Holiday fun!!

Well, Mark and I made a very quick trip to Texas for Christmas. We enjoyed the time with my mom and Steve and my sister, Megan and her boyfriend, Michael. She also brought her dog, Skylar. She took a liking to Mark! We drove down in one day and I hope that I don't have to do that again. It was a LONG day/night! We ate great food and saw the movie "The Little Fockers". We enjoyed a country church Christmas Eve service! We were one of 26 total people at the service. Mark said it was like you see in the movies. It was a wonderful Christmas! I hope that all of yours was just as special!

So, it's almost Thanksgiving and thinking over the last year, I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a husband I love, a job I still love, great co-workers, cats with a great sense of humor, family who love me and I am healthy. My friends have had a wonderful year too...new babies, great new jobs, new hobbies that have turned into possible new careers, moves, new vehicles, etc....

I am thankful for all the many blessings I have received this year... may your holidays be stress free and joyful and may the next year be even better.

Welcome to the world Blaze, Eliza, Christopher and CJ!! Can't wait to watch you all grow up!!!!

Well, I guess it's been long enough... I haven't had a lot to talk about. I have been to Chicago for work...the clients' vacation and I worked 5 days straight 24 hours a day! We had a really good time but like with all vacations, we had some rough spots. Some major ones but no one got hurt. This is me out on the ledge of the Sears Tower... it's a glass box that juts out from the edge of the building. I am afraid of heights and was not going out there at all. But we did it together and survived! And we surprised ourselves! I made a mini album but don't have any photos of it since I just finished it this week. I had my mom and step dad visiting from Texas. We had a family reunion at my brother's in October and I did a mini album for my mom and did the pages in the reunion album.

We haven't seen the kids or grandsons since July so I don't have anything to report about them. Our annual pumpkin patch trip didn't happen this year. The schedules didn't work out so our tradition is now broken. I think this is the first year that I haven't been to Vala's Pumpkin Patch in over 10 years. Seems very sad but what can you do...

So, I hope you are all well! I promise that I won't wait so long between posts!

Scrapping again

So, I have been wanting to scrapbook for the last few months but couldn't find the motivation to actually scrapbook. Yesterday, I decided I was going to scrap and went downstairs to get a few items. I didn't know that Mark had brought up the laundry basket until I went to scrap at the table and this is what I found....

I got a little distracted by these two and the tongue shot is my favorite!!!! After the impromptu photo shoot, I actually scrapped. I worked on three different projects all in different stages of development. One was a Teresa Collins kit...Welcome Home. Love that one! It's all about your home...just needs photos. Another one was a Bo Bunny mini album using the Jazmyne collection which is purple, green, and a little yellow. I am going to give it to my sister for Christmas. The last one was a brightly colored paper bag album in hot pink and lime green. I will get the photos up soon. So, I'm off to check out some new purchases I made tonight. I needed a few finishing touches for the projects and then the photos will be posted.

Take care!!!!

Just wanted to let you know that I am still here...but I don't have anything to blog about... I did get to meet that beautiful baby boy, Christopher Daniel. What a gorgeous baby! How sweet! Got to visit with his mom a little bit too. She was trying to work from home and visit... So, other than that... not much else is going on. I have been working and trying to stay busy. Not much scrapbooking getting done either.

So, I am still here...

So, I have been missing in action for a while... I haven't had much to blog about. We went to Okoboji and saw the grandsons a few weeks ago... that's where the photos are from. I guess we did have some remodeling go on. Our bathroom got remodeled. It was to be a 24 hour remodel that lasted 10 days and still isn't quite finished. We have a new bathtub and new walls and flooring. We also put in new carpet in the living room and painted. I don't like the color. It's called Wild Asparagus (light green) I wanted more of a sage green but I got talked out of it. We are living with it. The bathroom is painted Mocha Creme (milk chocolate) and white. Still haven't decided what other accent color yet... Any ideas????

The photos are Blaze (4 months); Griffin (2 1/2) and Brody (5). In order... I will get to see them hopefully in two weeks.

So take care and I will do better about blogging!!!

Ok, it's been way too long since I have been on here. I keep waiting for something to blog about. Last week, I caught up with some really good ladies I haven't seen in almost a year...at our favorite hang out....HuHot!!! It was so good to see them and the boys! I enjoyed some shopping before and after...it was a great day! I also delivered my scrapbook pages for a swap since I can't be there for the crop they are going to next week. I will be at work.

Mark and I went to Okoboji this weekend for Blaze's baptism. It was a nice service and we stayed over at one of the resorts. It was a great chance for us to get away for a change. On our way home, we stopped and purchased some items for our backyard. Mark and I had a good laugh at Menard's and we laughed all the way home. It felt good to have time together.

