Where have all the pictures gone!

So I am here, finally, to update and catch up. But -- No editing toolbar. And no editing toolbar means no uploading pics or the really cute videos that I have! Help!

October Extra Pages

Here are the additional pages for the scrappers to make at the October party.

The patterned paper has glitter and there are small clear jewels in teh centers of the flowers. The Title says, "Smiles are the soul's kisses". The first pages will fit a 5x7 or a 4x6 (shown). The second page has several options. I have also pictured it balnk so you can decide what works for your photos.

The cost for these pages will be:

$4.00 with a total of 30.00 spent in merchandise or,

$8.00 if less than $30.00 is spent.

Please let me know by Fri, Oct 24th if you wish to create these pages in addition to your Halloween pages for October.

To Do List

Why do we take on so many things to do!!

Last night I sat down and wrote a list of all the things I have coming up that I needed to do within the next 2 weeks. The list takes up the whole page and they are not little things. Sew a princess costume, figure out how the heck to make a policeman costume, paint a billboard for the Fire Dept, co-chair the book fair, paint 4 sheets of plywood worth of Halloween decorations for the fall festival, cut out 24 calendars for a class, plan a stamp party for Tues (that's what I am supposed to be doing now). And there is more!

And so what do I do -- I stay up late, get up early and end up tired and stressing to finish it all and not even enjoy doing any of it. Which by the way is the reason I agreed to most of these projects in the first place. Did I tell you Halloween is pretty close to my fav holiday?

Tonight I was running out to my stamp shop to get some paper. I was in such a hurry -- and the the motion light did not detect my motion -- I ran straight into a pile of logs that Robin has sitting in the driveway. Great place huh! Literally landed on my face on the other side. Now I have battle scars that my kids will be proud of. Plus I wrinkled the last 2 sheets of Lavendar Lace cardstock. Robin would really be making a face if he heard me say that.

Anyway. It all comes down to trying to do too much stuff! Is this the first time I have been in this position -- NO. Will it be the last -- I'm sure it won't. They say that a smart person learns from their mistakes. Where exactly does that leave me right now!

OK -- Does anyone know why my "enters" for line spacing keep disappearing?? Sorry it's so hard to read this!

A Night Away for the Grown-Ups!

Since last Thurs was our Anniversary, Robin and I decided to take a night away from the kids last weekend. We headed to Appleton and the first stop was Olive Garden. I can't decide if Wausau should have one or not. . . Even though I LOVE it -- it would not be nearly as much fun if we could go any old time.

So then we went to check in to the hotel. One of his clients is a pretty nice hotel in Appleton. I have no idea what the name of it was but I do know that we got a pretty fancy room for a great price. We got there and were scoping everything out. I started watching Lifetime Movie Network in one room and Robin was watching something with half dressed girls in another. Nice way to spend the day right! Only for a little while and then I went downstairs to get some things from the car. When I came up I noticed this huge vase of roses by the door. I couldn't tell if they were real or not so I smelled them -- nothing. I thought they were fake until Robin mentioned to me that the flowers did not come with the room! My nose was a little more plugged than I thought! They were so beautiful they looked fake! (Although I smelled them on the trip home with them on my lap.)

Anyway -- then we went to a comedy club which was great! I haven't laughed so hard for a long time. Although Robin said he would have enjoyed it more if the lady next to him would have kept her butt to herself. Apparently it was overflowing from her chair into his.

Then of course -- when in Appleton -- one must shop! Robin actually went into Hobby Lobby, Toys R' Us and Gymboree. It almost killed me to drive past Archivers -- multiple times -- without going in. But I couldn't push it and Archivers is just not the kind of store you can go in for a quick peek! Girls -- we still need to plan that road trip!

It was very nice to actually see my husband and have a conversation with him! And remember guys -- A dozen roses, especially as a surprise, does great things for your relationship! I didn't even mind when we went to Gander Mountain to buy a new scope for Robin's gun.

Tag, I'm it.

So I am learning about the game of tag again --only not like when I was a kid. I need to publish "7 Facts About Me". Of course I have no one else to tag so this is going to be one quick game.

