A call even closer to my heart!

The uber fun, creative, talented Christina (and saintly, adorable, wonder hubby Terry) has been very busy!

She has a ton of cool stuff going down right now, making me a little disappointed with the loops that life is throwing at me right now!

I wish so bad that in three weeks I were doing the ARTistry event she has been planning.

With the best of intentions, I had been planning on getting there, but it just isn't going to happen, and I am pretty bummed!

BUT...

I will be there in spirit, and for right now that is enough.

AND...

there have been some large changes in the design team there. I will be leading the team still, but

there will be a new group joining me, and we don't know who they are yet...

DO YOU?

Will you join me?

I promise it will be fun!

B-

Rouge de Garance DT call

So wouldn't this be a fun team to be on?!!!!

Rouge de Garance is looking for FOUR talented, versatile and creative US designers to enlarge their international Design Team. We want to see fresh uses for products and innovative, out of the box thinking when it comes to layout design. Strong photography and digital skills are a plus. You will be required to make at least 2-4 layouts a month and post them online (on your blog/Twopeas/messageboards/... up to you) and on our blog. If you work for magazines, editors,teach es, please say so on your resume. Communication is the key to success : we, at Rouge de Garance, are a solid, communicative and strong team and we're looking for people who enjoy working in a team. Compensation for our designers are a large variety of free Rouge de Garance products, free passes for CHA, and exposure through our website and in catalogs. The contest will run from March 1st through March 31st 2007. It's our 1st anniversary and we want to celebrate that by opening our french style to the world! We will announce the FOUR new additions by April 15th 2007, once the designers have been contacted and accepted their posts. The design team position is a commitment of a year. We will review whether or not you continue at the end of that term. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Your application and scans should be emailed to DTcontest@rougedegarance.com . Scans should be less than 300Ko. That application should include answers to the following questions: Name Location - Country Email address Do you have a blog? Any CURRENT design team obligations) A link to your online gallery Send us a resume of your publication/workshops/events you've done in the past Tell us a little bit about you :why would you be a good fit for Rouge de Garance and why are we a good fit for you? CONTEST SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Send us your TWO favorite layouts of your choice - one in a 12" x 12" format and one in an 8.5" x 11" or 12" x 12" format and an altered project. We also require that you submit one layout created especially for this search. The requirements are that: *the layout may be either 8.5" x 11" OR 12" x 12" - your choice of size * the topic/subject of this layout is : YOU !!!! Make a layout and talk about you ! We wanna know why you scrap, what you enjoy in scrapbooking, and what's important to you when you scrap. Think about it like a resume, sort of. Be funky, be fresh, be inventive, be colorful, be YOU ! If you could use some Rouge de Garance products, it would be a plus, but this is not a requirement. We're looking forward to hearing from you !
Rouge de Garance blog
They have beautiful paper, so if you have a little free time on your plate, you should give it a shot!
B-

Slippery Slope

Poor little Tori.
We had a plan, and it was a good one.
Take all the kids sledding at the elementary school, have some hot chocolate and then a dinner together...
sounds nice right?
Well we weren't at the school for even 15 minutes before Tori takes off after Tyler and she slips, falls and starts crying hysterically. She has been known to be a little dramatic so it took a few minutes to calm her down and figure out what was going on.
She hurt her leg when she slipped and there was a huge bump on it, if you tried to touch it, she went sideways with pain. We thought she might have fractured it, so we sent Rick and Bri with her to the hospital and we stayed with their 3 our4 and kept playing.
They called us a couple of hours later to let us know that it did indeed get broken and that they would be a few hours with the splinting and such.
It is a bummer that she got hurt so badly, and it was not doing any of the sledding, it was just from the pre-excitement goofies.
I see a big pack of sharpies is in her future.
B-

update: So we were rude and continued to play. And of course, I did have to sled because I am a big goofball. Thought i would add some of the cute pics from the day!

We fed the kids little cesar's pizza and watched some movies until we got the call that we could bring them home. Tori is going to spend the next few days at home off of her leg, it can't be load bearing, and they need the swelling to go down before they can cast it.

Yeah, I had no gloves, and the gloves on the littlest one look a little big, pieces of the puzzle coming together, hehehehe!

Yup, hers got soaked, so she stole mine!

