::ANNA::

Time Flies

We spent the weekend cleaning a little and with friends.  E and L had a birthday party to go to on Saturday and my friend Allie hosted a little farewell for us at her place on Sunday.

Monday, I ventured off to Mall in a rather unsuccessful search for jeans.  I have 2 pairs left here with me and both are in a state of disrepair.  I managed to get one pair in my size at GAP but with temps barely making it in the F range could really have done with 2.

I saw the chiropractor again on Tuesday and though it hurt  may back seems to have improved a little.  He's given me the name of a guy in Denver.

Wednesday was all cleaning and dinner Downtown with friends.  We couldn't leave Alaska without having eaten Alaskan King Crab in Alaska ;)

We handed our house back today and moved into billeting for our last few days.  Internet is scarce so I'm taking advantage while I'm hanging at Ronalyn's.  She's had to go and pick her brother up from the hospital.  Poor guy has had a rough week this week.  It's all been very inopportune.

Enjoying the rest of my days in Alaska with Ronalyn and friends.  Will be in touch when I get to Las Vegas.

Zaum Lab and Survival

I discovered the Zaum Laptop Messenger when I was in Paris last September.  Kerrin Quall, an Ozzie Scrapbooker, and also teacher at the PACS had one and, what can I say?  It was love at first sight. 

Since then I've been pondering on whether I actually need one of these messenger bags and the reality is I do.  The more I travel the the greater the need to find a better solution to carting around my laptop than it's current flimsy sleeve.  I also believe that if you have been wanting to buy something for long enough then you should probably just go and get it.

So I've spent the last few days not only watching movers but also designing a new laptop bag.  Here's what I came up with with the help of Kim Mowers, owner of ZaumLab:

So while I wait for Kim to work her magic, there is plenty of cleaning to be done.

I spend some time last night cleaning the blinds, rung by rung, and then I settled into my camp chair to watch Man V Wild.  Eric joined me as did E & L and by the end of the night Ella had drawn and cut out the perfect sea cucumber and sting ray and Luke was doing his best to spear them with the long Swiffer arm.  We also have several adaptations of the "A frame" around the living room.

Good times.  I would actually like to scrap them but my back is just not allowing me to do it right now.

Heading off to a birthday party today and we have been invited to BBQs on Sunday and Monday.  If the weather holds up we might also try and get out to Eklutna Lake.  We've failed to make it there thus far.  The last time we attempted the police had it all closed off.  Would be nie to see it before we head out of here.

There's also more scrubbing to be done, back permitting.

Happy Memorial Weekend.

New Typepad Editor

Is anyone else having a nightmare formatting their posts or is it just me? 

Any advice/input from other typepad users is much appreciated.  Blogging takes time as is without all the faffing around with the formatting of the post.

Done, almosted dusted and a little boredom as we camp out.

It's been an unsettling, and can I say boring, two day as we have watched a team of movers pack and load 10,460lbs of our belongings onto an enormous and then drive away. 

I don't think I've sat around and done so little in years let alone months.

Pretty much everything we own is now on this truck.  Out of our sights for at least 6 weeks.

I have to tell you it's a little nerve-racking to think what might happen but then I also think we all live with a false of security.  It is what it is and thank heavens for insurance, not that really means anything to a scrapbooker.

In the meantime, we're camping out with just a few remaining pieces of furniture that will go to Goodwill next week. 

Ella and Luke are taking it remarkably well.  I went to her school twice yesterday one for the presentation of her academic "E-ward" as has taken to calling it.

 

 

And then again in the afternoon for her end of year performance.  Captured her saying "Goodbye" to her teacher Ms. Pope.  She's been an amazing influence and support to Ella this year. 

Then there is Luke's little "excursion" into the big truck.

  It was a late night by the time the movers left and so we're having a quiet day today before we start the major clean-up for our inspection next week.

Proud

Ella's getting an academic award for getting all S's in her core classes.  Bad timing with the move but you know I'm going to be there tomorrow at the little ceremony with camera and flowers in hand.  So proud of her.  She's come such a long way this year.

Reflection

Sitting here enjoying some time going through photos I've taken over the last few days and backing them up .

Reflecting on just how much Luke and Ella have changed over the past 6 months, over the past 3 years in fact.  Luke is nicer, more charming and calmer than I have ever imagined.  Ella has a spark that we never knew was missing.

I read a quote this morning in a friend's book "Crazy Sexy Cancer".  Great book even if you don't have cancer. 

