Warm Wishes {and Ryan's winter dance}

Happy Monday my friends.  How are all your holiday preparations coming along?  Our decorations are up in the house and the Christmas cards are in the mail. Very, very little shopping is done...so that is the plan for this week to get that moving along!  We had a busy weekend of wresting, parties, dances and errands.  I had time to craft last night after not having crafted for a couple of weeks due to Thanksgiving. I  played along with the current CAS-ual Fridays Challenge of snowflake...it has been way too long since I've played along there.  Love Michele's challenges.  These are new Neat & Tangled goodies that I got during the recent sales.  Spent lots of time with my Zig markers last night so get ready for more watercoloring this week!

Thought I'd also share some pictures from Ryan's winter formal. This is the first time they have done a winter formal and he had a blast. It was on a river boat on the Ohio River. I used to go to sorority dancers on river boats!  The group of kids he went with are all a great group of friends. Love these kids...and you can tell they were having fun!

May Your Christmas Be Merry & Bright {and Ryan's Senior Pics!}

Hi there, popping in with yes (my third Christmas card in a row) this week. This card is for the awesome sketch over at CAS(e) this Sketch.  At first, I was going to use poinsettia stamps for this sketch, but changed my mind once I saw this PaperTrey Ink set in my stash. In real life, this card has a bunch of shimmer from covering it with clear Wink of Stella, but it's not showing in my photo.  Oh well.

Since I'm here, I wanted to share Ryan's senior pictures. There are more than these, but these are my four favorite.  His photographer did a fabulous job capturing his personality. I really can't believe he is a senior. Love him to pieces.

I have a senior...

{Ryan - 18 - from our vacation}

A new school year is upon us and it is hard to believe that it is Ryan's senior year. Time is flying by.  I find myself with thoughts of next summer when we'll be backing up to take him off to college.  A wide arrange of emotions go through my head, excitement, sadness, pride, nerves and most of all love.  I'm proud of the young man he is and will be.  Excited for what the future holds for him.  Encouraging him to cherish today as he looks forward to tomorrow.  So...to send him off to the start of his senior year (this week he starts his final year of show choir and is a senior leader for the freshman orientation), I wanted to make a card for him; encouraging him to be plan ahead, enjoy each day, cherish it, work hard and never forget the value of family.  Most of all...a message that will always be the same no matter what stage of life:  my love for him. Be you...dream big...my beautiful boy.

So here's his card; being entered over in the One Layer Simplicity Challenge.

{Ryan and I from our vacation...love his smile}

Welcome Baby

I love creating just for the sake of creating.  I had a bit of time yesterday and decided to play along with CASology.  I have all kinds of extra goodies from my 12 Kits of Occasions Baby kit from a few months ago.  Paired up the patterned paper and sweet little owl with the PaperSmooches Welcome dies and stamps.  Happy to have a baby card for my stash.

The weekend was gorgeous.  Perfect, perfect weather all weekend long!  My mum and I went to see Ryan's play for their final show on Saturday night. He was having an absolutely ball on stage. His hair was supposed to be blond but looked a little green. :)  So fu

And what cold be more fun than meeting up with blogging friends.  Michele and her hubby, Tom, came down for a visit this weekend. We had no problem at all chatting, chatting away!  So awesome to meet Michele in person. We had a wonderful time. Here's hoping we can do it again soon!

Celebrate {and Wedding Singer Pics}

Happy Saturday my friends. It's been a long time since I've popped in on a Saturday but I have a bit of time before I run out the door.  First up is a very, quick card I made for my a birthday card I needed yesterday based on the CAS(e) this Sketch layout.  The cards from the design team are incredible as always. Be sure to check them out.

Next up are pictures from The Wedding Singer that opened up on Wednesday night. We're going back tonight and I can't wait.  The kids are incredibly talented and the show was hilarious.  Being an 80s girl it was right up my alley. I smiled and laughed the whole way through. Love seeing Ryan and all of his friends perform.  Amazingly talented group of kids!  

 {my Billy Idol in the front left}

{guys number - Ryan is top right....love that they are all singing their hearts out}

{wedding in Vegas scene...Ronald Reagan, Tina Turner, Billy Idol - Ryan!; Cindy Lauper and Mr. T}

{and Ryan's cheering section on opening night...grandparents, us and my brother/sister-in-law...we're cracking up at our friend who snapped about 15 pictures in succession of us!}

{lots of stage make up!}

Okay...off to get the day going...have an 8.5 mile run up this morning for my 1/2 marathon training...only 3 weeks until race day.   First Communion class, confirmation service hours, lunch with Michele from I Card Everyone...can't wait to meet here and then back to the final performance tonight. Busy but awesome day ahead!  Hope you have a beautiful Saturday!

The Good Life (And a Bat Boy for the Cincinnati Reds!}

I mentioned yesterday that I was working on my Project Life album.  I have a ton of extra journal cards and I decided to use them for a gift. I have a fairly flat gift that I wanted to wrap up.  I used the two journaling cards and added some flowers from my Reverse Confetti set. The gift was finished up with a touch of silk ribbon and a mini clothespin.  Love the end result. Below is a close up.

Speaking of a good life, several weeks ago, Ryan had a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a bat boy for the Cincinnati Reds.  Here are a few pictures.  Ryan was given this opportunity through my work and it was so cool!  We were also lucky enough to get front row tickets along with the bat boy opportunity so I was snapping away in the front row seat right behind home plate. Ryan said that the umpire was super nice.  And man...I never realized how much a bat boy had to do.  He was picking up a bat or bringing out additional balls just about every other swing a player had.

