OK...DID YOU SEE THE NEWS!!!!

Yes....I am a Survivor of the BLIZZARD!!!!! I love snow...I love snow....but I do not love this much SNOW!!!!!!

Friday was the day before the end of the world...or so it seemed!!! I went to see my Hematologist in the morning for tons of blood to be drawn....trying to figure out what is causing this horrible anemia! I come back from the doctor's and parked the truck....decide that after hearing the news all day about this horrible Blizzard on the way....to go out and get some gasoline....only to find that my truck will not start!!!! I see one of my neighbors across the street...he jump starts me and I head to get a new battery!!!! The first place I go to....they turn the truck off...test the battery and then tell me they can't put it in!!! Like yes...I can put this battery in with no tools all by myself...I then go to turn the truck back on and DEAD!!!! They then proceed to try to hot shot it to no avail....thank goodness for a man who was driving a snow plow.....he jump started it and got me to the next stop!!! I knew the minute I turned it off...it was not going to start...but I thought it would be better to turn it off...then to leave a truck running with the keys in it...while I went in to check!!! Two hours later....new battery....gasoline and I was heading home...

The roads were crazy, with everyone trying to make a mad dash to the grocery store and to try to finish Christmas Shopping.....not me...I went home....put on my warm pj's and called it a night!!! It started snowing at 11:00 PM and it snowed steady through early Sunday morning!!! OH MY...... what a MESS!!!


We have over 24 inches of snow and drifts that are unbelievable!!!!! I can't get the back door open.....the kitchen door will not open, and I have a driveway with snow up to my hips in places!!!! This was not the weekend for this to happen...I had planned on finishing my baking...but Evan wants to help, and I was not about to venture out to try to pick him up!!!! So now I am even further behind!!

Yes...it is beautiful...peaceful.... but tons of work!!!! Here are some pics that I took from the inside of the house!!!!! I must confess...I could not find my snow boots... :-) I had the boys all set up...but cannot find mine for the life of me!!! So I will wait until the dig out and then head out to take some pics!!!


This is a pic from Saturday night of our deck and you can see how heavy the snow is coming down!!!!
My Rooster Weather Vane!!!! Look at the snow coming down!! That is a snow drift in front of it!Sunday morning...looking out the front door...Look at that drift...it is nearly touching the front of the house!!!!Stepping off the font porch...I was hip deep in snow!!!!
Hope all of you are doing well....getting ready for the Holiday!!!!! Do you know that they are calling for more of this white stuff to come in on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!!!! YUCK!!!!! January would have been perfect.....I could have been scrapbooking...but my room is filled with all the Christmas tubs.....no room for me!!!!

Happy Monday!!!! Smiles :-)

Oh My.....One Week!!!!!

We have one week.......I am hoping that everyone is getting all of their lists checked and completed!!!! I know we have been on a full course of go....go...and go some more!!!! I think last week when we attended the Christmas Play at Church with the children...the Pastor had a wonderful gift for us.....a teaching on Jesus and Joy!!!! The joy that we experience when we have Jesus in our heart....and how we can make our own JOY!!!! We plan on taking time to experience this Joy with our Savior!!!!


I can now officially say that I cannot stand to enter another store....tempers are short....drivers are hurried and waiting in line, I keep hearing people complaining about the season....Therefore the stores are not a place that I want to be right now!!!


I want to take this last week to ENJOY...the simple pleasures of baking with boys, reading Christmas stories, watching my favorite Holiday movies and giving Thanks!!!


So here is my Happy List for the Week!!! This will probably be the last one of the year....I will be taking time to spend with my family!!!!


1. The smell of this Fresh Wreath is so wonderful...I wish I could have this smell throughout the house for the rest of the winter!!!!


2. Dad's favorite cookies.....Italian Tea Cookies....the look on his face when he bites into this cookie.....melts my heart!!!


3. Snow globes.....I adore them and wish that I could have the house filled with these...I so remember the ones I had when I was a child..little plastic ones...but I got such a kick out of shaking them up!!!!


4. Presents wrapped.....not quite...but I am getting there...I love these!!!!

5. Peppermint bark is my Mom's favorite....!!!! When I see this....I know it's Christmas!!!

6. Look at these adorable Christmas Trees made from paper!!!! I did not get as many handmade gifts done this year.. time did not allow!!! I adore handmade gifts!!!


