It {was} a beautiful day in our neighborhood!

It got up to {72 degrees} today..I wish it would just get warmer & warmer and spring would appear..but..the weather {people} say that we could have flurries in a few days...What?
Looks like *ol' Phil* the {groundhog} was w-r-o-n-g!
Anyhoo..the kids & I went to the duck pond today and fed the hungry duckies..we fed them almost 2 loaves of bread..they were really, really hungry.
It was Mattie's first time at the duck pond..and her first time sitting on the grass like that..she seemed to like it. *Smile*

I am going to stay up tonight and try to purchase a "March" kit from Poppy Ink..let's see how that goes..they sell out quickly..because..their kits are so awesome!!!!

So..How did you spend your {pretty} day today????


___________________________________________________
Update: **O.K.** I now have stayed up past 1:00am..waiting for the "March" kit to go on sale..& right at 1:00am..it says "March kits are now sold out"..What? I said..How? I said..Hmmm? I guess I will try again *next month*...BUT..I did score the awesome {Poppy Project Kit-Ellen} @ $73.00..at first I thought..{No}..I better not..'cause I just purchased Jenni Bowlin's monthly papercrafting kit and project kit (by-the-way I just checked & her papercrafting kit is "SOLD OUT"; simply amazing!)..but the more I looked at "Ellen"..the more I wanted it..so..I clicked purchase & it conveniently was placed in my shopping cart..I love the little shopping cart! *Wink*
*Heather Burch* {owner of Poppy Ink} named the kit "Ellen" after her grandmother..I thought that was cool..'cause my Grandma DePugh's name was "Ellen"..*smile*


{Good Night}

*{Toto}*

I created this last night..and..amazingly it didn't take me long. Usually it takes me {hours} sometimes {days}..the other night I ripped a layout up and just started over{have you ever done that?}...later...after salvaging some of the photo{s}..(so thankful for {UN-DU} adhesive remover..wheww!..otherwise I would be off to Wal-Mart to print more photos)..I did manage to get it together and was pleased with my creation and somewhat relieved that the photo of Izabelle playing with her Pixel Chix was now scrapped! *Have A Great Day!!*

{Free} to a good home!

{8} Photo Storage Boxes..just leave a comment..to claim them (1st) & they are *yours*!

I am really into the {Stampin' Up!} Forget-Me-Not Keeper..they are *sort of clear* and they snap together with silver accents..nice and clean looking!
Enjoy your Sunday..*(smile)*

Abraham Lincoln

Izabelle's {homeschool group} went to see Mr. Abraham Lincoln yesterday..WOW! It was almost like he was alive. What a nice man. He told his story from beginning to end. He does this for a living..after being lead by God to do so. He gives a special message at the end of his presentation..about the importance of God, family and how important education is. He asked the parents to turn the television off for just {5 minutes} at night and have our children read to us..then parents read to the children. Just listening to him speak about how poor his family was and that he had to quit {public} school to help support his family financially {he was actually "homeschooled" later}..made us all realize how much we have to be thankful for!
Tammy took this first picture with her super-duper zoom lense..I gotta get one of those!
Afterwards..Tammy and I headed out to Scrap 'N Memories, 6601 Sugar Valley Drive, Nashville, Tennessee 37211 and Chelle was put in the $50.00 drawing again! Go Chelle!



I got some more l/o's finished! WhoooHoooooo!

Guess what....?

Izabelle broke her foot {Friday night}..while she was visiting her dad. Paul called me Saturday morning..he said that Izabelle hurt her foot last night and could not walk on it and it was swollen. So I made an appointment with her pediatrician @ 10:50 a..they x-rayed it..and..sure enough..it was broke! Poor little thing went without any pain reliever all night..Paul said he thought she was just trying to "milk" the situation..he had no idea that her foot was broke..I guess she has a high pain tolerance. So the pediatrician said that there isn't anything you can do with a break like this..{it is broke at the big toe on top of her foot}..they suggested that we take Izabelle to an orthopedic doctor this week..so I made an appointment for her to see Dr. White @ 2:30 p yesterday & he put her in a {purple} cast..that Izabelle requested. She has a little shoe that goes over the cast and crutches to walk with..she has already mastered the crutches. She has to wear the cast for {30} days..so the part that really upset Izabelle was the part when she realized that she cannot attend TKD class for {30} days. Poor baby!!

Origami Album {Class}

I will be teaching an {Origami Album Class} on Friday, March 9th..6:30p-9:30p..here at my home. If you are interested in attending please leave a comment or call me. {I have only 8 spots available} The class fee will be $25.00..I need to collect this fee {no later} than February 26th so that I can order materials needed. We will have a drawing during this class for a {FREE STAMP SET}..so don't forget to register when you arrive!

