A Motley Bunch

This group of girls is amazing.  They are so different, but such good friends.  I know there will be many tears after graduation and each goes off their own way. 
I am one of the rare moms that can honestly say she loves all of her daughter's friends.  They are such a good group.  Oh no--they aren't the only ones who will be teary when it's time for them to move on to bigger things....

Let's Make It A Double

I have so many of Dani's photos, I decided to make the Photography layout into a 2 page spread.  I kept the pages very clean and simple (CAS).  I want everyone to focus on the photos and not embellishments and papers. 

I'm really excited about the pages, but definitely will need to make more pages showcases her pictures.  After searching on my computer for pictures, I cannot believe it still RUNS.  There are files upon files.  I'm so excited to have them.  It is like looking at the world through her eyes.

Photography

Dani loves to take pictures.  I think she has some real talent.  She uses a little Kodak Easy Share, but once in awhile her Aunt Julie will come visit and  let Dani take pictures around our farmette. She always comes back with some fantastic photos.  I have files and files of 'Dani Pictures'--it's hard to pick favorites.

I am using  12 x 12 layouts for Dani's graduation to display. I finally found 12 x 12 frames at Hobby Lobby ($9.99). If you ever want a 12 x 12 frame DO NOT go to the scrapbooking department. The framing department has them and they are half the price. I need to save money where I can so I can afford more STAMPS and MDS downloads! :)

A Boy & His Bear

Ni-Night Bear has successfully made it through the washing machine yet again. He lost his mouth and nose in a previous washing, but Evan doesn't seem to mind at all.  True friends can overlook those little things. 

I couldn't resist snapping a picture of Evan and Ni-Night Bear watching a  Signing Time DVD together yesterday. Evan looks pretty comfy with his sippy cup of almond milk and his best bear. They remind me of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin.

A Boy & His Bear

Let Me Show Ya...

This is my husband, Terry and Evan building the halfwall in the garage.  Evan was such good help.  He was about a year and a half in this picture.  He has seen dad do drywall before, huh?  Maybe he'll be going to work w/ dad in the summers when he gets older. :)

God's Opinion Baby Quilt

It's crazy how quickly the years pass.  I cannot believe that my daughter is a high school senior.  I am excited for her to strike out on her own, but my heart aches at the thought of letting her go off on her own.  Dani told me a few weeks ago that a girl in her senior class was expecting a baby.  I was young when I had Dani, but this girl is only seventeen and how quickly a little one takes over your life and you are forced to grow up. I was happy to hear though that this girl was going to have her baby with the support of her boyfriend.

 Yesterday, Dani came home and told me that Ashley's water had broke and that she was on total bedrest at an area hospital.  She was just 24 weeks along.  My water broke at 33 weeks with Riley Kate and I thought I was going crazy after 2 weeks in the hospital.  I was 25 years old then and knew how hard it was for me to lay there.  Oh this poor girl.  My heart immediately went out to her. Such a grown up situation with a potential for such heartbreak. 

 Today, Dani came home and told me that this afternoon, Ashley had a baby girl, Madisyn. She said that mom and baby were doing fine. Dani didn't have any details, but I know that little family needs prayers.

I snuck away for a few minutes this afternoon and made a baby card.... 

I absolutely love the sentiment--

Two Shades of PINK- Quilted Card

 There are two shades of PINK at Krista's Cards & Things Challenge Blog this week.  These are the types of challenges that make us pink lovin' gals grin. 

I have a workshop coming up and I know that a couple of the ladies are quilters.  I do not quilt and well I knew I wasn't going to wow them w/ my abilites with fabric. I thought I would try my hand at "paper quilting".  I went online and Googled quilt patterns.  Omgosh, I would love to do a whole mess of different cards.  There are so many amazing different patterns to try.  I had a hard time deciding, so I chose more of a beginning design for me. 

I cut squares that are 3/4" x 3/4".  You may not be able to tell, but squares are a mixture of DSP (Blushing Bride and the retired Sweet Pea) and cardstock. I glued all the squares down onto a piece of scrap cardstock.  I cheated and I added the Rose Red triangles last. I didn't want to risk gaps and thought when I ran it through the Big Shot to quilt--emboss it--you would never be able to tell.  :)

I added a birthday sentiment from the set On Your Birthday and a satin bow with a button and linen thread in the center.  I found a couple quilting pins in my stash and inserted through the backside of the bow under the button.  If I were to send this card, I would probably snip off the sharp points of the pins. 

