FOBTY: HAPPY

This week on the Sweet Shoppe blog, we were asked to share a layout on our blog that makes us happy when we look at it... so, I went through my layouts on my computer and tried to pick just one ... but in true mommy fashion, I had to pick one that features each of my children ... so I give you:

One of my favorite layouts of all time ... an awesome extraction, a really cool photo, and a perfect title. :) I made this with Sarah Meyer's Toasty Toes Page Kit, and the alpha is from Gummy Grins: Girly, also by Sarah Meyer.



A recent favorite of mine of Blake ... the photos are from LAST summer ... when I saw the middle photo I KNEW it had to be scrapped with this word-art title! I used MandaBean and Kristin Cronin-Barrow's Gotta Getaway, and a Cookie Decorating 101 Challenge template #37 with Jenny Jorgenson - template made by Kay Miller


and last but not least ... this layout I made of my littlest man with a photo of him on his 1st birthday. That grin is priceless. I used the In Memory of Miles kits, and full credits are in my gallery at Gotta Pixel.


Thanks for looking!!

FOBTY: Summer Jobs

Today on the Sweet Shoppe's blog, the challenge was to share about summer jobs you had as a teenager. I took on a couple different jobs as a teenager. My first summer "job" was as a junior counselor for Camp Courage Day Camp. I think I was 12 or 13? My friend was never around to play, so I asked her where she was and when I found out, I signed up too! I helped at the Day Camp which was specifically for kids with disabilities ... a broad range. I made lots of friends. It only lasted two weeks, but it was lots of fun.

Then, I worked for Blomlie Photography for two summers. I helped to answer the phones, put together wedding proof books and albums, cleaned up the dressing rooms and did general cleaning. It was so much fun to see all the amazing photography ... really gave me the photograpy bug!!!

So, what were your summer jobs as a teen? Feel free to leave a comment and share with me!

~Melinda

The Fair 2008

We had a late start to the fair this year (again), but this year we bought arm bands for Blake and Julia. Gosh, that was expensive! They did have a blast, though, and it was nice to not have to limit their rides like last year. It's also probably the reason we were there until, ahem, almost midnight. But, we didn't get there until after 6 pm, so does that make it ok? Chase was down for an afternoon nap and he really slept!!! So, we waited. We ran into a few people we knew, and Tyler pointed out people we knew from high school. (Woo-hoo.) Chase didn't ride on any of the rides, and was very good about sitting in his stroller pretty much all night. He did lose patience at the end and we ended up leaving because he was having a little fit (duh, it's nearly midnight, MOM!). But, he got to have some fun too. We ran in to Les with her daughter! And she hung out with us, so that was cool -- made it less boring for him! YAY!

We ended up entering not through the games, as usual, but through the rides end of the park -- the rides intended more for teens and adults. Julia was jammin' to the music ... as you will see here:



Here are some other pictures from our evening at the fair! Thanks for looking!










Chase playing with Blake's new sword:








I may be adding more pictures!! :)

~Melinda

FOBTY: Vacation Spots

From the Sweet Shoppe Blog: Tell me about your favorite vacation spot or dream vacation and what makes it so special.

My most memorable vacations were to Walt Disney World in Florida, but I don't know how much of my memories are my own or whether they come from watching videos or what people have told me, hee hee. I loved WDW. I remember the "It's a Small World After All" ride, and I totally loved it. I understand it's a pretty boring ride, so I have to laugh about that. I also remember riding on what I thought was just a train ride, only to find out it was a roller coaster! I was bawling when I got off of it. I loved the parade at night with all of the floats that were made of lights ... amazing, and I really enjoyed Sea World too. I would LOVE to take my kids to see WDW some day.

I would also really like to travel to Washington to meet my online friend, Katie. I think we'd get along really well ... would be so cool to meet in person!

~Melinda

Fourth of July

This year we were invited to Tyler's grandparents' house on the lake for swimming and lunch. We were there for about 5 hours before we finally called it a day. Julia and Blake had a blast swimming. Chase was willing to sit on the steps next to the water ... that was it. He screamed when Grandma tried to bring him in the water ... he has never been impressed with the water.

Here is a photo of Julia swimming ... I took all of these from the dock so lots of photos using the zoom (that turned out awesome)! Unfortunately, I can't share most of them here due to other relatives being in them and not having their permission to share them.


and Blake ...


Chase enjoying some Gatorade out of a sport bottle ... safely on shore. I just like the shadows on this one.


Here is Blake enjoying the tire swing:


After we started to get ready to go, Chase started to play football with Papa and Tyler ... he had an absolute BLAST:


Click to see this bigger & to get credits in my Gotta Pixel gallery:

FOBTY: Fireworks Quiz

For the Sweet Shoppe's "From Our Blog to Yours" challenge ... take the Fireworks Quiz to see what your preferred fireworks say about you!

What Your These Fireworks Say About You

You are focused, single minded, and intense. You don't let others see your intensity often, and when they do, they are quite surprised. You burn brightly, but you also burn steadily. You have the endurance to get the one thing you desire most.

The Fireworks Test

Early 4th of July festivities

We went out to my parents' house tonight. We picked strawberries, jumped on the trapoline, did a little bit of swimming, ate pancakes and omelets for supper, and finally ... played with "snaps" and sparklers.

Testing my "night scene" setting:


Blake with one of the bigger sparklers:


Julia posing with a sparkler:


Chase having a BLAST with his sparkler!

Swing Time

Yep, you read that right, SWING time, not spring time! Blake LOVED the swings at Como. Here is a video to make you feel sick to your stomach. ;)


Video of the sea lion swimming ... quicky: