Happy Birthday, Memphis

Memphis is celebrating his 8th birthday today.
8 human years.
56 dog years.

He asked for an ice cream cake and a visit with his favorite friends to celebrate.


(I couldn't capture the ice cream cake on film.)

Memphis did request that Maddie and Walker and Radar join him for the festivities, but the party was a little last minute. My apologies to the dog friends.

And, one last picture. If only being a parent were just about snuggling and bedtime stories. I could be persuaded if that was all there is to it.



Natalie could actually use the clues in the pictures and the repeated phrases in the book to read some of the pages. It is amazing how much she learns so very quickly.

The Tuesday Ten

It's time I brightened things up around here with a little list.

Here's 10 random thoughts to perk up your Tuesday.

1. Last night my dentist told me that my tooth (which was filled almost two weeks ago) hurts because it is "throwing a tantrum." She told me this right after she gooped it up with watermelon-flavored fluoride - the same fluoride "they use on the kids." Seriously. Just because I acted like a child when the tooth was filled does not mean she needs to treat me like a child.

2. There is nothing greater than a food and friend and laughter friend weekend. The downside? I think I'm in withdrawal now.


3. Josie has the absolute most amazing towels at her house. Ask Katrina. She'll confirm. The towels are fluffy and completely white and LARGE. No need to do the stretch and shuffle to try to simultaneously keep all your bits covered. These towels are perfect.

4. Dark and twisty is not hot on McDreamy.

5. I'm done craving Shamrock Shakes and have moved on to craving any egg-shaped candy, preferably egg-shaped candy that is chocolate with peanut-butter filling.

6. Have you ever noticed that Tuesday is the ultimate bargain day? In high school I worked at a movie theater where Tuesday was Buck Night. There was also a restaurant that featured BOGO burgers on Tuesday. Too bad I haven't found any of the local Tuesday night bargains.

7. After we had been dating for less than a year, Brad's grandma sent out a Christmas letter to everyone in her address book that explained that "Brad was dating a nice little Irish girl." Either Brad had a secret Irish girlfriend that he only introduced to his grandma or she had hallucinated an "O'" in front of my name. I'm not even a little Irish.

8. I bought a swimsuit last week. I'm not going anywhere that I need a swimsuit. In fact, I hate wearing a swimsuit in public. But, I saw it and thought it was cute and tried it on. I think it was the pressure of not really needing one that let me find a cute one.

9. Tomorrow is my mom's birthday. I used to be a champ about sending cards and gifts. I'm not sure why or how I fell off that wagon.

10. My aunt's church recently had up the following headline on their sign, "Our sermons are more uplifting than Viagra." Hmmmm. I didn't realize God had such a great sense of humor.

Paper and Scissors

I've made lots of things lately. Here's the catch, though. They're not really mine.

I'm not sure where my creativity went, so I lifted a few things from the Studio Calico gallery to try to get going again.

A few things from Studio Calico's January kit.

This is a total copy of a fun lay-out Scarlet made.


Loved the Stephanie Howell lay-out and had to make one of my own.


Made my own version of one of Tina's lay-outs to capture the photos from the first week of 2009.



Another lift of a Tina lay-out.



Made this all by myself with the January kit.


And, a few things from the February kit.

This was inspired by one of Tina's lay-outs from the August gallery.


Used the February kit to make this. It was inspired by one of April's lay-outs from the December gallery.


And, made one with the February kit all by myself.


And, I made a mini (of course!). I've had this mini since the July Studio Calico project kit. The kit was actually from an Etsy shop. The cover was inspired by how April used the mini. I filled it with more than 20 pictures from my trip to Boston last summer.

March: Scrap-tastic

Sorry I've been so MIA. Life has needed living.

There was a weekend with my favorite girls.
There was lots of homework.
There was some laziness.

Here are my March Scrap-tastic creations to tide you over until I have something more substantial to share.

50 down. 365 to go.

Sorry I've been such a blog slacker. Life has needed some living.

February 3 (Tuesday)
Nothing to say, really. Nothing unusual to really not


February 4 (Wednesday)
Another drive to Madison. Another night class. Except this time I headed to Milwaukee after class for the reading convention.


February 5 (Thursday)
After a busy day of learning, Lisa and I enjoyed a great dinner at the Capital Grill. We ended up having to take dinner back the hotel to enjoy during Grey's.


February 6 (Friday)
Starting to think about Valentine's Day. . . even though Brad is gone for the weekend.


February 7 (Saturday)
A whole day of playing with paper at Stephanie's.


February 8 (Sunday)
Had breakfast with Nicky, Chris, and the kiddos today; it's a Sunday tradition I really miss.


February 9 (Monday)
Another Monday. . . another calendar picture. Guess Monday's just aren't that exciting.


February 10 (Tuesday)
Got all my Valentine's filled out and ready to mail.


February 11 (Wednesday)
Class. . . again.


February 12 (Thursday)
Class means super-tired on Thursday which means Starbucks for oatmeal (no time to eat breakfast at home) and a London Fog.


February 13 (Friday)
Enjoyed lots of friend-time tonight: met Angie at the mall to do some Valentine's Day shopping (Brewer gear for Brad), met Stephanie for a pedicure, and met Brad for some Chinese.


February 14 (Saturday)
We all (including Memphis) celebrated Valentine's Day together at home. . . a steak and shrimp dinner, bananas foster for dessert, and gifts - Braun jersey for Brad and a camera lens for me.


February 15 (Sunday)
Wicked was totally brilliant. Totally loved the story.


February 16 (Monday)
Love that my new boots fit so very well on the pile of shoes that are always right in the doorway.


February 17 (Tuesday)
I'm trying hard to think spring - especially in the wardrobe department.


February 18 (Wednesday)
Class. Again. The drive was pretty seriously complicated by snow.


February 19 (Thursday)
Special flowers from Brad, "just because."

Whopper Wednesday

Have you heard about this?

Gross.
Don't get me wrong. I love me some meat and even occasionally indulge in some fast food. But, seriously. Burger-scented body spray.

Gross.

Anyway, it's Wednesday. I haven't "seen" you for more than a week.

I've been driving
and listening to books on tape
and learning
and scrapping with friends
and welcoming Brad back from a fishing vacation
and "playing" principal
and planning baby showers
and watching Entourage
and wondering why I never watched Gilmore Girls before
and buying things I don't need
(and wishing I could find a jacket to match the things I didn't need)
and wondering how Carla and Leah are still on Top Chef
and hoping Grey's actually crosses over into Private Practice this week
and thinking I'd like a bigger house
and trying to find a perfect birthday gift for my dad
and wondering what Brad might want for Valentine's Day
and loving "warm" weather
and doing laundry.

Welcome, February

February 1: Superbowl Sunday
Some Superbowl action, 3-D style.
P.S. Why didn't anyone tell me Kurt Warner is so stinkin' cute?
(One event of the day, seeing New in Town, went unphotographed, as I am trying hard to forget it.)









February 2: Not-so-super Monday
Brad and Memphis occupying the spot on the couch I would like to make a nest in to escape the sick and the cold and the ick of Monday. (Although I did leave the nest long enough to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Brad Pitt as a baby was quite disturbing, but I liked it overall.)



And, happy birthday to my dear (old) dad.