Black Friday

edited to add: I figured out how to make my pictures "clickable" so you can click on them and see them closeup. Turns out that when I clicked and dragged them where I wanted them, I lost some of the html code enabling them to be "clickable." Now I just left them where they end up, and typed around them. Yo can click on all of them, except the last one. I accidentally deleted the special "clickable" html code when I dragged it to it's spot. Enjoy!

It's Black Friday today. Who braved the shopping malls? Not me! I worked several years in retail and decided that I would never shop on Black Friday unless absolutely necessary. So, we've just been hanging around the house, doing laundry, stuff like that. Yesterday was a good day. We didn't go anywhere, just stayed home and enjoyed each other's company. Made a modest Thanksgiving dinner, and watched a silly movie. It was a happy/sad day. We had originally planned on being in San Diego visiting family in the morning, then flying to Arkansas to visit family in the evening, but those plans fell through when our orders didn't get cut in time. We were happy to be together, but we were missing our family that we didn't get to be with. I really hope and pray that our orders get us to Italy for Christmas, because I know it will be a difficult day to get through if we're still here and my husband is still in Korea. But enough about that! Yesterday I got a chance to be a little crafty. My oldest son and I made Christmas lists! Andrew made his own list, and I made lists for Ashton and Angel.

Above is Ashton's list. I stamped and then colored Santa from Doodlefactory's Sweete Shoppe stamp set. Then I cut him out and glued him onto the list. I printed the lists out from my computer on Very Vanilla card stock and Real Red Card stock.

I cut the title off the red cs and put it on the vanilla cs. Then I stamped the images around the border of the lists. Andrew colored the Santa on Angel's list. Then Andrew made his own list.

He wanted to have a little section on his list for his "most wanted" presents. He colored the Santa, then glued it onto two circles that I cut out. He also decorated his list with Gio (the gingerbread man) and an ornament from Kim Hughes' set that I paper pieced.

We had a good time making these lists, and they didn't take long at all. The boys have already started filling them in with the toys they want. Notice the gift on Andrew's list? He wants a VERY expensive iPod! lol.

Well, on another subject, Wednesday was Einstein's last day with us. The poor little guy had a bad liver, and it slowly took his life away. He was just 6 months old, but he was suffering. My Mom took him to be put to sleep on Wednesday afternoon. We all miss him, but he was in so much pain, that now he is much better off. Here is a picture of him playing with Angel:

He had a great life, and we are all happy that we knew him.

Thank you again for stopping by. I really appreciate when you all read my posts and comment. And by the way, if you want to comment but don't have a blogger account, you still can if you post as "anonymous." Just click the circle next to "anonymous" and you'll be good to go. Oh, and don't forget to tell me who you are, or I won't know! lol.

Until next post, be blessed.

Gina K. Designs TTC Swap!

Recently I participated in a swap where we all made trading cards that fit into altoid-style tins. This swap was so much fun because we had to use Gina K. Designs stamps and all the GKD fans that participated made beautiful cards! At first the swap was open to 10 stampers, but so many people wanted to participate that it was expanded to 30! I kinda wish I had been in the 3rd group also, but I figured that being in 2 groups was enough work and I didn't want to gte in over my head.

On another note, I have 3 followers! Have you clicked on their images and checked out their blogs lately? I have and they have some great projects to show you so you should go check them out. Another blog that I found a while ago, then lost, then found again (heehee) is Curt's Blog! Not only does he craft, but he has two giant schnauzers that look just like giant Einstein's! Here is are a couple pictures of Angel and Einstein playing together recently.

They have a ton of fun together, and Einstein doesn't mind Angel pulling on his hair very much (usually).

Well, I better get going here. I have some stuff to finish up for Angel's birthday party tomorrow and dinner to cook.

Thank you all so much for stopping by! Until next post, be blessed.

Secret Swap, School & Einstein!

A little while back I was part of a secret swap. (I didn't post about this already, did I?) I sent this little gift set to Linsey Rickett. Since I downloaded all my pictures off my computer, I borrowed this one from Linsey (hope that's ok!). I covered a mini composition book, made a bookmark, a magnetic post-it note, and a double pocket card. I used the little animales from Hip Hop Accessories and DP from DCWV's Nana's Nursery. See the plaque on the cover of the book? It's a plastic tag from Gina K. designs with Making Memories heart brads through the corners. Also, the ribbon is Stampin' Up.

So... It's been a little crazy here at home. School has started up again and this is Ashton's first year! He's in Kindergarten, and even though he went to preschool last year, this year he's going to "brother's school" and it's full-day! Yea! He had an "orientation" day last week (they evaluate the kids and then place then is class groups), and this week he's been going more often. Next week he will go every day, just like his big brother. He loves school (thank you, God) but hates getting up in the mornings and getting ready. He's a typical 4 year old who doesn't want to do what he's told, he just wants to do what he wants to do, when he wants to do it. So, getting up and dressed and all that is not something he enjoys. Oh well, we're working on it. Here's a pic of the boys on Ashton's first official day of school with his teacher in his class (besides the orientation day): Ashton was ready to go! LOL! This was Andrew's second week of school so he wasn't all that excited anymore... He has a guy teacher for the first time this year and he likes his class. He says his teacher is cool cuz he's not strict! LOL! AND, the girl that Andrew has a crush on is in his class again this year. So far it's all been good. Also, it's been busy around here because we have a new member of the family! This adorable little guy is Einstein! He's a mini schnauzer, and the best little playmate ever! Angel baby adores him and loves to grab him. He doesn't seem to mind too much. I am trying to house train him... Yeah, that's a little bit of a task. It's going ok, but it could be going better if you know what I mean. Well, that's about it for today. Tomorrow I'm gonna post a pic of the card I made for my Grandpa for his birthday! Grandma, if you read this, don't let im see it until it comes in the mail! heehee!

Until next post, be blessed!