Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Lizzie Anne

*This is actually getting posted the morning after I had planned. Isn't life crazy sometimes!?*

Wow, this post was started this morning. I got side tracked and forgot to finish it up! So, sorry for the late post!! My article on Lizzie Anne Designs ran on Craft Critique yesterday so I wanted to give more details on my projects.

This first one uses the Fairy stamp with a Chritstmas twist. I used BasicGrey Dasher paper and used watercolor papers and re-inkers to color her in. I also added stickles once I gave her wings time to dry. I also used velvet ribbon which I think gave it the perfect touch!

  • Fairy, Christmas stamps (Lizzie Anne Designs)
  • BasicGrey Dasher DP
  • Cranberry Crisp CS
  • Stazon Jet Black ink
  • aqua painter and re-inkers
  • Marvy Giga and Mega scallop circle punches
  • Coluzzle oval template
  • Stickles
  • ribbon, pop dots

I just love this snowman one! Too bad Clinton got ahold of it and wrinkled it beyond repair! It was so easy though that I can remake it, or even a few more. The card is 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 and I just put the top half in the embossing folder to run through the Sizzix. I inked up the embossed snowflakes with Cloud White and added glitter to the edges and under the snowmen. Can't get much easier than this!

  • Snowmen stamp (Lizzie Anne Designs)
  • Cool Caribbean CS
  • Stazon Jet Black, Versamagic Cloud White chalk inks
  • Cuttlebug Snowflakes EF
  • aqua painter and re-inkers
  • glitter
  • ribbon, pop dots, edge distresser

I found this last project to be pretty humorous! Why? Because I do all of the stuff that would be in here for my hubby anyway (yes, he is spoiled!)! Between you and me, I only filled out the first 4 because I couldn't think of anything else to write! After I was done with it I gave it to my daughter to play 'tickets' with. Now, I really love the idea of this! It just doesn't really work for me. I embossed the black and matted the ticket with Tempting Turquoise. I then hole punched them all and threw them onto a ring I had picked up at Walmart.

  • All Guy stamp set (Lizzie Anne Designs)
  • Tempting Turquoise CS
  • Versamark ink
  • black embossing powder
  • large jump ring
  • hole punch
  • ribbon

Well, seeing as how this is being posted way later than I expected Happy Halloween! I hope any of you who are taking your little ones out to trick or treat have a good time tonight! Jolee is going to be a Doctor, Ava is going to be a Leopard, and Clinton is going to be a Pirate. I can't wait to get pictures!! I'll probably share some tomorrow!!

By the way, I'll be posting some blog candy this week (FINALLY!!) so keep an eye out!!!

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Warm Wishes

I had been a little caught up in my design team and Craft Critique stuff lately that I hadn't had too much time to use my Inque Botique or See D's stamps that I got last month. So, I pulled them out, along with my BasicGrey Mellow 6x6 stack and got this card done. It's starting to cool off more and more and there have been a few days lately that have been down right cold! So, who can't use a good cup of warm coffee or cocoa on those days!?




  • See D's Christmas stamps
  • BasicGrey 'Mellow' DP
  • Stazon Jet Black, Cocolate Chip inks
  • ZIG markers
  • Marvy Mega scallop square punch
  • Cuttlebug sliders die
  • ribbon
  • push pin, pop dots, sponge



I wanted to share a card today that was made by Amy over at Snips and Scraps of my Life. She used the smARTworks Tea Party layout that I posted on Wednesday. Isn't this just the cutest!?! She flipped the layout to make it suit the stamp she wanted to use and it looks great! Thanks for playing along Amy!! Be sure to check out her blog for her other cute cards! If you made a card with the layout be sure to let me know (or one of the other DT members) and we'll post it!






I'm hoping the weather gets a little nicer today because Joe's cousin Jenny is having a 'harvest party' at their farm. They were planning on doing a hayride and lots of other fun stuff but if it rains (which it looks like it's gonna) we'll all just be hanging out inside. That's fine with me because we'll have food and eachother to chat with! I know the kids will be dissapointed though, especially Jolee if she doesn't get to visit with the horses and other animals they have!

Hope you all have a great Saturday!

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Snowman again!

I just can't help to want to make cards with this guy, so if he pops up every other post, sorry. He is the perfect size to be able to add other things on the card but not too small to become the image that's not the focal point. Plus, I love snowmen! I challenge you guys to show me some snowmen as cute as he is! There might be a few but I haven't seen 'em! SO show me! Show me cards that you have made with snowman stamps or post a link to where you can buy them! Trust me, I'd LOVE to see!!!


