Pickle Juice

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!!

this is a test.......only a test

Beeep......beep..........beep...............(envision those ugly vertical stripes here)...............

This is a test - a blogging test

I haven't posted in what seems like years, so it is only safe for me to test the waters.

Here's a lightening speed run through since September:

First - - football. This was a hard season to watch. I had to sit (with a closed mouth!) as my third son did not get fair playing time and had to sit the bench. Ugh. So painful. Then, it was a hoot to watch my 50 lb youngest one play. He thought he was big bad stuff.
 

Later this month, my sweet husband & best friend threw me a surprise birthday party. I will post those pics later. They are a hoot!

Once football ended, then basketball for Hannah started. I just love watching this girl play! Their season didn't go as well as last year, but she just loves the game!

Then Halloween - otherwise known as a progressive dinner for kids. I have a rule for the older ones - they can't pillage the neighborhood for candy *UNLESS they wear a costume.

This usually results in them rummaging through the"dress up box" to find some sort of sad get up.........................................................
.......................

the defense rests
 









November - a wedding that we looked so forward to!
Congrats Jim - she's a beaut! We drove to Orlando &
back all in one weekend - we were tired,
but it was worth it!

Going to Orlando got us all excited about
our trip we would be taking to Disney
over Christmas. This would be a first -
we were going to spend the Christmas
holiday *at the park. We have always been
at home. Since I was working this year, we
had a few more dollars to spend toward this
endeavor. Woohoo! So, this brings me to December:

We stayed at the Nic hotel - so fun! It was wonderful!

The first day at the park, I thought Hannah was gonna die - there
was a High School Musical parade - she was all smiles - - - and then
there was Nathan - - he thought he was going
to die for another reason!

So, we went on to some rides, for
everyone's mental health. :)

We went to lots of parks,
but this time we also went to Universal. It was fun - but
we have been so spoiled by Disney for so many years, that it was apparent we weren't in Kansas anymore Toto. Don't get me wrong - it was fun, but it didn't have the *magic*






We even had time to squeeze in a great dinner
at Disney at the Hoop De Do Review - - what fun!

woohoo!!

So I haven't posted in a while - but I will slowly start to revamp with my cryptic woohoo!!

Friday Funny

What's in
your wallet?

Press On Winners!

I wanted to say thank you to those who participated in the Press On challenge. I was blessed by so many stories - thank you for that!!

Kelly Massicotte sent me this page about what matters most Kelly will be receiving a Cosmo Cricket paper pack. Congrats!

Paige Knudsen sent this in and her journaling is **amazing!
Paige will be receiving a signed
copy of Scrapbooking Your Faith by
Courtney Walsh. Since Paige's journaling
is hidden, I will put it here. It is wonderful
I'm sure you will agree!! I'm proud to call her my friend.

This I know...
This past year has been very challenging for me.
I have dealt with some private medical issues that have left me fearful & anxious.
Fear is what can take over my emotions
It can leave me distracted
It can make me feel overwhelmed
Having lost Gregg to cancer 11 years ago, I am well aware that life is fragile~
that we never know what tomorrow holds.
Since that time, I have tried to never take the “everyday-ness” of a simple day for granted.
Many nights when I have felt afraid, when I have felt my heart start to race
I have tried to quote scripture. Maybe it’s my immaturity Maybe it’s my simple faith
But each time, I simply sing the words in my heart
“Jesus loves me –this I know”
I sing it over & over
I repeat the promises
The promise that the bible does tell me so…the bible is full of promises that
He is with me
He is in control
He knows my heart
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong
Yes I am a child of God
I am weak but through my weakness
through my fear
His glory is revealed
Through this weakness His strength will get me through
Jesus loves me-despite my fears-despite my anxious spirit
This I know….

Rita Shimniok sent me a fantastic layout...I loved it, but she now has a good problem - Paper Crafts picked it up, so now I can't show it on my blog. But hey - I thought she should still get a good prize, so Rita will be getting a Daisy Ds paper pack. I'm sure she'll do wonders with it!! Congrats girl!

This layout was sent in to me by Penny Smith. I love it so much! Penny will be receiving a CD by Aaron Keyes. I love this CD - listen to it all the time. :) Since she is too far to visit my church, I felt this was the next best thing! Her journaling was raw. Very healing and therapeutic for her. I had to show it:

Penny's journaling:

"When I think about the Lord, I remember how it is that I came to be in this place. Most people look at a child and see joy. Me too. But it didn't start out that way. It started with a journey to the Lord that had been calling to me all along. A God who despite my sin was calling me home. We adopted a child that did not automatically bring me joy, but through this gift, it was shown to me the existence of a God I had not imagined cared so truly for me.
He brought me more than peace. He brought me back to life. I can never repay a gift so grand, but I can do what I can to glorify a God that cared enough to seek me, care for me, and use me to show others there is joy beyond the pain. And the source of that joy is a God that has know who I am all along, and wanted more for me. Thank you. For Cora, for salvation, for patience, for love, for life.

