Start of the School Year!

Well, the school year is off to a great start!  I have a wonderful class of first graders who will definitely keep me on my toes all year!  As hard as it is to go back to work, and not see Ty and Brooke as much, it IS nice to get back into a routine and look forward to all the fall/winter festivities.  I can't wait to go back to Skytop Orchard to pick apples and visit with old friends.  We have also bought tickets to ride the Polar Express in December with the Becks and Roses.  I can't wait!!! It sounds SO amazing.  They actually dance through the train and serve hot chocolate while reading the Polar Express.  When we get to the North Pole they turn off the train lights so the kids can see all the lights.  Then, Santa comes to visit and gives each child a silver bell.  I know the kids will LOVE it!

Last weekend we had the Beck boys stay with us.  It was a ton of fun, and exhaustion for me, but it was all worth it.  I love those little guys.  Here is a picture of everyone after swimming in the pool:

And of course a picture of Ty after the boys left Sunday afternoon!!  Poor little guy.  It sure is tough having a whole weekend with your besties!!

I am hoping to do some scrapbooking this weekend.  I am needing some creative time!  I just finished a layout for Val and Gotsketch.  Be on the look out for when it is released.  It is a wonderful sketch, as always!

Summer is Officially Over

I am going to miss seeing these smiling faces everyday...all day.  It has been a wonderful summer full of wonderful memories.  I took these pictures today.  Ty is turning 3 next Thursday.  Where has the time gone?  I wish I could freeze time and keep him little forever.  Papa will have his handfuls with him this year!!  If that isn't hard enough on me, my little girl is going to start first grade on Wednesday.  Sniff!  Sniff!  I know she will have a wonderful year with her teacher, Mrs. Claxton.  Mrs. Claxton is as sweet and wonderful as they come.  The best part is I get to see her each day as she will go to school with me.  I am very excited for my class this year.  I have 8 returning siblings with wonderful families that I have already grown to love!  I am also excited for all the fall events such as going to the apple orchard, going to the pumpking patch, making apple crisp, cooler weather, etc.  I can't wait to see what this year has in store...hopefully no more visits to the dentist for root canals or teeth extractions!!!

Michigan Scrapping with Mom

While we were in Michigan for our summer vacation, mom and I did a LOT of scrapping.  It was over 100 degrees outside most days so we didn't do the usual activities we usually do outside.  Brooke joined us and completed a whole scrapbook herself.  When our vacation came to an end, mom has scrapped 32 pages and I scrapped 40 pages.  Here are some of the pages I scrapped.  I just love scrapping with my mom!!

Hard Core Challenge #10

So, I had so much fun with the Cari's challenge that I decided to create another layout with Core'dinations cardstock.  I've wanted to get these pictures developed for a LONG time as they are some of my favorite of Ty....well...being a boy!  We were at the horse farm and while I was attending to my horse, Rocco, Ty found the biggest mud puddle, slopped his digger down, and the rest is history.  The best part was when he put his head in the puddle while bending over and as he came back up the mud ran down his face and in his mouth.  He spit out a huge blob of mud from his mouth and smiled ear to ear.  I had to unclothe him and wash him off in the wash stall.  It was a mess but it was so fun to watch him!

Gotsketch Express

Gotsketch express ended right before we headed to Michigan.  Now that we are back home I wanted to share my layouts I created for the class:

Here is a pic of Ty playing in the dog's water!

 Here are pics of Ty playing in the sprinkler!

 I couldn't resist buying this shirt!

 Our Easter celebration in Michigan!

 Ty and Tucker playing in the sprinkler.  Ty had to copy what Tucker was doing!

 Brooke riding her bike without training wheels for the first time!

 Our evening with friends on Daniel Island!

 My memory page of Papa Don.

 Spoiling the kids on my first day of summer vacation.

 Ty in his shades and goggles!

And Brooke being a diva!

You can see all of Val's sketches at www.gotsketch.blogspot.com!

So I couldn't skip this fun event which I was invited to by the very talented Cari Locken.  I pulled out my Core'dinations cardstock and my favorite pictures of my mom and Brooke.  I participated in Cari's challenge and boy did it challenge me!!  It is amazing what you can do with these papers: emboss, sand, score, etc.!  I have never tried scoring my cardstock before so it was a great lesson to learn and a ton of fun creating!  Anyhow, here is the layout I created. 

The challenge included scoring three different ways and including at least one scored embellishment.  I scored the outside of my paper and then created two different scoring lines with the brown cardstock.  I sanded the edges I scored to make them more visible.  I loved how Cari scored diagonally on her cardstock so that is a "must try" for my next layout!  Finally, I scored the small star by my title.  I think it is so cute! 

Thanks for the inspiration Cari!