Taking a Class

To play with paper & all my scrapping supplies...

So far, so good!

An Assortment of ODD Stuff...

Item #1 ~ The kids had to switch their scheduled Altar Serving day

so we can go to my Family's Ventura Beach Party
over the weekend of the 4th! 

They ended up with The Feast of Saint Anthony service...

which includes a parade through the parking lot.

Getting them outside also means a photo op for me,

(as the lighting is SO much better than inside the church)

I'm so glad they were willing to accomodate me,
& pose with Deacon John...

it makes my heart glad to see them so attired!

 

 Item #2 ~ As repairs continue in our house this week, 

I found myself FORCED out of the house...

here's a view from my hammock (yep, it's a rough life) 

on the last day cool enough to BE outside!

 Today it's supposed to hit 106 degrees...

I think I'll stay in & run the A/C.

Item #3 ~ We spent all day yesterday by another pool...

as Jared's summer water polo club hosted a tournament...

Our 18 & under team took 1st Place 

Way to go Boys!

Item #4 ~CUPCAKES!!!

This has been my recent baking obsession...

 Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter & Nutella Frostings!

(made for Audra's birthday)

 Roasted Banana Cupcakes 

(made for my crafter's group exchange party)

Triple Citrus Cupcakes

(test run recipe...some of them are still in the freezer)

 I've made quite a few others too,
but I haven't always had the camera nearby~

TOO HOT now to turn on the oven....
The baking will resume come fall!

Item #5 ~ I've Finally put some of the shells 

I've been collecting for YEARS

to use around my house.

Idea taken from the pottery barn catalogs-

Lantern acquired (inexpensively for $6) on a trip to IKEA-

Candle is flameless, real wax coated,
& battery operated, that I picked up at Target-

It comes on all by itself every evening for 4 hours!

GOTTA LOVE IT!

The House Saga - part 2

Here's a view of some of the salt & assorted other mineral deposits 

that have been growing on the wall INSIDE our home....

YES-sir-ee, it's Lovely!

...everyone wants these 'designer finishes' on their walls....

But you must have a broken pipe, flood your home, & then 

endure many hours of fans drying out said structure 

to achieve this kind of artistic wall texture.

Okay, Maybe NOT!

 

 So, the next step is to get rid of the problem,

by 1st covering your entire room in plastic & tarps

And then scrapping off the growth & loose plaster...

maybe all the way down to the lathe or bricks.

My house isn't looking too pretty now...

and the next phase is to treat the wall with an acid wash 

to leech out any remaining possible moisture.  

Of course, now that it's all torn up & the built in cabinets are sitting in the middle of the room 

and the warped & ruined fireplace mantle is demolished & tossed away, 

there seems to be just a little problem getting the acid needed.

So this is how my house is left looking for the time being...

The OCD part of me is just thrilled.

What a Week we've had here! 

A Special Valedictorian

My wonderful niece, Alex was the key speaker at her high school graduation...

...and we couldn't have been more proud!

Way to Go, Alex! We Love You!

Road Trip

 Audra's Biggest Birthday request was 

for a day @ Magic Mountain 

with her cousin Morgan & her big brother!

 So off they went, for some roller coaster fun!

 1st though, a little breakfast outside the park 

with little cousin Ike, Aunt Jenise & Uncle John...

That was just a SUPER day!

What a week...

Audra's 12th Birthday 

 fell on the same day 

as her end of the year swim party...

  So instead, we decided to celebrate the next day

 

with a trip to the movies.

Cupcakes & Chocolate Horsey Pops

was the perfect way to celebrate

with these 4 Fabulous Friends!

A Fantastic Ending....

 to another Fun Season of Swimming!

This week we attended the high school Swim Dinner.

Jared received the COACH'S AWARD

for not only being the FAST GUY, 

 but for being a swimmer who MOTIVATES OTHERS

& has helped BUILD a TEAM.

What a JOY it is for ME 

to see my son have great success 

...his effort & attitude certainly are the key!