project life 2013 :: week 1

Week One Spread

Holy smokes, Batman! This project life thing is addictive!

Week One :: Left Side

Week One :: Right  (I will probably write a bit on the photo with the hole in the glass, but I haven't decided exactly what to write yet!  It's quite the story.

Here's the lo-down: I'm not yet satisfied with my "product", but the "project" is awesome. What does that mean? It means...

I love the idea of Project Life, or at least my idea of Project Life. I am an everyday scrapbooker. When I am motivated to document something with photos and words, it is almost always something that happens in everyday life, and almost never an "event" (such as a birthday or holiday or reunion, etc.). Project Life, as I see it, is exactly that...documenting the everyday. I especially realized that this might be for me when I did my December Daily 2012. I am loving the memory keeping part of this project.

My product isn't there yet. I think I'm not in the groove, or maybe I just haven't found my style for PL. That is OK. The project is worth doing, and I know that I will figure out the product part as I go.  In fact, I have almost completed week three, and each week the product has gotten better, or at least closer to something I can be happy with. I'm going to try really hard not to go back and fix the stuff that I don't like.  :-)  Also, I am a bit worried that I won't make traditional layouts anymore, mostly due to time constraints, and I'm not sure that this project meets my needs in the creativity department. That is totally what is adding to my dissatisfaction when it comes to the product.  I can't put my finger on what I don't like exactly other than it just looks amateurish, which is probably understandable, since I AM! :-)

A bit about how I am tackling this project: I decided to have my weeks go from Sunday to Saturday. I have no reason for this, I just had to pick a starting day and I didn't like starting on a Tuesday (Jan. 1st) so I chose Sunday. I may need to switch that at some point (maybe not until next year) so that my weekends are together.  Not sure. Did you notice that I'm already talking about next year? That is how much I love this project and it's only been three weeks. It's difficult for me to imagine not doing it...indefinitely. Anyway, so Week 1 started on Sunday December 30.  I am also attempting another 365 (photo a day) project, and sharing on flickr.  However, I am not tackling Project Life in that way.  I don't necessarily include every 365 photo in my book.  And I'm OK with that. I imagine that many of them will be included, which is cool, but not necessary.  Also I am using both my Canon and my iPhone (can't wait to upgrade the iPhone though). I do plan to incorporate quotes each week (sneak: so far they are all related to my One Little Word, but I don't know that it will stay that way). Finally, I'm looking at this as more of a "week in review" and not being super strict about having a photo or story for each day.  So far I think I actually do have a photo/story for each day, but I'm not worried about too much, it's mostly about the stories!

I am using the Becky Higgins Project Life Seafoam Core kit designed by Elise Blaha Cripe.  It wasn't available when I started, and I'm impatient, so I decided to purchase the digital kit and print from that for those first couple of weeks.  I am so glad I did that. I liked being able to start right away and not feel like I was behind from the get go. Plus, I think I may use, modify, and print cards from the digital kit throughout the year.  I like being able to change the cards a little bit before printing. Here is one example of that:

On the original the stripes were all the mustard color. I wanted orange (of course), so I changed it in PhotoShopt to orange using the eyedropper tool to pick the color, and then the paint bucket to color each stripe.  Then I decided that I wanted one stripe aqua, so I repeated the same process with aqua for one of the stripes.  LOVE the result.

I think this will help keep the kit fresh for me.  The kit is awesome. And I love it even more now that I have it in person!  I'm not sure that I will be able to use just the kit all year, though, so I will likely incorporate other papers and things throughout the year. I will probably not link every single product that I use because I want to get the blog updated and that part holds me back (just sayin')! So, if you want to know something specific, just ask in the comments and I will do my best. 

I also purchased some (digital) Project Life Templates and I'm using them to help myself organize each week.  I hope to be able to share that process at some point, but I'm just figuring it out myself, so it will need to wait!

I ordered a bunch of flair from my favorite place: A Flair for Buttons.  Shelley wrote me a nice little note, so I kept it!

This is the note hidden behind one of her cards and little baggies that flair arrived in!

