Happy Hump Day!

Can you believe we are already half way through June!? How insane is that?? The kids just got out of school, but at this rate, I'm gonna blink and school will be starting again tomorrow! lol

Well, I'm not just going to let Summer pass by and not enjoy it... This last weekend, while Tyler and Cody were at Beach Retreat with our church's youth group, Charles, Zach & I drove out to the Columbia River Gorge to see Multnomah Falls and so Charles could see how good the fishing is out at Bonneville Dam. Well, since I was driving, I decided to take the Historic Scenic Highway, instead of I84 all the way there. I absolutely LOVE the old highway. It's curvy and so beautiful! You also have access to so many more sights. So we made a change of plans and the first place we stopped was The Vista House. It is a beautiful building sitting at the top of a huge rock outcropping/cliff. And the view is spectacular! Here is a pic of The Vista House: And here it is from below:
And the view:

From there we drove East and stopped at Latourell Falls. I didn't get any good pics of that one up close, because I was afraid the spray was going to damage my camera. We got pretty soaked standing at the bottom of that one! We found a really cool place along that trail to stop and take a few pics of each other: Zach's quite the photographer, isn't he? He took the one of Charles and I.

Then it was on to Sheppards Dell:

And Bridal Veil Falls, which is SO beautiful with it's 2 tiers:

Wahkeena Falls was next, but, by now it's starting to get later in the day and we still haven't made it to Multnomah Falls yet. So we decide not to hike in to get a closer look at this one, but we will definitely go back and do that soon! (I hope!) Here is the view from the trailhead: The trail to that one is to the right and you pass over a little footbridge. I couldn't help but take a minute to take this beautiful shot before moving on:

From here we took the trail left, which takes you to Multnomah Falls. Along the way we saw this spot where the water was just running down the side of the rocks and I had to get Zach's photo there: Pretty, huh?

And we finally made it! Multnomah Falls! Of course with the weather being incredibly beautiful, the place was SO full of people. But we took our pictures anyway :) Here are my guys in front of the falls: And of course, the second highest waterfall in the US, (dropping 620 feet!) Multnomah Falls: Majestic, isn't it? I can't wait to go back and hike a little farther in.(a little more prepared this time! Lol You do NOT want to go hiking in flip flops! I wasn't expecting, when we left, that we were going to be hiking) Maybe next time we'll focus on one trail and and go the distance. I now have maps of all the trails and am just itching to go again! I hope you enjoyed the journey as well!

I will be back tomorrow to catch up on my pages. I've been doing some challenges over at Scrap Orchard and there have also been a few new releases. So, until then, find the beauty around you and take joy in it!

Digital therapy...

Hello! I have three layouts to share with you tonight. I'm trying hard not to get all backed up again! LOL

For this first one, I used an adorable kit by Ellie Lash called "Organic", and also the Add-on. When I first saw this kit, I thought it was totally cute, but was disappointed because we don't have a garden, we don't shop at the Farmer's Market or visit U-Pick farms, so I didn't think I was going to get to use it... But then, when Charles and I were redoing the front yard, Zach spotted a packet of carrot seeds that he just had to have! And hey! If he wants to eat fresh grown veggies, am I really gonna say no? LOL!
So, Charles and Zach spent the better part of a Saturday working together to build a special planter, just for Zachy's carrots. Then they filled it with soil and planted their carrots. I was proud to see how hard Zach was working right along his Daddy. It was precious. And, of course, I took WAY too many pics! hehe But I do LOVE the page I made to remember this special day. First, here is the kit:

And here is my page:

Oh! I also used some awesome new CU products by That Girls Designs. I used "Stripes 1" and "Scalloped Frames". She's just getting started on her CU stash and I am SO excited to see what else she's got!


I have been wanting to scrap the photos in this next layout since I took them last November. That would be when I turned 38 and was not oh, so thrilled about it. lol But Mom didn't want my day to go by unnoticed, so she set out to make me a very special cake. :D She had just bought the pan and had never used it yet, so it was pretty experimental. hehe. When it was done, she was NOT very happy about it's appearance, but I loved it. Loooking at it made me smile, and it tasted wonderful, but most importantly, my Mom had set out to do something special just for me, and I truly treasure that.
For this page I used "I *Heart* You" by Project B Designs. Of course, I LOVE this kit! How could I not?? Look at all that pink! And I LOVE gerbera daisies!

And here is my page:



Alright, one last one. I just finished this one tonight and I'm very happy with how it turned out. I'm not very good with the graphic style of scrapping, but I really wanted to try it on this layout. I took this photo of Tyler on Mother's Day, and he doesn't like it. He told me, "If I had known you were going to use that one I would've posed nicer." The thing is... this is how Tyler looks most of the time lately. The fact that he's 18 has sunk in and he's kind'a taking advantage of his new found freedom. Unfortunately, I don't agree with a lot of his choices and sometimes I truly fear for him. I think we are both going through a learning stage right now. He is testing his boundaries, and I am having to learn to let go and let him make his own mistakes, praying that he's learning from them. I feel like he's forgotten who he was raised to be, who God plans for him to be. And I think he feels like I'm trying to control and smother him. Anyway, this page was a little therapeutic for me, but I will continue to pray for him, through this faze and until the day I breath no more.
Here is my page:

This was kind of a hodge-podge page. I used bits and pieces from so many different kits:
Black BG Paper - 'Serenity' by Brandy Designs.
Lined BG & Key - 'Interludes' by Bon Scrapatit.
Photo Mask - 'Re-Create Add-on' by Createwings Designs.
Screws - 'Love My Boys' by Creations By Rachael.
Mesh - 'Autumn Hues' by Creations By Rachael.
Stitched Border - 'Messy Machine Stitched Borders' by Brandy Designs.
Ink Splatter - 'Canvas' by Brusheezy.
Paint Mask - 'Feeling Froggy' by Creations By Rachael.
Leaves - 'Dont' Eat The Daisies' by Alexis Designs.
String Wrap - 'The Best Ships Are Friendships' by Alexis Designs.
Heart, Flowers & Ribbon - 'Romantic Blues' by Alexis Designs.
Fonts - Pegsanna HMK, Trashed, St. Nicholas, Sketch Rockwell, Rockwell Extra Bold, Repress Capitals Heavy, the Blue Cabin, Trajan Pro, the King & Queen font, Sandals, Sea Dreams, Turtle Club, Ring O Fire.

Thanks for visiting! I hope you are healthy and happy! Be blessed today!