I love these images!

I think these are the sweetest stamps!

Just one of the November Challenges

Over at LIC we are having several November challenges, so come on over & check them out. This one is a challenge posted by Marcie, she made a adorable card sketch. Here's a link to her challenge http://www.liveimaginecreate.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=pccchallenges&action=display&thread=2268 & this is the card I made for the challenge. Hope to see you there!

The cutest little witch ever....

Nothing Special

My poor blog, I have so ignored this poor little blog of mine. It seems days go by so fast!

DD & family will be here this weekend. I'm hoping to get some great fall pictures of McKayla. She is growing so fast! We haven't seen her for a little over a month, but from the sounds of it, she has really been changing in that month. Each time I get to talk to her over the phone, she is talking more & more. She is saying so many words, now! I do believe she has totally left the baby behind & a toddler is in her place. This picture was taken as we were leaving the zoo last month. This picture says it all to me, she's helping push the stroller, lol. I'm so sad to see the baby days gone, but I sure do look forward to fun with this little girl of ours! She's a special one, that's for sure!

Blog Candy

I just stumbled upon a great blog with adorable stamps!

You might want to go check out the blog candy they are giving away right now!
http://peachykeenstampschallenge.blogspot.com/

Thinking of You

Here's a card I made over the weekend. I just adore Sarah Kay's images!

Just a few pictures

We took a drive through Napoleon Hollow today. Here's just a few pictures from out drive.

Riley

Thought I would share a quick card with one of my favorite stamps.

My Poor Ignored Blog

I have not forgotten you! I have just been so very busy! I promise to return to you & post daily very soon.

For now, here's a few cards I've completed for a challenge over at LIC.

Mr. Owl

This is an ATC I made for our image challenge over at LiveImagineCreate. We post an image every Friday to make an ATC card with. Everyone is welcome to join!!!

He Did It!

Nathan graduated last Saturday night! We were sweatin'it. No, really we were, it had to be 110 degrees in that gym! It was miserable as usual.
I am feeling so old! I am the mother of three grown kids, adults!! Oh'my how the years have flown by, even though sometimes it felt like time was standing still. Those were always the hard times.
I guess we are starting another chapter in life. God only knows what's to come!

Notebook

Here's a little notebook I covered last night. I used paper from MME Delightful Stack I found at HL.

Accordian Card

Mardi over at www.liveimaginecreate.proboards.com posted a link to this card. I can't get it posted here, but the link is at the message board.

This was fun to make & Dawn had a very good video tutorial!

Another ATC holder

Here's another holder I came up with. I have the directions & my template posted at //http://www.liveimaginecreate.proboards.com.

It does exist!

I have searched for this toy for a very long time. I had all but decided I made it up in my mind. I asked on message boards & searched ebay but just could never find it. It was one of the childhood mysteries, did I really have that toy? I even remembered that my Mom's boss gave it to me for Christmas. I also remembered that it was not my Mom's idea of a great gift, lol.

So, tonight I was searching for a image of the Tootsie Roll Owl, when I saw a really dark thumbnail, could it be.....was it really my beloved mystery toy?

It is....it really is my toy! All this time I was searching for "Tootsie Roll Candy Machine, when all along it was called "Toot Sweet".

As long as I have searched for this toy, I do have to admit that if I still had it.....and if I could sell it for that crazy amount of money.............I would!!!

Here's a link to an Ebay auction I found, crazy I tell you!

http://cgi.ebay.com/TOOT-SWEET-candy-WHISTLE-wbox-MACHINE-chitty-bang-MAKER_W0QQitemZ150172776925QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item150172776925&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

Coin purse tutorial...

Hello, I posted a tutorial today at http://www.liveimaginecreate.proboards.com/. Come on over & check it out! We have a great group going there.
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ATC Booklet

Here's a little book I created to hold ATC cards. If you would like to see my tutorial hop on over to www.liveimaginecreate.proboards.com.

More auction goodies!!

First, please ignore my ugly walls. I'm hoping someday soon hubby will get these old walls updated, maybe? I hope!

