Halloween Party time!!!

So, we decided that we are going to have a Halloween party for our kids this year! Pizza, cupcakes, games and "scary" movies! I've only ever hosted a handful of birthday parties so, this should be interesting! I let them each invite 7 friends. That should be 14 kids, with a good chance of at least 4 not coming. So, I figure 10 kids (plus Haleigh & Dakota), right??? Well, it turns out that EVERYONE is excited about this party and apparently want to come! There are a couple of kids that will not be here but, a couple of the kids that are....they are bringing their sibling. Oy. What have I gotten myself into???

I think that it will be a great time, regardless. I was hoping the rain would stay away so that some of the events could be taken outside. But, that's not looking like it's going to happen. So, 2 adults and at least 14 children will be crammed inside our little house!!!

I'll post some pics in a couple of days!!! Wish me luck! :)

As promised...

here are a couple more of my layouts that I created last weekend at our annual SAL DT Retreat! The first one was completely inspired by my friend, who is also on the SAL design team, Jen Erickson. I envy her style!

So, another weekend is here! This Saturday will be our last soccer games for the season (at least for this soccer club! :) ). Dakota will start indoor with his school next week! But, I am completely okay with indoor soccer! No cold, crappy, rainy weather! No hot, melt in your seat, getting swamped by mosquitoes weather! But, we'll be back to regular outdoor for both the kids before I know it!!!

We will also hopefully be heading to the apple orchard/pumpkin patch. We always have a great time there! I love hay rides and love the yummy things that they bake in their little shop!!! Plus, it always makes for great pictures ;)!

Have a great weekend!

American Crafts!

American Crafts posts weekly challenges on their blog that I love! I rarely find the time to actually complete them but, this week, I have some mojo left over from the SAL Sweet DT Retreat and I took advantage of it! So, the challenge this week was to use two American Crafts products with a black and white photo!

I used papers from the Craft Fair line, Halloween line and the Kids line. I also used felt thickers, fabric thickers and some Flair from the Junior line. This really was a fun layout to do!

I'm baaaaccckkkkk!!!

I made it home, safe and sound!!! I pulled up at about 8:30 last night. The drive wasn't too bad, except for the idiots on the road (one in particular that ticked me off for a good 45 minutes.....two words.....CRUISE CONTROL.....it's an amazing concept).

So, I completed 11 layouts!!! Yep, you heard me right....ELEVEN! I just did a recount....I actually thought that I did 12. Bummer. But, regardless...it's 11 more down!!! I need to fix a couple of things on a couple of them and actually do the journaling on one but, here are the ones that are totally done!




I really had so much fun!!! It was great seeing my friends that I only get to see once a year! I really wish that we lived a LOT closer! And Carla was the best hostess!!! She made wonderful food and made sure that we all had good time!

Once I get the rest of the layouts completed, I'll upload them here!!!

I'm outta here...

tomorrow, that is!!! I'm heading up to Michigan for the annual Sweet DT Retreat for the SAL design team!!! And I can not wait! Scrapbooking for a weekend and seeing my scrappy friends from other parts of the US! It's always a good time!

I'll post some pics when I get back! See you soon!!!

Picture time...

Yesterday was an absolutely beautiful day, which is not always best when one wants to take pictures! We went to IMA and took some fall pictures of the kids. It was so nice, perfect temperature, clear skies and sunny! But, all that sun can be a real pain when trying to get a nice picture. Here are a couple of faves from the day:


Dakota actually took this one! I think that he did a great job!!!





























I hate how blogger doesn't really allow for you to move your pictures around!

Anyway, as you can see, it was a beautiful day! I really wanted to get some shots with some pumpkins so, I may have them throw these clothes back on today and head out to Beasley's and get some shots. While we're there, we'll pick up a couple of pumpkins and some apples!!!

Latest stuff...

So I've been in a rut when it comes to scrapbooking. For a LONG time. But, I think I'm starting to feel my mojo creeping back!!! I worked on a couple of layouts for the heck of it this weekend and I am super happy with how they turned out.



I totally love that picture of Brian and Haleigh! I've been holding onto it since July and all of a sudden, this past weekend, I had an idea. So, now it is scrapped and I am happy with it!

The kids are keeping us busy with soccer. We've had one practice for each this week and one more for Dakota tomorrow. Then, they both have morning games on Saturday. And it will be nice and cold! I will be the one with the hood up, coffee cup and blanket wrapped around me!!! :) I'll upload some pics of them playing over the weekend for sure!

On another note, I'm getting ready to go away for our annual Scrap-A-Latte Design Team Retreat in Michigan!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see my friends! I can't wait to get my scrap on! And I can't wait to relax and have a great time, as we always do!!! But, until then, I'll be running around here like a chicken with her head cut off getting ready. I hate packing. ugh. It's of course totally worth it though!!!

So proud!!!

Just a quick note to talk about my kiddos! As most of you know, they started a new school this year. It's a charter school so, it's a bit different than standard public schools, and it's been quite the change! This is the first year our kids have actually been held accountable for their work, actions and non-actions. Not to say that they have ever had problems in the past (proud to say that teachers loved having my kids in their classrooms). But, it's been a challenge.

Haleigh, surprisingly, adapted very well. She's not a huge fan of change but, she's done it. And done it well. A+'s in all subjects!!! SO PROUD!!! And the teacher said that she is a model student! I just love that I can count on her for that!

Dakota, well, it's been hard. He's never really taken a test other than standardized testing for the state. He had NO clue how to study. And, didn't realize that if he didn't answer questions, it actually counts against him. This has been his downfall. He had A's in all classes but one. He had a C in Social Studies. All because of tests. But, I'm very proud to say that he has worked VERY hard and has brought that grade to a B! And, he still hopes to make at least an A- before then end of quarter! I wouldn't doubt it if he did. When he gets something stuck in his head, he doesn't stop!

Okay, so maybe not so quick! But, what can I say?!? I'm proud of them both!

October is here!

And it makes me very happy!!! I love fall! Blue jeans, hoodies, apple cider, changing leaves...love it. All of it!

We've been fairly busy around here, getting things gathered for our upcoming Halloween party, soccer and school. Dakota has an "out-of-town" school field trip to Cincinnatti on the 17th, which he is psyched about. Plus, I'm leaving town in TWO WEEKS...going to Michigan for the annual SAL DT retreat with all of my SAL design team friends! I totally CAN NOT WAIT!!!

I haven't been scrappin' much. I hoped to get more down during the online crop but, didn't happen. I do hope to maybe work on something tonight though! Plus, tomorrow is "World Card-Making Day", which just makes me feel that I need to at least make one card! Don't ya think?!?