Cooking Up Some Thanksgiving Memories!

Thanksgiving will arrive tomorrow, but who said we can't make a few memories ahead of time!
  My DH is the dressing maker in the family, and he's already made 3 batches for 3 different occasions including ours for tomorrow. He is the best!
  Since our grands were out of school this week, and their parents had to work, we said we'd help out with the babysitting. We got up early Tuesday morning and drove the 30 min. drive to get them. When we arrived at 7:00 a.m., they were standing in the carport with their elves stuffed under their shirts. They thought we wouldn't let them bring those mischievous elves so they hid them. LOL
 The weather was fairly nice as it had rained early that morning. They couldn't play in the yard, but thank goodness we have a patio! They started dragging out various objects from the utility room and around the yard. 
  The best way to describe this is just to show pics. We got quite a few laughs from their concoctions! 

Oh yes, you're seeing right! That's my good ice bucket out there. We finally had to confiscate it back.

A little frog stew, anyone?

Cayden is very creative, and he will take any piece of trash and make things out of it. Today he said he thought it would be neat to be the "Dump Man" because you could find all sorts of neat things there. LOL
  I'll show one more pic. PawPaw was (supposed to be) watching the kids while I made some coffee. Cayden built this tower out of the bricks. EEK! Mimi nearly had a heart attack thinking about how bad it would have hurt if the bricks had fallen. 
 I promise you we DO watch our grands! 
 I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to Everyone! Blogger is not letting me do as I want tonight. So I will end it here.

Coming up for Air!

 I've had so many good intentions of getting a blog post done this week, but life happens, and it's just been impossible.
  More to come about that! I wanted to share a precious pic of my grands taken by their mom. They make my heart sing. 
 These are truly their happy faces and what you see is the way they are the majority of the time.
 Notice Shelby's flip flops.  That's our girl! Cayden is getting to be so grown up. I just don't know where our babies have gone!

Fall Photo Shoots...

 These are some neat pictures of my little grands my daughter took recently. I just can't believe how grown up they are becoming. 
  Yet I am so thankful they are healthy, happy kids. I wouldn't want it any other way. 

The natural smile!

Her cat wanted to be in on the picture taking.

Some from Halloween....

She did not choose to try for the apple!

Well, we know what she would look like as a redhead!

Redneck Trick or Treating sitting on stumps on a trailer pulled by a mule! (the kind on 4 wheels)

Always living the part! LOL

  Thanks for looking. I'm working on Christmas shirts and projects right now. This will be a very busy next few weeks!

I've Really Been Here!

 Life has been hectic for a few weeks. I try to pop in and catch up on my blogs I follow, but I know I've probably missed some. 
  I suppose it's good to stay busy and be able to enjoy some cooler fall weather. We are still way far behind on rainfall, but we keep praying some will come. 
  I've been sewing in between little short trips and spending days going to keep the grands for a few hours. I have really got to get busy on the Christmas sewing for sure. Wish I could hibernate for a few days. :)
  These are a few things I've done for the little ones.  I made Shelby a little pale blue corduroy jumper with the princess pumpkin carriage from Planet Applique. I saw one similar last year, and it was just so sweet. Her mom has been trying to get some good pics, but the shoes she wanted to use didn't arrive in time. Hopefully before Thanksgiving, she can get some more pics. 

The Halloween shirts and some cute turkey faces are for the boys. Pumpkin faces are from Embroidery Garden, Candy Corn cutie and Turkey face are from Planet Applique also.

Shelby's not dirty. Those are fake tattoos. LOL

I made this for neon day at Cayden's school during homecoming.

 

  I have some more fall pictures to share of the grands, but I'll save them for another day. 
 Thanks for looking!
  ShirleyC
 

Special Deal

I hope Monica is enjoying her My Memories Suite 2.0 software. I wish I could have given it to all of the ones who commented.  If you would still like to purchase your own software, you can use this code for $10. It doesn't expire.  STMMMS28173 Just click on the blinky above!  Remember there are lots of freebies once you purchase, and My Memories Suite on Facebook is always giving away free downloads. Plus go look to see what people are contributing to the contests. You will be amazed.  There are also many good tutorials to help you. Thanks again to all of you who entered the contest!