I have come to the realization that you are given only a certain number of days here and I think we get so caught up in things that we forget to enjoy the little things in life...the laughs, the time in the car, the talks, the Sunday afternoon drives in the country, the photos, the children's laughter and my kitties purring. I think everyone would be so much happier if they could concentrate on the positives and try to overlook the negatives.... I know what you are thinking, she has lost it and maybe I have but I know that I am happier and probably healthier and life is so much calmer... Just a thought!!!

I promise I will have something better in the next post... with photos

Blaze Benjamin

So he is finally here. I have yet to meet him though. Maybe this week. He has had an interesting start to his life already. He was born with very little amniotic fluid (dry birth) which I am sure that was not a pleasant experience for either of them. Then he is sent to the NICU in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he goes through all sorts of tests. He seems to be fine and should be home by now. Mark and I went up on Saturday morning but didn't see him. I will be heading to Okoboji tomorrow afternoon (I think) to take care of Brody and Griffin. I then leave next Tuesday to go to Texas for a wedding so I will be ready to come home in March, hoping to feel refreshed, or exhausted. We'll see.

ICE....What a nasty word

Ok, so I like winter but this is getting a little ridiculous!! We went without power for 9 1/2 hours today. I'm not complaining that much because we have a roof over our heads and had a warm meal courtesy of the grill but I was getting a little bored and cold. The house temp dropped to 50 degrees and I had on 5 layers and a blanket, scarf and mittens but it was getting a little difficult to move. Even the cats started to get chilly because they crawled up in my lap. I did a book of word searches and beat my husband in 2 games of 500 Rummy and took a nap (early morning right after the power went out). We ended up going to Atlantic to get warm and pick up some batteries and Subway. It is rather pretty with all the ice on the trees but not really helpful to have the branches on the power lines though. I have to work tomorrow night and the house I work in didn't have power back on yet. In fact only one of our houses has power and not sure what tomorrow will bring. No school around here again and they'll be lucky if they go on Friday. Some people up north of us were told not to expect power until next week, so I guess we are lucky and I have nothing to complain about. Now that I got it off my chest, I can beat my husband in another game of 500 Rummy!!!!

Winter Wonderland

So here it is January 16th and it hasn't snowed in over a week!!! Yea for us!!! But our backyard looks like a Christmas card and I personally think it is beautiful!! I do have to admit that these photos came at a price. Luckily, no one witnessed my debacle but it was hilarious just the same! As I was tromping through the snow to get to the far end of our backyard, I fell flat on my face in the snow. Did I mention that I was holding onto my camera and it nose-dived with me into the snow? Panic set it immediately! Is the snow going to break my camera? Did I scratch the lens? It must be my lucky day because my camera works just fine and I didn't break my arm or my nose so life is good. I did see a doe crossing the creek behind my house but I needed the bigger lens to get a closer view of it and after my tromp through the snow, I wasn't going back to the house for it. It was gorgeous and showed up against the white snowy background. I guess you will just have to take my word for it!

My grandson should be making his appearance in the next three weeks. I have his baby scrapbook all done and ready for pictures. I still don't know what his name will be so I will have to add that after he's born or we find out, whichever comes first. I am also making another baby scrapbook for a co-worker who is due in May. I am one of the few who knows what she is having and can't tell. She is telling at next week's Wednesday meeting so I was hoping to have it mostly done by then. I have it all planned out and have started it so we will see.

The girls are trying to get used to me not being here two nights a week and frankly so am I. The air mattress takes a little getting used to as does the sounds of the house. It took me months to get used to the other house I worked in so it will just take time.

Well, I rambled on long enough... take care and enjoy the sights that God has given us...

Well, I started the full time job officially on January 2 but I did work on Friday night at my old house... so in all over the weekend I worked 53.75 hours. Happy New Year!!! We are expecting more snow this week. I guess someone thinks we don't have enough. Mark thinks there is at least 2 feet of snow in our yard in the low spots. I guess it's supposed to start tomorrow and when it's all done we will have 4-7 inches by Friday...and then the blowing begins. Is spring coming soon? I like snow but this is a little ridiculous.

Guess what tonight is?! It's Biggest Loser night!! It has started again. This shows inspires me but not to exercise...just the think about it. It's also the big Iowa game!! I am also watching Grey's Anatomy on Lifetime!!! I get to watch 3 episodes a night!! I have seen all of them at least 4 times but watch then any way. I know I watch too much tv.

So what is everyone up to? I hope everyone is staying warm and I hope that 2010 brings all of you everything your heart desires!! Drop me a comment and let me know how you all are doing... It's been a while since I have talked to all of you....

Take care!!