Just waiting for Gustav...

I thought once we moved from New Orleans, we would be the haven for evacuees, not in the midst of hurricane preparations. But last night, Geismar, LA was predicted to have Category 3 winds - not exactly comforting. Luckily (for us), the storm shifted during the night and our wind predictions are down to Category 1 and for a much shorter duration. BUT - for the first time in our lives, we now own a generator, a window a/c unit, 5 box fans and a dozen sand bags. This is bizarre! Our biggest concern is losing power for up to a week, and with my sister's 5 week old in the mix, we are making as many preparations as we can at keeping somewhat cool and fed.

Shane has taken charge of the hurricane preparations while I referee M&A. They must sense impending danger, because they are in RARE form. Fighting from the moment their eyes open until they finally fall asleep from exhaustion. FUN TIMES! I'm trying to make good use of this time at home. I've washed all the sheets and comforters. I am doing some Continuing Education for my CPA license. I am working on a few layouts for a friend (I, of course, don't have any pictures of my own printed). I'm TRYING to make the girls pick up one activity before they embark on the next. These are quite lofty ambitions under the circumstances.

I'll keep everyone updated as much as possible on the blog - until we lose internet/power. Happy storm watching!

To everyone in my 3 for $33 class...

Especially Heather and Mary... The Sizzix Sidekick is fixed. For all of you who didn't take my class last night, I kind of jammed the Sizzix. I thought adding some extra paper to the shims would help the dies cut better (because this has worked in the past). Unfortunately, I used a little too much paper, and we had a jam. Being that I have wonderful students - they all promised to go to the grave with the info the I broke it. Heather and Mary were helping me think of really cool stories of how the Sizzix broke. Since I love Denise, I couldn't lie to her (I try to only do that occasionally). So I confessed, and then brought it home. I was sure I just needed a screwdriver. I figured once I took it apart, the jammed "stuff" would come right out - it didn't happen that way. Unscrewing it just disconnected the top from the bottom - not exactly what I needed. Shane (knowing that I shouldn't handle a power tool) was the one doing the work. All of a sudden I hear the rubber mallet and the Sizzix in the vice grip and the very large work bench coming off the ground. A few minutes and a sweaty husband later, I hear the dies drop to the ground - freed from the wrath of the Sizzix grip. With a huge sigh of relief (from bed), I thanked Shane for saving me once again. He mentioned that I owe him - BIG TIME! I'll deal with that threat later, but for now, we have a working Sizzix Sidekick at Scrapbook and Co.

Morgan's first day of school

I just love the corkboard "paper" from Karen Foster. Not exactly a traditional "School" layout, but I just had to use pink, blue and brown to match the uniforms and pink shoes! Next, I'll work on the layout of her getting onto the bus...

Better late than never...

OK - so my next "3 layouts for $33" class is this Tuesday night. I'm just a LITTLE late getting these pics up. We only have two people signed up right now, and I have room for 8, so give the shop a call on Monday (225-293-9989) to get a spot. We have the school paper in preschool to senior, so when you get to class, you can choose your "year" and coordinating cardstock.

Hope to see you on Tuesday! heather

A Play Date...

Angel, Cori and I were able to run away for 2 days last week for some scrapbook "therapy". Including alchohol and plenty of laughs! I didn't get as much done as usual, but I got a few layouts done, caught up on all "the talk" and even watched 4 movies to boot - pretty good for 2 days!

First is Parker at the hospital...

Then M&A meeting Parker

Keeping Hannah entertained while new brother is getting the attention...

If you read about my outdoor "adventure" with Morgan, here is the layout - amazingly - no one looks miserably hot! And the easiest part was taking the journaling straight off of the blog...

Lastly, Scrapbook and Co. got these fabulous new transparencies from PRIMA in. I used paint and stickles to decorate the transparency, then used the Cricut to cut out the letters. Here's to Denise for convincing me to try it!

Remember to laugh out loud this weekend. I will be at Beau Rivage in Biloxi celebrating Ashley's 30th birthday (all expense paid by her hubby - thanks Collin!) I'm sure with this group of girls, we might be making quite a commotion!

Tears Today...

For Morgan's second day in K, we had tears getting on the bus. I almost cried too, but I bit my bottom lip and gave her the best send off I could. It's now 5 hours later and I can't stop thinking about how my little girl is doing today. Motherhood really does take over your entire life :)

REAL school for Morgan...

If you read the post on Graduation, you can pretty much see the writing on the wall... But, I must report that Morgan did really well, and if I had that same adreneline running through me everyday, I might actually be in shape!

We had two meltdowns while getting dressed. Naturally, she wanted no part of me - but Daddy was able to bribe her with the promise of new Polly Pockets if she went to school. School told us to wait outside for the bus at 7:20 - we were ready by 7 - of course. So to kill time and keep the tears at bay, we drove around the neighborhood looking for other students waiting for the bus and then we went to a fellow Kindergartener's house to wait for the bus. Finally at 7:40, the bus came. Morgan ran on with her friends, and only had the deer in headlights look for a minute after getting on the bus.

I wasn't going to be "that mom" and meet the bus at school, but the other 3 moms were hopping in their cars - so what was I to do - well follow that bus!!!!

After a little confusion, Morgan made it to her classroom and only had minimal tears when I left, but her teacher put her arm around Morgan and reassured her that it was going to be a great day!

Coming home from school - with Mommy, Daddy, Nanny and Parker waiting for her!