Go Fish

This summer when we were in Iowa my friend Andi introduced us to the Go Fish Guys. http://www.gofishguys.com/guys/index.html Their music is deemed as great music for kids that won't drive their parents Bonkers! So great that I find myself listening to it, without the kids around. While we were there she gave us the CD "Superstar". We listen to it quite often, usually recalling her boys reactions to different songs as we hear them. For Christmas she sent us the "Snazzy" CD.

I decided to GO FISH and I'm HOOKED! The beat, the words, the style is all great. The words though I think is what has really got me. There is a song called the Mom Song that is truly right on.

Do you know the name of Elmo's Fish? http://www.gofishguys.com/music/index.html Listen to the Mom Song, but look out you'll be hooked soon too!

What a blessing to find music that we can enjoy and the kids can too!

Flip a Card

Father and son bonding time is so important. It was nice to see my boys having time this weekend together. What had started as a shopping trip, with little sister in tow, turned in to Dad and Son time as I met Katie at the bottom of an escalator and took her home to get ready for a birthday party.

They boys I'm sure talked about many different things as they wandered the stores together. Upon returning home Zach proudly showed me the puck that Daddy had miraculously created from a piece of foil. He was amazed that Daddy could do such a thing. (Not much of an amazement to those of us who grew up with foil in our lunch bags on a regular occasion, but...to a 7 year old in today's world WOW!) I know I said that it was great, and watched him play with it off and on through the evening.

Two days later....

I was up at school yesterday and stopped to ask Zach's teacher how her weekend was. She'd been babysitting all weekend, and I was interested in hearing how it went. As Zach walked towards us I could tell immediately that he must have had a hard morning. Poor kid, would of gotten away with me not knowing except for the complete look of guilt on his face. BUT, needless to say he looked like he was in trouble so, naturally I asked his teacher if something had happened. She said he had to Flip a Card first thing, but couldn't recall why. So, she asked him.

"I was drawing on my desk" he replied.
"You were what? Zach, do we draw on furniture?" I asked shocked, please he knows better he's 7!
"No, we don't."
"Please don't do that again, you know we don't do that" I said then walked away after mentioning to him that his teacher had not even been telling me about that and that he could have told me later had it not been for the look of guilt all over his face.

I mentioned to the teacher how at least he feels bad when he gets in trouble. His sister...well that's another story.

So much later in the evening when I finally stopped for the day I remembered to tell his dear father about the situation. As I'm recalling the event at the cafeteria, Phil is looking the opposite direction and motioning for me to hurry up with the story. WHY? Well......

You see during Dad and Son bonding time over the weekend, and the great making of the foil puck, Phil began telling Zach about the great games he and his friends used to play on their desks at school. Everyday in their lunch bags they would have foil wrapped sandwiches, as there were no zip lock bags, so they would make balls and then this one boy would smash them and make them into pucks. They would then proceed to DRAW the different team symbols on their DESKS and play hockey with their pencils. He even explained how he used to make the Minnesota Northstars symbol. Ok, he never said you should draw on your desk, he also never mentioned that he couldn't draw on his desk or shouldn't.

Mind you we know our son very well so at this point we are both laughing envisioning the possibly full scale version of a hockey rink that Zach was probably starting to make by clearing off the stuff of everyone he shares a table with and drawing out on his desk. We could envision the Redwings crest, the goal lines, and the circles as we've seen them on paper many times.

So, this morning I asked Zach again, what were you drawing on your desk yesterday?
I don't know was the reply...I can hardly wait for Phil to get a real answer tonight.

In the meantime...If you are going to be telling your children stories of your youth please remember that somethings after being shared need to be followed up with..."you should never draw on your desk or any other furniture!" before sending them off to school. Or else they too might have to flip a card!


Phil will be following this with a response trust me, my version is much better!

Create Your Own Beautiful Cards!

The cost of cards these days is crazy. True you can find some here and there for .99, but generally speaking it's a lot more than that. Pictures to me say so much more, as do the words I would choose to write verses the words some card maker who doesn't even know my family might choose.

That's why I've begun to use Creative Memories StoryBook Creator Plus for all of my card making. It's quick, it's easy and it's Personal!

Here are a few samples of cards I've done recently.

Beautiful cards for .19 at the most! Certainly, can't beat that. Invitations, Thank yous, Birthday Cards, or just because. They'll never be the same again. AND Most people would think twice before just throwing out a picture. For more information on making photo cards go to www.mycmsite.com/kropwithkathy and look at the Storybook Creator Plus Software. or email me at kropwithkathy@yahoo.com

Need to go make up a photo card template for 2 classes at my children's school. Their teachers are using them as cards for the kids with Polar Express pictures! Activity today, card tomorrow!

Just Another Manic Monday

I think the Bangles had it right back in the day. It's just another Manic Monday! It doesn't seem to matter how much I plan, or get things ready for Monday morning. It is still crazy around here. Today it was the same old thing, make your bed, brush your teeth, get dressed EAT YOUR BREAKFAST. Of course, most of those things got done. Walked the kids down to the bus, Katie in her PJ's as it's Polar Express Day for Kindergarten. Came home to finish drying my hair to find...1 bed not made, clothes all over the floor and a light on!!!!! MONDAYS! Hopefully, tomorrow will be better in that aspect.

Off..to work time!

The Great Gift Search

Here it is December 14th and I'm on the great gift hunt. Normally, I have a list and know exactly what I'm looking for. This year has been a bit different. We made our list, I even took the kids to Toys R Us to look for things they might like. Then we divided up the list between their Aunt and 2 sets of Grandparents. That's why I'm stuck.

I love my kids, but they simply don't play all that much. They play pretend, they create contraptions and make up stories. That is wonderful play. It's great for their imagination and for them getting along. It just does nothing for the pile of Rescue Heros, legos, and Transformers in one room, or the entire doll house, polly pocket and Barbie toys in the other. I want my kids to have nice things, and toys to play with....but it's really hard to spend money when they don't seem to be all that interested in anything.

