You Feel Good

Allison has said some really cute things recently. Here's an e-mail that was sent to me by my mother-in-law:

Allison asked last night, "When am I going to see my Mommy and Daddy?"

I said, "I think next week."

She thought for a minute, and then said, "I don't remember what they look like. I think my Daddy doesn't have a beard."

Can I just keep her?

That happened right at the end of the three-week stay in Texas. It's funny how she thought she had forgotten what we looked like. She was staying in houses where there are photos of us. When she finally got to see me, she ran up and gave me a big hug. Then she told me, "You feel good."

Taylor is old enough that he doesn't want to admit that he misses us. However, he spent a good portion of the afternoon leaning/lying on me while watching TV. It's not cool to miss Mom when you're almost 13. And, he sure doesn't want to admit that he needs Mom!

Katie is on the fence. She's a very relational person, so it's difficult to not admit that you miss Mom. But, on the other hand, she very much wants to be like her brother. And if he can pretend to not miss Mom, then so can she! She wanted to stay longer--by herself--but Scott told her that he missed her too much. That was enough consolation to bring her home with a good attitude.

No matter how old you are, a hug from Mom or Dad always feels good. Sometimes we're just too old or stubborn to admit it!

Free is cheap enough

Scott's family has a saying, "Free is cheap enough." So, I get lost in the blog world entering drawings for free stuff. Now, I'm not a lucky person. But, I guess I can hope that one day my luck will change, and I will win something fantastic!

So, here's the latest hope. Stampin Addicts dot com has tons of ideas using the Stampin’ Up! Big Shot and is giving away a Big Shot Die Pack as part of the Stampin’ Up! summer celebration. To enter, all you have to do is write about it. This is my entry. Now give me my dies.

Lost in the blog world

Now that I've discovered blogger's blog reader, I've been lost in the blog world reading! But, the cool thing is that people talk about their favorite blogs and that leads me to more reading. Ok, so maybe that's not "cool" per se, but I do get lost in other people's worlds. Through all this blog hopping, I was lead to http://giveawaytoday.blogspot.com/ . Everyday I check it out to see if they are giving away stuff I'm interested in. I wish I could say that I have won something, but I have not. However, I've only been paying attention for the last week or so, so maybe my luck will change in the future!

Being Green

In this case it was easy to be green! I reused a berry container and some packaging from a magnetic mat that I bought to make this cute little container. Hopefully this will get me posting on a more regular basis!

I've Lost It!

I've lost my patience for teaching myself new things. Somewhere along the way, I've lost the ability to sit down and concentrate. This could have something to do with the fact that there are four people in the office right now. Three of them can be very noisy and interrupt me all the time, LOL.

Really, I think it has to do with our society of instant gratification. I have surrounded myself with quick and easy. I really don't attempt anything unless it's quick and easy--quick recipes, quick crafts, even quick movies (Scott still hasn't been able to get me to sit down and watch LOTR). If I ever try to do any of the more time-intensive things, I think about all the things I should be doing. I joke that when Scott wants me to watch TV with him that he has to sit or lay on me to hold me down. Even on must-see TV Thursdays I can often be found doing other things while watching my favorite shows. At the very least, I get up during the commercials.

Or, could this just be a season of life. A season where I'm too busy to concentrate on the things that don't really matter right now. A season where my joy of learning is found in learning through the eyes of my kids and learning with them as well. A season that will make me sad when it is over.

For now, quick and easy allows me to engage in hobbies that I enjoy without taking away too much time from where I'm needed. Quick and easy has also allowed me to involve the kids in some of my hobbies. Their short attention spans don't allow for much beyond quick and easy. Quick and easy has allowed me to involve my friends in some of my hobbies.

All this to say, I started out the day trying to make my own blog header. Then, I tried using one that someone else made but just editing it. When all of that didn't work, I just went back to a free template offered by blogger. When this season is over, maybe I'll be able to sit down and create my own template!

Virtual Dust

I am so happy that dust doesn't collect in the virtual world like it does in the real world. I'd hate to think the cleaning I'd have to do on my blog after it sitting untouched for two years!

I really wish I were one of those people who likes to write...or who even likes what they write. I think my desire to make things short and sweet well outweighs my desire to make it interesting. I think what I really miss is social interaction. I could sit and talk to you all day, but a one-sided conversation is not as much fun. What's the fun of talking to yourself if no one is listening?

In an attempt to improve my writing skills, I'm going to start regular posts again. And, I'm going to start posting crafty projects again. Craft night has really helped me set aside time to do things that I like to do. Sometimes that is just drinking coffee and talking all night. Other nights I'm a little more productive. I've even let the girls be a part of craft night--at least until their bed time.

Maybe the crafty projects will be for those days that I don't feel like talking to myself!