Trying to keep it together

So much has been going on.....not ready to get into it....but please pray for me and my family. I am trying so desperately to hold on to the shred of sanity that I have left. Everything has been going on from financial problems, to deaths, fights.....our family is going thru a very trying time right now. The only thing that keeps me going is my hubby and my children. I am a very spiritual person and I pray for peace and strength everyday. I did smile big today after reading Bonnie Rose's blog, something about her blog makes me smile. I love reading Adrienne's blog too, feel a sense of sisterhood with her and love looking at Michelle aka burberry girls awesome layouts. Justem is another blog I love! So, thanks to these ladies for making my day! Dana

Finally back!

Wow, this week has been like an emotional rolller coaster. My family reunion was Saturday. We had a blast! My uncles came in from out of town (Memphis and Florida) and we have been having get together after get together. On Wednesday, we buried my uncle. It was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sad! I felt as if I was going to pass out! My mom and her twin brother took it sooo hard. I felt for my mom. Then my aunt broke down and it was unexpected. My brother laid down on my uncles body and just sobbed. It took us forever to pull him away. It was horrible. My uncle Bud was a well-loved man! The sanctuary was filled! We had a repast and then we went over to my aunts. By this time, I had a massive headache, so I laid in the bed for awhile. Then we looked through pictures and laughed and talked, before I went home. The kids did not want to go. Plus I knew it would be too much. I haven't been on because I have been too depressed!! Also my chest has been bothering me, chest pains and heart palpatations. Also I have been stricken with horrible headaches. Now that everything is over, I am going to schedule an appointment with my doctor. Just have been feeling so yucky. Just wanted to let everyone know I did not fall off the face of the earth Until next time dana

Family Reunion ......

Singing horribly to the O'Jays....family reunion...we're having a family reunion.... Today is our family reunion. I am so excited. Some of my cousins, I haven't seen since the last family reunion. We are going to have a blast! As always. Good food! The sack race! Egg toss! Soft ball! What more can a girl ask for! The kids are so excited! I am going to take plenty of pics! Dana

It finally came!

I am so excited! I got both my Elsie Flannigan 52 Challenges and my Alis Edwards Designer's Eye for Patterned Paper. It was long overdue! But worth the wait! Remind me to never order ANYTHING from Creating Keepsakes again! Ugh! This whole ordeal was nerve wrecking! Can't wait to jump into my books tonight. Right now I am cleaning and cooking. What else is new. Wished my house could clean itself! Hope they make one of those in the future. You push a button an "ting" dinner is cooked....push a button and "ting" the house is clean! Todays challenge was a fun one: What things put me in a good mood! A Hot Bubble bath, by candlelight Snuggling with my husband Hearing my children laugh Getting good mail! Like finally recieving my books from CK A clean house and fresh linen on my bed! Other things that make me happy are anything scrapbook related, good food (I dance a little when the food is good...I used to hum, when I was younger), walking into Borders, I love borders, going to the mall, and being around my mom! Hope everyone is having a fantabulous day! Dana

It

My uncle lost his battle with cancer

My uncle passed away on Monday night. He was 4th child of 9. We affectionately called him "Uncle Bud". He will be greatly missed. My uncle was a very happy-go lucky. I dubbed him "our rich uncle". He was known for his fancy cars, gator boots, and expensive Taylor made suits. He was so funny. If you around him you were always laughing. When he talked it was so funny, after every sentence he would say "you understand". He was one of my favorite uncles. I can remember when I was a child he lived with us for a short while, because his house caught fire... He used to always bring us home toys and food, everyday he came home from work....He used to play hide and seek and tickle us...when it was time for him to move back to his house...we cried and begged him to stay, we told our grandmother to make him stay, since she was his mother and had to listen to her.....lol I loved my uncle Bud dearly and I will miss you very much! Dana

The Greatest Hobby in the World

It's Official Scrapbooking is the World's Greatest Hobby! Where else can you get kick a$$ kits in the mail like Jenni Bowlin and Scrapologie! HEHE! I was just thinking how much fun I am having since I found this hobby 7 years ago.....just a thought!

