DO YOU THINK I'LL NEED TO EXPLAIN...

memories to my daughter, when I show her this?

This is my high school auditorium - in Lincoln, NE. It's being torn down this week.


(you can use your mouse and drag around a full 360° view)

It's smaller than I remember. And brighter. And starker.

The last time I was in this auditorium it was the final day of my senior year. 24 years ago, next month!

I was involved in plays, talent shows, speech competitions, try-outs and performances over the course of 3 years. After every "show" the tradition was to hide your name somewhere in the wings. What started as "hiding" became "decorating", which quickly turned into "graffiti". But it always so much fun looking at old signatures and trying to figure out what name went with what play.

We tried not to get too reckless when adding our names - but it happened of course. Layers upon layers of names and stories and dates and memories!

I just got an email that the Lincoln High School auditorium is being gutted this spring - and a total remodel is underway.

The cool folks at Roundus.com got into the auditorium and took a bunch of their awesome pictures. High-res, high-def, panoramic, yadda yadda - all I know is I sat here and cried looking at the pictures! Because the memories came flooding back.

I remember walking onto stage as a Senior, to emcee Joy Night (our talent show). I walked out to center stage, the spotlight hit me and I FROZE. I know, it's hard to imagine me speechless - but I was dumb-struck for about 20 seconds. I haven't thought about that moment in years.

I thought about the play I was in my Sophomore year - The Skin of Our Teeth by Thorton Wilder. We had a blast. The rehearsals, the costumes, the make-up, the after party. Yesterday I couldn't have told you the name of this play if you asked me - but right now, I can't stop thinking about it!

Memories are great. Because once we have them, they are ours forever.

So they are tearing down the auditorium. The signatures, the scribbles, the dates, the secrets, the whispers. The walls won't be there. The curtains won't either. And hopefully new seating is on order - but the memories surrounding the auditorium will remain. I just hope someone in Lincoln grabbed a few of the cinder blocks. Lincoln High is the oldest high school in the city and the auditorium is original architecture. Think of the tens of thousands of 17 year olds that passed by those bricks!

Thanks for the walk down memory land Roundus.com.
Thanks for the memories Lincoln High School.

And in case anyone finds a black can light with a 180° skirt on it - with "S. Morris '85" scribbled inside of the can - I'd love to get my hands on it!

until then...

MEDALS AND MORE MEDALS...

in the house!

The teen finished up her FFA season last night...and brought home a Silver medal! CONGRATS to her and the high school gang!

Considering they are a team of Sophomores - a silver is pretty impressive. (The gold medalists were from a different high school in the district...and were older!)

This brings her semester medal total to TWO. Her bronze was won at the State Competition for Entomology (that's bugs) and her silver, last night at the District Level, for Parliamentary Procedures.

Yep - I'm raising a FFA girl. Who'da thunk?

Congrats girlie - so proud of you!

until then...

A KISS ON THE CHIC...

rockin' the house this week!

Over at The Scrap Review - I was asked to give a monthly club kit the once over. The club I was assigned is called "A Kiss On The Chic" (the cuter-than-cute name should have clued me in to the fact that I was going to LOVE my assignment!). 

But - I was a bit panicky. I've never bought a club kit. I've never used a club kit. I've never even really been tempted by a club kit. Always afraid I was going to get sent a stack of stuff I never would have bought on my own, or supply "dogs".

Hard to be unbiased when I had all of those preconceived opinions - huh?

Well - enter April's kit! When Miss Laura, owner extraordinaire, sent me her box of goodies I knew I loved her when I laid eyes on the supplies. Anyone who picks that much orange and red SURELY is an awesome chick!

But since it was called "Childhood Boy" - there was also a fair dose of turquoise, blue, white and kraft. I love this kit! Full of Sassafras Lass, Jenni Bowlin, Cosmo Cricket, Fancy Pants Designs and two hand fulls of embellies.

OHMY - was one single Priority Mail box going to change my long-standing opinion?

YES IT WAS!

In one afternoon I easily finished these four pages.

non-kit supplies: orange and green cardstock and my QK Holly alphabet!

non-kit supplies: dark green and orange cardstock, and QuicKutz Oatmeal and Marigold fonts. (I also used some of the UPC barcode off of the Cosmo Cricket paper - that's the little orange and turquoise strip that says "this way for more trouble"...TOO CUTE to toss!)

non-kit supplies: white and black carstock, QuicKutz Honeybee, Chicago and Oatmeal fonts.

non-kit supplies: letter stickers from Scenic Route and Carolees.

