New Layouts

I taught a class last month and have promised to get the layouts up for those who were unable to finish in the class. I am determined to get them up BEFORE this months class.... so without further ado.... here they are!

This first one is using We are Memory Keepers Autumn Splendor Line.

Here are a few close ups of the tree, which I drew and hand stitched.

And the title, which was a little different for everyone.

I love that tree paper! I think it was my favorite paper in the whole layout!

This next layout was a mix of some old favorite papers of mine. I have held on to a few of these for years, but finally decided that it was time to use them up. There is a bit of American Crafts, Making Memories, Best Creations, We Are Memory Keepers, and some REALLY old Heidi Grace. I loved her papers! Makes me sad that she isn't doing them anymore!

Here is a close up of the title. It was cut with a die cutting system and then highlighted with a few metallic markers. Black can be so fun to work with sometimes.

Oh yes, I forgot, there is a bit of K & Co. hiding in there too! Those little guys are old too! I love it when I can use up some of my stash... and I still like it!

Well, there you are. Just a little sneak of what I have been up to lately. Hoping to be around more, but man is nuts in my house with 3 little ones.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blog Your Heart Out... A Challenge.

This post is inspired by Ali and challenged by Stephanie. Two amazing women, who work very hard, are super busy, and yet, continue to inspire me daily. Thank you girls for that.

So, right now, what is in my heart and what is real for me is this...

My heart is heavy. Locally in the past week, we have suffered a shooter, mourned and remembered the 9/11 tragedy, and had a mass casualty accident at the air races. So many families ripped apart. So many children without parents. Such a tragic loss of life. It breaks my heart.

Matteo is growing so fast. He is getting bigger and bigger every day. He is so inquisitive and wants to know about everything, every second of the day. He is also starting to really sass and it is making me a little crazy. I think we are both ready for him to go back to school soon.

The girls are getting so big. They are everywhere. Some days, I don't know if *I* am going to make it to bed time. It is really tough keeping them occupied, safe, and happy. They are really interested in all of Matteo's things these days, which is a recipe for DISASTER from Matteo's view point. The fighting is unbearable at times.

With each other, the girls are really fun. They love to take things away from each other. It's so funny though, because it really never causes a big fight. The other one just takes it right back... no problems. That is really fun to watch.

Elliana is getting better. She was so sick last month. She had a sinus infection, pink eye, a respiratory virus, and kidney failure... at the S A M E time! Yuck! We did blood work, had a catheter placed, did a urinalysis, and a chest x-ray. Got some good medication, and now we are doing good. The antibiotics were so good that she now is recovering from a yeast infection. But, she is quickly getting back to her old self. Happy and healthy. In a few weeks we will have to have her kidneys checked to make sure that they are anatomically correct because of the type of infection she had, but she has to be 100% first.

Naomi is my little monkey. She is climbing everywhere. She is already trying to climb out of the crib... and she is only 13 months! UGH!!! She just learned how to climb on an adult chair/couch. The crazy thing is that she doesn't want to sit... she climbs up and stands. Gonna make me loose all my hair.

Getting really discouraged with my body right now. I am having a really hard time loosing the last bit of baby weight. Can I still call it that if they are 13 months old? I still can't fit into my jeans. It is really hard making time to fit it all in. I really need to work on that.

I miss reading again. I haven't read a book in months, and I miss that. The Help is on my list right now. I have heard such wonderful things about it.

Making a quilt for our bedroom. It's grey, yellow, and slate blue. It is lovely. Hoping to finish it before Christmas.

Needing to make some "adult" time with the hubby. I love him so much and count him as one of my greatest blessings.

I have been a horrible blogger this year, which is one thing that I honestly don't like. Blogging is also on my list of things to "fit in" better in the future. Somehow writing/typing it all out helps a bit.

Our garden is finally producing veggies. Picked some tomatoes... almost time to get the squash and cucumbers. The strawberries are all gone. I love having a garden.

Wow... that is more than I planned on saying, but there it is. That is what is in my heart and what is real for me right now.

