some good news.... and some bad news....

Lucas is still not feeling better.  Today he slept most of the day, that has been the pattern for most of the past week though. No energy at all.  No appetite.    I stopped at home after work to get Jake's scout stuff before going to tutoring and picking him up.  Lucas was just sweating like crazy and making weird noises in his sleep.  So when I felt his head he was burning up..  Looked all over this house for a thermometer and finally found one.  Took his temp and it was over 105.  So called the doc right away.  Since it was after hours, I got the on call.  We have a 9am appt for him - they want to rule out pneumonia.  I had to go get Jake.  Tom thought I should still take him to scouts and he would stay with Lucas.  After some more meds, Tom put him in the tub for awhile to cool him down.  Seemed to work, so far...  But he is just so glassy eyed and not really talking.  Not my Lucas at all...  

So went to pick up Jake and he came out smiling.  Ok, yes, this is the good news part....  He said he got $14 and he is done with tutoring..  He had finished his last two books and he cashed in his tokens.  I am so proud of him.  He has come so far and worked so hard.  We are going to test him wednesday for his math, but I don't think he will need the tutoring for that.  He has been doing pretty good there...  But I think he is pretty proud of himself too - as he should be.  He has made so much progress.  

Then we went to scouts - mind you, Tom usually does this...  So it was all greek to me...  But boy did they smell the fresh meat though!!!!  This one guy kept giving me the book to look up what merit badges I wanted to coach and what ways I can be involved in the meetings and campouts and such....  Um, is there a Howard Johnson at these campouts???  Otherwise, you won't see me there.  Anyway, he was definitely thinking he was getting me involved.  I am all for being involved in my boys  - but I am not too sure about this whole scout thing..  It is a different culture to me...  Boy lead??? Excuse me????  Anyway...  

Got home and Lucas was quite a bit cooler.  He is actually awake now and the right foot is wiggling....  This is a constant thing with him.  But before, he wasn't moving anything.  So think he is feeling a tad better.  No appetite though.  Anyway, will take him to the doc tomorrow.

Some other good news - I don't have to report for jury duty tomorrow.  I got a summons a few weeks ago but didn't read the whole thing.  Well, apparently I was supposed to send in a post card saying I was going to report on the 1st, I was going to defer to a later date, or I was over 70 years old.  Well, didn't send it in needless to say.  So called today and said my husband is out of work, going to interviews,  work is crazy and I have a sick kid.  Is there anyway, I can get out of this?  She asked when I was supposed to report and I said - tomorrow...  She kind  of laughed and said, well lets put it off for you .  So now I don't have to report til December 1st.  With my luck, I will get on a jury and be sequestered!!!!  Oh wait...  That might not be a bad thing.  Will I be able to watch the Lifetime channel???  

To keep with the good news, Tom had another interview this am.  And he also heard that an offer will be coming from the job that he interviewed with on friday.  So that is good...  

So now we just need to get Lucas healthy.  We are holding off on any plans for the 4th right now pending on how he is doing.  

It is almost 10:30 now and I am teaching Jake how to make mac and cheese!  I am liking this that the boys like and want to cook for themselves...  Sure makes life easier.

Well, hope you all are doing well.  KJ - I am so sorry.  I didn't get your surprise in the mail today.  It was bit of a hectic one.  So will try tomorrow.

Til next time

Laura

this blogger is back from being MIA...

Wow - another week down. I am so losing track of time. All this past week, I just thought, ok, today is the 18th, nope, it was the 25th!!!! My days are running together and just seems like I need another 24 hours per day.... Even then, I don't think I would get everything done.

So catch up again...

Jake has been feeling better. But seems like he is still getting pretty tired easy. He missed one night of tutoring this week. He spent a few hours at the sitter and they went to the park. When he got home, he laid down on the couch and was out... But he did go on the campout this weekend with the scouts. I was nervous about this one because Tom and Lucas were not going. But a little more at ease that Lucas wasn't going on this one. There was a bicycle ride on some trails and just worried that Lucas would crash. Lately he hasn't been able to get out of our cul de sac without crashing... He would be prepared though. I looked out the window once and he was at the corner putting on a band aid! He certainly has learned alot from the scouts... So Jake is home tonight - tired and think he had a good time.

