Creating the Good Life...

My boy is growing up + a few Pencil Lines Layouts

On Monday Dean's school had Sport's Day.  I can't even put into words how PROUD I was of him!!!  He is such an awesome kid.  He put so much effort into all the activities and took them all so seriously (not in an over serious way, but really concentrated, listened and then put his all into it.)  Most of the activities were group activities where everyone got a sticker for effort and participation.  There were two races, one was a good old fashioned running race and one was a potato on a spoon race.  Dean took 2nd place and 3rd place respectively.  (it wasn't placing that made our hearts soar though....it was in honest to goodness whole hearted approach!!)  Love that kid!!!

It's amazing how much Dean has changed in the last few months.  He has grown a couple inches (his size five jeans are now like capris) and he as really matured into a "boy" as opposed to a little kid.  Tomorrow he is having his first sleep over at a school friend's house (he has done sleepovers with neighbors and other family friends and he thinks they are great....so I am confident he will do just fine), but having him sleeping far away (about 15 miles from home) feels kind of strange.  Everyone says kids change and grow so fast, but while you are living it's hard to see on a daily basis....but looking through all the pictures from Sports Day and packing an overnight bag really gave me a lump in my throat and made me think....."he's not little anymore....he's really growing up." 

Must change gear before I get all teary-eyed! 

I love this picture of Addie from Greece

The kids still talk about Greece everyday.  Dean really thinks we should move there....he is totally serious!  He said if we can't move there he at least wants to have his birthday party there.  I had to break the news that it was not likely we were moving there anytime soon and that we would not be going back for his birthday....he was so funny...he said "well I know we can't go for my fifth birthday but we can definitely go for my 10th birthday."  What a funny guy!

Let's not talk about how fast Addie is growing up or really I could just lose it and spend all morning pining over my "babies."   She has started doing this funny thing where she will ask a questions, like "where is my baby doll" and then tap her head and say "think think think"....only it sounds like "fink fink fink."  She cracks us up on a very consistent basis!

I've got a full up busy morning....lots of deadlines to meet in the next two weeks (want to get it all done before my mom arrives.)  I've a few articles to write, a class the prepare for, lots of Pencil Lines layouts to do and a review for The Scrap Review.  I have to be at home all morning waiting for our new bedroom furniture to arrive, so I plan to get in my studio and GET TO WORK!! 

Will post my last couple Pencil Lines layouts and be off!

My super sweet niece Baby Kate.....LOVE my sister in law for sending almost daily pictures of her!!!

Photographing this layout was a nightmare......it has been raining and windy, so getting any shots outside was NOT happening.....had to keep it indoors and the lighting is just never right!  None the less, so pleased with how the layout came out!

Can you believe the Laura Ashley delivery guys are here with my furniture....so glad to be at the beginning of their delivery as opposed to the end....now I can run off to Sara's for a much needed (but quick) visit!

XO

Greece, Greece, Magical Greece + a don't miss raffle

Really that's it.....Greece was magical....it was so warm and sunny with the sea breeze keeping it from being "too hot"....it was GORGEOUS....it was absolutely no stress (our only decisions were shall we swim, sail, kayak, play tennis, or lay by the pool and read.)  It was bikinis and swim trunks from morning till dusk and then dressing up for dinners.  It was bougainvillea EVERYWHERE and whitewashed buildings with amazing blue roofs (almost everything had a bright blue roof....WOW!)  We did rent a car one day and check out the island (Kos...which is the birth place of Hippocrates).  There were some gorgeous beaches and churches and ruins from the 4th century BC (all to do with Hippocrates). 

Dean played tennis everyday.  Spike sailed everyday.  Addie LOVED the beach (I think she is a true surfer girl at heart!)  Dean preferred the pool.  We played about five million card games (one of our favorite family activities).  It was perfect.

And YES...the sky really was that blue...the water really was that blue!

The kids spent three hours in the morning at kids club (which Dean LOVED and Addie was ok with) then we all spent the afternoons together.  At dinner time the kids could go watch movies (which again Dean LOVED (especially seeing all his friends from club) and Addie was ok with.) 

We've never done that kind of holiday before ("that kind" being one where we stay in one place and just relax AND being one with kids activities.)  I think for the most part the "see lots, stay busy, pack in as much of a city as you can in a given amount of time" is more our style, but every now and again I think we will throw in the "relaxing" holiday.

I've got to run...we have a very full week end (Dean's school's Family Fun Day and Picnic this morning, our friends Jon's birthday party at our house tonight ("Jon" of "Lils and Jon"), a birthday party tomorrow morning, Dean's friend to play tomorrow afternoon and then Messy Church in the evening.)

Must mention before I go....The Scrap Review is having the most amazing raffle prize today

GET OVER THERE!!!!!!!  You won't want to miss out!!

Count Downs, Health Updates, Fairies and Big Girl Beds

We are on BIG TIME count down mode around here....

*In 8 hours we are taking off for a week of sunshine, beaches, and RELAXATION in Greece (this was Spike's big birthday present).  Can you say (or rather SCREAM) excitement!!!

*In 31 days my mom will arrive (to spend a MONTH with us!!!)  This calls for not only screaming excitement, but jumping up and down too!!

*In 38 days my dad joins us for three weeks (he is giving mom a head start to come and do all the "girlie"/"grannie" things we miss out on like cooking, and shopping, and taking kids to school, and just the every day things you miss out on living so far apart)

* In 40 days our summer of travel begins....Belgium, France and a grand tour of Ireland!!!

It's hard to live in the moment with so much excitement on the horizon.  The kids ask me every single day "how many sleeps until Grannie and Grandpa get here."  My mom will be here for both of Dean's birthday parties and he is so thrilled....it's like the best birthday present he could get.

On the health front....

My chest and lungs have finally cleared up, but I am left with this freakin' (you know I want to use a much stronger word here, but in the interest of not offending.......)  intercostal myalgia (inflammation in the muscles between the ribs). I can honestly say I have never been in so much pain in my entire life!!!!  It sucks!!  In the interest of ensuring we have a good holiday I have gone for the TRIFECTA (priest, traditional medicine, complimentary therapies)......
*An hour of praying with our priest yesterday morning  (he is so good to come on his morning off :) )
*Visit to our doctor Thursday (really to make sure I was safe to fly) and he topped me up with lots of prescriptions for painkillers, muscle relaxers, and anti inflammatory
*Visit to our massage therapist/naturopath (hoping to NOT have to take all those drugs)...she's did all kinds of energy balancing work and massage and has me drinking some strange concoction.....ok, I am a bit skeptical about the concoction, but I will try ANYTHING at this point!!

