I've been to the year 3000

not much has changed but.............I am OLD and my ears are still ringing!!!

So, yesterday was the BIG day!!! Brendan wanted to see his FAVORITE FAVORITE group the Jonas Brothers!!!! I was able to get fairly good tickets -- row 22 center on the isle -- we were surrounded by about 5000 SCREAMING teen and pre-teen girls and about 20 boys - there were various parents here and there -- Brendan had a great time - they (the Brothers) actually had a better show than I expected. I took my camera in and took about 2000 - 2500 photos. I'll post some when I get done turning and editing them. In the event you haven't been able to enjoy them to the fullest I will first post Whitlee's FAVORITE song/video of them (Yes, my 3 year old is obsessed with them) -- Brendan didn't want a tshirt so we bought Whitlee one:)

Without further ado I give you The Jonas Brothers and the Year 3000....enjoy:)



And now, here is Brendan's FAVORITE song/video. The Jonas Brothers and S.O.S.

Rainy Days and Mondays.........

get you down............ I have been thinking of that song all day ---why? Well, because it rained and rained today!!!

A quick post today -- Brendan is loving middle school -- today we went to the 6th grade girls first basketball game -- Cascade has 2 teams and they played each other. Guess what??? Cascade won:) Specifically, the Gold team won (Emily is on that team!!!)

I did a photo shoot this weekend -- I took a couple of shots of Brendan.

The boys are of course JC and Christopher.

The actions used were Vintage Love and Rockstar both by Holly McCaig

O dark early bird...............

doesn't get the worm it gets CRANKY!!!! So, I know I know eventually I'll get used to getting up at the awful hour -- Man, I tell you by about 3ish I am not a fun mommy!!!!

Brendan thus far is thriving in middle school (sob!!!). He has made a new friend a boy in the honors program his name is Cameron -- he is new to the school district. Brendan gets to eat lunch with his friends Jonathan, Sara and Emily AND he is determined to eat pizza every single day this year for lunch --- he is on a mission.

Whitlee....well, she is adjusting -- she is NOT happy about it but she is dealing with it!!! I have been playing on the computer some more here is a shot I took this summer at Lakota Beach.

Jeff started fall softball -- they have lost the 2 games that they have played but he is having fun and they haven't lost by much. He is also helping coach Brendan's soccer team -- He is a busy boy.

I think that is all for now -- I need to take a photoshop tutorial YIKES!!!!! it is 23 minutes long.

COOL!!!

Cause that is how I roll:)
I am currently trying Adobe Lightroom -- it is for photos --- I LOVE IT!!!! Check these babies out!!!


I think this is my favorite one!!!

Matthew

My cousin Sandra and her husband Sean

Life is not .....

one of my most favorite quotes is:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.

I had a series of those moments yesterday.

Brendan started middle school - He did amazingly well considering how freaking scared he was!!! I found him dressed and having already eaten breakfast sitting on the floor next to his bed staring at the wall shaking -- YIKES!!!

I didn't cry (until I got into the van!!!) After school we took in his locker shelf (he has a top locker -- This is where you are suppose to be impressed:)) and he let me take some pictures of him with his locker --- notice there isn't anyone else in the hallway!!!

Here is a layout I did last night and then some candid shots of the kiddos from our traditional first day at Starbucks.

Plopper is 3r's ~ Heather Roselli And Font is MB Pomegranate

I don't know where she gets the open mouth thing.....I think she gets it from her dad:)

September starts with a BEAUTIFUL......

baby!!!!

Yesterday (the 1st) was the BEST BEST day!!! Brendan had this uber-awesome beyond words cool teacher in 1st grade. She really got Brendan and how he worked -- this was the pre-reading Brendan. He hated it so much because he had to struggle with it. She was able to teach him to love to read. And she was Brendan's first "crush". The only strike against her.....she's a COUG!!!! We gladly forget that:)

Anyhow, Ashley married a guy who is equally as awesome as she is -- my kiddos affectionately call him "Mr. Chet" last summer. When Ash told me she was pregnant I was over the moon for them. I took some really cool maternity shots for Ash a couple of months ago. Long story short Miss Mattie was born yesterday at 7:50 am after 26 hours of labor and 1:45 of active pushing. She is BEAUTIFUL - not cutesy but strikingly beautiful like -- watch out world she will bring you to its knees. She is amazing and of course has her daddy wrapped around her little tiny perfect finger.




















