What did YOU get?

Was Santa good to you? What did he bring you? Here's a peek at my great gifties!!

Please keep in mind I do not photo well especially in the AM! LOL

From my mom and dad...

A Scumbuster Extreme...

A Michael's GC... AND a 50% off coupon!!! LOL


And... saving the best for last... the kiddos bought me a Sewing Machine!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

We Wish You a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Freak of the Week!

What's that you say?? Well, come on over to Scrapfreak and you can be Freak of the week sometime as well!!! It was a great honor to be chosen this week at Scrapfreak. I haven't been there that long, but I feel as if I have FINALLY come home!!! I love it there and if you aren't part of this great community, you should definitely check it out!

25 Days of Christmas

. Eggnog or hot chocolate? Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He just sits them under the tree.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope
5. When do you put your decorations up? As early as possible, usually right before or after Thanksiving.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mom's Cheesy Potatoes!!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Being together as a family
8. Do you collect anything for your Christmas decor? Snowmen
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not usually
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Snowmen, of course!
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? Love to look at it, hate it being here!
12. Can you ice skate? On my butt maybe! LOL
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? All of them! but I have to say the ones the kids pick out for me all by themselves are the most special!
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending time with family, and remembering what this season is all about, the birth of baby Jesus.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? I am again going with Leigh's Peanut butter fudge! (get it made girlie!!!)
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to look at Christmas lights
17. What tops your tree? A star shaped Snowman
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving!
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Mary Did you Know?
20. Do you send Christmas cards? If so, handmade, store bought, or photo cards? handmade and store bought
21. Favorite Christmas movie? The Grinch
22. What do you leave for Santa? Milk and cookies of course!
23. Have you ever shopped on Christmas Eve? Yep
24. Red or green? Red
25. Do you get ready before opening presents on Christmas morning or do you go straight to the tree PJs, bedhead, and all? Pj's and bed head! Can't you tell by my pictures??

Our Gingerbread House

So, last night, Timothy and I decided to put togther our Gingerbread House Kit. An easy task right? Well, let me show you just how easy it was!!!

First of all, you put the sides togther and add the roof...



Then you work on the decorating. Look at Timothy working so hard!!!



And Voila... you have a nice beautiful Gingerbread House!!!



After all the work, you clean up... turn around to take one final look, and there you have it....



The roof slid right off!!! Now you want the real story?
OK, so we followed the directions on the box, letting the house sit for the required amount of time between putting the parts together. We started to decorate... the roof slid off. We put it back on, more icing, etc... let it sit for TWICE as long.. we start to decorate... the roof starts sliding. We put it back on, let it sit for another length of time. Finally Timothy starts to decorate, and the roof stays in place, but we find one of the sides has fallen in. We can't pull it all the way back up because of the roof FINALLY staying put, so we get it part of the way, and you can't tell it is down any because the roof covers it well. Timothy finishes decorating, and is so proud of his work. He leaves the room, I turn around, and the freaking roof has slid off AGAIN!!! Fine, Katie and I get it back on, without Timothy ever knowing. We have some cups propped under it to hold it so it won't slide, and lo and behold, Timothy comes in and we both notice... the danged side has fallen ALL the way in! Timothy says, "Can I just eat it?" So he grabs that side and begins to munch away! At the same time he says... Mom, we are never doing that again, Right? LOL

In Case You Needed to Know...

Well, I am posting my "wish List" this year in case anyone is looking! LOL I do NOT need any more snowmen. I have figured out I have run out of room to put them, and the tree is FULL!!!

Here is one thing I REALLY want...
The Black and Decker Scum Buster Extreme
Check it out... doesn't it look cool?

I would also like various and sundry Gift Cards... anywhere will do... Walmart, AC Moore, Archivers!!!, Scrapfreak, Rocky Mountain Hobbies

I cannot think of another thing I could possibly need or want! But I know I will be happy with anything!

Happy Birthday To ME!!!

So, today I turned 29... again... LOL It has been a great day for me! I get to work, and my coworkers remembered today was my birthday, and those that didn't or didn't know were all reminded or told by Nancy W. one of my dearest co-workers!!! About 1:30, I was called in the lounge... Anne had bought a birthday cake, and had it lit up with candles. Chocolate.. it was delicious!!! When I got home I was greeted with lots of hugs and kisses from Katie and Timothy. And then there was this....

