First gathering

Last Sunday, we got started!!! We went over to Momba and Papa's house. This is Connor's grandparents....on his momma's side. This is a BIG family! Connor has 2 aunts and an uncle. He also has 2 brothers and 1 sister. He has 7 cousins. Between all of us there are 13 grandkids and 2 on the way! People....that's 15! It was difficult getting them all in one photo, as you can imagine!
We were missing Katie, who was home with a virus and little Sophie, the 5 week old that couldn't sit at the table! But here she is......oh, doesn't that make your heart skip a beat? She is so precious! We are heading to my Mom's this very second! Lots of family time for us! We'll be home on Sunday.....can't wait to play with our new toys!

Party Animals

My two little elves getting ready for the day of parties!

We truly are party animals! Pictures from school parties! Oh, I love 3rd grade! All the 3rd graders dressed up as Whoville characters! They were all so cute! I love the fact that they have parts and get to go around to the other classrooms and act out a part of the story! Emma was so excited to go to John Connor's class. I had Ms. Bishop video it for me. It's adorable! If I ever figure out how to upload my flip videos to my computer, maybe you'll get to see it!
John Connor invited us to his class for cocoa and carols. Too cute! They sang Christmas carols to the parents and then we had cocoa! John Connor was really into this one song. I think it was the 12 days of Christmas!
I went to Emma's party in the afternoon. It was a Who fest. There was Who food and games and Who prizes! It was a super fun party! Emma was the first one finished making her cookie. She knows exactly what she wants....icing and sprinkles. She makes sure she gets every last bite!I miss being more involved in their classrooms. It seems weird not knowing all the kids names and helping with every part of the parties. I'm so thankful that I do get to go when I can. I know it means a lot to my kids and the teachers. They do so much and really appreciate parents coming in.

Guess we'll be back to school next year!

Annual Ornament Swap

I love this party! I have had an ornament swap for several years. You are supposed to bring an ornament (or holiday decor item) and we play dirty santa! Let me tell you.......my friends are ruthless! They will fight for an ornament! It is so much fun and we laugh so hard! I love it and always look forward to it every year. Most of the time, I ask everyone to bring cookies and we have a cookie swap, too. This year, well, needless to say, has been a little crazy! I have been behind on everything! Hopefully, next year, I will have it a little more "together". We'll see! Thanks to all the girls that came this year and helped bring food! Can't wait to do it again!

Emma and John Connor working on homework together! Such sweetie kids!

Christmas parties!

There have been less this year than in year's past. The economy? A short season? I'm not sure, but we had fun at the ones we went to! It's so great getting together with friends. I truly enjoy getting to see all my friends! We had our annual tennis party. Our fabulous hostess, Betty, knows how to entertain! Her house was decorated perfectly. She has lots of Penny McAllister decorations. I love them! They have a very whimsical, vintage feel to them. Betty and Karen get together and give away door prizes. I love that! I really need to incorporate that into my party. Last year I won a gift card to Ruth's Chris! This year I won a Penny McAllister ornament! I have some pretty good luck at her party! We always take a group photo. Coach Rusty usually takes the pic since he's the only male. He always brings a Christmas CD that he's made. We have a great time!

Connor and I went to the SEC Championship game in Atlanta the first weekend in December. It really was fun. Too bad the Tide couldn't pull it through. I think it was a great game. We got to hang out with the brothers, Tony and Michael. I guess we will hang out with Tony at the Sugar Bowl. Michael gets to dress out! He'll be on the side lines! YAY!

Vallie Pate came to the store one night and taught us the cutest Christmas tree painting! It turned out sooo cute! Leah, super duper talented, Leah, brought door prizes for everyone. Man, I really need to step up to the plate on the door prizes! She handpaints ornaments. She calls them the original Ta Ta's. They are oh so adorable! She also made some cross t-shirts. We gave everyone that came a door prize! Thanks Leah!!

