Future Cheerleaders

My granddaughters, Cailey and Mia, are registered in a cheerleading class at the local YMCA. The photo above is from a series of pictures the Des Moines Register posted on their Website.

Confessions of a Pioneer woman

Confessions of a Pioneer Woman is one of my favorite Weblogs. She's funny, an awesome photographer, and has some great recipes on her site. She's nominated for a 2008 Bloggie this year---if you have a minute, check out her site. Then go vote for The Pioneer Woman for Best Writing of a Weblog and Best Food Weblog! She deserves it.

A Lazy Sunday

So here it is, 3:38 PM and I am still in my PJs. After a day where I was on the run the whole day, Roger and I have been pursuing our hobbies today and I have found no reason to get dressed. Roger has been checking out train car auctions on eBay and bought a set and has now headed off for a nap. I have been busy scrapbooking pictures I took yesterday at the granddaughters 6th birthday. I've finished three pages and now am heading to the sofa to either watch the boxing match I recorded last night or read. Here are the pages from their birthday I created using Sugar Alpha & Goodies by retrodiva {designs}™ and Torn 2Pager QuickClick Template Created by Jamie Heyl available at Digital Scrapbook Place:

Bella Scraps Magazine

I've just learned of a new online scrapping magazine, Bella Scraps. The first issue was released on the 15th. Every issue comes with a Featured Designer exclusive kit! This issue's designer is Christine Haskell and she has made a wonderful kit--Cia Bella!
As a bonus for purchasing my subscription before the release date, I received a special prize package, includng a collaboration add-on to Cia Bella kit by Miriam Lima and Holley VanDenBerg and PDQ template by Kim Hill of CGEssentials. Using the Cia Bella and PDQ template, I created the following layout last night from Grandma and Grandpa's visit to the Botanical Center with the grandchildren:

A few of my favorite things...

Had dinner last night with my family--Roger, Carrie and David, Jeremy and Sarah, and my three beautiful grandchildren. Carrie, the girls, and I made Puppy Chow, Caramel corn, and Reindeer treats. Had a great night.

You've got to check out Straight No Chaser's 12 Days of Christmas:

What is Grandma doing today?

Today is Saturday, a day I should be out shopping till I drop. Last night I was driving the "sled" (a/k/a Marquis) and my PT was in the garage. This morning I woke to a light snow and it has continued to fall all day. Because of my recent driving record, Roger did not want me to take the sled out today but I had shopping to do at Hobby Lobby, Best Buy, Hy-Vee, and either SouthRidge or Jordan Creek Mall, plus I planned on going to Aspen to work out. When I went out to start the sled to jockey cars around I found out it wouldn't start, and so I couldn't get the PT out of the garage. So here I am sitting at home with no book to read and nothing worth watching on TV.

The good news is that Sandy came home from the hospital yesterday and my Mom today. Yea!!! My Christmas wish is that they both are able to stay out of the hospital until the end of t his year at least.

I am scrapping some pages of pictures I took last Sunday when the grandchildren were over to help decorate the tree. Here is what I just got finished working on. I'll post some more later.

Winter Ice Storm

We were hit by a winter storm today and I decided not to venture out and took a day of vacation. We were first hit by ice and then some snow. We didn't get as much snow as expected, and we lucked out on the ice too. Fifteen miles south of here they had ice one inch thick. Because of my experience last Thursday night on the ice and hitting one car and getting hit by three others, I think I made a wise decision. It gave me plenty of time to reestablish my computer (after the fourth crash in six months) and take some pictures.

Decorating the Tree

The grandchildren came over on Sunday to help me decorate the Christmas tree. Luke, who is two, wanted to place all ornaments on the same branch.

Cailey and Mia went outside afterwards to play in the snow and make snow angels. Luke wanted to go outside too, but he didn't have snow pants so we only let him go outside for a little while.

