Moving Update & School

We're back in Ohio, and I had a week and a half to finish off my last trailer load and clean the house, staging it for show. But I'm burned out on the whole moving process and I just haven't got my strength back from my cold I was suffering with a couple of weeks ago (the cold that lasted for 2 weeks).  Don and I talked about the process yesterday. He said to ask the boy if he would mind staying here for his birthday. (He was trying to decide between staying at home with unlimited screen time for his birthday or going to a mini-golf adventure place with so much more than mini-golf).  He said he didn't mind staying here as we had better streaming.  I guess I know what he decided to do.  This is really no surprise - it's what he does. every. single. birthday.  Although I've felt like they've had unlimited screen time of late and have been trying to get them back to target.  But anyway...It was a super relief to me.  We probably won't leave until the 30th for Michigan.  And that will be it for me and the kids, I figured we'd be back and forth a few times. But. The new co-op starts September 15th. The girl is super excited! Honestly, so am I. I just wish I had more time. Oh, well.


The co-op is on Monday. With church on Sunday and co-op on Monday. It means traveling to town 2 days in a row. I'd kind of like a coop on Wednesday. That way if I'm out of milk I can grab it mid-week. When the nearest store that sells organic milk is 30+ minutes away, you think of things like this. Of course, a mid-week co-op wouldn't work very well. You'd get your routine and then you'd have to break mid-way. If it was on Friday, like our last co-op, it's like a great way to end the week. You're done with your week of work and it's awesome to spend the day with like minded Christians.  Of course the positive to a Monday start is that it will be a wonderful way to start our week. Plus it gives me an extra planning day, since I'm a little behind this year.


Ok, more than a little. Usually I have curriculum picked out by February and no later than April. By April to June, all my curriculum for the following year is purchased and in my hot little hands.  So from May to July, I put together my curriculum plan and my lesson plans. Some for the whole year - like science, and some for the first few weeks, like history. Others like math and now writing (woo hoo) are really done for me. For math if I see they've mastered the concept then they get their test. If not, we spend more time on it. Usually within 2 - 3 worksheets they are ready. A few times, especially with the boy, he did the first worksheet and took the test. Once with the girl, I had to make my own problems up for her to do as we were out of workbook practice sheets.  We also usually start mid-August. Right about now.  We like are time off during the year.


This year I have my curriculum picked but not purchased. I have made a list of read alouds and the books I'd like them to read for school. Don's suggested a family book club.  The kids get to pick a book and we all read and discuss.  Sounds like fun to me. We'll see how it progresses. All of our school things are in boxes, the class/craft room will need to be painted first and then it may be arranged.  I told the kids to expect to go all through June and to have less time off during the year.  Hopefully I'll be able to roughly start by September 22nd.  The pleasures of moving.

Getting A Different Perspective - The Kids

Including other family member layouts.  Yesterday, I talked about how I now include my husband very rarely with his journaling for a page. Now maybe your spouse or kids aren't into this or you're single, that's ok too.



Although my son is no longer into scrapbooking, my daughter really enjoys it and art journaling.  We have days where we work together. But often, she does it whenever she can. She seems to have more time than me. I have always just put the kids layouts into the appropriate album - family, son, daughter, extended family/friends. A few months ago someone mentioned that their daughter had her own album.  The concept hit me hard. She had her own art journaling book.  I had never even thought of giving her her own scrapbook album!  Maybe she wanted one. I felt like a dolt, so I asked if it was something she wanted.  Nope, she preferred her layouts in with all the others.  whew. I felt better. She likes looking through the book and seeing things that she has contributed.  I know this isn't the answer for everyone. Lots of scrapbookers wouldn't like the child like designs next to their perfectly designed layouts. For me it just captures another more of our family life and I love seeing their layouts. They bring a huge smile to my face.

Getting A Different Perspective - the significant other

For those who listen to PRT, a couple of weeks ago they talked about getting your family involved in your story telling.  Personally, I think this is important and I do try, even if I'm not super at it.

Here's a double page layout that I've named in my head "Adventure Day with Dad", but really this is a Dad and the kids day, so my husband will provide the journaling.  He does this every once in a while. And I love when he does.  It does mean I have an almost finished layout that will wait until he really has some time. Works full-time, travels for work a bit, in the process of moving and refurbishing the house we're moving into, guess I'll cut him some slack this time.  haha.

Layout Credits: P&Co: DSI - Fresh from the Oven Papers and Elements; JenAllyson - Cork Elements; Anita Designs - Some Flairs Vol 8; Deena Rutter - Every Little Bit Brush Set 2; Karla Dudley - Life Story March 2014 Vellum Bits



I think he'd even be up for making a layout, but usually he just wants my craft stuff to make fishing lures.  I'll have to make an effort to include my husband's voice more.  Do you incorporate other people's perspective into your albums?

