Finally!

The favorite gift...

of everyone! the Wii! What fun Christmas is!!

I had to upload to youtube...the blogger video upload didn't work...

Fun with the Cousins...

And Aunts and Uncles...

Santa, Baby

Happy Holidays!

Whatever you may celebrate! here is our Christmas card this year. I designed it myself. I am pretty happy with the way it came out...

It's Christmas time in the city...

Scott and I went into the city to do some Christmas shopping (without the kids, so we actually got to shop!)and look at all the decorations.I love Christmas here! The pictures aren't great, I had to send my rebel in to be repaired...

The best laid plans...

So I had planned this surprise for Scott. I bought tickets to see a Christmas Carol. I had the babysitter lined up. I had her drop me off at the train station so we wouldn't have two cars. I show up at his office and he is surprised! I tell him we are going to See the play and then out to dinner. We go to the box office to pick up the tickets and guess what? The play is next Friday night. Sheesh. Do these things happen to other people? so we still went to dinner. And we get to go out next Friday! Here is another of my favorite pictures from our photo shoot...

Mom, am I bald??

Ok, the haircut might be a wee bit short...but it will grow back.



*He actualy asked me this when he saw it!

Ornaments

Since I have already shown most of my ornaments, I decided to just show the new ones we have gotten this year.

Edited to add:
the rock em'sock em'ornament is a Hallmark keepsake ornament...

1st professional photo shoot...

Only 2 out of about 30 turned out, but that's all you need! We usually just go to Sears, or something, but I am very Happy with the results...I didn't get them in time for the Christmas cards, but that's OK...

Back to Reality...

Had so much fun in O.C. Very relaxing. Ate, slept in, went to a couple of craft fairs...I wish I could have met up w/blogger friends, but maybe next time. Here is the "Matching Christmas PJ's and tree picture" I do every year!
And this is what happens when you find a tiny kitten and raise it with a dog...they think they are a dog!

More Christmas craftiness...

say that fast, 3 times...
I saw this and had to have it! It is an advent calender.I am going to put a treat in for each day. I want to add more pictures, but my printer wouldn't print them that small after the first one(arrgg!) This was a kit and pretty much came with everything you need. I might make some as gifts. I found it at T@arget, of all places. Who doesn't love T@arget? Seriously. Is there anything you can't buy at T@rget? I bought milk and peanut butter there the other day and didn't have to make a trip to the store!

Please don't write and tell me there is some rerason I shouldn't shop at T@arget...It would ruin my Christmas!

Gracie's school photo

Christmas Crafts

Julie from To Tess and back asked what Christmas crafts people have been working on. I have decided to give more hand made gifts this year, so I have actually been pretty busy crafting. Here is what I have so far:
Christmas pails. I plan to give one to all of the kids teachers with cookies or fudge and maybe a gift card...

Paper ornaments. I plan to embellish these a little bit more. This is a kit from Basic Grey. You just Punch them out and fold them.

Peace box. I am not sure who this is for, yet, I might keep it! The same paper is on the inside bottom and it says "wish"

Here is a picture of our new tree. We had to stop getting a real one because I get it so early and it is on the top floor where all the heat goes. By the time Christmas came it was so dead! So I finally got a nice pre-lit one. I love it!

Getting up at 3:30 makes for a long day...

I swear I kept saying "what do you mean it's only 11:00?12:00?" etc... But we are home safe and sound. It was a great trip. We didn't get to do all the things we wanted. We'll be back! The house is clean and almost all decorated for Christmas...I'm going to bed!

Fun in Vancouver...

It is just beautiful here! Sunny, but cold! Here are some pictures from the last two days...

Gracie at Stanley park...
The Steam clock in the gas lamp.
Ummm...I'm pretty sure your'e not supposed to feed the "wild raccoons"...

Scott with kids watching the beluga whales. The aquarium is so awsome!

I am Thankful...

I am thankful for...
The mess to clean up after the party, because that means that I have been surrounded by friends...
The taxes I pay, because that means I am employed...
The clothes that fit a little too snug, because that means I have enough to eat...
My shadow who watches me work, because that means I am out in the sun...
The lawn that needs mowing,windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing, because that means I have a home...
All the complaining I hear about the government, because that means I have freedom of speech...
My huge heating bill because it means I am warm...
The spot I find at the far end of the lot, because it means I am capable of walking...
The piles of laundry and ironing, because that means my loved ones are near by...
Weariness at the end of the day, because that means I have been productive...
The alarm that goes off early in the morning, because that means I am alive...

"I am thankful for pokemon cards"-Cameron
"I am thankful for friends"-Grace
Happy Thanksgiving, a litle early!

Saturday at the scrapbook store...

Our scrapbook store just opened a creative cafe art bar. It is basically a place where you can go and make really cute projects or layouts and just pay for the supplies. I made this stocking. They had some really cut mittens I am going to make, too. Look for it at your scrapbook store. I also stopped by the consignment store and got this cute dress for Gracie for $9.00! It looks brand new. The girl clothes are kind of a problem for me. As in, I can't stop buying them. The girl has more clothes the the rest of us put together. I could make a lot of money selling them, but I am saving them for my someday niece-Sophie. Anyway, a fun Saturday so far.

