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spring break

while at my parents’ we went to the nature center.
it is such a nice little place with turtles, fish and rescued birds.
they have a big macaw parrot…
i was standing by it just looking at him.
he looked me in the eye and said “hello” in a quiet voice.
it totally freaked me out.
i am so dorky.
we took a walk around the pond enjoying the sun.

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i dont’ know how smart this was…
but they somehow stayed dry and clean.

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lauren caught a teenie little frog.
but the big excitement was when she caught the snake.

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she’s has always been awesome at catching slimy things.
snakes, lizards, frogs – anything.
i don’t know how she does it.
she has a gift.

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oh that’s nice.

melissa @ the inspired room - Holy cow, that was creepy. And that frog, what an amazing closeup of his MOUTH!
m

Jenn Thomas - Seeing the kids enjoying the outdoors again is so wonderful. It reminds me that we will need to reserve the Hesston College cabin again this summer and have a campout together – how many snakes do you think they will find this year? and hopefully the pond will have a little more water in it.

Jennifer P. - Snakes and frogs and freaky birds—eeeew :)! I’m a little squeamish–but glad you’re a cool mom with brave kiddos!

traci - once again, beautiful pictures. and the snake pix – awesome. i love kids and nature such a wonderful mix.

mom - These women who have commented about yucky snakes never went on Audobon Campouts, did they? I will send the picture of you holding the snake and see if they really freak out!!

Julie K - I’m so jealous of your beautiful weather! I can’t imagine you miss Chicago too much with the milder temps earlier in the season way over in Kansas! :o) Great pics – looks like a fabulous day! We tried going for a bike ride today and turned around four houses down … windy and cold cold cold. Ugh. Why do we live here again???

seve - Your picture of the close-up on the snake’s head with the out-of-focus face in the background is great. I really love it.

Liz - HEEEBY JEEBIES! Wow. What a brave chic.

traci - Everytime I read or look at your blog it reminds me I need to LOOSEN up!!! I probably would never have allowed them to be over by the water doing that but WHY NOT? Who cares if they get a bit wet or dirty? Its spring break…not heading to church.
The one area I couldnt do…is letting my gorgeous daughter kiss the snake…YIKES!!!! I DO NOT DO SNAKES!!! Bless her heart for loving slimmy things.ewwwwwwwwww…..No way could I have even taken the picture..lol
JUST LUUUUUUUV your blog!!!!

chris - Wow you are a great Mom I could never deal with the snake, frog maybe but they kinda give me the creeps as well, even though we have an african frog(which is really a fish as it is always under water), that is really mine because I feed and clean his stuff, of course , how did I get stuck with a frog??

Lindy - LOVE your blog – your photo stories are so wonderful. I look forward to all of the color in them. Nice to see that smile on Lauren – I too am a critter lover. slimy or not. After all they are all God’s Creatures.

Brenis - eeewwwww! Now i totally have the heebie jeebies! Definitely what nightmares are made of for some of us! LOL! Sooo happy for Lauren though! haha!

amy - okay, that’s just creepy. and to think… you kiss those same lips good night. gross.

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easter

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here is what i came up with…
everyone got a special bath towel of their own.
(in theory this will lessen the laundry & they will stop wasting towels?)
they also each got a monkey plate, a gift of their own
and a chocolate bunny.
thanks mom for helping me.

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the crew after church this morning.
annie is always the goofball.
but this picture looks more real to me…

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we had a yummy dinner at craig’s moms today.
thank you deanne.
it was delicious.
lauren and scott hid the candy eggs for the 3 younger ones.
don’t you love to watch an egg hunt?
the panic run from one side of the yard to the next…so funny.

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this morning i realized i hadn’t thought through the easter outifts.
no tights or shoes to “match”.
i’m not matchy-matchy but this was not what i was planning.
annie seems to pull it off though.

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happy easter.

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i started “answering” your comments…
in the comments.
so if you have a question just check back in the comments
to see if i answered. 🙂
i love hearing from you girls.
(and guys too…i think there are a few of you)

Jimaie - what a CUTE bunch of kids!!!!
Also, i love the idea you came up with for your easter “baskets” i think i might steal this and do it next year! 😀
oh and her outfit was the best, totally something i would wear

Tonya - your kiddos are soooo beautiful!

Jennifer P. - Such a fun Easter. I love your presentation!–and you make me want to go buy monkey plates :)!

meg duerksen - Sure had a good time on Spring Break with all the kiddos. I had today off and I slept until 10. Tired!!
Looks like the Easter presents were a hit. Glad I could help.

jerusalem - those tights are too cute! looks like y’all had a fun day!

