Whoo! I just love Christmas- the music, the lights, the baking, the shopping, the wrapping. . . but once it's over, it's over. I'm ready to pack up the decorations and reorganize the boys' room!
We had a beautiful Christmas. We are blessed to live so close to our families. We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's. Then we had our own Christmas on the 25th. After reading the Chrismas story from the Bible and opening our gifts, the kids got to play with their new stuff all day! Sometimes we're rushing to get here and there, and the kids don't get much hands-on time with their new stuff til after the holidays.
On the 26th, we headed up to my in-laws' house for a two day stay.
With all the hustle and bustle, I haven't had a minute to sit down and scrap. I actually have two projects that were intended to be Christmas gifts still sitting on my desk! The first thing I'm going to have to do is clean my area though. I always feel more inspired when things are clean!

"First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others."
-Thomas A. Kempis

We went to see the boys perform in the church Christmas program. It was utterly delightful! It was a Caribbean theme with singing and dancing. I had already watched most of the practices and helped videotape it, but I was still excited to see it again. There was a huge turnout and the kids did a great job! The ladies who worked with the kids did such a good job. Everybody loved the program!

I also had the delightful opportunity today to help in a make and take at the Scrapbook Village. There were about eight of us who had created a holiday tag to share with the participants who circled the tables and left with a bag of tags.

Thought to remember: A positive attitude will have positive results because attitudes are contagious. - Zig Ziglar

My church has been collecting new and gently used toys all year to donate to needy families around Christmas. We found an organization in Bolivar Peninsula that is hosting a Christmas party for the local kids. So today, my hubbie and I packed the truck full of the donated goods and drove down to Galveston. What an awesome thing to get to be a part of!

While we were there, we drove down the seawall and through the town. It's unbelievable how much destruction there still is this long after Ike. I can't imagine how awful it must have been immediately after. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all those affected.

On a lighter note, I played football with my boys today after school. Ethan could not believe what a good defender I was. Maybe someday I'll let him know that his eyes gave away his intended direction every time!

Thought for the day:
Every day is a new opportunity to make a new happy ending.
-Author Unknown

Phil and I took the boys to the Lego store today so Sam could spend his birthday money. It was filled with Lego sets from floor to ceiling and had lots of projects already built for the shoppers to look at. I thought Sam would have a hard time making up his mind with so many choices, but he didn't. By the time we made a complete lap around the store, he had picked up what he was going to get- Star Wars sets.

So, if you're in the area and have a Lego lover, I would definately say this is worth the stop!

Sam had a birthday party today with a few friends. We ate pizza and played at the video arcade at Double Dave's Pizza, then played a game of laser tag at Laser Zone. From the minute the boys got together, there was a lot of noise, laughter, and talking about body excrements. It was a lot of fun!

(Ethan, Wallace, Sam, Garrett, Zac)

I received binders in the mail today. I've been waiting for them so I can finish putting together 2 Christmas gifts. They are scrapbooks made out of a hard back book (with the pages removed). It's an awesome project I learned how to do in a class by Janet Hopkins. Here's the link where you can order the instructions online.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17472296

I'll post a few pics of my albums once I finish them.

Here are the layouts I did for the Scrapbook Junkie Design Team. We were given two bags full of supplies to work with and had to create 2 one page layouts and a card. The first layout- the Christmas one- is different from what I usually do. I used a lot of the product on the layout, and it's very busy. The photo I used is from 2 Christmases ago, and I was tickled to get it into my scrapbook. The second layout was not as busy, and I used a small page protector to make a flip photo.

I've been working with Ethan on not worrying so much. I tell him that it's only second grade, he's not trying to save the Earth. I don't think he listens to me.

I read this quote and it made me think:

I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.

-Edward Everett Hale

I worked on a couple of projects today. The first is my Daily December album (got the idea for from Ali Edwards' blog). I had the pages already done last month. Today I added the title on the cover and completed pages one and two. It's really a fun concept. You prepare the pages and book ahead of time, so it will be ready during the month. All you have to do is add 1 photo and journaling daily to each page. For more info, look here http://aliedwards.typepad.com/photos/december_daily/index.html

The second project I finished up is a mini album full of pictures and stories from when my older son was a toddler. I got the idea from Pinecone Press Tabletop Gifts idea book. Here's the cover and the interior. Very quick and simple.

There aren't actual pages- just little envelopes attached to an accordian fold.

Throughout the years, I've kept little notebooks around to jot down the funny things my kids say. You wouldn't believe how often I've turned to these quotes for my journaling! I just love reading through them.

Signing off for now. Here's a little thought before I go:

Do what makes you happy. . .

Be with those who make you smile. . .

Laugh as much as you breathe. . .

Love as long as you live.

-unknown

Blogging for the first time today- I'm pretty excited.

Nine years ago tonight, I was holding my beautiful baby boy Sam. He was born at 1 a.m. My husband had gotten me to the hospital at 11:50 p.m. Nov. 30. The nurses hooked me up to a monitor and told me that they would be back in one hour to check my progress. Well, I progressed faster than they expected because Sam popped out 1hour and 10 minutes later! He was such a beautiful and tiny baby. (He actually wasn't due until December 25.)

Today he asked if he could stay home from school since it was a holiday for him. "Nice try," I told him.

Dropped my layouts off at the Scrapbook Junkie today. Will post pictures soon.

Here's a little thought that I'll close with: "Instead of counting your days, make your days count." - Author unknown