Christmas and Family Time with the Triplets

Super Long Post with lots of Pictures.

For our Christmas present Brad and Ramie rented a house in Black Butte Ranch, (central Oregon) from 12-16 through 12-26.

What a fun 10 days with family.

Rhonda's (also known as Nona) son, Shawn came for the Christmas weekend. 

We laughed, played games, painted, went to dinner, the candy store but most of all we shared an awesome time with family.

Below is just a portion of the photos that capture our vacation.  Hopefully, you have time to browse through the pictures.

Brad & Ramie went on a hike one morning.  They really enjoy hiking.  Dash also got to go along.

Several deer just sitting outside of Church in a field by the parking lot.

Dash loves coming with the family.

We went to a Winery, and they had a band playing who featured John Denver songs.

This was outside of the tent going into the winery.

And of course, no vacation is complete without paying a visit to Urgent Care.  This is Connor who came down with an ear infection.  All 3 kids had a stuffy nose and a cough.  The day before Anna was really feeling sick.  She took a long nap and felt better the next day.  Justin was the first to be sick, so he was pretty good the whole time.  And of course, our resident germaphobe, Nona got sick too.  One day she took a couple hour nap, which rarely happens with her. And now it looks like I may be coming down with the cough.  

Brad, Ramie and Anna went for a walk down by the horses and got to get up close and personal with them. 

Momma took one afternoon to bake cupcakes with the kids and give them free range on decorating.

She is not a baker and has now fulfilled her once a year baking.

I think this was by the Candy store after everyone picked out their favorite candy.

By the Deschutes River next to an Outlet Mall and Anthony's Seafood Restaurant where we had dinner the night before Christmas Eve. 

Connor, Anna, Justin

Silly Photo

Mom, Dad, Justin, Connor & Anna

Anna was not being cooperative, so didn't get in the picture.

Nona, Me, Justin & Connor

Justin, Anna & Connor

Justin, Anna & Connor

And enjoying our dinner at Anthony's

Me and Avery, playing a game.

Brad, Ramie and the kids went to an outdoor church service Christmas Eve, while Rhonda and I went to the Catholic Service.

The day after we got there, we had the kids open one present, the Artic Fox, which is a part of the Elf on Shelf to help the Elves on their journey to Christmas.

Some down time, the whole family except Ramie are so obsessed with Mine Craft.  These kids would play it all day if their tablets wouldn't die.  Of course, Ramie doesn't allow that.

Christmas Eve, getting ready to go to sleep so Santa can come.  It is so fun with these little ones and how they believe in the magic of Christmas.

Shawn & Dash

Dad and Anna

Anna gets a new doll.

Justin putting together his Minecraft Legos.

The boys only wanted Legos for Christmas, so they got lots of them.

Connor and his cheesy smile working on his Minecraft Legos.

Shawn helps Connor with legos

Dad helps Justin

Anna plays with her dolls.  

And guess what, we woke up to a White Christmas.  Not much but at least there was some.

Dad, Justin and Anna play in the snow.  Connor stayed indoors with the rest of us.

Thanks for stopping by.

Color Hues #77 Pink & Silver

The last challenge of the year for Color Hues is Pink & Silver and like many others, 

I decided to make a Christmas card using this Pinkfresh set Ornaments & Foliage.  I embossed with silver, then used Gina K inks for the stencil, ML 1, Polyglaze, Flurries in silver foil.  And a black strip for the sentiment.

This challenge will be going all of December so let's show our support and make a card for the challenge.

I just discovered this can be entered into Paper Players also because the theme is Christmas.

Merry Christmas!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

Seize the Birthday #274 Barbara - Fall Items

For this week's challenge at STB, Barbara would like us to use Fall Items on our cards.  Please come and see all the inspiration from Barbara and the rest of our team and play along.

I used a stencil, Crisp Autumn Leaves with Gina K's inks. ML #1 & 3 for the Circle, Big Birthday for the sentiment.

An oldie PTI stamp set, Autumn Pumpkins, colored with Copics and a glitter pen.  Hard to see in photo but looks great in person.

If you're not a toppings kinda person, well...you can just
stick with our usual "Anything Goes" Birthday!

The choice is yours!

Our guest for November and January is the talented Loll Thompson, Stamping with Loll.

Welcome Loll.

Thanks for stopping by.

Seize the Birthday #273 Ashwini - Neutral Colors

This month's first challenge is to use Neutral Colors.  Ashwini is our wonderful host for this

 challenge at STB.  Come visit and see all of the inspiration from our team and join our challenge.

I used Gina K's inks, Sandy Beach, Kraft & Dark Chocolate with her Stamp sets to create this neutral card:  Never Lose Hope and Butterfly Trio.  The sentiment is from PTI, Birthday Bash. 

And Gina's ML 1.

Our guest for November and January is the talented Loll Thompson, Stamping with Loll.

Welcome Loll.

Thanks for stopping by.

Color Hues #75 - Guest Designer

I am so excited to be a Guest Designer for the challenge at Color Hues this time around.  Julie B. is our host and has chosen light blue and purple.  Come see all of the inspiration from the team and join in their challenge.

I struggled a little bit with the blue portion of these colors.  Blue is not usually one of my go to colors and I don't seem to have a good light blue ink. But after a couple of tries, I was able to come up with this card and was happy with it.

This is one of my older Pinkfresh sets, Blooming Branch, stamp, stencil and die set.

Using Gina K's inks, Delicate Basket, Poly Glaze with silver foil and Gina K., So Many Sentiments.

Gina K. Pearl Mix.

The shine is prettier in real life.

Thanks for stopping by.

Seize the Birthday #272 Vicki, Add a Sky

This week our lovely host is Vicki, and she would like us to add a sky to our cards on STB

I used MFT Clouds, stencil and SSS Make a Scene stencil for the sun and grass.  The stamp is Gina K's Autumn Silhouettes.

                           If you're not a toppings kinda person, well...you can just
                                stick with our usual "Anything Goes" Birthday!

The choice is yours!

 Our Surprise Party Guest for this month is Stephanie from SmilynStef . Welcome, Stef! We are all happy to have you! 

Thanks for stopping by.