THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!

My baby is now officially a Kindergartener. Time flies, and waits for NOONE! I wanted to share some pics. Daddy came home between jobs so he could be there to walk them to class on their first day. Kelly's class is in the new wing. The paint was barely dry, lol. We were so fortunate again for having such great teachers.

Laura

Oh my, the kids have been back to school for a month now. The day before the first day the kids went to "Meet the teacher". They were excited to go and visit their classrooms. It is going very smooth so far. I am still working on Kelly's album. I am only as far as 1st grade and she is entering 3rd. Kindergarten is going great for Jal! She seems to love it!!!! My most embarrassing moment so far this year is she told the teacher I am always on the couch or on the computer. I had to laugh. It is such a Jillian thing to say. Then I was upset because I realized that is what she thinks of me. So now everytime I sit down on the couch I am careful to point out to her that ok now mommy is sitting down to FOLD THE LAUNDRY. Now mommy is sitting down to READ all the papers from the backpacks, etc. I thought getting my work done during the day and spending quality time with them in the afternoon was a good thing. They both have to read everyday so I read to her and log it in. All the while I'm making dinner, doing laundry and chasing my 3 year old around. Or I'm running taxi to Brownies, music class, SAC meetings, or some other social event of my children. There are knocks on the door all the time from the girls in the neighborhood asking to play. I am on the computer alot though. Everytime I get a chance. Bad mommy, lol!!!!!

Newest Scrapbook diddy!!!!! Check it out.


http://www.bigfatbaby.com/index.cfm?action=view&id=13119&scid=0

Scrapbooking SNL Parody

SNL Parody is a must see

This is hilarious!!!! a must see!!!!!!!!!! This was a Saturday Night Live Skit about Scrapbooking!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_duMORCX0EU

Memories, memories, everyone's got 'em!

I'm just trying to get them logged so my children can fondly remember the lazy hazy days of summer!

Here are some pics!

Ok, here are some pics of our cabin, Helen, GA, Jillian picking berries, Daddy and Billy, and our visit to the Cabbage Patch Hospital. It is hot, hot, hot here. If I'm lyin' I'm dyin, lol!!!

We are going to head off to Delonega today and check it out. Will update later.

Laura

Hello from Cleveland, Georgia!!! I am sitting a'top a mountain at a wi-fi hotspot and don't you know I forgot to download the pictures! What fun is an entry without some pics to go with the story? It is pretty here. Windy roads, lots of green and trees! The cabin we are staying in is so cute. The people up here are so nice too!! Nana and Pop Pop are letting the girls spend the night with them and Billy and I are enjoying the peace and quiet at night after Baby Billy goes to bed. We visited Helen tonight. What a cute place. It is all done up like a German village. We walked around and checked it all out. The kids loved the Horse and buggies.

Nana made us tacos and enchiladas for dinner. Earlier we went to the Cabbage Patch baby hospital. What an ADORABLE concept!!!! It is so well done. You walk in and there are babies you can adopt. They have it set up like a hospital. There are babies in cribs, etc. Each one of the kids got a baby and we got to watch 2 babies being born!!!!! Too cute!!!!!!

We hoped to go tubing but the water is too low right now. Maybe it will rain in the next couple of days and we will be able to go. When we first got here, we drove all night and got here very early in the morn. We got to see Nana and Pop Pops beautiful place!!!!! We couldn't check in here until 3 pm so we took a nap for a little bit before coming and getting settled in.

I visited Scrapbook Bugs today. A cute little scrapbook store with the nicest lady. I got a couple things to scrap this trip. She invited me to an all day crop on Saturday. I don't want to take that time away from my family though. We'll off I go to enjoy the rest of the trip.
Scrap your memories!!!!

I am finally finished with the very first section of Kelly's school album, lol. Her last day of kindergarten. Now I have 1st and 2nd grade still to do. She starts 3rd grade this year. I was hoping to have her pages up to date by now. Speaking of school, I can't believe it starts in a couple of weeks.
My newest decision. My neighbor called and asked me if I would watch her son starting on the first day of school until her daughter gets home. I don't know if I can handle another toddler, but I can certainly use the money. Of course, I'm thinking scrap supplies. He is so cute and it would give Billy a playmate.

