Keen Sense of Direction.....

That is not me.....nor is it my BFF Layni. My husband however with a GPS in hand, we should listen to him. It was a proud day for the letterboxing adventures. We sent team Perry (their last name not my kid) into the woods to find the series of letterboxes we found on the 4Th of July. Pumped them up with all sorts of confidence since we knew they existed, and with specific instructions to bushwhack and not to give up. We also sent Perry (my actual kid) with them for help....(right as if he paid attention to where he was 10 days ago) While they searched for those we had big plans to replace a damaged letterbox in a different part of the same park. Except I left my fancy letterbox I made AT HOME....what the? My only responsibility....good heavens. So after scarfing down a 6" Turkey Sub, Ron and I headed home to retrieve the letterbox. By the time we returned, Team Perry was on letterbox 3 of 5......woohoo the race was on. We dashed into the woods retrieved the damaged goods, placing our newer fancier letterbox in the same spot. Then hightailed it back out of the woods just in time for Team Perry's arrival....ready and willing to search for our newly planted letterbox. It took them all of 10 min. to find it....our mission was complete, but not entirely. There was one more Letterbox to be found, why leave a perfectly good park full of treasures.

(my face is red because it's sun burnt, and from scaling a mountain, I am much more attractive and thinner in person.)

So off we went. We didn't really notice the directions said "steep" hill....holy hell, they should have mentioned you'd be scaling the side of a mountain for God sake! I am way to old and fat to be mountain climbing....but this didn't stop us....lots of heavy breathing. We made it the top, only to find we'd be scaling back down halfway to retrieve the actual treasure. We opted to send someone younger and more in shape after the actual goods, So Ashton retrieved the goods and brought it to the old folks at the top of the mountain. The directions instructed we were welcome to "take a card" if we liked....it was Mormon cards.....with the teenager Jesus on the cover, we opted to leave them for folks who weren't yet acquainted with the teenager Jesus. So now we were left with a dilemma....we were at the top of a mountain after all, which meant we'd have to get down from that mountain to get home. We decided to take a new different route back, one that looked less mountain like, more of a gradual down slope......which was more than twice as long....LOL.....not to mention no idea really how to get out of the woods from that direction. Layni mentioning her keen sense of direction so we "trusted" her....sort of...Ron in the back of the pack with the GPS saying without much authority I might add...."um guys the coordinates say go this way...." Yeah we've attempted to follow those GPS things before only to find ourselves miles from where we needed to be (except we aren't good with numbers either of us, this includes longitude and latitude.) After hiking what seemed miles......it was a much better plan because we came upon some yummy blackberry's. Not to mention a tree with giant thorns, and a killer dog (behind a fence thank God) We finally decided to listen to Ron, and headed left, which took us to the trail that Perry and I got lost on just a year ago....SCORE! I never doubted.....after all I'd been lost in those same woods before. Besides the new route brought us right to our cars!!!

Civic Duty

Thanks to everyone who offered me a Latte or Milkshake....you people suck! I was serving on the Grand Jury. Lots of criminals in these parts see, and they need my opinion! Mega sized migrain going on right now so.....that is all. I'd probably have less of a migrain had someone...anyone offered to buy me a latte.....

Top Secret Mission

I can't tell you what I am doing this week. But it's way more exciting than what I normally do on any given day, and I get to enjoy my top secret mission for a whole week. That is all you are allowed to know. If you'd like details you'll have to arrange a meeting at an undisclosed location, say Sonic, and you'll have to buy me a Banana Pudding Milk Shake. Or a Grande Cinamon Dulce Latte, either of those two things and you might get something out of me. You offer me nothing and you'll get nothing. I'm just saying.

Few folks seem to be concerned about my depression....however brief it was....it is gone now, sort of. Felt a little disconnected I suppose. It's a given, we all have busy lives and I don't get to connect with folks near as often as I used to....whatever I'm over it, it's life deal with it however you need to. I spent money, got a few lattes, and then got my debt card taken away.....so there you go.....it's no wonder I'm depressed. I need shoes, then I'll feel all better.....donations gladly takens seeing as I got no debt card.....I do however have a checkbook! Shhhhh....don't tell!

The Mayer...on TV today...

jmcincy036, originally uploaded by ms. andrea.

It's a good day to be sick. Fancy to-do going on all over the world, called Live Earth or is it Earth Live...no it's Live Earth....I'm sickly so I've been watching it all day....somehow I missed Jack Johnson....who was in Sydney...but I did not miss The Mayer! To create mass awareness for a greener planet, thank God they found some folks other than Al Gore, that dude creeps me out! GO GREEN!

Letterboxing, Webkinz, Outdoor Movie, and 4th of July....Oh my!

