I Don't Know If I Like Them...

I think I'll have to eat another few boxes, just to be sure. Thanks to my friend, Carol, in Australia my family has been converted to the love of Tim Tams. I purchased the originals and the caramel centered ones. Noah has declared his love for the Tim Tam on a couple of occassions. Rachel says the caramel ones are her favorite. Michael says he thinks he doesn't like them, but to be sure I need to buy him several more boxes of each. I think the caramel ones are my favorites, too. The caramel is not runny like on the package photo, but firm and chewy. Chocolate and caramel are a heavenly mix. I want to have an Australian themed food night when I buy more of the Tim Tams and start off with a Shepherd's Pie, which approximates a Meat Pie. Thanks, Carol for the calories, I mean, the recommendation!

::::::::::::
I saw this on Marcus' blog, so here is my outcome:

Your rainbow is shaded violet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is says about you: You are a creative person. You appreciate beauty and craftsmanship. You are patient and will keep trying to understand something until you've mastered it.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

:::::::::::::Snacks

My neighbor, Kristen, invited us over for snacks. It was a ploy for her to get her tasty, high calorie treats out of her house. I am now experiencing the sugar rush that comes from partaking of bar treats.

:::::::::::::Brisk and Breezy

I did 6 miles at the park this morning. The wind was so cold. The Canada Geese have left copious amounts of ecoli mines around the lake. I avoid those.
Yesterday, Michael used a vacation day to help at the elementary school, so he went for a walk before we had to leave. I'm used to listening to Mara Davis, so I'm surprised I didn't try to make him come up with songs to a particular theme while we were walking. Maybe next time.

:::::::::::::Snow Village

Michael got to use exacto knives to cut out house from cardboard with Rachel's class. I got to be hot glue girl with our neighbor Kristen. Kristen's daughter, Lydia, is in Rachel's class. Michael took some photos for me, too. I got hugs from a couple of the kids. They tell me I'm just like Rachel. HMMM...


:::::::::::::I Still have Christmas presents to get, so maybe I will be able to do this like Buddy the Elf:

Take care! :)

Another Noah Page:

This is Noah getting a bear hug from his cousin, Christopher.
_{Credits: freebie from Vinnie Pearce, date stamp by Amber Clegg, font: PTRemington}

::::::::::::::Interesting Walk::::::

On mile 4 I saw a GINORMOUS bullfrog on the path. I tried to get close, but the dude was super fast. He made it through the fence and to the pond lickety split.

Mile 5.5 I saw a really cool Eastern Box Turtle on the path were there are runners and bicycles in the woods. I picked the handsome little turtle up and placed him off the path in the direction he was headed. Turtles are just too cool!

:::::::::::::::::Curriculum Night::::::::::

Michael and I just finished curriculum night for Aaron. We enjoyed hearing from the teachers who seem really good. Michael got the exciting job of calling Aaron after each classroom visit to ask about the assignments that he had been given. It was interesting that Aaron's response of, "No homework", had an entirely different meaning. Now we know, a little better, what to ask and look for from school

:::::::::::::::::Solution::::::::
Marcus is going to let me borrow his camera so I can take the school photo. Thanks, Marcus! He is also an enabler, by the way. I have been googling information on a new Nikon product thanks to his information. It is the first SLR with video capability. The Nikon D90 sounds pretty nifty. Let the begging and rationalizing BEGIN! ALMS for the poor!!!! :)

Take care...my Ibuprophen is kicking in, so I think I can go to sleep now.

Prepare for Awesomeness...

:::::::::::::::::Family Reunion Layout:::::

These photos are from last year, but I just finished the page. Here are Spencer and his parents:


_{Credits: Catrine's Explore Solids and doodles, Kate Hadfield's Doodle Frames and Heavy Duty Staples, and Spring Fling Collab (retired), Meredith Fenwick's Caution brushes, Something Blue Studios Teeny Tiny Alpha, Jenna Desai's Calendar brush, Font: Trashed}

:::::::::::::::Some Fun With Expressions of Life:::::::::





<sub>Credits: Dawn Inskip's Expressions of Life

New Beginnings

Weather Station

NDISB
http://www.ndisb.com/store/index.php...oducts_id=2864
TTS
http://digistore.treasurestoscrap.co...oducts_id=1552
Scrapin Scandi Style
http://shop.scrapscandistyle.com/ind...acturers_id=43
Font: DJB DAWN by Darcy Baldwin @ www.thedigichick.com</sub>

::::::::::::::::::::Kung Fu Panda:::::


Michael and I took Aaron to see Kung Fu Panda on Saturday. What a goofy movie. I giggled and guffawed a lot. The scene with Jack Black and Dustin Hoffman's characters with the dumplings and chopsticks was hilarious. The opening monologue is a riot, too! Mantis and the acupuncture scene hurt my sides. Funny stuff! I enjoyed the message of the movie that there is no secret ingredient, but to believe in yourself.

