BIG BIRTHDAY BASH TODAY!!!

SO excited! Today is a BIG day for us... Chris turned 15 this week and we were all working so we had to hold off party time till' today. Tonight we will have a huge BBQ and party here at the house for him He invited about 25 friends from Church, School and our old neighborhood to come , I figure 1/2 will show... Ed will set up the movie projector out on our deck for a backyard movie later too! Lots of fun planned. So excited to do something fun for him...he is a good kid and always seems to get duped on his bday because we are on vacation or his friends are all out of town or something. This will be his first big party in a LONG time... he is excited, I think becasue we allowed a "co ed" get together! LOL He is growing up!
So, it will be a busy busy day with that (will try to post pix later) and then on Sunday we are taking a day trip to Yellowstone, will be fun! We try to go a few times a year... so beautiful up there. Photo ops by the minute!!!
I am up early today for some oddball reason, so I thought I'd take advantage of some quiet time to myself on the computer. Nice. Quiet. Ahhhh, I could go back to sleep now! LOL
OK off to take Chris to work then go go go all day! Have a HAPPY FRIDAY all and a good weekend ahead!

Darla

Total Randomness...

Thinking some total random favorite things might be fun , mostly because I have nothing else to share right now. Pretty content with things, kids busy with summer activities and Ed is working a lot. Just me, the housework and laundry most days. Wonder what it will be like in 13 yrs when all the kids are gone...hmm? OK So, here are a few of my favorite things, in no particular order.

lilacs in the spring - fresh cut grass - yellow roses and tulips - watching squirells play out back - snuggling kitty cats - Micheal fresh out of a bath -
long hot baths with a magazine - ice cold diet mt dew - cheesecake any way and kind any how - my mom's spaghetti (gosh I miss that!) - smell of coffee brewing - purple anything - my scrapbook goodies - music by Elton John, Michael McLean, The Eagles, STYX, Garth Brooks and more... - driving around town - riding in the car with Ed - Oregon coast beaches - pink lemoniad - holding hands with my honey - doing my daughters hair for them - a good suspense romance book - making charts and lists - cucumbers - licorice - a back or foot rub - a good hair day - boating with friends - watching a movie as a family - working in the flowerbeds - vacumming - folding laundry - and...
spending time with my dh and kids on a quiet Sunday evening.

and that is all for now!

Christopher...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTOPHER!!
HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY!!
I LOVE YOU! Mom

My sunshine boy...

Forgive me now, cuz' I am a wee tad weepy. This blog today is in honor of my "sunshine" boy Christopher.

Christopher is my oldest son, my biggest helper, one of my best friends. Chris is kind and loving, caring, giving and a hard worker. Chris is smart and strong and confident. Chris takes good care of his baby brother and loves his sisters (most days)! Chris was a tough pregnancy, a horrible labor and even more awful delivery. My dear "sunshine" boy was a whoppin' 9 POUNDS 2 oz and a long baby too! I was totally distraught that I had a boy ... I wanted a girl... and I was a bit peeved after going through all that to find out I had a son. OK I know, bad mom. Right? Well, sort of. Anyway, by day #2 and a series of things I decided I was destined to be his Momma and I fell in love with him with all my heart. Now, I cannot imagine not having him as my firstborn and oldest child.

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=FAITHCHRISTOPHERLO1.jpg

So...why all the hubbub? Well, tommorrow my "sunshine" boy Chris will be 15 years old. FIFTEEN!!!! OMGosh where do the years go? I cannot believe this! Well, all that said, I am very very proud to be his Mother and I am very very blessed to be his Mother and I have to say that I think we have raised a FINE young man and I just love him more than words can say.
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SON (SUNSHINE) and I love you VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!

XOXOXO Mom

** wanted to add**
another neat picture of my sunshine boy and his lil' brother... just shows even more what a great kid he is... they are very close buddies and this photo just makes me SMILE

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?action=view&current=THESE2BOYSLO1.jpg

I liked this ...

I "stole" this from my good buddy JULES BLOG http://postingfromparadise.blogspot.com and I think it is a lot of fun...sure makes you think!


I want: people to know how sensitive I really am.
I have: 4 beautiful kids that I live for!
I wish: I could keep my mouth shut sometimes!
I miss: my Dad more than I can express.
I hear: my kids whine and scream way too much.
I wonder: where I'd be if I had never moved to Boise in 1989
I regret: too many things.
I am not: good at standing up for myself.
I dance: to the beat of my own drum?? LOL
I sing: LOUD in the car with Michael McLean songs.
I cry: at the drop of a hat.
I am not always: trying to do my best.
I make with my hands: food for my family and crafts for fun!
I write: lists...lists and more lists.
I confuse: everything! I don't know up from down most days!
I need: more self esteem.
I should: spend less time planning and more time doing.
I start: my day with wake up snuggles from my baby boy, I love that!
I finish: my day with night owl chatting with my scrapping buddies online!

Just thinking...

I guess that is a scary idea egh? Darla thinking? :O) Well, here are some random things on my mind lately...

- wish we were going to the coast this summer... Gosh I love Oregon beaches
- there has GOT to be an easier way to weed flower gardens, anyone?
- think I could make a homemade german choc cake for fathersday? never tried that before...
- when does school start again?
- ARGH! my stinkin' windshield... making me so angry! (long story there)
- when is World Cup Soccer over? ever?
- how do I get the smell of cigars out of a cigar box?
- I should be going to bed earlier, late nights are not good for me, but will I sleep?
- how am I going to wash the tatoo's off of Micheals legs? icky!
- need to start planning money for back to school stuff

and lastly.... sleep? who needs sleep!?

Darla

.... if you are looking for something more intersting to read...

(and you know who you are)

There is nothing for you ... just a journal here of my boring life. I'll keep my monkey business where it belongs... not here with the important stuff like my family and friends and hobbies!!
Thanks for stopping by though! Have a GREAT day!

My Family

Gosh, I have had so much going on lately, it seems some of my posts have been a little goofy or whatever, but I thought today would be a good day to give "updates" on my family for those who visit to find out what is going on at the homefront! I'll start oldest to the baby...

ED, dear sweet Ed has been working like mad, keeping things afloat with work and home and kids and Church etc. He seems to go like an Energizer bunny some days... I think he really loves his work though (computers) and is dang good at what he does. I just wish somone would open thier eyes and realize he is about the most dependable, reliable person they have and he is making the least $$ for his knowledge and efforts....that part is flustering. Right now he is fighting some major allergies and sounds like a fog horn...hope it passes soon!

ME, well, you know me, I just go forth and do what I am told to do. Take care of kids, house, errands, taxi, I run many roles. Not too much really going on with me. I have been doing a lot of scrapbooking and loving it. (wanna see some of my work scroll down or go looksie here:
http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?
So that is really about it for me. Just keep pluckin' away , you know?

CHRISTOPHER.... mr MAN is working long hours this summer for our friend who owns the furniture repair/restoration shop. Mostly a dirt boy (clean up, sweeping, trash, whatever he is told to do) he is getting some opportunity to learn a few things. The owner is a cool guy, totally is tough love on Chris which he needs and I think he is teaching him some valueable work ethics and life lessons. Chris is all into his music right now.... big into music, but has some good tastes! Loves some 'old' stuff like Queen, Styx, and more. He also has developed a taste for some hard nasty rock that I am so not up with! ick! Good kid, stays out of trouble, respectable (most days) and fun to be around. GOtta love him.

