we ended the year 2010 with a new baby in the family, our sweet little nephew, jeremy… had a bunch of family visiting…went on a little road trip… had our biggest christmas tree yet…movie marathons… happy children… a shift in present giving- only 1 child in our family received toys this year 😦 wow… christmas came and went. and as i drove the kids to school this morning, i saw the lining of trees on the sidewalk, waiting to be picked up by the trash department. it's always a sad sight to see. this little wreath found a home in one of our frames as we are waiting for a print to go inside it. i may just leave it up for a few more months. 🙂
crafty holiday stuff
busy day for holiday crafting today! up first we have my post at 2peas! i used these martha stewart treat boxes to display, A: edible treats (mmmmm thank you trader joes!) and B: handmade ornaments.
yeah, that top left square didn't stand a chance while i was working on this project, obviously. 🙂
jenni bowlin buttons. i have dreamed of using tons of them all at once and now i finally have. yay! click here to see all the instructions (there's a fancy free PDF you can download and everything!) thank you 2p's for giving me the kick in the pants to create something i love. elsie even joined in. she did her own boxes and made daddy oatmeal raisin cookies for his birthday last week. yes, i'm purchasing lots of these boxes for future use. 🙂 JUST using Martha boxes make me feel ONE step closer to her. 🙂 i love her! HA!
and over at the KI memories blog, i've got these 2 cute boxes wrapped up all cute and simple. i'm inspired to use kraft wrapping paper and decorate with stickers!
and for our international loved ones in the philippines and australia, i managed to make some cards. WORLD RECORD people. 🙂 american crafts/dearlizzy made it so easy 🙂
i guess you can say i'm getting a little excited for christmas 🙂 and 2 weeks of sleeping in 🙂
we cooked, we ate, we gave thanks.
she who learned all about indians last week, greeting me thanksgiving morning, with how. she who wears bathing suit with scarf as skirt must be obeyed 🙂
one of our projects together for the week, our paper napkin rings!
table, mismatched glasses and placemats, plates and chairs. that's how we do it 🙂
the teenager
the kids
fall colored toes 
my turkey 🙂 loove the sage showing through the skin. mmmm!
this pic cracks me up, this is when cameron said to me, MOM why didn't make stove top!? 🙂 he didn't like my homemade stuffing, wah. 
we spent the rest of the weekend, eating, relaxing, watching lots of movies and man vs. wild and even braved the cold for one outing in LA. good weekend indeed! can't wait for christmas! 🙂
teen spirit
this wasn't actually for halloween, but her school's spirit day. lovely school colors, orange and black. 
her and her friends even had a real henna person come and do their arms! so cute! 
i love how she partipates in stuff like this. i was one of the few at school who couldn't care less. we are so different, in a good way 🙂 love her!
and a new layout for 2peas, her 2 years ago. unreal! i love pretty products that make it so easy to whip a layout together. 🙂 thanks sassafras! 
the patterned paper behind the photo is lovely leftover packaging from studio calico, the parachute rub is theirs. so really, you get 2 things in one 😉 and hooray. new KI is in stock 🙂
really trying to be better at blogging, really, i am! 🙂
KI Memories Blog Hop!
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by during the KI Memories Blog Hop Over the Rainbow!
The KI Memories Design Team is hosting a Blog Hop this week to show you all the wonderful things we’ve been creating with KI Memories products.
To cutesy up my home with some fall tidbits, I made the little banner and hanging sign with Over the Rainbow Collection goodies! This collection will be arriving soon at your fave scrapbook suppliers! 
I've loved all the cute fonts that KI put out with this release! The sticklers are totally a staple in my scrapbooking stash, as are the new Quick Strips (border stickers!!!!)
Be sure to check out the entire Blog Hop this week for a chance to win at each stop! We’ll randomly select a winner from the comments on each individual blog, as well as the KI Blog. That’s 12 chances to win!! Entries will close on Sunday, October 17th at 11:59pm CST. Winners will be announced on Monday, October 18th both on the KI Blog and the individual blogs.
Here's what you need to do:
- Leave me a comment here telling me your favorite KI collection or product of all time.
