Layout: "Gone Camping"

Octbober 2012 - Camping trip #2. Destination: KOA in Gettysburg, PA. Gabriel opted out this time, staying with Tater instead. I'm determined to get EVERYONE to go one of these times. The weather was a bit cooler and we had a few bumpy patches, including the mistake of bringing the dogs. But all in all, we still had a good time and are looking forward to spring to go again!

Digital Kit: "Camping Out" by Jady Day Studios.

Layout: "Camping is All Kinds of Cool"

This is our camping trip to Gettysburg, PA (Gettysburg Campground) in September 2012. We had bought the camper years ago, but didn't really use it as the little ones were babies and it was too chaotic. My husband's sister and her husband HAD to have it, but didn't have the money to pay it off, so they took over our payments. That lasted several months (until fall when camping season was over), then they stopped paying. We had no luck selling, so months later, they swore they would keep making the payments this time. We even had papers notarized. They kept their word for awhile, but once again stopped making payments. Again, it was fall and we were unable to sell the camper. Once again several months later, they offered to take over the payments again, promising they would not reneg. Although I didn't trust them, we were barely making ends meet and not having the camper payment to make was a huge help. About 6 months later, they had Duane's mom deliver the message that they were not making any more payments. And this time, they had also done A LOT of damage to the camper which they refused to fix. Several hundred dollars and weeks later, Duane got the camper fixed up. Needless to say, I do not have in-laws. I do not speak to any of them. I have nothing to do with them. This is not something that "family" does. Lesson learned.

I was unsure of how camping would go, but we decided to give it a try. The kids are older and surprisingly, it went very well. We had a lot of fun, we relaxed and we got to spend some time together. I was disappointed that my oldest didn't go this time, but he did go the next time.

Layout: "Christmas 2011"

Finally finishing up my Christmas layouts with the family one. This Christmas was extra special as we splurged and bought the older kids some big surprises - xBoxes with Kinect for Christian and Gabriel and iPod Touches for Abigail and Caleb. I wanted to do something surprising for them since it won't be long before they are all grown up.

Digital Kit: "Merry Christmas" by Kristin Aagard Designs.

Layout: "Typical Day"

This is a layout of a "typical day" (is there really such a thing?) from September 2011.

Digital Kit: Unknown.

Layout: "Create"

Abigail and Gabriel helped Duane build a deck for the pool. Now we're just waiting for the weather to say warm enough to swim.

Digital Kit: "Construction Zone" by Kristin Aagard Designs.

Layout: "Hippity Hoppity"

Digital Kit: "Hippity Hoppity" by Kristin Aagard Designs.

Layout: "Gobble Gobble"

I don't normally do Thanksgiving layouts (because I'm usually too busy to remember to take photos). I did remember to take some pics this time. I needed an excuse to get this adorable kit!

Digital Kit: "Gobble Gobble" by Kristin Aagard Designs.

 

Layout: "Spooktacular"

It's only November 3rd and I have all five Halloween layouts done from this year! Am I good or what? Anyway, this is the final Trick or Treat layout for 2011 - the family page.

Digital Kit: "Hot Halloween" by Lyndsay Riches Designs.

Layout: "Sweet Gooey Apples"

Duane decided he would try making homemade (well, sort of - the mix was from a box) caramel apples. He and Abigail tried real hard, but they didn't set up very well, so they were a sticky mess. However, they were still sweet and tasty! He says maybe next time he'll just buy the pre-made ones!

Digital Kit: "Apple of my Eye" by Kristin Aagard Designs and Traci Reed Designs.

Layout: "Rainbows & Raindrops"

This is the 2011 update page for the family album about Christian and Caleb. They are growing up way too fast!

Digital Kit: "Raindrops & Rainbows" by Suzy Q Scraps.

Layout: "52 of my Most Favorite Things"

Since there are so few photos of me or even anything about ME, I decided to make a layout about my favorite things at this point in my life. It will be fun to look at in the years to come - and hopefully my kids will enjoy it, too!