The Winner is.......

First I would like to thank all of you that took the time to enter. I really appreciate it. If you didn't enter, then you passed up a great opportunity to win a fabulous software program. 

  This code STMMMS28173 is still available if you want to purchase your own software for $10 off the original price which would make it $29.97. Click HERE to go directly to the My Memories Suite Page.
  I will also be posting an opportunity to download free kits to use with your software.

 Thanks again to My Memories Suite for giving me this opportunity to share with my blogging friends.

 Now to the WINNER!  Drum roll.........................
Congratulations MONICA! I have sent you an email, and if I don't hear back within 48 hours, I will draw another name!

 ShirleyC

One More Day to Enter!

 You have one more day to enter the giveaway for the My Memories Suite 2.0 software.
  Go to the giveaway post HERE to enter. Anyone can enter. Just be sure to leave your email if you don't have a blog.
  This is one example of what you can do! Ideas are endless!

Don't Forget to Enter!

 I'm  surprised at such few entries for the My Memories Suite Giveaway.

  Click HERE to read all about it! It's easy to enter, and you will love it! 

My Memories Suite Giveaway and Review!!

  I was recently contacted by My Memories Suite and asked to review their software product called My Memories Suite 2.0.

  Woo Hoo! I was so excited that they wanted my little humble opinion! So I'm going to do my best to pass this good news along to YOU, my blogging and sewing friends. 

  If you've never played with digital scrapbooking, you need to go to their page, click HERE, or on the links above. Look around for a few minutes so this review will make sense to you.

  The possibilities are endless! You can make digital scrapbooks, cards, videos, calendars, and just whatever good ideas you have! 

  You can print your projects yourself, or save them to a disk and have them printed elsewhere. 

 They have kits, templates, borders, frames, packs, quick pages, all holidays, all occasions, - are you hearing me? They have something for everybody!

  The first page I'm posting I created with what is on the software itself (and there are lots of choices).   If I can do this, believe me, anyone can!

 I love the little frames you can place around your pictures, and you can change them to any color.

  Now let me tell you one of the best features of their website is the Free Kits! I'm so glad they do this because this gives you a chance to play with their kits and packs so that you will have a better idea of what you like before you decide to spend extra money. However, none of the kits for purchase are expensive at all! Go look and see!

 I did get hung up on downloading the kits  to where I could find them on my computer. This is why it's good to watch the video tutorial offered through their BLOG and You Tube. 

 This is a Halloween card I put together today with one of their free kits. Very simple, but very cute!

  LOL! I'm having fun going back and digging through old photos of my grands!

  I have never been "into" scrapbooking mainly because of the cost. Since I sew, I already have lots of clutter sewing supplies that I have try to keep organized. 

 If you scrapbook, then you already know how expensive it can be. That is a great advantage to this software. Everything you need is right there on your computer! 

  I have two more pages to share with you before I tell you how you can win your own software program. 

 The first one is a quick page. I love how Shelby's big ole' eyes show up on this!

 The last one was done with the overlays. I really love working with these. 

 Now My Memories has given me a free copy of this software to review, and also a free copy to give away to one lucky winner. This is a $39.97 value which is well worth the cost!

 If you don't want to wait to see if you win, you can purchase you own copy  with this $10 off coupon generously supplied by My Memories Suite. After you purchase the software, you can get an additional $10 worth of products from their store. Use this code when you check out: 

STMMMS28173

 Here are the rules to enter:

1. Leave a comment here on my blog after you visit their store, and tell me which kit or layout that you like the best and why. (If you don't have a blog, leave your email address. Also be sure that I can contact you if you are listed as a no-reply blogger.)

 For extra entries:

2. Follow My Memories Blog. Come back here and leave a comment.

3. LIKE My Memories on Facebook. Come back here and leave a comment.

4. Follow My Memories Suite on Twitter. Come back here and leave a comment.

  That's it! You have to do Step No. 1 or the other 3 don't count! 

 Thanks for reading all of this, and good luck to the winner.

 Giveaway will end on October 11, 2011.....

Hoo's Ready for Fall!!

