Silly Is, As Silly Does...

While I know that's not quite how the old saying goes, it certainly applies to how things go in our home. Lately, it seems as if the girls personalities have gone from silly to sillier...a trait they inherited from their father, no doubt. They are each other's biggest fan...and they feed off of each other's laughter until I can't help but join in as well. I love this about them...the fact that they don't take life too seriously (like their mama usually tends to do) and that they just LOVE to have fun and be silly. Maybe one day, I'll grown up to be like them...

Anyway, here are some random pics from their most recent bout of silliness, which included tutus, running shoes, and hobo hats...

My camera battery was dying as I tried to snap these...most of the photos came out blurry and pixelated, but I love the raw expressions that I was able to capture...especially this next photo.

And, since we're on the topic of silliness, a couple of months ago AK came running into the kitchen yelling "Look mama...LOOK! I'm a witch doctor." Just to clarify - we haven't taken up witchcraft or African Folklore or anything...the girls had just been watching Madagascar2 while I was putting dinner together. Roo couldn't let her sister get all the laughs, so she joined in as well. Apparently, all you need to be a witch doctor are some blankets (for the loin cloth), a play stethoscope, and a crayon (for the traditional bone nose-piercing)...not too mention, a whole lot of imagination!

And, seriously...who doesn't love to hula?

Moving to the O.C.

Yup...that's right folks. We are finally moving back to California. We found out about a week ago that Doug got the transfer we've been hoping for. He'll be working back at the Costa Mesa campus, and rather than dealing with the commute from Oceanside to Orange County, we decided we will try to live up in the "O.C." for a while. Doug actually leaves on Monday, but the girls and I won't be leaving AZ until November 8th. We are then going to stay with my parents in Upland for a few weeks so we can take our time looking at the area and figuring out a good place to live.

Now that the move is official, I will admit that I am a little sad about leaving Arizona. While the summers here are miserable, we will be leaving during my favorite time of year. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I absolutely LOVE fall in Arizona. It has been absolutely wonderful spending the past 2+ years with Doug's siblings, and it is really going to be hard not having them a stone's throw away. I am going to miss our late night movie nights, family dinners, spur-of-the-moment crafts, meeting up for lunch at McD's, and wandering aimlessly around Target, or the mall, or wherever else we decide to go. The girls are going to have a hard time not being so close to their Hoopes' cousins...but the good news is that our move will give them a chance to develop relationships with some Leach cousins and our California friends. This move is a great opportunity work-wise for Doug. As sad as it will be to leave the family and friends we have in Arizona, we both feel that many new and exciting doors will be opened up for our little family.

So....you may not see or hear much of me during the next few weeks. I have a lot of packing, cleaning, de-cluttering, and organizing to do in order to get us set for the move. Not that I've been writing much anyway (sorry about that), but I figured I would give you all a head's up on our upcoming move!!

Love You Grandpa...

A week ago from Monday, my Grandpa Dale passed away. Today would have been his 97th birthday. It has taken me a little while to post this because I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to say or how I wanted to say it. I didn't get the opportunity to say good-by in person and I wasn't able to attend his funeral, either. I had a rough few days coming to terms with his passing and accepting that I won't see him again on this earth, but I know that he is in a much better place now...especially since he has been reunited with my Grandma Ila who passed away in 1982, just a few months after I was born.

My grandfather was a remarkable man - he was strong, intelligent, caring, loyal, extremely talented, and hard-working. He was an educator most of his life, but he was also a very gifted artist and a universal handyman. He gave the best - and I mean the BEST - bear hugs ever, and he always had a warm smile and a booming "Howdy-doo!" greeting. As loving as he was, he was also very stubborn and independent - he approached much of a life with a no-nonsense, get 'er done attitude...and I loved that about him. Grandpa always encouraged my artistic interests, and he tried to instill confidence in me when he saw that I was struggling.

I have a lot of fond memories about my grandfather, but a few of my favorites include:

- his picture wall in the stairway hall, which showcased ALL of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc.

- working with him in the garden, weeding and helping him plant flowers

- our first trip to the art store in downtown SLC where he insisted I get some real art pencils and supplies.

-our matching polyester pants at a family reunion when I was only about 2 years old or so

- receiving birthday cards with a celebratory dollar EVERY year...I don't think he ever missed a birthday.

- eating KFC at family picnics in his backyard and sliding down the hill
- his coveralls (blue or tan ) - a wardrobe staple

- alka-seltzer and orange juice - his sure-fire cure to an upset stomach
- his stories - especially of my grandma and my mom

Even though I didn't get to say good-bye in person, I hope my grandfather knows that I loved him dearly. He taught me so many things, and although I miss him already, he will continue to influence me through the legacy he left behind.

Scrap Haps...and Some Other Stuff

Been feeling a little scrappy lately...and it's been a while since I've posted my pages, so here's what I've been up to (click on the image for product credits)...