This week's supplies: Seafoam digital kit (printed out). My badges are from A Flair for Buttons, and I've thrown in a bunch of stickers/labels which are mostly from Elle's Studio.  My alphas this week are mostly Amy Tangerine, and the  "January" calendar card is from Paislee Press (I will probably use one of these in the first spread of each month).  The "hello" stamp is from Target.  I stamped it directly on the calendar card, and then again on something else.  I used my 1 inch circle to cut it out of the second piece of cardstock and then use a foam square to make it pop off the page a bit. When I write on photos I use American Crafts Slick Writers. This week I also used these awesome Hero Arts/Studio Calico stamps and all of the ink is StazOn.  Then, of course, my other addiction besides flair, washi tape. The washi I used this week was Freckled Fawn and Recollections (from Michael's).

Week two is also completed, and week three just needs a few finishing touches.  Will share those soon!

Final  note: I totally thought our lives might be too boring for Project Life.  But during this week we had our window shot at (seriously, it was just a pellet gun, but this is another indicator that we need to move), we had visitors, I got tons of happy mail, we celebrated a birthday and visited old friends.  Whew!  Guess we aren't as boring as I thought!

Peace, love and understanding to ya!
:-) o.g.

Confused about Project Life?  Check this out from Becky Higgins.

~ fantastic snow ~

Nope.  It didn't snow this week. We haven't had much precipitation all of 2012.  In fact, there was really only one snow day this past school year (usually we have 8 or more)!  These photos are from January 12, 2012, before Mikaela's accident and death (funny how I measure almost everything that way now).  The girls had such fun that evening -- a great memory that had to be documented!  I actually started this layout in March, but never finished!  I finally went back and finished it up this week.

Most of the items are from an older Scrapbook Circle Kit :: Note to Self (still available, I think) with a bit o' (custom) flair from ormolu. I absolutely love the bright colors and patterns, complete with snowflakes, but the paper doesn't really look "winter" at all!

B. and I have both been pretty sick!  She is back at daycare, but I am quarantined the rest of the week (they suspect pertussis, I do not).  I for sure have walking pneumonia!  Bleh!  I'm really ready for the cough to be gone!!  I've been working on my December Daily while I'm home and I hope to share my first few days by the end of this week!

Peace out!

..::photo walk :: squeezing the most out of mother nature::..

We had a picnic.

Jack Frost painted our view.

We ran, jumped and climbed.

There was swinging and just plain silliness.

We got our feet muddy and gooey.

But this was my favorite.

My scrappy time has been limited this week, partly because the weather has been so glorious.  The weatherman is suggesting I may get some inside time...very soon. 

~ spontaneous sprinkler & {super} hero fun ~

This idea has been brewing for a while and I finally had a chance to work on it over the long Labor Day weekend and finished it last week. In fact, this is the first thing that I've done since school started!

I think that I may have seen a sketch quite similar to page one, but I'm not certain where I saw it or who created it! I have a feeling that it could be an Ashley Horton sketch, but I couldn't find it anywhere, so if you are reading this Ashley, maybe you could confirm or deny?  :-) Either way, I took the idea of the first page, and then expanded it into the second page with patterned papers instead of photographs. I think if I were doing it over again, I might spread the photographs onto both pages with some patterned papers between, but maybe not. I am happy with the final product, although I did make some mistakes, as usual. My goal of this post is to show you the new stuff that I tried, and show how I fixed the boo boos. Often times I visit blogs and it seems like it's all so easy for everyone else! I appreciate it when I get to read that others just have to go with it sometimes, too!

New to me:  I used DIYthickers for the first time! I'll admit that I have been a bit intimidated by them in the past. I don't really know why, but I think it's because I hate to "waste" things and I'm afraid I will mess them up! Not only did I use them, I tried a new-to-me technique!  Glitter Girl challenged us all at  2 Peas to get our ombre on.  So I did (of course I missed the actual challenge because I couldn't get it finished in time, but oh well)! Here is what I did...

