Sketchy Thursdays...

This week's sketch at sketchythursdays was a challenge for me.  I had been saving these pictures from when the boys and I were at the photo booth for a long time, not sure how I wanted to scrap them.  They had never been in one before and were a bit timid.  And if you know my boys, you know that is not like them!  Lucky for us, a couple of high school kids were just getting out and they saw how much fun they had.  We piled in and I quickly explained that they needed to look at the camera.  For the minute we were in that booth, we had a great time!  I'm so glad we got these pictures.  I would love to do it again!!

The original sketch was a two page one so I combined a bit of each page to put mine together.  My background mask was some mesh that came around our new propane gas BBQ tank.  After I sprayed it with my mist, the "chicken wire" pattern showed up.  My hubby was the one who thought I might want to have it for scrapping.  What a guy!  I was pleased with the finished product.  It felt good to get it out of my head and onto paper.   Ahh...onto the next project!

Spring in September???

Spring is definitely here!  Sunday, we experienced our first day lights savings time change.  It has been nice to have the sun out until about 8pm but it sure did feel strange to spring forward in September!  The temperatures are warmer and we have even shut off the heat pump and opened windows.  That is a nice change from gray, rainy, chilly days of winter.  In our yard we have tulips and daffodils blooming and around town are many flowering trees.  As I took my walk today I saw my first lilac bush!  I just love lilacs and was so excited to see one.  I can't wait until the blossoms are open and I can drink the deep smell of them.  Just that smell will take me back to my childhood days and my mom putting fresh lilacs in my bedroom and on the kitchen table.  Mmmm.....that is a nice memory.  The boys are home from school for a two week holiday between third and fourth terms of school.  One more 9 weeks (or so) and they will be off for summer break.  Summer in DECEMBER!?  That will also take some getting used to.  Yesterday we went to a big park in town called Hagley park.  The boys enjoyed playing soccer, feeding the ducks, and just exploring.  Today we went to their favorite beach at Sumner.  They just love climbing on the rocks and playing in the ocean.  Its been a good start to Spring!

Exciting stuff!!!

This week my layout for Sketchy Thursdays was chosen as a favorite by the design team!!  Woo Hoo!!
I am so honored to have been picked this week.
Prizes last week, favorites this week.....I can't start to wait on the next sketch!
Thank Sketchy Thursdays Design Team!
(the layout that was selected as a favorite is the one below this post
with the boys playing in the leaves at Grandma's house)

: )

Life Lessons from Mom...

Every time I hang clothes on the line, it reminds me of my Mom and Grandma.  They have always loved to hang clothes out on the line instead of using the dryer.  Not only does it save energy but fresh smelling, sun dried sheets on the bed are so nice.  Since I do not have a dryer, I hang clothes on the line every chance I get instead of in the lounge on my racks. Even on a grey but windy day like today.   If I do get a dryer, I will still take advantage of a sunny, windy day every chance I get.  Thanks Mom for yet another life lesson!

Sketchy Thursdays...

Its Saturday here and that means a lazy morning.  Well, maybe not for Bryce.  He is off helping dig out someone who needs some mud removed from the earthquake.  There are many people still having to deal with damage from it.  Again, we are so thankful we didn't have anything damaged or mud to be removed.  The boys have enjoyed being able to watch cartoons and play video games and I've enjoyed having some scrapbook time.  Today I put together my layout from the Sketchy Thursdays challenge.  These pictures are from a year ago when we visited my parents in Iowa.  The boys loved raking all of Grandma's leaves into a huge pile to play in.  I think Grandma loved it too!  I sure do miss being able to spend time at Grandma's house and these pictures made me really miss fall.  I'm so thankful we had that time together and can't wait till we are together again.  

I Won!! I Won!!

My layout for the Sketchy Thursday's challenge was the winner for this week!  Out of 75 layouts, MINE was chosen as the winner of the prize pack!  I am beyond excited!!  My prize is some shopping in some Etsy shops (an online place to buy all sorts of handmade things) and a couple prizes sent to me.  Woo Hoo!!  I cannot wait to get started on the next challenge!  (and I just had to take a picture of the announcement on Sketchy Thursdays Blog!)  : )

Sketchy Thursdays...

Last weeks earthquake had pushed my scrapbooking to the side.  As the boys went back to school today after a week off, it felt good to get back to scrapping today.  I made this layout for this week's Sketchy Thursdays challenge.  Aden was playing in Grandma's daisies and of course I needed a picture.  He is so good about posing for me.  I quite enjoy that!   I used a new punch that my mother-in-law sent me.  Love it!!  And the green circles?  Well, an empty toilet paper tube worked great with my paints.  I am already planning on creating more layouts tomorrow!  Ahhh...it feels nice to be back at it.  : )

Its a Wrap...

Since the earthquake on Saturday, we have all tried to pitch in where ever needed.  Bryce and the men of ReChurch (the church plant we are working along side of in Christchurch) are helping to shovel mud from driveways so people can get into their homes.  Some of those homes are going to be condemned because of so much damage but the people still need in to get out their belonging.  Some of the women of ReChurch wanted to make some food for the workers cleaning up the rubble and mud.  What began with "let's make a pan of brownies" has turned into making 300+ wraps a day along with baked goods.  Today we are getting together again and our aim is 400 wraps!  I feel honored to be a part of the Brownie Brigade.  Even our boys are helping where they can.  From chopping vegetables for the wraps to entertaining babies, they have been a big help.   We are thankful to be able to help out this community in need.

What a wake up Call...

WOW!!!  We have just experienced our first earthquake!!  A 7.4 one at that!  At 4:35 this morning, we were awakened by the sound of the windows rattling, the walls shaking back and forth and things falling off of shelves.  At first, Bryce was like "cool, our first earthquake".  Then as he realized it was a big one, he quickly woke myself and our 3 boys up.  We rushed to the door frame in the hallway and rode out the shaking by holding onto one another.  We are so thankful we were not hurt or have any property damage.  There is quite a bit around Christchurch but not much in our neighborhood.  This is a picture of a sidewalk about a mile from where we live.  For a couple of people growing up in the midwest of the United States, I think we did pretty well in our first earthquake.  Honestly, I'm hoping its my last earthquake!!   : )