I’ve been super busy getting my house ready to sell.  Whew!  Holy house!  The list of “to-do’s” is getting longer and tougher than I thought it would be.

I am barely breathing…but I am still alive.  Barely.

OK.  I’m fine.  Just a little over-worked and whiny. And my feet hurt (see, I told you that I’m whiny).

I haven’t had very much time to create – other than Graphic 45 projects for CHA (I’ll share those projects as soon as I can).

Speaking of Graphic 45, click on THIS LINK to check out the “leaked information” about the new lines!  Fun stuff!

Hang in there!  I’ll be back with more creations soon.  Promise.

For now, enjoy this sweet photo of Chester sleeping.

P.S.

We’ve been eating a lot of strawberries, hence the strawberry photo.

…I’m a terrible mother.  I took my kids to see Marley & Me.

Yep.  I did.

Let me introduce you to our dog, Marley:

He looks a heck of a lot like the “Marley” in the movie.

We adopted our Marley in September of 2007, so we’ve had him for a little over a year (he’s approximately 2 1/2 years old).

Back to the movie…

I did not read the book before I saw the movie.  Big mistake.  Although the movie was very good, I had no idea it was going to be such a tear-jerker.  My poor children left the theater sobbing (I was too).

I’ve won the World’s Worst Mother award.  I think Marley & Me hit a little too close to home for my 11 year old son and 8 year old daughter.  Oops.

Somebody shoot me.

I hope this year brings good health and happiness to all of you!

I haven’t submitted a Friday Photo over at Candid Carrie’s place in quite awhile.  I’ve missed hanging out over there at Carrie’s.

Usually I catch my husband doing something silly, take a photo and use his silliness to my advantage on my blog.  Well, I haven’t caught him for awhile now.  But he did catch me.  I guess it’s time for my payback.  It’s only fair, right?   I have two super-silly photos.

Here’s the first:

My sweet husband, Dan took me out to Sushi and the movie, Yes Man on New Years Eve.  On the way out of the movie I saw this life-size poster and just had to stick my head in the head-hole. Dan took this photo with his phone.

I know, I don’t quite look frightened enough, but I was trying not to laugh as strangers passed by shouting out advice about facial expression.

I will not be seeing this movie that I seem to be starring in. I do enjoy a scary movie now and again but I don’t like gore for the sake of gore.

And as for the 2nd picture…you’ll just have to wait until next Friday.

Now, get on  over to Candid Carrie’s Fx4 (Friday Foto Finish Fiesta)!

Make 2009 a good year!

Love, Christie

I’ve just landed on Santa’s Naughty List!  I couldn’t help myself, S’mores aren’t just a camping treat anymore. S’mores are the I’ve-Been-So-Busy-All-I-Can-Do-Is-Think-Of-Chocolate Treat!

Oh, you know you want to be naughty with me.

If you do want one of these delectable Not-So-Camping S’mores, all you have to do is stick some Hershey’s Bar and a marshmallow on top of half a graham cracker.  Then, heat your mini tower under your broiler for less than 2 minutes. Afterward, stick the other half of the graham cracker on top of your melty creation and squish it (that’s the fun part).

Congratulations, you have now made a Totally-Indulgent-Guilt-Ridden-Treat!  It’s OK, you’re in my boat now and we’re going down together.

BEWARE: The chocolate may just be so melty that it lands smake dab in the middle of your shirt. At this point the S’more Treat becomes the I-Just-Ruined-My-Shirt-With-A-Chocolate-Stain Treat.

I totally didn’t get melty chocolate on my shirt.

Alright, alright I did…but it’s just between me and you, K?

Naughty, naughty.

Gayla is having a “We Were the 80’s” day over at her blog “Where’s My Angels”.

I’m simply playing along…

In no particular order, when I think of the 80’s I think of:

But mostly, when I think of the 80’s, I think of BIG HAIR and BRACES!

My friend Laura and I…shameful but true.  It looks like I’m wearing drapes or wall paper. I think I had a bed spread with the same floral print.

And my all time favorite….I can’t believe I’m actually posting this photo…

To my credit, it was the fourth of July and I was trying to add “blue” to my red with the hideous bandanna.  But pay close attention to the bangle bracelets and very high bangs.  Sheesh.  I was totally the 80’s!  The only thing I had going for me in the 80’s was my naturally curly hair.  I never had to get a perm.

Now I’m truly embarrassed.

Hope you enjoyed the laugh!

Love, Christie

I was feeling a little blue, not sure why…just one of those days.  Maybe I’m a little down because I miss my family…the family that moved off to Idaho…and Utah.  I’m still here in California.  Not that it’s a bad thing to be in California, I just miss them.

I don’t know what made me do it but I grabbed my camera on the way out the door this afternoon.  I can’t really explain the feeling of having a camera in my hand.  It just feels good.  It feels right.

I’ve haver taken a  photography class but I’ve always wanted to.  Maybe if I took a class it would be easier to capture my world through phototgraphs…easier to tell the story of my life from behind a camera lens.

I was waiting to pick up Izabelle from school and started taking photos.  The first one of myself in mirror on my car…

Then I snapped a photo of Izabelle as she was getting in car.  Then I noticed a tree behind her.  A beautiful burnt orange tree.  Gorgeous.

I love Autumn.

Suddenly I was feeling better.  I had a half of an hour before it was time to pick up Parker from school.  I took my time driving there, pulling over on the side of the road whenever it felt right…snapping photos.

I love to close my eyes and feel the breeze, gentle, cool, calming, the sun shining on my face. As my eyes are closed, I listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees.  I feel peace. I feel blessed.  I feel grateful for the beauty that surrounds me.

