D turns 17!

Today D turned 17! He is my first born. An old soul. A thinker. He is wise beyond his years but still manages to be young at heart. He is a great big brother who even though he sometimes wants to be left alone will still play lego and nerf guns with his siblings. I hope we have instilled upon him the importance of his family. He's grown so much over the past 17 years and turned into such a great kid . We are definatly blessed. We did the usual party with family. Dinner, cake, presents. This year I hope brings him lots of fun and friendships. He will learn and grow many different ways. He will enter into his last year of high school this year. I think he is nervous as he will soon be making some big decisions on what school he will go to and what program he will take. He got accepted to the duel credit program at our local college so he will be taking classes there once a week for the first semester as well as doing a co-op placement and completing 40 hours of vollunteer service. He will also complete his grade 12 course load. He is ready for these changes and this next phase of life. I am so proud of him. Happy 17th year, we love you so very much!

Grade 8

Whenever I look at any old photo of my oldest it always gives me a sense of awe and panick. I can't believe how fast the time slips away from us. I remember thinking this is the begining of the end, the time when he would no longer want us or need us. I was wrong. Thank goodness. He is becoming such a wonderful young man. Yes there are days I might think about clobbering him and days that he tries my patience to the very limit but he is so kind hearted.





Grade 8: featuring Yearbook papers by Studio Calico for Tina's scrapbooking Creations.

Grade 6

Another older photo I just got around to scrapping. The yearbook papers by SC are perfect for any school layouts. I remember how excited C was to be going into grade 6. The whole oldest in the school thing:) She really set a good example for the younger kids.



Grade 6: featuring Yearbook papers by Studio Calico for Tina's Scrapbooking Creations.

Not Every First Day Is A Happy One.

As you can see by the look on my sweet boys face he was not excited or happy to enter kindergarten. Looking back we both shed some tears that day. I just love this photo as it documents a time when his need for us was greater than his need to venture out into that scary new world. Now three years later he is so full of confidence and the knowledge that we will always be there for him just like we were that first day as he broke away from us and later joined us as we met him at the gate at the end of the day.





Not every first day is a happy one:
Featuring the Yearbook papers by Studio Calico for Tina's Scrapbooking Creations.

I Thought I'd Share

Something scrappy today.






Cherish this moment: featuring So Happy papers by Echo Park for Tina's Scrapbooking Creations.

Beauty.

I made this page on my scrap by candle light weekend. Remember the one?



It's been a bit hectic around these parts lately. With the end of the school year around the corner, school feild trips, talent show tryouts, projects, tests, and parties seem to be in abundance. Add on a stressful inventory at work and you have my life in a nut shell. The countdown has begun for a much needed vacation packed full of fun and some much needed R&R.

First we must graduate from grade 8, grade 6, and kindergarten. This will be the very busiest end of school year for the B household I'm sure.

Special moments that made me smile today as I turned another year older.

I was touched beyond word when my daughter presented me with a handmade gift this morning. A charm necklace that she told me she would add a new charm to every year on my birthday.



My husband leaping out of bed at the crack of dawn to let the puppy out so I could finally sleep in even though we attended his Christmas staff party last night and he was just as sleepy ummmmmm heavy headed as I was.



The kids playing nicely together in Drake's room building a fort in his bunk beds and hiding when they heard me get up so they could all jump out and scream Happy Birthday Mom/Mommy!

My mom working hard with the kids last night making handmade ornament gifts. While we enjoyed a night out.



The big smile I always get from my littlest nephew when he see's me.

The tiara my sister wore during dinner, gift giving, and cake, and the comments it evoked. lol.



The cake my mom made me. and the preview I got. heeeeeeee.

My sister's newest post. The fact that she has a personal label just for me.

My husband's new FB profile picture.



My nephew calling me Samantha instead of Auntie Sammy. Super cute.

The surprise goodies I received from a bloggy friend even though I know she had no idea it was my birthday.



All the wishes I received on FB.