We set sail tomorrow. Not literally of course. I hope they have internet connection where we will be staying. Whooo! Can't wait until vacation.
Laura

Hello,

I have spent the bulk of the weekend doing laundry. I never knew 5 people could have so much laundry in all my life We are getting ready to go on vacation in GA. We will be staying in a cabin!!! I'm sure I'll have lots of pics to show when we get back!!!

My dh actually found a scrapbook store for me near where we are staying. How cool is that. He must want to go fishing and golfing, haaaaa.

So the scrapbooking world is all a buzz about the new products that are coming out at summer CHA!! I am loving the new Cosmo Cricket line. Check it out at http://www.embellishonline.com/
The wanted collection is my favorite. CHA summer will be held in Chicago July 20-31. It will be hard but I am on a spending freeze for now. I want all that new stuff!!!!!!!!

Laura

Kelly and I went to the Kelly Clarkson concert on July 1st!!!! Whooo. Just mother and daughter. We had a great time. I wanted to share some picks.

Memories are what we create everyday. They effect who we are, what we do, how we think. What is your favorite memory? Maybe its a special Christmas or birthday. Maybe it's your first kiss. Or maybe its as simple as a smell triggering a moment or place from your past. I miss the smell of the salty ocean. If I listen I can still hear the sound of the waves crashing over the seawall. The rythmic heartbeat of the ocean sliding in and rolling out. I can still remember the screams as the roller coaster at Paragon Park would make its decent down that first treacherous hill. I can hear the wood creak and the bar rattle as it flew over each hill and turn. I can remember the stories of the lady who jumped to her death off the top of that first incline. My own mother and aunts and uncles were working there at the time. I can hear the Merry go round and the music being played.
I loved to watch the old folks dance at the Pavillion. I stood on that beach 10 hours a day twirling my whistle, watching to make sure everyone was safe. I'll never forget the guy I chased in the water and out across the street to Casey's. I quess he was trying to comit suicide by drowning himself. He was fully clothed. To this day I know there was divine intervention because I chased him across the street and into that door and knew he was hiding in the bathroom. It was like a co-pilot was leading me right to him. I later found out he tried to hang himself in his cell.
I remember Uncle Sam's and those stairs. So many stairs! There are so many memories. Good, sad, defining.
I can still hear my grandfather play his acordian and everybody singing. I remember skating at Damon Pond in the winter.
Scrap those memories! They are what your children will want to know. However insignificant they may seem to you they will be of such great interest to your children and your grandchildren. It will give them insight into who you really are and what life was like when you were growing up!!!
I challenge you!!!! Spark up those memories and get them written down.
Laura

Hello Scrappers!!!!! Boy do I have a confession for this past weekend. Not only did I go to a crop on Saturday to benefit Breast cancer but I spent the whole weekend away from the kids and hubby. It was so much fun. Don't get me wrong I love my family but it was just what the doctor ordered "if only doctors really ordered this kind of stuff, lol" I am totally rejuvinated!!

I went to the Bonnie B & B on Friday. We shopped and hung out. Then after the crop we hung out some more in the comfort of her quiet, clean, home!!! It was great. She gave me 4 Starbucks coffee cups and some cool books. This was my bday present.

When I came home on Sunday, the house was actually clean, whooo. Then we went to dinner with Mike, Melissa, and Mac and had to go grocery shopping! Oh how I dread that.

I am taking lots of pics and enjoying life!! Oh my, I almost forgot the big news we got today and the really cool thing that happened to me at Dani's crop.

First, Kim my sister in law called today and announced they will be having a baby! We are so excited for them!! She is due in March, whoo!!!

