What's Going On?

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T23:17:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving day has been very thankful. Spending time with family and friends is great. In between eating I tweeted (@carlaconroy) throughout the day. Keeping my followers updated.
I started out with a small bowl of food. I had to move to a plate when I went for seconds. I didn't bring anything so I volunteered for dishes duty. Dishes took about 45mins to an hour.
Well now that everything has been put away and memories have been made its now time to relax and sleep. Don't sleep to long.... BLACK FRIDAY starts in 30mins.

2011 Holiday Season

2011-11-22T01:30:00.001-08:00

The 2011 holiday season is upon us. Any big plans? How's the shopping coming along? Wait! First I should have said... How many are coming over for Thanksgiving? Who's cooking what? Why at this time of the year I feel Thanksgiving is starting to get looked over. Back in October right after Halloween (day after) Christmas decorations were up in some stores.
DANG!!!
Well, I tweeted (@carlaconroy) who's buying mistletoe. Did you know there's a website for mistletoe. www.mistletoe.com . I wanna buy some.
Let me ask another question. Have you started on your holiday cards. I have my list written out that's all. I don't wanna mail them out to late. I'm really gonna try and mail them out the 1st week of December.
If we don't talk before Thanksgiving or Christmas have a safe and blessed holiday season.

Look Who's Growing

2011-08-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

Look at Miss Maliyah at 13 mths. She's walking and crying for her daddy all the time when she comes over. We over look the crying when we see her in her outfits that are so darn cute. Wish I had a picture that shows her going to town on a popsicle. I'm sure the ice feels good on her teething gums.
Looking forward to seeing what I'll be blogging about when it comes to Miss Maliyah. OMG, I just had a thought. Can't wait for her to be talking. I can only image what she'll be saying.....Out of the mouths of babes.

Motivation

2011-05-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

** Definition of motivation (mo-ti-va-tion) noun . The act or process of motivating .

Is there something or someone that motivates you? When I think of the word a couple people come to mind. When I think about our conversations and the time we spend together I always walk away "motivated". Motivated enough that I find myself up for hours when I should be sleep.
Things I do that require motivation....
* My blog
* My scrapbooking
* Picture taking
* Seeing creative ideas
These things are just a few. I try not to get overwhelmed with these. Luckily I have a phone with apps that allow me to keep up.

Yard Work

2011-05-05T16:59:00.000-07:00

Look who's doing yard work. Hello Mr Allergies! Yard work is a lot of work. Let me add.. We've never used a lawn mover. The both of us out here trying to figure it out must have been hilarious to any neighbors watching. Once Andre got the hang of it things went smooth. Now it's off to the back yard.

Andre couldn't figure out why I was caring around Bronson, taking pictures and not helping. Clearly he doesn't understand somebody needed to document memories.

Nice Day

2011-05-05T16:57:00.001-07:00

It's about time we have some nice weather. I have to say I didn't do much thanks to my grave yard life. Lol. When I did step outside I was like WOW.....NICE! You know that ment "Picture Time". Can't wait to BBQ outside.

HAPPY 44TH BIRTHDAY TO CARLA

2011-04-21T22:43:00.000-07:00

The day has been filled with birthday wishes from family and friends. Thank you everyone for all the birthday shout outs. What a BLAST at Big Al's we had. Can we make it a date to do this again next year? FUN, FUN, FUN!

Carla's 44th Birthday Party Invite

2011-03-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

PARTY INVITE

Party theme: THE KID IN YOU NEVER DIES. Come help me celebrate my 44th birthday. For more info on Big Al's view their website http://www.ilovebigals.com/ RSVP by Wednesday 4/20/2011 caaconroy@aol.com or my cell # . Remember to RSVP please.

There's no party agenda. Just plan on having a good time with the fun activity's provided by BIG Al's. MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

LOCATION: `Big Al's in Vancouver

16615 se 18th st

Vancouver, WA 98683

DATE: Saturday, 4/23/2011

TIME: 2:00p - 5:00p

Miss Maliyah aka Baby Girl

2011-03-11T17:35:00.001-08:00

How beautiful she is. Maliyah is now 7months old. OMG, she's getting so big. She's now rolling over and
wanting to spend lots of time standing. There's teeth poking through that mouth of her's.

When she grabs things....STRAIGHT TO HER MOUTH it goes. LOVE YOU Baby girl!

My Style

2011-03-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

Do you have a style? I like to think my style is a conservative one. I don't like "flashy". I'm willing to try something different every now and than but it must be low key. I wanted to try some blonde high lights in my hair but...... to me that's "flashy" for me. Guess I'll stick with black hair and the two strands of grey.

Andre Your Now 21

2011-03-03T00:00:00.001-08:00

My oldest son Andre is now 21 years old. Did he have a good day? YES! From what he told me spending the evening with his friends was a "BLAT". All I can say is WOW! I sure did give him the talk about being responsible. I talked and talked and talked. Me being the parent.

Party Like A Rock Star

2011-02-27T11:03:00.000-08:00

We had a BLAST! My friend and co-worker had his 35th birthday party surrounded with LOTS of friends and family. What didn't he think of? DJ, limo, party guest list, Ciroc vodka, food, VIP wrist bands and much more. I say if your gonna throw a birthday party for yourself.....PARTY LIKE A ROCK STAR!

Mmm Good

2011-02-10T15:46:00.000-08:00

Maliyah is getting down with the Oreo cookie. I don't blame her. Oreo's are one of my favorite cookies. Clearly her's too.

Happy 16th Birthday

2011-02-08T21:13:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Anthony M. Conroy is 16 years old. OMG, my youngest son is 16. He had a good day. Came from school with a bundle of balloons and cards. What a special day. I'm sure he'll sleep good tonight. Birthday's are great.

It's Been A While

2011-01-17T18:29:00.000-08:00

Man........ it's been a while. Hmmm, November 2010 sense my last blog post. Well, what's been going on? With me work and the kids. I've gotten sick a couple times. A cold and laryngitis. I'm now on the road to recovery.

