Jen & Nick's Ceremony

I had the opportunity to photograph my friend Jen & Nick's wedding ceremony in the chapel at our church. It was a nice ceremony with just family and friends attending. Congrats Jen & Nick!!!

Scrapbook Retreat Weekend

Wow! What a great place Cornerstone Memories Retreat House is! I met up with my friend Celia to scrapbook all weekend here and met some wonderful ladies, they had great food, snacks and nice accomodations! I actually got 12 layouts completed in 2 days, and I got caught up on scrapping our trip to Key West!

When I did go to sleep, late into the wee hours of the morning, I did have sweet dreams in Celia & I's room called "SWEET DREAMS" on their comfy wood & iron beds. It is decorated so quaint and cozy that you really don't want to leave! The radiators keep it warm and they even give you chenile footies to keep your feet warm!

I would recommend this place up in Tipton, Indiana for anyone who wants to get away for the weekend and catch up on their craft, being scrapbooking, quilting or whatever! We met a lady who brought her quilt and hand stitched the whole weekend. I bet her hand was aching after that!!! Good thing she got her massage, and they also offer manicure services as well! - I will definitely return to this restful place!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was very special this year. The kids came up with a great idea for me to put wrapping paper up in the doorway to the Living Room where our Christmas Tree is and they could run through it on Christmas Morning! It was fun! We had a nice dinner celebration with my Dad, a blast at Mark's family Christmas Celebration in Cincinnati, then at Grandma Betty's New Condo, and here at our home on Christmas Day! You can Click Here to view all of our Christmas Photos! and you have to log into Walgreens Photo Gallery.

We Wish you a Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!

Happy Anniversay to Mom & Dad!

Make a scrapbook - it's easy!

THANKSGIVING Celebration with Family

We spent a great Thanksgiving over at Mark's parents' new home in Cinci. The turkey was wonderful, of course... but it's always best to spend time with Family. We stayed the night and then had my family over on Saturday after Thanksgiving... I GIVE THANKS For my families!

{ A }

I love going to view Ali Edwards Blog! It gives me so much inspiration! I want to figure out how to put quotes on my page and save them so I have records of them and can use them from time to time in my scrapbooks!

Here is here site: { A } she has this quote today 11/18/07 Miles Davis : "I 'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning. Every day I find something creative to do with my life."

Waymo Is Back! He's a Little Confused...

He thinks he is the Wolf attacking Little Dead Riding Hood! Zac was the Alien "WAYMO" and Rachel was "Little DEAD Riding Hood" for Halloween this year. We got the idea for her costume from FrightCatalog.com and we found stuff around the house and only bought a few things to make up her costume. Zac just recycled his costumes! He is good at that. They enjoyed trick or treating with the neighborhood group of kids and ended up with TONS of candy.

