Life is totally unfair

Just finished the first draft of a letter of recommendation for a friend who is adopting. And while doing so, I was reflecting on how ridiculous this whole process of adoption is. She already has one child who is thriving, and they are unable to conceive despite several infertility treatments, so why in the hell do they have to go through hell to be blessed with another child???? SOOOOO unfair when you stop and think about all of the children that are abused on a daily basis in this country, how many babies are born to parents that don't want and or deserve a child, how many parents can't afford a child, etc....I know she's already been down this road....and has several friends that are currently pregnant, and how hard it must be for her, and that nothing about life is guaranteed to be fair....but seriously?!? Sorry, must vent for her...with her.

On a brighter note...had the consult appointment with the surgeon in Salt Lake yesterday. He's a typical surgeon, but I like him, and feel comfortable with him. Selected saline for the upgrades. And proof that I NEED upgrades, we're going with 425cc's. I thought they'd feel heavier, but they weren't that bad. I also thought they'd bounce around a whole lot more, especially since they're just sitting inside a support bra, on top of my girls. But he had me jog around the exam room to see if I wanted to go down in size or up in size since I'm still planning on doing that half marathon in May. It was a blast trying on different sizes! My friend had her's done back in September, and she told me to do the consult close to the surgery because once I did the consult I'd be super anxious to do the surgery, and right away. Boy she knew what she was talking about!!! I can't believe I still have a week to go until surgery!! Paid my fees, and surgery is on!! 7:45 on the 18th!! WOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!

Another workshop under my belt tonight! Card workshop tomorrow night, and then another Magnifique scrap page workshop on Friday night. It should help this week fly right on by!

I must go finish cutting paper for tomorrow night's workshop! While finding pictures for other posts I came across a hilarious picture of my hubby using Zach for a pillow...it's pretty cute, so it will serve as my pic of the day today. Until tomorrow...

What was I thinking????

Proof that my laundry room needs a makeover!

Zach attack and his out of control flock of seagulls look!

I know I like to think that I can do it all...wife, mom, pharmacist, scrapbooking consultant, friend, etc...however, I think I'm pushing my outer limits this month! With my consult in Salt Lake tomorrow, and my surgery a week away I cannot seriously believe how much I have to get done. Of course, it doesn't help that I took time to watch a movie last night with the hubby and our friend Ryan...nor that I ran 3 miles today...nor that I spent an hour playing Angry Birds (I hate that game anyways, so explain to me why I continue to play it...it makes me ANGRY). I have 3 workshops this week (squeezing them in before surgery and the unknown recovery period)...I work Thursday evening and Friday morning, and also the usual preschool shuttle, and swim lessons on Thursday morning. Oh, and the fun of packing for all of us, since the boys will be staying with Casey's parents while we're in Utah for surgery. I'm FREAKING out, but also trying to remind myself that what gets done, gets done, and the rest will wait...might be 3 weeks, but it will just have to wait. And to think that just yesterday I was entertaining the idea of a new challenge...100 layouts in 2011! Crazy woman I am!!! If it were 100, including those that I make for workshops, not a problem...but 100 just for me, my own personal scrapping...might be a bit too much to expect of myself! I'll wait to challenge myself until I see how recovery is shaping up to be.

I'm just up from the scrap room again...this time I was prepping for workshops. Got all of the stuff cut and ready for Tuesday and Friday night's classes, just have the card workshop to finish up. I had to sort through the box of goodies to get the rest of the supplies out to prep for the workshops. I'm so bad...I'd rather play with all of the new stuff than get the stuff ready for the workshops...but I know how much I hate to scramble the day of the workshop, so I resisted all temptation, and got right to work instead!!

I'm getting really nervous about recovery from the surgery. I'm worried about the kiddos...I so love to rough house with them, and carry them around upside down and such...how will we ever survive at least 3 weeks of me not being able to do it??? They love a good tickle session, but they're pretty wild...and the thought of getting hurt really does NOT appeal to me! Hoping that it's harder on me than it is on them, and that 3 weeks flies by, and that I recover quickly...like I usually do! Going to try and enjoy the down time! But I know that it's going to drive me absolutely crazy to not be able to go and do like I'm always doing...and no strenuous exercise for at least 3 weeks...that may kill me!