So...the dilemma is what to get, and of course where to get it. Like every other family it seems we've contemplated getting a Wii. Unlike many we're not in a dire search for one. If we should find one, we'll be happy but we're not out in line at 4 am to make sure we get one. If I knew we'd be able to get one the Santa shopping would be that much simpler. 1 girl and 1 boy game DONE. So...now what to do. I guess it's back to wondering the aisle of Toys R Us and searching for the just right gift. At least there are 4 mornings left before school is out. I should be able to find something between now and then. At least I hope I can.

Merry Christmas, hope your shopping has been easier!

On a good note, the decorations have been up since November 10th and the baking has been started, can't complain about those areas.

Hymn to a Good Wife

I've been sick all week, so perhaps it's the time spent getting extra rest. Maybe it's the end of the year. Whatever it is I'm finding myself in need of reshaping my day, and my thought process. Which brings me right back to Proverbs 31.

This is a hard Proverb for most women. It tends to make us feel at first glance like we could never accomplish these things. God does call us to "be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect". Certainly not an easy task. And from the time I've spent in the Word I believe not a task that He expects us to complete while here on earth. What He in is great wisdom is asking is for us to work towards doing the right thing, working diligently. Back to Proverbs...

A good women is hard to find, and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve, and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously all her life long.

WOW! Isn't that awesome. I know there are things that bug us about our spouses, I'm sure mine could name a few things about me that he'd like to change. But the point is when there are those things that you would like to see different don't talk about them with everyone!!!! I get so sick of hearing all the stuff people are doing wrong. Why not concentrate on what they are doing right. If we all spent time focusing on the good things, the small annoyances would be just that...SMALL.

Today, try it. See if we all can just say positive things about the people we love. And when others start to complain, why not say, have you made a list of the good things lately.

New year, new life, new focus. Positive and joyous! God wants that for us.

The other focus is on the verse that says
She's up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.

Ok, I'm not a morning person, BUT there are ways to organize the day and get back focused on what needs to be done. Working from home allows me the freedom to get things done around the house, while getting work done. But I've strayed away from setting business hours, which in turn has slowed down my business.
Time to get back to Calendar Blocking.

That is taking the day and breaking it down into workable sections of time. Time to focus on different aspects, job, family, etc. For me that's going to mean starting at 9 and working on Creative Memories paperwork, connecting with my team, or working on album projects to refresh my business until 11. From there I can work on other things in the day. If I don't make work a priority it won't work itself.

Let's get going and get inspired to do the right thing and get focused on living a wonderful life!

Merry Christmas!

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Both the letter and the card were made with Storybook Creator Plus Software. It's an amazingly easy software that allows you to make Storybook albums, cards and personalized letters. Check it out on my website www.mycmsite.com/kropwithkathy

Flat Stanley in St Louis!

Flat Stanley has made his first stop in St. Louis, Missouri. He actually landed first in Glen Carbon, Illinois and then Zach's Aunt Barb and Uncle Chuck made a trip into St Louis to take his picture. Here is the letter they emailed us.

Dear Friend Zach,

Your Aunt Barb and Uncle Chuck took me to St. Louis this morning. St. Louis, Missouri, is a city in the Midwest. The city is on the banks of the Mississippi River. St. Louis is famous for many things, but there are two places which we went to see this morning. The St. Louis Arch is one of the great tourist attractions in the United States. It is a national monument that is 630 feet tall. In front of the Arch is the "Old Courthouse". It is very historic. I have had a good time in St. Louis. This afternoon, I'm leaving on an exciting trip. You will hear from me again soon.
Love from your traveling friend,
Flat Stanley

Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas!?

Dusted off the treadmill today and decided to actually use it again. Life has been so busy that walking has seemed to consist of up and down the stairs doing laundry or at the store. Regardless, it's time to get moving yet again. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that's the pattern I'm in as most of us tend to cycle through that way as well.

I figured if I'm going to walk again maybe I should catch up on the news. Of course the big news story today is whether we should say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas". That's the news?!? Personally, there are some people in the world that need to focus on something productive. Can you imagine if all the people who spent time and money fighting over taking "Christmas" out of advertising, away from the tree, and also "God" out of our lives actually took the that same amount of time and money and focused it fighting a cause they can actually win where the world would be? Cancer research could be advanced, children could be fed, the education system could be in much better shape.

So...Merry Christmas everyone! In this home "God" is in control and in God we still and always will Trust!

I'm off to spend some money...still labeled in God we Trust, Christmas shopping!!!! Should be fun!

Thanksgiving is almost here!

Hard to believe another year is wrapping up. It seems like once Thanksgiving arrives the next thing you know it is time to change the calendar to a new year.

This year Thanksgiving will be a little bit different at our house. Tomorrow Grandparents will arrive and will be greeted outside by our 2 scarecrows, still tied to the front tree. Once they come into the house they will leave fall behind and enter into the Christmas season. With my Creative Memories Open House last weekend we went ahead and decorated for the holidays ahead of time. Now the only Thanksgiving decorations up are the 2 Turkeys the kids have made on the refrigerator. Oh, well...Christmas will be here soon anyway.

This year we'll be able to relax and enjoy company instead of rushing to decorate so I suppose all in all it's a good change.

Happy Turkey Day!

Celebrating the Holidays with Creative Memories

Our house is already decorated. Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is not yet here and yet the Christmas tree is up and the stockings are by the chimney. Tomorrow is my Holiday Open House for Creative Memories. It will be a fun time to celebrate with customers and to gather wish lists for their holiday dreams. Just in case anyone happens to visit my blog in search of Creative Memories I thought I'd post my holiday specials. They are good via email or phone only up until 10pm tomorrow night!
Digital Collection $121
includes Memory Manager $39.95
Storybook Creator Plus $59.95
and
Storybook Plus Content-Collection1 $35
regular price $134.90

Picfolio Calendar Bundle $37
Minutes Picfolio album $20
in your color choice
Storybox photo mats and journaling
boxes $10
your color choice
Calendar Mats $4.50
Calendar Weeks $4.50
Calendar Months $4.50
regular price $43.50

ABC Bundle $49
ABC album $23
ABC monogram stickers $8
Playful Milestone Album Kit $12
Page protectors $5
Black Pen $1.20
Tape Runner $7.50
extra page and extra page protector FREE
regular price $56.70

Tape Runner $10
Tape runner $7.50
Tape runner refill $5.00
Regular price $12.50

Purchase any Album,
or Coverset with pages,
and Page Protectors and get a FREE
tape refill!

