~Aloha~

So here we are in spending Christmas in Hawaii waaaaaaaaay back in 1985. We won a trip thru a local radio station to the beautiful Turtle Bay Hilton on the north shore of Oahu. We thought it would be weird spending Christmas in Hawaii...but it didn't matter where we were...as long as we were together...the true aloha spirit~! Mele Kalikimaka~! =)

~Joy~

Seeing these pictures brings true Christmas joy to my heart. Truly amazing how the years seem to pass with the blink of an eye~ I treasure each and every Christmas memory and I am soooo very glad I have pictures like this to remind me of it's most precious moments. I hope this season brings you tidings of comfort and JOY~!

~Future~

Here are Jim & Cassie opening up their Bridal Tree Ornaments. According to tradition, the tree of a newlywed couple should include these 12 ornaments to insure blessing and happiness for their life together.
ANGEL- God's Guidance in the Home
FISH- Christ's Blessing
ROSE- Beauty and Affection
RABBIT- Faith & Hope
TEAPOT- Hospitality
PINE CONE- Fruitfulness
SANTA- Unselfishness & Goodwill
HOUSE- Shelter
FRUIT BASKET- Generosity
BIRD- Happiness & Joy
FLOWER BASKET- Good Wishes
HEART- True Love
May their future life together be filled with all these elements and more~!

~Present~

Present...did someone say presents? =) Actually...in honor of Christmas PRESENT... here are our stockings hanging by the fireplace in eager anticipation of Santa's arrival on Christmas Eve. The little stocking in the middle...is for Baby Jesus...who always gets a present and is the first one that is opened on Christmas morning...to remind us of the true reason for the season~!

~Past~

Christmas IS family~ Just like the ghosts in A Christmas Carol we must remember past...live in the present...and look forward to the future~ so in honor of Christmas past...here I am playing with my grandad on Christmas Eve waaaaaay back in 1955...ok so maybe I am trying to steal a cookie from his mouth who knows =) No idea what Todd is doing either...but we are playing with my grandad and that is the most important thing of all~

~Joy~

Who says you have to be a little kid to be excited about Christmas? Isn't that the beauty of the Christmas season...that it turns us all into little kids so we can truly experience the wonder and joy of this most blessed season~

~Kissmas~

And now back to our regularly scheduled Christmas layouts =) This layout was made using my girl Krystal's latest kit...isn't it gorgeous~! And to top that off I used one of Jill's awesome templates cause I am now an official member of JZ Designs creative team...two amasing designers on one page....BONUS~!

~Soaring~

Jim is soaring high while sitting in a little kiddie photo op plane during our recent trip to Arizona... totally cracks me up~! And I am soaring high on cloud nine cause this layout was named THE hot layout of the day over at Elemental Scraps...first time using one of my girl Meredith's kits and look what happens...hope you soar thru your day too~! =)

~Family~

Christmas is family...Christmas is fun...Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year~!

~Birthday~

What better way to spend my birthday than brunch at the beach with my family....

pure bliss~

~Tannenbaum~

~It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas~ come on...sing along =) Here is a layout using one of Chrissy's awesome templates showing our recent tree trimming antics...love love LOVE this time of year~!

~Snow~

The advantage of living in So Cal is that we don't have to live in the snow...but if we want to play in it...it's only about an hour away. So neither rain... nor sleet...nor snow will keep us from having fun~!

~Treasure~

Me and my doll house that my dad made and my mom furnished waaaaaaay back in 1960...I treasure this and sooooo many other wonderful Christmas memories...I just LOVE this time of year~! =)

~Joy~

It's December 1st and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! Jim & Cassie came home for Thanksgiving and the outside lights are all put up...the Kincade houses are all arranged and most of the indoor decorations are done...all that's needed is the Christmas tree~! Happy happy joy JOY!

~Yum~

The table is set...now all that's missing is food~!!

