2009 August

Celebrating Back to School With A QUICK Giveaway!

August 31, 2009 By Heather 10 Comments

So, it is 10:26 A.M. and I have been up for nearly 5 hours at this point. This is normal.

Now it is 10:27 A.M. and Giggles has been up for nearly 5 hours at this point. This is a new normal that has been going on for the past 2 weeks.

Now 10:28 A.M. and The Chicken has been up for nearly 5 hours. And folks, this is not normal. She hasn’t seen 5:45 A.M. probably ever! She is not a morning person.

Remember this?

But, when I woke her up for her first day of school this morning at 5:45 A.M. expecting a fight-I got sunshine and rainbows folks. Seriously, I kid you not.

Sunshine and flipping rainbows. There might of been a unicorn thrown into the mix. She was dressed, groomed, and filled up with breakfast by 6:20! Yes that is still in the A.M. I am not sure how long this trend will continue. Heck, she could crash and burn as soon as she hits the side door. But for now I am celebrating!

Celebrating?!!? You may ask.

Yes sir-ee, Jim-Bob! Celebrating!

Today I am hosting a giveaway from Uprinting for not one reader but TWO! You know because I have two happy daughters that have been up for nearly 5 hours this morning. ~~Or because the nice folks at Uprinting offered 2 sets of prizes to my readers.~~

Not one but TWO winners will win a set of 250 7×5 Half fold custom greeting cards!

What are some of the things you can do with 250 half fold greeting cards?

For me-I instantly thought Christmas Cards! Or What about a House Warming Party invite?

Birth/Adoption Announcements. If you have a business you could use these or custom post cards for your business.

Whatever you decide to use your cards for, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

How to win

1) Comment here on this blog with how you would use your 250 7×5 Greeting Cards

For additional entries you can

1)Tweet about the contest with a link to this post and come back here and leave me the link

2)Update your facebook status about the contest including the link and come back here and leave me the link

3)And finally you can blog about this contest on your own blog and leave a link to your blog in the comments

Now onto the fine print

Two (2) winners shall receive 250 7 x 5″ Greeting Cards (Half-Fold); 10 pt Cover with matte or gloss Coating, Full color Outside & Blank inside (4/0) Shipping MUST be paid by winners. Offer Valid in the UNITED STATES ONLY (A big I am really sorry to my Canadian friends!) This contest will end September 3, 2009 at Midnight. With the winner being announced Friday September 4, 2009

I was not paid by Uprinting to post this, I will however receive 250 7×5 greeting cards for my involvement in this giveaway.

Filed Under: 1st day of school, fun times, giveaways, life

Giggles the High Schooler

August 28, 2009 By Heather 2 Comments

Dear Giggles,

As you started off your high school career a mere 10 days ago, I have nary a photo. I feel like I have failed you just because I haven’t taken your photograph. I think I was just so overwhelmed with you starting HIGH SCHOOL, that my brain turned to mush and I had to focus on other things to keep my brain from imploding.

I know in the grander scheme of things, not having your photo from your very first day of your freshman year isn’t going to send you into years of therapy. In fact when I mentioned that I felt that I had wronged you in this simple fashion, forgetting a tradition that I even did while we were homeschooling, you just shrugged. When I probed you further you asked me, “Why would I remind you mom. Like I want to pose outside way to early in the morning for a photo.”

Ahhh, the mind of the teenager. I remember that well. Being flippant and not really caring about those ‘trival’ things that my mother cared about.

I just can’t wrap my mind around how much of a young woman you have become, how responsible you are, the things you do so that you can do the things you love. Maybe I don’t say it enough, but I am really proud of you. You just have no idea.

And truthfully, I am proud of me too. The one remark I get more often than not when introducing you people, or them learning of you is that I am not old enough to have a daughter who is nearing closer to 15 each and every day. In fact, this summer was the first summer I was ever asked if you were my biological child. Not once, but TWICE!

I had no clue what I was doing when I decided over 15 years ago that the only logical place for you was with me and no where else. I know that you hate that sometimes we can be strict & we have odd rules, but look at you-I think the odd rules have worked out to your favor.

I am not afraid to send you out into the world-sure I stagger when you ask me simple questions about hanging out with people or fret over the fact that soon enough you will have friends that drive and you will want to get in your said friend’s cars and ride around, but I trust you. I know that you know that every action that you have has consequences. And sometimes those consequences will be with you for the rest of your life.

