Things I've learned today...

1. That people really are still reading my blog no matter how little I update it. So, in an effort to keep you all entertained while you drink your morning coffee or steamed milk ;) I'm going to try to update it more often. Let's see how long I can keep up with updating everyday.

2. That my kids should never miss their naps. Ever. Ever, ever!! Even if it does mean that they are in bed asleep at 6:10. Still not worth it.

3. There are far too many types of jeans. I am busy. I don't have time to try on a million pairs. At Old Navy alone there are 5 different cuts and then within that there are 5 more different shades. Ugh. Long, regular short. Boot cut. Flare. Give me a break...I just want a pair of jeans that fits. I did find a pair and you'll probably see me wearing that style as long as they make it. I'm sure it will change next year and I'll be back to square one.

4. Shopping in a snowstorm is nice for the very empty stores, but bad for the trip home.

5. Snuggling a sleeping baby is the best thing ever (after she finally gives up fighting me because she is cranky from the missing her nap thing). Ok, so I already knew this, but it's always nice to recap :)

6. I miss my friends from far away and love getting to hang out with them again when they are home for a visit. Again, a recap, but an important one! Travel safe tomorrow everyone!

Happy New Year!!

Wow, 2010! Sounds so weird. We've been having just the best Christmas vacation relaxing with the kids, visiting with good friends and family, going to the movies and our first Sea Dogs game with the boys. It's been the best vacation...very low key and stress free.

I haven't scrapbooked in ages, but some girls I know are posting their top 9 layouts of 2009 so I thought I would join in the fun and do it too. So, in no particular order here are my 9 faves:

So, I realize I have more fave layouts of B than the boys, but let's face it, it's more fun to scrap with pretty, girly things :) I'll try to do more of the boys this year.

Do you have any resolutions? I really want to finally learn to use my sewing machine. Need to clean my scrap room up first though! I'd also like to try to drink more water. I find at the end of the day I'm parched and when I look back on it, I've hardly had anything to drink. I'm always catering to the kids and forget to get stuff for myself, haha! I'm sure there's more I should do, but that's all I can think of for now.

My DT term at Treasured Scrapbooking was up in December. I'm sad to leave the team but look forward to just participating in challenges from the new DT and of course hanging out on the boards and in the gallery. Thanks to Leslie and Erin for everything!

There's lots of fun coming at LCOM in 2010 so be sure to check out the boards often! I know we've already got a 52 pick up sketch challenge in the works. Do one layout each week for the whole year and admire the album you have at the end! How fun!!

The most wonderful time of the year...

is also the busiest time of the year! Man, I feel like I've hardly sat down in the last 2 weeks...all the shopping, baking, cleaning, crafting, Christmas concerts! Phew! Santa, could you please bring me a day of doing NOTHING this year? I'm nearing the end of things though and should be able to relax next week with the kids (yes, relax with the kids...do you think it's possible? I sure hope so!...OK, Santa, if you can't bring me a day of doing nothing, can you please bring me a case of wine? heehee!).

The boys both had Christmas concerts this week. Kieran's was yesterday and he's been rehearsing stuff on his own at home, but once it was show time, he pretty much just stood there taking it all in. I don't think he really knew what to expect. (He later told me that he couldn't sing because his leg was sore, lol!). Santa also made an appearance and all the kids got to sit on his lap and got candy canes. Kieran was hesitant (as were many of the kids in his class, I was surprised), but I told him that we needed a picture to show Daddy what happened at school...worked like a charm :) Bridget also got to sit on Santa's lap, but it was only for the candy once she saw what all the other kids were getting. I didn't get a great picture of her and there was no way she was getting on his lap again once she already had the goods, lol!

Riley's concert was today and it was so, so cute. He was pretty much like Kieran in preschool...not much participation. But not this year! He was singing along and so cute! Apparently, his teacher asked if I was excited to go to the concert and he said, "she's' sooooo excited!!" Heehee!

Kieran is really getting into drawing and trying to write his letters. He's getting so good at it! But, since he's been focusing so much on such things, we've noticed his left eye turning in. Took him to have it checked out and looks like he's going to need glasses. The sight in his left eye is apparently pretty bad but he's 20/20 in his right. So, after Christmas he'll have another exam and find out what prescription he needs and get glasses. Not sure he really gets what's going on, but hopefully it will all go well.

Bridget gets funnier by the day! There isn't a single day she doesn't make me laugh out loud! Her looks just crack me up. She kept pointing out Santa today at Riley's concert, even to the point of turning to the people behind us and pointing him out to them, lol. She was probably just wondering when the candy was coming!