Happy Holidays!

Flat Stanley visits Big Creek

Flat Stanley made his first trip out with a stop at Big Creek Elementary School. He visited with the boys and girls who will be tracking his progress as well as the progress of a classroom Flat Stanley who will also be sent out to explore the world soon.
As each Flat Stanley roams the world the students will track his progress on a map in the classroom. How exciting it will be for them to learn about different places and the people who live in those places.
Our Flat Stanley is almost packed, he heads out tomorrow on his first adventure. Check back here to see where he has been.

Introducing Flat Stanley

This is Flat Stanley...
well at least Zach's version of him. Flat Stanley is from the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. Which is a story about a boy who has a big bulletin board fall on him which ends up making him flat. The story continues with what life is like for him once he is flat. In the story he gets invited to go to California for a trip. He really wants to go, but the family can't afford to send him. Then they realize that they could mail him.


Based on the idea of mailing Flat Stanley off to California, we thought it would be fun to see how many places our Flat Stanley could visit between now and the end of the school year. Today he is going to visit the school to have his picture taken with Zach's class. Then he will be folded, carefully of course, and shipped off to...
You'll just have to come back and see where he's been. We're asking everyone we mail him to, to send us a picture of them with Flat Stanley. Then after they take a picture with him they are suppose to mail him off to see the world. Who knows where he could end up.

Zach would love to see him travel all over. The one place he'd love for him to make it to is the Joe Louis Arena to take a picture with the Detroit Red Wings. If anyone has any connections to the Red Wings let us know!!!

Hockey Halloween

This weekend the Strongsville Mustangs Mite 3 team played in the Halloween Hockey Tournament in Euclid, Ohio. It was our first tournament and boy was it exciting! On Friday night we arrived at the ice at 4pm ready to face the Euclid team. It was a very tight and intense game. No need to worry not only were the boys playing well, with Denise and Nick leading the way on defense. But with the expert coaching of Coaches Matt Dobriansky and Marc Pignataro the boys were able to create great scoring chances which led to hat tricks by Andras as well as Zach.

With a 7-6 win over Euclid the boys were ready to face the Mahoning Valley Phantoms.

The game again was edge of the seat exciting. Coach Matt even pulled the goalie at the end of the second period to try and create an additional scoring chance. While we were all absolutely confident in his decision, I can't say that we weren't nervous anytime one of their players touched the puck. We survived the last few seconds of the second period and were able to end the game in a tie.

One thing we've learned about tournament hockey is to expect lack of sleep! After shipping Katie off to Grandma and Grandpa's for the night we headed back to Euclid at 5:30 AM to face Cleveland Heights. The boys were able to control the game, which allowed our coaches the chance to change things up and give all the players a chance to play different positions. It was really exciting to watch one of our boys who usually plays defense take a few face offs. I showed him the pictures I took of him playing center tonight. I told him I was so excited that he was getting to play another position for a while I couldn't help but snap....10 pictures of it!

We one that game 8-1!

What a thrill for the boys when Coach Marc told them in the locker room after the game that they were going to be playing in the Championship round! I wish I could have seen their faces. This team has learned so much from their coaches in the last few weeks. They still have much to learn, and there will be harder games as well as some that are a bit easier. But to come from beginning the preseason with 7-0, 11-0 and 10-0 losses, adding 3 brand new kids to the team 2 weeks before, to playing in the championship round of a tournament is very exciting for 6, 7 an 8 year olds. Ok, it's exciting for thirty something year olds as well!

So off we ran to church before heading back to Euclid one more time for the 3:45 game. As we gathered in the stands many of us parents talked about how proud we were of our kids, and how nervous we were as well. The team we were facing was the same team we had tied. The team that had just beaten Euclid 11-2. The team that all of us had spent the last few minutes reminding our boys before leaving them in the very capable hands of the coaches to "look out for number 14 and 10!"

The nervousness continued as they took the ice. We yelled and cheered encouraging things to the team. We told them they could do it, we yelled even louder when Anthony scored the first goal or the game. We felt that we could do this. #14 took the ice and the puck, and yes he scored all 5 of his teams goals. He ran his team t0 a 5-2 victory. The thing he was not able to defeat was the Mustang's parents pride in their team.

Our boys came in 2nd at their first ever tournament! Our boys played hard up to the very last second on the clock. Our boys looked to their coaches and listened and tried to follow the instructions they gave. They didn't play perfectly, but they played their hearts out. The took a few penalties as they threw themselves in front of #14 to try and slow him down. Our boys learned a lesson, that made many of them leave the ice in tears. Yet, having spent time with their parents this weekend I know when they got in their cars to head home they were being told how great they had done and how proud they had made us all. No, they didn't win, BUT they came away from the game knowing that they can play as a team, work together and do their best.

I just came from practice tonight where once again they pulled on their jerseys and went out to practice as a team. Preseason is almost over, and there is still a lot more hockey to play. Win or Lose these boys will be learning and growing in their hockey skills under some great coaches. They'll take the ice at each game knowing they can count on their parents to be the loudest, most encouraging fans they will ever find. The last thing we yelled as we left the stands on Sunday was "We're proud of you Mustangs!" and we truly are.

What's the score?

It was a whirlwind weekend. Grandma and Grandpa arrived on Thursday night just in time to head off to the Girl Scout Hayride. We only had 4 tickets for the actual ride so Grandpa joined Phil and the kids and off they went.

I think we might have mentioned that the hayrides usually have a stop in the woods to throw hay!

Luckily, they were on the last ride before the rain started coming down. They seemed to enjoy themselves. I think I'm glad I stayed behind.

Friday, the kids had off so we spent time together as a family. We played 4 or 5 board games, went to the mall and then the kids stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa and Phil and I headed off to small group bible study.

We made it home just in time to watch the end of the first hockey game of the weekend. Unfortunately, the Wings lost the game. I know I was certainly crossing my fingers that it was not a sign of the weekend events to come.

