Scouts

:::::::::::::::Scout Camp:::::::

Michael's blog shows the flag at half mast for the 4 scouts who lost their lives during a tornado in Iowa. My stepdad, Jim, wrote a blog about what happened and it was a wonderful tribute to those boys. There was one particular scout that looked just like Aaron and my eyes spill over with tears and my heart aches with recognition. My prayers are with the family and friends of all those who are suffering.

::::::::::The Guitar Man:::

My husband is teaching himself to play guitar. He sits down with any time he can scrape together and practices.

<sub>Credits: Remember When Date Stamp Brush by Karen Lewis http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/pro...273&page=4

Catrine's Explore Solids paper, Aged Frames, black chalked alpha

Birgit's Retro paper and Retro leaves

Christina Renee's Stamped words freebie at DST

Darcy Baldwin's DJB Teeny Bopper Darcy Baldwin's DJB TeenyBopper font http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/pro...273&page=2

also DJB MICHAEL

Katie Pertiet: frame</sub>



::::::::::::::How I spent My Summer Vacation::::

1. Mowed the grass...ran over poison ivy in the backyard. (I wonder if there are cortisone speculators like they have for oil?) The weather was really beautiful.

2. trimmed a tree (I have no SKILLZ at this and the poor thing looks sillier than it did before, but I can see the cars and kids a bit better as I back out of the driveway.

3. Used the weed eater on the edge of the road in front of my house. I really enjoy this activity. I did, however, put off weed eating a large patch in the front yard that has...WAIT FOR IT...WAIT FOR IT...Poison Ivy. I know, I should just go for it. What are a few oozing lesion awaiting my dear spouse who hasn't seen me in a week.

4. Listened to my kids giggle while watching Napolean Dynamite and Murder By Death.

5. Digiscrapped

6. Washed and folded clothes.

7. Shopped at Target

8. Told my kids to clean their rooms a GAZILLION times. (Note to self, repetition is not necessarily effective).

9. Fed those kids of mine who are too slack to clean their room.

10. Mediated umpteen squabbles.

11. Read a few books...I liked them, too.

12. Enjoyed several walks in the park, while listening to podcasts from Wait Wait and Astronomy Cast.

...Summers not over so we will see about next week! :)

***Edited to add this exciting Digi-News::::

Check out EVITANGEL for an amazing new free kit designed for Gabs by Nathy. Gabs is having a blog party to celebrate her 15,000 visitors. You can get a gift and help her continue on to her next big number!

Take care! (((hugs)))

Mighty Casey Has Struck Out...

My darling Rachel had no joy in Mudville (aka Science Olympiad). She came home very sad because she had lost in all three of the categories she had entered. She was the most upset because she was unable to win any of the prizes, which she hoped to use for a birthday gift for Noah, next week. She wanted to get the gift through her own efforts. Last week she lost her coin purse that contained all of her money, so she so this as her last chance for a gift. I told her that I was proud of her for trying and that I could take her to the store to find Noah something and she could give it with her name.

She was happy about her art class where they studied Michaelangelo's "David". Here is Rachel's version:




:::::::::::::::::I Love You Bunches::::::



<sub>Credits:
Dawn Inskip: Love You Loads and Typecast Alpha
http://www.ndisb.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1556

http://www.ndisb.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2406

also at Treasures to Scrap and
SSS
Catrine: Explore Solids

Darcy Baldwin: DJB My Dear Marsha, DJB MISH www.thedigichick.com

extra font: CK Cursive</sub>
:::::::::::::::::Playful Monster::::::



<sub>My youngest DS was sneaking up on my oldest DS.


Karen Lewis: Monster Mess Page Kit by Karen

http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/pro...273&page=3

Monster Mess Alpha: http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/pro...273&page=3

Darcy Baldwin: Blister Pack Date Tag

http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/pro...t=0&page=1


Font: DJB SISSY by Darcy Baldwin

http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/man...on=&page=5</sub>

::::::::::::::::Yard Work ::::::::

I worked in the yard a lot, yesterday. Eve "helped" me clip weeds and avoid poison ivy. I have located several no places with poison ivy has cropped up, so I dread my next round of Caladryl, but the rains came and put off my need to self-medicate for a few more days.

Take care! :)

Life is But A Dream...

Text says: Row, Row, Row your... nasty piece of discarded filthy styrofoam gently on the lake!



The styrofoam was so gross, but all the kids old enough to be good swimmers were on this thing. YUCK!



