It's Good to be Boss

This week is fall break for many of my kiddos and I've had kind of a weird schedule the past few days full of cancellations and changed session times. Today I had lots of cancellations. I had a rescheduled kiddo at 9:30 this morning, than I came home with no more sessions scheduled until 4:30pm. I got a lot done in the late morning and early afternoon, but I was dreading driving 45 minutes to an hour in rush hour traffic to see my 4:30 and 5:30 kids, only to return home with another 45 minute to hour drive at the end of rush hour. So, about 3:15 I decided to call and reschedule my two late afternoon kids and add them to my Saturdays for the next two weeks. In exchange for an extra hour to my schedule this Saturday and next Saturday, I got a whole afternoon and evening at home to enjoy traffic free. Luckily, Shawn was home and we were able to spend the afternoon together enjoying some quality time.

For the most part, it's been a good week full of fun surprises. Here's are few more good things from my week.

1. This arrived at my door on Tuesday:



I'm pretty excited about this new toy and can't wait to start making mini albums and other bound projects. I'm thinking I might be binding a lot of Christmas gifts this year!

2. Yesterday, I found two $5 off your $20 purchase coupons in the shopping cart I selected upon entering Fresh and Easy. This was pretty exciting as it turned my $41 grocery bill into a $31 grocery bill. Always a good thing.

3. A email with some exciting news that I shall discuss a bit later...

4. This kit and this add-on arrived today. Yeah!

5. Actually did some paperwork today and can check 9 reports of my list!

6. Another short day tomorrow, which means I might get to do some scrapping.

Birthday Fun

For my birthday yesterday, we had a little family picnic. After changing our plans a few times, we ended up heading to Woods Canyon Lake. It was a beautiful day, a bit chilly, but kind of nice to be chilly and have it feel like fall. Mom packed a picnic, complete with mini pumpkin bundt cakes with chocolate ganache. We ate, enjoyed some wine, went for a walk by the lake, shivered a bit, ate pumpkin cake, opened presents and enjoyed the day. It was a great birthday.

Here are some pictures from the day:













When we arrived home last night, I had these on my doorstep from Heather and Angie. So sweet!


Family picnic, several renditions of "Happy Birthday' on my phone, lots of calls, emails and cards in the mail, breakfast with Michelle this morning, a movie and lunch with Shawn this afternoon, crafting and dinner with Stephanie this evening.....all in all its been a wonderful 31st birthday!

Birthday Eve

Saturday's a work day for me, but this morning I was able to sleep a little later because one of my poor kiddos has chicken pox. Here's me driving to work:


It was overcast today, which made for a nice drive:


By the front door when I arrived home today...happy birthday to me:


and inside the box was this adorable bag from Jessie, made by Andrea:


I hadn't changed my office calendar until this afternoon:


My messy desk, full of in progress paperwork, billing info and some to do in Photoshop projects:


Scrapping a bit this evening and doing my new favorite thing, sewing on pages:


Strawberry milkshake to celebrate my birthday eve:


Another night with a gorgeous sunset...my photo doesn't quite capture the bold yellows and oranges:


Today:
up at 8am
shower, dressed, morning routine
cereal and berries
email, internet, chat with Shawn
off to work
drive and NPR
session with C.M.
made plans with Michelle for a birthday breakfast on Monday
stop by mom and dad's
mom tells me my pants are way too big on me, which all of my clothes pretty much are right now
go shopping in mom's closet and leave with 2 pairs of size 4 jeans and 1 pair of capri's that are too big for mom but fit me pretty well
drive to next kiddo
session with T. F.
drive and eat a few bites of my lunch
talk to Kellie
session with S.S.
drive and eat more of my lunch
session with M.P.
drive home with windows down!
arrive home to birthday package from Jessie/Andrea and a card from Erin
also in the mail is my mail in ballot for November's election
try to nap with Shawn but my head is too busy
finish scrapbook page I started last night
photograph new purse and finished page
head to my office computer to upload page and today's photos
post page and check in online
eat apple
print some things from my email
return to scrapbooking and finish another half done page and start a new one
Shawn interrupts my page to say let's get ice cream
talk to mom
Freddy's Custard for milkshakes and dinner
hang out with Shawn
surf the internet
upload photos to laptop and update blog

Eat:
cereal and berries
Kashi cereal bar
hummus, carrots, pita
apple
veggie burger
strawberry milkshake

Tonight:
hang out with Shawn
knit or scrap
read

Thoughts/Observations:
today is my last day being 30
loving the cooler weather today
wondering if we'll need to change our plans for tomorrow due to cooler weather this weekend
lots of creative ideas today
need to get some paperwork done next week
wanting to get clean up courtyard and get fall planting done in the garden
loving my Halloween decorations
should have done laundry today
need groceries
gorgeous sunsets lately
love lazy Saturday nights with Shawn
looking forward to tomorrow's birthday picnic

