Highlights for April 2008

12 - scrapbooked with Kellee and Donna

17-19 - took a short trip to Atlantic City and Philadelphia during spring break. In Atlantic City, we had a fun time walking along the beach looking for seashells. The water was a little chilly for swimming, although some people went in! The boardwalk attractions were nice - we walked a couple of miles and visited the casinos, shopping malls, arcades, rides, and museums. We stayed at the Tropicana casino which was very nice and had an attractive indoor shopping mall, restaurants, and entertainment. I lost $14 on the penny slot machines. On the way back from Atlantic City, we stopped in Philadelphia and toured Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

21 - attended book club discussion of The Road

27 - attended St. Mary's volunteer luncheon with other choir members

Other Highlights -

Baseball season is underway! Nick is on the 9th grade team and has daily practices and games.

Scrapbook pages completed: 22 (target was 30)

Highlights for March 2008

March 1 - Went to see Grease at the high school.

March 4 - Art had surgery on his prostate. He spent one night in the hospital and had a quick recovery!

March 7-9 - Nick went to NYC with the high school Spanish Club.

March 8 - Cropped with Kellee and Donna.


March 16 - St. Patrick's Day dinner at our house with the Debski and Charles families.











March 17 - Book Club discussion of The Sparrow.

March 19-23 - Many church activities for Easter!

March 23 - Easter Egg hunt in our backyard, church, dinner with the Charles'.











March 25-28 - Nick had baseball tryouts. He made the 9th grade team!

March 29 - Took Lisa out to lunch in Seneca Falls for her birthday.

For the Month -
Scrapbook Pages = 31

Books Read =

• The Appeal (Grisham) - disappointing
• The Light of the Moon (Rice) - pretty good
• Look Me in the Eye (Robison) - don't usually like memoirs, but this was interested
• Children of God (Russel) - excellent sequel to The Sparrow
• The Road (McCarthy) - for the book club. It was very depressing, really didn't like it.
• Running with Scissors - another memoir from the brother of Look Me in the Eye. This one was pretty shocking.
• Eat, Pray, Love - yet another memoir. It was a bit whiney.

Highlights for February 2008

2 - Went out with Lauri and Dave Heath to celebrate Dave's and my birthdays.

4 - Had lunch with Lisa Carr

5 - Voted in primary!!

6 - Lent started

8 - Got taxes one!

9 - Met Bicky Dent (Yankee) at Bass Pro.

10 - My birthday - turned 44 years old!!

11 - Attended my first book club meeting. We discussed The Ultimate Gift.

14 - Celebrated Valentine's Day

16 - Scrapbooked with Linda Anthony

18-20 - Went to Spalsh Lagoon in Erie PA for winter break

25 - Went to the doctor for a physical and passed with flying colors

27 - Went with Nick to his Basketball Banquet at The Sunset

28 - Booked our Carribean Cruise for August

For the Month

Scrapbook pages done = 31

Books Read = Duma Key (King), World Without End (Follet), The Sparrow (Russell), Shadow Dance (Garwood)

Ebay Item Sold = 1

LOVE to Friends and Family

With Valentine's Day coming up, I've been giving thought to my friends and family. What would I do without all the wonderful people in my life?! So I want to tell each of you how much you mean to me and why you're so special. Here you are, in no particular order:

Nick - It seems like yesterday that you were just starting kindergarten and now you're in high school - what happened to my baby boy? I don't want to get too mushy because I know it embarasses you. Just know that I'm proud of the young man that you're becoming. The fact that you wanted to spend my birthday with me shows me that you're really growing up. But you'll always be my baby (sorry, I can't help it).

Chris - I like to think that God gave you to me because he had a special plan for both of our lives. You once asked me if I could, would I rather have a "normal" child. I want you to know that I would not change a thing about you - every part of you is special and precious to me! You are a constant inspiration - I don't know anybody that works as hard as you do every day. I'm so thankful to be your mother. You brighten every day for me!

Art - It's been 17 years - thanks for hanging in there :D . Seriously - we've had our ups and downs, but my life is richer with you in it. Thanks for all the pampering on my birthday!

Mom & Dad - Other than being terrific parents, I think that both of you are terrific individuals. I like that you are so active and do many different things - travel, chess, exercise, metal detecting, masons, reading, needlepoint, etc. Although I wish we lived closer, it makes the times that we do get together extra special. Thank you for being such great grandparents to Nick and Chris also!

Mike - My little brother, I wish that I could make your life easier - I will love and support you through everything always. Mainly, I just wish you peace and happiness.

Celina D. - Thank you for spending time with me - shopping, camping, walking, talking, etc. I think that we've probably walked 100 miles around Hoopes Park so far. I enjoy our time together so much and appreciate your friendship more then you know.

