Project #2 - Stampin' Up Swap for this weekend

This weekend - I am thrilled to attend another great SWAP with Susie. I know - that means a lot to you! But I really am thrilled. This lady is an awesome stamper and has a great group of girls under her. So - This is what I'll be taking to swap.

It's a super simple project using SU's Top Note die as well as their Candy Lane paper and one of their new stamp sets. Hard to tell, but the little heart on each scallop has glitter.

Enjoy and feel free to ask for instructions if interested.

Just call it Project Month

So - on a whim and starting about 8 p.m. one evening, I decided I had enough of our carpet in the foyer and decided to tear it out. Now - no....I'm not quite that erratic as it had been going through my mind and I had said I'd like to do that sometime after Christmas. But - one night I just didn't want to sit around any longer so away I went and started pulling up carpet. E was quick to join in, and the boys even helped pull staples.

What we unveiled was not too bad, but will be sanded, stained and then poly'd. So - for those who don't visit often, here is what the foyer looks like before and after. Keep in mind the before pix were an afterthought, so they were actually taken during!

Missing our Maggie

For those who don't know....we've had a long term babysitting job for a beautiful young lab for almost two years. Ok - closer to 1 1/2 years. During that time, we've all grown to love our four-legged family member and she even helped us bring in our puppy to the home.

Well - Maggie went back to live with her owner - my dad. Over Christmas break, it was finally the right time for Maggie to go home. Mom and Dad are all moved and settled in and finally have a home with a yard for her to romp in! More like a football field full of wildlife! We're all missing her, even the puppy.

So - as I sorted through some pictures from Christmas, thought I'd post this as a farewell to Maggie!

Photo Challenge

If you go to http://4littlemen.blogspot.com/ you can read about a photo challenge. Who am I to say no! The only problem here is I had two May folders, so I have 2 pix to post.

What fun - join in if you can!

Enjoy the pix from May 08. M1 in her baton recital and M2 playing T-ball.

Fun up North

It's amazing how the same state can have such variations in weather. We left with a little snow, more ice though, on the ground and traveled up to Acorn Acre (a.k.a - Nanny and Poppy's house) to find 3 feet of snow! Talk about a white Christmas and tons o' fun!

Home B-for the Holidays

We were not home for Christmas this year, so let the kids open gifts early. No order, no rhyme or reason, just tear into the gifts! It was a chaotic 5 minutes of taking pix and video, or maybe 10 minutes. But the kids enjoyed having their gifts to use/play with before we headed out of town.

Here is a picture of each one opening or showing off a gift.

What crazy person at Pampered Chef

Came up with this idea? Or - should I ask - what crazy mother, on the afternoon of a snow/ice day thought she could make 2 dozen of these for a preschool program.

They are supposed to look like ornaments from rice krispie treats with licorice and gummy savers as tops.

Anyway - I just had to share - as M1 and I did manage to crank these puppies out and they were really quite tasty!

Concerts, and Programs, and Music Oh My!

Starting out our Christmas season was a variety of concerts and programs. M1 had chorus and band and both were superb! The chorus concert filled to overfilled the stage at the middle school and the girls ensemble and jazz choirs were the icing on the cake!

M2 also had a music concert for grades K-2. It was SO cute. The music teacher did a great job of incorporating movements and motions to almost every song and the kids appeared to have such fun. Unusual to say about music class at that age. It was a very entertaining program that the whole family loved!

M3 also had a Christmas program on one of the worst nights weather-wise. But, only 1 child was missing. That speaks highly of this group of preschool parents. Hooray! The program was just as cute as the many other ones we've been to as all 3 kids have now been to the same preschool.

M1 and I also had the opportunity to play a clarinet duo at a church get together as well as sing O Holy Night on the Sunday before Christmas. What a heart warming time as a mother - to be able to sing such a beautiful song with her daughter.

The only picture I have that is worthy of posting is from the M3 concert.
Making faces at Daddy in the corner doing video

Of course M3 is the boy in the middle

Ho Ho Ruff.....

Merry Christmas from Maggie and Shadow!
Snuggles didn't want to play this game....crazy cat!

Benign, No vomit, Back to school

E's results came back with good news. No cancer. There is some big term, but the important news is no cancer. They took off the bandage, have given the free and clear to return to normal with caution using that arm til the stitches come out. So can I hear an "Amen!"?
M2 has been back to school for two days and hasn't been sick either. The first day back knocked it out of him, but he was all smiles today! Again, can I hear an "Amen"?
M1 is still sickly, but back at school and activities. So - as I predicted - she will survive. And milk it for all it's worth in the morning and evening.
M3 is great as well.
So our house is on the mend! Oh - and....get this....are you ready.....Christmas shopping is done (I hope). I took the day off and wrapped it all up - not literally - but got it all bought.
Here's to life returning to normal - or as normal as it can get out here in the middle of cornfields!