Etching Cream is FUN! Need to make the letters a little thicker, or etch the entire glass instead of the letters!

Sam

The weather people were predicting a HUGE snow storm the night of 2/23/12. It definitely was not as GRAND as they predicted but it was certainly enough to cancel school. The kids were so happy! We haven't had much snow this winter. This snow was perfect for snowman and fort building. I got the idea when I saw two empty shoe boxes in the garage. They ended up getting too wet and fell apart. We used Sam's toy storage bins. After two hours of packing and moving heavy, damp snow, this is what we made! We came inside to dry off, have hot chocolate (with marshmellows!) and eat lunch. Not an hour later, the fort crumbled! What was perfect about this day, we all worked together SO nicely! Everyone treated each other so kind (I am referring to Catie and Max). There was not one moment of unpleasantness. I truly cherrished the few hours we all played together!

Catie's 7th Birthday

I used Sweet Treats to create the cupcakes. Even read the cartridge directions! Never would have figured it out if I did not!

Sam's 3rd Birthday

Sam's Drawings

Sam has started drawing faces, all on his own. A few weeks ago, I asked him to draw a NOSE on the face. He replied, "I don't know how to draw noses!". Today, I asked him who each 'face' is. The one on the bottom left is an alien. The one in the middle is a boy. Maybe the top left is the cupcake. He lost interest after that! I should compare them to the ones Catie and Max drew at his age. I'm sure they look very similar!

Materials used to create the AUTUMN banner:

1. Creative Memories Ovals.

2. Zig glue pen for glitter affect.

3. Martha Stewart glitter.

4. Ribbon.

5. Crop-a-dile (love it!) to add eyelets. I couldn't find the color I wanted.

6. Paper came from Michaels.

7. Cricut Expression to create the letters.

It took a long time to finish this, possibly close to 18 months. I'm not entirely sure! I will definitely put it up next fall!

Sam Likes Gourmet Dog Treats

I listed 2 Cricut cartridges on Craigslist, never having luck on this site! Late Saturday night, I received an email inquiry on one of them, asking me to meet her 1/2 way between Leonard and Rochester. I told her that I'd be happy to meet her downtown, gets me out of the house and near retail shopping!! We decided to meet on Sunday afternoon. Being the POLITE person I am, I decided to ask Aaron and the kids to join me, secretly crossing my fingers that they would decline. I also wanted to hit Rochester Village Mall. It's never a good idea to take THREE kids with you, as I have learned in the past. To my surprise, Aaron said YES!! We met SHARI in the parking lot of the RAC (Rochester Athletic Center) parking lot. She was super nice and about my age. I told Aaron that is someone I would be friends with!! Anyway, we went to Rochester Village Mall. I went to ATL (Ann Taylor Loft), my one and only store I can shop at. I had $20 bonus cash, $15 birthday card money from ATL, 20% off coupon and two HUGE giftcards to spend. I usually buy on sale, unless I absolutely LOVE it and can't live without it. Sunday, I found THREE things I could NOT live without, so I paid full TAG price, but it didn't cost ME personally. I got the BOYFRIEND JEANS, never appealed to me in the past, but had a change of heart when I saw them again. They didn't have my size, disappointed, until one of the employees told me she bought the size 4 the day before, but they did NOT fit her - YIPPPEEE...that's the pair I needed! In the meantime, Catie was FREAKING out on Aaron because she was starving to death....I did NOT get to go to Victorias Secret for a MUCH need new bra or Children's Place, just because I love to look there too! I was totall satisfied with my ATL purchase, I didn't mind missing the other stores I intended to HIT while I was supposed to be ALONE!! On the way home, we stopped at URBAN DOG, a dog store in the newer plaza at the corner of Teinken & Rochester Rd....We bought 3 gourmet treats for Dottie - pink bones, like chocolate for dogs...They are made out of things that can be consumed by humans. Sam was holding the bag on the way home. He opened it and started EATING the bones...I tried one, it was OK but I wouldn't have eaten more than a NIBBLE! Sam was memerized by TOY STORY (playing on the DVD player) and ate 2 of the bones (I had the 3rd on in my coat pocket - keeping it safe). I asked Sam, "What are we going to give Dottie now?" He said, "NUFFIN"....