a scrappin we will go....

This weekend was the first weekend in months that we were able to stay close to home. Neither Josh or I felt on top of the world, so it made staying home a little easier!

We rented a couple of movies-one of which I watched with the boys tonight. The Soloist-different, but good. I want to look into the book that was written about this story. Hard to believe their are 90,000 homeless people in the city of Los Angeles. It breaks my heart. Certainly, when I hit my pillow tonight I will say my thanks for the bed to sleep in, and the roof over my head.

I also spent most of yesterday scrapping....for my Design Team work at scrapbooks.com. The 20th is the big upload day for Design Team members there. Here is some of the layouts that I did for this month.....go on over to the site to check out many other wonderful layouts by fellow designers, like Michelle St. Clair, Heather Keller, and Alicia Geiss!!!

I just LOVE LOVE LOVE the bingo style cards by Jenni Bowlin, they are so funky fun! Perfect for use on this layout of Taylor's 13th birthday with friends!

There are four other layouts that I did, but you can check them out when you visit scrapbooks.com! :)

Are you ready for some football?

Fall....the weather has felt like fall here in MN for weeks now. We never really had summer! I love this time of year....cool nights with the windows open, and the fresh air flowing through the house....and sitting on the bleachers on Friday nights taking in some hometown football. This year Josh is on the JV team, and will have to dress for the Varsity games on Friday nights. We are anxious for the season...first home game is next Friday night, which is also Taylor's 13th Birthday! That means not one, but TWO teenagers in the house officially!

Dennis made some changes at work...same company, different position-less stress!~ I too have been busy working about 25 hours a week in house at Creative Memories, and then putting in a little time from home as well! I am in my heaven....seriously.....I couldn't ask for things to be better right now!

Keep your eyes peeled for some SPOOKtacular CM goodies coming soon! There is a Limited Edition Trick or Treat line, that is to die for! I will post some layouts with this line later in the week...

Hope you have all had a super fantastic summer...

Happy Creating.

Super Hero...

Many of you know my nephew's story, but for those of you who don't...he suffers from Uveitis, and is taking chemotherapy in hopes of no more flare ups in his eyes. I did this layout a while ago, but wanted to share it with you. Thank the Good Lord that things are stable right now, and he is doing well.





Using some of my favorite Creative Memories goodies, I put this layout together to honor his strength. I am IN LOVE with the ABC/123 line of alphabet stickers Creative Memories has out right now. They are so versatile, and come in white, brown, and black! You will want to get one of each color-FOR SURE!

Other products used: Bazzill Edges, American Crafts Foam Shapes, Tim Holtz clock hands and Crackle Paint, and Fancy Pants.

LIFE.....

We are all living one right now....but, once in awhile it spins out of control. Like ours has in the past 2 months. I know....blah blah blah. In a NUTSHELL, my gram and I flew to New Mexico for Easter and my Sister's wedding, Josh starting marching band, Taylor is noticing girls, I flew back to New Mexico after my sister's seizure and accident, school has ended for the year, I started working in house at Creative Memories 1-2 days a week, and now Dennis is leaving to AZ on Thursday as his father is not well. So, I will breifly recap with a few photos, and hope that it will not be 2 more months before I post again.

How many pages....

have I scrapped in the last 17 years? Hard to say, because I have given away so many for gifts! We got into this conversation at KMA, which made me think about what the boys are going to do with all of these albums if I keep scrapping until they are adults! (Which I fully intend to do!)

They might have to have a separate room in their future homes just for all the scrapbooks I have for them! Here is where I currently store my albums-the shelf is from Ikea and works perfectly for my Creative Memories Albums.

I mostly give my mini's away for gifts, but the few that I have that are my own-I place into the basket on the shelf.

How many pages have you scrapped, and how do you store your albums? ...just curious!

More Pics from the big birthday bash!...

The Crazy Cousins....of my moms.


Gram with the four grandchildren.



Gram and ALL of her great-grandchildren!




The WHOLE family-a rarity.





My Dad and his high school friend Dave.






My mom with her high school friends....Sharon, Donna, Barb, Greg







My Gram and her dear helper Audrey!








My Gram and Cousin Larry.

The week flew by!

WOW! Hard to believe that they week has past. Our families all planned for it for so long, and it came and went in such a hurry! My dear Gram looked absolutely BEAUTIFUL in her purple (her favorite color) dress she picked out! She wore a tiara that her "helper" brought her.....it made her feel just like a "queen for a day!" She stood at the door and greeted all of her guests for almost 3 hours straight....over 200 people. Family came from all over....California, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota.....etc. Gram was always worried she might not make it to this milestone....but, she did and it was wonderful! So many people commented about how she was ninety, and no cane....no walker.....no wheelchair......if only her mind was as clear as her body is strong! She did SO well!

Here is to more wonderful years....and good times with this beautiful woman....

MY GRANDMOTHER!

