doodlebug design : big daddy & big bend

doodlebug design : without you

The hubs and I don't have a "special" song that reflects us or our love.  So, I asked him to pick a song that he thought reflects our love now and he picked this love song, Without You by Motley Crue.

I included this photo, however, as it is a special place for us.  Each time we have visited New Mexico, we have had our photo taken by this tree near the Rio Grande River Gorge bridge.  I look forward to the next time, too.

I was stumped at how I'd incorporate the lyrics into my layout.  After printing the lyrics numerous times, in different fonts and moving them around a layout, I finally settled on enlarging the words and using them as a subtle background. 

 

 I then added a line or two onto the photo. 

To add some texture and dimension, but without overpowering the words, I added some white elements over the grey text.

Do you have a special song with your significant other?   Have you documented it?  

[ This layout was featured on the Doodlebug blog. ]

Boo from the Doodlebug crew!

... and from our crew!

he and she : layout style

They hubs and I celebrated ten years of wedded bliss in July. Since then, I have created a few layouts documenting our anniversary or just us. 

And today seemed the perfect day to share them.  

4th of July Celebration of Love : Karen Foster Design
cardstock: Bazzill, patterned paper, stickers, brads and scrappers floss: Karen Foster Design,
circle punch: Fiskars, border punch: StampinUp,
photo corner punch: Martha Stewart, ink: Close to my heart



Sweet
cardstock : Echo Park, patterned paper/cardstock [Pretty Petites, aqua] : Doodlebug Design,
cloud punch : Fiskars, heart punch : EK Success, flower punch : StampinUp, brad : Doodlebug Design,
 chipboard [cupcake] : Little Yellow Bicycle, sticker [couple] : Amy Tangerine, American Crafts 

While in Austin celebrating our 10th anniversary, we made sure to treat ourselves.
We haed ice cream at Amy's on the way into town and finished our evening with cupcakes
 from Hey Cupcake. Yummy.

 

10 years
kraft cardstock: StampinUp, chipboard frame: Heidi Swapp, number stickers: Girl's Paperie,
alpha stickers: Karen Foster Design, swirl transparency: Little Yellow Bicycle,
photo corner: Canson, 10 rubon: Making Memories, chipboard saying: Melody Ross, GCD Studios,
 border: Colorbok, metal flowers: Making Memories, ink: Tattered Angels, dictionary pages    

Ugh. Pffft.
cardstock: Bazzill, patterned paper: Paper Studio, patterned paper [blue, green]: Echo Park,
die cuts: Girl's Paperie, alpha stickers: Heidi Swapp, ink: October Afternoon,
India ink and hospital remnants

I love this ole man so much.   

more.

Each time the hubs or I say "I love you" to the other, I follow it with more.

And with that more, I added more layers to a scrapbook layout than my normal hodge-podge fashion.  I love the depth, the color, the layers ... and more.  

The layers on there are gesso, tissue paper, dictionary pages, scalloped circles punched from junk mail envelopes, die cut / punched butterflies, Cricut-cut birdcage from my valenetines holiday tree, black circles are adhesive border strips cut out, acrylic paint, black mister spray, yellow refiller ink, Hambly overlay [circles cut in half to appear as scallops], letter stickers, sewing, a Chuck E Cheese sketchbook machine photo/print and satin finisher to seal. 



More.   Usually less is more for me, but not with this page.

Or the hubs.  

I love him.  more.  

ten.

Ten years ago, on the 4th, we were married in Las Vegas.  Our planned family wedding vacation was so very awesome and it makes me giddy remembering the details of the day.

• Our ceremony was booked for 9 pm at the Little White Wedding Chapel.
• We had dinner and cake before we were husband and wife. 
• We said our vows in a white stretch limo.  In a drive thru. 
• We were married only 25 minutes before the city's midnight fireworks display.
• We honeymooned around the world without leaving the city --- drank wine at Paris, saw the Eiffel Tower light up, strolled through Caesars Palace, saw the gondolas at the Venetian, watched the roller coaster zip by New York and slept in a pyramid. 

More memories and stories can be found at our archived wedding site.

Ten years.  

A lot has happened in 10 years -- but it has all been in and for love.  

This weekend the hubs and I are headed to the big city in celebration of our wedding anniversary.  It is not the same big city, but still will have lots of light and night life. 

We plan to eat at all the places we avoid because of the kids, only because they don't like that kind of food or it's too spicy or they're just not in the mood for that type of flavor. 

We plan to move a bit slower, rather than chasing after kiddos that are anxious to play, run or just be done with the parents' adventure.