DANI. One word. Drama. Dani, at 12 is now getting into her looks and style and spends hours each day gazing at herself lovingly in the mirror, changes clothes 6-8 x a day (just like when she was 3 ) and is constantly on the phone. Yes, I know, the worst is yet to come. LOL Well, she has been pretty good this summer, gone on a couple sleepovers, bday parties and the like, went camping last weekend and then is going to a swim camp/retreat this coming week with a friend. As long as we keep her busy she stays out of trouble! LOL

TIFFANY Who?? Oh I keep forgetting we have another Daughter. Tiff has a new friend since we moved.... Kayla. They live at the end of our culdesac and I have known her Mom for years as we worked together. Nice family. They have all but adopted Tiff! I think we see her a couple hours a day if that? Maybe she is home 2 nights a week? THey even want to take her on thier family reunion vacation to Utah in a couple weeks!!!!!!! I feel guilty, I feel like my kids are always pawned off on someone.... *sigh* guess we should get used to it bc with teen girls in a couple years we'll never see them.

and MICHEAL. Little sweet silly spoiled rotten man! All about his bikes and cars and trucks and trailers. Wagons, scooters, pedalcars. Race tracks, tow trucks and the MOVIE "Cars"... he is just such a BOY! He givesm e a daily nervous breakdown as he FLIES out of the garage on his 2 wheeler bike (HELMET ON THANK GOODNESS) and out to the curb where he POPs! off and then sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerves back around and up to the driveway! So far only one big bad wreck (road rash on the knee) and no ER trips THANK GOODNESS! Keeps us going. Oh yea and he is living off of choco milk, cereal and Banquet TV Dinners. LOL Cheap kid!

So that is about it! No big plans for the summer, no vacations this year, just work and kids. I will leave you with a quote I put on a scrappy page last night....I really liked it. Have a good day and take care...........Darla

"Faith: God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it." -unknown

FRIENDS...

a few things to think about...

(quotes courtesy of thequotegarden.com )

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares. ~Henri Nouwen


A good friend is cheaper than therapy. ~Author Unknown

A real friend is someone who would feel loss if you jumped on a train, or in front of one. ~Author Unknown

But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person - having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. ~Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

A friend accepts us as we are yet helps us to be what we should. ~Author Unknown

For My Friend Kath

If you do not know what CKMB is this will be of no importance or understanding to you.. if you DO know what CKMB is then you hopefully will read and understand why I posted this. My long time chatting buddy Kath chose to finally address many of the issues that were hurting many of us old CKMB chatters... knowing how thing "run thier course" at CKMB the post will be pulled before it gets read or understood. I have so much more I could say in addition to what Kath wrote, but I will just leave this for now and let her know that I support her and I know exactly how she feels. CKMB was very important in my life and that apparently means nothing to some people. Fortunatly I know who my true friends are. Kath, this is for you:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joined: 01 Jan 2000
Posts: 11745
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:08 pm Post subject:
It was a long time coming...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don’t know how many folks remember me – I started on this mb in 2000, and
used to be a real high-numbers poster – I practically lived here. I left,
unofficially, about six months ago, and haven’t seen or heard of a ‘whatever
happened to…’ post about me since. I do keep up with the goings-on over
here, and have tried to tentatively step back in a time or two, but it is
with great regret that I find that this is no longer a place I want to be
associated with, much less spend time with.
In the coming months, "Chicken Soup for the Scrapbooker’s Soul" will be
published, and in it will be a story from me about this mb – a story about
how we pulled together as a group to help someone in need. That’s the mb I
will remember and miss – the one where we had Early Bird coffee together,
played on the beaches at the Cabana Boy parties, met for afternoon coffee,
chatted with the night owls, scrapped all day in our jammies, and partied
all day when QVC was on and we were spending tons of money – together. We
saw each other through marriages, moves, illnesses, births, and deaths.
It seems that CK has created a new message board that is totally devoid of
history and that history was HUGE for many people. In CKMB's quest for a new
beginning, they have wiped the board clean and started over and created a
whole new environment and it seems that is exactly what they wanted. In
doing this, they have disbanded former bonds that had been created that were
very important to people and made new rules and guidelines for their new
"city". It IS very apparent that CK is after new blood. Yes, they are
providing some nice new attractions like the gallery, contests, spotlights,
etc, but in doing this, they didn't ADD to what they had but seem to have
deleted all the old, for the new. They have created a totally new board and
I think that is what they wanted.
The people who have been on this board 5+ years in some cases and thousands
of posts, have been swept aside and they were the people who made this board
what is was and who promoted this board, CK products and its' projects.
Scrapbooking is about history, first and foremost and they have recreated
the history to their satisfaction.
The layouts being picked for POTD, although mostly very good work, seem to
come predominantly from new members who aren’t very involved in this
community and seem to be from more professional-type scrappers than true
newbies who have just now joined the mb for fun and companionship. If they
are going to spotlight someone, I don't think it's too much to expect them
to CONTRIBUTE to the MB so that people can learn to do some of the things
they do and get to know them. Members of other message board communities are
putting their LO's out there for one reason- to have CK pick them up for
publication. Period. That is their goal. Is it wrong? I don't know but
again, I think CK will drive away others if they continually do this and
never recognize people that are faithful to the ck community at large. Also,
many of them are not the type of scrapping that the "average" person who
buys CK, does. What is wrong with sometimes picking LO"s that are just
pretty or have techniques that people might want to try that don't involve
going to 10 classes to learn or spending a lot of money in extra
embellishments?
I think the "hostess" needs to be more tactful and I also think the board
should not revolve just around her, which it seems to do now. The relentless
banning of anyone who speaks, even mildly, against this mb, or questions the
guidelines or CK authority figures only enforces the feeling that a whole
new board with all new members is the goal. The guidelines have been tossed
aside and members are being banned with no warning, nor are they given an
explanation as to why they were banned. If those in authority don't follow
their own guidelines, they can't expect their membership to know what is and
is not allowed from one day to the next. If this continues, the board will
be in the same boat a couple of years down the road, and the search will be
on once again for what made this community the family it used to be. When
will they see that it's not the moderators or the hostess or the guidelines,
but the members who posted here that made it a warm and welcoming place.
Many of those family members were banned, and those who weren't banned have
left home. The CK board will never be the same again.
Frankly, I think ck could care less what people think as long as their
revenues are up.

http://www.nanascrap.blogspot.com/

Don't let your mind wander...

OK first and foremost, I cannot take credit for this. I just FOUND it on a fellow scrappers BLOG and it instantly made me SMILE so I have to add it to my wierd world of chatter. Hold on to your hats, your gonna laugh....


"DON'T LET YOUR MIND WANDER...
IT IS TOO SMALL TO BE LET OUT ON IT'S OWN"

now...is that FUNNY or is that FUNNY? I love it! OK back to our regularly scheduled programming...

Hello Friends!

Just a quckie note to say HI and I am still around. Had a fun weekend with LOTS of goodies going on and managed to get quite a bit of scrapbooking done as well! If you want to see some of what I have been up to I have some pix posted here... a few layouts and photos of the kids.

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?

We did lots of fun stuff this weekend, had a big suprize dinner for Liz's Birthday at Johnny Cornino's Italian Resteraunt...SO delish! We also went out for dinner again to Garcias Mexican and that was yummy-o! Last night we BBQ'd burgers on the grill... had homemade macaroni salad, chips and beans and a SUPER grand dessert.... peanut butter chunk brownies! OMGosh to die for!! MMMM!
We watched a couple movies and then Ed and the kids did the Drive In too..went to see CARS and XMEN 3 ... both were good I heard! We rented XMEN 2 (yipee , not) and LAST HOLIDAY and I loved the latter. Queen Latifa was FAB in the movie, as was LL Cool J! Made you want to just fall in love with him!