I started by dipping the bottom of a letter in some spray mist that I had sprayed onto a plate. I was hoping that it would soak in some color and wick up, becoming lighter as it goes.  Nope. Take two.  I sprayed the ink directly onto the letter, covering the top with a piece of scraps. Next, I took a wet paintbrush, starting at the bottom I brushed up to pull some of the color up.  It sorta worked.  I wasn't really thinking when I started and I took the first two letters off the backing (so the sticky was a problem), plus they got too wet, so I had to toss those (into my daughters pile of stuff that she will later glue onto something).  When I kept the letters on the backing, it worked a little bit better.  I would suggest having a paper towel handy for several reasons, but mainly because it comes in handy if you get too much color, or it goes up to high (I did both of these things, of course)!  The paper towel just soaks up all that extra, right quick like! I think I will get better at this when I try it again next time, but it was fun and it's not horrible, so I went with it! To connect the two pages I also ombre-d (it's a word, really) the "love this memory" (stamp by AE) after I stamped it!

Also to connect the two pages I tried to stick to circles as much as possible.  I did this in several ways.  First and foremost, many of the patterned papers that I chose had circles in them (the September Scrapbook Circle kit that I used for most of my supplies was full of circles).  But I also added several other things like:  I stitched concentric circles on page one around and through the title.  I punched circles out of the yellow patterned paper and put them in the center of other circles.  I carried the circles out of the center and overlapped them onto the photos and patterned paper.  I used brads and flair as embellishments.  I also used a circle mask and added yellow circles to two of the papers that didn't have circles on them! I did a lot of stuff on this one!  It's even heavy.

See that second page?  The photo was supposed to be where it says "Even superheroes need a rest", with the journaling to the left (where the photo is now) but I messed up!  There are several layers of gesso under there (part of why it is so heavy I bet)!  I just kept trying and trying, but no worky, so I stuck the photo over it!!!  The thing that was holding me up was the journaling!  It seems that often it's the journaling that gets in the way of me completing layouts!  I'm committed to getting the story down, it's must of the reason that I scrap to be honest -- document, document, document -- so I'd be disappointed if I didn't journal.  And I'm never at a loss for words (I know that's difficult to believe).  The hold up is the how.  Do I put it on strips? Do I hide the journaling? Do I using a journaling card? (etc.) As you can see, I ended up journaling on strips and sticking them up in the corner. One all else fails, that's usually my default.  It's easy and if you mess up, it's easy for the do-overs!  This is one of those layouts that I am just glad I finished.  It's OK, not my favorite -- but it's done.

What holds you up from finishing a layout?

..::non-manifesto progress::.. 

stamped on washi :: zig zag stitch in the middle of straight stitch :: circle stitch :: paint on a layout :: spray mist :: masking :: stretch a sketch :: grommets :: altering a sticker :: using a bag :: b&w photo :: DIYthickers :: got my ombre on ::

~ OLW March 1st Blog Hop ~

  

Welcome my place!  It's One Little Word March Blog Hop time.  If you stopped here from  Becky's place, you have arrived at your destination (for now).  I hope you enjoy your visit!  I have experienced many interactions with my word this month and I am excited to be able to share them with all interested parties! There is a full list of blog hop participants located at the bottom of this post.

{balance} Just seven little letters strung together, who knew they could hold so much power!?  

{the prompt} This month Ali asked us to pick up the camera, rummage through magazines, explore Pinterest, or do anything else that might help us find visual representations of our one little word.  I was excited for this opportunity to use more photos with this project, since it's a little hobby of mine.  But, WOW, I really had to think about how to represent my word visually!  I had some help along the way, though. My word kept popping up all over the place!

{invite} I went back to last month's prompts, specifically the "invitation" part of the prompt, to focus and think about what my word looks like.  I thought about what it was that I really wanted to invite into my life as a result of this one little word.  In order to achieve balance in my personal and professional life, and between my personal and professional life, I invite harmony, calm and stability into my life.  I want to be present, in the moment, and focused on what really matters. I invite creativity into my life in all of it's forms.  Then, I took steps, sometimes baby ones, toward that balance, harmony, creativity, and stability.

{steps} So what are the steps I have taken to connect with my word, and fully welcome those previously invited things into my life?  Professionally I have begun to refocus the way I am doing my job.  Since I began my position more than three years ago, I have yet to bring my vision to life.  I've been doing some reading and online learning, as well as focused conversations with the professionals around me, all of which have been steps in the right direction.  I'm headed there; the right place to make a difference in the lives of the children around me.