Now most people would wonder what in the world, but my kids are very imaginative. They came up with this way to "wrap" my presents. I lifted the sheet and found this:



Yep, that is a trash bag covering my gifts!!! LOL Under the trash bag I found lots of great goodies... a snowman that sings and actually "grows," a package of lavendar body wash, lotion, etc, some more snowman ornaments, some lotion, a Moravian sugar cake, and a card with gift cards for Ruby Tuesday and Applebees! My kiddos picked this all out on their own! What great kids I have!



And of course last but certainly not least... my mom and dad got me some wonderful gifts as well! A Wally World Gift card, a cute snowman plate, a snowman hand soap pump (see a theme here???) and my FAVE gift... check it out!!



All in all it has been a great day and I feel loved and spoiled by friends and family!!!

Christmas TAG!!!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.
Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!!
Just copy this entire post and paste into a new post on your blog once you are TAGGED. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then TAG 2 people to do the same that have not already been TAGGED!


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper and a few gift bags.
2. REAL OR FAKE TREE? I have a fake one, but prefer a real one. I haven't had a real one in a few years since it toppled over!
3. When do you put up the tree? It's UP!! Either right before or right after Thanksgiving!
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually no later than 2nd week of january.
5. Do you like eggnog? Nope
6. Favorite gift received as a child? There are several gifts I remember... but the one I remember most was the Farrah Fawcette doll head that you could style the hair and apply makeup to!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope.. need one.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My dad, hands down!
9. Easiest person to buy for? Me? Ha Ha... actually my sister, cause I know I can always get her a Kohl's gift card. (if you're reading this Leigh, you ain't getting one this year!!! LOL)
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I have no clue...
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Definitely mail them... and for the past few years MAKE them as well!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Grinch... Cartoon and the non animated one!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Sometimes as early as the day after Christmas! But mostly in December!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not that I can remember!
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?Anything good! I am not picky! Oh and Leigh's Peanut butter fudge!!!
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I have blue lights on my tree to go with the snowmen!
17. Favorite Christmas song? I love all Christmas music and have been playing the all Christmas music channel for over a week now!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Christmas Day usually home... this year we are heading to SC on Christmas day.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Umm... SNOWMAN!!! LOL But he is a star shape I think...
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Morning... but this year it will be Christmas Eve Morning!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?Crowds... I hate crowded places!
23. What I love most about Christmas? Everything. Definitely EVERYTHING>.. the music, the decorations, the way I feel... it is all so special. But the most important thing, and the most special to me is the celebration of Jesus' Birth! What a glorious day!

OK, now for my tags... I am tagging CARLA and CATHY! You know who you are!! Get to it, and don't forget to TAG 2 other special folks!!!

Fall

Fall is my favorite season of all! I love the change from Hot to cooler temps. I love it when the kids go back to school... for me that is the signal to bring on fall. I was so afraid this year that we would not have many beautiful leaves because of the serious drought conditions we are in, but I was wrong. I think the leaves are the most gorgeous I have seen them! I snapped a few photos to preserve this memory... The change of the leaves, the change in my life now... it is all wonderful!!! I am so thankful to be able to look out my windows and see this gorgeous site every day. To me this beautiful display of color is every bit if not more gorgeous than the newness of Spring!

Productive Day!!!

yesterday was an awesome day for me!!! I was able to scrap my heart out!! I completed 13 pages. All of which were challenges for the Weekend Crop we had at Scraphappy. Here are a few of my faves!!! The rest are uploaded at ScrapFreak Come on over and check us out!!!

Whoever said...

Kitties don't like baths??? Apparently mine do... or so I thought, but they jumped out before I could get them through the rinse cycle!!! LOL Gotta love them Twins!!

Quite a Day...

