Latest Scrapiness and a Recipe!

Been busy lately working with the November kit, Grandma's Attic, from Jen's House of Scrap! Here's what I've made so far...




And this potato soup recipe is from my friend Katie, with just a few small additions...

Creamy Potato Soup
1 32-oz box chicken broth
1/2 pound bacon, crisply cooked and crumbled
1 pound ground sausage, cooked and drained
1 family-sized can cream of chicken soup (or 2 small cans)
1 can creamed corn
2 8-oz blocks cream cheese
3 pounds red potatoes, diced
1 onion, diced
pepper to taste
*********************************************
Place all ingredients in Crock-Pot and cook on low 8 hours.
Top with shredded cheese and serve with cheddar garlic biscuits, if desired.
Enjoy!

Family Picture Success!

It's over. We have achieved the impossible...all six of us made it through a family photo session unscathed and with our sanity intact. (Well, as intact as our sanities were to begin with, that is.) Even the photographer survived, which is no small feat.

These pics are from the Olan Mills website. And no, we didn't order any packages or extra sheets. We'll only receive the first pose, since it would cost an outrageous sum in order to get them all (like, more than we spend on groceries in a month outrageous), and I only wanted the one family pic anyway. But there's some photography studio law that forces them to keep shooting, then try to use their salesmen wiles to get you to buy all 20 amazing pictures for the same low price as a used car. Luckily, I've had lots of practice resisting the forces of salespeople; we've been through the photography studio spiel many times before.

They were all really great shots, though.

I Just Couldn't Stay Away Any Longer...

I know, I know. I'm weak, what can I say? I was trying to ignore the fact that I even HAVE a blog

....but in a moment of weakness, I've decided to return.

After all, who am I to deprive my public?

I'm sure you've all been wandering listlessly through your days, awaiting an update of any kind...just something, anything, from your humble Coffee to get you through your day. And, like the celebrity I am, I've selflessly returned from my sabbatical to grant your seemingly improbable wish.

So what have I been up to, you wonder?

For your convenience, a bullet list:

• Threw a rockin' cool birthday/slumber party for Maggie, complete with personal pizzas, karaoke, and a movie. Have had to suffer through Supermom status ever since.
  

• Got to see my dad when he came up for a visit around Columbus Day, and took the kids to the Pumpkin Farm in Ligonier. Freezing cold, blustery day. Typical. Considered concealing myself in the bed of his truck just before he made the trek back to Virginia, then disregarded plan due to having to go 13 hours without being able to pee.
  

• Got a job (although, I think if you really plan to enjoy it, you can't really call it a J.O.B.) babysitting the Twinkies, starting Monday.

• I'm not even sure what this picture is about. Nothing to do with Halloween, however. But fun just the same.

• There have been multiple doctor visits due to my constant/chronic allergies; so far no miracle cure. I'm currently on an over-the-counter allergy med with decongestant, a nasal spray, an inhaler, and a nighttime allergy medication, in addition to the thyroid pill and dose of Tylenol I take every morning. Might as well add an anti-depressant to the list, seeing as how winter is already breathing down our necks.

• Family pic scheduled for tomorrow evening. Will post results as soon as they're available...will be our first professional family pic since before Jack was born. Timely.

• Listed some new items in my etsy store, and put my folk art dolls on SALE!! Offering a limited-time-post-Halloween sale, hoping to get some Christmas money, since I'm told the children will be expecting presents this year. Typical.

So, lest this blog post be all about ME, what's new with YOU? I've missed blogging, SO much, and will be making the rounds to visit you all throughout the week. Yay! Have a wonderful evening!

Blogger Fairies ROCK

Hello!! It's the blogging fairy here!! Christi has been so very busy here and there and everywhere... and her computer is spooty. It's bit the dust, and she's been using her hubby's computer, which last night, also decided not to cooperate with her...
SO
I figured being the ROCKING blogger fairy that I am, I would bring you all up to date.
She's been busy welcoming new nieces into the world...

and getting new baby rats settled in...

and she's been busy working on scrappy pages...

and the kids have been eating delicious things at fairs...

and she has been accepted into a NEW design team for a kit club!! She's going to be designing for Jen's House of Scrap!!
HOPEFULLY, the computer fairy will get off her arse and bless Christi with some good internets and computer loves... Until then, if you've emailed her, or are waiting for an email back from her, it might be in your best interest to contact her by phone. :)

PS even though this post SAYS that Christi posted it, she totally did NOT. I just have awesome ROCKIN' log in abilities... because like I said. Blogger fairies ROCK.

