Wide Open Spaces.

Griffin received this super cool airplane from our sweet neighbors for his birthday.


We decided to take a little drive down to the farm fields on our road to give it a try.


Griffin and Mike had such a ball flying the airplane together.


Griffin got the hang of it pretty quickly!


It was certainly great fun to have a wide open space to fly the airplane!


Thank you Andy, Shelby and Caden for a great toy the boys could enjoy together!

Fun Friday Give-A-Way!

I have a fun little paper piecing give-a-way over on my Facebook page ...


If intereste CLICK HERE to see how you could possibly win it.

Just Finished ...

This is a custom order I just finished up for a customer ...


It makes my heart do a little happy dance just thinking about how my paper piecings will be used.

The Birthday Party!

We celebrated Griffin's 6th Birthday at our local YMCA with a heated pool party!

We were having so much fun I only got a few pictures of this fabulous event.


The party snacks table ...


He wanted an airplane themed birthday party ... is that a surprise to anyone?

The bakery had this cute landing strip cake with an airplane with Elmo in it. I ordered the cake and asked them to leave Elmo off and we added two airplanes to it.


When your birthday is in February sometimes it's hard to figure out a good venue for a party. Last year his birthday party was actually snowed out. This year I wanted to have his party as local as possible just in case of snow. It was actually a pretty warm day (50s) and the heated pool was a fantastic choice!


After swimming the first hour we then headed to the party room for cake, snacks, a craft and finally a game.


Griffin enjoyed celebrating this day with about 20 of his friends. Thank you everyone for coming and making it a very special day for Griffin!

Spiro Art!

When I was growing up I had a toy called a Spirograph and I loved it!

Imagine my surprise when I discovered something similar at a CVS for only $10! I knew Griffin would love it. And I was right!


It's a neat little battery operated machine that spins around.


As it spins around you squirt drops of paint onto the paper placed inside.


Once you have added all the paint you want to ... you take the top of to discover a one-of-a-kind piece of art!


This is just a few of Griffins awesome creations ... I want to frame a few of them and put them in a collage on the wall.


Yes ... I think he has a little bit of Picasso in him. =)

Happy 50th Birthday Bonnie!

Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law and best friend Bonnie!


Today she turns 50 years young ... she is an amazing person, woman, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister and best friend!

We hope you enjoy your day and it's the BEST birthday ever!

We love you Bonnie!

Mike, Missy and Griffin

Famous American Day ...

It is "Famous American Day" at Griffin's school today ... check out the video to find out who he is.



Yeah, yeah ... I realize Abraham Lincoln did not have a mustache ... but it's the only way I could make the handheld whiskers work.

Super Star Of The Week.

Each week in Griffin's kindergarten class a student is selected to be "Super Star of the Week".

At home we completed a Super Star Profile and then sent in a picture to be share with his class. His teacher attached the picture along with the "Star of the Week" certificate to the poster. Then the teachers and children in the class write something nice about them.


Griffin was thrilled when he was chosen to be the "Star of the Week".

This is his profile interview answers:

My full name is: Grifffin Michael

My birthday is: February 7

I am 5 years old

I like to do the following things at school: Play at recess, the centers, work stations, take rest and quite time

I like to do the following things for fun: Play with my trains, jump on my trampoline, build something cool with Legos

I am goo at building things with Legos

When I grow up, I would like to be a train engineer.

He was very proud of the poster he brought home and it now hangs proudly on our dining room door.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Bett (Grandma) was here with us for a few days ...


Here she is with Griffin sharing the Valentines they made for each other!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Feeling Crafty: Airplane Birthday!

I've been pretty busy lately with custom orders ... but this weekend I actually made something for US!

I had to take cupcakes to Griffin's school on Monday for his birthday celebration during lunch time.

He said he wanted "airplane cupcakes" so this is what I came up with ...


I cut 2" airplanes out of primary colored cardstock and glued on a little punchie star. I attached them to a toothpick and voila ... cupcake toppers!

They were quick and easy to make.

On Sunday I made this for Griffin's birthday party ...


It took a bit longer {about 2 hours} to cut everything out. I inked the airplanes and clouds for a little added dimension. Then I chalked the clouds using a little bit of blue chalk.

I plan to make matching goody bags as well. And I'm trying to come up with a neat little "Pin the Airplane on the Cloud" game as well. I'll let you know if I get it accomplished.

Smithsonian: Museum Of Natural History

On Saturday we drove to Washington, DC to visit the Smithsonian Institute Museum of Natural History ... in other words ... the dinosaur museum!

This museum is filled with everything Griffin loves ... dinosaurs, bones, bugs, rock and sealife. So this is the special place we thought of to take him for his birthday.

I am convinced Griffin will be a forensic scientist, paleontologist or archaeologist when he grows up. He loves bones that much.

I took lots and lots and LOTS of pictures. I'll share of few of them here.


Upon entering the museum you see this huge handmade stone wheel.


Wow ... look at that huge dinosaur!


They have a large selection of dinosaur bones in the exhibit.


Just had to share this gorgeous rock ... I can't remember what it's called but it was SO pretty.


Daddy and Griffin comparing their head sizes to the dinosaur's.


He loved this exhibit filled with mammals.


And even more bones ... this time fish.


Daddy poins out the bug that looks like a leaf.


We went into the hands-on butterfly exhibit


I'm pretty sure this is a world famous view from the musuem.


Well ... looky there ... it's a picture of Mommy and Griffin. Proof that I was there too.


We took a rest while we waited for the IMAX movie to start ... we saw Dinosaurs!


And one final picture of Griffin with a smaller dinosaur.

We chose a great day to visit. It was very rainy and very cold so there was not a huge crowd at the museum.

It was an absolute wonderful time!

