Yes we can!

Finally after almost two years leading up to it, the elections are over and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. I feel he is what this country needs right now. He is positive, has some great ideas and is one fabulous speaker. I had the pleasure of seeing him at an event or two leading up to the Iowa caucuses.

I just ran across the following video on YouTube and think it is worth sharing. Unfortunately I have been unable to embed it here so I'll just give you the link:

I tried updating my blog site last night and didn't mean to publish my changes. Hopefully I've got everything turned back before my edits last night.

Here is a layout from beggars night with my two Super Girls, my Batman, and Yoda and his parents.

Finished up Vacation Layouts -- Finally

Four months after returning from vacation, I finally finished up my vacation layouts.

Been MIA

I've kind of neglected this blog recently. I just finished up my Digital Photography Simplified class over at ScrapGirls taught by Mary Elizabeth. I really enjoyed this class and the weekly assignments. It has kept me pretty busy.

We tried (unsuccessfully) to celebrate the October birthdays--DIL Sarah's on the 17th, mine on the 19th, and SIL Davids on the 23rd. Sarah wasn't feeling well so the dinner to celebrate her birthday was cancelled. We were going to all go out to dinner on my birthday but Granddaughter #1 woke up sick so her and her mother, dad and sister and brother were unable to join us. It was just Grandpa, Grandson #2 and son and DIL that went to Macaroni Grill for dinner. The pictures of J and J with his parents were taken after lunch.

We then planned on another dinner outing to celebrate the birthdays birthday on the 24th and we were all able to attend except SIL.

For the fun of it I went out last Saturday for one last day of fall pictures before the winds hit on Sunday and blew all the leaves off the trees. I posted one of the pictures I took on Saturday.

Sarah Palin Son

Just saw this and had to share it.

Surprising New Presidential Nominee

I just became aware of a grassroot effort to elect an unknown person as President... and it turns out it's me! Watch this online video about my surprising nominee:

http://www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=46832&altf=Efccjf&altl=Kpshfotpo

Jot back a note to let me know what you think!

Cherish

We spent the day at Howell Tree Farm today. The kids spent time playing in the corn crib, riding the tractors, climbing on the hay loft, feeding the goats, holding the rabbits, and going for a tractor ride. This is fall family tradition, and today was Jaren's first trip. The weather was beautiful, the mums gorgeous, and it was the busiest we've ever seen the place.

I created this layout tonight of a picture of our children and grandchildren. I used the October 2008 ScrapGirls club kit--Hearth, along with some other ScrapGirl supplies.

Headed out to Howell Tree Farm to spend the day

Today we are having a "family" day at Howell Tree Farm--one of our fall traditions. This will be Jaren's first visit. While waiting for time to go, I did this layout of Jaren with photos taken a couple weeks ago when he spent the

Playing with Panoramic Mode in Adobe Photoshop

Today Roger and I went to the Ledges. It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun shooting pictures. I did a couple panorama shots and they turned out pretty cool.

35 Years Married to This Great Guy

Just returned from a couple days in Omaha to celebrate our 35th anniversary. Had a great time and visited places we've never been before. We stayed in Carter Lake near the airport. We arrived on Sunday, the same day the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge opened up. This bridge is a cable-style and is beautiful. We walked over it on Monday and the lighting was perfect for some beautiful sky pictures. Besides walking over the bridge, we also visited Freedom Park, Lauritzen Gardens, and the Old Market area.

Lauritzen Gardens was a photographers dream come true. I will definitely return again. It is beautiful and the flower gardens are amazing. Of special interest is the Train Garden--a must for any train lover (or train lover's wife). Oh, did I mention we also saw the Big Boy?

Two of the Union Pacific Railroads' greatest locomotives sit across the parking lot from Lauritzen Gardens and visible to passersby on Interstate 80. On display are Centennial No. 6900 - the largest and most powerful diesel-electric locomotive ever built - and Big Boy No. 4023 - the world's largest steam locomotive.

We also managed to help out the economy of Nebraska (Ugg boots and shoes for me)and Council Bluffs (specifically the Bass Pro Shop where Roger got socks and gloves and I got a couple shirts and hoodie along with a couple pairs of socks). Before leaving to come home today we went in search of train stores in Omaha. The first two were closed (they seem to have limited hours they are open). We did hit pay dirt at House of Trains where Roger was able to buy some more stuff for his trains.

On the way home we stopped at Breezy Hills Winery in Minden where we sampled some wines and bought five bottles. They directed us to a Stephanie's restaurant in Elk Horn and another winery. We found Stephanies but not the winery.

Uncle Lloyd took care of our beagle children while we were gone--thank you so much.

