January Sketch a Thon at Scrap-friendzy!

Are you ready?? It is time for our January Sketch a thon at Scrap-friendz.com

A different sketch every singe day of the month!! Get those holiday photos ready and clean off your table.

The fun starts tomorrow!!

Christmas fun!

A few of my fave pics

Just like the old days!

Jen is home and her three friends came over to hang out and frost cookies! Just love hearing the laughter and chatting!

She is home!

Jennifer managed to make it around all the storms and fly into Grand Rapids yesterday. Our weather was also not the best so it was tricky ride home. She told us that next year we have to come and visit her in Phoenix for Christmas:)

Grateful for Big Changes

Our son was diagnosed with learning disabilities AFTER his first year of college. It was a major blow to him emotionally and mentally. However, it did explain much of his high school years. Fast forward 3 years and he has now been on the Dean's List for THREE semesters in a row! He transferred to a different college, started taking meds and has improved his own responsiblity! He called last night to tell us he got a 98 on an exam!! We are so proud of you Rob!

So quiet

I am enjoying the absolute quiet! Mike has had a cold all week and has been coughing and hacking. We spent the week in separate bedrooms. Today he left to go to Chicago for a business trip and I am enjoying the quiet. In fact, I have worked most of the day cleaning, sorting, throwing away, straightening, filing. I have gotten so much done! Hope to continue tomorrow.

BFF's forever

We love when Jen is home and her high school BFF, Kristen, comes to visit. the laughter never ends!

I have no idea why it is turning this layout sideways!

Day 7 --

Just love my furry friend! He is there to snuggle with me, to share food and to make sure I get my exercise.

Day 6 - You don't need to spend a lot of money

I wandered into the yard and field next door to pick a variety of items to make a fall bouquet.

Siblings

I am thankful that my children are able to go to each other for support, advice and love! They may not have been best buddies when they were little but now do so much for each other even though they are thousands of miles apart!

Fall Leaves

I am grateful to live in a part of the country that has all four seasons. One of my favorite activities is to shuffle through the leaves as I walk the dog.

(yes, that looks like snow/ice on the leaf this morning!)

Day 3- Sunrise - Sunset

I just love when I head out in the morning and the clouds are pink!

In Arzona we took in amazing sunsets.

Gratitude - Day 2

I am so thankful for the times we get to see Jen. She is in AZ busy getting her PhD. We happily spent a long weekend visiting her. Jen is such an amazing young woman full of determination and strength!

November - Month of Gratitude

I am going to join those posting a photo a day of something they are grateful for.

I am grateful for a son who came to the cottage for a weekend to help prepare for winter. He did not whine or complain even as he jumped into the cold water. His feet are too big for waders:)

Looking for a great giveaway??

 Head over to

http://justlovescrappin.blogspot.com

Great chance to win lots of Imaginisce items!!

7gypsies

I so want to do one of these!

Weekend in Phoenix

We spent 4 lovely days with our daughter in Phoenix. Jen is there getting her PhD. We did not really do much other than lots of walking! Just love hanging out with her!

Imaginisce October Sketch Challenge.

Think that just because your kids are older that you cannot carry on your favorite traditions? WRONG! My wonderful  22 year old went along without complaint to the pumpkin patch to pick out this year's pumpkin. He does it because he knows it makes me happy and I love him for that!!

I ran out and bought Imaginisce Apple Cider papers to complete this layout and used the sketch on their blog.

Card Making

I have been playing along with the Thinking Inking challenges at 2 peas. Here is a card I made with a new technique of clear embossing flowers I made.

Got Sketch and Pink Paislee

Loved this sketch and dug out OLD photos of Jen!! to go with my Pink Paislee papers.
Got sketch #104.

Weekend at the Cottage

Got all the chores done and spent some wonderful time with DS!!!!

