Peterson Stories

Pep Talk, Project Life, and Sue Heck

2014-02-27T10:22:00.002-05:00

If you are the memory keeper in your family, I'm sure you are familiar with the paralyzing feeling of being behind. We have all been there (or present tense...there) and it stinks. That is why I busted tail late 2013, and cranked out four months of digital layouts so I could feel "caught up" going into the new year.

I actually did it. I caught up. I felt it. It was nice. Then it was gone.

Cut to February 17 when I sat down with my computer to upload and organize my photos and realized that again, I was six weeks behind. Now I KNOW what some of you are saying..."six weeks? That's all? I'm six months behind." or maybe "six years behind". So here's some good news. It's not the end of the world! Capturing memories and documenting them is an ongoing adventure. There will always be work to do, but doing anything is better than doing nothing! (wow, this post is not going in the direction I thought it would. I'm starting to sound like Sue Heck.)

Anyway, if you are feeling behind, or maybe haven't even started, I want to be your personal cheerleader in a rainbow sweater and tell you to keep going. You can do it! (insert cheese and thumbs up) Would you like some inspirational reading? Check out this post and then this one and don't let the title of this one fool you, because it is a great perspective!

I feel so blessed that I have had the ability to stay (mostly) on top of my scrapbooks each year. It is important to me, so makes me so happy to see my kids look through these albums and light up when remembering all the little moments from the year.

It really makes it seem worth all the work that was put into. Time flies, so it is nice to be able to grab one of these albums off a shelf and see what happened in the blur.

No go print your pictures and get moving. You will be glad you did.

2013 Project Life Pages...I'm done!

2014-01-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

I didn't realize when I started 2013 that the entire album would be done digitally. I did lots of digital layouts in 2012 to "catch up" quickly after falling several weeks behind, and I kind of liked it. I realized that I could work on little bits here and there and not be stuck with my supplies in another room. I still print everything out as a 4x6 and 3x4 photo and slip it into the Project Life Template A style page protector. That way, I can still add inserts or anything else I want to include. I got into the habit of bringing everything together in a digital layout each week so I could share on Instagram or my blog, so that is what you are seeing below.

I started out with the Seafoam Kit, but as the new digital kits became available throughout the year, I was completely seduced and kept buying new ones. I've built up quite the stash this year, and I honestly don't know what my approach will be to 2014. I'm sort of winging it.

Here are my 2013 pages: (my apologies...I saved the layouts at a small resolution, and they aren't the best quality.)

Week 1: Seafoam Kit

Week 2: Seafoam Kit

Week 3: Seafoam Kit

Week 4: Seafoam Kit

Week 5: Seafoam Kit

Week 6: Seafoam Kit

Week 7: Seafoam Kit (and some random free printables)

Week 8: Seafoam Kit

Week 9: Seafoam Kit

Week 10: Seafoam Kit

Week 11: Kraft Kit

Week 12: Kraft Kit

Week 13:

Inserts: 5x7 and 6x12

Week 14: Kraft Kit

Week 15: Honey Kit

Week 16: Honey Kit

Week 17: Honey Kit

Week 17 Insert:

Week 18: Some Kraft, Honey, Seafoam (with recoloring)

Week 19: Kraft Kit

Week 20: Jade Kit

Week 21: Honey Kit

Week 22: Jade Kit

Week 23: Kraft Kit

Week 24: Honey Kit

Week 25: Rad Dad Kit

Week 26: Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Mini Kit

Week 27: Honey Kit

Week 27 Insert:

Week 28: Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste Mini Kit

Week 29: Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Mini Kit

Week 30: Summer Theme Pack

Week 31: Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste Mini Kit

Week 32: Jade Kit

Week 33: The Great Outdoors Theme Pack

Week 34: Summer Theme Pack

Week 35: Honey Kit

Week 36: School Theme Pack

Week 37: Football Theme Pack

Week 38: Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste Mini Kit

Week 39: Coral Edition

Week 40: Jade Kit

Week 41: Dear Lizzy Neapolitan Mini Kit

Week 42: Just Add Color Kit

Week 43: Personal Yearbook Mini Kit

Week 44: Halloween Theme Pack

Week 45: Seafoam Kit

Week 46: Summer Theme Pack

Week 47: Kraft Kit

Week 48: Road Trip Theme Pack

Week 49: Honey Kit

Week 50: Amy Tangerine Cut & Paste Mini Kit

Week 51: Jade Kit

Week 52: Just Add Color Kit

Also, I have been asked a few times on Instagram which fonts I use. There were three different fonts that I stuck with for titles and journaling.

