NSBD

May 5 is National Scrapbooking Day. Who would have thought, right?!

I seriously had no idea until a couple days ago. As soon as I found out about it, I asked Kyle  for the 'day off' so that I could devote the day to scrapbooking.

It was a nice thought in theory...yes, I got three lo's done, and I did participate in one challenge (though I had hoped to participate in a whole bunch more), but there were a ton of interruptions.

True to his nature, husband slept most of the day away. When he wasn't awake, and the kids weren't screaming for him, I was sitting with them, keeping them entertained. I wasn't scrapping, but I was playing on my iPhone trying to keep up with all the fabulous work that was being posted! Next year, the kids are spending the night with their grandparents. LOL

Overall, it wound up being a good day, though I wish I could have completed more. Three layouts is pretty good when you've got two toddlers running around...

As I was playing today, I began thinking that it would be a good idea to try to incorporate more stamping into my projects. I love paper, and have an absolute love affair with it, but I've also always loved stamps. I don't know why, but I was holding out when it came to my scrapbooking layouts. I would only use my stamps on cards. Maybe I was daunted and overwhelmed by it- I mean 12x12 is a pretty large area of paper to cover and make pretty.

So, all day long, I've been challenging myself to stamp more. And, I really like it! I'm going to try and keep on doing it (so that I can continue to support my stamp addiction, as well as the paper and general scrapbook addiction). Pam, if you're reading this, got any stamps that I can buy from you??! LOL

I NEED to share this little gem with you. I submitted it to Rebecca's challenge for NSBD, and I hope you like it! Since I loved the layout I made of Addison yesterday, I had to make one for Maren, too. Now I've begun thinking I'd like to frame them and put them in their room. How about that for a marvellous idea??! My favourite colour combo these days is green and turquoise. I just can't get enough of it!!!

Something else that I'm really beginning to fall in love with are the over-dimensional size of pictures for these lo's. 8x10 sizes rock!!! I like 5x7 a lot, too, but I find 8x10's to be sooo stunning. (I'm also going to follow up tomorrow or the next day with close ups of some of the different elements on this project. Its hard to see, but the punched borders are actually layered and there's about three or so different patterns of paper. The only one that really stands out on this picture is the cream/green one). So, keep your eyes peeled for that!!

Another project I made that I'd really like to frame is this:

A very dear friend of mine sent me a puzzle in the mail...ok, so I don't know why, but I'm having total deja vu posting this. For some reason, I feel like I've done it already, but after browsing through my blog posts, there isn't anything there with this particular project. Maybe I'm thinking of scrapbook.com??? Not sure...

So, she sent me this puzzle- over three weeks (10 puzzle pieces each per letter, which came three times) because she had been thinking of me. It was actually a valentines' day gift. How creative is that??! Well, I had to scrapbook it, and write a personal letter to her, which is the journalling underneath. Husband suggested that I should frame it and give it to her, and I think its a marvellous idea. The puzzle is mounted on a piece of cardboard and is framed and here in my scrap room. Its such great inspiration, and from such a great, inspirational friend! (we've been friends for so long, we can't remember when or how it began, or where for that matter, either!!)

I think, for her birthday (which is coming up in September), I'm going to recreate this for her and give it to her. Along with a frame...I'm also thinking I should do up another lo with this particular design, except centre the picture and journalling...hmm...

41* a day devoted to the best hobby in the universe
42* the way she says, 'careful, slippery' as we are walking downstairs to the basement together
43* discovering there's a play park in our neighbourhood, that isn't located at the school
44* that they had a fun time playing at the park with their daddy this morning

A Thankful Time of Year

~ 113 ~ becoming a pinterest-er

~ 114 ~ just happening to see her trying to stand on her own- without holding onto anything- from the crawling position. TWICE in a row

~ 115 ~ they really are well behaved kids

~ 116 ~ thanksgiving

~ 117 ~ she came out of their room, right up to mr while I was elbow deep in dish water, to tell me she'd made a poopy. Way to go, girl!!

~ 118 ~ 12 days and counting

~ 119 ~ color

~ 120 ~ cornbread of the homemade variety

.......

Yes, I am officially on pinterest now, and I've been browsing up a virtual storm. I'm curious, though, how does one pin directly from the net? Must find out...

And, what is the point, unless you have a specific goal in mind- like collecting ideas for a party, wedding, or home inspiration? What does a person do with what they've pinned? Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of it, but I'm just not sure what to do with it once items are pinned.

It's thanksgiving weekend, and there is so much to be thankful for this year. It's a year with new beginnings (once again), new friends, more family- and this time much closer to our beloved family, and gorgeous weather. The trees are quickly losing their leaves now, and soon the white blanket of snowy perfection will cover the ground. So will little footprints cover the ground in our very own home and back yard.

I realized, while I was doing the dishes after lunch, how HAPPY I am as a mother. My ultimate goal in life is realized- and it IS good. Nothing makes me happier. Those little feet are SO precious to me!!

....