_{Font: Stickybet Alpha and DJB Michael by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick,
additional font: Adler
Meredith Fenwick: This Way brush
Kate Hadfield: Paper Swirls, Doodle Tape and Journal Tape, Music Notes Doodle, and Doodle Alpha
Jenn Patrick: Backward Staples
Gina Miller: Canvas of Color
Michelle Coleman: Hand Stamped Alpha
Christina Renee: Punched Alpha
Weeds and Wildflowers: brown doodles}

:::::::::::::::::::::Book Review::::::::::



Everyone in our family enjoyed Tuck Everlasting. Natalie Babbitt's ability to put you in the landscape of the scene is such a gift. The visuals she creates are amazing. She presents the Tuck family who are very sympathetic characters who have accidently tasted of an eternal spring and have different ways of dealing with the outcome. The Tucks lives become intertwined with a young girl, Winnie Foster, who happens upon the spring. The story moves swiftly and you willingly go with the current. Two of my favorite characters are Pa Tuck and the brown toad. Pa Tuck explains his feelings about life to Winnie in an effort to explain their family situation and why she should avoid the spring, "Not, now. Your time's not now. But dying's part of the wheel, right there next to being born. You can't pick out the pieces you like and leave the rest. Being part of the whole thing, that's the blessing."
This book was a wonderful read. I recommend this as a book that is both great to read and will spark a discussion on what death is and what it would be like to live forever.


:::::::::::::::::::Impressions of Eve:::::::

I was toweling off after a shower a couple of days ago and Eve popped through the door and asked, "What do I need to do to my hair to make me a hottie?" I, incredulously, respond, "What are you talking about?" She made some kind of arm movements like she was piling hair on top of her head and just left the room. The interesting thing is the only person in the house we call a "hottie" is Michael and Eve was definitely talking about a girl. So weird!

...

This morning across the breakfast table I was looking at Eve's eyes. She has big pupils like I do, so I told her, "I bet you will need glasses by the time you're in second grade." She looked at me and said, "But people will call me weird."

me: "Well, Aaron and Rachel wear glasses and no one says anything."

Eve: "Aaron is home schooled, so there is no one around to tell him anything."

me: "What about Rachel?"

Eve: "They just don't say it to her."

...I believe my children have formed some definite opinions on a few issues a bit to my surprise!

::::::::::::::::Product Prop of the Day::::::::

Bar mop towels from Target. Michael was showing the sister missionaries how well our new bar towels wipe away finger smears on the black granite surface. They were quite impressed. I thought he was about to turn into Billy Mays from the Oxy Clean commercials because he was so animated. For those of you who want a nice thirsty great cleaning towel for cheap here is the info.:

Room Essentials 3 pk microfiber bar mop towels (lint free, super absorbent, 16in x 19in) I think we forked over $3.99, but I'm really can't remember.
***Warning: I have already warned Michael that he isn't allowed to sing that awful song "Kokomo" when he is wiping down the counter...and that goes for anyone else so inclined to wipe down my counters. Thank you for your cooperation!


:::::::::::::::::Cave of the Dark Wind:::::::::


Aaron requested this new adventure, so I'm game!

is our new family reading book by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

::::::::::::::::::::Poison Ivy in Absentia? :::

I have a spot of poison Ivy right under my left knee cap. The boys went camping a couple of weeks ago and brought back more then their laundry for me! Sometimes sharing isn't a good thing...DISCUSS!

It really isn't that bad it is just a series of 3 icky bumps. I'm just trying to get a bit of sympathy. Michael told me where to find sympathy in the dictionary. It is the same place his father told him the word would be located. Such a colorful family. (He didn't really tell me this time, but he has told me on past occasions. I just banked the information for future reference).

:::::::::::::::::The Heating and Air Person::::

is supposed to drop by our abode, today. It appears that a lot of condensation is coming off of the unit in the garage and leaving a generous amount of water on the carpet in the den. Thankfully, my parents gave us their old dehumidifer a few years ago, so it is keeping the damage to a minimum. The representative who sets up appointments didn't seem to think saturated carpet was a big deal, so she offered to have someone check it sometime next week. I told her no, that really wasn't the best idea. I suppose she hears lots of these stories every day and is a bit numb. I could splash some water on her senses from the bucket in my dehumidifer or squeegy it from the carpet, but that wouldn't be the nice thing to do...so I blog.