This table was my big purchase of the day. I got it for $17.50. That's a little higher then I wanted to pay, but it was the perfect size for the spot I wanted a table in.
The boxes on the bottom shelf were all in a box for $1.

I thought this shelf unit was perfect. It fits perfectly right where I was thinking it would. It's even on wheels. I got it for $2.50.

In this picture, I got the cute little mirrors. They were in the auction box with all the decorative boxes & other stuff Ashley took. That box was $1. The shelf below them, with my CTMH stamps on it was thrown in with the shelf below. I think it's actually a video tape holder.

In this picture you see the brown shelf unit. I got that for $2.50. I have all my scrap papers sorted into it. It's working great! Out of all my attempts to sort scrap paper, this is the best by far.

My Clip it Up is bigger then yours!

So, I brought this home from an auction last weekend. Boy, did hubby look at me strange when I bid on this, notice I said "bid", that's cause everyone else was looking at me strange, too! No one bid against me! This thing has a stand on the floor & is over 4 feet tall. I got it for $1 & no matter how strange those people looked at me, I knew I got an awesome deal!

I already had the shower hooks from my curtain rod clip it up I've been using for a year or so, now. I just used those for this, too. I had to

go pick up a few more hooks.

I have it pretty close to me, so I can just reach over, twirl it around until I find what I want. I honestly didn't know I had this much stuffed in drawers!

Easter Bunny

We took McKayla to see the Easter Bunny at the mall. I was really surprised how cute this bunny was, rofl. Usually you see some pretty creepy bunnies!

We weren't sure what McKayla would think of sitting on bunnies lap, but as you can see, she loved him!

Birthday Girl!

Wow, it's almost been a year since McKayla was born! The kids were visiting this weekend, so we celebrated her birthday on Easter.

Here's some pictures from Sunday...

Another Sock Monkey

This is an ATC card I made for Jody.

Sock Monkey

I found the cutest patterns for sock monkeys at this site...

http://www.halfpint.com/sewing.html

I thought they would make adorable paper piecings for scrapbooking, so I had to try it out.

Here's what I came up with

I thought it would be fun to give her away. So, if you are interested go on over to http://www.liveimaginecreate.proboards.com/.

Ooops, forgot one!

I forgot this one! Isn't this the funniest thing. Things have sure changed since her Momma was a baby. We were told to put them down on their tummy. Now they sleep on their back with this funny looking contraption!

Scrappy projects,finally!

I think this is one of my favorite pages! I really like browns & pinks! I'm not sure what I was thinking when I did all that sewing! It was one of those late nights, lol!

This is one of my favorite pictures! I wasn't real sure I would like this page because I just kept adding stuff to it! I was afraid I was entering the land of sticker sneeze! I really do like it, though! I added little glass eyes to the fish & also used those as holders for the little scrubbies. I used Stickles to give everything a bit of wet look.

Isn't just the sweetest picture? She loved to hold onto her Daddy's hands anytime she was stuck in her carseat.

Insomnia

Oh'how I HATE insomnia!

Here I am up again :(. This is the 3rd night in a row. I take all my sleeping meds & try to sleep, but I just can't. My mind will not stop whirling. So many things to think about, lately.
I think part of it is that things are getting easier around here. I've finally got some medical answers & I'm finding relief, finally. When I really stopped & thought about it, this has been bothering me since fall of 2007. I just had not connected the dots until I got the test results. Switching to all cotton has done wonders for me. All but 3 of the lesions are nearly healed! I just can't tell you how good that feels. They were so very painful.
Russ is going back to work, tomorrow very part time. I'm sure that will boost his spirits. He is so not a man to sit around, so this has been so hard on him. He also starts rehab, tomorrow. I bet he will be sore tomorrow night!
Ashley & McKayla went home, today. With my Sciatica problems almost gone & hubby getting better, she was able to go home. You know how wonderful it is to have family visiting & how wonderful it is when they go home? Yep, that's where we were all at. We sure will miss them, though & wish so bad they were nearer to us, so that we could see them more often & all go home to our own homes at night.

