Another work day...

Yep, today is another day to go to work, but my last until next Monday--YEAH!! I'm attempting to get some laundry in before I leave this morning, so far I've done one load and a second one is ready to go in.
Can't believe tomorrow is the last day of 2008, where has this year gone? Our two grandsons, 10 & 8 will be here at noon tomorrow and we'll have them until Saturday, then it's back home to Ohio and school. My DH is still 90% laid up with his hand (had the carpel tunnel surgery), but he is attempting to use the hand a little bit--just can't do any gripping yet. It's killing him not to be able to do stuff when the boys are here..like working on things in his wood shop, he had planned on building little butterfly houses with them, but that's not going to happen this visit. We all hope that he'll be 100% healed the next visit they make to our house.
Other than this news, not much else is going on here...we still haven't taken down our tree and decorations (again, with my hubbies' hand problem it's a big chore) but they'll slowly come down next week sometime. We just had our last friend visit who we celebrate Christmas with, so things can be put away now...just going to take some time to do it since hubby can't lift the containers to put them in the attic. Anyway, the holidays are officially over at our house!
Better finish getting ready for work, will post more later.

It's back to work day....

Well, for the most part the Christmas holiday is over (boo-hoo) and things are slowly getting back to as normal as normal can be at my house. The grandkids are at their father's now but will be back here on New Years Eve for a couple more days then we will take them home to start back to school. We had a great time at my MIL's on Christmas Eve--good food too thanks to my SIL's hard work, oh and my DH making his delicious chicken & noodles. Christmas morning was really nice with our grandchildren--I think they really liked their presents from Santa! Of course, Ashley is only 9 mos old, so she wasn't into the present opening thing..but liked her new push toy that Grandpa made for her---it had bells inside, and she liked looking at all the lights on the tree. The only thing that would have made the day better was if my son from Arizona had been home with his daughter and wife, but alas, they couldn't make it this year...no one could afford the ticket prices...and it's warmer in Tucson!! My stepson, who we haven't heard from in three years decided to make an appearance Christmas Eve at my MIL--no one was quite sure how to react---however, my DH had spoke to him earlier that day and told him it wouldn't be a good idea to show up--but as usual, he didn't listen. Only a couple people talked to him and I grinned a beared it for my DH sake....you see my SS was/is (who knows) an alcoholic and addicted to all drugs--and at 35 has no direction at all!! We have attempted to get him straight for years and each time, he has more or less told his dad to F off, so we wrote him off...now all of a sudden he's shown up again, but I honestly don't want to be around him anymore due to the way he has treated his dad all these years and I still don't trust him. My DH is willing to at least talk to him, but even he's leary of getting too close and his sister and my son want nothing to do with him! He's just not been good to any of our family...he's crapped on everyone and really ticked alot of them off by his actions...so I'll just stand on the side lines and see what comes next. He lives with his mother, so I doubt we hear or see much of him in the near future, as they are 2.5 hours away from here...thank God!! Other than that the holiday was busy but great.
Now I go tomorrow to do Christmas with my mom and spend the day there...but today, it was back to work as usual....the holidays just don't last at all, do they?
I do have some cute pictures of our little granddaughter to scrap and I'm hoping to get some Christmas pics from my DIL of my 3.5 yr old granddaughter in Arizona, but that is probably not going to happen since she doesn't like me scrapping her daughter (long story and I won't go there right now). I still have pics of the kids here though so I have some things to do.
Well, I better get back to work--it's what I'm getting paid to do so will post more later.

BURRRRRRRR...

