Photobooks and such

So, I have found a new way to scrapbook. I know, it is not new technology or anything, but I have never made a digital scrapbook... until this past weekend. I used Photoworks.com to create a book of Harrison's Kindergarten year in school. It turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself. Much less than developing all the photos and taking the time to put it in a paper scrapbook, though I still enjoy the sense of peace that comes over me when I am in my scrapbook high. It is just such a pain to pull it all out and I can rarely find the time when I can be alone without the kids wanting to "help". I knocked this out in a few hours and it is now being printed and on its way to me. Pretty cool. Harrison was so happy when he saw it. Here's the link. Feel free to take a look and let me know what you think!

http://www.photoworks.com/photo-sharing/shareSigninBook.jsp?shareCode=A242E32C5CB&cp=ems_shr_alb_emb&cb=PW

My two little guppies

So, this weekend we did our usual jaunt to the pool. With the cooler weather we have had, the water was a bit chilly but it didn't faze the kids one bit. Maia usually swims with a Speedo vest, but Saturday, she got brave enough to face the water without it. She has been working hard at learning to swim (with the face out of course) and was determined to work herself to death swimming from my mom to me. Harrison is practically a fish and has gotten really good at retrieving dive sticks off the bottom of the pool. Can't convince him to take a jump off the diving board though. Maia is hell bent that she is not getting her face wet EVER. These are MY kids!! I grew up at the pool. I was on the swim team at age five until i was 18. How I got a child who doesn't like to get her face wet, I'll never know. Here are some photos from the weekend.

Hanging on for dear life

Swimming to Grandma. Her backside sinks like a ton of lead.

Looks like she is struggling (she wasn't). I guess I could have put the camera down to "save" her. LOL

Can't you just see the fins sprouting from him??

Armed and dangerous!!

How to NOT be a good neighbor

So, the feud between neighbors is on! The boat issue is dead once and for all I hope, but it came with a lot of effort and feuding between several of us. Last weekend, I ended up calling the police because he parked the boat smack in front of my house again, leaving me nowhere to park. His wife had the audacity to smirk at me while I was PMSing. Not a wise choice on her part. Long story short, cops were called and went to visit him asking him to move the boat. He pushed it down in between my house and the house beside me, which was ok with me and the other neighbor. He had been told by my neighbor that was a good place and neither one of us would mind it being there. Remember, this guy also has 4 work vehicles that park on the street on either side, a trailer on the side street, and a defunct van that parks in the back alley, totally blocking access.

Today, my neighbor tells us that the proverbial poopy has hit the fan and they had an all out feud about the boat, words and looks were exchanged and he basically told him that all of his neighbors were sick and tired of his crap and that it broke zoning laws and to MOVE IT once and for all. He took it to his parents house, where it use to reside before all of this anyway. The nerve. You just can't take the "red" out of some people I suppose. He needs a lesson on how to be a good neighbor. We will probably all have our tires slit tomorrow morning.

51 Things About Me...

So, I get these emails all the time, and Karen, I liked how you posted yours on your blog, so I thought I would do the same thing. Here goes...

