Thinking in Color...

Really bright colors that is. Maybe it is the dreary winter days - I'm not sure, but lately I have been wanting to scrap in really bright colors. I can't even begin to wrap my mind around the pastels I am seeing with all the Spring stuff coming out. Anyhow, here is a LO I did recently for Hannah's using KI Pop Culture and my absolute fav of all times, Hambly. Hubby, who is featured in this LO wasn't to sure about my color choices for this photo of him, but tooo bad - I LIKE it!! BTW - what is the deal with spell check on blogger??? Still not working!!!

Happy Mail Day

I love getting mail, especially when it includes "BOXES" of goodies for me!!! Here's a peek at what I got the other day - a box of goodies for me from Paper Trends!! My mini album is in the Feb/Mar issue. I cannot tell you how anxious I was for my kids to come home from school so I could show them their pics in the magazine. I think I was more excited about that than I was about getting published!! LOL!! My son's response was precious!! Upon seeing his picture in the magazine, he said - "I'M A ROCKSTAR!!" Now, I am not sure exactly what he meant by that, but I will take it to mean he thought it was pretty cool. I think it's pretty cool too!!

We Did It!!

Laffery and I passed our Pet Partners Team Evaluation Test with flying colors!! The evaluator commented that Lafferty is a very sweet, gently, friendly dog, and I as a handler, am attentive and supportive with very good people skills. I think we will make a pretty good Therapy Dog Team!! This photo is being submitted to be used as our Pet Partners photo on our ID badges. Laffery is such a special dog. As you know from my blog, Laffery was career changed from The Guide Dogs for the Blind Program because he has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our family was fortunate to be able to adopt him. I have never has as caring, loyal, smart, lovable dog as Lafferty. He truly is one of a kind. Because he is so special, I feel it only right we should share the joy he brings our family with others, and it is partly for this reason, I chose to have him certified to be a Therapy Dog. Hopefully, we will be able to brighten someones day when we visit, or help someone overcome their fears, or just lend a helping paw!!

Part of the Therapy Dog certification process involves a health screening by a vet. Lafferty, other than his IBD, which has been under control the past several years with special diet, has always been very healthy. He has a more complete medical record than I do!! I swear!! Anyhow, upon our vet visit, Dr. Scott, our vet, found a small bump on Lafferty's gums. We watched it for a week of so, and it did not appear to be going away and because it was suspicious looking, we decided to have it biopsied since Lafferty was due for his teeth cleaning anyways. Our worst fear was mouth cancer. One of our former neighbors in WA lost their beloved lab to this horrible disease. I could not bear the thought. Fortunately, a week later, the biopsy results showed no signs of cancer and Lafferty healed very quickly. Quite the scare, but I must thank Dr. Scott for being soooo thorough in his examination!!!

Well enough of Life with Lafferty - who is laying under the computer desk on top of my feet as I type right now!! Now for Gulliver!!! I'll have to get some pictures of our newly adopted chocolate Lab posted soon and tell stories of "Gulliver's Travels"!! Well I guess I should not say newly - it will be a year in Feb. that we adopted Gulliver from Midwest Lab Rescue, http://www.midwestlabrescue.org/. Not quite the same personality as Lafferty, but quite lovable and loyal. He is a true "labbie teen" and for any lab owner, you know that means quite playful and full of mischief. Anyhow, that will be for another day!!

His Little Green Vest..

no, not an elf - It's Lafferty when he was a puppy!! Isn't he just precious!! Lafferty was in the Guide Dog for the Blind program until he was "career changed" out of the program (due to health problem) and we were soooo very fortunate to adopt him. Anyhow, I ran across this pic the other day and just had to share it. I was lucky enough to get several "puppy pics" of Lafferty from his puppy raiser Nancy.

Soon Lafferty will have a NEW VEST to wear - his Therapy Dog vest. We just recently passed our certification and now I just have to finish submitting all the paperwork and then we will be an OFFICIAL Therapy Dog Team. We are part of a local group of Therapy Dog Teams called Dogs of Endearment. Tomorrow, Sat., Dec. 8th you can find several team members and their dogs at Spiegelhoff's Grocery Store in Kenosha, WI on 80th Str. They will be bell ringing for the Salvation Army in the AM. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and say hello. Lafferty was all set to help out too - had his Santa hat and sweater all ready, but I got poky with my paperwork and since we are not OFFICIAL, we couldn't volunteer. We hope to stop by though and show support and donate to the Salvation Army.

A Few Days Late...

but that's OK. The kids didn't mind opening three boxes on the Advent Calendar today to catch up!! I made this calendar last year, but was a little late in getting it out and filled with goodies this year!!!

The kids take turns opening one box each day ('course, Isabelle really liked opening three boxes today and thinks it should be that way everyday!!). Each box has some sort of goody inside to share, or a "CLUE" as to where to find the goody (if it won't fit in the box). So far, we have had some spiced cider, chocolate coins and new, warm fuzzy socks. I love doing this. I have goodies hid all around the house. The only thing I need to be careful about this year is GULLIVER - our new chocolate lab!!

We just adopted Gulliver from Midwest Lab Rescue in Feb. Lafferty, our yellow lab, never gets into anything, but Gulliver lately has been garbage picking!! That stinker!! He just started doing it about a couple weeks ago!! Never touched anything before that. Not sure what provoked him, but now I am not sure if I can trust him. Guess I need not only worry about Gulliver, but the kids too!! They start snooping to find gifts and such about this time. Gets harder and harder each year to hide things!! AND - not to mention, I FORGET where I hid things!! I used to wonder how my Mom could forget about gifts she hid away, but oh, how I know all about that now!! I need to make myself a list of what and where I put it!!!

COW FOR SALE...

No - not really, but my daughter thought so!!! Saturday, we went to the local tree farm to pick out our Christmas tree, and of course the kids could care less about picking out a tree when they saw the cows, goats and chickens - much more interesting, RIGHT??!!

My youngest daughter Isabelle and son Zach, were enthralled with the cows. Two very friendly, very hungry black cows (that's my best cow terminology) were the highlight of Zach and Isabelle's day!! Isabelle happened to notice a tag on one of the cow's ears (the other cow didn't have a tag in its ear). Isabelle said, "Mommy, that cow is for sale because it has a tag. Can we buy that cow Mommy??? It's only 45 dollars." Just precious!! Simple and precious...

KI Memories is in the house...

...my house that is. I broke down and bought a bunch of the new KI Memories Pop Culture Line!! I am totally loving all the bright colors and funky pattern paper. Can't wait to work with the lace paper too. Fortunately for me a couple of my kit clubs are including lace paper in their upcoming kits too - Yay!!! More, more, more is BETTER!!!

Here is a picture of my loot.....

Alas - the picture doesn't do it justice!! It was late in the eve. when I took the picture and did not have very good lighting, but trust me - the colors really do POP!! Just the thing to pull out and work with on a dreary, cold day!! Which leads me to tomorrow!! My bff Tracy and I are going to Archivers to scrap all day and into the night. We are also taking a Christmas Tag class - something to get us in that holiday spirit!! I cannot wait. Now it is off to pack for the crop and as usual, bring way, WAY, too much stuff!!