We have been taken over by Fairies (and we love it)

She wears that tutu everywhere (I am not kidding, we have to hide it if it's simply not a tutu friendly situation.)  She loves to take off all her clothes (we have had to stress keeping on her undershirt at the very least), pulls on her tutu and wings and dances around the house and garden.  She does a funny little twirling of her arms and sings "I'm a fairy princess, I'm a ballerina."  She takes it quite seriously and is so darn cute!!

BIG GIRL BED....

I was taking these pictures to send to my mom (she made that GORGEOUS quilt on top of the bed) and Addie just couldn't stand to have a picture of the bed with our her in it, so she jumped right up and started doing the craziest expressions!!

Anyhow, she has been in her big girl bed for a week now and has done AWESOME!!  She hasn't gotten out once.  I was so worried it would be a difficult transition b/c she has a mind of her own and doesn't always follow the program if you know what I mean.  But she took one look at the bed and said "It's my own Princess Ballerina Bed"  (everything that is good in Addie's eyes is Princess, Ballerina, and/or Fairy.)  She was so excited to be in big bed like her brother.   I got the bed (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE) and pillows at Laura Ashley and the quilt is her baby crib quilt c/o my super talented momma that I think will ALWAYS remain on her bed....we both love it so much we are never going to be able to tuck it away in the cupboard!

Must get off the computer and get us ready to head out of here.....

First must make a Pencil Lines plug.....I didn't get to do a layout last week (as you can imagine) but we had Noel Culbertson as our guest and can I just say I *love* her!!!  I "met' her through our work on The Scrap Review and she is just great!!
For starters she lives on Camano Island, WA and loves it (big plus).  She is also the BEST hair braider I have ever seen in my life (her girls are so lucky!!!!)  I am hoping to one day get a one on one lesson from her (since my hair doing skills are minimal at best).  To top it off she is a crazy mad talented photographer and scrapper...oh and she looks gorgeous with big bright flowers in her hair....can you tell I *love* her???  Anyhow, check her and pencil lines out.  I did manage a layout for this Sunday, so be sure to get on over!

Have a great week.....think of me in the sunshine!!!

XOXO

The Dr. Says....

In case you don't want to read about all the gory details....the nutshell version:
Since last Thursday night/Friday morning Dean and I have had fevers between 103 and 105 F (40 and 41 C) (no breaks in fever either!)  We are coughing like crazy.  Saturday Dean ends up in hospital.  He has chest infection.  Lots of throwing up and changing bedsheets because he is coughing so bad.  I develop terrible chest pains (feel like my chest is being crushed by super powered vice).  After four trips (over three days) to Dr.  I have chest infection, pleurisy (very painful inflammation of lung lining) and inflamed/strained muscles all between my ribs.  On antibiotics now too (plus pain killers and muscle relaxers).

To give you the whole picture, I am going to give you the nitty gritty details (which are not always pretty!)

Last Wednesday I took Dean to the Dr. because he had a lingering cough.

Dr. said he had a cold, colds were going around.  He told me to give him a tissue to spit his phlegm into and he would be fine for school.  I kept him home anyways

Thursday he goes to school.   9:30 school calls....can I pick Dean up, he's been sick.  Apparently they were walking to PE (which is a good long walk from his classroom to the sports center) and he got to coughing and threw up.  We spend the day gardening, hanging out....there is a lot of coughing, but no more throwing up and he is in good spirits.

Thursday night I come down with fever and aches and mega cough.  Sore throat, head ache (well everything ached).

Friday morning (I am in bed totally unable to get up...feverish, aching, coughing, being pissed off (sorry for the language, but it's true.)  Spike gets Dean to school.  12:00 School calls, Dean is not himself, very tired, falling asleep in class.  I call friend to collect him b/c there is no way I can drive.

Dean gets home, has 103.5 degree F temp  (40+ degree C) and just wants to go to bed.  He and I sleep for three hours.  We rage with fever all night.  Cough like crazy.  Feel very poor!!

Saturday. To put it mildly Dean and I feel like crap.  We lay in bed, shiver, cry, cough, sputter.  I wish I could go into a coma just for a few days until this all passes!

Dean's temp as 104.5 F (41 C).  Not good.  I phone Drs. On Call.  They are very busy, they will call me back.  45 Minutes go by, I am not happy, I call back.  They say bring him in to hospital.  He wants his mom to bring him....I have a 103 degree temp and am weak as can be, start crying (how can I NOT go with my son to the hospital....this is just all wrong!!!)  I decide I will go, I am not staying home while he drives off crying for his mom. So Spike and I both go (since I am in no form to drive or carry Dean).  Dr. says very bad chest infection.  Prescribes antibiotics.

Weekend totally sucks. By Sunday afternoon upper ribs hurt SO BAD!!  I am only able to breath very shallow.  Every single breath makes me wince with pain!

Monday.  Savior Lillian takes Addie.  I go to Dr. (Dean has to come with me.)  I'm told I have a flu virus.  There is nothing ot be done about it.  Dr. thinks I have cracked a few ribs from all my coughing. The flu can be horrible she says.  I get pain killers for ribs.

At home I am feeling like throwing a big fat pity party for myself (and I am NOT a pity party kind of gal....OH NO, I am PolyAnnie, I am queen of positive and looking on the bright side.)  I ask Spike if he thinks we can find a private Dr. to induce that coma I was talking about.  I am totally serious.  He does not take me seriously, so I feel ever more sorry for myself (again, very unlike me.)

*I know this is getting long, but please note that at no time during this whole weekend and Monday does my fever ever break....there is no relief from the aches and shivering and agony in my ribs!

Dean and I nap.  I wake up and my legs are covered in the UGLIEST rash you have ever seen....like something from a horror film.  Go back to Dr.  "Your body must be getting allergic to being so hot".....it happens she says.  "Try to cool down" she says. GREAT!

Nights are terrible b/c lying down feels like a vice is crushing my ribs (in addition to all the other aches and pains).  Pain is no longer contained to the ribs just under the breast....it's all the way around the side and right into the middle of my back.  Rash keeps appearing in new places.....once covering my whole neck and face...NICE!

By Wednesday morning I am really in a state.  I am not really a "crier" (well unless it's a sentimental movie, then I bawl my eyes out!)  But really in general, not a crier.  I go to Dr. crying my eyes out, no shame, no trying to be a big girl....this sucks!  New Dr (he is so great....love him!)  He is so sympathetic, touches his stethoscope to my ribs and says "WOW, raging chest infection you've got there."  He takes ages listening (both to my chest, back, sides and to me tell him how I can not catch my breath b/c breathing is so painful...now like knife going right through my front and out my back.)  He tells me I have Pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lungs that causes pain when you take a breath or cough) and "sprained" or inflamed/torn internal intercostal muscles (the muscles in between your ribs.)  That's what's causing the drop me to my knees pains in my chest.

