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! :)

Brave Girl

:::::::::::::::::::Dentist::::::

Eve just got back from having a cavity filled at the pediatric dentist. They used orange scented nitrous oxide to prep her for the shot, and they used a mint numbing gel. She looked at me with a hesitant expression and her eyes got that glassy sheen from beginning to tear up. I asked if she was nervous and she nodded yes. She wanted to hold my hand, as opposed to me holding hers. I figure it gave her a small measure of something she could control. She rarely moved during the procedure. Her lip did slip into the little speculum that kept her jaw open and she would point at it with tears in her eyes. I was so proud of her as was the doctor. The novocaine is wearing off and she feels the pain. I can just hug her.


::::::::::::::::Cub Scout Camp:::::::

Noah is at camp for this week. It is a day camp so he goes in the morning and I pick him up in the afternoon. The theme this year is "Cubs in Space". What a perfect theme for my science guy.

::::::::::::::::Fun New Layouts::::::


<sub>Credits: Dawn Inskip's "Hush" kit, Embossed Letters (set 2)
Catrine: Laura Alpha
Font: DJB Donnar at www.thedigichick.com


Credits: Dawn Inskip's "Hush" kit, alpha from "Midnight Diamonds"
Font: CK Cursive



Credits: Dawn Inskip's Hush kit, Evitangel collab kit, Cartoon Caper kit, Make Believe kit, Typecast Alpha
Font: DJB MANDY by Darcy Baldwin at www.thedigichick.com</sub>

Take Care! :)

Summertime, Summertime...Sum...Sum...

Summertime... is time for Poison Ivy! Yes, I have it for the 4th year in a row. No matter how "clever" I was scouting my yard for the nasty things they snuck up and got the back of my left knee. It was probably when I was traipsing through the yard with the poison ivy killer spraying their kind. The irony isn't lost on me, neither is the itching pain. Alas, I'm a bit of an oozy mess on that one knee. Sorry, too much information, I know. On to more fun updates:

:::::::::::::::Cousin Esther:::::::
came to Georgia for a 2 week visit from Utah. She was so fun! She brought flower hair clips for all of the little girls. They were thrilled. We also got to have dinner with her, yesterday. We met up with some of the siblings, spouses and Michael's mom at the Olive Garden. I wasn't feeling too well, but the meal went very well and we got to talk guitars, food, vacations, and work with our brother-in-law, Matthew. Here is a layout with Esther and a few of the girls who were wearing the clips:



<sub>Credits:

Block template by Emily Merritt from Momtourage
painted doodles and papers by Kitty Chen from Momtourage
background paper by Mossa from Primavera kit
Birgit's orange paper from the Primavera kit
button flower by Kate Hadfield from May's BYOC
Emily Powers elements and papers from Momtourage and Art Nation Blossom
Weeds and Wildflowers freebie by Gina Marie Huff "Thank you"</sub>

::::::::::::::::::Beep Beep::::::
Karen Lewis has an adorable new kit at digital freebies this week...



My youngest DS, Noah, and his Pinewood Derby car.

Beep Beep by Karen
http://digitalfreebies.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2713


_{Beep Beep Chipboard Cutouts by Karen
http://digitalfreebies.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2714
A Month at a Time date stamp by Karen Lewis http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/product.php?productid=17720&cat=0&page=1
Curly Swirly Alpha by Karen Lewis at The Digichick http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/product.php?productid=17723&cat=0&page=2
Font: DJB SISSY and DJB MANDY by Darcy Baldwin at The Digichick:
http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/product.php?productid=18195&cat=266&page=1
http://www.thedigichick.com/shop/product.php?productid=16434&cat=0&page=1}
:::::::::::::::::::Rec Room:::::

Anna Benjamin has a blue and brown themed kit at scrapbookgraphics...

<sub>Credits:A cherished photograph of my grandaddy and his older siblings.

Credits: Anna Benjamin's Rec Room kit and Preppy kit.
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/product.php?productid=21162&cat=0&page=1
Font: DJB My Dear Marsha by Darcy Baldwin at thedigichick.com

Template by Cindy Schneider at the Sweet Shoppe.</sub>


::::::::::::::::::Just for Fun Pages:::::

using Lorie Davison's "Moonlight Kit" from Scrapbookgraphics...

Misc. Credits: Dawn Inskip's clock parts from Weather Station.




