This is specially for Val....

So rewind with me a few monthes back, to spring time preparations.....Grandma Jane decided to try her hand at an Easter egg color schemed tutu. In attempting to perfect the final product, she needed a model.....see photo. The opportunity to march around in a tutu is reminiscent of the classic movie Ace Ventura, as in the touring the mental hospital facility when he plays foot ball with himself, then yells "halftime!" and goes to take a nap on a bench. Parts of that may have been reacted during the tutu finalization......
Fast forward to this past week, when Ace Ventura quotes have been flying around rampatently. Many of the world's problems could be solved simply by quoting good ol' Ace - "if I am not back in 5 minutes.....just wait longer!"

change in domain name??

Introducing Wrigley,
aka Wrigs, Wriggles, Mrs. Wrigglesworth, Wrigley Rue, Damnit NO Wrigley.

We will not be changing the domain name, but it is important to note we have welcomed Wrigley into our family with open arms. Wrigley is a 10 month old pure bred German Shephard and came to us with a unique story.

Solider returns from Middle East in summer of 2010, decides to adopt dog with brother, who he lives with - gets female German Shepherd puppy. Names her Wrigley, due to their allegiance to Cubs baseball. Fast forward a few monthes and brother gets deployed, leaving one brother in college and living college life to tend to well loved and adored Wrigley. However, enough hours in the day do not allow for adequate focus on puppy Wrigley and school studies, so new home was sought. Enter Jamey. We had given some distant thought to getting another dog "someday". Jamey has always loved German Shepherds. We are quite content with Foster and our busy lives, but when email reached me about German Shepherd puppy needing a home - I forwarded it. Jamey and Mac were the first people to call about WRigley and first to go and meet her. And they were smitten with her immediately. Including Mackenzie praying that night for Wrigley to come live at our house. :) Foster and I went to make introductions and Wrigely joined the family. Adjusting to life with a puppy, albeit a large one, is a bit of a challenge, especially because we have become so spoiled by what a mellow, laid back, low maintenance and EASY dog Foster has grown into. Wrigley has most certainly "puppy-ed up" the Fos-man!! We joked about the alpha battle raging upon her entry into the family and too bad she is trying to battle Foster, who is Zeta, the farthest thing from the alpha. Jamey and I are learnign how to deal with the nature of the German Shepherd breed, which is a learning experience. Especially for the cats. And when we introduce Wriggles to the new electric fence (and shock collar) later this week. :) I would be amiss to not point out that the animals in our family now outnumber the people by one. Proof positive we are animal lovers, but we are done for now!!

I do NOT need a reminder about just how long it is has been since I posted anything. Blogger took care of that for all of you when they wouldn't let me in my account due to long period of inactivity. But have no fear, we are back!!! And if you are a facebook friend, you know we are doing just fine around here, simply busy. But the blog, aka digital scrapbook for busy mom, needs to be updated to reflect the current happenings in our family. See above. The other good news is that I am doing really well and enjoying my graduate classes (knock on wood), which are the main interuption to blog service. :)

Happy Halloween 2010

she shoots, she scores

A new boyfriend

So hopefully you all remember Mackenzie's "main man", aka the local meterologist. Well, come this October - he has some stiff competition. Meet Mr. Bones - the newest boyfriend. Mackenzie had originally told Grandma Jane that she needed to buy a skeleton to "freak Grandpa out". Ask and ye shall receive, young little Jane - as Walmart had a wonderful 3 foot one in stock. (And we all know how Grandma Jane LOVES Walmart.)

So next time Mackenzie visits - true love is born. Mr. Bones is incredibly well loved & cared for, and can even makes phone calls to me!!

Grandma reports that the young lovers ate a nice private dinner together, sharing some quaint conversation, then Mr. Bones sat on the stool to watch Mackenzie take a bath before they snuggled in for a quiet night in bed. The next morning, the adventure continued - including some driving lessons. (One lesson did include how NOT to be the roadkill)

Apparently, Mr. Bones is quite a delicate fellow,as so much love for him did cause him some leg break.

But a quick kiss (& return trip to Walmart) fixed it.

That Mr. Bones - what a chap! Only sorry I didn't get pics of Mr. Bones posed in teh chair, wearing a hat - courtesy of Grandpa.

a whole bunch of favorites!

It is that time of year again!! yes, I have gone away and been locked away scrapbooking all weekend!! Which means I have finished products to showcase for my scrapbooking friends & other interested parties, but that also means I make you play my idea of a fun game. I will tell you a little bit behind each of the challenges presented to create the following layouts, to help you better judge them. I will also tell you that there was one selected winner in the bunch. I am curious as to what YOUR guess is re: the winner!!!! Without further adiu.....

not really a challenge, but 2 of the pages I created to showcase Mackenzie's Gma Jane tendicies.

The "mystery" challenge included having to use a mystery item - which turned out to be the large red heart doilie you see as the photo frame. On the small coordinating page to the left, the large red heart is also cut from the inside of the doilie that I carefully removed to make the photo frame.

a layout about love that does NOT use traditional love colors

dust off your stash - no using of anything new to produce a 2 page layout - must be items from your stash. I even broke out the old cutting system. :)

Not so ordinary usages for items - use items in a unique way, such as the snow flake as the letter "o". Use of the word "snow" for "so" may also be argued....

"All you need is Love" - a page incorporating this title and theme

Line it up - straight lines are key and must include 6 chipboard letters, 5 buttons, 2 journaling spots and 3 pictures.

Author inspired - a page borrowing a quote or line from a favorite song or author.

I will be anxiously awaiting your guesses!!! :) - Cara

"Eye Donut No"

I don't know where she comes up with these things, but here are a few of my personal faves from the past week.

**Mackenzie offered me one of her mini donuts for breakfast. I politely declined and explained that donuts are not a regular part of my diet. She responded "only the donuts at the gas station are on your diet." Yes, she is speaking of my addiction to Casey's donuts, that I didn't think was that obvious (especially because I can't remember the last time I had one!!!!)

**When Grandma Jane bid her farewell, she commented "I sure enjoy having you around Mackenzie". To which she received teh response "I know - it is because I don't die much" Thank goodness for that, although part of me wonders where she got this idea.....