it's really cold out today!! We are under a wind chill advisory and the wind is so strong I can hear the house creak. The temp is around 0 but the wind chill is like -15. I had planned to take my two GS out shopping for small gifts for their mom, her boyfriend, and little baby sister, but due to the extreme cold I decided it would be better to put it off until tomorrow. It's still going to be cold but the wind isn't supposed to be this bad...and maybe because it's a weekday, we'll miss the crowds if we go early enough. I also wanted to go to Michael's tonight with my 15% off entire purchase coupon, but I think I'll just stay inside where it's warm and cozy--and do some scrapping after supper instead. I have an 8x8 recipe book to work on for my niece (not a xmas gift though) and I really need to get it started since I promised her last Christmas that I would make her a copy of the one I did for her Dad---it's all my parent's favorite recipes (mostly my deceased dad's favorites) and she wanted them too, so I'll work on it tonight, who knows I might even get it done before Christmas (LOL)!!?? It's either that or wrap up in a nice warm fleece throw and one of my favorite books--hard choice!
There isn't much going on around here today--the boys are watching movies with Grandpa--that's all Grandpa can do right now since his hand is still all bandaged up and not supposed to be used. He will get the stitches and bandages off Christmas Eve and he can't wait---he's going stir crazy not being able to do stuff and he hates being behind on his projects down in his workshop, but his surgery was more important because without it, he would have lost use of that hand and then there wouldn't have been any projects!!! Anyway, everyone is basically bored today not being able to go out or do anything fun (the boys like to go to the workshop and use Grandpa's tools to build things--like birdhouses, etc.).
Life is just not alot of fun today!!

Yucky Day....

I haven't posted for a few days since I've been working all week up to today....I just finished cleaning my downstairs and now I'm getting stuff together for a scrapbook class I'm taking tonight at our LSS--a really cute recipe album. Don't know what I'm going to do with it yet, but since I was supposed to make one for my niece of my parent's favorite recipes, I'll probably do this one for her. I was supposed to go to my mother's in Illinois today and take her shopping but since we're under an ice storm warning through early Friday morning, she decided that I shouldn't come over---she's afraid that the storm would come in while I was there and I'd be driving home on icy roads. I feel bad about not going because she doesn't drive and about the only time she gets anywhere is when I do my bi-monthly visit...and her hair appointments every six weeks.
My husband and I are also supposed to drive tomorrow to Cinncinati to pick up our grandsons when they get out of school, but that my be delayed till Sunday if we truly get the ice they're saying we could get tonight. I won't drive on icy highways for three hours there and then another three plus hours home---and in the dark too boot on the return trip!! I know they won't be happy about this, but we told our daughter that we'd come Sunday if we can't make it Friday---I work Saturday, which is why we had to wait till Sunday if not Friday. I hate winter it just ruins all of our plans when bad weather is predicted and/or comes in....not to mention, it's freezing cold here, which I also hate.
I guess if we don't make the trip tomorrow, then I might get some scrapping time in. I can finish the recipe album or I can work on some of our old vacation pictures. I have four years of Arizona trips to complete and several trips to Civil War battlefields that my husband wants me to scrap about. Otherwise, they'll be done in the next few months as I get time to work on them.
Guess, I better get busy and finish the laundry, then I have to fix an early supper so I can make my 6:00 pm class.
More to come later.

Mother in Law's tonight...

My MIL invited my husband and I plus his two sisters and their spouses and his aunt to her house tonight for our annual adult Christmas dinner and gift exchange...we normally go to a restraurant but this year decided to do it at the house and order pizza and salads. We were all to be there at 5:00-5:30...Bruce and I arrived and his younger sister Debbie and her husband,Bob were there already, but not his older sister, Cindy and her husband, Dick. We wondered why Cindy wasn't there, then his mom told us that she had made different plans for the evening before the dinner was planned..we all knew that was a bunch of bull because she knew well in advance that we were going to do this---Cindy is famous for not coming to things unless they are totally in her honor...but to miss her mother's dinner is unexcusable....not to mention that my MIL over the past year has given each of her three kids $6000 from money she inherited from an aunt in Oklahoma and tonight she surprised us again but giving them checks for $1500. She says she wants to see her kids enjoy their inheritance while she's still alive so she gladly gives it to them now. Bruce, me, Debbie, and Bob all fully appreciate this and have used the past money for our homes and for vacations--so we've enjoyed these unexpected gifts. This latest one will buy some new furniture and Bruce wants a rock tumbler--don't ask! But this Cindy thing has us all upset and angry--how can anyone treat their mother like this? What's even worse is that my MIL is going on 86 and who knows how many years she has left so for this to happen really pisses us off, excuse my language. I even made a scrapbook framed page of their grandmother and my MIL at age 3 for both sisters, now I wish I'd not made one for Cindy but I can't take it back (left it at my MIL) because everyone knows that it was meant for Cindy---although Debbie tried to tell me to take it back and give it to someone else--just felt bad for my MIL and told her if Cindy came by later to let her take it. Now, in hindsight, I should have taken it home with me and gave it to my stepdaughter instead because Cindy doesn't deserve it!
Enough venting for tonight...I am just angry that this happened. Anyway, my husband is still recouping and I have to go back to work tomorrow, so I'm making him stuff for lunches that he can easily handle with one hand..I will be so glad when he can use both hands again. I've been nursing him now for 5 days and the bandages don't come off until Dec. 24th, so I have another 10 days to go...I don't know how much more I can do I'm beat now!! Then there will be another 4 weeks of restrictions which hopefully won't be as strict as they are now...I'm doing all his chores now so I hope he'll be able to do some after the stitches come out...at least the little daily things like filling the humidifier, taking the trash out, making his own sandwiches, etc. Sorry, I'm just tired right now and I'm thinking about the snow that they say we might be getting, which means I'll be shoveling instead of him...and it'll be after dark as I work till 6 p.m. and it's dark around 5 here. Not looking forward to this week at all!
Well, I best go check on my "patient" and make sure he's doing okay and doesn't need anything, then I'll watch the news and go to bed. Will post more this week and hopefully I won't be venting anymore.
Goodnight all!!

