What's Your Favorite...

Shop? This is our new challenge at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things... You have to go check out all the great layouts the design team did... you're going to love them!!! As for me... well I took a bit of a twist with this one... I picked the favorite store I like my husband to buy me gifts from... and that would have to be Tiffany's.

The first time he bought me a gift there was at Christmas a few years ago... and since then I seem to get one of those lovely little blue boxes with something special at least once a year!!! I never thought I'd own one piece... so every time he surprises me with one... it's a BIG treat... they always makes me feel sooooooooo special and loved. Rainee gets into too... because she knows how much I love them... so when I'm opening the Tiffany's gift, she always says it's from her and NOT daddy.... too cute!!!

As for my layout... I wanted to share with you a little thing... I sort of knew what I wanted to do... with the splatters... but it wasn't until I printed my small photos on vellum paper that I got the effect I wanted... I just love how the splatters are still seen through the photos but are muted slightly... great effect, I know I'll be doing that one again!

Anyway... our prize for this challenge comes from our DT member Sarah... who is graciously giving some Imaginisce products! Thanks Sarah!! You have until 10pm July 13th to post your card, layout or project... have fun with this and happy shopping!!!

Monumental Road Trip...

Monumental Road Trip.... When I was a little girl I remember living near Mount Rushmore...and that's all I remember. But the summer of my Sophomore year, my dad wanted to take a 6-week family road trip... one last family vacation before my sister, Mona, graduated. So we packed up the camper and started on our mid-west family adventure... where we did a lot of sight seeing and visiting family. One of our stops was Mount Rushmore.... the thing I remember most about this visit was although it was a beautiful sight - (one you need to see)... it was at that time a dirt parking lot with a gift shop and it seemed in the middle of nowhere. The monument was beautiful... but there was nothing around except dirt and lots and lots and lots of trees. This was my last memory of Mount Rushmore....

Until... this trip. I don't know I guess I was expecting the same thing... but to my surprise (and I don't know why I didn't know this) it had become a real monument to these wonderful carving in a mountain. As we drove up I could see it was different... we weren't in a dirt parking area... there was a parking structure... then as we walked toward the monument... there was the Avenue of Flags which lead to the Grandview Terrace. The flags of every state line both sides of the walkway and below the flag was posted the date of when each became a state. It was a sight to see.... and back behind all the flags waving you could see Mount Rushmore... it was beautiful!!!

The view was... monumental to say the least. My cousin Gary took us on the Presidential Trail - which is a half-mile walking trail that offers spectacular views. It was unbelievable ... at every turn we saw a different angle of the mountain... some just of Washington with beautiful trees surrounding him.... others just of Lincoln... it was truly awe inspiring. My camera has a super-zoom feature and I could get so close... it took my breath away. If you can believe it... I took over 300 pictures of just Mount Rushmore... yeah 300... there were a few of Rainee and Steve mixed in there too... but I have sooooooooo many photos and each one is like a post card...

It was such a wonderful memory to share with my family... and can I just say... much more impressive and memorable that the dirt lot I remember as a high schooler. Steve and I have already decided we'll be going back... preferably on the 4th of July with their seriously fabulous fireworks going off all around Mount Rushmore... so it's on our to do list. But for now... I love looking at all our photos and seeing the beauty of this great carving on the side of a mountain....

Weekly Gratitude...

Cool Summer Mornings. I know I've said this before but I'm an early morning person... and now with summer upon us and it's sweltering days... I love waking up to the birds chirping as they wake from their slumber... I love opening all the windows in our home to let the fresh morning air inside... I love hearing the sprinklers as they go off all around our neighborhood... and I love how gently the sunlight breaks through the quiet darkness... and daylight begins.

I have never been one to sleep in... sleeping in to me is 6am... and sure, there are days when I'm feeling a bit groggy and a little bit tired, but that's mostly on winter mornings when it gets quite chilly and I want to do is stay in my nice warm bed... but on summer mornings... I'm always up with the birds enjoying the quiet beauty and lovely crisp morning air. I'm grateful for cool mornings after a scorching summer day... it's refreshing... and although I know it's only there a little while before the sun starts beating down... I also know, it will be there tomorrow... waiting to refresh me once again. I am grateful for summer's cool quiet mornings with birds chirping... before my day unfolds.

