Yay! the NEW year is here!!!

can you tell i'm excited about 2010?  i just want to put 2009 behind me as it was a trying time (financial wise) and although i am greatful to have made it through and learned a lot i am looking forward to the plans that were put on hold over this past year....like more house reno and business ventures. =]

i want to jump back a few weeks and express how much i enjoyed my holidays.  aside from being tired of eating holiday foods, i am thankful for the time spent with family and friends.  it seems that Christmas morning changes every year as the kiddos get older and their excitement isn't as obvious (well, Brody still squealed, lol).  i think they enjoyed their gifts but they looked more like zombies than wide-eyed young-ins. lol

THEN...

the new year's day brought my daughter's 14th birthday.  i just can not believe every year when my kiddos get older.  i can't help but be flooded with memories of when they were smaller.  this year's party was VERY low-key.  if anyone knows me there has not been a birthday party for my children that DID NOT include balloons and other party decor but this year, my sweet Syd was just surrounded by a few distant relatives and a fun cake.  i have promised her a day at the mall with a friend.  she has saved her money from the holidays and her birthday so she has PLENTY to spend. =]

well, i'm sure i will be sharing much more creative decor ideas, home renovations and the crazy things my family does throughout this 2010 year.  stay tuned. lol

November flew by

we had a great thanksgiving and sadly i did not take photos other than catching my little guy in action while he helped me make desserts the night before.

 

i can't believe i did not make it to the black friday sales this year...a first in MANY MANY years.  it just didn't work as i didn't have anyone available to keep an eye on Brody.  it's all good as i actually got an early start on my Christmas shopping this year and i'm over half done.  i probably would have been done this weekend but my frugal side kicked in and i was resisting the prices on some things as i am confident i can find them less somewhere else. lol  this might come back to haunt me but my stubborn side won this weekend.

Brody was a big help with putting up both trees today.  he amazes me daily at what he can do and the things he talks to me about.  just tonight my daughter (13) asked me why i talk to him like he's an adult.  i had to stop and realize what she was saying but i then answered that i talk to him like i would anyone else.  i don't do the baby talk.  i don't discuss things that aren't appropriate either but i try every day to make situations...learning experiences.  Brody is my little sponge.  he knows so much and his memory he DID NOT get from me. lol

have i ever mentioned that he can make a mean cheese roll up??? lol

i'll be back soon to share some holiday decor and a project i'm working on.

holiday hugs! 

 

what a busy weekend!

hubby and i hosted a surprise 50th birthday party for his father.  we chose a 60's "peace" theme and it was fun with guests dressing up in their tye dyed shirts and john lennon glasses....loved it!

that was just saturday.

sunday was spent helping with a benefit for a high school friend that has been ill.  she is doing better now but doesn't have insurance and just spent 12 days in the hospital.  we pulled together a silent and chinese auction and a kickball tourney.  it was a blast!

 i actually won a few things...yay me. :)

 

hope everyone is excited about the holiday season fast approaching....i am, i am! lol 
  
  
  
  
  

Wii themed birthday party

Lake turned 11 a week ago and his party was slightly delayed due to everyone being sick in the house.  at any rate his party day came and went without a hitch this past weekend.

it started off with guests arriving and getting their mii badges to wear during the party

the wii had a slideshow of photos going of Lake through out his 11 years.  everyone enjoyed the cute baby photos to those nekkid ones and then on to his accomplishments and school functions.

the rooms were filled with blue colored decor such as; blue light bulbs, blue mylar balloons, blue cups, goodiebags, etc...

speaking of goodie bags

i found some wii controllers that were candy dispensers, cute medal awards that go around your kneck, gold covered chocolate coins and blue neon glow sticks.  they also got waterbottles with labels of the birthday boys mii on it (didn't do well in the photo department).

i made a quick attempt at a wii controller cake but still wished i would have had close access to a bakery supply shope for better writing tools.  i did also have a cupcake stand of blue sprinkled cupcakes to go along with the party.

he doesn't look too thrilled here but he told me many times that he loved his party.