All the great food that was made for us to share and having nothing to do with the prep or clean-up. I. Am. Stuffed.

All the lovely handmade cards I received.

The way my mom always tries to conceal her gift so it's not what you expected, or to make you think your not getting what you wanted.

Knowing that I am getting better/wiser with age and not being scared of turning another year older.

Having those I love the most surround me on my birthday.

Tomorrow is a BIG day.

Tomorrow is a BIG day. Drake heads off to junior high. He will not be walked to school on his first day as I have done for the last 8 years. He will not have me there to show him where to line up at the bell to meet his teacher. He will not have all his old friends to find each new class together. He will take the bus, he will make his way to the cafeteria, he will wait awkwardly and quietly by himself until his name is called. He will most likely struggle to find his 8 new classrooms. My heart hurts tonight and may break a little in the morning when I let him go. I know he can do it. He's smart and brave. I know that he is learning independence. I know that he will make friends. I know that after tomorrow he will find his way easier. It doesn't make it easier for me. I will smile through my tears, laugh through my fears, and hug him just a little harder.

Tomorrow is a BIG day. Cassidy heads off to grade 5. She will not be in the same school. She will not have any friends waiting for her. She will not have her big brother there to make her feel just a little safer. She will be the "new kid". She will have to stand with me while all the other kids laugh and talk about what they did all summer. She will feel excluded. My heart hurts for her. I know she will do it. She is a social butterfly. She is smart and caring. She will find her way. Quickly. It doesn't make it easy for me. I will walk her to school. I will smile to block the tears. I will hug her hard enough to last the whole day.

Tomorrow is a Big day. Just me and Quintin. The house will be empty. The house will be silent. There will be no noisy sibling play. No lazy mornings. No carefree afternoons. He will wonder where they are. He will get bored. He will want to go too. That makes my heart hurt.
I will hug him a little harder. I will saver this last year I have him home. I will smile to keep those tears at bay.

Tomorrow is a BIG day.

My boy turns 12, Summertime, and a Challenge!

This past weekend my oldest son turned 12. 12! It seems like yesterday he was carefully placed in my loving, anxious, and exhausted arms for the very first time. In just 2 short weeks he will be pulling even further from my protective arms to enter Junior high. While he is probably just a little nervous, I'm freaking out. I have no idea what to expect. I know he's a good kid, but it's almost high school... My hope is that he meets a great bunch of kids and forges a bond that will last through the years and hopefully a lifetime. (I met my bff at the same age, and after humm xx # of years we are still bf's.) That he will continue to get almost straight A's, knowing that hard work will get him everything he wants. That he will fit in, that he will be every one's friend, that he will find his niche, whether that be sports, arts, or something else. Finally that he will always know we are his biggest fans and that he can come to us with anything.


This past weekend my family, my mom, and a group of our friends packed up our cars and headed to the beach. 13 in total. Yep 3&1/2 hour drive to the beach! It was worth every. single. moment. We had a blast. The kids played in the water for hours, we had a BBQ on the beach with tons of yummy food, and I got a wicked burn... Yes I applied sunscreen. I'm just really fair and should have re-applied every half hour. lol. The beach was wonderful. Sandy shores, beautiful water, and not a cloud in the sky. (Hence the burn.) Here are a couple of pics of our kids playing.

Here's the birthday boy!

The little miss and her friends who paid no attention to me. haha

Mr. Q "saving a lady bug from the water. There were a bunch of them, all over the place...

The kids had so much fun with all the blow up floating toys I brought. I was a little out of breath after finishing that one.

My little man splashing the girlies. Trust me this feisty little one gave it right back!

So moving on to the challenge, if there are any takers. It will be just like last week. I know mama never said there would be days like this will play. 3 techniques and 3 embellishments. they are. photo clips, transparencies, and dies(cuttle bug for example). Distress everything with ink, YAY, emboss, and only use cardstock. No patterned paper at all. Have fun, leave a comment when your done.