Merry Christmas!!

Today we are celebrating Jesus' birth. It is a wonderful time with family and friends. We are in Troutdale right now, enjoying the calm after the storm. The boys are playing with their many toys from Santa, mom is taking a nap, Dad and Marc are having their first Christmas Jack & Coke, and here I am on the computer. I feel as if I have been going a hundred miles an hour lately, so it is nice to be able to sit and relax, I don't have any laundry to do and I don't have errands to run!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas, enjoy this time together, because as we were reminded this past week, time with family is limited. As many of you know we lost a wonderful man last week, Jim "Gramps" Baker. I am thankful to be able to say that I thought of him as if he were my "blood" grandpa. He was at all of my volleyball and softball games in high school and he and Gram even drove all the way to Salem to see Marc and I get married. He will be missed, but I am comforted in knowing that he isn't hurting anymore and he is with Jeff now! Thank you Bakers, Traxlers and Lucas' for sharing such a kind, wonderful and loving man!

I'm outta here, Feliz Navidad!!

Fear no H2O!!

Last February Marc and Beau joined Team Avion in the Polar Plunge. This February we are hoping to get Tucker to join them, too. The Polar Plunge helps raise money to support the Special Olympics. Team Avion raised over $2000.00 last year for a great cause!! The Special Olympics provides year round sports training and athletic competition for people with disabilities. This is a great program for children and adults to compete, develop physical fitness and feel joy in participating. They are able to build relationships and friendships with other athletes and their families.
We are beginning fundraising for Polar Plunge 2008, the Avion goal is $5000.00. Please check out Marc's fundraising page and click on sponsor me. 100% of the money raised goes directly to the Special Olympics.
Team Avion...
Derek, Rick, Debra, Gene, Beau & Marc, right before the freezing cold plunge!

Beau right after getting out of the water! He's still smiling!

The 2nd best part of the Polar Plunge... the hot tubs!

Check out the Polar Plunge website for details and more information! We hope to see you there and please help sponsor Avion this year!

'Tis the season!!

This is the time of year that we all eat way too much!!! We had a wonderful time in Troutdale at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Friends of ours, Laurie, Mike & Monica White joined us for dinner, as did Tony's girlfriend, Katy. we had a great time visiting and of course eating. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Marc put up our Christmas lights before we left to go to the "Valley" last week. We had been debating about what kind of lights we were going to put up this year, it was between colored or white. We have been using icicles for several years and decided to not use them this year. I think Marc did a wonderful job, what do you think?


Then, of course mom and I went to the Fred's "sock sale". If you know mom and I at all you know how crazy we are on Black Friday. We have been getting up at 5:00 am (and sometimes earlier) to go shopping for as long as I can remember. There were no fights this year, it was actually pretty mellow, we even attempted to go to Wal Mart again this year, Even though we vowed last year not to ever again.

I have been working on our Christmas cards feverishly for the past two weeks. I am hoping to get them in the mail by the end of the week!

Big news in the scrapbook world, the Scrapbooker of the year was announced and she is on the new CK cover for January, check it out here...

Congratulations to Elizabeth Kartchner, I am jealous!!

I'd better get going, gotta get the boys out the door to the bus and get some work done on my Christmas cards. Have a wonderful week!

Check out Geoff's Birthday gift!

As you know Geoffrey turned 18 last week, of course he had to get a tattoo! It turned out great, although I was worried he might pass out in the beginning.


We had another busy weekend, as usual, I was at Scrapadoodle on Saturday all day for Debie's 10th anniversary. It went very well, we many gals come in for the make and takes, plus a couple that scrapped for a while. Thanks, Deb, for having me!

I headed over the mountain to the "VALLEY" afterwards, to stay at mom and dad's. Dad really spoiled me this weekend. He made dinner Saturday and Sunday night. We were able to just sit and talk, which we haven't been able to do for a while.Sunday was the vendor fair at Mary's. There were a lot of ladies there and I did very well on sales, I can't wait to go back next year. Thanks, Mary!!! Alter Ego rocks!

Marc and the boys went to Prineville on Sunday to spend some time with Grandma & Grandpa.

So, now it's back to work for all of us. Next week the boys and I are out of school so hopefully I will get some free time to myself!! One can hope.

Have a great week!

Happy 18th Birthday, Geoff!!!

Happy Birthday, Geoffy!! I can't believe you're 18 already, I guess that makes me old! I hope you have a great day!
The whole family was able to get together on Sunday at Olive Garden to celebrate..
Tony & Katy


Geoffrey & Alicia
Happy Birthday, bud, we love you!


Creating Keepsakes Convention
Mom and I went to Seattle last weekend for the CK Convention. We had a great time and learned some new techniques. We were able to meet some really great people like Lain Ehmann, who is a contributing Editor for Simple Scrapbooks Magazine. See her blog here.. http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/scraphappy
We also met Ali Edwards again, she is from Creswell, Oregon and is very big in the Scrapbook "world". I admire her style and how she is trying to make people aware of the "basics" of scrapbooking. See her blog here... http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/

I am so thankful to have been able to spend so much time with mom. We don't really get to see each other much and I am glad that we share scrapbooking as our hobby, it really gives us something to do together. Thanks, mom, I had a blast, oh and I can't wait to get back to the beds at the Hilton!!!!

PS If you are in Gresham this weekend come see me at Alter Ego Salon 50 NW 2nd Street from 11-4 for the Vendor fair. I will be selling some great paper crafts including my cards. There will be many other ladies there selling lots of stuff!! I hope to see you there!

I hope everyone has a great week!!
See ya soon.