I have the best friends EVER.

So this past weekend was a scrapbooking weekend.  But something else happened too. . .

The girls had booked the church to scrapbook, but I knew it was a busy weekend and I probably couldn't stay to scrapbook.

First, the weather was really nice and I have a lot of yard work to do.

Second, my niece was having her first ever soccer game. . .and really there can't be anything cuter than four-year-olds playing soccer.

And third, it was my parent's 40th wedding anniversary and they wanted to do something.  The only problem with that was we (mom, sister, and myself) are all married to farmers, so trying to make a dinner plan during any farming season is always subject to change.

So. . .I visited the Church on Friday and came back on Saturday to visit some more and drop by orders.  I was so surprised to see cars in the parking lot of people I didn't think were attending.  I was just thinking. . .what good luck that we came by at the same time!  Now I can give them their goodies!

I didn't even question my mom, sister, and my other sister (Angie) coming in with me, because they said they needed to have a short Relay for Life meeting.

I didn't even question the basket sitting on the table with lots of pretty tissue paper.  I thought. . .oh. . .they decided to do a Relay Raffle today!  What a good idea!

I did, however, question the giant pink box sitting in front of the table.  And the other pink presents sitting beside it.  It was then that it started to sink in that maybe something else was going on here.

These fabulous girls were throwing me a surprise baby shower.  

No one wanted to yell surprise, in fear that I might immediately go into labor.

Probably a pretty good idea!

I was completely fooled and in awe of these awesome ladies.

I have been scrapbooking for over 12 years and have made some fabulous friends along the way.  When I started this hobby. . .I never dreamed of the new friends I would make, but I hope they know I cherish every single one of them!  We have such a great time at all of our get togethers!  I hope they know how sane they keep me. . . .which really is funny because we are a pretty crazy group!

We took lots of pictures that day, but I don't have any of them. . .and I'm not really sure I want them :).  It was a nice, but windy day and I was a mess. . .hair everywhere. . .make up running (we will blame that on the wind and not the tears!).  But I had a smile a mile wide!

I am still in awe of how nice that was.  It has been eight years since my last baby.  Most of my baby supplies (besides clothes, which won't do me a lot of good since this baby is supposed to be a girl) burned in a fire.  I have a crib and that is it.

So all of these baby supplies were much needed. 

And I had a little helper helping me put the supplies away.

Ella even came back a second day to help me organize the closet and put away/sort some of Brady's old baby clothes and blankets.  It looks like a lot of stuff and it is getting to be that way.  Most of the items in the drawers and on top are Brady's old things.  And I am so glad we put a nice closet in the spare bedroom that we didn't ever think we were going to have to use!  We did make it smaller than originally planned, but it is still very nice!

She was in heaven.  

Not only did she get to play with baby things. . .but we also have a new puppy.  

Meet Daisy.

We are so in love with her. . .Ella is beggin her Daddy to get one too!

Thank you so much for the wonderful surprise!!!  It really means so much to me!  Definitely a day I will never forget!

Family Traditions.

Each year my family and my uncle's family go on a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks.

We stay at Tan-tar-a in pretty much the same room every year.

We even have t-shirts made.  Dorky, I know, but I LOVE it!

There are 22 of us at last count.

We swim, eat, water slide, play golf (boys), and go to the spa (girls), and just hang out with each other.

Our dads farm together and I grew up really close to these cousins.  We basically still live pretty close to each other.  But, as time goes by we see each other less and less.

I absolutely LOVE that we spend one long weekend a year catching up, reconnecting, and having a little bit of fun with each other.  We do see each other at birthdays and holidays. . . but those are usually chaotic times with a lot of people crammed into a small space.  It is nice to just hang out with each other!!!

Anyway, my point is. . . I have created a scrapbook completely about this trip.  Each year I add a layout or two highlighting that year's trip to the album.  I LOVE that this is an ongoing project. . . it will hopefully never be finished.  If I fill the album up, I will just start a new one!  I love to look back and see how much the kids have changed and how our family has changed each year!