7. I saw these stars on another Blog and I loved them!!!
8. More little decorations to place on the tables!!!!


9. Warm Fuzzy Robes.....I can't wait to put mine on and spend all day in it!!!

10. Friends......I would like to take this time to wish you all a Merry Christmas...It has been a wonderful year...spending time with all of you and I truly have a special place in my heart for all of the wonderful friends that I have met...... You have so enriched my life!!


Take time to find that JOY in your heart!!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Another BUSY BUSY weekend!!!!

Wowza...what a weekend this has been!!! I love this time of year...but as I grow older...I think I need a little more time to do all the things that I want to do!!!


On Saturday Morning...I awoke early and got a few presents put into gift bags...got dressed...Mom came over and we took off to pick up the boys to have BREAKFAST WITH SANTA!!!! Danielle had gotten tickets for us to go to John Hopkins Bayview where they had the most wonderful time for the children!!!! The boys got to visit with Santa again and even got presents!!!! We ate a great breakfast....participated in the Face Painting....saw a Magic Show and made Snowflakes for Mommy!!!! It was a great time spent with the boys and my Mom!!!

Santa gave each child a gift...I thought this was awesome!!!Yummy breakfast and Yes Evan has a Cookie on his Plate...hmmmmm I wonder how that got there!!!Gavin loved getting his face painted...he even went back for the other side!!! Do you see this....we have a CRAFTER HERE!!!! He loved it!!! Evan wanted a Snowman.....My Beautiful Mother....Love you Momma!!!
Sunday Morning Evan was in the Church Play....He was a Shepherd!!!! How sweet and the children did such a wonderful job....touched my heart it did!!!

Here is my Shepherd... Is he not adorable...I must admit I cried like a baby!!!!Ahhhh the scrapping party....this is what we started off with and had a Turkey with all the fixings for the main course!!!Tina and I!!!!! Besties!!!!The Whole Gang!!!! Remind me to burn this sweater...I look like a real Fatty!!!!

Sunday evening...I crawled into bed...one tired MeMe!!!!



Hoping all of you have a wonderful week.....mine is another busy one....I have the boys Tuesday, a hair appointment Wednesday, the boys Thursday and I am hoping to get in a visit to the train garden!!!!! Christmas is coming and it is coming FAST!!!! Smiles to all of you!!!!

2 MORE WEEKS AND SANTA WILL BE HERE!!!

I hope you all are doing well with your Holiday preparations!!! Mine...not so much!!!! I am wayyyyyy behind on everything!!!! No baking completed....no wrapping completed and shopping still not complete.....OH MY....OH MY!!!!!


Joe has been home most of this week, his ankle is severely sprained and he is in a ton of pain....We did manage to sneak out yesterday afternoon for a quiet lunch and we saw New Moon....Cute....but a whole lot of tweeney subjects!!! Jacob...oh my, where was he when I was 16....that body is WHOA!!!!!! Joe and I got giggling at some of the parts....a bit corny!!!!


Someone got into my facebook account and hacked it....so if you are receiving strange things from me....it's not me!!!! Man I hate this!!!! I have no idea what is being sent....knowing my luck it is something nasty!!!! :-(


It's Friday and time for a Happy List!!!!


1. I love the colors blue and white for Christmas....something so soothing and this just make me smile!!!



2. Remember that LO from last week......Gingerbread Houses....this one is soooo pretty!!!



3. More cookies....are these not yummy!!!


4. Table settings.....I get such a kick out of creating the perfect table!!!



5. We are planning some great dishes for Christmas Day....how about some Chocolate Fondue!!!!



6.Nutcrackers......my Mom has a whole collection and I just adore going to her house and sitting in front of them and taking in every little detail!!!



7. Look at these tapers...are they not the best!!!


8. I made these cookies last year and they were a real hit!




9. This is right up my alley...I love working with things outdoors!!!! I have the perfect spot for this!!



10. Pretty wrapped presents!!!! Sometimes I don't want to rip into them because they are just tooooo pretty!!!


No creations today....just no time....and I have seemed to have lost my Mojo.....I have plans for my scrapbooking come the first of the year!!!! I am not going to run in to try to throw something together....just because...I know you get it!!!!! I don't want to create under pressure...I want to create from the heart!!!! I promise I will be back...just stay with me and I will get over this BUMP in the road!!!


