A Flowers' First
After 3 years of living at our new home, and 3 years of tilling a plot of land for a garden, we finally (and I do mean finally) got one planted. I am amazed at the fact that our backyard can produce so much food to feed our 3 boys. They love tomatoes and cantaloupe and I love lettuce and spinach. But most of all, I love to see the boys being productive and helping as part of our family. It has been worth the wait! I am excited to scrapbook these memories...

Congratulations to Pattie and Tim... Married on June 5th... the wedding was beautiful!

Batter Up!

We are ALL STARS! Yep, we beat the 5th graders! LOL It was a great way to kick off the big state wide testing week! The kids and teachers had a great time!

Think like a Scrapbooker...

One thing that I have noticed after many years of scrapbooking, is that when I pull out my camera... I go into scrapbooker mode. Every shot is a potential scrapbook page. Multiple shots can mean a 2 page layout... Does anyone know what I mean? I don't think it was a conscious thing... just something I noticed after falling in love with the craft. Now... I hate to admit... I read photography magazines, use Adobe Photoshop to make my pics look better and spend hours reading other's blogs to get ideas on how to set-up a shot or capture that perfect scrap-able moment... anyone with me? I am amazed at how much this craft has penetrated my life and the way I view my world. I actually take better photos and am more conscious of how I shoot and what I take pictures of. Look at the boys, for instance. I tried to get some "perfect" shots... but I will scrap this one as well... because this is the true nature of my boys, and I love that about them... they make me smile every day and there is nothing better... check out the Easter eggs... I am serious when I say... I am setting up shots to scrapbook... when did that happen... but I like it... I really do!

I am amazed each year at how much easier all of the traditions are to carry out. This year Easter egg coloring was fun and the eggs (with their smiley faces) are so cute! The boys had a great time and I had a moment to set up a shot for a scrapbook page... love it!

These little containers for the egg dye are so handy... came with the dye. The boys had a great time and the visual effect of the colors is awesome! Can't wait to do a layout with these Easter pictures!


On to my friend Laura... whom I spread the scrapping bug to! She now thinks in terms of scrapbooking... just look at the baby shower we threw for her. Her sister-in-law is super crafty and made the following...

Isn't that ADORABLE? She put that together with a few crafting supplies... I am super impressed! It will look amazing in Kynslie's room!



But I think my favorite were the cupcakes and the toppers they made out of scrapbook flowers, the new stamp with Kynslie's initials, and some of the best cupcakes in the world! See what I mean about becoming a better photographer through scrapbooking. I know they are not professional quality, but I am learning and absolutely love these shots!

Can't wait to meet you, Kynslie Grace! And, can't wait to see you, Kynnslee Morgan... born Thursday night at 10:09 pm. Congratulations to Casey and Lisa... can't wait to meet her! Love and kisses to all of my friends, to you, blog readers, I love you!

Ramifications of a visit to the eye doctor...

What do you say when the lady at the eye doctor's office says, "How long have you noticed he can't see?" Or, "Does he squint?" and I reply, "Uh, well... ummm... I really haven't noticed, I was supposed to bring him in because he is getting ready to go to Kindergarten." Boy, was I so busted! Not only did I not know he couldn't see, but then I couldn't even lie about it! So, they just look at me and I say, "Well, you know, with 3 boys, all under the age of 10... " What, I don't notice? Pretty much, unless it is blaringly obvious, I will probably miss it. So, then I talk to adults and they say things like, "I was in the 5th grade before they noticed I couldn't see." I heard this one this morning, "I was blind as a bat & nobody knew, even me, until I was 10" Ok, so that makes me feel better... and, he is kinda cute in those specks, with their racing stripe down the side. You know he first picked out the big white and brown spotted cheetah skin glasses! He is so funny! This is yet another excuse to scrapbook... the patch, now that makes a great picture, especially if you really know Josh! Have a great Friday!

My own personal scrap space at the Narrow Way B & B ( a whole table to myself!) My bedroom and bathroom was ten steps away... fireplace, large screen TV, elliptical machine (to work off all of those delicious meals) and the whole south side of the house was covered in glass doors and windows so the sun could shine in.
Back from the Best B&B Shelia (April's Mom)~Pattie~ME~April~ Cindy (April's friend) Judy (April's Aunt) in front of the beautiful fire place in the formal living room... look at the gorgeous Easter Eggs adorning the tree in the corner...

Oh, we could barely move after each meal... they were so delicious and the dessert... mmmm!
Here are the lovely Karen and Roger Johnson, owners of the Narrow Way B & B... they were so welcoming! http://www.thenarrowwaybb.com/ Visit their website to plan a wedding, prom dinner, honeymoon, scrapbook weekend, etc. They do it all ... I would recommend you take a look!
An example of the pages I created... the environment was so relaxed and I got so many pages done! It was a wonderful and relaxing weekend! Isn't my Noah beautiful?!?
You know by now, my need & desire for the best cake on Earth... Sweet Heart Bakery... I heart u!
Ok, I know it looks gross, maybe even a little obscene... but Josh loves to cook and makes me "Special snacks" all of the time. This particular creation was a banana, covered in PB & J on a hotdog bun... come on... he's only 4... how creative!

Oh, this bed was so soft and comfortable. The bathrooms were well stocked and we had snacks and drinks around the clock. I am so very blessed to have such good friends (who will abandon their lives for a weekend like this) and to be able to live in a country that lets us be whatever we want to be! Have a great day!!!

Buttons... buttons... who's got the buttons? Tessa Ann

Again... let me state the fact that 1. I like buttons but do not use them very often on layouts... and 2. I totally LOVE these handmade buttons from http://www.tessaann.blogspot.com/ . I will be ordering some in the near future... look... even St. Pattie's Day buttons. Sooooo cute! Makes me have even more spring fever... look out layouts... here come the buttons!

B & B- Who get's to do cool stuff like this? ME!

No, this is NOT my house... just wish-LOL! This is actually the place I get to spend a whole weekend at, scrapbooking with the girlies!!! Yes, a house designed especially for people like me, a scrapbook haven, a place to go and immerse myself in scrapbooking bliss! Next weekend, myself (and most of April's extended family-ha) will be staying at this fabulous bed and breakfast inn... to be fed, pampered (yes, there will be a massage therapist on hand!- to get rid of all of those pesky tension knots in our backs-you do know what I am saying-I know you do!) and to scrap in our pj's or grungies (muffies-Pattie calls them) and not have to lift a finger to do anything but laugh, create and relax! How awesome is that? I am extremely appreciative... I really am! The lower level of this wonderful house is a room full of cushy chairs, large tables, lots of light, a computer, printer, Cricut, cardstock and snacks, just for us... If you would like to spend a weekend here, visit Bonnie Wilcolm at Scrapbook Village or visit her website @ http://www.scrapbookvillage.net/events.html to sign you and your friends up today! I did really miss the girls at the scrapbook retreat this year though... that was the price, no retreat for the first time in 4 years... but, we will be back in the fall with silly pj's and lots of laughter! Have a great hump-day!

PS. By the way... I got an e-mail from Kelly Panacci today... I know, soooooo cool. She asked, and I sent, a picture of April, Kelly and myself to her for her Flickr account... OMG, so awesome... see, totally blessed and thankful!