Calendar Page

Ok, so I don't really do the whole new years resolution thing but this girl had a cool idea of creating a good habbit or changing a bad one once a month. I would like to attempt to make or purchase something for the house once a month. Something big or something little - just anything - but I'm all the time saying how I'm going to decorate one day. Well, I've been saying that for one day too long! Maybe a new black frame or a clip to display my latest favorite scrap page, or something red for my bathroom - it's painted teal and I'm going to have red knick-knacks in it but so far nothing - not even a red hand towel. Maybe something to organize my bathroom closet so I can get rid of some of the clutter. Oohh! New kitchen curtains. And have I mentioned I really hate to sew. I need to MAKE myself do it but I SO don't want to. Or curtians for the back door. This list could go on and on. But maybe if I break it down to one thing per month it won't be so bad. I think this month I'm going to get a magnet or bulletin board with a nice white frame to go with my nice new MM embellishment center that I got for Christmas. :-) There's a big empty space next to where my shelf is hanging.
Oh, and I think I've decided to collect "M"s. The letter "M" - like this girl collects "A"s. So if you see any cool "M"s let me know.
Other things I'm doing this year - I'm participating in this challenge and so far so good. I'm very motivated to get my name in for the big drawing - and to end up with a nice stack of new layouts to add to my books. Which, I need to go work on the one for today.
Later!

Any goals for the new year? I want to try and have at least 1/2 as much quirky fun as this girl does. I love the cute photos she takes of herself and her random silliness. On one of her pictures she said - today we got up and decided to paint ourselves. Who does that!? Too cute. She had a treasure map "X" on her cheek and her sister had raindrops on her neck & shoulders. And I wonder if she practices those silly faces in the mirror because she always looks perfectly cute & silly no matter what face she's making.

Matthew Quirk #82
Who needs a napkin when you have hair! This must be Matthew's thought process since he wipes his hands off in his hair whenever they get sticky. Yesterday was hot mustard from McDonalds. At least it blended in pretty well with his blonde locks so you couldn't really tell. :-)