How do I fit it all in? Probably why I feel sick now, all stuffy....yuck. So I had been feeling depressed sort of for a few days, tired and just no energy at all. I hate even saying depressed cause it can mean a lot of things for a lot of people, but it is what it is, nuff said. Figured out why, I needed to move. I was much, much happier after a long hike yesterday, when we scored a total of 5 letterboxes! It's great fun to get excersize and have a sense of accomplishment finding all the letterboxes you went into the woods for.

So the P-man got a Webkinz, much like Toontown only cheaper, however just as addicted for me mostly. He takes too long to get money to buy stuff. The problem is I'll go in play a bunch of games build up his money, and he'll get on and spend it on food.....when I want to get a backyard to build a garden.....we're having a problem working together here. LOL.....yeah we got problems.

I am so out of order .....but it's my blog and I can if I want to, no rules here. Last weekend we had a to-do, "Splashfest 2007" if you will. Invited over cub scout fams, with instructions to BYOWG.....Bring your own watergun.....LOL, so they did and had a blast chasing each other with their waterguns. We then watched a movie outside, thanks to my brothers projector DVD player....good times. We watched Nacho Libre.....which the fam and I watched at least 3 more times in the past week....cause it's just that funny!

You've Got Mail....um Everyday!

You've Got Mail....um Everyday!, originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

Holy crazy packages Batman, friends, family, teachers, co-workers and random scrapbooking peeps, went above and beyond the call of duty. The P-man was the hit of Cub World, much to his fathers embarrassment. He got so much loot, I'll be eating candy for the next several weeks at work, and theres still enough for Perry to have at home. He shared quite a bit and still came home with a tote full of candy and small trinkets.

Other than the crazy fan mail. P and Ron had a great time at Summer Camp. I'd choose this adventure over the usual send your kid away without you for a week kind of summer camp over anything. The previous 2 years I got the joy of climbing a hill that nearly killed me on a daily basis, only to be greeted by a sewage plant before getting to the pool. Eating kid size portions of prison food.....this year it was even worse since there was no salad bar....(whats up with that?), sing crazy songs, sweat large buckets, drink large buckets, only to sweat it all off, learn to shoot a BB gun, while laying on a mattress, shoot a bow and arrow, hike to a dried up creek and learn about trees.

Oh but this year it got better....which is why I let Ron go! They got to stay in canvas tents, that smell like an old mans armpit. Sleep on beds made for a 4 year old child upon a paper thin mattress. This would be a spider infested canvas, no zipper kind of tent....no electricity either. Which means no window to close to keep out critters, no electricity to run a fan. Which I had the first 2 years. They did get to go up to Bear Hollow Ridge (I think that's what it's called) apparently it's just for Webelo 1's, it was their special place they hiked to when Webelo 2's were at outpost. Outpost is what will happen next year so you'll have to learn about that then. This year they did less crafty stuff and more scout stuff, like hiking and nature type stuff. Seems once they become Webelo's they've figured this scouting gig out, as in when you put "signs up" (2 figures thrusted in the air is suppose to make all scout shut up) they just stop talking cause that's what you do. Previous years you got crazed grown ups yelling "signs up" so kids will be quiet.....which defeats the purpose, and kind of gets on my nerves. Just sayin.... If you click on the photo it'll take you to the rest of the pictures in a set labeled Cub World Adventure Camp 2007....enjoy and leave comments it'll make Ron happy you care! It's always fun when you leave notes on the actual picture too.

Heres what a 10 year old little boy looks like after 4 days of Cub World Adventure Camp Madness!

I still Got it!

And this photo didn't make it go away. Both Layni and I were intrigued by Johns fancy footwork that he does when he sings. He'd roll out on the side of his foot, or he'd roll it inward, it was totally due to the shear passion he has in his music, thus the reason why he makes crazy faces.


I have this thing for musician who have a lot of passion the dude who played drums for many years at my church Josh, makes crazy faces when he's playing....and he's the most amazing precussionist I've ever seen. So I guess if you are that talented you don't care how you look when you are doing what you love. Man I wish I had those kind of skills!

Until it goes Away

jmcincy049, originally uploaded by ms. andrea.

Maybe I'll post John pictures until the excitement of seeing him live goes away, I still got that "man that was just really cool" feeling so lets continue the John love fest shall we. Calm down I still got mad love for Switchfoot. This is just a new kind of sweet sweet grown up love.....did I just say "grown up"? Wierd.....

The boys are back from camp....complete run down this weekend. In the meantime continue to drool!

Have Mercy!

jmcincy038, originally uploaded by ms. andrea.

Still am unable to verbalize how HOT this man is. Mad skills, and dude can play. I mean clearly this photo...thanks Andrea...displays some amazing passion. Tickets said no cameras. Layni attempted to smuggle in one for J-Tim and had to take it back to the car. So we didn't even try this time. Well clearly the security isn't quite as tight for JM, considering they didn't check. Heck we could have smuggled in a firearm and no one would have known. So folks took awesome pics, and videos....sweetness!

I'd see him again, and again...he was that good...and oh so sexy....

