Carrie Stephens

Why do I not blog anymore?

That was the question that Scott asked me tonight. 

The Answer:  I really don't know why.  I used to have fun blogging.  I don't know why I stopped. I suppose other things like Facebook and Twitter just took over instead or perhaps life just took over instead.

I will vow myself to check in more often for sure, I need to make myself check in or I can't justify the expense of a typepad account that I don't use.

I have some cool news that i would like to share but,  I don't want to get into it tonight because it is already 2am.  I Just felt compelled to come to my blog and just type whatever randomness was in my head. 

And ladies and gents, this is about as deep as it gets at 2am :)  Besides my obsessing over my fingernail polish -- I have been thinking about my chipped polish all day now.  Sometimes I really wonder why I do or in this case, don't do things when I think about them.   It would take me 5 minutes to just go and get the polish remover and get rid of the ugly, chippy polish that said it was supposed to last 10 days or something like that but, instead, only lasted 1 day before it chipped, chipped, chipped away.  Instead, I have been thinking about needing to remove it for 2 days now!

and the kicker, I will probably just go up to bed and not do it tonight...haha

Weird girl.  I know ;)

Hundreds of reasons to smile today - Artwork

A lovely gal I know inspired me to create this piece of artwork today...
I hope you enjoy! Click on the picture of the poster to bring it up in a separate window, there you can download the high resolution version if you wish to print it out.
It is 8x8 inches. Prints really nice on photo paper or even matte cardstock :) (My Favorite is by Epson)

Enjoy! I hope this brings a little sunshine in YOUR life as well :)

*Personal use only. No commercial use of this artwork is permitted. Thank you!

To Slipcover or Not to slipcover... My poor couch :(

Dog vs Couch

Dog WINS!

I was already having a not too great day. Just one of THOSE days.... Perhaps it is because i am starved of sunlight. We have snow and rain....AGAIN. I feel like by the time spring actually gets here, it will slip right into summer. I love the spring.

Back to 70lb Dog vs. Couch... OUCH!

Scott and the dog were running around in circles, Dog chasing Scott, Scott chasing dog. Its hilarious. Well, Gracie jumped up on the couch beside me (almost in a protective way..LOL its cute) just as i got done telling her to get down because i envisioned the couch ripping.... Scott ran through the room, she quickly jumped from the couch to run after him and her nail ripped open the couch in the process :(

I am bummed. Totally bummed because the other side of the couch has a hole from just normal wear over the years... I still like the set as they were my very first big purchases almost 9 years ago.

So, I am looking into my options. I don't necessarily want to purchase a new couch right now.... Has anyone had any luck with slipcovers? I don't want them to look too loose and I don't want to have to "fix" them 10 times a day. My couch has 4 cushions on the back and 2 large separate cushions on the seat. Will a cover made from a stretch material hold them all in place?
If you have purchased a slip cover and you are happy with it, where did you get it from?

New look - The Bachelor - American Idol

I fell for it again... I watched The Bachelor for one more season and I am thinking that it might/should be my last. I get wrapped up in the drama of it all once I get hooked with that first show but, eh... I am just feeling like it is a waste... And that is mainly because i REALLY think the whole thing is so staged and twisted around to get ratings that it no longer becomes romance and a love story.... Its just a fabricated movie. I am such a sucker for anything romance. :)

American Idol - Don't usually watch but I started with this one... I don't think that i will be too upset if i miss an episode here and there though :) It's just so long.... Especially when their is 2 shows in a week. Right now I have it on in the background but, it is drrrrrrrrraging...And was it me or was the musical background overpowering the vocals or what?

The new blog look.... You like? I do, i am quite pleased with myself. ;) thank goodness typepad is fairly easy to use ;) I have no desire or drive for learning HTML yet, i want things to look the way i want them to look. LOL most of the time, that is impossible!

Happy New Year - Flip Mino

Mini Update:

Hope that you and yours have a wonderful 2009 ahead of you!  I had a great time bringing in the new year, we had friends over, had a few beverages and lots of great food.  Played  an awesome game that had us all in stitches!  -- Apples to Apples --  At first we didn't think that we would like the game but, after 15 minutes we were all laughing and having a great time playing!  Such a simple game to play with a group of people, everyone can play, no one feels "dumb"  etc.    We also played RockBand 2 - Fun Stuff! 

I cooked a Prime Rib  & Fresh GreenBeans for us and our guests, and the others brought ceasar salad and scalloped potatoes! etc... Yum!  We had a really great dinner without going out and spending a fortune!

I haven't updated my blog in awhile again, I suppose I should just add the "blog updating"  to my huge "not really an actual list"  list of new years resolutions! LOL   I decided this year I was just going to set my sights for doing the best I can and try to be overall a more positive and valuable addition to this earth :)

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I had my wisdom teeth removed on the 17th of December, It was quick and it was easier than I thought.  Well, the process.. not so much the recovery.  LOL    The first day, i thought that I got lucky, I thought I got off without too much swelling etc.  HAHAHA... I was WRONG!   :)  The next day it hurt pretty good... The next day even more! I also discovered through this process that Tylenol #3 and I don't get along so well.  So glad its all over though ;)

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Christmas decorations are gone, a little to the kiddos dismay..LOL  Hopefully I will post some pictures eventually!  This year wasn't a big year for Holiday photos ...didn't take as many as usual but, I did get some really cute ones!  :)  Hopefully I will also get around to posting some videos with the Flip Mino  that I got for Christmas from my mamma! :)

Well, thats it, kids just walked in the door from school and their are many things to be done! LOL 

wisdom Teeth...

I won't be able to get to any emails for the next few days...  I am getting my Wisdom Teeth yanked out of my mouth tomorrow.   I am recovering from the flu bug too, that nasty 24 hour flu... so,  I will have some catching up to do once I am feeling better.   I have to admit, it will be kind of a relief to have them out and not have any more pain from them being infected. But, I am also nervous at the same time.

