Nor'easter

Nothing like a winter storm to change the weekend outlook. Instead of running around to a million and one activities, we were home bound. We got about 18 inches of snow at our house in less than 24 hours. The drifts were probably closer to 2 1/2feet in some areas.


How cute are my snow bunnies? They, and I must admit, I, had a GREAT time with all of the snow. I don't know that my husband would agree since he spent 24/7 shoveling and plowing.


Sledding....here is when it is VERY convenient to live on a golf course. We just circle around back and head for the hill. The kids had a blast...even Sarah hit the slope....that is until she wiped out. Hannah on the other hand was a much better sport and didn't even mind when her entire face ended up covered in snow!! Noah loved hitting the one bump and catching air on the ride down. WHAT FUN!!!

Tenty = 100

Ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, tenty....makes perfect sense right? That's what my four year old decided and I couldn't really argue the logic. 7,8,9, ten --- 70, 80, 90, tenty. So, really, why is it that it is one hundred and NOT tenty?!?!

Overheard

Do you ever wish you could remember a conversation forever? Anyone with children will know what I am talking about. You are driving in your car, pretending to mind your own business so your kids won't know that you are listening to them, and they say something that just makes you chuckle and smile. This evening, as I am driving the kids home from school, I heard a conversation b/w two of my kids (my 4 and 8 year olds) that I hope I remember forever -- a conversation that I couldn't wait to share with their dad, a conversation I just HAD to scrapbook, and a story my grandchildren will surely get a kick out of.



Sarah: Noah, I know everything.
Noah: If you know everything...Then is God a boy or a girl?
Sarah: I know, but I am not going to tell you.

You kids crack me up!! You certainly put a smile on my face after a long day at work!

YUMMY!!!

I am not one to make the traditional holiday cookies. I don't have the patience for cut-out sugar cookies or spending hours decorating cute little faces on gingerbread men. Maybe next year when the kids can do all of the decorating. This year, we made holiday peanut blossoms instead. We rolled some in colored sugars and others in peppermint stick. I wasn't sure how the peppermint ones would turn out but I will say, they are DELICIOUS!!

Sweet Angel

I love watching my children sleep. I love looking at their sweet faces. I always feel so at peace ....knowing they are safe and protected for yet day. Oblivious to the dangers of the world and the daily concerns we have as parents. If only they could stay this young forever....

Finally Some Layouts

Our life has just been too chaotic to get much scrapping done this past month. Between sickness, sports/activities, work, and the holidays there hasn't been any real down time. With the few hours I got last weekend, I did manage to journal on my stack of "not quite finished" layouts --- that was 16 layouts! I do need to get better about finishing my projects. I tend to get sidetracked with new ideas/plans.

My goal for the next few months is to use up some of the supplies I have on hand. As all of you scrappers know, it is much to easy to buy, buy, buy. I now have more stuff than I could use if I scapped a couple layouts a day for the rest of my life!!! That is A LOT of stuff!!

This first one is an old Basic Grey Line and Technique Tuesday stamp set that I bought years ago.


This second layaout is so so simple but the colors were just perfect. The paper is Studio Calico -- I must have 4 kits here sitting untouched at this point! I really must put them to use. SC is great at mixing and matching lines from diff manufacturers, and their own papers are just fabulous!!

Christmas Classics

Do you know what makes me truly realize that the holiday season is upon us? It isn't the passing of Thanksgiving, or the gift displays in shop windows, it is the beginning of the Christmas specials on each evening. ABC started it off right this year with the showing of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas last night. The kids and I, well at least two of the kids and I, curled up in bed last night to watch it together. It is so nice that they enjoy watching the same exact cartoon that I enjoyed watching as a kid....none of the fancy high def or 3D technology, just a good old fashioned Christmas cartoon.



Now I can begin seaching the tv listing and rearranging our schedules to be sure we are home to watch Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and all of my other faves. There is nothing better than cuddling with the kids, sharing my childhood memories....hard to believe it was so many years ago and now I am a mother with 3 children of my own.

A Little Birdie....

I saw an ad in a magazine the other day that just jumped out at me. I loved the circles and couldn't help but think of a way to do something similar on a layout. This one features Studio Calico paper, MS edge punch, and some Lily Bee rub-ons.