Weekend happenings

Been a busy weekend. On top of bringing work home and spending 11 hours reviewing RFP proposals for work, I did manage to work some on my digital photography class, visited with family, partied at Beaverdale's fall festival with family and help celebrate a nephew's 21st birthday, and babysat grandchild #4 on Saturday and Sunday. He was sleeping today when his parents dropped him off and slept until about 10 minutes before his parents showed up. I did manage to get a few cute pictures of him yesterday.

Photography Class

I signed up for "Digital Photography Simplified" taught by the talented Mary Elizabeth over at ScrapGirls.com. I've got several assignments for week 1 which I've been slowly working on. Above are my pictures and layout for Aperture / depth of field.

Re-Wined at the Jasper Winery

Saturday we stopped into the new location of the Jasper Winery, which is now located in Des Moines near Gray's Lake, to taste some wines. They have a series starting next month called Re-wined, "A series dedicated to hot topics and having fun." The first one is coming up on Tuesday, October 7--"Goodbye Granny Panties, Hello Spanx." Stacey's Bra and Lingerie will share an "uplifting experience." The cost is $20 plus tax or season tickets for $100 + tax, and includes Hors d'oeuvres and glass of wine.

Do I have any friends interested in joining me? Drop me a note and let me know and I'll get us some tickets.

Do[ing] the Zoo--The Blank Park Zoo

Thursday night we were at Bordenaro's (the best pizza in D-town) and Grandpa promised Luke we would go to the mall this weekend so he could spend the change Grandpa gave him. Grandpa was under the weather so I went to pick the grandchildren up today. While buckling them in their car seats I found out they wanted to go to the zoo, so the zoo is where we went. These kids have been to the Blank Park Zoo at least four times this summer. Actually they were there just last weekend. It is amazing how much joy they get at the zoo. Each time is a new experience. Of course they talked me into visiting the gift shop.

Visiting The Mammoth Site in South Dakota

Back to scrapping the vacation photos--it's only been 6 or 7 weeks. This layout is based on a template by Ali Edwards' "Layered Template No. 3" and the papers and elements are from Cherise Oleson's "Assemble Your Own Zoom Albums: 12x12: Vacation." I used Mistral and Arial fonts.

About the Mammoth site

Many, many years ago, large mammoths fell into sink whole and were trapped and died in the area near Hot Springs, South Dakota. These bones were discovered in 1974 by earth moving equipment excavating for a housing development. According to the the Mammoth Site's Web site this is South Dakota's greatest fossil treasure. Excavation was stopped and through the "work of local citizens, the Mammoth Site was preserved. Today it is the world's largest Columbian mammoth exhibit, and a world-renown research center for Pleistocene studies." The hill is enclosed by a climate-controlled building. "The bones are displayed as they were discovered, in the now dry pond sediments for an "in-situ" exhibit. Walkways allow visitors a close-up view of the fossils. To date, 55 mammoths have been identified, along with the remains of a giant short-faced bear, camel, llama, prairie dog, wolf, fish, and numerous invertebrates." For more information, visit The Mammoth Site's official Web site.

Nice night for a walk

Made it to Gray's Lake tonight for my walk. Roger got a call saying he didn't have to come in at 7 so he accompanied me to Gray's. While I did 3 miles, he strolled a little ways around eavesdropping in conversations of other walkers. Sounds like he enjoyed himself.

Been really busy at work and it will continue for the next three weeks. On top of that, I attended a class on Plain Talk or Plain Language yesterday.

I haven't scrapped anything in several days and have really been missing it. Tomorrow is weigh-in and I'm afraid it isn't going to go too good since I bought a bag of Candy Corn the other night on top of tailgating and the bottle of wine I drank last Saturday.

Luke goes to preschool

Luke is now going to the Science Center's preschool on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I ran over to see how his first day went last week and captured these photos.

New design

Been working on updating my blog today. Let me know what you think. Still need to do some work but decided I'd better get to bed.

3 at 3

Been working on this layout last night and tonight. I'm still working on it--it's just not quite right yet. I used September's Scrap Girl Club Kit -- Well Loved. I love this kit. I also used the transparency style to make the picture a transparancy. Let me know what you think. TFL.

GG and JJ

Scrapped another layout this afternoon. I used a picture Sarah took of GG and Jaren at Luke's birthday party on Saturday. The journaling reads:

Great Grandma Gladys (or "GG" to her great grandchildren) and Jaren (JJ) spent some quality time bonding at Luke's third birthday party. Jaren is now two months old."

