HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BABIES!!!  THEY TURNED TWO TODAY!!!  

The countdown begins.....

4 more days and we will be packing into our minivan and heading up north to visit family!!!!  I am so excited to see everyone!!!  However, I heard it has been extremely cold!!!  Brrrrrr!!!  Don't know if I'm ready for that!  It's been 5 years since we spent Christmas in Chicago!  

We had a wonderful weekend!!!  Went up to Orlando to celebrate Christmas with my SIL and her family since we won't be around.  The kids loved their gifts!  However, Elmo stole the show!!!  That things is hilarious!!!!  Check out Jazlyn's expression!  She loved it!!!!

I also attempted to get a picture of all the kids for our Christmas cards.  I am not extremely happy with it but it will have to do!  It's wasn't easy trying to get them all to smile and look at the camera at the same time!  LOL!

Unfortunately, no scrappin' for me this weekend...other than working on our Christmas cards.  I'm hoping to do a bit tonight!  Have a wonderful week!  God Bless!!!

Just one more week!!!

And we are on Christmas vacation!!! Woohoo!!! We are driving north to the "Windy (and very cold) City"!! Yes, Chicago!!! I know...INSANE! But I can't wait!! LOL!! This next week is going to be busy, busy, busy!!! So I'm trying to sneak as much scrapbooking time in as possible! Here are a couple of layouts I worked on the last couple of days!

For this first layout, I used the December Kit from Scrap4Life. I am so in love with these Cosmo Cricket papers!! They are just gorgeous!! This is my little guy, Jeremy! I just love this photo of him mesmerized by the Christmas tree lights!!

And next, we have the whole gang together!! I don't think I'll be getting the twins with Santa this year!!! Well, unless you want to hear Jazlyn SCREAM!!!! haha!!

Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Basic Grey PP, Tags & Letter Stickers (Fruitcake Collection), Scenic Route Alphas, Fancy Pants Ribbon (Clair de Lune), Making Memories Staples, Misc. Flower, Misc. Button, Colorbox Ink (Brown), White Uni-bal, Zig Writer (Chocolate)

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!

A little bit of this and that...

Just wanted to share a few scrappy and "non" scrappy things with you today.  I'll start with a couple of layouts!!  Yeah!!

I'm currently hosting a *music* challenge over at Scrap4Life.  The challenge is to use the title or lyrics from a Christmas song on your layout.  I used the lyrics from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" for this layout of Bianca.  These pictures were taken last year.  As you can tell from her face, she did not want to have her pictures taken.  But  I love how the pictures turned out!  These are my favorite types of photos.  The ones where you capture the "real" everyday moments instead of the posed ones!

 

Supplies Used: Bazzill Cardstock, Basic Grey Patterned Paper, Tags & Letter Stickers (Fruitcake Collection), Basic Grey Chipboard Monograms, American Craft Brads, Fancy Pants Ribbon (Clair de Lune), Stampin' Up Ink (Chocolate Chip), Colorbox Ink (Brown), Zig Writer (Chocolate)  

And this next layout is of me and my oldest son, Daniel.  The photo was taken over 8 years ago!  He was only 3!!  Time sure does fly!!  

Supplies Used:  Bazzill Cardstock, SEI Patterned Paper (Paisley & Petals Collection), American Craft Thickers (Jewelry Box), Zig Writer (Chocolate), Stampin' Up Ink (Chocolate Chip)

Last night, the kids decorated a Gingerbread House!  Well, the older ones that is!  However, when the twins woke up this morning, they enjoyed eating the candy off the Gingerbread House.  As you can see from the photo, some of our candy is already missing (notice the door)!  haha!  Those babies crack me up!!  

It's been a while since I posted one of my scripture cards so I would like to share with you one that I did a few weeks ago.  The word that week was "OBEY".

John 14:21 "Whoever has my commands and does them, he is the one who loves me.  He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

Well, off to watch a Christmas movie!!  Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!!  God Bless!

INCREDIBLE WEEKEND!!!

It was a weekend filled with many, many blessings from up above.   I attended a weekend conference at our church.  It was an amazing experience!!!  God's presence was truly in that place!!!  Words cannot describe how incredible this weekend was.  I am thankful to my God that I was a part of this glorious weekend and was able to feel his presence!!  Amazing!!!

So....needless to say...not much scrapbooking was done this weekend!  But that was truly OK with me!  However, I did get a couple layouts done last week that I would like to share!

The first layout is another layout I created using the December Kit from Scrap4Life...which is now available for purchase in The Shoppe!

This next layout is of my two girls!  Yes, Jaz has a bit of an attitude!  We call her Grumpy!  haha!  She gets that from her Dad's side of the family!  haha!  

  Looks like my twins are coming down with a cold!  I might be spending the day indoors tomorrow!  Hopefully, it is just  a simple cold and they will be over it in no time!  

Well, you each have a wonderful and blessed week! 

The True Meaning of Christmas Symbols Challenge

For the past 8 weeks, Faith Sisters has been hosting a "True Meaning of Christmas Symbols" challenge.  It is based on a story by an unknown author.  I loved this story so much and just had to participate.  During this time of the year, we are often so busy getting ready for Christmas that we forget what the true meaning of Christmas is...the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!  

Here is my completed album along with the store:

The True Meaning of Christmas

Late one Christmas Eve, I sank back, tired but content, into my easy chair. The kids were in bed, the gifts were wrapped, the milk and cookies waited by the fireplace for Santa. As I sat back admiring the tree with its decorations, I couldn't help feeling that something important was missing. It wasn't long before the tiny twinkling tree lights lulled me to sleep.

