Lazy Day

I had plenty that should've been done today, but I chose to play instead. I am excited to figure out how to make my digital pages look inked. Leave a comment if you want to see credits for the elements I used.Sometimes fewer words can say more. Here is my first installment of Happiness Is. . . I have many more to finish, but it can be challenging to pick the one word and three photos to define Happiness.

I know I'm behind on recipes. Not because they weren't good, but because we had a left-over meal last night. I'll catch up this weekend.
Have a great weekend

Digital scrapbooking

Although I did get another 8 meals packed up today, I like to make time to dawdle. I have been blog hopping and was inspired by a technique on the Digitreats site. It didn't take too long, and I love the way the words are part of the picture. This was one of my favorite photos from Memorial Day.

Here is another page I did last week with more favorite pictures. I am really enjoying the simplicity of digital scrapping since I don't have to clean off my desk to do it.

Another Superwoman Kind of a Day

I am having one of those days I feel like demanding that everyone address me as Superwoman, . . . or Super Mom. I may have to settle for Mommy Dearest, though. I have no headache today, and I think that has made a big difference in yesterday and today (compared to the last week.)


So what has Superwoman done today? After the kids had breakfast, I cut Jon's hair, then bathed him. In my opinion, it wasn't perfect, but it wasn't any worse than the $10 cut he had a few months ago. Jon's hair grows strangely around his head and I never know where to part it, but now his hair is cute again. That went so well, that I cut Ben's hair, too. Now, those of you who have met Ben probably think I was drinking spirits in my morning coffee to attempt to hold Ben still when I am here by myself. Let me assure you, we survived. I plopped him on a bunch of beach towels on the kitchen counter, gave him three small bowls of water, a hanger, and a clip, AND had Will put a Baby Einstein video on. Thirty minutes later, he had an adorable new do. Yes, we were wet, but let's just say, I know what he likes. He never fussed, and neither did I, and then he got a bath, too. I trimmed Maddie's bangs to get them out of her eyes since she never lets me put any clips in her hair. I got them a bit shorter than I meant to, but all she has to do is smile at you and you'd not notice. She got her bath last night after her very messy, all-over-the place, popsicle. After the babies laid down for a nap, Will and I went outside so the wind could blow all his hair away as I cut it boot-camp short again. This has been a great summer haircut for him since we don't have to worry about finding a comb or towel when he swims or bathes. After his cut, I filled MY big bathtub with lots of bubbles and warm water and put him in it to play with his pirate ship. He kept talking about searching for a lost treasure, so I threw ten pennies in for him to find through all the bubbles. That kept him entertained for a long while. Usually he has to take fairly quick baths with some (but not a lot) of playtime. This time, I threw him for a loop when I said he could stay as long as he wanted to. I stayed there and folded laundry while he played till he was cold and pruny.


After the kiddos had lunch, I took some of the left over Kool-Aid mix and mixed a few colors with some vanilla yogurt. I put paper in front of everyone and splats of orange, blue, and green yogurt and showed them how to fingerpaint. All four enjoyed painting a little, but eating a lot. If you are rolling your eyes it is for one of two reasons:

1. You can't believe 20 month old toddlers have to be shown how to fingerpaint.

2. You can't believe I'd spend all morning getting toddlers clean and pretty just to make a mess so soon.



My responses:

1. I don't fingerpaint with three babies. Why? Come try and you'll know why.

2. Um, . . . yeah, . . . well. . . "I forgot they were clean" just doesn't sound like something Superwoman would say. I'll think of something better in my spare time.


After painting, we read on the floor for awhile, then just played. They all had a good time pretending I was a bridge and climbing over and under me. I convinced them to rest for at least 30 seconds while we pretended to snore. I got lots of kisses and hugs and cuddles, then I was ready for naptime again. They all laid down, I got my photos off my camera and whipped out another digital page. Now it's 4. I need a snack and then I'll think about dinner. Tomorrow will be busy, too. Hopefully I can get all the clean clothes loaded into the right suitcases as we prepare for a long weekend at my parents'.

So Far, So Good

I thought I'd better write down that I have accomplished something today. Mostly for my morale when I feel like I can't get much done. . .

