I really don’t have anything to update you on other than my “Day 5 Photo” for Project 365.  I kind of cheated… sorry.  The picture was actually taken yesterday but I really love it.  I love the natural lighting and colors that seem to frame the boys perfectly.

So here you go… Day 5…

… if only I could get them to look AT me!

Well, the time has come to send Johnathan back to school.  Kaleb and I have to go in tomorrow too as I have to meet with the other teachers to go lessson plans for the month.  Since today was the last day of their “Winter Break” I wanted to do something special as a family.  We ended up at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News.  I took a LOT of pictures… so again… I’ll set you up with a link where you can view any or all of them…

http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l89/lilmommy319/VA%20Living%20Museum/

While we were in the area I decided that I wanted to drive by my grandparent’s old house.  A heep of memories came flooding back to me as soon as we pulled up.  Naturally, I had to get a photo.  I miss that house.  I miss them.

While I had origonally thought that I wanted to use a picture of this house as my photo of the day, I just can’t resist using this one….

just in case you can’t tell… it’s the tail end of an alligator.  His head was poking out above the water but I just love the way this came out!

Last thing…

here is a LO that I will posting in the galleries sometime tomorrow.

the photo was taken during our 20 second snow shower Friday.  At that point I think it was actually ice pellets… not snow. LOL

Alright folks… that’s it for tonight!

I finally took down the Christmas tree and all the many, many Christmas decorations that adorned our house. We got our new couch the same day the Christmas tree went up and the new tv and tv table followed a couple weeks after that…. so I’ve never actually seen everything put together like it is now. It feels so weird. I had grown quite use to the ambiance of the tree lights and I miss them very much. There are no candles in the windows, no pretty wreaths greeting me when I pull into the driveway. It’s a starch reminder that it’s time to move on with the new year.

I don’t have any new LO’s to show you today. I do, however, have my “day 2″ of Project 365 photo to share with you.

We got a QUICK little snow… not even enough to be considered a dusting. It lasted about 2 minutes and then changed to ice and then rain. As soon as the boys saw the snow they got dressed… but sadly, were too late. Anyway… here is the “day 2″ photo…

I don’t really like to make resolutions.  I’d like to think that I can find what needs to be improved and work on it at any given point in the year.  However, because of all the hype about resolutions, I am practically forced to think about something that I would like to change.  The first thing that I would like to address within myself is making an effort to think of others more.  I don’t think I’m selfish but there have been several times (especially during the holidays) that I have witnessed others complimenting, sharing, volunteering, reaching out.  I guess the “reaching out” thing is more of a problem than any.  I tend to get so wrapped up in what I need to get done for myself or my children that I don’t even think about what kind of day the people around me might be having.  If I see someone upset and another person comforting them, it is my natural reaction to leave the situation alone…. not to intrude.  Looking back, I would rather (without being invasive) offer up a good ol’ “I’m here if you need me.”

I often wonder why I’m not necessarily as close with some of my friends as others are.  It’s simply because I don’t try.  I don’t make dinner plans.  I don’t arrange girl time.  I don’t try…. but yet I want to reap the benefits of those that do.  This, I would like to work on.  I would like to try to compliment at least one person every day too.  I have a girlfriend at work that always has something nice to say to me everyday.  It honestly starts my morning out right.  She’s just a nicer person than I am.  LOL!  Seriously though, if I could start with complimenting one person a day…. who knows….. maybe it could help with some of those relationships.

If I had to have new years resolutions, I suppose those would be it.

Alright… moving right along to the scrapping portion of my life….

I have been an absolute couch potato today.  I didn’t get any of my Christmas stuff taken down…. but I did manage to scrap.  I started my new year out with a nasty little cold and have literally stayed in the same spot of the couch all day.  Naturally, I can’t show you anything that I did today.  There is  a LO that I just love that will go on the DigiDare.com site tomorrow.  I can’t wait to show you that one too.

Here is a page using the new Partytime kit coming soon to Cinnamon Designs….

I also got one more done using Rachel Young’s new kit Snuggle Up at ScrapArtist.com….

that’s all I can show you today.

I’m going to do my best to participate in the 365 project this year.  Basically, I take a photo every day.  I want to do this as a means of improving my photography skills.  Although I will TRY to post the photo here everyday, there is now a new page on this blog dedicated specifically to Project 365.  Feel free to check it out anytime.  ~ And photography advice is always welcomed!!

