:: My Little Karate Kid! ::
Jordan had her second class last night, and she earned her belt. She was so excited, and I thought it was so cute how they had a little ceremony and made her stand in front of the class to get her belt. She and her instructor were on their knees facing each other, with the belt laying between them. Then she had to lean down and rub her forehead on it to wipe the sweat from her brow on the belt - not that there was any real sweat. Then he tied her belt on her. Her teacher is really great with the kids! He’s funny and teaches them while making them laugh.
Here’s a couple of the photos that I took. 
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We added a couple of critters to the aquarium today. Phil was at our new Petco last weekend and they had some big red hermit crabs. He wasn’t sure if they would mess with anything else in the tank, but after checking with the guy we buy most of out fish from, he thought they’d be OK. So he sent me today to get a couple. Of course they’d already sold the red ones, but since I’d driven 1/2 an hour to get there, I got some brown striped ones. These things are pretty dang big too. I put them in, and they just went to town cleaning the sand! They are kind of creepy looking! 
After the pre-Christmas aquarium fiasco, some of you wondered if we’d lost any fish. Well, we did lose our big peppermint shrimp, but it wasn’t because of the water loss. We’re thinking it was the mildew stuff that the guys sprayed on the carpet. You’re not suppose to use anything aerosol around a saltwater tank, and even though we tried to be careful, that’s the only thing we could attribute it to. All of the other critters are doing just fine. I snapped this photo of out Naso Tang while I was taking ones of the crabs. I think it came out pretty well. With the blue-ish lights and the fish moving, sometimes it’s hard to get a decent photo.
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Don’t forget about the $50 Buy the Store Sale that I have going on. This is one of those sales that won’t be coming back around any time soon! In case you haven’t heard about it: 
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It’s freebie time! Today’s freebie is little mini-kit called Bluebell. 
HERE is the download link. PLEASE DO NOT SHARE MY LINKS IN YAHOO GROUPS OR WITH OTHERS. PLEASE SEND THEM HERE TO MY BLOG TO DOWNLOAD THE FILES. Hope you all have a great weekend! Leave me some love if you download the Bluebell set. 
1valj
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 8:55
Thank you for sharing with me.I love your designs sooo much.:)
2Debra
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:03
Be-You-Ti-Ful !!! Thank you!
3Bonnie
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:06
So cute that Jordan got her belt! Such cute photos!
Thanks for today’s bluebell sampler-love the colors.
4Kait
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:15
I love looking at what is happening with Jordan and her achievements.
The picts. of your fishes, etc. are wonderful.
Thank you for the sampler. It is so nice and calming.
Have a great weekend.
Kait
5Lil B
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:16
‘Morning Traci, Jordan looks so cute in her Gi! I love the photo of her getting the belt! Good to hear that the majority of the fish survived. The Naso Tang is gorgeous as is your Bluebell sampler today! TFS
6nellie
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:18
Prachtige kit.
Dank je wel!
Beautyful!
groetjes.
7Jenn T.
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:23
Great fish pictures & thanks so much for the beautiful freebie!
8Natalie
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:37
Oh, I love the first belt picture; that is too sweet! And I’ve always thought having a salt tank would be just so cool; they’re always so lovely to watch. And last, thanks for the wee giftie, I just love the white doodly paper especially!
9Jaime
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:45
That pic of Jordan is just too cute! Your tank looks great. Thanks so much for the darling gift today!
10Deb
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:45
Thanks for the freebie, its lovely!
11twoboyz00
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:49
Thanks so much for the freebie sampler today - very pretty!
12Fabella
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 9:50
Oh, the first photo is soooo beautiful - she looks soo small and concentrate - georgeus!
Thanks for the wonderful mini-kit -great papers!
13Sharon
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 10:07
Traci, your little Jordan looks absolutely adorable as a white belt - how cool that she can do stuff most adults can’t even do! Way to go, Jordan!
And thanks for the lovely mini-kit as well - great stuff.
14Sassy
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 10:17
Wow BEAUTIFUL design, thanks so much for sharing your gorgeous work. Man I sure wish I had the $50 spare to go wild in the shop…drooling just thinking of it, but having to deal with Christmas bills, getting a new pc cuz mine got zapped with lightening, and also having to replace the phones (they got killed by the lightening too)…I just can’t afford the $50 right now…that just bites *sobbing* but I sure hope that lots of others are able to spare it! It’s a cool idea for a sale and yep I can understand why you don’t do it often! Best of luck with it though!!
Hugs
Sassy
15Betsy
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 10:32
This sampler is perfect for a layout I’m working on! Thank you.
Betsy
16Kori Dorn
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 10:35
She is just adorable! The cute little bow pose and so sweet in her little outfit! Kids are just so wonderful, they make us so proud!
