OMG!!!!!

My daughter turns 11 today.  Seriously, OMG!  Where did the time go?  We had to do a happy day at 7:20 this am since that is what time she was born.  It was happy for her, but I hate that she is getting so big.  I tell her all the time about holding her and dancing with her in the living room when she was just days old.  She looked up at me with her little crossed eyes and her mouth was in this perfect little "O" shape made by her sweet little rosebud lips.  It was like she was saying, "Oh, so your the one I've been nestled inside of all this time."  And I cried.  It was the distinct moment that I really understood true joy and unconditional love.  Now she is almost as tall as me.  She still likes me though.....well on most days. We haven't hit that stage yet.

We are going out for dinner tonight and then to the circus.  Doesn't that sound fun?  She already got her bday present...money for her own computer.  She is my little "geek"( said in the most loving way. ) I wish I was so into loving school when I was her age.  She is smarter than me.  I'm so proud of her.  So when I say "geek" I really do mean it in a loving way.  She is amazing! She is just very into learning and loves to type her own newspapers and stories.  I did get her a few books.  She doesn't know that:)  She would rather have books than almost anything else on Earth.

I made her this card using this sweet Joline image from MFT.  It reminds me of her.  So serious and serene.  This is just how she would look holding balloons on her bday.  She does have a much bigger smile though.  I used some digital paper by Studio 313 Exclusive Creations.  I printed them on regular cardstock as a full sheet for the gable box and on Presentation Paper in a 4X6 setting for the card.  Definitely prints more vibrant on the Presentation paper as an FYI to you.  I also printed out the happy birthday sentiment that comes from the Best Friend in the World File From Studio 313.  You can't see it well in the photo but the balloons have diamond glaze on them and the pink dots on the gable box have stickles. 

These are for a few challenges today:
Die Cuts R Us- double duty
Pile It On- Something sweet...that image is so sweet
ABC Design- 1 Die Cut, 2 stamps, 3 embellishments
JUGS- Template challenge

Here is another birthday card using the Modern Flowers in Black digital file by Studio 313.  I just used the leaves.  I added it to a strip of textured grey cardstock.  I was able to use up another scrap of my Amy Butler paper.  The letters are painted chipboard by Maya Road.  I hope that this showcases the Modern Flowers in a masculine way.  I really do hope since this is the card for the guy whose birthday party we are attending this weekend:)

Before I go I have to share some pics of my beautiful little girl through the years.  It's only 3 so don't leave just yet, ok?

Some of these are scanned so the quality isn't the best.  It's before I went digital.  This is my little girl at around 11 months.  She has always loved nature.  She also used to wear hats all the time.

She has always just loved her brother to death....see that death grip?  They are starting to fight more now, but they still do things together.

Here are the most recent.  We did a little photo shoot a few weeks ago.  She just looked so cute and yet grown up that I had to take some pictures.  Yes, I can count.  That is four...I snuck in one more.  Indulge me a little.  It's a tough day.

Hug your family today!