Memorial Day Weekend

Wow, this was the.
Longest.
Weekend.
Evah!
We packed so much sun and fun into a few short days, there's no way I can fit it all into one post. But am I gonna try? You betcha!

Let's start with Friday. Alex and Maggie spent the night at my mom and step-dad's condo on the lake, so they had a day filled with fun and adventure. I got a call from my grandma letting me know my dad was in town from Virginia, so I loaded up the little boys and went over for a visit! (Rick stayed home cuz he had to work early Saturday morning. Boo.)


Saturday morning was dedicated to housework, so the little boys and I cranked up some Adam Lambert and boogied while we cleaned! We were a little preoccupied, so imagine our surprise when we went to our backyard and saw this...

Our neighbors were having a birthday party! They had asked Rick if setting up a bounce house would be okay with us, and that our kids were more than welcome to play on it...he just forgot to mention it to me! It was like going to the fair...without leaving our yard. The kids loved it!


Saturday night was karaoke at Bowly's (of course), and our kids got to see their cousins for the first time in forever! Alexis, Brock and Ethan spent the night even! I didn't get any pictures of them together Saturday, but I had another chance on Sunday...at Steve and Kelly's first BBQ of the season!

Everybody had such a great time! There was swimming...

The Twinkies were there, and they did some swimming...

And also...swimming! Jack and Jacob were in the pool from the time we arrived until it got too dark to see outside, with only a break to eat and several rest stops for potty time. I'm serious, they were in that pool ALL. DAY. LONG.

There were also a couple of random-partner-draw cornhole tourneys (Rick and I were on a team for the second tourney and got 2nd place!)...

And we ended the night with a bonfire! It was awesome.

I know Alexis and Maggie don't look too excited in this picture, but they were worn out from the pool and the sun...plus, they may have been a little hypnotized by the flames.

And Monday, it was back to Grandma Jo's for a Memorial Day lunch! This time, Rick and the older kids came with us. It was a good visit, and I'm kicking myself for not getting more pictures!

Okay, I don't think I forgot anything...we were just going, going, going all weekend! And it's weird to me that today is Wednesday already...it really feels like Monday for some reason. Maybe my internal clock dedicated to keeping track of the days of the week got too much sun.

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!

Scrapiness

As promised, the pages I completed at the Rally last weekend!

This one was for the challenge over at Dream Girls...we had to use black & pink, lace, and NO patterned paper.


These next two layouts were done using sketch challenges issued by Christine. We had one hour to work with a random sketch picked from a magazine, and another hour to follow a Love, Elsie recipe card. It was a lot of fun! I think I may have gone a *tad* over the time limit though. I was too busy socializing to pay attention to such things as deadlines!



In other news, my dad is in town from Virginia this week to help my grandma set up her new shed in the backyard. I need to clean the house today because I think he'll be stopping by here later!


Oh, and I almost forgot! I just put my first mini-album kit up for sale in my etsy store! This one's called "Taste of the Orient," and it includes Japanese rice paper, some pages from a book written in Oriental characters, and two paper umbrellas. Fun stuff! I'll be making plain mini albums to sell and putting together another kit with an Autumn theme hopefully by the end of this week.


Okay, I need to get off the computer and commence with the cleaning! Ugh. Have a happy Thursday!

Wednesday's Over? Already?

Whoa, I just can't believe the weekend's almost here...again! I realize that Monday was Labor Day, but it amazes me how much ONE day can throw off my week. Of course, that could be because I was accidentally off my meds for almost a week. Ooops! I'm such a procrastinating prescription refiller.

Some things I actually remember from this weekend......

Shopping at a fabulous junk sale on the side of the road in Jimtown! Sorry, no pics of that. :(

Babysitting Elijah!



Visiting with my dad at Grandma Jo's house!


A nice Labor Day get-together at Nikki & Mark's....Mark was home for a few days before heading overseas.



Jacob decided his new favorite game was throwing himself from this little motorcycle.

Emily and our future niece/nephew! (PS~Emily knows that a nephew is absolutely unacceptable.)

AJ was wearing SOCKS with flip-flops!! WTH??

Here he is taking the socks to the car....AJ, I was just kidding! I'm sure socks with flip-flops are totally cool and hip! Really, come back!!

The new baby suitcase, by Craftsman. In stores near you by Thanksgiving 2008.

My new favorite picture of Rick and myself...

Followed closely by this one:

A moment of silence for this spider, killed by a drive-by flip-flop.

All right, I'm off to bed! I started an actual exercise routine yesterday, and I'd like to stick with it! Happy Thursday! :)