Another year comes to an end

so this is it for 2008. I was just thinking about the whole brew ha ha with Y2K and how long ago that seems now. My life is so very different from the New Year's that i celebrated to bring in the new millenium. then I was in Banff with Grant and Ryan and his then girlfriend Caralyn. We had so much fun, and really rung in the new year! We didn't make it to bed until the wee hours, and then we went out again the next night.
This year, as with the past four or five New Year's I am spending a quiet night at home with Grant and the kids. We did have plans to go to the Ramada in Lethbridge with the kids and Mark and Tami and the boys, but those fell through. That's okay. I am so super tired and didn't really want to be seen in a bathing suit next to Tami. (Damn skinny bitch!) ;)
So this means that I need to think about resolutions. and I have. In fact, I have three already. The first is to do something with all of my scraps. I have a huge bin that is home to a whole bunch of paper, but there is no rhyme or reason to this system, so I want to figure out a good one. (I spent a good chunk of the day re-organizing how I sort my paper. I went from "by color" to "by manufacturer" I think I will like this better.) My second resolution is to drink a whole lot more water in a day. I don't drink nearly enough and i really think it might help the disgusting dark circles under my eyes, (that and a good night's sleep...) and the third one that I have come up with is to find a little more patience when dealing with Avery and Cohen. I find that I snap a little too easily these days, and I don't want to be that mom.
so, we'll see. I did pretty good with my resolution from last year to go greener around our house, so I hope to be as successful with these.

Happy New Year.

Casino Layout #1

I worked a casino last night in Lethbridge. The last few times I worked, I was terribly bored and complained that I should have brought my scrapbooking. This time I did. I accomplished three layouts between all of my chip running! And not only did I get some scrapbooking done, but I also made it home alive. The roads were the worst that I think I have ever driven on. Absolutely brutal. I think my top speed was 80km/h, and that was on the last kilometer home. Talk about white knuckles!

Ever since the first snow, Avery has been dying to make snow angels. The problem is that it has just been too cold to go outside, even for the brief time it takes to make an age. When we were at my parent's over Christmas, we went sledding out the back yard where they have a great hill for kids. Avery made a million (at least it felt like it) angels all over the soccer fields. This is simple, and used up some of my left over Figgy Pudding paper from last year. Why I didn't use some of the Christmas paper I bought this year, I will never know.

TFL

Merry Merry Merry Merry Christmas!

Well the day has come and gone. And our Christmas started off with a bang, or perhaps a heave is more appropriate. Avery had a fever all afternoon, and started to puke around 4. She refused medicine and was hot all night. Cohen also ran a fever all night long. Grant and I were worried that we weren't going to get our "Santa Business" finished because we were both dealing with sickies, but they were both in bed by 8:30 and we had an hour to get everything done. And we did! I can't believe that we got everything done by 9:30 and were in bed by 10! Who would have thought! Santa brought Avery a Tag Reader, and after a little learning curve, she seems to have it all figured out! Cohen got a Castle Marbleworks and spent a good chunk of the morning twirling balls down the tower. Grant and I got a Wii! He is unimpressed, I am ecstatic! Now to find a Wii Fit! Needless to say, we were quite spoiled yet again this year, but we are truly blessed because we were able to be together, and despite the occasional dash for a puke bucket, we really have our health. Merry Christmas to all, and have a joyous 2009!

Last Night's Layout...

So while my elf, er, I mean husband wrapped gifts last night, I was in my scrapbooking room creating this layout. My PBF Tara gave me some beautiful Making Memories Christmas paper and embellishments for Christmas, and I thought that I needed to do my Santa layout asap. I like the juxtaposition of the flashy letters, and the vintage look of the tags. I thought that went well with the juxtaposition of the subject matter. One nice, one not-so-much.

sorry the pic is crooked, I really need to do Christmas stuff around the house, not blog.

Happy Holidays!

January Calendar Kit

So I thought that I deserved a little me time. Why not? It isn't like there is anything else going on that needs my attention. I certainly don't have any gifts to wrap, or clothes to pack, or cookies to bake. Nope. None of that...... or maybe.... well whatever. I needed a break from the craziness that is the holiday season. So this is the January Monday Night Class calendar kit, and I love it. When I first saw it, I wasn't sure if I did or not. I didn't really think I liked the color combo. now I love love love it. I also love that I remembered that I had liquid aplique, and I used it on the whipped cream on the hot chocolate mugs. (see closeup)

Super cute.

TFL and Merry Christmas!

I knew this would happen

I knew that Cohen would be something for his picture with Santa. I knew it. And I was right! Avery was quite hesitant at the same age, and I was sure that he would balk only because he has been such a sucky baby ever since he got sick. I can't go out of his sight without a cry fest ensuing. So I went in telling myself that a crying picture would be fine. I laugh at it now, but I know that he will really appreciate it at his wedding.....

The kicker... Miles totally rocked his photos. Big huge grins.... Damn cutie.

Avery and I went to the Nutcracker Suite ballet today with my MIL, and some of her friends. it was a girls' day out. Avery was a little devastated that we were going to see ballet, and she would be performing none of it. So, to make up for it, she danced in the aisles during the performance. The best part was when the Sugar Plum Fairy came out in her tutu and Avery says, in a clear, loud voice, "That's kind of a silly dress."

Classic.

I love the silence in my house...

... but it can only mean one thing. Someone is up to something.

