Cat in the Hat

Braden couldn't wear his Jack Skellington costume to school. They had to dress as a story book character excluding monsters, ghost, goblins, ghouls, etc....

I wanted him to be Peter Pan for school. He would been so cute with his red hair and freckles but he was not happy with that suggestion. So a make-do Cat in the Hat costume won.

Happy Halloween

It's Halloween! I think I might have stretched myself a little thin today. I still have to finish up the grab bags for Braden's class, pack for Disney, have a birthday lunch with Mike, volunteer at Braden's class party, then we're on the road to Disney.

I hope I don't forget anything.

Here's some pictures from last night. We planned to go to the pumpkin patch again this year but we just ran out of the time. Yesterday at Wal-Mart Ashlyn picked out a couple pumpkins to decorate. They are slightly square shaped.

The movie "Spookly the Square Pumpkin" is one of Braden & Ashlyn's favorite Halloween movies. So they were very excited to have square pumpkins and since we waited until the very last minute to buy them they were only $1.50 each.

As you can see in the pictures we didn't carve this year. It's so messy and I just didn't have the time to devote to it last night since I was busy taking in costumes. They kids just used Sharpies to draw on them. How sad is that? I feel guilty that I didn't help them carve them or even paint them. I'll have to make up for it next year.

4th 4th tag

My scrappy friend Tonya has tagged me with a 4th 4th tag. To fulfill the tag, I have to open the 4th folder in my picture files and post the 4th picture in that file along with a description and/or explanation of the picture.

I'm so glad Tonya tagged me. I was just thinking that I should post something but ....... all I had was STRESS today. Nothing good to read or interesting to share (not even to my mom-HI MOM!)

Here's my 4th picture from my 4th pic file.

Oh Tae Kwon Do. I'm so glad that is over!!! Braden hated every minute of it. I had to drag him (sometimes literally kicking and screaming) twice a week across town for the 30 minute class. So much for Mike's dream of having a MMA star in the family. It just didn't happen.

The 6 month contract ended the day of testing. Since we knew that he was not going to continue we saved the $70 testing fee for the new belt and just called it quits. So he never moved beyond a white belt. Even though he knew his strikes months earlier and could have passed the test very easily.

Now I need to tag someone to see their 4th 4th. I tag..... Kelly, Leah, Mrs. B.

You know it's Fall in FL when.....

you have to wear a knit hat with your bikini!
The last week was all about Braden. Ashlyn is still being adorable. Today it felt like a fall day here but that didn't stop she and her baby dolls from having a beach day in the kitchen. I guess the house was a little cool for a bikini though. She went and dug out her Arkansas hat.

We have finally turned our a/c off. Yesterday it was nice and cool (60's) in the morning so I turned the $$ hog off and opened up the house.

We don't have a garage screen like so many people do here but I like to open the garage anyways to get a nice breeze through the kitchen/family room. I only open it about a foot and I usually close it once it gets dark. Did you catch the "USUALLY" part?

Last night, I was standing in the hallway between the kid's rooms making up a story about two cute little pumpkins when I looked over my shoulder to see the raccoon.

Did you catch THAT? A LIVING BREATHING WILD ANIMAL RACCOON was in my kitchen. I screamed like the silly things was attacking me! Luckily my outburst did not send it into a defensive attack or into hiding but instead back across my kitchen, through the kitchen door, across the garage, and outside.

It was easy remembering to close the garage door this afternoon!

MBI Crop Layouts

This weekends cyber crop was a lot of fun. I didn't get all my pictures scrapped but I did get 5 completed layouts and I started 2 different ones but I gave up on them. They just weren't working out right. I still have until midnight tonight to finish them up but I doubt I get around to it.

Here's the challenges I did finish.

This was for the template challenge.
This next one was for Bert's Buttons and Bows challenge. I started making this layout with some pictures of Ashlyn at the beach in mind but then I couldn't find the darn things anywhere. I guess I just thought I printed them off. Oh Well! When I do print them, I'll have a layout all ready.
This layout was for the all black and white challenge. I'm going to use this as the companion page for his team picture (when we get it in.)
Another one for the all black and white challenge.
This last layout was for my silohuette challenge.

