Still reading...

I am back. Computer up and crashed and burned a week ago Friday! Luckily it was still under warranty with the geek squad. Unluckily I hadn't backed up since I bought my EHD-back in early Dec. One of the reason I hadn't brought it in to fix the intermitten USB ports.
Well, fast forward a week and quite a few hundred dollars later, my old computer is with the geek squad. All of my pics, digi stuff and all the other stuff is safely backed up on my EHD. I have a new Dell computer with the Vista operating system. I swore I was going to hate this system but you know, there are a few things that just make computing easier so that isn't all bad.
And I am back up and scrapping again - little behind with my CT work but rolling again.

Jared, loves to read, and being on vacation, means all the more books to read. And just like our trip to Cabo and Cancun, he didn't bring enough books so I had him try my Jodi Picoult book, Plain Truth, which he loved. He is now a huge fan of hers. He has read the 10th Circle since we got home and once I find where I put My Sister's Keeper he will read that, too.

I gave him Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone, today, one of my all time favorites.

This page was done with Amy Leigh Fennell Designs kit and add on, Happy Day

Party Poolside

Ahhh, the memories of our vacation.
Hanging at the pool is always an all time favorite. It sure helps when ya got a group of fun people. Plus we met a lot of super fun people, too, including Gilligan and his wife, Laurie.

I really like this picture Kristy captured when we had to switch to the other side of the pool to get more sunshine. Quite a few from our group plus a bunch we met and we are all just a jabbering away - this particular photo just didn't work on the layout so saving it for another.

Everything is by April Staker.
Find it at her store here DigitalApeDesigns.com

Blossoms In Mexico

Who would have thought that my DD and our best friends' son would make a connection on vacation. Never was quite sure what was up but there sure was a lot of flirting and hanging out.
It was all good and they had a blast.
And they're pretty much inseparable since they got home.

Kit is by Chaos Lounge, Chaotic Spring

Is it really April 11th? It can't be....

April 11th and we have snow? I suppose we should be happy that it only ended up being a couple inches and not the 8" or so forecasted

but who ever heard of making a snowman in mid April.
Can't believe these 2 were up for just that.

Now how cute is this...boyfriend/girlfriend snowmen. lol

Please, tell me this isn't what it looks like. Can't be my daughter.

I see Elle embellished her snowman which didn't go unnoticed by Nick.

Cute but an awfully cold butt.

Definitely good weather for a snowball fight. They both aimed at me
but I was like I have the camera. Yikes.

So there you go, teens making snowmen.
And for those of you that don't have teens, the poses are
so typical of our teens these days.

Jared and Libby

Jared fell in love with my sister's dog, Libby, on Easter.
Libby is quite the unusual dog - a poodle English setter mix, I believe.
Jared was very amused with his scruffy appearance - to me, she is so funny looking, that it makes her so cute. Jared has offered to babysit her so we will see if that ever pans out.

April Staker's kit, Vintage Blues and her chipped alpha

Pretty Eyed. Pirate Smile.

I really like this self portrait of my DD from last fall.
The fun, edgy but yet so girlie kit from Kami/Ziggle Designs made it super fun to do.
You can find it here. Pirate Punk
And did you hear?
Today Kami and 3 other designers are having their Grand Opening of their new store.
ScrapOrchard
No foolin'
Check out the fun FreeBees they are having all week.

A dozen eggs

Last weekend the kids actually dyed Easter eggs.
This is Shana's Easter kit, Easter Eggstavaganza and Yin's template.
Shana was so kind to help me altered the template from a 12x24 to a 22x8.5, but something went awry and this is the wrong dimension.

Last day of March and it is snowing like crazy.
It almost seems like winter is never going to leave.
So ready for some hot sunshine spring like weather.

Kids are back in school after being home for 10 days.

Beautiful Babes

Ellary and Jessie are our serious tanners of the group.
We always find them early in the day on their loungers oiled up.
These are favorite photos of mine with the matching color swim suits and the crisp blue of the pool. This was a favorite spot for our group to hang - right by the swim up bar, the buffet, and the grill. Fairly quiet when these were taken because it was before 10:00 am but things always livened up a lot throughout the day.

Kit is Pastel Bloom by ScrapShana at GoDigitalScrapbooking.com

Puppy Love?

Elle, Nick and Pixie, the puppy. We babysat Brad and Joanna's new Pekinese's, who is 3 months old. Elle wants a puppy in the worst of ways so thought it would be fun to have one around for the weekend. And Pixie is super cute. Not sure how our cat, Punkin, felt about her but they managed OK. We should get Pixie again as Brad and Joanna go on a ton of fishing trips. Elle is already wanting to go out and buy her clothes.

Kit is Sweet Pea by April Staker
Alpha is Sweet Cream by April Staker.
Both found in her store, DigiApeDesigns.com

Look who is having a birthday...

Yep - April Staker.
Big savings at her store to help her celebrate!
Digiapedesigns.com

Here is a layout with one of her newest kits, Sweet Pea.

Senior Frogs

The kids when they went into Playa Del Carmen with Brenda and Nancy.
Love these pictures but I wish I knew more about photo editing. Ugh.
Might have to play with this some more.
Sunday is picture sharing party for our group so need to get copying files.
Happy Weekend.

