How to Pass Time

In Jack's young like, he has spent a lot of time at Sam's sporting events. He rarely complains and finds many different ways to entertain himself. 

At last weeks Lacrosse game Jack found a very tall hill.

And spent the time tossing up a Lacrosse ball...

and catching a Lacrosse ball..

Eventually, a little boy asked Jack if he would join him in rolling down the hill. 

"Sure," said Jack. 

So Jack spent the rest of the evening rolling down a hill.

Good thing he's so laid back!

Happy Birthday, Sam.

Happy Birthday to Sam!

I love to look back at pictures and see how the boys have changed, but it also brings a tear or two or more to my eyes because it has gone by so fast. When you have a baby, everyone tells you how fast it will go and I knew it would, but gosh darn, it goes by soooo fast. 

Seven years old.

Eight Years old.

 

Nine years old.

 

Ten years old.

 

Eleven years old.

 

Twelve years old.

 

Thirteen years old.

 

Fourteen years old

Taken last night. It warms my heart.

(Yes, Sam is tall...6')

 Oh my baby (babies) are growing up!

I know I can't change it, so I need to enjoy what a great young man Sam is becoming. Though, it is soooo hard to see him grow up sooo fast...have a mentioned that?

Resetting!

A person that I have mentioned before (I think) is Cory Spieker AKA the Reset Girl. She has been a very inspiring person to me, along with many other people, over the last few months! I've watched her video several times on how she "Reset" her life and I started to believe that I could do the same.

You can watch her video by clicking here.

(Reset Girl, Me and My Forehead)

I have known for some time there are some things I need to change, do, accomplish and try, but just didn't have the guts. Things and life were going fine with a few hiccups here and there. Lord knows, change is hard for me, so why would I ever explore changing what was already pretty good? Then I realized "pretty good" could be even better.

Cori states in her video, think of something that completely scares you, that you never thought you could do, then do it. (WHAT??) Then, if you can do THAT, you can do anything...because you did the one thing that scares you the most! Well, my biggest fear are snakes, but I seriously think I would go into convulsions and die if I were to have a snake experience, so I don't think death or medical issues would fall into this category. 

This is where the Leap of Faith comes into play. 

Before heading to the Bahamas, I did a lot of self talk to myself about how I was going to go down this...thing.  To refresh your memory, it's a 60 foot drop. You can see people waiting in line on the right side...just for a size perspective. Ugh!! It is at such an angle, that when you are on top of the slide, ready to go down, you look out and see your feet, nothing else...no slide! You just have to push yourself and go for it! There were several people who got on the slide and had to get off, some were even in tears. This thing is intimidating.

While waiting in line, I started to get the trembles. But, I kept telling myself that if I can do this...I can do anything!! I told Jason, "I can't do this." And you know what he said, "Yes you can...You can do it!"  And I did!! I took a Leap of Faith!

When I got out of the water, I had so many emotions (Jeepers, Katie, it was just a water slide!) but it was more than a water slide to me. After quickly adjusting my suit, which had gone to places that a suit never should go...there was a worker who took my picture (they do that everywhere!) and I had the biggest smile on my face!!  Unfortunately, I didn't buy the picture because it was $40 for two 8x6 pictures!!  But, I still have the memory, which is bigger than any picture! 

One aspect in my life is my blog. I am going to change it up. It's something that I have thought of for a loooong time, but it was easier to keep it as it was, but now I want and am ready to branch out more.

 I started by making a list of ideas that I want to include on my blog and came up with over two pages!! Many are things that I already include, but the "biggest" change for me is that I want to share more of my creative side.  I want to explore You tube-videos, (which Jack has already agreed to help me with) and some days I may just share a quote or a thought.  I am resetting my blog. YAY!!

I would say I am on a "journey" but to me, I am more on a Road Trip. My road is under construction and will be bumpy at the start. I have already gone down many side streets and have encountered forks in the road, some days I will go at a steady, consistent speed and other days, I know I will hit a dead end, a caution area or a detour. But, it is my road that I am building and driving the car and I am pretty excited about it all!

 

Phase Three

If you stop out to our house, you will notice a new smaller house in our North yard.

In this area, we have put what Jason has dreamed of having ever since I have know him. He has mentioned building one of these for YEARS! Even before we moved out here and had the land to complete his dream. Now, the time was right and the boys are at the perfect age to enjoy this addition...

Yep. We have added a pool! (Nice, clean cover we have. Ew.)

We actually started this project in late October. The pool was built, filled and then sealed up for the winter. The construction workers have worked on the project on and off through out the winter.

 Since the weather has been warmer, the construction has been in full gear!

Thought I would share a quick little tour with you. (It is still about 2-3 weeks from being completely done.)

This is a picture the day they poured the cement for the patio area. The unfilled square on the right will be a fire pit.

 Where Jack is standing, that will be the entrance through the fence.

I am now standing at the entrance. You can see the rock wall and how the pool is built into the hill, which is nice for privacy. The odd shaped item to the left of the pool is the basketball hoop.  