Whew..

I have been a busy girl!   My friends had a baby (a beautiful 10 lb 3oz little doll!)  My SIL is having a shower this weekend. (I am going to be an Aunt Carrie! :))   Fighting off those "I want another baby pangs..LOL  Every so often i get like that and then i wake up and think, whoa..  that's just craziness. :)   It is amazing how much holding a new born baby makes you want another one of your own.   Also, My guys 5th birthday is this weekend,  I can't believe he is going to be 5!!  2 more weeks after that, my big boy will be turning 11! 

Still going to be super busy for another couple weeks with some freelance work  but, after that..so far the schedule is cleared and ready for some digi fun!    

AND..... Some great news,  FishScraps is NOW re-open (YAY!!!)   Thanks to my wonderful, hardworking husband!  Without him, it would still be the same old site.    He helped me give it a  big makeover! Go take a look and let me know what you think!   Its a whole brand new shopping cart so, you will have to re-register if you wish to recieve the newsletter or download anything :)

Its Only 3:31 am.....

What am i thinking by staying up this late? ACK! Its 3:31 in the morning!    I haven't  stayed up this late in ages!  Kinda feels good to get a bunch of things on my list accomplished while the house is nice and quiet! 

In fact, Scott took the kiddos to his parents in the afternoon, i planted my butt down in this chair from morning until now.  I am going to be feeling sore tomorrow, sore like a statue who didn't move all day and, i MUST get to that laundry tomorrow! I was supposed to do a bunch of it today but, i didn't :(  Oh well, It will still be there.....LOL The kids don;t have to quite go naked yet but, they would if i waited a couple more days! haha

Although i am not quite finished yet, As you might notice, the ole bloggy got a nice little makeover!   I am still trying to figure out how to do a few things  but, Its definitely coming along! I wanted something fresh, I was so sick of the old design that i had up but, i was too blah to change it.   

But, the rest of the changes will have to wait, i have other things on my ToDo list for tomorrow AND i have the kids all day so, i cant be sitting here.  Unless they play in the backyard with their friends all day like they did for a couple days last week, they wanted nothing to do with ole mom, i even offered to bake more cookies with them!   I can't seem to keep cookies around for very long, they are even disappearing out of the freezer (*clears throat* uhmmm Scott! LOL)   

Right now, I feel good!  It feels so good to get things accomplished! Things that i have wanted to do for awhile now. 

I just hope the rest of my day tomorrow isnt a wash because i stayed up so late tonight!  Off to bed i go!  Tootles!

Quizeroni

I found this cute little quiz over at Robin's blog. Decided that i need a break from working my butt off :)

The Rules: Answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? dead
2. Your significant other? away
3. Your hair? frizz
4. Your mother? working
5. Your father? no clue
6. Your favorite thing? love
7. Your dream last night? nothingness
8 Your favorite drink? water (used to be diet coke:))
9. Your dream/goal? success
10. The room you’re in? office
11. Your hobby? digi scrapping
12. Your fear? death
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
14. What you’re not? skinny :)
15. Muffins? blueberry!
16. One of your wish list items? book
17. Where you grew up? parents
18. The last thing you did? work
19. What are you wearing? clothes :)
20. Favorite gadget? camera
21. Your pets? snoring
22. Your computer? sexy
23. Your mood? ambitious
24. Missing someone? nope
25. Your car? journey
26. Something you’re not wearing? thong
27. Favorite store? Kohl's!
28. Like someone? yupper!
29. Your favorite color? teal
30. When is the last time you laughed? now
31. Last time you cried?

Only using one word to answer was harder than i thought it would be! LOL
I too am tagging anyone who wants to play!! :)

RIP - Zippy

Its breaking my heart that my kids will be home in 20 minuites and i have to tell them that Zippy passed on.  Truly one of the hardest things about being a mom......breaking your kids hearts. 

Hi

Its been awhile since my last blog... I confess...  I think about it all the time but, i just didn't have the desire or energy to post. 

Its been 3 weeks now since i stopped purchasing diet coke.  I was so addicted to that yummy beverage.  I still think about it every day. Although, it isnt quite as hard anymore to get through my day without it as it was in the beginning.  Goodness, i went through withdrawal like someone would that was addicted to narcotics.  I was drinking 4- sometimes more on a really stressful day.   
When i quit, for 4 days after I had the shakes, the head pounding, the grumpiness.  It was all there.   I really didn't think i would be able to do it.  The week after quitting that toxic substance we had friends over.  We bought coke to go with mixed drinks.  The regular non diet stuff.  That night i must have had 3 mixed with whiskey.  I don't usually drink much but, that night i think i was just drinking it to get the coke. ROFL.    Anyway, after everyone left...  there was 3 left.  I drank them all the next day.  See, that just proves that i cant keep that stuff in the house. I have no control.  It doesn't register in my brain until after i have already drank it.  UGH.
So, even though i have had a regular coke or Pepsi a few times in the past 3 weeks...  I am still happy to report that i didn't break down and buy a case of pop.   YAY ME!  That is definately a step in the right direction. 

Today i am sad. I took my cat ZIP into the vet thismorning.  yesterdya she started breathing funny.. really hard, drooling and was really weak.   I was worried because she had looked like she was loosing weight for months.   The vet said her lungs are collapsed, filled with fluid and  he said it is a possibility that she could die just from the stress. she is the type of cat that gets really stressed easily.   He did an x-ray and discovered something in her throat.  He is going to try and suction her once she calms.  But, If it is a tumor or something really bad that she would need surgery, I have decided that we will not make her suffer.  She is a basket case normally, scared of everything.  I dont think that she would come out of it the same cat.  Even now i am wondering if after all this and she can be fixed up.... she will come home and be totally different.  As she was always on the skiddish, mean side.   She is my sons cat, he loves her to bits. She bites him, bugs him but,  he loves her.  Can you tell i am just not a cat person?  *SIGH*  I just feel so bad, i dont want to see any animal suffer.  She is only 6yrs old and it will devistate dalyn if she doesnt come home. 

