read this...

and be inspired.

http://thepatienceofjod.blogspot.com/2009/08/note-to-future-self.html

I have the pleasrure of knowing this amazing and thoughtful Mom.
And her blog inspires me to be a little better each day.

2

take me out to the ballgame

Last night was Matt's semi-annual work party. The Doctors purchased a sky box at a local Minor League baseball park. We left our girls with a babysitter (a cute 14 year old I teach in Sunday school) and headed out in the pouring rain to the ballpark.



Of course, the game was cancelled, so we spent the evening enjoying catered dinner and each other's company while staring at a tarped field. LOL! It was still tons of fun!

On the way out we spotted this sign outside of one of the permanently reserved sky boxes. I thought it was super fun and I spent more than a few minutes imagining a group of old guys, who remembered the glory days of baseball, and who had pooled their retirement money to buy this box. Each game they sit together and reminisce, they wear bowties or suspenders...and they always sing along with gusto to "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".

.................................................................................................

Sidenote: The PROJECT PROJECT entries from Week 1 will be showcased here on Sunday. I don't have much cool music to share this month!

0

my worst fears are confirmed...I'm raising "my cranky sister".

I have a sister who is super-cranky.

She always has been and probably always will be.

Now, this is just her nature and maybe can't be helped, but I have found it a lifelong source of complete frustration. Probably because I am naturally disposed to cheerfulness.

My childhood years were filled with family outings, family trips and everyday life soured by crankiness for the sake of being cranky. And once, before I had kids, someone said you always have a child who possesses the quality you find most difficult to deal with and asked me what that would be. My answer was quick: giving birth to a perpetual crank.

So, yesterday we packed up the fam and headed to the E-town fair. We got the girls all amped up about it and headed out. Once we arrived...it began.

Ella: Do I have to ride the rides? I don't want to ride the rides. I'm scared of the rides. Don't make me eat a hotdog. I hate hotdogs. What's a petting zoo? I think I hate petting zoos. Goats scare me. I don't want to watch the dog tricks! That sheep is looking at me. Ahhhhhhhh! That sheep is trying to get me! Can we go home now? I hate rides. Can we get out of here? I don't want to have fun. Don't hold my hand! I just want to look at the baby bunnies...no wait, don't make me see the bunnies! Those cows smell funny. I think I hate cows. Can we go home?

I am hoping with all of my heart that this turns out to be a phase. Maybe a 4 year old thing that she will eventually outgrow?

You will notice, in the following pictures that Eva was a willing and cheery participant in all aspects of the fair. We started at the dog relays, which was super fun to watch. And then headed to the petting zoo where Eva got to pet baby goats, baby cows, hold bunnies and observe freshly hatched chicks.

Please...could some more experienced Mom tell me Ella will outgrow this sudden crankiness? PLEASE?!!

18

this & that thursday

I have realized recently that I have a split personality about keeping secrets.
When someone tells me a secret, I can take it to the grave.
But when it's my own secret, I cannot keep it in!

......................................................................................................

Today our family is heading to the Elizabethtown Fair.
I am excited for rides and the dog show,
but most of all for funnel cakes.

......................................................................................................

SO SO SO happy that this horrid site is over with.
Let's take a moment and spread positivity in the world, shall we?
Everyone's scrapbooking is important because they are recording their own life's journey and having fun in the process.
Can I get an Amen!?

......................................................................................................

Here's a recent photo of Evangeline eating her Kix for breakfast.
I love how bright our new Dining Room is.



......................................................................................................

The Scrap Review has a brand new header.
And it's pretty sleek and cool.
Check it out.

......................................................................................................

I have a sudden, uncontrollable urge to sew Ella a
zebra print dress with a hot pink sash.
Maybe this pattern?
Am I crazy?
Do you think animal print is tacky?
Too Fran Drescher?
Please weigh in on this pivotal topic.

18

against my better judgement....

I am going to get political for a moment.

