Making Christmas la la laaaaa!

We decided to put the tree up last night. I was tired, but I knew we needed to get it done soon with the new baby arriving any time in the next 30 days. My due date is the 15th of Dec., so I assume he will mostly likely arrive by then and I wanted to have the tree up and be ready for Christmas nice and early, just in case. Anyway, it was an enjoyable evening. We started by watching SNL Christmas skits while M put the tree up and got the ribbon on it. Then we switched to Traditional Christmas music on cable while the kids and M decorated the tree. I relaxed and played photographer. I think it turned out pretty!!!

SC202 -- It's Been One of THOSE Weeks . . .

You know the kind that leave you so tired and like you are just barely hanging in there. I am just not sleeping well at night at all, who knew a big tummy would get in the way so much? Thank goodness Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money are not on this week. I need the rest. I have been having weird episodes of seeing spots. It has only happened twice and is remedied by resting. I think my body is trying to tell me to slow down, I just wish my body realized that it is only a month till my new little guy will be here.

I have definitely reached the nesting phase of this pregnancy, I feel the need to organize and clean everything. First it started with the last couple boxes that were lingering in my bedroom that had not been unpacked, then I started to organize our under the stairs closet (still in progress) and my stamp studio (still in progress) and at the end of the day everyday, I am just pooped. Even though the office is not clean yet though, I decided today would be a fun day to work on some stamping.

This is my card for SC202 (on Splitcoast). I was messing around with some cute paper that I am going to make my birth announcements out of (by Heidi Grace Designs) and I discovered the reverse side would be perfect for a teen card. I love this new set by Hanna Stamps (Read My T) and since I have not shared any fun cards with it yet, I thought I would create one. Hope you like it!

Stamps: Read My T (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Heidi Grace Designs - Baby Boy/Words Decor Double sided paper, Vibrant Cobalt (Prism Papers), Certainly Celery (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah Papers) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Prima Flowers, Vintage silver brads, copic ciao markers, diamond stickles (for her belt), clear embossing powder, sewing machine, white thread, silver prismacolor pencil

More Soccer . . .

You knew I would do it. I might as well document what we are doing with our time every weekend these days. I just love watching the kids play soccer, it is hilarious and fun!!!

This week we had to be there at 8:45 am for pictures. EEK! No sleep for the pregnant mommy on Saturday morning anymore. *pouts* I went to McDonalds to get some breakfast (they love egg mcmuffins - meat free) for the kids and bought hot cocoa there and my review is that it was good, but HOLY COW!!! $2.15 for a small cup of cocoa is SO pricey!!! WOW!!!! I know, I know, you're thinking cocoa in AZ, but it is getting chilly here . . . Autumn *may* have arrived.

Does it make me a bad mommy that when I saw my little girl with her first little soccer boo boo I could not resist whipping out the camera to catch the moment before cuddling her and telling her it was alright? It does, doesn't it? DOH!

Her face said it all -- these 4-6 year old soccer players are too tough!!! E *might* be a girly girl. (Note: her boo boo is a tiny little scratch on her knee -- remedied by cuddling for about 5-7 minutes and she was ready to go back in).

A team shot while the photographer takes one

Favorite of the kids, hands in to cheer "Go Darth Maulers."

HANNA PREVIEW: B is for Baby/ Mojo59

Sorry I am so late in getting this post up today. I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I had a Dr. appt. this morning and everything is going well -- I am 34 weeks along now which is exciting and scary as heck at the same time! I will be brief because I need to get this up and then head to take E to ballet and then I will be back for the release party!!!

This card is a square card inkspired by the mojo Monday sketch on Poetic Artistry. I have had ideas for this sketch floating around in my head all week, but in the end, it came out being a baby thank you card (with only 6 weeks left, I know I will use this one for sure).

