The future of Bellanger & McQuiddy...

On Wednesday, I had Averybird at work and Lucy had her grandson Kade with her.  They were so cute.  At first Avery just giggled at Kade - in her usual way.  Kade was bored with all that giggling and he headed to play computer games.  It took a few hours, but by lunch time, they were practically dunking in each other's ketchup - She had Cane's...He had McDonald's...

At one point they were in the copy room rolling on the floor laughing hysterically.  They just had the best time together...doing nothing except acting silly...so innocent...so precious!

Scrapbook and Co DT layouts...

I'm into one page layouts right now...and no...I don't even care if the one on the left side of the album TOTALLY clashes with the one on the right...too bad if that bothers someone else...

Less thinking in a single page layout - less worrying about flow across both pages and that whole triangle thing....ugh...sometimes I get too caught up in those things...not that I really know what they are...but I know they are supposed to VERY Important Principles!  Instead - just do one page layouts :)

Get some laughing in this weekend...

PS -  Our family finished a 1,000 piece puzzle tonight...we turned off the TV and did it as a family over two weeks...Avery wasn't much into it...But Morgan was thrilled to put the last few pieces in all by herself tonight!  We already have the next one picked out!

Gotta love a 5 year old mind...

Avery was looking over my shoulder at Facebook and she saw the mini picture of Debby Schuh and she said, "Mommy, is that you?"  She doesn't know what a big compliment that was...being that I may be Debby's biggest stalker  fan.

on another subject....LICE  -  ZERO...Mommy  -  Tired....Once again I hesitantly say we have reached DEATH in the life cycle...

Daily Truth from the Brave Girls Club...

Dear sparkling girl,

We all need more words of encouragement and less words of judgment.

We all need more hugs and less dirty looks.

We all need more congratulations and less guilt trips.

We all need more random acts of kindness and less time spent gossipping.

We all need to be loved more without conditions or expectations.....we all do.

Thank you for being the one who does it.....who loves unconditionally and spreads

joy and works in kindness and gives big encouraging hugs.....

You are changing your world and your life and everyone around you with each small

act.....you are a hero.....keep up the great work and keep passing it on.

Read more about the Brave Girls Club and even sign up for the email list to receive the "Daily Truth"

And if anyone decides to go to one of the retreats, let me know....I'm saving my pennies...

Hopefully I'm teaching these two the skills to be Brave Girls...

Update on the LICE Cycle... After Shane broke out a headlamp (no, couldn't make this up) from his camping/survival gear, I did the comb out last night with the headlamp...and no...I wouldn't let Shane take a picture...today we did the day comb out in the sun...and tonight I decided the small flashlight was easier than the headlamp........At this point...I can hesitantly say we have achieved DEATH in the life cycle...

The LICE Cycle...

Or maybe you want to call it the Life Cycle of LICE...you decide, but please allow me to explain how it goes...Conception...where uninvited LICE take up residence in your child's hair....Infancy...The belief that one RID kit and washing the linens eliminates the unwanted LICE....Toddlerhood....You realize that LICE is more stubborn than a toddler that doesn't want strained peas or a three year old who is perfectly content with wearing a diaper....And here is where you stay....Combing...Combing...Combing...

Avery and her close friends at camp have shared something really special....LICE...let me share how our Toddlerhood stage is going...Shane buys the RID kit and the spray for unwashables and the preventative spray for the rest of us...No problem, I think, I wash and comb Avery's hair...for an hour and a half...I am exhausted and figure my deed here is done... (Thursday night)

Day two...I have this nagging concern that I feel certain I removed 80% of the "little black specks", but what about the other 20%?  Surely the RID kit takes care of that, right???  Call mother of all mothers...Lisa Papcsy and ask her what to do...It is at this point that I realize this is not a one day deal...She suggests coating Avery's hair in mayo and combing out again...I disguise mayo so Avery thinks it's a new "lotion" and start combing...3 hours later I am confident we are LICE free!  Shane and I go to put Avery to bed and he looks at her head...Hey Heath...What's this black spec??  Hmmmm...I start pulling out more and more and more....

Shane is up ALL Friday night!  Each sheet, towel, blanket, stuffed animal and bathroom in the house is washed...note: my brown bathroom rugs are now purple...  I know he was up all night, because in addition to the laundry he has a new plan straight from the Internet... "They" say coat hair with mayo, olive oil or Palmolive, cover with a shower cap and then comb...I am heading out to scrapbook, but Shane runs out to the store before I leave and returns with mayo, olive oil AND Palmolive...If one works, why not try all three?