I am now on antibiotics.  No more fever which is good.  Coughing so bad Spike has moved to spare room.  Still painful chest, but now able to see "the other side" (as in know I will get better and no longer feel we need to find Dr. to induce coma.)

Dean went back to school today. 

Do you want to see some pictures now???

I took these last weekend (not this last horrible sick weekend, I guess I mean two weekends ago) under a gorgeous big tree in front of the church at Dean's school. 

Addie is OBSESSED with necklaces at the moment.  I bought her a couple new ones + her first head band just before we went to take Dean to tennis (at school.)  When I showed her she squealed with delight (LOVE that little girl squeal of delight!!) and put them ALL on.  I said "oh honey, you don't have to wear them all at once.  You just have one at a time."  She looked at me so earnestly and said "Silly Mommy, More is Better!" 

How about some layouts now:

My Pencil Lines layout for this week...with Guest Designer Kazue Macdonald.  This is my first ever hybrid layout.  The background paper and all those funky swirls (which I think kind of give a wave feel), the photos, and the yellow and funky green/blue along the right were all done in photoshop CS and printed on a piece of 12X12 cardstock.  I added the journaling strips, brads, and all Making Memories die cuts onto the cardstock.  A little sewing and viola a hybrid layout!

This was a Pencil Lines layout a few weeks back.

Spike is reminding me I still must rest (and admittedly it's only 2:00 in the afternoon and I feel like it's midnight!)  So I am off....hoping and praying for a very speedy recovering!

here we go....

lots of pictures and an update of sorts

* We finally have internet (after three and a half LONG weeks without it.)

* We are lucky not to be under quarantine as we have ALL been so sick with the flu!  Last week it was Spike (a whole week of fever and aching and coughing and misery....YUCK!)  He was so poorly I had to farm the kids out last Wednesday b/c I was having 22 women over for dinner and he could not physically get out of bed to look after our two.  He is finally on the upside of it

Both of the kids have been poorly.  After finally going back to school (after a month half term/spring break) he missed two days this week.

And last night I came down with a fever and the aches and soar throat (what you might wonder am I doing on the computer then.....ah the joys of laptops in bed!!)

*Aside from the last few days (which have been drizzly and windy) we have had AMAZING weather (which for us means nearly living out of doors...LOVE THAT!)

Last Sunday at Cromer Beach (in Norfolk....a little over an hour from us)
Nothing beats an ice cream on a warm spring day (does not apply to me of course since I DO NOT LIKE ICE CREAM!) 

Ice cream aside, it's hard to beat digging for treasures on a beach!

Racing waves is pretty high on the list too

Take note of Dean's black eye....he fell climbing a huge wooden train at the park

Something so sweet about the backs of kids!

*My Pencil Lines layout from last week is an ode to loving spring evenings

If it's warm out (or ever decent) as soon as dinner is cleared up, we head outside and don't return until it's time to get ready for bed.  We are so lucky to be surrounded by cool parks, bike paths, and forest trails!

*Disney was amazing!  We have travel quite a lot (tons really), but both Spike and I said it was one of our favorite trips.  The kids were so good, our hotel was brilliant (we stayed at a Disney hotel, so it was so kid friendly, had a great pool and water slides, and the characters milling about.)  The kids were in heaven.  Dean was in awe of the whole thing.  He loved all the rides and even loved the "scarier" roller coasters and Star Wars rides (so happy about that b/c I LOVE roller coasters!!)  I found taking pictures challenging (party b/c my kids were NOT interested in being still for a single second and you really can't blame them.)  Spike thinks we need to go back every six months (and that from a man who does NOT like "repeat travel.")  I think every 6 months might be pushing it, but we will definitely be going back.

They were actually VERY GOOD for character pictures....actually spotting them first and saying "mom get my picture with (insert character name here)!"

Addie was far more impressed with Mary Poppins than any of the Princesses (it's her FAVORITE movie ever!)

*My little brother came to London two weekends ago.  We had so much fun!!!

Love that guy so much!!!!

*We had a very nice low key Easter.  On Good Friday we went to the Passion Play/Witness Walk which was so powerful! (the video is only 6 minutes long and really good, but pretty graphic, so don't watch with your kids)

On the Saturday we colored eggs (which the kids LOVED).  Addie thought the color pellets were candy, so tried eating several at one time....turned her face and hands crazy colors, but we retrieved them fairly quickly, so not too much damage was done:) )  That was not our only mishap.....In the morning I had boiled a dozen eggs and could have sworn the were very hard boiled....turns out they were BARELY soft boiled, they all broken, made a mess and I had to start all over again.  OOPS!

Addie is not particularly impressed here, but love her dress too much not to share.  I got it at Monsoon last year and it jut now fits here.  Speaking of Monsoon, I just did a big shop for Addie last week....they have THE CUTEST LITTLE GIRL CLOTHES EVER....these and  these and these....I mean really!!!

*Scrapbooking...Have you seen what The Scrap Review Team did for National Scrapbooking Day??  It's awesome (and there are so many sketches and templates to download for free)
I have lots of new class dates at Your Touch Of Craft, including another all day workshop in September.  I will update my class dates sidebar in the next few days.
I will have some pictures from the classes I taught at A Trip Down Memory Lane and Scapping Angels as well.

I think that's enough pictures for now!!
XO

Home from Disney Paris (had a BLAST) but still have no internet!

When technology fails...

it throws a real hitch in things!!

We have had NO INTERNET access for a week now. Terrible, horrible, cutting us from the daily on-line chatter with family and friends across the globe!  I email daily (sometimes many times a day) with family and friends in the States (with an 8 hour time difference, getting people on the phone (at a reasonable hour) during the week can be next to impossible.)  I got to missing my mom and girlfriends so bad on Wednesday that I stayed up late and spent FOUR HOURS on the phone catching up with the gang.  My phone company promises to have us sorted by early next week.

We are off to Disney Paris bright and early tomorrow and will be back late Wednesday night.  We are all so excited...the kids are nearly bursting at the seams!

Hopefully I can get back to normal programming here :)

XO

alright already.....

I am updating this baby!

Especially for Kay, who so faithfully checks in :) (and who is likely to give up hope entirely if I don't get a few pics up here!!)

So...

It's been one of those months where I kept thinking...someone pinch me...this can't be real! But indeed it has all been very real and wonderful (well aside from last week when Addie and I had the stomach flu....her puking all night and me wishing and praying I would just puke already (thinking it would make the yuck feeling go away.)

