Norby Wedding

So I was fortunate enough to get to take wedding pictures for Jacquie and Kurtis yesterday. Yes, it snowed. Yes, it rained. Yes, my feet were soaking and cold and soaking. But, I did get some pictures that I am quite excited about.
I am equally excited to edit them. I don't know where to stop once I start!

another little MNC peek

This kit is designed with the Bo Bunny Mama-Razzi line. When it first came out, I thought , "Cute, but I can't see me using it....." and now that I have finished this kit, I want to go out and get my hands on all I can find. There is some super cute stuff in this line!
So, here are a couple of peeks at what I finished this morning!

10 Randoms.... May Long Then.... May Long Now....

Ah.... May Long Weekend. It is here. It is the first long weekend of the summer... the first of the camping season. And so much has changed for me when I think what it used to mean, versus what it means now....

May Long Used to Mean:
1) Skipping school on Friday to get a good start on the party
2) Downing enough "liquid courage" to make new friends with the neighbors camped next door. (okay... who I am kidding... all I really needed was to see the neighbors next door, and I was gone from my site, and over at theirs)
3) Wandering around from campsite to campsite hoping to find your own campsite
4) partying all night, and sleeping most of the day
5) a new repertiore of stories that would last until Grad weekend.....

May Long Now Means:
1) Knowing the weather is very likely not going to cooperate, and one is therefore wise to stay home if one likes dryness, or warmth, or a combination of both
2) Not venturing too far, because Grant is likely still farming (although this year, he was done early!!!!)
3) Planting a garden. I love eating the stuff that I grew... and cared for. Somehow it just tastes better.
4) Work of some sort... be it photographing a wedding, helping at a branding, rototilling the MIL's garden, fixing helicopters in some remote part of this country...... it has all been done on recent MLWs
5) Reminiscing with friends about MLWs gone by... the people you met, the places you woke up, the poor choices you made, all of the good things about being young.....

finally some MNC stuff

I haven't done a lot kit wise lately. Unfortunately, I don't get into scrapbook stores as often as I would like, and so I don't get to see the new products, and ultimately, don't get to pick a bunch of stuff to design kits with. I let Cindy and Christy give me stuff, and then I make "magic" with it!
So, this is s little teaser of a 4x4 page I finished yesterday. It comes complete with real mud!
TFL!

Layout #32

This is the last of the four layouts I completed at the beginning of May. I don't know why I am stressing about how many or how few layouts I have completed. I just took a look at my 2009 albums... and they are freaking huge. Ridiculously huge. I have always tried to keep each year in just two albums, but the 150 layouts in a year really bulked up last year's albums. This one needs to go in there too..... yikes! Where will I find room?
TFL

10 Random U2 songs I love............

so..... we got tickets! My friend Jenn was coming home from a road trip to Seattle yesterday, and told me she found some tickets to U2 on Kijiji!!!!! They are super high up.... but right off the stage! The concert is in Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium. I have seen them there before.... and it was amazing. So, in honor of one of the greatest bands of all time.... I am making a list of ten of my favorite U2 songs...... and it will be hard to limit it to 10!

1. Beautiful Day - we had this song at our wedding.... how can you not love it?

2. Bad. Such a good good good song. There are no words.

3. Pride (In the Name of Love) - this song takes me back to junior high school. So many good memories

4. Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World - my favorite line....??? "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle"

5. The Fly - I love the guitar solo of The Edge in this song... and so electronically cool too.

6. Mysterious Ways - again... takes me back.

7. Where the Streets Have no Name - I think I love the video more than the song..... but I really love the song.

8. Vertigo - I love to dance... and you can so dance to this song.

9. Sunday Bloody Sunday - clearly

10. Ultraviolet (Light My Way)

Okay... so I didn't include One. And there is a reason. When that song was finally released on radio, I had already listened to that album so much, that when the radio overplayed it, I had to separate myself from that song. I can hear it occasionally, but just goes to show what some severe overplaying by radio DJs can do to a song!

Anyhoo, clearly not a complete list, and just a few that came to my head right away.... but believe me, I am counting the sleeps until June 23!!!!

Free Filters!

