Girl with infectious smile

This is my daughter's youngest girl, doesn't she have the cutest smile? She has a dimple in her chin just like her dad.

'Laff" of the day

I received this birthday card from a friend yesterday and I just had to post! thanks Connie!

Two of my friends and I are off to a stamping convention 'up north' this weekend and I thought this card was too cute not to post. I will let you know how the convention went next week!

It's not TOO bad

This is my 'long' weekend, when I have Friday off. I have soooooooooo much to do that it's a good thing, right??? Thursday afternoon I had my grandson, after he went home and hubby left for bowling I sat down in my living room and priced a suitcase full of stamps for the used stamp sale in Sayner. That took me all night! Next weekend is the stamping convention in Sayner. I am going with 2 friends. I really look forward to it!!!

Friday morning I had an eye appointment at Shopko so I took my bff along (the one with the broken ankle) she really needed to get out of the house. I really don't NEED new glasses at this time, but mine are 4 years old, and we don't have insurance.......but I decided to order new ones anyway. I am going to order them on Senior Citizens day and say myself 15%, it's certainly better than nothing.

By the time we left Shopko it was lunch time........I am becoming a "lady who lunches" (Friday night, Sunday aft, Monday aft, Tuesday night, and now Friday aft again). We ate at Wendy's...both of us were counting our pennies.

After we ate we hit Goodwill, my friend and I are avid thrift shoppers and since she can not walk we are limited where we can go. After a couple of hours and bargains later we were both 'done' and just went home. AHA, what did you get at Goodwill you ask???? Four rubber stamps (4 for $5). I made the card below using one of my new stamps (I am not sure if I like the IMAGINE). I also picked up a pair of BB shorts for my nephew (clearanced for .99), 2 soup bowls that match my dishes, new & adorable photo frame that says "what happens at Grandmas stays at Grandmas", a darling pink purse photo book for my granddaughter (when a grandchild stays with me I make a photo book for them to keep), a really cool book for my grandson, and of course, a chocolate candy bar for the ride home. I did need to replenish my energy, right????

Oh no, the day is not over yet, ...........hubby had to go to Walmart to get a phone battery for the older neighbor lady he helps out. So I decided to go with him to buy a hula hoop for one of my granddaughter's birthday gifts. I picked up groceries while we were there too. I would have liked to look around a little more but hubby was ready to go 5 minutes after we got there, he had what he wanted and was finished shopping.

After we got home I packed all the groceries away and reheated some leftovers for myself, hubby was not hungry. I watched most of JAMIE OLIVER'S FOOD REVOLUTION (I missed the last 10 minutes b/c I came downstairs to make a card and the TV in the basement would not get the channel it was on. I will watch it on HULU http://www.hulu.com/ You can watch nearly anything there, for free!

I have been stressed b/c I have so much to do and I am never home but when I am I am babysitting and nothing gets done. If only I didn't have so many hobbies or any grandkids my house would be spotless and I could relax all the time. But what fun would that be???? Guess I will keep my hobbies and grandkids!!!!!

This afternoon is J's birthday party, he will come home with us b/c he always stays overnight on Saturday nights here. He stays here Saturday nights, his brother stays at the other grandparents, one of my granddaughters stays at her other grandmas on Saturday nights. That NEVER happened when I was raising my kids........where did I go wrong??? Before we know it they will grow up and be too 'cool' for grandma & grandpa so I will enjoy the bonding time while I can.

Next week will be just as busy. I am thankful that I am able to do all that I have been. I will get as much housework done as I can and it will be fine. Life is good!!!

Award -my first

CRAFTINQUE Thanks for the sunshine award! :-) I also enjoy reading your blog, keep up the good work.

Flowers

Aren't these sooooooooo pretty??? I got them for 'Administrative Assistants' day (secretary's day). They look so good sitting on my table and they smell good too.

Spring cards

Here are a few of the cards I made at the Stampin' Up stamp-a-long earlier this week.

It just happened that I needed a BD card for my bff, who wasn't able to attend the Stamp-a-long.