I'm Blaming My Camera

All summer, I've taken very few pictures because my frikkity camera is the suck. Who can be inspired to scrap or blog with pics that are either grainy or blurry...always?! Unless they're taken in the bright light of day, that is. It's bordering on ridiculous. The thing is really no better than a disposable, except that it can zoom in a little.

Maggie will be inheriting a "new" camera very soon.

I have my eyes on the prize, folks. My new camera awaits...I have but to assemble the money, then ride victoriously to whichever retail outlet offers the best price and claim my boon.

I'd LIKE to sell one of the children and get my camera NOW, but I'll most likely need to wait a couple months until my birthday.

Waiting is the suck.

PS~My trip to Texas was AWESOME...I just don't have any good pictures of it. Yet. Most of the wonderful ladies that were there are sharing their pics, I just haven't downloaded them. (This goes back to my whole procrastination thing for which I'm sure there's a helpful medication I can't afford.)

PPS~School starts in only 2-and-a-half weeks! Whooptie-dooooo!!!

8 More Days...

...til I'm on a plane headed for Texas! I can't believe the time for the Tally Rally is almost here! I've been looking forward to this for months...and it totally snuck up on me. Seriously, eight DAYS?? What on earth have I been doing with my preparation time? Oh yeah, now I remember...

hanging out at the pool with Shyla and our kids. Every. Freaking. Day.

It's a blast. We just can't get enough of it, and I have the best tan I've had in years from basking in the sun for endless hours. Also got the best sunBURN I've had in years, but it's gone now and I really don't like to think of it. Because of the nightmares, you understand.

Let's see, what else have we done this summer? A TON of stuff....guess I'll do a bullet-list.

• I convinced Alex to cut his shaggy mop of hair, and he loves his fresh new 'do.
• Jack made a new best friend, named Aaron, whose back yard is behind ours. Jack is over at Aaron's more than he's at home. They're like peas and carrots.

• We've made several trips to the library, and I finished the "Twilight" series. Loved it. Can't wait for the "New Moon" movie...November 20, baby!
  
• Alex turned 11...we had a pool party for him, of course. And ice cream cake, which was my favorite part.

• Been to several BBQs.
• Got to meet my 3-year-old nephew, Tobias, for the first time. He totally loved me, even gave me a slobbery kiss before they left to attend a wedding, then head home to Wisconsin.

• Visited my Grandma Jo and saw my dad, sister Kim and brother David there.
• Watched all of Season 4 of "The Office"...the DVD set was my Mother's Day gift, and I freaking LOVED it. Can't even tell you my favorite episode, since they were all so super fab.
  
• Finished another folk art doll (Flora Bloom) and listed her in my etsy shoppe, along with Aurora Fawn.

• Took Jack in for his Kindergarten physical...poor guy got 4 shots and didn't even cry. My big boy.
• Rick's taught me a few cornhole pointers and I've done a bit of practicing for the big tournament at the Tally Rally. Hopefully Rachel and I (or "Team Chowder" as we've dubbed ourselves) will be able to win at least one game. Keeping my fingers crossed.
  
• We've been to the pool every day...did I mention that already?

That's all I can think of for now! I've got a LOT of cleaning to do before the week is done...laundry, dishes, vacuuming...not to mention organizing the schtuff I need to take and packing for my trip. Busy, busy, busy....wonder how long I can put off the packing before it's officially considered "procrastinating?" Better not try to find out. Off to pack!

Or at least work on the list of what I need to remember to pack. That counts, right?

Slowly, but Surely...

Starting to feel like my old self again.

I've almost lost the apathy, the trance-like feeling that's plagued me for weeks.

Almost.

Hoping to update my etsy store in the next few days and finish the last 2 projects of my DT term with Lotus Paperie.

