Happy New Year...

I can't believe the first month of the new year is nearly done... so before it's gone completely, I wanted to do a quick post...

know.... I should have posted this yesterday.... but It's still the first day of the year... and it's still a blank page... and a good place to start a new,  new year....

I want to... Thank You All.... for sharing in my life... with all it's ups & downs... scraping, crafting & creating... I look forward to finding more delight in the everyday blessings all around me and leave the worries behind.

My New Year's prayer for you is... that your dreams are fulfilled... that love, joy, possibilities, wondrous things and blessings would fill every{day}... Enjoy each day, with
those you love!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas...

Wishing you the very best Christmas...

May your home be warm and filled with wonderful food, family, friends, lots of laughter, tons of love & many many blessings... on this very special day of our Lord's birth...

Merry Merry CHRIST-mas!

It Is Still Spring... Isn't It?.....

Spring cleaning to me... conjures up images of sunny days with the windows wide open and sunshine flooding into every room.  It brings thoughts of summer...

So with it still officially Spring...
I have been doing my annual Spring cleaning these last
2 1/2weeks... and every {day} Rainee asks... "Mama, If you're doing Spring cleaning, when is it going to be Summer? I thought we were on Summer vacation?" And every {day} I answer with... Summer actually begins June 21st... and that when she gets out of school it's still Spring... which is great for mommy... I can get to Spring clean, while it's still Spring!!! But I've noticed over the last couple of days... she's stopped asking.... do you think she's realized, she'll probably get the exact same answer if she does ask???... lol!!!

Sooo thinking I was nearly done on Monday... my husband decided to get involved and add a few things to my list of "to do's"... sooooooooo after giving me his list of projects to tackle... I'm now just hoping to finish before Summer enters and Spring ends... My fingers are crossed that to{day} will be the {day} I finish up... so our Summer vacation can officially start... because honestly I'm exhausted... I really need some R&R... plus a little bit of fun!!!
What about you... did you get all you wanted done with your Spring cleaning??? Or are you still working on it like me??? Whatever it is... I hope it's fruitful.... so you can enjoy the sunshine of Summer!!!

Yeah... I Get To Scrap...

I can hardly believe it... My friends and I are getting together... and I get to scrap!!! I've felt so out of it since the owl hats snowballed into tons of orders... which has been great money don't get me wrong... I've just really missed scrapping!!! Even Rainee says I crochet more than I scrap... Anyway... all to say I'm hoping to have something scrappy to post.... yeah!! Can't wait to see what the day brings... hope yours it great!!!

Almost Seven...

I love it when I see layouts of a child days away from turning one year older... they encourage me to do this... not just one year... but every year. Layouts/photos like this remind me of how fast time flies... because before you know it a year has come and gone... and every day is precious.

They also encourage me to take more photos... because, you know, we all have photo of our child on their birthday... but what about those last few days right before? I know I have a few over the last 6 years... but I am so focused on the birthday... and the party... I forget to take the last photos of Rainee before she turns another year older.

But this year... well, this year... I remembered!!! Yeah!! This is such a great photo of her! It's not only right before her birthday... but it's also right before she lost her latest tooth... and is now smiling with her latest toothless grin at seven. I am so happy I was able to capture Rainee and one of her last few days of being six year old... priceless.

Thanks for dropping in... have a lovely lovely Wednesday!

Happy Birthday Rainee... & One Year...

Happy Happy Birthday to my wonderful little Rainee... I hope today is extra special... enjoy it my little love... enjoy it!

And before I go.... I wanted to say it's hard to believe it's been a year since my dad passed away. It's been a difficult year without him. It seems like just yesterday I could reach for the phone to tell him about something that was going on here... or to let Rainee have her cute little chats with him... which they both loved. He taught me so much and he continues to do so even now.... I was blessed with a loving, kind and generous dad and will be forever grateful. At the time is seemed a bit sad that his passing was on Rainee's Birthday... but we've come to see it as papa giving her one last birthday present... leaving behind with her a little piece of his beautiful heart. One very special gift. Love you dad... and we still miss you.

One More Tooth...

Well last night, right before bed, Rainee came running in all excited showing me another tooth had fallen out!!! That makes 4 now!!! And of course I had to as a good mommy, document the event!!! As I laid in bed with her, after reading books... this was our new tooth conversation...  