Just My Style

So one of the things I am constantly struggling with in Scrapbooking land is the need to have a style.

I have one, it is the do what ever I feel like doing when I feel like doing it.

Apparently this is not a recognized style, and one that most editors or owners prefer not to have to deal with, LOL!

I am a dress up when it is time to dress up, jeans and t-shirts for all the other times except when on the tennis court which is then a very cutesy short skirt and top.

And in spite of the fact that I have no style, will you still love me anyway?

B-

Supergirl?!!!

So the story goes like this...

while at CHA I spent the entire week looking at the warty backside of the SandyLion booth.

Pooh, Tigger, Mater etc.

NOT good for the whole creativity feeling the mojo kind of thing, kwim?

So by the end of the week we had plenty of jokes at SandyLion's expense.

then Christina has the nerve to ask during breakdown if she can have the supergirl stickers that had been part of the mocking. The guy was very kind and went to check if they were a mock-up or the real thing. If they were real, then yes.

So of course they were real, after a few giggles and wondering what to do with them, Christina challenged me to use them in some campy way!

So here it is, two weeks later...

A poppety version of supergirl! Not terribly impressive, but very fun to do!

So here is the challenge if you are reading this:

Find something in your stash that isn't something that you would even consider using anymore and use it! Have fun with it and then share a link with me! I would love to see some silly crazy fun stuff!

B-

Been able to get about a layout a day done, feeling like I'm on a bit of a roll!

Super mojo-nated with the arrival of both of my kit club boxes yesterday! Kind of wish that they would arrive like a week apart so it would feel like christmas more times a month! I love both of these clubs, and even though I live where I can find most of the things that come, I love surprises so much that this is a fun way to spend my scrapping money! It pushes me to use things that I wouldn't usually pick for myself and to enjoy special touches that I would never be able to find because they are made only for the subscribers of the clubs. LOVE that part, the extra little goodies are so cool!

The snow in my yard all melted this week because of rain storms, and I have to admit that I am sad! I love the snow, and I would love to have it around for much longer than the average person. I don't get cold, partially because I am really good at choosing layers and partially because I don't hold still for very long, LOL!

Dave is such an oven that if I do get chilled, I just make him be my personal heater for a minute and then voila, warm again!

It has been fun around here for the last day, my brother surprised his wife for her birthday (they both share the same day, but it was for her--no really...) by taking her to a nice hotel and a FAB dinner out last night. I took their four kids and we had the biggest slumber party last night! There are sleeping bags everywhere, and the house smells like pancakes!

I am missing a fundraiser crop that I have gone to for the last couple of years, but Rick and Bri really needed this! I am sure they won't even notice that I wasn't at the the crop, but my bro would have noticed if I hadn't been there for them! Anyway, they have such darling, hilarious girls that it is a hoot! Love those girls!

Anyway, still working on the special gift, another 2 am last night and I am only half way done (boo hoo!) but it wil get there, just not by tomorrow afternoon...

With the girls here and an obligation to play league tennis today, my day is a little full, I probably won't get to work on it until late this evening again.

We do what we can!

B-

Happy Valentines Day!

Busy week so far!

Monday was hectic, but I got to catch up with a very dear friend! We met at Fashion Place, and got some valentines business done for our families while we visited and caught up. I just love her, she is funny and a little snarky and we get along like sisters because we can both take a jab! I got to see those cockroach brooches that are all the rage. They are decorated and then have a leash clip that you can pin to your clothes, so the cockroach is a live roaming broach! Very cool, very NOT me! They were at a shop called the Black Chandelier, and if I were still a kid, this would totally be THE shop for me! It is random, quirky and very obnoxious in a fun and wild way! LOVED IT!

Then I went to Jo-Ann's and found some way yummy yarns to make a special gift! I will post pics when I am done. I have the goal of having a huge project done by Sunday, probably won't be done, but I need deadlines, sad but true! Worked on this said project until 2 am!

Tuesday (yesterday?!!) was just as crazy, met with the personal trainer got my butt kicked! Ran Tyler to school (his car is still in timeout until his grades come up! Can't he hurry and get them back up?) Then straight to the hair dresser for a color and cut! Yippee! A couple of hours to myself, RELAXING! Then more work on the special project, a few layouts worked on a then made a few dozen valentines cards for the kids and the kids important friends.

