My good friend is hosting a fundraiser at her house this weekend. Come support two great charities: Ronald McDonald House and Blank Children's Hospital.

Thanks for paying it forward!

Monsters & Such...

{This is on the back/bottom of Syd's jack-o-lantern t-shirt....she thought of this one all on her own!}

I have so much to blog. The girls' birthdays, etc. I have hit a big, blog, brick wall...

But I didn't want to forget this Halloween craft that we did while at CKC Kansas City. Sydnee made all these projects {with her mom watching close by with the iron} She really went for it. The SEI iron-ons really triggered her creativity. With these iron-ons, you are able to choose from several different eyes, noses, mouths, faces, etc. It is really fun to mix-and-match until you find the design that is just for you. We made some pretty silly faces with our monsters, witches, and pumpkins; before she made it permanent by ironing over the design.

We stayed up waaay too late one night just making t-shirts and bags!

{SEI has also created Christmas iron-ons, but they are not on the website yet. I will share our Christmas creations very soon.}

Here is also a video that shows the iron-ons & how they work. So easy & fun.....

Halloween Books...Library Books...or Just Books

We added a few new books to our Halloween basket this year:
The Best Halloween Ever
Pumpkin Heads
Ghosts in the House!

What Halloween books have you loved during this season?

And....we can't get enough of the new library. I love it, and my kids love it. There is just something about a library book that makes me smile.

gratitude

When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.

-Thomas S. Monson

{Thanks Rhonna}

Motivation

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Each night, I lie in bed and just before I fall asleep I make a mental list of all the things I am going to do in the morning:
Wake up earlier
Walk 3 miles
Clean the bathrooms
Scrub the carpet stain on the stairs and in the family room
Organize the kids' closets
Wash/vacuum the minivan
Create something for the scrapbooks

And then I wake up, get the kids off to school, and do NOTHING! Seriously, what is my deal?
I need some motivation.
How do you get some?
{Your suggestions are desperately needed...thanks}

**UPDATE**

Thank you for all your kind words and emails. I have finished so many things on my to-do list these past 2 days that it feels so good! I think sometimes you just have to 'put it out there' and what you get back is so much more!!!

{10.10.10}

I was going to wait until my 600th post to do a giveaway, but when I woke up this morning and realized it was Oct. 10th, 2010.

I knew it was going to be a good day.

1 Today was the last day of 'the 9th birthday weekend extravaganza' for Sydnee.

2 Today is my nephew's birthday. {very cool to have a birthday today}

3 Today I am grateful for sacrifices made years and years ago so I can enjoy this life together with my family.

4 Today there is hope for new opportunities and possiblities.

5 Today the weather is beautiful. The leaves are gently turning colors and I am soaking in the feeling of fall all around me.

6 Today I have memories of wonderful friendships.

Friendships that are spread across the country.

Friendships that only get to meet face to face once a year if we are lucky, and I am lucky & blessed today.

7 Today laughter is abundant. People get pretty silly when they are away from each other and reunited once again.

8 Today my toes are purple and painted.

9 Today faith endured.

10 Today is a good day. Simple, but good.

So the soundtrack for today came from Mindy Gledhills' new CD: Anchor. It is my absolute favorite right now. There are so many songs on this CD that I feel are written just for me.

I also think that you might find something for you too. So......leave a comment and I will giveaway a copy of this lovely CD for someone special. {random, but special...giveaway will be closed Friday 10/15 at 9 am.}

Sydnee's favorite song: Whole Wide World.

My favorite song {for this moment}: I Do Adore

T minus 9 posts.....How Does Your Garden Grow?

to my 600th post! Wow....can't wait to celebrate and giveaway some fabulous goodies! These are just a few of the tomatoes that we grew in our garden this year. Since this was our first attempt at a garden here, I feel that it went pretty well. We planted squash, zucchini, pumpkins, watermelon, tomatoes, green peppers, basil, and cilantro. We harvested squash, one pepper, 3 watermelon, and LOTS of tomatoes. The girls were happy, {and the rabbits were happy} so I am happy! We will definitely continue this garden next year.
I have to thank my gardener friend, Cheryl, for all of the questions she answered and all the trips she made over to my house to make sure I was getting it right!

Happy Birthday Sydnee!

Love Forever

{My sister and her hubby

Gritty!

{And just in case you forgot our definition of *gritty*}

World Card Making Day

Tomorrow I will be sharing this card featuring Technique Tuesday's Good Cheer stamp set by Ali Edwards
Here is more information from The Scrapbooking Studio:
World Cardmaking Day
October 2 10am-2pm
FREE…FREE…FREE
In our efforts to support our community we are making holidays cards for the troops. Stop in from 10am-2pm on October 2, 2010 to make all occasion cards. There will be several cardmaking stations in our classroom. You will make 2 cards at each station; one card will be donated to the troops and the other one you will get to keep, what a great way to get started on your stash of cards. Mom’s for Marines will here during the event to receive the donated cards.

Bring in 3 handmade cards from October 1-2 to be donated to the troops and receive a $5 off coupon to The Scrapbooking Studio.

Hope to see you there!