Ava joined Spirit Club (cheering) at school.  She practices twice a week after school and then cheers for games after school.  With this added activity…seems like it is starting to get busy busy here. ;D  Like I’m a taxi. ;D  I don’t mind.  I just noticed.  It is weird to have a girl in cheering.  Tonight we had a meeting with all the moms about making dinner for the girls in between some of the games…the nights there are double headers.  It feels kinda strange to be a mom of a cheerleader. ;D

I was working on a layout today.  Using some more stuff from Oscraps. ;D  This is one of my favorite photos from our vacation to Moab.

Layout credits here.

Apparently even if you are in a land locked state the same saying ‘red sky in the morning, sailor take warning’ still applies.  This was a saying we always lived by in Maine.  Apparently it is true in Colorado.  This was the sunrise yesterday morning.

And this is what we woke up to this morning.  It is by no means done yet!!! ;D

The kids had a snow day today.  I don’t remember having one this early in the season since we have lived here.  We don’t usually get snow like this before Halloween.  I guess we ARE in for a snowy winter…that’s what everyone has been saying! ;D

My laptop has been acting up for awhile now.  The video card is going bad in it and it is going to have to go back to Dell soon.  So in an attempt to get used to this idea…bwah ha ha ha!…I am learning to sit at the desktop computer.  Oh the horror! ;D Last night I was making sure Photoshop and Bridge worked but I didn’t have any of my files on here yet.  Yes, I am sitting at the desktop right now!  So I was looking for any kind of photo that I could open and manipulate in PS.  There wasn’t much…but what I did find made me smile!  I found a file of Ava’s photos from when she had a working camera.  She is actually an excellent photographer…I’ve said it before.  I found some great, great photos she had taken.  Some I had never ever seen before.  I have to share this one with you.  It is from 2006!

In Laney’s class each child made a “flat person”…a photo of their head with a construction paper body.  Only about 6″ tall.  This flat person was to be mailed to someone in the world of each child’s choosing.  Laney chose to mail Flat Laney to my bff in Maine.  When the recipient of this flat person got them in the mail they were to gather information about the area they live in and sent the flat person along with this information back.  Brochures, newspapers and things of that nature.  Jeni did a fantastic job and when we got Flat Laney back the REAL Laney was so excited she couldn’t wait to take it to school and share with her classmates.  Jeni included some gummy lobsters…for what is Maine without lobsters…and some Maine-made blueberry jam…for which Maine is also famous for…blueberries.

So imagine my surprise when Laney gets into the car the other day with the contents of the box…after the class was done sharing…to say that she wasn’t allowed to share the food items because some kids might be allergic.  When you were a kid do you remember there being as many food allergies as there are today???  I don’t.  Maybe I’m remembering it wrong I don’t know.  It was devastating to Laney and upsetting to me.  Even though I understand the reasons.  They have class parties all the time and food served in there.  Sigh. If you have a child with allergies you probably appreciate this but when you don’t its not fun either.

So…..THANK YOU Jeni for your thoughtfulness!  It was awesome to have food items in there.  We enjoyed them today…here at home.  Laney loved, loved, loved the blueberry jam!

With all the rain this year our raspberries have done very well.  They are loaded!  Every day the girls go out and check them.  Tonight there were plenty ripe for all of us to partake! ;D

Laney came home from school today and told me she was reading a chapter book at school.  She said it was in her desk.  I asked her what it was and she said it was a Jack and Annie book.  These are the books that Ava is reading.  So I was a little skeptical.  She assured me she could.  So I told her to grab one of Ava’s Jack and Annie books and read some of it to me.  So she did.  And she can!  On big words she has to sound them out but she can do it!  So then I thought, sure she can read it but can she comprehend what she is reading?  So I asked her, “Ok, Laney.  What is happening on this page?”  And she told me.  I waited a few more pages.  I asked her again.  She was able to tell me.  I was very, very proud. ;D

With fall comes school supplies and…

I’m sending these to one of the girl’s teachers tomorrow.  She will totally “get it” when she gets them! ;D  Before watching the clip below, can you tell me what movie this quote is from (in the photo above)?