  • ABC-Starstruck, Middie Messages #2 stamp sets (smARTworks)
  • The Paper Studio DP
  • Word Window punch
  • aqua painter and re-inkers
  • ribbon
  • pop dot
This was one of the final cards for my first quarter DT batch for smARTworks. I have been on a kraft paper kick lately (yes, admitting you have a problem is the first step!) so I wanted to try it with my little birdie! I stamped everything on the kraft paper and colored except for the middle balloon, which I stamped on a piece of scrap kraft, colored, and popped up on the card. I did the same with the star. I used my pen to draw the 'hill' and the balloon strings.


  • ABC-Birdie Bitties, Middie Messages #2 stamp sets (smARTworks)
  • kraft, black CS
  • Stazon Jet Black
  • Prismacolor pencils and OMS
  • Sizzix folk star die
  • black pen
  • pop dots

I don't have a whole lot of time to chat today but I wanted to post these cards. I had fun with the 'Tea Party' yesterday with the Cookies! Can't wait to do it again in a few weeks! Don't forget that you can view all of the cards made by the smARTworks DT by vising From The Cookie Jar ! You'll find the sets we have used so far listed on the left side of the blog.

Hope you guys have a great night! Enjoy your Grey's!!!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

smARTworks Tea Party!

Good afternoon everyone! Today will be a pretty fun day because it is the first 'Tea Party' of the smARTworks design team! Every other week (Wednesday) we will be taking turns posting a challenge for ourselves and hopefully you guys as well, if you'd like to join in the fun. This week it is a sketch done by the fab-u-lous Dina from Mama Dini's Stamperia. She is our DT 'momma' and she threatened to take my stamps away if I didn't participate. Just teasing! But isn't that what moms usually do? I know I do! Anyway, this sketch was really fun and as soon as I saw it I knew which smARTworks stamp I wanted to use! He is one of my favorites!! So, without further ado, here is the sketch and the my version of the sketch!



I do have to admit that I completely *heart* this card! It helps though that I also *heart* this snowman oh so much! Can snowmen really get any cuter than this!? And he even has a little birdie on his hand!


  • ABC-Starstruck, Middie Messages #2 stamp sets (smARTworks)
  • MME 'Front Porch' DP
  • Certainly Celery, white CS
  • Cuttlebug Swirls EF
  • Stazon jet black ink
  • aqua painter and re-inkers
  • Copic gray marker
  • brads, pop dots

Check out the talents of my smARTworks DT buddies! Susan T, Susan L, Dina, Trish, and Donna!

So, if you get a chance sometime this week play along and post your results here! I'd love to see them!!

See ya later alligator!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Cream Cheese Icing Recipe

Thanks for the *sweet* comments ladies! Here is the recipe for the cream cheese icing:

8 ounces of cream cheese
1/2 cup butter - softened
4 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons Vanilla extract

Beat cream cheese and softened butter together and then add the sugar and vanilla. I added a food coloring to give mine some color but it makes a really white icing and looks excellent the way it is!

Oh, and for the marshmallows, I just melted the chocolate, stuck the pretzel in the marshmallow, swirled it around in the chocolate, let the excess drip off, coated it in whatever topping I wanted (toffee bits in the pic), and threw it in the fridge for a few to harden. Wow, that was the longest run on sentence ever!

Monday, October 22, 2007

Cupcakes and Marshamallows

Well, I had quite a crafty weeked! I got to make some cards and on Saturday I got in a serious baking mood! Joe had to work this weekend so the girls and I went to the store and got all kinds of baking things. Halloween mini muffin/cupcake cups, white cake mix, an icing decorator gizmo, apples (for home made apple crisp which I haven't made yet), marshmallows, bakers choclate, toffee bits, walnuts, Reeces Pieces, and a few other things. We used most everything! I took a few pics of the final products. I know I have shown you guys my marshmallows before but I have never taken a pic with my 'nice' camera. {grin} So, here they are.




I made the cream cheese icing for the cupcakes myself. I have had this recipe stashed away and can't remember where I got it from. It the the most awesome and simple icing recipe anywhere! And, in my opinion, cream cheese icing is the best icing for any cake! If you want the recipe or have any questions on the marshmallows just leave a comment or email me!

