a funny

Not much is happening on the homefront. Just trying to get this pool done so we can finally swim. the kids are absolutely dying over here. and it has been blazing hot.

we were running errands yesterday and had to stop at target. well...as we pull into riverpark the kids see the police getting on the horses. they asked if we could stop and say hi to the horses. and i said sure. so then horses became the topic of conversation.

shannon: i would love to BE a horse!
ryne: no you wouldn't. they can only see in black & white.
me: really??? i had no idea.
ryne (says matter-of-factly) : yeah, cuz they only have rods, not cones. ( in their eyes)

i just giggled to myself. that kid is too smart for his own good.

i'm telling you these kids are a constant source of amusement. crack me up everyday!!

WOW!!!

Wow !!!! can u tell i'm excited. Got a call this morning asking me to be
on the MY MINDS EYE DESIGN TEAM!!! so stoked. so unexpected.
i am still in shock.

can't wait to work with these awesomely talented girls.

xrachelle

mail love & scenes from the pool

I got this awesome package yesterday in the mail from Australia. Rett is a friend of mine that I made through 2P's. She is the most amazing artist and constantly inspires me. We traded ATC cards and i just got her package in the mail yesterday. Not only did it include this incredibly cool ATC, but it was full of ribbons, chipboard, a frame, fabric, and lace. I couldn't wait to play with everything last night. So this is what i came up with; i used the awesome frame and some chipboard. Thank you so much Rett!

Just a quick update on the pool. The pool people came yesterday and worked all day filling in around the pool and of course the kids wanted to help. :) Today they are supposed to come to hook up the pump and do the electric work. Hopefully in a couple weeks we will be swimming.

we have a pool & new art

Well yesterday they came with a huge 80 ft crane to
lift our pool over the house and into the hole in the
backyard. i was speechless to say the least. The kids
were so excited, especially Drew.

School ended last week for the kids, so we have been
playing this week. Lots of trips to the park, daisy scout
meeting, and just general laziness going on.

i have been making some art. working on scrapbooking
more this summer. i've been trying to make a page a day,
and so far have kept to it for the month of june.
xrachelle

dig day

here is the new view of our backyard. the bobcat made light work of all the concrete that was back there. tomorrow he will dig the hole for the pool. ryne and drew got the snow sled out and took a few runs down the dirt mounds. what a fun day at our house! :) more pix tmr.

red hot chili peppers.

can't believe these guys are coming to MY town. so excited to see them in concert again. Last time was about ten years ago. can't wait!!

so excited.

so excited about this!! so over the moon excited!! when i entered i really didn't even think i had a chance. this contest just gave me the extra push to do this page. i'm dying to share it with everyone, but can't. It is on its way to Caroline and Deb, from Maya Road, as we speak. It will be displayed this summer at CHA in the maya road booth. i am so honored to have been chosen. can't even believe it.

trying to upload some new art, but blogger isn't cooperating.
guess i'll try tmr. ETA: finally got the picture!

day 4

got a few minutes this morning to work on this. Love how this one turned out. i'm starting to feel my groove, both with my ww thing and this journal. Have eaten pretty well today, i actually ate a piece of fruit :)
-r

day 3 & art class

Well here is my day 3 for the 21 challenge. Not overly enthusiastic about it. Didn't really turn out like i had envisioned it. It's been really hard for me to get used to working in this old book. Not sure why, but i'm just getting my thoughts down and playing. No stress about this. Just letting it flow. Kinda freeing. Today was a hard day as far as my goal went. The stress today was really bad and of course I went right to the food. Not a good mix. Think i will try to run today, maybe reduce the stress a little bit.

journaling reads: "Reminder to self...i truely believe that everything happens for a reason and we can learn from every experience. i also believethat a positive attitude isessential when the twistsand turns come my way its time to keep my chin up and continue on. "

On another note, wanted to say thanks for all the awesome comments yesterday. It really warmed my heart and totally made my day. I couldn't believe all the people who stopped by to say hi. I never have this many blog visitors.

Yesterday was art morning at the MacIver homeschool. Lots of fun learning to painting trees and doing playdough. We learned the differences between hardwood and evergreen trees. The kids went outside to geta closeup view of our big, tall redwoods. Love that we are doing this!!

playing catch-up...already

Good morning!! i worked on my 21 Challenge book last night. trying to get caught up. these are my pages. Not too happy with some, but all in all i got my feelings down and that is what counts. Didn't do very well yesterday with my goal. But today is another day!! Love that i have a fresh start today!!


Gotta go get ready for school now. -r

feeling inspired

Was up late last night working on this. This was a challenge from these girls. When I saw that the topic was hope i immediately thought of my sister. I wanted to make this layout for her because she is so full of hope. Hope you like it Lisa!!

Been working on lots of stuff. I finished 3 projects last night. Really feeling inspired lately, hope it lasts.

I finished my day 1 of the challenge, i will try and upload it later today.

