Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

We have such big plans here to celebrate the New Year...we're staying at home! LOL! We're such party animals! Although I really would like to go to a good party...it's been a LONG time since I've let loose!

I'm glad to see 2008 go...not exactly the best year ever for us. But I must also say, I'm not so excited to see 2009 come. Things are still up in the air with Mark's job...We already know he will be off for a week after 2 weeks of work in January. Since it's a new year, he will probably have to use that week as his waiting period week for unemployment benefits...which means NO paycheck! God, that SUCKS!!! But, we'll get thru...somehow! I just pray for a BIG turn around in our economy, so I can quit worrying about all this crap for a while!

On a positive note...I counted how many scrappy pages I uploaded to Scraplove.com this year...158!!! I can't believe I created that much! And that's not all of them...there were some I never even bothered to scan and post! I wonder if I can do more in 2009???

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Here are a few pics from mostly this morning...the boys have really enjoyed their Santa gifts (thank goodness!) and we've had a wonderful day! I love that we don't have to do any traveling and can just stay around the house being lazy!











The puppy is cousin Anna's...and Pierson REALLY likes her!!!!

Just some kiddo updates...

My Pierson...my baby Pierson...says "Ov-oo" for LOVE YOU!!!! It's soooo sweet!

And I got to play tooth fairy for the 3rd time tonight!!! H lost his 4th tooth! And he almost pulled this one himself! He really had it out...it was just hanging by a thread when I finished it for him! He was excited!

Create My Keepsake Design Team Call!!!

I probably don't have a chance in you-know-where for this, but the requirements for the call were just sooooooo fun!!! This is the first call I've ever submitted to where the guidelines required you to create a KIT first...using things you had on hand...and THEN create a minimum of 2 projects. This really made me use some things I'd had for a while, some things that I was hoarding, and some things I didn't really know what to do with! I should do this more often!!!






For my kit, I had:
*4 sheets of Bazzill CS in vanilla, kraft, and 2 colors I'm not sure of the names of...an avacado kind of color and a reddish-orange.

*Patterned paper was a mix of manufacturers which was REALLY fun! American Crafts-The Goods-Acorn which was a double-sided paper. Basic Grey-Mellow-Settle Down. Creative Imaginations-Harvest Moon Collection-Pumpkin Patch...this is double-sided too. More Basic Grey-Scarlet Letter-Repose. BoBunny-Burnt Orange Dot double-sided paper. And I had to have some Scenic Route-Background Blue Grid Worn.

*Creative Imaginations-Harvest Moon-Trickery Stickers
*Heidi Grace rub-ons
Lace by Wrights
Burlap-y trim by Offray
Embossed Chipboard-have no idea who manufactured this since this was in a RAK!
10 orange brads by The Paper Studio
Word Cards-another one I don't know the manufacturer on.
Journaling Box-I don't know the manufacturer.
American Crafts-felt flowers
Leaves- I don't know the manufacturer
Tiny Alphas-My Little Shoebox
Epoxy stickers-White Blossom
White Photo Mat-recycled from a frame
Tim Holtz Distress Ink- Walnut Stain

The only things I added that weren't in the kit were hand and machine stitching, and a 7 Gypsies journal card on one page.

And here are my creations!







So why don't you head on over to www.createmykeepsake.com and see what they've got to offer!

SL Blinkie

Banging my head!!!

UGH! What a freakin' night! P woke up at 10, was still up at 11, finally dozed off but then vomited in my bed around midnight. Was still up at 1, then H and N woke up too. P vomited again. P and I moved to the couch and got a couple hours of sleep. He's been screaming and being a royal PITA this morning! I don't know what's wrong with him! But at this rate, I'll never get anything done today!

On a nicer note...here's a little something I've been working on...got these little wooden birdhouses at The Dollar Tree and decided they'd make cute Christmas ornaments!

This isn't the best pic...gonna try to get one outside in natural light later...hopefully you'll be able to see that the roof is REALLY glittery and there's some glitter on the sides too. This pic really doesn't do it justice!

Couldn't resist!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

My elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Goodbye Carbs, Hello Cardio!

As much as I hate it, I've GOT to lose about 35 lbs. Period!!! My blood pressure's been up the last two times I've been to the doctor and we just can't have that! I know, I know! Thanksgiving is in 2 days...and I'll eat like a pig! But I have to be good up until that day and after! Yesterday, I walked 5 laps around our house...all the way down the hill in the backyard and back up! My legs are feeling it! I am DYING to go back to my kickboxing class...even stopped in to say "Hello" today, but we just can't swing it right now. I hate being overweight! What I hate even more is my addiction to sweets! UGH!

Recovering...

