Well hello Friday.  So glad you finally made it.

For being only a four day school week, it seems like this week dragged on and on.  Traffic was horrible everyday.  I have to take Mark to school and it is usually a 40 minute round trip.  Not this week.   Lots of accidents, clueless drivers and just back ups more than usual.  It didn't help that the temps finally dropped here so it was hard to get out of my nice warm bed.  But, I won't complain too much because I know it's much colder elsewhere.

Elizabeth (my oldest) is a writer for the Tampa Tribune.  She is the crimes reporter.  We woke up yesterday to the saddest situation that happened overnight. I know it made national news.  A dad threw his five year old off a bridge into the Tampa Bay.  The whole situation makes me sick to my stomach.  I  knew that Liz would have to cover this story.  It's her job. She called me last night on her way home from work.  I could tell in her voice it was a tough day.  She said she had interviewed Phoebe's mom.  I didn't pry or  ask any details.  She said she just needed to go home and have a glass of wine.  I didn't even know this little girl but I feel her loss.  Such a senseless act.  I feel for the policeman that witnessed this and could do nothing and the search and rescue team that had the grueling task of finding her.  I pray that they can recover from this.  Emily (my 20 year old) is studying behavioral sciences/psychology in college.   These are the kinds of situations that she may be having to deal with in the future. I pray that she will be able to make a difference and be the one to save that life.

Sunday, Elizabeth and I will going to our first Bridal Expo on Sunday.  I cannot tell you how excited I am.  So far only the church, reception venue and photographer have been booked.  All of her friends have done the wedding and reception at the country club.  She wants to do something different for her reception.  The place we booked is a little garden club on the Hillsborough River overlooking downtown.  So cute. So quaint.  A blank slate so we are excited to get lots of ideas this weekend.

I have spent the last several days going through my craft space.  Lots of pitching going on.  I was going to post a picture, but I am totally embarrassed.  It kills me to get rid of stuff but I know I haven't used it and probably not sure when I will.  So, I am taking the donate approach and start new.  It feels kind of good.   I saw this quote recently and I think I want to put it on a canvas and hang in my room. I've never made a canvas before but I have a brand new silhouette cameo that just might make this happen.

Happy Friday everybody!  Make it a good one.

I'm back! Not sure if anyone still checks in on this blog since I pretty much gave up on it.  But, I am trying to revive it and get back into it.  I am trying to keep the tv off and be more productive.  Since my last blog post, I have joined the technological age.  I am the proud owner of an I-phone, I set up a twitter account, and I am also on Instagram!  Yeah me.

I'm still working for the amazing Beth Kingston.  I meet up with her at HSN when she comes to town and goes on air.  I pretty much do whatever she wants me to do.  I love it! I also help out Andrew Hiller when he comes to town.  I get to see so much cool stuff.  I have also been able to see some of the most amazing people in the business....Lisa Bearnson, Holly Fossen, Theresa Collins (who is my absolute favorite designer).  I even saw Martha Stewart in the hallway once.  I had a lovely conversation with Rupert (from Survivor) when he was there with his tie dye shirts.

This picture was taken in the wee hours of the morning.  He was such a nice guy.   Very friendly and talkative.  That's Beth Kingston (the Xyron lady)!  She's very cool and uber talented.

I really want to rededicate myself to scrapbooking and crafting.  Over the years that has been put aside raising 4 kids!  Now they are older so I really want to get back into it.  I love to scrapbook and craft.  I even dabble in stamping and geneaology!

Oh yeah.  BIG NEWS!  Liz is getting married!  After three years together, Adam popped the question.  It was so exciting and I was so happy he let us be in on it.  He took her out on a boat and proposed at sunset.  When they came back in, we were all waiting on the docks.  I couldn't be more happy for them and she will be marrying into a great family.  Wedding date is set for January 16, 2016.

How cute are they?

Mark has settled in nicely at his new school.  It's very challenging for him but we all love it.  He ran on their cross country team in the Fall and is in the school production of  The Music Man in March and track will start in February.  I can't believe that he will be starting high school this Fall.  YIKES.  Time is flying by.

I hope to keep up with this blog and post some of the pages I have created and crafts that I hope to finish.  