The gym - My thoughts...

It took me a long time to get to this point, It was hard to stop making the excuses and just get there.  I always felt like I had a monkey on my back. (and a big ole hairy one too LOL)

It was something that I not only wanted to do …....albeit deep, DEEP inside..LOL  but, something that I  REALY NEEDED to do.  I put it off and paid for a gym membership for like 9 months before I actually went for the first time!  And even when I did go for the first time, I never went again for months and months....dispute everyone in my family supporting me, A mother who, after working for 8 hours  was willing to come and sit with the kids so my husband and I could go to the gym together...  I felt too guilty and kept putting it off.   BUT, not only that....I was disgusted with myself..  Upset at how after  my first time....30 min's on the elliptical/treadmill I had to leave.  Not to mention i was only walking at a medium pace on the treadmill.....I had given it all I had that day, My legs were wobbly and burning.... My girlfriend was with me and I know she could have spent longer there but, I just couldn’t.

It is amazing what spending 5 years of your life being a mom, stressing over meals, work, dirty house, laundry (I LOATHE putting laundry away) and trying to create an established business can do to ones body!  OIY! And mind.    I don't even want  to go there, its bad.  It really is and I am missing out on things that I want to do just because I am too damn self conscious…I am truly uncomfortable in my own skin.

Today, especially today...  I am really thoroughly disgusted with myself.  Especially after doing so well all week And believe it or not, I am actually having a good day..  I woke up in a good mood, despite my ACHING body..... (does going to the gym cause heart burn??it is something really bothering me, I have only experienced it before when i was pregnant, and i am NOT pregnant..LOL)))   this is actually a good thing. Instead of ignoring how fat I have become... and just being depressed about it.....I am accepting it, admitting it and knowing that it is what it is.

I NEED to do this.  I just want to be healthy and motivated again, that is all I really want.… The only way I can be healthy and motivated is to go to the gym to exercise, watch what I eat and DRINK (still trying to cut back on the diet coke, perhaps eliminating it all together one day)   and just BE HAPPY with whatever little progress I am making. 

I am really trying to not get discouraged because even though i struggled to eat healthy all week and went to the gym 2 times, and exercised at home one day in the week... I did not drop a pound, not one single pound.  I know that we can sometimes be just unrealistic but, come on... just one or 2 measly pounds for all of that effort is all i am asking.  *BIG SIGH*

I am really aiming to go 3 days this week, last week I only went 2.  If i can get past the ACHING body stage, it will be all good.  I have my motivator...  My husband who has been going faithfully 3 days...My body is just so flippin SORE. LOL

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In other news.....

Last weekend we piled everyone in the car, including the dog and drove out to Point Pelee... We had fun, it was SO NICE to get out of the house at last!!!!  Here are a few photos.

 

A lot on my mind - Don't know where to begin!

Lots on my mind, going on in my life but, i don't know where to begin!

Really, this seems like a problem with me these days. for some reason when it comes to all things scrapbooking I simply cannot concentrate!   I like to think of it as a ~FUNK~ and that it will just pass and i will get back to pursuing my love of all things scrapbooking but, deep in that negative part of my brain, the part that i wish would just go away, i fear that i will never be able to pick up where i left off.

I have been designing though, i don't know why i haven't yet posted on my blog.  I am very proud of  the gorgeous things i have  created!   It just lack of motivation these days.  LOL  maybe i need to revisit again Maximum Achievement - e-book by  Brian Tracey.   he is totally motivating.  Perhaps that is just what i need.  And why is it that when i am unmotivated and in a funk i always choose to whine about it on my blog?  ROFL...  oh well.. Its my blog, whine, whine, whine ;)   hehe

Happy Belated Holidays- LOL

The holidays just flew by for me. I can't beliee they came and went as quickly as they did.   The kids were overwhelmed with new toys and lots of junk food.  They were also on Christmas Break from school for 17 days.  ACK.  I am so glad to finally get some normal routine back :)

I lucked out for Christmas.  I admit, Totally spoiled.  I crossed alot of things off of my kaboodle wishlist :)   - Hae i eer told you how much i LOE Kaboodle? 

My new toys include:

Dyson that i hae been longing for.

A puffer flash  and a  cloud  LightShpere  from Garyfong.com

A Pantone HUEY Pro

This just made me realize how much i LOE my Samsung Monitor and HATE, HATE, HATE the dell one i hae.  THe color on that monitor is just SO off.  I can't get it to look right. :(

New Nike Earphones for my Ipod -

Most earphones don't een fit my ears.  I must hae abnormally small ears. LOL  These ones wrap around so, they fit nice. :)

Big Brain Academy for the Wii - totally FUN

Earrings - Gift Certificates -  accessories for my collection of  chrismtas "houses" from the kids, christmas ornaments, a new vegetable peeler that i picked out, lotions etc. 

I also got a Super gift from Santa, a brand new Epson RX680 printer.


YAY.  I have a huge idea for a project i want to do with it.  I haent had time to play with her much just yet, i printed off a couple 4x6 prints and the quality is AMAZING. the Pictures just POP.  I am totally an Epson Photo Paper convert.  I honestly used to just buy whateer was cheapest.   I can't believe the difference that the paper makes.  I love that it has the capability for printing on CD's (a feature that i have wanted for a long time)

Gosh, Thats alot of stuff. LOL

I have new years resolutions that i wanted to talk about but, the kids and hubby will be coming home soon and i have some more work to do before they get home :)   More talk about them later... I really plan on updating this blog on more of a regular basis again.  I enjoy it.  I just fell out of habit.   