I spent the first two weeks of March in SEATTLE!!!!  (a serious pinch me moment since we were just there in December)  And I don't want to sound to over the top....but....I got to fly FIRST CLASS all the way from London to Seattle (you know...that section way up front with the FULL UP BEDS and open fully stocked bar (not that I cared about the bar....I don't drink alcohol on planes, but it did give it a very fancy feel....all that top shelf booze just open for everyone to pour at their leisure.) 

I went to Seattle for two very special births.  First, my niece Kate, arrived a few days after I got there.  I got to be with my sister-in-law, brother, mom, and sister-in-law's Mom and sister in the delivery room.  Witnessing Kate join the world was one of the most (if not the most) amazing experience of my life.  (much better than having to go through it myself :) ). I honestly can't describe the total all consuming joy and amazement of the experience.  And I do have to say, Trish was as SUPER STAR....I mean A*M*A*Z*I*N*G. 

Gosh, enough already...PHOTOS!!!!

*all taken at the hospital when she was about 18 hours old.

Baby Kate has the most gorgeous skin of any baby I have ever seen...really just rosy and pink and perfect!!!

My Pencil Lines layout this week is all about Baby Kate

*i took the "Kate only" pics when she was five days old....Trish took the one of Kate and I when she was a week old.

Now really....another pinch is in order......one of my best friends since the beginning of time also had a baby while I was there.  He was almost two weeks late and only arrived the night before I had to come back home, but, again...SO AMAZING!  He's called Hank and is such a darling little man....with more blond (super blond) hair than I have ever seen on a new born.  I am going to save my pictures of him b/c they are on a "layout in progress."

Since I've been back, it's been full tilt, on the go!  Being away really made me realize how much I cherish the everyday aspects of being a mom....those big long cuddles with the kids in the mornings (and Addie stroking my face and saying "I love you so much mommy"...she does that three or four times every single morning!!) and my other favorite..... the big "pick up and twirl around" hugs when I meet Dean at his classroom door every afternoon.  I think being away for a spell makes everything look rosy and sunny and fresh.  The trick is, making sure to keep noticing and cherishing all those things that make life so remarkable!

One more "Seattle big"...another one of my dear friends, Jennifer, got engaged on Valentine's Day.  She is getting married next June and is having Dean and Addie in the wedding.....how cute with Dean be in a tux and Addie as a little flower girl!!

I have been scrapbooking and creating like CRAZY!!  I have so many classes coming up and The Scrap Review is now in full swing....not to mention all the Pencil Lines work. I've been in a groove with it, so it's been fun and rewarding.

I taught at Your Touch of Craft's first workshop today and it was awesome.  Amanda and Sara pulled out all the stops to make a great day for everyone.  It was a cool group of ladies....some that I have known for a long time, but haven't seen in ages....so fun to catch up with them!  I am waiting on some pics from Dawn and then should have lots to share!!

I am at A Trip Down Memory Lane next weekend and then Scrapping Angels the end of April.

My first article at The Scrap Review went life last week.  Here is a teaser...but you will have to get over to the site to really check it out!

I will leave you with this picture of Dean (about the only picture I have taken since getting back home....well aside from all the scrapbooking/project pictures!)

And don't give up on this blog yet....who knows...I might really become a regular again...OH and I still have Spike's party (and all the pictures) I still have to share with you!

XO

Exploding Heads

That's what we all feel like around here.  I have the kind of bug that makes you feel like at any second your whole head could just explode (and send the contents flying for miles!)  To top it off, my eyes, ears, and throat itch like crazy...I feel like I have sticks in my eyes and if I had any left over bottle brushes floating around I would shove them right into my ears and give them a good scrub.
Dean had his first "sick day" from school on Tuesday b/c he's got the same cough and crud.  Addie isn't coughing so much, but she must be feeling low b/c she is not eating a thing (very unlike her.)

That aside, life is cruising right on splendidly (I love that word "splendid"!)

Not only do we have friends all over the world (due to our many moves) we now have friends from all around the world (living right here in Bury) that we are blessed to call our "family away from home" (we affectionately call our little group "the United Nations" with members from the USA, UK, Singapore, South Africa, Denmark, Greece, and Zimbabwe.) One of the greatest blessing of having friends from around the world is being invited to all kinds of amazing celebrations. On Sunday we celebration Fastelavn (the Danish festival of "beating the cats out of the barrels to mark the start of Lent"). We did not in fact beat any black cats out the barrels as they did hundreds of years ago.  Instead the kids beat a barrel full of sweets.  It was such great fun....really amazing to witness the age old traditions of another culture....LOVED IT!!  

 

 

 

Dressing up is a big part of the festival (for the kids).  Lucky for Addie she got a Valentine's Day package from Elana that was FULL of princess dress up gear... which she is crazy about.....and it's all or nothing...every necklace and bracelet or none at all....clearly she went for the "more is more".  And how about those lace gloves....AWESOME!

 

Dean dressed up as a  Seahawk (Seattle's NFL team).

The barrel (which our friend Jens MADE...yes...chopped the wood, shaped and tied it together) with the cats symbolized on the side (since we didn't want PETA after us for putting a live cat in.....kidding...we would not do that!)

 

The beating of the barrel....the kids LOVED this!!  There were about 20-25 kids...they all waited so patiently for their turns and then went mad when the barrel broke and the candy was released.

The kids have a contest to see who can eat the most of their "bun on a sting" without using their hands....very tough!

It all ends with massive consumption of coffee and really sweet almond-y Fastaelavn buns (filled with a Danish version on marzipan...YUM!!!)

Very good time....thanks to the Kopps for including us!

We marked Shrove Tuesday (in England known as Pancake Day) with lots of pancakes and friends.  This year we didn't take a single picture (shame b/c last year we had so many good shots).

OH....on another note... I saw Slumdog Millionaire last Friday w/my new friend (and walking partner) Susan.  Now that was a hard movie to watch...so raw and SAD (sorry but the ending doesn't make up for all the brutality and horror!!)  Very glad I saw it, but WOW...hard movie to watch.

Been reading loads....am obsessed with Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Girl Who Played with Fire....amazing books!! (btw the UK/European covers are SO MUCH BETTER....and sorry, but looks like book 2 not released in USA until July). I actually told my mom NOT to read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo b/c there are some pretty creepy parts.  It was one of those books that I could not get off my mind (and not really in a good way). But Beth read the second one (girl who played with fire) and told me it was a must read....and boy is it ever....SO GOOD!!!!!!  It was one of those books you can't put down.  It's a trilogy and I am just aching for the third one to be released!!!