So today is a little tennis and then back to the special project until my hands fall off, LOL!

And there it is, a happy Valentines day!

B-

What's for dinner

It is Friday night, and it has been a long week (month, year, etc) and Dave I think is a little sick of me and the whole scarpbooking thing right now. But he also knows that I am a donkey on the edge, so he took me out for a little bit this afternoon, let me get some new yarn for an afghan for Tyler and some of the new papers that I have been coveting. I love the new Scenic Route lines but Laurel has a special little place in my heart because of the name!

So I had to get a couple pieces of that, and then a few sheets of the new American Crafts--YUMMY!

So my husband does qualify for sainthood once in a while, but neither of us felt like making a meal or even deciding what to have the kids make for us (as if, LOL!) So Cafe Rio it is!

And to go perfectly with the meal, a little tivo from the week!

I might also have to sneak into the craft room, I am feeling very inspired and really want to play with my new toys!

B-

Porter Rockwell

And his name...
was Porter Rockwell.
That was a song I remember from the '80s. I heard for the first time when I was a teenager visiting Utah for Especially For Youth and today was the first time I was reminded of it in over 20 years (yikes shouldn't admit that!)
The reminder came in the form of me making my husband drive me(so I wouldn't chicken out) down to the Primedia building to dropoff my Hall of Fame entry. Well Porter was there to greet me and of course I saw the name, the statue and the words to the chorus just slipped right out after all that time.
With a huge rock in my stomach I walked across the parking lot staring at my feet and wondering why I was torturing myself like this. I mean really who does this kind of thing to themselves on purpose?
I handed my exceptionally composed clear plastic bag to the darling receptionist and blurted out "please take this before I throw up" and she sweetly obliged and then set it on the desk next to her. She looked a little concerned, could I really have been that green? I said "are you prepared for the hundreds more that are on their way?" and she said "yes" and then continued with "I hope we get lots more, its is better that way".
Well this made me feel a little ickier, of course it is for them, I can't disagree with that. But for me, I don't think so! I wanted to disagree outloud, but my filters kicked in thank goodness, (that doesn't happen often enough, LOL!). I managed to thank her and wish her a good day and then left. Walking and staring across the parking lot, what had I just done?
I left a huge piece of my heart and soul with them, and I just have to forget that it is done or I will go crazy with anxiety.
And to just add a little hilarity to my drama, I can't get the tune of the Porter Rockwell chorus out of my head.
B-

Timing

Life is about timing.
You see it time and again.
Right time, right place.
I love this concept. I am willing to work hard, I try to be humble, I support my friends and family when I can. Every little bit of good energy out there that I can put out I try to get out.
Soooo...
why did my Big Daddy computer have to pick today to have a big freeze?
Timing.
Last few pieces of my Hall of Fame entry were being put together in it today.
My laptop is NOT terrific for photo editing (nuf said about that!).
So this is the test to see how badly I really want to work to make this deadline. (so not feeling the love about getting noticed, but want to have the experience of getting it done and growing from it!)
Layouts done, (two new ones in the last twenty four hours, replacing perfectly fine ones I might add!)supply lists and journaling for the display done, photos taken.
Guess where they all are...
yup, in the Big Daddy.
Timing.
Should have finished last night and not slept so I could just be done.
Why didn't I you ask?
Well, I was pacing myself. Eating the Elephant one burger at a time so to speak.
Somehow, I will get this done tonight.
No more burgers, I am taking the rest of this elephant to the table tonight.
B-

Poppets and such

How great are these two?

Let me tell you, really GREAT!
They are so much fun, talented and beyond kind and patient!

Christina and Terry, thanks!

It is just a little hilarious that my head fit perfectly in the Poppet scene and that the hair looks real!

We had so much fun with this! It was tacky, campy and so darn hilarious!

One of my favorites ended up being Rene Pearson, she is so cute anyway, but man she had fun and totally hammed it up for the pic!

Terry had to do the rock star Poppet, it was so funny to see a 6'5" tall guy slouching down and hamming it up! Thanks T for the HUGE belly laughs!

I am sad that my camera's batteries were dead, there were so many pics that I wanted to get. So many people I met that I would love to have images of, but there is always the next time...

B-

Blissed out!