Halloween Blog Hop

Hope on over to Helmar for a blog trip filled with wonderful ideas and inspiration!

http://helmarusa.typepad.com

True Beauty

I just love this photo of Jen with her freckles and a flower in her hair. Sketch #125 from Creative Scrappers!

Tradition!

I love keeping the traditions alive even though the kids are 22 and 26! Here is Rob choosing this year's pumpkin. We just go to a small pumpkin patch a few miles down the road. Love this paper from We R Memory Keepers!

Haunted house

Happy Monday

We had our first frost this morning! Guess fall really is here!

Want a chance to win some blog candy?? Head on over to Michelle's blog for a chance to win.

http://homespunscrap.blogspot.com

Using up old photos

The first challenge is up at Scrap-Friendzy for this month's Fall Sketch Fest. The sketch is from Kristine Davidson over at  http://scrapbooksussies.blogspot.com/ .

I dug up an OLD photo of the kids! What a great sketch!

Adopt a Highway

Spent  90 minutes last night cleaning trash on the highway. Not a fun job but when we were finished we looked up and saw this

Busy Weekend

We attended the first Annual Parent's Weekend at Davenport Unviversity! Rob is in his senior year at Davenport - a small college just outside of Grand Rapids, MI. We enjoyed breakfast and walking around campus. they have several new buildings! Had to get a pic of rob at the college sign!

So guess what

I was participating in a crop last weekend and I won!!!

http://www.simplyobsessed.com I have a  gift certificate burning a hole in my hand!

Here is one of my layouts - yes, that is adorable me in 1st Grade!!

Almost that time of year...........

I do not care that he is 22. We will still pick pumpkins!

This is from last year.....

Change of Weather

Wow - what a difference a weekend makes. We headed north to the cottage Saturday and it rained and was windy all day! Sunday was sunny but still cold and windy. Yesterday it poured most of the today. Today we have 40 - 50 mph winds! I , for one, am glad to be done with the 90 degree days!

We visited Torch Lake which is often described as the third most beautiful lake in the US. It's Caribbean like colors just mesmerize you.

After School 1 - Boys of Fall

I just love the new song Boys of Fall and it reminded me of Rob's football days! I think we enjoyed watching more than he enjoyed playing:)

Assignment 1 - Music - Phantom of the Opera

Finished the first assignment at Scrap-friendzy U. Went way back for this one. Jen and her dad took in an afternoon performance of Phantom of the Opera back in 1993! We all love that show. For Music class we had to make and stain our own music paper.

Have you finished your back to school shopping????

Classes start tomorrow!!!

I will be teaching a Math class plus we have Art, Music, etc. Come join us!!!

Looking for fresh and funky embellies???

Head on over to ........

http://lilredrocketbuttons.blogspot.com/

Some very cute things!!!

Time to start thinking Fall

It is time to start thinking about those fall projects! Even though it is still hot and muggy here, I think I will plan another Halloween haunted house to go with this one. I made this using recycled boxes - crackers and pizza - as well as twigs and nuts gathered from the yard.

Scrapstreet.com

http://scrapstreet.blogspot.com

Scrapstreet.com is a free monthly magazine merging traditional, hybrid, digital, cards, layouts, and altered art. Tons of inspiration sent to your email monthly. Check it out!

I hate the Outdoors

Last week I decided to plant 2 Holleyhock plants that my sister gave me. I got one done and the next thing I know, I am being stung by bees. I ran to the house swatting bees off me. I ran cold water over my legs and found a bee on my thigh and one in my shirt! I must have had 10 -12 bites. I am not allergic or anything and they seemed to be fine by Sunday night. Well yesterday, 6 of them have turned into swollen, hot, itchy lumps! Saw the doctor this afternoon. Hopefully the shot and antibiotics will make them better.

Have you signed up for school yet????

You need to head over to Scrap-Friendzy.com and sign up for classes!

Scrapfit

Here is a layout I did for the challenge over at Scrapfit

It might not show up in the photo but there is green misting on the blue paper. Have 1 button, brad, photo, rubon and I embossed.