Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Broken

I was going through my digital photo folders from 2008 and noticed that I hadn't scrapped a lot of major events. Major for us anyways! So, here is the first of many missed pages from 2008. I may have to retake and repost this tomorrow, I got it done kinda late today and I didn't have any natural light. It's also a little crooked (seems to be a problem I'm having lately!) but for now, you get the idea.

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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Swing!

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Every time we go to a park where there are swings Landon asks Zoe to spider swing with him. I know he loves it and I'm thinking Zoe really likes it too because she is always willing to swing him. When she's swinging he always acts silly and gets her laughing, so I made sure to snap some pictures of them enjoying themselves...

SNOW!!!

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I guess all those crossed fingers and snow dances finally paid off! The kids were so happy to wake up to snow today, even though they already had the day off! (Teacher work day, today and tomorrow!) It took them awhile, but they finally went out about 2 hours ago now and I am going to have to force them back inside soon! They are just having a great time hanging out with kids in the neighborhood, making up things to do. There really isn't that much snow, (I can see the grass poking through still) but it's enough to keep them happy!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Down on the Farm

I've had these pictures printed out for weeks, so I figured I should do something with them! This layout didn't take long to finish at all! I need to figure out a way to do more pages quick and simple like this!

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Sunday, January 25, 2009

Tiny Snowman

A layout I did last night about that little tiny snowman Landon made when we got a few flakes of snow. I was afraid the title wasn't going to show up at all here, but I think it actually looks ok, and I was able to create the title with my Cricut using Design Studio! I finally figured it out! Can you see my ghost snowflakes? They are a little more noticeable in real life, but not too much...IMG_2745

Saturday, January 24, 2009

SPECtacular

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I thought these pictures of Zoe wearing her new glasses were really cute. When she was 4 she had to get her first pair of glasses because she had an amblyopia, better known as a lazy eye. She was able to quit wearing glasses around 9 years old and at that point her vision was really good. Just this month though, I had her visit the eye doctor for a routine check-up (and because we noticed she was squinting at things all the time0 and it turned out that she needs to wear reading glasses.  No more squinting at the computer screen for her!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Makin' Waves

My friend Kim came over this morning and we scrapped the day away together. I can't think of a better way to spend a Thursday afternoon! I ended up getting 3 pages completed, but 2 more are in the works with only the pictures missing! So, here are today's accomplishments:

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I don't normally do 8 1/2 x 11 layouts, but for the kids' B-day books they are all this size. I should do more this size, it's always nice to mix things up a bit!

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This one is a bit plain, but I don't want to add more because I am afraid it will then be too busy! So, I decided to leave well enough alone. I saw someone use rick rack waves before, but I can't remember where, but this wasn't my idea either way! Just glad I remembered it because I like how it turned out! 

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

History in the Making

I have never been a very politically active person. I try to pay attention when it is election time, so that I will know who I want to vote for. Aside from that, I get bits and pieces from the papers, T.V. and Internet and that's that. So today while I was out to lunch and I realized that the inauguration was about to begin I thought, no big deal, I'll just read some of the closed captioning and that's enough.

Wrong.

I couldn't keep my eyes off of the TV! I was reading and reading and as soon as Tony and I had finished eating we drove home (while listening to the ceremony on the radio) and once home I dropped my bags and ran downstairs to watch the rest on TV! We got home just as he was being sworn in and I was happy to see him choke up a little during his oath...it's a great reminder to all of us that he is only human, and can only do so much with his time in office. Tony and I both agreed that he is an amazing speaker; he just really captivates you as a listener and makes you want to hear what he is saying. (A great quality in his line of work I suppose!) I am anxious to see what he can get accomplished during his time in office!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Making the Most Of It

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We finally got snow!!! Only a tiny bit (you can see there isn't any on the grass in the background!) but Landon just had to get out there in it. He made this tiny little snowman with what was on the table outside!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Lookie Here!

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Zoe got her new glasses today. I think they are really cute, hopefully she'll remember to wear them!

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This wipe board from Ikea sure comes in handy! I wrote this on Landon's board the other day, and he was so excited to pack his own bag and check off each item as he went! It just worked like a charm! I put some chores on Zoe's board (same idea) but she didn't find it nearly as fun as he did; but the chores did get done without complaints!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Image Intensive!!!