Had sick kiddos this weekend...I think everyone's doing better now! I took N to the doc on Friday because he was complaining about his ear hurting...no infection, thank goodness, but I had to be sure! Well, on the way home, I get a call from H's teacher saying he was acting like he felt bad and sure enough, he had a low grade temp! By the end of the evening it was 101! And he was complaining of his throat hurting! At midnight-ish, Pierson's running a low grade fever! Got antibiotics for both H and P. But now P is in there coughing like crazy and getting ready to wake up...phooey!

THings I've done...

Thanks to Mary and Jayne! Saw this on their blogs and had to do it! Just copy and paste the list to your blog and highlight the the things you've done!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Can't believe he's 4!!

Today is Nevan's 4th birthday! I can't believe he's already that old! Can't believe I haven't worked in 4 years! He's had a rough week and we've been forced to reschedule his birthday party. At the beginning of the week, he had some kind of stomach bug. Then Wednesday, he started coughing. Yesterday it was so bad that I called the doc and he called him in some medicine. Last night, he wakes in the middle of the night and says his ear hurts! So I took him to the doc today and, even though he doesn't have an ear infection now, he gave me a prescription for the antibiotic if he starts complaining of it hurting and he starts running a fever. On the way home from the doc's, I get a call from school that Harrison isn't feeling well. They checked his temp there and it was 99.1*. I got home, gave him some Motrin and then he seemed fine. But now, he's on the couch asleep and that's unlike him. He's not complaining of anything bothering him, so I'm not sure what he's got!

So, I'm home alone with sick/semi-sick kids tonight...Mark's gone to see Reba in concert!

Hope I can get my scrap on after the boys go to bed! I need a creative outlet right now!

Sickies...

YUCK! I noticed that Nevan was not acting himself Sunday evening. He had told me earlier in the day that his head hurt. I figured it was sinus related. When he told me that again later in the day, I gave him some Motrin and Zyrtec. But, it seems it wasn't sinus at all. It's a crazy stomach bug that's been going around...our niece and my SIL have had it...and I remembered that SIL said her head hurt something terrible! He only vomited once, but if it's the same bug, I'm waiting on the diahrea to hit him! UGH! I just PRAY no one else gets it! We're supposed to have Nevan's 4th bday party on Saturday! I'd hate to have to reschedule it!

My throat's been hurting for a week. I guess I need to break down and go to the doctor. But I know what he's gonna tell me...it's from sinus drainage and I need to be taking a decongestant. Well, I can't take a decongestant because P is still nursing (yes, that's right! STILL nursing!) I've really got to figure out how to get him weaned!

That's the excitement around here. I've gotta go get busy!

Set on GO!

The little guy decided on Saturday (while I was gone to take H to a bday party) that he'd just take off walking...I came home and he's walking up and down the hall! WHAT?!?!?! Doesn't he know he's NOT supposed to do that when I'm not present??? And he got his final eye tooth!!! Phew!

He was sick today...had the wonderful experience of waking at 5:30 am to vomiting! YUCK!!! Had to give him a bath too...double yuck! He felt kinda warm this evening so if he's still puny in the morning, I'll take him to the doc. I just hope no one else gets it!

10 days till Nevan's 4th birthday...guess I should get on those invites, huh?

History in the making...

Not only Nationally, but on the homefront too!

There's a new President of the USA tonight...one Barack Obama. Can't say I'm excited that he won because, either way, I wasn't happy with the choices! Either way, there was gonna be someone in office I wasn't completely confident in. Neither candidate really screamed out at me for my vote so I had to pray really hard in that polling booth and vote for who I thought was the best man for the job. I know that God has a plan no matter what...so tonight I will be praying for our new President asking the Lord to give him the knowledge, the compassion, the strength to take over this country. Don't you think that anyone who WANTS to run for President of the US has to be a little on the nutso side??? I couldn't even imagine wanting that job...especially with all the BIG issues facing our nation! I'm just glad I don't have to hear all those stupid political ads anymore! LOL!

And in other news...
"Give me three steps, give me three steps mister..." and then give me 2 more, and 3 again, and 3 again! YEP! My baby is FINALLY walking! And now I think I'll go cry!

Let's try this again!

Finally!!! These are my little spooks at my dad's house on Halloween night!

Almost done! And Halloween

With teething...for now anyway! Pierson is one tooth away from being DONE...at least until it's time for 2nd year molars! His right stomach tooth finally broke thru the gum...discovered it a couple of days ago.

And Halloween was a blast! Kids got WWWWAAAAAAYYYYYY too much candy (most of which I ate or threw away! I'm so mean!) They were on such a sugar high Saturday, I could've tied 'em up by their toes!

Here's a few pics from the big evening...went to my dad's for dinner and then trick or treated in his neighborhood.
WEll, I'll Upload those later...keep getting an error message...grr!

Gotta go make myself look presentable...today is Mark's 36th birthday and his dad is taking us all out to dinner!

