First page in about a week. Art inspired. Fun. 
And for those who asked, yes, I did exacto a bit on this page. The stars are cut out (and punched) and the title is also exacto’d. Love that little tool. (if you couldn’t tell)
July 1, 2005 - 4:22 am - *VERY* cool page Shannon! How did you do it? Hand cutting title and stars? Love this!
July 1, 2005 - 5:21 am - way cool, shannon! is that all hand cut? if so..WOW!
July 1, 2005 - 7:49 am - You exacto'd the title? WOWIE!
July 1, 2005 - 9:53 am - You are my freakin' idol! You and that exacto knife have quite the relationship! :)
July 1, 2005 - 2:05 pm - oh man!!!!! this is soooo very cool!!! LOVE IT!
July 1, 2005 - 2:08 pm - You exacto'd that title?! Freak. LOVE it. The colors, the photo and all the artsy-craftsy cool knife work!!
July 1, 2005 - 9:39 pm - Good grief, girl!! You are awesome!!!! i LOVE this style! so original...and free! WOW.
July 1, 2005 - 10:32 pm - Holy CRAP you cut that OUT!? It looks so great. So great, it deserves a holy crap. Very cute. Love the f-dawg.
July 2, 2005 - 4:35 am - You are too smart w/ your holes and punches!!! And that title looks complicated!!
July 2, 2005 - 5:34 am - This is stunning! Love it.
July 2, 2005 - 2:23 pm - Loooove that page! Gorgeous! You are an xacto goddess!
July 2, 2005 - 9:44 pm - You amaze me on a continual basis!
July 3, 2005 - 8:03 pm - WOW!! that is one seriously cool page there!
July 3, 2005 - 8:03 pm - WOW!! that is one seriously cool page there!
July 4, 2005 - 6:52 am - Ohhhhhhh...you use inspiration so well!! This came out so *dreamy*!! :) I think my exacto is going to turn into a 6th finger...love mine too!!
July 6, 2005 - 8:01 pm - Gorgeous, magnificent page!!
October 1, 2005 - 10:45 pm - Cool page. Love the stars.
June 28, 2005 - 9:26 pm - Sounds like a very exciting adventure! I hope she has a safe and wonderful time!
June 28, 2005 - 10:15 pm - OH fun!! Wishing your mom a month of stress-free fun!!
June 29, 2005 - 3:01 am - talk about a summer adventure!! i am sure she will have a blast!
June 29, 2005 - 5:06 am - I'm sure it will be a completely amazing adventure! As Nic always tells me when I'm about to do something I don't feel comfortable with..."but the Hobbits never want to start out on their adventures either, but they always have a good time." (Here's hoping your mom doesn't run into any Orcs.) :P
June 29, 2005 - 5:52 am - Wow! how awesome!! I hope she has a wonderful, safe, enjoyable time!!!
June 29, 2005 - 6:04 am - Good for your mom! I hope her trip is amazing! ;)
June 29, 2005 - 9:24 am - OH! Forgot to write you back about this - I know she's nervous, but it is such a fun trip!! It doesn't sound like she's traveled internationally or on such a long flight before. I'll write separately giving "Julia's tips for China travel" - I bet she's going to have a great time tho!! :)
June 29, 2005 - 9:50 am - GOOD LUCK MOM... I hear you on the shampoo, or the car insurance. Frankly, those are larger decisions. :)
June 29, 2005 - 10:09 am - I immediately thought of Julia -- so glad to hear she's going to send tips for your mom! Hope Mom has an amazing time in China!
June 29, 2005 - 10:20 am - how exciting. I've always wanted to travel to asia.
June 29, 2005 - 12:46 pm - Cracking up on the high resolution thing - I can't tell you how many people I've heard say that same thing about their parents!
June 29, 2005 - 3:39 pm - Good luck to your mama! I'm sure she will have a blast!
June 29, 2005 - 4:00 pm - Have a safe, non stressful relaxing time Shannon's mom! I am sure you will have an amazing time. You will never regret it. Good for you!!!
June 29, 2005 - 5:22 pm - What an amazing adventure!!!! Hope she enjoys herself - and takes lots and lots of great pics!
