our life these days {in photos}

It seems like we've been going non stop lately. We've been busy with birthdays, therapy sessions, school events, etc. I love it though! For some reason, I enjoy the go-go-go much more than the "I'm bored" days.

The only problem with go-go-going is that my list of things to do gets progressively longer. It's all good though. =) I'm pretty behind in editing my personal photos {um, Easter pics would be nice to see} but I did want to share a few snapshots from life that I've gotten lately.

This little dude turned ONE last week. No, he isn't mine but I can {sort of} claim him. ;-) BTW, you can see more photos of Little Man here.
To celebrate the little guy's birthday we took our two cohorts in crime to IJump in Hoover. My little daredevil had the time of his life! He laughed nonstop for two hours. It was great! They have a toddler area that had a distorted mirror. Jackson thinks seeing himself in a mirror these days is just hilarious. He looks at himself and then does different faces and folds his arms together. It's just so funny to watch. I actually got a video of it with my fancy schmancy camera but I have no clue what do with it once it's on my computer. Any tips?Dylan turns 6 in just a few days. How did that happen??? I LOVE that he's all about reading these days. He also loves to write and I love to see how he spells different words. It just completely melts my heart. On this particular morning, I had a grocery list going and he thought he should add to it. =) {In case you aren't familiar with the 5 year old world he requested a Webkinz, those stuffed animals that you can play games with online. He's a bit obsessed. Ask his teacher. ;) }
I've been trying to plan lots of playdates for the little guy. It's really important that he be around other kids so these pics were taken at a playdate at the park. I have no clue what he was doing here but it just makes me laugh. Crazy boy!And because there needs to be some proof that I exist:I hope all the Moms out there have a wonderful Mother's Day! I've already been gifted with a dozen beautiful yellow roses, a precious book created by my baby and a sweet bookmark that I will treasure forever. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

yes, i'm still here

I really don't know what to blog about anymore. It seems like I post all my "everyday" stuff on Facebook so there just isn't much to say here. Any suggestions? Any questions anyone might want to ask? I'm desperate for blogging ideas. LOL

I have been scrapping some lately. Paulette held another awesome crop at The Scrapbook Princess a few weeks ago and I got several pages done there. Citrus Tree Studios had a fun crop this past weekend for National Scrapbook Day - yes we have our own Day. =) Here are my latest pages:

Happy Monday!

he's growing up

Sigh...why do they have to grow up so darn fast?! If you read the previous two posts, my baby Jackson turned two last week. Normally, I just do my kids' pictures somewhere near my house {probably because I'm too lazy to take them anywhere.} Well, this year I've decided my kids are getting "real" photoshoots for their birthdays. Jackson and I packed up and headed over to the Botanical Gardens. Lelia tagged along to make sure my little adventurer didn't jump off a bridge or dive headfirst into the water {Fearless really should've been his middle name.} I'm soooo glad I ventured out for his pictures and so glad that Lelia agreed to come along. Not only did my baby stay safe and had a distraction from me {the Momarazzi} she got some awesome shots of me and my little man together. Honestly, the pics of me and Jackson together are my favorite. It's so rare that I'm actually in a photograph so I will treasure these forever {and ignore the crows feet, skin blemishes and awful hair!}
If you're not sick of my pictures yet, I've posted more {yes there are more!} on my photography website. Feel free to leave any advice as to which proofs to print. I can never make that decision!!

celebrating jackson

This past weekend was Jackson's two year birthday party. I still can't believe my baby is 2?! Crazy!!! Since he isn't into any tv shows or characters, we went with a generic "jungle animal" theme. The monkey sound was one of the first animal sounds he learned so I thought that was appropriate. =) Here are a just a "few" of the pictures we got. I'm blessed with a great best friend who doesn't mind being my photographer for my kid's birthdays so I get to actually be involved in the party instead of being behind a camera. Thank you, Lelia!!!

