Beach Baby

I have been waiting for Luke and Avery to go South Padre Island this summer to have some beach pictures of them to use with Retro Designs' Jewelled Sea kit.  Then I remembered their trip in 2008 and found these photos!  OMG, Avery is so young.  The font I used is called "Adorable" and it also describes Avery and all the elements Helen included in this kit.  I may have gone over board on how many I used, but I love all of them!   You can see previews of "Jewelled Sea" HERE! and you can pick up this adorable seahorse freebie while there!  It will be fun to scrap this years' photos of Avery on the beach...thinking maybe a title of Beach Beauty. 

 

Happy Birthday LaChelle!

Today, July 7th, is my youngest daughter's birthday.  We celebrated early on Sunday while all of the out of town nieces and nephews were home for the 4th!  Baby Miller is looking on as others sing Happy Birthday to LaChelle.  Reese looks mesmerized by the candle.  We were also celebrating LaChelle getting to come home after 13 days in the hospital.  Helen's swirls, jewelled staples, and papers from "Jewelled Sea worked great for this birthday memory!

You can see previews of "Jewelled Sea" HERE!  And, there's some freebies from this kit available, too!

Jamaica 1975 Using Jewelled Sea QP Freebie

This photo was taken  many years and many pounds ago...LOL!  Tony's cousin lived in Jamaica and we went for a visit for our 4th anniversary.  The ocean wasn't in this picture, so Helen's QP ocean scene here is perfect for the photo. Love this QP freebie and you can pick it up HERE!

"Jewelled Sea" comes with another great QP that I used here.  I added the top photo and cluster with it.   Journaling:  On the way home, we stopped by this hut and bought lobster for dinner...the man rowed out into the ocean and got them out of his live trap!  Look close and you’ll see Tony is holding a lobster.

Family...Life's Anchor (Welcome Miller Zackry Brown)

 I have been busy with many projects and events, but one of the most exciting event was Papa and Nana Miller welcoming our new grandson, Miller Zackry Brown, into the world and our family.  A few days ago, Mom sent us some of her pics of Miller.  Have you noticed his name is our last name...makes for a proud Papa and Nana Miller!  When I saw the photo of Dad with Miller, I thought, "Where have I seen that cute little face before?"  
                                                                        

I saw that cute face almost 33 years ago...see the photo of Tonia, Miller's mom, the day we brought her home from the hospital.  Big sister, Jennifer is holding her and is Luke's mom.  Luke is shown in the bottom photo the day he came home from the hospital eight years ago...almost to the day.  Luke was born on May 28, 2003 and Miller was born May 26, 2011.  And, then there's Miller shown with his dad, Zack.  Miller Zackry Brown, for now, does favor Mom and Uncle Luke to me, but he definitely got his adorable chin from dad and it is just like Reese's chin.  Babies change almost daily.  Jennifer and Tonia have favored each other at different times over the years, but not always.  Regardless of whom he may favor over the years, Miller is Miller and he is a very special little guy!   (Be sure to click on the picture to get an enlarged view.)

Since Helen was highlighting "Jewelled Sea" I went to this wonderful kit and found the Under the Sea background paper and the anchor.  Loved the colors and the anchor became the inspiration for Family...Life's Anchor.  We are proud to welcome Miller to "the family" and love having Reese, Zack, Bryce and Jojo as members of the "Miller Family", too!  You can see previews of "Jewelled Sea" HERE!

Water Hose, Watering Can, and Cool Summer Fun

"Time Doesn't Stand Still"  I love this QP.  Luke and Avery are shown here watering the crepe myrtles last week when they spent the day with Nana.  Below is the same QP showing Luke in 2007 watering the crepe myrtles and Avery trying to fix the broken water hose.  In the recent page you can see how the kids have grown and it's Avery's turn to use the water hose.  Luke found the watering can and Avery is filling it up for him.  My watering can isn't a unique as Helen's from Time Began In A Garden, but it got the job done and kept both kids busy at the same time.  Later, Avery brought puzzles out to the porch to work while Nana and Luke took turns squirting each other with the water hose.  It has about 10 settings and proved to be lots of fun.  At some point Nana was finishing watering the crepe myrtles and Luke surprised Nana by sneaking up from behind and pouring a watering can of water on my head.  We both laughed and laughed, but Nana got even by drenching Luke with the water hose!  It was very hot, so it made for some "cool" fun!

"Week at Nana's House"  Wow, how time flies.  It is hard to believe it was 4 years ago when this photo was taken.  Mom was out of town and Dad developed pneumonia and had to stay in the hospital.  So even though Mom got back home as soon as possible, the kids stayed with Nana so Mom could be at the hospital with Dad.  We visited Dad each evening.  In the mornings, we played outside.  It was a fun week for Nana, but not much fun for Dad!   For a preview of Time Began In A Garden, GO HERE!  

Anticipation...Will it Bloom This Year?!?

Just spent a lovely visit to Jean's blog admiring all her pages featuring some gorgeous irises.  Reminded me of this page I made using one of Helen's QPs from her kit "Time Began In A Garden".  This photo was taken last year and the plant had multiplied from two to seven shoots.  Just counted them this morning and there are 17 shoots.  Looks like I need to read up on how the divide the bulbs.  I was so concerned that they might not even come up this year because it has been so dry.  Started watering the bed heavily and they did come up.  Now I wait and see if they bloom before the grass hoppers eat them.  Actually, I have some Diatomaceous Earth that I use to keep ants out of the cat food bowl.  Maybe I try it on my Japanese Iris?!?  This stuff is organic and I have no reaction to it at all.  The dust is ingested by the bed bug or other crawling insect, or as the insect crosses through the powder, the DE will cut their exoskeleton, causing them to dehydrate and die. Grass hoppers aren't listed on the package, but it's worth a try.  You can read about it HERE!

For a preview of Time Began In A Garden, GO HERE!  

Time Began In A Garden

Vintage Toys  All photos are of "Aunt Sharon" with some of her toys.  She is Tony's sister who died in a car accident when she was just 16.  Like many older photos, these were all taken outside and several in the flower garden so Helen's kit "Time Began In A Garden" seemed a perfect choice to showcase these precious photos.  Love the rustic and antique frames in this kit! 

Vintage Easter Greeting  Featured is an Easter card my grandmother received from her teacher in the early 1900's.  Colors and elements of "Time Began In A Garden" as well as the kit name makes this a perfect selection to use to scrap Granny's Easter card.

Time Began In A Garden can be found HERE!   Scroll through Helen's kits and you will find "Time Began In A Garden" and a freebie or two also!