I made it through the first week of my 365. It was really surprising; a very different experience. I always just snap photos here and there without any thought behind it, but to have to be sure to take a photo each day, and then to be sure it will fit what you're journaling about... you either have to plan ahead or be very creative with what you have. : )

I started taking the Christmas decorations down today and plan on getting the rest tomorrow. Christmas is officially done for another year. I suppose it will be nice to have the house back in order, but it will look awfully bare for a while.

Here is my very first 365 layout -

Happy New Year Everyone!
Here I am at the very beginning of my new life in 2011. I have made resolutions this year and intend to keep them.

We had a really fun New Year's Eve with all the girls and their families coming over to watch the ball drop! Teagan made it until about 10:30 and then they had to go, but for 15 months old I thought that was pretty good. Gracie and Luke managed to stay up all the way, but weren't really impressed with it. Kids are so funny.

Here is the intro page for my very first 365! I will try and remember to post each new set of pages here at the end of each week. I am really looking forward to it. I did a weekly book for Teagan last year, so now I think I am ready for the big guns. Time will tell, and wish me luck!

I am practicing for the coming year on keeping up with my blog better. I never make New Year's Resolutions, because I don't keep up with them and then feel like a failure. I decided to change that this year. I have found some very inspiring websites, blogs and printed material and will just keep re-reading and hopefully stay inspired. I can do this.

I have figured I don't need a new scrapbook page for each and every blog entry, which takes off a lot of the pressure I was putting on myself. So just for interest sake here is a photo of Maggie opening one of her gifts this year. She always opens all her own presents, and then tries to help anyone who will let her, open theirs!

She is such a love.

Merry Christmas

It has been a wonderful Christmas. I got wonderful gifts this year; Gabe got me an upright mixer and it is terrific, and the girls all went in together and got me a Kindle! How fun is that? The weather has been pretty good, although not enough snow for my liking. At least the ground is white.

Everyone came for Christmas Eve, except for Jeff who is now living in Arizona, and Kathleen who lives in Louisville, KY. Then we all had dinner here on Christmas day; I make Roast Pork and all the fixings and then the girls pitched in and did the clean-up. What a blessing.

The little ones all did really good, although the holidays are hard one them. Here is Teagan after a bath at Nana's, having a snack and waiting for everyone to come to open presents!

Here is a page I did with the new freebie kit from Owl Tree Studio. Maggie just loves playing in the water like that and is so funny blowing her bubbles when she goes under. She will even do it if you put a rock in her waterdish.

Selling Our Camper

We are going to sell our camper to get one with a little less set-up, so I though I would post some photos here so I have someplace to tell people to look.

It is a 2004 Travelstar hybrid camper. 22' x 7' 7", 2 axles, weight 3464, GVWR 5000. Super-slide makes very spacious living area. Queen bed on either end, dinette and couch make into full beds to sleep 8. Fridge with separate freezer, gas stove with oven, microwave, antennae with booster, gas furnace & hot water heater. air conditioner. full bathroom with corner shower, skylight and fan. Outside shower. RVQ with outside hook-up. spare tire with carrier. Well cared for and very clean.

This is the last page I have done about my Dad, I'll have to scan more photos and get to work, but in the meantime I'll start on my Mom with the next posting.

During World War II my Dad was in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He was an airplane mechanic, so he never went overseas. He was stationed in London, Ontario when he met my Mom and shortly after they were married he was transferred to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Here he is in his uniform looking all neat and trim!