For all my creative scrapbooking friends can you believe I've done NOTHING with any scrapbooking pages......NOTHING! I've taken lots of pictures but that's all. I'm not in a slump, I've just been busy with family stuff. Have no fear it will all change soon. Has anyone heard of the http://www.createtv.com/ on comcast ch 310. There is a show on that channel called http://www.spottedcanary.com/ OMG... paper art work and scrapbooking ideas galore.

If anyone is up for a coffee date call or text me. I miss y'all. We must catch up on EVERYTHING.

Look Who's Growing

2010-11-26T01:04:00.000-08:00

Can you believe Miss Maliyah is 4mths old already. WOW....how time flies. She is so alert. She's been cooing and starting to try and spit bubbles.

I never had a chance to buy pink outfits. Now I can't help but stop in the girl section and check out the many, many cute girl clothes. So many options. I love her so much.

Evergreen Homecoming 2010

2010-10-02T23:23:00.000-07:00

Friday, October 1 was the football game and Saturday the 2nd was Homecoming. Anthony went with 5 other classmates from school. After Homecoming they all went to Red Robin for dinner. He was looking forward to going all week. HOMECOMING, HOMECOMING, HOMECOMING was all he talked about. He was stoked about picking out his outfit and having a fun filled evening.

Before heading out the crew met up and took pre-Homecoming pictures. All of us proud parents were there clicking away with our cameras. The weather was nice. It did start to get a little breezy as the night went on. I think the kids were so excited that they probably didn't notice.

A GREAT Visit

2010-09-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Guess who came to see us? MALIYAH! How exciting. Omg, she is so pretty. Anthony and I haven't seen Maliyah sense she was born (July 2010). The first thing I did was hold her than it was CAMERA TIME. They stayed for over an hour. When it was time for them to leave I didn't want her to go. How cute to see her cooing while getting settled in her car seat.

Good Times

2010-09-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

It's so fun to go out and have fun with friends. Went to Newport Seafood Grill for happy hour with my friend Tammy & Lisa (also my hair stylist). Lisa's daughter turned 21. Happy Birthday Vanae! Had a great time. Lots of laughter and fo sho people watchin. Vanae was looking forward to continuing her birthday fiesta with other family and friends. Aww, how cute. Remember: DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE & DRINK RESPONSIBLY :) .

Collage From Picasa

2010-09-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

I'm home minding my business (as I always am...Lol). I decided to get on the internet and organize some pictures through http://www.picasa.com/ . This site is another place I store my photos. Any who, I came across this tab "make a collage" and POW! Here it is. It seems a little busy but I think I like it. Oh great! I'm hooked on something else. Did you notice ALL the pictures? Hint..... about ME.

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

2010-09-07T21:35:00.001-07:00

Shoes... how many pairs can you have? Does there have to be a limit? This is just a few of mine.

Do I have a favorite style? From the looks of the pictures I would say open toe is my favorite. I'm a big Bandolino fan. They feel like butter on my feet. At times it's all about comfort (DANSKO) not style for me. A girl needs to have some of both to make an outfit happen.

I like to buy from www.amazon.com . I've had good luck with internet buying from them. Good item descriptions are given and the packages come so well wrapped. Don't think I won't take a field trip to www.nordstroms.com and/or www.macys.com for a pair of shoes. OH YES!!! Been there and done that. Lol.

2010 Labor Day

2010-09-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

Happy 2010 Labor Day. Today was a good day. Spent time with special people (Miss you Andre!). Didn't have any b-b-q but we had some good conversation at Red Robin. Hope everyone had an enjoyable day. Love ya!!

My Babies

2010-09-05T21:32:00.000-07:00

I LOVE YOU! I remember this day as if it was yesterday. In 2001 (?) we decided to take pictures at Studio Max in Vancouver. Our plan was to go take a few pictures and get our free 8x10 photo. As we know NOTHING IS FREE!

The boys weren't excited to take pictures, but once they realized that there was outfits they started to be more cooperative. Andre liked the hat a lot. Anthony liked the idea of wearing nickers, a bow tie and suspenders.

After these pictures I was from then on out liking the sepia look. It gives a "POP" to the pictures. Don't get me wrong I'm still faithful to the black & white.

VooDoo Doughnuts

2010-08-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

Our class took a field trip today.Voodoo doughnuts was one of our stops....YAHOO! This was my first time to Voodoo ( www.voodoodoughnut.com) . I wasn't the only person in our class there for the first time, but I was the only person from our class who whipped out the camera and started taking pictures. Carla being Carla.

Some of the doughnut combinations were amazing to me. Maple doughnut with bacon (I got that one...mmm, good), glazes with fruit loop topping, maple with chocolate topped with pretzels. The list goes on. The place was packed with people. We didn't have to wait long for our doughnuts. They had doughnuts ready to go. Now that I'm thinking about it, wonder if they have free wifi? What a place for a sugar high.

The New Position

2010-08-26T17:09:00.000-07:00

This week I've been working in my new position as a service worker. I have to say I like it. I still drive the bus, but I'm no longer doing a bus route.

After going to work on Monday night and getting off on early morning Tuesday I was SLEEPY! Once I got home I went straight to sleep. My body truly has to get a custom to the night time hours. Tuesday was a little better. I was still very tired when getting off on Wednesday morning . When I get to work it's one day. When I come home it's another. I found myself saying as I'm driving to work "What day is it?". WOW.

On Thursday morning (2a) I had my first run in with a rodent. EWWW! OH HELP ME BABY JESUS! For those of you who don't know I'm scared (very scared) 0f rodents.... any rodents for that matter. All the flying around bugs I think I can stand. It's the rodents that gross me out.

It's now the weekend and I made it. My first full week of grave yard. My body should do better and better as the weeks go by.

Your Camera

2010-08-21T14:36:00.001-07:00

What type of camera do you use? I've been using a Kodak for years. I've never tried any other camera brand. My very first camera was the Kodak cameo. I took that camera every where. Once things started going digital (have you tried Kodak easyshare?) I started looking into different styles, but still the Kodak brand. I like a compact camera. I want it to slide smoothly in my pocket, purse or bag.

