Scrap Update

So, in my continuing effort to pare down the crap everywhere, I've tackled layouts that I did in CKU or store classes or whatever, that either just needed pictures added or the second page done or whatever. It's actually made it appear as if I'm cranking out layouts -- when actually, I'm just forcing myself to "complete" these huge stack of layouts that are oh-so-close to being done. Of course some of them are dated ... or because they're a CKU class or something, not really my style, but they're getting done and "albumed." This is a good thing. I've taken some pictures and FINALLY updated my slide show ... which was so boring with the same darn thing all the time. I'll update the other one soon too. My blog was getting so stale!

So ... back to work, I'll update more pages as I get them done. Oh, and GO DAVIDSON!

Easter

Some of my fav shots from Easter ... including the boy in pink ... who did not protest, and darn it, he looked CUTE! All my kids looked like eggs!

Nick wanted to take some of his Easter goodies to church ... hence the arms loaded and tears. And yes, some of the goodies DID go to church...

More photos in the Gerding Photo Album....

Oddball Week

Lots going on ... will blog later in the week.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately!  

Good Friday.

Yes it is.
I am off today. I always take off so we can go to the Good Friday services. It's always very moving and really makes us appreciate Easter more.

I'm cleaning up around the house and thinking about scrapping. Mostly just moving supplies from one table to another. Ack.

It's a good weekend to relax and not be tied to stuff -- no thinking about work, only LIMITED time on the computer. Just chillin'.

Pink is Manly

Where does the time go?
Why can't I get anything done?
So much to talk about ...we've got some deep stuff going on ... but I'm going to keep it simple.

I enjoy buying the boys' Easter outfits. Oh sure, I'd LOVE to be picking out dresses and shoes and yes, we'd do bonnets. But, I gotta work with what I got. And I'm not quite ready yet to suit 'em up in ties and jackets. So, I go for spring colors on nice looking shirts and khakis.

Jack is wearing a lime green. BRIGHT lime green. And Nick has a yellow polo with white and dark green stripes .. and Kyle...well, my blonde haired blue eyed boy is gonna wear pink. That's right. He will look so good in pink! And it's actually very "in" right now for manly men to wear pink. It was funny - -because I showed it to him first. I couldn't have him throwing a fit on Easter morning because momma bought him a girl shirt. He was ok with it. Then of course, there's Jack .. who got a big smile on his face, but was smart enough to read the expression on my face and daddy's face and know to zip it. And speaking of Daddy ... he seems ok with it too. I didn't have to make a case....

So ... this week's poll is about pink.

Blog Challenge

Congratulations! You've won 50,000!
Oh, but there's a catch. You must spend every penny of it within 2 days.
What do you buy?

Ok .. seriously - no dreaming, this is what would happen.

It will go fast.

---I'd tithe 1/10th to the church.

---Pay off debts.

---We need (have to) to paint the house...and I'd like to replace some fixtures/lights and re-paint the deck and put cement of some sort under the deck and work on landscaping. (Since we have to spend this in 2 days -- we'd set up the paint job, pay in advance and make a long trip to home depot!)

New spring/summer clothes/shoes/sandals for everyone!

We'd advance pay a Disney World trip for the family (and include Popaw and Grandma Hicks) and a return to Jamaica trip for just me and Ryan.

Hmm....by my estimation...there's still money left!  So...we'd get the bedroom set we need ... the extra HD TV we've been talking about -- with surround sound...oh oh -- I'd get the RED slim laptop I've been drooling over...a new "family" computer...a new desk for downstairs.  OH - I'd buy that cool scrap closet thing...and I think that would go through the money.

It's nice to, for once, have to really THINK about how to spend - and move into the "wants" pretty quickly after the "needs."  We're blessed, and I don't take that for granted.

Things that are stupid.

1. "Technical Support" -- when our computer crashed, Ryan called these "gurus" and followed their instructions by the letter ... and essentially made it so nothing could be recovered. Because THEY are morons, I've lost tons of fonts I've collected over time ... special emails .... word documents...pictures people have emailed ... favorites/bookmarks etc. etc.

2. Me not listening to myself. For about a week now, every time I've gotten on the computer, I've had a nagging feeling to go through and print out "Save" emails and delete others, just get it tidy and stuff saved. I've always felt like I've had some sort of weird "know its gonna happen before it does" thing .. and once again, I didn't act on it and ka-plewie....dead computer, all is lost.

3. 5th's Disease. It really shouldn't be called a disease. It's basically just a weird rash. And what's really stupid is that, by the time you realize that's what it is -- because you see this horrible rash -- the contagious part is over. So ... basically, your kid gets it -- you don't know he has it and is contaminating his brothers -- and it's a vicious cycle of stupid.

4. My body. I had a migraine the other night....horrible horrible...almost wanted to puke it was so bad ...so I took a Tylenol PM -- kill the headache/help me sleep. Well, it worked- - except I slept so hard I have a kink in my back that KILLS. Nice. OR OR OR - that could be a sign that I now have the elusive -- and stupid -- 5th's disease....it's shows up as joint pain in adults. And I've had a headache off and on since then.

