racers ready!

Tonight was Pinewood Derby!  (This picture is from Jake's summer camp at the beach.) Took some frantic movements to get home from Canby, Jake dressed in his uniform, and everyone out the door, but we made it there before 6:15.  Which I must say was the time posted on my calendar, in the newsletter and the scout email reminders as the start time.  So we get there, only a few other people there.  They were still setting up.  Apparently we were early....  I think maybe I get a special notice with times so I am "on time"....  Must be a pattern there...

Anyway, the scouts had hot dogs and popcorn while the big kids aka adult leaders, finished polishing the track and setting up the caution tape.  These guys take this very seriously...  The cars will be touched by race officials only.  Scouts can remove their cars from the race area after second elimination round.  There will be two officials at the starting line.  Two officials at the finish line with the racing scouts in that round.  No car will race without the scout present.  But it was fun.  The kids get pretty excited when their cars are involved but then as they are eliminated, the crowd thins out and it is left to the stragglers to finish up the race.  They set up the old retired track in the hallway so the kids can continue to race their cars while the official race is going on.  Lucas and some other boy scouts helped as officials.  He was in charge of the score board.  Apparently there was some confusion as to who advanced and NASA had to be contacted and just dragged out the evenings events....  Anyway, Jake's Haz Mat car - it was all black with some yellow triangle on it that looked like the Hazardous Material Warning sign...  was beaten out by the E-Racer.  This was a pink car with the eraser logo on it.  Cute idea.  And really did look like an eraser.  The boys finally finished out the racing and then it was time for the "big kids" to race...  They just crack me up.  The competition between these two guys was something else.  This one guy took the car right out of the box and painted 100% natural on it, added the wheels and that was his car.  Then the other cars were all painted fancy and carved into shapes etc.  The block of wood won!  He apparently won the "big kids" race last year too so had to hold his ground.  

When the winners were awarded their trophies and the judging complete for the best car, we headed home.  Homework with Jake - done.  Dishwasher going, again - done.  Boys in bed - done.  Just need to load the laundry and put this old woman to bed, aka couch again.  Plug in my new humidifier - that is if I can figure out how to get it to work without leaking water all over.  Thought I was going to electricute myself this am when the cord was wet and I was standing in the puddle.  Guess I may just have to read the book....   Tomorrow is another day.

ok, before signing off tonight, I need to vent a little bit....  Just how many phone books does one household need?  In the past week, I have picked up 7 bags of phone books from my driveway.  They don't even deliver them to the door anymore.... (Shawn - remember our phone book delivering days, or should I say day?  We only lasted one...) Two of those were in one day! In each bag there is 1-2 phone books depending on the coverage area for that phone book.  Do we really need 4 phone books of the exact same copy???  Did the delivery guy not check in when he returned from his route that my house got put back on the list again?  What do I do with all these phone books, use them for fire starter, fill my recycle bin?  Who do I call to say I don't need anymore phone books - will their number be in one of these books?  Will it be clearly marked in these thousands of pages that never has any useful information anyway?  Seems like whenever I do look up a phone number and call it - it is disconnected.  And my old phone books have all the notes in the margins - am I supposed to transfer my notes to a new phone book like my calendars?  Do the people typing these books realize there is this thing called the internet that we all use now to look up phone numbers or even to just mapquest it so we can just drive there?  So I came up with a solution, working so far, to let the phone book delivery people know that I, in fact, have already received my newest copy of the phone for every possible city, county, district, and yellow pages for the practically the whole state of Oregon and SW Washington.....  I have been leaving them on my front step.  There is quite the little pile there now, but I haven't had to pick up a new bag out of my driveway in a couple of days.  Of course, I forgot to mention that usually when these are found in the driveway, it is after I have driven over them a couple of times.  And when a plastic bag with paper in it sits in the rain and is driven over by a Tahoe a couple of times, it really isn't going to have any valuable information to me anymore anyway...  Ok, so enough venting.  I feel better.  Will make some tea and head to bed....

And Shauna - I will try the honey instead of sugar in my meds.  Hey, I am practically not drinking coffee with tons of creamer anymore because you have me hooked on tea.  And I don't put sugar in that anymore, I add a little honey when it needs it.  But I am just taking some baby steps here.  Don't think I am ready to start those carrot, wheat grass, pomegranite, spinach shakes you are drinking... lol  I can't remember exactly what you said were the ingredients in that but that may take something bigger than a baby step...  Like say a truck, pushed by a bus, pushed by a train, pushed by a plane......

Anyway, have a good night!  Thanks for listening....

and another day is done...

Well, there is no snow falling - just very cold. Will probably not be a snow day tomorrow or even a late start, so it must be time to settle in for some good Nyquil sleep. According to the commercial anyway, I should be able to sleep like I did before the rooster got his days and nights mixed up... or something like that.

I went to work today, but only lasted as long as the cold meds did. They wore off before noon so I finished up my project - turned it in and called it a day. Headed home for more meds. Dug around the cupboard and found some sudafed. That didn't do anything. Drank some Thera Flu - nothing. Cough drops - nothing. What is in this stuff? It hasn't done anything for me like what it describes on the box/bottle that it claims it will do. I can't taste anything so that is good for taking these medicines. Especially the pills - they don't taste very good crushed up in a spoon. Ok, lately, I have been adding a little sugar... So went to the store when Jake was at tutoring and stocked up! Dayquil, Nyquil, Vick's vapor rub, and shower soothers - those things work pretty slick. It is like standing in a sauna with Vick's. But the effects are short lived and you smell like Vick's all day... But at this point, I am willing to do anything to breathe again... I have been told that apparently I snore (I dispute this rumor as it has never been proven! and no this is not an opportunity to record...) but somehow it gets worse when I am stuffed up. So it will be another night on the couch for me. I do sleep a little better there anyway when I am sick because I can be elevated with my stack of three pillows and the arm rest. This also allows for the legs and feet to stay on the cushions and not up over the other arm rest. This now isn't really sounding like a good night's sleep.

