Geekly Pleasures

:::::::::::::::::Court of Honor:::

Aaron conducted the meeting for Scouts. We had a pretty good turn out and the boys, Aaron's age got most of the merit badge and advancements. The slideshow ended up being finished on Michael's laptop because mine kept shutting off. The whole thing came together just fine. I used songs from Jack Johnson, U2, Jars of Clay and Switchfoot.
:::::::::::::::::Layouts:::::::::



This is the cake from lesson 4 of Wilton 1 cake decorating class. My mom was so kind to give me a gift certificate. My roses came out ruffled because my icing was too stiff, but my DH said he liked the shabby chic look.

<sub>Credits: Serenity Now by Anna Benjamin http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20848&cat=0&page=1


Vintage Lace Alpha by Anna Benjamin


http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=20739&cat=0&page=1

Font: DJB Messie Amanda by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick</sub>

:::::::::::::::::Podcasts::::::::

Michael has hooked me up with some cool podcasts for my daily walks. So far, I've listened to Astronomy Cast with Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

Wave Particle Duality

Getting Around the Solar Systemand

Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett:

Inside Mormon Faith

A History of Doubt

Here are some things from blogs of two awesome cyber gals:

From Carol's blog:

Righto. A bit of background, it apparently started at Smokey Mountain Breakdown and the rules are that you answer each of the five questions, then tag five bloggers to pass the meme to. Have them link back to you and to the original post as the source meme.


1. What food do you consider the best "date" food? In other words what meal or food item do you think is sexiest to eat in the company of someone you would like to look sexy around?

Any food you have to eat using chopsticks, because dexterity is sexy! :)

2. What well-known person would you like to share a meal with—with or without clothing. (saying whether or not clothes are involved is optional).

Well if the beach towel is big enough...I would love a sit down and share a meal with Russell Crowe. I would like to ask him about some of the movies he was in that I enjoy like "Master and Commander" and "Gladiator".

3. What does your perfect breakfast-in-bed look like? (Food AND the details, please. Candles? Music? Flowers? Hot tub? Dancing girls?

French Toast, Grits, Orange Juice on a Spring day with a cool breeze fluttering through open windows and the morning light streaming in. Birds happily chirping in the trees.

4. What do you consider the best application of whipped cream to be?

Whipped cream screams for a nice warm brownie and vanilla bean ice cream.


5. Oh-Gosh-No, Biff, the yacht is sinking! You are sent to the galley to retrieve the food. What luxury food items do you snatch first? The champagne? The caviar? Smoked Salmon? Truffles? Chocolate? Or something else?

The chocolate, as I rush quickly for the life jacket.



From Julie's blog prompt:

ONE WORD


answer with just one word...it's harder than you think...

1. Where is your cell phone? none
2 . Your significant other? hottie
3. Your hair? highlighted
4. Your mother? cool
5. Your father? busy
6. Your favorite thing? walking
7. Your dream last night? forgot
8. Your favorite drink? milk
9. Your dream/goal? Mini
10. The room you're in? living
11. Your ex? none
12. Your fear? falling
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Australia
14. Where were you last night? Scouts
15. What you're not? simple
16. Muffins? blueberry
17. One of your wish list items? lasik
18. Where you grew up? suburbs
19. The last thing you did? chauffeur
20. What are you wearing? sweats
21. Your TV? off
22. Your pets? ferret
23. Your computer? wonky
24. Your life? busy
25. Your mood? thoughtful
26. Missing someone? Granddaddy
27. Your car? Voyager
28. Something you're not wearing? earrings
29. Favorite Store? hardware
30. Your summer? sticky
31. Like someone? yes
32. Your favorite color? green
33. When is the last time you laughed? minutes
34. Do you cry a lot? no

Now it's your turn!


Smiles!

Let Them Eat Cake...

because I need to get rid of my class project! :)


Credits: Font by Darcy Baldwin called DJB KIRA at The Digichick, Background paper by Jen Wilson from Nostalgia #4, Jenna Desai's Doodle Mask Frame, Cluster frame by Nancy Comelab.

