The One Where She Thinks She Has it all Under The Troll

Five more hours of racing five ounce blocks of wood and we are still not finished. A couple of weeks ago Reagan's Cub Scout pack had its Pinewood Derby. He did well. He finished first for the wolves and the entire pack. Fast forward to today's district event. Let me back up a minute. today was a bit over scheduled. A, I has to get help getting Julia to her game since Pinewood was at the same time. The plan was for the rest of us go to derby and then head over for Reagan's game/and pick up Julia from her game at the same time. No problem, right? Reagan's race was at 9:15 and basketball wasn't until 11. Ha, right.

Long story short, Julia had to be rescued from her game because we never made it. BUT, Reagan finished third for the Wolves and even advanced to the finals for the district AND will compete in the Council derby. Ugh. Insert eye roll here. I mean I'm thrilled. No, really I am. Just next time I'll clear the rest of our schedule. And pack snacks.


A little paper and glue. The Studio Calico kits always put a smile on my face...

Our days these days... Cheer, new Legos, sickies, and spending Geega and Dumpa's money.

And, of course, this happens mid-derby madness...

The One Where She Had a Little Sunshine to Share

When my term at Scrapbook Express ended in the Spring of 2011, I had a feeling that my days as a design team member for a store or kit club may be numbered. This rotten economy of ours has shuttered so many stores and clubs the DT positions were really becoming harder to come by. Enter a chance peek at a design team site and I sent an application of on a whim. Guess what? I got it! The sweet Amy at Birds of a Feather wanted ME!!  So, so happy to be playing with a kit, again. I love that creative push I get when pressed to make something with JUST what's on my desk.. Thanks so much for the chance, Amy!   Hope you all come play along.

In fact, this past weekend BOAF hosted its second annual Lovebirds Crop. Here's the layout I put together for the "Things I Love"... challenge.

One of my favorite things about being a Momma is watching them together...

I'd love to do a little giveaway in celebration of me joining the Birds of a Feather team. You have up to three chances to win if you:

1. Just leave a comment here for one chance.
2. Become (or be) a follower of my blog.
3. Become (or be) a member at the BOAF Hen House.

Make sure you tell me what you've done in the comments. I'll leave this giveaway open until Wednesday 3/6...

The One Where Her Schedule Took Over

THIS weekend is going to test even my super powers. We have four basketball games, World Thinking Day for my GS, Pinewood Derby & Blue and Gold banquet for my CS, a sleepover, Awanas, and a birthday party for our newest about to be ten year old. Before all that hits the fan, I thought I would share a few layouts I did for a design team call. I may have some news to share with you on that front. Hang tight.

Until then...

Just a random picture of my Sassy girl. As proud as can be that she did it all by herself. Don't you just love that face?!?

A few recent uses for my ever growing stash of washi tape...

The One Where She Finally Finished Something

A little bright and fun miniBook for your scrappy enjoyment today. A year or two ago I found these 12x 12 felt sheets from Creative Imaginations in my scrappy room. I pondered what to do with them. They were so pretty I didn't want to cut them up and hide them in a scrapbook on a page. So, I got to thinking... Why don't I make them into an album. I cut them in half and sewed two back to back until I had 3-6x12 panels. I folded them in half to make 6 pages including both covers. I added a couple grommets to fit two binder rings. And, voila. A super cute miniBook for my daughter.

And it sat and gathered dust. With the coming of a new year and a mission to get some stuff done. I pulled this miniBook back out and in a couple of afternoons got the pictures printed and completed the album.

Here's a few peeks...

How about a giveaway?!? I picked up two of these Mara Mi desk calendars at Target. They were on clearance and thought they would make a fun GIVEAWAY to celebrate me getting something done AND getting back to my dear old bog. Just leave a comment about something you've finished recently and I'll draw a name on Sunday.

Getting back in the swing of things means more scrapping. I've been printing some older photos in an ongoing effort to get my books caught up. I see my Bubba at the age of 7 just starting his second year of football. All gap toothed and round chubby cheeks. And then flash forward to the traumatic shopping experience (for Momma) last week of buying skinny jeans for the now 12 year old P.J. for the middle school dance, gasp. What the what?!? He's old enough for that?!?

But, he's still his Momma's boy. Thank goodness. A Valentine gift for his Momma...

The One Where They All Got Their Craft On

Can you guess what our afternoons have been filled with?!? I mean besides lots of homework and cheer practices and basketball practices, and scout meetings?!? Lots and lots of Valentines crafts! I so love working on things like this with brood. But, even more than that, I love that they enjoy crafting as much as I do. There's nothing like pre-gaming the day's craft and watching their excited faces bounding off the bus ready to discover what fun I have in store for them.

For Julia's class, I printed off this darling printable I found... Where else? On Pinterest. We added a cute pencil, eraser cap, and a strip of washi. Love.

