it has been awhile

Seriously??!!

I have not posted since August?

And here it is the end of October!

oh the shame......

Quick recap since I last posted-

School started for the kids. I was volunteering in the kindergarten room (totally loving it too) when I was offered a subbing position. It was a permanent sub while the school was working out the need for aides with the students. It was going pretty good, minus the part about the house falling apart and me being stressed out. I applied for the paraprofessional position and interviewed but did not get it. Now I am back to being a regular sub with a relatively clean house and able to volunteer with my favorite students the kindergartners!

Also we took an amazingly wonderful fun filled trip to Walt Disney World!! oh my what a great time we had. Cannot wait to go back and do it all again. We did stuff we hadn't done before and probably won't do it again (Expedition Everest) and totally loved Snow White's Mine Train ride!! While we were there, we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. It seemed fitting since that is where we honeymooned all those years ago. And it was fun to share it with the kiddos.

Picture taken at Be Our Guest in the ballroom on our anniversary

Once we got back, I had a card order to make up. My yoga friend wanted some more note cards and I was more than happy to oblige. Here they are.  

I am working on a new owl card and hope to have a couple of sets of them completed by the end of the weekend that I can post. We shall see!! Hopefully I won't be gone as long as last time.

back in time disney 2008 to be exact

Yup I am still cranking through this trip! I am trying to finish up our first day. I have been scrapping out of order so I have some days done and some not and parts of other days almost done. Saying that, I had to face my OCD tendencies and get back to scrapping in order. Feeling better with this way of scrapping this trip. I really would like to have it done before we head back down in October!!

This is when we were waiting for Nana and Papa to join us (later flight) so we checked in our carryons with the hotel and visited the resort.

When Nana and Papa arrived, we headed off to Downtown Disney for lunch and some pre-park shopping. I used PageMaps for both of these layouts. Of course I edit where needed but all is good.

What I have noticed is that many pictures include Kira and not so many of our little guy. Reason for that was he was in his stroller and many times did not want to get out. If he did, he would run off! I would think twice before taking a two year old to Disney. He got overstimulated many times and had MANY tantrums. But we all survived. There are many more pictures of Alex in our 2010 trip so I think it equals out in the end.

because of them

These two are my reason I am so passionate about a new Junior/ Senior High School for Newmarket.

These two are my life.

They have given me a reason to fight so hard on this issue that is facing our town.

I would do and will do anything to better their lives.

That's what makes me a parent.

And right now this momma bear is unhappy. 

The new school article failed- this time. I do not think that it is three strikes and we need to try something totally different. The other school warrant articles were not presented well and were not thought out completely. There will be another school presented again on next years ballot. There has to be. There is no other option left for us.

The nay sayers/ Facebook trolls/ unhappy people in this town are trying to offer an olive branch in the guise of good faith and coming together as a community. With them they are making statements such as 'I would have voted for it without the assembly hall or music room'. No you wouldn't have but if that eases your conscience, feel free to preach away. Another statement is that 'both sides of this issue should come together and talk about what to do'. 

Here I am once again going to draw my line.

We have tried to come together. It is called School Board meetings, facilities meetings, bond hearing meetings, Newmarket Solutions meetings, and town meetings. These people do not make the effort to attend any of these. I get it. It is much easier to sit at home at your computer and vent away (one of my guilty pleasures of having a blog). HOWEVER.... if you truly want to be involved- GO TO THE MEETINGS. Talk to people face to face. Look into their eyes. Listen to what they are saying. Voice your concerns.

My next thought about the olive branch being extended was that it was done in fear. Deep down scared out of your wits fear. This vote was the closest that it has ever been. Almost 50% of the town approved building a new school. That is crazy good news. Seriously!! The Yes voters got out there and in eight weeks from when Oyster River said no to us until voting day- spread the word on the school situation. Correcting misinformation, showing people numbers, and getting people registered to vote. 

EIGHT WEEKS!!

We were ten percent away from getting a new school built! 

The no side saw that. They can see the momentum we have on our side. They have to be able to feel the sense of community that our group has generated. That is why they want to 'talk'. Why they want to discuss different plans on the building. 

Sure we can talk but my demands now are different. No longer does an assembly hall work- I want an auditorium. One that can hold the entire Junior/ Senior High school population at one time. This town is in desperate need of a large meeting space and an auditorium would be a god send. No more deliberative sessions sitting on hard bleachers or in folding chairs for three hours. Seeing a drama production with a decent sized audience, and not having to sit on folding chairs. Hearing and seeing what the students say and do while they are on stage. That needs to be a part of the plans. The new school also has to have a way to be added onto. Newmarket needs to learn a lesson from all of the school situations that have arisen. We cannot make this building too small or unable to have additions. 

