Soccer and Sketchy Thursdays...

Today was Aron's first soccer game.  It was so beautiful!  Sunny and a little bit crisp, just like autumn should be.  Aron played a great game.  I was quite proud of him.  I think as the season goes on they will become an even better team.  That game ended in a draw...3-3.

Sketchy Thursdays....

After the soccer game, all three boys had play dates.  Aden had his friend over and the other boys went to their friend's houses.  So it gave me a chance to do a little playing.  Oh, after the garage was cleaned out!  What a job!  But anyway, I was glad to get this layout done for the weekly challenge over at Sketchy Thursdays.

I really think my style is evolving and changing.  And this layout is part of that new style.  I think it has to do with not being able to run into Michael's or Hobby Lobby whenever I could and having to work with the scrapbook things I have.  I really am enjoying that part of my scrapbooking right now but yes I certainly miss running into those favorite craft stores of mine.  Sigh....Anyway, I loved the outcome of this layout.  I think I need to print some more black and white photos.  I don't work with them very often either.

Its a grey and rainy day here.  Not such a great day for laundry or mowing the yard.  And with the vacuuming done I think I'm going to work on a project.  :)

Design Dollies...

Design Dollies had quite the challenge for their Trifecta challenge this month.  Their challenge...."you", shades of pink with a dash of yellow, and their sketch.  Talk about a challenge! Me and Pink???  It was certainly a challege but I'm always up for a good one!  

Frosted Designs...

The Friday Challenge over at Frosted Designs this week is bling!  I have really come to love using bling on my pages.  Who would have ever thought with 3 boys that I would be using bling on my layouts!  Come on over to Frosted Designs and play along with the bling challenge.  I'm sure you'll love bling too!  :)

Hope you'll be joining us for the challenges at Frosted Designs!  :)

Triathalon and Sketchy Thursdays...

Yesterday two of the boys participated in the much anticipated school triathalon.  It had been scheduled for Sunday but due to the downpour of rain, it was postponed.  Tuesday was not pourning but we did get sprinkled on while the wind blew a chilly breeze.  Aden did not want to run so he participated with a team and did the biking and swimming.  He did great and I was so proud!

This is Aden and his teacher Mrs. Powell.  He had just been tagged and it was time to get going on his bike!

Even though he started out last, he passed a couple kids on the track.  Way to go Aden!!  Next was swimming four laps of the pool.  He's in all that splashing I promise.  :)  School swimming lessons have really helped him swim better.  I was impressed!

Everyone who particiapted got a chocolate bar.  Yum!!  Great job Aden!!!

Next was Ian's turn.  He wanted to do all three events so first up was running.  I love that they ran with their togs (swim suits) and bike helmets on.  :)

Then came the biking.  Ian did a great job and even passed a couple kids!  Ian loved to jump this wee curb instead of keeping to the path.  He must have thought it gave him an advantage....or was just cool to do!

Then came the swimming.  Ian too is doing much better with his swimming.  I'm so proud!!

And once again, a chocolate bar was the prize.  Way to go Ian!!!!  Great triathalon!!!!

It will be fun to scrapbook these pictures when they get back from the printer.  In the meantime, I used some older pictures that I just love for this week's challenge at Sketchy Thursdays.  We dog sat Rory about 5 months ago or so and the boys just love her.  Aden especially loves it when she licks him.  He just giggles and Rory seems to love that too.  These pictures were perfect for this week's sketch.  

I really thought this layout would be about either the dog sitting or Aden's laugh.  I love that I can see this a genuine laugh for him.  But that picture of Bryce looking right at me just stuck out to me.  So my layout became more focused on him than the events of the photos.  I love it when that happens.  Those types of layouts come from my heart and not my head.  

Life and a little scrapbooking thrown in...

Sunshine+warm weather+lazy Saturday=impromptu picnic!  After early morning showers, it was a nice suprise to see the sun come out and the weather warm up fast.  So once again, we loaded up and headed to the skate park.  Its close and the boys love going there.  (and yes, I did do a couple loads of laundry!)

Last week I finished up this layout and realized I hadn't posted it.  The Tuesday Sketch Gals over at Frosted Designs had another great sketch this week.  I'm so glad to be playing along with them!  If you're a scrapbooker, head on over to their blog and check them out.  Each Tuesday they will have a new sketch for you to play with.  And of course the Fabulous Friday challenges, of which I'm a part of the team!

With us in New Zealand and my parents in Iowa, I've had many days and moments where I've missed them deeply.  These photos were from one of the last times we saw them before moving here (I've had them almost a year!!).  I've tried to scrap them before but emotionally I just couldn't.  I loved this sketch for these pictures and am so happy to have them in a layout instead of in my photo file.  Thanks Frosted Designs!!!  And I'm so happy to say that next month...April....my parents will be here in New Zealand for a visit!!!  Then I will have new pictures to scrap....when I'm ready.

And just to show you how precious that sunshine is.....
This was yesterday......sunshine and warm weather...

This is today.....rain, fog, and chilly...

That's New Zealand for you!  :)  Hope you are having a great day no matter the weather where you are!

Frosted Designs...

The Gals over at Frosted Designs have a great Friday challenge up this week!  Recycle/Repurpose!!  I have had this mirror frame for quite awhile wanting to do something with it but just wasn't sure what.  Well, when I saw this challenge, I knew this was the time to use it!

So I decided to turn this mirror frame into a piece of art.

I thought it would be fun to be able to use both sides, so when you flip it over this is what you get.....

or this.....

Thanks for coming by to look!  And if you're from the Frosted Designs site, I apologize that this post is late.  New Zealand time change, busy week, and single (for this week) Mum duties have my brain not working right!!  Please come play along with us for this challenge!!  See you next time!  :)

The sun!!!

The sun is shining after 3 days of rain and grey skies.  And my washing machine is humming!  So just a couple quick layouts before I go enjoy this sunshine.

The gals over at Design Dollies had a great sketch this time around.  Awhile back in Christchurch, Bryce and I went on a date and ended our night at the Chocolate Lounge.  I had a hot chocolate of some sort and Bryce had a spicy hot chocolate.  We also shared a couple small pieces of chocolate.  Yummmm.....it was a great way to end a date!

I also did a layout for the "celebrate You" challenge but didn't get it finished in time to post for the challenge.  Why is it so hard to do a layout featuring ME?  Even though it wasn't done in time for the challenge, I'm glad I got this one done. I am not very good at self portraits.  I really like to be behind the camera more than in front of it.  But I do know its important for my boys to see this side of me too.  I did use the sketch over at Pencil Lines for this layout.

Yesterday was so cold and wet.  About 4pm the rain stopped so I took the boys to the skate park.  Just because it wasn't raining didn't mean it was warm.  Brrr....we didn't stay too long but they wanted to show me their tricks on their bikes.

Well, two loads of laundry on the line and one in the machine.  Its almost lunch time so I'm going to go for a walk first to enjoy that sun.  Loving it!!!