Learn to Swerve.

Ode to typepad.

I spent the last 3 hours, updating my page

And with one click you lost it, I'm sort of filled with rage.

While I have few readers, I like to keep them abreast,

BUt now I'm just so angry, I think I'll take a rest.

Hmm. So I had this like really good update about my life and my son teaching himself to ride a bike.

And yeah. Its gone.

SO. Here is a wonderful quote I found, and I will post the photos at a later date.

What We Fear the Most

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure,

It is our light not darkness that most frightens us,

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesnt serve the world.

Theres nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people wont feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

Its not just in some of us; its in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear; Our presence automatically liberates others.

                                                    -Marianne Williamson in her book "Return to Love"

I have to admit...

1. I get angry when I see people fighting to take away freedoms our forefathers worked so hard to obtain.

2. I talk a big talk, but I walk a very small walk.

3. I excercise, just SO that I can eat more.

4. Justin Timberlake is the ring on my cellphone, and I'm not the least bit ashamed.

5. I'm a sucker for cute kids standing outside wal-mart asking for donations. I can't say no.

6. I anxiously await the 15 boxes of boy scout popcorn for the exact same reason mentioned above.

7. The older my kids get, the more calls I make to my mom.

8. It took me a long time to figure it out, but good looks and a nice car don't always equal awesome personality.

9. Foget seven for all mankind and tight fitting shirts, gIve me baggy jeans and hoodies or give me death.

10. I sometimes pick my nose in the car. And my windows arn't tinted.

11. Nothing irks me more than a parent who cusses at their child in public.

12. I covet the pink Dyson, my floors are tiled, and I own one 8x10 rug. It truly is a sickness.

13. I filled up my gas tank twice today, just in case prices go up while I sleep, I can say I took advantage of $2.05 a gallon.

14. Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I had never discovered the publication world of scrapbooking.

15. My secret wish is to one day be contacted by the National Dance association to be the back up dancer for the next big popstar. For now its me and Darren's dance grooves.

Speking of things that will never happen, I need to tackle the left side of the living room and the remaining rooms of the house. Night girls=) Thanks for the comments. They mean alot.

I did it...

What you might ask?

I got a room done. Finished. Completed. Done' thats french. see the apostraphe?

I took the time to actually finish the living room today, and in honor of the blessed event, I took a few photos. Wanna see?

Believe it or not, I am SUPER anally when it comes to the way things are organized. It takes me a year to do it, but once I start. There is no stopping the force that is my organizing skills. I'm still waiting for them to branch into the scrapbook area of my life, but so far, we have a living room with organized DVD's ( I am a friends, Lost and Xfiles fan. If you look REAL close you can see what kind of music I like too...  also shown, the really big Tv, (all my husband's doing,) that plays UFC on a constant basis.  Its actually on right now! Have you heard of this? Ultimate fighting? ITs some sort of man meets larger man to fight in a ring using just about every martial arts skill known to exist. I don't care for it.  Mike of course knows he is pre-destined to be a part of it, even if he is almost 30 and has no formal training.  That's Mike for ya.

So aside from getting one room clean, a feat in itself, (if you don't believe me, read yesterdays post) I managed to do a few more productive things!

I got  back on track with working out. Did 3 miles at the post gym. I can't say I enjoy the large mirror the gym chooses to put in front of each treadmill, it is suppose to inspire you, but all it makes me want to do is put on some baggier pants, and don a paper bag. I am not a pretty sight on a normal basis, let alone jogging at a rapid pace. I love that they thought of us when inserting mirrors 2 inches from our faces, I just wish they'd consulted those of us who don't look like jessica simpson while sweating.

That out of the way, I made the daily trip to Target, and bought, are you ready.... Nothing.

It really was a day for breaking barriers, I cleaned and purchased nothing from the MECCA that calls to me constantly from 13 miles away...

"Ruth. I'm open, I've just gotten new stuff in, the dollar spot is begging to be picked through. Ruth. You know you want to..." Yeah. Target talks to me. SO what.

I have a birthday to plan, pages to make and, while one room might be done, there are 4 more screaming for attention. Sorry to bore. I aim to please, but appear to be lacking. Stick it out, I'll get better. I hope.

Have a good night all =)

The reason

IT came to me. at 9:55 this evening. No, not an idea, heaven forbid.

It, being the thought as to why I never get anything done.

As I look back over the course of my day, it all begins to make sense.

6:45 WAke up

6:50 Wake up again.