And you know why this was easy? Because I cleared off my work surface, grabbed my adhesive, 6 pieces matching of cardstock, all of my QuicKutz alphabet dies and went to town.

I wasn't distracted with digging through piles, hunting for ribbon, picking through buttons or thinking I remembered some paper that I bought a while ago. It was all right there - all went together and was all FABULOUS!

Pop over to The Scrap Review - because we're giving away one A Kiss On The Chic - April Kit to a lucky commenter! It could be you!

In slightly humorous family news - check out the 13-year old's newest t-shirt...

Ignore the disaster area that is behind him...I've been on deadline for the past 3 days!

It's amazing how happy a $9 t-shirt from Target can make this kid! His sister tried to inform him that jr. high girls could be totally unamused with mold-jokes. But that didn't phase him!

You just gotta love a kid with confidence!

until then...

HERE'S WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND JOYOUS...

new year!

Sure, I know it's the end of March - but I've been so busy bloggin' for my "jobs" that I forget to take care of my own!

Isn't there a saying about the cobbler's kid having the worst looking shoes? Yeah - that's me and my blog. I admit it!

My mother reminds me at least once a month though.

So does my husband.

And my daughter.

And Deb.

So finally - I'm here bloggin', and hopefully can start a new routine of doing it more often than once every 3 months!

{I was impressed I remember my password!}

So here are some projects that I've made in the last week or two...just so I can say that I spruced up the place a bit with a fresh pictures...

I'm so into cards lately. Cards with die-cuts, cards with stamps, cards with Copics...cards cards cards. This is die-cut and colored with my Copic markers. Lovin' those things!

More coloring of stamped images. Thanks Terri for letting me borrow your Magnolia stamps - you've convinced me - I'm placing an order this week!

Scrapbook pages with brand new QuicKutz dies. Love these pictures of the kids - taken last December. They truly are superstars in my book!

Another scrapbook page - of the teen. Love this shot of her, and love that she's so excited about that big red "N"!

Had to do a page on this subject - ahhhh - spring time martinis. I make the best, I make the freshest - that's all there is to it! Don't believe me? Happy hour starts at 5:30 here - come taste for yourself!

So I'm blogging all over the place - and much more regularly than I blog for myself!

You can find me over at the Scrapy Land Blog - which is an awesome online store out of Florida. I'm blogging there on a VERY regular basis. I do scrappy challenges once a week, pass on crazy tips and suggestions - and generally try to keep everyone on track to staying crafty!

I'm also a contributing writer over at The Scrap Review - an amazing concept that my gal pal Emilie came up with last year. She gathered a group of awesome scrappers {totally honored to even be associated with this group) and we all pass on reviews and critiques and opinions of all things scrapbooky! This week my article is on kit clubs. Which meant I got to spend last week playing with A Kiss On The Chic's April kit - entitled "Childhood Boy". Loved this kit - loved the supplies - loved the colors and I just so happen to love the pages that I made.

Of course I'm slightly biased. But you'll forgive me - right?

I can't post the pages until they post over at The Scrap Review - but they'll be here tomorrow.

I promise!

until then...

TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT...

has been an


year!

Truly it has...

• travel
  
• family
  
• friends
  
• experiences
  
• memories
  
• goals
  
• achievements
  
• victories
  
• defeats
  
• blessings
  
• grace
  
• promises
  
• trips
  
• plans
  
• dreams
  
• love
  
• life
  
• faith
  
• resolve
  
• kudos
  
• congratulations
  
• product
  
• pride
  
• determination
  
• perseverance
  
• past
  
• future

A virtual scrapbook of a year - in just a few words! I LOVE IT!

Tonight - as we are watching the snow fall in Vermont, surrounded by family - remembering a great year it really boils down to a few simples things.

1. Surround yourself with those you love, and the rest of life will work itself out.
   
2. Love those that are around you, and you'll make memories.
   
3. Remember the good, remember the rest - because together they make up life!
   
4. Love the life you have - because it's the only one you get!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you. May 2009 bring health and happiness beyond your dreams!

until then - - -

THIS IS MY BRAIN...

on any given Monday morning.

