Back by (semi) popular demand!

Hello everyone out there in blogland. How are you all?

Alright, I'm not gonna bore you with this post by telling you how busy I've been, all the errands I've been running or how I'm just about ready to toss in the towel with the scrapbooks! NOPE...not gonna do it. Although, that IS all I've been doing lately...running errands, doing housework (that has been neglected due to the scrapbooks) and...working on the scrapbooks :-).

And in between those fun tasks, I even squeezed in a 2 day soccer tournament (don't ask!), another day visiting Jacki and Jayla's field day at school. Now, THAT was fun. But let me just say, that the field days of old are no longer. These days, it's all about the fun and EVERYONE wins. One of the events was really...ahem, interesting. The kids got to draw eachother in the back parking lot with sidewalk chalk. It was too funny! By the time they were all done, the schoolyard looked like a giant crime scene, LOL. Only thing missing with that yellow tape. Hmmm, maybe they'll all be forensic scientists, lol.

Here's a few shots of Jayla:

Just look at that form! :-) This was her favorite stop on the field day circuit. What can I say? The girls' got skills! :-)

She was really good at this one too, actually :-). She called it "Hockey-Golf", LOL.

Here's Jayla being traced for the 2nd time by one of the assistant teachers. Can you tell, Jayla didn't like her head being on the ground? THAT's MY GIRL!!! :-)

And here's the first rendition of Jayla. LORD, I hope this is the LAST time I'll ever have to see my daughter in a chalk outline.

Last but not least, we had soccer pictures done a few weeks ago. And OF COURSE, Jayla's came out great. Check her out....

I'm sorry, but this has got to be the cutest little 6 year old! Ok, I'm not sorry...but she is a cutie pie :-). I'll have another picture from this day to share with you soon. I'm waiting on it to be shipped to us. Stay tuned!

Alrighty folks, that's a wrap for today. Mister M. is working from home today. So I've gotta go fix him something to eat. Sheesh, talk about disturbing my daily groove, LOL. TOODLES!!!

Morning with Mom

Hello everyone. How's it goin?

I am sort of at a stopping point with the Kindergarten scrapbooks. So I thought I'd jump on the computer right quick and share a few things with you.

This has been a semi-busy week for me. But I must say, life is grand. I mean, I'm ripping and running all the time. But I'm just having a ball.

Let's see, on Monday, I went to visit my sweet friend Jacki. She recently had surgery, so I stopped in to check on her. We had a really nice visit and I even got to meet her mom and see The Card Castle :-). And what a Castle it is too. I'm already thinking, that the next time I go over there (which will be soon...lol), I'm gonna have to take a shopping cart with me. That lady has TONS of stuff in that room...no wonder I can never find the stamps I want, hee hee. So I'm pretty sure she won't miss a few things, lol. I'm just kidding. But I would love for her to "show me around" the room, as I was just in awe trying to look at everything by myself.

On Tuesday, I just ran errands and took my MIL to have her monthly bloodwork done.

Now WEDNESDAY, has been the most fun thus far. (Note: you may remember my post from a few weeks ago, they had Dining with Dad at Jayla's school, in honor of Father's Day. Well, this is the Mother's Day version.) Wednesday morning at Jayla's school, I was invited to attend........This is the cute little invitation that the kids made for their moms. On the inside, along with the time that the event will take place, it reads: I love you little. I love you lots. I love you enough to fill 10 pots, 14 buckets, 16 cans, 5 washpots and 6 dishpans.

I must say, I just love Jayla's teacher. It's gonna be very difficult to move on to another teacher for 1st grade. She makes learning so fun for the kids and the projects that they do are so cute. Sometimes, the kids are "learning" without actually knowing it :-).

Here are a few more of the special things Jayla made for me for Wednesday.

This first item is the little write up she did about me. Hopefully, you'll be able to click on it to see it a little closer. But if you can't, this is what is says (her written responses are in pink)

My mom has brown eyes and black hair. She is 7 feet tall and weighs 60 pounds. My mom likes to wrkat (work out). My mom is prettiest when she gos to the store. I like when she cooks fish. I don't like when she cooks colefarr (cauliflower). She likes me to help her cu dinr (cook dinner). I love my mom very much and I know she loves me too. Jayla.