I don't know how long I slept, but all of a sudden I knew that I wasn't alone. I opened my eyes, and you can imagine my surprise when I saw Santa Claus himself standing next to my Christmas tree. He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot just as the poem described him, but he was not the "jolly old elf" of Christmas legend. The man who stood before me looked sad and disappointed, and there were tears in his eyes.

"Santa, what's wrong?" I asked, "Why are you crying?"

"It's the children," Santa replied sadly.

"But Santa, the children love you," I said.

"Oh, I know they love me, and they love the gifts I bring them," Santa said, "but the children of today seem to have somehow missed out on the true spirit of Christmas. It's not their fault. It's just that the adults, many of them not having been taught themselves, have forgotten to teach the children."

"Teach them what?" I asked.

Santa's kind old face became soft, more gentle. His eyes began to shine with something more than tears. He spoke softly. "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas. Teach them that the part of Christmas we can see, hear, and touch is much more than meets the eye. Teach them the symbolism behind the customs and traditions of Christmas which we now observe. Teach them what it is they truly represent."

Santa reached into his bag and pulled out a tiny Christmas tree and set it on my mantle. "Teach them about the Christmas tree. Green is the second color of Christmas. The stately evergreen, with its unchanging color, represents the hope of eternal life in Jesus. Its needles point heavenward as a reminder that mankind's thoughts should turn heavenward as well."

Santa reached into his bag again and pulled out a shiny star and placed it at the top of the small tree. "The star was the heavenly sign of promise. God promised a Savior for the world and the star was the sign of the fulfillment of that promise on the night that Jesus Christ was born. Teach the children that God always fulfills His promises, and that wise men still seek Him."

"Red," said Santa, "is the first color of Christmas." "He pulled forth a red ornament for the tiny tree. Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the color of the life-giving blood that flows through our veins. It is the symbol of God's greatest gift. Teach the children that Christ gave his life and shed his blood for them that they might have eternal life. When they see the color red, it should remind them of that most wonderful gift."

Santa found a silver bell in his pack and placed it on the tree. "Just as lost sheep are guided to safety by the sound of the bell, it continues to ring today for all to be guided to the fold.Teach the children to follow the true Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep."

Santa placed a candle on the mantle and lit it. The soft glow from its one tiny flame brightened the room. "The glow of the candle represents how people can show their thanks for the gift of God's son that Christmas Eve long ago. Teach the children to follow in Christ's foot steps...to go about doing good. Teach them to let their light so shine before people that all may see it and glorify God. This is what is symbolized when the twinkle lights shine on the tree like hundreds of bright, shining candles, each of them representing one of God's precious children, their light shining for all to see."

Again Santa reached into his bag and this time he brought forth a tiny red and white striped cane. As he hung it on the tree he spoke softly. "The candy cane is a stick of hard white candy.White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock the foundation of the church, and the firmness of God's promises. The candy cane is in the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to earth. It also represents the Good Shepherd's crook, which He uses to reach down into the ditches of the world to lift out the fallen lambs who, like all sheep, have gone astray. The original candy cane had three small red stripes, which are the stripes of the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed, and a large red stripethat represents the shed blood of Jesus, so that we can have the promise of eternal life.

"Teach these things to the children." 

Santa brought out a beautiful wreath made of fresh, fragrant greenery tied with abright red bow. "The bow reminds us of the bond of perfection, which is love . The wreath embodies all the good things about Christmas for those with eyes to see and hearts to understand. It contains the colors of red and green and the heaven-turned needles of the evergreen. The bow tells the story of good will towards all and its color reminds us of Christ's sacrifice. Even its very shape is symbolic, representing eternity and the eternal nature of Christ's love . It is a circle, without beginning and without end. These are the things you must teach the children."

I asked, "But where does that leave you, Santa?"

The tears gone now from his eyes, a smile broke over Santa's face. "Why  you, my dear," he laughed, "I'm only a symbol myself. I represent the spirit of family  and the joy of giving and receiving. If the children are taught these other things, there is no danger that I'll ever be forgotten."

"I think I'm beginning to understand."

"That's why I came," said Santa. "You're an adult. If you don't teach the children these things, then who will?"

---Author Unknown 

25 Days Until Christmas

This past weekend I finished my 25 Days until Christmas album.  I kept it really simple!  I figured I could always embellish once I added my photos and notes!  I just love this idea!  It was Ali Edwards who came up with the idea and this year, it seems there are quite a few people following along!  You can read more about it on her blog.  I already filled out Day 1 and have my pictures for Day 2.  I'll have to take a picture and upload later in the week.  Here are a few pages from my album.  I used last year's Love, Elsie Christmas line.  I still love it!!

I was also able to work on another layout yesterday using the December Kit from Scrap4Life!  These Cosmo Cricket papers are just so gorgeous!  This is another photo of Jazlyn from last year.  

Oh yeah....I finished my "True Meaning of Christmas" mini album...remember the challenge over at Faith Sisters.  I'll be sure to get that up soon so I can share!  Have a wonderful and blessed day!!!

Scrap4Life December Kit

The December Kit is now available at Scrap4Life!  This kit is gorgeous!!!  The Cosmo Cricket is amazing!!  All this for the low price of $24.99!!  Hurry to the store!  I have a feeling these are going to sell FAST!!

Here is one layout I was able to get done with the kit.  This is a picture of Jazlyn from last Christmas.  I just love this photo of her!  

You can see more projects using this kit here!

Well, hope everyone is having a wonderful week!  I am off to work some more with this beautiful kit!