Open House

Sharing with you what the kids have been up to.
From Second Grader - Zak

The Pond Study


"I have a Dream" project - scrap paper pieceings art





From 4th Grader - Matthew
The California Mission Project
Team Building Project








Ansel Adams inspired photography - Flower

The boys are having a great school year! I love the ages they are right now, if they could just stay 7 and 9 for a little bit longer :)

Thanks for visiting me.
reen

Conversation with a 7 year old

I love picking my kids up after school. I would hate to miss those little moments when they reconnect with me with thier little converstaions. Like the one we had today, just me and my Zak.


Zak: Mom, do know Mother Necessity?

Me: Oh, yeah..... ;)

Zak: Well her kids invented a lot of things

Me: Really? ;)

Zak: She had a lot of kids.....they invented the airplane and the light bulb and a whole buncha things.

Hmmmmmmmmm so this means that "Necessity really is the Mother of Invention"?

hahahaha!! The things kids say!

:)

Signs of Spring!

Strawberries, one of the earliest signs of spring! The first strawberry crop of the season has arrived! Fresh from Driscoll in Watsonville, Calif. These are so delightful and sweet, the best in the world! So wonderful!! A sweet little Spring pleasure that just makes me happy!

The Easter bunny has been busy at my house. Little surprises hidden away for Easter Sunday. Another little Spring pleasure that makes me giddy!

Spread a little sunshine today, smile :) and make someone happy!

Borders Challenge

Becoming a new Mom of two little boys, I always had a story to tell. I used to share cute little things that my boys would say and do. My friends and mother-in-law, used to say "you should write it down". I took a little offense to that advice at first. I thought they were just saying that so that I would just stop gushing and sharing my "new Mom" type stories. For whatever reason they gave me that advice, I did it! I found myself over the years grabbing an envelope, post-it note, or scratch pad to write down the little stories. I'm so glad I did!

I kept all those little notes that I had written over the years. I thought maybe someday I would type them all out into a journal and make them look all published and pretty. Well, I finally realized that "real Moms" don't have time for that!

This week, I compiled all my little stories and notes into a simple album. All the little scribbles that a frantic, happy Mom would write down are in this book. The emotional memories I saved and whispered and wrote to myself in the wee hours of the morning are archived here.

Why wouldn't a Mother keep a note that said, "Mommy are we going to take that baby back to the hospital"? I'm sentimental, I couldn't bear to toss out a little handwritten quote from a 4 year old boy that said, "a miracle is like a flower". So I put them in here in their original form, with coffee spills still in tact. I love this book! It's personal, it's my own journal, my own diary of my precious days as a stay-at-home-mother. It reminds me of some of the happiest times in my life. This is a memory book of those special days I spent with my babies at home and the sweet little conversations we shared.

So special thanks to Ramona for all the challenges this month. I think this one was my favorite out of all of them, just because I ended up with a precious treasure.

Have a happy day!

reen

Weekend Creative and Bold Challenges

I do love it when there is time in the weekend for a little scrapping :)

A new layout that I call "Sweetheart of a son". This was inspired by Ali's weekend challenge to use tone on tone or to layer an open pattern the same color. In layering white on white....I thought "blah"! but then I started to appreciate the mood that the technique created....something kind of sweet, innocent about using white on white, clean and simple. I kind of like the white space.


Honestly, That was a little too clean for me! I much prefer the bold and grungy look of this "Rock Stars" layout. I used an old iron on patch to make the heart. Added a few strips of color and a blingy skull. What a fun challenge. These pictures are my boys on a typical Saturday morning, playing "cops & robbers" and also rockin' my house down to the 80's music from Guitar Hero.

Love this layout, it just captures them doing what they love at this age. I would love it if my boys stayed this age forever! They just wanna have fun!




Thanks for visiting. Happy Sunday!
reen

Quote of the week....

Photo by Matthew:



Today, on a "nature walk" with Matthew....we snapped several photos. I love this one of him walking next to the path of trees in bloom. The blooms are gorgeous right now!
What a great Mother/Son time we both shared. We had time to talk, just hang out together. I love that.