:::::::::::::::::::Drama Camp:::::::

Rachel started her 4 day drama camp, today. She was exhausted when I picked her up from the school. She also ran off the neighbor's house who is attending the same class so they could create a prop for their play. The theme is "spies".

:::::::::::::::::::Outdoor Pool:::::

Michael took the kids to the outdoor pool near our house and they had a blast going down the water slides. Eve was just tall enough to take part. I stayed home with Aaron so he could finish up his last school assignments. He has a final draft and an assessment, then he will be finished for the year.

Take care!

Crazy Conversations and Funny Relatives!

I have so many cool nieces and nephews! Here are a couple of layouts using pictures provided by their mom, Melissa.





My niece, Kendall, dressed up as the Wicked Stepmother. She had to remember to stop skipping and singing because she was supposed to be "evil".

_{Darcy Baldwin: DJB GINAE, Stickbet Alpha at The Digichick
Sausan Designs: Oogelie Booglie kit, Needful Thing book, brush it alpha
Emily Merritt: Stitched Starburst, Tile Alpha
Weeds and Wildflowers: Layered Alpha doodle frame, Doodled Alpha star paint splatter
Catrine: Chalked Alpha
ELMD: Doodled alpha freebie
Michelle Coleman: Hand Stamped Alpha
Ida: Star Doodle
Mo Jackson: Moodle frame}


::::::::::::::::::::Some One Had A Baby, so...::::

that means LASAGNA, salad and French bread. Well, at our house, anyway! Aaron helped me gather the ingredients at the grocery store. Then, he helped me cook and assemble the meal. He, Michael and Rachel went to visit this very adorable baby to deliver the meal to his parents. I stayed home with my cold and Eve and Noah.

::::::::::::::::::::Dentist Welfare Fund::::::::

has been established. The Taylor Foundation has been asked to fork over their quarterly contribution to the Dentist Welfare Fund of Georgia. It appears that Eve has cavities between two sets of molars. This will require two separate visits, numbing medication and x-rays. Noah, fortunately, had a clean bill of dental health. I figure that .50 cents from the Tooth Fairy was well spent. Michael still has to make the appointment to have Aaron's tooth pulled. YIKES!

Rachel was supposed to get her braces off today, but the orthodonists father passed away and he will be out all week. She took the news in stride. So, next week she gets her braces off, then gets her teeth cleaned the day after. The week afer that she gets her retainer. And for good measure she gets her eyes checked on Friday after school. She says things are getting blurry, again!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::Book Fair:::::::::

is coming to the local school. Noah has supplied me with his list of demands requests. He said they only cost $12.99 each. There is a book about Transformers and a couple of other things. Rachel had one book she was interested in, but I misplaced the slip of paper. She has a great memory so I'm safe.

::::::::::::::::::::::::Conversations with Eve::::::::

I was driving Eve to school this morning and she told me about a girl in her class who kept scooting her floor mat away from the girl next to her. Eve told that she raised her hand and informed the teacher about this situation. So, I said: "You mean you were paying attention to what someone else was doing and not listening to the story?"

Eve: "I was listening to the story."

Mom: "How could you be listening to the story when you were busy paying attention to what everybody else is doing?"

Eve: "I have Two Eyes! I can do both at the same time!"

Well, boy howdy! Thanks for the information update!

Off to get Eveybug!

Later, gators!

Case of The Broken Gourd:

_{Who Done It kit by Mary Fran, Font: DBMichael, White photo frames by Canay}
The suspect, Kendall Hardin described the incident as "an accident", while she was playing with her cousin, "Eveybug" Taylor. The gourd was hand-painted by Kendall's mother to resemble a beehive. Though the suspect has a long rap sheet for getting into trouble, the prosecutor felt that this quick confession and sad countenance deserved leniency.

My niece, Kendall, kindly allowed me to photograph her in this time of penance.


:::::::::::::::::::Great Aunt Wilma's Birthday::::::::

I will post photos tomorrow and maybe I will figure out how to get the video I took to work on this blogizzle. She sang us a song and played her harmonica. So cool!

