Chicken Scratch

A 4-year-old threw me under the bus...

I was feeling kind of down and yucky earlier so on the way to Kaleigh's dance class I decided to treat myself to a Starbucks and chocolate cupcake. So Kaleigh's in her class and I'm sitting in the lobby enjoying my little treat and I hear this little girl say *Mommy, that's not healthy* and look up to see her pointing ME out! I about died!!! But I told her she was right but this momma had a bad day and needed a pick-me-up. The poor girl was so embarrassed afterwards and hiding behind her mom. I don't think she meant for me to hear, let alone say anything back. But I made sure she knew that it was okay and that she was right about it not being healthy. The crappiest part is my BFF Stacey (who's daughter has dance at the same time but different class) is usually the one there with the Starbucks and chocolate cupcake. She rubbed off on me and the one time I do it I get caught! Man, nothing like the honesty of a child. Truth hurts. Now what was that new year's resolution again about losing weight...

Our Song

Our blog challenge at Scrapfreak this week is to blog *our song*. A song that is special between us and another person. This one was easy for me. I chose mine and Brendan's first dance song at our wedding. Before our wedding we tried to think of a song that was special for us. Brendan had a favorite song that reminded him of me but we didn't have a song together. So we would listen to the radio and all of our CDs for that special song. One day while driving we were listening to a Diamond Rio CD and this song came on. We both looked at each other at the same time and said this was the one. :)

*I Know How the River Feels*
by Diamond Rio

They say for everyone, there's that certain one
Out there, somewhere
I'd been looking hard, searching every heart
Getting nowhere
Didn't know I was making my way to you

Now I know how the river feels
When it reaches the sea
And finally finds the place
It was always meant to be
Holding fast, home at last
Knowing the journey's through
Lying here with you
I know how the river feels

Miles of loneliness, now make perfect sense
Here beside you
Tears like water fall, it was worth it all
Just to find you
And yours are the last arms I'll run to

Now I know how the river feels
When it reaches the sea
And finally finds the place
It was always meant to be
Holding fast, home at last
Knowing the journey's through
Lying here with you
I know how the river feels

Holding fast, home at last
Knowing the journey's through
Lying here with you
I know how the river feels
Oh, I know how the river feels.

At the altar (not the greatest photo but the only one I have on my computer right now)

6 years later on our anniversary this past October

My husband is my rock. He is an absolute amazing man and I'm so blessed to call him my husband. The song lyrics above could not say it any better. With my husband, I have found the *place I was always meant to be*.

Gone with the Wind - Take 2

I watched Gone with the Wind last night and have decided to watch it again this evening  (it's actually 1am so this post is going to show the date of the 11th when it's still the evening of the 10th for me... gotta love being a night owl LOL). It's my absolute favorite movie. Mimi and Popaw introduced me to it when I was a little girl and I have loved it ever since. I decided to use it as January 11th's photo-a-day since it really is January 11.

This evening (again January 10th) we went to my Mimi's for her birthday dinner. I love this photo of Mimi wearing the mask Kaleigh made for her birthday gift. Technically-speaking, I feel Mimi should be in focus and Kaleigh blurred but I love how Kaleigh is peeking into the photo to look at Mimi. We got the biggest giggle out of it. This is my January 10th photo-a-day.

Cleaning and Organizing, Organizing and Cleaning

Whew! What a mess! My husband has been given the go ahead to office from home which means he needs a home office. We were going to try and squeeze him in a corner of our bedroom or somewhere until we buy a home but his company wants him to have a real office with a door he can close to work. So the only room available was my studio! EEK! So we moved the dining room to storage, moved me into the dining room, and moved my husband into my old studio. I've been busy all week cleaning, reorganizing, purging, and then some. It's actually kind of fun just alittle overwhelming at times trying to make it work. I'm losing square footage in here and wall space so I'm having to revamp a few things. Tonight I'm redoing my ribbon organization and, boy, will I be glad when that's done! LOL

I've fallen behind on posting my photo-a-day but I hope to get those posted tonight.

Okay, back to work...

All About the New Year

I posted these questions as this week's blog challenge at Scrapfreak.

1. Will you be looking for a new job?
Not sure. Kaleigh starts school in the fall and my husband has threatened that if I don't get my business going full swing I might be looking for a real job. LOL

2. What will you do different in '08?
I want to grow creatively. I want to step out of my comfort zone, try new things, and really expand my scrapping, crafting, and photography.

3. New Year's Resolution(s)?
To get healthy, become more disciplined, stop procrastinating.

4. Any trips planned?
I hope we go somewhere fun for my 30th birthday in April and also take our family vacation to the beach this summer. Kaleigh has never been so I'm dying to take her. We're going to Arkansas in June for my cousin's wedding.

5. Wedding plans?
My cousin is getting married in June.

6. Baby plans?
Not for me!

7. Major thing on your calendar?
I'm turning 30 this year and Kaleigh starts kindergarten in the fall. Big changes for us!

8. What can't you wait for?
To hopefully be in a position to buy a home the end of this year.

9. What would you like to see happen different?
That I actually stick to and achieve my goals.

10. What about yourself will you be changing?
I'm going to be more disciplined. I want to manage my time better and finish things I start.

