Sleepover

Jonece had her birthday party/spa night/sleepover on Friday night and all I can say is whew! Seven little girls for 16 hours... it was an experience! Cory reached his maximum girl level before 8 and went and hid in our bedroom for the night. In some ways I am so glad because if he had of been there for some of the conversations I think he might have blown a gasket. some of these girls are 9 going on 20, maybe it is because they have older sisters but I don't remember any of my friends being boy crazy at 9 or 10 years old.
We had pizza and cake and ice cream and then we did our toes.

I don't think I could ever do pedicures for a living but it sure is funny how people start telling you their whole life story the minute you start rubbing their feet. I have decided that Jonece is not allowed to play at certain girls houses anymore...I know that makes me judgemental but hey isn't that my job? If a little girl (10years old) told you she had been at boy/girl parties and played 7 minutes of heaven wouldn't you think maybe she is a little too "hoochy" for your liking?
All in all the night was a success, Jonece finally had a slumber party and even thiough there was drama drama drama throughout the night she had a blast. Saturday night we all went to bed early and fell asleep before our heads hit the pillow.
That is all for now
love and smooshes
One L

Class pet?

What has the world come to when the class pet is a huge stuffed Mickey? I remember when I was young our class room has a small pet...fish...turtle...mouse...all real and all alive and each student would have the opportunity to care for the animal over holidays and long weekends. Well Dene had the opportunity to "take care of" her class pet which is a stuffed Mickey Mouse. Is it just me or is that kind of lame?
We are such a weird bunch...Dene took him outside for some fun on the swings and he sat at his own seat during dinner. Cory kept yelling at Mickey to stop staring at him...and Dene would try and turn his head but it would always end up staring at Cory. Dene put on his jammies and snuggled up for the night. One might say my family has a great imaginations...or maybe we are just a bunch of weirdos. I am opting for the great imaginations!
We have a semi busy weekend ahead...the girls are off Thurs and Fri but Cory doesn't get a minute off. I have girl's night at my house and we are making bracelets and I am excited. Saturday we are having our Easter dinner...Sundays are too hectic with Church at 1:00 so we thought Saturday might be a better choice.
Jonece's birthday is the 17th and she wants to have a sleepover birthday party and I have relented and said YES! I know I will regret this but I love that little girl and she wants it sooooo bad how could I say no? I have her invitations to do and another baby shower to plan for the beginning of May. Life is fun.
Later my friends
One L

100 cupcakes

I can't believe I didn't take a picture...I have been such a loser lately. I had my camera with me today and didn't take any pictures...none of the cupcakes, baby shower or the birthday party. My friend Mandi has 2 boys who share a birthday so she combines their party and has a huge one. She rented the Dormont Borough building and invited 75 kids. Jonece and Dene were included because they are good friends with the boys sister...instead of buying a gift I offered to make the cupcakes! How hard could it be? Well next time I am buying a gift!!! It took me forever to bake 100 cupcakes...and ofcourse I couldn't make them all the same. Why do I have to make everything harder than it has to be? I had to make special cupcakes for the grown ups and some white with white frosting and some white with chocolate frosting...some chocolate with white frosting and some chocolate with chocolate frosting...some funfetti...not to mention some with sprinkles some with none. The grownup ones had a mascapone and chocolate chip filling with strawberrys on top.
Well I had a fun time at the shower...even though I had to leave early to make it to the birthday party!
The birthday party was a zoo! All those little boys running around getting all sweaty. It smelled pretty ripe after only an hour. They had a dodge ball tournament with the kids against the grown ups and I sat it out (they may have been little 10 and 8 year old boys but they scared me) Cory was in his glory!!! What is it in men that they have to win? You should have seen these grown men pegging off those little kids with balls flying at record speeds. The kids way out numbered the grown ups but I only saw little kids crying with huge red patches on their faces and bodies! It was like they were out for blood!
I am glad I am a woman...and glad I can let the kids win and my whole world doesn't crash around me!
Sorry for the lapse in posting...I will take some pictures soon!
One L

Spring Forward?

