I will be MIA for a bit...

B E F O R E

Surgery today on my dominate arm...typing one handed is not cool, so thing may be quiet this week...or just photos. I am doing fine.

RIGHT OUT OF R E C O V E R Y R O O M

R E A D Y T O G O.....

4th grade program

Thursday night was Ivy's 4th grade program. Her class has been practicing for weeks for this musical, and Ivy was just so excited that she had a solo. (she is a very good singer...so this came as no surprise to me) She did great on her part, waved at me several times from the stage and was all smiles.

My daughter may kill me...

I haven't exactly gotten her blessing on posting these pictures...she's sleeping. Last night was Katie's 8th grade banquet, the highlight of the years for her friends. They've been talking about finding dresses, jewelry and dates for weeks (ok months)! After what this little event cost me, I'm certainly more prepared for the homecomings and such she will be attending in the next 4 years of high school.

After a marathon day of trying on dresses, she picked a pretty reasonable one so we told her we would do jewelry too. She spent as much on jewelry and a clutch purse, as the dress cost! Then we got sucked in to new shoes, having our stylist do her hair, undergarments, money for the professional photographer at the event...I was beginning to wonder if the money train was ever gonna stop!

She had a great time, she took her camera and took lots of pictures for me to make her a mini album! Her date and her look so cute, I just had to share the photo!

My buddy...

Monday night I got to pick my buddy up from daycare and play with him awhile. My lil buddy is my nephew, Ethan. The girls and I hadn't seen him in a couple weeks, so of course we jumped at the opportunity to have him all to ourselves! He's crawling like a wild man these days and standing for long periods of time. It's funny how you forget all these accomplishments as time goes by. He's gotten so mobile - and I'm pretty sure he's loven' it! He was great for us as always. We got our photo-session out of the way in the beginning - so we could get down to the real fun - PLAYING!

{8 days} and counting...

It's hard to believe that in just 8days, Jared will be done with High School. My how the years have flown by when you look back. Seems like this school year just started and now it's already coming to and end! What a change for the Palin family this school year brings. Jared finishing high school, Katie moving from Middle school to High School and lil Ivy finishing elementary (YEAH). We've had kids in elementary school for so long...it's quite an accomplishment to be done with that phase!

We don't exactly know what the future will hold for our big ol' boy. He's an Army reservist right now, and since he completed his basic training last summer, he will be leaving June 12th for his AIT training in Maryland. After that, we'll see what happens...staying reserves, going full-time, hitting a technical school or college...time will tell. He's turned out well (I'm not biased or anything-lol) and we know the future holds great things for him. Just had to comprehend, where all the time went.

Little bits...

Today I finished a little project for a scrapbook board. It is a custom CD envelope.

That's my girl!

I try not to watch Katie practice too much, as I don't want to make her nervous. Last night she was out in the backyard, working with her flag a bit and I snuck out for a few photos. She was in the mood for preforming for me, so that always helps a crazy mom with camera in hand! She's really gotten quite good in just a few weeks...and YES, she did catch the flag when it came down.

Today is THE DAY!

As member of the month at Feeling Scrappy, today is the day I posted my MOTM challenge! I'd love for my fellow scrapping friends to participate too {hint - hint}! My challenge is to create a layout using the following sketch (by Jana Eubank).

My example of this challenge is this page featuring my daughter Ivy at the local Girl Scout Duck Day event in Ft. Worth.

For those who participate in this Challenge, they will receive a ticket in the drawing at the end of the month to receive a RAK from me for their participation! As a BONUS I challenged them to use an animal in their title (as I did with Duck) for an additional ticket in the RAK drawing! Hope you all play along too and be sure to upload your pages on Feeling Scrappy!

Slowly but Surley

I'm finally within one year of current in Ivy's album. These are a few layouts from the crop I attended last Saturday night and a few I did through the week. I've done a few layouts for Katie's albums too...they are from when she was in 4th grade (she in 8th now)

Happy Mother's Day...

My family and I met my mom for lunch. The food was great but the company was even better.

The girls both had some great gifts for me. Ivy picked out a Daschund garden statue for me (I love my weenie dogs!) and Katie picked a Crafter's journal to make sketched, keep notes, etc..It is really cool and something I will defiantly use alot! I got Chris to take a few pictures of the day for us.

She Made it!

Many of you know Katie has been auditioning for the Color Guard for High School the past 3 days. We got the exciting news last night! She is very excited about this coming year!

CLICK THE IMAGE to see her name

09.23.1974

Sept 23, 1974....that when it all began for me. The top 2 photos are from the hospital when my mother had me, that is my dad and brother in the first one. The photo on the bottom right is right after they brought me home from the hospital (in a Model A- a story for another day). My brother wanted to be the first one to hold me...so they let him! And the last photo, bottom left is me and my brother on my first birthday, with my favorite toy "Ollie"!

My mom has always been a great mom & still is to this very day. We talk often and love to do things together, although we don't get to as much as either of us would like. She was a stay-at-home-mom but she gladly made that financial sacrifice to spend time with us and be a hands on parent. She spent time with us, taught us things and built not only relationships with my brother and I, but friendships. Sure, we've had our ups and downs through the years. I wasn't exactly the easiest kids to parent...but she has never let any slack in the line that connects my heart to hers!

Once upon a time...POTD

This is another peek into the history of my mom. This is her when she was a young girl. The pictures was taken at her birthday and she's showing off some fancy new dolls she had been given. Her mother obviously dressed her very nicely. She has told me and my girls stories about funny thing she often did to ruin these fancy dresses. Among the more funny stories are the 2 that involve climbing a fence and a kind woman (who would become her mother-in-law many years later) helping repair the dress so she wouldn't get in trouble and her attempt at making her own correction fluid (using bleach!)

Important women in our lives...

This picture is of my mom in 1965 before her and my dad headed out to his senior prom.

In honor of Mother's Day this coming Sunday, I'm going to attempt to stay on topic all week for my Photo of the Day posting. (group I participate in with my fellow photography Peas).

Cropping for a Cure...

Yesterday I attended a Crop held as a fund raiser for a local lady who participates in the Three Day Run, as one of her methods of raising her money. It was a great time...our local Meet-up group went. There were 8 of us who went, several new ladies we had not gotten to meet in person before. We worked from 9a to 9p...ok I left at 8. I didn't want to drive the country back roads in the dark, since I wasn't familiar with the small town it was held in. I got alot done, below are a few of the layouts.

TooT, TooT...

POTD 05.02.08

Just something to put a smile on my (and hopefully yours) face! My dog Sassy, is one SPOILT pup! She loved to be wrapped up and will accept any attention offered. Here Chris is cradling her like some type of baby!

Well, got a special lil TooT to share tonight. I was chosen as Member of the Month at my favorite scrappin website, Feeling Scrappy! Today was really busy, Ivy was sick and it was my Meet-Up Crop day. I had a Dr appointment for Kate after school and an appointment to get her haircut...I was just rushing from one thing to the next if felt like all day! When the dust finally settled and I got to jump online - there to my surprise was the news...I got picked, I couldn't believe it! So be sure to come over and check out the little feature they do on MOTM. (the page will be updated in the next day or so)