Happy Birthday to My Boy Evan and other baby news!

Seems so hard to believe that my middle child Evan is 7 years old today.
WOW! It seems like only yesterday that we were blessed with this little miracle, what joy he has brought to us in these 7 years (okay a few headaches too, but mostly joy LOL)
Since it was his birthday, we took him out for lunch, of course he chose Pizza Hut since he loves the lunch buffet. The waitress overheard us saying it was his birthday and brought him a huge piece of Chocolate Caramel cake, wasn't that sweet of her?
It was a good day at the old Pizza Hut to be sure. Several large groups had made short work of the buffet so we had to wait quite some time for fresh food to be brought out, the waitress felt bad and so gave me a free order of boneless Teriyaki wings (can you say yummy?) and then she gave Evan the cake which goes for about $5. As we were leaving our friend Ina who is a waitress came out from the back with 2 empty pizza boxes and told my kids to load them up with whatever they wanted from the buffet, the buffet ended at 1:30 and nobody else was having it so they stacked them boxes pretty full, talk about a windfall LOL

On an unrelated note, my dear friend Rachel gave birth to an 8 lb baby girl, Sienna Elizabeth last evening at 10:34 pm, I can not wait to see pictures of the little angel and wish I lived closer to BC so I could see them for real. Congrats Rachel, Brian and big brother Kane, welcome to the world baby Sienna, you've got yourself one heck of a mom there baby girl!

Back from Surgery, All is Well

Got home yesterday afternoon after having my endometrial ablation. Things seem to have gone quite well.
Today I am feeling pretty good actually, better than I thought for sure. A little crampy but nothing that I can't handle.
Time will tell how successful it was, will know more once a cycle passes but I still have high hopes, it certainly can't be worse than what it was before that's for sure.

I want to take a few moments to thank everyone for all the emails, posts etc that you made with your well wishes and prayers, you have no idea what they mean to me.

Today I will be taking it easy, DH is busy doing laundry for me and I am planning on spending some time down in my scraproom playing and relaxing.

Again, thank you all my friends, chat soon!

Epson Creative Zone...Cool!

This is a little Brag Book I made using free downloads from the Epson Creative Zone, if you haven't checked it out you really should. Tons of really cool little projects, really simple and free...can't beat that. I combined 2 projects to make it, I used the Travel Brag Book and the Travel Accordian Album one. In between the photo pages I am adding in the blank postcard and the blank journalling sheets so she can do her own journalling later.

I enjoyed it but have to say, digi stuff will never replace my love of paper scrapping, but I can definitely see more combining some of these great Epson projects with my traditional layouts.

My Scrap Room is Doing It's Job!

Well it is working I think.

Now that I have a dedicated scrapping space and can leave stuff out on my desk etc, I am digging in to all those much loved but ignored supplies. I have been playing for 3 days and have got 7, yep 7 layouts done, that's more than I have done in 3 months I swear.

And the best part, I am using up my old stash and old supplies that I couldn't use before when the kids and hubby were invading my space.

So far this week I have:

** painted, I played with my paints that I have had for over a year and half of them weren't even opened yet!

** played with my Stickles - again had for a long time and never used them because of the drying time...woohoo!

** pulled out my Versamark and embossing powders and heat embossed, can't even remember the last time I did that!!!!!

** played with good old glue, did the "rain drop" technique and just plopped globs of glue on the page to mimic rain...way cool!

** played with loose glitter and got it all over me, but who cares it was fun!!!!!

**played with my stamps that are so sorely neglected, love the Inque Boutique Stamp Keeper system by the way, if you haven't seen them, you must check them out! You can see a video of them HERE You can buy them at Lovebug of course. Here's the link.


I hope to snap some pics of the layouts later to share, but right now, I am just having too much fun.

On another note, my kids have been gone since Tuesday evening, camping with my sisters and are due back today. DH and I are so pathetic, we moan about the quiet time and alone time we crave when the kids are here, and by 8 pm on Tuesday evening, we were bored and wishing they were back home. Of course they'll be home for an hour and the wishes for quiet and aloneness will return I'm sure LOL

I'm Moving Out

my scrap stuff out of my bedroom that is.
Finally decided to brave the dreaded dungeon that DH calls a basement.
I have commandeered the "bedroom" (insert garbage dump here) to use as my very own space. It ain't the prettiest place in the world, but now that I have it cleaned out and fumigated (picture that the basement has been used primarily by DH and his friends to watch such thrilling and stimulating things as UFC fights for the past 12 years or so), it isn't so bad.
I have the tables and shelves ready to go, now to move everything down there...geesh what a job..on the plus side I am finding tons of stuff I forgot I had.
It's going to be great I think, I will be able to leave my stuff where I can see it and hopefully use it finally.
Carly keeps telling people that there are NO kids allowed down there when Mom is scrapping, but she qualifies it by saying "unless we are bleeding, then we come down" LOL The kid has the right idea I tell ya.
Now I am hoping that in this pathetic, shopping-challenged town in which I live that I can find some cool, fun and funky stuff to decorate it down there so it is cheerful and happy, just what I need.