I've been doing lots of scrapbooking....getting ready for all the classes I have coming up this Spring.  Check the sidebar for dates/venues....I will be in Newmarket with Your Touch of Craft, in Stoke by Neyland with A Trip Down Memory Lane, and in St. Neots with Scrapping Angels (links on sidebar.)  I am so excited for the classes and projects...I have been on a roll with inspiration!  I've also been working my first article for The Scrap Review....don't forget The Scrap Review is kicking things off with TONS of give aways starting March 1st.

If you are a crafty blogger, get on over and grab a blinkie

Pencil Lines had a wonderful guest designer...get on over to check it out.

 

Love these pics of Addie (taken last Nov.)  I have been "saving" them....very glad to have them scrapped!  Love how simple the layout is...love the felt and scallops!

And with that I am off.

Have a great weekend!

XOXO

The long, the short, and much of the in between

**FYI....I started this post on Wednesday the 18th...it's been "saved as draft" for five days (with very little in the way of content).  Seems school half term and mommies on computers don't mix!!!

And now.....

In no particular order... (well two of my favorite all time pictures first)

 

 

*Adds is obsessed with sunglasses (this flash pair came from Amanda.)  Earlier in the day Dean was telling her she looked awesome.  When we went out to play (and she insisted she couldn't go outside with out her shades) I told her she looked gorgeous....she went around all day (and is still doing it) saying "I'm Awesome Gorgeous!"  Love it!!

* Had a GREAT surprise (totally and completely surprise) party for Spike on Saturday.  We had 18 of our closest friends to the Angel hotel for a meal and late night of ... (nothing too crazy I promise!)  I will post more about it, with pictures, on his actual birthday (next week.)  But in the mean time, thanks everyone for keeping it a surprise and doing so very much to make it so special for him!!!  YOU ARE ALL AWESOME!!

* Dean is back to school after a week break. He was so chipper this morning, saying how excited he was to see all his friends.  We had such a busy busy week, with Friday being the only day we didn't have something going on.  We took in two theater performances (one was great, one was not so great).  We had the Bowkis ladies over on Wednesday....always such a treat!!  And how cute are these pictures Anna took:

 

*A couple weekends ago we went with Lils, Jon, and Daniel to Suffolk Ski Park for sledding and skiing (for the dads.)  It was such super great fun!!  Dean must have gone down that hill 30 times during our hour slot (I am NOT kidding!!)

 

 

 

 

 

Obviously Addie loved it too!!

*We had a very low key Valentine's Day.  We were out to dinner at friends on the Friday and out again on the Sunday (to the Black Lion...YUM), so we didn't have the heart to stick the kids with three nights of babysitting in a row (even though they love the babysitter.)  So we ate a late dinner, had a bottle of champagne and watched Master Chef (seriously love that show!)

*Made these cute Valentine's for Dean to send to friends/family in the states and to give to school friends/kids in the neighborhood:

 

 

* Pencil Lines has had some amazing guests and I have loved doing my layouts from the great sketches:

 

This is one of my favorite layouts EVER!!!!  Love all that Fancy Pants Felt, the Heather Bailey papers, and the gorgeous photo + super cute story.  It all came about when Dean said (out of no where) "I can't wait for Addie to grow up so she can have a baby in her tummy."  ME: (shocked) "What....Why?"  (and then thinking Lord let it be at least thirty years!)  Dean: "Because she is going to be such an amazing mommy."  How cute is he?  He really truly adores her!

 

I am finding it almost impossible to photograph layouts lately!  The lighting around here is so blue and harsh (no....it's not my white balance that's the problem.)  Loving scrapbooking, but really not the least bit happy with the pictures of the layouts.  Never mind!

 

Another layout that I love, but can't get a good image of to save my life!  Loving the Heather Bailey paper again and all that glitter and bling!!

 

I'm still in the early days of learning/playing with digital scrapbooking.  Did this quick layout using a Pencil Lines template + Kerry Lynn/Kenner Road's gorgeous FREE download (all but the two papers with the golden yellow) + two Katie Pertiet papers (the ones with the golden yellow).

And now, before my time on the computer runs out, I have got to shout out VERY LOUDLY about an AMAZING group I have been asked to join.

The Scrap Review....This is seriously a fantastic group of artists, working together to bring you  in depth reviews on all manner of scrapbooking + art making supplies PLUS tutorials and "how to"s.  I am so pleased to be included in such an awesome creative bunch of ladies!!!  Get on over to the site and grab a blinkie here.  Then be sure to stay tuned for all the great give aways and articles starting up next week.

XO

Super-double-extra-quick post

I don't want to kill everyone's email inbox with so many photos....so doing this speedy post.

We had 8-10 inches of snow on Monday (which is a lot for our part of the world.)  School was canceled and we had a wonderful family day.

Dean had SO MUCH FUN sledding.  We spent about an hour and a half on the hill.  Lots of friends in our neighborhood went out but lasted only about 30 minutes before heading in for hot chocolate and pancakes...Dean was serious about his sledding, so he and I spent another hour by ourselves before he was ready to go in.

It was such great fun to watch him....to see the thrill in his eyes and he sailed over the bumps on the hill....and then to watch the surprise on his face when he would get an extra good run and make it really far into the field.  Great times!!

 

Addie was leading the pack of early-inners anxious for hot chocolate.  She did really like running around and then trying her hand at skiing...how cute is that??  She enjoyed sledding (with her sitting in between my legs) but she didn't love waiting for her turn on the sled....standing around waiting is not her strong suit.

In the afternoon Dean and I made a huge batch of Aunt Jone's world famous :) chocolate chip cookies (since I tasted them nearly 9 years ago, it's the only recipe I use!!)  Our family proceeded to eat the ENTIRE batch in just one afternoon...YUM!!

In the late afternoon/evening we watched the Super Bowl (recorded from the night before.)  We must have watched that 100 yard touch down a dozen times...at DEAN'S insistence....the little man LOVES to watch football.  He is a bit like his Grandpa Triplett and Uncles Jimmy and Matty.....he jumps up and down, questions all the calls and tells them all how they should be playing...LOVE IT!

I have lots of other pictures and layouts to upload, but remember, this is super extra light speed post.....so will have to wait!!

Will only be able to leave you with one of my first digital layouts and these pictures from the "obstacle course" the kids built the other day after school (they had every single plastic bowl, cup, and plate and all the metal mixing bowls laid out in course that they jumped over, rolled around, hopped along, and ran in between....all the while wearing bowls on there heads which they beat with big plastic soup ladles....ahh the joys of an active imagination!!!)

(layout created with Pencil Lines digital template!)