Hint for making perfect tails on the end of the cardstock w/ the sentiment---a square punch!  Try it--it works PERFECT!  :)

Egg-xactly How I Spent April

About a month and a half or so ago, Dani started talking about buying spring chicks.  I thought that perhaps we could just buy young chickens from a local farmer.  You know,  less hassle than caring for chicks, ESPECIALLY when my daughter is graduating in the month and we have a party to plan.   I thought I had her convinced until one night, I see her and her dad with their heads together over the catalog that you can order the chicks from. 
Isn't it funny when our kids and husbands get together and start talking, there's another job for mom?  It wasn't a week and dad brought Dani home a surprise. He had been to Farm 'n Fleet for something and picked her up an incubator. She could collect eggs from her chickens and try to hatch them herself.

Here's Dani's incubator in what used to be my Stampin' Room. It's now Dani's hatching/homework room.  She has been squating in my Stampin' Room this school year, because it is the quietest room and she could set up an area w/ her laptop that was safe from baby brothers.  I occasionally visit, but not nearly as often as I would like.  :)

My job for the last few weeks it to babysit and turn the eggs while my daughter, Dani is at school during the week and at work on Saturday.  This means that everyday at 6 AM, 10 AM, 4 PM, 6 PM and 10 PM, I go down to my craft room and flip the eggs.  For the first couple of days, it was kinda neat.  Then I found that I had to schedule appointments and errands around them.    I'm the momma to 11 eggs.  My cell phone has the alarms set accordingly.  I ding and ring more than anyone I know!  LOL

Next weekend, April 22-24 the eggs should be hatching.  We candled them and they all have something inside and they are getting heavy.  Now I am like an excited parent.  I can't wait to see what we end up with.  I know there is a couple little Bantam eggs, the tiny brown eggs, but I have no idea what the others are.  Hopefully all will go well and I will post pictures of the newest additions to the Hawkinson Funny Farm next week. 

Fundamental Job

Sunday was absolutely gorgeous here in Wisconsin.  I loved 80+ degrees for the first time this year.  I washed all the bedding and hung it out on the line.  I am one of those strange few that loves to hang out laundry.  How can you not?  It smells so good and it's a great excuse to go outside when you are cleaning.  :)

Last night, we had the windows in our bedroom cracked.  I don't think I have slept that well in months.  The frogs were singing, the wind was blowing---ahhhhh  there is nothing like Spring.

Yesterday afternoon was Riley Kate's Spring Concert. I love to go to hear her sing and play the trumpet.  She received her awards and certificates for Band and Choir along w/ Solo and Ensemble.  She was up on the stage grinning like crazy.  She received two certificates and 4 metals (2 silver and 2 gold).  I was so happy for her. She worked hard and it's nice to see her rewarded for the time she spent practicing.

I spent a little time playing along with Krista's Cards & Things Challenge.  This week is a color challenge.  I really like this color combination. They are three of my favorite SU! colors.

This week I decided to do something different for the challenge.  I wanted to share a My Digital Studio project.  I made this scrapbook page after seeing this quote in a forward I received from my Mother-in-Law.  It so described Evan.  He may not rule the entire universe YET, but he certainly has taken control of our household.  He is really perfecting being a 2 year old. This old mom is tired already and we aren't even halfway through 2!  LOL

Evan's GF Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

I have been misbehaving since Terry's surgery and I have been bouncing between -29-34# lost.  I need to get back on track, but am struggling. I need to have my hand slapped, especially when I make Evan cookies.  I am addicted to them. They are just good cookies.  I never would have thought that a recipe that has NO FLOUR in them would be good, but these are a dieter's kryponite. 

 Here's the recipe again if you missed it back in January.
Warning: Do not make these if you love peanut butter!  ♥
Oh..and they are pretty tasty if you throw in a handful of raisins too!

Evan's Flourless Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

gluten free/casein free version

15 oz jar Skippy Natural Chunky Peanut Butter
1/2 cup Earth Balance Buttery Spread, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp honey
3 eggs
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips
4 1/2 cups Bob's Red Mill gluten free oatmeal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix butter, peanut butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl until creamed together. Add eggs, baking soda, honey and vanilla. After well mixed, add chip and finally oatmeal.
Drop dough onto cookie sheet using a dropper or by rounded Tablespoon. Flatten a little as they do not spread much. Bake about 7 minutes. Barely brown for soft cookie. Brown a little more for crispy cookies.

The recipe is easily converted back just use regular butter, oats and chocolate chips.

I came across a blog, Heavenly Homemakers and I'm linking this blog entry into her Gluten Free Recipe Parade.  So if you are eating gluten free, go and check out her blog.

I did get good news last night.  I did get  first place in the local Weight Loss Challenge.  I lost 24.6#  during the challenge and am 34 inches less.   I was hoping for more pounds lost, but am extremely happy with the inches. 

