Christmas Review

Ok Ok. It´s over. We survived Christmas and our bad cold... kinda ... we got stuck with this mean caugh!
Christmas was strange! The little one got up soooo damn early,having high fever and we went to bed late at 2 or so ... so he was standing there in front of our bed at 5.30am and licking a christmas three styled lolipop:-o Now we were all afraid he would have opened all the gifts by himself LOL, but luckily as we went down he only wanted the loli .. so the big one came down too,... and now get this. David is 8 and after all the opening and "yeays" and "ohs" ... he thanked us both for all the gifts, and he admitted he knows there is no "Christmasangel" (what we call it in some parts of Germany)... I was so bummed because he acted like believing in it...hm ...I did not really know how to take this one ... but I guess it´s ok ... I was hoping he would believe in it a little longer... but he is smart how couldn´t I´ve seen this coming?
Well, now we will play this game for Brian ... and David can be the "Big on being generous not telling the little one" LOL
Later in the morning Davids Dad and his gal came over, and more gifts for everyone there, it was nice spending some time with them.
For launch we invited my DH´s Coworker who is Portugese and has no Family around here, also my Father in Law, it was a nice lunch, and Father in Law left early ( he owns a Bar/Restaurant and needed a nap) ... so the rest of the day we spent with Porto and gave him a ride home late afternoon...
Next day we were invited over at my moms house, and spent Lunch there! All the kids were there, but it always seems after receiving the gifts everyone gets lazy to communicate and we left for home around 5.
2nd Christmas labor day my father in law invited us for lunch to a jugoslavien restaurant where i know the owner. I went there the first time, and hell it was so yummy!!!!
Now, yesterday my hubby went for wood with all the boys and I cleaned up a little, at night I went to work.
Today we are heading over to my dads place afternoon, havent seen him in a longer while!

Well, my Christmas pictures turned out horrible.
My camera uses Batteries up in no time, so my hubby handed me my gift. It was a high quality battery charger with high quality batteries, also a handy digicam from "Rollei" for the "In-case"cases.. I jumped right on my new camera, and never thought about the settings, so alllll my christmas pictures turned out strange, or blurry, or dark:-(( :(( now after resetting it, it still doesnt impress me ... I was thinking about bringing it back... but dont wanna hurt my hubs feelings.. so dont know what to do there!
My Hubby is going to have his tattoo he got for christmas tomorrow. He can hardly wait anymore!:-)


Now, Here´s some pics of Christmas... (some with no impressing quality)








here one of the not very impressing ones, the following pics were made over at my moms house
but David was pretty sure THIS is THE GIFT




haha, I am brave enough to show this one
it came, because we were talking about good looking dump pictures


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

IF ANYONE HAS A SUGGESTION HOW TO SAVE THIS BAD PICTURES PLEAAAAAAASEE!! LET ME KNOW!

Back with a bad cold

Just shortly checking in.
I went down bad with a cold and seems like the kids are trying to catch up on it too ...
We will end up burried under napkins at christmas night! Geee, really did not need that
JUST NOW!?!?!
Well, we finally went Christmas shopping monday... and done pretty well, only two gifts missing, and those will probably end up having money in their christmas card, because the one is 20 and student really needing money, and the other one is 16 and just started an apprenticeship and needs money above anything else ... not very personal, but whats the point making them a gift, they might not want or need.
I still have not baked christmas cookies, but my hubby thought baking "virus cookies" isnt the best of an idea,.. so we might end up baking at the weekend, when I maybe get to feel better.
Anyways, whatelse is new,... is my haircut!!
During our christmashopping we passed a hair saloon, and them gals there seemed very bored,... so we hiked back there to have the little one cut hair,... and as in fact i was whining to my honey in forever wanting to go have a real haircut ( which i havent had in 10 years)
Well we ended up spending 120 Euro for me and both boys,... David wanted to have tribals cut into his hair. I felt so bad, spending so much on the hairdresser, but it happened to turn out better .... after the hairdresser we went to my father in law who owns a restaurant,... and he has one of these money gambling mashines in there, so my hubby threw in 5 bucks,.... and out there came 100 ... LOL ... so now I dont have to feel so bad about the hairdresser anymore! LOL

Well, are you curious what I look like now?
I have a cellphone picture right now,... better one later on

I am still alive, and up with new pictures

not so sure about this one, i have one when David went to preshool make your own choice


this one really impressed me, i love it




Have you been wondering where i was?
pffffff. Dont even ask.
My Router broke, so we had no internet and phone connection for 3 days.
I fell into depressions the last days too ... just looking at everyone having baked
Christmas Goodies yet, and having all their gifts gathered for everyone ... and I have
neither one of these things accomplished yet.
I am in no Christmas Mood at all .. puring down rain out instead of snow and Germany isnt
a very good Inspiration for Christmas at all ... They say Christmas is in your heart, I just cant
feel it. The kids dont seem to be in Christmas Mood eighter .... and my hubby is still going to work,
He will be off next week ... maybe ...

Well, at least the kids preshool Pictures cheered me up a little. Loved some of them!!!


nothing very impressing but its nice


cute




hm


aweeeeeeee .... gorgeous huh?

Christmas Poem that touched me deep PLEASE READ!

I received this in my email today. My aunt sent it, whos husband used to be in the Navy for many many years .... I had known/ and still know many families who have somebody serving their country.
I want to share this email, and make you all realize, who less sorrows we all have, compared to all these Army/Navy/Marines a.so on


A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Constru ction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

I posted this in honor of my grandfather who passed away last year 2nd Oct ... he proudly served the army and he was Patriotiv through and through!

This is my Memorial Page for my Grandfather

American LifeVeterans

Military Wall of Honor

Just some more layouts

Just Quick Posting this, for my co autors over at Gedichteseite.de where I write German Poetrys, one of my co autors wrote a Poem about the Christmas Weekends and burning one candle a Christmas Sunday .... so I want to show off my layout matching this

Pretty minimalistic isnt it traudel?;-)



redone layout with my mom picture taken at Glamour Shots 2007Nov
one of the best pictures of her i have ever seen
credits: "Douceur Printaniere" by Coco and Co

Not so sure about this layout ...




redone layout the kids getting package from Amerika Oma
credits: Kit used "Cinnamon Stripes" by Kim (Serenity Blue Designs)



QP "Popcorn" by chrisscrap
Brian having a hard time being sick, going to kindergarden, not having naps anymore and missing his babybottle,... to rough for him missing all at once,....



my nails, the only time, I can just be for myself and enjoy somebody spoiling me (though i have to pay for LOL)
credits: "Painted Garden" by Num Bum


redone Layout with all oure Black and white and Jeans Pictures at Glamour Shots Nov 2007
credits lateron

Celebrating an Award with a QP from Joni G.´s Kit "Christmas Star"

I received an award from Joni! I just cant believe it!
I am totally speachless, really not knowing how I deserve that!
Joni, thanks so much! I am totally honored, and just really bummed off my socks!

What a kick! I got an Award; I got an Award!
Just because it is late anyways, and it doesnt matter how much later it is, going to bed, I thought I share another QP I created with Jonis Kits "Christmas Star" !
Well, I dont even know whom to pass this Award on to ... tschhh ... I dont blog so much, to get to know people .... and I am supposed to forward this to somebody not having an Award yet, ha ha,... how´s that supposed to work,... I thought I am the only one not having an Award LOL

The rules are pretty simple : pass this onto 5 Treasured Friends who have not yet received it.

So here are the blogs I would love to give this award to:

1. It´s Pam over at Digitreats
2. For Teri Mayo over at Teri´s Thing- O-My-Jigs
3. Kimberly over at starsscraps
uhhh getting to my limit now
4. Michelle over at crafty scraps
5. sure not to forget Sindiego´s Scraps
(click the names and stop by at their blogs!)


And now, here´s the preview on the QP with Jonis Kits
Thanks again Joni!!!!
Hop on over to visit Joni, and her gorgeous stuff!

Brians Birthday Layouts for now, coming more

credits: Brag Book AS Creative Team
Paper: Brithday Bash Blog Train
Gifts: DL Patterson Birthday Blog Train Jelly Beans and Birthday Cake

I just took tooo many pictures!!