This is my brain this morning -


preparing for Christmas week!

(Actually it a Chihuly glass sculpture at the Desert Botanical Gardens...but it's a nice illustration of how I feel!)

AHHHHHHH - how do I get myself so behind in the things that I need to get done.

Oh yeah - it's because I'm a procrastinator. And a slug when it's chilly and cloudy out. And would rather snuggle on the couch with my boy, and watch ELF for the fifteenth time. That's why!

So needless to say...with a billion things to do this weekend all I got done was...

finally got the last of my "100 things I LOVE" custom orders sent off.  WHEW!

Waited for the glass guy to bring over my new pane of glass for the back yard window.

And made yet another batch of peanut-clusters!  (I shared this recipe with Amie, and she did a video - cuz she's cool like that!)

And worked like the dickens to keep the puppy (on the left here) out of the Christmas tree.  He thinks the glass balls on the tree are tennis balls.  And heck, they've been left dangling just at his eye level - who can blame him?

That was about the extent of my weekend.  

Needless to say, the next 3 days are going to be crazy.

But that's okay  - I've always adhered to the saying, "Whatever truly has to get done, usually will!".  I like that - it seems to ring true most of the time!

things to accomplish in the next 72 hours:

• clean this house - UGH

• finish wrapping - UGH

• mail out last of cards (okay ALL of the cards!)

• make sugar cookies because the boy is begging me to

• figure out what I'm doing for Christmas dinner

• shop for said Christmas dinner

• finish up last scrapbooky project

• help set up today for big church dinner project

• serve dinner project tomorrow

• clean up said dinner project tomorrow night

• come home and drink large quantities of Sangria

• play Santa Christmas Eve

• deliver chocolate goodies to friends

• rejoice in the reason behind the holiday

PEACE BE WITH YOU...

PICTURE ME...

throwing myself on my sword.  

Because I don't know what else to do.  Except ask for forgiveness for being a crappy blogger.  A slacker.  A loser.  A boob!

Hah - I just called myself a boob!

BUT I have renewed energy - this December 15th, 2008.  I am no longer blogging for anyone else.  I am 4 weeks post final scrapbook convention of the year.  And I am sitting in the house alone, looking for something to occupy my time.

Oh yeah, and I'm procrastinating big time.  Procrastinating about projects that I have to get finished up.  Finished up very, VERY soon!  Hah...good thing I work best under pressure!

What has  me all excited tonight is the newest QuicKutz release.  I've had my stack of dies for quite some time, and have been enjoying them thoroughly.  The flourishes, the swirls, the swoops.  Oh, and the awesome new alphabet.

Good thing I had some new material to scrapbook over the weekend.  We had family pictures taken last week and got some awesome memories captured.  We used a photographer here in the East Valley, Amy Fraughton, and I could not be any happier...

Me and the boy - LOVE this one

Me and the BIG boy - totally "US"

The whole fam - sitting in my grandmother's love seat/wedding gift.  Love the juxtaposition of antique heirloom and crunchy fall field.  Just like I wanted it to turn out!

Had to do the foot shot - it's so scrapbooky!

Then there's my daughter - the one with the eyes! This picture does it for me - it's captures HER!


And finally, there was the laughter - so glad Amy captured this.  The giggles, the joke, the snorts - I won't soon forget this.  Really, I won't!

So, needless to say, I've been scrapbooking.  Because I have fresh material.  And I LOVE fresh material. But I haven't JUST been working with pictures - I've also been working with NEW DIES. Because - SHOCKER - I also love new dies!

Here is a little thank you card I whipped up - using the new Damask border.  Oh my gosh this die is totally addicting.  This is a card that fits in a business sized envelope (love this size) and the border looks awesome on it.  But it was screaming for some lime green bling - I couldn't resist! (click on the pictures for a close-up peek)

Here is the exact same border, on a scrapbook page.  The openings in the border totally lend itself to weaving something thru it.  This hunk of patterned paper fit the bill.  Which leaves a nice little space for a date.  LOVE IT!

Tonight I've been playing with the new Chandelier die, the other flourish dies, and the cuter-than-cute birds!  But I'll save those for later.  EDITED TO ADD:  finished up this cutie card, and mailed it already.  Glad I remember to take a picture of it because I think it turned out adorable.