Anyway, the boys are off to bed. Tom is doing something on his laptop in the living room (I am on my laptop in my scrap room...) probably searching for an old Wagoneer. His latest "thing" or idea for a vehicle. Hey, as long as I don't have to drive it, I guess. But he sold his Sprint this past weekend and actually made $200 over what he paid for it. It was this super old motorcycle that leaned up against the garage wall in our old house, we moved it to this house where it leaned up against the wall in the garage, and then we built a new garage and it leaned up against that wall. Seeing the pattern here yet? He doesn't exactly complete his "projects." He has a 55 Ford pickup that he has done some work to, but still needs so much more to become fully restored. But now he has decided to just sell it. I think he finally has realized that he just really doesn't have the time or the money that it takes to restore these "projects". So the truck is on Craig's list and I think he has another one of his motorcycles on there too. He bought one last summer and took it for a ride with Lucas to Yosemite and found out that it wasn't a very comfortable bike for him. Think the man with three motorcycles and two trucks (I am not counting the Sprint as one of the motorcycles) is doing a little clean sweep in the garage.... Hmmmm - wonder what the next project will be? I know he has been talking about replacing the old metal shed in the back yard with a bigger shed. I am just hoping that maybe one day, we will get back to the many home improvements projects on this house. I still only have partical board on the floor here in my scrap room. The room is finished but the floor... That will have to wait though - think we are having issues in the bathroom so that will be next on the list. But I want to rip everything out and replace with new so that will be spendy. Need to do it in stages probably.

Ok, well, now just really rambling to ramble... Time to log off. Stay warm, drink tea - it is yummy. And hug your families - mine right now though turn their heads as far away as possible and arch their backs when they hugged me goodnight - anything to not get Mom germs...

Snow day...

but really it wasn't. The boys already had the day off for a teacher work day, again. Seems like they are out of school more than in. I don't remember when I was in school - back in the day - the teacher's getting the day off for writing report cards and such.



But the boys made the best of the snow. They played outside and at their friend's house around the corner all morning. They came back in at lunchtime cold and wet. They lasted about as long as our snow did. The sun came out and we had a very pretty afternoon.



I spent the day nursing this cold of mine. It is getting harder and harder breathe. Seems like my head is just filled with mud. I tried every cold remedy in the cupboard today and nothing works. My nose is just raw from blowing it all day. But I am so hooked on tea now - thank you Shauna. I have been drinking my way through the box you gave me for Christmas. I love the Chai kind. Also made a big pot of chicken soup in the crockpot today and made an apple crisp tonight when Tom and Lucas went to scouts. Both probably would of been better if I could of tasted them...



Anyway, the weatherman is predicting slippery roads in the am. Wonder if it will be another day off or late start? Better get another load of laundry going though just in case there is school.



Have a good one!

who invented the pill crusher?

because I am so grateful for you today...  I have been fighting something for the past couple weeks and this am it hit me like a truck.  I woke up with such a terrible headache, hurt all over and couldn't breathe.  So I got up for a bit to take something, and then it was right back to bed.  But if it wasn't for this magnificent little pill crusher I have, I wouldn't be able to take anything, unless it is liquid.  I have many things to count for this week's blessing, but today I am going to have to go for that pill crusher.  I have been sleeping most of the day, except when the boys were playing ice hockey out on the deck.  They found a chunk of ice in the flower pot and were kicking it around.  They had to come tell me about it with their very cold hands....  Then when I was back to sleep again, Lucas came to ask if I was ok.  A few minutes of shaking and mom, are you ok? I was awake.  Think that was the biggest thing he learned in First Aid class last weekend.  

Two growing boys in the house and a sleeping mom - they sure made a mess out of the kitchen.  So I got the dishwasher going again and now I think I am going to get my tea and head back to bed.  But just wanted to check in for a quick bit.  Hope you are having a good weekend!  

Thank you Mr. Pill Crusher Inventor!

and the gold medal goes to....

Oh what a busy day....   I forgot about my haircut appt today, so left work a little early to make that.  Then I was heading home and remembered the scout night.  So what's for dinner????  No clue...  This will work - Tom, take Jake to get something to eat before the scout thing.  I will take care of Lucas and I.  This is the plan...   I was feeling good.  I was going to finally have a night at home to catch up on dishes, laundry and just be home for a few hours. Oh but no - change of plan.  Tom couldn't get Jake to put his uniform shirt on (the whole clothes issue with Jake - it rears it's ugly head more with Tom and Jake than me....) so my phone rings when I am about 10 minutes from home.  Change of plan - I am now taking Jake to the scout thing.  Got home, Jake is falling apart - what a great start to my quiet night at home...  Anyway, so some quick cheese and crackers and we are off again to the scout thing.  It was actually pretty fun in the end.  I love to watch the leaders because they are really just big kids themselves.  The Olympics were really a fitness test with long jumps, sit ups, crab walk, etc.  So to watch this 6 foot three guy do a crab walk against a 6th grade boy - was just too  funny.  The scouts were all given medals at the end.  Now we have finished homework, boys are in bed and I can now start the dishes, laundry.....  

First - a cup of hot cocoa though.  It was a cold one again today.  I hear rumors of snow again in the forcast.  This one - they just haven't been getting right lately so really not holding out for that.

Stay warm and have a good night! 

the x-rays are back...

Well, I got a call today from Lucas' doc and the results of his x-rays came back normal.  There weren't any signs of a slipped growth plate, which he thought may of happened.  I guess this is common in boys his age.   So now we are going to look into it as patellofemoral syndrome.  He is to do some stretching exercises twice a day that will strengthen his thighs which in the long run will take pressure off his knees.  If this doesn't cause some improvement in the next three weeks, then we will try physical therapy.  I sure hope this works for him because I wouldn't wish my knee issues on anyone....