Next morning we were up bright and early to head off to Kent State University for Zach's 9AM hockey game. Not a bad time for a game, except when you have to leave at 7AM to get there. (of course this coming weekend we're going to need to leave at 5AM for a game, so this was nothing!)

Go Mustangs! They did an awesome job with their game. They ended the game in a 3-2 loss. BUT... there was a goal that the refs didn't count where the puck clearly crossed the line before the whistle blew for us. Then there was a goal that counted as the buzzer went for the period for them. THEN there was the penalty that should have been called on a beautiful breakaway that Zach had when he got yanked down from behind...so needless to say, the game could have gone either way. (not that I have an opinion on which way it should have gone!)

They really played well regardless of the score at the end of the game. It was neat to play at KSU too, the arena was very nice.

Who can resist more hockey in a weekend! Certainly, not us. Especially when the tickets are FREE. So, off to the Lake Erie Monsters game we went on Saturday night. The game wasn't all that exciting. They are in a building year, but I can't say I'm disappointed that Colorado's farm team doesn't look that great.

The kids made incredible signs for the game. We all had a lot of fun. Of course I think most people were cheering for the Indians during the last period when it was up on the screen during the game. Not sure anyone would have known if the Monsters had gotten a goal.

Finally, we ended the weekend with another great Hockey game. This time the Mustangs took on Rocky River . With some great coaching from Coach Matt the boys held on to win the game 3-2 almost getting one in the empty net. Zach ended up his week of hockey with 5 goals being scored. He played great and best of all...He had a lot of fun.

We had an awesome weekend too, of course the final event for the weekend...hockey! Watching the Wings teach the LA Kings a thing or two.

Next weekend promises much of the same. A few Wings games on Center Ice and Zach's first tournament.

24 pages in 3 hours!

How can you get 24 pages done in 3 hours time. It's easy with power palettes! I spent the first 1/2 hour cropping the pictures. I cropped them all in one setting. The next thing was putting the pictures in the order I wanted them in for the album.

From there I just layed out the pages, pictures and paper and stuck them down. That took about 2 hours total. In the last 1/2 hour I went back and journaled on each page and added some stickers that came with the mod power palatte. 3 hours total and one project done!

Recharged

It's October 1st. I can hardly believe it. Seems like the days, weeks, months just fly by. It is beautiful outside and I have to admit I really love fall. I love the change of the colors, the crispness in the air. The fact that I can still wear my favorite flip flops, even with jeans. (I never claimed to be fashionable). Of course it's also the START OF THE NHL SEASON! We raised the Red Wings Flag yesterday, and it will fly until the end of the season.
The only problem is, WOW our Internet/cable/phone people are not sure what NHL options they have for us this year. We may have Center Ice, then again...we may not. UGH! I would think that they could get it together at least by our first game would be nice. So...here I am on hold with them again. Hopefully, this time the answer will be that they will be carrying it.

(Have you ever noticed that the music on these hold calls is too loud and the voice sounds like you just walked into a funeral home? Just a side funny.)

Back to the whole fall thing. It is a wonderful time to get some things done around the yard and house. September was my kitchen and laundry room clean out months. I did get it done too! Now for October, the yard needs cleaned up and the closets need cleaned out. 31 days! I can do it.

The thing I am realizing more and more is that the more time I spend in front of the computer the more I am forgetting to look up and enjoy the world around me. No more! I think working from home should have some perks. With that in mind, for each hour of on task work I think it is only fair to be able to enjoy 15 minutes of doing something that I just feel like doing. Journaling in my albums, reading a book, walking the dog. I think in the end I'll be far happier, and more relaxed.

Life is good, so why not enjoy what we've been blessed with!

Fall...may just be the one season that recharges me.

That Never Give Up Spirit!

It's a hard thing being a parent. We do so many things for our kids, with our kids, and because of our kids. We drive them to and from their practices and go to their games ready to encourage them.

Last night I drove the 40 minutes across town with my son for his second hockey game of the season. My mother joined us for what we hoped would be a well matched game. The first game of the season his team had done a wonderful job and had ended the game in a 4-4 tie.

The kids looked great in their new jerseys. The took the ice with excitement, and enthusiasm. Then the game began.

It was a hard thing to watch. The boys played hard. They didn't play perfectly. Sitting in the stands was difficult. There is nothing quite like watching your child playing in a game where the opponent is scoring and your child's team is not.

The other team scored 6 goals in the first period alone. Our boys could have skated off the ice, hung their heads and figured there was no reason to keep trying. Did they? NO! They came back on the ice and held them to only 3 more goals in the second period and then only 2 more in the third.

The parents in the stands tried to encourage them, clapping and cheering them on for simply making good plays. In the end the score was 11-0. The boys were of course disappointed. It's hard to not win, and to be outscored by that amount is difficult as well. Just the same an important lesson was learned. Hopefully, it was learned by the team, parents and coaches alike. While it's easy to point out to your child that you simply can't win every game you ever play. It's only through a life lesson such as the game that teaches them to have a Never Give Up Spirit!

I know it was a loss, but in the end I know I was very proud of both my son, his team and the coaches. They played with courage, and kept going. I hope they all realize that this game not only taught them more about the game, it taught them about life as well.

Way to Go Mustangs, it may have been a loss on the score sheet, but on the score sheet that measures good sportsmanship, character and determination it was a win!

Mismatched Thoughts

It's Monday, which always seems so hard to believe. Seems like the 2 days of the weekend are never long enough. This weekend we had some down time which was nice, but just the same it went so quick.

Projects were finished this weekend, touch ups on the new hockey room, blinds removed, new hockey stick purchased, hostas cut down for the winter, the kitchen reorganized.

Family time, bike rides, game time, lunch out.

Zach's first hockey game of the preseason! Wow, that was intense. I always walk away having basically lost my voice. It was just too exciting, and the boys did really well. That makes it a bit tough on the voice all that cheering. Zach had a great game. He was on defense, which he is strong at, but then it's hard as he also likes to score. Hopefully, he'll get the chance to do both this season. We just have to wait and see.

Yesterday, I wrote 4 checks to our elementary school. I think I might have saved someones job at the check cashing section of the Fed! 4 checks, 2 for fundraising, and 2 for pictures. Have to of course write them seperate for each kid. Is that not crazy? Oh, well at least someone can keep their job in check cashing.

