Photo Christmas Cards from Shutterfly!!!

I've already started receiving Christmas Cards in the mail and it has made me realize that I need to get mine ordered in a hurry! I always get so excited when the cards start coming in and I've noticed that several of my favorites this year are coming from Shutterfly. My daughter ordered her Christmas Cards from Shutterfly and is so happy with them! I've been browsing their Christmas Cards and there are so many great ones to choose from and the ordering process is just so easy, not to mention their prices are great. Just upload your photo and you can see several different options and even save them under your projects. Here are a few that I'm considering for our 2010 Christmas Cards. Please help me decide! I'm also considering the coordinating address labels. One last thing I'll have to worry about when addressing my cards and they're so cute

These are a few that I'm currently looking at and there are several more that I'm considering as well- decisions, decisions. To make things even better Shutterfly is running a promotion for anyone with a blog and I will get 50 free cards for this post. How great is that?! If you're a blogger and are looking for free Christmas Cards or invitations for a holiday event, go here. Thank you, Shutterfly for making the holidays this much easier. I already have my picture picked out that our family took at Thanksgiving and I can't wait to see my finished product and share it with family and friends!

Let's Give Thanks!

This year we invaded Jeff & Jenny's house in Memphis.  Thank you so much for hosting!  We had  Jeff's famous fried turkey, Jenny's corn casserole, Kelly's sweet potato casserole and chocolate pie, Wayne's
wonderful dressing, and my green bean casserole and paradise pumpkin pie (my grandma's recipe - pumpkin with cream cheese). Jenny even made gravy!  Very impressive!  Anyway, we had a great time being with family, eating, watching football, a little shopping, and playing with Kate & Lily!  Perfect!

Here we are waiting for the Arkansas/LSU game to start. It's always such an exciting game - especially when we win!  (Which we did of course!)   I think Kate is starting to get the hang of calling the hogs - well - if you use your imagination!  Next year-----

Kitchen Renovation - Before & After

Finally have my dream kitchen - this is what it looked like before---

This is what it looks like now!  New countertops, backsplash, light fixtures, painted walls ( they're not really green like it's showing up - more of a khaki), painted cabinet doors, and new stove and refrigerator.  Our previous stove was 25 years old and still mostly working which was amazing!  We still want to find just the right wall decor and maybe new barstools eventually. 

Camping Fall 2010

       Even though we were in the middle of our on-going forever remodeling project, we took time out to do a little "relaxing".  Even though a large part of camping is WORK, Friday night and all of Saturday were wonderful!  We finally got to try out our new tent that Mike purchased with his "cabella's points" last year - we nicknamed it the "Taj" because it was HUGE!   We could probably fit 3 or 4 families in it comfortably!
                                               

                                                  Kathy "monkeying" around!

       Relaxing @ our Campsite

One of our favorite things to do is camping at Lake Greeson in Arkansas.  This year the weather was perfect, maybe just a little bit too cold Saturday morning.  It was reported that temperatures were in the upper 20's early that morning.  It was too cold for water related activities so we basically just cooked out, hiked (a little!), read, and relaxed!  Since it was halloween week-end the Elliott boys and Jeremy's friend, Thomas entertained us by making masks and terrorizing the local teens and adults too.  A local church was doing a hayride through the campsite and got a little bit more than they bargained for - it was hilarious!  They really did look very scary in the dark-----

                                                                         Chloe was on her best behaviour---

Rick with his new "pinecone" mustache!

All in all, it was good to get away and not think about our to-do lists. 

Kitchen Update - Part 4 ugh

Granite was finally installed - which was the 1st thing we decided to do - ha!  So many things had to be done before installing the granite, but it's OK.  We're still deciding on the backsplash design, but here's what we've done so far---

beforeafter

Cottage Renewal - Day 14!

The transformation is unbelievable and so far I love the colors.  It does seem to be going awfully slow though.  We left town last Friday morning (day 11) and they were still doing painting touch-up and installing the cabinet doors.  I was really looking forward to returning on Sunday and seeing the finished product.  BUT some of the doors were not installed correctly, a couple were missing, and some wouldn't close all the way.  Hopefully this morning all of that was taken care of - we'll see!  Now for the rest of the week, we'll be cleaning everything in the kitchen cabinets due to a layer of sheetrock dust.  I'm posting a picture from this morning, but keep in mind we're still waiting on our new granite countertops and backsplash - the new colors look kind of strange with our blue counters!

The dining room is finished - still need to finish accessorizing.  Don't worry - I'm not going to over-do.  I may wait til my "decorator" is available. Kelly - when are you available?? ha!  The walls look very gold in this picture, but they're actually darker. 

Last week-end was our Marianna visit to help Wayne pack for South Dakota pheasant hunting.  Chloe and I took early morning walks both days.  I thought the scenery was photo-worthy with the sun hitting the trees, horses, and pastures just right.  We actually came face to face with a couple of very pretty deer that stared at us for a couple of minutes.  I wasn't sure what Chloe was going to do - at least she didn't try to chase them (or run the other way).  She's getting smarter in her old age - definitely more nervous.  Wayne is driving to Huntsville today in order to catch his plane to S.D. on Thursday.  Prayers are with him!

Kate and Lily 1 Year Old - Part 2!

Sweet Miss Kate!

Lily & Kate - 1 Year Old!!!

