Time flies when you're having fun...

There aren't too many people I know that would choose to visit us during this time of year, but Jean wanted to see snow, and she wasn't disappointed!! Mother Nature treated her to all kinds of fun---snow, wind, sleet, single digit temperatures...all the things that make our winters different than she is used to. At her home she just has the same old weather day after day---sunshine, warm temperatures, blue skies---boring!!! :0)

Sunshine or snow....it's always lots of fun to be with your sister...Here we are a few years ago! :0)

But, who can blame her for wanting to get back to fun times like this? Here she is at her pool! :0)
(Not sure who the guy is....could it be that "open relationship?)

Storytime...

As a Kindergarten teacher, one of my very favorite activities every day was reading to the children. I LOVE children's books...I used to get as excited as the kids when a new book club order would arrive at school---a big box from Scholastic or Trumpet was always cause for celebration!!

Now that my Kindergarten teaching days are behind me, I can still have a great time reading to children at my grandchildren's preschools. I love it!! 3-5 year olds get SOOOO involved in the stories---today one of the books we read was "Chicken Little" and one little boy told me about "his version of Chicken Little where the sky really does fall and out pop aliens with red eyes and pointy claws, and they run all over chasing kids!" And, he was so serious! :0)

Jean and I had a great time, as always, reading to "R's" preschool class...we even remembered cameras so we could record this special memory!

I Know....

Jean keeps reminding me that I need to "update my blog!" I know that I do, but my shoulder is still hurting and my fingers are frozen (below 0 outside tonight is the prediction!)---so, those are good excuses, right?!

We are going to read to "R's" preschool class tomorrow morning...I will take a picture of Aunt Jean "reading" to post here tomorrow!! "R" had a special request for Aunt Jean to come and read, it's a tradition when she is in town!! Oh, and we can't forget to take cookies...that's a tradition, too! :0)

More tomorrow, hopefully!!

OUCH!!!!!

If you ever find yourself with an "inflamed and spasming trapezius muscle" (that is the one highlighted in RED), let me just tell you---OUCH, and not just a "normal ouch", it's a super-duper, 10 out of 10 on the pain scale of "how much does it hurt" OUCH!!!!!!

The crazy part is---I have no clue how it got that way??!! I wish I could say I was doing something really exciting and injured it, but, NO...I woke up in the middle of the night and thought my arm/shoulder was going to fall off!!!

After pacing the floor for 2 nights I decided it was time to seek a professional and get some DRUGS! Why did I wait two nights, did I honestly think it was going to go away by itself???

So, while it's not great, it's soooo much better and I think I am going to make it!!:0)

And, a little shoulder pain isn't going to keep me from scrapbooking!! :0) I'm teaching this adorable mini-album class on Sunday at Paper Pals...there is still time to join me and make this for the Valentine in your life!

A Day For Smiles...

Today, whether you are....young or old, black or white, man or woman, rich or poor...it is a GREAT day to be an American! Our spirits are refreshed and our optimism is renewed...it is a day for smiles!

A Season of Hope...

" I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."...

...I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!"

I hope that today will be more than just a day off work, or a day off school...I hope we will all take a minute to remember the significance of today, how the world is a better place for each of us because of Martin Luther King.

Through our windows... (& "A Special Visitor")

...we have a FABULOUS sunny day! What a "mood lifter" it is. I am inside scrapbooking, doing laundry, cleaning a little...but, every time I look out the windows I smile because there is Mr. Sun shining down and making our part of the world a little more BEAUTIFUL!Last night, when "K" and "R" came to spend the night, "K" brought a special visitor along with her! His name is FLAT STANLEY and he is visiting all the way from Arizona. He is from her cousin, Alli, in Phoenix, and arrived through the USPS "flattened" in an envelope! I think Stanley is having a great time here, but we told "K" we think she needs to make him a coat, hat and gloves---we think his blood is thin and he must be freezing!!

A Visit from Jack Frost...

It is very cold and very foggy!! The "upside" is that it makes the trees and bushes beautiful! See, I'm thinking POSITIVE!! :0)

You can teach an "Old Dog"....

....new tricks!! :0) I have been having fun today playing with Photoshop Elements 7---editing and applying different techniques to my pictures! Oh, my goodness, there is sooo much to learn!! But, the good thing is, I've got nothing but time!

We Have S U N....

...and a great "by-product" of a sunny day is this beautiful SUNset tonight!!

The "S" Word....

You thought I was going to say S N O W didn't you?? Well, we still have plenty, (actually, we have MORE than plenty), but I'm not looking outside today, I'm busy "S"crapbooking and having lots of fun!!! Here are my results:

And, this last layout I "scraplifted" from Scrapbooks, Etc. Page Planner idea book:

Mother Nature....(edited)

....seriously, this has to S T O P!!! We are setting and breaking all snowfall records---clear back to the 1800's!! On a sunny day, like yesterday, it's just beautiful...bright blue skies with sparkling white snow (the kind of days that those of you that don't live in the snow (Jean) think are just glorious! It really romanticizes the idea of "snow!" But, then we have days like today---REALITY...blowing and drifting snow everywhere! All schools and roads within 100 miles are closed! (All those parents that thought their kids were going back to school today after the two week Christmas break---SURPRISE!! :0)

This is the view out our front door and the door to our deck...

You can barely see our "For Sale" sign...how will anyone know they can buy this place??!!And, Jeff came over for a few minutes this morning and got stuck... If it sounds like I'm whining...yep, I AM, it's only January 5th! :0(

Love, Hearts and Everything Valentines...

NO more focusing on the snow for me (even though we have more snow on the ground right now than I have ever seen here in my whole life---no kidding!!) I'm thinking "love, hearts and Valentines" while working on my sample for the Valentine Mini-Album class that I will be teaching at Paper Pals on January 25th, 1-3 PM. Here's a little sneak peek...And, now, I just have to give you a quick look at the ridiculous amount of snow that we have...