Yours truly made the banner. I was pretty proud - just don't look too closely at it. =)

Birthday Boy was FAR more interested in the balloons than the people, presents or cake at his party. He just kept saying "Ball!" over and over. It was pretty cute. =)
He didn't care anything about the presents. Big Brother had to help him out.
Birthday Boy loves bubbles!!
Ah, the cake. There wasn't a cake at Wal Mart or Publix that would work with his theme so we made our own. This was my first time to ever make a birthday cake and I must say I was pretty proud. The instructions for it came from Parenting.com. {Disclaimer: Several days before the party, I made a fake cake - as Dylan called it - to make sure I could do it right. That cake turned out great and was immediately recognizable as a monkey. Come party day, I was too anxious and couldn't get my hands steady enough so my husband actually decorated this cake. Comes in handy having a painter for a husband. =)}
The "cohorts in crime" checking out the goods. These two are going to give us a run for our money this summer!
If you're still reading this and you're a scrapbooker in the B'ham area, I'm teaching a class this Saturday at The Scrapbook Princess. We're going to make a layout about our faith and work on journaling from the heart. I know a lot of scrappers struggle with heartfelt journaling so come to the class and I'll help you out. =) Paulette has posted a great challenge for April, too. Go check it out!!

challenge, a birthday, and a class

That title's better than "randomness," right? I think I've used "randomness" about 100 times. LOL

This month's challenge at The Scrapbook Princess was to scrap about a woman we admire (it's Women's History Month.) Well I decided to FINALLY do a page about me and my best friend. We've been through a lot together and I needed to document that. Plus it's a great excuse to use the fabulous Dear Lizzy line from American Crafts. I loved the line the first time I saw it online but it's not exactly boy-friendly. =) Also, I did misting for the first time on this page and I'm hooked! It's sooo much fun!
Today is a certain someone's birthday! Jackson turns 2 today!!! I'm sooo excited for him but he's my baby so it's kinda hard to watch him get older and become even more independent. You moms out there understand. =) I haven't done his "official" birthday pics yet {it's on my "to do" list very soon} but here are a couple snapshots I've gotten recently.He just learned last week how to eat with a spoon!! We've been working on this for months so we were so proud of him for finally getting it. He's so cute! Every time he takes a bite, he looks up at you and goes, "mmmm!" That boy and his food.... =)Oops, almost forgot about the class part. I've got another "Journaling with Jenney" class coming up soon. It's next Saturday, April 10 at The Scrapbook Princess. We're going to be journaling about our faith. Appropriate for Easter, no? =) Call Paulette and sign up! Better yet, go by the store and sign up. She has LOTS of new CHA goodies in so you can shop, too. Don't buy it all though - I haven't been shopping in a couple weeks and I've got my eye on some stuff. ;-)

Happy Tuesday everyone!! {Does anyone read this anymore?}

new hobby

I needed a new hobby right? Because scrapbooking and photography aren't very time consuming at all. =)I'd been wanting a sewing machine for forever. Just spending thirty minutes on the web will leave you with countless ideas on stuff to make but I never had a sewing machine - until now. I was very generously "gifted" this machine. It's an oldie but goodie Kenmore and it'll probably outlast me {if I don't break it first.} So far I've made a coaster for my scrap area. Dylan saw it and wanted one for his room so I made him one. I've also made a pincushion but that didn't require any sewing with the machine. =)I also want to make this and this and this and this....

I've been scouring my local thrift store for cheap fabrics and pillowcases and sheets that I can use for fabrics. It's been a lot of fun. Now to actually make things. You know, in all my spare time. =)

One of the best things about having a sewing machine is that I can stitch on my layouts now! I love the end result!! {This page was done with the new Anthology line from Studio Calico - it's available at The Scrapbook Princess.}

I'm off to teach my class today at The Scrapbook Princess. Even if you aren't taking the class you should come by and visit. She has a TON of new CHA products in the store {including Dear Lizzy which I'm VERY excited about!!}

Citrus Tree Studio is having a "Go Green" crop this weekend. Check it out - it's going to be a lot of fun!

Happy Saturday!

class this saturday!!