The inside of the card says "...light up my life!".

This one was QUICK.  Love it - the flourishes lend themselves to so many cute and easy cards.  Just a hunk of patterned scrap paper, and a solid colored flourish/damask and VIOLA!

I've got about 3 more cards to make before the end of the day.  Oh yeah, and the Christmas cards must go out soon!!!  I think we're pretty close to D-day for those!!

One more thing before I turn in - an awesome Arizona sunset.  This picture is SOOC (straight out of camera).  Taken even, with my little point-and-shoot.

This sunset was breath-taking, in fact the boy came inside and asked me to take a picture of it. You gotta love this kid - I mean we're talking sunsets here!

BIG NEWS coming up.

BIG PLANS happening very, very soon.

BIG CLASSES for 2009.

BIG EVENTS also.

BIG DOINGS over the next few days.

Throw in a couple of BIG SURPRISES and let's just say 2008 is going to wrap itself up very, VERY nicely!

Stay tuned.  Scrappy inspiration at every turn.  I promise!

until then - - - 

GIVE YOURSELF THIS PRESENT...

and realize that it is a true gift!

Friend Stacy started this coolio project and I'd love for you to play along!  When her email showed up in my IN BOX, personally inviting me to play along, I couldn't resist.  This totally makes sense to me right now.  I totally get it (and I could get it done in under an hour...my kind of project!). 

Here's what you do...

• snap ten photos of your life, right now

• compile these photos in a super-cute Bazzill Mono-Mini album.

• keep or carry this album with you (in your desk drawer or purse) for one year.

• promise to glance through the album every time you stumble upon it

• on October 1, 2009 create a scrapbook page about your experience.  (don't worry - I'll remind you - just keep reading my blog!)

The only problem was that our little care packages were supposed to go out last week.  Some of them did and some of them didn't.  Mine is en route.  No package - no Mono Mini.

No worries! - I improvised!  I threw together one of my little "maze books" that I make with one single piece of 12" x 12" paper.  Fast, easy and cute!  I gathered some pictures that I've snapped recently, picked up my favorite journaling pen and reached for some simple scraps that were closest to my work surface.  That's it.

I didn't dig.  I didn't search.  I didn't sketch.  I didn't plan period.  I just printed pictures and did it.  Does that make sense...scrapbook the PRESENT.  Right now.  In front of you.  Not a big deal. Get it done.

Read up on Stacy's blog - her challenge to us is to carry this with us for one year.  Okay - or stick it in your desk drawer or in the center console of your car.  Put it somewhere where you'll see it.  Run into it unexpectedly, and glance through it.  So you'll be reminded about what your life was all about on October 1, 2008.  And why your life is a PRESENT!

I LOVE THIS.  Totally fits in there with my whole 12-of-12 concept as well.  I LOVE IT!

I'm heading out to Hartford, CT this afternoon (got my First Class upgrade...woo hoo!) for the Creating Keepsakes convention this weekend.  Classes, cooler weather, new friends and old ones.  I can't wait.  It's going to be a great weekend.  I'll be carrying this little "RIGHT NOW" book with me!

But meanwhile - my package of Mono Minis is somewhere between Stacy's house and my house.  They should be here when I get back.  Be one of the first ten to leave a comment on this blog post - and I'll stick a Mono Mini in the mail to you!

And come on, admit it, don't you just love getting good mail?  OH HAPPY DAY!

Enjoy today.  Cherish the present.  It's a gift you can give yourself!

PEACE until then - - -

THINGS THAT ARE MAKING ME...

oh so very happy this week!

1.     NEW FURNITURE.


Picked up a huge new set of bookcases/cabinets for the end of my dining room. The piece goes up against my new yellow wall...and I'm just loving it!

Now to get it all filled. Books, photos, candles, seasonal accessories and other treasured pieces. The best part it that those four big doors hide enough shelves to put all of my good dishes and various other "occasional use" pieces. I even have room left over. So happy about that!

2.     FOOTBALL GAMES.

High school football game last Friday - and the marching band ROCKED! After every touchdown the band plays the school fight song, and the baritones always stand out. They sounded great AND yes, this mom is very biased!  Good job sweetie!