The little boys both picked these Lego Star Wars printables from Pinterest, again. Add a glow bracelet I got from the dollar store, and the guys are wielding light sabers! So, so cool.

I finally got around to making another cork board project. I've made a couple in the past. One was for All About Scrapbooks (the fall one) and it and the other one (the Valentines themed one) I made are a couple of my more favorite projects. Not sure what it is about the cork, maybe the tactile nature of it or the endless possibilities... Who knows. I didn't get a kitchen calendar for 2013, so I printed up a cute one off of Pinterest and put together my own. Washi, a few embellies, and voila. Love, love that my scrappy "to do" is finally getting "done".

Here's a peek at the January calendar page...

The One With Who Rocks the House

Hello there Blog World.  As I sit here at my computer and I look over my photos as I edit and get them ready to post them here, I wonder.  I wonder how we got here?!?  I wonder when the pictures of the Bigs at their sports began to include them all, even the Babies.  I scroll back and forth peering at these sweet faces and who do I see?  I see P.J.'s aggressive nature and love for the game... on Reagan's face.  I see Julia's sheer talent on Sassy's little frame, so well learned from all those times she spent observing at Julia's cheer practices.  I keep double and triple checking that picture of Sullivan stealing the ball, yep, he's a baller at the ripe old age of 5.5.  And I SWEAR. it's a picture of Reagan.

How did we get here?  Everyone says it goes by fast, but good gravy. . .  This is truly fast.  It was just mere months ago that P.J. and I were giggling in the bathroom mirror as we realized he and I were the same height.  And now, he towers over me.  By a good 4-5 inches, gulp.  But, as he says he's still scared of me.  Well played, Momma.  Well played.

As I begin to feel more and more in control of my days, I realize they are becoming even more and more fleeting.  Yet another reason I'm so happy I found this little hobby of paper & glue.  I love how me and the brood can look back over my pages and books and remember.  Because, it all remains a blur.  A delightful blur, but a blur, nontheless. 

With football in the rearview mirror, for a little while anyways, we are now knee deep into basketball and cheer times two.  I can't tell you how odd it feels to see Bubba tag along to practices now.  Where has the time gone?!?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few of the pages I've been working on... 

Talk to you soon...

And Just Like That... She Was Back

Well, kinda.  I've been here all along, just swimming along trying to keep my head above water.  2012 was a tough one, a big one, but tough nonetheless.  All of my kids got older, I mean a lot older.  P.J. reached my height and then some.  He now towers over his boss momma by about 5-6 inches.  He entered middle school (gasp, I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy, let alone my pride and joy).  He played his seventh season of Pop Warner football and that culminated in a December trip to Disney to compete in the Super Bowl.  Can you say 5th in the nation, Baby!?!  Julia. Julia, Julia my biggest girl is growing into a beautiful young lady with an atitiude to match.  Look out all boys.  Still brilliant and pretty and funny, but the biggest pain in my tookis.  But, this one surprised me the most of all.  She watched her BFF lose her Daddy in Afganistan and was there every step of the way with her.  The pride I felt in my heart as I watched her hold up her friend in some of the most difficult of cicumstances even for a grownup.  I will never forget that.  And Reagan, he had a breakout year in football, as well.  That scrawny beanpole can play some ball!  He just won back to back chili cookoff titles.  Always the competitor is my middle.  The twins?!?  Thriving in KINDERGARTEN!  they love love all that that entails.  Add in cheer and basketball with the anticipation of baseball and football right around the corner, and they are all set.  Now me?  Not so much.

As for the hubby, he had a great year at work, did yet another deployment and flew back just in time to make the trip to FLA to watch his first born compete for the title.  We enjoyed him home for 6 weeks (mostly) and now he is off to Newport, RI for school for the year.  He is getting his Master's and going to skipper school, as Momma calls it.
 

 

And me?  It was a tough one.  No doubt.  As is evidenced by my lack of blogging.  There were simply too many days I just wanted to draw and keep the curtains shut for days on end.  I endured a couple of health scares, capped off by an actual health reality for my mom. I know a lot of my readers pray.  And so I ask you for prayers for my mom.  Who is sincerely the nicest, strongest, most kind, and caring human being to ever walk this earth.  I believe in miracles.  And I do believe she will get one.

Enough of all that.  I'll never get you caught up.  Just know we lived.  We lost and we loved.  And tomorrow is another day...

How bout some scrappy goodness to share?!?  Lots of newer Studio Calico kits mixed with my usual bits of stash.

 

 

 

It's nice to be back in my room.  I miss playing around with my paper and glue.  I pledge to do this more.  And I will also try to throw open those curtains more.  Both in and out.
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Thanks for coming back o faithful readers.  How is your world?