Performance Art

So cool. Play this video. Don't just look at it and be like....another video....play it, you won't be sorry. This dude performed this same thing at SOS this year....AMAZING gift!

Recap of the Recap

So I was so exhausted yesterday after the chaos I call my life. I had told myself I'll skip out on SOS on the friday.....right......until I had a HORRIBLE.....I mean full on crappy day at work. It was like 2 crappy days in a row. The one before was worse, but to have a crappy day on a friday just doesn't seem right. It was so bad that the enemy I had pray'd for the night before, satan used them to get at me and I basically non-verbally cussed them out. Like not to their face or anything but had they been in my head.....oh man....not at all righteous or loving. So I decided since I was getting off early I had time to go home scarf down some pizza say "hi" to my family tell them I love them, and go to SOS. I needed to be blessed by the the chaos and worship. SOS worship is like no other. They baptized 50 kids tonight....that's a whole lot of worship. I got to pray for a group that had been (all the groups were) together all week, and had bonded, and had changed lives, so much so it was their team leader that got baptized tonight....so cool. Because of the 800 teenagers that took over our church this week I swear to you when I walked in on Wednesday night the place smelled like an oldmans armpit.....blech!
Ron's like you love that madness don't you. I mearly stepped into the forrier of the south Lobby on Thursday and was instantly afraid of the madness. I told him you wait another 2 years, you and I both will be taking a week off and "embracing the Chaos" all day everyday for the whole week. I can't wait. God is Awesome like that. I seriously have a Holy Spirit Hangover and I'm leaving for C-bus (columbus) in the morning. Not to mention I need to pack Perry for camp....God help me my life is crazy!


Teenagers will fall into hysterics just at the mention of the word Poop...it's crazy and I saw it happen a few times....wierd.

SOS Recap....

I'll need a day to process....I've lost the ability to form a coherant sentence at this point and I am getting up early for work. Couple points I'll need to remember when I do a recap.

• Mosh pit?
• crowd surfing
• Holy Spirit Hangover
• Prayer Team
• Jeremy Riddle
• Poop
• Old mans armpit
• 800 Teenagers
• I'm 3rd
• Screwed up evil world
• Healing
• crying
• more crying

Ok more on that tomorrow. In the meantime go HERE!

SOS 2007

I'll be here all week if you need me. Promptly passing out Friday night only long enough to run off to C-bus for the weekend. Fueled by Caffeine and the HG! PRAY FOR ME!

Quirky Kids

Ok P started a social skills class at Childrens today. One of the best places in the whole world to people watch is a hospital. A childrens hosptal is even more fun, not the sick kids I wouldn't like that. But the psychology wing is where it's at! Quirky kids are amusing. I know this to be true cause I got one. And a social skills class draws from a whole pool of quirky kids. The ones who are vocal are so cute. I think what I love about them the most is that they are ok with who they are and their quirks and they don't care. If they decide to talk like a robot all the time or a cartoon character all the time they will, and they are completely fine with it. If they decide they are no longer listening to you because they are drawing a picture now, except 1 second ago they were telling you a lengthy story about Ed, Ed, and Eddy....in their world that's perfectly acceptable. (as a PSA...I do not encourage you allowing your child to watch Ed, Ed, and Eddy, they in no way encourage any sort of intelligent thinking what so ever, so if you can at all stop the viewing of any such programing I'd encourage that.) Maybe the fact that I think this behavior is acceptableCould be the reason why my kid needs a social skills class. Man I love to watch people. My apologies to those of you who want to break you monitor now into teeny tiny little pieces. Hee Hee.....I LOVE CHEESE!

I swear I'm not crazy.....

Although my hair is still green. And I am thinking about persuading Layni to retouch it before Monday. I think I am going to make it my summer thing. Or maybe my all the time thing, maybe I'll change colors or something. It is after all a patch of grey, distiguished and not obnoxious, but when it's a different color it makes me unique and fun, so for now it's my thing. Until I get my nose pierced cause I want to, and I'm not sure I can wait until I'm 40 cause that's 2 years away. I might lose my sense of adventure before then.

Another session of Alpha has come to an end. Great mix of women this round. When we combined tables we had all sorts of ages so that was fun. Ton's of lives changed, actually all of them expressed some kind of significant change which is always shocking to me since it's so gradual, the whole time almost every alpha I'm thinking these people think I'm wack they won't be back. Apparently God show's up and speaks through me and they return week after week. It's a bittersweet feeling thinking this will be my last Alpha for a while. I'll miss the connection with folks. I'm naturally an introvert and being an Alpha table facilitator forces me out of my comfort zone in a natural kind of way. Now I am transferring my focus to cubscouts, a whole different world, I'm sure it will be a fun adventure. So this being the last week of Alpha I'm like woohoo freetime.....ummmmm nope. SOS starts on Monday, how'd that happen....my good heavens these people need to start paying me! LOL....just kidding I get paid in Gods love that's for sure, and being able to serve and have fun doesn't seem like it should be legal. Teenagers still scare me, but not as much as they did last year, this year I know what to expect so I feel more ready. And 2 of my Alpha table participants are going to be team leaders so that's super cool, I'm excited to get feedback from their experiences. I'm volunteering EVERYNIGHT cause I am that crazy!!! So pray that my family survives and still loves me when it's all over. I'm prayer team all week except Monday I'm easing my way in to it doing hospitality.....but I'll still need prayer. Pray for the whole week how about that. Considering there was a black out last year the first night and they just had one in the area on Sunday right before the 11:30 service.....UGH....causes crazy chaos when you got several 100 teenagers wandering aimlessly....several thousand adults is a little crazy too. Much prayer please.....