Ghost Suckers

I've been busy today making layouts for MBI's cyber crop. So far I've completed 4 challenges. I hope to get 5 more pages done this weekend but we'll see.

I took a break in the middle of my scrappin' to do a little project with the kids. We made these cute ghost suckers. They are tootsie pops with 2 white tissues tied on top with some colorful yarn. Braden used a black marker to draw the faces. We made one for each classmate and a few extras for us.

I got the idea for these from kindergarten...my kindergarten! I remember making these around Halloween and walking down the street with the other classes to the senior citizen's center.

CYBER CROP TIME!

Today is the first day of the cyber crop weekend at MBI. This crop theme is the fab 50's! If you get some scrappy time stop by to check out the games, challenges, and I'm sure there will be some prizes floating around to be won!!!

There is also still time to make a birthday or anniversary layout for the October Layout Contest. The prize for that one is a gift certificate to the MBI store!!! Which has some new crystal flowers that I've been drooling over all month.

Being 5 Was Fun!

I can't believe that my little boy is 6 today!!! Time goes by way to fast! I made a little photo montage of his days at 5. Take a look if you have time!




Being 5 was Fun! 10/17/08

another birthday gift!

Braden got another birthday gift this week. This one was from Nan and Greg. I had planned on saving it until tomorrow. That way he would have at least one gift on his actually birthday but I caved in pretty easy. I knew what it was and I knew that he would be thrilled!


I love the progression of the pictures. They really show his reaction as he realized what was inside. This is the i-dance wall-e. He really is super cute. I like to play with him as much as the kids! Mike had an old M3P player that we hooked him up too but it's not needed. He dances and talks on his own. He's really cute and as you can see by the pictures, Braden was thrilled to get him.

Braden's Birthday Party!

The whole weekend wasn't yucky. He perked up Sunday enough for a couple rides and a birthday party with Pooh and Friends at the Crystal Palace.

Yucky Birthday!

This weekend was suppose to be one big party. It started out great. Braden's soccer team won their first game (no pictures this week). Then we headed out all excited for Braden's Disney birthday weekend. We arrived in Orlando, check into the hotel, and headed to the Boardwalk with Mike's family.

On the way I noticed Braden holding his head. He said he had a really bad headache. Before we could find a parking spot, he was throwing up! So Ashlyn went with her grandparents to Hollywood Studios and Mike & I brought Braden back to the hotel for a very yucky day.!

He was so upset to be missing the fun that we let him open his presents after a cool bath and some Tylenol. He liked opening his gifts and we even got a smile out of him but he was a very sick little boy!

Today,his fever was gone and he held his food so we were hoping it was just a 24 hour bug. We spent some time at Disney (pictures later!) but his fever has returned since we got home. I guess I'll have some company here at home tomorrow!

Made On The Farm: 10,000 Blog Candy Giveaway!!!!

Made On The Farm: 10,000 Blog Candy Giveaway!!!!

I just found more blog candy and it's pretty amazing! Cute stamps, chipboard, etc. When Jenny hits 10,000 hits she's giving it away and she's adding new stuff all the time.

Go now and leave a comment!!

Project: Pond

Braden had his first Kindergarten project due today. We've been working on it throughout the week. I forgot to take a picture of the finished pond! Ugh!!!

The first night he did the painting and dug through his toys to find the ducks and frog. Then I let him go through my stamp basket. He picked out some flower stamps, a turtle stamp, and a dragonfly stamp. The last day we used some photo splits to stick down the toys and he drew/colored/glued some picture of fish and more frogs to the box. For the last touch he went through the scrap box and gathered up some brown card stock and make rock balls to glue around the pond.

He did a great job and he did everything himself except gluing the rocks into place. I helped him with that.

I can't believe I didn't take a picture of the final project. What was I thinking? Oh yeah I remember.... we have 30 minutes to get to school and I have to stop and get them breakfast, and a drink for his lunch and gas!!! We're never going to make it..... WE DID! He was the last kid through the gate before they locked it. Whew! It was close.

Candy Links

If you missed out on Pricilla's blog candy then i have another one for you.

Check out Jilli's Pages. She's celebrating her blogoversary. This is the first time I've heard the term blogoversary. It's cute.