9.08.09 Font Challenge @ FPD - use Love Ya Like a Sister font

9.10.09 Product Challenge @ FPD - Scrap an emotion and use a big title

9.11.09 Designer Challenge @ FPD - Life's Lessons

**NEW RELEASE** - Squid Ink from Plucky Pear Designs (a.k.a. the dynamic duo of Creations by Rachael and Late Night Scraps)

**NEW RELEASE** - Squid Ink from Plucky Pear Designs (a.k.a. the dynamic duo of Creations by Rachael and Late Night Scraps)

9.14.09 Color Challenge @ FPD - orange, blue, green, and pink.

9.15.09 Font Challenge @ FPD - Highlight your journaling

9.16.09 Scraplift Challenge @ FPD - Lift from aphro dee pea's paper gallery at 2Peas

9.17.09 Re-do Challenge @ ScrapOrchard - redo an old layout

9.17.09 Product Challenge @ FPD - Use "Life" in title or journaling

9.18.09 Designer Challenge @ FPD - Template

**NEW RELEASE** - Vintage Spooky from Designs by Leah

9.21.09 Color Challenge @ FPD - yellow, white, blue

9.22.09 Font Challenge @ FPD - Use journaling strips

9.23.09 Scraplift Challenge @ FPD - Lift from Stacey Michu's paper gallery at 2Peas

9.24.09 Product Challenge - Use love or heart in your journaling/layout

9.25.09 Designer Challenge @ FPD - Use white space

9.28.09 Color Challenge @ FPD - Blue and Orange

As you can seen, I LOVE participating in the daily/weekly challenges at Funky Playground Designs (FPD). Not only do they help me think outside the box and try new things, but I also gain the chance to win $5 to the FPD shop for every challenge completed. So, if you need some inpsiration for your scrapbooking, or if you would just like the chance to win some free scrap goodies, I highly recommend that you check out the FPD forum. You'll have to register first, but it's a really fun group of gals to hang out with and the designers at FPD are seriously amazing.

Now, to the "other stuff." Timed seemed to move really slowly on Sunday, so I pulled out my paints and started working on a piece of wood that's been sitting under our desk for over a year...the girls decided they wanted to "help" and started painting on the plaque with their watercolors and some watered-down acrylics...I appreciated their enthusiasm, but had to paint a couple of extra coats to cover-up their contributions. Anyway, here's what I made in just a couple of hours with some acrylic paint, a few scrapbooking supplies, some old ribbon, and a black ink pad:

And, I managed to put a few cards together as well...

The Best of Both Worlds...

Well, it's official folks....we have entered into the Hannah Montana craze at the Hoopes' household. By some random, unexplainable phenomenon - the girls have become hooked. They love hannatana (as they call her) and walk around everywhere singing her songs. While I'm still a little ambivalent about their new found love, I have to admit it is pretty cute to see them dancing around and singing - striking poses like the little divas I know they are.

I didn't think the girls would hop on the Hannah train for a few years still...apparently I was wrong. Oh heaven, help us!

Scrap Haps...

While I was off playing in California and Utah these past two weeks, the designers for whom I CT were hard at work....here's an update on what these talented ladies have been up to.

Creations by Rachael

New Release: [Autumn Hues]

And, here are the layouts I created with the amazing kit...

And here's a Sneak Peek of Rachael's upcoming kit that will be released next Friday, the 18th.

Which reminds me, Rachael has closed her store at PrettyScrappy.com to move onto bigger and better opportunities. She is now selling at [the much anticipated] Polka Dot Plum and her very own site/store that she opened up with designer Late Night Scraps...the new site is called Plucky Pear Designs - you should go check it out!

Leah Farquharson

New Releases: [Vintage Fruity]

I love the different textures in the solid papers, and I love the colors and cute fruity prints in the patterned papers. So fun, so cute; here's what I created with them...

Freebie: [Backyard Buzz]

I [heart] the polka dot paper in this one...and the wood grain alpha is fabulous!!

Miss Tiina

[My Big Adventure] Charity Collab

I believe I mentioned this in a previous post, but I just want to reiterate how amazingly FABULOUS this kit is. It is HUGE - 150+ papers, 400+ elements, and 11 alpha sets. This kit was the collaborative effort of 38 fantastic designers (I'm fortunate to CT for two of the designers - Miss Tiina and Leah), and 100% of the proceeds are being donated to the Autism Society of America. This kit will only be available through September and October...for just $9.99 for the kit(left image) and $7.99 for the Quickpage set (right image), you are getting a SERIOUS steal!!

[i heart...]

Honestly, I [heart] this kit! It is so adorable...I love all the doodles, wordart, and [of course] the polka dots.

Last but not least, here are the various layouts I have created for the weekly challenges at Funky Playground Designs. I really enjoy the challenges, because they help me to venture outside my comfort zone and try new things...some of my favorite LO's have been the result of a challenge. If you have a minute or two, I suggest stopping by the Playground and checking out the challenges - they really are a lot of fun!!

Monday - Color Challenge

[8.31.09] Black, Green, & White

[9.07.09] Brown, Red, & Green

Thursday - Product Challenge

[9.03.09] Use an FPD Collab

Friday - Designer Challenge

[9.04.09] Create a "10 Things About Me Page"

This was the first "Me" page I have done since I turned to the world of digiscrap...as much as I dislike getting in front of the camera, I really enjoyed creating this page. I'm also loving the look of my new glasses...[swoon]

Well, that's all I have for now. As always, thanks for looking at my recent creations. Take care...and happy scrapping!!