Deck the Halls

I LOVE decorating our tree each year for the holidays. We have a tradition- Teresa puts on the lights and I decorate the tree. I just don't have the patience for the lights! No seriously, no patience at all. Last year Teresa decided her job would be a lot easier if she just purchased a pre-lit tree. Brilliant! Now if I could find a pre-decorated one! Here are some pics of this years tree. Click to make them bigger.

I AM THANKFUL FOR...

I am sure many of you have that dreaded tradition where you go around the table, after Thanksgiving dinner, and each say a thing or two that you are thankful for. I used to DREAD this tradition when I was younger. I mean really, how many years in a row can you say "Uh... my family, I guess", and get away with it? Well today I feel thankful for many things and I need to write my top ten. A little longer entry but worh it. (I have a lot to be thankful for)

TOP TEN THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR:

1. Uh, my FAMILY, I guess :) My wife and Kids. The picture is off to the side- Who wouldn't be thankful for them? Truly the #1 best thing in my life.
2. That I live in a free and democratic country. No matter how hard of times we may fall on, I still will always be grateful to live here.
3. My job- I love working for Stampin' Up! It is an amazing company and I love, and strongly believe in, all that they stand for.
4. Television- I am a news and Hollywood junkie. I know, two extremes- but love it.
5. My home- all 2400 square feet. I always thought Iwould need so much more than that. I thought it would be a starter home; just a step to something greater. I realize now it is all I need and that what I truly need in my life is to be giving a lot more of what I have to other people. Besides I could live in a bunker if I knew I would be with my wife and kids- most days anyway! :)
6. Diet Coke- though I am giving it up for Lent (not being Catholic I am really not sure what that entails but I hear people around me giving up something for a time called Lent. Sounds kind of fun. I think I will try it- yea right.
7. My Brother and Sisters- Each one brings such special traits to our family. We have a riot when we are together. I know that I always need to pack my inhaler because we will be laughing for hours and hours and hours- and my poor little lungs can't take it. Brian is a riot! The family clown. You never know when you will come around a corner and be greeted by a "full moon". Buffy-so calm and nurturing and thoughtful. Wants everyone to be happy. And Jen, incredibly patience, has tons of love to go around, and laughs like a witch (you know you do- we have been telling you for years).
8. My parents- two wonderful people that care so much about other people that they always put themselves last. Mom-surviving cancer for the second time and doing so without any complaints (I didn't get that trait) and Dad- cares deeply about making our city, state and country a better place to live and spends much time volunteering to do so.
9. Music- hearing someone singing in the shower, whistling at work (Linda), humming while working, snapping to the beat of music (Shannon), hearing songs of the season by the Mo Tab Choir, Donny Osmond and Mariah Carey, hearing Malorie and Coltin play a song on the piano that they have learned and are so proud to share, and hearing Sophie constantly walk around the house singing made up words to familiar tunes. Life would be so boring without the blessing of music.
10. Cars- even though I live about 5 miles from work, can you imagine how long that would take me on a horse, skates, walking, jogging (well that one would probably kill me long before I got there) skateboard, in a carriage or wagon. UGH! I forget how convenient they make life. I can easily go see my familf members. Sometimes in just minutes.

I want everyone to reply with at least one thing you are thankful for. It feeld good.

God bless!

My SWEET little Sophie

Miss Sophie (4) is our youngest, she has a personality like none other in our family. Sweet one minute but can turn on you without any notice. She keeps us on our toes. Here is a conversation that will help you see what I am taking about.

You should know that we were visitng Grammy and Papa (my parents) when Sophie put a popsicle stick in the toilet and FLUSHED it!


Me: Sophie say sorry to Grammy.

Sophie (grunting): uh uhhhhhhhhhh

Me (losing patience): Sophie say sorry!

Sophie: uh uhhhhhhhhhhh

Me (Hoping someone from DCFS isn't listening): Sophie just say the words "Sorry Grammy" for heaven sakes.

Sophie (defiantly): I already did.

Me (flabbergasted): No you didn't! I am standing right here and never heard it.

Sophie (adamantly): That's because I said it in SPANISH!!!!

