Holiday Prep - Take One

No, no not me. I wish I was so organized and prepared. I have all sorts of plans in my head but haven't started any of them in reality yet.
BUT Nora, on the other hand, decided to get a head start on Christmas cards today. While I am still hoping to capture the PERFECT photo to use for the family one. Maybe I can just sneak our names on hers and call it good? They are pretty adorable with her writing and signature Baby Beluga drawings!!

Scrap Happy

60 hours away at a scrapbook retreat was just what I needed after the hectic 2 months we had had. It is amazing how I came back feeling refreshed and renewed, even though I only slept a total of 9 hours over the 2 nights!

The other retreats I have gone on have been small intimate ones with 12-14 people who all know each other. This one was much larger with 65+ people in a large conference room. I really enjoyed the energy and walking around looking at all the different styles, tools and ideas was quite inspiring. It was also nice to have a small shop set up right in the room for buying emergency items. I see the benefit in both styles and really as long as I have a table, chair and time I am not going to complain!

As great as the scrappin' was, time with good friends is even better. I had such a great time with my roomie Karin. Lots of laughs were had!

As always, I wasn't quite as productive as I had hoped but I really like the pages that I got completed. I also did some new techniques like sewing, painting and masking on the pages. FUN!! I am going to work on the perfecting posting layouts so I can share some more but here is a sneak peak of one of my favorites.

Wordle Fun

I just had fun making this word scramble at WORDLE

I am going to use it for a fun sledding scrapbook page at my scrapbook retreat this weekend.

Wouldn't it be fun to make one for every member of the family?

And while I am sharing fun sites check out this one

One of my favorite crafting blogs Skip To My Lou has organized this great homemade gift guide. So if you are like me and looking for some fun and unique gifts to make for family and friends this year go on over and take a peek at her selection.

Welcome November

AHHHHHH I feel like I can breathe. November 1st has arrived which officially means life will calm down to a more managable chaotic level in our house. Reasons I love November:

• Soccer season is behind us for another year. As much fun as it is, it is always a great feeling to be DONE.


• PTA commitments are minimal for the month.


• Regular family dinners at the table will happen more than twice a week.


• The beauty of fall out the windows and the crisp cool mornings that just beg for the heater to kick on and warm the house.


• The anticipation for the holiday season and all that it entails. I have craft projects for homemade Christmas gifts all planned in my head and I can't wait to get started. PLUS I have extra excitement for the holidays this year since we will be hosting Christmas with BOTH sets of grandparents. I have all ready warned Tom that I am going ALL OUT for decorating and planning! Let the festivities begin!


• I am going away for the weekend on a girls' scrapbooking retreat.

I also was reminded of this time last year and the same feelings. Before the thoughts of Project 365 even entered my head I started a daily photo project for November. It was my Daily Thanks project that I loved. Click HERE to see all the photos and here is the simple scrapbook layout I created with them.

Happy November to you. Hope that you can relax and enjoy the month!!

Happy Halloween

From Merlin

And the Cupcake

Bring a Spider to School

One of the benefits of going to the same preschool with the same teacher is getting a double dose of the amazing, unique and wonderful activities that Mrs. Brown does with the students. I have been pleased with how Mrs. Brown keeps the main themes and day's events the same while adding a degree of structure and activities that wasn't done in the 3 year old class. So, today was one of our favorite days from last year. Bring a spider to school day. Really, how many preschool teachers do you know that would welcome and celebrate 18 spiders into the classroom? This is why we LOVE Mrs. Brown. You can check out this post from last year to be reminded of Buzz, last year's chosen spider.

Nora decided that Orby needed to stay in his rightful home at the family room window. With the current cold snap, I am thinking that Orby would have welcomed the plastic bug box as a new residence. Instead, we found this lovely guy on the porch to collect.

Have I ever mentioned that I am not really as much a bug lover as my children? But I have pushed those issues to the back burner to create my future entomologists. I have to admit that the capture of this particular spider was a huge step for me. We have had many captured bugs grace our coffee table, kitchen counter, girls' beds, car (yes, they often come on drives with us). BUT I think this is the winner for the ugliest, creepiest one yet. Oh, and Nora insisted on bringing it to our neighbor's house yesterday for PTA craft time. Miss Karin's perfectly decorated side table got the addition of a spider in a very dirty bug house:-0

Here is Nora's self portrait of herself and her spider that she made at school. Do you find it interesting that the spider is correct with 8 legs, yet Nora seems to have 20 fingers?? Mrs. Brown has done a number of activities using chalk and black construction paper. I don't know why I find it so different and more interesting than crayon but I think it is a great activity. The teacher in me wants to claim that it is better for fine motor development because the chalk has a bit more resistance but I may be totally making that up.

At school they have a cermonial release of the spiders outside the back door to allow the spiders to help catch bugs around the preschool. Just like last year, Nora would have NOTHING to do with the release of her spider so he came back home once again. We will see if he ends up in bed with her tonight.

Happy Halloween Part 1

We will be having a week of Halloween Festivities in our household. It all kicked off this past Saturday with a double dose of parties. Madison had a wild and crazy party with 21 second graders at a classmate's house. To say the parents went all out is a huge exaggeration. It seemed like a huge success!
Then it was on to the adult Halloween party. This is always a highlight for us. Our neighbor's Peggy and Sandy also go ALL OUT for Halloween and this year was no exception. Their decorations are amazing with the crowning touch this year being the Exorcist remake in the courtyard. They must work on this stuff all year!
We have a few calm days and then THREE parties on Friday (Nora's class, Madison's class and evening school dance) before the trick or treating craziness on Saturday. Throw in 2 soccer games and an end of the year soccer party and we are talking pure INSANITY in our household! Wish me luck! Oh, and I forgot to mention that Nora's costume (that she has been planning since last Halloween) is STILL under construction. I better get busy!!!