It Was A GREAT Day!

Griffin's birthday was celebrated in style yesterday ...


We took chocolate/chocolate cupcakes to school to share with his classmates.

He enjoyed a nice lunch from Hardee's.

I was guest reader at school so I took a balloon bouquet to him at school.

He came home and discovered all of his presents and a mini birthday cake.

Griffin, Daddy and I had yummy stuffed shells (lasagna) for dinner and then he blew out the candles on his cake.

Daddy and he had fun putting together his new Polar Express train.

Then off to bed he went.

We will have his birthday party with all of his friends on Saturday ... he's looking forward to that!

It was a GREAT 6th birthday!

Happy 6th Birthday Griffin!

Today he turns 6 ... wow ... our sweet little boy is growing up fast!

This past year has been an amazing journey. You experienced many things, many of them for the first time. Today I will share of those wonderful memories right here. Because it's YOUR day sweet Griffin ... Happy Birthday!

Giggly
Really Cute!
Inventive
Fun
Full of life
Inspirational
Nimble

{is}

Artistic
Magnificent
Athletic
Zany
Intelligent
Nice
Gifted



Let's start this birthday celebration off with a sweet picture of you enjoying a beautiful spring day. You ran outside in your pajamas to play with your bright yellow balloon. Yellow was your favorite color then. Now it's orange. =)


We went to the Richmond Zoo many times this year. This was the first time you fed the birds and you LOVED it!


Another first for you ... you cut your own hair. Of course I can't say I was happy about this and I still can't believe you did it! Especially since it was the day before your preschool pictures were going to be taken. We can laugh about it now, can't we?


You love coloring Easter eggs! We got together with the Hall family to do our Easter egg coloring this past year and you had such a good time.


You love spending time with Daddy and your best buddy Sam. Getting on the buggy and riding in the woods is one of your favorite things to do.


Ahhhh spring time ... we sure did look forward to spring after experiencing a very, very snowy winter. You love running through the flowers in your bare feet.


You and Mommy enjoyed Mother's Night at your preschool. It was so much fun to do this with you.


We went to George Washington's house in Washington, DC. You enjoyed exploring the grounds, seeing the animals, riding the tour boat and spending time with your family.


We went to Florida over the summer. You picked blueberries with Grandma for the first time. You had so much fun filling up your bucket and then taking them to Grandma's house to eat them.


Yum, Yum! Watermelon! We had a family BBQ and you had so much fun with everyone!


We took you on your first "real" boat ride in Tony's boat. We went on the Chain of Lakes in Winter Haven. You got to see fish, turtles and lots of birds.


What can I say? You LOVE orca whales. They are your favorite animal. When in Florida we picked up this giant orca whale you can ride on. You and Pop enjoyed some pool time together.


Another fun adventure while we were in Florida was visiting Anna Maria Island. You loved going to the beach. This is the first time you've ever been to the beach in the summer. It was the "warm" beach just like you like it!


The boys of summer ... you ate alligator for the first time withe Daddy at Cherry Pocket. You enjoyed it very, very much. We also saw lots of alligators in the wild while eating there.


We enjoyed being outdoors alot this summer. You want to be outside all the time. I think you would live outside if you could. =)


July brought us T-Ball ... your first time playing. You enjoyed learning the sport, playing with old & new friends and earning your trophy. You asked me each time we went if it was trophy night. When you finally earned your trophy you were very excited!


We had a nice time at Lake Anna with our friends. You and Sam enjoyed eating your ice cream right there in the lake.


Honestly, this picture fits you to a T. Outside, barefoot, swinging and eating a popsicle. You LOVE to swing and you are very good at it!


We went to Busch Gardens Virginia for the first time with our friends Darius and Keiha. You are such a dare devil! You wanted to ride all of the scary rides.


We went apple picking on Carter Mountain. How cool is it that you can pick your own snacks. You LOVE apples!


Your first day of kindergarten! You look soooo grown up. Mommy & Grandma took you to school and you road the bus home from school all by yourself for the first time. I was so proud of you!


You are the coolest kid I know ... and now we have the picture to prove it!


You are totally into Transformers. For Halloween you wanted to be your favorite Transformer, Bumblebee. You were adorable!


Fall was upon us ... you LOVE playing in the leaves. We would build a big pile of leaves and you would jump right in.


Homework time ... each week you have several pages of homework to complete. You always give it your best and do a good job at completing it.


We went camping for the first time ... in our backyard! We set up the tent, cooked hamburgers & hotdogs over the fire and made s'mores. We were just getting read for the first "real" camping trip with our friends the Halls.


Your kindergarten pumpkin patch trip to Hanover Vegetable Farm was so much fun! I think you chose the biggest pumpkin in the patch.


After our first "real" camping trip we visited the neighboring Natural Bridge Safari park for the first time. You and the other kids (and Carol & Alan) jumped in the back of Daddy's truck to feed the animals.


It was pumpkin carving time ... something you and Daddy always do together.


I believe this was the highlight of your year! You got to go up in the airplane with Daddy for the first time. You had so, so, so much fun!


We took our first train ride (though not on this train) on Amtrak all the way to Florida. You loved every single 20+ hours of it ... twice!


Well looky here ... you lost your first tooth!


Snow sledding in our backyard is one of your favorite things to do. This year you could do it all by yourself.


We had a beautiful Christmas and Grandma was able to be here with us!


Daddy + Mommy + Griffin = Our Wonderful Little Family


Green Eggs & Ham is your favorite movie to watch and book to read. One night you asked Mommy to make green eggs and ham for dinner, so I did!

We have so many beautiful memories and though every single one of them isn't captured on film, they will remain in my heart forever!

Happy Birthday little man ... we love you!

Mommy & Daddy