Monday's jobs are looming, so much to do before going to get the kids from school. Off to the races we go, whether working from home or working from work, there is always so much to do!

Too Much?!?

More and more I find myself wondering and praying about the fact that we are living in a generation of too much. Too much stuff, too much to do, too much email, too many voice mails, too many activities. The hard part is cutting back on all of it.

I think many of the things that we as a family are involved in are good things. We have been blessed with a wonderful house, and having an older nephew and niece our kids have been blessed with wonderful toys, books and clothes. Even there though I'm finding that the kids don't play with, read or wear 1/2 of what they have. I think Oct is going to be clean the closets month.

Then I look at the calendar and think, wow! Our son is in 1 activity. I know the stories of how much time travel hockey takes. Truth is it does. It's a commitment we made, one that we'll follow through on. Just the same I look at his schedule and think, how in the world are other families doing this and something else.

It was simpler when we were kids, maybe that is a good thing. We went to school, we came home, we played, we maybe went to dance class, we went to bed. Simple. Now it's one to hockey, one to dance, dinner quick as a family before the activities and then touch base on the day at 9 pm when the kids have finally gotten to bed.

I don't know what the answer is. I do know that our commitment to limiting our children's activities will stand. I occasionally feel guilty about them "missing out" on the other things available. Enough of that! They will be fine experiencing the things that they love and not all that is out there. Our family will be happier, and lately we've found white spaces on the calendar and it's a happy thought to think that there is Nothing that we have to do during one of those white space days.

Looking forward to more white space days ahead!

Moving Photos From Memory Manager-Tip for the day!

It is great to get the photos organized but once they are how do you move them around. First, let me suggest that you re title your photos so that they are marked with a recognizable name and not just their number. Next, click on the first photo you wish to move. Hold the shift key down and click on the last photo you wish to move. Drag all the photos to the clip board. From the clip board you can export them to a cd, flash drive, or a different folder on your desktop. For more Memory Manager help please email me directly at kropwithkathy@yahoo.com

Time Savers

Time the element that I think most of us would like to be able to manipulate. To slow it down, or occasionally speed it up.

Time savers, that's more my style these days. How can I do what I want to do as quickly as I can. I spent a lot of time talking about Power Tools that Creative Memories offers recently. I still think my photos are in better shape due to them.

Today's project though is really making Memory Manager work for me. I love our digital software. I even thought I knew everything there was to know about it. Then BAM! I took a webinar class and found out even more. I work with an awesome company that is always offering free training so that I can really know about everything I represent. I love that.

Memory Manager is where I store all of our photos. I usually pull them in from my digital camera and then immediately put them in a folder labeled "to be printed" It's a method that works for me and allows me to then go through that folder and decide what other folders I want to store them in. What an amazing thing to be able to store them in multiple folders for quick and easy reference. Not only that I can search for pictures that are stored in multiple locations at once. So for instance let's say I want to find a photo of both of my kids at Disney World

I could search through the 700+ photos I took at Disney (we had just bought our first digital camera and went a little nuts!). Searching through all of those photos could take up a lot of time. Or, I could search for photos that are located in both my Z and K folder (where I keep all pictures with both kids) and my Disney trip folder. Instantly, I would be able to look through the pictures that only contain the two things I am looking for. How cool is that!

Now when I load in my pictures I quickly title them as the theme that they are taken of. Such as the home improvement ones I just posted are titled Game Room, or the one above titled Disney. It makes it so much easier to search for the pictures I want. I love this program! It makes it quick and easy, of course I still have to find the time to sit down at the computer and put the pictures on to my computer, but once there this is a real time saver!

Did I mention it also reminds you to back up your photos? Last year alone over 70% of photos taken were lost on computer because they were not backed up. Sometimes we just forget to take that step, so a program that every so often starts by reminding me to back up my pictures is perfect for me. Check out the free demo at www.mycmsite.com/kropwithkathy it will be time well spent!

Staying In Shape

Went to the gym this morning, didn't want to. It felt good once I got there, but really its a hard thing to get back into a program of taking the time to work out. I'm not aiming to be to be the next super model, it wouldn't happen anyway. I just want to feel better, and be healthier so I went. Part of my problem is I think that at my age, sorry not going to reveal that, is it too late to really get started.

Now I'm home and trying to get through the email in box and get other things accomplished. Phil, the incredible husband that he is, (hi honey! since I know you read this!) emailed me photos of the Detroit Red Wings headed off to training camp. He knows how much I enjoy the personal side of hockey and not just the game. I still on occasion wonder if Kris Draper ever pushed the seat of the exersaucer down, but that's another story completely. Anyway, here I am at the age I am trying to decide if it is worth it at this age. When low and behold Chris Chelios http://www.behindthejersey.com/2007/09/12/chelios-packs-mountain-bike/ is loading a mountain bike into the bus to head to training camp. I realize he's been working out probably since he was 2 but it's at least a bit of inspiration for me that I'm not too old to get with the program. He is a LOT older then me though for anyone trying to figure that out.

Way to go Chris! Happy riding. A weekend trip up to Traverse City sure sounds like fun.

Let's Go Wings!

Rememberance

The grey, rainy day seems to be echoing my heart today. It's hard to believe 6 years have past since 9/11. Seems hard to believe that on most days it is something I don't find myself thinking about at all. It's not that I've forgotten, nor will ever forget. How can we forget something that has so changed our nation, changed lives, changed what we do? For our family though, we weren't directly involved. Family members did not loose their lives, and do not reside in or our around the areas directly attacked. Maybe that is why we don't think of it regularly.

Regardless, it's on my mind today. On my heart. I've found myself praying for those that were involved again, as I have every year. I've found myself praying desperately for my 7 year old who for the first time realizes that something awful happened 6 years ago. A child that should not have to think about planes and buildings and death. He started asking questions a year ago after seeing a pamphlet at church on the literature shelf titled America Attacked. He could read the title and we tried our best to briefly answer his questions. It's not that we are trying to hide things from him, it's just the world is so big, and has so many things happening it that he simply at 7 does not need to know. We have found that we don't even watch the news as it is filled with images that are common today in the news, but would have seemed shocking when we were 7 years old. He doesn't need to be exposed to that now. All too soon he will be. So for now we answer questions, giving him the truth in the amounts that a 7 year old, our 7 year old can handle.