I know I have posted about this before . . . and I still get a lot of questions about it.  I gave up scrapping chronologically a long time ago.  I now do a lot of albums just like this. I have a Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Birthday, Fall,  School, Family, etc albums.  This system works for me, because I don't feel overwhelmed.  I do a few pages from each of these events and then I can add it to the appropriate album.  There is absolutely no way I am going to scrapbook every picture I have ever taken.  I am now focused on the memories I want to preserve. . . . not just the photos.

I still feel overwhelmed at times. . . because it seems to be harder and harder to fit scrapbooking into my schedule.  I keep thinking. . .maybe things will slow down in a little bit.  The truth is, things will probably never slow down.  They are only going to get crazier and crazier.  So, I am just going to have to make the time.

Enough for today.  I just wanted to share a little bit about scrapbooking and how much I love my family and our traditions!

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day Weekend.  As much as I love Fall. . . I am very sad to see summer end.

All it had to do was not flood.

And it hasn't yet.

We live and farm along the Missouri River.

The Army Corp of Engineers has been releasing updates for the past few days about the amount of water they are releasing from the lakes on the northern part of the Missouri River.

Best case scenario is not good.  Worst case scenario is a lot of water.

We were on go to build a new house.  On a hill overlooking the River Bottoms.

Now our new house plans are on hold and we will definitely be moving.  I think we have decided this is it.  We aren't coming back flood or not.  We have moved too many times to do it again.  Of course the farm stuff will be back, but at least we won't have to worry about the house stuff too.  Makes me sad.  As much as I complain about my little bitty house, I will be sad to leave it.  I love my yard and I have put many hours and many flowers in it.

So much to clean out. . .  House, garage, scrap shack, barns, sheds, machinery. . . the list goes on and on.

So, I know my posting hasn't been as often as I would like.  I am not sure what the next few weeks entails for us.  If the USACE is correct, probably a lot of this.  . . .

This picture is from the USACE-KC Website

Just wanted to let you know where I am and what is going on.

This will be the 4th time in 5 years we have "Spring" Cleaned.  Very unusual, but has a lot to do with the amount of water they release from those lakes upstream.   Lakes designed to help with flood control. Ironic?

I am an optimist (my husband is not) and we have been spared each of the past four times the river was high.  Other local levees broke and ours stayed in tact.   

On a more positive note. . . our local Relay for Life event is tomorrow!!  Our small community has already raised over $44,000!!!!!  WOW!!  I am impressed!!!  

Here is a link to the latest article about the river. . . 

http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/pa/pr/PA-2011-38%20Flooding%20imminent%20in%20the%20lowe%20basin%20of%20Missouri%20River.pdf


And here is the NWS where they track the river stages and forecast future stages.

Snow Days.

It has been one snowy winter here in the mid-west.  We have had ten snow days since the second week in January.

Yes, 10.

I, for one, absolutely love snow days.

But, even I am reaching my limit, a bit.

Brady's favorite pastime on a snow day is shoveling snow. 

I watched from inside the Scrap Shack. . .he was trying to clear our driveway. . .while it was snowing.  And then he would haul it away around the corner and dump it.  Crazy kid.

We went sledding one day.  

He likes to sled, but he would pick shoveling snow over sledding any day.

Strange kid.

Here is a picture of our backdoor during our most recent blizzard.  

We live in a very flat area along the Missouri River.

The wind is truly something, with nothing to block it.

Here is the kitchen window. . .I love these little birds in the window.  

And this is the view outside.  White out conditions.

We don't live very far from our machine shop.