So on Sunday night in Anaheim, I got to go out to dinner with the FAB Bliss girls!
What a fun group, Andrea Hill who is the owner was so generous and FUN!
Karen Carter is the one to blame for inviting me to the shindig, so if there are any complaints about my annoying presence, direct all complaints to her!
Andrea gave away fun goodies pretty much the entire time, and we had a delicious meal followed by a HUGE slice of yummers chocolate cake!
I sat next to an adorable chica named Carrie and across from the delightful Laura, Karen, and Andrea! Next to Carrie was Rani and all others after that point I couldn't say, it was actually pretty dark and crowded!
After my first meal with this group, Christina, Terry, Carmi and Claudine came in to eat. So coincidental because if they had come in any earlier or later I would never seen them, it was just absolutely perfect timing! They had gone to have sushi but the place was closed so they had to wait for over an hour for a table at Buca de Beppo.
I joined them and we just sat and laughed our selves silly! Claudine has the most amazing dark side and between her Christina and Carmi, I was a little creeped out when the conversation was about serial murderers and crazies! Thank goodness the chat turned to other things like the possible topics for Claudine's next book. There are some great things kicking around these crazy girls minds! I would say, but then maybe they wouldn't happen or someone else would steal the ideas (as if anyone reads my blog who writes books, LOL!) and published them first!
Anyway, I laughed so stinking hard and to make it even funnier, I was so full from the previous dinner group that my sides just ached, so I was literally gasping for air during all of this!
Anyway, to make a short story unreasonably long I was completely blissed out and grateful for the friends that I have and for the opportunities I have had to make more, lucky girl!
B-

Back to reality

Watching Grey's Anatomy after a nice relaxing day!
Got back from Anaheim late last night after a fun five day extravaganza with Christina and Terry in the Lazar StudioWerx booth. We played with Poppets, giggled and teased each other mercilessly until Claudine joined us in the booth, and then it was her turn to be tortured by our humor!
I left with some fun, campy dares that I can't wait to get done!
It was great getting to see some of the faces of those that I adore, Michelle Hill, Sande Krieger, Teresa Collins, Debby Shuh, Tia Bennett, Kim Mattina, Emily Adams (there are more but I am tired...)
All amazing women with hearts of gold!
I got to meet the Bliss Girls, and hang out with them for a little bit, and they are so fun, Thanks Andrea for letting me hang with your FAB team!
I wish I had gotten to spend a little more time with my roomie Miss Mary Kay!
She is so delightfully opinionated! I love her! She was a woman with a plan, you should have seen what she conquered in such a short time, very impressive!
Of course I took my camera, didn't take it out until the last day, and of course the batteries were completely dead, LOL! Oh well...
So if for some reason you have an image of me, would you link it so I can appreciate how great the people are I get to hang with!
There was just miles of beautiful products, some fun new businesses and some of my favorites with new goodies that set me to having the gimmies!
I was fortunate enough to get to meet Addy, Stacy Julian's latest addition, and she is ADORABLE, congrats Stacy!
Renae Pearson stopped in the booth and was a Poppet, I love her, she is incredible!
She left me feeling inspired and with a skinny black chick pin!
Life is good!
I love making new friends and some that I can't wait to be proud of are the Effer Dare Girls! They are very talented, full of energy and ready to conquer the world! They remind me of what it is like to have the world at your feet and youth on your side! Go Gettum Girls! Gen's new paper line is beautiful! Can't wait to see what is down their path! So thanks Gen, Meghan, Nisa, and Kristina for the inspiration and the fun!
Reality today was feeling a little icky (sore throat and stuffy nose), crocheting a whole scarf, catching up on my tivo, finishing a couple of LO's that had been left on my table, printing some pics and having a tennis lesson. Pretty great day if you ask me!
Had a great conversation with a friend who knows where I am at with the scrapping thing, and she is so supportive, honest and real! She gave me some really huge advice today that I really want to work on! It is not very easy to say some of the things that someone needs to hear, you know like you have a little something in your teeth, or the little nose hangy hint or handing you a listerine strip. But a good friend will say the uncomfortable thing with the hope that you know that they are true to the friendship. Most people want others to succeed but not if it prepares you to compete with them at some point, (I have learned this to be true from tennis, but it is a great life lesson) the really good friends are the ones who help you self-improve no matter. So a quick shout to all the friends who have put all that stuff aside to help me grow, I LOVE and APPRECIATE all of YOU!
Which brings me lastly to Ali Edwards. She absolutely eptomizes this everyday! She gives so much of herself and in such a selfless way, amazing. Her e-zine hits home with me every time how much she wants us all to grow to where she is ( she will long be gone with her incredible capacity for growth) but she reaches down to lift all of us and to the end that we can possibly become more like her. Truly selfless and inspirational!
Thanks Ali!
So enough with the blah-blah-blah! I am just grateful to be who I am, where I am and what I am and to be that at home, LOL!
B-