 I finally finished this outfit that I started on before Bubba's wreck. I can't blame Bubba entirely for my delay. It just seems like there are always things to do and places to go!
  I bought this Riley Blake fabric last spring. Last year, Shelby loved owls so I was hoping she'd love this, and she did.
  My husband thinks it looks like something from Little House of the Prairie. (What does he know?)

  The peasant dress is Simplicity 5695, and the apron dress is Simplicity 2461.

 I made the pants from New Look 6473. I thought they would be cute with the apron dress and a white shirt. Emily had just bought a new white shirt for me to embroider something on, but right now, it is blank.

 She was here today, and tried it on. I think it's so cute. We didn't get a picture as we "didn't have a bow to match!" Oh yeh, she's a bow head girl! As long as we can keep her like that, we will!
 Fall pictures are next week at her school so I'm glad I finally finished this outfit for her to wear!
 I'm making her a matching purse. I plan to finish it tomorrow!
  Now I hope to have some time to spend on the review I'm doing for my giveaway!


Shirley

Update on Bubba and a Giveaway Coming!

  I got so excited last night when I had an unexpected visitor at my kitchen door. It was our grandson, Bubba, hobbling in on crutches. 

  This was the first time he's been able to come to our house since his accident. We have sure missed him popping in and out at various times of the day.
 This pic was made a little over a week ago, and that leg is looking so much better.

  His arms are healing very well also. We are just so blessed and praising God everyday.

  Now I want you all to be aware of an upcoming giveaway here on my blog. 
 I am reviewing a neat product, and as soon as I finish, I will be posting about the giveaway. So keep checking back!

  Thanks to everyone for your sweet comments and prayers for Bubba.

Hugs,
Shirley

Oh Happy Day!!

 Our grandson, Bubba, came home this afternoon!
 The doctors decided to postpone surgery on his kneecap as they think it will heal on its own since he can't put any pressure on that leg anyway. They figured most of his pain is coming from the rods and screws put in his leg. I appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers.

 Today was Grandparent's Day at Shelby's pre-school. (My granddaughter that is 4.) My husband and I were both able to attend. She was so excited, and her main focus was getting to eat those too tempting donuts over on the table next to where we were sitting. 
 Since everyone there knows our Shelby, they put 2 doughnuts on her plate. The little toot ate those and also 1/4 of a cinnamon roll. 
 Let's just say she had plenty of energy for the rest of the morning!
  From there my husband left to go and get Bubba, and I took Shelby to Hancock's. She had everyone in there cracking up as she never stopped talking, and they could all hear everything she said.
  We went up and down the fabric isles, and she spied some Ariel fabric. She pulled it down, and said that was what she wanted. I asked her if she had any money. She said, "No, but you do!" Can we say "rotten"?
  Then she found the Strawberry Shortcake fabric, and insisted on that also. It is so funny how she knows exactly what she wants and never asked for any other fabric.
  However, she did make the statement that she wished she could buy all of the fabric in the store, but she knew she couldn't. LOL That's a Mimi's girl for sure!
 This is Shelby wearing the poodle print outfit I made her. Her kitty just happened to match the outfit. She loved telling everyone that Mimi made it, and she also told them that I could make all kinds of stuff. I was laughing so hard!

Let's just say it was a fun and happy day! The first one this week!
Shirley

Update on our Grandson...

 My last post HERE was about our grandson, Bubba, who was in a terrible wreck Saturday night. If you haven't read that one, then you might like to go back and read so you will understand.

  Bubba had surgery yesterday on both arms. They put in plates and screws so that he would have more mobility. He doesn't have any casts, and he can use his hands to feed himself. However, he can't use his arms to help move around or get positioned in the bed.
 Therapy got him up today and put him in a wheelchair. He did ok, but it was hard to get back into the bed. It will take some adjusting to get it just right.

 The doctors have decided to do surgery on his kneecap on Thursday. Then in 8 weeks, they will go in and do another repair to the femur, and also do a bone graft. The doctor called this a femur explosion.


  I'm sharing some pics I took on my phone. It had just rained and it was a little hazy, but I think you can see well enough to know it was bad.

  Also, we found 3 necklaces that were on his rear view mirror. One is a cross, one is a Christian fish symbol, and one had this verse stamped into it:

"This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NLT)

  How perfect is that! 

Counting our blessings!

