Summer Fun

The boys and I went swimming at my parents house Thrusday and Friday. This was the first we've been so far this summer. Now the older I get the less I seem to be interested in swimming myself. I had every intention of just sitting on the deck, taking pictures and enjoying the sun. After all four boys and my parents...... for lack of a better term....pestering me about getting in the pool...(not to mention my dad threating to throw me in anyway) I decided to bite to bullet and just do it. The water wasn't cold at all, which was a relief to this big baby and I actually had a pretty good time.

Before I was guilted into getting into the pool on Thrusday I took these pictures.


Steven is quite the swimmer these days. I believe he is under water more than hes on top of it. I did get lucky enough to get these two shots of him while he was up for some air. Don't ya just love the goggles?? Shhh, don't tell him I posted these of him...heehee

Charlie can't swim just yet so he started the day off with some water wings.





As the day went on he started to get more comfortable in the water and braver so off came the wings...but he grabbed a water noodle...



Niether Rex nor Lathan can swim yet either, but Rex has always loved the water. He's the hardest one to get out of it. He's a happy little man just floating around.





Now Lathan is a different story when it comes to the water. He's still not too sure if he likes being in the pool. He was in and out most of the day Friday.

Then he took over Granny's float and was a happy little man himself. He loves being in the pool....just not in the water. Note Rex still floating along....

Rex saw how much fun Lathan was having on Granny's float, or maybe his little legs were getting tired..either way he hopped on the float with Lathan for a bit.

Then out came the water guns...





Here's a couple pics of my mom and dad enjoying the pool.











Then it was time to eat....my dad grilled some burgers and hot dogs. MMMmmm. I like mine almost burnt please...

Rex & Charlie.....

Steven & Lathan

Lathan

Steven

Rex

Charlie

Boy were we tired when we got home.
They were up early Friday Morning to go back to Granny and Papaw's.
We stopped off at Wal-Mart on the way to pick up a float for Lathan. Here Steven is trying to blow it up until Papaw said he'd use the air compresser...

Charlie, Rex, Lathan & Papaw taking a ride before we got in the pool.

Lathan likes his new float.

What a grin..Happy water baby now.

So that was our two days of swimming. We plan to go back next week. I sure hope the water is still warm..heehee

Until then Its time to finish up Lathan's Birthday prep for Tomorrow. Happy 4th birthday Lathan.

XO~Monica~OX

Congrats to the Cosmo Cricket Top 12

I'm just wanting to send a huge CONGRATS out to all the Uber Talented ladies chosen for the top 12. Good luck to the next round.

I also want to give a HUGE KUDOS to Cosmo Cricket. They are truly a TOP NOTCH company in my book. For each of the entrants CC has gifted a $5.00 gift certificate. How cool is that?? That just shows what an extraordinary company they are.

Thanks so much I will be using it to add more of you awesome product to may stash. heehee.

XO~Monica~OX

A prayer request

I have a very dear friend going through a tough time in her life right now. I will not mention names or go into the details. I am asking all who read this to please lift up a silent prayer for her...for strength, courage and GOD's guidance through this time.

Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.


XO~Monica~OX

"My Boys" Wall Hanging -Cosmo Cricket

This is yet another attempt to show my work using Cosmo Cricket papers. ( Can you tell I am yet one of thousands of scrappers trying to be selected for the Cosmo Cricket Design Team? )

I am still loving the Cogsmo Line. What's not to love, right? They are just the cutest papers to work with. And so easy. The ideas just design themselves. I have been wanting to make something like this with my boys pictures on it for some time now. When I got my hands on these fun, youthful papers I knew they were the perfect choice. I also threw in some more "Be Happy" blackboard shapes. Aren't they they great?

Here are some closer photos.

Thanks for stopping in to take another look at my work. If you've have some Cosmo Cricket projects you would like to share also please feel free to post a link in the comment area. I would love to check them out. And good luck to all who have applied for the Design Team.

Until next time, Keep those creative juices flowin'

XO~Monica~OX

Play Time?? - Cosmo Cricket

This is a page I made of my (third in line) DS Rex. The journaling reads..." You wanted to go to the park to play. When we got there all you wanted to do was draw. Ummm Son?? Couldn't we have done that at home?"

