New Layout

Just a quickie..a new layout I did for a Making Memories contest..I love this picture of the kids!

Catch Up

Well here I am just now getting to post and I'll tell you why..busy weekend + busy day + fussy cable modem = not much time!HA

But here's a recap for you if you're still reading..had I think 12 or 13 gals over Friday night for a crop! Seemed to go really well..I think that is the max I can have in the future for everyone to have enough space, room to breathe and set their things. I think overall it went really well and everyone had a good time. I sold a TON of my stuff..but scarey that I have tons more to sell! But that was alot more than I expected to sell. I didn't get a single thing done other than run up and down the stairs a million times. So actually I counted that as a workout..so while others cropped...I did the stairmaster right in my own home!HA I honestly felt it something fierce on Saturday so it must have done something!!

Saturday..caught my breath, read a book, moved things back around in my scrap room, shuffled some papers around on a layout I wanted to make, sat outside and got some rays, ran to Schnucks for snacks since Tam, Mark & the and kids were coming and then tidied up a bit. Saturday night..enjoyed a great evening with our friends. We sat outside on the deck..really really really nice and drank and the guys smoked cigars. Had the radio on and later after the sun went down were treated to an amazing heat lightning show that made us all feel like it was the 4 of July all over again! Oh..and there were a million stars out too..it was beautiful!

After that went in to watch a movie and yes Tammy..you picked a bad one!HA Catwoman..yuck! Thank goodness it was free or we would have all been mad! All in all we had a great time and Happy Early Birthday Tammy!!!!!!!!!

Good news for Haley..the bandage is off and she looks great. Although that stupid, queasy part of me almost got the better of me when I got down and checked out her stomach and saw all the stitches above her belly button...yuch! Oh..here comes the lightheadedness again!LOL BLECH!!!!!! But she does look great..no swimming for a few weeks and definitely no gymnastics for several as well. I think we'll play it safe and hold off on gymnastics until the Winter session..don't need to repull those hernias. UUGHH!

And as I sit here and look at the calendar I see it's almost the end of August which to me is a sign summer is almost over! This one went really fast in my opinion..doesn't seem like we really did a darn thing..although I know we did..just can't think of what. No big trip this summer..so maybe that's why I feel sort of down about the whole thing. And of all families we could all use a holiday as Sharon and Mark say!!

Well, I am off..here's a fun layout I got done for Cropper's Cottage this month bringing the amount of layouts I got done to a whopping total of:


15!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW..that it ALOT for one month and I'm not done yet..maybe one more for this contest I read about..we'll see!

I leave you with my newest one..

New Layout

Just wanted to share a new layout I did for Scrap Jazz! Had an impossible time finding pictures I liked and then when I saw these..it just clicked!

Jobless in St. Louis

Okay..starting to wonder if St. Louis is a bad place to live! Lately I have heard from more friends and neighbors about job losses that just make me cringe! First my best buddy Deidre, then my neighbor, then my other neighbor, then my other neighbor, then our friends in Scotland, then one of Scott's friends and now our best buddy Tammy! My gosh..what is going on in this City of ours. I see lots of job ads..but at the same time keep hearing of everyone losing their jobs..what's wrong with this picture? And for Scott..the real estate market has been so slow for him..tons of homes for sale..not as many buyers..not the same as last year. I told Scott pretty soon we'll be back to flipping burgers if things don't pick up soon. Either that..or we're selling everything(except my computer!) and living the simple life on a beach somewhere! Anyone know of any shacks for sale in the Mediterranean?

A little good news for me..Bo Bunny emailed me and asked me to do some design work that they will submit to Paper Crafts Magazines Party Creations issue. Wow..never done this before..but hopefully I can come up with something that they'll use!!

And speaking of Bo Bunny..killed two birds with one stone..got another layout doen for the design work and a sample for the store too! Love this one..real pencil on it!



Haley is doing well..goes next Monday to have the bandage removed! The boys are great...Parker is really doing well and Connor is off to a great start this year...that's all I know for now..

