So Long, Farewell

Made this for Ella's room. I am in LOVE with White Chocolate Bunnies paper from Rusty Pickle. I know this paper came out for Easter, but the pink/brown color combo is to die for! And again, I can't say enough about their rub-ons....love them. Ella has the perfect bedspread to match this paper from the Shabby Chic line at Target. Love me some Tarje!

New Rusty Pickle Classes for CKC! Yippee!
New Rusty Pickle Blog Challenge {will be up on the blog Oct. 1st} Everyone needs to go check it out and do the challenge! Also go there to see the newest member of the Pickle family! Congrats Lance and Tasha!
I am off to CKC for Rusty Pickle this weekend. There are four new classes that I will be teaching so I am super-excited! I also get to see my Pickle friends and that also makes me super-happy!
So I am going to take a little break from the blog. Don't know for how long....maybe a week, or just the weekend. I need to get caught up on life and everything that it brings....I feel that I have been addicted to blogging and need a little detox.

I Am 4!

Celebrating at Red Robin

Talking on the phone in her birthday gift {and Halloween costume!}

Birthday Eve
Birthday breakfast
Friend party
Listening to all the phone messages from friends & family
This is the way Ella answered the door and phone today. She was so excited to be four. Last night, she wore her birthday crown to bed. Right before prayers, she ran downstairs to get it...so much excitement for the big day. We had a small birthday party planned for this morning at the park, but because of a thunderstorm that started at 5 am, we had to have the party at home. She was so excited to have her friends there...thanks to those that could come....it was planned very last-minute. She is also grateful for all the phone calls & messages that she received today! Thanks everyone!

Twisted Sistas Crops

Here is something that you need to check out! The first crop is Oct. 18th! It is going to be fun.....so you need to come! To find out more details about this fun, new endeavor.....go here.

A Week In The Life

Last summer, I took a class from Ali Edwards, and began an album that has changed the way I look at life through the lense of my camera. I love this album, my children love it, it is one of our most cherished. Everyone needs to do this...Next week Ali is going to be giving a guide on how to document a week in your life. You don't have to be a scrapbooker to do this...it is just pictures and words. Take a peek here at my album, then go over to Ali's blog and see all of the wonderful advice that is over there to get started.

**Edited: I just had an aha! moment....I am going to use this style of album for my cruise & Chicago weekend pictures. I have over 300+ pictures from each event and this layout of the week in the life album would be PERFECT! I remember that there were a few people in my CKU class that did this. So if you have a vacation or big event....this would work for you too.

School Daze

I can post this one now that my sister has received her book! This was for her college graduation... I made it with the Rusty Pickle arrow acrylic album and a arrow chipboard album. I just mixed and matched the pages. It was fun to make with the Popstar paper....

I have really been debating how to document my kids' school life. I want to make their school album something that is just theirs....still trying to figure this one out. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Here are the 1st day pictures from LAST year.....I may not be 'caught up' but love looking back on how much they have changed in one year.

Let My Love Open The Door

**Sorry I had to remove this layout for Publication!
I was reminded of this song from Dan In Real Life on Lain's blog.
I haven't been able to get it out of my mind, so I created this layout. I also love this clip from the movie...go check it out {I don't know how to post the video like Lain did}
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lew7RWohvlg

Starbucks Wisdom

While We Were Out

Craig's parents stayed with our kids while we were on our cruise. The kids had such a great time with them and I think secretly they didn't want us to come back! They had so much fun and even learned a few things...Thank you both for loving our kids and taking care of them while we were gone...
Learning to sew using Grandpa's hankerchief...
Painting with watercolors....
Fixing the chain with Grandpa...

Grandpa was Mr. Fix-It around our house...he fixed our showers, toilets, locks, bikes, etc. Craig was very grateful for him....it checked off many things on his to-do list.

"Sometimes, I imagine my own life as a series of snapshots taken by some omniscient artist who is just keeping track - not interfering or saying anything, just capturing the moment for me to look back at it again later...This is the way it is, the photograph says, and I nod my head in appreciation. The power of art is in that nod of appreciation, though sometimes I puzzle nothing out, and the nod is more a shrug. No, I do not understand this one, but I see it. I take it in. I will think about it. If I sit with this image long enough, this story, I have the hope of understanding something I did not understand before. And that, too, is art, the best art."

-Dorothy Allison from "This Is Our World"

We're Still Afloat

A vacation is good for any marriage. We had time for each other just to talk, relax, reflect....Sometimes in life with kids you forget about the person that is really the most important. This man is the most important thing in my life. I love him. I love his strengths and his quirks. This week was a great time for us. To rejuvinate and connect. Through the distractions of life we tend to get into a pattern or a rut that is not so good. This last week has hopefully broke us of that pattern. We have been back almost a week and it is hard not to fall back into the same place that we were before. Tired, negative, etc......I need to remember what is important and continue the endless love I have for this man.

Caribbean 2008

I wish I could just post 197 pictures

Each one reminds me of something

I need to remember

RIGHT NOW

I haven't even unpacked my bags....

I just don't want this feeling to end.
{Still gathering photos....so please be patient!}

We interrupt this blog to bring you JESSICA SIMPSON!

My nephew was able to meet Jessica Simpson at his high school yesterday. He is the Student Body Vice President and she made a visit because their school won a radio station contest. He even got a hug from her! If you want to see the video...go here.
http://www.standard.net/live/news/143261/
Watch out Tony....he just might take your girl!

First & Second Day

I really can't put into words how I feel about my baby starting preschool. It is like so many other moments in my life where I get a tinge of nervousness & excitement all at the same time.

Today {the second day} when I had time to run almost 10 errands and still have time to spare; I am thinking that preschool is good...it's all good.

Around Chicago