Birthday season

We all are aware of the various holiday seasons..........but our family celebrates another 'popular' season............the BIRTHDAY SEASON. Oh yes, it is real and starts in early spring (Feb, to be exact).
Feb 15 - one grandson, then we move to
Mar with a nephew and son law, and off to the big one -
April 4 - granddaughter
12 - bff
15 - grandson
23 - grandson
26 - sister
30 - me, and no, it doesn't end here
May 1 - my mom
10 - brother & grandma (both have passed)
19 - son
25 - granddaughter
June 13 -son
Then we get a break until August.
There are also a few anniversaries and friends birthdays in spring that I remember too. Our adult children are lucky to get a card (sorry - it doesn't mean we don't care, it just means I am scatterbrained, concentrate on the kids, and forget the adults).

And I know some of you have asked for my wish list, instead of emailing it to a few people I will post it here for the world to see. ***wink***
cards, live flowers to plant, cordless mouse for my laptop, removable glue for my Slice, dark chocolate, a visit from the Style TV channel's program 'CLEAN HOUSE', any scrapbooking/card making supplies, gift cards, a few extra hours in the day, clothing steamer, PDQ car wash certificates, lunch at Red Lobster, Olive Garden and such.....I like different and unique things.

If you leave me a comment and wish me Happy Birthday I'd be plenty happy, I don't need a thing.

Free & cheap fonts and printables for scrapbooking

Letting Delights has GREAT fonts and clip art for scrapbooking and card making. Check them out. LETTERINGDELIGHTS I forgot all about this site that I could have used for my Easter stuff.

What I did today........

My plan for today was to stay home and clean up my stamping area. Since I didn't have to go out I could even stay away from the thrift store. The day started out good, I was up early, read my email, blogged, had a short phone conversation, showered, and dressed. and then.........my sister in law called asked if I wanted to go out to lunch........so I did. We shopped at Kohl's and I helped her save over $100. LOL It was after 3 when I got home so I changed clothes and came downstairs to clean....and got interrupted by the Internet. I finally started to clear off my table when I found this tag from a clothing purchase. It has a clear plastic piece over paper attached with an eyelet. Under the plastic are the pretty circles and a word. I covered the brand name with punched paper circles and layered it onto a card front and am calling it a card. I was going to go back to cleaning my table but my bff called to tell me what the ortho had to say about her ankle...........and now Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is on TV here....so once again no cleaning of my stamping area.
If you don't watch it check out the website and see what he is all about. Don't forget to sign the petition!!!

High points and Low points

The other day I was listening to a christian radio program over the noon hour (as usual) and they were discussing ways to talk to your family. You know how your kids say OK or just grunt when you ask about their day at school....the suggestion was to share the low point & high point of your days. My low point yesterday was not being able to balance my bank deposit, I added and re added for hours and even had hubby count money. My high point was in the afternoon when the local radio station called me with a cash call and I WON!!! $21.73 won't make me rich but the last 2 times they called we didn't know it. My high point today was at 2:15 AM when I figured out why the money didn't come out in yesterdays deposit. It had been really bothering me and I woke up and was thinking about it..........my low point came at the same time.....I owe the $40 I was off, but at least now it is settled.

Wanna read yet another 'blond' story??? Yesterday I decided to make muffins from a recipe that I copied from a magazine in the library. I mixed it and it was REALLY thin so I figured I must have copied it wrong (1 cup oatmeal and 2 cups milk).......I thought and thought and then baked as directed and it was just as I suspected: very tasty oatmeal for a group of people. So now I will be eating oatmeal for days.
1 C old fashioned oats
1/4 C dried cherries, cranberries, apples (etc)
1 T brown sugar
2 C fat free milk
1/2 C chunky applesauce
1/2 teas almond extract
2 T sliced almonds
Mix everything except the almonds and place in a 3 cup baking pan sprayed with Pam. Sprinkle almonds on top. Bake at 350 (uncovered) for 40 -45 min. top with vanilla yogurt.
It really is good and I hope it reheats well.

