SDV!!!

OK Girls its time for SDV. " Scrappers Dream Vacation" If you have ever gone to an SDV you know how much fun we have. If you have never gone you are in for a treat. It is indescribable. Here are a few pictures from last year.

This was one of our late night photos.  It goes as follows.  Deb,Wendy, Me, Amanda, Chris, Mom.  We sure have a great time.
Me & one of my projects.
Wendy being silly with the pringles.  Check out her shirt.  It used to be Mark's and it shrunk.  So now she wears it.  I guess that's what you think when you are the little sister.

Amanda & I at the Melting Pot.  That is a fun place to eat. I was threatening her to put her flame out.  Inside joke.

Now's your chance to get in on the fun.  Check out the site.  Even if you just go for the day scrapping it is fun.

Check out the Time clock. 78 Days to SDV!!!

A New Person I watch!!

Check out this new site I watch. She is having a great giveaway for her Anniversary:

Blogiversary Giveaway!!

363 days of blogging. 298 posts. Man, I talk a lot! To celebrate this milestone, I am having a giveaway of some of my favorite things! Here's what's up for grabs:





John Deere Mom

Go to her site and follow the directions. I haven't followed her for long but I do like what she has to say.

Wednesdays Words!

O.K. we didn't go to Mexico. I didn't feel all that well and Pete sure didn't feel like driving. It was beautiful on the mountain so it was hard to leave. Zach is going to be gone for two or three days as well and we didn't want to leave the animals that long. I had all kinds of excuses. I am glad we stayed home.

I am going to make Chicken Enchiladas for dinner and celebrate the end of the year at home.

I am ending my year in the blog world as well. I will be starting my "Blurb Book" soon. I will keep you all posted on how it goes. I am very excited to be doing this project. I hope it doesn't take too long.

Thoughts for the day!!

I went to work yesterday and got a few things done. Now we are off until next Monday. We are going to Mexico for a few days. We haven't been down there in a while and wanted to go and just open the Condo up. We will stay through New Years Eve and come home on New Years Day.

I did get most of my Christmas things put away. I just have my tree to take down and put the gift boxes away. I am not sure if I am even going to try to do that before I leave.

I am looking forward to the next year. It has to get better.

Happy New Years!!

More Christmas Day Photos!!

Here are a few Christmas Day photos. We didn't take any Christmas Eve while opening presents. Zach was not feeling well at all and didn't even go to Ed's for Christmas day. he stayed home in bed all day. He was feeling beter yesterday though.

Phil and Sherry were partners.  They did very well and all most won.
Steve Coffey and Pete.
Me & Uncle Gary!!
Nicole, Alexi, Erin & Haley. All my favorite girls!!
Alexi & Phil.

What a great day.  I can't wait to do it again!!

Christmas Day Update!!

Christmas Day was very fun. It poured off and on most of the day which made it hard to do some of the Gil Olympics. I should explain the Gil Olympics. These events started back in 1975 or 1976. Ed Gilmore and his wife Sherry (my brother in law and sister in law) got tired of having to be split between their families and taking their small kids out on Christmas Day. So they decided to bring the families together on Christmas Day. The next problem was the guys didn't have anything to do. Being as competitive as they are the Gil Olympics were born. A series of events that are to be completed and scored. The team that gets the most points is the winner of the Gil Olympics for that year. You get big bragging rights for the whole year as well as a plaque. People always know what year they won and how many times they have won. The first Olympics there were only a few events. They even had Black jack as an event. The whole process has evolved allot over the years.

This year we had:
Ring Toss
Shuffle Board
Darts
Pool

The teams are picked randomly. You get put into a category based on ability. Either group A,B or C. The names are picked exactly at 12:30, Then you start the games. The pool is the even that takes the most time. It is very well organized by Ed Gilmore. If not you would be there until way to late.

The winning team was Dave Shelton and Julida. (Not family members)

Merry Christmas to all!!

Merry Christmas to all my blog friends. We opened are gifts last night with the kids. I made a nice ham dinner and we had a good time. Zach has not been feeling very well the last few days. I took Zach home around 9:00 P.M. He took some Nyquil and went straight to bed. i hope he is feeling better today and is ready for the Gil Olympics. We waited for Phil to get off and he got here around 10:00 P.M. He opened his gifts we visited for awhile. Alexi and Phil left at around 11:00 and off to bed for me.

I got up at 5:00 A.M. and started my potatoes for todays meal. I am going to call my Dad & Lorraine and Mom & Jackie soon. We have to leave here around 10:30 or 11:00 for Corona. It should be a nice day. We are only hoping for no rain.

Marry Christmas and a Happy new Year to all!!!!!

Happy Birthday Carol!!!

Happy Birthday Sis!!! I know it hasn't always seemed fair for your Birthday to be on Christmas Eve. But you have to admit we have always done something special for you. I hope you have a special day.

Me & Carol on Chestnut street.  Carol and I were both born in this house. We couldn't look any different.  I have very curly hair and Carol's was as straight as a board. We have totally different personality's as well.  Carol was always very athletic and on the tom boy side.  I am such a horrible athlete.
This picture is with my Uncle Eddie. He was a very sweet man.  He died when we were young.
Then came Wendy.  This is Wendy, Carol & Me. Three girls my mom had and raised us all on her own. I have to say she did a pretty good job.