:::::::::::::::Addendum to Goofy Stuff About Me:::::::::

I had a lovely friend remind me to list that I tried to cook bacon on a plastic curling iron as a kid. Now there was a good reason for this. I was not allowed to use the stove and I was a latch key kid, so I tried to follow the rules in my moment of hunger. Two problems with my cooking method: 1. the plastic curling iron never got hot enough and 2. you can't disguise the fact you cooked bacon on your mom's curling iron because no matter how much you scrub the brown bacon grease never really comes completely out.

***An addendum to my addendum: My mom replaced the plastic curling iron with a metal one, which I promptly used to try and give extra curls to my Miss Piggy hand puppet. Did you know that acrylic doll hair melts? I didn't. My mom was none to happy...AGAIN!

Another thing: I would try to give all my dolls fabulous hair cuts. I knew that the hair wouldn't grow back, but I always held out hope. So, does that make me an optimist or a nut case...DISCUSS!

:::::::::::::Aaron has to take an assessment and we have a science experiment to do with yeast, so later, gators!

Smiles!

Bits of This and Bits of That

Miscellaneous vacation layouts:



_{Really Big Bow by Natalie Braxton, Vintage Frame by Nancy Comelab, Background paper from Be Kind by Corina Nielsen, Font by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick}



My niece, Rebecca, blowing bubbles during our family reunion.


<sub>***Edited to add: Photo by Marcus J. Taylor
Cool Summer paper by Bren Boone

Star Stitches by Emily Merritt

Journaling papers by Catrine

Doodle by Ida

Going in Circles and Doodle Alphaby Weeds and Wildflowers

MnM Sparkle Blooms by the Powers Sisters

Snapshot frame (recolored) by Rhonna Farrer

Brush from January freebie by Tia Bennett

Punch alpha by Christina Renee
Date Stamp by Amber Clegg

Font: DJB EUROSCRIPT / DJB MICHAEL by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick</sub>

:::::::::::::::::::Friday Nights::::::::::

are always a laugh with the show

Their pop culture references are a riot! The show is so well cast. Rachel loves to watch it with us, too! Rachel is such a cool hippie chick!

:::::::::::::::::::Labor Day Plans::::::::


My mom has already made a reservation for all of us at Medieval Times at Discover Mills. The jousting and other performances should be a lot of fun.


:::::::::::::::::::Busy Day::::::::::

Michael's poison ivy has cleared up and he will be able to go give platelets for his apheresis appointment. I think he goes every three weeks.

Tonight is also curriculum night for the second graders at the elementary school, so I will be running over there to hear about plans for the year from Noah's teacher.

I was able to pick up a few German language books for the library, so we will be checking those out today. BTW, Aaron was accepted into the Georgia Virtual Academy, so we will be receiving the curriculm books soon. I hope this hybrid public/homeschool curriculum will be a success.

I'm sure y'all are busy too, so ciao!

One Hacksaw and Some Free Time...

That is what some malicious fool had near our neighborhood. Some person, or persons hacked through the fiberoptic cable that supplies our neighborhood. We have been down since about 4:00p.m. yesterday. The phone line is now workin, but DSL is down. Michael left me his laptop because I can piggyback on someone's wifi connection.

:::::::::::::::::::::::Family Reunion layout and C.T. assignment from Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick::::

Making Messy Chic Since 2007


Text: Dakotta Rose and her sister Corinna managed to cover themselves from head to toe in dirt during our family reunion.


Summertime Fun Kit Essential by Gina Cabrera
Paper Flowers by Dani Mogstad
Mo Moodles One doodle frame by Mo Jackson
Picture Frame from Springtime in Paris by Michelle Godin
Alpha: Crimped Alpha by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick
Fonts: DJB LIZ, DJB MICHELLED, DJB WENDYPscript by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick

::::::::::::::::::::::Update on Noah's Check Up:::::::

Noah is in the 60th percentile in weight and 30th in height. He had inflammation in his left ear, probably due to the water conditions in Lake Lanier. So, we picked up some Neomycin drops for his ear. His eyes tested both at 20/30, so I had Michael make Noah an appointment for the eye doctor. We will be doing the official eye testin on Saturday. His jaw ticks are thought to be primarily from his molars coming in and the doctor felt his eye spasms were benign. She said to let her know if the eye doctor saw any issues beyond just the need for glasses. NO SHOTS! That is really what made Noah happy. He Quizzed the nurse and the doctor on the items around the exam room. Then, Noah explained his theories on who the murder of Oberon might be in The Sisters Grimm: Once Upon a Crime. He proposed his theories very succinctly. I was giggling in the background, while the doctor tried to follow his logic stream.

