Happy Memorial Day!

~Some Gave all~

Billy Ray Cyrus

I knew a man called him Sandy Kane

Few folks even knew his name

But a hero was he

Left a boy, came back a man

Still many just don't understand

About the reasons we are free

I can't forget the look in his eyes

Or the tears he cries

As he said these words to me

All gave some and some gave all

And some stood through for the red, white and blue

And some had to fall

And if you ever think of me

Think of all your liberties and recall

Some gave all

Now Sandy Kane is no longer here

But his words are oh so clear

As they echo through out our land

For all his friends who gave us all

Who stood the ground and took the fall

To help their fellow man

Love your country and live with pride

And don't forget those who died America can't you see

All gave some and some gave all

And some stood through for the red, white and blue

And some had to fall

And if you ever think of me

Think of all your liberties and recall

Some gave all

And if you ever think of me

Think of all your liberties and recall, yes recall

Some gave all

Some gave all

Cricut 5th anniversary Contest winner

Starting September 1st 2011 and running until December 31st Provo craft had a celebrate and win contest to celebrate their 5th anniversary. All you had to do was purchase eligible products and enter the code on their website. There were several grand prizes including Cruises (7), 100 Cartridge Pack (3), and a Craft room Make Over (3) ... or you could win one of a multitude of prizes instantly.
20 - Cricut Imagine
20 - Cricut Cake® Machines
10 - Cricut Expression®
2: 5th Anniversary Edition Machines
500 - Cricut Cartridges
100 - 1,000 Cricut Rewards Points
150 - 800 Cricut Rewards Points
250 - 500 Cricut Rewards Points
500 - 400 Cricut Rewards Points
1,500 - 200 Cricut Rewards Points
100 - $55 Cricut.com Credits
150 - $40 Cricut.com Credits
250 - $30 Cricut.com Credits
500 - $20 Cricut.com Credits
1,500 - $10 Cricut.com Credits
There were different eligible product depending on which stores your purcashed from among those stores were Michaels, Hobby Lobby, JoAnns and cricut.com. Of course anyone who knows me knows I love my Cricut so I knew I would have at least one entry since was getting the 5th Anniversary Cricut2 for Christmas. I am trying to recall just how many entries I may have had but I know it wasn't many and I am more about the instant winning than waiting for drawings so I did win with one code 200 reward points from Cricut.com so I was happy with that and forgot all about it. On February 7th I happened to glance down at my email from my phone at work and noticed an email with the subject line Cricut 5th Anniversary Promotion Grand Prize 1 Winner. It really caught my eyes so of course I had to look and the rest of the email went something like this:
Congratulations! On behalf of Provo Craft and Novelty, Inc., the Sponsor of the Cricut® Anniversary Promotion, you have been randomly selected as the potential Grand Prize 1 winner of a Caribbean cruise for two, round-trip coach air transportation for two from a major airport near winner's residence (as determined by Sponsor) to Houston, Texas, pre-cruise hotel accommodation for 1 night (one standard room, double occupancy), Ground transfers to/from airport and hotel and cruise departure location, inside stateroom with a maximum of two persons aboard the Mariner of the Seas cruise ship for seven (7) nights; All shipboard meals for winner and travel companion; Government taxes and fees (as defined in the Royal Caribbean brochure) for winner and travel companion This prize is valued at $4,600.


In order that we may validate you as a winner, we request that:

1. You complete the enclosed Winner Affidavit of Eligibility/Prize/Travel and Publicity release.
2. You complete the enclosed W-9 form.

3. Your travel companion complete the Travel Companion Liability and Publicity Release
So to say I was bit skeptical was an understatement so I immediately called my husband and asked him if he thought it was real it told me yes, that it sounded like in order to verify that I won I just needed to send in the attached forms. Well notice it says a trip for two. So we started discussing who I should take. At 2st it was obvious... my husband, but it was a crafting cruise would he really have fun while I was doing my thing with the crafty ladies there or would I worry too much that he wasn't having fun that I wouldn't have fun. So we decided that in order to have the most fun ever I should take some one who enjoys Cricut and crafting as much as I do. So as soon as I got home I called my BFF Karen to see if she wanted to go and she did. So that is the story have how I won a 7 day all expense paid cruise to the Caribbean with the best crafting friend I girl could have. I am still in shock I think but when we are together is almost all that we can talk about. I have heard so much about how amazing the Cricut Cruise is and how great a party Provo Craft throws. I still have 29 days before we fly to Houston and I have so much I have to get done before then as well as continuing to work and craft. I am hoping to update my blog as soon as we get back with all the pictures and stories I can remember.
Here are the product that i have that show they were elligible purchases though I think they kept adding them as new cartridges came out:
Sweet Tooth Boxes
Art Nouveau
Bump in the Night
Cricut E2 5th Anniversary Edition
I think it would be kind of funny if it was Art Nouveau that I won from since I won this cartrdige at a Cricut Circle meet.

