Life with boys...

Winter Jam 2012

2012-01-23T19:32:00.004-05:00

Last year, we planned a trip to Winter Jam as part of Max's birthday present. He took off early from work, we drove over to Jacksonville, and took the boys to the concert. We enjoyed it...except maybe Andrew, who fell asleep during the Newsboys performance (crazy, right?).

This year, we didn't really talk about it. We had the trip to Orlando planned for Max's birthday and didn't give Winter Jam much thought....until two days before the concert. I was on the phone with Kristy (my sister, in case my two non-family readers don't know her) and we got to talking about concerts.

Long story short, I find out the concert is that coming Friday. So I say to Max (while Kristy is still on the phone), "Winter Jam is on Friday. We should go." After approximately 60 seconds of discussion, we decide to make the trip. I think Kristy was amazed at how quickly we made the decision...we're crazy like that in the Hopkins' house. :)

I would have loved to have flown Kristy down for the concert, but the airline prices were not agreeable to my budget. I have hopes for next year though.

So, come Friday afternoon, the boys and I fill the van with gas (well, I pumped while they entertained me from inside), swing by Dairy Queen for dinner and ice cream, and grab Max from work. Since we were running late, I drove while we ate and Max changed clothes in the van. Thankfully, no cops were out on radar duty and we made it safely to the arena in record time.

Unfortunately, once we got into the arena, we couldn't find seats. After huffing around for about half an hour, we find a space on the floor next to some folding chairs occupied by a line of teenagers. Max asked, and they were out of chairs, but we were welcome to sit on the floor. We had prayed about finding seats, and while these were not what we expected, they suited our needs perfectly. We didn't have to worry about anyone stepping over us, we were near a bathroom (which is always a plus) and the boys had room to spread out:

God does provide.

Max and I have always felt strongly about exposing the boys to as many Christian concerts as we can. As cheesy as this sounds, music really speaks to my soul, and I feel that there are certain truths that are conveyed a million times better by song than by the spoken word. That's not to say that our lives are completely focused on music, but I know and I see its impact on us. I love hearing the boys singing Jeremy Camp, or the Newsboys, or tobyMac. And the best part is that they know what they're singing. We have had some amazing conversations based on the lyrics to some of these songs. It's powerful.

I could go on, but I want to share some of the highlights of the concert. We were able to see Group 1 Crew, Kari Jobe, Newsong, Building 429, and Sanctus Real. I do think I was the only person in the arena who wasn't swaying to "Lead Me" - I used to like the song, and apparently, so did the local Christian stations, who felt the need to play it 27 times a day.

The most unexpected (and happy) surprise came when Peter Furler took the stage. He started off with "Shine"...and let me tell you, I was back in the '90's in a hurry. He also brought Phil Joel along - I love me some old Newsboys. ;)

He even let Phil sing (disclaimer - the videos are a bit shaky at times...Andrew was "helping" me):

This song holds a special place in Max's heart - he even remembers Josh Ricketts debuting it on their radio show in college. The song released before Max became a Christian (see how this ties in with the whole music speaking to our souls thing from earlier?), so it's kind of a big deal to us.

I really enjoyed when Peter spoke at the end of his set:

I struggle with anxiety/fear, and I really needed to hear what he was speaking (of course, it's God's Word...you can't really go wrong). It's powerful. Seriously, take 3 minutes and listen to God's truth. This is the only non-music clip I took that night...it's that good.

The boys were most excited about the headliners...

In case you're unfamiliar with them (hi, Mom!), this is Skillet. Christian and Andrew were relaxing, watching the show (pyrotechnics = entertained boys):

Will took a more active role. Please excuse the dark video...if you squint at the lighter blob (his head), you can sort of follow his air guitar action. Or you can just wait for the lights to flash (fast forward to 20 seconds in):

I'll finish with Andrew's favorite song. Because sometimes he feels like a monster. And yes, we do have discussions about the sinful nature (see Romans 7). Because that's how we roll.

Max's Birthday Trip

2012-01-16T19:46:00.001-05:00

A few years ago, Max decided that instead of gifts for his birthday, he'd like an experience. With that in mind, this year, we took some Christmas money and had a mini-vacation in Orlando.

Our first stop was Legoland Florida. I scored some buy-one-get-one-free tickets thanks to google, and we left early New Year's Day. The Legoland portion of our trip was a complete surprise to the boys. Unfortunately, I didn't get a reaction shot when they first saw the sign in the parking lot...thrilled was an understatement though. :)

Once inside, I scored a map and used my planning skills from our Disney trip to set a course for our day. The park is a decent size...we were able to hit everything we wanted in the one day we were there without being overwhelmed.

The first stop was the Duplo Play area. They had an indoor farmyard with slides and climbing toys for the younger set. There was also an outdoor play area (seen below) and a couple rides. Christian and Andrew rode the rides in this area...Will decided he was too big.

Andrew enjoyed the stocks in the Lego Kingdoms area.

And Christian made friends with one of the guards. Max, Will, and Christian enjoyed the Dragon roller coaster in the Kingdoms area and rode it twice. It was behind the castle, so I didn't get any pictures.

The last attraction the boys visited in the Kingdoms area was a jousting ride. The kids got their own horse and went through a circuit. Christian took it very seriously.

After the Kingdoms area of the park was the Land of Adventure. Christian and Andrew got cozy with one of the guides. :)

I think their favorite part of the park was Pharoah's Revenge, an enclosed area where you could shoot foam balls at other guests. Max and the boys got into a little battle with a family from Japan. Random children kept shooting at my head, so I waited outside after taking a couple pictures.

Lego City was the next area of the park. This area had a really cute show that dealt with fire safety. We took a little boat trip...Christian had a run-in with a shark. :)

There was a driving school for kids in this part of the park as well. Andrew visited the junior version of the ride while Will and Christian went to "driving school". They did really well on the course (I have to be honest - I was nervous that one of my boys would crash into one of the other cars). Christian drives like Max; he was super cautious and took things slow. Will was a bit more confident behind the wheel. I'm so proud of my guys!

We hit a pirate show...

Met up with some old friends...

And watched the 4-D show (THREE times!). Here are Max and the boys posing by the tree outside the theater:

There's a large garden area attached to the park. Unfortunately, we didn't hit the gardens this time, but we did take a small detour by the waterfall. All the animals are made of Legos.

This is the second Christmas tree. It was really cute lit up at night.

The park closed at seven, which worked out perfect for our family because we had a 40-minute drive to Lake Buena Vista. We didn't go to any of the Disney parks, but we're more comfortable on that side of Orlando (plus I found a great deal on a hotel).

We surprised Max the next day with a trip to Dave & Buster's. We had lunch and then spent the afternoon playing games.

Max and the boys played a group Pac-Man game and then tested their skills on a racing game...

And since we were in town, we made a side-trip to Downtown Disney. Of course, we hit the Lego store. They've added some new Lego sculptures outside. I enjoyed the Snow White display:

And one last one with the Lego dragon. We also hit the Disney store...it's become tradition to grab some of the Goofy Cherry Sours when we're in Orlando. I also scored some popsicle molds. Now I need to do some pinterest-searching for homemade popsicle recipes. :)

In the three-and-a-half years we've lived in south Georgia, we've yet to hit a beach. Orlando we've done five times. It's all about priorities. :)

Happy 36th Baby! I love you Max!

December 2011

2012-01-06T13:46:00.001-05:00

It's a new year and all that, and one of my resolutions is to start blogging again. I like having these memories recorded, and I'm going to really make an effort to stay dedicated.

With that said, here's a small recap of December 2011.

We started out the month by getting the boys the Lego Advent Calendar. They were really organized and took turns opening a box each day. I'd take a picture of the finished product, but the pieces are spread out among the boys' bedrooms now.

