Snippets of My Life

2011-04-28T10:53:00.001-05:00

Loved this one too! Perfect for the shopaholic in your life!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MttFqtpLkEE/TYsXzEmPPeI/AAAAAAAAAEA/m_fHcERTNgA/s576/subway-art-finished.jpg

2011-04-28T10:50:00.002-05:00

It's been awhile! Seasonal Affective Disorder got the best of me this winter - this long, long, no good, very bad winter!!!

Anyway, feel like I am emerging from the depths a bit here. Saw this and loved it! I would love to do it in all white and cream buttons.

http://http//3.bp.blogspot.com/-nsWeBaCaIo0/TZ8ryfZTA7I/AAAAAAAAAH8/XxtT_m-67LU/s500/buttonmirrorblog.jpg

Fireplaces

2010-12-02T11:19:00.002-06:00

Love the jars filled with the shiny ornaments!

http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/15-glowing-holiday-mantels/pictures/page-9.html

Photo Collage ideas

2010-11-16T10:37:00.005-06:00

I just did a photo wall in my house and I wish I had more big walls! Here are some fun ideas found here: http://www.merakoh.com/2010/09/21/13-women-show-you-how-they-got-their-photos-off-the-computer/

Amazing Birthday!

2010-11-08T12:12:00.013-06:00

Wow! I had the best birthday day! We started the day bright and early with brunch at the Monte Carlo downtown.

Next we hopped the choo-choo from 1st Avenue to the Metrodome (or Target Field as Yvette likes to call it! :)

The plaza at the dome was packed!!!

Bill, Jeanine, Yvette, Todd, Me and JohnWe thought our sunglasses made us look cool!!! LOL!The game ended in an overtime win for the Vikes!!! They did it just for my birthday! Then Bill and I literally ran to the choo-choo to get back to our car so we could get to Brennan's Rebels 8U Championship game!The boys played great and won 28-7!!! What a great year of football and coaching this was!!!Yvette even made signs for the car! We ended the evening with a lovely dinner at Biaggi's in Maple Grove. It was one of the best birthdays ever!!! Thank you to great friends!!!

2010-11-08T11:19:00.000-06:00

Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

Abundantly Blessed - In just one weekend...

2010-11-03T10:00:00.019-05:00

I am finally getting around to posting about our amazing October - there was not one single day that was not scheduled (well, except the 18th - but I did manage to fill that one up at the last minute too!) The highlight was the middle weekend which started with Erin's Sweet 16 Formal Dinner Party for her friends. What a surprising, incredible, fun night. The kids just stepped up to the plate so well. They were well behaved, polite and so sophisticated. I was thouroughly impressed. Thanks so much to John and Yvette and Janet for helping - we couldn't have done it without you! The next night was dinner club at Hoffman's. They had us all in the dungeon in the garage. It was spooky and beautiful all at once! Delicious meal and amazing company!
Then Sunday morning was Erin's confirmation service. I am pretty sure I cried through the entire thing! I was overwhelmed by the significance of the occasion, moved by Pastor Morrie's poignant sermon and so touched by my baby girl singing from her heart. It was so wonderful!

So want to do this...

2010-11-03T09:56:00.003-05:00

...but where? I need more big, blank walls!

2010-11-03T09:50:00.000-05:00

I would like to do this one in red, pink and green.

Cool Halloween quilt

2010-11-03T09:45:00.004-05:00

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2010/10/halloween-quilt-2.html

Heard at Church

2010-10-24T17:22:00.002-05:00

A young man who was a former prison inmate convicted of murder came to speak to our church. The biggest message that he was imparting is that young people need to be lifted up. They need to hear positive messages and be in relationships that build up self-esteem and self-worth not tear it down. He had the entire congregation repeat this message:

I am lovable
I am valueable
I am powerful
I am important

So even if someone did not hear this from the people around them, they could tell it to themselves. I found it very powerful.

