12 weeks this week

Hard to believe 12 weeks have nearly passed.

We are so blessed.

♥

He is cooing, smiling, giggling, & playing... so precious.

A little at a time....

It's working! {insert big smiles here!!} I'm leaving my scrapbooking stuff out and as I wander by I catch 5 minutes here or 10 minutes there to quickly add this or that. Of course that has forced a bit of homeschooling upstairs, but I can live with that :)

Pages take me longer to do as I don't have big chunks of time, but I am so enjoying the time I am getting between the schooling, laundry, cleaning, meal preparing... well you know!

This is a page from last summer - photos aren't great, bad lighting in here, but I wanted to snap a shot before I put them in the album.

I used a SU scrapbooking kit which helped pull things together (and speed things up), a bunch of letters (as I went through ALL my stickers & rub-ons I found quite a variety!), some new chipboard from Maya Road (aren't those little trees darling?!) ... I was so pleased to get my second spread done - feels good to be on my way.

I got 100+ photos from Walmart and just went through them tonight. SO disappointed, the quality is the pitts. Total waste of $20 plus bucks. Live and learn. I think I will try out shutterfly or another online service next time. For now (as I don't want to break the roll I'm on) I'll try printing a few must haves on the computer and fishing out a few I can save from the pile (ones that we don't all look like we've been smothering ourselves with fake tanning creams!)

I need to start thinking of Christmas cards too! I have a little idea in my head, but my goal is to USE what I HAVE so we'll have to see if I can generate something with supplies I have on-hand. I know it's sort of a lost tradition - sending "real" cards in the mail. I do wonder if people realize we still have postal services and not just e-service :) But I am determined to keep those paper hugs flowing... and I love doing it!

I hope you're finding time in the business of life to create - it sure refreshes me!

♥

15 minutes here and there = SCRAPBOOK TIME!

I did. I finally did it!!

I SCRAPBOOKED!

YAHOOOOO.

Seriously felt like an eternity, but so fantastic to be back!

I have lots I want to scrapbook: our big adventure, our day-to-day and of course Matthew! So I have to step back and go through photos and just work my way back into it :)

Just ordered over a 100 photos from Walmart today so soon I'll be all set - I even ordered some new goodies online that should be arriving this week.

Bring on the inspiration!!

This was the beginning of our big adventure last year - Lincoln City! I think you can click on the image and it will enlarge. Hopefully that works.

I kept it simple. Remember it's been over a year since I had my scrappin' hat on!

Some SU rub-ons along the sides (white & green), a few elements in the way of stickers and rubons... nothing fancy, but I've started, and boy does that feel good!

♥

We're a Zoo

This was Daddy's birthday card from the kids... we are a bit zoo-like here!! Sometimes as slow as a turtle to get out the door ( or get started on math!), silly & swinging like a monkey, loud as a lion, and.... well I'm not sure how we relate to a giraffe! :)

I'm really hoping to get into my stamping nook today - it will be a first time since Matthew arrived... here's to hoping the stars all align!!!

.j.

Handwriting

I've heard from two different sources now that handwriting (cursive) is no longer going to be taught in school. Big deal you might think. No one really "writes" anymore anyway, do they? You're right, not many do. In this face-paced world, no one seems to have the time to stop and truly WRITE. Even PRINT! A message can be typed out in lightening speed, sent even faster and that memo can be scratched off your to-do list. Done. Next....

*sigh*

David's Mom sends the kids a handwritten note every month. They love it. I love it. It's written even! It's a big deal. They cherish those notes and I see them stashed away safely in a drawer or special box. I've yet to hear any of them ask to print off an email note. It doesn't hold that same treasured value.

SO....

I'm trying to teach my kids the value in a hand-written (or even simply printed!) note. All our family lives far away, so when a birthday comes along, it creates the perfect opportunity to send a note of thanks. I think it is important, and I also think there's some cherished notes tucked into Grandma & Grandpa's drawers & special boxes!

Next time you click 'New Message', stop and consider pulling out pen & paper... you just might find your note being a treasure to someone too.

☆

Coffee Time!

I ♥ coffee.

Hot coffee, cold coffee, blended coffee, mocha - ♥ ♥ ♥

So it's fitting for me to send a paper hug to a friend with coffee in its "ingredients" *wink*.

Coffee with friends usually means some laughter and great conversation....

perhaps that's why I like it so much.

I've been working on a purchase order of scrapbooking goodies and I'm hoping that it will inspire me to get downstairs and get creative. I've been so busy with homeschool, chores & new baby that crafty-time hasn't existed. I'm really finding I need that to remain sane, KWIM?

I find that when I've had scrappin' & stampin' time, I am refreshed!

Just like church gives my soul encouragement, crafty time gives me a renewed energy.

Ahhhh.... ♥ that!

So mix some coffee with some crafty time and you've pretty much got yourself a perfect kinda day!

☺

Goodbye Summer

I have to admit, we've had a beautiful fall! Seeing this card though reminds me of how much I love summer! We had just begun our adventure South a year ago -- I cannot wait to do it all over again, it was amazing. I still haven't gotten any serious stamping time (obviously simply posting on my blog has been challenging!) We've been busy with our new little monkey and enjoying all the moments. Priorities.

This image is from Whipper Snapper, rub-ons, ribbon, papers from Stampin' Up, and I colored using my Copic Markers. A quick, simple card.

Matthew is 2 months today.

♥