Always and Forever

Hope you are all gearing up for the 4th of July holiday! Next week will be full of celebrations for this great country that we all love and care for deeply. I have some crafty Independence Day shares coming your way next week, but for now thought I would share a couple things I made my sweetie pie for our anniversary which was on May 4th. May was crazy for us and I didn't get a chance to post these. Time always gets the better of me with so much going on with the kids, house and my Etsy shop, that I often don't get to post here as often as I want to. I made a simple little card with some embossing. And played around with photo shop to make some chalkboard art (see pic at bottom). Sweet and simple, just like Pat likes things.  

Pat and I celebrated 11 years together this year. I would love to say it was all total "bliss", but that would be far from the truth! Ha! But I will say that it has been a lovely, bumpy, romantic, life learning ride and I am thankful, so thankful for God putting you in my life, Patrick. I love watching you teach our kids about the "real" stuff, the hard stuff, the GOOD stuff....what it means to work hard and enjoy the simply things in life...

Teaching them how to hang on and hug tight and never let go; not until the fight is over and God steps in for you...

Supporting things you believe in with a big heart and doing what is right - always.

Pat, you are a great dad to our kids. You are a wonderful husband. I love you forever and always...

Be blessed today blogger friends! Give your lovies hugs and kisses and let them know how much they mean to you. Life is so short - make it sweet :)

XOXO, Nik

June Card Kit at Mojo!

Hey Blog friends! Hoping you are all knee deep in summer now that a couple weeks have gone by. We finally have heat and sun here in Minnesota! The kids are enjoying it and soaking up as much bike riding, dirt digging, sprinkler running and super soaker fights as they can. Feels good to see them outside and full of energy and with little tan lines. Aaaahhhhhh.....summer.................

So glad that I carved out a little time for the Mojo card kit this month! Only had time to make two cards with this fun little kit from Kim P, but so glad I got a break from Etsy orders to just be creative on my own. Look at this summery little kit - so cute! Love that umbrella! Of course it did not make it onto one of my cards since Desi decided it was hers. That's ok - she's my girl and it has been fun seeing her put it in her glass of lemonade :)

Kim tucked in lots of little embellishments and I had fun on this card making a flower cluster with them. I added one of my own lime green flowers to complete the symmetry.

Square cards - love those for a change....

And a fall colored birthday card. Great birthday stamp Kim added to the kit; love the flourishes of the font. 

Thanks Kim for the adorable kit this month! Make sure you visit the other Mojo girls and check out their creations. Leave some lovin' if you can too **wink**

Beth - bethiejs.blogspot.com
KimP - http://www.scrappinmojo.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=218
Diane - mumblebeedesigns.blogspot.com
Terri - jazzyscrappertidbits.blogspot.com
Mary - justanotefrommary.blogspot.com
KimO - http://www.scrappinmojo.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=218
Jan - http://www.scrappinmojo.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=218
Niki - ellenaspaperhouse.blogspot.com
Stella - http://www.scrappinmojo.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=218
Joni - http://kixinlife.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stoppin' by! Next month I host the kit club! Yippee! Super excited to put together a little something for Mojo ladies. Stay tuned for July....! 

XOXO, Nik

My little loves...

Hey sweet blog friends! Hope you are all in full swing summer mode in your little corners of the world. We are trying to here in Minnesota, but our weather has not exactly been cooperating with summer activities. Chilly and in the 60s all week which is not our typical June. Today the sun is poking through and the rain clouds have disappeared so it is gonna be a sweet day.....

Much has been happening over the last couple months. My little man Cole graduated from preschool at the end of May and I am so proud of him! He looks very unsure in this picture with his "diploma" and grad cap on, but I know in my heart he is going places. Just think, in 12 years, he will be wearing this as a high school senior.... I need to soak up every minute of those big blue eyes before he grows up so big and I wonder where the time went.

He also hit a milestone birthday on May 27th. He is 5!! Not too much of a birthday party for him however. He had been sick with a nasty stomach flu in the days before his birthday, so we kept it low key and he wore his jammies all day. Hard to think he is going to kindergarten in the fall......sigh......

And my girl.... Here she is on the last day of school. She is now officially a 3rd grader.

Desi also had a birthday on May 30th, she is 8! We celebrated her birthday in honor of our little friend, Brady Nelson who is battling brain cancer. Our community hosted a fund raiser at Pizza Ranch and it happened to fall on Desi's birthday. She was given a choice as to how she wanted to spend her birthday and my heart leaped when she chose to be part of the fundraiser. She is growing into such an incredible girl with a HUGE heart for others. I love how God works through her and I am so proud to be her mama.  

 Watching these two move into the next stages of their little lives is so bittersweet. Excited for them, a little sad that they are getting so big, and of course, missing my Ellie even more....

Until next time, blessings my friends! 

XOXO,

Nik