Vacation

We are back from vacation...safe and sound.
The pictures will have to wait, though because while on vacation, our hard drive CRASHED in the computer...so sad. Hopefully that can be fixed soon or a new one bought.
Vacation was fun, though a lot of rain...TROPICAL STORM FAY sucks...I honestly spent four straight days in rain and had to ride rollercoasters in the down pour, but it definitely created memories that won't be forgotten!

VACATION DAY 1 & 2

Vacation Day 1: Saturday, August 16, 2008

4:15 am-woke up

5:30 am-on the road to Orlando

7:30 pm-arrived at the hotel in Orlando

Not a bad trip, but a LONG DAY

Vacation Day 2: Sunday, August 17, 2008

First day to the park...today's destination: Universal Studios

The day started off a little interesting because what should have been a 5 minute drive was more like 30 minutes, because I got confused looking at the map...thank goodness for the IPhone and GPS which saved the day!

Keith got to meet Bart after we had ridden the ride!

One of Keith's dream cars!

Keith in front of the globe

Betsy in front of the globe

The picture of the picture we had taken at TGI Fridays...a pretty good one I think.

Be ready to be amazed....

...all this for $11.44 (tax included) at Kroger!!!!!!!!

Want to know how? Here is what was bought:

2 boxes of Raisan Bran cereal ($2.00/box)

2 boxes of Corn Pops Cereal ($2.00/box)

3 Keebler Fudge Stick Cookies ($2.00/pack)

1 Keebler Grashopper Cookies ($2.00/pack)

2 bottles Ranch Dressing ($2.00/bottle)

2 4 pack Cottonelle Toilet Paper ($0.99/pack)

3 Satin Care Shave Gel ($1.09/bottle)

1 pack hair clips ($1.00 on clearance)

Here is how I reduced the price:

$1.00 off 2 boxes Raisan Bran

$1.00 off 2 boxes Corn Pops

$1.00 off 2 Keebler Cookies

$1.00 off 2 Keebler Cookies

$1.00 off 1 Dressing

$1.00 off 1 Dressing

$0.25 off Toilet Paper (doubled to $0.50)

$0.25 off Toilet Paper (doubled to $0.50)

$0.55 of Shave Gel (doubled to $1.00)

$0.55 of Shave Gel (doubled to $1.00)

$0.55 of Shave Gel (doubled to $1.00)

$5.00 automatically off with the purchase of 10 participating products (text in green)

On my receipt it gave me a breakdown of my savings:

Coupon savings with doubling $15.00

Store Coupons and Sales $16.45

Total Savings $31.45

73% Savings

This has to be the best shopping trip ever!

CHA 2008

So this past weekend I spent in Chicago! I got to stay with Kalla, Chris and Caidan--with no other family! On Friday, Caidan officially turned one...so Auntie Betsy and Caidan hit the grocery store for donuts and the boy ate almost a WHOLE donut all by himself!
But my real reason for the trip was to attend the CHA Show 2008!
This show is where craft companies debut and showcase their new lines about to hit stores and I loved it. I got to see sneak peeks from all my favorite scrapbook companies, made some cool make-and-takes, got lots of freebies....and met ALI EDWARDS---the best scrapbooker!

Me and Ali....I was so excited!

Ali demoing these amazing alcohol inks which I have added to my must have list!

This frame in the middle is so cute and in my Christmas colors...don't be surprised if something similar is shown on my blog!

The paper line used in above project!

If I get really ambitious I may take on this project for Christmas!

My new loves....

Tupperware...but not the new stuff, it has to be the old stuff! Not only can I use it, but eventually I will be able to display it. The best place to find it...GOODWILL! Each piece below was $1.00.
This chair will be amazing when it is done. $0.99! at St. Vincent DePauls and Sara got an identical one...stay tuned to see the revamp!

This is how I spent my afternoon...

Yes, it's true...

I rear-ended someone and this is what my car looks like now :(
The other car--no damage.
My car is now at the body shop and I get to deal with the insurance company...who was not to helpful today, hopefully that will improve.

For all those girls out there...

