In Your Words- ScrapChicks Hen Party Friday Challenge

It's my week to host the Hen Party Friday challenge at ScrapChicks.One of my favorite movie quotes comes from Ferris Bueller's Day Off "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't slow down once and awhile you could miss it" With that in mind this week's Challenge is to attempt to stop time and capture it. Conduct an interview with someone. Your spouse/significant other, family member, coworker or friend and create a layout/card/project.



Journaling:
Who’s the smartest person in your family?

Me.


What is your daddy really good at?
Exercising.


What can you do better than daddy?
My dance moves


What is your mommy good at?
Making scrapbooks and being a good
Dr. with boo-boo’s and bandaids.


How tall is daddy?
Tall. Bigger than a lion.


What one thing is mommy always saying to you?
No playing with the gate and go to bed on time


What makes you angry?
When Scoutie poops in her pants


What super power would you want?
To be super strong


What’s your favorite song?
Gitchie Gitchie Goo by Phineas & Ferb


What is your favorite outfit?
I love skirts. I want to wear them everyday.


How do you know mommy and
daddy love you?
I know mom- you tell me everyday.

Right Now- 2.24.11

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ... there is alot of snow. More is expected this weekend.

I AM THINKING ... that the situation in Wisconsin needs to be resolved so we can move forward.
WE ARE LEARNING … that Scout is not a morning person. She has been a total bear every morning this week.
I AM THANKFUL FOR ... modern medicine and flannel sheets.
FROM THE KITCHEN ... Passion Fruit Sorbet. Make believe I'm on a tropical vacation.

I AM WEARING ... khakis and a plaid dress shirt.
I AM GOING ... to the family cabin this weekend with 3 girlfriends to scrapbook. I am so happy they were able to reschedule.
I AM READING ... Room by Emma Donoghue and am totally transfixed.
I AM CREATING ... lots of layouts. I treated myself to new scrapbook goodies last week after Ellie's hospital stay. It has been a long time!

I AM HOPING ... Colin Firth wins the Oscar this weekend.
I AM HEARING ... the new Adele album. So good!
AROUND THE HOUSE ... things (people, ahem- ME) are falling down the stairs. I took a nasty fall a week ago and am still in pain.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ... sitting with Nick having a drink and snack while watching TV. Sometimes it's just the perfect evening.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND ... scrapbooking, watching movies, eating junk food, drinking adult beverages, laughing, napping, reading. Put that on repeat.

Wordless Wednesday- "Are You Kidding Me"

Scout's new favorite phrase is "Are You Kidding Me"

Summer Lovin'

We had 9 inches or so of fluffy snow fall last night. I figured it was time to remember that summer will come back eventually. Photo of Scout eating snacks at the pool last summer.

TITLE: Summer Lovin' 
Journaling: You loved swimming at Memorial Pool but I think you loved snack time just as much. Summer 2010.

Product: October Afternoon paper, alphabets

A Valentines Day to Remember

Last year for Valentine's Day weekend my entire family came to Wausau to meet a 3 week old Ellie for the first time. This year she spent Valentines Day in the hospital.

To say we've had a crazy couple of weeks is an understatement. Last week Scout was sick for 5 days with a fever of 105 and the flu. Last Friday Ellie started to get a little sick. By Monday she had stopped eating and drinking. As soon as I picked her up from daycare on Monday afternoon I knew she was very sick. I grabbed Bennet and Scout and headed off to our pediatrics department after hours walk in. (So very grateful for that). Nick met us there on his way back from Stevens Point. 

Along with her fever she had RSV with a double ear infection and pneumonia. She was having a very hard time getting enough oxygen. She was admitted to St. Clares Hospital that night where she was put on IV fluids, antibiotics and oxygen. 

I stayed with her Monday and Tuesday night while Nick maneuvered pick ups/drop offs, bedtimes and work with the older girls. Meanwhile I was/am fighting a nasty sinus infection for the last 2 weeks. Tuesday night sleep was fleeting for both Ellie and me. I figured since I was already at the hospital I might as well get some meds for Mom. :) 

Tuesday night

Nick took the night shift Wednesday so that I could spend some time with Bennet and Scout and try to get some solid sleep. I fell asleep at 8:15 p.m. and slept until 6:30 a.m. I felt like a balloon when you squeeze all the air out of it. I could finally exhale. 