11. What happened in '07 that you didn’t think would ever happen?
I lost my Nanny to breast cancer.

12. Will you be nicer to the people you care about?
Only if they're nicer to me first! ;)

13. Will you dress differently in '08 than you did in '07?
I hope so!!! I need to get healthy and lose weight. I used to be super cute and now I'm frumpy and fat so I never buy clothes. My wardrobe consists of jeans/capris and tshirts. I'm probably a total candidate for *What Not To Wear*.

14. Will you better your relationship with your family?
I have a couple of relationships I need to resolve. Whether it be to sever all ties or rebuild those relationships, I need to begin healing with them.

15. Will you do volunteer work?
Definitely! I helped start a non-profit this year and we're really working hard to get off the ground!

16. Do you expect '08 to be a good year for you?
Yes!!! I see alot of good changes coming.

17. How much did you change from this time last year til now?
I'm growing. I've become more honest with myself about the not-so-great things about me and am trying to change those.

18. Will you still be friends with the same people you are friends with now?
I think so! And I see them only getting better. :)

19. Major lifestyle changes?
Turning 30. Losing weight!

20. Will you be moving?
I hope so!!! I want to own a home so much.

21. What will you make sure doesn't happen in '08 that happened in '07?
No more gaining weight and spending money frivolously.

I am...

I am: Shannon.
I want: to own a home.
I have: an awesome husband, a wonderful daughter, a fat cat, a funny dog, and a crazy kitten.
I wish: my To Do list was done.
I hate: being overweight.
I miss: my sister and Nanny.
I hear: HGTV on the TV.
I wonder: if I will achieve my 2008 goals.
I regret: not finishing college.
I am not: perfect.
I dance: because I LOVE to!
I sing: when no one can hear.
I cry: at sad movies.
I am not always: on time.
I make with my hands: because I need to.
I journal: not often enough but am trying to change that.
I confuse: myself sometimes.
I need: my family and friends.
I should: stay off the computer more.
I start: things but don't always finish.
I finish: -ed my stamp binder today!

Karaoke Night

Kaleigh got a new karaoke machine for Christmas and we brought it with us while we're staying at my parents this week. Tonight (1.2.08 to clarify since it's after midnight when I'm blogging this) she and Alex were upstairs playing and singing and then they came down and put on a show for us. Kaleigh was on the mic and Alex played guitar. This is the song Kaleigh *wrote* and sang for us:
My family
My family
Ohhhhh
My family
The greatest thing
The greatest thing
Yeah yeah
The greatest thing you've ever seen before.

Just made my heart swell to hear her little voice belt it out (and, boy, does she get into it!) She and Alex were quite the entertainers. Afterwards, they did a little High School Musical rendition for us. Excuse the messy hair and PJs; this performance was after bathtime. ;)

Here's to 2008 and its possibilities...

The possibilities. That's what the new year always brings me. What's possible this year? What didn't work this last year and what do I want to achieve this year? A blank canvas, a clean plate, a new beginning. I always love this time of year. I love to plan and organize, dream and aspire. I went to a women's dinner at my mother-in-law's church and the speaker said something about the number 7 (meaning 2007) being a number for an ending and 8 (2008) being a number for new beginnings. I certainly hope so. I want to change and grow so much in so many areas of my life this year. I feel like I've been stuck in a rut, doing the daily thing with no real drive or purpose. Just kind of ho-hum when I could make it so much more. This year I want change. This year I want DISCIPLINE. That's the word I've chosen as my word for 2008 (taken from Ali Edwards' *one little word* challenge). It's not easy to look at yourself and admit you need discipline. And then to share it publicly on a blog for the world to see. LOL But that's how bad I want it. Enough to bare my soul here. I want DISCIPLINE to put a real dent in my To Do list. The craft projects, scrapbooking, organizing this and that. The DISCIPLINE to stop procrastinating and stressing myself out over the little things that would be nothing if I would quit putting them off til the last minute. The DISCIPLINE to get healthy. Yeah, the main reason may be self image, but it would better my life in so many areas to be healthy, look healthy, feel healthy. The DISCIPLINE to be a better Christian. I stray all the time from God and I need Him daily in my life to be a better person, woman, wife, mother, friend. The DISCIPLINE for better time management. Yikes, that's a big one. I get easily sucked into being on the computer when I could be working on that To Do list, getting healthy, crafting, being with my family. I love to make lists for whatever... shopping, craft projects, cleaning, etc... but I often find myself not finishing those lists. Sadly I have found I tend to start alot of things but not finish. The DISCIPLINE to save more and get on a real game plan buy a house. This one obviously takes my husband's participation as well but I need to be a better partner in helping him with our finances. The DISCIPLINE to spend time with Kaleigh more. She's so independent that I often take it for granted and we're each doing our own thing. And this issue couldn't be more pressing as my baby starts kindergarten in the fall. The DISCIPLINE to grow creatively... to be a better scrapbooker/crafter and photographer. I love the arts. It's how I express myself and I want to push that creativity, learn new things, better my talent.

I fear I'm rambling now. My mind is flying alot faster than my fingers can keep up. I'm very excited for 2008 and its possibilities... to become more disciplined and become a better person all around. I pray 2008 is a blessed year for me and my family and for you and yours.