We're BACK! After an exhausting week of vacationing, we have returned home. We were official tourists this past week and I'm just plain tired. It was amazing to travel back to Mackinac Island after 20 years. Not much has changed. We stayed on the island at a little B&B called Chataeu Lorainne. Other than having to take an extremely cold shower the next morning, it was lovely. I'll be sure to post pictures after I upload approximately 800! We went a couple other places, which I'll be sure to enlighten you to later.

I'm currently kid-free and trying to get something...anything done! We're looking to have a huge yard/moving sale in August, so I'm scouring the house for sale items. You think I can sneak a couple toys in there? We shall see...

My good friend, Angelina will keeping me company as I'm forced to scrap tonight ;)

Here are a couple layouts I did yesterday using my sketches, along with The Scrapping Spot's July Kit.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

It appears that the house is actually ours! The word is out that it is SOLD and they're continuing to move stuff out of the house/garages. The house inspection is this afternoon and there are other inspections, etc. happening midweek.

It is also no longer a secret form the children. Charlie caved and told Nick yesterday, because he was sad he wasn't going to get to go salmon fishing with Grandpa Stiles this year. Sigh!!! Ahhh, the sacrifices one must make. I'm ruining his Summer don't you know! Now, there are endless questions and plans for several mini-farms on the 27 acres. Who didn't know that was going to happen? The kid has his own agenda. Oh, and Blake knows he gets a hamster now. So, he wants hamster "stuff" for his birthday. That ought to be fun having a miniature RAT in the house.

Here are a couple layouts that I have finished in the last week or so. "Early Reader" was inspired by Cathy's Soccer layout over at The Scrapping Spot. Thanks, Cathy!

I used The Scrapping Spot's June Boy Kit for the Reader and Pancake layouts.

The sketch for the pancake layout is on my other blog - www.nutsaboutsketches.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

Pray! Pray! Pray! We're in a slight lull with the new property still. Nothing has been finalized yet. They haven't signed the agreement as of yet. They agreed verbally and the paperwork is on its way, but we haven't heard anything since Monday. Put our minds at ease! We're already decorating for Pete's sake! Well, thinking about it anyway. Sigh! Breathe!

I just got back in from jumping on the trampoline for about 45 minutes. I may just have to take ANOTHER shower! Bathe twice in one day? The heck you say...no reallllllly. That's if my knees don't give out going back up the steps to the bathroom. Sheesh! I swear I'm only 34...well, that's what my Mom tells me anyway - LOL! Just kidding, Mom!

I did manage to complete a sketch challenge at Creative Scrappers. I used The Scrapping Spot's June Boy Kit. I seriously should have bought two of them! I love it! It's almost gone...ahhhh!





Speaking of Creative Scrappers, they're having a SKETCH CONTEST - Deadline June 30 (I think). So, if you're feeling SKETCHY, zip over and submit some of yours. They'll be voting on the sketches from July 1 - July 5. They're offering up a great prize.




Back to the grind of things...maybe I'll scrap...when my breathing slows down - LOL!

Thanks for popping in!

Shawn

EXCITEMENT ABOUNDS!


Thing's are gonna be changing in the Lahr house in the next couple of months. We looked at a different house with approximately 27 acres on Tuesday...made an offer on Wednesday...made a counter offer on Thursday...the owners accepted on Friday. So, if everything goes well, we'll be moving in August. Yeah! The kids don't know yet. I doubt we'll be able to keep it a secret for very long. I'll be posting pictures in a couple days. Our minds are just spinning with renovations right now. We really wouldn't have to do one darn thing to move in, but some of the colors are off in some of the rooms. It would just be easier to paint first, then move. It's ideal, because we're really in no hurry. We have a house already, so that's not a problem. We don't need to sell it right away - bonus. The only thing is the timing for school. School starts the end of August. I'm not worried. I'm extremely excited, but nearly as much as Charlie.


Anyway, let's see if blogger will let me post some more pictures/layouts.

All three of the boy layouts were done using kits from The Scrapping Spot. Check it out, there may still be some left.