Here is today’s photo:

It’s been so long since I’ve been able to sit down and blog and so much has happened that it has become a little overwhelming to think about fitting it all in now.  Many people are anxious to see Christmas pictures.  We took a TON so I think I’ll just give you the link to see them all… or sort through the ones you want to see….

http://s94.photobucket.com/albums/l89/lilmommy319/Christmas%2008/

The Saturday before Christmas we went up to West Point to the “Sutherlin Bash.” Good times!  It was so nice to see Brandi and Michael again…. and I surely can’t wait to see them in warmer weather!!

While we were there the guys decided to fire off some guns… which Adam participated in.  The mother in me was so afraid he was going to shoot someone in the foot…LOL.  Hey, it’s not everyday that Adam plays with guns.  In fact, I’ve never seen him shoot one.

The boys both got vehicles of sort for Christmas.  Johnathan got a dirt bike and Kaleb got a Lightning McQueen car (powerwheels).  Adam took them to the park yesterday so they would have some room to really try them out.  However, because he couldn’t figure out the whole “turning” thing, Kaleb quickly decided he would rather ride his bike from last year.  Well today we all went back to the park…. without the bike.  I told Kaleb that if he didn’t try to drive his Lightin’ Queen I was going to call Santa and tell him to come put it back in his sleigh.  With much grumbling he finally got in.  He seems to think that when he turns the steering wheel that the car should instantly “scoot” him to where he wants to be.  He finally got the hang of it and now seems to enjoy it very much.

Johnathan took a nasty little fall coming down the hill full speed.  Luckily the knee pads took the brunt of the hit and he ended up with just a little scrape.  His bike took more of a beating then he did. He’s had it for less than a week and already it’s scratched up pretty good and the handle bar grip is torn up.  Way to go son!!!  I’m just happy that he got back up and tried it again.  I would hate for one fall to scare him off of it.

What else?

Oh, we gave our kitchen a little makeover.  Adam took down the huge cabinet that was on the center of the wall.  It opened up the kitchen so much!  With a fresh coat of a new color (blue) and a fabulously huge wreath, the kitchen took on a whole new look!  Unfortunately I just can’t seem to get a good picture of it.  Our kitchen is not very open… so it’s just hard.

I finally got around to scrapping a page yesterday.  I feel like I’m so far behind.  So many designers that I create for continued to come out with kits over the holidays and I just didn’t have a moment to scrap.  I’m sure they understand…. at least I hope they do.

I used a lot of new goodies from Heaven’s Gate Designs by LaurieAnn at Scrap Artist for my latest LO.  You should visit her store…. her stuff is just too cute!

Before I go, I want you to see my little dare devil on his new dirt bike.  It’s just a short little video but I’m so proud of him.  He’s only 5 and yet he figured out the throttle, brake, balancing, etc on the first day!  This is from our visit to the park today…

I’m going to see if I can take a little nap now.

I opted to receive the portraits that I had done of the boys emailed to me so that I could share them sooner.  I finally got the email so…..  here they are…

how cute are these kids??!!!

I guess that’s about it for today.  I think we’re going to head up to West Point to visit some friends that are home for the holidays.

Ciao.

Yes, I’m off work until January 6th…. the NEW year!  Unfortunately I can’t promise that that means I’ll be bloggin more frequently.  Johnathan’s last day of school is today and then he is out for “winter break” until January 5th. Not will only will I have my hands full trying to prepare for Christmas… but I’ll also have BOTH boys home for two weeks.  It will be like summer…. with no pool….. ack!  I’ve also been feeling like I’ve got nothing to tell.  Why would people want to hear all the random, mundane details of my life?  I mean seriously… do you really want to know that I sat around watching Higgly Town Heros this morning?…. or that I have a ton of cleaning to do?… or that I still want Christmas lights on my house and no more money to spend?  None of it really seems “blog worthy.”

I will share with you the fact that I am going to Johnathan’s class today to help with the “Winter Party.”  It kind of irritates me that it is no longer called a Christmas party or Christmas break.  I understand that not everyone chooses to celebrate the holiday…. it’s just so obvious that God is being forced out of everything.  It scares me.

I would really love to get some pictures of his party today since I don’t usually get to see him in action at school.  However, I’m going there to help with a craft so I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to actually get photos.  I’ll try.

