I like to bury my head in the sand.  Sometimes. It is not part of my “regular” self.  It likes to come out and play when things flare up that remind me of childhood.  Usually in a fight or flight situation…I’d rather fight…get it all over with…and move on.  Most of the time. I don’t like things hanging out there.  Drives me bananas.

Take these medical issues for example.  I’d rather get it all done at once rather than having it drag on and on and on for what?  Almost a YEAR now.  Sheesh.  So after burying my head in the sand for a week or two I went and saw the hematologist yesterday and made a plan to go after the IVC filter that’s still stuck in me…one. more. time. Well, go see another surgeon who will look things over.  Not overjoyed.  But at least a decision has been made.  My head is out of the sand.  At least for now.

Seems like since school started things have gotten busy busy round here.  I’ve picked up with work.  Started my volunteer work at the girls’ school.  Kids come home with plenty of homework.  Laney’s dance has started.  Ava wants to join the band at school.  She wants to try bass.  So free moments are few and far between.  I find comfort in being busy.  I do.  And I do like it when the kids are gone…cause I can get a little more work done.

Here’s my layout from the speed scrap on Monday.

I hope you are having a pleasant week! ;D

Skits is sitting on the back of one of the couches staring out the window.  As we all predicted he would today.  He is lonely and depressed.  Waiting.  Waiting for two girls to come home and play.  He’s been with them all summer you see.  If I were a dog…I’d be doing the same thing.  I feel the same way on the inside.  I just can’t get away with acting like that!  Muahahahah!

So let it begin.  Activities and homework and activities…wait I already said that.  Gone are the lazy days of summer.  Gosh.  School starts early around here.  Sigh.  I sure miss ‘em!  Yes even when they fight!  Even then.

What a blessed thing!  When you have had insane heat it is such a relief! ;D  The kids…specifically Ava…have taken to wanting to play out in it.  Laney likes to…as long as there isn’t thunder or lightning.  She’s terrified of both. ;D  I don’t really like them going out when there is lightning.  But I do want them to enjoy the rain.  I captured her out in it the other day.

I’ve told you before that when I get out the camera to take photos of the dogs Skits poses and Baxter runs away.  It makes me laugh.  You might wonder why I have more photos on my blog…cute photos anyway…of Skits and why I have layouts, and the kids do too, of Skits and not Baxter.  Same reason.  Better photos cause he poses.

The other evening Corey and the kids went outside to play catch in the front yard.  We have a window seat in the formal living room that the dogs like to perch in and watch the goings-on in the front yard.  I found the dogs perched there watching.  I grabbed my camera to capture it.  As soon as I returned Baxter ran away.  Skits turned and literally “posed”.  Here he is…

It never fails…I take my camera, no one cooperates, weather, sunlight, subjects (ehem, namely my eldest daughter), whatever!  I DON’T take my camera and everything is just perfect.  What is up with THAT?   Seriously.

We went to the dog park this morning.  It was so nice.  Cloudy. 62°.  A very nice break from the insane heat.  Everyone was in good moods.  Skits could actually run…and not be limping and whining from his “recent procedure”.  And I didn’t bring my camera.  Typical.

I do have some photos from yesterday.  I took the girls hiking on The Rock in Castle Rock.  It was hot but we went early and were mostly in the shade.  It’s not a bad hike but I’m still having days where I just don’t feel up to par.  That day was one of ‘em.  But I pushed myself and we made it! ;D

In other news…I will soon be selling my designs at My Life and Scrap!  Insert the Chandler Dance! ;D  In an effort to make everything current I am going to be closing my store here on my blog for a time and taking down my freebies.  Some of these products have been around for awhile and I want to do some updating.  Please bear with me as I update things and get things going over there at My Life and Scrap.  Meantime you can stop by my store at DSM and purchase some of my newer designs!  Thanks for all your support!

I think the girls were inspired when they saw this layout…

Because they both wanted to scrapbook and when I asked them what they wanted to scrap about they both said, “Skits!”

It could be because he is on our minds a lot because on Friday he got “fixed” and he was gone all day.  We sure did miss him and realized just how much he “entertains” us.  Even Baxter was depressed.  We all piled in the car late Friday afternoon to go get him…yes, even Baxter!

