weekend fun

My sister, her husband, and their kids came to town this weekend. She lives over 2 hours away in northern Iowa, and I don't get to see her nearly as often as I'd like to. We have a great relationship and talk on the phone at least once per week. They came to Des Moines to get away for a weekend and relax a bit. So Saturday evening, the adults enjoyed dinner at Johnnie's Italian Steakhouse. Gary and I love to eat there, and I think Lisa and Kelvin enjoyed their first dining experience there as well! It was just so nice to sit and chat uninterrupted. While we were doing that...


all 6 of the kids were at our house jamming out to Rock Band. They don't have that at their house, so this was a new experience for her kids. Even Lisa sang a little "Ballroom Blitz " when we got home! Here are Abby and Erika singing...

Allison on the drums...

Ryan taking his turn on the guitar...

and Bradley (I'll claim this one :)

I'm so happy my kids have cousins their age to play with. I grew up with only 1 first cousin who was over 5 years older than me. I did do quite a bit with her, but it would have been so great to have a slew of cousins to play with!

Bradley got some good news tonight. He passed his umpire quiz, so he is an official Carlisle Little League umpire now! He was quite excited! His first real job!!

sick again...

I'm so very tired of this. It seems I have been sicker this winter than any other... however as I write this, I think of the many people we know who have illnesses that won't heal. My strep throat will get better after the antibiotics kick in. My pain is minimal compared to many other's. So quit complaining Kate!

I was to sub today, but cancelled yesterday after I got my diagnosis. My voice sounds hideous, so I don't think it would have been good to talk all day. I got the boys off to school this morning, took a 2 hour nap, and now am on the computer. I'm going to try to take it easy today, so I can be ready for the rest of the busy week ahead. I just got assigned another lesson to write, so I should begin on that and not procrastinate. This next month will be a busy one- track, 3 baseball leagues/teams between the two boys, turkey hunting, not to mention regular life that is busy enough as it is.

Well I have some bananas that need to be used, so I'm off to make some of our favorite banana chocolate chip muffins.

Happy anniversary...

to two of my very favorite people in the whole world! I love you both for many reasons...

*you have made me feel just like one of your very own chiildren

*you are a model of humility and Christian character

*you raised your son to be a wonderful father and husband

*you show my boys how very important they are to you

*you will drop anything to help those around you

*you are warm and inviting and continually practice hospitality

*you always have time for us- no matter what else is going on

*you uphold us in prayer every day- THANK YOU!

*you play Sorry with my kids so I don't have to :)

*you are the best father and mother-in-law a girl could ask for, and I'm so very grateful for you both! Love you! Have a wonderful day.

scrappiness...

I had an unexpected evening free last night- a couple of tutoring students cancelled- so I spent the evening in my scrap area. I began working on Brennan's sports album. I have a running baseball album for Bradley that I update after each season. I began his during his first year in the minors. He was 8 years old and looked so little. I love the progression of the album to see how he's grown and matured with each year. I will have to photograph it sometime to share. Anyway, I haven't done anything for Bren yet, so I decided I better get started! I will soon be snapping more baseball pics as the season opener is only a few weeks away. So I got a couple of pages done in that.

This layout was actually completed a few weeks ago. This is Gary with all of his cousins on the Hydorn side. This picture was taken at his grandma's funeral last month. I LOVE this Making Memories paper! It's one of my latest favorites. Again, excuse the poor pictures. I even tried to lighten them up in my Corel program, but they still seem a little dark (probably because I haven't figured that whole program out yet either!).

I love to enlarge these action photos, and this was one of my favorites of Bradley from last season. One of Gary's favorite phrases of encouragement during a game is to yell at Bradley to "throw the heat Buddy." This background paper is also new, and I love that grid pattern! Some people have a lot of Christmas paper or Disney paper, or baby paper. I scrap A LOT of baseball so I have about every paper and embellishment they come out with. After awhile they all start to look the same, but these new papers are great!

The embellishments are from the Zach's Life line.

I'm also loving these puffy letters by MM right now. They were also used in the title on the Cousins page.

I have already posted this picture on my blog, but was dying to do a layout documenting it. You probably have to click on the image to see it more closely and to be able to read the journaling. It is kind of an ecclectic page with all sorts of stuff on it. Not usually my style, but I like how it ended up coming together. I have begun trying to use up little leftovers. I found a tiered stand at Big Lots for $8 a couple of months ago. When I have a little leftover embellishment, ribbon, a scrap of patterned paper or something, I put it in that stand. It sits right on my table so I can readily see it. The ribbon, the journaling paper, and all of the embellishments in the upper right corner all came out of my basket! I was so proud to be able to use those things up!

a typical photo shoot with an 8 and 13 year old boy...

"Boys, can I please get one good picture?"

"Oh, that's nice! Good smiles!" (I speak too soon as Bradley's hand comes up at the last minute before the pictures gets snapped!)

"COME ON- BE SERIOUS!" Mom pleads.

"I GIVE UP!"

this is as good as it gets

spring break recap

I'm still here. I've thought about posting several times, however just not gotten around to it. I really like to add pics to my posts, so I had to get those downloaded first.

Anyway, the boys just finished up spring break, and it was great. I could use another week.

Monday we (or I) slept in. I think the boys get up even earlier on days off to enjoy the day to its fullest! After lunch we went shopping. Baseball cleat shopping, golf shoe shopping, baseball and golf glove shopping, etc. So obviously it wasn't hard to get the boys to go! We made a stop at TCBY, one of my FAVORITE places, for white chocolate mousse yogurt. I get that every time. The great thing is now they have a few sorbets so Brennan can have something non dairy there when we go! We also rode our bikes to the park a few times this week as that is one of Brennan's favorite activities.

