Lucky, lucky girl

Finito

 
So thrilled to have this finished.  Was definitely worth the time and I know we will look back on it and enjoy the little memories.

Added photo to my chocolate pecan pie recipe.  I wanted to remember some of the different items I baked this year. 

Also added a couple of photos of gifts on Christmas morning. 
Now I am looking forward to working on our regular albums - documenting some of Little Man's first three months and getting a few items in our family albums.  (I have been reading a few books and am overflowing with ideas of things that I want to document).

I am also going to "play along" with Ali Edwards "One Little Word 2010" - defining a "theme word" of the year. I have a few ideas of what I expect this year will mean to me and truly excited to start 2010. I love the start of New Years. Not so much for resolutions (I never really commit to them), but for the fresh start. I have so many ideas of what I want to accomplish on a personal level for me and my family that I am starting to feel that need to get moving.

But, for now, I am going to wind up my work day and head home to a sick daughter (poor girl), beautiful and happy boy, and a husband that I cannot be thankful enough for.  As much as I am looking forward to 2010, I cannot help but think how good 2009 was to me.  

Winding down... (December 23 - 25 in progress)

What a wonderful and busy weekend. It's hard to be back at work, but I am looking forward to a short week with some holiday cheer (we are working to reschedule our get-together with Ryan's family) and then some time at home and out visiting with friends in town.

Seriously great Christmas, though.  After growing up 1200 miles from these two, it is just so fun to be able to spend Christmas Eve with them every year now.

Of course, grammy spends pretty much all her time like this:

 
  

We also loved my brother's girlfriend, Lisa - she is extremely cool and is fabulous with my grandparents. Madtown adored her - she played with my kids and my dog - Kev cannot do better than that in my mind.  
  

Christmas was so quiet and reminiscent of those of my childhood.  While I missed having Ryan's family, we really enjoyed the day.  The snow didn't hurt, of course. I got some pictures, but not a lot. Mostly just hung out. Of course, this fuzzy one is probably my favorite.  

 
Nearly finished with my little book documenting the season. As I paged through it last night, I was reminded why I am so glad to do this. There were little things I had already forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the season: the fact that Madeline was afraid of the singing trees at the Macy's display, the items she included in her letter to Santa and her reaction to the first snows of December.  I will certainly be doing this again next year.

December 23 We open our family gifts two days before Christmas, so the 23rd is a big day for us.  I am thrilled with how this page turned out.

I sewed the felt blocks on the left hand side.  Translucent frame and present are from MM last year.  I used a glitter star from prima marketing on the remaining block.  Papers are bazzill swiss dot (background), red dot felt and a flocked dot rouge paper (MM).  Right side is a pocket - sewn together with a 1/2 circle punched from the side.

Inside envelope is journaling from the 23rd.

 
December 24 We celebrate with my family on Christmas Eve and I take a TON of photos -most not great as I am buzzing around. Snow also, obviously, played a big part of our weekend, so wanted to incorporate that.

 Left hand side is enlarged photo of Mad out in the snow.  Dot sneaking out is back side of journaling from December 23 envelope.  Christmas Twillon bottom of photo is Ali Edwards. Right side is recipe for the pecan pie I made (printed on Bazzill swiss dot) which will have a photo of the pie on it sometime today.

Right side is a fold out.  Journaling is printed on swiss dot paper.  "24" in background is St. Nicholas font made transparent with the text over the top.  Star is Prima Marketing.  Paper is October Afternoon - Wrap the Presents Very Merry.  Journaling spot is Jillibean Soup (used throughout my book) and snowflake is Reminiscence from Michaels. This inside looks like this:

 
Digital date stamp.  Family is Ali Edwards Holiday Hand Drawn brushes. Between those pages is one more little one about putting out "reindeer food" before going to bed.

 
Bazzill swiss dot paper.  Fiskars threading water punched. Jillibean soup journaling spot.  I think the sticker is MM, but I don't recall. Back of this looks like this:

Tag is Little Yellow Bicycle.  Star is Prima Marketing.

December 25. And the last day.  There wasn't a lot to document for Christmas Day with our plans getting canceled due to snow.  The kids opened Santa gifts and then we hung out and played all day.  Good snowman snow (not good snow angel snow, though), so we made it outside for a good portion.

I was very happy with the photo of the tree.  There is something magical about Santa gifts.  Digital date stamp. Holiday Word Art from Ali Edwards.  On right side is journaling printed on Bazzill swiss dot paper (I just printed off all my journaling from the remainder of the week on one big sheet).  Behind text is Ali Edwards Holiday Outline Word Art. I like the little extra that adds. 