You have until the 22nd to enter!

Halloween Decorations

We have very high ceilings in the living room, family room, and kitchen. I love them but I always seem to have lots of empty wall space. Above the television in the living room I hung these 2 skeleton garlands.

They are ok on their own but they kind of blend into my white walls. I needed color to dress them up. I had Braden draw up some spooky friends to hang on the bottom one. I'm not sure what to do with the top garland. I'm sure Braden would be more than happy to draw some more spooky characters but i haven't decided yet.

What would you do with the top?

New layouts

Last weekend was wonderfully lazy! Which means that I actually had time to make some pages for myself for a change. Here's what I got done. Please pretend that my pictures aren't crooked!


I've had his tassel all summer long but it somehow grew legs and walked away this weekend. When I find which toy box/purse/bucket/drawer it has been stashed in, I'm going to hang it to fill up that empty corner. I just have to find the silly thing.

LOL

Watch out cyber world....Ashlyn has found the Internet! Braden loves to play the games at NickJr. com and anything Braden does then Ashlyn wants to do too! Today she asked me if she could play Wow Wow Wubzie without following Braden's lead.



She looked really cute playing and she played pretty well. I wasn't sure how it would work out and I did fear a major melt down. No melt downs and she finished the first level. At this rate she'll be teaching me tech stuff ...ummm....next week!

Muffin...Wednesday?

I'm a few days late posting this weeks muffins but we did have Muffin Monday and by the look of the cake pedestal, it was a success! Braden helped me make the muffins this week so I didn't do anything fancy just quick Jiffy banana muffins. I didn't eat one but they smelled amazing!

I'm planning something more interesting for next weeks Muffin Monday. Yummy yummy!

More Blog Candy!!!

Priscilla at Skraptacullar Designs has reached here 1000 hit so to celebrate she is giving away some candy. Who doesn't love candy? She has a bunch of super cute stamped images, Prima flowers (LOVE 'EM) and some Magistical Memories chipboard.

I use Magistical Memories all the time. They have some so the cutest designs. My little robot guy on my "non-thank you" thank you card is a magistical memories piece.

Check out here blog for the details!

more cards

Here's just a few more cards that I made this afternoon for MBI's national card day contest. Mike went to a local sports bar to watch the Hogs play. So while he was gone, I sat Braden up on Nickjr.com to play some games and Ashlyn watched a Dora movie. I had over an hour to play.

Happy Saturday everyone!

Daily Dress Up.

Friday, Ashlyn was all about playing dress up. She changed clothes more times that I could count yesterday. The hula girl costume was last years Halloween costume. Since she's still wearing it almost a year later, I guess we got our money out of it.

Perfect rainbow

It has been a very rainy yucky week. Everyday it's not only rained but stormed--lightning, thunder, the works! Yesterday my hubby called me on his way home to tell me about this amazing rainbow. I wish the pictures were better. It had the brightest colors I've ever seen an it was huge.

It was also the first rainbow that Ashlyn has ever seen. I see a lot rainbows in the afternoons because we get 20 minute showers a lot here in Florida but I don't' think Ashlyn has ever been able to find them in the sky. Yesterday it was so big and bright (and directly outside our front door )that it was impossible to miss. She just stood in awe for a few minutes. I had to touch her to bring her back to Earth.

I know the pictures don't show it at all but there was actually a second rainbow above this one. It was really faint. That was the first time I've ever seen 2 at once.

another card

Here's another card for MBI. I used metallic silver paint and really cool black glittered cardstock. It's really cool but it doesn't photograph very well (as you can see!).

This challenge was to make a thank you card without the words "thank you" or "thanks". After I finished this one, I got the idea of doing one with the chipboard robot that said "beep beep bop" on the front and then inside "that's robot for thank you". I only had the one robot left though. Maybe next time.

Cards cards cards

For World Card Making Day MBI is celebrating with a thread of fun challenges. Every time you finish a card challenge this week you get your name entered into a draw for a prize!!! I don't make a lot cards because I'm not very good at actually mailing them but I thought I would tackle a few of the challenges.

I made the turkey card for the die cut challenge. Technically it's not a die cut but a paper piecing. I don't have a die cut machine so I improvised. Isn't he cute. I love making these guys. This is the first one I've made for myself. I usually make them for Thanksgiving layouts that I'm selling.