I love you Gram! :)

Back into the groove.....a little!

You know the first thing I have done since getting back on me feet again....????....yep, scrapbook! I have been doing a little here and there! Working on some projects for CM! I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful their product is! I am totally LOVING it! :)

Last week we celebrated Champs birthday! Taylor insisted he invite the neighbor and his dog over for dog treats! Tay was looking at Champs adoption papers last week when it dawned on him that it was his birthday! What a wonderful dog we found....so glad he came to live with us!

As for my back......I just take each day as it comes. Some days I feel like a million bucks but others I don't even want to get out of bed! My goal is to be up and around by the time may family gets here in 2 weeks for my Grams 90th birthday!

Hope everyone is doing well.....God Bless!

All "screwed up"...

Yep, I was! This was the hardware that they removed from my back last week! No wonder why things were irritated in there! They sterilized them and delivered them to my room shortly after surgery! How thoughtful of them! The little bag was heavy, or so it felt. Dennis weighed them when we got home and they were only 3 ounces!

Okay, back up to my bed now! :)

Hi Nolan!~ Annie loves you:)

IM HOME!

Because I can only sit for 10-15 min at a time, I am simply going to say that I am home....

Days are long, but again...we will get thru them! My family has been great!

Today when the kids get home they will post the photo of all the hardware that was in my back...Hard to believe!

Until then....

Thanks for your well wishes and prayers! I really do appreciate them!

Patiently Waiting

Well, we are still here in the hospital waiting, with a beautiful 40 degree day outside. Melissa is feeling better but we are still waiting. The hospital has certain things that need to be accomplished before someone can go home and we are still waiting on a couple of those accomplishments, which should happen soon. Thank you for all your prayers and support they are much appreciated.
Melissa's Boys -

Melissa, had a suggessful surgery today. Surgeon said everything went well and no surprises. She is resting now and in a bit of pain but doing okay. She did loose some weight today with all the hardware that was taken out of her back. If all goes well we will be home sometime tomorrow or Friday.

Ready or Not.....

I will be arriving at the hospital at 5:30am tomorrow morning with surgery scheduled for 7:30am! I am praying for this to be the answer! I just want to be able to move like I am almost 38 years old! :) Well, really I would love to feel like I was 18 again, but I think that would be pushing it!

I hope to be home within a few days!

The kids will be updating the blog until then, bless their hearts!

Sooooooooooooo............

Many of you know that I have been in alot of pain for the last 3 years with my back! My first surgery was in June of 06, of which didn't help anything! My second surgery was in Sept of 07. Initially there was a fair amount of relief. However in August I started to have alot of pain shooting down my right leg again! So, we tried injections, Physical Therapy, etc etc etc......none of which made any difference. My quality of life stinks....I don't make a trip to the grocery store without hurting....badly! Last week I had a test that showed my nerves were being "pinched off" and today I saw the surgeon AGAIN! It was decided that they will remove my hardware from the last surgery, and decompress at 2 levels. Thankfully it is not as intense as the last surgery, but non the less another surgery. So, at this point I will go in for surgery on January 28th, with about a 6 week recovery period! My Gram celebrates her 90th birthday, and a big bash is planned for mid March, so I want to get this done to be able to celebrate with her, as well as having my family all here from New Mexico! So, if you can spare a prayer or two I would greatly appreciate it! We will get through this, and I am VERY hopeful that the third time is the CHARM! :)

"today is HIS birthday, na nah nah na"......

Can you hear me singing? Oh, I certainly hope not, as I want you to come back and visit my blog again! lol

Anyways, today is my dear husband's birthday! Dennis isn't much of a celebrater, but the boys and I insist on something! So, tonight we will have cupcakes (according to my neice, it isn't your birthday til you have had cupcakes!). Josh is going to gift Dennis with the opportunity of going to his school conferences, and Tay will gift him with having basketball practice tonight! So, we will go out for dinner this weekend and celebrate both Dennis and Josh's birthday's (his is next week!)

So, happy HAPPY birthday honey bun!

Routine is a a wonderful thing....

Oh, I love the holidays, but I also love being back into the everyday routine of things! This week the boys went back to school, the house is put back together, and therefore I found some much overdo time to scrapbook. Scrapbooking for me is my relaxation....it grounds me! So, here are a couple of layouts that I completed yesterday from our past couple of weeks!

I hope that you have found some peace in the new year!

Happy 2009!

It's a new year.....and with that a new ME! I joined a Biggest Looser Group to try to not only loose a few pounds, but try to get back to eating healthier! Even as a diabetic the holidays tend to be trying! So, between now and April my goal is 20 pounds and some sort of daily exercise!

We spent New Years Eve with my childhood friend Jenny and her family. We had not spent any qulaity time with them in a long time-we were due! It was a night of games and good laughs. Of course we saw the ball drop at midnight-and then finished our Wii bowling tournament!

Here are some pics from our good times with good friends!