{100% Girl}

{Little Lotte}

I am addicted to making these Lunch Pails! This one I made for my niece for her 1st birthday. I thought it would be a fun way for her to carry some of her toys in while taking a ride in the car or for those fantastic sunday toys during church! My sister broke the news to me, however that this pail took an unfortunate fall off of their car as they were going home from church and the letters on the pail were totaled. "NO PROBLEM!" I said, "I can make you another set of letters!". That is, until I went to pull the chipboard letters and I couldn't remember what letter font I used! It's a darn good thing that I take photos of all my projects! All I had to do was check out my photographs and I was in the clear! Yeah for blogs!

{This Little Light Of Mine}

Another fun and easy project! A pre-sticky night-light! And that Basic Gray paper is absolutly PERFECT! This little light has so come in handy during the night when I get up a million times during the night to check in on my daughter!

{Krazy Magnetic Board}

Oooh okay, this was so much fun to do! Not to mention super easy! My favorite part was painting the animals fun colors (note the monkey....this is what happens to a monkey when he eats too many bananas!). I thought the animals colors tied in well with the Basic Gray paper and most importantly, my daughters room! If you find these particular magnetic boards by Provo Craft, grab them while you can! For some reason the company is discontinuing them (if you know anybody that lives in Utah, have them pick up some at Robert's Crafts)!

{Yes Sir, That's My Baby!}

OK, not much explination needed on this one; other than it was a layout challange from a forum that I'm on! I actually had so much fun putting this together and it's been a picture that I've been meanin to scrapbook for a while now.

{What Time Is It?}

This is yet another project for Kami's room! I absolutly LOVE the new Daisy D's vintage kids paper! My friend Tammy Heart In Hand Scraps (look under "February 2006")used this paper on a magnetic board that turned out absolutly adorable! The clock is one of the new Making Memory "project" kits (fantastic deal, by the way!). Of course, it's still not quite done yet.....needs Kami's picture in it! (Notice the Camel on the left....Daddy brought that back from Doha, Qatar).

{Kamden}

This was one of my very first projects after I stopped working at the Scrapbook Factory a couple weeks ago. Though I miss work terriably, it was a wonderful feeling to be able to accomplish a few things I've been wanting to do for our soon-to-be new daughters nursery (one more month to go!). I am such an indescisive person, that when it came to picking out a true color theme for the nursery, I couldn't descide! So....I've kind of got a mixed color theme! I thought it'd be cool for these letters to go through my HUGE file of scraps and use those up! Also notice I've used the Heidi Swapp Ghost Letters on each of the letters! I just love those!

{True Strength Is Delicate}

This project actually began as I was pulling product for the Design Team of the Scrapbook Store that I work for. Trying to think of the perfect paper and embellishments to go with this 12 x 12" Melissa Frances Frame, I wondered over to the Basic Gray section of our store. I had purchased this paper myself as soon as it arrived in the store - I was immediatly drawn to the colors and the pattern. Very elegant, somewhat oriental. Anyway, as I began to pull this for the Design Team, I realized that I wanted to do this project. But, not only did I want to do this project I wanted to keep this project! So, I purchased the frame that evening and rushed home to complete this project! The picture was almost perfect for the project as well. The only problem being I took this self portrat on a landscape, instead of a portrat. So, after stretching the photo out a bit on my computer (I'm actually 8 months pregnant in this photo, though I look about 4 - if you can tell at all). I added the quote that I felt really represented this photograph: "True Strength is Delicate". For me, that about sums up my experience of spending 4 month of my pregnancy with the long-distance support of my husband, who is serving with the Air Force in the Middle East. It has been tough, but, I feel all the stronger for it. I hope, as I do with every deployment that my husband serves on, that I can go through it with grace and delicasy. I hope to be able to teach my children this strength as well.

{H is for Home}

This 7 Gypsies Mini Album is kind of a work in progress. I want to create it into a storybook-like album to go on our coffee table. Truly, when is our story ever over? Here, it began with two people falling in love. I want to include pages like, our traditions (eating at Sweet Tomatoes), our kitties (Callie and Durk), of course a place for our children (Kamden Renee - coming this June!), Drew's military accomplishments, the homes we've lived in. You get the idea. Things that define us as a family. And this is such a fun-shaped album to work with! Not to mention the paper and stickers from 7 Gypsies goes PERFECT with it.