246. That is the number of pictures I am uploading from my camera at this moment. I knew I had a ton of pictures to deal with so when we went to Matt's family's I didn't even take any. GASP! I know! Not a single one. Sometimes I wish someone else would be photographer. Keith did for Christmas for me. That was nice.
I was really into Christmas this year. I'm bad to start too early and be tired of anticipating it by the time it gets here, or be stressed out making last minute gifts or something. This year was nice. I was steadily excited, I paced myself with my gifts so everything was done in plenty of time. I created several Christmasie things for me and the house - my advent calendar that I've wanted to do for years, my set of 3 Christmasie wall hangings, my set of 3 dishes decorated with ribbon, thread spools and glittered chipboard letters, and my "daily card" til Christmas thing. I hope all future Christmases will be as pleasant. - Except for the spending too much. ;-)
And so speaking of Christmas, we had a great one. Not everything went as planned but that was ok. I had picture gift tags this year. Yeah, I was on top of things and in the mood this year! The plan was that Andrew would help Madison give out all of the presents THEN he would sit with each family member and they would give them the gifts they had for him. No. He would take a present to someone and proceed to open it. So Madison and I took over the passing out of presents. Mom helped Andrew open and said that he did really good this year taking his time with each gift and not just ripping open one right after the other. Matthew was taken with one of Jaxon's gifts - the Thomas the Tank couch. It was way cool - and WAY expensive. But he got in it and we couldn't get him out - so I just handed him presents while he was sitting there. When he finially got up Jason sneaked it out. Matthew's birthday is right around the corner.
So, the whole opening thing was crazy anyway this year. I was hoping to be the one taking pictures and it being all calm but that stuff is for when the kids are grown. I'll just be thankful I actually HAVE any pictures at all this year because I think there were none taking during the festivities last year.
Got a really cool gift from Dad & Lynn this year. She printed pictures off this disc I gave them last year onto this photo fabric stuff and stitched them onto a blanket. It was truely great! We had a good time over there too. Got to see Brent and his fiance. They are both so adorable - Brook too. Then Christmas day was low-key and relaxing. Went to dinner at Mamaw's, played with toys, watched movies, set up my new scrap stuff. Very nice.
Then Wednesday we took off for Matt's Mom's house. We spent the night! It was our first family overnight trip since Andrew was TINY. They did good until we turned the TV off for bed. Andrew was ready to go home. He was fine though. The next day we visited Papa John. I'm very taken with him. Probably since I was so close to my great-grandfather. Papa John is getting old though. He said he's not walking well anymore and he doesn't hear well. His mind is still pretty good but Matt said he could tell he forgets words - has to think of what he's trying to say sometimes. We did get on a topic he was interested in - stocks. He took me to his computer and showed me some things then sent me an email with more information - then two more the next day! I really wanted to learn about it and it was just nice that he could teach me a thing or two. Now if I will just MAKE myself sit down and read and research NOW so that he will be around and able to answer my questions.
So anyway, nice visit with him, then lunch with Danny & family & Papa Bill & Kaye. Then we went back to Bill's and stayed for a while & let the kids open presents from them. Andrew really enjoyed the Batman stuff - and I was worried since he's been Spiderman-everything here lately. Matthew played with his Gorilla Mtn set for quite a while too.
Today Matt took me to the mall - with kids in tow- but it was very nice. He doesn't often want to do that - understandably. I finially gave in and told him he could get his "old man hat". It does look nice with his coat but it's still old-man-ish. It reminds me of hats Papaw Kilgore used to wear. I got a puzzle that I had wanted at Target on sale - hot air balloons. It was a triangular puzzle which means the pieces are triangled and the outside shape is also. - which means you can't simply pick out the edge pieces like you can a regular puzzle. It should be interesting. We also got one of those puzzle roll-up things too. A must with small children.
Tonight I am back in my routine. Doing bills, grocery store, bath & bed for the kids. Routine is nice after a week off. Matt being home throws my routine off. Which can be both good and bad. Ok, so my 246 pictures are now on my computer. Pray it doesn't crash til income tax when I can get the last few months printed off!
Random verse - this is from my reading today. What's done is done - this is just what popped into my head.
2 Samuel 12:22-23 "While the child was alive," he said, "I fasted and wept, thinking God might have mercy on me and the child would live. But now that he's dead, why fast? Can I bring him back now? I can go to him, but he can't come to me."

So, can you tell I'm a bad blogger. Lazy may be a better word. I think I may have one reader - hi Mom! - so I'm sure no one else is missing my fabulous posts. lol!

Scrap in Style is having their big thing this month. It's pretty cool - the new boutique and all. And yes - I do have a wish list ;-).

I'm thinking I'm going to open an Etsy shop. I'm making some kits for an advent calendar and it's going to be cute and other people may actually want one too. I'm going to do a class at Cropper's in JC but that's a toss up. Hopefully it will be good. I'm also making one for my pastors. What's cool is - I didn't have to ask them for pictures! I just high-jacked their family's myspace sites to get them! Loving that!

So, very excited about Christmas. Did some major shopping last week - mostly for my famliy to my kids. I got them a few things and I have a couple other things in mind I want them to have so hopefully there will be a decent raise coming as of next week - yeah Eastman! Unfortunately since he's in a new department starting Monday, there will be no overtime between now and Christmas. Bummer. He is working on Thanksgiving so that will be a little extra - we'll save you a plate babe! Maybe I'll take him one to work. Yeah I'll do that. Then there's my little mini-job for a bit of cash - $20 for 2 hours of babysitting - oh yeah! And who knows? Maybe I'll make it big with my little kits and class and I'll just be rolling in the dough! lol!

So, loving the new Target. I could live there. Seriously. And speaking of 'seriously' I'm kinda happy that it seems like Grey's is going to save Cali & George's marriage.

Ok so that was random - from Target to Grey's in 2 seconds flat!

