Come crop with us!

Crop Addict is having their Birthday Bash online crop this weekend, Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2. Debbie is giving away $2000 in prizes. So come join us for some challenges and fun!

Okay, so it's been a while

sorry 'bout that! We've been really busy with a little bit of everything.

This past weekend we went to Alabama to celebrate my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. They're totally my idols when it comes to unconditional love and marriage. Let me give you a brief synopsis. They eloped on Leap Year 1948. She was just 16, still in high school, and her parents didn't approve. He was in his early twenties, and decided to go across the border into Mississippi to get married. They even made it back for church that night!! She went back and lived with her folks, and he with his, until they were found out. (another intriguing story I'll have to share another time.) No one in their little small town thought that it would last, and she was as proud as could be to run their 60th wedding announcement in the little town newspaper to prove that they did make it. Having come from a divorced family, I admire my grandparent immensely. To me, they're the perfect picture of love. Neither of them are perfect, but they love each other in spite of where they fail each other. Their love speaks volumes to me, and is one that I hope Josh and I will emulate.

Then on a totally different note, when we got home, Josh was confirmed to have the flu. Caroline quickly followed in his footsteps as any Daddy's girl might. So I've been busy washing, cloroxing, disinfecting, and trying to keep the baby away from both of them. I was doing a good job too until Caroline decided that she was thirsty and drank from Sarah Kate's sippy only to put the sippy back in Sarah Kate's mouth! UGH! I gave up at that moment. If she gets it, then she gets it. I just don't want my baby to have the flu when she turns one--which is Saturday.

One year ago. I can't believe that we went through our nightmarish experience one year ago. The whole experience seems like forever ago, but then it seems like only yesterday that Sarah Kate was a teeny tiny baby (she weighed 4 lbs. 6oz.). Hmmmm...sad. Makes me want to have another, except they'd have to put me in a mental institution after keeping up with 3 kids all a year a part from each other! It's hard knowing that your baby's not really a "baby" anymore. Makes me sad.

Okay, on with it. Can't dwell on that for long or I really will want another baby. So, I've been a very bad blogger. I haven't posted ANY layouts that I've done recently. Give you a peek at what I've been up to. These are all layouts (and cards if I can ever get pictures of them) from the Crop Addict March kit.

Thanks for listening to me ramble. I'll try to keep up-to-date a little better.



I had fun making the ribbon flowers on this one. LOVE these pictures of Josh and Caroline taken March 2007. We'd barely been home with Sarah Kate, and HAD to get out of the house, so we went to the park. It was really fun!



Some travel photos. I wish I could've found a better picture of Togo. It's in West Africa, and I couldn't find my Africa pictures anywhere! So this had to do.



Just a fun one of Caroline. The dots are actually brads that I painted so there's a neat 3D textural effect going on.



Another picture from the same day at the park. Originally I'd scrapped these right after SK was born. I was in need of some scrap therapy, but the LOs were terrible. So when I got the Crop Addict kit, I was SO excited that the papers worked perfectly with the primary colors of the playground. It was so fun revisiting those pictures, redoing some awful LOs, and I LOVED those fun patterned papers!

How do you get rid of those winter blues?

With the Simply Obsessed March kit of course! Isn't it gorgeous! It's Tinkering Ink's "Wild Woodland " collection that just debuted at CHA. I love its beautiful, bold colors. I can't wait to have this waiting for me at my doorstep! Go check it out! And btw, they've got awesome add-ons that they'll ship you for FREE! You can't beat that!

It was a good day!

Yesterday was a lot of fun even though my dinner plans got a little messed up. (We're doing them tonight instead, so everything's okay.) BUT here's a quick peek at all the goodies we dove into after dinner. Josh is sooooo good to us! What a man! I love him more than I tell him--I need to do better at that. And I should show him too. But anyway, the girls LOVED their stuff! The big hit was chasing the ladybug around the kitchen table and floor. It's a drawstring pull and then it wiggles around. Both the girls got them, but I can't find Caroline's. Go figure. She's been playing with it today some too. Hope everyone had a great V-day! I know we sure did!