Rainee's Award & A Card...

Well, yesterday was the Kindergartner's Awards... and it was so sweet... the kids sang some of their favorite songs they learned this year.... it was just too sweet!!! My favorite (which made me cry) was 'Friends Forever'... When I work in the classroom I hear it... and when I'm at home I hear it... but yesterday... well it was just the sweetest thing ever!!!

After they finished their songs Mrs. Baguyo gave out awards to each of the kids... they weren't academic awards... they were things she's noticed about each of the kids... it was adorable! Rainee was awarded "The Best Friend To All" award. Because she's so sweet and kind and a friend to everyone... and everyone wants to be her friend... everyone stays in the back of the room waiting for her so they can sit by her on the mat or at snack... everyone loves playing with her and can't wait to see her every day. And you should have seen her face... it lit up. It was the perfect award for her!!! It was a great day...

Well, I did finish my June CI Card Sketch... and since I'm soooooooo in love with the IOD collection I just had to do something with it... I love those little lady bugs sooooooo much... I can't stand it!!! Don't forget you have until June 30th to post your card or layout in the CI gallery for a chance to win a prize.

There's also still time to post your card, layout or project of your FAVORITE TOY over at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

As for today... let's see... today is the last day of school... I help in Rainee's class for the fun... End Of The Year Splash Day Party... and then it's summer vacation!!! Stay cool... have fun... and Happy Summer!!!

A Parade & A Layout...

It has been one of those weeks that I just can't seem to do get anything done... except school things!!! Yes, Rainee is STILL IN SCHOOL... but this is the last week and it's been crazy-busy and fun fun fun!!! And everyday this week I've been at school helping with something... and today is no different.... Today is their End of the Year Awards Assembly and Kindergarten show. I for one will be missing this Teacher and this class... it has been a wonderful time... couldn't have asked for a better experience for her Kindergarten year.... Truly thankful!!!

So here's the 'Teddy Bear Parade'... all week the kids have been able to bring a favorite stuffed animal to school and share it with the class... and the parents came to help decorate the parade floats. This is Rainee's... She brought her newest doggie... Maxie Puppy for the parade.... a black lab, just like the real one our cousins, Gary & Patti, have in South Dakota.... She has the best time decorating her float.... and it was such a blast walking around the school with the kids and their animals... it's been a full fun week... and I'm loving every moment!!!






Just love the parade wave... too sweet!!!
















I also thought I'd share a layout I did on Saturday at our Scrap-nite.... I love how it turned out! My friend Jane gave the is fun printed acetate.... and I used a photo from my week in the life photos for it... I love this photo, because this is what life is for me right now... walking Rainee "Hand In Hand" to and from school... God really has been good to us... I would have missed this moment and so much more if I'd still been working... so this for me is more than just a memory... it's been a blessing!!! Totally and completely!

I'll try to post some more tomorrow... but like I said it's been a super crazy-busy week here.... Hope you have a lovely day... and enjoy the moments.

P.S. If you look real close on the first photo, you'll notice Rainee lost her first tooth... so she has a new... adorable smile!

Weekly Gratitude...

Getting back to our routine. (Well, at least most of it!!!) While being away from home can be great, but it can also cause havoc with our daily routine. When we were away we went to bed late... and getting up was well... we got up pretty early so we could get back out on the road again. As for meals... we only had a few home cooked meals, the rest were either snacky foods or stopping when we were hungry to eat out wherever we could find a place.

So now that we're home... it's been sooooooo nice to cook again. Our first meal was fish with veggies... at least that's what Steve and I ate... Rainee on the other hand is my picky-eater and had a peanut butter sandwich. We've had everything from pancakes to tacos... and it's been wonderful eating fruits and veggies...and eating at a regular time. And I'm sooooooooo enjoying cooking again... Although there is one thing I do miss... when you're eating out, you don't have to do dishes... I do miss that.