A fall day...

We went to Marin today to have professional family pictures taken. These are not them, just some we got. The trees were so beautiful! It was a little frustrating...why is it so hard to get kids to smile and look at the camera? I hope they came out, we want to use one for our Christmas card, which is ready to print once I have a family picture! Then we headed over the the Bay area Discovery museum. A nice fall day!
I left the journaling area blank so I coul try some "hybrid" scrapbooking.

I'm skipping Thanksgiving this year!

That's right. I'm going right to Christmas. Since we will be in Vancouver for Thanksgiving, anyway,(Can't wait!)and we are not having the traditional Thanksgiving, I've decided to get into the holiday spirit! I love Christmas. For me, Thanksgiving just got in the way. So bring on the Christmas carols! The decorations! The present buying!(this is my favorite part. I love to shop, and I love even more to shop for others!) Who's with me?

I am only partly joking. I am going to put up the tree next weekend, so we can decorate it as soon as we get home..

It's Wednesday night, do you know where your husband is?

Yeah, me either. I think he is at some black tie awards ceremony. Or was that last night? Maybe he's at a fancy restaurant with new clients. I forget. But we haven't seen much of him during the week lately, that much I know.Last night he got home around 9:00 and asked me what I had for dinner. I told him Macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. He said "no, what did you have?" "I said that is what I had!" I know it is important for him being a new partner to meet lots of people. But I can't help feeling left out. And tired. I told him I had a staff meeting next week and he said he was seeing Al Gore speak. I can't compete with that! Sometimes I am not sure that I am making much of a difference. I mean, I do feel that raising kids and teaching preschool are two very important jobs. But I guess they aren't very glamorous. Well, back to watching the Country Music Awards and eating left over Halloween candy. OK, now I just sound pathetic!

First school picture

Happy Halloween!

Earthquake! Ack!

Hate that! Ran down to check on the kids(I know, I was supposed to get in a doorway...) Gracie slept through it,Cameron just said "Why is my bed shaking?" Glad that's over...

Getting ready for halloween!

I think this is kids favorite holiday, next to Christmas! Gracie has changed her mind about her costume...stayed tuned for her new one...

bake sale goodies...

It's official. I'm a "Bake Sale" mom!

To our friends in Southern California...

Stay safe. We are thinking of you...Let us know that you are Ok.

Where to start?

I am so behind....here are just the basics of the last two weeks:
* Chaperoned on the the kindergarten field trip to the pumpkin patch. Went into the hay maze, where Cameron took off and I couldn't find him, or the way out for 30 minutes. The other two kids I was in charge of were panicked! I joked with the teacher that at least I only lost my own kid!
* Took the kitty to the vet because she was throwing up for two days. Found out she swallowed some ribbon and have to have surgery to remove it for an ungodly amount of money.
*Pick up sister and BIL at airport
*Headed to Halloween Fair for pumpkins and fun...
*Sister watched kids so we could spend the night Here for Project Night Night. AHH!
*Back to normal, whatever that is!
Stupid Hay maze

The meadow challenge...

I saw this on Donna's blog and wanted to try it. It is called The Meadow Challenge. Here is my page:

A little haunted house

I just love these little chipboard house by Doodlebug designs. This was my first one ad it was a little tricky putting it all together. I also bought the large one to make a Christmas house...

Sand Castles in October?

Had to post this one...

Because it is my new favorite photo and scrapbook page. But mostly because I have nothing else going on...

Somebody loves me!

This weekend flew by. I love the fall. We went into the city and walked around and had dinner outside. Then, we found a candy store that made homemade fudge (yum!) then we needed coffee to go with our fudge and when I got my latte, I saw this...

It made me think of Nino. These things always happen to her!

A couple more...

I'm on a roll!! I can't stop! The most exciting thing about it for me, is that I am actually printing them and putting them in an album. It used to take me months to scrap all my pictures and get them in albums. I found costco to be the cheapest to print them. It is $2.99 to print a 12x12 page. That is pretty cheap, considering I can get 4-5 photos on a page and I don't have to have them printed individually.

new digital scrapbook page

I am really getting into digital scrap booking more. It is just so easy and faster than getting out all my paper supplies. I am designing our Christmas card, too. Here is my newest page.

Dragon Boats!

Dear Toys R Us...

I am writing as a concerned parent. Would it kill you to have one Asian doll in your whole store? FYI...Not all little girls are blond haired and blue eyed. Maybe they want a doll that looks like them. And maybe some Mom's are too lazy, I mean busy, to get online two weeks before the birthday and buy an Asian doll. I would imagine this is a problem not just for an adoptive parent, like myself, but all parents with children of a different race. To your credit, you did have one African American doll in the sea of white ones. Thanks for listening,
sincerely,
Lisa Smith

Four!

Happy birthday!
Then:

Now: