Some new cards that I wanted to show off...

So I've gotten back into the mood of making some cards again. We had a graduation party on Saturday, so I made this graduation card for Derek's office-mate's daughter... (There are little rhinestones on the bottom- not googly eyes!)

My dear friend Wendy (and her fiance, Ernesto) are getting married this coming weekend in Maryland. Here is the fun & modern wedding card I made for them...

And these are random "get well" and "thank you" cards that I was inspired to make after reading a card magazine...

Thats all for now! =) If you have any special requests, let me know!

1, 2, 3!! Whoo hoo!!

Haha, turn your volume down, my voice is SOOOO annoying in this video!! Brayden did this process about 15 times! Then he did it again with the high slide (green slide in pictures) up & down, etc.

Once I get the zoo videos downloaded, I'll post those as well... =)

4th of July '09

We had a fun weekend visiting with Derek's brother, Dane and his GF, Sam. =) Friday night we cooked out and the men had some fun with the sparklers I got for brayden... although after watching them play, I knew B was a bit small for sparklers!!

Saturday morning we went to the Elmwood Zoo. Its a smaller zoo, just perfect for younger children... We had PERFECT weather and it was almost completely empty because there was a parade going on while we were there!

Petting and feeding the Goats and Sheep with Uncle Dane:

How I've been looking and feeling these days:

(extra large & exhausted!)

Brayden doing his best "Prairie Dog impression!"

Saturday night we went to our friends backyard to watch fireworks. Even though it was 2 hours past B's bedtime, he did GREAT and actually enjoyed the show!

Sunday after our visitors left, we checked out the park. What a busy boy!!

Brayden loves playing in the mulch or stones... I have the laundry and a load of dirt in the bottom of the tub for proof!!

More videos to come! it's taking a while for them to download right now... =)

Playing in puddles...

Well... we have a BOY, so I guess I have to let him play like one! :) We had a quick thunderstorm this afternoon (luckily, we were in the library!) but afterwards, Brayden just HAD to get outside! Here is just a minute or 2 of an hour worth of "puddle jumping!"

He had SO much fun, I had to laugh, but boy was he messy by the time I brought him inside! Not to mention his shoes are SOAKED thru and I have a LOAD of dirt in my tub... BUT, I LOVE HIM TO BITS!! :)

Mommy says "time to go inside for your bath!!" Here is B signing "all done!" (sorta)

Last week, Suzanne & Noah joined us at Sesame Place!! Brayden had so much riding rides in "Elmo's world" and sitting with me on the lazy river! We'll be sure to get back again this season with our other boys (the hubbys!)

Other random things from this week... Here's a pic of Brayden signing "more" at lunch. =) I'm in the process of trying to get pictures of all his signs...

Lake Erie Vacation

This past week, we had the pleasure to spend a week in Angola, NY right off the beach of Lake Erie in a cottage owned by MaryJane & Bob (Chuck's cousin). Here is the picture of the cute place and the view from the back porch...

We had nice (sunny &warm) weather monday & tuesday, so we spent as much time out on the beach as possible- knowing the rest of the week could be rainy and cold! Here are some pics of the beach/lake and Brayden playing...

Brayden's favorite past time during this vacation- FINDING ROCKS AND TOSSING THEM IN THE LAKE! hahaha, it was the funniest thing to watch him find the "perfect" rock!

Derek taking a much needed break from the office to "chillax" on the new deck...

Brayden and his FAVORITE daddy... err... his ONLY daddy! =P


Friday turned out to be a SURPRISE beautiful day! I finished book #4 of the week sitting quietly on the sunny beach with the water lapping the sand while everyone else played in the sunshine. =) We celebrated by catching what we could of the last sunset (a bit cloudy) and a fire- with smores of course!!

Good news and giggles

The GOOD news:
All is well with our "sproutlet." This morning I had an appointment with the OB and she was unable to find a heartbeat... (apparently at 12 weeks, the baby should be big enough for the doc to catch the heart rate on their handheld "tool") Things were rocky for a few hours, but I got in for an ultrasound this afternoon and they found the heartbeat almost immediately!! Fhew!

Here is a not-so-good VERY BLURRY & DARK "picture of a picture..." The ultrasound tech took a lot of time with us -anxious- parents, so while I suffered through the excruciating bladder pain, she gave us a bunch of pics to take home! =)


You can see the baby's head on the left side of the picture, with his/her hand up to their face and little legs towards the right hand side...

The giggles:
When we got home, mommy was hungry (a-hemm... when is she NOT hungry these days?) So I made some popcorn for myself and put out brayden's lima beans that he didn't finish from lunch. I know this sounds terrible, but he usually eats them, so I didn't find it cruel! Anyhow, from the picture, you can see what ended up happening...


Hahaha, I was trying to catch him with his "hand in the cookie jar," but I think this picture is PRICELESS!!

Some random pics I had to share!

Yesterday, Suzanne and I were on a mission to find some curtains for my bedroom (well, lets be honest, I was on the mission, she was along for "moral support" and to window shop!). Here is a cute shot of Brayden and Noah...




We know Brayden won't sit still for very long, so here, he took to helping Miss Suzanne push Noah around the mall! hehehe... What a big helper!




I've been working on a note card set for my grandmother, so here is a preview of what I've gotten done so far... I won't show too many, because you may get one of these in the mail, and I want to you to be surprised! =)




Derek recently bought me a "Cuttlebug" die cutter for mother's day. It makes cutting out shapes soooo much easier and quicker! Below, the "square" shape and the embossed pattern were done using my new tool.


Thats all for now folks! =)