Who knew that at four she had become bilingual? Now how can you ever get mad at that?

Photo Tag

So I got blog photo tagged over the weekend. This si quite fun acutally. Acess your own picure folders on your computer. Go to your fourth folder and find your fourth picture in said folder. If you do not have that many folders do two and then two. Then post that picture on your blog. So here is mine.

This is me at the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe two years ago. Anyone trhat truly knows me, knows that I am addicted to Hard Rcok Cafe. LOVE IT.

Now it iis your turn, post your own pic on your blog and leave a comment here so that we can all go look at it.

Stampin Samples

People ask me to post art work on my blog all the time. They want to see what projects I am working on when I am not traveling. To be honest, I do not get a lot of time to stamp when I am not traveling. I am Daddy to 3 energetic, priceless souls, (10,7, and 4), a soccer coach, local Miss America Pageant Director, and I am addicted to spending time in my yard. So I don't get a great deal of time to create. But here are a few projects I have been working on for all the stampers out there.

I use Stampin' Up products almost exclusively because I find they have almost everything that I need. This is using the Gratuitous Graffiti background stamp, and the Flower Fancy stamp. I used Craft Ink for the watercoloring to get a more vibrant look than classic inks.

Here's another project that was way easy to put together:

Two quick and easy 4x4 notecards. Used Pink Pirouette cardstock and Seriously Sassy stamp set, rhinestone brads and pearls, adhere with mini glue dots. EASY. I don't like projects that take a long time because I don't have a lot of time.

Let me know what you think......

Ahhhhhh Halloween!!

I have to admit to LOVING Halloween- not the dark stuff, but the fun you get from dressing up in interesting costumes and , well, generally making complete fools out of ourselves. I love it! At work we dress up every year and make it a big deal. Here are pics of some of my faves from the past.

The Flying Elvi- we all made Elvis costumes

Pirates

Clue- we each dressed a a different character

You can click on any of these to make them larger.

I can't wait to add a few pics from this year.

DO YOU HAVE ANY HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS? if so, please share them with all of us.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday is pictures that speak for themselves or even with all the speaking in the world it could not explain the picture at all. With that said..........

To quote a line from Monty Python:

"I'm not dead yet"!!!! And that is the good news. HOLY COW that P90X is an AWESOME workout. You don't even realize how much you have worked out until you try to get out of bed the next morning! :) Maybe that is my age coming through now? UGH.

I can tell that the next 90 days are going to be intense but worth it. On another note, the Power Yoga last night....what the.....? As far as flexibility goes, I can barely bend over and touch my own knees versus my toes or the floor for that matter!!!! :)

Tonights workout is DAY 5: Legs, Back, and the Ab Ripper- sounds daunting and perhaps slightly cripling! :)

Saturday is Kenpo and then Sunday(praise the Lord) is my rest day- no workout, and perhaps a pop Tart and Diet Coke for good behavior.

Calling all pallbearers.........

I am about to embark on something tonight (and for the next 90 days) that could possibly be the end of me. That's right.. i am talking about my mortal enemy....exercise. (What am I doing!!!!) A non-exerciser married to a avid exerciser is just embarrasing. TW has been jogging almost daily this past year and does a big run (she calls it a big run, i call it a death wish) of about 14 miles on Saturday's. UGH! She is getting fit, and I am making sure that our great TV does not go to waste. And to my credit i am doing a VERY good job. Besides maybe I am staying completely out of shape to help her feel better about herself.. yeah right!


So tonight I start the "P90X" workouts:

So in the off chance that I actually make it through the workout tonight and can walk tomorrow, or for that matter at all this week- then I will let you know how it goes.

In the mean time friends---get the ice packs, ben gay and hot pads ready!!!!

I am calling for a boycott...... 90210.

My friends, I am calling for a boycott of the new 90210 series. There are many impressionable teenage girls watching this show and seeing actresses that are WAY TOO THIN!! Because young women look to these actresses as role models, I am calling for a boycott of the show until we see pictures posted on line of each of the girls eating a Big Mac, PLUS they each need to put on at least 10 pounds. Until they do, i will not watch this show again! Feel free to join me!