Mommy. Tooth. Hurt. Bad.

SO SAD!!!! This is what Brodey said to me yesterday after a totally sleepless night! Poor guy! He's teething his second molar and it's all swollen! When he eats he sticks the food in his cheek until it's soft and then he eats it! :( Motrin has been a big help! Hopefully it'll break through soon!
Can't wait for Halloween! I'm doing a photo shoot at Just 4 Keeps on Saturday and they are launching the new Creative Cafe! Lots of fun stuff goin' on!
Brodey has become a little chatterbox! He can pretty much say whatever he wants to. He can combine almost any word he wants into five word sentences. It's so amazing to think about how much brain effort it takes to do that! He's growing up so fast! Today we went to the mall and I bought him some warm pj's. They are so cute! They are green and have bats all over them. After I washed them tonight I was putting them on him and he raises up his legs and says "Mommy! Cool!" Well I think he's pretty cool!
I have so many scrappy projects I need to get done. I have to do Design Team stuff, class stuff, and I would love to get some layouts done for a few calls that sound fun!
If you have the November Creating Keepsakes I'm in it!!! It's my first how-to article so I'm pretty excited! The layout is called "First Days of Fall." Look for me!!! Hehe!!
Well I better go to sleep! Hopefully tonight will be a better night for my poor little man!
Goodnight!
LOVE APRIL

Rainbow BRIGHT!

Hahaha! I LOVE sending in photos to the weather stations! They just showed the photo above on the 5:00 news! This is the third time for that but it's so much fun! Rick Mitchell on channel 5 said "Wow what a great picture, April! Thanks for sending that in!" LOL
We had some pretty severe storms today! It hailed and rainy super hard! Right after it moved through, this beautiful rainbow showed up! It was a total complete DOUBLE rainbow! We were too close to it so I couldn't get the whole thing in my photo, but it turned out pretty neat anyway! I just love rainbows!
It was a pretty exciting day for me today! I picked up the new Fast and Fabulous idea book by Scrapbook Trends!!! I have two cards in it! SO excited about that!
Even more exciting is I also got the December Creating Keepsakes! I have another layout in there for Christmas! It's so special to me! The photos on the layout is our Christmas pajama photo from last year! My brother, my sister, and Brodey are all in the photo with me! SO special!!! I can't wait for my sister to see it! She will probably say she looks bad....oh sure! She never looks bad! ;)
Well I'm off to start dinner! It was pizza last night so I better cook something decent tonight! I went to Just 4 Keeps and bought all the new Basic Grey holiday stuff! Hehee!
Have a great night!
LOVE APRIL

Orr in Moore!

We went to the Orr Family Farm in Moore Friday for the second year in a row! It was more fun than last year! Brodey had a blast! He rode the horses, fed the animals, did the hayride, rode the carousel, and picked his own pumpkin! And I have 75 pictures to prove it! Haha! I edited three so far!!
Eric is telling me to go get ready. We are going to the RV show today. Hehe. Eric wants an RV so we are going to go check them out. We go to the lake almost every weekend in the summer and it would be nice to have one. So I guess I'll go get dressed. :)
LUV APRIL

Thanks Trisha

I read this on Trisha's blog and she read it on Karen Russell's blog. LOL It made me cry because I can totally relate! Thanks Trisha!

I'm invisible.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?"

I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?"

I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going ... she's going ... she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just returned from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean.

My unwashed hair was pulled up in a clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

(1) No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.
(2) These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.
(3) They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.
(4) The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof?

No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

God Bless You as you build your Cathedrals!

-Author Unknown

HOLY MOLY

Oh wow I am SO excited! I hung out at my fave scrapbook store (Just 4 Keeps) for about an hour BRODEY FREE (which rarely happens) and came home and ate dinner. Well I came over to the computer to check my e-mail and WOW!!! Simple Scrapbooks requested a layout for the March/April issue! I was jumping up and down like a fool while Eric was laughing at me! It's been a goal of mine to get into Simple Scrapbooks so you can imagine how stoked I was!!! MADE MY DAY!
I just had to share my happiness! :)
LOVE APRIL

One Page at a Time DT Search!!!!

