Happy Birthday to my Sweet Daughter

Here's a special birthday post for my sweet daughter.  She is a precious blessing in my life.  

We have had a ton of fun together, often through our Stampin' Up! adventures. 

Happy Birthday, Jenn!  Love you to pieces.

A Big Happy Birthday to My Baby Boy!

Today is my son's birthday.  I love him to pieces.  Here are some shots of him that I'm sure he will enjoy.  Happy Birthday, Matthew.

Come on back for more creative fun.  Now, go stamp something ... after you read the following reminders, of course:)

UP NEXT:
-SPRING OPEN HOUSE PARTY!
My party is now scheduled for Sunday, April 8.  Party time is from 2:00-5:00.  Stop in any time during these hours.  I'll have demonstrations of our 2 newest products, displays to inspire you, refreshments to enjoy with friends, special gifts for your ordering, party favors for those who sent their RSVP to help me plan, a little guessing game contest, and 3 special Make and Take projects --- all just for you!  Let me spoil you a bit.  Bring a friend and let's party!!!

NEW HOSTESS CODE:

GHG4V666 -Mar. 25-April 10.

- April 9 / Scraps and Prayers Class / 5:30-7:30 / $15.00

We'll be making some beautiful Spring cards, using some fun coloring techniques.  You'll love them!

- April 21 / Saturday Stampers / 1:00-4:00 / $20.00

Brusho!!!  We'll make a Swatch Book and a couple of beautiful cards using this gorgeous new product.  Remember, this class could be free.

Click here to see how to turn your April 21 Saturday Stampers Class into a free class.  You can even change the date, just for you!

NOTE:

Stampin' Blends free classes are 'on hold' until SU gets in more supplies for us.

THERE AREN'T ANY CLASSES IN MAY.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world.

- Come back often for more creative inspiration.

- Let's create something beautiful today.

Christmas 2015... Family Memories and a Bit of Decor

As the year ends, I thought I'd share some of my Christmas memories with you.  These are my true blessings.
Olive Jane must have veen trying out for the 'most perfect little girl' award Christmas Day, because she was just that.  Here she is sporting her new, slightly shorter hairdo.  She posed this way on her own:)

Joey gives me the sweetest smiles ever.  He has been trying out for the 'most perfect baby' award since the day he was born.

Great Grandma Horton with 4 of her 'greats' as she calls them.  As you can see, our Benjamin has been a great help with the baby.  Little Aaron is hunkered down in the corner.  One of my goals for 2016 is to teach him to give me a decent smile for a photo.  This will be a tough goal:)

This was our little Joseph's first Christmas.

Lilly Belle.  She looks bigger here than she really is because of the close-up.  She only weighs 15-18 pounds.  She is the sweetest little girl I could ever hope to have for a puppy.  She will forever be a puppy to me.

Buster Bo Jangles.  He has grown into a beautiful, beautiful boy.

Toby Joe, my sweet, sweet and wonderful Border Collie mix.  We didn't actually adopt him.  He adopted us!

... and here's our tree...

There was one more piece of coordinating decor on the right side of the hearth, but a big, white tail wiped it out one day, so I set a tray of Christmas cards there.  We like to go through them several times and reread the messages sent from family and friends.

This is our 'Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night' photo:) 

God bless you and yours in the coming year.  In my next post, I'll be looking at what's ahead for 2016.  Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve. 

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration. 

First of Two Posts Today: Birthday Surprises / Celebrating 4 Generations

I have 2 posts today --- The first one is all about a very special birthday surprise and the second one is about a wonderful little Christmas card.
First up:  Yesterday, we gave my Mother-in Law a wonderful birthday surprise.  My husband and I usually go over to Lincoln at least once or twice a week for a visit and a meal.  Yesterday, we changed our plans at the last minute and told her we were bringing food and would eat at her house.  We did this, of course, to hide a little surprise.  5-day old Joseph Christopher was going to drop in with his family for a birthday surprise visit.  Ilah was really surprised and just couldn't believe that she got to see him when he was only 5 days old.  It was a wonderful ending to a beautiful day.

Above, Ilah Mae with Joseph Christopher.  Below, Ilah and Joseph with his 2 brothers, Aaron and Ben.

Bill, Ben, Ilah with Joseph, Jenn, and Aaron.  No, Aaron doesn't pose well for a photo shoot.  We are trying to learn to live with this.  This shot shows 4 generations and Ilah is with 3 of her SEVEN great-grandchildren.  What a wonderful life! 

Here is the rose on the altar at our morning worship service, in honor of Joseph Christopher.

OK, we'll take a break from family blogging and I'll be back later today with my second post and a cute little 4 1/4" square Christmas card.  
Be sure to come back!

Have a wonderful and blessed day and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Happy 93rd Birthday to My Wonderful MIL

If I had to choose a mother-in-law for myself, I don't think I could have done a better job than how things all turned out, because I have a wonderful lady for my MIL.  Happy 93rd birthday to a precious, wonderful lady.  This week, she will not only celebrate her 93rd birthday but most likely get to meet her 7th great grandchild, Joseph Christopher Motter.  I love my family.   

We love you, Ilah Mae Horton.  Thank you for all you have given us through the years.

 Come back to begin a big week of posts on Christmas, Christmas Christmas.  Have a blessed day!f

Prayers And Progress

I have since updated my previous post.  I was mistaken in thinking it was good if Joseph's numbers went up.  They really needed to go DOWN.  He had a very rough night, filled with lots of prayers, TLC, super care and, finally, some progress in the right direction ... toward 10 ... for his bilirubin number.  Prayers have helped so much.  He'll be having another blood test in a few minutes, so we're praying hard for this one to be the winner.