I have a few LO’s to share with you…

this one is from the new ***Joyful Christmas*** kit by MK Designs.  It is at The Digi Chick. com and Shabby Pickle Designs.com

this is also from a new kit by MK Designs… it’s called “Color Me Crazy” and it’s at The Digi Chick…

I created a little Christmas card using some of Rachel Young’s goodies… sold at Scrap Artist =0)… ( now I just need to print them and get them in the mail)

cre@-Bisontine came out with a wonderful new kit called “Save the Magic”… you can find it at Shabby Pickle Designs.  Here is what I did with it…

last but not least…. I created the next LO for this week’s Spice of Life challenge for Cinnamon Designs’ blog.  Please check it out and play along….

I have a couple more that I have completed.  When I get the word, I’ll be back to share them with you.

Oh OH OH!!!  I almost forgot.  There is a new Dare and a new website for the Digi Dares… you can now find us at www.digidares.com

Come play along with us this week.  Here is my LO for the newest DARE…

ok… that’s it.  See ya!

This past weekend was nothing but go go go!!!  It started Friday with picking up the Christmas presents that arrived in the store, then off to meet my mom, rush to the mall to have lunch with my grandmother, home to get Johnathan off the school bus….. small pauuuuuse…. off to see Santa at the mall, dinner, ….. and it goes on.  Saturday certainly wasn’t any easier.  With two performances of the Living Tree at church on Saturday and two more on Sunday, there was no time to rest.  I was at church from 1pm -7ish Saturday and then the same thing on Sunday.  The only time I saw my children was in between shows on Sunday when I allowed them to play in my classroom while I tried to catch up on some work.

Yesterday continued at the same pace and with Adam being out of town (he’s back now) my day started earlier and didn’t slow down until about 8pm last night.  I took the boys to get their Christmas pictures done at JCPenney’s yesterday.  I usually do it around this time just because I like to take the opportunity to get a photo of them together vs. the single shots that I get of them on their birthdays.  The picture itself is not usually “Christmas-y” but this year it is… they have Santa hats on with their little suits and they are TOO cute!!

I can’t seem to get my scanner to work with my new computer so I had to take a picture of their picture with Santa to show you.

Santa was great.  There was no line when we arrived what-so-ever.  We walked right up and the boys got to spend a good amount of time with him.  The girl that took the photos also got some info from Adam and would relay it to Santa through a walkie-talkie and an ear piece.  So Santa knew their names and who their teachers were, ect.  The boys were shocked!

I have one LO that I will show you tomorrow.  I feel like I’ve lost my scrapping mojo.  I was on such a role for so long and now…. nothing!

I guess that’s it ’til tomorrow

OMGosh!!!  Check my little precious pup out…

Before                                                                                                After

What a beautiful little girl!!!  Thank goodness my groomer could fit her in right away.  I thought I would be told that they wouldn’t be able to get to her until after the holidays but low and behold, they got her in today!  She smells soooo purdy too!!!

I don’t have any LO’s to show you today… but I do have a couple of cute photos to show you of Kaleb.  We got a box in the mail the other day with some presents for the boys.  The kids just love playing in it.  It amazes me what simple things can bring them such delight.  Why do I constantly look for the “perfect” gift when a cardboard box seems to be plenty?  Anyway… look at these…

and yes, I know… nice Walmart sticker on his hand.

bye.

Since I already knew what I was getting for Christmas, Adam told me I could read up on how to operate my new Nikon D-90 camera so I would be ready to use it on Christmas morning.  I really wanted to hold out as long as I could because I knew the moment I heard that shutter I wasn’t going to want to put it down!  Well, I had a little down time the other night (imaginge that) and decided I wanted to go ahead and read the manual.  Well, I’m not the type to learn just from reading.  I am a hand’s on learner… so of course, I needed the new camera.  I took a few test shots as I tried to learn about the camera, how to set it up, and different features.  Do you remember the show “Home Improvement” with Tim Allen?  Do you remember the “arrrh arrrh arrrh” noise he used to make for all things “manly?”  Well that’s what I feel like doing every time I press the shutter release button.  Seriously!

Well, the kids had “Snack with Santa”  today where I work.  My old camera never has taken good pictures in the lighting conditions of the church.  Soooo… I took my new camera.  OH WELL!!!  Adam has his Christmas present already…. why shouldn’t I?  Anyway… I’m still figuring things out… but I finally got some good shots in what used to be considered horrible lighting.

I have one LO to show you today.  It’s from the new “Zauberkarussell” kit that will be hitting the self tomorrow at Shabby Pickle Designs… (I also used her Cold Winter Alpha which is at The Digi Chick)…

Oh… before I go… wanna see a picture of Adam’s Christmas present?

and look at this little cutie…

ok… that’s it… off to take a little nap since I have another long night of dress rehearsal for the Living Tree.