9 layouts = 1 great value!

In October after making the design team, I received my first order from Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff. (Click here to see it.) I quickly created several pages using it. Then I did a few more here and there over the past few months.

In January, it was COLD. I believe it was the 16th before we had a day hit over the freezing point! I guess I was thinking warm thoughts...about sitting out at the ballpark and enjoying a game in the sun. Maybe? I pulled out my container of Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff supplies and grabbed some baseball photos. By adding some cardstock and Scenic Route background papers, I was able to finish NINE more layouts!

I used a SR background paper for the base of this layout for Kevin. The photo looks pretty uneventful, but I wanted to remember him in the stands at a travel tournament supporting his brother before he was named an all-star. It probably doesn't sound like much to most of you, but now I can look back and appreciate the time he spent patiently waiting and supporting his brother.

Next, I documented the all-star uniforms from last summer. Love this page. (Love this kid, too!)Speaking of loving this kid...I came across these photos of Kevin from his last year of teeball. I couldn't get over how much he's grown! I was amazed by the expressions on his face in both photos. Instead of scrapping about the game the day the photos were taken, I decided to use these photos as an example and journal about why we invest so much time (and sometimes money) into baseball. It's for our boys. It's to give them the opportunity. It's to give them moments like I captured in these two shots. It's to give us all this much enjoyment.Finally, I scrapped one last LO for Kevin. These shots are from a tournament last summer. They got their butts kicked in this last game, but they were 7s playing in an 8 year-old tournament. They won game after game, but finally hit a roadblock against a great team. You can't win them all, but by playing hard, you'll become a better player in the end. And what is baseball without Blake?!? Last summer I took (too) many (???) shots of him at bat. I had printed a 5x7 collage of several smaller photos, but I decided to break them up and reposition them in a diagonal row across the page. Blake's strength amazes me, but I know with hard work, he'll still continue to improve. This next photo (an enlargement) isn't Blake's favorite. It reminds him of a season where his team wasn't the greatest and they didn't play their best. To me though, it reminds me of the lessons Blake learned by being on this team. They didn't always play "together." Many of them didn't work hard. Blake didn't even get to play much that season. This, however, was a real turning point in Blake's attitude. It wasn't all fun and games. Blake learned that he had to really perform to earn a spot. He learned that hard work isn't always rewarded. He learned that not everything is fair. Still, whenever he was in the game, he gave 100%. I think in the long run that last summer's experience will make him a better player. I took a break from baseball photos and scrapped a little football...We all enjoyed our trip to a Louisville football game last fall. They won! (This LO is for Kevin - Blake's was already scrapped.)In December, we spent our anniversary attending a Western Kentucky basketball game (the boys were able to get free tickets and ours were only $5 each!). It was a fun outing. Kevin is obsessed with "Big Red" their mascot! Blake is just an all-around sports fan, so he'd be happy at any game. The fact that the Hilltoppers won their 500th win in their arena made it even more memorable. I scrapped a 2-page layout for each of the boys.

My stash of Teresa Collins products has been officially used up! I placed a new order with SSS today for some Teresa Collins "family" products. I hope I can stretch them as far as the sports line!