A whole lotta bloggin to blog

First things first- I am adding comments back in for a little while- give it a test go. If it works out well I may keep it up- if not...it comes back down...keep your comments honest (and kind if possible), and please at least leave your first name :)

Ok- so here is my life in the last couple weeks- WHIRLWIND style.

So- get out to Utah, mostly uneventful- plane was delayed due to tornado warnings, so I didn't get to my moms house until like 2 am, but thats all good right? Well, it would have been fine if my brother and SILs beautiful little girl hadn't decided to make an early arrival. We were out ofthe house at 7:30 am and was born after5:30pm. She is lovely and sweet, and Lindsey will surely kill me for posting this picture!

The next few days were pretty much uneventful. We celebrated my beautiful adopted sisters 18th birthday and her and Emmas grduation from high school. There was some drama, and waiting for goats to have babies (though they never did) and at one point I was ready to hop an early plane home.

But it all calmed down and I got to enjoy time with my family whoI only get to see twice a year. I also took the oppurtunity (being surrounded by such gorgeous women) to take some pictures of some of my sisters and my mom.

(that is paint on emma's face not a crazy tattoo or anything-- or acne!) and the hair totally suits her personality.




Poohnee.......seriously wouldn't take a million dollars to be13 again,but she is so sweet and beautiful!



and my mom...is amazing and lovely. It is a miracle she let me take these pictures, but I made a promise i would delete any she hated. But they turned out great.

All the pictures still need to be photoshopped- these are all completely un edited.

I also got a little bit of shopping done- my mom bought me this fabulous little robots that has boobies (its too cute) and was actually sad to leave on Thursday night.

Plane got delayed from denver to philly and we detoured through Texas- we were about an hour late, and by the time I got home i was exhausted and slept.

Saturday we had family over for c's birthday and fathers day. Signed c up for guitar lessons and just enjoyed a few hours of just downtime (ok really I was cooking ad tryingto get everyone fed).

We left monday morning to Atlantic City (I have yet to upload my pictures). We went and toured the Absecon Lighthouse, the boys did the ripleys museum, I gambled (and won) for a few hours, we played on the beach alot, did steel pier and ate some REALLY good food. We were in a cool hotel room too, 28 stories up oceanfront property with an oceanview suite...it was amazing...seriously amazing. Pictures soon to come.

We got home wednesday afternoon. Picked the dogs up from the kennel and brought the stuff in the house. I grabbed the mail and had 3 things from school. The first thing I opened was my transcript with my transferred classes. The next thing I opened was a paper saying my loan had been approved for 3500 (1750 for each semester-- enough to almost cover my tuition-I was super excited). The next thing I opened was a paper that said.....wait for it.....

You have been approved for 45fuckinghundred dollars in grant money!!! I ran (and I don't run) aroudn the house shrieking like a crazy woman!!! I grabbed bob and hug and kissed him (he thought someone died or something). called my mom (she wasn't excited enough for me), and then shrieked some more just for fun. Now it feels totally surreal.

I can't even express how important this is to me. I have been trying to get a higher education for 6 years now, but could never afford it (and being with b and having c with us I could never justify spending the money.) It finally came down to the fact that I can't seem to have babies, and soon c isn't going to need me here all time.....so I decided to go back to school and become a history professor (its ALOT of school, but I am only 23). It was finally made possible by the fact that I no longer have to count my parents income...they make way too much money and there was no way that I would have ever been approved for anything based on need. My parents can't help me,--so I was stuck....

So to me- this is such a great gift...its amazing (said with tears streaming down my cheeks). I will take the grants and pay for book and tuition and stuff and use the loans to pay off my credit card that my summer classes are on, get a new computer and printer, and health insurance (woohoo- its been a touch a go few months without it). The rest will be saved for future school stuff. Seriosuly I feel so blessed. I never expected grants-I only thought I would get the loans...really really amazing.

Oh and did I mention it snowed (twice!!)while I was in Utah. UGH!!!

If you made it this far.....holy shit you are dedicated! Ok- so tomorrow we are off again to the poconos until sunday night.

