Monday, November 27, 2006

Nanny and the boys

Here is my lo for the november quote challenge at www.thescraphabit.com .

The font is CK Holiday Spirit and the kit I used was the October newsletter freebie and template from Alma Townsend at the Scrap Habit.

quote reads

"Other things my change us, but we start and end with family" - Anthony Brandt

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Another new digi layout

Did this one for a sketch challenge at www.thescraphabit.com .


Kit used is Caution, Snowsuit Required by Sarah Davis (available here). Font used is Signboard

New digi layout

Did this page for the template challenge at sbElements.com .


Font used is Sylfaen, Kit used is Monica Larsen's Florals kit.

The pictures are Aidan on his first fourth of July. He was 7 months old.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

The letters I altered for our family picture



nine inches tall

I got Tagged! Christmas Tag from Meghan

Holiday Tag
1 Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Um, hello, he wraps. Well he doesn't really. The elves do. Santa is a busy man!
3. Do you hang mistletoe? Sometimes
4. When do you put your decorations up? Haven't put any up in the last like 4 years, usually go to NJ for christmas. Otherswise usually on Black Friday, but I haven't managed it yet this year.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?don't really have one
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: don't really have one
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What are you talking about? There were rumors going around that he wasn't real when I was about 8, but seeing as I'm a mommy now, that means I am now one of Santa's Helpers so I know those nasty rumors were a lie!
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We usually get x-mas PJs on the eve.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? lights first, then ornaments then tree topper
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?Like all things it is great in moderation
12. Can you ice skate? Went one time, fell hard enough that it's put me off the idea of trying again for life, also gave me some pain in my hip that has come and gone ever since. So the answer to that is a resounding NO
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Don't have one
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? sweet potato pie
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Buying a special ornament for the kids each year.
17. What tops your tree? I have a star and an angel, it depends on what I feel like putting up there.
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving- I love wrapping presents and seeing peoples reactions (but I do like receiving, really I do...so feel free to send me gifts!)
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Carol of the Bells
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?YUM YUM doodle DUM

I tag anyone who hasn't already been tagged by this one!
Hey Laurie this means you! LOL

Thursday, November 23, 2006

Dinner

It wasn't to awful. everything was cold, except she made a fresh can of cresents. Aidan of course had to have a tantrum, ok he had to of them but that's splitting hairs a bit. This is normal for whenever we're all over there. He's so used to getting his way that having Ian and I there, not letting him get away with everything doesn't mesh well. Oh Well! Not a horrible evening all in all, just stressful, but then again the holidays normally are.
Gobble Gobble

Productive

That's what Aidan's and my afternoon was, while we were letting daddy sleep. First we cleared off my scrap desk, got a lot of stuff put away, rearranged a little to work in some of my new storage. Then he and I decorated the J-O-Y letters (one for each of us to hold in our holiday photo)that I bought at Michael's. They came out pretty good. Will post a picture later if I get the chance. We also put the first coat of christmas red paint on the inside of the tray we're decorating for milk and cookies for Santa.
We just got daddy up so he could shower and we could go to my mom's for dinner. Which by the way was done 2 hours ago? Not really sure why they started so early when she asked what time we would be coming, and I told her after Ian gets up, which is usually 4, which is what time I woke him up. So basically they've probably eaten and we'll go over and they'll sit and watch us eat...which is always awkward. Which is how just about every holiday dinner that we do at their house is. I don't know if they just plan badly and the food is always done way too early and they just eat while it's hot, or if they ask what time we're coming and then just disregard whatever we said. Who knows. We probably won't stay long. My mom and god-mother will act like it's been 12 years since they've seen Aidan instead of 24 hours. Which for some reason always tends to put me on edge.
I am thankful, that they love Aidan so much, don't get me wrong. But lordy they can be smothering. We'll be expected to keep up a steady stream of chatter (notice that I didn't say engage in conversation, that doesn't really happen there is always lots of awkward silence), and when we don't we'll be asked what's the matter. Hopefully Christmas won't be so bad...If I can get the house ready maybe they can come here instead. Then they can be the ones who decide when they want to leave, and I can be the one to say "So, soon?" I, of course, won't be saying as if they're abandoning me in a the jungle, with no food or water, which is how my mom says it everytime we go. Sometimes it's hard to be so loved. It's nice though to know that you're loved, and for that I am thankful as well. Even if I don't always sound like I am, even to myself.
Happy Turkey Day again! Perhaps I'll post on the outcome of the evening later.