June 29, 2005 - 5:49 pm - wow. i admire her guts. hope she has a memorable, wonderful time!
June 30, 2005 - 3:29 pm - how fun! My dad is leaving for China on Monday for a week. He's going there for work...I'll send them both happy travel vibes :)
July 3, 2005 - 1:25 pm - How fun! I am sure that she will have an amazing time once she gets there. :)
Ok…so last week I mentioned how scared I was about summer vacation. Well. We’ve survived almost 2 weeks of it, and I must say…I’m loving it. Sure, there aren’t many jaunts to the grocery store, but I am LOVING that I don’t have to watch the clock. With a kindergartener and a 2nd grader with completely different school schedules, I had 4 trips a day to the school and my day was broken up into 1-2 hour increments. I LOVE that I don’t have to worry how close to 2:15 it is!! Or have the guilt of unfinished homework accusing me of being a bad mom. Ahhhh….the lazy days of summer. I totally know why it’s called that. And I love it.
In other news. I don’t know where to say this so I’ll say it here. I’m BLOWN AWAY by the response my "invisible" page got at 2 peas. Never seen a page get 4 pages of praise. Dang. Thanks. To anyone and everyone that related and enjoyed. I thought about posting something like thanks on the mb, but then felt like it might look like a brag post (the WORST, most annoying kind…you know, some kind of if you missed it before don’t miss how fabulous I am…kind of post, ew.) so I just can’t do it. But thanks. Wow.
June 28, 2005 - 11:01 am - Shannon, keep blogging your true feelings and you will have some FAB journalling for those FAB layouts that get 3 pages of praise (which I totally missed on 2peas because I was the "centre of my family's universe" that day. LOL). The reason it is getting praise is because you put your true heart on your sleeve with that blog entry. It was what a lot of us feel but are too afraid to voice - we do feel invisible sometimes. We can relate. I commend you for your honesty. I'm working on mine :)
June 28, 2005 - 12:22 pm - ""some kind of if you missed it before don't miss how fabulous I am...kind of post, ew"" I think you should do it - then we can all write on there - "hey did you see that Shannon Montez, she thinks she is Suuum-thin!" I didn't even get to that lo till it was on page THREE of praise. Kind of proves that whole HOF thing wasn't a mistake, right. :-)
June 28, 2005 - 12:38 pm - You deserve the three pages of praise. I was touched by your blog and then when I saw your LO in 2peas I was blown away. Your words were powerful because that is exactly how I feel and I'm sure a lot of women feel the same.
June 28, 2005 - 1:37 pm - I love the pool photos! HOw fun!
June 28, 2005 - 1:57 pm - Found your blog through tara's and I must say that the page you posted on 2pease was most inspiring and so true to many of us! Rock on, girlfriend :) And super cute pics of your kiddos enjoying summer!
June 28, 2005 - 2:41 pm - All I have to say is you deserved the praise! Adn thank god for swimming pools in the summer!
June 28, 2005 - 6:12 pm - I completely missed it on 2peas... but I must say FOUR PAGES - Holy Crapola! The one time I hit 2 pages I thought I had won the lottery - and I don't even play! LOL! Isn't summer just the greatest thing ever? We love it over here, too... keep enjoying yours!
June 28, 2005 - 6:45 pm - just saw the "invisible" LO - very real - I think it is great! can you please share how you have survived so far? I am on day two and while the early afternoon was great and fun - this afternoon was horrible - my 3yr old had a breakdown in the checkout lane -
June 28, 2005 - 7:35 pm - Update... you're now on page FOUR! Cool. :)
June 28, 2005 - 10:18 pm - glad your summer is going smoothly :-) guess I may need to jaunt over to the good ole Pea and see whats up with this page of yours :-)
June 29, 2005 - 7:05 am - ah. summer. I love the no schedule thing. we make our own and it fits what we want to do not what we have to do. btw, I am so glad to hear I'm not the only mother with unfinished homework guilt! LOL!
June 29, 2005 - 7:46 am - wish we were closer to hang.. we could survive together. :)
June 29, 2005 - 9:51 am - Hey, that's the same floaty we have for Spencer. Love it, love that you're loving it. Just remember the sun screen young lady!