This first layout is of our darling boys just days after Blake was born. Can you imagine them that small? I'm so glad I have pictures.

The second layout is my darling son, Blake and Daddy mowing.


The sketches for these three layouts are on my other blog.

This layout is of Blake acting as if he may be hungry. How could that have happened?

This last layout was done using one of Cherie Averill's awesome sketches over at Sketches-R-Us.

I told you I had a lot going on! I'm sure there's more, but it can wait.


Thanks for popping in!


Shawn

The end of school is near...some may say that is good. I say the only good part of that is that I get to sleep in a little longer each morning, only to awaken to constant bickering between the children. I am READY! Thank goodness it's only 3 months, eh?

We had a good time at DH's Cousin's wedding, complete with lots of food, family and dancing. Blake turned out to be quite the little Fred Astaire. Too cute! His face was soooo red by the time we left. He wanted to go home and dream about dancing, and me without my video camera! Sheesh!

I'll have to add to this later. Blogger doesn't seem to like me right now.

See ya!

Shawn

I have a lot of things going on right now, but don't have time to post pictures. Here are some of the things that are transpiring in the World of Lahr.

First, we purchased a trampoline WITH a net. I was able to manage to put most of it up with a little help from the kiddos and my brother-in-law (helped with the net). Okay, so now the kids have a "safe" place to jump their little hearts away. They begged for me to jump on it last night. Obviously, they wanted to reach the sky. If I could not provide such a thrill, I bet they wouldn't want me anywhere near it. I, however, am very capable, with the help of my poundage, to send them higher than they ever dreamed possible. Not only will this apparatus keep the children out of my hair, but it will also provide them and me for that matter, with much needed exercise. My muscles/bones can attest to that fact this very morning.

Secondly, we're going to look at some property tonight with a pre-existing home already on it. It's a secret from the children, because it has a pond on it and we don't want them to be too disappointed if we don't get it. It's fairly close to where we are right now. We're excited ourselves, so wish us luck.

Third, I have to cook some items for Nick's International Day at school tomorrow. I'm going to make a couple German dishes and an Irish dessert. Gee, I've never tried any of these recipes before, so I hope they're tasty. Nick's extremely excited about it.

Fourth, we're preparing for Blake's big 6th birthday this Saturday. He's counting the days. I'm currently going through some photos to put them away and I found several of Blake in his younger years. Sigh! He's too cute. I haven't even shopped for his gifts yet.

Fifth, we purchased some ducklings the 9th of May. They are so cute, but we lost Bob, which was Nick's duckling. You can't get those little things wet before they get their feathers, especially when it's so cold. We had a heat lamp on them, but it just wasn't enough. He got wet in the afternoon and was gone by evening.

Lastly, here is an 8 1/2 x 11 layout that I did for Becky Fleck's Pagemaps for May.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back for some pictures of the kiddos once I get a chance to upload those babies!

Shawn

Here are some layouts I've been working on.
"Nut Allergy Discovered" - Scraplift from Dee at The Scrapping Spot.
"Long Awaited Arrival" - one of my sketches
"Create" - Becky Fleck Sketch
"Dream Snow" - sketch challenge at SFYS

Check it out! A fish layout...finally - as Nick would say. He's been waiting and waiting for me to do these pictures. The guy in the middle is my darling Father :) And the kid on the right is my darling nephew, Corey. Cute guys, eh? Click on the image to read the journaling.

Well, here it is along with my sketch.

Thanks for popping in!

Shawn

As promised, here are a couple more layouts from the challenges/sketches over at The Scrapping Spot. The first one is really sparkly in real life. Ya gotta love STICKLES!

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

Ahhh, what a beautiful day! A beautiful day to accomplish something outside. Well, for my husband to accomplish, but not me. I don't do a whole lot outside. I should have mowed, but my scrap table was calling me.

I did these for a couple challenges over at The Scrapping Spot for National Scrapbooking Day
yesterday.



I'll have more to post tomorrow. I haven't uploaded them to TSS yet.

Thanks for popping in!

