Totally Stamps Challenge #2: Fall/Thanksgiving

Hey all! Well we are almost done with Halloween here in Montana.  We had a BLAST tonight with Sasha and I will post pics soon.  I had the hardest time getting on Blogger today and for a little tonight, but figured out the problem and did a system restore on my computer and Voila! I am on Blogger.

Michelle on the Totally Stamps Blog gave us all a challenge to do a Fall/Thanksgiving project. Michelle is so great...she let's us make the call on whether it is a layout, card, anything we can think of as long as it goes with the theme for the challenge.

I decided to do a card! :) I have been liking doing my cards lately. I am usually a scrapbooker and a gift maker, but I really have been liking the whole card thing lately. :) I had bought an Inkadinkadoo stamp set last year at Michael's and was hoping to be able to use it. I got my chance on this card:

What I used: Cardstock from Recollections (Kraft) and Stampin' Up (brown), K&Co (Pearls), Chatterbox (brown brads), Autumn set from Inkadinkadoo, Fiskars (deckle) scissors, Nik Bantok (Brown) ink pad, Tim Holtz (Distress Ink), Ranger foam applicators, Studio G (Let's Celebrate) stamp.

Thanks for looking! :)

This Got to Me.........

Hello Friends! :) I know I have talked about the Brave Girls before in a post on my Beautiful Return blog. Kathy and Melody are just the most beautiful souls out there. :)  I read their Brave Girls' Daily Truths all the time, in fact, I subscribe. To me, there are some that just keep me in check or make me realize that NOW IS THE TIME.

This was the Daily Truth from October 22nd.



This is what it means to me:  I have A LOT of trust issues, for a LOT of reasons. Therapy has helped me work through a lot of them. But I know in my post a couple of days ago about Sasha and her preschool situation I said that we had been through so much with Jon.  Well, I won't be naming names and running people through the mud, but I think I would like my followers and in essence, my friends to know me...completely. :)

When we first moved into our home we had horrible neighbors. From the first day, I should have had on my WARNING LIGHTS constantly. The mom asked our second day in the house if she could just put her kids over our fence to play with Jon. I was like: "ok."  I am a very social person most of the time. This lady was the first one to hold that against me. Anyways- I kept the boys for about 6 hours that day and fed them dinner and dessert and then she came and got them. Everything was all good until the day when they invited Jon over to slip and slide. The boys' Aunt was there and Jon and the two boys had fun until one of the little peeps decided NOT to listen. As Jon was coming down the slip and slide the other boy got on the slip and slide and Jon collided with him. Jon was a little shocked, but ok. BUT....the other little person was acting like he was dying which caused his Aunt to try to chew my son (3 almost 4 years old at the time) out. Thank God I was there. As you all know by now, when it comes to my kids...I am a bear. I jumped in and grabbed Jon and told her what  I thought she was (I was a lot younger than and won't apologize, but I would have used the same language in front of Sasha....I would hope.) Then I took my boy home. You would think that I would have learned my lesson. NOPE.

Fast forward another year to when Jon started Kindergarten. The school, in their infinite wisdom (NOT THIS TIME, although I do love Valley View.), put Jon and the older boy in the same kindergarten class. UGH....this is what I will always refer to as Kinder Hell. Yep, although, the first few months were great. Jon and the neighbor boy did good as classmates. The mom and I even ended up in a Bible Study together.  Then my bestie's son's b-day hit. So, from the slip and slide incident we have learned that our neighbor's older boy really makes drama out of nothing. Weird for a boy, but ok. Well, the dad's were playing football on a trampoline and all the little boys were playing and it wasn't as rough as it sounds. It was totally supervised. AND....then neighbor dad threw the ball and it was up in the air and both boys (mine and theirs) went for the ball. COLLISION....again...Jon, nothing. Their kid....you would have thought he was dying. The father preceded to yell at my son and ask what the HELL was wrong with him. Well, my hubby was in shock as was everyone. The only person that seemed to be able to act through the shock was me....as the father got in my face and decided to yell at me...I yelled back and told him that I would not speak to him. Yeah....again if I was thinking...I would have KNOWN that if they were coming we should have just taken My bestie's son out for his birthday. BUT....in my youth I was ignorant and thought everyone could get along.