Funny Funny....

That's funny stuff right there. I do not plan to miss this show again. I'm totally watching it next week. Hair is still green. Ron and P are off to summer camp in a few weeks. If you'd like to send camp mail gimme a shout and I'll e-mail you the address.

Headed off on a hike this weekend and scored yet another letterbox. This was a Letterbox/geocache hybrid so we sort of scored twice on that one. Now I feel slightly obsessed and want to find more!

It's Green!!!

I told you it was Green people. Ashton's and Maddie's didn't change color....Maddie did green too, and Ashton did pink. Only thing I figure is my hair was wet, Ashton's was a little damp but not wet, and Maddie's was dry. Maddie did the green so it was obviously mixed right since it worked on me. So Thursday we shoot for round 2 of Kool-Aid hair dying....shall I shoot for more green and greener and not covered up slightly....or another color, say ORANGE? Or maybe pink?? I don't know I kind of like the Green. This batch is very subtle, and you have to look for it, I'd like it to be a little more noticable....thus round 2. Can't wait.

Middleaged Rebellion......

Is middle aged suppose to be hyphenated? Oh thank you spellcheck it does not....I did spell hyphenated wrong the first time. So because I didn't pass LOMA . I feel a little bit like a pissed off teenager and decided to dye a green streak with green Kool-aid. Layni called and said they were doing a streak in Ashton's hair, and did I want to play along? Aside from the fact that at first I saw "Kool-aid" and "Steak" and was excited about experimenting with Lime Kool-aid and Steaks on the grill. Then I re-read the e-mail and was like "Oh totally, perfect rebellion and it'll eventually wash out, I am totally down with that. So Ashton did the whole under part of her hair, pink, and I did the grey patch of hair on the side green. So I sit her with a strip of my hair in tinfoil as I type, and I'll put a dope shower cap on my had to sleep in so as not to get green Kool-aid on my pillow and tomorrow, it'll be some sort of Shrek green. Can't wait.....then I'll get canned and have to work at McDonalds.....sweet.....I know that job, been there done that and with my Shrek green hair, it'll be totally meant to be as part of their Shrek campaign.
So because I didn't pass the stupid test, I don't get to see his Lipness John Mayer, considering I got the "stop spending money lecture tonight", and the failing Loma will cost me $$....unless I threw up one of those "donate" paypal buttons right here on the blog. Except I don't see myself as a worthy charity....maybe John will read my blog, and hook a sister up. We could always wait till the last possible minute and score some already bought tickets off e-bay or ticketmaster, people resell tickets all the time on there.....So if you think you owe me like $50 gimme a call I need the money! Pics tomorrow of my green hair. Ron said um what are you going to do tomorrow if it looks like crap? Good question....probably laugh my butt off. Next I'm piercing my nose.....oh you think I'm kidding?
EDITED TO ADD: I e-mailed John himself sort of begging for free tickets. Like he reads his own mail people.......a girl can dream right? Should I e-mail Ben too?

Studying.....

Really I am. Just a PSA, Poptarts, cancel out the effects of ADD medication. I apologize to any sunday school teacher who may have been stressed out this morning because of my kid. He's got the cute factor going for him so even though he may have been Hyper and unable to sit still or stop humming through his nose, his cuteness made up for him being annoying. He survived, and I didn't even check up on him. I asked him if he missed me and he said well yeah but I didn't cry about it....LOL....
Church was good today. Sort of what I got from it was, "are you living the daily good christian life daily, as a routine, or are you really stepping into all that God has for you on an intimate spiritual level, and allowing him to guide you through every single part of your life? Wow....think about it....like while I'm studying (or not studying) God is right there with me, taking a shower (wierd) he's there....in a deep sleep dreaming about whatever....um there. David talked about it in Psalms 139, I encourage you to read the message version it's good stuff. (or just click on the verse and it'll take you right there.)
If you click the link that goes to the video of the message from today, listen to the 2nd worship song. The other worship leader Charlie Hines wrote that song and I LOVE IT! That's the thing I love about folks who have that gift, they write just what is on your heart, or what you want to say but never have the right words. Here's what I could get....

