Journaling Reads:
My little boy, you are now at an age where you are able to communicate and tell us what you want and now that you know we can understand if you don’t get exactly what you want you want, you put on this face of pure sadness and devastation. your hands cover your moth in shock and if you can you throw yourself to the ground. it doesn’t really work but we both smile at how cute you are sometimes we can’t help but give in.
This layout was for Maya Road and Little Yellow Bicycle swap.
Details:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mom!!!!!! I love you so so much.
Today was a wonderful, quiet day. I woke up and exercised first thing so that we could take our family photos. The kids didn’t really seem to want to look at the camera, though.
Nathaniel pretty much held the remote nonstop again and he wouldn’t look at the camera while he clicked, of course.
so we just gave up and did tickle time.
then Jake and David went out to Maker Faire and I sat with Nathaniel for a little while, then started to do art. He napped and then when he was up, he sat next to me and did some art of his own.
We did a ton of art and then sketched and journaled. Then David and Daddy came back and he had also gotten a haircut.
we took our walk, read our book, and he wrote his journal. Then it was Family Night so we played Blokus. Now they are in bed and I have a very long list of blog posts to organize. But I feel full. I have done a ton of art and it made me happy. If I can get these posts done and a few more small items, I will feel great about my weekend productivity. And I got a lot of rest, too so I am not complaining.
Next week is likely going to be back to a ton of scrapping. I printed my photos and have my stories ready. Cannot wait to play with some beautiful product.
I hope your weekend was wonderful, too. Here’s to a great week.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I did so so so much art. It filled me up.
2. I am grateful for my husband who took David and had a wonderful father-son day which also meant that I could have a wonderfully quiet day of my own.
3. I am grateful for my mom. I love her so so much.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I went to maker faire. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that we played Blokus.
3. I am grateful that I got to have chocolate ice cream at the fair.
David says:
I gave this story five stars because I liked how Katie found out that Selena was actually nice to animals and they became friends at the end and I like how the boys who cheated got caught and had to clean up dog poop (which was funny!).
I also really liked the bug facts, especially the one about how fast dragon flies can fly. But I didn’t like that the boys cheated because they knew they would get in trouble if they got caught and they were being lazy.
My favorite of the science projects was the volcano that exploded because I like that it had lava inside which exploded. I also liked the lightning bug because I thought it was cool that they thought to use a flashlight to make it light up. I also thought the solar system was cool cause they used different fruits for each planet.
Reading a book a week with my six-year-old son David is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.
After exercise this morning, it was time for family photos. I snapped this one as I was setting up. My three boys!!
Nathaniel was in a super happy mood and made us all laugh.
and would not let go of the remote.
so we just did a lot of tickle time.
i think tickle-time is becoming my favorite.
since David didn’t get to have the remote, he snapped some when we were done.
then he played Wii and I attempted to put Nathaniel down several times. The Wii makes his eyes bloodshot and watery (cause he doesn’t blink enough) so I make him rest them regularly.
but of course he’s faking it. he always fakes it.
I finally give up on Nathaniel and he immediately asks to sit on the chair.
He is so cute!
And gives me a special smile.
Then David’s back to playing.
And Nathaniel makes a little nest right by his brother (and with his choo choo of course!)
I had a quiet day. Cleaning, reading, and sketching. I hope to do some art journaling tonight and it will be the best day.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I cleaned up my space. Always feel better when it’s clear.
2. I am grateful for all the fresh fruit and groceries in the fridge.
3. I am grateful for a calm day.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I played Lego Clone Wars. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that we finished our book.
3. I am grateful that we start a new book tomorrow.
jake
Jake spent the end of last week and the beginning of this week in New York. From what I understand, it was a very productive few days. He came back tired but excited and energized. He then spent the rest of the week getting over jetlag and catching up. H also helped me tremendously both Tuesday and Thursday. This was one of my harder weeks and without him I would not have made it through as sanely as I did. I am so grateful.
karen
I was stressing about this week before it began. I had too many appointments and commitments. A bunch of chaos going on at work and no desire to do anything but lie on the couch. I’ve learned that even the fun occasions leave me feeling wiped and I need alone and quiet time to recover. So knowing I have a lot of commitments, meetings, events during a week makes me feel a bit overwhelmed. But this one went well and I feel good about all that got accomplished and also happy to know the next week is a quiet one.
david
David had school all week. Monday, he had sharing day and took his gratitude journal to school and everyone thought it was really cool (he told me). We also went to a pizza party at his new school (that he will attend next year) and he seemed really happy to be there. He ran around and played on the playground like he already belonged there. Which made me feel better about changing schools after the first year. He’s been doing great though and reading and writing and playing and just being wonderful in general.
nathaniel
Nathaniel is becoming more and more self-aware as time goes by. His comprehension is also going up and he keeps repeating sounds and words I use. I can tell that he understands just about everything I tell him even if he doesn’t actually do as I say. He has such a wide, happy smile that it warms my heart to see it. He also laughs a lot and if someone else is laughing, he automatically joins in even if he doesn’t know why they are laughing.
Us Right Now is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.
I love how my little boy plays while I work. He creates games, makes sounds, just amuses himself. And then comes to give me a hug.
Just seeing his face makes me happy.
so does this one. I love his weird smile.
though being boys means getting a lot more of these.
and these.
but then sometimes I get these. I love the gratitude journals!!!