:::::::::::::::::::Grab A Fleece Blanket and Some Popcorn:::::

My dear spouse speaks wife. To be more exact he speaks the dialect of wife called Victoria. It is a specific dialect and very hard to translate. He also reads my blog and knew I wanted to watch this version of "Pride and Prejudice". What is even cooler is that he wants to watch it with me. This is such a cool Valentine's Day gift. Good Stuff, I tell ya!

We went together to our local Mexican restaurant, Sangria's for Valentine's Day dinner. Rachel scarfed down 3 helpings of refried black beans. She assured us she was safe for closed in spaces, so we agreed to drive her home after the meal. I'm an enchilada supreme gal. Michael loves the fish tacos. Noah orders chicken strips and fries. What a nut! Aaron went for chicken and rice soup with two soft beef tacos...NO lettuce. Eve is a simple girl. She likes refried beans and Mexican rice. The restaurant gave me a red carnation for Valentine's and Eve proudly held it all the way home.

::::::::::::::::Another Layout in My SIL's Album:::::::

My niece, Teresa, on a trip to San Francisco sponsored by AFLAC Cancer Center. She "acquired" the tour guides beret and having fun hamming it up for the camera.


Credits:
Darcy Baldwin: DJB KIRA at The Digichick
Michelle Godin: Springtime in Paris kit (I think that is the name)
Catrine: Explore Solids and Laura Alpha
Christina Renee: Book Plate Alpha


::::::::::::::::::::I've Been Tagged:::::::::::::
Carol has tagged me to divulge 7 random facts about myself that would astound and amaze you! LOL Or just stuff you don't already know.

THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

1.I'll start with a weird fact. I can't stand flies in a room with me. I turn it into a seek and destroy mission. I have perfected how to come up behind them and steady the book, or magazine and...THWAP!. Michael says I get an insane glint in my eye when I'm doing this.
2. One of my favorite things to do as a kid was sit near the window while the sun streamed in so I could catch the light just right in my eyes and look at the blood vessels, eye lashes and floatie things.
3. I love manual transmission cars, but I don't have one. I know, grab a violin to play for my pity party.
4. I prefer to go barefoot pretty much in any weather, but snow on the ground and I hate the feel of my barefoot on the car accelerator or brake. So, there are exceptions.
5. I love to dance with my husband, but I always want to lead. I have had some rudimentary dance lessons, but I can't seem to just let go and let someone else lead. Type A personality, did you say?
6. My favorite ride at an amusement park is the bumper cars. I could stay there all day smelling the ozone and crashing into folks. Pure glee, I tell you!
7. I can't sleep past about 7:30am even when I have no where to go. I also prefer to stay up late, then complain about not getting enough sleep. Self-fulfilling prophecies are marvelous, don't ya think?!

If you want to play...No PRESSURE...

Michael...cause I'm sure after 18 years there is still things I can learn.
My SIL, Melissa,
My neighbor, Kristen
My friend, Kim...she has the best reading lists for me to check out.
My stepdad, Jim...he's a riot!
My BIL, Marcus, an amazing photographer.
Mariquita...an amazing scrapbook artist

::::::::::::::::::::::Well, My head Says::::::::

go take a decongestant, so I will away now. I would like to quickly thank Eve for coughing in my face while I held her in my loving and protective arms. Please folks, remember to cough into the crook of your arm. This PUBLIC SERVICE announcement and pity party is over...FOR NOW! :)

Voices From Our Past:

This one is a layout of Noah using the audio tour to learn about the history of Ellis Island. He was able to hear interviews of some of the immigrants. I also mention in the layout his newest nervous tick, which is shifting his lower jaw. His first nervous tick is called a blepharospasm, which is a nervous eye tick. He developed that one last Summer. It shows up in periods of stress. Much of his stress has to do with arguing with Aaron. Unfortunately, they do bucket loads of disagreeing. ARGH! The lower jaw thing started near the end of school. The photos were funny to me because I caught him at several stages...punching in the audio code...noticing I was taking his photograph...smiling coyily...finally, giving me the goofy crossed eyes. I also included another art piece by Phillip Ratner.


:::::::::::::I Was Tagged::::::::::::::

by Kristen! She is so thoughtful to have included me in her group of 5 Rockin' ladies!



Thanks, again!



