Productive Weekend

I had a very productive weekend. Wes & Zach were at a Father/Son camp and I had the whole house to myself...how AWESOME was that. I did a lot of preparations for my upcoming retreat this next weekend, including the 12x12 layout below. This is what my guests will get to make during their scrapping weekend. I hope they enjoy it. I had so much fun creating it.

We also had a new gate/fence put up at the house. I like the gate, but my favorite is the fence between the house and garage. It really opens up our outdoor kitchen/patio; and, of course, the star matches the black etched star on our stained concrete. :) Freedom likes the fence/gate, too. Now she can see who's passing by her house. LOL

Happy Birthday Pops ~ I Miss You!

Today is my grandfather's birthday. He passed away ten years ago this upcoming October (which was just four months after my grandmother passed away. I miss them both so much.) Pops (Herbert C. Atzenhoffer) was the kindest, sweetest, warmest gentleman that I've ever known (next to my dad, of course. :) ) He was a towering giant, but as gentle as could be. I never saw him get mad. He was always calm, cool & collected. I've been told that I'm a lot like him ~ and to me, that's the biggest compliment ANYONE could ever give me. My only regret is that Zach didn't get the chance to really know his "Great Pops" as he was only 18 months old when Pops passed away.

Something I've not shared with anyone yet -- not even my family -- but you may remember that last month I completed the Aramco Half Marathon. Well, although my chip time was 3:04, the time that showed on the clock as I crossed the finish line was 3:16. Pops' favorite Bible verse was John 3:16 ~

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

I fully believe that on that day ~ at that moment ~ my grandfather was cheering me on and celebrating my successful finish to my first half marathon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POPS! I'll be thinking about you even more today! Sending hugs up your way!

Energized

For some reason I feel ENERGIZED today -- and I know it's not because of the weather because it is GROSS out there -- humid, cloudy, dreary...uggghhhhh!!! Perhaps it's due to the fact I ran 3 miles at lunch yesterday; or maybe because I actually got a decent night's sleep; or maybe because I know that I have a FREE weekend this weekend. Well, whatever the reason, I'm glad! I always enjoy feeling energized as opposed to borderline lethargic!

I am hosting my first "Away from Home" scrapbook retreat in Conroe next weekend and I am PUMPED!!! I can't wait. I'll be working on getting all my stuff together for that this weekend without interruptions, I'm sure -- well, except for my run to Starbucks -- and/or maybe even lunch at my FAVORITE tea room in Friendswood --hmmmm...anyone want to meet for lunch on Saturday? :D

Back to the retreat....I am so looking forward to it. As I mentioned, this is my first one to host away from home and as a consultant for Close To My Heart. WHAT?!? You've never HEARD of Close To My Heart? Where have you been? Well, you MUST take a look at my website (www.melanieboyer.myctmh.com) and see all the WONDERFUL scrapbooking and stamping supplies we have to offer from the very beginner to the most experienced and even those in the middle! I just LOVE our Company and how EVERYTHING matches and is color coordinated! I guarantee you will, too; and, when you're done perusing my website -- and perhaps have placed an order -- call or e-mail me to see about scheduling your very own PARTY and to see how you can earn FREE product! I look forward to hearing from you!

Today...

...is another day. The weekend was good; but, as always, it flew by WAAAY too fast! For Valentine's Day, Zach & I picked up my niece after lunch and took her to get her mommy (my sister) a Valentine's gift and then later, we all had dinner together. I made some REALLY good spaghetti -- if I say so myself -- and then we went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream.

Yesterday I was a co-host for my best friend's baby shower. It was so much fun. She got LOTS of cute baby items and clothes for Little Mr. Jacob. He is due at the end of March, and I can't wait to meet him!!!!

Wes was so proud of Freedom this morning...she actually ran out and got the newspaper and brought it in the house for him. He's been working with her for a while on that now. Just hope she doesn't start bringing all the neighbors' newspapers! LOL

Happy Valentine's Day!! (Early)

Yes, I know it's not Valentine's Day today; but I wanted to be sure and wish all of my two readers (LOL) a VERY HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! Tomorrow I'll start out with my regular ritual of my WW meeting and then I have to go and pick up Valentine gifts for Zach and my niece. I hope they like them. Then, I'll bring those to the house and Zach & I will then go get my niece and go shopping for her mommy (my sister) for Valentine's Day. Tomorrow evening we'll all have dinner together and perhaps go out for a treat at Cold Stone Creamery. Zach has a "freebie" coupon that's burning a hole in his pocket -- coupon expires on Sunday.

