ok, this was the best CKU ever...!

do you know i have never spent more that a couple hours alone with my daughter in the past 4.5 years?
think about it?
if you have more than one child, how often do you get the opportunity for quality and frivolous one on one time with one of them?

this trip will be a defining moment in mckenna and my life...we did things, we shared things, we helped each other, we explored new places, we jumped on the bed, we communicated as friends, ok she was my 5 year old friend, but you know what i mean.

these are some of the pages in the album she made from the make and takes...

she actually said to me 15 minutes after my last class of the day today..."you know mom, i think you're right, i am perfect just the way i create!".

tears...me? yes, tears streaming down my face.
she gets it!

at dinner she said, "i've had the bestest time ever, can i always come to utah with you?"
can you say...come hell or high water?!!

margie romney-aslett, gave mckenna a big bag of MM product and kristi, from cropper hopper gave  her own set of scrap organizers...she is in heaven! check her out it is 9:00 PM here in ut and she has just asked me to stay up later so she can scrapbook!

the students at cku were just so kind to her...taking her picture, bringing her gifts and she even signed a few autographs.

THANK YOU, to each and every student that sat in the ELM classroom and created with me. you helped me, teach my little girl just how valuable a hobby scrapbooking is and because of you, she felt she wanted to share in it.

(yeah, like i couldn't buy that stamp?!!!)

Comments

[Abby]

Can we say...following in her Momma's footstep??? I am glad that you got to spend this time with McKenna. That is just so cool....I am looking forward to the time I can share this hobby with my little ones--I hope they will embrace it as enthusiastically as your daughter has! Just think, this trip will be forever engraved in McKenna's mind...and when she is "grown up" she will always have this moment with you!

[Jana]

How completely awesome that you & daughter got to spend such wonderful quality time together!! It's very possible that she'll remember & treasure it forever. I'm sure she felt like a total movie star while signing autographs, too cute!!!

[Jackie]

That is freakin awesome! What a great story. She is so blessed to have a mom that would do this for her... it is truly these one on one times that kids remember. Way to make the most of a neat opportunity. Here's hoping there are many more in your future.

[Ginny]

I can only imagine how special McKenna feels right now! That is so wonderful, for you both!
Virginia

[rani]

very cool and precious to have that kind of time with one of your kids! And what a wonderful artist she is!!!!!!! Looking forward to doing that with my Isara soon!!! I love that's she stayed up late to organize her scrap stuff!!!!! Good job McKenna!!!!!!!

[Debbie Musick]

Just think how awesome it would have been if we had all started thinking like a scrapper at age 5! Just think if the things we'd have saved, photographed, and remembered! Donna, this will be such a special memory for both of you. How great you had the opportunity to give her this special week. I just love it!

[brenda (mizweb)]

So wonderful!!!

[Wendy]

Oh Donna, that is so cool! McKenna totally gets it! Children are so wise. How fantastic to have such a connection with your daughter. Thanks for sharing all the pics, feeling all warm and fuzzy now!
Wn:D

[carla]

oh my god.... I get goosebumps Donna! that is soooo coool. i can't wait for the day to be doing that with my daughter, or son for that matter! she is such a cutie! and what an artist she is already! glad you guys had so much fun....

[carla]

btw, where did you get that awesome stamp?!

[Debi B.]

Ya gotta know... that is the absolute coolest thing I've heard about today. Totally rocks... how incredibly special for both of you?!?! :) Sooooo cool!

[Lee]

Oh how cute is all her work. So awesome that you both got the opportunity to do this.

[Angelique]

You ROCK as a Scrapper, Crafter, Creater, Artist and MOM!!! and most likely much much more! Happy to hear that you two have had a great time and that you two grew together while you were here!

Happy Day!

[Tina]

she did a great album, i love it!

[tina]

It only gets better as she gets older! My DD is 8 and requests 'mommy time' because it's just us and we can talk! Sounds like a sweet little girl to take everywhere! Expose her to life - I love that about being a mom - you're her first teacher!

TFS!

[scrappinhero]

Please Thank McKenna for signing my bag for me!!! She is the cutest Donna!!

You both ROCK!!!!

Jer

[Peg Graham]

Moments you and McKenna will never ever forget!

That is abfab!!!

(btw-I have that same stamp too- Glenni Light gave me mine. I guess I say; "You Rock" maybe a little too much...but if it's true, I just have to say it, right?)
so....

Donna-YOU ROCK!

McKenna- YOU ROCK!

hugs-Peg

[denise]

donna that is way cool to be able to hang with mckenna like that. i just want to know how you referred to your drill in her presence???? sounds like you have a few more quotes to put in an album of favorite things the kids say. have a good one . .. wherever you might be today.

[Jacquie]

Wow! That is so terrific that she got to spend some time with you at work! (you have the best job!)

Jacquie

[monica in raleigh]

adorable photos ! cku can be exshausting looks like she did a great job! btw love that stamp - who makes it ?

