Wow!! Read this post thoroughly! You don't want to miss anything!

Yvonne over at Scrapbook Doodle is now offering a weekly special! This week (until Jan. 6th) there are some fabulous goodies for 50% off!! You can check them out here: Weekly Special



Also, we are having a 4 Day crop starting Jan. 3rd with some awesome challenges to use up those scraps you have been hoarding! Lots of fun, games, creativity and prizes!! You don't want to miss it! Scrap-A-Thon Crop



Hope you have a Wonderful New Year!!

A Very Merry Christmas from our house to yours.........

I cannot believe that it is already the time of year for Santa. I wanted to wish you all a wonderful Holiday and a prosperous new year! The stockings are hung, the tree is up, and the kids are uncooperative! LOL We tried feverishly to take a photo of all the boys together for the grandparents to put in their Christmas Cards. It was quite the fiasco! We did get them all together in the same frame.........but not necessarily looking in the same direction! OH! I couldn't forget our new reindeer......... LOL So here are our pictures for the Holiday season. Enjoy!

Interesting Indeed.

We had a great, but interesting weekend. Friday was a trek to the inlaws so my hubby could go hunting with his dad. Saturday Dalton, my mother-in-law and myself took a trip to the mall to get in the holiday spirit! There were more people than the Macy's Day parade trying to make their way into the already packed stores! I did manage to finish purchasing my holiday gifts, but my poor mother-in-law will be braving it again.
The crop over at Memories From The Attic was a success! Lots of mojo flying through the air! Thanks to everyone that participated. The wonderful sketches that Lucy Chesna created are still up for you to print out and enjoy throughout the year. Oh! I didn't forget...........the winner of the RAK for checking out the new site is..........drum roll please.............Scrapworthy! (pat)
Thanks for playing! I'll get a little something special out to you this week!

Weekend Crop and Craft Sale Starts Today!!

Come on over to Memories From the Attic and check out the crafts for Sale:

http://memoriesfromtheattic.info/viewforum.php?f=74

There are gonna be some fun games and some Awesome Sketches from the Talented Lucy Chesna. Did i mention prizes?? You have until Monday to upload your fabulous creations!

http://memoriesfromtheattic.info/viewforum.php?f=61

Here's a few things i have for sale:

Tell everyone you know to stop by and i'll see you there!! Oh, and by the way.........if you register there let me know by posting here in the comments section. Everyone that registers will be entered in drawing for Fabulous RAK from me! I'll post the winner here on my Blog late Sunday or Monday! GO SPREAD THE NEWS!!

I have an Announcement.

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been asked to join the Memories From The Attic Design Team!! Awesome group of ladies over there and even a few that i already knew! Congrats to the other Attic Girls! I can't wait to begin working with you!

There will be a weekend crop starting on Dec. 7th with Sketches by the Awesomely talented Lucy Chesna! Prizes to give away, but most of all lots of fun and scrapping!

So Check it Out!! http://memoriesfromtheattic.freeforums.org/viewtopic.php?t=223 You won't want to miss it!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jig............

Surgery went well. I am home and progressing nicely. I'm not going to be participating in any marathons this week.............but maybe next week!
Hope everyone had a Wonderful Thanksgiving!
Have you put your Christmas tree up yet?

Turkey Day!

It's fast approaching us! Where are you going this holiday?

After much deliberation by myself, my hubby and my doctor i will be having surgery this coming wednesday. I should be released and on my way home for turkey day. Just not sure i will feel like eating any. So, could you please eat something extra for me??

Hurricane .............

This week i feel like i have been sucked into one. So many emotions............no words to accurately describe them. Sorry to all my friends near and far if i have been hateful or short. I honestly didn't realize i was/am being that way. Hopefully it will pass soon. Tomorrow is the day for my tests, so i hope they figure something out and get my surgery over with so i can return to some kind of "normalcy."

Was that me i just met on the highway??

