Till Tomorrow....

Life should return back to normal now, here at the Burns' house. The busy month of July is over, and now we can relax a bit.

I went to the Grove City Outlets this weekend to take advantage of the end of summer sale. I stocked up on some stuff for Seth for next summer. I found some great stuff at Carter's, Baby Gap, and Gymboree. Surprisingly, there wasn't much at Children's Place or Old Navy, but that's OK. I spent about $125 on 7 pairs of shorts and 11 shirts. Not bad 'eh? All in 2T for next summer. Seth is in 18-24 mos stuff now, and it is still big on him, so I know the 2T will work. If not.... well... Carter's will take returns forever, and I can just Ebay the rest. I even found myself a fun skirt and a couple graphic T's at Old Navy. The skirt is made out of grey sweatpant material, so it'll stretch with me the next couple months.

Today Nate and I are heading to Boardman to pick up our bed! Yep! We ordered it before we went to Camp, b/c it was on sale for $200 off, so we jumped at it! Its ready for pick up, YAY! We are going to wait to get the side tables, and of course the bed will sit unused for the next month and a half, LOL! My parents are getting the new mattress set for us for both our birthdays, and said that they can do it in Sept. I am so excited!

Tomorrow is my first OB appt. for this little Bean. I am fairly certain that I'll have an Ultra Sound, so come back tomorrow for a peek and the new little person growing and shaping! At first glance, this pregnancy isn't much different than Seth's. But then I was thinking... this pregnancy so far, has been slightly different than the last. With Seth I was always falling asleep. I am tired with this one, but not falling asleep, and I am a bit more nauseous with this preg. Hmmm...

However, there are still a few weeks left in my first Tri, so it could still change up.

My dear friend Angelina is putting together an album for her nephew that recently passed away very tragically. She enlisted some of our help over at The Digi Chick, and you can see the album taking shape HERE. You can read the terrible story HERE. So anyways, I offered to help make a page, and here it is.

For Hunter~

Joyful Christmas kit by Something Blue Studios

Happy Monday!

TGIF....

I am home! YAY! Nothing like your own bed and your own bathroom. Your own couch and TV doesn't hurt either ;)

Camp was camp, and that is that. I will tell you that... Seth was the bad boy at camp! LOL! Wild man is really starting to exert a very strong will! I tried taking him to the 2 to 5 year old children's church. He was the only one refusing to do Farmer in the Dell, b/c he was hitting the poor child next to him! Then, it was story time, but beofre story time they were singing Deep and Wide... my child was the one who raced up front and was tearing down the story diagrams off the wall, while the rest of the children were nicely doing the hand motions! Ack! Needless to say, we left early.

I was embarassed, but Nate helped remind me that he has really only been exposed the church nursery, where it is do as you please. He hasn't really had structure yet. I am going to start putting him in the 2 yr old sunday school class at church, and hopefully that will start to help.

And it really doesn't help that Seth is a hitter. He strikes out when he is mad. So when we got home yesterday I pulled down my Dobson's Dare to Discipline book, left over from my Childhood Ed days in college. I think once I am done I am going to look into Dobson's Strong Willed Child.

Nate and I are pretty firm, and we aren't pushovers. Its just that Seth has a better idea... LOL, all the time!

While I was away I had 2 new things released at The Digi Chick! Check them out!!

Little Miss Me is a shabby and feminine kit, perfect for the darling girl in your life! This kit is inspired by a shirt in my closet, and I had fun creating the whole sabby chic ensemble. Included in Little Miss Me are 9 textured papers, 3 satin ribbons, 3 tags, 2 buttons, 1 beaded flower, 1 embroidered flower border, 1 stitched flower circle, 1 shabby and distressed frame, 1 glass element, and 1 set of bobby pins. Also included is a full shabby and distressed alpha and numeral set.

You can find Little Miss Me HERE.

Cozy Posies are knit flowers designed to bring that extra special touch to your page. Touchable textures are a trend right now, that you don't want to miss out on! Included in Cozie Posies are 6 knit sweater flowers.

You can find Cozy Posies HERE.

Nate is already gone back to camp, and I am home alone again with Seth through Sunday night. Hmmm... what is for dinner tonight, and what chick flick am I going to watch? :)

TGIF friends!

New Stuff....

Credits: Nancie Rowe Janitz's Good Life kit, Holly McCaig ric rac, Fee Jardine paint strokes, Jen Wilson cards, dragonfly by Carrie Stephens, tears by Steph Krush.