Layout samples...

Two layouts I did today while my laid up DH slept....the top one is my 3 yr old DGD in Arizona, she does love her Daddy! The lower one is an older picture of my GSs from Christmas 2001 that I found in a box...they are 1 & 3 yrs old then...now they are 8 & 10!! They just grow up way too fast. The layouts are going to the LSS that I work at for store samples...I had to use some new products that we received in the past three weeks to show customers what they can do with the new lines. They are pretty simple layouts since most of our customers do pretty basic scrapping..and I guess so do I, but it's a fun and great hobby, and it's the only hobby I've ever had.. got started late in life(began at 52) scrapbooking and became addicted to it and the shopping part of it. It's been a fun 6 years though and I wouldn't give it up for anything.

Guess, I better go do some cleaning of my house now since I've literally wasted the afternoon doing my layouts and straightening up my scrap space. Now I need to get busy on the bathroom--YUCK!! Oh and I need to get supper started in about 45 minutes, so now is a good time to get busy.

Surgery Day!!

My DH had his surgery earlier today to repair his carpel tunnel..we were in and out in about 3 hours--thought that was really quick. Now comes the hard part---restrictions!! Actually, the hardest part is the surgery was on his right hand--he's right handed--can't use that hand for at least two weeks due to the bandaging, then it's restricted use for up to 6 weeks--no lifting, gripping (like opening a jar), etc. He is not a happy puppy at all and I'm afraid it's going to be a rough 6 weeks..the first 4 days he has to hold the hand so that it is above his heart to prevent severe swelling and he thinks this is the hard part..HA!! Wait till the bandages come off and he can't do his woodworking, etc. for another 4-6 weeks---
And of course, since he's right handed, so he also has problems getting dressed and undressed--man, I thought I was done dressing kids!! It's really funny because I haven't dressed anyone for almost 30 years. Thankfully, I talked him into sweat pants so there's no jeans to button or zip--... he's doing fine with that so far. I guess as long as he doesn't get real whiney or grouchy, then I'll be okay and we'll get along fine---can anyone say, that isn't going to happen?? Anyway, it's over and hopefully there won't be any problems ...other than he is going to be a big pain in the you know what. Thank God, I'm off until Monday, so I can get through the first four days making sure he keeps the hand up and I can do the meals during the day till he's used to using the left hand to do stuff....and if he doesn't do as told, I can get my MIL over here and she'll make sure he does!!! She's a fiesty 85 year old who won't take any guff from him.
Speaking of cooking, I better get moving on dinner now or he'll be yelling up here at me to tell me he's starving...poor guy!!

Freezing in Lafayette!!

