Excited states of frenzy

Little Luke went through the first year and half of his life with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. I actually made another layout (called Frazzle) documenting his sweet anomaly back in May. But for this layout I chose to focus on a few other factual tidbits. Like - the one where Luke refused to be put down. Practically ever. (In fact, he erupted in screams shortly after being placed on the play mat for this photo shoot.) And how much he ate... and where he slept... all little things I would really love knowing about myself. I brought out the stamps and kept the patterned paper away from the table. Felt good to make the design come to life as I went along. I didn't plan this layout this time. 

My niece's slumber party drove 9 10-year-old girls into states of excited frenzy. She was 'da bomb at school on Monday. I mean, how can singing to Miley Sirus in the backyard karaoke-style while pretending to be on American Idol go wrong? They totally dug it. And it was frickin' hysterical! And after the lights went out I retreated into my niece's bedroom for some zzzz's while my poor sis suffered through the night with the noises of those sweet tots as they blew their noses, talked in their sleep, coughed loudly and profusely, and awoke with nightmares. Oh... the fun I have to look forward to with my own daughter...

Sleep well. It's time to watch my dvr'd episode of The Biggest Loser.

Have a sunshine day

This layout totally makes me happy. I completed this for a challenge on one of my favorite online scrapping sites, Simply Obsessed. The challenge: Incorporate a song (could be a title or actual lyrics) from the year you were born into a layout. I chose John Denver's "Sunshine on my Shoulders" for this sweet, sweet photo of Lucy and Mark. In fact, they're so sweet that I just want to dunk them in my coffee.

Headed out to Oklahoma City this weekend to help my sister with my niece's birthday slumber party. Any ideas for games for 10, 10-year-old girls? I think the weather will be pretty nice, and we'd love to keep the party outside as much as we can. Help?!

Wishing you a bright, sunshine-y day!

Can I call myself a "runner"?

** Picture from a May 2008 5K race **

Four miles into my 7-mile leg of the Austin Marathon Relay yesterday I decided that I wasn't going to sign up for the Rock n' Roll 1/2 marathon in November. Four miles into my leg I was doing ok, but I certainly kept repeating the following: "Only 3 more miles to go. That's it. Just 3 and you're done! Keep moving! Keep moving! Only 3 more miles!!"

And that got me thinking... Can I call myself a runner? I'm not particularly fast. (I completed 7 miles at an average time of 10:38/per mile. My coach, Kelly, completed her 7 mile leg averaging 8:05/mile.) I'm not so sure I'm cut out for distance as 7 miles was just about all I wanted to do. Ever. I'm not a sprinter. I tend to keep a pretty even pace through the entire run. I'm becoming more fit with each workout, but I doubt I'll ever have the beef-jerky stringy look of a marathon-er. (not really sure I want that look, anyway!)

So - I'm thinking these thoughts as I'm scooting along Ceasar Chavez Sunday morning... pushing myself through the last 3 miles of the course... and then... My brain cries out "EUREKA!" Just out of the blue I decide that ... YES! YES! I am a runner! You want to know why?

Because... 

I love running.

And because I love it so much, I'm determined to be the best 5K runner... or 10K runner... or maybe one day.. distance runner... I can be. I train. I'm getting faster. And most importantly...

I enjoy it. And that's all it takes people. A desire. A will. And the way will present itself. Once you label yourself, you become that label. A runner I am. A runner I'll always be.

Peace.

Happiness is:

... a completed layout - especially one that involves a few hours of hand-stitching!

and one industrial-sized XXL bag of peanut M&M's. Bless you Costco.

May your Thursday be filled with sweet surprises!

Beautiful Mommacita

I'm participating in a 2 week "Back to School" Crop at Simply Obsessed. Every Monday and Wednesday, participants receive their "assignments" to be completed by the following Monday. Last week, one assignment was to scrap a photo that was at least 10 years old and had to be of someone other than myself. Poking around in my 'Family' folder on my Mac, I came across this stunning beauty - a scanned photo of my mother when she was only 26. I immediately dumped it into Photoshop, took out all the scratches and dust, and reprinted it to scrap. Oddly enough, I used my mom's favorite colors - purple and green - and kept the design as simple as possible. I kind-of felt her with me when I created this. 