-r

21 day challenge

Last night i popped over to this blog and found out she is starting this 21 day challenge. I was so excited to see this, because i missed it the first time around. This is what i need right now! The whole idea is that it takes 21 days to create or break a habit. So i want to try my whole weight watchers thing and really stick to it this time. This way i will have an artistic outlet to journal about my ups and downs and use it as a motivational tool. I'm getting so excited about this. i worked on my book last night.

I've been wanting to just use an old book for an art journal, so i found this old childrens reader that i am going to make my own. i decorated the cover. it reads, "for me, for them, for us" . the meaning behind it is that sticking to my ww and losing the weight is definately for me, but also for Rich and the kids. I will be healthier and ultimately feel better. it is for US!! i'm feeling very motivated and excited to get started.

Last week I was so excited because a friend of mine from 2p's told me that 2 of my scrapbook pages were featured here. i was so out of this world shocked and honored. These gals that put on "the dares" are so amazingly talented, and they are so inspiring.

This week is gonna be busy. Lots of stuff going on, but I'm gonna check in tomorrow so you can peak at my page one of my journal. leave me a comment and let me know you stopped by. :)

Good News Day!!

This was the sight today at our house and then again at the property this afternoon. Ryne and Shannon rode their bikes without their training wheels. Both of them were so excited and beside themselves. Huge smiles all around.

And some exciting news for me. I got an email this morning that scrapbook trends magazine wants to publish a page i did about my grandma. I am SUPER excited.

veggie oil, HOF, and bacteria.

*Big things are happening at the MacIver household. We have officially gone veggie. Yep, you're seeing correctly, that is Rich filling up the Suburban with veggie oil. It was a very exciting moment after months of planning, experimenting, filtering, and collecting. Yeah!!
*So excited... i sent off my Hall of Fame entry this week. I have 42 days to dream that I have a chance at winning this thing. A girl can hope right. :)
*Last week I found out that i'm gonna be published again. Scrapbook Trends wants to publish one of my layouts i did of my sweet nephew, Grant.
*Finally got my copy of CorrespondenceART in the mail and guess who has a page in there? This is my first page in print. So excited to see it. If you want to peak at it...go to my gallery and its the pumpkin patch layout.
*Trying to stick my foot in the door of this whole scrapbook design industry. I don't want to say to much... might jinx myself...but i took a chance this week and hoping it pays off.
* Rich and I have been talking alot about getting healthier; eating healthier and exercising more. So we started this past week. i am 5.6lbs. lighter. Yeah for me!!!!! We got all the kids rollerblades so we can go out as a family and skate and play rollerhockey. Ryne and Shannon have been zooming around everywhere on them. they get up in the morning and put them on first thing. It's been really cool to do school with the kids skating around the couch. Nothing like a little movement to help the brain. :)
*speaking of school.....yesterday was our last day of the semester. Ryne has really done great this semester. Tons of improvement and is still super excited to learn. His favorite subjects are history and science. Lately he has been working on a bacteria experiment. He decided to take samples of various things around the house and grow bacteria cultures. so far the cultures of the toilet seat, and the bottom of mom's shoe have grown best. Eeewwww.

So that is what is going on in my little world. Leave me a comment and say hi!!!

dreaming of snow

Got up early this morning , got the kids fed and was baking by 8:00. I've been baking cookies all day today. Chocolate chip, sugar, russian tea cookies, gingerbread & pizzelle's. We got all the pieces made for the gingerbread house so we can assemble it tomorrow. The kids have been begging me to help them make a big gingerbread house topped with lots of candy. So I couldn't pass up the opportunity to use my tremendous culinary skills. (don't laugh too loud at that one.)

It's really starting to feel alot like Christmas around here, except for the 70 degree weather and not much snow in the mountains. The kids have already started talking about going sledding like we did last year. Ryne told me that he has been dreaming of snow.

remember me?

Wow, it's been a super long time since i have blogged. Guess not much to say, been so busy. Have just started to get back in the swing of things as far as my art stuff. Just finished & mailed some ATC's for a swap that was hosted by Marilyn. I loved the theme, and was so happy to be involved. Can't wait to get all these cards in the mail. This is a picture of how mine turned out. Been scrapping a little bit and have added some stuff to my 2P's gallery.

Today has been a lazy day off. We didn't have school today so finally got to catch up on all my cleaning & washing. I have also been trying to get some stuff ready for tonight. I'm going scrapbooking. More to come. 

new journal

This is a shot of my new art journal. I really like using this picture of my grandma. Love how it turned out. 

family 

art journal 

finally..some art

Just wanted to post some of the art I have been making. Loving my art journal. My class is over, but I will continue to make pages. I have fallen in love with this medium. I'm finding that I really enjoy mixed media type of art. Love just doing what I want and including whatever I want in my pieces. These stamps from Paperbag Studios are making me so happy; huge inspiration. Last night I finished the pink piece. Have been thinking about doing it for a while now. I have been wanting to use the picture of my Grandma and her siblings (the Kucia family). Absolutely love that picture.