March of Dimes WalkAmerica

So here's our team before the walk. Laurie and I had to catch the train at 6:05 in the MORNING!!! on a SUNDAY!!! to be there in time to register. With there being fewer trains on the weekend that was the latest train that would get us there in time to register and walk. So we got downtown a little before 7am (let me mention that I don't usually get up before 7:30..and yet here I was showered, dressed and up and about) and registration started at 8am. So we wandered a bit found a Dunkin Donuts (breakfast of champions, no?) and a Starbucks to get breakfast (Kev it's all your fault for hooking me on the Green Tea Fraps! that's ok I love you anyway...and besides they taste SOOOOO good!). So we wandered back over a little before 8 and were some of the first to register. We sat on the curb at the starting line and ate our breakfast, since the walk didn't start until 9. We walked the 6.2 miles in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. We really hauled booty because we wanted t catch the 12:05 train, other wise we would have had to wait until 2 for the next one. It was fun, it was tiring, but most of all it was for a good cause! Between the 2 of us we beat our team fundraising goal of $400 dollars, we raised $440 (Thanks everyone who donated!!!). On a down note I really did a number on my left foot. The little toe has a HUGE blister and the one next to it has a cut caused by the little toe's nail. so I got a jolt when I got home and took my shoe off, my sock was a bloody mess. I'm sore and achy everywhere, but it's ok, it'll get better. The part that irks me the most is that I forgot to wear sunscreen! the back of my neck, the lower half of my face (I was wearing a hat) and my forearms are crispy.

Final reminder

March of Dimes Walk America (Chicago) is coming up in 4 days! Please if you were putting it off donating, now is the time to go and donate. Our team is so very close to meeting it's goal! I just now we can raise even more then our goal. The link to donate it in the right hand column, every little bit helps!

HOORAY for Spring!!

Aidan and I had a lovely Sunday drive today, disguised as running errands. It was eighty outside too, fantastic! We got to ride with the windows down, didn't have to wear jackets, and it was fabulous! The wind in our hair, the tunes on the radio. Quality time with my little man. It was as close to perfect as it could get! the only thing missing was Ian, but he works tonight and so he HAD to go to sleep. All in all an fantastic day!

Past due

I realize that people have been blogging and commenting on the tragedy that occurred on Monday at Virginia Tech. I was avoiding doing so. I felt that anything I could possibly have to say would be redundant, or wouldn't be profound enough to do justice to the 32 lives that were taken. I realize that I'm wrong. I'm not even afraid to say that. I'm wrong. I have to admit that I have been avoiding TV more then usual, and I've avoided the headlines as well. I am without a doubt a coward. If I don't see it, it didn't happen right? If I can just focus on something else this will not effect me, right? Wrong! It effects me. Did I know anyone who attends or attended the school? No. Do I grieve for the families that lost someone? Hell yes! How does this effect me? It makes me eternally grateful for the fact that my husband attends university online. It makes me worry about the prospect of Aidan going out into the world to attend school. (it puts another drop in the bucket for the possibility of home schooling Aidan) It reminds me that this could happen anywhere! Just last week there was something on the news about a gun making it's way into an area high school. The school has metal detectors at every entrance. That didn't stop two high schoolers from being injured. I have to say that I am horrified by what happened at Virginia Tech. I am astounded that this happened in yet another school! I am confused as to how mankind can continue to slaughter each other.
I feel as though the world as a whole has been robbed of a great deal of potential. The butterfly effect is something I have recently become aware of, and something that I think is very relevant. Simply put, something that happens today can have a large effect on tomorrow. All those lives lost, in my mind, had an infinite amount of potential that will now never be realized. What if one of the 32 (or one of their would have been descendants) that died Monday would have been the next great scientist? Artist? Humanitarian? Inventor? World Leader? All that potential snuffed out by one madman. When I say madman, I am not basing that on anything read in newspapers or seen on TV. I am basing that on my belief that you would have to be crazed to go and commit such a HORRIBLE act of violence against mankind.

I can't say anything more them this: My heart and prayers go out to the families of the victims. I only hope that they are eventually able to find peace.

