steph's stuff

What's the point, anymore?

When I first started this blog five and 1/2 years ago, it was mostly about scrapbooking. I was just starting to submit my layouts to scrapbooking magazines for publication and the purpose of the blog was to showcase my photos and layouts and also to network with other scrapbookers, both in the publication world and otherwise.

In the ensuing years, much has happened in the scrapbooking world - I was extremely involved with a publication company, worked for manufacturers and online stores, and worked trade shows for a few years. And then more changes took place in the scrapping industry and I basically left the publication world a couple of years ago. I left my job at Creative Memories (I still miss you, Addie!!!) and decided to work exclusively for DesignerDigitals. And I don't regret those decisions at all (although I will admit that I miss the work and paper layouts AND the money) and I adore working for Katie and Randy at DD.

But after all of these changes have been made, my blogging has been floundering. I've covered lots of quilting, lots of photography and photography-related posts and, of course, my everyday life. But, to what point? I've lost my sense of goal and direction with my blog. I would love to continue blogging about my everyday life, much as I always have. But as the kids get older, I feel the need to censor what I put out there about them. I already censor a lot of things that I want to post simply because the activities might involve other people. So.......what's the point?

I don't have the answer. But, this is why I'm not blogging as much. And, if I'm brutally honest, it's also because I'm busier than I've ever been and editing photos and writing posts takes a lot of time. Something has to give and it's usually blogging.

I'm not trying to make a point or make an announcement that I'm closing my blog. I'm just keeping it real and blogging about my everyday. And, today, my everyday is questioning. :)

But, I also have a photo for you. Libby showed her horse this weekend for the first time and I will blog about it later this week. Here's a teaser photo. :)

 

 

Saturday mornings

 
Tom is a creature of routine. He goes to bed at the same time every night and gets up at the same time every morning. Except for Saturday mornings. Because Saturday mornings are football days. And football days are sacred around here.

Before the sun is even up on Saturdays, Tom is outside hanging out the UT flag. And it flies all day long until bedtime. When, hopefully, it is taken down with a gleeful pride at that day's win. At least so far this season. :)

Things that make me giddy

I just love fall weather and we are really finally out of the warm weather here in the midwest. Some things that make me giddy about cooler weather:

1. Sleeping with the window open and feeling my nose chill but the rest of me stays warm and cozy in bed. LOVE that!
2. Crockpot meals!!!!! Our absolute favorites that I make are chicken noodle soup, pot roast, and beef and rice soup. Next week, I'm using the crockpot all week long and getting some good, fresh loaves of crusty bread - can't wait!
3. Sweaters - I love sweaters!!!
4. Redecorating the house - I am totally giddy about getting out our fall wreath and redoing the mantle and tables for fall.
5. Changing purses. Yep - I said changing purses. I have fall/winter purses and spring/summer purses and I love to change them according to the seasons. Just changed out my white purse for my red leather one and I love it. Yes, I'm a bit silly.
6. Spending more time inside means that I will go back to my hobbies of scrapbooking and quilting. Some recent pages:

 

All supplies can be found at DesignerDigitals - I love my job!!!!

My kid is cuter than your kid

He lost both front teeth at the same time and he's never been cuter. I could seriously just eat him up. Tom and I ask him to smile a million times a day and then look at each other and coo, "He is soooooooo cute!" It's rather pathetic, actually. But seriously. He is just sooooooooooooo cute! 

Finally casted

I could vent about doctors who refuse to x-ray your child's arm. I could vent about doctors who read x-rays wrong after you go back and insist on an x-ray. I could vent about radiologists who take 6 days to read an x-ray. But, I won't. It's over and done and her arm is okay, except for the broken radius that everyone missed. Oh, sorry, I'm not going to vent. But, it is finally casted. She walked around in pain for two weeks and she is now pain free - and that's what really matters.

I caught her just as she was starting to blink in the last photo. Grrrrrrrr......  But look at that cheesy grin - she was more than happy to get a lot of attention at school with the cast.  

The randomness of a SAHM's day

When you stay at home and your kids are all school age, you envision 5 - 6 hours of free time during the day. You make plans to grocery shop, run to the dry cleaners, and pick up the new gym shoes for all three kids. You schedule doctor's appointments and haircuts, make time to work out, pay the bills, clean the house, do the laundry, and walk the dog. And sometimes, you can actually get some of this done in a day.

And, then there are the other days. The days where everything goes wonky and nothing gets done because something else comes up. A sick kid, a sick dog, a broken dishwasher, the dog gets out of the fence and runs away, a call from the school nurse because yet another kid is sick and you have to go get her, the other kid calls crying from school because she hates it so much - you get the picture.

These "other" days are becoming my new normal. I've stopped planning much of anything. Sigh. Because nothing ever goes according to schedule.

Today, I have a to-do list that's a mile long and most of it requires me to leave the house. Except I can't leave the house today. Because nearly two weeks after her fall and five days after the second round of x-rays, the radiologist has found a broken bone in Libby's arm. And so I sit waiting for the call to bring her in to the orthopedist's office to decide whether we cast it or splint it. And, while I could call and give them my cell number, the last time I did that they still called my home number and I missed the call. So, I don't dare leave the house in case I miss the call. I feel guilty as hell already letting my baby girl walk around with an uncasted broken arm for 12 days. I'm not missing that doctor's call and adding to the guilt factor.

And, oh yeah, I also have another kid home sick from school.

It's almost enough to make me want to watch "All My Children" like I used to during high school and college. Except that I really don't need any more drama in my life right now.