how we spent our summer vacation!

Heather at YMBD wants to know if I accomplished anything this summer - well, it's not an exciting list - but here it goes!

*spent 2 weeks in Seattle with my family (just me and the kids)
*spent days in the little pool in the backyard
*spent 2 weeks with mom when she came to visit
*had our annual 4th of July bash
*created many, many cards to use this year
*kept up with all my dt work
*took lots of photos of the kids
*enjoyed quality time with dh in the evenings
*bought new living room furniture
*re-organized my bitty scrap space
*spent an evening with the Collin's family
*got a new roof on the house
*got new gutters on the house, too

I'm sure there's more but I doubt it's anything you want to hear about! Hope ya'll had a great summer - ours is pretty much over now that Hailee is back to school - but Darren's dad will be here in about a week so that's the next thing we're looking forward to!

here are the rest of my projects using the fun My Favorite Things stamps!

you can see more from the entire design team by going {here}!!!

can you say SERIOUS???

I crack up! Darren has recently been SUCKED in to the world of "Call of Duty 4" by a friend of his. He doesn't play very often, thank goodness, but when he does I just crack up! He yells at the game (like that'll help), makes such intense faces, moves with the controller (because we all know that DOES help! lol), and it's just hilarious. Then when he's done he lets out a sigh - like he's all worn out from the hard work!


don't you just love how he moves the chair to get a better view? LOL

Thank you Jennifer!

{Jennifer} has given me this award, or tagged me I suppose, so I am doing my duty! First, I have to thank her - she gave me another award a week or so ago and though I did go and thank her I didn't follow through - so this time I am!

okay - here goes:

*If you are tagged, you must first post the rules:

* Write 7 strange characteristics about yourself. They interest us all!

* Tag 6 other people at the end of your Post.

* Visit everyone that you have tagged and leave a comment on their blog to let them know that they have been tagged.

So here are my seven strange characteristics:

1. I now have 2 tattoos.

2. I am ADDICTED to latte's.

3. I am originally from Washington and will NOT eat any seafood.

4. I constantly tap or shake one of my feet.

5. if one of my fingers touches another, I then have to make that finger touch the other 8.

6. While having a phone conversation I can also follow along with what the people in the room with me are doing/talking about. that's my multi-tasking skill!

7. I chew the sides of my fingers but never bite my nails.

I'm going to tag:

Kimmie http://kimmie-kimmievw.blogspot.com/

Marti http://lovemylife-marti.blogspot.com/

Mel http://mel-melplace.blogspot.com/

Kimmarie http://kimmarieskorner.blogspot.com/

Nicole http://www.napsscraps.blogspot.com/

Erika http://erika-personallyme.blogspot.com/

Kristy http://jkjjhuddle.blogspot.com/

at the local park

Yesterday Braden and I headed to the little park downtown for a little bit of play time. As much as he enjoyed the swings (that's where the best smiles came from!) he really enjoyed climbing - he was determined to do it. He scares me. Way more than Hailee did. Boys are supposed to be tough but I can't get that into my head. He's my baby. I've seen the lumps on his head before. He scares me. But he's so darn cute I tried to let him go so I could get pictures. Here are my favorites.

a big 1st grader in the house!!!!

Can you believe it's back to school time already? sheesh! Well, Hailee was super excited to get back - she plans on learning to read....THIS week! lol

I took the traditional pictures in front of the gate - I really hoped to get a picture without her squinting but hey, what can you do? at least it's only the one! lol The picture I really wanted was her sitting in her desk, but there was too much chaos - so I have a picture of her next to it...while tugging her tights! lol and I was doing just fine with the whole situation of leaving my baby at a school with a new teacher that I don't know and didn't find overly friendly until she asked "aren't you leaving?". that hurt.

I forgot to share!

The Playground is sponsored by My Favorite Things Stamp Co. this month and I had fun! I was sent the back to school stamp set so I made a card for Hailee's first grade teacher along with a layout using her kindergarten class photo. Then, to spice things up a bit (cuz we're SO spicy!) some of us (the design team) sent each other images of our stamps so we could all play with different themes. Kimmie sent me some images from the winter set and Beth sent me some from a shower set - I used what I could (still have some Mother's Day images from Marti to play with, too). Anyway - here are the 3 I uploaded in the gallery on the 5th - more to come on the 20th!!


and the August challenge over at Use Your Stash!! blog was posted on the 5th - it's to use patterned paper - the more the better!!! you have until the 20th for that. and hang on to scraps because you know we'll want you to make a card with those around the 12th :)


what else - OH - I recieved my box from Wendi (playground) for our September and October projects and WOW - we are SO lucky...great sponsors and I can't tell you yet - but watch out - because there's always a challenge to go along with it!

and I just got an email from Jen at RSC and my dt box is going to be delayed but good things will come of it - she's going to send more of my stuff so I get it all at once! it will be a scrappy overload and I can't wait!!! The October/November issue will knock your socks off - Jen rocked the sponsors for sure this time!!!!!


and UYS has a fun sponsor for September too - so much to look forward to - good thing all the "little people" will be back in school so ya'll can play along!

that's all I've got for now - have fun and go scrap!!

My cute little space

well - I used to have all my scrap stuff in our spare room-turned kids room- that I shared with Darren. I had half the room to spread all my yummy scrappy goodness throughout. When we finally had to give it up and move my stuff to our bedroom I had a mild panic attack. But it's working, and I'm able to see what I have and really use it better, so it's a good thing. Yes, I'm crammed on one wall, but it's working. Here are a few pictures (still some organizing to do but Darren and I are still in debate on what would be best) so you can see where it is I create.

Braden's big boy bed!

Well we got the toddler bed tonight! Braden kept getting his feet stuck in the crib rails so we decided it was time! AND walmart had Spidey sheets for it with a blanket so he JUST HAD TO HAVE IT! he was so excited! lol He THOUGHT he was ready for bed, but he tried to change his mind once he was actually in it - but we only had to put him back in bed a few times before he fell asleep - he's pretty good when it comes to bed routines - he likes sleep :)

New contest at the Playground

For August we want to see your layout using stamps in a creative way - so dust off those old stamps you have stored away and have some fun with them!!!!

NOW - for the RULES!!!!! lol
*8.5x11 or 12x12 layouts only - no mini's, no cards.
*one entry per person
*you can not win back to back challenges - but don't let that stop you from entering because we love to see what everyone can create!
*you have until 8-31-08 to get your entries in the correct gallery HERE
*all work must be yours - no scraplifts or sketches, please

if you have any questions - visit the Contest Forum over at the playground!