Happy Birthday, Noah!

_{Yellow background by Amy Wolff, doodles by Kate Hadfield, staple by Michelle Coleman, and tag from Welli Designs at wedoscrap}

::::::::::::Ocean's of Fun::::::::::





Text: A Tuna Fish that can't carry a tune? A Star Fish that can't get an acting job? A seven-legged Octopus? A Zebra Fish with spots? Join in the aquatic fun as little Tiger Shark and his unique collection of friends discover how their differences make them each special.

STAY BACK! STAY BACK!
STAY BACK from Great White! We guard him all day! We guard him all night!

Noah was a swordfish guard in his First grade production of Oceans of Fun". Dad, Aaron, Eve and Mom were in attendance.

Song: "We're Sharks! Leaving our marks!"

Summer Collab Kit at The Lily Pad,
Cluster Frames by Nancy Comelab,
Pirate Doodles and Musical Doodles by Kate Hadfield,
Thought bubble, arrow doodle and wave doodle from Dear Diary By Erica Hite,
Orange fish doodle by Pascaline,
Font: Farrah/ Mia's Scribbling/ Susie's Hand




Mom, Michael, the kids and I went to see the first showing of the morning for Shrek 3 on Saturday. The animation was spectacular. My favorite part, visually, was the wet fur on Puss and Donkey. The sub plots are always a lot of fun giving layers on meaning to this humorous adventure. I think my right and left lobes of my brain got all twisted up during a scene with Pinocchio! I think the visual homage to The Bionic Man with "Gingy" the Gingerbread Man was a hilarious! Prince Charming in his 80's leg warmers made me think of Fame. Eric Idle voicing a Birkenstock wearing Merlin was so perfect. The writers and artists seem like they grew up with me and watched the same shows, so the jokes seem crafted for me, but my kids got it on the physical comedy level. The soundtrack for the film also reminded me of some of my favorite 70's and 80's artists. The kids loved Snow White's sweet singing changing to the primal scream of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song".

Since we joke about Noah being all thumbs we will use a Noah rating system for the film today and give it 10 THUMBS UP!

::::::::::::::::::::Noah's Bowling Party::::::::::

We took Noah Cosmic bowling for his party. Noah, Granny Alice, Rachel, Carson, James, and Hayden played on the bumper lanes, while Michael, Aaron and I bowled on a regular lane. Aaron beat us both times. Noah's favorite gift was an "Omnitrix" from Granny and Grandpa Towhey, which is from the show Ben 10 on Cartoonnetwork. The Omnitrix allows the wearer to turn into one of 10 different aliens. Michael and I bought him a digital camera that we found on clearance at Wolf camera. It is a Canon with large controls, so we thought that would be easier for his little hands. He got a couple of Ben 10 action figures and some fun planet stickers for his walls. Granny Alice got him a voice changer, little pump rocket, a swimsuit and beach towel. We had a cookie cake with an alien on it that Noah didn't want to eat. He just wasn't interested. Everyone else enjoyed their pieces of cake (Eve licked the icing off her).

:::::::::::::::::::::Ninja Warrior:::::::

After the party we went to my parent's house and watched t.v. The one show we all liked was Ninja Warrior. The obstacles were pretty cool and each contestant had us rooting for them because we were amazed that they would try this stuff. The most dizzying was a barrel roll down an incline. The other interesting aspect to the show was that no one actually has to win. Another thing is the number of people who keep trying.

:::::::::::::::::::::Sunday:::::::::

Leading music was kinda crazy on Sunday. Michael made the comment that it was like all of the kids were on crack. They were all squirmy and chattery, and the older boys were literally bouncing off the walls.

We went to my Dad's house after Church and showed them my Shutterfly books and had a yummy lunch. Alice had made sweet potatoes, pinto beans with okra, cornbread, sliced tomatoes, turkey breast. My dad just got back from his second trip to Liberia on a mission trip for his church. He leaves today for North Carolina where he will be helping re-build a house for a blind lady. Later on in the Summer he and Alice will both go to Montana to help out with service there and to do some sight-seeing.

Then, we had family home evening on the opposite side of the highway in McDonough...(pronounced "McDonna" *thanks for the translation Donny and Kim :). Again, I showed off my various Shutterfly books. The kids were thoroughly filthy from playing with the dogs in the back yard and just playing around. They had a lot of fun playing with their cousins.