I tell all these 'blond stories' because I'd rather have you laugh with me than at me. As a kid I was shy, skinny, and the only redhead in town. I got teased sooooooooooo much and hated it.

Today's treasures

Since I had the day to myself I hit some thrift shops - at the local store where I shop all of the time, I got: a complete pirate costume for one of my grandsons (includes pants, mask, shirt, and belt), brand new leather Amnity wallet, vintage table cloth and I think that's all. I got it all for the grand total of $3.50. Next I stopped at the consignment shop (in my mom's day it was called the resale shop) and picked up my $9.00 in sales but spent it on a $10 fused glass pendant in 'my colors'. I stopped at another thrift store and got an Easter basket for next year (at 1/2 price), a sleeveless top for me, and something else, for ??? After that I was off to Menards to get a new microfiber mop (the one I had and really liked has a broken handle). I used a $10 rebate check a friend had given to me :-) The new mop is OK, but I liked my old one much better.

No Parents Allowed and on and on........

OK, first of all I will admit that I have control issues........I like to be in control of "my" plans. Secondly I'll say that I will go along with others ideas, unless it is "my" plan.

Saturday night J & I colored Easter eggs.........grandpa refused. I was pleased when J chose to put on a cross sticker on one of the eggs first 'to remind us of Jesus'.

We had a nice Easter.........I guess. It was good to have some of the kids & grandkids here. I really wish I could have ALL of my kids and grandkids here!!!!

Grandson J & I went to church. While we were at church hubby hid the eggs for the hunt (after our Easter egg hunt 'talk' - see my first statement). I made a simple buffet dinner of ham, turkey, scalloped potatoes, cheesy potatoes, corn, rolls, broccoli/cauliflower salad, deviled eggs. Jessica and Michele brought food also. My kitchen is narrow and too small to have people hangin' out in. I am glad they want to, but it makes me nuts. I'm muttering: "I hate this, I'm never doing this again" as I pull out (of the oven) cheesy potatoes and scalloped potatoes that didn't turn out. I burned a dozen rolls. BUT since I always have extra food I did have enough. :-) After eating we did the egg hunt, I decided that M (19 mos) should go first, then J, and a couple of minutes later the two 6 yr old boys. They boys each had 16 eggs to find.......but when did I say the parents got to go???? I distinctly thought the parents were only to help after the boys searched for themselves.........so next year NO PARENTS ALLOWED.

I think everyone had a good time, even me. The guys played cards in the family room....where the toys are, so most of the time the kids were down there. We, gals, were quite pleased to have some peace and quiet in which to visit (after 6 years of kids, kids, kids interrupting) in the living room. With the help of Michele I got all of the dishes done and the kitchen mostly clean (the floor will get cleaned today).

Guess what??? No kids today! I love my grandkids, I really do! but sometimes I need a day to do what I NEED to do.....and today is it. I had hoped to have coffee/tea with a friend, but her son is on spring break this week so that plan fell flat.

This weeks agenda: Monday - run errands, clean, etc
Tuesday - work and Red Hats in the evening
Wednesday - work and babysit in the evening
Thursday - pick up J at 11 and babysit all afternoon
Friday - another free day Woo Hoo

P.S. After reading the recipe for the 4th time I figured out why my cheesy potatoes were really runny..........the recipe called for 2 pounds of hash browns, not 2 cups. I thought 2 cups was not much but I reread it and it said 2 cups (or so I thought).

Spring has sprung!

It's so good to see some flowers blooming. We are close to the 'big Lake' so it is always cooler here :-( and that is why my flowers are late. This is the time of year that I really, really hate living close to the lake.........all we ever hear is "cooler by the lake". The lawns are getting green, much to hubby's consternation, I am sure. I LOVE spring & summer.

If it was only this easy!

I saw this in a magazine and just had to post it.

Colorful Easter bunny card

I love my punches..........can you tell???? I did stamp a greeting in the inside. I think he is so cute.

Easter bunny cards

I made these bunnies for my grandkids that I will mail to. I tucked a chocolate bunny and money into them. I couldn't find my googly eyes so had to use plain old paper.