Today would've been mom's 61st birthday...hard to believe that we last got to celebrate with her 11 years ago, for her 50th! What I wouldn't give to have her back just for a short time, to meet her son in law and her grandkids, and to stay up all night talking with her......... Lucas told me that even though we can't party with her that she's still having a party up in heaven...LOVE the innocence and sweetness of youth! Miss you mom!!

Anyways, I still have 3 more things that must be done before bed tonight, so I must get off the puter and get some shut eye before flying out to SLC tomorrow morning. Just occurred to me today that I haven't flown anywhere by myself since I was 13 weeks preggo with Lucas (6 years ago in February), to go to Carolyn's baby shower in Lewiston. And it didn't make me at all nervous since they met me at the airport, and I knew my way around, etc. I've become accustomed to having Casey by my side to help me navigate my way around foreign territory! I'm sorta nervous about tomorrow...I can do this!!!! I think I can, I think I can!!!

My pic of the day for yesterday is of Zachary's wild hair...we call it his flock of seagulls look! And my pic of the day for today is of the laundry folding couch...how I long for a laundry room makeover, to be able to fold clothes in the laundry room, rather than out in the family room on the couch! : )

Until tomorrow!

In design mode

Just up from the scrap room...just finished the 6 pages for my February workshop with the Wings paper pack. I made 4 traditional pages, and 2 with snow flakes. I used all new patterns... and a new technique or 4! ; ) I made one hell of a mess with the new spray pen, and sprayed much of the table and wall with Vineyard berry...fun, but oh so messy! And I don't like messy when I'm the one that has to clean it up!! Am loving the little tag book on the one page...thus, it shall be my picture of the day...it's freaking adorable, if I do say so myself!

Made progress on the design of my new Scrappin Mama website! Casey isn't nearly as thrilled about this as I am...I'm sure if I had to do the computer crap behind it all, I wouldn't be either. I looked into it today, and it sure isn't cheap to pay someone to create a website for you, especially if you want custom, and not some cookie cutter template that anyone can use! I'm going to have to settle for somewhere in the middle of custom and cookie cutter, but I can live with that!!

Zach and Lucas were on a roll making me laugh today...from telling me that 'it's 8:53 and time to get the party started'...to telling dad that he 'should be good at work so nobody wants to punch you in the face'...to dancing up a storm to the Bee Gees Saturday night fever, and the B-52's Roam...to laughing hysterically at these stupid new books we got in the mail today (because I forgot to decline one of the selections of the month from their children's book club) all because of some horse pooping on a toilet, and some pig saying BANANA...kids these days! I do LOVE their hysterical laughs, when something is so funny that it brings tears to their eyes, and they can barely laugh or breathe...and they just can't stop laughing! LOVE those moments with them!!

Dr Young's office called to confirm my consultation appointment for Monday...cannot wait to go try on boobs! 3 days to consultation!!!!!!

Off to CTMH training in the morning...home to clean up my house...out to dinner with Ryan and his mom Paula! ; ) Until tomorrow...

Creative = messy

Started today off with swim lessons, the first week in this session, after a two week break for the holidays. It was interesting to watch my boys, Lucas had previously been holding his breath under water for 9 seconds, but today he would only do 4 or 5. Zach would previously do the astronaut walk under water, but today would only sit on the bench under water, for just a couple of seconds no less. I thought it was just my kids, but the other two boys in the class were the same way. Coach Amber said that after a couple more sessions it won't happen like this, but since they were just finally feeling comfortable in the water at the end of the last session that she isn't surprised that they regressed a little...and that it won't take as long to regain that comfort level. They had fun, and that is the important part!

Spent a ton of time online today, looking at other consultant's artwork...there is some amazing talent amongst the CTMH consultants. I found one whose website was way more impressive than her artwork. I'm looking forward to revamping my website (my personal one) to include some of her ideas, and hopefully jump starting my business in 2011! The bad news is that Casey will have to be bothered to help me with the technical side of all of this. I wish that I could do the computer geek thing...I just really don't think it's possible though!

After looking around at the artwork I was feeling more than inspired to create away tonight, but my scrap room is a complete disaster...seriously looks like a hurricane came through that room. So my pic of the day is the before shot of my scrap room. It seriously took me over an hour to clean up that bad boy! Who knew that the creative process was also such a messy one?!? I guess Casey is right when he says that the messiest kid alive (Zach) gets that from me!!

My hubby and I have been watching 24 thru Netflix. We are on the final season, now that they finally released the discs. We are on disc 2, and finishing it up tonight! They have not disappointed with this final season!!! I'm just sad that it has to be over after this season...how will I ever survive without more Jack Bauer?!?

Must get to creating...until tomorrow!

What a day!

I got so very much accomplished today, but still so much to do. I'm starting to freak out about how little I'll be able to do for about one month after surgery. I'm gearing up to make some meals to freeze so that Casey won't have to stress about the cooking that first week postop. Am hopeful that I'll be feeling good enough to manage after that first week! We're making a Costco run this weekend, maybe I'll just stock the freezer with premade stuff from them, rather than worry about trying to get more stuff done. It's amazing how busy life is when you try to stuff 4 weeks of a month into 2 weeks!!!!! Guess it's a good sign if I can survive this part without killing myself!

Had a very tragic thing happen to a friend's family member today...just a quick reminder that you never know when today is your last day. I'm not a sappy person usually, but sure makes me want to hug and kiss my boys more than ever, and tell them how much I love them. Tell my friends and family how grateful I am that each and every one of them has been an important part of my life. And hope that nothing tragic takes me before they all know this!! It's hard to wrap your head around what if something happened today, and there was no tomorrow...all your hopes and dreams...plans for the future...out the window. I'm sure that with Sunday, Jan 9th rapidly approaching that I'm a little more sentimental than usual too...mom would've been 61. So hard to believe that she's been gone 10 1/2 years, yet seems like yesterday too!! God, how I miss that woman!!

Cleaned out the kid's toy room today. Several bags of toys to go to Idaho Youth Ranch. I was proud of the boys for getting rid of so many things. That is my picture of the day today...the donated toy pile (and the bag of crappy kid's meal toys that will be round filed). Watched Despicable Me with them AGAIN today...that movie is hilarious, but watching my little men watch that movie is freaking hilarious!!

Good day...until tomorrow!

Back on track

I have learned one very important lesson today...do blog post first thing in the morning, to ensure that it gets done for the day (unless I work early that morning, and we all know there is no way in hell I'm getting up 10 minutes earlier than usual just to do a blog post). When I started this 'challenge' I found it so hard to believe that the other lady that had done this same challenge had a difficult time always coming up with a picture...it's just one picture a day after all! When I can average 200 pictures a month, most months, how is it that I don't average 1 a day! Especially with my two silly, adorable sons!! Must get back on track, not only with the posts, but with the whole picture thing too!

So, since Sunday in a nutshell....my dad and stepmom came over to celebrate Christmas after dinner on Sunday. It was fun visiting with them!! My dad looked pretty good, but he sure is losing weight...and teeth! Not sure how many he has left, but if I met him on the street, I'd guess he's from Atlanta, Idaho! ; ) The boys adore Papa Ron and Gran, and were spoiled rotten by them for Christmas! I'll use one of the pics of them with their new tool set for Sunday's pic of the day. They got them a frog game, that is way over Zach's head if played as it's intended...but Lucas really kicks butt at it. He must've gotten his sense of logic from his dad, because I really had to think about how to move the frogs to win...and sometimes that kid had it figured out faster than I did! He really is a smart kid! That being said, I called Summerwind school of Math and Science. We'll be doing a tour and attending an info seminar on the 28th to see what we think. It's a magnet school here in the Meridian school district that focuses on the importance of math and science, starting in kindergarten. I think the kid will be a perfect fit, and a natural! I truly hope he continues to like learning so much for many more years to come.

