life in general

project life // february 2013

A few highlights from the month of February!  All of these layouts were photographed with my iphone.  I tried to pull out the big camera, but the battery was dead (?) and I have no patience for charging.

FEBRUARY 4 - 10

LEFT PAGE // I had fun emphasizing the love theme on a few of my February layouts.  And I think I've decided that I love my Project Life pages best when I include more than 1 photo from an event / happening. In between these pages I added a sheet protector and filled it with the love notes we made for Family Home Evening and hung on our kitchen cabinets all month.

RIGHT PAGE // Washing dishes (that quote is priceless), a little bit around the house, and a date for Scott and I.  

FEBRUARY 11-17

LEFT PAGE // This whole spread was more about love and family rather than specific events.  I love the shadow capture on our walk to school and the family picture at the tennis courts.  The red card with a heart was a card that I received and cut down to 3x4.  The quote has always been a favorite of mine -- I whipped this up on the computer super quick and printed it out.

RIGHT PAGE // All about Valentine's Day.  I included the kids' photo valentine's day cards and a journaling page that Anna wrote in class.  She was feeling bad that Conner was home sick on Valentine's day.  I used a Design D photo pocket page on this side.

FEBRUARY 18 - 24

LEFT PAGE // So many fun pictures from our hike that it spilled over onto on insert.

RIGHT PAGE // Anna's Glee performance, the art festival at school, and some random Sunday photos.  I came across the quote on Pinterest this week and decided to include it on my layout as well.

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PRODUCTS USED //

Project Life Core Kit - Seafoam Edition

Photo Pocket Pages - Design A

Photo Pocket Pages - Design D

Roller Date Stamp

File Folder Labels

American Crafts Precision Pens

Mini Label Stickers

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Project Life is a back to basics approach to memory keeping. I've been dabbling in Project Life since Becky Higgins released the first kit in 2009.  I love that it is simple, streamlined, and keeps the focus on the photos and the memories. (The extra supplies & design-y stuff is totally optional.)  Learn more about it here.

project life // january 2013

I'm back at it again!  It's been a while since I have worked on my project life album.  In fact, last week Payton was flipping through our album when he asked, "When are you going to add more pictures to the book?"  Well, that was motivation enough to get me going!

Our album sits open in the family room, for everyone to look through.  Payton, I've noticed, spends the most time looking through it.  So when I finished the month of January I went looking for Payton and told him that I needed to show him something in my craft room.  When he saw the new album and new photos he said, "oh wow!"  And with a smile plastered across his face he slowly turned the pages, studying each photo, reading the words, and giggling at the memories.

This is what makes memory keeping so worth it.

Here's a peek at January:

DECEMBER 31 - JANUARY 6

LEFT PAGE // New Year's Eve Party, Christmas Break, ice on the pool . . . . I love the quotation cards.  I can tell I will be using those a lot.  The "Today" card is a folded journaling card and inside I included the recipe for Candy Crack.  I made waaaaayy too much on New Year's Eve.

RIGHT PAGE // Natural History Museum, a double birthday date, and the start of Downton Abbey Season 3 . . . . I made sure to include my one little word, "thrive", on this layout.  Font is Bebas.

HIGHLIGHT // I was so proud that I saved the movie ticket stub from the boys' birthday date!  I created a 4x6 canvas in PSE and threw on a plus sign (+) and the instagram photo from our dinner at Red Robin.  I made sure to leave enough space to glue the ticket stub on top.  

JANUARY 7 - 13

LEFT PAGE // all iphone photos.  Not much going on this week.  I used the journaling cards and arrow stickers to write tidbits about what I was working on and the random things we were up to.  There was a quote that inspired me this week and I attempted to print it, but the background is so light that it doesn't show up very well.

RIGHT PAGE // hanging around the house, the Pinewood Derby . . . . I included a collage of instagram photos from the week (most from our morning walks to school).  I just love the titles and word bits on the journaling cards -- today is good, this is what life looks like, remember this.  They just fit so well with our everyday, boring-but-real photos.  This really is what life looks like!

