a game a game..oh how i love a good game.......

a fun hand made trading post, if you will

{excuse the pun}

1. Be one of the first three (3) bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me. disclaimer: You may say, "Oh, you shouldn't have!"

2. Winners, you must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift for the first 3 bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway. (or do a Facebook entry)

3. The gift that you send to your three friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the spirit and the thought that count.

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate links. Unless you think it stinks. That wouldn't be nice.\
*** Thank-you Lisa & Brandy for the idea!***

Costa Rica or BUST!

......while the 2 youngest & the oldest and I visit el RANCHO GRAMMA-PA...Don Angelo and the second son took off to COSTA RICA...i know what your thinking how boring it must be to have to visit a place like COSTA RICA..heehee.....they have landed and enjoyed 3 or so beaches already ...poor guys...some guys just have to do all the dirty work in a family..ya gotta hand it to 'em for being such good sports about the whole thing.....LOL....they are 2 of the luckiest devils around if you ask me........

in which we lose the locks

jaxson announced yesterday that it was just TOO hot for HAIR

so

we took the hair off his Hot little head

below you can see the result is nothing short of a success...although you can now see just how absolutely GORGEOUS this boy is.....yikes!

Emme's hair cut came about in a bit of a different fashion however

this morning

our usual hair fights in sued

and frankly until she is old enough to keep it nice or let me

summer and her hair just don't mesh

she spends 10 minutes getting it done only to look like nobody has bothered with her in 3 months..so "we" opted for a more summer/Emme friendly hair cut

the picture below is just after i finished the cut

once washed and dried it will look like a million bucks......and stay that way no matter what she throws at it......so maybe princess hair isn't to be....well not this summer at least........

BTW

......did I mention I'm in Utah...huh...well I am.....and it is
great!!!!.... It's also a bit hot for this Seattle-ite......the
company I find myself in is WELL worth the heat I assure you....I will
recap the comming of age of my eldest brother...when I get a minute
but for now my mom and I are off to do something...we will be easy for
we know that my father has the children well at hand

a true GRADUATE

here....above is the reason for our southern jaunt

what can I say about this stellar young man

*he graduated magna cum-laude with letters in both English and Orchestra...magnificent

*he makes the violin sing in his skill full hands

*he awakes early for mission prep...thrilling

*he is a great example to my two younger brothers

*he is the 17 year old I wish I was.... girl version of course

my mother let me in on a little conversation that exemplifies this young mans brilliant attitude

says my mother" this is a great day...you are graduating...what an accomplishment"

the newest High School Grad replies "ma...all a high school diploma means is that I've done the least amount of work necessary!"

Indeed my younger Brother...strive for more than this......you are in a fair way to aim for everlasting EXCELLENCE

{although it took more than the least amount of effort to letter & to wear a gold braid}