New layouts for the Garage. We had taken a long break over the holiday so it was nice to get back into doing layouts again. It seems it's easier for me to get them done when I have a deadline!

So I was a proud Mommy last Friday when I found out both our boys won ribbons at school. Timmy's was for Academic Achievement and Tyler's was for Most Improved. We had known that Tyler was going to get one but Timmy thought the note that was being sent home was a report card so he didn't tell us. I was proud anyway and we had to celebrate with ice cream at Baskin N Robbins.

Oh and an update to the friend in the hospital- he was released last Friday so he and his wife are getting back to normal life.

I wasn't sure what to type as an update to my blog so here goes! I went to my church's women's retreat last weekend with my friend Susan (and also Julie was supposed to go but that will be explained later). It was up in the the Santa Cruz Mtns (Boulder Creek for those of you who know where that is). I think I was expecting some profound spiritual thing to happen but really it was just a nice time which some weird incidents thrown in. Susan, Julie and were supposed to all drive up there together but Rob (who is our friend and my husband's boss) had to work late so Susan and I left and Julie was supposed to meet us. That turned into her meeting us Saturday morning instead but then she got a call from her husband who was sick with the "stomach flu" and so she had to turn around and go back home. Meanwhile Susan and I got to play some great tennis on a beautiful day at the Boulder Creek Country club which their version of a country club is a bar - no joke. Since my phone wouldn't work in the Mtns, I decided to give Julie a call on my way home on Sunday. She answers the phone crying and they are in the hospital. Rob's stomach flu was an appendicitis which later infected his whole insides. I'll spare you the gory details but I picked up their boys and we had a slumber party Sunday night and we have been making treks to the hospital in Gilroy visiting them (he probably will be there a total of 5 days or more). So that just goes to show you never know what life will throw you. Also it goes to show that some friends you have known so long that they are like family and so when things like this happen you do drop everything and try to help with whatever they need. Rob and Matt have known each other since the early 90s when they met and decided to form a band. Rob came out from Arkansas and has been here ever since. Then I came along shortly after and all three of us have known each other forever with a whole lot of history inbetween. His wife Julie and I have become close to it makes the circle complete. I know that they would do the same for us if we were in their situation and it is good to know you have friends like that.

Wow - the Willow Glen Elem PTA sure knows how to throw a Part-tay! It took us a while to finally decide that we were going and I was shocked that the place was packed and full of stuff to do (would not have had this at the boy's old school). There were carnival type games, contests like limbo and pie eating, snacks and even a mother and son dance. What was most interesting is how both my boys reacted.

Timmy - well he will just about do anything with no hesitation. He did ALL the contests and tried to get me to do the pie eating contest but I just could not bring myself to do it. He even danced with me - which he has a long way to go but it was very sweet. He even danced by himself and I can totally see him being the life of the party. He has this confidence to try new things that I wish I had more of.

Tyler - I so can relate to Tyler. He likes the party but more from a sideline view. He didn't want to do any of the contests and made quick trips to the snack table nervously eating snacks. He did get into playing air hockey once he figured out how not to get passed up in line. He would not dance with me - way to embarrassing for him. We did have fun playing foosball together and he had fun as well. It lasted 2 hours and they had to kick us all out. I am glad we decided to go.

We all had fun and it actually really touched me. Seeing both my boys in that kind of situation really made it clear to me their differences and how I need to be sensitive to both and what I need to to do encourage both of them in totally different ways.

Uh Kent - do you know that you have posted pictures of a bathroom (this is what you may be thinking)? Yes I know I have because I have to show off our NEW bathroom. Well it isn't really ours - it's our landlords but he basically gave us the go ahead to redo what we had before which I am too embarrassed to even post pre-flip pictures. Let's just say I have not taken a bath in my bathtub for probably the last 5 years.

So we went very neutral with the tile, tub and fixtures. If it was totally ours, Matt and I would have done it different but I think it turned out nice and cleaning looking and we can all now take nice baths!!

So my dilemma is, the walls are a light green color and I need to patch up around the shower and the sink (oh and we also got a new bathroom sink that doesn't show in the picture). So I can either keep it green or change the color. Matt wants a blue/grey color but I thought I would throw it out there on my blog and see what the consensus it. What is your vote??

Ok - well I have to get myself out of this slump and nothing like being creative to help do this. So here are some projects I have been working on.
I finally finished this calendar I have been working on since November. I have a bad habit of stalling right when something is almost done and that is what happened here. It was inspired by an article in the Simple Scrapbooks Nov issue. I like my take on it better though! :-) I used two different sizes of the Canvas Concepts, painted them black and made all the numbers and months. I used black velcro to adhere it and then I can change it around for each month. I can also change the picture at the top and post a different layout each month. Next I have decided to learn how to knit socks! I have been wanting to for a while and I picked it up fairly easy except it is hard to get started on double point needls. Now Timmy wants me to knit him a pair of green ones!
Sorry for the photo exposure - it lools like we are a ghost family! Just wanted to show what I made last night while waiting for it to be midnight. Every year I take our family photo card and turn it into an ornament. It is very simple yet I love having all the photos on the tree. Thought I would just pass along that handy craft idea!

Christmas Phase 2

Well, Christmas Phase 1 was a lot better than Christmas phase 2. I hardly took any pictures. Christmas eve was great with church and just spending time at home watching Christmas movies - Elf and Polar Express. Then Christmas morning hit and all was going great and then I got slammed with the blues. I couldn't shake it. I know I have a lot to be thankful for but man I had one big pity party. I think it is just all my family history and current mess that hit me and it becomes more apparent on holidays. Luckily Matt entertained the kids and they had fun playing Runescape which they have all gotten freakishly involved with playing. So today is better and honestly I am glad Christmas is over. I think next year I will need to plan ahead and Matt and I will need to figre out somewhere to go on Christmas if it is just us or do something so I don't fall into the "pit of despair" again.