Not so sure about how I layouted this one, I guess I will be redoing this one too
credits: Kit "Wee Willi Winkie" by Cens Stuff


"Adventures QP" by Scraps ´n Pieces
Gifts: Designer unknown contribution to Big Birthday Bash Blog Train


Nobody expected snow these days, but there it was.
It´s all melted off yet tho.
credits: Lantern: Kit "Winterfairy 2nd Part" by La Piruleta Designs
Paper and Icecycle Border: : Kit "Winterfairy 1st Part" by La Piruleta Designs
Frame: Kit "Winterwonderland" by Blue Dream Designs
Overlay: "Snowflake" by Scrapidea Timkova


Just some freeky faces, arent they LOL
credits: Alpha TheresaS. Dots Alpha
Frame: Gunhild Storeide Frame Template "Folded Frame #4"
Ribbon "Pearls" by Digiscrapalicious for Birthday Bash Blog train Faith Sisters


Something missing here too,.... its nice but I am not content yet!
Any suggestions?
credits: Paper by Deanna Patterson Shabby Scrap Design
Kit called Jelly Beans and Birthday Cake was a contribution to blog train


this layout happened by accidant, my Photo Impact had an error and closed, saving this when I was just creating.. I will redo this page

Happy Birthday my Baby!! Now you are turning 3

s
credits on the QP i made with the birthday blog train elements and papers
can anyone tell me whos blogtrain this was? that time, many were up ?!


Yeahay! We are having a Birthday today!
Our little Bam Bam is turning 3!!
Gee, does that mean, the terrible 2 are past?! LMAO I think he is doubling up one more, and making terrible 4 out of it ?!

I tell you what, I was cleaning my house, and baking a littl cake ( Since I knew I was working and beeing busy, I ordered a big cake at the bakery for the guests) all day yesterday. Then I went to work and worked till 1 am ( celebrated my bosses birthday for a few, before I headed home), and then I decorated the kitchen and finished his cake, so it was 2.30 am when I went to bed. And now you tell me, what time Brian got up?! Guess what !????
6.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!! Usually I dont wake up, when he gets up. My husband gets up with him, since he is leaving early for work anyway, and my hubby wakes me up at 6.30 so we get to drink a cup of coffee together, before he leaves... but today ! I somehow woke up when Brian took the steps downstairs! I shaked my hubby and told him to get up, Brian was on its way down, while I already jumped up so I dont miss out on his "surprised face"...
Funny was, when we came right behind him, Brian stood there in the door, lifting his hands and shouted " Taraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" ROFL !!!

You would think kids are surprised, and jump right on their presents. But Brian was kinda strange. He scares me once in a while with his adultly expressions!! He sat there, receiving his gifts, unwrapping it slowly, carefully .... and seeming so thoughfull while doing this.
He did not eat cake, only looking at it. He did not tore apart the wrapping paper, but carefully ripped piece for piece.. He did not scream "yeah" or anything, He just looked, tryed and put it away to receive the next gift!!
It was strange! But he liked all his gifts, and that´s what makes me happy!
Now I am having a very strong cup of coffee, and the kids are playing quietly (strange too!!)
My hubby passed out on the sofa... so its pretty quiet here.
The snow comes down steadily (strange too) Havent had real nice snow in two years.
So I guess I just sit here, enjoy my coffee and get prepared for the party afternoon,.... I dont know what to do for lunch,... I dont know what to do for dinner ...

I have to apologize for being bad about giving freebies, but I was so wound up in Brians preparation for his birthday and work and so on, I just havent had the mind for this.
Upcoming week I will be busy decorating christmas at home and at work, also some other stuff... so I really dont know if freebies will be up soon.
Be patient, I dont forget about it.

And now off I am .....

Happy Birthday lil Bam Bam
(Why Bam Bam? Do you know Bam Bam the lil one from the Flintstones? Exactly my boys caracter)

Create your own Word Search Puzzle

Geeeeeeee! I am on this Puzzle thing today...

Whatelse I found is a Page, you can create your own word search puzzle!
That´s cool isn´t it!!!

Just type in your words
Choose colors for letters and background lower or upper case and some other stuff
and off you go with one click
Tara there you go, now you have your own word search puzzle

Now you can list it for the public, you can print it, and you can make the answer visible too

Here´s a screenshot of what I created to show off:
and remember you can change all the colors to your liking!



You think this is cool, wanna try to?

Here´s the link

Create your own word search puzzle



Also they offer:

Create your own Word Scramble
Create your own Crossword Puzzle

This is a blast of a page for me i will definatly BOOKMARK this!!

Puzzle Generator (German)

Whatelse I found was a Puzzle Generator.
You can upload your picture and set settings by your own choice, such as
how many pieces you want, what size, what color also PNG or JPG file, and once you are done you can even download it!!! It even saves every try .. so if you want to try different sizes, it saves them and you have them to decide later on. Once you downloaded you have each Puzzle Piece in a single file.
THAT IS AN AWESOME FIND ISNT IT?!?! !!!!!!