Now, you would think I learned my lesson after the harassment I received after making a disparaging remark about Sarah Palin's hair, but no.

So here goes...

I am fascinated with the forgiveness which the American public affords to some and not to others. Case in point...Ted Kennedy. He passed away today and I have a question for any bloggies out there...Republican, Democrat or otherwise. (Bryan...finally a blog post you can comment on!)

I am positive that Ted Kennedy did some really good things for America. I know he championed certain causes and made a difference politically. And that is to be valued. However, does the overall scope of his life and career become dimmed due to amoral behavior in more than one instance? I have read a lot about him being a hero today. But remember when this happened?

In July 1969, sometime around midnight, he (Ted) slipped out with a young woman, Mary Joe Kopechne, an earnest, devout, normally abstemious 28-year-old. As Kennedy drove, his car plummeted off a wooden bridge on the way to the beach. Kennedy was able to struggle to the surface, but, diving back down in a fast current, he was unable to rescue Kopechne. For nine hours, Kennedy did not notify the police; rather, he lay in a motel room, wishing, he said later, that the whole thing would go away, like a bad dream.

The publicity was devastating. Rumors flew, some suggesting that if Kennedy had sought emergency help, Kopechne might have been saved (the diver who recovered her body said he believed that she had suffocated, not drowned, which suggested she had been clinging to life in an air pocket). Kennedy managed to avoid serious legal trouble, but an aide, flying over the scene of the incident, was seen looking down and overheard to say, "There goes the presidency."

Joan Kennedy (Ted's wife) was, by the late 1960s, married to Teddy in name only (due to numerous affairs and public indiscretions). The last straw, she believed, was being required to attend Mary Joe Kopechne's funeral while she was pregnant, at a time when she should have been on bed rest. She miscarried—her third in a row—and soon the two were divorced.
(Italicized info from Newsweek.com)

I am really not trying to bash Ted Kennedy because there are many like him...in both political parties. An entire group of politicians, athletes and everyday people who have a life filled with positive work that is effected by a few publicized incidents. I truly want to know if you feel that a man's good contributions can outweigh the badness in other areas of his life?

Is there room for forgiveness of even major sins...like being responsible for the death of an innocent woman? And what about minor indiscretions? Should marital fidelity be judged as a part of one's political career? Or is private and professional life best kept separate? Is Ted Kennedy a hero, a bad guy, or a good guy who made some really bad choices?

What do you think?

21

blogger issues...

so for now...a photo of a beautiful toddler...that I have the pleasure of calling my own.
hopefully, a longer post later today.

2

Movie Reviews

I used to do movie Reviews all of the time on this blog, but having children seriously crams your movie options. But I have seen a handful of movies this past year that I thought I might weigh in on...


Bride Wars *----
I do not understand the appeal of this movie. It was largely contrived, poorly written and poorly acted by two leading ladies who usually produce great results. The only slight saving grace was a wicked dance-off and a not entirely expected ending. Otherwise it was painful to sit through.

.
My Sister's Keeper ***--
A very decent movie which left me and my girlfriends with a lot to talk about afterwards. I heard people criticize Cameron Diaz's portrayal of a mother, but I found it in line with her character. And super dreamy Jason Patrick as the father figure was enough to make my $8 well spent.
.

Sound and Fury ****-
A well made documentary about the Deaf community and the choice to give deaf children cochlear implants. It is so real and accurate that it produces an almost voyeuristic view into the much misunderstood deaf community. I recommend this to any viewer as it elicited great and in depth conversations between Matt and I after finishing the film.
.
.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop -----
This movie may rank in the top 10 worst things that have ever happened to me. I know what you're thinking, Kevin James is a funny guy...how bad could it be? The answer? Horrendously bad. There is not even one chuckle to be had for the duration of this tedious anti-comedy. That's right...it's my very first 0 stars review ever.


