part of my world...

Here's a glimpse of my world from this past week.

Jan. 18, Nick's new fish, Red Button:

Jan. 19, some of Ben's toy cars ~ he loves to line them up like a choo choo!:

Jan. 20, Nick blows out the candles on his second cake, for his birthday party:

Jan. 21, the balloon that Nick picked out for his party:

Jan. 22, giving equal billing to Em's new fish, Aquamarine:
Jan. 23, our bookworm, Emmalie:

Jan. 24, I see this view a lot, LOL... our "new" washer and dryer:

things i love to hate

There are some things that I wish I didn't hate. I mean, if I didn't hate George's loud music, I'd probably get fewer headaches, LOL. If I didn't hate seafood and mushrooms and other icky foods like that, it would open up a whole new world of things to eat. If I didn't hate to be cold, I would've been happy as a clam the last few days in our sub-zero weather. But there are a few things that I'm glad I hate:

1. Cigarette smoke (no offense to my friends who smoke... I'm just really glad that I've never even been tempted to try it)
2. Rude, inconsiderate, and/or mean behavior
3. Littering and pollution
4. Politicians who only look out for their own interests and those of their rich buddies
5. Guns
6. War
7. Injustice and inequality around the world

I'm all for poitive attitudes and trying to find the good in the world around us. Sometimes, though, it's good to hate things!

ten things i love right now...

1. My family
2. All my friends ~ don't know what I'd do without you!
3. The snow falling outside my window
4. Being inside, toasty and warm!
5. Curling up with a good book
6. Scrapping, of course!
7. Chai Tea Latte from Panera
8. Lazy days
9. Afternoons when Ben is napping and everyone else is gone... ahhh... quiet!
10. Sleep!

my week in pictures

I'm still taking photos every day, I just haven't been too good about sharing them! Here are a few I've taken:

Jan. 10, a few of my snowmen on display in the living room:

Jan. 11, some beautiful pieces that my cousin Debbie sent me last week. They used to belong to our grandmother, who passed them along to Debbie when she got her first house. Debbie is going to be moving across the country soon, and so decided to give these (and a few other pieces) to me. I would love them even without all the sentiment attached to them, but knowing they were Granny's and then Debbie's makes them even more special in my eyes:

Jan. 12, the choo choo in our living room, after B went to bed:

Jan. 13, Birthday Boy Nick! Can't believe he's 9 already!!

Jan. 14, we finally got a dusting of snow:

Jan. 15, a self-portrait of me and my heartthrob, Ewan McGregor, for a challenge on Scrapbook Friends:

Jan. 16, Ben LOVES trains!:

Jan. 17, Benjamin the artist! He is so careful with his coloring. (Notice the change in his hair ~ he got it cut last night!):

something new

Well, Katie challenged us to try something new and then blog about it. I am trying to get used to taking pictures with my digital camera, so I guess that's something new! :) I've also been trying to take a "Photo of the Day" this year, like some of my friends. Mine aren't anything spectaular (not yet, anyway)... but still show a little glimpse into my life. Here's what I've taken so far:

Jan. 1, my Christmas cards... such a happy sight, mail from so many loved ones!:

Jan. 2, the gingerbread house I made in December:
Jan. 3, a SMALL sampling of my snowmen... on the kitchen shelf:

Jan. 4, my messy scrap desk, ack!: Jan. 5, our tree (which is not up anymore!):
Jan. 6, Benjamin and his dump truck. I took a TON of pics while he was playing, and this is the only one that turned out... he is just too quick!:

Jan. 7, some small shoes :) : Jan. 8, "Ben was here"... aka, the typical state of our living room!:
Jan. 9, Tucker, our feathered family member:

I haven't taken one for today, yet, but hope to soon!

look-alike meter, benjamin

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs - Collage - Morph

look-alike meter, nick

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Vintage photographs

look-alike meter, emmalie

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Pedigree

happy new year!

Emphasis on the happy. :) I've been down in the dumps the last several months, due to financial woes, and was bummed about not being able to buy all the gifts that I wanted to at Christmas ~ my favorite thing about Christmas is giving to others. But then some very dear and generous friends helped to put a big holiday smile on my face, by giving to me. It wasn't so much the gifts themselves that made me happy. (Don't get me wrong ~ I LOVE the gifts!) It was the knowledge that my friends were thinking of me and caring about me that touched my heart and made me smile from the inside out. (There were a few tears of joy shed, as well!)

I am thankful to ALL my friends. I received so many sweet cards over the holidays, as well as emails full of encouraging words. Just knowing you were all out there, sending me cyber hugs, helped me more than you will ever know. But I especially wanted to thank a few friends who went out of their way to give me a merry Christmas:

1. Robin H. and Robin B., both of whom sent me some fun scrap supplies to play with!


2. Karen K., who also showered me with scrap supplies, even after she told me that we weren't going to buy things for each other this Christmas!


3. Karen R., who sent money for me to buy prizes for IDOS


4. Tammy R., who gave me 3 wooden cutting boards made by a friend, so that I could give them to family members as gifts


5. Jeanne S., who sent me a box of Twizzlers (my favorite candy!) and a Target gift card that came right when I needed it most, and made it possible for me to buy some food and gifts that I'd wanted to get


6. Dawn H., who sent me these fun snowman figurines:
   
7. Stephanie C., who sent me these adorable snowman plates and a matching hatbox to store them in:
   
8. Mandi A. and her family, who opened their home to the 5 of us on Christmas night so that we didn't have to add 3 hours of driving to our trip to Iowa. Mandi also gave me this cute snowman platter:
   
9. And last, but certainly not least, Pam G., who gave me one of the biggest surprises of my life by sending me a digital camera! (Now I'll be able to post photos whenever I want!!):
   

I don't know how I can ever thank you all, but please know that I appreciate your generosity, your thoughtfulness, and your friendship more than I can put into words. I {{{love}}} you guys!!

I received many wonderful gifts from my family, too. Santa never did bring that winning lottery ticket I asked for, LOL, but I did get the warm new coat I needed (and a new outfit) from George's parents, gift cards to buy clothes and scrap supplies from my parents, scrap supplies from my sister, and many other gifts that I love, as well. My parents and sister visited us for a few days, then I saw them again, along with many other loved ones, at my grandma's on Christmas Day. And then I got to spend time with my in-laws, as well. I really couldn't have asked for a merrier Christmas!

Now it's a new year. I'm hoping to keep that happy feeling in my heart, and I wish you all a 2008 filled with happiness, too!