Christmas in March

Well, I am feeling a bit behind. All last week I was fighting off sickness, telling myself that I was NOT going to get sick and that I could just keep going at my normal pace. With all of the hats that I wear and things that I do each day, I really don't feel like I have the luxury of getting sick. I did battle with my sinuses all week, dealt with pain and pressure in my ears, and pounded down my headaches with constant doses of ibuprofen. Even still, by Friday night I was exhausted and my left eye was bloodshot and pussy. Ick. I woke up Saturday morning and the eye was matted shut and I decided that I had to get to a doctor before this new development spread through the whole family. The verdict was a sinus infection, 2 ear infections and conjunctivitis (pink eye). So, I isolated myself as best as I could from everyone over the weekend and took my antibiotics.


I think I am finally seeing the light at the end of this dark tunnel although I am not quite through this yet. The good new in all of this is that during my personal quarantine, I was able to sneak in some scrapbooking, something that I haven't been able to find the time for in months. Yay! I didn't realize how much I missed it. I think it is like a drug. I had it out of my system, but now that I have gotten another taste of it, I am hooked again. Now, the trick is figuring out when I can sneak time into my day for scrapbooking. That's a challenge.



So, this is why we have Christmas in March. I started going through my photos and this sweet one of Samuel sleeping in his Grandma's arms at one of our Christmas get-togethers called out to me. I can't resist those flushed cheeks and pudgy little fingers. (Materials used for this page can be found here.)




Here is a page full of other misc. photos from the same Christmas party. I thought it was easiest to just put them all into a big collage frame like this.

(Materials used for this page can be found here.)

Then Santa came to another big family get-together we went to. Since we don't make a huge deal about Santa in our house and don't go to the mall to get the photo on his lap, this was Samuel's first time to meet the big guy. I don't think he knew quite what to think. At least he didn't start screaming, but he kept a wary eye on him the whole time he was one his lap. I like how this photo captures that. (Materials used for this page can be found here.)



So, that's about it for me. I'm just hoping that I can get back on track and doing what I need to get done along with some fun scrapbooking, of course.

Another scrapbook page

Just wanted to post this page real quick. Believe it or not, I snapped this photo during my daughter's soccer game while she was on the field. She happened to be real close to me. Then I played with it a bit in photoshop. I tried an action by the Pioneer Woman to give it an aged look.

Credits for this page can be found here.

Just one more...

I know - it is crazy how many scrapbook pages I have gotten done in one day. I can't tell you the last time this has happened. It is wonderful! I promise that this is it. I'm pooped and am off to bed.

But first, here is my son and my nephew. They are exactly 4 weeks apart in age and it is so much fun watching them grow up together as buddies.

Credits for this page can be found here.

A couple more pages

Credits can be found here.

Credits can be found here.

I know I have been quiet for about a week. I guess I just had too much on my plate to organize my thoughts into writing. I had shared that I was overwhelmed last week with Patrick's allergies. I am feeling less overwhelmed. The no dairy thing is really not fun. I keep running into things that he can not have. At first I thought it was helping with his tummy aches, but by the last half of the week, he was still having some. Some appeared to be food related because they were during or right after eating and some were after he had spent a night in bed which makes you think that they have to do with inhalent allergies. We will continue on the no dairy for one more week and I will be thoroughly cleaning his room (again).

We got a good amount of beautiful, fluffy snow last week and I got some photos of the kids outside. Rachel had not really experienced playing in the snow and she loved it. The scrapbook page here is of Abi. She, too, has always loved snow. After her broken leg incident last year she has an ice phobia, but her affection for snow has not been diminished. Credits and details about the page can be found here.

I have spent the last couple of day creating a video for our church's Upward Basketball nd Cheerleading Awards Ceremony. Sadly, after many hours of work, I was unable to burn it to a disk and share it. I was working on my old computer (because that is where all of my files are) and it just doesn't have enough memory. I threw together a pitiful slideshow of some of the photos I had in Windows Movie Maker and that is what got played at the Awards night last night. When I have time this week, I will transfer the files to the new computer and finish the video up. At least I will be able to post it on the church's website. [Sigh] Computers! Ya' love em' but you hate 'em! It was a frustrating experience. When I get it done, at least I will get to share it with you all.