Museo Slab, Bebas, Amelie fonts can be found by clicking here.

This was a fun year. I really felt like I got in a groove with my process of collecting photos, storing them, uploading, etc. I'm totally drawing a blank about how I will approach 2014. We are now 3 weeks into the new year and I haven't uploaded a thing yet. So.....there we are.

Thanks for reading. Hope you didn't fall asleep. Let me know if I can answer any questions about these layouts!

Remember when I used to post things on my blog?

2014-01-14T14:20:00.000-05:00

Nope, neither do I. July 2013. That was the last time I posted anything. These days, my downtime usually gets spent doing some kind of monkey business on my phone. With everything right in the palm of my hand (i.e. email, facebook, instagram, pinterest), why do I need to get on my computer anymore? "Ain't nobody got time for that!" Lazy...? Perhaps. Lacking content or organized thoughts...You betcha. Either way, if you have read this blog in the past and wondered what happened to me, I'm still here, just not very motivated to put my life into writing and photos.

However, it is a new year, and I am still running strong good intentions, healthier foods, and endorphins from working out.

So, maybe I will add "blogging" to my list of 2014 goals. We'll see.
So thanks for clicking over to my dusty old blog. You might see some more of me...but then again, you might not.

Project Life Update :: Week 20

2013-07-08T16:19:00.002-04:00

One of these days I may actually post something that is not Project Life related. Probably not anytime soon, but the small chance still exists. I don't know how people do it. So...more Project Life layouts.

This layout was from the Jade Kit. Super cute and fun, but I only pulled the Red and Blue for this particular week.

Here is Week 20:

Left Side:

I have had SUCH good intentions of catching up. My photos are even sorted and organized...but these small people around here always seem to need something from me. (and I'm rather lazy this summer...that might play a small part.)

Father's Day Mini album...for our Rad Dad

2013-06-13T09:48:00.002-04:00

Last year for Father's Day, I threw together this cute little book for $2...No joke!

http://pinterest.com/pin/16818198581365165/

I downloaded the files from the rockstar chicks at Eighteen25, and printed at home for free. The photo album was $1.99 at Target. I asked the kids several questions to fill out the question sheets (hilarious), and inserted them in the album. It was so easy, and Dan LOVED it!

If you've followed this blog for about five minutes, you know I love me some Project Life, so I was so excited when I saw the Rad Dad kit available a AC Digitals! ( It's still on sale by the way...$5.59)

I scoured my photo files from the last 12 months and found all my "Dad" pictures, and had them printed up along with the digital elements from the kit. Sadly, there were no Project Life Mini albums at Hobby Lobby when I was there, so I made do with what I could find. Here is what I came up with:

Just noticed the tag is hanging out. Nice...

Let's hope he loves it! If not, he should be thrilled with the Keurig coffee maker I'm giving him after he opens this :)

Project Life Update:: Weeks 17, 18 and 19

2013-05-28T10:09:00.000-04:00

I've been going back and forth between the Kraft and Honey Kits. I am loving all the bright, fun colors and patterns.

Week 17

Left Side (clearly I didn't do a good job with my clipping masks...you can see the template behind all my photos. oops. Good thing they are all printed out and slipped into my album pockets.

Right Side: Waaaay too many Kenny pics, so I included an 8x10 insert as well.

Front side

Back Side

Week 18: I used both Kraft and Honey...Stuck with the green/pink color combo.

Left Side

Right Side: Fun weekend with friends and family date day.

Week 19:

Left Side:

Right Side: This week was mostly about Bryce and his b-day. Lots of pictures so I made a collage, as well as a cute video slideshow on the journaling card.

I am still loving this project, and how much easier it is for me to include the things I want using the digital elements. It's not for everyone, but it is totally working for me!

Project Life Update: Week 16

2013-04-27T09:43:00.001-04:00

Nothing super crazy this week. Just stuck with the Honey Kit again. We played outside quite a bit, lots of shots of ordinary life this week.

