Latest Video

I honestly can't remember if I had a mentioned in any of my previous posts about my Grandmother's passing back in July. She was an amazingly strong person overcoming many adveristies and hardships in her life. My Aunt Kim asked me to put together a video similar to the one I made for my Dad. Kim had some issues with the narrowing down of photos though, so we had to choose a second song. I have spent the past 2 days having long conversations (one sided) with my Windows Movie Maker. Anyway, here is the finished product. There are a few things I wish I could figure out how to change, but can't, such as the starting volume of the second song. If anyone has any tips I'd love to hear them. I'd like to attempt to do this again for Clay this time, so please help a prim sista out! lol

Random Happenings

First off I have to say Happy Birthday!!! Today is my brother Brian's 33rd birthday. Funny thing was I remembered all morning and decided to wait to call until the boys were all home from school, but I called him about Christmas and totally forgot it was his birthday. Luckily he realizes that I have totally lost my mind and isn't holding it against me.

There have been lots of other fun things happening here lately too. Austin want to the semi-formal Christmas dance this past Sunday. He really hates to have his picture taken so this is all I have at the moment. I'm waiting to see the other ones that were taken there. I'm sure he smiled for them!



He looks so handsome. Somehow he has just changed into looking so grown up it's scary at times! We ordered flowers for his date to carry and they really turned out beautiful. Especially when we ordered them the day before. For some reason it just didn't hit me that he needed flowers! Asa was more than happy to pose with them!




In other Austin news, he had a game that was about an hour away in Johnstown on Monday. It was at the War Memorial where the Johnstown Chiefs play. It was really awesome to see him play in a really arena with actual seats like a professional!
Their team did really well, winning 14-1 and Austin scored 3 goals! Woo Hoo! I was so proud!

The bad news was that at the same time Chase had a game against arch nemesis, Hempfield. Now I went to Hempfield, but my heart is a Greensburg Salem Lion now! The freshman team was undefeated with 2 ties. Not only that, but all the games that they won were shutouts, so I felt fairly confident that this would be a win also. Clays' girlfriend took him since I can't be in 2 places at the same time. Sadly they lost 5-4 in the last 2 minutes of the game. I know in the grand scheme of things, this is not a big deal, but darn it, it was sad! Their team has really worked so well together this year and it was just kind of a bummer that it was to Hempfield.


Gage had a Christmas program with the Kindergarten classes on Wednesday and it was adorable. They all did so great and he was so proud. The pictures during the performance just didn't turn out at all because it was too dark, but here he is and a picture of him with Mrs. Claus and a picture of Asa with Mrs. Claus. Very nice of her to take time away to visit don't you think?




It's hard to believe that it's Friday already and Christmas is only 6 days away. I have finished shopping for the most part. Now if a little elf would come wrap for me I would be oh so thankful! :)

Dear God.....

Thank you for pizza.
Love,
Asa

 

 

 

 

I swear he fell asleep like this. No pants, one sock with his hands clasped, half eaten pizza at his feet. This little monkey sure puts a smile on my face! :)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Well now that the tree is finally decorated I thought I would share a few of my favorite ornaments. It was hard to pick just a couple, but these were the ones that touch my heart and put a smile on my face!


This first one my Grandma and Pap Smith bought for me when I was a little girl. I had a big thing for horses and wanted to be a cowgirl!

My stepmom got us this one last year in memory of my dad. I just love the verse on it. It also engraved on the back with Pap Pap Smith 1949-2007

Ah the King, what more is there to say!

This is a classic Chase back in preschool. Too cute, I just love his face!

Another classic, this is Austin in kindergarten. So sweet! I look forward to the ones that Gage and Asa will make over the years!



There are several others that I bought over the years that represented where we were at the time. I love seeing how far we've come and how the boys have grown and changed.

No Skates...

