Monday

Well I am hoping someday I can figure out how to make this blog look better. I keep asking my son Matt, but he is to busy.

saturday

What I did Saturday afternoon

took cold medicine
checked facebook
glanced at emails
started to clean the bathroom
turned on Rhapsody
decided to clean the shower doors
had husband come in and removed doors to clean them
checked facebook
watered outdoor plants
oh the boys brought home Jack in the box
read paper while eating, cant remember anything I read
checked facebook
went back to clean the bathroom
checked facebook
husband left, had a family emergency
checked facebook
went to youtube to check out songs
scanned a photo of Justin
made it look good in Photo shop
was going to do a digital page
decided to check out my website
managed to find user name and password because I havent been there in ages
while check for something-didnt find what I wanted
but they offer word press so I downloaded it
had 16 year old come in and told him to make it look right for me, said it will take a week and I said no problem.
so here I sit.
shower doors are still in the backyard waiting for husband to come home and put back in the bathroom, he told me not to touch.
Oh I also got a box from paper wishes and wants to scrapbook.

Justin At the JR HIgh Dance

I found this picture of Justin and Kayla, from when he was in JR High School This was in 1997.
I decided to do a scrapbook page of the two. I still talk to Kayla and she is doing great and is a Mom to 2 beautiful girls.

Here is a digital scrap page I did of Justin when he was four years old. This was back in 1987. Also in the picture was me and my Mom.

Frustrated with son's school

My son is in 6th grade, and he is failing. He tries to do the best job he can. His biggest problem is his handwriting. The teachers wont accept his work when they cant read his handwriting. He tries and then he gets frustrated. He knows the work, or I think he does, can't really tell. I have asked for help with the teachers and the principal, they didn't really help much. He does go to after school tutoring when he isn't so upset. Usually he comes home and says he had a bad day because the teachers are mad at him. I don't want him to fail, he doesn't want to fail. I feel the teachers are failing him by not helping him. He can be very sensitive and takes this very hard. He goes to public school. All my boys have attended this school. He really wants to finish from this school as his brothers have. He does great in band, that is his favorite subject. He has a wonderful band teacher. Just cant get his other teachers to help. I don't think education has improved or changed for the better in the 20 years that I have had kids in school. It seems to be getting worse. Just not sure what to do.

funny joke

Here is a picture of my son Matt

This is the new shirt my shirt, he isn't old enough to vote, but he has his opinions :)

digital scrapbook page

I did this page of my friend Andrea and her daughter, l like this one better then the one below.

This is a page I did of my friend Andrea and her daughter.

picture of Justin and Brayden

The 3 year anniversary of Justin's passing is coming up, I really thought I could handle this, but I guess I am not, I am trying so hard, but I miss him so much, no one can understand unless they have been through this. I am not sure what I am doing, I am trying to deal with this, but it is so incredibly hard, I am going to grief counseling, that does help, but it brings up the emotions that I dont want to bring, I guess it is easier to just be in denial that he died. I keep playing the funeral over and over in my head, that is so hard, I just cant believe it.
I did find this picture of Justin and his son Brayden, I love this picture, he is so happy here.
I miss you Justin. RIP

HOW TO DRIVE IN PHOENIX , ARIZONA
1. "Phoenix" actually consists of Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Tolleson, Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, Sun City, Sun City West, Sun Lakes, Surprise, and half of the Mexican border

.2. The morning rush hour is from 5:00 am to noon. The evening rush hour is from noon to 9:00 PM. Friday's rush hour starts on Thursday morning.

3. The minimum acceptable speed on most freeways is 85 mph. On Loop 101, your speed is expected to match the highway number. Anything less is considered "Wussy".

4. Forget the traffic rules you learned elsewhere. Phoenix has its own version of traffic rules. For example, cars/trucks with the loudest mufflers go first at a four-way stop; the trucks with the biggest tires go second. However, in the East Valley , SUV-driving, cell phone-talking moms ALWAYS have the right of way.

5. If you actually stop at a yellow light, you will be rear ended.

6. Never honk at anyone. Ever. Seriously. It's an offense that can get you shot.

7. Road construction is permanent in Phoenix . Detour barrels are moved around for your entertainment pleasure during the middle of the night to make the next day's driving a bit more exciting.

8. Watch carefully for road hazards such as drunks, dogs, barrels, cones, cats, mattresses, shredded tires, rabbits, vultures, javelinas, roadrunners, and the coyotes feeding on any of these items.