Journaling is from the new Dixie Chicks Lullaby song~

They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

How long do you want to be loved?
Is forever enough, is forever enough?
How long do you want to be loved?
Is forever enough?

I slip in bed when you're asleep
To hold you close and feel your breath on me
Tomorrow there'll be so much to do
So tonight I'll drift in a dream with you

How long do you want to be loved?
Is forever enough, is forever enough?
How long do you want to be loved?
Is forever enough?
'Cause I'm never, never giving you up

The Dixie Chicks concert Saturday night was absolutley fantastic! They really do put on a great show! I had a blast! I think the next time I go though, I'll have to find a girlfriend to take with me... Nate sat like a rock the whole time. At one point I even leaned over and was like "You know, you could be nice and even clap every once in a while." He just looked at me, LOL! He said that they are good... just not his kind of music. I 'd go again in a heartbeat.

I have a couple new things up at A Cherry on Top!

Taped Up is an element pack with 10 pieces of tape. This tape can deffinately add a new dimmension to your page! Tape up some photos, or maybe some journlaing! Taped Up includes 3 pieces of manila tape, 3 pices of duct tape, 2 pieces of scotch tape, 1 band aid, and 1 electrical tape. Start taping things today! (Not all tape shown in preview.)

Get Taped up HERE.

(Ok for some reason Blogger has pooped out with images, so sorry for no preview for Estate Pins)

Estate Pins is a fun and unique element pack designed to bring some sparkle to your layouts! Included in Estate Pins are 3 already assembled pins, 3 metal pins to choose from, and 11 gemstone combinations to choose from, for endless mix and match opportunities! Add some special sparkle to your pages today! (Not all gems shown in preview.)

Get Estate Pins HERE.

Whelp~ off to Camp. See ya'll Thursday! Think of me! I will certainly be thinking of you!

I will be reading my Outlander! So we can have a lovely chat when I come back!

Which BTW~ How does Thurs, Aug 3rd look? 10 pm EST? I'd love to hear some feedback!

Busy....

So, the preacher's son is a n.u.d.i.s.t. Yep. I can't get Seth to keep his clothes and diaper on. Very frustrating! Is this a sign to start some potty training? Probably not. He is still so young.

Thank you so much for all of your Congrats and Well wishes! Your enthusiasm is contagious! Guess what.... none of my family knows. My SIL does, but no one else. I have plans. Aug 13, kind of plans, when both sides are here for Nate's ordination. Aug 13 seems so far away, but I will persevere! I'll be about 9 - 10 weeks by then. I hope I won't be showing too much. Its already getting difficult to sleep on my belly.

I am waaay excited! I dug through some of my maternity clothes, and YAY for overshopper me! (My last pregnancy took place mostly in the summer) I have a few pairs of jeans and quite a few long sleeve shirts and sweaters! All I really need are some sweatsuit type stuff and long sleeve dresses for church. YAY!

The fatigue is really starting to set in. I had it with Seth... just so tired I could barely get up in the mornings, and barely stay awake at night. I do love one aspect of that though.... my insomnia is curbed for at least a little while! And my dreams! Oh, my dreams! So vivid lately!

I have a few things to finish up today, but that is my goal... to FINISH! I have a kit and 4 element packs! About time, right? LOL~ let me run and get that going! Lots of stuff happening this weekend. Dixie Chick concert tomorrow night (YAYAYAY). Busy Sunday, and then off to camp Monday. More about that tomorrow.

Now, back to putting Seth's diaper back on him.

(sigh)

My Secret Since 4th of July....

LOL!! Ok, Ok, I know what it means.... my Due Date is March 14, 2007, and today I hit 6 weeks. A bit nauseous, water tastes like dirt, really tired... but otherwise, just fine! Seth is going to be a Big Brother!

ETA: if you know my family....sssshhhh! I haven't told yet, and their surprise is coming!

11 Months after Katrina....

Here is the brave crew the morning of departure. Them, and all of their stuff for 8 days, including sleeping bags and such in that van. 18 hours drive from NW Penn to New Orleans, LA.


Three of our students in work gear. Brian, Amanda, and Brian. (there was a third Brian as well, LOL!) They wore the ventilator masks to help against mold inhalation and to help ward off the stench. They found bathtubs still full of water, and had to clean out things such as rotted cans of food.


This is my husband Nate doing some dirty work. The homeowners were so appreciative of the help. Nate and the gang worked from 8 till 2 or 4 pm... depending if the kids were still strong enough to keep going, or if they were sleeping on the pavement outside!


The living room in a house they helped clear out.


