Christmas Program

Tis the season to go to school Christmas programs and where will you find my sweet 3rd grade boy...on the sidelines snuggled up to grandma. I asked Mitch why he won't sing with his class and in a very serious voice he stated "I don't sing because I'm a Scorpio, Scorpio's only dance" and needless to say his grandma and myself couldn't stop laughing all through the program and then all the way home. This is only some of the funny things he says on a daily bases. When the classes were dissmissed all the families left through the other doors, we heard him telling his teacher why he wouldn't sing and when we saw him he was dancing away down the halls. Next week he will sing but not dance, it changes from day to day, make that minute by minute.

We had SNOW in Las Vegas

Snow in Vegas, UNHEARD OF!!! Now every so often we get flurries but nothing the kids can ever play in but yesterday Dec, 17 2008 we had snow for a couple hours and when it stuck the kids made snowballs and walked around in it. I took lots of pictures and made a comfort food that reminds me of winter...LOL....no not soup, although if I had the stuff for soup I surely would have made it, we had homemade turkey potpie....it was so warm and rich and yummy....so unlike our bone chillin temperatures. Some of my kids were MIA and the ones that were around (my youngest 3) played and tried to catch snowflakes in their mouth. I had wished for snow and I got it. The only downfall is that Ub couldn't go to work and that is scary...that means our only check to Christmas shop with will have one day of work on it....This was such a fun day and one the kids will remember because the schools got closed for the day (today, Thursday Dec, 18th 2008) I know to some it's funny because we get 2 inches of snow but in this town that NEVER gets snow we aren't equipped for it. Las Vegas has 2 snow plows...LOL...and they are up in the mountains. It's been a fun day but very VERY cold. I don't even own a pair of pants...LOL...just Capri's...and I can't remember what a pair of socks feels like on my feet....wait do I own socks??? hmmmm must check that out. I am such a desert rat. Have a happy holidays everyone.

1 of my Christmas cards

I belong to a monthly stamp club and the Stampin Up demonstrator made this card (she found it on the internet) I of course had to alter the card to make my own. She did hers on all white and being the layering person I am I had to add the Ridinghood Red and the Baja Breeze to make the layers. The snowflakes were stamped in Baja Breeze then I used Dazzling Diamonds to glitter them. The tree and bird were stamped in Basic Brown. I made 5 of these cards....I am, for the first time EVER sending out Christmas cards. I love getting them but I hated sitting down and writing them all out...LOL...I have more cards I am going to make, the stuff just hasn't come yet. Thanks for looking and have a Merry Christmas.

Happy Birthday Steven

Steven is 19 today, yes I had kids 1 year and 1 day apart. I loved having kids so close together. Time flies by and you come to a birthday and you think wow he can't really be 19 already. When your kids are turning 5 or 10, you think That was fast but when they are 19 and 20, time, you realize really did zoom by you and took your kids with it. Steven hasn't always been an easy child to raise but now that he is older he has mellowed and we figured out why he was how he was. With proper meds and a great Dr. we got him to where he can be a happier Steven and that life is so different for him now. He has a smile on his face that isn't forced and a new outlook on life. He is such a sweet kid and I love him as much now as the day I gave birth to him. Where did this last 19 years go and where will the next 19 years take us. All I know is I can't wait to see what all you will accomplish. I love you Steven and Happy happy birthday!

It's been awhile

I love blogging but sometimes there never seems to be enough time to get everything done in one day or week. Yesterday I had a son turn 20. I just don't know how to feel about that. I love turning new corners with my kids but this corner could have slowed down just a bit. I didn't get a picture on his 20th birthday because he spent 4 days with his girlfriend in California and won't be home until tonight sometime. He is our fearless, crazy, lovable, smart, goofy, and sensitve son. I love this kid dearly. He is the oldest of 7 kids and sometimes he acts younger then my 10 year old but the only regret I have with Josh is that I couldn't convince him to stay in school. He now realizes what a mistake dropping out was. I recently told him that God has a master plan for all of us. That maybe he was going to have kids one day that wanted to do much of the same as he did and that knowing what a huge mistake it was, he will be able to help his child through this choice. Without having lived this himself he may not have known how to effectively handle this situation years from now. I believe we make mistake to learn by them and he in turn will help his kids one day. Happy Birthday Josh, I love you.

Costumes and dinner...