I went to a local scrapbook event, so I have several pages to share. In the past I would load them to a slide show, but today I am lazy! So, here they are in no particular order:

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Landon and Tony playing a board game.

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My beautiful daughter.

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My handsome son.

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Zoe relaxing.

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Landon and a friend selling rocks.

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Me being goofy. I needed a photo of a hat...it's a long story.

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Zoe and I enjoying each other's company.

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Landon from way back in 2001.

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Family game night. These are actually 12x12 so they look a little funky on here, but oh-well. This is actually my version of Becky's sketch in the January 2009 issue of Creating Keepsakes.

So, I finished 10, but have three others that are well on the way to being done. Hopefully I'll have some time tonight to get them finished! I'm off to a great start towards my 100 page goal!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Scientifically Speaking

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Today was Zoe's science fair at school. As part of the IB program the kids are required to submit a project. I think the hardest part of this process is thinking of a topic! I went up to her school around 9:30 this morning and I couldn't believe how many projects were set up in the auditorium! The letter home stated that there would be close to 300 projects set up, but I just didn't realize how many that was until I walked in! Zoe's project was titled "Does wearing nail polish affect nail growth"? Here are a couple photo's of the auditorium, but I couldn't get a photo of the whole thing because there were students browsing through the aisles.

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I know these aren't the best pics, but from one end to the other all you could see were projects! Among them I saw some interesting ones, and some silly, but most were really well done. One was about a "Gum Chewing Guitarist" who tested the theory of wether or not chewing gum helped him to keep time with his music. Another was testing wether or not the temperature of a tennis ball had anything to do with how it bounced!

5 Weeks = Eternity

When you are waiting on test results. Back on December 3rd I went to my dermatologist to have a full body skin analysis. I have a few moles that I just want to keep and eye on, and one I want removed, so they did a whole body scan and decided that I needed to have one on my chest removed immediately. I have never been more scared. When the doctor told me she wanted to remove that mole because "it just didn't look right" I nearly freaked out. The mole I want removed I had to schedule surgery for, and that won't be until February.

So, I left that day one mole short and I was told that I would have the biopsy results in 2 weeks. Well, as my title warns, 2 weeks turned into 5 and I finally got a call about it today. My results were benign. My initial response was "oh man that is AWESOME", but as soon as I hung up the phone I felt this wave of relief and my eyes even teared up a bit, I was just so relieved. I immediately texted Tony and I am just feeling so much better.

So, if you are reading this, do yourself a favor and go have your skin looked over. I am so glad I did.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Re-toted!

Remember this? Well, here is the finished product!

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Cool huh? I got the card in the mail yesterday so I made the trip out to Target to get my free bag. No, I didn't go to Target just for a free bag, I also bought 2 new lamps for the living room and a new chair for Zoe's desk upstairs. The one she has now has a broken wheel/leg attachment and unless I can get it replaced by Ikea, she will now have one from Target. If Ikea will replace the chair then we will have a new rolling chair in the computer/craft room...a win win situation right?

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This is one of the new lamps. I moved all the furniture around in the living room, and I like the new look, but it is just so plain/sparse looking in there. I don't know what the room needs, but it needs something. The lamps do help though! I'll just keep working on it till I'm happy!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Ordinary Sunday

This is the first day for awhile now that we haven't any plans. So, this is how our time is being filled...

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Tony and Landon played a game of Bakugan; Landon won.

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Zoe has been working on her Science Fair display board for a few hours now...

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Ginger had something stuck to her nose, but it fell off right before I got this pic of her

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Landon and a friend went out on the front porch and attempted to sell rocks (they are just a bit expensive, don't cha think?)

As for me, I'm just lounging around, taking photos, blogging (obviously), thinking about working on my 25 days of Christmas album (I'm only on day 13, yikes!), and maintaining a safe distance from World Tour...Tony on the other hand is sitting behind me playing some shooting/killing game, I think it's Crysis but they all look and sound the same to me!

