Your Element Is Air

You dislike conflict, and you've been able to rise above the angst of the world. And when things don't go your way, you know they'll blow over quickly. Easygoing, you tend to find joy from the simple things in life. You roll with the punches, and as a result, your life is light and cheerful. You find it easy to adapt to most situations, and you're an open person. With you, what you see is what you get... and people love that!

What's Your Element?

You Are Iris

You are an interesting blend of fun and wisdom. You definitely make people think about themselves and their place in the world. But they'll have fun doing it. You definitely epitomize laughter therapy. You are a very enriching and entertaining friend!

What Color Purple Are You?

Nose update: all seems well today...for a moment I thought there was more but upon further inspection with aid of a flashlight it seems to have been a false alarm. HOWEVER...I did catch her hiding behind a chair with small fingerfulls of tissue trying to stuff it up her nose. Note to self: must keep a VERY close eye on this one.

I wouldn't say it is a strong, strong trait but my grandma and uncle were both lefties. Not sure about any of my uncle's four children. Anyway, all of my kids have been pretty random as babies then moved to a right-hand preference, or shown a strong right-hand preference right from the beginning. Lillian is the only one I've noticed that seems to use her left hand more than her right pretty often. I've even seen her switch things to her left. Maybe?

Let me take you back, oh, maybe a week or so. Being aware that Lillian has a new-found fondness for shoving small things into slightly-larger bodily orifices (i.e., sticking things up her nose and in her ears,) I have been keeping a pretty close watch on aforementioned bodily orifices. One day something looks slightly amiss in one nostril but ya know, they are just not that familiar of a territory to me so I can't be sure. I finally decide it is just that bumpy part of the inside of her nostril and figure that if I'm wrong the truth will come out eventually. Soon it is forgotten about.

Fast forward to this morning. Gabe tells me "Mom, I think Lillian has something in her nose." He describes the situation to me and sure enough, I can see some paper up there. (Tissue seems to be her favorite thing to stick up there; fortunately, it is a pliable substance and thus pretty easy to get ahold of.)Describing blowing to her is going to look way too much like sniffing, so that route is out. It takes the help of the nasal aspirator to bring it down far enough but YES! Success! I successfully remove a piece of tissue about the size of a pea. Whew. Glad that is over with.

Yeah, if it was that easy, would it have been blog-worthy? Fast forward if you will just a few more hours. It is now nap-time and my little angel is lying blissfully in my arms, having nursed to sleep. Wait? What do I spy up that nose? Yuppers, more paper. I am not successful in my attempts to remove it in her sleep but eventually she awakens and I bite the bullet and go to town. After getting the aspirator (affectionately known as a "snucker" in our home, and I will leave the rest of that story to your imagination,) and an unbent paper clip I am able to retrive another small piece. But that isn't what I saw. No, what I saw was pretty much exactly what I saw a week ago. I figure I could take her to the doctor and pay to have him do the same thing I'm doing plus with the added trauma of it being a stranger. No thanks. But this time I am leaving nothing to chance. After much crying and screaming and hysterics (and Lillian didn't like it much either! ~haha, just some mom humor there!~) VOILA! Out comes a piece of tissue even bigger than the one from this morning! I'm fairly certain it is indeed the one from way back when. It was shoved sooo far back I can't even imagine what it must have felt like!!

Not sure why I felt the need to share all that...

Dr. Seuss for nursing moms that was printed in this months Mothering
magazine. Author unknown
----------------------------------------------------------

Would you nurse her in the park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a Boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?

I would nurse him in the park,
I would nurse her in the dark.
I'd nurse with or without a Boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.

Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her `till she's full!

Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy's milk is the best start!

Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.

As for those who protest lactation,
I have the perfect explanation.
Mommy's milk is tailor made
It's the perfect food, you need no aid.

Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast's the perfect food!

I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would not be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk's the perfect food!

We make the amount we need
The perfect temp for every feed.
There's no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.

Those nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy's milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can't be beat.

I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I'll meet her needs, I'll always try.
It's not about what's good for you,
It's best for babies, through and through.

