I say we because the first day of school is just as hard for us parents as it is for the kids. It seems that my BIL Kelly survived Madelyn’s first day of school. He took half the day off to go with Belinda and Madelyn on her first day of kindergarten. Madelyn had a blast and eagerly got up ready to go again today.

Merci, Erin and Ansley had a great first day of High School… I’m not sure who’s stomach hurt more… mine or theirs. I tell you watching those three get out of the car and head into that great big school just about brought me to tears. I cannot believe Ansley is a freshman this year. She and her friends had a wonderful day. Yes… great big sigh of relief for me. All I could worry about was her getting lost, not remembering where her locker was etc… you know all those typical mom you need to cut the cord kinda thoughts.

(sorry for the not so great photo but I was doing good to get this one)

And here is Amanda’s last first day of high school photo “as said per my sister”. Man I can’t believe my first sweet, adorable little niece is a Senior and a varsity cheerleader too! Yes I live in Texas, cheerleading is a big thing here. Not sure why but it is. Anyway she wanted it.. worked her tail end off to get it and I am so dang proud of her for achieving her goal!

I am working on a sweet little project for tomorrow using the faux mosaic technique. So stay tuned… it’s a fun one.

Man I am just like a little kid. Now that I know these baby bunnies are in our yard I want to go and peek in on them all the time. I only sneak a peek once a day after Ansley gets home from school. Today one was very curious and kept it’s little head out looking all around. One bunny is really small… about a 1/3 of the size of others. I am worried but it’s eyes are now open and it moves and jumps around like the others. So maybe it is just small. Anyway here are a few photos I took today. I can’t wait for tomorrow.

This evening I sat in our front room waiting to see if I could see the Momma bunny come out to check on them and yep as the day got darker she got closer to the den. Nature sure is a fun thing to watch. I now know she resides in the bushes just under our front window.

Texas weather sure is strange. Monday it snows just enough to make everything look so pretty. Then it is gone by midmorning… Tuesday and Wednesday it is sunny and warm enough for painters to paint the outside of our house… today it is once again cold enough to snow. And snow it did. As I sat waiting for Ansley to get out of school my car was completely covered in snow. It was so pretty to watch fall.

These are a few photos taken just after I got home with Ansley. We ended up getting around 2.5 inches and a little more should come tonight. Notice there are no photos of kids building snowmen, making snow angels, having snowball fights etc. Just one not so happy snow bunny with a forced smile! But I am happy I at least got this photo. The snow doesn’t seem to be as fun when you are 14 compared to when you were 7 or 8. Total bummer for me. I love photos of kids playing in the snow.

How can this be… today, my sweet angel turns 14!

Happy Birthday Ansley!

I found this and thought I would share it with you. I think it would be great fun for both kids and adults. I do believe Ansley and I just might have to Grinch a few people in our neighborhood. Below is how it all works.

You’ve Just Been Grinched!

You’ve been selected as the recipient of this ornament. The Grinch made it just for you! And you don’t want to disappoint the Grinch!

The following are his demands… If you want to see any presents under your Christmas tree!

1. Hang up one copy of his festive face where all can see so you don’t get Grinched again!

2. Make or buy two ornaments.

3. Send them to two unsuspecting friends-you must include pictures of the Grinch and a copy of this letter so the next Grinchee can send off his/her ornament! Make photocopies if necessary.

4. Bring your package to your friend’s house. Ring the bell and take off! The Grinch would be extremely disappointed if you were to get caught.

5. Don’t break the chain if you want a Merry Christmas.

And my friend Patti sent me this link. She Elfed a group of us Fiskateers… we appear in this order… Me, Jane Hasty, Patti Church and Stephenie Hamen. I think it is so funny. They are all at a crop right now and I really do not like being geographically challenged. Because I am here and they are there! Have fun. I’m sure there will be lots of laughs. I miss you three a lot.

We are putting up the tree this evening. I have been cleaning the front room all day. This years tree will look totally different from last years. It is so easy and I love it! First time ever I have placed colored lights on my tree. Ansley is thrilled. I will show photos once we get it just right. Have a wonderful evening.

