As the Years Go By

Easter is almost here again, and all of the world seems to be teeming with new life. Here in Western Washington hundreds of acres are a kaleidoscope of colors with tens of thousands of tulips in bloom. Every year since my girls were knee-high, we've had a tradition of kissing a particular stone frog at one of the tulip gardens. After looking through the photos this year, I went through some of the photos of springs-gone-by watching the girls grow up before my eyes. This layout features two sets of spring photos seven years apart, capturing the little moments as the years go by.

"Tradition" layout supplies:

Glitz Design "77" papers: Feather, Kaleidoscope, Bits & Pieces

Glitz Design "77" 6x6 paper pad

Glitz Design "77" Titles & Accents sticker sheet

Glitz Design "Carpe Diem" Alphabets & Words sticker sheet

Glitz Design "77" Giant Rhinestones

Glitz Design "Carpe Diem" washi tape - mint chain

Glitz Design "Hello Friend" Crepe Trim

other: card stock, vellum, calligraphy pen and ink, gray ribbon, mini clothes pin

Prince Charming

One of the things I love about the chalkboard trend is the creative beauty in hand lettering. I am not especially talented at hand lettering, so I am very thankful to have some beautiful chalk design work already done for me. White embossing powder shows up beautifully against the blackboard background, for an added "chalky" look. 

I thought this trend would be fun to show off these silly photos we took of my husband and I at this year's Tulip Festival. I added lots of hearts and arrows pointing to my Prince Charming, just to be sure he wouldn't be missed!

"Kissing Frogs" Supplies:
Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" papers: Stripe, Bits & Pieces
Glitz Designs "Color Me Happy" paper: Hearts
Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" 8x8 paper pad
Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" 6x6 paper pad
Glitz Designs "Color Me Happy" 6x6 paper pad
Glitz Designs "Color Me Happy" Cardstock Journaling stickers
Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" washi tape - anchors
Glitz Designs "Hello Friend" washi tape - coral polka
Glitz Designs "Uncharted Waters" rubber stamps
Glitz Designs "Love You Madly" rubber stamps
other: white embossing powder (Stampin' Up), wood arrow (Studio Calico), VersaMark ink, heat gun, card stock, sequins (Cartwright), typewriter

Insta-Update

True to the pattern of life in the spring, things are busy around the house with Church, home schooling, enjoying the spring flowers and wondering at the common wonders of life. However, we're also preparing to send Stan out on his ninth Navy deployment in just a few days. We were able to head out of town for a last minute trip to spend a little family time before he heads out for the next six months. 

Since I'm terribly behind on editing the photos from my "big camera" I'll post a litany of Instagram shots from our last couple of weeks.  

I am one lucky girl.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Our first stop on our trip was a few quiet days in Mt. Angel, Oregon. We stayed at the Monastery, visited St. Mary's for Mass and the Mt. Angel Abbey & Seminary.

St. Mary's Parish 
Mt. Angel, OR

Our Lady of the Angels Monastery

Our tour guide and friend, Brother Leonel

Mt. Angel Abbey & Seminary 

I enjoyed paroosing the library at the seminary. It was one of the places my dad had wanted to visit for years. Walking through three stories of books was a flood of thoughts and emotions. I especially enjoyed the several shelves of Chesterton books I found.

The redwood in front of the Monastery.

At the foot of the redwood tree.

Silver Falls

The girlies walking behind the waterfall

On the road again

Beach camping in sunny Southern California

Journaling our trip

Excuse me, I mustache you a question...

Shave it for later.

Chesterton on the beach

Campfire dinners

Castles in the sand

He is pretty amazing

San Juan Capistrano Mission

Lunch in a train car

Home Sweet Home

Came home to our rhodie in full bloom

"THE fact is that purification and austerity are even more necessary for the appreciation of life and laughter than for anything else. To let no bird fly past unnoticed, to spell patiently the stones and weeds, to have the mind a storehouse of sunsets, requires a discipline in pleasure and an education in gratitude." -G.K. Chesterton, Twelve Types