I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads and ma'am.
I will nurse her, Mom I am:)

Your Learning Style: Unconventional and Insightful

You are very intuitive and ingenious. You're attracted to any field of study that lets you break the rules. You Should Study: Art Art history Architecture Comparative religions Eastern religion Education Music Philosophy

What Should You Study?

August Advanced Math Students...take this quiz and share your results with me here in the comments section and receive a whopping 100 Careers points!!

Making up for not blogging much lately...

You Belong in 1967

If you scored... 1950 - 1959: You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in! 1960 - 1969: You are a free spirit with a huge heart. Love, peace, and happiness rule - oh, and drugs too. 1970 - 1979: Bold and brash, you take life by the horns. Whether you're partying or protesting, you give it your all! 1980 - 1989: Wild, over the top, and just a little bit cheesy. You're colorful at night - and successful during the day. 1990 - 1999: With you anything goes! You're grunge one day, ghetto fabulous the next. It's all good!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Here is a story titled Adventures in Airports. It is a true story, except I am making up the timeline details. If I had known this would become blog-worthy I would have paid more attention, but I didn't, so you will just have to deal with my estimations.

8:30 PM: Arnel and Julia leave Bay City to pick up nephew/cousin Alex from his 9:15- ish flight coming into the Flint airport from Chicago's O'Hare.
10:10 PM: The rest of the family arrive home from their barbecue to find a message
from Alex's father Ted that he has just heard from Alex. All flights out of
O'Hare have been delayed. They are now cleared but don't expect to take
off for another 25 minutes or so as there are like 50 planes lined up
awaiting take-off.
10:11 PM: Call Arnel to give him message. By this time he has already visited the
terminal and sees that the flight is delayed an hour-and-a-half. He and
Julia drive around Flint to kill time, find a Barnes & Noble that is open.
11:00 PM: Arnel calls home to report that there is a big storm in Chicago and all
flights have been grounded for the night. He and Julia begin the drive
home.
12:05 AM: Arnel and Julia arrive home.
12:06 AM: Alex calls. He has just landed in Flint.
12:07 AM: Arnel and Julia get back in the car to head back to Flint.

This is where we leave our trusty heroes for this installment of Adventures in Airports. I assume that Alex's flight must have taken off before the airport grouned further flights. Or maybe Arnel got bad information. Either way, if I can stay awake another hour or so (not likely as I just took a Benadryl, allergies are horrible here right now, and if this is incoherent I am blaming it on the Benadryl!) Where was I? Oh, yeah...see, isn't this just like talking to me in real life? Anyway, if I can stay awake, I will get to see Alex in an hour or so!!

Evenings are pleasantly cool.




I've seen two yellow leaves fluttering down from trees in my backyard.




I've seen two ladybugs in my house.




All sure signs that autumn is, finally, right around the corner.

The School of Scrap gallery is now up and running! Please go check it out and hang around awhile. Between the gallery and the message board we are having a blast...and, I might add, killer prizes are up for grabs with even better ones to come as we get our sponsors in place!

Yes, I'm finally giving in to one of these blog tag things...


1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
central CA coast (think Bay Area) but I'd have to buy out all the neighbors so I'd have some SPACE and then import some sand so I'd have a real beach.

2. What's your favorite article of clothing?
any of my long, flowy skirts.

3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex?
depends on the person.

4. What's the last CD that you bought?
three at the same time...Hawk Nelson-Smile, It's the End of the World; Mercyme-Coming Up to Breathe; Everyday Sunday-Anthems for the Imperfect.

5. Where's your favorite place to be?
outdoors on a just slightly chilly evening with my family and friends around.

6. Where's your least favorite place to be?
doctor's waiting room.

7. What's your favorite place to be massaged?
shoulders.

8. Strong in mind or strong in body?
mind.

9. What time do you wake up in the morning?
when Arnel wakes me up before he leaves for work, about 7:15-7:30.

10. What is your favourite kitchen appliance?
Pampered Chef food chopper.

11. What makes you really angry?
rudeness.

12. If you could play any instrument what would it be?
guitar.

13. Favourite colour?
no particular color alone, but I'm really drawn to color combinations.

14. Sports car or SUV?
for fun, sports car, but if I'm being practical, SUV.

15. Do you believe in an afterlife?
yes.

16. Favorite children's book?
Blueberries for Sal because all my children have loved it so much.

17. What's your favorite season?
autumn.

18. What is your least favorite household chore?
mopping.

19. If you could have one super-power, what would it be?
to heal illess.

20. If you have a tattoo what is it?
no tatoo.

21. Can you juggle?
are you kidding, I can rarely catch even ONE ball.

22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
my Dad.

