a new year, a new post

I've brainstormed a million things to blog about including: Changes over the past decade, 2010 in review, rites of passage, holiday happenings and more. 
But, as i tell my students I need to stop thinking and start writing.  I had planned to go to bed early tonight well early for me but, am waiting til midnight so I can announce Girl Scout cookie sales have begun on facebook.  Yes, there is no rest for the wicked, kind of I didn't do a lot this past week, I've been fighting a cold or something and I practiced resting which is a first for me.  But it was nice to be lazy.  I now just have to put up Christmas decorations and finish laundry but, hey it was my break! 

so this will be a random post.
Girl Scout cookie - yep it's true COOKIE TIME is here we'd be happy to take your orders.  They are $4.00 a box.  Clarissa's goal is to sell 400 boxes again this year.  Yes, I said again, she did it last year on accident so now we gotta do it again! I'm sure we will, we are good at goals and selling!  She is excited!

I'm so excited Clarissa starts a new school today (Monday), She will be a Brookman Builder.  She has had such a hard time at school this year. I'm applaud to be a teacher with some of the thinks Clarissa has endured this year.  Applaud that teachers care so little, But, that is a post for another time. I'm just thankful for friends and prayers being answered. I'm happy to put a girl to bed tonight, who is excited to go to school tomorrow and not crying or scared.  No first grader should be crying or fearful to go to school.  It's been nice to see my spunky red head back the past 2 weeks.  She is set for school once again, a new back pack, lunch box and a new outfit, an outfit she bought with her Christmas money and a shirt nana gave her for Christmas.  She is way excited to be in Ms. Allen's class tomorrow! I can't wait for her.  I can't wait for that love of learning to return.  Parents listen to your children, but more importantly listen to what they are not saying.  C's actions have been tellling me for months she was in the wrong place, I only wish I had acted sooner.  I pray the harm that has been done will be quickly over come with the love I felt from her new teacher already. 

what about Hunter you ask, He's all boy and sweet as pie!  He's momma's boy!  As of right now he's in all day pre K at C's old school, hoping that stays but, it could change since she's not there. But, I had to do what has best for her.  We are going to start working on sight words and see if we can't get him reading soon.  He loves to run jump land on his knees and find dirt!  Oh yeah he loves to talk about poop, burp and make weird noises, Yep he's a boy n. Dirt with noise!  Best of all he is a great hugger and kisser.  I love to get Hunter hugs, I love how he pats your back with his little hands.  He's getting so big.  OK so he can really still wear a 3t except he's gotten to tall for them.  He loves to tell knock knock jokes or should I say make up knock knock jokes that don't make sense but, he has fun, He is a jokester.  On a recent trip to Disney while in the haunted mansion the lights go out on cue he yells "Hey who turned the lights out", the whole room laughed.  He seems to have a knack for finding funny things and keeps up laughing. I'm scared for him to get in school.  He also loves to antagonize his sister and even tells her he's antagonizing her.  He hates baths, seat belts and cleaning his room (he use to be so good at that).

My goal is to post once a week, that seems doable right, My theme for the year is one word Simplify! Yes, this will be hard for me but, I'll try~ No this doesn't mean my kid's birthdays will be less, that's to much fun. Yes, I've already started Hunter's party. It's Toy Story and I can't wait! It's a miracle but, roo hasn't chosen a theme yet, I've tried to get her to wait. She loves to plan parties, not sure where she got that at?  We skipped a Halloween and Christmas this year so she insist she must have a Valentines party.  I'm sure she will since she'll have some new friends and life is settling down since craft show season is over. so 2011 is now underway, it's snowing in some places here in vegas and I'm not praying for a snow day I'm ready to get back to work.  ready to make my kids buckle down and hit the books! CRT's are coming and we have something to prove, we have been working hard.  I have a great bunch of students this year, I have been truly blessed!

MAY YOUR 2011 BE BLESSED! I LOOK FORWARD TO KEEPING IN TOUCH THIS YEAR!

I'm back!