TRUST ME!!! You want to work for this online store! The kits are awesome and the owner is SO nice! I've worked with them for almost a year now and they ROCK!
Go HERE to find out more!

The great state fair of.....OKLAHOMA!

We haven't been in years! It was so much fun! We went with Eric's mom and dad, his brothers and their girlfriends. We ate so much! I had fried Oreos, fried Snickers, cinnamon rolls, crepes, fresh lemonade, chicken on a stick, and who knows what else! This is the only photo I've edited from the fair. I have a ton more. I have some funny ones and of Brodey riding this great big slide with all of us! We also rode the big observation thing that's about 300 feet up in the air several times. Brodey loved that! I don't think he's going to be afraid of heights! ;) It was a great time!
I have to get my kits ready today because I teach a layout class tomorrow at Just 4 Keeps. I LOVE the layout so it'll be a fun class! The link is HERE!
Well I'm off to feed Brodey breakfast! Have an awesome Friday!!!
LOVE APRIL

New pic.....of ME!!!!

I hardly ever have any pics of me! We were sitting out on the front porch today watching Brodey play and Eric took a pic of me! Hehehe! It's so rare that anyone takes a pic of me that I had to take advantage! So that's why there is a random photo of me posted! Thanks Eric!!! ;)
LOVE APRIL

I gotta say...

Okay! I gotta say two thing!
First is I am so lucky to have such an awesome local scrapbook store! If I hadn't read the Edmond Outlook in August of last year, I wouldn't have the awesome friends I do, I wouldn't scrapbook as much as I do, and I wouldn't be published! I LOVE J4K!!! We had a blast this weekend at the birthday bash! I got to take pics and it was a blast!!! My knees haven't been sore from taking pictures in 5 years! Fun times!
Second, I HAVE to share THIS with you!!! You HAVE to check out that prize pack!! One Page at a Time is famous for their awesome prize packs!!! You should totally give that contest a try!
Kathy at J4K took the pic above! I had on her birthday hat and she took it with her camera! CUTE!! Hehe!
Okay I'm off to bead! My eyes are killing me! I've edited pics for the last 24 hours and they need a break!
Have a rockin' Monday!!!!
LOVE APRIL

Happy!

New scrapbook goodies makes me HAPPY!!! LOL Yes it's that easy! ;)
The new Fancy Pants goodies arrived at J4K yesterday! AWESOME!!! Crocheted flowers, decorative pins, felt, awesome paper, new stamps.....what more can a girl ask for?!?!?!
Well I can tell you!!! My One Page at a Time kit! That's what! It arrived yesterday too! CUTE Sassafrass Lass skull paper! PLUS they had acrylic skull stamps made to match and they are so dang cute! I can't wait to play with that!
I finished a couple of layouts last night with the Fancy Pants stuff! I posted them above! You can actually stamp on the felt! I used Stazon, but I'm not sure if any other ink works as well.
This is a quick post! I have to go get ready to take photos today at the Just 4 Keeps birthday bash! Come by and see me if you live in the area! They are having a sale too!
Well I'm off! Have a great weekend!
LOVE APRIL

Who IS this little boy!?!?!?!

Can you even believe how old he looks!?!?! I gave in and took him for a haircut yesterday and they chopped off most of his curls! CRY!!! He looks so much older it doesn't seem possible!
I took these today in the garage. My parents brought up some old backdrops from when I had the studio and there was a fresh roll of white paper! I HAD to play!!
I take photos this Saturday at Just 4 Keeps! It's their big birthday bash! It's gonna be fun!!
Well I gotta go! Brodey just woke up from his nap! DARN! LOL
Later!
LUV APRIL

So long summer!

