Merry Christmas!

I wanted to pop in real quick to wish all of my followers and my friends a very Merry Christmas!  I hope you all have a great holiday!

My holidays started this morning when my brother-in-law and sister-in-law from South Dakota arrived on our door step, unnounced!!  They wanted to surprise everyone and to spend time with his family who he hasn't spent Christmas with since 1987-ish.  Needless to say we were very surprised and look forward to spending the next few days with them.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Hugs,
Tanya, Brian & Abby

Abby's card

Abby made Brian a card for his birthday last week and I've been meaning to post it on here to share with you all.

She stamped and colored the image, cut the papers and ribbon and all I had to do was put adhesive on the backs of them.  She was pretty precise on the placement of things and of course she had to add the soccer balls on :)

and she even signed it!  Not bad for only being 3 :)

supplies:
Image - Motivet
Stickles
colored pencils
paper/ribbon - stash
soccer beads

A sad day in our household

Today is a very sad day at our house.  We had to put our 9 year old bichon down tonight.  Gus was always very sickly and today we found he had some more issues wrong with him, that financially we just couldn't afford.  In the end the Vet said it was best for him to do this :(   We will miss him very much and the house already feels so different without him.

Here is a picture of Abby with Gus last Christmas

Great News!!!

After having to take some time off for family and prioritizing things, I can happily say that I that I am back!!  And with coming back I have some great news to share with all of you!!

First, I have been selected by Melanie to be part of the Critter Sketch Challenge DT (again LOL)

Secondly, I was contacted by Vicki at Victorine Originals and I am excited to say that I am now a member of her design team :)

and lastly (yes this it), I am the Guest Designer for the More Paper Than Shoes blog this moment.

So with all of this, I can't wait to get started and sharing things with all of you.

It's official!!!!

I finally got my degree!! WOOHOO!!  I know a lot of you don't know but I have been going to school since 1995--I know tell me about it.  I only could go part time as I was working full time and then there was two year break in there because I figured I deserved one :)  Oh and then three years ago, I added in the birth of Abby :)  Well this arrived in the mail yesterday and needless to say I am VERY excited to have it in my hands finally!

then to make it even better, Brian bought me this for a graduation present

with a case and a gift card for about 6 or so books!

Custom Portrait drawn by Victoria Case

I know it's way too early to be thinking about Father's Day but I had to get a start on it since I wasn't sure how long it would take.  I wanted to give Brian something that he wouldn't ever expect and of course he has no clue who Victoria Case is so I knew I was on the right track LOL  I contacted Victoria on Wednesday about drawing up a sketch of Abby and what you see is the final copy that will be mailed out today/tomorrow.

I am amazed at how much it does look like Abby and how it captured her personality (and chubby checks) perfectly.  Brian is a huge Philadelphia Eagles Fan so when Victoria said she put Abby in the Eagles shirt, I knew Brian would LOVE it!

I of course can't keep a secret so I showed Brian today and he is VERY excited to get it this week.

I'm still here!!

I know I haven't posted much this week but I'm still here!  I guess I just took a little break from reality for a few days and now I'm ready to get back into the swing of things.

So with that, make sure you:

1.  Come back tomorrow for my Artful INKables post

2.  Come back Saturday for Catch the Bug Challenge blog hop, you don't want to miss that!

3.  Don't forget that next week is Lindsay's Stamp Stuff's virtual crop, it's going to be loads of fun.

until tomorrow, have a nice night

I won!!

I can't believe I almost forgot to tell you all.  Last week Piggy Tales was having a comment contest on their blog where the winner can win a $100 gift certificate to their store. Since I LOVE their papers I figured I give a shot.....well this morning I work up to find out that I WON!!!!  Now what a perfect way to start out the day.  I just love the quality of their papers and now I get to go on this awesome shopping spree!

Now to put this perspective...that is 125 sheets of paper!!  who wouldn't be excited :)

All right, now I'm off to bed but make sure you all come back tomorrow it's my first post for Artful INKables and I have a very cool card :)

Just a fun post

I wanted to share this picture of a leaf that Abby found on Saturday while playing on the ice.  It appears that the snow/ice melted around the leaf and it "fell" about an inch into it.  It looked really cool and Abby was very taken with it...yup that's her head in the way LOL

It's just one sign that spring is finally on it's way!

These next two pictures are Abby's first time out on the ice :)  She loved it so much she didn't want to get off.  I think we might have to put her in skating lessons next season as that is all she's been talking about LOL

Well good night, I'm off to go bury my nose in my book for a bit :)