Shirley

 

Please Pray for our Grandson...

 Our oldest grandson, Bubba (20), was in a terrible car wreck last night. He had been to watch the LSU game with a church friend (and his dentist). He took a curvy, back road home, and a deer crossed his path. The road was damp from rain, and he lost control swerving to miss the deer.

 It took firefighters nearly two hours to get him out of the truck.  He drove a Ford F150, and let me say - it is demolished! 

 He has a broken femur in 3 places, and both arms are broken. He also had cuts and bit his lip. They did surgery today on his leg as the bone had pierced the skin, and the fascia was shredded. They also put a "nail" in, and some kind of cement stuff to hold it in place. He did really good.

 Tomorrow they will do surgery on his arms to put rods in so he will be able to put more pressure on them during his recovery. 
 Let's just say, our sweet boy has been mangled and tangled! On a good note, his dentist checked his mouth, and his teeth are fine.

 When we saw his truck this afternoon, we truly lost our breath! If he hadn't been wearing his seat belt, the doctors said he probably wouldn't be here today. We are so very thankful!

 He is really upset about his classes as he had just started the fall session. 


 We feel like God isn't finished with him yet. He has really made us proud with his sincere love for serving God. 

This is a picture of Bubba with Cayden when we were at Destin. 

 We would appreciate your prayers as this will be a long recovery, but Bubba is tough, and he is in good physical health. 
Thanks,
Shirley

I won! I won! I won!

 I never dreamed when I entered the giveaway on the Sew WE Quilt blog that I would win, and not just win, but to win such nice things. Every giveaway has been this nice or even better!

 I found out about this from Diane at Lavender Dreams. I was really confused at first about how to enter, but Diane helped me through that.
 I'm so glad because since I won that meant that she also won some prizes as she was my sponsor.  You can visit Diane's blog HERE to see what all she won.

Now let me show you my prizes! Can you believe I won these 3 fabulous Creative Grids rulers! That means they don't slip when cutting. 

Madame Samm sent along these beautiful fat quarters too!
 This isn't all! I received 4 different patterns and a wonderful quilt book by Jillily Studio. 

It's not just quilts. There are also some adorable pin cushion patterns.

 It's not too late to enter. Just hop on over to Lavender Dreams and Diane will set you up if you are a Wantobe Quilter. If you are experienced, then go leave Madame Samm a comment and tell her you want to enter, and she will direct you to the right place.
  I am so excited about my goodies. I hope to be back blogging on a regular basis. This has been a crazy, busy time around here for a while.

Thanks for stopping by,
Shirley

So Happy to Meet a Blogging Friend in Dallas..

 My husband and I had to make a trip to Dallas to get his sister and his niece when they flew back from California.

  I've  been emailing and chatting with DeeDee from DeeDee's Craft Spot for a while. In the beginning, her little Pomeranians took my eye as we had one also, but we had to have her put to sleep last Oct. 
 DeeDee also had to do the same with one of hers, and of course, we had to chit chat a lot about our sweet little poms.
 DeeDee was as sweet as I imagined, and let me tell you, she is so talented as well. Visit her blog to see!

 DeeDee also brought a crafting friend along, Sandy. We really enjoyed our dinner at the Olive Garden.

  This is a pic of the two of us after dinner. We were stuffed! (DeeDee on the left, and I'm on the right.)

 She also gave me a sweet little gift. This darling scissor charm from her Etsy shop, and a cute matchbook needle holder made from a paint strip sample. How unique is that!

 I'm so glad we had this chance to meet in person. Dallas isn't too far away so maybe we can meet again in the future!

Of Easters Past...........

  I was watering a few plants that have managed to stay alive in all of this heat the other day, and I made a little discovery.

  I found this yellow plastic egg sticking out of the ground so I dug it out. It seems it must have been left there 2 or 3 Easters ago when we hid eggs with money in them for the grands. 
  I know for sure we didn't do this the last 2 Easters so it could even be longer. I do remember the first time we did this after Cayden was big enough to hunt with the older boys that Cayden made the statement, "Where's the candy?" LOL His mama was saying, "Forget the candy, and get the money!" 
  It was half filled with dirt, and came to a total of $1.61. 

 I might need to go back and hunt some more!