I finally found some time to add Halloween night. I made chilli with jack-o-lantern cut outs and some mummy hot dogs. I have been trying to do fun foods for holidays. It makes for fun pages and my kids love it. I had it so easy this year my boys wanted to be construction workers like dad...so we dug out tool belts and the bigger one (Jeremy) found my hubbys harness. I found old coolers for their trick or treat bags. the only thing missing was the worn workboots. Zachary went around with us and dressed as a military guy. This is a neighbor I don't even know but I had to take a pic of the costume....I love Halloween and this year my kids coolers were clear full.

Halloween...LOL...I am so behind

We went to a friends house this year to carve pumpkins and we had a blast. I love carving them the day of Halloween. If we carved them early they would go bad here in the desert. This time of year is one of my all time favorites. I just wish we had cooler weather to go along with the fall season. I look at this picture and it saddens me in some ways. I have 7 kids and only 5 are here carving pumpkins. I hate that my kids are growing up and yet I delight with each grown up step they make. My next post will be the Halloween dinner I did with my kids costumes....Thanks for bearing with me in playing catch up.

Voted Early!

So my oldest son can now vote and we went on Halloween to vote early. Why didn't I think to take my good camera!!!ugggg....Thank goodness my cellphone has a camera. So I snapped this pic of Josh just coming out of the voting poll. We are keeping our ballots and the "I voted" stickers and I will do a page with the results for him. Should be fun. Next time I will have more voting. I should have had my other 2 voting but by the time I thought about it it was to late to register them. Next time.... We are huge Obama supporters and can't wait to see if he blows the old goat out of the water...sorry a bit of my father just took over....LOL....anyway this is an exciting time for America, regardless of who wins. Some say scary, but I feel a much needed change...I guess we will know tonight if America will finally get the change needed to turn this country around or if it will be 4 more years of the same old S@#@....

I Have Been a Slacker and now I have much to catch up on.

Back in October I had 2 birthday kids and I never got them added to my blog....shame on me... Jillian turned 18 and Zachary turned 17. I have a picture of Zachary on his actual birthday but Jillian was sporting an attitude that day and her picture turned out really bad. Now normally I take tons of pictures but for some reason didn't. We did however go to a park for all the birthday people in our family so I have those photos to share. I took a picture of Jillian, Zachary, Lou Ann, and Jasmine who all share a birthday in October.

Jillian and I have read all 4 books in the twilight series and are counting down the days until Twilight hits the movie theaters. We are seeing the midnight opening with a couple friends and I can't wait. Marci at scrapbook.com had this quiz on her blog to see which character I am and I am level headed Bella....LOL.....I am anything but level headed...LOL...ok so maybe in my old age I am more mellow then I used to be. Anyway I just thought any of you Twilight fans might like this little quiz as we all wait for the release of the movie....

I just had to show you one more thing

I LOVED this cute idea. Inside those cute little Frankies are those yummy huge Hershey bars. Is that the cutest idea EVER. I'm sure if you have kids and want to scale this down you can make it to fit the regular Hershey bars. I have a studly little 13 year old (LOL) that wants to make this for his girlfriend and I thought it would be a fun gift to give teachers but for friends or your kids class the regular bars would be perfect. Also if you are having a Halloween party wouldn't this be an adorable prize. The lady who came up with this idea has a blog with TONS of super cute ideas and I have the link just for you.

I want to make sure that Dawn (who made this cute Frankie) gets the credit. Please check out her blog, she has a great video of how she made it with measurements, if you are interested.

FRANKIES

The products she used on this was:

Old Olive cardstock

Lovely Lilac

1 3/8 circle punch

arrow punch

1 inch circle punch

If you are interested in any of these products click on my Stampin Up book on the left and it will take you to my website where you can shop till your hearts content.

Thanks everyone

Susan

My Favorite blogger ever..

I haven't been around many blogs yet but I am learning. If you want a blog that just makes you smile then I have one for you. Estee Lynn is just incredible, I found her on mosh-posh.com, a scrapbooking kit club that I love. I checked out her blog and I have been hooked. You can just feel the love she has for her family and she gives out the most awesome recipes I have ever tasted. You can find her here . I love her sense of humor and of course her scrapbooking pages but her recipes have been wonderful.

I just made this one
Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchilada
and this one
Zucchini Bread
They were so delicious. The chessy chicken enchiladas were my WHOLE families favorite and I have 10 to feed. Everyone of the kids ate it and loved it.

The Zucchini bread was a hit and was gone before the day ended and so I just bought more zucchini to make more. Poor Ub (my hubby) never even got a bit. The next thing I plan on making is her Lemon cupcakes. They look wonderful. I'll let you know.

