Flying High

While visiting my parents earlier this month we decided that we wanted to take a trip to the Oregon Coast. Tom has never been! (Pathetic since we have been in Eugene 4 years now.) Our first stop was to visit the Astoria Column. It has been quite some time since I have visited it. The last time I did I didn't climb it because I got quite nauseous. (I have a fear of heights.)

I'm proud to say that I didn't get too queasy climbing up this time around! I just made sure not to look down while I was climbing the 164 steps. I didn't feel too sick hanging around on top either. Yay! The highlight of the visit was buying the little planes and throwing them off the column.

We put our names on all of our planes so we could find them once they landed. Well none of them landed where we could go and get them. I did see a couple of people searching for theirs in the bushes. We weren't that ambitious.

Tom was the first one to throw his plane. If you look closely you can see it in the picture. I believe that Tom's flew the furthest distance. The awesome part was that it stayed in the air for a couple of minutes. It was fun watching it fly here and there and everywhere!

My plane did pretty good too. It was a windy day and we used that to our advantage. It is most likely that my plane landed in a tree.

Here is my youngest sister Brittany. Brittany's plane did pretty good too.

My brother Spencer didn't really throw his. He just let the wind take it out of his hand. It didn't go as far as the others but it still wasn't retrievable.

My lovely sister-in-law Kimber. She threw her plane into the air at the same place that my brother did. Didn't go as far but she did better than he did. :)

After we threw our planes and snapped some pictures we made our way back down the column. Here is proof that my parents climbed it with us. I LOVED this visit to the Astoria Column. I will have to make sure not to let so much time go by before I visit it again.

Lunch In Astoria

Last week was one-page sketch week at Sketch Support. I made the layout in the blog post below using it. Many of the Creative Team Members take the one-page sketches and turn them into two-page layouts. I decided to give it a try with this sketch.

"Lunch in Astoria"
Supply List - Patterned Paper: DCWV; Cardstock: Wausau Paper; Ink: StazOn; Letter Stamps: Studio G; Border Punches: Fiskars

While Tom and I were in WA earlier this month we took a trip to the beach with my family. My good friend Kari told us about the Bowpicker and we thought it would be the perfect place to get some lunch. This little boat was just sitting in a parking lot in Astoria. I thought the fish and chips were delicious. It was quite the dining experience. I'm glad that I've already captured this memory on a scrapbook page.

Husband & Wife

It is one-page week over @ Sketch Support. I love this sketch and I know that I will use it again! Head over the to site to download your own copy. :)

 "Husband & Wife"

Supply List - Transparency: Making Memories; Die Cut Paper: Making Memories; Rub-on: My Mind's Eye; Letter Stickers: Making Memories; Floss: DMC; Other: Patterned Paper and Cardstock

In many ways I stuck with the overall feel of this sketch and made a few variations to fit with what I wanted.

I omitted the heart embellishments. I wanted to keep my layout simple and felt that the hearts (or any other embellishment) would be distracting.

I also didn't use the flags for my title. I did keep with the different strips of paper but used different sizes and added a portion of a die cut paper to add the lacy like scallop.

One thing I love about this layout is that I used oldies but goodies that I already had in my scrapbooking stash. Allison's sketches are a great way to use what you already have on hand!

Ad-On Sketch @ Sketch Support

I am loving this month's ad-on sketch over @ Sketch Support! It seems fitting since my birthday is at the end of this month. :) I decided to think outside the box and make a party hat! I found a template here by jones design company. They also give a nice tutorial. Here is my take:

"Party Hat"

Supply List - Patterned Paper: DCWV; Ink: ColorBox Chalk Ink; Distressing Tool: Making Memories; Pop Dots: EK Success; Party Hat Template: jones design company; Other: Staples, Glue Gun

A Zoo-rrific Anniversary

Tom and I decided to spend our anniversary at the zoo. It has been a little over a year since I have been and I think over two years since Tom has been. We had an awesome time! The weather was cooler and so many of the animals were out and about. Tom and I took our time walking through the whole zoo and snapping pictures.

The black bears are in love! They just sat there pawing each other and what looked like kissing. :)

The beavers were actually out swimming! It was our first time actually seeing them out and about. I'm sure the fact that they were just getting lunch had something to do with it.

It was awesome to watch this snake make it's way from somewhere up above down and around this branch. Snakes are amazing creatures even if they are a little scary.

He kept staring at everyone going by. Not sure if he wanted to take a bite out of us or not.

Wolves are one of my favorite animals so I always like to check them out. It was sad to find out that the last elk died of old age. The wolves now are free to run around where the elk used to be. Lucky for them though eventually this whole area will eventually be taken over by the elephants.

A highlight for Tom was getting a big bag of cotton candy. He did share with me. :)

The polar bears were getting some food too! They used their tongues to lick up the fish into their mouths. Boy do they eat a lot!

A highlight for me was that someone was willing to take a picture of the two of us. I'm actually taller than one of the bears! It is a miracle! ;)

We took a breather and sat and watched this beast. At one point he went to the surface of the water for some air and then went back down. All the kids loved it!

Tom and I ended our day together at Applebee's. We went all out with an appetizer, drinks, entrees and a dessert! Boy was I stuffed! Thanks Tom for a wonderful day and for the past six years of bliss!

The Malt Shoppe Connection

The fall of 2003 both Tom and I moved into the BYU 8th ward. He lived in Continental Apartments and I lived in Belmont Apartments. He had gotten home from his mission not long before and I was returning to school after my mission experience. We both were excited to be back at BYU. I heard about Tom right off because my roommate's brother served with Tom in Denmark. I knew who he was though we never really moved in the same circles. He was known as the "tall" one in my apartment.

May of 2004 I found myself looking for a job and was referred to The Malt Shoppe by a close friend. I knew Tom worked there because of the few visits I had made over the school year. My first night working there was when Tom and I officially met each other. I was too nervous learning to make shakes without the ice cream covering me from head to toe to pay too much attention to him. Later it turns out that he felt bad for not being very friendly my first night at The Malt Shoppe and so I received a visit from him the following Sunday and a "love note".

I had already worked at The Malt Shoppe a long time. Of course, I was also a student at BYU, so I lived in a student ward. Well, one day the general manager, Vickie, tells me someone in my ward was just hired. That was exciting, so I asked what her name was. I recognized the name Melissa Ririe but couldn't put a face to it. Hey, at least I found out she was cute.

Over the next few months, we became good friends. We could even talk to each other about her guy problems and my girl problems. She became, I would say, one of my best friends. I even took her on a date once. After working with her for almost a year, I began to be a little interested. I couldn't say anything though, because she was Melissa and that would just be weird. Well, Vickie asked me one day if I would want to know if someone liked me. I asked her if it was Melissa and I was right.

Over the next seven months or so I came to know Tom better while working at The Malt Shoppe. I walked out on his DTR with his first girlfriend, was the first one to find out about his first kiss, and was always encouraging him to date the girls he liked. He always came to me to ask for advice about girls. AT the time I was dating someone seriously so I never had interest in Tom though I would flirt with him like all the girls at work did. My roommates would always tell me that Tom and I should get married and buy The Malt Shoppe. I told them over and over again that it would never work. He was too tall, a little on the naive side, and just not my type.

The beginning of this year (2005) I went through a difficult breakup after a nine month relationship. I extended my Christmas vacation to have the support of my family and during that time Tom emailed me and encouraged me to return to Provo. The end of February I returned to Provo and started to work at The Malt Shoppe once again. It was good to see him again at work and at church. I started flirting with him once again though I had my eyes on two other boys. One night after I had worked with Tom I went home and told my roommates that I felt like I had a crush on someone though I didn't think I really did, that I just felt that way. They wouldn't believe me and so started analyzing all the guys who I could possibly like. The most logical one was Tom. I was kind of shocked. It had never entered my mind that I could like Tom. The more I thought about it over the weekend the more I thought it could be true. I decided to talk to Vickie and see what she thought. She was very encouraging and said that it would hurt to investigate my feelings for Tom.

I was busy with school at the time, so things didn't proceed too quickly until graduation. We held hands the night after commencement and kissed not two weeks later. I was a bit taller than her, so we walked to the top of some stairs at BYU overlooking Provo. It took me half and hour, but I finally gave her a quick kiss. Moments later, she gave me the best kiss I'd ever had.