Anyways-the following week we were at Bible study and there was a HUGE blow-up between me and the mom. She then preceded to tell the whole Bible study that her son was having bathroom issues because of Jon (I did ask the teacher and she let me know that was NOT the case.) and that her life was horrible because of me and my son.

Long story short....sides were taken (I hate that) and friendships were lost.  I did end up with Bex...which is awesome. So, when grown ladies, some older than me, acted like that I just began not to trust. Then there was an incident when Jon was in first grade, but let's just say that it was not what made me. THE NEIGHBOR incident(s) is what made me what I am today.

So, of course with the stuff with Sasha I was going to think the worst of the preschool. After all, I felt like I needed to jump into protection mode for her. BUT....the best thing? The day after my blog post was written, two of the moms got a hold of me.  We talked...as adults. It was not a one sided conversation and NO YELLING was involved. I was blind sided at first...I was like...people really act like this? LIKE ADULTS??? Yep, by the end of that next night..we have moved on from what happened.  I still decided to keep Sasha out, but the best thing? We are all on speaking terms, our children can play and we can call each other friends.

So, without seeing Kathy/Melody's Brave Girls' truth, I was already seeing that there is GOOD in the world. That there are people who are out there who don't give up on a friendship because of a disagreement. This is a very good thing. :) So, like the truth said: open your heart. :) There is so much good out there...you have to be willing to see it though. Which means you may need to be willing to be hurt, but maybe a few hurts are worth the beauty of a lifetime. :)

Thanks for stopping by! :)

"Totally" Cool Card Swap! :)

Hey everyone! :) Michelle is having sign-ups for a Christmas Card Swap on the Totally Stamps Blog! The Deets are all there! :) I will be joining, so join me! The more the MERRIER! ;) Ha!

Some MORE AWESOME News!!!!

Sometimes in life we are JUST BLESSED! :) Whether it is the people that come into our lives or opportunities we have.  The person who is part of my news today actually would represent BOTH areas pretty well. :)

Well...I made another DT! :) This time it is for Jeanie's Designs! :) For those of you who don't know who Jeanie is-she is one of my lose friends. She bought Mountains of Memories in Great Falls and tried to make a go of it. I am thinking that although I LOVE Great Falls, we just weren't ready for a Local Scrapbook Store.  So, Jeanie went back to WY and went for her Digital Design Certification. AND....she succeeded and now is selling her digital scrapbooking designs (scrapbooking papers and elements). :)  AND....I love them! :)

Jeanie had a Creative Team Call last week and I told her I would LOVE to represent her. :) I told her I loved her stuff and showed her a little of my work--although when she was here in Great Falls, she got to see my work all the time! :) She knew what she was dealing with! :) LOL! :) I was on her Team for Mountains of Memories too. :) But....I am fairly new to digital design so I am so happy that she picked me. :) Thanks Jeanie. :)

So without further adieu, here is my first digital layout for Jeanie's Designs! :)

What I used:  Jeanie D's Designs (12x12 paper and crown frame), Elaine Therese (butterfly tag and button flowers), Mom2moo Designs (bow), and Katie Pertiet (photo clusters #14). I do all of my digi scrapping on PSE7. :)

Thanks for looking! :)

My Girl, Our Girl (some decisions)



Sasha making cookies with me in Feb. 10



WOW, what a day it has been  (it is Thursday Morning @ 3am!)! I am still not sure if I am totally getting what all happened. I do know that Sasha has a LOT of MOMMIES that are ready to jump if she is at all looked at wrong or talked badly or even thought badly of. Yes, I am ONE of them, but I am more a diplomat….until I am ticked.

You see, all of us moms are a part of a unique part of our species. We just LOVE our babies…pretty much FOREVER. For a lot of us, this LOVE supersedes so much. Is it right? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.

So why am I talking about all of this? Well, most of you know that Little Miss started preschool in September. Most of you who know Sasha, know that she just turned 3 in June. Well, there are a maybe two kids in the preschool that are young like her. The rest are turning 4 or getting ready to soon. So, being 3 and really never having done ANYTHING what-so-ever with school-like or church-like things, Sasha was put in a zone that she had never been in. She had never really been around other kids, although she is one of the most social kids out there. And….other than me, had never really been in a teaching environment.