I got out of the shower this morning to hear Avery call up to me, "Mom, Cohen drew on my face with markers!" Sure he did. So I came downstairs, and what did I see, but two scribbled on faces; one smirking with glee. (That's my poetry for the day.) At least they were washable. Thank God they were washable. We are going to see Santa tomorrow. Wouldn't that make a cute Christmas photo?

So according to Avery, this is what Cohen did to her, and to himself. Yeah, right. However, between my somewhat contained giggles, I did manage to scold her (omg I sound like my grandma) and then of course, took a picture.

Last night was Avery's first Christmas concert. The preschool kids sang I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. It was awesome. There were a couple of very loud shouters who threw the rest of the group off, but whatever. They got the biggest cheer. I am so glad that I got my friend Darcie to tape it for me so that Grant will be able to see it. I didn't have a chance to take a picture of the kids while they were singing. I was leading them in their song, and I thought it might look a little weird to not let the kids off of the stage until I was done taking a picture, so I had to settle for after.

Thanks for stopping by.

2nd time around

I was inspired by a layout in CK magazine a while back. It a was all about being a mom for the second time, and what kind of mom you are. I loved the idea, especially because I think I am a much different mom this time. I think I have more patience, (with Cohen at least), I wasn't such a slave to routine and the clock with him. I was often uptight and frazzled with Avery, and I think that has affected her personality. She is a lot more independent, intense, and opinionated, whereas, Cohen is cuddly, patient, and a momma's boy. Lucky me because Avery is a Daddy's girl through and through, and I should get some perk after carrying them both for as long as i did! I have wanted to do this layout for some time, and I am so pleased with how it turned out. It is honestly one of my all time favorites! And there is nothing on this page that is new. Everything, down to the rub ons and paper are things I have had for years. I mean, seriously... a zipper? How old is that?

TFL.

finally over it... hopefully

so I think that cohen is better. I think. We were given antibiotics and he seems to like them. I don't blame him. On the advice of Haley, I tasted some. It is yummy. so despite him throwing up again last night, I think we are on the mend. That makes me happy because I am to get at least one full night's sleep before Grant comes home.

the other good thing about him feeling better is that I can hopefully get some more scrapbooking done. I am making SU! calendars for Avery's teacher and teacher assistant, but they still aren't here and her last day is Wednesday, so I need all the time I can get!

I made this little daytimer for my friend Kathy. (sorry the pic is crap. I didn't want to use my flash because of the cover, and I was too lazy to find my tripod...) She is the most go-getter, busy gal I know. I swear our little community would fall apart if she didn't live in it. She is amazing. That said, this all of a sudden seems rather inadequate. Perhaps a stop at Finishing Touches would add the finishing touch. I made one for myself a couple of years ago at the Bloomin' Inn and used it all the time, so of course, after making hers, I made one for myself. It is blue and brown. I used the Basic Grey Offbeat line for mine, and the Basic Grey Recess line for Kathy's. I also liked that I only used scrap paper for them. I will save the planet, one reused project at a time!

28 loads of laundry

That is how many loads of laundry a sick 16 month old can generate. Cohen started puking last Saturday. 16 times that night. And it hasn't let up. I am exhausted. I haven't slept a full night in over a week. And I am so very scared. I have been to the ER in Vulcan twice in the last week, and there is a reason why I doctor in Lethbridge. That said, I am taking him to our family doctor tomorrow morning. I know there is a flu going around, but I think that this isn't a flu. I was sick too, but I am already over it. And I haven't heard of a flu that lasts six days. Why does shit always hit the fan when Grant leaves? Seriously. I would like to boast about being a strong, independent woman, but I am not. And I am really not when I have a sick little man who is dropping weight like crazy. I hope that this will all be resolved tomorrow, but I have no idea how. He has no fever, no ear or throat infection, no obvious stomach pain..... Please let this end.


So I haven't been blogging lately and that is why.

I feel like Oprah

but on a much smaller scale.
Christmas is all about the giving. We all know that. But this year, I have never felt as good about the giving that I am doing. I just finished the orders for the preschool fundraiser, and the orders combined with my commission added up to over $300 in free toys! I am so excited for them. I can't wait for the preschool to have some toys and activities of their own, and to no longer need to rely on the kindergarten for things. Avery is especially excited because the teacher asked her to pick out what to get. It wasn't hard... we had enough money to get just about everything that is still available from the preschool section of the catalog! I am soooooo excited.
As for the other part of the giving... we have some very good friends who have excellent taste. Every year they buy Grant and I something wonderful for Christmas and we always feel inadequate, because our taste isn't as exquisite... so this year, we decided to embrace the inadequacies. We are getting them a basket full of not necessarily useless, but also not always useful stuff. The limit we set for ourselves is $20, and everything has to be bought, or free. So we have the following for the basket thus far.... a toilet plunger, coin rolls, a hot pink candlestick, a book about the legacy of Peter Lougheed, an uncut key, replacement Christmas lights, and an inflation kit. I am so very excited to give this gift too...
Ah, the holiday season... I love it.

Santa's job

I am posting this only because it will make for excellent journalling. Tonight while I was making supper, Avery, who is vibrating about Christmas told me the following gem. "Mom, Santa's job is to make the toys, and my job is to open them."