See you all next time.

I am trying something out

I am a Stampin Up demonstrator and we now have online ordering. Having 7 kids, makes life hard to get out of my house to go to work so I signed up so long ago but never turned it into a business until last November. So far I have had really good luck and now Stampin Up has online ordering which makes it great if you are in between my classes and want to place an order, or you see one of my stamping project and want to order any of what I used. Anyway they are offering a video of a new product that I love for Halloween and I want to see if the link is successful and works. If not I may just try linking my Stampin Up website. Here it goes, click this link to see how easy it is to make this cute card for Halloween.

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/mycreativecorner/distPages/projectDetail.soa?easyTemplatePages.id=121582&easyTemplatePageType=1&listPageNumber=1&url=

This set is so fun and this months club I am using it on a page so stay tuned for my page and card. Thanks for looking and I hope you keep me in mind if you are ever in need of stamps or scrapbooking supplies. You would really be helping me and my business out.

My hero

Why did I ever put up this topic when it was a hard one...LOL...I guess my hero would have to be my parents. I know that it isn't just one but together they were amazing and individual they were incredible. They both taught my sister and I so much, to bad we were way to smart back then and knew EVERYTHING.....I probably more then my sister. My dad had to put up with ALOT. I am a Gemini, and so true to my sign (Sherron quit smiling and shaking your head yes) and let just say that I never learned to hold anything back. He was old fashioned in all of his beliefs and was such a hard worker. He supported us in all of our endeavors. He was the disciplinarian and mom was by far more lenient. He kept us in line and mom showed us that to make a mistake was ok. My mother is my rock. I barely always ask her opinion and value what she has to say. I don't always agree and let her know when I don't but I do take her opinion into consideration when I make my desicion. My parents let my hubby and I move with them almost 17 years ago. That couldn't have been an easy choice as we had 3 kids and a 5 day old baby, but they did and even though sometimes things are hectic my family love the arrangment. It worked out great for my mom. A year after we moved in my dad passed away and if we hadn't been here I'm not sure where she would be. My mom is legally blind and has very limited vision, she never complains or ever use it as any excuse. I hope that if I loose anything as important, like my site, I will have the same attitude as she does. I know she wishes she could still drive and work but again never a complaint ever leaves that ladies mouth. She is strong in personality and she has raised my sister and I to be strong women. Having them as parents, I would say that Sherron and I were very lucky. We were raised with great values and standards. We turned out to be respectable and fun loving women. I would say I pushed the limits with my dad more then Sherron but he dealt with me without ever laying a hand on me....My mom spanked and yet I didn't fear her punishment, my dad took things away and yelled and that terrified me....LOL...go figure...as a kid I figured spank me and get it over with but please do put me on restriction....LOL....course restricting me was like a life sentence to my parents....hee hee hee. I wasn't an easy restrictee....Sherron was more mellow and still is, so I think life was easier for her (sher correct me if I'm wrong) you learned fast and I had to push the envelope ALWAYS....but regardless we always knew they both loved us and know matter what we knew they were there for us. They are and will forever be my heros.

I got a page done

I can't believe I actually sat and scrapped a page. Miracles never cease to happen over here...LOL.....For any of you that know me I am the worlds worst procrastinator and therefore put off scraping forever...and to top it off I used recent pictures....be still my heart.

This is my little guy Mitchell, my title is so true to Mitch. He is his own guy and marches to the beat of his own drum. To be young and not worry what others think of us.....I'm sure I was there once upon a time. He got these cool glasses at school and he was very proud of them. He has many autistic attributes but there are other things he does that are so darn funny. I really need to start documenting these for him. The lady at Child Find that diagnosed him with autism said he did have an imagination and was monotone. She couldn't be more wrong. His imagination is HUGE just like his personality.

THINGS I CAN"T LIVE WITHOUT

Here is my list of 10 things I can't live without.
Besides the obvious-hubby, kids, and family

1. Diet Dr. Pepper
2. electricity- been there done that, never want to do it again
3. my DVR
4. reality show
5. scrapbooking
6. my dishwasher
7. books- I love to read
8. rubber stamps- I have this new stamping addiction
9. scrapbooking kits- mosh-posh, scrapdango, sweetpeascraps...LOVE THEM
10. Halloween
9.

I'm back....

This is my younger sister who on the day this picture was taken happened to turn 40...wow Sherron we are getting up there in age, aren't we....LOL....it seems like yesterday I was bossing you around....ok so maybe somethings will never change...hee hee hee.

