AHHHH, it's fall!

I know that my friends and family who are up north may not be sharing this sentiment this week as it feels more like winter than fall in many spots. But fall has arrived to southwest Florida TODAY and it is a welcome arrival. Last week our temperatures were still in the 90s with the heat index breaking 100. So when we drove to church this morning and the thermometer in the van read 61, I was doing the happy dance.

After church we stopped at the church's Pumpkin Patch (which isn't really a patch where you go and literally pick your pumpkin but hey, we're not in Ohio anymore). The kids had already picked out small pumpkins a week or so ago but I just wasn't in mood when we had been there. But today it felt like fall and it seemed like the right place to be. So, we picked up a few small pumpkins and gourds and then came home and pulled out a few fall decoration.

I don't know how long the cooler weather will stay but we'll enjoy it while it's here!

Goodbye, old friend

Okay, I've been playing on the computer this morning and realized the announcement was made, Scenic Route is closing. I expected it to happen when they didn't put out a new relese at summer CHA. Scenic Route Blog But it's still sad when you see a company that you know and love close their doors.

Also, I had heard that Becky was leaving CK and finally read her blog postings about that topic as well. It looks like she will still be active in the scrapbooking community, just not in an official capacity with CK. I was just thinking yesterday that maybe I would pick up that subscription again, now I'm not so sure.

Well, I guess I should get ready for church. It's also my day in pre-school room for the 11:30 service. If you haven't spent an hour or so in a room with 20-25 three and four year olds, you may not be able to understand the mix of emotions that comes with this duty. They are beautiful, loving kids. They make you laugh, cray and some days want to pull your hair out. I'm hoping it's a day filled with lots of love and laughter!

Happy Halloween

It's almost October and Ines was touting this cool sight where you could give your blog a face lift so I thought I'd give it a try. It's the Cutest Blog, and you can find it here: http://http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/home.html

Now, I just need to remember to change it in November. But for now, happy halloween!

Get to school early on Wed.

I know, it's been FOREVER since I updated my blog. Somehow, life just happens and blog posts don't. But it's been a good day and there are some things that I thought were worth sharing.

First, if you have school age kids, get up and get to school a little early tomorrow, typically you want to be there 30 minutes before the bell rings. WHY you ask? It's "Meet You At The Pole" day. All across the country, students and those who care for and about them will gather around the flag pole for a time of prayer for our schools. Think about the ripple effect that could happen because Christ followers gatherered together in a show of unity, support and PRAYER for our schools.

So, on to what else is happening in my life. It's been a busy fall and I can't believe that October is almost here. YIKES! The kids are doing well in school and Rick and I are keeping busy.

But I know you are really wondering if I'm doing any scrapping these days. The answer is yes. The anniversary crop at Dee's was a great event with Vicki Boutin. It's amazing how many techniques she can cram in one class and that's right up my alley. I'm still designing for Dee's store so that keeps me creating and I've taken on some card challenges lately.

After I finished up my volunteer time at the kids school, I headed to the store for a few hours today. Rebecca , Ines and Renee have been doing sketch challenges the last couple weeks so I joined in. Today's sketch was from Creative Scrappers. You can see it here: http://creativescrappers.blogspot.com/
The added bonus was I used the sketch and knocked out my Cheap Date LO for the store this week. BONUS!!! But that meant I had to leave it and since I didn't take my camera with me, you'll have to wait to see my work.

Hope all is well with my friends and family scattered across this great nation. Remember, I'll meet you at the pole in the morning. God Bless!

Photos of NSD LOs

Here are the LOs that I did at NSD yesterday. The ramblings of my day are in the prev

ious post.

We ROCKED it--NSD was awesome!!!!

I told DH earlier in the week that I really wanted to get a lot done on NSD. He was kinf of like-whatever!!! But I have a history of having great plans for crops and then just kind of spinning my wheels. I've tried a lot of things to be productive but sometimes you've got it going on and sometimes you don't. Well, yesterday I had it going on!

I didn't get to Dee's until probably 10:30 and the first thing I had to do was snatch up as many of the yummy Prima flowers as I could. Then it was time to get to work. I had hauled in most of my stuff on Friday so that meant I could get to work quickly. I pulled out BoBunny's Luv Shack papers and the photos from our trip up to Treasure Island over spring break and BAMB I had two LOs done in just a few hours.

