New Connorisms

The title of the Santa hat photo and of the page I will scrap for it will be, "Dear Santa, Define Naughty". Doesn't that sound like a fitting title for this photo? By the way, this photo was taken with my new lens that I bought with my Piggy Tales winnings. I love how the background is blurred. I mean, you know there's Christmas tree back there, but it's not dominating the photo.

Well, where do I start? Connor had a Holiday program with his school last month. Much to our surprise, he gave an impromptu performance at the program singing, "Santa Claus is Coming To Town". Yup, he is his mother's son for sure. I think it helps him seeing me get up in front of people not to be bashful. Anyway, it was totally unplanned. He wanted to sing, so the director let him get up there and take over the mic. This little three-year-old got up in front of about 250 people and sang his song without a hitch. Eric and I looked at each other in disbelief and asked, "Is this OUR son?" It's so unbelievable, but I have the pictures to prove it.
On another "performing" note. I got up to sign language a song in church last month for Christmas. As he's done in the past, Connor went up on stage with me. He likes to hang out with me while I do my thing. Well, this time, it did not go as well. While up there signing away, Connor proceeds to try hiding under my dress. He even lifted my dress way over his head exposing things that should not be seen in church, all the while, cackling like a little heathen. Eric and Roger are sitting there frozen in shock. Finally, my Pastor came to my rescue and escorted the errant toddler off the stage. Yup, everyone had a good laugh at my expense.
Let's see. There's more. Never shower with a toddler without expecting some brutally honest comments. Such as, "Mom, why is your belly so big?" (Should I laugh or cry?) He caught Eric getting out of the shower the other day and goes, "Eeeww! Gross! I didn't want to see that!"
The other day Eric and I were arguing. Eric picks the fights and it makes me so mad that Connor always sides with him. So in the middle of our argument, Connor is telling me to be quiet, I turn to him and said, "Connor, you don't understand. Daddy is picking a fight with ME". He says, "Yes I do understand!" He turns to Eric and says, "Daddy, you need a new attitude!". LOL!
The other day, I picked him up from my mother-in-law's. I asked him, "Connor, did you eat anything?" Yes. "What'd you eat?" He replies, "A cockroach". LOL! I nearly fell over. Then the next day, out of the blue he goes, "Roaches are good." I said, "Eeww, no they're not". He goes, "Yes they are. They're good if you cook 'em". Where does he get this stuff about roaches?

He's getting really ornery lately. It's so darned cute, though, I hate to spank him. But if I don't correct him, he'll turn into Ryan. Ha ha!

PRAISE GOD! Ben is back home and so is Shawn!!

God does still answer prayers and sends out MIRACLES!!

UPDATE:Ben Ownby, the 13-year-old Franklin County boy missing since Monday, has been found alive in Kirkwood -- as well as Shawn Hornbeck, a boy from Washington County who has been missing since 2002.Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke said officers located both boys today in an apartment in Kirkwood. He said the case broke when two Kirkwood police officers went to serve a warrant last night and noticed the white pickup truck that had been the object of an intense search in the Ownby case. Officers went to the apartment today and found both boys inside.Hornbeck identified himself as the boy who has been missing since October 2002. Both boys appeared to be in good health, Toelke said.One person has been charged in the case, identified as Michael Devlin, 41,Toelke said. He was being held in lieu of $1 million bond and being questioned as the news of the boys' recovery was announced. Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Parks told reporters that Devlin had confessed in the case.

Let you light shine in this New Year.

What Difference can One Mom Make?
Elisabeth Corcoran
"I look at the enormity of the problem and I can’t help but think, ‘what can one person do?’" It’s occurred to me that I used to think that way but that I don’t anymore.
One person can do much.
One person can pray with all she’s got, begging God to intervene in any situation, to pour out his power, to give her wisdom to know what she can and should do.
One person can give of her time in a way that will be a sacrifice to her and of great benefit to others.
One person can give money…even a little bit of money…and that can be added to what others have given and then multiplied when God steps in.
One person can call attention to an issue that is usually talked about in hushed tones…making people aware of something they may have had no idea about.
One person can enter into the darkness, carrying her little bit of light, and shed great illumination where only dim shadows used to dwell.
One person can touch another person’s life in small ways – with a kind word, a gentle touch, a moment of time to listen and hold and cry with.
One person can take her gifts and pour them out into someone else’s life, knowing that freely has she received and freely should she give.
One person can take her hurt and ask Christ to turn it into a blessing as she connects with the pain of another hurting heart.
One person can move into another person’s life in large ways – with a shout against injustice, a rallying of a group to do something of meaning, a hand reaching out to draw someone out of their circumstances permanently.
Moms, we’re told time and again that we as women have the ability to set the tone of our home. That our daughters will learn how to be women and mothers by watching and modeling after us, and that our sons will grow up to look for wives that mirror their mothers.
We have been given not just the ability, but the responsibility, to do great good.
One life at a time. In our home. And in our world.
This year…2007…can be the year that we allow our one life to do a world of good for someone else’s life.
What can one person do in comparison to the vastness of our world’s problems?
Each one of us can do much. We each have so much to give. And we are called to do just that.
Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for those in their distress. -James 1:27-My challenge to myself and to each one of you is this: go be a light in the dark in this New Year, ladies.

