here's what's new

his cake and some layouts ...

We celebrated Nicholas's 5th birthday yesterday.  He wanted a "clock cake" so that is what he got.  I baked the cake (and cupcakes) and Rob did the decorating.  Here is a picture of how it turned out. 

 

It's not exactly how it looked in the book, but it was close enough and Nicholas loved it, so that was all that mattered.

And, to top it off, Nicholas got the BEST present that any little "artist" could get ...

 

Now on to some layouts ... I finally got to creating my 12 of 12 layouts for November and December.  I'm still debating if I'm going to do the same kind of thing next year.  If I do decide to take on a project like this, I may do a layout from pictures I took on certain Saturdays of each month.  Trying to capturing "exciting" pictures during the week when I'm at work is kind of hard.

Here is my November 12 of 12 ...

 

And my December 12 of 12 ...

 

This layout was created for my Design your Life class (which sadly is now over).

And this layout is my interpretation from a sketch at Inspired Blueprints (created a lot of the elements with the Cricut).

 

That's it for now everyone.  Enjoy this last day of 2008 - hope you are all doing something exciting!

We'll talk again in 2009!

five years ago today ...

Five years ago at this time, I was in the hospital getting ready to have Nicholas (well, it was a few more hours until his birth at 11:35pm).  I can't believe it's been five years already - where did the time go.

He wants a "clock cake" tonight, so I'll be getting ready to make that shortly (hopefully with Rob's help).  I've been feeling lousy these past few days, so any help would be appreciated.  Mom and Dad are coming over later to celebrate with us.

Since today is Nicholas's birthday, I'm going to take you back in time and show you how much Nicholas has changed since December 2003.

Nicholas at five days old ...

 

Nicholas at 8 months old ...

 

Nicholas in May 2005 ...

 

Nicholas in June 2005 ...

 

Nicholas in October 2005 ...

Nicholas in December 2005 ...

 

Nicholas in August 2006 ...

 

Nicholas in November 2006 ...

 

Nicholas in June 2007 ...

 

Nicholas in February 2008 ...

 

Nicholas in September 2008 ...

 

Nicholas in November 2008 ...

 

Thanks for walking down memory lane with me ... now I'm off to make that cake.

I'll be back tomorrow with pictures from the celebration.

recovering from Christmas ...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  We sure did - can't believe it is already over.  It felt great to spend time with family.  Wish we spent more time together than just the holidays, but sometimes it's so hard to get everyone together.

My photo a day pictures for W, X, and Y are below.  I'm still trying to figure out what a great "Z" picture would be.

W photo (wrapped presents) ...

 

X photo (X-mas jammies) ...

 

Y photo (youngsters) ...

 

I created a "Christmas 2008" album to the left for a lot more photos from Christmas.

We received the Wii for Christmas and we are LOVING it.  I didn't realize how addicted it would be.  If there are any great games that you have played that you would like to suggest, please let me know.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

merry christmas ...

Our plans for tonight have been canceled due to this unexpected ice/rain storm we are currently having.  We were supposed to have dinner at mom and dad's; however, their driveway is a sheet of ice.  Their driveway isn't a great one to travel on in good weather, so mom canceled dinner.  That just means we will probably have pancakes for Christmas Eve dinner.

We will be staying indoors today due to the weather.  I'm just glad there isn't a reason for us to go out and travel in this weather today.  All the shopping, wrapping, baking is done.

I probably won't be logging in tomorrow, so I want to wish all my family and friends (especially my blog friends new and old) a very Merry Christmas.  Enjoy the time with your family and friends.  I can't wait to see pictures.  I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and post after the holidays.

I'll leave you with a mosaic I put together showing what our December looked like.

 

May the Peace be with you all!

kit and cookies ...

This comes out in January ...

 

it's a kit to to use to highlight a week at a time in your life for a whole year.  And, the best part is, you don't have to be a scrapbooker (even though I am) to use the kit.  This kit will be available in January and you can get it here.  I think I may consider buying this with some of my Christmas money.

Super excited to get Wii on Christmas so I can finally play this ...

And, tonight I'm going to make these ... our favorite cookies ...

Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies
Makes about 36

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter (at room temperature)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 cups sweetened flake coconut
2 cups chopped pecans (8 ounce)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in bowl. In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugars; beat to combine, 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each. Beat in vanilla extract. Stir in flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut and pecans. For each cookie, drop 1/4 cup dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart. Bake for 17 to 19 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rotate sheets halfway through. Remove cookies from rack to cool. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

NOTE: For 6 dozen smaller cookies, use 2 tablespoons dough for each. Bake at 350 F for 15 to 18 minutes.

I have two more presents to wrap and I AM DONE!!!

Enjoy the rest of your day everyone!

christmas is this week? ...

This month definitely flew by - everything is purchased (except for one thing I need to get on my way home tonight) - nothing is wrapped - nothing is baked ... I need just a few more weeks please.