Look at me inserting images in my blog!!!!!  I'm so excited!!!  AND I LOVE THESE GIRLS!!!!!!

Corkran Cottage Renewal!

BEFORE

OTHER SIDE  BEFORE

After much procrastination, speculation, trepidation, you name it - we're finally starting on our kitchen remodel.  What was first going to be countertops and a backsplash is now also painting the kitchen, staining the cabinet doors, painting the dining room, hallway, AND laundry room.  With repair of our pocket door, ceiling holes, wall cracks, and a couple of outside windows that look really bad, we'll almost have everything in the house re-done.  Well - almost - still have a bathroom & 4 bedrooms left - ha! 

Hopefully within the next  2 weeks, I'll be posting an AFTER picture! 

I haven't written in awhile - life has been hectic. Not any issues to ponder really but thought I would give a life events update. Since Easter Mamfie has been in the hospital once, but before that, was diagnosed with breast cancer, kidney failure, and severe anemia due to the kidney issues. This all happened while she was in Huntsville visiting Lisa for Easter. Lisa noticed a lump in Mamfie's breast and took her in to get it checked. She's taking something orally for breast cancer, treatments to increase kidney function, and blood transfusions to get her iron count lifted. Mike had surgery on his foot/ankle May 13th - had bone spurs trimmed off ankle and plantar faschitis (sp) on bottom of foot cut so it would be more flexible. Follow up appointment is today, May 18th, to check his progress. He has actually been very good about staying off of it and following doctors orders - just one temper flair up so far! Our back fence was vandalized last week by some kids @ Broadmoor Middle School which was very irritating. He's VERY bored. Hopefully he'll be able to go back to work soon. Also during last week, my Aunt Viviene died (my mom's only sister) after a long illness. She has been very sick with infections for the past year on top of her continuing dialysis. They continue in our prayers - my Uncle Roger is not well either. We were able to babysit for Kate and Lily while Kelly & Devin went to Cabo for 3 nights. It was SO great! Can't wait to see them again. Next week-end we're going to Marianna to check on Mamfie & Wayne, then it's Memorial Day 3-day week-end. I really need to stay home and catch up on projects but don't know if I can stay away from Dallas that long! Jeff and Jenny will also be in Dallas that week-end for a wedding, so we'll see---. We're going to The Alluvian for our anniversary to take a Viking cooking class and maybe a massage, then on to Memphis to visit Jeff and Jenny. I read one of Karen Allen's ponderings today which stated "Life when lived fully becomes messy." How true!

Suffering

Here in the middle of Lent season, I'm experiencing the most pronounced feeling of joy that I've ever felt! It could be because of any or all of the following events. First and most prominent - the blessing of having 2 of the most wonderful children in the world, a son-in-law and daughter-in-law that I love, and Kate & Lily - need I say more? The next event is one I'm almost afraid to mention too much - after 30 years of life-changing migraine headaches, I've been 2 months with only a couple of twinges of dull pain. That's huge! Also, Mike & I both seem to be trying to get and stay at a healthier weight which makes any one feel better. Financially, we seem to be more comfortable - still a lot of school loans hanging over our head - but things are definitely looking up if we don't blow it. I'm more in love with my husband (most days!) I guess that's about it for now - but about that suffering part. We've started a Bible study @ church (which could be another reason things are looking up). Last week we talked about Jesus suffering and how as Christians we should be prepared to suffer also. I feel almost guilty for feeling so blessed at this point in life. We should enjoy every day to it's fullest -as one of my favorite songs goes - we're all 1 phone call from our knees.

Valentines Day

I hate valentines day. It just seems to be a created holiday - makes some feel bad because of not having someone to share it with, makes others disappointed because what they expect isn't what they get. All the attention is on expressing love that should be shown year round and not because it's required on a certain day. So why do I choose this month for my annual bunco party - not sure, but I do like red, hearts, and flowers. It really doesn't have anything to do with a husband. My mom's birthday was Valentine's Day - now that she's gone, it makes me miss her even more. It's hard to believe it's been 14 years already - it doesn't seem like that long ago. I wish I had been a better daughter. But enough of that. I'm exhausted and looking forward to a week-end without any obligations (as of this time---). It's been awhile!

New Year Beginnings

My favorite holiday is January 1st! I don't know if it's because I'm so ready for all the busyness of Christmas to be over or the feeling of starting over. I feel so blessed - I have wonderful children who have married wonderful people and now the addition of 2 new grandbabies just adds so much joy. Everyone has told me how there's nothing like being a grandparent - that there's no love like it - and now I know what it's all about! I'm very excited that we're going to Dallas Wednesday night to babysit for 3 nights! Mike told his doctor last week that I think we're 25 years younger than we are. What's wrong with that?

This has been a quiet, but very productive week-end. Started out with my bunco group meeting Friday night, Saturday was spent paying a little attention to my house, errands, and a plumbing problem that we won't talk about. Sunday started with church (which I haven't been to in about a month), catching up on my plant maintenance and learning computer scrapbooking. I also was able to walk with my best friend and catch up a little (which is something else I haven't been able to do for a long time!) One of my new year's resolutions was to start a blog - I've always wanted to have a journal. One reason I've wanted to journal was to help me remember what I've done - I've always had a bad memory!

So hopefully I'll be able to continue this project - and figure out how to post pictures! Maybe we'll have some more cold miserable days!