In other news, I am finally going to have my Endometrial Ablation done, August 12th.
Thoughts and prayers that the surgery is a success and I can get back some semblance of a normal life again would be appreciated.

Off to bribe the kids to help me carry stuff downstairs...wonder if a Dairy Queen Blizzard offe will do the trick?

Has Anyone Seen My Summer?

Holy crap Batman! It is almost the middle of July and we have had ONE decent day this year...rainy, cold, dreary...UGHHHHHH

Off to take the kids to the pool today, hopefully they will burn off some pent up energy and stop fighting long enough for me to fight the urge to drown them all (come on, relax, you know I am kidding,I wouldn't REALLY drown them...)

Hope everyone else's summer is going better than mine with this yucky weather.

Anyone willing to send some sunshine this way???????

Be back later after swimming and working on the building plans for the ark......

I'm a Grandma! ??????????

To an Eastern Grey Kangaroo LOL

Megan adopted one for Logan, Evan and Carly while she was in Australia. The kids think this is totally cool (way cooler than adopting a WebKinz according to them BWAHAHAHA).

His name is Ugg and he is apparently quite the character. Seems he tried to kill Ranger Tom by kicking him off a cliff or something...figures he'd be "one of mine", huh? LOL

Here is the adoption certificate and a picture of Megan "spooning" with the adorable little creature.

How freaking fun is this!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Memories of Mom and How I Want My Kids to See Me

It has been 16 years today since Mom passed. But I'm not that sad, I choose to remember the fun and wonderful times and not focus on the sadness of this day. It was only one terrible, horrible day compared to a lifetime of wonderful, happy memories.
Cruising the photo albums today and what did I find? This gem. My mother in all her wacky glory...who gets this excited about sticking their head through a toilet seat I ask you? It's gotta be one special woman, right? LOL

Carly and I spent some time today watching old home videos of my Mom (who of course passed away long before little Carly was born) and laughing our butts off.
Was my mother perfect? Of course not, but she was close enough for me. I hope and pray that someday my kids will look back and feel about me the way that I feel about her.
I leave you today with the request that you take a few moments to think of your Mom, or a mother figure in your life, take joy in their presence in your life whether they are still with you or not.
Here is a layout I did a long time ago about my Mom, I might have shared it here before, I can't remember.

I also leave one that I completed yesterday (my apologies for the crappy photo of it, it's the best I could get for now) that talks about just how I want my kids to think of me.
As always, just click on the photo to make it bigger if you care to read the journalling
Have a wonderful day everyone!

It Ain't Right, G'Day Mate, and Silly String

I have to say it just ain't right that my children are so photogenic and every picture of me is horrific. Check it out, 3 kids with gorgeous blue eyes and angelic looks...check it out a mom with atleast 3 chins and a spare tire around her belly, and no that is not where my boobs normally are...it was the weekend, a girl shouldn't have to wear one of those things on the weekend..



We'll blame it on the fact that I was wearing my old sweats, and old sweatshirt and my niece's jacket. We'll also blame it on the way I am slouched so totally unladylike in that chair.
In reality,I am a very svelte lady, just so you know....... (I also have some prime real estate in the Brooklyn Bridge area if you are interested...)



Anyhooooooooo, This photo is of my niece Megan, nephew Tim, and of course my rugrats, Evan,Carly and Logan. Point of interest...Megan is heading to Australia in days. She is going as a volunteer and will be working at the Wildlife Walkabout Park just outside of Sydney for 2 weeks, and then spending 2 weeks doing those death-defying activities like white water rafting, rock climbing etc that I am way too much of a fraidy kat to do LOL Gonna miss her tons g'day mate!

And look what Megan did on Saturday night to her parents' nice clean house...she attacked...completely unprovoked...with silly string, see how she almost got it all over her brother Tim's plate and his friend Stephanie's plate? How rude LOL. It wasn't me...honest it wasn't... okay so it was my idea, but she didn't argue when I told her to grab the other can and help me LOL

Evan says

"You are the worst mom ever, and you have ruined my whole life"...sigh....another morning in the Waller household.
What prompted this statement? Well, apparently today is "Twin Day" at school...I know it's a ridiculous idea but the teacher in charge of "spirit days" is a coconut head to say the least..anyway, I digress.
Apparently Evan made arrangements with his buddy Bailey to wear the pants they both have (which ones? how the h*ll should I know???) and didn't tell me. So after a week of reminding him to get his dirty clothes picked up off his floor and put in the hamper to be washed, he finally did it last night. Now it would appear that the aforementioned pants were not washed...thus I am horrible. Oh well, crap happens...that should be his biggest problem today, right?
But...alas...my Evan is always the first(and usually the ONLY) of the kids (or husbands) in this house to admit he is wrong. He walked about 200 feet towards the bus this morning, came running back in the house, gave me a big hug and said "you know I didn't mean it Mom, you're the best....can you rent Zelda for Wii today?")...sighhhhhhhhhhhh Now I could of course think he was only sucking up, but today I am feeding on delusions and have chosen to believe that the whole Zelda thing was just a coincidence...
Well gotta run and put on my rose-colored glasses and head to the video store...Zelda, here I come!