:::::::::::::Book Review.....Coming tomorrow....

BTW...I have poison ivy, AGAIN! Luckily the case is a mild one and is around my ankles. I understand, from Michael, that I will EVENTUALLY develop an immunity. At this rate I should acquire that immunity by the end of Summer!


Smiles!

Elvis is Dead, but I Saw Him Once:

While taking Rachel to her College for Kids class today we were listening to the radio and the I started to think about some of the concerts I attended. There aren't that many because I'm annoyed by how rude people act in a crowd situation, but here are the concerts I recall:

1977 Elvis (I'm not dead, yet...sat in the very back and hated every second of it!)
1985 Amy Grant
1988 INXS (Front row, but they refused to do an encore because the fire marshal made them mad)
1988 Air Supply (free tickets...I repeat...free tickets)
1988 Al Jarreau (Fun concert, but he refused to sing any of his old stuff)
1989 Peter, Paul and Mary (All their stuff is old stuff and fun to sing along)
1990 Crosby, Stills and Nash (Really cool effects on screen for Wooden Ships)
1991 Peter, Paul and Mary
1991 Sting (Michael and I got to usher at the Fox Theatre for free tickets, but had to babysit pot smokers through most of the concert)
1997 Chrissy Hind and the Pretenders/ B52s (Great concert, but sat near silly, balding, drunk guy that kept dancing into Michael)


:::::::::::::::::::College For Kids::::::::

Rachel is through with her second day of her author class. She has made a friend named Kendal. This year we have a parents' response section, so we have homework along with Rachel. YEAH...? Grandpa picked her up for day 1 and Michael gets the honor to hang out with Rachel for the rest of the week.

:::::::::::::::Raingutter Regatta::::::::::
I finally got around to this layout...only 8 months later:






Text: Noah lost all of his heats during his first Raingutter Regatta. He thought that if he blew harder that his boat would go faster, but it forced the sail sideways and thus got no air and it ran into the side of the gutter. Aaron and Michael tried to show him how to angle the straw and blow softer, but he was to excited to listen.

_{Background paper from Oil Paint by Gina Miller, Pipecleaner Arrows, Vehicles 2 doodles by Kate Hadfield, Cluster Frames (modified) by Nancy Comelab, White edge overlay by Meredith Fenwick, Scribbly Doodle Alpha by Sandra Boddington, Teeny Tiny Tags by Jessica Bolton, Small Alpha by Traci Reed, Say It journal blocks by Dani Mogstad, Hand Stamped Alpha by Michelle Coleman, Label it Alpha by the Powers Sisters, Mo's Medley Two by Mo Jackson, Fonts: Mistral, DJB Michelled, DB Michael, DJB Jen2, Ash94, Backwards staples by Jenn Patrick, Grunge Alpha by Birgit, Date Tag by Taran Conyers, Ribbon by Natalie Braxton}

:::::::::::::::::::::Finished My Current Book:::::::::

Theories For Everything


This was a fascinating read.
Here are the subjects by chapter: Introduction - Bruce Stutz
The Heavens - Andrea Gianopoulos
The Human Body - John Langone
Matter and Energy - Bruce Stutz
Life Itself - Bruce Stutz
Earth and Moon - Andrea Gianopoulos
Mind and Behaviour - John Langone
Here is the book description from Amazon.com: Book Description
"Theories for Everything highlights the rich, compelling stories behind science's greatest discoveries and the minds and methods that made them possible. Authoritative, entertaining, and easy to follow, it provides indispensable information on our current theories about the natural and physical world as well as a concise overview of how those ideas evolved.

Filled with illustrations, topical essays, and sidebars, these fascinating pages cover every major topic imaginable—astronomy, the human body and its inner workings, the nature of matter and energy, genetics and evolution, and the complex relationship between mind and behavior. Broken down by subject, the book provides readers with a thorough examination of each set of related theories as they are tested and refined and introduces all the major figures in the history of science, including Aristotle, Archimedes, Copernicus, Galileo, Descartes, Pascal, Newton, Edison, Pasteur, Darwin, Pavlov, Curie, Einstein, Freud, Feynman, and Hawking. The lives of more than 45 scientists are captured in special time lines that add depth and detail to the running narrative.