Avoiding tornadoes.

Taking photos.  Hanging out at the pool.  Taking walks.  Going on bike rides.

Enjoying summer.

Being inspired and designing! ;D

Making layouts. ;D

Ali Edwards Signs of Summer Journaling Challenge June 7
Color Challenge 6-7-09 Mary Ann wise
Anna Aspnes Something Springy Overlay
Katie Pertiet Plainly Negative Brushes-n-Stamps
Katie Pertiet Journaling Brushes-n-Stamps
Katie Pertiet Dated Journaling Brushes-n-Stamps
paper + photo mask JMDesigns

Layout inspired by Designer Digitals Journaling Challenge June 7, 2009

This morning at the breakfast table I asked Laney, “What day is today?”

“Friday!”

“Yes, but that’s not what I mean.”

“Dance class!”

“Yes, but not that.”

“Last day of school.”

“Yeah, but what else.”

“The BBQ at school!”

“OMGosh Laney!”

Ava whispers to her.

“It’s Kindergarten graduation!!!!”, she finally exclaims!  What a hoot!

And now all I hear is, “I’m a first grader now!”

credits
Word art Ali Edwards
frame Katie Pertiet

It seems lately that I rarely get any good photos of  Ava.  Today that was not the case.  She got in the car when I picked her up from school very excited.  I asked her how her day was.  She said excellent.  They had an in school field trip.  During part of it they had a word search contest.  Ava won!  The prize she won was a rock and tool kit.  You use the tools to break the “rock” apart and find a dinosaur inside.  She was pumped!  She’s been so into breaking rocks apart lately.  She wants to look inside them for gems and “treasures.” ;D  She wanted to do it the minute we got home.  And so she did!

Some days Ava is so grown up.  Yesterday we were sitting at the table.  I was helping her with her homework.  I started to get a migraine.  I laid my head down on the table.  After a few minutes Ava says, “Mom.  Why don’t you just go to the couch and lay down.  I can finish up here at the table by myself.”

“Ava that is so sweet.  I really feel terrible.  Come to the living room with me.  I’ll help you with your definitions while on the couch and then you can do the rest.”

“Ok, Mom.”

So we headed to the couch.  It helped me…as much as anything can when I have a migraine.  I helped her with her definitions and then tried to rest.  I heard Laney ask me something.  Ava said, “Shhhh Laney!  Don’t ask her anything she doesn’t feel good and she’s trying to rest!”  I don’t remember anything after that.  They must have done a good job of being quiet cause I got some rest and didn’t wake up till Corey got home.  When Ava acts like that sometimes I wonder who switched her. ;D  Not more than a 1/2 hour before they were fighting and slamming doors.  Go figure. ;D

***

I also wanted to say Happy Easter to everyone.  No matter what you do or how you celebrate I hope your day is wonderful!  I have an Easter layout that I want to share.

Quick Collage 200 Series templates Scrapbooks Etc.
the story word art Ali Edwards
2008 year brush Jen Maddocks Design
Chandelierious No.1 brush set  Anna Aspenes
tape CD Muckosky Story Starters
fonts: Susie’s Hand, Will & Grace

Migraines.  They suck.

I had one late this afternoon.  It prevented me from going out with Laney tonight.  She had her artwork from school on display at the local hospital.  Tonight was a reception for the artists and family.  Corey graciously took her for me.  He also took pictures. ;D

Good plans just didn’t pan out today.  I was going to post what I’m doing in my albums for the crop overnight.  Only…Ava got really sick last night…very sick…and I didn’t sleep at all.  So that will have to wait a day or two when I get some more sleep.  I’m hoping Ava will get better soon.  I seem to remember having sick kids a month ago for our anniversary.  Think it’s going to happen again for my birthday…:(

I dragged my tired self to school today for Laney’s class was having a Green Eggs + Ham party.  They made hats and listened to the story of Green Eggs and Ham.  Then they were served Green Eggs + Ham!

Laney’s thoughts on Green Eggs + Ham…(she did try them which is more than I can say for me…I was called a wimp!)

And Laney making her hat…

Have a great weekend!!!