On the top are pictures of Sherron with our mother and Steeler the dog and also a pic with my oldest son Josh. I love our family swim parties and the food and the swimming and just getting together.

As I sit here thinking of that day I will not, Repeat NOT say I am longing for summer because living in Las Vegas that would be absured to long for. especially since for the first time since March we have cooled down. But I do love swimming and so wish we had a pool. Thats whats great about family having a pool.

I am on a roll...

Besides the cute girl in the photo...LOL....check out that major turkey leg. I don't think I have ever seen anything so big in my life....and she said it was really good. She and her friends went to the Renessance fair this last weekend and they dress in costume and she (Jillian) has some other pics of them all dressed up but once she loads them I will add them to my blog. They are so cute. I can't wiat to get a page with those turkey legs in them...

See what did I tell you

In the post below the itty bitty page is page 1 and I went straight from my gallery at scrapbook.com and the 2nd page I had scanned on my scanner and the only thing that survived when my computer crashed....thus it's bigger.

I am so late...

I am such a slow scrapper but I am an even worse blogger. I really wanted to get some of my Stampin Up pages and cards on this blog but I am so not sure if my blogging abilities will allow me to do that. As slow as my scrapping is my skills at this blogging world are so much worse....LOL...I will try to do a better job. I am also slacking in getting my kids pics taken and recorded.

I don't even think my family knows I have a blog....The shame....time to get them to look at my blog...So now I am rambling....ugggg

Totally unsure how this entry will turn out. forgive my lack of blogging skills I am still refining them...LOL

My Son Finally did it!!!!

He finally got his license and I couldn't be prouder. I was such an ordeal to get it. He had to take the test 3 times. The first was due to inexperience but the 2nd time he got some whacked out women that gave us some wrong info and she failed him. Trust me if I had had the book with me I would have opened it up and showed that Josh was in the right. We switched DMV's and BAM he is a licensed driver and now he can start running the kids to school....YAY....

Josh will be 20 soon but in this day and age who can afford insurance on a teen. We sure couldn't. I have 3 more that are chomping at the bit to get theirs next.....Look out world there are soon to be more of my kids on the highways...

Happy 4th page.

I finally got some scrapping done and it felt so good to get creative again. I have been in the mood to scrap 4th of July and couldn't wait for our holiday. So I took pics from last year and decided to get to work. I do have a tendency to scrap my daughter more then the boys and it's not that she is my favorite but I find more to scrap about her. She smlies and they don't....LOL...I am challenging myself to do more pages for my boys to prove I can find some masculine ways to scrap. Have a great day everyone.

Products used

Stamp-Happy everything, Brave and the Free

paper-blue bayou, river rock, real red, whisper white

Designer paper-Blue Bayou DSP, Western sky(LOVE THIS PAPER)

ribbon-Blue Bayou double stitched

ink-blue bayou, river rock

Circut- "4th"

One of those favorite sports I love

I have a confession, I hated baseball and softball...that is until my DD decided at age 9 she wanted to play softball. There went all my hope and dreams of her being a ballerina...LOL....ballerina she is not.....she was so suited for this sport. She is a utility player and yes I am bragging again. She has been a catcher for many years but last season her high school need a pitcher and she stepped up. She has NEVER pitched in her life but has caught fro many pitchers. Her coaches were confindent and she has a great arm. She was shakey for the first few games and was by far more comfortable behind the plate then in front but like the trooper she is she continued at it and became really fast and good. Here is one of her last pics of the season that ended in a few strike outs. We are proud of her.

25 of my favorite things...

This was a topic on a blog challenge I entered on scrapbook.com. This should be pretty easy, besides the obvious, family and faith.

1. sleeping in
2. brand new scrap magazines
3. when my house is totally quiet in the mornings and I can play around on the computer
4. strawberries and cream frappacino from Starbucks
5. shopping for scrapbooking supplies.
6. Stampin Up products
7. cutting my new stamp sets up while watching TV or listening to my fav songs
8. Natsha Bedingfield-Pocketful of Sunshine song
9. 4th of July
10. Halloween
11. the smell of Gain detergent and Simple Pleasurers Ultra Downy fabric softner Lavender/Vanilla...I LOVE THIS COMBO!!
12. my Americana room
13. pound cake topped with fresh strawberries
14. my stamp club-one that I am a member of not the one where I am the demo...LOL....I love the one where the work is done for me
15. my scrapbooking kit clubs
16. my DIET DR. PEPPER- can't live without it
17. sundays when my hubby is off and we can hang out as a family or just do odd jobs around the house
18. camping
19. the ocean-wish I lived closer to one
20. buying girl clothes with my one and only girl
21. watching sports where my kids are playing in them
22. ALL reality TV shows- I am a reality junkie and I hope it never ends
23. reading
24. newly planted plants
25. freshly made beds-not that I get to have one anymore with hubby working nights he sleeps in the day.

