It's killing me....

... not to scrap!!! I have so many great pictures (okay... not *technically* great pictures... but fun or meaningful pictures) to scrap but my in-laws are here and my office doubles as the guest room so I have extremely limited access to my computer. I have lots of pictures from Missouri last week and I've been taking tons since my in-laws have been here. PLUS... tomorrow is my monthly photo playdate with the 2peas gals.... and Saturday we leave for MO again (this time for a week). I feel the need to scrap now because I won't even have computer access next week. Can you believe my parents still have dial-up??? I guess that's one of the drawbacks of life in the country. I guess to look at the bright side... I'll have tons more pictures to scrap when I get back. I always take a lot on our trips to MO.

Speaking of my trip to MO... can you believe that spring break is next week??? Wasn't it just Christmas a week or so ago??? That's what it feels like anyway. I'm taking my big huge homeschool supply catalog with me next week so I can get my plan together for next year. This year has just flown by. Oh... I took my in-laws to my homeschool recess group yesterday... they were so impressed by the other kids and the moms. They've never said anything against homeschooling, but you could tell they had some reservations about it. Yesterday definitely helped swing things the right directions. Plus my MIL sat in on school yesterday as well. She was really impressed by how well Alex was doing and how much we covered in such a short period of time. We sat and talked about it for quite a while after we were done. Also, I think they are also beginning to appreciate how much more time they get to spend with the kids with me homeschooling. If I didn't... they would have hardly have seen Alex at all... he would have been in school all day.

Okay... rambling again.... I need to shut down my computer so I can vacate their bedroom.

I'm back!

We got back on Saturday from Missouri. We had an incredible trip. It was just amazing to have that much family together. All 10 of the grandkids and 17 out of 20 great-grandkids made it in for the funeral. After the funeral we all went for a hike across grandma's farm (beautiful day... upper 60's).

We came back on Saturday so we could go to the opera (plus Jeff's parents were flying in that night). This was our first opera... Jeff got me the tickets for my birthday in December. We went to see Mozart's The Magic Flute. I can't believe how much I enjoyed it. I was afraid it was just something I wouldn't "get"... but I was completely captivated by it.

Today was just plain crazy... Jeff flew out yesterday leaving me with his parents. We were on the go non-stop today. Clara had dance this morning, then we came home just long enough for Clara to change before we headed to recess, the home to have lunch and do some school before we had to leave for Clara's tumbling class which overlapped Alex's PowerKids class AND then he had a make-up soccer game at 5:15... so we left the house around 3:15 and didn't get home until nearly 7 o'clock. Craziness.

Well... I should help my MIL get the kids in bed!

$2.99 Backdrops!

You just can't beat that, can you? The kids and I went to the outlet mall again yesterday to check out the clearance rack at the bedding store. Its so much fun to go and buy obnoxious colored sheets for $2.99 each! We got four... nothing terribly obnoxious this time... a pale yellow, a forest green, a paisley and (my fave) a bright blue. So far we've played with two of them. Yesterday I photographed Clara with the yellow sheet (and her $.99 hat we also bought at the outlets)....

And today it was Alex and the paisley sheet....

When we get back from Missouri... I'll break out the other ones!

my grandmother...

... passed away last night. I'm going to miss her terribly but I'm so thankful that she didn't have to suffer long. We'll be heading to Missouri for the funeral on Thursday. I can't believe it but all of the cousins are going to be there! All 10 of us! I honestly have no idea how long it has been since we've all been in one place. Friday after the funeral we're all going back to my mom and dad's and since it's supposed to be a nice day, we're all going to put on our walking shoes and take a big long walk by the creek and across grandma and grandpa's farm. The thought of that just makes me happy! I can't wait! When I was a kid, that was the tradition at the family gatherings. After the meal all of us cousins would take off across the farm with the older ones in charge of us younger ones. Usually my father was with us as the official adult in the group, although I think he got into more trouble than any of the rest of us. Just such great memories and now I have the opportunity to share this with my kids. And of course, a chance to take pictures! :-)

Gosh... I can't believe I did it again!

How does a week go by and I not realize it??? Anyway... things have been a little "off" here lately. Last Wednesday my grandmother had a stroke. Now we're just playing the waiting game. She's 94 and up until last week she lived on her own, still driving herself to play cards with her friends... just a week or so ago she was honored at her high school for being on the school's first girl's basketball team (formed in 1925). She's had a wonderful, full life. I'm not good at this sort of stuff... so I'm not even going to try.

Other stuff... my boy has his first loose tooth! I can't believe it. He woke up with it this morning. He is thrilled beyond belief and I'm already planning out how I'm going to scrap the whole thing! :-)

Well... I'm rather boring today.... Jeff just ran out to get me a Sweetheart Brownie Blast from Sonic to cheer me up... I should go.

The Photo Contest

We finally went and looked at my photos on Saturday. I have to say that it really is a well run contest. It's a small contest but they honestly will go without photos in different places instead of just placing one that doesn't deserve it. There were a lot of "blanks" on the walls, but what was up was really quality work... just some amazing photos. So if you happen to live near Richardson, TX... check out the second floor of the library!

Anyway... here are my entries...

First Place - Child - Black and White

Second Place - Child - Color

Honorable Mention - Child - Black & White

Did Not Place....

Yay! I've rejoined the land of the living!

This is the first day that I've felt near normal in so long!

We had a great day of school today... our first real one in what seemed like forever. Today was one of those homeschooling days that I just live for... one of those days where Alex kept asking to do more above and beyond what I had planned. I am just awed by the sight of my child learning because he loves doing it!! I didn't have Spanish on the agenda today but he asked for it! We went to the library today to get books on our new extra topic (oceans and sea life) and he begged to read one of his "school" books tonight at bedtime! I absolutely love days like today!

Tomorrow should be a good day as well... Jeff was able to change his flight and he'll be home in the morning instead of late afternoon and tomorrow afternoon we're going with some homeschooling friends to see the new Curious George movie. The kids are sooo excited about this.

Well... to keep on this road to recovery I think I'm going to turn in early again tonight!

Is it too much to ask...

to be well again? Another trip to the doctor today and now it's bronchitis from the flu that I had before. I've got steriods and an inhaler so I can breathe again, at least. Still sleepy all the time though. UGH!

Good things though - we made it to Disneyland! Alex and I were still pretty sick but he was such a trooper! We had a really good time. The kids loved it.... especially Clara! She was in rare form. She really liked the fact that after Alex and I turned in early... she would go back to the parks and close them down with her daddy. She rode things I wouldn't have thought you would have been able to get her on. Oh! And she appears to be completely over her fear of people in costumes! She had her picture taken with every character we saw... even one that Alex wouldn't go near. Alex wanted absolutely nothing to do with the White Witch from the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Clara marched right up there, got her autograph and posed for a picture.... she got a little concerned when the witch asked her to come with her to Narnia and to ride in her sleigh.

The winners of the local photo contest were announced while we were gone. I entered six and placed with three. One first, a second and an honorable mention. We're going to see the display this weekend so I can see which photo got which place (I'll post them once I figure it out). I'm going to have to find a babysitter for the awards ceremony since it looks like Jeff will be out of town. I really enjoy going since it's a workshop as well as an awards ceremony. The judges are all there and will critique your photos for you.

Well... as usual I'm sleepy and I'm going to go find my inhaler and head to bed! Hopefully, one day I'll feel better again!