Here is a fun “Getting to know you” Christmas questionnaire. My sister sent this to me so I thought I would share it with all of you. I am making a few ornaments that I will share with you tomorrow. They are easy and fun to make. Oh and this is for my friend Patti…. you will be happy to know it will be 80 degrees here in Frisco tomorrow! It was only 7 degrees at her place last night. Talk about put another log on the fire.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper… Terri and Ansley are not trustworthy for gift bags!
2. Real tree or artificial? We have an Artificial
3. When do you put up the tree? Every year is different. Ours is going up this weekend.
4. When do you take the tree down? If you look in the Winter Issue of Scrapbooking and Beyond you will discover that last year it was MARCH!
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, but my Dad’s is my favorite.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? When I was around 4 or 5 I got a Baby Etchn Sketch Doll (the name is something like that) I loved that doll and wish I could find one.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? No
8. Hardest person to buy for? My DAD! Sorry Dad but it is true.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Ansley
10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? Honestly, I have never received a gift I didn’t like.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, I feel some things should be done the “old fashioned” way and mailing Christmas Cards is one of them.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It’s a Wonderful Life
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December and yes I tell myself every year that I am not going to wait until December to start shopping and here I sit once again with not a gift purchased.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Never
15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? Mom’s Peanut Butter Fudge and my Chewy Chocolate Chip cookies and Pecan Sandies
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Every year has always been white but this year Ansley has talked me into C7 colored lights like they have on the trees in Hollister, one of her favorite stores.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Holy Night is my absolute favorite and it doesn’t matter who sings it.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Have traveled every year but I’m trying to talk my Mom and Dad into coming up here this year!
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Well of course I can.. you know my Dad is Santa don’t you?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Neither, I have a really cool vintage glass topper that the girls cannot stand but I LOVE!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? When the girls were little we opened one on Christmas eve and the rest Christmas morning, now we celebrate on Christmas Eve. I love the room dark with just the glow from our tree and a few years ago it actually snowed here on Christmas Eve. It was the most magical Christmas ever and one I will never forget.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Rude people just don’t get this at all. I understand we are all stressed but being rude certainly doesn’t make it any better.
23. What is the “silliest” family tradition you do, or miss doing? We don’t have one that is really silly but I do usually have one of the girls on some sort of crazy treasure hunt to find their gift. Not sure who my victim will be this year.
24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? I think the long thinly cut silver tinsel that was supposed to drape down from the trees branches to look like icicles
25. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees? I love both
26. Gingerbread or sugar cookies? Sugar Cookies to me, Gingerbread is for Houses
27. Do you like Fruitcake? NO

So this year Ansley REALLY wanted to have a pink forest. Thanks to my Mom and my Sister it is complete. They found what I believe is the only 4 ft. pink tinsel and pink lit tree out there. Mom paid more to ship the tree to Ansley than she did to purchase the tree. Ansley is still decorating it but as you can see it will have glittered snowflakes, white boa garland and snow on the branches… YEP, she is my child!

The one iridescent tree really bugs me in this photo but during the day and at night it looks so pretty and does not stand out as much as in this photo. I’m just going to have to cover it up with my finger when I look at this photo.

Alan has placed my Candy Cane Kisses and Gingerbread Wishes Paper Doll in the For Sale section of my blog. The Download includes a complete Supply and Tool List, Step by Step instructions, my one-of-a-kind Paper Doll Template and Color Images to help you create along the way. I think this Paper Doll will look adorable in a layout or framed.

Thanks to all of you who have been purchasing my Downloads. It warms my heart to know you like my Tutorials that much.

I am doing a Photo A Day Challenge on ScrapGal. So Ansley and I had a little photo shot with her and Zeusy. All I have to say is… Gosh what a difference a year makes. Last year, Ansley still had her little girl look, which by the way I was holding on to like mad. This year, I might as well give up and start waving the white flag. Ansley has turned into a beautiful young lady, and to me it seems like it all happened overnight.

Ansley 2006

Ansley 2007

Ansley loves her little dog Zeusy. Here is their Christmas Photo. Thankfully we had Alan to stand behind me acting like a goof so he would look at the camera. Zeus did not like wearing his coat. I guess he figured out it was a CAT cape *GASP* I know but Ansley and I thought it was the cutest and it fit him perfectly.

It looks as though our neighborhood “Gangstas” wear fuzzy slippers and hang out with “Ostrich Farmers.” Ansley (white shirt) and her friends Erin and Foster had a fun time passing out candy to trick-or-treaters as well as surprising some with a blast of silly string. Please note… strict instructions/warnings were given to only blast your siblings and friends… no small children were harmed and everyone seemed to have had a wonderful time. Oh and just so you know, Maya Road products make great “Gangsta” bling. I created Ansley and Erin’s bling using a blossom chipboard and a Philadelphia Uppercase Letter. All I did was cover them in silver and gold paint and glitter.

Today I am washing clothes, packing and gathering supplies for my weekend getaway to San Antonio. Tomorrow I will be meeting 50 other Fiskateers for a great creative/instructional event. I cannot wait to get there. It will be fun meeting everyone and getting to play with all the wonderful Fiskars products.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour.

Oh I love the Fresh line… the colors are so bright and cheery. Here is a layout I did of Ansley. I just love her freckles and pink cheeks in this photo. Nothing like having some summer fun.

I just finished one of my Maya Road projects for CHA using the suitcase and binder (older product). I still need to journal but will do this later. I want to get started on some of their new albums. I will post the suitcase once I take some photos.