4 weeks and counting

since we put Aidan in his under-roos all day, and about 2 and half since he's been wearing them over night. He is totally rocking this potty training thing! I'm so proud. in those 4 weeks he's only had 3 accidents and they were all in the first week and were all just beause he didn't get there soon enough. I am now a firm believer in the concept that when a child is truly ready it will go smoothly. I mean we had tried several times before and it did not go well. This was like a walk in the park this time. He's such an awesome little man!

Taged yet again... (stole your title Jax :) )

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

Well here we go...
1- I'm anal about my pants. Because I'm tall they HAVE to be long enough to fall over the tongues on my shoes when standing, and the part that I'm REALLY anal about is they can not be behind the tongues on my shoes that have to fall over the tongue. I am known to stop (in mid-stride) to fix them if they're not right. It drives me nuts, LOL.
2- I am totally hair style-ing challenged. I have never been able to get my hair to look like it does right after the stylist cuts and styles it. I also can't do much more with my own hair than a pony tail or twisting it and using a clip on it.
3- I really like cooking and trying new recipes, but I LOATHE doing dishes.
4-I can't swim. Even though I've taken lessons 3 different times. I think it's because I don't like having my head under water or getting water in my ears or nose.
5-I have major self-esteem issues, I just tend to hide them very well.
6-I prefer to be the one driving when ever I go somewhere. It's not that I don't trust someone else driving, it's just that I feel like I'm not in control and I get a bit jittery. (God help me when Aidan starts driving, I just know I'll be freaking out in the passeneger seat. I wonder if I can get a car like they had in driver ed, with a break on the passenger side?)
7-I'm thinking of home-schooling Aidan.

Tagging anyone who hasn't done this already.

Tagged by Meghan

just go to Wikipedia. Type in your b-day.List 3 events, 2 important birthdays, 1 death & 1 holiday that occured on your birthday.Link back to my blog if I tagged you.

Here's mine: August 18th

Events
1868-French astronomer Pierre Jules Cesar Janssen discovers helium
1963-American Civil rights movement:James Meredith becomes the first black person to graduate from the University of Mississippi.
1969-Jimi Hendrix plays the unofficial last day of Woodstock

Births
1904-Max Factor (Polish-born cosmetics entreprenuer
1952-Patrick Swayze (American Actor)

Death
1227-Genghis Khan (Khagan of Mongol Empire)

Holiday
Austrailia-Long Tan Day (also called Vietnam Veterans' Day) named after the Battle of Long Tan

I never know who to tag, so I'll just tag anyone who reads this who hasn't already been tagged by someone else.

A night out wth Colin and Brad Layout

This is a bunch of pictures from last July when Ian, Kevin and I went to see this show live in Atlantic City. This was our first time in AC and just our luck there casinos were shut down due to a strike or something ( I can't remember now) The entire state was basically shut down. Anyway we were still able to go and see the show at the casino, we just couldn't gamble. THe show was very funny, and this is the last little bit of it, where the improve based on audience input, while blind folded. Also the stage was covered in set mouse traps. AND they were barefoot. LOL Funny stuff.

Layout credits.

Papers are from the Raging Sea kit which you can download here . you have to go throught the store, but the kit is free. and is HUGE! While you're there check out some of the other gorgeous kits for sale. I also Used template2 from the Kwikplate2 set. The fonts used were Jester and Times New Roman.

Meet the Robinsons & Bernie Mac

What do the two things in the title of this post have in common? Well we (my godmother, Aidan and I) went to see the movie "Meet The Robinsons" at the Marcus cinema in Orland Park and while we were in line to get our popcorn and snacks guess who was in front of us!?! That's right Bernie Mac! I would neverhave realized it if he hadn't spoken to me first! I was scolding Aidan for stepping away from me (I mean, hello we were in a crowded place!). Any-who, I told him "don't you ever do that again, you stay next to me!" and Bernie Mac said and I quote"now that's a good mama". and I glanced up and sort of did a double take, said thanks and then he said "well it's true". He was so nice! Very down to earth. My god-mother didn't realize who it was , so when we were sitting down to watch the movie I asked her if she realized who was in front of us and she said "who" and I told her and she was like I thought he look familar. When were getting ready to leave she saw him again and asked him if he was really Bernie Mac? (lol) and he very nicely turned around a said "yes ma'am I am". Such a bizarre small world!