Celebrate what is right in the world

2010-10-21T17:26:00.002-05:00

"When we celebrate what is right in the world or in a situation, we find the energy to fix what is wrong" - Dewitt Jones, National Geographic Photographer

Heard this in a video at church last week and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I guess it's that whole being grateful thing again. If you feel grateful for what you have you are not unhappy because you are wishing you had more. Defintely need to work on that one!

Erin and Jeff

2010-10-19T15:02:00.003-05:00

Edited with my new Pioneer Woman actions above, original below.

Organization Rocks!

2010-10-19T11:39:00.002-05:00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/55565243/magnetic-chalkboard-weekly-calendar

Love this idea! Wish I had a big blank wall somewhere!!!

Love these all in one place!

2010-10-19T11:22:00.003-05:00

You say: 'It's impossible'
- God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired'
- God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
- God says: I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You say: 'I can't go on'
- God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
- God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You say: 'I can't do it'
- God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able'
- God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it'
- God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)

You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
- God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage'
- God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid'
- God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
- God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I don't have enough faith'
- God says: I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
- God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone'
- God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews13:5)

Inspiration

2010-10-19T11:02:00.001-05:00

Found on Ali Edwards site - http://aliedwards.com/

Inspiration

2010-10-19T10:59:00.000-05:00

Look back and thank God
Look forward and trust God
Look around and serve God
Look within and find God

In a little book called "God Always Has a Plan B", there is a chapter on HOPE. Here is an excerpt of it:
"Who knows how God might fulfill and surpass your hopes? It might surprise you, but it will happen. So never, ever give up hope. You can count on this: Hope didn't happen only to people in Bible times. Hope happens here, hope happens now."
Isn't that perfect?

These all found me on one day...

2010-10-19T10:57:00.001-05:00

...and it was just the day I needed them!

Fear less, hope more. Eat less, chew more. Whine less, breathe more. Talk less, say more. Love more and all good things will be yours. ~ Swedish Proverb (via Christopher Plourde)

His grace is sufficient. which is especially good on the days when my grace is GONE.

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard...is what makes it great." - A League of Their Own

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

2010-10-19T10:56:00.000-05:00

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.
I wish you a wonderfully normal, ordinary day.

Cute Fabric Flower

2010-10-19T10:52:00.003-05:00

Cluck Cluck Sew

I just love how these looked pinned to...well, anything!

2010-10-19T10:51:00.001-05:00

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. - Emerson

Cute Storage

2010-10-19T10:42:00.001-05:00

Mason Jar Monday « Weeping Cherries

And who couldn't use more storage. I have a gillion of these jars around here!

Beef Stew - Yummy!

2010-10-19T10:31:00.002-05:00

I have made this yummy beef stew twice now and it has been so delicious each time! The original recipe came from Joye Baumgartner and we had it fireside at the Carlson's cabin.

Beef Stew

2 pounds beef roast or any cut of beef slow cooked in beef broth until it is tender

Your choice of veggies - I use carrots, parsnips and potatoes. You could add any root vegetable that you enjoy. Par boil until slighty tender.

2 jars beef gravy
1 -2 cans beef broth
1 can diced tomatoes

Mix everything together and heat through! Serve with crusty bread. Super easy and so good!!!

Inspiration - relationships

2010-10-19T10:28:00.001-05:00

Chains do not hold a marriage together. It is threads, hundreds of tiny threads which sew people together through the years. ~Simone Signoret

More color

2010-10-19T10:22:00.002-05:00

Great colors in this one!

from http://www.cluckclucksew.com/

Love this color combo!

Ouilt and color

2010-10-19T10:17:00.002-05:00

Love the way this quilt is backed!

from http://www.cluckclucksew.com/

Cute!

2010-10-19T10:12:00.003-05:00

I've not only ignored this blog for almost two years, it's been almost that long since I've scrapbooked! I miss it terribly! I really need to be creative to feel balance in my life. I am hoping to slowly start up again.

I love the colors of this layout and the design - so fun and happy!

