More Anniversary Cards

Some new cards I recently created. As usual, lots of Anniversary cards as these are the ones I use most often. I need a new Happy Anniversary stamp. Like the Stampin' Up one I have, but would love some variety. I think I am stuck in a flower rut, what do you think? They just make such an easy & classy embellishment!

Finally Posting a Layout

Okay, so this isn't my all-time favorite layout, but I feel like I am accomplishing something actually posting one. I really intended when I started this blog to include lots of layouts, but as with life, not much seems to go as I have planned :) The pictures are from Christmas Day 2008. DD3 got a new bike and so DS2 got her hand me down. Both were excited to try out their big kid rides! I used some stickles to add a little glitter to the flowers on the patterned paper. The title was cut with my wishblade. I will have this file available shortly at cuttersmarket (see link at right). Thanks for looking! I will add some more Anniversary Card pictures soon!

(Temporary) Calm

(Temporarily) Calm on the Homefront. Survived taking the three youngest for their annual checkups yesterday. DS1 has a BIG fear of shots, so I was afraid he'd freak out once he saw where we were going. He did very well though, YEAH! Progress! DS2 is a brave little cookie: he pulled up his shirt sleeve and gave the nurse a big grin when it was his turn. When she gave the injection he let out this crazy little "ooh!" like it was the most interesting thing he'd seen all week. And DD3 was disappointed that she only got a finger prick, I think she wanted to prove she could be just as brave as her little brother.

Here are a couple cards I made this morning. I ran out of anniversary cards for the couples at our church - lots of summer weddings, I guess. They're not my all-time favorites, but once again I was playing with new toys. Two of the cards feature a new stamp I received from a PIF from one of my on-line scrapping groups. The other card has a clear acetate front that has been embossed with a cuttlebug folder. I've seen several like this online, and love the idea. Mine didn't turn out quite as cool, so I'm gonna have to play with this again!

Do you ever have "one of those weeks"???

So Monday evening DD2 and DD3 are in bed reading and a light bulb in their ceiling fan exploded all over them. Everyone was fine, thankfully, but there was a big mess to clean up very carefully.
Then having to say goodbye to Kane on Tuesday...

Then Wednesday I had to deal with some water in the basement and being unable to figure out where it came from...

Which puts us at Thursday. It started off pretty well. We saw a pair of fawns on the way to Michael's. They were so pretty! But of course we needed a little challenge for the day. We went outside to play and chores this afternoon and found a possum in the chicken coop!! How'd he get in there??? And how to get him out?? I was hoping he'd play dead and I could just scoop him up with a shovel and get him out, but he didn't want to play my way. He bared his teeth at me. I think we were both terrified of the other. Me crouching in the coop with no way to get out quickly, him with some lady coming at him with a shovel! I stuck with the original plan, and with a little finagling I was able to scoop him up on the shovel long enough to get him out of the coop. He hopped off the shovel and ran under the horse barn...And the day's not over yet!

Kane, You'll be Remembered

Kane just never seemed to get all the way better after we took him to the vet and found the pancreas problems. He'd vomit once in a while. He wouldn't always eat all his meals. But then yesterday he wouldn't eat his last two meals (we were feeding him 4 meals a day to try to be gentler on his tummy). This morning he could barely get out of his crate to go outside to potty and then he wouldn't eat his breakfast - even with canned food added. We took him to the vet and they took some x-rays. They found a mass in his chest and evidence of cancer in his lungs. Based on the x-rays and some of his symptoms, the vet felt the cancer was likely spreading rapidly throughout his body and that he was pretty uncomfortable. We made the heartbreaking decision to let him go.
When we got home from the vet's all of us were feeling pretty low. As we piled out of the van, a butterfly flitted all around us. I love butterflies. The butterfly landed on my wrist right next to my cross tattoo and just sat there for about a minute. Then he flew over and landed on Kane's collar I was holding. And sat there for a moment too. It is rare for me to see the butterflies land on someone and sit for so long. We felt that the butterfly was a little messenger, letting us know Kane was now free from his pain, who came to give us a little "hug".
Kane - have fun playing with Houdini and Cosmo across the Rainbow Bridge. We will miss your gentle spirit! I hope you are in Heaven when it's my time to come Home.