Truer words have never been spoken

Prorogue... yep that's a word

So I am NOT conservative in my political views. I am considerably more liberal than the majority of my friends, but I really need to vent for a moment.
I live in Canada. The best country in the world, in my opinion. One of the things that makes it great is our strong democratic history. We are fortunate enough to have the right to vote, and have the opportunity to voice our opinions without the fear that we may become targets. That said, I did NOT vote Conservative in the election that occured in mid October. Nope I did not. I was part of the 62% of Canadians that did not support the Conservative party. However, that said, I do not support this idea of a coalition. Are you kidding me? The Liberals, and NDP with the support of the Bloc? Seriously. Yes, I understand that 62% of Canadians did not vote Conservative, but that 62 is derived from the other four federal parties. Yep. We live in a country where the vote is divied up between five political parties. So in the end, 38% seems like a pretty clear number.
That said, I still am not conservative in my views, don't support Stephen Harper and everything that his government is doing, or not doing... but I think that with Stephane Dion as our interim PM, things might get a whole lot worse.

So a coalition between Jack Layton and Stephane Dion is not something that I am looking forward to. And another election... are you kidding me? Didn't the federal parties just spend close to $300 million on the one we had seven weeks ago? Aren't we in a bit of an economic downturn? Is this going to make our country the laughing stock of other nations? That we can't accept defeat, and so have to form a risque alliance? Are we being punked? Is this Survivor?

I can't stop laughing....

Avery says the funniest things. She is currently standing at the top of our little landing, and singing the Farmer in the Dell except that she is singing "hi ho Ontario, the farmer in the dell."

A few more recent layouts

I finished my December Calendar page a couple of weekends ago, and I dawned on me yesterday that it was already December. Already! I can't really believe it. We only just have snow on the ground, and only a skiff at that. I still have a hard time with Southern Alberta winters. I grew up in Central Alberta. Rarely a chinook, and more likely several snow days in a year. There was always enough snow to build forts, and go sledding. Not so much down here. A chinook will blow through as often as once a week some years, and the snow has nothing to stop it, so it just keeps on blowing. Don't get me wrong, I am not asking for tons of snow, but enough to make Christmas white will make me happy. If only there were a way to have snow, and sunny, warm weather at the same time.....

This is another layout that I finished recently. I journalled right on my photo. I saw this done in my "We Dare You" book, and thought I would give it a go here. I am finally putting in some effort into scrapbooking myself. And Grant and I together for that matter.

TFL.

On My Desk

I was blog surfing today instead of finishing my Christmas cards, and i stumbled upon this one. It is called "On My Desk" and people just upload pictures of their desks and creative spaces. The majority of what images were on there were all of nicely organized workspaces, but I thought I might as well do something as mindless as that for today. So this is what my desk looks like right now. I have been trying to finish these Christmas cards for what seems like forever. Although they don't look complicated, there are a lot of mini steps in them, which all take up a bit of time. Not a big deal if I had some real time to finish them, but now that Grant is gone again, I might have to break open a Monster and pull a mini all-nighter! I do have my Christmas letter done, and I hope that having that finished will inspire me to get the rest of the cards done too. I'll let you know.

The Pefect Gift

... for the person who has everything. In my family, we decided to draw names for Christmas gifts. This year, I got my dad. I don't know about everyone else's father, but mine is next to impossible to buy for. Our limit is $100 and he said all he wants is socks. $100 worth of socks??? My dad is more of the practical gift getter, making him also thinking practical is better to receive. So Grant suggested that I give him $100 worth of baler twine. Practical, and we have that here already. Perfect. Except that my mom didn't think that was such a great idea. So Grant decided today at lunch that the perfect gift for the person who has everything is an oil change. So I am going to buy everything my dad needs to change the oil in his tractor. (and I am not going to tell my mom.)
I am also very glad that I am not the person who has everything, for fear that Grant might think that I want an oil change for my gift. If you read this honey... I do not want an oil change for Christmas, no matter how perfect a gift it is....

100 things

I saw this on Leica Forrest's blog... I wanted to give it a go, but I changed a few things. I thought it was a little America biased.....(sorry Americans.)

The idea is to bold the things you have done, and perhaps consider trying what you haven't. I have been talking about making a bucket list for months, and this is a great start!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain (does Pimple Hill count? It felt like a mountain when I was seven...)
9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (just Kasmira Hannah... My Cabbage Patch Kid)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked ... yeah, but I was picked up by someone I know... so does it count? I also knew they were coming behind me, so probably not...
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon (no, but I am thinking a triathalon - like the mini one in my town - might be doable....)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community ... no, but Hutterites live down the road, and with the exception of their religion, farming methods, and use of electricity, I think they are close to the same!
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing.... but not real rocks, just the ones at the climbing center, and even then only got three feet off of the ground before I freaked out.
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted (does drawn count?) or what about a portrait I took painted?
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (this isn't referring to the one at the Paris in Vegas, right?)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Guide Cookies - nope... I just buy them!
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving..... hmm jump out of a perfectly good airplane... nope.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter ... one of the perks of a hubby who fixes them.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

So that's it. I guess I have a lot more to do..... Maybe I should get off of here and make better plans!

Second attempt at digital...

so this summer I tried my hand at digital scrapbooking. I can totally see why it is such a craze. It is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. It took a little messing around in Photoshop today, but this is what I finally came up with. And it was free! Gotta love free scrapbooking! The kit was a free download from Shabby Princess called "Holiday Magic".

http://www.shabbyprincess.com/

Needless to say, I think I am going to take this to the city with me tomorrow and get it printed. Grant is sure that I will be disappointed. But I can see how well this would work for Janelle's China album that I foolishly promised her.

And... very exciting news... Haley just called me from her Black Friday shopping escapades... and she found Cricut cartridges for $30! And one of them is Cars!!! She is also going to pick up the Paper Dolls one for me. Even if the dollar is crappyish right now, I don't think you can beat that. I didn't even know that there

was a Cars one!
YAY!

