It's over

In a very anti-climactic way Aaron came into our bedroom Friday around noon to announce that he had submitted his last assignment. Barring any strange rejection of the assignment from his instructor he was done with his Masters.

It was kind of disappointing. After he said he was done I just stood there for what seemed like hours, when in fact I'm sure was mere seconds, waiting for the angels to sing or balloons to drop. After 9 long years of schooling there was surely a more substantial way to end it.

Thanks to some wonderful in laws and great friends who watched the kids we were able to go away to Pebble Beach for the weekend to celebrate. I will post pictures tomorrow. We will also be having a big celebration next month for friends and family.

When Daddy gets you dressed

You are 4 years old and end up wearing your baby brothers 6/9 month pants as shorts!

I don't know what is funnier: seeing your son in what resembles girls capris, finding out they are your babies pants, realizing they fit your 4 year old or discovering that Daddy laid them out for the 4 year old to wear! LOL

This made my day to see this when I got to daycare at the end of the day (Daddy dropped the boys off today).

Support System

Many of you know that I have been going through a really rough time lately. I have suffered from depression most of my life. It gets worse after each baby.

After doing some research I believe I have a mild form of bipolar called hypomania. I have had manic episodes after Andrew was born. It was great for a while. I could function on a few hours of sleep, got a lot accomplished and felt like I could conquer the world. Then I began to have anxiety attacks and would black out. Not as much fun.

This time my depression was triggered by another baby, DH in school full time and owning a business. My manic episodes presented as irritability. NOT FUN! I have been short tempered and not a nice person. Everyone around me has suffered.

Thanks to some wonderful friends I attended a post-partum depression class, got an appointment for couples counseling, have an appointment for a medication review and have been able to make a start on discussing my marriage concerns.

So much has changed in the last few years. I am not the same person I was 10 years ago or even 5 years ago. I love my dearest husband with all my heart. I want our marriage to work. I know that we can conquer these changes and learn and grow. I love my kids and look forward to being a happier mom so I can enjoy being around them more. I especially LOVE working. It is so rewarding to work and succeed at something.

I am thankful for all my friends that have been there for me this last week. For a business partner who provides me chocolate and forgives me when I am being an idiot. For employees who see my need for time off and push me out of the store and take over my shift. For customer/friends who take me out to dinner so I can get out. For more employee/friends who jump in to work at the last minute so I can attend meetings. For others who offer me advice and a listening ear. I am grateful for each and every one of you. I would not have made it through this with out you.

TV stars

Today we had some local tv morning news gals come into the store. Sarah and I both love watching their show and get excited every time they mention scrapbook. Just knowing that they are into scrapbooking makes us feel somehow connected.

Right after they left I missed a call from another station. We keep playing phone tag. They want to get us on to do a spot about the classes we teach for FREE at Borders. Thats right everyone you can catch us for FREE. Check out http://www.bordersliveclasses.com/ and search for Fun Crafts with Kids, Beginning Scrapbooking and Scrapbooking your Family History in the hobby section to find out the dates and locations of our next classes.

Then I got a call from a 3rd station. I have been on Sacramento & Co. several times in the past. They asked me to come in this Friday March 21 for Good Friday and do a 5 minutes Easter eggs with children segment. Sarah helped me get some great ideas. After rushing over to the salon to get my roots touched up we went shopping for some materials. I am excited. The activities we have planned should be fun. I was asked by the producer to bring the kids. I really don't think she wants 5 so I will probably bring just 2. To find out which 2 tune in to NEW10 @ 9am. For more information visit http://www.sacandco.net/.


I guess I have become an expert in my field!

Scrapbookers in Action

4 of us gals walked the Shamrock'n 5K today. Adrien, Robyn, Cora and I met at the store and then I drove us to Raley Field for this annual event. We had such a good time.

Adrien and I quickly became seperated from the other 2 as we set our faster pace.

We used this guy as our pacer:

I mean how hard could it be to keep with an 89 year old. Right? Maybe we could even place before him.

Along the way we saw many beautiful buildings and sites including this:

Adrien and I finished in about 52 minutes. Official times are in 51 minutes and 56.2 seconds for me and 52 min 17.6 seconds for Adrien. (Yes we did beat old guy - by about 20 seconds!) We will find out official times once they are posted tonight. Robyn and Cora... well lets just say they finished. I am so proud of them. This was a first for Robyn and a 1st in many years for Cora. Neither have trained at all for this. Yeah girls! Good job!

We had a blast. We raised money for charity (prostate cancer I believe), got some excercise and saw some fun groups of people.

