Wednesday, December 30, 2009

What fun we had !








It was great to get away to Patrick's home this year for Christmas. It was decorated so cute ! I just love looking at their ornaments and hearing the stories behind them. This year I got all the men Atlanta Brave's snowmen since they had all attended a game together earlier this year. Of course the new baby got one for his first Christmas. This year we got to go to a beautifully decorated home where the lights were connected to music on the radio. This was a real treat and it was so much fun to watch the baby watching the lights. They also had a donation box for the American Cancer Society. Maggie Beth and I braved the cold weather and ran to the box with our donation. We all missed having the V.B. clan with us this year. Maggie Beth especially missed Sarah Beth. Maggie Beth says "she's my girl!" I had never heard her say that before, so sweet. We did get to talk on the phone and that helped some. I hope to get some pictures soon from them to post here. Saturday we got to take Maggie Beth to the movie. We saw the "Chipmonks, The Sequel". Her favorites were the girl chipmonks singing 'Shake what your Moma gave you!" LOL It all ended much to quick and Sunday we were back on the road with what seemed like a million other people headed for home. We were so blessed with a safe trip and time to spend with much loved family.


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Merry Christmas to all from Jack the cat

Found this adorable Santa outfit for one of our cats. Just could not resist it however, I think he was less than thrilled with his new dudes! LOL Any Whooo Merry Christmas to all!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Christmas in the Okefenokee























The swamp is not something you traditionally think of at Christmas time but the folks over at the Okefenokee Swamp Park have brought the spirit of Christmas to the park. We started our visit at the Amphitheatre with a native American giving us some history. Then on to hear a brass band playing Christmas music under the moon light. Wish I had studied up on my night photography a little more, please bare with me. The big draw to the park was a train ride light show through the swamp and it was Magical! The weather cooperated with a cold dark night. We were enchanted around every corner with a special light scene. It was also great to find out that the Patterson bank had donated all their special Christmas decorations to the park. The traditional free train ride for the small children will continue on. Yippee!





Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Christmas Memories

I just love Christmas time. Looking back this was one of the best with all of the grand kids at home. Scottie was so funny as he pulled this beard and hat off of a big Christmas Elmo doll and started putting them on himself! Gotta love this kids flair for getting into character.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Christmas Card time


I always enjoy making Christmas cards and thinking about the people I will be sending them too.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Birthday to Sean Patrick



This year was Sean's turn for us to be with him in Virginia for his birthday but, due to work obligations I was not going to be able to go. This year has been full of problems and disappointments and this was just one more to add to the heap. WAh Wah WAh! Then John found out he would not be working that week so I suggested he go on without me. He thought it over and decided he would go but with one condition. The condition was that I not call and tell them he was coming, talk about a gag order! How hard it was for me to not get on the phone that day and let them know he was on the way! Sean truly was surprised when Poppie John got there. Later on he had his birthday party at on of the games stores up there. They had a great time and another surprise visitor, Mario showed up. How fun! I love you Sean Patrick!

Monday, November 23, 2009

It really is all about the little things

My husband knows I have been struggling with working night shift along with a lot of other aspects of my life. He also knows how very hard I have been trying my hardest to put a good spin on everything so, coming home and finding something as little as a chocolate cupcake is huge! Put a big smile on my face, thank you darlin. Nothing could be better on this cold rainy morning.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Guitar Pickin'

Finally got some pics of Patrick with his guitar. Don't get to hear him play much these days. Back when he was in high school there were kids here all the time with guitars, amps and drums, oh my! LOL All the same I am glad to know is still plays when he can.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Football Layouts


Finished football layouts for the boys scrapbooks.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

It's All about Football








It's all about the football this time of year. This was the first year the boys played flag football.
They really enjoyed it and there team was undefeated! Yipee


Friday, November 13, 2009

A mIni Halloween Album






































I could not wait for Halloween to get here this year. I had all these little ideas running around in my head to do for this mini album. I had this Basic Grey paper from the Ambrosia collection that was in Halloween colors and one of the papers had butterflies on it so, why not? I took a chip board butterfly and glammed her up with paint, beads and stickles and there she is, all ready for trick or treating! Mixed a variety of embellishments that I had been collecting for several years( great stash buster). Burlap just says fall and Halloween to me and added so much fun texture. Sean is in the Ghoul costume that had a device built into the mask so you could pump fake blood into the mask. You could hardly see the blood in the pictures so I added red stickles which added a super cool affect. Some of the pages are paper bags folded which make big pockets for the journal tags to go in. It is a chunky little album filled with lots of yummy things.







Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Happy Birthday Baby!






































A big shout out to my husband today for a Happy Birthday! He is definitely my rock! Here is a tribute to him and a little of what he has been up to this year.







Monday, October 26, 2009

Priceless


This LO has it all - texture and techniques galore. First off one of my favorite things is changing a photo to sepia tone and then coloring one aspect. In this case I used pastels to color the flowers on the hat. That is right, I hand colored them with pastel chalks. I know that is an archaic method now days with the invention of photoshop but I still like to do it this way occasionally. Love Love the Prima flower pick. My new favorite technique is on the tag. By using Tim Holt's Distress Crackle paint, then stamping in it and letting it dry then go back over it with glimmer mist and dabbing it into the crackles gives it a lovely shabby chic look. There is ribbon, lace trim and treading water hole punch. Pink staples attached with the fastenator, stamping, Crate Paper and a glitter flower boarder. All adds up to make me a scrappy happy girl!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Saying good bye is always hard to do


This photo of Scott telling his Dad good bye just touches my heart. They have had to day alot of good byes this year and it never gets easier. On the up side I did have alot of fun making this LO. Used the new Tim Holtz masks with some sprays made of dye ink. It works best if you spray your paper in a box to contain stray spray. Then remove masks, dry paper with heat gun and iron paper back to its' flat shape.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Fabulous

Basic Grey has done it again with their June bug line of pattern papers. I love this picture of Maggie Beth and Boyd with there little feet and toes plus a couple of great smiles.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Blinging it out at the Ball

I may have gone overboard with the bling on this one but, the occasion was a formal ball. The bling is 'Say it in Crystals' made by Prima. I resisted using this great product for along time because I thought you had to do the design one crystal at a time. Well duh, not so! It is already backed on tape and you just pull the whole strip of at one time. It already has adhesive on the back. You just place it on you project in the desired position and press it down. Wallah! instant bling to enhance a festive occasion!

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Bragging Rights

I am the G-ma to some pretty great kids. I claim all the bragging rights that come with that title. This is my oldest grandson Sean. He is seven years old and recently started second grade. He spent his summer reading the Harry Potter books. They tell me he is reading at a fifth grade level! I think that is pretty cool! Way to go Sean!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

One Last Summer Fling














































We all met up at Red Top Mountain for one last summer picnic. The kids had a ball playing together on the play ground and in the water. The wave runner was a big hit with everyone. Although Cory and Debbie seemed to "REALLY" enjoy it! LOL The boys are playing football this year and enjoyed playing catch. Patrick was our Grill Master for the day and also showed off by jumping of the rock. Day two the girls headed for the American Girl store and the guys head for the Braves game. It was a fun fast weekend.