{me}anderings . . .

many thanks . . .

i would like to thank each and every one of you for your kind thoughts, sympathies, and suggestions regarding our educational trauma.  it's nice to get those feelings of frustration out even though (or especially since) i have no intention of acting on them.  i am also thankful for my child's carefree attitude.  he's a gem and brings such a unique perspective to my life.  we are still persevering in the spelling arena.  i strive to maintain a pollyanna attitude.  hope springs eternal!  we are anxiously awaiting the results of spelling test #2 and slogging away at spelling list #3.  wish us luck!  i'll keep you posted.  :)

weekend happenings . . .

friday we hung out at home.  g twisted my arm and we ordered pizza hut pizza and wings.  i managed to get one layout done and pretended to do some work on the computer.  we were both a bit tired from a couple late nights during the school week.

saturday we woke up refreshed and ready to go.  i had planned on taking g to the flea market.  he's wanted to go ever since he interrogated jenni a few weeks ago about all her old stuff.  he was fascinated by it and has wanted to get some of his own.  he's on a comics kick, so we searched high and low for comic books.  we finally found a few and he snagged aquaman, richie rich, and garfield.  i wish i could show you some cool treasures of my own, but g suddenly got worn out after we made his purchases.  after that, we just got a popsicle and roasted corn on the cob and left.  he says he never wants to go again; it was worse than pe class, so maybe i can go with an adult next time.

saturday night jeremiah came to play and i managed to crank out three more layouts and a journal.  i think i could have kept going, but it was midnight and the gman's eyes were drooping.  the weekend scrappies are all for the september jbs gallery, so check back wednesday for those.

today has been slow.  g's been making me buy the sunday paper lately.  he clips the comics and i clip the coupons.  i also scored a nice science article for one of my students, so i feel i got my $1.75's worth today.  does it make anyone else giggle that my son is wearing a jackson browne concert tee?  he's been into oversized long-sleeved shirts and of course digs in my clothes for them.  anyhoo.  i'd better get back to the to do list.  i made a little one this morning with the intention of finishing it up and then making another one for the afternoon.  sadly, the morning list has taken me till evening to work through.  it's all just taking longer than i expect.  isn't that always the way of it?

hope your weekend was a lovely one.  :)

Masterful Scrapbook Design!

really really REALLY excited to be a part of this new venture!  check it out HERE!  right now you can sign up for a ten day trial membership for one cent!  try it!  it's going to be AWESOME!

discouraged.

kindergarten was rough.  rough for g.  rough for me.  we finally pulled it out in the end, but it wasn't pretty.  i had such high hopes for first grade.  we studied SO hard for his first spelling test.  he took a spelling test at home EVERY day starting on sunday.  he rewrote his incorrect words.  work work work.  by thursday night he knew all ten words and one of his bonus words.  on friday i cheered him on as i dropped him off and anxiously asked him how he did when i picked him up.  "good." he says.  i got his test back monday with a big fat 65 U on it and ugly angry marker marks everywhere.  they only gave him five words and one bonus.  he spelled them all right, but his handwriting was fairly illegible on two so they were marked wrong.  i almost cried.  maybe i did a little.  the next day i showed his teacher all our hard work and asked her if he could please retake the test.  i got her response today.  "we really focus on handwriting in first grade."  i am sad. and unmotivated. and i am a mother. and a teacher.  good thing g is still a happy go lucky little thing who tells me, "it's just one test."  sigh. :(

jbs mercantile september peeks!

sneak peeks of the september kit are up on the jbs inspiration blog!  mine is not so much a sneak of the main kit as an homage to the add-on.  be sure to run check out what some of the other girls have done.  it's going to be another awesome month.  :)

beautiful

this gorgeous creature was hanging out by our front door when we got home from school.  i've never seen one quite like it.  his wingspan was probably over 3 inches.  isn't the camo look cool?  it's just neat to know this beautiful boy will be out there flying somewhere tonight.

it's also nice to know that dear staci's little one has arrived.  welcome lucas blake.  it's a beautiful world.  :)

just for fun . . .

 

instead of working on the old to do list (and i do mean old . . . some stuff stays on there FORever) the other day i took a little time out to put together a layout just for fun.  my scraps from last month's kit were calling me.  i heart my scalloped punch.  these five scalloped circles were left over from my mini album and i just couldn't bear to throw them away.  the heart was from the month before.  my dear friend bridgette sent me the glittery clouds (she was on cloud nine ignoring her to do list last week and decided to share the joy with me).  the chip alphabet is from the august add-on.  i love making bold titles when my photos have no real focus.  i feel like i have no real focus tonight.  i'm all worn out from actually working on my to do list.  better finish up here and get ready for bed.

thanks for the happy clouds B!

 pins my sweet baby made me for "mother's day" . . .

and necklace too (wrapped around the little dress).  :) 

a tale of two tees . . .

 
old navy  has been selling these really cool retro tees with original artwork of icons from back in the day.  the gman loves tom & jerry and sharks, so we were excited to pick up these two on sale.  honestly, i didn't even notice till i got home that they both should have been rated pg-13 . . . one for violence and the other for nudity.  oops.  the gman still hasn't noticed, thank goodness.

beautiful bride nieces . . .

 
another brilliant concept from debbie hodge . . . a new article series called "quickstart" where for a selected topic she gives you ideas for motifs (great for embellishments), phrases (great for titles and journaling focus), and fonts (also great for titles and journaling).  i have a couple layouts featured in her wedding quickstart and thought i'd post a few more here.  i was lucky enough to photograph two of my nieces' weddings.  my big sisters took good care of me growing up, so it's nice to be able to do a little in return when i can.  :)

 

big picture giveaway!

lisa and i have new projects posted on the big picture scrapbooking blog today and there's a jbs giveaway too!  head on over!!!  giveaway ends on august 23rd at 9 am pdt.