More November Layouts

Here are a couple of things that I have been working on lately. I got some stuff accomplished last weekend. Nothing that should have been accomplished mind you... I have several MNC kits that need to be started, finished, written up... and today was going to be that day, except that Grant and his friend Mark needed to do some running around this morning, and swore they would be home by noon so Grant could take Avery out to the shop to work with him, and Cohen would sleep. Well, here I sit, at twenty to three. Still with very little accomplished, two kids wide awake, and nothing in mind for supper. So what's a girl to do??? Blog of course!

This Face It layout is one that I have been avoiding for a while, but this paper called my name! (or was it that it provided me with so many ways to use all my Stickles????) I also used old stuff on it. Old alphabet letters, and... well that's it for this one.

Who didn't snap up the sock monkey paper when it first came out? I know I bought everything sock monkey... then I got it home, and didn't quite know what to do with it. That was until I found a sock monkey costume for Halloween! Perfect fit! And I really love how it turned out.

This tub time layout is one that I thought I might send to Canadian Scrapbooker. I love that I used a variety of different companies and products on it. And with the exception of the paper, it was also all old.

Monday Night Class on Tuesday Night

This is the Monday Night Class Kit for December for Sheep River Scrapbook Company. The class is on December 9th at Sheep River. Call the store to register at (403) 938-2391.

This layout has Christmas baking in mind, given the season and all, however, it can be adapted to any baking photos you have. Check out the title! (Recipe cards!)

(and I fixed the crookedness of the title!)

Fa La La La La, La La La La

So, apparently we are in the festive spirit. Grant wanted to get the house decorated for Christmas before he goes back to work. He likely won't be home until the 19th or 20th of December, and that is kind of pushing it. That said, I also think that setting up decorations in November is also pushing it. Christmas is still a whole month away! Avery did most of the decorating tonight. She actually did a pretty good job, (says her overly anal mother who wants her tree to be beautiful and symmetrical). Cohen wasn't too bothered one way or another. He was more interested in trying to reach my glass of egg nog on the table. He was successful too. Needless to say, the tree and nativity are up, and a few snowmen here and there, but that is all I plan to do this year. Some years we go overboard, and every bit of wall space, every shelf, table, and counter has some Christmas decoration on it. This year, because it will be up for so long, I don't want to have to look at it all for five weeks. Plus, it will make taking Christmas down much more enjoyable.

So this is a picture of the kids admiring their work. I took a kazillion pictures tonight, which is good, because I have a ton of Christmas paper that will need to be used......

nothing new to report......

except that New Kids on the Block were AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went in with 12 year old concert expectations, and they were totally wicked awesome.... (how '90's). so good. they sang ALL of their old stuff, and they can actually sing. i forgot about that. They arrived on the scene when singing ability was actually required to be in the music industry. not like now when all you need is a really good recording technician..... Whatever. They were good. and i don't care how many of my friends are still laughing at me. I loved it, and I am not ashamed to say it.

and nothing else except that.... Canadian Scrapbooker is going to publish one of my layouts! MNC Christy said that it is all about volume. Well that makes sense... i do send copious amounts of layouts to them. it just so happens that this time, they didn't reject all of them!

That's it. I am hoping to post some new layouts soon. I just need to find the time to get scrapbooking done. Grant is finally home from work, so all i do when he is home is scramble to get everything done. He has a nice quiet two weeks, and I panic. Then he goes back to work, and I am still panicing. Ah...... what the life.

A Mild Brain Injury...

that is what I have. I fell on the ice curling last night, and hit my head. At first I felt fine and wanted to continue the game, but when I stood up and felt really woozy and nauseated, I decided that the rest of the girls were right. I did argue with them about going to the hospital though. I didn't think i needed to go, but i am glad i did. At least I know the medical reasons behind why I am feeling this way, and not just the stupid, fall-on-the-ice-while-not-moving reasons. When I got home from the hospital, Avery said to me, "Mom, I told you to be careful because ice is slippery..."

I think the fall has also affected my shopping. I spent $164 on paper. I bought no embellishments. Just paper. ?????? What was I thinking??? Some of it is for kits that I am designing, so I can justify that, but a lot of it is Christmas paper. and I really don't like to scrapbook christmas.... in fact, it is the one thing I dread scrapbooking. I guess i will really need to get in the picture snapping mode this year, or it will end up on a giveaway table next year, just like Tara predicted.....

Take a moment to remember...

Today is Remembrance Day. It is such a significant and important day in our history. And I think it is even more significant when you consider how many soldiers are over in Afghanistan today. It saddens me to think of how many Canadian soldiers have lost their lives fighting for something they believe in so fully.

So, on this day of remembrance, please take a moment of your time to pay tribute to those who fought for the freedom of our country, and those who are fighting today for the freedom of others.

Some is better than none.

I only managed to make six cards yesterday. But I do have everything cut and prepped for the remaining 29.... That is good I guess. I am keeping my cards simple this year. I went a little crazy a few years ago and ended up having to pay double for postage because Canada Post can't run the cards I was making through their machines. Needless to say. I love the people that get a card from me, but I don't love them twice-as-much-postage love. Does that make sense? so this is what people will be getting in the mail from the Cummins crew this year. It is using SU! Ski SlopeDS paper, and the Scandinavian Season stamp set. I LOVE that set.... love it. I used chocolate chip ink, and then my souffle pen to add some detail to the tree. I also really love my Souffle pen.

