I Heart Faces

Here is my photo for this week.Their challenge is the best face in january. And this is the best one I think I took in Jan. when we were sledding.

Happy Birthday, Kirsten

Only a day late and a dollar short. Have been working all weekend and just too tired to get a blog post. Doesn't mean I forgot--just beat. We celebrated Friday night and hopefully I can get this photo of Kirsten and I to post. Hope you had a happy birthday weekend, Kirsten. Love you kirsten and i

Happy Birthday, Harlee and Photo of the Week #4

Today is Harlee's 4th Birthday. Happy Birthday, Princess! Hard to believe she has been with us for 4 years already. The photo is from last evening when we celebrated. Only the cheesy smile of a 4 year old with her birthday cake. She was thrilled with her balloons and even gave one to Nic to play with. She loved her Yukelele from Auntie KnickNack. I guess they were skyping today and singing while Harlee played on. So we shall move on to tomorrow--sunday and celebrate my #1 daughter, Kirsten's birthday. Except I am working all weekend. And it is snowing and blowing and cold out.

Birthday Celebrations!!!!!

Later today we will be celebrating 2 birthdays--Princess Harlee and her mama, Kirsten. Their birthdays are over the weekend, but I am working, so we shall celebrate today. Harlee will be 4, already, and will be having an Arial cake--what else would a Princess Mermaid get. We will go out for dinner, have cake and presents at her house and then take her roller skating for a bit.

How do you say good bye?

It is an obvious fact I work in an area that deals with life and death. Thankfully most of the time we are celebrating the birth of a baby, even though tiny. Today I am putting my thoughts and feelings on the line, because it means so much more. This is very hard for me to do, I am a person that does not share my thoughts and feelings with the world. It just goes to show you that God works in mysterious ways that are out of our control.
A couple of weeks ago I was caring for a tiny micro baby- many tubes, wires, IV's --very technical and you need to have your wits about you at all times taking care of these precious miracles. At the same time, my daughter Caitlin, was leaving the country, getting on a plane and flying thousands of miles across the ocean. Only a mother can understand this feeling of loss. I am so excited for her and her new adventures, because I love to travel and experience new cultures and people. What the heck--I was married in Germany.
Back to the story--this little baby was very sick and I took care of this baby for a few days. But on Sunday 2 weeks ago, I ended up being canceled from my shift by a weird chance of events. This is the day I got the call that Caitlin had been admitted to hospital in Graz, Austria. They wouldn't even let her make the trip back to Vienna, she was so sick. Later that day, I got a call that this tiny baby had also died. God knew I couldn't deal with both of these events. He knew my own baby came first and needed my prayers and support. So, I must say good bye to my little charge and know she is in a better place.
But ending on a happy note, Caitlin is better, started back to school today, with a short day. Has been riding the tram and metro. And hopefully will head off on a German adventure .in about 10 days. Mothers can't help themselves when they worry to death. At least, I can't. And I had to write this to help me have resolution with everything that has gone on the last couple of weeks.

Middle of the Week

Paper and embellishments used are from SEI's Winter Song
Title is American Craft Thickers

Can't believe it's the middle of the week, it is flying along. Partly because I have worked the last 2 days. Now I am off until the weekend. Going to get my hair cut later today. And I have housework to catch up on this morning. Maybe some creative time later today. Getting ready to celebrate birthdays on Friday, since I am working all weekend. Little Harlee will be 4 and her mama, Kirsten celebrates the day after.
But we will celebrate today with a layout of Cait and Nic when we went sledding after Christmas. ,

Page Maps Sketch Challenge

Here is the page maps sketch
And this is my interpretation of that sketch.

Papers- all papers are from Crate paper-Paper doll collection
Embellishments- all chipboard is from Crate Paper -paper doll collection
Doodles were using Crafters Workshop templates
Title cute with paperdoll Quickutz font
Autumn Leaves Journal stamp

90 Minute Scramble

Hero Arts Stamps- H3250 Wild Blossoms
_ LL206 Take Good Care Greetings
Bazzil cardstock
Other paper is from Basic Grey.

I embossed the flower with clear embossing powder and distressed around the flower with Tim Holtz ink- Brushed Corduroy and Tea Dye

This morning I participated in Hero Arts 90 minute scramble. Create a card in 90 minutes with a challenge they give you and post it. This morning you had to use a frame on your card somewhere. I had my Crafter's Workshop templates out for a layout and decided to use the doodles on the card. So in between skyping with Caitlin this morning here is what I came up with.

Happy Birthday, Robyn!!!

Today I need to wish my friend, Robyn, a very Happy Birthday. Enjoy your day in the sunny south of Sedona. Wish Curtis and I could be there with you to help celebrate. This photo is from a couple of years ago when we all went to Phoenix for CE and introduced Robyn to Sedona on our way home. It is a beautiful part of the country to escape to at this time of year in MT.

Photo of the Week #3

This photo represents our Thursday night ritual with Harlee and Nicholas. Kirsten has roller derby practice and Tim drops them off here before he heads to work. They have supper with Nana and Papa and as soon as I get dinner cleaned up they are headed downstairs to swim in Nana's big tub. They love it, but they don't love the jets on. Then we head up to watch a Disney movie before mama returns. I think we all enjoy it.

Today is also a day to celebrate. Cait has been released from the hospital and is in her flat in Austria. Curtis and I skyped with her--she looks good, just tired. She had made the train trip from Graz to Vienna, a taxi to her apartment. After a long nap she visited a grocery store with one of her flat mates to get a few groceries. Quite a strenuous day considering she hasn't really been out of bed for most of the last week. She has 5 more days of oral antibiotics and then the IES Dr. will check her out. Glad things are looking on the bright side finally.

