58/365

This is my cute little velvet doll I got from an Etsy seller. Isn't she the cutest thing you've ever laid eyes on?

57/365

Well, we got the winter storm we were promised...this is my long, slow and snowy commute home (took me an hour longer than usual). It started snowing around 12:30 and is still snowing...Tom just got in from blowing the driveway for the second time. Of course the kids are hoping school is cancelled tomorrow and I think they just might get their wish.

56/365

What better way to fight to pain of knowing we have a winter storm warning for tomorrow (up to 10 inches possible) then with some spring cupcakes...lemon cake with cream cheese frosting and Easter sprinkles...mmmm mmmm good!

55/365

The kids talked me into going to Target to "look" at Rock Band...we found it on clearance so couldn't pass up the low price. OK...gotta go play the drums! (Pam and Tom are a bad influence!)

54/365

I have to admit, I'm quickly losing interest in this whole project 365...maybe if we could go outdoors in this God forsaken tundra we live in I could have a little more variety in my daily subjects and be a little more inspired than I seem to be lately. We're back down to 7 degrees (and I'm cussing as I type this) and the extended forcast isn't promising AT ALL. Six more weeks of winter my you-know-what...more like three more months, freakin' Minnesota! Anyway, since there isn't anything else to do besides sit indoors with 4 pairs of socks and 6 sweaters on this is a picture of my latest project. I'm trying to think of creative ways to display pictures for Shelby's upcoming graduation party instead of the usual boring foam core full of random pictures. I'm making a book of all 18 birthdays (although the 18th won't come until after graduation) minus birthday #3 since there doesn't seem to be a picture of that party in existence.

PG asked about the results of our family oscar party picks: Dad got 17, I got 12, 16 year old got 11, 17 year old got 10, and 7 year old got 9. After I saw how dad was crushing everyone I decided that the loot would go to the winner among the kids. I guess if you picked anything Slumdog Millionaire was nominated for you were good to go!

53/365

We're having a little family OSCAR party complete with concession stand goodies. We printed ballots off the web and each made our picks. The one with the most right wins the prize ($10)...Good Luck everyone!

52/365

Saturday night, we had planned on going bowling but open bowling didn't start until 10PM. We went back to Pam and Tom's, ordered pizza and played rock band. What a blast...we laughed so hard!

51/365

Friday night/movie night...and Buster never makes it through the entire movie.

50/365

This "important information" came home with Sebastian today. They want to test him for the gifted and talented program in our school district. I'm not sure how I feel about it, I'll have to process it for a few days and decide what we'll do. I can tell you this much, he's not too thrilled about another "test".

49/365

My "studio" space is a perfect example of what my life has been like lately. I don't even know how I get anything done in here. I think I need to take a little time out from my Etsy store...I'm just too busy with college preparations, graduation party planning (Tom graduates with his master's the same time Shelby graduates from high school), college preparations, Sebastian's homework (how can a 2nd grader have so much freakin' homework!?), and did I mention college preparations. Now Matthew is getting at least four letters from colleges daily, that's all I need, another reminder that my kids will be leaving me sooner than I want. Where did the time go? Wasn't it just yesterday that I was changing diapers? Now I'm making myself cry...can't we just rewind back to when Shelby was in 5th grade and Matthew was in 3rd? Gotta go...I need a Kleenix...

48/365

I wish you could see how fast the snow is falling and how LARGE the snowflakes are but my camera didn't really capture what I was going for (yes, I'm going to blame it on the camera). We're having an overnight snow storm so the commute tomorrow morning should be fun. I was told by our chief meterologist that we're in for one of the snowiest Marches in history...just when you think the end is in sight...oh well, you can never expect an early spring in Minnesota! Thank God for spring break!

47/365

Picture for Monday, February 16

This is Monday's picture but I was soooo busy with a custom order memory book for my Etsy store that I didn't have time to post my picture...here is my huge stash of white vintage buttons. I'm trying to some of them up (and used alot for the custom memory book) but they seem to multiply faster than I can use them???

46/365

Grandpa John is a bad influence...

No, of course Sebastian isn't really drinking this beer, he just thought it would be funny posing with it for the picture. I really didn't want to use this one for my "picture of the day" but all the other ones I took were BLURRY! {sigh}

45/365

I heart Hobby Lobby! We took a little road trip today and drove an hour to Rochester to visit Hobby Lobby. I got lots of loot! Luv that store! We also stopped in Cannon Falls and went to Thora Mae's Antique shop, got a few goodies there too. That's about all we did on this Valentine's Day...we're going to watch the romantic drama "The Piano" after Shelby gets off work at 9:00. Happy Valentine's Day!

44/365

Sebastian's first sleepover...his friend Tyler is spending the night. They had pizza then watched Pokemon, now they're watching Buster's favorite...Star Wars, Clone Wars. It's going to be a LOOOONG night!

43/365

Sebastian doesn't have school tomorrow so he can stay up late tonight...too bad at 9:30 he was zonked out! (Incidentally, Tom took today's picture)

42/365

After watching the action film Wanted, a movie which I really should have not let Sebastian watch at all (don't worry though, he was told to cover his eyes often), he and Matt decided to re-enact the film. This is a snapshot of Sebastian's oscar worthy acting. If you don't mind lots of blood and the occasional swear word then I highly recommend this movie, TONS of action...and a little humor.

41/365

I have to admit, I almost forgot to do my picture of the day...I was so busy finalizing our taxes so I can get them posted tomorrow, finishing Shelby's taxes, applying for her college FAFSA, watching The Biggest Loser...and was finally getting the house shut down so I could go to bed then remembered I didn't do my picture...aaaarrrgh. Oh well, this was the best I could come up with...we all were busy eating Twizzler strawberry twists so I thought I would snap a quick picture of that. Wish it would have turned out better but hey, I'm tired and we all know what a crappy photographer I am!

40/365

Valentine's day is upon us. Sebastian has to bring everything to class tomorrow and of course we waited until the last minute to address his valentines. Alexis F got an extra special one but don't tell her, it's a surprise!

39/365

Coraline...be careful what you wish for.

38/365

Do I have everyone's attention?

37/365

How am I going to do her 18 birthdays when number three fled the scene? Hopefully grammy or Auntie Lisa can save me.

36/365

Sebastian's stuffed Bantha...no, not our dog Bantha, the Star Wars character that our dog is named after.

35/365

I love vintage treasures...this is a journal I made for my etsy shop using some vintage flowers, buttons and lace. Hmmm, maybe I should make some of these for my nieces...

34/365

Don't let Bantha's sad eyes fool you, he really is a happy doggy! Tom and I think back often to that day in May, 2007 when we drove for an hour to Owatonna to rescue the little 65 lb puppy that was so badly abused and malnourished that we weren't sure if we would ever get him to come around. We also wonder what would have happened to him if we hadn't rescued him. He's still a little on the thin side, weighing in at a whopping 96 lbs but he can't seem to gain anymore weight despite the 6 cups of food he inhales daily. He's still very leary of most humans but he puts on a good show with his deep baritone bark and menacing growl. He's usually pretty successful in scaring the pants off most visitors by his size alone...little do they know that he would run like a scared little mouse if they came within 3 feet of him. He's standing here staring at me now as I type...I get the feeling he's not very thrilled with me putting a picture of him on my blog!

33/365

Tax time...lucky me. Not only do I get to do mine but this year I get to do Shelby's too. If my brother calls I'm not answering the phone!

32/365

The superbowl 3D halftime show...it was surprisingly well done! Oh, happy anniversary Tom.