December Scripts Kit

This was one of my favorite kits to work with. I guess because I love everything Christmas! I made this cute countdown calendar from a frame I had. It's just a raw wood frame I found at Michaels. I covered it with one of the patterned papers in the kit. I add the little frames around each window to make them stand out a little more. The bird and tree were to make it look Christmasy! I love the Making Memories alphabet. It is so pretty and sparkly! The picture of John Connor is obviously an old one. It is one of my FAVORITES!!! He is just so innocent playing with Santa's glasses and grinning that adorable grin! I could kiss the photographer for getting this shot! The other Santa in this picture is one that my Mom gave me. We have had it for as many years as I can remember. It was always my most favorite thing to put out! I couldn't wait to find it packed carefully in it's box. It was always placed on the mantle. I truly think it is one of the most precious Christmas gifts she's ever given me. It just brings back those childhood memories!! Thanks Mom! I don't know if I've ever told you before.
This little layout is about one of the fiestiest 98 year olds I know! We were getting ready for Thanksgiving lunch and these pictures were being passed around. There were so many that I wanted to steal! They all have her personality captured! She has handwritten notes on several of them to her sweetheart while he was away at war. Such a sweet love story. She claimed to be embarrased, but you could see her heart smiling right through her eyes as she was remembering! Connor's Grandmother, Edith Farmer, is so precious to her whole family! We are so lucky to have been able to spend so many years with her! We pray that we will continue to have many, many more!
I made this card with a piece of cardstock, tulle, a die cut paper from Little Yellow Bicycle and those pretty Falala alphas from Making Memories! I hope you have a wonderful Holiday week!

May your Season be Merry!

Here's the Christmas card!
Merry Christmas to YOU!

Sips N Strokes

From Birmingham? You know exactly what I'm talking about! I LOVE Sips N Strokes during the holidays. There are soooo many paintings that I want to do. This particular one was a lot of fun. I got to hang out with some old friends! Only one is from Birmingham, Molly. The others are friends from college. My lil sis from sorority, Jenny. She is from Nashville. Stacey also went to UNA with us. Her Mom, Russell and Jeff were all there, too. We had soooo much fun! This tree turned out pretty cute. It isn't your traditional Christmas colors, but I love it! I ran over to Publix to get a snack and came back with a loaf of bread and some brie with a "hint" of blue cheese. They all made fun of me! They also helped me eat it! It was yummy!

The color is horrible on these pictures. Still trying to figure out my camera! It's been 9 months since my other one was stolen. I miss it! So much for getting an upgrade!

So much to do this holiday season. It's here and I'm not ready. I'm just going to take it one day at a time and I know it will all work out. Finished my Christmas cards tonight. Hopefully, everyone will get them before Christmas. I know some of my friends are already heading "home" and won't get it until they get back. I hope it's a great surprise to keep the spirit alive for just a few more days!! Have a great Sunday!

I promised pictures....

This is my upside down Christmas tree. I love it! It's is done in very traditional colors, but a very non-traditional look!

We launched registration for our Scrap ETC Spring event 2009. You can find more info by clicking on the blinkie to the right......I hope you'll join us!

Classes at Scrap ETC this week!

We are getting ready for the Holidays! I have been decorating my house and painting cute Christmas canvases, working on Christmas cards and trying to think of handmade gift ideas?! I might need some ideas..... Tonight, I created a cute countdown calendar with the December Scripts Monthly Dose...(the kit club). Emma and John Connor are working on their letters to Santa. Honestly, it was so hard for them to figure out what they wanted! I told them they had to think of good things they had done throughout the year to tell Santa. Now, that was hard! They were so funny, helping put up the Christmas decor, taking out the trash, checking the mail......hard work! Maybe they should work on making that a long list before the Santa list gets too long!

This week Vanessa will be teaching her canvas class from Wrapper's Delight on Tuesday, December 2nd at 6:30pm. This canvas is so much fun because you will get to paint AND use scrapbook papers! I love it. She used a sheet of music and some other patterned papers to create this adorable canvas. You will want to do one for yourself and another as a gift!
If Tuesday doesn't work for you.......we have another painting by Vallie Pate - The Everyday Artist. She is coming to the store to teach this adorable painting on Thursday, December 4th at 6:30pm! Call the store to sign up! 205-985-9323

Are you familiar with the Pop Artist named.....Madonna?

