Digi is DIVINE!!!

I have been going crazy downloading digi kits and playing with them to create a calendar for the grandparents for Christmas! So much fun! I can not really imagine switching over from paper to purely Digi... but I can definitely see where these tools can come in handy.

And yes... the red dot is supposed to be there... 4 year old humor.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I think I am looking forward to this Thanksgiving more so than any other in the past. Our little family seems to be thriving right now - we're healthy, happy, and having fun together.

Taryn had her first big school program last week for Thanksgiving... she tried so hard to be brave. She stood up on the risers, sang the first few words of the song, and then lost it. But - she did manage to stay up there the entire time instead of running away - PROGRESS!

The kids were so cute in their costumes... and then they served us pie and apple cider. We took T out for ice cream afterwards to celebrate her nice work. She got her report card and we had our first teacher-parent conference - so we have ARRIVED in the wacky world of public school life. It's for *real* now... we're playing for keeps!

Have I got enough pink and green paper?????

It started with MOD. Well, actually, it started with Aunt Gertie's Garden. And then the MOD. And then some random Carolee's, Reminisce, Bo-Bunny, etc.

Well - just when I was about to hold off on the Little Red Scrapbook kit this month - it was the new MM Brooke line - which is - don't hold your breath - *pink and green*. But I couldn't resist - especially the embellishments. The ribbon is gorgeous - and the velvet letters are so fun. *sigh*

The only consolation is that I could actually make Christmas cards out of this stuff... at least for my scrapping friends.

Christmas cards.

Ugh.

We'll see how that goes. I've been so tired this past week - and I've got lots of school volunteer commitments coming up - Cookie Dough distribution is tomorrow. Thanksgiving program on Friday. Parent-Teacher conferences next week. Book Fair next week.

I think I'm still down from going to Char's Memorial Service. It was great to see Kim, Eleanor, Christie, Josy & Matt... but not under those circumstances. I dread going through that with any of our parents. It's just so sad. And draining. Even if you know they'll be in heaven. But the earthly wrap-up just isn't fun at all.

**********ETA: My latest pink and green layout********

I've been tagged...

Yay! I feel like I have *arrived* in the blogging world. Thanks, sara*w!

names you go by
1. cat
2. Mom or mommy

2 parts of your heritage
1. Swedish
2. Irish

2 things that scare you
1. Snakes
2. Hearing noises when I'm home alone

2 of your everyday essentials
1. Shower
2. Hugs from my family

2 things you are wearing right now
1. New moss green pants... still not sure about them
2. New green earrings that I bought for the Pubster dinner - but did not actually wear there

2 of your favorite bands or musical artists (at the moment)
1. Sugar Ray
2. Jeremy Camp (LOVE that voice, dude!)

2 favorite songs (at the moment)
1. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Ella Fitzgerald)
2. Walking on Sunshine (by Aly and AJ - hee, hee... my girls' CD)

2 things you want in a relationship (other than real love)
1. friendship
2. lively conversation

2 truths
1. I worry that I'm too obsessed with scrapbooking
2. I like TV far too much for my own good and yet don't watch too much because I'm scrapbooking

2 physical things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex)
1. great smile
2. sense of humor

2 of your favorite hobbies (besides scrapbooking??)<--- yes, that's the obvious
1. shopping
2. reading

2 things you want really badly
1. to get published in a magazine
2. to be in shape

2 places you want to go on vacation
1. Cayman Islands
2. Maui (with the kids)

2 things you want to do before you die
1. be a grandparent
2. be in shape ;-)

2 ways that you are stereotypically a dude/chick
1. I *heart* pink (<--- copied straight from Hanni's and sara*w)
2. I *heart* shoes

2 things you are thinking about now
1. Christmas shopping
2. Christmas cards

2 stores
1. Target
2. Pottery Barn

I'm off to tag Alissa Fast and Kate Thaete... hee hee...

Would you admit to being one of these people?

So sad that I actually look the best in this shot!

Note to self: If everyone else is holding their children, follow suit.

A life less ordinary...

I found out last night that one of my dear friend's mothers has passed away. We knew it would happen sooner than later - CANCER. I hate how that word strikes fear and loathing into my heart. And I am so sorry for their family's loss.

