Wish Big.....

So I am sitting in my scrap room Looking around at this MESS everywhere thinking I need my fairy Godmother, You know the one I met at Disney world. LOVE HER so much.  When I see THIS:

I have trying to think of a word for 2013. 2012 was not so great. If you want the honest truth. ESPECIALLY the end of it. Although we WORKED so hard and we did accomplish a HUGE GOAL and my health did have it's back and forths, WE FINALLY saved up and paid each month and took Bella to Disney. We have never been so excited about going anywhere although we have never really BEEN ANYWHERE. Nana (John's mom had recently retired) and wanted to go with us. I jumped and said PLEASE do. I didn't know what my health would do and was thinking she could help out with Bella. Little did I know what was before us. Mom had retired wanting to spend more time with her grand children and I feel maybe I should have known better,  I sometimes wonder did she push herself too hard. Then think about her nature and I know her so well. She never would have told us. I kept looking at her the entire time and something kept telling me she wasn't ok. I even told Liz when we got back she wasn't acting herself. She had been coughing before the trip and a good bit during so I thought she was coming down with something. John treated she and I to an in room Massage mid week. I cherish that time I spent with her Laughing and girl talking.
Little did I know that would be the last time we would do that.

When we got back from that Dream vacation. John's mom, Bella's precious Nana My as you have heard me call her on this very blog, and those who have known me for the last 14 years... my mother in love went to be with Jesus.


Our hearts are broken. We worry so, about Dad.... I worry about my husband and ya, especially my child. I worry about my sister liz,  she was her best friend and they talked every day several times, I mean it's her mom. She has been in work mode and taking care of everyone. I am  praying for her constantly. I am thinking of her and have it in my mind if this or that might take a load off of  her some or would this make her smile maybe.
I worry about  all of her sisters and Brothers. UGHrFF sorry I just cannot say In law.. Because they are so much more than that. She told me from the get go. "SHE told me ewww do not call me MUTTTHER IN LAAAW it sounds so so.. cold.  love sounds.. right."

You would have to know this woman. She had the most beautiful heart. She just RADIATES love. She is so Gentle SO loving.  The most giving and unselfish loving nature. Her kids and grandkids did nothing wrong. She accepted me in with open arms and just made me her own. So did Johns daddy and his family. I had lost my father and my heart was so just broken. They always called me that day always supported me and always kept me positive. She was the most supportive person. She didn't speak negative. She only spoke words that were positive. She encouraged me constantly. To be a better person, wife, mother a better "Nancy."

Matter of fact that last talk we had before she went home that day she told me how proud she was of me. How hard she saw me fighting my disease and trying to beat M.S. She told me that she loved that about me and how proud of the mother I had become. The wife I was to John and she loved how I put them first. My mouth was on the floor. I have never received a better compliment in my life.        

                                                          

Those are some big things to live up to but all I have ever aspired for. She knows it too. She saw the books I had laying around. The books on being positive. She knows I try so hard. The millions of photos I take for the scrapbooks I try to keep up with it all for my family. I was telling her all the things I was doing for my family for Christmas and for my mom and she was even  helping me shop/ look. She was helping me pick out things in the stores. I was telling her how my mother got the letter from walt Disneys office or someone to go to his animation school for drawing way back when. and How I would love to have it framed for her. I would love to have the photo of her she has with that statue of Walt Disney and mickey Mouse and that letter put into a big frame for her and we looked at the Disney frames and she was helping me decide.
She thought it was a splendid Idea.

 We looked at funny things and we tried on things and went to Main street Bakery. I teared up at the video my friend Brittney sent she is the Travel agent that planned our vacation. IT had the Main street bakery singing happy birthday in it. I felt maybe that was meant just for me as a little voice from above to always remember how funny it was nana trying to navigate that scooter in the bakery. And us looking at all those sweets and her going crazy saying "I JUST WANT ALLLLL OF IT"

And her laugh. That could just set off an entire room. Her in the back ground looking at Bella at cinderellas castle with tears in her eyes thinking the same thing that John and I were... "We are FINALLY HERE" we WISHED BIG! and IT FINALLY CAME TRUE. HEr laughing so HARDDD at me meeting the Fairy God mother. OMGOSH I was a fool. You would think I had met the Queen of England and to me I MIGHT AS WELL HAVE. I LOVE HER!!!

My favorites are the quiet moments Bella snuggling up with her. HER running to her and JUMPING INTO NANAS lap when I "ran over LULU" we will never forget that everrr. (or will about 10 Disney staff that heard Bella Screaming in front of Cinderellas Castle that "I MUSHED HER HEAD and couldn't be trusted with her in my scooter basket"
If a mommy with a 2 year old runs in front of me again and its them or lulu her lamb to JUST RUN EM DOWN... (she was not thinking straight I had just run over her LULU for heavens sake she would never say that in her right thinking ever)

But Nana held her tight wiped her tears and the Disney guy fixed it along with Daddy's help bandaids and a tiny tiara (thats what you do for a build a bear Lamb with a concussion) and then you take lots of pictures :) and get LULU a goofy to protect her.

