Happy New Years!!!!!!

New Years Eve! Wow! I can't believe this year has finally came to a close.
What an odd and awesome year it has been.
A small recap:

• Kayla graduated from high school
• She also turned 19 and started college (Chattahoochee Technical School)
• She got her first real job
• Shawn became a sophmore in high school
• Attended his first GreenBar campout and actually interviewed to be on staff for next year
• He completed all his Eagle Scout paperwork and is just awaiting on a few letters to send the application in (Next year he will be an Eagle Scout!!!)
• He turned 16
• I entered my FIRST photography competition
• I also entered my FIRST art competition in 20 years
• Set up my very FIRST art booth at a fair!
• Sold my very FIRST painting and drawings
• do you see a pattern here.....lol
• So excited that I got back into drawing and painting. It has been awesome!
• Celebrated 15 years here at work
• Billy and I have been married for 11 years
• took a break from scrapping for a while but when I got back on board I made the design team for Scrap-Tastic and Nutsaboutsketchs.com
• Billy got stitches in his hand for the very first time
• Shawn got a dear during hunting season
• Started really saving money and cutting coupons...its been kinda fun and challenging
• Kayla went to her first prom at the Fox Theatre
• I dropped 10 more lbs and 2 pants sizes. Went from a 14 to a 10!
• Started my own art website where I can sell my paintings. Just need to get my name out there
• Ordered my first ever Note cards using my artwork!
• Pulled out my sewing machine and made my very first rag quilts. Ended the year by making 9 of them!
• Took my very first art class at the Red Cockerill Gallery

That is pretty much a quick recap...now on to 2010!

• I am going to take my art even further. I am planning now on entering another art show in March and another possible photography competition.
• I have sent in my paperwork to be put on the invitation list for Paulding Meadows Art Fair in September. I want to be a vendor.
• I plan on losing another 10 lbs. Small steps is the way I am taking this one. I checked into joining a local workout gym to help me along.
• Plan on Kayla completing her first year in college. Crossing fingers she does well
• hoping Shawn will try out for track at his high school. Should start this spring
• shawn will become a junior in high school (hopefully)
• Shawn will also become an Eagle Scout! I have never been so proud of him!
• I want to spend more time with my family taking small trips or weekend getaways
• I want to save lots and lots of money and pay off extra on bills by shopping smart and using coupons. I will get us started by using the Dave Ramsey budget beginning January 1!
• Billy will celebrate being 50 this year and my parents will both turn 60. I want to throw them all a great surprise birthday party.
• Start working on a fun and cool presents for this next Christmas. Everyone got quilts this year so I want to do something different.

Okay that is all I can think of right now. My biggest goal is just getting my art business going and selling more. I think 2010 is going be a fun and exciting year. I can just feel it!

Here's wishing all of you a very Happy New Year. Stay safe and I hope 2010 brings you everything you want it to!

Love the Thackston family

New Painting

Here is my newest painting. It's 3 8x10 canvases and is painted in a red and gold. The red kinda looks orange here but it really is a red. I just couldn't get good lighting on it. This turned out pretty cool I thought. I am going to sell it for $65.00. If you know anyone who would like it....send them my way :)

I sold two other paintings over the holiday weekend. I was stoked about that! I've almost got enough money saved now from selling a few to order my notecards that I want to put my pictures on. I just need to sell a few more and then I can get them ordered and packaged to sell.

We are heading out to see Jeff Dunham this evening. Should be lots of fun. I have today and tomorrow off from work and plan on getting a few things accomplished....I hope :)

ready for the new year

We had a great Christmas. Just having my family together was wonderful. I missed now having my dad's side of the family together again this year but I will do my best to change that next year.

The kids had a great morning and seemed to like what I got him this year. The only mistake was that I bought Shawn and Billy new deer hunting knives. And since yesterday....Billy has cut himself twice. The worst needed urgent care today and required 3 stitches. I told him he was on restriction.

The tree is up and in storage...all the decorations packed away...all the trash out at the curb...and I am ready to bring in the new year.