So have a couple boys here that need to finish up homework and get to bed.  It is such a cold day today, I am ready to snuggle into bed for a long winter's night.  Haven't had many of those lately, so going to call it early tonight.

Have a nice night...

(Shauna - keeping you in my thoughts and hoping you are doing well in Reno...)  

52 blessings....

I was reading a blog by my friend, Mary Ruth about this and thought I could do this.  It would be a weekly task (well, mine will be less than 52 because I am starting late.) of finding what I am blessed with in my life.  Of course, MR's friendship is on my list of blessings - I will have to write about her another day...   she deserves a post of her own.

Since tomorrow is her birthday and she is leaving town for three weeks, I wanted this week's blessing to by my friend Shauna.     I first met Shauna over 8 years ago when I was at a crop at Scrapbook Attack in Portland.

Across the table from me was this person that just lit up the room. What a warm smile and friendly person.  She was also a member of a local online scrapping group I was on and it was great to finally meet her in person.  Shauna was also a designer for a local manufacturer - so of course, that was pretty cool too.  She was so talented!  Shauna and I chatted many times online and she was always supportive and willing to listen.  When I moved to Beaverton and started doing lots of traveling, she even became my shuttle service to and from the airport after a shuttle experience I didn't ever want to repeat.  With her busy life of being a super mom and working, she took time to shuttle me around.  I so appreciated that.  Then over a year and a half ago, I started working part time at HOTP with Shauna.  This was going to be a part time summer job while Paris was off touring the world with hubby and daughter on sabatical.  I was so excited because I would get the chance to see her more often.  But then there was a twist.  That June, Shauna was diagnosed with cancer.  I never would of predicted our friendship would turn the way it has.  We have become closer.  She will tell you that I have been a support to her and a good friend.  But honestly, she has been the friend to me.  She has inspired me and taught me to see that life is short.  Take it by the reigns and make the most of it.  To spend every minute possible with family and cherish it.  While Shauna was going through her first round of chemo, I used her desk at work.  That was the hardest thing I had to do there since I took the job.  I didn't want people to think that I was there replacing her.  That was still her desk and it was hers when she came back to work.  So during this time, the job became a full time job, Paris returned and I got the opportunity to also become better friends with her.  She too is a wonderful person and will deserve her own post...  Maybe my blessings will turn into all the amazing friends in my life....  It was wonderful to work side by side with Paris and she made it easier to work in the seat I was seated in.  That was Shauna's and those were some big shoes to temporarily fill.  But when Shauna finished her round of chemo and was able to return to work, her desk was there just as she left it.  Due to work space issues, I floated between tables.  A few weeks passed and Paris decided to start an adventure of her own by starting her own business.  This meant that I would have a desk area of my own now and I was thrilled that I would be working side by side now with Shauna.  Of course, this didn't mean that I missed working with Paris - she was the reason I got this job in first place.  Paris' desk was easier to work at once we raised the desk and got a taller chair....  (Paris - your set up was just too short for me.... lol)  I have enjoyed every day that our time has overlapped and Shauna and I have worked together.  She has a talent that inspires me and I end up producing better work...  She also has a son close to Lucas' age so we share some similar "boy" issues.

But now she is facing a second round of chemo.  Even though Shauna has lost her hair, her spirit continues.  With her bright smile on top of it, I still learn something new from her everyday.

 Shauna, you are leaving tomorrow to explore a new option for treatment in Reno and it is also your birthday..  I hope that this will be the best present ever for you and they will be able to determine an origin for you and find a way for you to kick this to the curb.  I am hoping and praying that 2008 will be your year to continue to shine and be the miracle.   I cherish your friendship and I am grateful for the time that we have had to get to know each other more.  I look forward to many more playdates at Noah's and even getting some play time at a local scrap store.  I will be thinking of you when you are away and hoping that this will be the answer you so deserve.

Happy birthday, my friend!

enough wii - time to get some work done....

But thought I would check in first....

Today after school, we took Lucas for his x-rays at the hospital.  All went well but the best part was watching him walk from the dressing room to the x-ray room in the gown.  He was able to keep his under shorts on but I think he took them off because he was sure holding onto the back of that gown as he walked down the hallway...   I am sure we will hear results of the films next week.  Wouldn't think it would take too long for his doctor to see them.  I will call Tuesday if I don't hear anything Monday.

After a quick dinner of left overs, Jake and I played the Wii for awhile.  Oh boy - that thing can be addicting and frustrating all at the same time.   Seems like bowling and cow tipping are my games.  Jake says that I did grow up on a farm so no wonder I am good at the cow tipping (or maybe it is cow racing - not sure what that game is called.)  Sure - but I didn't grow up riding cows!  We also played pool, baseball, target shooting and then some shoot 'em up game.  Jake plays this one with Tom so he had practice.  By the time I figured out how to walk through the buildings and not just spin in circles, my hand was so cramped around the controller, it was just time to call it a night!  But it was funny how Jake kept telling me, "you are getting better, Mom.  But now I am going to drop a grenade on top of you."  He shot me so many times, my controller pretty much just vibrated...  Time for me to go back to what I know best - load the dishwasher and get a load of laundry going.  Will probably find an old VHS tape I haven't watched in awhile and do some projects for work.  Just need a big cup of tea and my pjs and I am ready to work.

Enjoy the rest of the night!   

and the wheels on the Tahoe go round and round....

