Been Getting My Hands Dirty

Yep, been down in my scraproom the last two weekends in a row! FUN! I know I do a lot of digi scrapping but I still love the traditional stuff just as much as ever! Here are a few things I've made:

This is Jake (my 12yo) when he was about 5 months! Awwwww! :)

An altered barn star using the new Basic Grey :This photo frame album is hybrid and uses a digital kit by Traci Reed called "Aint No Sunshine"And a couple more for the Disney album:This one looks much better IRL, it scanned really badly! Thanks for looking! Happy MLK Day!

Laughter is the best Medicine

We all need laughter in our lives. My very favorite YouTube video:

Lia Sophia Jewelry Anyone?

I'm having a catalog party. Anyone interested?

They are having a great special for January, buy one item get two at 1/2 price! And get this, the one item you pay full price for can be the cheapest item! Cool huh?

If you are interested, here's a link to the catalog:

http://www.liasophia.com/sites/lisaruppel/page-catalog?CatID=15&TotalPages=61&PageNum=1

Long Week

It's been a long and a difficult week. I'm glad to put it behind me but I'm also glad I went through it too. Does that make sense? Well maybe it will after I explain a bit. It started out with a snowday on Monday, then a wake, a funeral and another snow delay to end the week.

Saturday night a bunch of us (some who hadn't seen each other in ages) got together at Rachael's house for a belated NYE party. It snowed here on NYE so we postponed it. Well about a half hour after the boys and I arrived the party was in full swing, the party took a terrible turn when Rachael opened the door to her Dad's apartment (he lived in an in-law attached to her house) and discovered something was wrong. We called 911 but it was too late. Her Dad had already passed away. It was awful in so many ways. You see Rachael was adopted an only just found Richard, her biological dad 9 years ago. It was such a fairy tale story as he never knew he had a daughter let alone 5 grandchildren so when he found this out he moved all the way from Las Vegas to New Hampshire to be with them. 9 years is not enough time but it's better than none I guess. I was at the wake Wednesday night and every person that came up to Rachael while I was next to her said how happy her dad was since they found each other. Those words just warmed my heart each time I heard them. At least Rachael has that knowledge to carry with her while she is getting over losing her wonderful Dad.

So while I hated to see my very good friend lose a loved one I am very glad that I was able to be there for her in that very difficult time and will be if she needs me in the days ahead.

Looking forward to next week! Hopefully I'll have something good to blog about! Have a great weekend!

Hubby Tag

Candice had this tag on her blog and invited anyone who reads her blog to play along. So if you feel like playing a game of tag . . . YOU'RE IT!!!

What's his name? Michael James Bumbaca

How long did you date? 5 years (we were high school sweethearts)

How old is he? 42 (for a few more weeks!)

Who eats more? We are both on a diet but he still eats more! This guy can EAT!

Who said "I love you" first? Him.

Who is taller? Michael, he's 6'1 and I am 5'4".

Who sings better? Ummm, me and that's not sayin much! Although, come to think of it, it may be him, I've never heard him sing! LOL!

Who is smarter? Michael even tho I was the better student!

Who does the laundry? Both of us. He puts HIS laundry in the wash and sometimes even the dryer but if I want it out of the basket I have to fold it!

Who does the dishes? Me.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you are looking at the bed, he does. If you are laying in the bed me!

Who pays the bills? I do!

Who mows the lawn? He does and he can't wait till the boys take over.

Who cooks dinner? Me unless I'm away then he tries!

Who drives when you are together? Michael unless he had too many beers! :)

Who is more stubborn? Definitely me.

Who kissed who first? Him

Who asked who out first? Neither one of us, his sister set us up by telling each of us the other wanted to go out.

Who proposed? He did.

Who is more sensitive? Michael.

Who has more friends? Me

Who has more siblings? He does. I have none, he has three.

Who wears the pants in the family? LOL! I let Michael think he does!

I saw this info on Tim Holtz's blog and wanted to share it with my few readers that may not read his blog. I think it's a great cause and hope you will pop over and help out! Info on the charity is below.