I sold two more paintings yesterday! woot woot! And painted a 3 peice last night. Hope I can sell it too. I am off work the next few days so I am working on trying to order note cards with my house pictures on them....maybe some of the paintings on there. We will see....I hope they will sell. I've been saving up my picture money to use for this so I am crossing my fingers.

It's been a long day...wish I had more to share...I am off the next two days so hopefully I will be more talkative tomorrow morning ;) but right now I am going to hit the couch...read...curl up in my new snuggie....and then go to bed as soon as I can!

I miss you..

(wow...3 blog posts in two days...that's a record)

I woke up this morning with a heavy heart. It's Christmas eve and my favorite person is not here to celebrate it with me. She loved this time of year. She would be the first person to call on Christmas eve and wish everyone a Christmas Eve gift. It was a game of sorts to see who would be the first to call and say it. She always won...except that last few years she was here I always beat her to it.

I miss you Nanny! You are always in my heart. Always. I never let a Christmas go without thinking about you and talking to you. I hope you enjoyed the Christmas tree at your headstone and I hope you saw the tree we decorated at the store just for you. Christmas is not the same without our get together at your house...kids running everywhere...family together if only for one night....a fantastic feast...and just being with you. Now darn it...you've got me cryng! I wish you were still here. I know that is being selfish because you are in such a better place and you are having the best Christmas ever with our Lord and my grandaddy...but I still miss you...still wish you were here.

I love you Nanny...Merry Christmas

as I promised

My two new paintings. The music one measures 16x20 and the yellow/white one is 8x14. I think they both turned out pretty neat.

WOW 2 more days

I can't wait for Christmas. I always love this time of year. The only thing I hate is that my tree comes down the day after and I have really loved having my tree up this year.

Kayla is bringing her boyfriend over Christmas Eve. My mom, dad, sister, Randy and Robin are coming over Christmas day at different times. I think Steven is going to come over too. I just love this time of year when families get together. I wish we all got together more often. I am sadden that my dad's side didn't get together this year. I am planning on organizing something next year. If someone doesn't step up and make it happen...it just doesn't happen...know what I mean.

Been thinking of things I would like to do or take on for this next year. I hope that it will be a productive one and I will have my new year resolutions up on this blog soon.

sad news...Kayla failed her only class that counted in college :( I am very sad and upset about that. I don't think she realized how seriously she needed to pass. I think she does now or at least I hope she does. It will take an A next quarter to maybe bring this F to a C. She has to maintain a B average by the end of the year (3 more quarters) to keep her Hope Grant. After that it all falls in our laps to pay. In the 6 months that she has been out of school I have never seen someone fall so hard and so fast and not care. I hope she wakes up soon....because I don't know how much more I can give or handle.

I sold 2 more paintings and painted 2 more. I will post the finished one this week and hopefully get the other one finished tonight. They have been fun. But I need to get my supplies up and the table clean for Christmas morning :)

Oh and one my most dearest friends has asked me to be her maid of honor! I am so excited and can't wait to get in there helping her plan this wedding! I am so happy for her! Love you Dorothy!

alrighty....off to work...just one more day and a half and I am off for 5 days! Can you believe that 2010 is just around the corner??? Where did the time go! 2.0.1.0 WOW.

What a weekend

Not what I was hoping for on a weekend but yeah...that is the way it goes I guess.
We went grocery shopping Saturday and I went over my coupon budget more than I wanted. Shawn called and asked if I would bring home some chicken...sure...we were at Publix so I grabbed some fried chicken from the deli.

Got home, unloaded, the boys ate the chicken. Shawn had 3 pieces and Billy had 2. Kayla had one leg and I ate just a bite from a piece Billy had. About an hour later Shawn is complaining that his tummy hurts. We figured he ate to fast. Gave him a Zantac and he went on about the day. 5 rolled around and Billy's cooking french fries. I'm cooking hot dogs. we sit down to eat and Shawn isn't hungry. Next think I know he is sick as can be. I look at Billy and he is turning all wonderful shades of green. By 6 they are both sick sick sick. Shawn had a party to go to at 7 and he just HAD to go. We left and had to make a gas station stop so he could get sick again. I knew he shouldn't of went but yeah...try telling a 16 year old boy that. We dropped him off, came home, Billy preceeded to continue to be sick. I left and picked Shawn up at 10. Got him home...they both DOWNED some sprite. Even though I told them both not to drink it so fast. Shawn didn't listen and you can guess where he ended up. both of them had the chills really bad but no fever.