When we got back from our walk, we had lunch and I started to scrap and organize. I found this little treasure!! It's a note from Jess and Jill. They sent it to me when they celebrated their first year anniversary at DML. and how ironic that the photo is so similar to the one I had taken of Matthew earlier in the day. I'm so glad that I saved it, because I LOVE the quote on the front cover. Something so beautiful!

"what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us".



Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!
reen

Typical Day....

Working in Corporate Marketing...updating our Physician database, direct mailings, planning events
Loving these two boys and making sure they are being raised properly to become "gentlemen"
Too often lately, caring for a sickly one.
>
Loving the man of my life and taking time for him. (also monitoring the use of my hole punch, pen, or whatever other scrap supply he might have acquired for his own project)



Taking time for the little things....because it's the little things that really matter afterall.

>

Blue and Birds Challenge Layouts

I used a sketch by Denise for this first layout where we were to use "blue" as the predominant color. Blue was the perfect choice for this photo with a very busy background. The sketch was perfect for all of the journaling that I wanted to include.
Title: Mother & Sons Dance


I had an entire list of challenges that this could fit; bold, borders, birds. I decided to use this for the Birds challenge, I used little owls as accents.
Title: Homework Hr.


Thanks for visiting me.

She Loves/He Loves...

In the spirit of February and the month of LOVE....Thought I would share some of our current favorite things we love to do.

She loves tennis: I'm Loving tennis again. I played a lot of tennis is high school and college, but hadn't played in years! I got a chance to enjoy it again this past weekend, when I spent time with Matthew.


He loves:
Fixing up his car! ....Operation Restoration is in full swing and the old car is getting a facelift. It's a dream come true for Richie to be restoring his car, something he's always talked about and always wanted to do. I'm happy for him. I'm happy to see him loving a hobby and doing something he truly enjoys.





These little loves just make us happy. Give us something fun to talk about, something fun to do and share with each other.

What are your current loves??

Christmas in February?

Yes, the Christmas crafty bug strikes again! I have promised myself that I will be ready for Christmas long before the rush hits. I've dedicated myself to making Christmas crafts and gifts all year long. So you will probably be seeing my Christmas gifts and ideas pop up on this blog throughout the next several months.

I was busy on Saturday. I made these blingy little tags to set aside for next December. Simply take 3 or 4 pieces of sparkly pipe cleaners to make the snowflake shapes. The soft blue tags were made by recycling a Christmas card that I received this year. It was much too pretty to throw out! The remaining snowflakes will be used to decorate pagackages, hang on the tree, or attach to small gifts.

Please share any Christmas gift making or crafts that you are planning or working on.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting me.

A little weekend creative....

...inspired by Ali and Shannon Tidwell.

Fun, simple project. I found the shadowbox frame at WalMart for about $14 and the hearts were handcut from scraps. This is one of my favorite pictures from our Christmas card photo shoot. I just adore those dirty little knees and my loving boys! :) I think I'll hang this one in my scraproom today!

Happy 3-day weekend!

44 Things to Do This Year

I've been working my way through this list since last July. I decided that this would be the year that I take steps to do some things that I know will enrich my life. I'm having fun! I wonder if I can get through all 44 of these "things to do"?

1. Relax at the lake - done
2. Plan a date nite - done
3. Read to my kids - done
4. Teach the boys how to fold laundry - ummm in progress
5. Stick your feet in sand
6. Have a Starbucks & Biscotti
7. Get your eyes checked - done (see photo above of me at Sam's tryin on the new specs....ignore the price tag on the side! ha!)
8. Go to Disney - done
9. Cut back to part-time work - done
10. Repaint the cabin - done
11. Sew something pretty - done
12. Send a card to my Aunt in Texas - done...she got an Easter Card!
13. Learn to crochet again
14. Love a new Baby - done....I love Chase!
15. Splurge @ Christmas - oh yeah!
16. Buy yourself flowers
17. Drink Hawaiian Punch - done Yum!
18. See my Sis again - done...I love her!
19. Take Mom to Lunch - done....we love the Olive Garden!
20. Scrap w/ a friend - hey, anyone wanna scrap? I haven't done this one yet!
21. Try 2 Buck Chuck wine :)
22. Teach Typing 101 to Matthew
23. Buy a musical instrument
24. Hug my hubby - always
25. Bake cupcakes for no reason - done
26. Give M&M's to my boss
27. Start a new button jar - done, lots of leftover gold buttons
28. Go to the beach
29. Visit an old friend - done
30. Do something nice for a teacher - done
31. Take a long walk w/ Matthew - done, we walked to River Park
32. Throw a big party - done...fun Easter Egg Hunt and Playdate, my kind of party!
33. Use my handmade quilt
34. Eat off the good China
35. Go to the Nickel Archade
36. Share a banana split
37. Visit the Pet Store - done...on one rainy night
38. Take Grandparents to breakfast
39. Spend a Saturday w/ Deb - done (Happy 50th Deb)
40. Reach out to my Brother
41. Write a letter in cursive and mail it to a friend
42. Take a drive with the top down
43. Tell my Dad that I love him - why does this one have to hurt? :(
44. Eat Cake