Another busy week in the Grider household...........more doctor visits for me. It's no secret that my internal organs of the female nature hate me........but come on already! the prospect of 3 surgeries in three years is making me quite down in the dumps! I saw my doctor this week and looks like i will be having another surgery soon. I will have more tests on Wednesday to determine why my ovary is screaming (we are pretty sure we know) and then on the 16th we are "getting our gameplan together" as my doctor calls it. He wants to take it out. I'm ok with that. I think..............

Wednesday was Halloween of course! My boys had a good time carving the pumpkin.

I had a bleeding skeleton, a spiderman and his spider. I think we should have taken the pics BEFORE trick or treating....but sometimes my brain doesn't function the way it should. LOL

Saturday was our towns fall festival. Lots of money being earned for our PTO who has done wonderful things for our school this year! Not as big of turn out as was hoped, but still and enjoyable day. I captured this pic on our square and i just liked it. The amish from our community made some beautiful baskets to sell. My aunt sue will be getting a copy of this one. she is all about amish! LOL

That's all i have for today! Thanks for reading and hope to see you again soon!

Time to make the donuts..........

do you ever feel like that old Dunkin Donuts commercial?? i've really been feeling in a rut lately. not sure why.

the creativity is flowing..............i think it must be the repetition of paperwork from my work. LOL

so anywho! another busy week in the Grider house. LOL Dalton has been helping dad with his new deer hut. Youth hunting season is this weekend. Dalton is so excited he nearly passes out just thinking about it!

My aunt Sue has been visiting from Moberly this week. Got to spend some time with her on friday night and also on Saturday evening.Always fun to see her and swap the flea market finds we pick up for each other between visits!

Hubby took me out for lunch and shopping on Saturday. Yay me!! then we went out to the shooting range so we could fire a few rounds out of the pistol. Yours truly kept all 8 of her rounds on the target! LOL

Finishing up some DT products for Scrapbook Doodle! There were a ton of yummy goodies to use this month! I'll post pics of some of there here as soon as i can!

My town is grouping together in an effort to save our old grist mill. it looks pretty dilapidated on the outside, but the inside looks just like the day they closed the doors. The foundation has already been secured. The local bank is donating the money to order new windows. A local sawmill has offered the lumber for fixing the outside. A fundraiser was held to raise money for additional costs. Here are a few pics ..........a little over 3600.00 was raised!!

Fall is in the air...........

The days are getting shorter. The nights are getting cooler. The leaves are starting to turn, and THIS decided to make a web on the porch while we were at the lake cabin! ewwwwww! makes my skin crawl just thinking about it.

The guys went on their hunting trip to wyoming........so mom and i along with Dalton escaped to the lake for a few days early in the month. We did some shopping, lots of eating out and went bowling. Yes bowling. Ask mom how to do it. (although you might find that she does things a little backwards. her pretty red ball tried to bowl over my shoes while i was sitting behind her!)

My FIL continues to have some heart problems and is still in the hospital. He is on antibiotics to get rid of the infection and we are hoping it will be gone by monday. Monday or Tuesday they will be putting a new pacemaker/defibulator in for him. We all have our fingers crossed that there are not any complications this time.

I got a few fun pics of Dalton............here's one to share.

He is growing way to fast!!

Lot's of fun projects in the making for the November reveal at Scrapbook Doodle. We are working with Cosmo Cricket Papers and embellishments. There is still time to try out for a Guest Designer spot.......so get on over! There is also a Design Team Call to add new members to the group! Don't miss out, get your projects in!

Gotta run!! Today is my Daddy's birthday and we are having a party!!!

Lookin' for something i'm afraid to find..............

Ok, so it's no secret that my job is super stressful (for more reasons than one, use your own thoughts and run with them)...........so i have been scouring the help wanted ads. so far nothing has "jumped" out at me. But then i think about it.......i mean REALLY think about it..... and it scares the crap out of me to have to start over with a new company!! i complain about things or people related to my job on a weekly basis, (co-workers do too, but mostly they have just been quitting, thus leaving the rest of us alone in our misery) but at the same time it is security. know what i mean?? ok, rant over.

on a good note, i have been playing with some new scrappy goodness and thought i would share. seriously...how can you resist adhesive fabric and cute little glittery wings??

Rollercoaster Month..........

