Things that have happened in May

There are a bunch of things that I keep meaning to blog about, but then don’t get around to so I’m just going to start a list and add to it for a while as I think of them.

*Sarah is done with potty training! whoo hoo! She’s gone over two weeks now without an ‘accident’ so I think she has finally gotten it down. She likes to say ‘I do it myself’ when I go to check on her. She’s even stayed dry overnight except for a couple of mornings.

journaling:   Once again it wasn’t quick or easy, but Sarah is finally done with potty-training and wearing her Pony underpants. She likes to tell us that she is a big kid now, and we agree that we don’t have any babies in our house any more. We are very proud of our big girl.
credits: by Tania Cordova Shaw: Happy Accident, Grow Blossom Fly, Today Was; P52 Week 20 template by Tracy Blankenship at FunkyPlaygroundDesigns; Clipping Masks Set 3 by Kim Hill at cgessentials; pink string from 365: International Edition Take 2 by Monica Guerra Leiria (mgl); blue string from 8 Days a Week by Mel Wilson; alpha from Every Day by Jen Yorko; Alphapalooza Clearly Mixed by Corina Nielsen at funkyplaygrouddesigns; date label from Shabby Week by Chris Grieser
fonts: CK Becky

*May 10- It's overcast and threatening to rain, but we took advantage of the clouds to get some of the yard cleanup done that we had been putting off. There is still more to do in the back to do, but I had had enough and stopped after I got the majority of it done. Mark turned the water on to the sprinkler system so we could water tonight and the pipe in the basement bathroom ceiling held for all of three minutes before splitting. So, he has to rip out the ceiling down there again to fix it, and he and the kids are going to take turns getting the lawn watered tonight. Why he just doesn't put out a sprinkler I don't know. Beth and I found one tossed in some of the bushes I was trimming from last year :P  I guess he wants to torture the kids a bit- I get out of helping with that since it is mother's day LOL – update on this: the pipe is fixed and the sprinkler system working, but the hole in the ceiling isn’t fixed. Since he will be out of town for 10 days in a week, I have a feeling this isn’t going to be done right away. It’s a good thing the girls don’t use the shower down there.

*Carissa has officially passed Tap 4 as of May8! Way to go, Carissa!

* Things are wrapping up with both school and dance. This next week is field days  at the elementary school and putting together the twins’ science projects posters. Brenna is counting down the days until she is officially a first-grader. Yes, she will be passing. She worked hard and is doing well. There are things we will need to keep working on over the summer to build up her confidence in herself more, but we can certainly do that. Her teacher said to keep doing whatever it was we have been doing. Yeah Brenna!

*Saturday (yesterday, May 16) started out not so good- stumbled over my own stupid feet and whacked my little toe on my right foot on a chair leg. I'm pretty sure the bone is cracked. I do not have a good history with my toes and ankles, and that seems like that will follow me all of my days <sigh> it isn't too badly swollen but one side is an ugly purple color and it hurts like the dickens. Nothing to do but tape it up and try to stay off of it. My left ankle - the one I strained so badly last January- has been aching off and on lately too for some reason, though I can't think of anything I've done to it lately. 

*We went up to Denver yesterday to use our science museum membership one more time before it expires at the end of the month. That was fun, everyone had a good time there even though the special exhibit was pretty crowded because it was the weekend. Then we went to a pizza place for dinner where one kid after the other had a meltdown. We were intending to go to the drag races after dinner, but decided with all of the pouting, fussing and fighting that it wasn't that appealing any more. They really raised the cost for family members who weren't covered by the wrist bands that two of the girls earned so that was a factor too. We have passes to another place - some NASCAR track in Denver - that three of them earned that are good through September, so we promised we would do that another summer weekend. Thankfully they were all OK with that.

and the other layouts that I got done this week.