This week is business as usual, house, kids, yard, kids, and all that exciting fun stuff! I have no gumption today so we'll see how it all goes! Hee hee

Until next time...

me

OK no more boring stuff

So I have been BLOGGING for a while now, I also have been BLOG searching and reading faithfully for a while too. What I have found, is that my ol' BLOG is pretty boring. So, with that I need to know, from those of you who DO occasionally read my BLOG and those who so sweetly post...are you bored? Is this a totally BORING BLOG? I am so lucky to have Ms Robin help me and post pictures and running photo borders and making me coolio page toppers...but what I am talking about is my journaling/talking/gabbing. I know I can ramble, but is this just pure nonsence and are you bored to death and only check it just to see if I am still alive each week? PLEASE share your comments, I would love to know if you are OK with my ramblings or if you would like to see more silly stuff, more links, what? Thanks!

me

Wow! What a week, been so busy!

Wow, this has been a crazy week, busy with kids and house and all that "life" stuff we do. I am also jammin' out layouts like mad with my new and improved tidy scrappy area! I have done nearly 20 layouts and projects in just a few days time, lovin' it! I have put most of the stuff up in my Photobucket acct album if you are at all interested in seeing what I have been up to. http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/
I am so inspired with so many new ideas from CKU and all the cool new magazines and books we got while there. Each day I find dozens more ideas and brilliant works of art that make me just want to create more. Awesome!
Weekend plans. Tonight we are taking our friend Liz out for her belated Bday dinner (her Bday was Tues) and then tommorrow night is Date Night with our good friends. Italian one night and Mexican the next!? YUMMY-O!
Well, I guess that is all for me. Nothing else too exciting... just really pumped to do some more scrapping. Also have to catch up on laundry. Hmm what a toss up? :O)

Until next time....

cku layouts

THIS is so totally way cool.....

TOTALLY havin' a HAPPY DANCE kind of day here! Sure, it was not all roses, but for the most part it was a good day, just busy...but, I am one HAPPY CAMPER TONIGHT because after working for about 3-4 days now, my scrapbook area is all tidy and clean and organzied and OH SO COOL LOOKING!
PURPLE is the theme... along with my modgepodge of storage and containers... I tried to stick with purple through and through and it looks so cool!
I really feel like I will be able to get a lot more done with my things in order and within reach... I also feel more like scrapbooking when I am 'comfortable' in my surroundings. Clutter stresses me out. I try desperatly to be an organized person, but sometimes things get overwhelming... and when I got home with 1001 new toys from CKU I definatly got overwhelmed. Had to start over. Step back. Take a breath. THEN dig in and dig deep and start at the beginning.
I am so happy.

happy
happy
happy

** Sorry to make you wait... Here are some pictures! **

http://s68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/DarlaLOU/?

Nice, long, lazy weekend!

Wow this has been a nice weekend. No running, no schedules, no deadlines. I love it! The entire month of May was one thing after another and it just ate me up! I was so worn out! This is great!

This weekend we have slept in, we have ate at oddball hours of the day, totally planned meals at the last moment, and been fine with it! We lazied around, watched tv, just hung out and played. I think even the kids were feeling a bit stressed out and needed this.

I have been working (at my own pace) on reorganizing my scrapbook area downstairs. I got myself into such a piled up mess then added 1001 new things from CKU last month and it was total disaster. I could find anything I needed and I had all these great new ideas and projects from CKU to do... very flustering. I am almost done now, and although it has taken me a good part of my weekend (the lazy one) I feel good and I am not bothered because it is something I WANTED to do and have had fun doing it! yeah me! I'll post some pix later of my before and after!!

This coming week we get back into routine... Ed back to work, Chris starts working his summer hours, I will continue to babysit until the 14th when the boys go visit thier Father. I can't wait to get back into a groove... I do much better when I am in routine, have a plan, make lists. You know? I am definatly a list maker. (wont' even go there right now)

OK so off to work on finishing my scrappy playland then to Church to teach the 11 yr olds. Fun fun fun stuff!

Until next time, keep your arms and legs inside the vehical at all times and HOLD ON... it may be a bumpby ride!!!!!!!!


darla

IT IS FRIDAY AGAIN...

I swear, I do not know where the days go... seriously! This week has whizzed by me so stinking fast it is nuts!

Mon- soccer crazies had a game and left (took MY son with them too)
Tues- dh home sick, we all lazied all day
Wed- dh home sick again, another lazy day, but did clean house
Thurs- babysat, cleaned house, worked in the yard, dh took off to pick up ds
Fri- sickie momma day, babysat, played outside with kids

Seriously, where did it go? Well, luckily this weekend is NOT a busy one for us... just the normal catching up in the yard and house. Kids will be wanting to run with friends, etc. Thankfully, it will be a slow and quiet frew days.

My big QUEST for the weekend? I want to gut out my scrapping closet and clean things up. It is making me nuts and I know in the big scheme of things it is petty....but still. We'll see what happens.

OK that is it. Nothing else to report...no soccer...no bragging on kids...no inpsirational thoughts. Sorry.

until next time. me

Hump Day Hello

I always giggle to myself when I read my fellow bloggers posts on Wed each week... "hump day".
Of course, being a girl of the 80's I instantly think of the not so obvious, shame on me, but still, it is just "there". LOL Anyway, the REAL "hump day" is in referral to it being Wed, or 1/2 way thru the work week!! LOL Since I don't "work" (outside the home anyway) it doesn't really apply to me, but it is still a cute phrase. For me, the real work is on the weekends when I have the whole house full of our entire family for 3 days straight! With summer here, well, it is all downhill and there is NO "hump day" for me. Anyway...

HAPPY HUMP DAY

It is now 9:30 pm and the day is coming to a close, so why did I even bother? hee hee

In other news....

Tommorrow I start tending a couple of sweet lil' boys. Two lil' cuties that I adore, they are close in age to my two 'babies' and they enjoy my kids company. It should be fun!! (I hope!!) Also, tommorrow after work my honey is headed out of town to pick up our oldest son from my sister's house. It is just a couple hours away, but I'll still miss him! XOXOXO Can't wait for my son to be home though...have really missed him! Kids are all enjoying summer break so far. We are only in week one so I am sure by next week they will be wailing about how bored and hot they are. *!*KIDS*!* Lots of sprinklers, popsicles and rented movies should get us through....

Well, that is it for me. One more day in the optimistic world of a super mommy scrapper addict!

until next time....

me

ME for a Day...

Thought I'd share a quick run down of my day... does anyone want this job?

slept in later than I should
hubby came home sick
took a shower (nice long one)
picked up dd from friends house
argued with kids to help with chores
took a minimum of 10 phone calls through the day
cleaned bathroom, kitchen, livingroom, and vac'd upstairs
argued with kids to do chores
started some laundry
argued with kids to do chores
took dd to her aunts to play with cousins
ran an errand and chatted too long
visited with my sister while kids played
gave sick nephew a neb treatment (asthma meds)
fixed baked potato bar for dinner
make a 2 week menu and shopping list
let kids run in sprinkler
made popcorn for kids
tried to catch up on the computer
talked to son on phone (he is out of town) and missing him

getting ready to go to bed. it was a long kind of day.

me

Survival of the fittest? er, the most well slept?

SOCCER BOYS! Oye!

I am totally wiped out, WIPED out. I am tired, cranky, grouchy, grumpy and yes, I survived, but I am definatly 'altered' right now. *SIGH*

This was a very very long weekend, Friday through Monday, we had 9 boys staying here ranging from 16 - 19 yrs old, we had my sister and her hubby and then the soccer coach. This, along with OUR family of 7, 2 cats and a massive, nasty rain/hail storm that blew though. Now, I love my sister, and I love having them all here, I DO... but you pen up that many teenaged boys in my small home and a weekend full of rain, well... they find OTHER things to do. Sadly, we had to get tough on them and let them know that they were staying in a HOME not a HOTEL. :O( I felt awful, but we had to do it. I think it was much too long of a weekend for them, the weather keeping them inside was too much and then our (sniff sniff) loosing streak was not so helpful either. ( We lost 0-5 on Sun and 3-5 today)

All in all, we had a good time though. TONS of great food and lots of fun visiting and hanging out. The boys played XBox and Darts and did Chin Up contests in our garage! (very entertaining too I might add!) So, I survived yet another Soccer Weekend...and I will tell you one thing, I could NEVER be a Soccer Mom like my sister. (good thing? bad thing? I'll never tell.)

