Really I scrapbooked a whole month already?

It is hard to believe that January is just a day away from being over.  And for the first time in my life I have scrapbook the month before it is done.  At first I was consumed in the what do I take a picture of today.  Then I would write it down....in my calendar.  Upload it to the computer.  Date it and weekly check to make sure I had all the dates...when I did not, I would think of one thing that I would like to remember from this year.  So I took a few random shots of favorite things that my kids are into and plan to keep doing this.  Then I finally sat down and catorgized them out and printed them.  I picked them up and place them on each date they belonged...now all I have to do is write some info and DONE ALL of January 2011 DONE....pictures of the pages to follow soon YEAH  Project Life ROCKS!!!

Project Life....where am I going

 OK, so I have to admit.  Project Life is a way of thinking.  My mind is consumed with what will I take today and how will I make my life interesting.  I read on Becky's blog this am that the simple things in life are what make PL special.  The day to day things that we do are what makes our lives special.  When we take pictures normally we tend to take the wonderful special events in our lives, which of course is what we should do.  Capture the events in our lives that are special and fun and exciting.  BUT the things that happen day to day...it tells a story beyond the triumphs in our life. It tells the personal real story that makes us who we are and what makes our children see that life is not always the way we want it to be....Life is messy and I am excited to see how messy yet wonderful this year will be. 2011 has been a great year so far....all 17 days of it.  Here is a sampling of the first few days...

Cost Co with T



Ice Cream at the Cabin



Mountasia Bday party with the Twins

Madie and Miss Amber

Madie's new colors on her teeth and a Photo Challenge

Hanging with friends

A fun day with my kids

Ethan's Karate Teacher

SNOW!!!!

It snowed in our little town of Castaic on January 2nd, 2011.  What a way to start out the new year.  Funny thing was that we were going to head up to The Coyle's Cabin that day and play in the snow up at Pine Mountain....we decided not to go as the roads were slick and it was dangerous to drive up there....turns out we did not have to.  God brought the now to us.  Yeah!!

Madie making a snowman

These are the mountains

Our family....

Here is what it looked like outside in our back yard.

Having a blast with Cousins

So my kids got to have some firsts this year....E had his first kid sleepover with his cousin and they had a blast.  After a day of playing and sleeping over they came over to our house and continued the play and watched movies and just had a great old time. 

M had a sleep over of a different kind.....her 3 year old cousin Cat.  It was a joy to have such a little one in the house.  She was funny to listen to and they had soo much fun....watching movies, playing dress up, having tea and playing with dolls. 

Here they are watching a movie and then here they are playing dress up....they are so cute together.

My Project Life Journey2011

Ok, Here it goes...I am going to change the way I scrapbook.  I have been scrapbooking since I was about 12....and I have grown up in my scrapping.  I feel good the way my metamorphosis, so to speak, of scrapbooking has gone.  I am even more ecstatic about the direction it is headed.  I received for my birthday from my Mom a Becky Higgins Project Life Kit.  http://www.beckyhiggins.com/products/ 

I heard about it one day on Facebook from my Friend Juliette's Status...so I asked her what it was and the journey began.  Once I read her blog I was hooked.  Now, I have known of Becky Higgins for awhile now.  In fact, I used her sketches for many of my scrapbook layouts over the years.  The one thing is though...this is not a regular scrapbook, it is a non adhesive necessary photo book....No 12x 12 layouts required.  But the crazy thing is you still are scrapping...I am excited to record the next 365 days of my life in 2011.  It will be an interesting account in a very different way that I am excited to share here.

Another Year closes

It is amazing how fast time flies.  To think it seems just like 2009 and I was getting ready to ring in 2010 and to make my new years resolutions.  Funny thing is about resolutions....I mentally make them every year and really don't follow through.  This year I think I will write them down....here and see if something changes. 

My New Years Resolutios 2011
1.  fit exercise into my crazy life
2. Make more meals from scratch and learn to like cooking (not love it just like it)
3. Learn something new - Not sure what but something
4. Read for 15 mintues a day
5. Read to my kids 3 out of the 7 nights since it has gotten to be once in a while these days
6. Really try doing Project life the way it is ment to be. (scrapbooking)
7.  Send a letter to loved ones telling them why I love them
8.  stay focused on a tast and finish it. 
9.try to write in my blog more.
10 Really do Project Life 265 days worth of pictures.
 I don't want to set my goal too high so if fail
It is a funny thing these resolutions we set.  I feeling ready for a change...out with the old and in with the NEW.

