What?! You Did Yardwork and Don't Have...

Poison Ivy?!! Why yes, thank you very much! Props to my dear spouse for mowing the lawn while I got the weed eater to the sprawling weeds and pulled some wild raspberry vines. Michael helped me edge the driveway, so I need to do the front and brave the Poison Ivy Lands this week...some time.

::::::::::::More Baptism Layouts::::::::::

::::::::::::::::Book Review::::::::::::

School Library Journal Review
This is a different style of story telling by Shannon Hale who teamed up with her husband for this twist on Rapunzel's tale. The character turns many unfortunate circumstances into positives in a land made harsh and world unfriendly due to Gothel's magic spells. Rachel liked the story and presentation, in comic book style, better than I did. The girl power aspect to the book is a touch appreciated by both of us.

:::::::::::::Barbeque ::::::::::::::

The parents of Noah's friend, Josh, invited us to a barbeque on Sunday evening. The Eve and Noah immediately joined in with Josh and his siblings playing around the house. Rachel stuck by us most of the evening. Aaron was a sullen teenager for several minutes, but Michael introduced him to a boy named Trey who was his age. They found out they could go play on the Nintendo Wii system and the sun came out in Aaron's grey cloud filled sullen world.
Josh's mom is also going to help me with editing the copy in the yearbook and taking some photos. Yeah for having some more help!


I had a lovely walk today. The weather was overcast and slightly breezy. I mixed up my trail selections, again. I have created a route that has me going up a steep incline 5 different times. I hear this is supposed to help with the stomach area. I suppose it won't happen instantly though...sigh! It was also turtle hang out on the banks of the pond with your neck stuck really far out day. I wanted to let you know if you weren't aware to buy a Hallmark card for someone.


::::::::::::::::::::The Blue Rooster:::::::

I just got back from a delicious Southern style meal at the local small town eatery called The Blue Rooster. I took a sister from church that I visit with each month. The meal consisted of pork roast, lima beans and squash with onions. Soooo tasty. We had a great time talking and then I went to meet her new long-haired dachsund named Harley. Her neighbor has Harley's brother, Henderson. My friend also has a very sweet, elderly pug named Maddie.

The laundry calls my name! Take care.

Another Noah Page:

This is Noah getting a bear hug from his cousin, Christopher.
_{Credits: freebie from Vinnie Pearce, date stamp by Amber Clegg, font: PTRemington}

::::::::::::::Interesting Walk::::::

On mile 4 I saw a GINORMOUS bullfrog on the path. I tried to get close, but the dude was super fast. He made it through the fence and to the pond lickety split.

Mile 5.5 I saw a really cool Eastern Box Turtle on the path were there are runners and bicycles in the woods. I picked the handsome little turtle up and placed him off the path in the direction he was headed. Turtles are just too cool!

:::::::::::::::::Curriculum Night::::::::::

Michael and I just finished curriculum night for Aaron. We enjoyed hearing from the teachers who seem really good. Michael got the exciting job of calling Aaron after each classroom visit to ask about the assignments that he had been given. It was interesting that Aaron's response of, "No homework", had an entirely different meaning. Now we know, a little better, what to ask and look for from school

:::::::::::::::::Solution::::::::
Marcus is going to let me borrow his camera so I can take the school photo. Thanks, Marcus! He is also an enabler, by the way. I have been googling information on a new Nikon product thanks to his information. It is the first SLR with video capability. The Nikon D90 sounds pretty nifty. Let the begging and rationalizing BEGIN! ALMS for the poor!!!! :)

Take care...my Ibuprophen is kicking in, so I think I can go to sleep now.

A Flood of Pixel Proportions!!!

A few different things have been fixed on my computer. It isn't completely up to snuff, but we will keep fixing things as we go. Before it went on a hiatus I had several layouts to share of different events:


::::::::::::::Our New Niece, Holly::::::::










:::::::::::::::::::Noah's Baptism Album::::::::









::::::::::::::::::::Rachel's College for Kids:::::::


::::::::::::::::::::Christmas Layout from 2007:::::::::





::::::::::::::::::Book Review::::::::::::



Something else I did on the computer hiatus was read New Moon. I enjoyed this book more than the first one. The Romeo and Juliet theme ran through this as an updated work using vampires, humans and werewolves. Classic themes work anywhere. I thought the ideas of what it is to be human are explored and the concept of choosing to have your humanity taken by choice and another thrust upon you was intriguing. Bella's newly discovered abilities that mean very little as a human, but would make her a rather formidable vampire were very cool aspects to her character. It gives her more of a caterpillar wanting to become a butterfly kind of metaphor. Maybe in book 3 with the werewolves running in their pack and the Cullens back in town it will be West Side Story set in Forks? I look forward to finding out!


