Top 10 Excuses...

1. I decided to give you all a break from reading about my fabulous life...
2. I have been soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...busy....
3. I haven't taken any new pictures.....
4. My computer wasn't working.....
5. I couldn't get my blog to schedule....
6. The boys were both sick at the same time............
7. I was sick.........
8. Obama asked for my advice on what beer to serve at the "arresting" meeting...
9. I have been working out...
10. I have been cooking and baking...

Actually, none of the above are true...I have just been lazy.
SO, I am hoping this weekend I can catch up on some of my important computer work, including my blogging!! Check back soon!!

San Fran...

Jas having a cold beverage on the wharf...hmmm...wonder what it is that it required him to put it in a brown paper bag!!!

Sitting by the hotel fire..yes, it was that cold at times that we would warm up by the fire...or was it the fact that I just drank a yummy, chilly Starbucks??

A store in downtown SF...we weren't sure how to pronounce the name of it....

My shoulders and face got a bit too much sun on the previous day, so the next day I had to cover up at times...a great look isn't it!

Feet Shots...

I have been taking a pictures of my feet at different places...I love this!! Plus, I need to get a pedicure so my feet will be picture pretty!!
Here are some of my feet shots in San Fran...

My feet at fisherman's Wharf...

At Sausalito...these signs are by all the drains. Some even say, "No Crabs!"

At Alcatraz. This is the floor where the guards had to throw a grenade to break up a prison fight...

My feet on the Golden Gate Bridge. Notice that the string between my toes has given out a bit...tons of walking!! Darn, might have to go shopping for new shoes...hate that!! :)

San Francisco...

We are back from our fabulous trip to San Francisco...can't wait to share more pictures. On Monday, we went to the Golden Gate Bridge. Amazing!! I took this one from underneath the bridge at Fort Point... a previous military base that was located under the bridge...

Fourth of July Sparklers...

The boys and my sister did sparklers on the fourth of July. I couldn't get any good pictures, so I left my shutter open for a couple of seconds and got some cool shots. The first one is of Jack...I can't believe all the little sparks that fly out and the ones that hit the cement and bounce!! The second one is Sam...he was totally into the sparkler thing!

And then there is my sister...she decided to light four sparklers at one time. Well, the sparklers were really cheap and so when she lit the bunch, all she had was one big fire torch! Check out her face...

She definitely had more smoke then she did sparkles! No need to say that we didn't have to worry about bugs after this!

Shopping with the Boys...

The boys and I went shopping the other day. They were very well behaved, but towards the end, they were ready to go...so I gave them my little camera to take pictures while I finished up my shopping...

Sam hula-hooped in the aisles...

Stores at jack's view from the stroller...

I was trying on some clothes and Jack was...dancing?...in the mirror. He is always amazed that there are 40 of him in the mirrors and asks, "What would you do if you had 40 Jacks?" Me: I can't even answer, I am speechless and then say, "I am glad I only have one to give my attention to!"

G-Love...

Over the fourth of July weekend, Jason I headed to the 80 35 concert. I only went to one band...G-Love and Special Sauce. They are one of my favorite bands. It was lots of fun...even though it was raining off and on.

I am going to take pictures of my feet when I am at different places..here's my toesies at G-Love. Notice how extremely wet the grass is...yucky!!

G Love himself!!

Jas and I at G Love....

THEN...Jason and I went and got something to eat. I dropped Jason back at the festival and headed home. He took my camera...just in case. Well, thank goodness he did. G Love just happened to be out and about and Jason got his picture taken with him...amazing!!

Star Wars Album and Party...

Today is the perfect day to head to my favorite scrapbook store Memory Bound and attend the Star Wars party! Not only with Darth Vader and some of his storm troopers will be there, but it is also the perfect time to check out the new Star Wars line and projects that were created with the collection. I made a fun Star Wars Birthday album for Sam's sixth birthday, which had a Star Wars theme. Here are a few pages from the album. Hope you find the time to stop by the store!

(like my newly manicured nails??)

See Jason Run...

Jason ran a 5k last weekend and the run went right past our house. Sam and I headed out about about 8:10 AM on Sunday morning to root the racers on. We grabbed some lawn chairs and sat at the end of our driveway clapping for the runners as they went by. We had a lot of fun and it was a great experience for Sam to see all sorts of runners and walkers. Suddenly, Sam spotted Jason running up the street...I left Sam's head in the picture...he was leaning forward due to being so excited to have spotted his dad running up the street! Way to go Jason!!!

Yea!!

My scheduling is back and working! So, I will be blogging while I am out of town..isn't technology great (when it works!!)

Flattered...

Janet, one of my favorite people, crafter and friend, made a mini-book using pictures of Sam and Jack. I was so excited when she asked to use pictures of my boys (as I am when anyone asks to use my pictures!) because Janet is a big inspiration to me with my scrapbooking. She also "gets "my issues, not saying that she has the same ones, just that she understands alot of them!!