Well well well... for those of you that know me well, you know my biggest "home away from home" for awhile has been on Scraplovers.com. Today that all came crashing to an end. I will no longer associate myself with a place that is so full of itself it does not recognize the truth if it hit them in the face. For weeks now, I have been very unhappy there. Things just weren't "right." I didn't have much of a clue as to what wasn't right, then I decided to test it... I backed off, I stayed away for days on end. Noone mentioned it... noone asked where I had been, noone cared I wasn't doing my job. At the point someone finally asked... I came back around and shot off a PM to Mackey Stanley and Christina the owner. I let them know how unhappy I had been and clued them in on just a few things I could pinpoint... Mackey then responded to me... albeit kindly to me, I did not realize she was just trying to sweet talk me to keep me around... and to sweeten the deal, she included how she REALLY felt about the Design Team on Scraplovers. It was not pretty... but being as naive as I was at the time, I clung to her thoughts and agreed... boy was that a HUGE mistake on my part. Today things came crashing down at Scraplovers when some of the DT announced they were leaving. Me in my "dumbness" thought that they were leaving because they had had their hands smacked... well, I learned a whole new lesson on that score. What shocked me the most was to learn the TRUE character of someone I had befriended and thought of as a close friend. MAckey showed her true colors in bashing the DT members who left, but trying to glorify the ones remaining... little did they know how Mackey TRUELY felt! Once I had seen the true nature of this beast, I quickly began to defend these people who I had wrongly associated with being the problem. I laid all my cards on the table and posted what Mackey had said about them... no I probably shouldn't have aired the dirty laundry like that, but I felt they had a right to know she was lying to their faces. After this happened I was BANNED from Scraplovers... apparently on that site if your views do not mesh with one Mackey Stanley or Christina you are not welcome... others have left because of her. Others will leave because of her. What will Christina be left with? And empty site. Sad too, cause I did ALL my shopping there... so who wants my business now? I refuse to do business with folks who operate the way they have been operating. I will not go into more detail here for the world to see, but if you ask me privately I will tell you.... ALL comments welcome...

No Ghosts or Goblins!

We had a great time this Halloween at the Fall Festival at Church! Lots of games, prizes, fellowship, a pie eating contest, hayrides, and of course the all time favorite... Trunk or Treat. this was the first year I did not hand out candy... just wasn't in the cards for this month, but I don't think anyone missed it! The kids came home with plenty!

After much searching for the right items for Katie's costume... she wanted to be Waldo... she settled on being a Princess when she just couldn't find what she wanted! And a gorgeous princess she was....




Timothy on the other hand decided he was too old to dress up for Halloween, and just wasn't gonna do it... until he changed his mind the day before Halloween!!! But, he decided he wanted to be an old man, so the costume was easy! A trip to the Thrift Store, (and Poppy's closet for suspenders and a cane...) and voila... here's my old man!!!

End of an Era

I did this page last night of Katie's last softball picture. This season she finally made the decision to end her softball career. She's learning she can't do it all, as much as she wants to. Her extra-curricular activities were getting out of hand, so softball was the first thing to go. I'm kinda sad, but then again, not... there will always be something else going on!

Cornbread Chick'n

I did a page tonight I was much anticipating! I LOVE the photos... love the paper I bought specifically for it... the page itself... well, while it isn't a favorite, I still love it! This is Timothy and Jakey rockin'! Jakey siniging Cornbread Chick'n Where it come from.... Cornbread Chick'n.... he is just too adorable!

I don't GET People.....

SO I am gonna just quit trying to understand why certain people do the things they do.... the end!

Pink for October... and forever!

Breast Cancer Awareness and Research is such an important issue. As a woman, with a family history of breast cancer it is even more important. As a nurse caring for people dying from breast cancer it makes it all the more real. I do what I can to support research for the CURE! Go Pink in October to show your support. Research this deadly disease, and take a stand against it! Most of all, don't forget it once November rolls around!

I'm Home!!!

Oh WOW... is all I can say!!! The Cozy Crop was FABULOUS!!! I must say it was the most relaxing and fun weekend I have ever had. The food was awesome, the hosts were attentive, and the other ladies I met there are now new found friends!!! I will definitely be returning as often as I possibly can!!! Here is a photo of all of us!!!

Such a Natural...

