Happy New Year, almost....

Well, yes I know it's been a while! So much has been going on, it's been nuts. Last post I mentioned I was working again, yes I am, but now at a different job than then. Wait, lemme back up, that last post was the day before Halloween, and Trey was sick. Got him on TamiFlu and he seemed to get well pretty quick except he missed Halloween altogether. He slept thru the doorbell ringing, dogs barking and kids hollering for candy. No trick or treating for him this year.
Then it was time for my birthday again... they keep coming closer and closer together! Guess that's better than the alternative! ;) After that I got another job. The one I had was at a private day school and it was good, but I'm not cut out to be a teacher and I had a class of 3 year olds on Tuesdays and a class of 4 year olds on Thursdays. I was ready to pull my hair out on those days! Bless teachers hearts! SO.... I got another job, my dream job... at a scrapbooking store!! I am working at the Scrapbook Junkie and love it! Come see me if you're in the area! The days fly by and it's fun to help people get into the hobby! Then it's time for Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays! We had the usual fare with the family! Good times and good eats! Next is the hustle and bustle of Christmas, but the Grinch in me came out.... I had no extra money to spend this year.... but it worked out, lighter than in the past, but everyone was happy. Just glad to get this year over with and pray 2010 is better, it has to be, hopefully it can't be any worse....

We did have a Christmas miracle in our family this year though! Nick's cousin has been sick for a while with a bad heart. In and out of the hospital numerous times. The doctors would think they got it fixed then he'd go down again. Finally put him on UNOS for a heart. Not really sure how long he was on the list, but Nick and I were heading out to shop for Trey on Thursday the 17th of December, and his mom called to tell us they were on stand-by, meaning, be ready they may have a heart for him. Then around 2:30 they told them to head to the hospital, it was a match and after a few more tests, they may do surgery that night! When it happens, it happens fast! Sure enough, in the wee hours of the morning of the 18th, he got a new heart! Last time we saw him, he looked pretty bad, and had a backpack and port line for medication that he had to have 24/7. So it couldn't have come at a better time. He came through surgery with flying colors, and was in CICU for a few days, then to a regular room for a day or two then home for Christmas!
If that isn't a miracle, I don't know what is! One week almost to the day, home with a new heart!
He was given the greatest gift this year, from a stranger! We are so grateful and his family has their husband and dad back! We have said many prayers during this for the donor family and the doctors and they have all been answered!

Our Christmas was crazy as usual! 4 get togethers and lots of food and whew, I'm in a food coma... so much junk, sweets and food non stop! Tonight I'm making a real dinner and will try to stay away from the leftovers!

No work until Wednesday, so hope to get this pit cleaned up and all that laundry done! No rest for the weary!

Hope you all have a Happy New Year!

kris

I'm still around!

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted! I haven't been up to too much except working again! EWWWW!! But it's a must do in this economy! I forgot how tired I am in the evening when I work, how messy my house stays, how big the pile of laundry gets, how I don't have my days to grocery shop, visit my grandparents, or have lunch with my girls, I could go on and on, but I digress. Anyhoo... I have missed checking in on the blogs I keep up with, (or used to) and just playing away the day away on the net. I am still scrapping when I can, but those times are few and far between too! Well, this is a short and sweet post, I have a sicky kiddo today and need to go check on him! Check y'all later!

KRIS

Another Anniversary

It has been a year since our lives changed overnight. In some ways it's hard to believe it's been that long, in others it seems like yesterday. This time last year we were headed to Mom and Dad's to hunker down. It was hardly blowing but the water had already risen at home. It wouldn't be but hours until the nation's third costliest storm hit us head on. To remind you of what we went through, read my post from last year about seeing hell. Since then have we seen former presidents raising money or movie stars on our behalf begging the rest of the country for help, have we even seen much help from our own government? Some who needed living arrangements are still fighting with FEMA, but where are all the trailers?? In Louisiana.... for Pete's sake! I'm going to rename this storm and it's victims, (one of which I am, though I hate that word), The Forgotten Ones. We had to fight with FEMA for 3 months to help, then after 3 months they said we no longer qualify. We pay a mortgage for a place that is still condemned, and we pay rent. Thanks FEMA, said with all the sarcasm I can muster. I'm trying to be happy because we all lived through it, we have a home and our health, but sometimes I wonder...anyway, this is one anniversary that can quietly slink off into the night and I won't care. I'm going to go to sleep tonight not worried, sick to my stomach or scared and not hearing the roar of hell. I'm looking forward to tomorrow for it's a new day!

kris

Where were you?

Do you remember where you were on this day 8 years ago? I remember it as clearly as I remember where I was when President Reagan was shot, when Challenger exploded and when we lost the space shuttle Columbia. Things like this stick in your mind always. It's a good thing... we should remember who was lost, who the heroes were and always lift up the families whose lives are forever changed in a split second. Never again will 9/11 be just another date.

with reflection,

kris

Creek Kids Warehouse is open!!

Today was the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for our new Children's Ministry! I am so proud to be a part of the team and WOW what a day! It rocked! Everything went well, the kids were wide-eyed and excited, just wait, there's more to come!! We started this building journey 2+years ago, and broke ground June 08 and today it was a reality! I took a few pics, but they aren't great, so hopefully I can direct you to better ones as soon as they are published! I am the Shop Foreman at the 10am service time, if you are in the area, stop by and say HI! The whole building is themed as a Warehouse, garage, alley, service station, you get the jist.(Click pics for larger size!)
in the Chop Shop (volunteer lounge)

new kids check in

the alley

entrance to the Garage (door closed)

when large group starts, the siren goes off

and the door opens to the Garage area.

