Memorial Day Barbecue

Did you have an Enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend? We did! Monday was spent with dear friends, grilling, playing games, eating (of course!) and simply enjoying the company of people who mean a whole lot to us. We were at Ben & Melinda's Barbecue where you are always sure to have a blast! You two really know how to have fun! We wound up the day by playing a game of chicken feet complete with laughter, singing, and lots of ribbing. You guys are terrific!

Lindsey's Gift

Wow....I have been wanting to Blog Lindsey's Art talent for a long time, but it is just so amazing to me (A mom thing) that I have just not been able to express it. In a nutshell, she had surgery last August and was in 3 different casts which put her inactive for several months. After exhausting her Sign Language, and Oragami patience, she began to draw Portraits. She decided that she was going to do this and SHE DID! She would take the drawings to Physical Therapy and Dr. J's office to share what she was doing and it was a hit! She began to have people asking her to draw their children! She has made quite a bundle of money doing this...she opened a bank account and will only spend this money on ART supplies! I am just so blown away by her talent, as is apparently everyone else. She has had NO Formal Training and now wants to attend college for Graphic Design and Other Art avenues. You are amazing Lindsey!

Today's Digi Layout!

Lindsey is really Blooming and turning into a wonderful young lady. I wish you could know her like I do. She is not your average teen. Very tenderhearted, talented, and well......just wonderful!

Back on the Rollercoaster!

Well, I have hives AGAIN. I am allergic to ALL things Codeine, even if it is a synthetic form. (reaching for back scratcher!) So, another round of Steroids and groggy Benedryl days. ugh... But, for the most part I am up and running (well...THAT is an exaurated expression in this case!) I am ready to get back to things and leave the lazy lifestyle behind! Never thought I would say THAT! haha....(wink!)

The Girls Played Whirley Ball lastnight

This is a fun game where you are driving a Bumper Car and trying to score goals. Two teams (red and yellow) are colliding and swinging! (and I LET my kids play....hmmm maybe I need to re-think this decision!) Lindsey came home with a huge bruise on her leg. Get your frustrations out on the Bumper Car Court because you CAN'T do this with your vehicle on the highway! Or at least If I find out about it......

Thanksgiving at The CRANE'S!

We spent a Lovely Thanksgiving Day at the Cranes. Had a BALL! Here is a two pager...

Thanksgiving Games

Today I learned how to clip the Center photo. I Love learning new things! The photos are from Thanksgiving last year. The Girls played the games Set and Blokus after Dinner...and Brittany is IN LOVE with anything "Camo"

HI...HO.....HI......HO

It's off to work I go.

A little early, I know. But, I just wanted to try out a couple of hours for a day or two. It went good, but I cannot believe how tired I am after just a short time there! Kyla, the HR Manager, will be out next week on Vacation so I will be trying to stay awhile each day to cover all the bases there. Thanks for all of your prayers during my "down time". You guys really know how to make a girl feel LOVED! I love you too!
Margaret

Sunglasses Alert......This one is Busy!

Got stuff going on all over.....but that is ok.....It is for my daughter and she loves it! I learned how to make the photos in a Trapezoid today...Thanks Jessica Sprague!

Black Light Bowling

We had a lot of fun doing this! I just did Jessica Sprague's Tutorial on creating a Blurred Journaling Block on a photo....SO....if you are not a digital scrapper you can still do this, print it out and use it on a Paper Layout! HOW'S THAT?

New Layout for Today

Well, I have learned another Photoshop goodie today! The steer-wrestling cowboy in the lower hand part of the layout is actually a picture that the Man on the right created. Of course, I made it blend into the paper and all, so it is much sketchier than the original.....but that is ARTSY....and it works for me!

Linsey met, and bonded with these two...fellow artists at the Ft. Worth Art Festival this Spring!

Good News/Bad News

Well, the GOOD news is that I am really feeling GREAT!!! and that is definately GOOD GOOD news.......BUT
That means I am heading back to work for a couple of hours tomorrow and that is BAD BAD news!

I do enjoy work.....but it has been soooooooo nice loungin' around the ole' house. sigh.......

Hi ho Hi ho..........

Back on Track

This layout shows Kim jogging for the first time since her Knee Surgery in January. She is glad to be getting conditioned for Basketball season next year!

Today's Digital Layout

I put all the flower photos into one layout! Fun!

1st Time BACK on the Track

Kim is allowed to run again..err..I mean "lightly Jog" according to Dr. J. The Journaling reads.
You asked him at every visit and he always said "Not Yet". Finally, five months after knee surgery, Dr. J said "YES" you can lightly jog 2ce a week. This is your first time back out on the track. Watch out Kimi's back!