"I know exactly where I'm heading, 

This is just a little stop I made on the way."

~ from In my Way by Stacey Earle

I know exactly what I need in my life to achieve balance personally; my journey is to figure out the how.  So what little changes have I made so far?

{family} Being present and appreciating my soul mate, my daughters and my granddaughter, which requires "powering down" once in a while (still work to do here)! Visiting my mother, father, sister and brother more often (but not quite enough, yet).
{health} Started jogging again (yeah me!) and I'm reading this book (heard about from Elise Blaha's blog) -- trying to put some of it into practice (just keep swimming, just keep swimming...)
{creativity and fun} Reading for enjoyment, working with photographs, scrapbooking (not enough!), blogging (not enough!), going to live music (got to see TWO this month here, and here -- woot)!

{a little help from my friends} I can't end this post without mentioning this: all this focus on my word has contamintated those around me.  :-)  I am certain there are people in my life that are sick of hearing my word cross my lips!  But also, there are some in my life that help me, and encourage me to connect with my word.  One of many is my friend and co-worker, Kendra.  When she saw that I was jogging again, she sent me a quote...and then another...connecting to jogging and my word.  I so appreciate that!  Even made it on the page.

{the prompt in action}  So here we go....

Initially, I had decided that I would probably *not* do the full page photo included in the prompt, mostly because I didn't have a good way to print a photo in the 8.5x11 size.  Then I decided that was a silly reason and went out and bought a new printer! Apparently, I'm all about trying new things this month!  I also wrote on a photo for the first time.  I tried a technique similar to one that Elise Blaha uses frequently in her work, specifically I've seen it pop up in her project life.  I put the photo in photoshop and added some of the text, leaving out a few key words.  Then I channelled my inner Elise and Ali and wrote directly on the photo.  Fun!  This photo was taken the day that I started jogging again.  I knew I would eventually do it, I just needed to get to the right place to do it. So, I started, but snapped a quick photo of my feet first.  :-)

february's whispers of balance

spending time with my extended family :: jogging:: 

watching B. sleep :: appreciating the moment :: 

noticing :: laughing :: doing :: drinking wine :: 'powering 

down' to listen :: taking photographs :: reading :: 

going to shows :: snuggling B. :: enjoying 

Here's a close up...

I used to jog, quite regularly for several years. And now, quite regularly for several years, I have NOT been jogging. :-) Calling what I did on this day 'jogging' is being very nice to myself. :-) I walked, I jogged a bit, but either way I started. I always listen to music when I jog, and this day I listened to The Jayhawks. But I couldn't help but think of this line from Bob Dylan's (the greatest poet/song writer of all time) Thunder on the Mountain : "Today's the day, gonna grab my trombone and blow".  This day was the day I grabbed it (also the quote on the bottom of the photo). You'll notice two other elements on my page this month that have a connection to jogging. 

Top row:
:: Date stamped on grey, Hambley overlay, and my olw on a tag
:: I used two pockets for one photo.  This photo was taken just before my father had surgery.  Part of the balance that I need to find in my life is very related to spending as much time as possible with my parents.  I still might write something on this photo, I haven't decided!

Middle row: 

:: I've been trying to take a healthily lunch to work, based on my new learning from the book that I am reading.  

:: My sweet B.  

:: My word keeps popping up in the professional reading that I have been doing!  Hello, balance!

Bottom row: 

:: A photo taken at one of the two shows we went to this month.  

:: This is a screen shot from my iPhone of my first "jog" (using the Nike app).  

:: A quote that my friend Kendra found for me.  Quote reads, " If you run, you are a runner.  It doesn't matter how fast or how far.  It doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years.  There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get.  You just run."  ~ John Bingham

This was fun and didn't take nearly as long (or require as much decision making) as last month!  I am really enjoying this project and look forward to what March might bring!

{about the class} One little word is a class offered over at Big Picture Classes.  Ali Edwards sends out an email once a month with a prompt to help you focus and experience your word.  There is also an online community that welcomes you with open arms!  One little word class is open all year! It's not to late to join the fun!  