Each discovery is presented as a detective story: the narrative focuses on how inquisitive investigators posit, revise, and improve upon their descriptions of nature. And like any first-rate mystery, it entices its readers, inviting them to match wits with the scientific sleuths whose theories for everything have unraveled nature's riddles and reshaped how we see our world."

It is sad that those who truly follow the scientfic method throughout history have been considered as subversive as opposed to beings trying to understand their place in this world and how it works. I, also, found it interesting that there have been so many instantances in time where scientists were jailed, called heretics, killed and driven mad and then years later to have their work taken as common knowledge. I don't know if any of them would say they had the right answers, but they would say this is what I have observed consistently. I'm glad there are people out there striving to learn how this world works and how are bodies work, too.

:::::::::::::::::::::Two New Books On the Agenda:::::::::

I have one I found at the library about the submarine accident of the S-class sub 5 in 1920 off the Atlantic. The second book is the one my mother gave me for my birthday by William Wilberforce.

:::::::::::::::::::::My Skin Hurts:::::::::

must...find...lotion...must...sleep...turn...over...OUCH!...No...rest...for...the...weary!

Smiles! (Atleast my lips aren't sunburned!)

Service Day

Grandpa Jim and Aaron in their work outside attire.




Stumped!





Aaron working on the tree stump with some other young men.




Aaron with a big leaf rake.



Grandpa Jim and Aaron went to help out with an Eagle Scout project for one of the young men from Troop 129. Many of the recent Eagle projects from Troop 129 have been to do various improvements to the inside and outside of my brother's school in DeKalb for the developmental disabled. Members of our Church also went to assist the young men as part of a clean up day. They are creating an area where planter boxes can be accessed by those in wheel chairs. Here is a first hand account of the day from my stepdad's blog.




I'm really proud of Aaron for giving service and what he received in return was a sense of charity and making new friends.

::::::::::::::::::The BFG::::::::::::::

Erica asked about my thoughts on The BFG, so here are a few thoughts. Roald Dahl's characters are young people in undesirable life circumstances and put into fantastic scenerios. The word that fits my impression of his works it chimerical. (Etymology: chimera
1 : existing only as the product of unchecked imagination : fantastically visionary or improbable
2 : given to fantastic schemes).

I also enjoy reading books with different dialects that differentiate the characters by location, experience, and education. I love, as I read out loud, to drop into the BFG's dialect and then back to Sophie's little polite voice. Dahl's ability to create hilarious sounding words like scrumdiddlyumptious is a riot, too. The chapter entitled Frobscottle and Whizzpoppers had Aaron and Rachel laughing out loud. From now on I believe their discussions about their own flatulence and that of others will be peppered with the phrase whizzpopper with a conspiratorial giggle!

:::::::::::::::::::Slideshow Project:::::::::

I am almost finished with a slideshow project for a gentlemen in Troop 129. He went to Philmont along with his son and some other young men from their Troop. I helped him do a slideshow for his eldest son's Eagle project, so he asked if I would do a video for his Philmont trip. I finished the pan and zoom edits and I will be adding music this week. I hope it turns out the way he envisions.

::::::::::::::::::Poison Ivy Update:::::::::

I am close to being healed of the tell tale signs of this nasty experience. Aaron recoils less when he touches my legs. I should have little to no scarring. But as I was healing the poison ivy was growing, so it looks like there will be a rematch. ****High Noon Gun whistling music**** I don't hold out much hope for me coming out unscathed in such a hideous reunion.

::::::::::::::::::Short Attention Span Theatre:::::::

In this episode of Short Attention Span Theatre we meet Noah Taylor who can be sitting at the table during a prayer and then 2 minutes later wonder why everyone is eating because the prayer hasn't been said. Whereby everyone else responds, "We just said it! Weren't you listening?!?!"


:::::::::::Digital Converts:::::::::::

My friend Kim is very interested in playing with pixels, so I hope to see her creative talents in a few months when she gets a chance to get some software and learn this craft.

::::::::::Let's Go Fly a Kite::::::::::::
...up to the highest heights...Come, let's go fly a kite!

We are off to fly a kite with Eve at Stone Mountain. She has wanted one desperately since she played with one a week ago and I saw a cool one at Target. Eve kissed the kite when I gave it to her. Hmmm...I think she appreciated it.

Smiles!

Where, Oh Where Has Victoria Gone?