Seven Pounds **---
I dislike movies whose goal is to force the viewer to feel a certain emotion in the most heavy-handed way and this movie was a perfect example. Without much true meaning or realistic life situations, this movie's goal is not to make you think, but merely to make you cry.
.

Doubt *****
I don't hand out 5 stars very easily, but this movie deserves it. Well written, well acted, thought provoking and almost haunting for a time after you watch it. My husband and I are still at odds over what we feel the truth was by film's end. There are also so many layers of plot, that you could easily watch this again and again and still be fascinated.
.
.
Hannah Montana: The Movie ***--
We watched this as family last night and I have to say it was not bad at all. It had a pretty decent plot and seemed even more worthy than the television show it is based on. I enjoyed the fact that it had a lot more unity and togetherness than is often displayed in the TV version. Of course there are a few cheesy lines, especially at the end, but it is not at all a wasted two hours.

5

a must-see etsy shop

the etsy shop, BUGGA BUGS, is one of the coolest i have ever seen.
she transcends regular felt crafting and makes completely amazing feltie sets.
and you can make them too.
because for around $6 you will get step by step instructions for any set you want.
and if you are like me...there are a lot on my wish list.
like....


CHINESE TAKE-OUT



BAKERY SWEETS



HOMEMADE BREAD



GROCERIES



NEW COUNTRY FARM



seriously....i could go on and on and i would be happy buying every single pattern available in her shop. genius. sheer genius.

spend a bit of time today checking out this cool shop and wishing you had all the time in the world to sew!

***Sign up for the BUGGA BUG mailing list and receive a FREE PATTERN to make her felt Strawberries! Just send an e-mail to (buggabugs@gmail.com) with the subject "mailing list". See http://www.buggabugs.blogspot.com for more details!


Which set is YOUR favorite?!!

6

wanted:

go-to girlfriend in the Mount Joy, PA area.

must like girl's nights out to movies, bunko or a gossip-fest.

must tell me when i am being an idiot.

must have children for my kids to play with, but not too many that we can't add each other's kids to our lives when emergency babysitting is needed.

must swear occasionally or at least laugh when i do.

must not judge my mothering skills when i call her in a panic to tell her my child chugged an entire bottle of KY warming gel. (yes, that's a true story)

must own at least one pair of pointy-toed shoes.

must delight in wasting hours on the phone gabbing.

vegans need not apply...how will we share a pint of ice cream when life gets rough?

love of Project Runway and scrapbooking a plus, but not necessary.

24

this & that thursday

I promised Danielle and Rayme from Diva Craft Lounge that I would post photos of our 2nd Season Finale Party for Project Runway, in which I shamelessly dressed up poor little Ella as contestant Andre. Alas, after searching the computer archives and the external hard drive, it appears that said photos were lost in the famed computer crash debacle of 2006.

sigh. At least I still have the memories.

..............................................................................................

Did someone just mention Project Runway?!!
It's tonight baby! Woot!

..............................................................................................

Ella: Mommy, are some people born without arms?
Mom: Yes, some people are.
Ella: Are some people born without eyes?
Mom: Yes.
Ella: Are Prophets born without hair?

For those of you who are not familiar with the LDS church, below are photos of our current Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and the previous Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley.



..............................................................................................

I finally found a pre-school for both of my girls to attend this coming school year. YAY! That means three hours of childless quiet and solitude each and every Tuesday morning.

And by solitude, I mean scrapping time!

..............................................................................................

I hate flies. They are so totally annoying.
What purpose did God intend them for again?

..............................................................................................

I got a delicious box of goodies from Cosmo Cricket yesterday.
I am cooking up a seriously cute project today.
I'll be sure to share when I am finished.
Did I mention how much I love being on their team?

..............................................................................................

We have been here for almost three weeks.
When does this house start to feel like a settled home?
Maybe when there are pictures hanging on the walls?

..............................................................................................

This year for my birthday in September all I want is my trip to NYC with my good friend, Jennette. I plan on spending the entirety of my birthday money on glorious NYC food.

