Life is short...and goes so quickly

I am a procrastinator. I'm really not sure why. I don't like to be one, but I am. One thing I do that really bothers me is put off sending cards or making phone calls. I just don't make the time for it. Phone calls to family and friends are difficult at times unless my children are cooperating. But a card in the mail -- it's not that tough, and yet I plan to do it and I often don't.

About a year ago, we moved away from my relatives. We had the good fortune to move to my hometown in the summer of 2003. I was able to get reacquainted with the many aunts, uncles and cousins I had grown up with and my children had the chance to get to know their cousins. It was great. After a year and a half, we had to move due to my husband's job. It made me very sad to be leaving my family so soon. I didn't see them all the time, but it was nice knowing we were close and COULD see them when everyone's schedules permitted. And there were a few of them we saw pretty often.

While I was there, three of my cousins and I started going to dinner once a month. We're all in our thirties, have kids the same ages -- it was a nice break for each of us and just fun to visit and spend that time together. After I moved, the other girls quit making the effort to get together and it makes me really sad. In addition, I haven't talked to them much since I left. I tried for the first six months or so to call and keep up with them. Two of them I 've talked to several times. The third has a VERY busy schedule and I can never catch her. She hasn't returned any of my calls, and has maybe e-mailed me once. She's just not that type of person -- not sappy by any means and not the type to keep in touch. After feeling ignored, I was getting frustrated and had told my mom I was ready to give up. I told her I saw no reason to keep making the effort if it wasn't returned.

Last week, I found out this cousin has been diagnosed with cancer. She is my age (only six weeks older!) and it really shook me up. They think they've caught it in time and I'm hopeful and optimistic for her. But I'm also ashamed of myself for being ready to give up on keeping in touch.

Keeping in touch is a two-way street. We're all busy with our lives and it's not always an easy thing to do. Sometimes others don't reciprocate. But you know what? Life is too short. I love my family and my friends. I don't ever want them to think I've forgotten about them or that I don't care.

So I share all this with you because sometimes we need a reminder that whether it seems like it or not, I believe others appreciate it when we make an effort to stay in contact with them...let them know we're thinking about them. They may not return the effort -- they may not even appreciate it right away. But don't let time pass without reminding others how you feel. Some day, it may be too late.

I had so much fun!

Yesterday, I spent a good portion of the day on a "date" with my two oldest kiddos. We had SO much fun. We went to see "Curious George", which was really cute. They got their favorite movie snacks -- nachos for Ryan, popcorn for Rachel. There was one part of the movie that made Rachel cry (I felt so bad!) and when I peeked at Ryan his eyes were all watery. He caught me looking at him and got a little mad ~ I can tell he's getting older. There was no way he was going to be caught crying at a Curious George movie! It was sweet though.

After the movie we played in the arcade at the theater and my kids got to pick out some toys (cough, JUNK, cough) with their tickets that they won, which made them very happy. Then on to have ice cream and shopping at the Disney store. I even let them pick out something small at Disney -- we don't do that very often. All in all, a great "date" with my little monkeys! I can't wait for the next one!

Now as I sit here trying to type, all three of my little ones are alternately DEMANDING my attention (quite loudly, I might add!), so off for now. Enjoy your day -- it's Sunday, so find some time to relax!!

Foiled again!! Or maybe I'm stalling...

Tonight had the potential to be a perfect scrapping night for me. My DH came home in kind of a yucky mood and somehow, fell asleep before 7pm. He did wake up around 8:30ish and was up for about an hour, but then headed off to bed -- very unlike him, especially on a Friday! In a perfect world, my children should have been in bed by 9 or 9:30p, and had that happened, I would have had a quiet house all to myself to scrap in!

Of course, this is not a perfect world. The youngest took a late nap and was wired, so I just put him to bed at about 10:20p -- I still hear him jabbering to himself! I have the most darling picture of him (not that I'm biased or anything) that I was totally ITCHING to scrap earlier, but now I'm feeling so darn tired. Plus I have to get up early and get our taxes done in the morning. Sigh...I am not quite ready to pull my butt out of this computer chair, so I thought what the heck...I'll type a little.

Speaking of being tired...I have noticed that there are days when I feel tired all day long, but it's odd -- come bed time, if everyone else falls asleep before me (and of course, the kids usually do!), I all of a sudden have this urge to stay up and do something, just because I have a quiet house. I rarely have a quiet house. I think I feel like I'm wasting it if I just go to sleep. Is anyone else like this or am I just a goof?

(On second thought, don't answer that part about me being a goof!)