1. Do you like blue cheese? Depends on what it is on. I kinda do like the pungent flavor a little
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? NO NO NO.
3. Do you own a gun? No
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at sonic? Usually just get a coke, but want to try the cherry lime-aides sometimes.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? I have white coat syndrome, but I don't usually feel like I am nervous
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Good the first time but not when you get indigestion from them. Only like Pork hot dogs, no beef for me!
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Humm, not sure. My hubby likes "A Christmas Story" and I am forced to watch it repeadetly every year. I like the claymation cartoons.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coke, from a fountain. I am trying hard to change this bad bad habit.
10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I don't really have one. I suppose my wedding set.
11. Favorite hobby? Scrapbooking, but i rarely have time to work on it these days.
12. Do you have A.D.D.? Depends on who you ask.
13. What is one trait you hate about yourself? can't follow thru on things. Maybe i do have ADD. I am also VERY messy around the house. Would love to become a neat freak.
14. What's your middle name? Dianne
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I wish i could start feeling better and stop being sick all the time. I wish i had energy to clean my house top to bottom. I am hungry.
17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Coke, juice, and trying to add water to that.
18. Current worry? my health
19. Current hate right now? My messy house.
20. Favorite place to be? at the beach, any beach.
21. How did you bring in the New Year? at home watching the kids trying to stay awake for the ball drop. THey didn't make it.
22. Where would you like to go? Ireland
23. Name three people who will complete this? Not sure
24. Do you own slippers? Several pair.
26. What year would you go back in time to? 2000
27. Can you whistle? Sometimes
28. Favorite color? Green
29. Would you be a pirate? Nope
30. What songs do you sing in the shower? Don't have a shower (yeah, it DOES suck)
33. What's in your pocket right now? Nothing
34. Last thing that made you laugh? Maia acting silly today at the pool.
36. Worst injury you've ever had? Banged up head after a church bus accident when I was 10. I had knots and bruises and cuts all over my face and head.
37. Do you love where you live? Yeah, I just wish i had time and money to really revamp my old 1920's house to the way i envision it to be.
38. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3
39. Who is your loudest friend? Adrienne
40. How many dogs do you have? No dogs, but want a small dog someday.
41. Does someone have a crush on you? Don't know.
42. What is your favorite book(s)? Chick Lit. Don't have a particular title, though I did really really like "If Only it were True" by Marc Levy. (the movie Just like Heaven was based on this)
43. What is your favorite candy? Kit Kats
44. Favorite Sports Team? Don't really have one. Not a big sports fan.
45. What is your favorite meal? Mom's crunchy chicken and mac and cheese.
46. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping. I have been soooo sick!
47. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Hope I feel better today.
48. Any odd habits? Probably too many to list.
50. Favorite Kitchen applicance: What's a kitchen?
51. If you could live anyplace where would it be? Probably right where I am or in one of the Carolina's.

Quote of the Week...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us. It is in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

- Nelson Mandela

One Year Ago...June 2007

So, for lack of anything exciting to post, I thought I would take a look back one year and see what was going on in our lives in June 2007. Here is what I found...

We had just gotten our new addition, a siamese kitten that we named Louie. He was rescued from the Pulaski County Animal Shelter. Harrison and Maia love this cat to death! He is a great cat and very gentle and loving.
Maia holding her new kitty. Looks like he is trying to escape. It is funny to see how much the kids have grown in a year as well!

I love this photo of Harrison and Louie sleeping. Spoiled Louie still likes to cuddle with either me or Harrison at night, all night, under the covers. The Shelter we rescued Louie from actually published this photo in their newsletter to show successful rescue.

Amos, our 2 year old at the time, cat playing with his new bro' Louie. The size difference is hilarious to me. Louie wouldn't back down either.

Not really sure what's with the dumb expression on my face, other than the fact that I took this photo myself....I just thought that the look on Louie's face was hilarious. I promise I wasn't squeezing him. I think he had just had enough of the hands on photo shoot.

Harrison looking cooler than ever in his shark goggles at the pool. So serious...

Not really sure what Harrison's plan was here, but I don't normally let him be such a dare devil. I am pretty sure this photo wouldn't win me the mother of the year award. I think he was going to try to jump off the stool with the thought that the umbrella would act like a parachute. I had to curtail this event...

So, there it is. One year ago, June 2007. Maia didn't make too many appearances that month. She was going thru her "I will NOT be photographed" phase if I recall correctly.

Lions and Tigers and Bears...

Well, there weren't any Lions, but there were Tigers and Bears at the Zoo!! Harrison's kindergarten class at TC Miller School of Innovation recently took their last field trip of the year to Natural Bridge Zoo about an hour away and I had the pleasure of chaparoning this event. I don't get to do much because of my daycare, but I chose to take the day off to do this with my baby boy and it was a lot of fun. The kids were great and the weather wasn't bad either! I must say I haven't been on a school bus in a bazillion years and that was also an experience, especially around the winding roads of the mountain we had to cross to get to lexington where the zoo is! If you get car sick, definitly not the place you would want to be. Luckly I don't so it was fine. No one else did either, which is even better! Ever the crazy person with a camera, here are some photos from the event.

Harrison outside of his classroom at TC Miller (This school is old! Has been renovated recently. My dad who is 66 went to kindergarten here!)

Harrison asked me to take a photo of the pretty zebra. He struck a pose for me.

My friend the Giraffe. Isn't he the cutest?? It's amazing how big these animals are...

Harrison wouldn't let the goat eat out of his hand, so he gave him the whole bag of feed. Which the goat ate, bag and all. This was moments before he devoured the bag.

This little monkey guy (or gal) knew we were all taking photos and he came running, er, swinging, to have his photo snapped. He had the silliest smile on his face.

