Celebrate YOU

This was my "Presidents Corner" for the newsletter we do for MOMS Club each month.... I'm so convicted that I'm not going to do new years resolutions anymore, but as I am starting to see everyones posts and goals and the new year is right at our door step I thought I'd fight the peer pressure and tell everyone why I'm saying "NO" to resolutions.

As I sit here, ten past 11, the night before the newsletter needs to be done… typing my oh so late Presidents Corner (Isn’t this how it always is!) … It is clear what needs to be on the top of my resolutions list:
1) STOP PROCRASTINATING SHAWNA!

You know though… in a way it is sort of sad. A full year of our lives go by, and we celebrate by thinking “Now this is what I should have done this year that I’ll do next year” we get out our pens and our paper (if you are me, it is that pretty journal that I haven’t opened since last New Years Day) and then we list it out. Here is what I should be doing: I should be thinner, nicer, neater, I should do things on time, I should take more time for me, I should organize all those pictures. It’s a noble cause, but it’s kind of sad because in a way we are saying “This is everything that is wrong with me, this is all the ways I screwed up in 2005.”

Instead, wouldn’t it be nice to treat yourself, to open that crunchy new journal up and say, “You did such a good job in 2005.” Imagine if a year from now when you open that book again you were to see a list of the wonderful things you did the year before, if you were to chronicle all the bad habits you DID break, all the great lessons you learned. All the reasons why you are just pretty much great last year! I know all of you, and your lists could really rock!

Now, I’ve never done this, but I’m pretty much tired of telling myself I’m not going to procrastinate anymore at the beginning of each year (well… actually usually I don’t get around to journaling it till about January 3rd)... So this year it stops and I say “Wow Shawna, this year you were amazing! You started scrapbooking and really rocked it. You started a great website that your family loves going to to keep up with the going ons of the boys. You faced depression and you made it through. You lost quite a bit of your Reece weight…. My word what an awesome person!” Now ofcourse, if I wanted to, I could add that I need to be better at sending Birthday and Thankyou cards, or that I should be keeping up with the laundry rather than being eaten alive by it… Then ofcourse there is the fact that eventually I’ll probably get impeached if I don’t start doing these things on time… but now that I compare the two lists I really don’t think I can ever go back to the “resolutions”…. Instead I’ll be tooting my little horn and hoping for another great year.

SO! Do it! Don’t be surprised if in January I start asking everyone how wonderful you were in 2005, because I know you all were. I want you to say “YAY ME!” and I’ll be bugging you about it so don’t try to squirrel out of it!

Enjoy yourselves everyone! Enjoy the rest of your Holidays! Remember that you all deserve a pat on the back for everything you did in the year 2005.

Here’s to doing all the great things you do for another year! Happy New Year Everyone!!
~Shawna

So here is the deal! everyone hit the little "comment" link on the bottom of this post and TELL ME WHY you were wonderful in 2005, let's bring in the new year celebrating ourselves and all the great things we've done. Let me hear you people!

CHEESE!

Credits: Dani Mogstad "Dirty Boys," Acrylic Paint Stroke Michelle Coleman. Fonts: SA inkspot, Trash hand.

This year during the barrage of pictures, little Reece learned to say "Cheese!" for the Camera. I love the little expression he is making here while he tries his best to say cheese like a big boy.

Coming to Design By Dani!

Dani has been BUSY, she swore she was going to take December as a break from designing, but halfway into the month and she just couldn't keep herself away! Now, as one of her lucky design team members I certainly can't complain because now I have some AWESOME goodies to play with (BEFORE every one else does NA-NA NA-NA NA-NA!) & they are all just so wonderful that it was easy to put together some pages just to make you all drool over the upcoming releases. After you see these pages and click on this links you are sure to be lining up at Dani's doorstep on Jan 1st when it is all released!

These are two that I made with the upcoming paper and embellishment packs called "Heart Breaker". I love this fun and artsy feeling "boy" kit for valentines day. This is one I'll be using over and over again.