Rumor has it that my husband has already bought a Lego Star Wars advent calendar for himself for next year. ;)

Moving along, we also visited Wild Adventures. I'll be honest, I wasn't as impressed with their Christmas program/display this year as in seasons past. I'll chalk this one up to the economy and hope that next year is better. Wild Adventures did have the s'mores station set up again...and of course, we had to stop. I mean, who doesn't like overpriced chocolate-covered graham crackers and marshmallows?

We also baked. And baked. And baked some more. And then we made candy. Lots of chocolate went through my kitchen this year. Unfortunately, the only pictures are of some snickerdoodles. I think I was so traumatized by spending 8 hours (and I really wish that was an exaggeration) making chocolate covered pretzels and oreo truffles that I just couldn't stand the sight of chocolate. Thankfully, that passed after a few hours, but I still forgot to take pictures.

Back to the snickerdoodles though. We made about 5 batches of snickerdoodles last month. Most of those were for a church event, but the boys still went through their fair share. My family has a thing for cinnamon. You should see my pantry. Seriously.

Dad had back surgery to fix a nasty herniated disc. After a couple weeks, he got the go-ahead from the doctor to make the trip to Georgia. So Mom and Dad had two weeks at their house down here. Mom, who attracts bees/wasps/yellow-jackets/anything-with-a-stinger got stung the first day down. This is her about 10 minutes post-sting. About 30 minutes post-sting, she called me to take her to the ER. It's never boring in our family.

In between the sting and the ER trip, we took some pictures for our Christmas cards, which are still sitting on my kitchen counter. One day...

Fast-forward a week, and Will left cookies and milk for Santa. I find it amusing that Will chose the diabetic portion plate for Santa's cookies. On a side-note, the entire mantle is full of snowmen (no, we haven't put our Christmas stuff away yet). Snowmen make me smile...Max, not so much. So they've been relegated to the mantle and hutch in the kitchen. It's all about compromise.

Our tree Christmas morning. We bought our tree to fit in our rental with 8-foot ceilings. In the new house, we have 10-foot ceilings. 'Nuff said. It's truly not so puny in person. :)

Andrew's pile of gifts Christmas morning. He got lots and lots of Trio sets. We now have the entire Trio western town set up in our living room. yee-haw.

Will told us the only thing he wanted for Christmas was the K'nex Mario Kart set. He got 3 sets plus the expansion between Max and me, my Mom, and my sister. He was a happy camper. The cars can be battery powered, and have quite a bit of go. Just ask our cat.

Christian had an awesome Christmas. He got a Nintendo ds. He really, really, REALLY wanted a ds.

Max and I had a good Christmas as well, we're just not captured on camera (except for a stray arm or leg). I really need to work on that.

Next, up...our New Year's trip.

Our new home...

2011-08-31T10:01:00.003-05:00

We've been renting for a while, and I've been monitoring the local real estate listings for longer than I care to admit, but finally, we found a house. This house wasn't even on my radar because of the price; then, in early July, the seller made a huge price reduction. I made Max drive past it as we were out running errands, but we didn't get our hopes up because we needed a lease/purchase home and had a feeling this one would be sold in 2 or 3 days. Fast forward 3 weeks later, and the house was still on the market. I made a call to the agent, found out the seller was agreeable to a lease/purchase, and we made our first visit. Three weeks later, the final contract was signed.

This home is our favorite floor plan (and trust me, we've seen a ton of floor plans): a split 2/2 with 2 bedrooms sharing a jack-and-jill bathroom and the third child's bedroom next to a third full bath. The kitchen is huge - there's even an extra "nook" space that we are thinking will be an office or library space...I'm still deciding. The yard's not huge, but the backyard is private, and there's plenty of space for tossing a football or getting on a mean game of bocce. :)

We love the extra bonuses in the neighborhood - a community playground, pool, and tennis courts, not to mention the golf course. Not that my husband would be swayed by an 18-hole golf course down the road. ;)

the new house from Dawn Hopkins on Vimeo.

Considering where we were less than 2 years ago, this is such an amazing blessing. God has been so faithful to us, and He really has blessed us beyond what we ever expected.

Now, I'm off to homeschool and then pack. In the next five weeks, I need to craigslist some furniture, pack the house, go on vacation (yay!), move, and then have surgery. The vacation, which was planned months ago, is our breathing time (thank you, Mom and Dad, for having a timeshare!).

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. --Romans 15:13

Menu Plans to Share...

2011-07-06T16:44:00.002-05:00

I really, really need to be a better blogger. Five months between posts is just embarrassing. I've got pictures to upload and memories to share, but I just haven't made the time to sit down and post. It's on the to-do list. :)

In an effort to simplify things in our house (ha!), I've decided to start menu-planning a week or two ahead of time. Since Word is my buddy (I didn't completely ditch Microsoft when I got the iMac), I made a some menu plans, and saved them to pdf so I could share. Feel free to download and print if you'd like.

Menu Plan Green

Menu Plan Black

Menu Plan Red

And by the way, the "Location" heading is so I can fill in which book or website the recipe came from. I have the memory of a gnat, and I need all the help I can get. ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T00:01:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking about this post for a little while now, so here goes...

First off, I am so absolutely, incredibly thankful that God gave me Max. He is my best friend, and I genuinely like being around him. We've said more than once that we could be together 24/7 and still get along, and it's true. That's not to say that we don't ever fight or just plain get on each other's nerves...we do. Especially when Max chews his ice cream. Or I fall asleep and leave the bedside lamp on. All night.

But, at the end of the day, we both know that the other one is there - no matter what. Marriage is not easy - there are a lot of adjustments and compromises that need to take place - but it is so worth it. I know that no matter how cranky or unloveable I act, Max loves me. And he knows that even when he's at his grumpiest, I love him. It's not a question in our minds. We made a commitment to each other before God that we are in this for life. And we didn't make that commitment lightly.

Some pretty major things happened to our family this past year and a half...things that break up some marriages. But I can honestly say that our relationship is stronger now than ever. When I was at my weakest, Max stood by me in a way that I've never seen before. And for that I am eternally grateful.

He lets me vent to him about work and politics and injustice. He makes me laugh even when I'm mad. He knows just when I need a hug. He thinks I'm beautiful. He loves God. He is an incredibly hard worker. He is an amazing Daddy to our three boys. He's my husband, and there's absolutely no one else in this world I'd want to spend my life with.

I love you, Max. Happy Valentine's Day.

Laryngitis is not my friend...

2011-02-13T16:15:00.007-05:00

It all started with a sore throat last Monday...and it went downhill from there. Tuesday I woke up with laryngitis, and my poor voice hasn't come back yet. (yuck.)

So, we've had a pretty low-key week, mostly hanging out around the house. I think even my homebody boys are starting to get cabin fever. I'm hoping this week will provide us some opportunities to visit the park.

I did pull out the paints and create a little wall-hanging for Andrew's room. Max says it looks like it was painted by a 4th-grader, but that's sort of the point. Plus, it was my first attempt at painting more than chipboard or a solid color background. Christian wants a construction vehicle for his painting, but I'm thinking I may try a little mixed media for him. I'm feeling brave! ;)

The boys did help me bake this week. I'm beginning to think they only offer to help so they can do clean-up (see video below). :)

(My voice is better now than it was on the video, but it's still kinda pathetic.)

Last week in January...what???

2011-01-24T18:50:00.003-05:00

Maybe it's just me, but January really seems to be speeding this year. It feels like we were just celebrating Max's birthday, and it's already time to start planning for Valentine's Day and Christian's big day (of course, my poor Leap Year baby doesn't get his "real" birthday until next year).

