Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Merry Christmas

We were so blessed that Santa Claus was able to visit with us on Christmas Eve.  The entire family was  thankful that he took an hour out of his busy schedule to stop by our family celebration.  We spent the evening with at my parents with my siblings and all of my nieces and nephews.  That is what makes our Christmas special.
 
My children, Tim & Megan, Mitch & Gabriel, and Mollie are the reason that I enjoy my Christmas'.  I am proud of the people that my children have become and I adore my grandson, Gabe, more than words can say.  I am grateful that they are such loving, caring and giving people.

As Catholics, we are still celebrating Christmas until the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6.  Hopefully, you all had a most holy celebration and that the peace and joy of the season remain in your hearts throughout the year!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Joy


I stained and covered these letters with paper.  Then I embellished them with rhinestones, ribbon, bells, tinsel, chipboard and a poinsettia.  This is one of my mom's Christmas presents.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Noel

These are the letters that I made and Mollie gave to Margaret for Christmas.  I stained the letters.  Covered them with paper.  Embellished them with ribbons, bells, letters, glitter and bling.  I think that they turned out lovely.  The papers are My Mind's Eye.  Love these!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

I made this subway art for my daughter's birthday.  Her dorm room is very beige and needed some more color on the walls.  She plays college softball so I thought these words and phrases were appropriate.  I used a 20 X 24 inch canvas because she cannot put big holes in the wall and the canvas can be hung with little effort.  I learned that I can cut Contact Paper with the Cricut so I used several cartridges to mix up the fonts.  I love the turquoise color. 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Halloween


I made this for Leslie.  It is a very late birthday present and a reminder of a special afternoon at Wicked.  I used a variety of papers that I already had and began embellishing.  I really love the way it turned out and I especially am happy that she loves it so much!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

I made 2 of these witch's boots for my sisters, Cyndi and Gayla for their birthdays.  I painted the wood black and covered it with paper from My Minds Eye. You can't really tell but the black part of the paper is flocked.  I absolutely love glitter so I used black, green, purple and orange.  I spray painted the bells and added jute laces.  Finally, glued some tulle on the top!  Happy Halloween!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Lucky!

Friday, February 25, Gabriel and I were in a car accident.  We were traveling into town on snowy, icy roads when a car failed to stop at an intersection and hit us broadside.  My car was totaled.  My sweet grandson was so traumatized but fortunately not seriously injured.  He received some minor cuts from the shattered windows but was checked out at the hospital and released.  Thankfully, his car seat was in the rear middle.  I fell that our Guardian Angels were looking over our shoulders, protecting us. 

I will have to replace my vehicle.  As annoying as that is...at least we were remained relatively unscathed.  Fortunately, the other driver and her passengers were not injured either. 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Scrapbook page

I spent the President's weekend helping McKenna with her scrapbook and other creative projects.  I love watching her experiment.  I especially like that she is not worried about everything looking perfect.  I admire that she will take risks!

I did create another page for Mollie's book.  I used photos of Mollie and Gabriel in Hawaii.  The papers are from last year's collection of Cosmic Crickett.  I stamped and sewed.  The hidden journaling is behind a photo and I stamped a flip flop to be the pull tab on the journaling.  I love the colors!!  The layout was based on a sketch by Liz Chidester.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Mollie

Mollie has not been going to school this winter term because we thought that she might not get around very well after surgery which has not been the case.  However, it has been so much fun to have her home!  She spends about 4 days in Boise while she does physical therapy and then comes back home!  

Last weekend she, Leslie, Emily and I went to lunch and then the movie.  On Sunday I fixed chicken pot pie at Hamilton's and we stayed the entire day.  Seemed like old times except that Nick and Jack are in Moscow at school! 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

101 Goals in 1001 Days

Instead of setting resolutions I have created a list of 101 goals which I intend to complete within 1001 days (October 15, 2013).  Some are behavioral changes, some are projects, some are destinations and all would be things that I would like to complete!  I