Since seeing the pamphlet at church the questions had subsided until Sunday night when the Extreme Home Makeover episode that he was watching was building a house for a man and his family who took time to help on that day 6 years ago. Questions began again, and this morning he wanted to know when the attacks happened, where was he when it happened and what were people doing today to remember. Again, truth, answers, prayer. We watched as President Bush, Laura, the Vice President and his wife observed a moment of silence. We prayed together and I found myself thanking God that it was raining and that I had decided to drive my children to school.

I will continue to answer his questions. I'm sure there will be more in the future. Over time maybe it will allow us all to understand better why this happened. In a few years perhaps it will be his sister asking. But for now at 5 all she really needs to know is that bad men, made a bad decision and many people died because of their decision. She also knows that only the day before that happened we found out that she would be in our lives. So even in the midst of the fear, and the questions we had hope for the future. Hope for a better world. Isn't that what we all really want after all? A better world. There are plenty of times that we will not know the answers to questions. Most of those questions start with "why". So today I'm remembering what happened, but I am thankful because even in the midst of this tragedy, of this horrible event that took place 6 years ago I do have hope. Hope in the fact that this is not the end. God has promised us a new life with Him someday if we put our trust in Him. We may not always know what the future holds, but He does, and He wants us to be with Him. So, today in the midst of the storm of life, I can be sure that there will be a new day just around the corner. As we remember what happened 6 years ago, that is the piece of sunlight that is shining down reminding us to keep looking forward.

Weekend Warriors

Two weeks ago we decided to take our purple/peptobismal playroom and transform it into our version of Hockeytown.

It wasn't a big project but when working around so many other things pulling on our time it turned into a 2 week ordeal.

At first the color just was not looking like the warm tones that we have throughout the house. At least in the rooms we've already repainted. But after 3 coats on the walls, and then several coats of white for the trim, and doors it turned into the room we were looking forward to having.

Our goal was to have it ready by the start of Hockey season. We still have a few spots to touch up with red, and white. A smaller hockey table to relocate to the room, and of course our collect of Red Wings literature. All in all though, it's complete and ready for the Wings to take the ice. Not bad for a weekend of fitting it in between spending some quality time with the kiddos, and friends.

Let's Go Wings!

Hope you're as ready for a great season as we are!

Fresh Air

What a beautiful day it is turning out to be. The sky is perfect the breeze is blowing. Yeah, it's going to be hot, but don't most days hold something we'd like to change. It's the day I set aside for going to the gym. I need to do that, I want to do that, but today that would have added more stress. I decided to enjoy the beauty outside instead. I spent 30 minutes walking this morning. Time alone, time with God. I needed the break. I needed the time to cry out and say "help". The world is crashing in around, so much is needed to be done, so much I want to do. Yet at the center of that I know that if God is not first in my life, the rest will be even more of a mess. Amazing what 30 minutes of talking with the Saviour can do. Not only did I come home refreshed and ready to focus in on the day. I came home knowing that it's ok if our son does not do Scouts. An email confirmed that this is not the right thing for us right now. Doesn't mean that Scouts isn't a great thing, just that our famiy can not and will not do it all, and for Zach hockey is his thing right now. I came back knowing that I need to make a list of all I am involved with and find a way to cross some things off.

I want so desperately to be a part of my kids lives. This is a time when I can be involved in their classrooms, in their schools. Just the same it does not mean that either of them will suffer if I'm not the "room parent". I can't do it. Maybe next year, but if I'm asked this year the answer has to be NO. I will come to parties, but I can not plan them. Do the kids even really care who plans them? They just want to know we are there to support them, and love them.

I set time aside to be in my bible, to be studying the Word. A phone call naturally came as soon as I sat down, but in answering it I soon found more peace about the hockey meeting I went to last night. In 15 minutes today I have found that what needs to be done has gotten done already, that the other mother and I are both more at peace about what is to go on, and that the Coach is able to meet tonight after practice. I found a person willing to give time out of her day to calm my fears. It didn't just happen, God is there saying "hush, and be still" take time for me first and the rest will fall into place.

Yes, I'm still over committed. Sometimes being a responsible, wanting to be involved person does that. Now, I'm going to seek out what God is requiring of me, and letting go of those things that are not needed. I think it's in Philippians, where it says "everything is permissible, but not everything is good". Just because it's available does not mean it needs to be done by me or my family.

Praise God for the beautiful, fresh air that pulled me outside for the walk. In a gym I may have taken the time to focus on Him and seek out that peace, but outside the distractions will limited and the peace that I prayed for came.

Blur

It's 7:45 am, kids are playing, lunches need to be finished for school, breakfast made and the day running. Problem is my mind, has been running since I woke up. Running over what really matters and what needs to go. The problem is that there is so much that seems like it can't go. I've been realizing more and more lately it's the little things that add up to a jumble of too much to do. It's hard to come to that conclusion. Now that I'm there the problem is what to do about it.

I sat at a Hockey meeting last night. A meeting that I'm not sure how I really ended up at. Some where over the last 15 years of my life I've become known as the responsible type that will do the job that no one else steps up for. Another Mom and I said we could help the coach out if needed, but what apparently is needed from the meeting standpoints last night is so much more then I have time for. I agree it needs to be done, but I just can't do it. I have so much else going on. It leaves me wondering where to cut.

I now know what the goal for each day needs to be. It needs to be on letting go, and getting rid of things that are interfering with actually living.

One more thing may be small, but then you end up with so many small things that your life is a blur of activities with no time to enjoy the outcome.

Tool Time

Creative Memories has so many useful tools, it is hard to figure out which one I would say is truly my favorite. I do find that I use them for so many things aside from my album making. Today alone I used the personal trimmer, to get the paper just right for a project my kids were working on, the scissors that are always useful and the tape runner to help adhere the paper to the kids project. (forget the messy glue!)

