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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A girl and her daddy

Last week was the daddy daughter date at school.
Samantha was particularly excited about this one.
It was her first.....with dad all to herself.
Ever since she started school she's had to share the night with big sister.
But big sister is off to middle school now.
So she wasn't invited......I can just see the thoughts in Samantha's little mind about how great that is ;)

I love how she likes to get herself all pretty.
She puts a lot of work into making herself stylish ;)

And then she gets all giggly for the camera.


 


Sometimes she gives herself the giggles and can't stop.....so she decided to run, laughing all the way ;)
I just love her...she totally makes my day, every single day.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Looking for something to Scrap?

We've got a fun little sketch challenge over at the Nook.....
It's our member inspiration sketch.

I played along and scrapped our "official" Yellowstone Vacation picture ;)
Did I tell you how much we loved that trip????
It was so much fun and really great quality time together.
I mean we were in a car together literally everyday for over a week ;)
Lots of singing and joking and random thoughts by Jack.



Hop on over and see what the rest of the design team did with it.....good stuff ;)

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Grab Bag Deal at The Nook

Puttin' a plug out for My Scrapbook Nook today ;)

The March kit is on it's way and it's gooooorgeous!!!!
I've whipped out 3 layouts already, it practically scraps itself ;)
It's full of My Minds Eye Miss Caroline.



We've got an awesome deal for new  members, if you subscribe you'll get a free grab bag as well as your 13th kit free when you subscribe for 12 months.   Here's the grab bag, and a layout I've made using the contents of the bag.



I'll share my other layouts soon ;)

Friday, February 24, 2012

a few cowboys....

 boy i've been bad about posting my Nook layouts for February!
though I have had loads of fun with our Sasparilla kit from October Afternoon (see, more OA ;)

I've got some really great pictures of Nathan when he was little that have been perfect for this cowboy inspired theme.  Not sure what his deal was here, but he sure looks serious doesn't he ;)



 We were living in Texas when both these were taken and a friend took this one below for us.
I've got a class over at the Nook teaching how I did the sun rays on this one if you want to have a look ;)


I was so excited to scrap these of Kristen at Halloween a few years ago.  She was just too cute as my little pioneer girl and homemade costume.  She was way into Laura Ingalls at the time, hence the costume ;)  I took inspiration from the Designer Showcase class over at the Nook.

I've got one more I'll share in a few days, then I will be ready with our March kit....loooooovely stuff!!!!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Get Picky Sketch

First and foremost....THANK YOU for all the sweet and lovely comments about my trip.  It meant the whole world to me and i'm grateful for all the love.....you guys are the BEST!!!!!

I seem to be slow on the scrappy inspiration this month.....though I've got loads to share.
Must get on that ;)

Today I'll share our Get Picky Sketch.....


I have to admit....i don't always love what I end up with ;(
I love the sketch, I liked my ideas. 
I love all the little bits, the stars, the rocket, the stickers, the strips of paper, the buttons ;)
Hello, my name is Carol and I am addicted to buttons ;)

But all together, it's not doing much for me.
I don't know what it is, it might just all be too straight.
Ya, I think that's it....it's too straight.
Ok, I feel better now ;)
Enjoy.
Oh, and I'm clearly having a little obsession with October Afternoon these days.
I have all these collections and I just can't put them down.
This here is Rocket Age and a bit of Boarding Pass.


So hop on over to Get Picky, check out the sponsor for this month, play and have fun!!!

Friday, February 17, 2012

Going Home......allthewayhome

So, I had something really special happen.
I've really debated sharing this.
Didn't want it to look like I was bragging.
But it meant SO much to me.
That I also don't want to pretend it didn't happen.

My husband gave me a gift that may just remain forever the greatest thing he's ever done for me.
It involved a HUGE sacrifice on his part.
He sent me home.
and home for me, is Hawaii.

It's where I was born, it's where I had the most beautiful childhood.
It's the only place on this earth my entire family was one.
And it's where my brother is buried.

We moved when I was 10 and I've never been able to return.
But it holds so much for me that I've just waited for the day that I would.

It all started with a trip my mom was planning.
She booked a month to stay.
Somewhere along the line Doug decided if he could, he would send me to be with her.
2011 was a difficult year on many levels, particularly financially.
But some miracles (literally) happened and at the last minute he was able to get me a ticket.
That's all I needed, was the ticket.  
It was the biggest surprise.....a Christmas present I didn't see coming.

It meant him being Mr. Mom for a week and taking off work, and letting me go.
I've gone away a total of 3 times in 19 years from my husband & children.
And never for this long.
It was something I desperately needed.
And he saw that.
I love him so much for seeing that and letting it happen.

Being able to go home.....and do it with my mom, whom I adore.
Was amazing!!!!!
We walked my old neighborhood, which has hardly changed.
We visited the cemetery.
We met old friends.
We went to the beaches I remember as a child.
Oh and one of my brothers and step sister actually joined us as well ;)

How about I just show you ;)

 This was the firs view of the ocean I saw...and I'll admit it made me cry.