Then my challenge was to do a five minute LO and use a challenge I had posted from my last virtual crop to use only two pieces of paper. I didn't really get it done in five minutes but it was QUICK and met the two sheets of paper criteria. I LOVE the Scenic Route strip papers to do quick easy LOs and this was part of the kit Dee used for the crop. It was Scenic Route's Garden Grove collection (and then I won the entire collection becuase I was the last scrapper cropping-at about 11:30 p.m. I told you I had it going on!)

Rebecca and I are both trying to use some of out Basic Grey collection so that's what I went to next. I had picked up some of the Lime Rickey collection and it's fun colors were a natural fit for some photos of the kids waiting in the back of the truck for me to get home so they could nail me with some water bombs. Then I pulled out some of those fun lollipop Primas and used them with BG Urban Prairie for some Esater pics.

Jenni had a super cute LO with some new Websters Pages so I then made my version of it with some photos that I hadn't planned to scrap but they worked great. Although I had to go and get some Prima caboodles to finish it up-I hadn't grabbed those on my morning rush through the store.

Then I wrapped up my day with a couple more BoBunny projects. Abbey Road and Luv Shack were the last two collections I used and I think they turned out super cute. I had great photos to work with and gosh, both LOs have lots of bling and flowers. Go figure!

Did I mention I had a great day-not just a productive one. What a great bunch of women-the creative juices were flowing and we just had FUN. No drama or pesky kids or hubbies-just a great day of scrapping fun!!!! Can't EVERYDAY be NSD?!?!

Spring Break

The first week of spring break has come to a close and the kids have today and tomorrow off before heading back to school on Wednesday. Rick's parents were here for a short visit and the weather was really cool while they were in town. So, no beach visits or swimming but we did play some mini-golf and rode the go carts at Mike Greenwells. Lots of Uno and Go Fish-and lots of happy dances every time Emily won (which was most of the time). And Craig won the Monopoly Game-he cleaned up with those four railroads this time. After we dropped Grandma and Grandpa off at the airport on Thursday, we made a trip to Build a Bear (part of Emily's birthday present).

We had our Easter Egg hunt at church on Saturday and then Emily's birthday party Saturday night. Just a note on that. If you are going to give 15 kids water blasters, you'd better be ready to get wet and be a good sport about it. They had a good time splashing and did manage to leave a little water in the pool.

We had a quiet Easter. Church and Sunday school followed by a lazy afternoon. Here are some photos from the last week before we head up towards Tampa to meet some friends from Ohio today.

Cub Scout Night

Yep, another Thursday is upon us and that means it's Cub Scout night. My sister, Jennifer, told me a while back to start saving empty frosting containers because they are great for a little Easter craft for the boys. So, I have them lined up on my kitchen counter and I'm not sure what she had in mind for them. But that's okay, becuase we're going to use them to make bunnies. (Unless she calls with a better idea before we leave). We're going to cover them with cottonballs, add some wiggly eyes, pipe cleaner wiskers, ears and a tail and call it good.

Then we're going to search for little chocolate eggs to put in them. Come on, how many plastic eggs do you think you can fit in a frosting container-so we're going small. Plus, it will be fun to see if they can change the scope of what they are looking for. It makes me think of playing the find the thimble game when I was young. There are LOTS of places in a room to hide a thimble-and those little chocolate eggs are about the same size.

Photo added of the kids with their little bunnies getting ready to find some very little eggs.

The story teller takes all!

The Peoples Choice award for the CS virtual crop went to a layout that Sabrina did as part of a journaling challenge. It is a great layout about the BRD gene that manifests itself in the desire to eat BREAD. I could relate on many levels and fear I may have this same gene lurking in my DNA. One of my fondest memories of a trip to London in college is hanging out with a friend who had graduated a year earlier, munching on a loaf of crusty bread and chunk of cheese exploring some little corner of London. I couldn't tell you what corner of London that was but I can tell you that was one awesome loaf of bread.

I digress-bread will do that to me. I love stories about the little things in our lives that give it character and shape our world. Last year's Peoples Choice winner was also a LO that was created as part of a journaling challenge. There aren't usually too many people that actually DO the journaling challenge, but I think I will ALWAYS include one because when someone sits down and spends the time to recount those little memories, you can't help but be drawn in.

So, here's my funny little story from my life. The kids didn't have school on Friday so I took them to the Naples Zoo. We left early, stopped at Dunkin Donuts, and were in the zoo by 9:30. There weren't too many people there yet and some of the animals weren't even out of their cages. At least the Tigers weren't-so we headed to the next exhibit which is the lions. The lion was perched on the top of his rock and the lioness was stretched out on the ledge beneath him. We stood at the fence watching and he got up and walked toward the edge of the cage (about 10 feet in front of the fence we were standing at). We were thinking-cool-come over and let us get a good look at you. Then, he turned his back and SPRAYED us. In case you're wondering how far a lion can spray-it's the distance between his cage and our viewing fence. I'm guessing it was about 12 feet or so. Just ask Emily-she caught a splash on her leg. She handled it well and it was the joke of the weekend. How many people can say they've been sprayed by a lion? It was so gross-thank goodness it was covered in laughter and only added to our day.

