The month of June

JUNE- the first month of summer, no school, sunbathing, playing until the sun goes down and the list can go on.  I'd like to ad that this month also marks the start of the heat, humidity & triple digits!!!  My bragging days are officially over- no more Southern California weather to enjoy while the rest of the country was getting pounded by snow and rain.  Now, most people are enjoying the summer heat, we are prespiring more than ever and looking for shade and waiting for a breeze. 

None of the less, we have already enjoyed the beginning of summer fun!  The girls just finished thier first round of swim lessons and they both learned a lot.  The first four days lulu had her death grip and would freak out if I changed her position and her teacher wouldn't dare to touch her becaue she would cry!  By the end of our two week lessons, Lulu was comfortable and loving the water.  In fact she gets a little too brave and wants to break free from my arms.  Hannah brushed up on some of her skills from last year and learned to dive!!!! She is such a fearless child that it enables her to do so much at her age.  Her instructor was shocked when he found out she was only 5 yrs and was happy that she had so much determination to try anything. 

This month we celebrated 9 years of being married.  For once, I wanted to celebrate low key.  Every year I wanted to go away for the weekend and eat at a fancy restaurant with a good steak and dessert in mind!  This time, I just wanted to go eat a local restaurant that just opened and to check out this paint your own pottery shop.  Gabe on the other hand planned to stay at a bed and breakfast in this cute little German town about 25 miles away.  I mentioned that I wanted to stay away from downtown Austin and maybe check out this new pottery place that opened up.  He laughed and asked if I wanted to do the pottery thing because it's the traditional gift for nine years.  I had no clue nine years was pottery- I just wanted to do something different.  Can't believe in nine years or the 11 years that I have known him I never knew my husband has an artistic side to him!  He can sketch anything from looking at a picture.  I sure can't do that so I was surprised!  We had a good time painting our pieces, which makes for a memerable anniversary!

Working on our masterpieces =)

Gabe did such a great job on my mug- love the details

Finished products....

What is BPA? Why is it bad? What can I do?

Another post I had to share, especially to those who think I'm crazy avoiding plastic bottles and plastic Tupperware! I learned something new....canned food is evil!!!


What is BPA? Why is it bad? What can I do?

A guide to sunscreen and sun protection for your family

Such a great article that answers your questions about sun protection.....

A guide to sunscreen and sun protection for your family

Sayounara

About two weeks ago Gabe said goodbye to us and flew out of Texas for work.  He was in Utah for a few days and came home for two days and hopped back in a plane for his week long Japan business trip.  To my surprise the days went by fast and when it was time to put the girls to bed I was not too far behind.  I had lots of projects in mind to accomplish while Gabe was gone, but I never stepped foot in my scrapbook room.  Either I hit the sack at 9 pm, catching up on laundry or cleaning house or was working at nights.  I did drive up to Dallas for three days to spend time with my cousin, which helped the time go by quick.  Before we knew it, Gabe was flying in to Austin to see his girls and eager to share his pictures and souvenirs he brought back.

Here are lots of great pictures!!! 

The building to the right is the global headquarters on the 38th floor

The view from the office

Tokyo Japan

View from the hotel room

Walking back to their hotel (that's Gabe with the backpack)

Hannah & my niece, Sascha would be in Heaven ;)

His co-worker took some impressive pictures when they flew to Okinawa.  They visited a huge aquarium and nice beaches to snorkel.  Here are a few....

Interesting....looks like a brain!

Cool picture of Gabe going up for air

Dance Recital 2012

May 19 was Hannah's very first dance recital!  She had two performances- one ballet and one tap routine.  It was no surprise to us that the crowd of people who filled the audiotorium didn't seem to bother her- she danced her little heart out!  The first video was her ballet performance to "Can you feel the love tonight" by Elton John.  By the way, I am not the best video recorder so the recording is not too good.  You can spot her third to the left

Her second dance was to Madonna's classic song- "Lucky Star."  This was Hannah's favorite routine- you can definitely tell too....

The finale is so cute- all the dancers are on stage.  This was also a favorite one of Hannah's because she loved doing the "disco"

Here are some fun photos:

So sweet of Hannah's grandparents to send this for her as they couldn't make it to her recital.  She felt really special to have her own box of chocolates and flowers to water!!!!

More scrapbook projects:

I have been working on these two projects at the same time and finished about 3 days apart!  I have a tendency to work on 5 different things at the same time.  I had so much fun doing the School Days project.  Have got to admit it was one of my favorites to work on.  I had a few school pictures of my nieces and nephews just laying around the house and wondered what I can do with them.  Then after Hannah's spring/graduation portraits came in a few weeks ago we bought a ton & added more to the collection!  After some brainstorming I came up with an idea that worked and I have the pleasure of looking at them in my scrapbook room =)

CLOSEUPS OF EACH BOARD:

 

 

I already had a couple of friends ask what I used.  So here I go.....Those are cork screw boards (4 in a pack) that I bought from Walmart.  Originally I was looking for a big pin board but couldn't find the size I needed.  Cork screw worked out perfect because I didn't glue any of the photos (except one and that was by accident) I just pinned most of them because I know I'll be changing them every year.

I used only Cricut cartridges:  Best of 2006 & 2007 & Create a Critter. I got my letters from Cricut Alphabet

I love this country layout!  I only used Country Fair cartridge.  I used 12x12 canvas, which worked out perfect because the paper is 12x12 & that the photo is an 8x10.  In case you can't read the wording on the bottom it says:  Lil' Lady