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where is the summer going ...

I cannot believe that tomorrow is August ... where has the summer gone?  To me, it didn't even feel like summer this year.  With all the rain and low temps we've had, it's been kind of depressing. 

There have been so many things that I've wanted to do this summer and so many people that I've wanted to visit, and the time is just slipping by.  I'm really hoping that in the month of August, I'll get to accomplish all that I've wanted to do.

This weekend is the big scrapbook expo in Valley Forge, PA (one that I haven't missed in years), but I won't be attending this year.  There are several reasons why I'm not attending this year ... biggest one is MONEY.  I just don't want to get caught up in all the new products out there and purchase things that I really shouldn't buy.  I'm hoping all my friends that are heading out there this weekend have a great time and come back with some great reviews.

Tomorrow we are supposed to be heading here ...

 

The Camden Aquarium.  I'm hoping all the plans go according to plan.  We have never been there and I think it would be fun for the whole family.  Plus, tomorrow they kick off Shark Week.  Photos will follow in a later post if we get there.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and there's some adventure planned for you.

bad boy names ...

Rob sent me an article today from the MSN website of the ten most popular "bad boy" names ... names that will land your kid in jail.  The names on their list were Alec, Ernest, Garland, Ivan, Kareem, Luke, Malcolm, Preston, Tyrell and Walter.  I'm glad to see these are none of the names we have been tossing around lately (even though I have a feeling the baby we are having is a girl).

We had a nice weekend.  We celebrated our one nephew Daniel's 4th birthday.  Here is the birthday boy right before he blew out the candles on his cake.

 

And a picture of mom and Joshua.

 

And a picture of Nicholas and Joshua playing a balloon game where they were supposed to pop a balloon between the two of them.  Check out how Nicholas is closing his ears because he didn't want to hear the popping sound.  Needless to say, they didn't win the game.

Hope everyone is enjoying the day -- talk soon!

a "recipe" workshop ...

In scrapbooking, I LOVE using sketches (recipes) when creating my layouts.  At Big Picture Scrapbooking they are offering a workshop using "recipes" to create layouts.

 

It's called Recipes for Scrapbook Success.  The class starts in August.  Check out their website for more information (and more workshops).

Today, I'd like to send out BIG birthday wishes to my friend Christine!  I hope you have a wonderful day, get out of work early, and have a delicious birthday dinner.  Hope to see you soon!

That is all for today ... enjoy your day everyone!

he loves the water ...

We finally got into the pool for a few days.  Hopefully it will be nice enough today for everyone to go in since there is rain in the forecast again.

Once Nicholas gets in the pool, it is VERY hard to get him out (even when he is freezing).  The new thing he loves is to be sprayed by the "noodle" while standing on the ladder.  Here are some shots of him getting sprayed.

 

 

 

And after he spends so much time in the pool, this is usually what happens when he comes inside for the night ...

 

He falls asleep on the couch ...

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

wish we were enjoying this more ...

With the crazy weather we have been having ... rain, temps in the 70's, etc., we haven't been able to go in here ...

 

too much.  I have only been in once and that was just a few days ago.  Nicholas and Rob have been in a few times, but not as much as we should be going in this time of year.  Come on Mr. Sunshine ... come out and stay for a few days so the pool temp warms up to go swimming.

My motivation level these past few days has gone out the window (hence, few blog posts) ... I have even missed a day or two of taking pictures for my 365 project (and I haven't missed taking a picture since January 1).  It's most likely a mixture of a few things ... the weather, feeling lousy, needing a vacation from home ... I haven't even scrapbooked in weeks.  I think I need to win the lottery which would definitely lift my spirits (ha).

What does everyone have planned for the weekend?  I think I'm going to visit my cousin this weekend for a few hours.  I haven't seen her in months and I miss her ... and she is going to have a baby in a few months and want to see her before the new little one arrives.

Enjoy the rest of your day everyone!

he drives them around ...

Nicholas got a Handy Manny truck for Christmas last year, and he still constantly plays with it.  You can take things apart in it, fix parts, it even comes with a taking cell phone that rings when a customer needs a repair done. 

Well, he has found another use for the truck ... he puts his stuffed animals inside and drives them around.  Too cute - I had to take a picture .. oh, and where is his shirt???

 

For my Thursday Thirteen list today, I'm going to list who I think are some of the hottest TV/Movie actors today.  They are in no particular order.

1. Christian Bale
2. Gaven Gering
3. Ben Barnes
4. Orlando Bloom
5. Johnny Depp
6. Jon Bon Jovi
7. Darin Brooks
8. John Stamos
9. Jason Thompson
10. Viggo Mortensen
11. Brad Pitt
12. Matthew McConaughey
13. Shawn Christian

May you all have a little sunshine in your day today!

enjoying some tootsie pops ...

I hope everyone enjoyed the long holiday weekend and were able to spend time with friends and family for some cook-out time.  The weather in NJ was beautiful so we were able to spend time outside.

On Saturday, we met up with some members of our mom's group at a local farm to see them make ice-cream.  We got there a little late to see them actually make the ice-cream, but we were able to taste some ... Nicholas and I shared a root-beer float.  The kids had fun running around and playing some games.

 

 

On Saturday evening we watched fireworks from the comfort of our home.  We had to go upstairs and look out one of our windows, but at least we got to see them.

On Sunday, we went to mom and dad's for burgers and hot-dogs (and some chicken).  Grandma was visiting so it was good to spend some time with her too.  Nicholas and his cousins had fun playing together and just being BOYS.  They even sat down after dinner to have a Tootsie Pop.

 

It was a great weekend, but boy did it go by fast.

Enjoy your day everyone!

it's been awhile ...

I've been such a bad blogger ... sorry about that everyone.  I guess I just didn't have much going on to let you know about and I've been feeling under the weather.  I miss you all, and hope to keep up with blogging much better from now on ... but I can't promise anything.

I'm looking forward to this long weekend ahead of us.  I'm just hoping that the weather cooperates.  Rob mentioned something about having a little barbecue on Saturday, so we're hoping for lots of sunshine so that maybe we could actually get in the pool.  The pool has been open since Memorial Day and we haven't been swimming yet (we've had some crazy weather).

I finally went out and purchased a new camera.  This is what I got ...

 

My other camera was also a Fuji Finepix and I really liked it, so I went with this.  It is not an SLR, but I'm hoping it will do the job for now until I have enough money to purchase an SLR again.

And, I finally watched "he's just not that into you" the other day.  It was a very cute movie - definitely a chick flick and it brought me back to the dating days.  I had to laugh because I saw myself as Gigi in so many ways (when I was dating of course) ... you know, waiting by the phone for that certain someone to call back. 

Well, I promise to be back tomorrow ... have to figure out what a good "Thursday 13" topic would be.  Any suggestions?

Have a great day everyone!