Well, at first, after the first “hellish” day…I was thinking. Ok, this needs to be once a week for everyone’s sake. I could see frustration in some of the people’s faces and most of all….Sasha just didn’t seem to fit. I was totally chill though, because if any of you know what this family has been through because of people NOT getting us…we have dealt with people not getting our kids. It is ALL good. We don’t shelter either kid. Actually Sasha shelters herself quite well, she is a girl that will NOT do something if she does not feel right doing it. We talk to our children the way we talk to each other. We speak our minds and allow the kids too. We also allow them to be very open about their likes and dislikes and talk about each of them. The funny thing? Not before this situation, had I ever felt anything wrong with it.

So, here we go. We have been doing this for a month or a little more. I was just starting to think that maybe we could start doing the 2 days and then TODAY happened. The funny thing? God, speaks to me, I feel in so many ways. I am a Christian and am very open about my spirituality. I don’t push it on people, but I am not a person who hides either. Anyways, Tuesday night I just COULD NOT sleep. I kept seeing be having some type of break down and the people at the preschool home not being able to get any info out of me for calling Garth and what not. I was like: “Why the heck am I seeing this crap before bed?” I just did not get it. Then when I wasn’t fighting the vision anymore…it stopped, but then my mind started really going. There was a voice saying, “You know, Kat, this preschool experience is going to really hinder the way you and Sash are. It will change you both, but not in a good way. You need to stop.” Well, like every other time in my life….I ignore the most obvious voice in my life. The one who has never let me down yet. God’s.

Oprah says that God is quiet first. HE only whispers what you should be doing or if what you are doing won’t be fruitful. Then he gets a little louder before, like most parents, HE just can’t take it anymore and then HE screams.

Well, that SCREAM…came today and it HIT me. HARD.

Sasha had a beautiful morning. She watched her shows and got to see Jon before he left for school. She was ready to go to preschool and was excited to see her friends. We always sing the ABC Song and count on our way there. Today, I had to stop by the Boys’ and Girls’ Club to drop off Jon’s Football gear. So, we were running a little late. So, I called and just said we are going to be there.

We got there and of course….Sasha flips a switch. She wanted downstairs in the preschool area and then when she got there. She just STOPS and turns into a child that I am not sure is ok with preschool. They were learning about fire safety today and the teacher was awesome. She did a couple of exercises with the kids that were fun for them. They of course read too. And did worksheets.

So, while doing one of the exercises where the kids were crawling to get to and then out the front door. One of the kids….it was either mine or a little boy. Stepped on another little one’s foot. And of course being little, when you get stepped on…it hurts and you cry. Well, when asked what happened…her mama says, “She got stepped on.” and shoots a look at Sasha. I was like….hmm..ok. And then I stated switching to Auto-Pilot. Now, my hubby and my BFF (Bex) know what Auto-Pilot is for me. I start going into Damage Mode. The jury is still out as to if it is Damage Control or Doing Damage. LOL!

Well, we get downstairs and what is funny is that I really didn’t think anything of things like: Stopping Story time and telling all the kids it is BECAUSE of Sasha….when usually Story time has all the kids in a spacious circle…but somewhere it gets switched to a congested huddle. Here is a news flash….when the only room to get into a HUDDLED CIRCLE is the middle. Common Sense tells you….a 3 year old will get in the middle. Not to cause problems, but because they WANT to be included. Placing blame on them for the others getting their story taken away isolates them and brings in the next thing that happened.

So, the kiddos were working on a ladder with paper and scissors. And..Sasha really didn’t want me writing on her paper. She really was doing ok with gluing and stuff…but I needed to get her name on the paper. Well, she was telling me she didn’t want me writing on her paper. And…I hear a couple tables down, “Mom that girl is a BRAT!” I was like..You know that is ok…kids are kids and Sash really doesn’t even know what a BRAT is. Since we really have never used that word to describe anyone she knows. BUT….the little dude was quite tenacious about this opinion. So he kept saying it. The mom of the kid was trying to get him to stop, but I was already DONE. My heart just broke….because as a mom….I wanted to get up. Grab Sasha. AND….GO! I should have, really. But I was like, “No, let Sasha finish.” And what is funny…for a little person who isn’t well liked except by for maybe two kids, Sasha truly LOVES everyone. In fact, she tries to talk to all of the kids.