Allikayes Mama - Oh! My little cutie has those same HOT pink cowgirl boots! They are fabulous!!! :0) Happy Easter to ya!

April - Wow…what a wonderful idea tying the gifts up I stuffed it all in the traditional basket…very sweet !! Love the fun photos your blog is a pleasure.

Lisa Wakely - Looks like everyone had a great Easter. Every time I am in Target (we won’t talk about how often that is) and see those Monkey plates I think of you 🙂

Jilly - I LOVE the picture of the kids, they are SO cute!!!!
Great gifts, love the way that you put them together!

Jenn - I got individual towels for the kids about 5 years ago when we first got married. One thing that drives me crazy is someone else using my bath towel! I don’t even let Russ use mine. To solve the problem – everyone got their own and yes it cut down on laundry. They love their own towels and are posessive of them. Recently Konley and I went shopping and got new ones for everyone.

traci - I too love annies outfit…if you have looked in the catalogs lately that IS the style now!!! LOVE your idea on Easter!!! No baskets filled to the brim with annoying grass and candy for days. pratical, fun, whimsical gifts….HOW COOL. I will have to steal this idea.

Crystal - What a BEAUtiful family!! Looks like you guys had an amazing weekend too!! 🙂 Great Easter “baskets” 🙂

Tiffany C. - I think Annnie’s outfit is marvelous, I wish I could pull of striped tights with boots as well as she does!
Happy Belated Easter :o)

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love

last week i saw some love
that i don’t think i’ve seen before.

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these 2 were sick last monday.
they were cuddled up together watching a movie.
sharing a blanket!
i can’t recall this ever happening.

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another morning annie said "sean sit by me"
and he said "okay".
that never happens!
they sat and talked to each other over toast.
amazing.

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she’s feeling better by the way….
she has been begging for me to curl her hair.
pretty cute stuff.

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i am at my parents’ house for the next few days.

i have nothing for easter baskets as of friday at 3:00.

we’ll see what i can pull together in 24 hours.

meg duerksen - glad to see i am not the only one who shops last minute!
-meg

melissa @ the inspired room - Happy Easter! I have Easter stuff. In the trunk of the car. 9:42 pm Saturday. Can I pull it together? Will the Easter Bunny deliver this year? He better get hopping!
Blessings,
Melissa

danelle - I have nothing for Easter baskets as of 12:50 Saturday. I need to get busy.

traci - how sweet. it’s great when you see the love between siblings. cute curls on talby. have a wonderful easter.

chris - If they did sweet stuff all the time we would never appreciate it, your kids are so cute.
Happy Easter

Allikayes Mama - I had to rush to Target today to fill the basket! They never let me down! Also, I love those pictures! So precious!

amy - I thought it seemed rather quiet across the street. Your hubby’s been outside working hard though! Happy Easter to you!

Crystal - I took half of my stuff for my sons basket out of our own food cabinet…cheerios, gerber puffs. 🙂
We are swap partners! 🙂 You can email me at mosesmakes3@gmail.com 🙂

Jennifer P. - Love those precious moments of sibling harmony!
I have nothing for my Easter baskets as of 3:48. I forgot I even needed to go buy stuff. Thanks for reminding me :)!

traci - as a mom to 3 aged 10, 11 and 19 I always got VERY excited to see THE LOVE!! when my 19 yr. old was at home and giving his much younger sisters the time of day I just ooooozed with joy. the girls are either totally into each other or wanting to rip the other apart..lol…so all moms know when you find those tender moments you just get sooooo HAPPY.

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b&b

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this is the hager house bed and breakfast.
it’s in oklahoma.
it’s pretty on the inside too.
we just don’t have green grass yet.
raelyn and roger have re-done the entire house!

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our snacks.
it’s safe to say we love our junk food.
and my goodness you ladies can drink!
(pepsi and dr. pepper)
i am the only coffee drinker…get the whole pot to myself.

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the ladies…
all of us in jana’s pigtails.
it really is the perfect hairdo for scrapping.

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breakfast in the kitchen.
it’s a really cute in there and raelyn makes yummy breakfast!

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diana used dental floss on her page!
very creative.

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DANCE BREAK!
Kristi got me moving to ABBA.
we are the dancing queens.
the radio station had hours of a program called Saturday Night Fever.
and we loved it….minus the same commercial we heard 50 times.

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amy and i were scrapping neighbors just like at home…
we’re real neighbors.

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jana made the cutest mini album.
and her first real 12×12 page!
it was a big deal…so excited for her.

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Angie read through Photo Freedom and had a light bulb moment.
does scrapbooking stress you out?
then you should read this book!
this is her favorite page from the weekend. very cute.

