Halloween has Arrived!

And with it cooler, rainy and windy weather.  Hopefully it will clear by tonight.  Kirsten's crew will be here for dinner.  We get pizza as it is quick and easy when the kids are so excited.  And no fighting to gobble it up!

Yesterday I bagged up some leaves that I had raked up on Sat. When Coop was here.  Also pushed the lawn mower around in the front yard to mulch up the leaves.  Not sure why, now that it is windy and blowing the rest down???  Curtis and I also went out for a late lunch.  I ordered this steak and squash ravioli.  The ravioli were excellent!  Was so disappointed with the steak.  It was not cooked enough and rather on the tough side.  This was a steak house we went to and we cook better in our own kitchen.  

I also had this new Memory Box grand stag die I wanted to use.

And created these 2 cards:

I want to link them up to the Memory Box oct. challenge where you were to use sequins.

And also to the Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge where Anything Goes.

Happy Halloween to all my blogger friends out there!  

Basketball Season

Has returned in full force.  Harlee has only had a couple of practices, but had her first game Friday evening!  This nana was on basketball routine since both the parents were working and Curtis had taken a Red Cross blood run.

I pick her up after school and ask her if she has her bb gear in her backpack??  She looks at me like I have 2 heads or something.  "No, nana", Was the respose.  I ask her if the magical bb fairy was going to deliver it??  I head to our house, because I thought we had a key to her house.  And yes we do, but not to their dead bolt, we find out.  I text her mum and she says to call Tim since his work is only a few blocks away!  Dad to the rescue!  I told her she needs to be better organized for this week, as I will be working and papa won't be thinking ahead.  

 And, of coarse, the game is all the way across town.  But she plays a good game and gets a couple of baskets, which makes her real happy!  This is at least her 3rd season to play and there are girls on her team who have never played before.  So, it makes it a little lop sided.  

Always fun to watch these young ones!

Yesterday, Curtis and I minded all the grandkids.  Their mum was working and their dad went hunting.

It was a pretty good day.  At one point, Cooper thought he should have his sister's markers and there was marker on my wood floors. Thank goodness for Boma wood cleaner.  Cleaned it right up.  Had to take Harlee for basketball team photos.  That was a waste of time, since only 4 girls showed up from a team of 9 or 10.  I baked some Halloween cookies and Harlee helped me decorate them!

I ran a plateful up to the NICU to help them get through the night!

Nic would stayed glued to the computer if you let him!  Notice the bow tie!!!!! He loves dress up shirts, ties and hats!

The little man and I went out to rake some leaves!

All in all it was a pretty good day.  Cooked a spaghetti dinner and they all ate up.  And were here until after 6:30.  It will be a quiet day today.  Work also thought I should be working this weekend too!

North, you Say!

That as the direction we headed out yesterday morning.  And if you travel slightly under 2 hours due north, you hit the Canadian border.  It is all flat land without hardly a turn in the road! It was a quick stop at the border and on one more hour to Lethbridge, Alberta.  A visit to a few stores to stock up on some favourite goodies before the snow flies.  We will be headed back early in the spring as I need to renew my passport.  

The craziest thing about the whole trip is that I can write an American check in the Canadian Costco!!!  That is just insane.  They won't take my CC.  I just about fell on the floor the first time they told me it was either cash or I could write a check.  I can hardly write checks in town at local businesses, but I can in a foreign country. Can you beat that one??

Lunch at a favourite establishment- Swiss Chalet.  You can always count on getting a decent meal here.

And the rule is to come back with a box of Tim Bits for Kirsten's crew.  We had to have a small box for the drive home.  Their coffee is so good.  Much  better than the famous Starbucks here!

I have a story to tell about Tim Hortons for another day!

Our last stop for the day was Canadian Tire!  Love this place.  Not only can you find every car part in the world, the have lots of kitchen goodies, household items, skates and bikes for kids!  They were in the process of stocking their store for that big December holiday!  Ad I found this little guy!