Dressed kids - check

Fed kids healthy breakfast - check

Took kids to park - check

Cleaned kids - check

Read to kids - check

Fed kids healthy lunch (hot -- well, hot, then cooled) - check

Built an entire city and rail system with kids - check

Calmed kids down when city was wrecked - check

Washed and dried two loads of laundry - check

Put away four loads of laundry - check (it had been sitting in a basket since before I went to Waco, um three weeks?)

Assembled a digital scrapbook page about the kids reading to themselves this morning - check

Make dinner with Allen - check

Sink-bathe kids after daring to give the babies their first popsicles - check

Get something blogged - check

Sand Princess

Here is my attempt at scrapbooking digitally. Now I just need to have it printed and put it in Maddie's book. Was it any faster than the paper, scissors, tape method I normally use? Nope, not this time. It did go a little faster than it may appear since I used a template (by Cindy Schneider) and premade digital papers (by Calalily Designs, link will be added.) I have a few others stewing right now. . .

In case you were wondering. . .

. . .I do still find a little time to scrapbook. In fact, when I was in Waco, I got to go to a crop and I got a LOT done. AND since the Stanley Cup playoffs are going on, I have scrapped while Allen watches the games. If it weren't for all the time I spend watching TV, I'd have LOTS more time to play. I only post my pages when they are complete, so the ones that don't have journaling won't be posted yet.

Well now I have October photos from the last few years done. Who needs to be "caught up?" Why would I want to be "caught up?" Since I have so many young kids, I often asked how I find time to scrapbook. I pretty much answer the same way, "I make time for what I enjoy doing," but I still wish I had more time for the fin I have. I thought I share how it all comes together for me. (If you aren't a scrapbooker, you can skip the rest of this entry.)

I have found that putting together mini-kits before I go scrapbook has made it all go so much smoother. It is probably the way I can use time the best. I include my sketch, my photos, patterned papers I have in my stash that will work & any cardstock that might coordinate. Since I don't make all the decisions before I make a kit, I often return with leftovers. For example, the "Pretty" kit had cardstock in dark pink, light pink, bright blue, white (I used for mats), and light blue (the background). The kit also had 4 different ribbons that might work, and 6 patterned papers, of which I used only 2.

• Take lots of photos.
• When viewing new photos, copy the ones you want to print into a "TO PRINT" folder.
• Print your photos to the size you will need.
  For example, on the layouts above, I printed the photos of Jon ("Carefree") as 2"x3" since I knew that's the size they would be on the layout. With the "Pretty" photos, the 2 medium sized photos are each 3"x4" printed on one 4"x6".
• Combine photos from event (3 minutes or less per kit).
• Find or create a sketch of what you plan to create (5-15 minutes). I create a go-to file for inspiration, sketches, or other ideas to incorporate. When I find a great layout, I often use it multiple times -- Pretty and Playhard are the same, but they are going in different albums, so it doesn't bother me; PLUS, they both went very quickly.
• Gather papers from your stash that would work with photos (10 minutes of searching, max).
• Gather cardstocks that might be used with papers & photos (5 minutes, no decisions).
• Gather embellishments that might work (5 minutes, no decisions). Find or make a sketch (5 or 10 minutes).
• Assemble your kit.
• Add title and journaling. I rarely add my journaling when I am at a crop or at home with Will in the room. I just can't focus. Since I seem to hoard alphabets (particularly Thickers) I can eliminate several pounds from my bag by not carrying my letters to a crop.

I am definitely a photo-centered scrapbooker. I choose my photos and then all the products I use complement the photos. However, I know many people scrap differently. In fact, often when I am creating a class or samples that a product-centered, I create my page then find the photos that will fit. Have fun!

Wednesday in the making

Happy Wednesday! When I got up to the babies' room this morning, they were fussing and they had all thrown their blankets on the floor. As I was picking up the blankets, I found a diaper --- rephrase: a USED diaper. Where did it come from? All the kids were still in pajamas, was it from yesterday? I felt around -- Maddie's was still on. Ben giggled because he's so ticklish, but his was on. Jon whined a little like he does every morning, and I discovered that it was his diaper. But he was dressed. . . I need to put a video camera in their room. I still can't figure out how he got the diaper off while he was still clothed -- I know he can't dress himself, so I will ponder this all day. On the up note, it was only a wet diaper, and he seemed to stay dry after it was removed.