I know you will understand!
So I was busy cleaning and organizing today and saw my wedding dress in the closet. I decided, "Why not?" and tried it on...and to my surprise...it still fit--2.5+ years later! I was ecstatic. I came down to show Keith and he just laughed, but I felt good knowing it fit!

Visit from Kalla and Caidan

This past weekend Kalla and Caidan came for a visit and we had so much fun! I had seen the little man a month ago, but boy had he grown! He was so much more mobile...hard to keep him still and so much more interactive. He is though weary of people he is not familiar with so it took a little time for him to get used to us, except for Keith...he liked him right away!

Sleeping in the car on the way to shopping...Gap Outlet!
Playing with the Solomon girls' toys...they were so nice to share.
Looking up at whatever his silly mom is doing!
Talking on Aunt Betsy's phone...now if only he would do this when I am on the other end!
With Uncle Keith...they got along quite well! Though Keith was unsure of what to do!

I sat in the back with Caidan on all of our adventures and did anything I could to keep him occupied...this time we were playing peek-a-boo!

Turning One!

Seth turned one on March 24, so we celebrated on Easter Sunday and did we have fun. The little guy was taking a few steps before his birthday but was a big show-off during his party. Since he was an Easter time baby this year I had to get him some bunny ears--he wasn't a big fan, but his big bro Zach seemed to enjoy them.

Keith and I got Seth a popper for his birthday. For those of you who do not know about a popper it is a pushing toy that when it moves these plastic balls jump inside and make noise (much like the center of the game in Trouble). My parents have told all of us that when we have kids we will each get one because they are so annoying, so I could not pass on the opportunity of annoying my parents!

The bunny ears--I think they are adorable!

The popper--he loved it and cried when we took it away so that he could open the rest of his presents.

Starting on his cupcake...

...After the cupcake!

Little Baby!

On Monday, March 17 one of the cutest babies I have ever seen was born! Elijah Brennan Dudley was born at 10:42 am and weighed 9.5 pounds! Keith and I went to visit him that night and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to hold him. (These pictures were taken by Keith.)

A couple weeks before Eli was born we had a party for Jill and I had made Eli one of these tag blankets. When she opened it, she commented that she would have to keep it from Justice. So using extra fabric and ribbon I made one for J. Such a fun and easy project!

One Year Older

Just a review of pics from the last year...
...goodbye 22, hello 23!

It's Official...

Seth Albert Green is all ours! The court date went great (under 5 minutes to declare him adopted). We are so happy that this adventure has come to this point. When we look back at last December when K'Liyah, K'Von, and KeAwn were taken away I don't think any of us could imagine standing here 14 months later and having this little guy!
Thank You God!

Happy Birthday, Keith!

I love you and I hope you have an amazing day turning 23!

31 Days

On January 1, I entered an online scrapbooking challenge...create a layout for each day of January and upload them to the message board. I am proud to say that I did it...31 pages in 31 days!
These are the pictures of each layout I did.

A cool new site!

My super cool friend, Sarah Sulek has this awesome new craft website/blog. I highly recommend that everyone check it out because she gives some super cool ideas.
http://www.simplybluekangaroo.com/ Also linked to the right as Sarah's craft blog!

New Baby!

We are super excited for Kalla, Chris, and Caidan as they get ready for the newest member to the family (sometime in September)!

My new friend...the sewing machine

My sewing machine and I have become best friends and we have spent a lot of time bonding!

I made a curtain for my craft room area--this was my first project with the machine.

These purses I made with Sara. The first one (the blue) Sara helped me make. The black and white one I made by myself.
This is the first scrapbook page I made with the sewing machine. I stitched the pictures onto the paper.

New Me for the New Year

Before:


















After:

This is me! A friend needed help getting a new portfolio put together for a job interview and I was more than ready to lend a helping hand!
I love it, it is so easy to take care of!

Happy New Year

Hope everyone is having a great start to 2008!

Here is a quick layout of our exciting and full 2007!

Caidan at Christmas

It was so exciting to have Caidan here for Christmas and I got in all the cuddle time I could with the little man!