(Could you tell my camera battery died? Bad band mom. Bad, bad band mom!)

3.     MORE FOOTBALL GAMES.

The jr. high plays their first interscholastic game today. Needless to say, the boy is very excited!

He'll be starting today's game at center - which couldn't make him happier. Fun watching him be this excited about something. Even more fun watching his progress over the last few weeks. He's slimming down yet filling out, he's got great tan lines and he has a healthy respect for his coach. Good stuff all the way around!

4.     SNACKS.

What is life without good snacks? Brought these goodies home this weekend...


and can't get enough of them. Dipped in Caesar Garlic they are divine!

And then my girlfriend came over this weekend to scrap, and brought these. (I hate her this week!)

If you've never tried these before, and are smart, you won't. If you're a chocolate fiend - then go for it. But don't say I didn't warn you!

5.     FLOWERS.


What more do I need to say? Dear husband knows me. And dear husband knows flowers. (Well, he knows where to BUY flowers.) Made my day, my weekend, and at the rate they are holding up, my entire week! Thanks big guy!

6.     DOGS.


Dogs who are helpful around the house. Very helpful. This is the 7-month old boy (on the left) and the big girl (on the right) helping dear husband change doorknobs on the new furniture. See how helpful they are being? Sitting right up next to him, and breathing on his shoulder and hand. And see how my husband appears to be so content with the situation, and not fed up at all with their behavior for the past 3 hours!

hahahahaha - they were such big helpers I bought them new bowls and bowl mats.


Black and lime green...doesn't really match my kitchen but no one ever said they had to!

7.     LISTS.


The boy has been having a rough time getting out of the house lately, with everything he needs for the day. It's been a struggle - with some good days and some bad days. He decided that a check-list would help him. So he sat down this weekend and typed up his very own list. It's one I'm going to cherish for a long time. I don't know a lot of 13 year olds who would put on their list, as the final thing to do before leaving for school - KISS MOM! Love you dude!

8.     BLOG.

The final thing that made me happy was REMEMBERING THAT I HAVE A BLOG! Decided it was time to catch-up, reintroduce myself and begin the documenting process again. Because I love it. I enjoy it. I just got a bit too busy this summer. But the weather is down below 100° now, and that always breathes freshness into my life! GOOD STUFF!

REALLY GOOD STUFF!

until then - - -

SOME EDIBLE AND DRINKABLE...

goodness to share!

Cuz I'm all about sharing. Really I am. Heck, if you'd have been around last Friday night - I'd have shared all of this, and then some!

Had some girlfriends over last Friday night. They brought their boys along too - but we soon kicked them out for some indoor golfing. Then it was just us. And the fun ensued.

This was some of the goodies we nibbled on - I highly recommend ALL of these recipes!

Blue Cheese Nibblers...she calls them something different, but we decided we liked this name better! And after I took this picture - it was only a few seconds before my basket was empty.


They were heavenly. That's assuming you like blue cheese. And frankly, if you don't like blue cheese why do you bother getting up in the morning?

We also inhaled about a pint of homemade ranch dip. My kids were going crazy. The moms were all moaning. To heck with that Hidden Valley Ranch gobble-dee-guk. I've ruined them. From now on I'm sure this is all that will satisfy them. I didn't even have time to take a picture before pandemonium struck. I didn't use ANY milk in my batch, because I knew we'd be using it purely for dip. And it was just perfect.

But this is some of what we dunked in the delectable dip...


handfuls of my homegrown tomatoes. They are taking over my garden so it was nice to have help in eating up a bunch of them!


And all kinds of crunchy goodies. Breadsticks, flat pretzels and some good flatbread.

OH - you noticed the cocktail sitting there? Have no fear - I was simply saving the best for last!

Susan's Sunset Sangria!

2 tsp. finely shredded lime peel
1 C fresh lime juice (about 12 limes squeezed)
3/4 C sugar
ice
1 750-ml bottle Pinot Noir or Syrah, chilled
1 nectarine, pitted and sliced

In a 1-quart glass measuring cup, combine lime peel. lime juice and sugar; add water to equal 4 cups of liquid. Stir to dissolve sugar. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

To serve, place ice in a 16 oz. glass. Add 2/3 cup of the lime juice mixture. Pouring along the side of the glass, slowing add 1/2 cup wine. Thread nectarine slices on skewers and add to glass.

