Grandpa and I attended church services this morning, then came home and ate lunch.  It's been a lazy Sunday afternoon, just right for scrapping! 

I loved the elements in the Kit "ONE" from Digi-licious Designs so I decided to make another birthday page for Drew.  He was darling!!  And Hopie had such a good time too.  She loves helping her little brother open presents, and she loved helping him share his new goodies too!!  :) 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Just one day late!! 
We've had such a blessed Christmas.  We spent Christmas Eve with Chuck's family.  Gina made a great dinner to start out, and then everybody opened presents.  The kids were so pleased to receive a wii from mom and dad!!  After we were finished, opening presents, we shared dessert, then grandpa and I on headed home. 

Christmas day we talked to all the rest of the grandchildren with the assistance of SKYPE!!  By the sound of all the presents they received, the economy in the U.S should be on an upswing very soon!!  In the afternoon, Grandpa and I visited our friends home for dinner.  By the time we were finished, I was feeling much like the turkey we had! --STUFFED!! 

Saturday has been a very relaxed day!  Grandpa has his train running under the tree and another one running under the television.  He's tried to get his Lionel Heliport working better, but apparently it has a mind of its own! 

I do have a layout to share.  I used a new kit from Digi-licious called "ONE"   It was perfect for one of the photos from Drew's first birthday this month!  He was so cute sitting in that box!!

Oh my poor little forgotten blog!!  I've been preparing for Christmas, and just haven't had time to post.  Will try and do better in the New Year.  I have several layouts to share that I've completed since my last post!  I'm still working on my Christmas album.  It's been a lot of fun to revive old memories.  My first layout to share is about wrapping the presents!  :)

The journaling says:  We took one day and wrapped all the gifts. We use the old knife to cut the paper. The knife was a wedding gift to my mother so many years ago. Wrapping with any other knife just wouldn't seem the same. 

I think my mom and dad were married in 1939, so that knife is OLD OLD OLD--even older than the hills!  (My maiden name was Hill!)

The next layout was inspired by a challenge at 2 peas.  It was for the Flashback Friday challenge to scrap a favorite Holiday movie or a tv show.  My choice of show wasn't a problem, but finding images was!  I resorted to the Internet and googled the title, then looked for images.  I love the results!

The journaling says:  Oh my gosh. When I was a little girl I loved to sing about the famous red-nosed reindeer! I loved it so much, in fact, that I sang it at a Mother's Day dinner at my Aunt's church--I was probably about 3 years old then! I've heard that everybody thought I was darling, but I can imagine that my poor mother was probably embarrassed by my festive solo! The Internet says the movie debuted in 1964--which was the year I married! We didn't have any little ones until the following Christmas, but I'm sure we watched it even without little ones (After-all, we watch it NOW without little ones!) I remember watching it with my own little guys when they were small--and when they weren't so small. So many of our happy memories surround the Christmas season. Now it's so much fun sharing those memories with the next generation. The grandchildren have the same magic look in their eyes as my children did when they watch Rudolph!

I used a freebie blog template and a kit from BellaGypsy called Jolly Old Elf for this layout!

The next one has no journaling!!  :)

It's just an up to date photo of the three of us!!  Have I told you how much I love this time of the year (I'm sure I have!).  I have to watch it though!  It's so easy to get caught up in all the preparations and forget the Reason for the season, and NO, it's NOT the Winter Solstice!  I heard that on the TV the other day and it just made me sad that some people actually believe THAT is the REASON!  I'm sad for their choice for their eternity.  And yes, there IS an eternity.  It's up to each of us to CHOOSE where we spend that eternity.  I hope you've all chosen the right path. Enjoy the season, but remember the REASON!  :)

It's been a few days since I've had time to update!  I have a few layouts to share tonight. 
The first one came about because of the Flashback Friday challenges on the pub at 2 peas.  One of the posters challenged us to do a layout about what we wanted to be when we were a child.  So, of course, I journaled my story about becoming a nurse.
The journaling on the layout says:  I can't remember a time when that "want" wasn't there. That "need" to be helpful to someone, that empathy always burned in my insides, that deep wanting to fix everybody.