Oh...and did you notice the belts OVER the shirts....Dean insists belts (as cool as his) have to be worn over the shirt....if they are in the belt loops they just can't be seen!!  And I hope you noticed his awesome "costume"....he comes right home from school and wants to "dress up" in a costume (which usually means some crazy combination of his pajamas!!)

It's gotta be said...LIFE IS GOOD!!!

My Heart is Soaring

I've got that good all over, bursting with love and oh-so-very-happy to be a momma feeling.

 

 

 

This little Princess makes my days so much fun!  She is really into princesses at the moment...really just into the tiara and wand...she LOVES the wand.  My mom got her a book called Tea for Ruby for Christmas and she just loves it (at first she fixated on a page where the little girl gets her hair pulled....it's ALL she would talk about...and then it was the cover where she is pouring tea on her doll...for days it's all she wanted to look at...but she wants to read the whole thing and has moved on to saying "TEA WITH THE QUEEN" really really loud at the end of each page.)  She will happily sit in the big chair in her room with her tiara on and her wand, turning each page, tapping the open pages and saying "TEA WITH THE QUEEN!"  It's heart-breakingly cute!

The other morning she was doing this when she started spitting in her hand and rubbing it all over the wand.  I told her it was yucky and she sighed really big and said "I'm cleaning it!"  (I totally spit wash their faces.....I know...gross...I am sure that's where she gets it from!)

The Machine is rocking out on his reading!!

 

 

Last week at assembly he got his 30+ words award.  Today he got his 40 word AND his 45+ word certificate.  He now knows all 45 words they would like Reception/Kindergarten kids to know by the end of the year.  This morning we went through is envelope of words and he knows 62 words with out hesitation.  He is really reading books now (beginner books) and is so darn proud of himself.  He takes it very seriously and tells US it's time for him to read or practice his words.  Love Love Love that little man!!

We have taken a "no TV and no Wii" during the week stance (we got so lazy over the holidays....and in our defense we were snowed in for DAYS and DAYS).  It was a battle at first, but the kids are now back to playing with each other and doing things together....love it!  Couldn't be happier with the two little people we were blessed with!

I've been a busy little bee day (all week really.)  Just came back from a good long run. It was SO RAINY and WINDY....but I did it! (It started with little snow flurries shortly after I got back.)

I have started walking on Mondays and Wednesdays with some other moms at Dean's school.  We have such a great 3 miles route that we do twice (all on the school grounds...complete with a little lake we go around.)  I've really enjoyed getting to know the other moms...making some good friends and keeping fit...love it!

I have booked us into my favorite B&B in Normandy, France for the first week my parents are here this summer.  Spike has taken over planning the Ireland trip we are doing with my folks at the end of their month with us.  We met a great couple in Berlin who are from Ireland and have offered to help us with our itinerary (with lots of little know spots to visit and places to eat.)

We got a package from Elana and family last night....some very cute clothes for Addie, some awesome Vans for Dean and 7 boxes of Fruit Stiks for ME ME ME.  I am totally and completely addicted to them.  We were shopping (at Target) one night and she bought a box for a trip they were taking.....I proceeded to eat the WHOLE box as she was driving me back to my mom's (actually I kept one in my purse to let Jimmy have a teeny tiny bite of...just so he could see that we really had to go back to Target the next day and get MORE!)  Please do not ask me to share these with you....Elana can't keep us all stocked with them, so these are going to be my little treat!

I have (finally) been scrapping my little heart out. I have had so much inspiration and SO MUCH fun the last few days.  I have done four layouts (plus article) for Scrapbook Magazine, done my Pencil Lines and created an album for a class I taught last night at Your Touch of Craft.  I have LOTS of new teaching dates, so really will update my side bar.  I have steered clear of too much teaching because I just didn't feel in a creative groove...but now feel the flame burning strong.

Speaking of classes and workshops, I am teaching at a full day workshop sponsored by Your Touch of Class (and co-organized by Sara...love her...well love them both!)  Book now to avoid disappointment!  DETAILS HERE

And Speaking of Pencil Lines (and noting that I started this post at 1 in the afternoon after putting Addie to bed and finishing now at 8:47 PM) here are my layouts for the last two weeks:

 

Love those pictures of Addie on her birthday. 

 

 

Love this picture of Mom and Addie and LOVE how Addie calls her "Grannie-Granster" and says it PERFECTLY!!

OK, one more thing then I am off to watch a movie with my dear hubby....

Have you seen this digital layout Anna did?

 

She is totally rockin' the digi scrapping!!!!  AND making the most amazing templates...go download them all!  She came over last Friday and gave me a fantastic lesson on digital scrapping.  It is NOT as hard as it looks (well....that is to say I thought it would be totally super impossible.....mostly because I can not stand (I mean really can't stand) faffing around on the computer unless I am getting serious results.)  Anyhow, I loved my lesson (she taught me all the tricks) and I have done two layouts that I love (for scrapbook magazine...sorry can't share now.)

OK, really off now!!

XO

Back to life, back to reality...

We finally seem to be over our jet lag...man did we struggle this time!!  In true Dean fashion, he wasn't at all phased that days had suddenly become nights and nights had become days (it's an 8 hour time difference from Seattle to London.)  Addie on the other hand (and to be fair, Spike and I) found it extremely difficult to make the shift.  For four or five nights we were all up between midnight and four or five AM....NOT NICE!  Last night we all slept through though!!! YEAH!!

So now we are ready to welcome 2009....lots to look forward to this year!

And how cute is Addie in her new 2009 gear?  My mom got her those super cute stripe-y pants and hoddie and Matt and Trisha (my brother and sister in law) got her that fab little Patagonia fleece.  Kathy got her that amazing new bunny (which is actually a bunny....not a bear which she is insisting is a bunny.)  She has called the bunny Mia.  As of the new year, Addie is NOT taking her "bunny" (really the bear) out of her bed.  We decided we spend WAY TOO much time (very tearful anxious time on Addie's part) trying to locate the "bunny".  When she gets to playing she just drops it (or stuffs it somewhere) and then when she "needs" it, it's all out panic and crisis.  My dad can attest to what a HUGE problem this is (he spent a LOT of time locating it for her.)  So we are keeping "the bunny" in one place, but letting her tote around any other cuddly toy she wants.  She has Mia, the new bunny from Kathy, and Beatrice the super-cute-corduroy-dress-wearing bunny, a Christmas present from her thoughtful cousins in Minnesota (both Jelly Cat  which are the BEST....love the funky outfits and shoes they add!)  Hoping the transition from "the bunny" to "a bunny" goes ok!!  Her "nu nu" (i.e. pacifier/dummy/soother) are is also staying in her bed....so ready for her to be done with the nunu.