Not sure where I found this. I would love to give you credit if it is yours.

Inspiration - relationships

2010-10-19T10:11:00.001-05:00

"Love is not just the feeling, it's the fight."

2010-10-19T08:50:00.002-05:00

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did..'

When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better.

Concentrate on this sentence...
'The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you.'

Inspiration

2010-10-19T08:37:00.001-05:00

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do." - Mark Twain

Happy Halloween

2010-10-18T22:36:00.004-05:00

Such a cute, easy and inexpensive idea! Tutorial found at http://notsoidlehands.blogspot.com/

2010-10-18T21:43:00.003-05:00

Ok, it's been almost two years since I've posted here. I'll blame it all on Facebook. I started posting there and totally ignored this blog. I stumbled over Kelly Lautenbach's favorites blog and thought instead of putting all of the things that catch my eye or inspire me only in a file on my computer or on Facebook to be buried forever, that I would post them here. Then they will all be in one place and much easier for me to find.

I will start with two quotes that caught my eye this evening. We've been going through a tough financial time lately as most of the country is right now. I loved how these two quotes made me feel when I read them:

"Happy moments, PRAISE God. Difficult moments, SEEK God. Quiet moments,WORSHIP God. Painful moments, TRUST God. Every moment, THANK God." - taken off of Sam Broberg's Facebook wall.

“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better. ” ~Maya Angelou
This one made me feel very empowered.

Have a great day!!!

Twelve Years Ago Today...

2009-01-14T11:14:00.005-06:00

...my baby boy was born!

Happy Birthday Brennan!!!
The day looks exactly the same today as it did 12 years ago. Sunny and FREEZING cold! The governor closed all of the schools in the state that day because it was so cold outside. But we were warm and cozy snuggling with our brand new baby boy. I would have bet you money that he was a girl when I was pregnant (we didn't have an ultrasound done.) So, when Dr. Judy said it was a boy the look on Bill's face was absolutely priceless! A few hours after he was born I moved to my new room and I asked the nurse where my husband was. She replied, "He's with your son." I remember that statement just throwing me for a loop. I had to stop and think - "A son? I don't have a son. Oh wait, I DO have a SON!!!"

And what a son he has been. Such a sweet, caring, loving, sensitive boy. He is so smart, so concerned about other people and their feelings and so talented. I could listen to him sing all day long. I just love this little boy so much! I was terrified to have a boy, but I couldn't be more thrilled even 12 years later.

I love you Brennan!!! Hope you have the best birthday!!!

"There's a Monster in my Closet!"

2008-11-24T15:57:00.005-06:00

Not really, it's just Brennan as the lead in his 6th grade musical! Oh my gosh! It was such a fun show! Brennan did awesome and he got such a great response from the audience. I loved watching him!

And he made everyone cry with this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeL2phZnLQc

photos to come!

Vicki

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-04T14:47:00.006-06:00

Our friends the Hoffman's have an awesome Halloween party every year. It is so fun! It takes them the entire month of October to decorate their yard, house and garage for the party. The garage is decorated like a dungeon and it is so cool! Every square inch of the house is covered in some sort of scary decor. My favorite part this year were the dead vines on the stair railings. It looked so awesome!

Bill and I went as Tinkerbell and Peter Pan. I had a blast making the costumes! I also brought Autumnal White Sangria and Frankencheese.

Thanks Hoffmans for the amazing evening!

2008-10-27T11:25:00.001-05:00

Happy Fall!

2008-10-25T13:23:00.002-05:00

What a beautiful day in Minnesota today! Bill and I got up this morning and went for a walk. We came home and ate breakfast before most of the kids were even up. He left to go do some campaigning for our friend ArMand Nelson (running for city council) and I started cleaning. The kids and I got the entire upstairs cleaned. Now I am going to take a shower, paint my nails and go to the Champlin Park Football game this afternoon. I hope to have a bonfire this evening and cap off a perfect Saturday in Minnesota!

Have a great day!

