“Camping at Lake Reidsville”

• This layout was quick and easy because I used the text from this post.
• Bella Blvd Finally Fall collection – pattern papers and stickers
• Lily Bee ABC stickers
• Bazzill cardstock and brads

“Happy Fall Ya’ll”

• I finally scrapped these camping photos from 2010.  Journaling reads: It was too cold and raining so we packed up and came home after one night at Jordan Lake.  But the good news…Mike was able to park the trailer five minutes which is 1/10 of the time it took the previous try. 
• Bella Blvd Finally Fall collection – pattern papers and stickers
• American Crafts white cardstock and brads

“Fancy Gap”

• Journaling from this post.
• Bella Blvd Finally Fall collection – pattern papers and stickers
• K&Co heart sticker
• Bazzill cardstock and brads

“Devil’s Den”

• Bo Bunny Forever Fall collection – pattern papers, rubons, stickers
• Bo Bunny Dot paper too.
• Journaling:  While camping in Fancy Gap, we (including Dino) spent a beautiful, sunny afternoon visiting Devil’s Den Nature Preserve.  The fall leaves were beautiful, but this made walking the trails tricky because the leaves covered the paths.  The caves, a 600 million year old cave formed on the side of a mountain, were a beautiful sight to see.  We all want to back to Devil’s Den when the leaves aren’t covering the trails.

Thanks for taking a peek.

That’s okay.  We had a great time.

We (all four of us) started by taking a ride on the Skyride.  It was a nice flight over the park where we could watch the animals.

Next, we (yes me included) rode the Stanley Fall log flume ride at least four times.  The boys rode it alone an additional two more time.  This was my favorite ride.

We (yes me included rode the Tanganyika Tidal Wave twice.  The boys rode it alone four more times because there was no line at all.  I only rode it twice because this is one of those rides in which you get drenched……and I am not a huge fan of wet clothes and shoes.   This was Andrew and Nathan’s favorite ride.

The boys (including Dad) took a quick trip on the Jungle Flyers while I stood below and watched the monkeys.  I just now realized that Dad exceeded the age/height limit.  But Andrew just informed me that he was ‘this’ close to exceeding the weight limit.

It was feeding time for the monkeys and they were just so darn cute.  And then it was potty time for the monkey.  HaHa!  The monkeys were my favorite.

I hadn’t been to Busch Gardens in over 20 years.  It has changed quite a bit since then.   The animals are the same, but different.  The rides have been tweaked…

Here are some photos from way back when…

I looked for these birds because I wanted a similar photo of my boys like this.  But I did not find them.  Me and my Grandma Austin.

The Anheiser Busch beer tent is not there. And I didn’t see any fake or real clydesdales.

We did see elephants and watched them  perform tricks.  But no elephant rides any more.

What a nice way to spend the day!

The boys love just hanging out at their house.

The live on a lake and these ‘Michigan’ birds (what are they called Janice?) were all over the lake.  They are so pretty!

Andrew got a new air soft gun and Granny Janice (Granice) was helping Andrew shot at targets.  They shot at bread in the lake,at a target nailed to a tree, and to a can in the yard.  Andrew is no marksman, but it was his first time.

The boys don’t need fancy toys.  All they need is a wheelchair for hours of fun in the driveway and street.

And sometimes they just needed to relax……in the hot tub.  Ha!

We ate at my favorite place…Sonny’s.

We ate at a Japanese Steakhouse.  Yum!

We drew straws over who got to sleep with the snoring Grandpa.  Ha!

Nathan made his own chocolate milk every day.

Granny made waffles with bacon and sausage every morning.

Dessert every night.  Cakes, pies, ice cream.  Yum.

Andrew discovered a new favorite tv show……Infested.  Gross.

Nathan and Grandpa read their Kindles together.

I relaxed in the massage chair…..which I brought home with me.

I took a trip to Brooke Pottery.  I purchase a Brooke Pottery ornament, a mug for Mike, and a Gene Gandee chip-n-dip for one.  Note:  In this photo, you can see the dishes that Mike and I got for our wedding.

I visited my childhood neighbors.  Sandy and Leeann (and family) and Shelly (and family).  I hadn’t seen Sandy in 9 years…which is way too long.  I hadn’t seen Shelly in over 15 years (maybe more)…which is also way too long.  But it was as if time had stood still.  We had the best time talking!

Our main event was going to Busch Gardens…………..with Grandpa.

Busch Gardens photos will be in my next post.

Favorite memories with my friends….

Favorite memories of the kids….

Favorite camping memories…

And our favorite new dog, Dino..

Favorite family memories….

But during the first failed photo shoot, I managed to get this really precious photo of Andrew.  I think the photo is so precoius that it deserved its own 12×12 scrapbook layout.

“You are so precious”

• My Minds Eye Lost & Found 2 collection – pattern papers, die cut title, and brads (love all the glitter on the paper and die cut).
• Journaling reads:  It’s true.  You are precious.  But, you are a little less precious when I have to pay your two dollars to pose for family photos.  Luckily, the benefit outweighed the cost and I was able to capture this precious smile.  November 2011.
• Layout created for Scrapbook.com

I totally wanted to keep this one for myself too.

And once again…….all Echo Park papers and stickers.

She better like it!

Andrew tested and graduated to purple belt.

Grammie came to our house.  We went to Sparks for lunch.  Then we took the doggies to Petsmart for photos with Santa.  Check out this cuteness!

The boys (and Dino) went to Grammie’s house Saturday to spend the night.  While the boys were away, the scrappy girls had lots of fun at play…..at Archivers.

Mike and I finished our Christmas shopping Sunday and then went to pick up the boys from Grammie’s house.  While there, we even decorated some Christmas cookies.

What a perfect weekend before Christmas!

All made with Echo Park papers – various collections.

I think she will love it!!