Your tang fish photo looks very good. I know the pictures from underwater are achieved with special lights, otherwise the fish turn out so drab looking, so you did very well with the photo!
Thanks for another terrific freebie!!
17Lisa
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 10:42
Traci…This kit is breautiful, I love the shades of blue!! Thanks so much.
18anonymous
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 10:47
Love the story about the belt! What a cutie! Keep us posted. Thanks for the freebie, too!
19Karen B
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 10:47
Beautiful! I love the swirls and that gorgeous blossom!
20Michelle Adams
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 10:48
Glad you didn’t loose any fish!
We had a crab and he one by one caught our snails and ate them! ugh! We lost a fish (had him for almost 5 years) and bought a mandarin goby - very pretty! So still 2 poor loney fish on there…
Have a great day, Traci!
21Susan
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 11:29
Thanks! Very pretty colors! I love the pics of your daughter at karate, too!
22Leslie
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 11:30
Traci i love how you put kits together1 I would not have thought to use the black gingham ribbon with the blue paper but it works so well! Seeing Jordan’s photos brings back memories of my kids doing all of that! Continue to enjoy her! Thanks!!
23Cynthia
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 11:41
Your work is so beautiful. Thanks for being so generous.
Cynthia
24Sharon aka Scrapcat4914
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 11:46
Way to go Jordan!!!!
Love the photo’s!
Thank you for sharing today’s gorgeous freebie!
25Susan
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 11:56
That’s a sweet photo of Jordan earning her white belt. It’s always cute to see little ones going through ceremonial rites of passage. Thanks for this pretty minikit and loving your faithful readers back!
26Lynn
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 12:00
Thanks for the beautiful freebie. I had a few hermit crabs when I was little, but the poor guys didn’t make it too long because I didn’t have bigger shells for them to grow into. Ooops!
27mikajomc
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 12:33
Thank You!!!!!!
28lcbannon
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 12:36
Thanks so much Traci..
29Lourdes Manners
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 13:49
Wow Jordan looks so cute in her class. Congratulation to her for the belt. What a great photos to scrap. The aquarium is looking great. The new additions are cute. Thanks for the lovely sampler.
30Camille
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 14:13
How nice ! Thank you so much.
31jan
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 14:26
ooh! I really love the patterns in this one! would love to see it in pink, too!
great pics of karate class!
32Linda
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 14:35
Yup, crabs are gross - but your photos rock!!!
Thanks for the yummy freebie too!
33christine
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 14:42
i’m so loving those karate pics of jordan! she’s such a doll!! this kit is super-cute! can’t wait to play. ditto on jan’s comment about seeing it in pink! many, many thanks!
34Debby
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 15:27
Great Pictures. I hope alot of you guys are taking advantage of that sale. Thank you Traci for everything!
35manu
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 15:33
Wonderful!! Thank you very much!!
36catmanor
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 15:47
Lovely kit. Thank you for sharing.
37Amy W.
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 16:03
Wonderful kit! Thank you so much for sharing! Love the colors!
38hosanhelwa
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 16:17
Those pix of Jordan are too cute!! She really looks like she’s loving it!! And thank you so much for the sampler, it’s gorgeous!!
39AstLin
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 16:17
Thank you so much for sharing!!!
40Mara
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 16:32
wonderful colors, thank you
41Maisie
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 16:35
Thanks Traci!
Thisis just lovely!!!
42JSF
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 17:00
Thank you for the blue page kit - I love the diamond shaped paperclips and are those dew drops I spied?
Love all your pics of Jordan - you are a wonderful photographer as well as having a beautiful daughter.
43Caroline
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 17:48
Gorgeous. Thanks for sharing :0)
44Brandy
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 18:38
I love this…is so simple and yet so pretty! Thanks so very much for sharing!!!!
45Brandy
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 18:38
I love this…is so simple and yet so pretty! Thanks so very much for sharing!!!!
46Cindy
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 18:59
Your photos were great fun to look at today, and thank you for the very lovely freebie.
47nancy
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 19:12
what a beautiful kit! awesome job thank you!
48Tina
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 19:17
Thanks Traci; this is gorgeous!
49Becky
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 19:35
Okay, that little ceremony is about the cutest thing EVER! Congrats Jordan!
50Carla
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 20:27
OMG Jordan looks so cute and so LITTLE! What a great confidence booster! Yeah Jordan!!!
51carmel
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 21:00
thanks so much, Traci!
52mormishmom
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 21:11
Thank you so much for sharing! I am just getting started in digi scrapping and I’m so excited!