I love this kid

The weather here keeps teasing us... maybe it will get warm, maybe not. Right now it is not. I am so ready for summer right now. Actually, I would be happy with some spring! But alas it is yucky cold and raining outside instead.

The other day, when it was warm outside, Matteo was outside hanging with Daddy while Mama was taking care of the babies. He came inside to give me this pretty little blossom that he had found outside. It immediately melted my heart. What a sweet little guy. So, I rush to take his picture, because of course he is just so lovable and sweet at this moment. Then I hug him tight and tell him that I love him so much and that he is such a kind boy. To this he replies, "Okay mom (which I hate when he calls me mom... he's to little to call me mom! It's mama please)... Okay mom, can I stomp on it now?"

What!?! Yes that is the same sweet, kind boy I was talking about earlier. Oh, how I love this kid. :)

On a scrappy note, here are the layouts for a class that I taught today up at Scrapbook Paradise.

Sorry for the spotty photos, as mentioned above, the weather here is so not conducive for good bright photos.

The first one is of my girls, as they are right now... chunky, moving, lovable, and oh so happy. I love the photo of them playing in the kitchen with the cups and plates. It is one of their favorite things to do right now. I love how happy they are. (don't mind the little water spot by the star. like I said, it's raining right now. :)

Here's a close up.

This next one is of the girls too, but they were so little then. It's actually funny, because they weren't that tiny in comparison to when I brought them home, but in comparison to now, they were so little. It is so much fun to see them grow and learn. It truly is a blessing.

I had a close up of this one, but it seems to have been lost somewhere in my computer. Sorry about that. I am actually having some issues with photoshop. My dear hubby decided to "clean up" the computer and now I can no longer browse in bridge when using photoshop. I can't even find bridge actually. If anyone knows a solution, I would love to hear it.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a great weekend.

It's been too long...

It has been too long since I have been blogging.

I have to say that I really do miss you dear blog. I know that that I don't have a ton of readers, but something about this blog is therapeutic for me. I have taken a long break, honestly, too long. I have just been so darn busy. But, I am ready to get back the little pieces of me that have been put on the shelf so I can attend to and take care of my littles.

Oh, those littles. They are getting so big. Matteo just turned 4 (April)...

The girls are now 9 months. It is flying bye.

Naomi

Elliana

But now, I am ready to focus on me. I am scrapping a little bit more. I have started walking and taking a pilates class (which I love)... and I am going to start blogging again. I can't promise I will be super regular yet, but I am going to try. For Me.

And just because... here are a few recent layouts that I finished up. These are all made from the Green Tangerines Kit Club (March, April, May 2011).

Thanks for stopping bye. Have a wonderful day.

One Little Word ~2011~

my word this year is persevere.

i have struggled to find my word this year because there are so many things that i want to accomplish this year.

i want to take better care of myself. after having twin baby girls just 4 months ago, i don’t feel good in and about myself right now, and i want that to change.. going to take work.
i want to gain control of my financial situation and be in a better place than i am right now.
i want to be a better more patient mother to my children, there are 3 that are 3 and under… i need to let go of the small stuff because honestly, who really cares?
i want to rid my life of excess that i don’t really need… too many obligations that i don’t want
i want to declutter my home, we don’t need all of this stuff… it really just makes more work for me, and i don’t need that either

there is so much to do, and knowing that it is not going to be easy, but really be a process that will be hard, very hard at times i am sure. so i think i will need to keep the end result in mind, especially when i think i “need” something or it’s too hard, or i slip. i need to persevere. in the end, i believe i will be a much happier and better person, mommy, and wife for it.

Gratitude: Day 20

On cold winter days, I am thankful for popcorn and movies.

Sometimes it is so hard keeping two little babies happy AND occupying a 3 1/2 year old. Today was so cold! Too cold to go out and play. Perfect for popcorn and a movie midday.

Gratitude: Day 18

Harry Potter!

Woo Hoo! So super excited for this. I am going tonight to see him... at 12:20am!

Yep, I am officially nuts! I will be SO TIRED tomorrow. Hoping that my littles sleep well tonight and in tomorrow. I can't wait... Just a few more hours!