In the craziness that is life, I totally forgot to post here about my class this Saturday! I'm teaching a class at The Scrapbook Princess this Saturday at 10:30. We'll learn some fun journaling techniques on a new layout as well as some other tidbits of info you can use on future pages. This is going to be a fun, relaxed time to scrap and maybe work on some things that have intimidated you before {scrappy-wise.} Paulette has generously offered to let anyone who attends the class stay to crop for the rest of the day so you can you put your new skills to work immediately! Here is the layout we'll be making:
If you are attending the class, here's a list of stuff you'll need to bring with you:
- a 4x6 photo of yourself {doesn't have to be you all by your lonesome, your family can be in the picture too}
- paper trimmer
- sharp tipped scissors {like Cutterbees}
- adhesive
- brown pen

If you haven't signed up, what are you waiting for??? There are just a couple spots left so get on it!! You'll have fun I promise! Here are the details: The Scrapbook Princess blog

In other scrappy news, my sweet friend Virginia was asked to join the Lily Bee Design Team yesterday. Yay!!! I'm so excited for her and can't wait to see what she creates for them. They are very lucky to have her!

Hope everyone enjoys this beautiful spring-like weather today! I'm off to two therapy sessions {for the little one} and then to buy party supplies for a certain birthday party {of which I am in total denial!!!} Have an awesome Tuesday everyone!

ready for spring

So is anyone else REALLY ready for spring?? I never thought I'd say this, but I'm sooo tired of snow and cold! I'm ready for warm weather, flip flops and the pool. Anyone else?

This past week was the deadline for the Lily Bee design team call. I gave it a shot but I'm certainly not expecting a call next Monday. =) Here are the layouts I did for the call:{This next layout is a little about Jackson's journey this past year. I haven't spoken about it a lot on my blog just because I didn't want it not to be his decision to share. However, I did want to scrap it so I wouldn't forget the details. =)}
This next page was completely inspired by Virginia Tillery. She posted a fun sketch on her blog, challenged us to play with it and I ran... This was a fun layout to make and is all Jackson!

Finally, this page was done for last week's Studio Calico Sunday Sketch challenge. We were also challenged to use baby colors. Well, we all know I'm not a pink and baby blue kind of person so this is as close as I could get. =)

Poor Dylan! He's been a little neglected in the scrappy department lately. Guess I need to get on that. =)

want to remember this...

Our conversation on the way to school yesterday morning:

Dylan: There's a girl in my class who wants to marry me.

Me: Oh really?

Dylan: Yeah, but I don't want to marry her.

Me: Why not? {not that I want to encourage my baby to get married but I was just curious to see what he'd say}

Dylan: Because, I want to marry Emma. But I think she wants to marry someone else.

Melt my heart!!

Believe me this will be on a layout very soon! =)

Speaking of layouts, I spent last Saturday at my friend Paulette's store and it was heavenly!!! A whole day to scrap and chat was just what I needed. Here are some pages I got done:Paulette has started hosting a monthly challenge on her blog. If you complete the layout and post it to your blog or take it in the store for her to see, you could win a store gift card. Score!! This month's challenge was to use a heart on your page. We also get extra entries if we use products from her store. On this page, the Sassafrass papers and the Jenni Bowlin chipboard button are from Paulette. I think you still have a few days left to enter!!I have more pages to share and a fun announcement coming up in a few days. =)

BTW, I posted some information about backing up your digital photos on my JMP blog. Go check it out!

scrappy fun

Lately I've been into challenges - product challenges, sketch challenges, technique challenges, etc. Those are really getting my mojo flowing these days. =) I'm going to be a bad blogger and post all these layouts without linking you to the challenges. Sorry, I just don't feel like looking them all up again. =)Looking at them now most of these are Studio Calico challenges and/or the sketch challenges from the Ella Publishing blog. They're doing a series of 6 sketches {one per week} so I'm playing along. The grand prize winner gets a Cricut. Cool! =)

As for the "2010" layout - I'm doing the Project 12 challenge {in addition to the 365 challenge} For the Project 12 challenge, you scrap the entire year one month at a time. This is where my favorite images from the 365 challenge will be used. =) Here's a link to that challenge if you want to play along: Project 12

I hope everyone's having a great weekend! I plan on playing with my boys, scrapping, reading and watching some movies from the library. Sounds like perfection to me! =)