JANUARY 28 - FEBRUARY 3

LEFT PAGE // Again, all iphone photos. Conner was Student of the Month, new shutters, shelves going up in the craft room, a visit from my mom and dad . . . I included the invitation to the Student of the Month breakfast of champions in one of the small pockets.

RIGHT PAGE // The whole page is dedicated to Payton's 10th birthday.  The two instagram photos are pieced together thanks to a free download from Design Editor HERE.  I use this file all the time.  Added American Crafts foam stickers on the photo of Payton.  "Payton is Awesome" is another folded journaling card.

HIGHLIGHT // Just some stickers and goodies added on top of the photos so I could get all my journaling/notes in.

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PRODUCTS USED //

Project Life Core Kit - Seafoam Edition

Photo Pocket Pages - Design A

Arrow Stickers - Grey

Roller Date Stamp

American Crafts Precision Pens

Mini Label Stickers

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Project Life is a back to basics approach to memory keeping. I've been dabbling in Project Life since Becky Higgins released the first kit in 2009.  I love that it is simple, streamlined, and keeps the focus on the photos and the memories. (The extra supplies & design-y stuff is totally optional.)  Learn more about it here.

I'm linking up with The Mom Creative for her Project Life Tuesday.

101 in 1001 // new year update

While it's January and we're all talking and thinking about goals and things we want to do I thought I would re-visit my 101 in 1001 goal challenge.  Yes, I haven't forgotten about it!  My 101 in 1001 page is up to date with everything I have completed so far.  But I did a little math and forecasting and I realized that I need to kick things into gear if I want to accomplish these things by my end date!  

Also, I've already missed a few months in my goals like journal every month, send happy mail every month, etc. etc.  Ack!  But I have decided not to beat myself up about it.  Well, I did for a second and then I moved on.  Whatever number I reach, whether it's 30 or 13 over the course of this 33 month project, will be an accomplishment in my books.  There.

Today, I wanted to give a little update on a few goals that I completed over the last few months.

Anna had a little bit of a rough transition to her new kindergarten class after our move last spring.  The curriculum & methods were just so different from what she was doing in Oregon and it really threw her for a loop.  She lost her self-confidence (going from thinking she was an amazing student to thinking she was a horrible student) and things kind of screeched to a halt.  At the end of kindergarten her reading skills were not where I would have liked them to be so we set a goal to read 100 books over the summer.  And boy, it was just the thing she needed.

We went to the library every week and checked out a big bag of books.  Nearly everyday we would spend a little time sitting on my bed reading those books.

She started to love reading and she definitely improved.  I'm so glad we completed this goal because it set her on the right foot for 1st grade.  And today?  She is a great reader.  And loves it.  She has begun chapter books.  Each morning she begs for more verses to read in the Book of Mormon.  And I couldn't be more pleased.

This little video is typical Anna.  Shot way back in July, she's having some fun with our reading time. 

We kept a list of the 100 books we read.  Here are a few of our favorites:

• Yes Day! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• The Best Kind of Kiss by Margaret Allum
• The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willem
• Beware of the Frog by William Bee
• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
• One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
• The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

In August I spent 3 separate days taking each child individually on a back to school shopping date.  This was the first time I had done something like this and it worked out really well!  Oh, I can still remember the trauma & frustration from the back to school shopping trip of 2010.  Never again.

On each of our dates they got to choose a place for lunch.  With Conner we ate at Applebee's (he had received a coupon for a free kids' meal through the summer reading program).  Payton chose Wendy's so that he could eat the Son of Baconator.  And Anna wanted something "healthy" to eat so we ended up at Chipotle.  ??

It was so great to have one on one time with the kids and I know they really enjoyed it too.  I loved it when Payton hopped in the van after lunch and said, "this is fun."  That was enough for me to know that this time was well worth it.

Has anyone else been through this situation:  You purchase your kid a kit/project type gift for Christmas, and everytime the kid comes asking if you will help them do it (because it requires adult supervision) you say "not now" and then 2 years go by and they are still asking and you feel totally lame.  Anyone? . . . . Just me?  Alright.  But I'm owning up to it.