And a funny Riley/Kevin converstaion:

R: "Daddy, I want to go away for Christmas some year, like Franklin does to see his Grammie and Grampie."

K: "When Mommy was little she used to go away every year to Fredericton to visit her Grammie and Grampie."

R: "No, Mommy's Grammie and Grampie live in Cape Breton."

K: "No, Mommy's Nana lives in Cape Breton."

R: "I know that, we went to visit her twice. She lives in a churchy, lunchy kind of place." (My grandmother is in a nursing home and when we went to visit her once she was sitting outside the chapel and she has a tray on her wheel chair which is where I assume the 'lunchy' came from).

R: "We went to visit another an too...."

K: "Uncle Neil?"

R: "No..."

K: "Uncle Ross?"

R: "Yes!! I like him! I love his chips!" (My Uncle Ross gave each boy their very own bag of chips and they were in heaven, lol...they usually only get a couple at a time. Uncle Ross sure knows the way to Riley's heart, haha!).

Riley also now says, "I know" every time you compliment him. So humble, that child :) Wonder which parent that comes from...I think it's an engineering thing...shhh (every once in awhile I like to see if Kevin reads the blog. Really, anyone who made it this far is a saint!).

December reveals at Treasured Scrapbooking were yesterday. Here are my creations:

And a sketch based on this layout:

This is my last month as a designer for Treasured. They are welcoming a new team in January. I have enjoyed my time there sooo much...the girls are all fabulous and the kits totally rock. I'm looking forward to getting to participated in more challenges there each month with some of my free time :) To check out some more creations from the design team, check out the gallery here.

Here's our Christmas card. Every year I try to get a good picture of the kids and end up with tons of hilarious outtakes. I can't resist doing up a collage that just makes me giggle. Hope you all appreciate it too!

Tired of reading yet? Well, I'm tired of typing so that's it for now. 9 days...are you ready? Ho, ho, ho!

12 Days of Christmas...

I have some great news...I'm guest designing for LCOM for the month of December!! Yay!! And more great news...the LCOM design team will be hosting 12 days of challenges. There will also be 12 days of prizes just for checking the forum and signing up in the right thread! And even more great news...there's something new on sale each day! So, please come join the festive fun!

And another fun Christmas gift for me...I was asked awhile ago by Canadian Scrapbooker to participate in their Cover challenge. Basically, they ask 10 people to try out for the cover layout (they send each the same photo and journaling) and they pick one to be on the cover and 2 or 3 to feature inside as different takes on the cover. I was FLOORED when they asked me. I had no idea that Canadian Scrapbooker really 'knew' who I was. I'm lucky enough to have been published with them this Fall and currently in the Winter edition as well, but didn't think that was enough to get noticed for an attempt at the cover. So exciting to even be asked. Anyway, I did my layout, sent it in, and was chosen as one of three to be featured as a take on the cover!! So excited!! So, you'll see me inside the cover in the Spring!!

And, because no blog post is complete without kid stuff....

Yesterday Kieran was playing with the Santa hat and told me that he wants to be Santa when he grows up :) He's so looking forward to his preschool concert...everyday he asks if it's concert day and he's been singing me songs and reciting poems. So different from Riley. He was never that into it.

Bridget is so cute, even when she's saucy...which she's getting to be now and then :) I think she's starting to take advantage of the whole, Bridget's a baby, she doesn't know thing. Which means, she's the baby and she totally knows she's got everyone wrapped around her finger, lol! She loves to run around the house naked before she gets her jammies on while yelling, 'naked, naked', haha! She loves to look at the Christmas lights...on the way home the other night she said, "wow, look at the Christmas lights!" (yup, that whole sentence...crazy how much she's talking). She had her flu boosters tonight and actually said, "needle...hurt, hurt." She so remembered the last ones she had. But now worries, a sucker takes all the hurt away :)

Riley got his first home report last week and he's doing very well at school. There are occasional problems with listening and following rules, but nothing too drastic for a 5 year old in their first year of school. Overall I get the impression that he's really well behaved and kind, which is nice to hear. Parent teacher is tomorrow so I guess I'll get the whole scoop. He totally loves learning and apparently making and reproducing patterns (he IS a little Kevin after all). It also said that he's 'confident in his own ability to learn', lol! How you really tell that at 5 I'm not sure, but he does now say, "I know" every time I tell him he's doing well at something...maybe that's what they're going on, heehee!

