It Only Took 3 Years!

We are coming up on our 3-year anniversary in this rental and last weekend, after the yard sale, Ben and I took to the garage for a little "clean-up".

I had put the old grill out on the front lawn with a FREE sign on it and it wasn't out there for an hour when someone picked it up and carted it off.
I had already loaded up the leftovers and took them to Goodwill.
I had placed the bags of clothes in the back of my car to take to the MPCA Clothing Trailer.

I started by moving our riding lawnmower to the cut-out area near our fridge.  That left a huge space in the middle of the garage and I started to see "potential".....potential to actually park in our garage for the first time, potential for better storage options for our stuff.  

So, I started to work on the boxes that were in the middle of the garage.  I wish I had taken a before picture!!!  It was a full garage and a messy garage.  I often thought we would never get to this point.  

Ben came out after his shower and helped me start moving the boxes and other stuff around. I found several Rubbermaid bins that were half full or empty and put them in the driveway to get them out of there.

I went through a few Rubbermaid bins and threw out old college textbooks that I wouldn't need. 

You know the ones I am talking about....I betcha you are holding onto yours in your garage/basement/attic/crawl space.  The electives that you took or the core classes that you don't use much in your day to day life: sociology, student wellness, student study techniques, psychology.  Yep, I kept them from back in 1994-1997 (now I am showing my age) when I was in college in Canada.  They have made the move from my parents house in Ontario, to our first home in Ontario, to our second home in Warner Robins, GA and now to our home here.  Why?  They just took up storage space and were heavy as heck to tote from place to place!  Why?  WHY?!?!?!

I digress.....

Here is what we have come up with so far and I have to admit that there are still a lot of boxes that we need to go through and figure out what to do with the stuff: 

• sell it
• donate it 
• "file 13" it

But at least we can park in there now!!!!
Before we pulled the cars in....

 My car in the garage......

 

Both cars in the garage and my handsome hubby who helped!

Not bad eh?  

I think it looks pretty good, if I do say so myself!  

Until Next Time,

SCRAP ON!

~Cyn~

Gotta Love A Deadline......

A great way to make money in a short period of time is to participate in a yard sale.

My neighbour and I talked about doing it and we set a date.  There is nothing that lights a fire under you than a deadline.  

That was the kick-in-the-pants that I needed to get started with piling up items for the yard sale.  

• I already had all the outgrown clothes on hangers and in rubbermaid bins in the garage.  So, I literally pulled them out of the bins and hung them up on the clothing racks that I borrowed from a friend that does a lot of clothing consignment (thanks Dawnie).
• The next thing I did was go through the toy box for any items that the children didn't play with anymore and put them in a box in the garage.  I started doing this earlier in the summer and didn't finish (adult ADHD - isn't it great?).  So, I just continued on with this task.
• I also went through our closet to get out anything we weren't using anymore.
• I went through a bunch of boxes in the garage.

You know those items that you just feel weird about throwing out or even giving away?  You know the ones.....they make every move with you, even though you have never used them or have used them once and never again?

Well, I had a few of those and I put them on the tables to sell.  

I made a promise to myself that whatever didn't sell would be boxed up and taken to Goodwill after the yard sale.  Everything that went in the garage/yard sale would NOT come back into the house......

That didn't happen......

Sophie brought one of the shape sorting toys back into the house.  This is just a small item and I am sure that it will "disappear" in the coming days.  

By the time I was finished cataloging all the items for the clothing donation for the MPCA Clothing Trailer, it was 5:30 and I was starving.  

Dawn helped me bring the tables into the garage with all the items that did not sell.  I promise NOT to bring them back into the house!  The garage held them until I cataloged everything before taking them to Goodwill this afternoon.

My neighbours have decided that they will do it again next week.  I may put out a few items next week to see if they go, but I am even considering going through the house again.  

It feels GOOD to purge and get rid of stuff that just sits there!  The extra cash in your wallet is nice too!  I made $215.00 and I cleaned out my garage!

You know what the best part of my day was?  There are SEVERAL!!!!