I did finish designing and printing the inserts for Dani's graduation earlier in the week. 
I must have tried 100 fonts in a 1000 different sizes.  After many failed attempts, I was happy with this.
I was impressed that her name fit perfectly in the opening of the card.  That was not planned, but I love the way it looks.

I have been addressing envelopes during my free time.  I'm almost done.  I think.  LOL

Next, the menu.  EEEEEK!

Choo Choo Challenged

Confession:  I have had the Choo-Choo set ever since it first made it's appearance in the catalog. *deep breath*  Today, I mounted it.  Omgosh, I have had this set for over a year, because I think it was first introduced in a mini catalog.  LOL  If anyone would like to come and mount my sets, I would gladly pay you.  I honestly, dislike putting stamps together and choose which stamps I use for my cards by which ones are already mounted. 

Today, I wanted to use this 'boy stripe' paper from the Celebrations dsp and I looked for 'boy' sets to go with it.  Choo Choo was perfect.  So out come the scissors and a couple minutes later, I was ready to go.  Hmmmm..why do I have such a problem w/ mounting when it REALLY doesn't take that much time?

It took much longer to cut out the train...  LOL

 

And the #3...
(I found that I don't have any die cut numbers, but luckily the Celebrations DSP has a sheet of designer paper w/ numbers on it.  YEA!)

Here it my Choo-Choo card after several attempts to get it just right.  LOL.. I guess I'm Choo Choo Challenged.  *giggle*

I Throw Myself Down

It's cold and windy in Wisconsin today.  It reminds me more of a fall day than a spring day.  Yesterday, it was beautiful and we were given a little bit of spring weather to enjoy.... the kids were outside with Terry burning some sticks and I was in the house mopping floors.  Hmmmph..how does that work?  I know how that works.  We have a graduation at the end of May and it is going to be here before we know it.  I have never had a party for more than 30 guests so this is a whole new experience for me.  I'm hoping to have everything done that I can by the first of May.  LOL...  we'll see how that goes!

Today with the blustery weather,  it was a good time to make my card for this week's Cards & Things sketch challenge.  This is a great sketch!

I made this thank you card for Evan's great aunt and uncle who sent him a nice gift. It was actually a very belated baby shower gift.  How nice was that?! I thought I would make them a "he's definitely a toddler" thank you.

 

I love this image.  I found it online--it's a digital image that's for sale.

Evan just started throwing himself down when he's protesting--yep, he's 2!  When our oldest daughter, Dani was this age she would announce when she was upset.  " I throw myself down!"  My husband and I spent a lot of time stepping over her and giggling when she wasn't looking.  I forgot how fun 2 is.  :)

Here's my favorite part of the image--THE SOCKS!  Aren't they cute?!

Card Recipe:
CS: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Marina Mist
DSP: In Color Peach Parfait (Hostess Level 1)
Accessories: Non-SU! markers, digital image (Two Toby), Scallop Edge Punch, Marina Mist Taffeta Ribbon, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

Promotions, Promotions, Promotions!

Stampin Up! really has a couple REALLY great promotions going on right now.

Promotion #1
 Grab Bags!  Oh my goodness, head on over to my online store and check them out!  If you haven't visited the SU! Clearance Rack, you should definitely head over and check out what is there that you may have missed out on while it was in the catalog.  There's some good deals to be had and now with the Grab Bags--it's a STEAL!  :)

Promotion #2
This one is a sneak peek from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog debuting in July! The stamps and the paper are absolutely gorgeous! 
To take a closer look, you can visit my online store.

 April 1- April 30th

Four Frames Stamp Set

W: Item 123440 $20.95
C:  Item 123442  $15.95

Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper
Item 122367 $9.95

•Customers must spend $20 to be eligible to purchase the Four Frames stamp set and/or Paisley Prints Designer Series Paper from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog.

•Both items can be purchased once the $20 minimum is met; there is a limit of five per product once the $20 minimum is met. Ordering another $20 of Stampin' Up! products resets the limit and allows the customer to purchase another five Designer Series Papers and/or stamp sets.

Host a $350 workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE!

Leibster Blog Award!

Thank you to Patrice Herrera and Maria Vanderform for the Liebster Blog Award!  ♥

This blog award is for blogs that have less than 300 followers and is to be passed along to 3-5 other blogs.

Even though it is true that its not the number of followers you have, that indicate if you have crafting talent or not, but it is a friendly reminder that each person has their own special talent and that everyone deserves to be recognized in some way! Below are a few of the most recent blogs that I have come across and I would like to share them with you!

Maria Nguyen http://www.scraplovecreate.blogspot.com/
Margaret Raburn http://funstampin.blogspot.com/
Ann Fitton http://www.annscreativenook.blogspot.com/
Krista Driessen http://www.krista-kris.blogspot.com/