Project Life

Have you heard about Project Lift? It is scrap booking made easy!  After Lauren's 5th birthday I decided her next scrapbook should be a Project Life scrapbook.  It comes complete with an album, pages, journaling cards, card stock, and all you need are pictures and a pen! 

All the card stock match and your whole album has the same color theme.  This is the title page of Lauren's album.  I am not sure that I want to keep that first picture of her at the top...I might change it. 

Here is an example of a completed page.  At the top is the title card.  If you look closely you will not see a title.  I am a little behind on titling the pages.   I used card fillers and journaling cards to complete the page.  This was Easter Sunday so there was a nice theme to the page. 

This a page that I had to get a little creative on and figure out how to incorporate all the pictures together.  The pictures of Lauren in green are from St. Patty's day so I used them to match her umbrella, that is also green.  The bottom right picture was initially a vertical picture, but I trimmed it down and added card stock to the side to make it fit into this page. 

I took so many pictures at Lauren's Pre-K graduation!  It was such a fun night.  At the top I made a collage of several pictures and just printed it up into a 4x6 print, that way I was able to put several images on one page. 

I also included some of her art work during the year on this spread. 

I used more card stock and filler cards on Mark's half marathon page.  I wanted the girls to remember it and it could not really fit onto one page, so I made it into a whole spread and just added some paper.  Less pictures and more paper was a nice change in the flow of the album. 

Lauren's first day of Kindergarten also included tons of pictures.  I did not really have anything from the kit to match the purple outfit Lauren was wearing, so I added my one paper to this spread.  I have a large area on another page that will included all the journaling and memories of the first day of Kindergarten. 

I like how I have two filler cards on the outside and the journaling in the middle. 

Trick or treating this year was so much fun with Lauren and Addison's little friends.  I included several pages on the October traditions that we have. 

Doing this album has been a lot of fun.  I have enjoyed changing it up a bit and doing a different kind of scrap booking with Project Life.  I have ordered another album this past week to get started on my next one!  I have decided to keep going with Addison's book and keep doing individual ones for her with the old fashioned scrap booking.   It is only fair since I have done Lauren up to age 6.  I decided recently to start doing a family album for each year now.  Lauren currently has 9 scrapbooks all of JUST HER.  Instead of doing separate ones for the girls I am going to start the family album (but continue with Addison until she is 6.) 

I will probably do a school years album for both girls and really want to get started on Lauren's.  I also thought I would do some random albums here and there of their hobbies and sports as they get older. 

Of course, family vacations are digital (usually on Shutterfly) because I take so many pictures in one weeks time that I would never be able to make a scrapbook of the vacation unless it is digital. 

I hope to finish Lauren's current book before her birthday (which is in 2 weeks.)  I have to do November and December.  It doesn't sound like much, but December was full of so many fun activities that I am not sure I can completely get it done, but I am going to try. 

So give Project Life a try. I love it! 

Camera Lenses

So I got a few new lenses for Christmas.  So far I love them, but I have A LOT to learn. 

The first one is the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 lens.  Amazing lens so far.   A friend of mine suggested this lens as I was looking for a zoom lens.  The current lens on my camera, the Nikon D40 came with a 18-55 mm zoom.  This lens will zoom to 200 mm.  Much better huh?  It is also a macro lens, which will capture amazing pictures of that tiny little ladybug you might see on a leaf. 

Nikon 50 mm f/1.8D auto focus lens.  Everything I read said this is the lens to get.  It is cheap (around $125) and takes amazing portrait pictures.  It gives a great bokeh effect (blurs out the background) and captures very sharp images.  The one thing I really need to get used to is the manual focus.  I have to focus the camera my self, no auto focus here.  I have been practicing around the house capturing random moments with the daily happenings of life.  I am very anxious to get this lens outside and capture some portraits of my girls with this new lens.  But, until then you might see some random, crazy pictures of me playing with my new lens, trying to master the art of manual focus! 

