life and cards!!

Hello Friends.
Blogging takes the back seat to all the fun. I just can't seem to fit blogging into the day. I have been so busy with the kids and lia sophia that I haven't had much time to paper craft. I seem to be swamped with other things.
Last weekend was the Microsoft Picnic. It was so much fun as usual and with over 200 pictures this year and then tripled because I haven't scrapped any of the years I am not sure what I will do with all those pics. But it sure was fun this year. The kids really loved the BMX motor bike riders that did some really cool tricks. I got the flips with my camera and if I did a slide show you could see it all yourself. What fun.
Our washer and dryer we bought in September 07 has had a SLLLOOOOWWWW leak that dripped dripped dripped down the wall until the ceiling in the garage in July dripped dripped dripped and decided to rain and pour!! We found the culprit to be that connection behind the washer and immediately took action. Well once the insurance companies decided we decided to fix it ourselves to save a little money. So we pulled and cut the damaged portion of the flooring up and it took us 7 hours just do a 34" x 36" section. It was 2 inches thick and didn't want to come out of it's place. It was so hard. Many of you have seen my husband and he is strong- we just knew we would pull up the floor and have the whole process done in our one day. But now we have the new plywood down and we will finish it this weekend. We are going to put slate down and I am excited about how nice it will look but not too excited about all the work. I am just glad we work so well together.
But before we finish the floor.... This Friday we have our homestudy for Kaelyn and Brookelyn's adoption by Dalton. We are so excited. The termination hearing was by far one of the most important days thus far. But the day of finalization will be even BETTER!!! It just keeps getting closer. Thank you Jesus!!

My little brother and his wife bought their first home and closed on it just the other day. I sat down and made a cute card for them. I loved this set when it debuted in the catalog some time ago. But never really used it as much as I thought I would. I paper pieced all the boxes with some fun paper I got at M's- it is a K&Company stack. I also used liquid glass from CTMH on the flower vase. The chipboard letters are their last name initials and I covered the letters with coordinating paper.






Here is another fun card I made. Using a new set from the Purple Turtle Stamp Shoppe (http://www.purpleturtlestamps.com) It is called Space Cadet. I just love it. I random stamped a whole sheet of white card stock with circles from a solo's set and then the fun little stamps in the Space set. I used Holiday Red, Topiary, Sunflower, and Dutch Blue (CTMH)Was making it for a birthday card but then decided my hubby would like the spontaneous card and the cute little sentiment of "Fly me to the moon." And I was right. I will just have to make some more and use the number to replace the sentiment for a cute birthday card!!





Then one last one. I went to the A Muse store in Seattle during the Women of Faith weekend and got this cute little set called Stud Muffin... it is this little mouse with a dozen sentiments to go along with it. I decided to leave this one blank until I need just the occasion to use it. But I think it is so cute. And I NEED every color in these little polka dot cards too.




I hope you enjoy.

Family Fun and a Card...

Now that I have recovered from the weekend and done my laundry and cleaned house I can post about the weekend...
Well, we had a blast at the ocean this weekend. It was beautiful and just so fun to get away from everyday life and spend great quality time all together. Our church does an anual Family Camp at Ocean Shores and I am so glad we went. I have some great pictures to share with you. The time we spent down at the beach was really pretty. It was so windy and the fog was still hovering over part of the beach just before the water. From the room it looked as though the wind was blowing the sand. But when we got down there we realized it was fog!! So silly.
Ethan was absolutely enthralled with the beach and sand. He at first didn't so much like the feel of the sand in his toes or the wet soft packed sand moving beneath him but once he let go of it all he just loved it. We hunted for sea shells and found sand dollars and crabs. He brought back a bucket of water and half crab shells to show Kae and Brooke and told them his went crabbin'... It was so fun.
The temperature was just perfect too. It was only about 65 during the day so a light jacket was definately a plus but even still down on the beach in the sun it felt perfect!! The wind made it a definate place to bring your kites. The kids or should I say DAD had so much fun flying the kites. Even when one got off it's holder D went and ran for it and put it all back together. We can't wait to go back.

Dalton flying the kites with the kids...


I am so CUTE!!


The boys walking in the fog...


"I am going to fill the bucket with the big wave guys!!"


"Look at the crab sleeping mom" He didn't know it was only the top half of the shell.


The waves started coming further, faster, and stronger... the kids loved jumping over each roll. There was no swimming allowed so this was as good as it got.


Dalton and I...


Brookelyn and I...


Kaelyn and Brookelyn playing together...


Brookelyn had been stamping for fun before we left for the weekend and was using one of my favorite old wooden sets I saved. I had to make a card using it. Not a typical catd I would make and I am not really sure where the idea even came from but it is a cutie.

Thanks for looking.

Happy Friday!!

We are leaving for the weekend for Family Camp with the church. We get to go play at Ocean Shores. We are all very excited to get away for a few days and just be together and play. So it's early here and I am just getting ready to finish packing and water my plants. Our back patio and garden is just looking so spectacular with all the pretty flowers and plants that are spilling over and growing so full and lush. I love it. Have a great weekend and enjoy my view as I drink my coffee!!

Just last month they were like this...


And now...

Catch up time...

So I guess it appears I fell off the earth. I am so sorry to not post in such a long time. Summer life around here with three busy bees is just really busy. That and it is really hot in my craft room lately. Which leaves me to no creating and little computer time. My room catches the afternoon sun.. and no A/C up here in the great Northwest. Well we could have it but what for?? A couple of hot days in the summer doesn't seem worth it.

Our family had a GREAT 4th. We did a fun parade with the neighborhood. I have to show my youngest 2 who rode their decorated bikes...




Then it was a great day of BBQ in the park, face painting, and water balloon fights. The whole day was one of many clouds and a wonder of when would it pour but our few sunbreaks were beautiful. I managed to even get a picture of the little break we got!! Fireworks and Smores topped off the night. It was truly a great day and I hope you had fun too.









That weekend was the Tahoma All Stars tournament. Kaelyn played great. But the first pitch of the second game took Kaelyn out for a few innings. He swung the bat and the ball hit the bat, the home plate, and then his right eye... we had quite the scare but he is okay. Here is a picture of his souvenir from the weekend.



I did get some new stamps that I ordered from Addicted to Scrapbooking... click the link on the right side bar if you want FAST ship and GREAT prices. I ordered and received my stamps in 1- yes 1 day. I was shocked. But even better was I got my first MFT stamp set and my favorite ever set of CUPCAKES!!! I love them. On the cupcake close up you will see the liquid glass and stickles weren't quite dry yet as I took the photo. I can't wait to share with you the cards so I will quit the idle chatter and share with you now...

MFT's Rain or Shine




Hero Arts Cupcakes