Laugh out loud - really!

Have you ever walked around a store and just laughed? Like, loud enough for someone else to take notice and come see what you were laughing at? I was browsing in the Hallmark Gold Crown store today, just enjoying my little piece of the afternoon before the kids came home, and looking around at all the unnecessary but totally wonderful stuff they carry. I came to this one display, and read the 'explanation' and that's when I burst out laughing. I had to send a picture of it to Jess, as I knew she would love it as much as I did. I'm still wondering if I will go back and get myself one... here's what got me:

The List End

30 days of lists are almost over, tomorrow is the last one. I've really looked forward to my email every morning to see what the prompt is for the day. NOT that I've done them all, but I do have them all written in my book and can fill them in. I've done the odd one here and there, but mine are all looking the same. I'm tempted to redo them after seeing how some of the other girls have done theirs, but I guess that's not really the idea. Here is my one for today. I will be sad when the month is over.

a card! oh it's been so long!

I haven't made a card in forever! When I came home from the kids' school today, I knew just what I wanted to make:

Nicholas' teacher loves minions from the Despicable Me movies so I had to use that. I found the idea on Pinterest and copied it (don't you love it when you actually make one of the few thousand things you pin!?) His teacher wasn't at school this morning because she was closing on her brand new house. I wanted to congratulate her in a way that would make her smile :) I hope this does.

30 Days of Lists - Day 3

List number three short and sweet. And done!

30 Days if Lists - Day 2

I am posting this a little early as we are heading out for the day tomorrow before 7am. Second day and second list - check! Looks pretty simple but I think with my book open and two lists on each page it should look pretty cool.

30 Days of Lists - Day #1 - Here we go!

So, I stumbled upon this cool idea of "listing"... and am participating in a personal challenge of writing a quick list every day during the month of September. Hard to believe it is already September!! Bring on the non-100 degree days! I'm off and running - here is list #1:

It's been a creative crochet summer!

I've gotten a little lost from the blog again. Not for lack of inspiration, but for lack of time. Our friends had a baby boy on July 17th, and we have been very busy spending time with them and their little 13 month old. Beautiful babies, both of them!

I haven't been scrapbooking much over the summer, but I have been crocheting a lot. I made a blanket for the new baby, and one for his brother, one for each of my boys, and one for my friend's daughter (with a matching dollie blanket.) Finally, I am working on a big one for my husband. Funny how when the weather is 100+ degrees outside, I crochet more. Must be because we have the air conditioning up so high LOL!

Mason's was done as broomstick lace, really love how this turned out.

This is Benjamin's colorful zigzag, he loves it.

Grayson's is shades of blue with cream.

Reese specifically requested these shades of pink and purple. I will surprise her with the matching dollie blanket, I know it will make her happy :)

This is the dollie blanket. It's too bad, but the photos really don't do them justice, the blankets are all really pretty, and I'm very proud to be able to give them. Nicholas' was a HUGE granny square quilt, but I need to take it from him to take a photo. LOL!! My husband gets the next one, then I think I will be doing a pink and green one for my girlfriend. And maybe try to scrapbook a little too :) We have only one last week of summer vacation, then school begins. Wow! I am looking forward to the return to routine, and some cooler weather, it has been a very hot summer!

This is why moms like having boys...

...because the boys like to wash the toys LOL!! Beautiful weather to be outside (early, before it gets too hot) and a nice surprise for me - a clean car :) Gotta love Sunday surprises!

Pampered Pooch

It's funny how the dogs seem to obey me the best out of everyone in the house. Likely cause I was their first 'person' in our house, because I brought each of them home, or because I feed them, but the dogs certainly do respect me. Valentino though, is a Daddy's boy - the moment my husband either vacates a chair or gets up in the morning, there is a furry replacement, just ready to tuck in. I can't say how many times during the day I wonder where to find my doggy, and it's a very safe bet that this is where he is to be found, on his dad's side of the bed. Not spoiled, no, not at all :)

The good and the bad

I was lucky today, to have my friend Jane come spend the day with me, and her two girls to play with my boys. Hubby took a vacation day and did the yardwork, then he watched the kids while Jane and I had some crafty girl time.

I started watching more coverage on the heavy rains in Calgary, and learned that the city has flooded :( There are 25+ neighborhoods that have been evacuated, and even downtown is underwater. I am very grateful to my friends Sherry, Tammy and Ed's cousin Melanie for posting updates. I was able to check in with Thomas (my oldest) today, and he said he didn't know of all that, he just knew it rained a lot. Luckily he is in a part of town that is a bit higher so his home is dry. It makes me so sad to see these pictures, and I imagine what it would be like if we were living through this right now in Calgary. I can't even fathom all of the people who lost everything. There were over 100,000 people evacuated, to either friends' homes, hotels or shelters. Mother Nature is being very cruel to Calgary and surrounding areas today. Here are some pictures of areas that are covered:

Pinterest!!! Gotta love it!