4

WHEW!

My Diva Craft Lounge interview is finished and on the air waves!

I was uncharacteristically nervous about my interview today.
I don't know why.

But it went very well.

Mostly due to the fun and kindness of the hosts. Thanks Danielle and Rayme!

And I hope I made Write. Click. Scrapbook. proud.

To hear it via the website or download a podcast of the show click here.

I was the first guest on today's show.

2

Have a Listen!

Today is my very first appearance on the Diva Craft Lounge, the #1 Internet Craft Radio Show. I will be chatting with the delightfully sweet and fun Danielle Forsgren, whom I have met on a number of occasions, and her co-host, Rayme.

You must stop by and hear me talking about some of my current and upcoming projects from Write. Click. Scrapbook. to my upcoming debut calls at Big Picture Scrapbooking. And who knows what else will come up in the interview? Maybe you'll learn some very deep dark secrets from the world if Emilie. Oh wait, they aren't really any. But tune in anyway!

You can listen to the interview LIVE today (Wednesday) from 12-1 PM Pacific Time by clicking here. If you can't catch it then you can always download a podcast or listen to the Diva Craft Lounge archives.

1

more photo goodness

evangeline in her "ballerina suit".

4

auto mode be gone!

my online photography class is sinking in!
i have said goodbye to auto mode.
yay!


(Canon EOS - 18-55mm lens - shutter speed 1/15 sec. - Aperture f/5.0 - ISO 200)

I captured this shot of my little Ella today.
I think it expresses a more gentle side of her boisterous nature very well.

11

inspired

my online friend, kimberly, has (without her knowledge) recently inspired me to get over myself and take some more self portraits.
the only problem?
i feel fat.
but should feeling fat prevent me from celebrating my own beauty?
nope.
but, of course, it's easier said than done.

i am determined to take at least one self portrait each month and see how it goes.
maybe i will find some new way in which i am uniquely beautiful.
my new self capture assignment began yesterday.
and, you won't believe it, but i am finally ready do ditch my traditional avatar that is 2 years old and 6o pounds ago....eeek!

yes...below is the updated and much fatter version of me...
and i'm fine with that.



to see kim's inspiring gallery of self portraits click here.
seriously, she'll give you some amazing ideas for thinking outside of the self-portrait box.

11

captured

two little redheads.
sitting together.
waiting for butterflies.



life.
is.
good.

10

weigh in: have i lost my mind?

Okay...here's the deal.

When we named Ella I cringed a bit since my name also starts with an "E".
But I let it slide because we loved the name.

Then we got pregnant with Evangeline and the name we had picked out long before, which started with a "T", Matt wasn't so sure about. The only name we could agree on was Evangeline....also starting with an "E". Now I felt really stupid.
I love the name Evangeline, but three "E" names?! It's too much!

We intended to call her Evangeline in full, but that was cut short really quickly.
Now, saying Ella and Eva is not only confusing to others, but constantly trips me up as well.

And now we come to my latest scheme/crazy idea.
A few months back someone suggested we start referring to Eva as Gigi instead. It's still short for Evangeline, is super cute and is vastly different from Ella. And there aren't many other Gigi's out there. I loved this idea, but some people told me I was crazy to try and shift her nickname completely.

I'm not talking about completely obliterating the names Evangeline or even Eva, I only want to add Gigi into the rotation as an option.

I gave up on the idea for a while and now I am back again.
She's still only 2 years old.
And my ultra-super-cute friend named Gigi started going by her name at age 3 or 4.



So what do YOU think?
Could this girl be a little Gigi?Or am I certifiably insane?

35

Recipes That Rock: Cakemix Cookies

My good friend Ashley asked me about my recipe for lemon cookies. I thought about coming up with some fancy Martha Stewart-esque recipe to make myself look like a culinary genius...but really, they're just Cakemix Cookies. I first had these cookies when I was a missionary in Lincoln, Nebraska. They are perfect when you have a hankerin' for something sweet, but not a lot of time, energy or ingredients.

