Before you watch this you need some background info!

Jason is the coach of Noah’s team. There are 6 kids. All ages 4-5. it was a very hot day too!

This was their very first game, and it was against an older team! They only had 3 practices!

I was so proud of the team. Noah LOVES soccer, and I was so happy to see him do something he truly enjoyed. He likes to run-alot on and off the field! LOL! He did so well. He even scored 3 goals! Too bad it was in the other teams net!

He didnt even care he was jumping up and down waving his arms saying “YEAH! I SCORED! I WON! I’M AWESOME!” That was precious!

I dont care if he’s the star player-just that he work as a team and participate. Just seeing him truly enjoy himself and count day the days till the next practice is so great for me as a parent. Isnt that all we want? Just for our children to be happy. Seeing this first time playing team kick butt was great. The ending score was 6 to eight-we lost! But Noah did score 3 of their goals!~

I’m also proud of my husband for being such an involved father, and seeing his patience with the kids-that is a virtue I do NOT possess! They did pretty good following his directions and aside from going the wrong way a few times did awesome.

The first clip is a video. Its of Noah’s kickoff-watch the kids try to follow directions! HILARIOUS! The boy who is suppose to stand over the ball kicks it, and in the end tackles it! Its like he decided to play football instead! Very precious!

 Here is Noah’s first game! Sorry some of the stuff is a bit fuzzy! I was far away.

WARNING if you get motion sick-dont watch my video I took using our camera! OH BOY!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

What’s that noise? Did you hear that?

NOPE, I don’t hear anything?

The only sound I hear is my own thoughts!

Imagine that?

My house hasn’t been this quiet since September 28, 1999. How do I know the exact date of when the last time it was that quiet?

Well my first child was born September 29, 1999! LOL!

Seriously-this is nice. I feel a tiny pange of guilt saying that, but that quickly melts away as I sip my coffee in silence. No screaming, running, yelling “SHE hit ME!” ” I’m hungy”, Wipe my butt” “Can I go do this or Can I have -INSERT RANDOM WANT OF MANY KINDS? “No I dont want to”

From 6 am to 8pm this banter is non stop. Dont believe me-call my house in between those times, and you will hear it. Somedays my voice get hoarse from all the “NO! Dont do this!” “ Hey Get in Time out!” “What did I just say?” No!No!No!.

Its really awful when you type it out, but I KNOW I’m not alone. I didnt want to be my mother but somehow it just happened. Overnight really. Once my second became a toddler-I was done for. The ONE kid I could handle NO problem. No one to share with, fight with, take from-EASY!

Dont get me wrong I LOVE my children. I would give my very own life for them, but for now I’m going to enjoy my time of just ME. MAYBE I’ll actually excercise! Maybe I’ll run errands, or clean the house. Maybe I’ll stamp and eat my twizzlers instead! LOL! Ok maybe do that AFTER I exercise.

Here is scrapbook of Noah’s First day-and all 3 kids going off to school! YAHOOOOOO!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Now here is Alexa’s! I did a few photos from the other years. Keeping in mind she missed the last 1 1/2 years due to her Chemo treatments. She was so silly her first day back I couldnt get a decent photo! Oh well! We also dont have photos from her 2005 cause Jason and I were in Hawaii and had the camera! So we have Kodak photos that we still ahvent developed! YIKES! What bad parents!

Anyway-it was heart wrenching for me to view all these photos of her.

Cancer SUCKS! Im really feelin it today. She has Chemo tomorrow. This round is rough on her cause she will ahve her Spinal Chemo, and bone marrow aspiration. Keep her in prayer PLEASE! All the germs at school! Her immune system is so fragile after these treatments. We have had some scary bumpy roads, and I really can’t handle much more of that this year!

Anyway-she is loving school, and is doing so good. God has been good to us. I meet too many parent who aren’t as fortunate as we have been. I still have my baby. Some dont win that battle. I cant even imagine, nor do I want to even fathom the thought.

OK Happy note-here it is.