I miss writing. I stopped blogging for a few reasons. 1. I need to go private, for personal reasons. 2. blogging is a journal/ thearpy for me and I just type, it's all a rough draft! I got several comments about typos or the draftiness of it so I quit. I usually blog late night ie after midnight I'm tired and just wanting to get life down for my kids. I have decided If you don't like how I write in draft from DON'T READ IT! Certainly don't go tattle. I'm an adult, I pay my own bills!

I've been blessed this summer. We have has so much fun.

We've been GOIN!

(This was Clarissa's I'm going to fly from now on face. This was near IL on our way there! She really did great, was just tired after 2 days in the car.)

We have driven/ rode over 6,000 miles in my minivan!
We went from NV to MI and back.

by train to Chicgao (the kids and I had a grand adventure)

by bus- down the magnificent mile

by  bicycle taxi- back UPthe magnificent mile

by golf cart-The kids logged in miles around the lake and a great old cemetary.

 by boat around the lakes

by jet ski
by tube-around the lakes
by big boat on Lake Michigan for the big boys

Rode in a horse drawn carriage in Nauvoo

by wagon - in Nauvoo.
We did manage to keep our selves grounded (except for Kent)

The only thing we didn't ride were  planes and motorcycles (and after the accident I witnessed on US 12 in MI, I'll stay with 4 wheels)

I began this post weeks ago and well am adding more today! we had a blast. I was so sad to see our wonderful summer come to  an end. It was the kind of summer you'll remember forever.
I'm not sure what made it so great, maybe it's the kids getting older, maybe it was the feeling of the rite of passage driving to MI and back, maybe it was my feeling of gratitude that we both still have careers that afford us to travel and that we are both still working in this ugly economy.  None the less it was wonderful. 

WIN a classic Miche shell

I'm so pumped about the July new MICHE releases that I'm going to give one away. Go to http://www.bagsandbows.net/, register for a MICHE account. I can see who registered all my registered customers will be in a drawing for a free shell. Ladies don't wait we have new luxe shells. check out the site to see shells in all sizes...

Come see me this weekend

Our Las Vegas Crafters Guild is hosting a summer show this Friday and Saturday. Please come by to see and shop all the beautiful handmade creations from our members. From altered art, bags and bows, to jewelry, miniatures, and more. Start your Christmas shopping early!  (thanks Crystal, I just copied your post)

Summer Salad Recipe Exchange

Hello friends your invited to come join the fun. I have sent out facebook invites and am working on getting them printed and out. If you haven't gotten one but, want to come just send me your recipe and join us. 

I have left off my address as I don't want the world to know where we live.

Hope to see you on the 10th!

Kits for Saturday

LUCKY, SPRING, Easter block kits are $10.00 completed sets are $16.00

Countdown Kits are $10.00 Completed are 18.00. Disney and other countdowns are available as well.

National Craft Month

You are Invite to come Celebrate National Craft Month

Hairbows * Heritage Makers* Children’s Cloths * Vinyl* MICHE*

Custom orders welcome Get your Easter bows ordered!

Saturday March 20th 1-8pm

at my house. Post a comment for directions.

or call 702 245 2214

*Tonia Browner, Heritage maker Rep will be have product available.

Website-www.storybookurlife.com*

craft kits that will be available.

New kits will be added during the week.

Kits so far are BE MINE, LUCKY, LOVE, Easter, Spring,

*Tables will be set up so you can work on your own craft projects, or one you purchase that day.

The latest in MICHE bags will be available too. Come see the bag with endless possibilities. See more MICHE http://my.michebag.com/ -

If you have not seen MICHE bags, you are truely missing out. Come try one on Saturday.

going private

I haven't posted in a while not becuase my life hasn't been full of adventure cause it has more becuase. I don't know who's reading this.

So I guess my title says it all. I'm going private. It's not that I care who reads but, some recent events have caused me to think I may not want some people I know to know what I'm doing. Long story.

Just comment with your e mail and I'd be happy to figure out out to invite you. I still need to figure out the whole private thing.

wish me luck.

we still have girl scout cookies if anyone needs some.