Is anybody else loving all the CHA previews?

I am in love! In love with all the new scrapbook goodies that are coming out. I have already ordered the entire Cosmo Cricket Line, it should be here any day now. I also am salivating over all of the new Heidi Swapp stuff, love her new bling words!!! Those are a must have! The new Primas, Sassafrass Lass, A2Z Essentials, Cherry Arte, Urban Lily ,Basic Grey ,My Mind's Eye and the new Paper Salon Papers! I am going to be so broke! I wished that I could go to CHA, sounds like everyone that has gone has had a blast! I would probably just die, because I would want everything I see!

I am so addicted to this hobby! I can't imagine what my life would be like if not for Scrapbooking. I have met so many amazing people, been so many places.

I look forward to getting mail! Because of my many scrapbook orders, scrapbook kits, or magazines! It's just a fun hobby.

Dana

Buried Alive

Bonnie and Clyde aka Jariel and Jaree wanted me to post this picture. My kids get more excited about their pictures being seen on my blog. It's so funny. I guess they feel it's like being on television...lol. They are so funny! They spent so much time digging this hole, big enough to fit them both inside and then they were buried alive. Peep the sandman in between them both. My husband's idea. So I hope they feel better, and won't bug me about posting this picture.

Today is another scorcher. We spent most of our day at the pool. It was dollar day! The kids swam all day. Then we played volley ball. I got home around 8 ordered out dinner and the kids stayed up to 4 in the morning....yikes. I only know this because I heard them talking when I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night! LOL

Today, we are probably going back to the pool! Then we are going to the movies to see the new Wayan's Brothers movie Little Man. Should be a hoot.

It's funny the challenge is about amusement parks. My family and I are such daredevil, even little Jaree.... We love roller coasters. I have been to so many theme parks....I think my favorite rides are :Raging Bull, Deja Vu and Superman at Six Flags Great America, Space Mountain at Disney, Ultra Twister at Houston, Millenium Force and Dragster at Cedar Point and I also love water rides! I am such a daredevil!

Until next tiime.....Dana

It's the simple things in life

It's really the simple things in life that count. We totally made our kids day when we decided to take a totally spontaneous trip to the beach yesterday. It was so hot! We got up went to the grocery store to get pop and snacks and to subway to get sandwhiches loaded the coolers and headed out to the beach. We had a great time. Jaree is such a fish! She did not want to leave the beach and we were there for more than 6 hours! She was not a happy camper when we had to leave. Just made me think, that it is simply the little things that count. We do alot with our kids! Waterparks, amusement parks, the zoo, game rooms, you name it. We are always on the Go! But it really the little things that count! YOu don't have to spend a lot of money to have fun. I think we spent 35bucks! For a fun-filled day! Summer is a season that goes by so fast! So we try to do as much as possible. Next destination:Deep river waterpark and Six Flags Great America!!! Can't wait!


Dana

I am laughing my butt off

My cousin told me about me about Roy Jones Jr. a comedian, he has a website about prank calls. There was this one called Barbara's check! It was a prank call about they were going to reduce her social security check to $250, due to the hurricane and rising gas prices... and she went off! That was one of the most hilarious things I have ever heard in my life. I was sitting here crying it was so funny. Just had to share.

Today, I have to go the DMV to renew my id card and driver's license. What fun! It's cool and rainy here, so we are not doing to much! I finally got my August CK today! Wohoo. Still waiting on my Ali Edwards Designer's Eye for PP though.....CK customer service sucks so bad!

I woke up and almost bust my a$$ when I walked in the kitchen, because the stupid refrigerator is leaking. We may have to buy a new one, Bummer! Could have found a million more things to do with that money! Oh well! I am going to the mall and borders today! Going to try and squeeze Target in, haven't been there in awhile and I so want to go! Love their Dollar Spot!