The next week I think was when we hiked Provo Canyon. Altogether we hiked over 10 miles, but it was worth it. It was the best date I'd ever been on. We got stuck in a rain storm. Fortunately, there was an abandoned mine shaft across the trail where we found shelter for the next hour or so. That night, I told Melissa I loved her. That was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Not long after that, we were shopping for her wedding ring. We wanted to get a three-stone setting, but when she tried on the ring, we changed our minds. But then she knew when the ring was going to be ready. She can read me like a book, so I didn't know how to surprise her. I had her cousin Josh 'accidentally' tell her it would be ready on Thursday. Well, on May 17th Melissa and I went for a little walk in the rain about 1am. I stopped her in the middle of the street under a street lamp and started to get down on one knee. She thought I was trying to kiss her, so when I was too low she exclaimed "You missed!" So I kissed her then got down and asked Melissa to be my bride. It was the happiest moment in my life.

I was surprised when Tom got down on one knee. I just kept saying "No Way!" over and over again. Luckily he didn't take that as my answer but since I was in shock, I can't say that I remember what he said exactly. I'm not even sure if I said yes but somehow it ended with the ring on my finger and us being engaged. Now we find ourselves starting a new journey together.

It is hard to believe that Tom and I have only been married six years. The years have passed quickly by. I am very thankful for a Heavenly Father who opened my eyes to who was right in front of me all along. I'm also thankful to my friends who got me to think of Tom as more than just a friend. I'm thankful to Tom for the best six years of my life so far. I look forward to spending forever with you. Love you always and forever!

Les Miserables

I noticed on facebook a few months ago that a lady I know was going to purchase some tickets to Les Miserables and wanted to know if anyone else wanted tickets. I immediately called my mom to see what she thought. I wasn't sure if I would be able to go or not but I knew my sister, Brittany, really wanted to see it. Everything worked out so that my dad, mom, Brittany, Tom and I could go on August 4th.

I grew up listening to the music from Les Miserables. I remember the couple of times my mom went to see it in San Francisco when we lived in California. She always came home and played the music over and over again. She explained the storyline to us and so it was at a young age that I came to love Les Miserables. I read the complete book when I was in 8th grade. All 1463 pages!

I had the opportunity to see Les Miserables in the Keller Auditorium years ago though my mom thought Brittany was too young to see it. I loved it! It is one of my favorite plays.

Early on in our marriage I introduced Tom to Les Miserables. We have watched the VHS of the 10th Anniversary Concert a couple of times. Tom fell in love with the music so we have the piano music. He loves playing Castle on a Cloud, Empty Chairs at Empty Tables and Stars. I am so glad that we got to see it together.



Les Miserables this time around was AWESOME! I liked it better than the first time I saw it. It is the 25th Anniversary Production and they have made some small changes that I love. The music was fantastic! Loved the props and scenery. They had this really cool screen that they projected the background of the scenes onto. It really added to the set. In one part when the towns people were marching down the street the cast just marched in place and the picture on the screen moved making it appear as if they were walking. It was very cool.

I'm hoping that we have the opportunity to see Les Miserables again in the future. Thinking about reading the book again. I know I would understand a lot more of it now.

Two Page Week @ Sketch Support

I prefer to scrapbook two page layouts. It is a wonderful way to scrapbook more pictures and be able to cover a day or an event with just two pages. I get a lot more scrapbooked this way.

When I saw the sketch this week I was so excited! Love it! Make sure to visit Sketch Support and see all the wonderful ways the Creative Team has used this sketch. I know that I'm inspired!

I was hoping to get this assignment done before leaving town (over a week ago) but something important came up and I put off finishing it. I actually didn't finish it till last Sunday night. I had to take pictures at night so they don't look too great on the Sketch Support site, but once I got back home I took better pictures to post here.

"Soak Up the Sun"

Supply List - Patterned Paper: Echo Park, Fancy Pants Designs, American Crafts; Die Cut Sun: Little Yellow Bicycle; Letter Stickers: American Crafts; Ink: ColorBox Chalk Ink, Inkadinkado; Floss: DMC; Pop Dots: EK Success; Other: White Cardstock

Variation 1 - I added an extra line of waves since they were all about the same height.

