Hailstorm

I am late in sharing these..but I have to. Last week Thursday we had such weird weird weather. Unusually warm for February. About three o'clock in the afternoon the sky turned dark and looked like we were going to get one heck of a storm. Well we did..a massive hailstorm like I haven't seen for quite some time. It hailed so hard you couldn't see a thing..it was literally blinding...thank goodness none of us were out in it. And my one Mommy had just arrived in time to pick up her kiddos and stayed till it passed us. It was nuts!

Here's some pictures from it..

This is my front yard while it was happening..



here's what was collecting on my front porch..



this is what collected in the kids wagon which was outside in the "science lab"



and this is what Connor gathered up to show me..unreal!



Well that's it for now..more exciting things to come later..just wanted to be sure to share these crazy pictures!

Have a good one,

Julia

PS...I should say that thankfully none of our cars were damaged in this which I am so grateful for! And thankfully my favorite car..was safely tucked away in the garage!

Catch Up Time

Wow! A few days off and I am way behind on my blog and reporting what all is new and happening!! So enjoyed Friday getting to see my best buddy Deidre and new Baby Lilly! And realized that we were so intent on making her birth annoucements that I didn't take any pictures! So stupid! So this week when they pop by again I will! So what's new huh? Worked Saturday at Gymboree so that just seemed to wipe the whole day away. Couldn't believe I sold to one gal over $400 in clothes! My manager once again just staring at me mentally saying..yep..Julia's the bomb!ha

Saturday night watched Batman Begins and wow! Where has that movie been? How on earth did we miss this up to now? I have to say that it makes all of the previous Batman movies look like a joke or at least to Scott and I.(and I know Tammy agrees) But wow...excellent movie..and even better are you ready..another Brit hearthrobe to add to my list..yep...Christian Bale! HOLY COW! Watch out Hugh Grant and Colin Firth..there's new competition and this one is smokin!ha Poor Scott had to listen to me go gaga as he normally is for the girls! Here's a taste of what I mean...





Wow is all I can say! Can't wait for the next Batman movie and in the meantime I'll have to go check out his previous movies!

Sunday did some scrapping and then took the kids to see Nanny McPhee! Just knew that any movie that had Colin Firth in it and Emma Thompson had to be good! Love Brit movies..must have been British in a former life. And was so pleased that the movie was adorable! The kids really liked it as I know when it's over and they ask if we can buy the movie!



It had a very cute story and one that was easy for the kids to follow and understand. I just enjoyed watching Colin!HA Headed to the hardware store after for the hardware for my armoire and to pick up some paint samples for the kitchen. Then to our usual spot, Sonic for a bit of lunch.

Yesterday I was boring and sat around all day, yes all day in my pj pants and scrapbooked and watched Bridget Jones movies! Too fun and a great day to spend a much needed day off! Wished I could have had one more day off on my own while the kids are at school. I can't think of the last time I was home with no children(mine or someone's elses) in it! It's sad really when I think about it. I know I should be quiet and not complain of time alone and appreciate all the sounds and noises of the kids as one day it will be quiet and I'll be wishing it to be nosy. Just maybe now and then..once or twice a year for a few quiet hours..it would be nice to enjoy this!LOL

So I leave you today with a new layout that I think turned out pretty cool. I had a name theme at Scrap Jazz and also needed to use the Sakura glaze pens. Not a whole lot of pen on here..but it's pretty cool anyways!



Have a good one,

Julia

Snow Much Fun!!

I know I know..I am late with this post. This week has just gotten away from me!

We woke up this last Sunday morning to a beautiful snowfall! The kids were so excited to see it outside and even more anxious to get out into it. We didn't hurry right out as we have this view of the road that runs behind us and were watching everyone attempting to get out and about and realizing that they really couldn't. We saw some nice people stop and get out of their cars to help those that came along make it up the hill. We couldn't believe how many people were going places with cars that definitely weren't made to be out and about!

Later in the day..the kids bundled up(it was really really cold and blowing snow hard) and we all headed out into the beautiful white!

Here are some pictures from then...

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone! My sweetie isn't giving me anything but you know..it's okay because I've got the coolest gift sitting in my garage. If you don't know what I am talking about..email me and I'll fill you in! I gave him the coolest computerized Suduko puzzle game. It's amazing! I has over 1 million puzzles on it and was only a few dollars more ($14) than the books with just a hundred or so puzzles I saw at Target! Pretty cool!

This morning I had the kids gifts waiting for them at the table. Parker was the first one down..but he was so cute and didn't want to open his present until Connor and Haley were downstairs. Haley of course looked adorable in her new outfit I got her at Gymboree! Here are some cute pics of them all this morning!









They were all happy with their goodies. Connor and Parker didn't even know that their gifts were extras I had set aside from Xmas! And Haley was in love with the stuffed animal that I bought last year at Hallmark after Valentine's Day! Smart shopping! Oh and she got the cutest heart bikini, coverup and towel too!

Another bit of news on Valentine's Day..my best friend just found out that Baby Lilly, who was born on February 1st, does not have Cystic Fibrosis! So we are so so so happy to hear this incredible news! And even better..she is not even a carrier!!!

And lastly..hoping our good friends Mark and Sharon enjoy their holiday! Guess where they are going? Egypt! Can you even imagine??!! So cool that she works for a BIG travel agency over the pond in Scotland!! WOW! So enjoy your holiday you two!

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Hugs and Kisses,

Julia

Doodling is good right?

