Family Day at Ft. Benning

We got to go and visit Jacob in Ft. Benning this weekend for Family Day on Nov. 14th and then he was released to spend the weekend with us. Originally, everyone was going to march in wearing their Class B uniform (the one wearing the beret), but due to some rainy weather, only one platoon put on a performance drill for us. They had a competition the night before to determine which platoon would be able to do the honors and Jacob's platoon won, so we got to see him in action. I tried to download the video, but I guess it was just too long as it would not download...I left it for a very long time and it still did not finish downloading, so I will have to see what I can do later. At one point it looks like he messed up, but in actuality he did not, the next command was given before he finished the one before it, so he had to correct to keep from being run into, so he did the correct thing. We had a great time visiting him. He is doing well and really is enjoying himself. He also enjoyed being able to get some extra sleep over the weekend by staying with us at the hotel. We went and saw the new Bond movie and ate out whereever he wanted. I was also amazed to watch him eat, they definitely are not starving him and when I commented on how much he was eating at one sitting, he said he told everyone I would notice that he eats a lot more now. He has even gained a few pounds, although as you can see, he is still as skinny as a toothpick. Click on the pictures and you should get a larger viewing of them. The one of him in front of his bunk (his is the upper left one) is blurry, but I thought you'd like to see it. He has all the pictures and cards he has received on the inside door of his locker.

Halloween Cuties!

Jay-enstein - 10 mo.

Jake - 11 mo.

Patrick - 3-1/2 y.o.

I know it is after the fact, but I couldn't resist sharing pictures of my adorable great-nephews in their Halloween costumes. (gotten from their family blogs). Aren't they adorable! Now I wish I had sent Jay the Frankie card I'd made as a sample( Pictured at the top).

Christmas cards and treats

Here are the two card I am making for a Home Business Fair on Sat. at the Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge (Virginia). I am putting 5 of each in a plastic card holder w/envelopes and selling them. I plan to make a few other small items to sell. The top one is using Scandinavian Season set in red and gold (inspired by Lee Conrey); the middle one is using an embossing folder from Cuttlebug and SU stamp from Curly Label Punch Bundle set and Night of Navy CS; the bottom one is "Home for Christmas" with white and Glorious Green. It is colored in with pastels (exception is red on garland is real red marker). I also made this at the Sr. Center last month (only one layer on top card then).

The mini Hersheys with snowman and Santa wraps were inspired by the tutorial for the Santa on on Dawn Griffith's website http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stampin_studio/2008/09/santa-candy-bar-wrapper.html

So easy to make and absolutely adorable. (Note: I couldn't find my white gel pen, so the eyes are not highlighted in pic - did so later)

Happy Halloween!

Here is a card that I made and sent to Jacob and a couple of friends. The picture stamps are SU, top is retired set "Home is Where the Haunt is"; the bottom is the a new wheel, Haunting and the words are non-SU and are from Art Gone Wild...the inside reads "on Halloween night" All four word groups are on a single wooden block. Used So Saffron, Green Galore, YoYo Yellow and Basic Black card stock.

Jacob Army Swearing In/Oath

Sorry to be so late getting this posted...Jacob took his final oath for the Army - given by his dad - on Sept. 18th. Following that he had to eat a quick lunch that they provided for all the new recruits there in the eating area at MEPS and then after a briefing they quickly loaded them into a van to take them to the airport to catch their planes for wherever they were headed. Jacob and several others got in the van for Ft. Bennings. They did this all so quickly I didn't even get to get a picture of him getting into the van. So we didn't really get to spend anytime with him other than the few minutes it took to take his oath. We had hoped to have time to take him to lunch, but no such luck. I started missing him immediately. He has called twice and we have received 3 short letters since he left...His call today was a short pre-written message saying he has started his training is doing well and has his address and will be mailing a letter with it. As soon as we get it I will get it out to the family. Below is some video taken of the oath ceremony. The first is Harold giving a short speech and history of family military and the second one is of the oath...I missed the start of both trying to take the still photos and switching over...Harold kept getting started to fast for me.

Since his departure, I had a 2-day crop (scrapbooking) function on the 19th & 20th. On the 20th I also set up a Stampin' Up! table at the Habitat for Humanity Harvest festival from 10-5pm and stamped tattoos on the kids, my downline - Gabby, had a simple card for people to stamp if so desired. It was pretty slow as there were lots of things going on that weekend, but it was nice...I turned into a lobster again. My friend Maragarethe went with us as well. I took her home afterwards and headed back to the crop. By the time I got home I was sniffly and achy and obviously coming down with the cold that Harold had started up with on Fri. I have been down all week with it. Still have the cough. Harold is over it completely.

Halloween Explosion Box

Here is the Halloween Explosion box Margarethe started yesterday as promised. I love her topper for it - very creative. I think I will have to get the paper to make one like this one as well. Love it.

Explosion Box

Today Margarethe and I went to an Explosion Box class held at the Handcraft House in Madison. We got to choose our paper (the instructor had chosen a few combos for us to choose from or we could get our own combo). I choose one she had put together as I decided it would be perfect for my other niece, Risa , who is pregnant with her second baby (she is having a boy again) and Margarethe picked out her own combo (which I am going to semi-copy for my niece Roxie (Risa's twin sister) who is now a stay-at-home mom and is giving piano lessons and just recently had a recital for her students...I thought the music decorated paper would be perfect for her to put together a little memento for herself of the event (it is the open purple and green one and the one on the left of the three boxes, the other two are the instructors samples. All very pretty. When we got home Margarethe immediately started making a Halloween decorated one that she had gotten paper for. She didn't get it finished before we left to meet Mary, Melody and Gayle for dinner, so I was unable to get a picture of it. I'm sure she will have it done by the time I see her tomorrow, so I will get some of it then. I was really nice. I plan to make more in the near future as I really liked these and they are soooo easy to make once you have done one. The baby one I made is Daisy Design paper and the one she made is BoBunny Paper. Will definitely have to make one with some Stampin' Up! paper to have as a sample. Can't wait to see one with photos attached to the interior flaps and maybe a few embellishments added to them.