I love Autumn.

Dear Grandma Wolfe,

It’s been 14 years now since you passed away.

I miss you.

I miss your tight white curls.

I miss the smell of your face cream at night when you washed your face.

I miss the way you would squeeze my hand when you held it in yours.

I miss the smell of your kitchen when you would make me poached eggs in the morning.

I miss the stories about all of your brothers.  And the tale of your sister that died before you were born.  I remember…you used to show me the lock of her hair.  It was the same color as mine.

I have so many happy memories of time spent with you.  You would sing “Trot, trot to Boston to buy a loaf of bread” to all of your grandchildren while bouncing them on your knee.  I remember picking cherries from the tree in your front yard, long walks, tying quilts, baking pies…you let me whip the cream, camping…lots and lots of camping.  My hand print in the cement, watching soap operas, watching you make Divinity, the sound of your voice when you sang – you taught me how to sing harmony.

Remember the long car rides?  You came along on almost all of our vacations with us. Remember the Tire game?  The one where Mom wrote our names in chalk on the tire.  Whenever we stopped the car and the wheel landed on a name, that person would win a prize.  Mom put your name on the wheel with ours.  You won every time.

I miss you.

You died right before my eighteen birthday…I was traveling in Europe.  Sometimes I imagine you are still here because I was not there to say goodbye.  I still haven’t said goodbye.

This life is precious…a blink.  Soon enough I’ll say hello and hug you tight when I see you again.  Because I will see you again.  Maybe I will have tight white curls like you.  We will have eternity to sing together and you can teach me how to make a perfect pie crust.  You will finally meet my husband and sing “Rock-a-by” to my children.  They will know you like I do.  They will love you like I do.

I miss you.

I love you.

Love, Christie

Thank you Kathy for this writing prompt.

If you would like to learn more about Kathy’s writing prompts, visit her blog “Mama’s Losin’ it” by CLICKING HERE.

…Sorry, it’s been awhile since my last post.  They seem to be fewer these days.  Not because I don’t want to be posting wonderful tales or projects from my life.  I’ve just been on a personal journey…taking some time for me.  I’ve been catching up a bit around the house and visiting with friends and family.

I’ve been thinking about my younger years a lot the past few days.  When I was young, I never felt very creative, sometimes I struggle, even now to feel creative.  I have an amazingly creative Mother and two wonderfully creative Grandmothers.  I have always been in awe of what they create…everything they make is art, everything a masterpiece.  Maybe it just seemed that way because I love them so much or maybe they have all found their “niche” and they’re just SO good at what they do.  My mother can draw, paint, sew, cook.  My Grandma Crabtree takes gorgeous photographs and is an incredible family historian, not to mention this woman can cook and bake better than the best of them!  And my Grandma Wolfe, while she was with us, could sew and quilt…and her pie crusts…still the best I’ve ever tasted.

I used to wonder what I would do…what would set me apart?  How could I measure up to the talented women who have come before me?

I found scrapbooking.  Now, I’ve never claimed to be great scrapbooker…or even good one for that matter.  There is so much talent that surrounds the world of scrapbooking.  On a daily basis I am blessed to be near wonderful, talented woman who love to scrapbook, like myself.

Scrapbooking has always jut “clicked” for me.  I feel creative when I scrapbook.  When I am creating a layout or book for my family,  I can’t help but feel grateful.  Someday, some relative of mine will appreciate that I’ve taken the time to create a form of art that includes my family’s precious memories.

For me, Scrapbooking has never been about being the “best” or the “most creative”…It’s about the creative process, the freedom I feel to preserve my families heritage in a unique and special way.  My way.

After all this time, I finally feel like I have earned my place among the wonderful women who have come before me.  And a place among the beautiful, talented women who surround me every day.

Setphenie Meyer’s “Twilight” Series temporarily took over my Summer.  I opened the first book and could not stop until i was finished with her third book.  Simply said, they grabbed a hold of me at absolutely did not let go.  Even though I’m finished I still think about The story of Edward & Bella (and Jacob). 

So a little back story:

When I finished the first book I called my friend Laura and told her that “Twilight” was the best book I have read in a LONG time and that I would be dropping it by her house, that way she could read it too.  Laura finished the book faster than I did AND she went out and bought the next two books.  Yes, she finished all three before I did.  About 4 days before I did (to be exact).  Yep, she’s quite the speed reader…although I did finish all three book within 11 days.  Not bad.  Laura was faster.

Any-who,  back to my point.  The books were FANTASTIC!  I spoke to Laura today and as we were discussing the books, Laura mentioned that on Stephenie Meyer’s Website she has started a “side project”.  Another book for the Twilight Series.  It’s called “Midnight Sun”.  This book is ”Twilight” from Edwards point of view instead of Bella’s.  Seriously?  Seriously.  TOO COOL. 

So, if you’re a Twilight Fan, as I am click HERE to read the first chapter in Stephenie Meyers (someday published) book, Midnight Sun.

Dear DHL,

Thank you for finding my package and shipping it safely to Graphic 45.  However I will never, ever, ever ship anything through your company again.  I couldn’t even if I wanted to because you no longer ship to or from the County that I live in.

Nice doing business with you.  Thanks for your help.

I’m glad you found my priceless package full of handmade projects.

-Christie

To Everyone Else:

YAY!  DSL found the package they lost!  They told me that the shipping label fell off.  Seriously.

I must say, I actually said prayers that they would find it.  My. Prayers. Were. Answered!

Thank you all for your notes of concern.  I can take a deep breath and sigh in relief!  My handmade projects will make it to Graphic 45 after all.

Now, let’s just hope they like the projects!

Sincerely,  Christie