A visit from Santa Claus

About a week or so before Christmas, the kids got an unexpected (for them) visit from Santa. Santa just happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to stop by. He even had presents for all of us!!

Gavin was excited, but a bit shy. He did so much better around Santa than he has done in years past. Heck, in the past, he wouldn't even go near Santa! Bekah, for being as young as she is, did remarkably well. She was a bit timid at first, but after she opened her gift and discovered that it was a Yo Gabba Gabba toy, she seemed to be a bit warmer to him. She even let Santa help her put her boots on.

Soon it was time for Santa to leave and when he left our house he made sure to hand out candy canes to the kids next door. What a great Santa!! Thanks, Santa for making a special trip! And thanks, Mrs. Claus for sending him our way!!

Scrapping Bekah

The last two layouts I have done have been of sweet Bekah J. She is such a fun subject, too. She's at that fun age where I feel like I need to document every little thing.

This first layout is my favorite layout right now. I captured her and her funny faces one night during dinner and I just love how the layout came together. She cracks me up!!




This next layout is of her playing peek-a-boo. Or "puh-tuh" as she calls it :) I added a hidden journal feature behind the pictures because I couldn't figure out where on the layout to write the story!!




Soon I'll upload some of our pictures from Christmas and all our festivities. Things have just been crazy for me with getting all the projects done, that I just needed a little break. But-pictures, soon, I promise!!

Last weekend...

Last weekend, Erin and I were able to have some quality time together at a friend's wedding. The wedding was absolutely gorgeous and we had a really good time. We were sad to have to leave right as the party was starting at the reception, but we had our Mommy and Daddy lives to return to.

I did make a wedding gift for the bride and groom, though. And I really didn't want to have to give it up!! It turned out so wonderful, especially since I just guessed on their wedding colors and I got them right! Woohoo!

Anyway, I decorated a plain, black photo album and made a card to match. I used lots of glitter and paint :) I had fun putting it together and was pleased with the ending result. And the best part is, the bride and groom loved it!







Sunday, I was able to have some "me" time with the girls. I was invited to a crop/Scrappy Chics party at Jacqueline's house for the afternoon. Let me tell you, her house is BEAUTIFUL!! So spacious and homey...and her and her husband built it themselves! Wow!

We all had a great time at the crop, we even had a visit from Santa Claus!! (It was actually Jacqueline's AWESOME husband.) He even brought presents!! How cool is that?
I really enjoyed my time away from it all, but it was nice to come home to my family. Even though I don't get much "me" time, I am always looking forward to when I get to return to my hubby and kids.





Oh, and if you are wondering about the "ugly" attire everyone is wearing...there was a contest for the "ugliest Christmas sweater." It was a riot seeing what everyone wore. Of course, Melinda won hands down! I would post a solo picture, BUT I don't want to embarrass her...but if you look in the group shot, she is the second one from the right ;) She did look quite cute, though!!

This Moment

This is my favorite layout right now. I have had this picture for over 4 years now, and I finally was able to get my vision onto paper! Yay! I'm really happy with how it turned out.
This picture was taken by myself, at the hospital after Gavin was born. I believe he was a day old in this picture. And now he is 4 1/2! Wow, time sure does fly!!

Eskimo kisses Blessings album

I just finished this cute mini album with Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey! I am so happy with how it turned out. I will be teaching a class on how to put this together at The Craft Garden, in Wasilla, on December 19 at 11:30. I hope you'll join me!!

This album has a lot of cute extras like journaling pullouts and extra places for pictures. It will hold 2X3 and 3X4 pictures.

Hope to see you there!

Recent projects

I just realized that it's been awhile since I last posted any of my projects on here. With the holiday season upon us, I've been extra busy with Christmas gifts, cards and projects for the Craft Garden.
Here are just a few of my most recent designs.










The mini album of Bekah is one of my absolute favorites! I used lots of girly stuff and Pink Paislee paper. The funny thing about this album is that all these pictures were taken within 30 minutes of each other. I have one moody little girl!!

Thanks for looking!!

Silverback Gorilla

Just the other night, my mother-in-law came over and was playing with the kids. All of a sudden I heard this dreadful sound. It was the sound of my mother-in-law dry heaving. And not just a normal dry heaving sound. It was a from-the-tip-of-your-toes-dry-heaving-that-sounds-like-the-mating-call-of-a-silverback-gorilla-sound.

Seriously.

What was the cause of this obnoxious sound, you ask?

My four year old was chasing her around with a booger on his finger.

I think that the expression on my face when this happened was probably priceless. I remember I was staring at her with an "Are you kidding me?" look on my face. At first I thought she was kidding! But after I realized that she was REALLY dry heaving, I kept thinking, "If she pukes on my carpet, she's cleaning it up!!"

She didn't puke.

But I sure did have the best laugh that I've had in ages.

And Erin and I had fun that night in bed doing the dry heaving impersonations!!

(Sorry, Amber :) You know we love you...but darn it, this was such a good story!!)