Please Pray for William "Ben" Ownby

We are all sickened by the most recent abduction of a young boy from Beaufort, MO just a little ways from here. He was last seen getting off the school bus and forced into a white Nissan truck with a camper on top. PLEASE, pray for God's divine intervention in bringing the boy home safely. Please remember his parents and family. I can't even imagine what they are going through at this time. This is a parent's worst nightmare. It just makes me want to hold my children a little tighter, and not let them out of my sight. I'm terrified of the world that we live in. How can anyone harm an innocent child? Please pray.

OMGoodness! I can't believe I won FIRST place!!

I entered this layout in a contest and won! I had my two winners picked, and believe me, I was NOT one of them! There were 80 entries to this contest so I thought there was NO WAY I would win. I'm still in shock. I'm so glad that Jamie Cottrell captured this special moment between me and my son. It really is an awesome photo and am sure this photo is what pushed me to the top.








The Christmas layout of Connor and Santa won third place in a different contest.
Ok. I'm done bragging. Ha ha!
Thanks, friends and family for letting me share my excitement!!

First Annual Christmas Cookie and Recipe Swap!!

Here's some photos of our very first annual Christmas cookie/Recipe swap. We're off to a good start with 9 cookie recipes for our cookbook. Every year I will host this party so we can build a nice cookie cookbook as well as have a nice assortment of cookies for the holidays! This year we had Snickerdoodles, Oreo Bon Bons, Gooey Butter Cookies, Chocolate covered raisin oatmeal cookies, Chocolate Oatmeal no bake cookies, Neiman Marcus cookies, Chewy Chocolate Cookies, and Dani's famous pop and bake Pillsbury Gingerbread cookies complete with onion embellishment!! ROFLMBO!! This one is truly a collector's item! Ha ha ha!! Love you, Dani. My favorite photo is the picture of all the cookies next to the DIET Mountain Dew. Did you know that one Diet Mountain Dew cancels out all the calories in one dozen cookies?? Ha ha. Muuuaaaahhh!! Can't wait until next year girls! At next month's crop, I think we'd like to continue the recipe card thing with Soup Recipes. So dig out your favorite soup recipes and get to work!

Merry CHRISTmas to all!!

Whew! The holidays are blowing by so fast!! I need to get some pics up. I was really spoiled for Christmas this year. Eric got me a new lens for my Nikon D70 digital SLR camera. I bought a new flash with my Piggy Tales winnings. I haven't yet received my stuff from PT in the mail, so stay tuned for the RAK. I'll see what I get and maybe send a little to everyone who posted.
Anyway, Eric also got me an Applebee's Gift Card, but that shouldn't count since we're using it on him to eat too, right? Ha ha! Normie got me a nice GC to her fav LSS, For Keeps Sake, in STL. Also, for the first time ever, Eric and Ryan ran to WM at the last minute and actually filled my Christmas stocking. Every year I stuff everyone else's but mine is always empty. I guess they felt sorry for me so they stuffed it this year.
Connor got toys that interested him for about 5 minutes. Ha ha. What a waste of money. He did love his piano from his Nana and Papa, though. He put on quite a show on Christmas Eve. It was hilarious. I'll try to post some photos of his antics.
Eric got a GC to Sears and Roger got him one to Lowe's. Ryan and Josh both got money so they can get what they want.
I hope your Christmas was wonderfully blessed. But always remember the best and most precious gift was given to us over 2,000 years ago. The gift of salvation given to us by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He IS the reason for the season!

I'm in the Christmas spirit. I feel like a RAK!!

Since I won some Piggy Tales stuff, I think I'd like to RAK some of it and share the love. Does anyone have any Piggy Tales stuff? Do you like it? Would anyone like to have some of it?? I don't know what my RAK will be b/c I haven't yet received my winnings, but when I do, I will post a photo of what I will RAK.

I WON!! I WON!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!

OMG! I'm still shaking with excitement!! I won second place on the Piggy Tales contest. For the contest, we had to create an "All About Me" album using primarily Piggy Tales products. I chose the "Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs" collection because it is done primarily in Purples, and purple is my favorite color. I think Piggy Tales is a fairly new paper line, so there aren't a whole lot of embellishments to go with it, so I had to create my own embellishments out of paper. You'll see stamped and hancut flowers, as well as hearts. (Thanks, Kelly Goree, for the string of hearts idea!!)

So I told a brief story about myself with chapters separated into decades, 1960's, 1970's and so on. I can't believe I was picked as a winner!! They must've only had 3 entries!! LOL! Anyway, I created a separate slide show above showcasing my album. Thanks for letting me share my excitement with y'all!!

