Emma & Lily

I went to visit Darla and the twins on Wednesday. It seems like forever since I have seen them. The girls are so big now. They will be 2 in February. They are the sweetest little things and so cute. Lily definitely has her mom's curly hair and Emma's hair is straight with just a hint of a wave at the end. I took them Lego for Christmas so Dale would have something to play with them with instead of just dolls. He will be like James was with the boys, always building things.

Lily loves glasses, bracelets, and pocketbooks.

Emma with her lovey.
I ordered a new mouse pad last week. The one I had was of Sasha and she was about 1 1/2 years old in the picture. I washed it, but it was definitely time for a new one.

More Christmas

Well, Christmas has come and gone. This year has certainly gone fast. I hope the next 5 1/2 months go even faster so we can go on our trip for our 40th wedding anniversary.
I made calendars as a Christmas gift for Brooke and Adam and one also for Frances and Christophe. They were kits that I purchased at Scraporium. The front of the calendars looked like this.

Then on each page, I had to add pictures and embellishments. Here are three pages from Brooke's and two pages from the one I did for Frances.

Look at that cute little foot sticking out.

 Mr. Cool in his shades.

I love this picture of Sasha. I don't know how Frances managed to click the camera at the exact time she was in the air and her hair was flying.
I did a simple Christmas card this year. All I did was stamp the pine needles twice, emboss them, add some jewels and a bow.

We saw Jack the day after Christmas. He really loves his toys and played and played with the tool bench Alex gave him. He also loves books, especially when they have they extra flaps on the pages.

James and I gave him this little riding Giraffe. The minute Brooke set him on it he started doing his feet the right way. It won't be long before he is racing across the floor, he just has to balance himself a little better.

It is hard to believe that he will be one years old this Sunday. What a big boy!

More December Crafts

Lynn & I went to a class at Violette's taught by our favorite designer, Florence. We made these two really pretty Christmas pages.

 

On Wednesday afternoon I drove to Lakeland again and took another class from Florence. This one is a 

Christmas album. The album itself is made out of 4 sheets of cardstock. It has space for at least 9 pictures.

I can't wait to fill it with pictures of Jack at his first Christmas. Speaking of Jack, Here is a picture Brooke sent me of him with Santa. He is so cute-Jack, not Santa-though he is a really authentic looking Santa.

December Crafts

We went to card class last Thursday and Ruth Ann went with us for the first time. Now we just have to work on Darla so she starts going with us again. We made a really cute gingerbread card and a gift card holder. We didn't get to go out to dinner like we usually do because I had to go back to school for Reading Night and Sally had to go to a visitation of a relative who passed away. Next month we will be back on schedule, we hope.

 Last night, Lynn and I went to Sparkle N Sprinkle in Ruskin for a Christmas Tag class. We made 6 acrylic tags. We had a great time (we were the only ones in the class) and I really like the tags. Now, honestly Sally, wouldn't this have been more fun for you and Ruth Ann instead of a Sertoma Christmas party with a bunch of old ladies? Jody, you and Sharron would have loved it too. Maybe we will have to have a class at my house.

Thanksgiving Break-part two

Well, Brooke, Adam, Chelsea and Jack arrived about 7:30 pm on Tuesday. I don't think Jack remembered me-it's been so long since we saw him. He is really a funny little guy. He loves to mimic people. Here is a picture of him when Brooke blew her nose.

He would do this every time she blew her nose and then just laugh. He also love the "G" sound and the "S" sound, and when you tell him "no" he tells you off! He is crawling everywhere-watch out Katie and Chelsea!
Here are some pictures of him with Thanksgiving dinner.

Mmm, Mmm, good, green beans.

Rolls and my own Turkey leg! Wow!
Brooke and I worked on two banners she wanted to make for Jack's 1st birthday. She loved the bird paper I found and loved the bird punch I have (Just like your's Sally). We made circle for the 12 month banner and rectangles for the Happy Birthday Banner. It was so much fun creating these things together. I wish we lived closer.