Credits: Everything Dani Mogstad's Paper, Elements and Stamped Alpha "HeartBreaker," Christmas Stamp "Santa Baby", "2005" doodle by me. Font SA Inkspot.

The boys before Christmas, just being their own crazy selves!!! This is the picture I ended up having to put into ornaments we made because they were just not about to pose picture perfect for their poor momma.

Everything Dani Mogstad's "HeartBreaker" Added doodles by me.

I really do think Reecey just looks like such a little "Heart Breaker" here. What a cutie! AND I played with my tablet with this one quite a bit, only used the "pen" creating this whole layout (I need practice!) plus it was SO fun "drawing" my schwoopies right on to the page.

This is from Dani's upcoming paper and embellishment packs called "Candy Hearts" I think I did a good job of adapting it for a little man. This kit feels so "chalky" and realistic that you might find your self dusting the sugar off your hands when you are done. I just love the heart alpha that is included.

Credits: Dani Mogstad's "Candy Hearts". Stapms "School Girl Crush" Freebie by me, from the Design by Dani newsletter. Fonts: Problem Secretary, CAC Pinafore.

This is Reece at about 3 months. I CAN'T BELIEVE how much he has grown when you look at the heart breaker in the page above him. One thing remains the same though, both of those little men look completely kissable. Reece always has been just so easy to love.

This next Kit is the "White Wedding" set. She has two kits, a blue one called "Bliss" and a pink one called "Blushhing Bride " then there is an embellishment kit is called "White Wedding" and it correlates with both the pink and the blue kits. This also features some really great "Little Flowers" that Dani will be releasing on Jan 1st. as well.

Credits: Dani Mogstads "Bliss" paper kit and "White Wedding" Embellishments and Stamped Alpha, Photo Anchor in the "Heartbreaker" embellishment kit, Little Flowers also by Dani. "those" is a stamped alpha and grungy overlay by Nancy Rowe Janitz.

This page has been brewing around in my head since I saw Dani's preview for the "Bliss" paper. I adore my boys' big blue eyes, and I am hoping to create a similar page for the other two as well. I am so thrilled with this page, and espcially of this picture I managed to snap of Gareth's big baby blues.

This kit is called "Vintage Valentine" both the paper and the embellishment kits are so rich and warm, perfectly antique and soft. Plus the embellishment kit has a ton of REALLY fun antique goodies to add to the page.

Credits: Everything from Dani Mogstad's Vintage Valentine paper and embellishment kits. Fonts Problem Secretary and Scriptina.

This is a dear little friend of the family and just treasure. I was able to get some really fun pictures of her at Christmas this year and I just knew that this kit was the one when I saw her in the pretty black velvet Christmas dress.

I'm sure having fun :)!!!!

New Toy!!!

George surprized me tonight when we came home with the very thing I've been dreaming of for months now! I got a WACOM Graphire 4! Now I can use my pen to "write" or draw on the computer! This is my first attempt at doodling... it is going to take me a bit to used to... but I see lots of fun in my future of "stapms"!

Stay tuned....

AHHHHHHHH!!! Hurry Hurry Hurry!!!!

Okay digi-scrappin' people, if you miss out on these great kits, you will be KICKING yourself!!!! (and, I may be kicking you too). I must say some of my VERY FAVORITES are there. Berry Jam is like the cutest kit ever the word art in this paper pack is to die for. So Diva, come ON that pink and black is painfully pretty! Then there is fab fall, and I seriously can't tell you HOW OFTEN I pull out elements from that kit! AutumnSpice is so tasty and warm and full of that perfect crispy leaves feeling. And don't even get me started on the holiday kits, SERIOUSLY! GET THEM ALL :) If you don't and then you are looking for a perfect kit for this or that, don't come crying to me because I WARNED YOU PEOPLE!!!

GO SHOP NOW!

Jump

So daddy and I were in the office when Owen comes RUNNING in to announce "I WON!!!"
When we asked what he won all we could get was a VERY enthusiastic story, with a lot of things we couldn't understand and only one thing we could "JUMP!"....
We decided this game might be one we wanted to investigate, and here is what we found:Apparently the game involves climbing up on the barstool and then JUMPING and high and far as you can to try to get past the bean bag (because jumping INTO the soft bean bag would just be too easy and FAR too sensical!).... These boys!!!
Well after I got my pictures we put a stop to the game... for now...
Who knows what these guys will come up with next.

