School Time!!

I love back to school time. I love taking the boys school shopping. I love buying supplies and I am often guilty of purchasing office supplies for the house because I love new pads of paper and new cool pens. The boys were excited to go back. This will be the first year they are all in different schools. It is a very pivotal year for all of them. Nicholas starts high school, Lucas starts middle school, and Alex will be on his own at the school for the first time. He has always had the security of knowing Lucas is close by. If you know my boys you know that Alex and Lucas are extremely close and do almost everything together. Did I mention the best part? I have a weeka nd a half off before I go back. It is like a vacation or really more of a cleaning spree. I have been deep cleaning the house and getting it in tip top shape to when I am super busy this semester with Church, family, friends, school, and  scrapbook designing/teaching, I can do a quick clean and have the house looking good. I am sure by the time I get out of school in December it will need another deep cleaning.
Here are Lucas and Alex on the first day.
Stand by for a photo of Nicholas :)

Musings

School is starting back soon.NEXT WEEK!!! I think the boys are excited but aren't wanting to show it; a mama can dream. They have their new cloths and shoes. Tomorrow we go for their hair cuts at J C Pennys. They are doing a promotion for free kids hair cuts during the month of August.Why not take the boys? I spend enough in Pennys to warrant a couple free hair cuts. LOL
Check out this photo of my scrap space. I really need to clean it up before I started ANOTHER project :) What you can't see in this photo is the shelves to the left and right of the tables full of stuff as well. *sigh* I would rather make the mess then clean it. Such is life :)

While I am here how about a few photos of the shark fishing tournament the boys were in last weekend. It was supposed to be from 4pm - 8am but they were home by 1am. Not because the boys were tired, it was the adults who had to pack it in. LOL These photos were taken by my husband. I think he did pretty good this time. He is famous for cutting off the tops of their heads but I think I have finally got him trained to take a good photo:)

Avalanche

The creativity is flowing right now.
I have so many projects floating around in my head that I don't know where to start.
I have finished a few already, the Tropical Paradise Canvas as well as a Halloween mini album that will also be a class at Scrapbooks Etc.
I am currently working on a Christmas project that is turning out so well.
I feel like I have been hit by a creativity avalanche.
We all have those times when NOTHING comes to us.
That is usually when I take a class or work from a kit. It helps to churn up the stagnant creativity.
School will be starting soon, for the boys and for me, so that will limit the time I have to create but with a little planning I have no fear that I will manage to carve out some time for creating, classes, and crops.
Stay tuned for sneak peeks for all of my upcoming classes :)

Tropical Paradise Beach Canvas

I am honored to have been asked to design and teach this super cool class at Scrapbooks Etc in Bonita Springs, Florida. This is a free standing double canvas  class using the Tropical Travelogue line from Graphic 45. It is full of techniques and even includes an attached mini album. The opposite side of the canvas (not shown) uses the Copic marker air brush technique and glimmer mist.

There are two dates for this class:
Tuesday, August 14th @ 10am - 3pm
Saturday, August 25th @ 10am - 3pm
The cost of the class is $65.00
Seating is very limited so don't hesitate to sign up.

To sign up, call Coleen or Janet @ (239) 495-9199

Crop until you drop!

I am getting my bags ready for the upcoming three day crop hosted by Scrapbooks Etc in Bonita Springs. I can't wait, this is just what I need to finish out my summer and get me geared up for another school year. I know, it's crazy that summer, at least in a school sense, is almost over. The kiddos go back in less than three weeks and I go back not long after. We will be staying at the Trianon Hotel again and I can't wait. It is such a great hotel with wonderful accommodations and  friendly staff. So if you are free this weekend head on down to the crop :)

School is......

Right around the corner!

I saw this example on this web site and thought it would be cute and fun to make with Alex for his class this year. Lets face it, he is going to 3rd grade and this will probably be the last year I can get away with making anything like this for him. :( My baby is growing up. Anyhow, this is the picture that Denise made, once I have made mine I will be sure to post a photo.
 