We did get to enjoy in a really short visit yesterday, for the boys (and Nanna) to hold Joseph again and for Olive Jane to meet him and hold him.  This photo almost captures her giving him a kiss.  It was really fun to have all three kids playing here yesterday.  The boys love having their cousin visit.  Each of us got to hold him for a matter of seconds, but it was well worth it. 

He's dressed in the little outfit I got him for going home because they'd just finished doing his hospital photo shoot.  He was ready to eat now!  I love him so much.  I'll keep you posted and hope you'll join us in prayers for our sweet Joseph.

I do have some cards ready to share with you.  Be sure you don't miss one of my upcoming posts for a Christmas Retreat sneak peek!  I promise!!!

Have a beautiful day!

Progress Report

Well, after a night under the lights, little Joseph's bilirubin levels went up a little (instead down toward the desired 10), so his doc ordered an IV for last night.  He's eating well, so that's a great sign.  I can't wait to get him home and let the Nanna spoiling begin.  Last night, I had Olive Jane AND the 2 boys for the night.  I managed to get them all fed by myself, bathed by myself and into bed on time.  I made the mistake of bragging this morning of how well we've done all week... getting the boys on their buses on time and taking care of them and then to bed on time.  Never brag.  While I was doing that, Ben's bus driver (a sub) forgot to pick him up and so he missed the bus.  He was upset he would be in trouble.  Papa took him up to his school in the car.  They walked in and found everyone in an assembly and no one even knew at that point that he was late.  All's well that ends well.  I must say, it's been a ball having everyone here and I love being their Nanna.  Don't ask me how tired I am right now.  It's not negotiable.

Get better, sweet little guy.  We love you!

I do have some cards ready to share with you.  Be sure you don't miss one of my upcoming posts for a Christmas Retreat sneak peek!

Have a beautiful day!

Under the Lights

Well, my sweet little one spent the night under the lights.  Let's hope he gets to go home soon. 

In between my physical therapy and meeting the school buses (early dismissal) yesterday, we got in a nice visit with little Joseph.  He made these sweet, little, tiny noises while I held him and kept trying to hold up his little head and look at me.  We're going to be great buddies. 

After the boys got home, we did homework, gathered more clothes for laundry, played outside, had dinner, walked the puppies, and just had a great evening.  I was exhausted, but happy.  We even had time for me to fill the jet tub and give them a luxurious bubble bath, complete with jets on.  Aaron thanked me again, during breakfast, for the bubble bath.  What sweet boys.  I could have done without Aaron telling me that ... no, he guessed his clothes were not in the right place and did not get washed in the first load:)  He did help start another load going.

This week's schedule has been a killer and next week promises to be just about as busy.  I am spending a little time each day getting ready for my big October Retreat (October 17).  I love making Christmas cards.  The one I worked on yesterday came out just gorgeous, but was so complicated that I had to take it off the 'yes' list for the Retreat.  I don't want anyone to go home feeling like they spent the entire day on one card:)  I'll post some sneak peeks very soon.  Keep checking back.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

I'd like to introduce...

In my previous post, I told you to be sure to come back for some very exciting news.  Are you ready?  Today, I'd like to introduce you to my newest grandson.  Meet Joseph Christopher, born October 6 at 2:54 AM.

Joseph weighed in at 8 pounds, 12 ounces and I still can't get over his beautiful, dark hair.  All my other grandchildren are pretty much blondes.  Maybe he got some of the dark (formerly dark) hair genes from his Nanna and Papa.

It's almost impossible to get Aaron to give the camera a good smile, so I just love this shot of when he first got to hold Joseph. 

I can't tell who is the most 'over the moon' about this baby... Ben or me.  Ben has always loved babies.  He's very good with puppies and babies.  I think he'll be a big help.

This shot shows their daddy introducing the boys to Joseph.  He stopped crying right away with all their attention.  He has the tiniest little cry.  Nanna will have a difficult time not spoiling him rotten!  I do get the pleasure of taking care of him full-time when my daughter goes back to work, so it's just my job to spoil him... right?

I loved this shot, but the color wasn't too great, so I just changed it to a black and white... very artsy????

Last night, when I was putting the boys to bed, they couldn't stop talking about the baby and how cute he is.  I printed off photos for each of them to take to school.  They each climbed on their bus to go to school and immediately showed their photo to their bus driver.  They have the nicest drivers ever!

I think Papa likes him pretty well, too.

Trying to get both boys awake and ready for school today was kind of like walking through mud and pulling them through mud but we actually had plenty of time and got to sit on the porch and chat a bit before they left.  I think we're doing great! 

I might have a tiny bit of time for some stamping today, in between physical therapy for my shoulder, visiting the hospital again, the boys having early dismissal... What a week this has been!  Tomorrow, Olive Jane is coming and will spend the night, so the excitement never ends.  I can't wait for her to get to meet Joseph!  I feel so blessed.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or look on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Christmas Cute!

Here's a sneak peek at the Christmas portraits for our furry babies.  I love how they turned out.  It's kind of a miracle because it was like turning 3 gerbils loose in a gym to get them together for a pose.

Come back soon for a new series of posts I'll be sharing.  It's all about types of scrapbooking.  I think you'll enjoy it a lot.  
Have a great day!  

Read All About It!

Our family has been heavy into the news lately.  Today, the paper had an article featuring my husband and his book.  Last Saturday, the paper had an article about our church's Christmas Shoppe (organized by my daughter) which featured a photo of our youngest grandson last year.  I guess I'd better try to do something newsworthy... or I could just keep on enjoying my low profile:)

'Just a Guy' 

Our Christmas Shoppe