And speaking of Christian (nice segue, eh?), he had a blast playing with a pit bull puppy this weekend. We just had a little house built over our well (we've had major issues with our water freezing - not fun). On Saturday, the guy who was building the well brought his puppy for some socialization. And of course, the boys were more than happy to oblige. ;)

Christian is very much like me and loves animals. This little puppy is a sweetie and he followed Christian around the yard. We have Oreo the cat, but he really wants a dog...hopefully after we move.

On a totally different note, today we made playdough - and I still have the food coloring stains on my fingers to prove it!

Andrew showing off his blue coloring.

My Will...

Andrew's "grumpy" face:

Don't those F's look good? :)

And my little stinker about 30 seconds after the previous pic...yes, he's trouble! ;)

2011-01-19T08:59:00.004-05:00

As part of Max's 35th birthday celebration, we took the boys down to Jacksonville for the Winter Jam concert this past weekend. Will, of course, was in heaven...he has not-so-secret plans to be a drummer (and just doesn't understand why Max and I won't buy him a drum set!). Christian wasn't so into it; he kept asking if it was time to go home yet. And Andrew had his moments. He wasn't so into the first band, Red, as evidenced by this picture:

However, it got better for him...he was dancing once David Crowder came on the scene. By the middle of the Newsboys though, he was sound asleep. Only a little one could sleep at 100+ decibels!

I had the hardest time getting a picture of Will - this is my best shot and he looks like a deer in headlights!

Will played air guitar and air drums and danced and waved his arms and had a great time. Unfortunately, it was too dark at our seats to get a decent picture. But I hold his joy in my heart...it really is remarkable to see the change that comes over him when he's surrounded by music.

I was excited about Francesca Battistelli (love her new music!):

And who doesn't like David Crowder?

Max really enjoyed Kutless:

And of course the Newsboys:

They did a meet & greet after the show, but the line was so long and the boys were so tired, we didn't go through. I did manage to catch a picture (notice the kinda scary looking security guard):

And finally, just because I didn't get a decent picture of my Christian at the show:

I seriously love this kid!

Our next concert is tobymac in April...just so happens to be on Andrew's birthday. :) I ordered our tickets this week (15th row center). Will is ecstatic - he's already counting down!

I started the new quarter at work. I'm still on my hybrid/online course schedule - and I'm very thankful to my dean who allows me to only come in once a week. It's been such a blessing to be home with the boys and still bring in a paycheck each month.

Max and I are working to build a house later this year (unless our dream home comes on the market very soon, but 5 bedroom houses seem to be in very short supply in south GA). Right now I'm doing a slow purge of this house, going through and deep-cleaning/sorting/tossing all our stuff. And then I get embarassed that we have so much stuff...seriously not necessary. But I'm working on it.

And now I need to make a late breakfast for my boys. Their late-night chat fest last night made for a late morning. :)

Happy 2011!

2011-01-04T15:32:00.004-05:00

I'm not so much into resolutions, but I'm definitely hoping to be a better blogger this year. Part of the reason is entirely selfish though...I've been slowly re-arranging several rooms of the house. Possibly the most cluttered space is my scraproom (eek!). I've got paper and embellishments all over the place. So, I'm challenging myself to create 100 projects before buying anything new (except adhesive). (Now, where's my "thud" emoticon when I need it?)

I'm putting it out on my blog as a way to hold myself accountable as my self-control is pretty pathetic. And with CHA around the corner, all those emails with sales and new releases are VERY tempting. ;)

Right now, I'm in the midst of re-organizing the scraproom. I just got a new bookcase that will be replacing a large table (that's not serving any purpose but to hold a couple baskets). Max is going to cut the legs of the table in half and we're re-purposing it as a table for the boys. It's a win-win! ;)

For now, though I'll share some pics of the boys. We didn't get too many pictures right around Christmas because all three of my guys caught that nasty bug that's been going around. Christian held off the longest, and he's almost over it - just a bit of the sniffles left.

I tried - really, really tried - to get a nice picture of the three of them in front of the fireplace, but Andrew just was not cooperating. So, here's part one and two:

Fast forward to New Year's Eve...we ended up having a family sleepover in the living room. Christian and Andrew were on the couch and love seat, while Will, Max, and I were on sleeping bags on the floor. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of our indoor camping site, I (strangely enough) got a pic of our last dinner in 2010:

And really, who can resist breakfast for dinner?

Christian lost his first tooth of the new year. He's been wiggling it for a while, and it finally came out during dinner. :)

He's holding the tooth (the part of the photo that's in color), but it's really hard to see in the picture.

Yesterday was Max's 35th Birthday! I love my husband so much, like ridiculously so, and enjoyed spending his special day with him (he got off work for a mini-vacation...sweet!). We're taking the boys to a concert next (www.jamtour.com) as his "present".

And, finally, today we visited Chick-fil-A in the morning for our free spicy chicken biscuits (super yummy!), hit Chancy Drugs at lunch for free hot dogs and chips, and visited a couple parks in between.

At the first park, we took a nice walk and spotted the Hahira Fire Department cleaning their trucks. As they were leaving, the fire fighters tooted their horns for the boys. :)

We only had a short stay at park number 2, as Andrew decided to go down a slide and land in a puddle of water (there's a reason we call him "Trouble"!). I did catch this photo of him riding what he dubbed the "Bumble Bee Train". He keeps us hopping, that one.

It's been a busy 4 days already, and I'm hoping and praying that 2011 holds only the best!

Scrap Gal New Blog Contest

2010-10-27T08:57:00.002-05:00

The Scrap Gal ladies just started a new blog and are having a contest to go along with the new blog. Between now and November 6th, stop by the blog and become a follower for your chance to win this fantastic prize:

Dying lace...

2010-08-29T17:54:00.002-05:00

There was a question posed on the Scrapbook Express forums about dying lace. It just so happens that I had some lace that needed to be dyed for a little home decor Halloween-themed project I'm making.

All you need is some shimmer spray (I'm using Shimmerz Spritz in Licorice), your lace, and something to catch the extra spray (a cardboard box works great!).

Now, for the fun part. Spray liberally. I mopped up any extra spray with the lace.

And a close-up of the end result. It turned the lace a nice vintage gray color - you can even catch a bit of the shimmer in the photo.

As my 4-year-old would say, easy-peasy. :)

Have a great one!

Scrapbook Get-Away Blog Hop!

2010-08-13T16:27:00.004-05:00

The Scrapbook Get-Away is having a blog hop next weekend in celebration of their first birthday! There will be RAK's and a prize, so come join the Get-Away gals on August 19-22!

Some new(er) layouts...

2010-08-06T14:08:00.005-05:00

Right now I'm in the middle of organizing my acrylic stamps. It's taken much longer than anticipated, but I think it's going to make my life easier once the process is done (I hope!). I'm really trying to get organized and simplified...unfortunately, it takes a while when you've got a lot of stuff! ;)

One more thing, you need to stop by Top Shelf Memories. Taryn has all her past kits (plus some other goodies) on sale 50% off!!! And shipping is really reasonable (flat rate $5) and super fast! I got a package today with the three kits I ordered a few days ago. Very happy mail! ;)

I've been a busy girl lately...

2010-07-24T10:12:00.004-05:00

We started our summer quarter at work two weeks ago, and it's been crazy! With the merger, and our high numbers, we've been hopping. I seriously spent every night the first week just recovering from my day. This past week has been so much better thankfully, and now I only have 43 days until the end of the quarter - not that we're counting or anything ;).

I'm still in the Camp Friendzy competition over at http://www.scrap-friendzy.com/. There is a fantastic group of ladies over there, and I encourage anyone who scraps to stop by and visit. It's such an encouraging place, and the best part - it's drama-free!

