Happy Sketch

Good morning, friends. Happy first day of November! Can you believe it's already November? I know... Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner! I am trying to squeeze in a little craft time for myself here and there, between filling stationery orders, working on a big holiday card commission, and chasing the kiddos around! It's only going to get busier! ;)

This week, I really liked the Sketchy Thursdays sketch. It was CAS and inspired me. So, I used this picture of my mom and dad that I have had sitting on my desk for months. We were in Hilton Head and also at my cousins wedding. We had so much fun and this picture of them really does show their happiness with each other.   

My parents have been married for over 40 years!!! Sure, they have their moments, we all do, but for the most part, they have a solid relationship that my three brothers and I really look up to and strive to have in our own marriage. They brought us up right with strong values, and for that, I am forever grateful. They make me so happy! 

And, if you want to play along with this weeks sketch at Sketchy Thursdays, this is what you have to play with:

You have until Wednesday night at 10pm to link up! :)

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my beautiful mother's 65th birthday.The kids and I got to spend most of our afternoon with her, doing art, talking and eating ice cream! My mom is my very best friend and I am so lucky to get to spend so much wonderful time with her. In a couple days...a whole week with her at the beach... we leave Saturday!

My mom doesn't love anything as much as she loves her 12 grandchildren! This picture was taken 2 years ago on the beach. She is with all her granddaughters- since then, another has been born!

Mom and Anna having a moment this weekend... Anna said, "Mimi, you are the grandmother that I love the most." Mom has a very special bond with all three of my children, we are so lucky.

 I love you, Mom. You are a rock, an inspiration and the most wonderful friend anyone could hope for. Thanks for teaching me to be just like you. Happy Birthday.

My Mother, the artist

I know I have mentioned before that my mother has taken up oil painting. She is actually very good at it, which surprised us all... considering she can't draw a darn thing except a cat made with circles! So, I gave her a picture of our beloved dog, Wrigley to paint. This is the picture she chose to go off of...

And this is the portrait she painted...

I know! Isn't it awesome? I love it and it hangs on the wall going out our back door in our family room. We can't believe how great it is!

Mom, thanks a "latte" for such an awesome painting! Another Kathy original graces our home and we love it!

It's My Mom's Birthday...

And she looks better than ever! She has aged gracefully (and beautifully) and continues with all her hobbies, talents and activities. Mom is never bored, nor does she have enough hours in the day to complete all she wants to! I always joke (but not really) that she has more dates and things to do than I.

We are fabulous, aren't we? This was at my cousins wedding in February, 2009, and we had a ball!

Mom is a person that a stranger could meet, and five minutes later they will be best friends. She is welcoming, open, helpful, giving, positive and has a heart of gold. She loves her children and grandchildren (all 11 and a half of them!) more than anything in the world... and it shows. She has already been assigned a fabulous spot in heaven!

The entire crew: my 3 brothers and their families, and mine, including the big Wrig, gathered around mom and dad this past Sunday.

All the grandchildren with Mimi and Pops.

Mom is my best friend. I would rather hang out with her than anyone. She is a rock, so strong, spiritual and wise. She guides me and gives great advice. She gives me breaks with the kiddos and, well, she sews. She makes me the most divine clothing you will ever see... but not in a store! Mom is so super creative! She keeps up a phenomenal garden, and has even taken up oil painting in the last year- and she's really good!

Mom, happy birthday! You are so wonderful! I want to be just like YOU when I grow up!

Love you so much always,

XOXO

Happy Birthday, Dad!

67 years young... My dad, (a.k.a. "Poppy")

Some little tid bits about Dad:

He loves cheeseburgers and fish sandwiches, and he "invented" the Dagwood sandwich in our household when I was a very little girl.

He adores all of his grandchildren.

His favorite candy bar is a Kit Kat and he loves soft serve ice cream (he sticks with plain old chocolate or vanilla).

He has his own language, as in he makes up his own words. Like: bretzle (pretzel), strapless strollers (penny loafers), all da car ten (according to), rag picker (recycler) and so on... words like this keep my brothers and I rolling (for years!).

Dad would give you the shirt off his back, his heart is so big it could very well pop out of his chest.

I'm his only daughter and he spoils me! ;)

I LOVE YOU, DAD! Happy Birthday!

and the card I made him...Not only is it my dad's 67th birthday, it's also my mom and dad's 41st wedding anniversary!

41 years is a L O N G time people, and my parents have a super-glue strong marriage. Happy Anniversary! I love you both.

How does your garden grow?

...Mine is rotting because of all this rain. I have already thrown out 2 of my potted plants on the deck because they got super gross from too much water. I have enough trouble growing pretty flowers, I don't need downpours to speed the process of death.


I may not be able to make my deck a secret garden of gorgeous blooms, but I sure can make one on paper. This is another of my mom's collection of layouts I made for her.
Sorry for the blurry pic, I don't know what happend...

The journaling reads:

Happy Mother's Day, Mimi! We love you! Mac, Anna and Elan. May 2008 "A garden of love grows in a Grandmother's Heart." {Printed on green vellum.}

This was basically a bunch of punching and cutting! East peasy! I was going for the look of a sunflower, zinnia and hydrangea. And you don't have to worry about root rot, either! Stay tuned for the next 3 in Mimi's collection!

Mimi's Angels

Last year, I made my mom several LO's and framed them so she could display them on a long wall in her basement. Her basement is part family room, part sewing/craft room, and part play room for all her grandchildren.
When we went to Hilton Head and had our family picture made on the beach, I captured this photo with her and all her granddaughters. She made all their white sun dresses, and they truly looked like angels on the beach!

The two buttons in the corner are from Tessa Ann's Etsy shop (which, by the way, I am totally addicted too!) And, yes, that is a hand cut title you see! I don't have a Cricut, (and I don't want one, either!) but I do have an awesome printer and some sharp, precision scissors! The paper is from the June Studio Calico kit. I still haven't busted into the July kit!!! I can't believe how many LO's I have done with just this one kit and I'm not tired of it yet!

So, there you have it, a little gift for mom to hang with the others in her collection!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday. She's the b-o-m-b. Mom can do anything and everything and always look cute doing it! We went strawberry picking today at Huber's and it was hot, somehow I don't think mom broke a sweat. Me on the other hand, had a nasty, sweaty shirt on with my hair sticking to my face. The kids were covered in strawberry juice- they had a blast! Every berry Elan picked went directly into his mouth.

We rode a tractor out to the berry patch, here we go...

Anna got a 'grandaddy' strawberry
Mac was a good picker!
Elan was a good eater!

A bumper crop of beauties!

We picked almost 18 pounds of strawberries, so we'll be eating them for a while! Tonight, strawberry shortcake, tomorrow, yogurt + strawberries + granola for breakfast, tomorrow nights dessert, vanilla ice cream with strawberries on top... this is what summer is all about!

And for tonight... celebrating mom's birthday here with a Southwest chicken salad and margaritas! Cheers! Mom, I hope you have a great birthday and all your birthday wishes come true! Love you so much!

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Lastly, to celebrate mom's birthday and summer.... A GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment to this post and you will be put into a drawing for a $10 Gift Certificate to Paper Doll Stationery. Wow-wee! Check it out here:

www.PaperDollStationery.com

Winner will be drawn on Thursday.