~Angel~

My dad died 17 years ago today…so it seems only appropriate to use Krystal's kit called Angels Among Us cause I know he is watching over us and sending his love down…just like the hearts are showering down from the cloud~

~Home~

Home is where the heart is...and these two have my heart~

~Heritage~

Well I highlighted one side of the family and now here is the other =) This is my paternal grandfather a looooooooooong time ago. Gotta love the outfit...and Jim thought I dressed HIM in some funny clothes~! Truly makes you wonder what generations from now will be saying about us!?
ps...on a side note...I just found out this layout is going to be featured on an upcoming issue of the Memory Makers Online Idea...so thanks to my girl Nikki for the awesome kit and Chrissy for the awesome template...you both ROCK~!

~History~

Isn't this a sweet picture of my great Aunt Jeannette...my grandma and my great grandma waaaaaaaay back in 1906. I love looking at old pictures like this and wondering just what was going thru their minds and what was life like then? Which is one of the reasons I scrapbook... so that when my great great great grandchild looks at my albums...they will hopefully be able to know who I am thru my layouts. And one thing they will know for sure...family and it's history are very important to me~

~Veterans~

Happy Veteran's Day~! This is a day to remember not to take all our freedoms for granted cause someone sacrificed and continues to sacrifice a LOT so we could have them. So a big THANKS and huge HUGS to all the service men & woman! you ROCK~!

~Memories~

This is Michael & I waaaaaaaaay back in 1982 at my college room mates wedding reception. I think it was the first time we left Meg with a babysitter for an extended length of time and it made us realize we should get out more often....hence the beginning of our Friday night date nights~! ahhhhh the memories =)

~Happy~

:::doing another happy dance::: I FINALLY got my car back...woohoo~!!!!!!! The sun is out...the waves are breaking...yes it's another beautiful day in So Cal paradise and I can enjoy it to the fullest cause I have MY car back~!! Nothing like having the sun shining on your face...the wind blowing in your hair and smelling the salty sea air to make me totally and completely happy!!! Life is GOOD! =)

BaROCKed!

:::doing a happy dance:::

~Vote~

It doesn't matter who you vote for....well yeah it kinda does but we won't go there =) but the important thing is to just VOTE~! It is a privilege...an honor...a right...and as they say...if you don't vote...you have no right to complain~! sooooooooo VOTE~!

~Home~

So my girl Krystal has a new kit out called In The Neighborhood and I thought what better pictures to scrap than those of our first houses. The first one is mom & dad's...then there is Michael's & mine and finally Meg & Jeff's. I find it rather cool that they all kinda look the same. We obviously have good taste~! Ah...there IS no place like home =)

~Awesomeness~

I've got bad news and I've got good news. For the past month I have had the privilege and honor of been a guest on Libby's creative team. Her kits and designs are awesome and sooo much fun to create with~! But the bad news is that my time is up. Insert major pouty face here =( The good news is that I have made some new friends and learned lots of new design techniques from seeing all their amazing layouts. I know I will keep buying her kits cause she is just amazing! But wait...there is even more good news! Insert happy face here =) For the month of November I am a going to be a guest on Chrissy W's creative team! Chrissy makes awesome templates that I use quite a bit in my designing! So I am looking forward to making even more new friends and learning even more new techniques. So I thought it appropriate to show off both these awesome designers with this layout of Meg & Jeff at Halloween last year. The kit is Libby's and the template is Chrissy's... see what happens when you combine two amazing designers...total and complete awesomeness~!!! =)

~Crash~

Soooooo once again Michael borrowed my car and once again he crashed it! I'm not sure if he gets distracted playing with all the bells & whistles or just WHAT he is doing. But while pulling into the garage he missed the brake and crushed the front end and then he decided to back up with the door OPEN and missed the brake again and ran into the front of his car~! I am trying to take this all in stride because in the grand scheme of things... it is just after all a car and Michael was not hurt...except for his pride...but I am going to think twice before I let him borrow my car again~! =)