 

Here is the breakdown for the supplies:
1 set of round nesting boxes
10 boxes of Crayola crayons
9 two pack Elmers school glue sticks
8 bottles of Elmers liquid school glue
woodens star and rectangle
1 box kleenex
red and black paint
ribbon
mini binder clips
glue gun
ABC scrapbook paper

He Loves Me!

I know he loves me (talking about my husband here). He is thoughtful most of the time. He gets a little relaxed sometimes but what man who has been married for almost 14 years doesn't? I would like to say he always remembers the flowers, but he doesn't. What I can say is that he is there for me everyday. He always listens to me when it truly counts. Oh, I know he tunes me out sometimes but he can tell when something is important and he steps up and really listens. Our lives are defined by how much we depend on each other. I truly cannot fathom living in a world where he is not by my side. It is me and him against the world. Having said that, I would like to share a photo of my new wedding ring he gave me. Our anniversary is not until November but he said I could have it NOW! Since I am a instant gratification sort of girl, that works for me just fine :)

 

 

Can you say, about time?

So I have to admit, I do not like the beach. I really want to like the beach. It is kind of like mustard to me. I don't like mustard but will endure it if I have to. So I just don't go to the beach very often. Like never. The last time I went - until a few days ago- was about 10 years ago and yes I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida. So my youngest son, who is eight, has never seen the beach. Does that make me the worst mom ever or what? So my bestest bud invited us out to the beach for the 4th of July this year. I hesitated to accept because, HELLO, I don't like the beach but she is my bestest bud and my baby boy needed to see the beach. On a whole, the day turned out much better then I anticipated and the kids had a great time. Oh and I came out of it without a sunburn - that is a miracle from Jesus. So here are a few photos of us at the beach.

Lucas and Tessa

Tessa

Alex

Alex

Lucas

Alex

Kristine and Tess

Lucas

Luci and Lucas

Alex

Alex

Butterfly Canvas Class

I am honored  to have been asked to design and teach a class at Scrapbooks Etc in Bonita Springs. Each week a different project will be taught at a 2 day kid's camp. For my week, July 10th-11th, I will be teaching a double canvas butterfly wall hanging. I used a variety of different techniques with this project but tried to keep it simple so the kids wouldn't feel overwhelmed while creating it. Here is the contact information for the store and picture of the project. Give Coleen a call if you would like more details about signing up.

Scrapbooks Etc.

3725 Bonita Beach Rd. #7

Bonita Springs, Fl. 34134

239-495-9199

Butterfly Canvas Class
July 10th-11th
11am-3pm

*Late afternoon childcare will be offered for an additional fee.*

Soap Expansion

I have seen this experiment online a few times and decided to try it with the kids. So we took the plunge and gave it a shot. I wasn't sure how I felt about sticking a bar of soap in my microwave but what could it hurt, it was after all soap and would just wipe out. Luckily, we didn't have any problems and it all turned out great. The kids loved watching the soap expand. For more information on the how and the why of the experiment visit this web site. I simply put the bar in the microwave, turned my rotating plate off, and set the time for 3 minutes. It only took about 2 of the minutes to complete. When the soap stopped expanding I turned the microwave off.

FROM THIS

 TO THIS

SOME SIZE PERSPECTIVE

GLAD I CLEANED THE STOVE TOP :)

The kids loved it so much we did it again. The foamy mound is actually firm to the touch but will turn to crumbles when broken. The kids liked crumbling the soap.
NOTE: There is air inside the soap when you take it out of the microwave, allow the soap to cool for a few minutes before breaking it apart.

Charlie Chaplin

Alex had a birthday. Can't believe my baby boy is already 8. It is so bittersweet. For his birthday he received quite a bit of money. Of course he wanted to go to Game Stop to buy a new game but while at the mall I also talked him into going to the book store. Ok fine, I told him I was driving and that meant he had to go with me to the book store or he was walking home :) He found these cute mustaches at the book store and I had to snap a photo of my miniature Charlie Chaplin.

Picture Heavy

We have had a few award ceremonies this week. Tuesday was Alex's day. He received the A/B honor roll award and the citizenship award. I am so proud of him. I know he worked extra hard all year to keep his grades up. He has matured so much this year and grown into a fine young man. Here is are a few photos of his day.

