Pieces of the Story

Resolution Scrapbook Weekend ‘10

Rachel — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:59:42 +0000

I am away at a scrapbooking weekend with some girlfriend. Here is a two page layout – broken out into 2 pages. This is the first spread of the evening:

Summer '09

Summer '09 Page 2

The Fleeting Years

Rachel — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:39:35 +0000

Layout and concept provided by Cathy Zielske’s Design Your Life workshop at BigPictureScrapbooking.com

Credits: Red Cardstock: Zig Zag Scraps, Orange & Teal Cardstock, Circle Frame: Meg Mullens for WIld Dandelions Taking Chances Kit, Star Brush: Chris Ford for 2peas, Photo Overlay by QuirkyTwerp Every Life Kit, Daily Digi Files, Fonts: Constantia, Marcelle Script.

December Daily – Days 12 – 20

Rachel — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 03:13:59 +0000

I have been very busy….So, here are days 12-20.

Day 12:

Day 13:

Day 13 - Front

Day 13 & 14 - Full Layout

Day 14:

Day 14 - Dylan's Christmas Program Front w/Tag

Day 14 Tag

Day 14 Back Page

Day 15:

Day 15 - Girl Scout Investiture Front Page

Day 15 - Girl Scout Investiture

Day 16:

Day 16 - Note to Dylan

Day 17:

Day 17 - Front Page

Day 18 - Note to Ella Front

Day 18 - Note to Ella Back

Day 19:

Day 19 - Front

Day 19 - Back

Day 20:

Day 20 - Front

Day 20 - Back Page

December Daily – Days 9, 10 & 11

Rachel — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:10:56 +0000

Day 8 & 9 Full Layout

Day 9 - Christmas Cookies

Day 9: Christmas Cookies – Every year, I exchange cookies with several girlfriends. This year, I made gingerbread cookies, and apricot, raspberry & hazelnut thumbprints.

Day 9 & 10 Full Layout

Day 10 - Christmas Tree

Day 10: The Perfect Tree journaling reads: I love our beautiful tree this year. Again, we went to Mayne’s Tree Farm and picked out this beauty. It is one of our newer traditions, but we all love doing it!

Day 10 & 11 - Full Layout

Day 11 - Peter Pan

Day 11 - Peter Pan Back Page

Day 11 journaling reads: Experiencing Peter Pan with Dylan & Ella was so much fun. I was a bit apprehensive because it started at 7:15 (D & E’s bedtime), and ran for 3 hours with two intermissions. It surpassed all of my expectations of what a high school production could possibly be. The acting was well done; the singing was on key and Ellen projected her voice throughout the auditorium; and all of the amazing effects kept each of our attentions. When Wendy, John, and Michael began to fly through the magic of wires, pulleys and harnesses, Ella whooped ang laughed whole heartedly. Dylan was also enraptured by everything that was happening on the stage. He stood gripping the seat in front of him and whispered questions and comments to me throughout the play, “Mommy, where is Ellen’s hair? Did she cut it off?” or “Mommy, look at the fireplace!” or “Watch Tinkerbell!” Our neighbors in the seats ahead of us commented on how well behaved Dylan and Ella were — and loved all of Dylan’s commentary throughout the program.

December Daily – Day 5, 6, 7 & 8

Rachel — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:30:29 +0000

As expected, December has been extremely busy. Blogging is new to me, and I’m not sure how to balance out all of my other commitments with my own commitment to blog, so I won’t apologize for not posting, but just move on. My goal is to finish my December Daily album by the stroke of midnight tomorrow night, Dec. 31st, 2009. I think it will happen, but no pressure. I am in catch-up mode after having out-of-town guests and the Snowpocalypse of 2009 and general Christmas craziness.

Journaling for Dec. 5th: Today we had our first snow of the winter season. It was a very wet and heavy snow, but so beautiful to watch it fall.

With all of the snow that we got, we had to change our plans for the evening. We ended up watching holiday movies, and scheduled the DVR for the rest of the movies.

Day 6 - Front Page

Day 6 - Back Page

Journaling for Dec. 6th: Today we decorated 2 gingerbread houses — one for Ella and one for Dylan. Dylan spent most of the time eating his candy. I kept saying to him, “Stop eating your candy!” He would say, “I’m not eating it, I’m licking it!” When I decorated with “his” candy, it was very sticky. Yuck! It was still fun watching you both decorate your houses.

