Lean In

This arrived on my doorstep today...

Yep, ridiculous, I know, given that I already have the Cricut with SCAL.,..but dang it, Nichol Magourik made me do it..the stuff she makes with this thing blows me away...and I feel the need to create layouts like hers..lol...actually, I just LOVE the digital designs you can download to cut from the huge library Quikutz has..and I got a SWEET deal..it's used and the girl had a $200 download card..she only used the machine once ..so I got a good deal..I always buy my machines like this used..never gotten a bum product..2Peas has a "For Sale" message board now..you should check it out..so, now I've got to get this thing up and running...

Today was Day 2 of VBS..my kids have been having so much fun! The program is called Crocodile Dock and everything is "bayou" related...

One of our Pastors, Steve, used to be a stand up comic, so he is hilarious..and did a great job being "Pharoah" today in the story of the 10 plagues..it was a hoot and the kids LOVED it..here he is breaking out with boils (red dot stickers)...

(Note to self: next purchase will be a new point and shoot camera..my 7 year old Kodak 3.1 pixel is just not getting it anymore..any suggestions?)

Anyways, fun day today!

I survived...

Vacation Bible School Day 1..lol..I'm a Bayou Crew Leader this year and have about 8 kids to keep track of, get from point A to point B, minister to, say shhhh a hundred times, give candy to, get wet playing games with (and oh yes, I got WET today, games involved a sprinkler and wet balls..and you know how I am about getting my hair wet? i just grinned, said what the heck, and went with it) , sing and dance with, and lots more...this is the first time I've really done a major role in VBS..and it was fun..there's only one boy on my crew that takes some extra attention, we'll say..that boy is slightly out of control, but we'll get through it..I have to say for day 1, things ran really smoothly..we have a great staff at our church..looking forward to three more days of it..and my kids had a great time too!

My heart was warmed when one of the fifth grade girls on my crew that I just met today, came up randomly towards the end, gave me a big hug and told me I was a good leader..awww, she's super sweet..love that age of girls anyways..we have varied ages from a kindergartner to rising fifth graders on our team..so I've buddied up some of the older kids with some of the younger ones to help me keep track of them..it gets a little crazy...but that made me feel so good when that girl did that..

On another note, can I just say I'm pumped that a brand new Hobby Lobby just opened about three miles from me!! Grand opening today..I may have to make a run this week to check it out..

Oh, I caved last week and bought another scrapbooking electronic cutter,ahem..got a a good deal on a used one..it's supposed to be here tomorrow and I'll break down and share what it is..

Gotta go make a Smile Tile and than I may need a nap..it was super hard getting up so early this morning!

Some new family pictures..

We didn't make it back to the state park that morning for pictures as planned because we were out way too late the night before..but we did take some on the beach the night we went out to eat..

My Mom and Dad and Itsy..

You'd never know that I had just set the timer and run into position, would you? lol..

It's always such a huge hassle to get everyone clean, dressed, happy, and down to the beach..wait on the lighting to be right..fuss and argue with Chaz to cooperate, etc..but then, I'm always so happy to have a new batch of family pictures..  :)

I'll admit, I was a HUGE fan back in the 80's...

So, we're here at the beach and I happen to go upstairs and flip on the TV to CNN and what the heck? Michael Jackson is in cardiac arrest? Weird..Farrah Fawcett died yesterday and then the King of Pop too? Every time we go on vacation, some celebrity dies...

Now, I think Michael had lost it in the past about 20 years..the whole nose thing? Gross..he was wack..but back in the 80's in elementary and middle school, I was mildly obsessed with Michael..back in the "Beat It" days ...

...and then when "Thriller" came out, oh my! I remember watching that video over and over and then in fifth grade, at our school, each class would put on a little act for the whole school on the last day of school..it was a big deal..guess what our class did? We had the perfect black boy in our class (Kerry, still remember his name)..he had the whole Michael geri curl hair do going on and owned one of the red/black jackets, parachute pants, and the glove..so we decided to do the video Thriller...Kerry led us and the rest of the class dressed up as the zombies..and we learned the dance and all..and it rocked..My Mom is over next to me saying we have pictures somewhere..I'll have to dig those up when I get home..

So, can't believe he is dead! Hope he's in a good place?

Ok, back to the regularly scheduled vacation..just felt the need to say something..lol

Day 3...