 

Not an easy task...LOL

Getting a 65lb stubborn dog into the groomers.  OMGOSH.  LOL   My groomer is about 4 blocks away so, instead of picking her up and putting her in the car, I decided to walk her.  My mom came with me and the 2 of us struggled for 10 minutes to get her in the door. LOL   it just happens that the groomers is in the basement of the veterinarians office.  Lots of smells and lots of fear. 
We pushed and pulled and with my torn muscle I really wanted to avoid picking her up.  She laid back in the snow like a limp teddy bear. LOL Just looking at me with those big brown, very concerned eyes ..  Poor girl. 

10 Random things :)

1. I have been drinking WAY too much diet coke. It is an addiction for sure. :(

2. My V key is not working on my beloved ergonomic, Microsoft  keyboard  because i spilled some of that nasty pop on it. :(   *SIGH*  It ate away at the circuitry.  we tried to take it apart asap and Scott did a great job cleaning it up EXCEPT... we didn't know that their were 3 layers of plastic for the circuits so, we just cleaned up under the one and didn't know about the others til we took it apart again and looked closer.  What a bummer.    I don't want to put out 60-70 bux for another so, i will just make due for awhile, til i can't stand it anymore.

3. My exclamation key isn't working either, ahhhhhh... i NEED that one... I love my exclamation point too much, WAY too much sometimes...

4. It is 2:30 in the morning and I am currently drugged up on percocet and muscle relaxers because i pulled a muscle  and it is REALLY ouchy.  Today i tried not to take any unless i really needed them but, i gave up once i tried to tidy up my house a bit.  Worked much better once i could actually move LOL.    I am still up at this wee hour because i was at my friends house til 1 and now I am procrastinating going to bed til the ones i just took kick in because, i don't want to wake up my husband with my whimpering.  If they are working when i get in bed, it will be easy to be quiet.  Yeah, i admit it... i am a big suck.

5. I didn't get ANY Christmas baking done this year :(  I wanted to though.  I will still bake cutout cookies with the kids though when they are off school.  Something fun to do. 

6. My Husband and i wrapped a boatload of Christmas presents last night. YAY.

7. I WAS happy to have snow and we sure did get alot but, now that it is wet and icy, i am not so happy anymore.   

8. I called the dog groomer today. My dog goes outside and comes in a BIG snowball.  She needs to be trimmed, I don't want my house to smell. I can't wait til thursday. :)

9. My wonderful mom bought us a DYSON for christmas.  We picked it up at costco, it is white.  She already gave it to us and i really couldn't be happier.  I have coveted this thing for YEARS and it actually works like it should.  I  actually like vacuuming now and the reason is because i can actually SEE the dirt.  It feels so much more rewarding... Weird?  Kinda.. LOL  I NEVER in a million years thought i would be so excited to get a vaccume for Christmas. 

 

Still in "vacation mode"

I am still in my little vacation mode.  If you wrote me an email, i will get to it eventually :)

Its been a rough couple weeks here.   The wonderful *insert sarcasm here*  highlights are:

2 weeks ago.....Laine was sick with a sore throat, then shortly after...... Scott wasn't feeling well, and of course, I came down with a mild case of what scott had.   Okay, that was fine. finally got over that on Saturday.

But,  Then i woke up on Sunday morning and something was pulled in my back :(  no clue what the heck i did :(   I am thinking maybe something was tender in my back from 2 weeks ago when i fell down the top 2 stairs.  I bruised my bottom pretty good!  Maybe i threw something else out of whack and it just caught up with me.  It is a total mystery!

But,  because i could hardly walk....I had to miss out on going  to the pumpkin patch with our friends.  Scott and the kids just went. 

Today my back is still achy but, thankfully  i can move again, as long as it is sloooowly.  No sudden turns or lots of bending down for me!    Laundry is calling me though....LOL

Later on Sunday evening i had Scott take laine to the  ER.   I got really worried about the nasty bites on his leg... they had gotten really large and red.. not like your typical bug bite...  The dr there said that they were not infected and they look like flea bites?   Now we are putting the cortisone cream on them  but, they just keep getting more red
I just took a picture of it.  There are more of these on the other side of his leg, and his tummy. 

Laine went to school this morning but, i got a call shortly after he got there that he needed to be picked up.  He was sick :(   He has another sore throat.  I wanted to make him another drs appointment anyway because of his leg.  SO, i guess it is a good thing we are going at 3 to see the dr.  Since getting a new dr, it has been so much easier to get in the same day!  SO nice!  Loving that!   No more waiting for 3 or more days to get an appointment,  AND the best thing is... when you get there, you don't have to wait for over an hour to even get to sit in one of those little rooms to wait another 30 mins for the dr to come in and see you.   It is pretty quick now!!  in and out in under 45 mins!!    I don't have to take my kids to the yucky walk in clinics either! YAY! 

Scott and i are supposed to take a little trip this weekend, just him and I. Its been quite awhile since the 2 of us have went anywhere together and we totally need it.      We are supposed to be  Leaving tomorrow morning,  If we cancel our reservations....  we will have to pay anyway since we missed the 48 hour cancellation.   I really was looking forward to it but, now i just feel guilty for leaving my sick child.    We are going to go anyway, I am sure that hte grandparents will handle it fine but, it still doesn't mean i wont feel guilty :(

Well, thats it from me, going to go make this poor little sweetie some chicken noodle soup for lunch and maybe get some laundry done and a couple other little things. 

Yard Sale day!

