Why is it

that kids always seem to think lying will make things better? and of all days - JEEZZZ
Jenna and I dropped Laura off at school this morning, came home and started stripping the beds, making a cake and cleaning the house. Mom and dad are due this afternoon for a visit so I have lots to do before they come. In the middle of the beds, I receive a call from Laura's school, she's sick. Funny, didn't seem sick this morning when I took her to school... but thought I would give her the benefit of the doubt. Brought her home, she seemed tired and said her stomach hurt. She asked for a few crackers and I didn't see any harm in that. Well, within 10 minutes she was looking fine, said she felt fine, you know the drill...
About an hour later, still feeling fine, I asked her to explain herself. She told me she "just wanted a day off" - WHAT???? Since when is that ok? Needless to say, the little lady is not getting off easy and I don't think this behaviour will ever happen again.

Still working away

at Elyse's album. It seems to be coming along pretty well. About half way done now so I'm feeling quite good about the progress. Sure hope everyone likes it. I'm going to post one more from the album today - I don't want to post them all and ruin the surprise :)






These pictures were taken consecutively of a goal Elyse got in an overtime shoot out against Niagara University. Her goal won the game!

Wishing for warmer days

made me want to post some layouts I completed recently of last summer. As I remember (and wish for) more summer days I am hoping for the weather to accommodate me a little more with some spring weather.

These pictures were all taken when we went to Centre Island last summer.

A couple more for Elyse's album

These layouts are so fun - just love reading about how well Elyse did with her hockey and all the accomplishments she made.

Loved this first photo so had to showcase it alone. Just need the names of those in the photo. Thought I should include them even if you can't see their faces.

and the year for the second. Any chance you know the answers to this Jack?

Not the right time of year

but how could I resist scrapping my monkey?

Great Wolf Lodge

Finally uploaded some of our trip pictures. Here we are entering the lodge. Mike sure looks happy to be on vacation - don't you think?

Some of the girls in the water. Laura just couldn't get enough of the slides. Some were 4 stories high and it didn't stop her one minute. The one pictured here is a twisting one, about 2 stories high. She went on these by herself, jumped right on and go!

The lily pads were a little harder. They have a netting above them for you to hold onto but most kids were just jumping from one to the next. She was "helped" across the first few times then tried it herself. Two lily pads in she went right into the water - good thing dad was there to grab her or mom's camera would have been toast as I would have been jumping in after her. It scared her a little and she wasn't sure about trying them again anytime soon.

Milk and cookies with Wiley - I think this may have been Laura's favorite part. She's still talking about how she "loves" him and he's "the bestest friend ever".
So cute!

Look at the sheer delight on her face - priceless.

On a scrapping note, I have started working on the tribute album for Elyse. So hard to believe she has already completed 4 years at Quinnipiac and is ready to come home. I was honoured Jack and Janice asked me to do something up for her. Here is one I completed last night. Sure hope you like it. I'll try to load a few of the others I've been working on in the next few days.

BG Toot

On the advise of a friend (thanks Jillian) I was directed to submit a layout to the BG gallery. They picked it up! Super excited, I haven't had anything in their gallery for awhile. Here's the link:
http://www.basicgrey.com/catalog/idea_gallery_info.php?idea_gallery_id=32028

Well, we're back

The trip was awesome, fun, exciting, etc, etc, etc. The girls couldn't get enough of the water park. It truly is awe-inspiring. Everything there is "too". Too big, too much, too exiciting, just TOO!

It was an absolutely exhausting time. Amazing what you can do in 3 short days but so worth it! Of course, something always happens during a vacation and this was no exception. We arrived at the resort at about 2:30pm. Registered and then took a tour of the hotel. The girls were so anxious to get started with the pool but we were still waiting for our room to be ready so we decided to take a trip to the local Meijer's and pick up some breakfast foods. Did a little looking around then to Red Lobster for dinner. At 5, we were done and ready to head back to the hotel for some swimming. A storm front had moved in while we were at dinner and on our way back up the hotel entrance we were hit. A young girl was driving way to fast for the conditions and slammed into the front left of the truck. Needless to say, a police report, crying girl (and one who fell asleep) and anxious mom and dad later, we finally got ourselves settled in. Not the best way to start our vacation but no one was hurt and because it happened at the beginning of our trip, we were able to get somethings settled before we were scheduled to leave and come home.
The rest of the time there was wonderful. Lots of water fun, lessons for Laura about the animals, story time, cookies and milk with Wiley the Wolf, shopping for mom and dad.

Some things we learnt: the girls do not sleep well in a hotel (or go to sleep at all), you can never plan everything, just because they offer it doesn't mean you have to do it, vacations are for the children but its worth every minute when you see them dancing to the clock tower song, laughing at hitting you with the water pistol or hear (1000 times) that "I love that Wiley, he's just awesome!".

Heading out

tomorrow for Great Wolf Lodge. The girls are so excited they can hardly contain themselves - so cute. I hope they are at least able to sleep tonight or the drive down will be exhausting.
I'm sure the trip will be exhausting anyway but we are so looking forward to it. See you when I return.

Same picture, different look

Sometimes I have a picture that I love - truly love so I always have a hard time creating just one layout with it. Good thing I create for grandma and grandpa...gives me the opportunity to do it two ways.

I changed the orientation of the picture and made it bigger for this page. The other is below.

I love them both, for different reasons. Not sure which I will keep, may have to leave it up to grandma. We'll see...

Graphic fun

I've been having a great time creating with some Graphic 45 papers I received in a kit recently. I took the papers to the crop I attended last weekend. Here are some of the layouts I did with their older line:




Love the way this one turned out - so fun to layer the papers. With all the lazer cuts the patterned paper underneath peeks through wonderfully. Added some fun embellishments and done.






and good news! My order came in yesterday so I have some of their new line to create with now! Opened it all up and just enjoying the designs right now, will have to cut into it soon though as its already calling my name.

Well, I did it...

I actually applied for a DT. Its so hard to put yourself out there and I haven't needed too for awhile but I came across a site today I have been away from for awhile. As I was browsing the posts, I remembered how much I loved the feelings on the board so decided to put myself out there and apply for their DT (as luck would have it, they were currently looking to update their team). There are so many wonderfully talented women on the site so it will not be an easy choice but I definitely wanted to give it a try. Here's hoping...

What a wonderful weekend

full of all sorts of fun!!! Just love being able to get away and scrap solid, no distractions, just me time! Of course, its never something you can do at home so having the opportunity to do so at a crop locally was wonderful. Spent some great time with the girls - talking, chatting and sharing stories. It was great.

I was even productive. Completed 15 layouts! So happy with that. It makes one layout about every 1.5 hours. There are some 'extras' I want to add to some of the layouts but for the most part I'm really happy with what I was able to accomplish.

I've been spending the last two days trying to organize myself and putting everything away. This is the part I hate the most, it always takes longer to put everything back in its spot than to get everything out in the first place - why is that?

I still have to scan and upload some of my layouts. I'm hoping to get that done over the next few days - before we go away on Sunday.