Stay tuned, won't you?

Man, I've missed me.

Remember Me?

lack⋅a⋅dai⋅si⋅cal
–adjective

1.	without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: a lackadaisical attempt.

2.	lazy; indolent: a lackadaisical fellow.

I really HATE feeling this way. Supposed to hear the results of my thyroid test soon...I AM working on getting myself straightened out. In the meantime....

Disintegration Project

Happy Earth Day! Found this e-card and had to share. It appealed to my warped sense of humor and gave me a chuckle.


Last weekend, Rachel told me about a blog she had discovered that was forming a group of people together to create art, then leave it outside for 6 weeks or so, just to see how the elements would change the artwork. You could bury your art, submerge it, hang it in a tree, whatever you liked, as long as it was exposed to nature. Did I want to participate? Hells, YES! I mean, what a cool idea!
SOoo, here's what I came up with, basically a piece of cardboard with metal and paper elements stapled to it. Jack helped by coloring some dictionary pages with water soluble pastels, which I then used as the background for the project. Some of those pages are torn and stapled down the side. I just kept adding layers of STUFF until it looked done. Neat, huh? Already the paper umbrella has faded and the pastels have blended....can't wait to see what it looks like around June or so!



(HERE is where you can find out more about the project, and see what others have done.)

Today while the little boys and I were out running errands, Jacob decided he would slay us with a few knock-knock jokes.
Jacob: Knock-knock!! (he shouts EVERYTHING)
Jack & me: Who's there?
Jacob: (thinking) CAR!!
Jack & me: Car who?
Jacob: I DON'T KNOW!!!
me: (pause) You are SO cute!

I'd share the other jokes with you, but since they all had the same punchline, I'm afraid it would seem really repetitive.

Tonight is $2 margaritas with Shyla! Whoo-HOO!! Have a happy Wednesday....now go out and recycle something, walk somewhere close instead of driving, or turn out the lights and electronic equipment for a full five minutes! Let's do something to make our Earth happy today! :)

Wanna See Some Zoo Pictures?

If your answer to the above question was NO, thanks...then you, my friend, have come to the wrong blog.

I've got zoo pics. LOADS of them.

Rick and I each had a camera...I got him his very own for his trip to Vegas last month, and it's so awesome that he's not afraid to use it. I don't have to nag him, or anything!

But before entering the zoo, we had a picnic lunch...it was such a beautiful day!

Okay, I think I should mention that even though Rick doesn't mind taking photos, he doesn't so much enjoy posing for them...

And since the baby tried to run off several times during our picnic, it was a good thing we had brought along his leash.

A lot of the animal exhibits were vacant until after Memorial Day...part of the fun of living in Indiana is that the outdoors are uninhabitable by most living things until at least that late in the year.

But we saw tigers...



...and lions (one of them even gave us a nice, long, barking roar that was really loud and scared several small children nearby)...

We saw camels...

...prairie dogs (um, this picture is obviously of us, but we're totally watching the prairie dogs)...

...we even saw a few different types of monkeys (again, this is us just outside the monkey cage thingie)...

Ah, finding this drinking fountain was apparently a happy moment worth preserving (we were pretty thirsty)....

...and there were some beautiful tulips just outside the exit that were just too perfect NOT to plant our kids in front of in the hopes of getting the ever-elusive shot of all four of them together. (And no, they're not all looking, Jacob has his hand in front of his face and Alex has his eyes shut, but they're all four facing the camera. I count this as a win.)

(I should note here, if you wanted to see zoo pictures with more actual zoo animals, you should check the web and see if one of the monkeys has a blog. There were some framed paintings in the Reptile House done by a chimp...maybe he updates his blog with zoo pics. On this blog, you're mostly going to see pics of my little monkeys, and that's all there is to it.)

In crafty news, I finally finished the baby deer for Aurora Fawn....and after painting it, I think it actually resembles a deer more than a pig/rabbit, which I was unsure of when beginning the sculpting. Didn't turn out bad at all for my first paperclay animal! I'll be listing her in my etsy store soon, then I'll start working on another doll for summer. I already have some ideas, so I'm excited to start!



Happy Tuesday!