Inside it says- "a family that gobbles together is happy together."

If you like to make cards then join in the fun! Check out the challenge thread!

Hee Haw Blog Candy

I just found a great Blog Candy! It's the Hee Haw Blog Candy. I love the Hee Haw reference. I can remember watching Hee Haw at my grandparents when I was young.

Mike had no idea what Hee Haw was. He looked at me like I was alien when I started quoting Minnie Pearl. (Sigh) City Boys! hee hee hee.

Click here to check out this great blog and amazing give away!

Layout Contest!

Memory Book Inspirations has posted the layout challenge for the month. It's a really simple challenge with a big great prize.

In honor of the new owners 1 year anniversary the contest is for anniversary or birthday layouts. Traditional, hybrid, and digital layouts qualify and the winner will get a gift certificate for $25.That's it! There is no product or technique requirements this month. I don't think they could have made it more simple.

Jennifer and Salina have got some super CUTE new things in the store this month (like the pretty flowers at the beginning of this post---LOVE THEM!!). I know that I could spend $25 with no problem!

Signs of the Times

Yesterday I showed y'all my muffins. Well, here's another sign of tight times-pb in bulk!

Since Mike and I are low carbing, we've been eating a spoonful every night as a treat, Braden takes pb & j to school at least twice a week and now Ashlyn is on a pb kick. She wants a sandwich every single meal.

We've been going through our normal pb jars in just a few days here lately so last week when I bought groceries I bought the big 6 pound jar- great for day care, schools, restaurants, AND MY FAMILY.

It will be interesting to see just how long it will last. Don't worry I'll keep ya updated! I know you're on pins and needles in suspense. (hee hee hee)

Call me Martha!

I spent the afternoon baking muffins (from a mix! don't be to impressed!). Braden loves muffins. They have become his favorite breakfast and since a muffin and a banana takes like a minute to "fix" and devour in the mornings, they are now also one of my favorite breakfast options!

I have been buying chocolate chip or banana nut muffins from the bakery department on grocery day. Depending on which store I'm shopping at that week and the sales, I spend between $2.25-$3 per package of 4. I decided to save some $$$ and make them myself this week.

I bought 2 packages of cheap (but yummy) Jiffy muffin mix and for a whopping $2 (factoring in the eggs and the milk) I made a dozen muffins. To really martha-ify my day I decided to put them on the table in the cake pedestal. Everything seems special when it's served from a glass cake pedestal!

So in honor of my Martha-ified muffin moment. I declare Monday's muffin day! If you have a good (and easy--I'm not much a baker!) muffin recipe then please share.

Cowgirl Princess

Sunday morning I told Ashlyn to go to the shoe closet and find her white sandals.

She did. She put on her white sandals and her Beauty and the Beast crown and Braden's leather sheriff vest.

She wanted to go to church as a cowgirl princess and I let her. After all, she did put on her shoes like I asked!

Our Spooky House

Saturday we dug out the Halloween decorations. My favorite favorite favorite things are these cheap Dollar Tree paper lanterns. We bought 7 and only 4 got hung up. I ripped one, Braden ripped one, and one just didn't work. I love them though. They look so cute hanging up in the arch.

The lanterns are the only thing I bought this year. We bought the big haunted house last year and we've have the dancing paper skeletons for years. This may be their last year though. I had to use an entire roll of tape to hold them together. Next year we may have a pile of skeleton bones on the wall instead.

A Few Layouts and a Card

This week has zoomed by without anything really interesting happening. So I don't have anything to share. The layout above I made for the savvy scrappers club that I'm in at MBI. This weeks challenge was to use a PageMap sketch to make a layout then use the scraps to make a card. I'll have to share the card later because I don't want the recipient to see it before their birthday.
I finally scrapped a picture from Braden first day. I love my new "K" stamp. I found the set of foam Heidi swapp stamps at Tuesday Morning for $5! I like to use big titles so these stamps are perfect!

At lastly, this is the card I made for Nanny's birthday last week. That's it for me. Saturday, I'll have new soccer pictures (please try to contain your excitement. heee hee hee).