Okay...WE WENT!

First I tried waking up McK*...But she doesn't wake easily sometimes...and this was one of the times. So I tried waking up C*...and that is hard too when he is in a dead sleep. I don't think he was awake...but he got dressed. Then I had to remove his shirt and put it right side out. I told him to go to the bathroom while I brushed my teeth. I came back out...no DS. And found him back in his bed! haha. We hurried into the car and started driving to Meijer. We called Mom and Pam and asked "Where's the party!" They were 17 and 18 in line...did I write that yet? haha.

Half way to Meijer, I asked C* if he was having fun yet. He yawned and said, "Halfway." "Should we turn around and go back home?" "No."

Here is C* holding Book One, which we bougt for him.


C* giving me a smile while squatting on the floor doing a HP wordsearch.


By the time we got into line, it was pretty long. Meijer had some wordsearches and puzzles that we could do. Some temporary tattoos and cake and apple juice. C* opted for the juice b/c he's not a cake eater...just like his Uncle J*. I bet it was about 11:30 when we got into line. After a time, they started making announcesments...that you could only buy one book per person instead of the promised 2 books each. The couple in front of us had driven probably 1.5 hours to go to the Palace at Auburn Hills to see a concert. Thinking there would be no Meijer in the area, they were cheered when they saw our Meijer! So after the concert, they headed on over to get in line! I took a few pix of DS while we waited since we were standing by the giant cut out display. Saw some friends from Church who had come to see what was happening. Got our book...and then went off to go shopping for milk and Prego and a few other things to get us $30 bucks so we could get the book at a reduced price. Isn't Meijer the greatest!

Going home, we stopped at Wendy's for a 1am treat. Only they took the car ahead of us, but not us...told us they were CLOSED! I asked DS if he wanted to go to Big Boys which was open 24 hours. He said it was my choice. No, it's your choice. I can make you pancakes at home. He agreed but wanted them in bed! haha. After getting the groceries (totaling plenty more than $30) into the house, I set to work at flipping some pancakes. He started reading Volume One Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Almost 8 and just starting the series! Then we read for a while and he went to bed. (I of course stayed up a little longer than him...eager to get through the book!)

Mom called this morning and is 100 pages ahead of me. She must not need that much sleep in her old age. haha. I think secretly, b/c I finished Book 6 before she did, she wants to get to the end of Book 7 before me. And at this rate, I'm sure she'll do it! Now...if I can just get to the end before someone spills the beans! I'm so glad I could go with my #1 DS. Harry Potter is such a world wide craze...I"m glad that I could share it with my son. (Boy, I remember standing in the middle of Lake Road one Sunday for Hands Across America.) So even as he is starting on his magical world of HP, he can say that he was there for the big unveiling...in a Meijer store!

Should I stay or should I go?

That is the question...

My mom and her Best Friend are standing in line, at a Meijer store that is at least an hour away from them...waiting to get the final Harry Potter book. They made a night of it. Going to shop and the best store ever...getting the last book of the series...then they are going out to breakfast...at like 1am.

I called her and was told that they are numbers 17 and 18 in line. And that each Meijer store has 800 copies of the book.





So...do I get up and go to Meijer in 45 minutes to get my own copy? Or just wait until the morning? Well, we'll see. It is only 2 miles away from me. Wonder if there is a lot of Potter traffic out there? hehe.



Well...maybe I'll go see which child wakes up the easiest and take them along for a midnight ride. haha...what a story that will be when they grow up!

My movie rating on this blog...

In case you didn't notice...

Mingle² - Online Dating

So...it's a pretty safe one to read!

Because I thought my blog needed more pictures...

Here is the pix of my card for today's challenge...decorating the corners...





Jody (aka texasjodylynn) sent me a little angel package since I have been flaked by 2 big sisters this round. (Come on #3...you can do it...you can be a fun big sis! My fingers are crossed!) She sent a bunch of ribbon and a Bella stamp! Wow. That was really nice. Actually...I'm thinking it's a bribe for me to keep on coordinating for DDS. She didn't have to do that. Along with the goodies was a fabulous card as only Jody can do! It inspired this card of mine. Same base color on linen with a bella...the rest is different! haha.

Thanks Jody for bringing some love to my mail box!

I've been nominated!! Wahoo!

Boy, my dear old friend Dawn, whom I've yet to meet in person, hasn't forgotten me even though I've been missing on the blog scene as of late. She has nominated me for the Rockin'Girl Blogger Award. Impressive, I know! haha. So now it is my turn to nominate 5 bloggers for this prestigious award.







Since I haven't been reading blogs lately, this is a bit tricky. The first goes to Jen of Just for You since she recently left me a message about my card tutorial. She modified the card into a 6x6 size...to be featured on her blog tomorrow. I can't wait to see it!

Next award goes to Renee of My Inky Escape. She is a true kindred spirit who unfortunately lives on the other side of the country!

Of course I can't forget to present the award to my own dear Mother! She's the bestest and the rest of you do not know what you are missing without a mom like mine!

Quilt Nut Creations' blogger is a regular commentor on my blog. She does some fabulous quilts. Go check them out!


Lastly, I nominate Rochelle's Impressions blog. I really have enjoyed checking out her creations...which reminds me...I really need to get back into browsing the blogs! Sorry Rochelle! But hey...now I'm back!

Summer Slump...that lasts all year!

What is with kids these days that they can't play without having a gameboy/ds/video game/computer in their hands? And don't forget the TV!! Good grief.