1. A lady came who was from Haiti and she bought all my summer outfits to send home to her people.  I gave her all the items for 50 cents a piece because I know that Haiti needs all the help they can get!  She was a super sweet woman!
2. A woman named Doreen and her hubby walked over to have a look and she saw a Xyron "X" sticker maker.  She said "I know what this is!!!"  We got talking about scrapbooking and how it is hard to get out stuff to scrapbook when you don't have a space.  I took her inside to show her my "scrap haven" and we got to talking about all the new scrappy stuff and CM and CTMH.  She mentioned going to Perry and I asked her if she knew Lisa Mosely and she said YES!!!  The world got a little smaller!!!  
   The then went on to tell me about Fran Washko and I told her that Frannie was my side-line sister for Creative Memories!!!  The world got a whole lot smaller!  We exchanged numbers and emails and plan to get together to scrapbook sometime!  FUN!!!
3. Talking to everyone that came to the house - if you really don't believe that everyone has a story, you really need to have a YARD SALE!!!
4. Hanging out with my neighbours and meeting their daughters (they live in SC).  

It was FUN!!!!

Not only did I make a little money, I cleaned out the garage a bit AND made a new SCRAPPY friend!  

Awesomesauce!!!!

Until Next Time,

SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

I'm Working Again!

I have been out of the work force for about 5 years.  Ben has worked really hard to allow me to stay home with the kidlets.

I did a little bit of subbing last year at Sophie's Preschool and I really enjoyed the change of scenery.  I told them to put the money I would make back into her tuition for preschool and was content with doing that.  They were happy too, because they didn't have to do payroll or anything like that for my few days of subbing.

So at the end of last year, I mentioned to Hillery, the assistant director, that I would be interested in working a couple days a week if they had any positions open up.  She told me, at that point, that they had already done all the hiring for the following year.  So, I told her that I would be interested in subbing again in the 2013-2014 school year.  

The evening before open house, I received an email from Hillery that they needed a Parapro for the Kindergarten class on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:30-1:30.  I emailed the next morning and told Hillery that I was coming to the school to talk with her.  

I took the job!

I have been working at the school for a couple of months now and I am LOVING it!  It has been nice to get that paycheck, but some other things have happened since I started working:

• I have lost 14 pounds since I started on the 8th of August.
• I am more productive on the days that I am not at work.
• I have picked up some extra subbing days to get to know the other classroom routines and the kids in each class and it increases the paycheck a bit too.
• I feel happier.

I think these are all GREAT things!

It has been hard getting back to a "work" routine and some weeks are tougher than others.  I have been working on going to bed a lot sooner than I used to and I am planning/batch cooking meals ahead of time.  I also make lunches in bulk on Sundays for the entire week.  So far, it is working, but the sleep patterns are still taking a bit to get going.  But it has been a great experience for me so far!

I have been blessed to work with Nikita, the Kindergarten Teacher, she is pretty awesome.  I have a lot of respect for her and what she is doing with the Kindergarten Kids.  They are a great bunch of kids too!  

The other blessing is working with the rest of the gals at the preschool.  All of them have been so great.  It has been a wonderful experience for me so far and I can't wait to see how the year turns out!  

Lucky ME!!! 

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Duck Hunters for Halloween....

Our OBSESSION with anything Duck Dynasty has continued.....my husband is calling us REDNECKS!!!!  Gotta love it though!  Me and "the boy" are dressing up together!  
I love it!!!!!  

See how tall he is getting?  He will overtake me in a year or two!  

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Summer / Potty Updates

This weekend was uneventful!
We went to Laura's pool to celebrate both her boys birthdays.  The pool is always a great treat for my kids because we no longer have a pool in the backyard.  
Sophie is getting better at going in the pool and Ben was there to hang out with her. Nathan loved hanging out with Andrew and Ethan and their friend Kyle. It started to thunder, so we all had to head back to Laura's to eat cupcakes around 3:00.  

We went for bike rides on Saturday as a family around "the hood".  Sophie is really getting good at riding that bike of hers!  She even does well on the hills now!  Impressive!  It took a while for Nathan to learn to ride, but Sophie seems to really love going out on hers!

Nathan is such a "inside" kid.  He would rather stay inside, play video games, play with his Lego or read a book in comparison to Sophie.  She would spend a lot of time riding her bike and hanging outside doing whatever.  It is amazing that these kids are oh-so-different and they came from the same parents!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What's Up This week?       NOT MUCH! 

Ben has to work 32 hours in 3 days in order to get the 5th (Friday) off as well as the 4th of July.  So, we won't see much of him at all until the 4th.