...Where, Oh Where can she be?

My friend, Anna, made me laugh out loud when she posted this query to me at Digishoptalk.


::::::::::::::Noahism from Tuesday::::

"This stuff reminds me of heaven!" (said in a dreamy tone of voice). What so enchanted Noah, you may ask? Well it was Sprite, the elixer of the gods. No, we don't get out much! The girls were almost as elated when I put Grenadine in their Sprite.

****CONSUMER ALERT****
This morning I read this article:
http://wsbradio.com/news/041207listerinerecall4a.html
My kids each have a bottle, so they don't share germs (really it's because Noah won't touch anyone elses stuff...EVER!) I have printed out the refund form and pulled the upc labels and will try to get it in the mail today.
Here is the companies consumer statement: Agent Cool Blue


::::::::::Eve's Front Teeth:::::

are looking pale gray from the front and black from the back. Two months ago the neighbor boy was playing too rough and tripped her. She hit face first on the driveway. She ended up with a skinned nose, fat lip, bruised and scrapped gum tissue and very slightly loose teeth. I cleaned her up and kept an eye for any signs of infection. She healed quickly and as the gum healed the teeth were held firmly in place. Michael was playing with her and she threw her head back laughing and he noticed how bad her teeth looked from behind. I called for an appointment the next morning. Our regular dentist took x-rays of the front teeth and said that at least one needed to be pulled. He referred me to an oral surgeon, Dr. Glenn Maron, who has an office right by the Margaret Mitchell House in downtown Atlanta. This doctor will be leaving for Honduras for a medical mission trip to benefit poor children. Since Eve's tooth had an abcess I wanted her seen right away before the doctor left.

I called Michael and let him know what was happening and said I would be taking her downtown for a 3:00pm consultation. He knows I hate driving downtown's narrow streets, so he called me back and volunteered to take Eve to the appointment. I said he didn't have to do that just because I hate to drive downtown doesn't mean I can't. He insisted that it was okay with his supervisor, Richard, and he would take her. I met him at his work at 2:00pm and dropped Evey off. She was so excited because I billed this as "Daddy-Daughter Day!"

Michael said that Dr. Maron was very personable and talked to him like a colleague when explaining Eve's problem. The doctor even had Eve explain what caused the problem in the first place. He started the story..."So you were walking through the forest and you saw an elephant..."
Eve replied laughingly, "No! It was James! My face hit the driveway!" The doctor explained that he would make Evey fall asleep and while she was sleeping her would pull her tooth. She seemed okay with the idea.


::::::::::::::Random Acts of Kindness:::::::::::

Michael's blog has a great entry on one of our favorite commercials with a wonderful message.
In fact, Anna, who I mentioned earlier did a Random Act of Kindness for me when she gave me a beautiful kit by Gina Cabrera. She also creates amazing art work that she allows folks to download. Check out her site and learn about an super creative talent :Paper Moons

:::::::::::::Home School Stuff:::::::

Aaron and I have been using some great study materials created by a group called "The Standard Deviants". Our latest titles from their repertoire have been: "French: part one", "American Government" parts one and two, "Biology" and "Grammar".

:::::::::::::Poison Ivy: Update::::::::

My legs look muy nasty! I look like I had a motorcyle accident while wearing shorts. There are areas that are still weeping, but on the whole I think I'm healing. I love to tease the kids that if they don't behave I'm going to touch with my legs. SCREAMS OF TERROR! My arms look like a cross between ebola and leprosy...but on a very good day, OF COURSE! My stomach only itches a little, so I'm sure all be bathing suit fit by 2008! (One must have attainable goals! ;) )

Y'all have a FANTABULOUS day!

Headstand

This is an old shot of my husband's grandmother, Lavone Moulton and her daughter Madeleine. Lavone loved to do headstands, whether it be the beach or the front yard. She was a hoot! (I wish this was a clearer shot, but it really shows her fun spirit!)


Loopy Loop Kit by Studio Sandra Boddington coming soon to Scrapbookgraphics!
I also used Studio Sandra's Extra Stitching.




::::::::::::

We read Junie B. Jones: Dumb Bunny in 2 days. These books are hilarious to me! The books are also relatively short, so I just keep reading. The author, Barbara Park, captures children and their personalities so well. This was an enjoyable read.


