Jake snapped a few photos of the three of us this morning. I love them and their imperfection.
And this one. I love how his wings are folded but out.
My boys.
And one of just Nathaniel.
Trying to achieve some peace and calm today. This week went by too fast, I need time to slow down a bit.
On another note, my class started today. Yey!
Yes, still stuck on the ornaments but this is a special one. We made this one today, David and I. Well mostly David.
While I attempted to accomplish some work, Nathaniel and David played together.
And then Nathaniel went around and put everything in his mouth.
Yep this was in his mouth seconds later.
And then as he napped, I took a short break to help David make some ornaments. He made a total of 5 different ones but this one is my favorite.
Still feeling out of sorts but hoping it will pass before the week is out and I can settle into some sort of routine. Let’s see…
This week’s download is a set of holiday themed circles. This was a request. If you have ideas of things you’d like let me know. Here is what’s in there:
You can download it here: holiday circles set download.
You are welcome to play with these as much as you want and use them anywhere you’d like. You are NOT allowed to sell them ever. You don’t have to but I’d appreciate a link back if you do use them.
This is part of a weekly digital download series. They are posted every Wednesday. You can find all of the ones that were posted here.
Here are my pages for day two.
David decorating the tree.
For the back, I wanted to do something fun so I made a tree using some fabric and adhered some beads. That’s it.
And here’s a closer look:
Still not on top of our schedule and todos but working on it.
Here are my pages for day one.
I really loved the fabric on the page so I didn’t want to cover it. I just added a little angel and sewed pearls around her head to give the feeling of a halo.
here’s a closer shot:
And then on the back, I put the photo that I love from our trip and journaled right on the photo. Sweet, simple and colorful.
I am trying to keep it simple and focused on words and photos.
I made this layout with A Million Memories December kit (which is stunning).
Journaling reads:
When David was born, everyone told me how much he looked like your Daddy. “He’s like a copy of Jake,” they said. “Really? You couldn’t pass one gene on to him?” asked my sister. But I was happy with that. I loved your dad and I thought he was really good looking and I didn’t think as highly of my looks. So, to me, it was a blessing that our little boy looked exactly like his Daddy.
And then you came along. For a while, it was uncertain whom you looked like. My mom kept asking and I just said I didn’t know. Until a few months ago. I was looking through some of my childhood photos and I came across this one. When I put it next to the one of you I had just taken, it was perfectly clear to me that you were an exact copy of me. The resemblance was stunning.
Considering how I felt when David was born, you might think this made me sad. But it had the exact opposite effect. Seeing you, seeing how cute you are, how wonderful and lovable you are, made me feel better about myself. If I looked like you, maybe I was sweet and pretty and cute, too. You, my little boy, did the unimaginable: you made me feel better about the way I look.
It might seem shallow, but I promise you it’s anything but. No one has had the ability to make me feel as good about myself as you managed to do. Just by being born.
Thank you, little Nathaniel, for all the gifts you brought with you. For opening my eyes and helping me see things differently. For helping me see things better. For the gift that you are. Thank you.
Happy December! I am already way behind but still delighted that December is here. And will continue to post ornaments for a while. I love them too much.
Here’s David opening his advent calendar. We have a cheap-o one Jake got from the pharmacy. It’s just the daily act of the little indulgence and having something to look forward to.
And Nathaniel is sitting there, observing us all the time. He’s such a joy, such a delight to have around. His giggles give us endless pleasure.
More to come tomorrow. I am supposed to be sleeping and have so much more to do.
 I have been meaning to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society for months. When I was pregnant and my sister was visiting, she bought the book for a friend and I started reading it then but never really got into it. So I shied away from picking it up for months but last week I decided it was finally time.
As it turns out, it was absolutely delightful. I loved the format of letters written back and forth among multiple characters and the stories and the characters were very colorful, lovable and fun to watch.
Had I known it was sort of about the second world war, I would likely have not touched it at all. It was a relatively small part of the book tone-wise but still anything about that bothers me. In the end, I am glad I read it and would highly recommend this pithy yet quick read.
You’ll have to endure photos of my ornaments for some time. I love them and I can’t take enough photos of them. Sorry in advance.
I’ve officially moved downstairs so I can smell and see the tree while I work. I spent the afternoon working at the dinner table and Nathaniel, who doesn’t seem to want to be anywhere but right by me lately, decided to play right under the table.
And then David joined him, too.
All while I was having a video conference. Nice eh? And when he finally ventured away, it was towards the kitchen where there are too many things that he shouldn’t be going near. So I had to give up on the table and move to the couch where there’s lots of open carpet. (and the Christmas tree but that’s going to be an adventure either way.
I put some small lights in the other living room, too, which is where our stockings live.
Those weird green lights on the stockings are from the UV filter on my lens, gotta remember to take that off. Today was very unproductive but I did take Nathaniel to the doctor and he’s gained 1.5lbs in the last month. The doctor had wanted him to gain at least a pound so we’re good! Still at 12% but he wasn’t worried. Nathaniel got his second flu shot and didn’t even flinch.
Here’s to a more productive tomorrow. December, here we come!
Christmas has officially arrived in our beautiful house and I am thrilled.
I started out the morning by finishing my book (more on that tomorrow) while Nathaniel napped and then played a little.
Then we took out the ornaments. I realized most of the lights were not working so we had to take another break. When Nathaniel went down to nap, I drove to Walmart and bought a ton of new lights. Now we were ready to decorate. David helped me, of course.
And Nathaniel watched us and was quiet, mostly.
And here’s the finished tree with the lights on. It was late at this point so there was no light out.
And here’s one with the lights off.
Yes, the tree is crooked. But I love it anyway. I love Christmas. I love smelling the tree. Seeing the twinkles. I loved every little thing about the holiday season. And now I am tired and need to rest before Nathaniel wakes up for milk.
Catalyst ninety is: What’s something that embarrasses you?
My words:
I have a hard time accepting compliments. When someone says something nice, I am immediately embarrassed and start saying that it wasn’t that hard, or it’s not that great, or it looks better than it is. Anything. I’ll say anything to take the focus away from me and from the gratitude someone is showing me. One time, a friend to me to stop doing that and just to say thank you. I’m working on it.
I wanted to create a bouquet of flowers (like someone presenting flowers to me.) with wire and beads. I learned this technique from the amazing Rebecca Sower. She inspires me endlessly.
I’ve never been able to take good photos of our Christmas trees and this year is no exception. It’s right in front of the backyard which means there’s lots of backlight and my 50mm doesn’t work well since it’s a huge tree so I changed to the wide angle today and this is the best I could do. It’s a bit crooked but I love it none the less. It smells magical.
I bought Nathaniel some puffs the other day and he’s enjoying them quite a bit. He likes playing with them as much as eating them. Take note of how many are stuck to his arms.
Lest you think it’s just the arms, several on the floor too.
He does like eating them, too. When I undressed him tonight to put him down, I noticed at least five stuck inside his clothes, maybe he was saving them for later.
I finished all my layouts and David’s book with the AMM kit from this month. I am still reading my book for the week but I might be able to finish tonight, if not, definitely tomorrow.
I’ve noticed a spike in comments lately, I am not sure where you’re coming from, but that you so much, knowing that people are here, reading, and communicating back really makes my heart happy.
Five days to my Big Picture Scrapbooking class on reclaiming my time. I am officially excited.
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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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