Nana and I had races to the bus stop with Bella on foot every day to and from. Bella squealing and laughing and calling the race. Every now and then Nana would sneak up on me on her scooter and pass me and make a face or say WHERE WE GOINNNNNN... or DO I KNOW YALLLLL.... YOU FOLKS LOCAL? some funny phrase get us goin Bella would be steering or standing on the back. WITH LULU as she waved and did a foot out ballet move.. YA ONLY NANA....

I am so happy we all had that time. I  value these photos more than I ever imagined I would. We miss her. oh man I miss her.  I want to just pick up the phone and call her and say  WHAT? ARE  YOU KIDDING ME? this has to be a joke.
Im trying so hard to hold it all together. Bella needs me to. But I spend looooong times in the bathroom.
I know God has a reason for everything. And when I look back. He had a plan I know he did. Bella said it best that He planned for her to go on this trip with us she HAD to go it was her last thing to do before she went to heaven.

 I have had so much come to my mind through prayer.  Kinda like I don't want to say questions answered because No I don't think they were. But maybe just a little bit of solace.  A peace That I haven't had. Some say time does that. But not always.
Our back room has clothes of hers and some of our Disney souvenirs. I can smell her all over it just like she is there.

I catch Bella back there in our back room I know it is because, it smells like her. Bella has a mushy pillow and a blanket of hers. I keep asking her "do you want me to put them in zip locks so they wont loose the smell?" She says "nah Nana wont let the smell go away"

Oh, My baby. I wish that for you. That  you never forget those little things about her.  I have always and I can prove it. I did layouts all these years. for you to remember every tiny thing about that woman. One of the things was how she always smelled SOOO good. She wore perfume always and she always left that perfume trail.

We had a scrapbook board at the funeral that had layouts that I had made over the years of  all the kids and Mom and then the very last photo of all of us together it was the last photo we took.   YES I scrapped in the Hotel room for my mom in loves funeral.One of the hardest things ever. I knew it was important though for my family.  for her memory.  My liz needed it and my husband and my lil girl needed it.  THIS is the reason I scrapbook.  It is hard to look at right now for us. soon though. we can look and remember and it won't be as painful and we can smile.

Christmas was strange. Was extra strange since Liz's entire family got sick with the flu. John's daddy was going to be alone. We couldn't take it. We begged him to come here. He coudln't leave the dogs and he promised to watch his neighbors dogs or something or other. so we went to him. Which was good. It was strange though. Her not there. But was good to be with dad. Bella was not herself. at all. She tried. You could tell. She played with Lala a lot. She loves lala Nana's and Papa's dog. We  had been talking about a dog for some time inside the house. She is allergic to Lala though. Her skin breaks out so bad.

This is a 2011 photo...

2011

I have to tell you heaven heard us and sent this dog. It has been a God send for this child. She has been a different child. She eats sleeps and breathes this dog. AND she is not allergic.  A dear friend had this dog not too far from us and let us get this dog from her.

so..... Meet Charley: Yes Bella named him.

Charley Brown Jones (ya she had been watching the Christmas specials)

He has brought life to this house and well our yard. HE still is not sure about the cats but HE LOVES Guido I am not sure Guido really knows what to make of him yet.

He loves chasing the cats and running around the yard full blast making Bella chase him IT IS HILARIOUS!

Could just kiss his face off!

         What you doin? whats that FLASHY THING UGHHHH STOPPPP MOMMMY!

Wanting us to CHASE  HIM...

                                                  Round and round and round the Yard we go....

                              Notice I am taking pictures while they are all running round and round....


So.. that is our new Pup... He is something else.  Keeps us laughing and on our toes. He is funny and such a little love puppy. into everything just like BELLA.  John won't admit it. BUT HE LOVES HIM TOO.

Wish Big yall... Dreams do come true.

My biggest critic, biggest/littlest Fan?