Congrats Ash and Chet --- You guys done good!!!!!

24 days... really?

So, much has been going on!!! We are gearing up for school to start on Wednesday --- MIDDLE SCHOOL holy crapolicious:) Brendan is excited!!!! He was invited to the honors program and is in the choir -- singing every single day!!!

My cousin Sandra married a super guy on the 24th.

Lots has been going on I'll be back with more of an update and photos later.

Week ONE....and other stuff

OK so Pam just completed 52 weeks of getting rid of at least 7 things you don't need...You know cluttering up your life. Today is my week one! Starting on week 2 I'll post pictures of what I am getting rid of.

Here is my week ONE:
127 paperback books (donated to local library)
2 computer desks

That makes my week ONE total 129 things........not bad:)

Jeff is still in Pitt --- he can't wait to get home -- the kids have started asking when when when....How far away is Thursday?????

De-clutter de-clutter de-clutter Kids.....not happy.....I am working their butts off AND making them get rid of junk!!!! I had Brendan help take the garbage out to the curb tonight -- he did it but I heard him mutter on the way in....first, I have to help with yard work and now this---just wait until he is doing the yard work himself:)

Anyway have to run I have done 8 LOADS OF LAUNDRY TODAY!!!!!! someone needs to fold it:)

Later.............................

Daddy's gone to Pissburg, South Dakota

No -- I didn't spell it wrong -- if you currently ask Whitlee Jane where her daddy is she'll tell you Pissburg, South Dakota -- he is actually in Pittsburg. I don't know where the South Dakota came from. He'll be home on Thursday and it's not a moment to soon for the children miss him SO MUCH!!!! Our cell phones allow you to send15 second videos and so Jeff sends the kids a video at night and the kids send him one back.

Anyhow I need to run we are CLEANING!!!!!

PLEASE JUST KILL ME NOW:)

ok so we all know that I hate the "it's a small world" song --- it seriously makes me want to jump off the side of a really tall building!!! There is a song that has taken the #1 place away from it........whats the song.......................



and of course Jeff and Whitlee LOVE IT!!!!

So, here is my blog post from the 29th of July --- I just kept forgetting to post it.
I know I know I have said this before but……………..You know sometimes as a parent you find yourself watching your child battle inner demons and you want SO badly to either take them out of the situation or make it for them. Today I found myself in that position.


Today was Jeff’s softball b.b.q. AND Blake’s birthday party --- the intention was to go to the b.b.q. for just a little while and then I would take the kids to Blake’s birthday party. We got to the park for the b.b.q. – yeah I’m not even going to talk about the fact that other than Rick the only other person to be there was one person from the team……where was everyone?? The kids had a blast it turned out to be a beautiful day and the next thing we knew it was 4 O’clock!!! YIKES we missed the birthday party.

So, here is my situation --- as we all know I am NEUROTIC about my kids – not just run of the mill neurotic but we are talking on the edge of certifiable lock me away neurotic. I am sure that I will not be the last parent to be like this and I make NO apologies for this. I do feel that the neurotic nature had its start with the fact of my fertility issues…… Anyhow, Brendan aaahh my sweet young man (YOUNG MAN!!) as he gets older – especially since everything that went on with his migraines I see such a change in him – not who he is but………….I guess it would be how he carries himself. Does that make sense??? Through everything that has happened this year he has really grown and matured. I constantly struggle (almost on a daily basis) with trying as a parent to let him grow, take responsibility and try things on his own. Do all parents struggle with this??? They must right – I mean I am sure mine did. So, not far from our reserved picnic area is a zip line……..you know a cable attached to cables that you hook onto or in this case sit on the seat and hurl yourself towards the end of the cable and what you may ask stops you??? An old tire attached to the end of this thing. Brendan started scoping this thing out almost immediately – it probably took a good hour before he even mentioned it – I saw him looking at it and he was quite interested in it but he hadn’t said anything…….Rick noticed his interest and asked Brendan if he wanted to go on the Zip….Nah the line was to long…..This was the thing that I watched him struggle with the desire to try something new and the fear of a horrible ending…………So, there wasn’t a line…………he decided he just wanted to look at it NOT go on it just look at it AND he wanted both Jeff and I to go over with him. He watched 3 maybe 4 children go before he felt brave enough to even try. Jeff wanted to do the zip SO SO SO bad!!! Uh yeah……..it didn’t happen. Needless to say Brendan tried and decided he was done AN HOUR LATER!!! He loved it just loved it and I probably took at least 100 picturesJ It was difficult watching him struggle with making the decision to do it but the look on his face was something I will NEVER forget --- He is growing up regardless if I like it or not --- I sure hope I am able to get through this first year of middle school.