Click on the link below. she is in the process of changing her web look, but if you scroll down to "All Boy Mini-Book" you can get a peek at the book she made with the boys!

http://ofcatsandcardstock.blogspot.com/

Thanks again Janet!

Several of you have asked about how Jack is doing. He Fell asleep around 6:00 Tuesday night and slept until 7:45 the next morning. He is doing much better and is back to his old self again!

I will not be posting until next week. I am heading on a trip! I would blog if I could schedule my postings, but no such luck...So, until next week...enjoy your summer, friends and family!

Poor Roo...

Yesterday was Jack's birthday and this is how he spent it...sleeping on our bed because he has strep. It hit him hard and sunk his boat. His temp. spiked, sore tummy, sore tongue (which I think is really his throat.) Poor kid. This is no way to spend your birthday!!

Happy 4th Birthday Jack!

We celebrated Jack's birthday in Indy Jones style! Jack dressed up in his Indy outfit to match his Indy Jones cupcakes...He loved every minute of it!!

(of course, I can't believe he is already 4 years old!)

Frustrated...

This whole blog thing is so frustrating to me at this time...I cannot schedule a blog, so that messes me all up and now my pictures won't show up in my drafts. I haven't had time to sit and work on it, but I am still here...and I am a bad blogger.

On a lighter note, I saw this quote and thought of my good friend, Joni...

"Our friendship is as strong as your coffee and my hairspray"

Isn't that awesome!!!

Loads of Swimming...

This is actually Thursday's post...I posted it on Wednesday night..still have issues with posting.

We have been taking the boys to the pool in the evening lately. Here are some shots from Monday night...

My boys...

Jack flying through the air with some help from his dad...

Sammy jumping in backwards (which was quickly stopped due to worries about him getting too close to the edge of the pool.)

Jack...always the fashion statement.

Update on my posting issues: Went to the "help" desk and there was a post on how some bloggers where unable to schedule any posts. That would be me. I schedule my blog to post at 4:00 am every morning. Well, no such luck. When I check it around 8:00 am, it still has not posted and I then post it at that time. So, I will be posting later in the am (8-9:00) or the previous evening until this is all worked out...please continue to check back!!

Put Your Hand Down...

My mom and sister joined us at the last swim lesson. We headed to Snookies, in Beaverdale, (if you haven't been there, GO!) for a graduation dessert. This is how this photo conversation went...

Me in a fun sing-song voice: Who graduate from swim lessons today??
Jack: Me!!! (and raised his hand)
Sam: Me!! (he just smiled)

Me: Jack, put you hand down...JACK, put your hand down..
Sam: Just take the picture...

Me again: Jack! PUT YOUR HAND DOWN! (I wasn't yelling, just using my parent voice. )
Notice my mom in the background has given up...

Me, through clenched teeth: Jack, I will take away your ice-cream if you don't put you hand down. (which is a totally empty threat.)
Me: Thank you! Ahh..that's a good picture!

Sam under his breath: Ya, and my ice-cream is melted.

Speechless...

I seriously cannot believe I am posting this, but if you are a parent, then you know exactly how I was feeling...

At swim lessons last week, Jack had a bit of trouble listening. Instead of listening, Jack liked to entertain himself...sometimes at "expense" of others. Notice how the little boy beside Jack is listening to directions...not Jack...and suddenly I was screaming in my head, "NO, JACK, NO! DON"T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!"

too late...the boy that got Jack's water fountain, thank heavens, didn't even flinch. (until Jack did it the second time.)

Once they swam to the other side of the pool, Jack started his, "Ahoy mates. I'm a pirate," routine. Jack was the youngest in his group, so thank goodness the others didn't pay him much attention. (I am hoping the parents didn't either!)

It is one of those parenting moments where you want to step away and ask the other parents, "Whose kid is that??"

Scrapbooker X...

Several of you have heard me talk about how some girls were helping another scrapbooker friend clean and organize her area. We call our friend scrapbooker x. She has the most amazing space to work in, but just needed a bit of help to make it a creative, fun and functional spot for herself. This is the video of the project...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOQDv81Kc94

See Jack Swim...

Sam and Jack have been taking swim lessons for the last two weeks. The place we take them is absolutely amazing and the boys have become very comfortable in the water, which I am really excited about due to me not being comfortable in the water. Jack is doing awesome and loves the water. Wednesday he swam from the deep end (with a little help from his instructor) to the shallow end. I held my breath the entire time!

You can see how proud he is of himself when he made it to the shallow end!! Way to go, Roo!!

Amen Sister!!

I came across this article and thought it was a good one to pass on...people will come into the scrapbook store and purchase product while being on their cell phone and NEVER acknowledge me. I use my "normal" voice and go through my normal routine and ask the normal questions that I would to a person that was not on their cell phone. Some look at me as if I am the one being rude...hello!!! I think it is a good reminder to all about their cell phone use...

http://www.ordinarycourage.com/my-blog/2009/6/16/this-i-believe-about-basic-dignity.html