No Photos = Scrapbook Pages

I didn't take any photos today. Mostly because, well, I simply didn't want too. As crazy as this might sound, sometimes, I just need a break from my camera! So, since I didn't take any photos, I thought I'd share a couple of digital scrapbook pages that I've done recently {as in, this week... Persnickety Prints was having a pretty good sale!}:

For the kid's albums:

And for my 30th year Project Life album:

{No one is probably too worried about where everything came from, but for my digital friends, the calendar template is from Weeds and Wildflowers!}

Snow Day

Last night, just as Ben got home, the rain started. Rain which turned quickly to freezing rain, which eventually turned to snow. We woke to probably around four inches of the fluffy white stuff already on the ground, which by the time the snowfall stopped this afternoon was nearly six inches deep. A drop in the bucket compared to what some are getting, but for us, it's more than enough. It was also enough snow {and ice} to close down the base, giving Ben a "Snow Day" at home with us.

Noah was thoroughly excited about the snow. He asked to go sledding {we don't have a sled}, he asked for presents {Christmas was over a month ago, Sweetie}, and when Ben asked him if he wanted to go outside after breakfast, he willingly and excitedly bundled up.

Ben taught him how to make and throw a snowball.

Which was awesome.


But it was stinkn' cold, so I left them outside to play.

They had a blast. A blast that lasted about only ten minutes. And Ellie and I had a blast watching them from inside the nice warm house.

The rest of our snow day was spent watching Thomas and Word World, playing Thomas, sleeping, and watching the snow fall.

Oh, and a little scrapbooking too.

Mommy's Day Off

Ben took the day off today. Just for me. So that I could have a day off.

I needed it.

Don't get me wrong, I love our kids. And I'm so glad I get to stay home with them. But I need a break every once in a while. And, unlike when we lived in California, I don't have a Bunco group {or two!} to spend time with or a place where we can get together, sans kids, to scrapbook. And, with two kids, there's even fewer opportunities for me to just have some time to do the things that make me, me. And let me feel creative. I'm so grateful that he did this for me for us! Thank you, Dear One!

So, I got to go get a pedicure and then came home to close myself off in the guest room and scrapbook. To tell our stories.

I seriously haven't done much since we've been here, so it took me a little bit to get into the swing of it. But, I got a little over a month's worth of scrapbooking done in each kid's album, which is more than I've done in a LONG time. I can no longer say I haven't scrapbooked for us since we've been in Texas!

***

Side note here....

Ben did have to go into work for a little while during the afternoon. But only because he won CGO of the Year for his group.

I'm pretty proud of him. You deserve it Ben!! We'll find out on February 1st if he won at the wing {base} level.

So proud of you, Dearest One. You. are. amazing.

***

And, because I've been talking a lot lately with some of my friends about how we are documenting our children's lives... here's a couple of quick videos the pages/layouts I worked on today in Noah and Ellie's albums. My grand plan for their albums looks like this: Becky Higgins' Sweet Baby Kit to cover birth to age one, a Becky Higgins' Project Life kit {although, after today, I'm thinking I might need two?}, various other divided page protectors, digital and traditional scrapbook pages to cover age 1 year until school, and then Becky's School Years kit {just the old one for now, until I see her new one... and will probably add that as well}. I suppose it goes without saying that I love Becky Higgins' products.

And, don't gasp at how many pages there are for just over a month of their lives. I printed more photos than I probably normally will... I was a little overexcited at the thought of an extended amount of time to scrapbook when I ordered them.

I love the versatility of the Project Life kits - so easy to do a photo-a-day like I'm doing with my "30th Year" album and just as easy to do a themed spread like how I'm using it for the kid's albums.

But above all, their stories are being told.

A Good Mail Day

I love my Mom.

I'm lucky to have her.

She's taught me lots of things. Like how to be a good Mom. And how to crochet. And, every so often, she surprises me with something fun in the mail... like cute little matching head wraps for Ellie and I:

We love them Mom {and you!}! Well done and thank you! ♥

Also in the mail today... Becky Higgins' new Project Life extras. I simply cannot wait to get started telling our story with them! {Thanks Aunt BB!}

A Little Persnickety

We ate dinner out tonight with the other officers in Ben's new squadron at the Beehive. Local flavor = good food. I took the camera with us, but well, sometimes my best intentions get thrown out the window when you forget to bring in M&M's {and then promise them to a little boy who goes potty} and when it is about an hour past bedtime for a certain little {tired} girl... all while you are trying to get to know your husbands' co-workers.

But last night? Well, last night Ben and Noah had some snuggly MarioCar-time.

It always makes my heart happy.

Another thing that made my heart happy.... Persnickety Prints. Seriously, AH-mazing! I've been extremely hesitant to try out digital scrapbooking for many reasons, one of them being the printing issue - 12x12 prints are expensive. But, I love the flexibility that it gives, so I decided to go ahead and try it out with the calendars for my Project Life album. And I had read so many good reviews about Persnickety Prints online that I decided to go ahead and try them out too... especially since they were having a print sale.

Oh. My. Soul.