I asked my husband to please bring home a tractor or some other large piece of machinery. . .in case we have a medical emergency of some sort and need to get out.  The drifts can get really bad on our gravel roads. . . and I worry.  His response was, I can walk to the shop if I have to.  It won't be a problem.  Then his Dad had a hard time getting home and he decided he would rather have a tractor ready then have to walk to the shop to get one.  And of course, the neighbor got stuck and needed help getting home.  He was glad his tractor was already here.    Driving the tractor, in the blizzard, to help the neighbor who was stuck, he thought he was  traveling north.  Next thing he knew our house was in front of him.  This means he had to drive in a complete circle out into the middle of our field, without even knowing it.  I think my husband was then convinced just how dangerous a blizzard can be.  He was turning circles and didn't even know it.

the view of the neighbors house.  

Most of the time during the storm,  you couldn't even see their house.

Playing a fun game of Sorry. . .

Digging out.

We always get a tall drift in the back of our house. . . . 

Even though I really like snow days. . .I am really ready for spring.  

Inspirations.

To view the new January Inspirations brochure online, click here!

I am always sad to see another  year end. . . but I am always super excited for what the new year has in store!!

Close to My Heart has some wonderful things in store for us in the new year. . .and it starts in January!!!

Our new Spring/Summer Idea Book isn't live until February 1, so Close to My Heart has released the Inspirations brochure and it is full of beautiful, brand-new products!!!

Purchase the brand-new WINGS WOTG Kit in January and you unlock some spectacular savings!!  For example, when you purchase the WOTG Kit, you are eligible to purchase the brand-new Bohemian E-sized Alphabet for only $25!!!  It is regularly $34.95!!!  What a deal!  There are many more brand-new stamp sets discounted in the Inspirations brochure!  Be sure to click on the link and check out all of the beautiful new products and spectacular savings!

The Preferred Order Date for the WINGS WOTG is January 16.  (This is our next workshop date.)

If you order your kit by this date, you will receive extra raffle tickets to earn more FREE STUFF!
I draw every month at our Workshop and give away lots of great products!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Whirlwind

I keep thinking things are going to slow down.

It's just not happening!!

A fast update. . .

The Crop & Shop for a CURE was a huge success!!!  Our goal was $1500 and we surpassed it by a little bit!!!  Way to go!  And thank you for all of the support!  It means a lot!

My Richmond Spartans won the 3A State Football Championship!  We were able to witness it first hand and it was one heck of an exciting game!  After being down 17-0 at the half. . . I just didn't know if we could pull it out!  But the second half was AMAZING!  A touchdown with 11 seconds left and tied it and the extra point was good!  It was like the ending out of a movie. . .something you always hope for, but never really happens!  Well it did!!!  I didn't think I would have a voice left after that game!

But we were up bright and early to go to the MU KU border showdown at Arrowhead.  I know, crazy.  Right?  My husband is not a sports fan, so he definitely things it is is crazy!!   But it was a beautiful day and we sat back in the sun and enjoyed a Tiger victory!  At least this game was a lot less exciting.  I don't think my heart could take another exciting game at that point!!!!!

This Saturday is our December Workshop.  
10am-10pm at the United Christian Presbyterian Church
Cost $5.

The featured Kit this month is Magnifique.

Here are some pages down with the paper. . .

Isn't this Kit just beautiful??  

It is available to order all month long.  We will be featuring it at our January Workshop as well.  Along with some other special projects!!!  So don't worry if you didn't order it in time for this Saturday!  

I seriously can't believe it is December already.  I know I think this every month, but I really just can't believe 2010 is almost over!!!  Where does the time go????

  

This may not seem like much to most.
But this summer we poured a patio by our back door.
For the past almost ten years, this small space has been a constant pain.
I've tried shrubs, flowers, weed matt and rocks. . . nothing grew and my dog dug up the rocks.
SO, I finally convinced my husband to help me with a patio.  We were going for pavers, but ended up pouring cement.  Something he didn't want to do, because a sewer line runs under this space.
One hot, humid spring day, my dear husband and our dear cousin Delbert, poured me a patio.
When I say, hey, look at my new patio. . most people say, where is it?
Yes, it is small.  But I love it.
It also doubles as a swimming pool when we get a lot of rain.  Guess my concrete pourers weren't the best.
But, I have always wanted a pool too!
Above is a picture of an old glider that was my husband's grandmas. . .sitting on my patio. . . .  I usually paint it, but I like the shabby chicness of it. . .and a palm I have planted in a tub on my new patio.  I really can't believe the palm tree is still alive.  Since my dog can no longer dig up rocks. . .she likes to dig up palm trees.

