Monday, March 29, 2010

Easter Egg Hunt...

This past Saturday was our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt. Although the entire event lasts about two minutes...the kids absolutely love it and look forward to it!

Our friends (the Bish family) have hosted the egg hunt at their house the past two years. We had great weather to watch the kids cover the yard and find the candy filled eggs.

Here's a picture of the start where all the kids line up...getting ready for some serious egg hunting...

Logan striking a pose after finding all of his eggs...

I'm not sure if Frank was still looking for eggs at this point...or had had enough of the hunting and was ready to play on the swingset???
Claire had a rough start. As Brian (the host) was getting the kids in the right position to egg hunt (separating the little guys from the big guys) Claire mistook the movement as the event had started and she was behind. Natually...she began to cry:) As I got her calmed down and explained what was going on...she jumped right in and found her own area that the bigger kids had overlooked.
When all the eggs were found and the kids were surveying their loot Logan says to me, "Mom, we were only suppose to find 14 eggs and I found 22. So, I put some back so the other kids would get 14." Just when you wonder whether or not your kids are listening to you...so thoughtful:)

Friday, March 26, 2010

Guess what?

I love asking my friends this question because whenever I do they immediately respond with, "Are you pregnant?" I guess since I have 4 kids ages 6 and under...that's a fair response to my question. Well, as it turns out I am pregnant again with my 5th baby! (So, those of you who said I was pregnant...you were right!) Jeff and I are very excited!

Since Jeff and I got together we've always wanted a big family (6 kids was once our goal). So, after the birth of Mary Kate I knew we weren't done yet. Will we make it to 6??? Never say never...but I'm thinking this might be it:)

My due date is November 11...but since this baby will be delivered via c-section the delivery will be early November. We really didn't have to tell the kids I was pregnant...since I am already showing at 8 weeks. Frank came up to me one day, looked at my belly and asked, "Is there a baby in your belly?" Then later that same day Logan came up to my belly, kissed it, said, "Hi baby!", and carried on. When you asked the kids what they want (a brother or a sister) the boys say that they want 2 boys (wouldn't that be a kicker...getting our 6 kids after all) and Claire surprisingly says "Brother!" Since we can't decode much of what Mary Kate says these days...we're not sure what she wants:)

For now I am feeling well...just tired. As things progress I will be sure to keep everyone updated.

Since babies are on my mind I thought I'd share the baby cards I have been working on.
I can't get enough of this little onesie stamp! Too cute!

Well, that's all for now...take care!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Monsters and Hearts...

My quest to really use what I have continues...I bought these monster stamps several weeks ago and finally opened them up to see what I could come up with. The set has 5 monsters in it...but this first little guy is my favorite. It reminds me of my 4 year old son, Frank. Not because Frank has one eye...haha...but Frank is that adorable little guy in my life that sometimes can be a monster:)

This second monster is OK, but Logan (my oldest) said he liked him and that I should make a card with him on it. Of course, that was code for..."And Mom, while you're at it would you stamp that little guy 50 times on a piece of paper for me so I can color him in?" I love when my kids enjoy the stamps and creativity...because then I don't feel as guilty when I'm working on some cards:)
I got this next card idea from Jennifer McGuire's blog (a blog I read frequently). She does some really cool things...and as I saw these cards...I knew I could create a similar version. I plan on putting these together as a set.

I love that these cards are simple yet the heart adds that little something it needs.
Last post I did mention some baby cards...but as I woke up early this morning I thought of another card that could be made from the set of stamps. When I have that card finished, I'll be sure to post pictures of them. That's all for now...

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Couch cards...

So often I will buy a set of stamps or some new paper, use it for one project and then move on. My grand plan is to eventually come back to the stamps and paper to make another creation...but rarely does that happen...until recently. I started looking at all of the materials I have and thought it was ridiculous how so many things were brand new or barely used. I then made the decision that I was going to take a set of stamps (and paper) and create as many cards as I could...really use the materials until my creativity or the paper was gone. Here are some of the cards I came up with from these couch stamps http://www.papertreyink.com/stamps_onmycouch.html I bought from Papertrey...
These last six cards I plan to package together as a set for a friend. A few friends recently were saying how they would love to send out little random notes to people...but if they just had some cards...
Well, that's all for now. I have some other cards to share with some baby stamps I've been working with...but I'll save them for the next post.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Not wrong, just different...

A couple of weeks ago I was hit hard with a stomach bug. It started early on a Monday morning and lasted a little over 12 hours. Since I was so sick and couldn't get out of bed, Jeff had to take the day off of work and fill in as Mr. Mom. As the kids woke up and their day began...my worries started.

I first worried that Jeff wouldn't remember what time Logan had to get on the bus. But from my bedroom I heard Jeff telling Logan to have a great day as the bus pulled up.

My next worry was that Jeff wouldn't get Frank to school on time. I usually leave 20-25 minutes before school starts which gives me plenty of time to get to school without rushing myself or the kids. With 15 minutes until Frank's school began I hear Jeff telling the kids to get their coats on...ahhh! (They were going to be late...plus Jeff didn't know where Frank's class was!) Later I found out that they made it on time. However that day Frank decided to be stubborn and not tell Jeff where his class was, but Claire jumped in and helped out. (Gotta love my little Frank:)

I had the same worries with the return of Logan's bus and picking Frank up from school...but all kids made it home safe and sound.