Julia

She's Back

Well she's back at school today and looked great! I could tell yesterday when her friends came over to see if she could play Bratz..she was ready to go back. He had her bounce back in her step.. not that it ever left!

I think we as adults should take a tip from an eight year old after seeing how well she handled surgery and now post-surgery! Amazing! Now..don't get me wrong..I don't want to be anywhere around her when that Doctor removes the bandage..I'll let Scott take that role..but shoot..I would be upset to!

So three cheers for Haley...she's quite something!




And I got some design work done this weekend..here's a really cool one I did for Bo Bunny that uses a real ruler on the page. I think this is a new favorite!



Well, that's all I know for now..which isn't much!

Have a good one,

Julia

My Brave Little Haleybug

Well once again Haley has proven that she is one tough blonde! Although she may make us laugh with her blonde moments..she is an amazing little girl!

I am happy to report that she did really well with her surgery and despite the surgeon finding two hernias..she is back home and resting. I took a few pics of her for her scrapbook as it isn't every day you have surgery let alone a beautiful, blonde 8 year old!

Here's to a brave Haley!



We love you lots!! Here's to lots of backbends, running and cartwheels with no more belly pain!!

A BIG Blonde Moment

Okay..just a quickie for today..a Blonde Moment from Haley..

Yesterday, Haley came home from school and asked me where she was born. I asked her why? She replied that they were answering questions at school and she could not remember where she was born. I asked her what her answer she wrote down at school. She replied " AFRICA"!!!! I said, ( while trying not to burst out laughing) who ever told you you were born in Africa with lions and tigers. She said no one. I just couldn't remember. I told her she was born in St. Louis and not Africa while unable to keep a straight face!

Another funny Haley story......Ha Ha!!!!!!!!!

First Day of School

Well we survived the first day of school! Although it seemed the day went on forever to me and Connor said the same thing. Hard to go from hanging out in your pj's all day to a full day of school and work! Yuch! But we did it..and it's nice it is a 4 day week for them..next week will be long enough.

Here's a silly picture I took of them doing their annual fingers for their grades..



It's become our annual tradition and this year the kids remembered to do it without my asking..they caught on!

Parker doesn't go until noon this year which feels so odd after going in the morning last year..hopefully we'll get used to it. He is waking up early and then looking at me like..why am I not going? Yesterday he kept asking where the bus was..he thought they forgot him! So here's a pic of him too!



Well that's it for now..need to get more design team work done and next week I have a new family of 9 month old twins starting with me. So that will be fun!

Have a good one,

Last Day of Summer

How can it be the last day of summer already? These kids and I both got shortchanged about 2 weeks and I am feeling it today! Funny they are still asleep as I type this and tomorrow this time will be up for over 3 hours and in school! This week will be crazy trying to adapt to the school life again. They both are excited though and suprisingly Connor has a great attitude about going back too. Maybe it's because this year the 5th graders rotate between the 3 teachers for different subjects to prepare them for junior high next year. Regardless..he is right now excited. And told us he would like to play soccer this year! Holy Cow! So I have to make some calls this morning as I am sure registration has already come and gone..but after 2 years of nothing..this is a good sign. So..hopefully I can get him on a team!

We had a fun day on Friday. Took the kids to shop using their birthday gift cards..they each got something. Haley Bratz babies, Parker a pirate ship and Alice n Wonderland movie(couldn't find Chitty Chitty Bang Bang..so I'll get that on Ebay for him) and Connor a PS2 game. Then we headed off to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory! Which was excellent and Johnny Depp was his usual amazing self. I think they did a great job with it..and the kids loved it.

Then off to McDonald's to pick them up some dinner..not a bad day for three kids! Here's a cute picture Scott took of me and the squirts before we left..



I am never in any photos and need some of me so the kids know when they look back at their scrapbooks that I was actually around!haha

I have been busy scrapping too..almost too much but my head still feels fresh..so I am keeping up while I can. I know with the babies coming back full time I will really have to work harder to get my work done. I will miss my summer mornings of working on my design work and emails! Here's one I did for Scrap Jazz's hair theme.