The kitchen of the same house. What the crew did was clear out everything. Then they stripped out everything, leaving the house with the roof and skeleton. They even ripped out the walls and insulation.


These marks are on all of the houses. The 9/18 indicates the date the crew went through the house. The "GA" indicates the crew that went through. The "0" on the bottom indicates how many bodies were found. We aren't sure what the last number/ symbol means.


Do you see the couch on the roof of this house? Nate also has pictures of a big pot caught in a chimney. But it wouldn't be clear enough for the blog.

This is Taco Bell... notice the blown out windows and stuff still inside. Nate said that there was a whole business community that was much like a ghost town, just stores upon stores empty and abandoned. The only store open was the Home Depot, and even then, the whole store is operating out of the Garden Center.

The kids have come back with a different perspective on things... much more appreciative. Nate is already talking about an Oct or Nov trip (when its cooler) and this time opening it up to the whole church.

I want to encourage you to keep giving to the New Orleans/ Katrina Relief fund, and if you hear of a local trip going, to please consider it for yourself and for your family.

Thanks for taking a peek! Thanks for your prayers and for your encouragement while they were gone! ((HUGS))

Bliss.....

Nate is home....
.........and all is so well!

I actually missed the reunion between Nate and Seth. The van load of 3 adults and 7 teens actually pulled in right before church was letting out. Seth was down in the 2 yr old Sunday School class, and the woman in charge that day had a daughter also on the trip so they all went up to meet them as they came in. All the rest of us were still in the sanctuary . When it was done we went out to meet tham, and there was Seth clinging to Nate's legs.

Awesome.

My heart was filled. My family back together again.

We spent the whole afternoon just the 3 of us on the couch watching a movie and cuddling. Good stuff. We saw Annapolis, a new DVD release about the Naval Academy. I grew up in Queen Anne's Co. Maryland, which is right across the Bay, right across the bridge from Annapolis and the Academy. Now, I've never actually been inside the Academy, but you always see midshipmen in uniform at the Annapolis mall, or downtown. Very common sight.

Anyways, I guess the movie was OK. If you like boxing, there is some of that in there. I was just hoping to see more of my hometown sights in the mobie, but 95% of it takes place behind Academy walls.

Nate keeps asking me what I want to do today.... I think I am going to tell him a trip to the mall and a nice dinner! LOL! I need some new u.n.d.e.r.o.o.s for myself (OK, I don't really need, but want, LOL) and some peanut butter pie is calling my name at The Log Cabin restaurant.

Now that Nate is back, I can also concentrate on getting something done this week. I have unintentionally taken most of this month off, which has been good for me/ bad for me. I have loved the break... but also been frustrated with the break... does that make sense? I even have a new scrap page half done....

Be sure to come back tomorrow! I am going to post some of Nate's pictures from the trip so you guys can get a firsthand update of what Nate and the crew did, and what New Orleans looks like after 11 months.

*Ciao Bellas*

Scones...

It is only 10:30 am and I am alreayd so tired. I just want to go to sleep. I am physically and emotionally just worn out. This week has been so long, and Seth has been so busy. Nate coming home tomorrow couldn't get here fast enough.

Kudos to you single moms or to the moms where husbands are often away for long periods of time. I couldn't do it. I don't know how you do it. I applaud you and your strength.

Thanks to those of you who sent me PM's asking how I or Nate were doing. I really appreciate it! Thnk You especially to Angelina who came and met me for lunch yesterday. Seth showed some of his bravery yesterday when he crawled all through a 2 story indoor playground at McDonalds without incident... and thanks to Ange's oldest son for being right behind him the whole way.

I made some delicious scones, and I'd like to share the recipe!

Apple & Pear Scones

2 1/2 cups All Purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup plus 1 TBS granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup cold butter or margerine
1/2 cup diced Golden Delicious apple
1/2 cup diced Bosc pear
2/3 cup buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 375* F. In bowl, stir flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, 1/4 cup gran. sugar, and brown sugar. With pastry blender cut in butter until coarse crumbs form. Stir in fruit. Stir in buttermilk just until dough holds together.

2. Transfer dough to ungreased cookie sheet. Shape into 9-inch round. With floured knife, cut round into 8 wedges; sprinkle with remaining sugar. Seperate wedges, allowing 1/2 inch in between each, on cookie sheet.

3. Bake 22 to 28 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Plans for today? Nothing. Nada. Not going insane. Ok, one plan. Clean house during Seth's nap, so its nice for Daddy.

So sorry for such a boring blog week!

Hurry!

