Fly The Coop

Merry christmas!

2007-11-21T20:33:00.001-08:00

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9570536798

card for the store

2007-11-04T16:33:00.000-08:00

Dawn asked me to play with this stamp and here's what I came up with.

Yoda

2007-11-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

Hey nicole, isn't yoda's light saber green???? I was showing Ben and Caleb your picturesw and Caleb's words were "He dosen't really look likr yoda because his light saber's blue"

Happy Halloween!!!

2007-11-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a coulpe of photos of my Kid's costumes. Ben aka. Dracula, Madison aka. Pipi longstocking and calab aka. darth Vader.

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T21:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

I love Mini albums!

2007-10-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

The christmas one is not quite done and they both have more pages than pictured and of course I still need to add photos to the school one but I was anxious to post them because I'm having so much fun!

Nyla was here!

2007-10-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

What do you do on a beautiful fall morning with the leaves in full fall glory and the sun shining? If you're Nyla and me you run 13.1 miles around the spokane River in a half marathon. It was soooo Fun! (I still hurt though)

We had a great weekend, we crafted like crazy (my dining room still hurts though :D ). Here are some fun sketch books we made based on an idea I came up with a few weeks ago to make a $.10 notebook from Walmart acceptable to Lucybelle.

I also finally finnished my growth chart/memory book, I didn't get it submitted until 12:04 my time though so I don't think it will get picked up but oh well. I'm going to try to replace these pictures with some that are taken in natural light (instead at 10:30pm).

Fall is in the air!

2007-10-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

After days of hot, humid weather the weather has finally changed back to how I love it- sunny but crisp and cool enough for long sleeves, I love it! Good sleeping weather (something I haven't had enough of lately).

Thanksgiving went over fabulously. It was also our 13th wedding anniversary, and I woke up to an immaculate kitchen and freshly baked muffins. I sure didn't leave it that way, it was the only room I hadn't finished and I was dreading spending hours cleaning before starting to cook dinner for 18. (Yes, 18!!!!) I have the best Husband in the world, he could not possibly have bought me anything that meant more to me at that moment, that's why I love him so much.

What did I get him?? Nothing! It totally kills me that in all the commotion of getting ready for this dinner I FORGOT it was our anniversary. I am the world's biggest idiot. I am taking him out for lunch today. I'm going to have to surprise him with something truly fabulous and meaningful when he least expects it.

On another note, I have pulled my most recent layout off the blog because CK has announced they will not accept any layouts that have been posted in online galleries, and I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Tag Baby Album

2007-10-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a baby album I just finished, made from a set of 4 1/2 x 7" tags from the dollar store. I should be spending my time getting ready for Thanksgiving, but inspiration struck and I had to finish this! I still have curtains to finish, pies to bake, and I really wanted to paint the dining room, but I only have one day. We'll see how it goes.

Whew, I'm glad this one is finaly done!

2007-10-04T21:04:00.001-07:00

Well it took awhile but my fairy folder is done! I need to step back a bit before I can decide if I love it or not but I'm happy to be finnished !

I'm on a design team!

2007-10-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

A Stamp 4 All is a local stamp and paper crafting store and they've asked me to be on their design team. I'll be teaching classes and making store samples with some fun goodies. I also redesigned the store's logo and will be working on the redesign of their website. The other ladies on the design team all seem really fun (and talented)as does the store's owner Dawn. They just doubled in floor space so it will be exciting to see what they fill it with.

What I'm working on right now

2007-10-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

I have invited all the nearby relatives for Thanksgiving dinner next week, and made these cute placecards to spice up the table a bit (there are a BUNCH more to finish, LOL) These will be the Oct online class over at GoScrapping.ca, so go check it out! They're made to fit a couple of chocolate kisses in the bottom to weight them down. The layout is my youngest at the park, it's supposed to be a play on words (playing a-ROUND, get it??) Okay, maybe a little lame, but I love how it turned out.