~Style~

Here are some pictures of Jim & Cassie at an 80's Night at their Melting Pot...more kit goodness from my girl Nikki =) I REALLY hope Michael & I did not dress like this but if we did...I am sure glad that clothing and hair styles have changed for the better! Of course that is what we thought when we left the 70's Disco phase...hahaha =)

~Frogman~

My girl Nikki's mojo has returned and she is back designing kits...woohoo~!! This layout was made from her Prince Ribbit kit which is ~toadly awesome~ hahaha...and Todd you know I love you but this photo just cracks me up~!!!!!!!!!! =) Embarassing my bubba on the world wide web...just one more service I perform~! =)

~Kindness~

Ben’s Bells are beautiful ceramic wind chimes that symbolize kindness and its power in healing. The process of making them started as a way for Jeanette and Dean to cope after the tragic death of their infant son, Ben. The therapeutic effect of working with clay as well as the power of being surrounded by people talking and working toward a common goal was truly transforming. They decided to make hundreds of the Bells and distribute them randomly in their community to encourage the kindness that they had so depended on to get through each day. Since Ben's death, it was that kindness of others, strangers and friends that had helped them begin to heal and they wanted to find a way to pass on that kindness and to help others in the process.
The mission of Ben’s Bells Project is to inspire, educate and motivate each other to realize the impact of intentional kindness and to empower individuals to act accordingly to that awareness, thereby changing our world. Believe in the power of kindness!

~Smile~

I love this picture of Meg showing off her culinary skills with her sweet potato casserole....soooo cute =) And the cute page is part of my girl Paula's Quick Page Punkin Patch kit...all I had to do was slap in a photo...add some journaling...a title and viola...done~! This kind of scrapbooking makes ME smile =)

~Candy~

Halloween Candy Quiz





You are a Chocolate Bar


Like the chocolate bar you are naughty but oh so good


Find out which Halloween Candy you are at Quizopolis.com

I am not exactly sure just HOW I ended up a chocolate bar...but hey...I'll take it~! too bad it's only a virtual candy bar =) If you take the quiz...lemmeno what kind of candy YOU are!

~Dance~

One summer Meg got the amazing opportunity to attend ~Ballet Intensive From Moscow~ where she got to study with dancers from the Bolshoi and even perform in Giselle with them. So what better kit to use to scrapbook that than Amy's new Russian Art Inspired Kits~! Love the bold bright colors and the little matruska dolls =) As for your day today...I hope you DANCE~! =)

~Always~

If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart, I’ll always be with you. Winnie the Pooh

~Love~

Hard to imagine that Michael & I will be married 30 years this December....time flies when you are having fun~! This picture was taken at the infamous Williams' Family Reunion in Spokane this summer... aren't we cute? =) The layout is using yet another one of Krystal's awesome kits...the girl just keeps 'em coming! This kit is called Lil' Stinker...which you have to admit is a weird name to use for a love layout =) but the Type A person in me always has to match part of the clothes to the background paper. Wonder what will happen when nothing matches? Guess that gives me an excuse to go shopping...woohoo~! I hope your day doesn't stink and is filled with love =)

~Hoot~

We had a ~hoot~ of a good time visiting with Jim this past weekend. Got to go to one of his fav restaurants on Friday night and then watch a stunt show! Saturday we spent the day at the Pima Air & Space museum exploring all the planes and memorabilia they had on display there. That night we were invited to dinner at Cassie's parents house...mmmmmmmmm good~! and then we all went to a melodrama...laughed so hard my sides ached =) Sunday we went to Jim's new church and then out to brunch and then the long drive home =( much too short of a visit but it was great to see him again and get my hug quota in til November. Thanks for the fun time buddy bud...it was a hoot...love ya and miss ya already~!

