Merry Christmas!

Well- It's all over.... what we prepare for, for 363 days and then poof! It's all gone! At least we get 2 days of celebrating....But I think Jesus deserves more than two days of celebration for His birthday!

We had THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVVA!!!! Steven went back to work after 2 years of being laid-off and we got PRESENTS!!!! We were not supposed to use our credit cards but we did...not much but a little...and I got....are you ready?

Isn't she beautiful? I am so in love! I have done some impromptu photo shoots already....on ALL the different settings!

We went to Florie's for Christmas Eve and had a Christmas Brunch at my house with my family. Everyone had a really good time and was very blessed with gifts. Savannah got her black boots she wanted, Justin Beiber perfume, and a hot pink camera (from Uncle Wayne and Auntie Boop)

Shawn got his smarshmellow gun, Lego sets, and a race track that goes up the wall. He also got a DSi and said "Hey I didn't ask for that!" and a drum set (which he didn't ask for - but he hasn't stopped playing either of them)

Steven got a tablet- just a cheapie...but he will hopefully learn how to use it...Hope you all had a VERY Merry CHRISTMAS!

Pam's Holiday Cookie Exchange

FUN FUN FUN!!!!
I love getting together with CREATIVE, Talented, Beautiful ladies and having snacks, talk, and sharing ideas. Today I went to Pam's cookie exchange and it was so much fun. While there we were talking about Cake Pops and Pam of course had a Cake Pop book and The Author has a blog- BAKERELLA. Talk about crazy creative...WOW! This is a blog I will probably visit daily :) I wanted to share it with you! Here are some pictures from her blog to entice you to head on over there!

Christmas Cards and Cookies

I got a real hand-stamped Christmas card in the mail today!!!! So exciting! Even though I have a handful of very talented, creative friends that stamp, craft, and scrapbook....I usually get only one or two stamped cards. The photograph ones are SO cheap and easy- it's easier to just do those. But Melissa and Michelle rocked the stamped cards this year! Thank you girls...I LOVE them! Then Melissa called and said, "Are you home?" She ran over to show me another hand-made card that is adorable! It has soooo many possiblities (the stocking one)- hehe silly I know- but we love creativity!

Christmas in our house means COOKIES and lots of them! I had our cookie exchange last week (Prior post) and now I am going to Pam's cookie exchange tomorrow. A lot of the ladies that will be there are .....you guessed it CREATIVE so I thought I would show off the Stampin UP! cookie press.

 These are so easy, fun, and yummy!

Holidays Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps125152
Regular Price: $18.83

Merry Christmas! Yep I said it!

Merry Christmas all my dear friends! I have been more conscious of saying it this wonderful season. I had to explain to a friend that it is not that we are against saying Happy Holidays, but that people (store cashiers) are being told NOT to say it. That is when us Christians have to stand up for our beliefs!


I had my 5th or 6th annual cookie exchange, we had our 13th annual ornament exchange, 17 wonderful friends came to exchange cookies, eat some yummy foods, play games, and fellowship! Loved it!

We are having a wonderful time so far! We went to the Festival of trees and turned in a coloring contest paper and checked out some beautiful trees, we went to Christmas 365 and enjoyed 50 beautiful trees there, with some yummy food. The kids had wonderful class parties today- Steven played Santa Claus at Alcott and passed out Candy Grams! Savannah got another one from Parker again...so stinkin cute!

We had our 13th annual ornament exchange. What a special treat it is knowing that I have been friends with some of these ladies for over 20+ years, I know these friendships will last FOREVER!

We went to Sand Haven Pines and Savannah and Shawn chopped (sawed) down our Christmas tree! It was SOOOO COLD...so we picked fast and then hurried to Nana's for a warm yummy dinner. Speaking of my mom, she said the BEST thing to me 2 days ago that she has ever told me. We were talking and she said, "Who would have ever thought when I was pregnant with you, (40 years ago) that you would end up being my best friend!"- That has to be one of the BEST presents I have ever received.

Gingerbread house party!

I had 9 children over today to make Gingerbread houses- and it was so fun! They had lots of fun eating candy, decorating, eating candy, eating candy, decorating, eating candy! I hope they will last a couple of days and the memory will last forever. I told Shawn that they are just for decoration and he started crying and said, "I don't want them to be a decoration." His will probably be gone today!