A while ago we bought a crystal kit for Payton.  He LOVES crystals, rocks, minerals, gold, and shiny things.  And the poor kid has been so patient while I've put him off and off.  I decided that this Christmas break it was going to happen!

Just look at that happy look on his face.  We currently have crystals growing in our dining room.  And I feel like a good mom.  Now, we just need to hang up that Darth Vader Fat-head we got for Conner's birthday 6 weeks ago . . . . .  

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies - These were very good and the kids really liked them.  Just a touch on the oily side, though.

Nutella French Toast -- I had high hopes for this one, and it does look so pretty, but it was just too soggy for me.  I cooked and cooked and cooked it, but just could not compensate for the layers of bread & nutella & egg mix that had saturated everything.

Nutella Brownies (4 ingredients) - These were super quick & easy to make (beware, the batter is thick).  And it makes a small batch of 12 mini brownies.  Perfect for when you just need a little snack.

For Christmas I pulled together the photos from Scott's first 9 years of life and compiled them into a project life album for him.  It turned out so great!

There is more work to do (ages 10-18) but for now I am calling this goal complete!

project life // from august & september

I'm longing for some Project Life catch-up -- namely, October and November.  But . . . .  there is unpacking to do and organizing and preparing for guests (yippee!!) and Thanksgiving and even more guests (yay!).  All good wonderful stuff that I am really looking forward to. So, for now Project Life is taking a back seat. 

I have the album sitting in our family room out in the open.  In a place where it is easy to walk by and look at the photos or stop and flip through the pages.  I love it that way.  I find the kids looking through the album often.  Which I love.  AND it motivates me to fill in the gaps and get it up to date.

I was flipping through my album and thought I'd quickly share some layouts from August and September.  I don't have time for linking products, fonts, etc. but if you're curious leave a comment and I'll get back to you.  (Click on the photos to see anything larger.)

 

project life // instagram grid

This layout spans two weeks, two vacations, and a tale of sickness in between.  (I promise this is the last time the plague of summer 2012 will come up in a blog post!  Promise.)

First there was California.  Aside from the beach, I had very few photos from this trip.  Thankfully, my sister-in-law Heid took some great pictures of the kids swimming together.  I'll add an insert later with those photos.

Front of insert.  A gathering place for all of our sick photos.  I used an 8.5x11 Instagram grid (layered PSE template) to pull it together and I couldn't love it more!  Design Editor has some great new products in her shop - check it out.  She also has 6x12 and 12x12 instagram grids available.

"get well soon" - font is Channel

I decided to take a hybrid approach with the template -- some digital, some paper elements.  A screen shot just before printing . . . 

But I can see myself using this again and again, going the strictly digital route.  Whatever floats your boat!

Back of insert.  I printed out the blog post which details all the sickies.  And then I attached various prescription stickers and pharmacy logos for a collage on the bottom.

Finally the last page - Utah and the end of the EMBA program for Scott.

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PRODUCTS used:

• Clementine Core Kit
• Design A Photo Pocket Pages
• Project Life Cardstock - Clementine
• Instagram grid - available from Design Editor's etsy shop
• Silhouette Cameo

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Project Life is a back to basics approach to memory keeping. I've been dabbling in Project Life since Becky Higgins released the first kit in 2009.  I love that it is simple, streamlined, and keeps the focus on the photos and the memories. (The extra supplies & design-y stuff is totally optional.)  Learn more about it here.

I'm linking up at The Mom Creative for Project Life Tuesday.

project life // from june

Me and Project Life are gelling again.  Here are two spreads from June I wanted to share.  

---- project life:  a day in the life ----

When the school year was coming to a close I realized that there was a lot about our daily routine which would never be the same again.  In the fall we might be in our house with apartment living a distant memory. . . . Conner would be going to middle school (which starts and ends at a different time than the elementary school) . . . . this would be our last year with a kindergarten-er . . . Anna was doing some cute things that I didn't want to forget . . . . etc.

So I picked a day to take lots of photos (mostly with my iphone) and take lots of notes.  For my project life album I dedicated an entire spread to this one day.  June 5th

(click on photos to enlarge)

I included an insert for the journaling and a title/date card.