This circle will be at the beginning and end of the banner. In between will be 12 circles with pictures of Jack taken during the last 12 months. They will be tied together with ribbons.

This is one of the rectangles for the "Happy Birthday Jack" banner. These will be tied together with blue ribbons also.

These are for the cupcakes. They have Jack's initials on one side and Happy Birthday on the other.

Adam helped with this one. He did the bird and words on the computer. These will go on the favor bags she is giving to the children that will be coming. Don't know why this looks pink, but it was tan.
 I think everything is going to be adorable and can't wait to see it all put together.
I got all of Sasha's and Francois's presents wrapped and James cut down a box for me to put them all in. Included  in the package is Francois's last page, his 1 year birthday page.

He is walking everywhere Frances says. We can't wait to meet him.
This afternoon, I made three gifts for the secretaries at school for Christmas. Hope they like them.

This was a fabulous, wonderful, marvelous one week break. I have never felt more rested. I got so much completed that I wanted to get done. Instead of the week flying by so fast like usual, it seems to have crawled by, which was delightful. I guess I really needed a break from school and all the tension there. I hope the Christmas break goes by even slower.

Thanksgiving break-part one

Well, today is Tuesday and it certainly has been nice not having to go to work. I have really enjoyed these 4 days and, surprisingly, they haven't flown by like they usually do.I have cleaned the house and have done some Christmas shopping.  Alex came over Sunday and helped James put up the Christmas lights and get down all the boxes and the tree from the attic. So, the house is decorated and so is the tree and all we are waiting for is Jack. He should be here shortly, though we were afraid this morning that they weren't going to make it. Brooke has been sick for over a week now, and seemed to have a relapse this morning. But, they are on their way and I can't wait to see them. I hope she is better and enjoys the holiday.
I worked on my Christmas cards today and finished them. All I have to do is address them and write my yearly Christmas letter to enclose to those far away. I will post the card later, after I have mailed them but below is my Thanksgiving card.

I do love this stamp and I got to use my new collection of copic markers on it. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Photo Frame Pages

Sunday I worked on photo frame pages for Frances, Brooke, and myself. For Frances, I did one with Francois and his cousin. They certainly resemble each other.

 For Brooke and Adam, I did a Halloween page of Jack. He is so cute in him monkey outfit.

 For James and I, I did a page with a picture of Jack that is a favorite of James. He looks like a little country boy in the picture with the blade of grass in his mouth and the gnat on his face. Too cute!!!

November Card Class

Lynn, Sally and I went to card class last night. Darla was supposed to start back-she hasn't been since the twins were born almost 2 years ago-but she finked out on us with some lame excuse that the girls were sick and she was too. Sure! Sure! And Ruth Ann was supposed to come and join the club but she also had a lame excuse-something about old high school buddies coming to visit-yeah right! Anyway, they missed a grand time. We made the card below and the note pad too.

You can't tell it from the picture but the note pad is made from an acrylic frame. It is really cool. Now I know what the secretaries at school will be getting for Christmas.

Violette's is having their Christmas Open House next Saturday. Lynn and I always go. They have lots of free make & takes, sales, demonstrations, etc. It is a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Sparkle & Sprinkle has opened a shop in Ruskin and is having their grand opening that day, so before we head home we may drive down to Ruskin and check it out.

Halloween

Well, I promised Adam I would put these pictures on my blog for him to see. We had to decorate a pumpkin like a character in a book for our pumpkin drive thru at school on Thursday night. Mrs. Woodard, our reading coach, and I did this one. It is for the book, Click, Clack, Moo, Cows Can Type.

We also had to decorate our door for "Say No To Drugs" week.

I made these little candy holders for the people in the office at school for Halloween. They are really quick and easy, but make a nice little thank you gift.

I can't believe October is almost over!