"I want to lay at your feet
all my pain and all I need
in your place let me sing
Help me find one more way to praise

I want to dance before your throne
I want to jump for joy alone
I want to sing because it's pleasing to your ears
I want to shout for all you've done
I want to hope for things to come
You give me life Lord and I lay it at your feet!"

Seriously does that not perfectly communicate how you feel sometimes, so blessed you are unable to verbalize it. Just saying....now I'm all misty....and so are you!

Weekend Madness....

Might I point out how much I love Costco? I do I love the place, they have everything one could ever need in this world. In an effort to go light-green, cause full on "Green" would be insane. John Mayer spoke of it in his blog on April 26th. I've decided to buy organic stuff, only that which I might find at the Costco. Mainly because, for me that's enough, and I don't want to spend an outrageous fortune on say Sugar for instance. Besides Ron's not so much on board with organic so getting him to get the costco organic goods is meeting me halfway I think. Besides organic is good for the mind. I think Perry's mind is sharper already just from drinking organic milk. Organic is Layni's thing, and John Mayer is her man....cause she thinks he's HOT....If I close my eyes and imagine him sexy, and he just sings the blues and plays the guitar, then to me he is HOT as well. So in celebration of me passing the God forsaken LOMA test I am going to treat myself to see his HOTNESS....along with the everso funny Ben Folds....who likes to use the F word randomly in his singing......which can be amusing when you are in your cube at work. I've not passed the test yet....no studying happened today.....I hope to get disciplined tomorrow and have a full on evening of hardcore studying.....and hopefully your prayers will help....no actually I know they will cause I'm that confident that you people know what you are doing. Theres strength in numbers so even if you don't believe in God pray anyways....and someone will listen....

P's at his first sleepover tonight.....I'm sure he's fine....he's an only child ya know, so yeah...ok he's fine really, I'm sure he's fine. He's got his doodle shark, and his slinky's.....fine...really he's fine. Good Night.

Camping Pics

crawdad catchers, originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

If you click the link "crawdad catchers" you'll get a slide show on Flickr.Too busy to give you a rundown of our fun....but heres some pictures. I'm studying...well suppose to be I wll be in a minute. Once the stupid test is over I'll be back and ready for summer....for real. PLEASE PRAY I PASS THIS THING, I ONLY WANT TO INTERRUPT MY LIFE ONCE WITH STUDYING THIS CRAP!

Gravity....John Love...with Extras.

Still too tired to discuss and post pics of the crazy weekend we had. Full on into the business of life which is just one crisis after another, most of which doesn't even involve my direct family but others around me. Everything from Church stuff to, work crap. Why can't I just not have stuff happen?

Oh and I borrowed Layni John Mayer CD to check out. I know, I know the lips...not much to look at. Put a bag over it and listen to him sing, and it's a whole nother story. Dude is straight talented, makes you feel all warm inside for real!

Did I mention that teenagers scare me lately. My mama wasn't kidding when kids become teenagers their minds are controlled by aliens on mars, I ain't even lying!

Memorial Day Weekend.....OUCH MY BODY HURTS!

Um....seriously, I'm not so sure why I camp and sleep so close to the ground.....for a whole weekend, considering my body is pissed at me right now. The pay off is we had a freakin blast. Happy Memorial Day, I'll post more pictures from the annual camping trip tomorrow possibly Wednesday cause it could take me that long to get back in shape.

P and I took some time to visit the cemetary today, love this moment caught on my camera phone.

God Knows Me!

It's that time of year again, when we join the ranks of other faithful campers and get our camp on at Hueston Woods. Problem is we neglected to secure out spot early like you are suppose to so there are no reservable spots left, dang it. So we hope to get our spot on Thursday and pay for an extra day just to be sure we secure out spot for a weekend of over-crowded camping paradise. Nothing is too small for my God, and he loves me so, I am sure he will hook us up.....besides I had a good God weekend last weekend. Will you send up some words? It's just a campsite so it's not a huge pressing issue, which I am sure won't take up much of his time really.....FOR GOD SAKE PEOPLE PRAY!

Weekend Observations.....

Ok it's been way too long that I haven't had something funny to discuss or an entertaining post to my blog. Trust me I got plenty material this weekend. First of all.....

JUST SAYIN'!

Ok the kid on the right is my nephew Zack, and with his tooth missing. Oh man....if his hair was a little longer and a little bit messier, he could take it on the road and make loads of money. I bet you that Alfred E. Newman loves to talk just as much as Zack too. This boy.....WOW....he's a talking machine, pretty much just about anything....He slept over last night....and he talked until his head hit the pillow.

Over heard this morning while ironing a little girls dress for church:

"At our house sometimes we like to lay in the bed naked......" Don't we all!! I mean occasionally...well we don't normally discuss it.....oh heck we are the naked house, do not come by unannounced!! Just sayin!