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Here is a clip from Amber’s first day at pre- school. She LOVES school!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Aren’t these so cute! You should try making your own. Its free-unless you upgrade or decide to send it or print it. You can even blog them-obviously! LOL! They only took a few minute each! I really love these programs cause I am SO not computer savvy, and they make it all super easy.

If you install one let me know!! I’d love to see it.

OK I promise to come back and show you some STAMPING stuff. I just wanted to share these! Now Im off to stamp land!

PEACE AND QUIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday!!! Dont’ miss your chance at MYTIME MAIL!!! Click ——->HERE

I have tona to babble about, as I feel like Im on the phone sharing with a girlfriend. If you aren’t into the BLAH BLAH BLAH-scroll down to the cool Lauren’s Loot Bag.

I JUST got back from the dentist. I havent been in 10 years! HATE that place and would rather give birth again than go to the dentist-seriously! Id even take a PAP Smear over it.

After x-rays and whatnot I now remember WHY I hate the dentist-I have 11 cavities! HOLY CRAP! How many teeth are in our head? 32-and 11 of mine of ruined! After being told I have that many cavities I was then complimented that I have beautiful teeth, lots of protective enamel blah blah blah then told had I actually had my twice yearly cleaning Id be fabulous. Slapped on the wrist told to fix my cavities and keep up with cleaning and I will keep the pearly coffee yellows my whole life! LOL!

I was also asked how on earth I am even eatting due to one major cavity on my left side. Guess when you have given birth to 3 children and your daughter has Cancer some things just take a back seat and pain has a whole new meaning! OK sorry I have to make light that this 10 year avoidance is going to cost me over $2,000, as I also learned our dental cover more than ___________(insert whatever word you wish).

Let me say that I have enjoyed reading all your comments. Looks like alot of you NEED more stamp time AND you all need to post your creations MORE, and dont be afraid to participate in challenges. Its alot of fun and helps you grow as a stamper!

I am also happy to read I’m not the only hoarder of my stamped little treasures of art. I did feel more alone in the fact that Im not a good person and sends lots of RAK’s and just because cards. Its not that I dont have “peep’s” who would love it! I just never do it.

Upon reading the comments I found the site Cards For Cancer. I decided to take my Hoarded treasures and help a cause! I am sending them there! I have to go through my box- (make sure they are appropriate ones) but will post the photo of all the goodies I send there this weekend orsometime next week. We will see what our family Labor Day weekend has planned as to my free MYTIME.

Have any of you considered doing that?

Let me clarify that my intent for the questions was not to guilt you into purging. I just love hearing about my readers, and then this link popped up and there I was PMing someone about what they do!

Obviously I love to help in whatever avenue my stamping can make a difference-donating cards for cause, Alexa’s stamp set, Make A Wish set, YOU NAME IT. Last Christmas I donated a bunch of cards (over 1,000)  to Davids House for families of sick children. Anyway-wanted to share that with you.

NOW BACK TO THE GOODS

Well I thought it would be fun to share this idea I had while attempting a card that went WRONG! Its cool how a bad thing can be turned so good.

I decided it would be come a bag holder, due to the flap style. Since the idea was for Halloween treat bags I like to call it Lauren’s Loot With the help of my Scor-Pal, it was really easy to whip up. Love the crisp and profession score I get.

These came out cute, and were really fast and easy to make. I’m thinking this is the Halloween Lott bags my kids classes are going to receive.

 Spooky Delight

This is the front view. The Ghost image by C.C. Designs (Halloween set releasing tomorrow) was actually stamped on white glitter paper by DCWV. The “moon” is a piece of banana cardstock punched with a 1 1/4 circle, and does have a Sakura glitter pen run along the edges. Sorry for the blurry photo.

The stars paper was a perfect cover for my bag front. Its the Rock Star stack also by DCWV.

Click the thumbnails to view images larger.

 View from side so you can see its a bag cover

 Other side, flap open. The image is adhered to the flap portion so it open. THe image on the flap weighs it down so it stays closed.

DIRECTIONS

1)Take a white lunch sack or other bag, can cut down top to size.

     In this case my bag is 3 1/2 wide by 4 inches high.