 My neighborhood...I know it as Sam's Store.....a little shop on the street where I lived.  It now also houses the Hukilau Cafe
 It was closed on Sunday....hence the little self portraits.
I spent some time walking around all by myself.
It's hard to express how it made me feel.
Walking the same streets I did as a child.
When you've never been able to do that, 
and than you do.....there's just something about it I can't put into words.
 My town.

 Our home.  It has definitely seen better days.  And used to be all grass in front.   Now it's student housing and has pretty much not had any tender loving care for 30  years.  I remember laying on the grass at night....staring at the abundance of stars.  Watching fireworks on the fourth of July.  Having the fire truck drive by with Santa throwing out candy.  Riding my bike, walking to the beach.  And racing my brothers back home to see who could get to the hose first and fill the large tubs with the warm water before it got cold....to rinse off the ocean ;)

My school.  It's just as I remember.  That two story on the left, that main hallway is where my kindergarten class was, 1st, and 2nd grade.  I moved across the yard for 3rd and 4th.  I can remember playing on the playground, where I buried my necklace in the sand so I wouldn't lose it while playing.  Sadly, I could never find it!   I searched that sand like a maniac.  What an idiot.  I can also remember the little platform we would stand on for taking our class pictures outside.  All the girls in flower sundresses and sandles.  Some kids didn't even wear any shoes.  I wore a swimsuit to school one day just because I could.  And that's exactly why I wore it.

My baby brother.
I remember that day like it was yesterday.
Every.single.detail.
It was hard seeing the location where it all took place.


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple.  
Walking distance from my home.  And we spent some time there as well.



 The BYU Campus.....my grandfather built that tile mosaic ;)

 Shopping in (Holly-eva)
Waiting for our shaved ice at Matsumoto
 Hangin' at the Palace....me, mom, bro.
Ala Moana Shopping Center, where my mom would take us when she wanted to do some "real" shopping.  Up until Saturday I was officially declared the whitest person on the island.....until we saw someone who stole that title from me ;)  I was not blessed with my mothers olive skin ;(

My brother teaching us to snorkel.....that was a barrel of laughs let me tell you!  
Not my best day ;)   Who knew I panic like that!!!


Bath Beach.  This was my favorite place to go as a child.  The natural coral reef in the back and then the rock wall created a calm, warm bath like beach.  My mom took us here all the time because it was a great place for little ones to swim safely.  I loved it.  You won't find it unless you know where to look for it ;)  It's kind of a secret only the locals know about ;)
and YES.......Saimen (ramen noodles) at McDonalds!!!!!
So delicious.  As a child I didn't like hamburgers so whenever my parents took us, this is what I got.  Amazing isn't it!!!!!  I didn't think they sold it anymore because it wasn't on the menu.  Apparently you just "have to know" ;)
This is the life.






Again, I can't express enough what this trip meant for me.
It wasn't an "oh your so lucky you got to go to Hawaii"
it was  "I'm so grateful I got to go home"


Thursday, February 16, 2012

Sad

Here's what we're up to today ;(

He's so sad.
Which makes me so sad.

He said just before this  "I hate it when I have a fever"  I asked him how he knew he had a fever and he said "because I'm really hot".

He was right ;(
Fire.

In fact....we've been doing a lot of this lately.
It's making the rounds through the family.
Though everyone seems to have their own unique illness.
I think we've covered it all ;(

Friday, February 10, 2012

The Liebster Award

I know so many great girls around the world thanks to this little hobby called scrapbooking.  I love the friendships and support that we give each other and all the the little things I learn from them ;)   A few of them actually nominated my blog for the Liebster award ;)  Danielle  and  Alex  they are both beautiful and kind women and I'm so happy to know them!

Liebster, is German for 'dearest' or 'beloved' but it can also mean 'favorite'
The idea of the Liebster award is to bring attention to blogs with fewer than 200 followers.  Thank you so much for the votes girls!  I encourage you to stop by their blogs, take in some inspiration and leave some love on my behalf.  
One of the conditions in accepting the award is to pass it along to five more blogs.  So, in the spirit of good fun I am passing this award along to the following blogs.  
 For those interested, the Rules are:

1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your five picks for the award and let them know.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the blogshare-other bloggers.
5. Finally and the best rule of all..........have fun and spread the love!

Happy surfing, and thanks for stopping by today.  If you leave a comment I'll be sure to come by your blog for a visit too.
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and because a post is way funner with pictures I leave you with a just for fun layout I did recently featuring October Afternoon.  The kids were singing this song while waiting for Old Faithful to blow at Yellowstone last summer.


Monday, February 6, 2012

It's a good one ;)

The February kit at My Scrapbook Nook!

I love it and a GREAT excuse to scrap more of those boy pictures I've been talking about ;)

October Afternoon Sasparilla......we've also been giving away some grab bags to new subscribers (along with a free Dec. kit!!)  Such a great deal!!!


I've been playing with my kit and a grab bag and thought I'd share (now, I know Kristen is NOT a boy...but trust me, I've already got two more ready to be photographed with said boys ;)




The grab bag has a few girly touches of pinks and flowers that I used in the layout above.  Makes the kit even more versatile if you don't necessarily have some cowboys ;)

Then I made a little money card out of the gorgeous Maya kraft envelopes from the grab bag.

We are having a little challenge with these grab bags if you decide to subscribe, and members can also buy them starting next month....check it out over here ;)