I'll upload a few newer layouts once I switch them from one computer to another, but this is my layout for this week's challenge. We just had to tie something on our layout. I pulled out my baker's twine and went to town!

I used papers from the Pebbles Tree House line - it's adorable!

Now I'm off to clean the house. It amazes me the mess that accumulates while Max and I are working during the week.

Before I go, though, a big Happy Birthday to my Dad! We love you!

A new scrappy home...

2010-06-08T19:40:00.002-05:00

After Scrap Diner closed, I've been looking for a new scrappy home on the web. And I think I've found it! I saw a contest for www.scrap-friendzy.com advertised on www.scrapbookcalls.typepad.com and decided to check it out. Good move! What a fantastic, friendly group of ladies! I've felt so welcomed and so "at home"...I've even scrapped for the first time in months!

So, for any of my scrappy friends, I strongly encourage you to check them out. Camp Friendzy is taking place right now - and there's still time to sign up! Just tell them Dawn sent you! ;)

I'm off to work on another challenge!

Home today...

2010-05-19T10:08:00.003-05:00

I'm doing a rare thing...staying home today. I caught a little stomach bug yesterday evening, but thankfully I'm starting to feel better. I have to admit, I'm enjoying the extra time with the boys, even if I'm not at 100%. Cuddling and watching dvd's is always a good thing. ;)

I made a fun scrappy discovery today. I was catching up with emails and some sites I had bookmarked, and I found out that Top Shelf Memories is having a launch party on their blog. I'm personally giving the sketch challenge a try...I need a push to start scrapbooking again! Definitely check it out - they're having a great sale in the store as well!

Before I close, I thought I'd share a couple pictures from the past week.

First up, muffins...we made chocolate chip, strawberry, and blueberry muffins this weekend. Yum!

Next up is the jumbo-lego mini golf course that Will created in the playroom. That boy is super talented!

And lastly, here's Christian feeding one of the horses next door. I'm not sure if I'll ever get tired of looking out the window and seeing horses at the fence...and the boys have definitely made some four-legged friends!

Have a great Wednesday! God Bless!

Saving money is good...

2010-05-08T18:02:00.003-05:00

We're trying to be more frugal (not an easy task for me) and have decided to start using coupons. I used to be a great sale/coupon shopper, but got out of the habit. With the help of the Southern Savers website, I embarked on grocery shopping trips to Publix and Winn-Dixie, coupons and sales flyers in hand. I stocked up big-time...we were over-flowing the back storage area of the van. In the end, I spent $190, but I saved $155! Math nerd that I am, I had to figure out the percentage - 44% off the grocery bill! Besides milk, we're now stocked for at least two weeks.

For Mother's Day, Max let me go on a little scrapbook shopping spree at Scrapbook Chicks. They happen to be having some fantastic sales running right now. I bought over $60 worth of product for $35 (including shipping)!

Moral of the story...saving money feels really good!

A season of change...

2010-05-07T16:04:00.002-05:00

I feel like I've lost the entire month of April. Working full-time has been hard on me and the entire family. I'm so thankful I'll have a few weeks at the end of this quarter to spend at home with my boys. I miss them so much every day; it's hard to walk out that door and leave them behind.

Fridays are my favorite. I only have a half-day at work, then a full weekend at home with my guys. Makes Momma happy. :)

Things have been so busy with work that I still don't have the scrap-room unpacked and organized. It's sad really, as we've been in the house since February. I'm making it a priority to get that room finished because I need to start creating again. I've got so many ideas in my head that I really want to get out - plus it's just plain fun to play with paper and paint, not to mention all the embellies floating around! I've decided to commit to submitting to some mags and really putting forth effort into my scrapbooking. I have a couple ideas up my sleeve and want to move forward with them.

Before I close, I want to share a couple pics of Will and Christian. We recently had a visit with "Flat Tyler" and the boys took some pics with him in the yard. I have to say, I'm still a little blown away by the fact that we can pet horses from our backyard. Living in the country makes me very happy!

By the way, that's Max mowing the lawn in the backyard. That riding mower was our 10-year anniversary present. We're so romantic (insert eye-roll here!).

P.S. I got an email today from Vocalpoint...Pampers is giving away samples of their new Dry Max Cruisers. Just follow this link! You must be a Vocalpoint member to get the diapers, but the sign-up process is super quick!

Last night was amazing...

2010-03-26T10:25:00.002-05:00

Will and I went to see Skillet and tobymac down in Tallahassee...such an amazing experience to share with my son. The joy on his face when tobymac took the stage blew me away. I'm super tired today, but it was so worth it.

We actually got the tickets for free (thank you Way-FM ). On a side note, please support your local Christian radio station. I wish I could give more to ours - it's always on in the car. The boys know the words to the songs, and I'm so thankful that we have the opportunity to share "Jesus music" with our children.

Skillet was fantastic! The talent in that band blew me away. Seriously, if you don't know their music, check it out. Their drummer rocks it out - that girl had some skills...wow!

The highlight of Will's night was tobymac...the rest of the concert was just an appetizer for him. His face when tobymac walked up to the platform was priceless - I tried to get a picture but I just couldn't capture the sheer joy on that boy's face. And tobymac did not let us down - that man had such a high-energy, crowd-pumping show that the entire crowd was on their feet! It was awesome! And he sang "Jesus Freak" toward the end, which was pretty cool. I did feel a little old when I realized that the teenagers around me were babies (at best) when the song was released. Yeah.

And as a souvenir, what did my son choose? Not a poster, or stickers, or a hat or t-shirt. No, not Will. He had to have drum sticks. Now he wants to know where he can get a drum set. ;)

Some changes...

2010-03-22T20:46:00.002-05:00

I've updated the blog background, and am committing to regularly updating the blog. I need to get my craft room unpacked so I can start creating again. I'm working on opening up an etsy store (it's actually created, I just need to fill it!), and I've got some plans for later this year. I'm hoping for some positive changes in 2010. We're in our wonderful new home, and I'm working on actually being home to enjoy it with the boys.

Right now, I'm focusing on the tobyMac concert I'll be attending with Will later this week and a nice long weekend. :)

I love living in the country...

2010-02-15T10:23:00.002-05:00

This morning, the boys and I were able to pet some horses while standing in our yard (the advantages of living next door to a horse farm). A year ago, if someone asked me if I wanted to live on a dirt road next to a farm I would have laughed "no way!". And now, I couldn't be happier. These past six months have been a time of trial and tribulation for Max and I, and God has brought us through even better than before. I read through the book of Job last year, and while what we've been through doesn't even begin to compare to his turmoils, I learned an important lesson. When God allows you to face the trials, He will completely, abundantly bless you on the other side. Stay strong in Him!

Back in the saddle...

2009-08-27T12:31:00.003-05:00

It's official...I start teaching September 30 at Val Tech. The wonderful Dean gave me 6 classes - and I'm choosing the text for one of them! Two of the texts I'm using I've taught from before - how cool is that?

I'm really excited about the possibilities. We've got some debt that's my fault and I really want to work to erase it. My Mom raised me to accept responsibility, and sometimes it's harder than others. I'm not looking forward to being away from the boys, but I'll be home for lunch 3 days a week. The other two I'll be home a little after 3, so it shouldn't be too bad. They're actually looking forward to a babysitter - go figure!

I've been hired part-time right now, but I've put in for a full-time math position that begins with the January quarter. Here's the kicker - I'll actually be teaching FEWER classes as a full-time instructor! They're about to start remodeling the general studies building, and it should be really nice when it's done (supposed to be finished in December). So that's really promising.

