Filling Dad's hat.....

I LOVE this photo of Evan taken on our hike this weekend....he wore this grin the ENTIRE time....never complained (during the entire 6.6 miles) and led the way most of the time. He had forgotten his hat at home and in the beginning didn't want to wear his dad's hat...but part-way in Dave just put it on his head....amazingly it FIT! Evan proudly wore it the remainder of the day (letting Dad get the sunburned head!). As he confidently hiked ahead of me (as I was going too slow for him to follow!), I was surprised at how much he looked like his dad...and how much my little boy was becoming a man. I think he was a little disappointed when the hike was over....claiming he could have gone longer (while Alex and I were REJOYCING at the site of the truck!!!)

Discovery.....

Our destination was Sword Lake......a beautiful, crystal blue lake surrounded by granite and towering trees. Round trip was 6.6 miles....LOTS of hills which reaffirmed the fact that I am OUT of shape!!!!

One of the views we came across during our hike.....NOTHING in the world is better than sitting atop a mountain looking out at this! A few times we would sit and listen.....the most peaceful noises....birds chirping, bugs buzzing.....no people, no cars.....nothing!

Five for Friday...

Okay...so I know technically it's not Friday YET....but in a mere 2 1/2 hours it will be....and for most of you who actually read my boring blog, it is Friday!!!!! So anyway...thought I would throw out a 5 for Friday this week.....


1. It has been such a nice relaxing week here....one of those weeks where we really didn't have any place we really needed to be at any certain time....well, at least during the daytime...evenings were different!

2. We had a wonderful time at VBS this week....at least the boys and I did...Dave only made it tonight (but I didn't go tonight!). They based it on the book Charolette's Web and each evening after dinner (yep, dinner was served every night!) and the children were dismissed to their activities the adults discussed the book and Christianity....themes were justice, salvation, Templeton (selfishness), miracles and helping others.

3. I've been in a slump with scrapbooking lately....maybe I need to get some new photos printed out to get my mojo to come back from vacation! However, I have been working on 25 ladybug cards for my dear friend, Leta who is battling breast cancer (just had her first chemo treatment). If you can, please say a prayer for her!

4. We are going CAMPING this weekend!!! I am so excited....we didn't think we would get in a family (just the 4 of us) trip this summer with scouts and Dave's work...but we decided the other night just to toss our stuff in the trailer and truck and go! We're heading high into the mountains where it will be cooler!!!! Hoping also to take the boys on a hike that Dave and I did many many years ago....

5. Only one more week of vacation left for Alex and I......wondering how I will do working full time for a while....been a while since I had to do that. The district even invited me to a training next week...think I should go as it pertains directly to my sub job...and another day getting paid won't be too bad....

There ya have it.....5 GREAT things!!!!!

Sweet boys of summer......

Caught a couple photos of the boys as they played in the pool this evening...the sun was setting as they were splashing and dancing in the pool (Evan was trying to teach Alex some of the camp songs).

Discovery......

For several years we've had a pair of doves try to nest in the eves of our back patio...but because of the frequent traffic through that area and the breeze that comes through, they've never been successful. Last week Dave discovered a nest on the ground near the corner of the house....he put it back in the gutter hoping she'd return. Not only has she returned but she has laid 2 eggs in the corner of the gutter. She allows us to climb the ladder to check on her and talk to her and has even allowed Dave to touch her tail feathers.....daddy dove is usually watching over us all from the roof of our neighbor.

Can children fly???

Alex really isn't hitting his head on the side of the pool....although it looks that way! This is his attempt at a flip.....ends up on his back!
And Evan's dive being thrown off Dave's shoulders........a favor game of the boys!

A successful week....

What a great week all four of us had....each doing our own things!!!! Alex had a great 4 days at his Ammy and Grampys' house.....hanging out with cousins, riding in Ammy's new convertible, swimming...... Dave and I had a great time in Napa..tasting wines, talking (with no interuptions)....been a while since we were able to get away with no schedule and no real plans! Evan got back from camp with lots of stories to tell.....the Pendola hike at night where they try (and were successful) in scaring the kids, earning 3 merit badges, his Toten' Chip and Firem'n Chit, his Polar Bear patch (for swimming at 6am in the lake) and his first year patch for camp!!!

Now to finish up the summer.....we only have 2 weeks until I start my long term job and Alex starts 3rd grade. Vacation Bible School this week in the evenings, then more swim lessons for Alex and tennis lessons for Evan......hard to believe that it's almost over!

My Digital Album of Charleston!

Here it is...my digital scrapbook of the trip Evan and I took to South Carolina! It was fun to do and I got more comfortable making each page.....still more to learn but it was fun! And this little album was the perfect size for a little book for him. It prints out as 4x6 prints...so it won't be super expensive to print out either! Going to print, laminate and bind them into a book for him!

5 for Friday

Been a while since I posted.....so here's a quick 5 for Friday....

1. We're getting Evan ready for scout camp.....he's so excited to be going!!! But as a mom, I worry....he's been away for a week before but always with family or left in the hands of a trusted babysitter!!!!! Will he have a migrane? Will he have an allergic reaction to the mosquitos? Will he remember to put sunscreen on? Will he be warm enough at night???
2. Since E will be gone and A is going to the grandparents for part of the week....D and I are heading out of town for a night to the wine country!!!! Whooo hooooo!!!
3. Been madly working on a digital scrapbook for E on our trip to Charleston! Having fun working on it...will post it when I get it all done!!!
4. Enjoying the amazing weather we are having here...perfect...in the 90s during the day and 60s at night!!!! YEA!!!!
5. So enjoying the relaxed summer.....staying in pjs until noon...swimming....enjoying the sun....lol!

Doing it DIGI!!

Okay....took a online class at THE SHAKER BOX last night on using templates for digital scrapping......here's what I ended up with!!! Not too difficult.....need to practice and play more! Could get addicting......but one thing about digi scrappin is that there's no mess to clean up and it's cheaper than playing with paper!!!!!!! Template is from www.sketchmeifyoucan.com and the papers are from www.digitalscrapbookingfreebies.com They had a GREAT kit for free....about 7 papers, and lots of embellishments (which I don't really know how to use!!! LOL!!!!

A layout

Here's a LO I got done for the crop at The Shaker Box...haven't completed many challenges there this weekend but having fun chatting and playing games!!!!!!

Jumpin' July Crop

Come join us at the SHAKER BOX (www.theshakerbox.com) for a fun filled weekend of scrapbooking, games and fun!!!! Get your scissors sharpened, your desk organized (I REALLY need to do this), your pages planned and be prepared to get a lot done!!!! We're gonna have some fun!!!!

Layouts from this weekend

Been getting a lot of scrapbooking done this weekend....participating in a crop at www.scrapadilly.com with my friend Tilda!!! Just what I needed to get me out of my slump! Need to start planning pages for next weekends crop at The Shaker Box!!!! We're going to have tons of fun there!!!!! Come join us!