We finally got to enjoy some sunshine yesterday and Jacob got you use his new rollerblades that grandma and grandpa sent. yay! I got him all geared up with helmet, elbow and knee pads and little gloves to protect his palms. I was surprised how willing he was for me to put all this on him. He did great going up and down the street. He has the Fisher-Price training skates that allow him to wear his sneakers. They also have 3 levels of skill. He is on a 1 so the middle wheel is stationary.

Pre-school is having a great effect on Jacob. He comes home with all kinds of stories about his morning and the little girls and boys he played with. He's been more cooperative, taking naps in the afternoon again. Going to be easily at a decent time. Yay! He also just had a growth spurt. I put clothes on him the other day 2T and the sleeves were too short and his pants were looking like high waters. Now, it is with certain brands but he his pretty much in 3T. I like that he is wearing his age.

We've started talking to him about our upcoming move. It's a little over his head at this point. Sometimes he tells me "mommy, I want this house, not a new one" It's a lot for a little mind to absorb. I'm not going to bombard him with too much "new" at this point. Starting pre-school, packing up his belongs in a few months and moving to an unfamiliar area is going to have quite an impact.

As for that moving situation. . . Nothing new to report. Hummph! All in good time I suppose. I have alot to keep me busy though. Taking Jacob to school, quilting class, Stampin' Up classes, mom coming in March and going to Germany.

PaperCraft Planet Challenge

I signed up over at the Paper Craft Planet website. Check it out http://www.papercraftplanet.com/

They had a challenge posted that looked very unique so I decided to play along. I liked the corset/shoe lace look that was part of the challenge.

For this card, I used some contraband (aka, non SU items), I know horrible. LOL!

For the hearts, this is actually 2 stamps. I inked the larger one in Rose Red and the smaller one in Regal Rose. I then cut them out and placed the smaller heart on the larger heart using a dimensional. Overall I kept it very simple and didn't really stray from the original sketch.

Supplies:Stamp Set: Heart Prints by PaperTrey Ink

Paper: SU Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Rose Red DSP

Ink: SU Rose Red, Regal Rose

Accessories: SU Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, word window punch

Thanks for stopping by!

Getting to know me!

I got this from my friend, Justine's blog. Look it over, learn a little about me and try it too.
Highlight those that pertain to you and add a little extra in parentheses if you want.

Enjoy!

1. Started your own blog (you'r reading it)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (More times than I can count thanks to living in the Tampa Bay area)
8. Climbed a mountain (Mt. Etna)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (Loved it! )
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea (More like from my in-laws dock)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty (Yup, when I was 8, awesome view of NYC)
18. Grown your own vegetables (more like an attempt)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France (Much smaller in person, but still cool)
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (Yes, I've played hookie...Mental Health Days)
24. Built a snow fort (best use of snow days in VT)
25. Held a lamb (fed one when I was 4 and it wouldn't let go)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (very neat)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (both! Tim and I have watched many sunsets on Clearwater beach)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Yup, actually living there now)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (I highly recommend this with your hubby)
46. Been transported in an ambulance (Tim and I got into a car accident our Sr. yr of high school)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (not exactly. Stood under it b/c it was too windy)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (tried snorkeling, not a fan)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (yes, and it was so much fun)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (no but my mom was an extra in one)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason (yes, thanks to my in-laws owning a floral business)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (never weighed enough when I had the opportunity, now I could though)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (I will in March when I go to Germany)
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (yes, and it is awesome! I love NYC)
74. Toured the Everglades (driven through them on my way to Miami)
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (2-nothing like that new car smell)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (yes, when I was in second grade my class was in the paper)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (walked past the outside, does that count?)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox (it lasted 2 weeks and was horrible, glad there is a vaccine now)
89. Saved someone’s life (kinda comes with being an RN)
90. Sat on a jury (almost)
91. Met someone famous (some General Hospital actors at MGM Studios)
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone (several)
99. Been stung by a bee (twice in 1 month when I first moved to Sicily. Never before that

Hope you had fun and learned a little something!

A Valentines' Tree

Hope you liked yesterday's card. I have another one for you today.

Again, all items are from Stampin' Up!