I’m writing this on Saturday and he is doing well but he is sore and stiff.  Poor dogger!  We love him so muchly!  We have to help him go up and down the stairs to get outside to the yard to go potty.  He is not so keen on doing stairs yet.  He is lying low and we are trying to get the kiddos to back off and let him be.  It’s hard cause we just want to smother him with love.  He is such an awesome dog! ;D

Here are the girls’ layouts…again, I helped Laney a little more than Ava.  I did both their extractions.  They chose all their elements and put them where they wanted.  The photos are their own.  All elements (except that moon) and paper are mine! ;D

Anyway…on to the layouts! Laney’s…

And Ava’s…

…the photos from our home fireworks show.  I love that we can buy fireworks here in Colorado.  In Maine we were lucky if we got a box of sparklers for the 4th. ;D  We got a large pack of fireworks on sale this year and there were a ton inside.  You know its pretty good when the neighbors come out and watch.

Having fun playing with long exposure time.  I told the girls to not move…but move the sparklers.  So much fun to do this!!!!

I’m so thankful I have Corey who will light these things.  Cause even tho I will participate…I hate lighting them.  I especially hate the loud ones and I hate those freakin popper ones…the little white ones that you just throw at the ground and they snap really loudly.  The girls just LOVE THEM…even tho they are the most simple things on earth and Corey will do all those nice loud ones with them.  When they come out…I disappear inside.  Thank goodness for a fun Dad! ;D

After almost a year…my Kia is finally fixed and running again.  Oh man is it ever nice not to be doing the one car thing!  Why so long you ask?  Well it needed a new engine…and they aren’t cheap!  Don’t ever buy a Kia.  Just sayin’.

So we drove my little suv over to Roxborough State Park today and went hiking.  So when I say back to normal I mean we are starting to do more and more outdoor adventures like we used to…before I got sick.  And it feels so good…AFTERWARD.  During we have to listen to the girls complain how horrible their lives are and they can’t take one more step.  Then when we get home they are like, “That was the best day ever!”  They make me laugh!  They were saying how much they have to write about over summer break when they go back to school.  In an hour they will be saying how bored they are.  Oh, to be a kid!

Corey really does have the best ideas. ;D We were trying to decide where to watch fireworks for the 4th.  Lots of places were firing them off on Saturday the 3rd.  One of those places was Glendale…which just happens to be where Corey’s office is.  In a high rise.  On the 15th floor.  Facing the directions of where they were going to shoot off the fireworks.

We avoided crowds, parking problems, noisy people, mosquitoes and enjoyed comfy office chairs, air conditioning and hot chocolate!  Oh yeah…and we could see the fireworks just perfectly!  The 15th floor offers some advantages…and so does a private parking lot and a badge to get in the building.  What a neat way to watch them! ;D

My only issue…I still can’t exactly figure out my new camera when taking photos at night.  So these aren’t the greatest photos…at least not how I like them! ;D

Two weekends ago we took the doggers to another dog park.  This one is further away…but…it is off leash and in the mountains! ;D  So we took the 45 minute drive to investigate.  Yeah.  It rocked.  It has fenced in areas so you can rest easy about your dog running off.  But.  It also has just regular hiking paths in the woods and if your dog is under voice command…which our are thank goodness!…then you can be on the trails with them off leash.  Oh man was it ever fun and nice.  We got a little hiking in…and didn’t have dogs on leashes…which really rocks!  Yes.  I said rocks more than once…but it DID!

Skits is total outdoors dog.  I mean he is anyway…he loves going outside all the time…even in the snow and rain.  But he was like all over the woods and hiking and climbing rocks and doing crazy stuff.  Following the kids everywhere…even up big rocks!  He is a wild man! ;D  And very entertaining!

Oh yeah.  In other “Skits news”…he caught a bird the other night.  He came up to the back door and “presented” it to us (like cats do).  He was like, “LOOK what I got!”  He’s moved on from snakes cause he has killed all of them in our yard.  He is crazy! ;D

And here’s a layout I did of some photos of Ava on our hike…