1. My kids rule my life. Even the one thing I do for myself -- scrapbooking -- is all about my kids. Every time I look at those smiles, whether they are stop in your tracks beautiful or the silliest goofy grin -- I know this is what it is all about.

2. I can fit my fist in my mouth.

3. I would love to start my own business planning parties and weddings, but especially children's parties. I have sooooo much fun planning my kid's parties every year! Although I don' t know if my husband appreciates me much the morning of the party. . . .

4. Turning 30 did not make me feel old. But lately I have been reminiscing about our college days a lot. Remembering the fun we had and the wild things we would do -- that makes me feel old! And for some reason it keeps popping into my mind a lot lately. The girls sit and gab at work and I am telling stories of the good old days while they are telling stories about yesterday. That makes me feel old.

5. I am definitely a dog person -- not a cat lady.

6. I love my life. I have what I have always wanted. Beautiful kids and a husband that I love. We have a house in the country with a cat and a dog -- although there is no white picket fence! I spend a lot of times volunteering at school. People tease me about being "Supermom" and I laugh them off but really -- I love to hear it. That is what I have always wanted to be.

7. It is about 11:30 the night before my anniversary. I can't find the card I made my husband anywhere. And I am sitting here typing on this blog. . .

Update****Tracy has joined the blogger world so I can play some more! Tag Tracy -- now you get to tell the world 7 things about yourself!****

October Party

Our next party will be Tuesday, October 28th at my house.

Please let me know if anyone needs directions!

The party will start at 6:30 .

Here is a pic of the pages:

The pages look much better in person. The camera does not like black! The spider webs will be sponged on the page with ink. The poem reads, "Put on your costume, Tie your mask on tight. Grab your bag for trick-or-treating 'Cause it's Halloween Night!”

The cost for the pages will be:
$4.00 with a $15.00 merchandise order.
$9.00 with less than $15.00 merchandise purchased.

**I will be having additional pages if you wish to make extra scrapbook pages. I should have those ready to view within the next day or two. **

For our cardmakers, we will be making a card with the funky fall leaves used on last month’s scrapbook page and of course 2 more SIMPLE Christmas themes cards. I owe you guys after the tricky treat box last month!

The cost for the cards will be:
FREE with a $15.00 merchandise order.
$5.00 with less than $15.00 merchandise purchased.

Please RSVP no later than Tuesday, October 21 st .

Don’t forget to let me know if you would like to do pages or cards!

Thanks,
Cybil

Helene's Hiltop Orchard

We Spent last Saturday at Helene's Hilltop Orchard. We have always gone to a different Pumpkin Patch but I am glad Jennifer invited us to come along to Helene's. The apples were delicious! Keagan would tell you if he could talk!

And the kid's had a blast picking them. Although most of the apples Ally picked ended up dropping on the ground. . .

Just a little higher Grandpa!

Everyone had a great time playing in the kids area.

And Sam would have been happy if this big tube was the only thing there!

We enjoyed a hayride around the area.

The hay ride turned out to be a little more stressful than we first realized though. On our way home I realized I no longer had my cell phone. We went back the orchard and no luck. Plus by this time I had a sleeping little girl -- and even though she is little it is not fun to carry that dead weight while looking through apple orchards for a phone -- and a crabby son and I was not in the most cheerful of moods either. We decided to go back Sunday morning to look again -- just me and Sam. We trudged up and down the aisles of apples, luckily I was pretty sure we were in the right aisles. No luck. Then we were on our way out and Sam told me to ask the hay wagon driver. I figured if he would have found the phone it would have been turned in but asked him anyway, mostly to humor Sam. He told me he had not found anything but we could try calling it. Sure enough -- we could hear it ringing between the bales of hay. The driver pulled them up a little and there it was, crammed between a bale of hay the outside of the wagon. How it stayed there and didn't fall out I don't know. Sam was my favorite kid of the day and got his own pack of watermelon gum!

Here are just a couple more pics of Ally and Marissa in the pumpkins. I did not have the restraint you did Jennifer, I posted a lot of pics!!

Happy Fall!!