Anyways- with trying to hold it together; I switched to Auto-Pilot, and SNAPPED. Yep, unfortunately, not on the right people, but was a little harsh on Sasha. Well, way harsh….You know? I promised myself, my kids, and God a LONG time ago when we dealt with crap with Jon and our neighbors that I would NEVER let people change ME and make ME not be the MOM that I am MADE TO BE. Well, this place did it. I am so not proud of it either.

I got home, got Sasha in the house….was yelling at her about how she needs to stop acting the way she does at preschool and then I got hit with a SEMI. I needed to get in the shower. Sasha laid down with her blankie and I broke down in the shower. I got out of the shower and broke down again. Then, Garth called. I was talking to him and just lost it and everything hit and kept hitting me. Garth came home (THANK GOD) and comforted me and Sasha and said the only words I needed to hear. “HUN, YOU BOTH ARE DONE.” If you know Garth’s voice, it is very sweet and tender. I just couldn’t NOT agree 100%. He knows that I taught kids here for a few years and taught before that at Sonshine Christian Academy. So, I can do the preschool thing. I can get Sasha to groups that have role playing and dress up. She gets interaction from a lot of places.

Well, I was already agreeing with my hubby and then I talked with 2 of my good friends. My bestie (Bex), and Val. This is when the other MOMMIES in my little girl’s life come in. It is bad enough that I was as upset as I was (and there was a lot more leading up to today…but this was my breaking point and I am done trying), but the fact they feel that Sash was or had the potential of being judged or treated a certain way that was unfair to her as a 3 year old put them in PROTECT MODE. Of course, Bex, Sasha’s God-MAMA, was very passionate about how she felt and how she had a feeling since the beginning. And…really felt that Sasha needs to find a new “school home”. Val, Sasha’s Southern MAMA, felt that Sasha has always acted like her age and said that she knows and has dealt with problem children and Sasha is not one of those and really was wondering why there was a thought of going back and putting Sasha in more potentially hurtful (esteem-wise) situations. The sad thing? I was hoping that everyone would get to know the REAL SASHA….the Sasha that everyone who gets to know her sees. The funny girl. The sweet girl. The girl who never judges. The girl who befriends everyone. My girl. Our girl.

I lost sight of that girl today and lost sight of what really matters to me. My kids and how I am raising them. BUT….as a promise to both my kids….I learn from everything and THIS will NEVER happen again. As of today, right now, Sasha is over it and done with this preschool experience. Frankly, I am breathing a lot easier. :)

Thanks for reading. :)

Thanksgiving Card

Hey all! :) Is it too early to think about Thanksgiving? I don't think so! :) To me, it seems like after school starts, time goes way too fast. We have sports, errands, preschool...basically A LOT going on. :) So, to me, in a BLINK of an eye...Thanksgiving will be here.

Michelle over at Totally Stamps, had a swap going on for Thanksgiving Cards. This weekend, while I was working on my cards at a friend's crop, I did get asked, who sends Thanksgiving cards. I was not sure how to answer that one. I was thinking that maybe I am a freak of nature or something and then I realized that maybe there are SO MANY MORE people to convert to my type of thinking. You see, people, every holiday, season, day, ANYTHING and ANYTIME is a good time for a handmade card! :)

So without anymore waiting...here is my card! :)

What I used: Recollections Craft Paper, Bazzill embossed (dark brown), K&Co (dots), Create a Critter Cricut Cart (turkey), (all of the paper used for the turkey is Bazzill), Designer's Calendar (Give Thanks),googly eyes.

Thanks for looking! :)

I am so excited to share with you!!!!!!

