Girl Scout Thinking Day 2009

Today I took the girls to our district's annual Girl Scout Thinking Day. Each county sets up a booth to represent a country where Girl Scouts or Girl Guides have troops. Here we are in front of the "Taj Mahal." Check out our bindis! We also worked at our county's Poland booth after touring around the world. The girls love getting their passports stamped, picking up swaps, and learning about other countries, especially when food is involved. Wonder where they get that from?

The highlight of their day, however, was a trip to the mall to...

...get their ears pierced!

Macey really wanted to get hers done while I was gone last weekend, but there isn't anyplace convenient. I was so glad that I got to be with them when they did it! Macey was all for it, but Ansley was a bit hesitant. (When she was younger, she would say that she wanted her ears pierced when she was older, like when she was 10, but when she hit 10 she decided she wasn't quite ready.)

They both did really, really well! Macey picked out a pair of December birthstones because they're a gorgeous aqua blue (instead of her "plain" diamond birthstone), and Ansley chose her birth month, represented with Tanzanite instead of pearls. They are growing up too fast!

Cruise Highlights

We had such a great time! Just one of the lovely views on Coco Cay (Sunday)...









Here is Lynell from the Straw Market in Nassau making Ansley's bag (Saturday).

Dad and his harem on formal night:

Grammie, Amy, Debora, me, and Joy

I was SHOCKED to win "Queen of the Crop" for the journal contest. They sent us the materials prior to the cruise, but I didn't put mine together until Friday night on board. I was just hoping that everyone who entered would win a little prize! Joy won the most creative journal with her cool piano keyboard cover.

I will post my layout photos, prizes, etc., over the next few days when I get the scrap bags unpacked.

Home Safe & Sound

We made it home safe & sound from our lovely cruise. It was a blast, but it's good to be home. I'll fill you in on the details over the next few days, so check back!

Cruising: Day Four

It's time to disembark and head home. It's been a great getaway, but I will be glad to be back with my hubby & girls. The girls want to know when they get to go on another cruise, so we'll just have to see what we can manage.

Cruising: Day Three & Happy Birthday, Grumps!

Happy birthday today to my terrific Dad! Do you think he's enjoying the scrapbooking cruise with five women? Three of us are "his" girls for sure! (If I can get online while at sea I'll let you know what shenanigans Amy & I found onboard for his birthday. You know it'll be good!)

On today's agenda is a travel journal class and a family ablum class. By the time we're finished, the rush to get to Coco Cay, RC's private island, so we will enjoy lunch onboard and then tender ashore. (That's ship-speak for taking one of the ship's smaller "ferry boats" to shore.)

Ah, the sand, the sun, and a cool drink...

Cruising: Day Two

As we cruise toward the Bahamas (scheduled to arrive at 11:00 AM), we'll be taking an onboard Christmas album class. When it's over at 3:00, we'll hit Nassau's famous Straw Market. Since this cruise is idential to the one we took in '02 (I think that was the year), we won't do much sightseeing. There's so much to do onboard!

How are you spending your Saturday?

Cruising: Day One

Here is our lovely Royal Caribbean ship, Monarch of the Seas. We will board around lunchtime to enjoy lunch on our "home away from home" but we won't set sail until about 5:30 this afternoon.

Ship Highlights:
*Rock-climbing wall
*Jade sushi bar and Asian-fusion restaurant
*Latté-tudesSM coffee house featuring Seattle's Best Coffee®
*Ben & Jerry's® ice cream (YUM!)
*Casino RoyaleSM
*Themed bars and lounges, including Boleros Latin lounge
*2 outdoor pools (where you will find me when I'm not scrapbooking or at the beach)
*2 whirlpools
*Adventure Ocean® youth facilities, including teen-only areas, Fuel and Living Room (too bad the girls are stuck at home)
*Day Spa and Fitness Center (Fitness Center? Are you kidding? This is supposed to be a vacation!)
*Open-air basketball court

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love & hugs to you & yours!


February Word Puzzle stamp set
That's Amore paper pack
Blush ribbon

Sweet Sisters

The girls are generally very sweet to each other, though they have their days when it seems all they do is squabble. Typical sisters, right?

The other morning Macey seemed sad and confessed to crying in the night because she "didn't want Ansley to grow up." When questioned, she replied that her sister won't be any fun when she grows up! (See what she thinks of us old folks? Of course, she was talking about "when Ansley's in 8th grade and I'm in 5th" so she may be right about those teenage years! At least they probably won't seem too fun to me!)

If you have siblings, what sweet memory do you share of them?

Happy birthday, Traci!

Today is the birthday of my friend and co-teacher (AKA partner in crime!), Traci. Sometimes we're Lucy & Ethel; othetimes we're Stephanie & Lula! How 'bout a big shout out for her birthday?!?

Layouts 2-7

Those who attended the Key To My Heart scrapbook class last month will recognize this layout. The one we created in class featured the colors Juniper, Creme Brulee, Sorbet, and Tulip, but this version uses Amethyst, Breeze (retired), and Chocolate since they matched my pictures so well. I love this layout so much that I made SIX of them: two for the boys' mom, one for Grammie (that says Grandkids instead of Cousins), one for each girl's album, and one for our "People We Love" album (aka MY album).

This pattern is based on the "Up the Tempo" layout from the CTMH how-to book, Imagine.

If you look really, really close, you can see on the Breeze pieces where I paper-pierced flourshes on the flourishes. You can also see the holes on the keyhole on the right layout. This subtle pattern shows up much better in person.

It's going to be a while before I recover and am ready for multiple versions of the same project. My attention span is not that long!

Layout #1

If you've noticed my "ticker," I am counting the scrapbook pages I make this year. My goal is 52, but I am not going to be a stickler about completing one each week. To be counted on the ticker, the layout must be totally and completed completed (photos, journaling, etc.). Since I generally make 12"x12" two-page layouts, then that two-page spread counts as one layout. (I know I could count it as two but that's not how I usually work.)

In this case, however, I was making 6"x6" pages for a swap. I made 19 identical pages to get back 18 different ones. (For this swap, we made one extra for the hostess.) So here is layout #1 (x 19 LOL):

This layout makes a lot more sense when you know that it is part of a mini album of one of my favorite scriptures, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. You can see the rest of the album by going to my CTMH website (link at right), then clicking on My Art. Finally, choose the "Love Is" Swap button to view a slideshow. I am so thrilled to have these layouts to put in a special book, just for DH and me.

Happy birthday, Amy!

Today is my beautiful sister's birthday! I won't disclose how old- we've had a long habit of watching each other's backs.

Ten things I love about Amy:
1. She is so funny.
2. She doesn't sugar coat things. You don't even have to ask her how she really feels!
3. She loves her family & friends deeply and is totally loyal.
4. She's a great mommie. I'm in awe of her. I love watching this aspect of her grow and develop.
5. She is confident.
6. She is independent.
7. She stands up for what she believes in.
8. She's a domestic goddess.
9. She is beautiful inside & out.
10. She knows me through & through & loves me anyway!

Easter Eggs

You were probably expecting hearts since Valentine's is only two weeks away, but Easter Eggs are popping up this month at Close To My Heart! Enjoy the projects these talented consultants created with the February stamp of the month, Easter Eggs. (I have some more "stamples" I'd love to share with you in person for more great ideas!)

Do you see the flowers made with the eggs? What about the birthday balloon? Too cute!

You can click on each image to enlarge it and to see which talented Close To My Heart consultant created it.