So, with all this getting better stuff, I guess I'm a little scared. I'm afraid to let this weight off my shoulders. I keep thinking "what's next". The past 1 1/2 years have been so hard for us. One blow after another. I think this is a huge part of my insomnia. I've got some serious praying & soul searching to do. I know that through these past 2 months God has shown us He is there & that He will meet all our needs. Trusting is hard for me, I want to do things all on my own. Why do I keep doing this to myself. I know that saying so well, "Let go, Let God". How many times have I said that to other people & believed it? So many times, so why is it so hard for me to do?

Another beautiful day

It was another awesome day. It was 81 degrees, yesterday! So, we decided to take a walk over to the park. This was McKayla's first trip to the park. I don't think it will be long before she is toddling all over the park!

Getting a park in our tiny village was one of Russ's project while he was president of the board. He thought that the kids in town really needed a place to play & to just hang out. All of our kids were to old for playing at the park, when this project was done. Now, with McKayla, he was happy to see her playing there & looks forward to many years of her enjoying the park.

Chick Days

I know this picture looks like her Momma had shoved that poor duck in her mouth. Nope, McKayla tried to give the duck a kiss just as Daddy was snapping the picture. Luckily, I pulled her away before she gave the ducky a kiss!

Yesterday was a beautiful day! It was 71 sunny degrees out. We were all feeling good, even Russ. It's Chick Days at our local Farm & Home. For many years I took our kids to see the baby chicks & ducks, so I couldn't miss the opportunity to take McKayla.

At first she wasn't a bit sure what to think, but she warmed up pretty quickly. She did not like petting them.

Here's a few pictures from our little trip to town.

Cleaning closets & drawers :(

So most of you know I've been having some skin problems. I've been tested for Lupus & Pemphigus, both of which came back negative. While I'm so very thankful for that, I'm sure it's going to take me a long time to figure out how to deal with what did come back.
It turns out that I have quite a few skin allergies. I'm still learning what I need to stay clear of because it is a lot of stuff!
My Dr. did tell me to try & have only 100% cotton clothing, towels, bedding & anything else that I will be coming in contact with. This has been a real challenge for me. Today Ashley & I cleaned out my closets & drawers. I had to get rid of over half of my clothes. You know what the strange thing was, most of the clothes I got rid of did not surprise me. They are a lot of items I've worn once or twice but was just never comfortable in them & itching a lot, especially since the skin lesions have started. I thought that was interesting. I had to replace my sheets to 100% cotton. I still have not found socks, but did find a site that I could order a few other clothing items for that will be 100% cotton with Latex free thread. I was thankful for that.
Another thing I have to cut out of my life is fragrance. Oh' my is this a hard one. Fragrance is in everything! I finally found a shampoo & conditioner at Sally that were fragrance free. I'm hoping my Mom can find a few other options at the beauty supply stores she goes to. After much searching the only body soap I could find was Dove. I found Cetaphil to wash my face with. I did finally find expensive make-up that would work, but haven't purchased it, yet. I'm doing without for now. I have not been able to find chap-stick, curl booster or hairspray. I did find some dish soap & laundry soap. I even found some cleaning supplies.
On to the next allergy, that would be all the rubber mixes. This one was hard one. You would be surprised what that includes. The biggest thing for me though is rubber stamping. I took that one hard. But, if you could be conscious of rubber for just one day I think you would be surprised what it's on. So far today my surprise were my travel mug has rubber on the handle, my umbrella has rubber on the handle. The shoes I walk the dogs in when it's wet outside are rubber. In fact, the soles on a lot of shoes are rubber! Steering wheels & mattresses have rubber. Most of my pens, especially drug rep pens have rubber on them. One of them didn't & that one says Viagra on it. I don't want to stick that in my purse!!! I guess I'll have to actually purchase a pen. This also includes many of the elastics, purses & hoses. I'm not sure what I'm suppose to about my Cpap machine. I haven't tried to figure it out, yet. I'm also not sure what happens if I would have to have oxygen.
If I thought all of those were bad this one is really killing me, I'm allergic to Formaldehyde. That is in so much stuff, including paper!!!!! EEEKS! I purchased some white cotton gloves for scrapbook, because if the rubber didn't do it that paper would. It's also in many of our clothes except 100% organic cotton. There's more, but I honestly have not got it all in my head, yet.
There is another one paraqphenylenediamine which is found in textile dyes, cosmetics, photocopying & printing inks
Last but not least I am allergic to caine, anything ending with Caine. I'm not sure how that works if I have to get stitches, but I don't want to find out! I also have to watch sunscreens to make sure they are PABA free. I'm really fair skinned, so that isn't a good thing for me.
Basically I think I need a bubble! I know I need to win a million dollars to free myself of all these products. I guess I could just build a plastic house!
Pity party for one is now over!
Saturday I'm packing my scrapbook stuff & my white cotton gloves & going to crop!!!

