5 years...

It is still hard to believe it has been five years today since dad died.  Time has passed and memories remembered...I still miss you dad!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I don't usually celebrate much but this year we are going to a Barnstormers game (indoor arena football).  Should be a lot of fun, and hopefully not too crazy with the green celebrations going on.

I have NO green clothes, so I am sporting red to cheer on the Iowa State Cyclones tonight in the NCAA.  We are hoping the suite tv will have the channel we need to watch the BB game while we are at/watching the Barnstormer's game.  :)  I DID paint my toe and fingernails bright green.  It is the most hideous thing I have ever seen, but I had to wear some kind of green today.  :)  I was actually Hello Kitty nail polish Hope had in her stash, so you know it is high quality stuff.  NOT!  It is very streaky and I have already  put on three coats.  I am just going to put a glitter coat on to try and cover all the streaks.  Good enough.

Speaking of Hope, she is visiting Grandma D this weekend with the twins.  I am sure they are having a good time.  They were going to go to an indoor water park and then today go play at a park.  Fun stuff!

The weather has been great.  Last night I was outside with our dog in shorts and sleeveless t-shirt and it was still warm out.  Crazy!  It is only the middle of March and it felt like May or June weather.  I hope that doesn't mean we will be melting this summer.

Not much else going on, so will share a card that has green on it, even though it isn't very festive like St. Patrick's Day tends to be.

Have a fun and SAFE St. Patrick's Day!

Darla

The mad face...

Growing up, I had this funny face I would make when I was mad (or sometime upon request to see it).  We called it my "mad face".  See below (yep that is me and I am probably about the age of 7-same age as Hope).

So the other night, Hope was begging me not to go to gymnastics, which I have no clue why she didn't want to go except that it was beautiful out and she wanted to play with her friends.  I told her she had to go and this is the face I had glaring back at me...

Look familiar?  I just about cracked up!

Fast forward to today...got another call from the school nurse.  Hope said her stomach hurt.  I wasn't convinced (again) that she was sick, but finally went to get her.  Nope, not sick!  So she has had to sit/lay on the couch since we got home doing nothing.  After an hour I did let her get a book to read.  There will be no fun had around here tonight when you pretend to be sick!  I am SO mean!  :)

Alright, better go make sure she is still on the couch!  If you listen closely I am sure you will hear me yelling to "GET BACK ON THE COUCH!".  :)  Did you hear it?

Anyway, here is a few more cards for you to enjoy.

Have a great night!

Darla

Put some Windex on it!

Do you remember the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding?  He recommended to put Windex on everything ...scratches, pimples, etc.  So a while back I was cleaning the inside windows of my van.  When I came inside I was looking in the mirror at a really BIG zit on my chin.  So I thought...what the heck and put some Windex on it.  Well, I am here to say...DON'T try it.  I think I angered the zit and it has multiplied into three zits all in the same area and I can't get it to go away!  Ok, it will eventually go away, it is just very annoying.  :)

Yesterday I took my camera and got some shots of Hope while at gymnastics.  Here she is on the balance beam...

...on the trampoline...

...and on the rope swing.

Let's see...this morning when I asked Hope what she wanted for breakfast she answered with "arm pit".  Ok, I have no clue why she said that, but she thought it was hilarious.  Then she blurts out, hey mom I can touch my tongue to my arm pit.  WOW!  What an amazing, but gross talent.  Hehehehe!

Moving on...I finished up work early today so Hope and I decided to go try out the new Sky Zone that opened in town.  I didn't realize it until we got there, but it was the grand opening ceremony.  Luckily it wasn't too busy since we were early.

Well, I can proudly say that I survived jumping for 30 minutes.  We had originally thought about paying for an hour, but 30 minutes was plenty for the first time there.  They should make stickers for the parents that choose to jump (& have fun with their kids-like me) that say "I survived"!  When I got out of the van upon returning home I could hardly walk.  OUCH!  What was I thinking?  We had a blast together though and can't wait to try it again.  I didn't get any pictures because I wasn't really sure what to expect.  Next time I will take a camera or take one on my phone.