Oh what a busy day today.  I have driven all over Oregon it feels like.  I am helping out with Creating Keepsakes Conventions and passing out coupons and posters to the local scrapbook stores.  Ok, so this is really not a difficult job - paid to visit scrap stores.  I can do this...  So after a quick stop in Canby to pick up work for the weekend, I was off to Salem.  Visited two stores there and made it through the speed traps both directions on I-5.  Even made it through the two accidents.  One on I-5 where a semi truck crossed the center divider and somehow came to a stop in the median.  There are these steel cables through the center of the freeway to stop vehicles from hitting traffic coming the other way.  Well this truck was dragging those cables under the truck for about half a mile before the truck stopped....  Later on I-205, there were several cars clustered together and surrounded by four fire trucks.  Ok, so I didn't really see how many cars were in the accident, I was counting the fire trucks!  

Ok, back to the store visits - made my way through Milwaukie and northern part of Portland and then back to Beaverton.  Went to 6 stores in one day - good thing I left the wallet in the car or it could of been a really dangerous day.  Ok, had to take it into Scattered Pictures because there is always something in that store that I just really don't need but have to buy.  While visiting with Nancy, the UPS man came in with these adorable little stamp sets.  Ok, yeah yeah yeah.  I have tons of stamps already and really don't know the first thing to really do with them.  But these were tiny sets for a $1 and perfect for cards.  Now I just need to make some cards.  

Made it back home in order to meet Jake after school and see a few snowflakes.  Probably nothing to get excited about though because they have already stopped....

Oh and I did get one other "goodie" today.  I picked up a new tote bag for work.  I have been using this big bag that I got in Nashville a few years ago because it carried tons and had a long handle.  The down side is that it doesn't have any pockets or anything, so if I have ink pads or adhesives, they get down in the bottom of the bag and lose their lids, etc.  Needless to say, the bag is not that pretty anymore...  It has been very distressed inside.  So I got a very cool tote bag now.  It is pink camo!  I wanted the blue one but it was gone.  Anyway, I can have one or two things pink, I guess.   But it is by All My Memories and it is called the Tote-ally Cool Tote!  I love all the pockets inside and can't wait to make it my new work bag.  If you are in need of a new tote for scrapbooking or even just as a tote bag, check it out at www.paperwishes.com

It would be a perfect carry-on too.  KJ - you would so love this tote, as if you really need another bag???   Ok, last plug from me....

Jake's class went to the zoo again.  He said most of the animals weren't out again.  Maybe this is a plan by the teachers and parents to get the kids out, walk them for hours and hours in the cold and rain, so they use up their energy.  Jake has been home now for less than an hour and he is totally snoring in the chair.  Let him get a good nap before tutoring tonight.

Lucas should be home soon.  He has been quite the hop-a-long lately.  He is still really favoring that knee.  He says that it feels like it is going to slide out of joint if he puts too much pressure on it and shoots up to his hip.  I know how he feels because that is exactly the issues I have with mine.  It is very unsettling at times to think your leg is going to give out under you.  Tom took him to the doc for a follow up yesterday and now we need to have some x-rays done.  So off to do that tomorrow after school.  

Well, need to send in my store summary, think of some magnificient something for dinner (better check Paris' blog to see if she posted anymore yummy recipes...) get Jake to tutoring and through homework and then catch Grey's Anatomy later tonight...  

Have a good evening!

they made it home safely...

Tom and the boys made it back last night from their snow camp about 6:30.  Of course, this was not without a phone call when they were about 10 minutes from the house.  It was Jake, "Hi Mom, what's for dinner?"  I think that is the first question out of all three of them whenever they call me!  

Sounds like they had a good time.  Not very organized as usual - but what do you expect when it is an outing led by the scouts...  boys!  Anyway, they had lots of snow.  (Not like my dream the night before they left that they arrived and there wasn't any snow - only mud....) It wasn't until sunday am when Lucas realized that he forgot his sausage for that breakfast at home in the freezer.  Tom broke one of his snowshoes.  This was the second pair he had tried to make himself.  Time for new design. Jake practically lived in his snowshoes the whole time.  Guess it worked out pretty well for him.  Lucas didn't like his.  I can just see him - he is in his clutzy phase (actually has been in it for quite some time now...) and his big feet in his big boots with big snowshoes on and trying to get around in the deep snow.  Needless to say, he didn't wear the snowshoes much.  Then to top it off, he walked in front of my truck at some point and caught my license plate frame on his pants and snapped it in half.  He saved it for me though...  Nothing I can do with it though.  Will have to find another one now that doesn't say a dealership on it.  This was my license plate frame that said scrapbooking.  Made for finding my vehicle so much easier!  Anyway...  he told me about it.  Poor kid, he really is starting to hate telling me things that happen.  Stollen PSP, lost hat, broken license plate frame...  Oh but he did get his hat back today - so he was happy about that.  Oh well, back to the story here.... I am afraid Lucas is starting to show signs of problems with his knees like his old mom.  I am hoping that he just hurt it somehow and that it will get better for him.  I certainly don't wish these knee problems on anyone.  But at one point, he had fell and hurt it pretty bad at the camp-out, so Tom had him stay at the shelter instead of going on the hike.    Today he is still favoring it, so I think it will be another doc visit this week.  Tom and Jake ended up building a snow shelter but apparently it was too small for them to sleep in so they stayed in the shelter. (I think some of that may of been on purpose but they won't admit it.)  Lucas also built a snow shelter and spent the whole night in it.  He got pretty cold and wet and held tough through the night.  They were exhausted on the way home.  Tom said it was a pretty quiet three hour drive because everyone was asleep in the truck.  That many boys in my truck - they sure did a number on it if they were sleeping.  Garbage everywhere - and where did they drive it?  The thing is covered in dirt and grime....  New rule, who ever drives it last, needs to wash it, clean it out, and fill it with gas!  Oh but is that going to apply when I drive Tom's truck???

So tonight Tom and Lucas are off to a scout meeting.  Jake and I worked through his homework.  He will be going to bed soon (wants the computer for a bit first, so I should wrap it up...) Then I will do a little work before I head off to bed myself.

