It’s Just Me

Our family was in Tahoe last week – we had a BLAST!  Here are a few pics!

And we move out in 12 days.  Holy gadzzz.  I’ve been a packing machine.  And I’m super emotional.  Out of the blue I start crying.  Oh man.  This is what we call bittersweet.  Leaving family and other loved ones is gonna hurt.  Thank heavens we’ll be out near Matt & Val and our soon to be grandbaby.  And I’ll hope that our California friends and family will come see us often!

Annie & Michael saw John Mayer on Saturday!  They LOVED it!

And we all saw the new BATMAN: The Dark Knight.  Talk about INTENSE.  I like a good, dark movie, so this was pretty good in my book. 

Back to packing…

Pics from today!

(we got to have Ella today, we wish we could keep her.  We’re so in love.  And yes, there were turkeys in the front today – about 20 of ‘em – isn’t this guy a hoot?) 

A few more pics to share:

In scrapping news, I’ve just started as a CT member for the Libby-Lou Crew at Sweet Shoppe Designs!  YAY LOUBERT!!!!!!!  Go see!

http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/shoppe/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=16_76

She’s one of my best friends on the planet, and I’m so thrilled for her and love working with her stuff!

Here’s a few of my pages from the last few days.

I’m here to do a commercial for Satellite Radio.  Don’t care if you choose XM or Sirius.  Either one will do.  I have Sirius in my car, and my hubby just renewed our deal for 6 more months due to the fact that I can’t stop singing it’s praises!  I absolutely LOVE it.  My rental car had XM when I was in Utah a few days back, and that was just as cool.  The reason I love it so much is that I have found new bands that I would never have heard before – (and the fact that there are no ads at all doesn’t hurt either).  My fave station is Iceberg 95 (all Candian music, this has opened up an entire new world of awesome rock I never knew existed).

Here’s just a handful of some of my new favorite bands that were discovered thanks to Sirius and XM:

Stabilo, Brandon Heath, Red, The Weepies, Pilot Speed, Crush Parallel, The Priddle Concern, Deepfield, Faber Drive, Default, Brian Melo, Finger 11, Wavorly, City & Colour, 40 Foot Echo, Matt White, Chris Tomlin, Mutemath, Sick Puppies, Matt Wertz….   I could go on.

So today I thought I’d link you up to a few of my new faves (more to come later).  Take a sec to listen and see what you think.  And after that, I’ve posted a few of my recent scrapbook pages.  (oh – - and by the way, OUR HOUSE SOLD!!!!!!)

http://www.myspace.com/stabilo – listen to FLAWED DESIGN

http://www.myspace.com/brandonheath – listen to I’M NOT WHO I WAS

http://www.myspace.com/mutemath – listen to TYPICAL

http://www.myspace.com/theweepies – listen to CAN’T GO BACK NOW

http://www.myspace.com/faberdrive – listen to WHEN I’M WITH YOU

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=16064008 – listen to BRAND NEW DAY

http://noolmusic.com/music_videos/matt_nathanson_-_car_crash.php – this will take you to a video of CAR CRASH

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=20861131 – listen to LOVE IS HERE

http://www.myspace.com/dropofred – listen to LOST

http://www.myspace.com/wavorly – listen to SLEEPER and PRAISE AND ADORE

http://www.myspace.com/10years – listen to BEAUTIFUL

This precious little baby is my PERFECT GRANDCHILD at nearly 10 weeks along!  Baby has a due date for January 22, 2009.  HOLY COW THIS IS THE BEST!

Val had her first ultrasound yesterday.  Baby is perfect and has a strong heartbeat!  Talk about EXCITING!!!!!!!  Just had to share the latest!

Since we’re trying to keep the house clean at all times (please someone come buy this house), I find that the best activity I can do is digi-scrapping as it involves no mess whatsoever!

Here’s the latest:

Finally!  I mean it – FINALLY!  After looking at dozens upon dozens of homes over the last 10 months, we have found our new home!  And it’s amazing.  We are so excited!  They have accepted our offer, and it looks like we’ll be there in late July-ish.

It’s in Pleasant View, Utah (extremely close to North Ogden, practically on the border).  Here’s a few pics!

Home built in 2005, it’s completely GORGEOUS!  Fully landscaped, huge yard, 2nd kitchen in basement, 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, and even a steam room! Isn’t that nuts?  The kitchen is a DREAM, and the mudroom ROCKS.

And I’m here to report that you CAN find a house and buy it on the internet without ever having been inside.  That’s just what we did (well, we had Eric’s brother go in it for us and give us a full report).  His report came back GET IT NOW, so we did! And I flew out there on Tuesday, saw it Wednesday, fell head over heals in love with it, and YAY!

So that’s that.

I am happy to NOT house-hunt any more this year thank you very much. 

Here’s a few cute pics from this last week!

LOOK AT OUR GRADUATE GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!