Woke up with a yucky headache today most likely due to stress over Scott's closing today. We need this closing more than ever..we have to have it..we won't make it without it! There it's out! And sadly the buyers of his sellers house have been idiots from day one and almost pulled out. Now the night before closing they are pulling cr*p again and stressing out Scott's seller and Scott to the point of craziness! Demanding things done to the house that 1) they didn't ask for and 2) were already fixed. So pray for us today that this closing happens and the Sandvoss family makes it another month..it's not fun this business of being in sales!! And I could use one too..waiting to hear if the family who interviewed me last week will chose me and another family is interviewing me tomorrow..I need them both!

Thanks! Until tomorrow...

YEAH!

Don't you love when you get up and have some good news! Mine..although not Big is still really nice for me. Remember the email I got from the Scrapbook Answers magazine asking me to submit a card of mine they saw? Well they emailed me and said they would definitely like to publish it! SO YEAH!! And even better it's a Bo Bunny card..so that means Bo Bunny will pay me for it being published as well!! The only slightly downside to it is that BBunny has the card since they displayed it at CHA in Chicago. So this morning I am remaking it since this magazine needs it to photograph it. No problem..thank goodness I have all the supplies I used the first time!

Well, we were going to see about taking the kids to Six Flags today..but honestly Scott and I just don't care to go. Don't tell them though! It's just too darn hot..if it was a matter of going and sitting on the beach..fine. But Six Flags..no. So we are going to take them to go see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, then out to eat and then hit Target and ToysRus so they can use their gift cards they have. I think that sounds just as good! Right?

I was going through my disks yesterday looking for some pictures to use on some layouts this month and ran across all sorts of cute pictures. This one I love..notice the Oreo on Parker's mouth!



This was cute too..from Haley's 5th birthday party!



And one last stroll down memory lane..Connor's 7th Birthday!



That's it for today..need to go finish this card! Have a great day!

Blogger Code

B2 d- t- k+ s-- u-- f i- o++ x-- e+ l c


Which translates to:

I've been blogging for 3-6 months. I don't own a domain, but I have my own web address. I use Blogger, BigBlogTool, or similar service to update a blogspot, Geocities, or other hosted site; or I use diaryland, livejournal, or another service with built-in updating and content management. I have quite a few links, and I try to check in on them all regularly, or at least periodically. As far as stats go, I am amazed that someone keeps track of how many people visit my site. I don't link to, nor read, any of the standard A-list blogs (Megnut, Kottke, Robot Wisdom, etc.). In fact, I've never heard of 'em. I try to post once a day, but it doesn't always happen, and that's no big deal. The blog isn't the first thing I think of when something happens, but I usually remember to blog the interesting things... eventually. Nearly all the topics I blog are personal experiences or original writing that can't be found elsewhere on the web. Some people like to get it on with other bloggers, but for me, the last thing I need is to get sexually involved with one of these neurotic blogging pinheads. I have posted quite a few photos of myself, but I was fully clothed in them all, thankyouverymuch. I've taken a few surveys or participated in a few memes, but there seem to be so many of them I have to pick and choose. Friends know about my blog, but I generally don't talk about it with some groups (ie: family and/or co-workers) because they probably wouldn't get the whole blogging concept.

Design Work

This is a great month for me for Design Team work. The reason..this month's product at Cropper's Cottage is...


KI! YEAH!! Maybe now I can make a dent in my 8 inch stack of papers!HA Seriously though I have already completed 4 layouts and 2 cards and have several more things I would like to get done..and plan to.

Here's a sneak peek of one of them:



I also need to get busy on my Scrap Jazz work..the products are here..Chloe's Closet from Imagination Project. And my theme this month is hair! I have some really cute pictures of Haley to use and figure I'll throw in one about me and all my hair style changes! Should be funny!

The kids are sadly counting down the last few days left of summer..hard to believe we are almost done here! I have been interviewing new families to fill my 2 openings for fall..so far so good. But until I have a confirmed yes I worry. Hard not to with how slow Scott has been. Even though my pitiful income doesn't pay much of the bills..at least it's something!!