So, I am back in the land of the onliners and hope to catch up with you my friends soon! HUGS

me

Soccer Mayhem

7 parents
11 boys
1 coach
1 assistant coach
3 dinners
4 lunches
4 breakfasts
150 gallons of water
....you get the idea?

Soccer Mayhem.

They are coming to visit,
those soccer crazy bunch!
We'll house them and bath them,
and give them some lunch.

They will drink lots of fluids,
water by the gallon...
To keep up thier strength
GOOD LORD don't you foul em'!

The blue and the white
the RAPIDS we are,
with bumps and bruises-
but hardly a scar.

The soccer mayhem ,
has commenced on my home.
Boys, socks, drinks
and shin guards of foam!

The boys are hyper,
the parents are intense...
the games will carry on and on,
even when a ref doesn't make sense!

Ah yes, soccer mayhem
it is here one more time!!
but I have to admit that I love it
I'd do it again on a dime!

GO TEAM RAPIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The "boys" are coming this weekend...will be here in about an hour. Don't look for me, I'll be busy till' Monday! :O) Darla

Well HELLO Friends...

Let me just tell you, MAY has been one of the CRAZIEST months of my WHOLE life! OYE!!!

Between kids, home, running "taxi", visitors and traveling I am plum beat! Whew!! I have one more crazy weekend to go then hopefully we'll get back to some normal days around here. Tomorrow is the kids last day of school, so I am sure we'll have a week of chaos adjusting there and then I will be babysitting my 2 favorite lil' blondie boys for a few weeks. No vacations this summer, just hanging out, enjoying the sun and family and friends. Fun times.

Not a whole lot more to report, just busy as always. CKU was a nice refreshing break but it was hectic to I didn't really come home feeling 'rested' per say, just refreshed?! But it was so fun!! I am looking forward to Summer break though.

Well, that is about it for my ramblings today. Dishes to wash, beds to be made. You know the grind?!

until next time.... me

DD

CKU Provo ROCKED!

So, we got home yesterday afternoon from CKU (Creating Keepsakes University) in Provo, UT and had an absolute BLAST while there! We took off on Wed. morning and shopped all day and then stayed at a Trendwest Resort Condo that night up in the Utah mountains that was just insanely beautiful... stayed up too late and got up WAY too early. Hit the roads early for Provo and missed MOST of the morning rush traffic (oye!!) and went straight to the Marriot Hotel where we stayed. Thurs we checked in, did make and takes and stuff...we also had a mini class with MM (Making Memories) and let me just tell you what a TOTAL RIOT that Margie Romney is! OMGosh she is a hoot! Great time! That night we had our Tailgate Party where we did our Dorm table, dressup, cheer (which we won) and then did games and prizes, etc. FUN NIGHT! We had classes all day Friday and then our group went to dinner Fri evening at an awesome Mexican resteraunt but I was not feeling so great so I went up to the room and napped for a while. That night we went to another party and got more goodie bags (everywhere was goodie bags full of freebies) and then went out to shop shop shop ... lots of fun again! Sat was another early start, classes all day, then our commencement party that night... loads of fun and Robin even won a HUGE prize there worth over $100! Whhoo whoo! We then went for a walk and saw some sights INCLUDING the Salt Lake City Childrens Choir (practicing outside) and they honored us with a "warm up" and it was amazing (a true highlight of the trip!!) After that we did yummy Sourdough Pizza then back to our rooms to clean up and pack stuff. We headed home on Sunday but spent a couple hours in Layton shopping some more (clothes this time! :O) and then came home. GREAT TIME but a long few days...so happy to be home! Posting pictures of all the oodles and oodles of product we got, most of it free. Just a scrapbookers true dream ... if you have the chance to attend a CKU anywhere....DO IT! So totally awesome! Like a giant womens slumber party!!!!!!!!!

HUGS me

YEAH!!!

One Day to Go!

OK I am giddy, I am tired, I am a bundle of emotions! I can't wait to hit the road on Wed a.m. and head out to CKU to spend some time with the girls, play and relax!! However, there is still so much to be done I am getting plum worn out. I need to sit down, make a list, prioritize and then go forward. SO MUCH TO DO!

OK that said, all is well, kids are definatly in Spring Fever mode with our lovely warm 80 degree weather and sunshine all day. Lil' Micheal bug is an allergy nightmare with the gunk in the air... had to start him on breathing treatments tonight. Hope that is not a pain in Ed's side while I am gone. I don't know how much Ed is enjoying his "vacation" time off (HA!) from work since he keeps getting calls. Poor guy. Hope he can have some R&R with the kids... I know Micheal is tickled pink to have Daddy home with him!!

Also on a happy note, a piano is coming our way this week! Our roomie Liz purchased one for herself and it will be a nice addition to the house. Very fun thing to see coming!!

OK off to dishes and toilee' scrubs! If I dont' make it back before D-day... wish me luck!

Until then :O) smiles :O)

TGIF?!?!

Thank GOODNESS it's Friday? Maybe?

Having another run of crazy days ahead of me, not sure I am ready or prepared for any of it, but here it comes! These crazy jamn packed days are SO not my icing on the cake! LOL I like a bit of running, but not marathons!

Today, Friday, I have been pretty slow, but tonight will be mahem getting the final stuff ready to do our big yard sale on Saturday. Sat is pretty much taken up with that activity. Sunday is of course Church and let us not forget Mother's Day... also going to be my hustle around and get things caught up day! Mon and Tues I will spend with my sister helping her with some things in her new home and also getting my house and family prepped for me to be gone. Wed a.m. I will be OFF for a fun adventure at CKU Provo (scrapbooking event) and won't be back until the next Sunday! Then it is the kids last week of school and then the SOCCER Crazies come back again to invade us for State Soccer tournie! We'll see if I make it.

TGIF?

BLOG CHALLENGE: Prom

Oh wow! This is sure a fun one Kath...thanks! LOL Well, here I am in 1987, just one dance I went to but this was the most formal of them all. This boy, and he was a boy, was a friend of mine's little brother...the cutest little curly haired kid! His date cancelled at the VERY last minute and my friend BEGGED me to go with him...he was so cute and sweet how could I say no? My sister and her friend and my cousin literally THREW me together for this dance, hair, makeup, flowers...all done within a matter of a couple hours time. I will admit, it was not the funnest dance (it was at our RIVAL High School) but the boy was so so sweet and kind. I think we danced all of 2 or 3 dances, did pictures and then went and watched movies at my house! The big story was this dress... oh my gosh how I LOVED this dress! I had bought it with my Mom's help the year before for a Sweetheart dance but then didn't end up wearing it because my date refused to wear a PINK tie and band!!! GUYS! Anyway, the dress was just gorgeeemous and at the tune of nearly $200 (WAY back then) I had to get SOME good use of it! hee hee

Darla 1987 Homecoming Dance

A New Layout Last Night!

This is a fun Layout I did last night of myself and my dd Tiffany. Robin did this really neat photo shoot with us earlier this spring and these 'sillies' were amongst my personal favorites! I had to scrapbook them simply because they show the real deal... no one smiles perfect, nobody's hair is always perfect. Tiff and I have a special relationship and I think the photos tell the story well. The pp is Daisy D's, the stickers are the new Bazzill Chip Toppers, the leather frame is MM, the flower is Prima and the hearts are QK shapes. Pretty simple LO but a fun one! Enjoy!

Darla

SOCCER MOM 101 : Lessons from Hell

FIrst and foremost... Soccer Mom's ROCK!

