Evel Knievel

So, we had a yard sale last weekend (the kids idea!) and they got a WebKinz for their hard work and we had leftover money to buy Carly a much needed bike... She picked this Barbie bike, you know, because Barbie has her own bike on the handle bars. Have you seen the commercial on TV for this bike? Where Barbie is suddenly animated and peddles away? When we were in line to pay at WalMart, Carly goes, "Why do they show you something on TV and then when you see it in person, it doesn't work that way at all?????" Kind of disappointed that the bike doesn't bring Barbie to life... she just goes for a ride. Oh well. She's been enjoying her bike:)

His Tender Care

I love this stamp! I think the sentiment is so beautiful and seems to be exactly what I am looking for when I need to send a sympathy card to someone. This is a stampendous stamp from JoAnn's... the branch in the background is from TAC (sprigs), and the swirl on the green is also from TAC (curls&swirls).

In a better place...

I love this picture of Carly from last summer. I love this day from last summer. We were in Michigan, visiting Ryan's grandparents in the nursing home... enjoying a rare, "good day". Grandma remembered that Ryan was "Terre's son", and she knew that Ben and Carly were his kids. She insisted on plopping my "little" girl up on her lap by herself so she could give her a REALLY good snuggle.





I loved watching her hold my children, and while she was hugging Ben, I thought about her holding Ryan like that when he was little. I remember wondering if SHE might have been thinking the same thing, at the time.

Grandma Tuinstra had her best day ever last week... she entered into her Saviour's presence and I'm sure has been worshipping ever since! Sad for us, GREAT for her. We've spent the week talking with the kids (lots of talking time on our "quick" drive up to Michigan) about what we think Grandma's doing in her much better place! We will sure miss her, but are so thankful for wonderful memories of a wonderful woman who prayed for us by name everyday.

Lest you think I have not "Inspired" you with this post... Be inspired to look around you at your loved one's and appreciate and love them a little more. Nothing reminds you of the brevity of life more than losing someone you love. Be inspired to be like Donna Tuinstra... she loved God with all her heart. She loved her family with all her heart. She prayed for us, no kidding, ALL the time. Be inspired to pour yourself into the lives of others.

Mini Me

LOVE making mini-albums! Mostly I love getting something finished all in one sitting. Don't ask how the family scrapbook is coming... I am about 4 years behind! On theangelcompany website (see the link at the bottom of my blog page) there is a section called Savvy Projects Blog that you should really check out! Fun, QUICK projects. This mini album is listed.... here's a quick link for you in case you want to check it out. I used the K&Company Small Wonder paper (again!!) and stamp sets from StampinUp! for the outside. Inside I used all TAC sets.(http://theangelcompany.typepad.com/tac_savvy_projects_for_de/2008/04/bella-flor-mini.html







My most favorite part of this project is that it uses just one piece of 12x12 paper!!



This little book ends up measuring about 4"x2.5" and is the perfect size for a little brag book for Grandma's purse! Which is exactly what this is! Congratulations, on your new little granddaughter!

Celebration...

My darling niece graduated from high school today! We are SO PROUD of her! We've had a great time in New Hampshire celebrating with her. This is a picture of the display board I made for her for her GIANT cookout party! There is a "missing-in-action" 8x10 photo of her in her graduation garb that was in the lower right hand corner... I put part of her party invitation on the right hand panel, too. Cut the letters out on the Ellison die-cut machine at Ryan's school and stamped them with the same set I used on the invitation (see previous post).

WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU, KRISTIN!!!

Small Wonder

I should be packing... My sister has a blog entry from 3 days ago that starts the same way... apparently procrastination runs in the family. Small wonder. Posting projects is just way too fun, so here I am... This card is from a few months ago. My best friend, Sue, just emailed me that she will be coming to see me at my sister's on Saturday and well, it brought a tear to my eye with excitement!! This is the card I made for her little girl's 2nd birthday. Amazing thing about this angel is she was born 8 weeks early and is PERFECTLY FINE!!! I work at Shriners Hospitals for Children and see babies born as early as this daily and it is AMAZING that she is OK. Small Wonder, indeed. What a blessing!! I love looking at her and realizing how remarkable her life is, God is good to us. Plus, her little face is so entertaining to me, looks just like her Mama!
Stampin'Up! sets used: Pun Fun, So Many Scallops, Whimsical Numbers... K&Company paper (Small Wonders - Girl), SU paper - certainly celery. Ribbon - SU, cream.
Back to packing...

Both sides of the story...

Vacation is upon us again. You have to know we are the official ROAD TRIP family... in fact, Ben and Carly would be giddy with glee if we had an RV (think Robin Williams movie RV, except HAPPY kids). Well, we don't have an RV (yet, according to my husband!) but we do all right with my little jetta. I digress... getting there is always part of our family fun, and by getting there, I mean, a 26-hour-drive-to-NH-in-2-days-because-we-want-to-make-it-for-Kristin's-graduation-and-we-can't-leave-until-school-is-out. Last year, we kept a family travel journal and that was a huge hit with the kids!


This year, our journal is SIGNIFICANTLY cuter. I'm getting out of control with tape and paper.

I found this really boring blank journal from 7gypsies (it is SUPPOSED to be boring and blank) called a "2 way book" and immediately thought about my very "split in half" family. Think - Boys: Literal, Girls: not-so-much. So here it is covered in K&Company paper (Wild Saffron... which just might be my favorite paper out there right now! Love those colors!), chipboard letters, tags... stamped up with stampin'Up! "paint prints", "best blossoms", and "simply said". theangelcompany sets "travelnotes", "retrobutterflies", and "distressedtypewriterbet".



Inside part of the GIRLS side... there's a page for us to write what happens every day.









...we are ALL looking forward to another GREAT visit with my sister and her family!





Oh! and Pete's Scoop's Ice Cream... Laurie, did you warn them that Ryan is coming??!!