Last but certainly not least - this was sent in by Laura Fiore and boy did it hit home for me. Laura needed to remind herself that God is in control as her kids are growing up and moving out. Ouch. Laura will be getting
an Audio Adrenaline CD donated from
Jeanette Herdman, of Scrap In Style TV. Woohoo!

Thank you for all these blessings! I think I need to do these more often.

Press on!
Kitty

Press on - part 2

My only post for today - sorry. More later :)

I decided that I needed to do something for my own challenge. If it sounds preachy, I apologize. It isn't toward anyone but MYSELF. Sometimes I need such a hard kick ya know.

Papers: New Autumn line by Daisy Ds. :)
Journaling:
When I am yet again 10 minutes late to church and I’m rushing my kids into the doors, do I see her pause outside as she wonders if she is worthy to come in? The server who has tears in her eyes – will I stop eating my salad long enough to ask her if she is ok?  The cancer patient that has lost her hair – do I take the time to smile so that she knows that she is beautiful? God puts hurting people right in my path all the time, but do I see them?
Sadly I admit, there have been times when I did see her but pridefully chose to ignore her. I have scoffed and thought there is no hope for her. After all, it is her life & her choices – ones that she made all by herself. It is a mess all because of her own doing. Right?
I have been quick to judge her and have missed the whole point to the reason that God has placed her in my life.  Sometimes it is hard to disconnect the person from their personal choices, but how am I any different? I’m not. I too should wear a scarlet letter. Not an ‘A’ for adulterer, but there are many others I could wear. What if I had to wear a ‘G’ for gossip or ‘L’ for liar? A person would certainly be able to judge me instantly without the need to look any further.
I handed her judgment and criticism along with her letter. There isn’t a sliding scale for sin and mine is no worse than hers.  If Jesus was willing to dine with the tax collectors, religious zealots and thieves then couldn’t I spend some time with her and love her for who she is? Now I look at her with

grace

and I see myself as no different. At one point, I too was also searching and looking for meaning in my life and the more I see how God has shown

grace

to me through the years, the more I see that I have not showed it to others.

Press on!

Have you ever found yourself so overwhelmed that there was no other place to look but up? When it feels as if the rain will never stop and you found comfort in the Lord.

Or maybe you are in a place where you are so overwhelmed by God’s blessings? That you feel as if the joy you have can not possibly be contained.

No matter where you are – God is there.

I have friends hurting right now from everything to a broken heart because of their wayward teen to sickness but as life has it, I also have friends that are also rejoicing with life.

I want to post this challenge. No matter where you are – hurt or happy, do a layout that shows how God was there for you. It can be posted anywhere, just send the link to my email by August 24

- it would help me even more if you put “for the Press On challenge” in the title.

Your reward will not only be seeing how God was there – through the good and bad but also some great gifts from me. Winners will be picked for one prize each:

1 CD from my church’s worship leader Aaron Keyes

1 signed copy of  Scrapbooking Your Faith by Courtney Walsh

1 Audio Adrenaline CD donated from Jeanette Herdman of SISTV

1 paper pack from Daisy Ds

1 paper pack from Cosmo Cricket

Can’t wait to see the blessings!

Press on –

Kitty

Wienies, school & heel clicks

One of our family traditions is to relax at our neighborhood pool early in the evening the night before school starts.

So we are at the pool and Ben is playing with his cousins and in his usual victim way, starts to do his best Jan Brady (oh woe is me) impression. I look at my husband and do what I usally do - - blame it on his family. After all, that's where all the bad genes come from.

me: why is our son acting like such a weinie? He gets it from *YOUR side of the family you know.
D: my side?! Are you sure about that?
me: yeah, he got the weinie gene from your side
D: you may want to think about that one. Isn't it *you that hates to sweat, camp or get dirty in any form or fashion?
me: yeah - but as long as I don't camp, I can avoid all three at the same time.
D: stunned glare******
me: yeah, ok - he gets the weinie gene from me

and then back home we went to prepare for the first day of school. I tried to contain my joy.  They were all excited and a bit nervous about the first day.

Ben giving the thumbs up
for first grade!                               

then my sweet Zack -
all ready for his second year in
middle school

and then.................



there is this child who insisted on wearing this "gangstah" shirt on his first day to middle school. Let's all take a moment of silence for the school.

He will take that school by storm! :)
Go get em kiddo!


I don't mean to be insensitive - because I know that some moms
are at the bus stop with tissues in their hands.

I'm just not one of them.

I love my kids, but I am with them 24/7 and well...I look forward to the first day of school. Getting back in the routine and all that stuff.

and now - my celebratory heel click!