Bye y'all....will post with pictures next week.

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

don't know when I'll be back again....ok yes I do--I will be back planted at home for the rest of the summer (for the most part) on the 22nd of JUne, however until the 7th or so of july my life is NUTS!

Anyways- can't wait to see my family, gonna miss the hell out of my boys and my friends, and going to study hard while I am trying to party just as hard!

Peace is...

“Peace is not just a colored ribbon. Its more than a wristband or a t-shirt. It’s not just a donation or a 5k race. It’s not just a folk song or a white dove. And peace is certainly more than a celebrity endorsement. Peace is a full time job.” George Clooney in an advertisement for UN PeaceKeepers

I just heard this quote, and it really got me thinking---I agree 100% with what it says---while all of those things (except maybe the celebrity endorsements) help, and possibly attribute to achieving peace--- it is so much more than that. It is noble and self-sacrificing to donate money and time (and completely neccessary since, unfortunately current peace efforts are expensive), but Peace is an attitude. Peace is a frame of mind. Peace is agreeing to disagree--without blowing each other up. Peace is finding common ground..... Peace is not bullying, Peace is not bribery, Peace is not my country/my way of life/ My god is better than yours. Peace is loving everyone unconditionally, and Peace is knowing we need each other to survive. Peace is knowing we need to stop fighting, stop polluting, and start loving each other....

the most wonderful things...

my blackberry smells like spearmint gum--- awesome!

I just ordered two books-- will share the...fruits of these books in a few days..

chris competed in the 45th annual BASD (bethlehem area school district) 5th grade track and field day, and did well- it was a big accomplishment to even get to compete so Yay for him!! I went and watched...it was hot and loud...

dude-

I wish I had had my camera last night at the crop at Rollies house....

total blast was had by all, as always.

I fingerpainted, and supervised some scrapbooking ventures, and ended up with an art journal I loooove. BTW the new prima studs are FAB...totally.

tomorrow is mothers day, missin my own mom- and I know she doesn't really like mothers day as it just makes her say missing her own mom and her kids. THEREFORE mothers day has been rechristened Happy glad you're my daughter day--- which means I should get presents right??? J/k Love you mom..I will see you in less then a month and I have some totally stellar not-for-mothers-day-mothers-day presents (since you didn't want me to send them in the mail).

And since I can't blog without a picture....my puppies...love them to death.

its the little things

that make what has been a shitty start of my week go to not too bad. Nothing can make how bad I felt all day yesterday go away (seriously I HATE being a woman...seriously), and now my throat hurts, BUT...

School decided to accept 2 more of my transferred classes (there were originally only going to accept 3 classes (9credits-thats a huge kick in the balls), but today they decided to accept two more classes--hallefrickinlujah.

AND THEN I get home and another canvas has sold on my etsy site...I have sold 3 things, and have had a couple under the table offers for things from people on etsy (but I am being good and keeping it all legit). I TRULY never expected anything to sell anything-- I make stuff that I love, and actually have hanging on my walls (what better way isthere to store art??) But am also happy to see my creations go to loving homes....Sofor now, I will continue to put my art out there... even if nothing ever sells againI feel Ihave grown so much as an artist and am loving where I am going with it.

I also want to share some pictures from over the weekend...had such a good time taking the boys the aquarium.

I'm 10-and have an attitude (don't they all??)...got about 30 pictures of chris and dylan runng around the outdour stadium... this one isnt my favorite, but kinda sums up the 'tude.

*sigh* so pretty...i love coral (is it coral???) statement ammended...I love whatever it is.

*double sigh*I love whatever this is too....hehe. You're a good man hunny..

Chris took this picture, and I pretty much think it kicks major ass. Yes,there is some flash issues, but....seriously--how freakin rad is that?!?! I can remove the flash problem, turn it black and white blow it up and scare small children....

So glad...

that the chicken pox are gone, and chris is feeling better and back at school!



Will update more later- just wanted to assure my handful ofreaders that I have not given up the ghost of blogging. Not until june at least when I can no longer find my head---will post about that another day...today I am just enjoying that fact that my head is still securely attached.