23. What's your favorite day?
Saturday.

24. What's in the trunk of your car?

I drive a van so no real trunk.

25. Which do you prefer-sushi or hamburger?
sushi.

If you haven't yet done this and have a blog of your own...TAG! You're it!

Got this from my daughter Laura...enjoy!

The Red Button

Your Career Personality: Original, Devoted, and Service Oriented

Your Ideal Careers: Art director Book editor College professor Composer Film director Graphic designer Novelist Stage actor Psychiatrist Writer

The Quick and Dirty Career Test

My dear principal at The School of Scrap has challenged us today to blog about a random childhood memory. Because I was watching my three youngest kids play outside in the water today, I am full of water memories. So, this isn't so much a specific memory but rather a bunch of snapshots.

I remember running through the oscillating sprinkler in my front yard on Badgley Drive, the street where house numbers had been assigned apparently completely at random.

I remember going to "the lake," aka Modesto Reservoir, many a summer day. I remember sometimes being there with my Aunt Vicki and Uncle Paul and getting to ride in their boat.

I remember, vaguely, my Slip 'n Slide. Mainly I remember that my mother swears up and down that they are unsafe, because she knocked herself unconscious on it!

I remember never wanting to get into the bathtub...and then never wanting to get out.

I remember backyard swimming pools!!

I wonder what kind of memories my children will have of a day like today.

I am a happy woman. My friend Tricia recently learned that I love good Mexican food and told me about a local restaurant chain, Los Quatros Amigos. I'd seen it but being it was a chain I wasn't all that curious about it. I should have been. Last night her and her husband took Arnel and I out to dinner there and it was the best Mexican food I have had since the place under the overpass in Riverbank, CA. They kept us in chips, salsa and water, yummy tortillas and my chile verde was delish. Most places don't even offer a dish like chile verde! Thank you Tricia!!

Laura is off to one last retreat for the summer. Leaves in an hour or so (meaning she better find her way out of bed soon!) and will return Wednesday. After that we have our visit from Alex and then only a couple weeks until school starts! I just ordered all my supplies and am anxiously awaiting the packages to start rolling in...

Well, I stand corrected. Arnel is not Gandhi. Oh, no, that would be insufficient to explain his great humanitarianism. No, it seems I am married to MOTHER TERESA! I am seriously in need of therapy...

Okay, so the whole Saddam Hussein thing was kinda funny (see below to see what I'm talking about; not that other Saddam Hussein thing...even my sense of humor isn't that messed up.) I figure the quiz people had this whole list of funny world leaders to assign people. Ha ha, right? Then my friend Pat goes and gets...are you ready for this?...Abraham Lincoln!! I mean, Pat, you are a nice guy and all but come on! Now I am bummed about being Saddam Hussein. At least I can take consolation in the fact that Honest Abe himself is married to another Saddam...HA! Watch Arnel take the stupid quiz and wind up being stupid Gandhi or something... What is wrong with me??

I guess I am going to have to watch this!

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

What is up??!! Well, it could be worse...by brother was Hitler. Actually, is that worse, or did Saddam just get caught earlier? And Mom, what did you do to us? ~grin~

What Famous Leader Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Today Arnel, Julia and Laura (plus Julia's friend Trisha) are going tubing with the youth group. Gabe is sick (whatever Lillian had maybe?) So I am "alone" with Isaac, Lillian and two friends whose regular sitter (aka big sister) is also tubing. So I am not making big plans for today. Tonight will really be crunch time on the Book of Me class preparation! Oh, well, it is fun to have a genuine excuse to tell everyone, "Leave me alone; I have to scrapbook!" ~big grin~

Oh, and I have to add how proud I am of Isaac. Last night he wanted to go to VBS even though it is a "strange" (meaning unfamiliar to him) church and neither his same-class buddy or his big brother were going. This is the same kid who a year ago wouldn't go into Children's Church at our own church with kids he knew and us in the next room.

