last day of june...

so hard to believe june is almost gone. hmmm...no use in mourning the reality, only thing to do is live the summer that is here. today that meant get to the pool and swim, swim, swim. and that we did. it was so completely refreshing and simply fun.

other summery things going on around here: time to decorate for july 4th. so today will include taking down my vintagey items that i had up for the months of may and june. and pull out all things july 4thy. i have been adding creatively to that collection now for a few years. this year i will add a banner using the jennie bowlin bingo cards as the base. now, i HAD the trendy 4x4 papers brand new in a package on my desk waiting to be used with this banner project. but they are now no where to be found. and i am confounded, to say the least. i just have no idea where they have escaped to. and believe me i have looked. sigh. i hate it when that happens.

so, off to go unpack july 4th, make a banner, and pray those silly little papers show their pretty little faces.

i will leave you with the layouts for WIP's July kit. very, very fun kit. if you do not have one...go get one.

make sure you go to the gallery at the wip site to see what everyone else has done. lots of inspo goin' on, girls.

is it already monday again?

Last week blew through with us being at VBS everyday. And here it is Monday already. Today I have posted here, at the Work In Progress blog. You can also see my contribution to the gallery, as well as the guest designer for July, Roree Rumph. She really nailed this kit this month.

Enjoy your day!

monday and all day

Saw this on Ali E's site, which she found here: apple like oranges . Inspired by The Simple Woman's Day Book What a great way to capture a day.

Outside my window...84 degrees, sunny and breezy. Just beautiful.

I am thinking...about my girls and helping them through their challenges.

I am thankful for...so very, very much. I am abundantly blessed.

From the kitchen...chicken baking in the crock pot getting ready for Mexican Chicken Soup for dinner.

I am wearing...long shorts and the t shirt from today's VBS.

I am creating...birthday presents for Gracie: pj's.

I am going...to make our menu for the week.

I am reading...Heaven by Randy Alcorn; Happiness is a Serious Problem by Dennis Prager; Beth Moore's Psalms of Ascent.

I am hoping...we can get all our yard projects done before family visits in 2 weeks.

I am hearing...KRLA radio online. I miss So Cal.

Around the house...the older kids are working on a puzzle in the dining room right where all my sewing stuff is out. Sort of messy. But it is a well used home, and that makes one joyful.

One of my favorite things...our great summer meals of late on the patio. So satisfying and the yard is so beautiful right now. Most especially the fresh greens from our garden, they are just so good this year.

A few plans for the rest of the week: vbs, vbs, vbs and vbs.

My favorite photo today: the yard in June

Tomorrow: I hope to have Gracie's pj's complete to show off.

Have a fabulous summers day!

did you see...

this?
absolutely adorable....i feel a challenge coming on...anyone want to join me?

summer chore chart

This chore chart is in no way comprehensive, just so you know. I made this chart for one of my daughter's to train in her the habit of the very basics needed to be done in her morning. Just felt the need to defend my mothering, and this is not all of her responsibilities. Charlotte Mason talks frequently about the need to teach our children habits, and these are very basic daily habits that I want to become a natural for her. Thus, the chore chart.
Now, chores, as we all know, are NOT fun, but a chore chart can be. I kept this simple, sweet and to the point. It also matches my daughter’s room, which, if you know me is a no brainer. The flowers on the bottom are cut outs with wall putty attaching them to the chart. As she completes a particular chore, she moves a flower up to that task to show that it is done.

The dimensions are 12x12, and mounted on foam core. Using some Martha Steward p/p {green with polka dot} I added a strip of Collage Press p/p to distinguish the title. The puffy letters are from American Craft. The flowers are stampin up rub ons with a bit of bling added here and there. If you gotta do chores, you at least need bling for the happiness factor. The flourish around the title is also stampin up rub ons.
She loves it! Yeah. Mission accomplished for me.
Now, on to the other children.

today...

you can find me here.

birthday weekend

the summer birthday party's have begun. how great it is to have a summer birthday. i don't, however, but two of my daughters do, as does my husband, and several extended family members. i can say this since i don't have one, but summer birthday's are the best!

living here does not always guarantee a warm june weekend, so this party had to come inside. but it was still summer in it's festivities.

of course the traditional blowing out of the candles.
we ate very yummy frozen strawberry and banana cheesecake.
watched a slide show from avery's birthday trip.
and of course, opened presents and simply had fun!
the contrast in gifts is enough to highlight who my daughter really is. her cousins bought her an oversized nerf dart gun so she could compete in the big boys wars. and her grandmother thoughtfully bought her a set of necklace and bracelet. both which she will cherish. (but you know that nerf gun is going to get a work out).
happy birthday, baby!

more wip...

can you tell i have loved designing for trish and wip? it's been so enjoyable, challenging and fulfilling all at the same time.
here are a few more layouts using the june kit.



and....here is a sneak of what is in store for july's kit! july looks so very wonderfully vintage influenced. just beautiful.

so what are you up to today?

wip june gallery is up!

trish posted the june work in progress gallery today!!!! go check it out here. these kits are very fun, and upbeat! great for spring break or even up and coming summer fun. go check them out!

oh, and happy JuNe!