Scrapbook Saturday - 10 Year Reunion

Obviously this one took me a few years to make... seeing as my 10 year reunion was before Dave and I got married.  Better late than never right?

Our reunion was a Hawaiian theme, so I was trying to create something fun and peppy.  I had a nice pink background and then used another paper through the center.  I rounded a few photos, gave a few of them a border, and tacked them down.

Then I used some kit materials for the phrases, flowers and tags.

Packed & Ready to Go

I'm off for another week of work travel.  Only this time I have some precious cargo all packed and ready to go.

Yeah, as I was working on ironing and packing, in jumped a little boy who I think was itching to go on an airplane once again.  No one told him this suitcase was going below the plane, not with Mama in the seats.

I'm off again today for Phoenix.  This work trip technically starts on Sunday, but I'm heading in a few days early to spend time with some old college friends and more importantly to run in the Pat's Run - a race for Pat Tillman.  He played for the Sun Devils while I was going to ASU, so there's a bit of a connection if you will.  I ran this race - the San Jose extension - last year.  However, this year they opted to only have the ASU run.

So tomorrow I'll join 20,000 other racers. Expect to see some pictures and details of this run on Monday!

Retro Night

On Saturday night Dave and I handed Drew off to my parents because I was heading to Southern California for work and Dave had to usher at Church the next morning.  Since we were at a birthday party in a city half-way between us, my Mom drove out to meet us and we passed off the kid.

So what do two parents do with their childless situation?  Well Dave was watching baseball on TV of course, and I happened to take a 3 hour nap.  I can't remember the last time I took that kind of a nap and wasn't sick!  For the record I only meant to go to our room, and warm up and read.  I emerged 3 hours later.  Oops.

We had planned to go out to dinner and use a gift card we got for Christmas so it was nice to visit the restaurant where we both met - Red Lobster.  Lobsterfest - mmmmm.

Afterward we googled for a place to go bowling.  Sure enough there was one a few blocks down the street!  So we bowled three games and a little more than half-way through it was what they call "Millennium Bowl" - they dim the lights and throw on some music videos.  It wasn't like the Disco Bowling I remember from the old days... but it was fine.

We then finished the night in the bar watching a karaoke contest.  Oh and watching Dave get hit on by 2 old lady bartenders! HA!

Daddy & Drew Days

For the past few days I've been on the road working.  So that means Daddy is also playing "Mr. Mom" taking Drew to/from day care and doing all the daily duties.  He does so quite willingly and very little complaining.

I remember when I was pregnant worrying about these work trips and how Dave would handle my not being there.  I have to hand it to him - he handles it well.

So well in fact, he managed to have a little "chat" with Drew and low-and-behold there was an accident free day on Monday!  I guess there was some promising to see "spinners", ride on a train, a lollipop and to see some animals.  Hey, whatever works right?  Unfortunately it didn't go so well yesterday.

I get to talk to my boys when I call in the evenings.  I try to make it before Drew goes to bed, but not always am I lucky (I was this past trip).  And Drew lucks out and gets to sleep in the "big bed" with Daddy.  You know, a little something special.

Little does Drew know that in a few days he gets the royal treatment again.  Perhaps Daddy could have another little "chat" with him to ensure more accident free days, and some extra good behavior for when Mommy returns?  What are the chances of that one?

Travel Season is Upon Me

It's that time of year when I begin traveling for work.  This month and October are fairly busy for me.  In fact today I'm leaving from Southern California where I was exhibiting at a conference in Pasadena.  On Friday I leave for another two back to back conferences (OK I'm going two days early to see friends and run in a race).

Here's an inside look at what I do when traveling - here's a snapshot of our booth at the TechEd Conference in Pasadena.

This is where I spend hours upon hours meeting and greeting prospective customers looking for a Print Management Solution like ours.

Of course I also get a chance to enjoy the great restaurants and scenery around the area.  On Sunday night dinner was at Xi-Tapa Lounge - a unique Mexican flair type restaurant.  I believe this is where Moose McGillycuddys used to be (the place I tried to use the restroom in '97 when we watched the Rose Bowl/Rose Parade - and I wasn't 21 so they wouldn't let me in). 

Then last night it was at a delicious Italian place that I will most definitely come back to - Mi Piace, and I had an amazing shrimp appetizer, and pasta dish. Mmmmm!  I had amazing willpower and avoided the scrumptious desserts.  I mean seriously!  Look at these things that were staring us in the face!

Lucky for my waistline we walked the nearly one mile each way.  I figure that should have at least burned off the wine I had for dinner right?

Next trip(s) - Phoenix and Philadelphia.  Back to back.  I get back in time to celebrate our 5th Anniversary!

Potty Training - Regression?

Just when we take a three steps forward in the potty training department, it looks like we have taken two steps back.  And I'm stumped about what to do.

He's at his worst at Ms. Stephanie's house - I can't remember the last time I picked him up wearing the same outfit I've left him in.  Overnight and naps, I forgive.  Ms Stephanie has had to revert to putting him back into a diaper at nap time because he leaks through the pull-up and soaks her couch.  I'd get sick of cleaning up the couch too (especially when Drew seems to really soak it right before they have company - it's like he has some sick sixth sense).

But during the day, he soaks her kitchen chairs, her carpets and well anything he can when the urge hits him.  I'm not sure why he's such a stinker about it at her house and not so bad at home.  Although I admit he's regressed in the #2's at home - we're virtually #1 accident free.

It seems to me he got really bad after traveling to Kansas City.  I know the auto-flushing toilets scared the crap out of him (no pun intended).  I mean it would me too, if I was the same height as the toilet and it started to "whoosh" beneath my tiny butt.  And then the airplane toilets, forget about it.  They were so loud to flush that he screamed "no-flush" every time he had to go.

That, and then compounded with the fact he had diarrhea about a week later and we put him in a pull-up all day, everyday for about 4 days - until we saw the coast was clear.  That takes us to today and our dilemma. 

How long until he gets back on track?  Right now he just laughs when he goes in his pants.  Dave gets mad (and I mean screaming at Drew to the point he's hysterical with tears) while I am not so mean.  Everything I've read has said to keep your patience about it, and keep pointing out where it goes.

We've tried bribes rewards, talking to him, encouraging less accidents with the teasing of going to preschool - the works!  I'm at a loss.  I know regression is normal, but how long should I expect this "phase" to last?  I mean I'm thinking that more than 2 weeks of this is out of control - am I being unrealistic?

Scrapbook Saturday - Ren Faire

I had a collection of photos from various Renaissance Faires we've been to over the years, and I've been meaning to put this page together for a while.  I finally got around to it a few weekends ago when I was scrapping with my friend Lisa.

I was sifting through a few scrapbook magazines to try and find a layout I liked.  I took an idea from one and created this.  I took one color background paper, and then liked up the photos to cut them down to 4x4 (except the 2 pictures on the bottom) and then placed them on the background to give it a border effect.

Then I tried to find a renaissance kind of style paper, and cut it down to fit the open space - which I intentionally left for such a purpose.  This was the part of the magazine layout I saw and "borrowed".  Unfortunately I cut the paper a bit too short, and my "border" effect no longer fit.

So I took a scrap from the same "renaissance faire" themed paper and cut out a little piece, and tacked it on to the left edge.  So you may have thought it was intentional had I not spilled the beans on my dirty little secret.

Finally I just stamped on the word Ren Faire.

However I felt like it was missing something, and Lisa mentioned I needed something journaled on there.  So I tried to find a piece of paper, and then got a stamp that looked like a Ren Faire era tag, and Journaled my notes.

Not bad.  It was the one page of the day that took the longest to make, despite it looking so simple.