Not that I ever think of you as a consequence, dear girl. And when people ask if I had to do it all over again, would I wait longer to have you? My reply is this….

“Would it be nice to have been older with more of a clue, sure. But if I had waited I would never have her. My sweet Alexis”

I love you honey, even if I don’t have a photo to share of your first day. We’ll get one next week to celebrate you 2 week mark in high school and I will see all that confidence in you. The confidence that will carry me through the next four years. I know you won’t make all the right choices, but I know that you will do what is right in the end.

Love, Mom

Filed Under: family, Giggles, high school, life, love

Pssst……

August 27, 2009 By Heather Leave a Comment

Today things are just All Mediocre. So go and weigh in and convince me that wallpaper is superior to paint. Altho I should warn you, you probably will fail.

Filed Under: all mediocre, life, MTT

I haven’t been here….

August 25, 2009 By Heather 1 Comment

But I have been busy working.

And dealing with my Giggles starting high school.

And fighting off a bug that I was concerned about, but now I am feeling better. But someone had me convinced it might be H1N1. Thankfully they were wrong.

Filed Under: life

You Capture-Motion

August 13, 2009 By Heather 9 Comments

This week’s theme over at Beth’s place for You Capture this week is Motion. While I admit that I didn’t take these photos with motion in mind, I was just trying to get a decent shot of Giggles at Michelle’s house while swimming on Friday.

But. Have you ever tried to take a photo of a teenager, especially a teenager who doesn’t want her photo taken? She was in motion. I was in motion dodging the water she was splashing in my direction. It was crazy.

Observe.

I finally got her!

The Chicken being chased by Miss Monkey and a very wet ball.

Filed Under: Friends, Giggles, life with The Chicken, motion, summerfun, swimming, you capture

Psssstt…

August 12, 2009 By Heather Leave a Comment

I’m over here today….so why don’t you weigh in on the debate.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

He is HOME!

August 11, 2009 By Heather 11 Comments

First off, thank you so much for everyone’s kind words and support. It meant so much to me these last 9 days. It was so hard, and I am thankful that Oscar is home again. This morning around 6 AM he showed up at the family’s cottage and woke up hubby’s second cousin & her friends that are staying there for the week. He had a massive amount of burs and he stunk to high heaven, but he is home. Safe & Sound. Right where he belongs.

I am sure if he could talk, oh the stories he would tell. I am so thankful to have him here with me again. I think he is happy to, he hasn’t been more than 5 feet away from me since our reunion. He is exhausted, but happy. Me too! Here is a photo of him on the ferry ride home. My boy! My sweet Boy!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Do you Have my Dog?

August 8, 2009 By Heather 4 Comments

Today I checked my stats, something I rarely do anymore. While looking at the odd Google searches that bring people here I saw something that stood out like it was on fire

Now I know it wasn’t me as it was someone running Windows Vista. I can’t believe how specific it was to his description. Maybe it was someone who is well meaning and is just looking for My Boy, but I am hoping that maybe this means that someone has him.

Is that someone you?

I only ask that if you came to my blog the other night with that google search that you comment here and let me know. Right now I have your IP address and I am trying to track you down. A part of my heart is missing. I don’t care why you didn’t comment. Or maybe you did, but if this is you, please let me know.

And if have my dog, please, PLEASE return him. Contact me-I don’t care how far away he is, I will retrieve him & I will give you the reward. I just want to know that my little guy is safe. I need him back home.

Please look at this face & know that he IS LOVED!!

Filed Under: lost dog, ohio, put in bay, reward

Vacation memories

August 8, 2009 By Heather 2 Comments

Seeing the arch for the first time was a dream come true for me. I was so excited to see the arch. I may or may not have shrieked so loud that it may or may not have caused my hubs to nearly jump outta his skin. I took so many photos of it while on the highway on the way to our friends, on our way to see the arch, on the way home. It was such a great feeling seeing that arch. It made me giddy with happiness. This is one of my favorite photos of the day. I really love the reflection and the fact that it kinda reminds me of a vintagey post card.

Filed Under: gateway arch, life, photography, st louis arch, things that make me happy, vacation

Still Looking

August 5, 2009 By Heather 7 Comments

Today we went all over Put in Bay, Ohio with fliers that I made to search for our dog. Things aren’t looking good. No one has seen him & he is the third pure bred this week to come up missing from the area.