I Un Du do U Un Du?

One of my favorite scrapbooking (& household) products Un Du may disappear from the shelves forever. As a messy scrapper, this product has saved many a project and it has even aided in the removal of stickers from unmentioned children. Imagine my dismay when I discovered that this product may no longer exist.

Warning: anti PC rant. Turn back now, while there's still time.

Here's the dealio - I called the company to find out for myself. They told me that California (the left winged capitol - *my words, not theirs), recently passed a law that said that products such as Un Du can no longer be sold in the state because they aren't "environmentally friendly". The company is considering pulling the product because other states are considering this same law.

Now, I love the environment. I recycle, reduce & reuse on a daily basis. Heck, my daughter was even a girlscout! But for the love of granola and all things nutty, please tell me what will take the place of this beloved product? Tree bark? Nah, too scratchy. And don't even try to tell me that Goo Gone will work. Maybe on some household stuff but not my photographs or projects. Al Gore line one.

So, I have made a purchase of this contraband product and plan on storing it in my basement along with my cans of Freon. If you want to report me, the freon part is a joke - but if you are bored, you can call PETA and let them know that I ate a delish chicken for dinner with a side of spotted owl. Taste great with a little salt.

CHA Sneak Peeks :)

Wow - I actually did what I promised. :)

shocking

Some CHA Sneak Peeks from Creative Imaginations

New Baby Signature Line

w/BABY *Bare Elements letters

*Bare Elements tissue box

using Samantha Walker's Sassy Girl line

New Bare Elements Caddy using

Day by Day collection by

Samantha Walker

Bare Elements LOVE Letters and layout

using Heartfelt Signature

line :)

New Travel line (Mexico & Florida)

by Barb Tourtillotte

 

New Baking line from

Samantha Walker

Yum!!

Bare Elements Home book using Family Signature line

this was so much fun to work with :)

that is all I have done so far. One more project to do & I will be bringing it on the plane with me. :)

It's Greaaaaaaaat! (Great American that is!)

I lied.

I’m a bad blogger, but those of you who occasionally stop by already know this.

My trip to TX was crazy and fun at the same time. I taught a class for Creative Imaginations at the Great American Scrapbook Convention

wave to the people-----

– aren’t they cute!

My classes were so much fun & I loved meeting new people. J

(((feel the love)))

When I wasn’t teaching, I spent most of my time hanging out with my Texas girlie Staci .

We are both quirky and decided to entertain ourselves while shopping. 

MMMMmmm Scenic Route :)

We decided to play a little scavenger hunt if you will. There were odd categories – 1) highest Texas hair 2) highest heels 3)most creative way to tote around a kid 4) odd use of fringe on an outfit (yes there was a winner) and I know there were some other categories – but I’m just forgetting. We cracked up at some of the t-shirts that we saw. 

Original to say the least.

Like this one -

if Norman Bates liked to scrapbook:

My father insisted that I ask someone to take a pic of me when I signed books at the Memory Makers booth. I was embarrassed - but Staci was sweet and did this for my dad. Thanks chickie.

<<I think I wrote "this is lame - please don't ask me to sign your book" :)

p.s.  I will be posting all the Creative Imaginations summer CHA sneak peaks tomorrow J and I really do mean tomorrow this time.

 

The stars at night, are big and bright........

clap - clap - clap - clap DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS!

I will try to cram my whole week in TX in to this one post (lots of pics – for those that easily bore J)

I was able to stop & see my sister and family for a few days. Seeing them was so good – I miss them so much!

After the visit w/my sister, I drove to

Dallas to see my parents.

My dad was so sweet because he found a few activities that involved trains for Ben. Ben was beyond thrilled!

My dad took us to a neighbor’s home that collects trains and Ben looked at everything as close as possible. The couple also has pet chickens & one token duck. For these two boys that have been raised on cement, the chickens were the biggest hit!                  

Nathan attempted to be the “chicken whisperer” but looked more like a chicken ninja instead. 

Nathan was bound and determined to touch one of them and as you can see from the chicken’s terrified take off – he was successful!

This couple also had a pond where the boys were able to feed the catfish.

At one point, Nathan decided that instead of feeding them slowly as instructed, he felt they needed a buffet. *sigh*

 

In my last post (before the trip), I mentioned about how my dad emailed Good Morning Texas about my visit. He sent them all the info about the book and they decided to have me on. Must have been a slow news week. Heh

I was interviewed by Brenda Teele, who is as professional as they come.

She had me so relaxed that I didn’t think about needing the big barf bowl once! She is also very petite – like Polly Pocket petite.

I begged her to wear heels and I wore flats and still managed to look like a giant mammoth next to her!

While waiting in the “green” room, I saw this couple and thought how familiar they looked, then I realized “Oh man – those are the Sonic people”! I took this pic while they were filming the intro.

