Its November...where did Fall go? Did we skip it like we skipped Summer? This is really bizarre weather! I heard that snow was closing in on us here in lower Michigan! So not fair!

Well, its been a crazy around here since Kelsey left for college at the end of August! After I got home from Salt Lake City, it was time to get Juan all packed up for yet another tour in the Middle East. We ended up finishing several projects around the house and I even took classes from Juan on how to start the riding lawn mower! We then took a week and had kind of a mini vacation before he deployed. We headed up to Niagara Falls for a few days and then onto West Point to visit Jonathan for a weekend and finally drove down to Virginia where Juan had to report for duty. He left Sept 17 and so now its just Zeppelin and I here at home...well for at least for the next 5 months (or more).

For the past few days, I have concentrated my efforts on unpacking the last 19 dish packs we had left from the move! They had been in the garage so we could finish the hard wood floors in the house and now they're all unpacked and put away! I still need to buy a few things for the house, but I'm waiting until I find exactly what I'm looking for. Next on my long list of things to do is to unpack all the prints and decide which ones to put where. They've been packed away for so long, I don't remember everything I have!

Here are just a few pictures of the inside of the house.
This photo is from the view of the kitchen looking into the living room..


This is the dining room...
This is the kitchen table...
This is another photo from standing in the kitchen looking into the open area of the living room and dining room...and you can see dh office on the left and the front door.

And I also have a photo of the outside of the house since we painted the shutters and front door and put in the flower beds in the front and of the kitchen itself...but it won't let me upload them right now...so look for it next time!


Have a great week!

Well, its been a great summer, but judging by the cool temperatures, Fall is definitely on its way!

We are officially moved into our house and we love it here! We've been working all Summer on several different projects both inside and outside of the house and they've all made a huge difference! While Juan was busy with clearing some of the land, I was busy tackling the flower beds and there are several and they are all huge! I was up to my elbows in dirt for a good month after the majority of the unpacking was done! We painted the front door and the shutters and it almost looks like a different house! Juan and one of our good friends just finished installing 1200sq ft of hard wood floors on the first level of the house! They are beautiful!!! The fence is up and there are 2 new doors off the screened in patio ....one for us and one for Zeppy. Yes, he has his own door that leads right out to his fenced in area! He's so spoiled! :) And our latest project is one we aren't having to get our hands dirty! We've decided to have a geo-thermal unit installed and so it started this morning with a walk through and they will begin digging in about 3-4 days...and will only take about 4 days from start to finish for installation. I'm excited as this winter I can be as warm as I want and it not cost a small fortune! Future projects will be a new kitchen island with a cook top, double ovens and new countertops.

Jonathan was able to spend a few weeks with us at the very beginning of the Summer and I just got home from helping Kelsey to get situated into Westminster College out in Salt Lake City. I know that they will have a great fall semester and be ready to come home for the holidays! And I will be so ready to wrap my arms around them! This whole idea of Empty Nest is not a good fit for me...but friends have told me that in time I'll come to love it! I hope they're right....

Juan started his new job here in mid July and found out that he had a by name request from General Pillsbury to come back to Iraq. That came as quite a blow and you know its just what happens when your in the military. You have to be ready for whatever the Army has planned for you. We've done the deployments before and so we know what we're in for and am well prepared. The good thing is that it's only supposed to be for 6-9 months. He leaves Sept 13th. And I'm very thankful that I'm close to my family and his! That is a true blessing! And I plan to travel out to SLC and up to West Point to see the kids during this time as well!

I need to finish unpacking the dining room boxes and put the finishing touches on my office and I'll be caught up. I still have to do some touch up painting in Jonathan's room, and a few other small projects but I'm sure I'll find lots of things to keep me busy while Juan's away...like visiting friends around Michigan...and getting back into stamping and scrappin!

I'll start my countdown once again here in a few short weeks.....

Busy time around my house lately!!! We're headed to Michigan in 9 more days and we still have so much to do! Today I'm getting ready for Kelsey's graduation party that's tomorrow and she'll graduate on the 22nd! She wanted her party the weekend before so that she could attend all of her friends parties! That's my girl! I'm also busy packing up my scrap stuff....although I'm setting aside the essentials so that when I get to the house, I can open up my tub of essentials and work during my unpacking breaks! I'm so excited!