I am! Looky here..........

I hung out with her last night in the ATL. Well, you know, from section 117 in "the chairs"! That's what Jermal kept saying to us! He was so excited that we were in "the chairs"! His straight hair and headband were just a few of the things that we loved about him!

I was invited by one of my sweet friends to go to Atlanta and see Madonna in concert for "her" birthday! What could be better than that? Throw in a couple more friends and call it................. "A night to remember!"

I was a late invite.....doesn't bother me! I should thank Leah. I took her ticket! I do not mind being the back up friend, no sir! I didn't find out that I could go until late last week. I rearranged my Monday and Tuesday and got ready to play. (thanks B and Kristin!)

We left early on Monday. A little shopping was needed at Lenox. Bloomies, Neimans, California Pizza Kitchen. I had to remind Daphney that she has a Nieman Marcus card. Once I did, the shopping began! We couldn't run it up fast enough....jk. I needed to paint my toenails and found a great color at Chanel to buy....they were out. The girl at the counter said I could use it. So, I painted my toes at the Chanel counter! She didn't mind, at all! I do wish I could find that color.....Haute Chocolat. Sounds divine, doesn't it?

After Lenox, we get in the car....in the rain......to find our hotel. The Ritz Carlton, did I mention we had a couple of hook-ups? Good rate at the Ritz. We found it....finally! Ran in got ready in marathon fashion....4 girls one bathroom...one hairdryer.......2 mirrors! Good fun. We got to the Phillips Arena a few minutes after 7:00, picked up our VIP passes and tickets, and went to hang out with the "cool people"! Let me tell you......THAT was a party to talk about!Needless to say, the concert was FABULOUS!!! I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! Thanks, Amy! Happy Birthday......to you!

Sunny and 69 at the beach!

Ahhhhh, the beach. I think it missed me, too. I actually didn't even see it until today around noon. It was ice cold yesterday and we just watched football and ate all day long! We went from Acme Oyster House to Harry T's and then to Jim 'n Nicks. Can you believe that they ran out of chicken? NO chicken in the whole place. I wanted Chicken Kitchen Sink Nachos......no chicken. Chicken salad...sorry, no chicken. Bar B Q chicken sandwich? NOPE. I had a pork sandwich. It was just ok. I was bummed. The COOLEST meal of the day, desert, goes to Harry T's. They have S'mores! You make your own. OMG, it was so cute. She brought out a dish with graham crackers, marshmallows and Hershey bars. An open flame in a pottery bowl. I was so impressed and so glad I had my camera! It was very entertaining! I want to have party and serve trays of S'mores inside!!!
I got to scrapbook all night. I didn't get to bed until 1:30am. Yikes. I think my mojo had finally kicked in. I hate when that happens! It was ok. When I got up this morning, I just kept whipping them out! I didn't get all the pics on there. I didn't have my flash drive so I could print. I'll get them on here in the next day or so.

We went to Jolee's Island today and played. It is so fun! There is a trail that goes all through the island and several tree houses. We took lots of pictures. Over on the nature trail we played Hide N Go Seek. On the way home, John Connor said that was his favorite part of the day. We all agreed....it was the best!

Then we headed out to the beach. (don't tell John Connor, but that was my favorite part!) We all had on our jeans and long sleeves. We were out there for 5 minutes and had rolled up our pants, taken off our shoes and shred our long sleeve layers! It was beaUtiFuL! We took so many pics. I hope I can use something from today for my Christmas card....we'll see!
These two pics were pretty funny because both of the kids stepped in this little puddle and both had the same expressions! too funny. I stepped in and it felt like putting your foot in an icechest full of ice!

The Artist

Here is the pic of Emma with her painting! I can't wait to get it home and hang it in my house!