Addie and I started Mother/Toddler swim lessons on Wednesday.  She absolutely LOVED IT!  She was the star of the morning...jumping into the pool with abandon, laughing and saying "more more" every time she went under water.  She is just the right age for it. (I tried it with her when she was just over a year and it was a disaster....she loved the water, but wanted nothing to do with the group activities.)  On Tuesdays we are doing a long play session at the Nursery school at Culford (where Dean goes.)  It is meant make a smooth transition for pre-school.  She is so excited and asks everyday "I'm doing to school Right, OK."  (that' sher new thing, "Right, OK"  The "OK" said as a confirmation of the "RIGHT"....not as a question....so cute!)

Dean started school on Wednesday.  So glad they always go back midweek...this morning he was so tired and ready for the school week to be over.  He has to start five days a week now....I am so sad....loved having that extra day with him!!  Tomorrow he starts a new term of tennis lessons, which he is so excited about.

I nearly have us all settled back into our routine...but still have some stacks to clear and things to sort.  This morning (over a piping hot cup of coffee from Spike's new (awesome) coffee maker) I finally got the last of our Christmas cards opened and read....we had a massive amount of mail waiting for us when we returned.  I love all the pictures and letters that come at the holidays...think I will have another go through them this afternoon!

I must run off (literally go for a run) and get my Pencil Lines layout photographed and sent off.  Really looking forward to getting back into Pencil Lines and getting ready for all the classes I have coming up.

I will leave you with just a few pictures from our very snowy time in Seattle:

 

We had another birthday party for Addie on the 27th....so fun to be able to have our family and friends celebrate with her!  Every picture from that day has this tongue action....she was so smiley and beyond happy....yet every time the camera came out, so would her tongue...MONKEY!!

 

We were totally upprepared for snow...and then so snowed in we couldn't get out to buy gear....so the old cotton cloves with bread bags around the hands!!

 

We built a total of three snowmen...this was Addie's (the above pirate was of course Dean's.)

 

This was Christmas Day...the snow was nearly waist deep on little Add.

And until I get the rest of the discs uploaded...that's all folks!

XO

Wishing You Peace, Love, and Joy this Holiday Season

 
Our 2008 Christmas Card Photo - I drug our big leather chair right up to the french doors leading to the back patio, stood out in the rain (with Spike doing crazy things over my shoulder) and captured these two just perfectly.....seriously does not get any cuter than this!!

We have my whole family coming over this evening.  Everyone is so excited....this year (especially) it all seems so magical and special.  We have a tree packed with presents to open tonight (my family's tradition has always been to do gifts on Christmas Eve).  There are so many thoughtful, perfect presents it's sure to be a great time.  Dean is so excited for Santa and after visiting Santa at Nordstrom and telling him she wants a doll house, Addie is pretty pumped too. 

 

The kids are getting exactly what they want from Santa, so I know tomorrow morning is going to be squeals and delight and....well pure magical!!  I LOVE Christmas time!!!!!

Tomorrow, after Santa gifts and a big brunch, we are going to my little brother (sister in law Trish + nephew Ben's) for Christmas dinner with Trish's family.  She is so good to have ALL of us at once....lots and lots of merriment!

Wishing you all love and magic as you celebrate the holidays!!!

XO

Snowed in (in Seattle)

 

 

We arrived last Wednesday (10 days ago) to very chilly (but clear) weather.  Flight was not too bad.  Actually very easy (after the first horrible hour of Addie kicking the seat in front of her with all her might.......as soon as we were airborne and seat belt sign was off I readjusted her car seat so she couldn't' get anywhere near the seat in front.)  The first night my mom was up from 1-4 am with the kids (I was passed out thanks to the powers of a sleeping pill.)  By the second night we had all pretty much adjusted to Seattle time.

Saturday night we (me, my brothers and my sister in law) went to a SUPER SUPER FUN ugly Christmas Sweater party (can't wait to get pics from Trish).  I got to visit with so many old friends (many of whom I have known for 25++ years.)  As we were celebrating the night away, the snow started falling.  Matt and Trish and Ben got stuck here overnight and most of Sunday.  It's now Friday and we have only had one drive-able day (which we put to good use by taking the kids to Nordstrom for pictures with Santa).  It was super fun and exciting at first, but now I just want to get out and see people.  I still have not (thanks to the snow) seen a couple of my very best friends.  We have been canceling plans left and right. One of my first and best friends in England (who has spent the last three years in Japan) is at a hotel only 3.8 miles (I googled it just for effect) away and I can't even get to her and her family.  If I don't get out of this house to spend some quality time with Christy I am going to be SUPER upset!!

We have done many a fun thing while snowed in....

 

We decorated the tree and house (Dean made his own display....jamming as many things as he could onto one space.)

 

He loved doing the tree.  When my mom tried to tell him that maybe all the decs didn't have to go up (she has many she keeps out of sentiment, but don't actually do much for the over all effect) he would not hear of it....he has branches loaded two and three ornaments deep.  It was really too cute to change!!

  

Lots and lots of grandma time!

 

Gingerbread house building with Uncle Jimmy.  My brother is so good with the kids.....they think he is the coolest guy in the whole world (and I couldn't agree more...he has the patience of a saint!)

 

Tons of cooking and sweets making. Sunday morning Grandma did sugar cookies with the grandkids while very tired moms and dads lounged around.

  

Yesterday, needing more baking ingredients, mom and I took the kids on a walk to the grocery store.  They were miserable...about half way there it started to snow so hard it was impossible to see....oops!!

Mike arrives in a few short hours (can you say EXCITEMENT and JOY!!!)  We are thinking he is going to have to take a taxi with chains as even my dad's 4X4 Defender 90 is not up to this compact snow and ice.   

Who would have thought we would be snowed in in Seattle....Seattle never gets this kind of weather.  They are predicting a much bigger storm this weekend (more than the 5 inches of snow we got yesterday) and 90 mile an hour winds.  If we can get past that, it sounds like next week will be cold but get-out-able.  We've got big plans for Christmas Eve and Christmas and don't want anyone trapped by the weather.

Hope you are all warm and safe and gearing up for big celebrations next week!

XO

Giving Thanks and Making Merry

That's exactly what we have been up to!!!

It's been a crazy busy time with Thanksgiving, celebrating Addie's second birthday (although her actual birthday isn't until 26 Dec), celebrating our 8 year wedding anniversary, shopping for Christmas, getting ready to head to Seattle for the holidays and wrapping up school for Dean.

