what a delight!

it's NATIONAL SCRAPBOOK DAY today.


and i'm heading out to another 'kids outgrown it' sale.


why am i not scrapbooking?


well....not right now....but later i sure will be!


the store is having a two day crop. a good deal. they even feed you, so that all you have to think about is scrapping. i can't go. i did think about it. but then reality of life set in. and they even have an awesome coupon for today. so a good day to just shop too!

back when Aidan was little and oh so cute. (he still is....just not the same baby cuteness....know what i mean?!) where was i? yes back when Aidan was baby cuteness and i started to put together pages for him.... with a layout to scraplift and the printed photos, i'd head out to the store. (that was when it had a different name) it took me hours to finally decide on something. often he was napping, so he looked even cuter. back in those early days a few girls at the store thought he was adorable too. one of them is part of the online company called the goodie box. another one just started her own online company this week called delite designs.

if you have not checked them out yet....go. Nadine is offering instructions to an acrylic album for FREE! even better the theme is on Mother's Day. and the goodie box girls have lots planned for the weekend too.....

so my suggestion......

go here to get your supply list and instructions. then go here to get your supplies. (okay, i'm biased...if you don't live here, then i'm sure you can find a great store nearby). then tire the kids out, have an early supper, and get them to bed by 7pm. pull out the supplies and you should be done in a few hours. with time to spare with your husband. you might want to make a couple of these. once you are finished you are going to want one for yourself anyway!

see....so easy....and everyone wins. happy mom. happy kids. happy hubby. what more could a girl want?!


....aside from the spa day.....hmmm.....is that happening next weekend?!

snow days

are still here....

Kiara is not always liking the snow....it gets in her boots, gloves and heaven forbid if she should land on her backside and get a cold bum! and other times she seems to enjoy the cold stuff. i remember Aidan not liking snow at this age either. but now is a different story with him. he actually doesn't mind playing outside---even by himself.

he has helped shovel the snow on occasion. one day we came home from somewhere and he was totally cranky. not an unusual scenario. i sent him back outside (watching him from the kitchen window!) and listening to his tirade. after about 10 minutes of standing out there feeling sorry for himself he grabbed his shovel and cleared the snow off the back deck. when i figured the steam had been vented i asked if he was ready to come back inside. his reply? "in a few minutes, mom. i'm going to finish this first." and he did! and he did an amazing job.

hopefully Kiara will be more willing to join in the fun next winter. that itself should be interesting! did someone say snow fights?

just before winter began (ironically) basic grey came out with a line of festive and wintery patterned paper i loved. well i love most of their stuff (not all, but close!) at nearly the same time i had taken a class by Cari to make a transparent album. it was so much fun and between the class and the paper....i was inspired! and i've been adding to the "winter album" file for a few months. the only problem was the photos. lots of challenges to find the right weather, right lighting and happy children all at the same time. well it all finally came together and here it is!

go here to see the pages in detail.

as often is the case with me, i see things i'd have done differently. so i guess i'll have to put together another one! hopefully i'll find the right paper to start the inspiration to create. as if that is a problem!

so a couple of busy days for us here. took Aidan to gymnastics today and Kiara tagged along. i will have to put her in her own class in the spring. she loves it as well. and she tries to do lots of the stuff the "big kids" are doing. amazingly she accomplishes alot of the routines. he has the best coach this time. i liked the last coach, but this one is amazing with the kids.

Aidan has his valentine party tomorrow at playschool. he wrote his name on 21 valentine cards this week. he was so proud! probably not as proud as i am though. he wants Christmas to come back....so that there can be lights on houses again. i'm sure it has nothing to do with the presents... i think Valentines and Easter might help him get over missing Christmas. chocolate treats seem to be top of the fun list right now.

grandma sent both kids a valentine with a tim horton money card. Aidan was happy to order and pay for his own timbits yesterday. so Kiara gets to buy next time. it's so cute to see those little chests puff out when they get to do something and have nearly full control.

now if the blue bullet slide at wem would be open again...Aidan's little life would be complete!

i just remembered a cute story. Aidan loves stickers. he had some out yesterday. and then he was asking me where Jesus went, because he had a sticker for him. okay. had he seen Jesus recently? what was Jesus doing? what did he look like? well....the Jesus he was talking about was a figurine from the nativity scene. and it wasn't the baby. it was the dad. who actually looks more like the pictures most kids know to be Jesus. now isn't that interesting and cute at the same time?! it is moments like that when i am in awe of this stage of life.

and thanks to everyone who likes this blog. so glad. keep coming back and bring your friends!