As for bedtimes... ugh, this has been hard! Still working on it... Not just because of the time change, but for nearly 2 weeks we were staying up late talking to family... or because Rainee slept most of the day away on the drive and wasn't tired when we wanted to go to bed, so we stayed up late with her. So now, getting our bedtime routine back to normal has been a bit inconsistent and a struggle... but at least we do have our bedtime stories down pat. As for getting up... everyone in the house seems to still be on the "let's get up early" schedule... which for me is fine... that's normal for me... and it's my quiet-time - and I love it... but when everyone in the house gets up early... it's not good. It not only shortens into my quiet-time... but makes for 2 very very very grumpy-bears (Steve & Rainee) half way through the day. Although yesterday, Rainee did sleep in until 8am... whooohoooo! Maybe that's a sign of things changing!!! I sure hope so... because grumpy-bears are not fun to deal with!!

So even though things aren't completely back to our regular routine... they are getting there... and I am grateful. I'm grateful to be able to enjoy all the joys of being home brings... except, well... the dishes! lol!

CI Sketch Challenges...

I know it's the middle of the month... but with the passing of my dad it's kinda put me a bit behind on things... but I wanted to make sure to post the June Card Sketch I did and the Layout Sketch Lori Gentile did for Creative Imaginations June Sketch contests...

As for my samples... well.... I'm still working on them... but here are the sketches. I can't wait to see what you come up with!!! Remember to upload them to the CI Gallery before June 30th to be entered for a prize!!!

Happy Friday...

Happy Friday.... I was listening to my iTunes last night, when I came a across a song I thought you all might like and with Father's Day just around the corner.... it's perfect! I think it's a wonderful song from child's perspective about daddy... It's called... DADDY...

Every time Rainee or I hear it tears well up in our eyes... I love it because it reminds me of my childhood with my dad... and now... I love watching Rainee with Steve and the special love a father has for his child... a daddy's love is something beautiful to watch....

Soooooooo I found this download last year... but thought I'd try it again this year to see if it still worked so I could share it with you... and it worked last night... so either go to their site... Laughing Pizza... or try downloading it here>>> (Right click this link (option+click on Mac) and “save as” or "save link as" to Download)<<<...

Hope you enjoy it as much as we do... it just might make you cry a little remembering your own childhood... and then share it with a dad for Father's Day... have a lovely weekend!!

What's You're Favorite...

Toy? For this layout I decide to share Rainee's favorite toy... or should I say kind of toy... doggies! I remember the first time she saw a stuffed dog... she fell in love instantly. She was 18months old, it was 2 days before Christmas and we were out getting a couple of last minute things for my dad's birthday.... and just as we were about to leave, Rainee spotted the toy section... and since she had been such a good girl, I took around looking at all the toys... that's when she saw... DOGGIE!! She was in love... he was soft and cuddly... I tried to put it back and get going... but she didn't want to let him go. I tried telling her it was his bed time, I even got an employee involved to convince her DOGGIE had to go to bed and we needed to leave. But she wouldn't have it. She wanted DOGGIE!! When we started to walk away... she broke out in tears... crying and calling for DOGGIE... which of course broke my heart... so I caved and bought her DOGGIE!

He is still with us... much worn and totally loved.... but along with him she probably has about 50 others 'doggie' friends. Each one is loved loved loved... each one has a name., which she never forgets or gets mixed up on... not like mom does. She loves playing doggie doctor... doggie dog pound... you never find her watching TV or a movie without one... and on occasion I let her take one in the bath to play with.

So even though this layout isn't done with DOGGIE... but Tucker... I couldn't resist this photo or resist scrapping it as a reminder of her favorite toy(s).... Stuffed Doggies!!!

What's your favorite??? What childhood toy brings back memories which make you smile... and of course have to scrap??? Come on over to These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things and share it with us and see what our design team have done with their favorites. I doesn't have to be a scrapbook layout... it can be anything... from a card... to a mini book... to a off the page project... and you will have a chance to win some blog candy from our newest design team member... and my wonderful friend Jana!!! So go... go now... to see what's going on at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things... I know I can't wait to see what your favorite is!!!

Weekly Gratitude...

Being home. You never know how much you miss your own home, until you've been gone for awhile. Being gone these last 2 weeks driving to to South Dakota and back was a wonderful tribute to my father. It was nice staying with family and spending time with them... or staying in a hotel can be fun... but coming back to the place where you rest your head each night... the place where you call home... is such a blessing.

