2009 in Review

*** EDIT***

Thank you for everyone who voted... I must say after looking at these layouts for a few days, there are 2 that stand out as my favorites... funny, they were chosen as the most liked as well. I love "Have a Laugh" because it is a style that I never scrapbooked before when I created it. It also was one of my first DT layouts. "Favorite Season" won on Practical Scrappers as well as utilized one of my favorite sketches from Sketchy Thursday. It uses my favorite paper line as well... so I just love it. Favorite Season is my backdrop on my computer screen as well. Thanks again!

My favorite layouts in 2009

In no particular order, because I just can't choose...

Our Special Day Twas the Night Before Christmas Falling for You
Diva

This is Me

I am Green

If

Jump in

Two of a kind

7 years

Rise up

Took the one less traveled by

Sisters

U R the best thing that ever happened to me

love

I'll Remember You This Way

Our House

Jennifer

My Treat

have a laugh

Favorite Season

1st day of school

Please take a moment and vote for you favorite layout!!!

Here are my favorite projects of the year.

My favorite project that I made this year is my Advent Tag book- I love the way it turned out, but most of all, I loved the time that it created for my kids and I each day! I have priceless memories that were created due to this project.

I have a poll on my sidebar... please take a moment and vote for your favorite layout... I'd love to see what you enjoyed the most!

Thanks!

Happy New Year!

December Challenges and DT work

Winter projects at Practical Scrappers this week... come on over and show us what winter projects you are working on!I love this Bobunny paper line!
Next, I am still working on some of the challenges over at Ch{all}ange Masters...

Baking- challenge was to scraplift the given layout... here is mine.

Book of Him- what tradition did your husband bring to the family.

If you read my blog, you now know how large Christmas is and how many phases of the day we have... we begin with Santa gifts, then have breakfast, open cards, next are the stocking gifts which we stuff in these over sized stockings, finally open regular gifts from the family. I have never heard of so many official phases before coming into the family, but I truly love it!

Photography- get in the picture (I used my timer on my camera to capture this moment)

I will be posting my favorite layouts of the year tomorrow!!! Stop back and check out my recap of 2009!!!

Persevere

Announcing my One Little Word for 2010- Persevere

Wow, was that easy to choose... with everything going on in my life right now... I need this word more than ever.

Persevere- to persist in anything undertaken, maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or disencouragement; continue steadfastly.

Synonyms- continue, hang on, endure, maintain, pursue, continue, keep on, hang tough

"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." Franklin D. Roosevelt

"Perseverence is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." Newt Gingrich

"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverence, all things are attainable. " Thomas Foxwell Buxton

I challenge you to join me in choosing a word that you will keep as your word for 2010. Last year, my word was gratitude. You can tell by reading my posts that I have been listing the numerous things that I am grateful for in life.

Read more about OLW here or her newest post here.

Leave me a comment with what word you choose.

Challenge Masters

Scrapping Time...

I had a little bit of scrapping time today... so I worked on a few challenges for Challenge Masters...

1st- recipe challenge

P- 2 pattern papers

E- eyelets

A- alphabet stickers

C- chipboard

E- embossing ( I embossed the center of the red star and center of the flower)2nd challenge- Journaling

use one of the quotes given... I chose

"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly Merry Christmas!" Peg Bracken

I was able to spend quality time with the kids leading up to Christmas and it is my newest favorite tradition that I started with them... to do something each night together!!!

3rd challenge- Go green- use only scraps (except the background page)

4th challenge- BOW
scrap a holiday event with family

5th challenge- BOM

Scrap what you are grateful for... well this has been my motto for the year... so an easy one for me!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

I am grateful for my blogging friends and for those who leave me comments and share the love!!!

The last of the Christmas pics...

So, we are still not done with Christmas... but I promise not to post anymore lengthy photo heavy posts... well, at least I will try not too! We still haven't exchanged gifts yet... with building the house, Brian isn't really around to be able to do it...

We got to visit with Brian's best friend Josh and his family today. Bryce and Ian became best buds too... they moved away about a year ago and Bryce truly misses him... Brian does too. With building the house, we haven't been able to go out and visit yet. Hopefully soon... anyway, here are pics from our visit this morning.Ian, Bryce, Nathan (7 months) and Clara
Too cute
Clara playing peek a boo with Nathan

Josh and Brian playing Transformers... hehehe

We enjoyed our visit!!!

Every year, the kids make ornaments for the family and our friends! This year, they made ornaments out of cupcake foil wrappers... they shine really pretty on the tree! They had a blast making numerous ones without getting tired or frustrated!!

The finished project!

My favorite gift was from my mom! She gave me a recipe book filled with some of my favorites in her beautiful handwriting! (What a legacy!)

Clara loved her Barbie from Grandmamamamama!!!!

Jonathan loved his Benderoos... and perfection!!!

Like mother like son!!!

Clara loved her lifesize Cinderella doll!

Catherine was going her to Christmas party that night... look how beautiful her hair turned out!

One day, I will decorate my Christmas tree as beautifully as my mom!!! She is a professional tree decorator!!! (Well, at least I think she should get paid to do it!!)

Brian and I went to the Melting Pot last night as a gift to each other!!! One opened here in Bethlehem in September. The food was amazing... 4 courses...

1st Alpine Cheese Fondue (in season- absolutely delicious... and my favorite photo)

2nd course were salads... forgot to take pictures of them... but they were beautiful and yummy!

3rd course- main course- Fondue Fusion- steak, lobster, chicken in Mojo style. (Broth, garlic, orange and lime)

We were discussing that one of our absolute favorite things to do together is go out to dinner with just each other... it was a wonderful night!

4th course- Bananas Foster Fondue- yum!

I couldn't eat another bite... but we seemed to eat it all!!!