I know this job is from God...I'll post later how the whole thing played out. And in this economy it's a real blessing to have the extra income. We are so blessed!

Big changes...

2009-08-24T19:17:00.002-05:00

And I'm still not sure how I feel about them. Lots of mixed emotions right now. If you're reading this, please pray for me. I'm in the midst of some big decisions. I really only want to do what's best for my boys.

Some layouts...

2009-08-23T16:39:00.001-05:00

Birdhouses...

2009-08-23T16:25:00.003-05:00

These little houses are from my favorite etsy store: www.damboisedesigns.etsy.com. Aren't they adorable? I used some My Mind's Eye glitter paper for the houses, which is really hard to see in the pics. I love the way they turned out!

Another day in the life...

2009-08-23T16:03:00.007-05:00

(Note: this is a copy from the other blog.)

We’ve started week 2 of our homeschool jouney with Will and Christian. Today Andrew even joined in for some math. That’s my boy.

As promised, here’s some pics of the schoolroom. We converted our house’s formal dining room into the homeschool room. Here’s a view from the living room:

And here’s Will hard at work on his handwriting exercise (yes, he’s a leftie):

And, finally, here’s Christian at his desk:

Christian was actually done for the day, but he posed for me. With his balloon.

Speaking of Christian, here’s a cute story that involves him. A few days ago he got cold while watching tv and I told him he could grab a blanket from the dryer as I’d just washed them. Fast forward a couple hours. As we’re putting the boys to bed I realize that Christian probably didn’t close the dryer door when he grabbed the blanket. So I go to the laundry room to check. And find this:

Cupcake the little sneak. But we love her.

Hope your week is wonderful!

God bless,
Dawn

I'm back...

2009-08-21T10:31:00.000-05:00

I switched over, but now I'm coming back to blogger. I'm going to try to move the posts from the other blog over here later today. Wish me luck!

I've moved...

2009-06-01T18:24:00.001-05:00

my blog, that is. My new blog is www.dawnhopkins.wordpress.com. Please come follow the boys and me over there!

Life happens...

2009-05-21T15:46:00.002-05:00

We've had a crazy year. We've moved again, but just across town. And this time we're staying! The house in PA sold (hence our move across town) and we've bought the house down here in GA. Will is happily homeschooling and Christian has started to join us. I recently became a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator (love that!) and am starting to plan some scrapbooking events. We joined our church (I had to stand in for Max 'cause he works on Sundays, but it's all good). And we've added another member to our family...Oreo, the greatest cat EVER! I'm trying to get my sister to move to GA too...we'll keep praying about that one. Is this totally random or what?

I'll try to post later with some actual pictures...maybe even a video if blogger cooperates.

It's been a while...

2009-03-25T05:56:00.001-05:00

I've actually been debating whether or not to delete my blog. I've been so busy with life that I haven't been updating. In the end, I decided to give it another go...we'll see if I can keep up this time.

It's cold...

2008-10-28T07:18:00.001-05:00

There's something wacky going on when it's colder in south GA than in south PA. Currently it's 39 degrees here in Hahira. I'm running the heat. Brrrr....

I feel like the dam is about to burst...

2008-10-17T14:02:00.002-05:00

In my spirit, I feel like something big is about to happen. I don't know what yet, but I think it's going to involve me getting over my fears of speaking out and possibly offending someone. There are people dying without hope...I have loved ones without hope. I need to tell them about Jesus, but more than that, I need to show them Jesus.

And I'm going to start singing again. Healing is coming.

From Mark 5:

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "
32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

A little preaching...

2008-10-08T06:25:00.003-05:00

Things have been busy and I haven't been feeling so well, but we're on the upswing. I went to the doctor, I'm getting better, and the house is just about unpacked! We've found a great church, made some new friends, and are generally very-much enjoying Georgia (the bugs I could do without!).

Will's birthday was Sunday; I'm still not believing he's 6 years old. We had a low-key celebration, but it was good. One of the gifts that Max and I bought for him was a Bible (and here's where the preaching comes in).

So Monday I read the story of David and Goliath (I Samuel 17 if you're interested in reading the whole thing). And I've heard the story so many times but I haven't often actually read it. And it's powerful. You've got this giant who has petrified the entire Israeli army...I'm talking they're hiding from him. And then you have this boy come onto the scene and he's the only one willing to stand up to giant warrior. David has such faith and trust in God; he says that God has protected him from lions and bears and he will protect him now. Wow! You've got a giant, a trained warrior, in full battle armor and then this boy with nothing but a slingshot a 5 rocks. And the boy is not afraid!

But it gets better. The giant starts to taunt David and is almost offended that Israel would send a boy to fight him. So David says:

45 "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."

If those aren't fighting words I don't know what is. So the giant comes after him and the Bible says that David runs to the battle line to meet him. Looking at the picture from a human perspective, the odds were completely against David. But we so often forgot about the ultimate warrior that was standing beside David. God loves to work through the weakest and most unlikely person because it's not by power, or might, or sword, or smooth-talking that the battle gets won. There's another passage in Exodus 14 that I love (this is as the Israelites are leaving Egypt and are being followed by Pharaoh's army; the people are afraid and starting to complain):

13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

How often do I try to fight the battle on my own and I fail miserably. As David says "the battle is the LORD's". Every person on this planet has battles - whether they be health or financial or marital or whatever. We need to remember that God is our ultimate warrior and He will fight for us. We simply need to be still in Him.

My scraproom...

2008-09-16T14:47:00.002-05:00

It's still a work in progress, but it's coming!

We've arrived...

2008-09-07T17:24:00.003-05:00

Still sinking in...dude, I live in Georgia! It's hot and humid, but the AC works so life is good! ;)

Total God thing yesterday - so cool. Some of our neighbors came over...they have 4 kids. Turns out she's a former teacher, now staying at home, will be homeschooling, and she scrapbooks! No kidding! I've been praying for friends for Max and I and how cool is that? God is good!

I'm off to scrounge up some dinner...I'll update later this week with pics and some stories.

It's here...

2008-08-27T09:50:00.003-05:00

we're finally moving. The packers are packing, I'm sitting around feeling guilty that I can't help. It's hard to believe we've finally reached this point. Crazy last few days, including an ER visit for me for an anxiety attack. But things are calming down. I'm actually more relaxed now than I've been in quite some time. We're leaving tomorrow afternoon for the trek to Georgia, so I'll probably be AWOL for a bit. Internet doesn't come to the new house until next Friday...what's a girl to do? ;)

Cool story about my anxiety attack. My blood pressure was super high when I first got to the ER, and I'm paranoid to begin with about my heart (it's fine, by the way). Anyhow, I'm trying to calm down and I prayed for a sign. I thought about Gideon's fleece and I asked the Lord for my next blood pressure reading to be 150/90 or lower (it was 171/106). Next reading...149/88. God answers prayers big time! It gets better though. When I get home I decide to read the story about Gideon. As I'm paging there, the first verse that I see is from the previous passage. It read "Peace. Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." No kidding. If that's not a word from God, I don't know what is. It's amazing...a few days ago I was praying for God to make Himself really real to me. I'd say He did. What a good God we serve!

Craziness...

2008-08-20T10:21:00.003-05:00

This week has been a little nutty. We're exactly one week away from the packers. One week from tomorrow they'll be loading the truck and we'll be on our way to Georgia. Still hasn't completely sunk in.

Yesterday was crazy. I'll post about it later once I have my pics uploaded.

Max is working so hard right now. I wish I could convey how proud I am of him and all that he has done for our family. It's overwhelming really.

I'm playing with some new scrapbook goodies today. I've got some other things on the to-do list, but I really needed the stress-relief. The boys are enjoying a new Tom & Jerry dvd...speaking of, I need to grab it before they watch it for the 17th time!

