Throwback Thursday...Football Then and Now

It seems like just yesterday that Evan started playing football-he started playing flag football back in 2010:

He was so proud and excited to be the quarterback for his team! We didn't win very many games, but he had so much fun!

2011 Season (4th Grade):

He was picked to be the QB again, and we had a different coach this year. A girl was his center- she shocked all the boys with how fast she was! We got more wins this year, and it was so much fun to watch his face light up when they got a win!

2012 flag football season (5th grade):

This was the best season! They had the same coach as the year before, and most of the same teammates. They knew their plays and ran them well-and had an undefeated season, culminating in a championship trophy at the end!

2013 (last year, 6th Grade) First year of tackle football:

Last year was a rough year. After coming off of a flag football team that won every game, it was hard (for him and me both) to come to a new team, and to learn a new way to play football. He has told me many times that tackle is nothing like flag football. It hurts. And it scares me to watch him play. It scares me to sign the concussion or death waver that we have to sign each year. It gives me chills just to think about it! But. He's learning. He's learning to be a part of a team, even if you're not the star. He's learning how to do his part in a different place or position. He's learning to be braver and tougher. And I guess I am (trying) learning to let go. A little bit.
His team didn't win any games last year, but they got so close by the end of the year!

2014 tackle football (7th Grade-this year):

I didn't know if he would want to play again this year after last year being such a tough year on him and his team, but he did. And I am so proud of that! He is on the JV squad this year, and they don't keep score on the JV games. But he got to play in the varsity game last week, and that made me proud too. Even if I do cringe, wince, and shrivel inside when someone breaks a leg or gets hit too hard in the helmet, hurts their arm or hand. Maybe this will make me tougher too?

If you're here for scrapbook inspiration, I have more of that in the works! But, I love taking a moment here and there to reflect on my life and share little tidbits of it with you.

Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Thursday

For today's Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Post, we were challenged to use this sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches , since Lindsay is sponsoring it this week and giving away 10 digistamps to the winner!

Since I am trying to get as many layouts done as possible for the month of July, I thought I would adapt the sketch for a scrapbook page instead of a card this week. I loved the Layered Waterlily digistamp, and I thought it would go perfectly with the froggy I paper pieced for this layout. I colored it mostly with Bic Mark-Its, and used my Copic colorless blender over the whole thing. The patterned paper is by Tinkering Ink (Blur Collection-perfect for little boy Layouts.

Now head on over to the other designers blogs to see what they have to show you today (one of them has an awesome free digistamp from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff for you):

Lindsay (owner)

Melissa C

Row
Melissa B

Tamara

Leanne

Olena

Lisa

Katt

Tracey

Kim

Janet

Erin Bailey (July Guest DT)

And don't forget, for the entire month of July, Lindsay has a sale, spend $5, get a free digistamp of your choice. Go check it out!

Cowboy Cutie!

Isn't he the CUTEST Cowboy you've ever seen? I made this page for week 26 of 52 Sketches, 52 Weeks. This is one of my favorite pictures that I have ever taken of my son-he usually has that big cheeseball grin (my fault, I know, I am paparazzi Mommy!). Anyway, I love how this photo from last Halloween came out. I used a white textured cardstock background, inked the edges with black Graphite Brillance ink pad, then I attached the 2 pieces of red bandana print paper. I cut the barbed wire with my Cricut and an svg file from Dan's blog (SVG Masks). I matted the photo on black cardstock, and attached some round adhesive backed studs that I got from Walmart a loooong time ago. For the pocket, I printed the Denim Pocket digistamp from Lindsay's StampStuff onto denim print paper. The stitching didn't show up enought for me, so I traced the stitch marks with a red marker. The tag is blank Grungeboard by Tim Holtz, which I used a template to trace and hand cut. I then used red "Ladybug" Momento ink to color the tag, and a Graphite Brilliance ink pad to ink the edges. I wrote my journaling by hand with a black pen, then braided raphia for the tie. I cut a little green cactus with my Cricut, stuck the edge under the bottom piece of patterned paper, then used Making Memories black polka dot Puffy Alpha letter stickers for the title. Thank you for looking!