Secondly... I will never ever ever ever EVER be a Soccer Mom. Why? Here are just a few lessons I learned this weekend.

1. WIND is a Soccer Family nightmare. Cold. Dirt in eyes. Cheering can't be heard. Wind burned skin is worse than sun burned skin. Wind is not a good thing.

2. FOOD is a dangerous thing. Teenage Soccer boys who are hot, tired, hungry... they give no warning when food is produced in thier presence. Set the food out and RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!

3. SUN is a good soccer thing. SUNSCREEN is a better Soccer thing. Enough said. (refence #1)

4. Ref's are allowed to be opinionated but parents, coaches and spectators are not. Sit down, shut up, watch the game and if your boy gets creamed, bite your lip. No sympathies. No comments.

5. BLUE AND YELLOW ROCKS! Our boys Soccer team colors.

6. Soccer Mom's are supposed to be alarm clocks, nurses, cheerleaders, cooks, taxi drivers, laundrymat workers, amongst other things. Just like real mom's... but x 14 or so Soccer boys.

7. Sleep is rare for a Soccer weekend. Totally worn out, totally hyped up, doesn't work. Make lots n lots of coffee for parents and bring lots and lots and LOTS of bottled water for Soccer boys.

8. Soccer boys play better when they get MAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (a good thing? guess so!)

9. Soccer boys shower A LOT and use A LOT of towels. Good thing this house has 3 bathrooms?

10. I love having the crew all here. Dirty towels, my laundry room looking like a locker room, empty fridge, all night giggles, cheering, sunburns, all of it... SOCCER WEEKEND ROCKED!

(Did I mention our team took 1st Place in thier age division for the whole tournement!!?? GO RAPIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Dahhhh dahhhh dahhhh Dummmmmmmmmm!

Let the CHAOS commence! In just a few hours my home and family will be overblown by a groupie of soccer playing teenage boys and thier maniac parents (SOCCER MOM's, that means YOU). My weekend will be full of not enough hot water, not enough toilets and showers, not enough blankets and not enough peace and quiet! LOL Seriously though, should be fun and I know that everyone of the boys will be ultra-polite and courtious and respectful of my home. It will be a blast! So, if I am MIA you know where I'll be!! Until next time, Darla

PSSST... PASS THE TEQUILA!!!!!!!!!!

Tagged again... Shar is to blame this time! :O)

OK OK OK here goes, thanks Shar, I have to actually THINK about these answers! Darla

Name 5 Things That:

Make You Smile
1 My flowers in bloom outside
2 Seeing my dh pull up in the driveway each evening
3 Watching my boys play together (14 and 5 yrs old)
4 Playing basketball outside with my kids
5 Being able to run to my sisters new house in 5 min or less
You Can See on Your Desk Right Now
1 Tall glass of water with a straw
2 Basket full of craft paints
3 Daughters eye glitter
4 Stacks of cardstock and bazzill
5 All my ribbon and flowers for scrapbooking
Kept You Busy Over the Weekend
1 Helping my sister move to her new house
2 Finding my kitchen after 2 days of neglect
3 Working in the veggie garden clearing debree
4 Running kids to activities
5 Megga huge overspending grocery shopping trip
Regular Stuff You Will Do this Week
1 Clean house Mon, Wed and Fri
2 Drive ds to and from school everyday
3 Keep working on my yardwork, flowers, etc
4 Laundry laundry laundry
5 Watch Survivor and American Idol
You Said to Make Someone SMILE
1 Sang with the radio and made ds smile and laugh
2 Tickled my baby ds and we both smiled
3 Told my dd that her idea for a project was a good one
4 Teased my sister about her EMERALD green carpet in the bedroom
5 Told the kids we could have ice cream after dinner

GREAT TAG... now I tag ROBIN!

Crazy Week Ahead...

Actually, the next THREE, yes 3, weeks ahead will be up in the air, crazy, busy, nuts, out of the norm and out of control I am sure! I have so much to do, so many things planned, I just keep making lists and schedules and calendars, I suppose I will make it through? Just to give you all an idea:

7 Visitors coming to stay IN our home for a soccer tourney weekend (teenage boys!)
Planning a huge weekend yardsale with moving goodies from not one, two, but THREE homes
Getting geared up to go to CKU
Getting kids settled down into the last few weeks of school before summer vacation
Primping the yard to be a beautiful oasis of lush green and floral for our enjoyment
Clearing and planning to plant a small veggie garden
Cleaning house like a mad woman and decluttering as I go

...so, you get the picture? Me, running around in holey ol' jeans with hair piled up on my head, dripping with sweat, cleaning, gathering, preparing. I think I need one of those big white aprons like "Ma" from Little House on the Praire had?? hee hee!

That said, if you don't see much of me over the next few days, or weeks, don't fret, I am here, just working my tooshie off getting reading for chaos to arrive. Loves, Darla

Book Review Update...

Just a quick update... started to read another home org book... Confessions of an Organized Housewife. Good book, a bit outdated, but good reading and TONS of good tips! A definate one I will pick up info from!

TAGGED AGAIN!! (thanks Robin)

So, another tag... fun stuff! This one IS different too... here goes!

In my fridge:
1 milk
2 sweet pickles
3 ketchup
4 cucumbers
5 diet mt dew

In my closet:
1 a bag of licorice bits (hidden)
2 big fuzzy slippers
3 tote bags and duffles
4 my whole armoire!
5 coolio shoe rack with my shoes on it

In my handbag:
1 tampons
2 cell-o-phone
3 lip gloss and chapstick
4 mirror
5 tweezers

In my car:
1 Michael McLean CD's
2 blankets and jackets
3 empty pop bottles
4 barney and blues clues books
5 purple sun glasses

On "my" (NOT) DVR/tivo/ect
1. Survivor
2 Amazing Race
3 Lost
4 Xtreme Home Makeover
5 CSI

whew! and I tag....

SHAR
MAE
CINDYLOOHOO
JAYNE
and
CYNTHIA RNJ

if any of you read my blog... either post this tag on YOUR blog, reply in my blog OR just email it to me!

COMPASSION

This is a LO I did of my DD Tiffany, it amazes me how a mere' 9 yr old girl is so wise and caring. I wanted to share with her how proud I am of her and her choices to be such a humanitarian in such a crazy mixed up world. This is the kid who wants to help the poor, help the needy, she is always taking in the "underdog" at school and helping them along the way. I am so proud of her. I think I need a lesson from her on Charity....

A "FEW" Good Reads.... (just a few)

OK So we went to the Public Library today... what fun! The kids wanted to go and I HONESTLY had a few books listed that I wanted to look for. A couple of them were reccomended reads from others and then I was searching for some good organizational helpers too. I ende dup coming out of there with ELEVEN BOOKS all for me! Let's see if any of them do me any good? LOL

Outwitting Clutter
**Clutter's Last Stand
The Queen of Clean Conquers Clutter
It's Here - Somewhere!
Family Circle 2000 Hints and Tips
Confessions of an Organized Housewife
Time Management for the Creative Person
**The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People
The Sound of Paper
The Creative Habit
and
**The Home Organizing Workbook

I will be back with reviews! Keep watching!

Darla

**So far these are the ones I have been reading, all three are excellent books! LOTS of help and LOTS of great, positive info for life, family and home! ** more to come...

UTAH DIVA QUEENIES!!!

So, this was such a totally awesomely cool fun day for us girls! Last Fri my sister and I took our two "tweener" daughters to Utah for the day. We shopped in Layton and SLC and had a total ball! My sister (in the black sunglasses) is always buying these rediculous shades for her face, we tease her constantly about it! She calls them ALL her "JackieO's" and we just laugh. NUT GIRL! Well, on a whim we all decided we needed "DIVA SHADES" for this trip so we stopped off and picked up some fun and funky glasses first thing! I got some wild PURPLE ones with little stones inset in the frames, the girls both got some fun ones too! We were SO HAPPENIN' let me tell ya!
Cruisin' down the freeway at 80 mph jammin' out to 70's and 80's music in our shades... OMG it was a blast! We shopped and ate and played and giggled and had the time of our lives! Love sisters and love girls day out!