Anyhoo, four friends and their kidlets came over. We had so much fun. Why haven't I been doing this all along whenever Grant leaves? Serena and her girls stayed for supper, and her girls wore Avery out playing with her. It was a really good day. Catherine made a bunch more cards for the Soldiers in Afghanistan, and some really cute ones too. She is ambitious, that gal..... Tara also managed to come. I was happy that she did. I was especially happy that she arrived with a slurpee for me. That girl knows the way to my heart. Yep. I am that easy to please. A large coke slurpee, and we are friends for life. Pathetic? probably.

TFL.

I am having a...

Hen Party! At least that is what grant is calling it. I have decided to be super on the ball this year and I am determined to have my Christmas cards made before the "D" month. So a couple of friends are coming over this afternoon, and they are bringing their kids, and we are going to sit around the table, munch on leftover halloween candy, and hopefully accomplish something. And if not, that is okay too. I am in desperate need of adult conversation. I hate the days that Grant is gone. It is hard to feel like you are a grown human when your conversations revolve around how many snacks are too many, who has to go potty, and how not to hit your brother. so today should fulfill that need, at least for a little while.

Speaking of interesting conversations..... Sam was barking like crazy this morning (at nothing... as per usual) and I was in my scrapbook room, and i hollered to him to quit barking. Avery appeared around the corner, and in her most grown up, and condecending voice, she said to me, "Mom, Sam is a dog. And dogs bark. That is what they do. So don't yell at Poocher for barking." i giggled. she is observant.

If I really get anything worth sharing done, i will post it later.
Have a great rest of the weekend!

Another LO - #3!

I was flipping through my 2007 album the other day and noticed that there were several pages in it that were not done yet. This was one of them. I had just purchased this Christmas paper, and it is so cute. There is glitter on it and is cutesy enough without being too cutesy, if you know what I mean. Anyhoo, this is yet another simple layout. but as I have said before, simple, but done... And, yet again, old stuff. Old bling, old buttons, stickles, and old alphabet stickers. Yay me.

Perhaps when I go to Pincher Creek in a couple of weeks, I will accomplish something a little more in depth. Perhaps.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cards for the troops...

I have a friend who is very actively involved in the Legion, and she approached me to make some cards to send to the troops who will be in Afghanistan during the holiday season. Her hope is to send over 500 handmade cards this year. This will include those made by the students from area schools, as well as what regular joes like me will donate. I told her that i would make 25, but I have already made 15, so I think I will shoot for 40! That is in addition to all of the ones that I need to make for myself this year...

this is just a little sampling of some that I did today. They are all quite simple, and I used up a lot of my scraps left over from last year's Stamper's 10, so that is good. Once all of my scraps are used, (or a majority of them anyway) I will make the remaining all the same. However, until then, i am going to try and make things fit with what is already cut. Can be tricky, and hence the simplicity, but I think they will serve their purpose.

This is my favorite of what I did today. I love the simplicity of it. Why don't I make something like this for Christmas this year instead of what i have planned? Good question.

So, this is the extent of what I have been able to accomplish in the disaster that was once known as my scrapbook room. I hate how cluttered it gets so quickly. I wish that the scrapbooking industry would invent a product that would allow me to just wave my hands, and everything would return to the place it originated. Imagine how much more productive we could all be if we didn't have to waste time looking, and tidying, and trying to remember where we put that new line of Basic Grey paper we just bought (true story...)

TFL!

November Layouts 1 and 2

Is it wrong that my October kit sat around all month waiting for pumpkin pics? Well, it did.... but the pictures worked perfectly.... and i swear that I didn't dress them to match the paper. Honestly, I didn't. I have been known to do that before, but this time, the scrapbooking stars were aligned....

I ventured out on my own for the November kit. I liked the layout MNC provided, but we recently had family pictures done, and I received my SU! order that I placed on the first of October..... (that is another story altogether!) and the paper was screaming my name. plus, I wanted to display the photo of Grant and I, so....there you have it. I did two pages in about an hour!
Love kits...

Thanks for stopping by!

Halloween has come and gone.... Thank God!

Avery has been vibrating about Halloween for the last week. Every day she would go into the kitchen and "check" the candy. "Yep - it still smells good!" Too funny.

Tonight Grant and I shared the passing-out-candy-taking-the-kids-around gig. This is the first year that I have taken the kids. I usually get to stay home and wait around for Trick or Treaters, but this year, Grant took the "north" section and I took the kids south. We hit up 12 houses, and they both have enough candy to last them well until Christmas. Country trick or treating rocks. It really does. I honestly think there is enough candy in our house for each of us to eat one treat a day, and make it until Christmas....... yummy.

Both kids are in bed, and I should be doing the same, but I think I need one last chocolate fix.....

why is it

that I can only finish a kit when my kids are up? I have quickly come to realize that my creative juices don't flow when I have two kids running wild in their playroom. I concentrate too much on what they are getting into and not on my creative process. I did manage to do this kit yesterday while Cohen slept, and Avery played with her new pop beads. But alas, it is a kit. A kit I love, don't get me wrong... and I have pictures from the weekend scrapbooked already, and the kit goes perfectly with the photos, but I kind of miss creating on my own. What a whiner. Wasn't I just scrapbooking last weekend? Wasn't I creative then???

Anyhoo, this is a leftover kit from a class that Christy taught at Paper Pastimes earlier this year. I love it.......

catch up...

