Christmas outtakes

Well, this is what I get when I try to get a decent photo of me and Meredith in front of the Christmas tree. She will not, can not, keep a straight face. I just want one nice, pretty smile. But she either has her eyes closed or her tounge out. Silly girl! Still, it's all in good fun!

A blog update *this is for you Erin*

Okay, I have heard the message...this ol' blog is so stale! So I have copied Judith, yet again, and tracked this blog template down. But I must say it's my pal, Erin, that prompted me to make a change and a post! I loved your blog template so much Erin, and ofcourse the darling little LM's video. So here's a photo of my girl...although not so little anymore.
:) B

June TwelveFridays

A few layouts completed with the June Twelvefridays kit. It always feels good to get a bit o' scrappin' in here and there. :)

The Graduate

Well, it's official. Meredith is a 2nd grade graduate. I can hardly believe that she is now half way through her elementary school experience! Granted she has probably only completed the easier half, but half none the less. We are so proud of her accomplishments throughout this year. Especially her reading achievements. She actually read 100 AR (accelerated reader) books this school year. Not to mention the ones that she just read for fun. I am so glad that she enjoys reading and I know it will only enrich her life.

I just loved their little graduation ceremony. The homemade mortar boards, the yarn tassels and the fact that the principal presented each of them with their "diploma". It was a special day!

Nature's Beauty

Just some random thoughts and a photo to share today. I realized I hadn't posted anything in a month. So I thought I would share this photo taken on Mother's Day. As you may recall, Mother's Day was windy and cool here, and we did get a quick rain shower here too. On our way home that evening, Mark spotted the rainbow coming down right near this old silo. It's near the house, and I have photographed it before. But luckily I had my camera this day and I got a few shots before the rainbow faded away. Can you see it? I know it's faint, but it's there.

A few layouts

I picked up my April DT kit for 12Fridays from Heather on Thursday. I finally got a few layouts completed over the weekend. So, I thought I would put them here for anyone who wanted to check them out. The "80's girl" layout is a crazy, goofy pic of me from the late eighties. It's not the best, but the only one I had on hand, so I went for it. I loved the list of things from the 80's. I admit I am an 80's girl...still love the music....listen to it daily. Then there's a layout of Miss M, on Easter. She wasn't wild about the little crown stamp on her head, but I think it's kinda fun.

Sneak Peek

Finally getting a moment to post a few shots from yesterday! Amy and Steve are a really sweet, recently engaged couple. I had a blast with them, and really feel honored that I had the opportunity to work with them on these. Hope you like them, Amy and Steve! Amy, I will be seeing you in a few days.

Hello Digi

Another digital layout. I am really getting into this. This layout was totally inspired by a layout in the book "Scrapbooking Digitally". I don't remember the artist name (sorry)! But I love the design of her layout called "delightful". So I wanted to see if I could recreate it for myself. I added a few things...not much. Patterned paper is my own design and circle brush was downloaded from the internet. Love how this turned out! :)

Digital layout!

My first time attempting a digital layout! Whoo hoo! It was fun and pretty easy to do. I think I could get used to not having to clean up a big mess when I am finished scrapbooking. Used the papers that I designed (again) on this layout. I guess I will have to either create more papers or buy some digital kits so I can play some more. Photo of Meredith from this Easter. Loved her in her baby blue Easter dress! She had a blast hunting eggs at both grandparent's houses. She was an 'ol pro by the time she hunted eggs with her cousins. She found 48 eggs! Can you believe that. She was pretty excited, needless to say. And now we have more Easter candy than one household really should.

A few layouts

Just a few layouts/projects completed for TwelveFridays, this month. Glad to have some photos from the summer scrapbooked....finally!

Ready to Ride

Well, trying this post again. I put it all on there yesterday and then my pics disappeared. Weird! Anywho, this is Meredith on her 4-wheeler. Her Pop had told her months ago that she could have this little 4-wheeler to ride up on the mountain. She and Mark promptly went out and bought her a helmet. That was in December. Now, finally...in March she has gotten her first taste of riding. She has been the passenger many times, but never the driver. Our nieces, Brooke and Laura have been riding for a while now. They are much more brave on theirs than Meredith. Which was totally fine with me! She had a great time, all the same.

Introducing Riley Danielle

So excited to share a few shots of our new niece, Riley Danielle. Daughter of Mark's youngest sister, Melissa and husband, Reese. I was so honored to have the opportunity of being present for her birth! What a dramatic and intense experience!

Her stats:
Born on: March 4, 2008
Time: 8:19 p.m
Weight: 6 lbs. 10 ozs.
Length: 20 inches

And ofcourse, Meredith couldn't be happier to welcome her newest cousin!

You Shine

I scrapbooked last night, just for me. It felt good. I got out the stuff...printed the picture and just played! The photo of Meredith is from our one good snow. She had a blast sledding, making a snowman and having a snowball fight with her Dad. It was a fun day! The layout has papers on it that I designed. I had printed these out months ago and decided to finally do something with them.

Dreaming.....

of warm weather and sunshine. I think I would feel better (and maybe get over this cold that I have had for over a week) if I could just feel the warm Charleston sunshine and smell the salt air. This is a photo of our trip there, last Spring Break. Which, it was actually very cold and windy the whole time we were there. Meredith still wanted to put on her bathing suit and enjoy the sand. I am dreaming today of our next trip to Charleston. Still one of my all time favorite places to visit!!

TwelveFridays!!!!!

I am so excited to be a part of the Design Team for this NEW kit club. Each month the kit will include exclusive papers designed just for TwelveFridays. Along with a bunch of cool embellishments to make your scrapbook dreams come true! ;) This is a layout I did using the first month's kit. Check out the link to the right!

Daddy-of-the-Year

It's official! Meredith and I have voted and we have decided that Mark is "Daddy of the Year"....for us, at least. Unfortunately, Meredith and I both had a nasty (repeat NASTY) stomach bug over the weekend and Mark came to the rescue. He took such good care of his two sick girls! I know in the wedding vows it says "for better or for worse". Well, this surely would fall into the worse category!

Then to top it all off, he even did the grocery shopping for the week! What a great guy. I knew it all along, honestly....but it sure is nice to be reminded how lucky I really am to have him.

Oh, and a photo that I love of our Daddy of the Year with his little girl! Taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway; Fall '07.

Blogging in reverse

Well, since I have lots o' photos that have neither been scrapped nor blogged, I thought I would just do the year in review BACKWARDS! So you have seen a shot from December. Here are two from October that I really like. We'll call these "Good Witch" & "Bad Witch"!

I believe this is the third time she's been a witch for Halloween. And oddly enough, I like her best in this type costume. What does that say about her personality....or maybe mine! ?!?

Inspired.....

Giving the "blog thing" another try, as I was inspired (as always) by my pal, Judith. I think you were right, Judith....about accountability and such. Should be fun! So let's start with a photo that I love from last month.