It's been a while

since my last post, but I've been busy. Let's see if I can remember anything of what's been going on...

October: Can't think of anything except Halloween. My boys were dressed up as a Karate Kid (recycled the uniform he got for the 3 lessons) and a Cow (recycled dog costume). Also, it seems that this is the beginning of crazy days for DH at his job - one mini catastrophe after another

November: *My mom and I both went to VIP day at oldest son's school.
*Youngest son had a birthday.
*I started helping some old friends with a Benefits Call Center. I answered the phone and transfered the call to someone who could sell them the insurance policy(ies) they were interested in. They were doing this for two different businesses. This made for some long days because I still had my day job, the housework, etc. Told DH that no amount of money would be worth it if I still have to come home to a trashed house. So did DH step up to the plate and get the boys in the shower and bed on time? Did he clean up the kitchen, put the dishes in the dishwasher, or wipe the crumbs from the dining room table? NO!
*Youngest son gets ear ache so get antibiotic for it and Nurse Practitioner thinks he has allergies (which I've wondered but didn't know if there was anything that could be done except for the shots I use to get for my allergies) so she recommends Claritin Syrup for him. His nighttime cough gets better but it still hasn't gone away.
*Thanksgiving in St. Louis with DH's family.
*Family Reunion in the town I grew up in.

December (so far): *Presents bought but can't find time to wrap. Can't trust the boys to behave if I'm not in the room and if DH is home, he's either on the computer or sleeping so by the time I get them to bed, I'm worn out from yelling at them that I have no energy left to wrap the gifts.
*Ice storm Dec. 9th - schools closed, lots of people without power but we didn't lose electricity (my jobs however were affected so I didn't have to go anywhere)
December 9th - also is the birthday of my first neice

The new family vehicle

OK, so my car breaks down ($4000 to repair) right after I pick it up from the dealership supposedly fixing it. My DH was planning on replacing his 14 yr old pickup this winter after we get the credit card paid off, but now we *have* to have something the whole family can fit in. So DH gets the Ford Escape he's been wanting, but makes the compromise of getting an Automatic in stead of Manual so I can drive it easily (when ever that will be). So now we are living like a one-car family after having two for our entire 14 yr marriage. I know there are people that do that all the time, but I have to be at work before he does, I get out of work at 3 and he doesn't until 5, I have to get home 10 miles away to be home with oldest son after school, I also have a few evenings where I have to be at school from 4-8pm. And this doesn't include DS1's activities, dentist/doctor appointments, etc. We've gotten use to being able to do multiple things/be in multiple places when it was called for. Right now my generous MIL & FIL are allowing me to drive FIL's car, but he's going to need that back eventually.

Update: They came for their car Sunday evening.



Anyway, here it is...Our 2007 Ford Escape


license plate blurred for privacy purposes

All the cards I've received in swaps

For a card making group that I'm on, I'm suppose to post what I've received. I belong to two different groups. One group, everyone I've swap with tends to put post-it notes in the card saying who it's from. Unfortunately the group that wants these photos, no one does that and I don't keep the used envelopes with the card once I've posted that I've gotten it (I'm trying to keep the clutter down to a minimum). So, I'm just going to scan them all and let everyone enjoy everyone's creativity.

scrapbook layouts

Just a couple to show you (still need to finish journaling on a two page spread before I take a picture of it.

Catch up

Well, lets see...DS2 caught bad cold two weeks ago, I got it last week, and now DH has it. Son2 also has Strep Throat this weekend.

Dh's birthday day...the candles are grouped in a set of 3 and set of 7 to represent his age (wasn't going to light 37 candles even if I was able to fit them all on that small cake).


Did go to Steam Show in Eldon. I need to buy new batteries for camera. Didn't get any pictures of the tractor pull, blacksmithing, or saw mill demonstrations because of the batteries (I thought they had enough "juice").

locomotive ride for the kids

petting zoo

Here's one of the Karate pictures as mentioned last time...

Ok, well it's hot and I'm off to bed. Got to be awake and perky for work tomorrow.

belated blogging

I know I promised to post every day for a month but I do have a good excuse. I've been very busy. Volleyball game after work, scrapbooking lessons (I teach so takes some prep time), take both boys to Awanas, oldest son to trial karate lesson - and I do have karate pictures, but the camera batteries need re-charging so I have to wait on that (finally got charger back from husband so I could do that). Meanwhile, I do have a couple of cards that I received in some swaps that I'd like to share for inspiration until camera is recharged again.

