Extreme Make Over-home Edition Saturday!

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Calls Us!!

This was a weekend to remember to say the least!. Thursday November 8th I received a message on my cell phone--the message said Hi this is KK Gregory with Extreme Makeover Home Edition and we would like to know if you guys would make a scrapbook for this family we are making a house for. It's really short notice but would you call me back." Not really getting the drift of the whole message. I called back this girl and said "now what do you want us to do?". She said they were working on a house and could we come get some photos they had found and scrapbook them. I still thought she was from some TV station in KS justing doing a little Makeover project, but I said sure we could do that. She said "Stop by the set and get the photos". Ok, I got the address and called Ali. Ali was on her way to Nebraska to the Siver Bella with Kara Ward and up until this moment she was thrilled to be going. Then I told her we were definitely working with the REAL Extreme Home Make Over ABC and she about flipped out. Now Linda and I were already stressing out because that weekend we were decorating the store for Holiday Open House and debuting the Creative Cafe and having a Cinderella Crop and ALi was GONE!!! Not that we are all attached to the hip--but really we are to make this store run great. I told Ali to get out of the car and stand on the highway and we would pick her up. Ok, so she didn't go for that (or Kara wasn't going to let her out of the car) So she and I played phone tag getting the ball rolling. Ali immediately called K & Co and they donated leather album and paper and embellishments and a several beautiful wood frames AND and keepsake wooden box with Marine emblem on front. Thank God that Jodi from K& Co even brought all that to the store. I arrived at the store about 4:30pm and called Linda who didn't have a clue what was about to hit her. Ali's husband knew where this house was so he lead the way for Linda, my Granddaughter Lexie and I. Now they have everything blocked off for blocks so Tom delivered us to the "Volunteer Check In Station", we told the guy there we needed to see KK that she had called us to meet her for scrapbooks. He looked at us like we were surely not going to try to use that made up story to get by him. He called security and to his surprise the person on the other radio told him to give us VIP badges and put us on a bus to go to the house. Ok, we thought KK would have someone hand over the pictures but no one knew what or who we were, so they had us walk to to the spectator area. It's all blocked off with metal fences and no one can get past them, but they let us though to the VIP tent where they radio KK and she says to meet us back up the hill at the trailer. So up the hill we go huffing and a puffing (two fat girls aren't make for walkn up and down hills) This darling little girl with an Elmer Hud hat on meets us and treats us like long lost relatives (I mean relatives you really like) She gives us the pictures in a says come on and I'll give you a tour of the set. I was thinking heck no we have to get back and get started because we hadn't even started decorating the store for the Open House tomorrow,but off we trailed behind her. My little Lexie was now having the time of her life and Linda and I couldn't believe KK was now walking us across the street on to the front yard of the HOUSE! She walked us behind the house and showed us the tents where they do metal and woodwork and the producer trailers and the Grip trailer with camera equipment. Then she took us inside Johnny's trailer and insisted we eat at the food tent while she got a disc for us.
Then Johnny walked by and she grabbed him and she "Please meet the Sisters". He was thrilled I'm sure >LOL Linda and I really didn't know who he was so we didn't fall all over him,so when he walked away KK says "are you guys familiar with the show?" By now she thinks we are true hicks . I kept thinking we got to get out of here if we have any chance of getting this book made by 5 Pm Friday. I have to admit it was all pretty amazing the team work, they have everything timed into fifteen minute segments so they know if they are even 3 minutes behind. When we were are the front of the house there was no sod when we came back around there was grass, flowers and trees. Its like Alice in Wonderland. So amazing and thrilling. We trekked back up the hill and back on the bus back to our car. Now panic sets in!! How will we ever get the store cleaned up and decorated, food and snacks ready and make this book???
Linda's wonder husband and son had already hung the banners while we were gone so I went to my office and started research on Daniel and the makeover stories while Linda took over the store and Open House details. Luckily, Sheila and Suzanne were in the store so they jumped on board to help with the albums. There were very few photos to work with and they were not very not quality so I thought how in the world are we going to make a great book out of only these few pictures. Now they are in no order and made no sense to us, so Suzanne laid them out on the table and make grouping out of them the best she could. Then we divided them and Suzanne, Sheila and I were to make TEN layout each and off they went. We synchronized our watches and said to meet back at the store by 3:30pm Friday and then we would put all out work together and deliver to the house by 5Pm Friday. Oh MY GOD I thought to myself, there is know way we can possibly get this all done and my mind went totally blank when I looked at those few little pictures I was left to work with. Now Ali, was about in tears that