MIA

2007-09-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

I too have been missing in action...thanks Nicole for keeping up with the posting. I absolutely love that wreath!!! Make me one???:) Just kidding but maybe when I come to see you next week you can show me how you made it. You and Nancy are so talented when it comes to the scrapbooking and crafts stuff, Congrats to you both on your recent pubs!!! Thats so cool that you'll both be in the same magazine issue! I need to send some stuff in too but I'm working on finishing my quilt right now.

You know it's been too long when...

2007-09-29T09:55:00.001-07:00

So I went to log in to post and I couldn't remember my username. Yeah I've neglected the blog, thank goodness Nicole has kept the cobwebs from forming in my long absence. Doesn't she make the coolest stuff?! Seriously, that wreath just Rocks!

Speaking of Nicole, my phone rang last night, or more accurately this morning at about 1:00am, and my first thought was "Who on earth would call my house at this time of night???" Of course it was her. I was still up scrapping and had just posted a "TOOT" on 2Peas that Brianna's baby album was picked up by Scrapbook Trends for their February issue. She was calling to say congrats, because hey, what are sisters for right?? So here's a special shout out to her too for a card she'll have published in Paper Crafts May issue, the first time we'll be in the same magazine together, coolness.

And so my posts don't get too boring, I'll be back a little later to post some of what I've been working on.

Fall Projects

2007-09-27T19:18:00.000-07:00

I've been having lots of fun procrastinating all the cleaning I need to do before my (wonderful) inlaws come this weekend.

A really fun challenge blog!

2007-09-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

I found a challenge blog I really like and after watching for a few weeks I'm ready to join in. Here's my card for the Cardvarks chipboard challenge. Its hard to see but there is a handstitched vine behind the chipboard pumpkin. Thanks for looking!

What a Summer!

2007-08-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

We have had such a busy summer! I'm actually looking forward to school starting as a break! We've camped and triathleted and reunited until we are exhausted. So much so that even though Eric has four days off this weekend we have decided to just stay home. Which means that instead of packing for another trip today I can make and post a few cards. Yipee! Here they are:

Fireworks!

2007-07-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

I've been honing my photography skills lately and here are some fireworks shots that I really like.

Triple Threat

2007-06-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

Katie had the first performance of her play from musical theater camp tonight. Her solo of "The Rainbow Connection" was excellent and it was very fun to watch. she had an excellent time, made lots of friends and learned alot. Two more performances to go.

"Shoulds"

2007-06-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

I should be doing housework right now. But I also should update here more often. I should be putting the final coat of mud on the walls of our last unfinished basement room. I should shoot hoops with my son. I should tidy my scraproom, I should refinish and tile the top of the patio set I got at a yard sale last weekend, I should make some healthy snacks for my kids, I should make sure everything is in order for Katie's play tonight. I should go to the gym or for a bike ride or for a run.

Aaaah.... don't you just love summer?

the picture is my $10 table "before" Now I have to do an "after"!

2007-06-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

Big congradulations are in order for Nancy! Her card made the cover of Scrapbook Trends Babies special Issue! Woot Woot!

Very exciting, you cover girl you!

2007-06-18T16:35:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd better post a photo of Ada too.

Ballet Recital

2007-06-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd post some picture from Madison's ballet recital. She did a beautiful job on both dances, and was so happy when she got to be the one to hand Mrs. Banks her flowers at the end of the show. Becky and Ada did really well too. I can't wait until Madison gets to wear pointe shoes.

something fun here.

2007-06-09T09:51:00.001-07:00

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Just checkin' in

2007-06-07T07:33:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been forever, but I've had so much going on for so long, and I've slowed down and taken some "me" time for the first time in 6 months. I'm still scrapping when I'm in the mood, but trying to make more time for my family as well.
For the first time ever we bought season passes to Canada's Wonderland and it is already proving to be the best thing ever!! It gives us something that we all enjoy and can do together, rather than sitting at home in front of the TV or computer, and all that walking is great exercise.
I also had the chance to do a photo shoot for my niece to get started on a modelling portfolio, here are a few of the shots I've played around with so far.