That's right a little girls dress....for church....we had ourselves a coed sleepover last night. Normally one wouldn't have 3 children, because 3 is not usually a magic number, except when Perry's involved. Perry is so into entertaining himself, that if theres another twosome, he doesn't care. He enjoys other kids around, but is fine to play by himself with them around, sounds wierd, but it works and it seems perfectly normal.

Oh and heres the girl of the coed madness.

This is Maddie, she's somewhat of a dog whisperer, she can get Kipper to do his tricks, he can sit and give her his paw. She crashed on the love seat, Perry was on the couch, and Zack was on an air mattress on the floor. Everyone went to sleep before midnight, and no one cried for their Mommy's at least not that I was aware of. They had pancakes for Breakfast and Maddie joined us for church....she was really hoping to see people get dunked in the pool again, but no such luck, last time it was baptism weekend.

Perry had a great birthday party. He got what he asked for....not to mention Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends DVD season 1....GOD HELP ME....Cheese didn't show up until season 2, so I don't have much interest in it.

And as if the coed sleepover wasn't enough kid madness I got to enjoy Kylies company this afternoon for a few hours....we had fun with chalk, and hiding the rock.

Much fun was had by many with Aunt Layni's birthday gift. No one at the park was safe from these two.

The weather was so nice this weekend, and I was blessed to kick it with family and friends all weekend.

I am aware of the time....

And I am completely exhausted. Note to self, one should clean house on a regular basis so that when one is having a party it won't take 2 days to get the house presentable. Seriously what I have to go through when having a todo is seriously insane, where does all this crap come from and why doesn't it ever just put itself away??

Plus I waited until after 10 pm to prepare some things for tomorrow....and I still have to wrap a few gifts. So I'm crazy whatever!

3rd graders taking a spelling test are dang cute. Went to Perry's class today to take Birthday treats.....he was completely surprised and could not have been cuter! Passing out his treats. I took small bottles of water, that I had put in the freezer for an hour so they'd be nice and cold. You would have thought these poor children were from Mexico and had never had cold water. They were placing the bottle to their sweet faces and proclaiming....."ahhhh it's cold...." I took chocolate chip mini muffins. Love those instead of the old standard cup cakes.

Too Much time too little to Do....

Strike that reverse it. Holy crap I wasn't kidding when I said May could possibly consume me. End of the school year, big sigh, we made it through another year. Ok P-mans 10th birthday is this weekend, then camping next weekend, and a LOMA test on June 5th.....oh not to mention an Alpha day away retreat this weekend too.....how on earth can I do all that, and study for that stupid test for June 5th God help me!!!

Good Lord I need to go to bed, I don't even have freakin time to blog. Gimme some love people or I could possibly lose it.

Happy Mudersday.....

Mudersday....love me some Mudersday!! At least that's what my card said as it was presented to me in bed with a baby food jar of colorful sand, that I will proudly display on my desk at work. We had a nice day today, time spent with my Mama, just enough time to enjoy her and not hate her....gotta know your limits I always say. Mom's are always lovable, but they seemed to come with a teeny tiny problem I hope I never have. They want to tell you what to do....not realizing you are an adult and you can now make choices on your own. Someone needs to point this part in the parenting handbook out. The part in the Parenting Handbook that says
#57 Once your child leaves your home you can no longer tell them what to do, nor can you offer unsolicited advice.
This seems to be a problem with many parents so apparently they didn't get that far in the book? Ok so to all the mom's in the world who raised their children to be fine upstanding adults.....HAPPY MOTHERS DAY.....and stop telling us what to do we're grown for Godsake!

No More....

I am all filled up on tragedy, and sadness just read some more sad news about some kids, I'm not even going to talk about it, no sir.....no way.....So anyone got any happy news? Anyone? Nothing......I got my eyebrows waxed when I got my hair cut today.....no more big bushes above my eyes or my lip for that matter. She took it upon herself to do both. I think she takes great joy in torturing people really. My face is nice and shiny and red now....and still hurts a bit....OUUUUUCH!

Teenagers are scary creatures. Just sayin'!

Not a Happy One

This makes me cry. I didn't know him, I didn't know his family. I suppose I felt like I knew him from looking at Jen's pages on 2 peas, and reading her blog. His pictures show him with so much life, yet he suffered so much in the end. I wish I knew why these kinds of things have to happen. If it was my child I'm not sure I'd ever recover.

I had a brother (Jeff) who died of Leukemia when he was 4. I was 11 months old when he died. It definately defined the kind of parents I had. As Jen said in her blog squeeze you kids extra long, let them know what they mean to you.



And in some more sad news Tylers not doing well. Your prayers are needed for that little guy. Last I heard earlier today he was having congestive heart failure.


Pull yourself together people I did enough crying for all of us now stop crying and think happy thoughts!!!!!!


Ok some happy news.....ummmm...it's Teacher a Appreciation Week, show you kids teachers some love. I didn't do all the little gifts that were requested of me by a super creative room mother, sorry I can't think about stuff like that everyday...plus I like to do my own thing and I don't respond well to being told what to do. LOL.....so I made a lovely card and sent some other cards I made for the teachers to use.

