Happy New Year!

Is it really the last day of 2008. On New Year's Eve, I usually spend some time looking through my blog archives and scrapbook pages to reflect the year gone by. We all speak of the happy times and relish in those moments. Who doesn't love to hear about one anothers good cheer. We have had many many happy times and most wonderful opportunities this year. God is good. With that said, this year my family had some really low points too - more than one life altering experience really. Reflecting on that is bittersweet today. As bad as some of those times were, most offered growth. This past year our family changed - a lot. Today as I reflect, I am thankful it's passed and grateful that we stand stronger.

I welcome with open arms 2009.

This year I have chose one little word for 2009... you see I put it on my blog header for a daily reminder. Harmony. This year I will strive to bring harmony to every aspect of my life.

I made a lo with my word too.



This will be a short post today. There are lots of sales today in digiland. Here's one you won't want to miss -



And most importantly - Happy New Year my friends! I hope the year 2009 is the best one yet!

{we are} storytellers

Okay someone pinch me! I am so happy to say that I am joining their amazing team. I'm not sure its completely sunk in yet. :)

Check out this FREE kit by em at MM -



Enjoy!

Winter is here

and giving us lots of snow.

But just before the weather changed I was able to get these pics of the kiddos.



Where have I been this past few weeks? Well, not at work. lol! The last three days of school was called for snow. It started off like this-



It was so pretty. And just the right amount of snow fell for the kids to go sledding. So as soon as there was a break they were out on our private road going at it. Of course I joined in on the fun too- mostly as the photographer but I did make a couple of runs.



And more snow came. That meant we needed to bake some sweets. Twas almost Christmas...



Then of course we wrapped presents, watched some Christmas movies, played the Wii and spent lots of fun time together as it kept snowing and snowing and snowing...



There it shows 14" but on Monday we were up to 18". It was crazy I tell you. Then on Christmas Eve it rained. That did not make the snow go away by any means but it did make it very heavy and slushy. We definately lost mass, but I would say with the snow we got again yesterday, we easily still have a foot of snow here.

And here's a glimpse of our Christmas morning-



I'll catch up with the scrappy stuff next post. :)

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas. I hope the good cheer and happiness follow you well into the new year. Happy Holidays my friends!

Tis the Season

Surprises are rolling in... I mentioned in my last post how happy I was to finally have a schedule change at work. This week, 2 more pretty awesome and unexpected things happened. I teach 2 six grade art classes a week and so wanted to introduce them to photoshop. After a really long wait, (I'd actually given up hope that I'd get the computers)Wednesday the computer guy brought them in and set them up in my room. I am estatic!!! And, I also run the cricut machine at work and cut out letters for the classroom bulletin boards and projects. Well, I was told Friday that there was some extra money and to order some new cartridges and supplies. Fun, fun, fun.

And at home, we ended up just staying in on our Anniversary. The kids were home so we rented a couple of movies and did a family movie night. Not as exciting as I had planned but things don't always turn out the way we plan, right?!? lol. And Friday I became a grandma. Okay not really but for the weekend. lol. Dear son has to do a baby project where they care for a doll that simulates a newborn. I totally forgot how little of sleep there is for all with a baby in the house. lol! It's been a great experience for him though.

Snow snow snow is in the air. We woke to a dusting yesterday. This morning there was a little more. And it just started again. They are calling for four inches today. The kids are SO excited.

I have a few layouts and an ornament I made that I'd like to share.







I also added a new tutorial this week on redecorating picture frames. There's a link in the side bar for those interested. :)

Have a super Sunday my friends!

Where?

Where oh where has this last week gone? Oh where oh where can it be? Lol!

Seriously, this last week was gone in a blink.

I wanted to share a few pics from our trip last weekend to Portland International Raceway's Winter Wonderland light show.







And this one is for Joy, my friend at the beach. (It's a little blurry but there's a lighthouse off in the distance there.)



If you live in the area, this is really a fun family activity. My kids are teenagers and still love doing this. (They pack up blankets and pillows in the back seat of the car (We live a little more than an hour away so there's a little drive) and sometimes they even go in their PJ's.) When you get there you are offered a Christmas CD to play, candy canes are passed around, and you are asked to dim the headlights and enjoy the light scenes as your drive around the track.

I have much to be thankful for this week-

1. my glasses came in on Wednesday and my headaches immediately went away - praise the Lord!
2. I had an opportunity to contribute to the DST Insider that came out this month - it was an awesome edition that was cram packed with hybrid ideas (check our pg 40 & 41) :)
3. the computer is starting to look good again - fonts and photoshop back up and running this week
4. a much needed change in my schedule at work has finally come - *dancing over this one!*
5. my friends came through and donated enough scrappy supplies for all of the students in both of my art classes to make holiday gifts to take home - my friends -> YOU ROCK! Thank you thank you thank you!!! Mwah!

I did a little scrapping this week too.



Monday. Monday will be dear hubby and my wedding anniversary. I'm still not sure what we will do that day, but I know the special day is something we will joyfully celebrate. He is the love of my life.



Yep, there we were at the reception, dancing. 12/2000

Well, this weekend I need to get the housework done and then I want to work on a some hybrid projects. Also a few more tutorials to add here at the blog. So I better get to it. :)

I hope you all have a super fab weekend. Thank you so much for stopping by!