CrossWalk

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday and we are officially in the season of Lent - when we mentally prepare ourselves for Easter. There have been years when I have sacrificially given up something specific for Lent, but this year I just don't feel lead to. Part of this is because I already feel like I am in a season of self-sacrifice and denial. Hubby and I have been going over our budget and we really need to tighten up. Because of this I am thinking carefully through every purchase I make for our home. This even extends to groceries. I am already denying myself many things that I have to admit are "wants" and not "needs." This even extends to most convenience foods. If I can feasably make something from scratch, I will. I am happy to be doing this for the most part, but there are days when the temptation to buy something to make my life easier is strong. I can't say that I am doing this for Lent because I plan to continue this indefinitely.

While I am on the subject of Lent, I want to share this scrapbook page I just put together. Our church does this cool thing for Lent called Cross Walk. Each year 40 plain 2 x 4 crosses are passed out and the recipients decorate them and write a devotion based on their inspiration. The crosses line the sidewalks in front of our church - one for each day of Lent. The devotions are printed in a booklet available to everyone who "walks the walk." It is wonderful to see how others are inspired by the cross. Our family did one. It was a collaborative effort. Elizabeth searched for bible verses she liked for a theme. We discussed them as a family and came up with an idea. Barry cut the wings and painted the parts. I painted the words and wrote the devotion. This scrapbook page shows our cross and our devotion. Credits for the page can be found here.

Here is what it says:

Under the Refuge of His Wings

“May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” Ruth 2:12

Read Ruth 1-2

The story of Ruth is the story of a woman, widowed and childless. She was faced with a choice. She could stay in her homeland with her father and mother or she could accompany her mother-in-law, Naomi, as she traveled back to where she came from, the homeland of her deceased husband. She could stay where she was comfortable or leave everything she knew to live as a foreigner in a land with very different ways and beliefs. In a dramatic moment she begs Naomi to let her join her saying, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Significantly, she not only chooses Naomi, but, in faith, she chooses Naomi’s God. This decision is blessed.

Ruth is welcomed in this new land. Although a foreigner, she is allowed to glean the fields after the harvesters, and is given food, water and protection by a relative of her deceased husband, Boaz who takes note of her hard work and dedication to her mother-in-law. Ruth is so grateful for this and asks Boaz, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?" (Ruth 2:10) He replies, "I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." (Ruth 2:11-12)

When Ruth chose to love Naomi and follow her and care for her, she was also choosing to stay under the protection of God’s wings. She was able to give up the refuge of her homeland and parents because she was instead taking refuge with God who is far superior.

The bible is filled with reminders for us:

How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the disaster has passed. Psalm 57:1

I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. Psalm 61:4

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm: 91:4

Often we try to live our lives using our own strength and life is difficult. We forget that God has called us to an easier way. We only need to choose to come under the protection of His wings and follow Him.

To see photos of previous year's crosses you can go to the church site. As soon as there is a nice day to take photos, the current crosses will be posted, too.

My Basketball Star

As promised, her is a page featuring my other basketball player, Anna. She is doing such a great job. She signed up to play basketball for the very first time last year. She didn't know the rules of the game, could barely dribble and shoot. This year she is like a new player! She is handling the ball, passing and shooting like she has been doing it for years. We are so proud of her progress! That center photo is of her making a basket.

You can see the credits for the page and read the handwritten journaling here.

A little scrappin'

I finally managed to sneak in a little scrappin' time this morning and I did this silly page.

Journaling reads:

Yes, I confess...I am having a torrid love affair. It is so hot and steamy, so delicious that I can’t bear to give it up. The amazing thing is that Barry doesn’t even seem to mind. In fact, he has encouraged it. So who is this “Ned”? He can often be found checking out the contents of my fridge and I do feed him often. But what I love about him most is his amazing talent at baking bread. Yes, Ned is my homemade wild yeast (sourdough) bread starter. Am I crazy for giving such a thing a name? Perhaps, but I have heard that explorers in the Klondike would sleep with their starters to keep them warm. At least I haven’t gone that far...yet.

Credits for the page can be found here.

Christmas Hangover

No, I haven't been drinking, but I do feel like I have a hangover of sorts. After the months of planning and preparation for Christmas, I can finally take a breath and relax. Of course, all those tasks that I have been putting off until after Christmas are now looming over my head. I really don't even know where to start. [sigh] That's just life, though. There is always so much to do. I don't think it would matter how much time I had, I would still never run out of work. I do have to say that this was my most organized Christmas ever. I owe that to early planning. I did that this year with the help of this little Christmas planner. What a difference it makes starting in October! The planner has a week by week schedule to follow and really helps you to get a lot done. It also helps that we were more minimal with the Christmas gifts this year. Our kids got their traditional gifts of PJs, socks, and underwear and then we got a big family gift.