Gobble til you Wobble

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope everyone is spending today with loved ones! To the NJ clan we miss you and love you!
Here's a few pictures of the little man enjoying the leaves in the yard...



Tuesday, November 21, 2006

2 new digi layouts

Both of these are for challenges at sbElements.com
the first is for their font challenge, we had to use the font "Selfish" it's gorgeous and I can totally see me using this alot! The kit I used for this is Misty Cato's Rolling Along Kit.



the next is for their Title Take Challenge- this month's title was "Harvest of Happiness" The kit I used for this one was the October gift from Alma Townsend.



Edited: I don't know why this isn't loading right, but just click on the preview and you can see the whole thing.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Christmas cards


Mine are normally very late or never even make it into the mail. This year is going to be different. This year I'm making mine, and They're about half done. All of the stamping is done, all the layers are cut, I just need to do the coloring in and the putting together. I'm really liking how they're coming out too. I've also discovered something over the last few days. I tend to lean toward blues for christmas, is anyone else like this? I was wrapping presents today and noticed that all of the wrapping paper the last few years has been blue for the most part. and now this year the ornaments we're making, the cards I'm making, the ornament I bought (we get one each year) all have blue. Most people when they think of Christmas lean toward reds and greens don't they? I mean those are the "traditional" colors right? oh well I went off on a bit of a tangent there. Here's a peek at the out side of our cards for this year. The scan just doesn't do these justice, all the grey areas are sparkly and this scan makes them look kind of dull, but you can get the basic idea any way.
Santa's helper over and out!

Aidan w/ SANTA


How stinking cute is this kid?? He was SO excited to go and see Santa today. He told Santa what he wanted for christmas (a kitchen) and Santa told him to make sure that he was a good boy. Not so sure how long that will last, but it never hurts to have the jolly fat man backing you up. I'm pretty thrilled that he go to see Santa today too, for a couple of reasons.
1- no line
2- the was a very nice Santa
3- I don't have to go anywhere near the mall again until Christmas is over!
So without further ado here's the little man and the jolly fat man!

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Git 'R Dun!!!

That's me, Getting it Done!
I'm done shopping for Aidan's Birthday and my job as Santa's Helper for my little guy is done as well. Picked up the big one today. In another month or so I'll be dining at the newest hot spot in my neighborhood, Chez McB's. I'll have a major in with the Chef in training, Chef Aidan. That's right I just got my fry-guy a kitchen set up. One day some lucky girl will thank me when she marries my Aidan and he knows his way around a kitchen and knows how to cook (and I do NOT mean how to work the microwave either)!
I'm basically done for Ian as well, just have 2 things to pick up when they come back in stock.
Dan is done. Kev is almost done, just need to get one more small thing (which I still need to decide what that small thing will be).
Mom is done, just need to finish making it.
My Godmother's present is taken care of, I just need to make it.
I picked up an unfinished wooden tray that I'm going to decorate that will be our special christmas tray for cookies and milk for Santa. Will take pictures of that when it's done. Also stopped at work to get my check and pic up some paper to cover my wooden letters that I'm going to use in this year's christmas pictures. Will post them when I'm done.
We've got some re-arranging to do, need space for the new kitchen we got for Aidan and we need somewhere to put the tree. This should be interesting. But it can be done! I will succeed. Monday hopefully I can wrap everything but the kitchen set (because it is just to big, that and I had to take it out of the box in order to get it in the truck. I love the Step2 line of toys, they're very sturdy, but good grief the boxes are HUGE!!!!
I love the fact that other then a trip to the mall tomorrow to get Aidan's picture taken with the fat guy in a red suit I won't have to go near the mall again until after christmas!!! WOOOOHOOOO! That is a beautiful thing. All I need to do it go to Borders and use up the holiday cash I earned during the year, and that's it! Will probably get some christmas books for the little guy since I don't think any of Ian's or my books are due out before my holiday cash expires.
I am just so thrilled to be pretty much done. I feel as though I've accomplished something. Tomorrow I have to take the truck for it's 30k mile maint. and take Aidan for his picture, and then I may let him visit w/ Nana and Grandma for a little bit so I can wrap the goods.
Santa's Elf over and out!