Jack Black's timing makes me laugh. He reminds me of Robert Downey, Jr. with that wonderful bit of sarcastic wit that makes them endearing and clever. As Po says in the movie, "There is no charge for awesomeness." Oh, but they will make you pay to see the film, sorry!

:::::::::::::::Errands:::::::::::

I have a few things to do today, so take care, peeps! :)

Noah's Baptism

Noah was so excited on Sunday because he was baptised. Here are a few photos of his special day:


Here are Aaron, Rachel, Noah and Eve. Noah says that the plastic lawn chairs are his "throne", which makes me think he has rather low expectations for kingly wealth.

Michael told the kids to all pout, so they would laugh on the next photo:

Poor Rachel, she just looks so confused:

Michael and Noah in the Primary room:

Another strange Noah expression:

Getting ready for the ordinance:

My mom gave the talk on the Holy Ghost and baptism:

Michael and Noah after getting dressed:

My SIL, Missy, was our pianist:

My SIL, Shelene, was the chorister:

Noah really appreciated everyone for coming and a few folks were able to come back to our house for refreshments. My dad smoked pork tenderloin, my SIL, Laura made brownies and chocolate chip cookie cake (she sent it via Marcus because she wasn't feeling well), Melissa and Angela made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, my mom brought drinks and hot dogs, Granny Sydney brought spagehetti, Michael and I provided chicken nuggets and various sauces. The kids played well together and the adults got to talk. The weather was gorgeous, so we were able to leave the door open and people could be on the porch or just move, more easily through the house. Melissa and her kids lingered the longest and climbed trees and played dress up.

Grampa Jim joked about getting Noah an ant farm, but it became even funnier when Granny Alice actually bought him one. She gave it to him, yesterday. I just have to send off for the ant colony, which should arrive in 4 to 6 weeks. I will mail off for them on Tuesday. So our house will be the home of 1 ferret, a gazillion sea monkeys and a colony of ants. I wonder if Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kindgom will be knocking on our door soon asking if they can start filming our family?

Thanks, again, to everyone who could come to the baptism, send something, or just wish Noah well. He was one happy kid! :)

Saturday is a Special Day...

...it's the day we get ready for Sunday!

Just wanted to throw in some primary lyrics.




My nephews and BIL. The little boys were both wearing onesies that said "Monkey Business" and they are such cute little guys.

Monkey Boys:


_{Chalk Full of Fun by Lisa Whitney
Rubberbands, Stitched Alpha, Doodle Alpha, Pirate Doodles, Animal Doodles by Kate Hadfield
Piled Higher by Christina Renee,
Torn Edge template by Jen Caputo
Font: DJB MICHAEL by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick
Felt flower from TLP's Summer Collab kit (Natalie Braxton's piece)}

::::::::::::::Just When You Thought It Was Safe:::::

Niagara Falls, Layout 1~


_{Cluster Frames by Nancy Comelab
Font: Stickybet / DJB MICHAEL by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick
Travel brush stamp by Sande Krieger at Twopeasinabucket}


:::::::::::::::::::::::Devil's Advocate? ::::::::::::

While reading The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil by Philip Zimbardo the author made this observation:

"We had also experienced 'groupthink.' Once I, as leader, believed the rumor to be valid, everyone else accepted it as true. No one played devil's advocate, a figure that every group needs to avoid follish or even disastrous decisions like this." (p. 99)

My husband, Michael, plays devil's advocate in conversations. It often unnerves people because they think he is trying to start an argument. In actuality, he really enjoyed debate club as a teenager and likes to take the opposite position so that what ever topic is being discussed is seen by all possible angles. He doesn't necessarily subscribe to the point of view from which he is speaking. His point is to make the person espousing some particular view point to really understand why they believe what they are saying and be able to back it up. Even with the kids he will preface his responses with "I'm not trying to argue...but why do you think that. Or, what made you come to that conclusion?" He enjoys discussing politics, religion, astronomy, ecology, geology and sewing. He really likes to know what people think and he likes these conversations because it helps him better define what he thinks.

I thought this Calvin and Hobbes cartoon apropos:


:::::::::::::::Movie Today?::::

We are going to try and see the new Harry Potter film today, if possible.