Whitlee discovered a new and beautiful talent today thanks to Rick….ROCK JUGGLING!!! I am NOT kidding when I say there were rocks flying EVERYWHERE. She loved it and of course there was a lot of dirt – she was SO happy she didn’t even ask to go to the swingsJ Can you believe it.

And I won’t discuss the fact I bought an electric grill thinking it was a gas one --- Hey to my defense it looked EXACTLY the same and it was 2:30 in the morning. I am SO glad Jeff caught that one!!! Could you even imagine YIKES.

Whitlee has an obsession………….with weddings……she must have seen it on a show somewhere. Anyhow in the past 3 weeks or so she has married her dad, the dog, her baby named baby, the fish, her bike, her brother and her favorite blanket – yeah you try explaining to a 3 year old that you can’t marry your dad, brother, dog, fish, baby doll, bike or blanket!!!! So, on Thursday I asked her if she wanted to see the video of when daddy and I got married. It was a bit disturbing to watch……..at the rehearsal dinner out of the 25 or so people who were there 6 of them had died. 6 doesn’t that seem like a large number?? Annie, My mom, Mima, Uncle Rick, Jeff’s Grandma Wilma & Jeff’s Aunt Sharon all of them gone. Those were just the people at the rehearsal dinner – add to that Jeff’s Grandma Ethel, His Grandpa Bill, Grandfather Howard………WOW!!! Whitlee kept asking who was that lady with her Grandpa Gary. Try explaining to a 3 year old that was his wife – her response – “that’s not Abuela” true so true!!! WOW was my hair BIG BIG BIG!!!

It's been a few days but as always we have been busy~~~~

I got and finished the last Harry Potter book....no hints or spoilers from me I just can't wait for Jeff and Brendan to finish the book so we can talk about it!!!!!!!!!!

Kids are doing well---enjoying the summer..........

What..................it's been 10 days:)

So, you say to yourself……..FINALLY…..prepare for a LONG post!! But, before I get to the stuff that has been occupying our lives here are some of the recent scrapbook pages I have done.





















Plopper: Sweet tart - Hunnibunny & Victoria Freeman
Font: MB Pomegrantate





















Plopper: Cabana Boy - Traci Reed
Font: 4990810





















Frame: #8 - Heather Benson
Font: MB Pomegranate
Paper, Tag & Graphics - Sandcastles - Nit Wit Designs




















