Family Favorite....Brian Regan

My mom and dad got us hooked on this comedian a couple years ago, and you can often hear his jokes being passed back and forth in converstaion. Last year Mason and I caught his show on the Comedy Channel, and he was hooked. Brians comedy is very clean, and his comedy focuses mostly about real world situations, and wonders...


Our family favorite is "The Clock"





Anyway- I heard a commercial on the radio, that we was coming to Sacramento - This being on a Friday, and the show on Sunday...I thought , It would be a fun outing for me and Mason but I'd only go if we had reasonable seats, the venue it was held at was LARGE! I have to admit, my luck, got me Row B seats! This is techically 5th row from the Stage...





Mason and I had a BLAST, and I would go AGAIN!

Grandma, Salt Lake, Snow...

My Grandma passed away at the end of january, she actually passed the day before her birthday. So I had to fly to Salt Lake (I HATE FLYING) and attended her funeral. It was bitter-sweet. I know Grandma is free now, and it was wonderful to see my Clan of People, We actually had all the cousins there (-1 ) for the first time since we were little kids. Grandma was buried next to Grandad in Riverton, Utah. I put a can of Spaghetti-O's and the game of "Sorry" in her coffin. (we all place something symbolic )

I remember visiting my Grandma, and she would give us Spaghetti-o's and she would play "Sorry" with us. I just figured out, that she never won a game.

The Funeral on Saturday was cold, but clear. But Sunday...DOWN CAME THE SNOW!!

I had a rental car, and dropped my sister at the airport for her flight Sunday at 6am, as I headed back through Salt Lake to Riverton, the snow got harder, and thicker, and by about 9600 south, there were spin outs on the freeway, and I could hardly see. My exit was 106th South, so I white knuckled it all the way to "Jim's" Restaurant where the family was meeting.

After breakfast (which Grandma had paid for as part of her last wishes) I followed my cousin Tania and her husband Bryan to Aunt Sharons. (We were all hanging there Sunday, until our flights that evening) Sharon lives on 126th South..so needless to say it was a blizzard by they time we got to her street. Bryan drove right into a 4 foot snow drift in his rental... we were laughing, at the fact that we would remember this!!!

By 4pm that day, the roads were clear, the sun was out, and all flights were on time.

What an eventful weekend!!!!!

I was tagged....

I was tagged by Robyn at http://happyhouseofhaas.blogspot.com/

Geesh!! This was HARD!!!!!!!!

Seven FactsShare 7 facts about yourself: some random/some weird!
1.) I come from a family where there has only been 1 divorce in at least 3 generations or more back (both sides)
2) I was a Navy Brat
3) I used to be a red-head until about the age of 3
4) I am petrified of flying, and high bridges
5) Was better at being "one of the guys" in grade school-high school
6) Ive lost 115 lbs since 2005
7) Wanted to play volleyball in the Olympics....darn im too short!


Name GameList one fact relevant to your life for each letter of your name.
S= Sassy and Silly
A= Adore my 3 sons..Mason, DJ, Kennedy
R= Resourseful
A= Adore my St. Bernards Holly and Honey
H= Hardworker

This is from Karmas Blog---How Fun!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car), Tipper Windstar
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie), Mocha Chocolate Chip (Sorry Karma - were gangsta twins!)
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name), S-Cas
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal), Red Giraffe
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born), Julie Ruth Port Hueneme
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first), Cassa
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink), The Venti Mocha Frapachino - LOL!
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),Donald Ray
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy), Pear Berry Laffy Taffy
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ), Diane Ray
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter), Mansfield Manhattan
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower). Fall Jasmine
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Strawberry Jeanie
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree), Oatmeal Pine
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”), The Scrapbooking Crisp Tour

Hot off the Press....

My Store was just featured in Scrapbook Business Magazine- This is a national pubication sent to all scrapbook retailers... Written by yours truly....enjoy!

This is just a moment, when you work so hard, that you can just say AHHHH ....

Page One

Page Two

Go Raiders....

Mason has been asking to play football for a while

now, so this year he joined the West Sac Jr. Raiders! He had been playing tag football at lunch recess, and I told him, tackle was a whole lot different. He had his 1st game Saturday, and they won 40-somthing to zip. They ended up calling the game, running the clock, and scrimmaging for practice the rest of the time. He got his first hard hit, and now has a 5 inch bruise to show off..I was so proud to see him shake it off, take a breath, and stand back up with his team. I dont know how long he will want to play football, he is defanitly finding himself in who he is, he plays chess, the saxaphone, and now football.

So proud...this mom is......

