My "Top 5" of 2009

My friend Pinky did this on her blog and I thought it was such a neat idea.
I haven't done nearly the amount of layouts I had planned for this year so there isn't a ton to choose from but here are MY personal "Top 5".


#5
Layout of my best friend Carli & I.
BFF's since we were twelve. OMG, 23 years now. WOW!
Still love her more than anyone but my hubby and son. She rocks!



#4
My little guy in pool water for the first time.
I won a contest on Noel C's blog for this layout :)



#3
I just love the color combo on this. And those fat lime green Thickers are to die for! LOL



#2
This one was a re-do of an old layout.
As you can see Caleb is crying in the pics so I hesitated scrapping them but realized you gotta scrap the good AND the bad, right?



#1
A rare picture of my little guy and I.
I love this kid so much. He's my world :)



Thanks for looking! I hope you have a wonderful New Years Eve.

2009 was a horrible year for us.
Let's see:
We tried to avoid it but ended up having to file bankruptcy.
Hubby lost his job and now we are on unemployment which is a third of his former salary.
We found out Caleb probably has Autism. Most likely Asperger's.
The school board here made some crazy changes.. we can't stay in this city. Caleb will not get a good education if we do.
Oh yeah! There's a crazy democrat in office. That should have given me a clue this would be a bad year! LOL

I am SO looking forward to 2010:
My new niece is going to arrive very soon. I can't wait to meet her!
We are definitely moving out of this area. More than likely to Kansas City. Which will mean lots of cousin time for Caleb and oh my God, a BABYSITTER for DATES for Doug and I. WHOO HOO!!! :)
With that move we will be moving to a better school system with early intervention for Caleb.
And I'll finally get to meet one of my awesome scrappy internet friends, Tracy. I can't wait!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve!
I welcome 2010 with open arms!!! :)

Love,

Forget foreign terrorists....

Our own government is killing us!

My MIL convinced us to rent THIS movie tonight and WOW, I am in shock!
EVERYONE needs to rent this video.. like NOW.
It's a MUST SEE for anyone but especially for those with kids.
Please please rent it.
Thanks :)

Our Christmas

Mimi Marsha is here from Houston until Tuesday. Caleb has helped her make two batches of Christmas cookies and is in total love with her.
We had a feast yesterday for dinner and Caleb got tons of presents from my parents and Doug's family.
We were blessed this year despite our current situation. PTL!!

Here is a little photo collage from Christmas Eve/Day.
Click to make larger:


I hope y'all had a wonderful Christmas and your New Years is wonderful, too. Please keep praying that my husband finds a job. We have three months before we are homeless. Lord help us.

XOXO,

Check this out!

I had asked for the new PSE for Christmas but with Doug losing his job, neither one of us is getting anything this year. We're just making sure Caleb is taken care of, cause HE is what matters, KWIM?

But that won't stop me from trying to win it! LOL

Check out this awesome blog candy from McKMama!
and this from Grammie :)

And have an awesome weekend!

Candy Cane Mice and Two New Layouts

Hey guys :)
Truthfully, I haven't done any scrapping since my all day crop almost two weeks ago. Just haven't felt like it. I didn't even make Christmas cards this year! (shock!)

But here are some candy cane mice I made for Caleb's Christmas party tomorrow at preschool.
They didn't quite turn out how I want them.. I did them spur of the moment and don't have the yarn I need for whiskers but hey, they are still cute, right? LOL



And here are some teacher gifts.
I had to go cheap this year... Like REAL cheap. LOL
I found these cute little buckets in Target's $1 spot and couldn't pass them up. There are M&M's and a candy cane mouse inside :)


And here are two layouts I did last month for the design team challenges over on the rockin' CANDY SHOPPE DESIGNS blog.
This month there are TWO chances to win some awesome blog candy! A $20 gift card to Stop and Scrap and a gift package from Blue Moon Scrapbooking.
These prizes are quite awesome, you don't want to miss out.
So go over and check out the challenges. Can't wait to see what you come up with!!

This is for challenge #1. It's hard to tell in the picture but I used a clear frosty paper from KI Memories. Love it!
I used a sketch on this one (from SB etc mag). I know.. ME using a sketch? Can you believe it!! LOL



And here is challenge #2:


Both of these are from Caleb's first Christmas. How cute was he?!
OMG! It makes me cry just looking at these pics again!