Can't believe it is the last day of September.  I will miss Summer, but I sure do love Fall!!!

What a perfect day!!!

in the picture. . . my sister, Melissa. . . . .me. . . . and my sister's sister-in-law and my good friend, Angie.

Sun shining. . . 60 degrees plus. . . good friends and family. . . and a Missouri Tigers Win over arch rival Kansas!!!!!!

It was a nail biter. . .coming down to the last 4 seconds and a field goal to win the game!!!!

This border show-down is held at Chief's Arrowhead Stadium in KC. . . this is the 3rd year for it.

In 2007. . . .MU won, but it was one of the coldest nights of the year. . .but one of the best games I have ever been to. . . MU was ranked #1 in the nation after that game. . .If Kansas had won, they would have been #1.

In 2008. . . .KU won. . . it was cold and it rained/sleeted/snowed the entire game. . .luckily we were under the overhang from the section above, so we stayed relatively dry. Still a pretty good time.

And 2009. . . .MU won. . . we were due an absolutely perfect day after the previous two years. . . .

already looking forward to 2010!!!!!

I love that my sister, cousins, and many friends all go to this game together!!!! Even a few of our Jayhawk family members and friends also attend. . . .that is what makes it fun!!!!! I love the tradition of this. . . .hopefully they will keep having the Border Showdown. . . and hopefully we will be able to go every year!!!!!!

A Whole Hand Full. . . .

Brady's Birthday party was this past Sunday. . .I am still recovering. Even though we decided to keep it somewhat simple this year, since harvest is not over. . .nothing is ever really simple. It was a rainy, cold afternoon for a birthday party. So no hayride or bonfire. But the bright side is most of the farmer Dads got to attend. . .and almost every Dad in my family is a farmer. . .funny how that works! Brady's birthday being a few days before Halloween and seeing how we raise pumpkins. . .we pretty much always have a Fall/Halloween theme to the party. . . but he always has something else in mind too. This year it was a Cat tractor party. Last year it was Smokey and the Bandit. . . though he liked the truck driver more than the Bandit. I guess big trucks are cooler than Trans Ams. . . anyway. . . . Brady thought it was really a milestone that he is a whole hand full now. . .ya know . .. five fingers old. . . I said, yeah. . . you really are a handful now!!!

Here are some pictures from the party. . .

treats my Mom made and about forgot to give to the kids. . .

The Cat Tractor Cake. . . not a beauty, but a step up from last year. Still have to work on the icing not running. I see why people purchase cakes! Nothing is easy and it makes a really big mess!


The Pinata my mother-in-law made. It seems like a crime to let the kids bash it in! She has made a bat, ghost, pumpkin, and now a witch! All were works of art!



All the kids painting pumpkins. . .we do this every year. I wonder when they will get tired of it?


Miss Ella painting her pumpkin

Brady blowing out candles


Brady counting the five candles on his cake



the castle my Sister built for Ella's first Birthday Princess Party! It worked great as a Haunted Castle too!



the whole gang of cousins. . .a couple were missing. . .when they are all together it really is a gang!

My Sister's Birthday was Saturday and this is the card I made for her!!! Even had it done a day early!!! I sold pumpkins and she attended a great auction with my Mom. . . funny, they were buying me things on her birthday!!! Though, she got plenty of things too!!! I had fun selling pumpkins. . . but it always pains me to hear about a great auction I am missing!! I don't get to go to very many, but I do love to go!