Greenway Giddy Up

Friday (10/12/07) - We got there around 6:30 to the Greenway Giddy-Up and tried to set up camp before it got too dark. It was freezing so we made a fire and sat and enjoyed some marshmallows and pizzas cooked over the fire with Linda’s Griller for the fire…that thing is awesome! We are camped right behind the main tent and it should be interesting being able to see all the action like a front row seat! They had a movie tonight for the kids “BLACK BEAUTY”. The girls watched some of it but got board, so we sat around the fire and had good conversation looking at all the stars in the sky, until it was time for bed. We sacked out around 11pm and it was so cold (below 40 degrees), But the morning came and brought us warmth!
Saturday (10/13/07) - We got up and the fire was still smoldering so it was easy to start. Linda and I had a leisurely awakening and went to get coffee in the tent, so we didn’t have to make coffee. The day warmed up quite nicely and was approaching 70 degrees. The sun came out and the clouds were few. The girls played in the straw pile with a couple of other kids and played the bean toss game. They also found some hula-hoops and played the game where you hold hands and try to bring the hula-hoop through without letting go.
We went to the Iddy-Bitty Giddy Up where they have small pony rides and carriage rides so Emily got to experience a horse for the first time! Rachel actually got to drive the carriage for a short while and it was fun! Linda and I made Grilled Cheese over the fire for lunch before we were off for our ride on the trail for our reservations at 1pm. It was a great experience to just ride a trail with a guide and see the reservoir with the surroundings and take it all in! Tracey was in front, but behind our guide, so couldn’t see the people behind, then a man, Linda, then the man’s wife, then Rachel & Emily, trailing behind them was the other guide. It was about an hour ride as Tracey rode a horse called ARTI, Rachel rode PATIENCE, Emily rode SNIP and Linda rode a horse named Mr. Chubby. They were all nice horses and very pretty!
We headed back to camp and relaxed a bit, when a man approached with a beautiful horse named CHAMPION. So Tracey had to pet him and the man offered her a ride in our area. She got up on the horse, like she knew what she was doing…HAA! Well, the horse wanted to go flirt with the other horses by the campsite so he didn’t go far…which was fine with her! Later that day a girl got hurt as she rode a horse who went out of control and she fell off and hit her head on a truck tire! Tracey saw part of it until she couldn’t see the rider anymore because of a trailer blocking her view. So, Rachel and Tracey ran over to see what happened to the girl. The Paramedics came and later we found out she was going to be ok, THANK GOODNESS!!!
We met a couple that had their grandson with them. Her name was LuAnn and they had three beautiful horses. We visited with them and watched them saddle their horses. The boy’s horse was pretty and black with a white sock. Her name was LILLY. The night was a fun one…with a local Girl Scout troop coming to organize kid games. Rachel helped do the face painting and Emily assisted with the ring toss. They had cute games set up like a fair! For the ring toss they used the hula-hoops and had a blow up dolphin to try to get the rings over! They got some prizes for helping the Girl Scouts out. We enjoyed a BBQ dinner and then a singer and a band that was really great! The girls met the daughter of the people that we rented the horses from and her name was Shana. They had tons of fun with her! They jumped in the staw pile and danced around with her while the music played! We stayed up til about 11pm and the night wasn’t as cold as the night before, it was still about 50 degrees and chilly.
Sunday (10/14/07) - The girls decided they wanted to do the Scavenger Hunt with Shana (that actually went on yesterday) but just for fun! So they went around trying to find different things in nature. We met a lady named Sue as her husband rode her BLONDE horse! (She had blonde hair too!) We packed up camp and decided to venture back home around 1:00. We made it back to Linda’s home a little after 2pm and home finally around 2:30. All In All, we would definitely go back again. Great People and Great FUN! Zac had a Baseball game and they played Arcadia’s team- The Huskies and led most of the first part of the game until they lost by 2 points in the end. Booooooo!

Jason's Baptism

Jason's Baptism was today...we had a long drive and had to get up early but so worth it to see his smiles! Mark was the godfather and we got to have a quick visit with his family. I wish we could have stayed longer but Zac had an early baseball game (which looking back now, we probably could have missed!)...but when you are part of a team you can't let them down!

We went to mass and then the baptism was afterward, so it was LONG...but he was so cute in his little white suit and Mark held him afterwards and he was falling asleep.

He was such a good baby and I got to feed him after we got back to their house. What a cute baby BOY! It was good to visit with everyone but we had to head home and a lot of driving today (about 5 hours in the car, add that to yesterday when we had to drive to the south-side and DJ...that's a long weekend!)

I did enjoy watching Zac's game even though it was another loss. I love watching these boys play baseball because after so many years I know most of them and it's just FUN! Last game they won against Parker's team so they have ONE WIN! This photo was taken tonight as Zac's team-mate came into home and scored and Zac was up to bat and he congratulated him for making a RUN!

These boys are fun to watch and they look GREAT in their uniforms!...so it doesn't matter to me if they win or lose, of course it's more fun when they win...but It's the love of the game that matters and having FUN!...so I hope Zac always remembers that and it's not always about WINNING!...but how you play the game and your attitude! -GO Longhorns!

When You're Gone...

I miss you when you're gone. Please don't stay away from me too long, k? Come home to me saftely. That's why I have to play this Avril Lavigne song "When You're Gone"...but I hope it won't be too long til I see you're face again -XOXO Love, Me

Indiana & Warren Dunes Camping

We had a wonderful time camping with our friends at Indiana Dunes and taking a short trip up to Warren Dunes! This is a family photo taken at Warren Dunes. My favorite things about the trip was spending time with Family & Friends and seeing the look on my children's faces as they play in the sand and beaches! We will definitely go again!

Happy 10th Birthday Rachel

My daughter is now in the double digits...the big 10! I can't believe it! I love ya girl and I hope you had fun at your Hawaiian Birthday Pool Party Sleepover! -Mom XO

Back to School

Well it's that time again... I love it and hate it at the same time! All those school supplies and having to go back and get more on the first day of school if you don't get everything you need! I know the kids are ready to get back on schedule but don't want to have to be alert and quiet all day long to learn...but it is necessary.

