many many days ago, a-not-so-little-anymore cool dude turned 9.



he celebrated his birthday for about a week. he was milking it for all it's worth. we took him to Olive Garden and the restaurant's crew led my Mr. Blade



sang for him and brought him cake that served about 7 of us on the table. then later on the same week, Grandma and Joe took him to the army surplus. grandma hates that place but it's Maikee's disneyland... so anything and wherever for her grandson, she would tolerate.

the theme was bugs. so i made him a dirt cake.



it was so good that i have a special order to make another one but i haven't gotten around to make it yet. been busy freelancing, you see. he had Angie from his karate class and a few boys from our neighborhood come over for a short party: by that i mean literally 2 hours. i guess the party went well that Maikee became a popular kid on our block.

one of the things i am privileged to do at work is i get to teach classes. i had an opportunity to do a sequel to the first crazy cards i taught. this time, it's so crazy we made cards out of match boxes. like this one:



so i guess you could say it's not really your good old plain Jane cards. what i really love about teaching these classes, is that i get to meet new friends who share the same passion of art with me. i thought we laughed all night more than we made cards. i was quick to think to snap a couple of photos. karen and Jen



came to the first one so maybe these guys must think i'm ain't too bad of a teacher since they came for the second time around. it always gives me a cozy feeling to see familiar faces and i was tickled happy to see fresh faces during the class. shannon, Dawnalyn and Suzie



were pretty hilarious. although the two came a little late (they were literally running to the door), we still managed to create all the cards.

with that tickled me pink-happy note> if you leave me a comment here, Gabby will randomly draw a name then, whoever is the lucky one, gets to have 5 uber cuteness crazy match box cards, created by yours truly... including the one pictured above.

Mike Huckabee... and Becky Fleck

..... all in one day, yesterday.

i mean really, who doesn't know Mike Huckabee? if Jay Leno runs into me on Jay walkers, i'd really look bad. Before Governor Huckabee ran for candidacy for president, i would have never heard of him> so that makes two of us. i had another opportunity to take pictures for Billings Christian School, this time for a fund raising event. thus meeting Governor Huckabee was part of it because he was the guest speaker. i had fun. anyone who knows me, would figure i had fun. i'm glad that my job was only to take pictures. i've never been in an event like that. there were a lot of people, i think you cannot be an introvert to be involved in that situation. we had a good spot on the front row and Miss Montana 2008 Kristen Mantooth sat with us, she was very nice and non-dingy. the food was great because i ate the dessert first. listening to the Governor wasn't dreary at all. in fact, i laughed so hard i think i might have embarrassed myself, good news is nobody really knew who i was. i wish that he was our candidate instead of someone else. but if you want to read a more intelligent entry about last night's events, i suggest visit Joe's, no doubt you'll be enlightened. what really made the night more eventful to me was that, Gabby was in a babysitting situation in the hotel and considering that we forgot her sippy cup in the car, she still managed to be on her best behavior for 5 hours or so, therefore i got to enjoy the whole event without worrying one bit about Little Gabster.

besides my old standby> Joe... i met a lot of cool Montanans



right here was Mr. Rupert shaking hands with the Governor



..... with his gorgeous wife:



i hope they're okay i posted their pictures in my blog.

i think it's pretty gnarly to watch kids and youngsters sing praise and worship songs and actually sing it with a smile because i think nowadays that kind of music sickens the kids at large since they show less and less respect for God






these guys remind me of the youngsters i've met in North Carolina a month ago who have a passion for God. not in a super religious and fanatic way... just simply worshiping God



earlier yesterday, before any of this ruckus was happening, my phone rang and i didn't recognize the number but i answered it anyway because i'm always up for surprises. SURPRISE it was! Becky Fleck the navigator of all sketches was on the other line, she asked me to do an assignment, i don't have all the details yet but it was more than enough to make me speechless and more dingy. so speechless that all i could muster was "can i throw up?" how stupid was that? i'm comforted knowing in the same time, Becky is used to the people like me. it was mind boggling and so unbelievable that my head wasn't thinking anymore and even right at this moment, i'm still in a daze about it. i can't thank her enough for having faith in me. i just hope that i won't be a disappointment.