How It Works:
The four charity badges with the most unique donations through America's Giving Challenge will get $50,000 for their cause.
America's Giving Challenge runs only until January 31st.
Donate:
If you are able donate , please donate via the badge a $10 tax deductible donation. We need the most people possible to each donate $10 to A Place to Bark. In order to win the grant we need to have the most amount of donors, not necessarily the amount of money donated.
All donations made to A Place to Bark's Six Degrees Badge, will be matched by the "Zoline Foundation" up to $25,000.00!!! All donations up to June 1st will be counted for the matching donation from the Zoline Foundation.

Thank you in advance!

-3

Nope, not degrees like last week, pounds! In my first week on my official diet I've lost 3 pounds! Only 20 to go! LOL! I hate getting old. I used to be able to eat anything and not gain a pound. My metabolism started to slow down right around the time I stopped hairdressing and got a desk job. Imagine that! ;) Anyway this past summer I went off of a migraine preventative medicine that has one huge side effect - WEIGHT LOSS! I loved that side effect. Well the other side effect I guess it can do liver or kidney damage (I forget which one) over long term so my neurologist wanted me to stop taking it. Well I did and within a few months I gained 20 pounds and am actually more than I was when I started taking it! ICK! So Jan 2nd was the start of my diet but we are doing A Biggest Loser contest at work so the 3rd was my "Official Weigh In" day. Let's hope next week it's another negative number! ;)

Happy Thursday!

For Hallie

I am posting my newest Coach addition for Hallie since she said she would come to my house if I had some so I figured that would be a fun way to get to meet her! LOL! Anyway Hallie, my wonderful Husband bought me these for a belated xmas present because he got has got to make some extra money plowing with all this snow! What do you think? I have a matching purse too! You wanna come to my house now? ;)

Happy Hump Day all!

Look What I Won!

My friend Dawn who I met through Debbie won an Honorable Mention in Basic Grey's Card Contest (woohoo Dawn!). And because she was so happy she decided to have a little give away of her own and I won! I met Dawn today (she works in the town next to my hometown) and picked up my awesome prize! She made this awesome box out of the Laguna Guy Junkitz papers designed by my wonderfully talented and (pregnant!) friend Candice Cook (and I'm not just saying that cause she reads my blog either) isn't it the cutest!

And inside the box was so much fun stuff! Some American Crafts Thickers, Buttons, KI embellies and the most awesome paper pack!

And my very own BG Figgy Pudding card kit! I have been wanting one of these since Lisa posted all her awesome cards at 123-Scrap!

Isn't that awesome? Thank you again so much Dawn! I can't wait to scrap and play!

We're Having a HeatWave

sing it with me now!

Here is our forecast for the week!

I may not even need a coat tomorrow! Woohoo!

And another Woohoo! A hybrid card I made with some of Traci Reed's digi stuff is going to be published in Scrapbook Dimensions Magazine in the February Issue! Yay!

On the diet front, I'm drinking so much I need to make up time in the afternoon at work because I have to take so many bathroom breaks! And I haven't had one snack since Jan 2nd! That is saying A LOT!

Happy Monday!

Challenges!

There are challenges everywhere out there. We have tons of them over at 123-Scrap each month and even weekly too! ;) But as for digi challenges my favorites are at Sweet Shoppe Designs and my very favorite one is the Spin a Lift Challenge. Now everyone that knows me knows I love to scraplift! But the Spin A Lift puts a twist on my favorite thing by making me turn that page to lift it! Sometimes it takes some thinking because a page I might love one way doesn't work so well spun 90 degrees! I recently did a lift of Teresa Ferguson using this layout:
http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/inspiration/showphoto.php?photo=4564

and here is what I came up with:

Another reason I love challenges is that doing them keeps me scrapping and sometimes even stretches my creativity! Gotta love that! So go do some challenges! I'm off to do some now!

So Hallie, I'm sure that wasn't the type of update you were hoping for but hey, I blogged!

Happy Saturday!

Happy 2008!!!

Hope you all rang in the new year exactly as you liked! I stayed up with the boys, it was their first time watching the ball drop. Jake said it was boring! LOL! Considering we had to be quite since Michael was sleeping it was kinda lame! ;)

We got another 4-6 inches of snow today! BLECH! December was a record breaking month for snow and then on Jan 1st we get more! I'm so done with winter already! I'm taking up a collection so I can go somewhere warm anyone want to contribute? :) And since I was stuck at home, I did three paper pages today and made a bracelet. Well technically I re-strung a bracelet but I changed it up a bit so I'll call it making one! ;) Here is my favorite page of the day...