Summer 2011

Wow time is flying by and we are having one of our best summers EVVA! We have already gone to the beach like 6 times, Pharoh's 3 times, and Sea World a few times also. Savannah is on her way home from a week vacation with the Jorgenson family up to Lodi, where Grandma and Grandpa Kerr live. This was her fisrt LONG trip away from mom. She also did a week of Nature Camp at Hidden valley were I volunteered so that Shawn could also attend for free :) Then she went and did a sailing class with Grant and Brandon Jorgenson, but she didn' finish becasue she didn't like it (the boats were too small and her feet fell asleep) and Grandpa ended up in the hospital with Colon cancer. He is now at Nana's recovering very well! Then she went to Art Camp at RAM with Mrs. Yeager thatnks to Melissa Utterbach (she had paid for her grandson but he didn't go- so Savannah scored :)

Both kids also did a week at VBS at the Grove and loved it! It was Star Wars themed. Savannah had a week off and then she left. Now she has one more week off then she gets to do another ART camp at RAM (Thank you Melissa :)

Daddy FINALLY got a J-O-B! After 2 VERY long years he got called out to Stateline to build a Solar Panel Power Plant. He will leave Sunday night and come home Thursday evening. He is sharing a room with Dave so it will only cost $10 a night pp. They will trade off paying for gas every other week.

Melissa Wilson and I have been scrapbooking every Wednesday together and we have done almost 50 pages each, so far! It is a very fun time talking and scrapping with her!

I also have been baysitting carter all summer long, he is fun to take along and introduce new things to!

Savannah * Rebecca* Lauren * Cayley dancing for the Alcott talent show

Savannah and her BFF Rebecca with thier awards- Savannah made honor roll!

Dickie and raylene (she graduated!)

Savannah starts water polo

We have a 40th birthday party for Debbie

Carter at the Nature Camp

Shawn in Canyon Lake, AZ

Me and Savannah and Stevie went cliff jumping

Enjoy!

SU! Summer Mini projects

 These most adorable projects are all made with supplies out of the Stampin UP! Summer Mini Catalog. SU! only offers 1 catalog/ idea book a year (but a mini catalog with all new stamp sets, designer series paper, ribbon, punches, and BIG SHOT accessories) every few months. Click HERE to go see the mini catalog now.

Sail Away 123013 $9.95

Fabulous Florest 123027 $17.95 and BIG SHOT impressions folder 123113 Flower Garden $7.95

Triple layer punch Bloosom Bouquet 122464 $23.95 and Bold blossom stamp set 122232 $9.95

Strength and Hope 123660 $13.95 (for every one of these stamp sets, SU! will donate $2 to the BCRF, Breast Cancer Research Foundation

Thanks for stampin by!
Samantha

More Meeting Cards

Here are a few more cards from my Upline's meeting. I have soooo many to share with you! The first two are using the Cupcake punch so cute, fun, and EASY! The stamp set is Create a cupcake which will be available again in the new catalog starting July 1 and the build a cupcake punch is still available  now # 121807 $16.95 wouldn't someone you know LOVE to receive an adorable CUPCAKE card....Cupcakes are so "IN" right now! 

 From the NEW Summer Mini are the next three projects. Flower Fest #122280 $19.95 is such an awesome set for cards, bags, and scrapbooking. Quick and easy.... that is what I like! The  surfboard set is SUMMER SPLASH included in the summer mini #123037 $16.95 and isn't that a great set! Again, another great set for scrapbooking also! Don't forget the rhinstones...easy to add some bling to your card by using our Basic Rhinstones or Basic Perals on page 188 of the big catalog.

A few Cards to Share

Saturday I traveled to Placentia to Beth's house for our Upline meeting. Lis Ljoung is my upline and her group is Women in Ink. We are also the Udderly Awesome group somehow???

What a treat for us! We got to make 5 FANTASTIC cards and had an amazing lunch. Lis is always so fun, pretty, poised, but yet sooo crazy! I got to bring my friend Debbie along this time and so that made it even more fun! Hope you enjoy them and if you have any questions or would like to have a class to make some...let me know!

Thanks for Stampin by!
Samantha