Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween everyone! Did you little ghosts and goblins score a lot of loot tonight? Mine sure did! We filled an entire Walmart reusable shopping bag- to the brim- with goodies! My word- they still have goodies left over from last year! All this sweet goodness will last us the next couple of years, I think. Did you stay warm while your little gaffers ran from door to door? We nearly froze- the wind is bitter!! We've all got wind burnt cheeks! I'll have pictures up here one of these days. It'll probably (most likely) have to wait until next week.

As promised, here is one of two DT assignments that were due recently. The other will be posted in the next day or so. Hopefully it'll be posted before the weekend, which is shaping up to be another whirlwind adventure for this gal. Only this time, it'll be solely for dear husband and I. Its my birthday, and he's treating me to a weekend for ourselves. I'm so happy that he heard what I said when I would love- just once- to have a birthday that wasn't all about hunting. I have the best man in the universe!

Don't you just love the simplicity of this design?! I sure do- it came together so quickly and effortlessly- Heather did a remarkable job on the sketch behind this layout. She's such a talented lady! You can find the sketch by going to her blog, Miracles Momma Designs. But, you won't find it there tonight. Check back in a few days, and you'll certainly find it there! I'm getting this up early because I'm certain I won't have the time until next week to jump back onto the computer. There's no better time like the present!

And There You Have it

I'm bushed tonight. What a great day! The air show was amazing, and the girls really seemed to like it. The F-18 Hornet scared poor Maren, but we were prepared for it, so she sat in daddy's lap and he covered her ears with his hands. The way he cradled her made her feel so safe, I think, that she wouldn't let him take his hands away from her ears. She wanted to stay that way. And then, she fell asleep. So adorably sweet! Pictures will follow tomorrow. Promise!!

I just wanted to share one quick layout with you tonight, then I'm going to bed myself.

This is another 'just for fun' layout. I used the week 4 sketch for the monthly sketch challenge over at scrapbook.com. I also submitted this layout to Scrapping the Music- the 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' challenge. All because sweet Sharon suggested it. {Thanks, Sharon!!}

Addison and I were checking things out way up in the sky. She was telling me there were clouds, and birds, and the moon...I'm not sure what I was pointing at (because I can't remember), but I was pointing something else out to her that lives way up there. She likes referring to things up there as 'up sky', and other times its, 'up so high'. So, I mixed the two, and came up with 'the sky so high'!

And, the little 'joy' tag--just a little subliminal message there. Addison really is my pride and joy, and I wanted to let her know, in a subtle way, that's what she is to me.

Every single piece of patterned paper on this project is scraps. The strip that appears to be white, is actually light blue; it and the red/dark pink are from the Sweet Nectar 6x6 paper pad, the green strip is SU (a christmas paper pack), and the green/teal is Autumn Leaves card stock. The journalling spot was stamped using Old Olive SU ink on a scrap piece of Sweet Nectar patterned paper, and I spruced up a dollar store wedding tag by punching a circle and stamping the word joy on it (from the mini phrases SU stamp set) in Basic Black ink. The flower is Prima.

Oh! And the butterfly- its one I printed off the internet. It was used as a template for this layout, and I decided to hang onto it in case I ever wanted to use those particular butterflies ever again. At that time. Since I've been re-organizing the craft space and cleaning it up again, I just figured I'd use it and get it out of the way. It worked perfectly on this layout- the colours were just right.

While this was in the works, I really struggled with it. I didn't know what direction to take it, or which direction to let it naturally take on its own. After ignoring it for a few days, and pondering it, I was ready to tackle it again, and it (wonderfully) came together rather quickly. And, the final product is swoon worthy, IMHO. I just love it...

I'm starting to think that I'm loving...loving brights against white backgrounds. I can't get enough of it. I want to do more and more, and I've been trying to figure out what I could use for white backgrounds, since I've run out of white card stock. Ha. I've actually been reverted to using the sheets that come in the page protectors when you buy new post bound albums. Anyone else do that? For the time being, that is...