I kind of got in the whole baking mood because our new neighbors who have been building their house across the road all summer have finally moved in. I thought I would bake up a little something and say hello. I've done things like this with neighbors before when we lived in the apartment years ago but I was thanked and then ignored any time I would see them. I told Joe it would be nice if I could make a friendship out of this. I'm not holding my breath though because it's been a no go with others before. Plus, I'm younger than she is and probably won't realize how much better I get along with people 10+ years older than me. Most women at 25 are at a completely different stage in their life than I am right now. But I love where I am and don't feel like running around with gals my age. I think they'd get sick of me talking about my kids all the time!! But really, what else is there to talk about!? They're my life!

Anyway, sorry for the rambling, I got kinda carried away! Here is the card I made for them. I really wanted to use the paper from the BasicGrey Mellow stack of the kids playing in the leaves. So I did. {grin} Actually, all of the paper is from that stack. I pulled out the huge stack of chipboard I got from JoAnns and used the leaf. Gave it 2 coats of acrylic paint and once it dried, sanded it down and slapped it on. I popped up the bottom piece with the playing kids on it too. I think I might do that more often as it really gives nice dimension! I used my edge distresser on the word and stuck it on pop dots. All in all, I like the feel of it. Very fall-ish!


  • Purple Onion Designs alpha stamps
  • BasicGrey Mellow DP
  • Chocolate Chip classic ink
  • JoAnn chipboard leaf
  • acrylic paint
  • fine grit sandpaper
  • pop dots, ribbon, star button, twine, edge distresser

Well, now I need to get off here and get the kids ready to go outside. Joe and I took Jolee to get a new 'big girl' bike yesterday since she was riding her other one without training wheels. I thought she would have some trouble riding this one because it was so much bigger but she hopped right on and was doing great! Man she is growing up way too quick!!

Friday, October 19, 2007

Gotta love Doodle Factory!

How can you not love these adorable little guys!? I swear I am so addicted to them! I'm going to be getting a few more! And for those of you who love these guys too, the artist is supposed to be drawing up some holiday/winter ones!! I absolutely cannot wait!!

This one is made with Pip & Oggy. I kind of strayed from my usual colors with this one and I also had a hard time not adding a black matt to every piece. I Versamarked the harlequin pattern on the yellow but it didn't show up so I added some chalk to it to make it stand out a little bit. I paper pierced above the yellow piece also and added stickles around the edges.



  • Pip & Oggy, 42.02 The best thing, P25.01 Harlequin BG (Starving Artistamps)
  • DCWV CS
  • Stazon Jet Black, Versamark inks
  • Copic markers
  • chalk
  • decorative edge scissors
  • push pin

For the next one I thought I'd use my DF stamp that I had yet to ink up. This guy is Zot and apparently he is in need of his daily caffeine!

  • Zot, 41.02 Alpha (Starving Artistamps)
  • Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, kraft, watercolor paper
  • Stazon Jet Black, Chocolate Chip inks
  • Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean, Pretty in Pink re-inkers
  • Cuttlebug circle embossing folder
  • Slit punch
  • hole punch

Tracey over at Starving Artistamps will be announcing the rest of her new Design Team soon! And boy did she pick a perfect group of gals!!

Until next time, have a fantastic day!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

A little bit Christmas

I have a feeling that if I stepped outside right now I might be blown away. Although, with my 10 lb. weight gain in the last few months, maybe not. It is really windy though and since I am so important to so many people I don't think I'll take the risk. By the way, those 'so many people' are my kids and hubby who depend on me for food and clean clothes!

I feel guilty lately that I haven't been blogging as often as I would like. It seems like when I get a project done, I don't have time to immediately take a picture, resize, watermark, upload, and write an entry. Then, once I realize I don't have time to do it that day I just tell myself that I'll wait to post once I make another card. Sometimes that doesn't happen, sometimes it's a card I can't share yet, and sometimes, just sometimes, I actually make more than one card and still don't have time to post. A lot of that has to do with switching computers to do the photo editing and then switching back to the laptop to post. If I could just do it all on the laptop on the couch while I watch a movie with the kids, it would solve oh so much! Since I use hubby's there is a 'don't load up my laptop with a bunch of programs and pictures so it's turtle slow' rule. Oh well, guess I'll just have to bat my eyelashes for my own!