So Saturday I am gone all day...I'm not sure if one of the above was even used before Shane called our pediatrician on Saturday evening (if you have forgotten Shane dated said pediatrician in high school...that comes in VERY handy in situations like these...).  She calls in a special wash stronger than mayo, etal....Shane treats Avery, Morgan and himself for kicks...Then...you guessed it...he breaks out the comb....

I get home about 11:30pm and find him in Avery's bed with a flashlight working on her hair while she is asleep...I take over and luckily only find about 10 nits...Exhausted fall asleep...but I think Shane stays awake again all night...

It is Sunday today.  Avery and I baked in the sun earlier while I combed through her hair and trimmed the ends...down to 6 nits...Tonight...Shane washes and dries her hair...Waiting on the nit count...praying...hoping...taking meds...I'll keep you posted...

The Three Stooges....

ummmm... I mean... princesses....

while I scrapbooked yesterday, Shane brought Hannah along on the day's adventures (using adventures loosely... return library books... bank deposit...school shoes...Raising Canes...a given...drugstore...)

Apparently Hannah didn't mind because she's back again today after my girls asked for her first thing this morning...Morgan said to Hannah before we went swimming, "Hannah, we get to spend the whole weekend together"...so sweet...so much sweeter than the three of them fighting which naturally does occur...but rarely...

I decided to TRY to snap some pictures of them in the backyard (coordinating bathing suits didn't hurt...thanks for mind reading Ash)...  Click here in case you want to see all of them...If not the one above is super cute enough!

Make sure you get some laughing in today...

Greetings from Orange Beach...

We are having a great time...But...I'm afraid it has happened...Yesterday Morgan found a friend at the pool...I wasn't allowed to talk to them, look at them, or play with them...Daddy still could, of course...

Little did she know my eyes never left she and her new friend...she may think she's all grown up...but Miss "I'm Almost 7 Years Old" is still my little girl... and it didn't help that "new friend's" family was in their condo for 4 hours and she kept calling me "the devil" until I nipped that in the bud...

Ahhhh...just one step closer to full out adolescence....Avery, get Mommy her meds.... 

$3 Waterpark...

       

How do you waterslide?? Bubbles optional... laughs required!

NYC in November

Ahhhhh.... NYC = heaven!  Ironman and I were planning a trip to NYC in November (it just happens to be our 13th anniversary - who would have thought he would last that long!).  Then when I was in Houston for Debby Schuh's class, she mentioned a possible class at Tinsel Trading in New York in November.  So New York - HERE WE COME!!!!  I think this will be the third time I'm dragging Ironman to NYC (but as long as he gets to stop in at ESPN Zone for a beer and some bar food - he's fine). 

Here is a peek at the fabulousness that is Tinsel Trading....

If you had any question, Ironman is going to head home to the girls before the Debby Schuh weekend starts.  Can you really see Ironman fingering all of those fancy trims and flowers at Tinsel Trading???  I'm laughing just thinking about it....

So the Broadway shows.... Which ones???  Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes in

"Promises, Promises" is a must!    

"Jersey Boys" is on my list - who can resist Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons?

I'm pretty sure "Billy Elliot" is making the cut...

Depending on the cast and if there is time for a "Girl's Night Out", then I want to see "Love, Loss and What I Wore"

That's only four shows.  I know I can sneak another one or two in - so if you have a suggestion - PLEASE make a comment.  And please tell me - What is your favorite part of NYC?  I love the "off the beaten path" kind of places...So far my friends HoHo, Wendy and Peggy are heading to NYC for Debby's weekend tour.  I can't wait!  Is it November yet???

Every girl loves her daddy...

I snapped this picture before the Father Daughter Dance in February and I just finished the layout....

Sorry about the glare, but I really love the Tim Holtz photo corners and film strip tape!!!  Hope your weekend is filled with laughs!

Scrapbook and Co DT...

I dropped my DT layout off today (2 days late and only after losing it and finding it in my house).  Thank goodness Cheryl is so sweet and didn't kick me off the team.

Let me just say - the layouts are amazing.  I'm feeling subpar - Gotta game my A game going for next time.  I want to make pages for my future niece, but layouts without pictures just aren't as cute.  So I'm going to have to step it up.... seriously....these gals got talent!  Check the Co. blog... I'm sure Cheryl will post them soon

Oh, and Sarah Parker is teaching a class this Saturday at Co.  She is an amazing card maker and does WONDERS with ribbon.  Check her out!  PS - I got the MOST amazing thank you card from her recently.  I'm going to start doing random and weird things for her...just so I get more beautiful cards...too stalkerish???