Hockey Mom

I have always pictured myself as a soccer mom or a baseball mom. I have imagined myself cheering on my son as he ran down the field to shoot the winning goal or threw the final pitch of a big game. Never did I see myself cheering on my son as he checked another guy into the boards. That just wasn't in my cards. Yet, after watching my son play ice hockey today, I guess being a hockey mom wouldn't be so bad. At this age, they aren't allowed to check anyone so I have a little time to acclimate to this hockey mom stuff....he sure does make a cute hockey player. He is always thinking ahead and getting into position to protect the puck and guard against the other team scoring. He tends to lean toward defense even when pushed to play offense. But today, he came this close () to scoring his first goal after having blocked at least two direct shots from the other team.

I couldn't help but post a couple of pixs from today's game...especially for my family that reads this blog. Enjoy.

Unfair

My children don't go to sleep until close to 9:00pm. I go to sleep usually around 10:00pm.

They play all day, run around, go to activities....I sit at my desk doing work rather sedentarily.

They wake up at 6:00am a bundle of energy, ready for their day to begin. I wake up to the obnoxious buzzing of an alarm at 6:15am wishing I could get 4 more hours of rest.

I just don't understand!!

Cosmo Weekend

I am back in the scrappy swing of things. In between activities this weekend, I have been able to squeeze in some good scrap time. It is a gorgeous day outside, the kids are bouncing away in the moon bounce, and I sit with my cut of tea, cutting away. Everyone is happy.

I have been totally inspired with Cosmo stuff this weekend. The first was a lift from a layout I came across of Emilie Ahern's (at Scrapbook.com). I loved her use of the new Cosmo line. Of course I tweaked it a bit to suit my style...The second layout is pictures of Sarah making some delicious cookies. And what better line to work with in tandem with baking? -- Early Bird of course.

Out smarted

Finally, my artscow order arrived yesterday. For those that aren't familiar with it, ArtsCow.com is an online picture developing company. I registered with them ages ago and receive 150 free prints every month (excludes shipping). Their prints are fabulous. The only caveat, they are based in Hong Kong I think which means you have to wait about 3 weeks to receive your prints.

Anyway, included in this picture order were our pumpkin patch pictures. Here is a super simple layout I did last night using Basic Grey's Indian Summer line.

The journaling reads: I had only one rule when we got to the pumpkin patch -- each of you could only get a pumpkin that you could carry. We already had probably 15 lbs of apples to lug iwth us. Well, Noah, you quickly found the "perfect pumpkin", except you could barely lift it let alone carry it. But apparently, I didn't stipulate that daddy couldn't just carry you and the "too big" pumpkin. I had to give you credit and of course let you keep the pumpkin. I was clearly out smarted! 09-09

Imagine...

A post for my scrappy friends....I finally put some of Cosmo's Nutmeg to use!!

I love that Sarah will be playing out back, look up, and have some interesting observation about the world around her. Maybe I was just too busy to listen with my other two kids or I just didn't appreciate it...Sad that those days are gone.

Catching You Up

Whew --- 9 days since Noah was released from the hospital and while we have tried to keep things low key so everyone can relax, it really has been a busy week and a half! Where to even start?

Even though he didn't get to play, Noah watched his fall baseball team win the championship for their division! Very exciting and a nail biter of a game-- Congrats to all the boys and coaches!!
Immediately following the baseball game, we celebrated Noah's 8th B-day by taking he and a bunch of his friends to the Flyers v. Carolina hockey game.

As you can see, a good time was had by all.

After the b-day festivities, it was time to trick-or-treat.
One house was even giving away king size Reece's Cups.. my fave. Too bad I wasn't in costume!!

Two days ago, Hannah got to attend her very first concert. Thanks to a good friend of ours, we were able to get tickets to Miley Cyrus. Thanks Tanya!! Hannah loved it! We didn't care much for the opening band but once Miley came on, Hannah couldn't get enough...she wants to know when we can go back to see her AGAIN!


Today is our day to relax...but since I haven't really gotten any fall pictures yet, we spent a few hours out back this morning raking, jumping, and posing in the leaves. We didn't have enough leaves for a very big pile, but we did what we could.

Where do they get these things??

First, let me say, Noah is home from the hospital! We are both exhausted as it is not so easy to sleep when nurses are coming in to check vitals, give meds, administer breathing treatments, etc at all hours of the night. Noah is not 100% but certainly getting better by the minute. ...he and I are both looking forward to catching some zzz's in our own beds.

