Happy Birthday You Old Fart!

Can I be talking about my husband? Well, he isn't that old - 35 isn't old is it? That's what I turn in a few months, too! Power tools, video games, clothes and gift cards, what more can a guy want? Okay, sex too, but we won't go there! For Jay's birthday we didn't do much, but his brother, Greg did make it over to enjoy some Mario Karting on the Wii and the kids did make him a special Spiderweb cake (that's what they called it - they are so easy to please).

Everything Good about my husband:

His absolute best quality is that he is an amazing dad! Sorry to all you other guys out there, but he is the best! He loves to play: play video games, computer games, board games, do puzzles, play at the park, run around, be a tickle monster... plus he does everything else too, like bath the kids, read them stories in the coolest of voices, watch movies with them, get up with them in the middle of the night, wipe their bums (almost done with this one), cleans up the puke, rubs their growing pains... he does it all and he does it without a second thought! He is a natural and I L-O-V-E him for it! Plus he gets up with them on Saturday morning to watch cartoons and I get to sleep it, you can't beat that!

Next, he is undoubtebly honest! He can not tell a lie and it is an amazing feeling to have this level of trust in someone. He would not, could not hurt a fly (okay that is not true because he has had to kill the mice in our attic when the trap caugh them only by the leg, but lets just say he did it for me!)

He is extremely smart and it makes teaching math that much easier, any problem I have trouble with he can help me solve it! Any money issues, he can figure it out. Any statistics need rolling up on dice and analyzed to the 100th degree, he is all over it! He is extremely dedicated to his work and integrity of his product is highly important. He doesn't like to disappoint anyone!

He is in good shape, not like he has a 6 pack or anything, but he can run 10 km without even training for it - sick! He can do 50 "real" push ups (he says 40, but I know if he had to he could do 50), oh and did I mention... he has his second degree black belt in karate, yeah!

He loves me! He loves me! He loves me!

Okay, so now for the bad things: I could go on to say nothing, but then I would be lying, sorry Jay!

Jay is not a putterer, he works so hard at work and spend so much time with the kids, then I get the rest of his time... so the house is often falling apart! We anxiously wait for our dads to come and help fix the place back up. (My dad is coming in 2 weeks, yahoo! Maybe the hole in my basement roof will get fixed?) Cars only get cleaned or maintained when relatives come to visit or they need a drive clean test (which is overdue). AND I mow the lawn!

What else? Hmmm... I can't think of anything, can you?

So, I will stop there and wish my other half a belated birthday! I know it wasn't too exciting and we owe you a night of Pizza Hut, but hopefully you know how much we love you! Happy Birthday, Jay!

Scrapbooking, finally!

I'm not the best at taking pictures of my layouts, but to help you figure it out, I show you the two 12 x 12 layouts first and then try to take a picture of the two of them side by side.

Whenever I do find time to get to the basement to scrapbook, I usually spend my time tidying up the junk I have thrown on top of my table or I mount stamps. The only time I manage to get any real scrapbooking done is when I go away to do it. Last weekend I went to a Breast Cancer Crop (Saving Second Base is what they called it, such a cute name) from 9-5 and completed the above layouts. I took the coordinators advice and did some of my journalling and prep work at home and not only did it make for faster scrapbooking, but the journalling is also much better - it tells more of a story and is not rushed - I like it! I think I am going to do that all the time! I started the "Winter" layout and have the title ready for the other half, which is the opposite "Summer", but I haven't completed it yet.

The below layout was done today at my Scrapbook Club with my dear friend Linda! Love the layout Linda - to see her sample, which was geared for a road trip - look here! All this scrapbooking is helping me to get caught up on Devin's 1st year album. Once that is done I can catch up on my Christmas Album, Halloween Album, Travel Album and then why not, even my regular everyday album. Oh, boy, lots left to do, but if feels good to start getting some of it tackled!

Schools out for summer... oops wrong song!

Devin started school this year - wow! Cliche, but he's my baby and he's all growed up! It's crazy! I still think of him as 3, even though he will be 4 in December! He likes his teacher though and mentions lots of kids from his class. Tonight I drew "railroad tracks" for his name and he traced over all of them without a fight and held his pencil properly- alleluia!

Back to work for mom as well. I'm always excited to go back to school, but I miss the freedom and easy going schedule of summer. Routine is great, but it does make me more tired being this busy. I have a good group of kids this year - lots of fun and nice! Can't beat it!

Jasmine started full days this year! Grade 1 baby! She is one tired duck let me tell you! Last night I think she cried for about an hour all told - everything upsets her or is not good enough. Once she gets used to the long day and no nap, she will be great! We knew this day would come, but that doesn't necessarily make it fun adjusting! She loves school and her writing is taking off, so cool to see! She loves her teacher, too, so all is good!

Poor daddy, he doesn't get to go to school :(