Rachel's Challenge - Start a Chain Reaction

At school today, we had a field trip to listen to a speaker for Rachel's Challenge. (http://www.rachelschallenge.com/) Very moving.


There were several challenges given to the kids that I thought I might try. One was to journal everyday for one month. Well, that's what a blog is so I'll try to post here everyday. Since it is late right now, I'll do something with more "meat" tomorrow.


The challenges:

• Look for the best in other, eliminate prejudice
  
• Write out personal goals and keep a journal
• Choose positive influences
• Make little acts of kindness and use kind words
• Write letters of gratitude to 3-4 close friends or family to start a chain reaction
  

The last of the August cards

For a Button Card Swap: Must use buttons in any way. I tried to make them look like the buttons were holding the picture of the flowers on.

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Ribbon Card Swap: Use ribbon in any way. I made a fairly simple card. There is another layer inside to give an area to write since the green might be too difficult of a background to read.
< < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

This is a pair of cards using a card pack. Hopefully, the swappers won't feel like I cheated because I use something that was pre-printed. I bought the card pack at school and really didn't look at the paper that came with it. I did add the square with the get well message and the tiny flower in the center of the 8 petal flower.

Lunar eclispe

I saw it at 4:30 my time and took a few pictures:

It's a little blurry but it's only about 3/4 covered.




Almost there...



Voila!

Leaves Card

I love how these turned out :) I stamped leaves with White Pigment Ink to create a background (stamp isn't naturally a background stamp but I made it work anyway). Then I used a coordinating stamp and mounted it on lt. green cardstock after I colored the stamped image. I put some pale cream cardstock inside to make an area to write.

Weigh - In: 128

For those of you curious about my weight loss, I'm down to 128. School started and I have a hard time resisting the school's Pizza (every Tuesday for lunch) and their Biscuits 'n' Gravy (every Wednesday morning for breakfast). I only get 20 minutes to eat so I have to cram my food in fast and I don't have time to eat my entree, fruit, veggie, and drink. Yesterday, I didn't get to eat my scalloped potatoes because there wasn't enough time. We'll have to see how well I can maintain my weight loss so I can look good for my family reunion at Thanksgiving.

A couple of layouts

This is a 5 yr old's (mine - 30 years ago) birthday party.



And this is me as a newborn.

More Cards

Girlfriend Cards for Swap

Flower Cards for swap
verse on front says: friendships never stop blooming

Glitter Cards for Swap
We could do anything as long as it has glitter. I chose cardstock that had glitter already. The circles are glittery and I die cut the letters "H i" and for the dot above the "I", I added a rinestone for more glitter. The cards are blank inside so there's plenty of room to write to a friend.

Kids Birthday Cards for Swap

Female Birthday Cards for swap

Generic Birthday cards for swap

Male birthday card for swap


Birthday cards
one for my brother and one for my husband.

This is for my Mom, for her birthday.

Neat Site

I haven't posted for a while because I've been busy. School starts for me this Monday so the week before is always filled with meetings. My sons have started at their schools too.

Anyway, I'm surfing today and came across these: (I'm including the entire series)
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2007/04/1.html
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2007/04/2.html
(make a bow)
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2007/04/3.html
(faux ribbon)
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2007/04/4.html
(zigzags)
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2007/04/5.html


I hope to get some pictures of my latest card creations soon

Fourth of July layout

Here's the layout sketch I followed to create a Fourth of July layout for my youngest son for his album.

Birthday Pocket Card

I created this card for 4 different challenges. Challenge 1: Pocket Card Challenge 2: Colors to be used are Hunter Green and Lavender. Challenge 3: Buttons and Challenge 4: following a sketch (sorry, I don't have the sketch nor do I remember where I found it).

I need a Birthday card for my student's birthday next week. I'm sure he won't understand that it's a handmade card (homemade perhaps) but I still hope he likes it.

I'm on a card making roll

I've been busy making cards for swaps.

I like to participate in as many swaps as I can before school starts and my card making time will dwindle down to almost nothing. Once school starts, I may not have time to do much after feeding and cleaning up after my kids and husband, making sure the oldest son does his homework (surely he'll have some in 3rd grade), and of course keeping up with regular house work (laundry, dishes, vacuuming).
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Tag Card Swap
for Group 1
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Monochromatic swap

Group 1

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Flower Card

Group 1

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Pair of Thank You Cards
Group 1
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Library Pocket Card
Group 1
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Pocket Card
Group 1
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Pocket card for Thinking of You Card
Group 2
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Hello Card Swap
Group 2