Thanksgiving - what I'm grateful for...

This is our newest granddaughter little Annabug (Annalise). She will be four months old on the 11th of December. What a cutie pie she is. We are so very grateful that she has come to our family. Grandchildren are such a blessing, I now have 7 and I love each one of them very much.

Christmas Scrapbooking Tradition

For my girlfriends who asked me about this crazy tradition of mine here you go....

Each year I get together with my daughters and daughter-in-laws during the Christmas holidays and we spend a day together making 12 scrapbook pages.  Here's how it works- I pre-design the 12 pages during the months of October-November. The pages are by necessity fairly generic, I don't include a title on some of the pages (such as this one), but allow the girls to choose their own title later as we build them. As I make the original I go ahead and cut the paper for each families page and gather the embellishments needed to complete the page and stick it all in a zip lock bag. On the outside of the bag I write on a sticky note which stamps I used, which inks, and any other pertinent info. Then when we actually build the page it comes together in about 30 minutes (depending on the difficulty). I really try to keep the designs simple (not easy for me!!) On this page I used Studio Calico's Sock Hop paper kit (actually it was the Bobby Socks and Penny Loafers add ons) and two super cute stamp sets from Close To My Heart (It's your Day and Capture the Date). It was fast and very easy to make and won't take very long at all to duplicate. I left an area on the left side beneath the filmstrip photos for a title and added the cute tag for journaling on. The hand stitching is OPTIONAL -so don't freak out girls! These pages are used on yearly calendars. I make the calendar template on my computer in a 12" x 12" format and include all the birthdays, anniversary's etc. Several years ago my husband built each family a cute wooden calender holder that accommodates the 12" x 12" format. The assignment for the coming year is for each mom (or Dad) to take pictures at the end of each month to be used on the page for the coming month (or they may just use photos they already have!)  I always include photo placement paper that is attached with re-positional glue so it is easy to remove and replace with the photo - that way my kids who live out of state don't forget where the photos go. That's it. It's a really fun tradition, a little work for me, but so worth it! If nothing else I know each family will have a scrapbook which has at least one recorded event for each month of the year. 

Halloween at Grandma's

Halloween this year was extra fun with two grandchildren close by. Kevin and Beth's daughter Annalise is 3 months and enjoyed making her first pumpkin at grandma's house. Notice the cute pink footprints. Maddie (Dan and Tara's little girl) of course is my little artist and designed her pumpkin from scratch. I think it's a great take on Zorro, how about you? Love it!

Duane's Birthday

April 4th Duane turned 65. We celebrated this weekend with a special breakfast of Asparagus Quiche. Afterwards we took off to Salt Lake for shopping (more fun for me than him) ending up at Pat's BBQ for some terrific smoked chicken and ribs. It was sort of low profile but he really enjoyed himself.

Annual Birthday Cards

I am so far behind this year. I typically make a bunch of birthday cards for my children and grandchildren ahead so that they're ready to go when I am. However this year it has been all last minute, so I'm determined to make two cards each week until I'm caught up. Here are the two I did this week, notice they are the same pattern, same colors (that makes it go quicker) but very different feelings to them. One is fun and the other more subdued. I enjoyed making them despite the fact that it's what I do all day long for work! They were both pretty quick to make, took about 30 minutes each. I used a CTMH set called Life's Good (D1495) the papers are from American Crafts. Also used the CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge (love it!).

Remembering Summer

As fall settles in here in Utah I find myself thinking backwards to summer and many of the wonderful times we shared with our family. The following are just a few of the photos of scenes we really enjoyed while visiting with our children and grandchildren. Forgive my very bad poetry, but I've used the lyrics to a well know children's song, which my grandchildren will enjoy (nonsensical grandma).

Oh what do you do in the summertime?

Oh what do you do in the summertime to hear your grandchild sigh?
Do you bring her a pet - one that won't wet?
If that's what you do, so do I?

Oh what do you do in the summertime when time just seems to fly?
Do you sit by a pool -  sipping pop to keep cool?
 If that's what you do so do I.

Oh what do you do in the summertime when flowers grow so high?
Do you count each one - just for fun?
If that's what you do so do I.

Oh what do you do in the summertime when clouds are flying by?
Do you sit on the ground - blowing bubbles around?
If that's what you do so do I.

Oh what do you do in the summertime when the sun is hot up high?
Do you go looking for rocks - in a cooling spot? If that's what you do so do I.

Oh what do you do in the summertime when there's nothing but blue in the sky?
Do you play in the pool - to keep yourself cool.
If that's what you do so do I!

Good Old Summertime

As a transplant to Utah (from California) I have to say that the winter this year was way too long. Although the snow was lots of fun at Christmas for making snowmen with my grandkids, by the end of May it's was getting way old! We've had over a 200% snowpack this year and have had flooding as a result. Our neighborhood actually had to do some sandbagging as we live close to a river. The water is just starting to recede and sand bags are being removed, so hopefully summer is on it's way at last. Hooray!

A special occasion...

My grandson Kyle just turned twelve, a special occasion for a young man who belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was found worthy to receive the priesthood and be ordained to the office of a deacon by his father Matthew. My husband and I traveled to his home in California to see him ordained. I am so proud of him, he is really a great kid.

My husband Duane, my grandson Kyle, and my son Matthew - three generations. Just missing my father who is 96 and was too old to accompany us on the trip to California.

Matt, Kyle and Rachel in their backyard on Sunday February 6th before church.

A pink party

Brenna birthday is on Dec. 22. She always has a special party at Grandma's house. This year we went all out and gave her a Princess party all in pink with crowns and princess accessories. She thought is was amazing.

She was the happiest princess you ever saw. Everything was pink (not red and green) and that was "Cool grandma!"

Friendship Quilts

Recently our quilt guild made friendship quilts. We used the Ohio Star block with a center strip of blank muslin for autographs. Each person chose fabric (of their choice) and brought enough to share with every member that wanted to participate. They pre-signed their name in the middle muslin block and then each participant took one of each block plus one of their own. Participants took home the fabric - cut the blocks out and pieced them. Here is one of the completed quilt tops being shown at our monthly show and tell.

Friendship Quilts