It's officially offical!

We are moving to TILDENVILLE! You have to be part of the family to understand, but best part is... we are moving THIS WEEKEND!!! Woo Hoo, Brix Hwy here we come!

TFT: thoughts for thursday... computer/internet usage

I was reading Heather's Blog (TFT: How in touch are you?). Her post made me really think about something that has been sort of "heavy on my mind" for awhile.

It's no secret to anyone who knows me that I spends a ton of time on the computer. I NEED the internet and different programs I use to:

• 1) make money for my job (2 different jobs)
• 2) I sell/buy things on Ebay
• 3) I blog for 2 blogs
• 4) I email: this is really the way I keep in contact with my extended family members. Many of them live out of state.

Basically I am curious to see how all of you balance your internet time and usage. I have always enjoyed spending time surfing the net, keeping up with other people's lives, weather that be by myspace, facebook, bloglines, email or whatever. It's honestly time consuming!

I have a routine that I go through every time I get online and its usually like this (in order):

1. check email
2. check bloglines
3. check myspace or facebook if something is in my regular email indicating a message from either of these.
4. check ebay
5. check Creative Memories consultant network for updates and other business information.

Then sometimes I add on checking:

1. Craigslist
2. Paypal
3. chat with friends who have messengers (myspace or yahoo) catch up with them
4. random blog surfing

I really think I need to "cut back" on the time I am spending on the computer and use it only for specific times. My mom and I had a talk a few weeks ago how we sort of wake up in the morning and wait to see what emails we have gotten and a lot of times that sort of sets the tone for the day... meaning there are usually things in the inbox that require business type attention. I find myself checking it several times a day or even hourly just to keep up on things. I was also talking to my up line in creative Memories and she said she does the same thing. Waits for emails so she can stay on top of "work" and keep her customers happy in a quick manner. Email is GREAT for that and I think it's even better than the phone because I can get an answer after checking a few things out or whatever the circumstances might be.

I HATE talking on the phone... unless I am really bored. My mom got after me today because she says I never answer my phone. We have both cell phones and a home phone and honestly I just get sick and tired of getting the dang phone. It rings all the time. Most of the time I leave my cell phone in the car and figure I can return calls when I check my email. I don't like putting my family "on hold" while I take a phone call. However I do know (thank you mom) that it is VERY important to answer your phone especially when you are trying to build a business. I get that and I do try to be a great communicator and promptly return any calls I may have missed. We have caller ID so even if they don't leave a message I know what I have missed.

Anyway... to wrap this post up... I am curious and would like to hear some input from all of you who are balancing phone calls, emails, Internet time, computer time, etc. Do you find it difficult to balance and if you do... have you done anything to restrict your time away from that in an effort to intentionally balance everything else on your plate? What has worked for you? What hasn't worked for you?

editorial note: I went back and spell checked this post before I published it... I just realized that internet stuff/phone stuff has a language all of it's own. (things my spell check didn't like: myspace, texting, paypal, craigslist, Internet, Ebay) imagine trying to tell someone who knew nothing about internet, what you do all day on the internet... that could be interesting to explain!

I think I LOVE...

DAVID COOK! SO SO SO glad he just won IDOL!

Saturday's are great

We spent the morning just hanging out with Lauren and Carson, then we headed out to the big town of Onsted garage sales. Good times let me tell ya! Kayla found a Dora backpack for Carson and he is walking around right now singing the "backpack" and "map" song. It's freakin cute! I did find a leap pad thing for Carson and it came with a backpack to hold all the stuff, the cartridges, and a bunch of books. He also got just about every truck, motorcycle, car, anything with wheels at every garage sale we found. Most people were just like... oh just let him have it you don't have to even pay for it. Honestly people this is the one time I don't have to tell him no to most everything, really I don't mind paying a quarter for a car! It's WELL worth it with him... he WILL play with it. I figure it's something we can keep in the car since it's all nicely "packaged" so when he gets bored in the car, I can occupy him! He also got a little lawn chair to use at Kenedey's games for a buck!

Kenedey didn't find much, however at the end she did find a smoothie maker thingy. Apparently you put ice cream in it and m&m's or something and then turn it on and it combines it all and puts it in the glass... yeah note to self... don't buy other peoples junk because there is a reason it is sitting out there in their yard sale... and Kari... this is now YOUR junk! I can see her using this a whole maybe 2 times in her life if we are lucky!

This afternoon, Kenedey, Jessi, Kayla and I all went scrapbooking in Adrian. It was fun as it always is. I got a whole 3 pages done. Actually pretty darn good for me. I usually only get about 5 done at all day crops. I wanted to scan them to show, however, my printer doesn't scan 12x12 very easily too difficult for me to figure out.

I am going to take some pictures tomorrow so I promise to have more tomorrow.

The below post is just to prove...

