Surfing

171* a freshly mown and watered lawn
172* having the opportunity to relax after supper
173* while husband cleaned up the dishes
174* the way Maren hangs onto our necks if something scares her
175* the way they both jump off their changing pad (on top of their dresser) after changing them (yes, I still use it...) into my arms (and it catches me off guard every single time they do it!!)
176* I can talk/confide in/heart to heart with husband


The next layout I'm going to (actually will be soon) work on is Addisons our first home. Yes, the trailer is the 'first home' that she remembers, but I plan to take it a step further: its our first home, too. Many of you will already know that. Kyle and I had our beginning in that fifth wheel. We moved it out to Saskatchewan with us, and lived in it for the first few months before finding a house and buying it. When we first met, he was living in it in a campground just outside of Edmonton, Glowing Embers. Then, when I moved in, it was after he'd moved to Camrose to start a new job. I followed...I had to wait a while, because mom and dad had been living in South Korea, and were to be coming home a couple months later. I stayed to take care of the house like I'd promised them, then I moved out. In that moment, when he moved to Camrose, and I had to stay behind, I knew I was sweetly, blissfully, incredibly attached. And, there begins our story.

I've been flipping through all our pictures, trying to find some good ones of the trailer, and while I've found only one, so far, that I like, I've been finding other ones that I should really scrap one day in the future. Here's a sampling so far:

I'm not sure, but I think I was pretty selective in choosing what wedding pictures I was going to scrap. I do have a wedding album, and I'm fairly certain this picture isn't in it!! And, I don't know why--I LOVE it!!

Setting up our home outside the shop (Kyle's work shop--also known as the North shop--there were two shops in town; the north one and the south one). Not the nicest location, but it was a step up from where we'd set up in Camrose!!

At the race track with friends' (who also now happens to be Kyle's boss) kid (of two. They have twins, too).

With dear Oma, who turned 93 on Sunday. I printed this picture already, because an lo all about her is going to be coming up shortly, too!

And, my dear Grandma Murray, who passed away 4 years ago, July. This is the only picture I have of her, other than one that's sitting in my kitchen window, that got water damaged when we moved from Alberta to Saskatchewan. It isn't the best, and it was during a pretty dark period in our lives, but its still dear, and she's still precious to us.

This locket will forever be special and dear {and near-literally} to my heart. She gave it to me as a Christmas present quite a few years ago. Back then, it was the only gift from her that I truly appreciated. (Looking back now, I realize that was unfair). Little did I know then that this would become the dearest connection I have with her today! Its surgically attached to my neck; it rarely comes off. If we're going to something special and fancy, and I feel like wearing something different, I'll take it off, but as soon as that event is over, the locket is back on. I love it, and I love her! And miss her terribly! (Ditto for my sister, too).

Engagement day! Christmas Day morning, 2008. After the holidays, I showed up to work (I was working at Walmart at the time), and Danielle and I, who was also expecting (hoping) to get engaged had a show down. As soon as we saw each other, we were like 'so??', and then waved our rings in each others' faces. HA. It was pretty funny, looking back on it now. Neither of us was really sure we were going to get engaged over Christmas, but we couldn't help but think how romantic it would be. (And, at least I got the more romantic proposal...her hubby just kind of pulled out the ring, and said 'so, will you?' as they were driving to family's).

Do I need to--should I--share the story? Its pretty simple, actually. I'm a wanderer, and Kyle learned that early on in our relationship. Its actually more like I'm easily distracted. As you well know. If I see anything shiny or sparkly, I have to go check it out. I may, or may not, say anything about where I'm going. I have my mother to thank for that. She always told us to 'go, leave me alone. you don't need to follow me like lost puppies' while she shopped. So, we learned to go off on our own, but always keep an eye out for her so that we don't get left behind.

It scared him. He thought that I'd left him every time I walked off like that, distracted by something else I thought was pretty or interesting. But, lucky for him, each and every time I would show up again.

So, when we proposed, he thoughtfully attached my engagement ring to a leash. A pink leash. Which, un beknownst to me, would re-appear at our wedding- during the ceremony. (The wedding band was attached to the end of that one). And, he told me that whenever I walked off on him like that, he thought I had left him. He didn't want to lose me, and that's where the leash comes in.

He doesn't think his proposal was very romantic or extraordinary, but I think it was perfect. It was true to us and how he felt, and it couldn't have been more fitting.

(And, now that I think about it, I should get a picture--a good picture-- of the wedding band and engagement ring together. They're nesting, and super pretty! Now I'm just waiting on the third band that goes along with this set! I think its one of those past, present and future type deals. I just hope that when we get around to it, that its still there!!)

And, I know I've scrapped Gregory before, but I just have to do one again using this picture. Its the best shot ever that I've gotten of him! {IMHO}

177* Grandma's
178* Oma's
179* intricately designed silver lockets
180* that cat, aka chicken, aka Gregory

For the Mama's

For all you BEAUTIFUL mama's out there, hope you have a wonderful MOTHER'S DAY!!