We plan to hold each other's hands instead of the kiddos --- but just for that day.  Then, we'll hold on to the kiddos' hands while holding on tight to each other with the other hand. 

We plan to make a stop in a few antique-y / flea market shops that are just too much for the kiddos to handle -- time and too much stuff for them to touch. 

We plan to partake in a colorful celebratory adult drink.

And we plan to stay up late -- even though the kiddos think we're old fogies and can't make it past midnight.

We plan to just take in time for us. Just the two of us.

It will be strange.   But, it will be lovely.  

Love you, and happy 10th anniversary, honka-honka baby! 

today

This is what the summertime day looks like at casa de chaos.  One cute K-girl smiling as she is probably into some sort of mischief.  And, the K-boy is probably just happy as can be with the computer now in his bedroom.   

As said by the hubs / daddy in charge:

Kona...she's talking....and talking....and talking. She wouldn't be quiet all lunch long. Amazing energy level.  ....and she's been buzzing around your craft table. Y'know...it's like keeping flies away from a picnic. It's not possible.

....the relaxing moments are few with Keona.  Kai, he chills.  Keona stirs the pot. 

the kids are in the process of waking up --- with a pillow fight.  

Ah, what a way to spend the day.

wordless wednesday

day 17 : technology

One of the tasks on the hub's summer to do list is to upgrade our cell phone service.  We still have our old flip phone from several years back.   

Here he is doing some further research after speaking with a salesperson. 

The next day we became owners of shiny new tech toys.  

day 14 : eyes

The eyes are the windows to the soul. 

- English proverb

I love staring in the eyes of these beloved folks, the hubs and the K-kiddos.  I find myself wondering what they're thinking, what they'll see in the future, how they see things today.  When I look into their eyes I see the patience, dreams, mischief, playfulness, worry and love.

I see their soul.   I feel their love.

day nine : someone you love

This man, my hubby ...

• is artistically talented
• is full of interesting knowledge
• is gardener to our little plot of veggies
• has a heart of gold
• is mender of all things broken
• is key to my heart
• has the dreamiest eyes
• is the rock in our rollin' world
• is an awesome daddy to two cute K-kiddos
• is lucky to be on summer vacation
• is loved unconditionally by one lucky gal [me!]

He said to me recently as discussing the kiddos' version of sibling rivalry, "They are alot like us --- left hand and right hand.  Regardless of differences, they always fit perfectly together."

Sweet hubs, I love you. Today. Tomorrow. Always. 

why?

This morning, I hurriedly sent the hubby an email while prepping for my work day.   It simply stated "love you."  

An even shorter reply found its way into the inbox.  Why? 

My response:
... for the Kleenex box we always refer to that means we meet in the middle and/or muddle over the line with one another.
... for the paper towels left on the counter for it means you help in the kitchen, providing meals for the family.
... for squashing all the bugs and being creepy critter control.
... for making the kiddos giggle and squirm and for making them think you're freaky.
... for being silly and sweet and romantic and not so.
... for going to sleep without covers because it means I can pull all of them up to my chin.
... for farting in the bed because it reassures t hat you're still alive 'n kickin' during the night.
... for loving me and all my faults and still loving me.

And his:
You know the answers when I don't.
You are my spark when I have none
You give me the reason to be happy
You give life to my being

I love that man more than ever.  

love.

The Valentines gift I received yesterday was sweeter than most candy and more precious than any gemstone. Though, it was filled with so much love.

I scattered colorful hearts around the hubby's belongings and led him on an endless chase of bits of love. I put paper hearts by the computer, in his thermos lid, in his sandwich, in his truck, in the laptop and more. There is still one yet to be found. In response to that, he sent me the sweetest words --- Even though I didn't sprinkle little love notes around for you to find, you know you and the kids are the joy of my life. You make me feel blessed every day. I'm lucky to be with you and for you to be my wife.

The K-girl came home with a bucketful of treats from her classmates. A plush animal from her best friend, a flower ring, pencils, cards and oodles of candy. But none of that compares to what she gave me. At the dinner table, she came to me, arms wide open and a sweet smile, and said, "but I have the bestest gift for you --- a huge huggie!" Most precious.

Then, as I tucked the kiddos into bed after a sugary sweet day full of activities at school and scouts, I said to the K-boy, "will you be my valentine?" He replied in his soft-spoken ways and a hug, "I will love you forever." Then the tears fell, from those precious brown eyes and down his sweet face. Melted my heart.

That is love and that is exactly the way it should be celebrated. Each and every day.