Not a whole lot of this....

Unfortunately I have not been doing a whole lot of scrapping lately. Both kids have come down with the piggy virus (AKA: H1N1 or Swine Flu) so most of my time is spent cuddling, getting drinks, making soup and administering medicine. Even though they are sick, they are still making me laugh, smile and loving being their mother. Plus it's one of the few times Q actually likes to cuddle for more then a 3 minutes at a crack!

I hope that they get well soon!

Victoria BeckhamThis was my final layout for my week as featured Artista on the Bella Blvd. blog. It was fun to put all my projects together. Thank you to Stephanie and Bella Blvd. for giving me this awesome opportunity.

On another note this was such a fun layout to make. I really should scrapbook my "funny" side more often. I hope you like it.

Moment

Another layout for the Bella Blog. I think this is my favorite of the three. It really isnt about how the end result looked, but because I really enjoyed the process of getting to that end result! Using a quote on the layout was my challenge. I of course like the layout but sometimes its not about the end result but its how you get there that counts the most. So, go forth my scrapbooking friends and enjoy the moments that are found in the process. (Oh I'm philisophical today!)

What a good week!

This week I am the featured Artista over at the Bella Blvd. Blog
I couldn't be more excited to share all my projects with everyone there and here this week!!! I think they have easily become some of my favorite pages. Thanks to everyone who has shared love for my work both on the Bella Blog and on my personal blog. It really makes my day!!!

So the following layout is the first of the three that Bella will feature this week. I also shared a little about myself through a game of "You Know Your A Scrapbooker When..." It was really fun to come up with all those ideas and myself and my family got a really good laugh when i was compiling the list.

Can I have this dance?

If I was a twitter person i so would twitter this classic Gracie statement....

"Mom when I get married I want this to be my wedding song!" (Keep in mind she is 7) Don't you think her future husband will love this!!!!!

My newest page...I made this for Club 1 2 3 that I teach at my local scrapbook store. I really love how it turned out. I had been wanting to scrapbook these photos for a long time of Gracie looking at the Jellyfish at the Shedd Aquarium. The pictures are so awesome that I needed a way to scrapbook them that would keep them the focus. I think I finally found a way...

Door County

So, I've been living in Wisconsin now for about 15 years and this was my first trip up to Door county. I've always heard such lovely things about it in every season. Finally this past weekend took me for my first trip. Unfortunately when we got up there this is what it looked like :( Raining and foggy. It stayed that way until..... ...of course the day we left!!! Despite the weather we had a really nice time. I scrapbooked most of the time and he did some cooking as well as we sat out on our poarch drinking wine and watching the fog. LOL

Total side note.....Has anyone ever seen a pumpkin like this? I took pictures of it on our way around town because I had never seen anything like this lumpy bumpy pumpkin before.

Disney Magic

These are the latest pages for the Disney Magic class that I teach at my local scrapbook store. I really enjoyed making these pages. It makes me want to be in Disney right this very moment. In fact I will be leaving for my next Disney trip in 80 days!!!! (Click on the image fro a larger view)

Disney Magic

These are the latest pages for the Disney Magic class that I teach at my local scrapbook store. I really enjoyed making these pag

December DetailsI loved working with the latest Bella Blvd Christmas line called December Details! My favorite project I have made in a long long time is this wreath! I cant wait for the holiday season to begin so I can hang this wreath on my door! (OK, I know that's a silly reason to look forward to Christmas....but its so true!) I've become obsessed with making more them!!!

My card with little jingle bells on them. I really don't send out Christmas cards (I'm just so terrible at it) It was still fun to make. :)

This layout was actually in the supplement catalog for Bella Blvd. I was so excited and honored to be featured in it. My kids say they are famous because they are in print. Isnt that so cute :)

Honey I'm Home!!!!

I got the amazing opportunity to work with the newest line from Bella Blvd called Honey I'm Home! My most time consuming project was a household organizer. I made several sections that I cant wait to actually use! It includes normal stuff like Meal Planner and a shopping list. I also catered it to me by adding a section for creating layouts or jotting down creative stuff as well as a section called "they say" to jot down all the funny and cute things my kids say that I don't want to forget.