OH MY GOSH!!  Who knew that having a yard sale on a very sunny/very warm day would be SO energy draining?  I didn't do a whole lot, sat on my butt a lot. Just waiting while people browsed but man....  i am WHOOOPED!!!!   
I ended up making Only around 30 bux and all of that went to my neighbor and fellow yard saler.  LOL  (plus 30 more)   She is moving and was selling a great bench for outside and little tables along with an awesome set of 3 rather large stackable trunks! (great for storage!!)   I snatched those as soon as she put a price on them!  I am thrilled! LOL

Tonight scott had a get together with his coworkers....  Gee, i figured it would be no problem to come home and make supper for myself and the kids when i got home from sitting around all day but, UGH.... i am physically and mentally EXHAUSTED.   I dont feel like eating, thinking or moving at more than a sloth like pace....  BUT, my poor kids gotta eat and i am even too lazy to go get in the car and get takeout! ROFL.  Right now I am waiting for the mac and cheese to finish cooking, stuck some baby carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes on a plate with some dip and a  turkey pepperoni stick and orange juice as well.   a quick and easy dinner... YAY for that.  They are always happy to have mac and cheese but, they probably would have complained if i made them eat peanut butter! LOL   ;)

If i hear  "you are mean and i don't like you"  one more time from Laine i am totally going to tell him to make the mac and cheese himself.  LOL  (joking of course but, i wish! LOL)  Its his *THING*  right now i guess ;)

i REALLY wish that i didn't have to put laine in the tub tonight but, MAN.... he is SO DIRTY!  every day this child is dirty! LOL  he is a dirt monger!  His toes are practically black!

Well, i haven't blogged in awhile, it isn't because i don't want to, i do but....  i have just been feeling a bit overwhelmed still. Just out of the whole creating mode and just managing to squeeze in a little time here and there.  Between doing summer things, cleaning, kid things and social things..  It seems like it is always something..LOL

SO, my time is up.... kids are chomping at the bit and the timer on the stove is ringing and telling me that it is time to drain that mac and cheese and get everything ready.   Blah!  LOL  THank goodness grandma will be here in 35 minutes!!    She will save me and let me be a sloth for at least 20 mins while the kids jump all over her and fight over where they are going to sit on her lap! LOL    

Vacation!!

We had an awesome little vacation!  I was kinda worried about the car ride,  only 4 hours but,  Laine has never really enjoyed riding in the car and Dalyn gets car sick :(  I gave Dalyn gravol  before we left and i think it really helped with that. 

Both kids were very well behaved considering.  Not alot of bickering .. i was armed with a few little dollar items to keep them entertained but, i didn't have to break them out for quite awhile.  I actually drove all the way there myself!  Scott usually drives but, this time we had borrowed Scott's parents GPS and i was feeling a bit more confidant.
We really like that little thing and plan to get one in the future.... It really makes finding stuff a breeze!

THe first day we checked in to our hotel and then went to the rainforest cafe.. eh.. it was OKAY.. i found 80 dollars a little steep for the lunch that we got! LOL  We then went walking around and did a few things before heading back to the hotel for a swim!

Here is laine being silly :)

Laine actually learned to use the water wings (he was afraid before) and was actually floating around without me holding on to him which was very nice!   The kids had so much fun in the pool :)  Especially on the slides!

That night we didn't sleep very well, we packed it in at 10 and i was exhausted!  We started out with Laine sleeping in a bed with dalyn but, that didn't quite work :(  I ended up switching beds with dalyn, he slept with his dad and laine and i slept ..... well actually, laine slept, i didn't ...LOL.   I got kicked,  woke up because he fell out of bed 4  times (poor guy)   and  just  had a terrible time...I couldn't wait for the night to be over!  ha!

The next day we went to marine land...  Its okay... still the same old Marine land that i used to visit with my parents when i was a kid...LOL  Not much has changed!  Kids had fun though and it was a beautiful day!!

We paid to have the kids pet and feed the beluga whales. Very cool!  Doesn't that little guy look like he is smiling and laughing?  LOL  Love that photo!!!! 

We went gokarting after Marine land and then went back to the hotel to go swimming!  After we ate supper (ordered pizza and ate in the hotel room)  we walked down to the falls...on our way back we saw a horse and carriage so, we got a ride (something we have never done before)  The kids liked it! :) 

That night, we slept a bit better.. Laine slept with Scott and didn't fall out of bed at all.   We didn't get in bed until 11...  3 hours past the usual time laine usually  goes to bed but, he was still behaving and being a good boy!  I was worried about the whole potty training thing but, he stayed in underpants the entire time we were in Niagara falls and didn't even have one accident!!  YAY laine!!!!   I really am thrilled!  LOL  something that started out being SO DIFFICULT ended up being SO EASY once he gave in!

The next day we took a drive to a trading post and then we went to a place called Zooz.. it was okay... really spaced out far though.  We did lots of stuff and left a little later than we had wanted to.  Kids had ALOT of fun at the splash pad, even though it was F R E E Z I N G!!! LOL  it was way too windy but, they really wanted to play.

 

 

The ride home went well, i put on the DVD player for the kids and they watched a bit.  We got home around 10 at night and my mom was here with Gracie waiting for us :)  She missed us so much.. she just wouldn't stop going CRAZY...biting and knocking the kids over :(  She was so excieted we had to put her in her crate to settle down for a bit!   Poor girl but, she was just too nuts to control!!

SO it was a nice little vacation!  i was super impressed with how the kids behaved and even though i felt like i needed another vacation from all of that when i got home, overall i we all had a really GOOD time and it was much needed!

