ABC's of Summer Crop at MSW

Woohoo! Just what I need on these hot summer days! Starting August 1, My Sketch World is having their 2nd annual - ABC's of summer -month long crop. New challenges will be posted every day alternating between layout and cards, with a couple of catch up days thrown in. Here's where you can find out all the information.

http://www.mysketchworld.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=105&t=6098

Another Christmas layout

Here is another Christmas layout I made for the Christmas in July crop over at AWDML's design team blog. The challenge for this layout was to use the sketch provided by Lucy Chesna and it needed to be about a Christmas memory. Since Shawn proposing to Abby on Christmas morning this last Christmas morning was still somewhat fresh in the old memory bank, I decided to make a layout about it. I have had a lot of fun this last week going back and doing Christmas layouts. They have all been from this past Christmas and I'm glad to finally be getting them done!

I used MME - The Merry Days of Christmas papers and some brads from The Paper Studio.

It's Christmas in July

It's Christmas in July over at AWDML's design team blog. They had a crop going on July 12 - 16, with some really great challenges posted each day. They extended the deadline to get the challenges done to July 26, and I thought what better time to get some Christmas layouts done. This layout is for the first challenge - to make a layout about a holiday tradition. One of my favorite traditions is decorating the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. Now that the kids are older, they do all the decorating themselves. I love being able to just sit back and watch them create a masterpiece. This past Christmas Shawn even came over and helped decorate. It makes me so happy to see the kids having fun.

For this layout I used MME Be Merry christmas papers, some Doodlebug alphabets, and the apron lace border punch and it is based on a sketch by Allison Davis.

Two of a kind

This was one of those happy surprises when I got my pictures back from going camping. I had taken this picture from quite a distance away of Scott and Shane as they were walking back to the playground from the bathroom. At the time I had no idea of what I had captured. Everybody keeps telling us that Shane looks more and more like his Daddy . This picture just proves that point. Here they are in the same color swim trunks, both in their sandals, both in step with each other, arms hanging down just alike, heads down as they walk along...Shane just looks like a mini version of his Daddy!

This layout was based on a sketch, thanks to Giselle, over at Papermice. I used American Crafts and Fancy Pants patterned paper, thickers and Doodlebug letters, buttons and brads from Making Memories.

Camping at Nemo Landing

What's gonna happen? Two posts in two days? We've had a lot going on and I am actually taking the time to get it down.

We went camping again at Pomme de Terre lake on the 5th and 6th. I know, it's not a long time camping, but with Shane it's about all we can manage. And really two days of being away from air conditioning, beds, and all the comforts of home is long enough. That and the rain didn't help matters any. We got down to the lake right after noon and the campsite was already empty. Scott and I decided to set up camp while Abby, Shawn, Matthew, and Shane headed to the lake to swim. I love our campsite being so close to the lake - just a short walk and you're there! The lake was pretty crowded when we first got there, but cleared out pretty quick.

We did get rained on Monday evening. It didn't last long, but it didn't take long for Shane to decide he was ready for home either. He is definitely not an outdoor person unless he is in the water. Shawn, Abby, and Matthew wanted to go swimming while it poured down rain. Since it wasn't lightning or thundering we let them go. They stayed down in the water the whole time it rained. Matthew thought it was really cool going underwater and listening to the rain hit the water. Turns out Abby spent most of the time under the shelter house roof!

That evening we enjoyed smores and playing cards. It didn't take Shane long to fall asleep. He had had a long day filled with swimming and playing on the playground. That along with boredom on his part made for a fairly early evening. The air mattress the kids slept on lost air during the night and by morning they were pretty much sleeping on the ground. I don't think any of them got a lot of sleep. Even Matthew, who can sleep through just about anything, wasn't happy when he got up! The birds woke me up about 4 a.m. with their singing. It sounded beautiful, but I could have used a couple more hours of sleep! We were all up and having breakfast by 6:30 and back down to the lake for an early morning swim soon thereafter. Once again we had the lake to ourselves that early. Well except for the geese. They were exploring the beach again.

Abby found a few more rocks to add to her collection from last year. Matthew stuck to Shawn like glue the whole time. I don't think he ever got far from him the whole time. The clouds started rolling in again and we decided it was time to head home. Just in time too. As we were pulling out of the campground it was starting to rain.

It was another fun camping trip and I'm sure we'll do it again next year. Maybe we'll push our luck and try for 3 days!

Fun on the 4th

This summer seems to be flying by! We're already into July and it always seems like after the 4th time really goes by fast! I noticed when I went to Wal-Mart today that the school supplies were front and center. I really don't know if I'm ready for that!

We had all the family out to our house for the 4th of July this year. Everybody was able to make it, so the night was filled with family, food, fireworks, and fun! We had bar-b-qued burgers (thanks to the Noyes'), hot dogs, chips, homemade ice cream (thanks to the Paulsen's), and the best homemade cookies (thanks to Abby and Aunt Kay)! I do believe that Aunt Kay makes the best chocolate chip cookies on the planet!

Shane usually loves the 4th and this year was no exception. Things were a little crazy for him with having everyone over and he chose to stay inside and watch the fireworks from the window. He did come out a time or two, but I think the reason he stayed in the house was so he could eat Aunt Kay's cookies. Everytime I checked on him he had a cookie in each hand!

Sarah and Katie enjoyed getting to spend time with Matthew, Abby enjoyed getting to talk with April and play with Bailey, and Bailey fell in love with Otis. She constantly wanted to pet, kiss, and try to ride him.

A lot of the kids - and some of the adults- played wiffle ball - turns out Kelsey is quite the hitter. They all had fun hitting the ball and running the bases.

Bailey really liked the sparklers. The only problem was she wanted the end with the fire on it instead of the right end to hold! We got a kick out of watching her stomp on the poppers. She can flat stomp! The fireworks display was non stop for about a half an hour. Scott, Shawn, Don, and Michael kept things moving on!

It was such a fun night and I hope we get the chance to do it all again next year!