Hey everyone! :) I was waiting to share my GOOD news until I knew for sure. :) As many of you have known before I have tried out for a lot of design teams and last year I just decided I needed to focus on making me happy with my paper crafting and scrapping. :) AND...I have been and I actually just keep getting happier with what comes out of my craft area! ;) LOL! :)

Well, I have been following Michelle at Totally Stamps since I found her (or she found me...not sure how that went.) on Facebook. :) I love her card creations and she has swaps so I was so excited to start swapping again. :) Well, last week she announced that she was putting together a DT!  I was like, "WHOA!" and wanted to actually try and see what would happen. :) I just told her I was interested and gave her my blog addy and she got a hold of me and said: "YES!!!" :) I was so happy! :) BUT....it really didn't sink in until I saw this on her blog. :) Then I was like...AHHHHHHHH! :) THANKS SO MUCH MICHELLE for giving me a chance and I hope I do good by you! :)

So there you go.....I will be sharing my Thanksgiving Card for Totally Stamps tomorrow! :)
Thanks for looking! :)

Think Pink Challenge!

Michelle over at Totally Stamps has been coming up with some really fun challenges lately. Last week she had us using pumpkins. This week??? It was all about PINK! :) Since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month Michelle thought this challenge would be perfect to honor those who are fighting, have fought, or have lost someone to Breast Cancer.

Although, if anyone knows me...I AM ALL ABOUT PINK! :) It is ONLY my FAVE color in the whole world! :)

So, I went to my friend, Jamie's house last night. She was a Cricut Virgin (there are still some out there, people!)...but she used my Cricut for some of her scrappy layouts and fell in love, so you could say I think I converted another one! :) YAY! :) Here is the deal....I love my Cricut and feel there needs to be one in EVERY home no matter what your hobby is! :) You get me?!? Good! :) Anyways- Jamie had a beautiful get together of  crafters and some people who just wanted to visit and get some adult conversation. Thanks Jamie! :)

So here is what I made! :) I was so inspired by what Crazy About Cricut made for the Pumpkin Challenge on Totally Stamps. That I made my own PINK version. :)

What I used: American Crafts White Cardstock, Tags, Bags, Boxes, and More Cricut Cart, Bo Bunny Patterned Paper, Prima (butterfly and flower), Nik Bantok brown stamp pad for inking. :) I also used my Scor-pal and bone folder.

Thanks for visiting! :)

Our Beautiful Tomboy Layout! (My Rare Flower)

This is a plumeria! Is it not beautiful?!?! It is AND it is also rare. Especially one this beautiful!

When people think of 3 year old little girls. They think of princesses, pink, having fun doing gorgeous hair dos, and probably the start of dance class. Funny enough, about 5 years ago, I felt the same way. :) I wanted a "Little Princess" of my own. I wanted her to be blond and blue eyed. :) I wanted her to have beautiful lips. I had dreams of putting her in dance classes and a closet full of PINK! :) Three years ago, that very prayer was answered. God sent me this gorgeous girl.

Blue eyes and BLOND, CURLY hair! :) I was in love the moment I laid eyes on her. Suddenly the 2 miscarriages and months of not getting pregnant seemed to be ok, because I was BLESSED with what I wanted! :) RIGHT?!?!?!

Well, let me tell you something. God always has a way of letting you know he is in control. :) He gave me the beautiful blond girl with the blue eyes. BUT....that is where it ends. HA! I have a three year old little girl that would rather be IRONMAN than a PRINCESS. She would rather wrestle and run and get dirty than dance. As for doing her hair????Even when she lets me and it looks perfect...she hates it. She lobes having her hair down and nothing done to it. And you know what??? I am SO ok with that! :) I definitely have a RARE FLOWER. I am so proud of her and she is (along with her Big Brother) one of the best things that has ever happened to me. They are my reason for getting up in the morning and breathing. :)

So now for the layout. :) I love catching these types of moments between Garth and Sasha. She loves her Daddy so much and if you ask anyone in the family....he is so in love with her. He really didn't put her down for the first year of her life. His mom would get so frustrated with him when we would go over for dinners. Garth made it a sport to be able to do everything with one hand. He cherished her and didn't want anything to touch her. LOL! And we wonder why she didn't walk until she was 16 months old! HA!

Anyways- These moments will always be cherished to me. :) They are something I hope I can remember even when I am old and senile! ;)

Here is the layout!