Just one more day

I just have one more day to get my act together before I leave town for five days.
I am not a list maker, I am not a planner.
Some people are great at that, me not so much.
I put what I remember into a bag and go. I rarely have problems with this system, lets hope that this time is no exception!
I won't be posting, I am sure that I won't be missed...
Looking forward to seeing a lot of people I know and meeting other new friends!
I am excited about the additions to the Lazar StudioWerx lines.
Christina has been such a good friend that it is hard to believe that I have only known her for one year, it seems like we have always been friends.
I hope everyone has a great show, and that it meets their needs and expectations.
Have a happy week all!
B-

Wouldn't Ya Know...

I get a bunch of HOF layouts done early and I am super happy with them, and this week alone, I have seen one of my technique layouts on the Jenni Bowlin site and another in the CK top ten mag that just came out.
Hhhhhhuuuummmmmmmpppphhhhhh!
I know that there are tons of flukes like this all the time, just why now?
I feel like I need to remake a few of my layouts now and there is just not enough time.
YUCK!
So do I just send it all in and get over it, or do I go through the work of remaking a few just to not look stupid?
Pondering.
B-

This Week...

Will be a busy one, so this is just a quick post to share a little of what is UP.
Very excited, got to play with some of Teresa's new paper and product for her Extreme Boy line and it is FAB! Hope I can post it later this week. Also played with Stacey P's Celebrationz line, a spin-off of the Salsa line but with the theme of birthday, very bright energetic and fun! Made a little mini-album of that and maybe can share that later as well.
Sad that James Blake lost to Fernando Gonzales tonight in the Aussie Open. I just adore James and he has had such a beautiful tournament up until tonight where he just looked flat, very disappointing for him I am sure, he was the fifth seed and looked good enough to go to the Final.
Have some projects that I am working on for the Lazar StudioWerx booth which will be located close to the publications of MM and FW at 3772. I didn't get any new product, but I have seen peeks at Christina's blog and it is exciting! Come by and give me a hug and see the goodies!
B-

Tragically Ugly Feet

This is one sad fact about me that I don't even try to deny.
One of the things you have to sacrifice if you are even remotely involved with anything athletic is the good looks of your feet. To be an exceptional skier your boot must be absolutely, perfectly fit and about a size smaller than a shoe you would wear in your everyday life, after hours and hours like this, your feet start to become deformed and lose toenails. To run marathons you must get used to the fact that you will get blisters and lose toenails. To play tennis, your feet are in hot shoes for a couple hours at a time, building disgusting callouses that are absolutely necessary to the survival of your feet in preventing more blisters.
So...
An adorable friend who was having a crummy day invited me to go get pedicures with her. Now I really enjoy the company of this girl and she was pretty down today, so you would think I could take one for the team and just go get the pedicure and hang out and not be embarassed. NOPE.
I can't do it. My feet are beyond sad, truly a tragedy of GREEK proportions.
I know, I am the worst friend.
I did make it up to her by helping with something else, and maybe she will know that she is appreciated and cherished as a friend in spite of my HUGE shortcomings!
So the moral of the story is if you are having a crummy day, let me help cheer you up by some good quality shopping time, lunch or even maybe a few sets of tennis.
But please don't make me feel like a complete dirtbag when I have to tell you no to a pedicure.
B-

Sore Wednesday

This is Debby and I while we were in Chicago at the designer meet-n-greet.