On that note...off to bed. That second wind I'm describing above just ain't comin' tonight, so sweet dreams everyone!

Wahoo!!!

My whining in my previous post paid off!!! My brain finally kicked into gear and I have figured out how to add links. Yeah, I'm a little slow sometimes...

So I've added a few...will add the rest later!!! WAHOO!

Time to get my rear in GEAR!

First, can I whine just a little??? I cannot for the life of me, add links to my blog!!! It has consumed way too much of my time and is frustrating the heck out of me!!! I have read the "how to add links" and tried what they are saying like six times now and also got some help from the wonderful Christi Snow and I still can't make it work -- aaaaaaarrrghhhh! (Okay -- whining over!)

This morning I need to run some errands, and then come home and get as much cleaning done today as possible. As far as errands, my first stop -- Target. I need two things at Target. Anyone want to place bets on whether or not I will actually get out of Target with JUST two things?? Never happens -- probably never will! After that it's on to Hobby Lobby where adhesive is on sale. Can't pass up an adhesive sale. Any bets on if I will leave Hobby Lobby with just adhesive??

As to the cleaning, sometimes I wonder why I bother. First, I am starting to think my children have formed a secret society and they have secret meetings on how to foil any of my efforts. I think they've determined that if I'm cleaning a bathroom, they should take advantage of that time to trash the living room. Then as I clean the living room, they move on to trash yet another area of the house -- it's a vicious cycle. And can I just say DH is not much better. "Neat" is not a word he comprehends. Quite frustrating -- but such is life I guess.

I also hope to work on some Design Team layouts for Croppers Cottage. I've completed my assignments for March, but I'm not sure I am completely happy with one page in particular. Might do a couple of new ones to see if I come up with something I like better.

Anyhow, now that I've put you to sleep...I hope whatever is on your agenda today, that you have a great day -- and enjoy your weekend!

Just my luck...

So on Tuesday, I was having a very "thoughtful" day. Ideas and things rushing through my head that I really needed to get on paper, which is why I finally took the plunge on this whole blogging thing. I figured I needed a place to put my thoughts in writing. However I didn't set up my blog until Wednesday...and guess what? Not feeling so "thoughtful" these past couple of days. Not much in the mood to write.

I've noticed this with my latest batch of scrapbook pages. I LOVE to journal usually. It's my favorite part of the page a lot of times. But the last several I've done have been without much journaling. Just not in the mood. I hate that. I know not every page has to have volumes of heartfelt writing, but it feels odd to me when I'm in one of these writing "funks".

So here I sit, hoping my thoughtful mood returns -- and that when it does, I have time to do something about it, instead of letting it come and go!

bear with me!

I just added the link to my blog to my signature line at Croppers Cottage. Should any of my dear Cottage buddies happen to stop by, please bear with me -- I am just starting my online rambling fest and am still figuring it all out!

And if you do stop by -- thanks!

What's with the name??

So I've done it! I decided to try this blogging business. We'll see how it goes.

I feel like I'm writing to myself, but if by some miracle someone decides to read my ramblings, you may be wondering why I chose this name for my blog.

The past few days, I've been pondering whether or not to have a blog at all. I've also been wondering what I would call it. I considered something inspiring or "deep" -- but then for some reason, I started thinking about my love for 80s music and wondered if I could come up with a title that was a line (cheesy or otherwise) from an 80s tune. This line from the Starship song "We Built This City" popped into my head and it immediately felt like the right choice. (Although, the song may actually be from the 90s, but you get my drift...)

There was a time I liked this song and I admit that I still find it somewhat catchy. But truthfully the song IS pretty cheesy and this line from the song reminds me more of an old friend of mine than of the song itself.

This friend of mine used to make fun of the song by using the line "knee deep in the hoopla" in regular conversation. He is one of those people who is completely goofy, but so lovable. He just kind of drifts through life and without putting forth much effort, things always seem to fall into place for him. You want to hate him because things seem so easy, but he's impossible to hate because he's funny and silly and lovable. I haven't talked to him or seen him in ages, and I miss him! So I guess my title is a tiny little tribute to him, wherever he may be! I am guessing he is still drifting happily through life, amidst whatever hoopla comes his way!

I also looked up the definition of the word hoopla and some words that jumped out at me were "chaos" "confusion" "boisterous" -- while I am by no means a boisterous person, my life feels pretty chaotic most days, and my family can be quite boisterous.

So there you have it -- and if you're actually reading this, thanks for humoring me and joining me in this blogging hoopla!