Well, that is about all for today, so will finish off with a card (or two)...

I am off to rest my tired body!

Darla

Low Key weekend...

Those are my favorite kind of weekends.  We didn't do much around here and I loved every minute of it.  I did a lot of page planning for an upcoming crop I will be going to, so I am well on my way to getting a lot done that weekend.  Some of them will be kits for The Scrappy Gourmet, so check back for the results in a few weeks.  I am also getting caught up on some older pictures from 2010 and 2011.  I just kind of jump around to whatever I am inspired to scrapbook.  I am so glad I switched from scrapbooking chronologically.

No funny updates from Hope since then Principal's office visit, so that was a good thing.  :)  But makes for boring blog material.  I am sure she will liven things up again soon, don't you worry!

So I will share some cards...

Just recently I started buying the 6x6 paper pads for paper lines I liked, but it didn't work with any pictures I had for layouts.  So, I buy the small paper pads and make cards.  This was my first time just sitting down and making cards from something other than scraps.  I love working with the 6x6 paper pads and I am sure I will do this again soon.

Well, that is all for tonight.  I am off to call a long lost friend (from college) and catch up on details of the last 15+ years (although we have briefly seen each other since then).  I am so glad we found each other on Facebook.  Have a good night!

Darla

The Principal's Office!

Hope made her first trip to the principal's office today.  :(  She got in trouble for biting another girl while they were getting ready for recess.  Of course, her teacher called to tell me what had happened.  Could be an interesting teacher conference this week.  :)  So she is grounded for the week with other consequences as well.

She got off the bus and came in and said, I know you got the call from my teacher.  She was pretty honest about the whole thing and said the principal had told her it was not ever ok to bite (hit, kick, etc).

I had wondered if one of the kids made fun of her outfit today.  She dressed herself...

I have said it before and I will say it again, she has her own sense of style.  :)  In case you can't tell, she has on a summer dress with a long sleeve shirt on (that doesn't match), black tights, gelly shoes and a black and gold pony tail holder.  :)  It was quite the combination.  The picture is REALLY bad, but we were about to miss the bus and I snapped it really fast.

Well, I will end today with a mini album I made of my nephew Colin.  He was a premie when he was born, but is doing great.  He turned one in November.  :)

I gave this to my sister-in-law for Christmas so she could add the details on the journaling cards.  The base of the album was the vertical journaling cards and embellished with stickers, etc.  It went together really fast and made a great gift.

Off to gymnastics class for Hope.

Darla

Updating the meals you grew up eating...

I had to laugh tonight as I was preparing dinner tonight.  Growing up, one common meal we had was hamburger patties and potatoes cooked in a foil pack in the oven.  Mom always added onions too for flavor.  Fast forward to 2012...tonight I made ground turkey patties with potatoes (and skipped the onions since Joe and Hope won't eat them).  This was the first time I had tried ground turkey cooked like this.  Since the turkey is more lean than hamburger, next time I will put in an ice cube for moisture so the meat won't be so dry.  Otherwise, it tasted great.  I cooked it for 45 minutes in case any of you want to try this easy meal out.  I put it in the oven before I left to get Hope from dance and it was nearly ready when we got home.  My kind of meal!

This weekend we made a quick trip down to KC to visit my sister.  I did some shopping in her basement (which happens to be The Scrappy Gourmet).  :)  I also brought home lots of product to make more kits.  So be sure to watch for coming attractions.

We also got to play with the new puppies.  This is Otis (the all cream one) and Ella (the multi-colored) puppy.  Aren't they CUTE?!?  They were so sweet.

And we were there when one of the puppies fell and got hurt.  She slipped off the couch and broker her leg.  It was pretty scary, but she is under the best of care and being very spoiled.  :)  Of course, with a broken leg comes a cast.

Poor thing!

And here is two more cards to share with you...

This one was made to be a gift card holder, with a pocket just above the buggy sticker.