I have EXCITING news! I recently joined the {Stampin' Up!} team..if you are interested in receiving a catalog..please contact me. My website should be active sometime next week. I also will post the link here on my blog for future reference.

Also I will have a {Monthly Crop} here at my home. I can accommodate {4} croppers..so if you are interested..please be one of the first {4} croppers to contact me! There will be a $10.00 crop fee. {Dinner & dessert will be served}.

1st Crop Date: Saturday, March 24th..{6p-midnight}

@ 9:42 p.m.

{Six months ago}.....

A little princess named: Mattie Elizabeth was born..she now lives in a castle in Tennessee..with her Mommy, Daddy, big brother {Trae} & big sister {Izabelle}. And they {all} will live happily ever-after!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday To You..
Happy Birthday To You..
Happy Birthday Dear {Aunt Susie-Q}
Happy Birthday To You!!!

I Love You & I Hope You Have A Wonderful Day!
XOXOXO

Update {2/17/07}: I called my Aunt Susie-Q last night to wish her a Happy Birthday..and..I had the date wrong..woops! It is today..Saturday, February 17th.




*I put this l/o together last night..If you haven't seen the movie "Flicka" and you love horses..then you should go rent it..What a great movie!..I will definitely purchase a previewed {much cheaper} copy of it.

Happy Valentines Day!

Rich made dinner reservations @ Shogun's this evening to celebrate {Valentine's Day}..yummm! I enjoyed some sushi..and the shrimp & scallops dinner..Mattie DID NOT like the fire AT ALL! Bad mommy & daddy..bad..bad..bad! Hopefully she will overcome that issue..because we eat there quite often..we will wait and see.
Mattie wore her little "Mattie" bracelet tonight..she received this bracelet shortly after she "arrived" into this world.. from one of Rich's friends.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! From: Trae, Izabelle & Mattie

Izabelle received fresh flowers for her Valentine's Day gift!

Trae got his FAVORITE..Nestles Crunch Bars!!!!!!!!!! He won't share with anyone..so we learned not to even ask..HA!

Oh...Mattie got a little cow that mooo's..but no pic..ugh!

Miscellaneous Photos

{2} pics of the Father/Daughter Banquet..Rich & Izabelle attended Friday evening. They really had a wonderful time! They are looking forward to attending again next year. Rich said that it was really cool to see all the father's that took the time to make the evening special for their daughter's..this will be something that Izabelle will always remember. So Sweet!
Rich ran off without the camera..but thankfully someone was there taking photos and shared them. Smile!

We stopped for a quick doughnut @ Krispy Kreme before the play tonight..we were a little early! Mattie tried a little icing..she got real excited..her eyes got big..& she was NOT HAPPY when I wouldn't give her anymore..Shhh! don't tell Rich that I fed this baby icing.

Izabelle was not very happy with me..she was afraid that the hat was going to mess up her braids..I assured her that it wouldn't..but she still was unhappy with me. I told her that her doughnut matched her shirt..I still didn't get a smile.

Izabelle brought home a balloon from Krispy Kreme..Krissy Boy kept jumping straight up in the air trying to get the string that was attached to it..I managed to catch this picture!

Mattie was just cracking up over that balloon..she would try to jump out of my lap & she would squeal real loud..we got her to smile with the Krispy Kreme balloon in this picture.

After the play "The Emperor's New Clothes". It was a short {1} hour play..but it was really good..the kids had a great time!

After the {Valentine's} party..

I did not get very good pictures of Izabelle's Valentine Party yesterday..oh well..all that matters is that we had fun..& we did have FUN! We had a Valentine Tea Party..well a {punch party} anyway..Page says that we did not have a tea party..'cause we didn't have tea. We had finger sandwiches {ham & cheese, egg salad & cucumber dill}..grape tomatoes, fresh strawberries, cheese, grapes, crackers, homemade Valentine Sugar Cookies {with baking soda instead of baking powder..ha ha!} & yummy {Moss' recipe} punch! Everyone went home with a Valentine Mailbox that I made for them {I stayed up until 2:30 am Friday night to make them..I thought that we could make them together at the party..but.. then..I decided that they would be a little difficult for the kids to assemble.

After the party..Brayden & Izabelle decided to attach notes to her party balloons..then release them..Jennifer & I watched them out of the livingroom window for a little while..Brayden & Izabelle didn't realize that we were watching them & laughing!..B & I were so serious..discussing their plan about releasing the balloons..then they would just crack up laughing {I get the biggest kick out of watching kids when they don't know you are watching them..they are just so funny!}

Izabelle decided to stick Mattie in her {car}..Izabelle was scooting around the house in a Stampin' Up! box..she put tail lights, a steering wheel, license plate and a cup holder..for her party punch on this box{car}. Mattie thinks everything is funny..she just hung out in the {backseat} while Izabelle took her cruising..I told the kids that we would just go pick up a pizza for dinner..Izabelle yells out.."I'll go get it, mom!"..and starts out the front door..in her {car}. Crazy kid!

