail. I got it from the uber sweet Johanna Peterson.
I love the Queen & Co felt, such great bright colors and of course who wouldn't love Heidi Swapp XL flowerd shapes? The matchbook is too adorable and the rubon titles are fabulous. Want to know my favorite? It was the sweet note that Johanna included in the package, talk about making a girl feel special.
There is only one thing I don't like about Johanna...she has this addiction to scrapbooking tools and she loves to share them on videos with Leah on ther Vblog so everytime she shows one, you just know that I have to have it LOL
Johanna is on the Around the Block design team and they have of course some of the most coolest tools.
If you haven't checked out Leah and Johanna's videos, click on the link above, you will be quickly hooked I am sure.
Gotta run for now, got some big announcements I have to make over on Lovebug,be sure to come and check them out, FUN FUN FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!