Boy, for someone who had no specific plans for this summer and was looking forward to crafting each and everyday in the studio.......I sure have hit the road to summer running and the last day of school is already a distant memory. And now I've fallen so far behind on my blog post it will take hours for me to catch up....but I will if you don't mind :o)
Summer started with a short visit to Aunt Sue's with

Summer Grillin'
(I know, who takes pictures of the food on the grill and then posts them to a blog....I guess I do!)
and cookie dough...more in our mouth than in the oven!

Summer also means swim practice from 7:30 to 8:30 for Andrea at Miss Perry's Monday thru Thursday and new this year, McKenna swims Monday thru Thursday right after Andrea - great exercise for both of them. I get very tired while watching them - it is a quite a workout. (I know you understand my pain and feel sorry for me.)

Summer has meant movies. You can check out our reviews on the side column. I'm tough. Reviewers have to give "thumbs up" or "thumbs down", although a few movies are good enough to earn "2 thumbs up", etc. and several movies have been just "so, so", I still accept only up or down.....I don't know why. Just my rule. So, feel free to call us if you need more information on our movie reviews. We are here to help.

And this summer meant Scott and I's trip to New York City, which is probably the only reason you are reading this post because I've left you hanging from the last two posts.......well, hold on just a little longer.......I have one more thing to tell ya.....

Summer also means working in or fixing up the studio/garage space and I am so happy and thrilled to share with you that we are done!! It is a working space again and I love it!!

I wanted to still divide the studio space from the garage space (my mom's idea :o)) with dividers, but I so didn't want to block the view I have out my large screen door when the garage is open. So it hit me, let's find shelves! Shelves provide more storage (can't ever have enough of that) and these could be arrange the way we wanted them.

So Scott started with this:

and it looks like this:

We also added one more row of carpet

and a pretty new sewing machine that I have had a hankerin' for for about the last 6 months!
It sure is pretty and runs so quietly! Can't believe it!


Alrighty then, I could blog about McKenna's first visit this past weekend to meet Donna Downey, or I could blog about today being Scott and I's nineteenth wedding anniversary, but I won't....

we are off to dinner to celebrate......

but I PROMISE, my next post will be about our New York City trip......PROMISE!!!!
A slideshow is what Kendra requested.....not sure about that??!!!

Love ya'll!!
Melle

It's {almost} summertime!!!!!

It's that glorious time of year when the girls are all done and I have just a few work days left.....school's out and let summertime begin!

(quick note: I clearly have fallen right into this "got nothin' else to do" state of mind, 'cuz I have spent hours and hours trying to redesign the blog. I've spent hours looking for photos to create a new banner and can't find them. ARGH! Frustrating. I hope I don't piddle away the rest of my summer like this.)

My grandpa liked tell the story of the first time I said grace at a table of some, apparently very important people. He would say that he was so proud when I was done, that when he sat up he "popped a button right off of his shirt".

Well, I don't remember that moment that way, I was scared to death and certainly don't remember any flying buttons!

But as a parent I can relate to feeling so very, very proud of her young-ins this week that I could just burst!

Our high school only invites underclassmen to awards ceremonies if they are receiving an award...fortunately this is Andrea's second year of high school and her second award. Last year she received an award from her science teacher. This year, an award from her art teacher! Scott had to work, but he was quick to text back "fixed, rigged" when I texted him the news! :0) teehee.

(Sorry, this pic was taken on my cell phone, but I like the blur....sort of expresses the excitement in the room.)

Grandma and Grandpa could be there and we are grateful.
That was Monday night.
Thursday was McKenna's awards, of which every student gets something, but oh my little one; she got some biggies...

Citizenship all year; A/B Honor Roll all year; Principal's List all year and Perfect Attendance!

Watch out, buttons might fly!

Grandpa had to work this time, but daddy could be there and we are grateful.

However, the girls weren't quite done with their accolades; Andrea won a candy bar wrapper design contest and came home with a gift card for $15 to our local ice cream store. McKenna comes home with not one but two letters. The first one is inviting her to participate in a new Video Production Club and her second letter was from the Rotary Club letting her know that they have awarded her with a $50 savings bond for her Principal's List and Perfect Attendance!
And finally, on Florida's FCAT testing, we know Andrea received a 5 in writing (6 is the highest possible score) and we are still very anxiously waiting for Andrea's reading and math scores. In the meantime, we do know that McKenna received a 4 in Reading and a 5 in math. (5 is the highest possible score.)

On the last day, McKenna took one final gift to her classroom teacher Mrs. Rohn and one to her aftercare teacher, who was phenomenal, Mrs. Spencer. We filled a summer beach pale with sunscreen, flip-flops, a magazine, a cool new cup to drink from, some favorite candy and a Beach Boys CD. I thought they turned out cute.

And so, on this long Memorial weekend, I have crafted some, slept some and blogged some. We swim tomorrow and hopefully begin to look like a Floridian instead of an Eskimo with my white skin!
Have a wonderful Holiday everyone.
And here's to one wonderful summer with you!!!!!!!
Love Melle