she wasn't here to help work on this so I told her I would use her Patriotic Album, that's when I thought it would be soooo neat to make it into an Extreme Makeover Home Edition for Danny's house. Small problem, I had NO pictures of that at all!! I searched on the web for pics and any information about Danny until 2:30am then I had to drive home to St. Joseph because my little Lexie (Who had been working with Linda and Kyle pricing and decorating the store) had a school program on Friday, where she was to receive two honor awards. Lexie and I arrived at home by 3:30am and I tried to sleep. I got up a 7am and tried to wake Lexie but she was a zombie and she cried because she wanted to be a part of helping Danny . She said she could get an award any day but she could never do this again, so what could I do but load her back in the car and we drove back to the store. I worked frantically on the Make Over book and as time was slipping by Linda helped me finish the layouts I had accepted from Suzanne. 3:30pm Time never flew by so quickly before I swear---- Sheila,her sister, and Suzanne arrive and we all put our work on the tables. It was truly amazing what we had all done in such a short time. They were awesome and we stood and stared. We had finished about 35 layouts and they looked so good all together. Linda and I really didn't think we should be absent when we were having an Open House so we stayed to Greet everyone and we really had a fun time. About 8:45pm KK called from the set and said the Marines where at the house and really want to see the albums could we bring them right over. GEEZE! Linda and I tell everyone we have to go and ran out the doors with the EK Success Basket, the box, the Big Framed photos, and the two albums. Kyle (Linda's son) was at the wheel with Lexie riding shotgun.
This time we drove up to the guards and told them KK told us to come Right Away. They radio down to the House and say "the Sisters are here". (by now we think we are Nuns or something, especially with all the VIP treatment we are receiving) We hear "Send them on down" and he motions for us to drive down the street where the house sets. (now keep in mind that No One but No One can go down that street) so we are totally surprised.
An officer is in front of the House and there is a tiny space between two other cars directly in front of the house that he motions Kyle to pull into. PANIC! He wants Kyle to drive in nose first not back in. Kyle about has a heart attack, because there are hundreds of people over on the other side of the street behind gates watching every move and here we are fix'n to get stuck between to vehicles. Yes, you guessed it, we had to pull in and out and in and out. Finally, the officer moved and had Kyle back in. Whew! We jump out of the car and KK is right at the door dying to get her hands on the Albums. We are hoping they even make sense, because we had no idea what order to put them in. She immediately starts crying and all the Marines surround the car. It was heartwarming to see how touched they were as they look at each and every picture. Pictures that we thought, how will we make that look good they were ooing and ahhing over. They took out flashlights and held them over the books so all could see. They laughed and joked and reminisced. We knew then and there it was all worth the effort, what a blessing that moment was. I forgot to tell you that "the producers" really didn't want a "scrapbook". They had framed some military things of Danny's and consider themselves good to go, but KK had a friend die in the War and she is a "scrapper" so she kind of called us in ooff the record. She said she just knew how important a scrapbook with all his unit and the accident pictures would mean to Danny and she was sure the producers would like it once they saw how much Danny loved it. As the Marines were hovered over the car and KK was crying, Johnny walked by and wanted to know what was going on, so he stared looking at the Scrapbooks and he was also very touched. So KK was right, they did love the Scrapbooks once they saw them and the reaction to them. KK and the Marines took all the frames and Scrapbooks into the finished house into Danny's new Military themed office and looked at everything again. Then KK came out and told Linda, Kyle, Lexie and I we could just go in the house and look around or whatever we wanted to do!! WOW, can you believe that? We couldn't, but we approached the front doors like Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. We timidly opened the front doors waiting for the OZ to holler at us, but to the contraire we stood in the open doorway speechless (and if you know our family that is a miracle). I know how great these houses look on TV but believe me when I say nothing prepares you for how amazing they are in person. I can't tell you the details but WOW WOW WOW!! We drifted through each room not thinking anything could top that and then the next room would me a new surprise. Really it felt like we were in some kind of a dream, the way everyone let us do whatever we wanted and treated us like part of the crew. My little Lexie still hasn't recouped. As we were going out the back yard, KK comes out and says the Marines loved what we did so much they wanted to know if we could possibly frame a Marine T Shirt that had VERY important autographs on it. I said "No problem" as my sister nearly kicked me. As we got back in the car she said, "were on earth or we going to go to get that shadow boxed by noon tomorrow (Sat)?" Well, I thought if God was doing all this for us and Danny surely He would help us find someone to do it in time. The PRESSURE was back on.---the "Rest of the Story" on the next slide show.