Wow! Everyone is back to school! My sister, cousin, and brother-in-law's girlfriend all started college for the first time this last week! Everyone is still alive! LOL Maybe a little overwelmed, but still alive!
I am so excited! My friend, Trisha, and I are both going to have layouts published in the Scrapbook Trends Wedding Idea Book! Trisha is on the design team with me at Just 4 Keeps! I am SO excited about that!!!
I took this photo today with Brodey! I rarely get photos of us together that are not taken by myself, so I really love this one!!! (Even though it's not perfectly in focus hehehe)
Brodey and I had a great week! We went to Texas and stayed with my cousin for a few days! It was so nice to get to see them!! Brodey had such a good time playing with Will and McKennah! He loves to play with the big kids! ;)
Tomorrow I am scrapping no matter what!!! LOL Last weekend I finished one page so I am going to make up for lost time tomorrow! I am locking myself in my office and not coming out until my mother-in-law leaves tomorrow night! Hehe!
Well I'm off to bed now! I have to rest for my scrappy day tomorrow!
Sleep well!
LOVE APRIL

Oh Baby!

Yeah! So excited! I just had three layouts requested for the Memory Makers Oh Baby Idea Book! I LOVE the layouts they requested so I'm extra excited!!! What a great start to the day!
Wednesday I got to take photos of my friend's babies! It was a blast and they turned out fantastic! Every time I take photos I think back to the days when I had the studio and I miss it! But I'll do that again someday! Until then I'll take photos here and there!
We had a great day yesterday! My cousin Kerry and her kiddos are up from Texas! We met them and my Aunt Karen in Shawnee yesterday and went to the mall! SO FUN!!! The kids have grown so much and Brodey LOVED playing with them!
I took the photos the other day when Brodey and I went outside to water the plants! He looks so darn cute in that hat! Too bad that lawn mower doesn't work! ;)
MIL comes tonight!!! WOOHOO!!!! That means I can get to scrappin'! I have class layouts to do and DT work to do! So MAYBE I can squeeze in a fun layout! LOL
Well I'm off to feed Brodey some breakfast!
Have a wonderful Friday!
LOVE APRIL

Where does it go?

Where does the time go? For the last couple of weeks I keep looking at Brodey and seeing what a little boy he is becomming. It's so sad to me. I'm excited for the future and seeing him growing up, but I miss my baby.
He grows up in little ways every day. Water used to be "wawee" but now is "wawder." Love you used to be "wudgee" but now is "lodge you." Little changes like that keep reminding me that he is, in fact, growing up. Because of this, I'm so glad I scrapbook! Instead of relying on my memory, I can go back in time for a few minutes while I read over my layouts. I am so lucky that I am a scrapper!
LOVE APRIL

WOW!

WOW! I haven't posted in forever! I've pretty much stayed busy! Brodey is a HANDFUL these days! He is a regular toddler! He pee-pees in his potty, talks nonstop, is obsessed with the Backyardigans, and loves to get in trouble! He is the perfect toddler and keeps me perfectly busy!
The only time I get to scrap is on the weekends when MIL takes pity on me and comes to spend the night! I've been scrapping like a mad woman! I can't post the layouts, though, as they are for publication calls.
I will be in the December issue of Creating Keepsakes! Look for my layout there!!! SO excited!
We've been trying to take advantage of what summer is left! June was a waste because of all the rain. Brodey loves to go to the lake! It's so much fun to take him and watch him play while I remember what fun I had when I was little there!
As soon as the calls are over I'll start posting layouts again! I really love the ones I have done and not been able to post!!! The weekend doesn't come fast enough for me! I want to scrap every day! Hehehe!
Okay I'm off to bed now! Hopefully I'll start posting again!! I miss it!
LOVE APRIL

We just get better with age...

Too much stinkin' fun! My 10 year reunion was too damn fun! All the planning was totally worth it! We will probably do it again next year! LOL The link to the pics is HERE! They are wild! I posted a couple in this post. I haven't even started to edit the 4th of July photos. We all got sick the day after and I was supposed to go visit my cousin, Kerry, for her birthday this week but my aunt has the shingles. So we've been at home recovering. As soon as I get them edited I'll post them!
I haven't posted any layouts in forever it seems. I've done some, but I haven't posted any online. I've been submitting them for publication and I'm waiting until the calls go out to post.
I mailed off my Congrats cards for the Scrapbook Trends new book. I can't wait for it to come out! I think it will be a good one!
Brodey is a year and a half today. Where in the world does the time go? I stamped his feet last year on a piece of cardstock and I'm going to have to do it again tonight.
Well I'm off to cook dinner! Have a wonderful evening!!!!
LUV APRIL

Too busy!