Angie just called to let me know that they had to put Harley down tonight.  He was a great dog and he will be missed.  Angie, Vicki and George - I am so sorry for your loss.  He is no longer in pain and I bet Mike is teaching him how to duck hunt or something...  

So on that note, I will end my ramblings for tonight...

time to start another day....

Yesterday ended up to be quite a day.  I started out with a to do list and didn't get anything accomplished on it.  Tree is still up.  Shirts are still in the bag and not returned to the store.  Groceries are still at the store because I didn't get there to buy any. Bathrooms, laundry - still in the same place they were yesterday.  So have a to do list all ready then for today!  I guess I did get one thing accomplished then....  Put my list together for today (Thanks for that tip, Ang!)

The call did come.  But this time, it was Lucas.  He had thought I was coming up to the church to see them off and would I bring his snow boogie board thing - what ever it is....  So I was a bad mom and didn't take it to him.  I was in a mood still about his hat lost again and this would be one more thing for him to forget at the camp or lose in the snow.  Surprisingly Tom didn't forget anything, so I was back in bed and going to stay there for a little while longer.  Ended up sleeping til about 12:30!  That felt good.   To just have a quiet house and get a good few hours of sleep.

So after a couple Lifetime Network movies and a shower, I headed over to visit Shawn and her daughter who is in the hospital.  She had surgery on her back on Dec 27th and it then turned into an infection.  They had to do surgery again this last friday to get the infection out.  The surgery went well, but she had a really tough day yesterday - a lot of pain.  So I took her a milkshake.  Didn't know what flavor she liked so took one of each! lol  Then we all had a milkshake, so it all worked out.  We did a bunch of people watching from the sitting area outside Jessica's room.  It was just amazing to watch what people bring in and out of an emergency room entrance.  One man and a kid left with two big backboards?  They weren't driving away in an ambulance, so were they souvenirs?  One gal had such high heel boots on - how can she walk in those?  One guy left with a big pillow - did he forget the blankets, towels, maybe a chair????  And obviously the hospital food is not good.....  all kinds of food and drinks being brought in.  The same car came back a second time to the emergency entrance - go in.....  no.....  Feel better....   Drive off????  They never did go in.  Young boys would be going in and out from the hospital to the parking garage and jump over these pole things in the walkway.  We were just waiting for one of them to not totally make it over the pole....  The young things always made it though.  So as I walked back out to the truck and walked that walkway....  waved at Shawn and her sister, Tami, who were watching at the window....  I tried to swing my leg up over this pole thing...  Oh not a good idea - it hurt so bad on this old body..... Oh to be young again.  But it was funny.  

I left the hospital about 7:30 and headed to Sherwood to meet up with Paris and Shauna at the scrapbook store.  It was great to see them.  Paris of course was whipping out the pages.  She was on a roll and working on pages 13 and 14 when I got there!  She amazes me....  I would be lucky to have one card done at an all-day crop.  I go for the socializing!  Adult conversation....  But it was great to catch up with both of them and also Kimberly.  I was just there visiting, not giving page advice....  But Kimberly was pretty sneaky and still got some paper matting ideas out of me...  Shauna was scrapping away and gave us a good laugh when she added her rub-ons to the backing sheet instead of the page she was working on....  But we weren't laughing at you, Shauna...  We were laughing because we have all done that!  You are very welcome....  I just thought of paying a little on your tab as a bday surprise as I was walking out the door....  So happy birthday, a week early!  You were in the middle of your massage when I had to leave - just didn't want to interrupt so didn't really get to say goodbye.  When I drove back by the store about 11:30- I saw your car was still there.  Good for you for lasting til midnight!  

But I got a call from Vicki that Angie's dog, Harley, was sick and our sewing day today would be put off.   Harley is this Boxer that is just so cute.  Even wears on me - a mom of two boys that really want a dog and I keep putting it off...  We need a fence.  We need to take out the carpet and put in hardwood floors.  We need a bigger house - before we can get a dog.  But anytime that I saw Harley, or even Vicki's dogs - Koda and Molly, it breaks me down a bit and I start considering getting a dog for the boys.  Harley has it made with a stress free life and I always say I want to come back in my next life as Harley.  He is a good dog - good sleeper!  Master napper!   But he now has a brain tumor and it doesn't look good.  Since Ang lives only a couple blocks from the scrap store, I went over to check on her.     Angie - I am so sorry you have to go through this.  Keep me posted on how he is doing and if you need anything - you know my numbers.  Have the phone tree call me if need be.  I should be home all day, except a short field trip to the grocery store.  You and Harley will be in my thoughts today....

So my day came to an end about 12:30 when I sat down in the chair with a hot chocolate with a little Peppermint Schapps....  Grey's Anatomy was coming on at 1am, but don't think I made it to the end because at some point I went to bed to watch the rest of it and woke up again at 9:30!  I guess my biggest accomplishment then this weekend is getting some sleep.  I haven't been doing much of that lately  and it has really been putting my fibromyalgia in a tailspin.  Maybe I will feel a little better then this week and can hit it full force on Monday.  

Coffee is done so better get to my day.  Shawn just texted me...  Oh this is a whole new techie thing for me...  I am finally past the point of my messages just being - hi and then send...  I will slowly catch up with the times.  It only takes me about 5 minutes to type a message and then send - sometimes it will make sense, but sometimes, some of the letters are left off...  Jessica is pretty loopy this am.  She told Shawn that she wants to be Tigger this year for the 4th of July!  Get some of those drugs to go, Shawn.  There are some days when I would like to check out and be Tigger on the 4th of July - especially on days like friday after spending a day at the zoo with 5th graders....  

Well, enough rambling for today.  Tom and the boys will be home later today so I better get to my to do list......   

Have a good one!

they are off....