Triathlon

2007-06-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well Nicole it's official... I signed up for the tri today. I also just realized that there's only one month left. Aaaahhhhh!!! I'd better get my but in gear. I've been taking it easy for the last week or so because my knee has been bugging me a little. I hope I didn't hurt it. I plan on swimming tomorrow so that will give it another day of low impact hopefully by Friday I will be able to run again.

What color are you?

2007-05-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

YELLOW

You are very perceptive and smart. You are clear and to the point and have a great sense of humor. You are always learning and searching for understanding.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

Stop and Taste the Flowers

2007-05-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

I saw my little guy in front of Nyla's tulips a few weeks ago and thought "awww I've got to get a picture of that!" Then my sister pointed out that while it looked like he was smelling the flowers (whic he usually does in an exaggerated way whenever he sees some) he actually was tasting them! Not biting, just sort of gently tasting then moving along to the next one. Goofy boy.

Don't get mad take pictures...

2007-05-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

Well these are pretty self explanatory...For more look at wooba wooba.

Another page

2007-05-23T23:17:00.001-07:00

I made this one today and I love it. That primitive painting style is haarder than it looks but really fun! I made it just for fun based on one of the AR challenges.

I'm out!

2007-05-22T14:57:00.000-07:00

Of the Amazing Race that is. No not that Amazing race. The one I've been doing on Go Scrapping . I made through 13 rounds but I was last to post by five minutes on the 14th challenge. Oh well it was a good experience.
it got me scrapping more. Here are some recent layouts

Happy Victoria Day to the Canadian's

2007-05-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

Nyla came to visit with her three kids. My kids were in cousin heaven! The boys played video games until they coouldn't see straight (a huge treat for them since they are severely limited most of the time). The girls got to shop with us and got new idogs and idog clothes (found at the amazing price of $9.99) then spent the rest of the weekend "training" them and treating us all to hillary duff and the High School Musical Sound track. Nyla got a road bike (the purpose of the trip) and we went for an amazing ride on Saturday. (She is soooooo going to kick my butt in that triathlon later this summer). I finally got her to come to my LSS this trip. THAT was fun! We are both loving the Tres Jolie line form MME, soooo pretty. (Plus she bought so much stuff she filled up my punch card! )
A very fun weekend for me!

Its been awhile..

2007-05-16T11:43:00.000-07:00

So the reason for my lack of posting just threw the biggest fit ever and is now sobbing over his lunch. It must be hard to be two.

Well the trip with Nancy has been over for a while now but it was soooooooo fun! We wanted to thank the Scrapbooking Swede for the best scrapbooking store on the planet and how sweet she was to us. Seriously for selection and price I honestly have not been in a better store. Her online store can be found at http://www.scrapbookingswede.com/index.php . Nancy also wants to list her as a sponser for her Canada's Crop For Kids class as she very graciously donated all the chipboard for the minialbums.

Another fun thing (I say that slighly tongue in cheek) we did was take a picture of all ten of us kids and Mom. With just a bit of photoshoping it looks awesome and I printed you out an 8x10 Mom.

Nyla called me today and she might be coming this weekend woo hoo!

Day 2, the Birthday Party

2007-04-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Dad's 65th birthday party, the reason for my trip. I have to say, our stepmom Annette knows how to throw a party. We got there early, and hung out in the back yard until George came home from running errands. He was definitely surprised, even a little stunned to find us all there. It was so good to see him again, and everyone else too, and to sit and reminisce with the whole family about the "good old days" when we were kids. The cake was incredible, seriously one of the coolest cakes I've seen in person. The food was great, and enough to feed an army. Lots of salads, burgers, awesome ribs, fruit and veggie and cold cut trays, 20 kinds of cheese and a chocolate fountain. Annette and Michelle (at the bottom) did a fabulous job, so well organized. And special thanks to Annette for making this whole trip possible for me. I can't thank her enough, ths trip is something I really needed, and wanted to do for a long time, but I wouldn't have done it on my own.
By the time we got home we were all so tired half of us fell asleep on the couch watching Idiocracy. A total laugh out loud movie, I've got to see the rest of it, too funny.