I remember trying to help my great aunt Soak her feet when they were sore. I used to fix tea for my grandma when she wasn't feeling well. I helped wrap my grandma's legs with elastic bandages when her varicose veins were bothering her. I always tried to make everybody feel better.

My nursing plans were delayed a long time. I chose marriage and motherhood over college and career out of high school, but as I approached my 40th birthday I realized I still needed to fulfill that other "need" I attended college and finally graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing!

I used kits called Stitches 5 by Twinky, Flower stitches by Christine Mortimer, paper by Hero Arts, (extra spring).

My second layout will be part of my Christmas album of memories.  The journaling says:

 Over the years we've collected many ornaments made by our children and grandchildren. Many of these ornaments were made as school or Indian Maiden projects. Some of them have photos of the artist on them. Some only have the artist's name. This, for some reason, has become a matter of contention between my children. We have several ornaments with Becky's picture on them. Several years ago Debbie started the tradition of hiding the nut. (one of the ornaments is a nut with Becky's face on it. This year the contest took on a new dimension. Debbie offered to pay Amy 100.00 if she hid the ornament so we couldn't find it. But I saved the day. The nut is safely on the tree!

(by the way, the "contention" is all in good humor). I used 25 days of Christmas template (Manipulated), very boyish kit by Bella Gypsy, paper arrows kit by Khadfiel.

The third layout is another one about ornaments.  Ones that mean a lot to us or have some other important significance.  The journaling says:

Most of our ornaments hold a special memory or have some other significance. Take for instance, the top
heart.  Hannah and Adam made that ornament for us that year.  The next ornament represents the Christmas
we spent with Debbie’s family in San Diego.  The next photo shows two ornaments.  One represents our dog
Ashlee, who is no longer with us, and the little dog ornament looks exactly like our dog Molly!  Such great pals.  The next two ornaments are new to us this year.  We bought them at an Estate sale in our neighborhood.  The lady loved Christmas, and hand made many of her own ornaments.  We gave these a new home. The little red ornament is one Becky made for us out of dough.  And the last ornament represents Earl’s love for his trains.  Each of these ornaments generate their own special memories. As we swiftly march towards Christmas day, may the Real joy of Christmas ring in your hearts.  May you be warmed by sweet memories of the past, and may you make new memories to cherish in the years to come.  May God bless you and yours during this sacred season.

Hannah came and played in the scrapbook room today.  She wanted to make some Christmas cards, so that is what we did!  She ended up with about 8 of them for her friends.  We had a good visit.  My job was to find the stuff she wanted to use.  Since I've been digi-scrapping for a few months now, it was a challenge to find some of the things I haven't seen around for that long!  But we did it--She did a good job with her cards.

Besides helping her find the tools of the trade, I also had enough time to finish up a layout I began yesterday.  Eventually it will go somewhere in my Christmas album for 2009--even though the photos are from Christmas' past.  All those Christmas memories, from all the previous years add to the whole wonderful warm feelings of Christmas in my heart.  I think Adam was about three or four and Megan was also about three.  Wasn't Adam  the cutest little cowboy!

I forgot to keep track of what I used, but I know the template was a blog freebie!  Thanks for looking!  

This year I've decided to make a Christmas Album starting now.   I'm starting the album out with the page I'm sharing today.  Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year I can hardly wait to get going on the album.

I was challenged to use a list for journaling for this layout.  I used the same kit from Michelle Underwood!  I think I love it!  :)  The pictures is from last year when we had our BIG snowstorm!  I was staying with the kids at their house because Chuck and Gina went to be with Andrew's biological mother while she gave birth to him.  They got stranded by the storm, and I got to play in the snow with the kids.  I had a glorious time, and we readied everything for Andrew's arrival at home! 

I must be excited for Christmas or something!  I was challenged to do a layout about a past Christmas, and decided to do one on our First Christmas together!  It rekindled a lot of great memories in the process.  I remember our first Christmas tree.  It fit nicely into the corner of our small living room.  It was pretty barren, even though my Mother had been generous with decorations from our family tree.  We bought one box of new ornaments to supplement the others, but it still looked pretty bare!  We loved it anyhow.  It was fun to cuddle on the couch with only the soft glow from the lights on the tree to illuminate the small space.

