Vacation Rewind - Great Wolf Lodge...

I have a couple new 2-page layouts to share. I completed them both using the "Happy Camper" line by Imaginisce that I picked up over at Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff. I also used Allison Davis' Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 8 sketches for both layouts. The photos are from our trip to Great Wolf Lodge in Cincinnati last summer. The boys LOVED our room! (I have to admit, I wasn't overly impressed, but it was cool for a boy.)

Of course, I worked in various alphas for my title.

And, I also completed a 2nd page of the same trip.

The lodge was good about having lots of opportunities for photo ops. I'm ready for another vacation!

Scouts

Blake joined Cub Scouts in first grade. Since then, Tuesday nights have been our dedicated Scout night. 18 months ago, Blake moved up to Boy Scouts and we are amazed at the change it has made in his life. He's become so much more responsible and really matured a lot.

Last month, at his Troop's Court of Honor, he was awarded SEVEN merit badges and that he had worked towards and completed over the summer. We were so proud of all of his hard work. Blake is also a Patrol Leader and Historian for his Troop.

It's hard to believe that one month from today our boy will turn 13. Where does the time go?

Let's Go Pick Apples...

My boys go through a bag of apples in a very short time. They inhale them. Last week I realized it was apple picking time and suggested to Tom that we visit Huber's over in Indiana a month earlier than usual just to pick apples. (We go every October.) Saturday was a busy day, but we still planned to go.

Early Saturday, I took Kevin to his school's festival and then he went with Tom to sell popcorn at a local truck stop with Scouts. I stayed home to help Blake work on a school project. Later, we met up and headed over to Indiana. It was a slightly overcast day, but the weather was perfect. The best part was that the crowds were nowhere near what we were used to in October.

We made the winery our first stop and Tom and I both enjoyed their wine tasting. We each tried 8 different wines. (I have a few new ones to add to my favorites list now!) It was fun. We bribed the boys with icecream if they stayed away from the bar and let us enjoy ourselves.

So...our next stop was the icecream and cheese stop. Kevin enjoyed a scoop (yes, that is a SINGLE scoop in the photograph!) of Blueberry icecream. Blake went with Pumpkin. I had a scoop of Pumpkin Nut in a cup. Yum!I left the store with a few cheeses, too - Asiago, Indiana Havarti, Indiana Smoked Gouda and some kind of hot pepper cheese (but I can't remember the name). Upon leaving the store, Kevin had to stop and ride the cow out front.You've heard me say it before - he's not right!

Next stop...the apple orchard! We took a wagon ride out there. The boys picked Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples. Then I found the Jonathan section. I liked them best. I also like taking self-portraits with my boys. The boys are both in the "let's-give-Mom-a-good-smile-and-get-this-over-with-stage." They realized if I get a good smile on the first try that I'll quit taking pictures!Another self-portrait - different boy...Tom snapped this photo of me and B. Unfortunately he caught Blake in mid-blink, but I still love this photo. It's likely one of the last of B before he towers over me. We are about neck-and-neck height-wise right now. And let's not forget a self-portrait of me and Tom on the wagon ride back... RIGHT after I took this photo of the boys, it started to drizzle on us. Then it picked up. It was a downpour by the time we made it back to the marketplace to pay for our apples. WE WERE SOAKED! Tom said it was his favorite part of the day. It was fun, but a bit cold.We finished off our great day with a stop at a mall in Louisville. We had a nice dinner and the boys visited Dick's Sporting Goods. I think they have some good ideas for their birthday wish lists now. I can't believe this fall I will have a teenager and a kid in "double digits" (that's a big deal for a boy!). That's my weekend in pictures. Have a great week!

Remembering 9/11...

It's hard to believe that it's been ten years since the events of 9/11. I remember exactly where I was. I don't think I'll ever forget the events, my actions, and my feelings/fears of that day.

Ten years ago today, I was a wife and mother expecting my second son in less than two months. I was at work and the phone rang just before 9 a.m. I heard that a plane had hit one of the WTC Towers in NYC. A few minutes later, I received another call from the same person frantic that another plane had hit the second tower as it was seen on live TV. This was no accident.

I remember almost every detail of that day. Thankfully, Tom wasn't traveling although he did have customers visiting from NYC. We booked them a rental car and they drove straight home. I couldn't wait to get back to Bardstown (where we lived at the time) to pick Blake up from daycare. Gas prices had skyrocketed, and I was in shock to be paying $1.52 at the pump. (Oh, how I'd LOVE to pay that for gas today...)

That evening we went to see my sister, Kaitlin, in her middle school homecoming court. On the ride home, Blake, who was fascinated with airplanes, commented that there weren't any "lights" in the sky as all flights had been grounded.

I have lost count of the number of times I've cried over the past week as I have watched 9/11 memorials on television. My heart still aches for the victims and their families. I still have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for those first responders and those that have and continue to fight for our nation.

Since 9/11, I have had the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC and visit the Pentagon and the memorial there. (It is overwhelming.) I also visited NYC this past December and went to Ground Zero. Someday I hope to also visit the new memorial to Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. The passengers on that flight were the first heroes in our fight against terror.