Variation 2 - I loved the idea of the sun on the layout and thought this would be the perfect page for the die cut sun I've had in my stash for a year. I love how it turned out.

Variation 3 - I was short on pictures so decided to dedicate one of the spaces for a 3x3 photo into a place to write my journaling.

Variation 4 - I decided to add clouds to the right side of my sketch. I really struggled with what to put there instead of the big waves.

Variation 5 - I added more fish. They were just too fun and couldn't help but add a couple more.

A Card Sketch & Giveaway Winner

Thank you all for your wonderful comments! They are greatly appreciated. The winner of "Sketches for Scrapbooking One Page Sketches" is Tanya!

Tanya said...

Fantastic layout, love the way you used it. What adorable pics!

Congratulations Tanya! Email me (mellyanne@gmail.com) your shipping information and we will get your book in the mail.

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It is Card Week over on the Sketch Support website. I have loved seeing what  the creative team members have created so far with this sketch:

I believe that this is the first time I have used one of Allison's card sketches. I just don't make cards that often. I would much rather put the time into a layout. This card sketch is a fun one! I stuck with the size of the card (6"x6") and stayed with the circle theme but pretty much went my own way beyond that.

"You Make Me Oh So Very Happy"

Supply List - Patterned Paper: K&Company, Pink Paislee, Making Memories, DCWV, BoBunny, My Mind's Eye; Ink: ColorBox Chalk Ink, StazOn; Pearls: Queen & Co.; Stamp: Studio G; Pop Dots: EK Success; Other: White Cardstock

This card is an easy one to put together and I used mostly scraps from my stash. For the sun rays I cut strips of patterned paper and folded them in half. I used four different designs of patterned paper and two different sized strips.

A Week in the Life: Saturday

I am thinking that this day didn't turn out quite as I had planned. Still got most everything done I needed to get done.

I am thankful that my parents are home safely from the trek. Can't wait to talk to them tomorrow.

I am eating warm muffins right out of the oven.

I am learning to go with the flow. Sometimes you have to let things go.

I am writing a story that relates to my wedding dress.

I am creating a hamburger at our apartment BBQ.

I am going to want to scrapbook these photos of Josalyn. They are some of my favorites.

I am reading Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. All the kiddos are in bed.

I am hoping that Tom likes the anniversary card I bought him today.

I am hearing Josalyn chattering away. She is quite the talker. Too bad I have no idea what she is saying.

I am buying? The question is what should I buy and what should I not.

I am watching a show on nick jr. that I have never seen before. I'm the guy in the striped shirt and Bryce is the guy in the blue shirt.

On my facebook page you will find Frontierville requests. I guess you could say that my main reason for getting on facebook is Frontierville.

One of my favorite moments today was watching Jos loving the sprinklers. She loved feeling the mist on her face.

We did three loads of laundry today.

We ran the dishwasher.

Tom stopped at the library for me to pick up a book and movie I had on hold.

Tom also paid Safeway a visit. He actually got in trouble for taking pictures.

Pulled out my wedding dress. Still loving it!

Tons of yummy food at our apt BBQ. This is something we look forward to every summer.

I got to spend a couple of hours with just Josalyn. The neighbor girls put pigtails in her hair. She is just too cute!

Story time with Bryce before he goes to bed. I love watching the kiddos at night.

Off to bed. We have to get up earlier then normal tomorrow to make it to church by 8:30am.

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Hard to believe that Week in the Life is over! Going into this project I was afraid that my life would look too boring. But the whole point of Week in the Life is to capture the everyday moments that make up our lives. Everyday moments that make us smile, laugh, groan, complain, etc. I enjoyed this past week and I am so thankful for Tom's help. I couldn't have done it without his support. :)

My goal is to put all of these pictures into a scrapbook. Still not sure how I'm going to do it. There are lots of ideas online. I will probably do a combination of a lot of them. I'm heading out of town in a couple of days so don't expect to see any results anytime soon. When I get the scrapbook completed I will share it with you all.