[erniessweetpea]

congrats on the great mother/daughter weekend...looks like you might have created your greatest scrapping buddy ever...tell her to keep up the good work...she definitely has some great inspiration in a mom...right now, my little girl treasures her little scrapbooks that I make for her, but doesn't really have an interest in actually scrapbooking yet...maybe soon though...
Nicki

[Amanda]

That is just WAY TOO awesome Donna!!! What a great story and experience for you both to share :) She is adorable btw :D!!!

[Tena]

Sounds like the perfect weekend to me! Tena

[Kim Bolyard]

Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I know what you mean. I have three kids and there are times I go do things with just one and is a special time to talk and connect. I try to make time to do that but it is hard with our busy life. My girls are 15 and 13...wait until then and you will really feel like friends. I love having that relationship with my daughters.

Kim

[Heather]

That's so great! I love the stories about your daughter and the two of you having such a great experience together. You guys definitely ROCK!

We say, "You rock!" all the TIME at our house so I have to know -- where did you get that stamp?!?!

[Missy_G]

That is so very cool! Glad you both had a great time!! Have a great day!!

[susan stewart]

As a Mom of a grown daughter I know how important those moments are! Glad you had such a great time together.

[jenn]

That is just AWESOME!!!! So cool to spend some one on one time with her too :) Very cool. Enjoy!!!

[Erica]

She is obviously following your footsteps. The girl can scrapbook! What a great memory for the two of you to share. I have four girls and I know how hard it is to do anything alone. Congrats!

[brianna]

That is very cool.

[Kelli Kemmerer]

What a wonderful way to be able to spend time with her!! By the looks of things it won't be too long before she might have her own book published?? AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME job on the make and take book!! Any chance for you both to come to St. Louis next spring??
Happy meal chick-st.louis

[Jessica K.]

that rocks. that's all there is to it.

[Ali]

Totally happy tears here for you Donna - that is so very, very, very cool. Beyond cool.

[Jeanne]

So happy that you and McKenna had such an awesome trip together. This will be something she never forgets....you too!

[Rhona]

How cool was that, I love it! My daughter is 9 and she loves it when we get a chance to scrap together and McKenna is way ahead! Special, special times!

[Kip]

So cool for both of you! I think YOU were the one who got the most out of this weekend-true bonding time with your precious daughter.

kip

[Renee A.]

Hey Donna,

YOUR CLASSES ROCKED GIRL! I loved the canvas and am finishing up the DO-ABILITY class. Great classes! It was great seeing you again and your daughter is a sweety! Can't wait to take another class!

Renee in Edmonton (lettersbyjanna.com's friend)

[Sandy P]

Thanks for sharing McKenna with the scrapbooking world. If more parents spent quality time with their kids, the world would be a better place!! :) Keep up the good work & keep on encouraging her creative spirit!!
- Sandy
1/2 of THE Famous Perry Sisters

[Deanna]

such a cool cool thing! love every bit of that. can't wait until my 2 yr old dd is this age. thanks for sharing donna!

[Bonnie Rose K]

love what u shared donna.. I wanna do something like this with my 2 daughters.. take them ea on a special trip... just the 2 of us!

[Cindy Densmore]

I am so psyched to play with you next weekend in Wilimington-email if you are bringing your kids, because my DH is going to have my 2- maybe the aquarium and the serpentarium are in their future!

[island jen]

wow, wow, wow!! what an unforgettable experience!

[t]

donna-thats so cool man. i bet mckenna will remember this forever.

[Darlalou]

Donna, I for one had a couple of your classes and I have to commend you... Your dd McKenna was a LIVING DOLL at CKU! Not only is she the cutest lil' blonde sweetheart, but she was SO very well behaved! So cute! So sweet! ( and had a goofy sense of humor like her Mommy!) We loved having her there in the classes and crops, she was a lil' "SUPERSTAR....!" Thanks for the great classes and total experience! YOU ROCK DONNA!

Darla Black aka "darlalou"

[Stephanie Menzock]

Donna -- So enjoyed your classes and your contagious spirit at CKU!!! McKenna was an absolute doll and could not have behaved any better. I hope you treated her for that Ice cream after class, she so deserved it. So glad you shared that bonding time with her.

Stephanie

[Dianne]

Aw she's precious! I love that my daughter is crafty like me, but she's also inherited my perfectionist nature, so it's a blessing and a curse all at once! LOL. Gosh I'd give almost anything to hear mine say something like that!!!

[Jody]

So you will be bringing her to Sydney for some more Mum & Me scrap book bonding???? I'm sure she'd have a good time LOL

[Zarah]

That's a beautiful story! I have a feeling you could fill an album with this trip alone - am I right?

It made my heart smile, reading this - thank you for sharing!

[Carrie]

You definetly handed down your creative jeans!
I read about love languages once and it looks like you found yours with your beautiful daughter. Can't wait to see what creations she comes up with ~ You're both Rockin!

[robin]

wow!!!! I just love to read and see pics
of your kids and you. Mckeena has your talent already!!!!Yes ...the two of you ROCK!!!!! thanks for sharing. and I too would like to know where you got that stamp!!!!!!!!!!

[cindy]

DITTO EVERYTHING everyone has said already!! What an awesome weekend you two had!!!

[gabby almejo-garza]

miss donna....how sweet and beautiful she is. so young and she "gets it".....little smarty! i think she deserves her own t-shirt from cafe press. "mckenna rocks" or "CKU: been there, done that, got it"

- g

[Nichole Black]

OK, thanks for making me cry this morning! LOL What a sweet story! Kristi from Cropper Hopper had her little girl with her at CKU-Chicago, and it was so sweet. I think CKU should have a "Mommy & Me" event in the future - how awesome would that be??? So glad you guys had fun!

[kristen]

she is LUCKY to have such a cool mom!!!

what an adorable lil gal you have!!

[Laura Fiore]

Oh
MY
God
Can you say minime!!! My daughter and I went to NYC a few years back with her best friend and her mom...it was an amazing experience...my first time to the city and I got to share it with my 15 year old daughter...we both walked around with our mouths hangin open!!! Our bonding was not scrapbooking...it was shopping. And just as McKenna is taking after you with her artistry, my daughter takes after me with an artistry only a mother could appreciate in the shopping department (an art my husband will never appreciate!) Enjoy these moments...as you said, they are few and far between...and the memories will last forever!

[ArtsyMama]

Wow, what an amazing experience to share with your daughter. She sounds absolutely darling inside and out. Hope to bond like that with my 13 month old someday:) Thanks so much for sharing your stories. You certainly do ROCK!

[Gayle]

How wonderful for both McKenna AND you! I'm taking my older DD (12) to a CK convention in July and she is so excited. And so am I, just to have this time alone together! Thanks for sharing your wonderful story :)

[StLouisErin]

OMG FANTASTIC!!!! my girl turns 5 on the 29th- i have a rolling scrapbook tote just for her- she has been scrapbooking with me for a little bit but i only let her play with my scraps- this inspires me to let her have her own stuff.

[Robin]

Donna! Took your class in provo (hART) lOVED it! Sorry if we embarresed you at Los Hermanos! Hoped you liked your non alcholic fru fru drink! PS I am the one that took the pic of your daughter and my blue crocks the last night. Let me know if you want it!!

Robin Gibbons

[Yvonne]

So happy to hear you had a good time with your girl.

I had the same experience this past weekend when my 12 y.o. and I went on a 4 day trip to Portland and Seattle. We needed that so bad! The stresses of living with a pre-teen can be wearing. We had an awesome time, just as you and McKenna did. Here's to mom's and their girls!!!!

[Tammy]

Sounds like an amazing time...it's so nice to be able to spend one on one time with your kids. As mothers sometimes that's hard to come by when we are dealing with everything in our lives. YOU ROCK DONNA!

[Lyn]

McKenna...........YOU ROCK!

lOVE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR ALBUM!

Keep up the great work!

Donna.........good on you for taking your daughter with you.
She will cherish this time and remember it for many years to come.
Ar you bringing her to Sydney in AUGUST?I'm sure she'd have a ball and we would all make sure she has a good time.

Lyn (Australia)

[Milissa]

OMG... Donna... I have a McKenna too!!!! And mine likes to scrapbook too... she is 6 1/2 ...how old is yours?

She even looks like my McKenna too... platinum blonde!!!!!

You do great work ... you rock!
McKenna (#2).....you rock too!!!!

Milissa

[scrapfreak1]

wow this post brought me to tears.. made me wish i had a girls.. how true that is with the oldest child... seems like time passes way too quickly and we don't get that much time with our babies... my baby is 13 and well he's not really interested in spending time with mommy i never saw it coming ... so donna enjoy this time and make more times like this... now those are the moments to scrap.. ROCK ON MCKENNA>.. you made mommy one proud girl... keep that family creativity going... :)

[Donna]

Awww....that is Beautiful! I am so glad that you had that experience. My dd age 10 is my scrapbook buddy and lately we havent spent time sb'ing. She is missing that time. Guess her and I need to sit down and get busy. Thanks for sharing that Sweet story.

[Donna]

Awww....that is Beautiful! I am so glad that you had that experience. My dd age 10 is my scrapbook buddy and lately we havent spent time sb'ing. She is missing that time. Guess her and I need to sit down and get busy. Thanks for sharing that Sweet story.

[Nancy Nally (ScrapNancy)]

Looking forward to getting to do those things with my little sweetie in a few years!

[Rebecca]

Makes me want to take my 5 year old daughter (somehow blessed with the same blonde hair as your daughter despite the fact that DH and I are NOT blonde) with me on a trip soon! She would SO love it!
But not the CK convention in Phoenix in Sept! That's Mama's alone time!

[nolajade]

DD!!! you rocked Utah, once again.. and to bring your cutie girl with you... how fun was that, sorry we embarassed Mckenna @ the restaurant ,.I wish tho I would of had my camera handy ... did your drink taste like Crap? LOL Nola