We spent Christmas Eve with my family, Christmas morning at our own home, and Christmas afternoon in Flint at the Staley family home.  This worked out perfectly.  We were both warmly embraced by both families.  It was a magic time in our lives.  A life that was full of love and adventure.  We were young and in love.  Now we're a bit older, but still in love.  We've enjoyed many Christmas' since that 1964 "first."  God has been so faithful to bless us richly.

I used Michelle Underwood's Vintage Holiday Memories kit from 2 peas and a freebie blog template for this layout.

We are watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and I remembered I have a layout to share.  I made it for the Scrapsketch.com site, and couldn't post it when I finished it up, then forgot all about it!  Like I said the last post, I love this time of the year, and it is never too early to start posting Christmas layouts!  These photos were from a couple of years ago, and the girls have really grown a lot since then. 

I'm taking a couple of online Christmas classes, so I'm going to be a busy lady for a few weeks!  Have a wonderful season!

I absolutely love this time of the year--even though it is the busiest part!  I love the family time together, the reason for the season, and the warm glow of the lights that start to show up soon.  I love having hot chocolate in the glow of the Christmas tree while Christmas Carols fill the room with their familiar words.  I love the smell of goodies baking in the oven, of holiday scented candles, and cinnamon scented pine cones.  I love the glow of anticipation in the childrens eyes as they (not) so patiently await a visit from jolly old St. Nicholas.  I like to watch them pour through toy catalogs as they make their lists of wants. 

I don't particularly "like" shopping in the crowded stores, but I do enjoy the feeling of satisfaction when I find the perfect gift for someone on my list!   I love giving gifts.  It is almost an art.  Sometimes I bomb though--and buy something either too old or too young for the person.  I miss shopping for the freshly cut trees we used to buy--but do enjoy the fake tree because we can leave it up and enjoy it so much longer.  It's always fun to pick out the "best side" of the artificial tree!  We'll be assembling the tree on Friday, and I hope to share some photos of little Birds and possibly little Staleys as they may be here to help grandma and grandpa with their tree!

In the meantime, I have a couple of layouts to share.  One is of the three little birds last month, and the other is from when Micah was just a little guy in 2004.  The layout of Micah is a "classic" baby layout.  I hope you enjoy it!

Look at that sweet little face!  Poor Micah!!

Two posts in one day!!  Record day!  :)

I did this layout for a challenge at How Much Is Too Much?   Find the blog here: HMITM BLOG
Everything was supposed to be in green tones.  I made it except for the white title and the black journaling and black swirls.

Don't Get Wet!!
The journaling says:  Journaling says: Yeah right! What else would a 3 year old do with water just sitting there? Isn’t that why God put him and the water in the same spot at the same time?

I used a freebie blog template and a freebie kit called Addie the dinosaur by Jenny Cereal.

Yesterday Grandpa and I spent the day in Pasadena at the Cal Stewart Train Show.  It's a once a year event for model train enthusiasts where a bunch of train people go to sell their wares.  I akin it to a scrapbook convention for scrappers--
We had a good time walking the aisles, looking for bargains, and buying a few things.  There was an awesome floor display of several running train layouts, and also several other layouts for us to examine.  There was an upside down Christmas tree with a train running on the ceiling around the base of the tree, and another tree on the floor around the area the tree would have been, had it been on the floor.  The action of the train was possible with the use of magnets, but it looked pretty amazing running around in a circle on the ceiling.

I attended the auction.  Although it was only open for bidding to the club members, I had a good time resting my legs and feet while looking like I was actually a bidder!  There were some good deals, and some of the people were buying things at the auction and taking them right out to their booth for sale to the public.  I'm sure they were hoping on a big profit in the double transaction. 

I didn't get many photos of the show because dh had the camera--but I guess he took photos of the things that were important to him!  :)

I was browsing the web this morning and found some cute word art, so made a layout with it.  I've used this photo before, but absolutely love these photos of the baby backs and their shar-pei look before they start filling out.  Jacob may be on the mend after a rough start in life.  He spent several days in the hospital after originally being released after birth.  Then, he contracted a cold which turned to bronchitis.  Poor little guy spend a few days in an upright position because he couldn't breath while laying down.  He's such a sweet little fellow! 

Besides the wordart by Vicki, I also used a blog freebie kit by Jeanne Marie Scraps for this layout.