We went out to dinner tonight and then did some grocery shopping. When we came home Daddy and David went bike riding and I snapped some photos. Well, tried to.
I cannot tell you what it means to me to see my son riding his bike by himself like that!! Not learning to ride a bike has been one of my few regrets and I have been constantly worried that David would be like that, too. But here we are!! He’s already riding. I am so so so proud of my boy.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that Jake taught David to ride the bike and so grateful David stuck with it.
2. I am grateful for a tasty dinner with my family and the beautiful sunshine we had during dinner.
3. I am grateful for a completely free weekend. No obligations, no assignments, nothing at all due just yet. I have wonderful opportunities coming up and lots of happy mail I expect over the next few weeks. I am so grateful for that, too.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I watched Magic schoolbus today. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that we went out to dinner.
3. I am grateful that I rode my bike by myself.
I remember that during January I thought June was so far away. June was my big month because once I go to 3.1 miles a day, I am not going to increase the exercise distance each month. It felt ages away and now I can see that in one more week I will be welcoming June. I can see that I exercised for 3.0 miles for 20 consecutive days already. I am flabbergasted. I have exercised for 555 miles (actually more since nike didn’t function properly on a few days.) This is more exercise than I’ve done in all my years prior combined. I am proud of that.
Though I won’t lie. It’s still no fun. I just do it cause I am committed and not because I look forward to it in any way. I’ve also been taking walks in the afternoon which makes sure that I am taking at least 10,000 steps each day. I went to see a nutritionist this week so I am starting to create meal plans next week to make sure I can add some more protein into my daily food intake. I am going to work on it.
As with most things, this is a lifelong journey. It’s about forming new habits, valuing my heath and respecting myself enough to take care of my body. I already work on my soul and my body deserves it, too.
and here’s this week’s card:
Healthy for Life is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.
There’s something magical about watching my kids hug.
it fills my heart with overwhelming gratitude.
and happiness.
makes me feel blessed in my core.
I love my little boys and I know that there will be days of bickering and fighting so I am trying to enjoy the hugs more right now.
so when they whine.
and give me the stink eye.
I remember that they are magnificent.
and I give thanks. I think the key to life is living with gratitude, every moment. I have been paying a lot of attention to my life and feeling thankful for it. And I am thankful to scrapbooking for giving me another way to remember. And photos. And for art. Because it makes me so happy. And isn’t that the purpose of life after all?
Happy Thursday!
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that Jake worked from home today so I could juggle my appointments and meetings more easily. I am so so grateful.
2. I am grateful for a nutritionist appointment which will hopefully help me get more organized about food.
3. I am grateful for journaling. It’s helping me sort out my head a lot lately and I am thankful I do it regularly now.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I am going to a pizza party tonight. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got to play on the computer.
3. I am grateful that the bus driver had a bandaid (his finger bled during the bus ride. just a little bleeding.).
Here are the sketches from this week. Still experimenting and trying a wide variety.
On Wendesday, I made my own version of this tree.
then colored it.
that one took forever!
On Thursday, I had little time and wanted to do a quick one so I picked this girl.
and colored it.
on Friday, I tried to sketch from a photograph, so I went for a lizard.
on Saturday I made my version of these sketched houses:
And then I did this bird.
Sunday, I made this awesome tree and bird, though mine is “cleaner”.
Monday, I did this girl. I don’t like how it turned out but I sketched and that’s what matters:
later that day, I did another girl.
and Tuesday I made this face:
And here we are. six weeks and counting.
Some days I get excellent quality photos. Some days I get great stories. And other days, I get neither. That’s life and life with kids and life with little kids. But I still try.
and capture a little.
however imperfect.
Because time will pass and this funny, cute smile and those shining eyes will change. They will evolve into something new, different and wonderful in its own way. But it won’t be this. This moment will pass. These faces will change. The habits, quirks, smiles will change. And I am so thankful to capture them the way they are on this very day.
However imperfect.
Also a good reminder that life is imperfect. Which is great cause it would be so much work to keep everything perfect all the time. Talk about a moving target that’s completely unreachable.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I did a little art just for me.
2. I am grateful that I had a nice walk and a wonderful chat with David about apologizing and forgiving others and forgiving oneself, too.
3. I am grateful for my mom and my dad who are always so kind and generous to me, in every way. thank you!!
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I will spend some time with Daddy tonight before bed. {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that we learned a German song in music class.
3. I am grateful that I played soccer and baseball with daddy in the backyard.
Catalyst One Hundred and Thirty-One is: Describe (or show) yourself at this point in your life.
Journaling Reads:
It might not be sexy but what I feel more than anything at this moment is so very content. I feel like I am full of peace and joy but I also feel calm. I feel my career, my family, my art, and life in general are exactly where I wish them to be at this moment. And I do not take that for granted for a second. I work out daily. I spend time with my kids. I do all my work and fulfill my obligations. But I also know I am so lucky. And things will change. Tougher times will come. So I celebrate this moment of contentment.
Details:
After I finished Flash Burnout I immediately downloaded The Mermaid’s Mirror. This book is very different from the other. Even though I liked this one less (maybe due to its more magical plotline) I really loved that the author had such differing books. Her great voice carried over from novel to novel and I loved it in this one, as well.
If you’ve never read her, I recommend either of the books. Just make sure to read the plot on amazon first so you know which one speaks to you more. For me, it was Flash Burnout.
Here is the author’s blog and her story in her own words.
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projects for twenty twenty-six
projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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