Still potty training Sophie - she is great about peeing on the potty, but when it comes to poopin?  Oh.my.goodness....she just keeps doing it in her panties!!!  ARGH!!!  SO FRUSTRATING!!!   I thought that we would have the hang of it all by now and it has only been a month in underwear!  We use pull-ups for naptime and we use Goodnites for night time sleeping. I am really glad that we are out of diapers, but I just want her to poop in the darn potty already!!!  SHEESH!   We don't go anywhere during the week, because I would hate to be out and about and have to deal with underwear full of yuck....so I am CRAWLING THE WALLS here!!!  We have done 3 trips out of the house and they were FAST - one trip to Kroger, one to Wendy's for frosties and one trip to the post office to drop off a package to be mailed.  It is so hard when you are a "get out of the house or go nutso" kind of person!!!!  

Anyway, that is what is up with us right now.  
Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~  

Re-Entry's A B!tch!

Yep! 

I'm a slacker when it comes to BLOGGING in 2013!

Not only have I been busy with Origami Owl, but I have also been really busy with OTHER stuff!

I planned another Skyline Retreat for March 2013.  

Probably my WORST weekend - ever - happened that weekend while I was up at Camp Skyline in Mentone, Alabama.  

Now, prior to Skyline, my friend Marcy came to visit and hang with me and that was a BLAST!!!  She is awesome!  I always enjoy spending time with Marcy!  On Wednesday, we drove up to Marta's for our regular overnight, which was also pretty fantastic.  I always sleep so well at Marta's house.  I am not quite sure why.

Now, we get to the B.A.D. part......
I need to explain why the weekend was the WORST.WEEKEND.EVER!
Now, planning this retreat is hard enough because there were 38 women all wanting different things.  Who can please 38 women?  Surely, NOT ME! But, I try my best and they appreciate it (for the most part).  So, when you add a night of no sleep to the mix (yep - Thursday night, I was awake all night with my good friend, Sharon and some serious tummy issues - on my part) and then add in a LONG Friday with still no sleep.  We got the group shot though.....

When I finally get back to the cabin to take a much-needed nap before dinner, a phone call from the Hubby in GA. I called back and Nathan answered the phone "Hi Mum!  Sophie's puking all over your room!  It's really gross!"  (Gotta love an 8 year old who tells you everything.)

I finally get to talk to Ben and he called to see where I keep the carpet shampoo.
Now, hubby isn't the one that deals with the kids being sick (for the most part) and calling doctors and such.  That is a Mummy duty.
Well, I start to worry and freak out a bit because all I can think of is Sophie puking all over the house.  I mean ALL.OVER.THE.HOUSE.

My panic kicked in and "Mama Bear" bear came out!!!

I went into "over-drive" and started to blurt out every little piece of advice for Ben and he took it and said that he would figure it out.  I will tell you right now, I was really worried about what the house would look like when I got home and who else would be sick by the time I got home! 

I had called the doctor to see about getting some anti-nausea meds for her and he called them in.  Friends, who I thought would help, didn't come through for me and one stay-at-home-dad, that I know in our neighbourhood, came through for me and went to Publix to get the meds for Ben.
I was then escorted to bed by Marta (who was afraid that I would take my car keys and drive after being awake for more than 40 hours at that point).  

I truly think she saved my life that night and all I did was yell at her to "give me my F'n car keys!"  (Sorry for yelling at you Marta!  LOVE YOU!)  

You see, when "mama bear" comes out, you aren't rational, you can't think clearly, you lose your temper and say things you don't necessarily mean in anger and you just want to be there for your kidlet.  Well, I was embarrassed too.  Being escorted to my bed like a child?  What the hell!  I am a grown woman!
ANYWAY........

To make a long story short, Daddy came through for Sophie and my respect and love for this man has grown.  On top of that, my friend Marta, rose to the occasion, stared "Mama Bear" in the face and didn't care that I was yelling at her. She knew I would be okay in the morning after a good night's sleep. 

I have a good friend who loves me!  

Ben is a great father to my children!  

I am blessed

So, it was the weekend from HELL!!! 

I got through it.

Sophie made it through her first time throwing up.

Marta is still "my person" and I love her.  

My respect and love for Ben has grown exponentially after dealing with this.

Nathan stayed healthy.

Ben stayed healthy.

I did come home completely exhausted, 

but that is the case whenever I come home from a retreat.

Isn't it funny how, after all of that, I can see the blessings?  

Amazing.

Scrapbookers, while on retreats and afterwards, joke and say that "Re-entry's A Bitch".  