TFL! Hope your weekend is great. We will be cleaning for my mother in law's arrival on Thurs. Fun fun!! tee hee

Love this!

Thanks for the idea, Bethie!

He is my everything...

If you aren't on Facebook, you can view the video here.

Some new work from me...

I went to my monthly crop yesterday with the gals from Not Just Scrappin'.
I had a blast, as usual :)

I admit I had been so sad all week and really contemplated selling off all my scrap stuff and quitting the hobby. But once I got to the crop I realized scrapping truly is something that makes me happy more than anything (except family and God, of course). So I'm not giving it up anytime soon.

My local scrapbook celebrity friend Sarah Mullanix came to crop with us for the first time and we chatted away. I didn't get much done, as usual. But heck, I don't care. Truth be told, I really go there for the adult conversation, tee hee :)

But I did get two new layouts done.
Check them out!



I also have more layouts to share in the next few weeks but I can't post my work until it's up on the Candy Shoppe Designs blog.

I hope everyone is in good health and your getting your C'mas shopping done. I feel SO blessed that we were able to get Caleb's presents before Doug was laid off. That is one plus in this situation. At least he won't go without stuff for C'mas, KWIM?
Anyway, Have a great week!

Sad News

My husband has lost his job of three years.

Our health insurance is gone now, too.
I am still shocked. We knew it was possible but not THIS soon.
Lord help us.
Please keep us in your prayers. We have no savings. We were doing the Dave Ramsey program and finally getting back on track then this happens.
He has filed for unemployment but it pays 1/3 of what his salary was.

He is definitely looking for jobs in other states. He has 11 years sales experience and has been selling million dollar large machinery for the last three years. If you hear of anything, please let me know.

I know God will help us through this. I have faith.
Thanks,

Who's your ALTER EGO?

For this challenge the design team of Candy Shoppe Designs SWITCHED with the DT at The PINK NINJAS challenge blog.

Our challenge was to create a layout based on our "Alter Ego".

Man I had a hard time with this one! So much so that I just finished it last night! (yikes)
But I like what I did.
Here is my sweet hubby eating some yummy chicken and noodles I made. I'm getting good at this domestic thing :)

Here's my take on the challenge. We had to use paint or ink splatters (I used blue Glimmer Mist) and our title needed to be in pink.


TFL! I hope y'all have a wonder Thanksgiving. I am thankful for so much and I hope you are too. Love ya!

I have lots to show...

But can't yet.
Sorry, I have to wait til my work is posted over on the Candy Shoppe Designs blog before I can post it here. But I DO have lots to show you.. stay tuned. It'll be sometime next week and then a few more LO's will be posted in December.
tee hee :)


In other news, here is my gorgeous sister in law, Cherith who is 29.5 weeks pregnant with my niece, Sage. How awesome are these pics!



Her baby shower is tomorrow night up in Ft. Wayne and I've made her an 8x8 album for the baby and a card.
I lost the original card I made.. it's somewhere in this mess of a scraproom. I must have buried it under stuff while getting ready for my retreat. So I made her a last minute card today. It's simple but I like it.
I used my Cuttlebug to make it.. Love that thing (STILL).
The color is off.. it's pinker IRL. But you get the picture.

I'm SO not a cardmaker but I like it :)

And this little guy went to his first roller skating party today with his preschool class. How cute is he!!


His teacher, Mrs. T. He LOOOOVES her!

Caleb & his girlfriend, Maddie. She's five. Caleb loves older women. tee hee


He is SO dang smart!
A year ago he could barely talk and now he says his whole Pledge of Allegiance, all the months, days of the week and counts to 100, says ABC's backwards and forwards and says countless nursery rhymes. And my favorite each night is when he tells me "Good night, sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite". LOL
He is just too cute!

Well I am off to spend time with my boys. Have a great weekend!

HOLY CRAP!

Did you SEE that game!?!?
OMG! GO COLTS!!
9-0 BABY!!!!

Oh and here' a pic of my sweet little guy tonight after we put up the Christmas tree :)


Have a great week, everyone!

FYI

Due to someone in Alabama that keeps spamming me with weird comments like this

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I am no longer accepting anonymous comments.
So if you'd like to leave me a comment and don't have an Open ID or Google account, pm me through Facebook or email me :)
Thanks!

