As I write this, Jack is sitting next to me in his high chair consuming Strawberries faster than I can cut them, all while squealing at me and shouting "Mo!" And every third strawberry ends up on the floor. When we had Jack, our family got much, much louder (and messier)! But his face is so cute covered in Strawberry goo :-)
When I took Cathy Z.'s "Design Your Life" class at the beginning of the year, I knew I would not finish all 36 layouts in three months. I am a very slow scrapbooker, and I tend to over-analyze, adjust, and fiddle with my layouts for a l-o-n-g time before I decide they are finished. I open elements that I don't end up using, change my font selection 15 times (and end up using George or Amalie, because they are my favorite fonts), add and remove elements, and some times I even take a break and come back to the layout the next day, only to decide it's already finished. My perfectionist tendencies when it comes to scrapbooking and cardmaking can sometimes hinder my process, but for the most part I'm okay with it. It's all part of my creative process. Anyway, the class ended in April (or was it March?), and I am still working to complete all my layouts.
For this layout, I wanted to use these photos of Evan, but I didn't have any specific journaling in mind. And I can't have a layout without journaling. Which can sometimes be a problem when I just want to use cute photos of my kids, and all I have to say is "Look at my cute kids!" Then Evan told Mark his first joke on Friday, and I knew what my journaling would be. The photos are a few weeks old, but it didn't matter. I was just happy my photos had some meaningful journaling, and my page is complete. I think.
[Supplies- Layered template: Cathy Z. All others: Karla Dudley Designs.]
The kids and I are heading west tomorrow to visit my family, so posting might be light for the next week. We have so many fun things planned with family and friends, and my baby sister is graduating from college on Sunday. I am flying solo with the kids for the first time, so wish me luck! Our flight leaves at 8pm eastern time, so I am hoping both babies sleep for a majority of the flight.
I need to start packing and finish up the laundry...
My husband called me today from work and asked if I could post some new photos of the boys on my blog. Apparently the photos he was using (as his computer background) have an expiration date, and new ones are required ASAP :-)
Evan is in love with Mark's motorcycle, and puts Mark's helmet on every chance he gets. He knows he has to be 16 to ride on it, and he reminds us often that he is only 4, not 16, but when he is 16 he will ride a motorcycle.
And Jack? He is my easy-going, happy-all-the-time, adorable little guy. His molars are coming in, so he has been a tad grumpy, but I think I am the only one who notices. He loves to laugh, scrunch up his nose, snort, clap, squeal, crawl, throw his soccer ball, kick his feet, point, and chase after his big brother.
I adore both of these photos. My only dilemma is where to hang them in my house!
I need to wake Jack up from his afternoon nap... he has been sleeping for almost three hours. Gotta' love a baby who loves to sleep!
Mark and I had a crazy, busy weekend, but I wanted to share a couple of cards I made last week. Thanks to Erin Lincoln, I have fallen in love with Papertrey Ink and Copic markers. They are so easy to use, and I love Papertrey's gallery. I used Papertrey's Masculine Motifs and Wood grain background stamp for the first card. They are so versatile; I can see myself using them a lot.
Jack, one of your favorite birthday presents is an adorable blue puppy you call "pup-pup". He goes everywhere you go, and you & pup-pup have quickly become buddies. If I ask you "where is pup-pup?" you get a big grin on your face and crawl around the living room until you find him. You are so loving and snugly with us, and now you have a lovey to snuggle in bed with, too.
My baby sister is graduating from college in a couple of weeks, and Mark and I couldn't be more proud. She has worked so hard the last four years, and I wanted to document her big accomplishment:
We celebrated Jack's first birthday on Saturday. He got his first taste of cake (white cake with chocolate frosting), and loved it. I really thought he was going to be sick, but he was happy and in a sugur coma for most of the day:
I wanted to thank everyone for the birthday wishes & gifts for our little one-year-old. He has been spending a lot of time in the play room with his new toys.
Tomorrow we are (hopefully) going to a play date with some friends. Evan has been a wee bit ornery the last two days, so we will see tomorrow how his behavior is. He had a good night tonight, and went to bed happy, so I'm hoping tomorrow is pleasant and we can get out of the house. You never know with four-year-olds. One minute they're happy and cooperative, and the next they are grumpy, have their hands on their hips, and are telling you "no". Lots of ups and downs with him, that's for sure.
And in honor of NSD, I have four layouts I created for Karla Dudley Designs. She has three new kits up in her shop this week, and they are all beautiful! I love her Digi Essentials line, and Digi Essentials No. 5 might be my new favorite.
[Supplies used - Patterned paper (tan & blue): Fly Boy. Artisan journaling spot: For the Boys (altered). Photo turn: Digi Essentials No. 5. Silver brads: Digi Essentials No. 5. White Bookplates: Digi Essentials No. 5. "Playmobil" title: Digi Essentials No. 5. White stitching: Digi Essentials No. 1. "ET" Cardstock Essentials No. 1 Alpha (altered). Airplane: Fly Boy. "This is so you" word sticker: For the Boys (altered). Staples: Digi Essentials No. 1. White tags: For the Boys. "February" word brush: Date a Star. "'10": Date a Star. Gray photo corners: Tweet]
[Supplies Used - Green background paper: Fly Boy. Horizontal photo templates: Fly Boy. White cardstock: Cardstock Essentials No. 1. White circle stitching: Digi Essentials No. 1. "E": Cardstock Essentials No. 1 Alpha (altered). Staples: Digi Essentials No. 1. Title: Fly Boy (altered). Paper airplane: Fly Boy. Bracket brushes: Digi Essentials No. 5. Circle border: Fly Boy. White tag: For the Boys. Silver brad: Digi Essentials No. 5. White splotches brush: Digi Essentials No. 5. Fonts: KD Everyday and Georgia]