- Leave a comment on the KI Blog for another chance to win.
- Leave a comment on the other DT members' blogs….the next stop on the hop is Caroline Ikeji, Gretchen McElveen and Shannon Tidwell on Wednesday, the 13th!
Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
almost october?!
how is that possible? since the move, i had a bit of a hard time looking for my halloween pics of the kids last year. here's one i did of kira for BHG. weird since it will probably be the last halloween she dresses up for, or goes trick or treating at least! 
thank goodness my husband likes to take polaroids and this girl has a gazillion things to dress up in, he snapped these few before he went to work. i did these next layouts for jenni bowlin. 
and a little bookie i gave to my sister inlaw 🙂 i'll have some portland pics coming up sometime soon, hopefully 🙂 i just love the little letter stickers and the fabric flower! 
the other night kira needed some older pics for a school project and i got all giddy looking at the boys when they were itty bitty. i'm happy to report that i've scrapped all of my kids recently, not just els 🙂
studio calico
happy to guest design for them this month!
here are my layouts:
and one with their documentary line:
i actually did one more layout but i left it at my friend's house while scrapping there 🙂 i'll add it when i get it back 🙂 i love the stuff april pulls for the studio calico kits. i was looking at each item as i pulled them from the kit and was amazed at how she nailed the colors to match exactly. she picks fun embellishments and patterns, it's hard to go wrong with making a cute layout from them! 🙂 here's a link to their goods over at 2peas! i adore their rubons and fabrips, especially. on my list of must haves at all times! 🙂
shoppy mood
i can't even explain how excited i was to go to renegade!
i love etsy. i love supporting handmade. i love the creativity that oozes out of people. i love that they had some of my favorite etsy stores there- in like real life. 🙂 i was sorta star struck. well mistake number 1 would be: going at 2 pm. mistake number 2 would be: going with 2 children. mistake number 3 would be: going without icy drinks or snacks or some sort of shade for the littlest buddy. 
there were so many cute booths and these were the only pics i took. there's something about whiny, sweaty kids that makes me feel guilty about taking pictures and shopping. everytime i entered a booth, i heard: sigggghhhhh. which meant: is looking at this necklace more important than shading your children and finding them something cold to drink?
elsie loves posing with mannequins/life sized little people of all types. that's the only reason she even let me take that picture.
next year i'm coming in the evening.
on sunday
she will be FIF-FREAKING-TEEN.
layout for 2peas. love that rectangle paper- anna griffin of course!
I'm trying to wrap my mind around this being possible. That I've known her for 15 years, almost 16 counting pregnancy 🙂 I had her at a young age and so I can say that most of my adult life has included her. I've grown up with her and now she's growing up. Parenting a teenager is unlike anything I've ever known. People have all kinds of advice when you first have a baby and during toddler years. But what about when they become teens? Does everyone just shut up because they too are going through the same emotional roller coaster? The emotions of a teenager are so complex. I adore her. I adore the person she is becoming. I want to get in her head and know every thought like when she was little and wouldn't stop talking for a second. But I can't. I can try my best to be there. To love her unconditionally. To be happy that I am in her heart. This is the beginning phase of letting go but being unsure about how tight to hold the reigns. I can say that it freaks me out that she will be moving on with life in about 3 years. I believe I will be a complete wreck when that day comes.
Here's to fifteen and all that comes with that. Wish it could be filled with cupcakes and ponies, instead of beaches and boys 🙂 LOVE YOU KIRRRRRRRA 🙂 We are here for you 🙂
sharing
another layout, this one for KI.
featuring new KI goods and a favorite jonathan canlas photo. i love that picture– els was a little shy getting her photo taken by someone other than mom or dad. so every solo shot of her she's making this funny little face. but any photo of her with someone in it WITH her, one of her fam members, she's good. she's safe. she's happy. i'll treasure them more than the headshots- i want to remember her when she was little and all it took to make her feel safe was her family nearby.
happy weekend! we're actually off to my mom's this weekend… because every girl needs a break and still likes to feel cozy at home with their mama nearby right? 🙂
watersix 