{Games}

Okay, so I picked up this lunch pail about a month ago and bought it, not knowing quite what I was going to do with it. But, it was unique and I wanted it. So, it had been sitting in my craft room, until I walked into Target and noticed all the fun little games they had in the Dollar Spot. Then the light bulb went off in my head! What fun it would be to use that lunch box and a travel game carrier! So, I picked up some games, went to my LSS for the perfect *something* to decorate the box with. I saw the sticker by 'We R Memory Keepers' and thought that would be cute, but there wasn't really any paper to go with it. A couple days passed and a new order came in from 'We R Memory Keepers' that had this paper from their Urban Window collection! How perfectly it went with this sticker sheet! So, it all came together! Yay! I love it when that happens! And yes, this is another class I'm teaching (Target toys excluded). I though I'd pack my schedule with fun classes and projects these last couple months I'll be around. Having a baby and moving this summer.....I must be in denial!

{Address Box}

This was another fun "naked" project our boss gave us. She acutally gave us about 6 or 7 different items to alter, and this was one that I had completed. Again, I cannot take complete credit for this idea. I had actually been surfing on ebay one day when I saw this idea and thought it was so clever I had to make one for myself. These also make excellent gifts for those graduating seniors who are heading off to school next year! I just gave one to my niece as an early graduation gift, so that she can start getting all of her friends addresses!

{Of Good Report}

This is actually part of a 16 page mini album that I had done for my Photography Final Project at school. We had to choose between "The Seven Deadly Sins" or "The Seven Virtues" to take photos of. I obviously chose the virtues. The photos are printed and developed in black & white, and are made a sepia-like tone by using Tim Holtz Walnut Distressing ink. My Photography class was so curious and impressed that you can give your photos different tones, many of them ran out to the craft store after class and bought a bunch of Tim Holts distressing ink! Many of the pictures in this album are taken in Nauvoo, IL with the exception of these two, which are taken at Carthage Jail in Carthage, IL and, naturally, St. Louis, MO. The second scripture is one of my very favorites and has helped me through so many trials in my life!

Toothies!

Yay! Kami's getting her first tooth in! All the fussin' and sleepless nights finally have something to show for it! I really had a feeling this time that she was getting a tooth and sure enough, I see and feel a little white tooth coming in! Yay! I'm so excited for her! She's also very moble now! She's crawling faster and faster every day - especially towards those things which she's not supposed to have (ie, cat food, computer, paper...).

Drew and Kamden are taking me out for my birthday tomorrow. Can you believe it? I'm 28 years old! 28!!!! Crazy! Anyway, I'm hoping Kami behaves herself. ;^) What a party animal! And I also leave for St. Louis on Thursday! I'm pretty excited about that! It's always nice to see friends!

It was such a beautiful day today in OKC! It probably reached about 70 degrees. So Kamden and I went to the park by Lake Hefner. I figured there'd be lots of kids there and she's so into watching other kids! So, we went to the park, I ate lunch, we took a little walk on the trail then came back to the park and I noticed a dad there with his little girl and baby boy that looked about the same age as Kami, and he was swinging on the swing (one of the little kids swings that has the back and front to it), so I though, "Hey, if that baby's doing okay in the swing, Kami might, too. So, I put Kamden in the swing next to the baby boy and she absolutely LOVED it! It was so cute, she was even holding onto the swing like and old pro!! I so wish I would have brought my camera with me! She has such a cute grin on her face the entire time! (And, by the way, I was right about the baby boy's age....he's 7 months, too!) Oh well, I'll try and remember the camera next time!

In Anticipation....

Kamden absolutly LOVES to watch Sesame Street! Who she loves on Sesame Street came as quite a surprise to me, seeing as most little kids adore Elmo. Kami's face lights up only when she's watching Cookie Monster! It is so cute! As soon as he comes on the TV, she'll get this huge ear to ear smile on her face! So, this is Kami the other morning, watching Sesame Street knowing that any minute her furry blue friend will be on! Looks like Sesame Street Live is coming to OKC the very end of March, so I think we're going to plan on taking Kamden to see that! She'll be a couple months older, so she may enjoy it a little bit more. If not watching the characters, the other kids around her will keep her interest peeked!

Baby, it's COLD outside!

Well, it's really not anymore! This was a couple weeks ago when we got that ice storm. I wanted to get a picture of Kamden in her cute snowsuit! I seemed to have lost my hat, and when we went outside it was still "raining" ice. So, that's why the funny face! As for Kami's funny face, she likes to taste the cold air and wind.