Digital Kit: "Love Monsters" by Suzy Q Scraps.

Layout: "Ticket to Ride (family)"

This is the layout of our trip to Del Grosso's for the family album. The journalling was tough for me, because I didn't want to sugar coat the day, saying how perfect it was - because it wasn't. Caleb refused to come with us, saying it would be too cold to get in the water (it wasn't) so he didn't want to come at all - he went to his dad's house instead. Duane had an attitude for most of the day because Logan got scared on the Tilt A Whirl with me and Abigail, yelling "I'm done, I'm done, I'm done" during the entire ride. He was perfectly safe and there wasn't anything I could do about it and it was pretty funny. Duane didn't appreciate my sense of humor so he ignored me and made rude comments the rest of the day, making it next to impossible for me to spend more time with the little ones. I tried to make the best of it with the older kids and still enjoyed spending time with them. I decided to include all this in the journalling. I think it makes for a much more meaningful layout. Because we all know that not everything worth remembering is perfect.

Digital Kit: "Amusement Park Fun" from Stuff to Scrap.

Layout: "Summer Ice"

This is a layout about the worse ice storm I've ever experienced. It happened just a couple nights ago. Although I usually love a good storm, I hope never to have another one like this was!

Digital Kit: "Snow Buddies" by Just So Scrappy

"Rockin' Times at Lakemont Park"

This was the family layout for last summer's trip to Lakemont Park in Altoona, PA. We had a blast, the weather was perfect, no crowds and yummy, gooey New York style pizza. What more can you ask for?

Digital Kit: "Love Rocks" - a Scrap Orchard Mega Collab

Layout: "Boo Crew"

This is the Halloween layout from 2010. Duane borrowed his brother-in-law's 4-wheeler and a trailer and rode me and the boys around in (embarrassing) "style". The older kids were too embarrassed and preferred to Trick or Treat without us old people!

Digital Kit: "Too Cute to Spook" by Suzy Q Scraps.

Layout: "Christmas Time 2010"

I'm starting to catch up a little bit. This is the family Christmas layout from this past Christmas. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family! :)

Digital Kit: "Santa's Workshop" by Kristin Aagard and Kay Miller Designs.

Layout: "Reasons to Celebrate!"

This is the birthday celebration layout for the family album. It's always hard to find layouts that I can use both a lot of photos and journaling on. So blessed to have all of my wonderful, gorgeous kids!

Digital Kit: "PS I Love You" by Flower Scraps and ScrappyCocoa

Layout: "Tractor Crazy"

Our two little ones are completely obsessed with tractors. So when someone Duane works with offered to give him a free riding mower (with a broken mower), he jumped at it. It's perfect for him to ride the boys around on - their very own "tractor". No, Duane doesn't embarrass easily. But it is pretty cute that he's such a dedicated dad! He even bought a wagon to hitch to it for the bigger kids to ride in!

Digital Kit: "Indulge Me" by SuzyQ Scraps

Layouts: "Tooth Trouble"

Both of our little ones ending up needing extensive dental work. They apparently inherited bad tooth genes from Duane's side of the family. None of my other kids have ever had tooth issues. We have to travel to Baltimore to have their teeth fixed under general anesthesia. As if the travelling and being at the hospital all day wasn't bad enough, we got a flat on the way home and were stuck on I-70 for 1 1/2 hours before the spare unjammed from its holding place under the truck! It was awful - screaming, tired, hungry kids who weren't feeling well. I don't care to repeat that again! But their teeth are beautiful now and healthy and that's all that matters!

Digital Kit: "Toothy Smile" by Lliella Designs and Armina Designs

Easter Layouts!

I wanted to showcase a couple Easter layouts. I picked Caleb's because he looked so slick in his new dress shirt and tie. And I picked the family layout, because the little animals in this kit were just too darn cute! I tend to have trouble using elements like the animals that need "grounded", but I thought this one turned out pretty good!

Digital Kit: "Bunny Imposters" by SuzyQ Scraps.