This is BIG!

I feel so honored! Wilna Furstenburg posted on her blog that the music on my blog inspires HER! Whoa, if you know this girl, then you know that SHE is the one who inspires. You can't read her blog without feeling like everything is going to be ok. She just has this way of using scripture to give you that lift you need each day. You really need to read her blog. She is also a fabulous scrapbooker. She created these adorable ornaments for our Wrapper's Delight silent auction. There is a pic of it on our ScrapETC blog. She will keep inspiring you often. So, make sure you keep her on your list of blogs you read!

I can't find my camera cord.....does this surprise anyone? I didn't think so. I got a new lens yesterday. It is going to make my pictures so much better! A Nikon 50mm 1.8.......thanks to Elizabeth. She had hers at the event and I knew that is what I need for my camera so that I don't have to use my flash. I think she uses a Canon, but the lens is the same.

Emma was one of 20 3rd graders chosen for an Art show at Bryant Bank! WOW, how cool is that? The art teacher chose the drawings and the bank picked winners! Several of Emma's friends were in the show. My Emma got 3rd place!!!! She got $50 to open a savings account! We are so proud of her. As soon as I find my camera cord, I will post a picture of my little artist and her painting with her 3rd place ribbon.

Today is my day off from the store. That means I don't have to be there from 10-6, but I will be there doing a Happy Hour, which is a little project you can come in and do. Today it is a Valentine layout. It is adorable and created by the Elizabeth that I mentioned earlier. This girl's got it going on! So, come by and create a quick layout. I will be in and out of there today. I may try to decorate for Christmas. It's time, right?

Oh and good news....we have a showing on the house at 4:00 today! keep your fingers crossed!

I've been tagged....

This means I have to tell you 6 random things about me.

I am inspired by the one that picked me.....Katie

1. I, like Katie, am on the hunt for the perfect lip color. I had the perfect one. Bobbi Brown lipshine in Sunkissed. It was a Summer color about 2 years ago and I have bought everyone that I could find. I am now down to my last tube and it will be gone very, very soon. I can't find anything else I like as well. Everything is too pink on me...even the new Bobbi Brown brown lipstick I had in my pocket at Wrapper's Delight. So sad.

2. I also return most of my purchases from Anthropologie. I love to walk in that store. It has to be one of the most inspiring stores ever. I will always remember the first one in SOHO so many years ago. I want to wear those big heavy sweaters....it's just not practical in Alabama! I came VERY close to buying a journal from 1940something for $14 the other day! I probably can find it in a thrift store for $1.00...Hello!

3. I love Facebook...I feel like a stalker, but it's ok, because everyone else is, too!

4. I, like my friend, Virginia, do not like blinds. She pulls hers up every morning. I do not have ANY! No blinds on any window in my house.......let the light shine in!

5. I need to go to the beach......It's been almost 6 weeks!

6. one more???? I am going to Fred Astaire Dance Studio next Thursday night! Anyone want to join me?

Maybe this was more of a take off of someone else's randomness.....that's pretty random.

I am supposed to tag other people......Ashlee, Mindy, Misty, and Carol

Tooth Fairy come see us!

John Connor lost his first tooth tonight! No more cute baby tooth smile. It will be all crazy from now until braces! I have to admit he looks adorable! It has been loose for several days and Connor has tried to pull it every night. JC was so afraid that it would hurt! He can't quit talking about it. Emma keeps telling him he needs to write a note to the tooth fairy? Not sure where she got this. I don't think we've ever written to the tooth fairy before. He has 100 questions about how it works! So cute and innocent. Cross your fingers that the tooth fairy doesn't forget to come!!!

Emma's 9th birthday!!

Wow, I have a 9 year old! yikes......She is so big. She really gets prettier and prettier everyday! Her cute freckles, blue eyes, and she is getting so tall. She really is getting a little more responsible. haha....a little! I can see her thinking about things. It's pretty cool!