I walked into the hospital room Thursday morning to find Ellie without the oxygen or IV. Even better than that- she was smiling for the first time in days. And I cried. Nick looked at Ellie and said, "See- I told you she was going to cry". I am so grateful for the wonders of modern medicine. My Dad (in classic Mike style) said, "In 1920 she'd be dead". So true- thank goodness we've progressed since the days of Oregon Trail.  

Thursday morning- a whole new baby. 

After 3 nights in the hospital we were finally able to make it home yesterday afternoon. She's doing great. She was visibly excited to see her room and crib, the kitties and her big sisters. It has been a tiring couple of weeks for our family. I have a whole new respect for those families who endure long term hospitalizations. It's so hard seeing little ones in pain.

Thank you to all our friends and family, real and online, for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. A special thanks to Sara Sweeney for helping watch the girls Monday night. And of course to the fantastic staff at Marshfield Clinic Weston Center and St. Clares Hospital.

Frosty the Snowman

Sunday was unseasonably warm - in the low 40's. I figured we should take advantage of the nice day and sticky snow before the snow melts for good.

Scout isn't a huge fan of playing outside in the winter. But she did like foraging with me to find Frosty's arms.

Bennet on the other hand LOVES to play outside in the snow. She was soaked to the skin by the time she same in and couldn't be happier.

When Scout and I left for school/work on Monday morning the charcoal, carrot and raspberry smile were gone. She told me a "big fat bunny took the carrot Mom- they like carrots" I assume birds ate the raspberry smile. I don't want to think about who ate the charcoal briquettes.

Ticket to Love Mini

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!

I took some coasters along with bits and pieces of the Inspired to Scrap Jan/Feb Happy Together kit and made a quick little mini-album for Nick for Valentine's Day. I knew those blank coasters would come in handy someday. 

You are TuTu Cute- ScrapChicks Hen Party Friday

It's my week to host the Hen Party Friday challenge at ScrapChicks. This week's challenge is pretty simple- create handmade title and journaling spots. For my layout I took two pre-made diecuts that were in the wrong color scheme for my layout and traced them onto a piece of scrap kraft paper.  

TITLE: You are TuTu Cute

Journaling: You insisted on wearing your 'fancy dress' tutu to school every day for 2 weeks. Embrace your style Scoutie! Dec. 2010

Product: Echo Park pp, October Afternoon pp, Bo Bunny pp, Cosmo Cricket alpha, Heidi Grace alpha

I Love You 2

I participated in Chickie's Hen Party Friday Recipe for Love challenge at ScrapChicks. It's a great recipe- check it out here!!

I snapped this picture of Bennet and Scout while we were waiting for the pool to open last summer. Looking back on the Summer of 2010 I am so grateful that we took advantage of the fact that I wasn't working and tried to have as many adventures as we could while not over scheduling ourselves. 

TITLE: I Love You 2

Journaling: We took advantage of every sunny summer day. An afternoon at Memorial Pool. August 2010

Product: Imaginisce pp, Echo Park pp, Cosmo Cricket alpha, American Crafts alpha and ribbon, Basic Grey chipboard, Jillibean Soup journaling spot, October Afternoon journaling spot

Colors of my Heart- Valentine's Day Crayons

My thoughtful mother-in-law picked up this heart shaped silicone mold for me last year on clearance after Valentine's Day and I've been waiting nearly 365 to use it. I tried making these crayons last year and failed misearbly. I had read on a blog that you could use the much cheaper plastic candy molds to bake them. Well- not the molds I bought. My oven ate them alive. This year I went with the real deal.

Tips and Notes:

Crayons: I started with the mis-matched, broken and abused crayons from our stash. The first batch of co-mingled crayons worked ok. The second batch was all Crayola and it was far superior. The paper peels easier, they melt easier and cool more evenly.

Soak your crayons in ice water for 10-15 minutes and then peel. The paper comes off much easier and you don't end up with crayon under your nails.

