A Quick Christmas Photo Shoot.

Not much time was spent behind the camera this year. I guess I was just to busy enjoying the festivities with my family. I hope yours was as special and memorable as mine was. A few things that come to mind are.

Christmas Eve mass. It always makes me happy and sappy at the same time. Being told how good little Q was during the mass.

Leaving the reindeer food outside after mass. Something that has become a tradition for us.

Falling asleep on the couch while waiting for the kiddlets to fall asleep and waking two hours later to realize we had many gifts to still wrap and spending the time with my hubby wrapping and placing everything under the tree.

The excitement Christmas morning before going downstairs.

The time it took to open our stockings and gifts one by one and the happiness shared.

The look on each of the kids faces/the sound they made when they received something they really wanted. D's sweet smile and quiet appreciation. C's shrieking silly smile. Q's laughing rough "Ha I wanted that!"

My hubby's new hairdo.

My family arriving.

Our 5 minute photo shoot.









Spending time enjoying each other. Nothings better than having my family, my mom, and sister's family all together.

Dinner. and the attack of the pickle stealer.

My sister telling me that it was the best Christmas ever and that I'm the best sister she could ever have.

I'm pretty sure that I was blessed with the best family ever.

Special moments that made me smile today as I turned another year older.

I was touched beyond word when my daughter presented me with a handmade gift this morning. A charm necklace that she told me she would add a new charm to every year on my birthday.



My husband leaping out of bed at the crack of dawn to let the puppy out so I could finally sleep in even though we attended his Christmas staff party last night and he was just as sleepy ummmmmm heavy headed as I was.



The kids playing nicely together in Drake's room building a fort in his bunk beds and hiding when they heard me get up so they could all jump out and scream Happy Birthday Mom/Mommy!

My mom working hard with the kids last night making handmade ornament gifts. While we enjoyed a night out.



The big smile I always get from my littlest nephew when he see's me.

The tiara my sister wore during dinner, gift giving, and cake, and the comments it evoked. lol.



The cake my mom made me. and the preview I got. heeeeeeee.

My sister's newest post. The fact that she has a personal label just for me.

My husband's new FB profile picture.



My nephew calling me Samantha instead of Auntie Sammy. Super cute.

The surprise goodies I received from a bloggy friend even though I know she had no idea it was my birthday.



All the wishes I received on FB.

All the great food that was made for us to share and having nothing to do with the prep or clean-up. I. Am. Stuffed.

All the lovely handmade cards I received.

The way my mom always tries to conceal her gift so it's not what you expected, or to make you think your not getting what you wanted.

Knowing that I am getting better/wiser with age and not being scared of turning another year older.

Having those I love the most surround me on my birthday.

Carving Pumpkins.

This is the first year I have let my kids carve their own pumpkins. I have always "helped" them, and by helped I mean I did it myself. I can't help it, I just really like carving pumpkins. O.k. so I'm a control freak with the pumpkins. "Back off kids those are my pumpkins!" There I said it. This year I had a plan. I bought a bunch of little pumpkins(for them) and two big ones(for me). One of the big ones didn't make it due to some brilliant child that decided to put his/her foot through it. Ya like that's never been done before genius. At least think up something original like switching all the pumpkins in the neighbourhood with their neighbour's carved masterpiece's or maybe giving one to another home that doesn't actually have one. Now that would be brilliant, but I wouldn't know. ;)
Here are my little genius' with their creations.











And the hard work that got them there.


You didn't think I'd give him a knife did you? He did 2. One he drew on, the other he told me what to do. Rainbow eyes and a big grin Mommy.










Happy Happy Halloween bloggy friends!

Mini Album.

I adore these little mini albums from Bo Bunny. I really like that every page is different. I think that the size is perfect for 4x6 photos. This one holds a mish mash of family photos that I love. I like that these books are small enough to leave out on a coffee table or side tables for guests to look at. Not that I would do something like that. Hummmmm, Q would certainly have it covered in goop and finger prints in no time. That, and I don't own a coffee table... So they are perfect for homes with older children and coffee tables. Something I will have one day when I don't have to worry about superman covered in grime(also known as my son ;) ) using it as a launch pad. Until then they are kept up high on shelves for me to smile at.

I used the Unforgettable pp by CTMH.

Spooktacular Fun!

We went on our annual spooky wagon ride this past weekend.



It was cold.



And raining.

And we had lots of fun!

BOO!

I Just Can't Help Myself. An Accordion Album.

I love it. Twitterpated. I can't get enough of it. I made this 9x9 accordion album using the fabulous new paper pack by CTMH. I made it for all the Fall pictures we will have this year. Autumn is my very favorite season so there will be lots of photos. We like to hike as a family in the many many nature trails this part of the province boasts. We also have made tradition out of some of the fun activities around town.













I used both the pp and the stickease along with the new Heartfelt die cuts, lots of punches, chipboard, ribbon, pearls, and buttons.

Look Who's 4!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Top Ten Things I am Thankful For.

10. The smell of dinner cooking right now.

9. The beauty of Autumn, my absolute favorite season.

8. Having a hobby that I love, and the beautiful friends that go with it.

7. The sound of my children's laughter.

6. Memories.

5. The relationship that I have with my mother and sister.

4. My health. The health of my family.

3. Peace.

2. Knowing that my home will be full of those that I love and mean so much to me shortly.

1. My Family. They are the light of my life, the loves of my life, and I hope that I make them as happy as they make me.


Have a wonderful Thanksgiving from my home to yours.

Tick Tock It's a Clock!

I am in love. With a paper pack. from CTMH. Surprised? It's called Twitterpated. Yum. I made this clock also using the newest HeartFelt die-cuts, Wonder. So many cute dies. I chose the mushrooms because I wanted to be able to use the clock all the time in my scrap space.



All products by CTMH
except the Kaiser pearls.

Double page spread using Grace in a masculine way.

So here's one of the LO's I've made recently. I used the new Grace line of paper from the newest CTMH cattie. It's a very girly sort of pp but I think I managed to make it look masculine. My oldest isn't loving all the flowery lo's with him featured, so I wanted to make something that was simple but really captured both of them. The title is the nickname I use when referring to the two of them. I've been saying it for so long I thought I should do a LO about them and these picture sum it up nicely. No worries I have sweet nicknames for them too. hehehe.



Everything by Cose to my Heart except the ribbon(other)

Just a Few Pics.

I'll start with posting some of the photos from some big events from the last month. These two went back to school.



And Cassidy turned the big 10.


Back soon with a layout and an altered item.