Anyway, I was bringing Hannah (age 6) home from gymnastics tonight...she asked if she could play with my phone. Sure, why not. Next I hear, she is pretending to call someone. Apparantly the "person" on the other end answered, she responds "Hey, what up?" It was too funny. Whatever happened to a simple, "Hi, this is Hannah. Is so-and-so there?"

Another Day

Noah will not be coming home from the hospital today. He is doing better but can't seem to keep his oxygen levels up so we are there for at least another day (or two). Thank you to everyone for all of the well wishes.

Some exciting things to note:

1 - After getting notice at 1:50 on Saturday that Noah tested positive for the flu, we were still able to pull off Hannah's 6th b-day party....thank you to Michelle and Debbie. They were lifesavers!! She had a wonderful party and our front room looks like a toy store!!

2 -- Noah lost his 2nd tooth last night -- and somehow, the tooth fairy managed to find him in the hospital. He was very concerned about that!


Please keep your fingers crossed that Noah is able to get home in time for his own b-day party this weekend.

MN purchases

While I was in MN last week for work, I got together with my two friends Cheryl and Jing-Jing. Jing-Jing is a friend that I met online at a scrapbooking site. Who knew you could actually meet somewhat normal (LOL) people online who share the same interests as you?!? Anyway, while there, she made sure that I hit not one but two Archivers stores since we don't have those on the east coast. While I haven't actually been scrapping all too much lately, especially not with the sickness that have hit my house of late, I did manage to put this layout together tonight using supplies I picked up on clearance out in MN. If you notice, I also picked up a new MS punch this week that I used as well. One more done for the books!

Update

As you have all heard, Noah has pneumonia. It has been a rough couple of days but we are getting through it. It is likely that Michael has the same thing and finally yesterday he called his doctor and got some meds. So hopefully he is on the mend.

I had Noah at the pediatrician this morning for a follow-up visit (we were in the ER on Wednesday). He is not getting any better. They are still very much concerned with his breathing. He is now on an oral steroid in addition to all of the other medicines that were perscribed in the ER. We go back to the pedicatrician first thing tomorrow morning again.

Hannah had a nice b-day yesterday..thanks for the b-day wishes. We got her the DS she has been hounding us for since last year. She was most excited. Although, she was told prior to unwrapping what it was. Apparantley when I told Noah two days ago what we got Hannah, Sarah insisted she could keep a secret so he told her as well. As you know, a 4 year old can NOT keep a secret. Needless to say, Hannah knew exactly what she was getting, color and everything! So much for surprises!

Say Cheese

I had a layout in mind all about "my monsters" but then I came across this old picture of my son when he was just 3 1/2. You can barely even see him behind this huge Playskol camera but I can't help but smile when I see it. Even at 3 1/2 he was so used to having his picture taken that he knew exactly what to do!!

I just love these cute little Sassafras monsters!!

Trying something New

I have seen a number of layouts recently that featured rolled frames....so I decided to give it a shot. This is a stunning layout but hey, one more to remember the moment by. I also did a lot of journaling on this one which is unusual for me.
The journaling reads: Everything has always come very easily to you....until now. You are trying to learn to ride your bike and it is hard. Han is already riding and doesn't hesitate to tell everyone that you still can't. I am sure that is frustrating. Today, you tried for awhile but fell one too many times and gave up. You looked totally defeated sitting there afterward. Keep at it Noah, you'll get it, I promise. Love, Mom

I also did a very simple layout of Sarah at her princess dress-up party celebrating her b-day. I used an old kit featuring Prima papers from Scrapbook Obsessions. Where did the time go? It is hard to believe that my baby is already 4!!

New Scrap Supplies

I just got my Scrapbook Obsessions kit in the mail today!! Their October kit is the new October Afternoon Farm Fresh line, very befitting, October kit = October Afternoon. I saw it and just had to put it to use right away!!



I used a Page Maps sketch. I find that working with sketches really makes my layouts come together so much faster than they would otherwise.

Five Minute Layout

Believe it or not, this layout took me less than five minutes to complete. The Prima Sew Cute papers are just fabulous. They are already stitched to perfection. All I had to do was add the picture, a few pearls, and rubons and was finished before I new it. I must also thank my friend Jan for the fabulous flowers. She was talking about all of the flowers she made and was nice enought to send me a bunch. Don't they add just the right touch to the layout? I used a HS butterfly rub-on in the background and a couple of 7Gypies rub-ons for the title. I also added some BG bling to finish it off. Just fabulous.

The Race Has Begun

The kids are back to school (two weeks now) and the constant running has begun.



Now that all of the kids are old enough, they each have their list of activities. It all began this year with soccer. Even Sarah, all dressed in her gymnastics gear, had to get out there for pre-season warm-ups. She didn't initially want to play but seems to be loving it now.





In addition to soccer, Noah has baseball, ice hockey, and hebrew. Hannah has gymnastics and Hebrew. Sarah has gymnastics and dance. I have yet to take pics at those activities. I thought I would give the kids a chance to bond with their teams prior to me embarassing them with all of the picture taking. As it is, Sarah has already informed me that I am not allowed to cheer for her at soccer! She is 4 and embarassed of me already!!

Falling Leaves

I didn't get much scrapping done over the long holiday weekend. We spent most of the time running last minute school and sport errands....lunch box snacks, new ice skates, etc. We have a jam packed fall with all of the kids activities!! However, I managed to put this one together while cooking dinner last night. I used an old picture of Noah playing in the leaves when he was only 3. I do so love fall!!!

Closing in....

It is almost Labor Day...only two days to go. I easily surpassed my 100 layouts goal and am hanging around 133 now. I have quite a few layouts sitting here that just need journaling in order to be called finished. However, I doubt I will find the time or energy this weekend to finish them up so we'll call 133 my final number. Not bad considering I thought it would be terribly difficult to even get to 100!!

Here is one (actually two) of my 133 --- I used the Road Map line from OA and handmade a "caution" tape to go across it. I distressed all of the edges but you can't really tell here since I scanned and cropped the layout.

Celeb

As many of you know, my friend Jing-Jing came to visit this weekend....all the way from Minnesota!! It was wonderful to have her around. We hung out (JJ, Michelle, and I), ate too much, and scrapped a ton! We even went to the scrap convention in Somerset NJ and met Kelly Goree. Kelly was fabulous! It's a good thing she has a sense of humor b/c the 3 of us were a handful to say the least! For those non-scrappers reading this, Kelly is a scrapbook celebrity...you can't pick up a scrap mag without seeing quite a few of her creations!

Here we are with her.....

Have I Shared These?

Same papers...two very different outcomes:

My Reader

Last night, Noah and I went over to B&N to grab his free summer reading book. After reviewing all of his choices, he opted to get "Chocolate Fever". It is a chapter book that is maybe 90 pages or so long. He could have opted for a 'First Reader' sort of book but he wanted this book. Up to this point, my husband and I have read chapter books to him and he reads the "easier" books to us. Once in a while he will read a page or two of a chapter book to us but then we take over. Last night, he decided that he is going to read this entire book himself. I was so proud. He read me the first three pages last night and did a fabulous job. There were a few words he needed help with but since the book is targeted toward 3rd-5th grades (he is just going into 2nd grade), I thought he did a great job. I am an avid reader myself so I love the fact that he is coming into his own and trying to challenge himself. It may take him a month to read this book but what an accomplishment it will be!!

Scrap Challenge

As guest designer over at BPM this month, I am hosting a scrapbooking challenge. Everyone can enter so go check it out!! Hopefully it will inspire you to use up some older stash and use up some of those supplies. You will need to use:

1 -- One unusual shape -- circles and squares don't count here (I used the shape of the sun)
2 -- Two pieces of chipboard
3 -- At least three different manufacturers of paper (I used Bo Bunny, Basic Grey, and Pink Paislee)
4 -- At least four brads

Here is my creation:

Best Day Ever....

According to my son, Friday was his "Best Day Ever". He moved up a level in his swimming lessons, got pokemon cards, AND lost his very FIRST tooth!! What is better than that?!?! I was a little skittish when I had to "pull" the tooth but as it turns out, it was so loose that all I had to do was grab it with two fingers and out it fell. He is my toothless, yet handsome little man.

#100

Actually due to a miscount, this layout was actually #101! I not only met the goal of 100 layout between Memorial Day and Labor Day, I surpassed it in early August! This isn't a great photo but really, what do you expect at 2:30 in the morning!!