Today's Layout

This is a photo of Lindsey ON TOP OF THE ROOF! Eeek...actually it is really just an overhang just outside of Lindsey's bedroom. It is really pretty flat and is very long. Lindsey likes to sit out there sometimes...it is actually Very Safe.....REALLY!

New layout for Today!

Woohoo......I got to play today! Dr. says everything is going great...still 3 weeks to go. That is 3 weeks of More and More Digital Layouts! Come in often to browse through them.......I am having a ball!

HEY! I'm Livin' in #19!!

Did you know that Money Magazine Rated Carrollton as the #19 Best Small Town to live in???? This, I just recently discovered as I am doing a "Hometown" scrapbook layout for a Circle Journal I am working on.

Can you believe THAT? 19...That is just amazing to me! Out of ALL the towns in the good ole US of A (and I have seen all those wonderful places!!)......I picked the cream of the crop to hang my hat. Wow! I have lived here for 13 years and didn't even know how GOOD I had it! (wink) Now, I am sure that we are only preceded by YOUR wonderful town. But, of course this could be your inspiration to move next door to me! (and YES there is a beautiful home for sale down the street) You too could be livin in #19!

Today's Digital Layout

Today's layout is ROUND! Cool huh? I had so much fun doing this! If you like it let me know.......if you want to learn how to do it.....let me know....I'll teach ya!
You can come and hang out in my room with me. (don't worry, I am taking pretty good care of myself now. No maid service required.)

Prom Layout

Today's Layout

This is one of my favorite photos from Lindsey's Hospital Stay last year. You know that saying....a picture is worth a thousand words? THIS is the picture!

Digital Scrapbooking

Yep, while I am laying around in bed, I can still scrapbook! All I need is my laptop, Photoshop, Digital Photos & Kits! Gotta Love that! An excuse to play! Up Top is a Layout of Lindsey. She was playing with the camera in the car while we were driving back home from the Beach. Below is Kim the ONE day it snowed in Texas this year!

HEY SDI!

Hi you guys! Do you miss me??? You KNOW I miss you all! I have enjoyed the calls and emails from you. Makes me feel loved! Being home is not as much fun as I had anticipated!
Know something weird??? The Vet says my dog will have to have surgery soon!(NA-NA NA-NA, NA-NA-NA-NA that was Twilight Zone Music!) Can you believe that???? Ear Canal problems. Just too weird.....No one gets sick for like Ever and then Bada Bing!.....Too bad Molly is not on our Health Insurance! Hmmm....maybe I'll work on THAT....I've got a lot of time to be creative here! Blue Cross might not notice claims for Molly coming through amidst the stack of ours.....hmmmm

OK, you guys.....get back to work! Stop standing around playing on the internet.....And DON'T let things pile up too high on my desk......TERRY.....KYLA!!! YOU know who YOU ARE!
I love you all and will be back before you know it! (Whether you like it or not!! mawhahaha.....evil sinister laugh!)

Midnight on the Mediterrenanean

Prom was Magical again this year! This, according to Kim who went with a group of 5 best friends! They took Colin with them, so basically He had 5 dates! How LUCKY is THAT? Go Colin! Here are a few of the pictures. More to come! I am working on some digital layouts......SO come back and check them out!


This theme was awesome! The concept was that you were on a ship and you could visit different PORTS. All around the huge Ballroom (Adams Mark) were huge Props Set up for many different places for photo shoots and "atmosphere". Kim said there were so many decorations everywhere! There was hardly a spot for your purse on the ladies room counter! Very extravagant! Attendance was 800 kids and all of the Chapperones dressed appropriately to belong in any one of the Ports. I love the photo of the kids with THE CAPTAIN! They had such a great time!

ACK!! What day is it today??

You know...It's not that I have not thouroughly enjoyed my time off of work, but there are a few disadvantages, besides a sickly paycheck, of being at home everyday! They are outweighed by the wonderful Advantages, however.....here is a quick list of both....
*Build intimate and meaningful relationships with your children.-Big Advantage
*Lack of Adult Social Contact--Disadvantage--if you are over 30...CALL ME!
*Nurture your many [fill in the blank here ] talents so they thrive and grow. [crafting, reading, video watching] Advantage!
*Share with your children the common, everyday joys of life. --Advantage!
*Ability to keep up with what day of the week it is (I thought it was Saturday all day yesterday!) Disadvantage but only if it really matters...like if you miss one of your favorite tv shows!

Maybe I will see if I feel good enough to go in on Fridays for the next few weeks!!