Spy Guy

Credits: PP by Robin Carlton "Little Dude", Fonts - OCR B MT & Note This

I made one change (idea courtesy of Dani - my digi maestro) and now I'm loving this Layout. Here is my spy guy on christmas day.

Naughty or Nice

Credits: Patterned Paper, Ribbon and Elements - Dani Mogstad "Christmas Breeze Kit". Background has a grungy overlay by Nancy Rowe Janitz (recolored). Fonts - Artistamp Medium, Problem Secretary, Desyrel, and Handwriten Names are by me.

Any Picture I can get of all three boys together I am just DYING to scrap. So I was all over this one as soon as I got the chance! Here they are in their new jammies on Christmas Eve. I thought "Naughty or Nice" was a perfect description for this picuture because regardless of their million and a half moods (and goodness knows they all have them - as you can see here), they are as perfect as can be in my eyes!

It's Christmas Day!

Okay well I'm all about instant gratification - SO here for your viewing pleasure is an instant peek into Christmas at our home.

It was a magical one, I mean with these little guys how could it not be?
They are all dressed up in their new jammies, every year I get them a new pair that they get to open on Christmas Eve. You've gotta love that this is the best combination of faces that I could get out of like a dozen pictures

Here are the little guys reading the Christmas story with Dad right before bed time:

Here is Santa's Handy work in all it's splendor:
I just love my new camera, this picture didn't even need any filters, I took it just like this.... I'm proud of my pretty shiny lights.

Here are each of the boys with their "Favorites":
Gareth with his Spy Gear. He was pretty consistent with Santa about the fact that he was in need of Some of this stuff.... Although Santa did miss out on getting the "Laser one." Still he's been spying around the house all morning.

As for Reece:
Here he is on his new bike, this is so that he can "ride" to the bus stop with his big brothers to drop off Gareth (handy handle in the back so mommy can help). He basically screams when we take him off of it... So I guess that means Santa did well.

Owen is so silly, out of EVERYTHING.... this little man is pretty certain that his "FAVORITE" is something he got from Aunt Liz last night.
This little one LOVES beads... "my NECKLACE!" is what we hear every other sentence around here. So while he rode his big wheel, built with magnetics, engaged in LightSaber Warfare, and created playdough masterpieces the beads stayed on - well that is, until he covered most of them in playdough and they had to take a little break to dry out so the playdough would come off.

All in all we are pretty happy campers around here!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Friends and Family I hope you are well, and if you are far away, know that we love you and that are hearts are right there with you on this special day.
All of our love to you! Reece, Shawna, Gareth, Daddy, and Owen.

Merry Christmas!

Don't Be Scared

As a scrapper, and a mommy, there are moments that happen that I think, "hey, that might make a cute scrapbook page," and then there are moments that I think "I am SO glad I scrapbook, because this is a moment I don't want to ever forget."

This moment, was definitely the latter.

Credits: ScrapArtist - Paper: Amy Tanabe "Navy Fall", Word Art Corner Stamp and Stitching: Angie Briggs "Chocolate Covered Elements", Michelle Coleman Acrylic Brushes. Woven Alpha by Dani Mogstad (DesignbyDani), File Tab by Robin Carlton ("Feels Like Home" TheDigiChick) Fonts: Feltpen and Enchanted prairie Dog.

"Tonight Owen decided he was scared of something in his room. Apparently there was a noise that was making him, "“so scared"”. So big brother Gareth decided the best thing would be for him to sleep in Owen'’s bed with him. It took a little bit of convincing mommy, but I could tell Owen really was scared. So I said they could sleep together as long as they were quiet and really went to sleep. As Gareth climbed into Owen'’s bed, Owen said "“I'’m scared Brother"” and Gareth looked at the little guy and very sincerely reassured him, "“Don'’t be scared, I'’ll be right here next to you and I know real Karate."” To my surprise they fell fast asleep, and both were sure to be safe and sound."

