Scrapbook Challenge- Feb. 7-14!

This would be under the "MAKES ME HAPPY" category! This makes me very, very happy. Our JAZZ girls went to MN State Competition yesterday. They were AMAZING! Truly, truly amazing. (And looky-there, I actually used seven pix on this one!!)

These pix are from Sections finals a week ago. Us boosters were asked to make up some quick posters to decorate the bus for their ride downtown. Well, you know me.....digi-novice, but eager to try. I THREW together some very fast, less-than-perfect, but really fun and full-of-love-and-encouragement mini scrap pages. These are only two, but the girls seemed genuinely, pleasantly surprised.

Unfortunately, there were other teams who the judges felt were more amazing than our Lake-Liners, (how silly of them!) But the girls had a blast and we have great pix and now I'm gonna go back and play with them and make some more silhouettes and wordart and OMG! Ladies, I told you I found GIMP. I may never be the same......hehehe.......

Love and Blessings.

Carla aka: minicoop

Scrapbook Challenge! Jan. 24-31

Are you ready for this?!?!? Not only did I get another weekly scrap challenge done, but I killed two "blogs" with one layout! This was soooo much fun today. I'd set up a SparkRally for my MplsStPaul team out at Lake Phalen to walk, watch the kites and ice-boat races and just have fun. It turned out to be a GORGEOUS day. Bright sunshine, blue sky, crisp air, and temps in the teens!!! YES, we get excited in MN in January when the temps go UP into the teens. That's why they call the St Paul Winter Carnival "The Coolest Celebration On Earth"........
So, this is the hardy group of us that showed up AND were able to find each other..... I mean it, Jackie, I'm gonna make a FLAG.

That's it for this week....two in a row. Watch out, I'm getting good at this.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! Jan. 17-24!

Okay ladies and gentlemen, here it is. I haven't had the time I'd like to get scrappin' done of any kind, digi or paper, but I got this done last weekend. That one page per week thing has kinda gone down the drain......oh well, this is more than I had done last year in January. hehehe......

This is my nephew's hockey team. Anne and I absolutely LOVE going to watch Alex play hockey. Sometimes he plays down in our part of town and sometimes we have to "travel" to watch him play. Ah, the joys of hockey. In case any of you are interested, Coach Curtis is "dad" my brother and the other "Lacy" is just a little peanut who happens to have one of the other greatest names in the world and it's spelled the correct way and she was just too cute for words and she liked me.......go figure!

Scrapbook Challenge!!! Dec. 6-13!!!

I'm in that "scrap anyting" catagory again......well, it is something and anything is better than nothing...............yeah, yeah, yeah.....
So take a look at that hottie! Look at that attitude! LOOK at that Russian! That's MY girl! They took 4th at the Apple Valley Invite last weekend. Very cool. Our Invite is this weekend and we're all really excited (to be done....OMG the work that goes into one of these things....)

So, if any of y'all are still reading along down here. I am desparate for a digi DANCE kit. I'm very picky, but willing to look at anything. Not necessarily looking for freebies but, again, very picky. I like the realistic look. I need mainly embellies: shoes, costumes pieces, words, yada, yada, yada..... If you're interested in designing, I've got some particular ideas (but no program to facilitate). I'd love to talk to you. Otherwise, if you know of anything, PLEASE email me and point me in the right direction.
Love and Blessings.
Coop

Scrapbook Challenge! Nov. 30-Dec. 7!

So, here's the plan. Whether or not it can be done, remains to be seen, but we're going to try. IFF (if and only if....a math thing) I can get my ducks in a row once a week. I will be doing most of my scrapping digi-style from now on. I've found it faster, easier, more creative. I don't have all of the bells and whistles yet, but I think I'm doing a fairly good job. I'm going to start at "a" beginning. The year 2007. Anne got her toe shoes in January so this will be one of the first pages in my album. Which, by the way, I'm going to be printing via individual pages from ScrapbooksPlease.com......GREAT site and very reasonably priced.

Love and Blessings.
Carla
(we'll see if I get anything posted next week! LOL)

Scrapbook Challenge!!! Nov. 23-29!

Okay, I actually got something done.....not just once, but twice this month. I kinda cheated a little-bitty-bit......I started this layout last year and just could NOT get it right......so I went back to it last night.....and voila!
Here, my friends, are just some of the things that I am Thankful for........






And I leave you with this enduring prayer from Dear Abby, because frankly she can say it better than I......

O heavenly Father:

We thank thee for food and remember the hungry.

We thank thee for health and remember the sick.

We thank thee for friends and remember the friendless.

We thank thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.

May these remembrances stir us to service

That thy gifts to us may be used for others. Amen.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and may God bless you and yours. -- LOVE, ABBY

Love and Blessings from me and my family to you and yours.
Carla

Scrapbook Challenge! November 10-15!!!