Vicki

Extreme Home Makeover - The Dinner Club Edition

2008-10-13T14:38:00.008-05:00

So, it was our turn to host our first dinner club for the Champlin "Not-So-Gourmet" Dinner Club on September 27th. Not wanting to be embarassed by my house, I decided this would be a good time to paint the whole upstairs, put tile in the entry way and pretty much redo the whole house! Well, we didn't get everything on the list done, but we did get some much needed painting done and I was pleased with the results. I got a little carried away with the tablescape and the house though. Dinner was about one hour late! I had lists for everything but I didn't have a timeline for the food preparation! Lesson learned! Everyone said they were fine drinking white sangria, eating appetizers and chatting while Bill and I did the cooking. When we sat down for the main course I was able to take a breath. We had such a wonderful time and I have a much heightened appreciation of the work that goes into hosting Dinner Club! I think I'll start preparing for my next turn now!

Northern Stars Ball

2008-10-13T14:23:00.007-05:00

We had such a fun time this weekend at the Northern Stars Ball. It is a benefit for the Anoka-Hennepin school district. Many of the funds go to the talent development programs at our kid's schools, and we have been blessed to have all three of our children participate in those programs.

Once again our group kept the party alive by dancing until the band was done. Everyone was out there on the dance floor shaking their booties! :)

This is my favorite photo of the entire night! Eric and Gina

Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton graced us with their presence! LOL! Yvette and Pam were so funny doing this bit.
Bill and John got in on the action with the band!

The color of the evening obviously was black!
And Pam just got carried away!

Busy, busy, busy!!!

2008-10-09T12:35:00.003-05:00

I know I am going to miss this someday! I am talking about the busyness of my life. This fall has been particularly crazy.

My first baby turned 14 yesterday!!! Unbelieveable! Erin never fails to remind me that she will be driving in just one year! YIKES! Karen tells me it's a good thing...
She is doing awesome in school. Straight A's at midterm!!! She's enjoying the social aspect more than she ever has, but is keeping a great balance between listening in class and still keeping the lines of communication open with her friends. We had a low key family dinner last night with seafood and potato soup and cupcakes for dessert to celebrate.

In addition to school starting, Brennan has football four nights a week and some Saturdays. I love it, but it is very time consuming. Plus, this multi-talented kid tried out for the 6th grade musical and got one of the leads! They will be doing "There's a Monster in My Closet" November 21st and 22nd. He has play practice every Monday through Thursday after school until 5pm. I am so proud of him, he has been getting up at 5:30am to do homework so he can stay caught up. All of this and he came home with a straight A midterm report card!

Kendall is keeping up with the mix of mom working more and her siblings being driven all over town and back. She is doing awesome in school, loves her teacher and is enjoying her talent development classes with Mrs. Steffel. Erin and Brennan both were in pullouts with Mrs. Steffel so we were thrilled that Kendall could round out the TD classes for the Harvey family!

Hope your day is going great!!!
Vicki

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2008-10-06T18:42:00.003-05:00

I did this layout for the Melissa Frances Blog. Melissa is a breast cancer survivor. The whole DT did layouts using the "Thankful" line. This line supports breast cancer research.

I am incredibly thankful for this group of friends that I have. We've laughed and cried together. They are truly amazing women!!!

Thanks!

Vicki

Ode to Lelynn

2008-09-10T13:04:00.005-05:00

My great uncle Lelynn, who was just two months from being 99 years old, passed away last week. He was such an incredible man. He was very intelligent, kind, and humble. I loved going to visit him and just listening. He could remember any part of his life with great detail. He would tell stories of he and my grandma when they were small children. Those were my favorite stories. I especially like the one about he and grandma pretending to have a circus in their backyard. They used earthworms for a snake show in the circus! My grandma loved snakes her whole life so it was no surprise that a snake show was on the top of her priority list for the circus. Lelynn was also a WWII vet. He was a medic. He won the bronze star for bravery in rescuing his fellow soldiers. When asked to tell the story of how he got the bronze star he would just reply, "Oh, I don't even know." He never wanted to brag.

