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!

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?

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!

Try, Try Again

This is, like, the 14th time this week I've tried to sit down and blog. Seems like every time I try, some huge kid catastrophe drags me away from the computer. I get distracted and forget what I was doing on the computer in the first place, and Jack hops on and takes over the computer while I wander off and try to remember what it is I'm forgetting.

I think my new meds may not be agreeing with me.

Here are some things I DO remember about the past week or so...

First, let me show you my newest toy....an exercise bike I found yesterday for $20 at Play it Again Sports! I've been stuck at the same weight for weeks now...not losing any more, but not gaining either. Hopefully, a half hour on this thing each morning will get things moving again. Isn't it CUTE?!


On Easter Sunday, we shared a dinner with my mom's side of the family in Plymouth. The kids loved the Easter egg hunt! Kim and Jim's yard was just full of great places to hide eggs.


A couple days later, we finally got around to dyeing a couple dozen hard-boiled eggs, another beloved Easter tradition. All four kids suddenly decided (as they do every year) that hard-boiled eggs are their new favorite snack.




My newest doll, Aurora Fawn. I'm still working on a cloth and clay fawn for her to hold in her arms. Just have to finish up painting him. She may be my favoritest doll yet!


Here's this week's Lotus Paperie layout:


Last week's layout for the Survivor challenge at TallyScrapper:


And I just love how this one came out, for the current GutterGirlz challenge:


Okay, that's all I can think of for now...today we're packing up to head to the zoo! We bought a family pass for the year so we can go whenever we want for FREE! I'm really hoping that between the zoo, the park and the library, we'll have enough to fill up our summer so we can avoid killing each other. Maybe it's a lofty goal, but I've always been a bit of an optimist.

Alex and Maggie start soccer practice on Monday, so that's something else we're hoping will fill our days. There's been a lot of laying around in front of the TV and playing video games this winter...now that spring is here, it's time to get off our butts and make some meaningful family memories!

Which I will most likely forget within a week.

But that's why I take pictures, right?

Hope you have a wonderful and memorable weekend!

Meet Deidre Clementine!

After adding a few finishing touches, my love-themed folk art doll is finally complete! **Thanks to Kristy C. for helping me with her name...I love it!**

Deidre (meaning "broken-hearted") has had some unfortunate relationships in the past. She was always searching for the love of someone else to make her feel complete. Now she's barefoot and poor, with her grandmother's heirloom necklace as her sole remaining possession of any value. After a string of greedy and hurtful lovers, Deidre has decided to brush herself off and mend her broken heart. And though she's lost her way before, Miss Deidre Clementine is finally on the right path. She's beginning to learn how to love and respect HERSELF.





Deidre is enjoying her time here in our home, but she's feeling the urge to travel and see what this world has to offer. I'll be listing her in my etsy store in the hopes that someone out there will provide her a loving home and the opportunity to heal and grow! I know there's a kind soul out there that would love to care for Deidre through the rest of her journey....could that person be you?

Progress!

Yesterday she was given form and structure...today she'll be given a face! I think I'll get to the painting tomorrow, and give the paperclay a full day to dry. I can't wait to see what she looks like...this is my favorite part!

Before I get started, I thought I'd share some pics from Thursday night. Vikki took Alex & Maggie and their cousins Nick & Hailey out bowling!




Aunt Vikki came in first, then Nick, third place was Alex, then Hailey, and Maggie came in last place. Too bad they don't give out extra points for cuteness!

So, what are your plans this SuperBowl Sunday?

DONE!

Her name is Gwyneth Anisa (which means fortunate companion, blessed and faithful friend), and I absolutely LOVE how she came out!



I'll be making another one of these soon, but I'm in a scrappy mood lately....already finished the Tally Survivor challenge that isn't due until the Thursday after Thanksgiving! Whoot! :)