I hope everyone has a great new year!

Until next time......

Don't forget to tune in to HSN tonight starting at midnight for 24 hours of scrapbooking and crafting!  24 hours!!!!!!  How awesome is this?   I'll be watching, how about you?  Some of the amazing people scheduled to be on are Beth Kingston, Andrew Hiller, Anna Griffin, Teresa Collins, Holly Fossen,  Leslie Bracken, Julie Fei Fen Balzer, and Lisa Bearnson,  You can also check out the HSN website for a breakdown of times.  Can't wait.

Under Construction

Bare with me.  As you can see, I am switching up my blog. It's been so long since I set it up, I have totally forgotten how to edit it.  So, it may take me awhile.  I want to make this into a more "crafty" blog and hope to share what I have been doing.  Now that the kids are older, I just don't have much to share.  They are all so busy now being grown ups.

I have lots to update.  I got a job and it involves scrapbooking and crafting.  I will spill more of the details soon but let me just say I am meeting some awesome people in the business.

I promise to share soon.

Kim

Happy 2014!

I cannot believe that I have not updated my blog since September 11th!  Can I just say how much I have missed blogging. I don't even know if people read this blog, but I enjoy doing it.

Lots going on since I last updated.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I love everything about it.  The food, the smells, the colors.  You get what I am trying to say.  All four kids were here. Greg's roommate came for the day as well.  I am counting down the months until the next Thanksgiving.

Christmas was awesome as well.  Again all four kids were here and we went to mass on Christmas Eve.  Even Adam and Ej (the boyfriends) came along.  The kids (and the boyfriends) drew names so we started off exchanging those gifts.  It was so nice to have them all here.  Greg and Liz actually spent the night.  We all slept in on Christmas morning and didn't get started until almost 9 am.  That's a record for us.  Even Mark didn't wake up early.    Santa was especially good to me this year.  Tickets to see Jersey Boys in April and a new Silhouette.  I am ashamed to say I haven't played with it yet.  I am still sorting/purging my scrapbook space.  But I will!

(our annual trip to Mickey's Christmas Party at Disney World)

Not sure if I have mentioned this or not, but Liz moved out back over the summer. It was weird.  She works for the local newspaper which is located downtown and it was such a far commute.  So she moved closer to downtown.  She has a cute little place.  Greg moved out as well.  He lives down by the university with four roommates.  He still comes by alot since he works very close.  He will graduate in May!  Can  you believe it?  Right now he is interning at a physical therapy gym.  He plans on applying to grad school and continue on become a physical therapist.  Right now he is graduating with a degree in Exercise Science.  Emily is in her second year at USF. I honestly don't know what she is majoring in.......she is constantly changing her mind.  Mark is plugging along.  Still in his same school.  This time next year we will be touring high schools to see what will be the best fit for him.  Right now he is in a very small Christian school.  There are only nine kids in his class.  It's great for now but I want him to have just a bigger high school setting.  He still loves running.  I just signed him up for his second 5K race...Gasparilla.  Big race here in town.  He will be running with my neighbor.  Since he isn't into sports, this is perfect for him.

I hope to stay with this blog.  I really miss it.  I miss reading other's blogs as well. I started out this year hoping to do Project Life.  I bought the kit last year and didn't last but two months. I have already gotten behind this year so I am hoping to catch up and do it.  Maybe this will be my motivation.

So, until I blog again.  Have a good one

Kim

I will never forget!  Today marks the 12th anniversary of the September 11 attack on our country.  Twelve years later, I still am in disbelief that this happened to our great nation.  This will be one of those moments I will forever remember what I was doing when this happened.