I took part in a chat tonight on the digi board at 2 peas, and found the weekly challenge with a little help from Sheri!  Thanks Sheri!  :)  Anyhow, the challenge was to use a DVD cover as inspiration for a layout.  So, off I went to the DVD cabinet, and I found the one I wanted to try!! 

We saw this musical (?) group at our local fair the past few years.  They are a lot of fun to watch.  Silly kind of fun.  That's us--silly!!

So, I took it and decided since the background is black, maybe I'd do a Halloween layout.  It was fun to see the grandkids in their cute costumes this year.  We usually don't get to have TWO families together for the evening.  

I came up with the layout--and posted it at 2 peas--

I did my own morph! 
journaling says:   Megan was Darth Vader, Kelli was the cute cat, Emily made the cutest little butterfly princess you’d ever want to see. Ashlyn was Princess Leah, Jonah was a little fireman, and Noah was the Pirate! Grandpa is holding the newest one-Jacob who is going to give everybody a run for their money next year.

 

 It was fun getting some photos from Debbie when we visited San Diego.  I remembered her telling me about this day a few weeks ago, and had a good time scrapping the cute photos!
Kelli and Emily had such a good time in their square dance class! It is part of their co-op classes where they read the Little House on the Prairie Books each week. They dressed up like Laura and Mary with their prairie hats and cute sun dresses. Mom helped the girls make a pie for the feast after the dance! Yum, the pie was GOOD!!

I used a mini kit called Funky Rainbow from Flutterbye Faery Designs for the layout.

Amy shared a lot of photos with me, and there were a lot from their trip to the Pumpkin Patch.  It looks like the boys had a great time trying to find their perfect pumpkin.

For this layout I used a kit called Birdhouse rock collab by Digital Couture and Jen Yurko, and I used a freebie template from Weeds and Wildflowers

I pulled out some "newborn" photos of baby Jacob today since he's on my mind!  He's sick again, poor baby.  Doctor says it's bronchitis, but wasn't sure until today that it wasn't pneumonia.  We're grateful for friends and prayers!!  He's such a good little guy--even when he's not feeling well.

I used two kits-one from Erica Hernandez at 2 peas--the freebie November kit, and a blog train kit.  The sketch is from Scrapsketch.com.  Stephanie gives us great sketches to play with every month!!  thanks Stephanie.

Whoo Hoo!!  I played with a freebie blog template and came up with a second layout for today!  Debbie let me download a bunch of her photos while we visited last week.  The photos I used were taken when their family visited Maryland this past summer.  The sunset photo was gorgeous, so I wanted to used that as the background.  Looks like they had a lot of fun with campfires, riding in the boat, and playing in the huge yard! 
Besides the freebie blog template, I also used a free kit from Sande Krieger at 2 peas in a bucket called Rough Riders.  Since the family was visiting around the 4th of July, I wanted to capture one of the rows of red stars on the paper into the layout!  

Amy downloaded some photos for me yesterday when I visited her and the boys.  I couldn't wait to scrap this particular photo.  My boys are such funny little characters--
The journaling says:  Scott took the boys out for a hike one day.  He wanted to get a photo of them together, and they started “cheesing” it up.  So, which one is the cheesiest?  It's your call!

The two kits I used were A New Day by JMC Carthy and a kit called What a Hoot by Jan Hosford!  Gotta love the cute owls in the kit!!  And the tree isn't that bad either for that matter!

As you know, I'm a "regular" poster on twopeasinabucket.com where I take part in a lot of the challenges.  This week I finished up the Pub ad challenge that is faithfully posted by Corinna every Monday!  I used a Christmas kit from Michelle Underwood for the layout--and although the layout didn't turn out like I had it in my head, I love the results!!  Although the kit is a Christmas kit--the layout is from Halloween!  I bought the kit because it looked pretty versatile, so I'm going to enjoy playing with it!!   I particularly loved the little "musical" bird and the scalloped page I used for the background page.  I hope you like it as much as I do!

This is Kelli--one of the sweetest little girls around.  She's grown up so much and is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. 

We enjoyed our trip to San Diego so much.  It was so much fun sharing Halloween with the kids.  They had such a good time carving pumpkins, finding their costumes, and preparing to go out trick or treating. 