It's Friday and it's absolutely freezing cold outside!! Unfortunately, my DH has decided that today is the day we need to run to the post office and turn in our applications for our passports...ugh!!!! After that, we're going grocery shopping---I hate going out in this freezing cold!! Oh well, if I get this all done today, then tomorrow I can stay inside and veg for the entire weekend!! I might even get some scrapbooking done as my house work is finished with the exception of changing our bedding...so I have the entire weekend to do whatever!! I don't think I've ever had two whole days to do nothing around the house (cleaning wise anyway)...I do have to cook Saturday, but that's no biggie--making white chili so it's just a matter of throwing things in the pot and letting it simmer til hot---Easy!!!
I just finished ordering Christmas gifts requested from online sites, the cards were mailed out yesterday, and I only have one more gift to get and it's for my MIL. She's really easy to do and I already know what I'm getting it's just a matter of running to JC Penney's or Kohls, which I'll probably do today or one day next week...next week more likely since it's too cold today. Then I just have to ship the box to Arizona for my DGD, which will be done next week after I wrap it all...then I can just sit back and take it easy till Christmas. YEAH!
Well, better run so we can get to the PO and grocery.

Christmas Decorating is done...

We got all of our Christmas decorations this past weekend, the tree went up while I was at work on Monday and this afternoon, I finished decorating the family room, living and dining rooms...so we are set for the holidays. The cards are in the mail, so now all we have to do is wrap gifts that are to be shipped to our son and his family in Tucson; then wrap up the gifts that will go under our tree Christmas eve for our grandchildren from Ohio, who will be here sometime on Christmas day. I still have to pick up the gifts for my mother and my MIL but those are easy and will be done by Saturday. I didn't think we'd be done this quickly, because neither one of us is really in the holiday mode yet---just doesn't seem like it should be here so soon not to mention stores have been advertising Christmas since before Halloween, which is crazy in our opinion. Anyway, we're doing what we can to get in the mood..it will all come together eventually as we get closer to the date and get excited about seeing the kids. Well, supper prep is calling so I'll post later.

The Weather outside is Frightful...

What an awful day this had turned out to be..it's been kind of snowing but the snow is real fine and it's freezing to the surfaces, so roads are getting treacherous and the wind is bone chilling. Now if our city would do some salting, my trip to work in the morning should be okay but if it's like last year, our roads will be pretty bad in the morning. We have horrible snow and ice removal anymore and there is no excuse for it...all of a sudden anyway. They used to do a decent job but the past 2 to 3 years have been really bad. Oh well, I'll be driving 5 mph--LOL!!
My Christmas cards are done, addressed, and stamped so they'll be mailed out this coming weekend....my DH didn't want me to mail them today, as he thought it was too early, so I agree to wait till the weekend. He put up our tree today and got down all the house decor, so I'll finish that up tomorrow and Wednesday...then the house is ready the holidays. Now if I could just get the few remaining gifts taken care of this week, we'll be set. I will have to mail the packages to Arizona to my son and his family, so I told my DH to hurry up with the "stockings" so we could get stuff sent out...(he has done pantyhose stockings since our kids were little and they still expect them every year---they are nothing but hose filled with stuff he gets at the $1 spots and $1 stores--but the kids love them). This tradition started when he discovered that the Christmas stockings just aren't big enough for all the "junk" he buys...oh well, the kids (big and small) love them and that's what counts.
I did get some scrapbooking done this past weekend after I finished the cards....I actually have the pages caught up for my grandchildren--that is until Christmas. Now maybe I can get back to some of our old vacation pictures that I want to do books on....these projects will take me a long time to do so I work on them in between the kid's books. I'm off Wednesday through Sunday, so I'll get some scrapping time, maybe a day or two as I have appointments on Wednesday and Thursday...and the housework to do, yuck!! I promised myself that these days would not be wasted so I WILL get some pages completed. I'll update on this later.
Good night all!!