Bottom left pocket will be a flip up page. The two images on the inside of flap are below.

I love these little hands, so proud of his creations. I love his half-worn off tatoos on each arm. I love that he names each one of his lego creations (yellow journal card). This kid rocks.

I had lots of photos from our walk downtown last weekend to check out the flooding of the Grand River. I used Design H (basically half of Design A) to add as an insert.

Front

Back.

There we go. Week 16...done.

Project Life Update: Week 15 OH HONEY!

2013-04-16T09:15:00.000-04:00

This week, the new Honey Kit went live at AC Digitals. Just like Kraft, it's full of bright, fun colors and designs. Its a perfect fit for us since the majority of my documenting is centered around a 3 and 4 year old. Here's what I came up with this week:

Full Spread:

Left Side:

I mentioned last week that I've jumped on the "Vine" bandwagon, and will be using this app to capture some quick videos throughout the week to add to my PL layout. I put together all the videos into one and created a QR code, so I can scan right from my phone when I'm looking through my album. Here is the video from week 15:

Easy Peasy!

Right Side:

Lots of rain this week...as you may have seen in the short video. I grabbed a screenshot of my weather app during all the storms. Blachhhhh! I found my cute little Aunt Pat in an old Navy commercial this week too, so I took a pic of the tv and added the commercial in a QR code.

I love the rainbow of colors in this weeks layout! This Kit is just too fun! I'm linking up with the Mom Creative...Want to see more PL goodness??? Click over there!

Project Life Update: Week 14

2013-04-11T10:54:00.000-04:00

Last week was spring break, so we kind of laid low around here. We had the cousins over for a sleepover, then Dan and I took off for a wedding in New York on Friday.

I also tried something new this week. I downloaded the Vine app and joined. At first I wasn't sure if I liked it or not, but I think I will be using it more for documenting rather than "sharing". The concept: It allows you to record six second videos...either one consecutive video, or quick snips of videos all looped together. It's like IG, but all videos.

I gathered my videos for the week and put them all together into one using Windows Live Movie Maker , then created a QR code (Left side). Photos are great...but playing back video and hearing those little voices makes me melt. Here is my first attempt: (there is no music...just the audio from videos)

Moving on...here is the full spread:

Left Side:

Right side:

There are weeks where I go back and forth about how I feel doing 100% digital. Some weeks, I really miss the tangible cutting and assembling. Others...not so much. This is one of those weeks where digital just worked. This layout came together very easily. I love being able to include screen shots of the route we took to NY, the QR code with video, etc...However, I have a few things I wanted to include in an insert (wedding invitation, and photo strips from the photo booth at the wedding)

Front: I'm going to use design J and cut it down to hold a few wedding shots and the invitation.

Back:

In case I didn't mention before, I'm still printing everything out at Costco and inserting the photos into pockets for my Album. Rather than printing everything as a photo book, this allows me to add extra things if needed, and I have the flexibility to use inserts. (I've had a few people ask :)

I'm linking my PL update over at the Mom Creative. Thanks for visiting!

Project Life Update- Week 13

2013-04-02T09:43:00.002-04:00

I cannot tell you how good it feels to be caught up again! Woo-hoo! I just Photo dumped weeks 3-12 the other day, so just week 13 to update.

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. Weather was amazing (for most of the weekend), and perfect for Easter Egg hunting! Lots of Easter Activities going on this week!

Left Side- didn't really use much from the Kraft Kit this week. I sort of just "tweaked" the title card I used in week 11, changed the colors, added a calendar and a bunny, and called it good. I knew I would be photo heavy, so I just typed out a "week in review" card for all the journaling.

I did use Cathy Z's Instagram template with a Kraft Kit journaling card, and the quote bubble card is also from the Kraft kit, recolored. I'm currently uploading my video of the kids singing at church to put in the QR code square. LOVE adding videos on my pages!

5x7 family photo to be added in a page protector as an insert.

Also will print these out and use Becky's 6x12 page protector as another insert this week. I ADORE this picture of the kids.

I'm going to try to get back on the linky wagon over at The Mom Creative. We'll see how long that lasts!
Hope you are having a great Spring Break!