My kids think I have landed into rock star status now that I’ve met them.

I also took a pic of this dude, but I don’t know who he is.

He is a day time television actor and well…I don’t watch daytime TV – ever. So, I have no idea who he is. I think they said he had been on One Life to Live.

It was a very fun experience and I hope to do it again one day!

The Great American Scrapbook Convention went very well – I will post about it tomorrow.

For today though – please check out Fiskateers Blog Woohoo!! :)

Ancient Chinese secret huh!

Ahhhhh - it's official, Summer is here. The smell of cook outs in the air, kids laughing outside and.....blood on the carpet.

Yep.

Blood on the carpet!

I went on a quick errand with my oldest son yesterday and left daughter at home w/my younger two (11&7).

They decided to play “Ancient Chinese Master”. I’m not sure how the game is played exactly but it involves a robe, one stuffing his shirt with pillows (Sumo) and a large bean bag.

Somewhere in there, my youngest was sitting in the bean bag (I’m taking this means he’s the Master?) while the other (Sumo) dragged him around the room. He fell out of said bean bag flying at top speed and hit his head on the chair. Ben screamed – Hannah ran – Nathan panicked. Hannah flipped out because she said “blood was squirting everywhere” and she couldn’t get a straight answer from Nathan. Nice. She is always so leveled headed and very calm. She called me on my cell and told me that she had called 911 and Ben hurt his head and to get home quick. I was expecting to walk in and see Ben holding his head by how she described it. The paramedics had to explain to Hannah that head injuries bleed a lot and look a lot worse than what they really are.  Now she knows and we get to pay that nice bill. *sigh*  I did tell her that she made the right decision w/the info that she had.

As I looked at my son w/blood all over his white shirt and his head covered in white gauze, the paramedics told me that it wasn’t a big deal.  I wanted to ask them if either one of them were ever a mother.  Anyway, they said that all we needed to do was take him to the pediatrician and let them look at it. Hello – it was 4:45, no pediatrician was still open. So Doug (who rushed home from work during this time) went to the ER with him.  It would have only cost $20 in the office, but the ER will cost tons more. *sigh*  He got 4 stitches at the ER. He can take showers but can’t swim until June 5. He can put his feet in etc. – but can’t go under. L

Good times.

I never saw anything like this in any other those summer lemonade commercials. What a crock!

On the flip side, I’m leaving for Texas tomorrow at the butt crack of dawn. I will get to see my parents and teach at the Great American Scrapbook Convention.

My dad, being the proud papa that he is, called a local TV station and gave them my book information, so thanks to dad, I will be on Good Morning Texas while I am there. Me on TV - what a hoot.  I will either stand there like a robot or talk like Ellie Mae Clampett.

Either way – not pretty.

In June, I will be teaching this class – Just Black & White at Scrapbook Expo

Off to pack!

CI Guest Design Team Contest

Creative Imaginations Guest Design Team Contest

Contest Rules!
Join Creative Imaginations and their Artists for a once in a lifetime opportunity as a Guest Designer for the month of August 2007.

Register on both websites:

Creative Imaginations and Scrapbook Chalet

Upload your designs following the challenges presented sometime before Sunday,

May

13th to both Creative Imaginations and Scrapbook Chalet {you must upload to both sites to enter} There are specific folders represented on each website.

All challenges must include at least 80% Creative Imaginations product. With thousands of products to choose from, let your creative imaginations run wild.

You can enter as many times as you want using one or both of the challenges posted below!

The Challenges!

Marah's Challenge: Upload a Layout or Altered item using 3 or more different products from Creative Imaginations.

Cheryl's Challenge: Upload a layout or Altered item using three or more different techniques. Remember the altered item {book, lamp, Bare Elements pieces, etc.,} is considered one of the techniques. Technique can be anything, painting, sewing, stamping, doodling - whatever you want!

The winner will receive:

1. $100.00 retail value in product of their choice from Creative Imaginations {product is subject to availability.}

2. Guest designer will have their work as well as a small bio and photo featured on the CI website.

3. All work uploaded will remain the property of CI for possible use in their newsletter or promotional material.

Winner will be announced on Monday,

May

14th.

Vacation - all I've ever wanted

We got to spend some family time at the beach – a little chilly, but we still had a wonderful time. I think I got a little sun tan line around my parka. J

We went to an area near Destin,FL but was a little more off the beaten path.

We have gone on vacation with extended family and with friends before, but when you keep it just as your little fam – sweet miraculous things like this happen.

Shocking - his sister was scared of going too deep, so he extended his hand. Warmed a mother's heart!

Some pics:

some dolphins spotted from our balcony on the 13th floor :)

 

One of God’s beautiful creations –

and on the 8^th day, God created the idiot. A few guys gathered some shells and we spotted their “creation” from our balcony.

Need I say more?