A small plea.

Okay. Seriously, folks, is it really necessary to spit gum on the street/in the parking lot/on the sidewalk? And is it truly too much to ask that you clean up after your dog in public places? I'm not pointing fingers or saying *you* do this or anything. :) I'm just saying I'd like that half hour of my life back from this morning. That half hour spent explaining to Micah why he should not step in the fresh doggie doo at the park where Noah's soccer camp was taking place and scraping a glob of gum off my shoe and the floor of the car (from me having stepped in to buckle up boys, not noticing that there was a glob of gum on my shoe). Argh.

I mean, it's not like I go around changing my kids' diapers in public places and leaving them open on the ground for people to step in and smell (and right in the middle of the grassy area, might I add)...and there was a garbage can *right there* in the parking lot where I picked up the gum on my shoe.

Sorry. Bit miffed and felt the need to vent.  So. Please. Do me a favor and don't contribute to these ongoing unnecessary breaches of manners, okay? ;) Thanks.

Tie dye.

Heading out the door in a few but wanted to post this pic of the boys in their new tie dyed tees:

 

My mom sent this great tie dye kit for my birthday and we tried it out over the weekend. Rinsed and washed everything Monday night and the boys immediately grabbed theirs yesterday. Here they are modeling one of the two each of them made (okay, I did the application of the dye, but they directed the colors and placement). Dude. Tie dye is fun. I've never actually done any before and may need to do some more before summer's end. ;)  

In other news, we had a lovely time miniature golfing on Father's Day. Micah cracked us all up. He'd tee up and hit the ball in turn, just like everyone else. Then he'd immediately pick up his ball and walk to within inches of the hole...place the ball on the ground again...hit it in (which, amazingly, sometimes required quite a few strokes)...and then proclaim himself the winner. Funny boy.

This week, Noah's in soccer camp in the mornings. Next week, Asher will do the same. Asher's finishing up swim lessons this week. Both will be in swim lessons in the afternoons starting next week. Trying to figure out how to get my scrapbooking assignments done with the changes in schedule. But so far so good. Okay, out the door now...more later! 

Winner!

Congrats and thanks to EVELYN who is the winner of my Album in a Year giveaway!! (Evelyn's was one of the many email "entries.") I'll email you to get your mailing info, okay?

Whew. Okay, off to bed. This new schedule thanks to soccer camp is going to take some getting used to. Oy. Oh, and sorry to anyone I owe emails to...like I said, adjusting. :) Hope to settle into a routine soon...and will update when I do.

Super quick reminder.

Yes, I'm up unusually early for us. Noah starts soccer camp today...wish us luck. :) Anyhow, just wanted quickly to remind you about my Album in a Year giveaway. Details here. Remember, your layouts need not be month in review layouts, simply inspired in any way by the column. Off to wake the boys...

Happy Father's Day!

First off, a quick shout out to my awesome father-in-law...happy day to you!! Hope the package made it there safely. We'll give you a call in a bit. :)

Now, just a couple layouts I did for Nathan for Father's Day...

 

(The journaling for this one is on the back and doubles as my Father's Day card for the year.) And here's another one I did just for fun because I couldn't help but take the picture and knew immediately what the title would be:

 

I did another layout for my dad, but am not quite ready to share that one yet. Suffice it to say, I hadn't really been looking forward to Father's Day this year...my first Father's Day without my dad (and, unfortunately, it did create a lack of enthusiasm about the whole thing for me, such that I didn't plan as much as I might otherwise). But. Last night I had an epiphany of sorts. I realized that, though obviously I'd prefer to have my dad here, Father's Day really is all about celebrating fatherhood...and there's absolutely no reason I can't do just that even without my dad. I can still take this day to be thankful for the many years I did have, for the lessons learned and the life shared.  So, today, alongside going with Nathan and the boys to play miniature golf and probably some other fun stuff, I choose to remember the father my dad was. I am so blessed.

Happy Father's Day to all...and especially to those who have lost their dads too soon.