journaling: We decided to do something different this year for Bryce’s birthday. Since all of the teenagers are into videogames these days, our son included, we took them to the IT’Z Family Fun Center for several hours of unlimited videogames. They earned tickets they could exchange for gifts from the shop. There were fun things for kids of all ages to do, so the whole family had a great time celebrating Bryce’s birthday. April 24, 2009
credits: FEMNZ April Grab Bag at scrapbookgraphics; Double Takes Set #1 by Hillary Heidelberg at scrapbookgraphics
fonts: Times New Roman

journaling: We are standing next to the footprint of a sauropod, one of over 1300 documented dinosaur footprints in the Picketwire Canyon in Colorado. History is all around us, we just have to be willing to look for it.
credits: everything at FunkyPlaygroundDesigns: PreHIStoric Play and PreHIStoric Play Addon by Valorie Brown and Laura Bratcher, Tiny Tabs by Laura Bratcher, P52 Week 19 template by Tracy Blankenship
fonts: SBC Distressed Typewriter

journaling: Grandmama took us all to see the dinosaur tracks in Picketwire Canyon. The early morning wakeup and bumpy ride down into the canyon was worth it. It was amazing to see where dinosaurs had walked preserved in the hardened mud. Experiencing history firsthand is one of the best ways to learn it.
credits: Photo Overload 1 by Hillary Heidelberg at scrapbookgraphics; Gumnut Gully by Flergs at scrapbookgraphics
fonts: SBC Distressed Typewriter, SP Wonderful Wendy

journaling:  Sarah had been asking for days to blow bubbles. Finally it was warm and dry enough to go out and let her give it a try. She was persistent and didn’t give up, and after nearly half a bottle of bubble solution she was finally able to blow bubbles all by herself.
credits: Glorious Spring by Mystique at scrapbookgraphics; Jumbo Watermasks Set 1 by Hillary Heidelberg at scrapbookgraphics; Bubble overlays by Antonio Rafaello
fonts: CK Ali's Writing, SP Wonderful Wendy
keywords: spring blow bubbles

and a layout for the circle journal project I’ve been working on for a long time. Yes, we are moving really slowly with this project. I’m the only one who is closed to finishing all of the layouts so far. Cassie wanted us to scrap what was outside of our front door- which is of course Pikes Peak for me.

journaling: I love seeing Pikes Peak from my house and van windows. Each day the view is slightly different- the clouds hanging over it, a weather system approaching from the west, or just the way the sunlight shows off the peaks and valleys of the smaller mountains surrounding it.
Picture taken April 7, 2009
credits: At scrapbookgraphics: Wishes and Angel's World by Line, Folded Overlay Templates, A Fine Mess of Grids, Curlies Alpha by Birgit Kerr, Autumn Glory by Birgit Kerr and Flergs (fall leaf overlay), The Kiss of the Winter Princess by Glam Fairy, Impressions of Heritage alpha by Flergs; Purple flowers from Delicate Flowers by Line Designs for Digital Artist Magazine May 2009; Trixi Pix by Jessica Bolton; Sprung by Creashens from DigiFiles 4; Messy Glitter Sprays by Micheline Martin from Digifiles 3; DailyDigi kit by VeraLim from Digifiles 1; aspen leaves by me
fonts: CK Cursive and CK Becky

and an accompanying page that shows some of the different ‘moods’ of the mountain.

journaling:   Each day brings  a new view of the mountain that defines our city skyline. Beautiful colors begin and end the day and a glance towards the mountain top gives you a hint at what the weather will hold in the next few minutes.
credits: At scrapbookgraphics: Wishes by Line, A Fine Mess of Grids by Birgit Kerr, Impressions of Heritage alpha by Flergs; NSD09 Template by Jen Caputo; grid paper from Just Another Memory by Jessica Bolton; Messy Glitter Sprays by Micheline Martin from Digifiles 3; Layered Up In You- rounded by Lauren Grier at SweetShoppeDesigns
fonts: LD Letterpress, CK Becky

journaling: I’ve been seeing photos from around the world for two months of spring flowers.  The warm weather comes late in the seaon here, but it has finally arrived in Colorado. The neighborhood is filled with colorful blooms.
credits: Delight in Photographs 3 by Jessica Bolton; Layered Up in You - Borders by Lauren Grier at sweetShoppeDesigns
fonts: CK Becky

I think there were more things I was wanting to write, but I can’t remember what they were and I can’t find the list I made, so I’ll just say goodnight.

weekend layouts

I did this layout for the SussieM playday at SBG tomorrow (I'm cheating and posting it just a wee bit early since Mondays are so busy it is hard to upload at certain sites). I pulled out one of Sarah's newborn portraits to go with the gorgeous Angelic kit. It could be used for love themed layouts too- a very versatile kit and the detail on the elements and papers is amazing!

credits: Angelic by Sussie M at scrapbookgraphics.com, Playing with Word Art 7 and 8 by Natali Designs at scrapbookgrphics.com; portrait by Roseanne Miske Photography
fonts: TXT Sloppy Script