Christmas cards almost completed

Here it is Saturday night and I have all but two of my Christmas cards completed!! It took most of the afternoon to do, but I did the inside verses on all 34 cards. I still have two to make though--one for my MIL and one for my mother...not bad for someone who a week ago, was wondering if they were going to get done or not. Thank God for the left over card fronts from last Christmas that didn't get used..I would never have gotten this far without them. Now I need to get another book of stamps and they will be ready to mail.
We just got home from having a great meal with my MIL, my husbands aunt, two SILs and their spouses, and a niece and her spouse---our November birthdays---we went to Grindstone Charlies and the food was excellent, as was our server. My MIL treats all the adults when it's someones birthday and this month we actually had 4 to do--both SILs, one BIL, and our niece, so we had a party of 10!! We don't go out often or get together, so this is my MIL's way of making us all get together--it's only 4 times a year, so that's not too bad (besides Christmas). And we always go somewhere good and my MIL pays the bill---couldn't ask for more, right?!!
I did nothing around the house today since I worked on cards so tomorrow it's cleaning and laundry day! Playtime is over.
Guess, I'll go see what my hubby is doing and I'll post more later.

Just got Home!!!

Even though I was stuffed with turkey and pumpkin pie from our family dinner at my little brother's house, I went to Michael's at 6p.m. for their Cricut sale. OMG, the line waiting for the store to open was really long and when the doors opened 3/4 of them went straight to the Cricut cartridge display. I managed to grab the one I wanted (actually wanted 4, but our store didn't carry the other 3) and quickly got out of the way before I got trampled. I also managed to get a really neat My Minds Eye Christmas paper pack, a couple Softly Speaking stickers, and a 12x12 scrap frame...all were 40% off (except the cartridge) and then I had another 20% off coupon, so I didn't do too bad. Of course, the only thing I actually went for was the cartridge--the rest was just an on the whim purchase---guess that's what I get for staying in the store instead of getting the cart, checking out and heading home!! And since I work tomorrow, I won't be going to any of the Black Friday sales and having crowds to fight--yeah! Thankfully, I don't have any shopping left to do, so I won't miss out!! Everyone is taken care of except my DIL and I already know what and where to get her gifts...helps that she gives me websites and her choices.
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and spent time with their families and friends. Now enjoy the rest of this holiday weekend and stay warm.

Christmas cards finally started..

I finally had a day to do nothing around the house, so I started making my Christmas cards. I also found some extras left over from last year that I can use this year--Yeah!! I have all the card fronts done, so all I have to do is the inside messages, which I'll work on this coming weekend. I will do the messages depending on who the cards go to...I make special ones for our four grandchildren and our mothers. I am just so relieved that I finally have them started because I was almost to the point of buying cards this year due to time constraints, looks like I'm on track now though.
It's hard to believe that Christmas is only a month away and I still have alot of shopping left to do. I have my DH and my best friend done, but that is it. I just can't get in the Christmas mode this year for some odd reason. I don't know if it's the weather that we were having up to two weeks ago or what but it just doesn't seem like it should be Christmas time yet. This year has gone by way too fast...or so it feels that way. I guess getting the cards going is a start , so maybe now I can get in the mood and do what needs to be done----SHOP!! I'll be working on Black Friday, so no shopping for me this weekend...oh well, I don't like the crowds anyway and I can do some on my day off next week when I go to my Mom's in Illinois for our bi-weekly outings (I take her grocery shopping and run errands every two weeks and have been doing this since my Dad passed away 5 years ago). I enjoy spending the time with her and even though I have siblings that live near her, I felt like as the oldest it was my duty to make sure she got around to do things (she doesn't drive, never did)...and like I said, I really do enjoy our shopping dates, so to speak...and my retired, DH sometimes goes with us too. Anyway, things will get done in due time...and all is well, that ends well, right??!!

Pictures of my updated scrappin space

Here are pictures of my updated scrap room...finally finished---well, paper isn't color sorted yet, what the hey!! It's all put away and that's all that matters at the moment. Hope you like it..like I said, it's a really small space but it's mine!!

Yeah, my room is almost done!!!

Here it is Friday and the room is almost done...it's painted, the shelves are in, and almost all my stuff is back in place..I still have a few things to sort through and I will need to eventually sort my papers and cardstock by colors, themes, etc., but right now just having things back in the room and the ability to work again feels pretty good. As I posted before, the space is small and I have no idea how I managed to get so much stuff in here..it's amazing!! I also didn't realize how much I actually have...OMG!!! Anyway, at least, I can start working on things again, like my Christmas cards and catching up on my scrapbooking layouts. I'll be posting pictures after I get it cleaned up...needs vacuumed and I need to get the ladders out of here.

