AWR ~ Paper layout

I started this layout yesterday morning before I did the wildflower digi layout and liked how it was turning out so I decided to do the wildflower photos the same way. That is why the latest two layouts are almost alike, except one is paper and the other digi.

I didn't want to clutter this layout up with journaling and descriptions so that is why I made the little envelope and there is a card in there with the journaling. I also numbered the photos and put a card in the envelope with corresponding numbers and descriptions of the photos.

The journaling reads:

"August 23, 2007. Michael had a dentist appt. in Corpus Christi. On our way home I decided to stop at the AWR (Aransas Wildlife Refuge). Michael wanted to see Alligators. It was late afternoon/evening and the animals were out and about. We had a great time and saw so much wildlife. This is only a quarter of the photos I took. Michael is the one that found the frog. He thought it was pretty cool and I loved the photos I captured."

Michael was looking at it last night and was loving the photos of the Alligators and was rattling on about that time at AWR...I was shocked that he still remembers when we went and he found the frog.

Wildflower digi layout and word art.

Some more word art and a simple digi layout.

If your interested in the word art you can get it here.

March 5 ~ Wildflowers

Today I drove down to check the mail and noticed two types of wildflowers on the side of the driveway and thought...hmmm...time to take a walk with the camera.

I found more than 2 different wildflowers, 13 different types in all, WOW!!

Of course some were really tiny and I was down on hands and knees trying to avoid the fire ants and get some really cool photos...and then I spent 2 hours trying to identify them, ugh! I may be incorrect on some of the identifications but I tried with 3 different books...and each book different...grrr...

Pointed Phlox

Cockle burrs...not a wildflower but rather a HUGE pain in the rear, specially when Julie gets them in her mane and tail...I loved the blue sky in the background!

Daisy member of the Aster family...I admit by the time I got to this one I had had enough of identify flowers...not sure what type of daisy but I know it is a member of the Aster family!

Wine cup also known as a Poppy Mallow

This wasn't blooming yet but is a Texas Thistle...I've heard some people refer to them as Bull Thistles...Not something I would want to step on barefoot!! OUCH!!

Dewberry bloom...The berries are something like a LARGE blackberry.

Pink Evening Primrose

Okay this flower threw me off....I spent at least an hour looking for it and was very frustrated as I could not find it in any of the (3) Texas wildflower books I have...It has 6 petals! Well I decided to look at another photo I had taken and realized the other flowers only had 5 petals...grrr...that 6 petaled flower threw me for a loop....I still wasn't able to fully identify it but think it is from the Phlox family...It is very tiny and growing close to the ground...I'll keep researching and see if I can find out exactly what type of flower it is but after an hour I was finished!!!

Warty Caltrop...a very tiny flower and considered a weed!

Took me awhile to figure this one out too but I think it is a Corydalis.

This one has me stumped...it's not a very clear photo to begin with but none of the Texas Wildflower books had one that was even close to it...I think it is from the Pea family.

This was another one that took me awhile but I think it is a Sleepy Daisy also a member of the Aster family.

False Garlic also known as Crows Poison. Normally one of our first wildflowers to bloom in the spring...

I notice there are a lot of wildflowers blooming that normally don't bloom until our spring season is almost over with and think that is really strange as spring has basically just started for us...We don't have the wildflowers blooming in mass like we did last year and I wonder if we will get that type of mass blooms this year.

I hope you enjoyed your wildflower tour and I will try to do this once a week so we can see the different types of wildflowers blooming in this area.

(On another interesting note Texas has over 5,000 wildflower species and I have 3 wildflower books...one lists 381, another lists 370 and the last one lists 482...a far cry from 5,000 but they do lists the most popular and common ones. I hope you now know why it takes me forever to identify and why sometimes I can't identify a wildflower....)

Anole lizard vs. Snow

Easy choice for me....Anole lizard any day!!

I was outside working in the flower beds and watering when I spotted this little guy...he is a Green Anole lizard...a lot of people refer to them as Chameleons. The do change colors but they are referred to in the books as Green Anoles. Anyways enough lessons on lizard types...I love them! Glad to see this guy has taken up residence in our yard too! He had the end of his tail missing so he was almost lunch or dinner for something! And if you know me I couldn't resist grabbing the camera and getting a few photos...and of course Michael had to come check him out. Michael almost stuck his nose on him as he didn't see him, lol...

What Children See ~ Digi Layout

Here is another digi layout that I did of photos from our recent trip to Aransas Wildlife Refuge...and if the quote is true I think I might be in trouble, lol...

I did this layout for the challenge Breeza was having and you can check out her blog and the challenge here.

The date font was from a freebie I downloaded by Scarlet and can be found on her blog, here.

The photo corners I found on my digi program Scrapbook Factory Deluxe and the wordart is something I created in Paint Shop Pro...the wordart can be found here.

Hope you all Enjoy and thanks for looking!

He's not a puppy anymore ~ Jake ~

Ahh poor Jake his brain is still in puppy mode but his body says something else...Whenever I am on the computer this is where Jake lays...and it's so cute as Michaels horse chair is just a wee bit small for him but he still trys to curl up on it...

Tonight Jake and I start another obedience course with the Victoria Dog Obedience this time. I am hoping after Jake is a year old (he's 9 months old) he can become a therapy dog for the adult foster care homes in our area. He loves people but needs to learn a few manners first, one is that we do NOT bounce when the time isn't right for bouncing...lol...Jake loves to bounce! He doesn't bounce on people but just bounces all around...but I am afraid it might scare some people...and of course he needs more socialization with other people and dogs...

Michaels Birthday Scrapbook layouts 2007

Here are the Birthday layouts I did for Michaels 4th Birthday.
They are a bit busy for me but they aren't for me they are for Michael and he is a busy busy little one...

This was a layout I did of the cake and ice cream we had for him the Sunday before his birthday.

Journaling reads: Whats new Scooby Doo?

It's Michaels 4th Birthday, thats what's new. There is no mystery to be solved just cake and ice cream to be shared with family.

The journaling reads:

Its hard to believe that 4 yrs ago on this day you were born. I asked you what you wanted to do, you said Splashway water park & Incredible pizza. So that is what we did. A very fun day! On the way home we saw a rainbow and it came to me that we are so blessed to have you!

Thank you for bringing so much sunshine and love into our lives. Happy Birthday!

When Michael turns another year older I like to make a layout of his favortie things at that age. This is his 4 yr old layout...Michael at four with the tabs listing what he likes.

The journaling reads:

Michael after returning home from his busy BIRTHday found a package waiting for him. Grammie and Grandpa (Pridmore) had found a train piñata for Michael. He loved the piñata but after Momma put it up for safe keeping he really loved the packing peanuts. Since it was his BIRTHday I let him have fun and before he was done we had packing peanuts all OVER the house!! What a mess, but it was worth it to hear Grammie laughing on the phone and Michael smiling with joy!!