We baked our crayons at 275 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Once out of the oven we put the tray outside for 15 minutes. They cool pretty fast in Wisconsin

Bennet loved filling our her Valentine's. She made little hearts and smiley faces on them.

Here is the finished product. I printed the cards out from The Long Thread

The Glass is Half Full

I'm usually a Glass is Half Full kind of gal but the last couple of days have been draining!

I have a cold. And we all know that Mom's can't get colds.

Scout's been sick and feverish since Saturday.  Last night her fever spiked to 105 so she slept on one couch and I slept on the other. The poor girl was actually wimpering in her sleep. She still has a 102 temp so I'm taking her in.

This morning Ellie pulled my cup of coffee on herself and my laptop. Nothing like an absent minded mom to leave her coffee where she can scald her 1 yr old and take out the laptop. Ellie was scared but not hurt. The laptop is still functional.
Did I mention that this was ALL before 7:30 a.m.

Ok- enough whining. I feel like that SNL character Penelope that one up's everyone "I have 10 kids and they all had 109 degree fevers- in a snowstorm"

But there are some bright spots. My awesome boss called me back to tell me not to stress about coming into work. The sun is shining. I already snuck a shower in. And I'm learning Spanish thanks to the obscene amount of Dora and Deigo I've been exposed to the last 2 days :)

All is Calm- Scrap Chicks Chicken Scratch

Each month I provide a sketch at Scrap Chicks as a launching point for your scrappy inspiration. Here is the February Chicken Scratch sketch.

TITLE: All is Calm

Journaling: Amidst the craziness of the holidays it's images like this that make me remember how great life is.

Right Now 02.04.11

OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ... the sun is shining. Makes the cold temperatures slightly more bearable. I AM THINKING ... about what school is best for Bennet for Kindergarten next year.
WE ARE LEARNING … that Ellie is a total ham. She knows when you're looking at her and puts on her best show.
I AM THANKFUL FOR ... my morning coffee
FROM THE KITCHEN ... Nick has been making these awesome Cheddar Pepper Palmiers. They are so good I could eat the whole roll.
I AM WEARING ... jeans and a screen print shirt
I AM GOING ... to the family cabin in a couple of weeks with 3 friends to scrapbook for the weekend and I can't wait!
I AM READING ... Three Cups of Tea : One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time
I AM CREATING ... cute Valentine's with the big girls for their classmates. Best part is that they're almost done!
I AM HOPING ... the Packers win the SuperBowl on Sunday. Go Pack Go!
I AM HEARING ... Scout ask for Sour Cream on her arm when she means lotion. "Mama- I need some sour cream here "  
AROUND THE HOUSE ... it always looks "well lived in and well loved in" Sometimes tidy but never spotless.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ... is catching 5 minutes of silence on the couch every morning before the rest of the world wakes up.
A FEW PLANS FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND ... the regular: laundry, cleaning and scrapping. Oh- and watching my dear friend Jess's son Saturday night.

A PICTURE TO SHARE...Ellie at her birthday party last week.

Simple Valentine's Day Decor

I made this little project last year and couldn't wait to dig it out of the closet this February. I saw the idea on a blog last year but can't remember where.

Supplies:
Frame (I found mine in a 3-pack in the Target $1 spot. It’s about 5 x 5 square)
Wooden letter tiles (Scrabble or at your local craft store)
Valentines paper
Hot glue/gun

Simply add paper to the frame and glue the letters to the front of the glass. Quick, simple and full of love!

I think I may make a 'luck' one for St. Patty's Day.

Wordless (sort of ) Wednesday

I'm becoming my mother- and I'm totally ok with that.

Equals Scout

I made this layout during a crop at Scrapbook Nook a couple of weeks ago. I took a bunch of word stickers that described Scout and out them in the corner hoping your eye would read them and lead you to the title.

TITLE: Equals Scout

Journaling: Cheerful, free spirit, sweet, chaos, laughter, 100% authentic, true.

Product: Echo Park pp, Jenni Bowlin alpha, American Crafts alpha, Creative Imaginations stickers, Cosmo Cricket stickers,