I have yet another reason to love AZ and wish I was there...daylight savings time! When they say spring forward it sounds almost fun...until you have to get up at 545 instead of 645. I don't mind going to bed earlier or eating an hour earlier but it takes me forever to adjust my internal clock to wake up so early. The only good thing about daylight savings time is the fall back part...I love getting that extra hour in the morning...I still wake up at the same time I just have an extra hour to get the girls to school and start the day. I wonder why AZ doesn't do daylight savings?
On a separate note my life is winding down somewhat...the baby shower was great...and the presents I made for the bridal shower turned out great...I always forget to take pictures of my finished products. Now I just have Enrichment on Tuesday and it is easy going for weeks.
The sun has actually come out to play on a few days and I feel my spirits lifting every time. It is raining today but there are four days of sun in the ten day forecast so I am not complaining.
Greg and Sarah's wedding is coming up in May and we got the girl's their flower girls dresses at Burlington Coat Factory. We have our flights booked but I still haven't found a dress I love yet.
The girls are excited about the whole wedding thing and looking forward to visiting AZ again so soon. I must admit I am looking forward to seeing everyone again...especially those I missed seeing at Christmas (Nancy)!
Well I better run...its Monday and I have a ton of things to do!
Love to everyone!
One L

Bad Timing

The forecast said we were going to have 10 consecutive days of sunshine and I thought it was time to stop my Seasonal Affect Disorder medicine but alas I was wrong!
Cory was still finishing up midterms and I had a stressful week ahead...what was I thinking?
Coming up in the next next week or so I have Elise's baby shower, Kelli's bridal shower, Enrichment, Girl's lunch, presents to make, parties to plan and no anti depressants and NO SUNSHINE!!! Did I mention it is colder than a well diggers butt?
I seriously feel sorry for my family...they have had the "not so stable" Michele and the "over reactive" Michele. Poor Jonece spilled water on the floor and didn't clean it up or let anyone know and I blew a gasket...I almost made her cry...I have apologized.
Cory keeps asking why I seem mad...because I hate the cold dreary winter!!! Did I mention I have had a sinus headache for 3 months?
So if I seem a little out of sorts or less than enthusiastic I promise I will be better soon...how long can winter last anyway? I guess one shouldn't say things like that...it might make winter go right through to May!
If it wasn't such a pain taking a pill everyday I would just stay on the meds year round...I could never be a decent drug addict...I would always forget to take them, or forget to buy them.
Here's hoping we get some warm sunny days soon or Cory might start spiking my OJ!
Smooshes
One postal L

Random Photos

These are some of the cards exchanged in our little card club...it is so fun to sit around and talk about making cards! One can never have enough birthday cards!
Breakfast on Valentines Day! Can you feel the love?
Pittsburgh Steeler fans...a breed unto themselves. Yes that is a charm hanging from a hole drilled into her nail!
This is a picture I took of the tree in our backyard...and no it is not a black and white...that is just the color of my world for 5 or 6 months of the year!
Jonece had a concert and I am so impressed at how good she is getting at the flute! She is so talented! I am in awe of those with musical talent...partly because I missed that bus!
That concludes my random photo show...I hope you enjoyed it.
Smooshes and sunshine
One sepia L

Valentines Day

What can I say? I love this man!
Seriously, he is all that and a bag of chips.
I feel loved and appreciated...what more could a girl ask for?
We have been married for over 10 years and they have been the best!
We are really blessed that we get along so well...even his quirks are lovable.
We almost never disagree and Cory has never said a mean thing to me or me to him...ever!
He never complains about my shopping or the bags of craft supplies that I clearly don't need!
This Valentines day I celebrate love!
I am lucky I love so many people...my husband...my children...my family...my friends!
Thank you everyone for coming into my world and bringing even more love into my life!
I hope everyone feels loved this day!
One L