• Rainee: Mommy, will another tooth grow back? 
• Me: Yes, why? 
• Rainee: I was just wondering, because the last tooth... number 3 still hasn't grown in... and I don't want to walk around with this hole in my smile.
• Me: Hmmmm let me see... well, sometimes teeth take longer to grow in... but don't worry it will come in... I think this one is waiting for more space, it looks a little squished in there.
• Rainee: You mean space like this?
• Me: Yup, like this cute space.
• Rainee: Thanks mommy, I was just wondering because it's just taking so long and I've been wanting to see that new tooth for awhile.
• Me: Soon, Rainee, I'm sure it will be soon....

That's it for today... I have so much too do... with only today and tomorrow left for school, the first grade class picnic and Rainee's 'real birthday' tomorrow... I'll be happy when this week is over... to take a breath... have a great Wednesday! See you tomorrow!

Rainee's Party... Party... Party...

Rainee's 'real birthday' is on Thursday... but yesterday, as Rainee would say... we celebrated her 'fake birthday'... at Chuck E. Cheeses... something she's been wanting to do forrrrrrrever. But I've been putting off doing because well... for too many reasons... but we did it!!! And she loved it!

Our party time was 1:30pm... but her day started at 6am... wanting to know when would be leaving. ... by 8am she had eaten breakfast.. brushed her teeth... and was completely dressed and ready to go! So for the next 4 hours she tried to to amuse herself... which was difficult with the excitement building up inside... she just couldn't wait... so by the time noon rolled around we had to leave, because I don't think she could have maintained herself much longer.. cute... too cute!

Anyway... the day was filled with... lots of very special friends... lots of food... lots of fun... and a very happy happy birthday girl! It was a very happy happy 'fake birthday'!

It's Not Easy Being Green...

I'm going to be sprinkling in older photos I still have to scrap... there are so many I don't know if I'll ever... catch up... sooooo here's the story about this one...

From the time Rainee was 4 months old until she was 5, I had been working full-time... Steve took care of Rainee during the day, then we'd switch... he'd go to work, and I'd take care of her. This worked well us... although my heart yearned to be home with her... it was the way things had to be at the time....

And on days when Steve didn't work... I would come home to all sorts of things... but on this particular day... I walked in the door to a cute little rag-a-muffin decked out in a t-shirt and panties... with green marker all over her face. Steve had let Rainee play with her markers while he made dinner... and during her 'coloring' she decided she wanted to make her face pretty too! She was sooooooo happy and excited to show me her pretty green face... it was adorable. I love seeing her excitement and creativity over everything she colors... and well, even when her face is green. Because after all... "It's not easy being green"... not everyone can pull of this look... lol!

That's it for today... and I hope there's a bit of green wherever you are today... happy Thursday!!

Fabulous Friend...

I have been sitting on this layout for a few weeks now, because I wanted to journal on it... but every time I tried... I chickened out... I wanted to hand write something down on the bottom left corner... but I just couldn't bring myself to do it... I've been afraid I'd screw it up... then I'd have to put something over it... and maybe no one else would know, but I'd know I messed it up... and it would be a big eye sore staring at me...

So after weeks of looking at... I've decided... I like it just the way it is... no journaling. Which for me is huge... because I always do a bit about the memory... but for this photo... this memory... I think "Fabulous Friend"... & "time for you and me" say it all... I'm sooooo happy I waited... I love it just the way it is.

What about you... Do you journal on every layout? Do you think you have to/need to? What do you do if you mess up on your journaling? I'd love to know what you do and your solutions...

That's it for today... have the happiest of Thursdays... and thanks for stopping by... it's so appreciated!!!

Big Girl Bike...

This is Rainee with her new Big Girl Bike last year for her 6th birthday! She loves loves loves riding it! She couldn't wait to share it... so the next school day... she just HAD TO ride it... to show it off!!! It was the cutest thing watching her excitement with her friends... soooooo sweet!

So... while writing this memory about Rainee, her new bike and her friends... I was reminded of one of my own childhood memories... I wasn't 6... I was about 14... when my sister, Mona, and I came home from school to find our dad had bought us both new10-speed bikes!!! We had been wanting them f.o.r.e.v.e.r and to see them in our front yard was... well happiness on two wheels!!! They were such a surprise... we could hardly contain our excitement... and what was the first thing we both HAD TO DO?? Of course... show it off to all our friends.... just like Rainee! This was such a sweet sweet memory I'd nearly forgotten... not only about the bike, but about my dad's very generous heart! We didn't have much growing up, so getting those bikes... was huge... I know it meant my dad had to work extra to get them... but I also know it warmed his heart to see our joy. I think being a kid with a new bike is... pure delight!

