To make a house a home...

you need a well-built structure,

a pet or two,

dear friends,

and those extra little touches.

Quiet Days

We've had some pretty quiet days here lately.

It seems that January is always like that. Here's a bit of what we've been doing.

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1. Since we moved into our house a year ago, my stamps have been stacks in little cubbies and, quess what?, I haven't used them! It's so time consuming to sit on the floor and go through each pile trying to figure out which ones to use. So these past few days, I've gone through every stamp set, pulled out the ones that I know I'll use and plan on getting rid of the rest. Then, I've taken each stamp set, numbered them, stamped them on a piece of paper and then stored them vertically (with the # showing) in two plastiic tubs. When I want to stamp, I can look through my three-ring binder of stamped images, pick the ones I want and then head straight to the stamp set by looking for the number. I think it will encourage me to use my stamps more often...it's just so much easier.

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2. Ryan has been completely lost to us. He spends most of his at-home hours lost in a book. He gets this from me...the ability (curse?) to totally ignore that fact that you're tired because you just gotta see what's gonna happen next!

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3. Bob is finally just about all better. He still has a bit of a cough, but he feels like himself again. He's already set his alarm an hour earlier in preparation for tax season. It starts in just over a week. I guess we'd all better get ready!

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4. Emma...well, Emma is just doing what she always does...listening to Skippy John Jones as often as possible on the radio while she pulls out her toys into the living room and then plays for hours...telling the story right along with the author since she's heard it SO many times.

She has homework each week now, and it's so much fun to watch her read! Soon, it'll come naturally to her and she'll have her head stuck in a book, but I'm enjoying this now. The time of discovery.

~~~

So that's our life in a nutshell. We've got a couple of long weekends coming up. This weekend, we're having the kids' ten- and six-year photos taken, cleaning out the garage, and hopefully a bit of relaxing and crafting. Happy weekend!

Pre-made First Year Scrapbook

This has to be the easiest card I've ever made...I feel like I'm cheating!

I bought a CuddleBug from a friend and have started to buy a few embossing folders to use with it. This one is so cute...I didn't think that it needed anything else!

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Following are photos of an 8x8 scrapbook that can be made in advance and is

intended for a photo or two for each month of a baby's first year.

Patterned paper is from October Afternoon and all solids are from my favorite line, Bazzill.

Cover page

"Coming Home"

Months one and two

Month three with a two page layout...a bit more space for the milestone months (3, 6, 9, and one year) and some room for journaling.

Months Four and Five

Month Six

Months Seven and Eight

Month Nine

Months Ten and Eleven

One Year

Back page...additional photos can be added here or some solid cardstock

for a journalling block.

~~~

Our Weekend

This weekend was our Special Meeting over near Mom and Dad's house, so the kids and I spent the night with them. Bob, still recovering from the bug he caught at Christmas, spent a quiet weekend at home. Here's a couple of goofy pics of us on Sunday morning.

Look at how tall Ryan is! And I have on my boots with heals! Yikes! When did this happen?

Whenever I go to Mom's, she usually send me home with a bag or two of stuff (her way of

cleaning her house). This time, she sent me back with a quilt that she made for Bob and I.

Isn't is gorgeous?! She pieced it, and another lady quilted it on her quilting machine.

I'm going to attach the binding and it'll be all done. I plan to paint and decorate our bedroom around this. I'm not sure yet if it will end up on our bed or hanging on the wall behind the bed. Can't wait to see how it looks!

Beautiful!!

The pictures in my mind today...

...are these.
{Beauty}

{Warmth}

{Together}

(Success}

{Smiles}

{First Timers}

{Patience}

{Family}

~~~

All photos taken June 2010 by my bro-in-law, Greg

Motivation

{Isn't this the cutest scrapbook paper?!}

When I get tired of organizing and/or cleaning, I remember what is waiting for me

once it's all finished.

Just a bit more 2010 fun!

Ryan got a couple of new Nerf guns and swords for Christmas and his birthday, so he took it upon himself to teach Emma how to be a "real fighter."

Em had a hard time "lookin' tough!"

We spent the 28th at Wahooz! with the Amy, Carson, Wyatt and Trevor.

Carson was much too interested in the game he was playing to turn and look at me.

Amy and Trevor

Emma loved this dancing game.

Trevor helped Amy wack the cats.

Emma had a great time wacking the cats, too.

Waiting in line for laser tag

Trevor helped Amy play "Deal or No Deal."

Emma was able to "buy" a long pink snake with her tickets. She's wanted one of those for a long time!

Ryan and Carson both bought BSU .... getting ready for next year's games!

And there were a few of the little grabby guns.

Me and my hoodlums

~~~

New Year's Eve

Just the four of us

A game of Life and Sharp Shooters (both of which Emma won!)

Scouts chocolate covered popcorn

Watching the ball drop

Fireworks out the front windows

Then bed

::The end of 2010::