I was looking at the Cannon cameras. Nice cameras and picture quality. For some reason I can't pull myself away from the Kodak brand. Time Out: I WISH I WOULD BUY ANOTHER CAMERA. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANY OF THE 4 THAT I HAVE. Knock it off Carla!!

Field Trip

2010-08-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today our class took a field trip. We visited the different maintenance garages (Powell, Center, Ruby Juction & Elmonica). WOW. Interesting to see how things are done when servicing the light rail trains & buses. We also visited bus dispatch (Cara shown above taking a call) and light rail control. Seeing dispatch and light rail control gave us former mini-runners and new off the street employees a chance to see how important we all interact.

What I was most surprised about... the black box shape on top of the trains, that's the air conditioner for the trains. I took a picture of an air conditioner being serviced. At first I thought it was a car body frame. Lol. Check out the wheels for the train....HUGE! Let me just wrap up and say how cool.

Fork Lift Training

2010-08-17T15:49:00.000-07:00

What a good day at fork lift training. I learned a lot. Yes I can work the fork lift. YAHOO!

Check out the pictures I took while waiting for my turn to get certified. You might find a theme in the pictures (HINT: They're all about me).

1st Day

2010-08-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

1st day of maintenance training. The word for today "INFORMATION". Orientation pack was thick and full of "INFORMATION". To top it off, there's a Bennett test on Friday....... WHAT!!! MORE TESTING....OMG. The test is to find out if we qualify for the apprenticeship program. If we take it and don't pass we'll still have another opportunity to take it again. We'll need to passed it before getting into any Tri-Met apprenticeship.
14 people are in the class. I'm the only female. I think that's a good thing (shrug), I'm not sure. Lol. It did help when getting to class this morning and seeing people I already knew or seen before. Our orientation schedule is full of busy learning. Tomorrow is fork lift training. Yeah I said it "Fork lift training". Carla driving a fork lift? Oooooookay. I learned to drive a 40 foot bus, so I know I can drive a fork lift. Talk about a learning experience.

Business Cards

2010-08-01T21:58:00.001-07:00

It was time to order a new batch of business cards. I ordered my cards from www.123print.com . I've found www.123print.com has more of a business card selection (plus cheaper) than www.vistaprint.com . A box of 200 only cost me $8.00.

16x24 Wall Prints

2010-07-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm on a wall print trip. I've sat this Saturday morning and done 3 with in the past 2 hours. How easy is it to drag and drop? VERY EASY! I have/am ordering these from http://www.creativememories.com/ . Ya'll should try it (I can do them for you). I haven't yet put mine in a frame, but i'm working on it.

The wall print that shows a yellow diamond alerts me there's a resoultion problem. I've had that alert show before, but I've sent it off for print anyway and never seen a problem once I got it back. So, I just move on. Creative Memories is good with the turn around time. About 7-14 days.

Baby Announcement

2010-07-30T20:57:00.001-07:00

Look at Maliyah V. Conroy. When I seen her I knew right then she was a cutie and I had to have announcements made to let it be known. I wanna thank http://www.shutterfly.com/ for the announcement card design.

Maliyah Is Here

2010-07-21T22:41:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, July 21,2010 is the day Maliyah Viola Conroy was born at Tuality Valley Community Hospital in Hillsboro, Or. She arrived at 12:41 p/19 inches/ 6 lbs 3 oz/ head was 13.5.

Kelsey you did a great job. Andre what a helpful trooper you were. While Kelsey was taking care of business Anthony felt it necessary to get a little sleep out in the lobby. Dawn (Kelsey's mom) and I were in the labor room with Andre and Kelsey until we were asked to step out. At that time the lobby became our friend along with Kelsey's girlfriends and some of my family members. They all came to be supportive. Thank you.

OMG, check out the cool diaper bag. The bag was a baby shower present from Dawn. CUTE!!! I love that Maliyah's name is on the bag. I couldn't stop talking and taking pictures of it.

Well, the day has come to an end. I've already made one of many phone calls to the new parents checking on Miss Maliyah. They say she's doing well and very cuddly. Night, night Maliyah.

My Buddies

2010-07-19T22:07:00.001-07:00

Thought you might want to take a quick photo look at some of my buddies at work. A lot of these people I see almost everyday when sitting in the "bull pen" or while driving my run. The "bull pen" is where driver knowledge, stories and run updates are shared. Lots of drivers wait around for their work, take naps in the TV area, gossip, get on the internet, eat and just may flat out chit chat.

Traffic Is CRAZY

2010-07-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

I want to ask but can clearly see why we're not going the speed limit 55. Can you say construction? TRAFFIC IS CRAZY, it's all backed up here on the Glen Jackson bridge aka 205 going north! They the news say I-5 is just as bad. Question: Why is there only two ways to get to Vancouver from Portland and vice versa? We've been sitting in traffic for approximately an hour. I'm sitting here looking around at people on their cell phones talking or texting. I'm taking pictures with mine. Remember it's against the law to be on your cell phone. BUT....... how else was I gonna document this moment if I didn't take pictures. Lol. Nobody is moving we're all just sitting burning up gas.
Anthony calls and says he is ready to come home (he's been in Portland). Should I get up now at 7:00a to go pick him up before traffic gets heavy? Umm hmmm. I don't feel like it. I mean that in the nicest motherly way. Think he can hold out until tomorrow?

Construction is to be done by 5:00a this monday morning per the news. Next weekend they'll be working on the opposite side per the news going south. OMG!!!

Tired

2010-07-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

Why am I so tired? Could it be due to not enough sleep? To much sleep? Up to early? No morning tea? The questions are never ending. When my morning split is done it's nap time. I think to myself "You'll be able to nap in just a bit". Saying that over and over in my heard keeps me going. Not everyday is a tired day for Carla but some days I can't help it...I'M TIRED!
Has anybody tried the 5hour power drink? I have. I think they work for me. I've only tried them about three times. I found the flavors are pretty good. No after bitter taste.
Bus is warmed up now. Time to drive. Wonder if the passengers will be able to tell that I'm sleepy? Do they even care (just wanna get to their destination)? Maybe they'll think I'm just a quite person. Hmmm.