And trust me, they're really good.




CAKE MIX COOKIES
1 cake mix (any flavor...except red velvet)
2 eggs
1/2 c. oil or melted butter/margarine

- Mix all ingredients.
- Scoop onto cookie sheet.
- pat down with fingers to make hockey-puck shape
- bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes.

Seriously...you MUST try these with lemon cake mix.
They're my fave cakemix cookie.


You can also mix in random stuff like chocolate chips into chocolate cakemix, nuts, dried fruit, frosting, etc. The sky is the limit!

Enjoy!

7

this & that thursday

My eyebrows really need waxing.

....................................................................................................

Why does everyone in the culinary world say they're "in the weeds"

when something goes wrong? What do weeds have to do with cooking?

....................................................................................................

I am struggling with my photography class.

Not because the class isn't great, but because my photo aptitude isn't great.

Damn you ISO, aperture and shutter speed!

....................................................................................................

Less than 8 days until the return of Project Runway!!!
Be still my heart!

....................................................................................................

Caught this photo of Ella yesterday. Shoes on the wrong feet and all.
When I see photos like this I feel immensely reassured that I am giving

her the carefree childhood I wished I had had.



....................................................................................................

The girls are finally adjusting a bit better to the move.
Only blue skies ahead.

5

some digi

You know,
when your scrapbooking stash is half-packed
and wholey unorganized,
there's nothing better than digi scrapping.
No fuss, no muss, just me and the computer.

Here are two layouts I made this week using Paislee Press digital products.
Please to enjoy...



Products Digital Template: Paislee Press (Press Plate No.23)- All Papers: Paislee Press (Chasing the Sun) - Postage Stamp Edge: Pasilee Press (Mailing Labels)
- Staples: Paislee Press (Chasing the Sun)



Products Papers: Paislee Press (chasing the Sun) - Frame: Paislee Press - Flourish: Paislee Press (Ink+Blots) - Stitches: Lisa Whitney - Felt Hearts: Patti Knox - Alphabet: Paislee Press (Pink Emporium) - Font: 1942 report

6

ok computer

After almost 3 weeks without internet connection I am back online.
It's interesting how dependant I have become.
And you know how sometimes I get all romantic about the Amish and claim I would want to live like them?
That was such a lie.



This time without internet almost killed me.
Earlier today I dimmed the lights and slow-danced around the living room with my new modem to Mariah Carey's "Can't Live...if Living is Without You."

Hello Blogging.
Hello Facebook.
Hello Twitter.
Hello The Scrap Review.
Hello online friends.
Hello Google Reader.
May we never be apart again.

8

conversations.....on pastey white skin

Ella: Mommy, why does Olivia's skin get darker and darker when it used to be light?

Me: That's called a tan.

Ella: What's a tan?

Me: When you spend a lot of time in the sun it makes your skin get kind of dark.
Then it gets lighter again.

Ella: Will I ever get a tan?

Me: No honey.

Ella: Why not?

Me: Because we're Irish.

11

recently...

08.01.2009

Our last day in Delaware. It was very difficult to say goodbye. Here is Ella in her cleaned out room, looking out of her window for the last time.


08.02.2009

Our first day in PA. It was a long day in which we actually managed to make it to church. Eva fell asleep in the car on the way home hugging her sock monkey and her colored picture from Nursery.


08.03.2009

Today the girls took full advantage of our new, and very large, backyard. Meanwhile, in the house, the Mommy unpacked.


08.04.2009

A site that will soon be commonplace for us...an Amish cart in the midst of traffic.


08.05.2009

This beautiful church is on our block in Mt. Joy. Every time we pass it Eva says, "I see a castle!"


08.08.2009

Our first Saturday in Mt Joy and a very low-budget Buzz Lightyear made an appearance at our local library. The girls are not adjusting well to our move and I felt it was important to take them on a special outing like this one.

8