The notification email from Trina at Piggy Tales appears below:

Hi Theresa,CONGRATULATIONS! You've been chosen as the 1st runner up for the PiggyTales Tell Your Tale Contest. Your $300 cash award and $75 Piggy Talesproduct will arrive soon! Thank you for your entry. Will you please letme know where you bought your Piggy Tales product. Also, we'd likepermission from you to showcase your entry on our website.Happy Holidays,Trina LinfordDirector of PromotionsPiggy Tales

Thoughts for the day

Deep Thoughts for Those Who Take Life Way Too Seriously:
1. Save the whales. Collect the whole set.
2. A day without sunshine is like...night.
3. On the other hand, you have different fingers.
4. 42.7 % of all statistics are made up on the spot.
5. 99 % of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
6. Remember, half the people you know are below average.
7. He who laughs last thinks slowest.
8. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
9. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.
10. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.
11. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
12. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.
13. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.
14. How many of you believe in psychokinesis? Raise my hand.
15. OK, so what's the speed of dark?
16. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
17. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.
18. Every one has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.
19. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?
20 Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
21. What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
22. I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.
23. Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
24 Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.
25. Just remember -- if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.
26. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
27. Life isn't like a box of chocolates . . . it's like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

Kids say the darnest things!

Every single day Connor (3 1/2) says something amusing. I'm going to try to journal his little sayings here so I won't forget them.

The other day he says, "Daddy, I thought you were a girl because your legs are pink". LOL! Eric has a red-head's fair complexion, and yes, there is a pink tint to them.

Yesterday Eric was trying to give him kisses and Connor says, "Daddy, I don't like your kisses. Your bref (breath) is stinky. Get some gum from Mommy".

Eric is going to kill me if he knows I posted this on the blog! LOL!!!

So beautiful out here in Missouri

We literally got dumped on! Take a look. We never see this in Texas! The first thing that Connor wanted to do when he got outside was make a "bible" (he really means snow angel) in the snow.

Wanna laugh??

I'm doing this All About Me album (almost done with it!) and came across these high school photos of me. I was on the dance team in high school. I was a Clear Creek Cavalier! Ha ha. I still love dance, but don't do it much anymore. Wish I had a little girl to pass my passion on to! (I wish I still only had one chin.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Latest Layout

I finished this layout last week but haven't had a chance to post it until now. It's a Thanksgiving layout, but done in non-traditional colors. I wanted to give a feeling of bright, happy joy to the layout, because that's what it's all about. Journaling reads, "On a perfect Autumn day, while maples were in Golden Glory, during this season of Thanksgiving, I saw the joy on your face. It made me THANKFUL to be alive. Love, Mom"

Hope everyone has the best Thanksgiving holiday this week!!

What a month this has been!!

First, on the 8th, Debbie turned 55! I've been teasing her about being an official senior citizen. Ha ha! She's such a good sport about it. Sorry, Deb. Love ya and hope to celebrate many more birthdays with you!!

The next day, on the 9th, Eric and I celebrated four years of marital bliss. One of these days, maybe on my next post, I'll tell you how miraculous it is that we're together. I love telling the story of "us". It puts me in a happy place and it deepens my love for my hubby. So, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, HONEY!!!

The day after that, on the 10th, my eldest child, Joshua, turned 19!! Boy, am I getting old or what?? He's engaged to a wonderful girl, Rachel, whom I love and adore. They were going to get married on the 11th but I talked them into waiting a while. So I almost had another thing to celebrate in November!!

Whew! What a month!

Sorry I haven't been updating my blog lately. I'm contemplating entering a contest and part of the criteria is that any photos used in it can't be posted anywhere online, so I'm saving up for now.

I won first place!!!!

I won $150 for this layout, take a look!!

Who had fun at the crop?

I had so much fun at the crop hosted at my house last Friday night. We had a full house!! Here's what I did for their challenge: I took plastic baggies and filled them with little embellishments (silk flowers, brads, buttons, ribbons). Then I told them they had to use something from my paper scraps and one die cut item. I was hoping to spur people into thinking of using up their scraps and also to get them to learn how to use die cut machines. They could make anything- an altered item, layout or card- whatever their creativity led them to make. At the end of the evening, we took a vote. What do you think of their projects? Kara was the big winner (of course, how could she not be since she scraplifted my layout? hee hee!) In case you're wondering, no, I did not vote. The girls did and I made a stipulation that they couldn't vote for themselves. Yeah, Norma, that means YOU! Ha ha! Dani, I didn't get a pic of your card. Email me a photo and I'll post it here. Okay, Debbie. No excuses next time! Quit gabbin' and get to work!

The barn is DONE!!

Eric made shutters for the barn window. It is officially done. I guess if worse came to worse, we could always move into it since it's plumbed for a toilet, sink and shower!
Doesn't this look like a nice big place to have a crop???

Here we are in the Newspaper

Finally, I scanned in the newspaper clipping of the big grand re-opening of Scrapper's Alley in Washington, MO.