My Best Shot Monday

My Best Shot Monday

These two girls are so very competitive; my daughter on the left and my niece on the right.

It's so nice to see them playing kindly with each other. 

Sweet Dreams

Week 48 ~ "Sweet Dreams" Photo Challenge

My poor little girl is having sleep issues lately.  Waking up scared by a slight noise or a shadow on her wall.  Several times a night.  The past two and a half months have been miserable on us all.  I'm praying and hoping that soon her sweet dreams will return to her.

Head on over to I "Heart" Faces for a few "sweet dreams" of your own!

*8* Things Thursday ~ My Happy Story

Beth's "You Capture" challenge this week is about my happy story. So I'll focus on my most recent happy story, and seven other things that make me happy.

On December 1, my hubby and I had an early a.m. dentist appointment. Before we left, I fed all the outside felines, put my oldest on the bus, and got everything ready to go. When we came home, later that afternoon, all the cats and kittens were outside except my little girls' favorite one. All day I watched and looked and called, but no Butterball. Bayleigh was heartbroken. And when she didn't show up the next morning, I told my little girl not to get her hopes up.

Around 2:00 p.m. I walked by the door to the deck, looked out and tapped on the glass to get the cats' attention. Lo and behold! Butterball came scurrying out from under the deck . . . bedraggled and a little worse for wear, but hungry and healthy! As soon as Bayleigh got home, she ran to the back deck, snatched up her favorite kitten, brought it in the house (which is a no-no . . . but I let it pass THIS time), and cuddled with it for about a half hour.

We're all happy Butterball is back home, and we hope she doesn't pull her disappearing act again, any time soon!

Now for seven more things that make me happy:

1. It makes me happy to get up hours earlier than everyone else, to spend time reading my Bible, catch up on my blogs and email, and do my Pilates before the start of my regularly chaotic day.

2. Food makes me happy. I love to eat.

3. Hugs and kisses from my kids.

4. Creating. The whole process makes me happy. Now if I could just find the time!

5. Books. Old or new doesn't matter, it just needs to have some content that draws me in.

6. Cleanliness. Who DOESN'T dream of having a spotless home? (I won't make it in this lifetime, but I'll settle for one room at a time.)

7. And high on my list of happies . . . is looking through the lens of my camera. So many fun and beautiful things to capture!

Do you have a happy story this week? Do tell!

Tooshies . . .

Week 47 - "We 'Heart' Tooshies"

Photo Challenge

This week's challenge over at I "Heart" Faces, is Patooshkas. I actually have some very good photos of my little boy and his potty training process over the past month, but I don't want to get blooperized, and I wouldn't want him to feel the embarrassment of having his cute little patooshka circulating out on the world wide web . . . especially if he ends up having political aspirations. So I settled for this one, from our trip to Michigan at the end of September. Our first dip in Lake Michigan.

Head on over to I "Heart" Faces to check out all the fabulously fun tooshy photos!

My Best Shot Monday

This week, I'm choosing this one as my Best Shot Monday . . .

It is EXTREMELY rare to catch my two children in a moment of peaceful play. So this is truly a treasured shot for me!

Cards, Cards . . . Everywhere!

In an attempt to get my act together this year, I decided to drag out some old Christmas card kits, and finish making cards for the plethora of friends and family that I keep most dear to my heart.



I had actually started making some of these cards last year, some were left-overs, and some have been recently made from various class projects.




In the hour and a half reprieve that I had, while Eli slept, I whipped out 27 cards from three different card kits. (THANK YOU KATRINA LAWRENCE FOR YOUR MOST BRILLIANT CREATIVE MIND!)




These two were made during Jayne's "Simplify the Season" class over at Feeling Scrappy . . .



and so was this one. This one is my favorite. Isn't that little reindeer cute?!

It's a one of a kind, made with scraps. Some very special person, who appreciates the time, effort and joy of making it, will be receiving this one!

I've still got a few more cards to make, but I've got the majority completed. Now to type my first family letter, and get them all addressed to mail out!

What are you doing to prepare for the Christmas season?

*8* Things Thursday ~ Food

This week's "You Capture" Challenge was food. So I decided to wait until today, to photograph the bounty of our Thanksgiving feast.

Hubby carving the turkey . . .

the feast, settled buffet style on the sofa table . . .

the bird, garnished with carrot and celery slivers . . .



and I couldn't resist a photo of the kids helping grandma make biscuits.

As for my *8* Things this week . . . I decided it would be a wonderful opportunity to share *8* Things that I'm thankful for:

1. God's mercy and His many blessings.
2. My family.
3. My friends . . . some close; some far away; and some that I hope to meet in real life one day.
4. Shelter from the elements.
5. Food to fill my tummy.
6. Inspiration to fill my soul.
7. The opportunity to stay home with my children.
8. Good health and the ability to fulfill my dreams.

What about you? What are you thankful for this year?