Thank you for visiting my little blog!  Next up is  Katrina!  If you'd like to start from the beginning, here's  Margie's place.  Happy March!

Margie
Melissa S
Sharyn
Kimberlee
Jill
Cheri
Cindy
Jenn
Monica
Catherine
Naomi
Jamie
Coley
Melissa C
Donna
Monica B
Veronica
Heidi D
Lisa
Nikki
Devon
Amanda
Brooklyn
Kristina
Jen R
Kara
Eydie
Ruth
Missus W
Marilee
Cindy
Kaylea
Dawn G
Rebekah
Becky
orange gearle < You are here!
Katrina
Jo
Nicky
Beth
Kelly
Tere 

~ news ~

As you may have noticed from my previous posts, my older daughter, H. and her daughter M. are staying with us for a while.  This means I will be taking more and more photos of my grandbaby, M. and sharing them here. B. is a bit confused when I'm called "Grandma", and always says, "You're not Grandma!", but overall we are adjusting the the change.  Aunt B. looks forward to the days that M. is here to see her when she gets home, and M. is always full of smiles when we walk in the door.  Here they are playing with hats...

Both girls have been a bit under the weather lately, and B. learned how to take her own temperature...

I have completed more of my December Daily album, but it's status is still incomplete!  I believe I've passed the halfway mark, and I'm needing to print (and/or reprint) some photos in order to finish.  I will finish!!  And when I complete it, I will share.

I am participating in a blog hop on Wednesday!  My first.  It's a One Little Word blog hop, and I will unveil my January page.  But...it's not done!  YIKES!  I'm having a difficult time fitting it all in -- balancing it all, if you will.  ;-) This 365 photo project is kicking my butt!  Since I was explored (six times in one week!) I really dislike posting photos that are not very good, even more than I did before.  Some sort of pressure that I am putting on myself (as usual) and it's really silly!  Same with the OLW project.  It should be quite easy.  I'm having problems making decisions like...Should I hand write it, or type it up?  Should I use a grey background for the assignment pieces, or white?  Should I write in grey or orange ink?  Etc.  Just when I think I've made a decision, I change my mind again.  I've done the same little 2.5x3.5 quote insert at least 8 times, and I'm still not sure it's right!  I do have one of the quote inserts completed (I think there will be two).  I have it basically planned out, but I haven't found the proper amount of time to implement. I haven't been able to make simple decisions -- pretty much about color, so it's holding me back.  It's so unbelievably silly!!!  I stayed up until 2 AM working on it Saturday night -- plenty of time for a person that can make decisions to complete it, but alas, not I!  Maybe my word should have been decide! :-)

I do know these things:
Orange and grey will be the main colors.
I enjoy the project, just not the decisions.
Next month will be easier, because the basic color decisions will have been made.
I am excited about the blog hop!  (So come back and visit Wednesday morning by 8 am)!

~ a walk ~

Just a quick one tonight to share a few photos.  My family and I went for a walk this evening.  For one, to get the girls out -- they needed to run.  :-) Also, I wanted to try to capture a sunset using one of the new lens filters that I received as a Christmas gift from my soul mate!

Bundled B.

Merry M.

going...

going...

gone

For some reason the photo below has been getting a lot of love over on flickr.  We had a few hours without a child yesterday so my man drove me around town to try to find a photo for theme 1 of my 52 weeks group (My Town).  I took several photos, including this one, using my new lens hoods (also from my sweetie)!

~ alliant building ~ 7/365

Finally, I did do some work on my still unfinished December Daily album this weekend, as well as gathered a few items for my OLW project (yes that meant a trip to my LSS)!  I will post photos of both projects sooner rather than later (I hope)!

~ days 2, 3 and 4 ~

December 2

Friday.  That means pizza!  Most Fridays we make it easy for ourselves and have pizza for supper -- cheap, Target, cheese pizza, and we add fresh garlic and green olives.  Tonight we also had wine and beer!

My december 2011 in photos group asked us to take photos of trash today -- so the photo to the right is what I chose to upload to the group.