53Liz
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 21:16
This latest freebie is just beautiful, thank you so much for your continued gererosity with your wonderful work. Jordan photos are way gorgeous.
54Sandy
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 22:15
Thank you so much Traci for the gift! I love that ribbon and stitching! I hope you and your family have a great weekend!! Oh, and I agree, those crabs are a little creepy
55Monica
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 22:31
What a cute little karate kid!
Thanks for sharing the Bluebell kit!
56fran b
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 23:21
Thanks for the be free and bluebell samplers…your kits are awesome!!!TFS!!
Your little girl, Jordon is awesome too!!
57W
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 23:23
Thank you so much for the sampler.
58Kimberly
wrote on 12 January 2007 at 23:43
Gorgeous with a capital G!!
Love the new hermit crabs! They are darling!
Kimberly
59Kellie Salmon
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 0:08
Traci this is awesome and my goodness so many comments I couldnt find the end of the comment page to leave mine. TY TY TY
60amy
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 0:16
thank u so much for this lovely kit
61Glenda
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 0:27
Thanks for the freebie, Traci. Love the way it all works together. Jordan is a cutie.
62Carrie
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 0:34
what a cutie pie! Love the first photo bowing.
Thanks for the freebie. You always have the best samplers.
63BettyJoR
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 0:43
Thank you so much for the beautiful kit! Jordan looks so cute, hope she enjoys it! So glad to hear most of the fish made it OK. They are such fun to watch. Thanks again!
64NinaJo
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 0:52
That aquarium is absolutely beautiful. I’ve always wanted a salt water aquarium. The hermit crabs are an awesome addition to help keep it clean.
Thanks for the Bluebells, they are really pretty.
65NinaJo
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 0:53
I forgot to say how Proud your daughter looks with her new belt. Oriental arts are good to teach children discipline for themselves.
You must have cried like a baby when she was up there, I would have.
66Karen
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 1:00
This is lovely Traci. Thank yo very much.
67hannah
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 3:46
Sorry to hear about your shrimp. Thank you so much for this sampler–the papers are beautiful!
68Bry
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 5:13
Thanks for this Traci - like the swirly paper! congrats to Jordan - such cute pics.
69mmikes
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 7:55
Very pretty papers and designs. thanks for sharing
mmikes
70Jaime
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 10:01
Wow! Thanks for sharing such a great set. I can’t wait to get started scraping this morning.
71Rae J, Australia
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 10:33
Thanks Traci for again sharing your hard work!
72janna
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 13:31
Thank you very much for sharing with us. It is beautifull.
73Deb P
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 15:17
Traci, I took the plunge for BUY IT ALL!!! I can’t believe such an offer, I have just started to download and opening up the files, they are just amazing! The elements have so much realistic detailing, papers are gorgeous! Whoever doesn’t take advantage of this is right down CRAZEEEEEE!!!! Thank you so very again! Deb P
74Dixie
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 15:24
Thaks so much for your lovely kit!!
75Jan
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 18:42
The freebie is lovely. Thank you very much.
But, your daughter is absolutely adorable! She looks like she is going to be a force to be reckoned with when she is older.
76Jan_GodBlessAmerica
wrote on 13 January 2007 at 19:58
Thank you so very much Traci! I just love these colors.
77Jo
wrote on 14 January 2007 at 4:14
Wow…love this mini kit! Super design Traci. Thank you so much : )
78Jalos
wrote on 14 January 2007 at 4:30
Beautifull, thank you!
79RosieB
wrote on 14 January 2007 at 13:31
This is beautiful, thank you
80kimsmith
wrote on 16 January 2007 at 17:34
Hi Traci! Just wanted to thank you for your continued generosity in sharing your gorgeous designs!
81cindiaskew
wrote on 17 January 2007 at 0:42
oh, the pix of jordan remind me of my baby (now 30) when he did the same. priceless memories. 80 comments, already! wow. tyfs the freebie.
82PeggyNC
wrote on 17 January 2007 at 9:03
thanks for the bluebell sampler! I love the bluebell flower and its coordinating items
83nancy
wrote on 17 January 2007 at 11:03
so beautiful, I love these colours thank you so much for this freebie
84Jackie
wrote on 18 January 2007 at 14:05
Great colors in this kit!
Thanks for your generosity
85Peggie
wrote on 18 January 2007 at 22:00
This is a beautiful Kit. I love the colors and
the ribbon and bow.
86rachel aka scarlettcharm
wrote on 20 January 2007 at 11:11
You are so very generous, thank you very much!
87Liz
wrote on 30 January 2007 at 13:44
Thank you! I love the colors!
88Brianna
wrote on 2 February 2007 at 20:10
It’s gorgeous but the link doesn’t work, does that mean i’m too late? =(