Sorry I've been behind in posting my "photos a day."  I think I left off with Letter R, so here are S, T, U, and V.

Letter S (snowy day) ...

 

Letter T (tree) ...

 

Letter U ("under" the tree) ...

  

Letter V (village) ...

 

We had a very busy weekend.  I worked on Saturday until 4pm, and then Nanny and Poppy came over for dinner.  We opened presents with them since they left for Ohio yesterday.  Nicholas was excited to spend time with them, and even more excited when he opened up a "Leapster2."  He has been playing with it non-stop since Saturday night.

On Sunday, we hung out at home in the morning, then later on in the afternoon, Nicholas and I took one more trip out to the stores.  I had to pick something up, and also had to get ingredients for my cookies (no, I still have not baked yet).  I plan on baking a few batches of the same cookies tonight.

We got some sad news over the weekend, so if you could say a few extra prayers, we would appreciate it.

Hope everyone is ready for the holidays - I think I'm as ready as I'm going to be ... gotta get that wrapping done though.

Enjoy your day everyone!

stormy weather ...

We are getting stormy weather here today.  This morning is snowed, then turned to ice, now it is just raining.  I'm sure the roads aren't pretty, so for my friends and family, please be careful on the roads.

I really wanted to make my favorite cookies today/tonight; however, I'm missing a few necessary ingredients.  Guess I'll have to wait until later in the weekend since I'm not venturing out in the bad weather tonight.

Poor Nicholas is yet sick again - he has a fever and stuffy nose.  I just hope he is feeling better by next week.  Don't want him (or us) to be miserable on Christmas.

For my "Bachelor" watching friends, did you know that he .... is coming back to ABC on January 5??  I only wish him the best!

And, now for my Friday Fill-Ins ...

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, do you see what I see.
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, was to certain poor Shepard's in fields where they lay.
3. Go Tell it On the Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, that glorious song of old.
5. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing right within your heart.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to creating some pages, tomorrow my plans include working and then dancing at night and Sunday, I want to bake some cookies!

Enjoy your weekend everyone - hope you are staying safe (and dry).

little angels show ...

We attended Nicholas's holiday show yesterday afternoon, and they all did a good job.  To start off, they sang a few songs (Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town).  Even though Nicholas knows the words, he just stood there looking at us trying to hide behind whoever was standing next to him.

 

Then after a quick intermission, they all came back out of their classroom in costume.  Nicholas was a "baker" angel.

 

It was very cute and all the kids participated (except for one little boy).  After everything was said and done, we hung out with the other parents and enjoyed some catch up time and snacks to eat.  It really put everyone in the Christmas spirit.

Last night Nicholas and I took a trip to Borders and Hallmark.  We had to pick up gifts for his teachers, and I needed to pick up a book for mom for Christmas.  I'm SO glad we stopped in at Borders ... the one gift that Rob and I wanted to get for Nicholas this year (the 50th Anniversary Lego set) was THERE, and Nicholas was the one that spotted it.  Now, who would have thought that Borders would sell LEGOS ...

So since Nicholas knew about it, there was no point in wrapping it up and putting it under the tree.  Instead, we all decided to open up the box last night and PLAY ...  we had lots of fun.

   

And, last but not least ... here is my photo a day for today ... letter R (reindeer).

 

Enjoy your evening everyone!

got snow today ...

I drove home last night in the snow, it snowed a little during the night.  There wasn't much accumulation, but it still looks pretty out. 

I've been behind in posting my photos a day for my project.  Sorry about that ... Here are my latest photos.

Photo O (ornaments) ...

 

Photo P (pine-cone ornament) ...

 

Photo Q (quilt of snow) ...

 

Nicholas's school Christmas show is this afternoon.  He is not looking forward to it (he gets very shy in front of crowds), but we are looking forward to seeing all the little kids sing for us.  I'll be sure to post some photos tomorrow.

Can't believe that Christmas is next week.  I still do have one more gift to get, make a batch of our favorite cookies, and wrap everything.  Hopefully by the end of this weekend, everything will be done and I could relax.

Enjoy your day - stay warm!

great crop ... layouts ... photos ...

I had a great time at my first hosted crop yesterday.  It was an intimate crowd (only ten of us), but we all got a lot done and had a lot of fun.  I didn't realize how much work went into running the day, but even with all the work that goes into it, I'm planning on holding another crop sometime in February.

I was able to get quite a few layouts done for my "Design Your Life" class.  Before are just a few pages that I completed.

A layout about Nicholas's expressions ...

 

A layout about Nicholas's birthday party ...

 

And a layout about some of the guests at Nicholas's party last year ...

 

And my pictures from the past two days ...

Photo M (manger) ...

 

Photo N (a Nicholas ornament) ...

 

That's it for now folks - going to give Nicholas a bath before the finale of Survivor starts tonight.

Have a great evening!