3 Layouts

Trent is the subject of the first two pages. Isn't he just the cutest, the sweetest, the squashiest thing ever!!  The first page uses Aja's new Pumpkin Patch Mini Kit, which you can get for free with a $5 purchase at her store now through 10-31. The link to her store is on the right.

The second page uses Creashen's adorable Bye Bye Birdie Kit.

The final page showcases my naturally beautiful daughter, using Catherine's Woodland Retreat Kit.

The Case of the Missing Kids

In the last post I established the fact that peace and quiet is a luxury at our home.  I was enjoying one of these rare moments Friday evening after cleaning Janie's house.  I got home just before sunset, tired and ready to sit down for a while.  I told the kids to enjoy the cool, fall air and play outside until dark.  

I went in the house and did just what you would expect, sat down on the couch with my Macbook in my lap, surfed and wound down a bit.  After a while I thought I could hear a faint sound that sounded like the kids screaming.  My kids are loud and they scream and yell a lot (it's imperative that we live in the country), so I've learned not to panic each time I hear something suspicious going on outside.  If they need me, one of them will run inside for help.  

Sitting there in the room that's almost dark by now, I'm reveling in the fact that I'm alone, all alone! Ah, the glory of it!  All alone with no one to bother me, no one to ask me to do something, no one yelling at me. But what is that strange, far away din that sounds like "Mooooooooooooooommmmmm!!!!"  And it's nearly dark by now, where are the kids?  Overcome with curiosity and a little trepidation, I got up and went outside.  

I went out the back door, but no one but the dog was in sight, who begged and pleaded with me to play with him.  I quickly apologized and went off in search of the kids.  I walked around to the front:  nothing, no one.   And then I heard it again "MOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!!."  It was a chorus of all three of them calling for me with an urgency that made my heart jump!

I ran in the direction of their screams, up the drive way to the front field.  I couldn't see them, but I knew they had to be sitting on the other side of the hill in our front pasture.  I kept running, praying with each step that this was just some kind of joke.  What kind of predicament could they be in that could possibly prevent all three of them from coming to the house?  Whatever I expected it was surely not what I found when I topped that hill.  

There they were, all three of them sitting in the grass, shivering from the cold, clutching their bare, sticker covered feet!  I couldn't contain the giggle that emanated from the deep sense of relief I felt and the comical sight they made.  I didn't laugh for long, because Trent was really upset.  He got the worst of it:  stickers in his hands and feet and even on his little rear end.   He was so distressed, tears streaming down his sweet, little face "Mom what took you so long?  We've been yelling and yelling for a long time."  Talk about the guilt trip of the century!  I bent down and pulled all the stickers out of him before moving on to Kristen and Tyler.  I told them to stay put and I would be right back with their shoes.

I don't know how many times I've told them to wear shoes outside. They don't listen.  They know the risks and they choose to gamble! What's a mom to do?

The Burden of Deceit

The peace and quiet that settles over the house after the kids are in bed is a treasured commodity  around here.  Wednesday night, I was just settling in for a few moments of that luxurious P&Q when Kristen came bursting from her room, tears streaming down her face, her lip quivering like a leaf in the wind.  She barely managed to say "mama, I have to tell you and daddy something."  I braced myself and said "what is it, sweetie?"  Through another torrent of tears she said "remember that time the light bulb burst in the middle of the night.  Well, it didn't happen like I said."  "Okay, how did it happen?"  "Well, I was playing and washing one of my doll's dresses and put it on the light bulb to dry."  Me- "And it shattered the bulb?"   "Yes."  "And you lied about it?"  "Yes."  "Why did you lie?"  "I was afraid I would get into trouble."  "Why did you decide to tell me about this now?"  Through the final and most intense flood of tears, "I couldn't hold it in any longer."  