I haven't blogged lately, and I think my crazy life has something to do with it. We went to Lethbridge on a rush trip on Thursday night. Yeah. I know. What was I thinking?? I missed all my Thursday TV. Then I went again on Saturday to pick up shingles for our shop. Grant is reshingling it, and we ran out. Surprise, surprise.
Today was a super fun day tho. We went to Mardi's princess birthday party and had a great time! It was a girls only party, and Tara went all out. The girls got their toenails done, they decorated tiaras and wands, played princess games, and ate the yummiest cake. I hate when she does this because then I feel obligated to try and do something equally nice for my kids..... I wish Avery would forget what a birthday at the Kitchen's is like so that the ones at our house aren't so lame!

Grant leaves for work in a week and I really don't know what the hell I am going to do. I have really come to rely on him these past months, and the two weeks he will be gone are going to kill me. I know it.

Finally, some weekend work...

So I have finally gotten around to posting some of the layouts that I managed to accomplish this weekend. I didn't get much done, that is for sure. I only finished 12 layouts. And 10 of them were single page, so, really not a productive weekend. I do like what I finished, so that is really all that matters, right?

Anyhoo, this layout uses the Lucky You accessories that I got from Haley's store. I love the moustache. Love it. It is so cute, and makes Cohen look like a real grown-up. And I used old stuff on this layout. (It wasn't mine... it was Christy's, but it was old stuff none the less!) The tag, photo anchors, brads, and slide mount were all old things.

This layout was inspired by Kacey. She was distressing one of her own layouts, and I loved the masking technique that she used, so of course, I copied her. This layout is the second last layout that needed to be done for the first half of Cohen's first year album. I am still waiting for my MIL to find a photo of Grant's dad so I can do the namesake page, so until then, the first half will be unfinished. I like how simple, but finished this layout looks.

I will hopefully get around to posting a few more later. It is Grant's birthday today, and I should really be cooking his birthday supper, and birthday pie!

I kept my promise....

So I went scrapbooking this weekend in Blairmore with a group of 40 women. The group was made up of a variety of scrapbookers, and we started to reflect on what our albums used to look like when we first started scrapbooking. We also challenged each other to post our early layouts... so here are a couple of mine. I like the use of the decorative edge scissors on my Go Stamps Go layout. So purposeful.... I used to scrapbook 8.5x11 so this layout actually started as that. I added the square punches to make it 12x2. I can't find my other first 8.5x11 layouts. I think I might have tried to redo them to be 12x12.

The second layout is even more boring. Where is the patterned paper? I looked through my old albums and had to laugh at the "masterpieces" that I had made. Cardstock, cardstock, cardstock and more cardstock. A little vellum... wow. And could they be any more 2 dimensional??? I don't even remember where I used to shop to get my stuff, but the stores must have been pretty bare... stickers and paper......

So there, I kept my end of the bargain.....

Not a Happy Camper

This is the layout for the October "Monday Night Class on Tuesday Night" at Sheep River Scrapbook Co. The class is Tuesday October 28th at 6:30. Call SRSCo at 403-938-2391 to sign up! There is also a coupon for a $5 discount for your first Monday Night Class class on the Monday Night Class website. Check out www.mondaynightclass.ca and look under the classes link!

This layout uses the Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy line, as well as SEI. It works well for those pictures you have around the campfire, but can also be used for the photos you have of your unhappy child, etc. A quick and easy layout that will look great in any album!

CRAZEEEE

So we went to Calgary yesterday because Grant needed to renew his AME license and Avery needed new ballet shoes (because she does not like tap) and we decided that Cohen needed to move into a big boy bed. He thrashes around way too much in his crib, so....
Anyhoo, we bought a bed for him, and got a smokin' deal on a new mattress and box spring for us (so not in the budget) but when we got home we took his crib out of his room, brought up his box spring and mattress, set that up in his room, moved his change table, then put Avery's bed on a frame, and cleaned out her room, then took our mattress and box spring downstairs, and brought the new one upstairs. That toook an hour. When I say it that way though, it doesn't sound like much.... but I sure hurt today.

At noon today I am heading west. I am going to Blairmore with a huge group of girls for a weekend of scrapbooking! I am so pumped. Two scrapbook weekends in one month?!?!? Who is spoiled? I am so looking forward to spending scrapbook time with Haley, and Rhea, and Tara, and Kacey, and Shannon, and ANNA!!! I am so excited to see Anna. She is the nicest person on the face of the earth. Seriously. She is.
So I hope to accomplish a crap load of stuff this weekend so I can post it on Monday!
Have a great weekend!

today is the day.....

so 37 or so days ago, the Conservative Party called an election. and today is the day I get to go and vote. I love that a Canadian campaign lasts 6 weeks. I am so sick of the American campaign trail. Why does it have to take so long, and why do they have to spend so much money on their bid for the White House? can't that money be put to good use in other ways???? I can think of several. What about healthcare? or saving the sub prime fiasco, or dealing with violent crime and school shootings. I am happy that I don't live there. But my SIL and BIL do. Mike just came home from Iraq, and now I get to hear about how great McCain and Palin are. They both love them. As does my MIL. I am not sure either will be that great for the US, but I can't bear another 4 years of repbulicans. I just can't.
That said, the Conservatives will likely win here today. I know they will kick ass in my riding, which is why I think there might be a lot of apathy among the youth vote. It is hard to get worked up for a party, when you know they have absolutely no hope of winning. I am not saying that I want the Liberals to win, but I am also not convinced that I want the Conservatives back in power. Don't get me wrong. They have done some really great things the last couple of years, but I find Stephen Harper so ridiculously boring and lacking and charisma that I can't bring myself to listen to him.
Anyhoo, I will do my civic duty, and I will drive into Vulcan and cast my vote. It won't make a difference one way or the other, but at least I will now have the right to bitch if I feel so inclined........... (not that I ever bitch.....) ;)

Happy Turkey Day!!