Alex

Alex and Mrs. Manguson

Lucas' 5th grade graduation was tonight. He received the Math Excellence award. This award came with a $500 cash awards to be used towards furthering his education. That means if he wants to go to the Mott Aquarium in Tampa we can tap into this money to help pay for it. Or if he wants to go to summer camp, we can use this money. I am so proud of him. Here are a few photos of his night.

Mrs. Whitt and Lucas

 Here are the two of them with their principal Mr. Mazoli.

Mr Mazoli, Lucas, and Alex

 So after the award ceremony we went home and they goofed around outside taking pictures. They are such funny kids.

Me and Lucas

Lucas, Connor, and Alex

Nicholas

Lucas

I think I'll keep them :)

Warms a mother's heart!! I thought I would share this photo of Alex vacuuming the living room at our house. Technically this is his chore and he should do it at least once a week. Most weeks I have to tell him, then he whines, procrastinates, and tries to get out of it. This week he stepped up, grabbed the vacuum and got to work. He is such a good boy. (most of the time :)

We took Lucas this weekend to get his ear pierced. A lot of people won't agree with my decision to allow him to get this done but I did it for several reasons.
1. He is a good kid who does amazing in school and shows extreme responsibility skills for someone his age.
2. It was something he wanted and I wanted it done right using sterilized materials. I have two older brothers who would go to their friends over the weekend, have a friend pierce their ear, come home and my Dad would make them take it out. That was my Dad's decision, he was entitled, they are his kids. That was 20 years ago, the world had ugly funks back then that could be caught on a dirty needle (or ear ring). Imagine all that on steroids and you have what kids face today.
3. It wasn't that big a deal to me. He wears it for a while, gets tired of it and takes it out. Or he never tires of it and wears it all his life. Who cares? You have to pick your battles and this was not a battle for us at all.
4. He asked for it almost two years ago when he was 10 years old. I said no, I told him I wouldn't say no forever but I wasn't going to get it done when he was so young. I told him to think about it and if he still wanted to do it in a couple of years we would talk. So this was not a spur of the moment decision.
5. I told him I had authority to make him take out any earring I thought was inappropriate or just looked stupid. He agreed.
So here are a few photos I snapped when he took him to have it done. Love that kid!

I hate buying groceries with a passion! Why? Oh I could come up with hundreds of reasons but I'll just tell you a few.
1.Having to maneuver around SLOW people. I just want to yell at them "MOVE PEOPLE" or ram my cart into theirs and pretend it didn't happen as I walk on by.
2.Unloading the groceries when I get home. Either I wait to buy groceries when the little people are with me (when I want to punish myself), so they can help bring them in or I buy them while they are in school and have to tote it all in by myself. I choose the lesser of two evils and buy them while they are in school.
3. Knowing at some point they (all my men) are going to want me to take this recently bought food and create a meal for them. I am not a bad cook. I make pretty good food. I just don't like to. Over the last few year I have come to dread cooking.
So before I head out to buy groceries, I thought I would take a moment  to share this little mini project I created yesterday. I used some of the new techniques I learned over the weekend while at the three day crop :) Sorry about the shine from the flash.

It has been soooooooo long since I blogged. We have been going, going, going with family, church, school, the house, a trip to Mexico. I have just now had a moment to breath. So while I was breathing I thought I would share a few things I created over the weekend. 

I was fortunate enough to go down to Bonita Springs this past weekend for a National Scrapbook Day three day crop hosted by Scrapbooks Etc. We stayed at the Trianon Hotel and it was "muy" awesome. Let me tell you, these ladies know how to throw a crop. The food was great, there were so many giveaways. I think at last count I had won 5 prizes. The tables weren't crowded and everyone was so nice. I really liked the goodie bags. None of that junk you wouldn't use, it was full of papers, 6x6 templates, adhesive, stamps, flowers and so much more. It was all in a Utility Bin from a company called Thirty-one.  I thought the bins were store property for us to use as garbage cans but I soon found out they were for us to take home.  Totally awesome! I had the most fun, there is going to be another three day crop in July and October and I plan to be at both :)

So to get on with it here are a few things I created. The first one is a alter-art project for my best friend to hang in her daughter's room. Followed by a few layouts I scrapped of my family :)