So the movie was awesome! This was Aidan's first time going to a theater. He was SO SO SO good! I was really impressed. He thought the movie was really funny, but the seats apparrantly made the biggest impression! He pulled it down turned around to sit and right back up it wenr, LOL he didn't know what to make of that a first, so I held it down so he could climb up. He was so cute, I kept glancing over and was just watching intently and munching away on his popcorn (he ate the whole kiddie sized serving). It was an awesome evening, will definitely be buying this one when it comes out on DVD. "2 enthusiastic thumbs up"!

Aidan and the Easter Bunny

There is also a slideshow in the post below of the other pics I got taken for Easter.
Happy Easter Everyone!

Aidan April2007

3rd post of the day!

I took the little guy to see the Easter Bunny, and also got some professional shots done too. pictures to come as soon as I can scan them. He was such a ham. The had music playing over the PA system and he was JAMMING while we waited for his pictures. it was HILARIOUS. I wish I had brought my camera so that I could have recorded him dancing. It was priceless.

Just a quick reminder

That I will be walking on April 29th on Chicago's Lake Front for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica. If anyone would like to sponsor me, the link is in the sidebar! Every little bit helps! Help us save babies. Also if anyone is in the Chicago area and would like to join our team we'd be happy to have you! there's also a link in the sidebar for that as well.

Here's a little info about the March of Dimes and what this charity does.

Did you know that premature birth is the leading cause of new born death in the first month of life? It affects 1,305 babies a day in the United States. Those who survive may have lifelong health problems. And premature births are on the rise -- up to 27% since 1981.
That is why I am asking you to support me in March of Dimes WalkAmerica. Because premature birth can happen to any pregnant woman. In nearly half the cases, the causes are unknown. The March of Dimes is leading the way to find answers by supporting research into the causes of premature birth. I am joining the fight, and so can you.
Your support helps fund:-Research into stress and other factors that may trigger preterm labor.-Programs to educate pregnant women to recognize the warning signs of preterm labor.-Tools to help health care providers find better ways to detect women who may be at risk for preterm labor.
Please join in and help fight prematurity. Visit my webpage and sponsor me in the Walk that saves babies!
edited:
Just a little note, I went to make my own donation today (boy do I know how to procrastinate!) and discovered that this year they made it so you can even donate through PayPal. That sure makes it easy doesn't it?

Radiant LO

This is a picture of Ian’s aunt Linda when she was expecting Tommy. Wasn’t she radiant?
Layout credits: Herbal Garden Kit by Ashley Bailey at www.digitaldivasdesigns.com. I also used one of the templates in the Kwikplate 2 set from www.digitaldivasdesigns.com
Font Credits: CK Print

Spring-ish Banner

Felt like it was time to change up the banner.
I started out with a 4x6 template by Ginger Thibodeau. But I trimed it down so it would fit better on the blog.
I used the Heirloom Orchid Kit by Ashley Bailey of www.digitaldivasdesigns.com . totally loving this kit. The spring word art is by Stacey Truman of www.1HourScrap.com .

Holy cow! I played with paper today!!

Here's the first paper page I've done in about 9 months! The scan didn't come out as good as I would have liked, but you can at least get the idea.
The background is Bazzill, the star paper is BoBunny (a RAK from Tara! thanks Tara!!), the multi-colored squares is by Creative Imaginations (and was something I got from Abby. Thanks Abby!) The title (Boys) are epxoy stickers by Creative Imagination, as is the little oval by the ricrac. But the came out of 2 different packages. The round stamp that says "Family" is by 7 Gypsies and is one I got for Christmas (thanks Mom!!) The other journaling one is a FontWerks, clear stamp (also a christmas present, but that one came from my darling hubby, thanks Ian!!!) Last thing used is the ricrac which is new from May Arts, comes in several colors and is SO SO SO soft. Love it.
The picture is Ian and his brothers this past summer being silly. The journaling says "See no, Hear no, Speak no evil. You guys sure can be silly sometimes."