NOW - I served the first round as written, pouring the wine along the side of the glass, so it makes a nice pretty layer of wine on top of the lime mixture. And that was fine and dandy - until we wanted seconds. And then no one wanted to bother with the fancy service. So I just grabbed a pitcher and mixed the rest up in there! (2 2/3 C of juice mixture and 2 C of wine made a nice sized batch!)

Delish! So totally limey. A perfect summery drink.

The best part? You can make up a batch of the lime juice mixture, and keep it in the fridge in a covered glass container (like a mason jar). And although I rarely do it - wine can be re corked. So you can make these one at a time and a batch of ingredients could last you for several days!

Try it and let me know how you like it! I highly recommend it!

So that was my weekend! Nibbling, sipping, laughing, relaxing, visiting, planning, scheming and bonding. It was simply divine! Sorry you couldn't join us!

Big plans coming up. Dear husband is heading out of town so my mother is coming from Nebraska to hang with us for awhile. Hang on to your hats because this house will be crazy. She keeps talking about cleaning closets, and stripping wallpaper and bricking the patio. I am dreaming of sleeping in late and taking naps on the sofa. I'm sure we'll have a meeting of the minds somewhere in the middle! Definite good times ahead!

hope you have big plans for your upcoming weekend...

until then - - -

SO I FIGURE A TEN WEEK BREAK...

is just enough time to recharge the blog-batteries!

You know, the batteries that get to feeling a little drained. The batteries that come up empty when you try to post something relevant, humorous, creative or thought provoking.

Yeah - those batteries.

But they are full to capacity right now, and I couldn't be happier. Because I have lots of updates.

What brought me out of the blog-doldrums though, was a post by my friend Lindsay. A post that involved questions, answers and pictures. Sounded fun (and I had an hour to kill before summer school lets out).

The How-To:

1. type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr.com search
2. pick an image from the search results
3. copy and paste the URL for each image into fd's mosaic maker

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Susan
2. What is your favorite food? any pasta dish
3. What high school did you go to? Lincoln High School, Lincoln, NE
4. What is your favorite color? lime green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Matthew McConaughey
6. Favorite drink? right now - ice water with lemon
7. Dream vacation? Rome, Italy
8. Favorite dessert? pecan pie
9. What you want to be when you grow up? a totally cool grandma
10. What do you love most in life? my family
11. One word to describe you? lover (of food, of travel, of paper, of old screen door...)
12. My flicker name? semk

The Finished Product:



1. black-eyed Susan, 2. anything pasta, 3. Nebraska school house, 4. lime green , 5. Matthew McConaughey, 6. ice water & lemon wedge., 7. Vatican Museum spiral staircase, Rome, ITALY, 8. pecan pie, 9. a grandma, 10. my family, 11. lover, 12. semk

So there you have it! A few things that you didn't know about me - and some cool pictures to look at! Try it - you end up getting some really weird results from the flickr.com search. It'll totally waste an hour of your time!

My last post was from the top of a mountain. Literally. The family and I were in Show-Low, AZ for the final four days of Spring Break. We had an awesome time...mainly with the snow, good food, good drink and my folks!

But lots has happened since then. Running through the calendar at warp speed...here are the events that stand out:

• friends from Nebraska joined us for four days of Spring Baseball, shopping, and good eats!

• my Aunt and Uncle from Colorado flew in for the final four days of the week, for some sightseeing, resting and relaxation!

• everyone was here for the debut of our newest family member - an 8 week old golden retriever we named Maccabees.

• after 10 days as a family-with-three-dogs, the time had come to let our old boy go. One of the hardest things I've ever had to go through - I'll never forget the car ride to the Vet's office. Not as long as I live. Rest in peace lover boy!

• high school Academic Night - a G.P.A. higher than I knew was possible - so proud of her!

• the teen turned 15 - and is now in countdown mode until she'll be eligible for her driver's permit. Consider yourself warned!

• the Mesa Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention - what a crazy weekend!

• the boy and I head north, with 96 other 6th graders for Science Camp. An amazing weekend - not soon to be forgotten! Reiterated exactly why I love this kid so much!

• high school musical Beauty and the Beast. Blew me away - the talent, the costumes, the scenery. We are so lovin' this thing called high school!