When we got back home after trick or treating, the kids went through their candy and boy, did they have a stash!  Ashlyn even made a written inventory  of all her stash!!  Funny!!

On Saturday we all went to Poway Park.  We attended a Farmer’s Market and rode
the little TRAIN. The kids loved it!

I used a kit called Little Red Caboose from Sweet Shop for this layout!  What a fun little kit this is!!

I did today's layout for the Pub Ad Challenge at 2 peas. The journaling says:  Despite the condition of the pumpkin patch, the condition of the animals, and the attitude of the local people, we had a good time in Ramona. We ran around the corn maze, picked out small pumpkins for the girls, and visited one of the local antique shops. I think just spending time together, though, was the best part!

 

I used a cute kit from Bella Gypsy called Apple Pickin for the layout, and an ad for inspiration.

 

Ramona is a little rural area not far from Debbie's home in the San Diego area.  We traveled there on Friday after the girls were finished with their school work for the day.  The pumpkin patch itself had obviously seen better days!!  There wasn't one pumpkin in it that looked good enough to take home!!  The animals in their fenced in cages looked like they could use some love too!  The corn maze was fun, though, and grandpa did a bit of hiding there!  

After we left the patch, we stopped in at one of the many local antique shops.  The proprietor and the workers in the shop were actually quite rude.  They were preparing to take part in the "safe" trick or treating event in the town.  One of the ladies said " "everybody" brings their thousands of children up there and drops them off--there won't be any parking spaces, and the town will be overrun with these "visitors." " She really had a chip on her shoulder, and we were pretty happy to get off of her property and back into the car!  

We made our way back down the hill as these thousands of people were on their way up! 

We were happy to spend Halloween week in San Diego this year.  Amy and Scott even came down so the kids could trick or treat with the their cousins.  They were all darling in their costumes, and had a good time going from door to door collecting candy.  Noah thought it was great except for when nobody came to the door with candy in hand!  When that happened, he cried, and the girls broke down and gave him a piece of their candy to get him to walk to the next porch!  He ended up with more candy than any of the kids!! 

I used the Pumpkin Spice kit from StrawBeary Designs and a blog template for this fun layout. 

I have two layouts to share today!  They were both made with the new kit from StrawBeary Designs called Ladybug Picnic!  I love this kit-it is so versatile and has such cute elements in it! 
The first layout is of my granddaughter Hope.  I've scrapped this photo before, but Hannah did such a good job with this set of photos that I just had to use this photo with this kit!  Hopie is like a little lady bug herself--she flies from one thing to the next!!  And she always seems happy. 

The second layout is for Jacob.  He's a little sweetie too!  Look at his cute expression.  He's such a good little guy.  He's claiming his own little spot in this world!  (and in our hearts of course!)  I'm not sure what we did before he got here--Amy and Scott, of course, are thinking they got a lot more sleep before Jacob made his appearance!  :)                 

Look what the BIRDS did today!!  A first visit to the pumpkin patch with all three little pumpkins!!

I made the layout with the cute kit from StrawBeary Designs called Pumpkin Spice! 

I used a blog template for this layout, then I reproduced the colors from Hopie's pajamas for the paper.  She is such a sweet little thing--light as a feather, and the most gorgeous long fingers I've ever seen on a child!  She'd make a great piano player.  Her bright brown eyes are snappy just like my mom's used to be.  She is definitely a little sweetie!! 

Amy posted some more photos on her facebook page, so being the good grandma that I am, I snagged them, and made a layout or two!  :)

Yes!  Our baby is back home again!  To celebrate the occasion, I made a layout.  Journaling says:  Jacob! You are still pretty young to have to start over again, but after a few days in the hospital, that is what you are going to do! Take the time to relax and get to know your family! We’re happy to have you home again with your brothers where you belong. I used two kits--Annie from Imendez and a freebie kit by Sev, and a template from Collie's Corner.
We're so happy Jacob is feeling better!

I made this layout last week right after Jacob's birth--It was for the Scrapsketch.com site!  :)  Look at his chubby little cheeks!  And Amy looks so great after giving birth to this 9 pound 6 oz sweet baby!!   Way to go Amy! 