It has been decided that we will form our own group.

Scrapbookers

in
Action

We are going to get shirts made that say Scrapbookers in Action on the front and say 'Scrapbook This' on the back. Logo to be determined. How fun!

For now you can find recent pictures. Soon I will post the upcoming races that we will be participating in. The only requirement to join our group is that you be a scrapbooker (spouses of scrapbookers eligable as long as they support scrapbooking).

Once the shirts are designed I will provide a link so everyone can order one.

To walk or to jog. That is the question.

Well not really since we have all decided to walk this 5K. Some friends and I are walking the Shamrock'N Marathon at Raley Field tomorrow. I should probably know what it is raising funds for but I don't. I am doing it for the excercise and the challenge. I really wanted to walk the half marathon but since I haven't trained and since all my friends are walking the 5K I decided to walk with them. I am hoping to do another half by summer and possibly a full marathon by the end of the year. Maybe the Cow Town?

I figure if I could walk it while 6 months pregnant and not finish last then I can do it while not pregnant. I need to start training again.

Who is with me?

We can start a cyber challenge to get in shape and excercise.

Expert Scrapbooker

How do you become and expert in your field? Are there standards to determining an expert or do you just declare yourself such?

As I have done more media and community events I am often declared a Scrapbook Expert. How did they decide that? Rarely have they seen my work or even my resume. Is it because I have a fairly nice bio listed several places? Maybe because I own a Scrapbook store?

If there is a certian criteria where can I find it?


Last night Sarah and I presented at a Live Borders event. It is interested to be seen as a professional. I still feel like that high school kid who got her first job by having her best friend ask for her. The difference now is that I LOVE teaching adults and don't do so well with teens. LOL. Funny how things change.

I miss my Mom

My Mom passed away 5 years ago next month. She is my inspiration for the name of my blog.
She turned 50 in January, had a stroke and passed away 3 weeks later on April 24. My Mommy was the best ever. After going through things as a child that no one should ever go through she became a better person because of it.

I wish I could only be half as good of a person as she was. I have been missing her a lot lately. I want to call her and tell her what the kids are doing. I want to invite her over to make cards, go shopping and bake. She was an awesome grandma and would be so good for my girls.

I want her to tell me how I was a child, how she kept a clean house with 8 kids and that my marriage will survive these next few week of stress.

If you have a mommy still around give her a big hug and kiss and tell her you love her.

Women, games, food and cropping!

What would you do with 48 hours of time with out work and family?

I would spend it scrapbooking with girl friends!

We are organizing a local retreat for 30 women. Our theme is playground. It is going to be so much fun. I have been buying lunch boxes, pencils, picture frames, hula hoops, jump ropes and tons of scrapbook supplies.

If you want to join us we still have a few spaces left.

Get all the details on my website under current events.

www.imascrapbookaddict.com

Wild Women

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time this weekend with my friends, cooworkers and some awesome customers.

Friday night we had our usually crop at the store. A few of stayed until nearly 4 am after having a thorough discussion regarding tampons and diva cups.

As promised here are a few great websites to find out some more about diva cups and other menstrual cups.

This is a great site to compare all alternatives http://sew-in-love.com/

Saturday night I got to spend more time with some cooworkers as we hit Chevy's on the river. Yummy food as always and great companionship.

Sunday was our staff meeting/party. This is truly just an excuse to get together and gab. After seeing this website http://www.tamponcrafts.com/ I was very impressed with what women will alter. So we had to make some of our own.

Judy took the cake with her project.

Liz made a beautiful Princess Menses doll.

Sarah's ghost was simply ghastly.

Cora might get fired with her earplugs.

Robyn's last minute Santa has inspired me for this years Christmas placecards.

Sylvia put together this angel on the spot.

I think I will save this card to give to my DD when she because a women.

Shelly disgusted all of us with the red color of this flower.

Robin elected to put her tampon to it's original funtion, thus we have no picture.

Who knew you could do so much with a tampon?

A little bit crunchy

While hanging out with some girl friends this weekend I was challenged to start my own blog. I have been thinking about it for a while so it was an easy push.

I hope to add things that interest me. I am totally into scrapbooking. My business partner and I have owned our own local scrapbook store for over 2 years now. I have 5 little monsters that I alternate between adoring and wanting to lock up until they leave the nest. I am a picture freak. I take about 10-30 pictures a day. I like to cook just not every day. I love chocolate a little too much. I love to let loose and have fun with my friends.

My crunchy side includes shopping at Trader Joe's, natural child birth, breastfeeding, baby wearing and diva cups.