My first circle layout

Okay, so I always do your normal 12x12 square layout and I've been wanting to try a circle layout and found this paper that I thought would be perfect for one of Abby's graduation pictures. It was a lot of fun to play with and I'm fairly pleased with the way it turned out. I'm not too sure about the title down the side ( since Scott said - let's hope they don't read it from the bottom up!) but I think I'll leave it the way it is. I haven't decided if I'm going to journal on this one or save it for another layout. I have lots of room in the red area if I decide to. Now, I've conquered a circle layout... maybe I'll try a 6x12 or some other shape or size!!

Here's my prize

I went to The Skrappin Barn and picked up my prize today. I think it is a pretty awesome prize! It is a printer/scanner/copier all in one. A pretty good thing to have when you are a scrapper and you take lots of pictures! I can't wait to get it out and see how my pictures look printed out with it.

I won, I won!!!

I got a phone call today from The Skrappin' Barn, and I was the winner of the printer!!! They had their grand opening this weekend and while I was there Friday I bought some raffle tickets and told Abby maybe I would win me something for my birthday! I am so excited and looking forward to picking it up this week!

Something scrappy to share

I finally got a scrapbook page done! It seems like I hardly have time anymore to actually get a page made! But, I had taken these pictures of Shane in the pool and wanted to show just how much he loves to swim. The minute he sees the pool up he has to be in the water. It doesn't matter to him that the water is freezing or that the outside temperature hasn't yet made it into the 80's, he has to be in that pool. Everyone, including me, is always so envious of his tan. It seems like he tans the minute the sun hits his skin!

Baseball season is in full swing!

Last night was the first chance I had gotten of taking some pictures of Matt playing ball. It was the only double header of the season for our team. Matt did a great job (as usual!) in the field and with the bat. He is doing a great job at hitting this year. Some of the pitchers can throw really hard and fast. He may have even scored every time he was on base last night. We wound up winning both games and the last game we shut the other team out. Kenny was doing a fantastic job pitching and I think Scott said he only allowed two hits. Pretty good stuff! Baseball season is so much fun!

Happy Birthday to me!!

Yesterday was my birthday and it was such a wonderful day! It really started on Thursday afternoon when I got home. Scott and Matthew had gone and picked me wildflowers and made me a bouquet and Matthew had made me a card. Then, yesterday I got up and Abby gave me a beautiful homemade card, I got to go scrapbook shopping, Abby made me a beautiful birthday cake, the family took me out to eat, and we finished up the evening going to Matthew's baseball games. Last night was their only double-header of the season and they won both games! It was the best birthday!

Abby is officially a college student!

She and Scott spent the last two days at MSU registering and scheduling her classes. The first day was pretty overwhelming for her, but she made it through it and now has the rest of the summer to sit back and relax before starting class again in August. This has been quite the experience for all of us!

Abby graduated!!!

I cannot believe that my little girl is officially out of high school. She did what she set out to do since elementary school - graduate top in her class. She was valedictorian, and a beautiful one at that. She graduated Friday, May 22, 2009. We are so very proud of her and all that she has accomplished. She will start at Missouri State University in August and she received enough scholarships and grants so her first year is completely paid for. She went to project graduation and won $65 in the Deal or No Deal game. I think all totaled she came home with about $140 cash money, a gift card worth $25, tickets to Dixie Stampede worth $100, a gift certificate for gas and various gift cards and coupons for area restaurants. She cleaned up on the prizes!! Then Saturday night we had a graduation party for her and Shawn. All this happened this weekend and yet it seems like it was weeks ago! Things have been a blur for the last couple of weeks with the school year ending and I've gotta say I am ready for the laid back time that summer vacation brings around here!

Matt's first baseball game is Friday night and I am looking forward to it. I always love to go see him play.

Gotta go for now, but I will be back soon to post more pictures from Abby's graduation and Shane's 2nd grade program!

The Shanester is a Superstar!!!

On Friday we got a phone call from Shane when he was practicing his phone number at school. After he finished talking, Mrs. Huckaby got on the phone and asked us if we would bring Shane to the alumini basketball game on Saturday night so he could shoot hoops at half time. Of course Scott said yes that we would love to see him on the court shootin' baskets. At first I was so excited for him and then the nerves set in. Would the crowd and the noise be too much? Would he go on the floor willingly? Would he come off the floor without a crying fit??? Why oh why do I worry so much about my Shaner? I guess that's one of the good things about autism - at least with Shane - nothing seems to bother him and he never gets nervous about anything or at least he never shows it. Sure he may have an outburst when things don't go just his way, but only when he's frustrated or doesn't understand what's going on.

Well, Saturday night rolls around and he seems pretty excited to be seeing a basketball game. The women were warming up and it was almost too much excitement for him seeing all the balls going towards the basket. His teachers, Miss Stokes and Mrs. Huckaby were both playing. Mrs. McBride, Mrs. Bailey, and Mrs. Caffey were all there too, and they were all wishing him good luck. At half time they announced Shane and another little boy as the entertainment. When Miss Stokes came over to get Shane, he just hopped right up and took off for the floor. The music started and the crowd was loud. Shane wasn't sure about the noise, but if there is one thing that he is comfortable with, it's basketball. He got his shot down and rarely missed. He enjoyed the crowd cheering and just had a blast! He did not fuss at all when it was time to get off the court, either. In between games he got a little upset, so Miss Stokes took him back out on the court and he made every basket. It was such a fun night and afterwards everyone was telling him what a good job he did and I'm sure he felt like a superstar!

Here are a few of the better pictures I got. For the most part they were a little fuzzy, but these weren't so bad.

Another woohoo!

Scott received a phone call from his work today saying that Abby has been selected to receive the top scholarship from Brunswick with a value of $2500. I was so happy! All of her hard work and drive to make good grades and finish at the top of her class is definitely paying off. I am so proud of her! Congratulations, Sis!