My Cosmo Cricket chipboard review was posted on Craft Critique today. I did the following project to show how awesome it is!


I used 3 4x4 chipboard coasters, covered them with BasicGrey Fruitcake paper, and sanded the edges. Then I covered the edges with red antique glitter that I found at a yard sale. This is the first time I have used this glitter because I am seriously hoarding it! I have a light gold and green too. Just beautiful! Anyway, I gave each letter 2 coats of acrylic paint and sanded them down too. Added large eyelets and pop dotted them onto the chipboard. As I was making it I was wondering who I could gift it to but the more I thought, I decided to keep it for myself. I always give away the things I make. Not this time. It's a keeper!


  • 4x4 heavyweight coasters
  • BasicGrey Fruitcake DP
  • Cosmo Cricket buck naked chipboard alphas
  • green acrylic paint
  • fine grit sandpaper
  • BasicGrey file set
  • eyelets
  • glitter
  • ribbon
  • spiral clip and brad

I really love how this next card turned out! This is an Artful Inkables flower from Starving Artistamps. When I got it I knew I wanted to do something different with it. Since I have been stuck on using kraft paper lately I thought that emboss resist would be the way to go. Well, one thing lead to another and it ended up getting more colorful than what I had first imagined. I'm glad one thing lead to another though!

  • KSAI-103 Blossom and leaf, 42.02 Best thing in my life (Starving Artistamps)
  • kraft, black CS
  • Stazon Jet Black ink, Veramark
  • black embossing powder
  • Versamagic Cloud White. Pixie Dust, Aloe Vera Chalk ink, Colorbox Rouge chalk ink
  • sponges
  • ribbon
  • push pin

This is also done with all Starving Artistamps products. I actually pulled out my crimper for this one too! Love the brown and the teal together!!

  • P24.02 Tight weave, 46.04 Thanks a bunch, 45.12 Snowflakes (Starving Artistamps)
  • Chocolate Chip, Taken with Teal, white CS
  • Chocoalte Chip, Taken with Teal classic ink
  • crimper
  • sponge
  • ribbon

I saved a few to share for tomorrow. Maybe I'll get a chance later tonight to write up my entry so I make sure it can get posted tomorrow.

On my last note of this really long post, I love you guys! Really, I do! I appreciate everyone who visits my blog and leaves encouraging comments and sometimes helps remind me why I love doing this so much! Hope all of you have a great evening!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Just can't wait!

Okay, so as part of Craft Critique we recently got a chance to get some Lizzie Anne Designs stamps! How cool is that!?! When I say recently I mean I got mine yesterday! I just couldn't wait to play! We (CC) will be doing a review on their stuff soon so those of us who recieved their stamps have to make some projects to post. Well, these stamps are so stinkin' easy to use I decided to go ahead and share my first card with you all. However, I will probably have to keep the rest a secret until the Craft Critique articles are posted. Oh, I also used the latest SCS sketch challenge with this too. I think I will be doing that one again! So, here is this beautiful lady in all of her glory!





  • Fairy, Fairy Saying (Lizzie Anne Designs) stamps
  • Stazon jet black ink
  • Copic (body, wings, dress) and ZIG (hair, star) markers
  • Chocolate Chip, cream CS
  • Floral (Sandylion) and Polka Dots (*I think* Wild Asparagus) DP
  • crystal Stickles
  • decorative scissors
  • pop dots
  • push pin

The next one is a super (and I mean SUPER) simple card! No layer! My fave! The boxes are going slightly downhill though but isn't that part of the charm!? I inked up my Stampabilities square and stamped the middle one first so I could *try* and line up the other ones. Then I masked the bottom of the box and stamped my smARTworks flowers in each box. I also added glitter to the flowers with my Stardust jelly roll pen and then swooshed {for lack of a better word} it around with my finger while it was still wet. I also used a push pin for the paper piercing in between the diamonds.

  • Flowers FL-18, Delight WD-27 (smARTworks), square (Stapabilities), diamond border (See D's) stamps
  • kraft CS
  • Versamagic Cloud White chalk ink, Stazon jet black ink
  • Stardust gitter pen
  • post it (for masking)

The next card is one I did for Jen del Muro's sketch challenge over at i{heart}2stamp. I really liked the card until the very end, when I added the stickles. Adding those things to my red ink totally funkified it! So, for future reference, don't use stickles on dye ink. The green ink is chalk ink and it turned out just fine which makes it look even more weird. Oh well, I'll just send this one to somebody I don't like very much. LOL That's what my cousin Amy and I always say when we aren't thrilled with how something turns out. Then we proceed to say 'I better not see it in MY mailbox!' I miss you Amy! Come visit!

