Mama Kat's workshop this week asked "Have you thought about shutting down your blog? Why haven't you and what would cause you to make that decision final?"

When I first started this blog I posted one entry and then forgot about it.  A few months later I remembered and thought I would give it another try.  At that time I posted a few times a week, if that.  Soon my addiction grew.  I have always loved to write.  Before computers I kept a notebook journal, things I did, things I felt.   I often drew pictures, wrote stories.  I wish I would have kept some of those books but alas I have divorced parents who like to throw things away.  ***sigh***

A blog is sort of an interactive journal.  Have I ever thought of deleted mine?  Absolutely.  Why haven't I?  I still enjoy reading my old posts.  Finding out what I wrote about last year at this time, if anything.  I love the fact that I have loyal followers who regularly show up to read my posts.

Sure you can get bogged down with the "so-in-so has 498 follows and I have twenty something" attitude, but you just have to remember that you are blogging for you and no one else.  I try to visit bloggers who visit me, sometimes I do, sometimes I can't.  I try not to get value out of how many comments my posts receive; some days are better than others.

In conclusion, I think blogging is fun but it should always remain something you could live without.  Once it becomes more of a job, than a hobby, it's time to step away for awhile.  I think that is why Blueviolet shut her site down.  She just needed to walk away for awhile. 

I hope she has any enjoyable summer, free of any stressors.

Here is the second installment of the craft show my sister and I filmed while at the beach. 

Many of you could appreciate the humor of the first one and I hope you find this one equally as funny.  Again, they are just for fun and we would love to hear your thoughts.

I hope your weekend was as fun as our weekend.  We had unseasonably warm temperatures, close to 90 degrees all weekend.

Little G and I went miniature golfing as promised.  He had a great time and the ice cream we got afterwards really tasted good.

This weekend my husband and daughters are going away on a father-daughter retreat with our church.  I'm going to try and plan some fun activities with my son so he doesn't whine to much about being left out.

I think we are going to try and do the following:

• Miniature Golf:  He really likes this and the weather is supposed to cooperate.
• Visit Friends:  My neighbor is have a party at her house and my son love her son so that should work out well
• Grocery Shop:  I know what you are thinking, but my son loves the child care center there and I think he will enjoy himself.  Remember: He's only 5--it's not hard to entertain him.
• A movie:  possible go to or rent a movie...not sure yet.
• First T-ball game:  He is very excited about his first T-ball game on Sunday.  It doesn't look like daddy and the girls will be back in time for it, so I will have to cheer extra loud.

Here's hoping the weather is beautiful, the sky is blue and that your weekend is as enjoyable as mine.  See you Monday.

To read more Friday High Fives click on the button below:

Today I am posting my previously deleted and now rescued Episode One of Crafting with Confidence. I would like to stress the following: The video below is fictitious. It in no way depicts or pokes fun of any legitimate crafting videos. Think of us as the Red Green of crafting. If you don't know who that is...you are missing out.


No cricuts were injured while filming.

Only a small piece of paper was wasted.

This week's episode features "How to Stamp on a Card". Special guest: Patsy (not her real name to protect her identify...LOL)

BTW: Do you like my hat??? LOL ...and no we were not drinking. This is us completely sober.

My sister lives too far away. I don't get to see her as much as I would like. Because of that today's tribute goes out to CrazyTrain, who I wish was coming over for supper tonight.

Five things I love about Heather:

• She always makes me laugh: My sister is one of the funniest people I know. She can tell a story about a random trip to the doctors and before you know it you will be peeing your pants with laughter.
• She has pretty hair: All my life I have wanted my sister's hair. It lays flat, it grows long, it doesn't get bushy. Mine on the other hand...well let's not go there.
• She looks good in a sun visor and plaid shorts: CrazyTrain doesn't care what anyone thinks and will pretty much wear whatever she wants where ever she goes.
• She is an awesome teacher: She teaches special education on a high school level. That takes a lot of dedication and an actual desire to see her students make a better life for themselves.
• She fights for what she believes in: This year she has taken juvenile diabetes by the throat and isn't about to let go until her son is cured.
  

If you read my post yesterday, you are aware that I'm having some technical difficulties with my photos and videos from the weekend. I accidentally deleted everything off my SD card. While, thankfully, I was able to restore my photos, I wasn't able to restore the hilarious videos my sister and I made of our mock craft show: Crafting with Confidence

However, I haven't given up yet.

This is the only one I currently have and it is just a blooper. I'm sure you want to see the rest...keep your fingers crossed.

• I will not be cutting up anyone's food
• I will not be doing any laundry
• I will not be cleaning at all
• I will not be breaking up any fights between my kids, and;
• I will not be carpooling anyone to any extra cirrucular activity.

Mama Kat's prompt this week asked "What are your kids talking about?" and for the many of you reading this with younger kids (Yeah Jenners I'm talking to you)you may cringe a little.

SEX, SEX, SEX.

I have fielded more questions from my 10 year old, as well as my 7 year old, in the last 9 months or so than I ever thought possible.

Let's back up about a year to when I had "the talk" with my then 9 year old.  No matter how prepared you think you are to talk about this, you really aren't.  Her then 3rd grade teacher was unmarried and pregnant.  Before I get a lot a hate email for that last statement let me just say that I think if you are going to work with children than you should have a moral compass that points a little conservative.  Hate me if you want, but that's how I feel. 

My daughter's third grade teacher required the students to call her Ms. and made it quite clear to them that she wasn't married.  At the time she had two children to two previous "relationships".  She got pregant mid-year to a "friend".  This was information that I didn't really think my 9 year old needed to know.

That being said our conversation started something like this:

"Mom, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what?"

"If I like the boy I sit beside in math class a lot and he kisses me, will God give us a baby?  Cause I don't think I'm ready to have a baby."

"No, that isn't how it happens.  Besides you have to be old enough to have a baby and you aren't old enough yet."

"Oh, so how does it happen."

"Well, first you have to be naked (or mostly) and then it's kind of like a puzzle.  He has one part of the puzzle and you have the other part of the puzzle.  He puts his piece inside of your piece."

"He puts that INSIDE me?"

"Yes."

"So you can't really do that accidently, can you?"

"No."

"Does the sperm come out in his pee?"

"No, there is another spot for that.  There is no pee involved."

"That's good because some girls on the bus told me that boys have to pee on you to make babies."

"Don't talk to other girls on the bus, they probably don't have acurate information."

"Does it hurt? You know when you put the puzzle together?"

"It's not supposed to."

"If it only takes one sperm to make a baby, where do all the other sperm go?"

"Um (thinking quickly about this one)....they just die."

"Can I take a bath now?"

"Sure.  Let me know if you have any other questions."

"Thanks."(

*daughter departs with a small peck on my cheek; I pop a few xanax.

For today's tribute I would like to honor the blog Going Buggy. Enfys (pronounced Envis - it's Welsh) lives in the West Midlands region of the UK with her dear hubby Mike. They also spend part of the year in the states. Florida, I believe.

Enfys never ceases to amaze me with her awe inspiring cards. She seems to have an endless amount of time to craft, something I am profoundly jealous of. She dsigns for Bitten by the Bug, Funky Hand and The Cutting Cafe.

Seriously, En, where do you find the time?

Whether it is this amazing rose card or this more recent card about what to do when life hands you lemons you will continue to be amazed by this talented woman.

Recently, after Enfy had numerous cards published in Papercrafts, I joked with her about needing her autograph. She graciously mailed me the UK magazine along with a cute set of stamps. To my surprise she took the time to sign a few little notes near her designs. My oldest daughter, who was studying the UK at time was throughly impressed that the package came Royal Mail/Air Mail and promptly took it to 4th grade for show and tell.

If you enjoy card making/crafting, you can't go wrong with this blog.

To read more Tuesday Tributes or to play along click on the button below.



A Jay and Deb Production.

I hope your Easter weekend was filled with family and very relaxing.  We had my mom and step-dad over for Easter dinner.  The food was very good, especially since my hubby cooked it all.

Grandma brought additional baskets for the kids and then we had an egg hunt.  My mom works at a bank so she always puts 50 cent pieces in some of the eggs, which even my 10 year old thinks are quite the treasure.