Project Life Update (a.k.a...massive photo dump)

2013-03-29T08:36:00.000-04:00

I have to admit, with the convenience of Instagram, I am able to follow pretty much everyone that I used to keep up with regularly through blog updates. It seems like I rarely ever get on my computer and read, let alone write blog posts. I have had these layouts done ages ago, I've just been too lazy to post them. So...here are weeks 3-12...(I've decided to do all my layouts digitally this year. However, I am still printing each 4x6 to insert in the album.)

Week 3:

Week 4:

Bottom left has a flip up page:

Week 5:

(ticket stub from Rise of the Guardians will be taped to the top right journaling card)

Week 6:

I also used the invitation from the Award's banquet with a photo on the inside to include as an insert. I still cannot get over that creepy greasy 70's wig and glasses. ICK.

Week 7 is our Mexico trip, and since I lost my phone I had very few pictures. As soon as Janine adds her pics to my dropbox folder (ehem!!!) I can finish up week 7. :) :) :)

The rest of the week is Mexico.

Week 8:

Lots of documentation this week from email and web concerning my lost and traveling iphone.

Week 9:

Week 10:

Week 11:
I wasn't sure if I wanted to switch up my kit style, but after seeing the Kraft collection, I was IN LOVE. I really like the simplicity of Seafoam, but after 10 weeks, I'm a little bored with it. Kraft is so Kid friendly, and colorful. I love it! (and I am obsessed with PL Creative Team member Jen's style...totally copying her!!!)

Week 12:

So there we are. All caught up. Ahhhhh, that feels so good. How is your album coming along???

Living Room makeover

2013-03-19T16:32:00.000-04:00

What the heck is going on? I almost forgot for a second that I have a blog. Not that there is anything important or interesting going on over here...I have just let my laziness completely take over. Ack.

Anyhoo... I have been itching to do something new with our living room. Maybe it's the cabin fever rearing it's ugly head, or the fact that it's been 5 years since we moved in, and I'm ready for change. I have been pinning some ideas for a while, and I'm thinking of going a little wild up in here.

Our entire main floor is painted yellow...and I am soooooo over yellow. Thankfully it is a neutral yellow, so it's not too overwhelming, but there are too many walls that start and stop in weird places, so if we tackle part, we'd have tackle all. Not going to happen. Also in my favor, is the couch. Yes, it's looking pretty sad these days, but while the kids are small, we are not replacing furniture. It is actually a sectional that is currently split in half on either side of the room. (see below)

I figured the easiest, most "non committal" way to make some simple, yet dramatic changes would be pillows, lamps, and curtains.

Too wild?? I'm not sure if I can sell my ultra conservative husband on something like this?

Kinda boring...

Swap out for something with more color/personality??

As I mentioned before, we've been here 5 years and I have never picked out curtains. That was too overwhelming, and I figured we could just close the blinds for privacy. Shame on me!!!! I have been seeing horizontal striped curtains everywhere, and I'm dying! I've considered making them, but fabric adds up. Then I found a few tutorials showing how to make them. With paint! Say whaaaat?

Source: cuckoo4design.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

TO DIE FOR, RIGHT?

Source: theyellowcapecod.com via Sara on Pinterest

These babies make me happy...so happy...but very nervous at the same time. Black? Could I pull this off?

Hmmm...I don't know? (Images are cut and pasted on...obviously)

Please excuse the mess in the background...we live here. Isn't this couch so sad. The two sides may need to be reunited. It looks kind of limp. :)

Or maybe it just needs some happy pillows and a new lamp shade? I also toyed around with the idea of Tan-ish stripes...so it's not so...bold? Maybe I should just stick with a few colors, instead of the rainbow explosion. I need help! Any thoughts, opinions? Is this just horrific and tacky? I am no interior designer, that's for sure. Before I spend any money, I'd love some opinions. Holla!!!!

Project Life : Week 1 and 2

2013-01-16T15:19:00.000-05:00

Somehow, I have not lost interest in this project over the last few years. Sure, I may fall behind, but the fact that I have these tangible layouts to look through and see our memories that otherwise would have been forgotten (or at least a little fuzzy), it makes it all worth it. I am totally on board for 2013. This year I'm using the Seafoam kit...although I don't exactly have it yet. I downloaded the digital Seafoam kit, and that's what I'll be using until it arrives. Links at the bottom of the post.

