Out 'N About - Bike Riding at the Canal Trail

Last weekend Norm took all the kids down to the canal for a bike ride, while I got some quiet time. They had a wonderful time riding bikes, and exploring the canal trail.

We all plan on going back tomorrow, I can't wait!

CT's Beware

Personally I think it's a little childish, but so be it...I don't need the drama.

I was recently a CT for ScrapitSassy.com, and thought I would warn other's about my situation. As a CT (Creative Team member), the site provides you a kit and you provide them with "layouts" for them to use to promote their site/scrap kits.

I used the kits I was provided to scrap my personal photo's, and linked my layouts back to ScrapItSassy.com. I have a photography business as well, and when I put the layout on my site to promote my PHOTOGRAPHY...and LINKED it back, and put available for purchase @ scrapitsassy.com....a certain designer got her panties in a knot and said I was promoting my site with her kit. (***Scratching head...I don't think I understand this one***)

Anyhow...queenbrat designs (the name fits huh?)"my kit page" is now removed (as well as all links to their site on my blogs)and I no longer wish to have an affiliation with the designer or the site.

It seems to me that they wanted to use my site to promote their business, and because I didn't plaster their name all over my blog, they got bent, oh WELL! Disclaimers are posted, on my blogs! The "SCRAPS" in ©PAL Around Scraps N Photography refer to "MY FREEBIE QUOTES" WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ON MY BLOGS WILL CONTINUE TO GO ON, not the kits used to scrap with.....

I just wanted to say....Scrappers BEWARE!!!!

..they sure don't have a problem running ads though my YAHOO SCRAPBOOK GROUP....GO FIGURE. Anyhow back to your regularly scheduled program.

Winding down....School will be out soon.

The school year is drawing to a close and summer is upon us....my where has this school year gone? Almost JUNE already...seems like Christmas was only maybe a month ago....WHEW!!!

What a day it has been. It was beautiful this morning. The sun peeked out a few times, and I went to the school and surprised Breanna and Samuel and had lunch with them. They went outside to play after having SOL testing all morning, and I went home. It wasn't long before they came home..and then it clouded up (looked like nighttime...and it was only 3:30pm). Norm called me and told me the weather where he works was looking really nasty and he was on his way home. Mentioned that he had seen some hail and that we should watch out. I sent the kids to grab the larger items out of the pool, and told them to hurry. They weren't in the house two minutes and the bottom fell out of the sky. We had pea sized hail and it rained for about an hour...then all cleared out. The sun came out and everyone jumped in the pool for a bit (mostly to clean it out.)...LOL...Strange...Very Strange...


A little while ago, my beautiful daughter was chosen as a representative for her grade level to have some art she created put in the local school district's art show. We were very pleased. She chose and did her project all by herself. Day before yesterday we were invited to school for her to receive her award certificate for her work. She was even brave enough to lead the audience in the "Pledge of Alegiance" before the ceremony began. Pictured in her layout are her art teacher and assistant principal.





This is Breanna and her teacher. She has worked wonders with Breanna this year, and is expecting a new little bundle as well. Hope you make it until the end of the school year!



This is Samuel and his teacher. She has just done a wonderful job with Samuel. He is blossoming daily. It has been a pleasure working with her this year to benefit Samuel.





This of course is Jordan. He started the year somewhat withdrawn, and unsure of what was going to take place, after transferring to a new school. But his amazing teacher has encouraged him to come out of his shell, and he is becoming quite the little chatter box. He is sounding out words, and beginning to read...I am just shocked. I can't wait to see what he is going to accomplish next.





And last but not least Jadan. He has found his independance this year. He seems to experiment doing different things and seeing what effect they are going to have. He is very smart...sometimes too smart for his own good. He hasn't quite picked up on the reading like Jordan, but if you slow him down and have him sound it out...he gets it. He is currently into more of the mischevious stuff: Putting rocks in the pool, in his lunch box, in the ornamental pond in our back yard, and several other things...the list is too long to add on here ...LOL.

I hit the Jackpot!

I went to the Thrift Store yesterday and hit the jackpot, with getting props and items for my new photography business. I love how the photo's turned out while we were playing around with some of the stuff yesterday. I have a BUNCH of photo's to scrap when I get a chance. This is one of my favorites, and I couldn't resist getting it scrapped first...LOL. Jordan was too darn cute!

*Click on image for a better view, for some reason Blogger makes my layouts look kind of digitized when they load.*

Breanna's Collage

(**CLICK LAYOUTS FOR A LARGER, CLEARER VIEW)


Breanna and her friend Carsen


Samuel's Collage

Mother's Day & Anniversary Week

This was my tribute to Mother's Day.



Happy 20 years to me. Norm gave me my surprise 20 yr anniversary present a little early. He drew this for me while we were in high school, it has always been one of my favorite of his drawings, and you can imagine my surprise when he finally had it put on permanently on Friday. Guess I am stuck with him for the next 20 yrs now...LOL....Happy Anniversary Sweetheart...you are my favorite pain in the butt, ok most of the time. (you have to love the surprised look on his face when this was shot.)

Happy Birthday Breanna and Samuel, 9 Years old

This week was so nice it's so hard to believe that we are back in jeans and sweaters for Breanna and Samuel's Birthday. This time last year it was hotter than the gates of hell outside, and we were begging to get in the pool. Here are a few layouts I did with some pictures taken while we were all having some fun in the poolthis past week (05/07/08) We had Breezy and Sammy's Birthday celebration on Saturday and here are a couple of layouts I have done so far. The first one is Aunt Jamie, playing with the gifts she got Breanna for her birthday. Watch out Hillary Duff and Hannah Montana! This is one of Jordan, bless his heart. All the kids were out playing on the trampoline, when it was time to sing "Happy Birthday". We called them all over and Jordan was insistant that he wanted to put his shoes on before coming over to sing. He was quite upset when we sang without him. Unfortunately, the candles were lit and melting on the cake and we couldn't wait. Uncle Stan and I were able to get him over for cake, and then all was fine for the rest of the evening. I think the adults had as much fun if not more fun than the kids Saturday. There was MUCH MUCH MUCH Cake smearing going on(Scrap pages to come)...Here are a couple of videos we shot in the meanwhile...see for yourself! First picture is of me. Jamie smeared Breanna and Samuel with cake icing, then decided since I gave birth to them I should have some as well. No video on this one but I cornered her on my patio between the pond and deck so she had a choice to go in the pond or get smeared....and well you can see what happened...LOL!
First video...after we were all cleaned up, Jamie plotted on Stan and although I knew what was going to happen...I smeared Stan, and then the chase began... Stan smears me..I smear the boys...Stan smears Jamie...then Jamie smears Norm...then (not on video)...but Norm smears Jamie's hair with Easy Cheese....all the while kids are laughing and getting in on the smearing.

Breast Cancer Awareness, Think Pink & Lakewood Park

Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers. I am happy to announce that the lump they found when I went to the doctor for my annual exam, came back clear today. Honestly, those people that say having a mammogram is horrid, DO NOT know what they are talking about. It can be uncomfortable for a few seconds, but over all it is well worth getting "Smooshed like a pancake"! If you are at the age where you need to start getting mammograms....Just DO IT! There is nothing like the peace of mind....Think Pink, and Get Smooshed!

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I used Scrapgirls Monthly Club kit for this layout. My children love going to the park, to explore and discover new things. This layout is of Samuel, he had a blast watching the turtles, skipping rocks, and exploring.