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As many of you know, Summer and Grandpa (my dad) share the same birthday. I think that is a really special connection they have with each other. The past few years we have combined their birthday parties. This year Summer wanted another Dora party with lots of friends and I decided to throw a surprise party for my dad. So, on Saturday we did this....

There were 9 kids there (including my own.) We colored Dora pictures, played Dora Bingo, Dora Dora Swiper (duck, duck, gray duck... or if your not from MN that would be duck, duck, goose), had a pinata, played pin the tail on the donkey and jumped in the jumpy house. It was a lot of fun. Summer has some wonderful friends and I'm glad they were able to share her special day with her.

THEN...on Sunday evening we invited a bunch of my dad's friends over that he hasn't been able to see in a really long time due to our lovely Minnesota winters and his broken leg. He was really surprised and had a wonderful time visiting with all of the people that came. He has some wonderful friends who love him and care deeply about him.

I only took one picture from that night this is my 3 girls with grandpa, my mom's cousin Therese, her husband Van, and Clara who is my great aunt so she is a great-great-aunt to my daughters.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD & SUMMER!!

I won! I won! I won!

I just won a prize for the heart tee-shirt I made for Summer! ( Look below to see the shirt) I am SO excited! I won two free rolls of more heat transfer! YEA!!

You can check it out at http://silhouettemachine.blogspot.com/

Winning is SO much fun!

More in love

Okay, so maybe I should use that title for my 12th anniversary which happens to be tomorrow...but, I'm going to use it today to describe my Silhouette Machine.


I'm sure I've expressed my love of it before. I use it for scrapping, giftbags, vinyling on the walls, tiles, glass and NOW I can use it to make tee-shirts or bags, or pillows or whatever! The possibities are ENDLESS!


They just came out with this new heat transfer material that you use with your Silhouette machine. I ordered just two colors to try it out with first (pink & red). And I got one in smooth texture and one that is flocked (kinda soft to the touch and thicker.)

I got the shapes and words from the Silhouette online store and viola... here is what I created yesterday.

Cute models. They were each so excited to wear them today.

Black and white

What is it about black and white photos? I love them. Here are some photos I took of the girls. Actually some of the ones of Mackenzie were taken my friend Amy Steeves. I may have posted these pictures before in color. But I love the black and white effect on them.

Webkinz Party #2

Ainsley had a Webkinz party when she turned 7 in 2008 and Mackenzie just turned 7 years old on Feb. 26. She also wanted a Webkinz party. Luckily, I forsaw that 2 years ago and I saved all the stuff from Ainsley's party.

It was a lot of fun! Kenzie invited 7 friends over and we played Webkinz Bingo, Guess the Webkinz on your back, Pin the W on the Webkinz, we did Webkinz word scrambles and mazes, a gem hunt, and Freeze dance with your Webkinz. I made the cake again this year and I was really please with how it all turned out. Here are a few pictures from Kenzie's fun party.

I'm so proud of Mackenzie and all the growth she's made in the last few years. She's reading so well now, she's doing well at piano, swimming and gymnastics. She has made wonderful friends at school and at church. She still has the most contageous laugh and I love it! She is a very smiley, happy child. She wears her emotions on her sleeve (which are sometimes difficult to deal with) but fun to see her visible excitement when she's doing things she loves.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

We all love you!