Recent Layouts

As I was getting ready this morning and thinking through my day, I told myself after supper I would clean my scrapbook area and post before/after pictures on my blog, along with some of the recent layouts that caused it to be so messy.  Well, as things would turn out, I got a phone call after supper and then had to finish up some work I didn't get done at the office, so the cleaning didn't happen (yes, I could be doing it now, but Darrin's watching a show I don't care for at all...).  So, you'll just have to settle for some recent layouts. The surprising thing about these layouts is that they're actually from this year, too.  I'm still way behind, but I'm trying to keep current as well...

This one's pretty self explanatory. I had it scrapped within two days of taking the picture.  I got the idea for the writing on the chalkboard from Pinterest.  The inspiration for this layout came from the Issue Challenge at Club CK to incorporate a clock in your layout. I thought it worked well, as this layout marks a new passage of time.

This one, while it may look fairly simple, was time intensive.  The Issue Challenge for this was to cut up a piece of patterned paper and also to outline with pen.  The checkerboard on the background was a solid piece of plaid paper that I cut apart into squares and put on the background.  I love how it turned out.  The layout of this is based on a Scrapbook Generation sketch.  So glad I was able to add the pamphlet, too.

If you're my friend on FB, you've seen this already.  Very rarely do I post my layouts on FB, but I loved this one so much I had to share. I love the composition of the photo, the sun burst, and the tone of colors.  I think it's outside my box a bit, but I absolutely love it. Think I should frame it instead of putting it in a book...

First Weeknd of Fall

We celebrated the first weekend of fall at Martin's Hillside Orchard, and it was the perfect way to kick off the new season.  The temps were even fall-like in the low 60s, leaves were changing, and the sun was shining brightly.  It was a PERFECT fall day.

The past two seasons we've gone to a different orchard, but their you-pick season was over already. Marlena sent me the link for Martin's (she'd never been there, just was searching for orchards), and I'm so glad we made the hour drive there, seeing parts of Nebraska we'd never seen before.

There was plenty to do at the orchard besides pick apples. There was a butterfly garden with lots of structures to play under as well, a playground, trike trail, straw mountain, tire mountain, and other fun things. We had to check all that out before we could even think of picking apples.

Gourd Cave

Corn Stalk Teepee

Bear  Tunnel

Eye Spy at the playground

Tire swing fun

Corn maze queen

King of the Mountain

Climbing Tire Mountan

Running on the Dragon's Tail

Then it was on to picking apples.  There were lots of varieties to choose from.  In the end we ended up with about 50 pounds of apples- a combination of Haralson, Jonathan, Empire, and Melrose. We can already attest that they go together to make a great apple crisp, and have plans to make lots of sauce.  The orchard had a pumpkin cart that worked great for hauling the apples, as well as for hauling Annaliese.  She did not want to get out and help with the apples. It wasn't until she realized there wouldn't be room for her in the cart with all the apples that she got out to help. Before that, all she did was whine and cry.  Ian was a great helper, jumping in right away to help pick.  They both got to snack on an apple for their hard work (the owners told us to feel free to try an apple if we didn't know how they'd taste. Glad we did, that's how we found the Melrose, our new favorite).

Ian picking some Jonathans

Me playing with the camera

Annaliese's favorite spot. She refused to get out and help until there were bags of apples taking up her space.

Finally got out to help pick, though she had trouble getting the apples to pull free from the tree.

Much more content to just watch us pick and eat her apple.

She's actually staring at a butterfly amongst the fallen apples.

The apples of my eye.

Big helper for the day.

Back at home, after a dinner of homemade pizza and apple crisp, Darrin gave the kids a bath and I went for my walk.  I came home to find Buzz and Woody pictures on the camera. So glad Darrin grabbed the camera while I was out to capture these moments.

Fun at Church

Last Sunday was the return to two services at our church and the return of Sunday school.  After the service, there was a pancake brunch where our church puppet group did a few numbers. Annaliese was sooooo into it, at first staring at them wide-eyed and opened mouth, then dancing along to their songs. I was so mad at myself, because I followed her the whole time with my phone, thinking I was recording her, but I forgot to press the darn button! Oh well, I did remember to snap a picture of her and Walter dancing (the puppets are in the background, just above the black drapes that hide the performers). 

 After the puppets were done, we headed outside to watch the kids play in the jumping houses (they had two, one for big kids and one for the tots, which was perfect) and play in the bubbles.  It was lots of fun!

We're still alive

and Annaliese is still as photogenic as ever. She does this crazy thing right now where she smiles really big and closes her eyes.  Can't get a nice, pretty smile out of her any more.  She makes me laugh so much!

Trying on Mommy's glasses (that floor is pretty clean for us...)

At Applebee's. She was ornery and wouldn't sit on the bench, but the window ledge instead.

I have no idea why she's doing this one... but she's making her signature face in it.

So last Friday I bring her home from day care and notice as I'm getting her out of the car something under her dress.  Apparently she wore a cheerleading skirt home from preschool.  Someone told me this is how shoplifting starts...

Crazy face

Showing off her sticker she got for being a Super Cleaner at preschool

Playing in the backyard after supper.