June 29, 2005 - 3:58 pm - It deserved 5 pages of praise lady! Congrats and it is a truly amazing page. Wish you lived closer darn it! We could hang out this summer with the kiddies. I spent the day at the pool with the kids. And tomorrow it is suppose to be a scorcher as well. Enjoy it!
She’s three years old today. Can’t believe it’s been three years. This girl is my pride and joy and I’m SOOO happy to be able to spend time with her on a daily basis. She’s incredible.
June 27, 2005 - 10:49 am - she is so pretty shannon. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIA
June 27, 2005 - 12:58 pm - Happy Birthday, Sophia! :)
June 27, 2005 - 1:24 pm - Happy birthday Sophia.....so beautiful!
June 27, 2005 - 2:10 pm - Happy Birthday, Sophia!
June 27, 2005 - 4:49 pm - Happy, happy birthday, Sophia!! Love the font work, Shannon!
June 27, 2005 - 4:53 pm - Happy Birthday, Sophia!!!
June 27, 2005 - 5:01 pm - she looks like you!!! :) happy bday little girlie!
June 27, 2005 - 5:24 pm - yay Sophia!! Happy, Happy Birthday to You All Year!! =)
June 27, 2005 - 8:29 pm - what a sweetheart! (she looks JUST like you, shannon!) happy birthday sweet sophia!
June 27, 2005 - 8:52 pm - happy birthday sophia!!!! :)
June 28, 2005 - 12:29 am - beautiful photo
June 28, 2005 - 12:57 am - Happy Birthday to your gorgeous lil one. Awesome photo
June 28, 2005 - 7:29 am - What a sweetie - happy birthday!!
June 28, 2005 - 9:41 am - Happy happy birthday Sophia!
June 28, 2005 - 12:41 pm - She is so pretty!! So pretty, Shannon!
June 28, 2005 - 10:21 pm - Happy (late) birthday to the beautiful girl!!
June 29, 2005 - 9:51 am - Happy birthday Sophia... hope they gave you good stuff. :)
The new line between Dave and me. Thanks to StrongBad. This guy cracks me up. Check it out. Funny. If you have more time to waste, check out any of the StrongBad Emails. Great times.
June 27, 2005 - 8:05 am - Seriously thinking about naming the baby Trogdor (middle name: The Burninator). Strong Bad makes my life happy. PS--thanks for the email. Got it this morning as I ran out the door for work. :)
June 27, 2005 - 8:52 am - Drew LOVES strongbad, can't get enough of him. Hilary
June 27, 2005 - 5:33 pm - OMG! Thank you for introducing me to Stron Bad! I laughed so hard!!!
June 28, 2005 - 7:43 am - oh man. . i *heart* StrongBad. . it's the abs :)
June 29, 2005 - 9:35 pm - Check-check-checkin' my e-mail. StrongBad rules! Homestar Runner is darn tootin' too!
Using the journaling I blogged the other day. It was fun, and kind of a pain, made much better by working on it in the presense of two very great friends, Dianne and Stefani. Thank goodness for scrapping friends. 
June 25, 2005 - 1:11 pm - LOVE THE RIBBON, and it's nice to scrapbook how you really feel every now and then... :)
June 25, 2005 - 1:30 pm - WOWZERS!! Just FAB...absolutely FAB! WOW! Lisa
June 25, 2005 - 2:01 pm - Wow, this is STUNNING!!!!
June 25, 2005 - 2:29 pm - Holy freskin' cow Shannon. This is incredible. Good for you for doing the layout...looks fabulous (love the "scratchy" corner of the pic...fits the modd of the layout so well.)
June 25, 2005 - 3:03 pm - Holy cow, girl! This totally ROCKS!!!!!
June 25, 2005 - 4:52 pm - WOWOWOWOW. This is unbelievably incredible Shannon. Amazing layout girl!
June 25, 2005 - 5:00 pm - Adore this! Awesome layout...and I totally love and relate to the journaling! :)
June 25, 2005 - 5:20 pm - wowowowow, girlie...! this is SOO awesome...i LOVE the journaling the other day when i read it, i could SOO relate...and i LOVE the way you've scrapped it here...! you never cease to amaze me...:) thanks again for the inspiration...! p.s...i seriously need to write you back from 6 months ago...i.e...hi, remember me...i have an FHE felt board...:)
June 25, 2005 - 5:30 pm - oh my gosh shannon-this is absolutely amazing.
