Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween to you today!!

Well, it's dark, yucky and rainy here in St.Louis. Gives the feeling of Halloween..but we could do without the rain when it comes time for the kids to Trick or Treat tonight! Which reminds me that the kids haven't picked out any jokes to tell! Uh oh..better get going on those!

Busy day today as I am working, running to Connor and Haley's school to peek in on their parties and then Scott is going to Parker's. Family stopping by tonight to see the kids before they head out and then me hiking around(hopefully not in the rain) with the kids while the trick or treat!

Hope where ever you are..Sharon in Scotland, Dee in Connecticut and Ali in Virginia..that you have a very Happy Halloween! Oh and special birthday wishes to the Halloween girl Dee..what a cool day to have a birthday!

I'll leave you with some pictures of the house as requested by Sharon!!

Boo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday Deidre!!!!!!!!!!

Just want to take a moment on this very busy day to wish my very best friend, Deidre, a very Happy Birthday today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I'm so grateful for your friendship! Hard to believe it's been 3 1/2 years since we met and look forward to many more years!!!!!

Hope you have a great day and have fun going out this coming weekend!!!!

Julia

Family Page Frames

Here's my design team project for Scrap Jazz this month using the Page Frames. I am so darn pleased with all these and how they turned out!!

 
 

Haley Page Frame

 
 

Connor Page Frame

 
 

Parker Page Frame

 
 

Here Weekend..Here Weekend..Come Here Weekend..Where Did You Go?

Ever feel like that? Like your much anticipated weekend has just passed you by in a blur and you wish you could call it back? That was mine. It was fun..lot's of things happening but in reality much too short!

We started off Friday night with Haley's pom pon performance at the High School Football game. She was cute..did a great job too! Here's a pic of her practicing before they performed!



After she performed we came inside and got her dressed in her Halloween costume to take her to the School Halloween Fair. She was meeting a friend. So here is Haley transformed into Helen of Troy or as we told her for the kids who don't know who that is..a Greek Goddess!HAHA



After dropping off Haley..Scott and I watched Fever Pitch..very cute! Fun..like those for a change after last weekend's Vampire movies!ha

Saturday morning..my first day of work at Gymboree...and I did great. No worries..I told myself that if I felt like it was work..than I didn't need it. I think 50 hours a week of childcare is enough work really. But it was fun. I helped lots of nice people who I think appreciated my being a working Mom too who wouldn't pressure them into buying all 6 kinds of hair pieces!ha I of course had to try out my discount and got some much needed sweatpants for Parker..theirs are the best! And a pj dress and slippers for Haley for Halloween. That discount is nice!

Saturday afternoon..saw the Burke's!! They are too cute! We miss Grace alot..she is getting too big Deidre!! Handed off the Princess buckets I made for Deidre..they looked good I think!

Then..Saturday night..date night! We think our last dinner and a movie date night was in January..how sad is that!! I drooled heavily over Matthew M in Two for the Money! WOWOWOW..he looked just fine!!!!!!!!!!!!! Scott laughed at my noises I made. Then we headed to Cheesecake Factory for an amazing late dinner with my favorite friends..their Shrimp Rolls...heaven on earth!!!!!!!!! And of course we finished off our meal with a to die for piece of Chocolate Turtle Pecan Cheesecake!!!!!!

One word....YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday..worked on DT work, the umpteen piles of laundry and changing out my clothes from summer to most definitely fall!! And the best part..I called and talked to Sharon and she's doing well!

No wonder I think the weekend flew by..that's alot!

That's all for now...pics of new projects coming soon...

Julia

Fun Day!!

Well it was a really fun day off for me and Parker too!! We followed the school bus to the Zoo and headed off to find the kids. They kids were broken into into groups of 6 and we had personal tour guides take the kids around to different animal exhibits.



When the kids broke for a class Parker and I headed off to the train. We took the train around the entire Zoo..which made him very happy!

Then we met the kids for lunch..and had about 30 minutes after to go off on our own. We went to the Penguins..brrrr!!! And then I had tickets for the Carousel which was fun too!





Then we had to take the kids back to the bus. Parker and I headed back in to the Children's Zoo..he wasn't too thrilled with a guy walking around with a snake. After that we had to find the Zebras as Parker had talked about them all day and I knew we couldn't possibly leave without seeing them. He and I walked over 3/4 of that Zoo before we found those cuties..but it was worth it.