Here is the view on the left . . . 

One of the things I didn't want to forget was the way that Anna pulled up her little pink camping chair right next to Scott every morning.  So she could be near him during scripture reading.

I love these cute little letter stamps .

Flip the insert over and here is the view on the right . . . 

This cute dinosaur drawing by Anna has been in my stash for a while.  It's not from this particular day, but I didn't want to lose it or forget about it.  Isn't it so cute?  The kids are leaving on a dinosaur, with luggage on his tail, while mom & dad wave good-bye.  I wonder where they are going?

---- project life: school's out ----

The left side covers the end of the school year including Anna's kindergarten graduation and Conner's 5th grade promotion ceremonies.

Conner had worked really hard to memorize the Gettysburg Address -- one of 6 tasks in the Great American Challenge for 5th graders.  (Memorize & recite the Gettysburg Address, The Preamble, U.S. Presidents in order, & The Star Spangled Banner, and write the Pledge of Allegiance (no spelling errors!) and all 50 States and Capitals (only 3 spelling errors)).  Those who memorized the Gettysburg Address, stood during the program and recited it as a group.  

Conner was given one of the solo parts and started them off strong with, "Four score and seven years ago . . . "

I was so proud of him.  And this pretty much showed me that I'm going to be a blubbery mess when it comes time for graduation from high school.

The right hand page lays out our weekend in Pismo Beach.

I used a free download from Design Editor to include some instagram photos in the smaller journaling pockets.  They are so cool!  Definitely plan on using them again.

And just a closer look at the back of the 6x12 insert.

PRODUCTS

• Clementine Core Kit
• Design A Page Pockets
• 6 x 12 photo protector
• See and Stamp Transparent Stamps - Lowercase

Project Life is a back to basics approach to memory keeping. I've been dabbling in Project Life since Becky Higgins released the first kit in 2009.  I love that it is simple, streamlined, and keeps the focus on the photos and the memories. (The extra supplies & design-y stuff is totally optional.)  Learn more about it here.

I'm linking up over at The Mom Creative for Project Life Tuesday

project life // week of may 27

Still keeping up with my project life layouts . . . this is like, what, a 3 week streak?  Hey, you've got to cheer yourself on!  Even in the little things.

This is the routine that works for me.  I print my photos on Sunday or Monday at home, make a little pencil sketch of my layouts (so I can jot down journaling notes, the tidbits I don't want to forget, and figure out where to place everything).  And then on Monday night I put it all together while watching The Bachelorette.  Don't judge.  

(oh, and I just noticed a typo.  This should be may 28 - june 3.  I go Monday to Sunday with my weeks.  Will I print a new photo to fix it?  Nope.)

Some weeks I really like the photos that come out of my camera.  This is one of them.

I'm trying to take design notes from some of my favorite Project Lifers:  Ali Edwards, Elise Blaha, Design Editor.  More full pocket photos (even in the 3x4 journaling pockets).  Don't clutter the page with product.  Or text.  Add journaling to the photos in photoshop.  And use a photo for the date/title card.

You might recall these quotes from Payton.

I feel like I'm the last person on the Project Life planet to purchase a Smash journaling tag pad.  I finally splurged, shelling out 1.49 at Target.  

And the right page . . . . 

On Sunday we came home from church and Scott had the most fantastic idea to roast marshmallows over the gas stove burner.  And can I just tell you that we are forever changed because of it?

Reese's peanut butter cups

Milky Way Caramel bars

Oh man.  The PB cups were my favorite.  The next day we made then again for family home evening.  This time I tested it with Mounds bars.  Also pretty incredible.

For the "recipe" photo -- In PSE, I added a 3x4 white block over my 4x6 photo and lowered the opacity way down.  Then I typed the journaling on top.  I really liked using 2 journaling pockets for one photo -- very fun.  But I especially love that boy's cute cheeks.

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What is Project Life?  Go HERE for all the details.

Also, I'm linking up with The Mom Creative 

project life 2012 // catching up

So, remember when I used to do project life and share it here on the blog?  I made it through mid-February with weekly layouts, then life got really busy, then we moved, and I just haven't gotten back into the groove yet.  

