babysitting at the park

A few weeks ago we watched Colin for a few hours. It was a beautiful day out so we headed to the playground.
Alexis loves to steal some sips from my yummy drink.
Playful older sis....being a camera ham...

and look at this handsome little man....

Crop event layouts...

Mikayla and I recently enjoyed a local crop event for the day. I spent most of the event working on a mini album {already posted} and did very little layouts....Mikayla however was a crafting maniac...HaHa
This was a layout using a sketch idea from 2Peas....used 6 - 4x6 photos...love the color combo....
one of mikayla's designs...love how she didn't even cut off the label strip along the bottom...lol

mikayla's....again she left the strip at the bottom and the title is supposed to be SMILE....but she's 7 and thinks she can spell everything, so she didn't ask for help.

mikayla's...she was really on a mad craze working with glitter....don't know where she inherited that one, cause I stay away as much as I can.

mikayla's...she was on a monotone color theme for this one...

mikayla's....

and this is mikayla's take on the 2peas challenge....I think she did awesome...she have to get her to start adding a title to her layouts

Mini Album - Pocono Vacation

I love the look of mini albums...I think they are fun....I think they are perfect for those events that have lots of pictures.....BUT where to you store them all? I can set them on mantels or shelves to share for a little while, then where?

I'll still keep creating them though....here's an older trip we took {so fun to see my pregnancy photos}...

So much to be thankful for

It is so easy to get caught up with all the challenges in life and not take the time to appreciate and think of the blessings. And our family certainly has many. We are all healthy and strong...
we are all talented in our own unique ways...we all have our own personalities {good and bad, I guess}

we are surrounded by loving family and great friends....we are blessed with jobs and a steady income....we live in a safe home {even with its quirks that need to be updated}

we all have so many extras {material things we enjoy}....we have all the necessities to supply us

we really have fun together....we enjoy our church family and participate in many activities

we have so many freedoms that we all take for granted

we have faced some pretty serious challenges together and it certainly was not easy, but we stuck together and we are so much better because of it

we share so many great dreams and goals together...we are on the same journey and this album is a way for me to record these blessings....each page will have journal the blessings we share

Sharing some crafty inspiration....

some recent layouts that i did for fun....

vacation photos from our trip to Outer Banks, NC...
definitely a layout that captures a keepsake...I can't imagine looking at this layout with my youngest daughters age 4 hand prints on the layout in another 10 years...so glad this was a project she did in preschool...

unfortunately, I do not get as many photos of my step daughters to work with...and of course the oldest is a teenager who doesn't like to have her picture taken...but I'm very happy with this layout and I think it really does represent Samantha....

birthday cards for twin boys....fun and simple...

fun, fun, fun....looking forward to a day of crafting tomorrow.

Fun photos...

Again I tried to participate in a challenge...did it...but didn't post photos in time.
On two peas in a bucket they listed a photo challenge to share your CIRCUS....so here is our CIRCUS....
Alexis was our performer....
I did give her some ideas....

but she worked it....

and Mikayla was the spectator...

with her snack...

we had fun together....

and then the girls ate all the popcorn!