So Tom and the boys are off for their snow camp.  The truck was loaded, sled on top, packs in the back, food on the trailer, boys in the truck and off they went.  Sure hope they have everything!  They will stop for a "breakfast of champions" at Burger King and then go to meet the rest of the scouts at the church.  It is raining so hard this am - they are starting out soaked.  I just hope they have a good time and come home safe.

I have the day to myself now......  What will I do?  Put away the Christmas decorations?  Laundry?  Clean bathrooms?  I have some hours to put in for work and a friend's daughter in the hospital - so work and visit a friend today.  Paris and Shauna are going to a local scrap store today with some other gals, so will try to swing by there too and catch up with them.

But first - last night was Bunco so was home late after a very LONG day at the zoo with 5th graders - oh that will be a story of it's own.  And since it is only 6am, think I will go back to sleep for awhile.  Hopefully I won't get any calls from Tom saying, oh I forgot.....  can you meet us at the church?

Keep your fingers crossed they have a good time - and they bring all their gear back!  I bought Lucas a hat a couple of weeks ago and he left it on the bus yesterday after school.....  Man, this kid....  They can't even wear hats so why take it to school? Anyway, won't get started on that. This is a first for camping in the snow and sleeping in snow caves, hiking with snow shoes, and just being in the weather for 2 days.  Our RV camping in the snow will not be anything like what they are doing this weekend.  That was like staying at the Ritz!  

Ok, back to sleep for me....

more highlights of 2007...

Our biggest family adventure of 2007 was renting a 26 foot RV and driving it to Alaska with just the boys and I.  This is the RV parked outside the bar aka Information Center for Hyder, Alaska.  (Notice the road - that is the main street and all streets through Hyder - dirt!) The bartender could answer any question we had about our "reservation" at the campground.  She laughed when I told her we had reservations.  She said that is pretty rare for someone to make reservations....  She knew where we could do laundry. And where we could see bears.  But most of this town was under snow, especially our campground!  Out of 26 spots, 3 were accessable to water and power.  Since we had a reservation though, we had a spot! Tom rode his motorcyle from Hyder, Arizona to Hyder, Alaska as part of a rally and we met him there.  It took us 2 and a 1/2 days to make the drive from Oregon and he passed us 25 miles out of Hyder.  Ok, we drove slower and slept - he made the drive in 54 hours and only slept 9 hours.  He was going to camp with us on our way home and ride his bike back, but that changed 30 miles into the drive home when his bike broke down.  We had to have him towed 3 hours to the nearest town where we had to purchase a trailer!  So I drove the RV home towing the bike and trailer.  It was a great trip, full of funny moments, adventure, and good times.  I would even probably do it again - and I am not a camping person.  I stay at Howard Johnson!   

More highlights to come...  Tonight we are getting Tom and the boys ready for their campout this weekend with the boy scouts.  They are going to a snowcamp so the boys need boots, gloves, snow pants, long johns, etc....  Of course, for some reason, we are waiting til the last minute to get this all pulled together.  So we are off to GI Joes!  

Have a nice evening....

highlights of 2007...

Today was such a gloomy day with the wind, rain and just plain cold...  I thought I would try to organize my digital photos into files so I could find my pictures easier.  Well, it didn't turn out that way.  I just enjoyed looking at my pictures and remembering the good times of this past year.  So thought I would share some of them here...  Who knows, this will probably be the closest I get to a family newsletter this year...

We are becoming a family interested in sports now.  We learned about football... Lucas played football this year for his first time.  It was a fantastic season.  They won all their games, except their first one.  Ended up in the playoffs and won the first game.  But they went to the Championships and ended up in second place.  They played every game with everything they had and didn't quit.   This made it stressful on the parents though.  Four minutes left in the 4th quarter and they are just yards away from the end zone and the other team has the ball.  Somehow though, the boys came together and would stop the other team from scoring.  It felt like every game ended this way.  But due to such a wonderful coaching staff and a fun bunch of boys, Lucas had a great experience and is looking forward to playing again next year.  Tom nicknamed him "Dozer" so he could bulldoze through the line.  The name stuck.  It was pretty cool to be on the sideline and hear other parents, coaches, some guy taking pictures, yelling "Go get 'em Dozer!"  

Tom went to practically every practice and made every game he could.  He missed a couple because of cub scout camps, but otherwise he was right there on the sidelines.  Parents helped out with the home games and Tom quickly discovered that being on the "chain gang" was the best seat in the house.  But at one point, he would get more into the game and forget to move with the guy on the other end of the chain.....   That guy would be running down the field and then suddenly tug because Tom was still standing still.  Ok - I thought it was pretty funny....

I helped some with the team too.  I wrote articles for the local newspaper about the saturday games.  I had no idea what to write so it made sense as to what was happening during the games...  So the coaches gave me a cheat sheet for each game of what plays the players made.  I summarized it and sent it in the newspaper.  The writer there then did his magic and turned my summaries into something that sounded like a sports announcer and you could feel like you had just seen the game...  Due to the Youth Football League being so big this year, they weren't printed in the paper but the articles for each game were posted on the paper's website each week.  That was pretty cool.

Jake played lacrosse in the spring.  Another sport

we knew nothing about...  I love this close up picture of him - yes, that is his hair sticking out of his helmet.  It is one of the few pics of Jake that I have where he does not have perma-grin.  His coaches said the same thing about him a

ll season - "Jake, the other team won't be afraid of you if you don't stop smiling!"  That would just make him smile bigger.  Jake played defense because he loved to mess with the other team when they had the ball.  Sometimes the rules of the game were not clear, such as it is not ok to hit, but it is ok to whack, just not from behind..  Or was it, it is ok to hit....  Anyway, Jake  just liked to try to knock the ball out of the other player's stick by tipping theirs with his.  This  was a very aggressive game, a combo of soccer, hockey and football all together.  A bunch of boys running around with sticks.  But boy was it fun to watch.  They had a good season and lots of fun.  There was a tournament at the end of the season and they played 3 games.  They won two of the three and came in second for the tournament.  Looks like both boys now want to go out this spring.  Biggest thing I noticed was that when these kids in both of these sports took their gear off, I didn't recognize any of them.  Jake would be talking to a kid after the game towards the parking lot and I would say, "That was a nice kid.  Who was that?"  He would tell me, "Mom, that was Ryan - he plays on my team."  When they are running around like little storm troopers and all look the same, I need the numbers to know who is who.  In football, they had their names on the jerseys so that helped.  But once there were in street clothes, I didn't know who was who....  Anyway, both sports were good experiences for the boys and something different for them since this is the first "team" sport they have played.  Tae Kwon Do is more of an individual sport and they haven't done that now in some time.  