Today we went down the road to the state park..once we got down the trail, it opened up to an area that made us think we were back in St.John, minus the super clear blue water..it was a neat little area with cool trees and little creatures..

Chaz had visions of snorkeling with Brad, but that lasted about 1 second when he realized the mask didn't fit him..(I've mentioned my Dad's love for football jerseys, haven't I, at some point on this blog, I know I did..so, pretty much any pic of my Dad will include some kind of football jersey..he's just like that..lol)

(

(I'm completely hating the way I look lately, but I refuse to keep my issues from me being in pictures with my family..uggh, I look like a linebacker in this picture, but I like that it's of me and my Mom,so I'm going with it)

There were all sorts of cool trees that made great places for kids to sit..we're planning to go back in the morning and do a few family shots, dressed nicely..Brad's idea..he's determined to have family pictures here..

Brad was there too, but had his head in the water most of the time...My mom took some family pictures of us, but they are on her camera...

Ok, going to eat here tonight after pictures on the beach...

Cya..

One of the reasons I like staying at a condo...

BIG windows and sliding glass doors...that's not what you were expecting me to say, was it? lol..love playing with my camera and depth of field with big windows..cause our house is dark and doesn't get light like that...

My parents brought their little dog, Itsy, with us on vacation..

(zoomed these in 100% and had crystal clear eyes...love it!)

Ok, off to the state park...supposed to be tons of sea creatures there..fun fun..I really want to take my Canon, but I can't bring myself to take it..too afraid of sand, wind, water..ya know?

Hi from the beach...!

We got here very late Monday night and hit the beach/pool yesterday...fun, fun..and I actually kept myself well protected from the sun, so no sunburn for me last night..so unlike me, but oh so much better! We're in Cape San Blas, by the way..a new place for us..we usually go to Destin..just keeping it low key this trip..it's all about the beach and pool..I really need to go wash my hair, but what's the point? I'm about the put a hat on again and go to the beach..

The kids are bouncing off the wall and driving us all CRAZY (well, mainly Chaz with his constant need to be entertained)..lol..but we're about to head to the beach and let them channel some of that energy..geeeez, wish I had that much energy! 

Here are a few pics from yesterday..I usually just take my little old Kodak easy share with me to places like the beach and pool..planning to break out the Canon this evening with Bailey ..we'll see..

Yesterday, the waves were really rough..I was feeling a tad paranoid with the kids, but we kept them close by..hoping it's calmer today..

hee hee...this picture is for our friend Keith..that would be an ice cold Coors Light he's knocking back..

My Mom was MIA in pictures yesterday for some reason? She's like that..flies below the radar..oh yeah, I did take a few, but she made me delete them..uggh..

Ok, later..

Look who I got to photograph last evening...

Yep, "Baby Charlotte" is 1 year old now..complete with a few little teeth and walking..STILL is not too thrilled to have her picture taken, but I caught a few...More later..

Trying to get used to editing pictures on my laptop? The screen just looks different to me and for some reason, I'm having a hard time telling if my pictures look right..?

We just spent the afternoon DYING in the near 100 degree weather at Chaz's BMX State Qualifier..Holy cow, he rocked the house...took first in his group!! So exciting..pictures to come from that too..right now, I'm going to get my bathing suit on and join the family swimming across the street..they came in, changed, and out the door they went...it takes me a little longer to get myself together..

Also, getting ready for our trip on Monday..got the grocery shopping done for that yesterday..where we are going is lacking in restaurants and grocery stores, so we're taking a ton of stuff and cooking in most nights..that way we can stay on the beach until the sun goes down..ahhh, can't wait..Bailey asks every morning when she gets up "are we going to Florida today"...ha...also got my hair cut..it was needing it badly..that always makes me feel better...

Ok, back later!

Happy Hump Day...

A few layouts for ya before I head out to take Chaz to his little church activity and then Bailey to hers...

Bailey and her "BFF" Elizabeth...

From when we went to the Great Wolf Lodge..whoa, I dug out some OLD stickers for this one--the trees and the bear footprints, but that was how the lodge was decorated, so they worked..nothing like digging WAY down deep into your stash and using things..however, it took me forever to get this layout how I wanted it..

Have a good day!

This beauty just arrived on my doorstep!!

And I am one happy girl..