Determination, or Maybe Determined

That is my word for 2012.  Have you heard about the one word?  I see it on several blogs I follow.  It is my focus and my New Year's resolution.  I have thought about my word for several days/weeks now and I kept coming back to Determination.  When I saw this quote I knew I did not have to think any longer...


Time is inevitably going to pass and one year from today, you can find yourself in the exact same spot you're in now, you can find yourself further away from your goal or you can find yourself closer to your goal - so where do you want to be a year from now?

Determination fits for several reasons: 

1. To lose that last 5 pounds, well actually now 10 pounds, that I just can't seem to get rid of!  I am DETERMINED to do it sooner than later. 
2. To make a decision on whether or not to advance my career and become an Nurse Practitioner.  Did I tell you I applied to get my Masters and become an APN?  Probably not...I have not told very many people.  Mark, or course, and a few work people.  That is it.  I really don't know if I want to do it.  I am DETERMINED to make a decision in April when I get the acceptance, or maybe not, letter.  Who knows, maybe I won't get accepted and the decision will be made for me!
3. To make a decision on which races to run in this year.  I love that I have taken up running and I can't wait to do more runs this year.  I am DETERMINED to keep running.  It is great exercise and feels so good to be in such good shape. 
4. I am DETERMINED to be a better wife to Mark.  He is an awesome Husband and I feel like there is so much more I could do for him.  Did I tell you he brought home roses last week? Oh, and he spelled out I love you on the bed with rose petals...seriously he is an awesome guy and I am so lucky to have found him!
5. I am DETERMINED to get caught up on my journaling in the girls scrapbooks.  These are their childhood memories and I don't want them to be lost.
6. I am DETERMINED to become a better photographer and take a photography class to do this.  Did I tell you I got 2 new lenses for Christmas.  Yes, 2 new lenses.  I will have to share them soon.
7. I would like to find a way to get into Addison's little head and try to manage her stubborn, fit throwing, three year old ways.  She is 3 right?  Normal stuff, right?  Man she is tough.  I am DETERMINED to keep her a good kid and make sure she knows who is boss. 
8. Lauren is awesome.  She loves Kindergarten and I am DETERMINED to keep that excitement for school alive over the summer break.  I have already learned of ways to keep up school work over the summer so she does not get behind and will be ready for 1st grade.  She is a smart kid and she will excel with her love of school. 
9. I would really like to produce a recipe blog.  I cook every meal that our family eats.  We rarely eat out, really only for special occasions and the occasional pizza night.  I would like to commit some time to producing a recipe blog to share with every one else.  DETERMINED. 
10. This may seem silly, but I am DETERMINED not to over spend at Target.  Seriously.  There are several  home upgrades we want to do this year that if I would just stick to my list I would probably keep my Target bill under $300 a month.  How many times have you walked out of Target wondering how on earth you just manged to spend $100 when you went in for a package of diapers and wipes.  Yep, me too!
11. DETERMINATION  to relax more and just sit.  Sounds crazy with all these goals I have just set up for myself, huh?  But, I am a very high energy person.  I get a lot done in any given day, but I also don't sit and relax much.  I am going to work on that.

So there you have it.  My goals of 2012.  DETERMINATION is my word.  It is here for all of you to see and here and keep me on track.  I will keep you posted on my success. 

Snowmen

So it finally snowed outside, but not nearly enough to make snowmen.  The girls are dying to get outside and play in the snow and make real snowmen.  Over the Christmas break when I had 10 days off we made these snowmen.  I got a huge package at Target for 50% off and I knew the girls would love making these one cold afternoon when we would not get outside to play. 

Don't you love the way Lauren spelled Daddy (Dadey) 

They both worked very hard and were very creative in the many snowmen they made. 

Zoe even got a snowman too!  Addison was so sweet.  She made one for Zoe and then went and placed it by her so "Zoe could play with it."  Seriously, that Addison is awesome and so is Zoe! 

