Elmo, Cake and Mommy's Big Boy

Hello again everyone!


Now I am a whole year old! Mommy cried. She said that the year went by too fast. She said that even though she’s thrilled with each moment, she can’t believe that it was a year ago that I was placed into her arms for the first time. I remember that too, I knew that very moment that I was the luckiest kid alive.


She said I’m her turkey. Since my birthday was on Thanksgiving, she even got me a special bib. It had a turkey on it and a 1, so I must be her #1 turkey. I think it looked rather good on me.

I had fun on my birthday. I got to try some new foods… I haven’t decided what I like to eat. I sometimes let her get it into my mouth, but quite often it comes right back out…sometimes I even reach Mommy with it, it’s funny. She says she doesn’t like to wear my lunch. And now that I’m one, I even get milk and that stuff is yummy, but not nearly as yummy as EGG NOG, that stuff rocks!!

And chocolate…where have they been hiding this. My cake was chocolate with my buddy Elmo on the top (and yes...Mommy made my cake). I tried to get him off the cake so that he could celebrate with me, but I smudged him instead and well, at that point I thought I’d just lick him off my fingers, that seemed to work.

So, the secret is, all you have to do to get some fun new toys is have a birthday. That seems easy enough. And everyone around seems to have done it plenty of times, so I think I like how this works. And Mommy even made me a cool Elmo card.

(images taken from online, Elmo flocked, cake/1 glittered)

After I finished my cake…I started in on my hat. That was really yummy!!

Over the past six months I grew so much! I am walking all over the place now and the house looks like a zoo, really it does! Not that I’m an animal or that we have lions or anything…but there are cages everywhere! There must be some really great stuff beyond those gates, I’m going to find out soon, but the plan is still in the works. For now, when she is in the other room, I will just stand there and yell at her to come back. She seems to like this.

I also have 8 whole teeth! I have a really handsome smile! Yup, I use it all the time and it really helps me to get what I want. But, when it doesn’t work, I use the old standby, crocodile tears! Those things are awesome!! And they really come in handy. Mom says that although I don’t talk yet, she usually knows what I want, she's right.

Well, that is all for now, I’ll be back, just you wait and see.
~Garrett

Thanksgiving Blessings

Happy Thanksgiving!

There are countless blessings that I am thankful for today.

All the blessings that my Lord bestows on me daily, many I don't even recognize. He is so good.

I am so thankful for my little boy who is ONE today, yes, he's my special Thanksgiving treat. A year ago I was in the hospital with him in my arms. He's such a joy!

I am thankful for my daughter, so bright and beautiful. She has such a big heart. She came home with Honor Roll this week, her first quarter of her first year in high school. We are so proud.

I am thankful for my husband, he's always so loving and caring to all of us. Thankful for his back surgery he had a month ago and that he is doing so well.

I am thankful for my family back home. They are missed daily and thought of all the time.

As we approach another year, I pray we count our blessings.

A Happy Place

Hello all, life has a way of getting away from me, I have still yet to start my Christmas cards! Yikes. Better get a start on those....plus, for some reason the computer wasn't allowing me to upload cards/pictures, so that is fixed now.

Anyway, my hubby had back surgery on his birthday at the end of October and this is the card I made him. I figured that he could use a happy place while in all that discomfort. Inside has the birthday wishes, of course.

I found a bit of inspiration on SCS for this card. I just love this set. JeanneS had one that was pretty similar with the two-toned trees, that I liked.

I used the Zindorf way of brayering my background, goodness I like that....and added the rhinestones for those precious diamonds in the sky.

Yesterday was our anniversary and no, I didn't make him a card for that. Just no time. I need time to stop for a while, so that I can catch up. But, before I start on Christmas cards, my little guy turns one ON Thanksgiving, so I have to make him a special card to celebrate that day.

Have a great week!!

Stamps: Cute Converse, Happy Camper
Accessories: Brocade Blue, Whisper White, Night of Navy and Going Grey cardstocks. Rhinestones, brayer.

From the heart

I made a card for my Mom, my parents anniversary was in October and since Dad's passing, each year we try to make it special for her just the same. And this card really was 'from the heart'. Their marriage is what brought all of us here.....

Anyway, I found the idea for this card over at Michelle Zindorf's blog, she's a true artist. I really love pulling out my brayer now. I never used to use it at all. It's such a wonderful tool!

I have different stamps then she used, but it still worked. I love pulling out my Artfully Asian set anyway :)

Set: Artfully Asian, F3345 Large Grass (The Happy Stamper), Shore Thing, Holidays and Wishes.
Accessories: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay & Basic Gray cardstocks, Stamp A Majig, Brayer, Sponge, White Gel pen, Various SU Inks, Light Pink Organdy (retired) and Light Pink Grosgrain.

A True Golden Oldie

My older brother hit 50 this past week! I'm stunned that one of us is half way to triple digits!!
I'm out of town, but his wife put on a grand party for him, I'm told I'll get to see the video :)

He's always been a funny one in the family, both in humor and looking so I thought this would be the perfect set to use!

I tried to find an old man type paper to use and this seemed to fit. Not to pink, not too floral. It's from the Razzleberry Lemonade DP. I paper pieced his shorts with the DP.

He doesn't look a day over 49, but he'll now have to claim the big 5-0!!

Set: Golden Oldies, Whimsical Numbers
Accessories: Razzleberry Lemonade DP, Crushed Curry & Whisper White cardstock, Crushed Curry ink & ribbon, Jumbo Brads, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop oval and med oval punches

Voila it's a sweet treat!

These sweet treats out of the Holiday Mini catalog are brilliant! I haven't used my Voila chef in quite some time, but when pondering which set to use for these cups, his little platter came to mind. Perfect fit!

Today is my brother's birthday and since I had made some fun cards for his kids birthdays, last month, I thought I'd make him something fun too!

I paper pieced the chef's outfit and added some brads for his buttons. Then I sponged around for some color. I wanted him to be able to get the candy without tearing the card, so I followed the instructional video over on FroggieStamps, very easy to follow. Now, I know he'll give in and his kiddos will end up with the sweet treat.

Set: Voila
Accessories: Main Blueberry DP, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive & Whisper White cardstocks, Sweet Treat cups, Brads, Circle Punch, Sponge

Shenandoah National Park

I have always wanted to get over to the Shenandoah National Park. I lived here in Virginia years ago, when my daughter was small, and never made it that far in-land. I always seem to stay by the coast, now that we are back....it was time for a drive. It's about a 4 hour drive from the beach, but well worth it. We finally went this past Sunday and what a wonderful day we had. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and it smelled so crisp and fresh with the fall air! I loved it!!

The views were spectacular. Very breathtaking. I actually felt like I was back in New England. Just about each year, when I'm there, we go into the White Mountains to drive up the Kangamangus Highway...so I felt like I was home :)

One thing that really caught my eye, was all the rock walls that lined the street. A lot of time went into those, but WOW! So much better then any metal guard rail, that's for sure.

We stopped at one spot to stretch our legs. My little guy is just about ready to run any day, he has taken as many as 9 steps on his own. His big sister is enjoying her little brother.

And a little time for leaf play.

And just as we got back into the car to start driving again, there were two does on the side of the road. They didn't run off, but stayed put while many cars stopped to take their portraits.

Nothing like getting back into nature for the day. I hope you all get out to enjoy a piece of fall if you can.