So, the next time you're heading to the zoo-watch out for those big cats!

Another VC comes to a close

Well, sort of. The last challenge for the Project Scrapway! virtual crop was posted this morning but I've given everyone until midnight on Wed. to post their creations. I'll pull the doorprize winners tomorrow and then we will vote on the Peoples Choice award at the end of the week. It will be intersting to see which LO will take home the vote this year.

We had a conference yesterday in Ft. Myers on childrens ministry. It was the first time for this event and what a great start. Over 220 people from 17 different churches coming together to share about ministering to children. WOW! I know I walked out feeling refreshed and renewed about my time with the prescoolers. And had some great new ideas about how to engage them. Nothing like being able to take what you learn and put it to the test-because today was my Sunday. We sang the "finger on the wall" song as we walked to worship and played "Jesus Loves....You" (instead of duck, duck, goose.) Sometimes the fourth Sunday of the month is a little wonky and sometimes we are without a worship leader and a storyteller. But not today! Sam (who is 12) is now leading the worship and music and Misty is our storyteller. And they both did a GREAT job.

Oh, and I got a fun new T-shirt yesterday. And one of my preschoolers came in wearing the same shirt today. Lime green. And it says "Jesus Rocks." I think it's going to be my Sunday school shirt for a while. I debated about the "God is Good" shirt-which is how Grace Place begins every week-but I really liked the lime green. Maybe there is a scrapbook page in that-somewhere.

One of the challenges for the crop was to use paper from the manufacturer that you have the MOST. Well, that would be Basic Grey for me-I have a lot that would tie for second place but BG is one I've been collecting for YEARS. Not really USING-but collecting. Well, here's a LO I did with their Color Me Silly collection. The photo is Emily at Christmas with an art board she opened.

Have a good week and remember JESUS ROCKS!

The next Virtual Crop

I have been a member of Columbus Scrappers, an on-line group of scrappers from Columbus, Ohio with a passion for scrapbooking and a special dedication to community service. When I moved to Florida two years ago, I wanted to stay involved with this group of friends and took on the role of coordinating their virtual crops. It's been a great fit for me and something I look forward to doing twice a year. I run the VCs the same weekends that they have their spring retreats so everyone that couldn't go to the retreat still has the opportunity to be part of something fun. You can join in the fun at www.columbusscrappers.org. The challenges will start tomorrow and follow the retreat theme of Project Scrapway!

Home Again!

The down side of taking a few days to go west skiing is always the trip home. Not so much the fact that you have to actually GO home, just that you have to GET home. This time, on top of the two hour time difference, we had to spring ahead an hour. Add to that having a three hour layover in Houston and it was a whole day traveling. But I'm home again-and hoping this cold doesn't end up as bronchitis.

I have to say I was pretty dissapointed with the scrapbook stores I visited while in Salt Lake. Maybe I gave up too soon, but it was good to be back at Dee's with new product waiting for me. New lines from BoBunny and Pink Paislee arrived and I started playing yesterday. I need to get some photos printed and get busy.

Oh yeah, as far as the skiing goes, it was a good trip. We hit Brighton, Alta and Solitude. (They skied Snowbird on Wednesday and conditions were poor so it was a good day to travel.) We had some fresh snow so we got to play in a little of that Utah powder on Thursday and Friday. No fresh snow for Saturday but there was plenty to ski and no lift lines to hang us up.

That new paper is calling...have to scrap!

Latest Layouts

Yes, I've been scrapping! I thought I would share my latest projects but can't take too long. I have to get to the store and there are creative ideas jumping around my brain this morning that are just waiting to take life in my next project.

Best Dressed uses some new PDQ pages that we will be getting into the store soon.

Beauty uses PP from Fancy Pants-again, a new line we will be getting into the store soon.

Take Aim just cracks me up. The photo is of my DD lauching a a rubber lizard by his tail. Poor lizard. The little frog die cut is from one of the older lines from Fancy Pants and it says leapin lizard all around the cute frog. The pp is the Summer Soiree line from Fancy Pants is is one of my current favorites. Letters are from MM and AC.