What will you do this year?

Weekend Creative - Inspired by Ali

I'm happy with the way this little book turned out. I modified the original design a little, just for fun. I really enjoyed making and sewing this project! I'll be adding some love notes and photos and giving this to my Valentine on the 14th!

A couple of recent layouts

Created this on a recent cabin crop weekend....was having a love affair with the polka dot paper! The girl with the big hair? Yep, that was me when I lived in Wisconsin.....the other layout is a "then/now" look and Zak and Me.

Have a fun day and thanks for visiting me.
reen

Questions of the Week

"Mom, before we were born.....where did you meet Dad"?

"Did you meet when you were in college"?

I need to know these things.......Zak, 7.

How to open a bottle of wine 101 - Cheers!

Giving Today.....

I'm giving this blanket to the local homeless shelter today. It was simple to make, just tied knots all around the fringed edges that I cut into strips. The kids at school are having a "Coat & Blanket" drive for the Poverello House. It's my little donation to help someone that has less. I'm also giving two new hoodies, one from each of my two boys.

It's all about giving today and what a great feeling it brings when we do!!

Snow Angels Mini Book!

What a difference a year makes.....

With the start of the New Year, comes a whole new beginning. Yet another opportunity to "get it right". To learn from our past and focus on improving for tomorrow.

I decided to look back to 2006, it was one of the toughest years in my marriage. I think every couple goes through those "tough times" in their relationship, we were no different. I think I learned that year why they make you say, "for better or for worse" in your marriage vows. Things had just gotten worse! I was struggling, we were both at a turning point. This first layout just describes "2006 in a nutshell" . It documents one of the most difficult years we've faced as a couple and how we "turned it over to God" to see us through.

I had a lot of growing to do. It felt like at that point I had hit the end of one chapter as a Mom. My kids were growing and didn't need me in the same ways they always had. I needed to move forward, to seek out a piece of my own identity. I needed time to rediscover myself...a time for change.

My prayer was to let me allow God to be the driver, to lead me in the direction where he needed me. I think he has. I think this series of layouts clearly reflects where I was in '06 and what a difference a year made to me.

In 2007, I found a little part of me again. I became a working Mother and went back to my career in marketing. The part of me that needed to be recharged, was resparked! Having a job took some of the pressure off of Rich and gave the kids a whole new respect for what I was capable of doing. They were all so proud of me and that was a wonderful thing! 2007 was a great year! I think God answered my prayer when he blessed me with a wonderful job that still allowed me to give a piece of myself to my own kids and still help out our family.

I can look back and see that he really tested us and forced us to look at our promises to each other. I found out that by honoring our vows to each other, we honor him. . It was a good lesson...a good choice to let him be in charge of the plan.

Here's looking forward to an even brighter tomorrow, a spectacular 2008!! Happy New Year!!

A few scraps....

As you can see, I enjoyed the hobby a little bit this weekend. I joined the girls over at "the village" for a mini virtual crop. A very nice group of people. ......Finally put a few ideas down that I'd been tossing around in my head. I ended the weekend with 5 completed layouts, not bad for being the slow poke that I was. I'll share a couple of more layouts later in the week.

I have decided that Scrapping makes January seem brighter to me :)

Happy Day!