On the back of this will be a couple of photos of the kids. I need to print them and add my details.  Lastly is a picture of Madeline and Ryan and their snowman.  LOVE this photo. Digital brush is Ali Edwards, but I think it might have been a freebie or something.

So, that's about it. A couple more little items to finish up today and my fat little book with be finished. Will post the last items later today.  Phew.
 
  

Life in progress...

It has definitely been a busy couple of days.  Loved spending time yesterday at Ryan's relative's - Madeline had a blast playing with two little cousins that are just her age.

Did NOT enjoy the drive back home last night, though.  Lots more snow and cruddy roads.  Was happy to just be home today. 

Of course, too, the drive up yesterday and some time today and I am nearly done with my fat little book.  Thought of carrying it through New Years, but my book is outgrowing its britches and, honestly, I am kind of ready to finish and move on.  Will post photos of the last pages tomorrow.  Now, back to work!

Let it Snow??? (December 21 and 22)

We are bracing for a snowfall here.  Unfortunate timing, really.  I am currently hoping that my brother makes it back into town from Nevada for Christmas. I am also hoping that the snow holds off enough that my family can make it to our house for Christmas Eve and that Ryan's family can make it down for Christmas Day.  Right now, we are looking at the potential for 2 feet of snow, a quiet Christmas Eve and Day and lots of contingency celebrations.  No matter, it will certainly be white. I just hope not TOO white.

We are set for the holiday at our house, though.  I did the last of our shopping yesterday and got caught up on the last two days in my Holiday Daily book.  I already have my sketches for the next three days of celebrations and am hoping to not get too sidetracked in my documentation of the season. 

December 21. Monday was pretty much just like any other Monday this season, except that Mad is getting ever more excited for Christmas. I decided to write about her excited (even more so this year than in the past) and used a photo from earlier in the month that I had just loved.  I think this might be my favorite page and documentation so far.

  
 
  
I printed the photo, twill (Ali Edwards Christmas Twill) and journaling in one block and matted on Bazzill swiss dot paper.  The snowflake is one from Recollections (Michaels) and I have to admit, it has been one of my favorite accents to use this year. 

 
December 22. I woke up early yesterday. Little Man had been fussy all night and I had pulled him into bed to cuddle as that sometimes helps. By 530 AM, even that didn't work, so he and I hung out downstairs and enjoyed the Christmas lights and play while the rest of the family slept.  In that moment, I had a realization on how different our Christmas was to be going forward with two children - siblings - to share it together and wanted to document that.  I took a photo (albeit not great quality with our terrible weather and light) of the presents under the tree and included those thoughts.

 
   
I printed this in one block on watercolor paper. I thought I would like the texture, but it kind of made the photo a little too wonky I think and I might just reprint that portion and paste it over the other. Again, used the Ali Edwards twill.  Added Ali Edwards Christmas Outline Words on the photo and my digital date stamp. Love it, except for the paper...

Anyway - Mad asked Santa at school for a Barbie.  Santa hadn't planned on bringing her a Barbie, but it was the one thing in the past two weeks she keeps telling us she asked Santa for.  Since it is her first Christmas REALLY cognizant of the magic that is Santa, I decided to help Santa out last night and get it for him to give to her.  I wanted to include this little mishap in this month's documentation, so I added this envelope last night with the story.    

Envelope is from archivers.  Santa is Art Warehouse. White pen is Signo. Inside is red printed graph paper (water color) on flocked paper. Punched circle from Bobunny paper and metal MM accent.

 
On the back side of the envelope, I glued some of this year's paper (it is always  coordinate - this year's theme is red...) with a Jillibean soup journalling spot (using these a lot this year) and ribbon. 

 
So that brings me up to date.  Tonight, as per our family tradition, we will open our gifts to each other and enjoy each other's company.  Vegas is giving Mad a bathroom for her Calico Critters house, so I am anticipated a lot of Bunny House play and am honestly thrilled for that.

I am so looking forward to the next few days.  No work. No office. Just home, family, and a Merry Christmas.      
 
 
 
 

Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me... (Dec 20)

 Madeline sings this sun song at school when they want it to be sunny to play outside.  I am trying it out.  I don't see the sun yet. Just dark grey clouds. It's been several days of these dark grey clouds. Horrible for moods. More horrible for decent photos (hence, the bad quality the last few days). Yes. It does mean snow. Apparently, a lot of it, if the meteorologists are to be believed. But, heck, I live in Minnesota.  I don't wish for snow. It's just there. It's white outside with a freshen up the last two nights. It's pretty, yes. But right now, I just want folks to be able to safely navigate their way to our house on Christmas Eve and Christmas - not another two feet of snow. Wait until Saturday, please. For now, Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me...

