remembering Memorial Day

This is an older layout- I did it for the Celebrate Freedom book by Pine Cone Press, about a year ago (July '06).

Just thought I would post it. Sort of my tribute to all that have served our country and died, especially all of those serving in Iraq/Afghanistan right now. I saw on the news that the US death toll was over 3,500. made my heart sink.

Happy Trails

This memorial day weekend we went to Mission Trails twice! the girls love it.

There is so much to do and see. Literally in a few miles you go from rocky desert, to a prairie, to wetlands.

On the way I remembered I hadn't put sunblock on the girls so we stopped at the store, while in line to buy the sunblock, the girls asked to buy these little dolls, very cheap- $1 for 2. so I gave in. They liked to carry the fairies on the hike and had them "flying"

We took the Oak Grove Trail so we could check on the tadpoles at the creek. On the Mission Dam trail, we saw baby fish in the edge of the water.

Love getting out in the sunshine and walking with the girls. I am so happy they appreciate nature and the small wonders all around them. They love how blue the dragon flies are, and how cool it is in the shade of the oak trees. They ask the names of trees and notice all the birds. They are delighted to see a mommy and baby bunny.

and yes, Davi's shirt does say "Hug a tree" :)

Cover Girl!

wow!! look at my Davi adorning the cover of Scrapbooking and Beyond :) sooo exciting - I had no idea until my friend Stephanie Bernard emailed me congrats! I mailed them this layout like over a year ago, so it was well worth the wait.

thanks to Judi and her pool for the great pool- I called her one day and said "hey can I bring the girls to swim? I need some great pool photos for scrapbooking"

This I Know

buttons, chipboard shapes and letters, brads, sequins, felt ribbon and chic charm (for wing) are all Queen & Co.

I printed my favorite quotes and scripture on lined paper:

Live with an attitude of gratitude-
johanna peterson.

when you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.-
thomas jefferson.

whether you think you can or cant, either way you are right-
henry ford.

take the first step in faith. you do not need to see the whole stair case. just take the first step.-
Dr martin luther king jr.

never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.-
margaret mead.

and others :)

Ellen show letter

this was a letter written by a viewer on the Ellen show. Viewers were asked to write in about thier favorite moment of motherhood. My friend val sent me it in an email and I had to share...again, this is not written by me (thankfully!)

Why My Lips Stayed Chapped On Mother's Day
===========================================

So, we had this great cat named Jack and the kids would carry him around and nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on this mat in our bathroom.

Well we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years old, 3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves chapstick. LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then losing it. So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my make-up. Everything is a mess and everyone> has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood.

We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli.

He was applying my chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . . rear end. Eli looked right into my eyes and said "chapped."

Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind.

And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the 1st time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth.

And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your chapstick on the cat's butt.

I love this kitty

That is what Davi said when she first saw Missy through the glass at Petsmart. She is just the tiniest kitty, but she has a big place in all of our hearts.
Jewel, chipboard hearts and letters, brads, button and felt are all Queen & Co. the pattern paper is Doodlebug.

Happy Birthday Davi

Happy Birthday to my oldest daughter, Davi.

she brightens any day and has an unwavering positive spirit.

Davi is eager to help endangered animals, sick children, poor families....I bought her a shirt that says "Hug a tree" for her birthday. She has decided to be an environmental engineer at the Port of San Diego, so she can help the tide pools, seals, dolphins and sea turtles. She wants to attend Cal Poly SLO and intern each summer starting in 9th grade. she has it all planned out. when she was 5 she wanted to be a ballerina princess.

For her birthday she asked for a kitty that needed a home. we adopted Missy on Thursday and I haven't seen Davi this happy in a long time.

Davi is a child who picks the pumpkin in the pumpkin patch that no one else will want, rescues feeder mice at Petco and gives them a pampered life of pistachios and peanut butter crackers. She invites the child in her class to her birthday party that doesn't get many invitations and pushes the smaller kids on the swings at school instead of swinging herself.

I am proud of you Davi!

Love , Mom

c u next year

finished a page I have been stuck on for like 2 weeks, yeah, not only the laundry and dishes are plentiful, but I was trying to use a pink background (pulling from the photos) and it just wasn't working for me.

so there the photos sat. on my desk...waiting. so I found this scenic route paper and it all just pulled together for me.

the rub ons are sports chick, scrapworkz, creative imaginations and doodlebug.the black stars and flowers are Queen & Co.

I cut next and yearbooks out of fun foam using my quickutz and I copied a page out of the yearbook and used like accents for the page.

Whoever said you can't buy love was wrong, we just did, and her name is Missy.

I asked Davi what she wanted for her birthday and she replied "a kitty in our home". She paused and said, I really miss having a kitty to love.

She could have asked for clothes, gift cards, a shopping spree, ipod, wii,...

All she asked for is to give a kitty a home. How could I refuse?

We really looked and looked, we found several cats - but I really wanted the girls to enjoy the brief time of kittenhood.

We found "Missy" through FOCAS (friends of county animal shelters) - she is spayed, microchipped and had her first shots. Even though she is orange, she is a girl!!!

The girls and I bought her a collar, that she takes off. a kitty condo she doesn't even look at, and a pink bed - and she prefers to sleep on Davi's homework.

The girls are in heaven and I am smitten.

She caught her first lizard (I saved it from death!) she had something she was really interested in under the table , I thought she found a piece of paper or trash and didn't want her to have it and it moved. I caught the lizard and put him out, Missy was quite upset I took it away.

She has tons of energy and is like caffeine covered in fur. it is a lot like trying to photograph a falling raindrop. these photos were the ones of her taking a brief moment or falling asleep.

beautiful in every way

I am just amazed when I look at photos of my girls, I have no idea where the little toddlers went. The two year old who would feed the Barney on TV a bagel and cream cheese or the little one that would pull all the tissues out of a Kleenex box and try to flush them down the toilet.

Davi looks more and more like my twin- (sorry davi) :)

I am truly blessed with two girls who are bright, funny and beautiful inside and out.