What is it about kids and hot cocoa?

I love when the kids go out to play in the snow (like they are today!). Not just because they come in all rosy cheeked and giddy...but because I get to make them hot cocoa with marshmallows. I am the hero because I give them each 2 big marshmallows. Gosh, I love that. :)

Blessings to you and your'n!

:) hp

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...finally!

We finally had the chance to drive up to Richardson's Tree Farm last night and pick out a tree. It is the most fragrant fir and it is GLORIOUS! Unfortunately, it also weighs about a 100lbs and almost broke my hubby's back pulling it off the van. Uhm...sorry luv. The foliage is so thick...I didn't factor in potential weight when choosing. Whoops.

No worries tho'. She has a few quirks as all of our trees do...a little lean for example, and a trunk too big for the stand. Double whoops. :) A few minutes with the chain saw and quite a bit of tree wrestling and she's home! Decoration begins tonight! :)

Oh, and did I mention fragrant? Any one want to come over and smell some Christmas magic? ;)

good tidings to you,

hp

Giving a shout out....

...to Trish and the wonderful team over at Work in Progress Kits (the blog).

There are SO many blogs talking about scrapbooking and crafts and home decor and holiday activities and home care and...the list goes on and on. Believe me when I tell you I've looked at dozens of these sites....maybe even a couple hundred?!! (egad.) I've admired many, followed a bunch, have been overwhelmed by the vast majority. BUT. There is a haven for the homespun scrappily inclined: It's the WIP blog. Yes, her kits are wonderful (unfortunately, I almost always have already acquired the contents myself..another 'egad'.), but it's the content I love the most. Trish and her team are so relaxed and comfortable in their approach, you just want to pour yourself some java and snuggle in for a good read. Keep up the awesome work galz! You are a daily 'must' for me! :)

Ready. Set. SHOOT!

Given my lackluster performance behind the lense during the Thanksgiving holiday I hesitate to even bring this up...tho' I DO have some wonderful stories to share; for example:

On a train trip into the city my brother-in-law turned to my son and asked "Are you okay with a 50 minute train ride?" Without pause Sam turned to him and said "The ride's okay but I don't know about spending 50 minutes with you."

PRICELESS!

Anywho....amongst all of my other "I'm going to do better this year!" wishes for the season I really want to do a better job with our photo journey. Yes, get the candid shots...but, it's OK to ask for people to pose. There are some great ideas over at DPS (the Digital Photography School) here. I want to take pictures of the food, the decorating, the presents...but i want to take pictures of the process more this year. The hows and whys and wheres...why DO I collect santa's for the mantal?

What's your plan? I'd love to hear about it.

Warm wishes for the week to you and yours,
:) h

ACK!! I forgot!!

I forgot to take a picture of the bird!! I ALWAYS take a picture of the bird...well, not always obviously. How can I tend to all the kitchen responsibilites and still remember to take pictures? Argh!! Let's jot down some memory tickles....

• Uncle Ed and the Gerritsens over...kids playing Wii inside and tag outside (in 30F weather). Guys watching football. Women folk cooking and talkin' kids and scrapbooking in the kitchen; Sam starting grace at dinner; Abby gobbling her first crescent roll. 
• As for food: Day before prep: pumpkin cheesecake, cranberry salad, potatoes with mascarpone and roast garlic; Day of: Turkey, stuffing, green beans, apple/spinach/bluechz/toasted pecan salad, rolls, dips, the best gravy ever (recipe follows)!
• Day after: leftovers. ;)
• By the third day all of the rich food is kicking my butt to the treadmill...but I took a nap instead. 2 HOURS. 

I'm SO thankful for my husband and my kids and our family and friends... I'm even thankful for life's craziness.  Thank you Father.

UFO Sighting!!

Nope. Sorry...not referring to extraterrestrials. :) Quilters will recognize 'UFO' as 'unfinished fabric object'. I shamelessly adapted the acronym as a title for my monthly scrap classes: Unfinished Foto Object. :) Come on! It works! Every month, 8-10 of us get together and scrap a summary layout of the previous month's activities. As a result, we'll have a year in review album no matter how much other scrappin' we're able to accomplish thereby satisfying the Mom Rule of Relaxation: sure, it can be fun, but it has to be productive! :)

Below you'll find the November class example (October pics of course). All the products are CTMH with spiders and "crew" cut on the Cricut. Inspiration for the left-hand page comes from the uber talented Becky Fleck (Page Maps, Vol. 1). Enjoy! :) -hp

Pictures galore!!