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

sunday May 20 feed baby goat

had a new baby at the barn today, Lexie and Key got to feed him. They were so excited. Really the little guy is very cute and soft. His Mama keep close eye on those kids! Well, I had to hurry and drop the kids off so I could get to the store and work on putting more page kits together. It was a beautiful day. Wish I had more daylight so I could have ridden my horse when I got back into town.

Friday, May 18 Shower the pigs

Friday, May 18, the kids and I stopped to feed the horses before we went home to work in the yard. Keyshawn was to water the horse, but when I got to the paddock there he was teasing the pigs with the water spray. Now that is much more fun than the horses! Those nasty pigs smell bad dry but when you wet them down, lord help us.



























I told you the story of the kids trying to out run the herd of goats, well here is a pic of the goats....



















and this is Mr Billy Goat. He's really a funny guy but he smells so bad if you pet him the smell stays on even after Lysol and Clorox.














When the kids starting running they were up there under the announcer tower and had to run the length of this pasture to hurdle the fence. I think its great practice for football running backs (or what ever those guys are called)

yard party

Today my next door neighbor had a Graduation Party in both our back yards. We have been working like crazy the last week to clean up the yard and get our flower gardens in tip top shape! We both like the same type of statuary and we both have water gardens and English Flower gardens so it looks like our yards are really one big area. This is a picture of about 1/2 my yard looking from my porch over to their yard. I wish I would have take a pic of my 1200 pound water fountain that I truly love. Well, maybe another time. The yard was really cute. We had a gazebo and she had 32 American Girl Dolls all over the yards. One was on each table and then tucked into the flower beds all around. Keyshawn and Lexie had a ball. Lexie because she got to dress up in rhinestone gaucho pants and shoes (I didn't let her were the princess tiara I thought that was a bit much for a yard party) and keyshawn because of all the food.It was alot of work but at least it forced me to get the yard into shape for the summer.

keyshawn school program

Tonight Keyshawn had his school program with his Kindergarden class. Those are always so funny to watch. Keyshawn's favorite part was the punch and cookies afterwards! We stoppped by the farm to feed the horses. Lexie and Keyshawn jumped over the fence into the goat turnout. They were having a ball running they goats until the old billy goat got a wiff of Keyshawn and thought he was a male challenging his herd. The old goat put down his head and head towards Keyshawn. Keyshawn's little eyes about popped out of his head, but he slowly backed up and Billy goat walked away. The goats walked about 25 feet away with the kids following after them. Suddenly, someone drove up to the barn and honked the horn. That's the signal for the goats to get fed, so the whole herd whirled around and with lightening speed took out running toward the gates. The kids stood there in shock and then reality hit and they turned and started running as fast as their feet could go. The goats were gaining on them. Those poor kids were screaming and running and the goats were coming and coming. I was laughing til I thought I would wet my pants! The Billy Goat was in the lead and on the kids heals. Lexie got about a foot from the 3 foot fence and just threw herself over it like an Olympic Jumper. Keyshawn climbed it in a flash of the eye and none too soon. The old goat ramped the fence right behind them. Lexie was laying on the grass and Keyshawn hanging on the the fence with dear life. I couldn't stop laughing. Even the thought of it now makes me crack up! Oh course the kids didn't think it was too funny, but I tell ya it made my day.