::::::::New family reading book:
Escape from the Carnivale: A Never Land Adventure by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry

Here is a book review from Kidsread.com



:::::::::::::It was brought to my attention::::::

that I forgot to Simpsonize 3 of our dear family members, so I have corrected my oversight:


***WARNING: SERIOUS SUBJECT MATTER BELOW:

The next book on my personal reading list is The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo. I read an article about the book in an issue of Discover magazine while I was waiting for Rachel to get her braces adjusted at the orthodonist. (Just click on the word Discover for a direct link to the article). Philip Zimbardo conducted prison experiments using college students at Stanford University. From the excerpt I read his experiment had to be called off early because of the abuses by the students who were in the guard group. Highly disturbing was the finding that when the students were able to shield their eyes with mirrored glasses and given a uniform that did not individually identify them they began to feel they had unlimited power and no accountability. The outcome from this experiment was a warning to everyone to be on guard and realize that each of us has a capacity to do evil and if we recognize and admit that part of us that we can be on guard for falling into the trap of making evil choses.

I look forward to reading this book. I always remember the maxim: Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Tagged Tuesday:

I was tagged by my digi pal Julie P., so here goes.
The rules: Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following...They MUST be real places, names, things...NOTHING made up! If you can't think of anything, skip it. Try to use different answers if the person before you had the same 1st initial. You CAN'T use your name for the boy/girl name question...
SCATTERGORIES...it's harder than it looks!
Your Name: babyofmine
1. Famous Singer/Band: Vedder, Eddie
2. 4 letter word: Vest
3. Street: Victoria St.
4. Color: Vermillion
5. Gifts/Presents:
6. Vehicle: Buick
7. Things in a Souvenir Shop:
8. Boy Name: Vernon
9. Girl Name: Valerie
10. Movie Title: Vacation
11. Drink: Vermouth
12. Occupation: Veterinarian
13. Flower: Vanilla
14. Celebrity: Viveca Lindfors
15. Magazine: Veterans
16. U.S. City: Valhalla
17. Pro Sports Teams: Vikings
18. Fruit: ?
19. Reason for Being Late for Work: Vexed at sleeping in.
20. Something You Throw Away: Vacuum
21. Things You Shout: "Varmint"!
22. Cartoon Character: Veronica (from the Archie and Jughead Comics)


::::::::::::::::Just When You Thought You Were Safe:::::::::

Two more Shutterfly Albums came in yesterday:


<sub>Doodlebird by Meredith Fenwick, Crayon Doodles by Ida, Background paper by Rhonna Farrer, City Limits Doodle by Andrea Burns, Glassy blue brads from Movin' On by Sandra Boddington at Scrapbookgraphics, Glitter swirl from Michelle Coleman's Birthday Elements, Weather Doodle and Birthday Girl Doodle by Kate Hadfield, Font: Tk doodle by Taran Conyers, The "rose colored glasses" were from the letter "g" in 2Peas DW Summer Fun, Journal paper From Just Need to Write My Thoughts by Lauren Grier



Papers and brushes from Peachy Keen by Rhonna Farrer, Font: Jane Austen/ Hello Sark</sub>


:::::::::::::::::::My Knight in Shinging Armor:::::::

rode up on his steely grey iron horse and fixed my tire. Aaron, Evey and I went to the library to deal with my crazy dvd requesting situation. We were there about an hour and a half. The librarians were kind enough to explain some nuances of the library system to me. For example, now I know how to use the suspended request and my list functions to delay my requests, while maintaining them in an accessible form. I did end of checking out the collections on religion for kids for a comparative religion study I'm doing today, Inventors, several Eyewitness films, and a series for health on the human body. For Noah I checked out all the movies on the Transformers so we can get steeped in Transformer history for the upcoming movie. For Evey I checked out a couple of My Little Pony movies, Angelina Ballerina and Strawberry Shortcake. Rachel really likes the Eyewitness stuff, so everyone was covered.

Sooooo, we walk out and deposit the 3 plastic grocery bags and one armful of videos into the car and I noticed the front tire was flat. We were already running late for our end of the year party for Homeschool run club, but I didn't want to drive on it and bend the rim. We went back in and the librarians let Aaron call Michael at work. He took the rest of the day off and came to get us. He said I had enough air in the tire to drive the short mile home. We grabbed the stuff for run club from my car and all of us went to the park for the party.