So today we (Mostly me) have been cleaning up in my scrapbook room rearranging cleaning out sorting and trying to get things to a better organization. When I got ill it became a catch all in there. Everything was being tossed on top of my scrapbook island (makes me ill to think) and in the floor and Bella had a great time with paints and inks and all sorts of things.
We (again with that WE mostly ME again) are taking my scrapbook island apart and putting it up against the walls more like cabinets with a counter top and a smaller table with cubes (with counter top) that is lower to the ground since I don't stand to scrap as much anymore. I have another counter top that is square and at the time we got it said I would hold on to it. Good thing I did. Also this way I can utilize space better (hopefully)

Bella looked through a lot of albums at older layouts I had done today. I loved hearing her say "OH I LOVE THIS ONE" "This is my favorite NO THISSS ONE"
One thing I found to be the most common thing, She loved the pages that had journaling on them. "Mama You need to write more STUFF on it, you know about what I was doin' and how cute I was and how much YOU LOOOOOVE mee and all?"  Me:""oh really?" Bella: Giving me her best literary stare with raviolis smeared on her face "YES REALLY MAMA, People Like that kinda Stuffs, well and ME TOO!" :with her sprakly grin really wide ME: "Good thing there are some of those in there huh?" Bella: "YUP" ME :gives a kinda stern look Bella: " I MEAN YUP-MAM"
Me" You are so silly" Bella hehehe
 SO you seeee,  err hear, ughm READ? The pages that just mainly had a title, or the pretty pages that had just a word on them. She thought were okay or nice, BUT. She really liked hearing the story again about what was going on in the photo.
She liked being reminded what we did, What I was thinking at the time maybe (well sometimes)

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There are so many many more she just kept going ohhhh ahhhhh Loved reading them and laughing. She REALLLLY got to laughing when she saw this:

She remembered it though. Remembered getting in trouble and remembered me being so angry I cried.
(Although I stopped and took photos of her hahaa)

She loves this one of Nana Faye's Red Hat.

But the one's like this, Were her favorite.

and this.

My kid... She is going to make me journal more. What about your kids? What do they like? Have you had these conversations? Do they pull out their books and look at them? Who looks at your books the most? LET ME KNOW!!

A new post!

Are you as shocked as I am? I know it has been some time between posts. A lot has happened. My baby has gone back to

school. 4th GRADE oh my goodness say it isn't so!!! She is getting so TALL. Which I know compared to me tall is everything. She is definitely taking after her father in the tall department and feet.

She is doing the cheerleader thing again this year. SO CUTE she is. Love watching her cheer.
(gives me lots to scrap book also)


Speaking of Scrapbooking Take a look at Scrapping Frenzy's blog today. I am the guest designer and did a blog post today. There is a tutorial for a Mini album I made using left over packaging from those embellishment packs we all get (that look really cute!)
I tore the front of the package but It didn't stop me! I show you how to turn it into a mini album. Check it out. SCRAPPING FRENZY
I have several more cards and layouts to share that I have been working on that I have not posted. Bella and I did a lot of scrapping this summer while I was laid up. We made Thank you Cards for People that did so much to help us out while I had been in the hospital and helped us out with various things afterwards. (we so appreciate everyone you have no idea what you mean to us)
Bella would roll my wheelie cart back beside my bed bring my board back here, and we would get to it. We had several people also that were sick or just needed some lovin' that we made cards for as well.
(I had broken out with shingles real bad after that so was afraid to send some of them due to some of the illness that some had but NOW I am getting to FINALLY mail them bare with us. I do NOT wish shingles on anyone it is dreadful painful and if remote chance you could get it I always tend to go on side of caution on that!!! Be glad)

I am still going to dr visits like crazy I have 2 new dr's added to the collection a nephrologist (expensive fancy name for kidney dr) and an additional MS dr. He is an MS specialist that worked with the MS specialist at UAB that I went to that I LOVED. He is also the assistant MS professor here and is very smart. he is looking over all my tests and labs everything since my dx deciding should they switch my med. (I keep flaring up and he is looking for the triggers and seeing what else they can do)
I really liked him and his staff. Hey whatever can keep me less sick I WILL DO IT.

I do not like taking these injections and the medications that make me feel worse seems like they keep adding more and more and more meds. If I can take the IV and get by with less medications. I am leaning towards it (after I do some more research and find out what it will do to the shingles and also kidneys)
I have so much to look forward to and I don't have time for all this. My Bella bug is busy busy

The count down has started for our Disney trip. OH I cannot wait.
I am already starting to collect Disney scrapbook stuff. Gonna be a lot of scrappin goin on when we get back. YAY.

I will be back with more scrapbook projects. Be sure and look at the Scrapping Frenzy Blog.
Hope you have a wonderful Friday!

cheer camp and why do our kids have to grow up so fast?

