Sunday, February 19, 2012

Biting the Bullet

Oh the silly things I do to get a little time off from my day job. Started feeling a little crummy on Thursday. Fast forward to Saturday and I find myself in my local er. Nothing like a little bladder and kidney infection to land a girl on the couch. OUCH. Hubby took the brood to Awana/church this morn, Steph took my own Awanas class, and I'm at home resting & drinking mass quantities of cranberry juice patiently waiting for all of my rx to kick in.

With that said, it's been a busy time in the Dziekan household these last couple of weeks. Hubby is home for a few and what does that mean?!? Major Honey Do lists. Living a military family life means we do things a bit differently than most families around here. I spend the majority of my days as a "single momma" raising the brood on my own counting down the days until Daddy returns. When he does, we do glamorous things like get work done on Momma's car (can't have something happen when he is away), work on other Daddy only jobs, like feverishly building Pinewood Derby cars, and plan and execute much postponed birthday parties. Once all of that is done, we say our goodbyes, and then then hold on with both hands until he makes it back one more time. Only to do it all over again in another few weeks. Oh yea, this wife of a Naval Aviator stuff is oh. so. glamorous. not.

Just because my days aren't already filled to the brim, I thought this would be a great time to jump back into teaching with both feet. Or, at least start that proverbial ball rolling. I don't know where or when this trip will take me, but, I have started the process of becoming licensed in Virginia. I have renewed my Illinois licenses and requested my college transcripts. Two important to dos in order to complete my VA application. We shall see.

To keep my sanity, I do this...One of the many reasons I really love CHA time and spending countless hours at my computer screen perusing all of the new crafty wares is rediscovering my love for some of my older, read "hoarded" products. Note the yummy vintage Sass frames...

love the old Sass Felties, CI felt words, and Sass edges... Oh how I miss my Sassafras.








a new SC kit and some fun oldies...





A little instagram Heart Day love...










The Twins' Tea...


Thursday, February 9, 2012

Things Really DO come in Threes

So... Patrick is still up to his ears in workups in preparation for this year's deployment. What does that mean?!? That means Momma here is smack dab in the middle of the crazy chaos that is our life with 5 kiddos and a hubby who spends more time away than at home. So, with this latest "I'm a Single Momma" (said in my best Beyonce voice) escapade, I did my darndest to knock out the 3 bad things as quick as possible. I don't know about you, but when my hubby is away Murphy's Law really kicks into high gear. On day numero uno of this most recent workup, I had my check card compromised. So as to avoid any MORE unauthorized purchases on it, I promptly arranged the card to be turned off and began waiting patiently for a new card (and the ability to get $) to arrive. But wait, on Day # 2 I got a flat tire. In the rain. With all the kids. With no check card!! Well, that was fun. Nearly six hours later, we were all home safe & sound thanks to some great friends and two towing services!!

So, we go about our days filled with school & homework, cheer practice twice a week, bball practice once, 2 games on Saturdays, and scouts for the 3 on 2 days. We plug along counting down the days til Daddy gets back. Incident # 3?!?... Well, let's just say tiny preschool parking lot + way too chatty four year olds + someone else's brand spankin new car= the most teeniest tiniest scratch. And there we have Mr Murphy.

The kids are making sure our days go quickly and the Momma sleeps well at night...

The bball player...


The cheerleader...


The sickie. At least Mr. Murphy waited a good 24 hours after Donk returned for this one... It's the little things.



Scouts, scouts, scouts.



Look out Boy Scouts... here comes Bubba.


I have a ton of scrappiness to share. Here's a peek at my December Daily. I really do love this project. This is the second year I took it on, and I'm so happy I did. I used Studio Calico/Ali Edward's kit as the guts of my mini and added in a lot of my own stash. I enjoyed following along with Ali as she shared her ideas on this fun project. If you haven't made one before, I STRONGLY encourage you to do it. It is, without a doubt, my favorite project of of all time. Ever. If you have questions about the premise of December Dailys, I'd be happy to help.

















Enjoy your week, Friends!!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Keep Swimming... Keep Swimming



It's funny when you think about it. Not funny HaHa funny, but funny like ironic funny. Every time Daddy Donk goes away we seamlessly just transition into our new routines. I take over the groceries and the menus and the cooking. Brinner gets added to the weekly schedule. As does the ever popular Red Box & Pizza Fridays. We even quickly fall into our old roles when it's all six of us at the grocery. One of the Bigs mans the list, another chooses the produce and finds the staples. I go over our weekly schedules and plans and everyone is quick to fall into line like a well oiled machine. We even enjoyed a trip to the movie theater today which is a classic Momma & the Brood moment. We just gel. I'm proud of them. I know they miss their daddy, but they really handle this separation thing well. They are good people, they are my people.

More found pages I never shared in my crazy crafting December fog. I still love my Studio Calico kits. This one was Field Guide (October). Not exactly Jenny colors but so much fun to play with...













I am so absolutely in love with everything Amy Tangerine and AC have done...









Some more from Field Guide. Can you believe that is Sullivan?!?













How can u not love this goodness from Amy Tangerine?!?





Thanks for reading and come back this week for pictures of my December Daily...

His days & ours...








Wednesday, January 18, 2012

It's The Most Wondeful time of the Year

Trying to get back to the things I love, spending quality time with the brood (read not losing my freaking mind), playing with paper & glue, and staying sane as we amp up this HUGE workup cycle. In reclaiming my scraproom from what was last month's Crafting Central for the gifting holiday, I found a stack of never before shared layouts. Here's a peek at some of the stuff that makes me happy.

This one is using the October kit from Studio Calico...


it has Sassafras papers, nuff said...



Did this one for a journaling prompt at Creative Soup. All of our addresses over the years...


Another fun prompt at Creative Soup (masking, any which way but loose)...





Using up some older Studio Calico to make room for this winter's Take Note!



Another fun prompt from Creative Soup. This one was about traditions. Used last years Christmas line from Basic Grey. This line is so yummy I actually bought it twice...





Sassafras + Studio Calico + Amy Tan, sigh...





************* I read an AMAZINGLY inspiring post today from over at the Huffington Post. I could not have said it better. Please take the time to read. You. will. not. regret. it.


Saturday, December 31, 2011

Mah Na Mah Na Doo do Doo

Lemme see if I remember how this works... Busy, busy, busy was I. December was consumed with all things crafty (for gifts), shopping, decorating, baking, and entertaining. The only other crafting I've so much as touched was my December Daily. I'm still plugging away on that, but will get you a peek of that next.

But first...
the Twinnies & Dumpa ringin the bells for the Salvation Army...

and the bigs could not be left out...


waiting for the Big Guy in Red...


back at Scouts x 3...


picking carols by the (fake) fire...



lots of school craftiness...



part 2...


one of my favorite pictures of the season: the Twinnies delivering a neighbor gift...




the Clauses at a miltary event...




love...



did I mention shopping...


Hope your days were merry & bright...




Jen