Plopper: Bright Eyes - Laura McGee
Font: MB Pomegranate



















Plopper: Bright Eyes - Laura McGee
Font: Mama Wresh Pen


























































Plopper: Old Glory - Mindy Armour
Font: MB Lemonade




















Plopper: Cabana Boy - Traci Reed
Font: MB Pomegranate




















Plopper: Summerlicious - Kim Higuera
Font: MB Pomegranate



















Plopper: Cabana Boy - Traci Reed
Font:Vagabond

Plopper - 4th Of July

Font: MB Lemonade

Plopper: Americana 02 - Neverland Scraps

Font: MB Lemonade

Plopper: Red, White & Blue - Sondra Teer

Font: MB Pomegranate

Paper - Sandy Beach Alphabet - Meryl Bartho

Frame - Realistic Shadow - Nancy Comby

Font: MB Pomegranate

Template: DIP Simple Scraps #12 - Dawn Wilson

Paper & Graphics - Peeking Baseball - Ronnie McCray

Word Art: And I Quote - Athletics -- Mandabean

Paper, Word Art & Tag - Peeking Baseball - Ronnie McCray

Font: MB Pomegranate

Paper & Word Art - Peeking Baseball - Ronnie McCray

Font: MB Pomegranate

Frame: Split Screen - Kristy Semess

Plopper: Field Day - Stephanie Whetsel

Font: 4990810

Plopper: Field Day - Stephanie Whetsel

Font: Ant

Plopper: Field Day - Stephanie Whetsel

Font: 4990810

Plopper: Field Day - Stephanie Whetsel

Fonts: 4990810 & MB Pomegranate

Plopper - Field Day - Stephanie Whetsel

Font: MB Pomegranate

Font: MB Lemonade

Paper & Brads - Peeking Baseball - Ronnie McCray

Baseball - Baseball - Roberta D'Achille

Plopper ~ Field Day - Stephanie Whetsel

Word Art - And I Quote - Athletics - Mandabean

Font: 4990810

Template: Template #33 - Kimlizzy

Paper, Word Art & Graphics - Peeking Baseball - Ronnie McCray

Plopper: Field Day - Stephanie Whetsel

Word Art - And I Quote - Athletics - Mandabean

Font: 4990810

Plopper - Stephanie Whetsel

Font: MB Pomegranate

Font: MB Pomegranate

Trophy: Playball - PC Crafters

Baseball Paper - Field Day - Stephanie Whetsel

Lace - Batter Up - Rebecca Myers

Frame (recolored) - Baseball - Debbie Pearson

Stitch Paper - Take Me Out - Gary Fryns

Jeff just finished his “summer” baseball season – I call it his summer season because in August he will start playing “fall-ball” it’s a Wednesday night league played in BALLARD!!! I guess it’s not so bad since he has been playing mostly in North Seattle.

So, life has been crazy!!! The yearbook was finished and deliveredJ WOO HOO!!! We actually sold out of them! Can you believe it!!! That has never happened before.

School is OUT OUT OUT!!! WARNING…SHAMELESS BRAGGING AHEAD!!! Brendan got a really important award – it is called The Presidential Award For Education Execellence. He got this letter from the president and certificate and a pin with the Presidential Seal. He also made the honor roll. He got an award for playing basketball. But what was his favorite award??? The Safety Patrol Person of the year. He likes that one the best…….why……….because he was the only one to get it!!! He also got something for Volleyball. His big accomplishment?? He made every single AR reading goal since they started taking them at the beginning of 2nd grade. He is very proud of that – He’ll say – “remember when I hated to read” or “I’m sure glad reading clicked for me”. SHAMELESS BRAGGING OVER (for nowJ)

So, now we wait for middle school……….Did I say middle school??? CRAP!!! I will not cry I will not freak I will not cry I will not freak…….who am I kidding I am freaking already. He is looking forward to going. He is a bit apprehensive but still looking forward to it – Change it good change is good change is good. I don’t know if I keep saying it more for him or for me. Who cares I just keep saying it. I know he is 11 and he is really going into 6th grade – he is old enough he is old enough he is old enough he is old enough………..but when I look at him I see him as that little boy who wouldn’t enter the classroom in kindergarten and stood in the doorway…I will not cry…

Whitlee is doing GREAT!!! She is loving her gymnastics class – I think we may try soccer in the fall – I just hope it doesn’t turn out like it did with Brendan. Anyhow, she is growing like a weed. We are thinking about putting her in the ECE (early childhood education) class at Evergreen Heights. She would be a peer model in the class. Am I read for that NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!! I simple cannot wrap my head around it ---

Brendan and I went and saw Harry Potter 5 – at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday night!!!! YIKES!! We took JC with us. The boys LOVED the movie. Ever the critic I say it was ok. If I hadn’t read the book I would have LOVED the movie also. I was really interested in how they were going to cut the book down to fit into the 2hr. 15 min. time frame. I wasn’t disappointed --- The scene when Sirus died about killed me!!

That is all I can think of for now --- I’ll post more later……………….