Queens of the CROP!

Saturday September 22, 2007

This was my last time working a crop. It is kinda sad ... I have been doing it for 2 1/2 years ... it is when I get my friends and family to come scrapbook because I am working ... eat some Iron Chef ... talk with the girls ... maybe get a few things done ... overall tons of fun. Shannon and Michelle were the only regulars that were able to make it Saturday ( I forgot to take a picture while Shannon was still there) Hopefully we will still be good and get together once a month to go "scrapbook".

"I'm a good maker"

On Thursday I had promised Addison that after we picked Guhner up from school we would use her easy bake oven. (some of you are thinking ohhh what a nice mom) Well I am not .... Addison has had this easy bake since CHRISTMAS and Thursday was the first time ever that I let her get it out and use it! I don't know why, it always seems like such a big production ... it's not .... from start to finish 30 min. She loved it ... was so proud of herself! While she was so carefully spreading the frosting on her cake I said to her "Addison you are doing such a Great job!" .... Addison: "That's cause I'm a good maker" Yes Addison you are a good maker!!!

Guhner's FIRST Day!!!

Guhner's first day of school .... he loved it! ... had no hesitation ... like he has done this forever. Had it not been for Eric (making fun of some of the moms who were already crying) I would have had a good long cry ... I have never fought back tears like that in my life ... it is a rare occasion that I do cry, so when it comes on that strong I usually just let the tears roll ... I was not sad ... I think it is a right of passage ... I have already decided that Eric is not allowed to come when Addison starts preschool so I can have a good cry.

Mrs. Altstock (Guhner's teacher) did a great job getting the classroom ready. I know Guhner will love it in her class. She seems like a great teacher and truly cares about the kids. Since the first day she has told me how GREAT Guhner is doing and how POLITE he is, he has recieved a sticker every day on his calendar. Today he told me that he only needs two more ... he gets his math smarts from his mom!

Pick up went great! Eduprise has a great system/organization for drop off and pick up. Guhner's only complaint is that our suburban has to be his school bus ... ever since he has been old enough to know he has wanted to ride on a school bus ... I had to walk to school ... up hills both ways ... in the snow .... I would have loved to get a ride in any sort of vehicle.

Being a mom of kids in school is definatly different. It is great. When we get home we get to sit around the table and talk about our day. I get to check off homework and sign off reading time. I get to pack snacks and make sure everything is ready for the next day. I love it! I do miss them as babies ... but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Scrapbook Convenion

Oh how I love the Creating Keepsake Scrapbook Convention. Great day, great products, great company! Oh and I just LOVE Becky Higgins. She is the greatest, is always inspiring and reminding us why we really do scrapbook! Amanda and I missed registration so we just showed up and shopped the vendor fair and was able to get into Becky Higgins back stage class. No stress. No hurrying to get to your next class. All in all a great day ... Although we have been doing this for a few years ... more than I am willing to admit! ... This may have been our last CKC. Don't worry we are not throwing in the towel. We are going to the next level ... CKU (creating keepsake university) They only do 4 a year. The closest one to us is in Anaheim ... June 2008 ... Watch out CKU here we come.

The $$$ Movies

Our cousin Shannon invited us for a play date Friday and we decided to take the kids to the dollar movies. We all know the saying .... You get what you pay for ... Well it is so true, I just can not help myself when I know I can get a good deal. Although we did get what we paid for we still had a great time and the kids had tons of fun. First we ate lunch at the food court, then played at the "play place", next was the movie, after the movie we let the kids run around a little in the play area outside. It is slowly but surely cooling off so it was not too horrible to sit outside in the shade. We love having play dates with our family and friends and will sure miss them when we move to California.

pictured from top:
Raven - Guhner - Cody - Addison - Ronin

Harvest Wreath

So I got the idea in my head that I wanted a harvest wreath (I like to pretend that AZ has seasons) I new what I wanted it to look like but decided I did not want to pay more than $20. I went to Joanne's yesterday and they had harvest wreaths normal price: $29.99 on sale for $17.99 ... great, right in my price range, but I did not really like any of them. So any of you who know me "I can make one I like" Any of the crafty folk know that making it yourself is usually now days more expensive...And those of you who know me ... know how many do-it-myself projects I have in my scrapbook room. Well to make a long story even longer ... all the stuff I needed was on sale I only spent $18 and some change and gave myself until today to make it or I was going to return the stuff.