I decided since Parker is so crazy about them and he loves his little stuffed animals he sleeps with..that we needed to find a Zebra. So yep..we got the cutest and softest Zebra for him to add to his sleeping buddies collection!haha

All in all a great day off for Parker and I!!!!!!!!

We're Off To the Zoo!!!!!!!

Just a quick note as Parker and I are heading out soon. I took a day off today, hard to sometimes validate, but Scott encouraged me to. We're going to accompany Haley's 3rd Grade class today to the Zoo. I am excited to go as I normally don't get to go on their school field trips. I've sent Scott on several but it's sad for me to know that I am missing out on them. So, today I get my chance and on the most perfect of days..you can't ask for more!

I also decided to keep Parker home from preschool as well and the two of us are heading out!

I'll post some pictures tomorrow..have a good one!

Julia

Busy Weekend

Well the Sandvoss crew had a busy weekend! We started off Saturday meeting Mom and Dad at the new Christ Memorial Church..the old Target on Lindbergh. They were having a big fair to kick things off with all sorts of games and big inflatables jumps and stuff for the kids. They of course had a ball and the weather was perfect!

It was funny for me as I ran into old classmates that I graduated high school with and had gone to church with as well. No one recognized me..but I recognized them with I thought was funny. Hopefully that means I changed for the better! Everyone had kids..several..although I had the most of those I ran into.

Saturday later afternoon..I worked on one of my design team assigments and made I think my most favorite project yet. I had to use the clear 8 by 8 page frames and decided to do a display of the kids. It turned out so good..I am so pleased with my efforts. I will post pics after the ribbons comes I found on Ebay to hang them all together.

Saturday night..relaxed hung out..watch cutie Hugh Jackman in Van Helsing. I think I could watch him in absoslutely anything and listen to him talk with that incredible accent of his!!!

Sunday..finished up that dt project. Then got Haley ready for her Pom Pon clinic at Oakville high. Headed off to Target to inflict more damage on my already damaged credit card..found some 5 by 7 HP photo paper so that is good. And found some cute clothes for Haley..who needs to stop growing!

Then went and saw Haley and Grace perform their number. They will perform Thursday night at halftime for the high school soccer game. Should be really fun to watch them!

And then that was it..went for a walk and cleaned the floor, cleaned the kids and crashed!

Oh and I didn't post last week that my Epson printer has once again started the infamous red streaky lines again. Remember how upset I was when it did that and I couldn't fix it. Debated,,hemmed and hawwed and ordered that big Canon 19900 printer only to have my Epson start working again. Well guess what..yep..it's happened again only this time I got smart. My new computer came with an HP printer which I had not even taken out of the box. So..I got it..switched them out..and tested a print that I had done on the Epson and WOW..the HP is quite amazing I must say. The photo looks just as comparable..so that is good news for me! I am going to hook the Epson up in Con's room and see if I will come back to life once again as it only does the lines on pictures..but at least this HP is just as good!!

Haley performing at the Oakville pom pon clinic..she was co cute out there! 

Haley and Parker jumping..they were too cute! 

Connor having fun with this one where you pushed your opponent off his perch with these big things...funny! 

Parker having fun on the big blowup obstacle course! It was very cool! 

Leapster

Well it's a happy day here..the Leapster has come! And not only that..but it's red and has a cool red case! Parker's was blue..but I thought it would be nice to have a new color to start off fresh with! And the new one has the free software preloaded..where the "old" one had it's own cartridge for it..so that is nice! I picked up the Thomas game that he had gotten in August for his birthday and he is so happy!

I want to say a special thanks to a very special person who helped me make this possible for Parker and put these amazing smiles on his face..I am just so grateful..I hope someday I could do the same for you!!

Smiles..

The Leapster..it's here!!! Parker is so happy and even happier that I got his favorite game..Thomas!! 

Doesn't this face say everything!!! I can't say thanks enough to my friend at Scrapjazz for helping me accomplish this for Parker!! 

An Act of Kindness

Well I have to post tonight about an amazing act of kindness I have been the recipient of today.

I was very upset with what happened at the mall to Parker and posted on the Cropper's Cottage board and on my Scrap Jazz design team boards just to vent a bit. I needed to get it out as I was still hurt and upset by the whole event. And feeling very guilty for making Parker bring his Leapster.

