New Layouts

I just wanted to share a few layouts I have been working on lately. I am so severly behind on my scrapbooking it's not even funny. I've just decided to keep trudging along...one day I'll be caught up :)
Anyway here is some of what I have been up to creating.

Here is one from Kennedy's 5th birthday.  The kit is my wish by Jessica Edwards it's available @ Elemental Scraps.

Here is another birthday page. Kennedy got a special icecream treat on her birthday. I just loved this kit from Britt-ish Designs. It really shows off the photos.

This is another Britt-ish Designs Kit. I also used a template from J.Phillips @ Sweet Shoppe. I had so many photos from our trip to Disney on Ice so this template was a life saver.

I created this layout about my dream home. This was a super super fun layout for me to create. I didn't really ever have all my ideas in one place, I totally recomend doing something like this for yourself :). The kit is Hip To Be by Traci Reed its available at Sweet Shoppe Designs.

Here are some great pics from last years egg coloring session. I love love love this Kit from Jessica Edwards. It has perfect Easter colors.

Oh this one was so fun to create! Jessica Edwards totally out did herself on this kit. Rhinestone Cowgirl (it will be released April 5th) It perfectly fit my photos of Kennedy on her first horseback riding lesson. If you have cowgirl or riding photos go buy this kit it's part of the April Color Play at Elemental.

I'm a total Trubie, just LOVE the books. (Sookie Stackhouse/Trueblood/Southern Vampire Chronicles) so I made this for my book of me...it's about my two fav characters. I even named my dog SOOKIE :)

One last one to share for today. I am still working on our Disney Album and here is one for it. The kit is again by Britt-ish Designs (Fantasyland).

I hope you all enjoyed taking a peek at what I have been working on.

Our New Puppy

Hey all. I just wanted to pop on and share some pictures of our new dog Sookie. We picked her up last Friday.

Sookie was pretty scared when we got her, a lot of new things happening. She shook like a leaf. Kennedy and I tried very hard to comfort her.

I don't think you could have wiped the smile of Kennedy's face if you tried. She was just exctied the day had finally arrived to get Sookie. Sookie is really the first dog Kennedy has expericed. We did have another dog, but Kennedy and Lefty never really had a bond before he died.

After picking Sookie up we embarked on a very long car ride home, but everyone did good :). Then we headed out to Jeremy's parents house for a hot dog roast, it was a great time. I got the sweetest picture of Jt and Sookie.

Here is another sweet one. It's a picture of my family :) Aren't they super cute???

Sookie has been great. I am very impressed with her temprament and how she handles new people. She is a very sweet puppy. We are so excited to have her in our lives.

Review-Melissa and Doug Magnetic Wooden Numbers in a Box

I recently ordered the Melissa and Doug Magnetic Numbers to help Kennedy with her addition and subtraction  skills. I ordered it from http://www.csn.com/. CSN stores offer almost anything a busy mom like me could want and they were very easy to order from. Shipping was very quick as well.

Kennedy was very excited as soon as we opened the box. Melissa and Dough have very kid friendly packaging. You can see all the items in the toy or activity clearly and they choose bright kid friendly colors. 

After we opened the package I was even more impressed. The set comes with 32 numbers and 5 math signs (+,-, x, /, and =). You can make numerous number combinations so this toy is really a great investment and can be used beyond the early years of education. Another great thing the numbers is they are made of wood and covered with a nice thick magnet over the entire back of the nubmer . Perfect for use on the fridge  Kennedy was immediately  excited to try it.  She sorted the numbers and began having fun with it. She was able to make some problems herself and even experimented with bigger numbers.

Overall I really like this item. I have used Melissa and Doug toys in the past and was reminded why I like them so much. High quality, educational and fun. I would absolutely recommend this to any mom who is wanting to have a fun way to help their child gain math skills, it would be perfect for homeschooling families as well.

Tate Travels- Our Time in Denver

We recently had the oppritunity to visit my mom and step dad in CO. We took a week off and headed out. I wanted to share some of the best of my photos from the week with you all and tell you a bit about how we spent our time.

Kennedy looked very forward to the trip. She doesn't get to visit her grandparents and uncle as much as we would like-but it makes the time all that more special. Mom and Burt had lots of fun activities planned for the visit.

On our first day we just hung around and recouped from the hectic travel day. K played with the dogs and had a great time, she also got to bottle feed a baby lamb. (Regreatably I have no photos of this) Here she and my mom are sharing a kiss after story time.

Here is my mo and my brother. I coudn't get one photos with everyone looking. :)

One of the coolest things we did as a family while we were there was the Denver Natural History Muesuem. Kennedy was completely against going-to the point of privatly thowing a small fit about the matter. Once we got there she was thourouly immersed and amazed at the exibits. It was a great time. Papa Burt and her had some serious bonding time at the museum, which was a treasured bonus.

Kennedy took this photo of us :)

The mumy exibit was one of the best parts of the museum. Kennedy was convinced that the mumy would rise and walk around. She was kinda scared to go in to the exibit, but me being the good mom that I am just made her. Once we got her in she said " This isn't that bad they are covered with glass and can't get out." Thank you Phineus and Ferb for teaching my daughter that mumies are real. (I actually like that show-but she told us all about an episode that featured "real" mummies-real being alive.)