Bug Catcher:

Here is a layout of Eveybug:

_{background paper 9th Avenue by IOD, Princess hat from Hollie Hats and Sun felt from the Sunshine kit by Tiff Brady, Easel doodle by Lisa Dozier, Make up doodles from Girly Girl by Christina Dudley, Dandelion from Donna Rafferty, Chalkboard element from Dinner Party by Sara Carling and Shabby Princess, Star Doodle by Ida, Blue Bird by Keri Schueller called Christmas Whimsy, Fairy by C Bender, Cat doodle by CBaumann, Real Buttons by Lisa Whitney, Note paper from Note This by Gina Miller, Font: Typical Writer}

Text:
Eve had a very busy year in 2006. She participated in Homeschool Run club with Aaron. We visited Disney World with all of the Taylor cousins, aunts, uncles thanks to Granny Sydney Taylor. Every Friday was sleepover night at Granny & Grandpa Jim Towheys house.
Some of Eve's favorite things are the color yellow, eating grits and making biscuits at Granny Sue's house. Eve also loves to do "make overs" with eyeshadow, lipstick, powder and nail polish supplied by Granny Sue. She loves Playing with her cousins Tyler Morgan, Isabell Taylor and Kendall Hardin.
One of Eve's quirkiest things is she actually enjoys being tickled under her armpits. Her favorite snacks are fresh strawberries, raw carrot sticks, and vanilla ice cream with Hershey's syrup. We still call her silly nicknames like "Chugger Bugs" and "Evey Buglet" Granny Sue likes to call her "Evealicious". Her favorite t.v. show for the year was Dr. Who. She likes to pretend she is an animal, like a cat, dog, or pony. Her current aspiration is to grow up and be like her big sister, Rachel.
::::::::::::I GOT CAUGHT::::::::

by the virus going around our family. I was in bed all day. Michael came home early from work to check on me. Aaron was a trooper and held down the fort. Eve was still below par so we hung out together...in and out of sleep. Noah stayed home from school because his stomach hurt. I wasn't about to send him to school with the possibility of a blow out. Aaron cooked Ramon noodles for Eve's lunch and I think Noah only wanted Sprite. Food is not a high demand item when folks are sick, which is kind of a positive trade off on being miserable.

:::::::::::Service Project::::::

Michael and Aaron will be doing a service project at a local bouldering area called Boat Rock. Clean up and mulching are the order of the day.

:::::::::::New Calling::::::

I am the new music leader for the children in primary. I am completely out of my depth here. I don't sing well... Michael says "Pick a note...any note and stay with it", but I can't. I don't play any musical instruments. (I tried piano, but trying to learn staccato did me in. My left hand never seemed to get into following the right.) I don't know how to conduct music either...HMMMM...Crazy, me thinks! My game plan is to know all the words to the songs, teach the kids so they know them, too and tell them to sing louder, so no one hears me. We had a meet your teacher night, so the kids would be comfortable come Sunday in their new classes. I introduced the theme for the year, but first we did "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes". I had Michael and another sister that knows Japanese to come up and help me teach the kids. The words are fun and short in Japanese. I had another couple of folks do the same song in Spanish. I was tripping over the words because there were so many more syllables for every body part. This should be an interesting year. I told the Bishop that all I can do is improve...that's a positive attitude...I think!

Guest C.T. for December

I am honored to be one of the guest creative team members for Julie Howard for the month of December. Here is one of her kits, "Simply Play" that can be found hereSimply Play Kit

miscellanous bits: Inked Edge from Studio Chic by Shabby Princess, Font: Pea Lis, Pottery Barn, Sketchy. Handstamped Alpha by Michelle Coleman.


:::::::::::::Template made:::::::::

Two men came over yesterday to create a template for our granite counter top. We have opted for Absolute Black granite. So, today we run around to the credit union to get the money to pay for that and then off to Ikea for the last of the cabinets.

More Strawberries and a Punch Recipe

The second layout of the strawberry picking day out with my niece, Kendall. She happily picked a lot of strawberries to take home, but a few made it into her mouth, too!



_{Sweet Strawberries Kit by Sandra Boddington at Sweet Shoppe Designs
Font: Tk Doodle, Stamped DSG, Ricco Display Script, Simon Script, pupcat
Frame: Carrie Stephens
Staples: Shabby Princess (Fall kit)
Date Stamp: DebF}


Here is a successful baby shower punch recipe my mother and I came up with on the fly:

::::::::::::
Recipe for a fun punch:

1 gallon Hawaiin Punch berry blue typhoon
2 liters of lemon lime soda
1 pint of cherry limeade sherbet
ice

This is great stuff because my niece, Afton, firmly attested to said fact and asked for more!