Oh and speaking of my Gracie poo poo face....  I decided that i need to get her trimmed up for the summer :( 
She is just so freaking adorable the way she is now, all fluffy with crazy hair but, she is TOO HOT and gets WAY TOO DIRTY when she is out playing with the kids!  Eeeee...  i just cant keep her out of the dirt! LOL 

SO, she will not look like THIS (see last photo)
Much longer!  did i mention she cant see?  LOL  i have trimmed her eyes 2 times but, i cant get her to sit still enough AND i am worried i am going to make her look like a freak!  ;P 

SO, on Thursday i made an appointment to get my girl all bathed, clipped and trimmed up!   I will post a pic when she gets it done :)

Vacation bound!!

K guys, i am taking off on a little vacation with the family :)  We are going for 2 nights and 3 days and will be back on Friday evening!  I am excited.. this is the first time we have ever been able to take laine with us..  he was such a terrible traveler before and would scream and cry in the car :(    I have dollar toys, a large sucker for each (which will definately shut them up..LOL  that is on of my desperate measures LOL)  books and some games.....  Should make a 4 hour ride bearable.  :)   

Toodles!!!!!
Oh!  Make sure you dont forget to pick up my grab bags this week!!!!!!!   Booty Surprise 1 and 2 can be found at Fishscraps

Boring Sunday!

What a boring day!!   

Scott is working today so,  it was just Laine and i all morning/afternoon.  We played cars, played outside for a bit, made lemonade and then little pizzas for lunch.   (he LOVES to cook and make stuff in the kitchen) 

My mom just brought dalyn home from a weekend camp with her church.  He had fun and is (like usual)  very tired and moody!  I just slipped away for a few  minutes while my mom  is playing  outside  with Laine BUT, i don't think that is going to last long because Laine is doing nothing but crying and grandma keeps telling him that she is going to go home if he doesn't stop.  (he was hitting the dog with the foam bat and then had a temper tantrum when he was told to stop:()  So, i am hiding upstairs.. and i don't want her to leave..LOL

Potty training isn't going so well :(   I am pretty discouraged/frustrated and tired with the whole thing actually.
Don't even want to think about it right now. 

Gracie is back to herself... awhile ago i had said that she wasn't feeling good well,  i did figure out why and i just forgot to blog about it.

*Disclaimer.. the following is kinda gross..LOL*

She threw up for the whole day that day - many times.   We took her to the vet and got her some medicine.  The next day she was still throwing up....  I was going to take her back to the vet but, she went outside to the bathroom and she pooped....  i went to look at it to make sure their wasn't any blood or anything because it took her quite awhile to go.  It wasn't poo... it was a SOCK. One of laines little tube socks. whole.   Aigh!   I was so relieved though because i knew that had to be the cause of her throwing up.

It is now known as the 100 dollar sock because that is how much it cost us for her pills.  2 days later  she was totally back to her energetic self :)  I now am really careful with kids socks and gloves.  This is NOT the first time she has eaten one but, i sure hope it is the last! 

Okay, i gotta go :(  my mom is leaving..  I don't blame her...  Laine is just being a stinker and dalyn is miserable. 

YAY!!

I have been complaining for months now that my computer was slowing down and just lagging for everything.  I knew i needed to reinstall but, i knew even if i did start fresh, the computer was just not enough to meet my needs as a designer.  Photoshop was just so slow :(   

Scott must have had enough of my whining because about 2 weeks ago  he came home and handed me a paper with the new Dell Specs on it.  YAY!!  I was SO EXCITED! LOL  I could hardly wait when i found out today it was on its way!  Dell gave us an estimated delivery of the 18th but, it came much quicker :)

Now, i cant tell you what kind of system this is at the moment because i am not interested in all of that stuff, i let my tech guy (DH)  handle all that junk. LOL   but, i know it is going to handle photoshop MUCH better! ;)  Thats all i care about.    Not to mention this 22 inch wide screen monitor kicks butt!   I now have duel LCD monitors sitting on my desk.  In a way it seems like overkill but, it is going to be so nice to have photoshop in one monitor and then illustrator or web browsers in the other.

Thank you so much Scott!  MWAH!

NOW, windows vista is going to take some time to get used to but, i can already tell that i  like it.  Their are many cool features and it just looks great!  Can't wait to get everything all set up too and see how this baby zips through everything ;)

Can't Sleep.....

Here i sit, thinking about how i had great intentions to go to bed early and get a good nights rest... LOL  Its just not going to happen tonight though.  I have a tummy ache :( 

I think it might have been from the sparkling water i drank before bed.   It usually doesn't bother me but, i cant think of any other reason why i feel so bloated and yucky.   I finally got out of bed and came downstairs because i couldn't get comfortable enough to just fall asleep so....  I let scott sleep in peace...(without me tossing and turning and moaning and groaning beside him...)  Hopefully the Rolaids kick in soon so i can get some sleep too!

Poor Scott, doesn't look like he is going to get to sleep after all....as i am sitting here burping away like a man! ROFL   I he just got up with Laine...  Right before i decided that i needed to come downstairs, he woke up screaming... when i went into his room he was screaming that his hands were dirty and he needed to wash them.  I told him not now but, that just made him scream more so, i pretended to wipe his hands clean.   LOL  that apparently wasn't good.. he wanted to get up and wash them in the sink.  Obviously he was deep in a dream of some kind when he woke up.   I wasn't going to take him to go wash his totally clean hands in the sink at  12:30am!  so, i just shut the door and he cried himself back to sleep.  And now he is crying again :(
   
Last night i was up with him at 3am and somewhere around 4... at 3 i put socks on his feet because he was screaming that he needed socks on and then the next time he wanted water in a specific cup.  Which reminds me, i am almost out of "the puppy cups"   I NEED to get more or deal with the puppy cup monster.   Its much easier to just make a trip to walmart for them then try to calm him in the middle of the night because we have no puppy cups. *SIGH*

Potty training isn't going THAT great :(   He did pee on the potty eventually but, that was after he spent almost 2 full days peeing while running through the house crying.  He has been so difficult to get to sit on the potty.  He has progressed to knowing the feeling of needed to go and then asking to sit on the toilet but, he wont go once he gets there and he wants to get off right away only to ask to go again 20 mins later..  and then get right back off again without going :(

I know.. it is progress and i did expect that he would be peeing on the floor all weekend    At least it is a start, i know he is getting tummy aches from holding it though and it makes me sad :(   Today after daycare he came in the house and right away he said "uh oh"  and started to pee and could not stop.   thankfully though this time i was able to grab him and hold on so he wouldn't RUN! LOL   cleaning up pee in one spot on the kitchen floor is much easier than mopping up the pee puddles and footprints all through the house. 