The other big event of our trip was horseback riding. I had horses as a child and have many good memories of it. I wanted to share that peice of my childhood with Kennedy. My mom was gracious enough to arrange for Kennedy to have a full lesson. She did amazing. Kennedy was so fearless about the whole thing. She helped brush and prep her horse. She mounted with very little help and never wanted down or got scared. She even got into a full trot. I am so pleased at how she was able to take directions and apply them.

Here is the big moment, Kennedy trotting on her horse Shadow. She thought it was so funny that her white horse was named Shadow.

Uncle Keith took Kennedy for a four wheeler ride. It didn't last long-I don't know who got scared first.

Lastly I will share this photo of us at D&B. D&B is one of K's most favorite places. We had a blast playing and winning tickets. Our time in CO was great. Hopefully we will be able to visit again soon.

Internet shopping makes life easier. One great store has it all!!!

It seems like each day that passes I become more and more busy. Is it the same for you? I have to say that the Internet and online shopping make my life as a mom and wife much easier. Think out the time saved, I no longer have to go to the store and spend hours shopping for kitchen items, gifts, home goods like kids bedding, decorations, or toys. I love stores like CSN because they have it all. One of the really great things about CSN is the educational toys they offer for kids. I will shortly be reviewing one of the many cool kids toys they have to offer I can't wait to tell you all about the fun we have with it.
Stay Tuned!

We're Back

Hey All. We are back from Colorado and we had a great time. I will be posting lots of photos as I get them edited.

Blog Train-Jessica Edwards and Stolen Moments-It's Freebie time

Jessica Edwards and Stolen Moments designs have teamed up once again to bring you another awesome (delicate and beautiful) colab kit. We are sharing a piece of it with you. Follow the blogs to get ALL the amazing element clusters. (be aware we are all in different time zones, so you may encounter some that are not posted)

Get your free frame from me here.

Here is a layout I made with the beautiful kit.

Here is the complete list of blogs on the blog train.

Jessica – http://mydigiscrapblog.blogspot.com/
Melissa http://www.mamamelissa.com/
Anne Katherine http://www.looooooooovetocreate.blogspot.com/
Tricia http://theseoultosoulconnection.blogspot.com
Dana www.thetatefamilyhappenings.blogspot.com
Sasha www.parteeof5scraps.blogspot.com
Nikki http://nikkisdigilayouts.blogspot.com/
Lisa www.kelseyll.blogspot.com
Wendy – http://www.neverlandscraps.blogspot.com/
Niki – http://onceuponascraptime.blogspot.com/
Kim – http://kim21673.wordpress.com/
Stephanie – http://stefgonedigi.blogspot.com/
Tanya – http://crossbonecuts.blogspot.com/
Lisa – http://aprilisadesigns.blogspot.com/
Amber – http://stolenmomentsdesign.blogspot.com/

Plus Jessica now has a Facebook page, check it out for a coupon good for 25% off the kit.

We are adding to the family!!!!!

Meet Sookie, the newest member of our family. We will be welcoming her to our home at the end of March. She turned 3 weeks old this week.

Sookie is a female great dane, we could not be more thrilled!

What's happening?

Well I just can not to seem to keep up with all the things I enjoy. Blogging is defiantly something I have been putting on the back burner. So I am going to try to update you on an entire month :), So far it has been a good one, filled with family time and joy (I am choosing to leave the details of stress and such out-because lets face it-we all have it).

I made this layout to show off one of the activities we do every year in Feb. make valentine cupcakes each year. This year our special friend and neighbor Emma was able to help us. We had a lot of fun and one emotional breakdown during this event. Kennedy was able to "decorate" on her own with icing this year, she did grow tired of this task rather quickly.

We had many projects this Valentine season others included making foam bear necklaces and making a wicked cool valentine house.

We have had quite a bit of snow here this month too, much to Kennedy's excitement. The snow has given us some special days with Daddy at home, Kennedy and I both love having Jeremy home a little extra. She and her daddy got some special one on one time in the snow. Memories I am certain they both cherish, the only bad thing about the snow is it came with such artic weather that it was a bit enjoyable for longer than 15 minutes. Why can't snow come on a warm day...imagine the fun!

The cold weather is growing old even for Kennedy. She has been asking to go out for a picnic quite frequently. So we had an indoor picnic the other day. She loved it. I had a great time just sitting and really talking to her. She is so sweet and funny.

On Friday I took Kennedy to the doctor for her five year check-up. She has gained 2 lbs and grown 2.5 inches in one year!!! She is just so so tall, I find it astonishing. I prayed that she would be tall, and clearly God heard my prayer and chose to honor it. I am just so blessed that she is healthy. She is doing great in school, I can NOT believe how well she is reading. She now reads signs as we drive down the road and she makes an attempt (mostly they are successful) at reading rather large words.

I have taken on a job with a digital designer-Jessica Edwards @ Elemental Scraps. I am doing layouts for her team. I am very excited to working with such a talented designer.

Here are some of the layouts I have been doing with her designs.

Well that's all for now :)

Back to Scrappin'

Well one of my goals for this year was to get back to scrapbooking. I had totally put that, along with anything I did for my self on hold over the past year. It has been a great joy to get back to doing something I love and having a real creative outlet. I love chronicleing my familys moments, good and bad. This year I have also started a book of me. I wanted to share some of my layouts with my friends and family.
So take a look I hope you enjoy!















On a side note I have now, changed my blog back to being public. I had to make it private do to some personal issues and spamming. I have changed the addie and am not searchable. So I am going to try to blog a bit more now that I feel that situation has been resolved.
Hugs!