I DID IT!!!!!

let me back track...aug 10 2004-- the day before my 30th bday- I was all set to go and do this thing, oh sure I had been told "your body is a temple", "you'll regret it", "it hurts" oh yea...did i mention "it hurts". I just wanted to have it be the last dumb thing i did in my 20's ...since I had many dumb things on my list...
SO im all set to go, and the babysitter cancels----
fast forward....today Aug 11th, Im 33 today, and I just did it!! The design in my mind for years, something to represent me, what I am most proud of. After all, it will be with me forever.
So with Dax's design, he transformed my boys into my favorite flower,star jasmine, and with a celtic twist ( i just love spirals for some reason) and whala we head down to http://www.forevertattoo.com/ on 16th and Broadway...
So here it is, still puffy and red, but I did it, and Brent my artist was just awesome...he was silly, steady, and swift!!!!
Did it hurt? Yes! But I have endured worse pain in my life, and this was just a visual sacrifice to have a permanent tribute to my sons.

I finally did it!!!

How old are you???

My friend Linda sent this to me today, its pretty cool... turns out it says Im 30 and will live to be 80...hmmmmm 50 more years of scrappin!

http://www.peterrussell.dreamhosters.com/Odds/RealAge.php

Yes, I am addicted to Scrapbooking.

I found this online....funny.....

Warning Signs That You May Be Addicted to Scrapbooking
1.If you write to the friendly folks at Cropper Hopper to suggest a 2000 square foot tote transportable only by tractor trailer... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
2.If you tried to bribe the school principal to let your unborn child have a graduation diploma early because you found the best page embellishments on sale this week...you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
3.If you use 40 rolls of film to capture those special moments at home during a 24-hour period... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
4.If you keep over half your supplies hidden in the trunk of the car while simultaneously hiding the keys from your husband... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
5.If you force all 45 members of your extended family to sit on Santa's lap at the mall because it would be a great scrapbook page... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
6.If you refuse to take your child to the emergency room without grabbing your camera first... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
7.If have tried to explain the benefits of skipping meals to save more money for scrapbook supplies... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
8.If you carry one camera for black and white photos, one for panoramic, one for 3-D photos, and one for color close-ups with you to the grocery store... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
9.If you're now wondering why you don't have a 3-D camera... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
10.If your idea of a dream date is a man who loves to hammer your eyelets and refill your Hermafix ... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
11.If you try to glue your child's tooth back into his mouth because you want a better "before and after" page ... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
12.If you refuse to take any more pictures, even at your daughter's wedding, because you need to catch up on the ones you have first... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
13.If you are considering hiring professional writers to do your journaling... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
14.If you think that you must take your scrapbook supplies with you for a romantic weekend away... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
15.If the only recipes you collect any more are crop snacks... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
16.If own 8 different tools that cut a perfect circle... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
17.If you have figured out how to scrapbook while driving your car... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
18.If your kids know the only way they can participate in anything is to agree to have Mom there taking pictures... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
19.If you believe Becky Higgins should have her own cable channel... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
20.If your career aspirations include selling punchies and paper piecings on eBay... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.
21.If you think it makes sense to leave tags on new clothes because you are going to return them right after you take the pictures of your kids wearing them... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.

Tiger Scouts..over..

Well we made it through the 1st year of Cub SCouts as Tigers...My boys in my Den were so darling! Im glad they will stay with the program, ad we advance to wolves!!!!

Holy crap its March!

How did that happen? Was it becase I am so totally consumed in work, and family drama, that its March?

Family Photo 2006

 

Havent posted in awhile---

Got this from a friend: a great way to start my blog again,....

Merry Christmas y’all


1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
egg nog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Santa wraps presents, and what santa learned is as the kids get older they recognize wrapping paper, so santa uses a 'different' wrapping paper......hmmmmmm

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Tree-- white lights (green cord hee hee) and house---would love lights on, but alas---no time, no ladder...

4. Do you hang mistletoe? no---

5. When do you put your decorations up? Day after Thanksviging. (except this year, i was a day or two late)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert?) I try to make any dishes that I didnt get to make at thanksgiving-
watergate salad, pretzel salad, grandmas green salad...


7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: my mom always unrapped the ornaments and called our names to hang them on the tree, since she dated them, she would remind uf of the date...

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My cousin Shannon, ( a teen-ager) told me when we were all at grandma and grandads, After she told me (i think i was 7-8) i proudly announced at dinner time who Santa was--and who told me...
Shannon got in big trouble that night....

9. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?
We go to Dax's family for christmas eve, and the kids tear through those gifts...

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? We get a new ornament every year, for each child, and try to get a family one too...then i have my old time ornaments my mom passed to me...I let the boys decorate when i do what my mom did.. (see question #7)

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I would love a weekend of it, but I lived in enough places to know the issues of snow...many a sidewalk and driveway Did I have to clear--- BUT, on theother hand, i remember the hours of fun, with snow forts, and snow ball fights....I wish we had snow, so I could teach my chiildren to watch out for yellow snow....(Bark, Bark)12. Can you ice skate? Never tried....