Lucas has come down with whatever Jake had. He has been running a temp all week and now just has a terrible cough. With this heat we have been having, the poor guy is just burning up. So lots of popsicles and chicken soup.

I spent alot of time this past week putting together things for my scrap room garage sale. Shauna, Paris and I have decided that it is time to do a clean sweep of our stashes and try our hand at a sale. We filled my scrap room! I didn't really make a dent in what I still have in my cabinets, but it feels good to clean out and just reorganize. We didn't have a very good turn out - only 6 people. So we will try again in a few weeks. I didn't put an ad in the paper this time so will need to do that next time. This one was open to an email group we are on. May also try my hand at e-bay..

So this am, I got up and washed my truck inside and out. Just something about a clean car - maybe it is because my car is never cleaned out that it is so nice when it finally is...

This afternoon was Kate's memorial servie (our receptionist at HOTP). So I picked up Shana and then we met Sherry (our editor at HOTP) and she rode with us. It was a nice surprise that Jacie (one of our graphic designers) was there with Sherry and she rode with us too. It was a very nice service. Kate was just one of those people that instantly became part of your life when you met her. It showed by how she loved her family and friends. It was nice to hear her story and to celebrate her life. We so miss her every day... Thank you Shauna, Sherry and Jacie for going with me. Paris - we missed you being there, but totally understand. You were with us in spirit.

A quick update on Tom - he had a couple interviews this week that went well. I think he is most excited about the one he had on friday. He has another interview tomorrow with another place too. So we are hoping that something comes about with these.

Well, sounds like dinner is beeping. It has been so hot that I haven't cooked in sometime. We were talking about pasta salad today so I made a big bowl of that. Sounded good. Also doing some pork chops and will figure out a veggie.

So til next time... Hope you are doing well. Oh KJ - Paris' daughter Nat is making some special things for me and I can't wait to mail yours off tomorrow. I hope you will like it. This girl has got some talent!!! I should of asked her a long time ago to do these for me... Like two years ago when I thought I was going to try my hand at this.... Anyway, don't want to tell you too much without giving away the surprise... But thanks Nat - it is beautiful!!!

Hugs to you all....
Laura

Sunday Summary...

Well, another week is coming to an end.  So thought I would do a little summary of what we have been up to around here.

Not sure where I left off in the week, so will go back to Friday.  After work, Jake and I went to do some errands.  He needed to pick out a bday gift and get a much needed haircut.  So off to Target and Great Clips we went.  He has been sick all week so it is good to see him feeling better. Thursday he said he had a plan...  Friday he would be feeling a little better, and Saturday he would be feeling good so he could go to his friend's birthday party.  Guess it is good to have a plan.

So Saturday afternoon, I took Jake to the birthday party and then met Shauna for lunch.  Thank you so much my friend.  It was wonderful to see you.  Thank you for the beautiful card and movie gift certificate.  I can't wait to take a day and go to the movies.  You are too sweet and I loved just visiting and catching up with you.  Let me know when we should meet to get your items for our sale.  I will also pick you up for Kate's service next sunday at 1ish.  Paris - if you can make it, you are more than welcome to ride with us.  

Finished off my saturday with working on some projects that are due Monday.  And then I found how I can watch episodes on Lifetime that I have missed on the internet!  Angie - you too can watch Lifetime on the internet!  You'll love it....    So I finally got to see the whole 1st episode of Season 2 of Army wives.  I saw part of it, but fell asleep so the second episode really wasn't making any sense to me...  Not it does and then I ended up watching the second episode again...  That is probably one of my favorite shows right now.  