69* moms
70* a day to celebrate our moms and being mom, and all the other special women in our lives

Since the creation of this and this (which are mounted on 8.5x11 sheets of paper, then adhered to 12x12 page refills- and further elaborated on), I've began contemplating creating lo's in a size other than 12x12. I liked that they were so much easier to pull together and create. I liked that there wasn't such a large area to cover- things seemed to fall into place much more easily, and there wasn't so much 'dead space' between all the elements. I don't want to call it white space, because that wasn't the intention for all the space that's being unused- that could certainly be used; I feel like my projects are a lot more cohesive on the smaller scale.

So, needless to say, I have begun dabbling in 8.5x11 size lo's. I created my first one last night:

Until all my page refills are used up, the lo's will be mounted on 12x12 pages. Once they're gone, I'm shopping for an 8.5x11 album!

And, truth be told, this isn't my first 8.5x11. The scandal! Gasp!

I know...but...I have to keep my lips sealed on that for a little while longer, yet.

The suspense is killing me, though.

But, there you have it. I've got a secret.

Its simple, but I love every inch of this little layout. I've been wanting to create something with a sun on it, so I've got that checked off my scrappy bucket list. It actually works perfectly, since this is a page about poor Maren coming down with our latest cold. Daddy brought it home first, but she was the first of us girls to catch it.

The sun, by the way, was pieced together by yours truly. And, as my girls famously say, "TA DA!!! Thank you, thank you"


The clouds were cut with my cricut, and then I embossed them using my cuttlebug.

I love the visual interest my title work creates, too, using the different fonts and elements (circles, squares, stickers...)

And, other than the card stock background, every other element on here are SCRAPS!

The story behind this:

Maren is our little ray of sunshine. She's always been our happy girl. She's always laughing, giggling, bright, happy- and when she isn't, it usually means she's not feeling good. The other big clue she isn't feeling well is if she's happy to just sit and cuddle. Every other day, she doesn't have the time or inclination to do such a thing. There's too much to do and see and explore!

In the pictures in my layout, she's sitting on the couch with me, watching tv, but also trying to play her 'game' on my iPhone (a learning game all about animals). Just before that picture was shot, she was snuggled right up under my chin, watching tv. Even when she isn't feeling well, she's easily distracted.

Both girls get that from their mama. If it isn't something sparkly and pretty, its something that's caught their attention on tv. Bad mama!!

So, the title actually does double duty. First, it tells the entire story, all on its own, and secondly, its a way to describe my little girls' personality. 'Neaky, isn't it?? I love it!

71* creativity
72* variety
73* surprises that take me off guard- but that are happily and definitely welcome

Dear husband showed up at home last night with a few groceries that I'd asked him to pick up. I had made spaghetti for supper, and thought it would be a nice treat to have some garlic bread along with it. I also noticed that we were desperately low on milk and chocolate milk, so asked him to grab that for me, as well. I did get the grocery shopping done two days ago, but it didn't even occur to me that milk needed to be on that list! When I checked last (in my brain, that is) we still had lots of milk left. I don't know where it all went so quickly! I mean, the kids drink it by the gallon, but it usually doesn't go that fast!!!

I was still in the kitchen whipping up supper, but I could hear the kids squealing excitedly, 'present, present!!', but I just thought it was the groceries they were referring to.

When husband came into the kitchen, and I turned to greet him with a kiss, I learned that flowers were the present the kids were giddy about. My heart melted. Its been sooooo looonnngggggg since husband had enough time to think clearly and logically enough to actually be on time for anything, I could have burst into tears. My heart was definitely happy, though. He actually thought of me, and he actually went out and bought me something. My day couldn't have been any better, right in that moment.

And, those are the flowers you see at the top of this post :)

And, to add just a bit more humour, the kids were scrunching up their noses and sniffing at the air as I was unwrapping the flowers, saying they 'smelled'. I hope they meant it in a good way! LOL

Mending

We've weathered your first flu bug together, and I think its made you realize that mama doesn't just have time for your sister.

When daddy came home from work this afternoon, and he held out his hands to you for a little snuggly hello, you ignored him and began fidgeting with the locket around my neck. Daddy was a bit surprised. I have to admit, so was I. Daddy is your hero!

Maybe, after the last three days, mama's become a hero in your books, too. That makes me proud.

And relieved. A part of me was (is) afraid that on some level, you're going to think or believe that I like you less than your sister. Its insecurity, I'm sure it is, and its a hope. I hope you don't grow up believing that, because it isn't true. Just read through my blog and you'll find it isn't true.

I think you are finally beginning to feel better. There is color in your cheeks again, your busy, easily distractable personality is coming back to life (though there is no twinkle in your eye yet), and your sweet smile- scrunched up nose and squinty slits for eyes- is on its way back. I fed you formula tonight and you held it down! 6 ounces of it! That's remarkable, considering earlier this afternoon you weren't even able to hold 2 ounces of pedialyte.

In the morning- cereal!