In other news, I attended my monthly Not Just Scrappin' crop with my local friend Jenny yesterday and once again, gabbed too much. I only got two layouts done but they are super cute. Well I think, anyway.. tee hee :)
I'll post pics of them later, they are for Design Team assignments.

Well, I'm off to put up our Christmas tree and watch the Indianapolis Colts kick the butts of the evil New England Patriots!! :)
Have a great weekend!

Team Edward or Team Jacob??

First of all, I'd like to acknowledge the person from Ozark, Alabama that is spamming my comments with Viagra ads.
No thanks, my hubby has no problems. WTH?
Move on to stalking someone else now, please.

Now the reason for my post. Are you a fan of Mr. Cullen or the magnificently HOT Mr. Black?
Well you can show us by choosing a side.. Team Edward or Team Jacob.
Check out the newest challenge at CANDY SHOPPE DESIGNS. Can wait to see what you come up with!

Here's my "creation". I'll admit, not my favorite layout. But this is what happens when you have to scrap out in the living room instead of your scraproom and your 3 year old likes to play with Mama's scrap stuff WHILE she's scrapping, LOL. The kid would not leave me alone.



This challenge is sponsored by the awesome kit club COLOR ME MIKI. Check out the kit you could win! It's loaded with Pink Paislee BEWITCHING.. yum!!


Well, TFL.
I'm off to pick up said 3 year old from Preschool. Love that kid!

Have a great weekend. I know I will. I'm going to an all day crop tomorrow with my local scrappy friend, Jenny Boone :)

Do YOU want to be a Lollipop Girl?

Candy Shoppe Designs is having a call for their awesome Design Team. Check it out!
I love love LOVE being on the DT and can't wait to see who makes the team this next round.
But unfortunately, I have to sit this one out. We're moving sometime between Feb 1-April 1 and my scrap room will be packed up but you can bet I will be back. This has been an AWESOME experience for me and Lynnette is THE best!
Good luck to those who enter!

Well hey there!

We've been feeling somewhat better so I was able to scrap Friday night. But my work is for the awesome Candy Shoppe Designs design team so I can't show it yet. But soon.. YAY! :)

Back for a bit...

Well, it doesn't seem like we are on the mend yet here in the Brannies household. Hubby is still up most of the night coughing.. week 5 of being sick is here. Caleb is finally back in school.. He is much better but still congested.. at least no more fever, though.
Praying we get better soon.
My step Dad went into congestive heart failure last week. We have alot going on. Please keep us in your prayers.

My new niece will be here in twelve short weeks. Here is the first page of the 8x8 album I made for her.
Her name is done in Heidi Swapp ghost letters with Making Memories pp underneath.



More to come later, I need better lighting (and time to take pics).

TFL!
Have a great week!

Retreat Projects

As I mentioned already, I got to the retreat late and left a day early because of sickness. So I didn't do near as much as I had planned.
But here are a few things I worked on...

Treat cups for Caleb's preschool Halloween party on Friday:



"Mama's Best C'mas Gift" (Caleb's 1st C'mas - not quite six months old):


Too {Two} Cute to Spook - Halloween 2008 (Caleb was two):


Here are some retreat pics.
I tried to stay out of them as much as possible because most of you know I hate having my picture taken. And I forgot my camera *gasp*.
I'm not in the group shot, that was taken on Sunday after I left .. there are several people missing. I think there were 57 ? ladies at the retreat this year. (up 20+ from last year!)

These ladies won the decorate your door contest. I didn't participate, I was having a hard time even scrapping as it was! (sick)
Isn't this the coolest!? They used real tree limbs!

Hilarious!!


Outside our meeting hall.. gorgeous!

My treat cups in progress:


There are lots more pics, just waiting for people to upload them.


Anyhoo....
I still feel like a train ran over me.. I still haven't even bothered to put away the stuff from my retreat. Oiy, what a task! LOL
And you don't even want to know what a mess my house is. Doug was so sick while I was gone that he didn't keep it kept up and I haven't felt like doing much other than dishes and laundry since I got home. Sure hope I feel better soon, it needs cleaned! LOL

TFL! Have a great week, y'all! Hope you are well!