Reworking a Layout

There seems to be two distinct camps with regards to reworking a layout. Those that do it a lot. Those that never do it. Typically, I fall into the never do it. However, if my kids taught me one thing, it that the only never EVER allowed is to not say NEVER. It bites you on the butt, every. single. time.

Although I don't think I've ever reworked a paper layout, digital layouts happen to get reworked every now and then.  Case in point. Last week I made this layout of my daughter.

Overall, I like the bright colors and general layout. But I went a little too crazy with the fonts. I have 6 different title fonts going.  It's muddied and not visually pleasing.  So by just replacing one font with a similar one, I got this:

Definitely an improvement.  It's one of those layouts that came together in my head much better than IRL.  But I can live with this version.

So will you rework a layout or not?

Layout credits: P&Co: Scotty Girl Design/Mommyish - QandA; SnapClick: Carta Bella - Beautiful Moments; Echo Park Paper - Hello Summer;  :LilyPad: JustJaimee - Doilies4; Sabrina Dupree Designs -Only Love Bits;

Is It Friday, yet???

I seriously woke up yesterday thinking it was.  Today isn't any better. Not that I work outside the home and not that my weekend will be more relaxing.  But my husband will be home to either help me out or irritate me, either way it's a win for one of us. lol. Both actually make me happy so I guess it's a win for me both ways.  **Actually, he just called and said we're leaving Saturday for the farm and we'll stay the week.  He'll be traveling to and from the farm for work during the week - He's going to Canada.  But I can get more basement painting done and maybe some mowing. 

 I have 4 more layouts to share with you today. All digital.

 P&CO: Gennifer Bursett: Playful Mini, For the Love of Mini; Mari Koegelenberg - Oh Happy Day the wood chips; Robyn Meierotto - Spring Sweetness Enamel Dots; Anita Designs- Some Flairs Vol 8; Mommyish - essential styles; P&Co Collab Kit - Laid Back; :LilyPad: JustJaimee - Doilies4; Sabrina Dupree Designs -Only Love Bits;

I am seriously crazy about the For the Love of Mini kit by Gennifer Bursett. I loved lace on my traditional layouts. I used to use it a lot, but tired of it and stopped using it and stopped buying it and now I  use it every once in a while. This kit has made me want to revisit this, plus I'm looking for more lace in future digital purchases.  The ombre effect of the paper is *to die for*.  There is the pink one and a greenish blue one.  Love them.  Then there is a gray weathered wood paper.

Hot Chocolate and Cinnamon Toast - Nothing gets me better hugs in the morning from my girl than to offer this combo for breakfast.

P&Co: Digital Scrapbook Ingredients - Fresh from the oven; Mari Koegelenberg - Oh Happy Day the wood chips; Robyn Meierotto - Spring Sweetness Enamel Dots :SnapClick: Fancy Pants Designs - wonderful Day; Crystal Wilkerson - Beautiful Day Papers

 P&Co: Southern Serenity - Yankee Doodle Template Sugarplum Paperie - Gray Skies;

Seriously, I don't even know how this happened. Only a template and 1 kit - massive kit, but only 1 none the less.

P&CO: Scotty Girl Design/Mommyish - Q&A kit, Deena Rutter - Every Little Bit Brush set#2; Anita Designs - Some Flairs Vol 08; Scotty Girl Design - 2014 Summer Flair; Mari Koegelenberg - Oh Happy Day the wood chips.

There you go.   Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you're having a wonderful day and that you don't think it's Friday when it's only Wednesday. ....yikes.

Sickness Productivity

We came home the 19th of July, only to have last week mean that we were all sick with a nasty cold.  The germ ridden kiddos shared the infestation first with Daddy and then with Momma.  Of course, a Mom's job is never done so in between bouts of resting I still had meals to make, dishes to clean, laundry to do (I'm caught up on all the previous 4 weeks now - woo hoo - happy dancing), and still packing boxes and moving them to my staging area (the living room) for loading in the trailer. 

But bouts of resting means digital page productivity was happening here. Eleven pages in total, although 2 are a double layout awaiting the journaling from Don.  I love getting his perspective on things he's done with the kids. All of the following 4 are done using only Pixel and Company products.