The kids were exhausted when we got home, but they were dirty so they all got a bath. I thought Rachel was going to disintegrate into a puddle of estrogen because she was so tired. I helped her wash her hair while she soaped herself up and rinsed. No time to read just prayers and sleep.

:::::::::::::::::::Finishing Slideshow today:::::::::

I'm finishing up the slideshow project today. I have to design the cd cover and burn it with the lightscribe printer, then create the dvd cover. Unfortunately, my color ink is running out and I can't find a replacement. I need to check a couple more stores today.

Smiles!

Mementos:

Noah created this artwork just for me! He was very protective of the painting and was upset when I glanced at it before Mother's Day. After several minutes of consoling his tender feelings I was able to convince him that I could forget what it looked like exactly. I was, Happily, surprised on Sunday when my sweet son gave me this painting of a clown. The hands are extra special because they are his traced hands. The hands are also his and my favorite color, green.
Thank you, Noah, for my Mother's Day present!

_{Sande Krieger's French Laundry Papers, Coasters, and Alpha, Borderlines 2 Rhonna Farrer's Snapshot Frames and Paint Strokes, Tia Bennett's Joined at the Hip kit. Font: Mia's Scribblings}

::::::::::::::::Epcot Bands::::::::

We really enjoyed the music at Epcot, especially Off Kilter in the Canadian Pavillion. Some of our other highly recommended music stops are Mo Rocka, the Mariachi band is fabulous, and Mazuriza (or Masuriza).



_{Doodle Frame and Music Doodles by Kate Hadfield, Font: DB Michael}

::::::::::::::::::::Insight::::::::::

Michael's blog can give you a little insight on our family and our particular weirdness.


:::::::::::::::::::It's Shaping Up:::::::::

to be a buzy weekend. Aaron has the end of the season bowling party this Friday. It will be 9 pins, no tap, which means if you knock down 9 pins it counts as a strike. We are taking Noah Cosmic Bowling for his birthday. Sunday is a big Family Home Evening with Michael's family. It is supposed to be a picnic outside with lots of different salads.

Now, to run and rustle up the children for some grub! *( just had to share this quirky thought: If I was a beetle and I had to wake my kids, then I would be rustling up the grub for some food....Hmmm?!?)

BACK TO YOUR LIVES, CITIZENS!

Daddy Daughter Bowling:

_{background paper from Sassy kit by KSharonK, Arrows and doodle hardware by Kate Hadfield from her blog, paint stroke by Christine Smith, Bowling title and image from the Bowling kit by Ronnie McCray, Borderlines by Sande Krieger, Inked edge by Shabby Princess from Studio Chic, Font: Amelie by Sara Carling/Belisa plumilla manual}

They both had a great time!

Now onto Noah's Pinewood Derby pics.

Dorothy took the Yellow Brick Road:

while I chose the Psycho Path!

This turn of a phrase had Michael and the kids laughing on the way home from a nice family dinner out. We only had to tell Eve and Noah to get out from under the table once. The waitress was very friendly. Michael spent the time waiting for our main course by showing the kids how to "bend" their forks, pretend to stick straws up their nose, and how to "push" the salt shaker through the table. They all tried their hand at the fork bending and straw tricks.

::::::::::::First Basketball Game:::::::::

Aaron enjoyed his first game. He wants to learn how to play better and his coach was very encouraging. (Aaron is the kid in the middle with glasses, white t-shirt and blue jersey)

::::::::::::Daddy Daughter Bowling:::::::::

Rachel and Michael had a blast at the Girl Scout sponsored event at the local bowling alley. They took pictures of all the dads with their girls and the one of Rachel and Michael is marvelous! I need to reconnect my scanner, so I can post it here. Rachel snapped a few crazy photos of Michael.
Michael took a photo of Rachel sending it right down the center heading for a strike: Here is there final score:
Rachel: 98 and Michael 142

Yeah for a great day!

Paws for Thought:

here is the other character from Disney World who put their paw on Rachel's face and made her laugh. This picture was taken the day after the one with Stitch.


_{Echoes of Asia kit from Jessica Sprague, fortune by Holly McCaig, frayed edges by Erica Hite, Date Stamp by Jenn Star, frame doodle by Jackie Eckles, Font: Wonton}

::::::::::::::Weekend Plans:::::::::

Aaron is going to play in his Church basketball game on Saturday. It should be interesting, so I'll report back on this one. Later in the afternoon Rachel and Michael have a Daddy Daughter Bowling Party. I have a baby shower and lost the invitation at Church right after I glanced over it, so I have to call for the time. The shower is for a new girl baby, so I will make some little crocheted edge bead socks. In the evening their is a wedding reception for a young man I taught when he was a Sunbeam (age 3-4) and his dad is our Bishop now. But above all of these today is Friday and that is sleepover night at Granny and Grandpa's house...this always reigns supreme in the kids "date books"!