At any rate, I'm grateful for these design challenges. I love my kids, but if I wasn't cattle-prodded, they would be all that I ever scrapped. My kids are part of my life, but they aren't all of my life!

Yearbook Yourself

Let's have a little fun. Go Yearbook Yourself and post your result in the comments section of my blog.

Here I am in 1966. I'm so classy I could just... just... kiss a mirror. The scary thing? I swear I have a picture of my mom with similar hair, and I look just like her!

and here I am again a few decades later in 1998:

The thing is, I really like my "1998" picture. I mean - if I could do my hair like that right now, I would. Does this mean I'm 10 years behind the times? I suppose that's what I get for having small children and wearing my Old Navy 'mom' uniform everyday.

Give it your best pose. Bring on the yearbook photos!  "Real" ones are welcome, too!

Twins require lots of stuff

God... I don't miss those days. All that stuff. But wait... I guess we still have lots of 'twin' stuff. It just... changed... but oh - I'm so glad to have the exersaucer, bottles, and swing outta my house!

Mosh Posh of all things wonderful

"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is."  -- Vice President Dan Quayle

Oh I so needed to see that... I so needed the laugh.... In the wake of all that is heavy hearted and political, it's time to lighten up and poke fun at Republicans. Just kidding. Sort of. Not really. Ah hell. It's no secret which side of the political fence I stand on (Obama - Yes we can!). Feel free to poke fun at ex-supermodels and aging Republican presidential nominees all you want here. I won't stop you.

I've been so incredibly busy lately. I really need to scoop myself up from this chair and get ready to go spend the day at the Austin Mom's of Multiples Children's Resale Event. I worked my fingers to the bone scouring my own kids rooms for toys we no longer play with, clothes that don't fit and shoes that are in great condition. I've been tagging and boxing and phew. It's almost over, but it is bittersweet to see my sweet thing's clothing get sold. When someone comes to check out with one of Lucy's outfits, I can't help but say "Awwww... that was my little girl's!" Sniff...

And so I leave you with some ultra-cute photos of my wee offspring. Oh - and I'm hoping to high-tail it back into my scrap room tomorrow. I need to get my crafty mojo back. I lost in my of endless sea children's clothes, toys and price tags.

Below is super cute Jack on the morning of his first day of Kindergarten. He's beginning to look so grown up and so much less like a little boy. Insert "Mommy Bragging Moment" here: Jack's earned so many kudos for good behavior in the past 9 days that he won a trip to meet the Principal of the school for a handshake and pat on the back. He came home exclaiming, "I got to meet the Principal today! And not for being bad! For being good! And he shook my hand and gave me a new pencil and tattoo! His name is Mr. Tim!" Love, love, love that kid. Side note: Did you ever address your school principals by their first names? I certainly didn't. Principals were set apart in a status of of awe and fear when I went to school.

And after school, we all went to grab a chocolate milk at Starbucks for a special treat. Luke and Lucy are actually beginning to *gasp* like each other and *double gasp* play with each other and *sucking in my breath for the finale* share with each other! After many months of hearing the words "Mine! Mine! Mine!" it's so refreshing to see moments shared like the one below. Maybe we're on the brink of great change.

Happy early September to you all. Wishing you many wonderful, cool days.

A million miles an hour

I feel like I have not stopped or rested since school started. I have something going on everyday and every evening, and frankly, I'm tired. 

I do so want to fill you in on my life's craziness and post some pictures. I think I can pencil updating my blog in - (checking my day planner) - Sunday morning. Yeah. That's the soonest.  I mean, it's 6:38am right now and I really should be in the shower and waking up Jack for school. He does have to be in his classroom in less than one hour.

But I haven't forgotten about my creative happy place. It lurks in the corners of my mind just waiting for me to have a free half hour. I shall return.