woke up this morning feeling a bit yuck. the kids have had colds for a bout 2 years now, and i feel every so often like i am getting it. stuffy nose and all over yick feeling. hoping that it will go away.

i need to catch up on a little housework, but i have a feeling i might need to take it easy today. em is being a major grouch head at the moment, so i laid her back down in the hopes she will take a wee rest and wake up in a more cheerful mood.

atticus is happily playing with some insulation tubing (this long foam type tube for plumbing), using it like an extended arm and banging on all that he can reach.

here's a few things i've created recently... the cards are from a challenge from karen- i think the papers are stamping up. not sure what the images are. i had to use the fun stuff in a little package she sent me, including the stamped images. i love them!

you can't really tell from the pics, but both of the stamped images have this cool glitter stuff on them called stickles. i really like the dimension and sparkle it gives a project.


harper lee (a little friend of ours) helped me come up with a sentiment for this one: "eight is great!" i think i'll be saving it for her birthday in january (when she turns 8). :)



this is a diaper bag tag i whipped up with the scraps from the paper. can you tell what my fave colors are?

ever have a bunch of scraps leftover from a project? i had a TON of these small pieces of the French Twist line from autumn leaves, and some Creative Imaginations/Karen Russell die cut papers... so I punched a couple of holes in them and made a little notebook to jot down things that happen that i want to make sure to remember (like silly things that the kids do and say, etc.).

can't have a post without a little in it. :)

As usual, come check it out and play some of our fun challenges... we give away a lot of prizes over there! :)

A sign you are around the 3 foot and under crowd too much:

when your two year old is "talking" on her "cell phone" and you wait to ask her something because you are being courteous of her conversation.

(true story.)

I am getting ready for the class I'm teaching tonight at Scrap Etc. ("My Favorites" miniBOOK), which, by the way, has the most fun little kit of products I think I've put together for a class yet. I love it. :)

So, since I should be doing something productive, I am browsing the internet.

Here are some movie links from Tara Whitney's blog (she's an amazing photographer if you have some time to explore her site as well):

The Darjeeling Limited
Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrien Brody... has a very "Royal Tenenbaum-ish" feel. Really really want to see this.

Into the Wild
This totally looks like something that Shaun would want to see. I'm actually pretty interested in seeing it myself.

Margot at the Wedding
I love Jack Black. I'm looking forward to seeing him in a semi-serious role.

Ok, back to reality and getting things going around this house. Later dudes.

Jennifer sent this to me- I hadn't done this one before. Super fun. And I'm glad to know that I'm only 25% Voldemort. Whew. Must've been that whole splitting up my soul thing that I did a few years back.

You scored as Hermione Granger, You're one intelligent witch, but you have a hard time believing it and require constant reassurance. You are a very supportive friend who would do anything and everything to help her friends out. Hermione Granger 70% Remus Lupin 65% Ron Weasley 60% Albus Dumbledore 50% Severus Snape 40% Harry Potter 40% Ginny Weasley 40% Sirius Black 35% Draco Malfoy 30% Lord Voldemort 25% Your Harry Potter Alter Ego Is...? created with QuizFarm.com

finished the book early this morning at 1:05 am. am taking today to just mull over things and make the thoughts connect that the series is actually over.

would love to discuss thoughts, but i'll keep them confined to comments on this post so as to not accidentally spoil the book for anyone.

so warning: DON'T OPEN THE COMMENTS ON THIS POST IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED FOR HARRY POTTER BOOK 7.

ETA: Pics from the release (these aren't the greatest, but they have very very fond memories for me now). :)

has begun.

and those of you who are non-harry potter fans will breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that i won't be waxing poetic on the last days of speculation and what-not.

but before you release that breath of happiness, know that over the next few days, if not weeks, i will probably be analyzing the results of the end of this series, reliving my favorite moments, and theorizing on whatever's left to theorize upon.

later dudes. off to the release. :)

for the next few days.

This is really a bad week for the book to come out. I've just got way to much going on.

I am so looking forward to just sitting back and chilling with the book on Saturday. Hubby already has plans to cook out, so I don't really have to worry about food (although, it's not like I ever really worry about it- I am majorly spoiled with a wanna-be chef for a husband). It'll be a nice culmination to my week.

*Just remembered & wanted to add- Emerson POOPED in the potty today and I was ELATED. It's a good day in our home when a pregnant woman is jumping around the bathroom going "Woohoo!" at the top of her lungs.


Here's a few links to keep you busy:

WAY cute and easy looking sundress that I'm going to attempt to make for Em

Some very cool prints on Etsy that I would like to get

My favorite way to pass the time while the kids are napping

And my favorite home organization system that I've been working on this week

Because no post is complete without some cuteness:

(I don't know what that expression is all about, but the dude makes it all the time. He's not as freaked out as he looks. I think he just likes to be silly.) (And this is one of my favorite expressions... the studying something one. EEEEEE gotta love those cheeks & eyelashes!)

Labels: Harry Potter, links, pictures

**I added a new song player thing over to the right, so hit play if ya wanna listen. I set it to not automatically start because I know that's sometimes inconvenient to have music suddenly playing (like if you are at work or holding a sleeping baby- hehe). **

I had the house relatively "to myself" this weekend, meaning that Shaun went to help his dad with a project, so me & the kiddos were on our own.

Sometimes, I get a little excited about this, because it energizes me at night. I feel the freedom to spread out stuff on the bed, to watch girly movies, and to stay up late listening to music because it's not going to bug the Old Man.

