a few crafy projects completed and checked off the to do list

first off, i finally finished the halloween penny mat. I started working on it in september. It was very consuming and very took alot of time and energy.It was hard to focus on getting it done because i really just didnt think the end would ever come! Well i finished it! Alyssa told me if i am going to make anymore i should start them in January.

I have been working on calendar for mother in law. And although she doesnt read the blog, i should hold out on posting pictures of what i have done, because as soon as i post them they would make there way to visit teamjosupait's blog.

I have completed a few holiday cards , think i will put them in the etsy store. The kids have been helping with the holiday cards this year. They had a fun time stamping and die cutting! We are not close to being done , but they sure love to get their hands all inked up!

I did get 1 other penny mat done too. These are made from 100 % wool. Some of it is reclaimed, meaning from suits or coats or blankets. This project came together sooo much more faster than the halloween one, in fact i am almost done w/ the second one !

Today i received the Kreativ Blogger award from my friend PAT. Thanks Pat for the award, i was begining to believe no one read the blog anymore. Here are the rules for the Kreative Blogger Award: The rules of the Kreativ Blogger award:
1-The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2-Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3-Nominate 5 blogs.
4-Provide links to their blogs.
5-Leave a message for your nominees.

I nominate : Alecia, Wendi, tania , lynn and dana all super talented super sweet scrappers !

In the news... the girls dance troop has been featured a few times in the local paper.

this is a link to the trip to the Pope Air Force base tour article in the Cleveland Post . The online article features a photo.

this is a link to the article about their performance at the State Fair for the folk festival also in the Cleveland post.

I have began to slack on the blog again! Funny thing is there is not alot going on that is blog worthy, but at the same time we have been so busy! This week the kids got their report cards. They have all worked so hard and their hard work has paid off! We went out for a celebration dinner Friday night to Tir Na Nog. They had a live band in the pub and the kids enjoyed the " new " cuisine! ( andrew is a huge fan of potato soup so you know he was in heaven!)
Thursday Aryn got her spacers cemented in. We never would have thought our youngest, my baby would be the first to get orthordonticts. She had a hard time the first 2 days but seems to be getting better. She is also having a hard time saying good-bye to her beloved tootsie rolls, bubble gum and popcorn!

Andrew is working on a quilt for his math class. All the students in his class are following the same pattern , just personizing it with fabrics that describe you. Andrew chose a hockey pattern and a map (old world) pattern. He had a hard time putting down the money fabric and the soduko fabric.

Lastly just wanted to share some flowers w/ everyone. The dance studio sold cards list year for a free bouquet every month for 20.00 . I bought 4. Usually i get 1 or 2 at a time. This month i got all 4 at 1 time. Such a pretty arrangement ! Very bright and cheerful! Thats it for now !

Weekend update

Saturday Kevin and the kids went with Step Ahead Dance studio to Pope Air Force Base. They really enjoyed the trip. The dance troop has adopted the 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron . If you click on the link above you can see some of the photos that the studio has posted from the visit. It was a great way to spend veteran's day weekend, and made the kids reflect on what they military does for our great country.



Sunday was Andrews first "travel team" scrimmage. We went to Apex to an amazing facility called Dream Sports center. Andrew's team has not played competitively before and the team they played has been playing together for awhile , needless to say , they got smoked. Andrew was the goalie- poor kid, worked so hard. He really has his head and his heart in the game !

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While the kids and Kevin went to Pope i got to do a little scrapbooking. I have incorporated my new found sewing addiction onto a few of my pages. I will share 1 w/ you today , the other has to wait( i am missing some alphabet stickers )

Today the gang is home from school. I was looking forward to a day to sleep in. Everyone was up by 6:50 am - i guess a 10 minute sleep in is better than nothing. We are heading to see Madagascar shortly.

First Communion Sunday

Today Aryn made her first Communion. She looked so pretty all dressed up and she did a great job. She led the entire congregational line for communion today ! Congratulations Baby Girl, Mom and Dad are so proud of you.

Happy Halloween !

