Crafty with a Notebook

I recently got an email from Big Picture Scrapbook company to sign up for a class called "Cut the Crazy Out of Christmas". Now, I'm ALL for having a peaceful Christmas season. Particularly given that the craziness actually begins at my house at Halloween and then it's a mad dash through to Christmas day. You see, I have a baby born on November 11, Thanksgiving, a baby born on November 28, a month of Christmas traditions that I set up before I had kids, my mother's birthday and then Christmas. My poor husband has his birthday in early January and I'm usually so burnt out on "creating the magic" for the rest of the family that his birthday is just a date on the calendar. Now, I know some of you feel the same way without those extra birthdays thrown in there so I know I'm not so extra special or anything.

Well a few years ago, I joined FlyLady.net where I found that she has a whole "Cruising through the Holidays" plan to help maintain calm versus chaos. I used her tips and created a notebook. Then I found some more helpful information at FamilyFun.com a couple years ago. All of this was FREE. As I looked over the $25 class mentioned in the email (that fee did not include supplies) I realized that the only thing that was really different was that they decorated the planner. I've seen other's do this and I've always wanted to decorate mine but I'd never gotten around to it. This $25 class was the kick in the pants I needed to decorate my planner. Mine isn't decorated in "christmas" paper because it's more than just Christmas. But here you go. I used a kit that I got a few years back that I've always liked but was afraid to use. (Because then I wouldn't have it anymore. Does anyone else do this crazy hoarding thing with your favorite craft supplies?!) The paper is from Foofala, the stamped letters are from Close to My Heart, the ink is Twilight from Close to My Heart and Sage Shadow from Stampin Up! The inside tabs are made with the Stampin Up punch and their matching tab stamp set.

Library Day at Preschool

Yesterday was library day. The entire class takes a stroll from the community center over to the town library. It was a beautiful day and as our daughter is prone to do... she thought she'd pick some flowers for Mom while she made her way back to school. Unfortunately, the little dandelion seeds are now all stuck in the mesh of her lunch box! Ah, well. Still, a sweet little girl thought.

A walk in the park

My two oldest with a friend at the park over spring break.

My lovely daughter

Well, I finally figured out how to reclaim this blog and I thought I'd test it out by sharing a recent picture of my beautiful daughter. Here she is! Just this past weekend, her Grandad asked her how old she was. She held up her hand, palm out and replied, "I'm five. I'm a handful!"

Our neighborhood stroll

We were walking along and Case got so excited over a neighbors flag that was hanging in their yard. He stepped into the grass and I decided it was a perfect scene for a photo shot. This was my favorite shot of the series. Such childlike glee!

There is just something so sweet about a little girl holding her Daddy's hand.

I just love this one of my two boys. I like the expression on his sweet face and I like that you can see Ashlee up ahead waiting patiently for us to catch up.

More pictures from Mason's 2 month photo shoot

Ashlee was too sick to play on the moon the last time we had it out, so we got it out just for her this time.
Ashlee wanted to be in the picture too with our little baby. She likes it when he holds her finger.
And this is our littlest member at two months. Isn't he sweet?

My sweet babies...

Isn't that expression worth a fortune? I just LOVE those big bright eyes of hers. Perfection.
Now that is a gorgeous boy! He is wearing his new outfit today and I just had to capture it while it was fresh - because you KNOW I won't be ironing it after it goes through the wash once!

Got a new camera

I'm so excited! I just bought my new camera. I got a Canon Rebel Digital XT and it's wonderful! I need to collect lenses and other attachments to make it better but I'm already leaps and bounds ahead of where I was! I took the BEST picture of our sweet baby Mason today. In fact, it rivals one I paid a great deal of money for that was taken of Case at the very same age.