A few layouts

but excuse the horrible pictures...

Here is Ava - she's an "adopted" niece - Is she not just beautiful? Someone asked me the other day why I scrapbook other people's children. Well, all I can say is - I love scrapbooking, and what's better than beautiful children? oh, and I know I need to add her name and age, but I haven't gotten to the Cricut yet...

Here's Morgan's 5th Birthday party. And thanks to an article in CK written by Elizabeth Kartchner - I am now adding more photos for an event between the two page layout in a six pocket page protector (see below).

This is my answer to an overwhelming # of photos from an event. In some boxes, I made mini-layouts.

Next - here's my Avery, my crazy bird! Here is a glimpse of her life at 4.

Lastly, our snow page...

I love the polar bear and the snowman!!! And this may be the ONLY time I get to use them!

"All About Me" Class for January 12th...

Hopefully you got Denise's email and have signed up for the year long adventure - creating a book all about YOU!! Using Basic Grey (my all time favorite!). Remember if you comment here on my blog, you have more chances at winning prizes during class - so feel free to comment and share your ideas for the layouts!

Everyone knows I'm a LiTtLe AnAl :) Soooo, the first layout titled "My Favorite Things" uses Basic Grey's "Ambrosia" line. The paper is red, orange, and grey. I plan to print my photos in black and white - unless they match the color scheme (analness). I would encourage you to live freely "outside of the box" and choose pictures in any colors that you like.

Picture suggestions:

For the left page - I will do a 5x7 of myself (with the 7" horizontal)- but if you are a picture "whore" (and I use the term nicely) - feel free to do more of yourself. I will struggle to find one, but I hope you have a million!

For the right page, I am going to print 2" by 3" photos of six of my favorite things. The 3" is horizontal. If I can't find six photos, then I will increase the photo to 4" or 6" and take up two spots, but I want to keep the grid shape. (Oh, and by printing 2x3 photos, I mean trimming to that size, because I have NO IDEA how to resize photos). Are you following me? I would need a picture, so maybe I'll draw one - hold please....




Now that I have dazzled and impressed you with my drawing ability - I hope that makes more sense (I am a ViSuAl learner - so I will try to use pics whenever possible).

We will number each box and my journaling will simply and very quickly describe the item in the box. Since I can't stand to take the time to go to the computer and print out my journaling (although still to this day I buy more fonts), I will handwrite my journaling.

So that's it! The foundation for the first "All About Me" class. I am so excited! I have never done an album (much less a page) just about me - and it's about time! I'm pretty cool and so are you - so let's make sure we let everyone know!!!

Hope to see you on January 12th. There are only 10 spots - so be sure to call Scrapbook and Co and sign up. Feel free to ask any questions through the comment section on the blog. I will answer there so that everyone can see. Now - go start making your list of FAVORITES!!!

UPDATE: Group 2 starts on February 5. We have only one spot left! See you then!

A Fantastic Christmas!

With 5 little ones to open gifts today - we had a blast. The excitement on the faces was too precious!

Go Eagles!!

Southern Miss beat Troy in the New Orleans Bowl and we were there to watch! Morgan and Avery's favorites (maybe Shane's too): the cheerleaders!!!

and dancin' on the sidelines...

Southern Miss pulled it out in OT - Go Eagles!

I had an epiphany this week...

ponytails everyday for six weeks is not a style - it's pathetic! So I searched the internet for round face hairstyles, looked in magazines, and discussed with Rebecca (the hair wizard).


So here it is....





When I picked Avery up from school - from across the classroom she yelled:
"Mommy, you look silly"
And Morgan's comment went like this:
"Why did you cut your hair. I liked it better before. You look like a jaguar now."

A jaguar? Really? Does she even know what a jaguar looks like???

Anyway, I like it, and at least my hair has a "style"...

The story of a tree...

When we lived in Metairie - we had a fake Christmas tree. I had convinced myself it was better for allergy-prone Morgan, and quite honestly, it was easy and I didn't care... So when we packed up and moved the 60 miles to Cowtown, I assumed the tree came with us. As it turns out, Shane had donated that fine artificial tree to Goodwill.

Somehow, moving 60 miles brought out Shane's inner Paul Bunyon, and now we not only have a REAL tree, we have to drive 20 more miles to cut it down. Last year we cut the tree down in shorts and t-shirts - talk about a real mood buster. But this year, it was cool enough for long sleeves and pants, which, I guess, made the event Magical...

Hilarious You Tube Video

I am not a You Tube fan. When people forward me You Tube videos, I usually delete them (sorry, but the truth). BUT, Ashley made me watch this one at work (as you can see, we are VERY busy). And I'm glad she did - it is truly hysterical!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMhuAtyFCrw

I hope you watch it and Laugh Out Loud (but I won't blame you if you don't open it!)

SnOw in BaTon RouGE - MomEnToUs OccAsIon!!

It doesn't snow in Louisiana - we are tropical - think jungle minus the exotic animals - but we awoke on December 11 to SNOW!!!!

Our Santa visit....

We left Parker and Hannah at home with a sitter and ventured to see Santa at the Shaw cafeteria. This was the first year the girls sat on Santa's lap without hysterics! Now THAT's progress!

Avery's birthday party

was a complete success! The girls had a great time dressing up - and doing a little chicken dance!
If you are experiencing deja vu - yes, Morgan did have her party at this same place "Pretty in Pink" in October...

Shane and I are surviving our weekend with four children better than I expected. It's 8:30 and Morgan, Avery, Hannah and Parker are asleep. Keep your fingers crossed that it stays that way! Don't tell Ashley - but Parker is sleeping in a dog bed on the floor - before you call Social Services - it's for our "stuffed puppies", has never seen a live dog, and is probably cleaner than most blankets in my house - plus he looks precious! Gotta get to bed - Shane is handling the three girls (all asleep in our bed) and I'm taking the night/early morning feeding with Parker. And don't worry, I took extra meds in preparation for this...

How did my baby girl get to be 4?

Here is a snapshot of Avery at four:

1. Loves EVERYTHING puppy!

2. Wants to be just like her big sister

3. Loves poptarts and oatmeal

4. Takes her stuffed puppy "Broccoli" everywhere

5. Throws a fit every night at bedtime

6. Sneaks into Mommy and Daddy's bed every night

7. Strikes a pose for every picture

Oh, there is so much more...

Now, on to me...(because I know you can't wait!) Saw the surgeon yesterday. Everything looks good and he casually mentioned that the swelling will all be gone in four months - FOUR MONTHS!!!! Are you kidding? Well, I can't wear yoga pants for that long - so I am heading out today to find a pair of pants and two tops. I will wear them everyday until they either fall apart or become too big (let's hope for the latter). And, yes, I cleared this "mental health day" with Ashley - just can't get back into the swing of things at work! I REALLY liked being at home for four weeks. I'm sure tax season will shock me back into the real world! Wish me luck - I will either be laughing in the fitting room or crying - knowing me I'll be laughing so hard I will be crying!