Just a few more LOs:

Hugs - The girls being nice to each other (without being asked!!) while we were at the air show.

1st Day of School - The girls on the 1st day of school

Remember - A LO in honor of POWs & MIAs

9/1/08

Some LOs that I did today:  I took these pictures this morning.  (I'm definitely going to ask Santa for an early X-mas present because I NEED a tripod!!!)  About half of the pics I took this morning were blurry because I had to adjust the shutter speed to compensate for the lighting.  You just can't hand-hold the camera when the shutter is that slow.

Credits: 

Rina Kroes: Almost Midnight bkgrd ppr, Bling on Strings, Glass Pebbles
Miki Ferkel: Princess Hearts ppr and hearts and Peace on Earth ppr
April Rieff: Word Art Quote (recolored)

Just a quick update...

We are all doing good here for the most part.  Fran, Charlie, and G.G. Sichko left yesterday from their weekend visit to soggy Maine.  Thankfully we had a nice weekend, without too much rain.  We took them to the Portland Head Light and to Bailey Island.  They also went exploring Freeport, but I Mike and I weren't able to go with them due to other commitments.

Mike is back in school again.  He's got a lot of reading to do, but I think he's happy to be back in school and working toward his degree.  He only needs a few more classes to get his Associates.  Yeah!!  

I'm looking forward to the kids going back to school in a few weeks.  Ari will be gone all day!  YEAH!!  It will be so nice for her to be there.  She loves school!  Tiff starts Jr High and Amanda starts HS this year.  Oy!  3 kids in 3 different schools.  

Another nice thing about school starting back up is more free time for me.  I'm thinking about going back to school or working on a new fitness certification, like ACE, AFAA, or ACSM.  I would also like to get a part time job working at the gym on base, but that may not be feasible because of Mike's schedule.  We'll just have to wait and see what comes up.

Well, that's all that's going on here for now.  I'll post some pics and stuff later!  

Brewing Pgs 3 & 4

Brewing Pg 2

Another page to the Brewing Album, explaining some of the equipment.

A new album in the works...

The cover and first page of Mike's "MIKE-ROBREW" album.  

Credits:  Be You Kit, Sweet Sody Pop Designs

Here's one of my latest LOs.  It's about our trip to the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.  Credits:  Purple papers from Atomic Cupcake, and everything else is from Correen Silke's "Cool Spring Day" Kit.

Navy Wedding Vows

Dear family and friends, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and the Department of the Navy, to witness this exchange of vows, and see the love that these two dedicated, loving people have for one another.

"Wilt thou, __________, take ___________ as your dependent, to dwell together in so far as the Department of the Navy will permit? Wilt thou love her, comfort her via the postal service, E-mail, or over the phone, make sure she knows where the commissary, Exchange, and church are, and what pier your ship is docked at and your department telephone number (so she won't bother the Messenger of the Watch on the quarterdeck) the day she arrives, wherever you are stationed?"

"Wilt thou attempt to tell her more than 24 hours in advance that you will be pulling out for two weeks or more, beginning the next morning?" This especially applies to the years you will live in Virginia, California,Washington State, and Florida!

"Wilt thou ____________, take this Sailor as thy wedded husband, knowing that he is depending upon you to be the perfect independent Navy wife,running the household as you see fit, taking part in established Navy traditions even if no one can explain them anymore, and being nice to the Captain's wife? (though she may remind you of your new mother-in-law.)

Furthermore, you understand that your life with your husband (little that you may have together) will not be normal, that you may have to explain to your children, not once, but twice, and more often in the same day, that mothers do have husbands, and that children do have daddy's, and that the picture of the man on the refrigerator is the same individual who tucks them in at 2200 hours, long after they are asleep. This Sailor is their daddy, who loves them very, very, very much.

"Wilt thou love, respect and wait for him, preparing and mailing his favorite cookies (including some for his shipmates) and pictures of yourself and the kids, so he can remember what you look like? And last but not least,always pick him up at the pier when the ship pulls in (or the day after i he is in the duty section) and put on the outside of your door a 'Welcome Home sign"

"I, _________,Take thee_________ as my wife, from 1900 to 0430 hours or as long as allowed by my duty section leader and the Captain (subject to change without notice), for better or worse, earlier or later, near or far, and I promise to look at the pictures you send me, but not until after my watch is over, but before I turn the lights out in my rack. I will also send a letter or E-mail (if I am allowed access to a terminal), if time permits, and if not, to somehow, some way, make the time by sleeping even less than operational tasking permits."

"I, _________, take thee,_________as my husband, realizing that your comings and goings and 0530 musters are normal (although absurd to me) and part of your life as a Sailor. I promise not to be shocked or taken by surprise when you inform me that, although we've just arrived at our new duty station, we will be leaving within the month because of a detailer mistake or a CNO priority billet. Yes, I'll have you as my husband as long as while your are away my allotment comes through regularly, that you leave me a current power of attorney and the checkbook at all times. I am a family member and proud of it, dependent upon myself and my resources. Although I miss you when you are away, I know I can handle whatever comes across my path and make you proud."

"Now then, let no man or woman put asunder what God and the Department of the Navy have brought together. The Navy hereby issues you this lovely,dedicated, independent woman, knowing that she'll be an asset not only to your marriage, but also to the mission of the United States Navy, which is, as you all know, to remain in a high state of Readiness. By the authority vested in the Bible, elaborated in the regulation and subject to current directives concerning the aspects of marriage in the Navy, you are now a Sailor with a Dependent. Best Wishes and good Luck.

