the "More"

Naturally, I'm totally exhausted again today, but...  I suppose that's just the way it is these days.  I can't expect to get enough sleep AND do all the 'stuff' I want to do.  But I said there'd be more today, so...  here's the "more". 

I figured out why I've not written anything this week.  I've been trying to decide just how to put into words some memories of my mom, and that's oh-so-very hard for me.  When I work on writing about her, I usually end up avoiding it.  I still miss her every day, and writing makes me miss her even more.   But I will, because it's important to remember.  I'm just not going to do that today.  Instead, for right now, I'm going to think more about my resolutions...

I've been doing so-so on the picture of the day thing.  I'm sure the kids will wonder why some days there are pictures of snow, or of my running shoes, or of some other silly thing that's not so silly to me.  Hopefully, my journaling cards will explain why I choose the pictures I choose.

Speaking of pictures, I'm trying to expand my photographic horizons by using various filters and effects in photoshop.  Here's the photo I'm using as the blog background for the next couple of weeks until Valentine's Day.

And here's the original

I like both, but in different ways.  I think I'm going to have alot of fun with photoshop!

FAIL!

Ok, well...  So...  I said I was resolved to post at least every other day, and the last post I wrote was on the 17th.   And today's the 25th.  I gotta admit...  that's an extreme FAIL. 

Oh, well....  Back at it.   I guess it's only real failure if I just give up.  And I'm not doing that!

More on that tomorrow, though...  I'm exhausted tonight, and it's off to bed for me!

Cupcakes, Take THREE

Well, Jennifer asked me to make cupcakes for Jessica's birthday, and when I asked what theme she wanted, she said "underwater".  Here's what I came up with...

and

Cupcakes Take Two

OK, so...  I was looking through pictures in a flickr group that I am a member of, and I found the most amazingly creative cupcake!  It was a sunflower in another member's photo stream.  (if you follow this link, you'll see how amazing those are!) I've been chompin' at the bit to try to make some myself, and today was my day.

I think they turned out pretty darned good.  Next time, though, I'm definitley going to use the oreo mini cookies.  The regular oreos are almost as big as a cupcake! 

On my own...

The Handsome Husband left for Florida this morning, along with the rest of the pipe band.  He (and thus, I) was up at 3:45, and he was out the door at 4:25.  I had every intention of going back to bed until it was time to get the kids up and at it for school, but....  I had a cup of coffee.  Then I turned on the morning news.  Then a little time passed.  Then a little more.  And then, well, it was too late.  So...  I'm a wee bit sleepy today.  I didn't really HAVE to get up when he did.  But I thought he'd need some coffee and he was in a rush to get everything together, so there I was, pouring a thermos full of dark roast for him at 4:00 am.

Once the kiddos were up and moving, I went to work out, and got the day started right.  I would LOVE to be able to do that every day!  It  makes such a difference.  I half expected to go back for a second work out this evening with the Jack man, but I just picked him up from school.  He's got a migraine, and the nurse sent him home.  :(  Poor kid.  So...  it looks like it'll be a quiet night at home for us tonight!

Grrrr....

Life in Illinois.  Grrrrr...  

The state's broke
They've raised our taxes
The state's still going to be broke
Illinois jobs are being filled by non-residents
Illinois residents are still unemployed

I could go on for days.  But that's a sampling of why "grrrrrr..."

On a brighter note, I did lose 5 pounds last week.  I guess cutting those snickers out of my diet really did make a difference!  Ha!  Of course, I'm sure the massive quantities of celery I've been ingesting hasn't hurt.  Or the other fruits and veggies, the tons of water or the regular, small-ish, human-sized portions I've returned to having.  

Whatever combo of things, I lost 5 pounds.    Life is good.  Even if I am living in Illinois.

Week 1

OK, well..  I, uh, well...  I tried really hard to not get carried away and get all "mom" and start posting pictures of my Project Life project, but...  I can't take it.  I gotta do it.  On the oh-so-extremely remote chance that Matt (or anyone else, for that matter) actually occasionally checks the blog, I gotta make sure it shows what's goin' on here in my corner of the world. 

Besides, I was scanning through about 50 different blogs tonight, lots of which have posts about various styles of picture-of-the-day projects, and I've gotten "the bug" to share.

The girls started the year off as karaoke rock stars, after spending the day re-organizing the video games and game systems.

On the 2nd, Jack realized that we were serious about getting ready to go back to school after the break.  He was very pouty while he practiced spelling.

 The 3rd took us to a J.V. Girls' Basketball game, where Kathryn played almost the entire game.  She was totally AMAZING!  (Even if my photographic efforts weren't!)

Since she got it, the shirt's been Sarah's favorite.  'Nuff said.

Jack got a new Bop It for Christmas, and by the 5th, he'd mastered the "master" level.  He could perfectly follow the commands  - even with the Bop It behind his back!

Just before the first of the year, Jack joined the Sherman-Williamsville Wrestling Club, and during his second week of practices, he really started to get into it.

We finished up the week with a little housework.  A Jack in trouble = A very clean room!

And that sums up our first week.  I have no idea if I'll post all of every week's entries, or if I'll end up posting occasional pics here and there, but I'm sure you'll see more of my POTD/Project Life project.