In the evening as I started to feel better I made my way to the family room to rest on the couch...and this is what I found. (I took this picture the following day...can you see Mary Kate in the middle of the chaos with her bottle???)


Not only was the house a wreck but...Mary Kate was still in her pajamas (and had gone out of the house in them!) and Claire had picked out her own clothes (she found some capris from last summer that now looked like long tight tight shorts on her and a top that did not match).

My first instinct was to get up and get our house (and kids) back in order...but then not feeling well, I had no energy. As I layed on the couch and surveyed the distruction around me and overwhelming sense of appreciation for my husband came over me. He walked in my shoes for a day...and succeeded! Was the timing of the day like I would have done it??? No, but everyone got to where they needed to be and home without any problems. Were the kids dressed the way I would have dressed them??? No, but really who cares??? They sure didn't...and I know Claire was thrilled to have had the independence to get herself all ready. Did my house look like I wanted it??? No, but the kids were happily playing, getting along, they were fed, and well rested.

So, I wanted to thank my husband again for showing me that there are many different ways to care and love our family! Although everything didn't appear to be in order...everything was fine:)

Friday, March 12, 2010

Baby Announcements

I just finished the birth announcements for my friend Melanie. I bought the little onesie stamp from Papertrey and have been dieing to use it. So, when Melanie asked if I would do her announcements I knew exactly which stamp I was going to use. Isn't little baby Preston adorable?!! I love this picture of him!


Although the project is complete...it unfortunately didn't go without any glitches. As I was printing the wording on the blue cardstock I walked away from the computer (briefly) to refill my coffee. In the meantime...without my knowledge...my 3 year old daughter punched in a few extra letters on the keyboard. Later on as I was assembling the announcements (4 out of 23 were completed) I noticed a major typo. At the end of the announcement attached to Claire (Greiner's) name was ";looooooo". I started fratically looking at each card praying that only a few were affected...not so lucky. All but 5 had the typo...but thankfully I had backup materials...and this time around I made sure that I didn't leave the printer for a minute:)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Happy Birthday Logan...

This past weekend we celebrated Logan's 6th Birthday! For his birthday he said he wanted to have a sleepover with his friends. Initially Jeff and I tried to talk him out of it...but Logan stuck to his guns. We let Logan invite five friends to his Star Wars Birthday Party Sleepover. So, we had 7 little boys (the 5 plus Logan and Frank...ages 4-6) here from 4:00 p.m. on Saturday until 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. With those stats...who would volunteer for that??? But they did great! Logan has some really great friends!



We started out the night with a scavenger hunt game. The boys each got a picture of the 7 Star Wars figures. They were then told that these figures were lost in battle and hidden around the house. They had to search for them...and when they found a figure they had to report back to me so that I could check them off of their list. It was neat how they all started out independently...but near the end they were helping each other and working as one big team.


The boys also enjoyed a treasure hunt game. They recieved an initial clue...then that clue led them to another, then another, etc. The last clue led them to their treasure which was their goodie bucket. I filled it with candy, a cup, a pencil, Star Wars socks, a glow stick, etc.


Jeff then organized a Star Wars Bingo game. These boys really knew their Star Wars characters...some were even correcting Jeff on how to pronounce the character's names. As Jeff was creating the game...Logan insisted that only boys were on the card...haha! Well of course, it was a party for only boys:)


Overall...The party went great! Logan had a wonderful birthday and his friends seemed to have a fun time too. Would I do it again??? ABSOLUTELY!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

First Communion Invitations...

A friend of my sister in law asked if I would make her daughter's First Communion invitations. Here are a couple of examples that I came up with.
Although I choose this seaglass green color for this card (ribbon, solid paper, and patterned)...there are several colors you could use to make this card. I saw lavander, sage green, tan, and silver. Also, you could make this card going vertically.
I embossed the bloom of the flower on the pink cardstock using white embossing powder. I added some dimension by using copic markers to shade the flower. Then I cut it out and attached it using pop dots. Lastly I hand stitched the stem of the flower to add another text to the card.

This card also could be made a variety of ways. The color of the pink flat card could be changed to blue, green, lavender, etc. The bloom could also be changed to a complimentary color...depending on how bold you want the bloom.

If you know anyone interested in having First Communion cards made (or birthday invitations, birth announcements, thank you cards, general notes, etc.) feel free to pass my name along. I can make a card to coordinate with a color scheme, theme, or idea. I love doing this...it's my therapy:)

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Party...

This past Saturday we celebrated Mary Kate's birthday with family and friends. Everyone had a good time...especially Mary Kate!

Mary Kate (dressed up as a ladybug to go with her ladybug themed party) and Aunt Kim. Although she had the costume on for a short while...she didn't mind having it on. Thanks to my friend Jennie for letting me borrow the costume.

The ladybug cake...thanks to my neighbor Jenny who gave me the design! It was funny to see all the kids and adults with red and black teeth after eating the cake.
Everyone singing Happy Birthday to Mary Kate!

As you can see Mary Kate thoroughly enjoyed her cake! It was up her nose, in her hair, and in her ear...but the mess was worth it!

It's still hard to believe our baby girl is 1! Where has the year gone? Our lives have truly been blessed by having Mary Kate in it.