Monday, July 27, 2009

What Matters

I have an old album I have never quite finished called "What Matters". The pages are 8x8 and it's all planned out, so I thought it might be a good place to get my creativity flowing...


The base of this page was made at CKU-M ages ago at the Hero Arts class. It has lots of fancy stamping that I never take the time to do on my regular pages. The picture is from last year's birthday wine tasting trip to Sonoma. I sure miss these girls!



This is a page for Mark's family. Photo was taken Thanksgiving 2007. The last time all 5 siblings were gathered together.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

List update

I know you are all just dying to hear how I've progressed on my list from yesterday:

1. Worked out- 1 hour of yoga and walked Pepper
2. Cleaned out both junk drawers
3. Picked blackberries but didn't make cobbler yet.

Feeling pretty productive for the first official day of vacation!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Finally, Summer!


Summer school is officially over, and I am now on vacation.... 5 blissful weeks of sleeping in, working out, scrapbooking(hopefully), organizing.... my mind is spinning with the possibilities.
So I thought I'd make a list of all the things I'd like to accomplish this summer:
1. Work out 5 days per week at least one hour per day
2. Clean off my laundry room counter (I hope there's a counter somewhere under all that stuff)
3. Scrapbook 40 pages of something (anything!)
4. Go hiking at Fern Canyon
5. Have guests over for dinner once per week
6. Start next year's school memory books
7. Get my homework bags reorganized
8. Clean out my 2 worst junk drawers
9. Visit my Granny Millie
10. Pick blackberries and make a cobbler
11. Read 10 books off my "to read" list on goodreads
12. Go to Patrick's Point
13. Take flowers to Grandpa and Granny's graves
14. Figure out how to make a really good pear martini
15. Make an appointment to see the dermatologist

So what are you up to this summer?

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

What's going on around here?

Not much actually....

1. Pepper is rolling around on the rug chasing his tail. He stops occasionally to frantically lick the rug. Ugh!
2. The sunburned boy is drinking his 3rd gallon of milk for the week.
3. The girl has been unusually quiet and mellow. Mark and I are both sure she is up to no good in some capacity. We just haven't been able to catch her at it yet.
4. I had a horrible day at work.... actually I pretty much had a migraine by the time I left at 3:30. (I only get paid until 12:00) but within 10 minutes of being home Mark had me calmed down and my headache went away. He must be some kind of psycho-woman whisperer.
5. I had dinner with my dear friend, Danette. Good conversation, catching up, and making plans.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Rafting pictures





River rafting

For a while now, my sweet sister in law, Ann, has been trying to get us to go on a rafting trip down the Trinity River. I didn't really think it was a possibility because I thought Mark would scoff at the idea. But when I mentioned it, he was all for it. So today we did a 4 hour rafting tour. It was great fun:
with the threat of falling in while paddling frantically
and the hot sun shining on us
and the quiet parts where you can see through 12 feet of clear turquoise water
and a bald eagle flying over our heads
and learning how to paddle
and having our guide be my own school colleague (aka Danger Dave)
and watching Dennis try to balance on the front of the boat
and doing 360's down a fun rapid
and seeing Mason smile right before he jumps in
and listening to corny jokes
and seeing the beautiful "fool's gold" shimmering in the water around your ankles
and watching the kayaks try to manueveur down the category 4 rapid, Hell's hole
and looking at hilarious pictures of us doing our strange manueveur
and drinking two peach daquiris that were so refreshing you had a brain freeze before you realized it.
Yes, it was a great day.
And after these days I always wonder why we don't do these kinds of things more often.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Amazing


It was
AMAZING.
I finally went to a Harry Potter movie and left with a smile on my face. Of course, of necessity, they had to leave out MUCH of the book. It's a really long book. But I was OK with the changes they made. I really loved it. In fact, it was so good, I am having serious urges to dump all current books and pick up #6 again. Mark even liked it. When we got home, he was full of questions and wanted to know lots of stuff about what was going on. He questioned me for ages, but I would not give up any crucial information. I really think he should read the books... not all of them... but maybe starting with #4.
Now, I can't wait for the last book to be made into a movie. I hear it will actually be 2 movies. I wonder where they will break it up? My head is spinning!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Addictions

There are many things that I do everyday. If I am on vacation or something is different, and I don't get to do (or have) these things, I feel weird. Does that mean they are my addictions?
1. Milk at breakfast (either to drink or in cereal)
2. Cherry Chapstick
3. Diet soda with lunch (diet Mtn. Dew is best, but others will do)
4. Playing Zen Bones on the computer
5. Reading something. I have to have something to read when I eat my breakfast, and before I go to sleep.

