Busy But Back Again

Well of course we are still really busy! Hubby & I took off one day this week no kids to enjoy the lake and all of its beauty. We had a great relaxing time and saw some cool stuff. We saw a bald eagle just hanging in the shade on the shore! It was so neat to see.

We also saw how LOW the lake level is. It wasn't super hot but it was a nice day. We got to see how fast the new boat goes and hubby got it up to 90! It didn't even feel like it. It just cuts through the water like butta! We also lots of cool geological features. I'm all about the cool rock stuff after taking the geology class last year.

We also had a gorgeous sunset here at home a couple of days ago. It was humid and the sunset was a gorgeous pink....

Then Syd was celebrated at school for Student of the Month! YAY SYD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Better Late Than Never

So it's been awhile since I blogged. Lots has happened. I graduated wtih my bachelors in liberal studies!! YEAH!

Our Girl Scout troop went to Hearst Castle. We had a blast & the girls just LOVED it!

We went to the lake for Mother's Day and had a great time. I love it when it gets hot at the lake! But the water was cold; the kids didn't care.

Then this last weekend we went to Disneyland. Whew....busy month!

New Boat Adventure

Well we finally got a boat that fits all of us! Of course the very next day we went to the lake & as luck would have it, it was 98 degrees that day! Yeah!

I am amazed that hubby is cleaning off the boat when we got out of the water....I am just trying to figure out how to make this work for me at home!

The kids are so happy and excited. They just sat in the boat while daddy replaced some hoses, etc. I'm so glad it's still easy to please these kids. They sat in it sunglasses and all!

Now we're just waiting for the next burst of heat here so we can head back to the lake.

Family is a Wonderful Thing

The 4 siblings

Well, the bad news is that my grandfather passed away. He is finally where he wants to be...with my grandmother. It was a beautiful ceremony and the best part of the 2 days was seeing cousins and extended family that I have not seen in almost 20 years. WOW, I have missed seeing everyone. I think we are probably all gonna try to keep in touch better since none of us are getting any younger either. It has become clear to me in the past year to keep your loved ones and family close to you.

I have already started to scrap some of the pictures we took this week and I have decided to make a couple of family albums too.


Mel & me

We haven't aged a day!

Mikey & Me.....40 year olds!

Pat & Destiny

Joey & Dick

Hoppy Easter

Today we dyed our eggs then took them to grandma's to hide. Last nice we did our Easter Eve celebration with the in-laws. the kids had a blast all weekend. The easter bunny brought both of them Nintendo DS games....the identical one. What a smart bunny!! There was no fighting today, only harmony.

Last weekend we went to Nojoqui Falls for a hike up to the falls. We took Flat Ashleigh as her class project. She lives in anpther state & we took her paperdoll with us to show where her doll traveled geographically. It was alot of fun. Afterwards we cruised Solvang and ate in Santa Ynez.

I have been back in school for a couple of weeks, but I am still scrappin to keep my sanity. Here are some of my favs recently:

TAG!!

OK so I'm playing tag......I am posting a pict of myself right now & picking 5 blog buddies to TAG to do the same! Syd took my picture:

This is me with a migraine....ughhhhh!

Ok I pick:

Tammy, Erica, Sara, Melissa, and Heather...have fun!

Catching Up

Well it has been a busy week. School is almost out for the quarter so I'm working hard on take home finals, projects, and papers due next week. We have also been up to our eyeballs in Girl Scout cookies. I will be so glad when it's over, then no more for a YEAR! Woohoo!!

I got myself a Bind-It-All for my bday but I have had no time to play with it. I am dying to use it & have been hoarding chipboard & some smaller cereal boxes to make album covers, tab dividers, etc.... but I have had NO TIME FREE! It seems like all I do is clean this darn house & pick up everyone's endless stream of crap! Maybe in the summer when everyone is in summer school & day camp i can do something for myself besides the laundry.

I have also been sewing again. Some whimsy flowers & some aprons. I just made a real cute one for my girlfriend and she cut & dyed my hair for me. That's a great trade to me.

I have been busy doing LO's with the last kit & diggin into my stash since tons of great stuff is on it's way from CHA! I have to be able to justify why I NEED some new CHA goodies.

This one is from a trip to see the Monarch butterflies in January. They come every year by the thousands & it's quite a beautiful sight to see.

Here is another from the same trip. It was nice enough to visit the beach. The kids always look forwardt o hitting the beach.

This is just a fun photo of little Bella sleeping in the sunshine. It's her fav spot during the day when Christopher isn't bugging her....haha!

