One Fun Halloween_1992

This is one of my favorite Halloween layouts. (click on photo to see larger view) It's Doreen costumed as a "biker witch" with a modern version of "the broom". Bradley (upper left) carved pumpkins with us and left for a party. Doreen & I decided to dress up and I got the idea for her to use Jason's bike on the patio as a prop and build a costume around it. She came up with this "biker babe witch" costume which had us both in stitches as I shot her in various poses. That was the most laughs and fun we'd both had in a long time!

Celebrating 40 Years

At his own wedding in Laramie, WY., Dan McCrackin, (Bob's Navy Seabee friend) snapped this touching moment between Bob and I. Thanks for inviting us to share in your happiness on this day, Dan. We wish you and Jacque a long and happy life together.  Since1968, Bob and I will have celebrated forty years of marriage on August 31st. Photo taken 7/25/2008.

Note: I'd had this quote overlay for several years and never used it until the colors in this photo sparked an idea that "clicked in" for the quote's colors. The photo had slightly washed-out colors which made a perfect setting for the gentle colors of the quote.
[Credits:40_La Jolla ES,  August 31, 1968-2008_University Roman BD
CVA_SSTools_Scripts_SupplyTracker
DMI_Bitsy_corner
DSCN0901_Bob & Evangeline 7/25/09_Laramie WY
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EHI_AYO-ZmPg_UpattheVilla_WordArt-Us
Evangeline & Bob
Evangeline Schawo 7/26/2008_Humanst521 BT
Photo Credit: Dan McCrackin, _Humanst521 BT
TwoPs_VP_My Guy_You Are Everythingl_Years_La Jolla ES]

Appreciations Montage of Mom's/Janice's Sep. 24th 80th Birthday

This is a montage in scrapbook pages, of all the appreciative well-wishes to Janice/Mom on the occasion of her 80th birthday, September 24, 2008. Thanks to all who contributed to this gift and to the happy memorable day she said she had. It was her 80th birthday, and Marybeth & Fitz arranged to take Mom to her favorite restaurant, White Fence Farm. What she didn't know is that it was planned that when she walked in, the whole family would be assembled as a surprise to celebrate HER! It worked! She was totally caught off-guard as we broke into a rendition of "Happy Birthday". It was a fun time with smiles all around, balloons, flowers, singing birthday cards, a gift or two, lots of photos, grandkids, great-grandkids, and fried chicken with the fixings. We all went home tired and full with the enjoyment we had all contributed to Mom's happy day!

Mom --At One Year and Twelve

This page is the frontpiece for the collection presented to Mom/Janice of our appreciations and reminiscences of this beautiful lady celebrating her 80th birthday. Looking through my small collection of vintage photographs, I came across these two of Mom and found them irrisistible. So beautiful, so tender, they begged to be "scrapped" as a vintage cyanotype. Several remarked that this page looked like the design for a postage stamp.

Brother Jack

Mom's brother, Jack had some nice reminiscences and touching sentiments. (click to view larger)

I thought I'd found gold when I came across the two vintage photos of Uncle in his earlier years. I love these of him at age 5 in Huntley NE, and at age 17 in Denver on the day of his sister Janice's wedding. Such a cute little boy and handsome teenager! (That is one of the nice things about the genes of this side of the family: the men age well! Grandpa Harley was a handsome man until the day he left us!)

It's interesting to get a mental snapshot of what life's moments were like from the people who lived those earlier times, as Uncle Jack described here. Family Treasure for our children is the appreciation that we can try to teach them of their history--their family stories. Thanks Uncle Jack!

Evangeline_Ten Things I Love About You Mom

Here are just a few of the things I remember that Mom did to shape me and for which I am grateful to her. (Photos: May 2008, and March 1949 at age 1.) Mom especially enjoyed seeing the "child-adult" contrast photos on these pages. It brought back some memories to her. (click on picture for larger view)

Marybeth_Thanks For Being A Great Mom

Marybeth's sweet sentiments. Photos show her Sep. 2008 and at age 11.

What I Love About You_Brian,Julie, Bob, Ron, Kitty

Bob tells his mother-in-law what he appreciates in her, as does eldest son Ron. (Notice the flower in lower corner: that's Kitty, Ron's girlfriend lurking in-cognito! Kitty tries to avoid the camera lens. Anyway all wished Janice/Mom a wonderful 80th birthday, and Brian & Julie added their salutations later, by hand--all the more meaningful. (9/28/08) [notice embossed background paper--gives dimension and interest.]

Doreen with Jason and Brad

Happy Birthday Mom and Grandma! (9/28/08). Jason, his girlfriend Mariah and Mariah's little Gage, along with Bradley share this page with their Doreen's first sentiment. The page uses the same background and colors as the following one with all Doreen's comments to show the relationship of a two-page layout. (click on page for larger view)

Doreen_Mom You Bring Joy To My Heart

Doreen had a lot to appreciate about Mom, which needed a page of its own and carries over from the previous page shared with her two boys. I love her joyfulness captured in this photo taken end of Sep 2008. Notice the backdrop of the page--how her photo blends into a soft background. Reminds me of a photo of Marilyn Monroe that I saw once.

Kevin's comments were touching. Wanted a clean uncomplicated page for him. I like the contrast between the cute little boy and the handsome man.

Robert_The Little Things Mean So Much

The poem that goes with Robert's sentiments fits Mom and him perfectly. This is one of my favorites.