The cement guys put another plastic cover over the pool cover so the cement dust wouldn't get int the pool. That is why everything is wrapped and looks a bit stange.

 Jack is now standing where the spring board will be placed. .

Sam is demonstrating how to use the spring board.

This is the view from inside the pool house looking out. This will have a screen that can be lower and raised as wanted. 

On the left side of the room, there are sliding doors which house a "kitchen" type area. A fridge, sink and cupboards. The next door is a storage area.

The back windows are all screen in and then a bathroom on the right. There's also a fireplace to warn up on cool nights. (heehee)

And A view from the just outside the pool house. Amazing how Jack keeps showing up in all my pictures!!!

 These are pictures I took last night. The electricity is connected and Jason pulled back the cover. The water was actually warm, but very nasty and dirty!!

The spring board is now installed and Sam is once again showing how to start a dive. 

We are super excited to jump in and get some good use of this new addition!!

Our House...

Over the last seven years (I cannot believe we have been here for 7 years already!)  we have update, changed and added on to our house. When we bought the house, we were in love with the house, the yard, the location and the possibilities! I thought it would be fun to see over the years how the house has changed.

This is what our house looked like when we first moved into it in 2009.

This is after our remodeling of the house in 2010.

We then added onto the house in 2013. We refer to the addition as the box. Especially from the font!

 But there's more going on in the back of the house!

This is what the back of the house looked like when we first bought it. 

This is what is looks like know after the updates.

We added on a screened-in porch.

The back of the "Box" has lots of windows so we can enjoy the view out the back.

 A view of the side of the house before renovations.

  

After phase one of renovations.

After adding on the addition. 

We now have phase three happening.

Stop by tomorrow to check out our newest "addition!"

Season Ending...

Sam has finished his first year of school track and he really grew to love it! He started out running 200s which he loved.  The coaches then switched him to the 4x800. He accepted it, but wasn't thriled. He did put forth a great effort in training for these "longer" races. Then he was switched to the open 100 and 4x100. He ran those the last three meets and did very well and flet as if he had found his groove!

 Tried to get a picture of the boys together, but I forgot they are not good at opening their eyes in the sun. I think I have 12 pictures of this same pose. Jack said he couldn't do it, so he didn't even try. And whose extra hand is on Jack's shoulder?

Until I think he noticed some cute girl walk by. "How YOU doing?"

 I finally settled for this one. At least they both have good smiles! :)

Another season of firsts under our belt. We all wish it would have lasted a bit longer, because we loved watching Sam run! 

Until next year...

Now, off to Lacrosse season...another favorite of ours!

Just a Few Pictures...

So I was loading up some photos to Snapfish and came across this heading! Oh.

Does that really say I have almost 25,000 pictures loaded onto Snapfish! Oh my. 

I know I don't have that many photos printed and if I do, then I know I don't have that many in scrapbooks. I would say I am officially behind in my scrapbooking. Really behind. Like so behind that I need to just start from where I am at now. 

I am the poster-girl for getting your pictures out of the computer. No. I am actually the poster-girl for keeping your photos in your computer!

Plot Twist!

Just wanted to share with you another card I created this weekend. 

As you all know, I am an avid reader, so when I saw this stamp "Betty Loves Books" from Stamping Bella, I knew I just had to get it for my stash! I finally got around to using it and created this card!

The sentiment is from a new Taylored Expressions Stamp Set called: Plot Twist. I used my Copic markers to color the card. I planned to give the cards I created to my mom for Mother's Day (yes, I already gave them to her!) so I wanted the girl to resemble my mom with her dark hair and glasses! She, too, is a big reader!

 I also thought that this card would make a great card to hold a gift card from our town's new bookstore, Plot Twist!

I am finding that card making is pretty darn fun! 

All three of them that I did this weekend!

Making Cards!

I am not a card maker, but lately I have been enjoying playing around with creating cards and using my Misti stamping tool. If you are a card maker, a Misti is a must!!

Check out the blog I wrote for Memory Bound about the Misit Stamping Tool.

This weekend I had some time to try out the new Hero Arts Color Layering Butterflies. I must admit, right now this is my favorite stamp set!

 

I loved how you can layer the stamp three times the (Misti making it soooo easy!) to create a beautiful butterfly image!

Here was the first card I created. 

I stamped the card using the Ranger Dye Inks: Wild Orchid, Grape Soda and Glacier White. The sentiment comes from a Penny Black Stamp Set: Special Thoughts.  The enamel dots are all from Doodle Bug.

This is the next card I created.

This time I used Ranger Dye Inks Caribbean Coast, Blue Ribbon and Glacier White.The sentiment is from the Jillian stamp Set: Simply Sympathy. Enamel dots are again from Doodle Bug. 

I had so much fun stamping these cards and can't wait to play around with this stamp set some more!  Stop by tomorrow to see my second favorite stamp set of the week!