SLOW DOWN Your movin' too fast...

I am doing it again! GO GO GO! Sometimes I just go like a whirlwind and just can't seen from one day to the next. That is how this past weekend was! Jeeeze! BUSY times. FUN times. GOOD times...and GREAT memories.

That ol' Simon and Garfunkle song comes to mind... "Feelin' Groovy"... of course, someone had to be smokin' a bit of something when the song was written, but it is still a favorite!

"Slow down, your movin' too fast. Got let the morning last, blah blah blha.... feelin' groovy...
(can't remember all the words right now) ... hello lampost, what cha knowin', come to watch your flowers growin' ... feeling groovy...lah lah lah lah laaa, feelin' groovy"

OK So I forgot some words, but you know the song or you don't and I have loved it since the first time I heard it!! So true, just slow down, enjoy the ride. Today I realized I have A TON to do this week and with everything going different directions I know I will get stressed out, grumpy and grouchy...will that help? NOPE! So, I will have to replay the song in my head... just feelin' groovy baby! LOL

Darla

PS WOW WOW WOW Robin!!!!! The Blog Banner looks soooooooooo way coolio! LOVE IT!!!!

Got Flowers?

This is a photo Robin took of me... love the dimension.

Scrap space

This is my scrap "room" aka CLOSET
in the new house. My desk in in a cove
off the family room and I have my
printer station and bookshelf full of
albums there as well. Inside the closet
is all my GOODIES! Paper, embellies,
and so on. Thanks for peeking!! PS Those
cute PURPLE storage bins all came from
a RAK from Jayne on our Monkey Chat
group!! The baskets are thrift store
decor' I made myself! Darla

Take it to the limit...ohhh yeahhh! Take it, to the limit baby!

Wow! Remember THAT song? A day or two ago for me, ok, early childhood? LOL Great song though. Love the Eagles... so classic, so awesome.

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/eagles/44532.html

OK I that said. I am jumping off another bridge here...taking yet another leap in my scrapping creativity! I am so inspired by so many of the ladies blogs I read. Just amazing. So on top of doing the Effer Dares www.fortheloveofeffers.blogspot.com now I am joining in on Rhonna Farrer's {21} challenge too! Once again I am joining in late but I am so excited to embard on this journaling experience!! www.rhonnafarrer.typepad.com So cool. You choose a goal, something you want to make or break as far as a habit and then you journal out your 21 days of doing it. SO cool! SO fresh! I am on day #3 and having a total blast with it! I am so stretching my mind and creativity with these 2 journals and I am still getting in some scrap pages and the circle journals I am in too! Love all the new product out there and all the wild and crazy ladies who design and produce it all for us to buy! I am getting to where I am constantly checking out blogs from these great teachers and designers to learn more and be inspired. Some days my magazines do NOTHING for me but a quick browse to a blog will open windows in my head.

Yup, I will take it to the limit. One more time. :O)

me

Random Facts About : ME

This probably won't be the most interesting or entertaining reading you have ever read, but here is some random facts about yours truly. ME

1. I love purple.
2. I love cheesecake.
3. I have 4 kids. 2 boys.2 girls.
4. I am dying to try to loose some wieght, need a push.
5. I love to talk on the phone.
6. I have THE CUTEST lil' pink cell phone!
7. I am the baby of 12 kids in my family.
8. I do not like lima beans.
9. My dream car is a 65-67' Ford Mustang
10. I drive a white Dodge minivan, which I love
11. I never went to college.
12. I love scrapbooking.
13. 13 is my favorite number!
14. I love to watch LIVE basketball but hate watching it on TV
15. I love the Oregon Coast
16. I am almost as close with my sister in laws as I am my own sisters
17. I wore braces for over 3 years in HS
18. I hate pennies. eww ick gross! Totally gross me out!
19. Cottage cheese, right there with pennies!! ick!
20. I like to stay up late at night... all alone, total peace and quiet to myself.

there ya go. Intersting? No?

me

HAPPY APRIL YOU FOOLS! :O)

HAH A I could not resist that one.... fools!

So, another month is here. I still do not quite know where Jan, Feb and March went but that is all good. I have lots on my plate right now with the kids and so on....seems like I am never home anymore. Trying to develop a good schedule and struggling. Also trying to add in some good walking time and better eating habbits.... trying.

That is about all here. This weekend consisted of cleaning garage, dealing with kids, and tonight we got to go to a play... "The Sound of Music" where our friends dd Lauren played a lead role. Very fun and very entertaining. Tonight clocks move forward... less sleep, oh noo!

Goodnight! Happy April...YOU FOOLS!

Self Evaluation Time: Do I Need a Raise?

OK Silly me, really, a raise? Maybe? OK, no. Praise? Yes! I think so anyway. I feel like someone out there has to appriciate my efforts in being a SAHM and if it is not my dh, kids or roomie, then it would have to be me? Right? LOL Self Evaluation = Self Appriciation!

Sometimes I feel like I am this built in housekeeper, maid, taxi, cook, laundrymat, dishwasher, janitor, babysitter, and pet attendant. Now obviously, I am just doing my part in our home, after all I wanted to be the SAHM and I wanted 4 kids and happy lil' family. Right? But at times it is just overwhelming and sometimes you just feel under-appriciated. Not that I expect every person to walk in the door and thank me for every clean shirt or every dish washed... although an occasional 'thanks' would be well receieved... but more like, SHOWN appriciation for thinsg. Not trashing a clean kitchen or throwing clean clothes in the dirty basket. Stuff like that. I feel like it is reasonable to be cleaning up after my 5 yr old. I don't feel like it is reasonable to be cleaning up after a 12 and 14 yr old ... or adults. I scrub the bathrooms in the upstairs 3 times a week...every week. That leaves one bathroom to be cleaned. ONE. Yet, today, once again I was in there scrubbing the toilee' and emptying trash and sweeping floors. I don't even USE this bathroom! I think a chore chart is in order and I think young and old will be included because obviously people cannot see what is right under thier noses and although I am responsible for trying to run a nice, clean, comfy home, I am not anyone's maid and certainly do not need to be cleaning up some of the messes that I do. I figure I spend 2 hours a day cleaning and doing dishes and other major housework...that does not include the neverending loads of clothes that are constantly in the washer! I earn my keep by golly! Yup, I need a raise....

The JOYS of Motherhood

Who ever said Motherhood was all JOY and LOVE and GOOD STUFF? Carol Brady? Mrs Cleaver? Claire Huckstable? Well, you are all phsyco Moms and it is a good thing you are living life on the TV! HA!

OK so today was the start of SPRING BREAK for my children. Should have known with the word "BREAK" in there that we'd be in for trouble! HA! Basically on day number one we had wars over helping Mom with the house. Mom says 'when do I get a spring break' the kids come back with smart ass replies and grunts and moans and Mom stomps out ticked off. Mom proceeds to clean the whole house herself all the while begrudging the evil children threatening to never fix them another meal as long as they live. War over? not yet. Mom then sulks in bedroom while kids continue to play with NO weight on thier fat little heads of any sort. Are children born with NO conscience? Geesh! So, Mom calls all children to the livingroom where she proceeds to explain how the sink gets full of dishes, the laundry pile grows and how meals show up warm on plates on the table. (oh, and how the taxi runs and so forth) THEN Mom explains how dishes get washed, clothes get folded, and meals get cooked. Kids get smart mouthed AGAIN and Mom gets mad AGAIN and so it goes. Finally as a last result Mom goes for the 'tender' side of the moment and ends up in tears and even more flustered than when she started, phone rings, Mom goes into hiding in the bedroom. KIDS SIT THERE!!! Apologies? No! Get busy? NO! ANYTHING???? ANY SIGN THAT THEY GIVE A FLYING CRAP ABOUT THIER MOTHER?? uhhhh no. Sure makes a Mom want to do anything for anyone egh?