This elephant gave new meaning to the word "mud bath". This is NOT his natural color. Gotta love Virginia Clay.

Harrison and some of his classmates monkeying around after our picnic.

We happened to be at the bear cage at feeding time. Let me tell you, these bears can throw down on a watermelon. It was quite a sight to behold. Amazingly, they don't eat the rind, only the sweet red center.

This guy rocked. Don't you just love the expression??? Dude, I know how you feel...

Harrison and my charge for the day, his buddy, Jovan.

Yay, its my Birthday...

Ok, so I am not really all that thrilled to be turning the big 36. First of all, it makes my blog name null and void. Well, I guess I can always think of myself as 35 and holding, though it is not true anymore. I have the birthday blues. I am officially mid-30's pushing late 30's. That sucks people! SUCKS! I have never been bothered by my age until now. 30, no sweat. 31, 32, no biggie. 35 was pushing it, but 36? That is "old" as my son will tell you!! Didn't do much for the big day, which is fine by me. Trying to forget it to be honest. Anyway, its almost over. I think I will go to bed and sleep the rest of it away...

Street Parking Etiquette

So, every house we have owned has come with street parking. No driveway, just the street. When we first bought our starter home, Chris and I had to learn the hard way that there is a certain etiquette that comes with the need to park your vehicle on the street in front of your house. Basically, the area in front of your propery is yours. Off limits to anyone else unless it is a friend/relative/whatever that is visiting your property. Areas in between properties is fair game, and once it has been established that there is a "free area" of space where no one parks on a regular basis, that too, is fair game.

Last night I arrive home at approximately 10pm to find a big big boat on a trailer parked smack dab in front of my house. Where my van ALWAYS parks. Go figure. The owner of this boat has a house three down from mine on the same side of the street that also happens to have a HUGE private driveway. This neighbor also runs a business from home and has his work vans parked all over the street as well. I have already had to ask him to move these vehicles in the past. He also blocks up a good portion of the access road/alley behind the houses on my side of the street. I am not sure, but I think the city would have a problem with that one. He currently parks a flat bed pull behind type thingie on the street that runs perpendicular to our street. I can't figure out WHY he thinks it is a good idea to leave his boat in front of my house?? RUDE?? Yeah! Right now, I have pulled my van up as close as I can get without touching the blades on the motor. We have been advised to park Chris's car as close to the front as we can get. Mind you, I have parents that drop off and pick up their kids and need somewhere to stop their car. Right now, there is no where for them to stop that is close to my house.

Chris and I have said this guy needs to move it to the country. He has far to many toys and cars that occupy a city street. Did I mention the three wheelers?? Am I passive aggressive? You bet your arse. My hope is that once we get our cars in place, he will want to get his boat out. That will teach him a lesson.

The Next Tony Hawk??

Probably not, but anyway, I was at a loss for words. Just thought I would post this cool photo taken of my hubby, Chris, at the local skate park. He also works there park time. Looks like he is working real hard, doesn't it? I told him to do all the tricks he wants, as long as he has good life insurance!

Harrison has a Girlfriend

This past weekend Cousin Kristy came to visit with her Dad, affectionately know as Uncle Ed, from Richmond. They normally come alone, but this trip they had a friend of Kristy's with them. her name is Brooke, and my son was immediately smitten with her. I am guessing from Kristy's age that Brooke is around 16 years old. Harrison spent the evening following her around, sneaking up on her with a music box and leaving it playing a song. Everytime I looked at him, he had a silly grin on his face. When asked why he liked her, his was reply was, "I just like the way she looks, I can't help it!" Here are some photos from our visit with Uncle Ed, Kristy, and Brooke, the older woman!

Harrison cheesing it up with his older woman, Brooke.

I thought this was a good shot of Harrison, sitting on the edge of the fish pond.

Another "pose" of Harrison sitting in the grass. Maybe he sat still because he want to look cute for Brooke, who knows. After I took all these photos, I discovered that my lens was foggy, thus the shadow across all of them. Sucks.

Maia sitting in the front yard of my In-Laws house. They live on a mountain and it has these great rocks that shoot up out of the ground. It is really pretty.

Harrison trying to find his snake skin that was behind the rock.

Look, he found it! Gross. Only a boy would hold on to this like a prized possession. Where there is a skin, there is a snake with a new skin. NO THANKS!!