The rest of the books I ordered for our new family tradition came today!  Yay!  Now to wrap them and make the tags for them!  Also in the box are the books that I ordered to give as Christmas presents for my daughters, son-in-law and our nieces and nephews.  Also a yay!  Three other packages came today, one for my soul mate and two for me.  They are mostly gifts for the girls (M. and B.)!  Lots of wrapping to do, and the tree isn't even up!

Tonight we spent some time downstairs.  I was making tags for the books, C. was playing guitar, and we were both playing with our sweet B...multitasking.  We had coffee and tea and eggs and cupcakes all prepared and delivered by B.  She danced and used Daddy's electric guitar cables as a jump rope, or made 'snakes' with them.  I took a few pics of the evening, most didn't turn out as well as I'd like -- not sure which photo from this day I will use in my December Daily -- but my book isn't here yet, so I guess I have time.

December 3
I REALLY thought the album that I am using for my December Daily would be here today!! How long does it take to ship from California???  Seriously, Elise did her job -- it was shipped Monday morning.  Still not here.  I'm anxious to get started...until then, just the stories.

Today is CHRISTMAS TREE DAY!  It just so happens that another group I am in (called We're Here -- we call ourselves 'The Hereios'), had a "too much stuff" theme today.  Totally fit my day!!!!

too much stuff

We put up the tree and hung the stockings.  You'll have to wait for those pics, as I haven't had time to go through them much yet (and there are quite a few). (I like how I say "you'll have to wait" as if there are people waiting on pins and needles to read this stuff -- especially since I only have one follower -- well, two if you include me -- Hi Julie)! Here are the stories:

1.  We had a light emergency!  None of the strands we used last year worked!!!  Luckily my mom just purchased a lighted tree and was trying to get rid of the lights she no longer needs so she ran them down to me!  Whew!  Thanks Mom!
2.  After I got the lights the way I wanted them (I'm kinda picky about them), I noticed there was one burnt out.  I had some extras, so I pulled it out to replace it.  However, I think I wasn't supposed to do that because it didn't come out correctly.  SO....I had to take that strand off (in the middle of the tree, not the top, not the bottom, the middle) and replace the whole strand with another.  Bleh.  Minor setback.  We forged ahead.
3.  When the lights were satisfactory, we opened the box of ornaments.  B. noticed the two strands of beads and immediately decided we should jump rope with them!  (She is on a jumping rope kick -- it's really NOT jumping rope -- it's jumping up and down and flinging something like a rope around, sometimes hitting things with it)  After a few jumps and then tears when we put them on the tree, she was fine.  Whew!
4.  Next, the balls.  Our tree has pink, lime green, blue, red and orange (of course) balls on it.  The strand of beads is also lime green and so is the bow on the top!  I used to have a more "tranditional, country" type tree, but the last couple of years I decide on this change!  I like it, but may go back someday.  It fits us now, and matches the furniture!  LOL.  B. was hilarious helping with the balls!  She has been on this kick about colors, pink is her favorite, green is C.'s and orange, of course, is mine.  So...she thinks EVERYTHING pink is hers.  Likewise everything green is Daddy's and everything orange is Mommy's.  So, with each ball she would say, "That's my ball", "That's, B's", "That's Daddy's", etc.   AND, of course there were a zillion balls on the bottom third of the tree, multiple balls on each branch, and colors in bunches instead of spread across the tree.  But, I was proud of myself.  I'm usually pretty picky about that stuff, but I let them stay.  C. couldn't stand it, though.  He moved a few eventually.  It's still quite full on the bottom third though. She has had a difficult time keeping her hands off them.
5.  My photos didn't come out as well as I'd liked.  C. took some that were better.  At least I'll have some!
6.  B. wore a cute little Elmo top with a hood that has white fur on it today.  So...we decided the red balls on the tree were Elmo's.
7.  More packages arrived -- but no december daily album (but I already said that).
8.  While C. put B. down for bed, I made a quick run to Target for a few items.  When I went through check out, the lady (that I apparently see often) said, "I was worried that you weren't going to be here today".  I should probably go to Target less often!
9.  I finished all the tags for the books -- and got them all wrapped.  FUN!  Our book today was called Santa Duck and his merry helpers.  Also fun!