  • All of this paper was scrap, so I have no idea who makes it! Sorry!!!!!
  • Whimsy Christmas (See D's) stamps
  • Colorbox Olive Pastel chalk ink, Real Red classic ink
  • Coluzzle circle template
  • Stickles
  • pop dots

Now I am off to throw some more laundry in the dryer and stamp some more!! Thanks for looking!

Today is reserved for crafting!

Hello! Hello! Hello! I have decided that today will be a very productive craft day for me!! The weather is kind of stinky outside so the kids will be inside all day, I've only got 2 loads of landry to do, and there are a few deadlines that I need to meet. Plus, I deserve it! I didn't even get to stamp on WCMD!! How sad is that! I've only gotten to make 1 card since my post last week so my precious babies {aka my stamps} need some real lovin'! My real precious babies have gotten plenty of lovin' lately, hence the no cards made!

I joined the SCS WishRAK group and I have really enjoyed it so far! My wishes haven't gotten granted as of yet but I have granted 6! That has also kept me a little busy! I really can't imagine all of the work that goes into that though! I wish I had time to volunteer some help but with my DTs, Craft Critique (working on some cool things!), and regular life I have plenty on my plate! I love it though! I love having something to do when I sit down to craft. It cuts down the 'sitting at my table, staring at cardstock, wondering what stamps to use, my brain is melting' time!

By the way, I am in an image swap hosted by babitoons for Stampendous images so if you have a Stampendous stamp and wanna join here is the link. We still need to fill 6 spots so don't be shy!

So, now on to share my slighty stressful news! Monday, Joe rode his bike (motorcycle) into work. He parked it, went inside, changed his pants (has to wear flame retardant clothes), and got paged to go outside. Guess what he sees when he gets outside? His bike laying on top of a another bike, a Harley-Davidson to be exact. WHAT!? Apparently he ran over something on the way into work and when he parked his bike and went inside, his tire went flat. As his tire went flat, it leaned and fell over, resulting in hitting the other bike and knocking it over as well. Who knew!? I guess the other guy was pretty mad at first but cooled down later in the day. We have to have an adjuster come out today and give an estimate on the damages. As much as that sucks, I'm just glad he wasn't on the bike when the tire went flat! Making lemonade from lemons people, lemonade from lemons!

Alright, so I'm going to make one more card before I post both of them. I promise I'll be back by noon with both of my cards! See ya then!!

P.S. I realized that my hit counter is past 31,000 soooooo I'm overdue for blog candy so I am going to think about what I want to do this week and I'll probably post it next week. I'll definitely be throwing lots of images in!

Thursday, October 04, 2007

Pirates, bears, and sweets, Oh my!

I definitely have a mix of cards for you guys today but first I want to say that I am so looking forward to Grey's Anatomy tonight!! I was on vacay last week with the season premier so I had to watch it online yesterday (the first chance I have had this week!) and I was pretty impressed! I cannot wait to see what happens with Izzy and George! One part of me hates their relationship because he is married but the other part of me wants him to drop Callie and be with Izzy. How many of you feel the same way?

Alright, I'll get to the cards now. My first one is an invite for my niece's 4th birthday party. They are going to Build a Bear but after that they will go to my sisters house and dig up burried treasure by following a map. I think they will have lots of fun! My sister is going to give out pirate attire as part of the goody bags.

I paper pieced the bottom of the boat and the brown flag. I also paper pieced the sail but popped it up. I tore the paper for the waves, chalked it to darken it a bit, and added stickles. I also added hair to the pirates on the invites that were going to girls.



  • Ahoy Matey (SU) stamp sets
  • Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel, white CS
  • Copic markers (except for the pants)
  • stickles
  • pop dots
The next one is for the same sisters birthday. It is the first time I have gotten to use my Tier of Treats stamp. I just love that stamp! I also got to try out flocking for the first time. They had 2 pack for 1.99 at Hobby Lobby plus 40% off so you know I couldn't pass it up! I got 4 different colors, light green, pink, white, and blue. There wasn't a yellow in sight (obviously not a Christmas color) otherwise I would have snatched that up too! They did have pack of red and green though so I'll probably get that next time I am in. Anyway! I flocked all of the pink, white, and green on this card. You can't really tell but it looks (and feels) really cute in person!