This weekend, Jon removed diapers twice. Both times, I am happy to say, Allen discovered the problem. Hopefully I get the story right, but it is second hand. Day 1: Saturday, my day to sleep late. Allen got to the kids room and Jon was standing in his crib with his bottom half bare, and he kindly offered Allen a brown lump. We were kind of hoping that was the only one there had been. Day 2: after naptime, Jon had bared himself again and thrown the diaper and shorts out of the crib. The pile of clothes on the floor had been watered from above. Good shot, little guy!

After breakfast, the kids and I went outside to play. They are so happy outside. I wore them out and we came in so the little ones could nap while I had my coffee and updated the blog. Will is being creative. That Superman has been creating a bit of trouble this week. Yesterday, I heard a huge bang while all 4 were [supposed to be] sleeping. Then I heard Will crying. It sounded like a tree fell through the roof, so I rushed to his room. He decided to empty his bookcase and climb to the top. Lucky for all of us it is a light-weight bookcase only about 3 feet high -- he climbed it, it fell, he fell on top of it. He agreed it was a bad idea. That was typical of the last two days. He woke up this morning to say, "Mama, I am going to be a really good boy who minds you today!" I love mornings that start like that. . . at least it is my warning to not turn my back.

We went to the zoo on Sunday and had a wonderful time. The weather was awesome, upper 70s, but everyone had the same idea that day, so we had to share with lots of people. I think my kids and circus train were one of the zoo exhibits, people were snapping pictures of them and pointing the triplets out to their children and spouses. That is the part that stinks. I hate that my kids are an exhibit. The babies are still young enough they don't understand it, but Will is starting to pick up on it. Allen and I were thinking of having shirts made that read, "YES! We DO have our hands full!" Some days, I am in the mood to have a shirt that says, "Go away! We are here to see the animals!" Will had a great time, and so did the little tykes. Jon really enjoyed the "giraaa" (giraffe) and Maddie was really focused on the elephants. In the aviary, Ben kept squawking back at the birds.

At the end, we let the kids play in the sand (first time in sand for the babies). Maddie kept randomly giggling, Jon let it run through his fingers, Ben was throwing it and eating it, and Will was excited to show the others what can be done with sand. Photo notes: Maddie is the cutie in the pink & orange dress, Ben has red & blue stripes and blue sunglasses, Jon has blue & green stripes and red sunglasses, Will is the one with long-sleeves and pants who proudly dressed himself.

This week has been normal. I am getting ansy to be creative, but I keep heading to the internet for inspiration. Backwards thinking, I know, but it is hard for me to get started on a project when I know I will be interupted from finishing it. I have also been trying to decide whether to head to Chasing Rainbows for the National Scrapbook Day crop in May. On one hand, I'd love to be there. On the other, I don't feel like making an 8-hour trip each way. Here are two layouts I did around Easter.

Lucky Me!

Watching the little ones play. Maddie in pink, Jon in green, Ben in blue. These photos were taken over a 2 minute period and explain why it is so hard to get them still enough to be in the same picture. . . .busy, busy, busy, but so much fun!

Here are the layouts I created for a class at Chasing Rainbows this month. It was fun creating with the St. Patrick's Day papers just because that is not something I would normally use. I love how they turned out, and it really reminded me how lucky I am.
Here are some Easter and spring layouts I created for the same class.

The view from the staircase

Here is the view as I sat at the top of the stairs this morning. It is a cold, wet, gloomy day. I am glad it's warm inside & I made it cozier by lighting some scented candles. It is very muddy since it rained or snowed all night. The snow didn't stick around much, but Will was excited to see it falling. I overheard him asking Allen, "What is that? It's the same color as snow. Does that mean it IS snow?"

Jon and Ben are still sick, but Ben was playing this morning, so maybe he is starting to feel better. Jon threw up all over the carpet. While I was tending to Jon and trying to keep him out of the mess until he was done, Ben got out the gate and Will started getting in trouble in the kitchen. All at the same time, and after 5 days of sick, cranky kids, I am getting frazzled. I have to keep my cool just a few more hours, then Allen will be home. Things seem so much easier for me when he is around. Partly because he is so helpful, and partly because I am a lot more calm and collected in his presence.