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and here i am with my favorite page.
i am not winking…just looking strange.

i loved this trip.
i love my friends.
i love to scrap.
i love to dance to disco songs.
i love to laugh so hard i cry (not hard for me)
it was such a fabulous time.
it needs to be more than once a year…don’t you think girls?

meg duerksen - jessi & eryn – have fun! and you must wear pigtails.
lauren, andrea & jennifer p. – maybe i will be the one to convince you to try scrapping! it doesn’t have to be what you think “scrapbooking” is. there are lots of different scrappers out there. i just want to have fun when i doing it…not worrying about titles or themes. i want color or flow and feeling it as i go.
my imperfect circles…i did with my friends kristi’s exacto knife. for my first circle i traced around a dinner plate but cut around the pencil line loosely then i just made all the rest a little smaller. this idea was copied. 🙂 like all my good ideas.
(good to hear from you again lauren!)
sara – i WILL see you in april. and i can’t wait!
kristi and amy – our weekend rocked!
holly & blanca- thank you!
queenie – did you find that book yet. it will change your world.
traci – your weekend away looked way way fun.

Sara - meg – love the swirling page with the ribbons, so young and fun. You are a child at heart -in a good way. I hope to see you in april when Lorel and I do our painting workshop!

Lauren - OK – so I don’t scrapbook. Never have. Can’t do it. Too impatient.
But seeing your post here MAKES me want to try. Maybe it was the pic of the Dove Dark Chocolate.
Anyway…
how did you get those circles so perfectly imperfect? What’s the secret Meg?
Thanks for sharing your girl-time! God knows that we all need it!

eryn - what fun! I am heading off in a few weeks for a scrappin girls weekend. You’ve inspired me to get my stuff together and get organized!!

Holly - Just found you thru Crystal. Oh…your pic’s are amazing. Such an inspiration. What a dreamy home!!!! Your kitchen and craft room are to die for.
Looking forward to being inspired by your creativity. I’ve been intimidated by scrapbooking, but you inspire me to have courage & fun! Thank you!

traci - glad you had fun!! cute pictures – love the pigtails and pj’s. i wore sweats all weekend any my crop getaway – no jeans or makeup allowed. thanks for sharing.

Kristi - Love the pix, meg! They made me smile and remember a fab weekend. I LOVE YOUR BLOG! heehee
Kristi

Queenie Bee - Awesome photos of what looks to be an even more awesome weekend! And I do indeed need to read that book…

jessi nagy - so so fun! i love scrap girls weekends! im off to one mid april. cant wait.
oxoxox,
jessi
love the pigtails

Jennifer P. - That almost makes me want to start scrapping! So glad you had a fun week out with your friends. You can just see it in your eyes that you were happy and relaxed! And what a great b&b!

amy - “he called me… kind of laughing.” (I wonder if anyone in the OKC area knows this commercial?!)
It was the best time! We should definitely do this more than once a year!

Andrea - Looks like SO much fun! With GREAT friends. It makes me jealous. And I don’t even scrapbook!

Blanca - That looks like so much fun. Great pages too.
Blanca

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so much fun

these are my pages from my weekend of scrapping…

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i felt my scrappin’ groove come back on in the
middle of the afternoon on saturday.
half way into my trip?
where did it go?
just not scrapbooking for so long makes it harder to find i guess.

i also finished my album from our vacation in 2007.
all the pages have 5 photos, a tag, and printed simple journaling.
very plain but clean looking.
i really like it.

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there are 7 double page spreads like this and 2 like the one below.

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pretty simple.
but i did all the fun stuff when i made the mini album.

i got 23 pages done…woo-hoo!

see mom? i’m okay.
just tired from my fun trip.
thanks for worrying.

meg duerksen - thank you ladies!!
the top page “sassy” is made with strips of paper and is a lift of becky novacek. (bottom of the list on today’s creative blog)
the swirly circles are also paper. it was also a lift of ?? someone in creating keepsakes last year. 🙂
and the circles barely stick down…i didn’t really think it though. i tend to do that. i get an idea and then don’t know how to finish it.
and i hope the dancing queen picture wasn’t too disappointing.
we did have fun with that radio station though.
and i think i will add a disco section to my iPod.
melissa – i used to be a consultant too. i did it for 5 years but i quit 7 years ago.
thank again for all the compliments.

Haydee T - I have to tell you..I’m not a huge fan of scrapbooking but your stuff is awesome..you might just make a believer out of me. Well done!