I don't think we should pare down the current design in order to appease the no side. We need to educate the ones who were on the fence but leaning to the yes side. 

We were very close- 50% in eight weeks!! 

Imagine what we can do with a full year on our side!

i have finally been broken down

I have agreed with the rest of the family that we need a dog. My hesitation these long 20 years?? The fact that I would be responsible for most of the work. It is just a fact of our lives as the one who would be home more than the others. I had to figure out when I was ready for a new 'baby' in the house. Looks like the time is now.... or at least soon.

While hanging out on Pinterest I found this adorable picture of an Alaskan Klee Kai which is a mini husky breed. Thought he was pretty darn adorable. 

Then I found this picture and knew that this breed would be the dog for us. 

Hubby and I have always wanted a husky but putting an eight foot fence around our current backyard is totally out of the budget and the husky size would not do well with the inside of the house. So these were a great compromise. Once I showed him pictures of this adorable breed he was off to the races so to speak. Lots of internet research and learning for him (and me) which led him to finding a breeder of these sweet creatures in the Boston area on Facebook. Seriously, how did I grow up without Facebook and Google???

On Wednesday night the breeder posted this picture of part of their newest litter. There are two males and one female who are all white- no coloring. OMG!! I totally fell in love. I may have let out an audible squeal of delight at my desk.

Then came hubby's master plan.... let me make contact with the breeder on cost and pick up and such. If I was involved I would have a harder time saying no. That whole vested interest thing. Darn him for knowing me so well. And it worked. We will be the proud parents of a furbaby at the end of April. We get to go meet our little guy when he is five weeks old. I am very excited for that day. oh yeah... so are the kids and hubby.

I think I am ready.

At least I don't have to go to the hospital for this baby.

disney 2008 and the fun continues

 Well look at that... more Disney fun and adventure to be had!!

The top layout was taken as we were exploring the resort. We found the giant Lady and Kira was looking for Tramp and couldn't find him.... until we turned a corner and there he was!! She was so tiny next to those huge statues!!

Yup she is there with Tramp.... you have to look real close at the base!!

Love how she is looking up at Lady! So sweet. I cut the Lady and the Tramp out of a piece of pattern paper I had and then pop dotted it. I used some of the paper at the top (the pink) I used the green to pull Kira out of the pictures!!

Our first experience with the Magical Express.... and we loved it. No driving for this family! Alex stole daddy's hat and was hiding while we waited for the bus to arrive. And then my oh so cute family on our way to the resort watching the video entertainment. The word magical is a rub on that I placed on black paper and then fussy cut out. Took a bit but I really like how it came out.

Remember Newmarket Peeps---

VOTE YES ON MARCH 11TH

february 5

Daddy's birthday. Poor guy had to go out and snow blow the driveway. At least it wasn't a foot but it was still enough! One of those chores I am so happy he does for me.

We got his presents all ready to go while he was working outside.

Cute cake!! Don't mind the leftovers of frosting which equaled part white and part orange frosting. Both of which were homemade just not enough of either to cover the entire cake. It worked and was delish!!

Here's the dining room table... are you sensing a theme yet??

Streamers photographed by Alex. Great angle.

I put up the signs and streamers the day before since he was going to be home on his actual birthday and we couldn't surprise him. He was quite surprised!!

hee hee... more Avenger fun.

On his desk!!

We decorated his chair!! BTW... check out the great Vikings quilt my mom gave to him Christmas 2012! It is so cute. I need to take better pictures of it.

Here are the big decorations! They were way bigger than I had planned on at the store and had to put them downstairs instead of upstairs. It worked though.

I put this on our bedroom door!!

Daddy and his girl.

Daddy and his boy.

Daddy can't believe that mommy is making him smile and blow the candles out!! But he did it.

And as a public service announcement....

GET THE FACTS AND VOTE YES FOR A NEW SCHOOL ON MARCH 11TH!

little bit of disney fun

This was the last page I managed to scrap before I dove headfirst into valentine production. We had a ton of fun walking around the Pop Century Resort at Walt Disney World. As you can see below things are never their real size at Disney!! Poor Kira got stuck on top of a foosball thanks to a lift from daddy!! Her shirt got caught when she tried to drop off and her tummy was stuck!! 

And can you see my family tucked in under that Big Wheel?? That is them!! Even teeny tiny Alex in his stroller. It was a good trip and I need to finish working on it.

But first- the valentines need to be completed. off I go...

disney 2008 layouts

Oh yes I am a bit behind with my scrapping of our Disney trips. But it is so much fun to look back and see how tiny the kids were and remember the fun (and the craziness) of that trip. Kira's second trip and Alex's first. All I can say is thank goodness they are older now. So much easier to do Disney without a stroller or diapers!! Not that I would change the fact we went when we did, but glad those days are behind us.

