This kid...

I don't have a favorite. Really I don't. But this kid is by far my favorite two year old at the moment:

 

He stinkin' cracks me up continually. Today, among other crazy things, the kid confiscated his big brother's socks to make hand puppets and hold a little show. Yes, he's naked (though he does at least keep his diaper on, thank goodness). He's taken to that lately...mostly, I think, because he's so happy with his new ability to undress himself on his own (before this, his cute round belly prevented him from really getting to his pants enough to pull them down).

Seriously. How cute is he?! So...anyone have any good tips on making actual sock puppets? ;) 

OUT ON A LIMB...finale.

First off, sorry for the missing in action action going on lately (no good excuses, just working on getting my ducks in a row for the new year and all that, ya know?). Gonna do better now. :)

Secondly, after my holiday break from Out on a Limb, I'm back. But. I've decided after much deliberation to stop my weekly challenges on this topic. I know that part of it was just the holiday busyness and all. But part of it is that it was starting to feel like work...coming up with weekly topics and layouts. And I have enough scrapbooking that's technically work and this particular topic is so dear to my heart that I just feel the need to keep it *mine* for awhile longer. Does that make sense? I'll still post inspiration and ideas from time to time, but I just can't commit to doing it on a regular basis. I hope you understand.

That said. Here's a layout that I finished about my dad's birthday last month. It's not the coolest looking layout in the world, but I really love the journaling. It came together so well and was just perfect.

 

For those who don't want to squint at that, the picture is of my dad and his twin sister on their 20th birthday and the journaling reads:

Happy birthday, Dad! You’d have been 58 today. I’ve been trying to think of something we can do as a family every year to celebrate your birthday…some little tradition we can start so that we can feel together even when we’re not. When I asked Joe if he had any ideas, he mentioned that every year he’d ask you what you wanted for your birthday and you’d say simply “go to church and say a rosary.” So very like you. I wasn’t able to convince all the others, but I did go to church today for you. Nathan came home early so we could go to the evening service as a family. The homily was amazingly fitting. The priest talked about advent and the word “prepare.” He emphasized how we must prepare not only for the material trappings of the season but how we must prepare our lives for God…how we must live a life of faith and service. Dad, I can’t think of a single person who was more prepared to meet God than you. I wish you were here to blow out your candles, but I know that you are in a better place and that you are at peace. The way you lived your life simply leaves no alternative. So, even though we were not at all “prepared” for your death, I find comfort in the fact that you were. And so, today, I celebrated your prepared life. I have no present for you, but you’ve given me a priceless one…your example.

What number was I on? I think it was three. Yes. Three. So, thirdly, things here are going fine...nothing too out of the ordinary. Boys are still heavy on the Transformer stuff (as I type they're playing Transformer Risk with Uncle Zach in the next room and have declared that while playing you must talk in a robot voice). Micah continues to delight and is now a self-proclaimed copy cat. He likes to pat his own chest and declare, "me, cat!" (meaning copy cat). Uncle Zach's wife and youngest daughter came out to visit last weekend and Makenna and Micah (both 2) entertained us with some good robot dancing (ala "Robots" movie dvd bonus features). I had a grand girls' night last weekend...fun times. (So have to remember to take the camera next time, gals!) 

Fourth, dude. Scrapbooking is exciting me lately...so many ideas! I've been finishing up a few deadlines (still have a few to go) and am looking forward to doing a bunch more non-deadline stuff...gotta use up all these cool goodies I've been accumulating! :) I feel a little like I've been on a "scrapbooking for me" hiatus lately...focusing instead on memorial layouts and gifts and deadlines (which hasn't been at all bad). Getting excited to be excited again. :)

Okay, I have more to say, but will save it and actually blog some more tomorrow. ;) Happy night! 

One little word...

Bit o' background...check out Ali's blog entries here and here to see what I'm talking about. Also, check out the One Little Word blog. Now then, my word for 2008 is...drumroll, please...SMALL. Here's the layout I made about it:
 

The journaling, which is obviously too "small" reads: 

One little word. The challenge is to identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in the coming year. Last year, I chose the word “create” and I think it worked out rather well. I found myself coming back to the word again and again…reminding myself to create the life I wanted. Of course, things didn’t always turn out how I’d have liked, but the point was that I chose to deliberately try.

For 2008, my “theme” is going to be that good things come in small packages. My word will be SMALL. I choose to start SMALL, to value SMALL and to collect SMALL.

START SMALL. I want to avoid becoming overwhelmed by life…by focusing on starting SMALL. I know that those times in the past year when I’ve felt the most out of control and seemingly unable to accomplish anything were times when I let my to do list get the better of me. When I take a step back and start with one or two SMALL things, though, the list isn’t nearly as intimidating. An immediate result of this is that I’m going to divide up my larger 2008 goals list by month. Rather than saying that I want to have Christmas shopping mostly done by Thanksgiving, I’ll say that I’m going to prep all my neighbor and teacher gifts during October…will address year end letters during November…stuff like that. Rather than simply saying I want to go through the house and really purge, I’ll say that I’m going to tackle closets and clothes in January, the kitchen in February, the basement in March…you get the idea.