When I was a little girl we would go to visit him and he would get out his puppet, Pepper. He would write letters to me with all of the words going around in a spiral or he would write them from Pepper.

As I got older I learned to appreciate his love of geneology. He has traced our family's history back to the 1600's! I could sit for hours and listen to him tell about our family's roots. I think part of my love for scrapbooking must have come from this trait of his. I want to continue to tell the stories of my family's history.

I will miss him greatly.These images are from his 98th birthday party last year. We all went down to Red Wing and surprised him. I saw him one more time after this - it was after the fall that would take his life. He had fallen and broken his hip and shoulder. He was in the nursing home and had developed pneumonia and pulmonary emboli. He was having a very difficult time breathing and it was hard for him to talk. I want to remember him like he was at this birthday party. He told me before I left the party that he would like to have birthdays more often if they were like this one. That warmed my heart.

This is how I will always think of Lelynn. Sitting in his chair and captivating the entire crowd with his incredible stories. Never forgetting a detail.
God Bless You Uncle Lelynn.

This one's for you Karen!!! ;)

2008-09-10T12:56:00.005-05:00

Wow! Bad blogger!!! It was a crazy summer. Lots of shifts at the hospital, softball games, soccer games, football practice, swimming (lots of swimming - I got a little tan, first time in my life!) and running kids here and there. We didn't even go any where this summer. We usually make at least a trip to Iowa, but I never packed a suitcase once. We spent a bunch of time with the Hoffmans - it was awesome! I didn't even scrap that much. But kids are back in school and I am hoping life gets into more of a routine.

So, here are my monthly assignments for Melissa Frances. It felt great to sit down at my desk and just scrapbook!

A Reason to Celebrate!

2008-06-13T12:11:00.002-05:00

The entire Melissa Frances design team wanted to make Melissa's last day of cancer treatment special so we all did a little project for her. Congratulations Melissa!!!

They are posted on the Melissa Frances blog:

http://melissafrances.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Be sure to go check out all of the girls work. There are some amazing projects on there!

Here is mine:

Pictures from the last day

2008-06-12T12:41:00.005-05:00

All of the moms! I should have cropped this one!

Kendall and Mr. Eerdmans

Brennan and Mr. Rose and Ms. Heilman

Do you think she's ever had her photo taken before???

Vicki

I've Been Here!

2008-06-12T09:42:00.001-05:00

I've Been Here

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

This was so fun to do! I didn't realize that I've been so many places! I need to visit the rest of the states some time.

Vicki

Last Day of School - Finally!

2008-06-10T21:34:00.002-05:00

That two full weeks of Christmas break sure got us at the end of the year this year! My kids last day of school was today! These last couple of weeks were so long. They were so ready to be done!
It was a great day today. I drove the kids in today because Brennan's egg launch was first thing this morning. His eggstronaught didn't fair very well. It flew really far, but ended up scrambled. He was a little disappointed since he had worked hard on his conceptual model and tested everything out beforehand.
Next was Kendall's graduation ceremony in Mr. E's class. I was worried about waterworks during this one after Brennan's third grade graduation. But I did great today. I got a little teary as Mr. E was giving the kids his speech about stopping by next year and staying friends. I feel so blessed and grateful that Kendall was able to even have him as a teacher at all that I feel very much at peace and very happy. It all feels complete now - all three of my kids had the most influential man I know as a teacher. He has certainly made a profound impact on our family's life.
After that it was on to Brennan's graduation party. The last day of elementary school! Again I thought I would cry, but did great! He had such a great year, that I can feel nothing but gratitude. All of my mom friends were there with me - Cindy S., Cindy D., Anne, and Joye. Kim and Bruce were the dad reps. We've all been together since second grade. What a great group of people. Bill was in Chicago for business, he was so dissappointed to have to miss it. I took lots of photos though. I'll post some tomorrow. As the kids got their diplomas they each were able to give a short speech. Brennan's was wonderful. Very mature. Most of the kids thanked the teachers and said that fifth grade was their best year. Some others were weird and cryptic but most were positive.
I thanked Mr. Carlson on the way out. He is the principal and is an incredible leader. We have been so thrilled with this school. I am so glad we have a few more years before we are done there. Both Cindy's are done! I said they should come back and share their extraordinary party planning skills with us next year!
I am ready for summer. It's time for some relaxed unstructured time off.
We just picked up Bill from the airport and I am ready to fall into bed!
thanks!
Vicki

Productive weekend!