and Staci..... thank you for being genuinely happy for me. you were so happy that you even told Mark about it :)

Birthdays for us as we mature can become times of reflection. That's what it is for me and not just on my birthday either. Today being my wife's wonderful birthday made me realize just what she means to me. She got some gifts today but I think of the gift she is to me. She was blessed today but I think of the blessing she is to me, our family, to those who know her. Birthdays are strange things you know? You give, you get. Today I think of what Love means to me and I just can't imagine life without her. She not just a member of our family...she's an institution...a necessity. I really do love her more than I can possibly put into words. Happy birthday Lovely, you've had a big influence on us all. Thanks for being you! Love you so very much!

i'm a little bit disappointed that i didn't take as many photos as i wanted. but i'll share with you of what i got>>>> just a few.

i can't comprehend how people can eat this. my husband loves the strawberry twizzlers and you would think that as appealing as these candies may appear, you'd think it'd taste great but i personally think it taste a lot like candle. Helen and Robin laughed at me when i told them about my unsolicited opinion.



Jaymee told me that if i don't blur her away that i'd get in trouble......? so as requested i blurred her away. love her. she's one of the cutest nicest person i've met.



this was one of the make-n-takes i did at the camp. i'm so happy with it.



i was blown away of how much scrapbooking supplies these gals brought to the camp. some of them must have taken their entire studio with them. i was such a scrap camp virgin.



Alex was the youngest cropper that came. she was honestly one of the amazing teenagers i've met. love her personality



Miss Becky and her book. i had to get one and i'm glad i did!



would you ride with me if i tell you this was what i was doing while driving home? i thought the lights looked incredible on the wet street. it really wasn't dangerous since it was getting late and as you can see the street was empty. HUH!

Sister's FIRST SCRAP CaMp

distant friends and family don't really have an idea of what i am addicted to and what i have become. unfortunately, there's no cure for this divine addiction. also known as: paper hording and shutter bug.

i've never really had a job until i met Sisters: our Local Scrapbooking store and looking back, i didn't realize that being a Life Artist (which Mrs. AE would call it) was embedded in me. since working at Sisters, i had been blessed with amazing talented girls, getting an occasional complimentary magazines, meeting new friends and meeting gnarly celebrities- nope, i'm not talking about Jennifer Aniston kind of celebrities, Ok? i'm talking about celebrities who inspire us to continually preserve the past, capturing the today and anticipating what lies ahead.

for the first time, the store took a huge plunge and ventured on Scrap Camp. this was new to me too. i've never been to scrap camp before. i learned scrapbooking with me, myself and i. so i was honestly, got weak at the knees when i found out that i had to do make-and-takes and do some classes. however, not trying to sound so high and lofty here... but as it turned out, i don't think i did too bad (what a huge relief) and considering that the owners have never done a scrap camp before, needless to say, they UTTERLY outdid themselves.

we were so blessed to have our fellow Montanan Becky Fleck paid us a visit during our weekend camp. Becky was exactly the same talented artist whom i met....
>
> when i was about 6...7ish months pregnant with Gabby and now she's 2. any math wizard here who can do the math? so anyhow, that long ago...

back to Becky, she's gorgeous... she's down to earth......generous: way too kind... not snooty at all... she's hilarious



and she's brave>>> she didn't wimp out to face her "little stalker" for the second time around. it took the breath out of me when she said i looked familiar to her. i must have made a fool out of myself to have left an impression on her. HA ha ha!!! excuse me while i laugh.

my boss apparently thinks i'm a people person. she asked me at the last minute to introduce: do an opening for Becky in front of everyone.
*ok, rewind...... i happily obliged.
*rewind a little bit more....... and what the heck was i thinking? APPARENTLY i wasn't thinking!>>> that would be my "norm". i guess, once a dork, always a dork. i just hope that my newly found scrapbooking friends would have mercy on me (seriously) not to "YOU Tube" the video they took because i would loose my dignity and i would just die of humiliation But besides the obvious, Becky made everyone happy:



she took the time to talk to everyone... she signed everyone's book (her first released book )



and was very patient with us: wild and crazy women. although, i hate to say this, i think i was the class clown! what have i become?!!