Overwhelmed....

Is it just this time of year? End of school, nice weather, crazy messy house, too much stuff going on. I don't plan it, I swear it just happens. I try to set boundries, set limits, but I am still OVERWHELMED! Maybe my boundries aren't clear?

My mom says "I don't know why you are so overwhelmed, I had 2 kids, and a full-time job...blah blah blah...." Yeah I know, not helpful. Yeah in the early 80's there wasn't as much oppurtunity to do stuff. Way way way way more stuff in life to do, and you try and schedule it all in cause you might miss something.

Ok so I think I'll clean my house this weekend along with going out to eat for Layni's b-day, going to see a movie at the park with the cubscouts, Spring Arts fair, church, letterboxing, grocery store, shopping for a gift, shopping for a patio set.... (I'm serious I have plans to do all that!) SEE WHAT I MEAN.....why isn't there more than 24 hours in a day??? Can't somebody fix that? And I have a new cricut cartridge I don't have time to play with.

"Mr. Sexton if you Could place Your legs in the Stirrups.....

So I call to check the time of Perry and Ron's doctor appointment. I neglected to write the time down on something that wasn't disposable. The nurse asked me what I was coming in for. I said "I'm not coming in....my name isn't Perry or Ron, I am Jodi why....do they have me down for an appointment. " She said "no it's Ron" and then she starts giggling. She said the reason I'm giggling is because they have him down for a pap and pelvic. Bahahahaha......good luck with that. Oh had I not called. Dr. Koehl would have been in for a surprise. As would Ron since he's never been to this doctor before, and she's a women.

Overheard while camping.....

I am slacking on my blog so sorry....although no one has been yelling yet. Today is May day...guess your suppose to give someone a flower or something. There are no flowers in my yard at all the magnolia tree hasn't even bloomed yet, seems like it should have by now.

Ok so we went camping with the cub scouts this weekend. Many stayed in a cabin which had a loft. The loft had bunks and on night 2 most of the boys stayed in the loft. Perry stayed on the main floor he's not much of a follower, he creates his own space and kind of sticks to it. But many of the boys had Nintendo DS's, and as they were suppose to be going to bed many of them were playing their DS's....which apparently has a chat feature.....(yeah I know scary) they are starting young. So what on earth do 8 and 9 year old chat about? Well one apparently was entering text for a long time, and the one he sent it to was taking forever to read it, to which I heard...."Ben you have to read what I just sent it took me forever to write that...." All the other boys were anxious to hear what he had sent...."what's it say what's it say....." "Um it says....my butt looks big...." That's when the giggling ensued. It's fun to listen to them talk to each other...about Pokemon, spiderman and what not.

SILENCE

Something by Mail....???

Ok so I love Jawbone Radio....one of my favorite podcasts. I had no idea that Len was so talented...seriously I never investigated really I knew he was some sort of artist or illustrator, but I had no idea. And now, I do believe Perry will be watching him draw Monsters for hours. We may no have to pay for art school if Len keeps creating videos, of him drawing. We hope to get a monster during round 2.
So our first 2 Ugly dolls.....I mean Nonsensical Creatures by mail, are almost complete. My friend Heather asked me to make 2 for her girls. I was a bit leery since my artist creates when he wants to create and rarely when you ask him to. Well I asked and he delivered about 6 drawings 2 of which were specifically for the girls. So I hope after I'm done studying for this wonderful LOMA test I have to take on Tuesday, we can crank out some more that can be sold....so gimme a shout if you are in need of a nonsensical creature or a nonsensical bunny.
Oh and it's still Autism Awareness month and my friend Michelle and her son Jason were on the news in Cleveland....funny same place Len and Nora of Jawbone radio live too. Check out Michelle and Jason on the news. Do not give up, that's my motto when it comes to my kid, who is not autistic, but rather quirky, and has many of the same issues some autistic kids struggle with. He's made huge strides this year. Routine is the key. He's growing up, and I think it's time for hormones to start kicking in or something he had his second zit this week, poor kid barely even knows what it is, except dang it hurts, and OUUUUCH....why are you scubbing my face so hard.....he thought it was much cooler to have a "cars" bandaid on his chin than a huge zit....hee hee....I'd have to agree.

A Miracle?

I want God to perform a miracle, and save a little boys life. He does it everyday, so why not for this little boy? I don't know him, have never met him. I don't know his family. I just know that he just turned 13 and he's dying. And that many many women and men in the scrapbooking community all over the world pulled together to do something nice for the family with money and give aways. But what I think he needs the most is prayer. It just seems so unfair, everytime I think about it, it makes me really really sad. My brother died of leukemia when I was a year old, which was 37 years ago. So so so so much more is known now.....lives are saved everyday, so why not one more? Sorry, I just can't stop thinking about him.....God Bless Joey.