Gosh I've been too busy this last week! This week is going to be even worse!
First, I got REALLY REALLY good news and I'll be in a certain BIG scrapbook magazine in November! I can't way anything else until then, but it's really cool!!! I've been trying to get that prepared and mailed! Lots of effort in mailing this one!
My 10 year reunion is this weekend. I've been working on it and planning it for a very long time. I'm ready for it to be here!!!
I have been working on design team layouts because I won't be here next weekend! AH!!! It doesn't sound like much, but when you factor in 17 month old it gets tricky!
My sisiter is coming up today and spending the night. My parents are coming tomorrow to get the large furniture out of her bedroom. So sad. It's been okay since her stuff has been here to remind me of her, but now it's all going away! BOOHOO!!!!
Well I'm going to go try to get into the shower and I'm off to the post office!!
Have a wonderful day!
LUV APRIL

Happy Anniversary to ME!!!

Yesterday was mine and Eric's 5 year anniversary!! We started dating in 1994, but we didn't get married until 2002.
I got Eric an IPod Shuffle. It's the smaller one since the only time he'll use it is when he is working out or back and forth to the offices.
But GOSH did I get a surprise!!! I took Eric to took work yesterday morning (we only have my X5 because Eric's H2 doesn't come in until next month) and I came back home and went to feed Brodey and this was on his high chair...

I was so surprised! I had no idea he was even getting me something!!!! SO you can imagine just how much more suprised I was when I opened it and it was this!!!

Not the engagement ring! The BAND!! I have been wanting one with diamonds on it forever! I had lost my other band and I didn't think I would get a new one for a LONG time! It was such a complete and total surprise!! It is the perfect size, too! Any smaller and it wouldn't look right, any larger and they both wouldn't fit on my short finger! LOL I am still excited!
Anyway, I just had to share!!!!! What a good day! MIL is coming today and we are going to go out to eat and to a movie tonight! So excited!!!!
Have an awesome Friday!!!
LUV APRIL

Just another hot summer day...

Just another hot summer day here in Oklahoma! :) Do you ever look back at the day around 5pm and think "where in the WORLD did the day go?" Yep I did that today. I mostly did reunion planning. Can't wait for it to come! I just want to enjoy it and not have to think about it anymore!

Gosh the mosquitos are bad this year! Every time we step outside they swarm us. So annoying!!! We were troopers, though, and sprayed on some Skin So Soft and we were ready to go! We love playing with the neighbors! We have THE best neighbors EVER!!! I would like a bigger house, but I don't want to move because I love them so much! They are so helpful, easygoing, fun! I took some photos of Brodey and two of the neighbors today! I posted them above! So cute!!!

I'm going to go! I was good today so I'm going to eat some strawberry shortcake! YUM!!!!
Goodnight!
LUV APRIL

It's HOT!!!

Wow it's already so hot here in Oklahoma! Well to me, anyway! ;) It might not be as hot as other places temperature wise, but gosh it's so humid!

Brodey and I went to Wal-Mart yesterday and got the cutest little kiddie pool for only $20! The photos above are from yesteday! He had a blast!!! Cheap fun!

Brodey is growing up so fast! He is such a little climber too! So annoying at time! LOL I will turn around and he's on top of the coffee table dancing around! OR he's on top of the couch in the office trying to roll off the side! No fear!

Eric found a computer he wants. This makes me happy, but at the same time frustrated. I get frustrated when I think of all the programs we have on this computer that I would have to move. PLUS all my fonts! AH!

My reunion is getting close! Been ordering all the things we are going to eat! I can't wait to see everyone! I think it's going to be so much fun!

Well I gotta go! The laundry is calling my name! Fun times! hahahaha!!!!
LUV APRIL