Where is the exit?? I'm ready to get down.
It's been a super busy month around here as usual. We finished the Department of Mental Health Audit with flying colors! So glad that is behind me. School is in full swing.......and Dalton actually has a teacher that he is enjoying.

Jacob celebrated his 3rd birthday with Spongebob Squarepants Cake and yelled HOLY CRAP!! when he saw a particularly large package come in the door.

We got to take a camping trip for Labor Day with some friends that my hubby works with. It was super nice to get away and just be! The river was moving at a pretty good pace and made our float enjoyable........thanks to the couple (i am protecting identities LOL) that came down the river mostly sideways and made a few wrong turns onto the bank for the entertainment! I only laugh with you! not at you.

Tyler cut his first tooth and is drooling extra hard on the second one. (He looks like his auntie does when a new line of Basic Grey or Hambly come out.) I will be buying us matching bibs for Christmas.

So much fun Stuff happening at www.scrapbookdoodle.com this month. Come over and check everything out! Tons of challenges to get your mojo flowing and yummy new products in store to work with. We have also started a Queen of The Month to feature one member and get to know them better. I am HAPPY to say that Granny Pat_TCakes is this months queen!! Congratulations granny!!
I know i have been a bad blogger............i promise to try harder. Maybe if i write it in my little black book i wil remember to update! So until next time friends and neighbors............

Inquiring minds want to know..............

There are alot of questions running through my mind as of late................
1. Why do children only tell everything they know at a bad time?? rather than when you are alone in the privacy of your own home.

2. Why does everyone say "If you don't enjoy your job, it's not worth working there anymore. " yet they stay for another 20 years..........(yes, i still hate my job, and yes i am still working there. i'm a hypocrite, i know.)

3. Why do Scrapbook store owners hold design team calls and say that they want EVERYONE to submit WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED OR ON A DESIGN TEAM and they want NEW talent.................yet they pick the ones that are on 52 teams and/or work for manufacturers??

4. Why do i set myself up for failure and/or rejection??

5. Why am i having a pity party today?? Because i am bored and there is nothing else to do! LOL

Wild Hogs??

Are living in my house!

No really folks, have you seen this movie?? I laughed until my face hurt. Now that is some goodness.

Speaking of goodness............we finally got some rain!! So that means that the temperature dropped from a blistering 106 to a swealtering 95!! Woohoo!!

Dalton started school this week. He said he wasn't excited, but he got up early and was ready to go before they even opened the schoolhouse doors!! I'm happy to report he got a good teacher this year...........so hopefully it will be a smooth ride. After last years track, i'm ready for a new course!!

Which brings me to 4-wheeling. Hubby and Dalton went out to the shed to get the 4-wheeler out this afternoon and as soon as they opened the door...........Hubby got stung. ON THE END OF HIS NOSE!! HUGE red wasp (made a huge red dot).......along with 100 friends.......building the ultimate condo in the rafters!! Apparently the whole pack weren't getting along, because they started a sub-division on the wall............but i digress. Anyways, it took my poor hubby 1/2 hour to get close enough to get the nest(s) down without getting stung again.

I had another layout accepted into the Prima Gallery this week. Stay tuned to http://www.scrapbookdoodle.com/ as it is all a part of the challenge i am issuing for September! It's gonna rock!

Lot's of fun scrappy things at PubCalls this month. I have gotten a ton o' work done the past couple of weeks for contests and such. Now the waiting begins.............

Good Luck to all in Scrappy Land who are waiting on calls! What do you have on your table right now?

Here's a few pics from this week! Enjoy!

Thank You Basic Grey.............

for accepting my layout of my Momma into your gallery!! and thanks Yvonne @ www.scrapbookdoodle.com for sending me the yummy Infuse Line that i made it with!!

Summer/Calmness

So, my friend Lucy AKA Scrapperqueen challenged me to put a summer/calmness pic on my blog. I love sitting in a quiet spot on the riverbank and watching Dalton play in the cool clean water. So peaceful. Time to think and clear my head of the stressors i encounter on a daily basis with work.

Wow!! What a week!