Shawn

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!!! I hope you are all getting some scrapping time in. I'm trying!

Here are some layouts that I have completed recently using some of my sketches that are posted on my other blog - Nuts About Sketches.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

Just a quick update with a new sketch/layout featuring the April Boy Kit at The Scrapping Spot.

This is my darling son, Nick. These are pictures from the first day of school. I took about 150 pictures (ya gotta LOVE digital!). He was killing me! Hilarious kid! To get the full effect of his craziness, you must click on the image. I did get some decent photos of him that day. These are just funny. BTW - he has grown a ton since August. I just can't believe it!

For those of you who LOVE sketch challenges, I'll be starting one tomorrow, May 1st, at The Scrapping Spot. It's an every other day sketch, so if you like sketches - just click on the above link! It takes you exactly where you need to be.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

You are NOT going to believe this! I must have been sending ESP messages to my husband, because after 1 1/2 years without gutters/downspouts...he has completed the back and side of the house with functioning equipment. I know, wonders never cease. It looks awesome. I can't wait for him to finish, so we can get some mulch around the house and trees. Ahhh, it's the little things, People!


I have some more layouts to share from my crop weekend. Halloween Cupcake is from one of my sketches. The other two are Becky Fleck sketches from Pagemaps.



















I

I used the Boy Kit over at The Scrapping Spot

to create

"Joy."

Thanks for popping in and be sure to checkout this week's sketch over at Nuts About Sketches.

Shawn

Busy! Busy! I don't know about all of you, but I'm an SO in the "throw away" mood. I could pitch so many things today it isn't funny. Needless to say, this will be a quick post, as I must return to my purging.

I used one of Becky fleck's Pagemaps sketches for this double pager, along with The Scrapping Spot's December Kit. Click on the image for a better view. Nick was only 8 years old here. He's almost 10 now. He's getting too big!

Thanks for stopping by!

Shawn

Ahhhh, Spring is in the air...flying through the air that is. The Spring that I speak of is the first fresh cut grass of the season. It's a beautiful thing really. The smell just makes me happy. The fact that it's done for about a week makes me even happier :) Since today was the first time the back had been cut, there were a lot of chestnut spiky shells in the yard. Well, we can't have these children stepping on those things the entire Summer. So, we spent about an hour digging them out and raking them up. To complete aforementioned task, I needed to acquire the great skill of driving an ATV. Yes, Shawn has a new toy :))) I have to say, I'm a fast learner. Good luck letting these males drive it again - LOL! Anyway, the kids and I completed the task and I took the two little ones for a ride prior to eating dinner. We HAD to take advantage of this beautiful day, because tomorrow isn't going to be so good.

Without further ado, here are today's layouts.

"Please?" and "Cute Photos" - I created using two more of Becky Fleck's awesome sketches over at Pagemaps.

"Cute Photos" was done using the awesome April Kit over at The Scrapping Spot.

I used one of my sketches for "I know you did that!" I had to flip it though, because Blake was pointing the wrong way.

Again, if you'd like a closer view...just click on each image.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Shawn

I have all girly layouts for you today. I'll have more boyish layouts tomorrow. I just have to upload them. I managed to complete 7 the first night of my scrap-away. I know! 7 BOY layouts! What was I thinking?

Anyway, "Sweet adorable" I just whipped up after about 1 1/2 hours - sheesh!

And "Sleeping Angel" is from my following sketch:

The weather is AWESOME here! I can't wait to kick the kids...I mean get outside and enjoy the fresh air! One of the downsides, obviously, is grass to mow. My sons have decided that they need the fresh cut grass for some sort of fort, so they're just waiting...

Thanks for popping in!

Shawn

Just a couple more layouts from this past weekend. These are all based on Becky Fleck's sketches.

The "Not Fair" layout is using papers from the April Kit at The Scrapping Spot.

Also, just a reminder that I have a new Sketch Blog called "Nuts About Sketches." Check it out!

Thanks for peeking!

Shawn

Here are a few sketches/layouts that I completed last weekend. I used the April Kits over at The Scrapping Spot.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Shawn