Spring Is Coming Soon!

These beautiful sites are what the rain has brought us.....blooming flowers and beautiful sunsets. This last weekend we had some warm weather....warm enought the kiddos played in the water.

Now onto some crummy news. I registered son for kindergarten & the school said that the nurse will not issue a waiver for sons last round of immunizations! Unbelievable. It's not a medical waiver I am searching out, it's a philisophical waiver. Now I have to go to the school district & utilizer area board for their expertise in this situation. Legally I am not bound in this state to immunize my children. So far I have but recent beliefs and concerns have led me to believe that this may not be in their best interest. Anyways, stepping off my soap box.....for now...

I have been creating & getting alot of scrappy goodness done with the Feb. 3 Scrappy Boys kit

http://www.3scrappyboys.com/shop/index.php

Girl Scout Cookies Again!

Well I am officially in cookie H***!! We are in the middle of it all, selling, re-ordering, and delivering. My kid is doing a great job selling & coming up soon we will have booths too.

I'm also busy with school & helping with a couple of things for the upcoming Autism Awareness Fair in April. It's exciting that it will be so much bigger this year. It's so important that people are made aware of the prevalence and also that parents of autistic children know that they are not alone and what services they have access to. The crappy CA budget sure doesn't help our kids much at all, but hopefully one day that will change.

OK so stepping off my soapbox, we had a gorgeous day yesterday. The kids even played in the water, then today RAIN! I can't figure out this winter weather....LOL!

I'm Back ......Finally!

We have been busy!

Yesterday Seana cut Sydney's hair in her class during their Valentine celebration. And how fitting since she is donating it to Locks of Love. We sent it off today & she gave the big envelope a little hug in the car before we took it in. I just reminded her what a great gift she is giving some child. We're VERY proud of her!

Today Syd had her last basketball game & the pizza party. What a great game! These girls they played were giants, but our girls held them and won in overtime....9-5!!! What a great way to end the season. And of course I forgot my camera.

Their pizza party was fun and their coach gave them trophies. He called each girl up & at a pretty great length talked about each girl & what they brought. he was so sincere and really got it right for each girl. We all hope he is coaching them next year.

Christopher had his very 1st Valentine party at school yesterday. he LOVED it! And he had alot of snacks. his teachers did a great job with the kids!

Busy Busy......

I've been busy with the 3 Scrappy Boys January Trio kit......I just LOVE the American Crafts papers!!

We ended up watching Superbowl! We NEVER watch & for some reason did this year. we really had a blast.....maybe next year we'll throw a party...LOL!

Our heatwave is about to leave us. We have been in the 70's & 80's for a couple of weeks, but tomorrow it's supposed to be like 60!! We are gonna be getting a storm apparently. I'll believe it when it actually happens.

I've been catching up on reading my text for my Holocaust class. Very interesting and extremely intense. My instructor wrote our text book so we are getting alot of great history.

Now is the time for me to finish my laundry since the kiddos are gone, then take a nice walk to the dog park with Bella.

Super Bowl Sunday

So I totally don't care about this!! I know I am of the minority but we don't celebrate superbowl...LOL! I take this day to enjoy all the places that are usually crowded on a Sunday...the park, the grocery store....etc...

It's a beautiful 73 degrees here & we are going to walk Bella and kiddos to the dog park. She has been showing her Queensland side lately and getting a little less tolerant of the other dogs. Chris is so proud of her!

On an exciting side note.....I entered a sketch blog design team call and I found out that I am on the team!!! I am so excited. I love using sketches and Tamara is very talented with designing her sketches!! You can link to her blog on My Blog list. My 1st layout will be featured next Monday...YEEHAW!

My washing machine died, so yesterday my wonderful mother took me to get a new one. I LOVE it & I look forward to getting my wash done! How often does a person actually say that???

Well I'm off to go spend a little birthday money on a new scrapbook. I can't believe how fast I fill these up!

WHOA, I'm bloggin'

Hard to belive that I could find another way to waste time on the computer! I felt like I needed to move with the times so what the hey.

I guess since life overwhelms me I will try to keep up at least once a week or month, whatever!!

DD had basketball game today & she tells me on the way there, "Mom, today I am gonna be aggresive"....OK, although I'm not too sure what that means. I'm pretty sure she knows that should mean, GET THE BALL! She does pretty good & the games are alot of fun.

We looked to our beautiful clear sky tonite to see the crescent moon and Venus. DS was in heaven seeing a planet!

Now I need to scrap..........then we are gonna watch the latest Indiana Jones flick. Til nest time whenever that may be.