2008-05-29T14:19:00.007-05:00

So, for Memorial Day weekend we stayed at home. We had two lists - fun stuff and projects. For every fun thing we did we had to balance that out with a project. I think the weekend went swimmingly well!

The boys fished all day on Saturday and then we cleaned the garage! First time I've had a car in my garage in 2 1/2 YEARS! I cannot even express how excited I am!

We also got Bill's shed (a.k.a. "The Man Cave") cleaned out and organized. I didn't know there was so much room in there!

The other highlight of the weekend was Miss K learning how to ride her bike! She did great!

I am so proud of her!

The Girls!

2008-05-29T14:06:00.001-05:00

Here is one of the photos from Joye's birthday! We had a great time!

Happy Birthday Joye!

2008-05-22T23:39:00.003-05:00

So, my friend Joye's birthday party was tonight. We had such a great time. We ate at the cutest little cafe and wine bar in Osseo - Lilly's. The decor was Italian - orange and brown walls, eclectic dark wood furniture, huge empty ornate frames on the walls, paintings of fruit, cast iron wall hangings, stone tile, and green glass light fixtures. It was beautiful!

We drank Shiraz and ate frou-frou salads and pizzas. And we laughed!

After dinner we went back to Joye's house to have sparkle cake. Joye's seven year old daughter Ella made it and it was delicious. More wine and laughter followed. We went from silly to serious several times during the evening.

Great times with great friends!

Here is the card that all of us signed for her. It was my first hybrid project! Very fun!

Digital Scrapbooking!?!?

2008-05-19T18:14:00.002-05:00

I never thought I would ever enter the realm of digital scrapbooking. But, I tried it just to do a calendar for my father-in-law last year and I really loved it! It's much less messy than paper and paste and I love all of the free kits that people so generously share.

I could never go totally digital. I love touching all of my supplies and I love texture on my layouts. Hybrid scrapping, however, is very much in my realm of possibility. I did this invitation for a friend's birthday. It was so fun!

They're Growing!

2008-05-19T17:35:00.005-05:00

I cannot believe how big our guinea pigs are getting! I think they have doubled in size since we got them. The kids are loving them and so is dad! He is so funny! He puts up a good front about not wanting them, but he secretly loves them. He holds them and talks to them all the time! They are cute!

Scrapping!!!

2008-05-15T10:51:00.002-05:00

It feels awesome to be scrapping again! I did this layout for Melissa Frances. This is my daughter and her two cousins who are great friends. The paper is from the "Thankful" line which is so pretty!

Thanks!

Vicki

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T19:05:00.002-05:00

Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there! Hope all of your wishes came true.
We spent the day at my Grandma's house. I am so grateful to still have my grandparents at the age of 41. It was a gorgeous day here in Minnesota. A little cool, but the sun was out and it was glorious.
Vicki

Melissa Frances Giveaway!!!

2008-05-09T11:38:00.002-05:00

Melissa Frances is giving away a HUGE assortment of awesome products! All you have to do is go to the Melissa Frances blog
http://melissafrances.typepad.com/my_weblog/
and leave a comment!

Go do it now! She has such incredible stuff!

Vicki

Clearly I am a bad blogger!

2008-04-29T09:51:00.006-05:00

I need to remember to come back here and actually put in an entry!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. My sister and I had a garage sale last week and anyone that has had one knows how much work that is. We ended up getting rained out so all of that work was for naught! We left everything set up and are thinking about opening the doors again on Thursday.

