If you haven't seen the Pink Scrap Spark challenges at Scraptalk.com, please check them out! I issued the second one today - you can see the details here: Pink Scrap Spark Challenge #2 There will be a drawing for RAKs for everyone that participates!

I decided last night to start an album about my brothers. I have so many photos of them that I love through the years, and I really want to put them together in a special way. I'm also planning to color copy the pages and give them to my brothers for Christmas.  

I have an article on the National Scrapbooking Association's blog! This was the first time I was ever asked to write anything scrapbooking related. Check it out here: NSA Blog

I just posted the first every Pink Scrap Spark challenge! I am so happy to be doing this and hope it will be lots of fun. Check it out here: Pink Scrap Spark Challenge #1

I'm going to see the Wiggles again! Whoo hoo!! Okay I must confess, I actually love the Wiggles. I pretend we're going to the concert for Esme's benefit, but it's really all about me. I love to hear Greg croon those catchy tunes, see how sweet and sincere Anthony is with all the children, and watch the funny antics of Murray, Jeff, and Captain Feathersword. I'm so glad I could get tickets for when they come close by again!

I'm soooooo excited!! Deb from Scraptalk just announced the challenge I am starting! It is a completely new challenge and is called Pink Scrap Spark. The idea is to inspire and encourage us to grow as scrappers! Deb set up a new forum to discuss it and a new gallery for the images. I'll be issuing the first challenge on Thursday - I can't wait to see what everyone does. Check it out at http://scraptalk.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=39

Oh and suggestions and feedback are always welcome!

For the last year I've been on the Search Committee to find a new Rector for our church. I've been an Episcopalian since birth, and for us, this is a long process. We've finished writing our parish profile which outlines who we are and what we want to be, and in a few short weeks we're going to be getting candidates and starting interviews. In the meantime, I've been asked to consider becoming the Sunday School coordinator, which really appeals to me. Esme starts Sunday School this week, and I'd like to know I'm nearby while not actually being in her classroom. I'd also like to be more involved in general and get to know more of the parents of children Esme's age. This photo is the interior of my church. Since I spent the first 25 years of my life at one church, I never thought I'd be as comfortable somewhere else, but I am. I love this place. 

I'm determined to scrap tonight! It has been a couple weeks since I sat down at my table and I think that might be the record since Esme was born! With Ethan on his new schedule I plan on scrapping nearly every night, but believe it or not it has been difficult adjusting to putting Esme to bed, eating dinner by myself, etc. Until now Ethan put Esme to bed 99% of the time. She's not used to our new routine and she is not behaving very well for me at bedtime. Late last night I laid down the law, and I'm going to do the same before bed tonight. I'm not taking any more nonsense!

So tonight I'm breaking out the Duck adhesive, the Cutterbees, and my new Heidi Swapp kit from Costco, and going to it!!

I am starting to forget what Ethan looks like. He's been working around 15 hours a day since Thursday, so we hardly see him at all! Thank goodness this is last nearly-full-time week at the Odyssey, and starting Sunday we'll being seeming him for several hours a day again! I miss him so much, and it's also hard to go all this time without any adult time. Sadly I guess my Search Committee meetings count as my adult time this week.

Esme is almost fully potty trained now, except for still wearing a diaper to bed. It is sooo nice.

One last shameless plug...I really really want to win the referral contest at Scraptalk! If you haven't registered yet, come on over (Scraptalk.com), register, make sure you put me in the referral box (JennyLilac), and say hello!!

sooooo, word on the street is that the Memory Makers Masters calls could start as early as tomorrow, but will surely happen this week. As much as I would love to win myself (chances of which are slim) I am SUPER excited to see who the winners will be! I really really really really really want one of my fellow Pink Ladies to win. I would be so psyched if someone from the team made it!

This is my last official day of summer. School starts back up tomorrow and even though I probably won't be working, I have to get that telephone back by my beside and make sure I have clean clothes to wear should it ring. I've been subbing for 2 years now. I tried junior high and high school when I first started (late May 2004) and HATED them passionately. But now I'm thinking about giving them another chance. Classes are way different at the beginning of the year than they are at the end, and it took a few days but I've pretty much become a master of classroom control with the younger kids. Several teachers request me just because they know I'm strict and their classrooms won't be in chaos. I know I could get a lot more work if I was willing to teach higher grades.