~Happy Birthday Kaitlyn~ 01/07/2012

Hello there my blog readers (if you still exist) It seems I have greatly neglected my blog despite my earlier commitment to get caught up from 2011 before 2012 arrived. It seemed like once October got here life was just whirlwind of activities, and things, like this blog and my other one got neglected. Now that it's January and these 1st three months always seem to drag, I will try again to blog at least once a week. I am not making any promises but keep checking because you never know when a new post may show up.

So here is my 1st actual post of 2012 (since posting Happy New year doesn't really count)

On January 7th my little Katie-bug turned 11. It is so hard to beleive that she could be possibly be 11 already. I am not sure (as everyone says) where the time goes any more. But alas it is true she is 11. So we did the birthday thing, and by that, I mean Jared and I went to her house and watched her open presents and had brownies and ice cream. We also got a chance to visit with family. More on that later.

I had to work that particular day and when I got home there was plenty to in preparation for her party :) Jared really helped out by buying, and wrapping her present. I like when Jared does the present buying because then I don't really have to worry about it and he is super amazing at picking out just the right thing that is sure to be a hit (WIN, Win for me)

After he wrapped it, all I had to do was find some ribbon to make it more presentable. I kind of lucked out since I had saved the ribbon off of a present I got for Christmas, all I had to do was wrap it around the box and Viola'

Of course I had to make her card, there was no way I could got out and just pluck one off the shelf and call it good. I can't remember the last time that I bought a card at the store, since I started making my own. I have a lot more control over what the card will look like and I have been told that I make pretty good cards anyway and they are always well received.

and so we arrived at the Birthday girls house to visit and wait for all the other well wishers to arrive, We got a chance to spend some time with some pretty great people. Do you see the stranger in the middle, the one with the laptop? He looks oddly familiar doesn't he? Well can you believe it is Gage fresh off his mission and ready to take on the world. He got back about as week before Kaitlyn's birthday and she was so excited because that meant he had only missed one of her birthdays and not two like everyone else's. We are super glad he is back.

Here the birthday girls is with one her favorite people Uncle Jared. He doesn't look so thrilled here but I think that is more his exhaustion setting in. He has been working super long hours which is great for us but I know it takes a toll on him.

Everyone has arrived and Kaitlyn is waiting to open presents.

Ready, set go!

Money from her Grand Parents. 11 dollars to be exact. She was over the moon.

A gift card from her other grandma. She witnessed how fun it was for Cheyenne to spend all the gift cards she got for Christmas and that was all she wanted.

Reading the card I made.

See her face? She was thrilled with this present too. Jared did it again.

Secretly I was wishing this was mine. I love this cute Little Pet shop play set. This one was adorable and so fitting because it was a little photography studio.

Blowing out the candles.

I would say her birthday was a success and she was the happiest birthday girl ever.

Happy Birthday Kaitlyn. Jared and I do love you and can't wait to see what changes this year has in store for you.

Happy New Year 2012

My Happy New Year wish for you Is for your best year yet,A year where life is peaceful, And what you want, you get.
A year in which you cherish The past year’s memories, And live your life each new day, Full of bright expectancies.
I wish for you a holiday With happiness galore; And when it’s done, I wish you Happy New Year, and many more

I'm so excited, I just can't hide it

It seem like only yesterday when I made this post here http://cre8ncam.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-post.html. However this event actually occured 23 months and 2 days ago and Guess what??? Gage comes home tomorrow 12/30/2011. His plane is scheudled to land at 2:14 at the Salt Lake International Airport. I can hardly wait to see this kid again. Of course I know he is not a kid and a lot has changed him and even us in the course of 23 months and 3 days.

We all got to talk to him on Christmas eve and even he is super excited to be coming home.

If you want to read what he has been up to the last nearly 2 years youcan read about here on his blog

http://filipinogage.blogspot.com/

Friday freebie at Roberts Craft

Freebie Friday - Gift Card
This week's giveaway is a $25 gift card to shop online or in-store!


http://blog.robertscrafts.com/2011/11/this-weeks-giveaway-is-25-gift-card-to.html#comment-form

Freedom is not free

There is a price we pay for freedom
For it is not truly free
But rather paid for by the contributions of veterans
To buy our liberty
As their blood drains from their body and runs like a river through the grass
Over the years it's forgotten, war is placed in our past
I don't think we all realize the importance veterans play
as they voluntarily serve America each and every day
We should honor the veterans for they act like a shield
Protecting us from danger, keeping America healed.
So if you would take a second to commemorate
You will instantly see
We owe veterans our gratitude
For they are the reason we are free