And so it begins...

We had our first spring soccer season practice today. Yes, really. Today was Asher, with about half the same team as last fall so he's happy that at least he already knows some of the boys (and the coach). Next week will be Noah's first practice, and apparently we're moving up from just one practice a week for his team to two...and neither of them at the same time as Asher's (like last fall when both boys had practice Wednesday afternoons in the same general place).

Sigh. So, we're looking at three practices a week and two games on Saturdays (starting at month's end). Last fall was already crazy with just that one extra time slot during the week...now we'll have three. Wish me lucks, folks. I know, though, that it could be worse so I'll try to limit my groan. ;) Just think, in two years, we'll add Micah to the mix!

Now, while I'm thinking of it...any of you experienced sports moms have any suggestions on what to do with the tons of photos from a single season? I tried, last fall, to just take a handful of shots but the boys protested and insisted I bring the camera to every game and at least a couple practices. (Yes, they're obviously seasoned scrapbooker kids...they even ask to see the digital image immediately after and request a new pic just to make sure I get "the" photo they want.) Hence, I now have roughly 1300 soccer pictures to sort through.  And, while part of me thinks this is a good thing (as I remember the many sports seasons of my four younger brothers and sisters and the very few photos we have of any of that), part of me (the sane part, methinks) absolutely refuses to do an entire mini album for each boy for each season. :) Ideas?

February Album in a Year layout...

Finally finished and took pictures for ya...here's my Album in a Year layout for last month:

 

Supplies Cardstock: Prism Papers; Patterned paper: Scenic Route; Buttons: Basic Grey;  Stamps: Hero Arts (month, numbers), Cornish Heritage Farms (hard to see background behind month & 08), Technique Tuesday (08); Ink: Tsukineko Versamark, Stampin' Up!; Pen: American Crafts Precision Pen; Title block: downloaded from creatingkeepsakes.com; Other: wire (to attach the buttons).

I don't know about you, but I'm really having fun scraplifting myself. ;) I'm looking forward to having both 2007 and 2008 all finished this way! (Of course, I still have plenty of other layouts I do during the year, but this will be a nice, easy way to look back on the entire year and see what happened!) So...have you finished your February layout yet? Link me up, folks!! 

Pictures as promised...and other stuff...

To elaborate on my cool lunch on Friday...got together at this cool little tea/vintage shop/cafe place (very cool stuff...totally not a place I'd normally go, particularly with all three boys in tow *laugh*). Candice invited me along and I got to meet these awesome ladies:

 

In the front (kinda squatting) are: me, Loni, & Sara Trumpane (who was visiting from out of town also). In the back are: Jessi, Layle, Sandi (whose blog I swiped this pic from) and Candice.

Here's another of Jessi and I just before we all parted ways:

 

Don't you just love her hat? (And, dude, I'm kicking myself now for not caving and buying a necklace like hers while we were at that shop!) I know there are a few more pics floating around out there somewhere... :) 

I was tricked into taking a pic with the gals at Prism while I was there also...should show up on the Prism blog sometime. Totally not saying they *made* me do it or anything, just that it was the end of a long day and I'm sure I'm not looking my best. ;)

Totally unrelated...the boys and I just got finished reading our first "Choose your own adventure" book! Do you remember these? I loved them growing up and remember reading tons of them. Spotted one in a bookstore last month and finally got around to reading it with the boys today! They think they're pretty cool, too...so we'll be on the lookout for more obviously.  

Speaking of books, I've been a slacker. I joined up with Good Reads  a bit ago (Elizabeth started it ;) thanks!) and have been so bad about actually using it and keeping up...have big plans to do better soon! Promise! 

Thus ends my disjointed post. :) 

"Eats Eye!"

Take a wild guess what Micah was trying to say when he kept repeating to us, "Eats Eye!" with huge enthusiasm. Yeah, you probably won't guess. We didn't. Noah, fortunately, took pity on us and explained that Micah was saying "More than meets the eye!" (which Micah promptly confirmed). Ah the joys of toddler translation. ;) (Actually, Micah's gotten much clearer and more specific this past month...amazingly so!)

I know I owe you that February Album in a Year layout...it's coming. I flew out to Utah Friday for a meeting at the CK offices (loved seeing everyone again!)...had a nice visit there, was blessed to meet some awesome ladies at lunch (pictures forthcoming...bad scrapper that I am, I didn't take my camera with me but have promises that copies will be sent to me, lol), and then got a tour of the Prism Papers offices (way cool, btw...got to see where they package and cut all the paper and everything!) before flying back home. So, today (technically yesterday I suppose being as I'm writing this post way early Sunday morning) was spent doing laundry and vacuuming and catching up. Will scrap tomorrow. :) 

Two more...

Knew I forgot something! Two more random thoughts:

1. The March Album in a Year column extras are now up online. Check 'em out! Also, have you completed your February AIAY layout now that February's over? Mine's sitting right here...hoping to finish it up by this weekend. :) When you finish yours, please link me up! I'd love to see!!

2. Have you checked out Wilna's blog? Click on that flower over to the left...now! :)