Dawn's favorites color contest

Really, I usually make better cards than this. I promise. But I have missed out on a couple of other contests this week because I am not getting enough stamp time. So I stole some time today, on Valentine's Day, to make a very quickie card. I just loved Dawn's raspberry and melon baby card so I used those colors, but it is not my best work. I even smudged it a bit for you. :) Anyway, if it doubles my chance to win the damask stamp set, I'm gonna post. I loved looking at everyone else's creations.

PTI Contest

A very, very simple card. I do like this color combo.

Date Night .....

and Daytime too! Last weekend Phil and I celebrated our 9th anniversary. Mom came in to babysit for us so we could spend the all day together, just us. We took the boat out for a little romantic time on the water. We are usually so paranoid about one of the girls falling in that we don't get to just relax and enjoy the scenery. When we got back home, we changed into something nicer and went out to dinner at a new restaurant. Our neighbors, Kari and Clay, lent us their Mercedes convertable. So FAST! Then we went to the movies and saw My Best Friend's Girl. This movie totally cracked us up....similar to Wedding Crashers. We laughed so hard, but I sensed we were one of the only couples that found it so hilarious. Others seemed offended. Not us, I guess we are just downright nasty. It was such a fun day and I am so glad mom was able to free us up for a whole 10 hours so we could enjoy some quality alone time. We need more of that!

What a happy day :)

I wish we could afford one of these! We may runaway to Mexico and never come back. No one could catch us in this thing!

Camping Fun!

This weekend we took the girls camping with a couple of our good friends, Kevin and Stacey. We are spending every minute we can out on the boat before summer comes to an end. Gina, Craig, and Kara met us on the lake Saturday afternoon and guess what..... I actually learned to water ski!! Wahoo! I really hurt myself the last time I tried so I was a little nervous, but this time I did it. It did not feel good when I fell though. Water shot into EVERY hole in my body if you get my point. I am very clean now! Of course, no one took MY picture while I skied so I have proof. Oh well, I have my memories, painful as they may be.

Gracie and Kara laughed so much. I bet their cheeks are sore!

The girls had fun hanging out and watching the grown ups act like little kids. So much fun!

The only picture of both of us together. Only missing

a few facial features. :)

We enjoyed a very pretty sunset just before heading back to camp for our dinner over the fire. Perfect ending!

Just Mommy and Ava

Early last week, I took Ava the orchard to pick apples. We meet some friends and went on a hayride while we ate cookies and apple cider. Then we headed out to the field to pluck the apples. It was so nice to enjoy my little Ava without interruptions from big sister. Poor thing only gets to take field trips to the grocery store and bank and the dry cleaners....you get it, not much fun for a 2 year old. But she LOVED this!!! I'll tell you that Gracie was very jealous when we told her where we went while she was suffering in school. But, I let her help me make an apple cake that evening and that smoothed everything over.

Lots of pretty pumpkins already. I am so ready for cooler weather.

Party Time!!

Gracie wanted the girliest girl party EVER for her birthday. So I delivered....the best I could, anyway. We had a Barbie cake, pink punch in fancy glasses, lots and lots of makeup and dress up clothes. She had the best time and I really enjoyed watching her interact with her Kindergarten friends. She seems like the class clown to me, which is SOOOOO different than she is at home. What a little showoff!

Barbie greets the guests as they enter the party.

Here is Gracie putting on MORE makeup.

Cake time!

Make a Wish!

Party girls!

Gracie is the only one NOT smiling, as usual.

Gracie is 5!

Yep, she's growing up fast. Gracie's birthday was actually on Tuesday, but this week has been nuts so I am not posting it until now. We went to Red Robin's for her favorite dinner - pepperoni pizza. Then she had an ice cream sundae as big as her head and she ate the whole dang thing! It was a nice family night out.

I'm not sharing so don't even ask!!!

We love Red Robin's!!