The only thing I can think of is the chicken. That is the only thing they both ate so much off. I felt punnie but never got sick. Neither did Kayla. Anyway...it's 9 am this sunday morning and they are both in bed still sleeping. I felt sorry for them. I know I hate being sick like that.

Nothing else really going on today. Our family get together was canceled because...well...we couldn't get it together...lol. But next year will be different. I just know it. It has to be. I want my family back together on Christmas like it was before my nanny died. I have a few presents to give out today which I think will be fun. It is not suppose to rain which is good because we are right back at the flood warning stages again. I would take it in snow if it would just be cold enough.

Back to work tomorrow and will have to pull 9 hour days for the first 3 days so that I can make up my time for being off early on Christmas Eve. I am ready for Christmas to get here. I wish we could of gotten our lights up outside :(

Lots of scrapbooking done but I can't share any of it with you just yet. sorry

No bites on publications. Although there just isn't as many places to send your layouts to these days but the ones I do...I just never have luck with.

Alrighty...off to have my second cup of coffee and hope that the boys didn't have some funky bug which will make me sick today. Lets just hope it was the chicken

Gutter Girlz and more

This months prompt at Gutter Girlz was really fun. It was to use the title I'm Only Fine, the song It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing and to use mesh. I decided to use the title and go with this fun picture I have of my sweetie. I really love how this layout turned out.

Run on over to the Gutter and see what all the other girls done with the prompt.

Counting down to Christmas. I can't believe it is next friday. I finally got my shopping done but I still feel I am forgetting something. I know I have but lord knows what.

Been really tired this week. Not sure why...hoping I am not getting sick. Today consisted of a headache that lasted all darn day long. I hate those days. Tomorrow a group of us at work are going out to eat at the Marietta Fish Market. I can't wait to go. Sounds like it will be YUMMY!!

Good news with Kayla...she passed Math and Reading so far and is waiting to hear from ther computer class. So as long as that comes back passing then she has passed her first quarter at Chattahoochee Tech! Awesome.

Shawn....2 of his Eagle recommendation letters have arrived. We just need 4 more to show up and then turn in his application! Getting so close and it is so exciting.

Good morning

What a crazy weekend we had.

First an update on Dianna....she is still in the hospital. The stroke was not as major as first said but still a bad one. they just got her heart rate to stay low as of yesterday but she doesn't stay awake for very long. Still no use of her right side. And she isn't to happy to be there. Prayers needed to make this a speedy recovery for her.

Tonight we are going caroling with the scouts to a scout family that means a great deal to us. Michele is battling cancer...she is such a strong woman. I can't wait to go tonight and see her face when we are all singing.

Shawn had an interview yesterday with the scouts for a leadership staff position for this summer. Not sure when we will find out if he got it. Waiting anxiously to see. I am proud of him for even attempting to apply.

I'm off work today. Sitting here drinking some yummy coffee while the house is all asleep still. Gotta get Shawn up for school soon. I have a few appointments today and some errands but going to try and make the most of my day off if I can. I really need to be sitting here typing up Shawn's referral letter for his Eagle review but I don't know what to say. Bad huh.....I'm nervous about it and just want to make sure I write it up well. Guess I just need to bite the bullet and get it done and in the mail.

Have a scrappy great Monday

headng out for the evening

to spend some much needed quality time with friends. We are having our OWN Christmas party. It should be a lot of fun.

Today was a run around and get things done day. Also found out a fellow scouts mom had a serious stroke yesterday. She is my age. Scary. We are all praying she will be okay and over come this. She is a single mom so we are not sure where her son is staying right now.