Our baby is sick!  He's in the hospital awaiting results of a million tests they ran!  Scott posted some photos of Jacob on his facebook page, and I snagged them and made this layout.  It is my first attempt at making my own template--which Jen Martakis from 2 peas helped me with!  I made this layout for the pub ad challenge at twopeasinabucket.com while we are WAITING AND PRAYING 4 JACOB TO FEEL BETTER.

I made another layout with the Pumpkin Spice kit from StrawBeary Designs.  The kit has lots of cute elements in it, and it was hard to narrow down the choices.  I used the owl again because Jacob's and Jonah's last name is BIRD--and I like to use Birds on their layouts!! 

This is my first paper layout of my new grandbaby!  It is the first paper layout I've done in a long time in fact! I used DCWV paper, and KI Alphabet Soup letters!  Love those things!

Jacob is at home!  Mom and baby doing fine.  One older brother really loving the baby the other older brother is a little "indifferent" so far!   He IS a cutie though!

My sister and I have a great relationship now that we are adults.  I guess for "kid" sisters, we got along as well as most kid sisters do--but it took growing up for us to really enjoy each other and become best friends.  That shared experience of childhood, the family, and the love we all shared really means a lot to both of us.  I made this layout as a challenge at our recent online crop at 2 peas. 
The journaling says My sister and I were very different growing up.  She was always the perfect one and I was the family clown. 

Look at her!  She's standing there so perfectly with her gun straight out!  If I shot MY gun, I would have shot her in the foot!!  In the other photo, I remember that day we got our pictures taken.  It was at home--there was a photographer that came to our neighborhood.  The photographer made Patsy put her arms around me like she really liked me, but Patsy kept tickling me!!  I was always so ticklish--and I couldn't sit still!!  And I hated my midriff bare!! 

I had BIRDS on my mind when I made this layout!!  My daughter (last name Bird) was getting ready to deliver the new grandson!!  :)

Jacob Daniel Bird was born this morning at 7:24 am!!  He is our 6th grandson, and he joins 8 granddaughters!  The boys are catching up!  He was 9 pounds 6 oz and 22 inches long.  :)

Today I get to share an older photo, but with a newer kit!  This will be my first layout for the StrawBeary Designs creative team.  The kit is called Pumpkin Spice and you can grab it here:  https://scrapitsassy.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=127

The photo is Abby, of course, in one of her more pensive moments!  :)  We were in Colorado awaiting Sarah's birth in October that year, and we experienced a beautiful fall--then even some winter weather while we were there!  Colorado is a beautiful state, and we always enjoy our time there.  Of course, playing with the kids is the highlight of our trip, and THIS trip we got to play in the leaves AND in the snow!  And then we also got to add little Sarah to the family too.  A beautiful addition!!  :)

I love the tree in this kit!  I've been loving trees AND Owls lately, and this kit had BOTH!  Can't ask for much more that that!  Have a great day!  

Sarah was just the cutest little one!  She just melted in your arms when you held her.  She was like a little floppy stuffed animal.  She could have cared less about pumpkins and candy and trick or treating!  As long as momma was around at meal time, she was just fine!  :) I used a kit called funkoween by Vonnies Digi World

The first layout are shots I took at Hopie's birthday party. She had the cutest little cake with cupcakes all around the outside! The cupcakes had figures from the LITTLEST PET SHOP! Those are Hopie's favorites! She has quite a collection of them!! I love the photo on the top right side--she has such a cute look of anticipation and happiness on her sweet little face!! She was so excited!!

For the bottom layout, the Journaling says: You certainly know how to brighten our day!! You are our little sunshine girl. sketch from Scrapsketch.com, and my oldest granddaughter Hannah supplied the photos for me!! She's becoming quite the photographer! :)

Jonah is a very intense little guy. He is very expressive and he enjoys life to the max!! Here he is ready to ride his trike at the park. He did stop long enough to put his helmet on. But you better get that helmet on in a hurry!! Jonah lives in the fast lane!

I used a template from Colie's Corner, and combined it with a sketch from Scrapsketch.com and a kit from GypsyBella called topsy-turvey (again!)

Amy recently sent me some cute photos of Noah right out of the bath! This was before his hair cut! Can you tell?

I used a kit called Topsy Turvey by Bellagypsy and a template by ChrissyW for this layout! I love this kit! It is so versatile!!