I guess we're doing something right...

Today was one of those days when you sit back and look at your kid and realize that just maybe you're doing okay. Today was opening day for the boys for baseball. There is an opening day ceremony for all the teams. One of the events for the ceremony is that they give an award to one kid on each of last year's teams for sportsmanship. The one kid that exhibited the best qualities of a team player: respect for others, fairness, grace in winning and in losing, a striving spirit and courtesy. M (12) was given this award, of all the kids on that team, his coaches chose him. I was so proud of him. Actually, proud doesn't begin to cover the feelings that I had in my heart at that moment when his name was called and I saw him jog up there. It made me stop and really consider what a great kid he is. Yes, he's a bit on the sloppy side and leaves his clothes all over the floor which includes his uniform which he needs cleaned for his next game, and yes, he forgets library books at school for days on end, and yes, he is so forgetful about doing chores but that's just being 12. He's played football and baseball this year, played 2 instruments, had a small neighborhood job for a couple of the neighbors with dogs, and been on honor roll all year. Yeah, he is a good kid, a really good kid.

Insomnia

UGH! It's getting the best of me. I'm up most nights for the last week from about 4 until about 6. I'm tired, my eyes water, but I just can't sleep.

they're playing our song

on our long drive to florida from chicago a few weeks back, mike and i noticed that as you drive south the radio stations/song choices definately change. it seems that there was station after station of country (duh), 80's, and classic rock. since mike isn't a huge fan of coutry, we listened to lots of the other two. it actually brought back so many memories - and made us feel a bit old. when did Motley Crue and Def Leppard become classic rock? we remembered dates, albums i made him listen to, we remembered who we were at that time. this is definately something i'll have to put into an album one day. some of "our songs":

Born to be Wild
We went to see the movie Opportunity Knocks with Dana Carvey on our fist date. This song was in the movie.

Anything by Journey or REO Speedwagon
This refers to the music that Mike had to listen to over and over.

Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton
This song was our Prom theme and the song of our first dance at our wedding.

And on a country station:
You're Still the One by Shania Twain
When this song was released, it felt like it had been written just for us. Mike and I were high school sweethearts. We got married young and here we are 13 years later - still in love, still going strong.

Artist: Shania Twain
Album: Come On Over
Title: You're Still The One

(When I first saw you, I saw love. And the
first time you touched me, I felt love. And
after all this time, you're still the one I love.)

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday

BRIDGE:
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

CHORUS:
(You're still the one)
You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
(You're still the one)
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night
Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'
(BRIDGE)
(CHORUS)
(CHORUS)
I'm so glad we made it
Look how far we've come my baby

I love that song. He is definately still the one.

You Shook Me All Night Long by ACDC
Mike's favorite band was ACDC. Their albums are the ones that I had to endure over and over when we were dating. This one is one of my favorites and one that makes me sing out loud.

I'm sure there were more. I'll have to quiz Mike and add another entry later.

celebrity sightings - lol

So I came across some blogs today that I just loved reading. They are some of the "celebrity" scrapbookers I "wow" over in the magazines. I ended up finding Ali Edward's whose articles and design sense I just love:

Ali Edwards


and Cathy Z whose book I devoured and whose thoughts on scrapping I just love:

Cathy Zielske I love her sense of humor.

and Tara Whitney, a Garden Girl from Two Peas photography and layouts I frequently admire:

Tara Whitney

Tara's posts about her daughter and about her family were so heartfelt. The emotion I felt when I read her blog was overwhelming. She is a great writer. I will check back to see how her daughter is doing and how she is holding up as well.


If only I could figure out how to get the freakin' links to work...UGH

ScrapHappy

Ok, so it's obvious from the last couple of entires that I'm in a foul "poor me" mood. I need to get myself out of it.

I've been doing some things lately for my scrapping. I actually looked up calls and contests for the next month and sorted pics I could crop for them. I worked on 2 entries for BH One Sketch, Many Looks calls for November and December. Here they are:
For nov:





For dec:




I probably don't have much of a chance because there are so many talented people out there submitting but I've been wanting to do this.

I also applied for a writing/creative position at an ezine. I was accepted and am republishing a series of article on using design principles in scrapbooking and will be continuing the series. I've submitted some layouts and cards to them as well for the next ezine. I'm really excited to see my work in the ezine.

Lastly, I'm going to be working in a scrapbooking store 3 or 4 times a month. I think that's the thing that I am most exited about. I'm going to working on Saturday nights for their crop night or on Sundays. There is no way that Mike's job can interfere with those days because they are closed!!! I can't wait to get started. I go in for some training toomorrow night. I can't wait to be around all those goodies! I'm certainly not doing it for the money!! The pay is not great but the discount is 30%, which is really nice. Of course the best part is that I get to get out of the house and be around people who enjoy this crazy, addictive hobby of mine. I can do classes if I want and work on pages for the store. It's the store that I've been going to for the last couple of years so I already know the people there.

So scrappin' should keep me happy and sane while we get through this rough period.

blog, blog, blog

I've been meaning for the last few weeks to come back to my blog and write and somehow i just haven't. I can't say how many times i've thought oh, i should blog this. So I guess I have quite a bit of catching up to do.

Hhhhmmm...where to start? It's been a weird few weeks. since we got back from vacation, the boys have started baseball and mike has been working 6 days a week, often until 7 or later. what does that mean for me? i feel like i'm going to burst. i know it's hard on him and i know he is tired. really i do. and this sounds so selfish as i write what i'm thinking but it's been a long year and half since i quit so he could start this new career. and he's doing so well. i'm so proud of him. but i'm at home, everyday, all day except when i'm taking one of the kids to school, or practice or a game or where ever. i don't get a break from the kids, the house, the laudry, the errands, the bills,the calendar of events, the lonliness that i feel when he is away from home so much.

there's much more to catch up on. i have to come back later though.

Anna Nalick - Wreck of the Day

I picked up this CD today. I love, love, love it. I'm in such a mood today that its mellow sound is so perfect. This is her debut cd. The radio stations have been playing her first single so much but I love it each time I hear it. The CD was released on Tuesday and I saw it today in the store. I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad. Here's a link to breathe:

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/056572/056572_01_01_full.ram
and her website:
http://www.annanalick.com/

and of course, her blog:
http://www.myspace.com/annanalick

how did i get here?

do you ever have those days when it feels like nothing is the way it should be? maybe it's the rain, or the cold, maybe it's me, maybe it's being lonely even though i'm surrounded, maybe it's feeling bored even though i have plenty i could do, maybe it's feeling like i want to hide my head, crawl into bed and block out the world. i just feel like i'm waiting. waiting for something to happen, waiting for someone come, waiting for something to do, waiting for something to want, waiting.