At Dani's crop I won a door prize. It was the Pampered Chef tool caddy thing that everyone uses for cropping. I was so excited!!! Also I entered a page layout contest for two catagories, Photography and School Memories and I won!!!! I was really excited and tickled. I really am starting to break out of my shell and get those pages out there. Winning helps me not feel so silly about it, lol.
Laura

Hello,

The 4th of July was fun! So was the 3rd of July!! I turned another year older and so did America. A group of us went to the Parade. It was soooo hotttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thankfully we had super soakers to keep us a little comforted. We parked at the playground and sat by the street. Got lots of candy and beads. We were at the beginning of the parade so we could take off as soon as it was over to go to a cookout or should I say to GET OUT OF THE HEAT!!! The cookout was nice and relaxing. All the kids played and the adults got to sit and relax a bit. Later we all went outside (neighbors) to watch the fireworks. Of course it was our usual crew and Dubba-D stopped by after the Red Sox game. They lost! I am not too happy about that!!!! The Yankees got smoked too so that lightens the upset just a little, lol.

For my birthday the kids made be Queen for the day and served me breakfast in bed. Oatmeal and toast with peanut butter, very cute!!!!! I got some SCRAPBOOK STUFF of course that my cute hubby picked out all by himself. We also had a cake. My mom took me clothes shopping, whooo!! I rarely shop for clothes because I'd rather spend my money on scrapsupplies, see the top 10 reasons you know you are a scrap addict.

Happy Birthday America. Thank you to all the troops who make our freedom possible.
Laura

Scraplist Challenge #2 from 2Peas

I just couldn't do. I couldn't leave my page the way it was. I will post it tomorrow I forgot to take a pic of it in natural light. Too much dead space up top. I really don't know how people do it? When they do I LOVE how it looks but I just can't seem to do that myself. So I changed it a little by moving my letters up and adding some Prima flowers.

Next challenge has been posted to Lisa(photo above). I think others want to join it. I can't wait to see al the different variations. We have until the end of the weekend to complete it.

Hung out with the kids in the pool today after running errands. I didn't even take pics. Imagine that, my children got to actually enjoy themselves without the crazy lady with the camera looking over their shoulders yelling, "hold that pose", "do that again!" "smile, I said smile" "can't you just sit still for one minute so I can get this picture, Billy, Billy, look at me, Jillian don't look away until the camera clicks, Kelly leave Billy alone and just smile" "Kelly you are old enough keep looking at the camera eventually Billy will look" Uggg poor kids.

I got my Scraprack yesterday!!! Whooo! I am in the process of organizing all my stuff.
I also got my shipment from I Remember When!!!!! So many mail goodies!!! I got all kinds of Jeneva paper on sale! I am going to make up packs and sell them.

I am doing great on my attempt to start to go to bed by midnight. Lets see it's 2:37 am. Have a scrappy day (that was dorky but it needed to be said!)
Laura

I entered a challenge with a friend. We both scraplifted the same layout from 2 peas. It is the one titled "loot". We had to do it fast. It was fun to see what we each came up with. This was a great challenge for me. I usually tinker with a page forever. It felt good to get a page completed. I do have a tough time with the top being so bare. I was trying to keep with the pic we scraplifted from by leaving the blank space at the top. I will probably go back and fix it. It's really driving me crazy. I realize I was being too legalistic about following the challenge exactly. I used to think I didn't scraplift but I do. You just morph off an idea you see and that can still be considered scraplifting.


We went to the movies today to see Dreamer with the kids and some friends. We had a good time and it was great to get the kids out. Tomorrow we are supposed to go swimming in the pool. Yippie! It is a great relief from this seriously HOOOTTTTT SUMMER SUN!!! Ouch it is scortching!

Jillian and Billy
Playin in the pool











Opening up mail from Nana & Pop Pop









More pics!

Confessions of a Scrapbooker

Ok, so I decided I really need to try and use the stuff I have instead of buying more. I think all scrappers try and talk themselves into this from time to time. I actually turned down a road trip to a Scrapbook Store in Orlando tomorrow. I'm really trying. So lets see how long I can pull of my self ban on buying. That would also mean I would have to challenge myself to use what I have so I can buy more. So hmmm, a page, a project a day perhaps??? With three kids home for the summer, can I do it realistically. Hmmmm, maybe a project a week and make myself submit something. Hmmm. It all sounds good for a goal but, OK NO BUTS, I'm having an argument her with myself, lol. I'm going to start there. I project/page a week and I must get over my fears and submit. Ok, its a self challenge. I'm on!!!!