Well, I guess that's it for today. Random verse:

Psalms 14:4 (from the Message translation)

Don't they know anything, all these impostors? Don't they know they can't get away with this— Treating people like a fast-food meal over which they're too busy to pray?

I love that translation. I just couldn't get over that the words "fast-food meal" were in the Bible!

I found this on my fav Fashionista's blog and thought it was super cute!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
cocoa civic
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
orange no bake
3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
M.dot
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
blue dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
michelle kingsport
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)
dotmi
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The")
pink the coke
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
brice william
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy)
romance choxie
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names )
gail allen

Just a little fun!

OMGosh. A whole month. No blogging. Bad me! Bad! Ok so let's see. What's up? Umm... the first thing on my mind is that I'm SO ready for help in the wee ones class at church. I had it last week, am filling in for someone tomorrow who couldn't switch so I've got it next week too. Yep, 3 weeks in a row and no church. I've got 2 little kids by myself an I'm just not staying for both services. I don't think it would be good for my patience or sanity.
Ok, so that was boring - what else? Andrew had his first official soccer game today and he actually did pretty good. It was better than practices because he didn't have to constantly focus for a whole hour. They would play 3-4 of them at a time while the rest sat down then switched them out several times. He did much better that way. I can see now that I need to keep that in mind for future school stuff too. I'm a little worried he's going to be ADD or ADHD or whatever. I read this post from Kelli Crowe about her son who has a mild form of Autism and how he didn't fit into the mold. I get that. I think that in the pre-school class he is in now that Mrs. Kirby is able to recognize and cater to that but I'm concerned about the church school next year. I'm still going to go and try it I think but I'm going to keep watch to make sure they're not pushing him too hard to be something he can't be.
Ok next...birthdays. Matt's is Monday and mine is the 29th. He's turning 40! and I'll be 30. I started out planning a party for Matt but due to scheduling conflicts it ended up being ON my birthday. Matt wanted to make it for both of us but I wasn't about to throw my own party. So Mom took over - which was very sweet. I think we're going to do a covered dish thing in the park on Sunday the 30th. I'm anxious for my Scrap in Style Kelli Crowe kit that Mom got for me. Way cool! I'm hoping for a little $$ for some shoes and maybe some October Afternoon stamps. I just discovered these and LOVE them!!! I want SO many of them! Bad news is that they are a new company and I can't find out how to buy them. I'm hoping they'll reply to my email soon.
Very excited for the new season of tv shows to start. SO tired of the junk that's on now.
Well, I have been wanting to teach scrapbooking or be on a design team or something for a while. I just read this and think I may have changed my mind. They were all good tips for someone who wants to scrap for a living but for little ole me who would just like a free kit every month and a little recognition - it seems like some major stuff. I want scrapping to be fun. I'm not good at it when it becomes work. So, I guess I'll be buying my own kit. :-P
I'm ready for fall. It is still SUPER hot and I still don't have air conditioning in my car. Not fun. I really stink tonight after an hour of soccer in the hot sun and driving around with no air. Yuck!
I have 2 other people coming to my scrappy ladies meeting on Tuesday! Maybe more too! I'm having it at Atlanta Bread with no kids. Yummy treats and no kids - who can pass that up!?
I'm working on an album for my Mom's friend Lisa who is leaving the hospital where they work. It's a 7x7 album (I used one of Elsie's square chipboard albums and it was that odd size) and I got 7 pages done at Jenny's tonight! I was thrilled how quick and easy it came together. I'm the type that can make anything hard so when it just fell together I was so happy!
I've did tons of new pages here lately but I'm too lazy to post them here tonight. Check out my new stuff over at Scrap in Style.
I'm very inspired by this. I found it yesterday on ScrapScene. Check out her Etsy too - more examples there. I MUST do one of these! I need to do an album for this lady who adopted at church - maybe I'll do it for her.
Ok, I'm ready for bed. Random verse -

Deut 18-21 Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside you. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorposts and gates of your cities so that you'll live a long time