Back to work and school tomorrow so it's going to be an early night! Have a great one all!

Dec 31 P.A.D Last One!!!

And what would be more appropriate for me than another snow pic! Yep, it's FREAKING snowing again! It's only December and we have had more storms in one month than we did all of last winter! It does look pretty on the trees today tho, I will say that much!

For 2008 we are going to be doing a Photo a Week challenge and also an Autumn Leaves Calendar challenge over at 123-Scrap. So if you are up for mojo come on over and join us! We've also got all new monthly challenges coming tomorrow!

Happy New Year!

Dec 30th P.A.D.

Wow, tomorrow is the last day of the Photo A Day! I can't believe I completed the whole month! This was fun Lisa! My photo for today is a gift from my neighbor. I saw some martini glasses at a craft fair she did in November with blueberries painted on them and said I'd love some with Sunflowers. She contacted the lady and had 4 of them made for me! She is the best neighbor!

We are going to be doing a photo a week in 2008 if anyone wants to join us. Just go over and register at 123-scrap and it's under the Photography forum!

Happy Sunday! See you all for the last P.A.D. entry tomorrow!

Dec 30th P.A.D.

Dec 29 P.A.D

It was a PJ day ALL DAY today! After putting away all the xmas decorations (except the tree) and cleaning the house I just didn't feel like getting dressed! And neither did Josh!

For Lauren

I hope these will give you some mojo! I've been waiting for the perfect kit to scrap them! The owner of my daycare took these of my youngest DS and I just LOVE them! I am being very picky as I know there are a ton of boy kits out there but I just don't want anything too young or cartoony and I want something that will make these awesome photos shine!

12/28/07 P.A.D (two for the price of one!)

My new co-workers for the day! I didn't want to spend $50 to send the boys to daycare for one day (I already had to pay $70 even tho Josh wasn't even there all week) so I took the boys to work with me today! Jake is using a co-worker's cube who is on vacation and Josh is rooming with me. Here they are in their business glory!

Happy Friday All!

Dec 27th P.A.D

These are my buried Xmas lights. There was so much snow you couldn't see them for a week but they are finally burning their way through! There is at least a foot of snow there from the top down to the light bulb!

Dec 26th P.A.D.

5 Minutes after sweeping the floor...

And to think we cut our tree down December 2nd! Imagine if we got it from one of those places that ship them in and were cut down in November?

Dec 25 P.A.D

Our tree before the chaos of opening happened:

Say Thank You!

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/fullmovie.php

Christmas Eve P.A.D

Woohoo! It's Christmas Eve! I can't wait till tomorrow! And this weekend has been pretty good with the gift opening too actually! I got the canvas from Karen and this little cutie came in the mail all the way from Australia along with my very favorite Tim Tams from my sweet cyber sister Jodene! Thank you Jodene! I love it all! Those mint balls are so yummy! I opened that bag as soon as I saw them! :)

And doesn't that snowman look so perfect on my tree above that snowman wrapping paper? LOL! Just adorable! He has beaded legs!

So I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas Eve. We are off for lots of visiting today! My BIL's house is the first stop and then to the Traditional Italian Fish Feast at my Godmother's house and then on to my BFF since 8th Grade's Mom's house for the last stop before coming home to wait for Santa! I hope to see you all tomorrow with a really great photo and to hear all about your Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas and Hugs to you all!

12/23/07 P.A.D

Look what came in the mail yesterday!My my very best scrapping friend who got me hooked on scrapping Karen, up and moved to FL on me 2 1/2 years ago. When I uploaded my photos from our Disney trip to Shutterfly this little sneak went and downloaded some and made me this fantastic canvas of memories! It was such a surprise to open yesterday! I just love it! Thank you so much Karen! And why didn't I think of doing the same thing for you from your trip this summer! Silly me! :)

So the foot is getting much better. I'm able to put it down now and actually walk on it. Yay! Just in time to clean the house make some pies and the lasagna! ;) I'm happy because I really didn't want to have to order out for xmas dinner! I was able to hobble on down to the basement and scrap last night too! I made a Junkitz Box Book of Bear for Michael for Christmas. It's very simple as I wanted to get it done and because he's not much for fluff! I hope he likes it. It's not my best work as it's kind of rushed but it came out OK. I'm going to upload photos to my 123-Scrap gallery later if you want to see it!

