Things Said While Opening Christmas Presents

Kayla (upon being woken up at the crack of dawn): This is a time when you want to call your parents and say, "I'm SORRY!!!"

Dylan: Oh, I've always wanted this!!! (a toothpaste dispenser for the bathroom)

Bloomington Boomer Bash

This is a layout I did showing my get-together with the Illinois Baby Boomers. We had a lot of fun, as always!

August 191

I've lost 48 pounds! I'm so happy, I can't believe it. Here's the layout I did, showing the street I take my walks on, and with my exercise ball.

Linda in Onederland - a play on words, meaning I finally broke through the 200 mark. Here I am on July 2, 2009, weighing in at 198!

Halfway to my First Goal

I'm doing a scrapbook of my weight loss, and in this layout I show my "before" picture of November 2008, when I weighed 239 pounds. The "after" picture is May 1, weighing 207 pounds, a loss of 32 pounds. I'm hoping to get down to 199 by the end of May. My first goal is to lose 60 pounds, which would be 179. After that - well, I'd actually like to lose another 50, but first I'm just going after the 60. The thing that I'm proudest of is that I was going through a breakup and usually that's when I give up and go to the fridge and the wine bottle for comfort. But not this time! I'm determined to show that I'm stronger than that - I will NOT let a man sabotage my health again!

Another Layout of Bailey

And here's yet another scrapbook layout featuring my great-niece Bailey. Can I help it if she's so photogenic?

Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Dr. Seuss' birthday was March 2009, and Thriftway held a party for kids in his honor. They listened to stories and watched a puppet show and also a juggler performed. They loved it! I thought it was so neat that these kids who watch cartoons and play video games still liked this old-fashioned form of entertainment.

This is a layout I did using SEI products. It's Bailey's one-year portrait taken in February.

March Weight Loss

As of March 31, 2009, my weight was 213.6. I've lost a total of 26 pounds since November. I'm putting this layout in my Weight Loss Scrapbook. I've been wearing the same outfit for every monthly picture, and I'm beginning to see results now! I hope I can keep it up!!!

I actually got some pictures taken with myself in them this time! These are different pictures of me with my dad, my sister, my brother, my daughter, and my great-niece. All taken in Florida during my visit.

Erin Go Brah

This is a scrapbook layout I did of my daughter's 2007 trip to Ireland. She got to spend her 24th birthday in an Irish pub, where she toasted her grandmother, who had inspired her to visit Ireland.

Bailey & friends

This is my latest layout, made from pictures I took during my visit to Florida. I took pictures of Bailey with various people in the family. She's so cute, the camera loves her!

February 2009 Page

Bailey's Birthday Celebration

My great-niece, Bailey, celebrated her first birthday while I was visting in Florida. Her grandma Judy had as much fun as she did, teaching her "proper cake-eating" etiquette.

My Fourth Christmas

This was the Christmas card that my parents sent out the year I was four years old - 1950. I wore a blue velvet dress that I just loved! My sister Judy had a matching dress and haircut, and my parents also sent out a post card with her picture on it. I don't know why they didn't take a picture of both of us and send one post card, but I guess that's the way they did it back then.

Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Dr. Seuss's birthday was February 2, and Thriftway sponsored a special Dr. Seuss party for kids. I took Dylan, and he just loved it! There was stories read and an old-fashioned puppet show. I couldn't believe how much all the kids laughed and enjoyed it - I'm sure Dylan isn't the only one who plays with video games and all kinds of sophisticated gadgets -- but they acted like this was the biggest treat they had ever had! Dylan and I took the bus to the store and we really enjoyed being together.

Anniversary Celebration

We celebrated the first anniversary of Mike's sobriety with a birthday cake and one candle on July 4, 2007. Okay, I'm a little late getting it scrapped, but we were all very, very proud of him, and happy that he had pulled himself up out of the despair he had been going through. I put this in the scrapbook I'm making for him.

My Haircut

I got my haircut today - also had a "weave" done to cover up - or blend in wiht the gray. I"m not sure I like it - it looks all grey now. I guess I'll have to get used to it. But it does look better than it did, anyway...

My Weight Loss for February

I made this layout for the February page of my Weight Loss Scrapbook. I only lost two pounds in February, but while I was in Florida I GAINED 6! But I was able to lose those 6 when I got back, plus two more. So I don't feel too bad. In fact, as the layout says, I was "tickled Pink."

I did this layout for the scrapbook I'm doing for Miles. This page commemmorates the purchase of his first home. The pictures show moving day, and Miles & Kayla working together to make lunch one day, and Dylan out in the yard in by the garage. Dylan was more proud of that garage than anything else in his home.