Lake and his friends and some cousins had fun playing wii games and snacking on fun foods.

other fun decorations where 8x10" sized mii images that were hung around the rooms of all the family and guests.  hand made banners weren't the best but done up to have different fun phrases for competing. 

 

everyone raved about the theme and had a great time visiting, playing games and snacking.  as for me there are more things i would have liked to have done but oh-well. lol

  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  

Happy Halloween!

just a quick entry sharing a pic of my two treaters from last night.  our treating was a day early in my town.  besides the rain, wind and lack of interest from my boys it wasn't all that bad. ha.

they got their share of candy and had fun visiting family and friends houses.  my little guy was a "in-ja" (ninja) and my NOW 11 yr old wanted to be a barbarian.  i enjoy every year making something out of much of nothing.  i don't think this was my best work as lingering colds kept us from getting a good head start on making costumes this year but it didn't turn out too bad.  i get satisfaction when someone guesses right off what he is and that happened at about our third stop at treating.  Lake was a real sport going to the Salvation Army store to hunt downt he perfect clothing pieces to transform into his costume.  fun times, good memories. 

hope your halloween is memorable.  be back tomorrow to share some birthday party pics of Lake's 11th birthday Wii themed party.

 

pumpkins....trains....fall....

love it.  fall that is. 

after a LONG week of being sick it was so nice getting out and taking in some fresh air.  sure we still have a bit of a cough but we put that behind us as we were happy to be doing something fun.  i ran across a website where they had a 'pumpkin train' at a local farm.

i was bummed to realize i didn't have the good batteries for my camera so i was very limited on the photos as the camera kept dying. *cry*  i did manage a couple for my scrapbook so i'm good for now.  as for the kiddos that keep swiping my rechargables for gaming controllers...that's another story. grr.

 

quick update for now...

life is just busy right now.  with colds/flu traveling around a BIG circle in our family i haven't had much time for anything else.  halloween is around the corner and i have YET to get a final decision on the kiddos costumes. sigh.  no worries as i've pulled them outta my *uugghhmmm* rear at the last minute before. lol

i'm doing some preping for my middle kiddo (Lake)'s 11th birthday that is coming up this weekend.  we've decided on a wii themed party so i am excited to add all the fun touches.  i can't help but have Christmas in the back of my head these days.  parents are starting to call me and request gift list ideas and it's putting the pressure on me.  they all know i will NEVER give them a list for myself but i do try to help them with my kiddos.  i am so proud that when i started asking my kiddos for ideas for the grandparents they were ungreedy and only made general suggestions but reassured me they didn't really need anything. sigh =]

i'm getting into the creative groove these days but still have trouble scrapping.  i think because i have lost touch with the latest things going on in the scrap community that it's made me a little 'gun shy' but i will come around.  i think a quick trip to Michael's or my lss will do the trick.

if you haven't seen me around you can find me on facebook, twitter or through email.  i'm currently working on a refurbishing blog and hope to share very soon. it's a fun hobby the hubby and i have been enjoying this year.  it's actually helped us financially along this 8 month PLUS layoff we endured.  no worries, it has ended over a month ago and we are well on our way to being stable again...my that feels good! =]

be back soon...

first day of school has come and gone...

my kiddos are off to a great start.  my goal this year is to be more prompt and scheduled with school happenings.  i must admit that in the past the homework times have so varied and good breakfasts haven't been inforced.  not that my kiddos haven't always had meal options but i just haven't always been health conscious like i should have.  i've always encouraged my kiddos and praised them but this year i am striving to be more structured and untop of things more.  wish us luck. lol

Sydnee is pushing 14!!!!  she has started 8th grade which is the highest level in the middle school.  we didn't do much with her visit to the school before hand as she has the school pretty much memorized.  she's going to be exeriencing some mixed media art classes and also a work shop style class where she will learn some woodworking skills (i told Josh that she can help him in the garage after that, ha).

Lake will be 11 come end of October.  he still loves to play football out on the recesses with his buddies just like for the last few years.  like Syd, he is at the top of the grades in his school.  i can't believe he is in 5th grade.  hopefully the girls won't bother him too much this year as they do every year (wishful thinking).  Seriously, i think every year after 1st grade i have had to speak to his teacher on his behalf about the girls that sit around him and how they both his learning experience.  don't get me wrong, he's had a crush on one for the last few years but he still isn't all "into" the girls yet.

i so wish them the best year yet!