Well, its time to go, but I'll be back again tomorrow.

Till then...

~a

Not Over

You are still suffering, poor, sweet girl.

It just seems like one thing after another keeps popping up for you, making getting better a little harder to achieve. Boo!

Daddy and I braved the awful weather and driving conditions to bring you back to the doctor to learn that your ear infection is still angry looking; we're going to keep giving you medicine until Friday. Tomorrow was supposed to be the last day. I mentioned the diaper rash you have, and after looking at it, he said that its fungal in nature. Which would explain how angry it looks!  And, sweetie, I am soo sorry for the pain I put you in every time I clean you up and put cream on your rash. It feels hot to my fingers, and I am certain it doesn't feel nice to you, either.

I watched you all afternoon and this evening while you took your bath, and I am certain that even sitting is not desirable to you; instead of sitting on your bum in the bath, you stayed on your hands and knees, and any time I tried setting you down on the floor so I could do something, you would instantaneously break down in tears. (And, I am soo thankful you have tears- I was worried you were dehydrated from all the diarrhea you've bee having- its why we brought you back to the doctor in the first place. As soon as he began assessing you, the tears sprang into your eyes. Thank goodness!) Mama doesn't even know how to hold you so that you're comfortable. Diaper rashes are one thing; ones as bad as this are a totally different ball game, and I do not wish them on anyone!

You're still fairly irritable and cuddly; you had a hard time getting comfortable with me, but you looked pretty comfy snuggled up on your daddy's sturdy chest this afternoon. I'm glad he had the opportunity to spend time with you like that. He's been so busy lately, he hasn't seen much of you or your sister for the last couple of days. And, I'm glad you had the opportunity to spend some quality time with your daddy. I know how much you love him, baby!

Miss Addison- I am soo proud of you! For the last two nights in a row, you've slept so good! Bed time was at 7:30 and its now 10:15, and you haven't woken up and cried (or screamed) once yet! Normally its usually within an hour or two of putting you down. You are soo amazing!

BUT, you are awake now. You must be hungry!

Poop Throwing Monkeys

I am pretty sure I've heard this phrase from a movie that I watched on tv, or in the theatre- with friends, not without- at some point in my life. I don't know what movie its from- or if it was even a movie, for that matter. Maybe it was a phrase from a tv show or commercial on tv. It was something graphic, and I was watching it. Those two are definites.

Wherever or however I came across that quote I'll probably never know, but I think of it every time I think of my children getting hold of their diapers- undone diapers I might add- mid change- and pull it out from underneath themselves and fling it.

Yes, that's right. Fling. it.

(well, its more like grab it, wave their arms about like they're playing with a toy, and as a result fling it. But, whatever works).

I am not sure if its intentional or unintentional, but I do not like it. One of the girls got hold of it the other day and dropped it on the floor- upside down (oh dear Lord) and its contents fell out. I should mention that its contents are not absorbable like liquid is. They're solid. (Again, a hearty oh dear Lord).

I mean yeeessss, my children are monkeys- and one moreso than the other, but the other one is catching up quickly! And yeeessss they are cute and adorable and sweet and cuddly, but they are also destructive. The typicaly quiet and docile twin has been taking lessons from her sister, and has begun kicking anytime she's held or being changed- but I never thought the day would arrive where I have to worry about poop flinging babies! If they're not flinging it around, they're getting their fingers in it and wiping it all over their clothes and bodies and *gasp* the curtains!!! (Not to mention mommy).

And, yeeeesssss, I am horrified-sweet little girls don't do stuff like that, but on the other hand...its kind of amusing. They are teaching me to be quick and always stay one step ahead of them. What will be next??

I'm going to have to invest in a steam cleaner for the curtains as well as the carpet in their room.

Or, should I just tear it out and opt for hardwood, like the living room?