Where to start, where to start. Well inventory is finally over at school and I got 100% again thank goodness. It is much easier to keep track of things like computers, monitors, etc. when I am the only one in charge of where they go. When we had a computer teacher she would move things and then I had to guess where they went, so now that I am the only one moving things, it really works out to my benefit, though I do hate being the technology person.
I haven't had a lot of time for crafting since school started, I hope to change that. I did make my Halloween cards, but I forgot to take a picture of them, so you will just have to take my word that they were cute. I did make this treat bucket and sent it to Sasha for Halloween. She wanted to take it to school but took the candy out of it. She told her mom that the students in her class would not like American candy so she filled it with french candy. She really just didn't want to share it with others!

 Another reason I haven't had much time for crafting is I have been spending tons of time online looking for flights and looking for apartments to rent. Yes, James and I are going back to France for our 40th wedding anniversary. I finally bought our tickets but deciding on an apartment to rent in Paris has been extremely time consuming. I have decided that I found the perfect one at least four times and then changed my mind for one reason or another the next day. Last night we finally made a decision, not so much on the apartment we liked the best but on the apartment that we could reserve using PayPal and one that was actually with a trusted company and not an individual. I just couldn't quite come to terms with sending a complete stranger money. All I could imaging was showing up in Paris and there would be no apartment and no person meeting us. So, I don't have the beautiful, gorgeous apartment I wanted, but I do know that this one is secure and the person will be there to meet us and I can finally sleep at night and not worry about it for the next 8 months.

I went to Violette's Sunday and did two Halloween pages. Now I just need pictures of Jack in costume to complete the pages.

Speaking of Jack, he is going to be a big brother in April. Brooke and Adam are expecting another boy.
Below are some cute pictures of Jack taken a few months ago. Love the hair!

I do have my Thanksgiving cards completed, but will wait until later to post. Don't want to ruin the surprise for those of you that will be receiving one of them.
I finally did Jack's 9 month page, now I will have to do the 10 month in a few days. Sorry I fell behind Brooke. Anyway, I can do the 10 month page with trick or treat pictures. This toy box was mine when I was a little girl. My godmother, Aunt Betty, gave it to me when I was about 5 years old. I used it in college for my stereo and all our kids used it for their toys as they were growing up. Adam took it all apart, stripped off all the layers of paint, sanded it down, and stained it. He did a fabulous job on it. Maybe it will last another 55+ years.

At school this week, we had to decorate our door for Red Ribbon Week, and decorate a pumpkin like a storybook character. I took pictures but did not bring them home today. Mrs. Woodard, the reading coach that shares my library space, and I had a good time doing both projects. I will try to remember to bring the pictures home tomorrow so I can post them.

It's Been A Hot, Hot September

I can't believe how hot it has been this past month. It wouldn't be so bad if they just gave us some more air conditioning at school. I come home every day soaking wet, get in my bathing suit and jump in the pool-actually I don't jump, I go down the steps.
Brooke had a birthday last week and I made her this card.

Alex also has his birthday in September-my baby is 25, oh my! Here is the card I made him. Just a simple one with Close To My Heart stamps. He has moved out so James and I are finally empty nesters. It seems a little strange since for the last 35 years we have had children in the house.

Tomorrow I am mailing my annual Halloween & Thanksgiving combined box to France. This year I had to include Francois's 1st birthday gifts and his baptism gifts-I am a little behind on that one. I usually include Christmas too, but will do that later.  I made Sasha this cute little can filled with candy, of course.

 

We went to Tallahassee two weeks ago and had a great time. We didn't go to the game because it was a day game and would definitely be too hot for Jack but we watched it on TV and of course, were dressed for the occasion. Florida State won-YEAH!

Jack had some cute Halloween PJ's. He looks like he escaped from the pokey.

Katie and Jack had a great time together. Grandpa loved it too.

We went to lunch Sunday before we came home and Jack was so good, as usual, in the restaurant.
Check out the drool from the mouth to the book.

I made Francois's 10 month page this week. He is getting so big. He wants to walk so bad.

I guess in the next week or so I will be doing Jack's 9 month page (he is 9 months tomorrow) and Francois's 11 month page. Boy those 1 year pages are just around the corner for both of them.
Frances sent me some good pictures of Francois and Sasha. Isn't she beautiful!

And, of course, he is adorable. James and I are so lucky to count them as our grandchildren. We can't wait to see them.