That I really am blogging everyday. Last night blogger had something wrong with it and it wasn't saving my drafts and then it just lost my entire post. dang it! I refuse to finish it because that's well... just annoying. Oh well so we move on!

This afternoon, Kayla and I decided that we would head out to some garage sales. I love garage sales :-) I don't go very often and haven't had the chance to much in the past. So Kayla found some on Craigslist and we headed out to Grass Lake. It was a bit of a disappointment because the "big" neighborhood sale on Craigslist, was a whole 2 houses! Whoo Hoo. I did find some cute stuff at one of them for Lauren. Some really great girlie stuff. I also found Carson this great shelf for his room that is actually a truck. I think it will be cute to set his cars on in his room.

Tomorrow morning Onsted is having their annual garage sales in the village, so I have plans to get out there around 9am. I don't need more crap to have to move, but really you can find some awesome stuff out there and nice stuff and for dang cheap. I am a sucker for good deals.

Kenedey had another softball game tonight. They did NOT win by any means. I don't even know the score! They played a Napoleon team and they were a really good team and were coached VERY well. I was very impressed with their coach. Great communicator with the girls and he knew the game very well. Anyway... too bad for our girls, but they are looking better and better all the time. Kenedey got one base hit, one walk, and one strike out. I guess you could call that a "well rounded game"! LOL I really enjoy going and watching the girls play. Ken enjoys it so much. Sports do so much for kids in my opinion.

Lauren is here tonight to stay while Jessi went out for the evening. I have plans tomorrow to go a crop in the evening. My upline in Creative Memories has a crop every month. I haven't been able to go yet, so tomorrow I am going to go for 1/2 the time from 3-9. Kenedey is going to go too, so it should be fun!

Big News....

for us anyway! Kenedey has had a big space maintaniner in the bottome of her mouth since she was about 5. She had to have 2 teeth pulled at that age so they put this big bridge thing in the bottom of her mouth that looked a lot like a permanent retainer.



It served its purpose and could have been taken out about 3 years ago. Kenedey has refused to have it out. The dentist said that it wouldn't hurt anything for it to be there, but wasn't serving any purpose.

Life... playing catch up!

Here I am finally.. I am completely out of the blogging habit for some reason. I am going to give it a try and blog everyday for the next week.

Life is busy as usual around here. First the house... we have found MORE things that are going to cost us MORE money. We are both feeling like we should throw the towel in on this one and get out while we are still ahead. It has been a huge learning process and a tough one at that. I'll keep you all posted on what we decide to do. I can say for now though that we have started to look again!

Kenedey is doing great with softball! She has had 2 games. First game a week ago Monday she struck out 3 times. They did end up winning the game though 13-8. Not bad for a pretty inexperienced team! Then they had another game this past Monday. Ken did great. This is her first year playing. It was a lot of fun because they played the other Onsted team, so a few of Kenedey's friends were on the opposing team. I had a terrible time not cheering for the other girls too! I just cheered for them indivually, not for "their" team! Kenedey ended up with 2 base hits and made it home on one of them. Maddie her best bud was pitching for the opposite team! Apparently Maddie was giving Kenedey glares! All in good fun of course!

When Ken got up to bat, Maddie and the catcher were talking to each other. The catcher who also happens to be in Kenedey's class said to Maddie... "don't worry... it's JUST Kenedey!" Well she got on base right away! Nice way to make your buds eat their words! That game ended up we lost by one. It was a tie in the final inning! I was so proud of them all! Maddie's mom had made a comment that the teams were poorly balanced regarding experienced players, meaning that Kenedeys team has quite a few who have never played before and not a lot who are seasoned players. So another great reason why they proved to play so well!

This past Sat. I went and did Kaitlyn's hair for Napoleon's prom. Kaitlyn is Jessica's niece. I really am just posting these pictures for her to see!

My great grandma is keeping me and Kenedey busy. I have been running her to appointments and errands. I love doing this with her because it makes me feel useful and also gives me time to spend with her! I just love her as you already know!

Last weekend I watched a bunch of kiddos so their parents could go out! I had Kaylyn, Daymian, Lauren, Kenedey, & Carson. They did great. I have never actually watched Kaylyn and her and Carson were pretty funny together! Here's a few pictures for you Nikki!

More to come soon!

Hi everyone! It's been a way busy week. kayla and I went to The Great Lakes Mega Meet yesterday in Novi. What a great time! I have never seen anything quite like it!

For those of you who don't know what the Mega Meet is... It is a huge scrapbooking convention! I found some awesome items that I am so excited about, and the good news is... we are having a crop next week so hopefully we will be able to use some of them then!

I have plans for tomorrow to do some SERIOUS blog updating! Lots to update! More soon!

The Chelsea Treehouse

The 2nd Birthday Party went awesome!!!

Best part from my perspective... I didn't have to do ANYTHING. I know that sounds lazy, however... with all the moving, house stuff, and life in the midst of that... I don't think I could have carried out another party that was fun this year.