Later gators! :)

Talking About Yesterday

:::::::::::::::::::Scout Camp::::::

I was thrilled to see that Michael got a chance to blog about the goings on at Scout Camp. Here is a link to his blog, and he included some good photos of Aaron in his role as waiter. I have given Michael some photo suggestions so I can scrap them when he gets home. A new record high was set at 98 degrees Farenheit for yesterday in Atlanta. It made me nervous to think the boys were out in that heat. I know they have been taught the skills to stay safe. I also hope they emplement that knowledge, as well.

:::::::::::::::::::A Couple More Album Layouts:::::


<sub>Catrine's Explore Solids, Ida's Weathered Journaling, Font: DJB DONNAR by Darcy Baldwin at www.thedigichick.com, Nancy Comelab Cluster frame modified, Misc. Font: CK Good Point

Credits: Catrine's Explore Solids, Dawn Inskip's Doodle from her guest c.t. mini kit, Kate Hadfield's Black Doodle Alpha and Doodle Music notes</sub>


:::::::::::::::::Noah and Sammy::::::
are great friends. Here is the artwork Noah did during school this past year when he was given the theme of "Friend":

_{Credits: Spring Fling Collaboration by Kate Hadfield, Rachel Young, and Michelle Godin, Background paper from June BOYC at TLP by Jacque Larsen, Doodle frame by Kate Hadfield, Clear brackets by Emily Powers' from Art Nation Blossom, Kate Hadfield's Alpha and Tag from First Day Jitter's Collab}

:::::::::::::::::Exciting Summer Adventures::::::::

Since it was so hot, yesterday, I took the kids about 8:00p.m. to the library. The 2 minutes I was in the "Quiet Reading Room" looking to see if there were any new magazines I heard a NOT whispering, happy voice. I went out so see an older man scowling at Eve who was chattering with a little that looked to be her age. Eve was using a step stool to touch a large, fake butterfly on the shelves. I quieted her down and told the girls to play over in the children's section. Eve, promptly, informed me this little girl was her new friend. The other girl, equally as promptly, agreed. I walked around looking for books Rachel might like, while keeping an eye on the new friends. They hopped on the library rug, looked at a couple of books, then they marched to the Teen Reading section. There they found a magnetic board with little magnetic words you could rearrange. They decided to set this board on a high table like Eve had sat in at a local restaurant. When Eve put the board down the stand popped out from under it and the board slammed over scattering word pieces everywhere. One of the male librarians was right there and said not to worry he would clean it up, but Eve, cheerfully, told him that she and her friend could get them. They got down, immediately, and cleaned up the pieces. They played with the word that neither could read, and had a comical conversation that eavesdropped on as I sat on the adjacent couch. Here is a snippet of things I overheard:

Eve: "I saw my friend's cat, today."

Danisha: "I have a lion in my backyard!"

Eve: "You have brown skin. My skin is yellow. My mom's skin is yellow. Your skin is brown. Why are you called black?"

Danisha: "I don't know. My mom's skin has polka dots. My dad has yellow skin."

***"Danisha, it's time to go!"...stated her older sister.

Eve: "Your sister said it was time for you to leave."

Danisha: "I know, I don't listen to her."

Shortly after that Danisha's mom came up to get her and the girls said their goodbyes after Danisha introduced her friend Eve to her family. I had such a blast being a fly on the wall and listening to the chatter of two, instant friends. Their stories were fantasy mixed with reality and told with such animation it really made my day. What a great ability to have to see someone, say "Hi", and consider them your friend. What a better world this would be if it was that easy for everyone.

Smiles! :)

The Guitar Man

What occupies your time? This is what Michael has been doing lately. He opens up his laptop, pulls up the tablature to a song he wants to learn and sits down for a spell. He is glad he can read music because it allows him to concentrate on the fingering. He is proud of his calluses, too.




::::::::::::::::Working on Noah's Baptism Book::::

here is the cover to the book:


_{MSA NSD kit for 2008 with items from Kate Hadfield, Emily Merrit and Jacque Larsen,
Explore Solids by Catrine,
May BOYC bee trail by Jenna Desai, Kate Hadfield's New House Doodles,
Cindy Schneider's Sweet Shoppe template for the tree, Dawn Inskip and Heather Manning's collab Evitangel for the flowers and bird nest, Alpha from Art Nation Blossom by Emily Powers (modified with white paper by Jacque Larsen), Wordy Bits alpha by Kate Hadfield and Tiff Brady}


::::::::::Weird Questions of the Day:::::

1. Have you ever laundred money?

2. Yes! If they leave it in their pockets, and I have to wash them, it's their own fault.

::::::::::Cub Scouts:::::

I'm helping out today for Cub Scout Day Camp. Noah is a bit miffed that I won't be with his group, but he is glad I'm coming. Yesterday, Noah made a really cool marshmallow gun that had a chamber for minature marshmallows so you don't have to reload after each one. He was hot and sweaty at the end of the day, but said he had a great time.

I've got to run and finish gathering the Day Camp Accoutrement: bug spray, sun screen, blankets, cooler and lunch!

Later, gators and take care! :)