so this is Neverland. . .

OK, so it's a cheesy word.

Staycation.
The media's favorite buzz-word for the summer.
I'm already tired of hearing it, but with gas prices where they are,
I think there are a lot of us that have been embracing it.
Cheese and all.

I made this layout using the July kit from Studio Calico,
and using Jen's Challenge #23 over at Method Playground.
There is no journaling on the front because I have a huge
story to go with this and I'm adding it to the back.

 

I'm struggling with the idea that this is the last Monday in July.
August.
Wow.
I was noticing yesterday how the leaves on the trees have that
dark, spent green color that screams of their impending demise.
The end of Summer makes me sad.
But with 104 degree temperatures here in the Big D,
I think Summer will be hanging out  for a few more weeks
in these parts.
God Bless Texas.

Attention people with Mouths!

It has been brought to my attention
that next Wednesday, July 30th is now officially
National Cheesecake Day.

And in commemoration of the wonderful occasion,
as well as to kick-off their 30th Anniversary festivities,

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY

is offering every slice of every flavor of their delectable,
namesake dessert for just $1.50 a slice. 
Yes, you read that right. . .$1.50!
That is the price you had to pay for a hunk-o-heaven in
1978 when they opened.
(and you thought the price of gas has gone up like crazy!)

Now, it just so happens that The Cheesecake Factory is my
mostest favoritest restaurant on the planet.  I always request it
as the location for my birthday dinner. 

 

That is a slice of my new favorite, Coconut Chocolate Cream.  Mmmmmmmm.
It tastes like an Almond Joy and the crust is to-die-for!
My other favorites are:
Fresh Banana Cream
Dulce de Leche Caramel
Craig's Crazy Carrot Cake
and
Pumpkin Pecan (when it is in season!)

I'm thinking I might need to make a day of it. 
You know, start out at the new location that is right by our house
at around 10:30 for a late breakfast/early lunch.  I think the
Banana Cream would be in order at that time of the day.
Then, I could drive down to meet Kris for work at the one by
his office at around 2:00pm (trying to miss the crazy-busy times)
for a slice of Carrot Cake Cheesecake.  Then, I could
drive north a bit and hang out if Frisco with the kiddos all afternoon.
Just before closing, we could hit the one up there for a nightcap
of Coconut Chocolate Cream.
I think that could possibly be the worlds most perfect day of eating.
Don't you?

Well, Happy Birthday Cheesecake Factory!!
I feel that this occasion will be quite "scrap-worthy!"
So, what flavor are you gonna get?

A real Fuss Bucket

There on top of my fridge,
next to the weathervane that doesn't point anywhere in particular,
is a silver bucket.

At first glace, you would assume that it is a wine bucket.
After all, it was given to us in a gift basket that included,
you guessed it, a bottle of wine.

But this bucket has never held a bottle, or ice,
or even a can for that matter.
This bucket is different.  It is special.
And it gets used
A LOT.

This is the Fuss Bucket.

This is where everything goes that my kiddos fuss over. 
If they both want the same toy, and they refuse to share or work it out,
into the Fuss Bucket it goes.  If the do something with a particular item
that they KNOW they aren't supposed to, it goes in the bucket.
If they hit each other with something, you get the idea. 
This bucket has held baby-dolls, cars,
clothes, blankets, books, games. . .you name it. 
Here, let's have a look-see:

Right now it holds a travel Connect 4 game, cuz they both want red,
a golf ball, cuz Noah tried to give Keira a concusion with it,
and some pirate booty, err. . .coins cuz, well, I don't really remember why.

The Fuss Bucket works wonders at our house.
When I hear fighting, it is now usually followed by whispers of,
"shhhhh, shhhhh, here you take it.  I don't want it to go to the Fuss Bucket!"
I honestly wish I would have thought of it sooner.

Firsts

One of my most favorite parts of being a Mom is getting to watch
my kids experience new things for the first time.  Watching their
eyes light up and hearing them squeal with excitement is such
a blessing.  It totally negates all of the times that they
wake me up at 4:50 in the morning dreaming that they are
being eaten by sharks (Yes Kendra, I realize that you always
get up this early but still. . .) or the times they pour out a whole
bag of goldfish in the floor so that they can count them easier.

Noah got his first fish a couple of weeks ago.  He had caught fish before,
with a bobber sitting on the pier. 
This was his first fish where he actually cast
a lure out off of the boat, reeled it back in
and a fish hit it while he was reeling.
His surprised squeal of "I got one!!!!!!" will never leave my memory.
Ever. 
He was so cute!

And this is Keira's first tube ride.
She LOVED it. 
I kept asking her if she wanted to get off, and she
kept giving Granddad the thumbs up asking him to go faster.
We started out idling and at top speed we might have been going
3 miles an hour, but I think she's hooked.
Grandma snapped a couple of photos for us.

 

And just for some scrappiness. . .
Here's my first experience using Flock.
I painted the number "3" with green paint and then coated it with
yummy, limey flock.  I really like the effect.
I made this layout for ScrapSupply a little while ago.
That cutie-patootie red-head is my Niece.

 

And why does my scanner turn everyone pink?!?!
I'm going to have to just photograph layouts from now on,
I think.  These pink people are making me crazy!

I would love to hear about some "Firsts" that have happened in your world
this summer.

The hunt for a most elusive creature.

It all started about the time school ended for the summer.
Yes, I walk around with a large piece of electronic equipment stuck to my eyeball most of the time.  I'm trying to learn how to really use this fabulous SLR that was so generously gifted to me a few years ago.  And, surprisingly, I feel like I am making progress. 
Slow progress, but progress all the same.

Anyway, here I was, in Noah's Mother's Day Out class at church on the last day.
I wanted to get a few shots of the last day festivities.
No matter how hard a tried, it seems that all I could come away with was this:

I'm so proud.
I was certain that this was just caused by the excitement in the air.
I thought nothing else of it.

Then, a few days later, we were at the lake.
Granddad Charles and Kris had just hung up a new swing in this huge tree in the back yard.
This would be a perfect time for a few photos, right?

Wrong.

What was this tongue-yielding creature that was now in the place where my
dear sweet Noah's face had always been? 
I was distraught.

We went to the local Catfish Festival, (no wise cracks, people.)
and there it was.

Teasing me.  Provoking.  Uncooporative.
Everywhere I looked. . .
there
it
was.

Oh wait.
Sorry.
That one was just me channeling my inner Pioneer Woman.

I even tried at Home Depot!
(hey, when you ask your husband where he wants to go for his birthday,
and he says "the tool store", it is definitely a 'bring-the-camera-along'
sort of occassion.  And yes, I did get funny looks.)

I got this cute shot of Keira's feet.

And
this shot of Noah.
(sigh.)

I was starting to get frustrated.
Thank goodness I wasn't using film.
Could you imagine the disappointment in opening up THAT envelope of photos?
God bless digital.

I was just about to decide I had lost my sweet-faced little boy forever,
when suddenly,

something changed.

He appeared to be almost considering the option of a photo without a
crazy, silly, ridiculous face.
Almost.

But he would not give up without a fight.

 

Nice.
Seriously, what IS he doing here?

But last weekend, in the midst of sand-bass catching,
fire-work blastin', inner-tube ridin' fun. .
that horrible, goofy-faced creature left.
(I think he might have been scared of the Roman Candles.)
And with much delight, I found this staring back at me from my
little lcd window on the back of my Canon.

Ah, now there's a sight for sore eyes!
Have a great weekend.