I have to swing by my brother's place, he just purchased a new home and he want's me to help him pack! He only calls when he needs something. I tell ya. He is the only boy, so we spoil him rotten! LOL

Gotta go do some more laudry

Until next time

Dana

I am soooooo mad right now!

I am so mad right now I can SCREAM! First of all, I pre-ordered both the new Ali Edwards and Elsie Flannigan's book from CK. I had origninally placed a pre-order on June 2nd, but soon discoverd I had used the wrong expiration date for the cc. I then called back on the 28th to cancel the order placed on June 2nd and start another using the correct exp. date. Well, on June 30th, I was charged $24.95 twice for the order on the 2nd and the order on the 28th. I was livid. I immediately called CK and they told me I would have to wait to the orders to arrive and refuse one of them. Which to me was nonsense. Why should I have to pay for their error. Well, I told them to make sure that they cancelled the June 2nd order (AGAIN) for the second time so that I would not be charged twice for the Elsie book, well to no avail they charged me twice $24.95 again for the Elsie book. I am so pissed. I wanna smack the hell out of somebody. I called on 4 seperate occassions for them to handle business and they did not. To add insult to injury, the damned Ali book still has not been shipped out yet. However, the stores has had them in for days..... Creating Keepsakes is really going to have to get their act together...They lost one faithful customer they had in me....I will never, ever, never eva......order anything from them again. This is totally ridiculous. I called today and they assured me they would take care of me and will give me a call on tommorrow. We'll see! If not they will be getting an earful from me.....you better believe it! Dana

Update!!!

My neighbor is a cop and I asked him did he know what was going on and he told me that a lady was robbed at the Swap-o-rama and that the suspect fled on foot and was armed and dangerous. They didn't catch him either. She was putting her baby in the car and he robbed her at gunpoint in broad daylight. He only got away with 40 dollars .....I always felt they need to put a gate up, to seperate us from the swaporama, and its a trail right next to our park, that takes you straight there. So he probably ran straight thru our park, to god knows where. My neighbor Brian said, that he either knew someone in the area, because he was spotted on our block or he had a getaway car stashed over here. So scary. I have never heard of anyone getting robbed at the Swap-o-rama. I go there all the time! I will definitely have my guard up now! They said he also made away with tons of good from the swap.....

Just glad my son was not in his way as he running from the cops. Thank God!

Dana

What is going on??

I sent my nine year old out to walk the dog and he came back in the house running and locking the door. He said it was about 10 squad cars outside and they told him to get in the house. I don't know what to do now. How will I know when it is safe to go outside or not. We are scared to death over here. Plus my husband is going to be coming home from work soon. I think I am going to call him and let him know what is going on. It has to be something big, if they wanted my son to come inside. I hate things like this. Will keep you posted.. Dana

TGIF!!!

Not that it's really anything to be Thankful for, my kids are not in school, so it's not like i have to get up early and get them ready for school. I do not work, so its not the end of the work week for me or anything, everyday is like a weekend for me I guess. Not too much going on today. Just woke up early and cleaned the house. Might, and I mean might (meaning slight possibility) do some laundry. I might head over to Borders to finish my book. With the children around its next to impossible to fully enjoy it. I am reading Afterburn by Zane, and would really like to finish it. I just purchased 4 books from Amazon, that arrived a couple of days ago.....so I want to finish those 4 up before the summer ends. I love to read! It is another obssession of mine, next to scrapbooking! I really need to get going on scrapping. I think I am going to plan a couple of crops, so it can jump start me and get me out of my rut. Haven't really done anything since April.....Got to get out of this rut! I don't need to spend another dime until I do....lol Yeah right! On another note, my daughter had some seizure activity yesterday. It wasn't a full blown seizure, just staring episodes that last for about 1 minute. I don't know if I should report it to the doctor or not, because they may up her meds or make her stay longer. I think she was just really crabby and tired and it led to it. I am going to the Taste of Chicago again on Sunday, don't have much planned for today. I am going to a picnic on Saturday, so it should be a fun weekend! happy friday to you all! Until next time Dana