Mattie after the {car} ride..playing with her new toy "Lily"..I bought for her at Target on Friday.

Flat Stanley...

..leaves for Texas in the morning. He is very excited to meet Izabelle's grandparents..he is also excited about going to Mexico while he is there! Leave a comment if you would like to participate in the Flat Stanley Project..and we will put you on the list of places for him to visit!

Go Colts!

{Indianapolis Colts} vs. Chicago Bears

*Rich's Forecast*
Colts {31}..guessing a lower number here..Rich thinks his boy *Peyton Manning #18* gets nervous at big games..we will see!
&
Bears {24}

I guess I will root for the Colts..'cause Richie does..I am not into football {I am a hockey girl}..I just cook the goodies! Ha! I picked up some ribeyes at Kroger this morning..I am the grill-er in the family..so I will be grilling steak in the FREEZING-COLD..I will throw some potatoes in the oven..and fix corn on the cob too..for munchies I am going to fix: Ham & Cheese rolls {actually Trae fixes these..they are very good}..Boneless Hot Wings & Boneless Shanghai Wings {from Chili's}..Rotel dip with chips..cake with CHOCOLATE icing.



O-Kay! It's like 5:31p..& #23 Hester {Bears} just made a TOUCHDOWN! Geesh!

*Let's rate the s.b. commercials!*

O.M.G! Now I know why I actually sit & watch this with Rich..{The hilarious s.b. commercials}!

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"It's the beard comb-over isn't it"?..double-over, grab your mouth funny!! Ha!

The "Bud Light"..{Auctioneer Wedding}..cute..but could you imagine? I don't think so!!!

The "Snickers" commercial..That was disgusting!..then ended really stupid! Guess you have to have chest hair to really laugh at this one..hmmm?

Loved the {1st} Chevy commercial!

"Bud Light" class...very funny!

Oprah & Letterman........goofy!

Godaddy.com /Marketing........Whatever!

{Coke}..Give A Little Love & It All Comes Back To You!! Excellent..well put!

"Budweiser" Dog....cute & funny!

6:30p..Gotta go grill the steaks.....

O.K. I am still downstairs..got caught by the:

Dorito's commercial..Too much information! That was raunchy!!!!!!!!

HHR commercial...hilarious!

I gotta go grill now...seriously!!!!

1/2 time show..I love Prince..but seriously..geesh..can you lose your talent? hmmm?..& the hair slingy dancers..bad dancing..very bad dancing! Very disappointed in Prince..I am glad he {tried to} sing Purple Rain though..loved the guitar!

I totally missed most of the commercials after the 1/2 time show..Trae was watching AFV in the diningroom/kitchen and he was there first..and I would have burned the steaks by not paying attention anyway.

It is amazing what the advertisers spend {2.6 million $$} for a 30 second commercial! Whoa!

Final Score:

Colts {29} vs Bears {17}

Man! can my hubby pick 'em or what!? He likes to do that..and he always is so close..it's scary!

*Snow Princess*

Dear: {Clueless} in Virginia & Utah

This is Jadite {color} Fire King {brand}...the juice reamer is right up front..it is what you use to make fresh juice..{orange, lemon. etc.}..

We got some snow last night! Izabelle had a blast..Trae just wanted to sleep..he wasn't interested in playing outside..but Izabelle got up and got herself dressed and headed out the back door..I let her play until 10:15 am..We usually do school work from 10 a - 2 p..so we were a little late today...but we had the perfect excuse!

I love this picture of Toto...oh my goodness...isn't he the cutest little thing?! He was jumping around acting like an idiot..very very funny!

Picture of the backyard early this morning..7-ish.

My SWEET hubby..before he left this morning for work.

Attn: Renee..I have lots of stamps that you can come over and use if you would like! Only {1} that says "Happy Valentine's Day"..but lots that would work for the occasion.

Vintage Printers Box {Drawer}

I found this the other day at an Antique {junk} store..I thought it would be cool to store my {small} rubber stamps on it! I am trying to research to see how old it is..from what I have found..it is maybe anywhere from the 1880's - 1940's.
Mine isn't marked with a brand or anything..except for it has a label on the side of the drawer that says: ATTRACTIVE T39..1097

I also found a Jadite Juice Reamer to add to my Jadite Fire King collection!