hApPy HaLLoWeeN

We got candy yes we do, 12 bags to be exact and we had about a bag left!!! After the first 25-30 trick-or-treaters I gave up on counting, I figure we had at least 75-100 kids come thru... saw several fairies, a few butterflies, Thomas the Train, Batman and Joker, all kinds of Star Wars characters, a few Transformers, witches and ghosts and various Hannah Montana get-ups, oh and some cowboys and Indians too...
David's parents came down to witness the spectacle and he and his dad are already planning to dress up next year-LOL!!
Here are a few pics from the nite...

Being Crafty...

so the crafty bug has bitten me... I bought a chipboard banner and this is what I made last week...yea I know it isn't even Halloween yet, but I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I saw it. I cut the MERRY letters using my Cricut ('bout time I put it to use), because my Slice died and had to be shipped back for repair :(
Thanks to the Scrapbook Princess in Odenville for the Maya Road album and Graphic 45 papers, if you get a chance go visit Paulette and Christen!!

sorry for the not so great pictures, we all know who the photographer is in this family and it isn't me!!

Red Rooster Retreat

Well....once again I have become a blog slacker. Back the first of August I went on this great scrapbook retreat near Cullman (north of Bham). Now, my fellow scrapper Sandy, has been inviting me to this for like 3 years and it seems like every year something would always conflict with me being able to go.

Atha (mom-in-law) and I finally got there this year and not really knowing what to expect were a bit apprehensive, me especially because
I really despise roosters of any kind, real or decorative and the name of this place kind of heebs me out especially when you drive up there is a 5 ft tall RED rooster greeting you.

Plus, other than Sandy we didn't know anybody else coming but figured we would make some new friends by the time we left, which we did.

First, although I really despise roosters, this place is pretty awesome, the owners live there and pretty much cater to all our needs.
We get a huge room with a table to ourselves for scrapping away
and Atha and I lucked out getting a bedroom and bathroom to ourselves,
sometimes it pays to be a snorer-LOL!!!

Second, the food is INCREDIBLE!!!!
I mean it is worth going just for the food....all home cooked, 3 meals a day and
I don't think there wasn't anything I didn't eat and some things I wish I had ate more of!!!

Third, all the ladies we met were super nice and really made us feel at home
and now we can't wait to head back in April!!







Oh and we all got to spend some time with this cutie-patootie and future scrapbooker, Allie...

Busy, Busy....

I know I have been a serious slacker when it comes to blogging, I just knew I would have great and witty things to right about all the time and people would be reading my blog, just laughing and thinking what a funny person I am...LOL!!!!

You know for 2 people not to have kids we have been really busy this summer....we started at Memorial Day and really just slowed down...between house projects, travel ball and scrapbook retreats we have been on the go alot more than we had planned that is for sure.

Here are some pics and info from our summer....

We started with some outside projects....finally a gate on one fence and the other closed up..YEA!!! Oh and new screen and trim on the back porch. We also had hopes for siding on the house, but after getting some quotes we will be lucky if it happens by next summer :)
My dear mom-in-law making sure they do it right!!! hahaha



We did take a few days and spent down in Mobile and Biloxi; our first time in a casino and heck no we didn't win big, might have won back what we spent. We really didn't understand the whole slot machine concept at first and after some questioning we will know more when we go back.

And we did go to Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile, it was excruciatingly hot, but oh did I get the money shot!!! Yes, I did take this picture!!! David is pretty jealous too...hee-hee






Oh and we have spent several Saturdays at various ballfields watching Paige play softball, not my favorite thing in the world in the heat, but I wouldn't miss seeing her play.


This was the 1st tournament of the year, it was raining buckets and we were all sitting in the car wishing they would call it off!!!


And finally just wrapped up all the goings with a scrapbook retreat at The Red Rooster Inn in Cullman and man what a treat for sure....3 days of nothing but scrapping and great eating!!! Sorry no pics for this since they are on a different card my computer won't read, but take my work for it was great fun, made lots of news friends and can't wait to go back next year!!!

So there it is, our summer in short story form, busy but fun and now I am looking forward to a few weekends of nothing to do, well at least till football starts.

Check this out!!!

Hey -check out this blog post by Margie -I met her at Wishful Thinking (ScrapEtc event in May) and she's crazy fabulous! So go check it out!! She and her daughters have started this cool kit club - The Girls Loft and are giving away "3" subscriptions. hurry - why are you still here?

Exhausted and Exhilarated...

all at the same time!!! Just got back to the 'hood after a wonderful experience in Hotlanta, aka "Wishful Thinking", the ScrapEtc event for 2009. It was 3 days of inspiration, full of laughter, a few tears, a little stress and little sleep, with all kinds of great ladies from around the country. It is amazing to me that 100 women (most of whom we don't know) can get together and have such a great time all because we share a passion for scrapbooking. I could probably post a book about this past weekend there was so much going on, but I will spare you the novel and hit the high points along with a few pictures....oh and the hubby's joined us but other than the Braves game, sleeping and an occasional meal they were on their own (that is another post)!!

So here goes....left Wed. for Atlanta, stopped at a couple of scrapbook stores along the way,
rode the Marta (an experience all its own!!)




went to a Braves game (1st ever)





....then Thur. started the fun, here is a very short synopsis

....2 days of classes with 6 teachers and a whole bunch of fun in between!!! Elizabeth Kartchner, Melodee Langworthy, Jenni Bowlin, Gretchen McElven, Margie Romney-Aslett and Jessica Sprague, what a line up....I learned so much and am so ready to get in my scrap room and create....I wonder if David will let me quit my job and just scrapbook all day long??? LOL!!!











my camera battery died during my last 2 classes....so I have to get those pics with Margie and Jessica from my mom-in-law who went with me. I am so lucky to have a MIL that loves to do this with me, so many of the girls were jealous that I get along so good with my MIL!! Oh and I bough a SLICE, which is about the coolest thing since sliced bread...a portable die-cut machine...LOVE IT!!!

I am Amazed

at how my creativity flows sometimes...as you know I have a passion for scrapbooking and usually I don't think I am as creative as other people, but I have to say since getting my scraproom somewhat organized, all I want to do is create. So here is my latest creation using a page kit from The Scrapbook Princess in Odenville (hey Paulette-hope you like it)


and for the record....this is the 4th layout I have posted for other people to see...shocking I know!!!