Kayla is worried she might lose her job. I hope not. She really needs this job. School ends next week for the winter break. And then she starts fresh next year for another quarter. She really needs a good job inbetween going to school and stuff.

sold another picture :)

and really in the creative mood but just no time to do it in

I have to share my excitement

First here is my layout for this weeks Sketch at Nutsaboutsketchs.com.

I really love how this one turned out. I used lots of Prima that I bought the other day while doing a class at the scrapbook store.

On another note...I have to say how proud I am of my son. Monday night he went to scouts and sat down with 4 of the leaders. by the time he was done...his Eagle Scout Application and paperwork was complete....signed....and ready to turn in. He just needs his letters of recommendation to start coming in and then he can turn his paperwork in to the council and await to see when his Board of Review will be. He is almost there....almost done...almost an Eagle Scout. I am sooooo proud of him. This is a huge accomplishment and with him only being 16 I think it is amazing. Most boys if they receive this honor, is about to turn 18, so I am super excited he got this done with a few years left to go. More news to come on that as we find out when the Board of Review will be scheduled!

Monday's stink

I declare monday's Stink day. ugh

nothing much good came out of today I don't think.
Debating on taking Shawn to the dr for an xray of his wrist. He is still complaining that it hurts but doesn't want to go to the dr.

I've done something to my back. It's like one, long, twisted muscle down my spine and HURTS. And doesn't do much good for the herniated disc.

I feel like yuck. I'm sure being outside in the cold for 11 hours didn't help much either.

to much to do today and just not enough time to do it all in.

Maybe tomorrow will be brighter...ya think?

oh a brighter note it's reveal day at nutsaboutsketchs.com so I will post my layout tomorrow :)

Snowing...really?

I can't remember the last time I saw snow this early in December. Shoot Georgia rarely gets snow anyway. But it is. Spitting snow as I speak...or type..lol.

The boys are out camping. It's our annual Christmas in the Woods with the boy Scouts. they went out last night. I am heading out in a little bit and will spend the rest of the day with them. Nothing like being so bundled up you can't move and huddling around a fire to stay warm all day...lol. but the food tonight is WELL worth it. Amazing food!

got a few more Christmas gifts finished last night. Yeah. I am just about done and need to go get about 4 giftcards. And waiting on a few shipments to come in. I bought Shawn a coat at Old Navy for $20! LOVE IT. So I went back last night to get me and Billy one...yeah they don't have anymore...bahhumbug. I really wanted one and billy really needs one. So much for waiting on that huh.

Well off to my scraptable I go. I need to work on the Gutter Girlz layout coming up!

Vanilla Frosting kit at Scrap-Tastic

I had so much fun working with this kit. It was full of Websters Pages and Basic Grey with lots of goodies inbetween =)

And it was fun using holiday designed paper for non holiday layouts :) Head on over to Scrap-tastic.com and see what the rest of the design team done with their kits.

I have decided that next week is going to be AWESOME! Monday....Harry Potter 6 comes out on video and I have yet to see it. I wasn't able to get to the movie theatre to see it so I am udderly excited to run out and buy it...lol. AND on Tuesday the next book in the Laurrell K Hamilton fairie book is released - Divine Misdemeanors. oh I can't wait I can't wait! I've been rereading all her books the last few months so it will be good to have a book I haven't read yet.

Night all...it's been a long day and I am so ready for bed!

Full Moon

why is it weird things or crazy people are all over the place near a full moon. My gosh this week at work has been nutso!! Seriously

Here is my layout for this weeks sketch at nutsaboutsketchs.com! It was fun today. I want tell you that I was outside at 8 am in the cold throwing paint on the papers to make it look like mud...lol. But even if people were talking about it me...I love how it turned out!

I'm trying really hard to get Shawn's "Journey to Eagle" scrapbook finished. He is almost done with his application. It will be great to finish this chapter in his life. I am very proud of him. His book is almost done. I could use some more pages I think but we will just have to wait and see if I can find any to fit his book and make a few more layouts.

I'll post layouts that I made for Scrap-Tastic.com using the December kit tomorrow. Be on the look out :)