Well, I think I will break up our highlights of '07 over the next couple of days.  The pictures are loading pretty slowly and the dryer is buzzing, my tea water is hot(I am so hooked on tea now - thank you Shauna!), the boys are watching a SciFi movie so I may just go to bed.  Call it a night.  Til tomorrow then....

 

do I hear 50... 50.... 50.... ?

Yep, Jake and I went to the Estate Sales auction tonight.  This kid loves the auction....  We have been once before and picked up a cheap tv for them to play their games on.  Now they think with the Wii (I am sure with a little inspiration from Dad) they are wanting a bigger tv.  So Jake was looking at the items for auction online.  Found a 27 inch one and thought that would work.

So we braved the wind and rain and went to the auction.  Wow, it was crowded there tonight.  Hardly any items were passed on and it surprises me what people buy and what they will pay for it!  They had a brand new three piece living room set, just out of the plastic wrap and it went for $550.  There was a brand new front door with the stained class window in it and I think that went for $450.  They had everything including the kitchen sink - that sold for $2.50, that is right.  Two dollars and fifty cents!!!!!!     No - I didn't buy the sink.  lol  

When we bought the tv on our first visit, I told Jake that I wasn't going to pay more than $25.  I paid $25 but I think I ended up bidding against myself because Jake was bidding too.... 

 Anyway, tonight, he was funny.  He knew what the items were that they were talking about because he had checked them out first.  

I think we did pretty good though.  Came home with 2 office chairs, a garage organizer (metal basket type thing for either the "man cave", panty or garage - don't know yet, and a DVD player - also for the "man cave".  Not too bad for $35!  Think the organizer alone was worth more than that.  It is brand new and still in the box.  

But it was fun.  I think I had more fun though people watching and just hanging with Jake.  As we were getting ready to leave, he saw some sign about a $50 drawing....  So of course, we had to wait til the conclusion of the auction so we would be in the drawing.  Didn't win, but oh well....  

We finished off our night with a trip to Sonic - just gotta love those cherry limeades.

Gonna call a night.  Tomorrow is another day.  Have a good one!

today is another day...

But first, I need to tell you about yesterday - what a weird day.  I started out tired and it probably should of just been a day that I stayed in bed...

But I had to go to work.  Things were due and things to do.  So I went to Canby to drop off projects.  Then I was going back to Tualatin to work the rest of the day at my second job.  Inventory time!  

(If you are reading this and you aren't from this area - I will give you a tip - the following is a description of a scenic route or a downward death spiral when traveling with Vicki Manning and her sister, Terri!!!!)

So I left Canby and headed out to Tualatin - which is really only 2 or 3 exits down the freeway.  But I missed the exit at North Wilsonville, so figured I would take the next one at Tualatin Sherwood.  Then, before I knew it, I was on 217!  I was almost home again....  So I turned around on the Tigard exit off of 217 and headed back to Tualatin.  I missed the Tualatin/Sherwood exit again, and the N.Wilsonville and had to turn around at the Wilsonville exit.  But I finally got to work at 11:45....  I had left a message earlier saying I would probably be there by 10:30.  Not sure what was so distracting that I just took a tour of the local freeways...   

Ok, so there was a fire truck involved at one point...   That was how I got onto 217.  

Anyway, I got to work in time to pull a couple a orders and it was time for lunch!  lol....  Ok, day is getting better...  So we went to lunch and an extended field trip to a quilt store in West Linn.  What a fantastic little store.  It was called Holly Hill Quilt Shop.  Oh boy....  This was like walking into a whole new world for me.  Angie and Vicki have been quilting and making some of the most amazing quilts.  I have a sewing machine.  I could learn how to use it and do this, right????  So they are going to teach me how and my first project is going to be a tree skirt.  You can check out some of the ones that Angie has made on her blog at www.boxerscrapbooks.com - they are just amazing.  

Ok, so Ang says I need 5-6 fabrics and start with a focal.        Ummmmm.......  Ok?  I am looking at thousands of fabrics, where do I start.  I can do this in a scrapbook store, match papers, etc.  But the fabrics thing was overwhelming.  Ang was great though, we stepped back and took some "baby steps" (Thanks Paris - taking this tip from you...) and started with a look that I want.  Do I want traditional red and green, do I want snowmen because a lot of my decorations or snowmen, or what?  So I decided that I really wanted something warm and log cabin feeling. Plaids, stripes, etc.  We found some beautiful fabrics.  Vicki and I got them all stacked together, and they looked great.  I had a focal fabric and everything....

Then I turned around and saw another collection of colors.  Wow - this store knew how to lay it out so even I could see what all went together.  So we put away our first stack pulled out a second stack of some great plaids, stripes, dots and flowers.  Ok, looking a lot like what I love to scrapbook with....  Hey, it is all piecing right?  I can do this...   Then Ang starts asking me what kind of feet I have....  two, a right and a left.  No - for my machine.  Ok, sure.  I have one.  I don't even really know how to thread this machine.  I know there are arrows on it to make it easy but for some reason when I do it, the thread comes loose, or it breaks....  Frustrates me so I quit.  Time for me to have a beginning quilt class!  But next Saturday, Angie and Vicki are going to continue to get me hooked on this.  (Honestly, think I was hooked just walking around the store.  Hey who can't use another hobby, right?)  