Thank You

2010-07-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! Everything was so nice. Baby Maliyah I know will appreciate all the love. I can't wait to show Andre and Kelsey all the nice things. For those of you who couldn't come but wanted to, you were there in spirit. The cake was delicious (thank you Costco). I wanna thank Anthony for being the only young man there with us women. I KNOW YOU WERE BORED....YOUR A TROOPER!

I gotta learn how to make a diaper cake. It's so cool. I didn't realize It's a popular thing at baby showers. PICTURES! PICTURES! PICTURES! Oh yes, it too is a BIG deal. Thanks again for all the beautiful smiling faces and the fun chit chat. I'm still laughing.

At Work

2010-07-06T14:03:00.000-07:00

Another day driving the bus. Wait, photo time. I had a chance to drive the new 2900 series buses. WOW, I really like. They drive totally different than the 2100,2200 and 2500 buses. The steering wheel is smaller and the peddles move toward you. WOW! Sure wish I could drive the 2900 more often (keeping my fingers crossed).

Family Photos 2006

2010-06-28T11:45:00.001-07:00

Our family photos was taken at Yuen Lui in 2006. This was the first time we wore "dress up" closes for family photos. It's amazing to see how much the boys have grown sense 2006. I LOVE YOU! Hopefully as they grow up, they will appreciate the value of family photos.

Elephant Ears Recipe

2010-06-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

I'm craving a elephant ear. Had to look up the recipe. Maybe I'll try and make them.

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
3/8 cup shortening
2 tablespoons active dry yeast
4 cups all purpose flour
1 quart oil for frying
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
6 tablespoons white sugar

DIRECTIONS:
1. In small saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, salt, 2 tablespoons sugar and shortening. Heat until shortening melts and sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and let cool to lukewarm, 110 degree f (43 degrees c). Sprinkle in yeast and let sit until foamy.
2. Transfer mixture to large bowl, and stir in flour to make a dough. Knead until smooth, cover and let rise 30 minutes.
3. In a large heavy skillet or deep fryer, heat 1 inch of oil to 375 degrees f (190 degrees c).
4. Roll out 1 to 2 inch balls of dough into thin sheets. Fry sheets 1 to 2 minutes on a side, until puffed and golden. Drain on paper towels.
5. Combine cinnamon and 6 tablespoons sugar. Sprinkle over warm pastries. Serve

Grandma Baby Shower Invite

2010-06-19T09:04:00.001-07:00

Ya'll are so invited to the grandma baby shower for the arrival of Maliyah Conroy.
LOCATION: Big Al's 16615 se 18th st Vancouver, Wa 98683 (360) 944-6118
DATE: Saturday, July 1o,2010
TIME: 4p-7p

Nap Time

2010-06-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Yes I need a nap during my split. Maybe waking up with the birds is the reason I get so sleepy. If I can sleep for 30 to 60 minutes I'm good. I have myself all set up in the car... blanket, music, alarm and internet. Nothing like a second wind when I wake up.

Color Splash

2010-06-11T09:34:00.001-07:00

Iphone color splash app....LOVE IT! What fun do I have with it. Key thing, gotta have the right colors on for the "splash". PUT THE CAMERA DOWN CARLA.

Fun With The Girls

2010-06-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

A fun dinner time with a bunch of friends F-U-N! Thank you so much Geri for having us over. Dinner was great. Laughter, eating, gabbing and pictures what more can you ask for.

Having Fun

2010-05-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

This past couple of weeks has been fun. So much going on. I won't mention everything, but I well mention the highlights to me. Can I say phenomenal on the weather. Not to hot and not to cold. Just how I like it.
* I'm starting my motorcycle class this coming week. The class is a three day event. I have all the required gear. The training course provides the motorcycle. I wish I could video tape myself while there, but I'm thinking that's not going to work. Any spare time durning the class OH YES, I WILL TAKE A QUICK PICTURE.
* Can you believe It's been two years for me at Tri-Met? OMG, I can't believe it. Time has flown by. I remember being in training thinking to myself I'm suppose to drive this big thing...WOW. Everyday seems to be a little easier. I still haven't gotten use to the early morning shifts, but I'm slowly coming around.
* Andre and Kelsey's baby will be arriving soon. July 2010. It's almost grandma time. WHAT SHOULD I GET FOR A BABY SHOWER PRESENT? I've been looking, but nothing has caught my eye. I wasn't thinking it would be this hard to find something (shopping is my middle name). I don't wanna have to resort to a gift card. Me personally like to receive gift cards. I have two weeks to get it together. LET'S GO CARLA!

Our Hot Spots

2010-05-04T21:34:00.000-07:00

I decided to blog on some of the places me and/or the boys like to frequent. There isn't much to say, so I'm letting the picture logos do all the talking. If I had to name my three favorite spots it would be hard .... or maybe not.

Happy 43rd Birthday

2010-04-22T21:36:00.000-07:00

What a fun and eventful 43rd birthday I had. I'm thankful to have the friends and family I do that helped me celebrate this 2010 year. This birthday week was filled with a Mexican dinner, lunch dates, coffee dates, and happy hour. My phone was non-stop ringing and text messages. My facebook and twitter were continuous birthday wishes. THAT YOU ALL! Now it's time to soak in the fact I'm another year older and wiser.

Having to go back to work after my fun filled days was hard. I WAS TIRED! I need a weekend just to relax from the busy birthday week. Lol. Wait!!! No time to relax just yet. Gotta study up for my motorcycle endorsement.

Hair Styles

2010-04-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

Having my hair braided for over 6months is way longer than I've ever had my hair in braids or thought I'd have. Lisa (owner of ENAYSHA salon) has been doing a great job with my hair while in braids. I change up my style every 3-5wks seems like. At times I forget what my own hair looks and feels like. It all comes back once I take my braids down...YIKES! Is all I'm sayin. Lol.
Thanks Lisa for the good and fun conversations we have while your hookin a sista up. ....Inside joke for us "6809".

