{Journals}

Here's a quick post with a journal I made for myself. I use journals often---daily, really---for various things. This is one I made for thoughts and such! I wanted this to be bright and cheerful, so I chose papers from Cosmo Cricket's DeLovely line. I bought the papercrafting kit for a scrapbook I made after the wedding----

I added some felt embellishments and buttons to make me happy---it doesn't take much!

I added a Tim Holtz Philosophy tag that says Journey---I thought it fitting with all that is going on in our lives these days...here's a brief rundown---

• Caitlin got married in May
• Caitlin and Carson found out in July that she's expecting a baby---whoohoo! Can you say surprise? Of course, the Lord is not surprised--only us!
• Caitlin finished her last class at NCSU last week (YEA!) and is hoping to have a "real job" soon---until she gets one, they are moving into our home---that will be so fun to have them here---well, I'll think it's fun! I'm sure they hope Caitlin's job comes through really soon!
• Hannah graduated from High School in May
• Hannah deferred her enrollment to Davidson College for a year and  is leaving for 8 months on September 8---you can read more about it at her travel blog. She's taking a gap year and traveling/serving with Thinking Beyond Borders around the world--very cool trip----very far away from mama!
• Joshua is in 4th grade---I can do this---I have done fourth grade three times---once as a 9 year and twice with my girls---4th grade---I can handle.
• David took a new job in July---it's an amazing opportunity for him and he's really enjoying it---but it's in Winston Salem---nearly two hours away, so he's staying there during the week and coming home on the weekends for now--not crazy about this part of the job, but we do what we have to do!
• We are preparing our home for the Real Estate market---oh goody! Do you want to buy a house in North Raleigh? :)
• School starts for me on Monday---yes, I'm going to teach this year---I'd love to have our house on the market today, but it's not ready and we will need some time to fix some things before it's ready to sell. I may as well continue in my job---I do love it, so that makes it easier!
• My parents, who moved here three years ago, don't want to move to Winston Salem, so they are moving back to Austin---do you want a home in Wake Forest? They can help you with that!

SOOOOOOO---I am on a journey---a crazy, wild, wonderful, faith stretching journey---so I have many thoughts and I needed a journal---do you see why I wanted happy colors? I always need reminders of God's rich faithfulness in my life---and this is a place where I will record these things this year---or, I may need a new one next month---I promise if I make one---I'll show it here!
Thanks for reading today---

{National Building Museum Fieldtrip}

On my recent trip to see my sister, we went to the National Building Museum. They have a Lego exhibit right now (Lego Architecture: Towering Ambition) and that was right up Joshua's alley! We hadn't been to this museum before and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I was shocked when I walked in to see how lovely it was. My sister has had occasion to go to a few dinners here and she said it is a stunning place for an event.

When you walk in there is this massive atrium area that is beautifully carpeted and has this fountain in the middle of it. Here's a picture from the 2nd floor where the Lego exhibit was.

Look at the size of these columns---what a beautiful space....I'm thinking wedding reception? Anyone? Gorgeous! 

 One of the greatest things about Washington D.C. is that almost every museum is FREE---we are so blessed to have family there, so we have a place to stay. One of my nephews had a camp this week, so only one of them went with us to the museum. Here is Joshua and his cousin waiting in line to get into the exhibit. Notice the Lego brick behind them---

  Once inside, we were wowed by replicas of famous buildings built only with Legos. I wish all of my pictures had come out---I was stunned by some of the structures---so much work. Some of the smaller versions are available from Lego if your child is insterested in Legos and/or Architecture.

Once in the room, there was a play area where your child could sculpt buildings and place them in the "city" that is being built by every child who comes through---every night they tear it down for the next day's group of imagintive builders. 

 Here's a picture of Nathan building---legos are so fun---no matter the age, you can build and play and create anything you want.

 This is Joshua with his creation and my sweet sister, Shannon. 

 

This picture is of part of the city that was built the day we went. Joshua's structure is there in the midst of it!

That's it for our fieldtrip! Have you ever been to DC? What a great city---soooo much to see and do---for a child of any age. I'm so glad we were able to see this beautiful building and fun exhibit---Thanks Shannon for finding it for us!

Thanks again for the visit! 

{Gifts for my Nephews}

 Joshua and I went to DC to visit my sister and her family for a few days last week and I wanted to take a little something for my nephews. I just don't do stuff like this often enough. The little tins are actually these little coffee tins. (I wish they still had the clear tops, but they don't....they are all red now.) AnYwaY---I knew I needed to use some paper with red in it to coordinate with the lid, so I chose some Lil' Man  & Snorkel paper from Cosmo Cricket.

I used some stamps from It's Official for the focal images, along with Just the Ticket stamps to make these little tickets---Papertrey has a ticket die that cuts several tickets at once. They are perforated so when you tear them, they look like the real thing---love the attention to detail!


I decided to put the boys' initials on their tins. I used the Mat Stack 1 die and my nestabilities dies in Aqua Mist and Kraft cardstock. Then I stamped the boys' initials with Outlines Alphabet and colored it in with a Copic marker.

I do love how they turned out---I filled them with candy that the boys love---Kit Kats for Caleb and Dark Chocolate Dove for Nathan. I hope to do more of this for them in the future---it didn't take me that long and the boys loved them. The details for the tins are below if you are interested---such a great way to recycle something and turn it into a treat for someone you love---Simple, simple! I have much to blog about, but I have been enjoying my summer and not hanging out on the computer very much---I hope to catch you all up on all the changes in our lives---there are LOTS! Seriously---SO, SO MUCH! Thanks so much for reading---I love to have you stop by!
Kathleen

Nephew Tins: all supplies Papertrey Ink unless noted
Stamps: It's Official, Round & Round, Outlines Alphabet, It's the Ticket
Paper: Snorkel, Lil' Man (Cosmo Cricket), Aqua Mist, Kraft, Pure Poppy, Rustic Cream cardstock
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Vintage Cream
AccessoriesTools: /Labels Four dies (Spellbinders), Mat Stack 1, Cuttlebug (Provocraft)