Well despite several calls and follow ups, the skates are MIA. We did manage to get a new pair in time for the game. Good news, all of Play It Again Sports' Nike Bauer Vapor skates were on sale. The ones he had were $99.00. The bad news is they didn't have his size. But oh this kid lucked out and had to get the next one up on the greatness scale of Naike Bauer Vapor skates. Now he is the proud owner of the XXII



I'm sure you can see the difference. Yeah. Me neither. Anyway, the best part of the story is that we got to the game. The team does the traditional run around the building before suiting up and he comes in from said run and says he feels like he is going to throw up. *sigh* I wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he must have informed his coach and he sat the 1st period and got off the ice after that. He changed and he watched the 2nd period and we left after that. So he never even really wore his new skates.

At least he gives me something to blog about!

You Win Some You Lose Some

And oh please, please, please let me post a happy follow-up to this story later. My dear son Austin, you know the great artist, sweet, loving boy from the last post, has lost his ice skates. His pretty darn new skates. And in MY opinion pretty darn expensive skates. Now in the world of hockey $150.00 is really not expensive at all, but that's a ton of money right before Christmas.



I'll try and make a long story short. Austin went skating Saturday night. Had skates in backpack. Stayed at friends house overnight. Sunday they went to the mall. Had to take skates with him. At some point mind went into spacey teenage mode (probably saw a cute girl) and set down $60.00 backpack containing $150.00 skates. Realize loss go to CS. Nothing turned in will call when they are. Here we are. No call. Mother ready to cry. Hockey game tonight at 9.



I'm really hoping some kind sweet honest person turns them in, but we'll see.



Come home skates, we miss you.......

Art Projects...

I think each of my children have gotten a special blog post. All except for Austin, my oldest. Now I am not sure why I have never posted about him. He gives me PLENTY of things to blog about. I think the problem is that mostly they would become the rantings of a mad woman, so I have refrained from posting. You see Austin is the product of the "parents curse". In case you are not familiar with said curse, it is the curse that one of your parents put upon you, usually when YOU are in your teen years. It goes something to the effect of..."I hope you have a child JUST LIKE YOU SOMEDAY!!". Anyone have one of those? We are very much alike in so many ways, although he would outwardly cringe if that was ever mentioned to him. In fact people even say we look alike, which is not a good thing for a 15 year-old boy. He is mouthy and brooding alot of times. Wears skinny jeans and is trying to gauge out his ears without me noticing.

BUT he is also sweet and sensitive. Adorable with his littlest brothers when he wants to be. And when this child smiles his whole face lights up and he looks like a sweet little boy! But the point of this post is he is very talented. He brought this home the other night to work on for art class. Now I'm not sure what comic book person this is, as this is not my area of expertise lies, but I know that I think this is awesome. Maybe I'm biased. Either way I think he is pretty awesome. (Austin I mean lol)

Love this! I even sent an edited version to my brother. With him as the poor little squashed birdie and me as the other one. I was the favorite of course. I think it's because I was cuter.

Just kidding, love ya brother! :)

Why I Don't Believe in Child Labor By Jennifer Redinger

Because they don't do it right.

Gage is sick again. I won't go into the fact that I myself am sick, because frankly, no one here cares. This time it is the stomach flu. Anyone know the odds of everyone else in the house bypassing it? Just checkin'

Anyway, after a day full of bathroom trips, some more successful then others, I told Austin and Chase that if they wanted clean jeans for tomorrow to collect them from every nook, cranny and hamper and bring 'em down. Well, I just took them out of the washer to place in the dryer and was greeted with fuzz and lots and lots of gel pieces. I not only washed jeans, but a pull-up. They don't wash very well.

I shouldn't complain. At least they were motivated to do something by the sheer thought of wearing dirty jeans. Hey, it's something, right?

Christmas Cards....

I trust everyone is still nice and full from Thanksgiving yesterday. We ate a lot and the day seemed to go pretty well overall. The losses of the past year, especially Austin and Chase's dad, Clay, were very much in our minds and hearts, but knowing our loved ones are together in Heaven and we will see them again someday helped somewhat.