We also attended our first dinner club with our friends. We were so excited to be invited!!! These people have been getting together for a few years and it always sounded like so much fun! Now that we've experienced our first one I know why they get together! It was a blast! I've never laughed so hard and so much! What a great time. The theme was a honky-tonk murder mystery. Everyone was in character all night and we had the most amazing time. I was Henna Boufant the local hairdresser and Bill was Virgil Roswell, an oil worker who had been caputured by aliens over 30 times! LOL! Here we are in all our glory! And yes, that is my real hair! My mom put it up in the bouffant. She teased it straight up and they sprayed it with almost a whole can of hairspray! Doesn't Bill look handsome in those safety goggles??? :)

On the morning of dinner club I decided to go out for the title of Mother of the Year. My friend Barb from high school had purchased a guinea pig for her daughter a few months ago. Little did they know when they bought her that she was going to be a mommy guinea pig. Barb was looking for a home for the now three week old baby guineas and my Erin sweet talked me into letting her have one. Well, we ended up coming home with TWO! We think they are two boys!

I couldn't let the one little guy to be lonely, right?

Well, the kids have been having a ball with them and Bill secretly loves them too. You could say he was a bit reluctant about the whole thing, but has warmed up tremendously! They are so dang cute! I have warned Erin though, if I have to clean the cage they will be either set free to live with their brothers the squirrels or a "free guinea pig" sign with mysteriously appear in our yard.

We couldn't think of names for a long time, but we have finally settled on some. So, without further ado, here are:

Elwood Einstein Harvey and Jake Edison Harvey!

Elwood is the one with the crazy hair, he has cowlicks all over his body. It's the funniest thing! Hence the middle name of Einstein. Jake is the one with the more typical guinea pig look. His hair is coarser than Elwood's and he has one black foot. Since Elwood's middle name was a scientist Jake's middle name had to be after one as well - Edison. And of course, Jake and Elwood are after the Blue's Brothers. We are looking for black sunglasses and ties for them now. ;)

Until next time!

So Excited!!!

2008-04-14T12:57:00.003-05:00

Today it's official! I am now a member of the Melissa Frances Design Team! I am so excited! I was on the team before Karen and I bought Mustard Moon and I have missed it ever since. I absolutely love all of the Melissa Frances products. The papers are just so "me"! Almost every time I scrapbooked in the last couple of years, I found myself reaching for my Melissa Frances stash of product. I can't wait to start creating projects for the DT again.

Thanks Melissa and Carolyn!!!

The Jig is Up!

2008-04-09T11:52:00.000-05:00

If you hum the theme song to Mission Impossible while you view these photos you'll get the entire effect!

So, this last weekend my crazy family and I decided we would place pink, plastic flamingoes in our friends yards. Not for any particular reason, just because they were in the dollar section at my favorite store - Target! We had the whole covert mission thing going on - everyone in black, except Kendall of course! She was going to wear all pink and be the "back-up" flamingo. ????

By the time we got to about the third house, Kendall developed a conscious and stated,
"I am ashamed to be a part of this!" LOL!!!

No one knew it was us or suspected us after the first night. After the second night we were just about caught by the Baumgartners coming home from their evening out. Then the phone calls and emails started. The Nelsons were offering to help out with the overpopulation problem:

The Hoffmans took the flamingo in as one of their own!

The Baumgartners had their flamingo in spy training to catch us!!!

The Carlsons sent Cliff Clavin facts about flamingoes and started an evil plan of their own to get us back. YIKES!

It was really fun and we laughed so much!

We'll see what the pay back ends up being!

I've got a brand new blog!

2008-04-07T18:33:00.001-05:00

Well, I figured I'd join the 21st century and create a blog. I was recently asked to rejoin the Melissa Frances Design team and saw that I was the only new person without a blog. I love the idea for recording snippets of my life that would otherwise be forgotten. So, there you have it! Thanks!Vicki