Last Call for your Layouts featuring any of my products to be uploaded to the A Cherry on Top Gallery. Upload them HERE!! You have just 2 more days! There will be a winner for every 10 entered, and a grand prize winner of a total of $25 GC to my stuff at both ACOT & TDC!

So enter! Everything I already see is so beautful!

How is the Outlander Reading Going? Super well I hope! Are you loving it? Can't put it down? I'll set a chat date for early August in the next few days.

Off to a quaint little Amish town filled with neat little shops of goodies with my SIL and a total of 4 kids!

Mailed Out....

I guess the news has leaked out faster than we thought... my other "bad news" from yesterday is that the founding editor of Digital Memories Magazine is looking to sell the publication. And if she can't... well it'll close shop. How terrible! I was so disappointed to get the news, b/c I LOVED working on it's Creative Team. We all got along so well, and I truly believe that its the best publication for digital scrapbooking out there. We had dreams of it being a paper magazine... so my fingers are crossed that someone decides to buy it and take control.

Well, I did it.

My Memory Makers Masters Competition Layouts are in the mail. What have I done? Ack! I have this love/hate relationship with these LO's right now. I look at them and feel such pride. They are my best work. Then, my brain flips. These are terrible! They'll never win anything! There should be more journaling on this one... oh gosh! More drop shadow on that element on that one.

They require 12x12's sent in... and now I know why! Its b/c you'll need all the room on the back to attatch everything they require! Their idea form with the story behind the LO, your name and addy. The model release form, certifying that YOU were the photog. Signed release for publication. The list of materials. My word, all those things took up 90% of the back of the 12x12's and I trimmed the papers down!

Now I just wait. 2 months. September 8. Oh my word... I just realized that I'll be at the beach, and I gave them my home number and not my cell.

Like I'm even going to win. Puh-leaze.

Ha! Look who got tired of waiting for Mama to take him to the park. I love those gentle snores....

Sad...

One good thing about Nate being gone, is that I get to catch up in chick flics and eat foods that he won't. Like Chicken Alfredo or Pierogies. Nate refuses to eat either, so this is our time to get these yummy dishes. For those of you who don't know, Pierogies are a ravioli type noodle stuffed with mashed potatoes. What's not to love about that?

Last night I watched Princess Diaries 2 for the first time, and LOVED it! I thought it was much better than the first, and I was highly amused through the whole movie. Good stuff!

Dinner last night was a good time, but I don't think the hostess was prepared for how busy Seth is. She has lots of Boyd Bears all over the place, and of course Seth wanted to play, and I think it slightly stressed out the hostess. All in all, a great time. I was glad for the visit, and the food was great.

I recieved bad news twice yesterday, and my heart hurts a bit today. One I can't divulge yet. The other... well the other is the worst. My dear friend was about 25 weeks pregnant, and she got the news yesterday that the baby's heart had stopped beating. This family was actually expecting this... but they had hope that she could make it. Sadly she didn't, and I am torn in two for my dear sweet friend.

Sorry for such a bummer of a post. I have to dash, I have lots and lots of things to get done today!

Time, after Time, after Time.....

Nate has only been gone for 2.5 days, and I already feel that time is stretching on beyond an endless sea of mindless insanity. Help me now... there are 6 days to go.

And what is worng with me this month? It is day 10 of July, and I don't have any new products! I have a couple ideas, I even have a few things started. But I just can't find the motivation, nor the drive, to just sit and do anything. When I knew Nate was leaving, I thought, Awesome! I'll be able to get more work done!

Nope, not the case. I find myself refreshing forum boards over and over. (sigh) I have to get a few things done. I must.

Today I am taking Seth to the park as usual. I put him in the jogging stroller, and I walk 2 miles around the wooded outdoor course. Then we head to the playground to play for 20-30 min. or so. So whenever you hear me say, "we're going to the park" that is the plan. A bit o' excersize, a bit o' play.

Thankfully, we have also been invited to dinner at a churchmember's house tonight.

I've talked to Nate a couple times already, and he and the group have gotten to New Orleans just fine. It took about 18 hours drive in a full van. Today they start work on clearing out a house.

I think Seth also realizes Nate is gone, and is missing him. He fluctuates from being extra cuddley to difficult to deal with.

I am having issues with my neighbor. Well, specifically, my neighbor's children. Regretfully, we share part of a driveway. Her kids are forever leaving stuff in our part, and in the part we share. Yesterday, it was constant me telling them to move something, or me telling them not to build a ramp on my side. What happened to good sense and respect? This neighborhood doesn't have very much. Kids are forever playing in other people's yards, even when they aren't home! It just boggles my mind.