So, anyway back to the one time he did go in the potty.. he started to squirm a lot at the dinner table and knew he had to go.. he looked uncomfortable so i told him that he needed to go and i  got him to sit on the toilet, he just couldn't hold it in anymore and he was SHOCKED i think when he did pee in the toilet... he was obviously afraid.

Afterwards he cried fro a little while and then got proud once we were all talking about it, we all hugged him and i called everyone so he could tell them and then we went off to wal-mart to get him a "reward"  for peeing in the toilet!   He picked out a monster truck ...then we stopped at the fountain by the library and all the while he just kept talking about peeing in the toilet.  I thought for sure this was huge progress.   Next day, right back to the same thing :(  crying and not wanting to use the potty...  getting on and then getting back off within a minute..    
Tomorrow i am going to work on getting a reward chart made up and some stickers.  Hopefully this will be the visual that he needs.  One for him and one for dalyn maybe..  dalyn can just play along hopefully..LOL 

Well, i am still not feeling that great but, at least i am not all crampy like i was when i was laying in bed, and now i am REALLY tired!  Hopefully i cna just crawl into bed without Laine waking up as my head just hits the pillow.  I could really use the sleep.   

Time to at least try... maybe i will be back here to blabber more but, hopefully not! LOL

      

The Nap that was not meant to be...

Thismorning as i sat here at my computer I realized that i was not getting anything accomplished that i wanted to.   I was just daydreaming and actually kinda tired.  After an hour or more of fighting my tiredness...  enough was enough.  I decided that i needed to take a nap.  It takes alot to get me to nap, i am just not the napping type.   But, today i really needed one.

SO,  I take my hair out of my clip, rearrange the pillows on the couch and got all comfy.   It took me a few minutes of  tossing around to finally find that comfy position.  Just as my eyes started to close, the dog starts barking..... kids from the highschool are walking home for lunch through the alley at the back of my house....Gracie wants to be let out.  OKAY,  so i let her out... wait for her to come back in and plop down on the couch again.  I didnt even have a chance to get comfortable when  i heard THE FLY.   The fly that was determined to torture me.    I brush it away, hoping that it will not come back... I get all comfortable and start to close my eyes and IT'S BACK!   buzzing around my head.   I cant stand the noise or feel of a fly walking on me.  *shiver*  its just gross! LOL    

I get up to find the electric flyswatter thing (those things are so cool)  and guess what?   I can't find the fly!! LOL   
once again i tried to lay down..  at this point i no longer feel tired, just irritated. LOL   40 minutes went by since i first layed down for my nap and i STILL have not gotten any rest.  Sure enough, as soon as i lay down.... the dog hears people out front at the church.  It is a funeral service and i GOTTA hurry up and stop the dog from barking because well, it would be so rude of me if i didn't.   

AND after all that......... I GIVE UP! LOL  Here i sit, having had no nap... over an hour later. It just wasn't meant to be!

I still feel tired though, i wish i could shake it!   Maybe i should just force myself to take the dog for a walk instead.

Some pictures to share ;)

On Friday we had a bonfire - Not many of my pictures turned out :(  most were blurry.  I was using the wrong lens..  I really would like to learn to use my camera better one of these days!    Here is one that turned out okay :).  You can see our half finished fence in the background!  It is done all the way around the yard, it just needs the lattice added on the top, that is going to be tedious work. :)   I'm really  impressed with how it looks! 

On Monday it was a holiday here in Canada...  Victoria Day.  The kids had no school and Scott didn't have to work.  We took the kids to the park and the little beach there.  they had fun playing, fighting was minimal.. just a few little moments at the end when we were leaving to come home.   Got some okay pictures too!  It was nice to get out.  :)

These moments when the kids are actually playing nice together are just so nice! LOL :)

It isn't very often that Dalyn will let me take his picture :)  I wish i could get him to pose more often like this, with a great big smile!  Such a handsome kid!  :)

This one is way over exposed but, i love it anyway ;)

Thank You!

For all your comments, thoughs and prayers..  Scotts grandfather is at peace now.   The funeral service was very nice.
If you pray, please keep Scotts grandma - Irene in your prayers for the next few weeks as she deals with the loss of her husband.  They had 61 years together and the last 4 he has been unable to get out of bed (after a stroke, she took care of him herself)  She is a strong woman but, these days coming, surely will be difficult for her. 

Here is a layout i did of Scotts grandpa and grandma (photo taken about 4.5 years ago) 
Credits:
Sweet Notions - Meredith Fenwick
Pressed Flowers - Sausan Designs
Altered Twill And Lace By Sausan

Happy times, Sad times.......

This weekend has been totally filled with emotion for me.  Much happiness and much sadness at the same time. 

This week Scott has been busy working on that fence.   He is doing such a good job!  I am proud!  I am so happy that he will be able to step back after it is all done and it will feel like an accomplishment!   I am thrilled.....  Still a bit more work before it is totally done but, now that the gates are up... i feel comfortable enough to just kick the ball around with my little fur face.   I was paranoid about her running away from me  and running right for the road!