And here are some close ups of the players.  Unfortunately the Reds lost, but it was such an awesome opportunity for Ryan.

And here's one of Jonathon and Marcel from the game.  Collin was with me in the front row too, but didn't want his picture taken.

Thank You {and show choir camp}

Hello there friends. A quick card for this week's PaperSmooches Sparks Challenge.  I loved the stripes on the inspiration photo and used it as my stepping off point for my card.  All the stamps are from PS (Reflections, Bold Buzzwords and Many Thanks).

On Saturday, I picked up Ryan from show choir camp. To say he was beaming from ear to ear was an understatement. He had an absolutely amazing time making new friends, learning and performing.  It was a fabulous trip home hearing about his week.  He was so happy and there is simply nothing better than your child being so happy.   There were seven show choir groups total (75 kids each) and Ryan also participated in a vocal jazz group.  The vocal jazz group was a try out group so he was extra thrilled to be able to participate in that as well.  If you're interested, feel free to check out the YouTube video. The vocal jazz performance is at 1:08 (Ryan is in front of the mic on the left hand side) and the group he was in for the show choir performance is at 1:36.  He is in the second row on the middle slightly to the left at the start.  I think he's ready to go back for next year already.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Today we're celebrating my oldest's 17th birthday.  I will admit to being a very proud mom.  He is growing into a very nice young man.  Most importantly, I love that he is happy.  He enjoys school, show choir, writing music, umpiring and hanging out with his friends.  He loves being with his family especially his cousins.  I love that we consistently here that he is outgoing, confident yet not cocky, and not afraid to have conversations with his friends and their parents.  He may not know it yet, but I know that he'll more than succeed in life.  He has a calm way with others that will serve him well his entire life. I'm proud of him and love him more than words can say.  Happy 17th Ryan! 

And before I go, I have a card to share with you for my dear friend, Sandy's daughter.  She'll see this card before Ashley does!  Ashley graduates next week from 8th grade.  My card features the school colors of her high school.  Ashley is a beautiful, amazingly talented young lady.  I can't wait to see what all she accomplishes in high school. She's bright, outgoing and an amazing volleyball player. Here's to an amazing start to high school for Ashley.  The card is for the Viva La Verve sketch.

Embrace Today {and Ryan's Show Choir Performance}

Happy Monday.  I had a really nice relaxing weekend with our family and time with several of our friends.  We're in between show choir finishing and baseball/soccer starting. The boys are practicing, but games don't start for a couple of weeks. I took advantage of the touch of free time and spent a couple hours in my craft room yesterday.  I know I say this all the time, but I love creating.  I made this card for the current CASE this Sketch and the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge.  I think the sentiment on this card is perfect.  I will most likely send this to Pat's aunt.  She cares for Pat's uncle who had a stroke several years ago. She is so dedicated to him and really takes time to count her blessings despite very difficult circumstances.

Ryan's show choir video was also posted on You Tube over the weekend.  I loved their show this year.  If you're interesting in watching, click here.  I hope your week gets off to a great start.  Jonathon's hasn't been posted yet, but as soon as it is I will be sure to share that as well.

Happy Birthday {and show choir pics}

I loved the color combo at CASE Study this week...and yummo...the inspiration photo was fabulous.  I had these glitter snowflakes sitting on my craft desk so this was a super quick card to make.  I love easy CAS cards that have a touch of bling!

As I mentioned yesterday, Saturday night Ryan and Jonathon had a show choir fundraiser.  No pictures of the boys on stage, but we did get some pictures with our family who were there to support them.  It was so awesome to have Pat's mom there.  She has been sick since before Thanksgiving so it has been way too long since we've all been together.  Her smiles in the pictures below say it all.  Madeleine is home from her internship in New York.  We're so happy to have her home too!  And I really don't know what my brother, Neal, is doing in the bottom two pictures...just being himself! It's going to be an awesome year of show choir with both boys competing. I can't wait...

 

  

Brewin' Up Birthday Wishes {and State Champs!}

Hello friends and happy Monday.  I ordered my first Reverse Confetti stamps and was happy to get with inky with them yesterday. Amy and Erin have been enabling with all their coffee sets.  This is my second set, so I'm not quite in competition with them {yet}, but this is a super fun set. I had fun playing along with the current sketch challenge over at Reverse Confetti.

Before I leave, I wanted to share some local news. Our high school football team won the Ohio State Championship on Friday. Our boys don't play football, but the whole community is riding the high!  Loveland has never made it to a state championship game before this year. The last two games before the championship had amazing finishes. The second to last game they came back from being down 28 to 14 with five minutes left to win 38 to 28.  The last game they came back to tie the game with 17 seconds left and went into double overtime to win.  Needless to say, the community motto behind this team quickly became "We believe."  They have had amazing support from the community and their students. Seven charter buses full of students took the four hour drive to Canton, Ohio to watch them play.  This plus lots of parents/supporters made for a huge crowd in the stands. Way to go Loveland Tigers!

{our first year head coach...right after the game finished thanking the student section!}

{the State Champions...Loveland Tigers!} 

{Ryan and his friends...Matt and Dean...on the way to the game in the spirit bus}