Ace Turns 3

Boy does time fly...Ace turned 3 in September and we celebrated with a TRAIN PARTY!

The party invitation
Cutest train cake
Happy Birthday to YOU!
Ace & Scarlett enjoying all his gifts

Party favors...homemade oatmeal monster cookies

We ended the party with a family photo of Cory's side of the family:
Autumn, Pam, Starr & Ace
Phil, Mark, Cory, Scarlett & Rose (Cory's Mom)

Mike & Tobi's Vegas Wedding

Our friends Tobi & Mike tied the knot in Vegas on September the 8th. We had the pleasure of attending their wedding and our first trip to Vegas while Gramma & Grampa Snider watched our kiddos...it was our first overnight away from them since before they were born (thanks Mom & Dad)!

More photos from the wedding...Groom's Parents: Mr & Mrs Avramovich

Bride's Parents: Mr & Mrs Ball
Us...we had a wonderful time!
Hannah & Darrin...the Best Man
The rings
The favors
The cutest note that Mike left for Tobi before the wedding...so sweet
Wedding plate made by Linda (mother-of-the-groom) which we all signed

After the wedding we all headed down to the Bellagio to watch the fountains

And did some gambling...

Then walked down the strip...I love this photo of Cory on the left in black and Mike on the right in white

Me & Hannah on the strip...and yes, we planned our outfits to match :)

For my DAD...

...also knows as 'Billy Big Bucks'!

Happy Thanksgiving Card

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
Recipe (all products are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: True Friend, Season of Joy
Ink: Versamark, Really Rust & River Rock
Paper: Designer Series - Apple Cider, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, River Rock & Very Vanilla
Accessories: Marvy Scalloped Punch, Hodgepoge Hardware - Antique Brass, Wide Grosgrain Ribbon - Chocolate Chip, , Embossing Powder - Rust, Sponge, Notch Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Criss Cross Card

Recipe (all products are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Voila & Print Pattern
Ink: Classic & Craft - Basic Black
Stamp & Write Markers - Creamy Caramel & Ruby Red
Paper: Basic Black, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Whisper White & index card
Accessories: Round Tab punch & staples
Click Here for instructions on how to make this cute criss-cross card.

My sweet new friend Haley mentioned me on her BLOG...I feel so touched & wanted to share the entry with you! I love her creativity, we have similar interests (like shopping) & she's down-to-earth. And, I cannot wait to visit her amazing home that she keeps telling me about. She mentioned this great magazine, and it is amazing. You can pick up a copy at her store in Okotoks.

Hello October

I just love fall, and am happy to welcome October. With getting ready for this Thanksgiving, Jenny, Dee-Ann & I baked homemade pumpkin pies to take to our family gatherings this weekend. They are yummy!

PUMPKIN PIE RECIPE

MOM'S PERFECT PASTRY

Yield: 5 shells

3 cups flour

1 cup Tenderflake lard (refrigerated)

Combine the 2 above ingredients using a pastry cutter in a bowl till crumbly. Set aside.

1 egg (beaten)

1 tbsp vinegar

6 tbsp cold water

pinch of salt

Combine the above 4 ingredients in a separate bowl an stir. Add to the first mixture and work together with your hands. Roll out to 1/4" and place in pie plate, trim & decorate edges.

* We also cut out leaf shapes to place in the centre of the pies. Use a butter knife to make veins in your pastry leaves.

*****

PUMPKIN PIE FILLING

Yield: 1 pie

2 eggs

398 ml canned pumpkin puree

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup evaporated milk

Beat eggs lightly in medium bowl. Add pumpkin, sugar, spices & salt; stir until well combined (we used an electric mixer). Blend in milk. Pour filling in uncooked pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking 30 - 35 minutes. Cool.

*Pies freeze well, just cover with tin foil and re-warm in oven when you're ready to serve.

Goodbye September

What a great month it has been! I wanted to leave September showing you a cute project kit I've put together with the Stampin' Up! Primary Colors kit for $30. The vibrant colors remind me of elementary school...Real Red, Ballet Blue, Wild Wasabi & More Mustard. Everything you see here is included and minimal stamping is required. You'll be left with 3 sheets of coordinating stickers, 2 sheets of patterned paper & matching textured card stock. Coordinating stamp sets: Elementary Essentials, ABC Images. If you are interested in purchasing a kit, please contact me.

Card inspired by the cover of CARDS magazine (Sept issue)
Clipboard with a photo of our nephew Kelby
Soup can converted into a handy pencil holder
Pockets for all your neat tags

The Candy Shoppe

We stopped at this cute little Candy Shoppe in Kimberley, BC on our way back from summer holidays. I just had to take photos of all the colorful and delicious stuff...just like 'a kid in a candy store' (corny, I know)

Summer Holidays

For our annual family summer holiday, we took a camping trip to Christina Lake for 10 days in August. We stayed at Camp Beverly Hills...they were very hospitable, had a great play area for the kids and it was a few blocks from the lake. We had a wonderful time with the Craig family & Hill family! The Craigs
The Hills

Camping Kids

As a kid, I have such fond memories of summer holidays...we're hoping our kid will too. All of these kiddos had a fun time and got along great!

Brendan pulling Ace, Scarlett & Jarilyn

Ace & Jarilyn
Charlie
Jackie
Brendan
Jarilyn & Jordyn
Scarlett & Jax
Jarilyn & Scarlett

Misc Camping Pics

Scarlett & Ace when we visited the largest truck in Sparwood, BC.

Adam, Jenny, Cam, Tara, me & Cory...holding a sign that said 'We Miss You Guys', meant for our friends the Allan Family who couldn't make it on the camping trip this year. We had wireless internet at the campground (which I loved) and we emailed them this photo since we were thinking of them.
Scarlett's first ever ice cream cone!
Bear print...he visited our campsite a few nights in a row looking for food!
Mmmmm....
Roasted Marshmallows!
Water balloons

Hangin' by the fire...this became our ritual every night: bath, fire & bed.