Our World

What kind of world do you What?
It's Autism awareness month. As the statistics grow more and more year after year, generally everyones lives are touched in some way by autism, whether it's your child, student, a friends child, someone knows someone. We need to be a world that is more aware! We can and should be doing more. Powerful video HERE.

God Had my Back

I think it was because I apologized....went and saw Nicole. As usual she was off the hook. Man I adore her. And to make it even more fun she's a hometown girl. So she throws in a little ebonics lingo to make me feel right at home. Downloaded some of her new stuff. She is truly a gift from God!

Public Apology

Ok I wanted to apologize for my bad attitude on Sunday. I'm sorry primarily to God. As I've spoken to a few people from church, and read some blogs, come to find out apparently I was the only one in the church possibly (besides my husband) with the bad attitude. So so many people were blessed....God truly show'd up. I was so flippin Grumpy I didn't see him, but he was there. Makes me think about how many times in our lives have we missed the blessing because we allowed Satan to ruin it by embracing a bad attitude? Or we allowed someone to get to us. Finished up the book of Daniel with Beth Moore tonight......OUCH.....my brain hurts. Without that constant weekly study my brain is libel to atrophy. I needed that. I needed that reminder of who I am and that I have a job to do for God, no matter what the cost. A big fat reminder in tonights lesson was the wicked will stay wicked. UGH.....it's so frustrating. How some people don't see the error of their ways. I can put it to them just as plain as day, like continue to live your life this way and it will catch up to you. Or just blatantly hand them some scripture printed out.....to steer them the right way. I did this at work once. I printed off
Philippians 2:14-15 "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." I handed it to most people in my department....for the most part I believe there is only one other Christian in my department....didn't care. I swear people who work in cubical wonderland spend a big majority of their work day complaining about what someone else is or is not doing. Thus the reason I plug up my ears and work being oblivious to the world around me. I do not want to hear it. So my intentions upon completion of Daniel, something super simple, I'm not going to complain at work, and when other people do I'm going to call them out....plain and simple. Is complaining about it going to solve anything or are you just wasting my precious time?
Ok God so my big apology to you is I'm sorry for my complaining about Sundays overcrowding....the overcrowding meant more people could hear your message of salvation and join my team of non-complaining Christians. I believe many did, thank God cause I could sure use their help. Be Blessed!

Happier....

Nothing sexier than a man who cleans.....I'm just saying. My living room is clean, a clean room, and some time to create, has put me in a better mood. Problem is, my designers on strike so making uglies is entirely up to me now....and I'm not as good at design. Look at these horrible creatures. I present to you the Ugly Scout, and Mildred. I might just keep cranking them out and sell some.....so keep your eyes peeled for something you might need in your home to scare off cock roaches.

Happy Grumpy Easter

Ok so I've been trying desperately to find my happy place all day. I'd find it for brief moments only for it to be stolen from me for whatever reason. Could be SATAN.....he's evil like that! He likes to use people to annoy me, strangers, family members, and friends. Oh he's quite crafty.

Like for instance. Church....church on Easter. It's nice people like to show up at church on Easter, and I prayed for them to find God there. But OH MY GOOD LORD, that's a lot of people. Somehow I find myself being slightly annoyed, like where are all these people every other sunday throughout the year? Am I selfish for thinking that? I feel selfish but can't help thinking that way. So maybe I should change my plans for Easter. A regular attendee should have an out on Easter.....and not feel guilty. Or I should choose a serving role I wouldn't normally do and just do that at church on Easter all day long? I guess crowds, packed parking lot, lots of people, grumpy husband, and more crowds= a grumpy me. I think I just need more chocolate.

That's Crisco the ugly bunny we made for Perry's teacher. Oh and I made an Ugly Scout for Perry's easter Basket.....His name is Cletus. Ugly dolls are way fun, maybe I'll sell them to raise money for cricut cartridges.....hummm.....good idea. Stay tuned.

Because I'm Having too Much fun....

And my life isn't interesting enough to be funny right now. So instead I am reliving my college years.

Cool Slideshows

Layni and I excersizing which doesn't happen nearly often enough.

And now you are Hookers....

You're both lucky cause there was the sumo wrestler option!

Cool Slideshows

Perry's Imaginary Friends

Oh, if you go HERE you'll see why the Scraparazzi has been camped out in my front yard all weekend.

Seriously the child cuts everything out! Another reason I miss the little 2 year old in this picture is because he had not mastered the art of scissor cutting. Isn't he precious?

Tired

Man it's been a while since I scrapped till the wee hours with my peeps. But I did this weekend. I didn't take many pics, but the ones I did take rather than create a boring collage like I have been doing. I thought I'd do something a little more fun in the spirit of embarrassing the heck out of my friends. Here's Stacie with her new hairdo! If you click on Stacie's head it should pop up a speech bubble...

Cool Slideshows

And Connie with her Wishblade!

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Dang I love technology!