Pick Of The Patch...

I have so many photos from our time at the pumpkin patch... I know I'll have layouts to do with them for a while. Here is another one for the scrapbook... One of Rainee's favorite things to do when we get to the patch is to ride around in the wagons. She gets in and we take her around the whole pumpkin patch as she looks for the perfect pumpkin. We make several stops during the ride.... each time she sees one that could be 'her pumpkin'  - - she gets out and tries to pick it up... if she can pick it up... it's a possibility... once she done that she checks to make sure it doesn't have anything wrong with it... if it does... she gets back in the wagon and it starts all over....it really is the cutest thing watching her meticulously look over each one of them for the one pumpkin, that will be... her pick of the patch...

I flipped the SketchyThursday sketch for this layout. And may I say... those Copic Pens are fun fun fun.... it was such fun coloring in the maple leaf stamp from Hero Arts... I'm seriously loving those pens I love seeing what they can do!!! 

I hope you have a wonderful week...

Finally Fall...

Well it's finally Friday... and this is my latest layout from our day at the Pumpkin Patch. That day was the perfect Fall day... the sun was out, but it wasn't hot... there was a wonderful breeze, but not cold... the pumpkins were beautiful... and we were together as a family at one of our favorite fall places. This was the perfect Fall day.

I am having such fun with the Twigs from Creative Imaginations... this time I used it as the stem for my sunflower! And that sunflower, it was a doily I found a couple of weeks ago... on it I used my Copic Pens to color it... I love it... and those felt shapes by Fancy Pants finished it off for a fun finally fall layout!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend... enjoy and thanks for stopping by... it's really appreciated!! 

A Very Lovely Birthday...

Yesterday was my Birthday.... and I had a lovely day!

After school, Rainee & Steve gave me a very quick little birthday celebration before Steve had to go to work. They brought out the cards, presents and Cold Stone Cupcakes... so I could make my birthday wishes. Steve has it planned that we'll go to dinner when he's not working.

If you've followed me for any time at all you know Rainee always gets a present when it has to do with my birthday or mother's day.... it's just something we've kept going since she was a baby and didn't understand why she wasn't getting a present too... so now that she understands... the tradition lives on.... her little birthday present was a doggie doctor set.... something she's been wanting since the last one needed to be replaced.

So, once Steve left for work... Rainee and I spent the evening doing homework, watching a movie... enjoying each others company and playing doggie doctor until it was time to go to bed. It was a quite birthday but I know more is coming because a little mouse told me... lol!!!

Anyway... I know this next year will be one full of blessings.... because I am so blessed by the life I've been given.

What's Your Favorite...

Sport??? This is our new challenge over at TAAFOMFT (These are a few of my favorite things)... When I was in high school I really didn't know much about the sport... except to cheer for it. So, when one of the cheerleaders made a huge mistake and got us chanting an Offense cheer.... when clearly, it should have been Defense... one of the teachers (who was a huge football fan) corrected us and sat us down and taught us a few things about the game. You see, growing up in my house, we didn't watch football... and the only reason my parents went went to the games was because I was cheering. I never forgot the lessons learned... and for me... it was the beginning of loving football.

Several years later, my friend Mark's brother was a punter for the Saints... so whenever he would play somewhat locally... we'd get a gang together for a tailgate party to watch him play... We'd have the best time!!!! Now.... I don't always get a chance to sit and watch... because Rainee always wants to play when it's on... so, I go off with her... and Steve's watching the game. Although. I do catch a glimpses here and there.... especially when my favorite teams are playing.

I love football... so, what we'd like to know over at TheseAreAFewOfMyFavoriteThings....  what is your favorite??? Stop by and see what wonderful inspirational layouts the DT have done... We'd love to see what your favorite sport is... And don't forget you don't have to do a scrapbook layout, you can do a card or even a project of your favorite!

Weekly Gratitude...

My Birthday. I love my birthday. I'm not one of those women who has a problem with their birthday or age... it's not just another day to me... it's a part of me... it shares history with me. I don't want to deny it... and yes, with every year I may get older... and sometimes the addition of a year can be hard to swallow... because I don't feel my age. But I don't ignore my day... it's mine... it's the day I was brought into this world... it's a part of who I am.

I like my birthday so much we celebrate it for the whole month... yes the whole month. I celebrate with family and friends... it's wonderful!!! I love to reflect back on the past year on what I've accomplished and the joys I've shared. I am grateful for another year of life... to share with those I love. I am grateful.

Autumn...

I thought before I posted my pumpkin patch photos I'd show you a layout I did with a couple of the photos. I can't begin to tell you how happy I was that Steve took a decent photo of Rainee and I together. This doesn't happen very often.... the good photo... or one together... So you can imagine how happy I was there this time I have a several. Steve did a great job. Yeah!!!

This layout is done with the sketch from SketchyThursdays. I made the pumpkin from the video I did a while back.... but this time I made it with striped pattern paper... kinda fun!!! I also stamped my maple leaf on pattern paper, that had splatters... so I didn't have to splatter anything... and I used my Martha Stewart punches on the corrugated paper from Creative Imaginations... I was so happy I tried it... this stuff is soooo great... I also tried in on my Cricut... with some other punches... plus it's easy to cut... I love the corrugated effect... I think I found my new favorite paper for accents.

That's it for today... have a happy Monday... and enjoy every day of your week!

Delightful You...

