So, I'm trying to keep more up-to-date with blogging but I'm not sure how interesting of reading it will make for. Got a couple more things checked off my to-do list as far as graduation goes. The invites are out and we have found someone to sort-of cater. I say sort-of because they don't technically "cater" but they will do the cooking. We just have to pick it up and then we are responsible for the serving dishes, etc. So, still some details to work out there. But, it is Julia's very favorite Chinese restaurant (she has pretty much developed a friendship with the fellow that runs the place,) so we are all happy that they are able to do it. Tents and tables and chairs are arranged for. My biggest concern at the moment is coming up with heating/serving equipment. Then there are decorations, etc. but I am less worried about that.

Julia is officially done with school, by the way! She is exempt from having to take any of her final exams so Friday was her last day. She will be working one day per week this summer babysitting for the same family as last summer.

The downside of life at the moment is that Isaac has what I believe to be impetigo. We will go see the doctor on Monday to confirm but it is sort of itchy and sore (mainly from the sores causing his face to feel "tight" I believe) in addition to being not very attractive. And of course highly contagious. Nobody else in the house has shown any signs amazingly enough but we are keeping the poor little Isaac housebound until we can get a few days of treatment under his belt.

Just a quick note to say that my boy hit an inside-the-park home run today! You GO, Gabe!

Well our Staycation has wound down and I must say it has been exhausting! I hope the kids had fun.

Saturday we went bowling, played miniature golf (two holes-in-one for moi, thankyouverymuch,) hung out at the arcade (must invest in that guitar game for Wii,) had some delicious ice cream and a picnic in the park where I impressed all with my amazing skills at charging the quarterback (apparently the only position I am qualified to play.) We came home and watched Meet the Robinsons which most of us had somehow missed. Cute movie.

After church Sunday we went to the Children's Zoo. It is a really small little thing but the younger kids don't know any different so it was fun anyway. And of course we got to ride the little train and the carasoul. By the way, apparently in MI cattle and horses are zoo animals. Not as many farms here as in the west I guess. Afterwards we went home and those that had the energy roasted hot dogs outside. Arnel put up the tent in the backyard and most of the crew camped out. (I did the motherly thing and made the sacrifice to hold down the fort inside.)

Monday was supposed to be a bike ride but it was very windy so it became movie day instead. We saw Paul Blart: Mall Cop (embarrassed to say I thought it was pretty funny although a bit rougher than I expected and Arnel wound up having to take Lillian to play elsewhere and watch the movie later,)
Tinkerbelland then the older crowd watched Taken while the younger ones watched
High School Musical 3: Senior Year. I think Lillian was the only one who gave great reveiws to that one. Taken was just alright. I found myself picking up a book a few times to ride out what to me seemed some extended chase/fight scenes, but that just isn't my type of thing. I think the best part was the part they showed on the previews.

Today we finally visited Frankenmuth, a little town with a Bavarian section that is only about a half hour from us but which we'd never been to before. We ate some delicous food in very large quantities !HERE at the Bavarian Inn, and went to the world's largest Christmas store HERE at Bronner's. Who doesn't need a Christmas fix this time of year? Then we also did a teensy bit of window shopping (okay, we bought a bunch of fudgeHERE) and got suckered into paying to go through THIS mirrored maze, which was overpriced but still very fun. Lots of laughing in there. The gag gift shop was also a hit. Almost bought the cat butt car freshener.
It was down to that or the This Car Reeks
but ultimately I opted for the fudge.

Unfortunately, Julia had a stomach bug and was home sick for most of it and then had to be back at school today. I did squeeze in a few scrapbook pages and made a couple more decisions about the graduation open house.

Tomorrow begins our first "real" day of summer break!

I've decided that to cater to the interests of two different groups of people it is better to separate my family life blog from my scrappy blog. I hope this isn't too inconvenient for those of you interested in both! Anyway, I'd like to introduce you to...

