Happy Halloween!

I'm rushing off to a playoffs game for Kade's football team but wanted to wish you a Happy Halloween! It's been a super busy week for me full of all types of fall activities. I'm anxious to share them with you.

I spent the morning at Sage and Brecken's school. We pumpkin bowled, played Bingo, decorated doughnuts, face painted and made necklaces. Sage was dressed up like a girl vampire:



Brecken was her best friend, Kenya (we got Kenya's approval!):



Steve and I are going to a "famous couples" party tomorrow night. I'm going as Dorothy and Steve is the Lion.

I'll write more real soon!

Have a great evening.

Lisa B.

P.S. I'm always looking for good costume ideas. Let me know what you and your kids were this Halloween!

I'm Off to Montana!

Sorry I've been a slacker with the blog thing. I really wish there was a way to slow life down just a little. This week has been filled with carving pumpkins, football games (both Kade and Collin's teams are in the playoffs), a fundraiser for my sweet nine-year-old neighbor, Jane, choir concerts, preparing Halloween costumes, etc.



We also enjoyed an amazing Fall Break in Midway, Utah--the leaves were so beautiful and it was so relaxing.



Thanks, Carrie, for providing us with this amazing experience.

I'm off to Montana for a fundraising crop with Stacy Julian for the Cornell family. Tracy Cornell owned The Scrapbook Hideaway with Gina in Missoula. I went to an event there a few years ago and fell in love with Montana and the wonderful people there. Tracy unexpectedly passed away in May--it was a very sad day for all of us. She left behind a husband and two young children. This weekend Stacy and I are paying tribute to this amazing lady. If you're in Missoula, stop by and say hi.

Have a great weekend.

Lisa B.

P.S. If you are the gal from New Jersey who came to ScrapMasters in MD, please leave me a way to contact you. I have a book for you but lost your address!

Where in the World is Kerri Bradford Contest!

Sorry I've been a slacker with writing. Life has been so busy and now I'm off on a mini vacation with my family for Fall Break. I quickly wanted to send you to a link of a fun contest that my pal Kerri Bradford is hosting. Go here for more information. Oh--and you have a chance to win one of Becky's Christmas card kits!

Talk to you next week.

Lisa B.

I forgot to live in the "present" today!

I woke up a little on the wrong side of the bed this morning. It was freezing in my house and has been cold all day (in the 40s with a chilly wind--it was in the 80s a couple of days ago). Then I got depressed thinking about my dad. I saw him last night at a school function and he could hardly walk without falling over. He told me today that he probably won't get out too much anymore since he is so unsteady. It just stinks to have parents getting older. Then there's the economy. And the dog wet on the floor. And . . . okay, enough already. You get the picture.

A couple of weeks ago a wise woman told me and my family to always remember those loved ones who have passed before you and learn from their lives. She also encouraged us to visit their graves often.

On with the story. Feeling a little down, I happened to be running errands about 30 minutes away when I realized I was driving by my friend's grave. Victoria and I were inseparable friends for over 20 years and three years ago she tragically passed away. (She'd been at my house four days earlier celebrating her birthday.) I decided to stop and visit. I hadn't been for a while and I was overcome by emotion (sobbing) when I saw her headstone.

It's a bench--here's the side:



And here's the top:



This was just the message I needed today. (Vic used to tell the story of Cinderella with all the words mixed up--that's why the quote is like this.) Vic was telling me despite the gloomy weather, the economy and the failing health of my dad, to never, never give up. Truly a message straight from heaven! I love you, Vic!

Here are some fun memories of the past week.

I went outside and got a good laugh. Krisha and Sage were entertaining people by singing and playing guitars on the sidewalk in front of our house.



This jar especially put a smile on my face!



Last week Kade got asked to Sadie Hawkins. There was hay all over our front porch with pumpkins, candy corn and a cute sign. It said: "Hay, Pumpkin. I'm not trying to be corny but will you go to Sadie's with me?"



Our whole family helped in the answer. We gathered up all the hay and pulled apart the bales that were still intact. This made a HUGE mound of hay and we put it on the gal's front porch with this sign.



Fun times!!

Collin turned 15 on Wednesday and had a big football game that night. The cheerleaders embarrassed him by giving him a cake (love Sage in the front!) and the football players poured five gallons of icy Gatorade over the top of him. Happy Birthday, Collin!



Kade was nominated to run in the Sir Knight pageant at Lone Peak. It's basically a male beauty pageant. His talent was hilarious (he sang a song from Hercules). I'll have to post it on this web site! He also had to dress up like a lion from Wizard of Oz and everyone was wowed by his costume. Thanks, Bonnie Rogers, for your creativity.



I'm off to Kade's biggest game of the season. (Did I mention it's freezing outside?) And tomorrow I'll join the CPR students in Stamford, CT.

Have a great weekend! And, never, never give up!

LB

Winners of challenge!

Darn it. I have some fun "present" photos to share with you that I took this week but for some reason blogger is having a hard time publishing them. Also, if you left a comment and have noticed the number of comments hasn't changed from 365, again something is wrong with Blogger. Luckily your comment was published even the though the number is wrong.

So--I'll share with you my cute photos another time.

Here are the winners of the "present" contest.

1. Trisha N., Honolulu, HI
2. Laurie Rabatich, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
3. Colleen Flathers, Clinton, Iowa
4. Melissa Bridgetown, Ohio
5. Holly Holland, SLC, UT
6. Rhonda, Moorhead, MI
7. Suzanne, Springville, UT
8. Christine, Virgina Beach, VA
9. Jackie, Gordon37@charter.net
10. Kandi Petorak, Puyallup, WA
11. Jessie, Pasadena, MD
12. Syeda
13. Carolyne, Melbourne, Australia
14. Krisie, Puyallup, WA
15. Jamie, Chesang, MI
16. Terri E.. Ventura, CA
17. Marilyn Nimmo, Mineral Wells, TX
18. Crystal, Deerfield Beach, FL
19. Krista Heiser, Millington, MI
20. Christina Dossola, Carlsbad, CA
21. Debbie Koehler
22. Jen, Enola, PA
23. Terri Dobrofsky
24. Stephanie S., Woodbrige, VA
25. Connie Coram, Long Island, NY

Please send your name and address to Vivian Grother at vgrothe@ckmedia.com.

I'll post again soon. By the way, I loved reading where you are from!


Lisa B.