Ms. Sarah loves cupcakes.... she hadn't eaten dinner in days because she just didn't like the look of what I was serving, but as long as there were cupcakes left for dessert last week we didn't have any problems at dinner time. I guess I need to make some more cupcakes this week ;)

journaling: I was taking pictures of the cupcake before I started to eat it and when I moved the camera up a little I see Sarah laying on the table watching the delicious cupcake closely. So, I invite her to pose for a few pictures with the coveted cupcake. She hams it up for me for several minutes, and I let her reach for the cupcake for a photo. The next thing I know, the cupcake is in her hands and she is taking a big bite out of the chocolate frosting- what a sneaky girl!
credits: Impressions Of Delight by Scrapbookgraphics Designers at scrapbookgraphics; A Little Eclectic 5 by Janet Phillips; Funny Stitches by Natali at scrapbookgraphics; cupcakes by Flergs (blog freebie); fonts: CK Chocolate Sundae, CK Extra

and I spent a lot of Friday night and Saturday putting together this page for the Circle Journal that the BBB ladies started last year. It's been the full year we allotted for the project and none of us are done yet, but we're easy going and that doesn't matter. We'll keep working on it until it's all done. I think I've done the most pages at this point with 8 of the 12 done so far. This page is for Tania's topic where we were supposed to scrap a quote about art. I chose this one:
Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed: I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that's why I made works of art. -Felix Gonzalez-Torres

I was trying to represent some of the types of artistic things I've one over the years both to amuse and express myself- sewing, beading, I had a brief love of macrame after summer camp one year, string art of all sorts over the years (remember the friendship bracelets, and decorating barretts by weaving ribbons around them?), cross-stitch, painting- mainly on ceramic pieces I spent lots of time pouring and cleaning, paper crafts of all sorts, scrapbooking- both paper and digital, and flower arranging among others.

credits:
by Nancie Rowe Janitz at scrapartist: Found Brushes, ATC Frames 2, Digital Distress Kit, Bits of History, PDQ

Autumn Glory Overlays, PDQ Bella Overlays, PDQ Canvas
Christine Smith at digitals: A Brush with Tea
Lauren Grier: Stroked Brushes
Weeds & Wildflowers: Paper Flowers, blue flourish from Morning Glory
Jen Wilson: Stitched Hearts and Arrows
AdronsCatherine: Once Upon a Sewing Room
strings: by kahamart IO Joy CTs addon, Flergs Troublemaker, Digifiles 1 from The Daily Digi
Rachel Young at scrapartist: frayed fabric templates
Kim Broedelet at DSO: Vintage Overlays 2 and 3
Jaime Young at FPD: Funky and Shabby buttons
Kim Jensen: pearls from Paradise Lost
Sophia Sarducci: Dimestore Beads, Nona Maria's Sewing Basket
Needles- Simplicity by Holly McCaig and Chocolate Covered Cherries by MGLscraps at scrapbookgraphics
Tangi Baxter at scrapbookgraphics: Sew Girlie
In Vogue by Scrapartist Designers
Sabrina Dupree: Color Theory Pink
Meredith Fenwick: Sweet Notions
Traci Reed: Rosebuds
Christina Renee: Recollections
Doris Castle: Special Times (Stitched Rosebud)
Dani Mogstad: Sweet Cupcake (ribbon rose)
Preschool Palooza by Emily Powers and Kate Hadfield at WeAreStoryTellers (paintbrush)
Melinda Staley: round gems
Kaye Winieki at The-LilyPad: All That Twitters elements and Maisy's Garden
Fonts: TXT Sloppy Script and TXT Abrasive

and I spent quite a bit of last week putting the finishing touches on a new kit that will make an appearance at Scrapdish next week. Here's a peek:

Another Circle Journal Page

Been working on this one for a while and it finally all came together last night while I watched the olympics. This page is for the topic I chose- scrap a page about your typical day, week or month. I wanted to see a calendar of some sort.

credits:
Dianne Rigdon: Horizon Classic Planner templates; Jessica Bolton: Home Girl Gets Frilly, Outnumbered Girl, Thrifty Blooms; Kim Jensen: Tag 'n Taggage; Tag book template by Janelle Gustafson for DAM; gazillion arrows by Holly McCaig
fonts: TXT Monique and Century Gothic