My son is contantly asking to go on the computer or to play his nintendo DS...aren't I lucky that he ASKS first? haha. My other son and daughter want to watch the boob tube...just zone out. So, since we've returned from our trip, no tv, no DS, no computer...especially when they have friends over to play. Boys will just hang on the other kid's shoulder who is playing one of these mindless games. It is nerve wrecking!! So I say no, no, no, no. (Okay, don't worry, they have played a little from time to time.)

Seriously, this summer, I have had to teach my kids how to PLAY! It started at the end of the school celebration. I was C's room mother and had to plan these celebrations (can't call them parties). So for the end of the year, I figured, let's have some outside fun...it was the middle of June after all. I ended up teaching the kids to play game like Red Rover...and other playground group games. The kids really enjoyed it. No tv, no cords, no batteries. I asked some of the volunteers to bring sidewalk chalk and bubbles...and I had taught the kids how to play hopscotch!

The other day, R* came over to play with C* and of course..."Mom, can we have popsicles?" The other question that hounds me every day. I say, "No, you go play for a while, run around, get thirsty, get a drink of water AND THEN you can have a popsicle." We were all out front where we have a neglected basketball hoop. So, I started the 2 boys on a basketball clinic of sorts. They had to shoot and keep shooting baskets. My DD kept score on her clipboard. I, who am not the athletic type, showed them how to make different kinds of shots. The Granny Shot worked well for R* who is on the shorter side of life. And C* did well with the free throw sort of shot. (Not sure if that's the name.) After that they did have a popsicle. Then we went on to dribbling...up and down. Life your head, put your other hand behind your back. Slow, fast...lift your head. R* really excelled at keeping his head up. We were just starting the passing part of the "clinic" when R*'s Dad arrived to pick him up. I actually saw C* start sweating! Hurray!

Then, the next day, R* came over...I sent them out to play basketball...and they could do it! Yippee! Now...let's hope that on the 3rd time, they go out by themselves to play basketball...without asking for popsicles, without asking to play the video games or the computer...

That would be one fine summer day!

She's DEAD! The wickedest witch that ever lived...IS DEAD!!!!

Or is she? haha.....



Last night, we dropped off #3 at a friend's house...where he spent the night, while the rest of us drove to Lansing, MI to see WICKED at the Wharton Center. It was really great. #1 and #2 loved it! When the lights were going down, my daughter asked if she could sing along. I said yes. And sure enough...during one of the first songs, all of a sudden, I heard her start singing. It was so sweet. Of course, I doubt anyone else could hear her so it wasn't a big deal. She was mesmerzied! We had 2 binoculars to use to get a better view. Although we were 2nd row from the top, the Wharton Center isn't the biggest theater and we were center stage. The only thing we couldn't see was the banner "Congratulotions." But I saw the play already and knew it was there...no biggie. My DS was so good. In fact, during the 15 minute intermission, the lady next to him, about my mom's age, leaned over and complimented me on how good the kids were. She said that she would never take her 8 year old grandson to the theater to see a musical. haha. I smiled and said thank you...all the while thinking what a bother he had been for 2 weeks while staying at my mom's house.

It was a great play. As usually, the first time you see a musical is the best time you see it. But these 2 productions were nearly identical...so not much of a disappointment. The only thing I remember it lacked was this really neat dance number at the "Ozdust Ballroom." Or maybe I over exaggerated it in my mind...who knows!

I asked my daughter if she wanted to see another play today. She said Yes. I said what one? (She's 6 years old.) She said, "What ever is coming next!" haha. What a cultured 6 year old.

I moosed you...did you moose me?

So, I'm again designing cards, projects and layouts for my upline's annual demo seminar. This is actually my 3rd year doing so. She lets me pick out a couple of sets and supplies/accessories...I give her a bunch of stuff to display or teach to the ladies that attend the all day event.

This year, J* gave me the following sets:
Moose You
Whimsy Wheel
Garden Whimsy
Dots Classy Brass Template
Totally Tabs
Guava and Pomegranite Inks
some paper to match
a bunch of ribbon, pretties pieces, rhinestone brads....

I think that's it! haha.


So, today, I cut them out...and then was stumped...on what colors to use! Hehe. Actually...I take that back...SU retired all their organdy ribbon. And for the seminar, I have to use ONLY CURRENT SU supplies/stamps/ink/etc. I had some ideas in my head...and then the ribbon stumped me. Isn't Organdy a classic supply? Good thing I can still use it for my personal projects.

Ever since I first saw Moose You, I knew I wanted to make the deer into a Reindeer. So here he is:




Also for this set, I cut off the sentiments under the Moose and the Deer. The Porcupine was too close to the words for my comfort level!

While I can't post things on SCS for this event...I might add some of my ideas here. So check back in!

Parrots...

Okay...Finally...a picture of me in Hawaii...





The first three days were spent in Waikiki, HI...just East of Honolulu. One evening, we were walking back from the beach and we passed a street guy with birds. You could hold them and get your pix taken with them. Of course I wanted to do it and asked how much it would cost. He said it was a donation. So, I posed with this bird when another street guy came up. He posed me with 2 more birds! Arranged them all around. Got a couple of pictures in.


Well...when we gave him back the birds, he launched into this speal about 10 bucks...5 for the birds, 5 for something else. Of course he got real snippy when I said, "the other man told me it was a donation...here's our donation." He wouldn't take any money if it wasn't the ten bucks. So well...his lost I guess. But it certainly dampened the day.

And that guy stood at the street corner every time we walked passed it. I sure hope he didn't recognize me.

updates...still not coming

So...just now I thought I'd post a couple of Hawaii pix...only to find out that DH must have picked up the disk...so that will have to wait another day I guess.

I don't have any cards to post.

But tonight, I did start browsing some of your blogs again.

Wicked is on Tuesday! Yeah!