My favorite Madison layouts

Since Madison is six years older than Grant, I had to add a few extras. It was still hard to pick my top five. You can also see some of my earlier work from this blog back in April. That's when I was into the 8 1/2 x 11" format.

This one is dear to me because I used my grandmother's poetry on the page. I did this with one of Tyler's that I'll post tomorrow. My children never got to meet my Grandmi, but I know she'd just love my kids!
I love this one probably for the work it took to make. It looks rather simple, but this was pre-Cricut and I had to cut the lettering out using a stencil. The animals were all done by hand too. I would look at a cookie, trace the design and then eat the cookie. Very productive!
Oh, how I miss those beautiful curls Madison had. They were darling! Boo hoo!
I had to pick this one because it was Madison's third and final year of dance. She whined the entire year that she didn't like the class and I promised that she'd never had to do it again. But wasn't she the cutest?!
Madison's first year of school....kindergarten. As a kindergarten teacher, I just had to include this one too!

My favorite Grant layouts

I've been busy these last few days with organizing my scrapbooks. I've been putting pages together in albums that have been stacked in a pile from a year ago. I'm good at getting pages done when given the time, but my organizational skills are horrible. While doing this, I came across some of my favorite layouts over the past couple years. I'll post my Madison favorites tomorrow and Tyler's on Friday. I'll even show you one or two (that's all there is) of Andy and Amy layouts. I have a fun 80's one of myself that I must post after reading Tracey's blog. BTW, if you can't see the picture well, just click on it and it should enlarge.

Grant was sooo cute in his swimming outfit that year. I loved the colors and his reactions to the water.
This is Grant's first birthday. This was the year that his cake was made with another child's name on it and now the tradition has been set. Every year Grant will get a cake with a new name on it. Wacky mom, huh?
I made this layout for a contest, but did not win. It's the first time I made my layout in the shape other than square or rectangular. I love his expressions in these photos!

One Word...update

Hi all---

I was just thinking that half the year is over and how is that "one word" for 2009 coming along? I think of my word probably once a week, not an every day kind of thing, but I do think about it.

Here's how I am doing...

I was determined to go to the gym on a frequent basis. Hmmm....not doing so well with that one. However, July has been the best month, so far. I think I've been there six times this month. Not too bad, eh?

I was determined to keep up with the laundry. I've done fairly well with that this summer. Lots of laundry and now have time to do it. I love hanging the towels on the line...nice and crunchy!

I was determined to scrapbook more and I have. I've cropped every month except for the month of May, so I can double book one month, right? I feel like a better person when I get that once a month away time just for me!

I was determined to go to Disney World and we are making that possible in October. Yay!

And I was determined to get my Project 365 kit, which I am keeping up on. The picture taking habit is the same as taking a shower daily habit. I am loving the idea still!

Let me know how you are doing with your "one word"!

Finding the Cricut ticket

Happy day! Today I purchased two new Cricut cartridges at Michael's. I saw their store ad and saw that they were under $45 each, so I rushed on over and were able to snag the two I was wanting. The only cartridges on sale this week are the new ones launched for the "Find the winning Cricut ticket" contest. I, unfortunately, did not locate one of those awesome golden "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory" kind of tickets in either box, but I am still excited for some new fun fonts to try out. Anyone ready for a crop soon?

Also, if anyone from Cricut reads this...please know that if not all twenty tickets are discovered, I'd be happy to fill one of those spots on the January cruise! Scrapping, napping and cruising, oh, that would be the life!

Days 191-195

Tuesday, July 7th - Ranger had his yearly check up and shots that cost me $185.49. I am no longer complaining after reading my friend Tracey's blog about her dog Mikey. That made me cry! Poor Mikey!
Wednesday, July 8th - We are at Madison's softball game and Grant and Tyler are playing "beese ball" on an empty field. I just giggle seeing Grant play catcher. He's got the squatting thing down.

Thursday, July 9th - This was my day....chicken broth. Yum! Today I tried to do anything besides think about food and the "procedure" the next day.
Friday, July 10th - The "procedure" day without any pictures. Did you think I would?? Ha, ha! I did take a picture of something else that's gross...my hubby's rash. I like how Grant is smiling in the background.
Saturday, July 11th - Andy took the kids to the park, while I went with my friend Amy to Archiver's scrapbooking. So, I left him with today's photo. When I first saw this picture, I instantly thought of the Cingular commercials with "raising the bars"...smallest to biggest.

I survived and Andy itched!

I survived! I survived that awful procedure. I don't even like to say the word or think about what they did to me, but I made it! I say that...like I wouldn't. I'm a bit dramatic!

I will admit the worst part was the day before. The not eating anything and drinking that syrupy lemon flavored pooping medicine was the hard part. I was suppose to drink two liters of the mix and it was difficult to drink anymore after the first 8 ounces, but I did it. Well...almost. I kind of cheated and drank maybe 1 1/2 liters. It all came out in the end, so that's all that mattered. :)

My husband also stepped up to the plate, helping me feel better about my procedure, by getting the worst rash I've ever seen. Andy said he walked through weeds that were taller than him on Wednesday and regrettably wished he'd worn long sleeves after the fact. He has cuts on his arms from the weeds and now has huge red, puffy patches all over....face, neck, back, arms. The patches on his arms are now blistering and oozing. Yuck! Andy thinks it's from poisonous Sumac. Whatever it is...it required a trip to the doctor. He's on two pills (some kind of steroid) and received some anti-itch cream.

Can you see the patches below his ear and on his neck? It makes me itch just looking at him.

A day of diversions

Today is a day of diversions. Today is the day where I fast for my colonoscopy tomorrow at 11am. Today I need A LOT of diversions. I obsess about not eating anything, except clear liquids. I obsess about drinking two of those plastic containers (pictured above) full of yuck. I obsess what those yucky liquids will do to me all night long. And I obsess about the IV, being knocked out and what they will do to me on the table. Ugh!

So, today I am going to....

1. Book the airline flight for Disney World and obsess about Mickey.

2. Go to the bookstore and buy Madison more trading cards. (Not that she needs them, but I want to obsess about being a little girl again)

3. Develop pictures at Sam's Club today, so I can obsess about scrapbooking on Saturday.

Hopefully, these activities will help me not obsess about the above. Please let me know what else I can obsess about. I'll be sure to let you know how it all comes out in the end! (pun intented)