Look at her... she looks like she belongs up there singing. (she's the one with the angel over her head) Yet everytime I mention something about her singing solos, she gets mad. Says it is no big deal, and I shouldn't gush over it. I am a Mama... why shouldn't I? This was taken today at church during Homecoming Sunday. I am very proud of her and all her talent!

BIRTHDAY BASH!!!

Come on over to Scraplovers and help us celebrate it's 2nd Birthday with a HUGE crop!!! Lots of fun to be had!!!

Kitty Update!!!

Haven't posted new poictures in awhile, so I thought I would give a Kitty Update!!! Sadly, (for them) the boys had a wee bit of surgery this past Tuesday. They weighed in at:

Garfield 4.85 opounds, and Oliver 5.4 pounds! What a fatty catty... as we call Oliver!!! Here are some photos of the boys after surgery in their drunken state!!!

Garfield trying to just move....


Oliver trying to get on his feet but landing in the food bowl!



And both boys... imediately after coming back in... Garfield, who is on the bottom, is basically still "unconscious." Poor baby!!! Our vet comes to the house, and their surgery was done right in my driveway in the "Vet Mobile." What a convenience, if you have ever tried to take more than one kitty in at a time, you will understand how great this is!

It's Almost Time!!!

Woo hoo!!! In less than a week I will be heading to PA again for a weekend crop with my friends Lisa and Jo!!! I am too utterly excited!!! We will be there from Thursday through Sunday!!! I plan to get LOTS done! Check in later for an update from the crop!!! Here is where we are going: Cozy Crop

Don't Let the Cat out of the Bag!!!

This morning, I am greeted with the boys playing and having a great time with this bag!!!

Here they are with one cat in the bag, one out...


See the paws of the cat in the bag?


He finally got out!

Devastation....

Tonight I received some terribly horrible news. My brother who lives in Tennessee lost everything he owned but the clothes on his back to a fire that devastated not only his apartment but a total of 20 in the complex he notonly lives in but works for. I can't even imagine what he is going through right now. I have been intears pretty much all evening... I know it is just stuff... material things, but still it is sad. Here is a link to the story on his local news station. Click on the video to see my brother... just seeing him actually made me feel better.

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=48005

What's for Dinner?

This little stinker likes to jump in the fridge as soon as you open the door!!! This is my Garfield!



Look at these sweet boys napping!!!

We Met Amelia!

Here are some of my favorite photos I took today at the hospital. The kids are smitten with their new baby sister... I even got a smile out of Timothy for a photo or two!!!

Welcome Baby Amelia!!!

Tonight baby Amelia entered the world weighing 7 pounds 3 ounces!! Katie and Timothy are thrilled to have a new baby sister!!! Here she is....



I will have some more pictures tomorrow after I take them to meet her!!!

Terrible Twos!!!

OK, here's the game... answer the questions below and Tag at least 2 people to do the same!!!

Two Names You Go By:

1. Linda
2. Mom

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now

1. t-shirt
2. Shorts

Two Things You Want in a Relationship:

1. Love
2. trust

Two of Your Favorite Things to do:
1. Scrapbook
2. Chat on internet

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:

1. Lose my poundage
2. Lots of $$$

Two pets (aka children) you had/have:

1. Oliver
2. Garfield (and I have 3 more babies!!!)

Two people who will fill this out first:

1. Mackey
2. Carla (the two ladies I am tagging!!!)

Two things you did last night:

1. School supply shopping
2. Watched Big Brother

Two People that live in your house (home):

1. Katie
2. Timothy

Two people you talked to last:

1. Lisa
2. Michelle

Two things you are doing tomorrow:
1. Scrapbooking!
2. being the taxi-mom

Longest Vehicle Rides

1. Orlando, Florida
2. Allentown, PA

Two Favorite Holidays:

1. Thanksgiving
2. Christmas

Two favorite beverages:

1. Diet Dr. Pepper
2. Pinda Coladas

OK, I am Tagging Carla and Mackey from SL.

Play Time!

We have had so much fun playing with Garfield and Oliver! I wanted to share more photos with everyone!!!

Garfield on the left and Oliver on the right!


Play Time! They love their Scratching post!


Sleepy Baby Oliver! This is my favorite picture of the boys!!!