I love turkey. I love the taste, and I love that it makes me tired. I love the gravy that I drown my mashed potatoes it. But I don't love pumpkin pie. I would much rather have apple, but Thanksgiving is at my MIL's and she and Grant love pumpkin, so I have been outnumbered.

Needless to say, in less than three hours, I will be feasting on turkey and potatoes and veggies. I can't wait.

This turkey is not the one that we will be eating, but rather, the first craft that Avery has ever brought home from school. She did the cutting herself! I knew that letting her scrapbook with me would have great benefits! Anyways, Cohen was in the kitchen yesterday, and was way too quiet, so of course, something had to be up. Well, what he was doing was eating the Cheerios off of Avery's turkey. All hell broke loose and Avery was screaming that Cohen was eating her peacock!!!!!

Fortunately, I had some fruity Cheerios and the yellow ones pass for regular ones... so, a little glue, and our tukey centerpiece is back in business!

I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving, and take time to reflect on what you are truly grateful for. I know I will (in between bites that is....)

Flash of Genius

So Grant and I went on a date last night. A real, live date. Except that we had to drop off his mom's dryclesaning, and she was half an hour late to take care of the kids, so the dinner that we had planned at The Keg, turned into Pizza Hut Express at the theatre.
Anyhoo, we went and saw "Flash of Genius". It is about the guy who invented the intermittent windshield wiper, and how Ford took his idea, and stole his patent. He spend the next 12 years of his life dedicated to getting Ford to admit that the idea was his. He was offered lots of money to drop the lawsuit, but it was never about money for him. His wife left him, and his family was resentful towards him for a while.

Grant was really mad that he didn't take the money and try to rebuild his family. He argued that it isn't about the idea, and that family is what matters. However, I can totally see this guy's point. I kind of know how he feels. I certainly haven't invented anything that is as relevant as a windshield wiper, but I know why he was angry that someone took his idea and passed it off as their own.

A layout that I posted on here and on facebook that was born from the creativity of Haley, Tara and myself didn't get published. But one that looks eerily familiar, and not as creative did. It seems a little suspect that all the things we included on the layout; and not normal embellishmenty type things, ended up on this other one too.

I know that everyone scraplifts. I do. But I don't scraplift an idea, and then pass it off as my own.

Okay. I am really done with that now.

why do I care?

So Grant and I stopped in at a friend's place yesterday afternoon. They had another friend there as well. All of our kids go to preschool together, and the kids have a great time together... but do you have that person who thinks that raising a child is a competition??? We do. So while we were there yesterday, one of the kids had an accident. Happens right? Especially when you are having fun with your friends and don't want to go inside to pee right? (I am talking about three year olds here....) So what did her dad do??? He yelled at her, told her she was a bad girl, ripped off her pants, and chucked her in their truck. He left her in there. Wet legs... and it was cold out. I was in the house when this happened, and Grant came in to get me, and to see if our friends' had a pair of pants for the little girl. The worst part. This family lives across the road from our friends. It would have been so easy to take her home, and clean her up. But no, instead we need to humiliate her in front of her friends, and then leave her shivering in the truck.
I went to the truck and told her that she wasn't a bad girl, that accidents happen, and that she would be okay. Then I told her dad to take her home...
On our way home, Avery said that if she sees this girl have an accident again that she will tell her, "That's okay... accidents happen." I like that she is listening...

I am trying to go on a "hot" date with Grant tonight. We'll see. It seems that whenever we make plans to go out, something else comes up. So tonight, he has booked his mom to come stay with the kids, and we are going to try to do dinner and a movie. (and get groceries.... see what I mean about a "hot" date???!!!) ;)

And I need to get some scrapbooking done. I have a lot of Monday Night Class stuff to accomplish. When will I find the time?
Wish me luck.

what a difference a day makes

when I got home from my parents' yesterday, I was relieved to see that we still had the majority of our leaves on our trees. I love fall, but only the beginning of fall. I don't like it when the leaves find their way to the ground and all that is left are naked branches. Well, the wind blew last night. It blew and blew and blew. Is this a sign that winter isn't too far off?

October Layouts from the weekend.

"Still Crazy After All These Beers" by Kimberly Collis

So Cohen likes beer. Not just any beer, Kokanee. Hmmm, I wonder where he gets that from? He will scrounge through our empty cans and play with just the Kokanee cans. He can distinguish these blue cans from the blue Pepsi cans that fill the bags... Anyhoo, this night he was pretending to pour beer into a glass, and then drink it. Well, as you can see, the result when the beer can and glass were taken away wasn't pretty. The tantrum lasted longer than most. I have such a little diva on my hands.... and who would have ever thought it would be my son?!

"Cousins First, Friends Forever" by Kimberly Collis

After I started the second half of Cohen's first year album, the first album kind of got neglected. There are still a few empty spots waiting for layouts. This is going to fill one of those spots. This is Cohen and his cousin Annika at my cousin's 21st birthday last August, Cohen was six weeks old, and Annika was nine weeks... almost ten. I love that I have a child with a cousin so close in age to him. I envied Nicole and Janelle that when we were growing up. I didn't have cousins exactly my age, and both of them did. I am looking forward to watching them grow up together.