Thoams the Train

Today we went to Boone with the grandchildren to spend a day with Thomas the Train. There were all kinds of fun things to do and buy. We rode a train that was pushed/pulled by Thomas, rode a trolley car, and did some shopping and playing with trains. We took a few pictures (roughly 500) and here is one of Luke and me when he first spots Thomas.

Vacation Day 2--Epcot Center

We arrived here in sunny Florida late Tuesday night and visited Animal Kingdom yesterday. We also spent some time in our pool. Today we spent the entire day at Epcot Center and had a good time. Cailey's shoe broke and Carrie went and bought both girls some red Disney crocks. Mia and Luke bought stuffed Nemos and Cailey got a couple buttons for her shoes. Here are a few pitures Ive taken.

Countdown to Disney World

In less about 43 hours we should be in the air headed to Disney World. Not sure if I'll have a chance or not but I plan on trying to post to this blog during our vacation with a few pictures. Check in next week to see what we have been up to.

Adventureland

Well yesterday we went to Adventureland, courtesy of American Spirit Graphics. David had some tickets from American Republic and the Oklands joined us. We called this our trial run for Disney World later in July.

I took my Kodak camera--didn't want to take the new Nikon out because of the weather. The kids loved riding the rides. I think the girls' favorite ride was the Frog Hopper, and the semi's were probably Luke's. Carrie rode with him the first time in the back and when they were unloading, he immediately climbed in the cab and didn't want to get out. We got back in line and the next time he rode in the cab with Cailey and Roger rode in the back with Mia. He didn't want to get off it. He managed to ride the semis once more before we left for the day.

David won the girls a big dog at one of the carnival games and Mia won both her and Cailey stuffed Shreks' at another Carnival game.

Roger rode some more exciting rides with David joining him on the Dragon and Carrie on the outlaw. Cailey wanted so bad to ride the dragon and the outlaw and her and Mia would stand by the sign showing they were tall enough. On a water ride (inner tubes on a waterslide) Cailey was really tossed around but wanted to ride it again. Mia sat next to me and I managed to keep her held down when we started spinning. It was a great day.

If you would like to see the rest of the pictures I took, visit http://picasaweb.google.com/QueenShakeNBake/Adventureland2007

My latest works.

I've been doing some scrapping and here is what I have been working on. The top photo is the squirrel that "found" Roger. I got a call yesterday and the squirrel was released to the wild. The next picture I am really pleased with. I tried something new (the bent photo) and really like how it turned out. This photo was taken two years ago on Easter. The last photo is from the field trip with the girls' preschool class to the pond at Greenwood Park. Had a great day even though it was drizzling and very damp.

Easter 2005 layout

Tonight I worked on a picture from Easter 2005. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.

Grandma's Boasts: November 2006

Grandma's Boasts: November 2006

Roger in drag 

Geocaching

Roger and I started a new hobby--geocaching. Here is Roger walking through the brush trying to find the Ash-Works cache.

The next picture is of him checking his coordinates. The third picture is with our find (I found this one). The last picture is returning from our hunt across the Raccoon River via the railroad trestle.
 

Luke and Grandma

Roger and I both took a day of vacation today. Tried our hand at geocaching. Failed on our first attempt; found the treasure on our second and failed on our third. Need more experience. Had fun hiking the trails though. 

Father's Day

Today was Father's Day. Roger and I started the day off with "family" photos, followed by a shopping expedition to Scheels and Sports Authority for more fishing gear. Roger is really excited about his and the "boys" upcoming fishing trip.

Yesterday we met Jeremy, Sarah, Carrie, David, Cailey, Mia, and Luke for lunch at Famous Dave's. We were celebrating Jeremy's 27th birthday and Father's Day. Had my camera with me and got some great pictures. Cailey is the one in sunglasses. I had noticed she has been wearing them inside and she explained she is Thelma from Scooby Doo.

After lunch we went with the Oklands to the Home Expo. All but one house had "theaters." The girls really enjoyed these theaters and were very disappointed the last home did not have one.