Do I NEED a mini van??

Nope, I KNOW I don't need this van.  My sister and I planned a little day trip with my mom, the kids, and my sisters.  We were going about 2 hours from home and didn't have a RELIABLE 7 passenger vehicle to take!  So as I was trying to figure out what we should take these texts took place (close anyways, I don't have them saved anymore):


Me: I need a van!  I don't have a way to haul 7 people to Kansas City!
Bob: ya know with your big raise we could afford the payment on a new one.
Me: I'm NOT buying a NEW vehicle
Bob: With all the rebates it's not that much more and we can order it exactly like we want it

A couple days later we go out for dinner WITHOUT the kids, we stop by the dealership on the way to pick up the kids (DH has a dealership key;)  Then we go sit in some vans and jeeps, cause I'm not quite ready to admit that I need a van!  Cause seriously I do NOT need a van!  I insist I need to drive an Acadia before I can make up my mind.  Only one on the lot is being worked on.  Bob shows me the cool touchscreen radio with 2 DVD players and it's own hard drive!  Can't get that in the Acadia.  I decide I NEED this VAN. 

On Tuesday I test drove the 2008 van to KC, help that my Mother in Law IS the dealer:)  Found out my husband doesn't really know what he's talking about and the '08 is way cheaper than he thought.  It's not his fault he gets that from his Dad.  A few more texts as I'm letting my mom drive home.

Me: Ya know when ur driving ya can't really enjoy much of the cool features of the van and I'm gonna be driving usually if we get it.
Bob: Yeah. LOL

We agree that if we're gonna do it we should sell our car then if the '08 is still there buy that one, if not it won't be hard to find a different one.  I drove my Pacifica a long distance today and I think it's more comfortable.  Then Bob tells me that there is ALREADY some one interested in buying my car!  Now I have to decide fast!  I think I'll sell the Pacifica, pay off the loan and then refuse to get another loan and drive our old van that is a little less than reliable:)  Shhhh.... Don't tell my husband!  I'll just let him think I'm buying a van, maybe.   I at least got to drive it for the day that I really needed it:)  He'll probly talk me into it still, he's not really on board with the Total Money Makeover. 

Here's the van I drove:

Miss Kayley Marie

My friend Amber came over today along with her 10 1/2 month old daughter Kayley.  As I was looking out the sliding door, I suddenly had the urge to take Kayley's pics by the rugged door on the old shed out back!  I'm pretty happy with how these turned out.  It was lots of fun and I can't wait to really learn more about using the manual settings!  I edited these all with Picnik, but didn't change too much on them.  My favorite is the 2nd one.  I just love the cross process option from Picnik!

Potty Training

For the first time in MONTHS I finally did a digi page:)  I've had some computer issues that've interfered with my digi scrapping, but they've been resolved for the most part.  I have a lot to catch up on for my 5 year album.  I started it with our wedding which was July 23, 2005 and can't quite decide whether to end it with our 5 year anniversary or with the end of 2010 so I can start making albums for each year.  My favorite thing about the digi album is I can upload it to shutterfly and create a photo book.  I can then order as many copies of the same book as I want!  My plan is to order 3 of each family digi book I make and place one in each of my kids keepsake boxes.  This could get pretty expensive, but once it's all completed on shutterfly I can wait until they have a good deal before I order, such as the 50% off all photobooks they had for father's day!  Enough rambling, here's my quickly thrown together layout.

Dollar Deals!

I've hit some pretty good deals at the grocery store this week!

Applemarket- Hamburger Helper .98/box
                      Lipton Sides 0.98/pkg
                      Philadelphia Cream Cheese 0.99/pkg
                      Cottage Cheese 0.69/tub
                      Hunts Spaghetti Sauce $1 
Thriftway- 10 for $10 deals- Hamburger Helper, Lipton Sides, Pudding cups
                 Toast 'ems poptarts are always $1/box

Every item on this shelf in my cupboard cost $1 or less!  The top ramen hiding back there I think was moved over from our old house, I haven't bought it in at least a year.  Far as I know it may be leftover from college!  Is it even possible for them to go bad!  I never think to make ramen noodles even though I love them,
guess I know what were having for lunch today!

Beautiful Blooms

I've got some BEAUTIFUL flowers blooming right here in my back yard!  I do NOT have a green thumb.  I did not plant, water, or do anything but snap some shots of these blooms!  These were all taken using the manual settings on my camera.

Photography Challenge-Attitude

Over at the photo forum they have a challenge going on.  The subject is ATTITUDE.  I just happen to have an 11 year old niece and a 14 year old sister with plenty of attitude to go around!  I also have a 2 year old with an attitude but she doesn't tend to cooperate with taking pics unless it's her idea.  The contest is sponsored by Lowepro and this bag is the prize!

I'm in desperate need of a camera case!  I can't decide if I want a back pack type that I can also put a laptop in or if I want to get just a camera case and use my old laptop backpack since I will probably be taking my laptop places I won't need my camera.  Yep there really is places that I'd leave my camera at home! lol

Ryan's 1st Bday Layout!

A couple weeks ago I met with some scrapbooking friends to have an evening of scrapping and snacks, and most importantly daiquiris! Ok, not so much daiquiris, not for me anyways, I had to go to work at 10pm that night.  It was a great time and I can't wait to do it again, BUT I just couldn't find any inspiration!  I did manage this layout of Ryan's 1st bday and also one of Marissa swimming, but it's not quite complete yet.  I can't believe in 3 hours I only got 1 1/2 layouts done!  I'm usually WAY faster than that!  I found some layout sketches the other day that I plan to give a try very soon!  I should be getting one of those wonderful orange sutterfly envelopes in the mail soon!  Pics of Ryan swimming, Marissa at swiming lessons, the car show, the fair, AND the parade!