Boring Winter

Though I find winter to be long and boring I seem to be running around a ton...except when the roads are treacherous. But sometimes you head out and all of a sudden the weather takes a turn. You enter the store and the sun is shinning...well maybe not shinning but you can see bits of blue in the sky now and then...but when you leave the store there is a raging blizzard going on outside. The weather here can be a little bipolar! One day it is -23 (wind chill) and the next 40 degrees! What is with that?
Also I would like to know how much schooling you need to become a meteorologist? I am thinking it is a weekend course and "not what you know but who you know" kind of job, because where else would you get paid for being wrong most of the time. Well maybe not in AZ...they seem to be right 95% of the time, hot and sunny baby!!! They are wrong here all the time...like a dusting of snow could mean a full blown storm or nothing at all. Every day there seems to be a chance of rain...talk about covering your butt!
All this complaining you would think the last few days have been horrible here in PA but it is the opposite...we are having great sunny warm weather! The constant change wreaks havoc on my sinuses and I seem to have another infection brewing! I hate going to bed with a sinus headache and waking up in the middle of the night and it is still there and still there in the morning. Sudafed/Tylenol Sinus and I are best friends and if they need any statistics I could offer them the fact that I have taken over a hundred this winter and I appear to have no side affects! The only stuff that works has that chemical that you can make meth from and I have to show my drivers license every time I buy it and I feel like a criminal...I know they are thinking who needs this much medicine...she must be making meth in her kitchen! Yikes! So I send Cory most of the time! Seriously I try to make it last longer so I don't have to get more too soon. I am just afraid that they will show up at my house looking for a meth lab! I know that is silly.
I appear to be in the mood to rant...and this time it has nothing to do with PA drivers!
I guess I should go and get everyone ready for the day.
Love and sunshine everyone!
One L

One

Happy Birthday Caroline!!!

This is my sister Care (with Greg)...whom I love to death! She is turning 34 on the 28th of January and I just think the world of her! She is crafty, artistically talented, an awesome cook, a patient loving mother, a hardworking wife, a wonderful sister, a great friend, and an example for all who are blessed to have her in their lives.
Since having babies we have struggled with our weight...she is doing this thing...from the couch to 5K. I am so proud of her...I hate running but she is on her treadmill and running outside and she is going to be able to run a 5K!!! I am so proud of her. Way to go Care!
I was older when Caroline was born and I decided that my parents were less than adequate so I decided I would raise her...I was 11 going on 30. So I rocked her to sleep every night and took her for walks to the mall. We shared a room and I would pull her crib over to my bed so she could hold my finger and fall asleep. I walked her to school (Kindergarten) everyday and made her blueberry pancakes on the weekends. I hugged her and kissed her and told her I loved her almost everyday...I thought I was doing her a favor but it was me who got the prize. She was so sweet and I enjoyed spending time with her. When I went away to college she would come and spend weekends with me at the dorm. When my boys were born she was the only one who came over to help...she was so great with Greg. so I got the prize of a sister who is also a best friend.
I know I am lucky to have her in my life and I hope she has a great week...Happy birthday sista!
Love ya
One sappy L

Oh Happy Day

After our latest trip to AZ Cory has finally conceded that AZ is the place to call home. This is a picture of Cory with his sister and younger brother (he has 5 older ones). It is kinda funny how things have changed here...I have found some pretty awesome friends here in PA and though I still miss my bestest friends in AZ I am finally carving out a social life that resembles the one I had back home in Gilbert. Don't fret my friends I have no intention of staying here! But Cory is really missing his brothers and sisters...now that we have been away for almost 3 years he now knows there is no place like home...and home is family!
I used to think I would have a hard time keeping in touch with the new friends I have made here but now I realize that is just not who I am...I don't love (deep friendship love) easily so when I make the leap it is forever! I truly love my friends and though I suck at mailing letters and packages I am pretty good at the ocassional call and semi frequent texts.
I miss my sister...seeing her at Christmas was bitter sweet...the more we see eachother the harder it is to say goodbye! Spending time with old friends makes me happy and sad too. But life is so fun in that we have opportunities to grow and make new friends.
The weather is horrid but I am in good spirits...must be the anti-depressants!! (Or maybe the recent head injury) Or maybe it was all that glorious sunshine I soaked up in AZ...my seasonal affect disorder is barely noticeable.
Well Cory is happy to return to AZ in 16 months (if he can find a job there) and I am possitively giddy! I know I told Cory I was moving back to AZ with or without him...but I really would have missed him. So we are all on the same page and life is good!
I hope everyone is all snuggly warm!
Love to you my friends!
One L