I am so sore today after the training session yesterday and then an hour tennis lesson with some girlfriends that absolutely crush the ball. It is a good sore, but sore just the same!
Getting lots done on HOF stuff and printing piles of pics.
Working on organizing the room too, that is going to take me a while, lots of rearranging to get it right!
Have a Brrrrr-eautiful day!
(it is still reeeaaaly cold here!)
B-

It has been almost a week...

since I posted.
Actually I think that I am just talking to myself, so updating is for me.
But I was recently reminded that this is a great way for people to keep up with what is going on with each other!
So I am going to try to be better at getting the story out, interesting or (mostly) NOT!
So Sunday evening, so very lucky to get to have dinner with a supertalented and wonderfully kind friend named Debby Shuh. Most people know her for her work with Anna Griffin and Canson, but I have never got to have a class from her. I have gotten to know her from CKU's and trade shows. She was in town to film for some CKU online classes that look like they would be cool!
She is from Upstate New York, so of course getting to see her was a total treat!

It is also FRIGID here! Below normal temps and a huge high pressure system have created crazy cold temps that keep you from hanging outside for very long!

I love the winter and the snow, but when it is this cold, NOT SO MUCH!
I have been trying to capture some of the cool looks that the snow and ice leave for our viewing pleasure. I really WANT a much better camera.
Kids are doing homework, Dave is hitting a tennis ball, so I am going to the scrap room for a few minutes to do some work and some organizing!
I got my Pottery Barn shipment today, and it is so COOL!
Will post pics after it doesn't look like a bomb went off in my room!
It is going to be a couple of weeks or de-junking and prioritizing projects, not fun but important!
I have been working on a Hall of Fame entry, and I am starting to see the finish line.
I don't think I have a snowball's chance, but it has been a learning process. That means growth, and like it or not it is a good thing to experience!
So if you don't mind keeping your toes crossed for me and sending loads of good vibes, I would REALLY appreciate it!
Went to the gym to meet with the gal who is doing my training, and it was hard.
I have a long way to go, but I really want to lose it, so perseverence might be my word for the year.
I have been trying to think of one for the Ali E. challenge, but words are very important to me, so I don't want to choose one for the entire year to lightly! That is soooo me, afraid of commitment, LOL! Perseverence might be the perfect fit, but commiting might be the bigger challenge, hehehe!
Anyway, love to all my friends!
I cherish and appreciate each and every one of you!
B-

Went to the Gym

No really, I did!
I used to LOVE the gym, now NOT SO MUCH!
Ten years later and 15 pounds heavier, I decided that it was time to reign it in.
It was good to go, it hurt. I will be sore, but it had to be done.
I spent an hour with a trainer who helped me identify my major weaknesses and muscle imbalances. These are big problems for me because of the type of knee surgery I had it created most of the imbalances on purpose. So slow and steady should get me back on track and $50 bucks an hour (choke, that I don't have!) I will be healthier and stronger than I have been in years.

Getting excited about going to Anaheim in two weeks too.
I would love to be going with my sis, but that isn't in the cards. The good part is that I will get to hang with EmKayEss! I adore Mary Kay, she is so smart and funny and she is great at putting up with my eccentricities! She just ignores me, LOL!
Lazar has some very cool line updates and it will be great to spend the week with Christina and Terry in the booth!
I am also looking forward to catching up with ALL the people at the show!
Anyway I am going to go drink a bunch of water to try and flush all the lactics that are startng to build up...
B-

Recharge!

Love the holidays, love the excitement and energy of it all!
I also tend to get a little tired!
So this week I am in recharge mode. No big appointments, deadlines or projects!
IT is so nice.
I got an entire afghan crocheted this week! Seriously! I will take pics and share, it is gorgeous, I totally love the colors and it is so yummy that EV, the kitty gave it the purring seal of approval! It is chocolate brown, turquoise blue and variegated browns. It sounds old school and it totally is! My oldest son told me I was getting extra nerdy on him. I am I admit it!
I also went and had FIVE inches cut off my hair yessterday, yikes!
Fresh color new style with lots more layers in the front and way fewer in the back, good change! I loved how my hair was before, but it was just time for a new look!
I'll get a pic of that too!
So, it is a big beautiful snowy day here, so happy for that! Love the snow!
I am ready to get back on track with my other creative things that were set aside.
New goals of going to the gym and getting my body put back together have been set.
All part of the recharge!
B-
update:
This is the pic of the delish afghan!

The Post post

We of course have our Christmas Eve tradition of new jammies, but this year I got them for Dave and I as well!
Hilarious!
We made dipped pretzels for the neighbors, they were really cute and ummmm very tasty...
We did make sure that all elves got to have one (or two!) for dessert after dinner that night!