Long time no see. I know. I haven't posted. I do a lot of short posts on facebook these days. Instant gratification. It seems everyone is busy. Bella is getting older and you know with older what that means. GO GO GO GO. I just can't GOOOOOOO.
My dr. God love that man. Is trying. He has prescribed me some medication that is supposed to help me with this overwhelming fatigue. Summer is just my Nemesis. Ok that and LEAF BLOWER MAN gets out there and starts Vacuuming and blowing leaves DAILY sometimes twice daily. (I'M NOT KIDDING if you see me on fb you KNOW I am not kidding. I get on my knees and pray for this mans blower to break and YES HE VACUUMS HIS SHRUBS OCD MUCH?) I have to give it to him he has a pristine yard. Mine not so much. We go for that A la' natural look of "I don't care if leaves fall". When the cats start swinging from trees to get to their dishes (playing jungle kitties) then we go ahhh maybe we should Mow the grass. Hmm.
So yeah. We are more laid back with it. I'm sure makes him nuts. So back to the medication. Insurance company told us that will be 200 dollars please. STORY OF MY LIFE.
BUT they got generic in FINALLY so hopefully THIS WEEK I get my medication and I wont be walking around like a zombie and falling asleep in chairs and couches or other strange places and just feeling yuckified.  The heat just does something to me. Is an MS thing. I have to build up to go anywhere. WAY IN ADVANCE I don't mean and hour IM talking day or so. If I am having a good day. I do everything I can think of. My poor child she is sooooo bored.
I just despise it for her. I keep saying it will get better. I have faith. It is going to get better.

So much we need to do so much I want to do. My hair is getting long I have roots long as my fingers but I just have felt like blah and not wanted to go get it done. sad huh.
sure some call it lazy but this is beyond anything lazy. I WANT to do stuff I get up to do stuff and my legs wont go. I try to do things physically try to make myself and like I end up hurting myself or breaking things. I fell in the bathtub because i just have no energy and I go weak. Im trying hard to build my muscles back up. . summer stinks. THE WORSE of the heat isnt here yet. I know wa wa wa Could be worse!!! Just hate it for Bella she wants to GOOO DOOO. I just want to crawl to bed.

BUT FUN SOMETHING... Bella starts cheer camp. she is going to have soooooo much fun.
She is super excited.
This was  last year Cheering at the PREGAME HIGH SCHOOL GAME so cute
She is growing up so fast. she is almost as tall as me. NOW before you make your sarcastic comments YES I KNOW I am not that tall. My baby is growing up to be such a big girl. she is going to be tall like her daddy. I wish she had his skin. she has that porceline burn now tan later skin like I had as a child. Although she is so much healthier. She is built just like John. Big ol feet. She is changing so much.
Here she is cheering last year at their last game
She can't wait for tomorrow to get started again. She didn't argue with me about going to bed at all.


She was so cute today SHE took JOHN to the movies. TO see Madagascar 3. (I can't do 3d movies) so it was a daddy daughter date. I thought it would be good for them. You know Their time. 

I think this is a great picture that depicts what a happy daddy we have. Hard to believe this little toot is 9. Seems like yesterday I took this picture. But then seems forever ago sometimes.

So I have been scrapping a good bit. Using up a good bit of the stuff I have.  I will be sharing some photos, I have to get in to my big computer so I can upload them and post. It is great therapy. Trying to get my scraproom redone. It is a HUGE undertaking!!!

My gypsy for my cricut died. Actually it BROKE beyond repair. SO I bought another one from a friend and they are RE- SERIALIZING mine so I can put alllll my cartridges on IT and then it will work with my cricut again (let us pray) if not. yall might see it for sale soon.
 I REALLY PRAY It works. I love my cricut and gypsy and I want it to work so bad.

Speaking of using up your stash. Have you guys seen THIS SITE? they help you use up what you have and make kits out of it. REALLY COOOL. I am not affiliated with them in any way, not on a design team or anything just thought it was neat. so if you want to check them out do so. If we use up our stash then we get to get more fun stuff RIGHT? RIGHT!!!

Also keep your eyes peeled you may see some of my scrappy stuff around in the next month... doing some guest spots. SOOOOO MUCH FUN I love love loveeee it!!!

My dear Bella bug...

It is starting to get warm and summer is coming. There is so much you want to do and that I want for you to. School is about to be out. You are 9 now. You have so much fun playing with your friend Eva Caroline. You two have been very best friends since we moved here. You both were just toddlers then. It has been such a joy for you two to grow up together. Why does it scare me so? This GROWING UP THING. I know I have to let go and let you live in this world.
I don't have to like it though.

I am so protective of you. I get mad when I am sick and can't watch you play or go to your school functions. I want photos and things to remember everything. My brain doesn't work like it used to. I want to remember all of it. We did so much to get you here I want to cherish every moment. Ya that is why you have so many scrapbooks kid. I kinda love you and stuff.

I knew these days would come. You getting older. Wanting to play outside You wanting to go roam the neighborhood. I just am not that mom. I guess I watch too much "Law and Order" but Bad things happen in this world. I protect your eyes from it and you think Oh it wont happen to me and that is fine. I DON'T want it to happen to you. I guess that is why I just want you close to me. I know things could still happen regardless but at least I would be there to take off my shoe and attempt to beat them down or do somethingg. In your eyes that is all mama would have to do to take care of any situation.

