Where has the summer gone?

I can't believe it's already the end of July. We go this afternoon to finish official registration for 2nd grade. I'm so proud of my second grader!! I'm just really glad he's made it to second grade. He worked hard last year on his second trip through first grade. He had a fabulous teacher and that helped him along the most!! I'm very anxious to meet his new teacher today and check out the school. Since we're in a new school - I'm a little worried of course. I feel like I have a whole new group of teachers/students to sort of teach about Cole. I'm hoping the little things that are difficult for him and set him apart from the others won't be so noticeable as he gets older. He couldn't actually care less about registration. He keeps saying it's boring and he doesn't want to go. I told him we were checking out his classroom, school and meeting his teacher. He's not interested! Crazy kid!

I've been giving a lot of thought to the holidays - yes already! I know it's just July. BUT Jason is interning for the Ronald McDonald House. It's part of his Master's Program. He picked them since we've had so much help from them. We lived at the "Ronald" for 6 weeks when we first got to Memphis and Cole was going through radiation. We haven't been able to do much to give back to the one in Memphis, since we live here so Jason was super excited about being able to give back here locally. Cole and I went with him Sunday after church and lunch to check it all out. Cole was very excited to go and see it all. It's only half the size of the one in Memphis - but it's still a fantastic place. I started thinking immediately of things I could do for the mom's there. I know how special it was for me when we had people come and do things for us. I scrapbooked all our pictures from surgery and radiation and chemo while we were there thanks to St. Jude. They had a rep from the hospital supply us with a scrapbook and supplies we would need to scrapbook with other cancer mom's while we were there. It was great - it was therapy for me. There were many mom things offered while we were there - knitting, facials, fun stuff to get our minds off what we were going through. Anyway, I was thinking that a scrapbooking class like I attended each month would be a bit much for me to handle on my own. I mean, I can't fund all the supplies for up to 50 moms to make a scrapbook, let alone adhesive and paper trimmers, etc. So Jason said to think smaller - he has to remind me to do that often. So I was thinking, since most of the families may only be there for a week or so, I needed to come up with something they could put together and finish in less than an hour, possible an hour and a half. So I thought about doing a class in October and December and making a mini album. This way - it's done when they leave and all they have to do is add pictures later. So I've been thinking about how to accomplish this. I'm pretty sure I can use the Accucut from Scrap Etc and make some albums with chipboard I already have on hand and for Halloween last year I did a super easy paper bag album, so that I could definitely tackle on a large scale if needed. I'm going to check with the "Ronald" this week to see if this is something I can do with them and how they would want me to do it. I would love to do it on a night when Jason is there working so maybe (I haven't told him this yet) he could hang out and watch the kids so the mom's can come. I know some moms would think they couldn't come if they are there alone with their child. I'd hate for them to miss out on that.

So, this is what I'm hoping to accomplish in the next few weeks - a plan for a class, have the details in place with RMH and start working on supplies. The good thing is it's CHA time in the crafting world and Making Memories is awesome about giving stuff away. Well I entered to win their new Halloween stuff and I won. (much to the disappointment of some who didn't win, sadly) So I know it's just one of everything in their little goodie giveaway, but I'm hoping I could split some stuff up - cute some shapes out with my Slice maybe - and use that in my class. So, a prayer was answered!! YAY!!! It's a start!!

Okay, well, it's time to go battle the registration crowd! Wish us luck on a great classroom and teacher! I'm so nervous for him - new friends and a new place.

Oh, and in case I don't blog before next week - We're heading to Memphis on Tuesday for Cole's check up. He'll have labs, see endocrine and get an IV on Tuesday, MRI on Wednesday and therapies and the doctor on Thursday. Jason has to work so I'm going to be a big girl and take Cole by myself. It's time. I've only gone twice without Jason and my mom and cousin each took a turn and went with me. It's not that I can't handle Cole by myself, its just that you're sitting there waiting for the news - waiting to hear he's still cancer free. And waiting by yourself is a little nerve wracking. One of Cole's friends will be back for a check up the same three days - so that is a blessing for us. Cole will love seeing Austin and I'll get to visit with his mom - so that makes it a little less nerve wracking. Anyway - wish Cole luck (and me, too I guess) but keep your fingers crossed and prayers said for clear scans!! We know He'll see to it, but it makes us feel a bit better to hear if officially from the doctor.

Okay - now I'm gone...........

haven't been blogging, i've been creating though!

So, had a relatively slow week which means time to scrapbook. Michelle came over Friday and we scrapbooked - I think I got one layout done and then I worked on my albums from Wishful Thinking - got three albums complete but didn't put in the photos yet - that's on the list for this weekend though. Carol came over Tuesday and the scrapping continued. I did another layout while she was here, then another after she left! I love scrapbooking with friends - it's just more fun. Yesterday I tweaked a layout that I wasn't happy with - it's better now. Put together a little organizer from Jason's G'ma (her birthday was this week and we'll see her tomorrow, along with our new baby cousin - YAY). Made a birthday card, too. Then decided to do one more layout last night. I've been holding on to this Basic Grey forever - just not wanting to cut it up because it's so cute - well, i'm no longer afraid - and boy did I cut it up. So here's the end result of all this playing I've been doing:
This is the one I needed to tweak - it's much better now!

This is my current fave - We went out for ice cream and snowcones last weekend and Cole couldn't wait to eat his ice cream until we got home - this is what I spied when I looked in the back seat!

This one I started out doing to submit to a magazine, but in the end - it didn't turn out like I wanted and I missed the deadline - so maybe next time I'll actually make it to the SUBMISSION part of the task!

Just a little quick 4th of July layout - sweet and simple - I actually made a sketch of what I wanted to do (it was posted on the Scrap Etc message board).

I already scrapped this picture once, but didn't really put the layout in an album right away and the layout got a bit bent up! Whoops - so what better way to fix it - just redo it!

this is my fave - but it doesn't photograph well. It looks much better in person. I cut all those circles out and tried to get a lot of dimension in there - but it's hard to see it in a picture!

That's all I have photos of for now. Thanks for looking! Hopefully I'll have new baby pictures of our newest little cousin and I'll scrap a few of those this next week!

Sweet Summer Time

I just did this layout earlier this week - just took a little bit of time since I was already inspired! I did this for a challenge over at Noel Mignon - go check it out - the design team girls did some awesome layouts!!



Here's a close up of the journaling - the challenge was to document your summer traditions. When I thought about what I could document - this is what came to mind. For five years now, I've gone to see Kenny Chesney in concert. It hasn't always been in a typical summer month (this year's was May) but it's the feel of summer. He puts on an awesome show and I really feel like it's summertime when I hear those summery songs - anything about the beach, flip flops, the sun! I'm ready for summer then!! This year's tour was called the Sun City Carnival Tour - how could that not be fun? :)



And this canvas I did for the newest arrival on my mom's side of the family - she made her grand entrance yesterday in the early morning hours. I can't wait to go see her - but I'll give the new mommy a break and wait until they've settled in at home!!



I've got to fun some ribbon or tulle through the top so it can be hung in her room. Her room is all yellow and green - so I hope it'll match well!

Thanks for looking!!

Happy Fourth!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Fourth of July! I'm certainly thankful today for my freedom and all the men and women who have and continue to fight for it. We really are lucky!

We're doing the family thing for lunch, then dinner with friends and hanging out. I'm hoping to stop for sparklers on the way and TRY to take some of those fabulous sparkler pictures I've seen. Wish me luck!!