A few weeks ago while "surfing the web" I came upon such a fun blog called Faces In Places... A photographic collection of faces found in everyday places. After you look at the fun pictures on this site, you start seeing "faces" in the most common, everyday things! It's fun...check it out!! :0)
After dinner we went to "Charlie Wilson's War", an excellent movie starring Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts:
Based on the true story of how Charlie Wilson, a Texas congressman, persuaded the CIA to train and arm resistance fighters in Afghanistan to fend off the Soviet Union. With the help of rogue CIA agent, Gust Avrakotos, the two men supplied money, training and a team of military experts that turned the ill-equipped Afghan freedom-fighters into a force that brought the Red Army to a stalemate and set the stage for conflicts in the Middle East that still rage to this day.A very fun evening, and sharing it with Jon and Sarah made it even better!!
Wish I could say I took this picture, but I didn't!! Even so...it kinda looks like this outside Jon and Sarah's house tonight...we had snow today (we only got 4-5" though, thank goodness)!! Hopefully we will get outside tomorrow and get some great "snow" pictures....you know, always thinking scrapbooking! :0) I love it here...they put salt on the roads, so the snow is off them fast!! I know it rusts the cars, but it sure makes for great, non-slick roads, and for those of us who don't like driving on icy roads, this is wonderful!!
We are having so much fun with this little guy...he just turned 2, and is busy!! It's so much fun to hear him talking...seems like he uses a new word every day! Getting in all the snuggling we can...it has to last us a while!!
"Top Ten Favorite Things About Our 2007 Holiday Season:
4 days and counting...where did December go?? But, I think I'm "almost" ready for the the big day! Today is one of my very favorite days of the season...first, we are having our annual "Santa" party tonight with many friends, children and grandchildren! There is nothing more magical than seeing the faces of the little ones when Santa rings his jingle bells and comes through our door! They believe!! 
The choice of Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, as TIME magazine's "Person of the Year" was announced on Wednesday. As I walked on the treadmill listening to this story, my mind was racing about a scrapbook layout...I could choose my own "person/people of the year!" Above you see the finished product...these 5 little people are my choice for the award for 2008...and every other year, too!!
I love this layout, not because it's anything special "scrapbook-wise" (is that even a word??), but because it shows an adorable little boy (with such kissable, sweet cheeks) having a great time on a beautiful, sunny summer day!! (We're not getting much sun in our part of the world these days!) We get to see this little guy "in person" in just a few days...can't wait!! :0)
What a fun, relaxing evening I had last night with good friends, good food, beautiful Christmas music, fun conversation and Oprah's Pomegranate Martinis! We're kind of "scrunched" in this picture (our photographer, Jim, was having trouble getting us all in!!) but we decided we needed a picture of us that we can send to Oprah telling her how much we liked her recipe and then she will probably be so excited that she will send us free tickets to be guests at her show!! Won't that be exciting!! :0) But, back to reality....we had a wonderful, "stress-free" evening in the midst of this hectic holiday season! (Thanks for the idea, Jean!!)
OK, so I'm thinking "holiday baking" is WAY overrated...right??!! I mean, if I were to make it, we would just eat it, and we definitely don't need to eat it, so I'm really helping us out if I don't have a lot of delicious things--fresh from the oven---sitting around the house to tempt us! I'm really doing the right thing....right?? :0) But, had to break down and make these little "goodies" for our Paper Pals party last night...in case you missed them, they came right from Becky Higgin's blog:
I was the "Library Lady" in K's kindergarten class today, what a treat!! Besides checking in books and checking out new books to the kindergartners, I got to read some of my favorite books to the class. You all know how much I LOVE kindergartners, so this was a special treat for me today. It is the most fun ever to be facing 25 eager, squirmy, excited little learners, that all have a "story" they want to tell me...I really do miss that!! One of the books I read today is a favorite of mine, and kids absolutely LOVE it...."We Eat Dinner in the Bathtub" by Angela Shelf Medearis. If you have a child in your life that loves books, this is a MUST have!!! I chose it because it's one of K's favorites to have me read when she comes over, and my own classes of kindergartners always loved it too...so I knew it would be a hit! :0) So...if you're still needing a Christmas present for a little person, I recommend "We Eat Dinner in the Bathtub!"