I am testing the waters again. I miss being a photographer. And, I have discovered, that in doing it on my own, versus for a boss, I get to do what I want. I like that.I have also noticed that a lot of what is out there on the internet isn't necessarily posed really well, (I am a stickler for hands, head tilts, and no crotch shots...), but the focus is on the editing. I think that if I could master both, I might get a more solid grasp on both what I want (a solid, stand on its own image) and what the customer wants (something cool to look at).So I found some free photoshop filters online yesterday. And I love them! I like the idea of free, that is something I can afford right now! And I also like the different filters that were included.... So this is a picture I took of Avery on Sunday while we were out in the yard repairing fence for our two new heifers. And this is with a grunge filter and vignetting. Love it.
And here is another one from Sunday. I walked into our yard from the north side of the barn, ( a place I rarely go.....) and this is what I saw. I loved it just how it was, but why not play around with it too! So this is the original.... And this is after I applied an old photo filter to it.... I love that I can manipulate the damage of the photo, and play around with edges and borders. Too cool....

TFL!

Layout #31

This was another layout I finished in High River last week. You may be surprised to see that I used MME paper.... or not. I also used Glimmer Mist on the title letters, and some glossy accents and stickles here and there.... I feel you can NEVER have too much sparkle..... and that is a good life motto too...
TFL!

10 Randoms about 10 moms I know

Yesterday was Mother's Day, and for me, it was one of the best ones I have had. I am very spoiled. I have a husband who will allow me to sleep in, get the kids ready for their day, who will cook supper, bath the kids and put them to bed. When Grant is home, many of the days feel like Mother's Day. But there are many more mother;s out there who do a great job for different reasons. This is my list of 10 moms who have impressed me in some way.

1. My mom. She raised three daughters. Not on her own. My dad was there... but he was also rarely there (ah the life of a farmer...) And she worked. And she made time for herself. And despite all that, we always knew we were first in her life. And still are.

2. Grant's mom (get up off the floor Tara...). Joanne and I don't have the best MIL/DIL relationship, but that doesn't mean I don't respect all that she gave up for her kids. Her husband died when Grant was two. She didn't remarry, she didn't give up her kids to her inlaws for life insurance money, she didn't put herself first. She raised her two kids all on her own. She packed up and left her life in BC to come back home, and if she hadn't, I would never have met my husband.

3. My sister Nicole. She is in the same boat as I am. Her husband works away most of the time, but she makes it look easy. She does Mommy group. She bakes cookies, and cooks amazing meals for supper. She uses cloth diapers.....She rocks.

4. My friend Jenn. She is a single mom. Not by choice. Her son's dad decided he didn't really want to be a dad anymore, and that means that Jenn gets to be both most days. And she does a fantastic job. Her son is adorable, and kind, and helpful. And all of that is because of her. I think if I was single parenting, I would be angry and bitter. But she isn't. She loves Jonah more than anything else in her world, and I know because her face lights up when she talks about him, or sees him. That is true love.

5. Tara. You know the first of your friends to have a baby, and therefore has that much more experience than you. That is Tara for me. She was the first of my friends to have a kid when we weren't there yet. She has always known that she wants to be a mom, and I honestly believe that mothering was her call. She loves her kids.... loves loves loves them. She volunteers, she throws extravagent birthdays, she cleans their fish tanks, she re-dyes her pants so that she doesn't spend the money on clothes for herself, and therefore has more for her kids. She is amazing.

6. Haley.... you know, for a youngin' she does a pretty bang up job on parenting. I just watch her with Miles, and she sets such a good example for him. She insists on manners from him, and he is also a very affectionate kid. He loves his new little sister... and that is a good thing. Haley also isn't afraid to ask questions. In a world where we don't want to look like we don't have all the answers, Haley recognizes that she doesn't and will ask for advice when she needs it.

7. Kacey. 30 with four kids..... and a job. And a husband who, until recently worked away a lot of the time. And she has great kids. She has it together. And I am jealous. And that is all I have to say about her..... she is a very remarkable woman, and I hope that some of her rubs off on me. (I am sure my kids hope that too.....)

8. My neighbor Amy. She isn't a mom. Yet. They have struggled with infertility, and I feel awful for her. She would be an amazing mom, and I know that one way or another, she will get her child, and be the mom that the rest of us strive to be.