Tuesday Bradley had a golf tee time with his friend Brady. I drive the cart (one of my favorite things!), Bren went along to watch, and the boys enjoyed 18 holes. It was a GORGEOUS day! That afternoon someone came to measure for carpet. We are getting new carpet in a month! I can't wait. Our downstairs stuff is old and has never been replaced so it's high time! Bradley also had a friend stay overnight, and they spent much time talking to girls on the phone and Facebook. Ugh...we've entered that stage.

Wednesday was work at home day for me. I painted my tutoring room over the weekend, and so I spent the day moving all of the furniture back in place, organizing, going through files, etc. This was a job that needed attention for a long time, and still isn't done, but I made progress on it. I REALLY like how the room came together, colors and all, and will post those at some point. Bren tried to get a friend to spend the night but couldn't get a hold of his two buddies that he wanted.

a sneak peak of the new tutoring room (and the mess I was tackling on Wed.)

Thursday was golfing again. The boys wanted to go to Grandview golf course this time, and Bren decided to golf instead of watch. I, of course, got to do my thing! It was a little chillier this time, but if the sun's shining, who cares? We went out to dinner as a family to CiCi's Pizza that eve. and headed home for basketball. March Madness is in full force around here. I usually fill out a bracket, but I didn't this time. Bradley has filled out numerous ones, and is in pools on line in different spots, so he's pretty obsessed with the whole thing right now. Last I knew he was in first place in one pool, so he must be doing pretty well!

the golfers

the crazy cart driver

Friday was a pretty difficult day. I can't really go into detail, but I had to give a deposition, which I was not looking forward to. It has caused a great deal of stress before and after the fact, and I'm trying to just put it all behind me. Gary got to be with me, so I was so thankful for his support. Then I went back to Farm Bureau with him to see where he works and meet some of his coworkers. I had not been out there yet. It is so nice! We went to McDonalds for lunch together, and then I had a few hours of retail therapy after the morning. I got some new spring things. That evening we headed down to Corydon for a quick visit to his parents. They took us out for dinner at CJ's, a restaurant we really like there. Then we just relaxed for the next 24 hours. It was nice!

Grandma and Grandpa doing a puzzle with Bren.


We enjoyed eating lunch on the deck Saturday.

Today was church and napping by me, laundry by my sweet husband, playing with friends for Bradley, and playing the Game Boy for Bren. Gary is leading our small group tonight as the leader is out of town, and then it will be time to gear up for the week ahead! I start a new tutoring student this week, so I need to prepare for that.

Dreary Days...

As I look outside at the clouds and the rain that has been falling since Friday night, I wonder how I would manage to get anything done if I lived in a perpetually cloudy place like Portland. This weather is driving me crazy! I have been so unproductive these last few days, it's ridiculous.
And I am coming down with yet another cold, so that certainly isn't helping the cause.
I'm too lazy to upload any photos today, but I guess that's par for my day!
Bradley had his last basketball tournament this past weekend. They won two out of three games, which was great for us! That is what occupied our time all Friday evening and all afternoon and evening Sat. Turning the clock ahead for Daylight Savings has done a number on me (us). I was SO TIRED on Sun. and Mon., not to mention the boys as well. I could hardly drag them out of bed yesterday, and today I didn't wake up until 7:30- normally we leave the house by 7:45 so we were having to scramble. Having it be so dark in the morning now doesn't help. We haven't seen the sun for 4 or 5 days, and I HATE IT! I am so seasonally affective.
I'm getting ready to paint my tutoring room next week over spring break. I'm trying to finalize my colors. We have no plans for spring break- I know I like it that way, but the boys don't. I will plan to have a couple of fun days in there hopefully.
OK, enough from me for now until I have something useful to say.
Toodles.

The Diary of a Dog and Cat

I was sent this e-mail a couple of years ago, and it ranks as one of my very favorites. If you have a dog or cat, you might be able to identify with this funny- hope it brightens your day! (I added the pictures- the dog one I downloaded from the web, and the cat one is my baby, Oreo)

DOG DIARY:

8:00 AM- Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 AM- Car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 AM- A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 AM- Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 PM- Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 PM- Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 PM- Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 PM- Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 PM- Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 PM- WOW! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 PM- Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

CAT DIARY:

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear in their hearts since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released- and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe...

For now.

6th folder, 6th picture...

As I was reading through some of my favorite blogs tonight, I came across a challenge from one of them. Go to your pictures, open your 6th folder, and go to the 6th picture in that folder. Then tell about the pic. So here's the one that came up. This was taken at one of Bren's basketball games this year. And no, he didn't get the ball. He wasn't exactly aggressive. When faced with a situation like this, he would often back off. But I think he enjoyed his basketball season, so that's all that matters.



Seems like it's been a busy weekend. Friday night we had a fun time with family. I'll post pics from then later this week after they're downloaded. Saturday we had to go to Bradley's basketball tourney in Boone. Then that evening we met some friends at Texas Roadhouse. I'd never been there before, but had heard it was good. OH my, talk about busy!! I would go crazy working there with all of the people and commotion. We were squashed together waiting. The warm rolls and cinnamon butter stuff was AMAZING!! And my ribeye was pretty darn tasty as well! Today was church and lots of laundry. But my amazing husband has been taking care of most of it all day. I even got my nap in while he was busy with laundry and changing oil in cars, etc. I think I'm gonna keep him!
Well I gotta sub tomorrow so I need to head to bed. I'd love to stay up a bit longer, but that doesn't work too well when I have to get up early.
Toodles!