Sunday Evening...

Telling Grandpa sad stories...













Nat & Tristan!






















What a personality!! He loves talking to Grandma!!






It's quiet and I should be scrapbooking and taking advantage of this time...but I am having too much fun looking at the pictures from this week. Isn't funny when you have a new little one in the house how fast they change...Tristan is coooing and smiling!! I love it!!

Excited to have taken tomorrow off so that I can just chill...short week this week and then again next w/Thanksgiving. My baby Nat turns 9 one week from today...wow...I can't believe she's going to be 9! Time just flies!

I wish there was more time in the day!!

Since the addition of Tristan to our home...there has been much adjusting going and wow has time just flown by!! At first I was so tired from helping Sara out...since she had to have a C section it was difficult when she first came home...not to mention she really wasn't sure what to expect being a new mom and being so young!! But we have all adjusted well!

For now Tristan starts the night sleeping with me...since I am not his source of food he will sleep longer with me...anywhere from 5 - 7 hours!!! Then to mom to be fed and then stays with her! It's working really great right now...we are talking about transitioning him to his crib in his room...but there doesn't seem to be too much of a hurry.

Since things are settled down a bit...I have been able to get back to scrapping!!! Yea!!! It seems like it's been so long...I am so glad to be able to use my scrapping to relax and just let go! I really do need to take more pics though...kinda slacking off there!!

Well Sara starts school again tomorrow, g'pa is going to watch Tristan and we will see how things go!!






Here's a LO I did of Nat from Halloween...I loved her Cheetah outfit!! Daddy took her shopping for her costume...he did good!


















Another LO I did the other day!! Pics of Nat's first day of school!! I am loving the page kits by 2 Spotted Dogs!!















Pics of Tristan on 10/31/07. I love the pout...he's just about to let it go!!

Where does the time go...

Nat's 1st Day of School...08/23/2007

Sara...due any day now...09/17/2007

Layout I did of the baby's room...Waiting...

My how time has just flown by...this summer has come and gone (well almost). I started a new job on June 4th working for Northwestern Mutual and an awesome agent. Per our agreement I agreed to get fully licensed for life & health insurance, long-term care & securities licensed. Since I wanted all my tests to be completed before the new grand baby came I have really pushed myself and gave up much of my summer to studying. I had a goal and with my family's help and God, I met my goals. I am fully licensed. I finished up my last test w/a 70% exactly what I needed to pass!!! I was to thankful!!

Nat has started 3rd grade...Em is working her buns off (sadly she is skipping this semester of college but my prayer is that she will attend again in the Spring) and Sara is due to bring our new little bundle of joy into the world any day now. Today was her actual due date, but it doesn't appear as though he is quite ready yet!!

Sadly since taking this new job I haven't had much time to scrap though that will change now that I am finished with my tests!! I was all ready to spend the weekend scrapping and I got a nasty head cold...bummer...tonight I watched a movie with the family!!! That was fun and something I haven't done all summer...I know my scrap time will come...I am hoping this weekend...shhhhh don't tell anyone...but the worst part is that I haven't stopped spending money on scrapbook supplies one bit...haven't hardly been able to scrap...but certainly have kept up on the new stuff.

Oh yeah!!! One major highlight of the summer was attending my very first CHA!!! It was so awesome!! I got to meet Elsie & Becky Higgins...they were both so sweet and I loved being able to get a sneak peek at all the cool stuff coming out this fall...I have my list...still ready to shop!!

Just an update....

My most recent LO of Nat...since I had last week off before starting my new job, I was able to spend lost of time with her...we had so much fun! These are pics of her not long after we got home from the pool...she's so beautiful!! That's all she wanted to do was to swim...by Saturday I was totally swimmed out!! I wish I was able to stay home with her...it's so nice to wake up and clean the house and play all day!! Alas...it's not in the cards for me!

Started the new job on Monday...for some reason I am totally exhausted at night...not sure why. It's amazing to me at how quickly I am remembering the life insurance side...I hope the investment side comes back as quickly! I need to start studying to take my tests...wow...I am going to take tests...what was I thinking...I am too old!

Everyone is doing well here...nothing really to report...Sara & baby are getting along nicely...loving buying all the clothes...can't wait until September...but then I can...things won't be as quiet around here anymore...but what a blessing to have a sweet baby in the house again!

Lucky me!!

I must be the luckiest girl around...for Mothers' Day Dwain & the girls bought me this totally awesome gazebo and then the other day he went out and bought me this cool furniture so that I can just chill outside and enjoy the gazebo...I am loving it!! Right now I am out here just chillin and catching my blog up because I am soooooo far behind...


Nat taking a breather with Daisy! The both love the patio!!


Stepping out of the family room/dinning area onto the porch! So totally awesome!!

Ok...let's see what else is new...starting my new job tomorrow...I am really nervous...I know I shouldn't be but I am! It's been a while since I was in the investment industry and I was really good at my last job...I think I am afraid of being a failure...I have to go back and take all the tests I had taken before (insurance license & series 7) and am worried I won't be able to make the cut...though I am sure I don't have to pass them first time around...but that would be nice...

Spent almost the whole week at the pool with Nat...we had an awesome time!! Though I am pooled out right now...Dwain says I don't need anymore sun...but since I start work tomorrow it's no big deal...I will have time next weekend to get out again!!

Anxiously awaiting...