We tell our kids that it is their MAIN JOB to go to school and learn to the best of their ability. I love it because they aren't here all day driving me nuts, but I miss them while they are gone at the same time. This does allow me to get some things done without hearing MOM 50million times a day, but I guess I miss it when it's gone. They come home soon enough to start buggin me again, but I wouldn't change it for the world! When the kids go back to school I try to get a photo of them on their first day, with those new shoes and backpacks-and it is so interesting the changes that happen through the year. Dreading all those papers that come home to look over I always like to praise them when they get good grades then tell them they must try harder when they fail or the grade is not up to our standards.

As we teach our kids to keep trying, I think of my own strengths and weeknesses and that I must also KEEP TRYING...to be a better mom and to get more accomplished during the day, however I feel myself fall short most of the time. As a mother, wife, friend, teacher ...etc., there are so many things pulling me in different ways...so I strive to stay organized and keep the important things that I want to remember! Sure I love scrapping those school photos and report cards, but I also want to remember how I feel. Hence my BLOG. it is so much fun to look back on things even though I don't write everyday-I love to go back and see how I felt just a month ago and as you keep doing it when you have time-maybe go back to YEARS!

I have also started journaling when I go on trips. this is a great way to remember all the days and where you went and what you did. I often forget and the days start running into each other and I forget from day to day what we enjoyed. By journaling every day and listing what you did, you can easily go back and Scrapbook your trip with ease. I use my laptop and a WORD document to keep track of all the days!

Scrapbooking is also a way to archive your feelings and for your kids to look back and see what they've accomplished. I am hoping they appreciate it someday more than they do currently. Nobody ever did it for me as a child, and it would have been nice! Scrapbooking is a way to BLOG with visual aspects and all the fun embelishments used to make your feelings important -SO DON'T Forget to journal on your scrapbook pages. Someone in the future might not get it, unless there is a story behind it!

You can start your own BLOG on Yahoo, or http://www.blogger.com/. If you would like to read mine from time to time, it is located at: http://traceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

Kids at the Lake

My kids are too cute here when I asked them to pose for me after the parade. We hung out at the lake and they swam and played in the sand. Thanks kids for being WAY too cute in this photo :)

I love ya! -mom

Happy 4th of July

Here we are on the 4th of July taking a boat ride and going up to Cicero for fireworks. It was supposed to rain all day but didn't at all! We had a great afternoon riding and swimming in the lake. When I got off the boat I still felt like I was on the water after being on the waves all day -I was still rocking back and forth!

Rachel's Championship Game

Rachel’s team played in the Championship game last night and were Runner’s Up. They led the whole game and then we were 10-13 (the tigers were up) we had last bat and we made a couple runs making it 12-13 and then we had two outs and one of our batters was up and made a good hit-bases were loaded and they CAUGHT IT! Rachel was still happy to get a trophy, and happy that Grandma Betty came to see her play! So now we are done with baseball and softball and can take a breather!

Monkeys are Runner's Up!

In this photo (taken at the Monkey semi-final game that we won) the girls wanted to throw the cooler ice on their coaches but they were too tall. I had to help them a bit!

Nationals finally Win 2 in a row in Playoffs!

Nationals finally Won after a 0-16 record and loss to put them into the losers bracket. But Wednesday they beat the pants off the Yankees then again on Thursday they won against the Tigers! This is just our Youth Baseball Team, but after those kind of losses to hear people at the field congratulate us, it was FUN and very energizing! Sadly, they ended their two in a row winning streak against the Athletics Friday (Tonight) :(

But we were FIRED Up! Maybe it just took them longer to get their groove on. But it sure was fun while it lasted! Here is Zac getting a run in before they beat the Yankees Wednesday night. I just love watching my son play baseball WIN or LOSE!- love ya Buddy! I am so proud of you XOXO

Having Fun...

Here we are at the Vest Reception having fun with the Hawaiian Theme. They were married in Maui last month and we watched their slideshow and had some great food! We went via boat on Morse Reservour with the Day's to and from the Reception. It was a lot of Fun! The kids had fun as I jumped on the dance floor with them later :)

Jason Grant Born!

Our new baby nephew: Jason Grant

Born to Mike & Suzanne Bish
06-09-07 @ 4:01PM

Good Samaritan Hospital

07 lbs 7 oz.; 20.25 in.

Isn't he the sweetest?