Mothers Day at the Farm

I had a wonderful Mothers Day today! Blue ( my blue healer) and I got up before daybreak,it was semi dark and very peaceful around the neighborhood. I made a great cup of coffee and we sat out on the back porch and watched the squirrels and birds. (Ok, I really have turned into my Grandmother,but what the heck! I really enjoy watching the birds fly through the yard, each one with their own flight plan.) I love listening to the sound of my water cascading into the pond and the little wrens twiddling to each other across the yard. I had over 20 yellow finches and a couple of bluebirds show up the other day! I am hoping the Blue Birds are a good sign. I have a 1200 pound water fountain that the neighbors swear I stole from the Plaza that the birds love to splash and shower in it and it attracts all kinds of birds. Sitting on that porch is so peaceful and beautiful. My oldest daughter, Sabrena, called me from an airport where she is heading to Alaska to wish me a happy Mothers Day and tell me she loved me. (Friday she had sent me the most beautiful blue hydrangea I had ever seen. ) then Tiff called and she and Lexi took me to Famous Daves to "pig out". Tiff surprised me with a handmade gift that she was so proud of. Lexi couldn't hardly wait for me to open it, she was dying to tell. I opened the sack and pulled out the "Somebody's Hero Purse" from Sheila's class. It wasn't even completed, but it meant the world to be. Tiff doesn't" make things " and she has never made anything with Scrapbooks. She has been secretly working on the book by herself . She was so proud of her accomplishment of making the whole purse and the first 3 pages. (I think she is hooked now!) She wrote a very heart wrenching sentiment on the outside tag and asked me if I would help her shrink pictures of me and her for the inside and she is going to journal in it. Tiff writes poetry beautifully. That was a very touching moment for my heart. After leaving Famous Daves'
Lexie and I picked up Keyshawn and headed for the Farm. We have 5 horses and I have been too busy with the store to get out and ride them yet this year. I promised Lexie i would take her this weekend, but as usual I really was too tired and too hot to want to go. Needless to say, we went! This is the first time this year to bring them in from the pasture, so we had to walk about a quarter of a mile just to catch them and walk them in. Then we had to get the saddles and blanket etc out. I am out of shape and breath! After an hour of prep work off we went. It really was alot of fun once we hit the trail. Upon arriving back at the stables, both the kids insisted we give the horses a bath which turned into a water fight. The pigs were squealing and we were all of laughing. keyshawn couldn't resist jumping over the gate to chase the baby goats. We did have a lot of fun , but I was worn out (as you can see from my beautiful picture). Life on the Farm ain't it glamorous!

nunsense

I was Mother Superior in "Nunsence" last fall and it made a lasting impression on my granddaughter Lexie. She loves going to the theater to practice with me and she helped me learn all the songs and dances. It cracked her up seeing me in the "Habit" especially when I had the play the part of "getting high on glue". Here are some pictures of me and the group. My favorite is the one of us with our robes hiked up and sitting in front of a fan to cool off. Let me tell you, having hot flashes in a Habit is hell! Ten years ago I played the same part and didn't even break a sweat. Thought I would die dancing and singing and hot flashes ta boot. i was scrapping and Lexie came around the corner in my costumes. She of course knows the whole script, so I took a break and she intertained me as I took these precious pics.