This is a LO I did with some pics I took in March (around the beginning of spring as a matter of fact...) and again today (just a few days shy of summer).  I absolutely love the contrast of the pics!!  Each season has it's own beauty and I hope I've captured it.  Maybe I'll do another set of pictures in the fall and see how they all come out.  The LO could be a "Trio of Seasons in Maine".  LOL!!  We'll see if I remember.

I didn't mean to whine

After re-reading my last post, I noticed that I sounded like I was really whining.  I didn't mean to.  Hope no one takes offense.  Lots o' Love!!  Oh, and I just saw that we did move on to the next round!!  YEAH!!

An update on us...

So, it's the last "week" (2  1/2 days actually) of school!!  YEAH!!  It's going to be nice to sleep in and not have to worry about getting anyone off to school.  I'll also be teaching Jazzercise classes in the mornings instead of the afternoons and belly dance classes are almost over.  tonight is the last class and then we have our recital on Thursday.   I'll be so glad when it's over!!  

I've been working on some scrapbooking LOs lately as well.  I like to do the challenges at the www.scrapshanty.com and I'm even in a So You Think You Can Scrap contest.  As of this moment, I don't know if my partner, Mel, and I have moved on to round 3 or not.  We got slaughtered this week in the voting.  We only got 1 vote.  Last week we only had 2.  (Unfortunately, not many people have been voting.) This week, only the top 6 groups move on to the next round.  Here's the LOs I've done for the contest:

  

Week 1 - Forever Sisters:  Scraplift of my partners LO:  http://www.scrapshanty.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=10353

Week 2:  Mike's Re-enlistment:  For this LO we had to follow a design sketch.

You know, I think part of my problem is that I'm a "Simple Scrapper".  I don't like lots of fussiness on my LOs.  I don't want to see how much "stuff" I can use on the page.  I just want to tell the story of the pics and let that be my focus.  Oh well.  

For the Scrapable Snaps Challenge at www.scrapshanty.com

Where do I find beauty?  Other than in the faces of my family, I find beauty in the world of nature.  The wind blowing through the trees, flowers in bloom, and the flowing of water.  Sometimes it's peaceful.  Sometimes it's powerful.  But it's always beautiful to me.

Credits:  Stitching by Ivonne @ www.scrapbookbytes.com

Frames by Kim Higueria @ www.scrapbook-elements.com

Latest LOs...

Cover LO for Mike's Italy Album

Credits:  Father's Love Collection by Monja @ www.scrapbookflair.com

Royal Sun Hotel in Suda Bay, Crete

Credits:  Kiki Halbert, Fresh Whites Kit @ www.scrapbook-elements.com

Credits:

Template by Nicole Setlier @ www.Scrapshanty.com

Yellow lace ppr:  Vintage Floral Collection, www.shabbyprincess.com

Brown ppr:  by Pepeetje (12 Classic Papers) @  pepeetjedigiscraps.blogspot.com

Bling on a String by Rina Kroes @  www.scrapbook-elements.com

Bob the Hamster

Bob the Hamster

Journaling says:  Bob the hamster became part of our family on January 1st, 2008.  He came to us as a "rescue" from one of amanda's friends.  Bob had a tendency to be an escape artist and his previous family couldn't keep up with him.  We decided to take him in and love him.  He has yet to escape from us.

Credits:  

Bkgrd pprs, cardboard frame, frame w/ ribbon, star brads:  Lindsay Jane Designs, Memories Kit

Notebook ppr - LJD, Little Divas Kit

Scribbled Alpha by Kim Higueria (www.scrapbook-elements.com)

Chipboard paper frame from Favorite Frames Kit by Kim H.

Make-Up

This is what happens when Tiffany gets a hold of the make-up and decides to "practice" on Arianna.

Credits:  

Digital Template:  Nicole Seitler

Everything else (except alphas) from Kim Higueria's

Lavender Blue Kit

Alphas - Paperbage Princess Alpha Set by Kim H

www.scrapbook-elements.com

Forever

Here's a LO I did this morning while waiting for the coffee to brew.  Journaling says...  

Forever:  The time it takes to brew the first pot of coffee in the morning.  - Author Unknown 

Credits: Paper and elements by Brenda Johnson/Sweet Sodypop Designs;  "Be You" Kit @ www.scrapbook-elements.com

Apple Picking

Here's a LO of our first "outing" in Maine... Apple Picking, Oct 13th, 2007.  

Credits:  All papers and elements from Brenda johnson/Sweet Sody Pop Designs, Be You Kit @ www.scrapbook-elements.com

Biker Babe

Ari learns to ride her bike without using her training wheels.

Credits:  Most papers and all elements from Lindsay Jane Designs, May Day Kit (for NSD) @ www.scrapbook-elements.com

Green Paisley paper from:  A Work in Progress, Citrus Berry Kit @http://vicki20.blogspot.com

Pink Paper (was originally yellow paper) from correen Silke's Cool Spring Day Kit @ www.computerscrapbook.com

Googin's Island

Googin's Island Osprey Sanctuary

Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park

Freeport, Maine

Papers and elements from "Citrus Berry" Kit 

by  A Work in Progress

(http://vicki20.blogspot.com)

I created this page to test out a tutorial on blending & lifted frames.