I love how this layout turned out with Q's feet on it. Home truly is what you make it.
Oh, and we of course have a love for crocs around here so its the perfect line to showcase our home for our crocs right inside the front door all piled togehter. Not only are we a family but our crocs are a family all their own. :)

Just when you thought....

I stopped scrapbooking....I prove you wrong. :) Enjoy

Weather like this....

A few weeks ago we had weather like this. We had a chance to run in the fountain at Bayshore Mall (Great free entertainment by the way) We could walk outside without a sweatshirt. We could bask in the sun. We could wear flip flops.





Now...it is chilly outside with a touch of rain and wind. Today was the first day since the start of school that it was a bit to cold to walk to school. I do not mind these cooler days but I will soon be longing for the summer sun and a trip to the fountain.

Learn...

I have realized recently the magnitude of learning that goes in the life of a seven year old. I knew that kids spend many a moment learning at school but this post isn't about that. Its about the other stuff...the life stuff, the stuff you cant read about but you have to experience to learn them!

Things like...

Learning to ride a bike
That her brother loves her even though he may not always show it
Good behavior may come easy to her but not to others
Helping others through a rough time can be just as rewarding for her as the friend
Life isn't always easy but a positive attitude helps!

The list goes on, but the point is that it's a great time watching her blossom into such a great little lady. Thanks Gracie for blessing all that you may meet. You rock!

Renaissance Fair

This past weekend the kids, myself and Doug went to the Bristol Renaissance Fair. This was Doug's first big activity with my kiddos. He's still around so I guess they didn't scare him to much. :)Everyone had a giant pickle on a stick. It was great to watch the kids try and eat them.
Gracie got a flower wreath for her hair which looked adorable!
I think the Pirate ship was a highlight for Q! While Gracie and I were busy posing for photos Q was the coffee making pirate. He kept pumping the water, going back into the room of the ship with all the dishes and "make coffee"
Gracie got her face painted which she was so excited about that she insisted on not washing it off until the next morning so she could show her nana and bapa
They had these awesome lemon ices right inside a lemon!
Both kids made a candle. It was a fun activity and both kids have enjoyed showing their creations to everyone who walks in the door.
At the end of the day the kids and I sat down for one last picture. It isnt easy to capture both kids happy at the same time. Thanks to a little tickling from Mommy, and a Doug who is fast at snapping photos, we got one!

It was a great day had by all!!!

Halloween Cat
Made this Halloween cat puzzle for Genuinely Jane. I love that it stands up as well as the kids like to play with it as a puzzle. I know they have a pumpkin and some Christmas shapes too that I can't wait to get my hands on!

Orange Roses...

Did yo know that their are orange roses? I sure didn't until I got a special delivery yesterday! I was so excited to see an orange bouquet just for me. It matches my bedroom perfectly. It made my crummy mood turn right around. I really am a lucky girl to have such a special person in my life. :)

Studio Calico Love!

I am a part of Studio Calico monthly kit club and I love it! Here are some of my recent layouts that I have done using their kits. I love knowing that a new package of scrapbook goodies will arrive at my doorstep every month.

This one was a really quick one that I made just because life was stressful I was so in need of some scrapbook time. This is a photograph of the Grand Floridian Hotel and Spa at Walt Disney World.



I have been really struggling with Gracie starting this new school and because scrapbooking is truly my therapy I emoted about how it had been effecting me in this layout.



P.S. Gracie had a great day at school yesterday! She loved it. Whats even better is that she was thrilled to go back again today.

First day of school!

Today was my 2nd graders first day of school in our new school district.

She was so nervous and excited that she changed her mind back and forth on her first day of school outfit several times.
We got to walk to school! A major plus to living so close to her new school!

I am so amazed it how much it effected us this morning. I guess I thought she was cool with everything until the bell rang! It was pitifully load. Now, keep in mind we are coming from a school were there really are no bells! It freaked her out! That was the beginning of the emotions. She started to cling to my arm more and more as we walked down the hallway to her classroom. As we reached the door her face turned red and she gripped me as tight as her little body could. She began to cry and her teacher was so cool about it all. It was a little bit of a struggle but her teacher finally convinced her to take her hand and head into the classroom. I then proceeded to walk back down that super long hallway and cry like a baby along with Q. Q was saying "My sisters sad, she needs me!" I just walked as the tears streamed down my face. I thought that I was done doing this when 4K was over.....this just goes to show you that you never really know!