in three's right?

... everything happens in threes right? Well, I was driving home (with both kids) one evening last week and my car broke down on the highway. (it was already dark and thank God for cell phones). Two days later Sean and Riley were fishing and the boat broke down. Then I went to turn on my computer the next day and an error message showed up and my computer wouldn't even boot up. So I called my computer guy and he proceeded to tell me that my hard drive had crashed and NOTHING was salvagable!!!!
What a way to end 2006.
Nikki

A few more picts of Brody...

This is a photo of Brody wearing the Frailing (my maiden name) family baptism gown.
This is my dad Ken with Brody.

This is my mom Dianne with Brody.

This is Joyia. She is a dear friend of our family. She was my midwife until she got breast cancer. She is in remission, but still unable to go back to work. She was there as my support.

This is Dr Shroder. He delivered Brody. He was wonderful!!!

ATC swap

One Wednesday morning (a couple of months ago) I was in K2 and a met a woman named Sue Benner. She was here on vacation, taking a card class that Jo Ann was teaching. We got to talking and she found out that I was the one that started our ATC class. Well, she has a Yahoo Group called "Stamping Scrapping Swapping Democracy". She wanted me to tell my ATCers about her Yahoo Group and that we were welcome to join. (That would mean that you could start swapping ATC's with other women across the country.)

If you would like more info about it you can e-mail her at seashellsbytheseashore@comcast.net or just sign up.

I am sorry it has taken me a while to get this out to all of you.

Nikki

Dream, Design and Create

PS Here are some cool ATC's I found online

Colorstrology "what your birthday color says about you"

I received this really cool book last night called "Colorstrology" and I wanted to share my color and what it says about me.
October 21st
Chintz Rose
Verbal
Inspiring
Musical
If your were born on this day:
Your mental powers are highly developed. Many individuals with this birthday are meant to share information with people from all walks of life and from all over the world. People who are rich or poor, from the city or country, all seem to be able to hear you. Sometimes you think too much, especially when you don't get enough physical exercise or have any creative outlets.
How this color benefits you:
Your personal color can help channel your thoughts into constructive endeavors. Wearing, meditating, or surrounding yourself with Chintz Rose balances the emotional with the intellectual side of your nature.
Compatible birthdays:
August 22, October 4, December 31

This book is really cool. Thanks Karen for the hours of enjoyment this book will give me!!!

New Pictures

Yes, I know I should be napping, but I wanted to post a few more pictures. It is hard to believe that Brody is a week old today. On Saturday Lori came over and we had our first photo shoot with Brody. These are just some of the pictures. They turned out amazing.

Thanks Lori, we love you!!!

I also wanted to thank everyone for their prayers this past week, especially last monday during my labor and delivery.

Nikki

Brody's Birthday 12-4-06

What a wonderful day. I went in for my induction at 8am yesterday morning and Brody was here at 5:04pm. I had an epidural at 10:30 along with a pitocin drip. At 12:15ish Dr Schroder broke my water. I stayed at 4-5 cm for a couple of hours, then progressed really quickly. I was able to push Brody out in 4 contractions. It was a wonderful experience. Brody is 7lbs, 12 ozs he is 21 inches long.

Thanks for all the prayers. I will post more pictures soon!

Love, Nikki

Elsie Challenge #12

Scraplift a layout shape. I was inspired by a LO I saw of Elsie's at a class we took of hers. She had sewn around the photo and then she sewed "doodles" around it too...

I might go back and add, I do feel like it is missing something???

TFL
Dream, Design and Create

PS No baby yet!

Too BIG, Too SMALL!!!

I had these hysterical pictures of Riley wearing both Sean and my shoes. He had so much fun trying to walk around in them. Then Sean took a pair of Riley's shorts and tried them on to see what kind of reaction he would get from Riley. (Yes, I know, Sean will kill me for posting this LO- LOL!!)

Elsie Challenge #11

This weeks challenge was to scraplift a color combo from the book. I chose the LO from page 155. The colors matched my picture...

Bazzil craft paper (from K2), MME new magnolia paper (from K2), and the fancy pants chipboard (from K2), 7 gypsies stickers (from K2), K and Co grand adhesions, MM brads, silk flowers (my own).

TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Still Waiting...

Sorry I haven't posted in over a week, but all I have been thinking about is when Brody will appear????

... well today I had another Dr appt and no baby yet! I was supposed to be induced this thursday but apparently my body is not quite ready. We decided that next Monday will be much better. My due date is Sunday the 3rd so there is a chance he will appear on his own (which I would love). I am 1 cm dilated, 50% effaced and at -2 station, but my cervix is still posterior...

Will keep everyone posted. Thanks for the prayers!

Love, Nikki

Where is Baby Brody???

Well, yesterday I had my first acupuncture apt. (it was to induce labor). She placed needles in my hands, the inside of my ankles, my lower back and in my upper trapezius muscle. She hooked up the needles in my hands and feet to a machine that stimulates that acupuncture point. The entire treatment lasted about 70 minutes. It was relaxing but it did not produce the results I wanted... I went to see my OBGYN today and he said there was not much change in my cervix from last week. He did say that he had no problem with me seeing an acupuncturist...
He also told me that he was sure something will be happening by next week so he scheduled me for an induction next Thursday November 30th. Which is ironic since that is the date that I originally thought was going to be my due date!
I see Dr. Dumas (the acupuncturist) tomorrow morning for my second visit. I am going with a positive attitude that my body with hopefully respond to. I am very excited about Brody coming and I am really hoping it will be this week sometime. Mainly because my mom has the next 5 days off and would be able to help me out.
I will keep everyone posted about my progress.