I used the Cosmo Cricket "Cogsmo" line here with some "Be Happy" chipboard. How fun is this paper? I'm telling you if you haven't gotten the chance to play with these papers..go now...RUN...to get a set. They are even better in person.

I finally got the chance to buy a blackboard album the other day when I bought this line. It is next on my list to play with. Oh I cant not wait to get started on it. I have been drooling over them since I first saw them...Yummy yummy!!

Until Next time...keep those creative juices flowin'

Aspire Canvas

This is a canvas I made inspired by Ali Edwards word for the year. The DeZine Girlz over at Sb.com posted a challenge a few months back for our group to choose our word for the year, then create a project using that word to hang in our creative space to serve as a reminder.

I chose the word 'Aspire'. The Webster's pocket dictionary defines as... "aspire: to aim at high things; to soar." To me, it is not only daring to dream...but daring to work for those dreams.

I made a pocket for words of encouragement for those times when things aren't looking so good, or I'm starting to doubt myself. To help keep me on track, I will just pull a strip or two out to read for a quick pick me up.

Everyone needs a cheerleader, now I have one on my wall as a daily reminder.

Until next time...

XO~Monica~OX

Birthday Banner

Just a quick post to show a banner I made for my Great Nephew Leland. My niece Tia wanted to go with a monkey theme...which was perfectly fine with me. I call my kiddos monkeys all the time. So this fit right up my alley. Besides..It was a perfect excuse to play with my new Cricut Expression.

This is a close up of one of the monkeys. I made one for each side.
For the bananas I cut three half moons and put them together to take the shape of a bunch of bananas. I would love to take the credit for that idea but I can't. Betsy, a dear friend of mine from the MemoryWorks Message Board is the creative genius behind that one. Thanks again Betsy!!
After adhering the "bananas" together I cut just the tips off to give it more of a blunt look. Then outlined and colored the ends.
Then to finish them off I added the letters.
Until next time...Keep those creative juices flowin'
XO~Monica~OX

CONGRATULATIONS TIA & JASON *and wedding projects*

My niece, Tia, was just married May 17th, 2008 to a great guy, Jason. I am so proud for them. She looked so beautiful that of course I bawled like a baby.

As I watched her walk down the isle, I saw a curly blonde headed 2 year old with a Kool Aid mustache, running around bare-footed in the yard. Where have those years gone? Now this little girl is a Wife and Mother.

Tia & Jason, Aunt Monica loves you both and I pray the two of you have a long happy life together.


A couple months before the wedding Tia called to ask if I would make some thank you cards for them.....oh yeah like I had to think on that, HA! I was sooo honored to be asked, that I jumped at the chance. This is what I came up with...

As wedding prep continued I also ended up making favor bags and a banner for the reception. There are two pics for the banner because I am trying to figure out PSE6. So bare with me heehee.




And sometime during the wedding prep work I also made a birthday card for my second son Charlie. He turned 9 May 3rd. There will be more to come on that later. I have some pages in progress, But until then, here is the card I made for him.


These are just a few things I wanted to share...Also the reason I have been MIA for the last couple months. But hey, if I have to go missing, scrappin' is the way to go.


Thanks for looking

Until next time, keep those creative juices flowin',

Monica

Birthday Lacing Card- Cosmo Cricket

My parents asked me to make another set of Lacing Cards as a birthday gift for my step-brother. That was the greatest compliment to me. I had made a set for their anniversay, and they loved it so much they thought it was be a great gift for him. WOW! So of course I was more than happy to make it for them. And of course I was more than happy to play with the lacing cards again. I just love them. I also used a few papers from the Cosmo Cricket "Wanted" collection. Can ya tell I'm a big Cosmo Cricket fan?

They supplied me with the photos and a general idea of what they wanted and away I went.









I love ribbon..and I sometimes have a problem finding just the right look I'm going for. So I try to keep lots of extra white ribbon in stock then I just rub my inks over them till I get the look I want. That is exactly what I did here.

Other products used are:
Bazzill & Prism Cardstocks
Heidi Swapp "Happy Birthday" acrylic Stamp
Versa Mark
embossing powders
Signo broad white pen


Thanks for looking and Keep those Creative juices flowin'

Monica