Another Reason to Dislike Winter

Yesterday I got a call from the school at around 11:00 informing me that Jonece had puked in class and needed to be picked up. Normally this would not be a problem but Cory and the rest of us had slept in (we are still partially on AZ time) and I told Cory to take the girls to school and take the car. So I called a few friends to ask if they could help me out but to no avail. I went to my neighbor's house to ask them if I could get a ride but everyone was afraid to drive in the ice. I slipped and slid all over the place hoping Cory would answer my calls but he was with a patient. While crossing the road I slipped and cracked my head on the brick road. Well at least that is what I assume happened since I couldn't really remember anything except crawling on the sidewalk and then I was lying on my living room floor crying. Not just sniffling but sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn't remember how to use my phone and I was dizzy and heaving, I was a mess. I called Rachelle and asked her to call Tyson but it took me forever to remember his name. Then by some Divine intervention my friend who is a nurse called and before you know it I was on my way to the ER and had a CT scan and contrary to popular opinion my brain is normal. I have a concussion and I feel so silly. I know I acted weird but they say it was probably the head injury (at least that is the story I am sticking to) I could barely speak between my sobs and I know I kinda freaked out Rachelle and Mandi not to mention Cory when he finally called me back. I very much hate the snow and ice. I hate crying infront of other people.
Jonece was picked up by my friend Terry, the one who owns the coffee shop...and she watched the girls till we got home from the hospital.
I feel stupid for getting hurt and everything but I know my Heavenly Father is aware of me and is blessing me with good friends and knows when I need him and sends help. I know I am getting better faster because of the prayers of my friends and family and I feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and its not because of the drugs.
I am off to bed...stay safe and watch out for those patches of ice that jump out from nowhere.
One cracked L

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I got the best gift ever this year...I got to spend Christmas with all 4 of my children! This top picture is my eldest boy, Greg! Isn't he a good looking young man? I hadn't seen him since Christmas 2006! two years is a long time to wait in mother years!
Sometimes I think Greg looks a bit like Cory...I know they are not biologically related but he has been his dad since Greg was 11. My first baby is now 22 and getting married in May.

We spent Christmas day at Caroline's but opened presents at Grandma's house early in the morning. Santa found them in AZ just like I said he would and they were very happy with their digital cameras.
Greg joined us at Caroline's for the day and a fabulous dinner that I didn't have to cook!

Christmas Eve we spent with Cory's family and we did a nativity and Dene was Mary and Cory was Joseph. Jonece was the narrartor and Cory's nephew Mason was all three of the wise men. The rest of us were the audience and let me just say...it was marvelous!
We spent a few hours almost every day visiting Chris at his apartment...it had nothing to do with the fact that he has a Wii and Wii fit. The girls love spending time with their brothers...and their toys.
Cousins cousins and more cousins are a recipe for fun! How can anyone go through life without an extended family...it would be so sad. We are so grateful that we have so many cousins and they all get along...well not counting fights between siblings.
We spent time with friends and the girls never wanted to leave...either did I. I went with my good friends Amy and Michelle, along with Nicole, Sandy and my sista Caroline to see the movie Twilight! I LOVED it! I am glad I waited because their were no screaming teenagers and I got lost in the movie. They did such a good job casting, except for Jasper and Rosalee...even the actor who played Edward grew on me.
Last but not by any means least our little baby Dene got Baptized! She was so excited and all it took was one dunk. The confirmation prayer gave me goosebumps and I am so proud of her. She loves her scriptures and is very excited to participate in Achievement days.
What a whirlwind holiday! I loved soaking up the sun and I loved the big blue sky. I loved seeing the mountains and I didn't even mind when it rained. AZ is home and I miss everything and everyone that makes it what it is to us.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and if you made it to the end of this long post you are truly a friend!
Love and all that jazz
One L

Real Mexican Food At Last!