On a lighter note I accomplished the much loved/dreaded Christmas card photo! Woo hoo! Maybe it's just me, but trying to get a good picture of 4 boys is impossible. Not to mention the big boys loathe the matching clothes thing so I decided to work around them! lol Anyway, I thought it turned out pretty good. I did this on a program I got with one of my cameras which is kind of a pain, but today I noticed I could have done this all with the new updated Picasa. It's AWESOME!! Not to mention you can MAKE MOVIES NOW!! Easily too! I want to kiss the guy/girl who did all the changes I love it so much! I will restrain though. Self-control is a beautiful thing. So I'm told.......

This Week I Am Thankful For.....

I know this may sound terrible, but honestly I am thankful that there are no hockey games this week. I really needed a break after 3 games last week. I love to watch my boys play, but this is a really welcome break. Honestly, I think my mother is more thankful than I am! She so kindly watches the little boys so they can still get to bed on time and so I can pay attention to the game. Remember this is only year 2 for us, so I need all the focus I can get!

I am also so thankful that my "funk" seems to be over. Do you think it's a coincidence that I have more "free" time without games this week that I am motivated to get creating! Hmmmmmmmm.

Lots of stuff listed on Etsy and Ebay today. Stop by and check it out!

We Interrupt This Life Because Your Kid Forgot.....

Truly, this has been the story of my week this week. It started Monday morning with a text from my dear Chase at 8ish. Never mind the fact that he is not allowed to text at school. "U might need 2 bring my jersey" Well that didn't tell me a whole lot. So he preceeds to text that he needs his hockey jersey as they are taking pictures for the yearbook. So after I take Gage to school I drive to the middle school park a mile away (okay, more like the end of the parking lot, BUT it was snowing) and walk to the side door, buzz the buzzer, gain admittance and head for the office. The secretary was very sweet as she questioned "Didn't he do this last year too?"

Fast forward to Monday night. Austin has a game I ever so kindly and gently (or nag I forget which) remind him to double check his hockey bag before we leave for the game. Austin and Chase both are pretty terrible when it comes to dumping their bags to let all that equpiment dry, so I usually am stuck doing it on the following day and things really get mixed up and spread out everywhere. He gets his usual teen attitude "wow mom, I know it's good, I did" Okie Doke! Game starts 7:15. My handsome hockey player son comes strolling out to see me in the lobby at 7:00, dressed and ready to go! "Mom, I only have 1 glove" Nice, allow me to drive at break-neck speeds to go home and be back at 7:15. (I did make it btw)

Tuesday evening. Chase has a game we are getting ready to leave for. He comes down the stairs a little upset after packing his bag. "Mom, my jerseys are still at school". *sigh* "Chase you'll have to call Coach and see is he has any jerseys". "Can you call Mom?" "Nooo way buddy, this is ALL YOU!". Crisis averted, Coach has one he can wear.

Here we are Wednesday morning. Chase has a field trip today. Needs to bring a lunch. I'm sure you're thinking he forgot to tell me. Nope! He remembered. Unfortunately it's sitting all packed on the counter. He called shortly after he left while on the bus to school. "Mommy I don't know if you'll be mad or not, but I forgot my lunch, can you hurry and run it to school" I should have known with the "Mommy" comment. No 13-year-old calls his mother "Mommy" in front of a large group of kids. Asa is still sleeping and I have Gage to get ready for school yet. Well, I decided that he can learn his lesson today! Yea Me! I'm not totally heartless though. I made a quick call to my dear friend who teaches at the middle school and asked if Chase could have her lunch and would she mind buying hers today. Sweet friend that she is says no problem. It's ham salad though. Blech. Maybe 1 child will learn his lesson this week. Do you think it's possible???

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm....

A conversation that I had with someone last night got me thinking about some things. Now when I think about things it usually branches off into many different directions, usually ending somewhere far, far away from where the thought began. Kind of like when you go to the store for milk and come out with shoes for your kid, a candle and a new paint brush. WalMart is terrible for that. Of course I would never run to WalMart for just milk, but I digress. (See how easily it happens!)

Anyway, my point is that I have several things that other people find odd about me.