June 25, 2005 - 5:55 pm - good grief this is cool!!! Shannon, I love it!
June 25, 2005 - 6:17 pm - Wow! That is awesome!
June 25, 2005 - 6:19 pm - holy cow, shannon--- how rad.
June 25, 2005 - 6:48 pm - So cool. Just so, so cool.
June 25, 2005 - 6:49 pm - amazing. AMAZING. It is absolutely amazing. kah-mei
June 25, 2005 - 8:25 pm - WOW, WOW, WOW. Amazing layout. Love how you did the ribbon going from black and white to color. Amazing.
June 25, 2005 - 8:33 pm - Wow. This is perfection, Shannon. Just awesome.
June 25, 2005 - 8:50 pm - Wow. My new fave layout from you. This is incredible!
June 25, 2005 - 9:04 pm - OMG...This is an amazing piece of art. I am loving every piece of it, the ribbon, the 'scratched' corner...each and every word on it's own slip of paper! Ok, but is it just me...or is 'invisible' spelled wrong?
June 25, 2005 - 9:47 pm - I second what everyone else has said... stunning! :)
June 25, 2005 - 10:04 pm - FABULOUS!!!!! I really love this Shannon!
June 25, 2005 - 10:56 pm - This is off the chain! Love love love it, and may have to steal it.
June 26, 2005 - 4:55 am - Oh Shannon, this is just fantastic! We all have times like this, and I think you summed it up perfectly. I just love that pic of you too!
June 26, 2005 - 7:56 am - So VERY cool!!
June 26, 2005 - 8:17 am - Wow Shannon! This is AWESOME!!!
June 26, 2005 - 8:51 am - YIKES! That hurts me it's *SO* good!! The journaling on the strips..... WOW WOW WOW (a avery popular adjective in the comments section here today!) You are one Rockin Chick Shannon!!!
June 26, 2005 - 9:19 am - Shannon - this is absolutely wonderful! I tried journaling similar to this, but just for a few sentences. Wow - you rock!
June 26, 2005 - 3:17 pm - Ummmmmmm......can I kiss the ground you walk on? :)
June 26, 2005 - 3:30 pm - WOW Shannon - great layout!! So moody for you ...love the ribbons on the side - how you cute the word etc. Awesome!!
June 26, 2005 - 4:37 pm - Ummm can you say "amazing". Wow girl this is totally rad! LOVE it. Did I just say RAD? Sorry. But cool, kick ass, amazing, whatever you call it, it just is it! Good for you. Your so pretty lady!
June 26, 2005 - 6:04 pm - Truly, this is a fabulous layout! Love the transition to colored ribbon on the bottom half of the journaling! 4 stars!
June 27, 2005 - 7:49 am - I was hoping you would turn that into a layout! The ghost letters are perfect. Awesome layout! Wonderful journaling.
June 27, 2005 - 8:52 am - Oh My Gosh !!! You give new meaning to the terms "cut and paste". This is just awesome on so many levels! :)
June 27, 2005 - 9:00 am - ooooh. wow. i don't even know what else to say - this just blows me away.
June 27, 2005 - 9:10 am - Shannon...I love this...you rock!
June 27, 2005 - 9:13 am - Shannon...I love this...you rock!
June 27, 2005 - 9:30 am - I am so feelin this deep layout girl! I have done like 5 in the last month...doesn't it feel good! Great job Shannon! I love this layout! Lindsay
June 27, 2005 - 4:53 pm - This is freakin incredible - love it.. just love it
June 27, 2005 - 7:02 pm - Fabulous!! Holy cow!
June 27, 2005 - 10:42 pm - TRULY FABULOUS...LOVE THIS!!!! wowowowowow!!!!
June 28, 2005 - 12:08 am - Love everything about this! Just stunning
June 28, 2005 - 10:26 pm - Ok- I can say this again... wow!!