So, here is what I came up with for my title page.

Since we neglected to take any professional family photos this year, I just grabbed some snapshots from the end of the year, and wrote up a little text on each family member. It includes age, likes, dislikes, habits, etc... I also added a strip of digital paper to add some color. The 3x4 pockets are just filler cards from the kit with the year.

Week one was a little boring, but we didn't really have a ton going on. Every picture was taken with my iphone. (I am not going to stress about that this year!) I have used a ton of Rhonna Design InstaLovin elements on my photos.

Left Side

Right Side
Again, since I don't have the actual kit, I just opened up the journal card .png in photoshop and typed my journaling rather than writing it out. Everything is printed as a 4x6 photo from Costco, then trimmed at home. It's just easier for me that way...and my home printer sucks!

Week two.

Left Side.
I love how my 2012 Clementine album turned out. However, I strayed from the Clementine supplies, and often used many other types of papers and elements. Looking back, it feels somewhat chaotic, so this year, I think I'm going to go straight Seafoam. I would like it to be a little more consistent...but who knows, I might change my mind...that's kinda how I roll. I switched up the title card, but kept the layout the same.

I saw this post over at Tracy Larson's blog, and it made me want to collage my unused Instagram photos. Easy peasy. Another thing I am loving is screenshots. I love including text messages, conversations, face timing, itunes (see above). My kids are obsessed with Call Me Maybe and Gangham Style...they are playing constantly, so why not document it. We will have a good laugh at that in the future! Speaking of having a good laugh in the future, I wanted to include all the technology I am using in 2013. Phone, laptop, kindle, ipad. Who knows what we'll have even next year!

So there it is...two weeks down, 50 more to go!

Project Life Seafoam Digital Kit
Rhonna Designs Insta Lovin Kits
Splendid Fins 2013 Calendar Cards

Final 2012 Project Life Update (part 2)

2013-01-08T08:10:00.000-05:00

In the previous post, I updated my pics from weeks 35 through 42. Yowza...and here's the rest:

(missed a flight and had to spend the night in the airport alone, so I text back and forth with my sister...in case you were wondering...)

...don't even get me started on the quality of these photos this week. Costco usually does a much better job, but for some reason, an entire batch i ordered turned out CRAZY DARK...and I just don't have the desire to re-order.

somehow missed a couple pictures when i placed my order...grrrrr.....

...so there it is! My 2012 album. Still need to fill in a few holes, but it is 99% done. What a great feeling! I will be linking up over at the Mom Creative.

Final 2012 Project Life Update (part 1)

2013-01-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

I shared some thoughts on my 2012 PL album yesterday. I'm ready to begin a new year, a new album , a new design...Yay Seafoam...but before jumping into 2013, here are the rest of my layouts for weeks 35 through New Years Eve 2012! This is going to be a long one, so here we go:

Whew! I think this might be a good place to rest. I will finish up the rest in part 2!

It's been waaaaay too long, but I'm linking up over at The Mom Creative!

Hello 2013- Project Life Thoughts

2013-01-07T16:41:00.000-05:00

With the new year, comes lots of really good intentions on my part! Eat better, exercise more, yada, yada, yada. Same story... new year.

All of the previously mentioned things are totally on my to-do list, but I would like to include keeping up with my Project Life album. Over the last 3 years, I've always managed to complete my albums, but at what cost? I have spent much of the last week ignoring EVERYTHING and cranking out several weeks worth of layouts. That is for the birds. (and that is NOT what I want this process to be about.) Update coming tomorrow.

So as of today, I would just like to say that I am done!

That's right...2012 is done baby! This makes me sooooooo happy!

Here are some thoughts I've had about 2013 and this next album I am about to begin.

I am going to keep it simple!

However that needs to happen (and I haven't exactly nailed down the details) I will being trying to keep things much more simple. Tracy Larson had an amazing post about how she is planning to tackle 2013. This rocked my world. You must read. I am totally incorporating dropbox as part of my routine now.