Bathtime....

(sigh)..... and Nate's only been gone for an hour.

Two baths and 2 shampoos later, and it is still goopy in his hair. Balmex is not very easy to clean up! Please Lord, let not my whole week be like this!

No plans here for anything today. I might go to the video store, might take Seth to the park.

Nate and I saw Pirates of the Caribbean #2 last night, and it was pretty good! The monsters this time around are fairly icky, they are sea creatures and ... just ick. You'll have to see what I mean whenever ya'll eventually see it. Great movie! Can't wait for #3!

The new Collab kit is up at ACOT! I helped and added a couple papers and embellies, and it is a great kit for both boys and girls. It is also GINORMOUS! and well worth the price!

It is called Relax and Rejuvinate and I haven't even shown you everything that comes with it! Its a huge beautiful kit. You can get it HERE.

Prayers...

I have a date tonight. A good looking man is picking me up and taking me to Pittsburgh! We have a dinner date at PF Chang's, and then movie tickets to the new Pirates of the Caribbean. A certian little monkey is going to the sitters. I am dreaming about it already...

Now why are we going on a date tonight? Because tomorrow morning at 9 am, Nate is taking a van full of teens to New Orleans. They will be gone a whole week. Nate, another chaperone, and 6 teens will be doing deconstruction and clean up in a Katrina-Ravished home.

This group of 8 will be sleeping on a church floor, getting up early for prayer time. From 9 am to 2 pm they will be shoveling out a house, taking down dry wall, throwing away the rotted cans of food, and trying to salvage the structure of the home. They will do this in 90 degree heat with 100% humidity, long pants, and face respirators. After dinner, the group will head to a local housing development to just hang ou with the kids and play games.

Almost a year ao I was gripped with the scenes on my TV about the Katrina survivors, and now my husband gets to go personally meet them and extend a hand. Our kids going realize that they aren't going to have a fun time.. this isn't a retreat. This is going to be hard work. This is going to be excrutiatingly disgusting and smelly work.

They can't wait to go. They can't wait to meet the homeowner. They can't wait to play with the neighborhood children.

Please pray for this small group. Please pray for their safety, their willing spirit, their health, and for God to also teach through them to others, and to teach them as well.

I'll keep you all updated as I hear updates.

Blah Thursday....

This is one of those days I don't really have anything to talk about. Nothing much new.... We recently watched 8 Below and that was a fantastic movie! Great family movie, and Seth really enjoyed watching the dogs until it was his bedtime. Burns' family recommends it!

There is only about week left of my LO contest at ACOT. So submit! You know you want to... ;) LOL!

I haven't shared some of my CT's beautiful pages in a long while, so I thought I'd do so today. I am blessed with such a dedicated and enthusiastic crew... these girls have really become part of my backbone.

To Be Honest using Uptown Chic, by Angelina

Sleep Anywhere using Blue Nile, by Melanie

Mommy Thoughts using Blue Nile, by Aggie

Unique using Downtown Unique, by Novita

The World to Me using Downtown Unique, by Darla

Country Girl using my Downtown Unique, by Traci

Hugs for Daddy using my Lavender Fields, by Melissa

4th of July...

So where have I been? I have been a busy busy girl!

Happy 5th ladies! Hope you all had a great 4th and holiday!

We had a pretty good time at my IL's. They have an annual picnic, kinda like a family reunion b/c everyone on that side comes for the day. This year wasn't as well attended, but it was great to catch up with who was there. We grilled a big pork shoulder and that was really yummy.

Seth & cousin Bethany

My SIL, Gen, LOVED her pictures I took of her kids (the tea party and the family shot) And she has started a bit of digi scrapping, so that was neat to talk "shop" with her about that. She is pretty good, her first pages are a whole lot better than mine, thats for sure!

Every year the men shoot off illegal fireworks, LOL! Well, its not really illegal, but the resonaing is dumb. Both Ohio and Pennsylvania, claim that fireworks for your own home are illegal. However, both states sell them, as long as you say you are taking them out of the state. Isn't that dumb? Anyways...

Seth did NOT like the loud booms. Especially the rocket type ones with the whistle before the boom. He would jump and cry out every time. He hugged really close during the whole show.

Seth and Gramma

Its been a few days since I have had internet, and now I feellike a chicken with my head cut off. What to do first? Where to go next? Ack! TODAY I must restock the fridge. That is a must!

Nuthin' But Diet Coke & Mentos....