So you don't think I've just been sitting on my tush for the last month :) thought I'd post some pics of recent projects.

This is a banner (shown 'rolled' up) I made for my daughter's first birthday. I got the overall banner measurements for yet another self-paced class at Big Picture! :)

This is a card I made for a challenge during the Crop Chocolate first "official" online crop!! I used the new Echo Park Wintertime paper pack...the mittens and "Let it Snow" tag are from that pack! The "Snow friends" stamp, cardstock and white hemp are CTMH.

This is one of my favorites!!! It's my holiday organization box. Includes tabs and cards for Halloween on thru the new year. This project was part of a "Saving Your Sanity" class with Jen Mohler over at Big Picture. She had hers in a file box...I like the basket, don't you think? It was so fun to make....now I need to USE IT!!!

NOTE!!! Big Picture is celebrating 5 years this week!!! So far we've had 50% off two classes with more goodies to come!! Check it out!

I'll post more in a bit!

cheers!
:) hp

Shhhh! Do you hear that?!

I feel like I'm standing on the precipice: the beginning of the holiday season. You wait and wait and wait as the roller coaster car slowly makes it's agonizing crawl to the highest peak. Then you hover there..enjoying the scenery and hoping you can capture at least one moment of bliss before you're hurtled through space to the new year. Hear that faint jingling?...you're about to go!

How can we slow it down!!?? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

TWO Day Crop!!!

All day crops. I LOVE them! I host them. Problem is the time required of course. You have family…commitments…tough to pull away and find someone to fill in for you while you go create! Enter the online crop! The best part? You don’t have to do anything or go anywhere!! When you have the chance, you sit down, log in, and enter a challenge or two. It’s completely free and you can win prizes!!

My favorite scrap deal website is hosting a TWO DAY crop this coming weekend, Nov. 6 and 7. 48 hours of challenges, games, prizes, and chat! Come join the fun!!!

All you need to participate in the Online Crop and to be eligible for the prizes is to have an active CC account with a valid e-mail address. It will be part shopping, part crafting, part challenges, and completely fun! Come play to win some prizes, complete some projects (layouts, cards, altered items--you know finally use up some of you stash), and have some fun! There will also be some fun mini-games and activities going on under the Sweet Talk section of the website throughout the weekend, so make sure to stop by Sweet Talk and check them out too.

Can't make it for the whole weekend? No worries! The main challenges will be posted beginning on Saturday November 6th at 11:00 AM (CST) on the main page and it will alternate a challenge, then a SWEET deal, then another challenge, etc. If you miss a challenge on the main page they are always accessible under the "past deals" section of the website. The deadline for the submission of projects to be considered for prizes for the challenges is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, 2010 11:59 PM MST unless an earlier deadline is stated. That is approximately 24 hours after the crop ends. The challenges will be posted between 11:00 AM and 11:00 PM (cst) on Saturday Nov 6th and 11:00 AM and 7:00 PM (cst) on Sunday Nov 7th.

Hope to see you there!!

http://www.cropchocolate.com/

:) hp

BOO!!

Surprised? :)

Who knew three kids could be so time consuming? They're keeping me from blogging for pete's sake. ;)

I have been creating however....for Halloween! There is something about Halloween scrapbook paper...yummy yum yum!! And who knew I'd fall in love with glitter NOW?! Shouldn't that have been a phase in my teens or something?

I have two projects to showcase for you. One, a garland which began as some Martha Stewart glow in the dark letters I found on clearance. I added fabulous, rich halloween papers (does anyone recognize the brand?), chipboard, GLITTER, etc. and voila! :)

And, of course, I had to go over the top for teacher gifts too!! Last year I felt so sick I couldn't do much of anything and our teachers and bus drivers deserve some goodies! I used a wonderful Close to My Heart stamp set and cardstock (new colors!!!!), Echo Park paper (love LOVE it!!!), Martha's double-edge spiderweb punch, GLITTER, and a freebie Ali Edwards halloween digi. Oh, and I found the buckets in the dollar aisle at Target several weeks ago. sigh. ...they just make me happy. :)

Happy Halloween!!!