I needed this one today...

2008-08-15T21:41:00.001-05:00

Two weeks and counting...

2008-08-13T11:21:00.002-05:00

Exactly two weeks from today, the packers should be at our house. It will also be Max's last day at work at the Chambersburg plant.

I'm busy getting all the utilities switched over to our names at the new house. We still need to sell this one, but we're very thankful we're able to lease our new home until we can settle. Prayers for a quick sale of our current home are very much appreciated. :)

Listening party...

2008-08-12T07:45:00.001-05:00

David Phelps is releasing a new cd in a couple weeks. Lots of covers on this one. Today through Thursday his record label is having a "listening party" where they're streaming most of the new songs on the internet. If you're interested, the site is HaveYouHeardtheWord.

Updates...

2008-08-07T09:45:00.003-05:00

Okay, I need to do some serious catching up on this blog. First, here are the pics I promised Kristy a while ago. This is the best of all 4 boys:

And I just thought this was cute:
Remember how I talked about all those tags I helped make for CHA. Well, the awesome people at Fiskars sent me a thank-you gift:
That's a pair of the limited Heidi Grace scissors that were being handed out at CHA. And how cool is this? They had Heidi autograph one of my tags to send back to me!
Another scrappy update...the contest I've been in at Scrap Shanty is over (it actually ended Monday, but I'm a little late). And....drumroll please....I won! Very exciting! I was able to choose my prize, and I'm getting a gift certificate to my favorite store, Scrap Diner. Here are my layouts, in order, for the 4 weeks of the contest:

Lastly, here's a fun project that took me forever, but is finally finished:

I used some fun My Mind's Eye from the Diner to cover a Maya Road chipboard mini-album. I think it turned out really cute!

And that's all for now. I've got some Georgia updates, but I need to get off the computer, so those will have to wait. Three weeks until the move though!

Family bonding at the Hopkins' house...

2008-08-02T11:16:00.002-05:00

God is good...

2008-08-01T21:56:00.002-05:00

It's been so easy to get discouraged about our house, but I am trusting that God will provide. It's so easy to praise Him and be thankful when everything is going right, but I was reminded this week that I need to be thankful in all circumstances.

I am thankful that God has allowed us to lease our house in Georgia. I am thankful that He has blessed me with two nephews in the past two weeks. I am thankful for my amazing family. I am thankful that Max's company is providing so much for our move. I am thankful for Max's hard work that allows me to be home with my boys. I am thankful for my health and my family's health. I am thankful for a God who knows my needs and will meet them. So, in faith, thank you Lord for providing a buyer for our home in Your time. Amen.

I just needed to get that off my chest. :) Have a happy weekend!

Quick Monday update...

2008-07-28T15:15:00.003-05:00

First, I made it to the final week over at Scrap Shanty. Later tonight I'll update with my layouts from the last couple weeks. That made me happy!

I just found out that Valdosta (our new hometown) won ESPN's Titletown. It will be on Sportscenter tonight, but here's an article from the local paper. :)

And Kristy - I'll add some more pics later. The ones with Christian turned out okay - the lighting was a bit funky. I'll play with them and then upload.

I so need to get better at updating...

2008-07-27T07:44:00.005-05:00

I'm about to grab a bowl of cereal, but here are some quick pics:

Fuzzy as it is, this was actually the best pic we got of my Dad and his 4 grandsons.

Max had moved his car to the side yard for our yard sale. When he went to move it, Christian and Andrew climbed in for a ride around the cul-de-sac. It always amazes me how little things make them so happy.
This expression is so Will.

And a video...Will and Christian have just started climbing trees. Again, it's the little things!

Welcome Timothy Joseph...

2008-07-22T09:56:00.003-05:00

He looks like Dad! I guess it's appropriate to resemble your namesake though. :)

Round 3 here I come...

2008-07-21T10:02:00.003-05:00

I was really nervous this week, but I made it through to round 3 in the recipe challenge at Scrap Shanty! I'm so excited! This week's recipe is really tough, but I have an idea in my head. Now I just need to translate it to paper! I'll post last week's layout and a couple other projects I've been working on later...it's been a productive week for me, but I'll share all about that later too.

I can finally let the cat out of the bag...

2008-07-18T17:52:00.003-05:00

Now that CHA is well under way, I can share my project I created for the good folks at Fiskars. A few weeks ago, I received a package filled with Heidi Grace goodies - including some of her new line, Reagan's Closet. My job was to create tags that Heidi would be signing and giving out at the show. How fun is that!?! Here's a few pics of what I made:

How cool is this...

2008-07-16T22:24:00.001-05:00

Valdosta, GA - our new hometown - is being featured on ESPN tonight as part of their Titletown contest. Here's a link with more info. I hope they win! :)

Who knew....

2008-07-15T20:33:00.002-05:00

that printing photos would take all night. I decided to print a big batch of pics - 81 to be exact - and my little Epson has been running for almost 5 hours. Ouch! I think I'll be buying a new ink cartridge soon.

Not much going on here. We're waiting for our house to sell. Please pray that it sells fast. It's so tough in this market, but we had a very long showing on Friday and we're hoping that something comes of it.

It's CHA week (for any non-scrappers reading this, CHA is when all the new goodies are released). We've got some fun challenges planned over at the Diner and over at the Fiskateers site.

Back to my photos...I found these yummy ones from the 4th. It's my easy parfait. I took a yellow cake mix, roughly cubed it, and layered with fat-free whipped cream, blueberries and strawberries. Yummy!

And speaking of yummy, here's a pic of Max that I took last night. I love my hubby! :)

I made it to round 2...

2008-07-14T15:51:00.002-05:00

In the Scrap Shanty Ultimate Recipe Showdown contest! For this week, I need to create a Christmas layout without using traditional Christmas colors. I have a couple ideas knocking around in my head...I'm hoping to get started tonight. For my week 1 entry, check here.

Some new layouts...

2008-07-09T21:58:00.003-05:00

This one was for the practice round of the Ultimate Recipe Showdown at Scrap Shanty:

Some new videos - playing with fireworks...

2008-07-04T11:02:00.003-05:00

For the 4th...

2008-07-03T20:13:00.001-05:00

I love this country! Happy Birthday USA!

Please remember all our service men and women around the world and especially those in Iraq this Independence Day. Cheesey and cliche as it sounds, freedom isn't free and I thank God for these brave soldiers willing to put their lives on the line for our country and the freedoms upon which it is built!

In honor of Independence Day...

2008-07-02T07:03:00.001-05:00

What a sweetie...

2008-06-30T21:15:00.002-05:00

I love random shots that turn out this adorable! :) I'll be back tomorrow - or maybe Wednesday - but tonight I'll leave you with this one of Andrew!

I'm getting published...

2008-06-26T18:14:00.002-05:00

Oh. My. Gosh. I am so excited I cried when I first read the email! And then I started shaking! This is my first time being published and I've only submitted a handful of times. I can't believe it! Just had to share my joy! It's a layout of Christian (was up on the blog, but I had to remove it) and it will be in the November 2008 issue of Scrapbook Trends!

My baby lost another tooth...

2008-06-26T12:04:00.002-05:00

Here's a before shot. It's not a great pic - there's low light in Andrew's room and I wasn't using the flash - sorry 'bout that.

And here's the after!

The other top one is loose as well. I have a feeling he'll have another visit from the tooth fairy in a few weeks. Last night, Max and I finished painting our bedroom and got distracted, so the tooth fairy was late (as in this morning) visiting. Will woke up, checked under his pillow (which still had the tooth) and then looked outside. When I asked what he was doing, he said "The tooth fairy didn't come yet. I'm looking for the car." That boy cracks me up!