So today...  not sure what the plan is.  Need to catch up on some chores around here.  Get some more projects done for work.  Clean up my scrap room for a scrap sale next weekend.  And just get ready for another week to start.

Update on Tom's job - he had a phone interview this week with a company that has him excited about.  He got a follow up call about it and they are thinking a face to face interview early this week.  So keeping fingers and toes crossed....

Enjoy your Sunday!  

Til next time....

Laura

so I been tagged....

Well, home this evening and after the funeral today for my grandma, just seems like I should do some catching up.... It was great to see so many of my cousins and aunts, uncles, great aunts and great uncles and family friends that I haven't seen in so many years. So many of my cousins now have families of their own and are all grown up. Where has time gone? My brothers and I are the oldest of the grandkids, so it just seems like they were always little. I saw one cousin today that I used to babysit and when he was potty training, he sat with his underwear on his head... Now he is this big guy and out of high school. His younger brother actually just graduated from HS. So it was nice to see them, despite the circumstances. I have one cousin that now lives in PA so it was great to see him. I will be going there end of July so we are planning to see each other there then too. Will be great to see his boys. His oldest is slightly older than Lucas. And now he also has a daughter and another baby on the way. Like I said before - this is a big family!!! My mom is the oldest of 13... But life just seems to keep us so busy that is too easy to lose track of those that matter most to us. Hug your families and keep them close.

I was tagged by my friend Shauna.

Five Things About Me

The rules:

1. Post the rules of the game at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

What were you doing five years ago?

5 Years ago, I was at home with my boys (probably - I can't really remember 5 years ago...) Lucas was 7 and Jake was 6 so they would of been in First and Second Grades. At that time, I was coordinating volunteers for the Creating Keepsakes Conventions and traveling around the country.

What are five things on your to-do list for today?
1) Stop at Office Max and buy an easel for the photo board.
2) Attend the funeral for Grandma.
3) Work on card projects for HOTP.
4) Text Ang and see how they are doing setting up in Chantilly, VA.
5) Have some smores that Lucas is making in the fire place...

What are five snacks you enjoy?

1) hot tomales
2) fruit
3) pretzels
4) popcorn
5) milk duds

What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?

1) Travel around the world.
2) Pay off my debt and the debt of my family and friends.
3) Build my dream home.
4) Invest.
5) Donate to organizations that would find the cure.


What are five of your bad habits?

1) Don't keep in touch enough with family and friends.
2) Eat too much sugar.
3) Avoid the dentist and doctor's offices.
4) Avoid house cleaning.
5) Not very organized.

What are five places where you have lived?
1) Washougal, WA
2) Glenwood, WA
3) Cheney, WA
4) Vancouver, WA
5) Beaverton, Oregon

What are five jobs you’ve had?

1) Nurses assist at Nursing Home
2) Dispatcher at Campus Police department when attending Eastern Washington University.
3) Volunteer Coordinator for Creating Keepsakes Conventions
4) Admin assistant for Boxer Scrapbooks
5) In House Designer for Hot Off the Press

Five people I tag: (I can really only think of two...)

1) Mary Ruth
2) Jennie


Well, better get to those smores! Then I will actually have completed my to-do list (at least 5 things of it) today.

Enjoy the rest of your evening!
Laura

just a quick little post...

Just a quick little note. I just got home from my aunt's house. My grandma passed away this am. My mom called and said she wasn't doing well. Lucas and I started over there, but my sister in law called when I had stopped to get some flowers and we didn't make it in time. Looks like the funeral will be on thursday. She had thirteen kids so needless to say - big family. Many of them were there. It wasn't too long ago that they found out that she had lymphoma. It had already spread when they found it and due to it's stage and her age, there wasn't really much they could do for her. It is a blessing really. She isn't in any pain now and she went peacefully.

Will check in again soon...
Laura

hard day...