:) hp

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Let us be glad and rejoice.

Today is absolutely spectacular in my book...about 62F, sunny, slight breeze, the smell of burning leaves in the air. Sorry, you sun lovers....for me, it doesn't get any better than this.

Hope you get to enjoy it!
:) heather

What was I thinking?!!

I'm trying to do too many things at once of course....but I LOVE these! I signed up for two strictly 'me' activities during the month of October:

1. Saving your Sanity: Throughout the Holiday Season with Jen Mohler over at Big Picture Classes. Two or three activities a week...all crafty, all aimed at starting holiday prep EARLY so you can savor it. This class is so perfect for me I can't even stand it!! I even went a little overboard with the first assignment. :)

Yes, I know the picture is 90 degrees off....I'm not goingt to take the time to fix it. See? Streamlining already. :)

2. Layout a Day with Lain Ehmann. Not only is she as cute as a button, but she is so incredibly creative and motivational. No, I won't be able to do one layout every day...but the daily inspiration in and of itself is my tonic.

Hope you're having a blessed day,

:) heather

Just a few words about running....

Yep, half marathon was two days ago and I haven't looked at my running shoes since. :)

I have a dirty little secret tho'....I miss it. Shhhhh. I miss the good runs...the great runs...when I'm outside and the weather is cool and the sun peeks out from behind intermittent clouds; when my shorts don't ride up and I've remembered to load my shuffle with the latest podcasts. The best run I had during the entire 26 weeks of training?: the vast park land around Larado Taft in Oregon, IL. The trees let in just enough sunlight, the path was soft enough to give my old knees some relief and the views along the river were lovely. I'm getting nostalgic just thinking about it. :)

Of course, in retrospect...running in the woods out in the middle of nowhere probably wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done (worse then running in the dark at home :) ), but I did keep campers and/or traffic within shouting distance. Next time I'm bringing mace....

So...I will dust off my shoes as soon as my cold is done and go for a 4 miler. Who knows? Maybe my friend Tonya and I will make the LZ Half and annual thing...at least until I'm old enough to place in my age category.

cheers,
-hp

A few of my favorite things.....

I have a secret. A friend of a friend of a friend of mine hosts a crop 'camp' twice a year and my friend invited me. Batta bing, batta boom...last weekend I was sitting in the science 'lab' (it's hosted at a wilderness camp) cropping for 15 straight hours!!! (minus meals and a run :) ) Fabulous!!!! Here are some of my favs....

            

Sigh. I love camp.

happily,
hp

What happened?!!

Yet, somehow I knew it would happen. 3 weeks (gulp) since my last post. Honestly, it was almost an exercise in not feeling guilty about not doing something you really don't have to do. HOWEVER, it does bring me joy to share the quirks and gaps (!) in my brain. Amy over at the Idea Room (www.theidearoom.net) just posted a super easy Halloween project she made with dollar store finds. She's always doing stuff like that. With four kids (or is it five) she readily admits her house (and kids) aren't always as tidy and organized as pictured...but I'm not convinced. Why not?! I accept it intellectually as "duh, of course", but emotionally I'm wrapped up in my own inadequacies. Incidentally, I'm sure you realize this is purely a female trait. Aargh! We are our own worst enemies...to ourselves and to each other. Don't even get me started on nursing versus bottle feeding. :)

Anywho (my favorite transition word), I promise the next post will be both punctual and happy. :) Only five hours of sleep last night (teething baby and sick 8 yr old) is addling my brain.

(Side bar: don't you love that word "addling"?)

Enjoy the day!
hp

I love this little album!!

For her 8th birthday, my daughter wanted to scrapbook with her friends (wonder where she got that idea?!)!! So I bought up a bunch of the MyCreations 3-ring binder from Close to My Heart, set out paper, markers and adhesive and let the girls go to town! With a little help from me on page design, they each created a 'My Favorite...' book complete with pictures (requested via the party invitation), titles, and journaling!