Mother's Day...

Mother's Day. Ours started early, since Steve had to work Sunday. On Friday, we went to a gourmet burger place for dinner... which was really good. Saturday... Rainee and I went to Home Depot for their kids craft... ran a ton of errands... cleaned the house... had a water gun fight... and watched movies... by the end of the day... we were exhausted... it was a very very full day. Sunday... plans changed when we woke up to rain... Steve needed to take the car, which left us stranded at home... except for walking wherever we needed to go... so, we weren't able to go to church... instead, we stayed in our pj's as long as we could before we walked movies with my nephew (Staush, it was his birthday)... where we saw "Thor"... great movie... especially, if you like those super-hero Marvel movies.... and we do! After dinner we celebrated Staush's birthday & Mother's Day with Cold Stone ice cream cupcakes... yum... it was a very lovely Mother's Day. As for the Thor photo... I so wanted to post some photos from our weekend... but I haven't downloaded them yet... so I'll have to post them later...

I hope your Mother's Day was filled will wonderful things... What did you do??

I love you Mother's Day Card...

This I love you Mother's Day Card... has something I absolutely adore... it's this wonderful "I love you" paper. I've been using it for years... because of it's endless possibilities... and because it goes with everything... and anything... whenever Joann's or Michael's have a paper sale... I have to grab a couple more to keep on hand.

Is anyone else obsessed with a paper or embelly you make sure you always have on hand for any project that comes along?? Or is that just me?

Well, that's it for today... thanks for stopping by my blog... enjoy the rest of your day!!!

We Had A Great Weekend... What About You?

It was ten minutes to seven and we were all ready to go to the craft show... when I received a phone call... Because of the major winds we were having... the show was being canceled. With some of the booths outside... they would survive the wind.

Tell me I wasn't disappointed... I'd been working for the past 2 weeks trying to get a ton of stuff done.... I was exhausted!!! Seriously exhausted!!! So when I got off the phone... I was disappointed... exhausted... but somewhat relieved... I didn't know how I was going to make it through the day... I barely had 3 hours sleep... so instead, I made breakfast for my family... Potato & Turkey Bacon Burritos. Once Steve had left for work... Rainee and I seriously did nothing... well not really nothing... we watched a ton of movies... played so many games I lost count... and colored pictures - from Curious George to Backyardigans to Ironman!!! At one point we did try to go to the park, but the winds were just too strong. So we made pizza... yum... popcorn... yum... and brownies... double yum!!! It may not have been the day we had planned... it was better!!! And Sunday... well... with the winds still kicking up pretty bad... and Steve taking the car, it left us home bound again... but be made the best of it... with pancakes and turkey sausage... Wii games... movies... naps... and some more of those yummy brownies...

How was your weekend??? Do anything fun? Hope it was spent doing something fun... with those you love. Happy Monday... have a great week!

Butterfly... Butterfly... Butterfly...

This weekend we had the best time... We went to our regional park, where they had tents full of Painted Lady Butterflies to be released. They had a ton of things for the kids to do... crafts, hay rides, water play... and best of all they were able to go inside the tents to feed and hold the butterflies! Rainee had been waiting for this all week... she was so excited when they landed on her clothes and finger... it was so fun watching her enthusiasm over the whole thing!!! Later in the day as it began to cool off we sat on the ground as they released the tents full of butterflies.... it was beautiful watching them flying off into the trees. Quite a fun spring Saturday thing to do... I'm so happy we were able to go... and it will definitely be on our spring to-do list for next year!!!

Here are a few photos with Rainee and the Painted Lady butterfly....

Your Love Is Delightful...

While going through more photos... I came across this photo taken nearly 2 summers ago, when we took our trip to South Dakota to spend time with my dad. On this particular day... we skipped rocks, played frisbee and had an ice cream cone at a beautiful park on the Missouri River. When I look at this photo... I see the enjoyable time we had and Rainee's non-stop giggles! This was a terrific day!!!

I love the memory of this day... and I love all the green, green grass in the photo just waiting for something to be put there... So instead of doing another layout about our South Dakota trip... I decided to make this one about delightful Rainee... her giggles... her hugs & kisses... and how snuggling with her is the best part of my day!! I used one of Creative Café's calendar paper along with some scraps and embelly tid-bits from my stash... It was a fun way to use the calendar... because every day with Rainee really is delightful!

I hope your day brings a smile. And thanks so much for reading my blog and stopping by to see my page today. I hope it inspired you to do something fun & bright with a calendar!