I just love the perspective that kids have. I especially thought it was funny that she "thinks" that I actually like for her to help me cook dinner, LOL.

This is a cute little flower pot, pen and note pad they made for us. Jayla says she painted mine purple so that it would match my studio. What a sweetheart.
Now this project was simply adorable. The kids made a recipe book of their most favorite thing that their mom makes.
Jayla obviously likes my brownies :-). Again, it's so cute to see the childs perspective on things. As the teacher wrote on the first page of the recipe book, "Remember mom, this recipe is told the way I (Jayla) see it."

The kids decorated a picture frame for us and the teacher helped them "piece" together a little scene of the child with their mom. Isn't it cute? You see, Jayla also added a picture of Trae.

Now here is the picture that was taken of me and Jayla before we ate breakfast. Don't you just love the "Suthin Belle" bonnet she made for me? LOL

To end the "Morning with Mom", the kids went up on stage, one by one and said one thing that they love about their moms. They stood behind a little hand puppet stage with a puppet they made of themselves. They spoke (loudly) into the microphone and announced what they love about mom. Talk about sweet. Jayla said, she loved when I take her to the toy store. (hmmm, wonder when was the last time I did THAT? lol)

Lastly, the kids had Spring pictures taken back before Spring Break. And we got them back on Wednesday. Here's Jayla's. Is this not the cutest thing?? I just LOVE it. It almost doesn't even look like a school picture. Of course I couldn't decide what I wanted to buy out of the package they sent home. So I bought the entire thing! WHAT?? Look at her!! LOL

Well, that's about all I've got for now. Jayla's teacher sent home more stuff today, for me to add to the scrapbooks. So, I'd better get back to it. I'll catch up with you guys a little later. But until then, don't forget...Be Inspired!!

Tribute to Mama G.

Hello everyone.

It is with great, great sorrow that I do this post today. The inevitible has happened. My mom contacted us this morning and informed us that Mama G. passed away last night around 9pm.

My heart is SO heavy right now. However, I'm finding it very difficult to grieve at this moment. Probably because I KNOW that Mama G. lived a VERY full and happy life. I am thanking God right now, that her death was not tragic, untimely or unexpected. We are all, just so thankful, that she lived on this earth with us THIS long. As I mentioned in my previous post, she was 4 months shy of her 104th birthday. Wow, can you imagine living that long?

Fortunately, she and I were VERY close and I have nothing but fond and happy memories of her. I know no other way to say this, but to come right out with it...I was just as special to Mama G. I'm not sure why she and her late husband, Pop, took such a liking to me :-). But they did. And their love for me was VERY real, VERY apparent and VERY special.

I'm sure that the grieving will begin soon. But who's to say that it hasn't already? This may be how I'm dealing with it for now. Maybe I would be handling this differently had she passed away while I was there this past week. Or had I been able to see her more often...you know, as part of a "routine". But I am, so happy, that I got to see her before she passed away. And that she KNOWS I was there.

Here's the most recent picture I have of me and Mama G. Isn't she the sweetest thing? :-)

"Mama G., I love you SO much!!! And although we haven't been able to see eachother as much as we would've liked, you've ALWAYS been so special to me. I know you're in a better place now and you're thrilled, beyond belief, to be back with Pop and Cliff. I will miss you and I look forward to seeing you again some day. I love you!"

HONEY...I'm home!!!

HEY! How the heck are ya'll???

Oh, wait...before you answer...guess what? THIS is my 400th post!! How cool is THAT??? I'm suprised that I've had that much to talk about, lol.

Alrighty...so, how did you say you were? Boy, I've been a crazy woman lately. This week is Spring Break for Jayla. So she and I went to visit my mommaannem in Mobile, Al, lol. We had a great visit. But I will say this...I HATE the drive!!!

Let's see, where should I start? Well, fortunately, I wasn't running around all crazy the last few days before I left. Simply because, I had a check list of all we had to take with us. And I packed our bags on Thursday and loaded up the van on Friday evening.

