Year at A Glance...

 Wow!  When you sit down and really look at what's gone on in one year, its enough to make me take a break and smile of course!  I thought it would be fun to look back at this last year and highlight some of the things we did here at Chalkboard blue!

February was when I started building my blog.  I was blogging behind the scenes.  I had not launched it yet.  Still working out the kinks!

I think this was one of my very first Posts, it was quick and simple:  read more here: or click on photo below:

I featured a tutorial on how I made Ava's Skirt: read more here: or click on photo below:

March came:  I featured our Fireplace and how I built that.  Read more here: or click on photo below:

April I talked about our Chicken Coop/Shed we built:
read more here:  or click on photo below:

I also showed a photo shoot we took with our little baby chicks and the girls:
read more here or click on the photo below:

May was the month I actually let people know I started a blog.  I had been blogging quietly up to this point, getting the feel for blogging and working out things behind the scenes.  I huge thank you to everyone who supported me in this and has continued to be a support to me and Chalkboard blue!

In May I featured Mad's Photobooth cupcake toppers: read more here or click on photo below:

We also spent time at the baseball fields: read more here or click on photo below:

June.  What can I say about June?  Other than, did I get any sleep in June??? Oh mamma!  Hang on to my bootstraps and off to work we went with June!!!!

I featured some planter boxes I made. Which I still love by the way!  read more here or click on photo below:

We finished the outside Chicken run for our Chicken Coop/Shed:

read more here or click on photo below:

We finished the chicken run in time to host a wedding in our Yard: read more here or click on photo below:

While I was finishing up the Chicken run I was secretly working on a Surprise Party committee  for my Friend Melissa: read more here or click on photo below:

July came and it was Ava's Birthday!  We had a Polka-dots and Pachyderms Party! read more here or click on photo below:

I did a Behind the Scenes wrap up of what our summer was going like to that point: read more here or click on photo below:

I featured a tutorial on how I made our Old window and shutters:  read more here or click on photo below:

I built some Lockers for the Garage: which we still LOVE by the way!  read more here or click on photo below:

August rolled around.  I featured a tutorial on some ruffle bags that my girls just love!! read more here or click on photo below:

Featured how I built the Lockers for the garage:
read more here or click on photo below:

September came.  I featured an owl party that I threw for my Activity Day girls in August: read more here or click on photo below:

October arrived.  I featured costume photo shoots.  read more here: or click on photo below:

The Witches.  read more here or click on photo below:

November I featured some Barn wood Boxes I built:

read more here or click on photo below:

December I featured one of our favorite items.  Our Advent Calendar: read more here or click on photo below:

Our Christmas card Photo Shoot:  read more here or click on photo below: 

Some simple gift wrap ideas.  read more here or click on photo below:  

When I look back on this last year, all I can do is Smile!  It has been a fabulous year!  Full of fun, most important my family and friends and all of you! I have enjoyed it all!  

 It has been BUSY, challenging and exciting!  I have loved having a blog and I have loved having all of you be apart of our lives here at Chalkboard Blue!  I enjoy your wonderful comments, letting me share with you the on-goings of our family and the projects we take on!  I still have tutorials I will share with you on past items I have built.  I promise!!  

Oh and did I mention I have some big ideas planned for 2013??? Did I mention the word Demolition??????  Watch out!!  Cross your fingers for me and wish me good luck!  

I love you all, thanks again.  I really appreciate it!  really!!!

Have a fabulous new year and I wish you all the Best!!

As always, 
With Much Love & Gratitude, 

Christmas Puppies!

 Ok so we got them a few weeks before Christmas, but I promised I would share some shots of our new puppies with you! They are English Mastiffs.  Yep, they are gonna get HUGE!

The one on the left is Rose or Gabby-Rose our Girl.  The one on the right is Clixx our boy.

We got them right before Thanksgiving. Did we ever plan to get two puppies at one time?  No.  It just happened.  We fell in love with both of them and could not decide between the two so we bought both.  I know, we are absolutely insane!  But we have loved having them!

Here is some shots of them when we first got them.
This is Rose, Gabby-Rose or Rosie Baby...

This is Clixx when we first got him.  He was younger and smaller, but he has started to catch up to Rose... when he stands and walks right now, his front legs look kinda like a Bull Dog!

