Caleb the cat, a broken finger, and lots of other misc useless info....

So sorry I didn't post on Friday.  I had every intention of doing it from the hotel but they wanted me to pay for internet access and I have a fundamental problem paying for a connection when I have already paid enough for the room.  I cannot believe that hotels boast having high speed internet and then they have the audacity to ask you to PAY $10 to use it.  Anyway...

Here are a few pictures of our night at the hotel.  We had such a good time!  Other than the internet thing, the hotel was FABULOUS!  We had a two room suite, which is wonderful for our little family.  And the hotel had just enough "extras" to make it such an enjoyable experience.  They have a managers reception at night with free drinks and snacks.  And then in the morning there is a huge buffet breakfast with cooked to order eggs and omelettes.  And this is all without a huge price tag.

Of course our kids favorite thing at hotels is the fact that we let them jump on beds!  LOL!  Not at home, but at hotels it is okay!

Before we got to the hotel, we stopped at TGIFriday's for a very late lunch!  They loved the big round booth they put us in!

As we were getting into the car to head out that day, this is what we saw sitting in our bushes!

And here is a sweet one of me and my little girl :)

And one of her alone :)  I actually scrapped this picture this weekend but it is with an upcoming GORGEOUS kit, so you'll have to wait :)

I feel like there is just sooo much to catch everyone up on.  So, I'll just do a quick recap for each person in this little family of ours...

Starting with the youngest:

LEVI

This kid cracks me up.  I just LOVE this age (he is 16 months).  He is learning new words all the time and is figuring out what things are used for.  Whenever we even mention the word "go" he is busy collecting everyone's shoes and insisting that they put them on.  He loves to run around and be crazy.  He is also incredibly sweet and cuddly. I have never had a cuddly baby before.  But he just loves to come for a snuggle as he buries his little face in my shoulder.  He also gives the sweetest kisses! 

CALEB

He is definitely his own little kid.  He is talking more and more (which is really good) but we still hope to get him into speech therapy this fall.  But he is trying so much and I love to hear all his fun little phrases and sentences.  His newest phrase is "why not?"  If we say no to anything, he always lifts up his little hands and asks so sweetly, "why not?"

His other new thing (which I am not as fond of) is that he thinks he is a cat.  And this kid can certainly stay in character!  I'll talk to him and he only responds with, "Meow."  He crawls around the house on all fours meowing at everything.  And apparently he realizes that cats don't have arms so he will even pick up DVD's with his mouth and try to stick them in the player. LOL! 

ALAINA

Sweet little girl!  She's been sick the last two days.  I spent most of yesterday sitting with her, holding her hair back and she threw up, and cleaning up where she didn't quite make it to the toilet. She seems to be a bit better today and she hasn't thrown up since yesterday afternoon, so hopefully we are on the mend.

ME

I've been pretty busy as usual.  But I am really trying to take one thing at a time and not do too much.  I really miss making templates so I am hoping to find time this week to get back into it.  The summer was long and slow and I didn't release ANYTHING other than my grab bags.  I am hoping in the next few weeks to have some new stuff up.

I have finished up most everything for round 2 of SOY.  All that is left is the interview which will be this week sometime.  It has been fun getting to know the other finalists and just enjoying the whole process.

JASON

Jason has been pretty busy looking after our dorm boys. Since I have our little ones and just because he is the man of the house, a lot of it falls to him.  I am around all the time but most of the discipline and routine fall to him. It is stressful at times but he is enjoying it.  After our one boy was released last week we have seen a huge improvement in the other guys.  They just fed off of the bad attitude and energy and now that that is gone, they are all doing so much better! 

Jason broke his finger on Saturday!  Well, at least we think it is broken. He talked to a lady on staff here who is a nurse and she said she thinks he tore a ligament.  Ugh. He has it all braced up -- hopefully it gets better soon!

Here is a LO for this weeks DIGI DARE. This one was sooo hard for me.  Here was the dare:

Now on to this weeks Dare!!

I thought we’d do something not as “deep” this week so we could have it easy as summer winds down Smile

I’d like you to scrap by the numbers! We’ll play it really easy! Off today’s date! Today is 8/24/07 so here is your dare! I’d like you to include the following (no more, no less)

8 of the same element (flowers, stars, brads, etc)
2 photos
4 word title
0 journaling
7 glittery elements (sequins, gems, glitter - feel free to mix and match)

That’s it! Other than these elements, you can add whatever you want!

*** Can you see why this would be hard for me?? No journaling, LOTS of elements, and sparkly stuff!  Ah!  But, it was fun to be stretched a little!

Credits: Pink paper and sparkly block letters by Emily Merritt, kraft paper by Gina Cabrera, bow by Natalie Braxton, straight stitching by Lisa Whitney, circle stitching by Lisa Carter, glitter paint strokes by Meredith Fenwick, alpha by Holly McCaig, font is mom’s typewriter.

Have a great Monday!

Comments

[MandaKay]

Good to hear from you and the update on all the family was great! Looks/sounds like you had a great family night away, and glad that the boys have gotten a new attitude with one gone. I am sure it is tough, but you are helping the others still, which is GREAT!!!

[Rona]

Welcome back! :) I hear you about spending for Internet at hotels! I get them because I HAVE to have my internet fix, LOL!

Great pic, and I love the one with the 3 of them all smiling and laughing---they truly are happy kiddos!

[joelsgirl_Kellie]

Great post, Janet. Love the little recaps on your cuties, and those photos from the weekend are AWESOME! I've been missing your templates, too, lol. I know you'll do great on the SOY interview; good luck with that!