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

How Naughty Are You?

You Were An Angel This Year

You Were 20% Naughty, 80% Nice You know you've been a super good girl this year So good, that you may have missed out a little... Don't worry, Santa will make it up to you!

Were You a Naughty Girl or Nice Girl this Year?

12/22/07 P.A.D

And not to be outdone by Jasper, Sox is keeping me company this morning! You can see how fat he is in this photo! Sox is just a mutt that we got from a lady who does rescue. Michael got him for me for Mother's Day in 2006.

Happy Saturday all! Only a few more day's till the big day!

Dec 21st P.A.D.

First off I have to say I'm so amazed that I kept this challenge up! And only 9 more days to go! Thanks to Lisa for getting me going!

This is my computer buddy Jasper. He loves to lay on my desk while I'm working. Most of the time I have to close the laptop so he can lay on that. Otherwise he lays on the keyboard and messes it all up! LOL! Today since I can't walk around to take photos he is my subject!

Isn't he gorgeous? He's a Blue Point Ragdoll. And gorgeous is about the only good thing I can say about him. He is not a typical Ragdoll, doesn't like to be held, won't sit on your lap, and he only wants to be petted when I'm trying to pee! LOL! But he's mine and I love him! Michael gave him to me for Xmas in 2001. He just turned 6.

So 4 more day's till Christmas! Is everyone ready? I'm not! I still need to wrap all the boys stuff! It's in the basement and one of my plans on the days I took off (yesterday and today) was to get that done in between all my baking while they were at school. I'm gonna see if my mom will carry them all up when she comes by today and hopefully I can get it all done before Jake gets home from school and back down there! Tomorrow Mom is gonna drive me to get my nails done. Michael took me to the grocery store last night. I got to drive one of those electric scooters around the store. Not fun in a crowded store. Oh and can I tell you how hard it is to walk in the snow in crutches! LOL! I've never used crutches so I'm not very good at them on dry land! So all I have left to do is wrap, clean house and cook dinner. Not too bad. I hope you all are in good shape too!

Happy Friday! Cya tomorrow!

Dec 20th P.A.D. "My Christmas Present"

Look at what I got! Aren't you all jealous! Don't you want some too?

I've got a torn ligament or muscle in my foot (not ankle) and I guess that's better than being broken (there's the bright side for Kristi's Optimist Matt!) :) But I have to be non-weight bearing, keep it elevated and ice 3-4 times a day! I suppose that is one way to get out of baking the 15 different kinds of cookies I make every year to give out as gifts! LOL! I also haven't shopped for Xmas Dinner yet nevermind figured out how I'm going to cook it! The doc says it may take some time to heal and that if it's not feeling better in a week (a week are you kidding me) then to go back to my PCP to get a referral to an ortho!

Oh and to add the cherry on top, it's snowing AGAIN! School is cancelled which IS a good thing since I need someone to wait on me all day!

Happy Thursday All!

"Imagine This" PAD 12/19/07

I'll set the scene for you. Me in 3 heel boots and a shiny floor!

The night before last Josh fell down the stairs at daycare and whacked his head pretty good. Well today I was walking out after dropping him off and I fell! My right ankle just twisted out from under me and down I went. Slamming my left knee into the concrete floor! YAY! So now lame on 2 sides I can't get up so I yell for a teacher who is in a room full of little kids (think noisy) and the one person who could hear me yelling out in the hall, my son! Kid doesn't hear a word I say at home but he heard me yell for help! Go Josh! Out comes Brian to help me up and into a rolling chair so I can get out of the hallway where all the parents are trying to get around me so I can ice all my ailments! I stayed there until I could walk and then hobbled on to work. Can I just say, it took all the attention off my back woes! LOL!

We found out last night that NO the transmission will not be covered and it's $3500 to fix it. Granted we are looking at other options now.

And I have go walk (well hobble) around the grocery store tonight to get all of my cookie making supplies and what I'm making for Xmas dinner too! FUN TIMES! At least I'll have a carriage to lean on!

Oh and yeah, we are supposed to get 3-6 more inches of snow between this afternoon and tomorrow morning! YIPPEEE!!!!

Merry Friggin Christmas!!!!

So you can just imagine the photo that would be here today! But really, I'm still smiling! Have a great day!

