Went to Market

Three or four weeks ago, we had one of those crazy weeks. It seems like we just ALWAYS running. Well, I decided to make a layout to catch the craziness of that week. This little piggy (S) graduated pre-school, these little piggys (H&S) had multiple gymnastics shows, and this little piggy (N) played in the all-star game. Very simple layout but left plenty of space for journaling and was able to get a bunch of unrelated pixs, all cut from basic 4x6 prints, together on one layout.



October Afternoon papers

More Baseball

Another weekend spent at the ball fields...these baseball pictures just keep piling up! I must start going to games WITHOUT my camera!! But luckily there is are a ton of fabulous sketches out there that are just screaming for sports pixs. This sketch by Julie Bonner was just perfect for one of Noah's first pitching pictures. I am always so inspired when I read Julie's blog and was THRILLED when she posted this sketch the other day. I believe it is a sketch for Magpie Kit Club if you want to go check it out....


I used some old Cosmo papers as well as a few new ones and a whole bunch of buttons (yet somehow the canister of buttons still looks full -- one more thing that I just have too many of!).



I also sat down this evening and made this layout....Studio Calico papers. These pictures are a few months old and not the best shots but it was her first lost tooth. That in itself is a moment that must be remembered and scrapped...but then the night after the tooth fairy visited for that tooth, Hannah left notes under both her pillow and her little sister's (which are hidden behind the green paper, and pictured in the top left corner). The journaling around the outer edge reads: "You are quite an enterprising young girl. After losing your first tooth, you left notes for the tooth fairy under you pillow as well as Sarah's to see if you could trick her into bringing you more money! One read "I lost a tooth biting an apple and can't find it." The other: "I lost a tooth in a fight." Alas, although amused, the tooth fairy was not fooled. :) "



She certainly makes me laugh that one (and of course scream sometimes) but what are kids for?!?? Love them to death!!

Happy (belated) 4th!

Happy 4th of July! I am a day late, I know but yesterday was just too busy to get online for any lenth of time! We had a baseball game in the morning and then headed to a friends BBQ and off to fireworks! It was MUCH too hot here at 100 degrees but we survived...barely. I think we are all about 5 lbs lighter today than yesterday, and my kids certainly don't need to be losing any weight!

This morning was the big 4th of July parade -- yes, even the parade was a day late. My favorite part was the Mummers...love seeing all of their crazy costumes but man they have to be hot!!



Luckily we sent the boys over early to save spots in the shade. It is again in the high 90's. But, despite the heat, the kids enjoyed the parade...of course I think for them it is all about the candy! (note to self: must get pixs of the candy throwing next year).




Can you tell I got a fancy new camera? Probably not, huh? I am trying to play around and actually use some manual settings. I got this shot last night...complete fluke and tried and tried to recreate it but couldn't figure out how. Definitely need some more practice!

Priorities amidst the madness

How do other working parents, with very active children, set priorities? I feel like it is a constant struggle. My husband and I make a conscious effort to make our children our top priority but what parent doesn't? What I am really asking is how do you juggle that priority while maintaining your own identity? We are constantly on the run, going from one activity to another, which our children love -- as do I! But there is also a long long list of things I want to do for myself, and that does NOT include the grocery shopping and cleaning. I am talking about wanting to learn more about photography, scrapbooking all of my photos, reading that stack of books that are collecting dust on my beside table, trying some new recipes, etc. Each day I start with the best of intentions. My goal after a long day at work is to head home, spend some quality time with the kids (ask about their camp day, play, ignore the pile of dirty dishes in the sink....), and find some time for "MY" things but when I find the time for "MY" things, I am just too tired. So in the end, I do very little of "MY" things. --- My husband may disagree with that last statement. I do scrap ALOT but never as much as I would like.

Do I just accept that "MY" things will need to wait until my kids are a bit older? I don't think I should need to. I think my kids should see that I am more than just their mom --- that I have interests outside of car pool, packing lunches, and kissing boo-boos.

I am going to set a goal for July. I am going to get my children involved in "MY" things. They periodically come in and do arts and crafts with me while I scrap but I think we need to do more of "MY" things together. I am going to set aside an hour each weekend to take my daughter with me while I test out new Photo techniques...she has a camera as well, she can play along. Who knows, it could turn out that she is a better photographer than I'll ever be! I am going to sit and read wtih my son. He reads most nights before bed but now with camp, he is exhausted come reading time and has skipped many a night. He and I will sit for a half an hour and read together. We can then sit and talk about what we liked about our books. My littlest one and I can test a new recipe each weekend. I love to bake in particular and what little girl doesn't like to help "lick the spoon" -- as well as crack some eggs and run the mixer?

These are my priorities and goals.......wish me luck!