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!

(Picture of Clarissa selling cookies at her Grandpa's house) She wishes she could go to all her Grandparents houses. Her first 3 attempts were unsuccessful then she asked her grandpa and her friends grandma who said YES. She then exclaimed. Grandparents must like to buy cookies from Girl Scouts.

Clarissa is selling Girl Scout cookies - we are taking orders right now http://www.abcsmartcookies.com/ecards/getCard.asp?id=34FC8895-023A-416B-8756-40CC78E9BCDA
The cookies will be in the end of Feb. They are $3.50 a box. If you don't live close and are not coming to visit in the next few months you can still support Clarissa in her cookie sales with Cookies to troops. You can buy boxes of cookies from Clarissa that will then be sent to men and women in the Armed Forces. Send cookies to those who are fighting for our freedom. It's still only $3.50. Clarissa has a goal to sell 20 boxes to the troops. You'll just need to send a check to us and the Girl Scouts will get the cookies to the wonderful men and women who are protecting our FREEDOM! Thank you to all who have served, are serving and will serve so that we can live in a FREE land!

Your kidding right??

I know long time no post and this is my returning post. I just about fell out of my chair a few minutes ago. This came from my favorite clothing store Gymboree!

Why do I love Gymboree NO GRUNGE! Sorry Can't/ won't do it!

I want my kids to look nice and like they didn't just come in from a dirt pile. Their clothes last! These pants look like they have been worn by for 2 years already!

If this is what they are selling we don't need new pants we have this. (Keep reading of my embarassment and you'll find out it's true)

Seriously, this will lead me to a story I was not going to share but, I will now to prove my point. We went to Disneyland (my favorite place on earth) the weekend before Christmas (My favorite holiday). As we were waling to the park I look at my adorable daughter's outfit and see a rip (much like the ones pictured above) on the seat of her pants. I about died, seriously those who know me know what restraint it took for me to not run and buy a new pair of pants. I was trying to stick to budget (which I did, I came home with cash in my wallet, yeah me!) I blamed it on those darn sparkly jeans from Children's Place that are cheap jeans and told Kent that's why we need Gymboree ones. Fast forward to the next day. She has on cupcake Gymboree jeans, They are 2 season old but, still fit and have cute stones on the bottom she loves. I look down half way though the day and their is a tear in a knee. I think I may have shrieked at this one. It was way to noticeable . I mean any stranger would have thought I dressed my poor daughter in rags, Kent tried to tell me it was OK, her bows and attire proved otherwise, I was truly mortified. I may have even hyperventilated. When I upload the photos I may share, but I still may be to embarrassed. Thankfully we were going back to the hotel soon and I then explained those jean are only for playing at home ONLY!

Kent then tried to convince me it was the STYLE!

I was not not buying and and thought he was just trying to make me feel better :). I guess my husband did know it WAS the style. I still don't like it and it still scares me. but I have to admit I do feel like maybe so many people weren't thinking I should have spent my money on clothes instead of Disney tickets. She was being stylish right? Only on accident. For the record I do not plan to let her wear the pants for anything but, play and I dye thinking of that. I just know she's going to make it somewhere in them.

I know I'm a snob, I don't mean to be. But, I NEVER wore clothes with holes in them and were weren't the richest. It's part of dressing for success, for life. Sorry guys I can't do holes in jeans, I hate faded jeans, Those who really know me know I hate jeans.(Clarissa should count herself lucky I let her wear them to school, as I don't like it) I have learned to like them over the past 15 years but, it was a challenge. It took a long time. I may get the snop of the year award if I tell you I only truly learned to wear them when I got a great pair of Ralph Lauren jean. I loved those jeans, They got a hole and went bye, bye:(. I also tell you they cost me $7.50 brand new at Macy's. They were originally over $100.00. The price was the only reason I bought them and then I fell in love with them. I still wish I could find that bargin again!

P.S. I am starting to feel human agin. Hoping to feel better soon and catch up on everything including bloggin.