We do the twelve days of Christmas so that the little things that would get lost on the "big" morning get a little more appreciation. One night was the game "Clue" and I have to say that I still get a little welled up when I see them playing together and really enjoying each others company! Very cool!
We had a gingerbread night for the mommies at Aunt Brianna's. This was hard for the kids cuz they usually get to do the decorating, but I actually got to do the picking and planning, and I really enjoyed it! I haven't decorated a house in I can't remember how long, what a treat for me!
I know, kinda selfish, but I promise that it was a one time thing!






We had a beautiful holiday, snow on the ground cheer in the air and lots of time together as a family!
This holiday season has come with a twist. I have noticed the change coming in our family dynamics. Tyler took his first job as a peer instructor at Deer Valley. he is growing up and it is hard to watch! He loves his job and he will be very good at it, he loves kids and he is very patient with them. Very proud of him and his desire to work hard!
Laurel has matured substantially in her capacity for understanding and even though she is still a very impatient person, she is a bundle of joy!
Chloe is such a young lady! She has loved spending time with her BFFs, the cousins!
She has been able to spend so much time with them this holiday season and it has been loads of fun for her!
Carter is still the easiest going guy ever! He is happy if there is something to do and someone to hang out with! He is adorable and it breaks my heart to see my baby getting so big!
So that is the twist, my little family isn't little! They are big.
They are not going to be here for very much longer, and I am trying to squeeze every last bit of me time in with them that I can!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

This time of year is so gorgeous! We had a very large snowfall on Sunday and it was so soft, quiet and serene...
until Laurel and Carter decided that it was time for some snowplay! I had to follow them out, and over 150 pictures later we were laughing so hard that our cheeks ached! It isn't very often that these two get to play together anymore with her being 15.5 and he being just 11 still. But the one thing that they can agree on is that a snowball fight no matter how unevenly matched is great fun!
It is a good thing that our Utah snow is very light, with a very low moisture content it has a hard time sticking together to form a weapon with any bite. Instead what happens when you throw a snowball made from this powder it distintegrates mid-air, showering your opponent with a glow of fractured crystals! So even when you get "hit" in an uncomfortable spot, it is still very tolerable!
This was one of my favorite days this year, and thanks to my camera, one that I won't run out of references for.

One of the pics I took of Rick's family last week, I love how they were all having so much fun together, the girls are still getting used to the idea of snow all the time. Growing up in Texas and just recently moving here has been quite an adjustment for them, so they still do things Texas style. Ya know, flip flops when it is snowing...
Anyway, LOVE them and LOVE that they are really close now!

Got their Christmas card done also, it is sooooo them, LOL!
This time of year makes me very grateful for my friends and family.
I just received a christmas card from my wonderful Grandfather, and it brought tears to my eyes. How fortunate I am that I still have my Grandpa here on this earth and that he remembers and thinks of me! Makes me glad that I have the beliefs that I do.
Anyway, hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!
B-

December blahs

We celebrated Chloe's 14th birthday with her cousins, Ellie turned 12 ywo days before, and Olivia had her 7th birthday 3days before. It was crazy with lots of goofing around and a huge chocolate cake with candles in it for all of them to blow out together! Chloe got a couple of really cool gifts, spent some of her shopping spree money on some lotion and books and is saving the rest for the after holiday sales! Smart Girl!
I took lots of pictures of Rick and Brianna with the girls for their Christmas card, I haven't edited any of them, but they are soooo cute! I can't wait to see which one they are using!
Holly one of Tyler's best friends had her birthday on the 30th of November (same day as Ellie's) and I made her some Christmas cards as a b-day gift. She is a Senior, involved in everything, and just way to busy to have time to do it herself, so I thought it would be nice for her to have some to send out. I hope she likes them, I used Sande Krieger's new Christmas stamps from Autumn Leaves and I am biased, but they are so stinking cute!
Anyway, December is crazy and I have a giant case of the blahs right now. I am trying to get some design work done for CHA and also get some LOs submitted so I can say i am still trying to be a "professional" in the industry...
HA!
I am glad for the creative distractions, they are helping me stay on track.
That being said, how do you get mojo-nated for the holidays when you just aren't feeling it?
Any thoughts...
Let me know!
Peace, Love and Holiday bliss!
B-