Some other random things i would just like to add:
I WILL NOT feel guilty for having 95% of my photos come from my cell phone and or instagram. (Something is better than nothing!!)
I WILL NOT compare my book/my style to anyone else. We are all different. That does not mean their album is better than mine, just different. (anyone else have PL envy seeing all the amazing layouts out there?!?
I WILL NOT feel overwhelmed if I don't take pictures. It's not life or death. I will just take more later.
I WILL do my very best to stay on top of organizing photos and uploads. See above link from Tracy about setting up folders on your computer now!
I WILL NOT feel that I need to add "extra elements" to everything. The photos and journaling are all that matter...not washi tape or the latest and greatest stamps. Do you hear me Sara? Get over it! Keep it simple!
I WILL use this binder to plan out my layouts, because this has really been working for me.

Ok, I'm done. So, I'm off to upload and crop a bunch of pics that I took of weeks 35-52. Yup, you read that right...12 weeks.

...and if you are really bored, here are links to week one through falling off the wagon. Enjoy!
Week 1 and cover
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5 and 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11 and 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 19
Week 20
Week 21
Week 22
Weeks 26-28
Weeks 29-32
Falling off the wagon

Merry Christmas

2012-12-23T11:29:00.004-05:00

christmas video 2012 from Sara Peterson on Vimeo.

Project Life, and falling off the wagon

2012-12-19T18:54:00.000-05:00

I looked back through my posts, and discovered that the last Project Life update I posted was through week 32...way back in August. Oh MY!

That makes me very sad. I have managed to sneak in some PL time here and there, and I'm actually caught up through week 45 or 46 I think...I just haven't posted about it. I'm hoping that after Christmas, I will have some down time to catch up before the year is over. I am bound and determined to have my album completed before December 31st!

In order for me to catch up on large amounts of time, I tend to do my layouts digitally. Kind of a bummer, because I enjoy the cutting, gluing, stamping...but I also love a completed week. So, if it needs to be digital, so be it!

I also get to use more elements that I don't have in my traditional supplies. Yay!

So, hopefully I will have more updates coming soon!

Rhonna Designs and Instagram

2012-12-13T09:03:00.000-05:00

I just put up a new post yesterday over at The Simple Moms featuring Rhonna Farrer's Insta Thanks collection.

I've been having so much fun designing pictures on my phone, to upload to Instagram, and wanted to share how it's done. Click over there for all the links to purchase and download the kit, as well as install it on your phone.

You can also use the promo code RDSIMPLE (all caps, case sensitive) through Sunday to receive 20% off the Insta thanks Kit!

Make sure to check out Rhonna's Blog as well as her IG feed to be uplifted and inspired!

New Christmas Tradition

2012-12-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

With the kids being so little and not really understanding the concept of time, we often make paper chains to count down to a big event, or trip. It helps them to visualize how much longer they have until the day will be here. (How many "sleeps" they have left!).

I've been seeing this idea floating around on Pinterest and decided to give it a try this year! The idea is to gather up a bunch of Christmas/holiday books and wrap them up. Each night before bed, the kids get to unwrap one book and read it. It is something fun we can do as a family, and helps them see how many days are left before Christmas.

To my surprise, we only had about 4 or 5 Christmas books, so I went to the library while they were at school and checked out a ton of Christmas books. (Saved me money, and we can get a fresh selection next year!)

Last night I brought out the basket and let them each open one since it was the first night. (I wasn't sure how I would let them decide who got to pick the first book...lots of fighting over who goes first these days!) I tried to get an even selection of Santa-ish stories, as well as stories about the birth of Jesus...just to keep things real around here! With the commercialization of Santa as well as me shoving "Elf-on-the-shelf" down their throat every morning, I want to make sure they understand the true meaning of Christmas.

I think this should be a fun new tradition we can continue each year.

A month? Really??

2012-11-28T18:07:00.000-05:00

Wow, almost an entire month and I have not blogged anything? Not that our life is all that exciting...but I don't usually go that long without posting something?!? Well, here's what we've been up to since Halloween:

I got the heck out of dodge and went to Florida for a few days with the McKee side of the family.

It really was SO much fun, even though I was only there for a hot second.

...my check liver light definitely came on this weekend.

Got home on Tuesday, then had to sit through Zac Brown Band on Thursday...poor me. :) :) :)

We had amazing seats right on the floor, so it really was a great show!

Friday and Saturday was Beneath the Tree. It was Ah.MAZ.ing. I think I might talk Dan into letting me host our home next year. It was THAT cool.

