November Layout!!

Well, here is my layout for the store for the month of November. The picture is not the best one because I forgot to take a picture before I dropped it off, so I had to take the picture after it was hanging in the store in the plastic sleeve. Yes, there is a little glare, but I think you can still see the design. Some of this patterned paper is not something that I would necessarily select for myself however, I did like it once I started playing with it.

Here it is...."The Story of Just The Girls"....

Left hand page.... Right hand page layout....

This month completes my term as a design team member, however, I have completly enjoyed being on the team. I have used products that I love but would probably not notice on the shelf, so it has definitely taken me out of my creative box. There is another design team challenge coming up, so I am sure I will take a stab at it...in fact, I will have to work on my design team submission while I'm in Tennesee for Christmas, so I can get it turned in on time....Darn!!! I guess we will have to have some scrap days while we're there.

Til next Time with T!!!!

Amazing Christmas Surprise!!!

Ok...so with the new look of my Holidayish blog and my children listening to Christmas music in the car already, (really Kameron requested me to put a CD in, 2 months ago), and the kids ready to decorate, those are not the only things getting me in the Christmas spirit...our family has already received the best Christmas surprise. That is really "pushed" us into the Christmas spirit...here's the scoop....

We are so blessed to have a very special and generous family that has made it possible for us to spend Christmas with our entire family....

We were blessed with 5 plane tickets for our family to have a Tennesee Christmas this year with our very close family!!!!!

Can you believe it??? I couldn't at first..it took quite a bit for it to sink in.

When we shared with the kids what God had done for us...they all screamed and ran thru the house dancing, rolling around on the floor, yelling..."We're going to TN for Christmas...we get to see everyone". They couldn't contain themselves, it was such a blessing for me to see them so happy, it made me cry.

Don't get me wrong I am blessed with a happy family, however, since our family has left, they just miss them greatly.

My family is making plans already...places to go, things to do...our annual gingerbread house construction, baking, eating, decorating, shopping, spending the best day of the whole year together, me getting to open the present that Unle Rick buys for me...haha!!! Rick did you hear that!!!! It's a big en!!!

We can't say enough to this special family and how much this means to us...our children are so excited and we are too, especially Unle Rick...

I had really just planned on not spending Christmas with my family this year...with a family of 5...it's not the easiest thing to make happen.

Then I prayed too God, not asking for Him to make a way for us...but, I made a promise to God that I would be a good steward of this Christmas for my children, I have a lot to be thankful for and that is where I was going to focus my attention. They needed me to be strong and happy, as this would not be easy for them. There are so many people that would give anything to have their family together like mine. So I was choosing not to complain, pout or be angry. I believe God honored that and gave me the desires of my heart without me asking. I mean really it's not like he doesn't know what's in my heart. Think about it!!!

One last thing...we didn't tell our children who it was that God used to bless us, not because they are not important but we wanted them to know that it was given from God and to protect the privacy of their hearts. The only reason I am sharing here is for it to inspire someone else in any similar situations.

God is a good God!!!!

So on to my story...So one day on the way to school, Kameron prayed as we normally do, however, today was different, this was his prayer....

"Father, I thank you that we get to go to Aunt Sheri's for Christmas,

Father, I thank you that there is snow at Christmas,

and I thank you that Christmas comes fast,

and I thank you for the people that gave us the money for our plane tickets,

and Father, I thank you that you put a blessing on their home."

Ok, so I lost it and started to cry...what an amazing prayer. I love it!! I am so proud of Kameron's praying, he does an amazing job.

Thank you again to this special family for your obedience. I agree with Kameron...may God bless your life and home.

So Tennessee...HERE WE COME!!!

Unle Rick here we come!!!!

Til Next Time with T!!!!

My Sister is the Best!

I just wanted to say how much I love my sister! She is such a blessing to me and she is absolutely the best sister. I know she loves me and my family so much! I really miss her. Sis, you're the best!

Family Day!!!

I woke up on Veteran's Day and saw my husband and thought he was late for work...I didn't realize he was off for the holiday...so we decided to have a family day.

We just knocked around in the morning and then decided to go to the movies...we ended up watching "Madagascar 2".

We went to grab a bite to eat before the movie, watched the movie, then walked around Borders, looking at books...we all love it there..even the kids.

Although, I didn't get a lot of pics like normal, I did get some.

Here they are..

Shine and Brooklin on our way in...

Stopping to get a bite to eat...

Me and Shine....


Although, he looks like an angry old man...he was just joking...

Don't know if they really would have wanted me to take this but I snapped fast...most normal people don't take their camera to the movies...only us!!! I know I am not publishing it anywhere...

What's a movie, without popcorn...

Sissy waiting for her popcorn....

Shine holding one of the popcorn boxes to split up the bucket...

Kameron hiding behind Shine from the camera...not a normal thing for him...he usually says take a picture of me...however, it was a holiday....

The line to get into the movie...this is after the ticket purchase...we were in the first quarter of the line...it went way past us...this was about 30 min before the movie started...

We made it in...whew!!!!

Hugo and Kameron waiting for the movie to start....

We had a great day with the kids...our last stop was Petco...the kids love to go there to look at the animals.

I love days like this one...where it's all about the fam...

We are very blessed with a great family...

Til next Time with T!!!!

Cooking Class!!!

Ok, so I never finished posting the last cooking class and we're on to the next one. So I will try to make sure I post them once a week so you can see what we are doing...then during our break I will go back to the International class to catch up...

This is a "Holiday Cooking Class"...so we're making desserts, candy, side dishes and entrees. I am very excited about this one too.

This last week we focused on desserts, i.e., pies, cakes, crepes, most of them with apples as the main ingredient.

Here's a peek into our class, some friends have joined in this one, so you may recognize a few....

Shine waiting for the teacher instructions before we get cooking....

Yea, we have some friends in our class...
Yeah!!! More friends...
Aaahhh!! The ingredients for the night...I love all that color...gorgeous!!!! Yummy Apples!!!
Now we're cooking....our dish our group was preparing was an "Old Fashioned Apple Pie". I have attempted apple pie many times in the past...but not one Hugo has "really" liked..so I am on a mission to make one the he loves...

Shine is rolling out the leftover dough to cut out the leaves for the top of the crust....They are so beautiful on top of the pie...

Mema putting the glaze on top of our masterpiece...
Here it is Babe!!...I hope you like it...It looks pretty, I hope it tastes good....Well, we should probably cook it first... Here's a close-up before it was cooked....

Our friends made an "Cranberry Apple Upside Down Cake"...it was yummy...good job girls...
Our other group of friends made an "Apple Tar Tartane"...well, it was very good too...Carmelized apples in a dough...yummo!!!The finished product...

Even better with a scoop of dairy....
Well, my husband loved it...However, I have just a couple more crust recipies that I want to try...I want to see him jump in the air for joy...so if he does that I will be sure to grab a camera and post that...it will be the entry of the year...cause he doesn't jump for much out of emotion...only for God and that is spiritual not emotional....So I will keep ya'all posted...

Til next Time with T!!!!