Fingernail Polish Fun

So the girls got a lot of fingernail polish for Christmas.  It is a good stocking stuffer, ya know?  And, what is sooooo nice is that Lauren can paint her own nails now...and Addisons too!  As you can see, there has been a lot of fingernail painting going on around here. 

So much that the little one decided to take it on herself and paint her own nails as well...

The thing is, I was sitting just a few feet away from her when she did this! 

Claire is 4!

My niece, Claire, had her 4th birthday party this weekend.  She is Snow White there in the middle.  Her actual birthday is New Year's Eve, but my sister always has the party a little later.  Princess Belle came to Claire's party this year.  The girls loved it! 

Princess Belle arrived with a treasure box, but the girls had to pass 3 tests before they could open the treasure box.  The three tests were fun games for the girls and they all loved it.  Addison loved the bubble game. 

Lauren is striking her best princess pose!  They also played a funny hat game! 

After the treasure box was opened the girls got to pick three prizes out of the box.  To wrap up the party there was face painting at the end!  Lauren, Claire, and Addison. 

The girls had fun and it was the only thing we HAD to do this weekend.  I love January and the quite, stay home and stay warm, kind of weekends.  Mark also took the girls to the Bass Pro Shop Sunday afternoon.  It had been a while since we had been there so of course they had fun! 

Happy 4th Birthday Claire!

Things I Don't Want to Forget Right Now

How much the girls love the Curious George movie that Santa brought them for Christmas

How well Lauren is reading every night before bed

How the girls love to watch Tom and Jerry in the morning

How Addison can go for hours without going potty.  She is only 3 ya know. 

How Addison's loud screams when she is excited does not break windows is beyond me

How Lauren dances in the living room every night to her Cd's

How Mark does ballet with the girls every night in the living room

How Addison insists on drinking out of monkey cup every night (even if it is dirty)

How Lauren no longer wants to wears dresses.  Only jeans and shirts/sweatshirts, and her brown boots

How much Lauren loves gymnastics and how good she is at it

How Addison wants Mark to sing to her every night at bedtime

How excited Lauren is to be back in school

How excited I am to start a fresh New Year.  Happy 2012

Christmas Break Fun

So I was off for the last 10 days and it was awesome.  I decided to take Christmas break off to spend the whole week with the girls.  We had so much fun together.  I also decided to leave my camera at home with each outing and just enjoy the moment.  That was a good feeling! 

My time off started with leaving work early on Friday the 23rd.  I did a little last minute shopping because I saw some awesome deals at a local clothing store for the girls.  Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after flew by.  We were so happy to have Mark at home with us those three days (and the last three days as well!) 

Tuesday we went to Pump it Up.  It is an indoor bounce house place in Shawnee.  The bounce houses are huge and Addison did all of them, right along with Lauren.  She kept up with her just fine!  We enjoyed lunch at  Wendy's.  Yummy.  In the afternoon, I attempted to organize the massive amount of new toys that the girls accumulated over the Christmas holiday. 

Wednesday morning we met some friends at A Flip Zone for open gym.  It was nice to get out of the house again and let the girls burn off some energy.  In the afternoon and evening I took down the tree and all the Christmas decorations.  The girls played around the house and were so fun to listen to them chat together during their pretend play. 

Thursday was a day all to myself!  It was spa day at Child Prodigy, and gingerbread house making day.  Lauren was very excited to go to daycare that day.  Besides, I was paying for the whole week even though the girls were not there :(  I enjoyed shopping and lunch on the plaza with a friend.  We had to check out the new H & M store.  It was very cool.  I got several new items from there and the Gap as well.  Great after Christmas sales.  I also got a run in outside.  That felt very good. 

Friday we went to the Zoo!  Can you believe it?  The Zoo on Friday December 30th.  We bundled up and were just fine!  We saw the polar bear, snakes, deer and Lama's, tigers, monkeys, elephants and more monkeys!  We packed our lunch and at inside to warm up a little.  It was a great day to be at the Zoo...at the end of December. 