My earliest memories of Char were from Senior Year in High School. She made lunch for me one day when I came over to their house. She was such a sweet and fun-loving lady. I remember seeing her at the various art festivals around town with her beautiful watercolor paintings. She was so very proud of Matt and all he had accomplished. And she was always so gracious to me when I would visit her home. She will be missed.

Here is a bit from her memorial in the newspaper:

Charlotte Patricia Eldridge died November 4 after a valiant struggle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her firstborn, Katherine Elizabeth. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Dean, her three daughters, Wendy, Paula and Terri, son Matt and daughter-in-law Josy, foster daughter Michelle, brother Paul, and sisters Anne and Barbara.

The family is blessed with 11 nieces and nephews, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. Char was an artist who loved to paint watercolors during the early morning hours. She was a member of the Peninsula Art League and the South Kitsap Art Association

My favorite things... today

Went to a Stamp Camp yesterday at Virginia's house - it was really fun! My favorite project was a crayon-resist... I will definitely have to try that again.

Feeling like Martha lately... I solved my musty closet problem by storing my extra box of Bounce in there... smells FRESH! Cleaned out the laundry room, we took a bunch of stuff to GoodWill... I can now park in the garage again! Yay!! Just in time for the rainy season.

I get to work in T's class today - which is always fun. I love to listen to her participate in class - that is definitely one of my favorite things. And she's reading so well - I can't believe it!! She's reading 2nd grade books and taking the AR quizzes to earn points. Right now - T and R are both playing "Library" in the playroom - with the cash register scanner. When I was little, we used the date stamp to play Library... now they have to *scan* their books to check them out.



My other favorite thing is Gilmore Girls.... of course! I have just found a couple of new friends that love GG, too - so that made my day.

I feel silly being addicted to a TV show - but it could be worse. And tomorrow night - Jess is back! Mmmmmmmmm.... should be interesting. I just hope Rory and Lorelai work things out - and soon. My friend, Jill, assures me that the old mother-daughter closer-than-sisters relationship was unnatural and this is far more realistic. But who wants realistic? If I wanted reality - I could watch any number of contrived reality shows. Give me clever dialogue, simple plot twists in a quaint Connecticut town and I'm SO happy! Guess it goes right along with the fact that the Mitford books by Jan Karon are my favorites, too!

Things are looking pretty good so far for a Monday!

{regarding jane}

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

So begins my FAVORITE novel of all time.

I have never done a book club before. When my neighbor invited me, I was skeptical... I didn't have time to read a whole book... but then I saw the list. And Pride and Prejudice was on that list. The decision was much easier than I thought.

Better and better... I get to host tonight for my beloved Pride and Prejudice! If only I had the right gown. No matter, jeans and my favorite pink t-shirt will be fine with Jane, to be sure. No one says things better than Jane - of that I am utterly convinced. I must love it so because I fancy myself to be rather like Miss Elizabeth Bennett, not the beautiful one, but the quick-witted one with a fierce (but tempered) tongue and a love of the wild, untamed hills. I think I am destined to die a hopeless romantic.

To this question his daughter replied only with a laugh; and as it had been asked without the least suspicion, she was not distressed by his repeating it. Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried. Her father had most cruelly mortified her, by what he said of Mr. Darcy's indifference, and she could do nothing but wonder at such a want of penetration, or fear that perhaps, instead of his seeing too little, she might have fancied too much.

I hope we have some lively conversation... I am most certain there will NOT be dancing... but that's okay. I checked out the soundtrack from the library, so there will be period music... and tea and cakes!

Cavities, anyone?

We don't trick-or-treat... but we do hit the Harvest Festival at our church as a Halloween alternative. The girls came away with enough candy to make cavities enough to rot out all of their teeth. We are double-brushing for a little while, just to make sure.

It was fun to see the little ones dressed up. The most creative costume I saw that evening was my friend, Laurie, who had on a bathrobe, messy hair, and a doll fastened to her leg. I think she was actually dressed up like ME... hee hee...

I am in a major creative slump! My house is so messy, I just can't get it all done. But the Book Club is coming for tea tomorrow - we're reading Pride and Prejudice this month - so I have to get the downstairs under control at least.