Kelsey 2010

2010-04-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

Kelsey is the mother of my grand daughter Maliyah Viola Conroy who's in the baking stages right now (she's 5mths). Kelsey is a cute and nice person who I feel will be a loving and caring mother. She's so excited with the preparation of Maliyah. She has already went out and bought matching Nike shoes for her and the baby. HOW CUTE. The baby is due July 24,2010.

Andre and Kelsey went and registered at www.target.com (click on registry) and www.babiesrus.com (click on registry). They came over and told Anthony and I all about it. They were excited.

My next deep thought is...how is Kelsey (and Andre) gonna act during actual labor time. This should be interesting. They say their gonna have www.skype.com going during labor time. Well, we'll see how that goes. Hugs to you Kelsey! Mmmwwwaaahhh!

1st Big Purchase

2010-03-31T20:51:00.000-07:00

Andre made his 1st big purchase. He bought a car. He is so excited and I'm proud of him. I haven't actually seen the car yet, but I talked to him pretty much throughout the buying process. I'm waiting for him to take me and his brother for a ride. Hmmm, maybe I should put a bug in his ear. LOVE YA ANDRE! Drive carefully.

Having Fun

2010-03-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

The past two days have been fun. A co-worker (Rick) took me riding on his motorcycle during my split. WHAT A RUSH! This coming weekend another motorcycle co-worker (Ray) is gonna show me how to actually drive a motorcycle. I'm ready to learn! He says we're going rain or shine. NO PROBLEM, I'M READY. Stay toon for more photos of the learning process.

My kids can't believe I'm actually going through the whole motorcycle phase. They know they wanna learn as well. Lol.

The Weekend

2010-03-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

The weekend has been a relaxing one. No agenda plans, no drama just relaxation. Spent my time on twitter (www.twitter.com/carlaconroy) , watching Law & Order and being domestic.

Andre brought over Bronson who wasn't feeling well which put Anthony and I straight into daycare duty. He was acting lethargic. NOT THE BRONSON WE KNOW. Today Bronson is acting and looking so much better. SPUNKY HIM! Could it have been the trip to the post office, the dollar store or Sonics that put the spunk back into him? Hmmm. Whatever the case Bronson was getting lots of attention from us (as always). Andre and Kelsey called multiple times checking on him like good parents checking on their child. LOVE YOU BRONSON!

Not Again

2010-03-09T21:38:00.000-08:00

WTF! Yes, I'm sick with a cold again. Do I have time for this?? HECK NO! Ok, I have my Kleenex with lotion close by along with a warm cup of Airborne. Let's just hope that's all I need (fingers crossed). If I don't do anything else, I'm gonna pamper myself with get better vibes.

Anthony says to me "Mom if your sick, why are you taking pictures". My response back to him was "Memories". Poor baby, he don't understand. Gotta capture all the moments.

Well, I guess reading my book is out for me? Oooops gotta jet. The NyQuil is kicking in. Night, night.

All Moved In

2010-03-08T14:29:00.000-08:00

FINALLY! Anthony and I are all moved in our Vancouver apartment. No more living out of boxes. I wanna thank Anthony for letting me do my thang without him giving me any lip. Him and I need a weekend just to chill. Now it's time to tackle another task such as usps address change, contact cable, grocery shop and whatever else that may come up.

If I haven't already given you our new address, contact me at caaconroy@aol.com and I'll update you. Anthony feels we should have a house (apartment) warming. I on the other hand think not. If you want to stop by and check us out feel free. Call me, so I'll make sure I'm home.

Motorcycle Permit

2010-02-19T07:42:00.001-08:00

Who ever would have thought I would want a motorcycle license? I SURE WOULDN'T HAVE. Well, my gears are in motion. If I can study and get a CDL than by dang I can get a motorcycle license.

I took the test and missed 3. The test consist of 25 questions and you couldn't miss no more than 5. Thankfully I had my iphone with a motorcycle app that helped me study. Oh and yes, I did read the DMV motorcycle manual as well. I have one word "OVER LOAD".

The next step in learning how to ride. I have 90 days to do so. No worries, I'm gonna get it done. TRUST ME.

Happy 15th Birthday Anthony

2010-02-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

This day February 8th is my son's 15th birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANTHONY! Where has the time gone? We celebrated Anthony's birthday on Saturday at Big Al's in Vancouver. His friends from school came which was nice of them. Lots of pictures were taken. Just a note... I HATE THAT MY CAMERA PHOTO'S CAME OUT DARK...GRRRRR!

Under The Weather

2010-01-17T16:43:00.000-08:00

I have a cold. I haven't had a cold in so long. The feeling of being under the weather is horrible. When I felt it coming on I was hoping it was just an overnight thing....WRONG! Here we are day 3 I'm still congested and carrying around tissue (Kleenex with lotion).
For me the first 2 days are the worst. Scratchy throat, continuous runny nose and a lite cough. I wanna scream "Calgon take me away". No worries, I had my Nyquil to get me through the night. Nyquil and Airborne.....THANK YOU!
I'm going to bed early tonight. I have to work MLK day. I'm hoping for an easy work day. Thank God I picked a not so busy run for the day.
P.S. For those of you who follow me on www.twitter.com/carlaconroy don't worry I'm still sending tweets. Sick or no sick.

Skype Website

2010-01-11T23:37:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of the website www.skype.com ? A co-worker of mine told me about it today. I came home and set up an account. I've been reading on what it offers. Looks as if you can make and receive calls to and from your computer. Hmmmm. For those of you who are familiar with the site call me! Hopefully this will be something I'll be able to use. My friend swears by it.

Picture Art

2010-01-10T19:33:00.000-08:00

It's amazing what you can do with digital pictures now a days. I have come across different programs on the internet that allows you to do so much. I've spent hours looking and playing around with different ideas. One of my many friends showed me an app on her iphone....OMG! I have one word to say "FUN".

Happy New Year

2009-12-30T23:38:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010 New Year to all my friends and family. Hope the new year brings lots of joy and happiness.

