Home After Christmas

I am getting back to daily life after our typically well traveled Christmas. For us it means all the weeks leading up to Christmas we try to squeeze as much work, friend time, local family events and spiritual balance into them as possible so that we can spend time our sons if they are available...they live out of town so we are the travelers. 

We spent the week with our younger son and family arriving in time for the youngest granddaughters 5th birthday. The kiddos grow up so fast-we're so glad we are able to spend moments where we can.

The party was themed around teddy bears this birthday with lots of fun balloons, gifts and Lauren made yummy cupcakes too! 

Teddy Bear Balloons

Presents piled high!

 

Waiting to open presents

I pick this one first.

Making cupcakes :)

Here are a few of our shared moments...

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

The balloons lasted all the way through Christmas!

Part of the time the family shared the sickie bug...what a thing to share! 

So far Tom & I have avoided it, we'll see. 

Did You Know the Month of April is...

April is such a lively month, full of funny days, classic foods, parties, time to Fool someone,eat some classic food like peanut butter and jelly, partying with the whole wide world, spend the day walking around things, making wishes with dandelion puffs, writing my tombstone epitaph, skipping housework, heading to the zoo, picking a "special" name for myself, hanging out with my awesome siblings, drawing a submarine (or exploring one), then walking on my wild side as I plan my next strategy for Scrabble. I definitely don't want to miss celebrating Look up at the Sky Day or Husband Appreciation Day either...There is so-ooo many things to do this month!

Are you curious about all these celebrations? Check it out at Holiday Insights... not much to look at as sites go but loads of dates to plan some fun. 

Not only do we have days to remember like today April 4th is granddaughter Fiona's birthday ... and in history the day Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated (1968.)

Did you know that on April 6th Twinkies hit the market and  the first Twinkies were banana-filled!(1930)

The fun and funny days are loads of fun, we honor the men and women who have changed our world and other times we focus on awareness and bringing help to our world. One of my favorite times to celebrate and show thanks is coming up soon, Easter! I am so grateful for the gift of eternal life because of Jesus. 

So many fun things to celebrate...but the most wonderful moments for me are those shared with family :) Most recently were a couple of my darling grandchildren- siblings that have birthdays that fall 12 days apart and also conveniently on their school spring break times.  It was so fun seeing them and joining in the festivities!

• March 23 Luke

• April 4 Fiona

• April 13 Megan

Although I am not able to actually be in the same location for all of the celebrations, I think of them, honor them and pray for them that the day for them -their special day, will be simply amazing. 

So getting back to my main topic..."Did You Know The Month of April Is..."  

I wanted to focus on a weekly celebration that falls on the third week of the month of April called Organize Your Files Week.

Why call this a celebration you might ask? For me it is part of a larger challenge several other friends are also participating in. The goal is to get my craft space organized and accessible. It has become so overrun with piles and disorganized clutter that I am not even using my craft space. 

My friends Melanie Diane, Shannon and myself are all focused on craft room organizing tasks and are challenging each too.We took photos and created videos to document the "before and after" of it all! With that in mind I am looking at better organizing my Stamp Craft files. I recently purchased a bulk pack of empty hubless DVD boxes to store my loose stamps and some Ezmount Static Cling Foam Sheets to get all of unmounted loose stamps mounted. I also am creating image covers for the DVD cases. 

As I am working on these tasks, I am also reviewing my old system of organization and updating them. Two other areas I will be working on to get my files organized involve sorting the digital files I have collected for scrapbook and stamp craft and using a favorite APP of mine, Evernote to create a catalog of current products I own. 

I'll be sharing more about our challenge, our before pictures, my organizational tips and more over the next few posts and finally some after pictures as well so stay tuned.

Happy 4th of July!!

Firecrackers and picnics, barbeques with smoky scents~ the family dog running through the yard.. lots of children splashing about while adults gather to tell stories of the past and present! Of course it also creates a "reason" to craft...As if we crazy crafty folks NEED a reason LOL!

Today I thought I'd share a few fun crafty things... Some of my cards...

I love this big "foamie" Flag stamp!

This tiny flag stamp is really fun to use with the "colored marker technique.

Two old favorites, corregated paper and dot alphabet stamps :)

 

 4th of July and food just go hand in hand...

Look at this yummy looking pie...mmmm!

 

Mmmm! Watermelon! Au Natural

 

or gussied up!

How does your family celebrate?

Whatever your plans are...Wishing you all a safe and Happy July 4th! Thinking about the many freedoms we enjoy I hope to always remember they were not "free" but were the efforts of many men and women, boys and girls who came before us and paved the way for us in this land we love. May we always be known as "The Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave"!

 

It's THAT Time Of Year

It's THAT Time Of Year...you know...the weather is cooling, the shopping areas are featuring holiday displays and I'm thinking, "What can I make my friends and family for a gift?"

For instructions follow the link then scroll down to Bookmark Class 5, this idea is a fantastic idea for those friends, co-workers, relatives who appreciate a handmade gift!

Hanging with the Z's

We have created a very special tradition while living here in Utah. Day after Thanksgiving is our time in Park city with one of our dear friends, the Zenes's family. This year we also have a longtime friend Bev along too. It is a time of relaxation, skiing, shopping and quite often crafts like card making. With Thanksgiving past, were heading fast into the Christmas holidays. My thoughts go to decorating our home for the holidays, sharing special neighbor moments, enjoying parties, friends and some of our favorite foods.

What are some of your favorite traditions? Are you in the process of creating new traditions?

I'm also looking forward to spending some time with our sons and thier families...it is such a joy to see the wonder and delight on thier sweet faces. Church services, choir singing, carolers, and Christmas light shows...ok I'll admit I even like fruit cake, go figure!

I hope to over the next little bit share some of my favorite recipes.