These are the BIG pumpkins. . . but not the Giants. These weigh around 400 pounds a piece and some friends of ours sell them for my Mother-in-law. Moose and his wife, Gwen, pick these up by themselves!!!! And they are HEAVY!! They use a special rug type thing, that makes it easier, but still not easy!!! Moose was very proud of this load. . .the first of the season! The Giant Pumpkin this year will be weighed next weekend! We hope it at least weighs 1,000 pounds. . . not as heavy as last years, but hey. . . you can't have a Missouri State Record Every year!!!! I just hope she wins again!!!!




Pictures from Alisha Harrison's The Settlement Circle of Friends Sale last Saturday. We sell pumpkins there and other come and sell their Primitives and Antiques! We were crazy busy. . . everyone loves my Mother-in-laws weird pumpkins, gourds, corn braids, and the dried and stained items! She really does a good job!!! Next weekend, we will be at the Lexington Apple, Art, and Antiques Festival with our stuff!!!




I looked at this Postmaster's Box several times. . .the lady came down in price. . . so I bought it. And I love it!!! In this picture it is actually upside down. . . and my little boy think it is his. . .notice the toys he has already lodged inside a couple of compartments. I will add a picture later of it set up. . or somewhat set up. . .and Brady still has some of his stuff lodged in the cubbies. . .but no toys allowed!





a little picnic cooler that I thought about all day . . I decided if it was still there, then it was mine!




And a friend of mine asked me to take her daughter's Senior Pictures. We had our first shoot this past Thursday and this is my favorite of the bunch. . . I don't think it was the Mom's favorite, but there a bunch of great shots to choose from!! Emily is a very pretty girl and did a fantastic job posing!!! I was a bit nervous for my first. . . .kind of. . .semi-serioius shoot and I think it went great!!! We are going to meet again to take some photos out at her house. . . I hope it goes just as well!!!!

I forget my camera. . .

My Grandma Fern and I canned salsa yesterday. We had a wonderful time chatting and working. . . the hours seemed to fly by!! We do get to see a lot of each other, now that she lives in Richmond. . . but it was so nice spending the day. . .just the two of us. . . me trying to soak up all of the knowledge she has and these precious moments. I am very lucky to have a young Grandma and hopefully I will have her for many years to come!!! Her mother, my Great-Grandma, lived to be 93 and I knew her pretty well!!!

I knew this day was going to be a treasure. . . something I have looked forward to ever since she mentioned that she wanted to move to the Richmond area. One of my best friends called yesterday and asked what I was doing. . . I told her, "canning with my Grandma." She had to tell me that she lost her beloved Grandma the same day. She told me to treasure these moments. . . .and believe me, I do.

But. . . I forgot my camera. I wanted to document our day with a few snapshots. . .especially to document all of our hard work that we will be enjoying this winter. But, I left it at home. My car was completely loaded yesterday. . . Brady could barely get in and out. . . it was full of tomatoes, canning paraphernalia, stuff for our AIM meeting, and a couple scrapbooking orders. I guess I just couldn't remember one little camera with all of that stuff. . .

hopefully we will do this again soon!!! We didn't even make a dent in all of the tomatoes I brought to her. She was going to work on making juice today.

She is in absolute heaven with all of the produce we have around here.

She has really missed having a garden and all of the wonderful things that come from it.

I am so glad to be able to learn some things from her. . . .and she doesn't even realize what she is doing most of the time. . .

She will mention, well Mom did this or Mom did that (speaking of my Great-Grandma Ruby White)

hopefully I am sinking it all in!!!

Remembering. . .

I have had a very busy weekend and I haven't had the time to reflect properly on September 11. I just visited a friend's blog and she had a beautiful post about September 11 and I felt I needed to post as well. . .

As I was driving through town on Main Street last night. . . I wished I had my camera handy. Flags had been hung on Main Street and as I could see clear down the street in front of me. . .it really was a beautiful sight. It made me stop and think about that fateful day eight years ago. . .