Nikki
PS if you think of me please pray for an easy labor and delivery (and that it happens this week :)) Thanks!

Elsie Challenge # 10

This weeks challenge was to create a mini album. I created 2. One, I posted on Sunday (it is part of my inspirational cube). It consists of 8 pieces of 4x4 chipboard. The top piece I covered with a page from the Journaling Notebook where I listed impotant events in October. The next 7 pieces of chipboard I covered with a special photograph of the event. I cut up a transparancy into 4x4 pieces and placed one in between each piece of chipboard. I also embellished the photos by adding tags, or brads etc... The whole album is connected with a ring. The nice thing about this is that I can add to it at any time.

The second mini album I created was a "count your blessing" album. It will be posted later this week after I collect the rest of the photos for it. I am planning on it being a fun activity to do on Thanksgiving Day with my mom and Lori (my sister-in-law). I made them a mini album too and all we have to do is insert 6 photos, journal and embellish.

Here is another shot of my mini October album. (I didn't take a shot of each page, just of the album fanned out.)

TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Inspirational Cube

Everyone needs inspirations sometimes. I created a 4"x4" inspirational cube. Each side holds something that inspires me to create. One side holds an ATC, a picture of my family, my favorite quote at the time and the last side holds a mag ad that inspires me. The top of the cube holds a mini album that includes 8 pieces of chipboard cut into 4x4 pieces, 7 special photos, one transparency I cut up, a page from the Karen Russel journaling notebook and some embellishments.

Dream, Design and Create

She Party at K2 tonight!!

Tonight is going to be a lot of fun.

It is the 2nd "she" party at K2.

Each woman gets a 15 min session with a photographer, a CD with all your photos on it...

We are serving appetizers and pink champagne...

With a 75 dollar purchase you get a free music CD with a great mix of fun music...

There is a "she" boutique with all sorts of fun accessories for sale like jewelry and fun scarf headbands...
We have a "she" album kit for sale for 45 dollars, it is beautiful!
There may be one or two slots left so call and reserve it NOW!!!
You get to enjoy all this and the company of your girlfriends for $25.00
Hope to see you there!
Here are my two "she" LO's that I made for tonight.
TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Trisha Yearwood Concert

Last friday night I took my girlfriend Elena to see Trisha Yearwood in concert.

I won the tickets on the radio a couple of months ago.

My husband had no desire to go so I wanted to take someone who enjoyed county music as much as I did.

Elena and I had so much fun...

We went to dinner at Cosmo's before the show...

We had 19th row seats...

It was a great concert...

I would see her again...

"Pamper mommy baby shower"

...Irish tea, homemade scones, tea sandwiches and your special girlfriends what more could you ask for???

On Sunday Karen threw me a "pamper mommy shower"!

It was so much fun!

I got so many wonderful and delicious presents from a gorgeous teapot, a Victoria's Secret robe,

a pair of my fav shoes (crocs!!!), deliciously soft socks, neck/back hot packs, a massage, 2 pedicures, wonderful bath and body goodies, a manicure/pedicure kit, lip glosses and a great hair band, a Willow Tree figure of a mother and her 2 little boys, a picture frame, a gift certificate for wall rub ons that you customize....

I also got some goodies you can eat and drink too (starbucks coffee, tea, dark chocolate m&m's, dark chocolate cookies, Ginger and lemon cookies) plus 2 really great mugs!

Brody got some great new outfits, a first year calendar, a handmade blanket and burp clothes, and some bath accesories.

Riley even got a new Thomas the Train pillow (so he wouldn't feel left out- thanks Cathy)!

Thanks everyone for an amazingly wonderful and pampering day!

Love, Nikki

Elsie Challenge # 9

here is the latest LO for the Elsie challenges...this week was to doodle or journal on a photograph.
I took this picture a couple of weeks ago when Sean and I stayed on Casey Key for the weekend before the new baby arrives. I blew it up to an 8 1/2x 11 so I could journal on it easier.
TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Elsie Challenge #8

The challenge this week is to group 4 photos together. Here is my LO. The pictures are from a trip to NYC that my mom and I took in May. TFL

Dream, Design and Create

Headboard "Frame"

I had so much fun making this altered "frame".
The design team at K2(Jocie, Megan and I) are making our own frames to hang on the wall in the studio. The frames are going to display our upcoming classes and a monthly LO (we are going to try and scrap the same photo to show off our different styles).

My "frame" also includes a place to display my ATC's and a place for you to leave me a note!
I can not wait to hear from you.

I absolutely love how this turned out!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will not be teaching any classes in Dec or Jan., I will be at home taking care of our new baby.
(Tammy will be teaching the ATC class Dec 9th, and then she will tell you the date for Jan. when you meet in Dec.)

Dream, Design and Create.
Love, Nikki

Happy Halloween

We had so much fun taking Riley trick or treating for the first time.
We took his best buddy Gavin and his parents Tomi and Travis.
It was hilarious watching them run (and I mean run) up to the door, ring the doorbell and wait for the goodies!!!

Riley was Thomas the Train and Gavin was Superman!