Yesterday was such a hard day for me. It was my first day back to work and it just hit me that it was real that Kate had passed away. As soon as I made eye contact with Sherry, I just lost it. There is such a huge void there without Kate there. Even to just hear paiges on the intercom, I still think I hear her voice. I just couldn't bring myself to go out to the front lobby and walk by her desk - just doesn't seem like the same place without her.

I heard some things that Kate had been saying lately like in some way predicted something was going to happen. You don't think of it at the time, but after something like this happens, it makes you think. She had recently said that once the banana tree she took care of in the corner, hit the ceiling, she was out of there. Well, that tree hit the ceiling recently. She also said one day when putting together kits, that soon that job would be up for grabs soon... Just little comments that gets you thinking.

Stan had a wonderful dream about Kate a couple days after she passed. He dreamt that he ran into the EMT that worked on Kate. He asked the EMT for details of what happened. The EMT told Stan that she was fine. That she was up at the hospital. So he went to see her and she was sitting up in bed eating something. He asked her what happened, what was going on? And she said - don't tell anyone. Faking my death was the only way I could get out of there. Makes me laugh because that so sounds like something she would say. She so wanted to be with her son, Collin, in the Napa Valley... Now she is with us all in our hearts.

We are going to have a potluck lunch today in her memory. So I better finish up my layer dip to take.

After a long hard day, I went to tutoring to pick up Jake. He came out to tell me that Doug wanted to talk to me. He came out to see how Tom's job search was going. We had to cancel Jake's tutoring after this month because we just can't afford it. But Doug said that since Jake is so close to finishing, he wants to see him continue through the summer or til he completes the last two books. So he is giving us tutoring through the summer. I was so touched. I just couldn't believe it. Just amazes me that even in this world that seems like things are just messed up = there are still good people out there. I am blessed to have so many in my life.

Tom and Jake are off to hike Saddle Mountain today. Jake's class is touring the Middle School today and he isn't going there next year, so thought we would let him play hooky. End of the year anyway - not going to miss much. Lucas is going to skip Friday because of a field trip to the skating rink. My clutsy kid on wheels on Friday the 13th - he says that is not a good thing...

I hope this day is one that is filled with happiness and love for you all. Better get Lucas ready for school and me to work.

Til next time...
Laura

PS - I added a great picture of June to my birthday post on Monday...

Happy Birthday, June!!!!

I would like you to meet June. This picture was taken last year when we toured the lighthouses along the Oregon Coast.


Today is my good friend, June's, birthday! Happiest of birthday wishes to you my friend. Last year, you were here and we celebrated by touring the lighthouses along the Oregon Coast. What a wonderful weekend that was with both Kathy Jo and you here.

Gosh, I can't remember when I met June. It was many years ago when I attended a crop at the Bellevue Scrapbook Convention. I think I was working with Creating Keepsakes at the time. It may of even been before that. Anyway, this crazy lady was sitting down the table from me and we seemed to just hit it off. So after that, she was the Utaaaaahan I met in Bellevue. We kept in touch through email and later we met up at a CKU in Provo. After that CKU, somehow, we figured out that we both knew Kathy Jo from Chicago... What a small world.

I have such wonderful memories of our get togethers. I still love the time that you and Kathy Jo surprised me and came to the Portland Convention. We didn't get to spend much time together during the day because I was working, but we sure did get in the laughs at the end of the day.

You are an amazing friend, June. I am so blessed to have you in my life. Have a wonderful birthday today!

Laura
PS - I will have to find a picture I can add to this post...

a quick howdy, ya'll

Well, they don't really say howdy here, but they certainly do say ya'll....

Just getting ready to head off to the convention. Last day today - hearing the crowd should be the biggest today! Has been a lot fun so far. Have met some very funny people.

Weather is so not like home around here. Been hot and humid and windy. Even had some storm watches = apparentlly they do get tornadoes here....

Would rather not see one of those...

So have a good saturday! Hope you have a great time at the tournament today, Jake! I will be cheering you on from the big state of Texas!

Til next time...
Laura

everything is bigger in Texas...