June 29, 2005 - 6:06 am - WEll I missed this on 2peas so glad you have it here! WOWZERS girl...this is TOTALLY amazing in every way! I can see why it got that much praise! And how fun to scrap with Diane and Stefani...tell them hi for me!!! :)
July 3, 2005 - 2:13 pm - This layout is just gorgeous, Shannon. Beautiful!
July 3, 2005 - 2:23 pm - wow. awesome page shannon!
July 10, 2005 - 7:47 am - WOW! Just WOW! Awesome journaling, Shannon. I was completely moved by your words!
October 1, 2005 - 10:42 pm - Fantastic layout! You are so brave to do one of yourself. I hope to be so brave someday. :-)
Time for another neighbor story…
Virginia is my across-the-street neighbor. Also an original owner. She raised four kids in that house. Was married to her husband for more than fifty years. He was a shop teacher, built most of the furniture in their house. He passed away a few weeks before we moved in. He’d been sick for a couple years.
I think they had a good marraige. The kind that makes other people long for that in their own lives. One time, when Dave was working out in the garage on some project (crown molding, I believe), Virginia came over and asked if she could hang out there for a bit. She said she really missed the smell of sawdust.
She and her daughter and a couple friends often go on Saturday drives. In a convertible. With RESPECT blaring on the radio. It’s so Ya-Ya I can’t believe it. And I love it. They were even singing along. I want so badly to ask them if I can join them on a little girl-power drive. It sounds like so much fun.
Now, Virginia has a gentleman suitor. (maybe more, I’m not paying THAT close attention). I like to imagine it was one of her husband’s friends. One that has been admiring her for a long time, thinking how wonderful she is, and how he’d like to have a marraige like she had. I imagine it’s very nice for both of them to find companionship at this point in their lives, an exciting new love in the autumn of their life. I saw her kiss him once. And it surprised me and made me happy for her.
She’s a spunky lady. One who is still having fun and adventures. A widow, but not closed up. I love her. I want to be like her someday.
June 23, 2005 - 10:05 am - shannon that is too cute that you are doing this. i know way too much about my neighbors (close quarters) and i wouldn't want to share it with anyone. isn't meet virginia a song? :)
June 23, 2005 - 11:22 am - Great story... love it.
June 23, 2005 - 11:25 am - She sounds amazing, Shannon! The ya-ya moment is so great! Love your title, too!
June 23, 2005 - 12:10 pm - that sounds like such a neat lady. :)
June 23, 2005 - 3:08 pm - I found your blog from One Scrappy Site and I had to comment on this story. Love it! She truly sounds amazing!
June 23, 2005 - 6:17 pm - i love these neighbors of yours! i wish my neighborhood had more "spice"! ;)
June 23, 2005 - 7:12 pm - hi shannon, what a great lady and you are such a wonderful storyteller--you have a true gift my friend! i hope all is well!
June 23, 2005 - 7:29 pm - hi shannon, what a great lady and you are such a wonderful storyteller--you have a true gift my friend! i hope all is well!
June 23, 2005 - 10:27 pm - I love hearing about your neighbors!
June 24, 2005 - 10:49 am - Love these neighborhood stories!!! Definately perfect character sketches!
June 24, 2005 - 11:49 am - Great story, Shannon! I want to be fun and spunky as I get older. My friend, Susan, has an aunt who is her late 80s and is one of the spunkiest people I've ever met. She is a widow and at Susan's wedding when she was tossing her bouquet her aunt was calling out, "Throw it to me, Susan! Throw it to me!"
June 24, 2005 - 2:18 pm - I'm loving these stories!!!!! Love that about the convertible!
June 24, 2005 - 2:22 pm - Great story. If ever I had to go through losing a spouse I hope I could keep it together like she is.
June 25, 2005 - 2:20 pm - Ah, what an awesome story. Love that she wanted to be around the sawdust smell and love your theory about her gentleman friend. I know nothing about my neighbors and judging by their yards I don't want to, lol. Maybe I need to not be so judgemental though.
June 26, 2005 - 4:35 pm - OK now she sounds like one cool lady! Lovin your stories Shannon! Your a great writer.
June 28, 2005 - 10:24 pm - What a cool story!! And what a cool neighbor!