In scrappy news, I got two yummy packages today. The first is from the Maya Road Virtual Warehouse sale. I was lucky enough to order a kit before they sold out. Look how much stuff they sent:

I'm sharing a few things with my Mom that aren't my style, but overall, I was VERY impressed.

The second package was from Fiskars. I can't share too much as it contains a project for CHA. So if you're going, stop by the Fiskars booth, you may see something made by me! How cool is that!?!

Andrew being cute...

2008-06-26T11:27:00.004-05:00

He's a bird, that baby!

I'll admit it...

2008-06-25T10:32:00.003-05:00

I like Southern Gospel. It's probably my Dad's influence, but I love the straightforward message of Jesus.

Here's a couple by the Gaither Vocal Band. I've got a few more up my sleeve, but I'm saving those for Independence Day.

Probably my all-time favorite Gaither Vocal Band song...

2008-06-25T10:27:00.001-05:00

I just love seeing Russ Taff get blessed...

2008-06-25T10:24:00.001-05:00

This one is so powerful. That's David Phelps singing the last solo.

Another one...

2008-06-25T10:20:00.001-05:00

I grew up on this one.

A quick hello...

2008-06-21T09:08:00.002-05:00

I'm just popping on real quick...I'm about to head out to run some errands. Here's a layout I finished this morning for our little weekend crop at www.scrap-diner.com. The challenge was to create a layout inspired by music. I chose to do the song Max has been singing to me since we were dating. :)

(The colors aren't true to life in this one - it's very overcast here.)

So busy...

2008-06-19T20:23:00.002-05:00

We are putting on all the finishing touches on the house, getting it ready to go on the market next week. I am so ready to be done...it seems like I keep finding new projects though!

I've been a busy scrapper as well, but I can't share too much yet. :)

This weekend (actually starting tomorrow) we're having an informal crop at www.scrap-diner.com - please feel free to join in the festivities! Sher always has amazing prizes!

Cute little star wreath...

2008-06-12T11:06:00.003-05:00

For directions on how to make a little wreath to decorate for the Fourth, check out the Diner Blog.

Why am I still up?

2008-06-11T23:52:00.002-05:00

Eek...it's almost 1 in the morning. Just finished priming the boys' room (they're fast asleep in the den for the night) and will paint in the morning. Now I'm wide awake, but I so need to be in bed. Lots of stuff to get done tomorrow...it's crunch time on the house.

I'll be posting a fun little project at the Diner tomorrow too. More details then.

God is God - Steven Curtis Chapman

2008-06-11T11:34:00.001-05:00

I just found out about his daughter...so completely tragic...I'm still in tears. My prayers are with their family during this time. This song came to me...there are times I question God, get angry at God, cry out to God, but His ways are so much higher than our own. It's hard as a human to always remember that - He sees the big picture while we have a tiny glimpse. I need to be reminded of that sometimes.

I'm a bad, bad blogger...

2008-06-10T13:26:00.004-05:00

Things have been a little bit insane...we're down to the final crunch before the house goes on the market. I feel like I'll never get everything finished!

I'm still fighting the sinus/ear infection (yuck) and hoping the antibiotics kick this thing out of my body soon! The boys are all recoverd from their little cold/allergy issues.

I had to run some errands today and went by Michael's. They had all their punches on sale for 40% off so I am now the proud owner of the Leave it to Weaver border punch. For any non-scrapbookers reading this, that's a good thing! I picked up the Threading Waters punch for Mom. :)

I'm hoping to play tonight. I have several projects racing in my head that I really want to sit down and complete. For now, here's another quickie of Christian:

(out for publication...)

A new month...

2008-06-03T10:59:00.001-05:00

And things are still crazy around here. We've got the big dumpster just about filled! I'd say we're 70% finished with the basement - which is some serious progress! I'm battling a sinus/allergy mess due to working in the basement. I'm praying this passes quickly!

Here's a fun layout I just finished for the Retro Challenge over at Scrap-Diner. I love this photo of Christian!

Have a great one!

Busy, busy, busy...

2008-05-30T09:34:00.003-05:00

Working hard to get all the house stuff done. Had some not-so-great experiences with several landscaping companies so we're doing the work ourselves for a tiny fraction of the cost. Off to buy lawn equipment tonight.

The dumpster will be coming sometime before 2 pm. I'm greatly looking forward to getting all this junk out of the house. By next week our basement should be empty!

The foyer is just about finished. I need to scrub it (again!) and put up the little metal strips to the surrounding rooms, but it looks good. Really good. Thanks so much Mom (if you're reading this)!

Off to sort through more toys. I seriously had no idea we had this many...it's scary.

Happy Memorial Day...

2008-05-26T06:08:00.001-05:00

Just a quick layout...

2008-05-25T14:25:00.003-05:00

I finished this one today...used lots of goodies from the Diner. I've been in the mood to scrap lately; all the stuff around the house is getting overwhelming, so I definitely need the outlet. I'm hoping to get a few more done in the next couple days. Have a great Sunday!

You know you're a scrapbooker when...

2008-05-23T20:58:00.004-05:00

you take a camera in to your hubby's work and take pics of the baskets and baskets of rolls and buns and bread. You know, cause one day I may just scrap these! ;)

In the second picture and the bottom of the third are what the trucks bring back (called, appropriately enough, "stale"). The breads are chopped for stuffing or sold for dog food (betcha didn't know that!). The rest is all freshly baked bread getting ready to be loaded, or in the case of the bottom pic, ready to be delivered.

This is all I could get from the window in the break room. Max thought they might throw me out if I went down on the floor to snap some more shots! They load 50+ trucks a day...that's alotta bread!

My new favorite project...

2008-05-23T20:52:00.003-05:00

It just makes me happy! The apple is from Damboise Designs and the paper is some of my new favorites - Basic Grey Boxer line.

I'm so domestic...

2008-05-23T20:33:00.003-05:00

Not really, but some days I can pull off a nice facsimile. Yesterday I was feeling it...for lunch, the boys and I made some tiny pizzas (or so Christian called them). I toasted the slices of baguette, cooked up some ground beef to add to my sauce (canned but I added spices and then let it simmer for two hours), and Will helped me butter the slices and then add the sauce and cheese. They turned out really good...yes, I'm a dork - I took pics.

I'm proud of them anyway. It's the little things, right?

I can't even begin to describe how much this takes me back...

2008-05-18T15:25:00.001-05:00

Simpler times back in the late 80's. I actually got backstage passes back in the day when I was 12. Somewhere there's a signed t-shirt. Oh, yeah...I was a total groupie. And, by the way, Joey was my favorite. ;)

10 years ago today...

2008-05-16T18:26:00.003-05:00

we graduated from Grove City! I still can't believe how long it's been! I get all emotional thinking about it, so I won't dwell, but here are some pics I unearthed a week or so ago. Look at how cute we all are!

Some updates...

2008-05-15T12:43:00.002-05:00

Things have been really busy around here getting ready for the yardsale and getting the house ready to sell. Hopefully all the work will be finished in the next couple weeks cause we're so ready to move!

Today I created a post at The Diner's Daily Dish. It's a tutorial for a mini-album using Artist Trading Cards. I think it turned out pretty cute, so check it out if you have a minute.

And I totally forgot to post this before, but I have been asked back to the Scrap-Diner Design Team. I'm a "Deb" again and I couldn't be happier! I get to work with some amazing ladies and the owner of the site, Sher, is a sweetie! If you're in the mood for some scrapbook shopping, make sure you check out the Diner!

I've got to run - the man is on his way to fix my garage door! Happy day! I'll be back tomorrow with some fun pics from a decade ago...