First snow...kids were pumped!

Bryce had his first solo play date with a kiddo from pre-school, so Syd and I went on a little date for lunch then Barnes & Noble.

Sesame Street Live!

Dan took me out on a date for my birthday so I picked Breaking Dawn Pt. 2...sooooooo good! Dan LOVED it! (ha ha ha)

Turned 32. yippee.

Decorated for Christmas outside...because it was almost SIXTY degrees in the middle of November!!!!

Busted my hump to try to catch up on Project Life before the end of the year! More on that coming soon!

Got crafty with our Thankfulness!

Got a shout-out from THE Rhonna Farrer on Instagram Follow Friday #heyrhonna If you don't follow her IG feed...you totally should. She is beyond inspiring!

and finally, we went on our annual Christmas Tree adventure with the Spaniolos to find and cut down our tree.

So that about sums it up. That's what we've been up to the last few weeks! Thanks for stopping by!

Halloween Memories

2012-10-30T15:02:00.000-04:00

Is there anything cuter than chubby little faces and fuzzy Halloween costumes? I think not! I love looking back at the kids over the last four years.

So adorable!

The last few years we haven't been able to keep our annual Pumpkin Carving Contest going, but while the tradition was alive...it was EPIC! (and I will not brag about pulling off a three-peat win with my Sister Meg.) Here are some of the awesome pumpkins we've made:

We don't mess around. I have a feeling with tomorrow's weather forecast it's probably not going to be the best Halloween. Oh well, I guess we'll just make the best of it! Have fun and be safe!

Thankful Heart Thursday {...or Saturday}

2012-10-20T09:15:00.002-04:00

Each Thursday, the Simple Moms host a series called "Thankful Heart Thursday". I love the idea of slowing down and just being thankful for what I have. I need {and want} to do more of this everyday, so this is a great way to express what I'm thankful for.

Today I am thankful for hand-me-downs, and the AMAZING people who keep sending them our way. We have a bunch of girl cousins close to Sydney's age, so lots of goodies continue to find their way to our house.

It seems that each season, once Syd grows out of something, there is a plethora of the next size to go through and choose from. Now that it is ~~socially unacceptable~~ too cold to put the kids in their crocs, I assumed I would have to go out and get a whole new slew of shoes. Nope! I just walked upstairs to her closet and went shopping.

These little treasures are not just limited to shoes...Sydney gets to sport this adorable new winter coat courtesy of her super cool cousin Charlotte! (and Aunt Amy's good taste!)

{November 2011}

So Aunt Stacy, Mairyn, Aunt Amy, & Charlotte...thanks for all the great things you keep sending our way. Not only does Sydney get to look so cute, but you are saving us from shopping! We are so thankful!

I'm linking up at The Simple Moms for Thankful Heart Thursday!

She is THREE!

2012-10-10T09:14:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to the coolest three year old on the Planet! Sydney Claire, you are quite the handful and you challenge me every single day, but I wouldn't trade you for the world. You are amazing...just the way you are. We love you!

(I'm not sure why this photo is the thumbnail for the video...?)

Thankful Heart Thursday

2012-10-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

Each Thursday, Renee at Mommaste, and writer for the Simple Moms posts a series called "Thankful Heart Thursday". I love the idea of slowing down and just being thankful for what I have. I need {and want} to do more of this everyday, so this is a great way to express what I'm thankful for.

Today, I am so very thankful for my health. This is something I have always taken for granted. For the last several months, I have been training for my first half marathon. It's been quite a commitment both on my part, and the rest of the family. The race is a little over two weeks away, and unfortunately, during my long run on Sunday, something went wrong with me knee. I'm not 100% sure what, I just know that it hurts! :)

I'm trying to go easy on it and praying nothing is seriously wrong, but these last few days have been so frustrating and upsetting. Now I know, this may seem pretty vain. "Poor me, I can't run a half marathon" and there are others struggling with loss, disease, or worse. This is why I am so thankful.

I'm thankful I have been healthy enough to train all summer and push my body and mind to try something new. I'm thankful for the support of my family. I'm thankful for the encouragement I've received from friends. I may or may not reach this goal, and I have to be OK with that. I am healthy, and so very fortunate.