Chicken Coop

This layout honestly came together because I wanted to use that feather background paper. I just loved it and wanted to be sure that it didn't become one of those papers I hoarded and never used. Because, we all have those papers and then they become papers we don't love instead of layouts.

Since we acquired ten chickens this spring, the logical topic for my layout with a feather background was them. More specifically their coop. 

There were a few different aspects of the coop and it's building that I wanted to cover but they really didn't flow well together so I broke up my journaling into three different areas. 

I really liked this technique and will be using it again. It would have required a lot more space for me to segue into each different topic of the coop and it's building if I'd tried to keep all the journaling together. I tend to get wordy when I'm covering all the bases of a topic. I want it to flow naturally and make sense and all it does is turn into a lot of rambling and the main points get a bit lost and overwhelmed. (Like I'm doing now.)

Most of the products on this page were fairly new, or at least new to me. Except for the chicken that I used for the first word of the title, that's an oldie from Cosmo Cricket. I love that it's a hen, or looks like a hen. Most chicken stuff is roosters and I only have hens! It's another reason why I like feathers so much right now and wanted to use this paper. :)

Fourteen Things I Love About My Valentine!

1. His values. He has an old-fashioned work ethic that makes the older generation respect him and the younger generation emulate him.

2. His love of children. He is a great dad and loves kids and babies and young people as much as I do. And, they love him too!

3. His masculinity. He is tall and strong and capable. He has lots of guy friends and loves sports and beer and mowing our lawn. He's a man's man.

4. His femininity. (Oh, he's gonna hate this one.) He watches Lifetime movies and will talk to me for hours in the middle of the night if something is bothering him. He also cried at our wedding and the births of our two children.

5. His outgoing personality. He will go out of his way to engage with a fast food employee and make them laugh. I love that!

6. His looks. Yep, I'm superficial. But my man is tall and handsome and has gorgeous blue eyes. And his walk is powerful and confident and masculine!

7. His confidence. There is nothing that he won't try to do. He has none of that pesky self-doubt when it comes to trying something new.

8. His intelligence. That man of mine is smart! He is one of the most knowledgeable people in his field and hearing him troubleshoot a pump over the phone for one of his customers is just amazing!

9. His laugh. Specifically, that laugh that I can surprise out of him. The one that sounds like he's trying not to laugh at some crazy comment I made but can't help himself. I love that laugh!

10. His loyalty. And not just his loyalty to me. I know that he will never stray. But his loyalty to mom and pop stores, certain brands and even his sports teams. He is not a fair weather fan. He is with you through thick and thin.

11. His friendship. When he's heading to a friend's house it's often because he's going to go help so-and-so do something. He's also my best friend. I love that on those rare occasions that we get to go out, we can talk for hours and not have to bring up our kids.

12. His lack of chauvinism. He changed diapers when our kids were in diapers, he cooked meals when my PTSD left me unable, he respects my crazy(and often useless) knowledge of science, and he doesn't "babysit" our kids when I am gone.

13. His love for our children. Mickey and Audrey are the most important things in his life. He helps them with homework, sports and everything else. He gives them the verbal, physical, and emotional affection that lets them know that their father loves them.

14. He loves me! I am not the easiest person to live with or to love, and he does! He knows all my deep, dark secrets. My bad habits. My anger and despair. And, while he may not always understand me, he loves me.

Birthday Card for Him

Since Andrew had a birthday last month, I had to get cracking and make him a masculine birthday card. I just bought a ton (don't tell him) of scrappy goodies at places like Tuesday Morning, TJ Maxx and Marshall's. I'd seen on 2Peas that they had lots (and lots) of paper pads for six bucks! They also had some fun embellies, Thickers and 6x6 pads for cheap! So, I figured I'd better bust out my new purchases to make my mister a birthday card.

I used the Darling Dear 6x6 pad, Amy Tan Daily Moss Thickers, and Amy Tan fabric stickers from my little shopping spree on this card. I also used some enamel dots from My Mind's Eye and a little doodad from Cosmo Cricket, I think. :)

The little birthday is a stamp from Pink Paislee that I've had for ages and it's in a very large set so I never really use it. But, with my new stamp organization (see the video from Mercy Tiara here) it's really easy to find the sentiments and designs I need.

And this cute little crown from the cut apart page in the 6x6 pad was perfect except for one thing. It said "Dream Big" in a reddish font that really didn't work. So I covered it with a fabric sticker and added an enamel dot.

