the.amanda.sewell

A group of us chatters that h ang out on Splitcoaststamp ers web site, decided to get together and meet in El Paso at Jody's house. It was a lot of fun. I think it was something that we all needed and that we proved that you are never too old for slumber parties. I got to meet Jody (texasjodylynn), Karen (gamblemom), Beth (TMDmom), Kristin (wasatch wizard), Nicki (up4stampin2), Nette (nettefrawl), Kim (mamaof3insd), Tracy(kid305) and Cyndi (cpw3431). Our weekend included: arriving and getting spoiled by Jody, car troubles (what trip is complete without some), lunching at Olive Garden, a trip to Juarez, Mexico - complete with an authentic mexican margarita (haha), goofing around, playing bunko - (and winning awesome prizes that Jody had gathered and put together-WOW), doing a bunch of shoebox swaps (gotta have stamping in there), goofing around, making bracelets (YAY Nette), eating lots of yummy food(Tracy has the best recipes ever), swimming in Jody's pool, shopping at...

Yes it did! I really really love the result though, but holy effort batman. I really really hope that Jody likes it as much as I do. (Thanks for the photo Jody). I was inspired by a magazine to create this photo holder using plaster of paris and a paintcan. Basically, you take your wire and twist it into shapes to hold the photos, (swirly triangles, circles, squares). Next you bend the non shaped ends into an "L" shape. The "L" is fairly small and keeps the wire post from being pulled out of the plaster. After you have finished, you place the wires, "L" down, into the paintcan and pour in your pre-mixed plaster. You have to monitor as it dries to get the right placement of all the wires. Once the plaster is dry, you can decorate the can. I used fun scrapbook paper and ribbons. I also cut up some cardstock and crimped it and rolled it into little swirls to cover the plaster and look like soil. Oh, and the top flowers are done with magnets and bra...

For this year, we just decided to relax at home and do nothing during the day. I made a jello cake which was totally yummy. After we ate dinner, we decided it would be fun to go see some fireworks, so we looked online and found some displays close to us. We drove until we got close to one and all the streets were blocked off, so we parked and walked up to watch the fireworks. They started before we got to our destination though, so we ended up stopping in an apartment complex and watching them. I think E and J were okay but not totally impressed. Next year I want to get closer so it will be loud and they can really experience fireworks. Anyway, we had a good time. My kids looked darling too!!! Happy Independence USA!!!

We decided that this year, since I have just returned from Canada, we would have a Canada Day party for J. We made him Canadian flag cupcakes and he has a Canada Day T-shirt, and it turned out pretty cute. I cannot believe my little baby is two years old. It is crazy how fast time flies. J had fun. He was not afraid of the candle on the cake. He enjoyed being sung Happy Birthday to (E even sang) and he loved his cake and made quite a mess (although not as messy as his first birthday thank goodness). J is typically always so serious, so it was funny to me when I looked at the pictures that there were very few with smiles. Even on his birthday he is a Mr. Seriouspants. Too funny! After cake J opened his presents. He got two superhero characters, a train track and train for little people, and Mr. Potato head and an extra accessory pack. We also got E a Mrs. Potato head and accessory pack so they could play together. I think it was a good memory for J. I know I will never fo...

I knew on the way out we had passed Stampin' Up!'s original headquarters, so this time on the way back through, when we drove by it, I decided to stop and take a picture, just so I have one. *smiles* Such a cute little place out in the middle of nowhere.

Today I went to the zoo with Rob Johnston, a friend from SUU . It was super tiring and kind of warm, but pretty fun. We had lunch there, and J ate fries and made a total mess of himself and then fell asleep in the stroller, fries in hand. E and J seemed to like the zoo. E made me laugh sometimes because she seemed too grown up for the zoo and bored. She is such a little princess. I really enjoyed the Lorikeets -- they were so gorgeous. I was impressed. I think it was funny to see Rob interact with my kids and "have kids" because he is so not used to them at all. He would get all freaked out if they were messy and such, stuff that I gave up on long ago. Very amusing. I think our favorite parts were the Elephants, and the little elephant museum, where we wasted a quarter on watching this hysterical elephant dance thing . . . way too weird. The elephants were out and about and walking around and the kids could really get a good look at them. Also, they actually knew what that a...

Today I planned to hang out with Dorinda, and she suggested going to Seaside Beach. So, E, J and I picked her up, and her two sweet girls (Maddie and Rebecca), and we headed to the beach. Although our time there was limited, we managed to stop and get salt water taffy, go on a carousel, shop in some stores, and walk along the beach for a bit. Dorinda got keychains that said Seaside on them for E, J and I to remember our time. On the beach Maddie caught some sand crabs and showed them to the kids. It was really neat. Oh, and on the way back, I got to try an elephant ear that Dorinda got. It was yummy! All in all we had a great day! Dorinda is such a great listener and pseudo mom to me. The drive to and from the beach were probably one of my favorite parts of our time hanging out together. I am so thankful for Splitcoaststampers and the friendships that I have made through the site. Dorinda is just an example of one the amazing friends I have made. We had such a fun time together.