Scouts

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

Michael's blog shows the flag at half mast for the 4 scouts who lost their lives during a tornado in Iowa. My stepdad, Jim, wrote a blog about what happened and it was a wonderful tribute to those boys. There was one particular scout that looked just like Aaron and my eyes spill over with tears and my heart aches with recognition. My prayers are with the family and friends of all those who are suffering.

::::::::::The Guitar Man:::

My husband is teaching himself to play guitar. He sits down with any time he can scrape together and practices.

<sub>Credits: Remember When Date Stamp Brush by Karen Lewis http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/pro...273&page=4

Catrine's Explore Solids paper, Aged Frames, black chalked alpha

Birgit's Retro paper and Retro leaves

Christina Renee's Stamped words freebie at DST

Darcy Baldwin's DJB Teeny Bopper Darcy Baldwin's DJB TeenyBopper font http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/pro...273&page=2

also DJB MICHAEL

Katie Pertiet: frame</sub>



::::::::::::::How I spent My Summer Vacation::::

1. Mowed the grass...ran over poison ivy in the backyard. (I wonder if there are cortisone speculators like they have for oil?) The weather was really beautiful.

2. trimmed a tree (I have no SKILLZ at this and the poor thing looks sillier than it did before, but I can see the cars and kids a bit better as I back out of the driveway.

3. Used the weed eater on the edge of the road in front of my house. I really enjoy this activity. I did, however, put off weed eating a large patch in the front yard that has...WAIT FOR IT...WAIT FOR IT...Poison Ivy. I know, I should just go for it. What are a few oozing lesion awaiting my dear spouse who hasn't seen me in a week.

4. Listened to my kids giggle while watching Napolean Dynamite and Murder By Death.

5. Digiscrapped

6. Washed and folded clothes.

7. Shopped at Target

8. Told my kids to clean their rooms a GAZILLION times. (Note to self, repetition is not necessarily effective).

9. Fed those kids of mine who are too slack to clean their room.

10. Mediated umpteen squabbles.

11. Read a few books...I liked them, too.

12. Enjoyed several walks in the park, while listening to podcasts from Wait Wait and Astronomy Cast.

...Summers not over so we will see about next week! :)

***Edited to add this exciting Digi-News::::

Check out EVITANGEL for an amazing new free kit designed for Gabs by Nathy. Gabs is having a blog party to celebrate her 15,000 visitors. You can get a gift and help her continue on to her next big number!

Take care! (((hugs)))

I'll Clean My Room for Sea Monkeys!

This declaration was rather compelling coming from my 10 year-old who thinks the phrase "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" is someone's idea of twisted humor. She thinks layering your clothes means to drop them on one another when she takes them off, but that might make one assume that she leaves them in one pile. She is much more random them that. I think Chaos Theory started in her bedroom (my mom reads this blog, so I'm going to go ahead and stick in here that she would say it started in my room). Rachel found a book titled, Science in a Bottle by Sandra Markle and on pg. 53 the chapter is "Raise Sea Monkeys". This chapter has lit an ember of excitement, so intense that she begs, frequently, for sea monkeys and cleaned her room. I'm just wondering if the room will stay clean. I'll give it a week to decide if she will be able to get these little guys.

::::::::::::::::Layouts with Eve:::::::::



This page is a scraplift of Christine's page I saw on the Catscrap blog.

_{Credits:
Birgit's Retro Paper and Leaves kit, Birgit's alpha for the April Collab at Catscrap
Catrine's alpha "Pauline"
Font: Another Typewriter,
Kate Hadfield's Doodle Frame
Jofia Devoe's Swirly Birds}



My daughter, Eve, had her hair gelled back for her ballet recital, which made her eyes really stand out. I told her she had such lovely eyes, so she opened them big and wide for a silly photo.