A Day at the Museum

We signed up for a mini version of Toddler Tuesday at the Leigh Yawkey Woodsen Art Museum. We met with one of our friends and got there a little early so we took a few pics in the gardens. Who knew the flowers would be so vibrant this far into Fall.

Ally and Hannah got a kids tour of the Birds in Art Exhibit. Then we got to do several projects ad had a while for some free play. The kids had a blast. Of course I took a lot of pictures and never ot one with both sets of eyes on me! Imagine that.

The favorite sculpture in the garden. The only one we can touch!

Home Alone

Robin took the kids to the cabin this weekend. When he told me he was taking them the whole weekend my first thought was -- I am not going to get to spend any time with Sam this week. I was going to miss them both so much. Then I realized that I had planned on going out with the girls on Sat. anyway and I had to work the whole weekend, which is the why Robin was taking the kids with him.

So I took advantage on Friday night and turned the radio up loud, scrapbooked, ate when I felt like it and loved every minute of it. And I realized how much I missed having alone time. How many of you moms can remember the last time you had a whole night in the house all by yourself! I really enjoyed living alone before I met Robin and for awhile it was just like the old days. Sat morning I didn't have to close the door when I took a shower or tiptoe up the steps so I didn't wake anyone up. I cranked the ipod and danced to a few of my favorite songs where no one could see me. Except possibly anyone driving by who happened to look into the picture window. . . I won't think about it.

Needless to say, when it turned out we were not going to be able to go out on Sat night -- I did not protest too much. I completely enjoyed a whole second night of freedom, within my own house. Although I really do need a girls night out too. But that's a whole new topic!

Calendar Class

2009 Calendar Class

Come and create a Handmade Photo Calendar that you can enjoy all year!

Each seasonally designed page has a space for a 4x6 photo. Everything you need for the pages is cut and ready to go. You just need to put it together and add your photos. Bring your photos to the class or add them later. When we finish creating the calendars they will be bound on a professional machine.

Here are what your finished pages will look like:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Class Details

When: Friday, November 14th
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Cybil’s House

Cost: $25.00
Registration Deadline: October 24th

This is a great project for any skill level.

Most pages are simply die cuts and paper with a few details added.
If you can use a glue stick you can make this calendar. Even children can participate!

These calendars make great gifts for family members as well!

Please E-mail me, cybil@mwwb.net, and I can send you a Registration Form!

Can't make it to the class -- No Problem. You have 2 options. I can make it for you for an additional $6.00 charge. Or I can send you the entire kit. Just add your own glue. I will send with directions which will also be posted online. The price for the at home is the same.

1..2..3..BOB!

After taking the summer off, we started back at swimming lessons a couple weeks ago. Ally has never been afraid of getting her face wet. I have always dunked my kids just enough to make them comfortable. She suprised us all when she looked at Sam and Grandma on the side and counted 1..2..3.. and under she went. Completey on her own.

Of course now she wants to spend her entire class bobbing! I just have to use the incentive -- not a bribe -- of toys and playtime at the end and she will float and kick. In fact, last week -- with a bubble on -- she swam from one side of the baby pool to the other on her own! OK -- I will stop braggin now. Of course -- that is the whole point of these blogs, isn't it?

Grandparents Day

This past monday was Grandparent's day at Sam's school. It was great to have all the families come in and see the classrooms and then have lunch and even a little recess with the kids. I was helping sell lunch tickets so Ally got to be there too. It was a lot of work -- mostly for the teachers and lunch staff. When we were waiting near the gym one of the kids proclaimed, "The line for lunch has NEVER been this long before!" It sure was special for Sam to have Grandma and Grandpa there. I think they may have enjoyed it too!

Dreading this Week

So every week there is usually a couple things going on -- someplace to be here and there. But we usually have at least one night with nothing to do. And then you have a whopper week! Every night and day has something happening, somewhere to be non-stop. This week -- even my days which usually belong to me and Ally -- have times and places scribbled on the calendar.

It's like our lives our contstantly moving and running and never stopping. Then when you get that brief moment where nothing is slamming you in the face -- you stop, look around and wonder what to do with yourself. Mind you -- that is only a brief moment.