I have a GREAT aversion to growths of any sort on food or plant life, espcially if it is perfectly symmetrical. Case in point. Eyes on potatoes. Can't deal with it. Really, really, really creeps me out. Also the fern like plant that will accompany boquets of flowers can sometimes get this fungus type thing on the back. They are perfectly round, perfectly spaced "things" that make me want to run away screaming. Weird huh? Grass growing in either rain gutters or on a roof. Another weird thing that it makes my heart go into arrythmias looking at.

I can't touch chalk. ESPECIALLY sidewalk chalk. Just can't do it. It feels weird.

I hate when people can't put there buggy back. Really it's not that hard. Now the weirdness is that not only do I put my buggy back, but if I have time I will also push all the buggies together so they don't stick out into the parking lot.

I don't like onions. I don't like them in salsas, sauces, salads, sandwiches or burgers. But I like onion rings.

I hate to take medicine.

I worry about stupid things.

I analyze things too much.

I can be emotional.

The last ones I think are traits of women in general, but I had to list them. And on that note I will leave you with this thought for the day......

Thankful...

With Thanksgiving right around the corner it seems only appropraite to post about things I am thankful for...

Family ~ I know this is obvious and everyone says it, but I am so truly blessed with 4 wonderfully adorable kids that are healthy and funny and loving and sweet. My mom who is always willing to help us out with watching the little boys for hockey games and other random things.

Friends ~ I have so many wonderful friends that are there to listen to me vent, bounce off ideas on and randomly help out with the boys too! It takes a village right? lol

Prims ~ I'm thankful that I am able to do what I love to do and that people like it enough to even buy it! It really is my therapy!! lol

Other Random Things ~ Coffee, music, photographs, chocolate, fresh from the bath babies, candles, the change of seasons, the color red, the konwledge that I will see again loved ones that have gone before me to heaven.

I reserve the right to add to this post as my coffee kicks in more ;)

Is It Really November Already?????

You know I really thought I would be much better at this blogging thing! Being a girl and all and I love to talk. And Heaven knows my kids give me enough material!

I think part of it is due to the fact it's not only been a really busy year, but it has been an exceptionally rough year at times. I thought it was all good after getting through a year of "firsts" since my father died. I thought the holidays would be great this year having gone through last year as a first without him. My mom's mom died a few months back. I wasn't exceptionally close to her, but she was a wonderfully strong woman with the strongest hug in the whole world! lol

But by far the hardest thing I have ever endured in my life is when my exhusband and father of my 2 older boys died. He has endured a life filled with struggles. Mostly all inside of him, but I believe he did the very best he was capable of doing in his life. His parents both died in 2006 and he was so close to his mother. She really was the 1 constant in his life, always there to help him and pick him up no matter what. I know my boys adored this man and miss him terribly. Unfortunately they are at an age where they are pulling away in general and of course they don't want to talk about it. Any prayers for my boys would be much appreciated.


In Loving Memory Clay Thomas Ellis 11-14-70 ~ 9-17-08

You know you're a hockey mom........

When you laugh your butt off at this commercial!



It's a GREAT day for hockey!

Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me....

In the middle of taking pictures for a new ornie I'm listing on Ebay, I thought something was wrong with my camera. There was clearly 2 dark marks on the last picture I had just taken. The next one was fine though, so I figured I would investigate when I uploaded the photos.

This is what it was...



Lovely. I love summer when kids are in and out and in and out and in and out. Not to mention air conditioning the yard by leaving the door open!

If I have to pick ONE movie to see, with a rating over "G", for the rest of my natural born life, based on this preview, THIS IS THE MOVIE I CHOOSE!!!!!!

Who are you?????

Well, I am a total slacker at blogging, it's pretty official. So much has changed since April. Most importantly, we are not going to NY. My SIL that I love dearly has been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. And while the C word it self is terribly scary, supposedly if you're gonna get cancer, this is THE cancer to get! So her surgery is scheduled for July 10th with a follow up of radioactive iodine. So any prayers you can spare would be greatly appreciated.