I was standing in front of my classroom of sixth graders. . . I was still getting to know all of those young faces. . .when a friend of mine popped into the room. I stopped what I was doing and she was trying to tell me something, but I just wasn't getting it. I didn't understand and it wasn't sinking in. So, she turned around and turned the TV on. It was on Good morning America and at that time, no one was for sure what had happened. They were still speculating what type of plane it was and maybe it was an accident. That is what we were all thinking (hoping). . . maybe it was just an accident and not another attack on the World Trade Center.

I don't recall how many minutes we watched the Television before the second plane hit. But we had it on and the instant we saw it, we all knew we could no longer think it was an accident.

At some point the Principal told us it was OK to have our tvs on. . . .and so we watched the events unfold that morning.

I was standing in the hall during the passing period, talking with some teachers, when a student ran out of the classroom and said they just hit the Pentagon.

I remember feeling very scared, wondering how many places were to be attacked that day.

Eventually, we were instructed to turn our tvs off and try and resume a normal day.

Everyone knew there was nothing normal about that day.

After school, as I drove home. . . people were lined up at gas stations. . . even clear out on the highway. I didn't care how much gas I had in my car. . .as long as I had enough to make it home, then that is where I was going. I was scared, tired, and I wanted to watch the news.

I think we were all glued to the TVs for a long time. . hoping they would find survivors. . . wanting to know more details about it.

I have a hard time watching the reenactments of that day. . . it just is too real. . . though I usually do watch them.

And my cousin Bruce was in New York City that day. I believe he was supposed to have been in the World Trade Center, but thankfully, he wasn't. He was also in Florida when hurricane Andrew hit and had to hide behind a mattress in a hotel. Remind me not to travel with my cousin!

I also had a friend who was late to work that day.

Back to my classroom. . . I wrote the date on the board in the corner every day along with that days agenda. . . it only took me a couple of minutes to recognize what the date was and wonder what significance that had. And to know that my agenda had suddenly changed.

I really can't believe eight years have passed since that day. . . those children sitting in my classroom are now 19-20 years old. . .YIKES!!! IT is a day I will certainly never forget. The history teacher in me knows recollections of that day are of extreme importance. As a History Student, the most fascinating thing to me was always the everyday recollections of normal people. Most often the thoughts of the famous or those closely involved with an event are recorded. I like to hear what people living their every day lives thought about these types of events.

As a part of a project for a class I interviewed my Grandmother and video taped the interview. I was nervous, because I knew this was going to be shown to my class. I was also nervous to ask her some of the questions. They dealt with her living during WWII and her thoughts on it and the holocaust. . . and it also dealt with her two sons serving in Vietnam. One of which was injured while he was there. . .

Two of the most poignant things I remember from the video were
1. They really didn't believe the holocaust was as bad as it really was. She thought that it was propaganda and way exaggerated.

and 2. When she described the day a deputy pulled into her drive and got out of the car holding a letter for her. The letter was to inform her that her son had been injured in Vietnam. She said she gripped the doorway and didn't want to read the letter.

My Professor informed me of what a treasure I had with this interview. Documenting my Grandmother's words, our family history, and history for future generations. We lost my Grandmother in November of 2000, only a couple of years after the interview. It certainly is a treasure to us.


I have rambled enough. . . . I hope you document things like this. . . .future generations will want to know what every day people were thinking and doing that were living during this time period.

I feel a scrapbook page coming on. . . .

I have a confession. . .

I absolutely LOVE College Football.

Mostly I just watch my Missouri Tigers. . . .but I find myself paying attention to other games and teams more and more.

I DVR College Game Day on ESPN every Saturday morning, so I won't miss it.

You can almost always find me wearing Black and/or Gold on Game Days.

I haven't missed a MU vs KU match up at Arrowhead Stadium in KC yet and I don't plan to.

My husband does not share my obsession and really can't understand it. He doesn't understand Scrapbooking either.

There. . . I said it. . . I look forward to every Saturday in the Fall. . . hoping my TIgers will win and the Jayhawks will lose. Kind of sad isn't it? But I had to come clean!!!!

GO TIGERS!!!!