For the ones, not being so sure about uploading privat pictures, you have the decition to delete or save the pictures to this page!!

Here´s the link go check it out:

Puzzle Generator

Puzzle game

Look what I found at four flash gear:
Go ahead and puzzle the bunny LOL
I was actually looking for a download puzzle style for my pics,
and this is what I came up with,... just add you picture and it automaticly
creates a html code for the puzzle LOL

provided by flash-gear.com

Demotivated and Depressed

God, I still have all these pictures on my harddrive, my camera card, and 700 developed pictures,.. and I just dont seem to get on it?! I just took a peek on the layouts I already created, and I dont like even 1 !!!! What on earth? I would love to scrap, but I just cant. I feel the pressure of having all this pictures around, and getting nothing done!
When I look at all your guys printed albums I get jealous, you all seem to know what and how you want, and I scrap and scrap, just to delete it later on!! :-(
I should find a way of getting it accomplished to scrap all my stuff?!?!
I have pictures of back to 2006 ?!:-((
Hardly sort them up ... I still have a album to finish for my mom, one to finish for her Boyfriends 50th Birthday, two to finish for my aunt, I started and now dont like some of the pages... and then all these pictures laying around everywhere.... Christmas sneaks up on me slowly but surely, no gifts yet, no cookies yet .. oh boy
Also I cant make up my mind on artscow! I´d love to sign up and have christmas cards printed, but I havent finished enough layouts for a book yet, I will redo all the layouts ... so, I would only loose all the coupons ....
AAAAaaaaarrrgh! Any suggestions?
I should do a layout contest LOL, But nothing I would have to give either:-(

First Bunny Layouts

Now this morning I got to make this two layouts ( 2 Page look) with our new bunnys.
Look at Davids lovingly smile at the rabbit! Isn´t that sweet?



credits: Background Paper chrisscrap by mistiina
Gras, FLowers and Dandelions from a kit called "Crocheted Harmony" Designer ?!
Three : Kit Backyard Playground by S. Amazed
Hanging Tire :Kit Backyard Boy
Wordart by me

The Bunnys moved in

The bunnys finally moved in on Friday night. But I did not tell the kids until late Saturday noon.
I thought them rabbits should have some time without commotion to get settled in their new home.
I haven´t acomplished to take pictures of their hutch yet, but at least I can show off the bunnys.

They are still very shy, I dont think they are older than 1 year if not even less! "Schlappi" the whitish one is a not as shy as "Brownie" but I guess kids and bunnys need to get used to each other frist.

Well, here´s the first pics for now.

"BROWNIE"



"SCHLAPPI" ( German for Schlappohr because of his hanging ears)

Christmas Card with Joni G

As you all should know by now, I love JONI G.´s stuff. She´s just putting so much heart to her stuff, and the colors are just exactly my colors!!!
So I made a Christmas Card with Jonis Kits "Christmas Star" and "Christmas Star Add on"
If you like them you can just right click save them to your harddrive!
I also created this card with the Starframe cut out so you can insert your own pictures and left the text off the back so you can put your personal text there. Please just let me know, if you want that, and I will upload it to 4shared.

Also go visit JoniG for her kits!! And leave her some love! The more she gets, the more she can put in her kits ;-)

Heres the cards front and the cards back the size is 5x7


Also a few weeks ago I created a Addon Alpha to Jonis stuff, it´s available here

Freebietime again !! TWO CHRISTMAS CARDS

OH my god! I survived my first rough weekend at work!
I tell you what, this Generation of youth here in Germany isn´t very respectful!
When they got drunk enough, they pied and puked on our house walls and the restaurant windows!! ( the restaurant is in the basement)
Oh my god, this was the worst disco night we´ve ever had! But it was worth it too.
I lost my voice, worked my butt off, busted my ankle but thats ok! I just love this job! The more hectic it gets the more I love it!
I am totally wore out and tired, but I had to get on some of my -to do list things- so I decided to start on one of the easier things! I created my Christmas cards!

You can just save them with right click to your hard drive, no point´n of doing a 4shared download for this! Its 4x8 size!

Here´s the first one Front


and Back

credit goes to:
"Let it snow" at Magic World Designs by Magi




Here´s the second one Front


and Back

credit goes to: Tis the Season by Blue Dream Designs


Hope you all like it! Like I say, just right click and save it to harddrive.

Tomorrow I might have some pics of our bunnys moving in!