***EDITED---
This just in: Granny Sue has been invaded by the insidious virus that has plagued the rest of us!!! We all send our love at a bit of a distance. Get WELL soon! We love you!

What's Livin' in Your House?

Michael found a bird nest and a mud dauber nest in the vent in the side of our house where there was a vent that was "closed up" by the previous owners. He had to split the stud because the power cord ran through it, so he could repair the spot. He put in a new stud and patched the spot, then Tyveked the wall.
I was the glorified garbage gal. I caulked for just a bit...until I cut my leg on the flashing above the garage window. I didn't know I had cut my leg until I looked down. The stuff is rather sharp, so it was a nice clean cut.
My dad is taking a 3 day weekend off to go hunting with his nephew, so I will try to do some small stuff like clean up the work site and buy some new crown molding for the eaves and the porch.


::::::::::Eve:::::::::::::::
Looks like a poster child for Band-Aid. She twirls and trips through the garage, yard and work site. She has bruises, cuts and scraps. She cried her self to sleep this afternoon after she tripped on something in the garage and scrapped her knee for the second time in two days. I may have driven up the stock value in the Knee Band-Aids, alone!


:::::::::Noah:::::::::::::

Noah went with me to the grocery store. This is where I discovered one of Noah's bizarre fixations...coupon collecting. There are little plastic coupon holders on various places down each aisle. Noah had a wild gleam in his eye each time he spotted one. Noah explained his enthusiasm by telling me that if their is a coupon that means the item is free. He didn't want to hear about the actual rules in involved in the coupon world.

When I pushed the cart up to the side of the car Noah said, "I'll get these; you can get in the car!" He was serious. Several items were rather heavy so I assisted him, but he was equally as enthusiastic putting groceries in the car as acquiring coupons. When we arrived home he offered to take in the bag that contained his chicken tenders and that was it. Put a fork in him folks...he's done!


::::::::::::::Rachel:::::::::::

Was supposed to have Field Day at school today. I woke her up and reminded her to dress in a sweat suit so she could do all of the days activities and she promptly cried. She said she hated Field Day because she couldn't choose what she wanted to participate in. She also said that she didn't want to cause her class to be disqualified in any of the races. Apparently, her class had done a preliminary sack race and she fell down and out of the sack and her class was disqualified. She also has never liked the school's physical education teacher. He has a jock mentality, which is not surprising for his job. When Aaron was attending public school this same teacher made fun of Aaron for not being able to climb a rope, which caused other kids to chime in with their comments. The weird thing is this man knows my stepfather's family and happens to be friendly with them.
I called Michael to get his thoughts on the subject. He said, "I hated Field Day! She can do what she wants." He spoke to her and told her he appreciated that she was truthful about why she didn't want to participate and didn't fake being ill, so he would support what ever decision she made. I wrote her a "Get Out of Jail" Free Card by writing a note to the teacher that she was unable to participate, sans any explanation because it was really none of their business.
I asked her if she decided to do any of the events and she said no, but she cheered on her friends. I'm glad Michael is around to be an additional sounding board with the kids.


:::::::::::Aaron::::::::::::

Bowling is tomorrow. He has been trying to get out of school work, but that is normal. We are studying Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler right now. I'm always amazed at how people "see" things through mathematics.

Don't Make a Spectacle of Yourself...

...just wear them! Rachel is officially nearsighted (20/175). Genetics at their finest! She has completed her new chrysalis phase of her transformation. She will now enter the very delicate phase of morphing into a beautiful butterfly. This transformation will take time and, I believe, a large quantity of estrogen! She was so excited to show of her new specs that we drove over to show them off to Grandpa Towhey. On the short drive Michael said Rachel was reading every license plate and street sign. Happily, Grandpa Jim was home and he was excited to see Rachel's new look. Here is Grandpa's blog comments and photo: Click Me!

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




My husband suggested this oxymoron so this is what I did. I kept thinking about the new "Grillz" in the news (the braces with all the bling).