But I've been craving it!

Last week my blog friend Emily (who is now my in-real-life friend) came over for an evening of project life-ing and it really helped me to get my groove back.  Too bad she moved to California this week.

Anyways, I just wanted to share a few of my recent layouts.  There is a lot of catch-up I need to do.  But rather than focus on just catching up, my plan going forward is to work on the current week and one catch-up week as I have the time.  And if some of the weeks don't make it into the album, it is okay.

Catch-up layout #1 -- This spread covers just 2 days.  Two.  And it was all about the photos.  I've already blogged about the Vintage Spring Sorbet, and I'll probably make a photo book of some sort.  So for the purposes of PL I just wanted to throw some photos into the album to make mention that it happened.

One of my favorite things . . . the row of 8 Instax photos in the journaling pockets.  A perfect fit.

6 x 12 page insert.  The pink chevron pattern is a paper cookie bag that I cut into strips.

Washi tape + word stickers to adorn this cute photo.

Catch-up Layout #2 - There wasn't a ton going on the week before and after my trip, so I combined several of the random happenings into one layout.

For the date card I used a collage of instagram photos.

Catch-up Layout #3 -- A semi-normal week around here.  5th Grade Parent's night, day camp, mother's day, finishing up a science project, cooling off at the splash pad.

I love the transparent circle journaling spots.  They were a free download from Design Editor.

I knew this photo of Conner would be perfect for a 6x8 enlargement.  I love the look of spreading it across several journal/photo pockets.

More of the same . . . . The "quote" journaling card was a free download from Cathy Zielske (somewhere deep in her PL archives).

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That's all!  And guess what . . . it's wednesday and my May 14-20 layout is finished and in the book!  I'm on a roll.

Linking up over at The Mom Creative

project life 2012 // week 3

Someone recently asked me, "what is project life?"  In case others are wondering the same thing, here is an answer.

Project Life is a scrapbooking kit/system that was developed by the Becky Higgins a few years ago.  I bought that first kit in 2009.  And again in 2010.  Back then it was called Project 365.  The idea was to take a photo a day and using the P365 kit you could simply and quickly scrapbook an entire year of your family's life.

Then and now the bones of the project are:  album + divided sheet protectors + journaling cards

Slide your photos in, jot down a bit of journaling, and wah-lah! you've just scrapbooked.  Easy and adhesive-free.

What I love about the evolution of this into "Project Life" is the freedom to use it however it works for you.  Photo a day.  Week-at-a-glance layouts.  Or even simpler with a month in review.  Highlight the big events.  It could be a child's scrapbook that covers several years.  Or simply use it as a photo album and get your photos out in the open (you know, all those photos that are sitting in boxes or on your hard-drive.  Guilty!).  I have a box full of photos from Scott's childhood.  Someday I would love to use a Project Life album to organize all of that.  And maybe he could add the journaling.

I hope that answers some questions.  Becky offers more answers on her website here.  And you can buy the kit on Amazon.

This year, I'm not approaching this with a set plan.  The first 2 weeks I did week-at-a-glance layouts, with various photos from nearly every day in the week.  For week 3 I did a full spread about our two snow days.  It was a big deal and I took a lot of photos so I wanted to focus solely on that event.  I've had some fun "dressing-up" the kit with other supplies.  But I am sure there will be weeks I stick to the bare bones basics.  Which still looks pretty awesome.

So here is my Week 3 spread:

turn the insert page and you can see the rest:

left page is all about Tuesday . . . 

For the title card I used See & Stamp transparent stamps.  They have been on my amazon wish list for a long time so I finally bought them.  For only $10 I don't know why I waited so long!  I love the kraft scalloped trim and I'm thinking I need to get some more.

I wanted to include a few more pictures so I added a page flip to the bottom left.

The right page is all about Wednesday . . . 

I love the wood veneer asterisks which double as snowflakes here.

I had a few more non-snow photos from the week that I wanted to include so I trimmed a page protector that is made for three 4x6 photos, down to just two.

Isn't that photo of Anna so totally awesome?  The 4x6 card was a free download from Design Editor.  Thanks!