On Sunday, I'm co-hosting a baby shower for my best friend, Sharon. She is having a BOY! I'm so excited for them...this truly is a MIRACLE BABY!!! Baby Jacob is due at the end of March.

Then, it'll be back to work all over again on Monday.

What are YOUR plans for Valentine's Day?

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. Zach & I called and sang Happy Birthday to her...probably a good thing no one else was around to hear it...I'm sure tomatoes would've been thrown at us! She enjoyed the call, though.

Things are getting very crazy in Pearland...crime is on the increase. Wes has informed me to get prepared for him to have to work some double shifts. They are so short-handed right now and there's lots of training going on, too.

I'm in the process of getting things together for hosting my first "Away from Home" retreat at the end of the month. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I really hope everyone has a good time and that it goes smootlhy!!!! If anyone reading this has any tips, PLEASE leave me a comment...I can use all the advice I can get! :)

Manic Monday

Yep, just another Manic Monday....can't seem to get that song out of my head today. I REALLY did not want to get up this morning. The weekends go by just waaaayyyy too fast. We had a good one. Zach's birthday was great. He really enjoyed it...much better than the last two since Wes was gone for the last two.

The weather here is icky!!!! It is so cloudy, dreary, humid, windy -- DISGUSTING!!!! And we are SOOOOOO needing rain....we are almost 5 inches below normal rainfall...not a good way to start the year!!

So...how was your weekend?

TGIF!!!!!

I absolutely LOVE Fridays...it means the weekend is just HOURS away!! I am SOOO ready for the weekend. No big plans for Saturday; but Sunday is Zach's birthday, and he will be 11 years old! WOW! Where does time go?! Seems like just yesterday he came into our lives. Tomorrow, Wes will be taking him and a friend to the movies to see The Pink Panther and then I'll meet them at Red Robin for dinner. On Sunday, my family will be celebrating Zach's birthday (& my mom's as her b-day is on Tuesday) at Joe's Barbecue. He requested ribs. :) Then, it'll be cookie cake for dessert.

The temperature is supposed to be about 80 degrees tomorrow and possibly Sunday. Looks like winter is over; and summer is just around the corner. (Southern Texas skips Spring...LOL).

I Hate Back Pain!

I'm glad it's Thursday...one day closer to Friday; and I'm ready for the weekend. However, my back is hurting so bad. Even before I woke up and got out of bed I felt the excruciating pain in my lower back. I just wanted to curl up in a ball and pray that it'd go away. But, guess what? I couldn't; and it didn't. :( For the life of me I had no idea why I was in so much pain this morning (& still am to some degree); but Zach reminded me that it might've been from his telescope. See, we were trying to view the International Space Station over Houston area last night. Well, his scope is a little "aged" and I was holding it (w/tripod) overhead to try to catch a glimpse; and, I'm guessing the arching of my back with the added weight overhead added to it. Smart kid. Guess my run at lunch will be interesting and step class tonight even more interesting. Always some obstacle getting in my way. LOL Oh, well...just keep trudging along. Oh, and needless to say...we didn't spot the ISS either. :( What a waste!!!

I made more progress in my scrapbook room last night. Organizing my cardstock by color. Will make labels for the dividers so it'll be easy to read. :) Still no concrete ideas on name for my room...I'll keep working on it.

Is it Friday Yet?

I don't know about you, but this week seems like it is DRAGGING by!! Funny thing, though...the evenings and weekends sure seem to fly by. I don't think that's fair. I figure that we probably only average one day and a half for the weekend; and, with Wes being off on Sundays/Mondays, we really don't have much time together to do any family activities. This rat-race is really annoying!!!

I've been trying to make progress in the reorganization of my craft room. I was a little successful last night. Hope to continue on over the next few days. I want to try to come up with a name for my little "haven." Any ideas/suggestions?