Kit is by Sara Ellis and Danielle Engebretson, Spring It On. Find it at either Gotta Pixel or Digital Freebies.

Gringo Dave's

Another 2 pager done for our Riviera Maya vacation album.
13 of us went to dinner at a fun little cafe ran by Dave with free margaritas that were way yummy. Jeff and I both had the steak and lobster for 20.00 and it was pretty good. Lobster was very good, Mexican style, but not near enough. And with free margarita our tab was 40.00. Was happy with that because the Cancun area is nothing but spendy.
3 years ago a beer outside of the airport was 2.00 - they are now 6.00.
Beers on the transfer bus used to be 1.00 and are now 3.00.
So, it has become very spendy. So it was nice to eat out under the stars and get a good value, good food and good company.

Kit is Tuscan Romance by April Staker at DigiApeDesigns.com

Zip Line

My first Caribbean layout from our 2008 Maya Rivieria.

Nature Walk kit by Scrap Shana
Notepaper Alpha by Misty Cato

Trip Photos

These are the photos from our trip - last day. So sad to be leaving
this wonderful paradise.
These are the photos I want to scrap next - still looking for the right kit.
Also want to use the layout for Gotta Pixels new
March Madness challenge.
Don't know what happened with my camera as these photos are so washed out.
Ugh!
Check back and see what I create and see if I can fix the photos.

M.O.R.P.

My sweet baby Elle all dressed up. She loved this so much even
though she was going to her first big dance solo.

Nick, being a senior, didn't want to go to M.O.R.P. but picked her up early and they met everyone at the bowling alley. It definitely looks like something more than the magic of the Caribbean.

And this photo worked well for ChrissyW's template challenge at DigitalCandy.ca.
Tammy Kat's kit, Be Still My Heart also at DigitalCandy.ca

He's a Puzzle

Just finished these layouts today.
Idea came to me when looking at whats been going
on with my DD and a conversation
we had on the weekend.
Kit is by Kami of Ziggle Designs
15 Across, 42 Down
at DigitalCandy.ca

Shift Happens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U

Interesting video. What do you think?

Birthday Girl

~ Diana ~
Diana on our birthday outing a few weeks back.
Haven't taken a lot of pictures the last few weeks except for basketball shots.
Wish I could find a photo of the day site.

Amusement

How do we amuse ourselves in the bitter cold days of winter?

We take pictures.
Lots and lots of pictures.
And are amused for awhile.

Winter in the City

Headed into the city for some shopping and photo opportunities
around the lake. The only problem was it was bitterly cold
with the temperature around 24 but the wind chill made it feel
more like zero. Brrr. But what fun it was to snap these. We
laughed a ton. Can't wait to go back once it warms up.

Playing basketball?

First time bringing my camera to a game this season.
Not a bad gym for taking pictures as the bleachers were real close to the court and I didn't need my big lens which is good
but my shots were horrible. :(
Elle had a fantastic game and played almost the whole game :)
So we are going to review these pictures to see if we can see areas for improvement on your game.

It might help if you opened your eyes while playing.

Do you think it would be easier to play if you pulled your shorts up?

This is good, you are not being double teamed.

Tiptoeing through the tulips?

Are you looking at the refs? If so, I'd be giving them a dirty look, too, because they really allowed for a way too aggressive game.

Just having a little fun with Elle.
She really did great against a super aggressive team - actually her team really made a great effort and it wasn't a blow out like it could have been.

Look at those muscles. Dayum!
That is my boy at his last wrestling invite for the season.
His first match he was pitted up against an iron man so it was nice he could redeem himself on his 2nd match where he looked good and pinned his opponent.
Those pictures were blurry - so hard for me to shoot pictures in the gym.
Going to try again tonight at the basketball game.

And he wins! What a great way to end the season.

My Style

Jared came home from school yesterday and insisted I take some pictures of him to capture his new style despite me feeling under the weather so I did little more but shoot from the snack bar. My friend, Diane, was visiting Jeff and I and told funny and a bit dirty jokes to get a natural smile.
Not sure I see a new style but I guess its not American Eagle or Hollister...but the white collar shirt is from Abercrombie, maybe he forgot that.
Now that its my birthday I have to get the new year started and get serious with my camera before our Mexico trip.

Remember when...

Looking for the right picture for a kit I am going to work on and stumbled across this one.
Summer '06
Created by Elle for her myspace.

FEB 2008

My DD and her friend on New Year's Eve.
ScrapShana's kit, Young Love and this photo made for a winning combination for her Feb. calendar.
Credits: Young Love by ScrapShana http://www.godigitalscrapbooking.com/shop
and alpha by Petite Moineaux

Young Love

I love this girl, Jared's girlfriend.
Taken a few days ago for my photo of the day challenge.
They were the epitome of young love.
Always a lot of smiles and laughter.
But young love doesn't always last.
I did not see it at all but they broke up this weekend.
I am sad about that but that is how young love is.
I am going to miss this girl.
She was a true gem~!

A layout

I 've been so busy digi scrappin' tonight that I haven't been able to upload my photo of the day.
And because I want my friend, Shana to see this, this will have to be the photo of the day.
Stay tuned tomorrow for wrestling pictures.
Credits: Believe kit by TammyKat Designs at Digital Candy

"I am a baller, not a bubble maker"

Elle on her way to basketball practice while trying to blow a bubble.