"The truth will set you free, but first it will pi** you off", Gloria Steinman (Journalist)

Pretty much sums it all up for me. 

I finally decided to take my friends advice and see her chiropractor.  He's also a naturpath and told me that my body is all out of wack.  No surprises there.  What with the NAETS, EMDR and Invisalign this is my bodies way of saying enough.

It seems to have helped so I'll be seeing him again before I leave.

Movers are here.  Got to run...

Moving Mode

The close of a busy weekend launches into a countdown until the trucks arrive to pack up and take away a all our household goods.  About 48 hours...

Saturday, we had an early birthday party for Ella at the Bowling Alley.  We wanted her to have her 6th birthday surrounded by friends, however, the concept that she's not quite 6 yet is still a bit of a struggle.

Sunday, I spent the day with Ronalyn at the Scrapbook store for the Mommy and Me Crop.  Ella completed an entire album and loved her time with Isabel.  I just enjoyed time relaxing, surfing and being with my friend.

Ella went to Isabel's house where she got her first lesson in riding "2 wheels".  Rodel has made it his mission and Ella is determined now that Isabel is on 2 wheels.  Sounds like a winning formula to me.  They've got 2 weeks... 

I returned home and we officially started "breaking down" the house.  Boxes are everywhere and curtains are coming down.  Washer is non-stop and the place literally looks like a bomb has hit it.

My last image prior to embarking on our newest "adventure".

Stressed?  Surprisingly not.  I've actually been trying a few new recipes to keep us in good health:  Avocado and Apple Sushi and Raw Kale and Avocado Salad.

I can't get Luke to eat his veggies (unless they're blended and hidden in a shake) but he'll eat seaweed.

Out and about today ferrying children to and from a Kindergarten field trip, tying up some loose ends and making sure I've got everything loaded on the laptop as Eric will be dismantling everything over the next few days.  The back is causing me some serious grief today.  Figures.

One last image from my iphone.  I had to stop dead in the road yesterday as a moose crossed right in front of our car and made his way past KFC towards the Costco parking lot.  It's been almost 4 years and stuff like this never gets old.

Shutterflyin'

Chalked down another great meeting with the Shutterfly team and group of super creative women.  I always come away from these types of events charged and inspired.  In fact, it was such a great meet I got lost in it all and managed a grand total of 3 photos and 1 flip video. 

Shutterfly just exudes coolness.  Check out the entrance to their HQ.

...and you have to love a company that, when asked about dress code, gives the response that they don't really care what you wear as long as you are dressed. 

To sum it all up:  Great people with big goals and a very COOL vision.

   

Lots of awesome stuff coming from Shutterfly over the next 12 months.  In the meantime they have just launched the beta version of Share 2.0 allowing account members to share, connect, and collaborate.  I just started one here.

It also felt a little bit like Christmas.  Love this from the Shutterfly team.

and this from Stacy

I actually ended up not only on the same flight as Stacy on the way home, and having got to know her, this little plate is SO much more to me.  Everything from her mismatched socks, her sunny disposition and her passion for life.  She just has a gift and I'm a better person for having met her.

These trips away from home are bitter sweet.  I enjoy the freedom to be me but I also miss precious moments.  Even if I am away just for a few days, I notice that E & L have changed.

Ella lost her first tooth in my absence and every time Luke gets a hair cut he seems a little older.

I love that she just decided to write her own story already about her lost tooth.

.. and an "interview" with Luke who flip flops between me being his very best friend and not.

Paris +

Just back from a whirlwind trip to San Francisco to meet with Shutterfly and fellow SAT Team Members.  Post to follow.

In the meantime...

It's official.  I'll be heading to Versailles in Paris again this Fall for the Paper and Co Show's third annual event.  I'll be teaching 3 technique-based Digital Scrapbooking classes for Photoshop Elements V6: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.  Classes are each 4 hours in length.  There will be 2 hours of intense teaching and 2 hours for any overlap, Q & A, one and one, and completion of a mini album project.

It's going to be FUN.

Mother's Day Cuteness

Eric worked today so it didn't really count, but on Thursday I joined Ella at Kindergarten for a special Mother's Day snack.  This was among the goodies, she was thrilled to present to me and she was very kind to offer me some translation:

I like that she thinks I'm 23 years.

"scrapbooking".

.... and "shopping" because "she likes clothes"

... when "I don't listen"

"cookies"

 

"fancy" and "married"

"she hugs me"