But isn't it just my luck...Jayla and I do our good-byes to everyone, she hops in her booster seat and we're off, right? Not so much! I put the key in the ignition and nothing happens. My stinkin van wouldn't start!!! ARGH!!! Here I am, thinking I am on top of my "schedule" and my battery is dead. Long story short, Mister M. jumps the battery and tells me to follow him to buy another battery. Lord KNOWS I don't need to be stranded on the side of the road, in the rain with a 6 year old. So, an hour and a half later, we have a new battery installed.

But WAIT...There's MORE!!! :-)

As we're on our way to the battery place, it hits me that I haven't actually SEEN the portable DVD player. Can you imagine...me and Jayla on a 4 - 5 hour world wind adventure with NO movies??? So Mister M. goes back home to look for the DVD player for us. No dice! Therefore, we did what any other normal parents would do in a situation such as this. We went to Walmart and bought a new one, LOL. Ok...NOW we can get on the road.

Anyway, the trip was very uneventful. I took my time and just listened to Shrek and The Backyardigans :-). My original plan was to arrive in Mobile no later than 1 or 2pm. But due to the "issues" that arose, we didn't get there until 6pm. The rain and occasional traffic due to construction was also a factor. But we made it there safe and sound.

On Sunday, my mom took us to this big ole flea market. WHERE do these people COME FROM??? Anyhoo...we found some pretty good deals. Then it was a "surprise" visit to my cousins house for a birthday party. It was SO nice to see everyone. I just love laughing with all of them.

Monday, we hit the outlet mall. There's really nothing more that needs to be said, is there? LOL I LOVE a good bargain and a GIANT cinnamon roll with extra icing (and a Dr. Pepper!). We spend just about all day there.

Tuesday, we went visiting. I was SO glad to get to see my Great-Grandmother, Mama G. You guys, this woman is 3 months shy of her 104th birthday! She was actually in the hospital a week or so ago because she'd stopped eating/drinking. Needless to say, she was dehydrated. But they sent her back home. The doctors said it was just a matter of time before she died, as her body is just old. But you know what? She's not sick at ALL. Again, she's just old. So I was a little nervous that I wouldn't get a chance to see her alive again. But thankfully, she hung in there for me :-). Sadly, she was sleeping when we got there and never even knew I was there. But I did get to see her sleeping soundly and snoring up a storm, LOL. She's so cute. My mom got word yesterday that a nurse went to Mama G's house, and took her vital signs. Again, they say her body is shutting down. So it's only a matter of time. It will be very, very sad when she dies. As I was very close to her. My mom would tell me that, everytime she'd go visit Mama G, it would take her a while to remember who my mom is. But when it would finally come to her, she'd immediately say how she remembers how "Dawnie" sure loved those powdered donuts, lol. And she's right...when I was little I LOVED them. And still do today. Of all things to remember, she remembers when I was 4 - 5 years old and loved powdered donuts. That's a very special memory for me too. And for HER to still remember it, makes it even more special. Mama G has lived a VERY full life and has no regrets. So again, as sad as it will be when she passes away, our memories of her will outlive all of us. We're grateful that he death won't be tragic or untimely.

Alright, before I start crying...where was I? Oh, I got to visit some more family and just had a great time with my mom and her sweet husband, Peter.

Before Jayla and I got back on the road yesterday, we stopped by a fresh fish place to get some fish and shrimp to bring back home. Again, a very uneventul drive. The weather was beautiful and I just took my time. We got back in around 6pm yesterday. It was so nice to be back with Mister M and to sleep in my own bed :-).

Well, that's about it for now. Sorry, I didn't have any pictures this time. Maybe, I'll have to see what I can find for tomorrow. I'd better leave blogland and get back to these scrapbooks. YES...I'm still working on them.

Enjoy the rest of your day. Toodles!

Glub, glub, glub....

Hello everyone!

Well, I'm at a semi-stopping point with the kindergarten scrapbooks. So I thought I'd come up for some air and say hey...so, HEY!!!

Have you missed me? I've missed ya'll!!!

Yesterday, I had to ask the class room mom if she remembered me signing up at the beginning of the school year, to take on this "minor" scrapbooking duty. She remebered vaguely...so I asked if she remembered if I happened to be drinking heavily that day. Didn't ring a bell with her. Me neither. :-) But sheesh...this is NO JOKE!!! Anyway, I mentioned that I'm at a "semi" stopping point. And I didn't say that ONLY because at night, I feel like I've been hit by a semi. But because I'm currently out of cardstock, LOL. That, in itself, is enough to stop, even a seasoned scrapbooker in her tracks!!!