The personal trimmer is probably one of my most used tools. It's a mini paper cutter, with a friction cutting blade which allows me to cut paper and not myself. I can also trim photos, stickers or whatever else is little and needs an edge cut off. It has a straight edge that helps me line everything up, so there is no more need to cut things a second time to get it right. It is definitely a tool that I would recommend to someone just getting started, or who is an old pro with album making. It also makes a perfect teacher gift!

TIme Flies when you're busy working too!

What a day it has been. From the time I woke up this morning I've been busy getting things done, yet at the same time I'm not feeling rushed or stressed. It's kind of nice. Instead, I'm managing to feel like I can wrap up what I'm working on and not worry about it for the next few hours. The kids will be home soon, and there will be homework to do, a trip to Walmart and haircut that need to be taken care of, and then dinner and time to play before bed. But the sun is out, the sky is beautiful, and things are good.

Did I get everything done on my list? No, the dishwasher still needs emptied, the laundry folded. The painting project is still not finished. Yet, there is another day just around the corner. I used to roll my eyes (don't tell my daughter) when people would say enjoy them while they are young, they grow up so fast. I did enjoy the kids, but at the same time it seemed the next stage was always one to look forward too. Well the next stage has happened. Zach and Katie will spend the next several years in school the majority of the day. So... I'm punching out at 3:45 because when they get home, I want to be there for them to talk to and spend time with.

The jobs can happen between 8:30-3:45 but after that my time is Mommy time.

Our Kindergarten Star

Katelyn started Kindergarten yesterday, and we just found out this evening that she was a part of a video that can be seen at http://www.cleveland.com/news/pdvideo/flash/index.ssf?082807_kinder_video


She had such a good day yesterday. Her favorite part was playing with playdoh. At least until we showed her the video clip. Now her favorite part is that she got to be in a movie! From preschool to movie star...ugh! She really likes school and has made a few new friends.

Hope you enjoy the video. She melted my heart with her response to what she wants to be when she grows up.

Power Up!

We are so busy in today's society. I sometimes wonder why that has happened. We have all these tools to help things to run more smoothly. From dishwashers (oh, yeah got to empty it again!), to computers. That's just it, the more stuff we have to help us the more we have to do. While it may be faster to send a friend an email, instead of a handwritten note, it takes us time to weed through the annoying emails from those we don't even know before we can actually write the friend we went on line to email in the first place.

So what should we do about our lack of time? I think Tim the Toolman Taylor was on to something several years ago. We need more power!

Creative Memories has been onto something in the power area too. From power sort boxes, (designed to quickly sort photos), to power layout boxes (for quickly laying out entire album projects), to power palettes (paper and stickers designed to work together perfectly). The power sort box is amazing. It holds 2400 photos- trust me on that one! It has allowed me to group my photos in the way that I intend to use them. From my home improvement album project to the photos set aside for my children's schools PTA album. All of my photos are organized so I can simple pull out the section I want to work on and not be overwhelmed by the other stacks of photos I have. We even have a computerized version of this called Memory Manager 2. Having trouble with digital photos, this is the software for you. It helps you to sort, organize, crop, enhance, and get rid of red eye. It has many more functions as well.

Power layout boxes are also wonderful. These simple boxes with their guide pages allow me to plan out an entire album project in one sitting. I simple layout my pictures, stickers, paper and other items I want on each page and then flip to the next page and keep it all together in one place until I'm ready to mount it down on the actual pages and do my journaling. I actually have found that I can store my whole Power Palette in my power layouts box and take it with me to work on at any location.

So what are Power Palettes? They are paper packs in both monochromatic colors and designer prints, 4x6 photo mounting paper, journaling boxes, titles and stickers that all are in the same color scheme. I have been working on albums for over 7 years and I have never had my current years family album so up to date. All of the photos I want to scrapbook from January-May are in the album. I almost always was a year to a year and a half behind. Now I'm less then 6 months behind. It is so neat to be able to actually show people your photos in the album, instead of flipping through them on the computer or in a pile on the table. The color options are great too. All can be seen on my website www.mycmsite.com/sites/kropwithkathy

So, what's next in the power line? I can only imagine it will be as powerful as the rest. As for my power plan...2007 family album will be done and on the coffee table at Thanksgiving! Now that's powerful.

An Empty Nest

Today our littlest robin climbed aboard the big yellow bus and rode off to school. Seems so strange that she is old enough to go to kindergarten. Amazing how quickly 5 years can pass. Her backpack hung way down her bag, even with the straps tightly fastened. She seems so tiny but off she went.

Two years ago I cried as her brother boarded the bus. I was in shock that our first born had grown up so fast. Today was different. I'm a little sad that she won't be around the house any more. And the house does seem strangely quiet. In fact, I think I can hear the crickets outside. Just the same, watching her and the neighbor girl jump up and down with excitement as the bus approached I know she is ready, and I am ready too. You can't hold on to them forever, so now the goal will be to hold on to them in the time that they are at home. To make the most of the time I have with them, and enjoy every second they are with me.

What to do now is the next question. The list is endless. It's only the beginning of the day, and I've already had time to go for a walk, come back and take the dog for a short walk. Read my bible, make a business call and check email. The biggest challenge I'm facing is how not to get over involved in everything that is available just because I'm home. I own my own business and I need to spend some time working on that. It's an exciting adventure just waiting to be explored.

Today's mission- 10 business calls, placing my order, working on reorganizing my files for work, 2 calls for church ministry, and straighting up Katie's bedroom so she can keep it clean. Of course that's after I run up to the school...they honestly need some help with Kindergarten lunch time.

My Parents' House

Have you seen the show My Parent's House on HGTV? I saw it once and had to laugh. Not because the show was funny, rather because I'm living in what used to be my parent's house.

I remember my first house 10 years ago. We bought it all excited to make it our home. We started small, then quickly found ourselves replacing windows (all 15 oversized of course), adding central air, and building closets. We were going to stay there for years to come....WRONG! We decided we needed to move closer to family after our first child arrived. At the time we thought we needed to move back to city life, as the small town we were in just didn't have all we were looking for. (Funny, I think the small town has more to offer now then I did then, but that's another entry).