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I think the favorive gifts I had, some I still have, my pink purse, my diary, my little pony, small jewelry box, (I guess for a tom boy, i kept my girly stuff)

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Relaxing...

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Listed above...#6- (the salads are actually desserts)

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Other then getting a new ornament every year, setting out cookies for Santa, I buy all of us matching shirts to wear on Christmas eve......I dont know why.....I started this tradition with mason when he was a baby...

17. What tops your tree? Light up star...

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? GIVING!!! I really dont like receiving...well unless someone handed me a big check with lots of 0000000000's!!!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Right now? I like the "rocking around the christmas tree", Ava Maria, O holy night...
I love the childrens choirs....

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yummy? Some to taste the season.....

Well, that's my story.

Wells Fargo Bank- Rich People Welcome..

I figured it out...Wells Fargo only wants to service rich people...if you are paycheck to paycheck you can get screwed! But first they want to squeeze out as much money from you as they can....

I just wouldnt feel right if I can prevent others from opening a Wells Fargo banking account...theres an old saying...
FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU! FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!
I allowed to be convinced to re-open an account in wells fargo bank.
1st , I had opened one on 1997 as a savings account for my son, through several moves, i let the account go dormant, and when i found an old account card, went to check to see about that account, and it was "gone" hmmmm i dont ever remember closing it...anyway-
i reopened one about 2 years ago, savings, checkings, CC ---
The fees were sooooo high, they will take 10$ service fee, and then ding you 33$ if your acct goes into negative because of a service fee....you get charged if you talk to a teller, or call too many times in a month to talk to someone...
So i close the acct like a month ago....
So today i go in to get copies of statments for the last year...because i never received paper copies- ( i think you would have to pay for that)
and not only do i have to wait in the lobby with my 3 kids for like 30 min, before someone can even help me, when i tell the lady, i need copies of statements, my acct is closed, she clicks into snail mode.
I tell her the customer service said it cost 2$ a statment (another fee) she tells me she thinks its $5, and must call the manager to get the fees
(see we all know that paper and ink toner cost so much)
she does confirm that it is $2 a statement. When she asks me how Ill pay, since i have no account, I told her I have an ATM/debit card or check from my other bank...she tells me that she cant take a check because its not from her bank..and she cant take my card either.
I was livid at this point, clearly a bank can take my check, run it through tele-check, or what ever large computer system is connected to my account to verify funds...
anyway- i go outside to the wells fargo ATM (another $2 fee) to pull out cash to pay for my paper statements.
she walks up to the counter and assists more people and chit chats for another 15 min before bringing me back my change-

See Wells Fargo is for rich people, people who would have enough money to not worry about their fees, and people who would hire other people to handle their banking, so they dont have to wait in line, in lobbys, or in cubicles for rude bankers to bring your change. Those rich people would have their children with their nannys instead of occupying them in a bank.

Average Citizens...you shouldnt bank at Wells Fargo.

Family Picture 2006  

My last memory of my Grandma 

been a while-scattered thoughts

ive been feeling anti-social --thats stress related. I hate feeling this way! Kids are home on summer break, grandma dies, hubby changes jobs, work is not doing what i want it to do....planning for the future...AHHHHHH
My birthday is in 10 days, when do you go from wanting a birthday to wanting to avoid a birthday? Ive been feeling that way I think since I turned 29.
I played the lotto the other day...im always saying Ill do this or that, or do great humanitarian things when I win the lotto, but I never play---but i didnt win.
I for sure thought the numbers from the fortune cookie would win...then i realize those fortune cookies dont give you the date you should PLAY those numbers.
So back to my grandma...she was a tough cookie. Never sick, injured, very witty- we have know for about 7-8 years her memory has been off--- we suspected early stages of Alzehimers, and did our part to keep that in mind when we talked to her.
Right after Mothers Day she fell down- and 4 weeks later she died. its wierd but in just those few weeks she was diagnosed as having multiple myloma ( it think thats how its spelled) and its a blood cancer. Becasue she could trick all of the family that she was "just fine" - it was a real shock as she basically withered away.
My Mom was able to be there when she died. They think she was talking with her deceased brother Glenn in the last hours she was alive. They even set up an empty chair next to her for Glenn to sit as she passed. And all this from a non- spiritual family. Her last word was "Don", my grandfathers name.
The funeral was nice. Brings the family closer...isnt that sad? I think thats why I hate funerals. I can actaully deal with the fact that the person is gone, but I dont like the fact that we are only able to meet up as a whole family until someone dies.
My grandfather gave all the grandaughters one of her rings. I'll need to get mine sized, she had small fingers.
Well , i guess thats all for now- on to another day-

So Im at my goal

Through Starting with Weight Watchers last Feb 05- and working with my Doctor- I hit my goal this April 1 2006 and lost 100 lbs!
this aint no April Fools joke!!!