~ 121 ~ being their mama

~ 122 ~ their little feet- the sound they make on the floor- no matter how rough or gentle they may be

Trip to the Chiropractor

My feeble yet valiant effort to boycott the local Estevan Walmart because-it-is-in-such-a-painful-state-of-unorganized-chaos-it-no-longer-deserves-my-patronage-until-it-cleans-up-its-act-plot has once again been temporarily thwarted. I heard, through the grapevine, that it is to become a SuperCentre. By this year. (Or, by last year, I guess). This news came to me through said grapevine two years ago.

No expansion has begun as of yet, though they are functioning as if they are a SuperCentre. Unopened crates clog up the aisles, boxes upon boxes of varying stages of unpacking litter the rest of the aisles, staff are nowhere to be found- and the ones that are working aren't the brightest crayons in the box, and its ridiculously painful trying to manouver a dual stroller through the store, all the while dodging clothes that could slap my children in the face because there's no room for the display racks they are hanging on, crates that are full of merchandise that have no home other than right in the middle of where you are trying to go, and boxes that are either empty, almost empty or not opened at all. And, the word is, they don't know when it will become a SuperCentre. Its like they have SuperCentre envy!

So, as a result, we travelled instead to blast-from-the-past Weyburn to shop at the Walmart there. We also booked an appointment with a chiropractor, as part of our ever expanding efforts to help sweet little Addison become more comfortable and happy in her own body. It might be a little soon to say with any certainty, but I think it may help. The chiropractor found some very tense spots in her thoracic spine and wants us to come back three or four more times to try and work it out; she thinks that there may be an underlying problem in her neck, but we won't know for sure until her thoracic muscles are loosened. She also mentioned there's the possibility that seeing her won't do anything at all, but its a risk we're willing to take. We've got nothing to lose.

Having said that, I think we gained. Its 5 am now, and I'm wide awake until I get my thoughts put down on paper (or, in this case, computer screen); Addison woke up at 4 to eat, and although she ate only 3 ounces, I lay in bed for a while before getting up to feed her because I was enjoying listening to her talking rather than crying her announcement that she's awake and ready for a feeding. Then, while we stood in the kitchen together waiting for her bottle to warm up in the microwave, she sweetly and quietly continued to coo and when she saw her bottle, her anticipation and excitement continued to grow until she was almost getting too wound up--and then the bottle was quickly thrust into her mouth and she was satisfied. I've never noticed this before tonight, but she gently, contentedly--joyously to this mother!!--kicked one leg while she sucked on the bottle that was blessedly inserted in her mouth. And, once again liking to have control of her bottle, she took it out of my hands and fed herself the last ounce of formula she was going to eat before waking up at 8 for breakfast. What a darling little girl!

Usually, by this point, I have to carry Addison back into the kitchen with me to get gripe water and advil, then carry her back to the living room and cuddle her in my lap while I gingerly try and fill the syringe with the liquid contents to give her, at the same time trying to calm her crying down by quietly shhhing in her ear and whispering to her that its alright.

I didn't tonight.

I didn't have to.

Instead, I lay her on the floor, changed her diaper, plugged her sucky back in, and quickly headed into the kitchen- by myself- and retrieved the items I needed- then quickly rushed back to the living room. She didn't make a sound while I was gone- not even a peep. Hallelujah!! Instead, she acted as though she was excited to see me--arms waved frantically in the air, and legs began pumping happily up and down when she saw me again. Then she good naturedly began fighting me while I gave her the medicine. Bless your heart, child! I think your first chiropractic treatment may have worked! We'll see what this morning brings- and the rest of the day!!

Since my pregnancy, I've been struggling off and on with carpal tunnel (ugh) and I mentioned to the chiropractor that I've noticed it still aggravates me- especially when I'm doing chores like vacuuming or feeding the girls; even when I sleep my hand will fall to sleep. Every once in a while, my arm will ache into my elbow as well...she pressed on the nerve in my elbow and massaged it, making my arm go slightly warm and numb feeling-and it *still* hurts to touch where she was working on it. I was certain a bruise was going to form, in the shape of a fingertip, but I still see nothing that would suggest it. Yes, it hurt that much. I have never experienced such excrutiating pain before (ok, other than my episiotomy-it made me scream-even with an epidural-while delivering the twinlets)!  And, as I type this, my ring and middle fingers are falling asleep. I've shaken my hand out a couple times already to try and get the flood flowing again. I am to stretch my arm out to get the nerve from being in its current pinched position to unpinched. I think I may still wear one of my braces overnight to battle my fingers falling to sleep while the rest of my body slumbers...

I digress.

The blast-from-the-past-Walmart in Weyburn isn't as nice as the alright-if-I-have-to-shop-there-Walmart in Estevan in that they don't have as much merchandise on the shelves (or variety) as Estevan does. I think they have more variety in the craft section than they do in the rest of the store!! (Which I totally splurged in thanks to Christmas gift cards from husband and Amy. (Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!) Estevan's baby section is a lot more comprehensive than Weyburns is, so we are heading to has-nothing-better-to-offer-than-Peavey-Walmart-Sobeys-Marks-and-No-Frills-Estevan to get the rest of our grocery shopping done today.

Hopefully we are successful!