Need photos!!!

I almost forgot the man in my life that has given me the ability to stay home and raise our kids and be at the school when Mitch runs away because he has a sub and he can't take change or walks around my scrapbooking and stamping things like they aren't even there....LOL...we have a path and its my stuff...we are working on organization....Anyway, he is the man I met in 1984 and stated I was going to marry. I did too, in April of 1986. We have many ups and downs but we stand strong and I love him and how hard he works for me and the kids. He is a role model for our boys.He only this year has missed boy scouting events but only because his job requires 6 10 hour days with no vacation yet. I love this man!!!

I stated in my profile that I had 7 kids and I think to make my blog look fuller, I should take this time to introduce you to my clan. I am proud of each of them in their own special ways. I have 6 boys and only one girl but don't feel to bad for her she can certainly hold her own....LOL....all those boys have taught her how, REALLY really well...The first of the pack is Josh, he's 19 and love music and I have to admit he is very talented. He opened with his band at the Hard Rock about a year ago and plays at different gigs around town.

I had to throw this photo in because the next photo of where it should be just Steven I found that Josh had snuck in....LOl

This is our 18 year old son Steven. Steven has had a long journey of fighting depression, coupled with bi-polar but I am proud to say that he has learned the only way to be happy in his world is to stick to the meds Doctors give him. I couldn't be more proud of him and his success with a complicated illness. A couple of years ago if Josh had goofed around like this picture Steven would have gone off the deep end. that is no longer an issue

This is our one and only daughter Jillian. She is 17 and just recently graduated from high school, a year early I might add. She is such a wonderful young woman and she is a breath of fresh air some days after dealing with all my boys issues.

This is Zachary. He is 16 and not very fond of my picture taking, especially when its of him. I actually like this photo of him. He does smile just not when I click the camera in his direction...BOYS....

Then there is Jared...he is 15 and has given me a run for my money. Would I change any of it....NEVER....I have to be a strong woman to help Jared through his disabilities. He is also bi-polar and was at one point very violent but with help we managed to get him under control as well. He did have to go into a hospital for 8 month but it was a blessing because we found out why he had so much anger. We also found out he is autistic as well. He is like my teddy bear.

This is Jeremy. He is 13 and the other curly haired kid I have. He is very social and we call him the Mayor of our street. There isn't anything he doesn't know, from who is moving out to who passed away, to who's dating who...etc....you want info, Jeremy is your kid...LOL

I couldn't resist this shot. This happens so few times that I had to post proof that they can get along...hee hee hee

This is my last little guy and his name is Mitchell. He's 9 and has the most unbelievable personality. he was diagnosed with autism a couple years ago and that was very hard for me to digest. He was my first of all the kids to be diagnosed with anything other then a learning disability.

I love them all with my heart, body and soul and having kids with some mental illnesses has made me learn so many things. First and fore most is patience... I had to learn I didn't have bad kids but kids that needed special meds and Doctors and the BEST ever therapist. we still have many ups and downs and slip ups but hey they are still kids and learning themselves.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know the important people in my life.

I finally did a challenge

Well after a very long time of lurking in the SCS challenges I thought it was time I ventured into actually doing one of these challenges.

So I took the plunge and did the color challenge. We were to use the colors:

Certainly Celery

Bashfull Blue

Chocolate Chip

I also used the new stamp set, Fresh Cuts and I have to say that even thought this stamp set is not my style, I really liked using it. I wasn't sure if we could use any other neutral colors so I stuck with just those colors.

Hi everyone

My name is Susan and I live in Las Vegas, NV. I have been married for 22 years and am a stay at home mom to our 7 children...eeeek I have 6 teenagers...6 boys and only one girl. I have a full active life with just the kids but for the last year have added Stampin Up to the mix and what fun that has been. I am VERY very new to the blogging world but can't wait to get started. Forgive me if my blog looks a little lame at first. It will be a trail and error for me. Any imput will be greatly appreciated.