The other excitement is that the boys are out of school! I did the year end clean out of backpacks and binders and looked through all the papers that somehow I never saw through the year. Some were good, some I'm glad they didn't show me, they would have been grounded. One particular paper stood out to me though. My sweet, sweet Chase, had to write a paper about ME! I found a list of questions that the teacher provided for the children to ask their moms. Suprisingly Chase's was blank. Did he know me so well, he didn't need to ask? Yeah. Right. This boy apparently knows NOTHING about me. And he has quite a way with words. Now I realize some may not know how far off he is with these answers, but let me tell you. He pulled this stuff totally out of his skinny little preteen butt!



FWIW...

Birthday 9/24/70
Food Anything BUT diet food
Favorite Possesion My dad would have LOVED that answer :)
Band hmmm Rascal Flatts maybe?
Movie Star George Clooney
Sports Star Evgeni Malkin
Favorite Day The day ALL my boys were born!



My Chase, he makes my world a more enjoyable place for sure!

Not feelin' the love.......

Well, here I am the mother of 4 boys. I admit at times it can be difficult, to say the least, to try and plan outings and fun activities, due to the fact that their ages are all over the place. From July to October they will have their birthdays and will turn 15, 13, 6 and 3, sooooo it gets complicated.

Of course what kid doesn't love the beach? My dad and step-mom have a timeshare at Nags Head, NC. and my brother and I spent our summers there and from what I remember it was awesome! Well, this particular timeshare no longer allows pets, thus my stepmom is unable to use it this year, so she has generously offered it to us! Woo hoo, right? WRONG! Now don't get me wrong, the older boys were excited at first. Yea, the beach. Sun, sand, maybe some cute babes. Well, for some reason they were under the impression that Brian (previously mentioned brother of mine, affectionately known as simply "Uncle") and Sarah (not previously mentioned, but nonetheless wonderful, sister-in-law) were going to be accompanying us. When they found out that this was NOT the case, their tune changed. Quite a bit. I think the words used were. Uh. It's just going to be us??? That's dumb. That's not going to be any fun. I don't even want to go. :S

Now in their defense my husband had refused to go. LOL Given the fact I can be very high strung and difficult when faced with things out of my comfort zone. And we fight. A lot. So I can see that this has the potential for being a disaster, but wanted to do it for the kids. Who now don't want to go. So while a bit bummed out, I have to admit there was just a titch of relief in there, a big WHEW if you will.

So in closing you would think this means no vacation this year. Noooooooo! Start spreadin' the news.... We're leavin' today... (August really) And our "little" family of 6 will be heading to the Big Apple into a typical NY city apartment to ruin a long weekend for said Uncle and Aunt. We're going to NY baby!!!

Snow Day

Wow has it really been since September that I wrote something? I guess I really am a busy person!

Well, I got what I was hoping for and we got a snow day today! Chase was to be driven to and from school for 2 days due to an incident involving him being kicked where it counts and his follow-up of "I'm going to kill you" to said kicker. Well, the injust part of this was the kicker did the kicking the evening before while Chase did the threatening at the bus stop. Hence, he was kicked off the bus. Apparently you can't say things like this in the society that we live in. And while I do understand the prinicpals point, I find God has a sense of humor and gave us a delay yesterday and no school today. Thanks God!

So, what did we do with this lovely day? Well, Chase and Gage thought it would be a great idea to work on the Erector Set that the family got for Christmas. Yea! Excitment. Anticipation. Happiness. Until it got hard. Mom? Mom? Can you help? We need you again Mom. Okay, Flash forward an hour. Gage is gone. Chase is gone. Even Asa is gone. Austin? He never showed up. There is am spending the better part of today obsessed with finishing it now. I like to think I am pretty darn handy, but these directions suck! SUCK! I screwed it all up. SO we have a sort of car with a running motor that doesn't really move because, well, I screwed it up. *sigh*

On a side not the boys enjoyed their day off. Got some sledding in. And God answered my day off prayer with a yes.

Life is Good. :)