She got her ears pierced! Wow, that is big. She has been asking for a long time. Maybe since she was 5 or 6? I never really thought it would get here. She was a little scared. She thought the lady was piercing when she was just marking the place. She didn't even know what happened when she finally did the first one! Her mouth dropped wide open and she, ever so quietly, said, "ow". It was so cute. So, then she was a little scared to get the second one, but hung in there and has the most adorable little pink flowers in her ears! I always told her she had to be old enough to take care of them herself. She has been so good at it! She is always cleaning them and twisting them! I think it's going to work out! I guess this means earrings are on the list for Christmas!

We had her party at Scrap ETC. I think all the girls enjoyed it. They each got to make a mini album to take home and a bracelet. We had cupcakes and opened presents and then we went outside and screamed and ran around for a few minutes while we were waiting on Mom's to come back for pick up. It was lots of fun. I'm glad she likes hanging out at the store! We are probably going to be doing a lot of that in the next months!

We had a great time on Halloween. The Haunted trail was really fun. I can't believe how good it was. The kids really did a great job. Next year they should charge! They love it so much! Emma and I were ghosts that guided everyone through. I got a little spooked a couple of times! It was funny. The boys were all changing up their positions to scare us. Ms. Bobbie was hilarious! She was a waitress and had a little kitchen. She was rude and obnoxious and cracked everyone up! I think she was the best part. Not too scary, but had her part down!

Can't wait for next year!

October.....is it almost over?

October is always so busy! There is always the leaves changing, pumpkin patches, football, halloween, haunted trails, and planning Emma's birthday!!!

I can't believe Halloween is Friday! I have to go get a ghost costume for the haunted trail. My neighbors have been planning a haunted trail......in my backyard! So fun.. I haven't done anything to help. I think it starts in their garage and goes through our trail. It is going to be so cool. The kids can't stop talking about it. John Connor said tonight that Friday was going to be his best day ever! He's so funny!

Emma's birthday is Saturday. We are having a scrapbooking birthday party at the store, of course! It is going to be so cute. I have been working on a little scrapbook for them to make and we've made some buttons....our own flair! She will be 9! How do I have a 9 year old? I tear up everytime I look at pictures of her when she was little.

We were at my Mom's in Tennesse this weekend and our cousin was there. She is 11 months old and looks so much like Emma did at that age. I just wanted to keep her! They wouldn't let me. how did I not get a pic of her? You can take a peek at her. We love going to Tennessee in the Fall. The leaves were just turning and it the weather was fabulous! We celebrated Emma's birthday. She got lots of money......she wants to save for an ipod. Mimi gave her clothes, the perfect gift for a 9year old!

We were only in Tennessee for a short time, but we packed it in. We got to eat at Memories, Ruru's restaurant. She and Uncle Bill cook a fabulous breakfast buffet on Saturday mornings. She always has a really cute saying on her marquee out front. Of course, she welcomed us.....but had to support her team! Connor and I went to the AL vs. TN game. We went with my brother and sis-n-law, Charlie and Dana. We got to hang out with some friends from B'ham. Got seats in the AL section.....at the TOP of the stadium! Rammer Jammer!

I went with John Connor's class to the pumpkin patch, also known as, Baker Farm. Lots of fun with first graders! We got to pet lots of animals, hay maze, cotton picking, a hay ride, lunch in the barn and picking a pumpkin from the patch! It was a beautiful day. The kids all had on an orange tie-dyed shirt and we stamped jack-o-lantern faces on them! too cute. I love getting to go on field trips! They seem to be cutting them out, though. I feel bad for the kids. They LOVE them!

man, one more thing! John Connor has been playing fall ball......fall baseball. It is low key and fun for the kids to play and get ready for Spring......when it gets serious!! We had the end of the season party after the last game. The boys played at the park, ate cupcakes and most importantly, got TROPHIES! It's amazing what a trophy can do for a kid. They love those tacky things!

Have a fantastic Halloween and be safe! Come over for the haunted trail if you dare! BTW, there will be a karoake machine......enticing, huh?