So many awesome things this week..........Hubby and I met up with two of his childhood friends for dinner this weekend. This is the first time in over 15 years that all three of them have been together! We had a great time and are trying to plan future outings! (hopefully for next weekend)




My layout entitled "The Ring" was accepted into the Prima Gallery:

http://www.primamarketinginc.com/idea_gallery.php?gallery_by=designer&selected_id=0

Be sure and head over to http://www.scrapbookdoodle.com/ if you are into scrappy things! There are some awesome contests going on..................

Prima Contest for a chance to win $100.00 in product:

http://scrapbookdoodles.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1146

A chance to be Guest Designer for September:

Rules:- Create One Layout using Cherry Arte Products : We have Morocco, Poolside & Princess collections available- Upload your Layout in the Gallery under "Guest Creative Team Call" and label it "September 2007- your title" - Winner will be announced on August 25, 2007If you are the September 2007 Guest Creative Team Member winner- You will receive a $20.00 Gift Certificate to the Scrapbook Doodle Shoppe- Create 2 layouts & 1 small project like card or tag - Your photo and bio will be featured in our "Creative Team Member" webpage.- You will participate in the forum & gallery.

and Plenty of Challenges for a chance at a prize at the end of the month:

http://scrapbookdoodles.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1416

Check it out!

Have a great week!!

Finally!

Wooohooooo!! We finally got the walls all painted and the new flooring in! I cannot begin to tell you what a relief it is to finally have that done. The first pic is in the dining room near the front door where the two paint colors for the dining room and kitchen come together. The next pic is of the wall leading out of the dining room/kitchen and down the hall. The last pic is of the office/picture room. Russ isn't too sure about the office color. It's tooooo green for him. LOL i am hoping that it grows on him because i LOVE it!

Wow! I didn't realize it had been 100 years since i posted here! Time really flies when life sucks.....

It's been a busy month as usual. We've totally been spoiling the nephews every chance we get and they are growing too fast. Dalton has grown so much that i am afraid to buy school clothes yet for fear he will look like the Incredible Hulk in them by the time school actually starts!

Hubby had a bout with his gallbladder and was under the weather for the better part of 2 weeks. i think we got it settled down........lets just hope it doesn't wake up again!

We had a huge rain here a week ago today. What fun it was as it flooded our house..............So we will be replacing our flooring and painting as soon as we get enough money together. The insurance company refuses to pay because it was rain/an act of god. On the bright side, i will be excited to paint and see the finished product. I was getting tired of everything being white anyways! LOL

So i will leave you with some pics and scrappy goodness from the past month or so..............enjoy!

Auntie Again!!!

Congrats to my sister and her hubby on the arrival of TY today at 5:37pm. He weighed in at 8lbs 4oz and was 21 inches long!

Life.............

Wooooooo! can i get a recap please?? this month has kept me spinning in circles!

Of course things are always crazy at work............that's nothing new.........so we are going to skip over that part of the month for the recap. LOL

This album was featured as project of the day at Scrapperie this month! Yay!! i had so much fun making this and it is filled with the gorgeous products from Hambly! Love their stuff!

Yvonne at www.scrapbookdoodle.com is awesome to work for! This month Dream Street sent us some yummy papers to work with!Check them out.........Yvonne is also having a monthly contest and a Guest DT challenge so be sure and get your entries in!

For my 29th b-day on the 11th, my hubby bought me a new camera! Lovin' it and all the bells and whistles...........although i haven't figured out how to make them go off so as to be in tune yet..........go figure.

Dalton is out of school and already bored. anyone who has kids can relate to that .............so end of story.

My sis is due to have my new nephew Ty any day now...........he's just being stubborn. I think he is waiting until i leave for vacation on Thursday. (yes i said thursday! as in May 31st!) Tennessee here we come!!

And as always............nephew Jacob is keeping us rolling in the floor with his antics. Like pulling on my pant leg and saying "Auntie, i can't say son of a bi*ch! Mommy says son of a bi*ch is a bad word"

OH and nature has been running rampant at gram's house this month...........hummingbirds.........frogs..............flying squirrels........yes i said flying squirrels invading the bluebird box.............

so until next time............. i leave you with some pics from the month

Whew! Time flies!!