We were living in Utah at the time so we were two hours behind.  Mark was fifteen months old.  That night he decided to be "up all night" along with myself.  He had always been a good sleeper but for some reason, he wasn't that night.   I remember just being exhausted. I finally got him back to bed (a little after 7 am).  Steve got up and just left the house without a word.   We still had no clue what was going on.  I remember being angry with him.  He didn't even say goodbye.  I flipped on the kitchen tv and I saw this unfolding live.  I was watching Katie Couric.  I was just standing there stunned when I saw LIVE the second plane hit the tower.  Just then, the front door opened and Steve walked in.  He handed me a Starbucks coffee.  He said, "I knew you had a rough night so I thought you could use a good cup of coffee".  He then asked me what was wrong and I told him.  We stood there watching the tv. Stunned.  The older kids were still sleeping.  I didn't know what to do.  Do I send them to school?  What?  Nothing like this has ever happened in my lifetime.  The decision was made to send them to school and Steve went off to work.  Did I fell stupid being so mad at him.  Unfortunately, I had to wake Mark up a little after 8 to drive the older kids off to school.  I  was glued to the tv.  Then the pentagon happend, then the plane in Pennsylvania.  I just sat and cried.  Over the next week, I was glued to the tv coverage.  One moment that stands out for me is when Ashley Banfield was reporting.  She was standing by a wall where people were posting pictures of their loved ones that were missing.  I can't remember if this person was missing or among the lost, but she came across the name of one of her friends and she just started to cry during her live  report.  So sad.  By the way,  after that sleepless night, Mark never had a rough night again.  Twelve years later, he sleeps like a rock!

We were living in Sandy at the time.  On the one year anniversary, Sandy City Hall had a memorial.  As far as I know, they still do it to this day.  I think they call it the Healing Place.  On their front lawn, they place a flag for every person lost that day and a flag representing all the countries who lost someone.  Mark was obsessed with flags so we went down there.  It was beautiful to see.  Very somber.  Of course, Mark loved all the flags.

  It was very somber standing there. It was windy that day so we just stood there watching and listening to them.

My little guy was just mesmerized by all the flags.  

Last summer, Steve and I went to New York for our anniversary and we visited the memorial.  It was so hard to stand there at the site knowing that so many lives were lost that day.  We must NEVER forget.

God Bless America.

So I know it's been forever since I blogged. I swore this would be the year I stayed on top of it.  As usual, life gets busy and the blog takes a back seat.  I've been taking lots of pictures though to put it my blog.  First thing I will share (soon) is the bridal shower album I did for my daughter's friend.  I was so happy with how it turned out and it really challenged my creativity.  She loved it!  She scrapbooks some herself so she really appreciated the effort and knows what it takes to put your heart into creating layouts.  During all this, I had to breakdown and get a new computer.  So, I am the proud new owner of a laptop which I am still learning how to use.  It's totally different than my desk tops I have used in the past.

My heart is broken tonight for the total devastation that has happened in Oklahoma.  I had to turn the tv off tonight because I just couldn't handle it anymore.  As a parent, I cannot fathom what those parents are going through.  You think school is a safe place.  That's all I can say about this because I will lose it.  I just want all my kiddoes home so I can give them a big hug and tell them how much I love them.

Jodie Arias.  Yes I got sucked into watching that trial.  I am very happy with the verdict.  The jury in Arizona got it right unlike a jury here in Florida a few years ago.  I won't go into that one either.  I don't know what I am going to do when it is all over.  I love watching all my HLN people give their commentaries.  I love Vinnie, Ryan and Joey Jackson.  I enjoy Jane Velez-Mitchell and even Nancy Grace.

Mark is finished with school this week.  He has one more full day tomorrow and early release on Wednesday and Thursday. He is going to drive me nuts being home all summer but at the same time, I will NOT miss that commute to his school.

Speaking of being finished, one more night of Dancing With the Stars.  Yes, I am one of those.  I have watched every season since it began.  I am so hoping that Kellie and Derek win. I love them together.  Can she be any cuter?

I think Zendaya is overrated and I feel like the judges really want her to win.  Ali and Mark are okay but all their dances look the same.  Jacobi and Karina are fun but I don't think he is the best dancer.  He certainly is a great entertainer though.

I  could keep going with everything I have been up to but I will save it for another time.  My bed is calling me.  I am just waiting for Emily to get home.  She finally got her car and is driving herself around (okay, so it's three years later) but I am a worrier.  Once I see those headlights in the drive, I can shut this down and call it a night.  I hope that when I wake up and turn on the tv tomorrow, there will be some good stories coming out of Oklahoma.  We need some good stories and some good news from out of there.  

Good night.