Wow! Did I get an amazing package today from Sakura! Andrea secured Sakura's Glaze Pans as our ScrapJazz sponsor for my team this month! Talk about excited! I have a pen obsession..really now! I am fussy about my pens, people using them and pressing too hard and damaging the tip, I love finding cool colors and never really ever write in black or blue(gasp!) Since I started scrapping I have been in love with Sakura's Micron pens...love them. But they are a bit expensive and hard to always rationalize a pen over several sheets of paper and such.

But today..I hit the pen jackpot! Thanks to Sakura..I think I am set for quite a bit. They sent me not only the Glaze pens..which are supposed to be amazing, but a whole huge stash(93 actually) of all their pens! OMG I am going to be in doodling heaven!



And since I haven't gotten to post the past couple of days..you ask what have I been up to?(well you probably didn't..but I am going to fill you in anyways!LOL) I spent a good portion of the day Saturday painting. Painted the ceiling fan blades in my bedroom(now they match my big beautiful bed) painted the armoire in my scrapbook room to match too and painted Scott's dresser. You see we have this amazing bed..well here is a picture of it..



He gave this to me for our Anniversary 2 years ago and I LOVE IT! I can't imagine this big room without it. Of course I have been wanting to pick up the matching pieces..but that just hasn't happened. We took two big dressers from Scott's brother when they moved and since they were an off white..just worked with them. But they bug the heck out of me. They are not the right color and have these big huge, old brassy handles. So..this weekend..I started painting Scott's dresser..here is where you can tell the color difference..look on the drawers.



See..already looking much better! Needs another coat or two and then I need to find some new hardware that doesn't cost more than a new dresser!Ha! I did get the armoire painted as well..it just needs another coat and new hardware too! My Mom was nice to give it to me..but the blue it was painted wasn't the right color for my scrapbook room. Soon things will looks like they belong versus a hodge podge assortment!LOL



So there's my update..93 pens to play with and some painting to finish up!

Have a good one,

Julia

Valentine Cards

Well today is the day! The article I wrote for ScrapJazz about creative ways to use Valentine's on your layouts. Wasn't as easy as I thought it would be! And it took much more time than I realized! But I loved everything I put together..well..the pocket page isn't my favorite..but everything else is fine! And Haley is crazy for the box I made her!

So go read and enjoy and please..leave me some feedback will you?

http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Themes
/Holidays/Valentines_Day/801.php

thanks!

Julia

Moving On

Well I vote for a redo for Friday and Saturday. After Friday's fun of having a family tell me they are quitting completely ignoring the two week notice requirement my day went into a downward spiral. I could really care less(I know sounds mean..but they as adults agreed to the policies I have when they hired me) that the Mom has to work nights thus the reason for quitting. They completely ignored my policies and I should have been more alert when they ooops forgot to tell me that they were taking a week off! HELLO Julia...that was a BIG warning sign! So moving on..went Friday to see Baby Lilly..who is by the way..absolutely beautiful and so teeny tiny it's really unreal!!!!!!!!! She is so pretty and looks like her big sister Grace. Here's a sweet pic of Deidre and Lilly..sorry Deidre..I can't resist!



Friday night got home and had a terrible headache. Crashed out on the couch..went to bed. Boring! Saturday Scott off to work and the kids wanted to know were we going anywhere. Decided it would be gift card day! So we complied all their Xmas gift cards and I told them I'd take them out. We hit Sonic first for lunch, then Target, but the movie Parker wanted doesn't come out till today.. Wallace and Grommit and the Curse of the Whererabbit or something like that. Then headed to ToysRUS. UGGHH..what fun that is! They hemmed and haaweed and finally finally Connor picked some items. Haley knew what she wanted..they didn't have it though. So we popped in Walgreens on the way home for their $1 cookies that they take in their lunches and what did she find..yep..the Tamagotchi Pet she wanted. So we got it..and now have a digital pet...or whatever it is!LOL

Then headed home by then feeling another headache. Sat crashed..early bed..headache.

Sunday up..set to cleaning the house as Saturday night the kids trashed it while I laid on the couch, got it all spiffed up and then Tammy, Mark and the kids joined us for Superbowl. Had a blast..and wished it was Saturday night instead of Sunday!

So now just moving on this week..dealing with what happened Friday, hoping another family that Amanda referred to me does indeed call and I don't have to advertise..I hate that! I really do! Need to get a jump on my next design assigment and try not to think about the BIG things that are worrying me and hope everything falls into place! Let's hope..

Unreal!!

I really have no idea how in the heck these thngs can do this and be right..but I really am an only child. I don't think of my stepbrother as I sibling as he wasn't around alot and left home pretty early. And I still don't see or talk to him!LOL

So here's me!LOL

You Are Likely an Only Child

At your darkest moments, you feel frustrated. At work and school, you do best when you're organizing. When you love someone, you tend to worry about them. In friendship, you are emotional and sympathetic. Your ideal careers are: radio announcer, finance, teaching, ministry, and management. You will leave your mark on the world with organizational leadership, maybe as the author of self-help books.

The Birth Order Predictor

Lilly's Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Today is Lilly's birthday!!! That is to say that my best friend Deidre, her hubby Mike and their sweetie Grace are celebrating the birth of Lilly today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She was born this morning at 7:48 am by Cesearan and weighed in at a tiny 6 pounds 8 ounces and only 17 inches long! She's a teeny tiny one!!

So BIG BIG BIG congrats today to them on this wonderful birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Happy Birthday Baby Lilly

Julia "Your St. Louis Auntie"