Oh then Ang took me to one section of the store that had nautical type fabrics....  OMG!!!!!  My next project is going to be something with that.  There were fabrics with lighthouses, beach scenes....   Perfect for my living room!

With Ang's mathmatical mind and cell phone calculator, she figured out how much fabric we needed and got it cut.  While that was happening, we toured the rest of the store.  So many little rooms filled to the rim with beautiful patterns, colors and samples of quilts that were amazing.  Ok, gotta go.  We have inventory to do.....   But there was still more to see.  More samples to look at.  Oh they have kits!  Everything you need in a bag....  Oh do I like these fabrics better????   GO! GO! GO!  This is going to be dangerous..  I managed though to get out of there with my $40 bag of fabric.  If you quilt - Christmas fabrics are 50% off.  

Back to the office we go.  But this time, Angie took the freeway.  We took the back roads to the store and I totally didn't have a clue where we were.  She was thinking that if I didn't know how to find this place, I couldn't go there without her.....   (Notice I didn't drive for this field trip - we had inventory to do.....)  But as soon as I saw the freeway, I knew exactly where I was and this store can even be found by me!!!!  I will be going back.  Think Ang will have to go anyway because she knows more about this than I do....  Now I need to find my tools and such.  I think I even have a rotary cutter and the mat and a tub of fabrics!  My mother-in-law tried to teach me how to quilt many years ago....  Didn't stick.   Think now that might be different.  Next Saturday is the day, right Ang?  I really can't wait.  I am excited to try this.  I will keep you posted how this all comes about....

We did get some progress made on the inventory.  And at 5:00 it was time to head home.  Revisit those favorite freeways of mine.  I made it home without incident, other than the typical parking lot scene on 217, heavy traffic, dark and rainy....  Got home to two grumpy hungry boys.  Jake called me twice while I was driving home to see what was for dinner.  I just wanted to go home, wash my hands and change my clothes!  Thanks to Koda (Vicki's dog, just this cute boxer but he is a drooler!) He got me good.  My shirt and pants were just slimy and crusty from the drooler.  But by the time, I got home, Jake decided we should go out because I had a hard day, so how about Applebee's.  Cleaned up and off we were.

I ended my day by heading off to bed at 7:30!!!!!  Fell asleep somewhere during Reba and woke up to Jake looking at me....  "Mom, it is 9:30, should we go to bed?"        Yeah....   So put the boys to bed and back I went.  Turned on Grey's Anatomy (another thing Ang has me hooked on....  great show)  Trying to get caught up.  It was an episode I haven't seen but not sure if it was a re-run again or not.  But think I fell asleep before it was over because the next time I woke up, it was some late night show.

So after a long night of extremely weird dreams, I am ready to hit another day.  Already after 8am though so I better grab a cup of coffee, get the boys up and get ready for work.  I only have one place to go to today so I think it should be easy to get there...  Will make the goal of taking the direct route this morning.

Have a great day!  If you are a scrapbooker, visit your favorite scrap store....  If you are a quilter, visit HOLLY HILL!!!!!!  

  

Happy New Year!

Wow, it is 2008!  It doesn't feel any different than yesterday which was 2007, but it is a new year.  A time for new dreams, new hopes, new resolutions.  I have many new hopes for this new year.  I hope for miracles.  I hope for health.  I hope for continued love of family.  And I hope for support of friends.  These are all hopes I had for 2007 and they came true.  So I will just repeat my hopes for this year.  I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life...  I hope you all have a very wonderful new year and all your hopes and dreams, and miracles, come true.

Oh yesterday was a day of PRE-TEEN around here!!!!  Is there a medication for this or a magic potion?  Was I this way at 12?  How am I going to make it to 18?  Or better yet, how is Lucas going to make it to 18?  But fed him dinner and let him build a fire for the movie night and he was back to Lucas again.  Of course, he still needed help with the wood and such because it was dark outside, but I got the "I got it, Mom.  I can do this." the whole time.  He is 12, a big guy, but still only 12.  He tries to be all grown up, but he still sleeps with his "bent" (blanket he has has since he was just a baby) and his stuffed tigers.  Ok, so he would not be happy I just shared that with all of you.  But that is my Lucas.   It is a roller coaster with him.  He can be happy go lucky one minute and then the next, it is falling apart, I don't care, whatever....  It is a new year, but same issues.  How do I get through this????  ALIVE????

We had our typical New Year's eve at the Nicholas household.  We hit the movie rental store late in the afternoon and started a movie marathon with pizza til midnight.  Jake thought he would make it but he was asleep on the couch at about 10pm.  Lucas was hanging on but I think that was because we watched two football movies back to back.  Had his interest.  We Are Marshall - a very good movie, very sad, but a good movie.  We also watched Remember the Titans.  I have seen parts of it on tv, but never the whole thing.  So very good one to see.  Movies were over about 11:30 so we watched the New York New Year's Eve shows.  Jake wanted to see the ball drop before he went to bed.  So woke him up about 11:45 and at midnight, got his same response that we had last year, "That's it?  Happy New Year.  I'm going to bed."   

Today will just be another day of hanging out at the house.  Think of something for dinner, which will probably mean a trip to the store....  Tom and Lucas are off to Lowe's..... again.  Tom is building a sled for the snow camp with the boy scouts in a couple of weeks.  He is also trying to make another pair of snow shoes.  First pair didn't make two steps into the snow without breaking.  But it is keeping him  busy this week.  He is back to work tomorrow after being off the past week.  The boys have a few more days before back to school on the 7th.

So Happy New Year!  Make each day count, hug your families and be there for your friends.