New Year's Eve we were very excited to have Daddy home again for 3 days.  We took down the Christmas lights outside and played outside a lot.  It was almost 60 degrees.  Mark went to the driving range to test out his new driver, oh and I got another run in outside.  We had a great night with the Hoopers and the Wrights. 

New Year's Day Mark took the girls down to the mall to play.  That allowed me almost 3 hours to myself to scrapbook!  I needed to get caught up on journaling in several of the girls books.  I am caught up on Addison to her 3rd birthday.  That is huge progress. 

Monday the 2nd we enjoyed one last day at home together as a family.  Mark watched the Huskers in their bowl game (boo hoo they lost) and the girls kept themselves busy playing with all their new toys. 

One thing about the break that I don't want to forget is how proud of Lauren we are.  She reminded us on several occasions that she needed to do her writing homework over the break.  Sunday when Mark was trying to get the girls out of the house to go play Lauren said, "wait, I have to do my writing homework before we leave."  Such a great kid.  We are so proud of her and her love of school. 

The girls and I had a great week.  They were great.  They listened well, followed directions, took good naps, and really got a long well.  The only bad time was Friday night (and now I can't even remember exactly what happened) and I told Mark when he got home I was leaving for some ME time.  I went to Wal-Mart to get away!  HA!  It was a great hour to myself...

I hope that every year I can take the week between Christmas and New Year's off to spend it with my girls.  We had an awesome week! 

New Year's Eve Fun

We spent New Year's Eve with the Hoopers and the Wrights.  We always have a lot of fun when we get our three families together. 

Mark snapped this picture of Lauren and I before we left.  She is looking so grown up to me these days.  She will be 6 in about 6 weeks!  Crazy I know! 

The boys and Lauren.  They immediately went to Seth's room and started having fun. 

The little girls successfully destroyed Macy's room pretty quickly. 

The Dance Wii was a huge hit at Seth's house too! 

Macy and Addison even took part in the dancing. 

After dinner and dancing we enjoyed brownies and ice cream.  Charley looked so cute in her Pj's and vest. 

Around 9 Lauren asked if she could put on her jammies and watch a movie so the kids could relax for a while.  She was pretty tired.  The kids had fun, and as always Mark and I enjoyed visiting with Kristy and Jessica and Nick and Garrett.  Happy New Year!

Christmas at Gramps and Nana's House

Before I get to New Year's Eve I have to blog about Christmas at Gramp's and Nana's house.  We headed over there Monday night and enjoyed a great dinner and lots of great gifts for the kids. 

Nana and Lauren did a lot of reading that night. 

Lauren also enjoyed holding Baby Sophie.  Lauren adores little babies.  She is so good with them. 

Santa came to Gramps and Nana's house too!  Each grandchild had 4 gifts from Santa and a stocking full of goodies. 

Addison loved her monkey pillow and blanket.  She has been carrying around the Barbie puppy all week too. 

Lauren got a nice big Hello Kitty blanket, some Zoobles, a Barbie case to hold clothes and Barbies, and a Barbie purse. 

Lauren waited very patiently to open up the gifts from Gramps and Nana and Aunt Jen and Uncle Steve too!  Aunt Jen got Lauren some peace sign clothes and jammies, and a necklace.  She also got her some Hello Kitty stuff as well.  Gramps and Nana got her some clothes, Sketchers shoes that light up, a Barbie doll, and the Polly Pocket Race to the Concert.  I finally got it put together tonight, and Addison loves it!  I am sure Lauren will come around.  She was watching a movie with Daddy. 

Addison's favorite thing by far was this package of Strawberry Shortcake dolls.  She played with them all night.  She also got a new Magna Doodle, some clothes, a Hello Kitty cruise ship, Zoobles and some Legos from Aunt Jen. 

Thank you Gramps and Nana for a Merry Christmas.