12/18/07 PAD

I can't believe I even had time to take this photo today! I have to leave the house 1/2 an hour earlier to drive Michael to work while his truck is in the shop! Jake wanted this hat so badly and even tho we already have about 8 santa hats in the house I couldn't resist! :)

It's not the best photo but heck it was 6am! LOL!

Have a great Tuesday!

Favorite Christmas Movies?

I love this time of year! And one of my favorite things to do is watch Christmas Movies! I love them all but I have two that are my very favorites and they are

A Christmas Story
The Grinch

I also love
Rudolph
Frosty
Santa Clause is Coming To Town
It's a Wonderful Life

So tell me what if any are your favorites?

12/17/07

What better photo to post after so much snow than my snowmen? These are all on top of the TV armoire. Some were gifts some I've collected myself as much as I hate snow, I love snowmen!!!

Oh and I wrecked my back shoveling yesterday so I'm a hurting unit! But hopefully the washing machine will be fixed today so there is light at the end of the tunnel! Now if I could finish my Xmas shopping! Can anyone recommend a couple of good Jazz CDs for an Uncle who has everything? I'm a country girl! :)

12/16/07 PAD - More White Stuff!!!

You have got to be kidding me! Here we go again with another blizzard. It started out this morning and it's still coming down like mad. It's still snow but it's supposed to turn over to ice and sleet! Nice huh? I went out and snowblowed for 2 hours and you couldn't tell by the time I was done! Here is a photo of Jake doing some shoveling.

And it gets better too! Michael got called out to plow at about 7am, took my H3 because his truck is in the shop with possible $2500 transmission issues! He broke my windshield wipers, got a $72 ticket and has no way of fixing said wipers because he's going to be plowing until way late and stores will be closed! It also took him 2 hours to get to his plowing location and it's usually a 40 minute drive! I also have a broken washing machine that is full of Jakes clothes and water! I had to wring all the clothes out by hand and then bail it out!!! Then my neighbor and I carried the very heavy garbage bag of wet clothes over to her house so I could finish the laundry!
It is also 15 degrees with the windchill at -3 and I need to go out there again!

And the plow just came around and left 2 feet of snow at the end of my driveway! DANG!!!

Friday 12/14/07 and Saturday 12/15/07 PAD

I took my photo early yesterday am (it was still dark out even) but then totally forgot to download it! I had a long day yesterday! LOL! So here is a photo of the snow we got Thurs taken out my back door.And today's photos are some magnets I ordered from Something Blue Studios! They are actual layouts resized down to 2.5 x 2.5 and made into Magnets! So fun! A few of them are presents and a couple are for my fridge (which is where they all are right now)! I love them! Shipping was so fast! I am definitely going to order more for work since my shelves are metal and they will be so fun to hang from them! Oh and if you want some for xmas if you get your orders in by the 16th you can still get some! Amazing huh?

So now I need to get my butt off this puter and go clean the house and then go finish my shopping! Have a great day all!

12/13/07 Photo A Day

Yes another ornament! This one has got to be one of my all time favorites! It's pink and has paisley on it! Two of my favorite things! This was made by my BFF Chris and I just LOVE it! Thank you Chris! It goes so great on my Pink Tree! :)

It's snowing like crazy here today! We are supposed to get 6-10 inches! YUCK! Any of you warm weather ladies want to change places with me for the winter? I think it's going to be a LONG and snowy one! The boys got dismissed early from school, the roads are already a mess and it's going to be a long night for Michael who will end up plowing anytime now! He said he is moving at 8mph on the highway right now! At least it's going slow and maybe there will be less accidents!

So that's my post for today! Hope you all have a great one!

P.A.D 12/11&12/07 and Thank you!

First off thank you so much to all of you who went over and left CJ some love! I really appreciate it! And back to our regularly scheduled December Program! Yesterday's photo is from a set of 6! Wendy made them for the family in memory of our Disney Trip this year! Aren't they the cutest! I just love them! Thank you Wendy!

And today's photo! Following in my "star" posting this is the last tin star I have at the moment! I'm still waiting for the ones I ordered to alter to get here! GRRRRR! I love this Patriotic star and it's right up at the top of my tree near the angel!

Hope you all have a Wonderful Wednesday!

