Traditions, Punishments, Natural Laxatives and How an Italian Soda Can Soothe the Soul...

This week has been event filled and busy. We enjoyed a laid back Memorial Day where the boys had fun making Smores at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
The last few days have been filled with end of the year stuff at school and parties and ball practice. On Tuesday, Jed gave his presentation to defend his thesis on campus. I was able to go and watch. He did a great job and it was fun for me to go and see him in that environment with his classmates. As I was walking back to the parking lot I couldn't help laughing at all the co-eds walking past and around me. They all had stuff hanging off or plastered to their backpacks - making a statement about themselves. [sigh] Ah, youth, when you feel that everything has to be a reflection of yourself and your "coolness". I giggled to myself as I noticed all the self-declarations. There is nothing like walking around a college campus to make yourself feel old and nostalgic. The perk of the walk I do have to share was a hottie saying to me:" Hey, I like your shoes!" I wonder if he saw me pulling away in my kid encrusted mini-van. LOL.
Today was the last day of school and in keeping with tradition, we went out to lunch and to Barnes and Noble as a reward for good report cards. Why is it that many rewards I give my children end up being punishments for me? First of all, I do not know what it is about B&N. It doesn't matter where we live, what time of day it is, if I have eaten recently or not but when I walk through those doors, fifteen minutes later I am sprinting for the bathroom. Enough said. Although I will say, Claire is following in my footsteps................and about an hour later I vowed never to come to this store again, especially with children! Which leads me to wistfully daydream about my love of amazon.com. Great prices, free fast shipping, shopping alone and in my pajamas need I say more? Now if only someone will start a local online grocery shopping business that could be amazon's equivalent. Oh, and delivered to my door in one hour or less! The good news was the B&N cafe and a grande hazelnut Italian soda with cream, whipped cream, and an extra shot of syrup, please! Somehow on the drive home, sipping on the devil's nectar made me love my children again, plan dinner and begin a plan of attack for our impending move. Sweet relief!

What do you think?

So, if you had a chance to listen to the lecture below, it raises a few questions. Jed and I were discussing several things tonight. Mainly, the purpose of our brains and how little we really know and that not everything can or will be explained scientifically like Jill was trying . So are our brains the connection between our bodies and our "souls" or "spirits"? How much power do we really have? How much can we control? And how much are we responsible for controlling? What do you think?

Perspective

Mama Melodrama posted this link to a lecture given by a brain scientist who suffered a stroke. I found it very interesting considering my religious beliefs and our challenge and goal toward self- mastery as human beings. It also made me think of The Host, a book I am reading right now. For those of us who have had family members who have had strokes it gives you more of a feel of what they might have experienced. She gets a little "cosmic" in parts, but given the fact she has lived through this I figure she deserves creative license to express the experience in whatever way she deems best. Check it out:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/when-a-brain-scientist-suffers-a-stroke/

Creative Round-Up?

Well, I didn't have any submissions this week for Creative Monday. Note the frown to the left. I know that you guys have stuff. I have seen it. So watch out- if I don't get submissions, I will have to rat you out myself!

Creative Monday

My boys are making these as gifts for the teacher's aides in their classroom- cute, easy and cheap!

Baby Elephant Walk

Make a Smilebox postcard

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Creative Round-Up #5

This card (above) was crafted by Samantha. I love the colors.

Here are some great ideas submitted by Krystal for Father's Day. The billfold is made out of cardstock and if you want the link to the instructions- let me know!

Creative Monday

For Claire's party, I put together these little totes and then had the girls decorate the back with their names and flowers, hearts,etc. I wanted to have feather boas as a party favor, but couldn't find any less than $8 a piece. So I went to Joann's Fabrics and found this feather trim in pink and white- viola! Instant glamor boas!

Trip to the E.R...