What's Cookin', Good Lookin'?

Sometimes Kami likes to "help" Mommy by sorting through all the utensils. She "cleans" them off for me, if they need it (just kidding!)!!

No Nap!

Okay, so Kamden did this to me the other day, you know, the day my battery wasn't charged! Anyway, I put her down for her nap, and after a little while I hear her....I open her door and what do I see??? Kami sitting up in bed!!! I was certain that I hadn't put her down sitting up! Wow! She's growing so fast!

Pictures to come.....

Alright, I got on here tonight to post some recent pictures and as I pluged my camera into my computer, I remembered that I've been needing to recharge my camera's battery for the last week. Where is my brain???

So, anyway, I'll try and get some photos up here on the blog tomorrow. Meanwhile, things are going great here! Kamden and I survived a week without Drew last week. He had some meetings to go to in Washington DC. Kami and I enjoyed our time together, but were so happy when Drew came home! You never realize just how helpful it is to have another person around until you're doing things all by yourself! I think Kamden started to get sick of me! :^)

Speaking of surviving, we've also been surviving this crazy weather we've been having! The entire state of Oklahoma was practically iced over a couple weeks ago (I've got a really cute picture of Kamden in her snow suit....just as soon as the camera's up and running!), so we were pretty much home-bound for a couple of days. Although we did try and venture out after Cabin Fever started to settle in (we've got 4 wheel drive in one of our cars)! Target and WalMart saw a lot of us that week! Our place is so small, we just needed a place to get out and walk around! I think homes tend to become smaller once you add a baby to the mix. We were also supposed to get about 8-10 inches of snow again this last weekend, but it ended up coming down as rain instead. So, that was a good thing. I know there are a lot of people without homes right now, because they got hit so hard the week before. I think most people at church were counting on church being canceled again this last weekend, as well because some of the lessons seemed to be prepared last minute! LOL!

Well, Kami and I are looking forward to our trip to St. Louis here in a couple of weeks! I'm wanting to do a Scrapbook of all the places Kami's been during the first year of her life, and the only place I know that will have everything I need is The Scrapbook Factory! What places as Kami been, you're thinking to yourself? Well, let's see! Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Nevada, Oklahoma, Florida and an upcoming trip to Washington State. Crazy, huh? She's a well-traveled baby, for sure! I also found out that we're having my high school's ten year reunion this summer! So, we'll make the trek back to Utah for that in July!

I think that's about all I can think of that's been going on here! We're keeping pretty busy! I work on Scrapbook Factory projects when I can, and when they're sent to me; I'm also taking a Digital Photography class through OSU's contiuning education program. Drew is keeping busy at work with another Master's class as well as an Air Force Officer class.

Okay, hopefully I'll succeed in pictures tomorrow! :^)

Hawaii Trip!

Okay, as promised, here's my Christmas present from Drew! Sorry it's a little cut and paste, I had to scan everything in onto my computer. To view better, click on the picture! It was so much fun opening this! I hope you enjoy reading!

6 Month Review

I can't believe it's been a half a year since Kamden came into our lives! Wow! What a joy and challange all in one! Anyway, Kami had her 6 month well-visit check up with the doctor yesterday. She was all smiles until she got her shots. But, then by the time we got out to the check out desk she was over it! What a big girl! I'm still nursing, and that is going really well. I think I'm about ready to stop though. She's not too fond of the bottle, although she'll take it with water in it. So, I've been trying to get her used to the cup. Some advice from my doctor that I wish I would have known earlier, when using sippy cups, take the "no-spill" device out, so it's easier for baby to use! She also sitting up very well! So well, in fact that just sitting up isn't getting good enough for her. She's started this past week to lean forward getting on her hands and knees. She hasn't figured out how to move quite yet, and just falls to the floor after that, but, I think it won't be too long before she's totally mobile! Time to baby-proof the house! One of her favorite things to play with is paper! Weird, I know. Yesterday at the doctors office she tore apart the paper that they put on the table, and when the doctor was making notations in her chart, Kami tried to grab it from her! PAPER!

On a different note, guess where I'm going this summer! HAWAII!!! That was one of a few trip that Drew got me for Christmas! I'll have to post how he "packaged" the Hawaii trip. It was very fun! I'll try to do that here before Kami wakes up from her nap!