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Job Titles and a Plan

Who would have thought that having a child would give me so many different job titles? I'm usually taxi driver, short order cook,and maid. I've got the seasonal job of "Santa's Elf"! The pays not great, but it's fun, if you can ignore the money that just flies right out of your hands. I'm finally back on track where I normally am. I've bought most of the stocking stuffers, and I'll be wrapping what I've got on Monday and it feels good to be back in control. Most years the bulk of my Christmas shopping is done by Thanksgiving. I've got a plan for what's left and I'm going to stick to it too. I really don't enjoy the "hustle and bustle" closer to the holiday, I don't like the bumping and pushing and grabbing (and the traffic, my God the traffic!) that tends to happen when people wait until the last minute, it sort of ruins the whole spirit of Christmas, the why we celebrate. So I avoid the crowds at any and all costs. And God Bless online shopping, which is how I've done most of my shopping the last few years. Saves time, money (if you shop around), and my sanity. Since we have to stay home this Christmas it means that I have to get the house ready for the holidays. This is something I haven't done since I was pregnant with Aidan (who by the way will be four in a matter of weeks!!!!). We just haven't bothered with a tree and all the trimmings because we've always gone away for the holiday. And really with the stress of the job and having such a young child I don't know if I could have handled it any sooner then this. Time to step up to the plate, make some new traditions, and get back into the spirit of the holiday.
I've got my christmas cards in the works, and Aidan has been making some lovely ornaments (with a little bit of help from mommy)to send out to some special people. I've been working on thepackages for the ornaments, they're coming along nicely if I do say so myself!
I've got our clothes for a Christmas photo shoot (which hopefully will happen on thanksgiving when my God-mother will be able to take a few shots of the three of us together for our christmas cards). Which should mean I'll actually get Christmas cards in the mail in time to be delivered...before Christmas. That hasn't happened in years, LOL.
Santa's Helper signing off for now.
Here's to a Jolly Holiday Season!

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

For Kyle

I had to share this video that some one thought to share with me (Thanks Torreh!) I'm going to start looking for one of these car seats right away. Please watch this video and tell anyone you know that has children about this. Spread the word!

Friday, November 10, 2006

Zonked

I had gone to get the little guy from Grandma's after daddy finally went to sleep. We come home, he asks if he can watch a movie. I say "maybe. just let mommy finish typing this post". He says "ok".
Silence ensues....
Now I don't know about any one else's house, but in my house silence means one of 2 things.
#1- silence=Trouble (notice the capital 'T')
this is most often the case! is usually means trouble of the "I'm-doing-something-I-know-I'm-not-supposed-to-so-I'm-going-to-be-SUPER-quiet-while-I-do-it-so-as-to-lull-mommy-into-thinking-I'm-being-such-a-good-patient-boy" variety.
and
#2- see pictures below...


Now this is only the third time this has ever happened. Twice here and once at Grammy and Grandpa's house. So I don't know what all he did today at Grandma's house but they must have WORN him out! I go into the living room and at first I didn't see him, then I followed the snoring to the futon. Look how sweet he is! What a kid. He even covered himself up (that's his Daddy's old baby blanket he's using)!

Wisdom and Weather

...teeth out for Ian today. We've been waiting since march for the ok from the insurance and it finally came a couple of weeks ago, so we scheduled it for today. He did really well! Poor guy was up for over 24 hours though. but he's got 2 more days to recover before he goes back to work. He should be a much happier camper now that those teeth are gone!
It's raining cats and dogs and elephants and frogs and everything else you can imagine here today. I mean by the bucket. our street is flooded, half the street has no power. and it's cold. What a stinky deal!
That's about it for now, going to shut her down for the storm.
TTYL!

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Heidi Layout


She's so cute I had to do a page really quick!
Credits for supplies go to-
criss cross stitching is by Peggy Brutcher from the kit Flip Flop Fun.
Background, buttons, ribbon, and pink flower ar from LaWanna DesJardin's Sassy mini kit.
Stitches with little flowers is by Correen Silke (recolored to match this lo) from NSDFreebie.
DeDe Smith's Fiber Alpha (recolored)
I also used this LO for the challenge this week at Addicted to Digital.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

More Halloween Pictures






Halloween Pictures






Here's Aidan and his "Girlfriends"! He had a blast, even though it was pretty chilly. We went back to Laurie and Rick's and had hot chocolate. Aidan can't wait to go and "play with those girls again" . He's such a ham. He really liked playing in their playroom. He's brought them up at least once each day since.

Heidi Katherine

Aidan's new cousin born yesterday.
5lbs 12 oz of pure sweetness! Isn't she gorgeous!?!
Congrats John and Valerie on your new baby girl!
Congrats Charlie on your new little sister!