With being 9 comes more eyerolling on your part and more responsibilities that we have given you. You are a good kid. You make good grades. My job is to keep you focused. You are a lot like me that way. You get easily sidetracked by "oh look something shiny." You like to daydream. You believe in the good in everyone and you have a tender heart. Those are wonderful qualities that I will do my best to protect. They also are qualities that can cause a lot of heart break. I used to have a very tender heart as well. Maybe that is why I am so protective of you now. So give mom and break and think for a second she has a reason. She has seen things. BEEN THROUGH a lot of things. NOT SO PLEASANT things. she loves you hey I SHARE MY CHOCOLATE WITH YOU KID! (reluctantly but I do.)

What I want you to know most more than anything. Is how much you are loved no matter what the case. No matter how often you roll your eyes. That your daddy and I have been there and I probably have done it. It gets confusing I know but that is why the good lord gave you to us. For us to try to help you muddle through it. You have a wonderful army of people around you that love you so much and care. That you can always come to FOR ANYTHING. NO MATTER WHAT IT IS. I hope you will always know that if it is today or 30 years from now. I just wish you weren't in such a hurry to grow up. It goes so fast. You will always be my Bella bug. You will just have to come to terms with that one. I see you rolling your eyes! xoxoxoxox mom...

A Scrapbook page and LuLu siting! OH FUN FRIDAY!

For my photo of the day yesterday I chose to do it in layout fashion :) since I botched my layout a day challenge in February so bad (shingles and horrific MS flare guhgroannnn) I am scrapping up a storm now. We were to photograph a car.Well I could go out to the garage and just, well ya take a picture of the car but I thought BOoooooorrrrriing,  and I can't just do Boring! This is meee we are talking about. SO, I had these fantastic photos and had previously started a layout at a crop. Hmmm, I thought what a great opportunity to use both. It was already dark though so I knew a good photo of the layout was out of the question, AND since Bella had to be up at the hind crack of dawn to be at the school for filming cool schools, (her school was on the news this morning as the Cool School feature of the week YAY! Go Cottage Hill Christian Academy Warriors!!) I knew it would be TODAY. So there ya go. THE FULL MEAL DEAL MORE THAN YOU ASKED FOR in a great big run on sentence :) I decided to go with the layout of the cars since it was something that I knew Bella bug would really like although it would be a day late. (sorry)  You get 2 photos of the day today BUT, not to fret, Bella helped with photo of the day today. So see if you get smiles.

Punch Bug!

So this is my Photo of YESTERDAY the day. Every thing on there is from Fancy Pants EXCEPT the little stickers in the bottom right hand corner that has slug bug the star and  the yellow car That is American Crafts and the  round chip board  sticker at the left top That is We R Memory Keepers. The Letters are Thickers from American Crafts. All edges are inked with Ranger (Tim Holtz) Distress Stains.
The Journaling says: "You and your daddy like to play Punch Bug" all the time. Any time we go any where you are on the look out racking up points for punching. ~ 2012"


Today's photo of the day subject is sunglasses. I had a little help setting up this photo. You may recognize our model. She is cuddly, she is cute, she is a fashion icon in the Jones home. She is LuLu! (Bella's Build -a Bear errr ughm Lamb?)

LuLu Making her Fashion Statement  with a little help from Bella!

LuLu has been drug all over so her nose has gotten kinda rough there. She loves her Cinderella dress the most according to Bella. She is stylin' in her pink Sunglasses. She tried to get Guido to wear them but he didn't want any part of that. (smart Guido!)
Hope you all are having a great Friday. I am thinking the Bug will have an early night since she was up so early today (PLEASE?!?!)

P.O.T.D. and A Paper Posies Layout

It seems I am always catching up. Have been busy so I am catching up on my photos of the day. Had them on my camera just haven't uploaded them to my computer. (have to use my desktop computer to do all that not my laptop long story and can be a big process some days) ANYYYYWAYYY. Here are my updated photos of the day and I did a layout today.
Something RED:

Something Loud: Oh I could have done SOOO MUCH for this one but I but my Nemesis:

Fork:

I used the literal as it was in Mexican Lasagna!!

A sign: Disclaimer (I just took a group of these signs I am not promoting or NOT not promoting any of these said candidates on these signs, it is just a photo at the election place of a bunch of signs I didn't even notice the names on them before I took the photo. It is just for the photo of the day spirit of photography so if you have to complain about it, THEN, call ya mama cause I do not wanna hear it Thank you!) AND YES I voted! :)

ALL the campaign signs there were tonsss of them.