We have had such a great time here in AZ and really don't want to go back to PA. I love spending time with my boys and cherish every moment they can spare. It is hard for me to remember that they have jobs and responsiblities and can't just take the day and hang with me. I have way too much to say and way too many photos to share but I can't seem to upload photos from my camera here at my in laws. We had Christmas Eve with Cory's family and Christmas day with my sister, Dene's baptism, and a ton of mexican restaurants that have made Cory so very happy! I will post more when we get home on Wednesday. I still have a ton of people to see here in AZ so I will be busy for the next few days!
Later dudes
One sunny L

Land of the Sun Here We Come!!!

We are leaving in the morning to head home to AZ and let me just say yeehaw!! I can't say how excited I am to go to AZ and see my sons and family...and eat some good Mexican food and spend some time with my best friends!!! The sun is calling me home..and I am coming! They say it has been raining in AZ, I hope it stops before we get there! I have seen enough rain to last a lifetime. The dog is taken care of and we have friends who are willing to give us a ride to the airport...thank goodness someone leaves later than us (Dave & Elise you guys rock)! We have school age children and can never take off as early as the rest of the students so we usually become the airport shuttle service...we don't mind...better yet I usually offer Cory so...Cory doesn't mind!
I have nothing done in preparation and I am starting to feel the panic settling in...I am such a last minute girl!!!
Well I hope everyone has a Happy Christmas...I hope everyone is as lucky as we are and get to spend the holidays with family and friends.
Stay warm my PA friends and see you next year!
One soon to be sunny L

I was tagged

It appears I was tagged on Amy O blog and I just recently found out because I check her blog on a weekly basis because she is a ....random blogger, especially now that she has become a facebook participant.
Here goes!

favorite show- House, The Hills, (Lets face it I am a sucker for any reality show), Heros, Army wives, Starter Wife and Lost when it is actually on!
favorite ice cream- Hagan Das sticky toffee pudding and HD chocolate peanutbutter.
favorite candy- Canadian licorice (black or red)
favorite cleaner- Magic freaking Eraser...its like...magic!!!
weird fact #1- I never keep anything crafty that I make...I constantly want to take it apart and redo it.
weird fact #2- My armpits never sweat...one thing of Secret could last a year or more.
weird fact #3- I love peanut M & M's but I only eat the candy coating and spit out the peanut.
fast food or homemade- homemade...especially when it is in someone else's home.
favorite holiday-Christmas...come on it is the season of giving!!!!
mac or pc-PC, I agree with Amy O. mac users are weird! (sorry Michelle)

Ok now I tag Kaylene, Radene and Brook

Happy Posting
One L

Happy Party Day

Dene had her party today and let me just say I didn't have fun, but Dene said she did. It was a comedy of errors from the beginning and I am just glad it is over. It sounded like such a fun idea except none of these girls had the slightest idea what to do...well except for Dene and Jonece.
Maybe I expect too much...maybe I am not the ideal teacher for 8 year olds. Well lets just start with the topper of the day...my friend Mandi was going to be my helper since Cory and scrapbooking Never occur in the same sentence in anyone's reality. Mandi's husband is a fireman and just as she was getting ready to come to my place her husband got a call and he had to go...and so did my sanity. The thought of fourteen little girls with glue and scissors and only me was daunting, but I had to press on there was no alternative.
I was clear...double sided tape for paper and glue for the heavier stuff like chipboard. Did anyone pay attention...NO! Paper that looked like waves from the enormous amount of glue and chipboard pieces held down with tape. How does a huge puddle of glue come from being told to use tiny dots on the edges? How does put this aside until the end mean glue it to the front of the scrapbook now? Who would have thought that I would have to explain that double sided tape goes on the back of the photo not on the front? I quit...seriously I will never, I repeat never undertake anything like this ever ever again.
I felt like I was on a treadmill and it was going way to fast!
I was a recipe for disaster and I was more than a little frazzled with Cory out studying for finals. I should have been prepared for the chance that I had to do it alone. But regardless this was my last scrapbook birthday party I will ever do!
It feels good to vent and it even feels better knowing that none of the moms will ever read my blog! I don't want them to know what a huge failure I was. Dene's classmate's mothers think I am so crafty and I don't want to shatter the illusion.
On a positive note it is done and I won't have to plan another Birthday Party until April!
Now I just have to get through Enrichment on Tuesday and it is clear sailing all the way to AZ on the 19th! I am so excited...I can't wait to hug my boys and I haven't seen so many of my bestest friends in almost 2 years!!!!
I am off to bed to hopefully not have nightmares about the day and awake in the morning a nicer more loving person.
One L