Thank you God, life is good...

Magic

Last year you really wanted nothing to do with Santa. So it has been fun this year to see you so interested in everything about Santa. You look for him every time we go out and are quick to notice anyone in a Santa hat. Then you ask me “Is that Santa?” You’ve also gotten quite good at wishing people a “MERRY CHRISTMAS” in your best Santa voice with the perfect “jolly” inflection.
When we went to on our annual trip to Alpenrose Dairy to see Santa you could not wait to see him. You were very serious about writing a list and getting it ready for to give Santa. In fact, you were so immersed in your list writing that when we asked what you wanted on your list all you could thing of was that you wanted “A list for Santa.” When we got in to see him, you just hopped right up on the big guy’s lap and smiled big for the camera. After we were done taking pictures you and your brother talked with Santa a bit but you must have forgotten something, because as soon as you got down, you turned back to see him and very reverently told him what it was you wanted for Christmas.
Now I didn’t hear what you said, and I’m pretty sure Santa could make it out either, but you were so sweet and so sincere. It was a moment that just spelled Magic, you believe in Santa.

Dani Mogstads home for the holdidays at www.designbydani.com.

HO HO HO!!!

Merry Christmas everyone! I thought that in honor of the holidays, I would share some more stamps I threw together for the holidays.
I am working on a "Believe in Santa" page and I wanted so fun hand written stamps to go along with it. Well while I was doodling and drawing i started to think about how I've been wanting a hand writen date so I can stamp on the month/year to my page with few worries... Then ofcourse I was FLOODED with millions of ideas and from this all grew a freebie to share.

Everyone help yourself to my "Believe in Magic" freebie. It includes some fun holiday words, a festive frame and stamp and every month and 2004-2006 handwritten.Hope you all enjoy it - it is very low key but i think you'll have fun with it!

SNOW!

Here is one of MANY snow pictures! The boys and I all headed out in the dark to enjoy some of this fabulous (and FREEZING) white stuff!
You CAN'T BEAT this great picture that catches the snow floating in the air!

Stay Tuned for more Snow picutures to come!

Christmas time in Dairyville

Well this year we followed our annual tradition of going to Alpenrose Dairy to see Santa and enjoy their adorable holiday set up. The only thing is this year it was FREEZING.... Usually I have all sorts of pictures of the kids drinking cocoa and walking around the adorable little "dairyville" but this year you will notice our pictures stayed indoors. Although usually this is usually one of our favorite holiday traditions, this year it was PRETTY DARN COLD! It was cold out and the wind was really blowing, so it was difficult to really enjoy the scene.

Anyways we still did have some fun times.

Here is little reece standing outside looking cold (and just cute in his little fleece suit):
Here are the little guys on Santa's Lap - Reece was on there too for a second, but I couldn't snap a shot of it because he was REALLY ready to get AWAY from the strange man with the beard. I love the smiles I got from the boys for this obviously forced pose (they had already smiled for the main pic and I think they were done with the posing).Here is a GREAT pic of Owen and Santa sharing a special moment... I'm not quite sure what Owen was asking for (and Santa really couldn't decipher it either) but it really was so sweet to see our little man so sincere with the big guy - and what a really great Santa they had too!
Lastly, although Reecey really wasn't digging Mr. Claus in person, he was really excited about this Santa, I guess a "pretend" Santa seemed much more approachable to Reece.So all in all it was a fun time. An annual tradition upheld, one on one time with Mr. Claus, and the Santa Doll too. Ofcourse there was also Hot Chocolate, and pretty lights, but really it was quite hard to focus on any of that when we all thought we might die of cold.... Maybe next year we'll be back to the moderate temperatures that this little family was built for!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

HELLO my faithful Blog lovers! I'm so sorry I've been neglecting you all so. I have only three words for you people!!!!

BUSY...
BUSY...BUSY!!!!
If you've known me long you know how I can get if it is time for crafting.... Lets just say I've got more than a few projects on my desk as of late! I love the bustle of Chrismas... and I feel like such a little elf crafting away... But MAN it is busy around here!!!

Oh Christmas Tree

I promised this was coming - My little elves and I decorating the tree:

And here is the final result - I love our pretty tree!

The Haircut

This weekend I took a big step as a Mommy and finally cut our little Reece's hair. I would tell you the whole story, but I just did this 2 page spread for a sketch challenge over at TDC and I think I'll just let the page tell the story for me over at .

Credits: "OMGosh" by Robin Carlton and Manda Bean and Undressed Chipboard Alpha/Messy Boys Photo Corners by Dani Mogstad

Journaling: As you'’ve grown this past year, I'’ve loved watching your blonde little locks grow. You are so sweet so blonde, and with your hair long, you still felt like a baby to me. It was a hard decision to finally give you that first trim, but I knew it was time since every one kept mentioning that you looked like a little girl. When I finally got up the guts to give you a trim I went for it right away before I lost my nerve. You were so good for your first haircut, sitting in the sink and playing with your toothbrush. When we were done, you were so proud, and so was I. You look so handsome with a big boy haircut! The best part is, you are still just as sweet.

He doesn't look nearly as much like a baby any more... it is strange! But I'm loving his new hair cut, and I'm pretty certain I'll get less compliments on my "two boys and baby girl" (poor Reece!). But still, this is the end of an era for me and my sweet little long haired Reece!

More "Stapms"'!

Today I was SOOO flattered when I found this email from a gal that posts with me at The Kitchen in my inbox this afternoon:
Well GARSH! How cool of an idea is that! I'm all over it Jill!!!

With out further ado I would like you to meet "Shawna's Grateful Word Stapms"



This is hosted on You Send It so it will only be here as a freebie for 25 downloads so if you want it get it NOW before they run out :)

*edited to add - YO! You dowloading fools had better leave me some blog love in the form of a COMMENT ;)*

Christmas Hot Chocolate

Just had to scrap this picture from the Tree Farm to remeber these boys' love for hot chocolate.

Everything is Dani Mogstad, (and my Wispy Stamps)

The Trip to the Tree Farm

Since we've been married and moved to our first place in Vancouver, we've gone to the same Christmas Tree Farm every year. We love it there. It's a fun U-Cut place, that has a hay ride, animals, and lots of other fun stuff.

Once we get there, the hunt is on, we wander through the christmas tree forest till we find that perfect tree.
Here are all the boys infront of "the one"

(not the little one daddy is pointing at, The tree behind them is the one)

After we find our tree daddy chops it down. Then Daddy has to carry it alone (poor guy) while I hold Reece and try to get the other two little Ducklings to follow me. Daddy gets the tree shaken and bailed, and he ties the tree to the van, while the little guys and I go in and get some hot chocolate.

There is a big barn where the sell wreaths and stuff and have a pretty tree and warm hot chocolate. The boys were so sweet sitting all in a row by the tree while the waited for thier treat.

Then we go to look at the animals, meet up with daddy and we all go on the hay ride. The boys were so cute on the hay ride, and reece insisted on siting on his own, and NOT on mom or daddy's laps. I love this picture I got of him while we were waiting to go on our ride.
It was a fun day, and when we got home we decorated it with Christmas music on. Stay tuned for those pics!

Alike

Today I was speeding around trying to get this and that done, when I looked at little reecey and his wavy little blonde hair and his eyes and big smile- and it hit me!

When Gareth was a baby I was so curious how much he looked like baby George had looked, so his mom so sweetly sent me several pictures of him as a baby so that I could have something to see. The boys all look like G, but when I look at them I don't usually see the similarity to baby George, more like the resemblance to grown up George, especially as they are getting older you just can't deny that Gareth is definitely looking like his dad.

But when I saw Reece tonight it hit me, and I stopped what I was doing and right away started digging through my photo box until I found these:

Look at this blonde hair:

Daddy

Reece

Now, Check out this one, they are both sitting in the same little position and smiling like they are the cutest ever:

Daddy

Reece

People are always asking me where Reece got his blonde little locks.... Well now we all can see :)