National Scrapbook Crop

Last weekend was fast and furious for Linda and I. We not only had the 3 day national scrapbook crop but Linda's son, Kyle, also graduated from William Jewel. After much hemming and hawing (are those words?)_ we decided that we both could be at the crop Friday night , but Saturday I should stay at the crop while Linda went to the graduation with the rest of the family.
Friday night Linda, Ali , Tiff and I had a blast hosting the Crop. Everyone had bling rings and feathers in their hair. Linda and Ali rolled out a big cart with mini totes filled with goodies and passed them out to everyone. We had great prizes every hour -- several of which were big bowls filled with Pebbles product. Linda handed Jenny the first bowl and then Jenny demonstrated how all the product worked. What fun! I always intend to get sooo much designing done while I am at the crop but that never happens. I don't know where the time goes, but it flys by! At the end of the night Linda, Tiff and I treated all the women to a Mini Spa--Now that was a sight to see let me tell ya. You know these are suppose to be calm and quite with Zen music drifting in the background BUT THEN YOU have Linda and I with our very demure voices directing the whole experience! Needless to say it was not quite. Linda and I cracked up just telling them how this was all going to work. First everyone "came to the hand spa area" (the sink) and washed exfoliated their hands-then moisturizing lotion. After they left the hand spa they strolled over to the foot spa area. Everyone took off their shoes and applied lotion, then wrapped their feet in plastic and were given warmed socks. Tiffany demonstrated applying Lip a Peel and then treated everyone to their own Lip experience! Cold eye presses and everyone laid back and we treated all to individual hand massages and hot packs on their necks. The pictures are blackmail I know, but what fun we had and what a personal experience we had with everyone. Everyone left relaxed and with alot of laughs in their pockets!
Sat. Ali and I held down the fort while Linda went to Kyle's graduation. His ceremonies lasted from morning til night, Linda was running from one corner of the campus to the other. The part Kyle and Linda were really looking forward to was "Walking the Grounds",it's a big tradition at William Jewel. She said everything was beautiful, but the most impressive was the Church Service. She said I really missed out on that one. Minutes into the program she wished I was there. It never fails does it? The one thing you miss -- turns out to be the greatest thing ever happened! Well, Angie (her daughter) ran all over the campus capturing the day and soon I will post those pictures. Kyle left for Europe for his "last fling" before corporate USA.
Meanwhile back at the store-- Ali and I played "Lets Make A Deal" where croppers got to choose a door with a prize, then some times we gave them the option to give that back and choose the ? Door. We gave away $100 certificates, leather albums, paper kits, Pebbles Product Baskets, Purses--well it was a hoot. Ali and I laughed til we cried! Everyone also received a $15 page kit and a $30 Summer Fun Album Kit. I started cooking Roast, potatoes and carrots for supper about 1pm, the aroma filled the air and everyone that came in the door wanted to stay for supper. I wanted the carrots and potatoes to get really brown and yummy like all our Mothers use to do and all was going so well. Then Tiff came and said Mom the potatoes I "falling apart" so I turned it off and told everyone "come and get it". After a few minutes, someone asked if the potatoes were suppose to be "crunchy"!!!! I looked a Tiff (with that Motherly I am going to kill you look) and she said "MoM really poked one and it fell apart". My dreams of that perfect Roast were crushed. Needless to say , into the microwave they went.
Sunday, Tonya won the Making Memories $300 set. Oh, she was so excited. Everyone had a wonderful time!

Disney Class Wed. May 2

look out Action News!

This morning Ali, Linda and I had a scrappbooking segment on Action News. Last night Ali about had a cow worry'n about the whole thing! I kept telling her time would fly by and we wouldn't even get to say 1/8 the things we wanted to. (Linda says I have a skewed view because I work at a TV station in St. Joseph, so going on live really doesn't bother me.) Besides, everyone that knows me, knows I could talk for hours on end and still have something else I want to say. Anyway, back to the trip to Action News; We took 6 albums , Kara's very cool new flowers and a card for Bret to make on TV. It was really very fun and our table looked very nice thanks to all our very talented design team members. Linda and Ali were taking pictures everywhere, the poor camera men didn't know what we were albout, but they were very kind. Bret was alot of fun and easy to talk to. We found out his wife loves scrapp'n so we hope to get her to our store. Linda sat down to wait and watch ; she tried to strike up a conversation with a very prim "Quilter"sitting next to her, but the lady wasn't having any part in striking up a conversation with a "Scrapper". (Really, Linda usually is very in control but that lady was in danger of getting punched in the nose!) Now that would have been Action News! Before we knew it they were giving us the signal for live TV and poof there skinny and beautiful (LOL) Ali and I were for all of KC to see! Ali was praing she could speak and I was praying I didn't forget the name of the products and look really stupid. As I predicted the time flew by and I can't even really think of what we really talked about. I hope we didn't sound to stupid---and I really hope all those chins of mine didn't show up as badly as they did in our photos! In a blink of an eye the cameras moved off us and the Chef was rolled on behind us. Ali now has the bug and wants to "do it again". Hopefully they will ask us back again.
Linda and I went back to the store and worked like mad women on the new page kits we are desperatly trying to get out. We still have a ton of things we want to get done for this week end CROP----everyone that doesn't show up will really be miss'n out I can tell you that for sure. Well it is very late, probably all the spelling is terrible but I am to tired to even do spell check. Talk ta ya all later-- have a great day and take time to enjoy the day .

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