Over Doing It?

I know I am crafty but sometimes I think I go too far...Dene's birthday party invitations just might be one of those times.
She is having a Scrapalicious party where we will be making an 8 x 8 scrapbook so I made the invitation a little mini scrapbook!
I usually go all out and make homemade invites but I usually don't spend 10 to 15 hours on 12!
Well they are all done and sent off to school for distribution...no turning back now! I have these great ideas but then when it comes to actually doing it I ask myself "what was I thinking?" If all 12 kids say yes that means I will have 14 little girls making scrapbooks at my house! Yikes! Lets hope some kids are busy this Saturday!
Have a great day!
One overachieving L

Whew!!!!

The weekend is over and all I can say is whew!. The craft show went well...my advent calendar was the first thing to go! They didn't even barter about the price! It kinda makes me sad to let it go...there was so much of me in it. I make a lot of crafts and give them away and never think twice about them but I will think of my cookie sheet advent calendar for a while. Or I might just have to make another one!
Super Saturday went well...I think. It is hard to judge when you are racing around trying hard to remember everything...and that is so not who I am! I should have been born blond (no offense intended). But I am such a scatter brain...always have been always will be! When I was little my father used to say I was "flaky". I don't think he was referring to my light and airy crust.
I have to say I was very impressed by the talented women who attended and have to admit I liked one of the ladies' stars even more so than mine. Great use of color and all that jazz. So many of the gals who signed up did an amazing job and I would put their creations up in my house in a heartbeat!
I know I was crazy to think I could take a couple of the other classes offered but I did try and managed to make a hairclip that was pretty darn cute. (thanks to the step by step hands on teaching of Melanie).
A special thanks to all those who helped...I couldn't do anything without you! I would be amiss if I didn't put a shout out there to my family...especially Cory. He has been so supportive and cut and sanded all 47 blocks! .He never complained about the neglected house or the craft purchases. Jonece and Dene were understanding about my need to get back into the scraproom and finish some project or organize something even when they wanted to go somewhere or have a friend over. I am truly blessed by the friends I have and the family that loves me inspite of my many flaws. I guess that is a nice way to prepare for this week...Thanksgiving is Thursday and it is a great time to remember how thankful I am.
Dene's birthday is Wednesday but we are postponing her party until next week to ensure all her friends can attend her "scrapilicious party" (they are making scrapbooks).
Now I just have to design her invitations and I already have a super cute idea forming in my head.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone...eat Turkey and be thankful .
Love and smooshes
One Grateful L

And The Winner Is...

AMY ATHERLY

Yeah!!!

I feel bad for those who didn't win...I might have something in my bag of tricks for everyone who posted! (Just let me get through this weekend first)

Amy I have so many to choose from...but I am leaving them at the Dormont Borough Rec Center for the craft fair in the morning. Call me and let me know which ones you want before 7:45 am.

Congratulations Amy (and you said you never win...liar liar pants on fire)

One Exhausted L

The cutest thing I have ever made!!!

My sister sent me a link to a version of this advent calendar. I have changed a few things but I totally scraplifted the idea!




I made this Advent calendar for my craft show but it is so cute (and it took a long time) I am thinking I want 40 bucks for it or I'll just keep it!
The 25 little magnets took forever! But I really love the final look of it. I just have to get Cory to drill some holes so I can hang it with a super cute ribbon!
Only a little more than 24 hours until the drawing for the magnets! Good Luck everyone!
One L