And the funny thing is, Robin is taking the kids to the Cabin on Friday night. I have to work this weekend but he and the kids will go up. I should be looking forward to some nice, quiet -- ALONE --time in my house. But all I can think about is how much I am going to miss my family. Although, I am hoping I will get over that real quick. Because as usual, the to do list far outnumbers the hours available.

See How they Grow. . .

Ally at about 3 months.

So you know when all of a sudden you look at your kids and realize -- they are not so little anymore. I can remember it happening here and there as the kids have grown. Something about their look or the moment, and you realize your babies are just not babies anymore.

The moment I took this picture I had one of those realizatons.

Ally at about 2 1/2. Growing up way too fast.

And we thought she had a lot of hair as a baby!

.

Just a Quick Pic

The kids and I were taking a walk last week. They just happened to both look at me at the same moment. Gotta love it! Thought I would share the picture with you.

September Stampers 10

Hello Everyone,

Our next party will be
Tuesday, September 23rd
at 6:30
at Susie’s House.

Please email me for directions.

Here are the pages we will be making:

I thought this would look great with a series of pics showing a big jump into a pile of leaves. You could also put a 5x7 horizontally in place of the 1st 2 4x6 photos.

This is a detail of the tree. The leaves are not paper but I couldn’t tell you what they actually are! Like fake flowers?

The cost for the pages will be:
$5.00 with a $15.00 merchandise order.
$10.00 with less than $15.00 merchandise purchased.


We will be making 2 Halloween projects and one additional card for you cardmakers.
I will also have some examples of Halloween treats to make for all

your favorite trick-or-treaters.

The cost for the cards will be:
FREE with a $15.00 merchandise order.
$5.00 with less than $15.00 merchandise purchased.

Please RSVP no later than Thursday, Sept 18th.

Don’t forget to let me know if you would like to do pages or cards!

Thanks!

First Day Survived

Well I survived the first day of Kindergarten. I cannot say I did it very gracefully but I did manage to hold back the tears until after I left school. At least, until I got to my van in the parking lot. Then when we pulled in the driveway later Ally said, "Sam home?" When I told her Sam was at school her reply was "Me School too pease." I was not the only one feeling a little lonely.

After that most of the day was OK. Ally was sick so I had an excuse to sit and snuggle her on the couch all day. Every once in awhile I would think to myself, "I wonder what he is doing right now?" That's when the tears would spring back.


By the time Ally was ready for her nap I was ready to do dishes, chores and I even had supper ready -- just had to flip the switch. Then all I had left to do was wait those last 30 minutes. Dr Phil was on so that helped. Finally I thought I could go sit outside . It was possible that the bus could be loaded and settled and travel the 8 miles to our house in 10 minutes -- I better be ready.


Finally -- after reading my cooking magazine and picking every apple I could reach off the tree I heard the rumble and could see the dust flying. I watched the neighbors girl get off the bus, waited for the bus to slow down and that little red stop sign flipped out. I ran across the road. When Sam came out he just grabbed me and hugged me tight. I did not mind one bit. He was a little sad and said he missed me. That only lasted a minute because I had left his Lego magazine for him to bring in from the mailbox.

After that I squeezed from him every bit of information that I could about his day. I read the note the teacher sent home. Yep -- he got smacked in the face on the first day of school. Just an accident but we may have to save the note for the scrapbook anyway!

Do I really have to do this again tomorrow?

Fly a Kite

We had "K" party for Sam's last day before Kindergarten today. Flying kites was part of that. I just wanted to share the pictures with you. Don't need to say much. You look at the pics and you can practically feel the experience.

The Night Before Kindergarten. . .

OK -- the kids are sound asleep. It's only a little after 8:00. My tummy is tied in knots because even though I am so excited for Sam to start school -- I feel like I am about to cry because I am losing my little man. Maybe a little over dramatic but I just can't help it. I am so used to him being with me all the time. Last year he was at preschool but that was only 3 hours a day. Now -- from when he gets on the bus to when I see that silly little grin running home towards me -- will be about 8 hours.

I know this is what he really needs. He is a little bit of a momma's boy. A lot according to Robin. This past weekend he was at Grandma's house. He saw a picture of me on the wall and started crying because he missed me. As much as I love him for being so sweet -- I want him to be independent and happy when he is away from me too.