This is a High School photo.  Now the trouble really begins. Those were good times.  We only had each other and we always seemed to manage some how.

I can't imagine being the middle sister.  I have always been the oldest and will always be the oldest.  Wendy has always been the youngest and will always have that role.  Being the middle sister you are sometimes on the older Sisters side and more times than not on the side of the youngest. I also had to play the role of Mother quite often.  I loved my Childhood good and bad.  It seems like we didn't need much because we always had each other. And lots of love!

Carol so on your Birthday I would like to say how very much I LOVE YOU!!  I can't imagine what my life would have been like with out you in it.  You are always there in a pinch.  I can count on you take take care of Mom &  Jackie even though you have challenges of your own.

I love you Carol with all my heart!!

Sergi & Avi

Sorry guys they are so cute. I can't help but blog about these guys.

Both the cats were sleeping with Pete.  They sleep together on his side of the bed.

Sergi some how got up in the closet.  This is a basket of socks.  There is a very small area to squeeze into.  I don't have any idea how he got in there. He was up there for several hours.  I searched all over the house for him.  I was in the closet and he sneezed and I still did not see him right away.

Craft Projects!

These are the buckets I decorated and filled with cookies and bread.  I used the Circut to cut the things out.  I used the Christmas cartridge and my new animal cartridge.


This one is for Ken & Syndi.  There are the raccoon lovers.  It turned out real cute.

My office!

We have just recently changed the look of my front office. We took out the desk and made it more like a reception area. I am very pleased with the new look. Because of that we got a new Christmas tree this year. The old one went to Alexi & Phil. With the new tree came new ornaments and tree skirt. It was fun to get it all set up. Bert my warehouse manager did all the decorating. It turned out great and we have gotten lots of compliments.

Mac!!

Well the time has finally come. We had to put our dog to sleep today. Mac was 15 years old. He was blind and deaf. He wouldn't even come in the house any more. He loved to be outside in his kennel. Saturday I spent some time with him brushing him and washing his face. He seemed very happy. He was such a sweet dog. Zach called around 12:00 and said that Mac's head was to the side and he wouldn't straighten it up. We immediately called the vet and got an appointment for 2:30. I couldn't go. Pete and Zach went. Once they give him the shots he just went to sleep. I feel such a sense of relief. With this type of dog you don't really even know if he is in pain. They have a very high tolerance for pain. I think he had a stroke.

Now he is in a better place. That's if they do have dog's in heaven??? Either way he is in no pain.

Mac as a puppy.   This is when we first got him.

This was just a few weeks ago.  He was getting worst and worst.  Now with the cold weather here.  We were just waiting for a sign that something was wrong.  We got that on Monday.  I don't think he would have made it through the night. 

Sunday!!

We went on a motorcycle ride yesterday with the Libbrecht's. It was such a beautiful day. Janice & Dan met us at the restaurant for a taco. We didn't have time to see the kids it gets dark so early and we got a late start yesterday. That didn't help.

Today i will finish up some finally projects for Christmas. We are just waiting for the rain. It is coming soon!! We have gotten 2 inch with one rain and another 1 inch with this last rain. We sure need it. It sure saves us lots of money.

Happy Sunday!!

Mason!!

I can't believe Mason is finally here. It has been so fun hearing all about him this last nine months. And now he is finally here. Mandy & Charlie must be beside themselves.

Here is what Wendy posted on her blog today:

UPDATE: Mason Daniel Vann: Little Mason made his grand entrance earlier this morning at 3:26. He weighed in at 6 pounds, 12.5 ounces and is 19 1/4 inches long.. All the Vann's are doing well. (from Tina's Blog)



Congrats to the Vann Family!!!

Happy Friday!!

I finished my Christmas shopping yesterday. I am so excited. Now I just have a few projects to finish at home and some baking to do today and I will be done. It is a beautiful day here today in sunny Southern Calif.

Jackie goes back to the doctor today. I am hoping all is well with him. He still has lots of healing to do . They cut him up pretty good. It takes a long time for those types of surgery's to heal.

Happy Friday to all!!!

Sergie!

You can't see him very well but Sergie is laying on the top of the couch in my craft room while I am working in there.
They love it when I go in my room.  I usually keep this door closed so when I am working in there it is a rare treat for them to be able to go in.  He was completely relaxed on the edge of the couch.

Lollipops!

I saw this idea on a project card at Joanne's. They turned out really cute. I will give them to my employees on Wednesday.

Now for my version of this project.

I used my Circut to cut the flowers and of course the Thank You & Merry Christmas words.  This was also a fun project.

Christmas gifts I have made

Here are a few of my last minute projects. I promised some people new book marks this year. Ad I made a key ring for Zach.

This is a picture of Scooter & Layla.
These are the boys that Alexi watches.  They are so cute these book marks turn out so cute!!
Key ring for Zach.  I forgot how much I like working with this type of jute.  This was a fun project.