Summer Vacation - Day Two

I skipped day one.... only because I didn't have any pictures of that day... but the jist of that day is nothing but bad luck..... Both kids had allergy tests, and Cohen isn't allergic to peanuts, but, unfortunately, Avery still is. The good news is her allergist thinks there might be some major progress in the next two years!


We also just had some major repairs done to the Tahoe so we could pull the boat all the way to the cabin. You would think that after $1300 in repairs, they would have done all that needed to be done to the air ride system.... unfortunately, they neglected to fix the shock that is a part of that system.... so, add another $650 onto the bill, and Grant will be doing some repairs while here.
However, day two was much better, and we made it to the cabin just in time for supper.... unfortunately, there was no one here to make it! ;)
These pictures are of a stop we needed to make on the side of the road. It is the Goat River in BC, one of tons and tons of rivers...... but the kids enjoyed throwing rocks into it for 20 minutes.... Now that we are here, I am happy.... there is nothing to do but sit in the sun, make meals, and sit in the sun some more..... I will see what I can do!

The Cabin - Random things I may or may not be looking forward to.

(this is a view of the cabin from the road. It is right on the lakeshore, and is awesome inside. I am really looking forward to all the changes and progress that has been made this past year. Paved carport, granite countertops, and I think some stuff in the bathroom!)

So we are headed out on our summer vacation tomorrow, and I am excited, and stressed, and anxious, and pumped all at the same time....
Last summer, I loved being at the cabin... it was just getting to the cabin that was less than fun. That said, there are some things I can't wait for, and others that I would just like to forget about.

1. I'm not packed. I have clothes packed, but that is it. No shoes, boots, medications, anything. Not good....

2. We are going alone. Last year we went with Grant's mom and uncle, and although it was awesome to have them there to share in the parenting, and to give us a break every once in while, I am looking forward to having just our family "family time".

3. The drive.................................................... 14 hours is a long long long drive. We are leaving from Calgary tomorrow afternoon, and are planning on staying in Jasper tomorrow night, so we are breaking up the trip a bit.... but still...... 14 hours. Yuck.

4. Before we get to leave, both kids have allergy testing appointments tomorrow. Avery was to be retested for her peanut allergy at 5, and we haven't had Cohen tested, so have decided it is better to know than not..... so, before we head out, we get to have our children poked, prodded, and scratched to see what they don't take kindly to.... I don't take kindly to the poking, prodding, and scratching.

5. The scenery. Northern British Columbia is gorgeous. It is just amazing to look at. But at the same time, I get sad when I see the melting glaciers, and the destruction of the pine beetles. :(

6. Although this is our summer holiday, it isn't a vacation. For me, it is just a different place to sweep the floors, make meals, do laundry, bath kids, etc. I don't think guys get that. I think they think that when you go away it is vacation.... but it isn't. So..... not thrilled about that.....

7. That as soon as we get home, Grant is turning around and heading back to work. I am already bummed about that, and it is still two weeks away. :(

8. There is a scrapbook store close by... Or at least there was last year. Unfortunately, last year the store owner was on holidays the same time we were there, so I am hoping that the store is still open, and she isn't gone!

9. Did I mention that I am happy we will be there alone? I need a break from the insanity that is going on around her.... so I am thrilled it will just be the four of us.

10. Also... did I mention the 14 hour drive?

Layout #41 - The Mohawk.....

When I started this layout, I wasn't sure I was liking it. I loved the paper from We R... but it didn't really go with the photos. Then, I found some old old old chipboard from Autumn Leaves, and some die cut stickers from a Stampin' Up! kit that I bought last year. Throw in some Thickers and you have a layout that has used nothing but old stuff!!! I was happy about that, and very happy with the outcome.
TFL!

Layout #40

This layout is one I am not too sure about. I love the paper, and I love the photo, but I don't know if I can pull off the owls and flowers on a winter photo..... The reality is, the page is done, I mixed snowflakes and flowers, and it is going in the album, like it or not.....

And the best part?? I continue to be motivated by Haley and keep using stuff from my stash.... the snowflakes are Heidi Swapp..... and older than dirt.... as are some of the flowers, and brads...