My girlfriend had her wedding shower today!  It was absolutely lovely...  She was glowing, So happy. I am so happy for her i could burst.  Just ecstatic that she met the perfect man for her. .... The man who i always knew was out there for her and her 2 little boys...  The one i told her over and over again that she would meet one day  even thought she never thought it would happen. 

We started kindergarten at the same time and been friends for many, many years.   Through the years their were times when we drifted apart but, we always seem to find  the way back to our friendship.  Anyway, i was just so thrilled today to see her so happy and gushing.   It was also nice to be among other friends. 

I cant believe that I even let them talk me into going out to *THE BAR*   after the shower  LOL  They totally made me go, well usually i am not so easily convinced.... they must have slipped something into my drink at the shower or something! LOL   Seriously... i am not a bar person  and they know it! LOL  they know me so well that they wouldnt even let me drive my car because they knew i might get all anxious before i go and just sneak away home.   Isnt that just terrible?????   Tonight though...  I must admit, i kinda  had fun...  i think it is just what  i needed...  good friends and a few drinks.   Just to let loose a little. 

On the sad note..  Scott's grandfather passed away yesterday.... He was in the hospital and then in hospice for a little while but, they released him just a couple days ago and he was able to go to heaven in his home.... with his family.    I know there will  be a big empty spot  without grandpa here on earth.    

I may be hard to reach for a couple days for visitation and funeral. 

         

Busy week!

Awwww, just look at those sad eyes! LOL... I know you might not find this as funny as I do but, i had to share anyway.  Our evening entertainment every night consists of watching the dog chase the cat and then the cat turn around and chase her back.  Its so funny to watch the dog who is double the size of the cat run away. LOL
  SO funny!!!  Yes, I do lead a sad, sad..  oh so very boring life. LOL  ;P

I will post again soon,  It has been a busy week here...  Scott has been busy trying to get our fence up so i can have my freedom! LOL   

Freedom!

Freedom in the form of a fence!!!!!  I am so excited!!  We are finally putting up a fence around the backyard. The lumber (It should be gold for how much it cost..LOL)  will be arriving this afternoon and the guy we hired to dig the fence post holes and set the posts will be coming tomorrow.  Scott and his dad will put the fence up themselves but, it will be nice to have the hardest part done!
I will be able to let laine go out in the backyard without constantly worrying.  He is always wanting to be outside now on the trampoline.   It will also be SO NICE to let Gracie outside to run around without having her on a leash.   I am so worried now that she is going to run away from me that i always have her on a leash.   This little girl is growing like a weed!  Its amazing how quickly she grows! LOL   She gets bigger by the day!   

The first picture here was taken the first day we brought her home and the other just a week ago... (unfortunately i havent had my camera out since then)   from 9lbs to 20 in a month and a half! LOL
She is a cute little doll, SO stinkin smart, i am amazed!
She is pretty much trained now to go outside to the bathroom, YAY!   She can now spend time with us in the carpeted areas of the house without me worrying that she is going to pee.  Attaching the bell to the door for her to ring when she wants to go out was the best thing we could have done, we dont have to wait for a look or for her to start sniffing around, she just goes and rings the bell and we know exactly what she wants.  Sometimes its not just to pee though, sometimes i think she hears the kids out at the highschool and wants to go check things out. LOL    Good dog she is, So glad that i changed my mind about getting a dog and picked this little gal!  Its such a thrill to get up in the morning and have her greet me with her whole butt waggin back and fourth in excitement! 

The Basement:  Its all cleaned up, bleachy clean.  Scott cleaned it and the only thing left for me to do is wash off the folding table and the washer and dryer.  What a mess it was!  Thankfully nothing got ruined and it wasnt worse than it was.   I cant imagine the stress that people go through when their entire basements flood and they loose everything down there!    Our basement really isnt used as a family room, just as a toy room, laundry and storage. The kids like having their own space where they can set up their train tracks, road tracks and play cars ;) 

Swooshy Frames:  Thanks so much for all of your feedback on those!  I  really appreciate it!  Glad you like them. 
Vivacious:  THANK YOU to all who has commented on that kit, SO very thrilled with it.  MAYBE, just MAYBE you will see a layout from me using it soon.

And now, time to get back to work.  I have a long todo list of stuff that i would like to do before hte kiddos get home from school.    You are going to see some AWESOME, AWESOME fonts from me later this week.  I have been having SO MUCH FUN drawing alphabets.  Today i just finished off another one and some dings!   Cant wait to have those ready to go! 

another rainy Saturday!

So, its been quite the week here in the Stephens household!  Yesterday and the evening before,  my poor husband spent hours and hours cleaning up water in the basement. 

When i rained, we got backflow into the basement :(   Man, it was YUCK!  It probably wouldnt have happened if i wasnt doing laundry at the time.  It didnt help that it was pouring and dalyn was also taking a shower either! LOL 

When i found it,  I immediately put all the clothes on the floor, waiting to be washed to my moms house and she washed it for me just so it would be out of the way.   

We had the plumbers in and even though things look like they are going down better, it still seems slower to me.   I am worried.  Scott spent hours cleaning and bleaching the basement.  If it backs up again.......  He is not going to be happy :(     And next time might be my turn to clean it and man, i just get grossed out at the thought!   

I am just SO THANKFUL that that part of the basement is unfinished.  I couldn't imagine having a finished basement fill with water, what a nightmare that would be.   

Anyway, the weather here today is yucky... cloudy and spitting rain.   Scott is working some overtime and the kids are itching to do something.

Right now they are playing spongebob while i finish this post and wait for their lunch to cook.   After that we are off to go to the grocery store.  Just to get out since the weather is not nice enough to do anything else.    Wish me luck.. i always spend about 20 dollars more on groceries when they are with me because they BEG and i am a sucker :)  I need to remember to put ice cream cones on the list so we can make "cupcake cones"  that i promised them we would make last week but, i couldn't find the cones! LOL