PAD Postponed till tomorrow

Today I want you few readers to go over and read THIS post from a fellow Blogger Hallie. Hallie's son CJ is in the Air Force and his comment on his mom's blog brought me to tears. I hope my boys grow up to be just like CJ! Go on over and read the post and leave CJ some support! And tell Hallie I sent you she's a fellow New Englander who wants to move to FL just like me!

Have a great Tuesday!

Dec 10 P.A.D

Edited to share photo with the label and the lights lit. I definitely should have turned off the light in the room tho! LOL!

My photo for today is another Xmas gift. A wine bottle night light. I know I should have taken the photo with the lights on but I wanted the background of my pretty tablecloth and I was too lazy to find an extension cord! LOL!

Happy Monday All!

Dec 8th and 9th P.A.D.

My Pink and Brown Tree! I love it! It's only 3 feet tall and fits awesome on my dry sink in the dining room. I was going to put it up at work but I decided I wanted it at home where I could enjoy it more! And some ornaments I made last night. These are one of the many home made gifts I'm doing this year.

Dec 7th P.A.D

And I'm actually posting my photo on the day it's due! YAY! I got ready in record time today and was able to take my photo of the day and download it!

Another favorite Star/Snowman ornament!

I can't wait for my blank stars to get here (I ordered them last week) so I can actually make some altered ones with my BG Blitzen and Dasher papers!

Have a fantastic Friday!

Dec 6th P.A.D

My Festive Boy! He got the rest of his braces, his palette expander and his wires on today. And he asked if he could have some Red and Green Elastics! So cute! Here he is in all his metalness:


Yes, his lips really are that chapped! I can't get the kid to use chapstick to save my life!

Dec 5th P.A.D.

Here is one of many of my favorite ornaments. I now know why I loved those barn stars so much when they came out on houses! I've had this one for my tree for a long time! LOL!

Happy Thursday all! Have an awesome day! We're off to get the rest of the braces today!

Single Digits and PAD (Photo A Day)

It was 8 degrees when I left for work. Can you say BRRRRRRRRR??? I really hate winter!

And this is my photo of the day from yesterday: I didn't get it up last night because we went out to dinner to celebrate my Mom's 65th Birthday and then came home and had cake and presents. By the time Mom left I didn't feel like doing much else so I watched the season finale of Heroes that I had on the DVR.

As for today's photo, I was wishing I had my camera to take a picture of my car thermometer to share the cold with you all! I will have to think of something else later when I get home after I cook dinner, eat and go to the gym! I wonder if I'll be able to keep this photo thing up!

OK gotta get to work! Happy Hanukkah to all my friends that celebrate and Happy Hump Day to the rest of you!

My Tree

It's not as big as Debbie's but I love it! It's a blue spruce and nice and chubby!

Guess What I'm Eating???

A Double Chocolate Tim Tam!!! YUMMY!!! My wonderful blog friend Lynette sent me an awesome RAK!!! And it had my very favorite cookies in the world in it! YIPPEE!!! And look at that fun little tag she made me with a "P" and says Scrap Diva! And that little flower card is an accordian card with such a nice note! Such fun stuff! I just love happy mail days! Thank you so much Lynette! If you ever want me to send you something you can't get in AU that you like just ask! :)

December 3rd Photo

My photo for today is what I woke up to this morning! I'm gonna share two just for all you warm weather people! ;)

It's still coming down, we are supposed to get anywhere from 4-8" of this stuff and DH got called out to plow at 4am! I had woken up at 2:30 because I heard a noise, it took me until around 3:15 to fall back to sleep and then at 3:35 the phone rang! I'm going to be one tired cranky girl later on! Have a great day!

A Photo A Day in December

Lisa had this fantastic idea to take a photo a day and then make a mini book out of the photos. I decided to join in because I love December so much! So my photo for yesterday is of these Christmas blocks. I got the idea from Emily:

I wasn't thinking as I was covering the blocks and adding the labels on the first set and thought they would be best all the same, silly me! Now I need to make another couple of sets so they can be different! They are Christmas gifts so I need to make more anyway! :)

Today's photo is from our Cutting down the tree excursion. We brought our neighbor and her son since her DH is the one that fell off our roof and he can't take them. Here is Michael and Ben with the tree they picked out:

So far I'm off to a good start but it's only the 2nd of December! Hopefully I can keep it up! Thanks for the idea Lisa! At least I'll have something to blog about! ;)