All our gifts and cards


My prince charming sure knows how to treat me good! We sampled the truffles in usual fashion (half each). Our favorite last night was the strawberry cream in white chocolate. Yum! And inside the journal, he'd written a love note from him, and then another from the girls in their "voice".


What a sweet Daddy! He loves his girls so much!


That's the best I could do as far as photography goes. She was wiggling and waving so much, I couldn't really get a good shot.


This one on the other hand, loves to smile and pose (or she doesn't know better yet!)I can't believe how MUCH she looks like Josh too! It's uncanny!

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

I hope everyone has a great day and remembers to tell their loved ones exactly how much they care about them! I care about all of you too! I've loved getting to know you, and be more involved in your lives. I'm thankful that we've "met".

I do want to take a second and tell you just how wonderful my hubby is! I woke up this morning to some ruby red tulips (my favorite), a gorgeous quilted journal that had two notes alread inside. One was from Josh and the other from the girls (written by Josh). Then, beside the tulips was a box of Godiva chocolates with a sticky note that said "for my Queen". Godiva is kind of our thing. Josh started it on our honeymoon where he put a piece of chocolate on my pillow every night. Anyway, beside my box of chocolates was a small little heart of chocolates that read, "For my princesses". I can't tell you how much that meant to me for Josh to remember his girls on V-day. I was secretly hoping he'd do something for them, but didn't want to have to TELL him to do it. So it was a nice surprise to see that box next to my own. And, that way I don't have to share! haha! I've got a great man and he's mine for keeps.

Hope you all find as much fun today as I have! Remember, "love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perserves. Love never fails." Humbling isn't it? Just in typing those verses I realize just how imperfect I am, how much I've failed in so many areas. Thankfully, the Lord loves me regardless ("while I was a sinner He died for me" Rms. 5:8 and "(nothing)will be able to separate me from the love of God...Rms. 8 38-39 paraphrased), and luckily I have an amazing husband who loves me despite and inspite my faults too.

Happy Valentines everyone! I hope you find the True Love your heart yearn and were made for!

I've been really busy...

I liked making those mailboxes SO much that I've ended up making 12 of them! *gasp* I know. I made 6 for my SIL, 4 for a friend, and 2 for my own girls. It's just so addicting to make! So here are more pictures of some of the ones I've made. TFL!

Catching up

I've been away for awhile, with good reason. I took the girls to Mississippi to visit family in Hattiesburg and Ocean Springs, and of course to celebrate a little Mardi Gras. It wasn't too big of a deal, but we had fun! It's always amusing to me to watch my girls interact with their cousins. Caroline was a little infatuated with Ben. He enjoyed pushing her in the baby doll's stroller at mock 3 speeds all around the house. She enjoyed following him around and playing in his room. Em and Gracie were more attracted to Sarah Kate, since she's more of a baby. Emma dressed SK up in all kinds of Mardi Gras beads, and held her whenever she could.

We went to Ocean Springs for Grams' birthday, which was another 1 1/2 drive down to the coast. (It's still hard to recognize because of The hurricane.) It was the first time for Grams to meet SK, and she was just tickled pink by her. I think her exact words were, "Well, I guess you just have bare-headed babies!" as she stroked SK's peach fuzz we call hair.

Overall it was a really fun trip! It was so fun to see Sarah, Mike and the kids. I can't believe how big they're getting, and I know they think the same thing about our girls. It's tough living so far away from family. I wish we could live closer somehow.

Also while I was there, Sarah "ordered" 5 more mailboxes from me. It's been really fun decorating them. And yes, I'm still in love with them. I'll have to add them to my slide show so y'all can see. I still have 3 1/2 more to make! But it's so fun! EAch one is different too!

Oh, and right before we left for Mississippi, I was thrilled to find out that I'd made the Simply Obsessed design team!!! WoooHoooo! I really love the site, and can't WAIT to get started. This weekend they're having a mini "impromptu" crop. Stop by and check it out if you can! It's just a few challenges to get your mojo going.

Anyway, I think that's all for now. Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to keep everyone informed. Here are a few pictures from our trip! Ta-Ta! :)