Someday you will know
Just how you came to be
What branch you fall upon
In our family tree
You'll look at all the pictures
And point your little fingers
At family members who used to live
And now to you are strangers
Their legacy will live on in you
And someday you will see
A little face looking up at you,
Another branch in the tree.
~Laura Taylor Mark


Supplies used in this layout, include:
ABR_DressUp_12x12_Paper-White
ABR_HisNHers_12x12_Circle-Peach
ABR_DressUp_Emb_FrameCluster1
ABR_DressUp_WordArt-Memorable
ABR_HisNHers_Alpha1_J
ABR_HisNHers_Emb_Wrap-GreenBTM
ABR_HisNHers_Alpha1_G
DSF_Emma_notepaper
Font: Scrap Rhapsody

The papers and embellishments were part of the Scrap Girls Monthly club for August 2008.

One more layout and then I'm going to bed

A few pictures from Mt. Rushmore. I used Cherise Oleson's "Assemble Your Own Zoom Albums - 12x12: Vacation" and Shalae Tippets' Dynamic Brush Set: Decorative Stitching, which are available at ScrapGirls.com.


No glue necessary!
Go to Scrap Girls and get in on the fun of creating digital scrapbooking layouts today. Tutorials, kits, tools, templates, and more. Join their newsletter list and get freebies with each issue.

Back to scrapping our South Dakota vacation pics

Back to scrapping the vacation photos. This layout was about our drive through the wildlife loop at Custer State Park. The journaling reads: July 28--Grandpa's Birthday. We drove the wildlife loop in custer State Park. We saw lots of beautiful scenery, came across the burrows, which stuck their heads in the car where we fed them Oreos, and was stopped for over an hour by a herd of buffalo that took over the road.

I used Cherise Oleson's "Assemble Your Own Zoom Albums - 12x12: Vacation" and Shalae Tippets "ScrapSimple Tools - Styles: Transparency 4901," all from ScrapGirls.com

New Blog Header

Did you notice my new blog header? I created it with supplies from my August Scrap Girls monthly club, which is called HisNHers by Angie Briggs. I just love this kit. If you would like to get started digitally scrapping, you've got to go check out ScrapGirls.com, especially Scrapbook Software Secrets Revealed.

Friday I took a day of vacation to spend some time with Luke. After picking him up at Grandma O's, we stopped at McDonalds and had lunch. Jeremy, Sarah, and Jaren joined us. When Luke and I got home, Grandpa was picking the grapes to start a batch of wine. Luke wanted to help and I scrapped the above picture various supplies from Scrap Girls, including Mandy Stewards' ScrapSimple Scribbles alpha, Syndey Nuckles ScrapSimple cardstock, Trish Yochum's ScrapSimple wine cellar, various grunge overlays, and brushes by Brandie Valenzuela (stamp a date) and Ariadna Wiczling (stamp a date).



Start digitally scrapbooking today - FAST!
Software Scrapbook Secrets Revealed will let you start creating layouts within 60 to 90 minutes by watching these easy to use movie tutorials.
Available for Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop Elements, and Photoshop.

Happy Birthday Luke

Today is Luke's 3rd birthday. He's such a cute little guy with an award-winning smile. Love you Luke!!!!!


Did this layout tonight of a picture taken last Saturday at the Jorgenson family get-together of Jaren in his cute little cap. What a cutey.


Rob and Kirstin visited Des Moines last weekend with Wyatt, who is 2 weeks older than Jaren. The two 2nd cousins had their first (of hopefully many) play date.

Another vacation layout

Worked on another vacation layout tonight after getting in a 4-mile walk for five activity points. I spotlighted a picture of the girls doing ballet in the swimming pool at the hotel.



This was a layout I did for a challenge at ScrapGirls. The challenge was to do a watercolor or something with your picture and scrap it. I used my Color Schemer program to come up with three other colors to go with the purpose of the tulips. I need help with color, but it does kind of make it pop.

Scrapping away watching the olympics

Been spending a lot of time scrapping this week. I am continuing working on the layouts from our South Dakota vacation. Here are two more I've completed.

Finished week one of my recommittment to Weight Watchers--lost 2.6 pounds. If I lose 2.4 this week, I'm going to treat myself to a massage. That is my goal. It's going to be hard because we have a family gathering tomorrow so I need to keep myself as far away from the table as possible. This shouldn't be too hard since there will be a couple babies to keep my occupied.

Found out today my nephew James and his lovely wife Lindsey are going to have a girl in January. I am so happy for them.

Family

The Thornton reunion was last Saturday. The turn-out was a little disappointing since only my Tom attended from Aunt Betty and Uncle Russel's family. It is probably mostly my fault since I didn't do a good enough job notifying everyone. But I was so happy to have my family there. I scrapped the above layout with pictures from my immediate family. Been working on this layout for several days and fine-tuning it with help from my Scrap Girl friends. I am really happy with the result.