Rainee loved being home, because it meant she could run around... play with ALL her toys... play the computer...and was able to ride her new bike. She was overwhelmed with excitement to be back. Steve... he was happy to be home for multiple reasons... to finally get out of the car... and not have to drive for a few days before he went back to work... being able to ride his Harley... sleeping in and sleeping in his own bed... and most of all... having a home cooked meal at home. And me... well I'm glad to be home... so I can cook... sleep in my own bed... have Internet access whenever I want it... enjoy my early morning cup of coffee... having my 'Quiet-Time' once again... and once again be able to scrap... oh the joys of being home again...

When you're away and on the road, it's a great experience... and I loved our time together as a family... seeing all the beauty this country has to offer together, is a memory none of us will forget. But driving up to our house... our home... was a moment of bliss. We all felt a sigh of relief inside, because we were home. This is the place we can be ourselves... loud... happy... sad... silly... grumpy if we want to be... and where we find peace. I'm grateful we were able to take the road trip to South Dakota... but coming home, to our house, reminds me there truly is... no place like home.

p.s.... I'll be scrapping the next few days, so I'll have some things to share... I hope you have a lovely lovely day!

Weekly Gratitude...

My Dad. There are so many reason I am grateful for the man God blessed me with and I had the privilege to call my dad. If you knew my father... you knew my father loved. His heart was so full of love. My father loved the Lord, his family and his country with all his heart.

His love for the Lord could be seen in his everyday life and the way he treated people... after living through the depression, I know he was grateful to be able to help another in need... so it brought joy to him to work in a soup kitchen.... He took the homeless into his home when they needed shelter and fed them... He cared for our neighbor, Patrick with Aids, when no one else would... took him to the doctor... cared for him... until the day Patrick died. To our single mother friends... he was a fatherly influence to their children... he gave them a father's love. One of his greatest joys was helping others not just our family... he was a servant. My dad... he was the angel here on earth to those who needed help... he never turned anyone away... he knew the meaning of... "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you"... he lived his life caring for others, in service to the Lord... and I know the Lord smiled on him.

My dad loved his family. He would do anything for any one of us... he would drop whatever he was doing to show his love for us. If our car quit... he'd fixed it... flat tire... he'd fixed it... sick... he'd take you to the doctor & make you soup... just out of the hospital... he watched over your every need... washing machine finally takes a dive... he'd get you a new one... money tight... he'd give you what he had in his pocket... and if you needed more... he was right there with it... never asking for it in return... He sacrificed, so we wouldn't have to. My dad... my dad, never raised his voice to us... but showed us kindness and gave us forgiveness for our wrong doings. My father loved the privilege of being called dad... and he loved his children with all his heart.

My dad served his country with honor in the U.S. Army... where he received the Purple Heart. He fought for our country... our freedom. He loved this country... and was proud to have been able to serve it. He was an American... and loved this great nation.

My dad... was the kindest... the gentlest... most giving... most generous and loving person I have ever known. And I am so proud and grateful to have been his child and to have been able to call him... my father. He lived his life unselfishly.... he joyfully served others... he showed me what good character is... and what true unconditional love is. And now that he is no longer here with me... I know I can still close my eyes to see him.... for the beautiful person and wonderful father he was. I am his legacy and I am grateful.

What's Your Favorite...

What's your favorite... shoes? This is our new challenge at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things... So, for this layout I choose my dad's cowboy boots. They may be worn and falling apart... but they are my favorite shoe. I use to love listening to his stories of living on the farm... and if I was lucky I'd find a rare photo of my dad in these boots. I wore them when for costume parties and Rainee's taken a likin' to them now too. When it was cowboy day at school she wore them... and she said... "I feel like a real cowboy in them mom. I love 'em!"

What is your favorite pair of shoes?? This is a really super-fantastic-unbelievable-awesome-gotta go see what's up... shoe challenge... this is a challenge you won't want to miss!!! Trust me you're gonna love love love it!!! While you're there make sure to check out the wonderful designs our Design Team have done... then share with us, your favorite... on a card, scrapbook layout or project... and you will have a chance to win... well, I can't tell you that... you have to to check out our... super-fantastic-unbelievable-awesome-gotta go see what's up... shoe challenge... honestly it's worth repeating... so go, go now... to see what's up at These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things you won't be disappointed!!!