The albums each come with 5 tabbed pages (no sleeves) and you can add a bunch more if you'd like (and we did). And the album cover is chipboard which can be decorated, covered, glammed, written on, painted, distressed...you name it! (Chipboard is almost my favorite scrap material in the whole wide world...love...it.) The best part? This fabulous little book perfect for 4x6 photos of a trip or a reunion or a birthday party... is UNDER $6!!!!

Whew! Let me stop and fan myself. :) Oo oo oo...they make the best gift albums too!!! Soo quick to put together for your favorite new mom:

or your very best dad:

Yes you CAN scrapbook. It really is this easy!

happy day to you!
-h

Updated: Back to School Teacher Gift!!

As requested...here are the steps I took to make the Rollo Pencil. :)

"Shop your stash!", as they say, to gather up some supplies. I used the "School Zone" stamp set from CTMH to add my sentiments. Too cute! Don't forget to buy at least one roll of Rollos (I bought one extra for scrap snacking) for the pencil base and a small (?!) bag if Hershey's kisses for the pencil tip. (I forgot to include both in the picture!)

Next, you'll need some kind of circle cutter to make the tip of your eraser (the "red" circle below) along with what looks like a washer (I used CTMH Bamboo cardstock (cs)...looks pretty close to pencil wood).

NOTE: I'm not going to include too many actual sizes because they will vary somewhat with candy packaging. e.g. Your 'washer' will require some trial and error to get it just right. You'll see why below.

The perfect pencil shade happens to be CTMH Honey cardstock (in my opinion)...that kind of a yellowy orange that is neither yellow or orange. :) Cut your cs to fit around the Rollos (mine is 3.5" x 4.25"ish); stamp the sentiment; and score lines every 1/2 along the length (creates the slight angles on your pencil stem).

Reassemble your ingredients. Note, I've added a "red" (actually CTMH Tulip cs) strip for the 'sides' of your pencil's eraser and a small strip of aluminum foil (use your trimmer to cut a 3/4" wide strip, fold that strip in 1/2 along the length - effectively doubling the thickness of your foil).

Use some sturdy adhesive on both ends of your 'orange' cs and roll up your Rollos!

NOTE: I used both a 3L tape runner and CTMH Liquid Glass - tape holds the paper in place while the glue dries. You don't need much of the liquid glue at all.

Voila! Your pencil base. Note, one end of the Rollos is flush with the paper (actually recessed a bit), while the other (the eraser end) sticks out.

Remember the washer we cut? You need to cut out about 150 degrees of the circumference so your pencil tip cover isn't too thick.

Roll it up into a cone and adhere onto the kiss (I used one glue dot on the kiss).

Ready to assemble tip to base?

Again I used a glue dot.

Now for the eraser: adhere the "red" strip around the exposed end of the Rollos then add the "red" circle as the eraser end.

Apply some adhesive to your aluminum foil strip and wrap the seam between "orange" and "red" papers.

And here's your finished project! I presented it in a cello bag (kids holding onto it might melt the Rollos in this heat) along with a note. I decorated the note using other stamps from the "School Zone" set. 

Thanks for reading and have fun!!

Back to school gift!

"How did you do dat?" Part Deux

Told you these snippets would be irregular. :)

I found that I find (?!) inspiration pretty much EVERYWHERE! I've had to stop going to one of my favorite blogs (the Idea Room) because she does sooooooo many fun things that I would love to do but I simply don't have the time!

Something I can't give up?

 

Let me just take a moment to gush. :)

Imagine - a scrapbook sketch book from Close to My Heart. It gives you examples, cutting instructions, and precise dimensions. You're in a crunch for time but must get some memories on paper this (and any of the CTMH books really) is the guide for you! Beautiful pictures throughout the book just make me happy. :)

Page Maps - Becky Fleck has cornered the market on great sketches. Her books (#2 is due out in the fall and I've already preordered!) don't contain measurements but they are chock full of wonderful illustrations and examples. She has so opened up my creativity!