Facebook could change my life! LOL!

Seriously!!!

I just met up again with an old friend from HS...our friendship turned my Senior year because I was being a real you-know-what and thru the years I had come to really regret that! Had always wanted to contact her and tell her I was sorry. When I found her on FB, I immediately, with no hesitation, sent her a message telling her that I wanted to apologize. I personally wouldn't have blamed her for not even acknowledging that I had sent her a message!!! But she DID!!! I really hope to catch up with her more!!!!

I even found a girl that I was friends with in elementary school!!! I changed schools in the 6th grade, so it was fun to find someone from that far back!

So now I'm kinda obsessed! Thing is, the people I really wanna contact aren't on there! Phooey to them! LOL!

On the homefront...mom is here. She still has LOTS to move, but she has the essentials. It's nice having someone here who washes the dishes daily! LOL!

Pierson is a crazy little monkey...just this afternoon, he climbed the entire flight of steps from the basement up to the living room!! But the little booger won't walk! Go figure!

Oh! Here's my last two entries for the DT call...

I can post these now! LOL! The winners should be notified by the end of the week...I don't really think I have a chance, but it was fun, none-the-less!

Love playing with my camera!

Took these just a little while ago...a friend (thanks Michelle!) had commented that she never knew she could take B&W pics with her Rebel. I knew that I could, but hadn't really done that. I usually just converted them to b&W in Picasa. But I decided to take a few. These are some of my fav's...




I had to use what subject matter I had available! LOL! All the kiddos are gone right now! LOL!

Flu shots!

Took Pierson to the doc today for his 18 month well check...he's up to 25.1 lbs!!!! He's back on the growth chart for his age and doing well...except for the not walking thing. But doc didn't have a fit over that...said the same thing I did...he's lazy! Doesn't help that we pick him up whenever he wants us to! (BAD mommy!) So, while we were there, we got flu shots...me, Nevan, and Pierson. the only person left in the house who hasn't gotten one is H...and although it would be a lot of driving, I think I'll take him Monday after his dentist appt. HE'll still be doped on the valium from the dentist, so it should be a piece of cake for him! LOL!

My mom is moving in with us! YIKES! Could be good or bad...I'm hoping good! She's leaving her husband and has told him she wanted a divorce and would be out of the house as soon as she could find something she could afford...well all the low-income places seem to be full and there's no guarantee of when there might be an opening. So, we had told her in the beginning that if she needed a place to stay, she could come here. She kept saying no, but the other day I was talking to her on the phone and she was saying what a jerk the soon-to-be-ex was being and I told her again she could come here. Well, she took the bait! After I got off the phone I was like, "Oh MY GOD! What have I done?!?!?!?!" But DH is fine with it and I will be too. Just gonna have to lay out some rules and we should be okay. Besides, I'll have a built in baby sitter! DH and I might actually get to have a date more often than our anniversary!

Gotta go get some boys in the bed!

Life in general...

Pierson has finally decided that he remembered he could stand on his own!!! LOL! Started doing it again Saturday evening and now I can tell him to stand up and he usually will! Amazing to me that he knows what I'm asking him to do!!! And he will shake his head yes AND no now if you ask him a question! Where the heck is my baby going???? Just a few minutes ago, he stood up and then bent over to hold on to a large dump truck and started using it to help him walk across the floor! :( He goes to the doc on Friday for his 18 month check up...don't think he'll be walking by then, so not sure what the doc is gonna say about that. At least he IS showing some signs now!

Still battling fleas here...did I mention that? We have fleas in our house but no indoor pets! GRRRRRR! Last week, I vacuumed religiously EVERY day...even found some stuff to sprinkle on the carpet that was supposed to kill them. Well, I keep seeing one or two here and there. I really DON't want to bomb the house, but I may have to just suck it up and let Mark do it. At least after it's done, the house will be spotless...because I'll be going thru washing every surface I can find! And I'll shampoo the carpets, and mop the floors, and clean the tubs....I'll probably even wash windows and blinds! I hate insecticides/pesticides in my house!

Received the last sketch from www.stucksketches.blogspot.com yesterday...hope to work on it today sometime! It's a nice one!

WEll, that's all the rambling I've got for now...off to vacuum some more!

Not a fun day!

BAsically, I had a flat and ended up at the tire store where I bought 2 new tires and paid to have the van aligned! Not exactly my idea of a fun morning!

Pierson cut his left eye tooth...

Been participating in a 4 week contest for a DT spot at www.stucksketches.blogspot.com...here's what I created for the first and second weeks...



I have week 3 done, just can't share it yet since the sketch doesn't go up on the site until next week!

Another tooth...

Pierson cut his lower left stomach tooth today...or at least I noticed it being thru the gum today! LOL! Only 3 more left until it's time for his next molars! Wow...can't believe teething is almost over for him...and that we won't have another child to go thru it with... :( Kinda sad. I guess I'll have to live vicariously through someone else! LOL!