I ordered on Monday afternoon and they arrived on Thursday. And I am in love! I ordered four 12x12 scrapbook pages and they all turned out beautifully - the colors are perfect. And I also ordered some new photos for some frames and for the kid's scrapbooks and I have to say, they look amazing. I will be ordering from them again - especially since a regular price 12x12 is only $1.99 {much better than the $6.99 at Shutterfly}!

Project Life: Revisited

I'm officially in love with Project Life.

It's amazing. And I'm finding myself almost wishing that I had been doing something like this all along. It's much more manageable at this stage in my life.

One of my favorite parts about it is that I can add in extra pages {of any type!} anywhere that I want. I've added in several 8.5x11 pages with some of Noah's artwork in them in the middle of several weeks. But my newest favorite addition was this {American Crafts 6x6 vertical page protectors on the right}:

and this {a 12x12 sewn and trimmed}:

It's the perfect way for me to get in the extra photos and ephemera that round out the story. Especially during weeks like this one when the Frey's were in town and I took over 500 photos.

I'm also adding in some digital pages {UM, hello?! Digital Scrapbooking?! I can't believe that it's taken me this long to try it out.} that are an overview of each month. I still need to finish up the July one and plan on ordering prints of them once September is over {and I finish that one up too}.

I know there are a couple of you out there {ahem, Katy!} that are considering getting a kit... just do it! I promise you won't regret it. They're on sale until the end of the month and Becky Higgins is not having this particular design reprinted... but she is coming out with TWO new designs for next year!

Project Life

I really haven't had been scrapbooking lately. As in, I haven't fully scrapbooked a single layout {for myself, anyway} since we've been here. And I hate that. I miss it. It's a great creative outlet for me and I love the end product. And I miss my crop days/nights with my California girls tremendously. Because while I love having and keeping this blog, I also love having something tangible to look through. To see little physical representations of the things that we have done, seen, and experienced together as a family. That's one reason why I was {and am!} so excited about Becky Higgins' newest product, Project Life. I love {♥} her products {I own the baby kits, the school kits, and a school expansion kit!}, so when I saw this one, I knew that it would be perfect for documenting my 30th year {because 30 is the theme this year} and would hopefully get me back into the swing of scrapbooking for us.

So far, it has not disappointed.

It has also given me the extra little bit of prompting that I needed to hone my PSE skills... um, hello Actions! Where have you been all my life?

And the best part?

I got nearly seven weeks worth of documenting done and in the album in one episode of Big Brother and two episodes of Glee.

Craft Day

I love getting a little crafty... I guess that much is obvious, both from posts on this blog and my new craft blog. Throw in some friends and some good food, and I'm set for the day! This afternoon, some of the gals from our small group came over and we spent the afternoon crafting away. I would love to say that I got a lot of personal things accomplished, but I didn't. {Katy, Angie, are you as surprised as me?!} I did however, manage to get a shirt made for Kyleigh, teach Erin how to applique, make cookies, and almost finish the pig hooded-towel. So I guess I did get a few things done. :) I didn't take any pictures while the table was covered with scrapbooking, sewing, knitting, and crocheting... so here's a few shots taken after everyone cleaned up:

While we were getting to work on our projects, the guys were busy taking care of the kiddos. I didn't send Ben with a camera, so there's no pictures of Noah today... I totally forgot to take any until after he was already in bed. I promise you'll get a ton tomorrow though! :)

After we all ate dinner and got the crafts cleaned up, the Wii was broken out and even the kiddos got to play.

We thought about letting them play the way that Amanda and Damien let Deacon "play" {give them a dead remote, stand behind them and play for them}, but then we realized that it might be just a little more fun {and much more funnier!} to watch them play Wii Boxing. The girls, Jadyn and Chloe, did surprisingly well!

Wine, Gas, and Scrapbooking: All in a Friday, Sort of.

We actually had some of this last night, but I had already posted for the day and Ben really wanted me to put it on here since it says "Liquid Love". :)

I don't want to hear anyone else complain about gas prices... LOOK! And, the funniest part... literally right across the street at the Arco, the price was $3.75! I tried to get a picture with both signs, but didn't want to hold up traffic (I was at a stop light) and the guys in the car next to me were already laughing at me.

Most of the day was spent at Strictly Scrapbooking, at the Friday crop with Kristin, Katy and Angie.... and the little boys too. Noah was so interested in all the colors in the store and was easily entertained with a scrapbooking magazine in between walking around the store and taking a nap.

The best part was that we each had a table to ourselves for the first time since we've been going to crops there. It was so great to spend time with my girlfriends, get a few pages done and eat ice cream!

ETA: Ben said that you can't really see how much the gas is in the picture (which I agree, but I'm still working on figuring out PhotoShop) so, for those of you who can't see it like him.... it was $3.99 per gallon!!!

Another day inside....

but at least I had visitors! Katy and Grant came over this afternoon for a little bit of visiting and scrapbooking. Grant, of course, kept us entertained and was even adorable in his sleep! Katy and I both got several things done... Katy finished up a baby album for a friend who is having a boy (it's SOO cute!) and I worked on designing a baby blanket for a friend who is having a little girl (if you look at this blog Lesa, don't look at the pictures below... it's suppose to be a surprise!) and then worked on cutting out the pieces for our Christmas cards this year. We had a great time and I'm already looking forward to our next craft date!

Grant taking a quick nap on the futon.

I can't wait to get started on this baby blanket!