But this time, although I did do all of those things, it was lonely at night too. I jumped at EVERY creak (and living in a 75 year old house, you have a lot of creaks at night) and missed telling him silla (Emerson-speak for 'silly') stories about the kiddos. I am glad he's home. :)

On one of our adventures this weekend, we ran up to Walmart after dinner and bath. Yes, I let me kids go to Walmart in their pjs for a quick run up there... and I let Em pick out her own shoes to wear.

We got lots of attention. ;)
*********************

Today at church we had a gorgeous little choir from Haiti come. It's called the H.O.P.E. choir, and it consists of children that have been orphaned for one reason or another.

If you know me well, it's been my heart for a long time to adopt a child- I felt like I was supposed to be the mom of a multiracial family. Right now, we feel really daunted by the fact that it is enormously expensive to adopt, especially a foreign adoption.

Today, though, dude. My heart was just overwhelmed by these kids' stories. My face was covered in tears.

I have a thing for the little guys, too. They are just too stinking cute. There was one little boy who had the biggest smile- I wanted to take him home with me today.

If you want to find out more about the ministry that has set up orphanages and care for this kids, check out Project 127. It's a really cool ministry that is rescuing these kids from slavery and poverty.

Our church decided to help the kids make scrapbooks so that they would have a record of their trip here in the states- and that was so up my alley. I went through and purged a ton of paper & stuff, and it felt so good to see it being used this way. The kids came here Saturday afternoon and did NOT want to leave their scrapbooks. They got up early Sunday, went straight back to them, and then after church & eating, they whipped them out again.

Although there was a major language barrier, it was so cool to see them going to town with some Basic Grey and decorating their pages with their own beautiful artwork. :)

Here's a (not very good) pic I got this morning:

Speaking of little guys, MY little guy was not feeling well at ALL this morning... I think he is teething. Here's where I found him after our potluck dinner.

And finally, here's a song I've really been digging lately. This band is one my little sis got me turned on to, and I've been listening to them non-stop.

I can't post a long entry today... barely have two brain cells bouncing together to make coherent thoughts as it is.

Order of the Pheonix is a dang long movie; not that I noticed it when I was watching it... I would be happy with a 10 hour long one.

My only problem is seeing it at 10 at night and not getting to bed until 2am. And then - you know - caring for my kids the next morning? Heh.

Anyways... it rocked. It's my favorite of the movies (and it's been a long time favorite of the books of mine too). I wished they had included the scene with Neville & his parents in St. Mungo's rather than just having him tell Harry about them- I've always been very emotionally affected by that scene and I think it would have carried more weight of the darkness of the story (and that Voldemort brings), but - I can live with it.

They did a most excellent job with communicating all of main stuff of the story.

(Ok I just need to stop. "Main stuff of the story"?! That doesn't even make sense.)

I loved it.

The end.

getting excited to go see the movie tonight. i can't wait.

so i made this today to wear.

yes. i am a nerd.

but a nerd with passion.

(apparently all of my blog titles are going to begin with an "s" this week.)

got some photos & such to share today, plus the link to this awesome event!

Scrap Etc. 2008 Event- Tell the Story Only You Can Tell


I'm going to be heading up coordinating stuff with communications; emails and such with the attendees and the teachers. Monique has such a cool vision for this event; I really really believe this is going to be the best one yet. And hello- check out the teachers lined up! Woopee!

Alright, here's my little contribution to the blogging world today:

First up, we went to a 40th anniversary party for Shaun's aunt & uncle last weekend, and I made them this card & little photo book.

I made this layout yesterday... wanting to just scrapbook... not for anything in particular, just wanting to sit down and create some stuff. It's been too long.

And finally, this little guy, at 14 months, has started walking. (The video hasn't totally loaded to youtube yet, so check back this afternoon & it should be there.) :)

i think i am in major denial.

i have dreaded this for several years, in fact, and now that it's upon me, i really am ignoring it.

what was once a daily routine of checking muggle news and jkr's website has been blatantly set aside for months.

i just can't handle the truth.

my beloved harry potter is coming to an end.

you may think i am saying all of this tongue in cheek, or with a wee bit of wryness to it, but you couldn't be more wrong.

i'm dreading it. i almost don't even want to read it.

there will be no more speculation, no more juicy discussions of whether sirius is truly gone or not (yes, jeremy, he is!), no more events to coughdressupforcoughcough attend, no more examining cover illustrations prior to the release with the zoom feature, no more little plastic round glasses given out at barnes & noble....

no more anticipation.

as stephen king so aptly put it, " No ending can be right, because it shouldn't be over at all. The magic is not supposed to go away."

(for his parting eulogy for harry & company, go here)

so now, the true countdown begins.

wednesday night: the movie of the year for me.

and next week, the final chapter...

katie m. tagged me, so of course i had to play.

1. Butterbeer or pumpkin juice?
Pumpkin juice. I'm a non-alcoholic sort of girl. ;)

2. What House would you most likely (or want to) be in in Hogwarts?
I'd like to be in Ravenclaw, but I have a feeling I'd end up in Hufflepuff.

3. If you were an animagus, what animal would you turn into?
A cat I think.

4. What character do you empathize with, or resemble best?
I empathize with Ron, although Lord help me if I resemble him the most. I don't think I resemble anybody really.

5. What position do you play at Quidditch?
The cheerleader/spectator position.

6. Which teacher is your favorite?
Oooooh, hard one. Possibly Lupin, although I love me some Minerva McGonagal. And I hold Snape near & dear to my heart, but probably not for his teaching skills.

7. Any Harry Potter 7 predictions?
I predict Harry will discover that the final horcrux is his scar.

(Also, check out this AMAZINGLY cool album that I found on this girl's blog. She's doing a page-a-day tutorial starting soon, so check it out. Man I am drooling all over it. My Weblog: Here it is...)