And about that...all I can say is that Wii are having fun!

My kids (especially the older ones) have been drooling over the Wii for quite some time. We were not going to buy such an extravagant gift, but when I started thinking about how much we would end up spending on individual gifts for 5 kids, I figured we would have that kind of outlay of money anyway.

If you want to see something hilarious, watch a 4 year old and a 6 year old in a Wii boxing match. They put so much into it. Abi was giving Patrick some kung fu air kicks even though we kept telling her to just use her arms. Patrick felt it nescessary to make the punching sound effects. I suppose that is just because he is a boy and LOVES to make those kinds of sounds. I wonder if he is ever in a situation where he really needs to fight if he will add the sounds, too. "Take that...ppshhhh....pshhhhh..." Hee hee! Both kids were running in place so fast that I thought they were going to wear down the floor. They have a boxing technique all their own!

Santa also brought the kids some used PS2 games for their stockings, so they are kind of in video game overload. I figured I would let them go crazy this week because we are on holiday, but then we are gonna have to enforce some serious limits.

Off the subject of Christmas...
Here's a funny little video parody about homeschool families. I got a kick out of it.

Speaking of homeschooling, I got creative this morning and put together a cute Reading Record sheet. My oldest already keeps her own reading list, but I am going to start having my 10 year old keep her own, too, and I thought she would do better using a form. Of course, I will still have to keep track of what the little ones do. Keeping good school records is a weak area for me. I thought perhaps I would be more excited about it if I had something cute to use.

Credits for the reading form can be found here.

I better get away from the computer and go have some fun with the family.
Have a great day!

Snow Day Sunday

We have had a snow storm blow through our area which dumped a fair amound of snow followed by freezing rain followed by more snow. We made the executive decision at 7:30am this morning that taking our pack of children out in the big ol' van to go to church wasn't wise and declared today a snow day. It turned out to be the right choice because we later discovered that our overhead garage door was frozen shut anyway making it impossible to leave in the van.

Barry and our oldest went out and about plowing and blowing snow at our rental properties while I held down the fort here with the rest of the kids. It was rough ;-) So rough that I felt the need to stay in my PJs until after lunch. I can't tell you the last time that happened.

One thing we did manage to accomplish today was to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" with the kids. I couldn't believe it. My older girls told me they had NEVER seen this movie. How did they ever make it to the ripe old ages of 13 and 10 years old without being subjected to this classic during the holidays. I mean it airs all the time! I was feeling like a really bad parent who has been neglecting the cultural edification of her children. Thankfully, we were able to watch it. Elizabeth wasn't sure if she could actually sit through a black and white movie - no color - horror of horrors. Her only comment was, "Did people really act like that back then?" I fear that the deeper meaning of the movie may have been lost. [sigh] As for me, I watch the movie and wonder, "Does my life count?" George Bailey made a huge impact on many people's lives. Hmm...who do I impact? Just thinking out loud here. It is a good reminder that I am here on this earth for a higher purpose and my life is not my own.


Because I tend to get stressed around the holidays and scrapping tends to relieve stress for me and because we had a snow day today, I got a couple of scrapbook pages done. You should recognize the photo from the top page from my last blog entry. My Abi loves to taste the snow.

This second page uses photos from our big extended family get-together that took place yesterday. My father-in-law is one of 11 siblings. Most of them were there along with their children and grandchildren. There were a whole lot of little cousins running around. I have lots more photos but I did this page called StoryTime with Uncle Don showing how he did his traditional reading of "The Night before Christmas" to the kids. This was followed by the traditional singing of the Christmas Carols. The kids aren't too thrilled about it, but it is required by tradition before the opening of the presents. (It's so much fun to torment the kids, isn't it!)

Credits for the pages can be found here and here.

The Wood Prince

Meet my little wood prince. I had so much fun creating this piece of art that I just had to try my hand at another one. This time I chose my son and I just didn't have the heart to turn him into a fairy. Someone commented at Scrapbook Graphics that he was a Wood Prince and I love that. He has a crown of leaves and a wheat sceptor. Credits for all of the goodies included in this can be found here along with a before and after picture.