We’re so proud of her, and can’t believe our youngest will be starting college.  Here’s a few more pics of grad night.

Isn’t this one of Matt hugging Annie just the SWEETEST????  My heart just melted!

Matt flew out from Utah to be here for grad – I think that was Annie’s favorite thing about grad – having big brother home!  We went to Buca Di Beppo’s for a huge Italian dinner afterwards with both sets of grandparents, Jeffrey and his friend Molly, Matto, Uncle Andrew & Aunt Megan & baby Jacob, Heather and Michael. 

It’s now time for my annual “BURST INTO SONG” moment…

“FREEDOM!  FREEDOM!  FREEDOM! FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!”  (sing that in your best Aretha voice).  I sing this every year when school gets out.  I happen to ADORE summer vacation… no homework, no getting up early, no heavy schedules.  In other words, I enjoy the opportunity to be lazy. 

But, I am not fond of the hot weather, so I’m looking forward to a nice summer enjoyed mostly indoors. 

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Happy Summer Vacation!

Yep!  We’re gonna be grandparents!  Matt called us a few days ago nonchalantly to talk, and when I asked him how his first wedding anniversary weekend had been, he said that it was great, especially the part where his wife told him she was pregnant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (at this point, I nearly dropped the phone as I went into shock phase telling Eric repeatedly – even tho he was sitting about 10 feet from me – to get on the phone) – Matt was laughing and then Val got on the phone and we all got misty, then Annie ran in and heard the news and started crying, and Jeff remained calm and thought it was cool.  How’s that for a wrap up??  HAAAA!

Baby is due towards the end of January, and let me tell you, we are soooooooo excited for this new little person to come into our lives!  Baby is currently the size of a sesame seed, and mama has the barfs.  Val says Matt is taking extremely good care of her and that is he so helpful.  Awwww!

Jeffrey and I flew out to Utah over the weekend to house hunt (how nice to have a fun weekend with my Jeffrey – we called it our “mother/son date”)  – and we were able to spend Saturday and Sunday with Matt and Val (expectant parents)!!!!  Val is positively GLOWING!  Here’s a pic of the cute couple after Val opened her early birthday presents.

We had such a fun weekend – we ate like pigs, saw my brother Chris and his family, slept in, and went bowling!

We had great luck while house hunting – so many fabulous ones to choose from.  And last night (Monday), Eric made an offer on a BEAUTIFUL house up in North Ogden.  When you step out the front door, you see the mountains – BIGTIME.  Here’s the view from the front door.  WOW.

If for some reason this offer doesn’t go through, we have an amazing house picked out in Pleasant View (which is just down the hill) with a horse ranch just off the backyard fence, and the most beautiful kitchen!  So, we should be good to go in the house choosing department. 

Jeffrey started work again today at Armadillo Willy’s.  Not his first choice in jobs, but since he’s worked there before, it was an easy route for getting the job again. It won’t be long – just for the summer.

Annie-Bananie graduates on Friday!  OH MY GOODNESS!  She’s pretty much done with school at this point, all she has left is graduation practice!  Annie spent the day with Michael and his family on Saturday – - Michael’s big sister Brittany got married to Brandon!  Annie said the day was perfect!

Who watched the season finale of LOST?  I have about 100 thoughts and theories (as I always do).  Only 7 months to wait now.  Sigh.  Loved when Jack said SEE YOU IN ANOTHER LIFE, BROTHER to Desmond.  Waaaaaaah!  Bet they will….. bet they will…..  And where in the heck did the island GO? 

To continue my thoughts on TV (and to make this blog entry even LONGER….), I saw a blog entry on the TV ON THE BRAIN blog, and loved his idea of making up his own categories for TV awards.  Since I think he did a great job of coming up with the categories, I’ll use his.  And here we go.

2007-2008 TV Season Awards

Most laughs per half hour – THE BIG BANG THEORY

Best Office Spittake - Meredith asking Jim to sign her cast – - ew!

Shocking Season Finale - Jim didn’t get to ask Pam to marry him on THE OFFICE- OR – Locke in the coffin on LOST – OR – Sawyer jumping out of the helicopter on LOST – OR – the boat blowing up on LOST – OR – the island disappearing on LOST.

Brought to Tears - watching David Cook overcome with emotion on Idol – OR – Jim comforting Dwight in the stairwell over lost love – wahhhh!

Jawdropping Moment – Keamy shooting Alex right in front of Ben (LOST).  YIKES and a half!

Romantic Moment – Jim walking back into the office after realizing how blessed he is to have Pam in his life, and kissing her!!!  (or when they were listening to Dwight read them Harry Potter – awwwww!)

Best Musical Moment - David Cook singing BILLIE JEAN on Idol.  Gasp!!!!

Writing Award - lots of people deserve this – so I’m going to say that for GROUP WRITING, the award has to go to LOST for keeping the story brilliant and coherent.  And as for the writing of a singular character, the award has to go to the good people at THE BIG BANG THEORY for making Sheldon so over-the-top hysterical with those long, fantastic, scientific and hysterical lines of dialog he spews out week after week!