In 2008, we stayed at the Pop Century Resort which was pretty new at the time. We had a fun time going around the resort when we got there and checking the place out. Disney always makes their resorts more than just a hotel. You have to go exploring and seeing everything!! For this layout, I took an alphabet and cut out the letters to create the top part. The first word on the left page and the last word on the right page spells Kira. When I was taking these pictures she didn't  understand what I was doing, but she went along with me- such a good girl!! This 'keyboard' was at one of the pools.

Cinderella's Castle. We had parked ourselves on Main Street to watch the parade and the fireworks and I was able to capture the changing colors on the castle. So magical and very Disney.

Again, more exploring around Pop Century. I can't believe how tiny the kids were. So long ago.

I snapped a couple pictures of my mom with Kira. Disney roses always smell so good. But watch out for the bees! They like the smell too.

My parents stayed after we had to go back home (stinkers) and my mom FINALLY got to hang with her favorite character Captain Hook. I love these pictures of her with him and Mr. Smee.

Just a tad bit sunny that day. Guess we all could have used our glasses for this shot. The papers I got while at Disney.

Later that day. As you can see, both Alex and I had a change of clothes. I was too hot in the black shirt and Alex had an accident. Still a happy group shot.

More Disney to come, but first I have to work on some valentines. Busy busy me!!

cough cough snarf ick gross

Why yes that has been me since the day after Christmas! I have been stuffy headed, runny nosed, coughing, aching and just plain old miserable. I spent two days laying on the couch doing absolutely nothing. Seriously could not motivate to do a thing. 

Thank goodness the kids were home or they would have been walking to and from school as this mommy was not functioning. It also helped since Kira could be my big time helper and feed me as well as Alex. She did awesome and I am so proud of her.

I am feeling much much better. Unfortunately I gave this head cold to my wonderful husband who was non too happy to receive my gift. I feel bad for him but he is also on the mend now. whew.

Of course we are getting better and are expecting a big old snowstorm Thursday into Friday of this week. oh the joys. We ventured out today to stock up because I was not in the mood to do it tomorrow (New Years Day) or the day of a storm. Been there, done that. Plus it is just going to get colder as the week goes on- brrrrrrr.

Kids go back to school on Thursday. I must say it hasn't been that bad of a vacation for them. There has been minimal screaming and fighting. That could have been because I was so deathly sick and didn't notice, but I'm taking it as they were actually able to enjoy each others company. Yup, I was loving my medicine that made me sleepy and dopey to the real world.

I am working on a small project that I hope to finish up sometime in the new year. Get it?? Since it is New Year Eve and all?? Sometimes I crack myself up. I do have some previous years projects that I need to post for your viewing pleasure as well. Hope to get on those tomorrow.

May you all enjoy the coming new year and the blessings which come with 2014!!

merry christmas from our house to yours

May you all enjoy the blessings of the day.

oh my!! Yes I have returned from vacation and hit the ground running. I can't believe how much time has passed since we returned. I am so sorry to have kept you all waiting for so long. oh the shame.

I need to get back into my office and create. Hoping that time comes soon. Until then, I am going to post a couple of pictures here and some more on my Family site.

On our day of arrival we headed to EPCOT after checking in at the resort. We were ready and raring to go. We went and saw Mickey, Pluto and Minnie and then stumbled onto Duffy (Disney's cruise mascot) Good start to the vacation.

christmas 2008 continues

And here we are again back to Christmas 2008 and all the fun it was. I have a much smaller pile now and am feeling very motivated to continue. Here are the latest two creations.

This layout was so much fun and yet so simple. Love it when that happens. I found the paper in a stack I had and it screamed for these pictures. I used my Fiskars apron border punch to mimic the gingerbread roof for the top of the page and for the top of the journal box. I used some chipboard letters I have had FOREVER! I added stickles and puff paint to the house on the background paper to give it a little pizzazz. The kids look so young!!

This next one I am loving so much right now. I do not want to put it in an album because I will miss it!! Sometimes it just happens. These are pictures I took after Alex got a haircut right before Christmas. You can see the major difference between the page up above and the one below. He ages so much in a few days with the haircut!! I used some Basic Grey papers that I had which worked with the colors in the pictures. Added in some chipboard stars that I covered with paper and inked the edges of. I used my stitching tool from We R Memory Keepers and used some embroidery floss for the sewed border around both pictures. Like I said, I am loving this layout right now.

Have a great one! I am off to make some cards. At least that is the game plan- we'll see how far I get.