My vacation:

I promised pictures - so here we go - hold on, could take a while! lol

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first, we went to my dad's in Snohomish, WA so that we could go to Neil's wedding in Port Gamble.

my brothers: Neil & Tyler

Tyler & Briana (my sister)My new sister-in-law, Jennifer! Isn't she adorable???The ADORABLE, CUTE, PERFECT flower girl :)aaah, Braden - what a kidthe cute, happy couple (photo credit goes to Hailee)

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After the visit with my dad and his family the kids and I went to my mom's to meet up with Kelly so we could go OVER the mountains to Kennewick to see the family there:

Braden's first experience on a tractor - he loved it, just didn't like Boppa holding him! lol

Kelly entertains the little ones (oops,didn't fix her redeye!)JanieMarie & Braden (she's only 4 months older)Kelly & I took a few of the kids for a walk around the park (Lizzy, Sandra, Kelly, JM, Cami, Hailee & Braden pulling up the rear!)

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After that trip, we head back to my moms. And here we stay for a while - we had dinner with Darren's parents, went camping, then before heading back home, met Darren's dad for lunch. It was a long and exhausting 2 weeks - Braden didn't do well with the first week, too many people trying to "get to him" when all he wanted was mom! lol Sorry about that everyone - he's in the midst of major seperation anxiety so it wasn't anyone's fault!

The kids with Darren's mom (MaryAnn) and step-dad (Steve)

Here I am - see I was there, too!the highlight of Hailee's vacation - feeding the horses behind my mom's house!

Poppy fishes with Haileeand now she's on her own!the kids enjoyed the water, Braden's first time in "open water"

Braden takes a breakHailee *thinks* she's going deep! lolMe and my kid do the paddle boats (she pooped after 30 minutes!)on the way home we stopped at a fruit stand - couldn't pass on this picture!Grandpa Garry with the kids - Braden finally warmed up a bit!

and finally, lunch with mom before the airplane trip home (yes, same booth from the day before with Garry! lol)

so that's it - if you made it this far I thank you! we did have a great time - busy, but fun! It was wonderful seeing everyone and I hope to do it again.....NEXT YEAR!

WorldWin and a challenge!

Today is upload day over at the playground! Here are a few of my projects using the FANTASTIC worldwin cardstock! I love this stuff and am so glad I was given the chance to use it. I admit I was set on Bazzill only, but I'm loving this stuff now, too!

Also, click on the link for USE YOUR STASH over on the right, today Kimmie and I will have our first challenge posted!!! It's a good one, you won't want to miss out!

oh the FUN!

Kimmie and I are starting something new. You know Kimmie, her mind is always working, never sleeps - so she came up with an idea and we ran with it! Check us out at http://useyourstash.blogspot.com/! You're sure to be inspired!

We are in the works on our first challenge now - so stay tuned - and bookmark us so you can find us whenever you need a mojo boost!!!

do you like to shop?

for scrap goodies? I found a great store not too long ago and thought I'd share - because they impressed me! the items come wrapped in tissue paper, tied with raffia and has a little chocolate on there! how great is that? I just placed another order with them and told them I'd share their link with my friends....so here I am. go to http://www.emmaspaperie.com and check out their store...and their blog!

do you read blogs?

you really should. reading blogs could benefit you. you could learn something new. or even win prizes. really, you should read blogs frequently.




bwahahaha!

Time to submit!!!!

Aug/Sept 2008 Calls For Ready-Set-Create

Please copy and paste the short submission form into an email to Jen@readysetcreate.com.The deadline is 7/10/08 at midnight MSTIf your work is selected you will be notified, and receive a free downloadable copy of the issue your work appears in

Submissions must not be included in any online galleries, blogs, or stores until at least 30 days after the issue your work appears in has been released.

www.readysetcreate.com

Page calls for Aug/Sept:

Any altered projects
Open Gallery (any theme)
Card Corner (any theme)
Parent layouts
Stickers
Hybrid anything
Things that have wheels

Email: _________________
Project title:_____________
By:____________________
Supplies:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________any

questions? My email door is always open, send me an email! Jen@readysetcreate.com

Calling all my blog lurkers!

after 2 weeks in Washington State with family - I learned that a lot of my family/friends read my blog. This is news to me. Why? BECAUSE THEY DON'T COMMENT!!!! Please people! take the time to say hello, just so I know that my blog is being read and isn't a waste of time :)


and stay tuned - I have about 150 "keepable" pictures to work on and will share some with the highlights of my vacation!

Love and hugs to all!!!!

We are packed!

okay, so there's a little left to do - but since we don't leave for the airport until 2pm, I've got time!

Hailee is SO excited! Braden is too, but doesn't know why! lol I can't wait to see everyone....leaving Darren is hard, but once I get to Seattle I'll be fine - 2 weeks is a long time but we're going to be so busy that time will just fly by!

we'll be back late on the 28th with a full camera card, so be ready!!!!

I'll leave you with a pic of a little guy that hung out on our patio for a couple days - unfortunately nature sucks and he didn't make it - falling from the nest was bad for him I suppose. but the kids loved having him around...the little guy wasn't scared so we were able to pet his back gently, great thing for the kids to experience.

I love Busy Bee!!

stupid blogger won't let me edit my layout to put this blinkie on the left - so Kristi - it's here!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy day to all the mom's out there celebrating! Enjoy the day!

to my mom - I love you and miss you - can't wait to see you! You're the BEST!!!!