2) Cut base from cardstock or patterned cardstock. It should be a bit wider all around the bag.

      My example measures 4 1/4 x 6 1/2.

3) Score at 1 1/2 inches for the flap.

4) Use redline tape and adhere bag to base. Cover front of bag with piece of coordinating cardstock

DONE!!

Here is a supah cute sample for a shower Lauren’s Loot bag. This could be baby or bridal shower. Endless possibilities!

 Shower Time

This one is cool cause the flap slided under the ribbon-so you can fit ALOT of goodies in there!

 Side view    other side view bag full   Bag open

Well I hope you liked this idea, and if you attempt it please share a link to it for us! Very easy to do, especially for mass producing.

I’d love to hear what you think of my samples.

TOMORROW I announce the MYTIME MAIL winner, and have my Sketch Challenge. So for those who haven’t done any now is a great time to start!

Whip out your wallets ladies!

All That Scraps is having a sale THIS weekend ONLY!

Check it out HERE!

While you are there dont miss the NEW items! Im off to fill my cart. I cant turn down a sale

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

You may be able to tell that I drag holidays and special occassions on as long as possible! LOL!

I think celebrating happy times is important. Our Wedding/Honeymoon was one of the happiest times of my life.

My Mom always made a big deal of Birthdays and other holidays so I think thats where it comes from. They are milestones in which we mark the changes in our life. The good and the bad.

I am extatic because I really do have an amazing husband and father for my children. We have such a great relationship. One that I would be jealous of if I weren’t in it! LOL!

I hope my children find in a partner what Jason and I have together.

Jason has really supported and respected my aspirations as a wife, mother, friend and stamper.

We have been through alot together. And I think the key is we have leaned on each other through it all.

I’m just so happy to have been able to document our special day using this Smilebox. It only took maybe 20 minutes. Picking my photos was the LONG part.

So far we both look pretty much the same. I hope to say the same in 10 more years!

HISTORY-We eloped to Hawaii to get married. We decided to spend money on ourselves as oppose to a huge Wedding that feeds 100 people for 6 hours of fun. We had a videographer-so we have  video of our ceremony (my kids love to watch it), and a photographer.

It felt like we were the only 2 people on the face of the earth.

We got married on a private beach, and after our ceremony we went to a Tradional Hawaiian Luau. At the Luau we were treated like ROYATLY! Still in our Wedding Attire. We got special seating, a first wedding dance in front of everyone, traditional Hawaiian Wedding cake-not as good as our wedding cake! LOL! We also  got a private canoe ride through the Polynesian Cultural Center.  We saw traditional Hula dancers, and flame throwers. Its was an amazing expierience-far better than a reception would have been.

We then spent 2 weeks following our ceremony traveling a crusieship and island hopping around Hawaii. Its was the most magical, and amazing time.

My favorite part of our wedding ceremony was Jason being SO STRESSED about having the rings! He kept checking and checking. He was paranoid about it.

When we arrived the Priest told us “Whatever you do, don’t drop the Wedding Rings.” “This sand is like quicksand, and if you drop it you will never find it”

We began our cereomy……………

During our vows, it came to the rings. Jason quickly realized forgot to bring them down to the archway! He left them in their box up on the beach. Once the camera cut, so he could retrieve them, he came back to restart our vows.

Vows begin again……………..

Jason got the ring from his pocket, then dropped it in the sand! It was HILARIOUS!

When we got our wedding video I thought for sure there was no way of patching it up, but the guy did, seamlessly. I almost wished he left that part in, as it was so funny. Poor Jason.

I’d love to hear a wedding story from you! It can be yours or anyone else you know. Whatever you want to share.

Thanks for watching my SmileBox creation. I hope you get to try one. Its alot of fun.

Want to see a little peek at what is coming from Lizzie Anne Designs in September?

Click HERE!

I do have a Lizzie Anne sample to share so check in tomorrow

And wait till I get my rubbah greedy hands on these new sets-the ideas are flowin!!!

Oh, and wait till you get a peek at the other sets-one word comes to mind “MUST” (as in must have)!!!!

Trust me, I know what Im talkin about

Check out my opinions and ribbon tutorial over at Craft Critique!