101 Goals in 1001 Days

  • Recreate front flower beds
  • Add water feature to backyard
  • Buy new workout shoes 5 times (3X)
  • Remodel kitchen
  • Plant grass on side of house
  • Put door on outdoor storage area
  • Create craft room
  • Get new windows & insulation
  • Make cookbook with loose recipes
  • Clean craft closet
  • Fix bedroom door
  • Organize file cabinets
  • Clean & organize basement
  • Clean & organize garage
  • Get blind for upstairs hall window
  • Paint the trim upstairs
  • Paint living room
  • Pray the rosary each week
  • Send birthday cards for all on calendar
  • Host bbq for at least 6 friends
  • Go see Wicked with Leslie
  • Start Sunday dinners with the family
  • Take Gabriel to a BSU football game
  • Take Gabriel to the zoo
  • Take Gabriel hiking
  • Girls' weekend with Smutny women
  • Girls' weekend with Pamm & Celia
  • Write thank yous for every gift
  • Volunteer 100 hours
  • Plan 35 year reunion
  • YKYFBI party
  • Deliver cookies to neighbors & friends
  • Make Christmas gifts for my sisters & Leslie
  • Finsh 300 scrapbook layouts (1/300)
  • Do 365 picture project
  • Make ice cream 10 times
  • Make pickles
  • Can at least 30 jars of tomato sauce
  • Finish needlework ornaments
  • Make a stocking for Megan
  • Make a stocking for Gabriel
  • Finish Mollie's stocking
  • Plant 2 trees in the front yard
  • Get teaching certificate
  • Buy 100 iPod songs
  • Start seeds indoors for garden
  • Buy a summer swim pass to Buhl pool
  • Read 20 books
  • Buy BSU football season tickets
  • Buy a ski season pass
  • Buy a CC membership
  • Buy an iPhone
  • Start a crafting company
  • Go without television for 1 week
  • Hire a fitness trainer 3 times
  • Bike 20 miles
  • Skydive
  • Learn yoga
  • Blog 100 times
  • Become Eucharistic minister
  • Improve conversational spanish
  • Learn Photoshop
  • Learn blog building
  • Learn bridge
  • Create a liveable budget
  • Give up meat on Fridays
  • Save $1000 Christmas fund
  • Contribute $500/year to Roth IRA
  • Save $1000 emergency fund
  • Buy peep toed shoes that actually fit
  • Buy a Kindle
  • Buy a new vacum cleaner
  • Buy a freezer
  • Buy bedding for Mollie's room
  • Buy a bed for Mollie's room
  • Go to a CSI star party
  • Hike the canyon trail
  • Buy new golf clubs
  • Buy DSLR camera
  • Buy new living room furniture
  • Make Vivi's quilt
  • Learn to ice skate
  • Learn ballroom dancing
  • Learn to braid a rug
  • Make list of 25 things that I like about myself
  • Stop drinking soda completely
  • Schedule a checkup
  • Campout in backyard with Gabriel
  • Floss daily for a month
  • Run a 5K
  • Weigh 135 lbs.
  • Donate blood 3 times / year (1/3)
  • Acheive 18% body fat
  • Wear a size 6 consistently
  • Go on a picnic
  • Go to theater & see 10 movies (1/10)
  • Lead a Bible study
  • Take kids on ski trip
  • Visit the Oregon Coast
  • Visit San Diego
  • Visit NYC - Broadway

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Ryan

Ten years later I still recall the events of this day so vividly.  I know that I was standing in the bathroom french braiding Mollie's hair when I got the phone call from Chuck telling me that the boys had been in a car accident.  I can still hear his voice telling me that Tim and Mitch were walking and talking but Ryan wasn't really doing so well.  I can picture walking into the hospital and seeing Julie in such shock and realizing that Ryan was not just suffering from broken bones...I began to understand how serious the situation was. I can still imagine sitting in the ambulance on the way to Boise and then wondering how we got there so fast.  I can repeat the conversation with the doctor from the trauma unit that met us and I can see the anguish on Chuck's face when he met me at the emergency room.  I can almost remember telling Ryan goodbye.  I remember sleeping in the hospital bed with Mitch and holding a thirteen year old like he was still my baby and both of us crying.

More importantly, Ryan, I can remember your smile.....

Thursday, January 6, 2011

2011 Resolutions

Happy New Year!  I am working on New Year's resolutions, however, they are not completely made yet because I want them to be specific goals.  Today I am embarking on the means to the end of losing enough weight to return to wearing a size 6.  It is ridiculous that I have been so lazy because I actually like to work out.  I am headed to the local YFCA to join right after work tonight!  One step at a time....right?

Other goals will revolve around creativity and organization.  Those seem to be mutually exclusive of one another for me and that needs to change in 2011. Wish me luck!!!!