Tis the Season

Tis the season to be Happy.  Happy with life, and ready to celebrate Jesus.  On Facebook everyone is posting things that they are grateful for.  I like this because it reminds me of things that I am grateful for.  I try to tell others I am grateful for them in my life but sometimes time goes by and I fail.  SO this holiday before the business of the Christmas season I am going to write down why I am thankful for people in my live. Starting with my hubby and my kids.
Travis - I am grateful for you because you work hard for us...and love me for how I am.
Madie - you love other so much
Ethan - you are so passionate about everything you do
Mom - You are my rock when I need support
Dad - You love me just as I am

I decided to also put all my Facebook status for the Grateful status month...when you put them all together they go like this....
I am  thankful for my wonderful hubby and the fact that he loves me...all of me and I love him back.
I am thankful for the beautiful children God blessed me with and the fact that they remind me every day to trust in Him....cuz I can't do these things alone.

I am thankful for a great place to work. I know God is in control...but 9 years ago when I decided I wanted to become a mom...I knew I was going to have to leave the greatest job on earth....and did not know if I would be able to come back....I did not get to go back to VCS but God provided me with the blessing to stay home and Sub and then to work with a wonderful teacher....and a great school.
I am thankful that God loves me no matter what....because I am not perfect but He takes me for what I am and I am glad I can be called a child of God.
I am thankful for my wonderful loving parents. They are always supportive, willing to lend a hand, love me and believe in me and are hardworking just great people.
I am thankful for friends. Friends that I have known forever and new ones that make me smile, give me a hug and brighten my day and life.
I am thankful for the time God gives me to feel caught up with life. And for a Son who shows respect at school to receive Student of the Month honor in his class.
I am thankful for the little things in life. Cozy blankets, Hot tea, snuggly kids and family time.

I am thankful for friends, dinner and movies.
I am thankful for organization...even if I am much less organized now that I have kids.
I am thankful for busy days that keep me happy and with my family.
I am thankful for windy cold walks at night with my girl.
I am thankful for the sun that wakes me up and it is not too late, it means it is only 6 am not 7am.
I am thankful for sweet waking E when he is happy and well rested and snuggly. I am thankful for camping and the time my wonderful hubby puts in trying to keep everything in working order.
I am thankful for Live Oak...a pretty cool place to go to school, volunteer, and work!!!
I am thankful forbeing able to sleep on long drives.
I am thankful for good camping fun with great friends.
I am thankful for fun rides in the dunes.
I am thankful for home sweet home and my soft comfy bed.
I am thankful for Monday's....it is the only official day I work and I get to do what I love - Teach.
I am thankful my kids wake up early so I can take them with me and they love to visit me during the day

I am thankful for my son. He is funny, sweet, loving, caring, sometimes has a bit of a temper...but I love him for all of it and thankful he came into my life and made it that more fun and challenging. Thanks you E monster

I am thankful for for my education. I am thankful I went to a Christain School from K to 12 and then the a Christain Universtiy. I am thankful I taught at the Christain school I went to and have found friends that lift me up

Some would think 18 days of being thankful would get hard....but really it makes you analize your life and realize you have a blessed and wonderful life....so as my friend Tara said .....I am simply thankful. And that is that

I am thankful for....getting to throw parties in my girls classroom with fun kids, great teacher and some really cool parents. Thanks room 23 parents for all your help...it should be a great one.

I am thankful for impromtu cold park days that turn into warm up with tea and coco
I am thankful my little girl came into my life today-9 years ago. Happy birthday my sweet M. You make life better, crazy and worth every minute...I love you and thanks for making me a mommmy

I am thankful for food. Trying new things and quite houses. My kids when they are surprised and get things done and me too

I am thankful not pulling the trailer but still getting to Glamis at 7.
I am thankful for awesome rides in the dunes.
I am thankful for for yummy dinner on my birthday and people that make some yummy food and Drinks to share it with

I am thankful for sleep and snuggles.
I am thankful for kids having a great time.
I am thankful for a truck to bring us back home in

I am thankful when the time goes slow and I look forward to a slow, relaxing and fun Holiday season

I am thankful for the warm heater that is set to go off just as I get out of bed....and the cold crisp weather that makes me love this even more....Last day of November
Here's to a Season of being grateful and really living life to its fulliest