Marci's Scrapping Spot

Well, we did it! We finished the school year yesterday! Today is cleaning day for the kidlings and then we are officially on our Staycation. It is somewhat planned out. Mostly the planning stage showed me how little there is to actually do in the area but weather permitting we will have lots of time to grill and just hang out together and maybe even camp out in the backyard. There will be some bowling and bike-riding and miniature golf and those type of things as well. Then next week, down to some nitty gritty on the graduation open house plans! I also have TONS of pictures taken in May waiting patiently to be edited, uploaded and ordered. And if I don't scrap sometime soon I am going to be in serious withdrawls!

With some brotherly coaching, Lillian learned to pump herself on the swings today.

She says it is the best day of her life.

Okay, scrappers, who among you likes a good challenge?

Who among you loves a great cybercrop?

Yeah, I thought so. So do I!

That is why I'm spending the days between June 4 and June 14 over at
If It's Groovy. Yes, you read that right, TEN WHOLE days of cropping fun with challenges and games galore!

You thought we were groovy before, just you wait!!

Have you all been remembering to keep up with the goings-on over at If It's Groovy? My 2-page layout for the month of May was posted today and it features some REALLY old photos if you'd like to check it out! Be sure to leave a comment and check out the current challenges while you are there!

Well, Mother's Day was lovely. Somehow the family picked up on my oh-so-subtle hints and got me a Cuttlebug! (I guess all the emails with links I sent them all and the sales fliers and coupons I kept laying around paid off!) Here is a layout I did yesterday so you can see what I did with it. The texture of the flower is due to the Cuttlebug.



Now today we get to do what this fellow picks



as it is his 12th birthday! Happy Birthday Gabe!

Pictures, pictures, pictures...

First, the boys enjoying their party yesterday...it was a good year as the weather cooperated with us and we were able to enjoy much of the evening outside.




Secondly, Julia before and after getting ready for the prom today. She cleans up well, doesn't she?




And of course, the excited couple. They are just too stinkin' cute.




And one more of my beautiful girl because we don't get to see her like this too often.


And finally, a very happy Mother's Day to all my mom readers out there!

Finally checking in again. I feel like I'm just keeping my head above water these days but it is mostly mental. My Bamboo Fun tablet arrived last Saturday and I didn't even get it installed until Tuesday night. Still haven't really had a chance to play with it or the Photoshop Elements software that came with it. And if you know how I've been wanting these you will know how busy I feel to have not been all over them! (Gotta be honest...I did manage to squeeze in a little scrapping time. Not much, but a girl needs her mental health therapy after all.) After next week things will begin to slow down I think. But today was a nice day. Arnel took the day off work and we got to hang out with this guy




and celebrate his ninth birthday with him. (Where exactly does the time go??)

He and his father and brother started off their day by going fishing for the first time this year. No fish were caught but they did come home with a rather large clam shell. After a trip to the park and a stop at the grocery store we went home to open presents, which was a big success. The birthday boy chose Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and we came home so stuffed that we could hardly eat birthday cake. (Most of us did manage some.)

Tomorrow night will be the boys' birthday party (no weekend party this year due to baseball conflicts.) Saturday is a big day for Julia...senior prom! Gabe does have a baseball game but Laura and I, along with our friend Hayley, will spend most of our day getting Julia ready for the big event.

Sunday being Mother's Day I am planning on taking a bit of a reprieve from having to think and plan, but I am hoping, weather permitting, to take the kid's spring picture.

Tuesday of next week we have another birthday boy to celebrate...and then it is on to graduation planning!

In scrappy news, I was thrilled to win one of the prizes from the monthly Anything Goes Challenge over at Scrapbook.com and receive a $25 gift certificate! I've got me some Lime Rickey on the way!

With all the funness going on here, be on the lookout for more pictures soon!

Did you know...

that May is National Salad Month? In honor of this auspicious occasion, we over at If It's Groovy have a special CHALLENGE for you! You will see my layout:



as well as some more groovy inspiration!

And be sure to check back frequently throughout the month because we have NEW fun popping up there nearly every day!

RAK WINNER

Everyone please join me in congratulating OKISPICE for winning my April RAK by submitting her layout F.R.O.G.

Okispice, you can PM me at scrapbook.com (I'm MommyMarci over there) with your mailing address so I can get your goodie out to you.

Thanks for playing!