So yeah, I'm famous.

2007-04-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

After a frantic month of planning I'm finally here in B.C. and having a Fabulous time.
I flew in Friday, and I have to say, I felt like a total celebrity. I was able to arrange to sit with my little brother Matthew who happened to be flying in from Calgary on the same flight as me (total fluke, how cool is that?!) When we came down the ramp there was a crowd of 13 people, 7 of them with cameras in hand, waiting for us, all flashing pictures. On the way home we stopped at the Scrapbooking Swede (cool little store) where my sisters proceeded to show everybody my published work in some of the magazines they carry, propmting a request for autographs in several books. I was a little embarrassed by the attention, I'm kind of a low key girl, but it was pretty cool at the same time.

I will admit to shedding a couple tears as the plane took off in Hamilton, I really wish I could have brought Dave and the kids, it would have made the trip perfect. I miss them already. By the time I got to Calgary (where it was below zero and snowing!!!) I was starving, and had the best stuffed pizza EVER at this little place in the airport. I'm going to have to pick one uo on the way home too, YUM!
I had forgotten how beautiful this place is. I love how the highway goes right along the edge of the lake, with the gorgeous mountains in the background. I think I need to check out some local real estate while I'm here.

To cut or not to cut?

2007-04-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, I made the descsion weeks ago to cut my hair. I want to do it just above my shouders. The problem is I don't have a hairdresser. I had time today to do it but I have no idea who to go to. My husdand tried to talk me into great clips, but I'm too nervous to cut that much off at a place that specializes in speed and low price... I've had some really bad haircuts (many self inflicted) which may be why I only get my hair cut once a year, usually while I'm on vacation. I need advice, should I cut it at all?

Spring Break for Nicki's Family

2007-04-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

We have had a great week! We got to ride horses with the cousins in Utah, celebrate Max's 10th birthday, spend a five days in San Diego, visit Sea World and Legoland, and go to the beach. Now I need to get home and work on Dad's birthday albumn!

Two Weeks, EEEK!!

2007-04-05T06:07:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about my trip out west in a couple weeks, I can't believe it's coming up so fast!! I have a million things to do, Including a whole album to put together, but I had to take the time to something a little fun. I just got these new Scenic Route papers, and I am totally in love with them!!! I made these funky luggage tags for my big scrap bag to brighten it up.

So with my trip fast approaching I am anxiously (okay , impatiently) waiting for the arrival of a Bind-it-all machine I ordered last week. I called my Scrapbook store to see if it was in yet, and not only does she remember my name, but she recognized my voice on the phone!! I think maybe I spend a little too much time (okay AND money) there. Well, 14 more sleeps, I better get to work!!

Nancy's Coming!!!!

2007-03-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

Nan's coming!!! yeah! This is so great, we haven't seen each other in nearly four years. Caleb and Davie were babies the last time she came to visit. I guess I'd better get my but in gear and get some spring cleaning done before she gets here. Maybe I should rephrase that; I guess I'd better get my butt in gear and get some cleaning done.

Shhhhhhhhh, it's a secret!!

2007-03-20T14:40:00.000-07:00

So I got a phone call yesterday from my sister, my stepmom is planning a surprise birthday party for my Dad's 65th Birthday, and they want me to come, so they're pitching in for a ticket and I'm going out west for a week!!!! I haven't seen most of my family for 4 years so I am out of my mind excited about this. I am so not a spur of the moment person when it comes to big decisions, so to take this leap and book a ticket in less than 24 hours is huge. On top of that I got two cards picked up by Paper Trends magazine, so I am on top of the world!!!