My week has been a bit crazy with PTA things for our Harvest Family Night.... But even with my week being so crazy-full.... I did get another layout done. Yeah!!! It's funny, I started out wanting to do something quick and simple, because I wanted to do a few more layouts... well that went out the window when I couldn't figure out my little banners. But once they were done... the title didn't look right and the whole page looked empty... so I ended up taking a few things apart... adding a few more things here and there (like those cute birds I found for a $dollar$ at Walmart)) and this is what I came up with in the end.  As for it being quick and simple - that didn't happen... because I literally worked on it all week... at every spare moment!!!

I didn't do any of the other layouts I had planned because of my crazy-full week and this layout... but at least I have one done and it turned out... because "Delightful You" could have been "Devastating Disaster" instead - the way it was going... whhhewwwww!!!

Well, I hope you have a lovely lovely day.... and it's not too busy, like mine... enjoy!!! Happy Friday!

Weekly Gratitude...

Pumpkin Patch. It truly doesn't feel like Autumn until we get our pumpkins at the pumpkin patch. Our pumpkin patch is a stunning site up against the hills. Rainee always takes a ride in the wagon... we spend a lot of time finding one perfect pumpkin... enjoy running around and up and down on the hay stack castle... and finally going on all the fun bouncers... slides... and the tractor rides. This is a very full afternoon.... and a tiring one. But our Pumpkin Patch Day tradition brings us together as a family... It's a day we look forward to all year... It's a place where beauty abounds and much laughter is shared. I am grateful we are able to move out of a hectic day and slow down to enjoy a day filled with so much beauty and joy which adds such meaning to our lives.

And here are just of few photos from of our incredible trip to the pumpkin patch....

 

Mr. Pumpkin! Well, Hello!...

Mr. Pumpkin! Well, Hello!
Mr. Pumpkin! Well, Hello!
You're back again this year.
I see your eyes, I see your nose.
You're grinning ear to ear.
Inside we'll put a candle stick
To make a lantern light.
Then set you on the old front porch,
And let you shine all night!


This is the little poem, Rainee had to memorize this week... she did EXCELLENT!!!  I thought it went wonderfully with pictures of the pumpkin carving we did last Friday. Rainee a friend over to carve pumpkins... they did a great job and had the best time!!! But unfortunately we kept forgetting to put a candle inside him for his photo shoot... so when we finally remembered... he had wilted... it was very sad!!! But no worries... Rainee's decided we'll carve our pumpkins from the pumpkin patch... and this time we'll put a candle in him right away for their photo shoot!!! It was just so sad... I don't remember our pumpkins ever wilting so quickly before... maybe it's because he was such a little guy.... I don't know... it was just weird... but at least I have the carving photos.... right????

I also wanted to share with you the Halloween cookies we made this week. Every year we either make cookies or cupcakes.... Rainee wanted cookies. Here are our a few of our creations... aren't her pumpkins the cutest??? .... and that skeleton.... he's adorable! For our little mummies, I used a gingerbread man cookie cutter and smashed marshmallows, then cut them into strips... I planned my mummy strips... and Rainee, she just went for it... I like hers best... he's a seriously sweet!!!

Today I'm processing our pumpkin patch photos, so I can share them with you... we had a great time... I can't wait to do some scrapping with them!!!

First Pumpkin Patch...

Today, after school we are going on our annual pumpkin patch trip. I've been looking forward to this... I think I get more excited each year because we always have such a great time. This year to really get me in the mood... not that I needed any encouragement.... I poured a cup of coffee and sat down looking back at our previous trips. I don't have one layout... I have several from each trip... plus a ton of photos I haven't used.... so I couldn't resist doing another layout with some from our first trip. I love layouts with lots of photos...

It's was so fun looking at these photos... Rainee is nearly 18 months here... I love her sweet smile, she is as she totes around her very own pumpkin!!! Rainee has always been very small... but looking back and seeing her next to some of those big pumpkins... they could gobble her up, they were so big... it's just too too cute! This was a wonderful day... and now, I love watching to see which pumpkin she'll choose.... these are special moments... they make a very delightful tradition... something we all look forward to every year.

Happy Pumpkin Patch Day!!!

Bowling...Bowling...Bowling...

Rainee was invited to a bowling-birthday-party... and she was soooooo excited because she'd never been bowling!!! I don't know why... it's just something we've never done. Well, ever since she received the invitation she started counting down the days... and to be honest, I couldn't wait to go either... I haven't been in a long long long time... and I always had so much fun bowling as a kid... so I knew she would have a blast!!!

The party wasn't until 5pm... so, when the day arrived... all I heard the whole day was... 'is it time yet'... about every hour!!! Once we finally were there... we had the delight of trying to get her fitted for her shoes... which proved to be interesting.... after several tries... finally after several tries we found one that didn't fall off every time she took a step. Next up... finding a ball... there were so many to choose from, but all she wanted was a blue ball... which I could tell wasn't going to happen. In the end... she used whatever ball she felt like whenever it was her turn!!!!

She got the hang of it pretty quick... and although she was usually left with one pin standing and never got a strike or a spare... she couldn't wait for her turn. It proved to be difficult dragging the kids away, because they all wanted to keep bowling... but of course they couldn't because... it was a birthday after all and there was still birthday presents and cake to be had... 

We had the BEST TIME... on our way home... Rainee decided she likes bowling sooooooo much, she wants to know when we can go again.... and can she pleaseeeeeeeeeee have her own ball next time... preferably in blue???? Too cute!

A Few Of My Favorite Things????

My sister sent me this link... When I saw it, I couldn't stop laughing... I don't know about you, but there are many many many things on my list of favorite things... but this list, well... it just made me laugh... and I had to share it with you.... it's seriously Funny!!! Have a Happy Friday!!!