Another page...

Had a few minutes this afternoon and I thought I would wrap up this page I started a while back. I had mentioned to Patrick that we should get a birthday photo like this and he loved the idea and it became a big deal. Probably because SIX is SO OLD - I mean it does take two hands! I used a whole big mix of different elements for this. It took me forever to go back andfigure out where each of these pieces was from. Credits for the page can be found here.

I am totally craving a nap today, but I thought I would try and be just a little productive here at the computer. Hope you are having a great Sunday!

Sweet Sweater Set

Just sharing this page of my baby girl in her pretty new sweater set. Well it isn't actually new. My friend made it for her when she was just a newborn, but she made it a bit big so she wouldn't outgrow it so fast. Well, this is the first time she wore it. She has been big enough to wear it for a while but our weather hasn't been cold enough for such a warm sweater. Sadly, I can't get her to keep the hat on. I have tried, but it usually ends up in tears. (Hers not mine ;-)
Credits for the page can be found here. This page was also featured in the Cottage Arts newletter this week because it was done using one of their new Simply Done templates which are really cool and have some special features if you are using Photoshop Elements. This page came together in a snap.

Seeing something like this sweater set makes me want to be able to knit. I can crochet, but some things are just better knitted. Connie (who made this lovely sweater) tried to teach me a while back. I wanted to knit a prayer shawl and she took the time to show me how. Well, I was slow and awkward at it and I ended up getting impatient with myself and crocheting the shawl. A youth prayer shawl ministry has just started at our church and my daughter, Anna, has decided to try it. She has been taught how to knit and it loving it. Seeing her pick up on this so quickly is so wonderful to watch (even if it does disgust me that she has picked up on it much faster than me). She has shown me one more time the process of knitting and it is starting to click better in my brain. I am determined that after the holidays I am going to sit down and actually master knitting.

Sorry I am babbling. I was up late last night because I have a nasty cold and couldn't sleep. Then I woke up early because I was so stuffed and my sinuses feel like they are gonna explode. I though perhaps I would go lay back down after a bit, but it is too late. I have to get everyone up for church in about a half an hour. So, I had better get some coffee into me and get a bit more awake!

Hope you all have a sweet Sunday.

I should really be in bed

I should really be in bed, but I was having trouble sleeping and I can't stand to lay in bed awake. So, I decided to get up and finish this scrapbook page I started a few days ago. I just love photos like this where the subject is bathed in a warm glow from the candles. You have to say it is kinda magical. Just this past year I read somewhere that shots like this are on the must have list. Every person deserves to have their photo taken with all the lights off and just the glow of the candlelight illuminating them. It is so flattering! So here is my son last month on his 6th birthday. Credits for the layout can be found here.

I am off to bed for I know morning will come MUCH too soon!

Fast Food Firsts

I have officially corrupted my baby girl's tastebuds. We took Patrick out to lunch for his birthday last month at the Golden Arches (a.k.a. the chicken and fries place). I realized when we got there that I didn't bring anything for Rachel. No food, bib or sippy cup. So, when the going gets touch, the tough order a Happy Meal. Right? I tried to be a little healthy about it, but the only thing you could substitute for fries was apple wedges which little Rachel doesn't have enough teeth to do. We did skip the soft drink and get the juicebox instead. She had never done a straw but figured it out so fast you would have thought she was a pro. Then there was the ketchup. To say she loved the ketchup would be an extreme understatement! Since I had no bib, I just dipped the end of a fry in a bit and handed it to her. It was love at first taste! I finally decided that giving her a little cup with a little bit couldn't be that messy. I was wrong. Next thing I know, she has completely bypassed the fries and is ramming her whole little fist into the ketcup cup. You can see the results on her face in this layout.

If you are interesed, the tiny journaling for this page reads:

Even though it was Patrick’s birthday, it was a day of “firsts” for Rachel. Upon arriving at McDonald’s, I realized that I forgot to bring anything for Rachel to eat, so she got her very first Happy Meal. She had never sampled ketchup, so I dipped one of her fries in it. Well, she was all about the ketchup! I gave her her own tiny cup with a little bit in it and the next thing I know, she has bypassed the fries altogether and was eating ketchup straight with her fingers! To drink, she had her first juicebox and her first time with a straw. I was worried she wouldn’t be able to figure it out, but it was NOT a problem. She slurped down the entire thing in no time flat. She is official a fast food pro. Hopefully, she will still eat her broccoli after this!