This would be under the "scrap anything, anything's better than nothing" heading.... Besides the fact that I was almost as exited as she was!!! This was the night she tried it on....now I've got to scrap the night she got it as she didn't actually expect to be getting it until next week, for her birthday on the 20th. She doesn't GET her letter unti the end of the season, but she's got the jacket and she is one happy camper. Congrats baby girl! You KICK!


ps....the font is actually my own handwriting!!! How cool is that to have a ttf of your own handwriting?!?

S2L Scrapbook Challenge! August 16-23!

Okay it's not 6 pix, only 5......but it fits almost perfectly. These are pix from Lacy's senior dance recital two years ago last June. I did this "really quickie" layout in order to use the WA from Ginger's House which she specifically sent to me........'cuz she actually forgot to complete the verse to the song with the song title.......oopsie! Thanks Ginger!



Now this one......is for LAST week. Better late than never..........Actually it's also for my Digital Sparks August Theme Challenge too. I truly went 'round and 'round with this. I thought about fading out the willow in the background to give it a more ephemeral effect.....you know, spooky, but I couldn't get the right look and a good digi-friend said she like the full color better anyway! Thanks Marilyn. So, here's another shot of the lake where I grew up. Still love it there and maybe you can tell why.



So, there they are.
Love and Blessings All!
Carla

In Memory of Ben.....and Tom and Dan and James and Carlos and...........

This was Cpl. Ben S. Kopp. I knew him as Ben. He was a good friend of my daughter's. I didn't know that he was born 8 years before my nephew on January 20, 1988. I know he died one day after my daughter's 20th birthday. I didn't know him well, but Lacy did and that's all that's important. He was her friend and I'm mourning. He visited our home a few times. The smile you see is the smile I got to see and I saw it a lot. Can you see the mischieviousness in it? I could. Can you see the pride? I saw that too. He was very proud of what he finally accomplished. He had a tough time in school. He graduated by the skin of his teeth, but the army brought out something incredible in him. He was a Ranger. He was Airborne. And HE WAS PROUD. He was proud of his country and served it willingly. He knew it was risky and accepted that risk, numerous times. One time too many, some might say, but.......well, let's not go there. The other names in my title are the other MN soldiers who were killed in the Middle East during the week of July 12-18, 2009.
I just wanted y'all to see the young man I knew as Ben.
I also want you to take a minute today to...............
hug your child
hug your partner
say a prayer
enjoy the sunshine..........or rain
be grateful
be sincere
be silent
say another prayer
be loud
say thank you
say I love you
say good-bye
say another prayer
for peace
for freedom
for soldiers
for their families
for our families
for our country
and take a look at this..........this is what it's all about.
Whether you believe in the war or not, please, please believe in our men and women serving in the war. Respect them, pray for them, love them as you would your own children. Most of them will return home. Some will not.
God Bless America.



Scrapbook page elements:
Fireworks: Seachell-PD-Element4
WordArt: Ginger's House
Bracket Frame: Latte Dah Designs
Thanks Ladies!

WHY I RELAY...American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Lakeville

Why Wouldn't I?

On Friday July 24th Anne and I will be RELAYING with over 200 others at Lakeville South High School in the ACS Relay For Life in Lakeville. Relay For Life is symbolic of the cancer patient's battle. As the sun sets, it symbolizes the end of what was thought to be a healthy life. The overcoming darkness throughout the night represents how scary the disease can seem and those dedicated participants that choose to stay show that this is not a battle that is fought alone. Then, with the sunrise comes a new day for the cancer survivors with hope and energy to keep fighting the disease. The Society works hard every day to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research, affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people on how to prevent or detect cancer early. The Society helps people with cancer in their own community. And our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep working toward a cancer-free future.

Wouldn't you?

(r: Anne and Lacy Cooper)

(b: Craig Letch, 06-1997)

Craig's Cruisers Relay Team was formed in memory of my dad and Anne’s "Gaga", Craig W. Letch. There have been great advances toward the cure for the brain cancer that took Craig. In fact, Senator Ted Kennedy is now living with the exact type of tumor Daddy had. Your contribution helps turn research into cures. We want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this year’s event. Please click on the links for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors’ Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there! If you can’t join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the lives of people facing cancer – and in the lives of the people who love them. To request a Luminaria in honor or in memory of your loved one, please send me their name(s).

Fighting cancer is a team effort. The impact we can make together is much greater than what any of us could do alone. By supporting our team, you will be a part of a life-changing event that celebrates the lives of those who have battled cancer, remembers loved ones lost, and empowers all of us to fight back against a disease that takes too much.

Again, your contribution is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

God Bless You! Carla and Anne

Craig's Cruisers Team Page

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=15943&team_id=519860

Carla (and Anne) Personal Donation Page

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TRC/RelayForLife/RFLFY09MW?pg=peditor&fr_id=15943&px=6031697