If you know me, you know I love Santas and have quite a collection.  They sit in a glass cabinet until the month of Dec.  This guy will be headed to my big bay window.

One little layout to share.

This photo was taken near Perth, Australia.  My feet in the Indian Ocean.  

Not quite the Weekend I Anticipated!

I had a wake up call from work on Sat. Morning at 6 am to see if I would go in as they had a no show!  I declined and went about my morning.  I wanted a quiet day after running most of the week with grandkids.  I ran to the grocery store among other things.  When I came home there was an SOS message go out from work.  They were admitting babaies and and needed more staff as it was unsafe.  So, I told them I would go in and I was the only one that did go in.  And, I also volunteered for Sunday morning.  And finished out with a 12 hour shift yesterday.  

When was the last time we had 14 or 15 babies.  They have let our staff dwindel down to minimal numbers.  And at this rate staff burns out so quickly.  They can only do so much extra.  I put in over 3 miles walking around our unit yesterday.  

And then I managed to sprain my foot when I came home Sunday afternoon.  Thankfully I had good supportive shoes on when it happened.  My foot is very bruised and sore!  Work is lucky I was able to work on it yesterday.  

Was up again early this morning to drive Curtis to the airport.  An Avis run to Idaho Falls.  

Took a few photos of Coop last week.  

One last little card.

Think Pink

That is the topic for this weeks challenge on Simon Says Stamp Wed. Challenge.

It is breat cancer awareness month, you know!

I created a Christmas card using non-traditional colours

Using some Memory Box dies and the glittery tree is a Frantic stamper die.  

And some twinery twine.

Loving not have to get out the door by 8.  Sometimes we take things for granted.  

Yesterday Curtis did a Red Cross Blood run to Missoula.

I got the house back in order after having grandkids here.  Vacuumed through and mopped floors.

I went to the hospital and got my flu shot as they were starting to send me irritating phone texts I didn't have mine yet.  I like to wait until the end of Oct. so it carries me through longer into the spring.

So trying to drink lots of fluids and take Tylenol.  

Work called at 6 this morning to see if I would go in.  I declined. They said they had a no show, which is very unusual for outpr unit.  They also called yesterday afternoon for help.  I said I could go in after I dropped Curtis off, but they declined my help.  

Have been reorganizing my dies and getting some into better packaging, so I don't actually lose them.

And obviously working away on my Christmas cards.

She's Back.

Kirsten flew back from Dallas this afternoon and we were there to welcome her home.

They could see the plane land from here.  Harlee thought it was going too fast and that worried her.  Cooper wanted to be on the other side of the glass and I kept telling him he needed a ticket to do that.  So, when we were driving home he was asking his mum for a ticket.  

Watching, watching!

The boys see their mum

Coop could hardly wait to get to her!

All back together again.

I went to get the boys this morning and brought them here.  The big kids are out of school for a 4 day weekend.  They all were good.  Cooper is the hotdog kid.  He loves them.  

This is a card I made with Concord and 9 stamps and dies.

It is a versatile set for this part of the country.

Wednesday Woes!

Actually having a pretty good week!  Surviving having Harlee around and getting her to her various activities.  Last night was her first basketball practice.  It is a short week for her at school.  They are off  tomorrow and Friday.  Got her laundry all caught up yesterday.

She is at school by 7:50 to eat breakfast.  And she wasn't moving very fast this morning.  

The sun coming up after I dropped her at school yesterday morning.

Then I came home and mowed grass, hopefully for the last time.  It was certainly long in our backyard.  

First time mowing since I was sick.

And Curtis did an Avis run to Idaho Falls yesterday.  That is close to a 12hr run.  Went to pick him up from the airport after BB practice.  That meant we didn't even get in until after 7pm last evening.  Good thing it was left overs for dinner.

Created this cute little card. I think I will create a couple more to use as winter birthday cards.

The background was created using Tim Holtz distress inks.  Dies from Memory Box and Lawn Fawn.

The stamped image is from a Penny Black stamp

And the sweet sentiment is from Concord and 9th.

A Little Reality Check!!

