2010

**I'm posting from my phone so we'll see how this goes. My computer decided it doesn't want to work anymore, and between birthday's, Christmas and relatives in town, it's last on the list. Hopefully it will be up and running next week. **

As 2009 draws to a close, I want to wish you all the best for 2010. Thank you to YOU, my loyal blog readers for taking the time to stop by and say hi. Thanks for the encouraging emails and kind words. I've enjoyed getting to "know" so many of you from all over the world.

Happy New Year, I can't wait to see what 2010 brings.

To You and Yours,

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

{Happy Birthday Austin}

My middle son turned 20 today. It's funny how when I look at him I still see that little blond boy that was so quiet and shy and afraid to talk to anyone.

He's not blond anymore, (it's amazing how all 3 boys had such blond hair when they were little!) and he isn't that quiet and shy little boy either. He's all grown up, and makes me proud everyday to be his Mom.
Happy Birthday Buddy, I love you!

{The Holidays Are Upon Us!}

Okay, does December go faster than the rest of the other 11 months or what?? There are only 8 days until Christmas Eve, and there's still so many more things I have left on my to-do list. I did get to check one very important item off the list today...
I was so worried what Gracie would do when she saw the guy in the big red suit. She wasn't afraid at all, in fact, she was so interested in him, she never would look at the camera or the group of us yelling and jumping up and down waving toys in the air to get her attention. She was completely awe struck. It was so sweet watching Santa talk to her, and then as he started telling her the story of "The Night Before Christmas" we all just watched as she listened to his every word. It turned out be the perfect Santa photo, and what I story I will have to tell her someday.
We had pictures taken of Tucker and Gracie together with Santa later this afternoon. She kind of reacted the same way, but I got a few good pics of them with him. Of course for some reason I can't access them off their website tonight, so those will have to wait until tomorrow to share.
Tonight we drove around looking a Christmas lights while sipping hot chocolate, so I can check that off the list.
I still have a few projects I need to finish, I still want to take the kids on a tour of the candy cane factory, and we still need to build our annual gingerbread house. Gotta get those done and checked off the list too!

{More AdornIt Love}

Here's a few more layouts I did for Adornit for the online Product Release Party that they have going on this week. Check out their blog for even more inspiration!
I loved working with these papers and stickers from the new Family Heritage Collection. Such bright and colorful colors!

My 2 oldest boys doting over their baby sister. Love this pic of the 3 of them!

I took these photos at Thanksgiving. It was fun watching Grandpa and Daddy as they showed Tucker the fine art of skipping rocks : )



This is one of my all-time favorite pics of Tucker. Lots of journaling was needed for this layout to tell the story about how this photo was taken in the parking lot of a McDonalds. Yep, a cool backdrop, a cowboy hat, vest and a real pony makes it look like he was out on the ranch. I journaled the story on the back of the layout.

Thanks again so much to AdornIt for thinking of me, I always love working with your products!!

{Adornit Love}

I was lucky to get to play with 2 brand new lines that AdornIt is releasing. They are having an online product release party of the Lapreal Collection and the Family Heritage Collection. Check out their blog HERE for some great ideas. Oh I just love both of these collections!
Here is a layout I did of Gracie using the Lapreal papers, stickers and ribbon. The pinks and browns are perfect for photos of my little princess.



Here's another layout also using Lapreal for a retro 70's page. Check out the puka shells and the wide lapels!

Thanks so much to AdornIt for thinking of me for their special online release. They are always so generous, and it's so much fun working with their products!

{Saturday}

My favorite photos from today!
My 3 boys and my little princess.

The Birthday Boy!

Tucker's cakes that he decorated. One for the "Dark Side" with Darth Vader and the bad guys, and one with the good guys. He had such a great day!

{Friday}

We're in party mode today, getting everything ready for Tucker's Star Wars birthday party tomorrow. I can't believe my baby boy will be 9 years old. I've been having fun with my Cricut machine making decorations. Here's a banner that after the party, will hang in his room. He loves it!


This is to hang on his bedroom door.


And this is to hang on our front door to greet the guests.

I made both of these with 12x12 paper so they can go right into his birthday scrapbook.
He's so excited, and we are too!
**also, thanks for all your kind emails this past week. WOW! I've missed seeing all of you too at the store. I love being home with my kids, but miss the friendships I made through scrapbooking. You can still find me here on my blog, and I love hearing from all of you!

{Tuesday Afternoon)

I finally downloaded the pictures from our Thanksgiving trip up North. It was so nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and spend a few days out in the country.
We went down to the lake that my inlaw's house overlooks so Grandpa and Daddy could show Tucker the fine art of skipping rocks. It was fun watching the 3 generations all trying to to see who could skip it the farthest.
Now that Gracie is walking, she got to walk on Grandpa and Grandma's dirt road for the first time. It's their own private road on the side of the mountain. 1/2 a mile of dirt and rocks to play in, and she loved it!Grandpa and Grandma walk out there almost everyday.We did some "Black Friday" shopping in a cute little nearby town called Exeter.This cute store is my new favorite place to shop! It was decorated for Christmas, and was beautiful!!

Now I finally have the suitcases unpacked, and the laundry done, so it's time for some scrapbooking!

{Tuesday 12:50 a.m.}

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I hope your family did too! I haven't even downloaded my pictures yet, it's on my list of to-do's first thing in the morning.
Oh it was such a great trip, but it's always nice to be back home.