This was a rub-on for K &Co that I HAD to use on this one! :) TeeHee! :)

I just loved this tag from Ali Edwards for Designer Digitals. :) The journaling says: Date: February 5th, 2010.

Memory:  Oh my goodness, Sasha! You make your father and I smile with your "tomboy" ways.  We just LOVE that you are not the usual "girly girl".  You have always loved any type of Sport Helmet (football, hockey) and this day you saw Daddy's hockey gear in the laundry room. Daddy put his helmets on you and you really, really ENJOYED yourself! Of course, we weren't complaining at all!

Also from Designer Digitals I used this "Simply Sealed- Daddy's Girl" stamp by Katie Pertiet. :) I really went a little hybrid for this project! :) I love it! :)

What I used: 12x12 Patterned from WeRMemory Keepers (MVP Line), Basic Grey (Marrakech) for matting, DCWV Textured Cardstock for matting, American Crafts Thickers, K & Co Rub-ons (Cherish and You are so beautiful to me), heart bling (I am never sure where I get my BLING!), also not sure where I got my black jeweled brad. ;), Ali Edwards "It's all in the details" Tag from Designer Digitals (edited on PSE 7) and Simply Sealed Daddy's Girl digital stamp by Katie Pertiet for Designer Digitals.

Thanks for reading! :)

Serenity......(totally random)

Serenity means:  (n.) The quality or state of being serene; clearness and calmness; quietness; stillness; peace.

(n.) Calmness of mind; evenness of temper; undisturbed state; coolness; composure.

 

I, actually, have been saying it a lot to describe one of my friends' daughters. This little girl is so quiet and has a beautiful clarity in her eyes that just touches my soul. Although, her mom does say that she has her times. The funny thing is that her mom is very calming for me. Kinda like a Jasper (Twilight anybody?) in our little group of mamas! :) I love her to death and really enjoy just being around her and the other moms in our Parent Participation Group.  

 

Anyways- I am not sure why I am blogging this and how I feel. I just want to be more open. Last week I was touched by so much happiness and greatness in my life that I really just am calm about just about everything. 

 

Those of you who truly know me would never use peaceful or serene to describe me. Edgy, bitchy, tell-it-like it is, may be.......SERENE? Nope. I am also described as out going and dramatic too. LOL! 

 

I am really not sure when the world flipped on its axis, but I think I may have flipped with it. 

 

Don't get me wrong, I still think I can get angry and a little bothered. When I was putting Sasha to bed today for a nap and she was fighting me...I think I was like, "Now, Sasha, I am getting mad!" And...I am pretty sure I was yelling it. But, after a story she was calm and ready for a nap and I was ready to come downstairs.   I read some of my faved blogs, was touched by some of them....have I mentioned I am a cry-er? SO WEIRD for me. LOL!

 

It didn't really hit me how serene I have become until I had a mom from our little group email me and tell me that she hoped I wasn't mad, but Sasha couldn't come to the birthday because it was for 4 year olds and that there was a project and there were a few kids that couldn't come because of maturity. I felt horrible.....because SHE felt so bad. I know my daughter better than anyone and I KNOW that little crafty classes are NOT her thing right now. Good Grief, she hates worksheets at school for God's Sakes! :) After getting a chuckle out of it....I wrote her back and let her know that I HOPE that she wasn't worried about it. I also said I hoped her little girl would come to Sasha's things that she was invited to. :) BUT then it HIT ME!!!!!!! The OLD ME.......would have probably asked her WTH her problem was with my kid??? LOL! I laugh as I write this because I have said this not to long ago. LOL! OH how we grow!!! :) I actually loved how her heart allowed her to even share with me her feelings about the whole thing. I also,  really love this person and really would NEVER put her in this position and would NEVER want her to worry about this during her little girl's b-day. I know I have been to some doozies with my son, where there was a kid that was a tyrant and all the kids were just like: "Uh-Mom?" I know Jon just would say: "That kid is being bad! Let's go!" Yes, Jon at 2 and 3 was more like a 5 year old. :) LOL! See how different your babies can be from each other??? LOL! Sasha is just starting to talk and tell us what she feels....at 3 Jon was telling us about the world according to him. LOL!