~Rockin~

This month I have the privilege and honor of being a guest creative team member for Libby Weifenbach....can you say totally awesome~!!! =) I fell in love with her products before when she worked on some collaborations with Krystal...ok...so she ROCKS~! and now I get to create with her goodies. Talk about a kid in a candy store...ok a woman in a scrapbooking store...same diff~! so look for some new and different layouts this month as I spread my wings and try out all sorts of new creative ideas with Libby's rockin' kits~! =)

~Mumsy~

This kit is part of a Faith Sisters Collaboration Kit that sponsors World Vision....love that~! I love when I can purchase items I want/need and the money goes to a good cause...makes me truly happy =) I adore the measuring tape ribbon...such a unique element~! And some day I truly hope to measure up to be even half the amazing woman that my mom is~!!

~Retro~

Jim and Cassie dressed up for 80's Night at their local Melting Pot....complete with big sunglasses and mullet hair...hahahaha. If this photo wasn't sooo funny it would be kinda scary. I don't remember dressing this way in the 80's...guess I had better go check those old photos~! Either way...it makes me laugh and that's good enough~

~Bash~

Join Faith Sisters for our Birthday Bash Cyber Crop!

Who: YOU are invited!When: September 26-28th

What: Challenges, Prizes (traditional and digital,) Sales,Chats, New Goodies and MORE!

Where: http://www.faithsisters.com/

Why: To celebrate our 1 year birthday!

Earn points toward winning prizes by doing challenges, purchasing digi kits from our shop, and more! Earn an EXTRA 5 Points for inviting a NEW friend to the crop and have them sign up and participate in the forum!

~Gram~

This is Gram in all her beach bathing glory waaaaay back in 1910 on the beach in Santa Monica. Dontcha love it? =) Yep I am a fourth generation native Californian...sun worshipping...beach loving kinda gal~! Can you tell I REALLY don't want summer to leave? =) Enjoy the sunshiney days while they last~!!!

~Friendship~

The great thing about the Faith Sisters forum is that I have met some amazing women from all over the world who not only share my love of scrapbooking but share the same faith as well. This layout is of my good friend Cheryl whom I totally idolize not only for her southern charm but for her amazing scrapbooking talent. When I grow up I want to scrapbook just like her...ok I will be happy with scrapbooking HALF as well as her~! =) So reach out and make a friend today...ya never know what you might learn from them~!

~Flashback~

So here's Michael & I waaaay back in 1974 hanging out in my dorm room. Ya gotta love the long hair...clunky shoes and mod decor...boy were we stylin' hahaha =)

~Play~

Fall is on the way...or so they tell me. I am holding on to summer as hard as I can. I am going to really miss the sunshiney days. Not that we really have seasons here in So Cal...but there is a crispness in the air which tells me summer will be leaving soon. So just like in this layout which shows Todd, mom & I on our new swingset at our new house waaaay back in 1959...I am going to Play & Laugh as long as I can~!!!

~Thoughts~

Don't you just love the look on Jim's face? Truly makes me wonder what this little guy was thinking when I took the picture. Was he focusing on some bird in the backyard..pondering the future...or just caught up in the moment? I will never know what he was thinking...but I will always have this photo to remind me =)

~9-11~

This is a layout I did for one of Chrissy's template challenges and it wowed her so much that it won. Seems rather strange to win a contest about such a sad topic. Tho some great leader....Churchill? Lincoln? said "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it." So I for one will always remember 9-11 because I NEVER want to repeat it~

~Laughter~

I went to the dentist yesterday and I think my hygienist was the winner of the most sadistic award~! My mouth has never been sooooo raw and sore. owie owie owie Really does not make me want to ever go back...which rather defeats the whole purpose =) So I have just been kinda puttering around...sitting in my garden and enjoying the birds and taking it easy. And of course I turned to scrapbooking to take my mind off things and make me smile~ There is a story behind this picture. Jeff told a joke at dinner and it was sooooooooooooo funny that it had us all spitting food across the table and reaching for our napkins. I wish there was a way to tell it here...but you really have to hear the voice inflections to understand it...all I am going to say is....brown chicken...brown cow....hahahahaha~!!! ah...the healing power of laughter =)