Sometimes I feel like I’m invisible. I’m the wizard behind the curtain that no one sees or is even sure exists. I’m my kids’ mom, my husband’s wife, my house’s keeper, my laundry’s washer, but sometimes….what else? I find that I’m in my house, only with my kids and my only contact with the outside world is second-hand…through Dave or the kids. My little jaunts to restock our cave have little meaningful contact, no interesting stories, no substance. I’m losing contact with my friends because I’m so busy with the tasks that are keeping me home. Supporting everyone elses worlds as they go out. I pretend that I have stuff going on, real people that I talk to as I sit in front of my computer screen. I DO feel like things are kind of real as I sit there…but in all likelihood, I won’t meet these people that are my "friends." I’m not ACTUALLY an almost-famous scrapbooker (ha!)…I just play one on the computer. In real life, people don’t know me like that. Or think I’m special in any way.
Then again…looking at it from another angle. I am an entire universe. A whole world revolves around me. I may send people out, but they always come back to me. I hold them up so they can be glorious, in turn making me as (or more) glorious as they are. If something happened to me, this universe would vanish and these people would be completely thrown out of orbit. I’m the most important, most influential person in the world. I’m needed. I’m loved. I’m ESSENTIAL. I’ve got talents that make me happy and proud. I’ve got a ton of support, even from relative strangers. I’m not invisible, I’m omniscient. Everywhere. Influencing silently but powerfully. I’m really cool.
Anyway…one of those. Depending on the day…
June 22, 2005 - 2:18 am - This sounded like an echo of myself :( Makes me feel really sad at times. Most people I.R.L. don't really understand when I say that the pc is my social life. Add to the fact that I live in a country where I feel like a fish out of water 99.9% of the time and the feeling is compounded. I miss home, my sisters, my friends. I miss nipping up the road for coffee and a chat :( Yes, we are the world that our families orbit around - whether we realise it everyday or not ... but the loneliness can still eat away at our souls. Hope you have a fabulous day with many interactions. Hugs to you
June 22, 2005 - 5:42 am - I can *SO* relate! I have been feeling like that a lot.....it got easier before J because my girls were older and I was getting out but then we were blessed (totally) with this amazing new baby boy and life changed......started over almost. He is my sidekick....he is with me always....he has changed my life or brought it back a few notches.......and it'll get back to what it was before....eventually. You are a rock Shannon.....
June 22, 2005 - 6:24 am - I sometimes feel the same way - that I am losing "me" to everything else that I do around here. I like the perspective that you have in the second idea - that you are the centre of your family's "universe" :) It's a positive spin on the way that a lot of us truly feel each day. I will probably never meet any of the people I chat with on the 'puter either, but it's good that I have them for now. It gives me a sense of "belonging to the adult world". I would have gone insane by now otherwise :)
June 22, 2005 - 8:51 am - I hear ya... but take us out of the picture and you're right we're basically the sun... DID YOU EVER KNOW THAT You're my HERO... {and I'll do you the favor if not adding myself as a wav file here}. Hilary
June 22, 2005 - 9:33 am - Wow...have you been hiding out in my head lately? 'Cause I've been feeling that exact same thing. Invisible. Thanks for putting it into words.
June 22, 2005 - 10:17 am - i'm likin that other angle ~ thank you ~ i needed that as I sit here and launder and housekeep and entertain my 3yr old LOL
June 22, 2005 - 11:30 am - i LOVE this entry...you perfectly described the stay at home mom feelings...you totally need to scrapbook this journalling...so good...
June 22, 2005 - 11:43 am - GREAT entry, girl!
June 22, 2005 - 11:50 am - This is so beautifully written and very touching. I can really relate to this. Thank you.
June 22, 2005 - 11:54 am - Shannon - I like your take on the subject. We are appreciated, loved, valued, accepted, respected and sometimes invisible! But isn't it amazing how they always find us!!
June 22, 2005 - 12:51 pm - You have such a way with words - so well said. :)
June 22, 2005 - 2:00 pm - Echoed my thoughts exactly--especially after 20 years in the corporate world, I feel invisible now--working on that. Food for thought and well said!
