These kids grow like weeds!

I sometimes look at the kids and wonder where time has gone. It is amazing how they continue to grow and change each day. For the 'TWO' layout I used some Fancy Pants paper that I adore. I've been hoarding it forever and I'm really sad that I cut into it. I also repurposed a pair of jeans that were torn I frayed them a bit extra for the look I wanted. The idea of gluing it down or busting out the sewing machine at that moment gave me a headache, so I used my trusty stapler. I really like how it turned out. In this layout I used some older Basic Grey paper that I loved. I also used some felt and vinyl thickers. Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have a fantastic weekend!

Friday Faves

Wow, I really had planned on updating a little more this week. I had layouts and everything. Serious! But we snuck in a mini vacation to Knobles this weekend. I went camping in a tent for the first time. We had a great time. And it's just been a little bit of a crazy, short week. So, for now I will give you my fave fives of the week, but stay tuned for some layouts and stuff tomorrow . 1. This week would have to be Knobeles. It's fun, and very family and budget friendly. All of their prices are reasonable, even on the concessions. We really loved it. 2. Pain medicine. Of any kind, but mostly Aleve today. I'm still having pain from the car accident I was in a couple months ago. And I got my back readjusted. Now nobody can say I'm out of whack. Anyhow, Aleve is my friend today. 3.Summer CHA. Nothing is more fun than looking out for sneak peeks from my favorite manufacturers.Search #chasummer on twitter so you don't miss a beat! craft and hobby association 4.Photo editing software. The software that came with my camera is complicated. I'm still learning it. But I've been using Aurora and I really like how easy it is to use. I love how it shows you how different things will look in one screen. And it is really cool that sometimes you can take a really crappy photo and make it much better and more interesting through the editing. 5.The way a two year old, who is learning to talk says things. Kevin's vocabuary is just growing by the minute. And the way he says things just kills me (oh, wait, that is my back...) Favorite new words this week include Choceeeeee!! (that would be chocolate) and Drackee!(tractor)and sh*t (meaning SHIRT) but it really makes us giggle when he says it. Blogger is not letting me upload pictures at this point :( But I'll try to come back and add some in later

Friday Faves

Well, everybody is doing Friday faves, so I'm just gonna hop on the bandwagon with you all. Pretty sure I owe someone credit for this, but I don't know who. 1.My first fave is my friends. Particularly Danielle, Jill and Amy, who gave me blog awards. And I've been lame and doing other stuff and I haven't had a chance to pa pass it along. But they are my girls and they are sweet. I'm lucky to have them in my life. 2. Potty training. Our first day of potty training went really well. I will spare you the gruesome details that only a mommy could love. But we are getting there and I think that Kevin is finally ready! 3. Goodnight Moon, by Margret Wise Brown. I've always wanted to read with Kevin. But he is not the sort of kid that sits still. EVER. And lately he is wanting me to read to him. I've already read Goodnight Moon to him twice today. 4. Magic Jack. You pay 40 bucks for it at Walmart, Plug it into your computer and plug it into your phone. And your calls are free for a year. I ended up calling the phone company and switching to the bare bonesiest non package thing they have for 15 bucks a month (since we get out Internet through the phone company and I wanted to keep my phone number). The Magic Jack does give you a new phone number, but that is the only downside that I see. We will save $430.00 off of our phone bill this year. That is a lot of paper. 5. PBS I used to watch it when I was a kid, before my mother went nuts and threw out our television. I love watching Mr.Rodgers and Sesame Street with Kevin because they are the same shows that I watched as a kid. I'm not going to lie, Sesame Street has changed a lot. It took me a while to warm up to it. But Kevin loves it. He really really does. And motherhood is all about compromises. Happy Friday, Peeps!

Noah Layouts

Well, I figured out why I am so behind on Noah's book. It's really hard to scrap boys. Little boys aren't as bad, but there are not a whole lot of embellishments for older boys. And I may be able to get away with a flower or two on Kevin's pages, but it ain't gonna fly with Noah. I've completed a few layouts. more of those are to come. The Wiffle Ball layout is on Cosmo Cricket paper and the green pleated paper is Basic Grey. I think it is the least expensive layout I've ever made in my life. The CC and BG papers I bought on clearance for a quarter each. The cardstock I used for matting and title was 6/96 cents at JoAnns, and the little pebbles were on clearance at Target for 75 cents. I have a couple metal K& Co elements that I was given long ago . It's simple and inexpensive, but I think it really works in this layout. I love this layout. the paper is also Cosmo Cricket and Basic Grey as well. I got the trim on clearance at JoAnns. I used some faux Say it in pearls and some American Crafts stickers and Thickers.

What I've been up to....

Well, it's been awhile. I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I promise. For the sake of explanation, here is a list of the top 5 things I've been doing while my poor neglected scrap stuff is gathering dust. 5. I've been summering. Trips to the park, playing in the back yard with my little guy. He keeps asking to go " 'side, 'side, Mama!" How can you say no to that? 4. Noah has been spending more time with us while he is off school. I can't tell you how excited we all are about this. He's never spent extra time during the summer with us. It is so nice to have him here more. Kevin just adores spending time with his brother. Every morning he wakes up and looks for Noah. And with an extra family member, comes a little less time for myself and a little extra laundry. I don't mind at all, he is so worth it. 3. Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. Wow, does it never end? Please don't answer that. If I find out it doesn't end I might just never clean again. My sweet husband likes things a bit more clean than I do. I'm a bit more laid back. I like things clean, don't get me wrong, but I find a lot of the things that I do, I do for him, not really for myself. And with a 2 year old and a 10 year old, it can get pretty messy. Given a choice between a messy floor and scrapping, I choose scrapping. The floor will get messy again, but mojo only lasts so long. Memories are forever. Or so I tell myself. 2. My scrappiness went on vacay. It forgot to take me with it. I have actually been trying to scrap. I've just had a really hard time finishing projects and liking what I have been doing. I think it has more to do with my mood than with the actual scrappiness itself, but that is a theory. Perhaps I forgot how to scrap at all . 1. My husband bought me the camera of my dreams. No lie. For our 5th wedding anniversery he gave me a Cannon Rebel xsi 12.2 mp camera, with an extra zoom lens. And I've been photographing a LOT. And I've had to spend a lot of time learning the camera. I used to shoot with a Cannon Rebel 2000 before I got my digital camera. And I learned a lot on that one, but it is incomperable to a DSLR for learning. I love instant feedback. Plus if I had to develop those shots, I would be millions of dollars in debt. So, I guess the short story is I've been trying to find balance in an ever changing life. I'm off to scrap, now that the baby is sleeping. Let's hope I have something spectacular to show you tomorrow (or even tonight)!