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.

Card Class and Labor Day Weekend

Sally, Lynn, and I went to our monthly card class at Violette's on Wednesday. We made an easel card and a cool Halloween card on glossy paper. We always have such a great time there and then we go out to eat, which is an even better time. Hopefully, we will get Darla back into card class now that the twins are 18 months old and we hope to get RuthAnn to start coming with us soon.

On Saturday of Labor Day weekend, Brooke, Adam. Jack & Chelsea came to town. Brooke & Adam were going to the rehearsal dinner and the wedding of one of Adam's fraternity brothers so Grandpa and I got to babysit, not only Chelsea but Jack Thomas. We had a great time playing with him, feeding him and bathing him. He has been a little out of sorts because of some new teeth he is trying hard to get, (As James said, "We've seen that picture show before!") but most of the time he was his happy, laughable self. On Sunday, Darla, Dale and the twins came for a swim date and lunch. Jack enjoyed having friends over and Chelsea was the star of the day as far as Emma & Lily were concerned.
Check out Jack in his cool swim suit with Uncle Alex and his crazy sun glasses grandma bought him.

Don't you just L-O-V-E, LOVE the hair!!!
Emma & Lily enjoyed the pool. Adam and Brooke were so impressed with how well behaved the girls were.

Play time! It was like a nursery school here and so much fun. The girls loved sharing Jack's toys with him.
We went to lunch Monday with Brooke's mom and step dad and then it was time to say goodbye. Jack was worn out and was sound asleep before they left.

Isn't he precious. I could just eat him up! Bye Jack, see you soon. We love you.

Cards, pages, etc.

Sally, Lynn & I went to card class this month at Violettes. We just love going. Linda is such a sweet person and such a great teacher of crafts. We used some Stamps by Judith that the store is now carrying. I just love Stamps by Judith!!! I met her two summers ago at the Expo in Atlanta and purchased a lot of her stamps then. I have purchased a lot more since then so I am glad Violettes is now carrying them. Here are the two cards we made.

I went to Karen's last Saturday for our last technique class. We have been going for several months now and learning several new techniques each time. We made a technique book with samples and directions so we won't forget how we did them. Here are the three we did last week.

I have been putting monthly pictures in my album to show how Francois and Jack are growing. I can't believe that in two more months I will be finished with Francois's page and he will be a year old.

I don't think his face has changed as much as Jack's. Francois looks the same except older but I think Jack has changed a lot in his face.

For Mother's Day, Frances got the gift of a session with a professional photographer. Here are two of the pictures she sent me of Francois. I really like them. They are certainly different than what you would see here in the U.S.

I did monthly pages for everyone but of course forgot to take pictures of Brooke and Adam's and Frances and Christophe's but since they are all the same design this time, just different pictures, you can see what they looked like because I did take a picture of my page.

James took a week off in June and we remodeled the guest bathroom (AKA Adam's bathroom). I really like the way it turned out. We continued the green color from the kitchen and dining room into it and James took up the old tile and replaced it with the same that he put in the kitchen and dining area. Check out the new sink and cabinet.

The room seems so much larger since we took out the old cabinet.

Frames

I really like the frame technique I learned a few weeks ago at Whim-So-Doodle. I have made 3 more frames. They really are fun to make and I would love to be able to buy the supplies wholesale and sell the frames. Here are pictures of the three I made recently.

Grandpa and Ace Hardware

Just a couple of pages to add. Jack sure loves to hang out with his grandpa.

When we were in Tallahassee we made a trip to the boy's favorite store, Ace Hardware. It was Jack's indoctrination visit so I thought I would document it.

I bought 3 photos from the photographer who took Jack's pictures when we were there. I absolutely love these. It brings a whole new connotation to the phrase "Jack in a Box."

Mosaic pages

This method is by Tami Potter, http://www.tamipotter.com/ I love the style, but forget to use it. I really need to try it more. It really is pretty.