Finally showing signs....

WEll, Pierson is 18 months and 3 days old...still not walking. It's had me freaked out for a couple of days, because H was 18 months and 1 day old when he walked...so the fact that Pierson has waited even longer...well....you know moms! LOL!

So, he did something today he has not done before! I had just changed his diaper and had put his pants back on him. He'd been crawling around the house on his hands and feet (instead of knees) and after I put his pants on, he got into that position and tried to stand up right there without holding on to anything! He tried twice and that's all I could get him to do...I sure hope he'll do it again afterwhile so DH can see it!!! I was soooo excited!!! LOL! Maybe there's hope for him yet!

My l'il pumpkins!

Went to the pumpkin patch that is set up at a local church...they sell pumpkins as a fundraiser every year and it's a great picture spot. Here's the best I could get of a very wiggly 18 month old and a surprisingly cooperative almost 4 yr old! LOL!

Pics of my GRAND PRIZE!!!!

Lord! I hope these pics posted in the correct order! LOL!
1. The case.
2. As much of the goodies as I could possibly get into the pic!
3. Stickers, chipboard, rub-ons....OH MY!
4. 8x8 albums (3 of them!) and mini album kits
5. Some Anna Griffin and some foam stamps
6. Magazines, idea books, and paper
7. Inside of one pocket on this neat embellishment holder
8. Inside the big pocket on the embellishment holder
9. Check out all the Love, Elsie stuff...yep, acrylic stamps too!
10. Another embellie organizer...looks like a cute purse when folded up
11. All the stuff that was in it!!!
12. Paper, paper, and more paper! And some matching stickers, journaling boxes, etc.

Lots of stuff there that I will probably never use (too girly) but the majority I will definitely use!

Still can't believe I won all that!

I can announce it now...

I am the Guest Designer for October at www.memorableseasons.com!!!

Please go check them out! Jill has great stuff in the store and has great turn around on orders...I just ordered Stickles on Sunday and got them today!!!! Lots of talent there so I am extremely honored to be their guest designer!

This has been a GOOD day!!!

Let be begin by saying, WOW!!!

Last Friday, I got an email from my local scrapbook store (LSS for those who aren't in the know!) about their 4th anniversary sale on Sat and Sun. Well, I ended up going on Saturday because I wanted to earn quadruple points on my frequent shopper card! LOL! Well, I remembered there was a grand prize that would be given away to someone who made a purchase over the weekend. I got a call this evening and I WON!!! It's a Karen Foster Scrapseat tote thing filled with scrappy goodies! A $250 value!!!!!

So, I've still got my head in the clouds over my great score when I get a private message on a scrappy site I frequent...they want me to be a Guest Designer for them for the month of October!!! I would post the site name, but I don't know if it's been officially announced on their site yet.

I should've bought that lottery ticket at lunch!

Another one I'm trying for!

Another DT...that is!

Rough Draft Sketches is looking for designers...I liked the sketch...so I went for it! Here's what I came up with!



You can see the sketch at http://roughdraftsketches.blogspot.com

Well, didn't make the DT at Memorable Seasons...

so, I move on! LOL!

Go to www.backporchmemories.com and see what I created for the GDT call for November! Now that I think about it, maybe I should've used more "seasonal" pics...KWIM??? The pics are of the boys at the beach...this is for NOVEMBER! LOL!
Actually, here's a link:

http://www.backporchmemories.com/gallery2/showphoto.php?photo=4251&cat=500

I like this one okay...I feel like I'm in a design "rut" and keep doing the same thing over and over! I wanna have one of those "Eureka!" moments and do something that's really over the top!

I'm stalking...

The Memorable Seasons MB today...they will be announcing their new Design Team members today...maybe I'll be one of them! I don't wanna get my hopes up though...lots of tallent there! But what attracted me to the call was that the requirements of a DT member there are very doable for me! I wanna be on a DT, but I don't wanna stress over it either. We'll see later today I guess!

Same old, same old here...boys going to school, me playing on the computer or at my scrappy desk. We are getting our FREE carpet installed today! YAY! A comfier place in the basement for the boys to play! Got the carpet on CraigsList...it's used, but the boys are gonna destroy it probably anyway! LOL! I guess I'll be cleaning carpet later!

Took H & N to the dentist this morning. Nevan was the one I worried about and he was an angel for them! Harrison on the other hand pitched a major fit! Dr. Bill finally got him settled enough to take care of him. He's gotta go back in a month to get sealants put on his 6-year molars that are already in! We got a nice little prescription of VALIUM for that day! LOL! That's gonna be FUN-NY!!!!

Here's a few pics I've taken with the new "baby"! LOL!