I thoroughly enjoyed my family's get-together Sunday night. The kids that weren't going to be together for Christmas (my kids and my brother's kids) trimmed my grandmother's tree and exchanged gifts. It was one of the more wonderful evenings we have spent together as a group, and I was thankful for that. Of course, my pictures turned out a bit fuzzy and wobbly - the light in my mom's house is just weird - so, while I had lots of fun photos, no great ones. Incorporated a bunch of little ones on my page for Dec 20 and then added a bunch of text to tell my story. Thrilled with this page. It accomplished exactly what I wanted.

 
I couldn't put my digital date stamp on the photos without covering someone's face, so used another of the Jenni Bowlin Santa tickets - LOVE these, they are so adorable - and the pressed metal accent numbers that I seemed to have purchased in bulk last year from the archivers hot spot. 

I also picked up yesterday the Ali Edwards Christmas Twill new this week. I love how it looked next to the photos and added just enough buffer between the photos and my red paper.

Now I need to put together my page for the 21st. Not a lot happened yesterday. Ryan was home with the kids (they are all on winter break) and I was at work. Traffic during the day was horrendous, so I didn't even run errands (except to the library - love the library). Was reflecting this morning, however, on how different this holiday season is with five of us in the house (yes, I do include the dog - she does have a stocking after all), so I think I might do something along those lines... That or the anticipation of the holidays - Madeline has been so terribly excited since she saw presents start to appear under the tree.  

This just might be the most wonderful Christmas yet. If only...

Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun, please shine down on me.  

Hello, my name is Cat and I am a perfectionist...

Sometimes this scrapbooking thing kills me - tests my limits.  I am a perfectionist by nature. I like order. This makes me quite successful as my job as a project manager. It, however, tests me to no end as a mom of two little ones and a scrapbooker. 

I must teach myself that if I want my 3 1/2 year old to clean up her room, I have to be okay when she mixes the baby bin contents with the lovies bin or puts the fruits and vegetables with the "canned" goods in her little kitchen. 

It also means that I cannot endlessly tweak a page if I want to actually record the memory and move onto the next one.  I am finding with my holiday book, this is a learning time. I say okay and move onto the next day. Never QUITE satisfied, but good enough. A week later, I am pretty happy with how it turned out. So, as we move closer and closer to Xmas, I am happier and happier with my little book.

Mad came home Friday with a photo of her with Santa and Mrs. Claus from school (Wednesday).  I actually hadn't adhered my 17 and 18 pages together, so I popped it in there. Will I even remember next year that it isn't quite on the right day? Maybe. But, in the scheme of things, I won't care.

I was very happy how this came together, even though it was kind of tossed together on Saturday morning.  Santa tag is Yellow Bicycle. Santa word is a metal accent I had in my box. Jenni Bowlin journaling card.  MM Vintage Findings ticket.  Photo adhered to Creative Memories matte sewn to page. Still enjoying this sewing paper thing - even if I can't seem to get the tension right...

December 19 Cookie baking day.  Made a little present to adhere to back of envelope from December 18 with white flocked dot paper (does not photograph well  - at least in the terrible cloudy light I have today) and ribbon.  I wanted to include recipes again, but wanted to do it in a different way. Have seen a few pockets sewn with transparencies and this seemed liek a good solution.  Again, my tension (I think it is my bobbin tension, but I don't really feel like fooling with that) made for a terrible stitch, but I am happy with how the tags are visible. Remove and flip over for the recipes.  Large photo is of Madeline cutting out puppy cookies in shapes of bones, stars, and, well, seahorses.  Dogs won't mind, I am sure. :)

Large photo with digital date stamp.  Threading water punch - Fiskars.

Water color paper and red cardstock. Green patterned Hambly transparency sewn to cardstock with photo tags - recipes on back (below).

So, that took me through Saturday. Kind of threw 19 together in a rush so we could get out of the house for a little celebration with my family. Even though I am not thrilled with how my photos turned out, we had a fabulous evening with lots of good cheer and I am very excited to get that page in my book. It was a truly wonderful holiday celebration and I am looking forward to more wonderful days as the week goes by.   
 