6:55 Really wake up. get mikey dressed and ready.

7:10 head to the bus, my mind filled with wonderful ideas as to what the day will hold. Scrapbooking, Cleaning, Scripture reading, fervent prayer, laundry. Oh it will be a good day.

7:15 Walk into the house and lose all desire to any of the above.

7:30 Go back to sleep until...

10:00 Aubree and Charity wake up. SO must I.

10:30 Feed the girls, head to the washer to take out the load, and see dishes, in the sink, start loading dishes, realize, dishwasher is not working, find the cell phone to call maitenance. Notice a text message on said cell phone. All is lost.

11:00 back on track, head to the bus to get Mikey, ideas forming for what lies ahead, so much to do, We will prevail, Satan will not lead me of course.

11:15 Force small children into car to head to wal-mart. No real reason, just feels right.

2:00 finally arrive home from Wal-mart, with pink thread, garden hose, table cover, furniture polish, and $61.98 worth of misc. poo crap. Not sure how that happened.

2:15 Let kids play outside while I start Laundry Again. Notice Dishes still in sink, find cell phone... ooh another text message. All is lost.

Do we see a pattern here? I do this all day long. I head to the scrap ruins, I don't dare call this a scraproom, and start to put together something, and see that I have a small dirt pile, I head for the broom, and notice the toilet needs cleaned, I grab the toilet brush and see that the door needs windexed. I now have 4 cleaning supplies in hand, and the kids want food.

I put down all the cleaning supplies, get food, clean up, take the trash out, let kids watch Tv, head to the scrap ruins, see dirt pile....

Its now 10:04, and I gaze to my left. I see 31 containers of misc. goodness that needs unpacked and I start to grab a box, my eyes wander to the laundry room... is that a text message on my phone?

Really. I know what I need to do, and tomorrow, OH YES tomorrow. IT will be good. I cannot Flippin wait.  (and yes this layout is the first in a long line of one's I just wanted to finish. be gentle)

Journaling reads: You had me at hello... or at least you like to think you did.

Some old school American Crafts. My first AC layout for my DT requirements.!! Woo hoo!

Missing...

One mojo.

Last seen: about 3 months ago.

If found please return to... ME!!

Reward will be given if mojo is found serviceable and able to perform.

I am so not feeling the scrapbooking lately. I have so much going for me, and so much I should be thrilled to pieces about, and yet, I sit here looking at the cutest pictures and the cutest paper, and you know what. I have NOTHING. Nada.

I usually find something that inspires me and go from there, but suffice it to say boxes, garbage, cleaning supplies, and 6:45 am wake ups are doing nothing in the inspiration department. Did I mention Ive gained 5 pounds! The only good thing is the clothes that were way too big, that I refused to replace are now just a little too big, so I can still function as a pants wearing member of society. My daughter, not so much.

This school thing is going good, I just cannot get used to waking up at 6:45. What kind of school starts at 8:00 and requires you to be at the bus at 7:00? That's an hour on the bus. Its no wonder Mikey can't keep his hands to himself. " I wanted to mama, honest." he got his second write up today, one more and he has to be driven to school. Needless to say, we had a long talk about who's hands belong in who's laps. I may invest in Chinese handcuffs for the bus ride.

i can't get over my baby going to school. He gets some crazy looks getting on the pre- K bus being he's almost 5 and bigger than all the other kids, Mike loves it, but its getting old telling people, yes he is on the right bus.

oh well.

Any of you going to Memory Trends? I'll be there again with Scrapbook Answers. Did I mention Mikey's on the cover? Oh I did. OK.

I love going to walmart, and seeing the magazine. Mikey knows to say really loud, "look mom, that's me". Just kidding. He has humility. Unlike his mother.

OK still no mojo, and I've wasted 10 minutes trying to find pink thread. I may have to just buy more. Wretched day in the morning.

I'm out. Hopefully to make something beautiful to share with you all. If I don't share, you'll know it left alot to be desired. Have a good weekend!!

Halfway.... to 50 that is.

Yesterday was my 25th birthday. (thank you to those who wished me a happy one). It was spent with the 3 best things in my life,

My family

Mexican Food

Dairy Queen Ice Cream cake.

Thank you to those who sent me photos, I have asked a few of you to use them, and I appreciate those who sent them.  I will post the layouts when I am able! (that is after I unload this pie hole of a room, and actually scrap them!)