Acting Award - The cast of LOST – lead by the great Michael Emerson and Matthew Fox

Deserves an Emmy comedy: THE OFFICE

Deserves an Emmy drama: LOST

Deserves an Emmy actor: Michael Emerson (Ben on LOST).  You know why.

Deserves an Emmy actress: Jenna Fischer  -  she plays a mighty good lovelorn Pam.

OK.  Almost done blogging.  Here’s the latest layout.

Over and out.  (and HAPPY JUNE!)

I admit it.  Even at the ripe old age of 46, I am so smitten with new Idol winner David Cook, it’s bordering on whacked.  Whatever.  My good taste has not faded with the years, nor has my listening ear.  The guy can SING.  And it doesn’t hurt that he’s cuter than a button.  Dang.

I loved him from the start, but when he did BILLIE JEAN (I’m a big Chris Cornell fan), that sealed it.  WOW.  And his high harmonies during last week’s HERO song were perfection.  I had concerns that he might want to come in 2nd place so he could move on and do his own thing after the tour, but he seems genuinely happy. And if he’s happy, I’m happy.  This guy needs to come in concert pronto.  I’m there.

So yesterday Annie and I found dog shirts in the $1 section.  This is the result:

I’ve been seeing write-ups and previews for Fall TV – the one I’m most excited about is FRINGE on Fox.  Creator JJ ABRAMS (of LOST fame, I may have mentioned it before – - hee) looks like he’s got another hit on his hands.  http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4I6iGbPRi4U&feature=related

And speaking of LOST – - the 2 hour finale is tomorrow night.  I’m so excited I might barf!!!!!!!!!  Seriously.  My stomach’s in a happy knot.     I just read that 3 first season regulars are goners.  Oh my gosh, aaack!   My first guess is Claire (looks like she’s a walking dead), then Jin, and then I have NO CLUE.  If you’re into LOST, watch this chronological “post-island” events video.  AMAZING.  http://www.docarzt.com/lost-news/video—flashforwards-in-chron.php 
I am not going to read any spoilers or watch any pre-video segments this week, I want to go into the show without any hints. 

Jeffrey finished his 3rd year of college last week!  He’ll be starting his summer job likely this week.  He’s enjoying every minute he can with all his friends before our move. 

Annie graduates from high school a week from Friday.  Since she is my last baby, this will end an approximately 19 year run of dropping of and picking up kids from school (pre-school, elementary, jr high and high school).  Good heavens.  I’ve lived in my car.  Now that Anne has her permit (and has been driving us everywhere!), my main driving career is going to be a thing of the past.  She’ll get her license any day now.  She’s doing great!

HOUSE update: It’s been about 3 weeks since we put the house on the market.  We’ve had 9 bites.  NOT ONE person came thru over the holiday weekend though.  Bummer. 

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Hope everyone had a fabulous Mother’s Day like I did!

I looooooooooove my kids, I love being their momma.  They are generous and sweet and precious!

Update time:

House has been on the market for 2 weeks now, and we have had 4 bites (small bites, but as they say, any bites are good).  The place hasn’t been this clean since we moved in.  Praying a wonderful family chooses it and is as happy here as we have been.

Our second treatment center school in Utah will open this summer – woweee!  Our son Matt and his wife Val will move out there by us and he’ll be head of staff at school #2.  It’ll be a great blessing to have all my children near me.   

Jeff got a short haircut!  He’s had long hair for many years.  I thought I’d go crazy without all the yummy hair to gaze on, but he looks so handsome with it short, too!  Hubba hubba!

Annie-girl got her driver’s permit!  She’s 18.5, and we really thought she should start driving before she starts college in the fall!  She’s still a little nervous, especially on big turns, but she’s doing great!

Eric got home from a week in Costa Rica with the staff and 11 kids from the treatment center.  The kids did a service project there for a week, then they had surf camp and scuba diving, and some went deep sea fishing.  Eric is so tan, it’s rather ridiculous, that boy absorbs sun like the dickens.  And now he knows how to surf! 

Move review – go see IRON MAN.  It’s one FUN movie.  That’s all I need to say.

TV – - THE OFFICE finale is this week.  PLEEEEEEEASE don’t keep us in suspense over the Jim/Pam engagement til the fall.  My heart won’t be able to handle it. Oh, and don’t let them break up, either.  EVER.  LOST has my head swimming, I just love absorbing all the theories and ideas people come up with.  BEST SHOW ON TV.  (have I mentioned that before?)  “Move the island”????  WHAAA????

NSD turned out to be a little pricey – I bought 10 digi kits.  Then 3 more a few days later.  Time to get scrapbooking, wouldn’t you say?  Also, I’m having a blast on the Peppermint Creative Team – YAY!  Here are my latest:

And one final set of pics from Mother’s Day!
Thanks for reading!