Jenny Pocknall - Wow! There is so much work in each page. I am impressed. A beautiful way to show off your adventures.

amy d - we want the dancing queen, we want the dancing queen, we want the dancing queen! 🙂

Mom - It’s funny when a mom is worried that something is wrong because her daughter hasn’t blogged for several days! Glad you had such a good time. They are beautiful pages.
Now what’s this about the dancing queen??

Allikayes Mama - Oh, wow,wow,wow! I love those pages! You are so creative! I also just spent way too much time browsing through “your house” pictures! I am enthralled with your beautiful home and decor! Such inspiration! And right out of a magazine! :0)

Crystal - LOVE them…I am so jealous of your talent Meg!! Let me know if you are still interested in the swap. 🙂 Or if you know of anyone who is. 🙂 Have a great evening!! 🙂

Lee Ann - 23 pages! That’s awesome. And I love the vacation book….the simplicity. I think it’s perfect for vacation.

melissa @ the inspired room - How fun! I used to do those scrapbook weekends (back in the day, when I was a Creative Memories consultant…). Happy Tuesday!
xo
Melissa

amy - You have to put the dancing queen on the blog! It’s the whole reason I took the pictures!

Jana - That was the most fun weekend ever! So glad you got your groove goin on Saturday. Will we see the dancing queen on the blog? 🙂

traci - I LOVE, LOVE,LOVE the first one with all the ribbons!!! I have a door at work I am responsible to decorate and I am going to steal that idea. LOVE them all though

Karol - Wow, absolutely beautiful layouts. So inspiring.

Julie K - Oh Megan! These are beautiful!!! I especially love the paper swirl page. That is unbelieveably creative and fun and just a feast of expression!! Love it.

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i’m outta here.

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i am off to play with my toys.
be back sunday night!
i am quite excited…to put it mildly.

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thanks craig for holding down the fort all alone.
you are the best.

Queenie Bee - Didja’ have FUN?! My hubby always thinks I’m really just having an affair on him when I go to scrapbooking events because I always come home with very few pages done! LOL!:-) I like talking and looking at other people’s work so much that I get very little done myself! It’s always tons of fun though…and come to think of it, I could probably use some of that kinda’ fun sometimes soon!

Crystal - hi Meg!!! I hope you had a great weekend…I am totally jealous of all of your fun supplies!!!

traci - hi meg – hope you had fun this past weekend. can’t wait to hear all about it.

Allikayes Mama - Oh! I am so glad I found your blog! You are oh so fun! I am bookmarking ya – so I’ll be back! Yay!

Jenny Pocknall - Please show what you created when you get back.
Hope you have a great time.

jessi nagy - have fun creating!!!
oxoxox,
jessi

Lee Ann - You weren’t kidding when you said you were going scrapbooking. A whole weekend! I hope you’ll show us some pictures when you come back…..of the fun and the pages! I’ll let you in on a little secret. I love copying your pages 🙂 Of course it’s “just inspiration”. Hope you don’t mind.

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big tease

that’s what this weather is.
it lets us think it’s time for

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stoller walks

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smoothies

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blowing bubbles

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new sidewalk chalk

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playing in the driveway

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barefoot (she later took her shirt off too)
we spent the afternoon outside playing.
talby and sean had a whole world drawn in chalk…
houses, horses, cars, spiders, and robots.

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i love sean’s robots.

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i do.
i really really do.

but i know better than to think this weather is here for good.
i remember the snow in april ’07 that killed all my acorns.
(i am hoping for that again…man i hate those acorns)
so we’ll just enjoy it while it’s here.

amy - Tag… you’re it. Check out my blog. Sorry. I only know a few people who blog… and I know you’ve got so much time on your hands, right?! 🙂

jeanetta - i have a whole chalk gallery in my driveway and carport. it has grwn so much that they have moved to the picnic table and the wooden playset. its chalk it washes right.

Brenis - Ditto here in Colorado! Even ditto on what the kids have been doing the last couple days. Only difference is i’m not a kodak mama, and didn’t get pics! LOL! Our driveway and sidewalk has been the only color in the neighborhood! haha!
I love the way children (and adults) embrace spring when it arrives! I swear it changes our metabolism, and our emotional well being just to be out in the gorgeous warmer air and sunshine! Enjoy it while it lasts!!!! 😀

hqm - There is nothing like that first day outside playing after being cooped up inside for months…it’s a promise of what is to come!

chris - I have given up on spring ever returning , time spent outside is quick quick quick , because it is still so cold, then our enormous snow banks finally melt we will be in for some soggy weeks I am sure,that will be fun with two dogs and 8 muddy feet .

cynthia - it’s been nice here (in atlanta)too and i’m hoping it stays!
enjoy!

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