Wednesday, December 30, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEN!

Today is Ken's birthday, and I made one of his favorites,

a 7-Up cake. Quinn and I got him the Spore game for his

computer. We tried to get it for him last year, but his PC wasn't fast enough and the

game wouldn't run, so we had to return it.

Since he has since upgraded, we were able to get it for him this year.

He's been playing it non stop since!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

I can't believe how many cookies are still here. I gave away so many, but we still have so many left!! UUGGHH! Every year I say I'm going to make less and less, but it seems like the less I make the more I have left!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Ken's Aunt gave Quinn this HUGE container of chocolate drizzled popcorn. Quinn LOVES it, but it's just not for me. Ick!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

FINALLY! The mess is GONE! For as much as I love Christmas, I just can't stand the mess under the tree. We were able tog et everything put away and cleaned back up. Now, I just need to figure out when we'll be taking the tree down this year.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

We actually went up to PA to visit family, but once again, I forget to take a picture. So, I took this instead. Quinn and I had to scheme to get this for Ken this year. We used to play this game all the time when we were dating. We haven't played it for years. I saw it at Target and HAD to get it. Now, I'm trying to teach Quinn.

Friday, December 25, 2009

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Quinn made out like a bandit, as usual.

Even the pets had a great Christmas morning!

From our home to yours,

have a Merry Christmas and the

Happiest of New Years!!!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Quinn REALLY wants an iPod Touch, so we told her that if she could save up half ($100.00) that we'd pitch in the other half. she's been trying really hard to save up, and all the change she finds, she's collecting in this container she decorated. She's almost there!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

I love my little Irish Snowman! He was a gift from a few years ago, but I couldn't just pack him away. So, he hangs from my family room ceiling fan, all year.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

I had Quinn go out to take some pictures of the snow, and I found this one.

She always takes a self portrait whenever she has the camera. I love it!

Monday, December 21, 2009

No school today. I had Quinn help me with the gifts for the skating coaches. There's iTunes gift cards in each of them.

Just found out that there is no school Tuesday or Wednesday now. No big deal I guess, They were to start winter break on Thursday. I just have to figure out how I'm going to get everything wrapped with her home! LOL!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Yesterday, you never would have known there was a pool back here.

It's all going to freeze.

I hope it start to thaw quick, though.

I don't like to have that much weight on the cover

without running to pump to drain it all off!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

SNOW!!!! Well, more like BLIZZARD!!!!!!!

I took this outback, where no snow had drifted, to get a true measurement.

18 inches.

Great.

Tomorrow, we'll have to find the cars and driveway!

Wonder how long we'll be snowed in here.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Ken took off from work today and we actually went on a "date"! We went to see Avatar in 3D. What an amazing movie. If you are going to see it, and I highly recommend that you do, be sure to see it in 3D. It's SO worth it.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Tonight was Quinn's Winter Concert at school. It's a lot different that it was in elementary school! LOTS more students are involved either with orchestra or band. Even the chorus is huge. They have to do both events on different nights because there's no way everyone would it in the room! The students on the stage in this photo is only the 6th grade band. The 6th grade strings are on the floor, in the front. Quinn's in there somewhere!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Another easy snack to make. A cousin of mine sent me the recipe for these last year, but I never got a chance to make them. I had to try them this year. I think they are a bit too sweet, but Quinn loves them!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I started to do *some* baking today. I figured I'd try to get into the baking mind set by starting off easy. I just LOVE these peanut butter cookies! They're best when they are still warm and the peanut butter cup is all melted and gooey! YUM!

Monday, December 14, 2009

MY SWAPS ARE HERE!

I was so excited when I saw that envelope in my mailbox! WOO HOO! I'm not going to post the pics of the actual pages, I'm sure you all want to be surprised, so this is a pic of the album I bought for it, but I still need to make a cover. You are all so talented!! Such beautiful work! I'm so glad to have met you all, and to have been part of this swap. Thanks again, Kelly for putting all of this together for us!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Know what this is? Or, should I say was? This was the spot I was keeping my little bug, since I no longer used it and the power cord died. Well, a friend of mine was interested in getting one so I told her if she ordered herself a new power cord, she could have mine. Her cord finally came in, so she came over for a quick lesson and to take her new (to her) baby bug home. I know she's going to get a lot of use out of it!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

We got this Tink ornament last year, when we realized that we forgot to get one while we were in Disney. I love Tink, so this was the one I had to have.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Welcome to GADGET WEEK at the Braatz Household!

Yesterday, I got my MyTouch, and today, I find out Ken ordered an Amazon Kindle. Pretty cool! I was looking at getting him the Barnes and Noble Nook (he said he liked that one better) for Father's Day next year, but I guess he beat me to the punch! I think all three of us will get use out of this one!

P.S. Yes, Quinn is sitting there, playing with my phone. Probably downloading more games.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Ken ordered me a TMobile MyTouch 3G for Christmas, and it arrived this afternoon. It's a pretty cool little gadget! I think my battery will be dead pretty soon, Quinn's been playing some games already! LOL!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Quinn is making these etched jars as Christmas presents for the dogs in the family. She used Rub n Buff to make it stand out. All she has to do now is make the dog treats to put inside and she's done! I think she did a great job!

Sorry for the glare. She used the paw print and bone from PP for two of them, and the Poodle from PP for the third (my Mom has a poodle).

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

I finally sat down and printed my pics. I was about two months behind, so this is my stack of over 60 pictures to scrap. I need more time!!!