If you made it this far, thanks for reading my vent. I'm a little overwhelmed tonight. I've stayed up late & trying to figure out what I use that I need to get rid of.

McKayla

Here's a fun picture of McKayla. She has learned how to drink with a straw. She now refuses to drink out of a regular sippy cup! I'm so glad they make no spill sippy cups with straws!

I took this with my cell phone, so it's not the greatest quality picture. You would know she would learn something new on the day I left the house without my camera.

Success!

Russ had surgery today! His surgeon said it was a success & he should have a full recovery within a few months!

McKaylaABC

View Project at Shutterfly

Surgery date, maybe?

In today's mail hubby received 3 appointment cards from his surgeon's office. One was for a pre-op pe & the other two were for surgery f/up appts. Talk about confusing, since we still haven't heard anything from his work work comp caseworker.
Hubby called his surgeon's office & was told they have him scheduled for surgery on Feb. 10th. They couldn't tell him who scheduled the surgery.
He then got a hold of the work comp nurse who knows nothing about this. She said she is still waiitng on the paperwork from their surgeon.
We have no idea what is going on!

Finally!

I've been trying for days to get into my blog & update. I've deleted cookies & Internet files. I've done scans on my system. Nothing was working, today it works. Who knows what I was doing wrong.
So, update on hubby. He did not have surgery on the 20th, as scheduled. His work comp caseworker canceled it. He wanted him to have a 2nd opinion with an IME physician. Last Friday we had to go to St. Louis for an appointment with the Dr of their choice. That surgeon agreed with hubby's surgeon, so it looks like he will have surgery. We are still waiting on his work comp nurse to get her stuff together. She told hubby to call & schedule it, but his surgeon's office will not schedule until they hear from the work comp company. I can't say I blame them, especially after they canceled the last surgery late on the Friday afternoon before his schedule morning surgery on Tuesday!!! Working in a Dr's office for a few years, I was very embarrassed that they did that & felt very bad about it. I am not sure when we will know anything. The wc nurse told us it would be at least Thursday before she would have a chance to even look at the Dr's report.

On to the fun stuff. I've been scrapping like crazy! I escape to my scrap room just about every evening & make a page or two. McKayla has 3 books full of pages & quite a few pages without a book, yet. I have been using all those "can't use because they are my favorite & must be collected" supplies. Wow, is it fun!
Over the weekend, I cleaned my scraproom for top to bottom & re-arranged it. I had gotten very sloppy about keeping supplies sorted into the correct drawers, just tossing them in any old drawer. I usually remember what I've got, but finding it was another story, but not any more. I also took the time to group my cardstock by colors, another thing I had gotten lazy with. It's so much nicer.
I hope to get some of these pages scanned & post soon.

Surgery

I thought I would update. We found out, yesterday, that hubby will be having back surgery on January 20th.
I don't know much more then that. We didn't get out of the surgeon's office until 5:30 p.m., so his nurse that does the surgery scheduling was gone. We were told she would be contacting us with more information as soon as she got the surgery authorized.