We spent Father's Day at Lithia Springs. We had a picnic then took a walk. The kids played on the playground and had a great time. We put our feet in the springs. It is such a beautiful place.

Later on we went to dinner with Mike, Melissa, and Mac. We had to wait nearly 2 hours to be seated so the manager brought appetizers to our table to make up for it, lol. Mac was having a rough night so Mike and Melissa didn't get to enjoy their meal. It brought back a lot of memories!

On Sunday DH had to work in the evening so we spent the day tooling around. It was a very nice weekend.

My Confession - the whole time I was taking pictures I was thinking about the scrapbook pages I would create for them. I'm sick, sick, sick!!!!

Hello today is Saturday. We are celebrating fathers day today because DH has to work t0morrow night. We were supposed to go hang out for the day at Ft. Desoto park but hubby crashed when he got home from work this morning. My daily confession, it is probably my fault because he tried to wake me up and I didn't budge, so off he drifted after working 21 hours staight. So now it's almost 2 pm and we are trying to come up with something fun to do with the kids to salvage the rest of the day. I'll post what we come up with.

Jennifer Childs the founder of IRW posted photos of the BAZZILL factory. Talk about drewling!!!! Oh what I wouldn't give to fondle all that awesome paper. The possibilities are endless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I need to add that to my list of dream vacations!! Hey, your reading Confessions of a Scrapbooker, afterall!
Laura

My scrap space.

I had an epiphany today. I checked out Donna Downey's web site and she has her scrap room set up in her living room. I was so excited to find this out. I have a very over active imagination and I envision her scrap area being the size of a warehouse. Remember, refer back to you may be an addict if . . . your idea of celebs are . . .Donna Downey, etc. Her room is GORGEOUS and yes it is in her living room!!! Complete with shelves from IKEA but I thought I was one of the only scrappers out there with there scrap space in the LIVING ROOM!! If Donna Downey can do it, I can do it, so no more appologies from me about my living room! Haaa
Laura

Confessions of a Scrapbooker! Ok, I'm an addict. I admit it. Most of us do. You know who you are out there. We know we're obsessed with our craft. We shop, we talk, we get together, we shop, we create, and we shop some more. It not just a hobby, its an addiction. I think the manufacturers out there are well aware of our weaknesses! Show me an avid scrapper and I will almost guarantee there is addiction to it in one form or another.

Here are 10 ways you know you might have a problem

1. Your child falls and scrapes her knee and you are thinking, hold on, I'll get to you after I finish this one last thing . . . on my page.

2. Your phone rings and you are annoyed that it is interupting your conversation on one of your yahoo groups.

3. Your closest friends, or the ones you talk to daily, are somewhere in cyber space.

4. Your idea of a celebrity is Lisa Bearnson, Donna Downey, Stacy Julian, Tim Holtz, Heidi Swapp, Shannon Taylor etc.

5. Your dream vacation would be a cruise or a weekend at Creating Keepsakes University with any and all of the above named "celebrities" . . . or you plan your family vacation around what scrapbook stores are in the area.

6. Everytime you have to make a purchase on something other than scrap supplies you cringe and think about what you could have bought with that money if you could have used it for scrap supplies. You no longer like to buy clothes or food because it may cut into your scrap spending.

7. You wait to bring your new scrap goodies in the house when your DH isn't home so you don't have to make it obvious what you are spending.

8. If you want to name your new dog Bazzill Rathbone, you might have a problem.

9. If you find yourself setting your alarm clock to 3 am to catch Lisa Bearnson's new product launch on QVC, you might be an addict.

10. If everytime you leave your house and your kids come running up to you screaming, mommy don't leave, don't go crapbooking! You just might have a problem!

But the one sure sign to absolutely know, you are a full blown addict, is when you plan to go to the beach just so you can use up some of that cool beach paper you've been eyeing.