Scrapbooks Etc and Creating Keepsakes magazines - Oh happy day when these show up in my mailbox! They satisfy my craving to see what's new in the papercrafting world along with my secret obsession to see other people's scrapbooks. :) (Incidentally, CK has improved dramatically over the last year! I'm so glad I didn't drop my sub!)

The "Designing With" series of books from Autumn Leaves - Similar to Page Maps in that they don't give explicit instructions, these books just make me happy. :)

Life Artist by Ali Edwards - I love Ali's pages (who doesn't?!). Her simple, classic look is truly timeless and she definitely inspires me to get the STORY on the page and not just the pictures.

Whew! This is just the tip of the iceberg people, but they are my go to sources for a little inspiration...a little happy. Incidentally, if you want to borrow one of these, just let me know. I only need a credit card and two forms of ID....

Oh my.

Can I wax poetic for a moment? I simply have to mention the new pretzel M&Ms. Oh my. For starters, they're round...perfect little balls of goodness. They're not ovals, or peanut-shaped, or almond-shaped or little uneven blobs. Just lovely, symmetric, globes of happy. yuuuum. When you bite into one - and truly, you must eat them one at a time - it bursts open in your mouth and you savor a surprisingly even distribution of tasts and textures, salty and sweet...familiar, but not like this. First the chocolate coating....that M&M staple...then that salty explosion of pretzel. Oh my. I love malted milk balls for similar reasons but these are soooooooooooooo much better. Get a bag of happy. Trust me.

I don't get it.

Where do they get the time? Forgive me. This will be one of those posts that I’m writing more to myself…unless by some chance someone who is as crazy about scrapbooking as I happens to be reading it. :) And, I'm sleep deprived. Waaaaaaaaaaaay sleep deprived. And not by choice. :) So forgive me my sounding peeved. Here goes.

I don’t get it!! I’m listening to a podcast (paperclipping.com/roundtable) during which they respond to a question I had also submitted. How can you ‘break into’ the scrap industry? One comment from an industry insider can be summarized: “she had been submitting for 5 years before her exceptional work was picked up.” WHAT?! 5 years?!! Please! Who can do that? Have I been so warped from my corporate experience as to believe that this is in any way a positive, worthwhile pursuit?!! For her trouble, she’ll receive maybe $40/month in product. After trying for 5 years. Whoa. This ‘insider’ continued by describing how truly random your selection for a particular ‘call’ (whether to a magazine, for a manufacturer, or for a specific design team) is in reality.

Let me rephrase. Let’s say your work is absolutely stunning, but by some luck of the draw your summer layout of kids blowing bubbles happens to be the fifth one this editor has viewed today. Boom. It’s tossed aside simply because you weren’t looked at earlier in the process. The insider’s suggestion: don’t give up. Say what? Who has the time to submit for 5 YEARS?! I don’t even have the time to take pictures of my work!!!

I could ramble on and on and ON re: this topic (because besides creating, photographing and submitting I need to be posting, blogging, reading various forums, maintaining a gallery and keeping abreast of all the lastest news), but I really should be finishing the dishes then SLEEPING! Who ARE these people? Does someone else clean their house? Take care of their children? I don’t get it.

I Run.

Doesn't that sound so healthy? I could be this strong and athletic person who runs for fun. In truth...

I run:

• to the store, thru the store and home from the store
• to the mailbox
• to the bus stop
• up the stairs when a baby cries
• down the street after my dog
• to pick up my kids from wherever...

You get the idea. :) Actually, besides all of the crazy mundane running that we moms do everyday, my dear friend Tonya and I are training for the LZ Half Marathon. Yep. Two work at home moms who are taking the time to do something just for us. Without appendages. :) Unless you count the pregnancy pounds I'm still trying to lose.

Here I would insert an awesome picture of my running shoes. Which I took and now can't find. Guess my .jpg filing system needs some additional work. :)

Happy July!!

Where has the time gone!!? I wanted to at least post this month's workshop layout!

Details arriving shortly!! Happy scrappin'!

Yum-diddlicious!

There are those edibles you see as staples. There are soooo many recipes all making the same ‘thing’ but only one that can be THE one. For me, one of those must-have regulars is banana bread….and the must do recipe is “Banana Bread with Pecans” from Tyler Florence (www.foodnetwork.com).