On the back of the insert . . . Conner's fried egg from Sunday.  And some Cub Scouting with Payton on Saturday.

Another week, done!

project life 2012

I'm jumping into Project Life again.

Never-mind the fact that I have two unfinished project life albums (2009 and 2010) sitting in my scrapbook room.  I just couldn't resist!  For two reasons:

1. The Clementine kit is adorable.  Love the colors and designs and sentiments.  Just couldn't resist.
2. There are going to be a lot of changes for our family in 2012 and I want an easy, straightforward way to document it all.

I gave myself permission to give it another go only because I've let go of my previous "photo-a-day" style.  I'm going to approach this project with a great amount of flexibility.  Some layouts might feature a photo a day, some layouts might feature a single event.  And I may skip some weeks altogether.

Monday night I put together my first layout.  And you know what?  I really really love it.  :)

Here's a closer look at the left hand page . . . . 

There is an insert in the middle with a Happy New Year picture that Anna drew, and Payton's patent for the Scooter Basket.

And a closer look at the right side . . . 

I'm trying to set myself up for success this year by doing a few things

• allow some flexibility (as I discussed above)
• use my iphone to capture some everyday or random moments - don't worry about lugging the camera everywhere
• pre-fill the whole album with journaling cards and title/date cards.  All the basics are in the album already.  I just have to add photos and journaling.
• set up a basket for my supplies
• keep the album out in the open

This is my "out in the open" spot.  

Out in the open so I can remember to do it.  And out in the open so the family can enjoy it.  Lately, Payton & Anna have spent more and more time pulling the scrapbooks off the shelves and flipping through them.  They love seeing pictures of themselves and reading/hearing the stories of funny things they said or did.  I think they are really going to love flipping through this album as well.

 So my little supply basket . . . 

Isn't it so cute?  I love it.  Anna and I spent a morning at the Container Store last week and found some good items to pull this together.  Basket + letter sorter + file folders.

My basic supplies . . . 

Mini Stapler, post-its, pen (Pilot G2), moleskine notebook (for jotting little notes each day), folders (for holding daily ephemera), clear pouch (for patterned paper scraps), adhesive, scissors.

My creative supplies . . . 

I bought a few more supplies to supplement the kit when I'm feel extra crafty.  I was excited to find some things that go with the clementine kit, but not too matchy matchy, that give a subtle vintage-y vibe.  I discovered Studio Calico and love them!

Studio Calico butterfly stickers, cloud rub-ons, 6x6 Autumn Press Paper Pack, fabric rips, border stickers, and wood veneer pieces - houses and asterisks.

Also 7 Gypsies mini label stickers and a few patterend papers.

Wish me luck!  I don't plan to share my layouts on a regular basic (again, trying to let go of pressure / self-imposed expectations).  But you might see one pop up from time to time.

I'm excited to document our lives this year.  All of it . . . the everyday, the random, the big, the small, the happy, the hard, the messy, the silly.  Our real life.

project life: june

june 5:  the culmination of 8 months of ballet lessons . . . the big recital.  The theme was the Wizard of Oz and Anna's class played the part of the Lollipop Kids. She LOVED the hooker stage make-up most of all.  When I applied mascara her eyes lit up in the mirror, "they got bigger!"  As you can see, she was an adorable ballerina.

june 13:  First things first, I am loving coral/peachy pink this season.  Secondly, I made this awesome ruffle bracelet to wear with my ensemble at the garden party back in April.  The brooch belonged to my Grandma Neva.  I think it gives the perfect touch.

june 17:  He's done with 3rd grade.  Wow.  I asked why he gave me this "sleepy" pose and he said it's because 3rd grade was soooo easy.  He has had a great year . . . . he's well into the 5th grade math book and just started the 5th grade reading curriculum at the end of the school year.  Way to go, bud!

june 22:  Riding the conveyor belt is fun to do!  Fun to do!  To do, to do!  Riding the conveyor belt is fun to do!  To do to do to do!

june 28:  I've got a date with some toilets.  Back from vacation and back to the real world.  Mondays are for cleaning bathrooms.  