::::::::::::Excerpt from The Phantom Tollbooth

pp. 174 & 175

Milo has just been asked a question by the Dodecahedron in Digitopolis and wasn't able to answer very quickly, so the Dodecahedron said:

"You'll have to do better than that," scolded the Dodecaedron, "or you'll never know how far you've gone or whether or not you've gotten there."
"I'm not very good at problems," admitted Milo.
"What a shame," sighed the Dodecahedron. "They're so very useful. Why, did you know that if a beaver two feet long with a tail a foot and a half long can build a dam twelve feet high and six feet wide in two days, all you would need to build Boulder Dam is a beaver sixty-eight feet long with a fifty-one-foot tail?"
"Where would you find a beaver that big?" grumbled the Humbug as his pencil point snapped.
"I'm sure I don't know," he replied, "but if you did, you'd certainly know what to do with him."
"That's absurd," objected Milor, whose head was spinning from all the numbers and questions.
"That may be true," he acknowledged, "but it's completely accurate, and as long as the answer is right, who cares if the question is wrong? If you want sense, you'll have to make it yourself."


::::::::::::I spoke too soon!::::::::::::

My poison ivy has spread. I have a few places of particularly unattractive places where the cell walls are swelling and collapsing. I feel like a maple tree in Vermont. This has become a particularly unenjoyable experience. The bright side is that Noah told me in the car, "I hope it doesn't kill you." I responded, "Thank you, Noah." To whit he replied..."I mean, I really hope you don't die!"
I love that kid!

:::::::::::The Tennessee Aquarium and Ruby Falls:::::::

We took the kids to the Tennessee Aquarium and Ruby Falls yesterday. The weather was gorgeous and the kids loved running around. We even saw our neighbor Shelly and her son Charles, while I was waiting to get tickets at the Auarium. Michael and I have some great photos to share, but we are going to the High Museum of Art with the kids today, so I will have to post them later. We had a blast petting stingrays and having butterflies land on us at the different exhibits!

We stopped and got handmade fudge at a little shop during the day and had lunch at T.G.I. Fridays. We also stopped at Ben and Jerry's Icecream shop. Rachel had "Half-Baked" frozen yogurt, Aaron had "Chocolate Fudge Brownie", Noah and Eve both wanted plain Chocolate icecream. I got the "Black Raspberry" frozen yogurt. YUMMY!

After we took the tour down to Ruby Falls the kids got to "pan" for gemstones in a sluice set up by the kids' play area. The kids had such fun sifting through the silt to find something beautiful and shiny. (There is a metaphor for life here, I believe).

Have a fabulously...non-itchy...day!

Smiles!

I Can Tell Spring is Here Because...

I have
Poison Ivy. I have it on the backs of my legs and above where my gloves didn't cover my arm. It is a relatively mild case. I had poison ivy really bad about 2 years ago, so this is just a mild itchy walk in the, proverbial, park!





_{Primitive Scrapbook and Primitive Photography by Mo Jackson, Doodles by Ida, Date Stamp from Simply Irresistable kit by Gina Cabrera, Font: DB Michael, Wonton}
::::::::::::Excerpts from The Phantom Tollbooth

pp. 167 & 168:

"If everything you say is true," added Tock.
"Then, without a doubt," Milo concluded brightly, "you must be Canby."

"Of course, yes, of course," the man shouted. "Why didn't I think of that? I'm as happy as can be." Then he quickly sat down, put his head in his hands, and sighed. "But I'm also as sad as can be."
"Now will you tell me where we are?" asked Tock as he looked around the desolate island.
"To be sure," said Canby; "you're on the Island of Conclusions. Make yourself at home. You're apt to be here for some time."
"But how did we get here?" asked Milo, who was still a bit puzzled by being there at all.
"You jumped, of course," explained Canby. "That's the way most everyone gets here. It's really quite simple; every time you decide something without having a good reason, you jump to Conclusions whether you like it or not. It's such an easy trip to make that I've been here hundreds of times."

....to get away from the Island of Conclusion you have to swim through the Sea of Knowledge. This is what Canby said about it: (p.169 & 170)

"...you can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and still come out completely dry. Most people do."

....just a little later...

"But from now on I'm going to have a very good reason before I make up my mind about anything. You can lose too much time jumping to Conclusions."


:::::::::::::::::Conference:::::::::::::

We watched Conference over at my parents' house. The talks were inspiring. I have several to go back and highlight when the hard copies are available. Elder Holland, President Faust, Elder Uchtdorf, and Elder Eyring were just a few stand outs.

Smiles!