Couldn't get a good pic, too dark!

this is the slide from the loft to the main stage,

Trey was messing around one day when I was

painting!

More of the alley; foosball, air hockey, basketball,

skateboarding, shave cream wall, Tic Tac Toe,

checkers, video games, ping pong... it's hard getting the

kids outta here! (and some grown ups)

K-1 classroom, still waiting on the rugs for in here.

2-3 grade classroom, those bean bags are HUGE!

4-5th grade room.

We are just so blessed to have this for our kids, the people that

volunteer are the best and the Campus director rocks!

We are having a carnival for the community in Sept,

it's gonna be a biggie! More on that later!

Happy Birthday Morgan!

Happy Birthday to my sweet niece today!
She is 3!
How time flies!

2006

2009

Love you Mo!

Aunt Kiss

It's almost here!

School that is! The end of summer is almost here, well... in terms of the school year, but not the heat! The heat indexes have been in the 109 range for the past few days. I thought we'd get the rain like crazy yesterday, it was thundering and lightening, blowing and got so dark....and it started raining, then nothing! Didn't even rain enough to get the driveway wet!! WAAAAHHHH!
Just wanted to pop in and say hi, as soon as school starts, I'll try to get back in the blog groove!

Wild Olive

How cool of a name is that for a company? Wild Olive They are an online Tshirt company that has the coolest shirts and each one has a message! They are launching their kidswear and I'm helping spread the news! They also contribute to a charity Love Without Boundaries that helps improve the lives of orphaned and impoverished children in China. I personally don't own any of their clothes, but I check the site weekly to see what is new...and hopefully I'll get some soon! Go check them out! thanks!

More Blog Hoppin LO's! Part 3

OK, so I am almost finished with my book from the Colorado Crop in 2008. Thanks to Chrissy for getting this Blog Hop going and helping me get me scrap on! Here are a few more pages.... I had to take a break and post, but I still have more to do! (sorry, the tripod was cock-eyed, and the lighting is horrible...)

tag pocket page about Miramont Castle

pics of the castle

lunch at the Tea Room

view from the house

kris

Party!!

Trey's party was fun...we met all his friends up at the Fun Max, it's an old grocery store turned into Bouncey Heaven... they played for an hour and half, lasted longer than I thought. It takes alot out of them, good if you wanna wear em out! Then we got Chinese take out, came back home and let them eat. Then I got Trey's present (A cell phone) which I swore I wouldn't do... more about that some other time, and put it under the ottoman before I called them in to open gifts. He had a time with some of the cards and got some cool stuff. Then Nick called his phone, and we were like "what is that?" they thought it was from a card, so he did it again until they went searching. He was really surprised... he just better prove he can handle it! Then we made ice cream sundaes and had cake. It was all good! But all night he wanted to jack with that phone, but we got him off of it and all the boys, young and old, had a Rock Band night. For some reason I keep hearing AC/DC in my brain! I got to bed about midnight and slept without getting woken up. Miracle of all miracles! Fed them eggs and bacon for breakfast, and sent them all home around noon. Yesterday we had to go spend some birthday money. First a case for the phone and a USB cable, then a new Wii game....can't save money this kid.....
Click on the link for a slideshow! Bday Pix

My Little Buddy is 10!!

Where does the time go? 10 years ago today I was at
Clear Lake Hospital with a pitocin drip working on
having my baby boy.

He actually didn't arrive until 10:50 pm after a long hard day for all of us. He was perfectly healthy and beautiful.

newborn

2 months old(a favorite picture)

8 months old

Seems like yesterday....

Happy Birthday Trey!

More Blog Hoppin LO's!

Here are a few more! I hope to get at least half way thru this weekend!



This one has tags in it from each spring that
tells when it was discovered, what type of water, etc.

I didn't like any of them...as you can tell!

Blog Hop LO's

Welcome Willows! For the Blog Hop I have posted a few pages I am doing from the last Co Crop in 2008. We went to Manitou Springs and stayed at the Keepsake Inn, and yes, I'm just getting to that book! It's a 7x7, and not many pics fit on a page, so remind me never to do that small when you have over 300 pics to scrap! ;)
Sorry they are a little crooked, wanted to avoid the flash!
cover
From the plane

House
Front porch

D'Vine Wine

Natural springs around town

so far that's all I have, there are a few more pages in the works...

stay tuned!

Oh and by the way....

I am doing the Blog Hop at Willow Traders, go check it out! Look at the cool new blinkie!

Thanks Chrissy! This will be fun!

Colorado Cool~ :)

I can't believe it's been so long since I blogged! I have been having a HOT, dry summer. But I got out of it for a bit and went here:

My annual scrapbook trip with my girls, the Chi5. The name comes from the original Chicago meet-up back in 2005. Everyone thought I was crazy to go spend 5 days with people I'd never met except online on a scrapbooking message board, but it was awesome and I have some of my best friends in my life with these girls! We get together once, sometimes twice a year, in different cities around the country. This year was Evergreen Colorado at 8500 feet up in the Rocky Mountains. I didn't want to come home! It was cool, so heavenly after the 100+ temps we have been at for weeks! It was 5 days of scrapping, laughing, eating and fun. We were spoiled by our hosts, Darren and Jule. They run The Scrapbook Retreat, go check it out! Will chat more about it later, but I need to run.... Thanks for stopping by!

Well, Happy Blogoversary to me! Can't believe it's been a year since I started this blog, especially when I said I'd never... well you know how that goes! ;)
I'm glad I did jump on in because I've met lots of great friends, some I've met IRL, and gotten lots of inspiration! I look forward to sharing life with my readers! Thanks for that!