Sunday after the kiddos were in bed, my friend, and CTMH consultant Jeny came over to talk shop about the new catalog that is being released in February. We had originally hoped to share some of the cost, but we like too many of the same things, and hated the same things too! : ) It was good times though catching up with her, and chatting about everything! She was here until midnight, and as Casey said, 2 hours and 45 minutes of chatting, 15 minutes of actual 'working'! He's not far off from the truth...but it was fun!

Monday...work...first Monday of the year, first Monday of the month...mid tech called in sick...not a fun day, nuf said, we'll leave it at that! Glad that I don't have to do that again for another year!! Picture of the day for Monday is of my fat cat. Who jumped square in the middle of my back/butt in the wee hours of Monday morning, quite soon after I'd managed to FINALLY get my freezing cold butt to sleep...I was so cold and hyped about CTMH that I could not fall asleep for the life of me!

That brings us to today! Best things about today: 1) Starbucks pumpkin spice latte and cinnamon swirl coffee cake, 2) ZUMBA, 3) new season of Biggest Loser!!!!!!! I had a girlfriend and her friend join us tonight for their first class ever...they had fun...I had fun too! I have made several new friends thru Zumba, and they are such happy people and fun people to be around. And, Crystal's energy was awesome tonight! She is sooooo good for my soul after a crappy, long, exhausting day at work!! I really didn't want to go, but had talked myself into it since Trish and Ann were going to meet me there. Then Trish texted me and said that Ann had a pet emergency and wouldn't be able to make it. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually entertained the thought of not going, because I was sooo wiped. But then she texted back and said that they were going...game on! I'm so glad that I went! It's fun, it's refreshing...it truly is my attitude adjustment!

And then after the kiddos are all tucked in, I get to sit back and enjoy a new season of Biggest Loser. I keep saying that I'm done watching, pretty much every season for the last 4 or 5 now... but it's like watching a train wreck, I can't look away! Plus, it's intriguing to see who these new trainers are this season, and how this new format will pan out.

Anyways, I found a picture of the day for today...my fat cat, Chloe!! I want to be a cat in my next life, someone to feed me, clean up my crap, sleep the day away, and be treated like princess of my house!! Until tomorrow...prepare for one butt kicking busy day...that I'm totally going to conquer!!!!!!!

My new year is off to an AWESOME start!

Decided to kick off the new year on the right foot! And prove that I'm slightly crazy, all at the same time! Went for a 5 mile run today...but it was only 25 degrees outside! While I thought it was unbearably cold, evidently I was alone in the running world on that thought...passed a guy who was running in short sleeves and shorts, no long sleeve layers that had been removed, no hat, no gloves...FREAKING CRAZY for sure!! I have decided that I am going to register for the half marathon as soon as it opens, or tomorrow if it already is. That way, I'll stay motivated to keep this effort up! I continue to surprise myself with what I can accomplish that I previously would've said I absolutely could NOT do!

And then it was off to a fabulous date night with the hubster!! I wanted Cool Hand Luke's, but they are closed for the holidays, until Tuesday. So, I had a gift card to Chili's, and that's where we landed...totally cheap date I am! Then we went to see Little Fockers...cute, but not nearly as funny as the original Meet the Parents! There were a couple of scenes where I wanted to roll on the floor laughing my butt off...but I didn't want to scare any of the other theater goers! We booked our baby sitter early so that we had time to get to the Neisen's for dinner with them and Joe, but then found out Joe had to leave today, and it would just be us. I spaced having her come a little later, so we were done with the movie by 8:30. In an attempt to not appear to be complete losers, we stopped at The Ram on the way home for a night cap. I had a fabulously tasty Mango Mojito (only 80 calories, or so the menu said)...and Case enjoyed a Total Disorder Porter (that was way more than 80 calories). We watched the Fiesta bowl, gave up trying to get a self portrait of us from my iphone, and settled on my picture of the day...Case enjoying his porter.

And as I checked my email while at the Ram, my day improved even more! I won $80 in the Snow better time to exercise challenge!!!! I have THE crappiest luck in the whole world, and it was a drawing for 2nd and 3rd places, so I was quite sure that I wouldn't win, but I actually managed to get my name drawn...it's a Christmas miracle!!!!

My new year is off to a fabulous start! Hope 2011 continues to knock my socks off! Until tomorrow!