Had a really nice email this morning from an editor of a new scrapbook magazine asking me to submit some of my work to them as they liked my work they had seen online. That was really nice! And even better the work they asked for is Bo Bunny projects. Which means if they are published..than I get paid twice..both by the magazine and then by Bo Bunny! So fingers crossed!

Well that's it for now! The kids have an ice cream social at their school tonight to go and meet their new teachers, see their classrooms and all that! Cannot believe Connor will be in 5th this year! Hopefully a good year for him as they rotate teachers for their different subjects. So he won't have the same time for everything which I think he will like!

Have a good day,

A Buzy Weekend

We had a very fun and busy weekend in the Sandvoss house!

It started off Friday morning with me driving out to St. Charles to meet Kim from Cropper's Cottage and help her teach the Heidi Grace class. We had a great class..extremely busy when you consider that you have to teach it in less then an hour! WOW! But it went well..the ladies loved the project and really responsed well to everything!! Kim and I just jelled from the get go..it's like we had known each other for a long time! Here's a cute one of the students, Michelle McGary took of us.



Then Saturday we headed over to Edwardsville, Illinois to celebrate Grace's 3rd birthday with the Burke's. The kids had an excellent time as right next to the pavilion was an amazing playground. Connor told me it was one of the best parties..and that is a BIG compliment from him no doubt!



Here's a cute picture I took of Grace with her Grandma(Deidre's mom) and her new cousin Emma!



Then Sunday was the funny man Parker's Pirate Pool Party! He was so excited to go and I knew it would be hard for him to sit in the Party room since all he wants to do is swim! His cake was amazing..they did such a good job on it..



And I have to laugh because I didn't take really any pictures of him..I've taken lots of him swimming there already. But how cute is he in the hat Deidre, Mike and Grace gave to him!!



So Happy Birthday again to Parker who turned 5 and Grace who turned 3!

My Baby is 5 Today!

In order to show how much we love Parker and to properly celebrate his birthday..today's blog is all about Parker! So let's take a trip down Memory Lane and revisit our special guy who life would be dull without!

He arrived on August 4, 2000..a Millenium Baby...first thing I thought when I saw him was that he looked like Connor then asked whose toes he had..Daddy's!



Connor and Haley were too excited to meet their baby brother! Little did they know at the time what havoc he would create on their toys!!























Happy 5th Birthday Parker..we love you lots and lots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 2005 Summer Anthem

Your Summer Anthem is Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani So I'm ready to attack, gonna lead the pack Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out That's right, put your pom-poms down, getting everybody fired up For you, summer is all about fun, friends, and a little girl fighting.

What's Your 2005 Summer Anthem?

Ha..definitely the right song for me!

Nice Easy Weekend

Well it was a nice easy weekend with really nothing to do other than to clean this house..and that in itself is alot of work.

Took some pictures of the kids, read the rest of my book..which I think brings my summer book reading count to around 15 or more..isn't that unreal!! I love to read! Started a new book..but it's no where near as good as reading Harry Potter was! I still can't believe the ending..and won't say anything since Dee hasn't finished hers! Now I want book 7!!

I have Matthew M on the brain..don't know what the heck it is..but he is definitely on my mind.



Haley and I watched a bit of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days last night..she likes it too! Good taste for an 8 year old!

I need to get some projects done as it looks like in order to keep in with the store I need to keep 2 classes a month going. Not sure if I can do that..I'm going to give it a try and see. It's doesn't seem like much but when you figure SJ design work, CC design work and BB design work plus a crop once a month here and then 2 classes on top on that and then add life to that..that is an enourmous amount! So we'll see!

Special thoughts go out today to our friends Mark and Sharon who we met a year ago in Cancun! Today is their Anniversary and they are on holiday together celebrating! We wish we were there with you to toast again on the beach! We love you guys! Here's to many more years together for you both and to our friendship!!


Well that is it for now..more later after I get some work done..until then enjoy Matthew! WOW!!