Only this time, it definitely was!!!

Until Next time, 

SCRAP ON!

~Cyn~

Skyline.....

I am currently in the middle of planning the Skyline Retreat. 2 WEEKS!!!!  2 WEEKS!!!!

Nathan and Sophie are out of school this week for Winter Break and I was without cable/internet/phone until Monday evening.  My computer is still having some trouble, but nothing I can't handle.

Oh!  On top of that, I am potty training Sophie too...yay (can't you just smell the sarcasm?).  I seriously think that 3 to 4 is the WORST age.  Not only is she trying to flex her muscles, show her independence and show her stubbornness, but her temper tantrums just put me out on that ledge and I just want to jump off!!!  She and Nathan are driving this chick to drink and I DON'T DRINK!!!

So, here's to a crazy, out-of-control week.

image courtesy of www.typesofvodka.net

Now, bring on the VODKA!

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

5 Things....

What are 5 things that you are proud that you accomplished in 2012?

1. Spent one-on-one time with each of my children.
2. Planned 2 Skyline Retreats and they were both awesome!
3. Completed 318 Scrapbook Pages in 2012.
4. Paid CASH for all Christmas Presents and managed to stay out of debt.
5. Went from 181 pounds down to 165 from June 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.

What are the top 5 things you want to accomplish in 2013?

1. Scrapbook 365 pages in 2013 using what I have as much as possible.
2. Get my weight down between 140 and 150 by continuing to exercise regularly at LA Fitness and eating our meals at home paying close attention to portion sizes.
3. Continue to pay cash for everything and stay out of debt by doing a monthly allocated spending plan, tracking our spending and using coupons.
4. Spend time with each of my kidlets one-on-one.
5. Spend quality time with my husband once a month WITHOUT our kidlets.  

What are 5 books you want to read in 2013?

1. Bringing Up Boys
2. The Strong Willed Child
3. Nuala Reilly's Books: Autumn Violets, Winter Jasmine, Spring Daisies
4. Les Miserables
5. Fifty Shades of Grey
   

What are 5 songs you loved to listen to in 2012?

1. Moves Like Jagger - Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera
2. Payphone - Maroon 5 featuring Wiz Khalifa
3. Call Me Maybe - Carly Rae Jepsen
4. Titanium - David Guetta featuring Sia
5. Hall of Fame - The Script featuring will.i.am.

What are 5 songs you need to download in 2013?

1. Over You - Miranda Lambert
2. The Vampire Diaries Soundtrack
3. Beauty and the Beat - Justin Bieber featuring Nicki Minaj
4. Try - P!nk
5. Catch My Breath - Kelly Clarkson

Now you know where I was in 2012 and where I am heading in 2013!

Until Next Time, 
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Update via Pictures:

Since I have been recovering, the only thing I can show you are the pictures of my life since surgery because I really don't have the energy to write:

AFTER Surgery...yes, that is me and yes, that was taken while I was heavily medicated.  Thank GOD for modern meds. Pretty swollen!!!

Ben putting the Christmas Tree up, with the kids, while I watched. 

Final product and the kids loved lying under the tree with their books, reading. I am sure it wasn't good for their eyes, but it was a great photo opportunity!
Sophie does NOT like when the lights are not turned on, so they are lit all the time, even in daylight!

She is just too cute for words!  I have to tell you that entire outfit came from one of my very good friends, Marcy!  Sophie looked way too cute not to take a photo!

Edible Arrangements!  FANTASTIC for people recovering from surgery.  Thank you MARTA!!!  It was delicious!

I had a 31 Party that Marta did for me on the 8th of December. I was crawling the walls and dying for company!  Not being able to drive is cruel torture for someone like me!  Carla and Christy came down with Marta to see me, ,as well as Beth, Dawn and Jess. I hadn't seen Carla and Christy since Skyline. Love these gals! 
It was a good day, but I crashed HARD once everyone left!

The Christmas Musical for Sophie's school was adorable!  Sophie stood there like a deer in headlights!  SO FUNNY!  Entertaining doesn't begin to describe it.  

Once she saw Daddy, she was very happy! Look at her little penguin shirt!  Isn't she cute?!?!

After the Christmas Musical, Dawn took our photo with my camera for me.  You can't tell this, since I can't really "fit" into my jeans due to surgery and stitches, but my pants aren't done up...in church!!!!  It kinda makes me giggle a little!  Kinda feels wrong on so many levels!  

