Caleb's 8th Birthday

In December my oldest turned 8! I can't believe it! It is crazy to think that 8 years ago we brought home this tee tiny little bundle. Little did we know back then, just how our lives would change. Oh - how I thought, I can't do this anymore, without sleep. Well, sleep did come again...it wasn't for several years, but I do get a good nights sleep now. That is if I am not up late reading, scrapbooking, facebooking or blogging. Tonight it will be blogging. It has been so long since I blogged. I am adding several tonight.

Anyway, back to Caleb's birthday. Caleb checks out the same book at the library almost weekly - it is a magic trick book. We talked about it and decided to have a "Big Shebang" for Caleb's birthday. We had a magician. It was pretty amazing. The kids thought they could figure out some of his tricks, but he proved them wrong. I was actually able go figure out one of his tricks, but, only one. Tim was able to figure out a couple. I love Magic - it is so amazing! I am slowly working on the scrapbook layouts from the birthday - so tonight I will post the ones, I have completed!

Crazy Scrapbooker!

This is the year for Elissa to be a totally wild scrapbooker! I know, I said my New Years Resolution is to do at least 52 layouts with pictures. Well....that might be an understatement. Since I only put pictures in a handful of layouts last year, I need to put pictures on all of those pages. I have been going crazy the month of January putting pictures on pages.

I have about 20 or so pictures to post, but I have decided to do in phases, so that I don't get overwhelmed and you don't get bored with my blog. LOL!!

This post consists of pictures from 2006. We had a FOUR generation photo shoot. This was the first time that Grandma and Grandpa Grimes met Kylie. It was also the first time we were all together with all of our children (the last time we took a family photo, Tim and I didn't have children) to take a photograph.

I asked a family friend if she would be so kind as to take the pictures. She loves to scrapbook and take pictures as much as I so she was thrilled we asked for her assistance.

I had talked about getting together for a couple of years, but everyone always seemed so busy. Well, this time (summer 2006), I wasn't backing down and I am glad I didn't. Grandpa had been put in a nursing home. Alzheimer's hit him very hard, quickly. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Dimentia in the summer of 2003 to failing quickly 2 years later. Grandpa passed away 3 months after we took these photos. Along with Grandpas failing health, Grandma started to lose her eyesight around the same time Grandpa was diagnosed. Grandma was completely blind before she ever got to see Cameron or Kylie (born 2003 and 2005). Grandpa went from a sharp heavy man to a frail "old" man in just a quick time. Grandma used to love to sit outside and watch the birds and the kids play in the yard. She doesn't like to leave her house now. It makes me so sad - she is still in good health. Although, she is showing signs of Alzheimers disease, also.

January Stamp Scrap and Chat

This is my Caboodle extra layout! I just love how it turned out. I used the design from CTMH's Cherish book, Personality Presence!

I used Vanilla Cream cardstock for the bases. Cut the stripes 5 x 12 and 4 x 12. The plaid pieces are 6x8 and 5x4. the blue is B&T papers cut it 2 X 12 and 4x6! Viola! Embellish and stamp as desired!

I just love my Stamp Scrap and Chat girls! Come on over and join us! We would love to share a table and some scissors with you!

New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions are made and usually broken. Last night I began my organization for my BIG resolution. I am going to make a layout a week and add pictures. It will be super easy! I already make 3 layouts per month for my scrapbook workshop I hold monthly. Now, I just make one extra and add the pictures and VIOLA!

Last night I put all of my layouts into two different 3 ring binders. One binder that has layouts with pictures - they need albums and one binder with layouts that need pictures and embellishments. I am so excited to have this organization! I now feel like I am ready to get scrappy! LOL

This week, will be all about putting my house back in order after the holidays and next week, I am going to get a head start on those layouts. I have a very busy year ahead of my. My husband will be getting a new assignment so I need to start planning for a move. Close To My Heart will have their annual convention. This year, the convention happens to be in my "backyard" right here at National Harbor just outside of DC! I am so excited. And the number 3 thing on my list this year is I am going to earn a cruise with Close to my Heart. Yes, it will be an Epic adventure. Norwegians Epic sets sail with a bunch of scrapbookers March 2011 and I plan to be on it! Wish me luck and Happy New Year!

What is your New Years Resolution?

Felicity

Celebrate National Paper Craft Month with Felicity! 6 Beautiful Papers, 6 Beautiful Diecut Papers, a D - size Stamp set with Flourishes a bird and a full alphabet!

There are three ways to get the Felicity collection:

• Purchase it at full retail price for $34.95 (CC1008)
• Place an order of $60 or more in full-retail priced stamp sets (A, B, C, D, and E-size) and receive one collection FREE! (CC1008A) Excludes: Stamp of the Month, Art & Soul®, Workshop on the Go™, and customizable (K) stamp sets.
• Place an order of $125 or more in full-retail priced Close To My Heart products and receive one collection FREE! (CC1008B)

Celebrate with the Felicity Collection today!

Check out http://nationalpapercraftingmonth.blogspot.com for some beautiful artwork, daily with the Felicity paper kit.

For a chance to win the Felicity Collection, just leave a comment at the end of each daily posting at http://nationalpapercraftingmonth.blogspot.com and you will be automatically entered. Comments will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (MT) each day. Good luck!