Project time...I am in desperate need of some glass jars and can't find any anywhere...yikes...what am I going to do? LOL... my scrap table right now...I need to get this taken care of before Thursday but can't find the jars anywhere...been to Michaels, HL and Walmart...any suggestions?

Ok...so I am anxiously awaiting the announcement of ScrapHappy KT's Design Team entry...I have never tried out for a DT before and I am sure I won't make it...but I really did just want to try...I do hope that some day I will even get the courage up to submit for publication...we will see. Things are slowing down a bit around here...Nat is making her 1st Communion on Saturday and it's NSD...but I am taking Friday off to make up for missing so much time on Saturday...I am really excited for her though...it supposed to be beautiful here and I know it's going to be a very blessed day...plus I will get some time later on Saturday and then some time on Sunday....can't wait!

Proof I don't just buy scrapbook supplies...

See I really do use those supplies that I just seem to keep buying up...unfortunately not as fast as I would like, as I don't always have much time to work on my stuff. But I participated in a card swap this month and had to make 11 cards to send out...yikes! I started Friday night...whew...I made it! Plus I did make 2 other LO's for a DT entry that I am trying for...so for the week all in all I have been pretty productive...I hope it continues as I have to make a 50th Anniversary album for my in-laws. The party is next Saturday night!! I am planning on starting that tomorrow!

I was just looking at the preview of this post and I about died laughing at this pictures...what was I thinking? I didn't crop the pic and you can see my coaster and number pad...ah proof that I do actually work for a living too!!

Woo Hoo...I have been scrapbooking!!

Yea! Last weekend I got to participate in a cyber crop at 2SD's and got some great challenge ideas and this week I am working on a DT entry (sorry can't post any of those LO's yet) but I am still getting to scrapbook! This busy season has gotten me so down that I just haven't been able to enjoy scrapbooking...I am so glad I am out of the funk!

Then this week it was so exciting to watch 2Peas as all the HOFer's were being called, it got me really excited to actualy get off my duff and submit...so we will see what happens. I think the one thing I could say about all the entries for HOF is that they actually tried...even though it wasn't their year they still tried...and for some they had been trying for years and finally got in this year...they didn't give up the continue on...don't give up...don't stop trying...do your best and be proud you showed up to play!! I vow not to get discouraged, to be a warrior and not give up...to keep pressing forward and to keep believing...I will draw my strength from above and He will not let me down...ooooo...it feels so good to feel good again!!

TGIF...almost!

I am so looking forward to a weekend...but unfortunately I will be working again this weekend...not sure I am going to work from home or actually go to work...it depends on when Dwain goes to his auction. I so can't wait for March 15th...I know you're saying "don't you mean April 15th?"...but since I am in the Accounting Services department all of my clients are businesses...honestly once March 15th comes and goes I will still be busy catching up! Ah...job security...!

I had this website bookmarked for sometime but just yesterday went and spent some time there in the shop and on the MB...it seems like a really great place! I love the store...some really cools items that I can't find locally...gotta love it...It's called Scrap Happy KT...you should try it!

I am so loving my re-decorated scrap area...sadly it's not as clean as the pics I posted earlier...that's ok...that means I am scrapping...yes I am actually working on a LO right now...it feels so good to actually be excited about scrapbooking again! I hate the blahs! Have a great weekend everyone and go ILL-INI!!

It's March!!

Yipee! I am so excited, we have seen the sun now for 2 days straight!! Still pretty busy at work, but things are starting to get more managable...girls are great! For those of you who don't know...I am going to be a grandmother in September...a very young grandmother! In fact I decided today that I don't want to be called grandma, I want to be called Nana...I love that name!

Dwain helped me with my scrapbook room last week...




finally I have some shelves put up and we cleared out the closet so I bought a unit to put in it for my printer and scanner(below) and now I just need one more shelf in there...it's really made for more work space...










love the unit...it's pretty cool! It's meant to go in the corner of a closet and it's even stackable!

Now maybe I can get some scrapbooking done...I actually started a LO yesterday I am hoping to finish up tonight! That is if I can stay awake...I have been pretty tired lately! Lots of stress...though things seem to be calming down!

Snow...snow...snow!!

Me & Nat

















Nat working on her loose tooth.






It's on it's way 8 - 12 inches of snow that is!!!! Yeah!! Well the crunch of January's busy season is beginning to lighten up a bit and now I can get back to some scrapbooking & photo taking...I feel like I have done anything for awhile. I did get a little break and have attached a couple of scrapbook pages I have completed lately...I love scrapbooking.

I am also getting ready to begin a teenage girls ministry...reaching out to them and helping them to realize the love of our Savior so that they don't feel compelled to reach out to the wrong things...sex, drugs, alcohol...I so badly want to see them touched by Christ and think more highly of themselves. That is my hope and prayer!

Crazy time of year!!

Wow is January a crazy time of year for me! Payroll taxes...gotta love them...I am working 11 hour days and not only is it stress on me but the fam as well...the silver lining...yes there is a silver lining...my goal is to bank enough overtime to work part-time this summer and get paid for fulltime and I will get to spend time with my boogies!!! Dwain was getting grouchy last week because he has to cook dinner and clean up, etc...but when I talked to him this week about my goal he is so excited!! When I got home tonight...late...he said "way to go mama...good job...", well we will have to see how long that lasts, but I feel like it's all gonna be worth it!

Since I am so busy working, not much else going on...trying to get some scrapbooking done in between and getting ready to start a teen bible study...life is so full!