The Cuttlebug Challenge Blog (http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/ ) has so much inspiration on it!!! I love to see what the DT has for us almost every day...its really amazing! Anyway, this challenge (#31) was to create a 3D project. There was a challenge on there back in February from Cristine's Blog...Creative Journey....and it was an altered box...and it was gorgeous! I went out and bought a box with the intention of altering it, but I didn't get around to it until this week. I thought it would be a cute graduation gift for Kelsey! She is really into the color Lavendar and I found these papers from The Little Yellow Bicycle Zinnia Collection along with one sheet of Marah Johnsons! I also added some Tim Holtz goodies and embellies from TLYB. I think it turned out cute and I think she'll love it! Or at least I hope she does. On the inside, I made a chipboard book with black pages and will make it of either prom or graduation ....her choice! I'm giving it to her tomorrow before the party!





Have a great weekend!!!!

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!

What a great day to shop the sales at the various online stores as well as the LSS! I spent part of my day at Archivers. I love Archivers! I'm going to miss living so close to one once we make the move to Michigan...the closest one there is probably 50 miles from my house.

Anyway, I'm attempting to keep up with all the stuff that's happening over at the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog as well as the Birthday Weekend Celebration over at Unity! I've made a few cards, and will get around to posting them, but wanted to post at least one today! Since my dd is graduating this year I know I'll need a few cards for the friends that are also graduating!

This card is the one I created for the Cuttlebug Challenge that Jennifer McGuire posted on the Blog....it was to sand an embossed image....
Here's my supplies...

Cuttlebug Congrats Embossing Folder...
DCWV Cardstock
Spellbinder Square scalloped and classic
Prisma Watercolor pencils
Stamp..Stampendous Cap & Gown Day
Ink Colorbok
Die Cut... Quickutz Graduation Cap


And this is my attempt at creating a flower....guess it takes some practice! I tried and this is what mine looks like....I know, it needs a little love! LOL



Hope you all enjoyed your day!

Oh, in case you were wondering, there is only 22 days until we move to Michigan!

OMG...its been forever since I've blogged! Life for me is getting busy and a bit stressful with dd graduation coming on and the long awaited move to Michigan! Only 27 more days until we pull out of town! WooHoo! I am so excited to finally be in our house....I can't imagine what life will be like without the threat of moving every 2 years!

Well last weekend was Senior Prom and dd wanted me to do her hair for her and she has the most beautiful thick hair....really really thick hair thats super straight! Poor girl sat for a long time so that I could curl it in layers! And she (of course) looked beautiful! Her and her boyfriend broke up a few weeks before Prom, so a Prep School Cadet from church went with her...he's a good friend and a really nice young man! They had a really fun time and I'm so glad because the break-up was a bit hard on her. Oh, the ex is the red head in the group photo....I refer to him as Mr. Not So Wonderful! LOL





So much going on for NSD....be sure to check out the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog May 1-3....lots of fun challenges to participate in...and candy to be won!!!!




Hope you are all enjoying the Spring weather!!! Before you know it, Summer will be here and we'll be complaining how hot it is!!! LOL

Hugs,

Joni

This is my new phone...isn't she pretty? There is a lot to learn about this phone and I'm having a great time exploring all the cool things you can do with a Blackberry! I can totally see why they are called CrackBerries! I have both of my email accounts in sync with it and every time a new email comes in, the phone vibrates and blinks! So of course you HAVE to check it out right? And I love that it has internet! And the game brick breaker has been a lot of fun too! So many features, so little time! LOL

One of my favorite sites for card making is the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog....which is a great source of inspiration! They have an amazing DT who are so creative and inspire me to try different techniques! They have contests, give aways, and tutorials on many of the techniques they use. Anyway, they are having this huge blog party May 1-3 with some awesome give aways! Look at the top of my blog for a link to their site or click here... http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/
and be sure to bookmark it so you too can be a part of the fun! Hope to see you there! Here's the invite:



Anyone looking forward to the Real Housewives of New Jersey? The previews make it seem like they're more of a trainwreck than all the others...should be interesting!

As of today, we are planning on pulling out of Colorado in 47 days! WooHoo!!!!

Enjoy your weekend!

Want to read an amazing blog? I've been following Danielle for a few weeks and she is one talented lady!!! I really enjoy reading her blog and have added her to my sidebar!! And right now she's offering some fab blog candy.......

http://lifeonelayoutatatime.blogspot.com/

Good luck everybody!!!