Then we moved to our second house. Still young, and ok stupid! We once again did windows, siding, waterproofed, and of course painted and redecorated most of the rooms in the house. Again, we were going to stay there for years to come. Then the school district became an issue for us and with our oldest less then a year away from kindergarten we decided maybe we should think about moving. We looked for houses, and decided we couldn't afford to move. Smart choice at the time. Then we casually mentioned to my parents that should they ever decide to move we would maybe consider buying their house. I don't know that we ever really pictured ourselves in the house. It was more a statement based on the stress my parents were having taking care of the yard and the fact that the school district they lived in was better then the one we were living in.

Suddenly, Dad and Mom decided it was time for a change. We were shocked. We spent a lot of time praying that if we were suppose to move the right house would be available. We prayed that we would know for sure if we were suppose to make a change. Funny thing with prayer. When you truly seek God, you tend to find Him working in ways you would never imagine. We began to realize that the house they were offering was perfect for our needs. No more windows to replace, or siding to put on. Interior issues, well it was built in the late 60's, but other then that it would not really need much. We also found ourselves selling our house in 13 days! From what our Realtor tells us we were one of the last houses sold before the market slumped in our area.

So now here we are living in our house, which used to be My Parent's House http://www.hgtv.com . The show is actually about adult children who go back and change one room of their parents house. Current count for us is as of a few hours ago 8 rooms. We've been here almost 2 years. In that time we've taken huge, brown, barnyard like X's off of the family room walls and repainted and carpeted that whole area, updated the den from dark to bright making it my home office, added color to walls that were white more whole life, and tore down all of the wooden spindles that blocked off the living room and dining room space. Went from mint to sage in the kitchen. Redid the kids rooms into fun spaces designed specifically for them.

Now, we're in the midst of changing the playroom in to Hockeytown. The mauve/pink/peptobismal color has been replaced by the lovely white of primer and we couldn't resist opening up the red paint and trying it out on a few places on the walls. Soon the Detroit Red Wings memorabilia that got put in the garage from our last houses home office will find a home inside. It will be fun place for the kids to hang out, and will blend more with our color scheme then the old color. I even found the perfect place to hang the Everyday Display Board that Creative Memories came up with. It will be just right for changing out the photos from the games that we are hoping to attend in the future.

Of course...now the laundry room and downstairs bath need some HELP! Well at least it's not the windows and siding.

The crown's come off

Thursday morning I drove my son and daughter up to the elementary school for the start of a new year. Apparently, the picture queen that I am, should have been aware that the proper prodical is to put your kid on the bus and then hurry and drive up to school so you can take pictures of them as they get off the bus. Funny, last year I simply stuck him on the bus, snapped a few photos and went home. I never thought about meeting him up at school. The only reason he even got a ride up to school this year was because his sister had her kindergarten testing shortly after school started. So, I guess I've been temporarily dethroned as the picture queen. Realisticly, the crown's going to have to stay off for a while I suppose. I'm planning on taking a ton of pictures on Monday at my daughter's Kindergarten Open House, but then on Tuesday I'm sticking her on the bus with her brother and going home to the quiet of my house with no children present for the first time in 7 years! I'll take a lot of pictures as she gets on the bus. I'll probably even cry a few tears realizing that my baby is now big enough to go to school all day. Then...I'll head home. While I'm looking forward to the time alone, I know in another week I'll be wondering why it's so quiet and missing them a great deal.

So, what to do while I miss them???? Well, for starters I'm actually going to go to the gym that I've been a member of with my family for the past 2 years. Come home and spend time working my business and finding more ways to help people celebrate their memories. I plan on finishing painting the soon to be hockey room, and maybe even get caught up on my magazines that are stacking up on my end table. Should make for an interesting week.

Digital Scrapbooking

Wow is about the best word to describe Creative Memories Storybook Creator and coming soon Storybook Creator Plus. The first one is a FREE download from my website. www.mycmsite.com/kropwithkathy. It has the ablity to make a digital album, with various templates and themes and various fonts for journaling.
I'm still in amazement of all the things this software can do. Both the FREE version and then the version that needs to be purchased can create quick, beautiful book quality albums. At first I was skeptical. I love to make albums myself, why would I want to do it on the computer? Then I tried a book. I did one on family, that I'd been wanting to do for a while. It took me 2 hours to do an entire album, with journaling. Then I did an album reflecting the whole year for my in laws in just an hour. Talk about a quick Christmas gift! After that it was a gift for my son's hockey coach from the whole team. Finally, I made a storybook while on vacation in Iowa. I worked on it a little bit every night with my friend we were visiting and when we returned I was able to quickly upload the book, order two copies and have a thank you gift for her and a completed vacation album for my family.
I'm not ready to do all my albums digitally. For me smaller themes work best. Coach gifts, Christmas albums, a camping adventure. I can hardly wait for the new software to arrive next month. It's going to be exciting. With the kids in school, I'll even get to play with it.
I know some who are upset that Creative Memories has really taken on the digital age. They have vowed to never do away with traditional album making products. They have proven that they will continue that line. Now, they are also on the cutting edge of the digital age too, what better place to be.

What's new?

Sitting in Panera right now, trying to figure out how it has possibly been 9 days since I've posted anything. I guess I should appologize again, but heck this could end up being an endless post of appologies for being busy with the kids, or work and not doing one more thing. So, sorry if you were expecting an appology.

What's new? So much has actually happened in the last 9 days. Zach has been placed on a mite 3 travel hockey team. He is so excited, we are too for that matter. Already have received his first practice schedule. Next week Wed, Fri, and Saturday. I get the feeling we will be spending a lot of time at the ice rink. Hope they have a wireless connection out there. Kids are getting geared up for school. I feel like I've accomplished a huge task in only spending $90 on school clothes. I guess it helps when your older sister gives you a lot of clothing. So, really I only bought each kid 2 pairs of shoes and 1 new outfit. I could really put each child in an outfit that they've barely ever worn for several days. I guess I should add clearing out the closets and giving stuff away to my list of things to someday get done.

School starts in 5 days for the oldest and 8 for the youngest. It's a weird time. I'm looking forward to the break, but at the same time after about a week the house I'm sure will seem quiet. I'm just hopeful that I will really be able to jump into my Creative Memories Business, volunteer at school, get caught up on house work and be available when the kids get home. At least for now those are the goals.