Last Wednesday we had an open house at his school. I heard quite a few Mom's saying, "I am ready for school to start." All I keep thinking about is the time I am going to miss with him. Going from getting to spend the entire day goofing around, swimming, playing legos and snuggling with him to cramming in homework, supper and all the necessaries in before an ealry bedtime is going to suck!

Maybe it's also what I need to better appreciate the time I do have with him. Now I can get all the housework finished while Ally is napping (Yeah right!) and don't have to feel guilty because Sam has been sacked in front of PBS kids for over an hour. Not that he minds at all.

I know every mom has to go through this. Whether it's kindergarten or the first time at daycare I am sure it's the same feelings. Unless -- I home school. . . Just kidding. That little guy is way too social. Tonight he was trying on his clothes for the first day of school. He told me he was going to comb his hair just right and spray on some of Daddy's cologne. And of course he wanted to be sure Hannah was in his class again! Then he started doing his "Move It" dance. You know the song -- I like to Move it Move it, You like to move it move it! The video might take a couple minutes to download but it is so funny. Of course -- this is coming from a biased perspective!

I know that he is gong to be an awesome kindergartner (if that's a word). And I am sure that within a few weeks it will be a new routine and life will be normal again. And actually now that I have blogged it all out the knots in my tummy have untied. At least until the bus pulls up tomorrow morning. . .

A Weekend with Grandpa Gary and Anya Eanie

This is coming a little late. Playing a little catch up with the blogs tonight. August 22-25th we spent with my Dad in Hayward.

The kids were very excited to see Grandpa Gary. And everyone got a kick out of Ally's pronunciation on Grandma Jeannie. We think "Anya Eanie" is a name that may stick for awhile.

The weather was crazy. Loads of 80 somethings weather followed by a weekend of jeans and sweatshirt weather. We decided to downgrade our day of swimming and a canoe ride to strictly boating. I emptied the backpack of swimsuits and towels in exchange for fleece running suits in case of an emergency.


When we got to the lake we were surprised when Sam was the one who didn't want to get in the boat. First we had to check the boat for holes. Then he made it very clear that he was "ready to go back now" -- after about 2 minutes of paddling. We stretched it a bit longer and I even got a smile or two from him. Ally was having a blast the whole time. She was the opposite end of the spectrum -- not enough fear!

After the boat we played on the playground for awhile and walked down to the beach. What started with wading quickly turned into full blown swimming. Sam even got brave and dove underwater -- once! Nobody seemed to remember that it was too cold to go into the water!

The Simple Joys

Why is it that even when there is a pool, a sprinkler, a slip-in-slide -- they just want the hose!!

The City Mouse and the Country Mouse

So, we all read the story when we were kids. The city mouse just can't appreciate the country lifestyle and the country mouse is completely lost in metropolis. I was the city mouse transplanted to the "boonies" as I referred to it when I first met Robin. For what it's worth, this mouse has learned to love the country!


Granted, I moved from Wausau which is not a big city by any means. But even in those 20 miles from home to the edge of town -- routines, rituals and the way of life changes. Out here -- we really do borrow cups of sugar from our neighbors. When I lived in town -- I only knew about one person on my block. And if you need something -- you go to the store and get it yourself. Out here, you wave at anyone going by. In town, you drive to fast to see if you are passing your own family on the streets. I am probably exagerating a bit but you get the point!


The motivation for this line of thought came from a birthday party we went to last night. Friends that grew up together, all still hanging out, now with a few wives and kids in tow. And now, our kids are all going to school together. I look at Sam playing with his friends and even Ally playing with a little girl that I know she will play with for many summer nights to come. In fact, chances are good that they will have each other to depend on for all 13 years of school. Those are the kinds of bonds that city kids just don't have as many chances to make.


I feel really lucky to allow my kids to grow up in this peaceful environment. Where I can let Sam and Ally play outside and listen them laughing instead of the busy hum of city noises. Where the school is small enough that even the lunch lady knows the names of the preschoolers -- who don't even each lunch at school. Where even though they didn't know me at first -- everyone waved when they passed!