Let’s start with the pecans. This is my addition to the recipe: TOAST the pecans first. Simple, of course, but oh so wonderful. Do you have a Pampered Chef bar pan? Spread out a single layer of pecans (shelled, of course) and nuke ‘em for 6 min (the unique nature of PCs bar pans will toast the bottom side too!). You’ll have perfectly toasted pecans….so perfect you won’t be able to keep your fingers out of em (especially still warm…mmmmmmmmm…..). So, with pecans in hand (and some in your mouth) here’s the recipe

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour


1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda


1/2 teaspoon salt


4 overripe bananas


1 cup sugar


3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled


2 large eggs 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped


Confectioners' sugar, for dusting


Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork in a small bowl so they still have a bit of texture. With an electric mixer fitted with a wire whisk, whip the remaining bananas and sugar together for a good 3 minutes; you want a light and fluffy banana cream. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla; beat well and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated; no need to overly blend. Fold in the nuts and the mashed bananas with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Give the pan a good rap on the counter to get any air bubbles out.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Don't get nervous if the banana bread develops a crack down the center of the loaf; that's no mistake, it's typical. Rotate the pan periodically to ensure even browning.

Cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes or so, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Toast the slices of banana bread, dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve.

3:30 am. Hello, growth spurt!

Yes, even at 7.5 months, her nibs will still occasionally wake me in the wee hours for a nosh. You might be surprised to note I could easily go scrapbook right now. :) BUT, mom will need to actually function in a few hours...so back to sleep I go. Still...if I'm unintelligible later...you'll know why....

"How did you do dat?": Part 1

I want to preface this series by saying:

1. The “parts” are in no particular order of importance.
2. The number of “parts” is indeterminate.
3. The appearance of “parts” will definitely be irregular. ;)

Because I teach workshops I obviously get asked a variety of questions (which I love incidentally…so keep ‘em comin’!). The ONE question I am asked without fail is “How did you DO that?”…or said another way “How did you come up with that?” So I thought I’d devote some blog space to the answer.

We all leave banana crazy hectic lives (unless you’re empty nesters….Lori I’m talking to you :) ). By the time you FIND the time to be creative you’re so bleepin’ tired it just ain’t gonna happen. Enter inspiration. What can I do, look at, read that’ll generate some creative juices? Today… it was a fun, little project. FUN. LITTLE. Get it? :) I took the adorable Echo Park ‘Sweet Summertime’ from a recent sweet Crop Chocolate order and made a thank you treat for our neighbor. It isn’t filled in the picture (**which I haven't included yet**), but wouldn’t jellybeans look adorable?! I’m not kidding when I tell you from beginning to end this project took 20 minutes….and as a result, my oldest was 20 min late for bed. :) AND as a result I’m itchin’ to print out some beach pics from last summer to use up more of this kit!!!

Give it a shot. Do a little make n take at your local scrap store (or your favorite scrapper friend’s house) or make a quick thank you card from your paper scraps. Trust me. The smell of the paper and stamps will lure you back in. Happy crafting!

And now a word from our Sponsor....

Wouldn't that be lovely? I'd feel like I'd hit the big time. :) I like to think my kids are my sponsors. Why? These words wouldn't be possible without them letting me breath a few minutes on the 'puter. :) I'm referring of course to the three little urchins who alternate between driving me completely batty and bringing me absolute joy.

Several years ago I met a dear friend who has now become an accomplished portrait photographer. Emily, stand up and take a bow. :) Her talent captures the pure joy to which I refer. Take a peek...

Tho' it did require my 5 year old to generate the giggles, everything else is pure Emily. The best part? She's a scrapper too!!! She KNOWS which shots I simply have to have to make the memory complete. You can find more inspiration from this wonderful gal on her website Emily Hernandez Photography. And if you're lucky enough to live nearby, she'll come to YOU for the shoot!

Have a wonderful day! I'm spending time in my scrap room today if I have to pay them off...

Listening to the fireworks.

So what does one do when her hubster and older kids are visiting family in MI and she is home with the peanut? Well, for one, she listens to the fireworks instead of watching them. :) But for the most part....

Oh, and watch Sunshine fret about the missing family members...