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!

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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. . .