Don't think I have any new pictures, but hopefully some Christmas pictures coming very, very soon :) I'll be badgering people for addresses again soon...I know I say I'll put them in a safe place every year, but I'm sure none of you believe me by now anyway, haha!

As promised...

Some cute kids pics :) Here's Bridget in her 'new to her' car.

Beep! Beep! Get out of my way!

She LOVES it!

How to keep a baby busy while you clean your scraproom...let her play with one of your ribbon jars (yes, I have multiple ribbon jars...shocking for the non scrappers, I know :)).

Candy Canes!!

Watching TV :)

Hmm...looks like I need more pics of Kieran and Riley, lol! Kieran is in a 'don't take my picture phase', lol! Oh wait, I have a few more good ones of Riley I just remembered...

I was just playing with Riley having him do different faces for the camera (please excuse my messy counter in the background :)).

Angry:

Surprised:

Sad (at least trying to hide the smile):

Silly (yeah, cuz he has NO practice with that):

Ok, so, more pictures of Kieran in the future (note to self). I'll also have to post some Christmas cards soon...I have a little stash going now :) Hope you had a happy Monday (I find lots of coffee helps accomplish that).

Did I mention....

That Treasured Scrapbooking is having a DT call? Yup, you could be a part of this awesome team! Check here for details! You have until the 20th to apply so get out there and do it!!

I had a fun weekend of shopping and scrapping with a couple of awesome friends (thanks Amy and Em!!). Kevin made a delicious stew for supper last night...think I'll let him do the cooking from now on! I have to run and get Riley from school now, but I hope to update with a few pictures of the kids soon.

Oh, and we had our second reveal at Treasured Scrapbooking yesterday, so here are my layout and a card I made :)

I know! My shortest blog post ever!! Don't worry though, I'll be back with something long and entertaining soon, heehee!

Busy, Busy!

Life's been hectic! I've been doing kids' craft classes and card classes, taking kids to and from school, going to meetings, cleaning, laundry, DT work! Phew, I could use a vacation! Anyone have a palm tree for me to sit under and a drink with an umbrella? :)

Some funny Riley stories...it's been awhile. On the weekend Kevin was wearing his shorts (this was before this unusually warm weather). He was outside and I could see his breath. I commented that maybe he should have more clothes on and of course, he scoffed at me. Riley says, "That's how God made Daddy special, he made him able to wear shorts in the winter." Heehee.

We got the boys a digital clock for their room so Riley wouldn't yell, "is it time to get up yet?" from his bed every morning at whatever time he woke up. We told him it had to be 6:30 or later (I really don't think that's asking a lot!). Anyway, the night we set it up Riley kept checking the time. "Mommy, it's 6:08, is it time to get ready for bed yet?" I told him it wasn't time yet. Then a little later, he says, "Mommy, it's 6:14." Ok... Then, "Mommy, time is really moving fast because it was 6:14 and now it's 6:15!" Time may have been moving fast for him, but it was a long evening for me!

Kieran is loving preschool. There's one little boy that he plays with a lot that he says is his friend because "he's the same size as me." Haha. So cute. He's still my best sleeper and my pickiest eater :) And those dimples still manage to get him out of trouble sometimes!

Bridget is getting smarter everyday! We think she a genius, though we admit, we may be a bit biased. But she points out everyones clothes when I'm folding them, tells us that her belly hurts (which is pretty good to know at 20 months, and we know she meant it because she had just thrown up!), is able to tell us that her cousin hit her in her ear with his knee. Stuff that I would barely expect her to realize at this point let alone be able to tell us so clearly. She's been a Daddy's girl lately, which some days bothers me and other suits me just fine to hand at least one kid over! She's a funny, gorgeous little girl!

I have lots of scrappy stuff to post, but for now I'll just put up one thing. Be sure to head over to Treasured Scrapbooking for the ChaChaChanges Cyber Crop! TS has a new owner, our very own Erin! After much consideration, Leslie decided to sell her baby to concentrate more on family life. But her baby is in good hands with Erin...she's already rockin' the site and I know she'll continue to do so. So, in honour of this big change we're having a cyber crop! Head over to check out the challenges from the DT and drool over all the amazing work that is soon to hit the gallery. My challenge is to add some beading to a card or layout. Here are some examples...

Here I beaded a border:

Here I beaded the heart in the 'love':

And here, I beaded the swirls:

Have fun creating!!