Credits: Emily Powers "Art Nation" found on the Memory Makers website,

Darcy Baldwin: DJB Another Mandy at www.thedigichick.com

misc. font: CK Cursive

Take care! :)

A Bit of This and That

:::::::::::::::Home School Article::::::::

Here is an excellent blog article by Bob Barr, here in Georgia. He attempts to rally parents to encourage state legislators and other leaders to speak out against the debacle created by the California court rulings that nullified the parents' rights and, effectively made each child a ward of the state.

:::::::::::::::Freshly Squeezed:::::::::::



My daughter and her cousin, Isabell having a great big hug!
<sub>Credits: Luisa Leandro: Buttons
'Buttons' Kit by Luisa Leandro (aka Dawn Inskip) available at www.sophiasarducci.com from 7 April
Dawn Inskip: Embossed Alpha (set 2)
Fresh Kit
flowers from Guest C.t. kit
NDISB
http://www.ndisb.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=58&zenid=6f749e8e3eef36755bd930bff3df535c
TTS
http://digistore.treasurestoscrap.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=20
SSS
http://shop.scrapscandistyle.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=43

Catrine: Explore Solids

Darcy Baldwin: DJB Messie Amanda at The Digichick
http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/product.php?productid=17789&cat=273&page=2</sub>

::::::::::::::Anna Benjamin:::::::::
is interning as a designer at Scrapbookgraphics and she was so kind as to send some of her new designs for me to create some layouts. Here are a few:








::::::::::::::::::Pride and Prescience:::::::


This book appealed to me to me in two ways when I saw it on the library table. One, it is written about two of my favorite characters, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, and second, it is a mystery. I have been reading it off and on for a couple of days and I'm enjoying, so far. I'll give you a review when I'm done.

:::::::::::::::::::An Oldie, But A Goodie:::::::

Rachel was in her room giggling and she got up to show me what was so funny. She had grabbed one of my old books off the shelf and was enjoying it, thoroughly.
This photo is not from the book she was reading, but it was the only one I saw that worked on google. I picked this paperback up at a place that allowed you to trade in your old books and buy others. The last copyright date listed is 1973. Rachel loved reading about the antics of Hi and Lois' family. I think it is such a great thing to share a sense of humor with my kids...twisted as it may be!


Smiles!

I Need A New Perspective

_{Credits: Photos by Marcus John Taylor
DJB TANYA by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick
Come Out and Play collab by Kate Hadfield, Catrine and Birgit
Primaveria Collaboration at Catscraps.
Swirl Therapy by Jofia Designs at The Digichick
Font: CK Ali's writing}

This layout is true on more than one level. It has been a hard year schooling Aaron, and an exceptionally difficult week. I took a break for most of the day, yesterday.

:::::::::::::Indexed::::::

This is another hilarious card from Indexed:




Michael would whole heartedly agree.

::::::::::::::::Girl Scout Cookie.......

deliveries are going pretty well. I took Rachel to Michael's work so she could hand out cookies and collect the money. Michael's associates were very friendly, especially Keith. They appreciated that a "real" Girl Scout was behind the form that dad brought to work. Rachel was very polite and warmed up quickly to her giddy self.

::::::::::::::::Forgot to Mention::::::::

This is Grandpa Jim's version of the weekend with grandkids. He always makes me laugh about their antics...it's that or cry...or maybe scream. Laughing is far superior.

::::::::::::::::Food:::::::::::::

Yesterday, Michael made his awesome chicken soup. Aaron, Rachel and I always want the noodles, Eve wants EXTRA carrots and all the kids want dad to throw in some alphabet noodles for fun. Noah just wonders when we are going to serve him something with ketchup.

I made Granny Sydney's recipe for "Funeral Potatoes" just for fun. She told me to use hashbrown style potatoes in the frozen foods, 1 can of cream of chicken soup, 1 small tub of sour cream and a tablespoon of grated onion. Sprinkle the top with cheese and melt to finish. Her outcome was better, but mine passed with a B.

::::::::Time to Wake up the kids and dose Noah with his meds.

Later!

:::::::::::::::