Still Working on my room...

Yes, here it is one week later and my scrap room is still not put back together, it's not even close to being complete. I'm working a few hours everyday on it and still have a ton of stuff to move back in, sure hope noone wants to come to visit us because we have no guest room right now due to all my stuff being piled in there. I decided on Sunday, I was just going to put the paper back in the way it was for now because it's too much to try to sort it all (I honestly am amazed at the amount of paper I have--I had no idea there was so much cardstock, not to mention patterns)..I'll do it after the holidays are over--who needs to know what patterns there are right?? Just kidding, I will go through it in the future, because I need to know what I have to use...then actually use it. If I can be strong, I'm going on a no paper buying binge until I can see it reduced...LOL!!! I'm working today at the LSS, so tonight I probably won't get alot done, but I'm going to do what I can after supper for about an hour and again tomorrow after work, but my intention is that it will be back together by this coming Sunday night. I need to make Christmas cards and it won't get done until my room is together and I have a place to do it. I also have alot of pictures to scrap and they unfortunately will be waiting also. Oh well, I'll have all winter to do them, so I'll just do what I can when I can. Better get back to working, don't want the boss to catch me snoozing.

My Scrap Room is almost empty...

Yes, the re-do has begun and the room has been emptied out and partially painted already. I now have to decide what will come back in and what will be tossed....this is the part I'm going to hate to do because I can't stand to part with any of my stuff. I have so much paper and alot of money invested, so I really hate to get rid of any of it, but I know that there is probably some that I will never use even though it was purchased for a reason, but the reasons do escape me now. I guess I'll just do it a little at a time and see what I end up with...definitely will toss the scrap pieces as I find myself not really using them ...that's one big box deleted. What is a girl to do??!!
Of course, first I have to put together all my M's cubes and reinstall my shelves, then I can see how much storage I'm actaully going to end up with...the room looks big emptied out but once I start putting stuff back in, it is really small...I think it measures 10x11 plus a small closet with shelves that need to be purged of things also. I may have taken on a task that will take me to Christmas to complete...ugh!!! Guess, this is what I get for collecting stuff more frequently than I use it.
The other side of this project is that my DH has severe carpel tunnel in his right wrist and he can only paint for so long before his hand gets to hurting so bad that he can't hold the brush (when painting the trim that is). He's going to the doctor today and they will schedule surgery soon...but until then the painting is slow moving. It'll probably be the weekend before the entire room is painted, but like I said previously, I have so much to go through that he can just take his time because it'll be days before I can get stuff organized to move back in.
My laundry is calling right now, so better get moving....housework will be next then the sorting will start...oh the life of a crafter!!

Survived the weekend..

Well, here it is Monday evening and I not only survived the weekend with three grandchildren (ages 7 mos, 8 & 10 yrs), but I also made it through the day at work!! Needless to say, I am bushed. Our 7 mo old granddaughter wears us out completely...she wants everyone's attention all the time and the little turd only takes cat naps---she will not sleep more than 45 minutes tops when we can get her to sleep that is and that is during the daytime. So two days of her really wears us old folks out.

I came home tonight after work and my husband has started painting my scrap room..he has one and a half walls done and the trim on one wall. He said he would have gotten that side of the room done today, but he has severe carpel tunnel in his right hand and just couldn't hold the brush any longer--poor man!! Needless to say, I have most of the stuff I work with now piled in our guest room and the other half is still in my craft room until he's ready to paint the other half of the room. I honestly have no idea how I amassed so much stuff?!! Could be because I work PT for our LSS and I can't pass up a scrapbook store when we're on the road..oh, and when they have coupons for J's, M's, and HL, I just have to use them----gee could that be why I'll never use up this stash I have?!! LOL!

Well, I'll close this for now, I need to go downstairs and spend some time with the man of the house.