As I mentioned a few days ago, I'm reading Ali Edwards' new book "Life Artist" , and I love her approach to scrapbooking! She is more about scrapbooking "everyday life" and less about scrapbooking "occasions!" She encourages each of us to become "a more detailed observer of the little things happening around us." It takes practice at first, but she gave suggestions for some starting points. One of them was "possessions and collections--take note of the things that have meaning to you (especially those things you love so much that you make them a part of your home." After looking around our house, I decided one of the things that "has meaning to me" is "wreaths"....I counted 9! Now, with 3 stories in our house I have some room to spread them out, but I think I must do a layout about my love of wreaths! :0)
This is our kitchen counter today...I'm wrapping and wrapping and wrapping, I WILL get the gifts in the mail to Michigan tomorrow!!! :0) And, you know how it goes...I think I'm all finished shopping, and then when I check the list I always find something else I need to get for someone!! Sidenote: We have decided that the 3 foot Elmo will be in our "carry on" luggage for his trip to Michigan...our seats for the first leg of our flight aren't together, so I'll have Elmo to keep me company!! :0)
Most people think of today, December 7th, as "Pearl Harbor Day." I think of December 7th as the day that forever changed my life...the day I became a MOM! As we were about to complete our stay in Athens, Georgia at Navel Supply Corps School we welcomed our precious baby boy into our lives! All of you Mom's know...motherhood is the hardest job you will ever LOVE! Happy Birthday, Jeff!!
All I can say is WOW...you cannot read this incredible book by Ali Edwards and not be inspired to create something!!! My sister, Jean, brought me this book from CKU (Creating Keepsakes University)--it's even signed by Ali herself! The complete title is "Life Artist, Scrapbooking Life's Journey" and it's just full of fabulous ideas for capturing the life you are living through scrapbooking. (You can buy it here!) She has beautiful examples of creating art from "photographs, words, documents and bits of this and that...those things that help you tell the stories of who you really are." It is not only fun to read, but you cannot help being inspired AND motivated to create something to help tell the story of your life! I'm off to create!! :0)
I took this picture from our deck this morning....compare it to the same picture/view that I posted in my last blog--just 2 short days ago--and you can see we have had a HUGE weather change! The weather man is calling it the "pineapple express" winds and rain coming up from Hawaii! It's not bad here, there are warning of some small stream flooding, but nothing major. However, if you have been watching the news today you have seen the incredible flooding and problems that this same weather system is bringing to Seattle and the Washington and Oregon coast...it's amazing!
...but the fire is so delightful!!! This is what it looks like outside right now...my goodness, it's really coming down, great big flakes! It certainly does get me in the mood for Christmas...I need to tackle those Christmas cards that have been sitting on the counter for a week! 
Who could resist this adorable Elmo??? Not me!!! While I was out running errands yesterday morning I just happened upon this cute little guy...and he's BIG--almost 3 feet--and so soft and cuddly. So...I caved, total impulse buy!!! I know a cute little guy that is just going to love him! (Now I just have to get him to Michigan!) :0) Hope Elmo likes to fly!!
This is the view from our deck this morning...we woke up yesterday to a blanket of snow covering everything, and if "George"--our local NBC weatherman-- is correct, we will have more tomorrow morning! The air is crisp and clean, the sky is blue, the ground is soft and white...it's almost hard "not" to love winter! :0)
The tree is "UP", and it's not even December yet...I'm excited to be ahead of the game for once!
I recommend this movie!! It was so much fun for us to see it through the eyes of K and R...it truly was magical for them! Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman and Zach Mills are terrific, and Mr. Magoriums's toy store is every child's fantasy! A very fun way to spend 2 hours!
After a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, and SO much to be thankful for, we are all ready to head "full speed" into Christmas preparations!! These little Christmas decorations (pictured above) are well-known and used in the scrapbooking world, but this is my first attempt at making them. It was so fun to do and I'm happy with the how festive they turned out! I have several other Christmas gifts in various stages of completion, so now I have to get busy and get them finished..
"Happy birthday, baby L!" It's hard to believe that it's been 2 years since this precious little guy came into our lives! He lives way too far away, but we're all working on that!! We were able to watch him open his birthday presents from us on our computer via a video conference...so much fun, and definitely the next best thing to being there!! He would lean forward and kiss our image on their computer...now that touches a Nana's heart!! Love you, baby L!!