Happy Anniversary...

2008-05-13T18:20:00.003-05:00

Today is our 8th anniversary! I can't believe how fast these years have gone by...and now three children later, we're still madly in love. I love you Max! Happy Anniversary baby!

I say I love you, I say I need you
I try so many ways to say how my heart beats for you
I say I'm always thinking about you
There's no way I'd want to face this life without you
And even though these words come from deep inside me
There's so much more I don't have the words to say

'Cause what I really want to say
Is what the sun would say to the sky
For giving it a place to come alive
But my words get in the way
Of what I really want to say
Oh, what I really want to say

I know that sometimes my words can be as hard as stone
And sometimes my words have left you feeling so alone
So please forgive me and hear the words I'm saying now
I will spend my whole life looking for a way somehow
To let you know just how precious you are to me
I'll use the best words I know but I still won't say it all

It's like a tale too great to be told
It's something that my heart can only show
I'm gonna take my whole life
Just to let you know
What I really want to say
Oh, what I really want to say to you
What I really want to say
Oh, what I really want to say

"What I Really Want to Say" by Steven Curtis Chapman
This was one of the songs that was sung during our wedding ceremony.

We're back from Georgia...

2008-05-08T20:50:00.002-05:00

And man, do I have a lot running through my mind right now! I'll save all my thoughts for another post, but I am going to overload on the pics here. I hope you enjoy!

**A little disclaimer - underneath all the pics are my camera's names...I'm tired and didn't go through and rename things. Sorry.

The first one is just some random pics...

And here's some pics from Wild Adventures, the local theme park...

And some of the new Martin's plant (there's some others in there as well - copies from earlier slide shows - but I'm too lazy to go back and edit them out)...

And our new house...

And last set - the pond and gazebo in our new neighborhood...

A couple quick updates...

2008-04-28T21:24:00.002-05:00

It's been a little crazy around here. Last week the stomach flu ran through the house and now we're running around getting ready for our trip to Georgia. I still can't believe we're leaving tomorrow! Max is determined to find a house, so I should have some pics of our new house to share when I get back. :)

And, today was my last day of work!!!! The final grades have been uploaded and I am officially finished. It went by so fast at the end - I still can't quite believe it. I am now a stay-at-home-mom!! Happy day!

Okay - last one...

2008-04-21T19:34:00.001-05:00

This was my favorite back in the day. I still know all the words!

Another good one...

2008-04-21T19:30:00.001-05:00

This takes me back...

2008-04-21T19:27:00.001-05:00

I was raised on this kind of music. Makes me smile...hope you enjoy.

Happy Birthday baby...

2008-04-09T20:07:00.002-05:00

I can't believe my baby is two!

Happy Birthday Andrew! I love you!

Some new pics...

2008-04-08T18:11:00.004-05:00

I know I'm competely biased, but I think I have some very handsome little men in my house. Here are some recent photos.

Max took this one of Christian today. I love this! I'm printing it out tonight to scrap it!

I can't believe it, but Andrew will be 2 tomorrow! On Saturday we went out to dinner with Mom and Dad to celebrate. Here are a couple pics of Andrew opening some presents. I love his expression in the first one. :)

And my Will! Here's one Max took a couple nights ago right before bed. Sometimes I see Uncle Billy in him so much it's scary.

One more...just one instance of the goofiness that occurs in this house. We had an open phone jack in our bedroom and the boys decided to decorate with Mr Potato Head eyes. It's always and adventure!

A couple changes...

2008-04-08T10:58:00.002-05:00

I had to start moderating comments...darn spammers!

I also moved my playlist (probably great cheers are going up at this one)...it's on its own blog now. I feel so techno-savvy! ;)

I have some great pics to upload later...see you then!

Some new layouts...

2008-04-06T08:27:00.002-05:00

Last month of work...

2008-04-02T10:35:00.003-05:00

I can't believe i! Four weeks from today I'll not only be an official stay-at-home-mom, but I'll be on my way to Georgia. I love house-hunting. We've already started a list of possibilities...now I'm just waiting to hear back from the realtor. I can't wait to see them in person. Dork that I am, I'll be ready with digital camera and notebook. So much fun!

Got alot of stress happening right now...I'm working hard to stay calm (I do not want another anxiety attack!). I know that God works all things out for good for those who love Him and I'm trusting in that. Prayers are appreciated as well. ;)

Hopefully I'll be back soon with some scrappy yummies. For now, I need to get ready for work....

It's Official...

2008-03-29T11:19:00.002-05:00

We're moving to Georgia!!!

We've been talking about it for months, and now it's a reality. Crazy fun! We should have all the final details next week, but we're definitely moving this summer!

Some Easter photos...

2008-03-26T06:33:00.003-05:00

I have been seriously down for the count with this flu. I'm most definitely getting better (praise God) but this has been as sick as I've been in a long time.

Since my energy level has been way low, I haven't been doing a whole lot (unless laying on the couch watching QVC at 4 am counts!). We did dye Easter eggs last Saturday and got some cute pics of the boys Easter Sunday (since the whole family was sick, we didn't make it to church, but we dressed them up anyhow). So enjoy...I think they're pretty adorable!

Good Friday...

2008-03-21T08:20:00.003-05:00

Easter is my all-time favorite holiday....after all, if it wasn't for Easter, where would we be? Some people get kind of morbid about Good Friday, but I think it's an amazing day. Think how much our Savior loves us that He would willingly be put to death on the cross. I think we sometimes forget that Jesus could have come down off that cross at any point, but love for us kept Him there. It's overwhelming. What a Savior!

Enjoy your Good Friday. And if you don't mind, say a little prayer for our family....Will, Christian and I are fighting a cold.

Good stuff tomorrow....

2008-03-19T21:59:00.001-05:00

I'm heading to bed soon, but I'll be posting some fun stuff tomorrow. I've got a couple new pics of the boys and a few projects I've been working on, plus a Cosmo Cricket kit. Happy day!

I've been a bad, bad blogger...

2008-03-14T15:29:00.001-05:00

We've had alot going on. Yucky stuff. Fortunately, things are looking brighter. Palm Sunday is in two days, spring seems to finally be arriving, and I got a happy package in the mail today (more details on that soon).

Life is good. :)

P.S. We should have final word about our move by the end of the month!

Happy Birthday Christian...

2008-02-29T22:49:00.004-05:00

Christian is our Leap Year baby, so today is his first technical birthday! We spent the day celebrating and having fun, including lunch at McDonald's (Mommy and 3 boys at McD's together is always an adventure!). We let Christian choose what he wanted for dinner, so we ended up having easy strawberry and blueberry shortcake (those pre-made pastries, whipped cream, and fruit). Seriously, that was dinner. Max and I decided we must have taken temporary leave of our senses. :)

I'll post some pics tommorrow. Have a great one!

And one more time, Happy Birthday Christian!

Just a little post...

2008-02-20T16:28:00.003-05:00

I almost always listen to the radio in the car, and will frequently listen to some Christian talk shows on my way to work. One of my favorites is Midday Connection, and it especially spoke to me today, so I wanted to share.

That's all for now. Enjoy your Wednesday!

Nothing exciting happening here...

2008-02-19T13:52:00.003-05:00

I think the stomach bug has returned...yuck! So not too much going on today. I was hoping to redo the den/playroom today, but right now I have no energy. :(

I think I'm going to pull out my embossing stencils tonight, so I might have something crafty to share tomorrow. It all depends on how I'm feeling.

Until then, here's a couple pics of the boys. Will took the first one.

How cute is this...

2008-02-18T08:27:00.003-05:00

You can make your own at blessthischick.com. Thanks to Jo at A Scrappin' Friendsy for the link!