Was finally able to draaagggg a few minutes of help from the kids. Still upset, still angry, still hurt. Cannot believe they just don't care. *sigh* Guess they will think twice next time they can't find a clean sock or need a ride somewhere? ack!

{went out for pizza for dinner}

M and T

15 yrs and a 4 kids and he is still HOT!

WARNING: Parental guidance suggested. Rated "H" for hot!!

I just have to say how much I LOVE my honey to bits. You'd think after 15 years, 4 kids, countless moves and jobs and some really MAJOR trials that our marriage would suffer in some departments... but let me just say... I LOVE MY MAN. I know that like most, we have our moments of not so nice times but in the big picture no one understands me more, no one cares more, no one loves me more than my honey Ed. Is he a bit of a control freak? yes. Is he an inscessent teaser? yes. Does he joke and play when all seriousness needs to be taken. yes. Does he have mood swings worse than any PMS'n woman alive? yes. (oh sorry Ed) BUT... when it all rolls down, the day is done and we are in bed at night he knows what makes me happy and THAT is just one reason why I love him. Need I say more? :O>

Tid Bits to share...

OK Lot of little tid bits to share with you today. You know my life IS SO EXCITING these days! ha ha ha

OK So the BIG NEWS at our house...dd Tiffany cut off all her hair! We took her in to the salon and she cut off 13 whoppin' inches of hair and donated it to LOCKS OF LOVE. I am proud of her for wanting to do something worthwhile with it too. She looks totally different but cute as a bug. I keep calling her Ms Sassy now! Crazy to look at her after 9 yrs of all that hair!! A bit sad, but change is good.

Had an awesomely awesome Family Date Night last night. Our good friends and thier kids came over for a family bbq. Had YUMMY burgers on the grill....bbq baked beans...chips....salad. YUM! Great time was had by all! Love having them here to visit...such special people in our lives. I would hate to ever loose them as friends.

LAZY day here I fear! LOL I was hoping to get the family going and get to Church today, but somehow I dont' see it happening. We run run run all week and then Sunday is the one day we can really lazy around... it is hard to get going and do it. *sigh* Choices.

Well, off I go to see what damage needs repaired around here. Hope you all have a nice relaxing Sunday and a nice week ahead.

Blessings. Darla

HUG everyone that you love today... you never know.

OK Forgive me. I get a wee bit mush-mush sometimes, and even more weepy when I get mush-mush, however, this is important.

STOP whatever it is you are doing....go to someone you love, or care about and give them a HUG. DO IT.... *RIGHT NOW*! Tell them you love them and how much they mean to you.
RIGHT NOW!

OK...so some of you are home alone, call someone you love and just say I LOVE YOU. If you are at work or somewhere else, tell someone you care about that they are special to you. Let those who are important in your life KNOW IT TODAY.

Life is too short and we have too many important people to worry about the stupid little things. What if you didn't get to hug your kids ever again and hear them say "Mom".... what if you went to bed tonight and you didn't get a last kiss goodnight from your spouse and tommorrow they were gone?

You get my idea. Too much tragedy this week. Too much sorrow. So, don't take those you LOVE for granted. TELL THEM NOW.

I love you my good friends who read this blog and care for me... I appriciate you for your sweet kind ways and I want you to know you are important to me each and every day. I love you.

Darla

DRIVER: "Slow down and let me off the ride..."

I keep thinking things will settle down. The big move. The kids new school. Changes in routine. So on and so forth. Sometimes I feel like I am on one of those twirly whirly rides at the amusement park that goes around....and around.... so fast, so dizzy. JEZZZZZZ SLOW DOWN!
However, I have discovered *I* am the driver! What a reality check! I need to slow it down, reschedule, reevaluate my time. Me. 100% me. Wow....so, now I have no one to blame but myself I guess I can quit with the excuses and make a better game plan? Hmmm

OK so, since the move, I have made a priority of the housework, somewhat of a schedule for cleaning and I (if I say so myself) feel really good about that. I have never kept such a clean house. 6 weeks of clean dishes, made beds... caught up laundry?! WHERE IS DARLA? LOL
I have also gotten good at my sleep patterns. Going to bed earlier and getting up with the kids and NOT coming home to go back to bed. again...WHERE IS DARLA? Anyone who knows me KNOWS this is SO not me. But these are good changes and I need to stick with them, good routine. So, I taxi kids, I clean house, I sleep well... I am cooking more, spending more time with the kids... what am I missing? Why do I still feel so spread out? Ed and I have not been doing date night on Sat night... no pull there. I have not been going scrapping. No pull there. I guess I just need to squeeze in some ME time and feel more balanced?

OK so if you read this, I totally just had a conversation with my wee little brain and figured something out. I need some play time...for me or alone with just dh?! Is that what I figured out?

yea.... I need off the ride, I am getting dizzy! ROTFLMBO!

EFFER DARES - Sick Puppies - Scrapbook MB Changes

WOW do I have a lot to cover in one short BLOG entry. I will start with the EFFER DARES. OK.
So, these ladies are wild. I thought this would be a fun and funky way to do some really creative art and play a bit more with my own brain. Uhhhh no one told me I would be SOUL SEARCHING when doing this! OMGosh I am just overwhelmed. Taking a breath, a break, a mental breakdown! GOOD LORD they are working my emotions over. I just finished EFFER DARE #5 and basically discovered I hate my body and I love my soul. Hmm. DEEP STUFF.

Sick puppies. Haven't used that phrase in YEARS. But, not the trendy funny catchphrase here. We have a sick puppy. I {think} and I say that with a lot more knowledge than I should, that we gave lil' Libby pup too many treats yesterday and then MOMMY (aka : me) caved to her swooning and gave her steak scraps last night after dinner... uh, ya, scraps with Montreal Steak Pepper Seasoning. OOPS Bad Mommy. So, after 3-4 piddles on the carpet, lack of MOVING all night (had to PICK HER UP ) and take her outside and then a GRUMBLING TUMMY this morning I have concluded lil' Libby needs less treats, more TLC and praise. Lesson learned.

MB changes. OK how to approach this without writing a book? CKMB is changing formats to a more updated version. Many are not happy. Many are already moved to SSMB and having a good time there. (same as old format at CKMB) Many are chatting at Monkey Chat too. All good. I was rarely going to old CKMB anyway, so no biggie. BIG controversy with some. NOT with me. I am sick of some walking on others alllllllllllllllll the time. That is why I faded out to beging with. I am going to post on CKMB before the change and say my peice too. I sat back too quiet for too long. For now, I will continue with my GOOD BUDDIES at Monkey Chat and I will start to post at SSMB too. New beginnings, close of a chapter of a gooood loooong book in my life.

and in the words of FORREST GUMP

that's all I have to say about that.

NEED SCRAP ROOM INSPIRATION! Where to find it?

(CLICK ON TITLE).... This photo inspires me NOT to do this to my area... but (always a but) I am thinking

{PURPLE}

I want {PURPLE} in my sb closet/storage area. SERIOUS business here, I want {PURPLE} . What else says "DARLALOU" more than the color {PURPLE}?

OK so we moved into this great new house, I am loving it, even enjoying have my scrappy 'stuff' in a closet (out of kiddies hands and sight) and even though I dont' have a whole room to myself this is better because the old office was not enclosed and ANYONE and EVERYONE got to see all my messy stuff!

HOWEVER...