Honey! I Shrunk EVERYTHING!

Look Closely at these photos and let your imagination flow free! Everything appears to be tiny! These are doggies of Ben and Melinda's! (LOVE YOU GUYS!) We will doggie sit Anytime. Rocky and Lola.......YOU ARE GREAT DOGGIES. Auntie Margaret and Uncle Chris love you!

YOU TOO can create hillarious photos like this!!! Here are some tips!
*You must use a digital camera so that you can see that your finger placement is precise or your photo will not look realistic. You can take several shots and see how to change things with a digital camera.
*Take Lots of practice shots! It is difficult to hold your camera perfectly still in one hand while positioning your other. Especially, if your subject is mobile!!
*YOU MUST EMAIL ME YOUR RESULTS!!!
I used this Perspective Photo shooting to entertain myself while waiting for pre-op tests at the hospital. I recommend it highly, and if you show people around you the screen on your digital camera, you will have the whole room laughing uproariously and the nurses wondering WHAT is so stinking funny!!! Gotta love THAT!

I added some of the Fun at the hospital photos along the bottom side.

HELP! I'm allergic to my Pain Meds!

Would you rather be in pain or in itch misery?? I will choose whatever one I am NOT in at the given moment you ask.

EDIT....I was wrong with this statement. My answer will ALWAYS be Pain....It will NEVER be itching!...NEVER...

Now, added to my new knowledge of surgery preparation, are these questions. "Are you allergic to anything? How do you react to Anesthesia...Adhesives...Rubber Gloves? What pain meds can you NOT take?" Well, I have only had one, uneventful surgery prior to this one 14 years ago and it was a laproscopic procedure thus much easier to recover from! I really had no good answers for these questions. I do now! Anestesia is fine.....Adhesives make me ITCH....and There are 3 pain meds I cannot take!!
A Viscious Circle though, is when you cannot take your pain meds because you are having an allergic reaction.....so you are in pain........and you are all HIVEY because of the allergy to them. Two in one...I am itchy AND somewhat in pain. HELP!!! This is not the first Pain Med I have been allergic to this week(one in the hospital). Maybe I should just grin and bear it!! Or, submit to Chris' method of surgery pain control......pinch yourself somewhere else and you won't pay attention to the pain you are in now!!! Ya Right Hon.....I still love you though!

Tumor Rumor...Getting to the bottom of it.

You may still be reeling at the news that my tumor was a 10 pounder! I know I still am. I did not GIVE BIRTH to anything that large, and am daunted by this discovery which I knew nothing about! Alas, it is merely a Tumor Rumor! Let's trace it's source. Haha......

Listen in on a conversation I had with my sister before I was released from the hospital...(I have written it in screen play version for an upcoming movie....assuming there is interest, writters will not have to compose it..thoughtful, I know!)

Marie: (after looking off into the distance) "Wow, I just cannot believe it was 10 pounds! Just try to imagine a 10 pound chunk of hamburger!" (raises arms pretending to presenting a large item in front of her) Man...that's HUGE!
Me: (squirming in hospital bed) "10 pounds of hamburger?? ewwww...."(curls up nose, wincing) "What was 10 pounds?"
Marie: (looks questioningly at Me) "Your tumor, of course!!"
Margaret: (with look of utter suprise!) "My tumor??! Where did you hear that? I have not even discussed that with my doctor."

Hmmmmmm.....I thought , maybe the Doctor talked with my husband while I was asleep. It could not have been THAT big....the girls were 7 pounds, I cannot even IMAGINE it being bigger than they were.

Marie: "Well, I heard it from Aunt Sharon." lifting her hand at the announcement of the reliable source.
Margaret: (Still in shock) "Aunt Sharon?.. she lives clear across the country! How did SHE find this out before ME???"
Marie: Shrugs

I later asked Dr. Farmar that day when she came in for rounds if she had mentioned to anyone about the size of the tumor........"No, it is still in Pathology. They will weigh it though, I can let you know next week"
Interesting...........so how did this tumor rumor begin.........

Let's investigate before the trail grows cold...
Apparently my mom talked with Grandma (89 years old and failing in hearing, but the most wonderful woman on the planet. I am her namesake.) Grandma thought she heard mom tell her that the tumor was 10 pounds, she told Marlys, who told Miriam, who told Lavonne, who told Sharon......and the fire just keeps spreading. In all actuality, Dr. Farmar says it was about a pound or so. EDIT......I believe the official weight was 30 grams...YOU figure it out!..I think that is like 3/4 pound) Now, I am kind of disappointed. That would have been an automatic 10 pound weight loss!