There's an update for you.  More to come a little later...
Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 12

I am thankful for a Productive Monday! 

Today is 12 of 12.  I try to take at least 12 pictures on the 12th of every month, but I tend to get more than 12 just so that I have options.  It is only 2:00pm and I feel like I have already done a complete day's worth of stuff!

• I dropped my parents off at the airport - sad. I wish they could have stayed longer, but they had to get home.  
• I took Sophie to Preschool.
• I stopped by CVS to pick up my photos I printed yesterday and they STILL weren't done.
• I made a TO DO list for this week and it looks like I may only get to the gym 3 days this week.  Bummer!  But, I plan to knock out a LOT of stuff on this list throughout the week.  
• I spent the morning finishing up Christmas shopping for my kidlets and a few things for Ben with my friend, Dawn.  She and her hubby are sharing a car and she had a few errands to run too.  So, I took her with me.  
• I called the gym this morning to put my membership on hold starting 11/30/12.  I am having surgery on the 26th and I am doing as much organizing and preparation for it that I can.  
• We went and picked Ethan and Sophie up at Preschool, then I took them home. 
• Sophie went down for her nap and I ate a bowl of cereal.
• I am here paying medical bills and catching up on filing and other paperwork.  
• I have already uninstalled a bunch of programs on this laptop in preparation for the new laptop to arrive.
• Today is also the day that my new computer arrives from DELL.  We'll see what kind of impression Windows 8 leaves on me.  From what I have experienced so far, it isn't my favourite.  

So, as you can see, it has already been a productive day and I am very THANKFUL for that!  After reading this post, are YOU tired yet?  My head is pounding right now, so I may have to have a little 15-minute nap before the laptop arrives!  

How has your Monday turned out?  Busy?  Crazy? Just right?

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

JOY

We attended a Trunk-or-Treat (ToT) on Saturday night at a new church right up the street from our house: First Baptist Church McDonough - West Campus.
It was our first ToT and it was a lot of fun.
We decided that all the people that were there were nice and that we would try their church service the next day at 11.
While I was sitting in this little church, a thought came over me and I couldn't stop thinking about it....
It hit me really hard and I felt the need to share with all of you: JOY.
Whenever I have come into contact with Christ Followers, JOY is apparent within them. It comes out of their pores, their eyes show it, their actions and their body language show it.
I miss that pure joy and I am really glad that we, as a family, are actively pursuing a church home again. After a long time away, you start to feel kind of LOST. Thank goodness God never loses us and welcomes us back with open arms like the prodigal son.
The funny thing about Sunday's service is that it was about New Beginnings. Kind of hits home, eh?
I am looking forward to having more JOY and seeing where this little church will take us, if it is the right spot for our family or not, if we feel the pull to volunteer with Ministry again. Who knows....but more JOY? I'm ready!!

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Project Life - September 2012

Here is the latest that I have done in the Project Life Album. 

 September and October have been busy months, but I have September done up until the 19th. The pictures are printed, but this weekend at the retreat, I figured I had other things I needed to focus on.  Project Life is so EASY to keep up to date, that I can take a couple hours on the weekend and get caught up.  What scrapbooker can tell you that they can take that little time to BE CAUGHT UP? 

LOVE Project Life!

   

So there you have it! September 20th is the end date for now.  Next week I will finish off September, including our Family Vacation to Destin Florida!

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~

Project Life Update #2 - August 2012

Here is the last month's worth of Project Life Updates that I have been working on.  I have my DSLR packed, so please excuse the grainy photos. I am using my OLD point and shoot camera and it isn't that great.  But I wanted to kind of "catch up" with my posts while I am at Skyline #10.  I have a to-do list a mile long while I am up there!

  

 

  

  

  

  

  

   

  

Design G Plastics are really rocking my world in this project!  I added extra journaling boxes for the last day of August because I had a longer story to tell. I love that Project Life is so versatile!

How are you doing?  What is your hiccup (if any) with Project Life?  If you haven't started Project Life, what is stopping you?  What is the hold-up?  This has been the easiest and fastest way for me to document "A Year in The Life" of our family.  You really should try it!

I am off to Skyline for my Semi-Annual Scrapbooking Retreat and I still have a bunch to do before I leave, so I am off to get packed and organized!  

Until Next Time,
SCRAP ON!
~Cyn~