On Sunday the 30th of November we officially celebrated Thanksgiving with 40 of our nearest and dearest friends (and their children.)  We spent the long weekend sprucing up the house, doing lots of DIY (finally getting the new chandelier for the dining room that Spike has been wanting) cooking and relaxing with the kids.  I made the turkey from Nigella's new Christmas cookbook and it was so amazing....truly worth it....I am trying to talk my mom into doing it again for Christmas day.  We had a family night out at Pizza Express and a day at the Christmas Market/Carnival in town.  We combined our Thanksgiving celebration with a party for Addie's birthday.....lots and lots of fun....but remind me that 15 is too many kids to have in the house at one time...LOL!!!

***all pictures in this post were taken with Spike's point and shoot camera...my camera is officially retired (ruined is more like it).....i am asking Santa for a new one for Christmas

From our day at the Christmas Fair

 

Dean went on the Ferris wheel FIVE times...he loved it!!  Every time we came round the top he would yell "CANNON BALL!!!!"  So fun!!!

 

Lils and Beth made Addie a bunny cake (she LOVES bunnies!!!)  She was thrilled with it...she kept saying "my bunny, this is my bunny!" 

We had Polly come do a music session with the kids.....which of course Addie was crazy about.  She especially loved the bit where she got to dress up as a princess!  Her and Daddy sang and made music together (while I did photos and a constant run back and forth to the kitchen to check on the turkey.)

 

 

Dean has had two school productions in the last week.  They had their dance show last week and today was their Nativity play.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.  The school has a photographer come, so I can't wait to get some of those photos to share! 

On Friday we went to our first Panto (Puss and Boots at Theater Royal in Bury) and I must say, we thought it was amazing!!!  I could easily become a panto junkie...traveling all over the country during the holidays just to watch pantos.  We had (another) Pizza Express night before the theater. 

 

Spike had a little trouble with his party crown in this pic...HAHA!!

We went with a big group of friends and got two boxes at the theater.  Dean sat in the box next to us and half way through the show we looked over to see him putting his arm around one of the girls next to him (all night he had been mesmerized by her, holding hands with her and basically falling in love for the first time.)  SO CUTE!!!

 

Two Pencil Lines layouts from the last couple weeks and then I am off to organize and pack....I will check in from Seattle....so crazy crazy crazy over the moon excited to get there!!!!!

XO

You can call me Birthday Girl

Yup, that's me.....many many years ago this very day!

And then a few years later (Addie has those exact same hair clips (not mine....but doesn't look like "Goodie" has changed it's design in about 30 years.) )

I must be about 6 or 7 or 8 here??????

Again....6 or 7 or 8 (it's 2 AM in Seattle, so I dare not call my mom to ask her right now)

And finally.....Friday night's joint bday party for me and Lils. 

This morning Spike and the kids served me breakfast in bed (peanut butter toast + coffee)  and Dean gave me a massage (with a rolling wooden "massager" he bought me for my birthday.) 

Spike promptly whisked both kids off (Dean to school and Addie to Lils then Beth's)....so I have the WHOLE day to myself.

As much as I would like to lay in bed and read all day, it's just not in my nature, so I am off for a long run (so I can eat lots of chocolate cake and drink lots of Veuve Clicquot (of which SPike bought a CASE for my birthday (don't worry, we won't drink it all in one night.....two or three should finish it off though...LOL!!!))

Then I am back to putz around the house (all by myself.....wow...that never happens).  Spike has booked me in for a massage and pedicure from 2:00 until 5:00, then my instructions are to get myself home and dressed for cake and present w/ the kids (I am under strict orders not to open ANY presents until Dean is home from school.....he was really very upset that he had to be a school on my birthday)  and then a "romantic" dinner out (not sure where we are going...Spike has been very good with surprises this year!!)   

Needless to say, I feel very very blessed!!!!

XOXO
Annie

It's a...

Super super-skinny jeans, high top converse, and Red Hot Chili Peppers day.  Looking more like a university student than a mother of two, I have been seriously rockin' out (at very high volume) to the music of my youth while baking a chocolate cranberry cake and fig crumble bars. (The picture of the cake on Martha's site is nothing like the cake I made...she is showing the ginger infused bread-pan variation...mine is a very very tall tube cake with glossy glossy icing.)  By the time I got the cake in the oven I decided to take a trip down memory lane and play Sublime's 40 oz. to Freedom album (again at the crazy high volume.)  I know every single word of that album....love the ska-punk-reggae-ness of it all!  Can I say again....serious rockin' out...manic dancing, air guitar, and 1980's glam-rock style high kicks...the kind of rockin' out that falls into the "vigorous exercise" category.

Life is good.

Life is very very good.

It's also a "proud momma" day.

 

Dean is doing so well at school.  He is really coming along with is handwriting and is doing great in his reading...he's still in the stage of "beginning reader" but his ability (and determination) to sound out words is fantastic. 

It goes without saying I want my children to do well and excel academically, but  what has made me SO PROUD (like beaming proud) is the effort Dean puts into his work.   He is incredibly self-motivated for a four year old.  He gets about an hour of homework a week and I have to say at first my attitude was "are you kidding me...he's only FOUR!"  But he loves doing it and does it very well... so....I was clearly wrong on that one!

Last week he got an award for good manners and was invited to a tea party with the head-teacher.  He is all about "please and thank you and pardon me".  He will correct anyone who says "huh, what, or yea."  He's a bit like the manners-police at the moment.  HAHA!!

Love you Dean...so proud of you!!!

Life is good!

It's also a miss Daddy day. He is in Germany until Saturday afternoon.

Whenever Spike has to leave for work before the kids get up, he always leaves little notes + drawings.  They love it.  Addie got to this one first.  The pen was left next to the note and she decided to leave her own little mark.  Dean nearly had a melt down saying "but I was going to look at this every single day and now Addie has ruined it. I can't even see what daddy's face looks like."  Monkeys...they are both little monkeys!!

Life is good!

It's also a "move on from Halloween" day.  I still have my decs up and am not really too anxious to take them down....although I think I will make the effort this weekend.  A couple days ago I finished a Halloween mini album (inspired by a make and take Anna did at our holiday workshop a couple weekends ago.)  Today I changed the "cover" and now feel like it's ready to be added to the basket of minis (after of course the kids have a good flip through.)

This project was so hard to photograph (transparencies + crummy weather + 50 mm fixed lens that I didn't want to change). I had decided not to share it, but have changed my mind...you will just have to imagine that the color is much better than what I could capture and please never mind the glare! :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full album Here .

Tonight Mia and Tracy are hosting a birthday bash for Me and Lils (at Mia's.)  Very much looking forward to a night with so many of my favorite people!!

Have a good weekend...and remember...life is good!

On the "good life" note....loved today's quote from Foundation for a Better Life:

“Live your life from your heart. Share from your heart. And your story will touch and heal people's souls.”

—Melody Beattie; author, journalist