• final high school band concert of the year, and the teen gets the "Above and Beyond" award from the Director. It was surprise so it took me completely off guard. Did the same thing to the teen!

• head to Manchester, NH for another Creating Keepsakes Scrapbook Convention. Great weather, great visit with some family members, and an amazing response from the buying public!

• 6th grade promotion for the boy - so tickled that his teacher had such sweet words for him. Those are the things that make a momma know she's done a good job!

• David Cook WINS! I picked him as the winner from his try-out in Omaha. Seriously, I did! He's got a great voice and a great look. The girls in this house were VERY excited!

• last day of school...my final day as an elementary school mom, and the mom of a Sophomore-to-be!

• am I really old enough to know this many kids graduating from high school? Parties and fun all around!

• the boy and dear husband head to Orlando - for a week of NFL meetings, NHL meetings and family fun.

• had a totally exciting phone call with a scrapbook magazine editor. Teaching classes, doing the on-line thing, getting head shots, writing up emails. SO THRILLED about what lies ahead for me and this scrapbook passion I have!

• my youngest nephew turns NINE. And to think I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday!

• the teen and I enjoy our First Class flight to Buffalo, NY - she's tagging along to work the Buffalo scrapbook convention with me. I think she came away with a new appreciation of what I do!

• my folks celebrated their FORTY-FOURTH wedding anniversary...and their poor-planning daughter forgot to send a card...SORRY MOM AND DAD!

• the teen and I left our mark on Canada as well - we ate, we spent, we took goofy pictures, we got drenched in the falls. A good time was had by all!

• the boy flew home ALONE - because dear husband had to go on to Texas to meet with the Cowboys. For about 30 minutes during that day...all of us were in the air at the same time...ON DIFFERENT AIRPLANES. The teen and I coming home from Buffalo, the boy home from Orlando and dear husband on his way to Texas. CRAZY!

Whew!

I'll try and add some pictures later tonight - because I've got some good one! Really I do. But this just about wore me out!

Big couple of weeks coming up. The head shot thing is freaking me out right now. Oh I can take goofy pictures. I can yuck it up in front of the camera as much as the next person. But serious, posed, professional head shots - not my favorite thing to think about. So I'm stressing, just a bit. But my girlfriend will totally hook me up. And I just know they'll be great. And then I can get on with the more fun parts of class-prep.

I'll keep you posted on class plans as they progress! Really, I will!

Right now - I've got to head back to the airport to pick up dear husband. He's been away from home for ten days. Too long in my book!

So there - consider yourselves "caught up". My mother will want pictures - but that'll have to come later! I've got lots of scrappin' to do in the next 2 weeks, and I'm sure most of my recent shots will find their way onto some new pages!

until then - - -

FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD...

life doesn't seem as daunting.

As busy
As hectic
As full
As messy
As full of phone ringings
As full of emails
As full of laundry
As full of dog hair
As full of travel
As anticipated
As exhausting

From the top of the world everything in my life seems pretty damn perfect.

The fam is in Show-Low this weekend, crashing at our dear friend's cabin. And oh, life seemed to stop racing yesterday morning, somewhere between Mesa and Payson.

Since then it's been the scent of pine, roaring fires, sleds in the snow, cold ankles, good munchies, wonderful walks in the woods, a view that doesn't end, goofy car songs and the feeling of being perfectly at peace with the world!

I love it!

And the best part? Tonight my husband arrives with my parents in tow. Late afternoon flight from Nebraska makes for an evening arrival into Phoenix. Which makes the trek up the mountain a bit long, but it will be worth it all tomorrow.

Tomorrow when we wake up to hash-brown & sausage casserole baking in the oven, fresh brewed coffee and a bowl of delicious fruit. I can't wait.

The kids want to take Nana & Bubba back up to the snow, but being they just left the Midwest, and are really anxious to see the 80 degree weather, not sure we'll be able to talk them into that!

But who knows!

So from the top of the world - - - a Happy Easter Weekend to everyone. I hope you'll be spending the glorious day surrounded by people you love!

until then - - -

INTRODUCING...

the chicks.

All five of them. Currently residing on our back patio. Driving the dogs crazy!

During yesterday's morning weigh-in...