 

Also, this week I got a call from the Principal at Jon's school about a little incident with him and a teacher. First and foremost, if you know my son, he speaks his mind. Always has...even to his detriment.  He also will tell you the truth if you ask him if he has a problem. Well, let's just say, one of his teachers did just that and he said, "YES!" So, when the Principal called....she made a point to say she hadn't seen me for a while, so I said that would be because of Sasha! :) LOL! I said, "I was at Vision Screenings, but not sure how much I helped because I was running around with Sash!" LOL! I also told her that you will be so amazed how much different from each other my kids are. I SWEAR they have the same parents!!!! They are so different in ALL WAYS! :) She is blond. He is NOT. He is olive/golden complected. She is a porcelain white. She has curly long hair. He loves his shaved! HA! She is free spirited. He is analytical. She loves the outdoors. He loves his room. She loves people. He can take them or leave them. THEY BOTH are NOT shy and BOTH strong willed! :) So, take it how you want, but that can be a SCORE in some ways.

 

Anyways- wanted to just explain the differences between my kids. I also am thinking that the serenity is coming from the fact that I realize that I can't change the world, but I can change how I look at it and the people in it.
 

Like last week, there was a mama at Preschool that I couldn't have been more wrong about. Have you ever just pre-judged someone? I think as mama's we do it quickly if we feel our babies are not being looked at favorably. AND...if you have ever seen one of Sasha's tantrums, you may give a look too. Well, I thought this mom had a HUGE problem with my daughter, but when we got to talking....she just wasn't sure how to deal with Sasha yelling at her to stop singing the ABC song. AND believe me, it wasn't just saying STOP....I thought Sasha was gonna smack her and that just isn't cool. :( SO, of course, I had some sleepless nights because I thought this mom had the wrong idea of Sash. I should have just sat down and talked to her before thinking we would never talk civilly or be friends. Then, it happened, she asked me a question when we were upstairs while preschool was going on. AND....we started talking. AND...we found out we have some stuff in common. LOL! Go Figure, we are both straight forward and both protective mama bears. She told me the best story, but that is hers to tell. ;)  Anyways- God intervenes when you are totally wrong and he knows just when to do it. :)

 

So because of all of this, I have been so calm for the past week. :) And...there have been a couple of times where I could have come unglued--but the funny thing is: WHY? Believe me, I have had friends that I want to defend to their exes (I don't want to be sued for slander, but I do want to say to any FATHER that reads this...be more than just "The Sperm Donor" be a DAD!) I love that quote from Parenthood: (Keanu Reeves character said it.): You know, Miss Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog or drive a car. Hell, you need a license to catch a fish. But they´ll let any butt-reamin´ asshole be your father.

 
Yep, I guess that is still the one thing that will get me mad and that I will NEVER be able to understand. Maybe I need to start another blog about opinions. Maybe my beautiful life blog where I post so much happiness and crafty goodness isn't the place for this type of talk, but I guess we found my "ON" switch. LOL! Anyways- I am taking the serene stand on this one and not going to these guys. And, I am ok with that. It does make me feel incredibly blessed with Garth and that he is here for the kids and me all the time. :) I have a good man! :) AND...I love his so much and appreciate him so much! :) LOVE YA BABE! :)
 
I just know that some people have wondered what is going on with me lately and have been asking if I am ok. :) I am ok....just serene. :)
 
So, this was my totally random post...I am hoping to post more about projects and what not soon. :) LOL!  

Thanks for reading! :)

Butterflies for a Cause (PHOTO HEAVY!!)

Hey All!!! :) Well, if you follow me on Facebook at all. One of the things I kept posting that I was working on this week was BUTTERFLIES! :)

A month or so ago I was reading my faved blogs and one of them is The Lime Light Scrappers.  From what I get- their reason for being is to SCRAP or CREATE for OTHERS. I love this approach, because while we ALL scrap for others...I feel scrapbooking and papercrafting is a hobby that is very selfless, since a lot of what we make is for others...EVEN our scrapbooks. :) I know my scrapbooks are not for me totally. I am hoping that my kids take them and share them with THEIR families. :) I did recently start my own scrapbook and have enjoyed doing pages for that one also. :)

Anyways-back to the Lime Light Scrappers...They create to give. This is what welcomes you on their site. It explains better than I could about what these ladies are about!

