So Long, Farewell, Goodbye 2007

I must say that I am glad to see 2007 go. It was a trying year for me--full of tragedy and pain. I lost my dad and my brother within 6 weeks of each other.....my basset hound Sammy died after 10 great years....there was a lot of 'down' time for me this year....my inner pessimist definitely saw more time than I wished. But thru all of the bad, there was some good that peeped through. Like Web getting a job at HOME. For the first time in our marriage, he is home for good. You don't know how this thrills my heart. No more sleepless nights ALONE in our bed; no more having to talk on the phone for hours. He's here, every day---every night. Another wonderful thing is we bought a brand new house....1800 square feet of newness and NO CLUTTER. Yeah that's good for sure.

So while 2007 had some bad times, it also brings the promise of a better 2008.....something I embrace.

Happy New Year Y'all.

xoxox, D

Christmas

.....was wonderful! Santa was waaaaaay too good to me yet again! AJ was more than thrilled with her Santa gifts and Web loved his also!

We went to my mom's for Christmas Dinner and had spiral ham, roast beef, green bean w/tomatoes, hash brown casserole, baked brie (one of my faves), and Creme Brulee cheesecake for dessert. It was all so yummy and the best thig is that my mom and Don made it ALL! We just showed up! ;)

I was supposed to work on Wednesday, but AJ didn't feel that great (and neither did/do I) so it didn't take much for me not to go in. I did go in for a bit today though---and tomorrow will be my normal work Friday.

Now for some scrapstuff:
#1 - Trimming the Tree

These pics were so beautiful that I didn't know if I could do them justice in a LO. I am pleased with the outcome, though. It even was chosen for LOTD today at Scrapperie!

This LO features the Glad Tidings kit from Scrapperie.










#2 - Santa 07
This was the first year that AJ actually WANTED to see Santa. She patiently waited in line and went right up to him and onto his lap. I am so happy to have a GOOD Santa pic this year!














#3 - Everyone Loves a Parade!
This is AJ at the local CHristmas parade - enjoying it, but holding her ears constantly!

This LO features the Glad Tidings kit from Scrapperie.














Well I hope your Christmas was fab and you received everything your heart desired! I am getting ready to turn in early and try to doctor this cold!

xoxox,
D

WISHING YOU AND YOURS A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

xoxox,
D

It's almost here......

CHRISTMAS!!!! I am glad to report that I am now officially in the Christmas spirit! About darn time, huh? Last night, we went two towns over and looked at Christmas lights. They were sooooooo beautiful. We hadn't been to that particular neighborhood in about 3 years--I remember we took my dad once when AJ was a baby. I remember how he enjoyed them and looked forward to the next year when we could go. Welp, time passed and things happen and we never were able to take him again for one reason or another. I think he was with us last night, though, and that made me feel all warm and cozy.

Today, we are having Christmas for Web's son Ryan and for his son Jon and his wife and daughter. I am making a lasagna for a change. I know we will all be eating ham and turkey for the rest of this week probably, so I thought a lasagna would be good.

Well, I need to go start cooking my feast! Have a Super Sunday everyone!

xoxox,
D

Christmas Whirlwind...

Baking. Shopping. Wrapping. OH MY! These last few days have been such a whirlwind! Monday I shopped all day and what felt like half the night. I still have more to do, though!

Yesterday, my BFF came over for our annual gingerbread house making day. The one you see closest here is mine~~~the pretty snowcapped roof and better looking one is Kim's. We had a great time~~even the kids were good!

Today, I took off work to finish up everything CHristmas related~~the final shopping, cleaning, and more wrapping. This is the first year I have worked in five years, so I have had a really hard time trying to get everything to fit into my new schedule. Thankfully, I have the best boss ever (and also one of my best friends), so taking the day was no problem! I am hoping to get it all done today!!

Not much going on the scrapfront~~there are a few pics and my new kit from Scrapperie on my desk, so hopefully tonight I can get to it!

Oh and for my wonderful friend Tanya, here are my top 25 favorite movies:

1. Dirty Dancing
2. Pretty Woman
3. The Graduate
4. My Best Friend's Wedding
5. Dodgeball
6. Zoolander
7. Wedding Crashers
8. The Bridges of Madison County
9. Bridget Jones' Diary
10. Bridget Jones and the Edge of Reason
11. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
12. Blue Crush
13. Happy Gilmore
14. Grease
15. The Wedding Singer
16. Serendipity
17. Hitch
18. The Bodyguard
19. There's Something about Mary
20. Can't Buy Me Love (before Patrick Dempsey ever thought of being McDreamy)
21. Say Anything
22. Sixteen Candles
23. An Officer and a Gentleman
24. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
25. Maid in Manhattan

Okay, so yeah, I like mostly funny, romantic movies!

I'm off to fold the last load of laundry and get ready to go shopping!

xoxox,
D

Some stuff...