 

 

..........

    

these are my kiddos...they keep me busy and are the reason for my grey hairs. lol

hubby's work & school time

it's been a bit since i've been around this ol' blog.  the summer has kept me busy with entertaining kiddos and learning to live on a VERY tight budget.  i'm pretty proud of the way hubby and i managed to 'keep afloat' during these trying times.  we kept positive and adjusted accordingly and even faced those obvious obstacles that show up at the worst times {broken power window, faulty NEW waterheater, failing oven thermostat, truck breaks, etc}. 

oh but there is good news...

hubby just went back to work full time and they assured him there would be NO MORE lay offs with the railroad he is working on.  whew.  things are looking up and we are making plans to get back on "track" as to where we were headed 8 months ago before all this started.  a BIG thank you to everyone that kept us in their thoughts.  MUCH appreciated!!!

~~~~~~~~~~

the kiddos are headed back to school and i am actually looking forward to it.  not to get RID of them but for them to start a new journey.  i think we just all need a new path started after the first part of this year not going as planned.  my daughter is heading into 8th grade, my middle child {son} is headed into 5th grade and my baby will be going to preschool.

 

  

hi...

just stopping by as we are in full swing of our summer and enjoying every moment we can.  we've been enjoying our pool when the weather cooperates...

 

we got to spend some much needed time with our newest nephew, Jack...

 

i have a yummy new kit in my hands right now and i'm so waiting on photos to be delivered in the next day or two so i can pipe out some fun layouts to share over at Scrapperie (don't worry, i'll share here too)! =}

oh yeah....i wanted to share a link to a blog that is giving away a FABULOUS prize!  Melissa over at Creating from the Heart, is giving away a CUTTLEBUG!!!  please go check it out and her wonderful blog for your chance to win!

have a creative day...

another hair cut!!!!

yep my youngest has given himself about 3 hair cuts in all of his 4 yrs.  seriously, i watch him, i really do...lol  this time he was right in the same room with me.  he was cutting paper to make "art" and while watching cartoons too..i think he just put the scissors up to his hair and was cutting without realizing it.  uugghhh, i can't help but laugh now. thank goodness he is a boy so buzz cuts work out! ha!

going green...

as in the challenge #3 at Urban Anthology!  i finished this up using some random things that would go to recycling or garbage.

 

 

follow the link at the top of this entry to see close ups and details about how i made this layout. 

 

hope your easter was wonderful, ours was so just that, that i forgot to get many pictures...kinda bittersweet. lol

 

 

 

this last photo is of my nephew and he just loved sitting on Brody's peddle car. :)

have a creative day!

wow, time flies...

with the weather changing i've been away from my computer and scrapping supplies.   i've actually had a few scrap gatherings at my house recently and i am loving it!  i managed to get one uploaded today...

 

   

 

also, i didn't get a chance to brag here on my NEWEST nephew, Jack, whom was born on March 14th.  i loved playing with this photo...

before i go...over at Scrapperie they offer a blog prompt daily and today they suggested blogging about 10 random things about me so here goes...

1.  at 35 my grey hair is really starting to show. :(

2. i love my hubby very much but with his lay off going on two months i'm going to pull the rest of my hair out! lol

3.  i am excited as both of my boys will be playing soccer soon...my youngest is 4 and this is his first season!

4.   i can't stay consecutive with excercising when i have my equipment right infront of me daily. :(

5.  i wish i had more creative motivation lately it's been missing.

6.  my son wants to go to the movies with his "girl friend" and i'm nevous about it!

7.  i've been narrowing down car choices and i realize i do NOT like blue, green, silver or goldish color vehicles! lol

8.  i am trying to figure out a useful way to organize my bathroom cabinet so it's totally functionable...i might take pics and get suggestions soon.

9.  my scrap desk has about a dozen NON-scrappy things on it at this moment.

10.  i am going to bake banana bread this evening.

 

have a great day! :)