Family Fun & Fotos on the 4th

We had a fun weekend celebrating the 4th. We tried to take it easy, for Ron's poor eye. Yesterday we took a walk on the trail near our home and stopped by the river to wade and throw rocks. Then we headed to a new public pool in our area, which received an A+ rating from the kids. We'll definitely head back there.

Today, after dropping Riley off for her 3 hours at work, we went up to Alpine to Moyle Park, hoping we could find some good backdrops for pictures. It worked, we got a few good shots, when I could get the kids to cooperate! Jared wasn't in much of a smiling mood, and Ellie couldn't hold still even for the camera to catch her with a fast shutter! We got some cute shots though to commemorate our day. I even set up the camera and let Jared take a picture of mom & dad, and it turned out better than I expected! Then off to home for a nice dinner of chicken fajitas and homemade ice cream....I need to work on my ice cream making skills a little more....it was more of a soup than a set up ice cream!(What was with that?!) Ended the night with the "Sidewalk of Fire". No pictures of that...I was manning the punk to light the fireworks as Ron couldn't see well enough to do it. Happy Independence Day!

They are so cooperative....try to get a real smile, and you just get goofy laughing! I do like this picture though, it shows their true selves!

Mom set up the shot, Jared pushed the button! I'm pretty pleased with what he got.

My favorite shot of the day. Love her eyes.

*December 7*, *December 23*, Front & Back Covers

Well, I am officially done with what I'm going to get created and printed out. I *may* (but seriously doubt that I will!) get more done tomorrow, but I'm not making a last second dash to Costco tomorrow evening to get the pictures, so the kids will have to wait for the rest! I hope they like what I have.

The little brag books I have also have the option of designing your own front and back covers, so I did, and have included those.

Enjoy!

paper credits: template-onehm, paper and elements-holiday sampler kit, shabby princess

paper credits: template-onehm, paper and elements- frosted kit by michelle coleman


paper credits: holly jolly holiday kit by molly decrow

*December 21*

WOW! A page, on the right date? That hasn't happened since, what, the 4th? Of course, if you are keeping track...yes, I'm still ten behind. Which after I counted that up I got sorta depressed. I guess if I do get these printed by Christmas for the kids on Monday, their books will look a tad empty...because I really don't know if I can catch up that well by then. Oh well. Good intentions count, right?!

This is to prove the cards are done. Not mailed, because I missed the post today and didn't feel like driving 10 miles to the nearest post office...so they go out tomorrow. All you people who will be getting a card, don't look to closely or you'll ruin the fun of it. (By the way, Bradi, if you read this, I need your address, as well as any more of you that may want a card and Christmas letter! Get 'em quick, I only have 8 left!)

I'm not sure that I like this page all that well. I don't know why. Maybe it'll grow on me.

paper credits: template(altered)-onehm, black stripe-tangie baxter, uptown girl kit, snowflake paper & glitter snowflake-miss mint, winter sparkle kit, black bow-kate teague, berry days

*December 5*

Another one done! As you can see, I'm backtracking and trying to get the days done that I've missed, along with trying to keep up as well. I'm trying to get as many of these done as I can before Christmas, because I've decided to get them printed up and give each kiddo a little book of their own...there will be some blank pages as I know I won't get them all done, not to mention Christmas Eve and Christmas will have to be added after the fact...but a mostly full book is better than nothing?!

Here's Ellie's page. She loves the tree, and thankfully has stopped ripping the ornaments off it, the little nativity, and she only broke the shepherds staff off twice and his head off once, and the little manger with baby Jesus. She likes to hold it and sing "Away in a Manger". She is the sweetest thing!

paper credits: onehm-template, molly decrow-sweet mocha raspberry kit

*December 20*

Well, we got there! Hooray! I think the elves were bugged that I took my own picture instead of forking over 15 bucks for theirs...but too bad, so sad, I'm cheap!

Nicole asked for something we've never heard of being on her list...perfect, and to top it off, it's something we will not be buying her.

I didn't hear what Jared asked for...I hope it was a bike, or we're in double trouble.

Ellie was not to hip on the "right jolly old elf", and wouldn't even make eye contact. For whatever reason, Ron and I are softening in our old age, and weren't going to emotionally scar her by making her sit on his lap...like we did with the others! (In one of our pictures of Nicole at that age, she was screaming so profusely on Santa's lap you can actually see her tonsils in the picture!)

