Happy Memorial Day, a tad bit late!

We had a fun Memorial Day weekend!! On Friday night we went to the movies to see Shrek the Third with Samantha's Girl Scout Troop. We also hit Dairy Queen on the way back-- yummy!

On Saturday the kids and I headed to Schroon River to my mom's camp. It was nice to see all our relatives, and to spend the night at camp. The simplicity of camping is always welcome. Samantha was excited because there was a dance and she was *asked to dance by an 11 year old boy*

On Sunday we went to a picnic. The food was great, seeing friends was nice, too. It started to rain, and then thunder... the kids played in the rain and got soaked but when it started thundering we left. We rented some movies and a nice mellow evening together.

On Monday we had the annual local parade. Samantha and I marched with our Girl Scout troop, and the boys rode their bikes in the bike brigade. The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold, and thank goodness it didn't rain!! After the parade we walked around the cemetary a little and then went home. We went to a neighbor's for dinner and the kids got to do a lot swimming! It was great!

One of the pictures above shows the boys looking at a headstone. We had walked around checking them out. Will was cute, he very interested. Whenever we saw a young person we talked about the age and wondered why they had died. This particular headstone was titled "CHILDREN" and listed 5 children that died when they were either one year old or younger. All in a row, every year a child was born and died. It was sad. Made me hug my kids even harder, and realize just how lucky I am.

Blog Challenge #5

Arn't there people we all would have, should have thanked in our life. So head over to your blog or wherever and do that. You never know they may just read it and be surprised. This challenge is based on the song "My Hometown" by Bowling For Soup.

This is a great challenge. I can think of many people in my life that I would love to thank.

Thank you to Sarah... you were my best, closest friend for many years. We were together always, shared so many experiences, and you were there for me when I needed you.
And to Pam... you stepped in where Sarah left off and I love you!!

Thank you to Mr. Barrett... you were a great teacher, and a great mentor. You made me feel extra special when you talked to me. You treated me with respect and I needed that. I wish I could have told you how much you meant to me before you passed away.

Thank you to Betsy... My LLL leader. I was going to Le Leche League meetings when from the time Will was born until Colby was a couple years old. One day, when Colby was just months old, I had my 3 plus 2 year old Paige... and I was in tears. Betsy told me what a great mom I was and gave me a hug and that one comment really helped me over the years. It's nice to know, even when things seem awful, someone thinks you're doing a good job.

Thank you to Art.... you came into my life at the perfect time and you have been a wonderful husband and father. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Thank you to my friends now... you're always there when I need you... and I love that.

And how could I not thank GLORIA ESTEFAN? It may sound silly... but she was my idol from the time I was 10 years old. I respected her, looked up to her... Her music meant a lot to me. Her songs spoke to me. She is the reason I learned Spanish, and was an exchange student to Spain. She taught me to save money so I could see her concert. I never talked to her, but I cherished the autographs I received and the letters I got in the mail. She is still my idol and a big part of my life :)

Blog Builder Challenge #4

"Time for another blog building activity... this time head on over to the crop circle pick a challenge you haven't done and post the layout or whatever on your blog... don't forget to post it in the challenge thread too, to get credit.. and leave us a message here so we can check your blog for it... " challenge posted on Scraptown.com



I did Amy's challenge "Express Lane
3 Items or less". We had to do a layout and use only 3 items. Cardstock, adhesive, pictures, cutting tool, and journaling tool were given items.
This layout is of Samantha, Will, Colin and Janel from August 1999. Man, they are adorable in these photos!!

So what has been going on in the Leahon family? We are still as busy as ever! Samantha is still playing softball, and enjoying every minute of it. Colby plays soccer, and although it's not his favorite, he enjoys playing. Will is still in a bowling league, and continues to improve.

I mention sports a lot... can you tell they dominate our lives?

It's almost Memorial Day, and we are planning to go to my mom's camp for the weekend. The kids are super excited! We haven't been to camp since Labor Day last year. Art's not going with us, he wants to play with his quad!

We also have a picnic on Sunday, locally. And on Monday we'll be marching in the Memorial Day parade. Should be fun! I hope the weather stays nice. It's in the 80s right now, and it feels so good!!

Have a great day.

Blog Builder Challenge #3

"On Sunday our pastors wife gave the children's sermon and it was about totem poles and what they were and why they had certian thing on them etc. in the end she wanted to know if the kids had totem poles what would be on them and she included church things to make a point...So thinking on your life and who you are create a totem pole that shows off who you are...Now feel free to do the traditional totem pole thing or feel free to change it up to suit you..." challenge posted on Scraptown.com

I don't know much about Totem Poles... I do know that they are vertical and the highest spot is the most important. I also know that they have to do with family, and animals, and things that are important to you. They also have historical meanings.

If I have to make a totem pole for just myself... obviously, it would be me at the top. My family would be the next position, because they are very important to me. And then scrapbooking would have a position. It is my hobby, my release, my creative expression. It's also a gift for my children and their's (hopefully!). Books would have the next section, because I am always reading, reading, reading. The bottom of my totem pole would be a bath tub...it's not the "least" important thing, but it's a place I always like to be!! And if I've going to be standing at the top of a totem pole I might as well have my feet in a hot bath!!

The Totem Pole of my family would be cool... Art and I would have to be at the top together... and then Sam, Will and Colby beneath us. We could do the animals...maybe in the order we've had them... the cat... the fish... the hamster...and the dog. That's our little unit here and it's AWESOME.

Happy (day late) Mother's Day!