Charles Schulz / Charlie Brown

2009-12-27T17:56:00.000-08:00

How many of you remember the Charlie Brown lunch box? I remember I carried some mean peanut butter & jelly sandwiches in mine. I find to this day still reading the Charlie Brown comics in the newspaper. I googled Charles Schulz. He was an interesting man. Here's a link to the Charles Schulz museum http://www.schulzmuseum.org/ . I like that Snoopy was a beagle. Beagles are my favorite. They have been for a long time. Wonder if Charlie Brown comics had anything to do with that?

Can you name all the members of the peanut gang? I can't. I just remember off the top of my head Charlie Brown, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, Linus, and Sally. For memorabilia visit http://www.snoopystore.com/ .

Happy Holidays

2009-12-20T13:03:00.001-08:00

Can you believe it's almost Christmas? Wow, time really flies. I haven't put our Christmas cards in the mail yet....Loser I am. Lol. I did manage to get pictures of the boys and I. Not sure If I'll be using them or not, but it's a start. What's your plans for New Years Eve? I just want to spend it with my boys. The idea of games, movies, picture taking and food snacks sound good to me.

The Conroy family wants to wish all of you Happy Holidays. Hope 2009 has been good to you, and 2010 will be even better.

Photobucket

2009-12-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

OMG! I'm not sure if any of you have heard about http://www.photobucket.com/ but I like it. I haven't figured out all that the site offers yet. Let me tell you I'm spending lots of "Carla" hours trying to. Once I have it figured out, I'm going to start sharing with you all. Hopefully you'll follow my albums. People follow people to see their new uploads.
Right now I'm in the process of organizing my pictures I've uploaded. You can upload photos, videos and images on this free site. There is an option to upgrade. I see me doing so real soon....Lol. I'm looking at other albums that people have done and deciding if I want to follow them. Kinda reminds me of Twitter...just a little bit. When I take pictures from my phone I can upload them straight to my photobucket album...SWEET! I see this as another place to store my photos.

For those of you already on photobucket be sure to look me up. My member name is: Luvmycreations.

Bronson

2009-12-06T20:28:00.000-08:00

Bronson is Andre's chihuahua. He's had Bronson for approximately 3mths. I'm a beagle dog kinda person, but having Bronson around has opened my eyes to look at different dog breeds. Beagles still being my #1 choice. He's so cute and tiny. When I take him places I just slip him in my pocket. He loves to ride in the car and just sleep.

I was worried about Bronson around our cats, but all is good. Thank God. As I'm typing this post Bronson is laying right here under his cover sleep. What a love bug.

Holiday Wine Party

2009-11-30T16:22:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox invite

Grandmother

2009-11-28T22:45:00.000-08:00

A grandma is made by God's precious hands. He lovingly stitches each and every strand. A grandma is more precious than silver or goal and wise beyond belief with her stories of old. A grandma always know exactly what to say to give you peace in your heart and brighten your day. If we did not have a grandma where would we be? Because everyone loves their grandma including me! ~Dana Roberts Clark~

Yes, if you haven't figured or already know......I'm gonna be a grandma.

Planning For Christmas

2009-11-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

When is it to early to Christmas shop? I haven't done any shopping, but I'm working on our family photo cards for the 2009 year. The boys are already saying "NO MORE PICTURES!". If I went by what they say....I should use one of the same ole' photos from years past. WHATEVER!

Our family cards from last year I ordered from www.snapfish.com. I loved them. I may go with them again. They had cute and simple drag and drop designs. The turn around time was sweet. Within 5-7 days we had them. Make sure I have your address, so I can get one out to you.

What's been up

2009-11-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

The question should be what isn't going on. From the time of my last post the boys and I have been BUSY! If I had to say exactly what it is, I don't think I could. What I will say is life is good. For me, all I've been doing is working. The boys have have been working (Andre), and going to school (Anthony).

As you can tell in one of the photos I'm holding a chihuahua. The dog isn't ours (Conroy family), it's Andre and Kelsey's (the girlfriend). It's name is Bronson. He's so cute. I try to take pictures as often as I can of him. I'll for sure keep you'll posted on Bronson's growth. Bronson now has a collar with a bell. MAN! does that help. I can't say how many times we have almost stepped on him. Just so you'll know I'M LOOKING FOR A BEAGLE for our family.

Heads up to my girlfriends.....I wanna plan a get together. I want us to chit, chat and get caught up before the holidays. Give me a call or email (carlaconroy@gmail.com) on when a good date for you may be.

Well, I better get back to scrapbooking. I have a digital album I'm trying to finish before November 20th. For all my scrapbooking friends check out some of the specials that www.creativememories, www.snapfish.com , www.shutterfly.com, and www.smilebox.com is having.

Love ya!

LOVE YOU

2009-08-18T07:30:00.001-07:00

LOVE! This is a strong word. The LOVE I have for my kids (the boys) is unconditional. I LOVE YOU FOREVER & ALWAYS!

Twitter

2009-08-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

OMG the technology bug I have. Maybe I should say the social technology bug I have. I'm finding myself on http://www.twitter.com/ all the time. Yes, I have myspace and and facebook but for me this is different. Don't ask me why, but....... If your on twitter look me up. www.twitter.com/carlaconroy

Our Cats

2009-08-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

These are our pets Misty, and Lucy. Misty is a siamese and Lucy is a tabby. We love them very much. Never knew I could give so much love to pets.

Carla Photo Memories

2009-06-26T06:36:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox photobook

Visiting The Grave Site

2009-06-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

The boys are leaving for Florida and I wanted to make sure they went to visit Papa and Granny's grave site. Plus Granny's birthday is today (6/14). When we arrived everything looked A-O-K.

Anthony Has Strep

2009-06-07T21:40:00.001-07:00

Anthony was complaining of a sore throat. I took him to urgency care and yes strep throat. This is the first time Anthony has had strep. I told him this may not be his last. We went to the store and bought applesauce and soup. His next question to me was "where is the meat?". I'm like NOT! Maybe in a couple days. Anthony needs to get better. He has a flight to catch in 7 days.

Blackberry Posting

2009-06-07T21:12:00.003-07:00

OMG! I'm blogging from my blackberry. Wow times are a changing. I really like it.

Now I need to get ALL the features figured out. The world of technology.