"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but, the fire is so delightful....!" We picked up this beautiful poinsettia last weekend on our trip to Costco, it's just huge and looks so pretty and festive in the garden window in our kitchen. And..... yes, it's still very WHITE outside...but I'm thinking positive about all this snow and fog....:0)!
2 little girls
Ready or not, the "S" word struck today....I guess this "white stuff" signals the onset of winter....this is the sight right outside our front door. So, because I promised myself that I would "think positive" about winter this year, I'm happy it's snowing because:
Good news....we decided to postpone my calendar class at Paper Pals until Saturday, December 1st, to accommodate those leaving this Friday for Thanksgiving break at WSU and U of I. Bad planning on my part, but hopefully this change will make it "all good!" :0) The calendar sample is at the Pullman store, stop by and check it out!! I hope you can join us on December 1st, 12:00-2:00 PM! When you're finished with the calendar, each month page can be put into an 8X8 scrapbook album. It's 2....2....2 gifts in one!!
"After I created my life list, something magical happened. I actually started DOING things on the list." This quote is from my "Life List" blog that I wrote about a month ago....A life list is a list of things you want/must to do in this lifetime, and the intent is to cross the items off one-by-one.
Here is that cute little chipmunk, with his Mommy and Daddy, that I told you about a few days ago....as someone said, those cheeks are PERFECT for a chipmunk!!! I love you baby L!!
A baby girl... 
This adorable little guy turns 2 this month....oh, slow down baby Landen, you are growing up way too fast!!! Sarah just sent loads of new pictures to Shutterfly, so I have have lots of fun scrapbooking ahead of me!! He was a chipmunk for Halloween last night...we got to do the "computer cam" and see him when he was all dressed-up and ready to go...his little furry tail was so cute wiggling as he walked away from the camera! :0)
I took this picture this morning....the leaves are gone (almost) and it was a chilly "20 something" this morning when I went to the Fitness Center...brrrr!! I love summer, sunshine, and all that comes with warm weather!! But, I am trying really hard to love the colder weather, too, so I'm thinking about all the reasons I look forward to this time of year....
...don't know when we'll be back again (recognize that song??) My trip here has been FANTASTIC....loved every single "sunny, warm" minute, but it's time to go home. Home is always a fabulous place to be. I will really miss playing with Jean--movies, lunch out, shopping, and just being together and having lots of fun; dining "outside" under the stars at one of many incredible restaurants down here (last night was Cheesecake Factory); wearing flip-flops...you all know how much I LOVE flip-flops; and all the other fun things that being in the desert offers!!
Signed the papers yesterday...do the "walk through" today...Jean is almost ready to move into her new condo!! Jim arrives tomorrow and we will begin helping her with moving things over this weekend!! Exciting times for her!!
Yesterday we attended a fundraiser for the Tracy Armstrong family. Tracy is the husband of Lynn, a close friend of Jean's daughter Kristan. Kristan organized this fundraiser with the help of "Rusty Pickle" to raise money to help her friend, Lynn, and her family. Here is the story from right after it happened (Tracy was released from the hospital recently and is at home in Panguitch, Utah.):
Well...after we found out that we would have to go and stand in line for about two hours to get into the "sneak peak" movie today (we don't have two hours to spend waiting in a line--we have places to go and people to see!!), we opted out of that movie and instead went to "The Jane Austen Book Club." We both really liked it! It is definitely a chick flick, but some great actors. Also, got pedicures, went to SAS (a wholesale warehouse with buttons, ribbons, etc.), and enjoyed the fabulous weather!!! From what I hear it's blowin' and rainin' at home so I really have to soak up all the sunshine I can...it has to last me 'til spring!! :0)
Day one...movie one!! As those of you that know me, know....when Jean and I get together one of our very favorite things to do is go to movies!! So, Jean got "sneak peek" tickets for this movie, "The Martian Child" and we are going today. But, first we are off to get pedicures, go to "Marshall's Home" for a little shopping, lunch out....and whatever other fun things we can find to do!!
It is gorgeous here....sunny, 80 degrees, bright blue sky....I'm lovin' it!!! I had a great flight, Spokane to Las Vegas, stayed on the plane, then Las Vegas to Phoenix. It was fast--loved it!!