Perfect for my non-mushy but super amazing guy.

Happy Birthday, my love!

Around Here...

Around here...we are in full on Tee-Ball mode. It's our first year of what is most likely to be many if you judge by the look on Little Man's face down there. He's sliding into home as a Kindergartner during a Tee-Ball game where there are no outs and no one wins. The kid is 100% Hettwer and 100% in love with the game.

Around here...Audrey is giving us quite the weekend. She woke up Saturday morning with crazy huge hives on her arms, legs and rear. They freaked me out enough that I cancelled my plans to scrap all day and stayed home with her. They finally faded around lunch time. They came back late Saturday night. She woke up and came out to me around 10:00 complaining about the itching. The hives this time around were even more prevalent. She had them in the previous places and some on her face and lower back. After a shower and some antihistamine, she stopped complaining enough to get engrossed in a TV show and when she woke up this morning, they were all gone. So, instead of a movie with my brother and uncle on Sunday I spent the day hanging out at home. Andrew thought I was overreacting but with my baby looking like this, I really couldn't leave her!

Around here...I've been enjoying my Mother's Day present from Andrew. He detailed Bess for me! Doesn't she look purty?

Around here...Andrew's also been in Tee-Ball mode. He's been able to make it to almost every game and does a great job helping coach the kids. That's Mickey there on third base. 

Around here...I've been trying to be a good Team Mom. The other Team Mom and I made this cute Lottery Scratch-It Tree for the Whiskey Hill Kids Bingo Night. We didn't win anything but we sure had fun!

Around here...she finally spent her birthday money! She wanted this horse and Barbie set but it was too much. We waited and waited and finally it went on sale! She even had enough left over to get a Brave book! 

Around here...we are getting used to me working. I tried for three months to juggle 40 hours of work (12 in the office and 28 at home) and still being the kind of mom I want to be to my kids. It's just not possible for me. So, I've cut back to 12 hours in the office and 18 at home. That extra 10 hours should be enough to get our house in order and still have the kind of fun times with my kids that we both crave. I'm really lucky in that my Dad is able to come take care of my little ones while I'm at work. It's great because they have someone who loves them almost as much as I do and he used to come over 2-3 times a week anyways so it's not too much more trouble for him. He also cleans when he's bored so that's an extra bonus for me!  LOL!

Around here...we are lovin' life!

Cabo!

Last month, my husband and I got to go to Cabo, Mexico for a work trip.  (Yeah, it's tough being a supportive wife!)

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures from that trip!

 

Lunch in old town.

Pelicans at sunset.

Another company was also at our hotel and they had a turtle release one night!

Kickin' it with my sparkly aqua toes and 2M's logo on the beach!!!

On the glass bottomed boat ride.

Our crew in New Town.

The arch!

The view from our hotel room.

My favorite part of the view.  ;)

A silversmith in Old Town.  His coworkers called me Barbie!

Me and the girls!  (I wore three dresses this trip.  It's unheard of, people!)

A virgin strawberry daiquiri, aka fruit smoothie, aka my breakfast!

Relaxing.

A new friend, aka a British fascinator, aka my favorite picture!!!

A last look at Cabo.

 

It was a wonderful six days but I was so glad to be home.  I hadn't seen my kids in over a week and I missed them like crazy!

Getting All Dolled Up!

We attended Andrew's cousin's wedding this weekend.  It was a lovely wedding at a gorgeous outdoor venue.  Their colors were green and brown and it was just beautiful.

 

Here's a shot of Andrew's cousin George and his lovely bride, Jenn cutting the cake.

 

 

After the ceremony, I decided that this would be a perfect time to get some shots of my little family as we were all dolled up for the wedding. 

 

 

I picked the settings on this one and Andrew took the picture.  Aud's smile is a little less than happy, don't you think?  LOL!  She was either not looking at the camera, giving a huge funny faced grin, or this.  I chose this.  ;)

After that, I grabbed Andrew's sister Kathy and begged her to be my tripod so that I could get this next shot.  Evidence of me...in a skirt!  Whoo-hoo!!!

 

 

And, another shot by Kathy of Andrew and I. 

 

 I really like how these turned out (the light was gorgeous!) and I may be ordering some of these as canvases for our home.  I especially love the one of Andrew with the kids, so cute!  Next time, I'm getting one of all four of us though!