Today is my grandson's, Alex, 10th birthday...he lives in Milford, OH so we'll be calling to wish him a happy birthday today after he gets home from school. Grandpa & I will be driving over tomorrow to get him and his younger brother, Zach ( 8 yrs old), for the weekend and we'll have cake with my MIL and her sister on Saturday to celebrate. Alex has Asperger's Syndrome, which they diagnosed about three years ago...he is a sweet little boy and pretty smart too...loves to come to our house and he's quite the grill cook too! We really enjoy having him and Zach here and getting to do stuff with them that they don't get to do at home due to financial restraints. They also have a new 7 mo old little sister, Ashley, who is just adorable...she'll be here Saturday with their mommy (my stepdaughter, Belinda) for the party. She has just started crawling so it'll be an interesting day--partying and chasing her around. Alex just adores her as is evident in the picture.

Well, housework is calling me---unfortunately the cleaning fairy didn't come last night, so I have to do all the work.

I'm a little late posting these pictures, but wanted to add them to the blog anyway. The top picture is my son, Troy and his daughter, Maxie at their church's "Trunk or Treat" this year. Maxie is --you guessed it--Tinkerbell (or as her mommy calls her "Stinkerbell") and Troy is the "Punisher"...yes, he's a fan of wrestling and he's also with the Tucson, Arizona P.D. He's a big guy and I couldn't be any prouder of him for his accomplishments and fulfilling his dreams. Of course, I do wish they lived closer to Indiana so I could see them more...but that isn't going to happen, so I have to settle for going out there once a year and/or when they come back for a visit, which isn't too often with the price of airline tickets now.

Gosh, it's Sunday already!! Can you believe it's already November?? And only 53 days until Christmas!! Guess, I better get busy making my cards and buying gifts for the family--the problem is where to begin and what to buy. I've asked the kids for ideas not only for them but also for the grandchildren---none have been given yet. The little ones though aren't that hard to buy for---toys, toys, and more toys!! It's the adult kids that are the problem, so they may just get gift cards from their favorite stores...sometimes this is just easier to do than try to get them to give me lists. I just remembered I do have two gifts done--my husband's aunt and my best friend, forgot about them. I made the aunt some stationary and note cards (she loves it when she gets handmade cards) while we were on vacation in Minnesota---great thing to do on a rainy day when you can't get out fishing...I just need to find a box to put them in that will fit the stationary--that's the hard part. As for my friend, we just do small inexpensive gifts and I found her a little pillow with a Schnauzer on it (and it looks exactly like her dog) last weekend when we went to Nashville, Indiana. Our moms like to get new clothes, so they will be easy to do also...just leave the kids!!
Guess, I better get moving today and get the house work done, then it's off to Menard's to find paint for my scrap room redo--YEAH!!! Maybe I can talk my hubby into some new flooring too, ha, ha!!
The vacuum is calling so all for now.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

...AND ALL HALLOW'S EVE!! ALL YOU GOBLINS, SPOOKS, AND WITHCES HAVE A SAFE AND FUN NIGHT!!

Pickin' out pumpkins

These are pictures that were sent from my DIL in Tucson, AZ....it's my three year old adorable granddaughter, Maxie, picking out her pumpkins. She just naturally poses for the camera!!

Baby, it's cold outside....

Here it is Monday again..yuck!!! And it's freezing cold outside, yep, this is our first really cold day and they say we may get our first snow flurries/rain later today. Don't know about everyone else, but I'm not ready for this weather yet!! I want fall back!!
Well, my birthday weekend went fast, but it was a good one. I didn't do much at all on Saturday...going out to eat with my inlaws was the only thing I accomplished...just took it easy. Then Sunday, we went down to Nashville, IN to my favorite stamping store where I spent way to much money on some new stamps and a set of Spica markers that the owner talked me into...on the way home, I stopped at Archiver's and picked up the new Basic Grey Wassill paper pack, so I had a fun day of shopping!! Now to get to work using all my new stuff.
It's time to leave for work so I better get off here and finish getting ready.

It's my birthday!!