Middle daughter found the treasure bag and the most money so oldest had to pout for a while but everyone seemed to have fun.  (See picture above)

Friday I took the kids to a gianormous McDonald's near our house to meet up with some girlfriends of mine that I hadn't seen in quite sometime.  Jenny was only in so her kids could see their dad for spring break.  They live in Michigan.  It was great to catch up with them.

We went to A.C. Moore (tell me how much you love the fact that they now have a rewards card) and after that the kids and I went to the pet store and bought Copper a gentle leader, which I have to say I love.  It is a collar that makes it impossible to him to pull me or the kids when we walk him.  My hubby doesn't care for it much, but he isn't getting his arm pulled out of the socket.

When Copper is wearing this he can't even pull my 5 year old.  I love it.

My kids were up at 6:10 a.m. to look for baskets on Sunday morning and I don't think I've fully caught up on my sleep yet.   It's hard for me to get motivated this morning. 



Laundry...watch out...after this cup of tea, I'm going to get to tacklin' you. 

Here is middle daughter playing with Copper.  I really like this picture because she has always been the most frieghten of dogs.  As an infant she used to scream and cry anytime a dog would come near her.  This picture shows me just how far she has come.

Last night's episode didn't really answer many questions for me and I missed the Dharma gang.  I really wanted to see more about that. 

We already knew Ben took Alex from Danielle.  That wasn't very enlightening.  What would have been more enlightening was someone asking Richard what moisturizer he uses since he never ages and no one seems to care.

We already knew that Ben somehow took over Charles place on the island and had him banished.  Other than seeing what that looked like we received no further answers.

I must admit that the smoke monster is a little shark jump for me.  How many of you were waiting to hear Dory from Finding Nemo say "Are you my concience?" when the black mist surrounded Ben.

Total ironic that this episode was entitle Dead is Dead, after all John Locke wasn't exactly dead and then we had a interesting visit from Alex as well.  Raise your hand if you were hoping she would kick her father's sorry ass!  Me too.

The good news:  Ben was unsuccessful in his attempt to kill Penny, or at least it appears that way.  Perhaps, Desmond is convinced that he was successful in killing Ben.

As for me, I'm hoping next week's episode is a little less "out there". 

Let's recap:

About two weeks ago my oldest and I were visiting Quiznos for lunch and she headed over to the pepper/pickle bar (I'm thinking about putting one of these in my kitchen) and comes back with not only peppers and pickles but also a credit card.



It's not mine.  Someone named Daniel.  After briefly considering having lunch on Daniel, I decided to ask if there was anyone in the building with this name and lo and behold he was stuffin' himself in the back corner.  Ever so grateful to get his credit card back he said "Wow, thanks."

Oldest was hoping for a cash reward.

Last night my family and I attended a 4th grade spring concert.  As we were leaving, middle daughter finds George Cotanza's wallet.

Today I want to give a shout out to my son's preschool teacher.  If there was a remake of Mary Poppins, she should get the lead.  I have never met anyone quite as patient and understanding as she is.

Here are just a few things she does that absolutely amaze me:

• Last week the school had a gas leak, she calmly evacuated the building and while waiting for parents to arrive to pick up their bundles of joy she kept them warm by allowing them to play in her car.  When is the last time you had that many kids in your car?
• No matter what the story is, she always listens at eye level while my son retells it.
• To my knowledge, she has never raised her voice at anyone.  Wish I could say the same thing.
• She has full confidence that my son will ace his kindergarten evaluation later this month.
• My  middle daughter also had her as a teacher and to this day still remembers and loves her.
• Her favorite animal is a turtle; and I love to see all the turtle creations little one brings home.

So hat's off to Mrs. Z!  I've heard you should pursue a career doing something that you love.  It is obvious to everyone around you that you are doing something you love.

We had a fun weekend visiting with family and friends and celebrating Easter just a wee bit early.  The kids enjoyed coloring eggs with Grandma.  My hands and theirs still reflect this activity.

Today I'm posting a few of my recent scrapbook pages.  I say recent, but most of them feature pictures from 2006...LOL