Lights, camera, umbrella...

While I was busy weeding at the Botanical Garden the Rapplings were up to their usual silliness. I wanted to share this video, one of thirteen made by our Kate, future director and boss of the universe (in a mostly benevolent way)... Sydney our little ingenue, her acting well it's truly inspired(you will almost feel a raindrop)... and Little Miss Paige, all she wants is for them to get an umbrella!

I can hear them while they play but can't see them so this was a treat! I wish my parents had movies of me being the boss of the universe... then again maybe I don't.

Lemony goodness...

Back in the day...I thought lemons were the best fruit ever. I loved to suck on them and really enjoyed the tart, tangy taste. I remember on a trip out west we ate at a couple of restaurants with my adopted grandparents...the Barnhearts. Grandpa would laughingly make sure to order a lemon slice, (probably with his water) so that he could watch the faces I made while I devoured my lemon. This mutual love of lemons continued when I went out to BYU-Idaho for my first year of college. He took me to his favorite Chinese restaurant, the China Garden on South State St., in Provo. He introduced me to the joys of lemon chicken. Every time I visited that year we went. It was a lot of fun to watch him in his element with the staff whom he had been friends with for years. Of course I haven't had lemon chicken that has ever matched those delicious dinners.

So I have to confess that I still love lemons. Apparently this is a genetic quirk, since all three of the Rapplings also enjoy a lemon whenever I'll buy them one. Sydney especially likes home squeezed lemonade. My love of images has always included citrus, oranges, lemons, limes...whichever they are graphically appealing. Check these out!

Digital Clip Art on Two Peas in a bucket...

Makes you want to go online and buy it now doesn't it!

This adorable lemonade stand at Scrap Chicks....

Kitchsy Kitchen at Scrap Orchard...

This post isn't just about my love of all things lemony. My girlfriend Lisa K. brought a really cute teacher gift idea to church a couple of Sundays ago, to see if I could help her reproduce it. Of course I could! The bonus was that it involved lemonade I was definitely on the case. Here is what I came up with after much time searching for the perfect lemon graphic online.

I found this amazing set at Associated Content...

The next hurdle was to put it all together. I whipped up a little title block on Microsoft Publisher and Viola!!! Instant teacher happiness. Sorry the colors off in the photo. I thought it would be better to write the post than to wait until I fix up the photo!

PAWS-itive!!!

I am so proud of Miss Kathryn and Miss Sydney.

They both received a P.A.W.S Award at school today!

Every month each teacher chooses one student

from their class to receive this award.

P
Positive Attitude

A
Act Responsibly

W
Work & Play Safe

S
Show Respect

Mrs. Garrison called on Thursday to let us know Kate would be receiving one and could we be at school at 9:30 a.m. Monday? No problem...I had to call back and find out if this was to be a surprise or she would already know.

Surprise...that meant I...

1. Couldn't forget.

2. Couldn't tell the little sisters.

3. Needed to delete all email evidence

4.Had to write it on the calendar without

actually writing it on the calendar!

On Friday I received another Stranahan call... this time Mrs. Bauer wanted to know if we could bring Sydney to the P.A.W.S award ceremony on Monday to receive her very own certificate. I told her that would work out since we were going for Kate! Two great girls who got

to walk down a RED CARPET to some Rockin' music. Lots of fun...

long ceremony due to end of year awards... but worth it.

So happy that Kate and Sydney were able to receive

certificate's at the same time.

A special note...Miss Kate, We can't believe that you're officially a sixth grader at 3:36 p.m. today!!! Great job! It was fun to hear Mrs. Garrison say that all of your former teachers thought you really deserved that award. Thanks for being a great example for your sisters. Don't forget to keep practicing PAWS at home!

Miss Sydney, I know you were embarrassed to go in front of the whole school but we are so happy that you have had such a great year and that your teacher loves you as much as we do! Can't wait to see what you learn in first grade.

Photo by John... he thought it was hilarious when Sydney peeked out from behind Kate instead of stepping out front. That's our silly, silly girl.

Cupcakes...

I have a confession...I love cupcakes! They are irrestible...a photo, a stamp, a sticker, a book of recipes, or the real thing at a bakery. I love the very idea of a small, irrestible piece of cakey goodness...did I mention that when organizing photos I have collected over the past year that these are a few of my favorite images...

I even found a new mantra...
I love creative florists...

What girl wouldn't love these?

Some papercrafting goodness..

there are some rockin' cute stamps

but I haven't the space to show them all!

Yep I absolutely loved this commercial...

Chocolate with Marshmellow Creme....

better than a hostess!So just to get to the bottom of this post...
Hope you enjoyed!

Really I haven't eaten a cupcake in a month...

okay six weeks but who's counting?

Pretty in pink...

Miss Candace gave these tulips to Sydney and Kate during their last show.

Finally I'm postin me some pictures to share.

Check out the little grains of pollen.

These petals mesmerized me...I've always wanted to be able to paint like that.

I love how the petals curve gracefully around the center.
Funny note: Candace brought two bouquets for the two little actresses. When Paige saw them she said, "Where's mine?" Candace handled the whole question like a pro. When Paige wasn't looking, she carefully broke off one of the little buds and gave it to Miss Paige. Viola!!! Major disaster diverted. Miss Candace you ROCK! She talked about her tulip for a week. It was proudly displayed with her sisters flowers because, in Paige's words, "I got some too!!!"

au-then-tic!!!

These photos make me want to open another store....

Not right now today...but someday. You know that imaginary day when the economy is better and everyone wants to shop at fun family run stores again.

I love this jelly roll that I have no idea how to use yet. Well I can come up with a few ways but I don't know if it's the "right" way. This bag ROCKS! From the quilt like binding at the top to the funky pocket on the front. FUN! FUN! FUN!

Sweetwater has a new fabric line coming out in September. I have always loved their quirky papers and scrapbooking embellishments. We received amazing kits in at Skrappaper monthly full of delicious goodies. Now we'll get to sew up some happiness too! Thanks to Moda for picking up this amazing designers...(sisters that actually accomplish things who knew?)

makelifesweet blog

sweetwater etsy shop

I looked out my window....

and what did we see, my littlest girls being terrified by this BIG BEE!

Not my photo...couldn't catch a good one in time.

The amazing visitor was a Bumblebee Moth.

Wingspan of at least two inches just grabbing a little nectar from our garden phlox by the front window. Once Paige realized that it couldn't get her, and she could be less than a foot away from it while still being on my lap, she was mesmerized.