5. The weather. Snow this weekend? Seriously? Enough is enough.

6. People who call me and tell me they can't do their job because they just got their hair done. Don't ask.

7. Me typing this right now instead of taking some Tylenol PM and going to bed.

ONE NOT STUPID THING: My husband ... who ran to HyVee for me when I came home tonight, and brought me a hot chocolate/peanut butter brownie. Chocolate helps everything.

Crud.

Our home computer has died ... and lost everything.
So, I'm quickly posting from work to say ... I won't be able to update for awhile.

Shawn, a scrap friend, is taking the computer to her husband ... hopefully he can do some CPR and get me back in business..and recover the lost stuff! THANK YOU SHAWN! Even if it doesn't work - I appreciate the help!

Waaaaaaah!

Shoes

Who woulda thought shoes would be a big deal.  But shoes are a big deal.

Now wait -- let me back up a bit.  Yes, to a child it is a big deal ... not only to pick out their favorite character or cool looking tennies...but to then be "faster" because you have new shoes on.  And of course, if you know me at all, you know I'm a shoe FREAK. Love them; can't have enough.   So - in that basic way, sure, shoes can be a big deal.

But I'm talking about something else.  I'm talking about having the boys pick out their shoes ... and barely having one still looking in the toddler section.  And having the discussion about whether we should get "tie" shoes or not.  (Everyone voted "no" this time - even though Kyle started out wanting them, because he wanted to learn to tie.)  The shoes that were "coolest" to everyone had no ties.

Then we come home...and everyone has to put on their new shoes and run all over the house to test just how fast they are.

And there it is.  Shoes that have gotten larger...and look more like BOY shoes than cute kid shoes.  Jack's are SO big ... it's so strange to see.  And it gets me.  These little kids are slipping away from me.  Wearing BIG shoes.   And growing up.  And it's a big deal.

So Much Going On....

1. I wanted to post about the wedding we went to. It was very untraditional...with some traditional mixed in. It was at the Boulevard Brewing company. On the way there, I was a bit concerned for my safety, but once I found it- - hidden behind some old buildings -- I was surprised to find a very nice place! It seemed bright shiny and new...and possibly a neat tourist attraction. (To tour the brewery.) The room was a big open area, with lots of round tables and a big bar. We went in, got some drinks and sat down at the big round tables. The wedding proceeded then -- up at the bar area. The groom came into the room to the Van Halen song "Hot for Teacher" ... which was actually very cool. (She was a teacher.) She came in to some song about birds and wings I'd never heard before, but it was very pretty. Her dress was GORGEOUS. It looked vintage ... kind of cream with embroidered roses in a light tan-ish or candlelight color. It looked like a wedding dress ... but seemed "antique" and was so pretty. The ceremony itself was quite short...traditional vows etc. One neat thing: a reading. Not your normal bible verse or poem -- it was an excerpt from "The Velveteen Rabbit." It was perfect and had lots of folks wiping tears. It was a very cool wedding .... it felt very "hip." I love all the different ways weddings can come together ... and have often thought being a wedding planner would be a fun job.

2. Croptastic Weekend
It was mostly just me and Dana...but we had a great time! And both of us got a LOT done. She did a bunch of page kits ... and I worked on an entire album of our cruise to Cabo in 2006. I only have two more layouts to do in that album - and it will be COMPLETE! I'll take a couple pics of some of the layouts and add them to my slide show. It felt real good to get so much done.
We watched a couple "dud" movies ... but probably good to watch while scrapping - because you didn't have to give them your full attention. Oh -- and Lisa did come by and scrap for awhile! It was good to hang with her....even for a short time. Anna CLAIMED to have hurt her finger, and ended up not coming. (ha ha).

3. The concert ... separate blog.

4. Soccer has been cancelled for the weekend ... so I'm looking forward to a weekend of NOTHING planned! Karlyn: I'll be sending you that email I promised!

Bring on the weekend!

Busy Week!

It's been a busy, busy week ... and I have so much to post about!

Be sure to come back to see my pictures from the Keith Urban/Carrie Underwood concert ... it was FABULOUS!!!!

Argh!

I'm sooooo swamped.
But I can take a quick second for a funny:
Today I was putting on brown tights .... and Nick ... my little shadow who is always whereever I am is watching .. and he says:
"Momma, I really like your sock pants."

hahahahahaahahahaaaa......I guess that makes sense!

Busy!

Yes -- I DID have a croptastic weekend!
But I'm too busy at the moment to blog about it ... but I will!

The Five:
1. Crampy
2. Tired
3. Cold
4. Happy that Monday FLEW by today.
5. Pleased with myself - for some relationships I worked on at work today.

Wishes:
1. We had new sheets.
2. I could take a day off for PMS
3. I had a scrap room. *sigh*
4. Winter would go AWAY.
5. I could safely pack away my winter clothes.

Let the Cropping Begin!

dcLast night's wedding was very neat -- very "hip." I'll have to blog about that later.

But now, it's time to call Dana and get our crop on!

Last night I was up until 2:00am doing stuff around the house and watching Steel Magnolias. Good gosh -- I've seen it a million times and still bawled like a baby. Oh yeah, I started crying BEFORE the crying parts because I knew they were coming! Sheesh!

Ok ... enough typing, I'm keeping Dana waiting!

Wooooohoooooo -- let's hope I can update my slide show with LOTS of new pages this weekend!