Manic Monday

Today's to-do list feels a tad bit long. Criag qualified for the full-time gifted program and it is only offered at three schools in our zone. So, today I need to try and make some sense out of our options, visit schools and then go to the school choice office to get paper work submitted. The task is complicated by the fact that I also need to decide if Emily will transfer schools along with Craig or stay at Hancock Creek.

I haven't made much progress on cleaning up the guest bedroom. And Monday is the day I strip the beds and try to attack the laundry pile. But before I go off on my little frenzy of things to do, I just need to share how awesome God is. A year ago, I took a class at church and met Kristen. We also worked together during VBS over the summer. Well, starting Labor Day weekend, she was having severe headaches. Since that time, it was discovered she had a tuomr in her sinus cavity and she did chemo and radition therapy. That didn't help and two weeks ago, Kristen had brain surgery to get access to the sinus cavity. Pretty scarry stuff-kind of like our own episode of Grey's Anatomy. The surgery went as planned and Kristen came home over the weekend. She enjoyed the day yesterday watching her children play (they are 1, 4 and 5). So yes, I think God is pretty awesome. We have been praying for Kristen and continue to do so. Prayers for good pathology reports-that they got all of the cancer-and that she continues to heal and has no infection. Praise good, for He is good!

Yesterday I went to the store crop at Dee's. Yes, she always goes beyond herself for the theme crops. This month's theme was "Flirty" and she had a very cute line from BoBunny ordered. Part of the order arrived a week ago but the paper didn't come. She called the supplier and it was promised on Friday. When I opened up the box, I knew she wasn't going to be happy. Only TWO of the SIX papers were there. UGH!!!

But the shipment from Basic Grey came that day and the crop was saved. The Porcelain collection debuted in the store as the kit for the crop and it didn't disappoint. The challenge for the evening was to use an empty toilet paper roll and make a gift card holder. Yes, a gift card fits right inside and there's room to embellish the end and personalize it. What a great way to use your scraps and add a little something to the ever popular present, the gift card.

I did several layouts throughout the day including:
Fancy Pants Summer Soiree (the Feb. Chalenge kit)
Fancy Pants -another new line coming to the store soon
PDQ-more new paper coming in soon
Baic Grey Porcelain collection
Dream Streets for a staff pick display (scraplifted from Scrapbook Trends)
October Afternoon-monsters

As I reflect on what I did, I just realized that most of these layouts feature pictures of Emily. I have photos of Craig's birthday trip to Disney and his party I need to scrap. There are also photos from our Cub Scout camping weekend and the Pine Wood Derby that I need to scrap. Maybe I should have brought my supplies home with me after all.

Umm, no! Probably best to get back to cleaning up this joint!

Time to Tidy Up

My parents and sister will be arriving in a week and a half and it's time to tidy up this place. We went camping with the Cub Scouts last weekend and I still have camping gear all over the place. It felt like I did a ton of laundry on Monday but there's a new pile I'm trying to get through today. I've mowed the lawn and been to the grocery store (trying to stock up and have an idea of meals while everyone is here). Here are some of the things I'm thinking of for meals:

Prime Rib (in the freezer and ready to prepare)
Pork Loin (in the freezer-need to decide how we want to fix it)
Turkey (yep, that too is in the freezer)
Meatballs (in the freezer and we can have them as subs or with spaghetti)
Chicken Parm (haven't made in a while and need to get ingredients)
Chicken Wings (need to find my favorite sauce and haven't seen it in a while)

I'm sure we'll grill some too:
brats and hot dogs
hamurgers
fish-maybe Rick and Dad will catch some while they're here

Not sure what else I'll come up with. Heck, I'm not sure what we're having for dinner tonight.

I need to get the guest bedroom cleaned out-again. It seems to be the great dumping ground for everything. I've found some good birthday presents for future parties that I need to find a home for. They are laying in there and the kids may decide they should claim them as their own if I don't get the put away soon.

I need to run to the post office after I get the kids at the bus stop. There's a nice box of goodies I have ready to go to Shannon. I know she'll be excited to get some new scrapbooking supplies. I know how depressing it was when I first moved here and didn't know where the good scrapbooking stores were. I did make a dent in my stash that winter-but now I've gone the other way and have been adding to it. It's alwyas fun to have something new.

Getting Started

I've thought about having a blog for a while and figured it was time. Since we are so far from family and friends, I thought this might be a fun way to share some of the things going on in Florida. I don't know exactly what this blog will become. A way to share some of my creative endeavors, updates on the family and our adventures, or maybe just the ramblings of a crazed woman. Who knows. But thanks for joining and let's enjoy the ride!