Clouds: OK there are 2 of these photos Bella liked one I liked the other so I used both:

 

SO now I am all caught back up. I got my kit from Paper Posies. Thought I would catch up on some of my scrapbooking. These are some pictures from a while back but they always make me laugh. Using pastels when I scrapbook is always a difficult task. I know I have heard a lot of others say the same thing. So I tried very hard to not say forget it and just add other stuff. I stuck with the kit. The only thing I added extra is the chipboard letters the tiny letter stickers  some inks  staples that's about it. EVERYTHING else is from THIS MONTHS Paper Posies kit. So see. It is easy to make it work.
Even though her shirt is not pastel colors It blended with the other colors. (the backgrounds.) just pick up one color (the yellow) then the brown  then play off the pink I usually try for 3 colors from t he photo to  blend  this one was the pink the yellow the brown to high light. As you see it wasn't the exact shade as in the photo but it was enough to blend and make it work.  Pastel tone papers  along with Brights in photos will create BALANCE on your layout. just a tip for you.

She Just Can't Resist

You can click on the layout to see it larger. The journaling reads: I am sure the staff at Old Navy cringe when they see us walk in. You absolutely LOVE the "people" at the front.  You will not leave them alone.  You talk to them as if they are real. The little girl and the dog are your favorites. ~2011

I added ruffles to the circle and the edge of the paper by tearing off strips then spraying water on it (after I inked the edges) crinkling it up then gathering it up under the edges in layers.  I know it kinda looks like a mess. It looks better in real life. Hard to see in the Photo. The butterfly is not as dark now either that is a wooden butterfly so the ink  has absorbed into it. It is sooo pretty. Is more of a mauve brown color and the edges are darker.  Hard to get the true photo of it. But I think you get the idea. 

P.O.T.D. 5 p.m. and more

So I am just gonna catch up. Had stuff to do yesterday and felt crappy so didn't upload my pics but I have them :) So I have a few and an updated layout.

So The challenge for Photo of the Day was to take a photo at 5 p.m. I took 2 one of the tv (showing it was 5 pm)
Also a picture of a not so happy Bella doing her homework. (mean mama made her write her multiplication tables over)

Ya she has those expressive eyes (dunno where she gets that from?)

Here is the next one something that I have worn... (didn't say when)

         

This photo is kinda blurry but, I chose to leave it that way.  Haven't worn these boots in a while. Wore them to my wedding. HA! Typical me!  Don't think my left leg would fit in those jeans.  This used to at one time be my everyday apparel.  Now, not so much. Have traded it for t shirts.. boxers and  left that behind.  I will wear these boots again. I have a promise that they will be on my feet when I leave this earth. (please don't let them put any ruffley crapp on me.)  When it all comes down to it in the end... this is just me. who I am. who I have always been and will be.  Just a little more blurry now. (and with a bigger butt)

Todays photo was sup to be out your window. Well one of the views I love I have already shown HERE  out my kitchen window. So I won't bore you again with that.

Finished this page (finally) I know Im slow and indecisive. I added stickles to everything so it had to dry. I know its hard to see but its all over those  PRIMA flowers, and the butter fly, and the paper and the little hearts those are American Crafts comma's upside down. The letters are really brown I just added stickles to them in pink so ya ALLLL that had to dry and little fingers had to stay away. I tore up some of the PRIMA Vine flowers (2 packs) and made the embellishment at the top and the Butterfly(Maya road? chipboard,)  antenna,  Used the other Prima flower vine as a base and added another pack of Prima flowers. bling it out big... all kinda of ribbon I cheated and nope didn't sew YOU KNOW I DON'T sew. That is glue babbbeeey! GO ME!  Tim Holtz distress inks all over, S.C. sticker cut in half and YA THAT is NIKKI SIVILS Frog Prince Paper. .  I just jazzed it up with stickles for Bellas 3rd grade Medieval feast photos. 
Based out on Bazzil Cardstock no less


(Photo taken by me @ chca)

P.O.T.D. Smile Well Thats a smiley Dog If I ever did see one...

He is just the happiest smiliest dog ever. Love our Guido. He is so awesome.

ohhh dats da spot riht dar....

His Girl

He was being so silly

Photo A Day... Her Bedside

Well I guess  you can see what a few of my girls favorite things are just by looking beside her bed. Actually it is a relief you can see the floor. She has been doing really well with it actually.She is doing better, We all are.  When mom is doing better everyone does better. When mom is feeling yuck everything well.. goes to yuck you get the picture.
Today was a good day. SUNNY absolutely GGGGGEEE- GORGEOUS DAY. Cool outside. NICE. I cleaned through our DVD and VCR collection of movies. OH MY WOW. HOW LONG that had needed to have been done!  Also did 2 window sills got the ick out you know what I am talking about? That ew that gets down in the track  when you have crepe myrtles and shrubs in front of your windows? pollen and ick. Am I the only one that gets freaky about that stuff? I don't want to open my windows in the fall and spring and see Window Eww.  BUT it is a daunting task. I can't be up and doing for long to do that. SO, I do them a few at a time, Vacuum clean scrub, clean the screens. Today was good beautiful day for it. I got TWO DONE but You have to realize they were really ew because they were on the side with the shrubs with those lil berry things. So ya. OK ya I'm rambling on.
I was just glad to be feeling well enough to do something. John always KNOWS I feel better when I say OK this house is DISGUSTING how do we live in this filth. (He also hates it when I feel that good and decide we need to clean our house because we can no longer live in this disgusting pig sty) I said we can either clean it or just move. So Clean it we are.