Nancy's Coming!!!!!

2007-03-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday from H-E double hockey sticks.

2007-03-20T12:09:00.000-07:00

Well that was a stressful weekend, I'm glad it's over. I got home from graveyard shift Saturday morning and I was so looking forward to crawling into bed, since Brett was home and the kids didn't need to go anywhere. Instead I found my four year old bawling because he was so sick. His chest was so tight and wheezy that he was having trouble breathing and he had a fever. My first thought -Now what do we do about Ben's wind up party for hockey???- So anyway I gave Caleb some Tylenol and a decongestant and tried to make him comfortable. Nothing seemed to ease the tightness in his chest so by nine am I was starting to get a little worried. I took him to the walk in clinic and the doctor said that Caleb's cold was causing him to have asthma, so he gave me a perscription for an inhaler an told me to give him some more tylenol cause his fever was still quite high. The inhaler helped minimally but at least he could breathe. I gave him some advil since I had already given him some tylenol. He seemed to be doing okay after this so we decided to get Grandma and Grandpa to take Madison and Caleb and Just Brett Ben and I would go to the party. I stayed home with madison and Caleb While Brett took Ben To do the laser tag part of the party then the three of us went to the pot luck. Before I droped The two little one off at Grandma's I gave Caleb a dose of decogestant and a dose of Tylenol. he seemed to be okay he was up and playing when i left (he sat on the couch all day) so Off we went. About an hour later Grandma phoned and said she was worried that maybe he needed to see the doctor as he was having trouble breathing again. I knew he had to be pretty bad for grandma to call us so I left Ben and Brett at the party and I went and got Caleb and took him up to the hospital. They gave him another dose of tylenol when we got there as his fever was still 40. Then they did a chest x-ray which thankfully came back clear. They gave him ventelyn in the little dinosaur mask which really helped and he was able to breathe better but he still had a fever of 39.6 so they gave him another dose of Tylenol at about 9:30. That made three doses of Tylenol in about 4 hours and still had a fever??? Which still hadn't come down by 10:30 so they finally gave him som ibuprofin which brought the fever down right away. Thank goodness. Mental note to self, Don't give Caleb Tylenol For fever. It dosen't work. We finally got home at about midnight. By then I was completely exausted since I hadn't slept all day after graveyard shift. I think I was asleep almost before my head hit the pillow.

2007-03-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the beautiful sunsets taken outside our condo.

2007-03-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

Ben having fun in the waves at the beach by our condo.

2007-03-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

well as you can see I got the pictures to load but I could only do one at a time, I think that I need to shrink them down a bit. I'll have to ask Brett how.

2007-03-14T15:46:00.000-07:00

2007-03-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

2007-03-14T14:42:00.000-07:00

Madison and Caleb learning to Hula at the Luau.

2007-03-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Caleb a Kanipali Beach

2007-03-14T14:34:00.000-07:00

Caleb watching the whales from a lookout on the way to Lahina.

2007-03-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

2007-03-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

At the black sand beach

2007-03-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

This is in a little cave next to the black sand beach that we went to near Hana.

2007-03-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hawaii pictures

2007-03-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

well I've been home for a week now and I'm just getting around to posting some pictures. My profile (that Nicki so kindly created for me) does say that I hardly ever check my e-mail or go on line. She wasn't entirely making that up. i am however trying to get online more. Anyhow, I'm going to make this short. Hawaii was wonderful! It is so beautiful there. We tried to do as many things as we could fit in without exhausting ourselves. Maui isn't a very big island but there is a lot to see and do. Some of the things we fit in were....whale watching, snorkel cruise, swimming with the sea turtles, Ulalena (theatre show), Luau, drove the Hana Highway, Drove to the top of Haleakala (10,000ft volcano) and lots and lots of beaches. Well it looks like the blog site is having some technical difficulties and I can't upload my pictures right now but I will try again later.