My little girl had been carrying around this burden for months.  It ate at her in the stillness of her bed.  These thoughts, along with guilt of my own, for understanding the fear that she felt was caused by knowing that I would have been very upset and angry had she told me the truth, crowded my mind.  For you see, I remember that night when she broke the light bulb and she had to come and get me out of my bed to tell me.  I don't remember her explanation for its breaking, but I do remember being concerned for her safety and making sure that all the glass was carefully cleaned up.  Had I known that she was playing when she was supposed to be in bed and taking the globe off of her lamp to dry a wet doll dress, I would have been just a little less concerned about the glass and a whole lot more concerned about her disobedience and foolishness.  And I'm not very nice when you get me out of bed, unless you're sick or bleeding or have some other emergency that you couldn't help!

We discussed how the truth is always better and how she learned two valuable lessons through all of this.  Never put anything on a light bulb and always tell the truth.  Deception is a cruel burden. It's the truth, no matter how hard it may seem, that sets you free.

2 Pages

I seem to be totally inspired by the photos I took of Kristen and  they just really go well with the new kits my designers are releasing. Here are two pages and I'm working on another.

Everything on this page is from a brand new collab between Aja Abney and Emily Merritt, Fairy tale. It's on sale today at Scrapartist and We Are Storytellers.

This page uses a new kit by Sausan Designs, Sweet Grunge. You can find it at Catscrap.

Together

Trent's Turn

Here's the baby of the family.  Ain't he sweet?

Tyler's Turn

Today, I took the boys to their grandmothers for their turn in the spotlight. Here's a few captures Tyler, my oldest, my ten year old baby, who is really growing up quickly!!

Black and White

Here's a story board of b&W photos from today's session.

What do you do when God gives you an angel?

You take her photograph, of course! I have been planning for several months now to photograph Kristen in this dress. My original plan was for the spring, but when she broke her arm, we decided to wait until she was cast-free. She hasn't worn a cast since mid April, but I've just been putting it off for one reason or another. Today, I decided to just do it. I fixed her hair and we headed down to Grandma's where I thought we would find better backdrops and props.

I wanted to accomplish a few things with this shoot. First and foremost was to capture some beautiful photos of my princess. Secondly, I wanted to practice my photography skills. I was mainly concerned with my metering, as it seems that I always have to brighten every photo I take after I import it to my computer. I was very pleased to find that I did much better this time. The biggest struggle I had was coming up with poses! I hope to get better with practice! Practice, practice, practice! Here's just a small sampling of the photos I got tonight. I cropped all of these to 8*10 and used Christian O'dell's Lightroom Presets. You can find this awesome set of presets for sale at Catscrap.

While I'm at it

I may as well tell you about two new kits! Nikki Beaudreau has released a fabulous boy kit, entitled Rock-It Science. Here's the page I made with it-



Creashen's released another wonderful kit at Catscrap today, Bye Bye Birdie. Here's the page I made using it-

Neglect and a Freebie!

I'm so glad this blog isn't a living thing, depending on me for food and water, it would be near death's door by now! I'm not going to spend a lot of time feeling guilty and trying to explain why I've been so remiss in taking care of this new commitment. It would be a waste of time! All I can do is start afresh and try to do better in the future, right!? Now on to the good stuff--

Check out Catherine's Blog and download this awesome freebie that coordinates perfectly with her new kit, Woodland Retreat.

A Little Digi-News

One of the most talented and friendliest of all the scrappers in Digi-land started designing just a few weeks ago.  Everyone involved in the Digi-world knows her and admires her for her beautiful and creative art and the wonderful inspiration that she brings with each and every page.  Yes, I'm talking about Catherine aka Chud23. Her designs can be seen at After 5.

You can imagine how excited I was when I received a PM from her asking me to be a part of her Creative Team!  I wasted no time in sending her my answer, lest she changed her mind! lol Here are two pages I made using her kits. Friends for Life consists mainly of Zen Attitude and most of the items on Be Bold are from Girls' Retreat, released just a few days ago.