Yep, today I am 58 years "young"...mentally that is!! Physically, I know I'm 58 years "old". LOL!! Today is going to be a nice quiet, don't do much day for me, then it's dinner out with my MIL and husband's sisters and aunt, it's part of my gift from my MIL. She insists on doing dinner for all adult birthdays now that we don't do individual birthdays for everyone...which is fine with me because I really enjoy just the adults going out--not that I don't like kids, I have some of my own (all grown up now with children of their own)...it's just quieter this way!!
Other than dinner tonight, I'm going to just straighten up my bedroom and try to rearrange my clothes (you know, the seasonal changing of the garb)....and see what still fits this year.
Tomorrow we'll go to Nashville, IN and visit some of the shops there--especially, my favorite stamp store, Papertrix. I'm hoping to pick up a few new Christmas stamps or whatever else I see that I like. It isn't supposed to rain tomorrow, so we thought it would be a good day to go...would have gone today, but it was raining earlier and it's no fun to go and have to walk around in the rain. Well, it's time to get busy on my clothes!!

Cleaning Day

Yeah, I'm off today...but boo, I've got to clean my house. Of course, after my housework is done, I get to play in my scrap room, which is extremely messy right now, so maybe instead of playing, I should attempt to get it cleaned up too!! Who am I kidding? My room is always a mess but in a few weeks, it will be all neat and organized again...why? because for my birthday, I've asked my handy DH to re-do the room for me-----new paint, different shelving options, and installing all my cubes from Target & Michael's that have been stored under the guest bed for months. I'm hoping this will make me stay organized, neater, and use up my huge stash of paper that I have collected over the past five years of scrapping--right!!?? I have to stop collecting stuff it's getting really ridiculous, but as I've heard somewhere, part of this hobby is the obsession of amassing stuff like paper and embellishments and that's what I've done for sure!! I hate to think of all the hard earned cash that I have put into all this stuff---I tracked it one year and was totally shocked at the amount I had spent!! Think in the thousands (yikes!!). Anyway, the plan is to get it all organized, cleaned up, and ready to use up!! This could take the next few months to accomplish..just kidding, I couldn't stand not being able to do my scrapping work for longer than a couple of weeks at the most...not to mention, I have to do class samples for the store ...and finish working on my Christmas cards. Just too much to do in the next month, and too little time to do it in. That's my life though...a girl can dream at least. Off to clean now.

Tuesday morning

Well, I actually did some scrapbooking and card making the past two days. I made six cards to send to family for Thanksgiving, three mini albums --one for Halloween & two for Christmas--for gifts, and three 12 x 12 page layouts of my 7 mo. old granddaughter. Today, I plan to do more page layouts, eventually, I'll get caught up with everything (if that's even possible). Oh, I also painted chipboard for a class I'm teaching next week at our LSS...and I need to cut out class materials for tomorrow night also --guess, I better get busy. This is my plan anyway, but I also have to allow time to do laundry and straighten up my house-----no rest for the wicked, right??!! I need more coffee!!

IT"S SUNDAY!!

The grandkids are gone and my house has been picked up, so now it's time for some crafting. I really need to catch up on my scrapbooks and get some cards made, so that will be what the rest of my day will consist of and probably the next couple of days too. Since I only work two days this week, I'll be able to get some things done--I hope!

This coming weekend is my birthday--just another year older, which isn't too bad when you consider the alternative. I'm hoping to make a trip to my favorite stamp store in Nashville, IN--Papertrix--so I can get a couple new christmas stamps and maybe Thanksgiving or birthday ones. As long as the weather is decent (no rain), my hubby will go otherwise, I'll be staying home just relaxing.

Guess, I better get busy with my scrappin or I'll never get caught up. Later!!

First Attempt at Blogging

This is my first adventure into blogging, so hopefully, it doesn't take me long to get the hang of it.

Our grandsons are here visiting for the weekend and we went to lunch at Chuckie Cheese--oh boy!! Of course, within an hour after devouring the pizza both boys had gone through all the tokens and were ready to cash in...that was a good thing because the place had really started to get crowded and noisey. After that outing, it was time to start their weekend homework (which they really didn't want to do)...but they did it anyway, just because Grandma wouldn't let them do anything else until it was done (aren't I mean?).

I also was able to get some shopping in before I headed to work at our local scrapbook store. We had our monthly Friday night crop and a mini class, so I had to run the register while the class was being taught...luckily, I was only there for 2 hours.

It's getting late, so I better get to bed so I get rested up for a full day with the boys tomorrow.