Lynda (sister #1), Becky (the unrelenting artist for Basic Grey) & Lori (sister #2)



true that! mother-daughter weekend getaway (Alex and Kristine) with Miss Becky.



using the handy tool: camera timer>>> i got to be in it. everyone looked great. we all laughed our little keisters off>>> just simply HAPPY



........and we all are HUNGRY FOR MORE!

blessed EaSteR?

i was such a good girl to have finished dying the eggs last thursday with the urchins> that helped tremendously. it was a little bit interesting since, little miss Gabby wants to help with everything. she's two you know? she can do everything now. she's so independent.


and i hate purple/violet but the kit came with it.


i had to give Gabby yet another cup of yogurt so she would stand still for a group shot and i had to just settle for this.



but this is what she does now, she has to check out what's being taken and wants to see her picture on the screen> and i'm very happy with that stage: i think it's pretty cute.



while we were gone for church, apparently The Easter Bunny was busy getting all the sugar laid nicely on the kitchen table. it was a riot when Gabby discovered it.





i was domestically motivated, just had to make these cupcakes.



it wasn't long after Gabby discovered these guys, she just had to dig her teeth in to this poor peep



we had a delicious meal and pies... and the meal was followed by egg hunting.





by then it was nearing 6:00 p.m. didn't matter because we're getting more light now. meaning spring is here and so is summer but we live in Montana, it still gets cold (and sometimes snow) that explains why the girls had jeans on with their easter dresses. and guess who didn't want their picture taken?



but these guys didn't mind.



despite of the chaotic world of this family of five, we did enjoy Easter: it was fabulous. hope y'all had a good one too.

Second day: as it was granted, we got to roam around inside the US Capitol> staff led of course. we got to the Senator's office ON TIME, then went through a tunnel leading to the Capitol building. right off the bat, this is what we encountered: The Statue of Freedom... she's the one you see on the top of the Capitol close up.



then a short joy ride going in to the building. such a cute little train.


it was so powerful, mind boggling, and there were so much to take in.
this right here was in the very middle of the building. it was considered "LUCKY" to touch the star, so it was worn down from people rubbing their feet on it. being the dork that i am, i couldn't resist rubbing my foot as well.



the Rotunda was stunning. in using my prime lens, i found it difficult to get a cool shot of the dome and i had to do it in segments:



there were spectacular paintings. one of the paintings done by John Trumbull that i thought was pretty amazing and rather amusing is this:


because you see, if i got it right, during the the signing of the Declaration of Independence, i guess there were so much rivalry between John Adams and Benjamin Franklin and if you look closely in the painting, i can't remember which one was which: Benjamin Franklin was stepping on John Adams' foot. interesting.



got a shot of The Car of History Clock:


magnificent chandeliers:


it was overwhelming. photo ops were endless. literally. i was smart enough to get an extra cartridge of 4GB before we left or i would not have been able to contain every shots i had in just that day.

two in a row... how about that?

we left on Saturday the 1st of March and came back Sunday the 9th. just in that matter of days, i had experienced the most awe inspiring trip from Washington DC and North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

we spent indefatigable 3 days in Washington DC. to the best of our ability we went to all 4 corners of DC while we were there. this has been a life long dream of mine to visit DC, and finally, after agonizing years, dreams do come true!

the trip to DC came as a bonus, as it turned out we had to stay there because of our airline ticket situations. prior to our date of departure, we contacted our Senator here in Montana and checked if we could squeeze ourselves to a hectic schedule to The US Capitol and the White House. in just a matter of days, we were granted to have a staff guided tour in the US Capitol but the White House was entirely questionable. however, the day before we left, we received an email from the Senator saying we can have the self guided tour in the White House. do i hear an echo? SELF GUIDED TOUR!?!?!? too good to be true? but it's true and... no, we weren't out of control either.

first day was spent in Smithsonian. got to see the
*Apollo 11;

here's the monkey that went to the Moon.