This weekend, we visited an orchard in Indiana and on our return drive home, I was proud to see our flag proudly displayed as we crossed back into Kentucky.

May God continue to bless our great nation, and may God also bless you and your families today and always.

We will never forget.

"Making the Team"... (Part '2-pager')

Last weekend I used my Sketches for Scrapbooking Volume 8 book that I received for guest designing over at Sketch Support this summer. I pulled out some baseball photos and the new "Making the Team" line by Bella Boulevard that I picked up at Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff. I ended up with two layouts (one for each boy!) that really make me happy and more importantly document some special memories.

"Final Slam" is for Kevin's album. These photos are from his travel team's last weekend playing together. I liked this sketch because I was able to use so many different patterns.

I changed the title placement and worked in the chipboard banner flags from the paperline to further accent my title. The best part was that the alphas came WITH the line, too!I'm finding that I enjoy pulling something old from my stash to use on layouts with some of my newest products. On this layout, I dug out some naked chipboard stars I purchased at Hobby Lobby a LONG time ago. I covered them with patterned paper. I also took a large white brad and drew stitching on it with a Slick Writer to turn it into a baseball embellishment.

For my other boy, I created "Heavy Hitter."

Again, a sketch allowed me to use several different patterns. I completely altered the photo placement and added the larger photo with the black mat.

I mixed the alpha from the line with an old American Crafts Thicker font.

For an embellishment, I added a pop dot behind a small circular sticker to add dimension. I also added some hand-drawn stitching. And, whenever I have a chance, I like to include the boys' baseball number. We like our #18!

So far, I've completed NINE layouts with this paper line. I still have some supplies left and plan to work in at least one or two basketball layouts, too.

"Making the Team..."

As soon as I saw the preview of Bella Boulevard's new line "Making the Team" I knew I had to work with it. Needless to say, I was beyond THRILLED when I saw it was "coming soon" over at Scrappin' {Sports} Stuff. I couldn't wait for it to come in so I could use my design team credit!

My order arrived on Saturday right before we headed out for the day, but I worked in some quality scrap time on Sunday...

I scrapped a couple non-action shots of Kevin with a couple of his travel team teammates. These three had so much fun together! I used a sheet of black cardstock for my base. Everything on this layout is from the Bella Boulevard line with the exception of the red arrow - it's Jillibean Soup corrugated cardboard sprayed with Mr. Huey Schoolhouse mist by Studio Calico.

I loved the funky alphabet that came on the sticker sheet and added in a couple chipboard numbers for my title.

Next, I had to document Blake's great "Trifecta" - showcasing the baseballs he hit out of the three ball fields in our league.

This layout came together really quick since I used the black patterned paper with quotes and simply topped it with a section of the border striped paper. I was even able to add my journaling to the grid patterned section. I mixed my title using Bella Blvd. chipboard numbers and a mix of American Crafts Thickers and Paper Trunk alphas in white.

I hand-cut a baseball from one paper and added it with pop dots for a fun little accent.

When Blake played in the District Tournament in July, I ended up with a lot of great photos. "100% Athlete" catches him sliding back to 1st base and all dirty afterwards. He even ripped a hole in his pants (knee) the first time he ever wore them!

EVERYTHING on this layout was part of the paper line with the exception of the three brads I added to the flag stickers.

I fell in love with the bright colors and fun patterns - they make me happy.
Blake made a great play (on his knees!) while playing 3rd base. These photos told a great story that deserved a page to themselves. "Game Face" spotlights two of my favorite photos from Districts. My boy is so handsome.

I just added pop dots to a few stickers to give the page some dimension.

Lucky for me, we captured some of Blake's emotion behind the plate. I thought the "It's all in your attitude" quote from the paper line was PERFECT for this layout.

I added an older American Crafts sticker font with a classic set of Thickers.

And, since Blake was catching most of the weekend...I had another layout of him behind the plate.

I'm still enjoying the banner trend. As you can tell, I LOVED working with line! I have a few more projects to share with it, but I'll save them for another day.

Happy scrappin'!

One Whirlwind Weekend...

Whew! What happened to August???

As we entered September this past weekend, we headed west to visit family. First, we stopped to celebrate Grandma Rosemary's birthday a week (and two days) early. We enjoyed a great lunch at Olive Garden and then visited with her at home. She and the boys watched "The Conspirator" while Tom and I napped. (Pasta makes us sleepy...) Happy 70th birthday to Rosemary on 9/11.

On the way home, we stopped by to see the boys' favorite uncle - Terry. We also celebrated his birthday a little early, too. Every year we try to find the perfect card for him, and this year I was the one to find it. (He loved it!) We also presented him with a literary classic - Kenny Mayne's An Incomplete & Inaccurate History of Sport*. (This book is a MUST HAVE for every sports fan!)

Then it was time to swim...
Blake even worked in a bit of a work out...

Just Kevin's luck, Dawn had purchased this little "boat" on clearance the day we arrived. It was the perfect size for him!

Most importantly, the boys got some quality time in with their cousins and a couple of their friends.It was a great weekend!