Merry Tuba Christmas

My favorite new tradition is going to see Luke playing with the hundreds of other tuba and baritone players at Merry Tuba Christmas. In Fort Worth it is usually the 23rd of every year. You haven't heard anything until you have heard the Ukranian Bell Carol played by tubas. It is so fun for Luke because he gets to play the melody finally.

The composition on the LO is really very simple. There are quite a few products that are used in the LO though. I thought it would be fun to see if you could guess them all. The person who guesses the most (or in the case that more than one person guesses them all, I will have a drawing) will get a $5.00 GC to The Crafty Scrapper. I know it isn't much, but it is fun anyway.

BTW I hope that everyone has a very Happy New Year!

This is My Family's Happy Day

It was nine years ago today that I got to bring my teeny, tiny, little Sam home today. Sam was born on Oct. 19 such a mini guy with a great big personality. He was 3 pounds and 12.4 ounces when Luke and I brought him home. He wasn't supposed to be home until after his due date of Jan. 1st. We were so lucky. I knew the second we came home that everything was going to fine.

This picture was taken the day before we brought him home. I took out the outfit today and looked at it. It is totally too small for my old Baby Tender Love doll that Santa brought me when I was six. Look at that face. He was such a little imp even then. Looking in those eyes lets you know that he is busy thinking. I did this LO a few months ago at The Crafty Scrapper. Just thought I would share.

I hope that all of you have a happy Sam Came Home Day.

Scrapping for the Classroom

Even second graders can scrap and have fun doing it. This is how we did it. We used Tim Holtz grungeboard bracket, Jenny Bowlin calendar, Ranger white pen, a picture, chipboard from the back of the writing tablets, some paper and ribbon from my stash. All the kids made one for their family. They were very excited!

Couldn't be Prouder!

I do have to say that I have wonderful boys. All very smart and talented. I am a lucky woman. Well....I want to crow a little about Luke, my tuba boy. He was a member of the All Region Band. Many tuba players auditioned, but only a few were chosen. My guy was one of the chosen. We always have a good time at these concerts. We did some goofing around with the camera as well. Luke is a very good sport. Like the tuba players I went to school with said, "Tubas are the bases of the universe!" (Kit from we are storytellers)

Happy Anniversary to Me.

Well...I've been married 20 years today. But....no gift for me. Instead, my son got the most awesome gift in the mail today from his friends LeRoy the Sealion in England and Monkey in Dallas. Now...if you are not a huge football (soccer as we call it on this side of the pond) fan you may not understand Sam's excitement here. This is an official jersey for England's National Soccer team. Note the Three Lions on the patch. He is also very impressed with the metal golden star above the patch. Sam is in soccer heaven. He wanted to wear his jersey out in the fog and go kick the ball around in the mud. The mother in me did tell him to hold off until we have drier ground. So today turns out okay because seeing Sam this excited and happy made my day! Thanks LeRoy and Monkey and all the Sea Lions. We love you!

Christmas Cards

Well...when you have boys like mine. Something normal just won't do. I wanted their pictures in front of the tree looking like they loved each other. But...they had other ideas. Picture quality isn't great...but this is the picture that they wanted on the card this year. So I added some digital elements from Weeds and Wildflowers and if I do say so myself some whitty wording and here is our card. I would love to send one to everyone but alas....I don't have everyone's address. Send me your address and I will send you a card.

Non Traditional Papers

I love using non traditional papers on my LOs. I hardly ever use baby paper for baby LOs....so why should Christmas be any different. In this LO, I used the Graphic 45 Playtime paper, some Maya Road Chipboard letters and some stickles to create the holly.

I have to say that I am a sucker for the cuttlebug and embossing the Maya Road chipboard. I then used the distressed stickles which I just love to make the holly leaves. TFL.