December 4
Today M. (my 20 month old granddaughter) was with us for about five hours while her daddy was working and her mommy was at a party watching the Vikings lose, again.  We enjoyed her.  The girls slept at the same time for nearly two hours, which was also good!  A miracle even.

We opened B.'s book of the day while M. was here.  I let her because I knew that today was actually four little board books with Elmo.  They read them.  I think I read Goodnight Moon nearly twenty times as well.  When we were done reading it, M. picked up the book and started saying, "Night, Night" and flipping the pages!  It was cute!  She doesn't talk as much as B., what a difference seven months makes!  But she is saying more words and phrases that I understand.  B. was extra bossy, of course. When B. was eating supper tonight she said (unsolicited), "I had fun with M."

My favorite part of the day was probably when we watched part of a movie on the couch. I was laying down with M snuggled up beside me.  Then B. had to be a part of it, so she laid kind of on me and on the pillows behind me, so she could still see, but also have access to my hair to play with it (wonder if she'll still be doing that when she goes to college)!  C. grabbed the camera a took a few shots.  Even though I have no make up on and look hideous, I may use it as my photo in my album (if it ever comes ;-)).

love those binkies

I decorated the house a bit more today, and now I am down to two boxes with Christmas stuff that I still need to decorate with.  It will need to wait for another day though.

Today we Skyped with my mom and dad.  B. loved showing off the Christmas tree to them and telling them about her day with M.  Next time I hope I remember to take a photograph of the Skyping so that I can record that in my December Daily album (wait for it....wait for it....if it ever gets here).  ;-)

The Hereios are all about candlelight today, so I lit a candle and placed it in front of the tree for a bit of bokeh.

But my favorite photo of the day is this one that I took with my iPhone.  While we were trying to cook supper, B. insisted on putting just about every "pretty" that she owns in her hair at the same time.  This isn't the first time she's done this, but it's been a while.  Then she wanted to see herself in the mirror.  I liked the way you could see two of each of us, at different angles, because the doors to the medicine cabinet were open slightly.  So, I had to take this photo.  Fun!

~boggle boggle boggle~

Yesterday we visited both sets of grandparents and ate two Thanksgiving feasts!  My parents had a bit of a full house, but not quite all of us at the same time.  My brother and his family were leaving as we arrived -- off to his in-laws.  My nephew, Seth, and his wife stayed just barely long enough to eat and then they were off to two more celebrations!  My nephew Rich and his two kiddos were there longer than we were, and my older daughter Hollyanne and her family were there for quite a bit as well.  It was good to see them all.  After supper, my sister Jeanne, my mom, B. and her Daddy, Rich and his two kiddos, and I walked up to the school a few blocks away to play on the playground.  I didn't need to wear a coat!  Amazing weather!  I took a few photos, of course.  I uploaded about 32 to facebook and flickr, but I'll try to keep it down to just a few here.  :-)

After my folks we went to Grandma and Grandpa B's house.  Grandma B. really  wanted a photo of B with her poinsettias.  I tried...but it was B's "run" time right before bed, so I mostly got blurry photos of her not looking at the camera.  This is what I'm left with:

More photos of the day on flickr.

We pretty much did NOTHING today, which was NICE!!!!  I did try to do a bit of work on my scrapbook space.  I wanted to fix up the bulletin board area so that it looked a bit nicer -- it was all cluttered up with a bunch of stuff I ripped out of magazines for inspiration.  So, I took all the magazine pages and put them in a clear envelope, used the Cricut to cut out the letters for the word "inspiration" and attached the word to the envelope with colorful paper clips.  I was going to glue them on, and I still might, I haven't decided if I like it or not.

B. "helped" me, and her daddy snapped this photo with his iPhone:

I don't like the way I blend in with the chair, making my butt look extra large...but overall, I like the photo and you can see the space a bit better.  The clear envelope is just under the bulletin board, hanging from it with a ribbon.  Now the bulletin board is ready for other bits of inspiration and photos!

B. made this turkey at daycare on Wednesday:

Here's the conversation...
Me:  B, what does a turkey say?
B: Boggle! Boggle! Boggle!

Hilarious.