What are your addictions?

Monday, July 13, 2009

Daily details

1. I am reading Markus Zusak's A Book Thief... It is fabulous. Set in Germany during WWII. Filled with so much odd, delightful imagery...

Listen to this:
"Each night Liesel would step outside, wipe the door, and watch the sky. Usually it was like spillage-cold and heavy, slippery and gray- but once in a while some stars had the nerve to rise and float, if only for a few minutes. On those nights, she would stay a little longer and wait.
"Hello stars."
Waiting.
For the voice from the kitchen.
Or till the stars were dragged down again, into the waters of the German sky."

Or this:
"As was her habit, she stood for a while on the steps, looking at Molching beneath her. The town that afternoon was covered in a yellow mist, which stroked the rooftops as if they were pets and filled up the streets like a bath."

2. I worked out really hard tonight on the elliptical. It took some of my usual hormonal fury out of me, now I feel settled down.

3. We had BBQed roast with lemon marinade, cheesy potatoes, corn on the cob, and zucchini pancakes for dinner tonight. The zucchini was fresh from my Dad's garden.

4. I have a set of math tests from today to correct, and a sample to make of a drawing showing my favorite vacation.

5. I also have to address Kyla's thank you notes from graduation.

6. I forced myself to sit in the sun and read for hours this afternoon. It was so windy out there I had to keep my sweatshirt on, and my hair was blown up in every direction, but it was worth it.

Goodnight.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Is it the Swine flu?

So I have been sick with cold/flu symtoms since July 3rd. Yuck! I tried not taking any medicine over the weekend because I wanted my histamines to do their job, so I was trying not to mess with them. On Sunday night, however, I had 2 drinks and a dose of NyQuil. I slept like a baby... a drunk baby, but still, it felt great to get some rest! Anyway, I started feeling better yesterday and have been medicine free for 2 days now. Oh, and I think I caught it from Kyla, since she was sick the whole week we were in Disneyland. And, she went to the Dr. when we got back and they gave her penicillin, so I'm thinking it's NOT the swine flu. At least, I hope not!

Oh, only 6 more days until the Half Blood Prince opens. EEEEEEE!

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Independence Day


Thanks to all the past and present soldiers out there who have given and contlinue to give all of us regular old citizens here in the USA the greatest gift of all.... freedom.

As for my day, I went grocery shopping and saw an old friend (which was nice). Tonight I may or may not be driving and hour and a half (one way) to pick my son up from a wedding. The jury's still out about whether he will get a ride from someone else. I even offered him $20 if he did, but it's doubtful. So, here I sit with Kyla's germ... my ears crackling, my nose running and no energy. Oh well, I saw lots of fireworks last week at Disneyland.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

California Adventures

So we went to CA Adventures on our second day at Disney. The older kids really had fun that day. We also bought ears for everyone who wanted them.


Here are Kyla, Alyssa, Mason, Amanda and Mark on California Screamin. We had gone on it once already, and it made me pretty nauseous, so I was taking a break. This is right before the ride started.



This is right after the ride started. It really shoots you out there like a shot out of a cannon or something. I just love the expressions on their faces. I especially love how Mark has the exact same smile in both shots. And, of course, Alyssa's face is classic.



Here are the big kids at the 3-D Muppet Show.



Here are Cheryl, Dave, Alyssa, Madi and Livi in "Hollywood."



Alyssa and Kyla in front of their favorite ride.... The Tower of Terror. It was my favorite too. The first time we went on, Alyssa was freaking out, and when the hostess asked, "Are there any last questions or requests?" I thought for sure she was going to jump up and ask to get off. But, she stuck with it, and I held her hand and we screamed our lungs out. When we got off the ride, our hands were covered with sweat. What a panic we were in! It was a blast!

More California Adventures



Here are Kyla and Alyssa looking lovely in their custom Minnie Ears.



Adorable Madi in her Princess Minnie Ears complete with veil.



Cutie Patootie Alivia resting in the road. Alivia chose the same ears as Kyla. Consequently, Kyla did not wear her ears again for the rest of the trip.



Me next to the giant "N" as you enter California Adventures. My feet were so tired from the day before I didn't even care that I looked like a total tourist.