The got to eat pizza and snacks, while the kids had a squirt gun fight on the lawn. Eve, Michael and I stayed dry and ate strawberries and brownies. The squirt gun fight was halted long enough for Aaron and the other children to recieve trophies and awards for participating the the Presidental Fitness program. Then, back to another half hour of maniac squirting.

When we got home Michael found the problem with my tire. I had run over a nasty old screw. He put a plug in the tire and filled it with air. I need two new front tires anyway since my car is front wheel drive the tires loose tread much quicker in the front than the rear.

::::::::::::::::::::A Good Knight's Work::::::::

is never done! Michael took a quick shower then went off to his scheduled apheresis appointment at the Red Cross. They accidentally missed his vein in his right arm and the fluid created a golf ball sized swelling. He called their attention to it and they fixed the problem. OUCH! He watched Mission Impossible 3, which he said was awful, while he gave platelets.

::::::::::::::::::::New Suit:::::::::::

I took the girls to Target and the grocery store, while the boys watched Transformers. Eve informed me that she liked my flip flops and it didn't bother her to have the strap between her toes anymore, and she wanted some right now. Rachel needed another swimsuit, so we picked up one for her. It is a light robin's egg blue and brown with a hibiscus pattern. It is 3 pieces, so she can get to the restroom quickly. She will wear the surf shirt with the bottom piece and the bikini top will stay in the drawer to pair it up when she grows out of it. On Saturday, Michael and I picked up a tankini for Eve. It is pink with a hibiscus pattern. The surf shirt and shorts look adorable.

::::::::::::::::::::This is hilarious::::::::

A great digi-gal, Carol, is participating in an amazing challenge about things that never really happened.Carol's blog. Her layout is so funny. I'm going to have to try this bit of nuttiness!

::::::::::::::::::::Jaw Dropping Amazing::::::::

Dream House post by Sande Krieger is BRILLIANT! She has crafted an intricate home symbolizing some of the wonderful aspects of her family. I am in AWE!

Tagged:

This is a blog first for me, but my friend, Janna, tagged me and these were the guidelines:

In a new blog post, list and write about 5 to 10 methods you use to create original posts. At the start of your post, tell your audience (briefly or at length) what you are doing with the “Be Original” Project and link to the project. Link/track back to the blogger who tagged you for “Be Original” Share your “Be Original” methods with your own audience Pick as many bloggers as you want and “tag” them to take part in the fun…After all, that is how a meme works (a unit of cultural information transferable from one mind to another). Sit back and learn from the discussion.”


1. I blog about the books I read to my children for “Family Reading Time”. This is a book I usually review at the end, unless I am overwhelmed with excitement and post mid-book.
2. I also blog about any personal books that I am reading.
3. I like to include layouts of events my family and I have done together, and to mix things I up I usually don’t do anything chronologically.
4. I also like to create layouts that show my quirky sense of humor and often involve extended family members.
5. I include funny things my kids’ say. For the most part, I post what my son, Noah, says because they tend to be the most off the wall.
6. I throw in some homeschool supplemental curriculum ideas.

You're supposed to tag someone, so if Anna would like to do this it would be cool. Her blog is always original.



::::::::::::::::::::::California Condor::::::::::


Our kids were fascinated by the California Condor at the Grand Canyon. They also participated in The Junior Ranger Program, which was a lot of fun.

Journal paper by Catrine,
Staples by Michelle Coleman and KSharonK,
Doodle frame by Kate Hadfield,
Negative Frame by Gina Miller,
Leather ribbon from Giddy Up by Mary Fran,
Bird overlay from Scrap Girls,
Background paper from Springbreak by Dani Mogstad, Date Stamp and tab by Amber Clegg,
Fonts: DB Michael by Darcy at blueflombingo/ Distress.


::::::::::::::::::: Another Layout from the Tennessee Aquarium:::::::


_{Background watercolor paper by Susan Long, Scalloped edge by Gina Cabrera from Simply Irresistable kit, Date Stamp by Mindy Wade, title and patterned paper from Dear Diary by Erica Hite, Cluster frame by Nancy Comelab, Font: DB Michael by Darcy at blueflombingo}

Smiles!