We started out the weekend with a bang...(literally). Luke was playing with some friends and his brothers in the woods by our place Friday afternoon and tripped on a log, falling on another log. He cut his eye in three places: on his lower lash line, underneath his eye and on the upper lid of his eye. We made another trip to the E.R. . In the last year, all of the boys now have sliced themselves open in the eye area and needed to go to the E. R. The funny thing about it is that out of all of the boys who would you think would be the most difficult/dramatic about it? Luke! But, that was not the case. Maybe it is because he is so comfortable in the E.R, we go often and visit Jed, maybe it is because he is so used to being hurt. For what ever reason, he was by far the calmest and bravest of the three. It was almost like he was in his glory sitting back at the nurse's station telling everyone all about how it happened. At one point, he actually turned to me and said, " It's o.k. Mama, you can go now, the doctors will watch me." What a crack up. Mind you, he said this with a mouth full of Swedish Fish (given to him by one of the nurses) one hand clutching a stuffed zebra and the other holding a blood soaked ice pack. What a trooper. Now he is talking about being a doctor. He is convinced that he won't need to go to school, and I quote:" Papa, can just teach me all that stuff and by then, I'll now all my letters!" You gotta love him!

Happy Birthday Claire!

Today was Claire's birthday. We had a posh frenchie poodle party with friends and family. Here are some of the photos from the fete this evening. I can't believe my baby girl is a year old. She was a such cutie and did a great job with all the excitement tonight.

Lost in My Inbox....

I am not proud to admit that I have 1906 messages in my email inbox. Yes, I know. The sad part of this tale is that I had an early submission for Creative Monday this week and it got lost in the abyss of my inbox. Sorry Dani! Here is a great idea she did for her sister-in-law who is pregnant. She sent her a care package of all kinds of good pick me up stuff and decorated each thing with labels of what each thing was for. Who wouldn't love to get this box in the mail?

Hot, Hot,Hot!

So, we are walking through Costco, Luke, Claire and I, and Luke turns to me and says: "Mama, you are hot! You know hot is like beautiful and I mean you are like hot! I just wanted to say that." Where did he learn that ? I have no idea, but it made my day. How can such sweetness and such gall from the depths of hell reside in the same soul? I will always wonder, I think..

Creative Round-Up #4

Well, I only had one submission this week...this card by Rosie: way to go Mom!

Creative Monday

I made these flower arrangements for Mother's Day this year.
One for my Mom and one for my Mother-in-Law.
I originally saw a similar idea on a local TV show,
then I saw the cute flowers Krystal made a few weeks ago
and came up with my own version of the two. Both were fun to make.
To make the flowers, I stamped a large flower on the opposite side of the patterned paper then cut it out. For the leaves, I used a heart punch. The banner around the bottom is crimped. I do suggest putting a floral block in the bottom as to help keep the flowers in place and save on fillers. As you can see I did not do this and I needed more M&M's for the second pot. Thanks for looking!

Happy Mothers Day!

I woke up this morning to the smell of toast cooking and the sounds of clanging pots in the kitchen. Also, various giggles and "Shh!!!!!!!!!". A few seconds later, after I deducted that Claire was still safely sleeping in her bed, Jared, Issac, and Luke came into my room all decked out in Chef's garb and placing this tray on my lap declaring that,"This is your Mother"s Day breakfast!". It was so sweet and they were so excited. As a side note, Jed was already at work so they did this on their own! To all of you sighing in fright-no worries, Jared knows his way around the kitchen and knows to alert me if anything goes array . (mom disclaimer) Isaac made the tissue flower at school and the mug. Nice touch don't you think? I was a wonderful, magical mom moment. The kind when you wish you could freeze time and linger around enjoying the peace a bit longer. Happy Mother's Day to all!

Season Opener....

The Baseball season is officially underway....Isaac had a great game today, stealing home as you can see in the above photos. He is first up to bat this year and is pretty proud. Each time he went up to bat he would turn back to the dugout and say:"Wish me luck, guys!". It was cute.
Things have been non-stop since coming back from D.C. Jed has started his new job and is working hard to get all of his clinical hours in to graduate early. So, we are not seeing very much of him and won't for the next 5 weeks. We are so excited to be done with school and able to have a "normal" life and settle in as a family. It has been a long road for all of us!

Creative Round-Up# 3

Check out these Mother's Day projects shared by Dani: a recipe box and a clipboard to put your recipes on while cooking. I love that idea-maybe then all my recipes wouldn't have water spots and dirty fingerprints!

Creative Monday

Our Little Peanut is turning one next week! I made this invitation for the party.
Go be creative!

Make a Smilebox photobook