I want to thank Hanneke for sending me the most beautiful card and magnet all the way from The Netherlands!!!! You do not have any idea how that made my day!!!! I just adore you Hanneke!!!!! It is gestures like this that remind me how blessed I am.....I must put aside those who are negative and relish in the friendships that truly come from the heart!!!


Love you girlies.....treasure those that truly care....and I wish you a WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!!

WHEW....WHAT DAY IS IT????????

That's right it's Monday!!!! I don't have the boys today....I will have them Tuesday and Wednesday and Friday!!!! Joe and I are off to the plastic surgeon for a Steroid Shot in the Lip....YUCK.....this procedure hurts...but it does help keep the swelling down! I get these shots every couple months and I guess this will be a life long task!!! Sure wish I was going in to get a consultation for getting rid of these wrinkles!!!! :-)


Joe and I did get out and do some more shopping on Sunday...just about finished and I better be....because my truck had to be put into the Shop last week and yes.....$1,000.00 later it is fixed, but still need tires...I just made the last stinking payment on it in November and now this!!! I have an idea that the car makers know when your last payment is made, and they sabotage something to go wrong!!! Merry Christmas Jocelyn....you now have transportation...so much for my Wish List!!!! :-)

We has snow on Saturday...it was our first of the season...I ADORE SNOW...but it just did not lay!!!! Poor Joe went to get us Breakfast Sunday morning and got out of the truck and slipped on the ice and has one bad ankle!!!!! OUCHIE!!!

This week will be a busy one.....I did manage to get the Pellet Stove Repair Man out to try to find the leak in the Pellet Stove...if this does not work I am going to paint all the pipes with silicone myself....The Furniture Repairs have been completed and all is well with the new digs!!!! Except of course we have nothing completed as far as decorating is concerned...that will happen in January!!!


I cannot move in my craft room...all the Christmas boxes are sitting in there...and I do not have the energy to carry them all back into the attic and then bring them all back down...so creating may be a bit limited...no fun trying to create in an messy, cramped room with boxes and tubs in the way of everything!!!


I did complete this one......


The story behind this one is a bit cute!!!! Pop and Evan decided to make a Gingerbread House and they started before MeMe could get her two cents into it....The icing was like water...so I kept adding powdered sugar and we could not get this thing to hold together....The boys were covered in a sticky mess and then they walked away from the table and just left this poor Gingerbread house laying on the table in pieces and told me to fix it!!! SURE BOYS....and the best part....Evan ate half of the roof and most of the decorations!!!! POOR GINGERBREAD HOUSE!!!

Is this not the Saddest Gingerbread House you have ever seen!!!!

Wishing you all a wonderful week.....keep me inspired...push me to create....nahhhhhh you do it and I will enjoy!!!!! Love ya!!!

TGIF........

Well...I can officially say it......TIS THE SEASON!!!! We went Tuesday night to Evan's Christmas Concert at school...Can you believe that they did this on December 1st!!!! I get such joy from attending these concerts...They bring back such wonderful memories of my Danielle, and now I am Blessed to see my Grandson singing his little heart out!!!! I must admit....I cried!!! He was so excited, and stood up on the stage with such pride!!!

Mommy and Gavin waiting for Evan to start his singing!!!!Are they not adorable...this is the First Graders!!!
This smile melts my heart......Evan Matthew I love you with all my heart and soul!!!!

The weekends are piling up with tons of things to do to celebrate the season....Breakfast with Santa...the Christmas Pageant at Church....and I know someone who is going to be a Shepherd!!! Visits to the train garden.....34th street...baking cookies and of course the annual trip to shop with the boys to buy Christmas Presents for the family!!! I wonder how Gavin will do when we take them to get their pics done with Santa!!!!


So with all the Happiness...how about a List!!!


10 Things that Make Me Happy!!!!


1. I saw this last week and thought how unique...a wreath made out of cookie cutters... I need to try this idea out!!!

2. Peppermint sticks around a red candle..how very pretty!!!
3. Gingerbread men......I adore them!!!!



4. One item I would love Santa to bring MeMe...Copic Markers!!!!

5. Some more Fabulous cookies....I love baking Sugar Cookies....they are a ton of work...but always the first to be gobbled up!!!