(to avoid adding another unfinished project to the pile)

So here it is my harvest wreath finished on time and looks pretty dang good if I don't say so myself. I also have enough stuff that if I spend another $3.99 on a grapevine wreath I can make another one.

Yeah for me!!!!

Budget

Only those of you who have a budget or have ever tried to have one will appreciate this. I decided our family needed a budget. My budget for groceries is $100 a week. Monday was my first shopping trip with said budget. If you can not see it in the picture my total with tax was $100.00. I was and still am so excited.

Flagstaff

Oh how I LOVE Flagstaff.

Even if my Auntie Jane didn't live there I would still love it. My Aunt living there just adds to the charm! The weather is PERFECT! (very comparable to San Jose) The views are amazing! (especially from Tom & Jane's house) The kids can play outside ALL day and they love it. Fresh air ... green grass .... trees .... especially the aspen ... raspberry bushes (in the backyard)...dogs running free...kids running off all of their energy...what is there not to love!!?!! Eric and I did happen to spend out honeymoon in Flagstaff 6 1/2 years ago (my first time in falling snow!) Since my Aunt married Tom (now Uncle Tom) we make it a point to visit at least a few times a year. Unfortunately the entire summer went by and the begining of September was the first visit of the summer. It was great, very relaxing, five star hotel accomadations. 3 short days and back to the heat of the valley (which I did not miss) but it was nice to be back home, kids back on schedule, and my own bed to sleep in ..... Next time we go to Flag hopefully there will be snow on the ground.

(Christmas does not always bring snow to Flagstaff)

First day for Addison

Today was the first day of preschool for Addison.

We had been talking about it ever since we signed her up a little over a week ago, and she has been so excited to tell EVERYONE. Well this morning she was not so excited about it and did not want to go. She wanted mommy to stay with her if she did go. Well we went and I had to trick her so I could leave. Mrs. Udy (her teacher) said that she cried for just a minute then she was great. Addison had a lot of fun and it is all she could talk about for the rest of the day. I am so glad that she enjoyed it and I know she will do great.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Deanna!

Tonight we celebrated Deanna's Birthday. We went to Gecko Grill in Queen Creek. (super yummy Mexican food) After dinner we went to Bahama Bucks, which is our families ultimate favorite. When we were in high school we went there all the time. Deanna - Jamaican Rum Christine - Strawberry Daiquiri

We are so excited that there is one in Queen Creek now. I am sure it will the place for future girls night out. I hope Deanna had a great forever 25 birthday!

Family Reunion 2007

McCleve Family

This Labor day weekend we went to the Goodman reunion in Vernon, AZ.
It was the first time our entire little family had gone camping. Addisons first time EVER. She loved it. We all had a great time! The weather was GREAT nice and cool, a little sprinkle here and there. The food was great! It was really good to catch up with family that we had not seen in a while. The kids had a BLAST getting to do "whatever they wanted" running all around with thier cousins. Guhner and Addison were able to sleep with Tyler and McKenna in a tent in the back of the horse trailer. Thier story is they stayed up ALL night. I think all night is about 10:30. Eric and I took the third row out of our suburban and put in an air matress, it was very nice and cozy.

The kids went with Eric to the cinder pits to go shooting. We caught a horney toad and took turns holding it (the kids, not me, I like to admire from afar). The best of all was each night we had SMORES. (my kids first time ever....I know someone please call CPS) The kids didn't ever want to leave (who can blame them). But I can say that I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight!

Dr. McCleve at your service!

Per my previous post, here is a picture of my finger! Today was day 10 (when my stitches could come out) being the holiday, my appointment was on Tuesday. Well I wanted to go swimming with the kids today, so I took the stitches out myself in my mother-in-laws kitchen with what I believe was scrapbook scissors. If you look at the top of the picture you can see the stitches that I took out. It didn't really hurt. The only reason I think it hurt a little is because 3 of the four stitches were actually through my nail. Just call me Dr. McCleve, although I am not taking appointments yet.... I probably shouldn't have done that. My finger is oozing a little. In my own defence I don't think that they did that great of a job of putting the stitches in.