My first article for them

Let me know what you think.

HAPPY FRIDAY! YEAH!!!

Should be a good weekend here. A few things to share today- 

I am very excited to be a part of the Scor-Pal Team! I now have have 2 tutorials you can find there!

Window Box 

I was quite proud of this project. It uses the Make A Wish set by Gina K. $7 from the sale of EVERY set goes to the Make A Wish Foundation! A great way to give a dream to a sick child

SUPPLIES: Obviously the Score-Pal. The paper is a stack by K & co. Ribbon is Martha Stewart (of course), and the Make a Wish was colored with Copic Markers. The star is a cuttlebug die cut, and the paper is DCWV Glitter stack. My magnetic closures are by Basic Grey. Go take a looksie.

This Window Box is a gusset box with a closeable flap that can easily house 4 cards (A2 size) and envelopes, as well as perfect use for whatever else you decide to fit in there! I love that you can peek at what is inside.

Read the tutorial linked above, for more info.

My next project features a perfect formula so you can quickly make your OWN envelopes in any size you want! Just use the formula. Once you get it down, you will whip up your own envelopes in minutes.

Make your own envelope formula

 Here are a couple different sizes made using my formula.

I would love to get any feedback on the tutorials! That includes tutorial’s you’d love to see put on the site, or any other comments/questions you may have. I will answer any questions here on my blog for all to read, if there are any.

 I hope you try them out. If so, send me the link

Thanks for looking.

EDITED FOR QUESTIONS

Julie asked:

These projects look SO GOOD! I have a question about the scor-pal: It looks like it would be easy for me to ’swerve’ off of the scoring lines and mess up my project since there is no flat edge to run against. Do you ever have any problem with this?

Julie thats a great question. Have you used the Scor Pal yet? I ask because you mentioned it “looks like it would swerve off”. If not RUN! Go try it! LOL!

The grooves are deep, so that when you start scoring, your tool stays in the groove. I have had no problems with mine at all. I found it super easy to use. Let us know if you try it out and what you think.

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

OK I know you are probably sick of my smilebox creations but I cant help myself! I love this super easy way of documenting memories with no time taken away from my stamping! So you dont have to read or click, but Im sharing anyway

TODAY is Amber’s actual birthday! My baby is THREE! OMG! I cannot believe it!

Today we are going to visit the Pre-School she will be starting the end of the month. She is the happiest little thing to be going to school. She is excited to get her own friends, and be Big like Alexa and Noah (as she puts it)

Amber is an OLD 3. I dont know if its because she’s the third child, or if everything that has gone on with Alexa, that she is like the second Mommy in the house.

If you aks Amber how old she is she will quickly tell you 5! I keep telling her she is 3, but she doesn’t agree! Its really funny.

She is bossy, and a tattler. She will think nothing of putting one of her siblings in time out.

She grew up so fast after Alexa was diagnoised, and kows about things that most people dont even ever have to deal with in their life. She is such a sweet little girl. I am blessed.

She is also in LOVE with money! Smart girl! She got this $5 bill for her b-day. I think it was her favorite gift! She carries it in her pocketbook (yes she carries several) and even has her own make-up! YIKES!

She knew right wehn she saw it that it was $5!

The other day she went up to Jay and cocked her head to the side, and sweetly said, while holding out her hand “Daddy can I have $5 PLEEEEEEEEEEASE!” and litterally batted her eyes! And ya know what-it worked! Im going to have to start havin her ask for money I want! Or she needs to up her anty! LOL!

Time really does fly by.

Anyway another thing I thought Id share is our time blueberry picking yesterday. It was alot of fun.

Enjoy. I know people dont enjoy this as much as I do. But its fun to share. I swear it does inspire me to think about scrapping! Only I would CASE these!

Blueberry Picking

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

While I was visiting Jen’s Blog, I saw this quiz. While Im not normally into that stuff I find they can be pretty true! So I answered all the questions with brutal honesty and this was my reading:

Do You Have a Type A Personality?

Pretty fun huh? Let me know if you take it. It only takes a minute.