That First Step is a Doozy

I know, I know, I keep saying, "I'll be right back", and I end up being a no-show to my own party. Not even sure what's eating up my blogging time. Well, anyways I'm here. I'm enjoying the off season around here. This is the only time of year where we have zero kids in team sports. We're "off" until Spring soccer fires back up. Now, that should be fun. All FIVE will be playing for the first time. Excuse me while I go take a nice, long nap just at the very thought. In the meantime we're keeping busy with Scouts times 2 and just the day to day life with the Fab Five.

Gotta give props to my last baby getting potty trained. Yep, after 10 years, 3 months, and 3 days STRAIGHT of having a kid or kiddos in diapers... wait for it... Sullivan is potty trained. Whatever to do with all that free time?!? Here he is enjoying his reward. Heck, I would have bought him a full-size dump truck had he done it at 2!!

Tons of scrappiness to share. Have I told you lately that I love banners?

Did this for a DT call. Hmm, I may just have something to share. Wink.

Can you say stash? Yep, used up some super old, I mean yummy Fancy Pants acrylic shapes and Amy Butler butterflies.

More Studio calico Back 40 love...

Thanks for checking in on me. Love reading your comments. Appreciate that you take the time to do it. I've got STB and Scrapbook Express stuff to share. Later.

The Middle's Not So Little

sigh. deep breath. here goes nothing. 2010 is behind me. 2011 is ahead. i can see clearly now, and it's going to be a great year. it has to be. there are NO other options. I hope you enjoyed your family this holiday season. The older I get, the more time that passes, the more cemented it becomes to me, just how terribly important family is. I have been blessed with 2 of the most amazingly perfect parents ever. And now Patrick & I have been blessed with 5 of the most amazing, smart, and special children of our own. Only good things are coming, only good things.

So... enough of this horrible drivel. Lots to catch up on here. First up is my middle's 6th birthday. Big fun when you're 6 often involves strangely cute bowling shoes and Mighty Beanz...


Bubba assisting Miss Sassy on the lanes...

I told you, it doesn't get any better than this...

Seriously?!? LOOK at that smile!

ok, ok, I've got TONS of scrappiness to share. Did these for Croppin Paradise. I think I may love this Dear Lizzy line even more than her debut Spring line. It is THAT yummy...

Made this one for CP, too. It was my part of the 12 Days of Christmas we featured. (I told you I was behind)! I never give away stuff I make. I'm very selfish that way. But, this one I made just for Mom. It was worth it, oh so worth it.

This one uses some fun stash and a Studio Calico exclusive pp, too. This one was for Scrapbook Express's December Progressive Layout Challenge. Never done one of those before, let alone help organize one, but it was SO much fun!

October Afternoon hit another homerun with this Seaside line. You can find it in the Scrapbook Express Store HERE.

Hope you're not sick of banners yet...

A little Alphabet Soup love for Scrapbook Express...

And, I can't leave out Scrap That Baby's last prompt for 2010...

Lots more to catch up on. Thanks for listening. I treasure each and every visit you make here and each and every comment you leave. Happy 2011! Jenny

New & Old

I'm starting to feel like some of the fog is lifting and (knock wood) we're starting to get into our deployment groove. I can't thank you enough for the words of encouragement and the prayers you've offered to Patrick, our family, and the family directly affected by 121's tragedy. Thank you, thank you.

I'm starting to scrap, only for assignments and the like, but it's something. These first two are for the squadron's Ready Room's calendar. They're 6 by 6. If anyone doesn't know how these are used, just ask, and I'll post an explanation.

The next 2 items are cards I did with some more of Simply Obsessed's April kit. Thought hubby could use a little more happy mail in the coming months.

And, lastly are some notebooks I made for Teacher Appreciation week in May. I made these for the Creative Team display at All About Scrapbooks. We were challenged by Arlette to mix some old techniques/products with some new ones. Here's what I came up with...

Sorry for the short post. We're knee deep in chores, homework, dinner, and prepping for tonight's Cub Scout meeting. Be back soon. And thanks for reading! <3

Chugga Chugga...

Scrappin like crazy these days. Thank goodness for this little hobby of mine. It really is sooo good for my mental health when Donk is away. These first 2 are for Croppin Paradise. I used Bo Bunny's Persuasion and Love Bandit lines. Yep, I made another bulletinboard...

These next ones are for Simply Obsessed. I got my kit on Thursday and pumped out these 4 layouts by Monday. Woot woot! I'm so excited to share my first projects as an official DT member at SO. I loved this kit. Heather put together a kit I never would have picked on my own. I don't usually pick blues/greens... but it is awesome!! Thanks Heather!

This one doesn't photograph well. The shamrock lower right is "floating" over an empty circle. can you tell?

Lot's more going on here. I've got my box for Croppin Paradise for the next 2 months. I'll be sharing projects using new Anna Griffin, Cosmo Cricket's Joy Ride, new JenniB, etc. etc. The brood is good, fairly healthy and making up another no snow Snow Day on Saturday. Seriously? Saturday? All I can picture is Breakfast Club. But, for 7 and 9 year olds.

Ketchup is One of the Four Food Groups

Ok, whoever made up this year's calendar, has a sick sense of humor. As if November/December aren't time-crunched enough, they push Turkey Day back almost into December. Phew. I'm soo behind I may never catch up. But, I'll try.

Here's that sweet Melissa Frances miniBook I made for All About Scrapbooks. Used Making Memories' Mistletoe line with some Vintage Findings thrown in...

Julia's cheer squad finally found an evening to get together. It was FULL of this. Boy, do these girls know how to clear out a Pizza hut...

We loove this girl... Oh yea, we had another birthday. P.J. turned nine of the 5th of December. If I had to do it all over again, I would NOT have had 2 birthdays smack dab in the middle of the "holiday" season. Oh well,no take backs now, huh?

I think he liked this...

P.J. trying Dad's trick. Tsk tsk Daddy. Check out cake # 5 of 6 during Boys' Birthday month...

Oh yea, as if I didn't have anything else going on...

Seriously?!? Who knew they even made pink potties?!? She was all over this... Sullivan just wanted to figure out how the whole thing worked...

P.J. enjoyed a really special party to celebrate the Big Nine. We had 10 kids out for an evening of pizza and Fantastic Mr. Fox(cute, clever,and odd new movie). A good time was had by all...

Cake #6...

Brr...

I've by no means gotten caught up, but at least I gave you a peek of our happenings. What have YOU been up to?

**** Thank you so much for your comments on my recent posts. I treasure each and every one of them and each and every one of you.

Still more to share, will try to be back soon.