Today, a fellow designer on Scrap Jazz emailed me asking if she could help me by sending me some money to offset the cost of a new Leapster for Parker. I didn't know what to say as I couldn't imagine anyone doing that for me..let alone someone who didn't know me very well at all!! And I think it's even harder when it's normally me wanting to help others..and my friends. But here a change in roles and my being offered help.

I could tell that she wanted to do this as she too is a Mom and has a 6 year old son..and said he loves his Leapster too! So..I agreed and didn't know how to say thanks enough. She has so generously given to me that she in herself paid for Parker's new Leapster and case! Amazon had just put them on sale and I was able to get both a Leapster and case for $54.99. So I bought Parker his Thomas game, which he had just gotten for his birthday and loved and one more new one to save for Halloween for a special treat.

I am just blown away by the kindness and generosity that she has offered to me and to Parker and hope many wonderful things come her way for this incredible good deed!!

You know who you are..and I can't thank you enough!!


"To give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own."
-- Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

"A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer."
-- Seneca


Julia

PS..I of course will post some pics of Parker with his new Leapster when it arrives!

A Crime of Cruelty

Well, I had a not so nice experience to write about today. It has to do with a form of cruelty known as crime and sadly we have now experienced it.

Last night I was at the mall to interview for a part time job. I had Parker with me as Scott had a listing appointment. I had Parker bring his Leapster to keep him occupied while we talked. We went out into the mall, sat on the benches, while Parker sat in these massage chairs. Well he was more interested in those chairs than his Leapster..so he put it on the chair and was walking all around Mary and I and all within distance of the chair itself.

During the interview a family walked up..Mom, Dad and two young girls..around Parker's age or older. I noticed that they stopped and the chair and were messing around at it..but figured they would know that the little boy who was walking around it was the owner of the Leapster and I sitting right there..I mean. I almost said to them that it is his..please leave it alone. But thought..why on earth would I need to tell them that with me here and him there.

So back to the interview...and I realized Parker had moved away from the chair and I asked Mary to hold on for a second so I could round him up and noticed that yes...his Leapster was gone. I could have died right then and there!! Mary called Security, I walked around looking for them with him..nothing! By the time I had to go the Security Officer, Mary and the Customer Service gal were all so upset that a family would be so cruel to steal another child's prized possession!! I am still in shock!

I am mad at myself for making him bring in his Leapster when he said he wanted to leave it in the car! I am mad at myself for putting the 4 rechargeable batteries into the bag!! I am mad at myself for picking up the 3 games that were sitting on the car seat when we got out and putting them in his bag!! And I am really mad at myself for not opening my BIG mouth and telling those people to leave his Leapster alone! He lost his Leapster, $80, his case, $20, 6 games with a value of about $170+ and 4 rechargeable batteries, $10!

I am just so mad and upset...................

Upswing

I think we're finally on the upswing after a LONG LONG valley! Scott had some good news this weekend with a listing of his and I was hired by a good family. So maybe we're moving up the hill for a change! I have 2 more families interviewing me this week..so we'll see how those go!

This weekend was a blur for me with going out with Deidre, Kara and Jamie Friday night. We picked out supplies for them to use for their baby announcements..they should turn out adorable! Went shopping after at Old Navy and Kohl's! Found the best pants ever there..bought two different colors..they needed hemming..but they are totally worth it!

Then Saturday went to meet my mom and dad at the Affton Elks for a fall event. Sadly it wasn't at all like the one we did 2 years ago..but the kids told me they had fun. That's all that counts! Connor of course won 2 cake walks..so he was grinning from ear to ear.

Sunday was our good friend's Kyle's birthday party. Kids ran around..Connor told me every 5 seconds he was bored and wanted to go home...not really fun. Scott couldn't come since he was working..so that isn't the most fun way to spend a Sunday. But it was nice out..so I hung outside since I am now inside alot! YUCH!

So..busy weekend..nothing much to tell..got the news I am on the Cropper's Cottage design team..I would have been heartbroken if I wasn't chosen! Didn't make another design team..but hey..I'm busy enough right!

Here's a layout I did for ScrapJazz. My assigment was a Hobby or Collection layout..so I chose my collection of Bunnies by the Bay. I think it turned out really good! I only took shots of the big bunnies..my favorites!



That's all for now..

Julia