Spring!

2007-03-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

This is what I see outside my backdoor right now. My kids and I went to the park this afternoon and as I was siiting on the bench watching them play an aquaintance asked what was new with our family. I could not think of a single thing. I'm not sure if that's because my life is really just one endless round of diapers, homework, housework and the occaisional scrapbooking session or if I'm just terrible at describing things. After all, yesterday when my oldest asked me what the movie "Forest Gump" was about I said "Uh its about a man named Forrest Gump, and well, it starts when he's a kid and its just kind of about his life..." My husband interupted at this point with disgust and told her "Its about the evolution of american culture as seen through eyes of one man."

Um, okay. So while I can't see through the dirty dishes to describe what's new for us right now, I'm sure there are some deep and profound things going on and I will see them clearly in hindsight. Happy Spring!

Scrappin up a storm

2007-03-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while, but I've been working like crazy trying to finish a few projects for my DT and a few magazine calls. I've gotten used to the free magazines and boxes of goodies on my doorstep the past few months, so I'm hoping to keep them coming. Here are a few of my recent projects. I'm making more and more cards, they're faster and no photos to develop, but I still get my creative "fix".
I'm still working on sponsors for the Crop for Kids, getting a little panicky that the details aren't ironed out yet, I Don't like last minute stuff if I can help it, though I've done some of my best work under pressure of looming deadlines, go figure. So I'm off to clean my house, and maybe enjoy a few quiet moments with my new scrapping magazine before the kids come home from school. If I'm really lucky, I might even doze off for a few minutes. By the way, thanks for the cool banner Nicole, well done!

2007-03-01T13:52:00.000-08:00

Well here is the banner I'm using to try to figure out how to post one, after two days still no luck :( (On the plus side, this one's not great but banners are fun to make-this is a quick practice)

2007-02-27T11:05:00.000-08:00

Well my cell phone has been lost for two weeks. I searched the house from top to bottom and found nothing. Then it snowed here again (so much for taunting my sisters with pictures of my budding herb garden while they laungish under multiple feet of snow -not that Nyla would mind, she's in Hawaii) Anyway back to the story. On Sunday we went to church and as I reached into my coat pocket afterwards to see if I would have to spend ten minutes digging through my purse to find the keys that mysteriously sift to the bottom wether they've been in there for an hour or a minute or if I had put them in my pocket instead, I felt ....MY PHONE! Safe and sound and in my pocket because it too sifts to the bottom. Once I lost a set a keys in the spring and didn't find them till the next spring in the pocket of a seldom used raincoat. You'd think I'd learn....

2007-02-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to my son's classroom to volunteer and one of the little girls looked at me then ran to the teacher and asked "what special day is it?" appearently the kids associate me with holiday parties-I havn't made much of an appearence this year. LOL. so now I'm making Dr. Seuss posters for all three kindergarten classes. Should be fun.

2007-02-24T12:30:00.000-08:00

Nyla called from Hawaii! She got to swim under a waterfall, which was on her to-do-list (who goes to Hawaii with a to-do-list? lol) Any way sounds like she's having fun, too much fun to post her pics here yet. she will.

The "tween" phonomenon

2007-02-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

So I finally got myself an MP3 player yesterday (actually DH got it for me) thinking it waould be great for listening to tunes while I work out. I've started running stairs again (up the escarpment, a fabulous leg/butt workout when it's not -20) and thought some high energy music would help keep me going. Of course I made the mistake of letting my 8 year old daughter borrow it. No, she didn't break it, she has decided it's hers. She's 8 going on 18 and it scares the crap out of me to think I'm going to have to deal with boy issues in the way too near future. She has a better sense of style at 8 than I did before I was 30. In fact, it wasn't until I started shopping with her that I started wearing anything besides baggy t-shirts and jeans (usually my husband's). For Christmas she wanted a cellphone (which she DIDN'T get, and won't for a long time) and last week she used her allowance to buy stick-on nails, and asked Aunt Gayle (who is a hairdresser) to put a few highlights in her hair when she was touching up my greying roots. Of course she said yes, and they look gorgeous. It almost makes me relieved when she reverts back to acting like she's 2 when she's in a bad mood.(Almost) I'm not ready for her to grow up yet. Anyway, here are some photos I took of her when I was doing photography for a youth Valentines dance a couple weeks ago.