At The River

2009-06-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

LET'S GO TO THE RIVER! That we did. With the weather being 90ish we went to spend half the day relaxing by the water. Going with no plans we spent much of our time "People watching". My niece Trinity (5yrs) liked the idea of playing by the water edge. Anthony (14yrs) and Tierra (16yrs) were just being teenagers. Andre was working so he missed out. ...Maybe next time Andre.

Memory Lane

2009-05-07T09:02:00.001-07:00

I've been home going through my pictures and came across these. The first thing that came to mind was WHAT THE....!!!! I look the same in the face. When I look at the photos I wonder to myself what was going through my mind? At that time probably not much.

How much living life have I done between the taking of these pictures?? I have to say it's great to look back on these and other photos. They're filled with memories, LOT'S of memories.

Happy 42nd Birthday

2009-04-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

Birthday

The older you get, the more you hold on
But before you know it, the day is gone.
Cherish each smile, each laugh, and each tear.

~Donna Roberts Clark~

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

Me and the boys would like to to say Happy Easter to you. Today for us has been a nice and relaxed day. We got up this morning and went to mass with the kids grandma, uncle, and cousins. Well it's time to get ready for our work and school week. Happy Hugs!

Starbucks

2009-02-16T08:14:00.001-08:00

This past week has been a yummy Starbucks week for me. For those of you who don't know I LIKE STARBUCKS! I can't pin point one thing I like best. It's just the atmosphere.

The Memories

2009-01-09T22:39:00.000-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

You'll Be Missed

2009-01-08T23:03:00.000-08:00

WOW! That's the first word that comes to mind when I think of this past week. My grandfather passed away Thursday, January 1,2009 while at home. I want to thank ALL of you for your nice and up lifting words during this time. Our family can not say THANK YOU enough.

My grandfather will be buried at Willamette National Cemetery along with my grandmother. Before the service started there was a military gun salute and bugle tribute. Very moving! They shot off 4 gun shots. The US flag was given to my dad (picture shown with my mom) and uncle along with the 4 empty gun shells . Yes this is a sad time, but my grandfather is in a much better place. He will be missed. Again THANK YOU ALL!

Look At The Snow

2008-12-20T21:46:00.000-08:00

In case you can't tell...It's snowing! Yes it's pretty an all BUT it's sure an inconvenience. Today the more it came down the colder it got. To be honest with you I just want it all to go away. It's hard to do things when you don't have chains. The weather forecast says it should be going away by the middle of next week. HURRY UP NEXT WEEK!
We had to run to the store for a couple things.... WOW! I drove 10 miles an hour. The wind blew snow and it started to freeze when it hit the car windshield. All I could think of again was HURRY UP NEXT WEEK AND RAIN! You all be safe and stay warm.

End Of Tri-Met Probation

2008-12-15T22:58:00.000-08:00

It's over... Tri-Met 6 months probation. When starting back in May 2007 December seemed to be forever. Believe it or not it went by pretty fast. Our starting class of 9 congratulated each other on completing probation. Thank you all for your encouragement through the process.

The weekend after completing probation I had a get together social at Everyday Wine(http://www.everydaywine.com/). Those who wanted went dancing later that night. What fun! Check out some pictures. Enjoy.

Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T22:04:00.000-08:00

Our blessings are endless and too many to name but on Thanksgiving Day we try just the same. We want to be sure that we show the love that is given to us from up above.

We smell the aroma of the feast we can share and spend Thanksgiving Day wtih the ones who are dear.

~ Gina Marie Laucher ~

Me and Anthony

2008-10-24T09:07:00.000-07:00

Went to visit Granny this past Sunday. I told my grandfather it's comforting to know that Williamette Cementary keeps the grave grounds nice and clean. Thank God! We didn't stay long but long enough to say a couple words and I LOVE YOU.

Guess Who's Working?

2008-10-05T14:23:00.000-07:00

Andre is now among the working class. He's been working at Best Buy for about 1 month now. Andre seems to like it. .... and having his own $$. Go Andre I'm proud of ya.

Carla's New Look

2008-09-30T09:03:00.000-07:00

I have a question. What leads to a change in hair styles? Is it the weather, the fashion trend, or an ooops with the scissors?

Well I've decided to go with a new look. I liked the style I had, but I wanted to try something different. I can't say I'll have this look for long, but I'm willing to try it for a while.

Anthony Are You Kidding Me?

2008-09-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to figure out WHO told Anthony Mychael Conroy this suit was cute? He (Anthony) has gone so far as to ask can he wear it to school. I don't even want to tell you what I said.... It wasn't pretty nor nice.
Anthony the 70's called and they want their suit back!!!!!

Phenomenal Woman

2008-08-23T21:36:00.000-07:00

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size but when I start to tell them, they think I'm telling lies. I say,It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips.

I'm a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, That's me. I walk into a room just as cool as you please, and to a man, the fellows stand or fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me, a hive of honey bees. I say, it's the fire in my eyes, and the flash of my teeth, the swing in my waist, and the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenal.

Phenomenal woman, that's me. Men themselves have wondered what they see in me.

They try so much but they can't touch my inner mystery. When I try to show them they say they still can't see. I say, it's in the arch of my back, the sun of my smile, the ride of my breasts, the grace of my style. I'm a woman Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman, that's me. Now you understand just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing it ought to make you proud. I say, it's in the click of my heels, the bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, the need of my care,'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that's me.

By Maya Angelou

Family Reunion

2008-07-29T20:57:00.000-07:00

When I googled the meaning for a family reunion, this is what came up....

The meaning of reunion synonyms: n.
gathering, meeting, homecoming, get-together, reuniting, meeting again, rejoining, reconciliation, restoration, harmonizing, bringing together.

I felt this was/is something that defined our 2008 Johnson family reunion. Seeing,chatting, laughing, hugging, listening felt good. Just to say and feel the love was moving.Staying is touch is a MUST! Let us always remember how important family togetherness is.