I don't want to have messy stuff. Right now I sort of have things set in the closet, made to fit wherever they would for now, just to get them out of boxes. Can't have the precious goods in boxes in the garage can we? LOL So I am browsing around for ideas and insperation for my lil' corner of the world and I know I can't have THIS ROOM:

http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=660137

...but aren't I entitled to something a wee bit fun and stylish? So, tommorrow I am going on a quest for CHEAP (aka inexpensive) storage...baskets, jars, plastic bins and so forth to decorate and spruce up in a {purple-ish} sort of way and then this weekend I am going to see if I can't make this lil' corner of the world more DARLALOU-LIKE...

AM I JUST NUTS?

First it is EfferDares
then it is my PINK phone
now it is a {PURPLE} scrappy space
oh, and organization? WHAT THE HECK?

{PURPLE} that is what I want.

A couple of kudos and misc info to share...

First off, THANK YOU to Robin/ ribinscraps for adding these photos to my blog for me, I WILL figure it out eventually. Baby steps, that is all it is for me, just baby steps. I WILL LEARN.

Secondly, the LO I did of Robin and her boys is indeed special to me but let me tell you, Robin took that photo of herself and her boys and did a FANTABULOUS job of it! She IS amazing! I love her photos and she does such an awesome job....really has an eye for it!

And lastly, I am hoping to get some new, better pix of our new doggie up on here soon. My camera battery done did died on me and I need to find the charger! So, eventually you'll all see "MISS STINKY FARTS" aka Libby... more close up and personal!

Other than that, I ain't got much to say! OH! If you have NOT checked out Cathy Z's blog today you MUST... it is a VERY GOOD laugh! http://www.cathyzielske.typepad.com

over and out!
darla

A layout I did with a Christmas photo I got from my very talented Photographer friend. She is for hire and does a lovely job with families and kids!

Grandpa and beautiful boy!

Some pics of the new family puppy!!

Being B R A V E

I am going to be BRAVE.
I am going to admit something.
I am going to be 'trendy'.
I am going to be creative.
I am going to have some fun.
I am stepping OUT of my box.

I am going to try the "Effer Dares" and see if it suites me. I need to do soemthing wild and fun and crazy and creative and, well, YOUNG! These gals are so young and funky and carefree and I just LOVE their site http://fortheloveofeffers.blogspot.com/ and I find myself really inspired by their work. Maybe it is the part of me that is longing to be young again? I don't know. BUT I am going to try it. Get my own lil' notebook, get my own list of the dares and just GO FOR IT!

am I going thru an early mid-life thing? oye!

It IS the {little things} that make me HAPPY!!

PINK makes me happy.
A PINK cell phone makes me even happier!
DH GOT ME A PINK CELL PHONE TONIGHT! I am happy....

It is a girl!... And, it is a cute little pink Sanyo scp200 and it is just plain cuter than a skeeters peter cute if ya know what I mean? Gotta name "her" too. She needs something snappy, cute, sweet, fun, princess-like, ya know? If you have any ideas send em' my way!

LEMON in my Diet Coke... and LIME too... they make me happy. Mmmmm ICE cold Diet Coke with LIME... yes, happiness in the simplest of ways.

My new funky age eye glasses make me happy! I feel "HIP" baby! (and a bonus, I can see the road when I drive at night too!) Oh yes, happy eyes, happy me.

and to finish off the list of {little things}

*my minivan makes me VERY happy

*fruitie tootsie rolls make me happy in the wierdest of ways

*spring in the air makes me happy and energetic I might add

*looking up at my jars of BEAUTIFUL scrapbooking ribbon ... overjoyed in happiness

*last but certainly NOT least...my kids playing soccer, tag, light sabers in the backyard, riding bikes, riding the motorcycle with daddy, sweeping the steps, anything outside in the springlike days with my family is complete and utter HAPPINESS for me these days

What makes you happy?

Who STOLE February and WHAT the hell happened to January too?

GOOD MERCY! I just realized that tommorrow is the LAST DAY of Feb?! WHERE DID IT GO? I am totally serious... this new year is literally FLYING by us! Gadzooks! I have, in the past TWO MONTHS TIME, had 2 kids birthdays, moved to a new home, gotten my minivan fixed, celebrated a New Year and Valentines, switched my schedule flip x3 and moved my kids to a new school...oh, and a new Church and new neighborhood! HOW did all this happen and I sit here feeling like I "MISSED" two months?? OMGosh... I AM getting old, aren't I?

Things are settling down for us, finally. I will admit, our garage at the new house is literally bulging with boxes of STUFF to go through...sort, purge, dump, sell, something...but they cannot live in the garage. Nope. No garage monsters for us here! Poor DH WILL have his garage {aka: Man-Space} before the flowers bloom!

Well, it is one of those "manic mondays" around here so I am off to shower and freshen up before visitors arrive and then I am back to cleaning, laundry, taxi and so forth! Well wishes to you my friends who ever so faithfully 'check in' here to read about my boring busy life! KISSES!

Darla

HOME sweeeeeeeet HOME!

Well, we have made it. The transition is final, move is done. I finish the final cleaning of the old house today and I will never have to go back! YES! 10 points for the good guys! hee hee

Honestly, I sitll have oodles of work to do as our garage HERE at the new house is bulging at the seams now with odds n ends and who knows what that needs to be saved, trashed, sold or otherwise disposed of! Lots to do and I cannot let it go because at SOME point (soon I am afraid) dear hubby Ed is thinking he wants HIS garage space for HIS things (GEESH! MEN!) so all these boxes and so forth HAVE to be sorted and dealt with. We plan to have a HUGE yard sale in a few weeks once it warms up and that will get rid of TONS of stuff... stove, dressers, clothes, toys, ect. We normally just drop it all off at the thrift shops as donation but felt we could do a bit of planning and make a small profit so why not do it?!

SPRING is soooo not coming soon enough for me. I am so sick of COLD and wet and COLD and snow and ice and slush and all that IDAHO stuff! I am ready to yard sale and mow lawn and weed flowers and plant veggies. I am ready to play in teh backyard and use our new patio set and have backyard bbq's. I am ready for kids and koolaid and bikes. I am ready for family to come for SOCCER! I just can't get SPRING here soon enough! C'mon Idaho, bring it on!!

OK well, time to get busy on my day. House, laundry, errands, ya know, a Mom's life!? :O)

Blessings until next time and may the SUN SHINE ON YOU! Darla

I AM BACK IN CYBERSPACE...

WOW! What a crazy last few weeks we have had! Amongst other things, I have been offline from my cyber buddies for about 2 weeks now and it has been lonesome to say the least! Well, I am back! DH got the networking all set up and finalized tonight and I officially am sitting at my OWN desk with my OWN puter and my OWN keyboard and my OWN mousie mouse! HOORAY! Now the big project insues...setting up my scrappy area! I do not know HOW ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH I am going to get all this STUFF into one storage closet, but I am sure I will pull it off! ROTFLMAO So, anyway, I am back.

Darla

HOLY MOVING BATMAN!!!!!!

GOOD LORDY LORDY WHEN WILL THIS MOVE BE DONE??

I can say that I never, EVER want to move again in my life! ACK! I am so sick of boxes and cleaning and boxes and trash and so on... worn out I am! We STILL have not completed the move however, we have a whole BUNCH of stuff at the old house that HAS to be done by this weekend (including cleaning) and then I still have a garage full of boxes to unpack and go through at the new house too! What a HUGE undertaking this all was. Thank God for a teenage son who not only is a GREAT helper but also a GOOD kid with LOTS OF BIG MUSCLES! Yeahhh Christopher! I luv ya son!

OK well, figured a quick update here was in order...probably still won't be "back" for a few more days, or a week. Don't miss me too much!

Huggie Huggie Kissie Kissie! xoxo me