Lisa C. - I always look forward to the times when we can go out to lunch and talk. I just wish it could be more often. Thank for all the talks. Also thank you for "getting" Chris when many people don't bother. I think that you are the best mother that I know. I'm looking forward to more of your book group meetings.

Linda A. - I enjoy going with you to Friday lunches, scrapbook crops, Mirbeau, and the pool. We need to get together more though! You're also the best tap dancer I know - With my voice and your feet, we could be a star!

Norma C. - Even though, we don't spend very much time together anymore, the love is still there. Friendships go through cycles, but I know that we will be friends through life. There is nobody that I would trust more with Nick and Chris, which is why I picked you (and Dave) to be their guardian.

Lauri H. - You have been my friend for the longest in Auburn. I look forward to our New Year's and birthday celebrations. You are my fellow cat lover. Thank you for being patient with my busy life - one day, we'll spend more time together. You always know the best sales on scrapbook supplies - thanks for the shopping trips!

Louise D. - You are my friend and neighbor who is like family to me. I am so lucky to have you in my life. You once told me that you didn't think your life was meaningful. I want you to know that your gentle nature and kindness is an inspiration to me - I want to be just like you when I grow up!

Scrapbook Buddies - Kristi, Kellee, Helen, Donna - Thank you for all of the fun times, talks, and creativity that you have shared with me over the years. You are very special women

Choir Buddies - Roseann, Janet, Lorraine, Pat, Chelley, Dee - GO SOPS! It is so great singing with you ladies every Sunday. You truely sound like angels - and make me sound better.

What the heck happened to January?!

Well, here it is, the first day of Feburary, and I'm trying to figure out what happened to January! January was supposed to be my boring month, but turned out to be anything but. As you can see, I have not posted a blog since January 10th because it was so busy.

Nick finished up his 9th grade basketball season. The team did okay - won half, lost half. On the heels of basketball, ski club started. Nick is certainly very active - I'd like to borrow some of his energy for me.

Chris started piano lessons and is doing very well. He seems to be picking it up quickly. Unfortunately, our keyboard is broken right now, so he can't practice. Chris also continues chess club which is a little disappointing since a lot of the kids have quit.

For me, work has been extremely busy. I'm also busy with church choir - rehearsals on Thursdays, singing on Sundays. And I just joined the Babe Ruth baseball board for which I've been very busy helping out with selling ad signs to businesses.

Scrapbook Count - 57 pages this year!!!! I'm kicking butt!!!!


January Fun

Left - we helped our friend and neighbor, Louise, celebrate her 90th birthday!

Middle - Chris enjoyed making bubbles at the MOST (Museum of Science and Technology)

Right - we had a blast playing on the frozen pond at Hoopes Park!

Our Furry Friends

January is a good month to catch up on things because nothing is happening. I've been concentrating on scrapbooking and chores this past week. I've gotten 24 scrapbook pages done so far this year! (Now, if I can only keep it up.)

I thought that now would be a good time to give a shout-out to our furry friends that we share a home with - Smokey, Casey, and Ginger.

Smokey - we adopted Smokey from the animal shelter in 2002. She's almost 6 years old, and as you can see, very chubby. She loves to hang out in the bathroom with us when we're getting ready in the morning and mainly stays indoors. Smokey has quite an attitude and will meow loudly if she's ticked off about something. She likes to lay on my desk behind my computer while I'm working.

Casey - we found Casey as a kitten at Casey Park in 2004. She was in very bad shape, but we took her to the vet and after a few operations, she was as good as new. She's almost 4 years old, and starting to get chubby. She has a sweet, friendly disposition and likes to hang out with us whenever we're indoors or out. She likes to play with cat toys and watch Ginger.

***Smokey and Casey don't get along very well together!!

Ginger - we got Ginger at Pet Depot in November 2007. She's a snowshoe rabbit with very soft fur. Ginger has quite an attitude for a rabbit and likes to rearrange the items in her cage on a frequent basis. She has a stuffed squirrel in her cage that she like to throw around.

Happy New Year!!!

After 12 days off, I'm more than ready to get back to work! Too much of a good thing... It was very hard to get the boys up and off to school this morning, but that was to be expected. We really need one more day off after New Year's Day to get kids prepared!

For New Year's Eve, we had our good friends, Dave and Lauri Heath, at our house along with the Debski kids. We had a nice time eating, talking, and watching Wild Hogs. At midnight, the kids headed outside and set off confetti blasts and fireworks. We got to bed around 2 a.m.

New Year's Resolution - NONE.

2007 Scrapbook Page Count - I finished 267 pages for the year, but would have liked to complete about 100 more. This was my 2007 resolution also, which I failed to accomplish.

New Year's Quote - A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.