June 22, 2005 - 2:45 pm - WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. This is exactly how I'm feeling. How did you know?
June 22, 2005 - 3:17 pm - ..and I love the photo of you, too. :)
June 22, 2005 - 4:14 pm - you crawled right into my head...and for the record...I consider you one of my "online friends"..:) miley
June 22, 2005 - 5:39 pm - It's been already said here but let me reiterate... WOW WOW WOW. You are sooo dead on it's scary. You deserve some chocolate for that entry! :)
June 22, 2005 - 7:30 pm - Such a good post! Don't we all feel that way from time to time? :)
June 22, 2005 - 7:45 pm - wow girl! seriously....the first part of what you said is exactly how i've felt for the longest time...the second part is such an awesome way to look at the first part...poetry girl, just pure poetry!
June 22, 2005 - 9:55 pm - I'd say option B. Motherhood is really the MOST important job out there. At the end of the day, you have made a difference. In the life of the 5 most important people in your life. And THAT makes you amazing. And on top of that, you are super sweet and are a fabulous scrapbooker too!!
June 22, 2005 - 11:00 pm - Hey Shannon! I've always wished I could be a stay-at-home mom. Part of that would include having kids first in order to be a stay at home "MOM", but that'll happen someday. :) I never really thought of any negative to being able to stay home, but I know that it isn't an easy job...I guess it could get lonely sometimes. Take care!!
June 22, 2005 - 11:12 pm - I'm with Moriah...you definitely deserve chocolate for that...maybe we should bring it to you! Beautiful entry! lisa
June 23, 2005 - 12:03 am - Thank you for these words.
June 23, 2005 - 4:26 am - Such great words Shannon girl! I could so relate with you. Your words hit a cord with many of us I am sure. We all feel like this most days. But I could never have put it into words like you. You need to take advantage of being home and start writing! Your incredible.
June 23, 2005 - 8:12 am - Depending on the day...I may steal that for my blog. Very interesting perspectives...I think they both hold merit and value. J
June 23, 2005 - 11:27 am - So eloquently put, Shannon! Such an amazing read! PS - UR famous! :)
June 23, 2005 - 4:40 pm - Well put. I bet everyone that really knows you -who also happen to be the ones that matter - think you're the second paragraph, and would never guess that you might feel like the first somedays.
June 23, 2005 - 8:05 pm - i hear ya. hugs!
June 23, 2005 - 10:23 pm - Beautiful entry Shannon. I feel exactly the same way, and I needed to hear that. Thank you.
June 24, 2005 - 2:32 pm - Beautiful pic!! Do you feel better now that you vented? :-) You are the hub of your family's wheel. Someday you will have all the time in the world for yourself and then I bet you'll miss the choatic days!
Shelby got her ears pierced on Saturday. The girl who cries at just the THOUGHT of anything painful. I’d been asking her for probably a year or so every time we went to the mall if she wanted to get her ears pierced, just so I could laugh at her reaction. No. Never. I was pretty sure it wouldn’t happen. Which was fine with me, no one needs holes in their ears. It was just funny to get the reaction. Well, at the mall on Saturday, I had decided I wasn’t going to ask anymore. Seriously, it’s fine if she doesn’t and I don’t need to tease her. Then… Can I get my ears pierced? Dave: You really want to? Shelby: (acting casual) sure. So we go there. The lady asks her is she wants to, she says yes. She picks out the ones she wants. We wait. Forever. For who knows what, but it was taking a long time. I could tell she was nervous. Freaking out inside. But there she sat, not backing out. Brave, I tell you. The ladies finally get around to coming over, we asked them to do them both at the same time because we feared she’d back out after the first. She closed her eyes…1, 2, 3…Done. She opened her eyes, smiled a huge GRIN. Looked in the mirror at her new self, smiled again, and has been on cloud nine ever since. I’m so proud of her. Not for the earrings, but the bravery to make a decision that was hard and stick with it, even if part of her was telling her to run. Self control. I love to see that. Good job, Shelby. You look beautiful.
