A little too quiet around here!

In reality, there has been just TOO much going on....  

One of the huge changes that I have decided to make in 2013 so far, was to sadly step down from the LIITD Creative Team.  It was a decision that had me on the verge of tears (ok ok, some actually fell) because this has been my home away from home for many years now.....  I believe it was 7 years I was on the team, and something so dear to me was something that was very hard to let go.  But, life goes on....  I just have found it so very hard to focus on work, and home, and fitting so many hours in the day.  My scrapping was always a way for me to work through emotions and let my creative juices flow.  However, I found it harder and harder to find the time..... things pop up in life that make you take a step back and reassess your time.

I will still call LIITD home, and won't be going anywhere really.... and I hope that in time, I can get back to scrapping more regularly.  Little monkey makes it difficult that's for sure... but I wouldn't have it any other way. :)  Huge thanks to Lori, Lisa, and Norine.... for being a wonderful team of not only scrappers, but friends too.

Something else that really made me stop in my tracks and think about my time and what I wanted to do with it, was the stunning news our family received regarding my sister.  She had been sick for a long time, longer than she should have been, but we didn't know why....  I would say 9 months went by before we finally got the news that no, it wasn't a messed up sciatica, but instead, cancer.  That dreaded word, that I never thought would EVER hit so close to home, that I would never ever wish upon anyone, had decided to be a stow away in my sisters body.  That news shook me so hard I couldn't breathe, couldn't sleep, and was in a zombie state for a few days while we processed it.  I can't even imagine how she was feeling.... 

But, my sister is strong, she is stubborn (we come by it honestly, believe me), and she is persistent and remaining positive...  The future looks wonderful, her treatment has already begun and she is already starting to feel better than she has for a long time.  I can't wait to have her back in town so I can make her suppers and go and bug her on a daily basis.....  She's been in the city for almost a month now, but should be home soon.  Please help me pray for her healing, and for the next 6 months go by without incident and that she gets an awesome report when all is said and done.... 

So basically, life is short.  If you aren't happy, then change something.  If you are angry at someone, let it go. Life is too short and we are reminded of this time and time again.  Every time I start to take things for granted, God decides to slam something in my face to say WAKE UP and be grateful for what you have, and work to make everyone else realize the same thing.  I'm doing my best.

January I Heart Faces Contest!

January Photo Contest at I Heart Faces is...

The Best Face of 2012

Sounds easy enough, but it is VERY VERY difficult choosing one of your favorite pictures in the last year.

  

I had a few that stuck out for me.  I went with this one because I just find my youngest sons facial expressions absolutely hilarious.  He is the funniest little kid that I have ever met, and I have 4 of them. LOL!

This child was suffering greatly 2 years ago, in congestive heart failure with such an enlarged heart, insane blood pressure, and our doctors here couldn't figure out that it was more than a cold.

One open heart surgery later (and many days of medication that will continue forever) and this is what we have.... :)

Ollo!!

We tend to say 'Ollo' around here a lot, as Megamind is one of our kids favorites... LOL!

I've been trying to sit at the scrap table more often the last few days, and it's paying off finally.... turning out some layouts, and some altered items!  

This altered printers tray was just something fun to hang around the house....

I issued a challenge today at LIITD, to use up some old products...

on this layout we had some old October Afternoon Night Light, Jillibean Soup Corrugated Alphas, 

and what I believe is Doodlebug Flocking! LOL!

And this other layout was just because I wanted to :)  My beautiful daughter Tayla, pictures from a photoshoot I was able to do with her this past fall.... she's looking WAY too old these days!!

Take some time to get crafty.... your soul will thank you for it.

Saying goodbye to 2012

Well, here we are again at the end of another year.  2012 was both good and bad, happy and sad.... I am thrilled to see it go, and so excited to see what 2013 will bring for not only us, but our friends and extended family as well.  

Scrapwise, I have a few 'resolutions' shall we say.... more like, CHELSEA YOU NEED TO SCRAP MORE.  I need to make my crafty side of me a priority, and schedule in time for it like I do for everything else.  Life is busy, but I miss it.  I miss being creative, I miss seeing my pictures come to life on the paper.... I just miss the way it makes me feel.

I will still be with Love is in the Details, like I have been very proudly since 2007.  Hopefully we can come up with some fun stuff for everyone this year!  Lori had a big year in moving the store AND her own home, to Winkler... it's a beautiful store!!!

Happy New Year to everyone, and I hope that 2013 is a fantastic year for you all!!

My apologies!!!

I'm surprised that Lori hasn't slapped my fingers yet for not posting since OCTOBER.  Ack!!  Sorry about that!!  Things around here have been busy, sad, happy, and everything in between.

First off, 2 of my kiddos had birthdays the first week of November!  Jackson hit the double digits and Makenna is now 7!  Time flies when you are having fun!!

Secondly, we lost a friend tragically on November 18th in a plane crash just outside of our little town... he was a wonderful pilot, brother, son, and father, had a great personality and sense of humor, and he treated his friends and family like gold.  Rest in paradise, Mark.... your pilot wings that you earned so well have now taken you even higher....

And then, we spent a weekend in Winnipeg for How to Train Your Dragon at the MTS Centre, and it was absolutely AMAZING!!!!  

 

I have decided to do a fun little photo challenge from iheartfaces.com and I hope that you'll have some fun with it too!!!

Here is Day 1 - me

I am a mother, a girlfriend, a friend, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter, a maid, a chauffeur, a chef, a nurse, and about a million other things.... and I also work part time at our local bank.  I love life, I am strong and determined, stubborn perhaps.... but always try to find the positive in any situation.  That is me.

I promise to attempt to post more often.  Promise.  LOL

Friendship!!

Good morning!  I have been trying to figure out what picture to use for this months challenge at i heart faces.  The subject is 'Friendship' and having 4 kiddos, I have a ton of photos that scream friendship to me.

One picture, though, popped out more than others.  The bond between brothers is unmistakable, and hard to hide with my two guys.  Jackson isn't shy to show his love, no matter who is around watching.  And Brayden is more than happy to accept it.

This picture isn't technically perfect, I didn't do anything special to it to try to remove all of the hot spots of the sun... but it's perfect to me.  Best of all, Jackson didn't even know I had my camera... I just caught them in the act. :)

Pop on over to i heart faces.  You won't regret it. :)

Happy Saturday!

Hey everyone!  I just realized I haven't updated for almost a month now.... ack!!  I've been doing a few little projects scrappy wise, and doing a few pictures of the kiddos as well.  We didn't get too long with the beautiful fall leaves, they fell so fast this year!!

This was just a little baby boy mini that I threw together with the Bella Blvd Baby Boy collection.... no pictures, because I might put it in the Christmas craft sale in a few more weeks, and I'm hoping to get a baby girl one done as well. :)

Christmas will soon be right around the corner, so I thought I would start some early Christmas spirit by breaking into my Simple Stories Handmade Holiday collection!

And this frame shows just a small part of what I am thankful for in my life.... my little beautiful town.  Snow Lake is small, but huge and vast in beauty.....

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving (my Canadian friends, anyways!!) and you are still giving thanks and being grateful on a daily basis and not just on that one day!!