Getting ready for halloween!

I think this is kids favorite holiday, next to Christmas! Gracie has changed her mind about her costume...stayed tuned for her new one...

bake sale goodies...

It's official. I'm a "Bake Sale" mom!

To our friends in Southern California...

Stay safe. We are thinking of you...Let us know that you are Ok.

Where to start?

I am so behind....here are just the basics of the last two weeks:
* Chaperoned on the the kindergarten field trip to the pumpkin patch. Went into the hay maze, where Cameron took off and I couldn't find him, or the way out for 30 minutes. The other two kids I was in charge of were panicked! I joked with the teacher that at least I only lost my own kid!
* Took the kitty to the vet because she was throwing up for two days. Found out she swallowed some ribbon and have to have surgery to remove it for an ungodly amount of money.
*Pick up sister and BIL at airport
*Headed to Halloween Fair for pumpkins and fun...
*Sister watched kids so we could spend the night Here for Project Night Night. AHH!
*Back to normal, whatever that is!
Stupid Hay maze

The meadow challenge...

I saw this on Donna's blog and wanted to try it. It is called The Meadow Challenge. Here is my page:

A little haunted house

I just love these little chipboard house by Doodlebug designs. This was my first one ad it was a little tricky putting it all together. I also bought the large one to make a Christmas house...

Sand Castles in October?

Had to post this one...

Because it is my new favorite photo and scrapbook page. But mostly because I have nothing else going on...

Somebody loves me!

This weekend flew by. I love the fall. We went into the city and walked around and had dinner outside. Then, we found a candy store that made homemade fudge (yum!) then we needed coffee to go with our fudge and when I got my latte, I saw this...

It made me think of Nino. These things always happen to her!

A couple more...

I'm on a roll!! I can't stop! The most exciting thing about it for me, is that I am actually printing them and putting them in an album. It used to take me months to scrap all my pictures and get them in albums. I found costco to be the cheapest to print them. It is $2.99 to print a 12x12 page. That is pretty cheap, considering I can get 4-5 photos on a page and I don't have to have them printed individually.

new digital scrapbook page

I am really getting into digital scrap booking more. It is just so easy and faster than getting out all my paper supplies. I am designing our Christmas card, too. Here is my newest page.

Dragon Boats!

Dear Toys R Us...

I am writing as a concerned parent. Would it kill you to have one Asian doll in your whole store? FYI...Not all little girls are blond haired and blue eyed. Maybe they want a doll that looks like them. And maybe some Mom's are too lazy, I mean busy, to get online two weeks before the birthday and buy an Asian doll. I would imagine this is a problem not just for an adoptive parent, like myself, but all parents with children of a different race. To your credit, you did have one African American doll in the sea of white ones. Thanks for listening,
sincerely,
Lisa Smith

Four!

Happy birthday!
Then:

Now:

I think they approve of the new car!

We finally got to take the convertable for a spin, since Scott has been out of town for a while. The kids loved it!

Making a good impression at the new school...

It's going great, really. When we went on the tour with the principal, Cameron was saying under his breath the entire time "I am NOT going to school here" (remember, he was upset about changing schools)The other day I was reprimanded for getting out of my car in the "white zone" during pick up. It was one of those situations where she yells out "WHOSE car is this?" in front of all the other parents. Nice. But today. Oh Today takes the cake. Today was minimum day. We are late arriver's and usually do not need to be at school until 10:30. but today, we had to be there at 8:20. But I forgot to set the alarm and we didn't get up until 7:40. So of course, we are running late. So late, that instead of putting the dog outside, I let him come with us. So we get there 10 minutes late (I so hate being late, for anything!) The principal is outside helping unload kids from cars (and guess what! A lot of people are late!)So she opens the door, and out jumps the dog and starts running around, and then he pees on the school sign! Oh. My. God. I know she hates me. I know she is thinking why in the %$@# do we let these transfer students in???

I love the new car smell...

We went a little crazy and both decided to get new cars. I got this. Scott got this. The sad part is that I was just as excited about mine as he was about his. I'm such a mom!
PS should I be worried that a certain someone who just turned 40 might be having a mid-life crisis?

My new favorite thing.

I love bags. Scott just rolls his eyes when he sees a new one. This one was made by Perrin, of two lady bugs. I love the dragon fly fabric and the colors. Visit her over at Pink Evita to order your own!

1st day of kindergarten, take two

I know you are confused. So am I! let's start at the beginning...We love our house. It was new when we bought it. It is spacious(for the bay area). It has a lovely view of the bay. What is does not have, is a good school. We knew this. We just wanted to own a house so badly. We thought "we will deal with that when it comes". Well, it came. fast. Time to register for Kindergarten. So I applied for multiple transfer requests. One was based on the fact that I work in a certain town with great schools. I applied. and waited and waited. I called every month or so. I spoke with superintendents. (most of them were very nice). I spoke with principals. I Had his speech therapist exit him out of speech (he was ready) early so that wouldn't be a road block. every day I was asked "Where is he going to kindergarten?" by someone. June came and went and I still called. They didn't know anything. I went to several school district offices, just to show my face and "check on my transfer". Two weeks ago, I started getting rejection letters. I also started having headaches. I had 6 migraines in two weeks and headaches in between. i was diagnosed with high blood pressure! I have always had very low blood pressure, I was shocked! as I started to hear more "no, I am sorry we don't have room in our school". I started t get more stressed out. Finally, after missing the first two days of school (which just about put me over the edge), I enrolled him at our local school. It is rated a 3 out of 10. I was worried for him. But I decided to embrace this school and it's new kindergarten teacher. I was going to join (the non-existent) PTA. Well, Friday, totally out of the blue, I got a call from the great school right down the street from my work, and they have room. I registered him right then. I just have to do what is the best for him. He is a little miffed to be leaving his school and "friends" of 3 whole days. But he will get over it. And hopefully, my blood pressure will return to normal!

What I've been doing...

Since I am obviously not blogging! I have been scrapbooking again. I finished this page, but I am still pretty far behind.

I am excited to do something with this new Amy Butler scrapbook line, though. I loved her fabric and was so excited to see this!

I don't know why I stay away so long, I always feel better when I am doing something creative...