"Rear View" by Kimberly Collis

This layout was one I was looking forward to doing. I love that the paper matches the colors in Cohen's hat perfectly. I also LUHVE the laser cut chipboard arrow. It is so cool.

I'll try another way...

Life in the Fast Lane......

This is a kit that I designed this weekend for Monday Night Class. I was a little leary of the foam signs when Christy gave them to me, but when Amy arrived with the road sign paper by Glitz, I was so inspired. I think it is perfect for a little kid learning to walk, or someone learning to drive...

Needless to say, i am just happy I was able to load a photo!

This weekend

was a blast! I went on a scrapbooking retreat with other Monday Night Class gals. I had a great time. I have known Cindy for just over five years now, but I have never scrapbooked with her. It was nice to just sit at a table and chat and create, and not have to solve too many of the world's problems. And I think Christy feels sorry for me that Tara doesn't want to be my BFF, so Christy stepped in. What a relief that was. Then I had someone to talk to, and no longer had to talk to myself, about myself..... (ha ha ha ha ha)

As for showing off all that I accomplished layout wise, I am struggling with my super duper dial up. It rarely allows me to connect to any or all of the pages I want to so...... you might have to wait, as it will not allow me to add any photos. I HATE DIAL UP.....

As for other things I accomplished this weekend... I walked in the CIBC Run for the Cure for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. I was dreading the day because I didn't think that I would be able to do the 5km in the allotted time... however, I was one of the first on my team to finish, and we were also near the front of the pack (of walkers, that is...) Anyhoo, the great thing about this day was the team I was on raised to most money at our run site! We raised just over $12,000.00 ourselves! What a great day, and what a necessary cause. Thanks to all of you who opened your checkbooks, and wallets, and made a donation to this cause.

It turned out not too badly

So, I was actually dreading taking pictures of the kids today. It was so much easier when Cohen couldn't move. And Avery... well, she is in a class all her own. It takes a lot of coaxing to get her to just look at the camera, let alone produce a nice face for it. So when Grant came home just before lunch, I took advantage of the extra hands. I still wasn't expecting miracles because Cohen was super tired, and we delayed lunch for pictures... priorities right?? ;) but we got pictures and that is all that matters to me!

Needless to say, Grant really did all the work. He was running around behind me, making faces and crazy noises and throwing leaves in the air... and it worked! I got some pictures that are more than good enough for me. I especially love the one of Avery peeking around the tree. She was actually very good today.

I already have paper picked out for these pictures. I actually dressed them according to the paper... is that wrong?? I just got the "All Fall" line from Fancy Pants. I love Fancy Pants. Really love them. And it will be perfect for what I am doing with these. I like it when things work out well.


Wish me luck... i have the 5km run on Sunday. I will walk of course, (but only because my whole team is planning on walking - otherwise I would totally run...) (that was so dripping with sarcasm wasn't it?)


"

I am taking a break....

In one sleep, I will be heading north to leave the kids at my parents' house. I am going to a MNC staff retreaty thing in Delburne. The crappy thing is I won't get there until around supper time on Friday night, and I have to leave early on Sunday morning for the CIBC Run for the Cure. So, in other words, I have a lot to do in a little time. I have packed 28 layouts... is that a little ambitious??? Likely, considering that the most pages I have ever accomplished in a weekend was 18. And that was a long weekend, not an abbreviated one. Oh well, I am going scrapbooking in Blairmore in two weeks, so I will have some fuller (is that a word?) albums by the end of this month.

And, because I think I don't have enough pictures to scrapbook, I am taking the kids out for a fall photo shoot today. They both have orange shirts, and brown pants, so..... autumn leaves, here we come. The ideal photo shoot would include my darling husband, our dog, and myself. But let's face it, that isn't going to happen. So... if the pictures turn out well, I will post them, and I will also post what I accomplish this weekend at the beginning of next week.

Today was the day...

It was Avery's first official day of preschool. She was there alone... without me. And she didn't care. I cried. Seriously... I shed tears. I don't know why. We have an amazing, amazing, amazing teacher, and hopefully the world's best assistant, so it has nothing to do with that. I think I am a little sad that I don't get to know everything that she does all day long.

But she had an awesome day. She found the marble in the sand table, which meant that she got to be the line leader. What a big deal! She has done nothing but talk about how she found the marble, and that it was blue, and that Teacher Carol and Teacher Denise were so proud of her, and that she lead the kids to the "water sink" (water fountain) for drinks, and they followed her outside. The bad thing is that she thinks she gets to be line leader all year. I'm glad I won't be there when she learns the truth..... ;) Anyhoo, I sent her to school looking all cute and matchy matchy, and when I went to pick her up, she looked like she had been in battle. I guess that is a sign of a good time......

I am so glad that she enjoyed her day, and that she can't wait until next week. Neither can I. I kind of like being able to get back to having only one kid, even if it is for only a few hours a week.

So this is the before picture. Before we left the yard, before I started to cry, before she became a mess......

This is her in front of the school. She is making such a goofy face, but in her defense, there were a ton of junior high kids calling out her name and telling her how cute she looked, so I guess she did her best. I think I will take a picture of her in front of this sign every year.....

This is her marching down the hall. (Take note of the Thomas the Tank Engine backpack, and inside that is her Lightning McQueen lunch kit... such a girl ;)... )

So this is the after..... notice the straggled hair, and crazy barrettes. Also notice the "new" pants. Not what she went in. (She told the assistant that she needed to go to the bathroom, but they didn't get there in time.....)

all in all, I think she had a great day........