*the 1st plane;

... and remember the movie: "A Night in the Museum" with Ben Stiller? you know, the movie that was supposedly taken from there? we got to see that. uber coolio!!! the kids were in awe of the Dinosaur artifacts along with countless collections of God only knows. it RAWK!



*and multitudes of educational and historical facilities.

*i was able to touch the Washington Monument. i did a lot of "touching". i was totally your typical tourist





then Joe and i choose to go see the Holocaust museum and it was the most heart wrenching place i've been to. we went through inside a railcar in which the Jews suffered ( it was used to transport Jews from all over Europe to ghettos, concentrations camps and killing centers) and i opted to touch it, i swear you could feel it. seen the movie "Schindler's List"? if you haven't, you ought to. and could you believe that there are actually people who really believe that the Holocaust didn't take place?

unfortunately, no one was allowed to take photographs inside, and i don't think anyone could take it either. we got to the part where the "SHOES" were and all you could smell was the smell of leather. after seeing heap upon heap of shoes, you get a better understanding of the magnitude of it all: dead Jews. talk about unreal. this quote was written on the wall:

"We are the shoes, we are the last witnesses. We are shoes from grandchildren and grandfathers from Prague, Paris, and Amsterdam. And because we are only made of fabric and leather, and not of blood and flesh, each one of us avoided the Hellfire."

gazing at all of the horrifying displays, the gas chamber model, the authentic bunk beds, the disturbing images, reading countless testimonies was overwhelming...profoundly intense. i wanted to cry but i couldn't. i wanted to say something but i was speechless. all i could do was keep on moving in silence until we reached the exit.

and that's how we spent our first day.

Upon arriving home from a long trip to Washington DC, i waded through my emails and came across this wonderful news.

this doesn't happen everyday so, i am easily tickled and i am humbled and honored to be a part of this book.

the email went:




Thank you so much for submitting your layout to Scrapbook Trends Magazine! We appreciate your submission and would like to use one of your layouts for our upcoming Vacation Idea Book. The layout that we are interested in is attached.

Please send an email to (erased info) indicating whether or not you plan to send the layout.
If you are still able to make this layout available for publication:

Please place it in the mail by Monday March 10th, 2008 - Layouts received after Monday March 22nd, 2008 may not be published in the Vacation Idea Book, so please make sure we receive your layout before this date. Thank you!
Please be certain that the ideas on your layout are original and have not been published previously.
Please put your layout in its own protector, with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address on the back of the layout (Please do not abbreviate city names.)
Please do not send your layout in a flattened box as it is easily damaged during shipping and is difficult to open without damaging your layout!
Please avoid using a clear envelope that seals at the top to store your layout. These are difficult to open and remove your layout for photography.
Each layout must also have a complete list of products used. Copy-paste the form at the end of this letter into a word processing document, fill it out, delete any N/A items, print it out, then slip it into the protector of each layout you send.
Please list the brand of each product - layouts without a complete list of products cannot be used. We don't list adhesives; our apologies to those taking part in rewards programs.
In order to keep our magazine fresh for our readers, we would appreciate it if you would remove your layout from any online galleries. You are welcome to put it back up the month after it is published (in this case, July 1st, 2008). Thank you!
A confirmation email will be sent to you within about a week of your layout arriving to let you know we received it. Your layout will be returned to you after the issue has been printed along with scrapbooking products and two copies of the Vacation Idea Book as our thanks for sharing your talent.

Layouts should be mailed to (PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS):



Scrapbook Trends – Vacation

Attn: Holly

(erased info)


Thank you so much for sharing your talent and creativity with us!




Yup! i was needless to say beside myself.