Layout # 39

This is one of the last layouts that I have to finish for my sister's wedding album.... I promised her that I would have it done for their first wedding anniversary.... but they are in Europe until the 18th of August.... so I have been granted an extension of sorts! This is her and her new inlaws. And the paper...... it is old. Old old old!!! And I am so happy to have used it up! I also used old photo turns, brads, and some stickers.
The photo is kind of crap because for some reason I got gloss enlargements, and the reflect oh so well..... but it is done and that is really all that matters.

TFL!

Layout #38 - I'm on a roll!

I think my mojo is really back... in the last three days, I have managed to put together no less than 6 pages!!! Yay me! perhaps my slimmed down goal of 75 layouts this year vs the 150 last isn't out of reach!
This ia a layout done with the new MME So Sophie line, Graceful. Not my favorite of the line, and I never thought I would use it, but it came in an online order I placed by mistake, and the company never got back to me about shipping what I actually did order... so I am using it. It actually goes very well with the pictures I think! I was working on this most of last night, and struggled with the collaging of the embellishments. When I woke up this morning, everything seemed to fall into place. I guess a good night's sleep is beneficial!!!

TFL!

Layout #37

This is a layout of Cohen on his last day of two..... see a trend developing? Also..... MME paper.... see another trend??? :) This is also the second of the two layouts that I did before I had the pictures.... and again, I am quite happy with the results..... I think I might do this all the time!
TFL!

Layout #36

This is a layout I had finished, and was just waiting to get the picture printed. I love that I was able to crank off a page without really thinking, other than knowing what picture I planned to put on the page... I actually find it a little more liberating to do it this way.... and I was very pleased with the outcome....
This is a picture of Avery on her last day of being four.... and she is laughing so hard, and looks like she is having the time of her life, and I think the paper and tissue paper flowers add to the whimsy of the photo.
TFL

Awesome pictures.... minor injury....

I am sure my kids are sick of seeing me behind the camera yelling at them to turn their body away from me, or sit on that rock... no, not THAT rock, THAT rock.... but they haven't revolted yet, so I continue to make them my victims...... ;)These pictures were taken in Rimbey while we were there for the weekend.... I really wanted to get some pics of the kids on the caboose car at Pask-A-Poo park, but that is where the minor injury came in. There was a bee hive up inside the caboose, and whenever anyone went anywhere near the car, four or five bees came at that person. Unfortunately, I didn't realize this until too late.... I sat Cohen down on the train platform, and turned around to go set up the shot..... when I turned back around, he was waving his arms frantically, and crying. I ran over and picked one bee off his neck, just as another landed on the other side.... It was like they had conspired to attack my poor little man.... Needless to say, we know for sure he isn't allergic to bee stings. By the time we left the park, there was no sign of the sting except for a teeny red dot on his neck. He was so brave. I was still shaking when I was loading him into his carseat.
I also took some of the two of them on the tracks just outside of town. I have always wanted to do pictures like this, but never thought of it until it was too late..... Needless to say, the kids were close to matching clothes wise, so I grabbed one of mom's old suitcases, and we headed out. I was super pleased with the results..... I think there can be a story with railroad track pictures, without having to say anything at all....TFL

Happy Birthday for real!

Cohen's birthday was actually Monday. I had a funeral to go to, so cancelled his party. Then Tuesday was f-f-f-freezing, so I cancelled his party. Wednesday wasn't much better, so we held off one more day, but yesterday..... it was a perfect day for a party at the spray park. And, so it was. Cohen had asked for a Christmas tree birthday cake, so that is what he got..... no clue why, but who am I to argue with a three year old? (Mostly because it will get you nowhere...) And, equally as fortunate, most of my friends are flexible enough to work around a rapidly changing party plan. Kacey and her kiddos were the only ones who couldn't make it, and they really were missed. The good news is, I know there will be a million more days at the spray park with the Brownings, so I'm cool with her working.... ;)
When I got home, I got the kids a sitter, and went into town to the pool. They have started a weekly AquaMax aerobics program, which is a little more boot campy than the morning aerobics class.... I was sooooorrrre last night... so sore... but the good sore you know? Anyhoo, today isn't bad. I am looking forward to next week!
Today is also the last day of swimming lessons for my kids, and then we are headed up to Rimbey for the weekend. Should be tons of fun. I am planning on hooking up with Jenn and going to the Farmer's Market in Red Deer on Saturday.... and then Grant comes home! Yay!