9. Maricopa Freeway, Papago Freeway and the "I-10" are the same road. SR202 is the same road as The Red Mountain FWY. Dunlap and Olive are the same street too. Jefferson becomes Washington , but they are not the same street. I-17 is also called The Black Canyon Freeway as well as The Veterans Memorial Highway. The SR51 has recently been renamed to Piestewa Freeway because Squaw Peak Parkway was too easy to pronounce. SR101 is also the Pima FWY except west of I-17, which is also The Black Canyon FWY, and The Veterans Memorial HWY. Lastly, Thunderbird Rd. Becomes Cactus Rd. -- but, Cactus Rd. Doesn't become Thunderbird Rd. Because it dead ends at a mountain.

10. If someone actually has their turn signal on, wave them to the shoulder immediately to let them know it has been "accidentally activated."

11. If you are in the left lane and only driving 70 in a 55-65 mph zone, you are considered a road hazard and will be "flipped off" accordingly. If you return the flip, you'll be shot.

12. For summer driving, it is advisable to wear potholders on your hands.

13. Please note that there are many, MANY more issues to the phenomenon of driving in Phoenix -- like the 4-cars-through-a-red-light rule -- but these will at least get you acquainted with our unique life on the road.

mini mint tin ablum

I have been trying to work on a mini mint tin album, for a few weeks and I finally had the chance, I did get the template online http://blogscrapgirls.blogspot.com/2007/08/mint-tin-mania.html which helped a lot. I am just finishing the outside of the tin today, but it did take me a little longer then I thought it would, I had to first decide on pictures, then I had to decide what colors to use and what kit to use, but I think the final results came back great, not sure what my boys will think but that is there problem.

mint tin mini album

mini scrapbook album

summertime fun

This is a digital page I did of Derrick and his friend swimming in our pool, trying to stay cool.
I got the template and the digital kit off the web, not sure where, somewhere though.

scrapbook page of Justin

I found this picture of Justin, that was taken when he was in Mexico, thought I would scrapbook this picture, this is a digital scrapbook page. I think he looks great, I really miss him. I wish I could tell him one more time how much I love him and how wonderful he is, and what a great son he was to me and that I was so glad that I got to be his Mom.

“I pretty much like to stay in a constant state of confusion just for the expression it leaves on my face. There’s nothing to add. It’s perfect." Quote by Johnny Depp

YOu know you live In Arizona when

- You notice your car overheating before you drive it.

- You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water

- You can hear the weather forecast of 115 degrees without flinching

- You can be in the snow, then drive for an hour...and it will be over 100 degrees

- You discover, in July it only takes two fingers to drive your car, because your steering wheel is so hot

- The best parking is determined by shade...not distance

- You realize that 'Valley Fever' isn't a disco dance

- Hotter water comes from the cold water tap than the hot one

- It's noon in July, kids are on summer vacation and yet all the streets are totally empty of both cars and people

- You actually burn your hand opening the car door

- You can pronounce Saguaro, Tempe, San Xavier, Canyon de Chelly, Mogollon Rim, Cholla, Gila, and Tucson

- You can understand the reason for a town named 'Why'

- You know hot air balloons can't rise because the air temperature is hotter than the air inside the balloon

- You can say 'Hohokam' and people don't think you're laughing funny

- You think a red light is merely a suggestion

- You think someone driving wearing mitts is clever

- Most of the restaurants in town have the first name 'El' or 'Los'

- You think 60 tons of crushed red rock makes a beautiful yard

- Most homes have more firearms than people

- People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out of state or nuts

- You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts

- You can finish a Big Gulp in 10 minutes and go back for seconds

- Petrified doesn't mean scared

-T he temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly

- You've lived in AZ your whole life and have never been to the Grand Canyon

- You have no idea why 48 other states (Hawaii doesn't do it either) insist on changing their clocks twice a year for this thing called 'daylight savings time' and you remember when Arizona tried DST and determined it stayed hot enough late enough in the day without giving the sun an extra hour.

- You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top

- You realize that asphalt has a liquid state

- You realize that snowbirds aren't really birds at all, but just really bad out of state drivers that you learn to hate

- There are only two temperatures, hot and hotter

- Even thinking about not having air conditioning makes you sweat

quote

Today's Quote

If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.

-Yogi Berra