SUBMIT SUBMIT SUBMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have extended the deadline for our page calls for our June/July issue of Ready-Set-Create. We're looking for cards of any theme, any altered art, Dad layouts, summer layouts, vacation layouts, patriotic layouts, felt projects and anything using punches - paper, digi or hybrid, we love it all! If your work is used you will receive a free download of the issue.

Submissions must not be included in any online galleries, blogs, or stores until at least 30 days after the issue your work appears in has been released.
please use this format (below) for submissions and submit to jen@readysetcreate.com

Email:

Project title:

By:

Supplies:

deadline extended to 5/15/08

Hugs being sent

My friend, Kimmie, had to go to a funeral today - sending hugs to her and her family!

also - to The Short family - know that if I had the means of being there last week I would have - Grandpa will be missed. Even though he had been sick, it doesn't make losing him any easier. The kids and I will see you soon.

Hailee, Great-Grandpa, and Braden - December 2006

A few pictures of Braden celebrating - his way

Isn't this what every 2 year old boy wants to do on his birthday?

he didn't mind helping me clean the spatula after frosting his cake :)

then of course there's the waiting outside for Daddy to show him this frog! (this is his normal "wait for daddy" pose!)

Pictures of him opening cards and his tractor are on Darren's camera so those will come later!

Happy Birthday, Little Dude!

Today, my baby, the only little man who can melt my heart with his cute grin and shoulder shrug, turns 2. how this happened I'll never know - I can still VIVIDLY remember the day he was born - and now he's a little dude running all over the house, the yard, and anywhere else his feet touch! He's got a FANTASTIC personality with so much amusement - he can make you smile with one little giggle - yet make you scream with his "seek and destroy" motto! lol But, I wouldn't change a thing - I love him for who he is and if I had my way I'd keep him small forever - but Darren says I can't...so I'll tell him happy birthday and hope the next 365 days don't go by too fast.

Time for her to grow up.

I'm having a hard time admitting that my kids are growing up. Not only do I have to deal with the fact that Braden will be 2 on Thursday, today Hailee proved that she is indeed growing up and is no longer a baby. Why does this happen????

Dream Street - April Sponsor for the Playground

pure joy.

Happy Birthday to my FAVORITE husband!!!

Today my husband is celebrating his 37th birthday! It's hard to believe I helped him celebrate his 22nd! wow, that's a LOT of birthdays! :)

I love you Darren!!!

Thursday weigh in and other ramblings

Okay - so I had to get on that darn scale again this morning - I'm really not liking this thing, and I don't think it likes me....but this week I won! It's really hard for me to see the dial, so I'm researching a digital one (any input would be great) but it appears I lost 2 pounds!!!!!!!!!!! No, not a lot, but I'm down 4 pounds since March 13th. That's not bad considering I haven't added any cardio in yet.

Let's see - there is no school today. They send the kids with 7" of snow on the ground, but flooding roads gets the day cancelled! Yeah, major flooding! Our rain meter goes to 5 1/4" and it's overflowing! Tuesday we got 3" so last nights rain just added to it. Lots of roads closed and that's bad for the bus routes - so Hailee gets to stay home and color!

Darren and Braden are finally getting over their colds - thank goodness - snot just grosses me out and Braden's nose turned on and I didn't think would EVER turn off! lol

I'm working with some yummy papers for my upload on the 20th over at the playground! Some months are so fun with our sponsors, this is one of them!

okay - that's all for today - off to eat a rice cake! lol

Happy Thursday...

Simply Cardstock

The Playground was sponsored by Simply Cardstock. Vicky sent us some fantastic stuff to play with - not only did she said lots of yummy Bazzill but she sent some tags and ribbons as well! Here are my creations with the product - and don't forget to go the gallery over at the playground to see what the other ladies did!

Happenings:

Just so you know, Scrapbook Playground is down right now - a new server is being set up and it's taking longer than normal - should be good by this evening, so just keep checking back.

Crop - the Spring Crop is in full swing over at Ready-Set-Create so go on over and be inspired - then share your work with us!

Diet - I am not happy - Thursday was my weigh in and I didn't lose a pound - I'm thinking that's what I get for enjoying Easter dinner! But hey, I'm back on track, doing good, and am ready to lose more!

Birthdays - Darren will be 37 on the 21st - it's amazing to me - he wasn't even 22 when we met! but, the man gets better with age so I still consider myself unbelievably lucky! Braden will be 2 on May 1st and it makes me want to CRY my eyes out! He's my BABY so how is it he's almost 2????

Scrapping - I've been busy with the awesome sponsors that my teams are working with - hope to share soon!

A contest!!!!

Dream Street is sponsoring us this month at www.scrapbookplayground.com. If you love their work as much as we do, then this contest is for you!! To enter: Submit one layout/altered item using mostly Dream Street products into the proper gallery (link below) by April 30th. Rules: One entry per person Must be your own work - no class layouts or lifts You can not win back to back contests - but please enter each month, we love to see your work! Winner will be determined by the Scrapbook Playground Design Team and will be announced in the May 5th newsletter. The winner will receive a Dream Street prize package. Here's the gallery link for you to upload your work! http://scrapbookplayground.com/pp331/showgallery.php?cat=975