Saturday, January 3, 2009

One Last Hurrah

Tonight was our final holiday get together/present opening. Chris, Lori and the kids came over to exchange gifts (for the kids) and for dinner. Tony and I decided to go super easy so we bought a deli meat tray at Costco's and some wings, and waa laa...build your own subs for dinner! Talk about easy!

Zoe got a Panic at the Disco cd and a shirt Landon received an Indiana Jones toy

The kids exchanged gifts, but they were mostly happy to be together to hang out. They were in the basement playing while we sat upstairs chatting. They played a little World Tour and then they were acting silly and recording themselves with Zoe's camera. For some reason every time they get together they end up recording themselves, I guess they think they're pretty funny!

Listening to her Ipod and reading at the same time! Zoe has been thoroughly enjoying her Christmas gifts these past couple days. I bought her this series of books for Christmas and she is either close to finishing the 3rd or finished! She really liked the Twilight series so I got these because they sounded similar and I guess they're good!  She just keeps her I-pod, cell phone and book close by and she's perfectly happy!

Listening to the end of his Goosebumps book Last night Landon asked Zoe if she would help him to make something in his Easy Bake Oven. Together they made a tiny yellow cake with chocolate frosting. It actually tasted pretty good; yes I was surprised! While they were making the cake they were listening to this which I had gotten him a few months ago at his school's book fair. Landon just loved listening to the story, but thought it was too scary to listen to alone, so he was glad Zoe was there with him!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

3 Stars

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I forgot to post a pic of the gift I found for my parents this Christmas, so here it is! I found these stars when Tony and I made a trip to downtown Ellicott City. The stars are made of some kind of foam and then covered in birch bark. This isn't the best photo so you'll just have to take my word for it!

I'm not sure what most people do on New Years Day, but if today is any indication as to what the rest of my year is going to be like, it's gonna be productive!

Tuesday I decided it was time to start taking all the Christmas stuff down. As much as I love the Christmas season I am always equally ready to put it all away! I am always eager to get on to the next thing...unfortunately, Tony doesn't feel the same way! Anyhow, we got all the decorations down and stored them in their containers; all we had left to do was put it all up on the loft in the garage, which is quite a task! This morning, after s-l-o-w-l-y getting out of bed, we got the stuff put away and we ended up cleaning up the entire garage. It was in desperate need of a clean up and today we can walk through it again!

After killing ourselves in the garage we had to make a trip to the grocery store. It's been awhile and I have the bill to prove it! I don't quite know what we're going to do tomorrow, but at the rate we're going we're gonna have this house looking pretty good before the end of January!

A Fresh Start

Another year abruptly ends and another rolls in. The day started out as any other weekday, except that the kids were home from school. Tony went to work, I got up and got the house stuff going, kids got up, we all did our "thing", then we all met up at Ruby Tuesday's to eat lunch. Eating lunch out during the middle of the week isn't something we normally do, so it was nice. After lunch Tony took the kids to pick up stuff for dinner while I did some after Christmas/ New Year's sale shopping...

IMG_2459 Once I got home we all kept busy playing games, coloring and just hanging out. Dinner was late, 8pm but worth waiting for! We had homemade pizza (including the dough!). The dough recipe is one from my brother and it does not disappoint! One was 1/2 cheese 1/2 pepperoni, the other pepperoni and onions. Yum!

IMG_2467 Dessert was right after and we all enjoyed a chocolate fondue. We dipped pineapple chunks, strawberries, pound cake, banana slices and rice krispy treats. The kids loved it, and I think we will be doing this again real soon!

IMG_2479 After dessert we all came downstairs to play GH World Tour. We were on there a good 1 1/2 hours, and then I just couldn't sing another note! Everyone was looking tired, but we just had to wait till the ball dropped in Times Square before we could even think about going to bed! Tony and I opened a new bottle of wine only to find that it was the most disgusting we had ever tasted, but only after I got this photo! The kids and I toasted with Sparkling Grape juice and Tony toasted with a Sam Adams. A wonderful ending to a wonderful year. I have so much to be thankful for, and I am looking forward to all the possibilities in the new year.

Happy New Year to everyone, may it be big and bright and beautiful!

April Fools Pranks

The two little kids made me laugh yesterday morning.  I was upstairs getting things ready for school when I heard them talking about how ...