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

Michael's Comments on my blog post about his apheresis experience. He made me laugh!

FRESH Strawberries:

My niece, Kendall, loves to have her photo taken so I have a bunch of cute photos to work with and I can't find my own kids' photos of the day we went strawberry picking.



This kit designed by Sandra Boddington was so fun to work with today!

_{Sweet Strawberries designed by Sandra Boddington at Sweet Shoppe Designs, patch template by Katie Pertiet, Storyboard by Lanne, Font: Jane Austen/Artistamp Medium}
:::::::::::

I'm throwing a baby shower for one of my sister-in-laws tomorrow with the help of my mom and some of the other sister-in-laws. It should be fun. I'm using a Nursery Rhyme theme. I'll let you know about how it goes!

Successful Campout and Rachel with a cell phone:

I thought this variety of bearded Iris was lovely! I photographed the flower during our family Easter Egg Hunt.


_{Country Hill Kit designed by Sandra Boddington at Sweet Shoppe Designs.
Postmark by JennV}



This is my, oh so silly, niece! She finds immense joy in hamming it up for the camera, which provides me with joy, too!


_{Florist Garden designed by Sandra Boddington}

:::::::::::::::::::
Michael and the scouts had a rather successful outing to work on Canoeing and Swimming requirements for the merit badges. The boys learned how to deal with a swamped canoe, switch places in the canoe and jump out and re-enter the canoe. They also learned how to help someone else whose canoe has been swamped. Aaron was able to pass off the first class requirements with the help of his Blazer leader, Bro. Adam Kotter.

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

My stepfather allowed Rachel to use my mother's cell phone when they went to get the car serviced and pick out some clothes. Read his hilarious blog and see a photo of Rachel looking quite techno with a cell phone stuck to her ear!

Funny Niece:

This is my niece who loves to get her photograph taken. She plopped down next to me eating her chicken, while we waited for the Laser Show at Stone Mountain.



_{"HOMECOMING KIT" designed by Sandra Boddington}

READY?

_{Mo Jackson's Novel Paperbacks, Birthday Candles, Board Book Alpha & Bits, Ledger paper by Kellie Mize, Fonts: Pea Angedawn, Punch Label, Pea Happy Girl, starter pistol clip art from internet.}

My kids love to get together with their cousins. The Hardin girls are very competitive and fast. Rebecca gave us all the biggest laugh to watch her get down into that super low crouch and get ready to run! She won, of course!

{Some Recent Layouts}

_{Window and collage birds by Katie Pertiet, Paper from Ali Folindore's Granny Smith Papers, glittery swirl and paper from Seasonal Scraps by Jen Wilson, tree art from Tia Bennett's New Growth Kit}

This is one of Evey's favorite songs, so I thought it appropriate to scrap it with her face.

-----------------------------------


_{Kit by Mindy Terasawa "Sonoran Sunrise", Background paper by Holly McCaig "Spring is Coming" and inked overlay (modified) by Clara Wallace. Font: Susie's Hand and A Yummy Apology"}

Text:"I absolutely love to stare into those beautiful, big blue eyes. I remember that those big round eyes were the first things I noticed about you when you were born. You are a voracious reader and an extremely creative writer. The characters you have created based on the grandparents who you adore, "Strong Grandpa and Lovely Granny" were so hilarious. You made us all proud. I truly believe you have so much to offer the world!"
----------------------------------

Text: Kendall and Eve are the Yin and Yang cousins. Kendall is the brunette with beautiful brown eyes and Eve is the Blonde with Blue eyes. Their personalites compliment each other (usually). They are 5 months apart in age with Eve being the younger cousin. The girls enjoy getting together at family events. Eve often asks when she will get to see, "My Kendall". It is nice to live close enough so the cousins can form a, hopefully, lasting friendship!
_{Kits: Gina Cabrera's Quirky_Q and A November Background paper, twill tape and tab. Swirl black and white frames from Aqua Dreams Kit. Curved template from Gina Miller
Program Used:
: Photoshop 6.0
Fonts Used
: TeacherKim
Elements/Extras
: Gina Cabrera's pear freebie}

--------------------------

Faux Disney Magazine Covers

These are some silly faux Disney Magazine Covers I made up for my kids and a couple of nieces pertaining to our trip to Disney World in February 2006. My youngest son, Noah, was very excited about being the subject of a Disney cover and that he was in his favorite character, Buzz Lightyear's, costume.