Stamps: B is for Baby (Hanna Stamps), Much Appreciated (SU!) Paper: Night of Navy (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah), Old Olive (SU!), Blue Stripe (DieCuts With a View) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Sewing Machine, White thread, navy buttons, star red line double sided adhesive stars (Jody's shares), clear embossing powder, copic markers, Old World - (Art Institute Glitter), dimensional dots.

HANNA PREVIEW: Get Well Soon (SC 201)

This set is just perfect for this time of year. I know I have been suffering with the sniffles as have my kids. Poor Hanna, she is sick too -- I always hate it when I have to lay in bed and recover from my illness. So as a treat -- this card comes with some jelly beans in an old pill container (rinsed and made cute) for the perfect feel better combination. The layout was inkspired by the sketch challenge today on Splitcoast.

Stamps: Get Well Soon (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Bountiful (Creative Memories), Pristine: Pretty Posies (Paper Salon), Vibrant Pink (Prism Papers), Solar Crest White (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Copic markers, Word Window Punch (SU!), Sewing machine, white thread, skinny white grosgrain ribbon, circle punch - 1 3/8 (SU!)

HANNA PREVIEW: NEW MOOSE on the LOOSE

I always love all the sketches and challenges you can find on Monday! Usually on Monday I am dragging in a big way. This week was no exception -- somehow the kids and I all have a bad cold and cough. It has been keeping me up at night (well, that and the icky poo contractions I have been having). Anyway, it is great to have some inkspiration when you need it.

And now I would like to introduce to you Laundry Sophie & Couch Riley Moose! YAY! How fun that you are getting MORE Riley stamps this month! They are SO darn fun!!!

I first decided to cover the Papertake Weekly Challenge and the Ismaki challenge. One was a gorgeous sketch with an option to use eyelets (which I did not do because I could not find the silver ones I wanted) and the other was to add sparkle to your card.

It's hard to see, but the Sophie image is colored with copic markers and then I added some sparkle by using my luminarte Twinkling H2O's (Blushing caramel, and pale porcelin). I used some diamond stickles on top of the Heidi Swapp ghost flower to add even more sparkle. I am totally in love with this sentiment set by Hanna Stamps -- way too funny! I SO relate to how Sophie is feeling here!!!

Stamps: Laundry Sophie (Hanna Stamps), Just What I Meant to Say (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Vibrant Pink (Prism Papers), Garden Flowers (Heidi Grace Designs), Purely Pomegranate (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah), Blush Blossom (SU!) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Heidi Swapp Ghost Flowers (large), White Prima Flower, Turquoise gem (Target $1 Spot), silver brads, sewing machine, white thread, copic markers, silver prismacolor pencil, diamond stickles, luminarte Twinkling H2O's, aquapainter.

The second card features an awesome sketch from the Card Positioning Systems blog site (CPS89). If you have a chance to go do one of these sketches, it is worth it. The card samples there are just lovely and Tami is awesome. If you do stop in, tell her Manda sent ya!

Stamps: Couch Riley (Hanna Stamps), Just What I Meant to Say (Hanna Stamps) Paper: Bohemia - Blossom "Angel" Small Damask/Pink (My Minds Eye), Very Vanilla (SU!), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Sheer Brown Dotted Organdy, sewing machine, brown thread, clear embossing powder, copic markers, Inkssentials - Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Off to try to catch up on some laundry and Desperate Housewives and the off to soccer practice for the kids! Don't forget to get out and vote! It should be interesting to see the results!

HANNA PREVIEW: Hippy Chick

It's that time again . . . Don't you just LOVE Hanna Stamps Preview week???? Today Hanna is going back in time, to a time much more funky and psychedelic than now!!! Oh my goodness, the sets from Hanna Stamps this month are just TOO much fun! Be sure to check back every day for more previews!!!

I love this set and I bet you will too! I was channeling my inner flower child (or Austin Powers if you prefer) when I was creating these samples -- lots of bold bright colors. It was super fun! Groovy baby!!!