The best part of the evening was the drive home...I was hoping we would miss the forecasted winter storm...ummm, NOPE! We got to drive home in a wonderful Christmas blizzard, and I am NOT exaggerating! Sideways snow, pitch black, cars going everywhere, sliding down hills, abandoned cars in intersections, visibility of about 15' in front of the car, guessing where the road was by looking for the reflectors on the side...it was a blast. There was even lightning...freaky. I was SO HAPPY to get home safely with no mishaps.

paper credits: janna billman-blog freebie card, digitreats-vintage preview, green dot paper

*December 18*

This quilt was part of the present that Ron's parents gave to us Tuesday evening. Ron's mother is so talented in quilt making, and she has shared many with our family. Each of the little kids has a beautiful baby quilt from Nana, and Riley has a wall hanging and full-size quilt for her bed. She is so generous with her talent, and we got another beautiful heirloom from her this year. Thank you mom! We really do love it.

paper credits: template(altered)-onehm, miss mint-winter sparkle kit

*December 17*

paper credits: onehm-template, cherie mask-be merry kit, staples from molly decrow-summer solstice kit

*December 14*

Here is our "Daily December" page for our fun Ward party last Friday. They did the "Night in Bethlehem" theme, which I'm sure some of you are familiar with. We all dressed up (and in case you are confused, Ellie is a lamb!), went to the church, paid our taxes of canned food, and signed the census. We then went into the cultural hall and received coins for our family to purchase dinner, which we had to barter for. Dinner consisted of meat and a roll, fruit, "traditional" foods(olives, dates, hummus, cucumbers, and pistachios), and dessert. We sat on the floor on a blanket to eat. Then there was a short program portraying the nativity and we sang carols. As a parting gift, each family got a little jar of frankincense and myrrh. It was very fun, and I think it helped get the kids in the true spirit of the season...at least for that night!

paper credits: onehm-template, molly decrow-holly jolly holiday kit

*December 8*

I'm going to be a little out of order now, but oh well! At least I got another done....More to come! This is pretty fun, and I'm feeling a little more proficient with Photoshop. At least with the help of the template. I think one of my daily december pages will have to be me cleaning frantically, and freaking out about all that still needs to be done, since that is a yearly occurrence! Maybe this next week.... ;o)

As you can see from this page....we got snow yesterday....and a lot of it. It started around 3 pm, and by 6 pm, we had about 6 inches! We got this bird feeder last year, and we have a lot of fun with it. It's my idea of a great pet....fill the feeder once a week, cheap food, doesn't shed, no vet visits, no pet sitter when you go out of town, no messes to clean up....well, maybe a teensy bit! They are fun to watch too, at one point yesterday during the snow, we had about 10 little birds in the trees, on the deck, and on the feeder all getting some food.

paper credits: onehm-template, jenna robertson-jlr shabby snow: snowflake & blue paper, cinzia loosemore-xmasfreebie: ribbon & snowflake

*December 4*

Well....just a day behind! With all the stress of the camera change....I'm glad that I got this one. Yes, the pictures here are with the new camera. I'm still not sure exactly what I'm doing, but at least I go the pics to show up on the computer...after Ron did some magic with figuring out how to get Photoshop to read the images.

A little background on Mr. & Mrs. Claus: These two wood figurines were the product of one of my dad's hobbies that did actually "bear fruit!" They were given to me for a couple of Christmases. I'm pretty sure all my sibs ended up with a Santa, but I bugged and bugged him for a Mrs. Claus, until he finally finished her. On the bottom, along with the year and his signature, he named her..."Patience!" I cried when I got these out and unwrapped them this last week. I am still wondering when it will get easier having him gone...maybe I'll always have moments of missing him...I guess what got me this time was showing the carvings to the kids and telling them who made them, and wishing they would have had the chance to get to know their granddad better.

Do you like the pile of my to-do project that will one day be Ellie's stocking?! Ron got a good laugh about that....I have a few more piles like that in the craft room...various embroidery, little girls dress patterns, flag wall-hanging quilt, I-spy quilt, mending....I could go on for hours!

paper credits: onehm-template, kate teague-berry days for twopeasinabucket.com

*December 3*

This is what happens when group photos are attempted with my monkeys....


paper credits: onehm-template, shabby princess seasonal sampler holiday 06, staples: shabby princess amy teets sunporch

*December 2*

Woohoo! I got a little more adventuresome with this one. Even added some elements! I may have discovered the best way to scrapbook....all I need is my laptop on my lap, and I'm good to go. Oh, and my husband guiding me through every move....although I got a teensy bit more independent on this one. But not much. No scissors, no glue, no cleaning up....hmmm.

This wasn't actually today though.....after the Festival of Trees yesterday, the kiddos came home and played in our freshly fallen snow while I shoveled. But today had nothing to take pictures of, while yesterday had an overabundance.

I have got to get to bed...since I have to get up in 4.5 hours....

paper credits: onehm-template, shabby princess winter seasonal sampler

*December 1*

My cousin-in-law, OneHM, shared a fun idea to document the Christmas season. I decided to jump on in an attempt to figure out how to digiscrap my pictures....since regular scrapbooking isn't happening around this place. This is also a lame attempt to spend more time with my hubby, since I have to ask him how to do everything when it comes to PhotoShop! (I'm not sure he's enjoying it too much though, since I keep pulling his attention away from whatever movie he is watching!)

Anyhoo...here is our day 1, and my attempt at Photoshop!!!! Thank you OneHM for the template to try and make life a bit easier....


If you can't read the words, it basically says that we went to the Festival of Trees.

paper credits: onehm-template, molly decrow, holly jolly holiday kit
labor credits: my fantabulous husband!