9. My friend Jennifer, who I met through Crop 4 Kids. And the reason I met her there, was because she organized it. And the reason she organized it, is because all three of her kids have spent more than their fair share of time in the Alberta Children's Hospital. And Jennifer wanted to give back. I think any parent who has spent time in emerg, or in the hospital knows how hard it is, and I can't imagine having to do it with all of them.... You are such a strong woman Jennifer.

10. I have many more amazing mom friends, so my last random is for all of them. They know who they are. And if you are reading this and think I may be talking about you, you are right.

Layout #30

Okay.... so 30 layouts and we are into the fifth month of the year already..... That's it. 30 layouts. Pathetic? Not really, considering I have very little to scrap. So, I am vowing to take millions more pictures of the real day to day stuff... the crying kids, the mess of my house, the amazing cupcakes I made for Avery's birthday. I am going to take millions more pictures so I have something to do......
However, until then, I will just show this layout off. It was kind of a last minute idea. Not pre-planned, which is weird for me. And I am thrilled at how it all came together. The patterned paper is SU!, and the rub ons and die cuts are MME. The cardstock is Bazzill, and the floss and buttons are just stuff I had laying around. And, you know what? I love this layout. I think a lot has to do with the fact that I love the picture, but I am really pleased with how this came together.....
TFL

Layout #29

So, it was National Scrapbook Day on Saturday... and it was the first that I have ever been able to go to.... Having a daughter on this weekend was very poor planning on my part..... However, the scrapbook stars aligned, and I was able to spend the day with my very good friends, laughing, chatting, reminiscing, and getting a few pages done..... (a very few).
This is one of the four I accomplished. And everything was from my stash! Everything... paper, brads, ghost stars, journaling tag, and the ribbon was from Haley's! Yay for using up your stash.

My Baby Girl is Five Today

(Avery at one day old)

I know a lot of people don't see me as the sentimental type, but as I am sitting here writing this, I have a tear spilling down my cheek as I think about what this girl has done in the last five years. Not only for herself, but for me, and for our family. She has brought sunshine and love into my life. She makes me laugh daily. She really does say the funniest things. She sees things from a five year old set of eyes, and that makes me rethink how I see things too. I wish life were as easy for adults as it is for a five year old child.... wouldn't that be amazing? She is bright. Very, very bright. And she wants that for others. She is adamant that she teaches Cohen to potty train, his alphabet, the size of a stegosaurus' brain, how to hold his fork. She also drives me crazy. She knows how to push my buttons, and she will.... and I know that I need to embrace the bad along with the good, because these last five years have flown by, and in no time, she won't be here anymore..... (There goes another tear....)
So, my dear, sweet Wave.... Happy Fifth Birthday. I love you!

(Avery 4 years and 364 days old)

10 Randoms ..... Before I Was a Mom

It is Avery's fifth birthday tomorrow. It is so very hard to me to believe that five years and two days ago I wasn't a mom. That five years and two days ago, I was still just a wife. These five years have been the hardest and most rewarding years of my life, but there are things from my "before" life that I miss.....
1. Doing whatever I wanted.
2. Whenever I wanted.
3. Having a disposable income to spend on stuff like clothes, shoes, candles, lotion, and other things just for me.........
4. Time alone with Grant. We get a little, but it never seems like enough.
5. Five years ago, our friends didn't have kids either. And we spent a lot more time with them too.
6. Scrapbooking. Although I had considerably less to scrapbook about, I had more time and money to do it!
7. Watching my shows in the middle of the afternoon! Who knew one TV would put an end to Oprah, and a lifetime of Treehouse and Disney movies???
8. Traveling. Although Grant and I didn't do a ton of it, and never went anywhere too exotic, we still made sure we went on a vacation at least once a year. We can't afford that anymore.
9. Work. I miss having my own classroom. I miss having my own class. I miss staffroom conversations.
10. I miss who I used to be. (I don't mean that to sound depressing, sad, or resentful. I love who I am now, and love love love my kids, but sometimes I wonder if we didn't jump into this parenthood thing a little too quickly....)