Things are coming together slowly, I feel the beatings of 100 unpacked boxes, and my kids are not used to us actually owning furniture that requires being taken care of. If I may quote Jeff Foxworthy, we just can't own nice things!! Aubree has colored on the big screen TV, charity has danced on the coffee table, and Mikey just knows that cleaning the leather with windex is the best way to offer his services. I should have waited until they were out of the house to buy stuff I didnt want destroyed. Oh well. its just worldy things, I just want them to be nice worldy things. you know?

OK so I took some photos yesterday of my man, and I have to post them becauase its not everyday he dresses up in his hottie clothes and lets me have at him with my camera.

I

And lastly. Mike and his Aubree. These two are bonded forever. They do everything together. He is her favorite parent by far. If there is murder to be gotten away with, this is the one to do it.

Love these two. WIsh I took better photos, but soon, soon, good things come to those who wait. And I'm still waiting for most it. Have a good day=)

Favor Time...

So. I am the least deserving of favors at this point because of my neglect of everything. BUT...

I  need a favor. I have assignments due. And I have no printers, and NO photo to speak of.

SOOOOOO. If you have any of the following types of photos that you might perhaps want scrapbooked and they are in digital form so that I could upload them and print them off at say wal-mart, I would be MOST grateful.

I need photos of a baby BOY. My baby boy photos are not only packed, but totally unusable for Memory Trends work ( not that my baby boy isn't the cutest thing ever, but his photos leave ALOT to be desired. Can we say Terminator? )

I need photos of a couple. Either in love, sitting, standing, hugging, anything like that. Maybe something showing love.

If you have either of these you are willing to share with me, I would print them, scrap them and send you the pages when finished.

Are ya willing?? Pretty Please? Email them to me at mikeruth427@yahoo.com We'll see how this goes.

On a non scrapbooking level. I am getting closer to having things cleaned up. The kids are doing so great, they have friends in the culdesac that they play with non-stop, and I have met a few nice ladies (I've been invited to a pampered chef party and a candle party.)

Me and Mike are doing good and we are finally getting back to normal. ITs so good to have him home and to help with the kids.

In case you haven't seen it....  There's Mikey On the COVER!! Pick you up a copy, he's already signed a few autographs. My little supahstar.

Ok hope to see a few of your photos, if not, its ok, I won't take it as a sign I'm a loser.  (but I will cry. alot)

Have a good weekend girls!!

STOP.

Stop the madness.

Stop the moving.

STop the fast food.

STop the hotel living.

STop the traveling.

Stop the boxes that need unpacking.

Stop the growing. (mikey started school today... TEARS BIG ONES!!)

Stop the boxes that are arriving. (47 flat rate boxes and the postman OFFICIALLY hates the Akers. Namely. Ruth.)

Stop the business. (I leave for LAs Vegas for CHa in On october 9th, And return two weeks later for a wedding that I am a bridesmaid in. Not only am I the proud owner of one Celadon Green Floor Length dress. I'm proud to say its a size 14 =)

Stop it all. And look at the pictures. Miss you girls. I'll be back to scrapbooking VERY VERY soon. So much cuteness I have to get my hands on!!

Look at my boy? ( His first day went WONDERFUL)

Looks just like his dad huh?

SO does she.

Long days ahead. I promise to update you all very soon. Thanks for reading my meanderings!!!

Normalcy....

Is not  a word I would use to describe what transpired the past few days, but I have photos to share so I'll leave out the negatives and say that I love my husband dearly and it will take a bit to adust to... In the meantime, I have a brand new Pathfinder to drive while I deal with him... Love you babe...   We waited for 3 hours in the terminal for him to arrive....

Mikey made this sign all by himself... Ok so I might have helped with the lettering.) H stood on his papa's shoulders for 45 minutes holding that sign. It broke my little heart seeing how excited he was.

Aubree made her way over first and was shy for the duration of the day but woke up all night and reached over to hug her daddy. She is his girl. No doubt.

I was crying so I look all fat and splotchy... yeah thats why I look fat, the tears people, it was the tears...

Cherry was the most scared but fell in love when daddy pulled out the chocolate toblerone bar...

ALl in all it went very well, and they were home on time.

We have sooo much to do and I still have things to keep up with in the scrapbooking world so I will be really busy the next few weeks, but I wanted to update you all. thank you for your prayers on his behalf, and I promise to be back to scrapbooking VERy soon.... ( I have to use the $500 worth of stuff I just put in my cart over at www.linnecards.com!!) Happy Sunday, I'm Audi... Actually, as of Friday, I'm Nissan... Code word for out of here....