Mother's Day for me started off a bit rough, but ended woderfully. Art and the kids brought me out to dinner at my favorite restaurant (Outback) and I got flowers and cards. The handmade ones were the best. Will wrote on his "I like the way you're nice to me" and then "You are 100 times as nice as Sam". :) I got quite a chuckle with that one!!
I also got tickets to see Nickleback and Daughtry on my birthday in July! How cool! I hope it's nice weather!

Colby lost his second tooth over the weekend. It was so loose when he was going to bed... we just had to pull it out. He was very happy to find that dollar under his pillow!

His birthday party is this Saturday so I have tons to do to get ready for that. Gotta go watch 24 now!!!

Where is the money??

Wednesday is PayDay in our house. DH gets his paycheck and deposits it before coming home. We worked out a budget system... at the beginning of the month we figure out what is due when... and make a schedule of when we will pay things. We try to leave ourselves "extra" money... so where does it all go??? Some weeks are better than others... but we don't usually have much extra money after the bills and motgage and gas money. And that doesn't even include groceries... that is what I use my babysitting money for.

Of course, having 3 kids doesn't help. Will's glasses = $150. Summer camp = $150. Scholastic book orders = $50 (my weekness!). Puppy visit to the vet = $175. Bowling on Saturday = $9. Bagels at bowling on Saturday for the kids = $4. Weekly weigh-in at WW = $10. School lunch cards = $32 per KID as often as they need them.
And this month we had 3 birthday parties... not to mention *Colby's* birthday party next weekend...not quite sure how I'll manage that one yet. :)
I'm not complaining... but boy is it hard!! We're not poor by any means... but sometimes it sure feels like it! And it's so hard when the kids ask to stop for ice cream and you have to say no because you honestly don't have $10 in your wallet. Or when you have to borrow money from your own kids so they can buy lunch that day!!! Of course, you pay them back...but it's just the point!!

And you look around and see other people with these HUGE houses... and pools...and new SUVs... and brand name clothes... and wonder what you're doing wrong. You wonder "Where do they work? What do they do?"
But of course...I am a stay at mom first and foremost...and I am that because it's very important to me... more important than a big house, or a new car, or brand name clothes. Who cares if we can't eat out every week? Who cares if the van has some rust on it (me me me)? Really... I have an AWESOME husband who works 2 jobs so I can be home... and 3 adorable kids that make my life worthwhile. And I *know* that in 20 years they'll be gone and I'll have extra money and be wondering what the heck to spend it on...
That being said... winning the lottery would sure be nice!! It would be such a de-stresser to have money in the bank... "just in case"... It would be so nice to not live week to week. But... it is what it is... and it's okay.

Blog Builder Challenge #2

What is your favorite food and your least favorite food and why?

I am not very creative when it comes to food. I know what I like, and that's what I eat. I don't like to try new foods and there are a lot of foods I just won't touch.

My favorite food... something I could eat every day and not get sic og... would have to be ICE CREAM!! Chocolate ice cream is at the top. I also love chocolate chip, rocky road, and chocolate with chocolate chips. YUM YUM YUM. Ice cream is the best!!
But of course, on WW, I have to be careful here. Eating a half carton of ice cream is not possibly right now. I have to stick to my "1/2 cup" and be really good about checking for points. Edy's slow churned is usually 2 points for 1/2 cup. Healthy Choice used to sell a chocolate, chocolate chunk ice cream that was the best, but nowhere around here carries it anymore. Boo.

And my least favorite has got to be seafood. I won't touch it. Any of it. No tuna, no fish sticks, no lobster, no shrimp, no clam chowder. Yuck yuck yuck. Just the thought of it makes me sick. I'm not sure why, exactly. Has nothing to do with the fact that it's an animal... I LOVE meat. Maybe it's the nasty smell? Maybe just that it looks gross? I don't know, but I won't touch it.

Happy Birthday, Colby!

Today is Colby's 6th birthday. It is so hard to believe that he has been a part of my life for 6 years. He's my baby, my little guy... who is actually quite a big boy! A big, gorgeous, loving, beautiful little boy. My Colby James. Who is six years old!!
We had cake after dinner. He chose dinner-- "mashed potatoes and soda". He added in chicken nuggets when I told him to pick something to go with it! Oh, and "yellow green beans"... wax beans. It was a yummy dinner!
We gave him a Rescue Pet Alarm Clock, which he LOVES!! And also a Spiderman slip n slide. He loved them both. Which makes me glad because he wanted Heelys, or an ipod, or a Nintendo DS... all of which we couldn't afford just now. So I was pleasantly surprised when he was SO EXCITED to get the Rescue Pet and made a big deal about saying it's what he always wanted... :)
Colby is my little guy... he's six now but he still sleeps in my bed half the night almost every night. He loves to cuddle, and hug, and be held. And I'm going to hold him even more now... because he is growing up right befor emy eyes and I know it won't be long before he doesn't climb in to my bed at night, or want to cuddle and hug, and he'll be too big to carry.
It's bittersweet... I love to see him grow but I wish he wouldn't.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Colby!!! I LOVE YOU.

Look at Will!!

Will got his glasses last night! He looks so adorable- lots of people think he looks "older". I wonder what he thinks? I know he likes them- he was super excited to pick them up last night. We got them at Wal Mart... he HAD to have Nintendo glasses, and they had them there. Saved us a little money, I'm sure. Now I just hope he is able to keep them safe and not lose them or break them!!!

***

Another typical night at the Leahon household. Colby has a soccer game at 6:30, and Samantha has softball pratice at 6. I hate splitting the family up but what else can you do?

It's turned into a beautiful day. Hopefully the rain will hold off until after his game.

I gave my sister my Cricut last week and she is giving me the one she ordered (which didn't come until AFTER her weekend away)... it's in now! So I will pick it up after Colby's game, since the soccer field is about 30 seconds from her house! I'm excited!!

Have a great Tuesday!