Friday Fun

Notes from today:
up at 7:30
shower, dressed, morning routine
cereal and berries
email
curl hair
off to work as Shawn orders my birthday gift (new bind it all!)
drive and call mom
session with M.M.
head back home
internet
spend time with Shawn, watch Cold Case
snack on challah
put away scrap stuff
cut Wilna's art for canvas
finish 52 card "Play"
cut an apple, fill water bottle and head out the door to work
drive and Science Friday on NPR
session with M.G.
check in with Mom
call from V.P. canceling A's session...chicken pox!
drive and beginning of Oliver Sacks interview on Fresh Air...need to get podcast and finish listening
meet mom for lunch at Herb Box
talk about birthday plans
drive towards Fountain Hills, listen to ipod
kill time at Target, buy eye drops and notebook, contemplate a book and John Derian items
session with N.E.
drive home, NPR, phone tag with Jessie, talk to Shawn, talk to Kellie, call in takeout
pick up dinner at Greek Pita
talk to mom
take pictures of beautiful sunset
dinner
load dishwasher
chat with Shawn
read mail
internet
upload photos
update blog

Tonight:
scrap?
chat with Jessie?
read

Eat:
cereal and berries
slice of raisin challah
apple
veggie wrap, grapes, sweet potato chips
hummus, pita, cucumbers, spanikopita

Thoughts/Observations:
I like my downtime on Friday
nice to be able to be lazy with Shawn for a couple hours this morning
excited about getting a bind it all and a (free) slice in the same month
I desperately need a pedicure!
cloudy afternoon and cooler weather (90's)
lots of project ideas running through my head
wanting time for house projects and garden clean up...maybe next weekend

We interrupt this week in the life for a PSA

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

FYI--the deadline to register in AZ is Monday October 6.

Adventures in Thursday

Thursday's are my busiest days work wise. I have six kids plus two group sessions at Chyrsalis. With drive time and traffic, I'm gone for about eleven hours. Needless to say I didn't get too many pictures today. I'm hoping I do better tomorrow and Saturday.

Here's the best of today:







As you can see , the fridge is pretty bare. Grocery shopping is on my to do list. With Shawn out of town until yesterday, I didn't really feel the need to get groceries, beyond a quick trip for a few needed items yesterday. I'm thinking I'll need to go tomorrow or Saturday, unless we just start the birthday celebrations early and go out for the next few days.

Today:
up at 7:30
shower, dressed, morning routine
pack lunch, gather stuff for the day
cereal and email
dry hair
run out the door 5 minutes late
drive and chat with mom
session with J.K.
drive and NPR about book called Hannah's Dream...now on my to read list
post office....but it closed, no time to find another
session with A.A.
call Shawn for post office addresses
time to kill...head to Michael's to get yarn, adhesive
eat lunch in the car
arrive at Chrysalis to a crazy day
group session 1
group session 2--the wild boys
session with L.W.
session with K.C.
drive
find mailbox to mail bills
2 hour session with M.H.
session with S.S.
drive home and listen to debate on NPR
check mail, unload stuff from the day
dinner
dishes
email, internet, update blog

Tonight:
knit
read
hang with Shawn

Eat:
cereal, blueberries, raspberries
Kashi cereal bars
yogurt, raspberries
crackers
apple
leftovers for dinner

Thoughts/Observations:
funny kids today
crazy session at Chrysalis
hoping today is last 100 degree day
thinking about Christmas presents

Notes From Today

I took more photos today than yesterday, but my batteries started to die this afternoon. Stupid battery charger must not be working right. It's nice to have the little camera for purse convenience, but I want to play with the new camera. I had a couple of my kids take photos today and got some cute shots of one of them playing piano, but can't post them for confidentiality reasons. Lots of everyday shots and some self portraits today. Enjoy the photos and daily update.







Today:
Hit snooze button and fall back asleep, deeply
second alarm...blah time to get up
shower, dressed, morning routine
cereal, email
take out recycle
off to work
session with V.D...lots of Mamma Mia singing
downtown to drop off billing
drive and NPR
session with J.V.
drive and snack
session with A.A....sleeping
talk to Kellie about lunch
get gas
pick-up curbside at LGO
head to Kellie's
eat, play with Lucy, talk to Kellie
bug Kellie about not napping while I'm still at her house
talk to mom
take self portraits at Kellie's
head back to work
session with M.P....started off a bit rough, but got better
drive through a favorite neighborhood
session with C.P.
drive past my favorite house
session with S.M.
chat with Kathleen
head home
stop at Fresh and Easy for fruit, veggies, cereal and meat for Shawn
Shawn's home!!
unpack, check mail....first birthday card!
open card from Ellen....anthro gift card YEAH!
make dinner
eat
email, internet
unload dishwasher, do dishes
hang out with Shawn, watch Fringe episode again
upload photos, update blog

Later tonight:
Criminal Minds
hang with Shawn

Eat:
cereal (second day with no berries or peaches, boo)
slice of raisin challah
tuna sandwich and fruit
Kashi cereal bar
wheat thins
black bean, brown rice, avocado burrito

Thoughts/Observations:
Yeah, Shawn comes home tonight!
love my Wed long lunch break
interesting NPR show on Huntingtons' disease
still too hot today
tired today
can't believe it's already October
I LOVE October
Adorable window display at Frances
Indian School road looks so different with light rail almost up and running
Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere...LOVE!
Cuddling is the best

Good night.