The special part was that my Grandma Grace (who is almost 89) just got back from Florida (she goes down for the winter) and she came to the party. I can't even believe she is able to get out to do that type of thing let alone want to do that type of thing. That's 5.... YES FIVE... generations that she has gotten to know! How special!

We had the party at The Chelsea Treehouse. They were fabulous with helping us. They served all the food/drinks, decorated, cleaned up, lit candles, EVERYTHING! Best part was, it was actually very afforable too. I highly recommend doing this type of thing!

Carson was a little stinker for the beginning of the party. He was overdue for lunch. Once he ate, he was back to his old self again! I took him to see his cake and he was OVERJOYED!!! He made the "ka-pow-ka-chow"... um... got lightening??!

When they put the cake in front of him, he tried to run the car along the frosting. Very cute! He loved it when everyone sang to him and then I told him to blow out the candles and he did it like he had done it a 100 times! Smart little dude!

Presents were interesting. He did a really good job opening everything, but got stuck on a couple of items. In particular... Aunt Tammy got him a vaccume cleaner and we all know how obsessed he is with the vaccume. Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if he wears that thing out within the first month! I think that is probably a new favorite toy! The lightening McQueen from the cake was also a favorite toy... I think he carried that everywhere today!

... ...

Happy 2nd Birthday Carson!

Dear Carson,

Well, here we are already 2 years out from the day you were born. I have to be all mushy here and tell you that I remember the night you were born and just you and I were in my hospital room and I held you and was just in awe of your precious little face, with the big dimple in your chin. You still have those amazing eyelashes that I hoped your daddy would pass on to you! That part of my heart that you snuggled into that night I can still feel it.

The biggest surprise to me is honestly how fast these 2 years have flown. I know us parents always say, time goes by so quickly. But really, it honestly seems like a month ago that you were sleeping on daddy's chest for your naps and he would hold you for hours.

You are such a little boy now. You are saying so many things everyday. Some of your favorites:

• Shis-see (sissy)... wha you do-en?
• wheredit go... you have to say the go part really high!
• mater, mcqueen, salee, mone: all the cars crew
• Dowa (dora)
• Nina (Nannie)
• la-tssss (you have that "s" sound goin on now
• you said "Angie"plain as day last night
• at your birthday party today you went around to everyone and said "thanks and then the person's name." It was very genuine! You made me so proud.
• the list is now endless to all the things you say. I am loving watching you learn new ways to communicate with us everyday. It's also been great that the whining has dimished some!

You are getting taller and you have your own little mannerisms and so many of them remind me of your daddy. I was watching you walk in front of him the other day and it was honestly like a little mini-me version! You guys had no clue how much you resembled each other at that moment, but I did. You also like to wear your "haat" like your dad! I haven't decided if this is a good thing or a bad thing! I think Nana would say... "oh no, not another Jason." However, just mimic all of daddy's good qualities, there are lots of them there! ;-)

You LOVE Jack and Lauren and ask for them on a daily basis. Everytime we write your name on paper you also ask that I write all of their names too. When Jack came into your party today you had the BIGGEST hug for him and then for Lauren too. I think it's awesome that the "friends" you have, you just love so much. I hope this a quality you will keep forever.

I know your sister has a huge place in her heart for you. When you have to be disciplined, a lot of times she cries too. She is so so sweet to you and would give you her last leg if she had to! You are a lucky little guy to have such a great sister to look up to. I know your relationship of the adoration she has for you is something you guys will carry as you continue to get older! I love watching your sibling relationship. With me not growing up with any siblings living in the same home as me, I really enjoy watching you two "just be" you... together!

Thank you buddy for being the little guy you are. I just cannot tell you how much I adore you and my love for grows more and more everyday. You lighten my day with your little smile and the greatest hugs and kisses a mommy of a son could ask for. You are THE BEST!

Happy 2nd Birthday Carson! We Love You!!!

Love, Mommy

password protecting

Hi everyone.

My mom is here visiting from Florida, we are already having a great time as usual. Tonight we were talking about blogs, and I mentioned I get hits from everywhere.... well that got us talking.

Based on a recommendation from my mom... I am going to password protect this site. Beginning on Tues, May 5, 2008

If you want me to email you a password, leave me a comment!

Laughing so hard, I cried!!!

Conversation as Kenedey got out of the shower this morning:
(she was listening to the radio while she was in the shower and the screen says who sings the songs that are playing)

Kenedey: "Mom do you know who sings this song?"

Me: "Um...yeah I think it's Justin Timberlake and.... let me think.... um I am not sure who else."

Kenedey: (big wide eyes like she was surprised) "mom, it says Madonna"

Me: "oh yeah that's right, I would have never gotten that right though"

Kenedey: "Is she still alive?"

Mom: "yes, Ken she is alive, and she has a daugther who is the same age as you"!!!!

messin around