Well, i didn't realize that it had been so long since i updated............until my cousin Shaina said she had been checking my blog FOREVER and there was nothing new. LOL Anways, there is ALOT new going on!

I had so much fun doing this layout about my tattoo..........and it was featured as layout of the day at www.scrapperie.com on 4-24!! Woohoo!

The Springfling contest at www.memoriesfromscrap.com ended. I am proud to say that I WON 2nd place!! Can't wait to use my giftcard and get some yummy new scrap supplies from sponsor www.createmykeepsake.com ! So thanks to lucy and the girls at Memories from Scrap for an awesome 5 week contest! You ROCK and i loved the challenges! Thanks also to Rebecca at Create My Keepsake for being a sponsor and giving the giftcard that i won!

My reign as a Doodle Diva at www.scrapbookdoodle.com officially started May 1st. Really looking forward to working with Libby, Lucy and Yvonne over the next year. Yvonne is awesome and has lots of fun stuff in store for everyone! She has some awesome new products arriving weekly! If you haven't checked us out come on over and enter the May All About Flowers Contest and also try out for the Guest Design Team.

My sister will be having her baby anytime now...............so i will be auntie to a nephew again! I can't wait to see Nathan Tyler and hold him! There is going to be a baby shower this weekend. So i hope she can hold him in that long! LOL She has already started having contractions........and after her visit with the doc today he says all systems are go! if she goes into labor we are not going to make her cross her legs!

Dalton is nearing the end of the school year and is excited to be going with his class to a Cardinal's baseball game on the 8th. They will also be participating in KY3 news WeatherSchool on that day..........so stay tuned. The first part of June we will be going to Tennesee to the Dukes of Hazzard Festival! Should be a fun time of squawling tires, jumping stuff and just plain ole southern fun!! Can't wait!!

Soooooooooooooooo Until i update again....................YEEHAW!!!

what are your plans for summer??

Toot! Toot! The scrappy train is coming through........

this layout won me $20.00 in free Tinkering Ink products over at Scrapper's Bliss!! Thanks sis and Nate for letting me take your picture :)

Woohooo!!

Well slap me scrappy!!!!

I have been asked to join the creative team at www.scrapbookdoodles.com !!! thanks yvonne for the opportunity and honor! I'm super excited to be working with you. And i can't forget my doodle sisters Libby and Lucy! It's going to be awesome working together!!

Yvonne will be putting out a creative team call soon to fill more slots..........so be sure and come over for your chance to join us for a fun filled year!!!

Check it out!!!

My friend Yvonne has opened up her very own Scrapbooking message board and gallery!!! The store is coming soon...............stay tuned for details on that!!

Check it out : http://scrapbookdoodles.com/phpBB2/index.php

Half Off and Living In The Past...............

What's this you might ask???

This my favorite drinking coffee with one eye open, staggering down the hall in the morning cup!

It's a vintage Fireking cup from the 70's and i love it! It reminds me of my grandma, her old house, her wood stove, and the giant braided rug on her newly waxed hardwood floors. Can it get any better than that?? I think not.

So.........what's your favorite thing from the past??

Happy Birthday Gram!!!!

Today we had a party for my wonderful grandmother who just turned 73!!!

Way to go gram!

I baked her a strawberry shortcake and she got a little help from great-grandson Jacob in blowing out her candles!

We LOVE YOU and here's to many many more!

Let's Take a Walk..............

over to From Your Heart To Your Hand! Because this layout was the Gallery Pick of the Day yesterday!!

http://www.hth-gallery.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=13618

I had so much fun creating this layout with the Kit i received in a Swap at www.createmykeepsake.com from Rachel!

Do you Smell Burning Paper???

Because my mojo has kicked into high gear after the scrap kit i received in the mail today from the swap at CMK!

I finished 2 layouts and a card today..........and i tell you i am going to use up every last scrap i have! The card turned out a little on the artsy funky side, but I Like it!

You Be The Judge: