Sunday Scrappin'

For many weeks I have been admiring and commenting on fellow-scrapbookers' blogs. Looking at their pages and designs sure do inspire me. I have been especially impressed with the page layouts and designs by Diane at Forgetfulone and Miss Sniz and Mighty Morphin' Mama, along with a few others (sorry I cannot remember them all - but I love them all!).

I am addicted to scrapbooking as much as I am to blogging. I think they are very similar in the fact that both are creative outlets that allow us to explore, explain and capture daily life and those special, memorable occasions. For me, both offer some "me" time, but result in an archive of experiences and memories that me, my family and our friends can treasure for years to come.

There is a great blog for Scrapbookers that has a neat weekly challenge. It is called Sunday Scrappin' and it offers links to many other blogs that are super amazing.

Last night I participated in my monthly blog Saturday and completed a few pages of which I am very proud and I thought I would take the plunge and share them. Hope you like them!

This is layout is Madigan's birth. I have some wonderful photos that my hubby took during the c-section - including one of just her foot sticking out of me and then the exact moment they pulled her out, bum-first!

This is a series of shots from June 2007. I like my banner on the top of both pages I used stickers and paper to make a long beach scene.

We do an annual hike near our house each October as the leaves are changing. We take a photo of the kids on the same rock every year. This is my 3rd year scrapbooking this event and I think this layout is one of my best!

This layout took a long time as I was not sure how to use the poor photos we took!

Though, I do like the 3 photos of DJ on the left page - one with no makeup, one with me applying the makeup and the final Shrek!

In the past I only scrapbooked specific events. But I am slowly starting to do "month spreads". this two page spread contains photos from a series of hikes we took in the months of October and November. I like the foot prints I drew on the title.

This single page spread does not have any journal writing since all I could write about was how Santa did not take one good photo...he was either blinking or sticking his tongue out or something! Man, it is hard enough to get a good shot of a 3 year old, 2 year old and 10 month old on their own!!!

One the left side are photos about my eldest son's annual heart tests. I included a sticker that quotes Mary Poppins and reads, "Perfectly perfect in every way". I changed it to read "perfectly imperfect" since that is exactly how his cardiologist describes DJ's heart!

The right side of the page is kind of cool since it only has two photos of the boys and the rest are produce and parking meters! This is the street market we visit every summer - we usually shop then swim and eat most of our fruits. Twice last summer I fed the wrong parking meter and got a ticket...so, this page is a neat little summary of our summer marketing.

This was an emotional page! The first day of school for DJ! I love how proud he looks walking to the school bus stop. I drove like a crazy-woman to beat the bus and get a photo of him getting off the bus at school!

Well, I hope you enjoyed a glimpse at what I worked on this weekend. I am hoping to participate in a few more of the Sunday Scrappin' challenges.

Do you scrapbook? Want to share? I would love to see your work.

Thankful Thursday

I am taking a cue from In the Gutter. This wonderful blogger-super woman brought up the idea of a Thankful Journal in a recent post. What a great idea..so, today's post from the Fringe will feature a few things of which I am thankful.

Then, taking a cue from the ever-funny, insightful and most wonderful Kellan from On The Upside, I am going to also look at some of the challenges facing our household with a more positive attitude.

(I LOVE both the above mentioned blogs and I encourage you all to go visit these wonderful ladies!)

Here are a few of the things I am most thankful for:

1) I am very thankful that Wednesday went much better than Stinky Tuesday. And the upside is that all the laundry is completely done, folded and put away!

2) I am thankful that Madigan is no longer Red Handed. It took 2 face cloth scrub downs, 4 baths, 5 sleeps and one good swim in a pool to remove all - well most - of the red food colouring. There is still small traces in the bed of her finger nails and a faint smear of red in the bends of her elbows. On the upside, we now know how long red food colouring stains the skin and that it is not toxic!

3) I am thankful that DJ's fingers have gone from "Really Good" to not bad. Both fingers remained swollen for a couple of days and both finger nails turned purple and blue. His one finger nail has fallen and the other will probably follow suit. The upside is that I finally got off my butt and sent in the forms to get replacement medical alert bracelets for him! And another upside is that Mommy's hugs and love are still the best medicine.

4) I am super thankful that Susan's biopsy on her Left Boob came back clear. Sadly, we have not gotten together to share a drink and toast this good news. On the upside, when we do get together it will be a GREAT celebration. Sue - let me know when we can do this!!!

5) I am super thankful that my Mom and Dad have offered to babysit Madigan and Anderson for 4 days in August so that Hubby and I can attend Tara's wedding where DJ will get to wear his Handsome Tattoo. On the upside - well...the only downside is that my parents will not be attending the wedding of the century - on the selfish side of things, there are ONLY upsides to this arrangement!

6) And finally - I am very thankful for two awards I have been given. I love bloggy-awards and bloggy-love! It amazes me that there are people out there reading my little blog and enjoying it. I really think that is cool. I am so addicted to blogging now, and it is all about meeting new people, sharing and caring together as we maneuver through our crazy, hectic lives.

The wonderful Melissa, over at Hope for the Hopeless sent me this wonderful award:

(Melissa, sorry for the delay in posting this...I really appreciate you thoughtfulness.)

And the brilliant blogger Forgetfulone sent me this cool award:

Thank you so very very much!

With all awards, the upside is that wonderful feeling you get when you receive one...and the great feeling you get when you send one out!

So, I would like to the "LOVE YOU THIS MUCH" award to Heidi from Viking Conquest. I love her blog and am wishing her a wonderful WELCOME HOME. I am looking forward to her new take on life in Canada now that her adventure is completed.

And, not a day does not go by that I do not go to check what Kristen is blogging about - she truly is a Mighty Morphin' Mama! Her musings definitely make my day!

And you know what? You all make my day - I am truly thankful to all of you who read, comment, lurk and support me. Feel free to grab the award of your choice and display it with pride!

I truly am thankful.

What a Stinky Day!

My stinky day in Numbers:

2 - Number of little boys who are toilet trained in our house hold
1 - Number of little girls still in diapers in our household
2 - Number of times said little girl leaked out of her diaper - including one huge explosion poo up her back - GROSS!
4 - Number of times Mommy asked 4 year old to go potty before bus arrives
1 - Number of times 4 year old pooped in his pants as the bus came into view down the street
6 - Number of minutes bus had to wait as 4 year old got cleaned up and changed
6 - Number of times Mommy reminded 3 year old to use potty throughout the day
5 - Number of times Mommy picked up a rice milk carton off the floor after 3 year old poured his own drink unassisted - Explains the exponential amount of pee
7 - Number of times 3 year old disappeared and changed clothes since he peed in them
2 - Number of times said 3 year old did NOT poop in the toilet
4 - Number of laundry loads Mommy did on the sanitize mode

What would you do????

A day like this STINKS...and it took all my energy and focus not to loose my cool. I tried my very best not to criticize the boys or get angry after each of the accidents. I only yelled once - and that was while a naked bum DJ ran to look out the window at the bus waiting for him...but man, how many toilet accidents can happen in one day.

My Tuesday was stinky...how was yours?

----Sorry if I do not read all your wonderful comments, but I have a huge pile of laundry to fold.

Caught Red Handed

For my volunteer day at the boys' preschool we decided to make popcorn balls. A really easy treat that involves popcorn, marshmallows, a bit of butter and food colouring. We decided to use red food colouring.

Here is a photo of our special treat:

The few drops of red food colouring make the marshmallows turn a carnival pink and the treats look like candy corn.

And here is a photo of Madigan....caught red handed after handling the red food colouring!

Note, this photo was taken after a face cloth scrub, one extended bath time scrub and one sleep.

Anyone know how long red food colour taints the skin?!?!??!?!!? If you do not, I'll be sure to update you on our findings!

Notice her arms, face and feet...she also has a perfect baby hand print on the back of her bald head, and her tummy is full of splotches and if you look closely, her face is a bit tainted as well.

A HUGE sigh

I just let out a HUGE sigh of relief.

Today I have been glued to Facebook awaiting news from my friend Susan.

First her Facebook status was:

Susan is hoping to have an answer today.

Then it was updated to:

Susan will know later today.

Then updated to:

Susan will definitely know later today.

And just 58 minutes ago Sue updated her status to read:

Susan received great news today!!!!!

YIPPPPEEEEE! Whew! Shame on that left boob giving us all scare!

Thank you everyone for your bloggy-love and support. Both Sue and I appreciate it all.

This wonderful world of blogging sure has allowed me the privilege of meeting some extra-special people. Thank you my dear friends.

Wordless Wednesday - Madigan's Latest Milestone

Madigan has mastered the slide at the park - and cannot get enough!

Not bad, really good

On Tuesday I got a call from DJ's school.

When I heard the secretary's voice, my heart skipped a beat. It always does - when the school calls. But especially now since I have neglected one task that I have been meaning to do for almost 2 months. Long story short, DJ's medical alert bracelet broke awhile ago and I have been meaning to mail it in for a replacement. But I keep forgetting to measure DJ's wrist. So, I sent a note to the school outlining the emergency alert number along with DJ's client number, just in case they need to phone. Almost EVERY day I think of mailing it out for repair - and I just do not get around to it...my bad.

So, you can imagine how I felt when I found out DJ had been hurt in the playground.

DJ pinched his fingers in the play yard while gardening. My heart skipped a beat and I experienced a wave of panic. This was the first time DJ ever was injured while away form home, while on his own, while without a parent or grandparent near by.

I was assured that they did not think the fingers were broken and that DJ wanted to return to class. So, they gave him ice and allowed him to return. The call was just procedure when first aid has to be given.

The school called back about 40 minutes later to tell me that DJ now wanted to come home.

I loaded the other two kiddies into the van and rushed off to get DJ. Poor little Bug.

I get to the office and he is sitting in what appears to be an enormous chair - it must have been 10 feet tall - he seemed so little, so dwarfed in the big chair. Clutching his baggy of ice. Swinging his legs. He was not crying, but you could see faint tear lines down his face.

I asked my little CooCooBear how he was - "that's good" (his normal, really adorable way of saying I am OK) and he mustered a little smile.

His two fingers were very bruised. The nails were a very strange purple with little blood blisters along the nail. His injury must have hurt like a bugger.

I asked if his fingers hurt really badly - "No Mommy, it does not hurt very badly."

I hugged my brave little man and he then continued - "Mommy, it hurts very good. My fingers are doing a very good job of hurting".

Oh my! Tears came into my eyes. I hugged him tight.

I asked if he was ready to go home. He replied yes. I told him I was very proud of him since he tried to stay at school, but that it was OK to come home since he got hurt. - "Mommy, I wanted to go back to my class and play with my friends. But my fingers were hurting me very good and I did not want to cry in front of Samaya. She is so nice and I told her my fingers did not hurt. But they were hurting me and making me want to cry. I can cry at home and you can hug me."

I hugged my little man and told him that it is ok to cry if he is hurt - at home, at school or with Mommy or Daddy or with his friends. - "But Mommy, Samaya is a Sr. Bunny and I really like her and I want to be brave. And I wanted you to make it all better."

And with that statement he broke down in tears and collapsed into my arms. His mother's arms. I held him tight and kissed the top of his little head. All while hoping I really could make it all feel better.

What an amazing mothering moment. I realized how wonderful my bond is with my little guy. He trusted in my nurturing and healing ways, not only to show the physical pain he was feeling but, also to share how he felt about the his friend. I am his Mommy. I can make him feel better. I can make the hurt go away. I can. I am. His. Mother.

I can only wish, hope and pray that I can always be there for my children. I can only wish, hope and pray that I can make it all feel better - especially the pains that hurt really good - physical and emotional. Now. Always.

Or at least till the teenage years...



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PS - Thank you everyone for sending my good friend Sue bloggy-love and support. She now is waiting for the results of her biopsy...we all are...and I will keep you posted, as long as you promise to keep her, and her left boob, in your thoughts and prayers.