On another note, my favorite pizza restaurant opened back up in Des Moines today. I thought we were to get together with the kids for pizza so I worked my Weight Watcher points today to keep them low to allow enough points for tonight. (Did I mention I have recommitted to Weight Watchers?) Anyway there was no Little Caesars tonight. So what was I going to have for dinner since I had plenty of points? I stopped at Findley's Meat Market to get Roger a brisket sandwich and then went to Little Caesars and picked up a pizza--for me. I ate three slices (15 points) and stayed away from the Crazy Bread--boy am I crazy for their crazy bread. Fifteen points sounds like a lot, especially when you only get 18 points a day; however I had only used eight points during the day. I walked on my lunch to earn two activity points, after supper went riding bikes for three activity points, and then mowed the lawn for another acitvity point for a total of six activity points today.

Didn't do good tracking points on Saturday and Sunday so I just crossed off all my flex points. My weigh in is Thursday. I sure hope I have a loss.

I Yearbooked Myself

I found a link to a site called something like "Yearbook Yourself," uploaded a picture and here is what I looked like (sort of) in my yearbook of 1973 (I had to select 1974 since they didn't have 73) and also what I would look like in the 1966 yearbook.

Benefiber or Dog Biscuit...

I'm getting ready for bed. I let the dogs out, took my night meds and then grabbed three Benefiber. I popped one in my mouth and chewed it while letting the dogs in. I then walked over and grabbed three dog biscuits out of the treat jar. Gave Molly her treat, popped another Benefiber in my mouth while giving Maddie her treat, and couldn't understand why it didn't taste right. I looked into my hand and realized I had two Benefibers and no dog biscuits in my hand--I had popped a dog biscuit into my mouth instead of a Benefiber. Yuck!!!

Here is a layout I created tonight from a picture I took in the 1880 town while on vacation. It was taken in the photographers studio and I told Roger and the girls they couldn't smile, which they complied with.

Jaren's Baptism

So last Sunday was Jaren's baptism. I had mu "stuff" ready at the front door to go, specifically my camera. I head out the door without it so didn't get any pictures of the event or brunch afterwards at Centro.

That afternoon Jaren's grandparents, parents, Aunt Carrie and Uncle David along with cousins Cailey, Mia, and Luke went to Summerset Winery. I remembered to bring my camera to this. Here are a few pictures I took that day. More can be found on my Flickr account.

Badlands, kids and prairie dogs

More SD Vacation Layouts

To continue the saga of our recent Black Hills vacation, Day 2 we left Kimball and enroute to the Badlands. The girls were watching Annie (which they watched 2 1/2 times that day). We found out we had no cell phone service and tried to find a calling card to buy. Just couldn't find any.

On our way to the Badlands and Wall Drug, we stopped at the 1880 town. This town also had movie props and a horse from Dances with Wolves. Cailey had to stop by the display again on our way out. She also took her sketch diary in with her and while we enjoyed a drink in the saloon, drew a picture of the bar. We didn't have a chance to see it all but did enjoy what we did see.

We next drove through the Badlands and got out to climb. Cailey fell, hurting her elbow while running. Mia was a little leery of the the heights so we didn't spend too much time climbing. We saw elk and prairie dogs.

At Wall Drug there was lots of things to look at and want. We ate lunch there and let the girls play in the water for awhile, and posed with the cheesy cutouts for pictures before heading out to our hotel in Custer. We drove through Custer Park to get to our hotel. Beautiful park. Once we got to the hotel, the first thing we did was go swimming.

Vacation continued

Here are highlights of day 1 of our Black Hills Vacation. The journaling is hard to read. It says: "First stop after leaving Des Moines was The Falls in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. There was lots of rocks for the girls to climb on. The girls are becoming quite independent and wanted to run on ahead of us. After spending a little time looking around and having ice cream, we continued on towards the Black Hills, stopping for the night in Kimball, South Dakota. The hotel did not have a swimming pool, but the girls loved it anyway. They asked if we could stay there all week."

Black Hills Vacation with Granddaughters

Last week we took Cailey and Mia on vacation with us to the Black Hills. We left on Saturday morning and it about broke our heart as we left the house--Carrie was fighting back tears and Luke was quite upset wanting to go too. The girls started the trip out watching the Camp Rock video and then listed to the CD. The girls got out their journals and were busy working on them.

We stopped in Sioux Falls at Falls Park. This was a very nice park and the girls really enjoyed climbing on all the rocks. Mia fell while running on the rocks--no injuries thank goodness. I tried to keep them on a "tighter leash" to try and prevent injury. Today was only the beginning of my use of the phrase "please stay with us."

Stayed in Kimball at a Super 8. It did not have a pool but the girls loved it anyway--they asked if we could stay there all week.