Layout #35

This was a page that I was so looking forward to doing. I bought the October Afternoon Fly a Kite paper a long time ago, and kept holding off using it, because I wanted something perfect for it.... and what do you know!!! I think the favorite part of this page might be the "real" kite tails I made with colored hemp. That, or the boy/girl journaling cards. I asked each kid what they liked about their kites. It was quite funny to hear Cohen's response. He like that his had yellow strings. Such an easy to please child.... until I actually need to that is. ;)

TFL

Layout #34 - phew

I actually did three layouts yesterday. This is the only one with a picture on it though. I know the pictures that are going on the other pages, but just don't have them printed yet. I also think I can finish a page a lot quicker without the picture..... maybe a little unorthodox in terms of the process, but they will be done soon!
This was done with a page extender package from a MNC kit. It was actually a kit I designed, but I don't have the whole kit. That isn't a problem, because I only had one photo to include on the page anyway. I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. It is documenting how, for the longest time, no matter where we went or how long a trip, Avery was our personal GPS, and
read every last road sign to us! That was tons of fun... No really...

TFL!

And so it begins...... or ends??

Cohen turned three yesterday.... so, of course I am hoping and praying this means the end of the terrible twos, and on to the thrilling threes. I clearly made up thrilling threes. Everyone is telling me they are the trying, or torturous, or temperamental threes.... but I am hoping that Cohen proves everyone, including me, wrong and has a year filled with happiness, and getting along with his sister-ness, and kindness......A girl can dream can't she?
And speaking of dreaming.... I think my dear Haley may come over today to scrap! I haven't scrapbooked since May 1. Not for myself anyway. Not in a real way. And by real, I mean more than a page a month...... so, I hope that the weather stays crappy, that swimming lessons are cancelled, and we spend the day laughing, and scrapping, and eating licorice.....
A girl can dream can't she? Oh, wait... I already said that.

Europe Bound

I'm not, but in September, my friend Catherine will be in Paris, Venice, and Rome. I am so jealous. Europe is at the top of my bucket list of places to go.... For a year or two....

Anyhoo, the most recent issue of Scrapbooks Etc. had an adorable travel journal for Europe in it. I loved it, and knew it would be perfect for Catherine's trip. It also just so happens that it is her birthday so....... I made her one. I started out copying the SE one.... but ventured out on my own by the second page. I am quite happy with how it all came together.the cover page
some of the inside pages...

TFL

"It's too wet!"

That is what Cohen was screaming for half an hour during his first swimming lesson. Well, of course it is wet you little monkey!I was more concerned about Avery and how she would be. Her first two years of lessons were okay, but she was still difficult to deal with some days. Not this year. She is going underwater herself, swimming unassisted in the deep end with a life jacket (so I guess a little assisted), doing front and back floats, and jumping off the lifeguard platform and going down the big slide all by herself.

Cohen.... well, he is having a harder time. Yesterday was the first day that he didn't cry the whole time he was in the water, and today he went down the little slide alone.... so I guess there is progress. I have to laugh at him though. He cried for most of his second lesson, and when he got out of the water, he thanked his swimming teacher, and then told me, "I really like swimming." Seriously???

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

While camping this past week, Sandersons celebrated Riley's third birthday, and the kids got kites as their "loot bags". The breeze was perfect, and both of my kids had a blast just keeping their kites in the air..... Avery pitched a bit of a fit when the wind died down, but until that point, they were quite happy to hold on to the string of their kites, and just wander around the campsite. They are also both quite a bit braver than I ever was as a kid with my own kite.

I remember never wanting to let the string out too far, for fear that the farther the kite was from me, the more likely it was to be blown away. Logical? Not really, but I never had a kite blow away either. (That may have also been attributed to the fact that if the wind got even the teeniest bit gusty, I would pack it in... but who knows?!)
So, because I am a scrapbooker, and plan every photo I take as one that is worthy of my scrapbook albums, I dragged my kids to the edge of our campsite, and the edge of the cliff so that I would have a decent background, and not a ton of campers and trucks in the background of my picture. Crazy? Maybe, but I am sure we have all done something like that, haven't we?