Day 6 & 7 Full Layout

Day 7 - Front Page

Page 7 & 8 Full Layout

Journaling for Dec. 7th: This year, Ella wrote her Christmas list using both words and pictures…She copied her words from the toy catalog, i.e., “Grocery Store, just like the real thing” or “Clean up is now a breeze.” She also drew pictures of the store, the fishing pole, the roller skates, the teeter totter and so many others. I love her creativity and tenacity in communicating all her “wants” for Christmas.

December 8th:

Day 8 - Front Page

Day 8 - Back Page

December Daily – Day 4

Rachel — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:00:50 +0000

Journaling reads: One of the best parts of December is the Advent Calendar. It is so much fun to see the small treat inside or the note that tells you where to find a hidden candy or another sweet. You children definitely make life (and Christmas) so much fun.

Day 4 Front Page Full Layout

Day 4 Front Page

Day 4 Back Page Full Layout

Day 4 Back Page

December Daily – Day 3

Rachel — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:58:30 +0000

Journaling reads:

Tonight we met up with with many friends to eat dinner at Foster’s Grille. Then we went to JMHS to watch the Tiny Tots Christmas. Both of you so enjoy being with your friends, and loved seeing some of your favorite characters (Dora, Elmo & Santa). The music got you groovin’! Christmastime is so much fun with you guys to share it with!

Full Page Layout

Day 3 - Front Page

Day 3 Back Page

Day 3 Back Page - Full Layout

December Daily – Day 2

Rachel — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:48:19 +0000

Tonight, we headed to Wesley church for Wednesday Supper with the Haas’ and to meet a special visitor – Santa! This was Dylan’s first time sitting on Santa’s lap. In year’s past, Santa has been too scary to sit with, but this year was different. Both of you were excited to see Santa, and tell him what you wanted for Christmas. Dylan told Santa about the real dog he wants and Ella told him about the cupcake maker.

Full view

Front of Page 2

Back of page 2

December Daily – Day 1

Rachel — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:27:09 +0000

This is the first entry for my 2009 Daily December album:

Day 1 - Front Page

Journaling: Today was spent shopping for all of the finishing touches for decorating the house. Mom & I went to TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Michaels, toting Dylan everywhere we went. Then, we decorated and cleaned up all of the craziness. I tried to get ready for tomorrow night’s party fighting the two crazy monsters who were destroying as I was cleaning. They ended up in bed by 7 pm!

Day 1 – Back Page

The full moon was out tonight and I think my kids knew it. We’ve been reading a book, called Dogteam for the last two weeks. It’s about a team of huskies running through the snow at night. It is beautifully illustrated and is written in a simple poetic way. It is a pleasure to read it aloud to my dog-loving boy. In the inside cover, there is an illustration of a single wolf howling at the moon. We’ve acted this part out many times. So, after I sent the kids to bed, there was a lot of protesting and then there was howling (I believe, at the moon). What an appropriate finish to this day!

December Daily Activity List

rpaci — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:13:37 +0000

I’ve been thinking more about the December Daily and decided to prepare a little more for each of the pages. As I try to organize myself and our family for the holidays, I looked at the calendar for all of the parties, performances, and activities that are already booked (Wow! Does December get filled up fast?!?) I have been receiving the Holidays in Hand emails from JessicaSprague.com and also brainstormed with Noah, the activities we wanted to share as a family…

Already on the calendar:

2 – Babysitting Co-op Party
3 – Tiny Tots Concert
4 – Ella’s Hip Hop Performance
5 – Ferreira’s Open House
9 – Baking Christmas Cookies
10 – Cookie Exchange
11 – Peter Pan
12 – Family Christmas Party
16 – Matthew & Alison arrive
18 – Last Day of School
19 – Neighborhood Christmas Party
24 – Christmas Jammies
25 – Christmas Day

To include in December Daily Album:

Getting the Christmas Tree
Decorating the Christmas Tree
Front Porch Photo – Decorated
Addressing Christmas Cards
Visiting Santa
Neighborhood gifts
Advent Calendars
Christmas Movies
Wrap a toy and take it to a charity christmas tree
Have a fondue night! chocolate and cheese dipped goodies.
Make s’mores around the woodstove
Make cards for teachers
Play board games
Go for walk around the neighborhood to see decorations and lights
Making soap

I’m really looking forward to the holidays this year! I think I’m ready…Now, if I can remember to bring my camera.