... and my family is starting to enjoy the influence of it too! I saw a pic a while back of little individual pineapple upside down cakes made in oversize muffin tins, so that was my goal for today. It's gloomy and windy outside, and it just seemed like a good day to have this delicious smell coming from the kitchen. They are still cooling, but I know the boys (big and little) will love this treat. Can't wait to try them, they smell absolutely divine! Thank you Pinterest!

Now & Then Layout

I love how scrapping the Project Life way allows me to stay pretty much current. I never get more than 2-3 weeks behind, and within one-two days, I can always get caught up. This is a layout I did this afternoon, of my boys' last day of school (June 5th). I used a photo of each boy on the first day of classes, and the last, and wrote them a little (ok, a lot) about how I felt about their year. I love this layout, and my kids smile when they look at it. That's why I scrapbook.

Oh Christmas Tree!

It is the 3rd of February and we finally took off all the Christmas tree decorations and carefully put them away, then dragged the tree into the garage for safe keeping until November when it comes out again. At first I was a little sad, as we still were turning the lights on each night (honestly, it was our huge night light in the living room LOL.) I had a plan though - with the upstairs tree that has been up since Christmas 2011. It has not come down, the decorations were off, and it still had lights on it, but it was there. So...... I did what I had planned for it in spring of last year - I decorated it for the season! I had planned on Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, then green goodies for St. Patty's day, then Easter, but who am I kidding? That's a little too ambitious! Maybe next year! For now, it is such beautiful weather outside, and soon we will be loving all the signs of spring, so spring it is!

Nothing says spring like pretty flowers and Easter eggs :) Yes, it is kind of girly, but in a house of all boys, we need a little girlying up!

I will have to think of what I want to use for Summer... but I have time :)

My all day crafty pay-it-forward card

At the beginning of January, there was this post on Facebook about 'the first 5 people to comment on my status will get a pay-it-forward from me'. It's been on my mind since I posted, and I quickly got 5 people to respond. This will be my first gift.

This is a Kraftin Kimmie stamp called Angie. It was a KK challenge that got me wanting to use this stamp (and not just horde it in my stamp closet, but to actually USE it!) I spent the entire day working on this card, it had to look just the right way. I made the flowers with a spellbinders die, and misted them with coffee glimmer mist. Part of the KK challenge was to include either actual metal or the color - the brads in the four corners are metal, even though I broke the prongs off, and the highlights in her hair are platinum :)

I love when people decorate the inside of their cards too, so I incorporated a little pocket in the center to accommodate a Starbucks card. Once I add a little note, I am going to purchase a media mailer, as it has more space inside and won't crush the flowers, then send it on it's way. *submitted to trio of embellishments and krafty guest spot, both with Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps.

to be true

Saw this on facebook this evening, it's so pretty, and so true, had to share :)

Who fell off the turnip truck?

Apparently, I did, for months! Wow! School has taken over, especially with both Nicholas and Benjamin now going. I've been at school SO much this past semester, to make sure Benjamin is fitting in to the routine with his diabetes, and to meet the boys for lunch, and my new favorite: helping out in the library! Yes, I have to say, I'm feeling a little more bookish these days, usually helping out 2-3 times per week. We've made it through all the holidays, and are very quickly approaching to Benjamin's 6th birthday, then right after, Nicholas' 9th birthday. Ed has been away for work, this last trip was to Alaska! Today he leaves for Calgary, sad for me, but also makes me happy as he will be able to see Thomas. I haven't been nearly as crafty as I'd like but am happy to be near the end of my December project life album (that will make an entire COMPLETE year, woohoo!!) I have started on January too, and am trying to stay up to date. My January Button Farm kit came in and I can't wait to get to that, it included an entire Snap album, yaay!! So, now, it's January, I'll try to be more consistent. Oh, yes, New Year's resolutions. Gotta love and hate em. Our family's resolution was to curb our eating out. Yes, we spend way too much on restaurants and fast food, so unless it is a special occasion such as a birthday, Valentine's Day or anniversary, it's eating at home for us. I'm sure it will save us a lot of money! If I can just stop the scrappy online shopping. Shhhhh!

This is Nicholas with Oliver, on the day we brought him home as a foster. I adopted him (secretly) on October 1st, and the kids 'received him' as a Christmas gift.

First day of school, Nicholas bug, ready for Grade 3.

Nicholas with Valentino, Benjamin with Oliver, stopping for a mommy pic on a chilly, windy day.

My sweet Benjamin Aidan, with Oliver, both loving being outside :) Even if it is darn chilly! (for Texas that is.)