Well, I have a little free time tonight, so I am going to do some scrapbooking!  Good night!

Darla

What's an encyclopedia?

Last night while watching American pickers the guys were buying a sign of a pegasus.  Before they said what it was hope already yelled look a Pegasus!  Joe was surprised that she knew what it was.  He asked her if she was a human encyclopedia and her response...what's an encyclopedia?  So we explained it was a book that we used to look things up when we were kids, kind of like she looks things up on the Internet now.  Wow!  I guess that makes us OLD!


I wonder if her kids will ask whats the Internet?



Anyway...not much else going on and time for me to head to bed.  I will send you off with a few cards.

Thanks for stopping by...see you next time!


Darla

Cuteness alert!

We got to see what the dance costumes will look like for Hope's recital in June.  Oh my!!!  They are so cute!

So now I am on the lookout to find the perfect papers for the scrapbook layout.  :)  Never too early to think ahead.  I have heard picture day is a stressful and unorganized event!  Oh well!  What we won't go through to get our memories captured.  :)

Not much else to chat about, so will share a few more baby cards.

Have a good night!

Darla

The eagle has landed!

It is that time of year again where millions are busy watching the Decorah Iowa eagle nest on the live camera.  Just the other night, the first egg was laid.  I was just randomly checking in and had just missed it by minutes.  The next egg is expected possibly tonight or most likely tomorrow.  Check it out here if you are interested.

Did some scrapbooking today after being busy cleaning and grocery shopping the past two days.  Looking forward to an upcoming retreat at the end of March.  I can't wait!  :)

Not much else going on, so will share some of those baby cards I made from the scraps of the layouts I shared in my last post.  The papers are from Simple Stories.

Both of these are similar.  The main focus of the card was using only one of the journal cards I cut from the paper.  The first one I added a button and ribbon, drew lines around the edge for an additional detail and added pearls in the corner.  Very quick and easy.

The next card I only added a few buttons and twine in addition to the pearls and drawn lines.  Again a very quick and easy card.

As I mentioned before, I did get a little card making in today too.  I was making cards using the Pink Paislee butterfly line from last year.  I had the 6x6 paper pack since it came out and decided it was time to use it up.  I am just finishing up the last of the cards.  Then I am going to switch gears and get back to making layouts.  I haven't made a layout for quite a while and am getting REALLY behind.  Oh well!

Have a good night and see you back here next time for some more Simple Story baby cards.

Good night!

Darla

Are ghosts real?

This was a question Hope posed to Joe and I on our way home from supper tonight.  I said, only good ghosts.  Then she said a girl in her class said they were real and the last time she went to the Science Center she saw a real one because it didn't have feet.  I wonder if this is the same girl that said she believes in the "evil eye" too.  :)  I guess it is time to talk about "you shouldn't believe everything you hear".  

Not much else going on this weekend, so will just share a couple baby layouts I made a while back.

This first little cutie is Hope at three months old.  This was one of my MOST favorite pictures.  Her blue eyes just pop!

And this little cutie is my great-nephew Kenton.  He has changed SO much since this picture too.  

I several cards I created from these scraps that I will share over the next few posts, so be sure to check back.  

That is all for tonight!

Have a great night!

Meet the Mr.

Yesterday I went to Hope's Valentine's Day party at school and I got to meet her future husband.  :)

So without further ado...Meet the future husband!  Aren't they such a cute couple?  :)  I laughed when I realized they sit next to each other in class (right now).  I wonder if the wedding will be called off when the desks are moved around and she is sitting next to someone else?

They all had fun playing HEART (bingo).  Hope was the second one to win.   She was pretty excited about it.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, Joe was very sweet got and got me roses.  Aren't they beautiful?  You can see the card I made him there too.  I also picked up Lasagna from Mama Lacona's for supper (after Hope and I got home from gymnastics).  It was yummy!

And just before bedtime, Hope was reading her Valentine dragon a story.

Now on to the crafty stuff...Here are a few more cards to share.  