Alrighty now, what has been going on (other than the books) since I spoke with you last? Well, I'm glad you asked. Grab a drink...here goes: (UPDATE 4/2: I made the pictures bigger so you can see them.)

~Me and my eldest daughter went on a shopping trip here. I absolutely LOVE-AH, this place. So much so, that I took my camera this time. What a super fun place to take pictures...so colorful, so organized, so embarassing for the person you're with, lol. "MOM! Tell me you're not taking pictures of HANGERS?!?!" WHAT??

~I also went back to my Italian roots and tried my hand at making Paella. What? You didn't know my roots were Italian? Well, I AM from New York you know...doesn't that count? No? Getouttaheah!! Anyway, the recipe that I had was from my great-great Italian grandfather. Maybe you've seen him before on The Food Network. Ok, ok...he's NOT my grandfather, but he is on Food Network. Alright...regardless of where I got the recipe from, this stuff is YUMMY! But beware, if you EVER try and make this, make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare everything. And unless you're cooking for a small army, cut the recipe down. It made a TON! Mine had chicken, shrimp and Italian smoked sausage in it. DEElish! ~Last Wednesday, Jayla had breakfast with her daddy at school. I am so glad they did this early this year. I remember when Markell was there, they had "donuts with dad", the last week of school. So it was kinda rushed. But this time, they did it early. Before Mother's Day even. So Mister M. was very excited about having this special time with his little lady. Here's a couple of the gifts Jayla made for her daddy:
Note: if you're not able to read what Jayla wrote about her dad, it says: My dad's name is Mark (Marque). He weighs 40 pounds and is 7 feet tall. He has black hair. When my dad cooks, he cooks sanun (salmon) the best. He is really good at checrs (checkers). I like when my dad and I play gams. I love my dad! Jayla *the words in italic are what she wrote*

~Every week in Jayla's class, one child gets to take Clifford the Big Red Dog home for the weekend. This past weekend was Jayla's turn. She was SO excited. When you take Clifford home, you're supposed to take him with you everywhere you go that weekend. And a picture has to be taken of the child with Clifford over that weekend. So guess where Clifford got to go? Yep! To soccer games :-). Then on Monday, the child has to read the "report" they wrote on what they did with Clifford. So cute!

~Speaking of soccer...the Stingrays are handling their business!!! :-) The big Stingrays played last Friday night and won 6 - 1. They played again on Saturday and won that one 6 - 1 too. Talk about exciting games. I'm so proud of those boys. Also on Saturday, it was time for soccer pictures. So as soon as I get Jayla's back, I'll share those with you. Jayla also had a game on Saturday and she looks AWESOME out there. I just love watching her play and really "get" the game. Oh, one more thing about the boys. They are doing SO well this season. And due to how they're "gelling" together, the coaches have agreed to let them play in an international tournament in July. We're all going to Disney World in Florida for an entire week of soccer and park hopping. They'll be playing with teams from all over the world. We're all so excited! Especially Jayla...she's been asking to go to Disney for the past 6 months, lol. GO STINGRAYS!!!

~And last but not least, Jayla got to go on her very first sleepover this past weekend. She was a little nervous about sleeping away from home. But she did great. I think she was too tired to even care that she wasn't at home :-). And as part of the party, the girls got to have a pedicure. Jayla was on top of the WORLD! She even told me that she doesn't want ME to do her toenails anymore, because the lady that did them at the salon, does a better job than I do. Well EXCUSE ME!!! LOL. They got to be "little lady's" for awhile and get pampered. There were massage chairs, bubbling blue water and the works. How fun!

Welp, that's about it for me. Jayla and I will be leaving for Mobile, Al on Saturday to visit my mom. Jayla is on Spring Break next week. So we're gonna go hang out with Granny.

Not sure if I'll talk with you all before I leave on Saturday. But if I don't, I hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll holla atcha when I get back. So in the meantime, Be Inspired...I am!! (Really, I am!) LOL