Stamps: Hippy Chick (Hanna Stamps), Feeling Groovy (Verve Visual) Paper: Orchid Opulence (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, Versamark Accessories: Copic Ciao Markers, clear embossing powder (SU!), Nestabilities (scalloped and plain ovals), cuttlebug machine, sewing machine, black thread, assorted prima flowers, black brads (The Paper Studio), White Inkssentials Gel Pen, black polka dot organdy ribbon

And now for a little musical interlude by The Troggs -- what? Never heard of them . . . oh, but I think you will see you have . . .

Wild thing
you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy
Wild thing

Wild thing, I think I love you
But I wanna know for sure
Come on, hold me tight
I love you

Wild thing
you make my heart sing
You make everything groovy
wild thing

Sorry about making the song get into your head . . . I had it in my head for days after I made this *evil grin* I was going for a tie-dyed look with this one. Not your classic tie dye, but a faded looking one. I think it works. I love the pink and orange together. Oh and those jeans were LOTS of fun to make -- the shading was doing marvelous things for me and I think they actually look like jeans *beaming proudly* I made my own background paper for this one too -- love those funky flowers that come in this set!!!

Stamps: Hippy Chick (Hanna Stamps), Feeling Groovy (Verve Visual) Paper: Only Orange (SU!), Basic Black (SU!), Solar Crest White (Neenah) Ink: Onyx Black Versafine Accessories: Copic Ciao Markers, Copic colorless blender, clear embossing powder, black polka dot organdy ribbon

REMEMBER to check out the blogs of the other design team members -- they are linked on the sidebar. They do awesome stuff and I think you will be impressed! Happy blog hopping!!!!

Soccer Saturdays

What's something fun to do in a small town on a Saturday morning? SOCCER! Today marked the first game of the soccer season here in AZ for us. The weather has finally cooled off enough to play (now that we have made it to NOVEMBER) and the kids enjoyed their first game. I think it was around 80 degrees this morning at 9:30 am! I am SO not looking forward to getting up and getting kids ready in time for the 8:30 am games we have on the schedule. EEEK! We barely made it in time to this one.

It was hot sitting in the sun, but super fun to watch my little soccer monsters. Since J had never played before, it was fun to see his overjoyed face while he was running on the field. This league does not have goalies and does not keep track of score, so for the most part it was really laid back and fun! All the teams are Star Wars based names, so today they played against "The Force."

I took this first picture of my family (E, Dad - Asst. Coach, and J) after the game enjoying a koolaid.

Go DARTH MAULERS!!!!

Halloween FUN & Costume Round Up!

Okay, I want to see everyone's fun costume pics! Please post links in the comments section of this post! I hope you all had a wonderfully fun and super sugary Halloween!!!

And now, here is a bit of the Halloween fun we had last night!! I worked hard during the day to get some chili made (I could have sworn I shared this one before - I'll have to look back through some posts -- it is yummy), pumpkin rolls made, and some sugar cookies (the easiest and super yummiest recipe -- reminds me of the ones at Paradise Bakery) with the glossy frosting made. (Click on any of the words above for the recipe I used). I was totally exhausted at the end of the night, but all the cookies, bread and chili I made got eaten, so I guess that is a good thing!!!

White Chili

1 lb boneless chicken, cubed
1 medium onion
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbsp canola oil
3 cans Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
1 can chicken broth
2 - 4 oz. cans diced green chilies
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup whipping cream

Saute the chicken, onions and garlic powder in oil. Add beans, broth, chilies and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Add sour cream and whipping cream. Serve.

*****

Here are some pictures of the kids in their costumes that I took on our porch before we left for the party (I put three, I could not decide on my favorite):

Trunk or Treating at the party:

Making some q-tip and noodle skeletons at a craft table:




Waiting to pop balloons with darts with E's "boyfriend" Kaden:



E eating candy at home at last!
(Note: It is like impossible to catch her looking and smiling and she is both in this picture - HUGE BONUS!!!)