THE LIME LIGHT SCRAPPERS: We are a design team with a unique purpose. We use our crafting skills to help and bring light to others. We invite you to visit the site often to find out whom we are crafting for and what we are planning in the months to come. We have exciting plans that include making cards and bookmarks for our men and women in uniform, making journals for families whose children are in the hospital, making cards for baskets that help raise money for playground equipment....and that's just the beginning. Come back soon for pictures and blog entries giving you even deeper insight in to how the team is bringing light to those in need.

Is that not the BEST reason to do what we do??? I think so! :)

Well, their newest plan was to make butterflies for The Holocaust Museum in Houston, TX. I have always been intrigued by the Holocaust. Even as a little girl, I remember my mom telling me about the atrocities that the Nazi Army performed on innocent Jewish victims.  So, I know I have said this before, but, yet again, this was a project for me that was a NO BRAINER! :) I was so touched when I read the blog post here.  Gracie even included this poem that was written by a Prisoner at the Auschwitz Concentration Camp.  This is the reason for the butterflies.

The Butterfly

The last, the very last,
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.


Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing
against a white stone....


Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ’way up high.


It went away I’m sure because it wished
to kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto.


But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me


And the white chestnut branches in the court.


Only I never saw another butterfly.


That butterfly was the last one.


Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.

Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942
Born in Prague on Jan. 7, 1921.
Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942.
Died in Aushchwitz on Sept. 29, 1944.


So- This is what I created for this special project.

 I used my Cricut Cart: Give a Hoot, EK Success Patterned Paper (Baby Collection, and Martha Stewart Pearls.

 I used Cricut Cart: Give a Hoot, Webster's Pages Patterned Paper (Hello Beautiful!), and Martha Stewart Pearls.

 I used Cricut Cart: Indie Art, American Crafts Pearlized Cardstock, Shimmery Puff Paint, Jenni Bowlin Studios pearl flowers, pearls (not sure where from), and Iridescent Foil Tissue Paper.

 This was my first one that I did. You could tell, because I had not found my groove or what I was wanting to create yet. It was a little "cutesy" for me. I used Cricut Cart Indie Art, American Crafts Pearlized Cardstock, Worn Lipstick and Eucalyptus Stickles, Pink Puff Paint, Colorbok bling (dots), Blingy Butterflies (not sure where from...again), and  Iridescent Foil Tissue Paper.

 I used Cricut Cart Indie Art, Bazzill BLING Cardstock, Pink Puffy Paint, Bling (not sure where from), Flourishes from Colorbok.

 I used Cricut Cart Indie Art,  American Crafts Pearlized Cardtock, Shimmery Puff Paint, Bling (don't get mad, but I really don't know where I get my bling...I am such a bling addict that I pick it up and stash it.)

 This one was fun, but a little frustrating. Leave it to me, to try a new technique or "thing" to me when I am on a deadline! :) I used Cricut Cart Hannah Montana, Bazzill Cardstock, OLD Music sheets from a Music book I got from Goodwill. I will say....I need to do a tutorial on cutting THAT with the Cricut. There were some not so nice exchanges between me and this music! :) HA! I then used Vintage Photo and Dried Marigold Distress Ink.  

 I used Cricut Cart Hannah Montana, Bazzill Cardstock, and Chatterbox (Artsylicious) Patterned Paper.

 I am not quite sure what happened with the last two pics..I took them and loaded them the same as the others. I used Cricut Cart Give a Hoot, Cloud Nine Designs Cinnamon Stick Patterned Paper. I made sure that the papers had 2 sides so I knew they would match. So, what you are seeing is the same piece of paper, basically. :) Easy Peasy! :) And of course, BLING! :)

I used Cricut Cart Give a Hoot, Heidi Grace Patterned Paper, and Bling.

Again- This was the best project I have done in a long time. Thanks Gracie and The Lime Light Scrappers for inspiring me to create these. :)

Thanks for visiting! :)