Southern Serenity_Everything is Awesome Template; P&Co Collab Kit - Go Bold – Papers, sequins, and most elements; Deena Rutter – Every Little Bit Brush Set #2; Gennifer Bursett -  Playful – chevron gelli arrows

  P&CO: Dream Collab; Mommyish- Essential Styles;  Fonts: Calibri & Champagne

 P&Co: Gennifer Bursett: Playful Mini, For the Love of Mini; Anita Designs: Some Flair Vol 8; Mommyish - essential styles.

P&CO: Simply Tiffany Studios - Year of Templates Spring pack 001 (2014) #004; Sugarplum_Hello Darling - PP’s and some embellishments; Gennifer Bursett - For Thethe Love of Mini Kit; Karla Dudley,T Life Story, March 2014 Vellum Bits; Mommyish Essential Styles Layer effects

I'm loving Mommyish Essential Styles Layer effects at the moment. I'm totally getting glitter styles next purchase.  I did download some free ones from the net, but had the darnedest time getting them to show up in my layers palette. 

When it rains, it tsunami's

Yep, the poor blog has been totally neglected this past month.  I'd like to say I've been enjoying summer with kiddos and living life.  But  that isn't the case. 

I'll give you the back-story here.  When we finally made it up to our Michigan house that we're refurbing in April, after not being there since October of last year, we found a busted water pipe in the basement. So that week was spent cleaning out the basement. It was what we were going to do anyway, but it turned a 2 day project into a whole week project. It was not only throwing away all the stuff from the previous owners but also mold remediation.  **I still have chemical burn scar on my arm where the rubber glove stopped to prove it.**  The basement trash was bagged and placed on the front lawn. Yep, real classy hilbilly style!  We hoped to be back in May and get a dumpster then.  But in our household, we don't hold to that mamsy pansy "when it rains, it pours" nonsense. In our house, it tsunami's.   

So it is now June, the 19th to be exact, and we trekked up with our loaded trailer to the Michigan house. We spent the next several days mowing and filling a dumpster with trash from the house and the property. 

Princess had her birthday that week as well. Her birthday wishlist were a stamp set designed by Kristina Werner and a camera of her own.  Her other wish was to go to the butterfly conservatory on Mackinaw Island. Of course, we drove up on Thursday leisurely stopping at places that interested them and spent Friday on the Island.  We'll definitely go back!

On Saturday the 28th, we went back to Ohio, and I spent the next 4 days loading the trailer up again. Then we returned to Michigan. We celebrated the 4th and even enjoyed a campfire with some fireworks of our own.   I started to work on painting the basement. Quickly realizing that it wasn't going to be a quick weekend paint job.  And that the HVLP sprayer wasn't going to work on the rough beams and concrete walls.  The paintbrushes came out.  Don went back to Ohio without us and worked through the week. Me. I painted and painted and painted and painted. I wished at one point that I was a prissy girl whose husband wouldn't even consider her working in a yukky basement...alone...One little bit had tears.  Then I put my big girl panties back on.  I would only stop to fix breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I stopped early on Friday though.  I'm still not even  1/2 way through the basement.  That first coat of paint on the ceiling beams takes forever, and I'm working around duct work and wires and some places I can't even reach.  The old wood just sucks up the paint, even though parts of it had been painted before. I'm at 3 coats on the ceiling and 1 on the walls, and the kids helped with 1/2 of the wall.  Princess is having belly issues - feeling sick like she's going to throw up the whole week to add to my already waning enthusiasm.  I now realize that I'll need to stay another week.

Don comes up and works from home 3 days and takes off 2.  He is now an official Michigan resident, woo hoo. $15 deer hunting license instead of $150.  I also realize that I get way more accomplished without Don there than I do with him there.  However, I now have 2 out of 6 new block windows up in the basement thanks to the man.  They've been holes that are just boarded over. It lets light in and with the white paint, it really brightens the place up.  He also shot his 2nd squirrel, but the first one that we ate.  We (I) finish the ceiling and Don and I paint the walls with a 2nd coat. I clean up 1/2 of the painted area flooring and replace my freezer and we start moving storage things down there.  I start the next section of basement. I can't remember if I just got the first coat or if I got the 2nd coat on too.  Regardless, when we moved in August, I'll have to finish the basement before I can do anything else.

The  Before

 The After

I've decided that with these white walls and the ceiling that my treadmill can go down there. I don't think it would be horrible to walk down there.  Obviously the before, I didn't even want to go to the freezer.  yuk.

We'll be taking the next load up this weekend, but I won't be staying this time around. I'm at least viewing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as moving our stuff.  So I'll probably reload the trailer and then work the next 2 weeks at the Ohio house cleaning and painting there.  Unfortunately, it also means the kids probably won't start school until mid September if I'm lucky and first of October if I'm not. 