Chicklet...wearing the hot pink leg bracelet. She's the palest of the group. But also the loudest. Man can this animal made noise. And did you know that most of their "cheeping" is done with their beaks closed? So I've already learned something!


Lily...sporting the yellow leg accessory. She seems to be one hayseed short of a full load. Mainly because she seems to think freckles are food, which means I end up getting pecked to smithereens whenever I pick her up.


Meet Kung-Pao. The feisty red-head...adorned with lime green. Remind you of anyone? She's a riot. She is the one that has been selected for "sequestering" from the group. And she doesn't mind one little bit. In fact, she's perfectly content without roommates. Too funny!


and Pollo...in orange. The other red-head of the bunch. We think she is the prettiest, mainly because she is already sporting the most feathers on her wings.


and finally, Puddles...decked out in royal blue. The camera-shy one. The one with the black spots on her back. The one who was the most irate when we put the leg bands on. Step-step-shake leg like the dickens - step - step - CHIRP - shake, shake, shake - step! It was hilarious!

To give you an idea of how small a 4-day old chicken is...


they are super tiny. All weighed roughly 50 grams. Go put a pile of paperclips in your hand and see how light that is. And then imagine it's chirping...and chirping...and chirping. It's amazing that this much noise comes out of bodies this small.

But it's been a fun couple of days. Figuring out how to deal with the group. Keeping the coop warm. Keeping the dogs away from said coops. Sharing the cuteness with all of the neighborhood kiddos. Listening to the squeals of cuteness from the little girls. And learning all there is to know about chicks.

All in the name of science. And an "A" for the teen's Honors Lab Biology project.

Which with the effort and energy the teen and her partner have put into the project already, I'm thinking is a given!

Off to finish weekend chores and to-dos.  Loving the weather today.  Windy and cool!  Which makes staying inside an awesome option!

I just announced the dinner menu for Palm Sunday night tonight. And it was met with a ghastly scream.

Guess no one wants BBQ chicken for dinner. Pasta salad was suggested instead...go figure!

until then - - -

FIVE LITTLE CHICKENS...

in the house!

Oh yeah. Cute, yellow, red, fuzzy, soft, hilarious and loud! Who knew they were so loud. When all five of them cheep in unison it's piercing!



Right now, they know where the food is, they have mastered the water trough, the heat lamp seems to be working...and they seem to enjoy snuggling up next to the towel roll we put against the wall.

So cute! Especially when they sleep...

The teen has her alarm clock set to go off every 2 hours tonight. I'll believe it when I see it, but her intentions are at least admirable!

More chick-news tomorrow.

T MINUS FIFTEEN HOURS...

and counting.


Translation...


the chicks are going to be here tomorrow right after lunch.

1 chicken wire covered dog kennel - CHECK
1 huge box, altered with chicken wire - CHECK
6 pounds of chicken feed - CHECK
2 water dishes - CHECK
2 feeding trays - CHECK
1 thermometer - CHECK
2 heat lamps - CHECK
1 big, huge stack of newspapers - CHECK
14 web-sites bookmarked for quick reference - CHECK
1 digital scale for tracking weight gain - on my to do list for tomorrow

I'm not even going to tell you how much this science project is going to cost me.  I'm not going to mention how many hours the teen has already spent reading, plotting, drawing, planning and organizing.  Won't even point out that we're lining up a chick-sitter for a few days next week.  And we're currently ignoring the weekend forecast for cooler temps and rain.

Because none of that matters.  What matters is that the teen and her science partner are anxious to get started tomorrow.  What matters is that they are both excited about the process of gathering data.  What matters if that the two of them are totally going to WOW their class with their presentation next month.

And the family and I are just along for the ride.

Well, the ride and the mid-day food and water check.


Thanks to dear husband for jumping in today to finish up the "coop building". They're done, they're ready and they're waiting. Couldn't have done it without you. (And If I'd had to we'd have gone the route of an empty Cropper Hopper XL. At least for a couple of days!)

Tomorrow starts spring break here in Arizona. You know what that means for the upcoming week? It means no BBQ chicken on the patio. I was informed that it would be "quite rude".

So here's to the chirping, cheeping, peeping and scratching. That all starts tomorrow.

hahahahaha - just realized that tomorrow is the last Friday in Lent. No meat. Oh the irony!

until then - - -