Crop for Kids

2007-02-21T20:36:00.000-08:00

I had to share this, 'cause it's just too cool to be part of this incredible event. I've been asked to teach a couple of classes at the Toronto venue of Canada's Scrapbooking Crop for Kids in October, and it was pretty neat to go to the site and see this: http://www.csc4k.com/toronto/index.php?p=teachers Wow, I have arrived. I love seeing my name up there with these talented ladies, can't wait to meet them.
The cross-Canada weekend event is to raise money for Children's Hospitals across Canada. I'm thankful for the opportunity to "give something Back" after our brother Edwin was treated at the Halifax Children's Hospital for meningitis as an infant. It was a scary time, and thankfully he recovered.

Introducing... the one, the only, ta DAAAAAA....

2007-02-19T16:02:00.000-08:00

I'm Nancy, though most people I know well call me "Nan", a nickname my DH gave me when I was 14 and it just stuck. I am a SAHM of 4 fantastic kids, 3 boys and a "diva". I married my childhood sweetheart, my "one true love", and am enjoying living "happily ever after" in southern Ontario.

My passions are scrapbooking and cooking. I have a borderline obsessive love of paper and all things artsy, I've taught classes in scrapbooking, cardmaking, polymer clay, painting, and a handful of other crafty pusuits. I'm a gourmet chef wannabe, and I have a weakness for reality TV.

I've been meaning to get into the BLOG world for ages so I can share the monotonous and occasionally interesting details of my life with my family and friends, most of who live hundreds of miles away, and of course, any complete strangers who may come across this blog and find it of interest, Hey!!! Welcome to the insanity that is US.

I must of course add a disclaimer: We do not directly or indirectly blame any or all emotional baggage and residual trauma apparent in future or present posts on our childhood experiences, or our family who may have contributed to them, they already know it's all their fault we're crazy. (yeah mom, I mean that as a joke, really. Love ya! ;oD)

2007-02-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Nyla the youngest of the three of us. Actually there are six girls and four boys altogether, but its the three oldest, who have flown the Cooper nest, that are doing this blog. I'm not actually writing this because I'm in Hawaii for the next two weeks so my sister is going to introduce me and post a picture I'll really hate. I married my high school sweetheart nine years ago and we have three children; Ben 10yrs (don't do the math here), Madison 8yrs and Caleb 4yrs. I am a caregiver in a group home for physically disabled. I love to workout, scrapbook and stamp, and even though my husband the tech support guru for a major tire company and I have every computer device and super speed internet possible, I rarely get online or check my email (I'm not writing this, remember). My biggest phobia is that I will get fat, tired, and/or boring (no offense to anyone who willingly fits in any of those categories). Oh and I turn 30 in three weeks!

Just give me one childhood memory I don't need to repress.

2007-02-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

Okay, we've talked about it forever, now here it is a place for us "Cooper" sisters to share our creative endeavers. I suppose introductions are in order: I'm Nicole (Nicki to my sisters). I married a (wonderful) American and am the only one in the family who lives in the States. I have five kids; Katie age 11, Max age 9, Lucybelle age 7, Luke age 5, and Miles age 20 months. I have a bachelors degree in Interior design but I'm a SAHM right now. My hubby of 13 years is a Police Planner. We take dance classes once a week and he always takes out the garbage. I love scrapbooking and most other crafts and spend any time I'm not doing SAHM stuff (and some I should be doing...) on messy projects usually including glue and paint. If I didn't love beautiful interiors so much I'd probably never do housework! Well that's me.