Allen's family is coming this weekend and we plan to just have a relaxed weekend. My mother-in-law offered to keep the kids on Sunday so I can get out for a little while (the guys all plan to shoot skeet). I had planned to stick around the house with Shelley and Jenn and the kids, but after this week, I think I'll need to get away at least for a short while. Maybe the kids will all be feeling great, and we can all just escape. . . .or maybe I should try to get some time away from being Mommy. . . .we'll see how it all works out.

Although it's been a rough week with all the kids being sick, I managed to find a little time to create. Since Ben & Jon were the sickest, I guess I wanted to see them smiling even if it was just in the pictures. I decided on one layout for the photos from when they turned 6 months, then I only changed it a little when I created the second layout. (You've already seen the layout of Maddie on the same day.) As I was neatening the office, I found the advent calendar I made in December. I made it after Christmas, so we didn't use it yet. . .I can't wait to fill the little drawers with little goodies for next Christmas, though.

The babies are sleeping their morning nap right now, and the carpet has been cleaned. Now I will collect my thoughts, take ten deep breaths, and see if Will is ready to paint his paper mache bowl we made earlier this week. Have a great weekend!

Daily challenge

Everyday there is a new challenge. Today, this is what I found when I went to get the babies out of bed.
Oh yeah, he's cheerful now. This cute little rascal figured out how to unsnap all the snaps on his pajamas. Big brother showed him that last night -- thanks, Will. It looks like this cutie is waving, but Jon was so proud of himself that he is giving me a high-five (our family sign for "great job!") The days that present more challenges are the ones when the kids take clothes and diapers off each other. Those of you with kids probably realize they egg each other on -- even the little ones. You wouldn't believe how many times I tell one of the babies, "no!" and I come back to find all three little ones daring each other, in their tripletese language of squeals, grunts, and giggles, to do the things they know I don't approve. They are barely a year old, people! Quit laughing at me.

So far, that has been the worst of the day, and it wasn't even bad. Luckily I got there before he undid the diaper, which is what Maddie does when she gets the chance. That would have made me grumpy. The day has been fairly normal. Will wasn't feeling great, and he slept later than normal. I got all the kids fed breakfast, and while the little ones had a morning siesta, Will and I did art projects. This afternoon, the kids played and eventually all four were down for some quiet time and/or naps. I had a chance and called a friend I hadn't talked to since I was pregnant with Will about 5 years ago. We've not been completely out of touch, but there is something magical about catching up when you can talk back and forth and hear each other's voices. I had a blast! Tonight I am going out with my MOPS group to see a chick flick and get dessert. I am really looking forward to that, too. It's been a good day.

Will's favorite things to do right now include hide & seek and art projects. Several times in a day he asks, "Mama, can I make an art project." Last weekend we set up a desk for him to use because when we do our projects together, let's just say, "he invades my territory." Now his work is contained on his blue desk . . . and the corner of my desk . . . and all the scraps cover at least 12 square feet on the floor . . . and then he spreads more on my desk. Where does he get that trait? Spreading out like he owns the place. . . My goodness! (For those of you who don't scrap at Chasing Rainbows, when I am there I can easily take up 4 or 5 tables that are each 2'x4'. It's safe to say he probably gets it from me.)

With all of his projects while the little ones napped this week, I was able to finish up some of the layouts that have taken me awhile to complete. Some of these have been works-in-progress for several weeks because I kept getting frustrated over the details. The "Crush" layout is one that was very quick and simple, yet I love it because of the story. I copied my text from a previous blog and pasted it in a word document, changed the font, and printed it on cardstock (6 minutes, tops). Then I cut all the sentences on my Tonic trimmer (4 minutes, but I am anal about spacing). I found some photos I had already printed of Will telling me a story and cropped them (10 minutes, but only because I forgot where I had put the photos). I laid all the elements on the page, leaving room for my title, then I adhered them. All in all, I don't think it took me even half an hour. I've already printed more of my blog stories for future layouts, so they will go fast, too. Just a quick tip I read and tried: when you are photographing 4 year-olds who only frown or do a cheesy grin for the camera, have them tell a story. They forget you are taking pictures when they get excited about the story. Be prepared to be ready to move though; Will didn't sit still at all while he told his tale. These are just a few I got. I am using some of the others on another layout about a conversation with him.