VALUE SMALL. Speaking of purging, I want to simplify our material belongings and our lifestyle in general so that I can concentrate on quality rather than quantity…so that I don’t miss the SMALL things in the sea of everything else. In working to create the home we want, I’m finding great satisfaction in reorganizing and letting go of “things.” I have noticed that one SMALL “right” item makes much more of an impact than many larger “wrong” items.

Further, I am reminded lately that SMALL actions can make a big difference. I want to get back in the practice of SMALL touches like handmade cards that actually get sent and taking the time to wrap gifts prettily. Things like this brighten my day and I want to do the same for others.

COLLECT SMALL. Finally, I want to collect SMALL memories. I see my boys growing up on me and am noticing that as they get older there aren’t as many grand milestones like learning to walk or starting to talk. Instead, I must now measure growth in more subtle ways, observing the SMALL changes from day to day. I want to remember to be aware of the SMALL steps, the SMALL moments, the SMALL achievements. I keep a calendar by my desk so that I can jot these things down.

Along those same lines, having lost my dad this last year, I now have a much greater appreciation for cherishing these SMALL things. When I think of the things I miss most, it’s often the smallest trait or habit…things I didn’t before think to document…things I’d miss if I didn’t take the time to collect these memories. I know now how important these SMALL things are and want to record them.

Yes. SMALL is my one little word for 2008, and I think it’s perfect. 2007 was full of “big” things…good and bad. And those “big” things taught me that, though big changes and news can be wonderful, the bulk of my life is comprised of the SMALL things. I appreciate that. After all, good things really do come in SMALL packages.

And there you have it...what's your word for 2008? 

Happy, happy to all!

Plenty of stuff today.

First of all, happy anniversary to the love of my life! I am seriously so very, very blessed. I'm not, though, feeling all mushy at the moment so won't list off all the reasons I love you...not that they would fit here anyhow. Quick, Nathan, how many years have we been married? ;) I'll give you a big ol' hint:

 

Love this quote. It's so very true and fits so well to our married life. Looking forward (with you) to the many years to come! 

Incidentally, this is also my very first ever fully digital layout!! (Woohoo! Dude, I can so see how this could be addicting! And a round of applause for the wondrosity to be had at both Little Dreamer Designs and Designer Digitals...stinkin' cool sites!)

Next, I want to send out happy birthday wishes to my awesome friends Tiffany and Sarah! Have a great one ladies!! 

Also, happy birthday (a day late) to my youngest niece, Makenna! Turning two is terrific!

And, because I know you're wondering...we've been having a great time here this week. Went sledding yesterday and had a spectacular fun time (though we could have done without the blustering cold wind). Here are a few of my favs:

 

 

 

Oh my goodness, you should have seen how excited Micah was about the whole thing! Course, he was also obviously the most bundled of us and managed to stay fully warm. Still, good times.

Well, that was all for now. Hope everyone has a fabulous New Year's Eve...even if it's not your anniversary or birthday! ;) 

Christmas thoughts...

Ahhh. Done. Mostly. ;) So, how was your Christmas? Ours was lovely...and white...just a quiet day opening a few gifts here and then hours of transforming them from cars to guys and back again. Okay, not all of them. :)

Christmas Eve, I don't know if I mentioned it before, we attended a very crowded Children's Mass. I even managed to get the boys all in ties and they were so handsome! When we got home, we took some pictures before Asher and Micah insisted on getting out of their "nice" clothes so that they could eat candy canes. Ash, who actually enjoys his tie, needed help getting it off:

 

Christmas morning, Noah was delighted with his gift from Santa:

 

Yeah, he doesn't look thrilled, but he was. ;) Micah, though, is a bit more expressive and was utterly enchanted with his new "tar" from Nana:

 

If I knew how to take a video, I'd show you his total rocking out. Trust me, he's cute.

So. That was our Christmas. After the hoopla of the gift opening, we tidied up a bit before Nathan and the boys headed to the airport to pick up Nathan's parents who are here for the week. Our evening, thus, had a bit more gift opening. ;) (My gift, by the way, is awesomeness, itself...they're going to handle meals this week and help me redo that upstairs room where I shoved all the "extra" stuff out of my office...YAY!)

Now, before I sign off...can I just make my own small plea to toy manufacturers everywhere? Is it really necessary to use so many twist ties to attach toys to packaging when they're already sealed in plastic and taped inside a box? Honestly. Raise your hands if you're with me on this one...totally in favor of easy to open toys...let's keep that in mind for next year, shall we? ;)

Okay, off I go for now. Happy week between Christmas and New Year's to you all!!