_{Tire Swing, Shirt collar and die from Stockexchange photos
Jewels and Monogram Alpha by Shabby Princess
Overlay by Nancy Rowe Janitz
Leather Alpha by Christie Lyle
Background paper from Monkey Doodle Doo by Christie Lyle and Robin Carlton (modified with a dry brush filter)
Braces a web freebie (modified with jewels by S.P.)
Monkey from Monkey See kit freebie on the web
Sunglasses by Dani B.
Grunge frame by Jessica Sprague}

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Good news: Noah is beginning to read better everyday! The school identified him for a special reading program and he comes home everyday and reads a book to us! YEAH!


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

There will be a viewing for our little friend Tommy who passed away. Michael and I read his obituary and thought it would be appropriate for Michael and the boys to wear these:



Tommy's parents listed that he loved Spongebob, so we felt it was a simple gesture to let his family know we loved Tommy, too!

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

I mowed the lawn...front, back and sides today. My stepdad, Jim, gave me his old push mower because he wanted to get a new one. I suppose he felt sorry for our needing a mower EVERY YEAR! I think the mowers we get are really made by some cretin in the pantyhose industry that moonlights in mower parts for a cheap thrill. In a bit of a pleading tone and in a bit of a snit I asked that my birthday gift, which doesn't come until May, be a self-propelled, easy start motor. I would like either a Honda or a Toro. I think I'm leaning toward a Toro (But don't tell that cretin in the pantyhose industry. He just get a promotion, or a job moonlighting in the Toro factory).

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

Tiger Cubs and Girl Scouts are starting in the next week, so I will put on my chauffers hat and gas up the Queen Victoria Family Truckster. Gas prices have moved down to $2.46. When we use our local grocery store loyalty card and spend at least $100, they take an additional .10 off per gallon.

Fall Homeschool Bowling league starts soon too. Aaron looks forward to seeing his friends again.

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

SMILES!

DE- STRESS:

I got this link from Jenn Star's blog and felt it imperative to pass it on:

BUBBLE WRAP

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

It's Homeschool League bowling day at Brunswick Lanes so we will be running off in a little while for some bowling action!

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


_{Enlighten papers, and tag (from Seasonal Scraps-Rain Shower) by Jen Wilson, Staples by Michelle Coleman, Frame by Rhonna Farrer, Overlay by Nancy Rowe Janitz, Fonts: Pea Lis, another typewriter, century, Distress. Scrabble alpha from a freebie (unknown maker)}

Michael and Lettitia allowed me to take a few shots of them during Makayla's blessing get together after Church. Lettitia has joined the ranks of us old married folk!

This just in--- SPRINKLER NO MATCH FOR TAYLOR KIDS:

_{I used Michelle Coleman's papers and staples from the Scrap Artist Kit called "Summer Whimsy", Fonts: Amanda's Hand, House Sitter's Club, Dirty Ego, Biondi, Stamped DSG, Too Many Secrets, Tempus Sans ITC, Weathered SF, Randy Described Eternity, Punch Label, Pharmacy, Jokerman and Hursheys}

Text: Grandpa Jim was happy to set up the sprinkler for the kids to run through on Saturday. Since we didn't bring swimsuits the kids made do with over-sized T-shirts and extra pairs of underwear. The quotes on these pages are from Noah who often finds strange things to say. He declares them with so much enthusiam that we are left laughing and asking each other, "Did you hear what he said this time?!?"

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Thanks for the comments, Janna, Julie P. and Barbara! I really appreciate hearing from y'all!

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Here is a link to the tutorial I used 90% for the page curl on the Wild Wind of Badlands...It isn't the tutorials fault, but often I simply can't figure stuff out, so I get as close as possible and punt!

Janee's Photoshop Tutorials

I was able to get as far as converting my pen tool points and how to use the gradient tool. My husband said he was proud of me for sticking to it for so long (I was simply wishing that I wasn't so thick that I couldn't figure it out). The more you work at these tutorials you begin to have more and more AHA! moments, and that is fun.

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Aaron starts back with his homeschool league bowling today. We are doing Summer league, which bowls every week. This also means I will have to have constant discussions with the other kids that..."NO...I am not give you any money for the game room." ---INSERT CHILDREN BEGGING----..."NO...I am not give you any money for the game room." This begs the question if this exchange can really be called a discussion if both parties never say anything different and the position on the issue remains eternally fixed?

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We just started reading Wind in the Willows last night (the children have misplaced The Silver Chair. I think this may be a clever ruse for me to get fed up and clean their rooms for them. CLEVER, DIABOLICAL, and well planned in a unplanned, lazy sort of child-like way!