Batman

2008-07-19T23:07:00.001-07:00

O.M.G (Oh my God)..... Anthony and I went to see Batman The Dark Knight and we LOVED it. The movie was filled with lots of action. Christian Bale (Batman) is gorgeous! Good thing we got to the theater early, the seats were filling fast. At the end of the movie people started clapping as the credits went up. Does anyone know the price of a movie ticket? We paid $9.50 each..... OUCH! We paid it because it was Batman :) .
While watching the movie Anthony and I kept saying "We're going to buy this movie". Oh did I say Christian Bale (Batman) was gorgeous? Oops I couldn't remember :) . If I had to rate the movie on a scale from 1-10 with 10 being the highest I would say 10 in my book. Heath Ledger played the Joker. I started to believe him as the Joker character. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaIR9dAZRR0

Courtney's Party 2008

2008-07-13T00:31:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Apple iPod

2008-07-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

Who out there has an iPod? We do and we love them. If you ask what's on my iPod I'll tell you just about everything. My iPod consist of Smooth Jazz, Gospel, Reggae, R&B, Oldies, Country, Movies etc. If you listen to Andre and Anthony's iPod it's all Rap and instrumentals. Anthony does like to download a few different things, but just a few.

If I have questions that the boys can't help me with than it's FIELD TRIP time. Field trip time means going to the APPLE store and having one of their Apple geeks (that's what their called) help me out. Yes, they have a customer service 800 number, but nothing like going to the Apple store being around all the gadgets. Did you also know that you can have your iPod engraved (check out the picture I've pasted). I haven't done that, but I'm sure thinking about it. If you haven't checked out the Apple website here it is http://www.apple.com/ .

If anyone has a song or songs that would be a good iPod song email me carlaconroy@gmail.com the name and artist. I have to say this thought came to mind.... if I accidentally (I mean accidentally!!!!) deleted my music play list, movies, video, tv shows etc. I think I'll loose my mind. I say that because of all the time I've put into downloading. NOTE TO SELF.... back up iPod.

Cats

2008-06-22T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'm home today sitting and cuddling with my cats. I LOVE THEM! I've been a cat person for a long time. My cats seem to be relaxed and have not a care in the world. The things they care about are food, a window to look out of, a warm spot to sleep, and a clean liter box. WOW! must be nice.

We've had Wednesday (siamese) for over 15 years. We got her as a kitten. If she could talk the stories she would tell. This cat is spoiled. I talk to her when I come home, and before I go to bed.I've gotten mad at her but only for a short time. She is such a cutie.

Our 2nd cat Buster (tabby) we've had for 3 years. I went on craig's list and found him as a kitten. Buster only cuddles when he wants to. He's a skittish cat. Any unexpected movement and he's running....weird. These two cats are different yet I still love them.

June 14,2008

2008-06-15T10:38:00.000-07:00

Today would have been Granny's 83 birthday.While visiting we reflected on the pass (funny and sad),took pictures and brushed away loose dead grass from her head stone. She would have been happy to know we were there. Granny is resting at willamette cemetery in Portland. It was moving to see flowers, balloons, cards, etc. placed on grave sites. Special blessing to all resting in peace and their families.

High School Graduation

2008-06-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

Well the time has come. Andre will be graduating from Evergreen High School this month (June 2008). As the graduation date gets closer he's getting excited and nervous. I've waited for this time and now that it's here I don't think I'm ready. .... He's growing up. BIG SHOUT OUT! to all who is graduating. Love ya Andre.

CDL

2008-05-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

I DID IT! I passed both the written and driving part of the CDL. If you only knew how much studying I did. Me and my training partner studied every night for two weeks. When hearing the words "You Passed" .... exciting for both of us.

How's Everybody?

2008-05-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

How are you all? Sorry I haven't made an entry in a while. I've been busy. For those of you who haven't already heard I've started a new job. I'm now going to be a bus driver for Tri-met (public transportation). I've been working for the past week. I have my Washington CDL permit, but now I'm studying for my CDL licence. If you have a CDL licence .... I'm JEALOUS! The questions they ask, and the information you need to know is WOW! .... Did I say WOW? I know I'll appreicate it later. Hey Sharmalette... I'm like you now!

Well, I'll keep in touch. When my 6 weeks of training is up, I'll let you know how it's going. Check out the picture. FYI: The bus is 40 feet long, and 10 feet wide.

Did You Know....

2008-04-20T22:59:00.000-07:00

I subscribe to REAL SIMPLE. I came across these stories and thought I'd share. I may try the business from A to Z. Let me know if you try any of these and how it works for you.

Original Purpose: Minding your business from A to Z.

Aha! Use: Showcasing favorite photos. Attach a photograph to each card and use as a desktop photo album. Or, for the motivated, file alphabetically (pictures of Fido under F). Reward: Memories among the memos.
Written by Sharon Tanenbaum and Ashley TateAugust 2007

How to FrameGenerations of family photos make a cohesive whole when hung in identical black frames with crisp white mats. For a timeless, sophisticated look, convert color pictures to black and white. Here, eight sizes of frames are mixed. How to Arrange A large collection of photos looks best grouped tightly — no more than an inch or two apart — in a rough square or rectangle. Tip: Photo labs can enlarge, reduce, and convert color photos to black and white using either the negative (which will produce a higher-quality picture) or the print. You can manipulate photos yourself using a color photocopier. May 2002

How to FrameGather baby pictures of every family member — from newborns to Great-Grandmother. Choose three to four frame sizes in the same style and color, then mix two colors of mats. Simplicity Collection frames in gray, from 5 by 7 inches to 12 by 12 inches.
How to ArrangeButt the frames together. Start hanging from the left. With a level, check that the first is straight, then work toward the right.

Make a bulletin board from a flea-market frame and a piece of cork. Any old frame will work. Even a gaudy one — like this plastic castoff from the 1970s — looks chic when spray-painted white. Dress up thumbtacks by gluing wooden buttons to them (try Fabri-Tac, $7 at craft stores). For an even easier solution, stick photos on the refrigerator with magnetic photo corners. Tip: If you must hang photos for the long term in a humid environment, like a kitchen or bath, first have them dry-mounted at a frame shop. Dry mounting adheres the photo to a thin piece of foam, which keeps it rigid and flat.