Fun in the Sun!!!

Summer in California has arrived!!!! This past weekend we were invited to join some friends on their boat at a local lake! The boys had never been on a motor boat so this was sure to be an adventure! Alex enjoyed the tubing.....after a while. The first time, he barely let the driver go fast and lasted about 4 minutes! LOL! Evan loved the tube....but had his eyes set on higher things! WATERSKIING! Actually he wanted to try wakeboarding but we convinced him he really needed to try waterskiing first...and after seeing his friend fail at getting up on the wakeboard he decided we were RIGHT! With SHEER determination that Evan possesses......on the 4th try he was up and going! With the BIGGEST smile plastered on his face! Even our friends left on the shore could hear his screams when he made it! So proud of him for NOT giving up!!!

New Beginnings.....

Come join us at The Shaker Box as we welcome our new owner Linda! Yep...after all these years Michele has stepped down to spend more time scrapping and less time managing everything having to do with the site!!!

In doing what The Shaker does best...we are having a HUGE crop!!!! I MEAN HUGE!!! Over 30 challenges......2 weeks worth of scrapping!!! Stop by and pull up a chair at our huge Shaker Table and join the fun! There is something for EVERYONE there!

Also, Michele is going out in GRAND style.....with a HUGE sale in the store!!!! Be sure to stop by!

Relay for Life

This past weekend our family participated in our city's American Cancer Society Relay for Life. This was our 2nd year on a team and what a moving/emotional weekend! We had a great time....from guys walking in bras, a couple of our boys in dresses.....the to the patriotic lap and then the luminaria ceremony! We all got by on little or no sleep for the 24+ hours but our efforts paid off when we were able to turn in nearly $1000 just from Saturday alone! We were blessed by having our dear friend Leta join us. She has been fighting breast cancer for the past year and has a few more months of treatment to go. But having her there made it all the more special for me. The weather was wild....hot, humid, thunder storms, cooler, hot again, then cold at night! But despite the weather and the low attendance we had a great time!!!!!!! I encourage all of you to get involved in the Relay for Life in your town!!!!!

Evan's new look

Here's Evan's new look......he's so excited to get braces. At this point they are only on the front and bands in the back...the rest are baby teeth which we need to wait for them to come out and then come back in. He had the colors all planned out....red and blue for 4th of July and our trip to England. Gotta love the red eye too....he got bit by a mosquito right near his right eye over the weekend...it swelled shut and turned his eye BRIGHT red. It's going down but still pink.....gotta love the kid! He's so darn cute!

Changes......

Michele, the owner of my home away from home: The Shaker Box, has decided to step down and is in the process of selling the site/kit club/store. Sad to see her go but she's going out with a bang and a HUGE sale at the ShakerBox store. Above is a preview of her newest kit! It is PACKED with 15 pieces of 12x12 paper, yards of ribbon, beads, brads, alpha stickers, rub-ons, Maya Road keychain.........and LOTS of other stuff! She's selling all this for ONLY $23.99!!!! Go check it out at http://theshakerbox.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=98 and keep your eye out for more sales from her!

NOT only is the site having a sale starting on July 1st we will be having a NEW BEGINNINGS Crop to welcome the new owner, Linda! Be sure to stop by during that time to participate and earn some great prizes!!!

On the home front.........busy! Evan is done with school and is enjoying relaxing summer days at home while little brother still has 2 more weeks of school left. We are preparing for 3 days of Cub Scout Day Camp this week (which is actually 3 evenings to allow the year round students to participate) and Relay for Life. My friend Vicki and I co-captian a team each year of our friends and family. So, we've been busy getting raffle prizes together as well as painting our team shirts and trying to raise money! If you've never participated in one of these events find out when your local one is and go! They are open to the public and are very inspirational! I am thrilled to have my dear friend Leta as part of our team this year as she has just reached her one year mark of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

More projects....

I made the incert for this coffee mug for Dave...his old one was well worn and water spotted! LOVE the digital kit that Robin Blankenship (aka Mad Scrapper Designs) just designed: American Pie! Who doesn't like red/white/blue, All American colors and elements???? This was perfect for an All American Dad mug and also for future projects to come for Alex's teacher. His school colors are: red/white/blue and his mascot are STARS! How perfect!!!

If you like this kit go visit her store at http://digistore.treasurestoscrap.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=14&zenid=da8212788bb5b3a0704d9abd32bd5e96 . She has several new kits and a grab bag up this month!!! Everything in her store is 30% off this month BUT, if you would like an additional 15% off please leave a comment with your email and I will send you the code!!!! Who can pass up a deal like that?????

On the home front....one child is done with 6th grade...still coming to grips with the fact that I have a child in Jr. High!!!!! Seems he was just a baby a few days ago..... And one child who is heading to 4th grade soon...and nearly as tall his his big brother!

We are also gearing up for American Cancer Society's Relay for Life here in town. A friend and I are co-captains of a team for the 2nd year. What an amazing event it is....so inspiring and heart-warming. We're hoping to raise more money this year than we did last year!!! (if you are interested in donating to our team..let me know!).