Super Birthday Presents

This post is kind of for Cait so she can see what I bought the grand kids for their birthdays today.
I went to Herbergers to get a new iron(mine is leaking) and they were offering an extra $10 off if you traded in your old one. So I got a good deal on a new iron. Also got a great deal on a new Cuisinart. Then I found these suitcases for H&N. They were such a steal I couldn't pass them up. Dad thinks we should use them as carry ons. I think Harlee will love hers when she gets it in 9 days. Where have those 4 years gone. ?????Way to quickly for this nana. Will save Nic's until his birthday in July when hopefully Cait will be back in GF.

Preparing for Valentine's day

Card for the penny black allsorts Jan challenge


Have been busy making some Valentine's day cards to help me keep my mind off Cait. Although things sound finally better today--she is drinking more and her throat doesn't hurt. I was willing to fly overseas to be with her(the insurance will pay for my flight and hotel) but she would rather I didn't. Don't think she wants to go through good byes again. So, I am hoping she has turned the corner and on her way to recovery and won't miss out on too much more from school.

Winter Wonderland-I Heart Faces Challenge

This is a picture of Cait from last winter when we had all the ice, taken down at Giant Springs. Just wanted to post a picture of her and let her know I am thinking about her across the pond in Austria in a hospital bed. Hope this picture brightens you day and brings back fond memories.

A couple of Layouts

Bo Bunny paper
American Craft Thickers
Cute is from Heidi Swapp



MME papers
Rubons from Scenic Route and Heidi Swapp
Prima flowers with Basic Grey Brads


I have been canceled from work today. We don't have that many babies, but the ones we have are pretty sick. Just too many nurses today. So, I will get a couple of layouts I finished last week posted.
Cait has been sick over in Austria the last couple of days, has been to the doc and on antibiotics and hopefully on her way to recovery. Not good for the mama when you are this far apart.
I guess I get to sit and create today, with an extra day off. Trying to work on some Valentine day cards.

Card for MME blog challenge

Actually got a card completed for MME blog too.

Picture of the Week-#2

This photo is to remind me of all the nature in our backyard. When I took this photo today, within a span of 5 min. there was this flicker, a bunny and a couple of squirrels. Over the weekend we had a hawk in the backyard. Sometimes I can't believe we actually live in town.

Look Out Vienna!

Yesterday morning my baby left for a semester in Vienna, Austria. I am awake writing this as Curtis called around 1230am to let me know she had arrived safely in Amsterdam. She is almost there--just one more flight to Vienna, where she will me up with a friend from UPS and spend the night. Then she meets up with some people from the study abroad crew.
What an adventure she has ahead of her. What an experience---a trip of a lifetime.
Vienna will never be the same after Cait has been there. And she will love it!

MME Blog Challenge-#19(Layout)

Time again for My Mind's Eye Blog Challenge. I am on top of things much better this month.
Again you must use 80% MME product.
And the theme was Winter, which we have had plenty of already.

The pictures are from when we took H&N sledding this past week.

All paper used is from MME
Lost and Found-Madison Avenue"Sister" Lace Paper and "Pretty" Polka Paper
Breaking Free-Flip "n" Flirt "Sisters" Pretty Rad Polka Dot and "Oh So Very Hot" Beach Babe Paper
Brads are from Lost and Found Madison Avenue"Happily Ever After"
American Craft Glitter Letter Thickers
Quickutz Sunshine Font for the remainder of title
Cut out brown cardstock circles and cut them in half

Picture of the Week

Week One,


I have decided to post a picture of the week. Don't think I can keep up with Robyn and Curtis with posting a picture a day like they do==Kudos to them. But I think posting a picture a week is a realistic goal for me.
Here is my photo of the week.
It is a photo of Nic and Caitlin on the sled today. They both are so happy in this shot.

Just a Little Winter Fun

Today I was off work and so were Kirsten and Tim. So, I suggested we take the grandkids sledding at Giant Springs. It was a great day to be out there-no other people and it wasn't too cold out. I think they had fun. Harlee wanted to make a snow angel and we were able to find an unmarked area of snow that we could appease her. Nic went down the hill a couple of times with nana and just wanted to eat all the snow. I hope we wore him out a little with all the walking up the hill. Mator went along for the fun too.

BackYard Visitor

Yesterday morning, I opened up the blinds and saw this huge Flicker in the backyard. Curtis had just gone downstairs and I told him to get up to the back door with his camera. I had tried last week to get a shot of this bird, but he was too quick for me and flew away, just as I got back with the camera. But, yesterday he managed to hang around for a bit and we got a few shots. He seems to like the left over crab apples back there.

Page Map Challenge

This is my take on the sketch on the page map blog.

Page map sketch

Paper from MME- sophie collection
Basic grey rubbon
various buttons

Happy New Year

100 Proof Press stamp
Hero Arts Friendly Greetings stamp-LL692


Graphic 45 goodness


Savvy stamp
memory box stamp


Josephinekimberling for Impress stamp
Savvy stamp

First of all Happy New Year to all my family and friends that follow my blog. I am hoping that 2011 will be better than last year. Worked a 12 hour shift yesterday, so missed getting a real New Year's post up. Tried to watch a movie with Cait last night, but missed the last 45 minutes. So, I will have to re-watch it as I take down decorations and the tree today. Putting a turkey in the oven--so we will have a yummy dinner. Got Cait's flight back to Seattle booked so she can get her flight to Austria next week. Robyn wanted me to do a PAD like she and Curtis do. But that is an unrealistic goal for me, so I will try to do a picture a week. I am going to try and take pictures of ALL projects I make. Missed out on the cute items I made for my niece and her hubby for Christmas.
Fell on the slippery snow in the parking lot going into work yesterday morning and bruised and sprained my hand. Didn't start hurting until it was almost time to go home last evening. On an up note Curtis' knee is doing better.