We had a nice weekend. Friday night was my company Christmas party and it turned out very nice. Saturday, I cleaned a little and then went to my mom's to make cookies. I didn't get much done though. I've been blah these past few weeks. I think I am really missing my dad about now. This will be the first Christmas without him and it is hitting me harder than I thought it would. But I am muddling through. Today I actually made some fudge and AJ and I decorated some cookies. I even made another batch of cookies--although I think Web has eaten them all by now.

I haven't posted any LOs in a while, so I thought I would show ya a few: This was a challenge layout for Scrapperie~~it had to be 3-D. Everything except the pics are pretty much popped!

This next one, I must say, turned out way better than I expecrted. It was this week's challenge at Scrapperie. We had to use lyrics that reminded us of someone and explain why. I wrote the lyrics on the scroll work and my journaling is hidden. It was actually picked as LOTD over at Scrapperie! How exciting is that?!

Today, as I was frantically searching for my Christmas cards (nope. didn't make them, had them printed when we got family pictures made) I found 3 Colorbok Christmas Frame Kits as well as 2 Embellished Wood Kits that I got from H*bby L*bby last year for 90% off!!!! So now, I think I will make a few for some hard to buy for gifts! Well, I've put AJ and Web to bed, guess it's time to start being creative! ;)

xoxox
~D

I so Need to UPDATE!!

This week has been waaaaay more busy than I have wanted! I have some LOs to post and some other pics, but for now.....

Get Funny Pictures at pYzam.com

Wait, it's Friday?!

We will be heading to the House of Mouse this weekend for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

But before we go, I have a TON of stuff to do~~~like finish putting up the Christmas decorations inside and outside. Like washing clothes. Like hopefully getting some scrapping done!

This week has been hectic, although not much has really been going on. It just seems that I have been getting home after dark every. single. night. I'm really tired and really just wanna sleep. BUT, that won't be happening for the rest of the month, I am sure. Why is it that December just flies by and you are left hanging on trying to get stuff done? I am really not a last minute type of person, but this year, I will be and it is driving me nutso.

But I will suck it up and put a smile on my face because it really is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of holiday madness!

xoxox,
D

It's beginning to look a lot like CHRISTMAS!

Yes, the tree is FINALLY up! After about 30minutes of trying to figure out where to put it, I finally decided! AJ and I decorated it in about 20 minutes! Of course all of her ornaments are centrally located towards the bottom of the tree..LOL I was amazed that she was actually asking where certain ornaments of her were. Like her Elmo on a Candy Cane she got for her first Christmas and the Cookie Monster she got the next year. The girl definitely has a memory! Today I will try to get the rest of the house decorations up and Web said he will start the outside for me.


And now for the Christmas Questionnaire that was posted at Scrapperie:

Colored lights or white lights on your house or not at all? None on the house
Hot chocolate or Egg Nog? Hot Cocoa!
What's your favorite holiday dish? Broccoli Casserole
Does Santa wrap the presents or just sit them under the tree? He leaves them out!
Do you hang mistletoe? No, but I almost bought some yesterday
When do you put up your decorations? The first weekend of December
What's your favorite holiday tradition? Making cookies/gingerbread houses with my mom and BFF
What's on the top of your tree? A Bow~Nothing else will stay up there!
Do you have a nativity displayed through the holidays? Yes
Candy Canes, traditional or flavored? Or Chocolate Covered Cherries? Traditional Candy Canes
What's your favorite holiday goodie to make and share? FUDGE!
What's your favorite Christmas song? there are many, today it's Rockin around the CHristmas Tree
When did you learn the truth about the "magic" of Christmas? I was about 7 or so and realized that santa and my mom had the same writing
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not usually, but Web and I may do that this year alone
Is there a special ornament or Christmas decoration that you wouldn't feel like Christmas without? I have all of my childhood ornaments and they all go on the tree
Do you take neighbor gifts/treats to anyone, everyone, a select few? I make some treats for a few friends and my stepson who lives in NV
Is your big meal on Christmas Eve, Christmas morning or Christmas afternoon? Christmas afternoon usually
How do you decorate your tree? Red and White and mainly snowmen
Snow? Love it? Dread it? Tolerate it? I love it since I don't have to live in it!
Do you remember a favorite gift? Not one in particular, but I usually got a BIG gift from Santa I had wanted
Do you have a family get-together during the holidays with extended family? Usually on Christmas Eve with my mom's side of the family
What's the most important thing that you must do each Christmas season? Uh, put the tree up!
Do you bake Christmas cookies? YEP!
Do you leave cookies and milk for Santa? Sure do!
Share a favorite Christmas memory. Since I have been married, every year my dad made us waffles for breakfast on Christmas morning. It was the only time he did it and about the only time he ate with us. I will really miss that this year.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

xoxox
Darlene