HEY I got 2 windows done, That is accomplishment for me! AND all the DVD's and VCR tapes gone through sorted and reput in the cabinet (with my adoring child's help although It was fought with a few whines but she did help willingly for a good long while till it started resembling that thing called WORK)

SO here is my Photo of the day. BELLA'S Bedside.

The wooden horse was mine when I was younger. Her Aunt Liz refurbished it when she (Bella)  was a baby and made it look more like a live carousel horse. (ya I cried) My daddy made that horse. So it is like she has her papaw Bob there along side her. The Red hat is from Nana Faye, Her guitar,  her huggy bear that is hugging a cat or some kinda critter, her gramma bunny that smells like chocolate, Hello kitty clock, A  Hawaii snow globe I think it is a Hawaii one I dunno,(she has a bunch of snow globes)  That is Lu lu chillin' on the bed, That is her back pack Aunt Cyn sent her she keeps her books stashed that she wants to read at night time and her kindle fire, ipod, Ds and stuff  Uncle Windale Aunt Karen and Aunt Liz spoil her with in so she can sneak and read when she is supposed to be sleeping (YA, like we don't know) Mardi Gras beads and Necklace  and Bunny ears? (no clue)  on the horse... No idea. Yup .. That's my child. love her.
That bed belonged to my, I dunno, HOW many Greats... grandparents. handed down. Wrought iron but my father had sandblasted and redone it. So pretty.

So what is beside your Bed? I think she might find this funny some day. If not she will at least have a photo to show her future therapist.

Photo a day 2 oh ya and 3

Ya ok so Im doin a 2 fer Yesterday was kinda wild so Im getting yesterday and today up today. I am just happy I am doing it! I was VERY ill during L.o.a.d. and I was able to do 1 page. BUT I am so proud of that ONE page.

Ya the photo was kinda crooked. The layout is straight. HEY I HAD SHINGLES all around up on my head and ears I was doing good to take a picture of the layout better yet scrap anything! I didn't post it in the gallery though. Kinda embarrassed because I only got to do ONE page for L.O.A.D.

WHICH BRINGS ME THOUGH... to todays PHOTO OF well yesterday <blush> yayaya

I KNOW yesttterday but whatever. The topic was FRUIT. (was gonna take a picture of my neighbor but thought nah saving that for one of the other subjects) SO, I decided to do a PLAY ON WORDS errr Pictures.
See if you can Figure it out.

Should be pretty easy for you to get....
Our topic for today is :
OUR NEIGHBOR HOOD...
The light I really wanted was yesterday afternoon. It was so pretty but it was also VERY windy. I didn't get the photos I wanted then.
I think I did capture a little of what I think is quaint  about our neighborhood without having to wander off.

Mobile is the AZALEA capital of the south.
Our neighborhood comes alive bursting with color it seems like down here we have the greenest grass, the prettiest trees, the flowers bloom huge,  I can't explain it. it isn't like it was back home.
Everything is just... pretty.
flowers all over the place. stuff blooming all the time. maybe its the tropical air. (Don't get me wrong there are things about back home that are beautiful too!! Different beautiful)

One of the things that makes me smile. I see this when I look out my window in the kitchen. Mr. Dupont. He is in his 90's LOVELY man. Love him so. In his electric wheel chair going to check his mail admiring the beauitful scenery of our neighborhood, calling for the kitties (yes our ferocious beasts)  waving to the girrrl (me or my daughter or diane  any of us that may be outside loooking to see that he makes it back ok) Love that man!
They have the most gorgeous back yard. David and Diane took some GORGEOUS photos of Bella when she was around 3 in their backyard. The most gorgeous photos I have ever seen. I will have to link you to their website. They are amazing photographers here in Mobile. (I am blessed to call them our neighbors)

This is our backyard. See how biggg those azaleas are. Now I did kinda cheat on this a little. I took these photos yesterday. I was afraid the storm was going to take the blooms off. I wanted you all to see how beautiful they were already. They have been lit up since Feb. So early this year. Amazing. That is Fraidy Cat down there chillin. They love to run and play up under all those. They jump out at each other and up into that dog wood tree. They run up into Bella's play house and across to the shed. It is such a fun time to sit and just watch them run and play and chase each other. Don't walk by though or you might get got! (by a kitty)

I wanted to go down to the other end and take a photo coming back the other direction. It is much prettier. You get the idea though. We have rolling hills, coming back the other direction you can see going up the hill the flowers blooming better. Maybe this afternoon. The light will be better. Things are blooming so it is so pretty. I want to take a picture of the entrance. Oh my it is so  pretty with all the azaleas. They have worked soooo hard on it. The temperature has really dropped. We were 80 degrees yesterday, now it is 56, Can really feel it. But I am not going to complain at all. it was as if God put his arms around us and every thing went up.  Our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone. This has been horrific. We continue to pray for them weather is so scary and I DO RESPECT the weather.