Young, free and insane... (December 17 & 18)

That's me - well, at least the insane part.  Thought it would be fun to meet my mom for coffee at the galleria and a bit of shopping over lunch. I must have forgot it is the Friday before Christmas. It was insane there. Did find a Christmas ornament for little missy, though, that she will love when she finds it in her stocking next week (already??).

Feeling particularly uninspired today, but I did want to make sure I was caught up on my Holiday book pages before the weekend as there is a lot on the agenda - both to do, and to record - so I really wanted to get today and yesterday done so I can focus on the days ahead.

December 17 Originally was going to use December 17 to showcase Madeline's holiday school art, but so much of it is still on display at school, I decided to nix that idea. Instead, last night, after a wonderfully easy trip to the dentist, we ended up putting together little gifts for her teachers as today is her last day of school before break.  She "wrote" out the cards to accompany the gift cards and then drew snowmen for their cabinet (a special teacher request).  Madeline was sweet enough to then draw a snowman for my book, which I included along with a photo of her drawing. Took me a while to get this to look the way I wanted - wanted to include a fold out photo to keep design clean, but there was just so much white space with her picture. And, that flocked paper ended up being a lot busier than anticipated once I got it the book, so needed to backtrack... In the end, I think I am okay how it turned out.

 
Flocked dot paper: Making memories; santa tag: Jenni Bowlin; water color paper (used throughout); brown tag taken from a notebook.

Celebrate the season word art: Ali Edwards; font: perpetua; snowman tag: leftover gift tag from last Christmas

I am loving this watercolor paper. It is such a great heavy stock with a nice light texture and it has been quite easy to print on.

December 18 I had seen someone log the christmas gifts they bought this year and I loved that idea. Envelope contains a listing of gifts - kept close from prying eyes by a paper clip. This page is REALLY simple (as I mentioned, I am feeling particularly uninspired today), but I am okay with it for now at least and am going to move on.  

 

 
White flocked paper; Art warehouse Santa tag; Jillibean soup circle tag; target envelope from Thank You cards; water color paper with printed grid; Recollections glitter snowflake (I keep coming back to these throughout the book)   

I am terribly excited for the weekend - both for the happenings (family get-together/tree trimming party and cookie baking) and for some ideas on how I want to incorporate them into my album).  Will be excited to share those on Monday... Happy weekend!

Let's try this... (and December 14th through 16th)

I finally caved. I am going to try this blogging thing. After much debate about whether I could find the time to keep it up, I am going to give it a go.  So - family and friends, let's hope you see more rather than less of me and I will do my best to keep you updated on our fascinating (ahem) life and my ongoing projects. 

I found some time to work on my Holiday Daily album last night and caught up on my December 14 - 16 pages. That actually brings me up to date. Yay!  It's funny - now Madtown has become a scrapper. My little 3 1/2 year old earned her own sparkly pink scrapbook to work with by sleeping good in her own bed.  Of course, now I need to fight over ephemera for my book - her teachers gave her the cutest photo tag of them with her holiday present and she took it for her own scrapbook rather than letting me have it for mine! The nerve. :)  Anyway - so here is what I got done last night.

I sewed!  I had been meaning to try my hand at sewing on paper and I finally did.  Ryan seems to think I need a new sewing machine, but I love, love, love my 1960's Singer. It's heavier than sin, but it's a great machine and I love that it is the one my mom learned to sew on. But, I digress...

December 14th: Did not sew on this page.  Just a simple story of a glass slipper ornament on my tree. It was a gift from 8 year old me to my Me-ma who has since passed away.  This page is terribly simple - flocked paper and watercolor paper, digital brush with the date and a picture of the ornament pasted to a old grunge-board page leftover from an old mini-album.

Moving on...

December 15: First page I have sewn and I LOVE the look.  Left is a Katie Pertiet Vintage Santa printed on canvas and adhered to back side of the grunge board.  Right side is Bazzill white swiss dot paper sewn into a pocket.  Added some flocked ribbon, metal number 15 and an avery file folder label leftover from work.  Inside the pocket is this year's holiday card and letter. I might staple a ribbon to the top of each, but leaving it for now...

 
 December 16: Around the house page. Sewed some more (since I had my machine out anyway).  I originally was going to have the back side of the swiss paper exposed, but had issues with the tension on my machine for paper - will need to play with that since my manual obviously doesn't give a suggested tension for card stock.   Ticket: Jenni Bowlin. 

 
So happy with how this fat, little book is turning out this year.  To think, I almost set it aside at the beginning of the season since I was feeling so busy with the newest addition.  So glad I kept at it.