This is so true! They are building a new stadium for the Dallas Cowboys across the street from our hotel. It is huge! The cranes they are using to build it, are huge. The baseball park for the Texas Rangers is a huge park. It is a beautiful building though, brick and might be worth going to a ball game to go inside there. I haven't seen many cowboy hats, but I spent the day with scrapbookers. It is pretty hot here and very windy. Good thing because it moves the air around. We had dinner tonight at Cracker Barrel. Yummy food. Last time I was there, I think was in Virginia on a road trip from Valley Forge to Charlotte with Vicki and Terri. Vicki and I asked our waitress what kind of fruit cobbler they had and she told us chocolate. We said, no really, what kind of fruit cobbler? She again told us chocolate. So apparently chocolate is a fruit in Virginia. Well, I found out tonight that chocolate cobbler is also here in Texas - so really just a Cracker Barrel thing... Makes me laugh though and remember that fun road trip with those gals. We definitely did have some good times when we traveled and worked the conventions.



Well, should call it a night. Angie is teasing me that I don't type this fast at work....



Hope ya'll had a good day today.

Til next time,

Laura



PS - Shauna, would love to see you and go out for bagels. I hope you are feeling better. I tried to send you a text message but I don't think I sent it to the right number.... Ok, I am not as techie as I would like to think....

howdy ya'll

yep - coming to you from Arlington, Texas. We set up the booth today for the convention and are ready for tomorrow.

I checked messages after landing yesterday and had a message from Paris and also from Sadie. Both didn't sound good and turned out that Kate, our receptionist, at HOTP, passed away suddenly yesterday from a massive heart attack. Kate was the most kind hearted person I have ever met. She was there when I went in and had my interview and just made me feel very welcome. Everyday, she was the first person I saw and always with a smile. Always checking on how things are with me and my family and getting after me for driving into the parking lot too fast. Kate was the heart of HOTP. If you needed something, Kate could get it or had the answer. She knew everything that happened there. Since I am in Texas right now and haven't been into the office, it still feels pretty unreal to me. But I am so sad knowing she will not be there when I go back next week. I was in such a hurry to leave Monday, I didn't get a chance to tell her goodbye. I hate knowing now that I didn't take those extra few steps and walk by her desk to say goodbye. I will miss Kate dearly. Just a wonderful person that truly cared about everyone. My heart goes out to her family.

Hug your families tight! Life is so very short and we just need to make the most of every minute, hour, day...

On another note of bad news, Tom lost his job last friday. He doesn't like me to talk about him here on my blog, but please keep your fingers crossed that he is able to find something. This week, he is playing Mr. Mom and don't tell him - but I think he is ok with that... Each time I call home, he sounds pretty good and things are going smoothly. He does need to get a job though. There may be some opportunities with relocating, but we are not sure how we feel about that yet. He wants to try local first.

Anyway, please keep happy thought going for us.

So better call it a night. Tomorrow am is going to be here before I know it and it will be a long day.

Hugs to you all. I am so grateful to have such wonderful people in my life. I am blessed and so lucky to have the family and friends that just mean the world to me. Thank you for being part of my life....

I will miss you, Kate.
Laura

Thank you, Paris! and on the road again....

Paris - it was so very nice to meet you this am for a yummy bagel! I think I found a new favorite - that apple cinnamon bagel I had was too good. Thank you for treating and for the card and cookbook. I can't wait to dig into it and find some more family favs. So far anything I have made from Rachel Rey's books, they have been hits. So thank you so much for that. Was good to catch up and just talk.

Shauna - we missed you today! I hope that you are feeling better. Need to plan a playdate soon!

Well, heading off to Arlington, Texas in the am. Going to be working in the Boxer booth at the Great American Scrapbook Convention. Never been to this event so it should be fun.

But in order to catch the MAX to the airport in the am, I better finish up packing - which means I need to do some more laundry.

So will be back home on Sunday. Have a good week!
Til next time then....
Laura