Credits for this page can be found here.

I made Digi Pick of the Day!!!

I can't believe it! This layout was the digi pick of the day on the 5th. I was totally oblivious until this morning when I got a google alert. Back when I was designing, a fellow designer had said that she had set up a google alert for her name. Google then searches the web for things that pop up with your name associated with them. As a designer, this is nice because if someone posts something using your art, google may find it and send you an e-mail. Usually, I get messages about a layout that I posted myself somewhere and it is outdated. But this morning, I got a message referring to the Digi Pick of the Day page. How cool is that!!!

Just another manic Monday....

How did it get to be Monday again so fast? It is a grey day here and I am having a really hard time getting my brain to focus on anything productive today which is not good because my to-do list is really long. I decided to give myself just a little time to put the finishing touches on a layout I started last week. The clothing confusion comes from the fact that we have been having some really inconsistant weather lately. You can see that my daughter, Abi, has no idea how to dress anymore with her winter coat and bare feet!

Journaling reads:
Our October weather has been inconsistent to say the least. One day it is cold and the next it is nearly 80 degrees.The kids don’t have any idea of how to dress each day. They run around barefoot in shorts when it is 46 degrees one day and like Abi here when it is 78. Check out that warm winter coat that she refused to take off and those bare feet she was running around outside with.. This weather is certainly causing clothing confusion.

Credits for the page can be found here.

Now I am going to have a go at the piles of stuff threatening to form a landslide off my desk. Have a great day!

Playing with a fun new scrapbook kit

I just wanted to share a couple of new scrapbook pages. These were both done with a brand new collaborative kit at Cottage Arts created by Doris Castle, Julie Mead, and Michelle Shefveland called Bountiful Blessings. I am loving the colors in this! This first layout has photos of my daughter Abi from last Thanksgiving. The kit colors were a perfect match for her dress and her homemade placecard.

I also used a free template which is available to newsletter subscribers in the next Cottage Arts newsletter.

Journaling reads:
The table has been set...the placecards have been lovingly created by Elizabeth...smells of yummy food are wafting through the air...It’s not quite time to eat, but 2 year old Abi is ready at her place and waiting with fork and spoon in hand.

Full credits for this page can be found here.



This second page uses photos I took last week of my son, Patrick, on his 6th birthday. It was a gorgeous Fall day and I took him outside for a offical 6 year old photo shoot. He loved that! This page uses not only the Bountiful Blessings kit, but also a new page tear template set, too. Click on the banner below to find them both.

Full credits for this layout can be found here.

So Long to the Zoo

Our local zoo has officially closed for the season. It always makes me sad because we really love our zoo. We made one last visit last week. We always go with my mom and dad, but this time our good friends joined us, too. Their children are about the same ages as Patrick and Abi and are good buddies. I have more photos that I want to scrap, but for now, here is one of all the kids except Elizabeth posing with the Rango the orangutan statue. I have more photos than I can count of my kids sitting here throughout the years. Of course, Elixabeth, my 13 year old, is conspicuously missing. I guess she just figures that it is no longer cool to pose with Rango. Gotta love teenagers! Credits for the LO can be found here.

1st Birthday Portrait

Happy Monday morning!
I am trying to ready myself to jump into a new week. I feel like there is so much to do and so little time. What I would really like to do is sit and scrap and forget about everything else. Maybe, if I am lucky I can squeeze in just a little time for myself. We'll see.

Just thought I would share a scrapbook page that I finished up on Saturday. It is another photo from my baby's crazy birthday photoshoot. I was thinking I really should do an outake scrapbook page of all the many bad photos taken that day. Anyway...here is one I liked. I kept the page soft to match the photo.

Journaling reads:
In a mere year’s time, you have matured from a helpless little infant to a sweet, pretty little girl.. You are on your feet and taking your very first steps. Although you say few real words, you love to babble back and forth with your family. You are starting to learn some sign language for more, milk , sleep and eat. Your eyes light up when one of your siblings interacts with you. There is no doubt how much you love them and can’t wait until you can keep up with them. What a cute little charmer you already are and we can’t wait to see the young lady you are yet to become. September 26, 2007

Credits for the layout can be found here.