The last few weeks of digital scrapping

Has brought my total layouts for the year up to 70.  Woot!

 Has brought my total layouts for the year up to 70!  Woot!  Still loving templates!

 2 pager.

 Loved the pictures, but didn't have a story. So I went to my story folder to pull one.

 

Individual layouts that will set beside each other in the scrapbook.

More Digi Layouts to share

What can I say, I'm on a roll!  This brings me to 59 layouts for the year.  Woot! Woot!  With a crazy, hectic life right now, I'm absolutely head over hills for templates.  I can put a layout together in less than an hour.  Now that's exciting. 

Love the happy colors on the handstand layout.  And very proud of my daughter for practicing handstands until she could do one.  Template from Get it Scrapped - GISSingle001. Papers and embellishments from Carta Bella Cool Summer,  the doily and sequins from the LilyPad - Just Jamie and   Valerie Webbins Sprinklesv20.

Dad and son viewing the computer. Yep, same view I've had for almost 11 years. Carta Bella papers.  Template - Get it Scrapped.  Scrapbook Coach 0103

OK, my gradient photo bleed is not the best, but it'll do and the snow sloshing happy girl is memorialized. Template - Get It Scrapped - Rule Play Tiffany Tillman.

Double pager - a must with this boy's amazing laugh from deep down.  Just looking at these photos brings me great happiness.  Echo Park all about a boy and Here and Now.  The background chalkboard paper is from Fancy Pants Design.  The template is from JessicaSprague - I think it was one of my classmates during a digi class.

Building giant sandwiches is always fun.  I think this is a combo of Echo Park and Lynn Grieveson. Template by Katie the Scrapbook Lady.

My son in dire need of a haircut. And he did get two since these photos were taken, but he probably needs one again.  These were from Pixels and company's Go Bold set, it was free with a $15 purchase a couple of weeks ago.  It totally wasn't something I'd have picked out on my own.  Now I'm glad I have it. The template is from Get It Scrapped - Process Play - Tami Taylor

I'm loving templates and their ease of telling our stories.  However, I'm now starting to get very antsy because I have not played with paper or paint or inks and such in a very long time. In a couple of weeks I'll be painting the basement at the farm, but I have a feeling it just won't be the same. And last weekend, I brought home the gesso, gel medium, stencil paste, and brushes.  Maybe I'll get some art journaling in.

Happy Dancing for Goals Achieved

I wish I could say I lost xx pounds.  But, NO, I haven't even been eating well.  Our goal of giving up process foods has been snagged.
1. I broke my kitchen-aid. I really dislike starting dough completely by hand.
2. We're finally trying to move everything to the farm and sell the Ohio house.  So I'm boxing up and packing etc, while still trying to finish the school year. Last week science and math were both completed. The Boy finished his grammar for the year as well!!  - Within the next 2 weeks, The Girl will finish her grammar, they should both finish writing and geography.  And we'll be Done, Done, Done, til I start the summer curricula. (last part sung to Beach Boys fun fun fun til daddy takes the t-bird away.)
3. We've been traveling like CrAzY PeOpLe. Farm with the move and to see Family - both for very happy occasions and for an extremely, rock-bottom sad one.

So, what goal is making me so happy.  After several years of not meeting my scrapbook layout goals.  I've already met my 2014 goal~!!! I know, it's totally amazing! I think I should throw a party.  (...I'll make it a moving party....LOL ...won't the guests be surprised when the arrive?)  I made a goal of 52 layouts, thinking that's only 1 per week and when I miss a few weeks, I could catch up if I get a weekend to myself.  Of course, that's been my goal for the last 4 years and I haven't been able to meet it.  And I knew the major move was coming - so I was keeping my fingers crossed, but not going to get upset if it didn't come to pass.

Last Friday, we had a garage sale after traveling the weekend through Wednesday before.  Of course, Wednesday night and Thursday was a major work day in getting ready.  By the end of Friday, I was ready for some creating, but in mid-April, I started packing away my lovely paper supplies to the point of there is not much I could do. I turned to my digital supply and even bought a few new items.  And between then and now have made layouts number 43 to 52.

 These are a double page layout.

 I can't decide between the green or dark gray title? What do you think?

I really like paper more than digital, but I like that the stories are told and it has helped with my creative outlet needs.  Although I must admit I used templates for every single one.  GetItScrapped has digital templates now and several came from there. The rest were old Designer Digital templates.  I've made a list of another 44 layouts that can be completed digitally.  There is another 30 I'd like to tell traditionally if the move is complete and the supplies get back out.