project life: april

april 6:  Marie Callender's Banana Cream Pie.  My dinner. Oh the sweet deliciousness.

april 9:  Took the kids on a local "field trip" because school was out.  Our first stop, the pet shop . . . where birds roamed outside of their cages to my kids' delight, a tarantula bigger than the size of my hand freaked us all out, and Conner was so happy he brought along his wallet because goldfish were only 50 cents.  Sorry, mom had to veto that one.

april 12:  Shopping with my girl at Target.  You look beautiful, dahhhling.

 
april 21:  the last day of swimming lessons.  After leaving his goggles at the pool again, we decided it was time to write his name on the strap. 

 april 28:  the kids huddled around the really old desktop, watching Conner play World of Goo, just before bedtime, pajamas on, teeth brushed (hopefully) . . . . winding down.

project life: march

march 6 -  Ahhhh, I can feel the love.  I was gone all day at a Stake Relief Society conference and when I walked in the door I found vacuumed carpets and the lovely smell of Pine Sol.  I sooo appreciated the work that Scott and the kids went to in making the house spic and span.

 

march 16 -- I was cutting some fabric in the kitchen and Anna asked if she could have my scraps.  Soon she was all dressed up and with her toilet paper roll telescope she decided that she was a pirate.  Arrrgghhh!!  (And wouldn't you know it, it's a Tuesday!)   {note:  Tuesday is Pirate Day}

 

march 17 - it's after dinner, Scott is out of town, all the kids are in their pajamas, I'm cleaning the kitchen, and listening to the concert from the living room . . . . all three kids are at the piano, each with their own piano-playing style.

march 27 - the weather is beautiful!  (high-60's)  And we must get outside.  We packed up all the bikes and headed to the church parking lot.  Scott raised the seat on Conner's bike so it's more ride-able . . . Payton finally learned how to get going on his bike without assistance . . . and Anna is showing off her tricks.

march 30 --  Conner placed first in the pinewood derby with his car, "Thunder Cloud".  (Last year's car was named "Death Eater" in case you're interested.)  We all know that the dads have a big part in building these cars, although Conner contributed more help this year.  But next year when he's a Webelos, we're handing him the block of wood and saying, "go to it, kid."

project life: february

february 4 - treated the kids to a bowl of vanilla ice cream before bed.  But . . . the homework is not quite done.  Conner, in true Conner fashion (standing, rather than sitting on his seat), finishes up his reading paper. 

february 16 - Lunch.  Apple slices.  Sugar snap pea pods.  Turkey & spinach on Oroweat whole wheat sandwich thins.  Trying to eat a little healthier.

 

february 18 - The crocus are up!  The crocus are up!  Oh how I love (and look forward to) this little splash of color in late winter.

february 23 - 5:00am came waaaayy too early today.  I decided to skip the morning workout and sleep for another 30 minutes.  Seems I've been doing that a lot lately.  So I decided on an afternoon of weights.  Anna was thrilled to join me.  Don't you love our matching yoga pants?   

{Scott walked in the door early - with plans to work from home - when we were in the middle of this.  I told him to grab my camera and take a picture.  I need to make into this project life album from time to time, too!}

february 28 - all 3 kids involved in a game of Star Wars Monopoly before church.  I love that they like to play together, that they just pull the games out and make it happen, and (for the most part) that it's a happy, friendly game. Play on, kids!

project life: january

january 9 - it's 43 degrees outside and the kids decide that this is the perfect opportunity for a water fight.  Crazy!  I don't understand it, but they were having a blast.

 

january 12 - a new thing in our house.  Math homework.  Conner's 3rd grade class is doing some prep for state testing this spring, so I think that leaves him with less time to finish his work at school.  Thankfully he can take care of this all on his own.

january 21 - lots of Harry Potter watching going on in our house these days.

 

january 30 - my saturday morning routine.  A bowl of cereal (today it's Raisin Bran Crunch) while I sit at the computer.

{I am doing a daily photo project this year titled Project Life.  Go here for details on the album kit or digital version.  Seriously, anyone can do this.  And you can start anytime.}