Monday, December 7, 2009

I found this a few years ago, on clearance at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Quinn loves it, but so far this year it's still empty. I keep forgetting to pick up little candies to put in it for her.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

The stockings are hung, hope they don't fall! I had to get the pets all new ones this year, and they are tiny! Quinn actually has two, my MIL is insisting that she fills one for Quinn on her own. Whatever. I made mine and Ken's when we were first married. I like them, but every year I think I should replace them.

Saturday, December 5. 2009

It makes no difference how much snow has fallen, Quinn HAS to make a snowman.

This is the snowman BEFORE Kai found it.

And this one is after.

She stole the snowman's nose and ate it.

Shortly after, the head fell completely off.

I just don't have the heart to tell her!

Friday, December 4, 2009

It's only the 4th and we got our first Christmas card!

Thanks Aunt Nancy!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Tree's up and decorated. Kai is still trying to eat it, and the cats are still trying to drink the water. I can't put the tree skirt on just yet, I still spend everyday vacuuming up needles. We have a tradition of putting things at he top of the tree to remember family members that are no longer with us. I have a white rose from my wedding dress at the top to remember my Father, a carousel horse for my Grandmother, my Grandfather's church usher pin, a gold pen for my FIL and an Elvis ball (yes, Elvis) for Ken's Grandmother. The angle at the top belonged to one of my Aunts. She got it because it reminded her of Quinn (Quinn had VERY curly hair when she was little). After she passed, my cousins gave it to me.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

I think this is one of Quinn's favorites. It was one of the first things she brought down out of the attic. She changes it every single day, too!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

I can't believe it's already December!

Quinn's Synchro Coach skates on the State College team, and has paired all the girls up with a "Big Sister". The college team has a competition this weekend, so the younger girls were asked to make a good luck card and a goodie bag for thier big sisters. Quinn's likes the movie Aladdin and her favorite candy is Snickers bars. So Quinn made Kelly a Jasmin card and we got her a six pack of Snickers!

She used my Cricut and the Dreams come True cart. Of course, she had to use Stickles too!

Monday, November 30, 2009

I thought my days of dealing with Girl Scouts were over back in June. NOPE! I got a delivery of patches that I have to send out. I have to wait, though, because I'm expecting another set in a few weeks. UUGGHH!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

We stopped at the fire house after skating today and picked out our Christmas tree. It's still not decorated, or even turned the right way yet, but it's up. I just hope Kai doesn't try to eat it. We have no idea what she's going to do. Christmas is definitely going to be fun with her!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Back at the ice arena. I swear it's becoming a home away from home. Today, Quinn signed herself up to perform a solo in the Holiday show. It'll be her first time performing by herself, and a great way to get her feet wet for the upcoming competitions! She is going to choreograph a routine on her own for this one, but I hope to be able to get a coach's input for her. She's never done this before, so I know she may need help putting everything together.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Quinn was bored, so she asked if she could make cookies. Why not? So, she made a batch of Peanut Butter cookies, all on her own. I think she may be getting the hang of baking.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

One of Quinn's friends gave her this awesome Manga book with a bound

sketch book. She's been drawing ever since Sunday!

(P.S. I have NO idea what Manga is!)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

All these Starbucks Frap bottles, and nothing to do with them!

Eventually, I'll find someone to give them to.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

One of my scrap room buddies. Whenever they is sun, Jessie can be found perched on top of my sewing basket.

Monday, November 23, 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!

I can't believe Quinn is already 11 years old.

It seems like just yesterday I was holding her for the first time.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

I know its hard to see, so I'll explain. Ken, Quinn, Z and I took Kai for a walk up to the playground. After the girls had some fun running around, we decided to close the gates to the tennis court and let Kai off her leash. She had a blast! In this picture, Ken is on the right, blocking a hole in the gate and Quinn and Z were chasing Kai all over the place. She may be tiny, but boy is she FAST!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Monday is Quinn's birthday, so we let her celebrate tonight. She was allowed to pick two friends to go to the movies and out to dinner. She she picked her best friends, Z and V (blurred for privacy) and we saw the new 3D Christmas Carol (great movie!). Then it was off to Red Robin for dinner. We HAD to embarrass her by having them sing to her! Now, the girls are playing Guitar Hero and plan on staying up all night!

Friday, November 20, 2009

I couldn't resist. I had to get it. Unlike most dogs, Kai only has a single coat of fur, so when we take her out now, she's shivering. I know she's not enjoying this, but for $1.00? I had to get it! LOL!

Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Middle School held their First Quarter Awards Assembly today, and I had no idea! I had to rush out the door at the last minute. Anyway, Congratulations baby! You did it again!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Someone from the MB posted a pic of a t-shirt she made for the New Moon movie, and I just couldn't resist. I made this up for Quinn and plan on putting it on a shirt for her. She's been "Team Jacob" for a long time, but has yet to read New Moon. I think she's starting to see things from a different perspective and now says she's "Team Jedward". LOL!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

I can never seem to get a good shot of Quinn doing her spins, but I was able to get this one, right before she did one. She's showing off her new skating dress (man those things are expensive!!).

Monday, November 16, 2009

Okay, I didn't want to do this, but I have two Kai pics in a row. I got this one with my cell phone. Believe it or not, even though she looks awake, she sound asleep, snoring and twitching away.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Ken and Quinn were trying to finish up with the leaves out back, and Kai was with them, just having a blast! I tried to get pics of her nose diving into the piles, but none of them turned out. So, I was able to get this, as she was laying down in the sun, trying to take a quick break. Needless to say, she is no longer white, she's more of a "mud brown". Guess someone needs a bath?

Saturday, November 14, 2009

We took Kai out for a walk tonight, and couldn't help noticing all of the mushrooms popping up on all the lawns. I really liked this one, I thought it was kinda pretty. Ken took this for me with his Crackberry.