6. OK...you know I love wreaths.....look at this one!!!





7. I love simplicity...and the front of this house with all the fresh greens is just my STYLE!!!!



8. OK Santa..you know I need to replenish my Amazing Grace from Philosophy...I am a Philosophy Girl!!!

9. Stockings hung from the mantel....how much better can it get!!!

10. I am packaging my cookies this year in these little boxes.....are they not cute!!!
We have a new CHALLENGE going up on Cafe Mojo! Get out those Christmas pics and let's see what you can do!!! I must admit....I rarely do Christmas LO's.....I like to make mini albums....So that is what I will be working on next!!!!


This LO is Evan from last year with his Christmas PJ's! I looked up how to spell Oh Christmas Tree and half were just an O and the other half were OH...so I went with the OH!!!!
I hand cut the trees from the paper and placed pop dots behind them!!!

Wishing you all a Fabulous weekend!!!! I know we are all sooooo busy at this time of year....just remember what the true meaning of Christmas really is!!!! Love you all!!!! :-)

It's That Time Again....Monday!!!!

I did it!!!! I really did it!!!! I got the tree up and the decorating completed upstairs!!!! Now a story that should make you giggle!!!

Our tree from last year had seen better days...so at the end of the year we found a great deal on a new tree!!! I had forgotten all about it..until Joe brought it in from the garage and started to put it up...I kept looking as piece by piece went up and then it dawned on me....we bought a 9 foot tree...Well this tree looked like it belonged in the Macy's Day parade....it was huge....Even Joe who is 6'6" had to get up on a ladder to assemble it....so what does that mean for me at 5'6"!!! I was left to do all the decorating and now how in the world do I get the tree topper on!!!! I climb on the ladder.....trying to get the Angel on the top and then realize....do not fall Jocelyn...do not fall....the tree and you will end up through the Bay Window!!!! I am reaching and reaching, and then decide that maybe I should pull the tree towards me.....well this technique works and I carefully place the Angel on the top.....climb down the ladder and BOOM....down she comes, ripping her beautiful dress on the way down!!! Now what do I do....what every other scrapbooker does....I grab the glue dots.....glue her dress back and then on to the second attempt at placing her on the top of the tree.... THIS TIME IT WORKED.....WHEW!!!! I thought as we got older we were supposed to down size!!!! So for three hours I was up and down this ladder...Great work out for the legs and butt!!!!! But she is FINISHED!!!! Whew...what was I THINKING!!!! I will share some pics with you of a few things that I put out!!!


I adore Winter Scenes and this little Ice Crystal Tree is one of my favorites!!!!

A Closer shot of the tree with all the wooden snowmen and sleigh bells!!!!My tree is decorated with Birds, Nests, Twigs, Pinecones and My Collection of Christopher Radko ornaments!!!!!Do you see a theme here....snowmen and cardinals are my favorites!!! Here is a Pic of the tree....see how High the Angel is and I could not get her lights to work....I am waiting for Joe to climb that ladder....I don't want to take a chance of pulling the whole tree over!!!
I am off today to see the oral surgeon....my last appointment was cancelled and I hoping this will go smoothly! We then need to do tons of errands! We have the boys this week on night shift!!! Joe and I may get a bit of shopping completed.....fingers crossed!!!

I have a LO that I completed last week.....my creations may be getting less as we get closer to the Holiday!!




I loved this one using 7 Gypsies and the colors were just perfect!!! I completed this one with another kit from Blue Moon Scrapbooking!


Please check out Scrapping Around The Clock for the new challenges being done by the Design Team...These will be easy and quick ideas for Christmas... I did a tutorial on making snowflakes! I had done this at my friend's house several weeks ago...and Michele also did a tutorial on it!!! Michele is an awesome artist and you need to check out her Blog!!!! Are these not adorable!!!! These Challenges will appear on December 1st!!!!!
Wishing you a wonderful week......filled with Smiles!!!! I know we all are heading into the busy season!!!! Oh my...makes me tired just thinking about it!!!!