This one was fun to make, but I was covered in glitter when I was done.  :)

This card is unique because I made it on clear "paper" and the sentiment is actually on the inside of the card.  You can still write a message to the recipient under the part that has the microbeads (on the front).

Well, that is it for tonight!  Have a good one!

Darla

What a nice machine!

I was pleasantly surprised this afternoon while visiting my local ATM.  I was depositing some checks and took a withdrawal and when it gave me my card back and displayed a message on the screen...Happy Birthday!  Wow!  Birthday wishes from my ATM machine.  How nice.  :)

Speaking of my birthday...I forgot to mention that Hope and Joe picked out a wine glass with a woozie (a coozie for your wine glass) that said "Birthday Queen" on it.  I am putting it to good use right now, since I won't be working out in the morning.  I am hoping we even get a late school start, but not holding my breath on that one.

On to the funny stuff...more Hope-isms!

He new favorite song is now YMCA, which was one of the songs they danced to at the Daddy/Daughter dance the other night.  I bet we listened to it 50 times or more this weekend.

More on the music front...is it wrong that some of her other favorite songs are Low by Flo-rida and Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy?   Oh boy!  First I can't watch my tv shows around her and now apparently I can't listen to my own music either.  Oh well!  I do listen to other good music, but for some reason she decided she liked these songs.  What are ya gonna do?

I am going to her Valentine Party tomorrow and am hoping to get a picture of her and her future husband...update to follow.  :)

Valentine's Day came a little early this evening.  Joe brought home roses and a bottle of wine for me and Hope got a stuffed dragon with hearts on it.  He/she went to bed with her tonight to be introduced to the other extended stuffed animal kingdom in her room.  I am sure the dragon will be welcomed with open arms.

I will end things with a few more cards I have made recently...from you guessed it, more paper scraps. 

These have a great summer feel to them.  I guess if it is going to be bad weather, I can create warm summery projects. 

Anyway, have a great night and I will be back soon!

Darla

Birthday Wishes!

Well, I had a great birthday!  Joe and Hope let me sleep in, which is always awesome!  :)  Since I slept in, I missed my chance for a birthday breakfast.  Luckily, I got a rain check for pancakes this morning before church.  Joe and Hope got me a new DVD/Blu-ray player for my scrapbook area (since my other one stopped working a while back) and lots of fun DVD's and Blu-ray movies to watch.

Hope made me a card using my scrapbook supplies.  She did a really great job.  This is the front...

This is the inside...

I love it!

We later went to Red Lobster for a very YUMMY dinner with great family and friends.  We only had to wait one hour (instead of the 90 minutes they originally told us).

Joe and Hope had a lot of fun at the Daddy & Daughter fancy on Friday night.  They did crafts, did some dancing and at some sweets too!

Are they not the cutest!!!

And speaking of birthday wishes...tomorrow is my wonderful mother-in-law's birthday.  I am not sure she is going to get her card in time, so I will share it here for her to see.  :)  Just in case...

Happy Birthday Karen!  Have a great one!

Darla

Daddy & Daughter Dance

Check out these two cuties...

They are off to the Daddy & Daughter dance at our church tonight. 

Hope was so excited she had her coat on WAY before it was time to go and they still ended up leaving way earlier than they needed to.  Oh well.  :)

I know they will have fun!

Love these two!

Speaking of love, there is that holiday coming up next week.  Here are a few cards inspired by it!

Speaking of "that" holiday, it always seems to get in the way of my birthday plans.  Yes, folks my birthday is tomorrow.  :)  I wanted to make reservations to eat at a Japanese steak house tomorrow night, but the earliest we could get in was 9:30.  I never get around to making arrangements until it is too late.  Oh well!  I guess we will brave the crowds and go early to Red Lobster tomorrow night.  It is another one of my favorites.  Maybe I should call and make my reservations for next year now.  What do you think?  :)

Well, I have the house to myself for another 2 hours, so I am going to get scrapping!

Have a good night!

Darla