Fast-forward...  Here they are just a couple weeks ago. This is Clixx.  He is a good Boy.  He has found refuge under the Laundry room Shelf.  We call it his Man Cave.

Here is Gabby-Rose... She is so funny.  Shy, but full of life!  She loves to be apart of everything and half the time drives Clixx bonkers.  We think that is why he runs to his man cave for some peace and quiet!  ha-ha!

The two together.... Rose loves, loves the snow!  Clixx, not so much, he prefers the Fireplace! (Don't they look scared to death in this shot)  We were making them "Stay" for the photo!)

  We tragically lost our huge Newfoundland dog named Oscar. He was only a year old.  He had a Heart Attack and died suddenly. About a week and a half later, we had to say good bye to our little Yorkie named Addy.  It was just his time.  He was going downhill fast.  We had addy for almost 13 years.  He went through so much with us.  They were so fun to have in our lives, and we will always remember them! Here is a picture I have of Oscar and Addy together. You can sort of see them.  Oscar is the big black one and addy is the tiny one.  They were watching me build our Lockers in the Garage.

We have A LOT of training a head of us with these two puppies.  Oh man!  But we have enjoyed them so far and I'll keep you updated on their progress as they grow and oh mamma are they gonna grow!

I'll leave you with one of my favorite shots of Rose...  She reminds us our daughter Ava.  They have very similar personalities.  

Have a fabulous Friday!!
With much Love & Gratitude,

Our Christmas Card Photo shoot...

I promised I would share with you some of the shots I took of the kids for our Christmas Card this year. 

The colors we went with this year were, Grey, Mustard yellow and Cream.  Getting 5 kids to cooperate for  photos is always a challenge.  Wait back up!  Just getting the kids ready for the photo shoot is an Olympic Event in and of itself!!!

Ok, so once we got everyone ready and loaded up and our props loaded up in the Second truck. Yep, it was a two car involved photo shoot!   We headed out to Antelope Island.  We were under a time constraint.  We arrived at 5pm and the Island closed at 6 pm.  The sun had gone down and I had to shoot with a pretty high ISO at this point!

We started with the Old Chest of my Great Grandpa Lamb's.  
This was the best shot of the group  that I liked...

I next had them walk.  I always love Pictures of my kids walking.  We brought some balloons.  I loved the balloons for our photos!!!

My favorite part of this shot is little Ivy looking back at me...

I had them stand in a line across the road from me.  I love this shot... One of my Favs!

 
I borrowed this cool wagon!  I had them start walking in a line with Madi pulling the little girls! Another one of my favs. By the way, my kids are laughing here because Mckay, the oldest in front of the line was actually doing a robot dance as they walked.  I also like this shot because Mac is smiling at the Camera, showing his personality.

Once they got down the hill, I had them stop.  I thought it would be fun to get a group shot with the wagon.  Boy was I wrong.  Anyone that knows my boys, knows how much they love to entertain and carry on!   Of course when its family picture time, they think it is their time to shine.  Notice the faces parker is pulling in the following shots... Ivy is  also pouting and Aves is somewhere else in thought.

Again, Parker another face! Ives and Aves not too amused either.

Oh Parker.  I give up!  Needless to say.  I don't think I got any of this pose!!!

I got some individual shots of them.  

Parker...

Mads...

Aves...

Mac...

And Ivy...

Another one of my favorite shots of the girls...

I was pretty much finished with the shoot.  I happened to look up and notice that all of the kids were standing in a line and standing in Order!! How does that Happen???  I said, hold it right there!

This is how our Christmas card turned out... This is the front of the card...

the inside of the card turned out like this... 

I found the pics I wanted, put them all together in a collage.  Had them printed. I next cut them all out.  (yes, I did a lot of cutting).

Sent the blank cards through the printer...

.I sent these sacks through our printer and printed our family name on them... Accented with some Washi tape...

Assembly time... Lots of gluing! Cards complete and I added one to our Christmas Card Tree!

This was a fun and very quick photo shoot to do. I love how parker is laughing in this shot...

  From our Family to yours, we want to wish you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Thank you for reading my blog and for your continued Support!!! 

With  Much Love & Gratitude,