You've got mail

Yesterday I headed to Michael's with my birthday gift cards in hands.  I've had them for over one whole month...HA!  I knew I was going to use them on some Christmas-y stuff as I had bought lots of Halloween stuff in the last couple of months.  I was browsing along, spotted this and could not leave it.   It was also 30% off...YAY.   Last year in December, Santa's elves started leaving leaving little gifts for J in December at random times.  She loved finding these little treasures and the sparkle in her eyes was pricelss.  So, you can imagine how excited I was when I found this little mailbox complete on a little pole.  This is where the little gifts will be left this year i.e lip gloss, crayons, socks, bath toys.  Of course, it's also where J will write and leave the little notes she writes to santa and the elves. 

When I received the new Scrapbooks Etc, I came across Ali Edward's December Daily's.  It where you document the month of December.  I love this idea and decided I wanted to do this. 

I bought an 8x8 album a few months ago and knew as soon as I saw this project, I would use this album. So last night, I created all the base pages which she recommends you do early.  I plan on keeping it simple with the pictures and documentation as the main focus.  So far for the project I used items on hand - kraft paper, photoshop for the little doodles and calendar, my printer, album and my paper trimmer.  I plan on using my Luxury Kraft gift wrap (Christmas wrapping paper) which I bough a month ago at Costco as my patterned paper.  So far, I don't think I will have to buy anything for this project. Oh wait...maybe some extra ink...hee hee!

Here are a couple of the pages I did last night.  They are really simple but lots of fun to do. I am really looking forward to creating and seeing the end result of the album.

good cop, bad cop

I originally really wanted to get J a pirate costume for Halloween.  When we were in Ottawa in September visiting my sister, she and I stopped in Costco to browse.  We came across Halloween costumes.  They had so many awesome costumes to chose from but when I saw this one, I couldn't resist.  I know that in a couple of years I won't have much say so I am taking advantage now. HA! 

I went back and forth this last month wondering if I should exchange it for the pirate costume I so had my mind set on.  I am so happy that I decided to stay with this one.  I didn't show the costume to J until Tuesday.  She was pretty excited.  This morning we got her all dressed up as they were having a little party at school.  It was a hit.  All the kids gathered to see what J had in the little pockets...hee hee!

notice the handcuffed arm...tee hee!

Wonder

Do you ever look back and wish you had documented certain things about your child/children or about yourself?  I know I sometimes do but I've learned that it's never to late.

One of the things we did do that I am happy about it make a growth chart for J.  We just bought a piece of pine board and I painted it cream.  We didn't want to use a door jam as we knew this is not our forever home and we wanted to be able to take it with us.  When I look at it, it is difficult to believe she was so little but it is right there in front of my eyes.  It doesn't lie.  Hopefully, one day she will appreciate it.

One of the things I wish I had done was taken more photos of J's little body parts when she was a baby.  You know...the little hands, feet and so on.   Tonight after her tubby, she was on her bed playing and I was able to catch this shot.  It just warms my heart. 

I wonder where they will take her.

Some of my favourite layouts

Just thought I would add some of my favourite layouts on my blog that I have done over the last few months. Anything older than a few months are my external hard drive so maybe they will make an appearance at some point. Some of these are favourites not because of the layout themselves but because of what the photos represent.  I think it is fair to say that I like colour. HA! 

In no particular order.

Our weekend in a nutshell

Yesterday was a big day for me.  I attended a scrapbooking crop and sold most of my stuff.  It was a success for sure.  The girls were eager to buy and mentioned that it was very clever of me to set up at a crop.  I knew that...hee hee! It made it official but I have no regrets this far.  With the money from the sale, I will be buying the new photoshop.  I am pretty tickled about it. I am looking forward to pursuing photography and starting a new chapter in my life.  I have to thank scrapbooking for making me realize this.  I am so happy that I have found something that I am passionate about.

Today was a busy day around the house.  D and J were outside most of the morning winterizing (putting summer stuff away, mowing the lawn for the last time....) while I was busy inside getting things ready for the work week. 

I think J is trying to figure out if she should get winter tires for her bike.  The lawn was damp and it was hard going.

We did manage to get a couple of fun activities in.

- making some apple pies

mmm....sugar

Today we also carved a couple of pumpkins.  Okay, I just held the camera but had lots of fun.

  She did not enjoy cleaning out the pumpkin as much as I thought she would.  I think it was the texture.

We enjoyed some candy cane hot chocolate...mmm!

My little girl looking way to grown up *sigh*

Guess who dressed herself today. HA!

being silly

Mama, that's a shadow.  Yes, it is honey.

Smelling and looking pretty after a tubby wearing her new Halloween jammies.

posing for her mama.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!



4 pig tails

I sent J to daycare one day last week with a pony tail and she came home with 4 pigtails.  I am guessing one of her friends was sporting a braid and she probably mentioned she wanted a braid too. It was so sweet of her educator to do this.  I love all the little extras she does for J - it means so much.

                                                          How cute is this?

Until we meet again - In Memory

Thursday October 14th, 2010, seems so long ago now.  It was only last week and according to the calendar not even seven days ago.  Yet, it feels like a lifetime.  It's the day my mémère passed away.  She was an important person who helped make me who I am am today.  I know my love of all crafts comes from her.  I will never forget her and all she did for sisters and I.  I will celebrate her life rather than mourn her passing.  She is no longer suffering and is in a peaceful place and I know my mother (whom she missed so much) was there to welcome her with open arms. This is not goodbye.  Someday we will see each other again.  Until then....

girls + chatting + food + shopping = fun

For the 3rd year in a row, a group of girls (3 or 4 of us) head to the US for some much needed fun time.  We have lots of laughs, eat lots of yummy food, talk until late in the night and shop til we drop but most of all we get to spend lots of quality time together.  It's the one time of the year we are free to speak without having to watch for little ears who may be listening in.  It has become a tradition that I look forward to every year.

Seeing as it is Flashback Friday,  I thought I would share with you what I bought on our first trip.  Can you tell I had little control...hee hee!  Luckily for me, I have since learned that just because it fits in the cart, it does not mean it needs to come home with me. HA!  Have a great weekend everyone.

I was pretty excited about this purchase.  What little girl doesn't need a pink Christmas tree of her very own for her bedroom.

Some of the ornaments I picked up for it the first year.  Aren't the the cutest?  I did get more last year and do not need anymore this year (that's a little mental note...hee hee!). 

And here is everything I came home with.  A very successful shopping trip indeed.





We are up to something

Want to guess.  Okay here is a little hint....

 

Flashback Friday

I have viewed many blogs these last few weeks and have found lots of inspiration from them.  Some of them funny, some of them sad but all of them with the same purpose to document life.  One of those blogs I viewed had a "flashback Friday" theme.  I wish I remembered the blog.  When I first saw it I thought it was cute but moved on.  I have been thinking about it these last few days and decided it would be fun to do.  I don't know if I will do it every Friday but at least once a month for sure.  Sometimes I will share stories and sometimes I will share photos and sometimes photos and stories.  I would love for you to join me on the flashback Friday too!

I can't believe I am about to do this but here goes....deep breath, no turning back now. hee hee!

This year will mark the 20th year of my high school graduation.  Eeek, I know. I can't believe it either but it's true.  Do you remember when the colour peach was in?  It's okay if you don't.  Let me point out that it was 20 years ago.  This photo will prove it.  It's not bad enough I wore the colour peach but I also wore those white gloves too.  What was I thinking?

It's okay to chuckle just a little, I just did.