Scrapbooking...

...is something I don't think I'll ever be successful at. At least not in the "traditional" sense of the word.

That's where I need your help...I need some ideas.

Here are my photo-archiving goals:

1. Chronicle significant times in the life of our family and the life of each of my children.
2. Maintain copies of my chronicles so that each child can call one his/her own and I can keep one for my hubby and me.

So, I figured, before, that I would scrapbook (with a book and dye-cut images and acid-free adhesive, etc.). I would have a book for each kid and a book for our family as a whole.

What a joke....right? Can ANYONE do this?!?!?!

So, then I thought I'd just keep a good family book, and each kid can have a copy. But...how in the world do you make good copies of your scrapbooking work? No, that won't work...

So...my latest idea (and...this, specifically is where I'm hoping you may have some ideas..) is that I want to start keeping some sort of digital scrapbook. I really wish I could ensure that my blog could be saved to disk or something, and I could hand it down to my kids. Or...something like that. I don't need all the journal entries, necessarily...but they don't hurt either. I just want to include some good photography that shows the growth of our family and each little one in the family.

I'm having a hard time letting go of the idea that I will have something ON PAPER... But...I feel more comfortable each day with the possibility of turning my back on the traditional way of doing this.

Does anyone have an idea for me???? Is anyone scratching their head wondering what the heck I want out of life anyway?? :)

:)

My heart rate is increasing...

Who's that baby?

I'm starting to realize that my little girl looks a lot like this little baby boy....
...except for all that hair. :) Are the rosy cheeks scrumptious, or what?

i {heart} faces

I found out about i {heart} faces from miz booshay. I decided to enter this photo this week. How fun!

The Benefits of Having Kids

Why have kids? Easy.
They do your cooking....
...and your cleaning....
...your miscellaneous home maintenance (fuse safe-keeping pictured above)....
...any necessary tool-testing (pliers tested on thin air)....
....and...well...they're just so dang adorable!

More reasons later...

Baby Shots

I haven't devoted a post to my baby in awhile...so today's the day.
My sister took most (maybe all) of these pictures. I love them. Isn't the light in this one so amusing?
And these baby blues? Not Photoshopped even a little bit.
She's playing with something...a cell phone I think.
Smiling on Grandma's lap.
I love her eyes! How can anyone not love those eyes? They're absolutely perfect.

Wash Day

Sheet-washing day is a very exciting day in our house.
This game is called "Rolling". It, apparently, is very fun. The first time the boys played Rolling, they were begging me to invite their friends over so they could play too. Really, my oldest must have been thinking, consciously, "This is the coolest thing! I should be sharing it with everyone I know and love!".
Umm...the q-tips are for another game called "Darts". :) They made this game up after watching one fraction of a game of real darts once. They throw the "darts" at the wall, and then they're all over the floor. Then, we clean them up...and the q-tips have a much different "feel" later when they're used to clean out ears....not as cushy as they were originally intended to be.

After all of that Rolling and darts, it's time for a little snack and 'post-game wrap-up'. Bagels in bed means tomorrow will also be a sheet-washing day. :)
Friends Forever.

A Christmas Gift

We had a good Christmas. I tried to be a little more minimalistic this year when it came to presents. I got a few presents for the boys...things I really wanted them to have/use. And, most of the presents were for both of them, because I really want them to learn to share.

With those goals in mind, I asked my mom to be a little more conservative in her Christmas shopping for my kids too. :) It was hard for her...she's very generous...and finds great deals on cool stuff...BUT...she did a good job.

This is what I requested that she buy the boys:
They love to draw and color and paint, and I thought it would be a good way to help them explore their creatives sides. It's bulky and space-consuming...but I really like it. In fact, I'm a little jealous. :) When they're painting, I wish that there was a third side of the easel so I could join in and have my own little space.

My brother drew my name this year, so he was responsible for buying for the kids. He bought the accessory kit that goes with the easel. The paint, paint containers, brushes, dry erase markers, chalk, and eraser. It was perfect. :)
On the box that the easel came in, there was a boy painting a boat. So, my biggest boy always wants to paint a boat.
You may not be able to tell, but this painting is of an elephant. :)

I like the easel...I hope we all put it to good use in the coming year and beyond.

Wyoming Wildlife

It was a very windy day today. Thankfully, stay-at-home moms are not required to go out and brave the elements. My husband, however, did work in the freezing wind all day...and I love him. :)

Anyway, on days like today, it's good to think about the good things Wyoming has to offer.

I took this picture on my way to visit my parents for New Year's. This is a herd of about 150 (my hubby counted them) elk that were a ways off the road.

Here's what my ultra-zoom camera can do. :) Beautiful, aren't they?

And this is the friendly owl that visits my parents each winter. He was perched right outside the kitchen window on New Year's Day. The kids said he looked mad. :) He's beautiful.

I love Wyoming...I love Wyoming...I love Wyoming...

I Sew

So, I haven't been blogging so much. Sorry. :)

One reason is pictured above. I learned to sew!! Woo hoo! (Thanks, Mom)...what's better?...I like it! I'm excited about it.

So, I began with this curtain project. There are two identical windows in our dining room. I chose this fabric, and I love it more every day. They're simple...probably need a valance or something too...but...they fit on the window...and the plaid is straight...and they're cute...and they provide privacy...and I love them!

I also made little ties to hold the curtains back during the day.I chose my favorite part of the plaid as a little "accent" for the ties (is that what they'd be called?). Aren't those little bubble-things so cute?

Anyway...just wanted to share.

I'll post more about the holidays in days to come.

Happy New Year!

Fun with Photoshop Elements

Just wanted to share with you my most recent PhotoShop experiment. I'm getting better. :)
I'm also having fun.



This is the SOOC (straight out of the camera) shot. She's cute.


Here, I adjusted the lighting and enhanced the eyes, eye lashes, and lips.

How are you all??

March 20, 1987

I went rummaging through our crawl space a few weeks ago in search of some missing Christmas stockings. I did not find the stockings (yet!), but I did find some other pretty great things.

Some of my teachers in elementary school required us to keep a daily journal, and my mom, being the thoughtful, forward thinking woman that she is, saved them. I have a whole box of them down there. So, I picked one to read through. I found some pretty great entries, and I'll probably share them with you in time.

The entry I'm sharing today was intended to be inserted in my dad's Christmas present. Needless to say, I forgot. So, I hope he reads my blog...because, this one's for you, Dad!

I know it's hard to read, but if you click on the picture/journal entry, you can view it in a much larger, more legible version. :)