If you are in my advanced math class at the School of Scrap, you just found 150 Good Neighbor points!!

If you aren't...this doesn't make any sense at all to you so just ignore it. Or better yet, be sure to come by the school and sign up for my math class in September!

Trying to be a good blogger!

Um, let's see. My boys are going to Vacation Bible School at a nearby church this week. They went tonight to 'try it out' and plan to continue as long as their buddies continue going, too. My big girls are going to the beach tomorrow with their second youth group. Hopefully they will have more beach-ish weather than last time they went. Julia gets to go watch her two soccer coaches play against one another later this week...one is even defense and the other midfield so they could actually really go head-to-head. She also has a babysitting gig later this week. Lillian just suddenly spiked a fever sometime in between a couple hours ago when I had her in the shower, and just now when I picked her up to nurse her. We will see how that goes tonight and tomorrow, or if maybe it is just one of those fleeting things little ones sometimes get. I don't know if anyone else in the house is effected but allergies are kicking in again for me.

Exciting news is that our nephew Alex is going to be visiting us later this month! It has been literally years since we have seen him and now here he is 17 and able to fly out here on his own! We are all very excited but wish it was a longer visit.

If you happen to be reading this while sitting at work (and you know who you are,) and need to kill some time, I thought I'd share my new favorite blog.

Threadbared

Enjoy!

Alright, alright, I'm blogging already, will you people get off my back now!? ~wink~

Tonight we went to a surprise 25th anniversary party, which was fun. So much yummy food and some wonderful pictures in their slide show. Both our boys were gone at a birthday party/sleepover, and Julia decided to stay home, so it was just Arnel and I with Laura and Lillian. Just two kids. Boy was that odd! I didn't have to tell anyone to be quiet or stop running or fix anyone's plate (since Lil just eats off of mine.) Rounding up people when it was time to leave was relativel quick. Just all-around a very strange feeling.

What I'm used to when the boys are around...last night Isaac split his head open. Debated going for stitches as the cut was w-i-d-e open...but there just wasn't that much blood. He was playing football in the basement and apparently one of the wooden support beams was a worthy adversary.

Tomorrow, I get to go to the library used book sale...for a bargain hunter like myself this is nearly mecca, so I am looking forward to that!

Oh, and I got myself a scrapbooking book today (40% off coupon at Joann's of course,) that I have been looking forward to, by Stacy Julian, called Big Picture Scrapbooking, so another treat for me today!

After the book sale the busyness of the weekend begins...lots of laundry to do (as always,) and two pot-lucks. So, most of it will be fun busyness, but busyness nonetheless!

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a multi dimensional wonderland, with many layers. You're the type that always has multiple streams of though going. And you can keep these thoughts going at any time. You're very likely to be engaged in deep thought - and deep conversation.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

So, I've been getting a lot of flack from my husband about not keeping the blog up-to-date lately. Not sure why I've been remiss! Extra youth group activities, birthday parties to attend, dental appointments, my monthly food co-op duties, various under-the-weather stuff...I guess all the little things just added up!

Laura went on her first "big" youth group adventure, the junior high retreat. They were gone to Mackinaw for three days and two nights. She returned yesterday afternoon but I was pretty sick and now she is gone to the beach so I haven't had a lot of time to talk to her about it yet. I know she bought fudge that the dog ate most of. Poor kids, though, had to ride up in Betsy the big red van with no air conditioning on the hottest days we've had here since we've live here. It was pushing 100 plus the humidity. Yuck! We have a reprieve from the weather today and it is wonderful! Of course not sure how my beach-goers feel about all the rain...

The online magazine that picked up one of my layouts came out this week. If you are interested you can purchase it at Ready, Set, Create!
and find my layout in the Boys and Their Toys article right near the end.

I've also been busy with the great new scrapbooking forum that I'm a design team member for. I can't believe how fast this thing is catching on and how much fun everyone there is! You really, really need to go check out The School of Scrap.

Finally...the Memory Works line website is no more. Please email me if you are interested in purchasing from them...but my TLC website is now up and running! Enjoy the Journey Scrapbooking

Sorry for all the cute kid antecdotes and stuff I've failed to post over the last couple weeks and I will try to do better!