Read on the computer today it is only 10 weeks until Christmas.  Kind of freaked me out!  Practiacally erasing Sept. Off the calendar with being sick has put me behind the eight ball!!  Usually I have a lot more of my shopping tackled by now!  

But I have a good chunk of my Christmas cards made.  I stamped, coloured and cut out some images over the weekend.  It was so windy on the weekend, blowing across the plains after being the big storm on the coast.  

They were coloured with distress inks and a water brush, since I really don't have a lot of Copic markers!

Today they were made into cards.

The stamps are from MFT/ Die-Namics.  So is the stitched circle.  

The tree die is from Frantic Stamper

Yesterday, I was up and out the house early to take Kirsten to the airport for 5:30am.  She was headed to Dallas curtesy of Subaru.  She is a Subaru ambassador and her airfare, hotel and meals are all paid for.  She seems to be having a good time and is there until Thursday.

So the rest of us hold the fort down with the kids.  Harlee is here with us.  It was quite the feat to get her up, pack lunch and out the door before 8am.  Cooper has joined us this evening, while Tim took Nic to Scouts.  

Busy Week!

After a relaxing, crafty weekend! It's been a busy week!

Monday, it was Canadian Thanksgiving!  It is a tradition this household celebrates each year! 

Of coarse,  the girls cooked

Of coarse, the guys relaxed.  

Harlee as photographer!

We have had a couple of snow falls since I last posted!  And our low last night was 17F.  Brrrrrrr......

I worked a 12 hour shift yesterday in the NICU.  It was busy!  Between the phone and the secure door I just about went crazy.   With a headache on top of everything.  Today I headed back for a few hours to cover for a dental appt.  And a few more tomorrow.  

Another Australia layout as we ailed closer to The Great Barrier Reef.

Happy Birthday!

To my sister, Lauree on the other side of the country.

I hope she has had a wonderful day!

Her family is just starting with birthdays , while mine is done!

It was a couple days of creating at the Central MT Creative Rendvous.  Got quite a few pages to my Australia album finished and my Halloween cards.  

I was tired after working a busy shift on Thursday.  Couldn't quite figure out what to pack and just waited until Friday morning before I went.  It was great to reconnect with my scrapping friends.  

Ths weekend is also Canadian Thanksgiving,which we will celebrate tomorrow.  Pies are bakesd and stuffing is made.  Turkey also thawed out.  

These huge mushrooms can be found in my backyard!

And they are predicting snow for tomorrow with high only in the 30's!  And lots of snow for the mountains.  It is coming early this year!  Today, we covered up our AC unit and brought in hoses!  And got the bird feeders filled up.  

I did this layout of the emus we saw in Adelaide, Australia.

I Love Fall Most of All!!!!!

It is my favourite season!

The temps are cooler!  Although walking in 36F misty weather like I did this morning and pouring rain yesterday aren't so wonderful.  We have had significant rain and outside the city at higher elevations they are getting snow!  

I was suppose to work yesterday morning, but ended up being on call only.  So, I worked away at home.  For some reason I decided I should clean my oven when I couldn't really open up!  I am sure Curtis wasn't impressed.  I cleaned bathrooms.  I changed the bed and vacuumed through.  

So, my afternoon was free to create away.  

Made this awesome little card using Memory Box dies, Impression Obsession dies and a Pretty Pink Posh frame die.  

Linking it up with Simon Says Stamps Wednesday challenge, where anything goes!

October has Arrived!

It is also National Card Making Day.  Yes, I did make a card.

I got back from my conference in Billings last evening around 7:30 and Curtis arrived shortly there after.

It was a pretty good conference, although it had more  OB topics than neonatal.    Did a littke retail therapy.  And enjoyed the company of some co-workers!

The last few days have been beautiful.  This afternoon it clouded up and got some rain.

Glad it held off as Curtis and Harlee went on a photo walk this morning.  

I was doing some catch up at home.  

I used 2 of Tim Holtz dies and. Savy stamp image, which I coloured and cut out.