Smiles!

Brave Sir Spencer:

_{Best Medicine daily dose kit, Stitches 101, and brush frame from the Gratitude kit by Jen Wilson, Scibbly Alpha by Sandra Boddington, Bent Frame by Katie Pertiet, Hand Drawn Arrow by VHF, Paint Strokes from Gypsy Rose Kit by Michelle Coleman, Font: Tall Paul/Pea Jenny Script}

Text: As most everyone knows Spencer had his first Surgery last Tuesday. This one was to close his lip and form his nostril. Laura and I were both quite anxious about the surgery, and were somewhat unprepared for how dramatic the change was in our boy. The physical change might have been easier to handle if he hadn't come out of surgery in a completely altered state. This was due to the combination of anesthesia, pain, and the medicine to treat the pain. His voice (for lack of a better word) was completely changed, and in obvious distress.
Spencer healed quite quickly, he was off the narcotic pain killers by Saturday, and his personality had begun to return. Friday he had started smiling again, resembling the face everyone had already grown to love. As of Sunday, I think both Laura and I had gotten used to the change in his face. He is now almost completely off of the pain killers, and doing well.
by Marcus J. Taylor


:::::::::::::::::::Watching for This:::::::::




SanDisk SDMX3-2048 Sansa M250 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)
SanDisk
This is my attempt to have something to listen to when I go walking...by myself...in a crowd. Michael supports my efforts for sanity, so he will kick me out of the house for a daily walk to, around and back home from the park.

Separated at Birth:

Sophistication Kit and Wishing You kit by KSharonK, quote from Maya's Lootbag, Snap Frame by Rhonna Farrer, arrow doodles from Ida at Catscraps, Font: Typical Writer and Wunderbach

This photo was from Halloween and I just got around to scrapping it today.

All Things Are Possible, Pass the Word!

Lisa Whitney's Beautiful Mess kit, and Linda GB's Star Bazar Kit, Font: Typeset/Teacher Kim

Snug as a bug

My new nephew, Spencer, swaddled on his dad's tummy.



_{A Golden Afternoon Kit by Sandra Boddington at Sweet Shoppe Designs
Fonts:: Cathy/Book Antiqua/Artistamp Medium/Quiggly Wiggly
Miscellaneous:: note paper from Something Blue kit by Sharon Kenearly from her blog, Staples by Sandra Boddington from her Circus Train Kit.
Inked edge from Scrap Artist's Carefree kit.}

One of My Nephew's and Check Out Eve's Knees:

_{Background paper: Water Color by Susan Long,
Fall Doodles from Ida at Catscraps,
strip of kraft paper from Sandra Boddington's Paisley Kit at Sweet Shoppe Designs,
Date Stamp Vol. 3 by Katie Pertiet,
Inked Edge by Robin Cabana,
Torn Paper from Fhunglie's Ultimate Torn Paper Pack
Snap Frames by Rhonna Farrer}

::::::::::::::Eve's Knees:::::::::::::




I suppose this cuts Eve out as a future leg model!??!


:::::::::::::::::::Science Rules:::::::::::::

The Science Discover Museum

This is where Noah wants our whole family to go. He was playing www.pbskids.org and on the Curious George page they had some cool videos that included children playing at this museum. He looked back and asked me how far away it was from our house and I said about 3,000 miles. So, Noah asked how much 6 plane tickets would cost. I said it would be pricey, but we would try to go in a few years. Michael said he would put it on our future itinerary.

Spencer Pages:

<sub>Papers, tag and doodles by Fee Jardine in her baby boy workshop forum, paper tear by Fhunglie's Ultimate Torn Pack, Fonts: Occidental, Stan's Hand


Papers and ribbon from Fee Jardine's baby boy workshop forum, movie items by Tabby Lewis from her blog, Felt star freebie from Holly McCaig, word blocks and inked edge from Studio Chic by Shabby Princess, White inked edge by Robin Cabana, Font: Chalkdust


papers, alpha and staples from Fee Jardine's baby boy workshop forum, paper tear from Fhunglies Ultimate Torn Pack, clock brush by Happy Robyn, Font: Artistamp Medium</sub>

X-9 Fireball and sweet Spencer:

This is a photo intensive post and I may edit this later today if I can get some layouts finished:


Noah loved learning to sand his boat and was excited to paint it, too!

This is Noah's cool dragon sail.




Sooooo close!

Aaron had the hang of the correct angle and blowing pressure right away!










:::::::::::::::::::::::Sweet Spencer:::::::::::::::::::











Marcus talks to Eve about patting Spencer's head gently.