  • Tier of Treats (Stampendous), 1/8 inch snap (Karen Foster) stamps
  • MME and SEI patterned paper
  • black, white CS
  • Stazon jet black ink
  • Copic and ZIG markers (can YOU tell the difference?)
  • glue pen
  • ric rac
  • pop dots

The next two are for my design team for Starving Artistamps. These stamps seem to make my creativity flow so easily! Although I have noticed that I seem to do a lot of cards that focus on the left side. If you take a took at all of the creations I posted today you will see what I am saying! I guess it's just a 'classic' way to layout a card. I am going to challege myself though that for the next 5 cards I make I won't do one that looks so similar to these in layout. I don't think it will be too hard. At least I hope not. {wink}

I ran a piece of Bashful Blue through my Sizzix with the snowflake Cuttlebug die and then I dragged my Versamagic Cloud White ink pad over the top to highlight the snowflakes just a little bit. I highlighted the bear with my gray Copic marker **If you never get any other Copic marker, invest in the gray one! You will not be dissapointed!!!!** and added some flocking to hs hair, ears, and the hair on his legs. Once I was done with that I colored under him with my blue C. (Copic) marker and added stickles and a black line.

  • Polar Bear KSAI-317 (Starving Artistamps) stamp
  • Bashful Blue, white, black CS
  • Satzon jet black, Versamagic cloud white chalk inks
  • Cuttlebug snowflakes embossing folder
  • Copic Markers
  • glue pen & white flocking
  • black pen
  • stickles
  • ribbon

This one highlights the fall/winter scene from the set of two from SA. I wanted to make the colors very muted so after I colored them with my Prismacolors and OMS I sponged Chocolate Chip over the whole piece. I also used the new Mellow paper from BasicGrey. Now that is a sick obession of mine! BG paper! But that's a whole other story! **sidenote: When I just typed 'whole other' I wanted to type 'whole nother'. LOL That's how I say it out loud.....whole nother.**

I also decided to start labeling my posts. I think I am going to try and go back and label most of my previous posts from this year too. I never even noticed it in the beginning and then when I did notice it I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Now, after browsing through blogs that have easy ways to get to the cards you wanna see, I definitely think it's important. So, keep an eye out for it!

Gotta go! Have a great TV night Grey's fans!!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Back and refreshed!

Just a forwarning, there will be nothing crafty in this post! Just giving an update and filling you guys in on how nice of a time I had this past weekend!

Hubby and I left Thursday night for Gatlinburg, TN and didn't get back until last night. Wow, did I need that! Actually we both really needed that! Joe just graduated and he also has been a bit stressed out with work so it was a great load off his shoulders to not have to do anything. And funny thing is that is pretty much what we did, nothing. If you have ever been to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Seveirville, you know that there are soooo many things to do there. However, we chose to do the opposite! We ate, and ate, and ate some more! I am so spoiled now! I don't want to cook! All the food was fantastic (if you're planning on going there any time I can give you some suggestions!) and if we hadn't walked everywhere we went I would be 10 pounds heavier right now!

One of the few places we went was Ripley's Aquarium. Wow! It was really neat! I have been to the Newport Aquarium on the Ohio-Kentucky border but the Ripley's one was way better I thought. The seahorses were my favorite part. They were wrapping their tails around eachother, it was really neat. I also got to touch stingrays. Definitely a good place to go!

We did the go kart racing too and that was really cool. Joe bumped me and spun me out twice so the guys had to come and turn my car around. That was a little embarassing! It was a blast though!

Coming back to a house full of toys, random clutter, and too much laundry to even think about, I felt a little like Cinderella. I have sucked it up this morning though and tackled most of it already. Joe started 1st shift this morning and he could be on it for up to 6 months until he qualifies for the job he just got last week. Once he qualifies (they think that he has been trained enough to do the job on the shift he wants) he will move to 4th shift. 4th shift is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7am to 7pm. He works 36, gets paid for 40, and get Mon-Thur off. He is realllllllly looking forward to that! I think it will be good for us as a family, especially a home schooling family.

Anyway, I have to catch up on a lot of online things today too and I want to sit down and make at least 1 card. Oh yeah, I'll have invites for my niece's birthday party to show you later, I just need to resize the picture and whatnot. Until then, have a great day!!!