This card is folded at the top so it opens different than most.

Stamp Set: Season of Friendship (Holiday Mini), Holidays & Wishes

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Accessories: Heart to Heart Punch (in new catalog part of Valentines' Bundle)

I also want to add, I didn't come up with this idea on my own. I've seen many versions of this and this is my version.

Enjoy!

Goody, Goody, Gumdrops

It's been awhile since I posted one of my little card creations, so I thought with the release of the new Stampin' Up! Catalog on Monday I would give you a little preview. This is a card I made for a swap I was part of in the states hosted by my uplines upline. I had to make 16 card fronts and if they got to VA on time, in about a week, I should be getting 15 different images back! Sorry for sideways card. Sometimes blogger turns them.

All Items Stampin' Up!

Stamp Set: Goody, Goody Gumdrops (Level 3 Hostess)

Paper: Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Cameo Coral
Ink: Jet Black Staz-on, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal

Accessories: Large and Small Oval Punch, Water Color Wonder Crayons, Blender Pen, sponge, dazzling diamonds, crystal effects, dimensionals, certainly celery ribbon

Enjoy!

First Day of School

Our little baby is growing up! Jacob started pre-school on Jan. 6. He goes on Tuesday and Thursday for 3 hours on those mornings. He loves it! On the second day he marched right into the middle of the class and announced "Hi friends, I'm back." I don't think he is going to have a shyness problem.

Trying to get the official "First-Day of School" picture went good for the first 2 shots then Jacob put up his hand and said "that's enough mommy, no more" You can see where it started to go South.

I'm excited for him going and having some structure to his week. I can tell he is getting bored at home. I've already noticed a difference in him after 3 days of going. He is actually back to taking naps again, which means he is more pleasant. I am excited about my 2 hours I have to myself to do whatever. It's also nice to start having a routine again. I feel like I get more accomplished when I have to be somewhere and work around that. I am so excited to head back to the states this summer and getting Jacob set up at a pre-school, Mom's and/or Mops group, sports. And doing all those other mommy/child activities. I really think that will make a difference and I feel that's where we are lacking at the moment. All in due time I suppose!

Rain, Rain, Go Away. . .

Come again another day. . . .Please just go and come back after June. I am so sick of rain. I think living in Florida for 15 years has had a profound affect on me that requires me to see sunshine 5 days a week. I got a call today at 11am from the base hospital that my afternoon appt would need to be rescheduled of the weather. I took care of that and was on my way to pick Jacob up from school. The base was insane as everyone was quickly trying to pick up kids and head home before the roads flooded. Luckily we live in the housing that is closer and the roads were ok. In the hour I was gone though, one spot in particular became a little precarious to drive through. I don't know how the water didn't flood my car. Hope my friends that live further safely got home.

Due to the weather and some water seeping into my living and dining room, the potential of the leavy being opened and flooding where we live, I decided to cancel my stamp club tonight and tomorrow. Don't you know, the sun is know trying to come out. Geez! Darned if I do, darned if I don't.

So, that's the recap of today. Now, you might be wondering where I've been since 2008? Here, 2009 didn't start off particularly well. I won't go into details as it is personal. I don't want to rehash the whole thing. Just know that we are all well.

The missing Christmas presents finally all trickled in between Dec. 31-yesterday. Grandpa, who landed in the hospital (few posts back) is now back in New Jersey doing well. We heard from the recruiting command and Tim has some stuff to complete by the end of January. We need to call the office in Atlanta and find out where exactly we will go. So happy the ball is rolling on that. I've started doing some packing already. The Christmas stuff is all tucked away. I've started to go through my office/crap/craft room and throw stuff out and sort for my craft yard sale. I'm a pack rat and that room looks like a hurricane came through it. One of my best friends forever (27 years) came to visit last Monday. We tried to make the best of the week, but the weather put a damper on most of the trip, as did my 1-day personal issue stated above. Most activities and places to visit here require being outside. Jacob started pre-school last Tuesday. I'll post separately on that. My mom made her plane reservations for March, Yay! I've reserved 5 days at a resort in Germany for all of us. I am so excited!

Hope that catches you up to speed on what's been going on.