June 21, 2005 - 12:27 pm - Go Shelby!!! That was a hard decision, I remember... I got got mine done @ 13 & I was just sure I'd pass out. LOL Now cute earrings can be purchased everywher you go :)
June 21, 2005 - 12:49 pm - Wow! that's great! I can totally relate, my dd was the same way, the mere mention of something unpleasant could upset her the entire day! But, she had been asking and asking and asking so finally for her birthday we did it! No tears just a huge proud grin of Yay for me I did it! Thanks for sharing and I love the pic! BTW my daughter chose the very same earrings as your DD! Rochelle
June 21, 2005 - 1:27 pm - How fun for Shelby!!!
June 21, 2005 - 1:34 pm - wait til' she has them ALL up and down her ears... :) Congrats Shelby!
June 21, 2005 - 4:52 pm - Such a cute photo and good for you, Shelby!! FYI...Oprah had such a fear of this that she JUST got her ears pierced a few months ago at 50 yrs. old, live on her show :)
June 21, 2005 - 6:23 pm - I loved reading this! YEAH Shelby :) So happy for her! We made my oldest daughter wait until she was in middle school but it ended up being at 12 and silly me thought doing one at a time at that age would be fine.....it took us what seemed like forever to do the 2nd ear! Definately the right decision to do them at the same time ;)
June 21, 2005 - 9:31 pm - oh so cute! LOVE that photo! :)
June 21, 2005 - 10:37 pm - Yea Shelby!!
June 23, 2005 - 4:24 am - Yeah for you Shelby! Woohoo. That is a hard thing to bring yourself to do. I have to say your ears look marvelous!!! Way to go!
June 24, 2005 - 2:27 pm - Way cool Shelby!!! For someone that has experienced her not so brave moments (I'll never forget Universal Studios aka Scare poor Shleby on every ride)it is even a bigger feat because you had to overcome more than others. Good job!!
June 25, 2005 - 10:49 am - She looks beautiful! I had mine re-done when I was about 12 or so since I let them grow shut the first time. Let me tell you, getting them put right back through the old scars HURTS. Don't recommend it. At all.
June 20, 2005 - 9:00 am - So cool Shannon! Awesome layout :)
June 20, 2005 - 9:46 am - I love your journaling. My father also embodies that quote. I love it!
June 20, 2005 - 9:56 am - My goodness, your journaling bring tears to my eyes. What a wonderful tribute to a wonderful Dad.
June 20, 2005 - 10:33 am - Now that is an awesome layout and your journaling made me cry - possibly cause I didn't grow up with a Dad so I did find it difficult as do my sisters. It's so important for kids to have a 'man' role model in their lives. I hope my children will see their father like you see yours when they are grown. He's an amazing guy. TFS :)
June 20, 2005 - 11:22 am - LOVE the layout -- it has a great dad-ly look about it!
June 20, 2005 - 11:29 am - that quote personifies my daddy, too! :)
June 20, 2005 - 1:07 pm - Perfect Shannon!!
June 20, 2005 - 2:12 pm - beautiful layout Shannon. loved reading the journaling. Sounds like your mom is a a lucky woman.
June 20, 2005 - 3:57 pm - I am late on this... new to your blog... and have loved your talent for awhile! But, you've made me cry... this LO is incredible. And, I so could've said the exact same things about my dad. I'm taking that quote and going home tonight (I'm at work... ugh) and creating my very own "daddy" LO. Great inspiration! Thank you!
June 20, 2005 - 4:58 pm - love this ~ wonderful journaling and quote.
June 20, 2005 - 7:41 pm - WOW Shannon...what a beautiful layout...your journaling is amazing. Just WOW!! Lisa
June 21, 2005 - 1:28 pm - What a beautiful layout and such a special tribute to your Dad. I love your journaling.
June 21, 2005 - 3:56 pm - This totally made me tear up! Beautiful, Shan!
June 21, 2005 - 4:53 pm - Beautiful layout and what a handsome man your father is!
June 24, 2005 - 2:30 pm - How awesome - almost made me cry. Totally believe the best example we can set our kids is how we treat our spouses. Matt's Dad is the same way and I am glad we have examples of real men in our lives so we can pass it on to our own kids.
July 1, 2005 - 3:23 pm - Just found your blog - This is a beautiful page - and the journaling is really wonderful. TFS
by Shannon Montez
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