So did you figure out the photo??
When life gives you lemons... make.... well Lemonade or whatever you wanna make.
Ya kinda corny but I had some lemons and I had fruity pebbles so those were my choices.
:)
Hope you have a blessed Saturday. (both of you that read my blog haha)

ps what do you think of the white background? dunno what happened but the green got lost but Im kinda diggin it. thoughts?

Growing up too soon...

My sweet Bella,
You are growing up much too fast to suit me. So much has been happening in your little life around you.  Scary things.in the world , How do we explain this cruel world to you. We as parents struggle so hard with giving information to you so you will know more how to handle things than we did, but then we are faced with our babies dealing with adult situations and growing up too early. I just want you to be 8.

 You have so much to deal with in your life already you shouldn't have to have all the rest of the crapp that this world is dealing out, ya know. You seem to deal with it like a champ though, I have to tell you.
I fear some day you will need to discuss all this with your counselor and say yup back in 2012.... or whatever they call them when you hit 40 and have little kids running around of your own making your hair need "highlights."


You are wise beyond your 8 years. Although, you are quick to let me know You are almost 9. You worry. ALOT. about everyone, especially me. I try to keep you from doing that. I hide I guess you say, maybe too much from you, about what is going on.  Which makes your mind wonder the worse. Maybe I should explain more about what this is. Shingles scare you more than anything. My shots terrify you. I have tried to explain them that they are no big deal but you see the repercussions.To and 8 year old a shot is horrible and upchucking and a horrific rash well... ya.  How do I get it to make sense to you when We can't make it make sense to us?

You are very intelligent. I know when you are scared and worried.  It shows in your school work. It shows in your behavior. I try to make up for it extra when I feel better. No amount of time, hugs, kisses or words can take it away I know. Maybe that's why I scrapbook so much for you. Just to be sure you know?
You are growing up. You don't need me to buckle your shoes any more. I made this realization today. It hit my heart. You are growing up so fast. Im so very proud of you.I hope you know that.  You are such a smart girl. A brave girl. You make good decisions. You are so helpful and kind. You have such a beautiful heart. I don't want ANYONE to change that. You do have your spunky side too. I like that too. You are funny. Very quick witted. You make me proud to be your mom.

You have always been independent. From the get go. The first look on your face when you came out was one of "OK where am I and lets get this show started." You are so much like me there. Maybe that is why I am so protective of you in some aspects. I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did. Daddy and I also try to filter away the things that are damaging. I didn't have that luxury.  Maybe thats why we are so particular on the school you go to, the people you hang around, The things you do.. If we seem overly crazy on that JUST KNOW there is a reason. There is a method to the madness baby. It stems from the fact we love you and want the best for you.

I have been down some roads and made a lot of mistakes, have had a lot happen, seen many things,   I do not want you to make those mistakes. I plowed those roads I experienced them. I don't want you to. SO I put up the great big "DANGER DANGER SIGNS" so you won't go there. NOT because I don't want to be mean no wire hangers mom or for you to not have any fun, but, I don't want you to experience the heart break, the pain, the disappointment. Yes I want to protect you. Its mothers instinct.  
Did these experiences make me stronger? yes, Did I learn things from them, OHHHH yes, I can tell you a lot of things that DON'T work... But, I would much rather you learn from my mistakes and the mistakes of others than having to learn from the experience it yourself..the hard way. But if your anything like me you are probably going to have to take some of those bumps just to find out for yourself. KNOW your mama will be right here. waiting for you. Ready to listen and beat the bad guy with her shoe. dry your tears, whatever it takes.
So My sweet Bella.. all of 8 years old.. growing up way too fast.. my sassy little mini me. Slow down... Don't be so closed off that you miss the point,  open minds will open hearts,  and just pass by that road  there thats so bumpy that has been down by all of us. . Your mother has already been down that road. It is dark, it might look like it is lots of fun, (and at times ya it kinda was) but in the end... trust me. The one on the right... is the smart decision. Not because I said it was.. Because I lived it and have the battle wounds, scars, memories, and ya Im sure there are photos out there somewhere to prove it.
I love you baby....

THEY ARE GROWING "UP"

never forget.... you can always come home no matter what.
mama.