So glad that Halloween fell on a Friday this year. So hard to let the kids enjoy it when they have to get up early the next day for school ! All 3 kids dressed up ( wasnt sure Andrew would actually do it when it came time for the actual costume!) Andrew actually went out trick or treating with some neighborhood friends ( ditched us at the last minute ! )

Didn't get as many trick or treaters as we thought and unfortunately have a ton of candy left over :(

thought these were worth sharing! may have to get the palin 2012 shirt to replace the Hillary shirt in my closet.

Wow what an exciting day for Miss Alyssa. She was promoted in ballet from red to red paisley. She has worked really hard over the past few weeks and we are so proud of her! And as you can see she is pretty proud of herself( i thought she was going to cry in the ceremony)

A fun and entertaining day at the fair. Aryns clogging troop performed at the NC State Fair Folk Festival. Her troop was the best (is the stage mom in me coming out )
Aryn also participated in an open dance .She danced infront of a large tent of people all by herself (* and she even did a number that she choreographed herself) soooooo proud of her! Not too many kids her age would get up and do something like that, much less smile about it!

Finished ! Finally! Gosh, it took forever ... not the project just me getting motivated to finish it ! My first completed penny matte! Viola!

How could you ever say no to this face..... she loves her cute little hat, i love it on her ! This layout is one i did of a sketch at the blog site triple the sketch . Kids have an early release day today, we are going to go vote. Since they have given us the chance to vote without having to wait in lines , thought i should take advantage of it!

Aryn is looking forward to performing at the fair this Sunday and next Sunday she is making her 1st communion. Such a busy little lady

Picking the perfect pumpkin

Well we didn't get to the pumpkin patch but we did make it to farmers market. There is always alot of excitement and fun in the air at the NC State farmers market in Raleigh. We bought just 1 pumpkin this year. Not the 829 pounder in the photo , the kids would have if daddy would have said yes:D

The weather has cooled off a bit. Actually had a frost last night. Not a heavy one, but still a frost none the less.

The kids decided on Halloween costumes, Alyssa is going to be a butterfly, Aryn is going to be Jasmine (Disney) which is a re purposed outfit (amen!) and Andrew is going to be Stewie Griffin. He got a mask a few years ago and i am finally letting him wear it. I am figuring this may be one of his last years that he dresses up so...just want to bite my tongue and let him wear what he wants.

This week : Monday Alyssa has a test in ballet tonight - huge french terms ( crazy!) and Aryn has a orthodontist appt. Tuesday is clogging night and hockey for Andrew. Friday night is a dance at the middle school. First one Andrew is going to , not because he wants to go into the cash machine( he won a few minutes in the machine for magazine sales ) Saturday is dress rehearsal for the folk festival at NC state fair and Sunday Aryn is dancing at the NC State fair . So as you can see , as always busy, busy, busy . Oh and we need to add in there sometime over the weekend we will have to see High School Musical 3 - which opens Friday !

if you are in the area and want to see Aryn at NC State Fair she is performing at 10 am and 2 pm in the folk festival tent behind the graham building (this Sunday)

down to the last one !

We have been working on these maps for what seems like forever! I was shocked to find an Alaska Quarter yesterday, and Andrew was thrilled. Still need 1 more Alaska for Alyssa and 2 Hawaiis' and we can call it a wrap! Yeahhhh!

new cards to share and make you smile ! I am sending some of these for the troops , cards for troops.
Aryn is going to a sleep over tonight and going to do something fun and girly w/ Miss Alyssa

Websters Pages give away

isnt this just yummy ! visit the websters pages blog for a give away . Websters pages is a local company ( in Raleigh) and many of the talented design team girls are from the area . Check them out!

Anyone need magazines. Poor Andrew has been door to door trying to sell mags for his ptso. Magazines are a hard sell . He has not had much luck , poor little guy. They have a great deal on Good Housekeeping and for all my craft friends they have Scrapbook etc ! :D

2 scrapbook pages this weekend - The "New Specs" is a sketch challenge at Scrap Attack . The "Boo crew" layout is the photo that we are using on our Halloween card . Andrew was less than coopertive for this photo , Aryn on the other hand was all about it! She is going to be an actress! Such drama, working the camera!