Well I have had a stomach bug all week. So I am a bit behind in everything. I keep thinking I am feeling better & then uh oh....gurgle gurgle...not so much better. Plus I am easily tired out.

So this post will be short & sweet.

I am just going to post my latest layouts I did using the Crop Addict February Kit. This kit was just so fun I loved it all. So many possibilities. As soon as I opened it up the mojo was flowing.

These are the mailbox & layouts I created using Scenic Route also from Crop Addict. Click here to see the manufacturer challenge being offered. I am not much for themed paper. I am definately not one to run out & buy specialty paper for much of anything, but I am telling you this paper rocked & boy was it fun to play with!! I want more of it!!

So click on the Crop Addict link & order yourself some of this yummy goodness. I am telling you it will be worth it.

Some breathing room...

Well, this is the first time since last week where I have felt like I can take a breath. It has been just one thing after another. Today is a day where I don't really have anything pressing. There is still all of the everyday stuff & projects I want to work on, but nothing that is too urgent. So I am doing laundry, straightening up the house, & actually taking a moment to post here.

So for all of you people who are reading this & also, like me, may take on too much from time to time...why don't we all just breath in...that's it nice & deep...& breath out. Let us take a few more deep breaths. Whew...that feels better! Now I feel a bit more relaxed & ready to get on with the business of the day.

This past weekend I had my mom & her husband here visiting from Maryland. My Uncle Butch & Aunt Debbie came in from Ohio as well. It was so nice to have family here. I haven't seen Butch & Debbie in a few years & it was great to catch up. Plus we used this visit as another Christmas celebration & that is always fun. So we cooked lots of yummy food, exchanged gifts, & played games. The kids had a blast with all the extra attention & opportunities to stay up late.

Here is a group shot....

And I just love this one of my mom & her brother Butch....




So I guess now I can finally take down my Christmas decorations & pack them away until next year. I have actually enjoyed the extra Christmas spirit, but it will be nice to reclaim my home again.

Hope everyone had a great weekend...thanks for checking in!

I'm Back!!

Well I am back from California. I flew in early this morning & let me tell you it was an interesting adventure flying through Vegas following the Giants winning their playoff game. A whole group of rowdy, liquored up Giants fans got on the flight & it was amusing. Although I must admit I am a huge Giants fan & was a little caught up in the excitement. Luckily there were no drunken incidents & the happy fans pretty much passed out.

I am happy to be home, although I am exhausted. Rachel has a few favorite names picked for her sock creature & we will post her final choice soon. So if you have an idea...get it in soon.

Thanks & I hope to write more later.

So Much Fun...

First, I just want to thank everyone who has already contributed a suggestion for the perfect sock creature name. Rachel already has some favorites, but we are continuing on our quest for the next week or so.

If you have not done so already...click here...& read about what Ray has been up to.

Second, for all of you that are fans of scrap challenges, be sure to check out Scrapdragons. There is still some time to complete Challenge #9 & Challenge #10 is posted for you to get started on. So go check out all the scrappy fun over there.

Third, I am leaving tomorrow for California. I am excited to be participating in the Empowering Life's Energies course. I will be without computer time so I will not be posting here until next week.

Hope everyone has a fabulous week...& I will catch up when I get back.

We Need Your Help...

Our newest family member is need of a name!!

For months now Rachel has been in search of a sock monkey, but Rachel being Rachel, this could be no ordinary run of the mill sock monkey. So we were in search of something unique & special deserving of a place in our family. Unfortunately, no such sock creature seemed to exist.

So today, Rachel decided that we should make our own silly sock creature. Here is what she came up with...

Sock Creature making is serious business & not for the faint of heart. You need to be willing to take chances, stick your fingers up the creatures back side & not be too squeamish about needles.

It was a challenge...it was fun...& we have a fabulous new member of our family.

Here is our dilemma...we are unable to find the perfect name for out little buddy. So Rachel thought it would be a great idea to post him on my blog & see what our blog friends come up with. So if you have a suggestion please post it here in the comments. We will then choose from the names submitted.

Feel free to share our request with your blog friends. The more name ideas the better!!

Thank you for your help...we know he won't be nameless for long!!

More Milestones...

Well yesterday was my son Connor's 12th Birthday. I can hardly believe it. Where does the time go? He wants to celebrate by having a family dinner out somewhere & we plan to do that this weekend. My husband was traveling on business & didn't get home until after Connor's bed time. So being a mom I couldn't let the actual day go by without some kind of fanfare...so I baked a cake....Rachel decorated it....& we surprised him that evening. Rachel & Kailey had so much fun going through the junk drawer & pulling out all these odds & ends of cool candles & lighting it up.

Doesn't this look yummy?? Rachel had the idea to fill the center with preserves & decorate the top with chopped up brownies. This was perfect for Connor as the more chocolate the better!!
Connor contemplates what to wish for as he surveys the cake & all its candles. You can't see from the picture, but the tall thin candles acted like sparklers & the solid colored candles made their flames different colors. It was just all the leftover candles from our junk drawer, but it was pretty cool in the end.
I just love this picture I took without the flash...I think Connor looks so sweet & content with the candles lighting up his face.

on another note...it has been unseasonably warm here the past week. It was in the mid 60's yesterday afternoon. Rachel had a bunch of reading to do for her home study so she curled up on a chair on our back porch.

Even Ginger thought it was a good idea. So she plopped herself in the chair next to Rachel & enjoyed the sun & a story as well.

A New Year Has Begun!

Wow...2008 already. Can you believe it?!?!

I have been really neglecting my blog lately. Christmas here was busy & wonderful. I had a feeling of being very grateful & very blessed.

This year has started off with a bang. So many new things going on.

I am so excited to be continuing my course work at the Academy For Coaching Excellence next week in California. I am thrilled to be taking some time to do something that is truly just for me. Taking time for myself is one thing that I have had a hard time doing being the mother of four. I often find myself putting their needs & concerns before mine. The good news is that things are changing & I am learning that in order to be the best mother I can be I need to take care of my needs first. It makes me think of the safety instructions on an airplane. They tell you to put on your oxygen mask first & then help your children. Well that certainly makes sense, but somehow I wasn't applying that common sense attitude to my everyday life & activities.

I am also well into my projects for my first month on the Crop Addict Design Team. The February kit they gave me to play with is just yummy & the manufacturer kit I got to play with produced some of my favorite layouts to date. Be sure to check back for some sneak peeks of all the yummy goodness soon.

I did get one layout done that I can post now. It is a layout I did using all items from my stash of scrappy goodies. If you have some stash items to use up be sure to head over to Scrappin' Mojo. I am running a "use your stash" challenge for them over there & they are giving an awesome prize to the winner.

Here is the layout...


I hope to keep up with things here a bit better.

Thanks for stopping by!