Crafty Girls

We are blessed to have two precious daughters that can occupy themselves for hours and hours doing crafts! Their Grandma from NC sent them each a kit to make a 'knot a blanket'. The kits came with the squares and frayed edges already cut. All they had to do was tie the knots. Our eldest (being a firstborn, perfectionist, and orderly) opted for an 'organized' design. Our other daughter hasn't finished hers....yet...she has two more rows to go. We're gonna have to work on the 'art' of completing a task before starting with another.



Another artsy thing the girls have really liked is the Perler Fuse Beads kits. I never heard of these until our friends here (from South Africa) introduced us to these. We recently placed a big order together from JoAnn's. These are sooooo easy for the kids to do - and it gives them an opportunity to put their creativity to work. I'm thinking one of the girls will come up with the idea to make some coasters for me.

Another Digi Scrap Page - I'm Learning!

I'm still going through the Jessica Sprague "Up and Running" digi-scrapping class - and continuing to learn, learn, learn! It is great! I am having so much fun!

I've finished the 2nd class...and I forget how many more there are to go...but wanted to try my hand at my own 'non-instructor-led' layout. Here's what I came up with. It all started from the free transparency overlay I was able to download after the 2nd class. (The overlay is by Katie Pertiet with DesignerDigitals.com.) From there I thought of the 'delight' we shared as a family while in Germany - on The Zugspitze - the tallest peak in Germany.

On another note - we've been here for 6 months already!!!!! We're 1/4 of the way into our 2 year tour here. We are having a blast - but miss home so much as well. In 14 weeks we'll be traveling to the wonderful United States of America to visit with family and friends. Can't wait!!

I FINALLY Did It - A Digi-Scrap Page!!

After 6 months of life in Gabs, I am FINALLY getting around to digiscrapping! (Thank you to TB for providing a crash course before I left NC!!! She made it LOOK SO EASY...and, it is!!) I am taking an online class, at my own pace, through Jessica Sprague...www.jessicasprague.com. With all I've learned, in such a short amount of time, the class is worth every penny! I'm taking the "Up and Running" class.

Here is my first layout from class (that I'm willing to publish, that is!).

Seems like only yesterday......

....when our youngest baby girl was born. I still remember - as if it were yesterday - waking up hubby at 4:30 in the morning and telling him "it's time". Five hours later - our second daughter was welcomed in to the world. I still remember holding her for the first time - looking in to her wide eyes and marveling at her angelic face. Love at first sight. Sigh. Thank you Lord, for those precious memories, and the joy of reliving them with the passing of each birthday.

Where does the time go? I know it passes, breath by breath....but the YEARS have gone by much too quickly for me!!! At times I wish I could slow down the passing of time. I am realizing more and more how PRECIOUS each and EVERY moment is with my girls. I know many of my Mom friends feel and think the same way...their little ones are growing up too quickly.


Here are some 'then' and 'now' pics of our precious 8 year old daughter...







4 months old - poor thing was born with blonde 'fuzz'. This is cruel - I know - but my nickname for her was 'Uncle Festus'...yes, from the Addams Family....round head....no hair. But she was so CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not at all like Uncle Festus.












18 months old...notice all the food on her face...she had been eating spaghetti. Love this pic of her!!!! This picture will haunt her when she is older. hee hee









TODAY!!!!! Eight years old for 24 hours now. So grown up. She still loves her stuffed animals. Each one has a name. The bunny she is holding is 'Floppsy'. The large bear is 'Sugar'. The black bear is 'Buttons'. The white dog - one of those 'Pound Puppies' is 'Emily'. The doll's name is 'Robyn'. This is a small, small collection of her 'pets'.










My attempt at a more 'casual' and non-posed shot. She turned around with this 'surprised' look on her face when she heard the camera clicking away. I should have muted the shutter...note to self for next time.





The birthday party friends - the girls are blessed to have made friends here. One set of friends was made through our church - and their family introduced us to all the other friends. The girls all play so well together - ages 4 up to nearly 10. I love the time with the Moms.