Pet Peeves

What are my pet peeves? My pet peeves 1. Leaving dishes in the sink overnight....2. dirty kitchen table3.Impatient people4. Dishonest People5. Rudeness6 Jealousy7 talking behind my back8People who don't take care of their children9. People who try to be something they are no10 Bigotry11. Infidelity12. people who drive slow in the fast lane13. Can't stand kids ears to be dirty, clean with q-tips consantly14. People who talk with their mouth full15. Leaving the toilet seat up 16. My bed must be made for me to sleep in it. If I forget to make my bed. I make it up, right before I go to bed, just to get in it....lol

Exhausted and Overwhelmed

As you probably know by now, I had out of town guests from Minnesota this week. I had 5 children and one adult stay in my home. Scratch that, I had 6 children and 1 adult, because my trifling sister in law, decided to send her child over too. He was here two days without a change of clothes. I was so mad! I thought that was completely inconsiterate. She knew we had a house full and guess she saw it as a babysitting free for all and sent her child along. I would never do this. She always puts her children off on someone else and that totally ticks me off. I keep my own children! My mom has to beg for them to come over. My children are my responsibility and no one else's. This was just the final straw for me.... Other than that, I had a great time! We went downtown, we went to the waterpark, we really had a a great time.... Then the fourth came around....I couldn't find my digi camera...still can't find it....so while I took pics, they were all film....so I was a little po'd about that! I got all of the children ready and we went to my mom's. I asked my mom if it would be okay, because I had 5 extra mouths with me....she said most definitely. I get there and we were not there 5 minutes before my dad starts yelling and screaming at Jonathan, one of the 13 year old's from Minnesota. He said "He was urinating, in a bush, All the kids said he didn't ...So he started ranting and raving, ran up and got in the little boys face, I was so embarrassed! My husband is such a docile man, I felt so bad for him....he was ready to go home and said he was not coming back next year....I felt like shit and I am not speaking to my dad, because he totally blew everything out of proportion..... My husband took the kids paddle boating, to escape from my dad, then we all ate and went to the firework show. You could tell my husband was so uncomfortable. We came back to my mom's, lit some fireworks and came home. The Wiley's went home this morning. I am sure Jon, has a lot to tell his family. I wanted to strangle my dad yesterday. I am still mad about it.....Talk about male menopause...lol Dana

A great day ahead!

I am so excited. We are doing so many exciting things today. First off, I am going to Windy City Scrapbooking and I am totally stoked!!!! They close at 4 so I am leaving pretty soon. I am also going shopping (Burlington Coat Factory), love to shop....lol Later we are going to a carnival and firework show. The kids are elated. Their cousins are here from Minnesota, so they are having a blast! Hope I find some good stuff today at Windy City!!! Dana

Bad Habits

Wow, I have a couple of them...lol One is my spending problem. I am a total impulse buyer. I have the kid in the candy store syndrome. I want, want, want. It has landed me in trouble plenty of times with the dh. He is such a miser! He is thrifty. I, on the other hand, am anything but! I get it from my momma! LOL My mom is the same exact way! I am always in the mall or scrapbook stores.

Another bad habit that I have is staring. My husband hates this. I stare at people. Don't ask me why? I just do! I guess you can call me a voyeur in some small way. My dad used to always tell me to stop staring when I was little. I find myself doing it in my adult years too!

Another bad habit I have is forgetfulness. I will forget to lock the door, forget my keys, forget my purse, you name it. I hate this about myself. I am so absentminded at times. It's no wonder my house and car have not been robbed! They would have free access because I always forget!

Those are just a few of my bad habits. I have too many to name...lol Dana